Title : Ars Virgarum - De Legione Mentis et Eiectu
Authors : xnuinx & draco_crescendo
Pairing : Overall gen - implied pairings may occur.
Rating : Overall R/NC-17
Warnings : War-fic, dark stuff, angst.
Disclaimer : All HP characters and names are copyright of JK Rowling. We use them for our own pleasure, we do not make money out of this.
Feedback : Oh yes, hit us harder!
Beta : essayel & flosspyromaniac.
Summary : After Dumbledore's death, loose ends are left untied. The war is lurking from behind the corner, ready to strike. While the Trio begins their search for the Horcruxes, they encounter a number of obstacles that must be overcome. Will they succeed or will all of their efforts fail in the end?

Chapter Art: .com/art/Illustration-Ars-Virgarum-14-78120767

14 - De Legione Mentis et Eiectu

Draco had been going through his trunk for hours now. He had taken everything out, but hadn't found anything that resembled the mentioned book with the blank pages. He had been looking through his belongings, smiling sadly as he found a few notes that he and Pansy had written back and forth in classes. He heaved a sigh. Sometimes, he wished he could turn back time. But unfortunately, he couldn't.

He picked up his Transfiguration book and threw it back into his trunk, ready to put everything back into its place. It landed on the bottom with a hollow thud and Draco frowned. He looked inside and picked the book back up. It wasn't supposed to sound like that. He knocked the bottom with his knuckles and there it was again, that hollow sound. Discarding the book onto the floor, he started to feel around the bottom of his trunk. It seemed to be loose... He managed to lift it out, frowning at it, before looking back inside.

"A false bottom..." He mumbled to himself, putting the wood aside.

There was a small, dirty, leather-bound book on the real bottom of the trunk. He took it out and flipped through it. The pages were coloured on the corners and it looked like it had been wet at some point, but they were blank. This had to be the book Snape had been talking about. 'This crappy old thing is a Horcrux?' He frowned to himself, then remembered what a Horcrux was again, before dropping it on the floor and pushing it several feet away from him. He quickly stuffed the other items back into his trunk, before getting up and leaving his room in a hurry.

"Snape?" He quickly descended the stairs, calling out the man's name. "I found the book! I..." He came to a halt in the empty living room, looking around, before scratching the back of his head. "Now where did he go?"

Severus slammed the front door shut behind him as he entered his mother's house. He had just returned from reporting to the Dark Lord about the assignment he had given Fenrir Greyback, Rabastan Lestrange and himself earlier that evening. He didn't bother with taking off his robes, but instead looked around for Draco. He found him standing in the living room with a confused look on his face. He cleared his throat to get the boy's attention.

"Draco." He said tonelessly.

Draco whirled around at the sound of Snape's voice. He broke out in a grin. "I found the book! The one with the blank pages. It was under a false bottom in my trunk." He exclaimed, excited. But his excitement died quickly at the sight of Snape's concerned expression. He frowned. "What's wrong?"

Severus arched an eyebrow at the mention of the diary, but otherwise he kept his face impassive. "Draco, go upstairs and pack your things." He said quietly, looking Draco directly into his eyes to make sure the boy understood that he was serious.

Draco blinked. "W-what? But why...?" But when the black gaze met his, he merely nodded, then turned around and left the room.

While Draco went upstairs Severus sat down in one of the chairs, leaning heavily against one of the armrests. Seeing Draco had brought the image of Lucius Malfoy's vacant eyes back in his mind. He sighed and ran a hand through his lank hair. Upstairs, Draco put all of his belongings in his trunk, looking around the bedroom to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. He placed the Horcrux book on top, before closing the lid and shrinking the trunk so it would fit into his pocket. As he left the room, he closed the door behind him and went back down the stairs to the living room.

When he heard the boy coming down the stairs again, he got up and walked over to the fireplace. He muttered a couple of words under his breath and a fire flared up. "I'm bringing you to Grimmauld Place, Draco. You will be staying there from now on." He looked over his shoulder at Draco. Severus only hoped that the Potter brat wouldn't make too much fuss about this. It would be safer for Draco and Potter and his friends would protect him, no matter how much they might loathe to do so.

"But I don't want to stay there!" Draco protested. "I don't understand... Why can't I just stay here?"

"Because I'm telling you to stay there!" Severus snapped and crossed his arms, tension filling his entire body and the air around them.

"You can't just order me around and tell me what to do!" Draco yelled, his face scrunching up in anger. "You're not my father!"

The little colour that was left in Severus' face was drained at those words. Clenching his jaw, Severus grabbed Draco by the scruff of his neck and shoved him into the fireplace. The flames flared green as the boy was whisked off to Grimmauld Place. Then he stepped into the still green flames and Floo-ed off, following Draco.

Draco tumbled out of the fireplace at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, whirling around to wait for Snape to come through himself. He wasn't nearly done yet...

Severus stepped calmly out of the fireplace and found Draco standing right in front of him. He braced himself for what he assumed would be a long tirade of words from Draco's mouth.

"What was that for?!" Draco screamed at him, eyes narrowing. "You come home and tell me I'm to stay with Potter and his bloody friends just like that! You don't even tell me what's going on! You sent me back to the house earlier without a decent reason, too! What the bloody hell is up with that?! I am not stupid! I demand to know what the hell is going on!"

Harry had been quietly sipping his tea in the kitchen with Ron, while Hermione had been going through the book they had found at Malfoy Manor, when suddenly the fireplace announced someone's arrival. Only seconds after, he recognised the voice of Malfoy shouting at someone. 'Probably Snape.' He thought, but frowned anyway. Why would Malfoy be shouting at Snape like that? He got up, forgetting about his tea, and walked into the hallway, poking his head into the room they had Floo-ed into.

Ron was out of his chair in a shot, following Harry toward the raised voice of one Draco Malfoy. Why did the ferret have to come at this moment and ruin the mood? They had been having a good time, relaxing with a cup of tea. He grumbled at the prospect of once again being in the same room as Malfoy.

Severus looked steely at Draco. "You want to know what is going on? Do you even think you can handle it?" He sneered, leaning closer to Draco. Then he suddenly blinked and moved away from the boy, shaking his head sadly. "I doubt you can."

"Well, I, for one, like to know what's going on." Harry interrupted, standing in the doorframe with a rather confused expression on his face. "I didn't expect anymore company tonight."

Hermione joined him with a frown, the book still in her hand, her finger marking the page where she had stopped reading. "What's going on?" She looked at Harry.

Ron glared at Malfoy and Snape. "Something I'd like to know too. You two just keep barging in here like you own the place. So tell us."

Severus looked at the teenagers and with a grumbling sigh he nodded. He was about to open his mouth to tell them, when the fire flared green again and McGonagall walked out, a concerned and hurried look on her face. She stopped mid-step and stared at them all. "I didn't expect a welcoming committee. But it does make this easier…"

Harry looked from McGonagall to Snape and then to Malfoy. He wondered what was going on. Hermione's brow furrowed with worry. "What's going on, Professor?" She looked at McGonagall.

McGonagall ignored the question directed at her by Hermione and smiled sadly at Draco instead. "It is rather fortunate that you are already here. Mr. Malfoy, if you please, I would like for you to accompany me. It is important."

She placed a hand on Draco's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. Then she looked at the others in the room. "Ron, Hermione, you two may come as well. Some company would be nice. Go fetch your robes, please." She sighed and watched the two disappear down the hallway. Looking at Severus, she walked closer to him and whispered into his ear. "Something has happened, Severus. Lucius -"

Severus held up a hand to stop her from saying anything further. "I already know, Minerva."

"You do?" She asked, a small frown marring her face. "You were there, weren't you?" She sighed and shook her head. "You never can stay out of trouble… but will you inform Mr. Potter while I take the others for a little trip?"

Severus nodded and stepped away from her. "It was my intention to do so before you arrived. I might as well continue."

McGonagall smiled gratefully and turned back to Draco. Shortly after, Ron and Hermione returned with their robes, shooting questioning glances at her. "Ready to leave, children?"

"Where are we going?" Ron asked, tilting his head to one side in confusion.

"Just follow me." McGonagall said and entered the fireplace where she was sent off in a burst of green flames. Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance, before going in after her, trusting the Headmistress to have a good reason for doing this.

Harry watched them leave while he scratched the back of his head. He glanced at Snape, before turning around and heading for the drawing room. Severus watched the flames return to their normal colour of a bright orange-red for a few moments before he left the room, following Potter into the drawing room.

Entering the room, Severus stopped by his usual place at the door and looked around. Finally, he stared directly at the Potter boy.

Harry accio-ed the tea tray from the kitchen and poured himself a new cup as he sat himself down. The prickling at the back of his neck told him that Snape was watching him. He ignored it for a moment, stirring some sugar into his cup before looking up at him. He quirked an eyebrow in question.

Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Severus cocked an eyebrow in return. "Yes, Mr. Potter?"

"Talk." Harry coldly said. "Why did you bring Malfoy here? What the bloody hell is going on?"

Severus nodded slowly. "If I must. Earlier this evening I was summoned by the Dark Lord." He stared directly into the boy's eyes to relay the seriousness of what he was about to tell him. "I, along with Fenrir Greyback and Rabastan Lestrange, was given a specific assignment. The result of that particular assignment is the reason the Headmistress came here tonight in search of Draco Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy is dead."

Harry frowned. "You killed him? Why? I mean... Why would Voldemort have him killed?" He sipped his tea, pondering.

"I did not kill him, Mr. Potter." Severus snapped, then sighed. "Though I did nothing to stop this from happening either." He frowned when he thought of something. "I suspect that one of the Dark Lord's spies within the Ministry told him about Malfoy's interrogation. The Dark Lord was rather insistent about Malfoy's imminent death, whether or not he had said anything to the Aurors."

Harry remained silent for a few minutes, nodding. He tried to comprehend why Voldemort would have Lucius get killed if Lucius apparently wasn't a threat to him. He wrapped both of his hands around his cup of tea. "Where has McGonagall taken them?"

"I believe she has taken them to St. Mungo's. The… body must have been found and brought the morgue." Severus answered. He wondered if the children or McGonagall would, by chance, see the two guards in the morgue as well.

"So now what?" Harry asked. "Lucius is dead. I can't say that I'll mourn for him." He let out a snort and shook his head, before sipping his drink. "But what's going to happen to Malfoy now?"

"I would like for him to stay here, Mr. Potter. It is safer than to stay with me." Severus said and stared at Potter gravely. "I fear that the Dark Lord is beginning to suspect me of not being as loyal as he would like. In the past, he has rarely given me any assignments involving the direct murder of another, preferring my usefulness as a Potions Master and spy instead."

Harry scowled. "I would like for him to drop dead." He snapped. "But you won't leave me with much of a choice, will you? My house is not a hotel."

Severus rolled his eyes and snorted. "Yes, I am so sorry that your vast living space is compromised by an unconscious girl and a boy who has just lost his father. Mr. Potter, put aside your ire toward Mr. Malfoy for the time being." Uncrossing his arms, he leaned against the wall behind him. "We rarely get choices we are fond of in situations such as these, Mr. Potter. We simply have to make the best of it."

"That boy who just lost his father has done nothing but get me in trouble, humiliate me and pick fights with me for the last six years." Harry coldly said. "You cannot expect me to show compassion towards him. I'll let him stay, but if he as much as squeaks, he'll be getting reacquainted with an old friend." Harry inwardly smirked at the thought of sticking Malfoy in the same attic as Witherwings. He knew he couldn't, of course. Killing Draco Malfoy would not make a good impression with both McGonagall and Snape.

Severus stared at Potter with a blank expression on his face, resisting the urge to yet again roll his eyes. "As long as he is not struck dead by some unfortunate event. Though I doubt he will cause you much trouble, as he will probably prefer to stay away from you and your friends as much as possible."

"Sounds just great." Harry sneered. He finished his tea and put the cup back on the tray, before running a hand through his hair. He heaved a sigh. "In the meanwhile, what are we to do with Parkinson? I cannot imagine going that long without food or water is healthy..."

Arching an eyebrow significantly at the brat, Severus hid the smirk which had threatened spread across his lips. Yes, Potter was indeed uncaring of his guest's wellbeing. "There is no need to worry about Miss Parkinson's health, Mr. Potter. The bewitched sleep I have placed her in will keep her body stable and healthy until a way is found to remove the Horcrux from her wrist."

"So how do we remove it? Since we're not allowed to just take it off..." Harry frowned.

Severus narrowed his eyes in thought. "I believe we must sever the connection between Miss Parkinson and the Horcrux first, then we might be able to remove the bracelet."

Harry fisted a hand in his hair, thinking. He had seen this before with Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets, but it was not exactly the same. Voldemort's soul had used Ginny to strengthen itself, draining the girl in the process. If Malfoy was saying was true, then this soul part would only be controlling Pansy, not feeding off her. 'But that might be because Voldemort has been resurrected, so he doesn't need his Horcrux to drain a person for strength.'

Seeing at the boy grip his head with a distressed expression on his face, Severus frowned. What was the brat thinking about this time? "Mr. Potter?" He inquired.

Harry looked up and blinked. "Yeah...?"

"Speak your thoughts, boy. Perhaps they might actually be of some help." Severus said.

"I was just thinking about when Riddle possessed Ginny." He scowled. "I'm trying to remember how we broke the connection then, but it all went so fast..."

"Riddle possessed Miss Weasley?" Severus pushed himself away from the wall and stepped closer to Potter. "Tell me what happened with as many details you can muster."

"Second year at Hogwarts." Harry began. "The year Ron and I arrived at school in the flying Ford Anglia. Several students being Petrified." He paused. "Lucius slipped Riddle's diary into Ginny's cauldron at Diagon Alley. She wrote in it and that's how Riddle gained control over her. She was only eleven..." He picked at the sleeve of his robe, frowning. "The writing in blood on the wall was Ginny's work, because Riddle had made her do it. He fed off her, consumed her energy so he grew stronger and she became weaker. She almost died down there, in the Chamber of Secrets..."

"However, this time it is different." Severus nodded in contemplation. "The Horcrux is not draining her life force as the diary did to Miss Weasley… What happened next? How did you bring her back from the brink of death?"

"I pierced the diary with the one of the basilisk's fangs." Harry frowned. "However, I have the feeling this is not going to work this time..."

"No, I don't believe it will. Considering you have no basilisk fang to assist you." He snorted, the began to list the information he had so far. "This is a completely different situation. This Horcrux is in control of her mind. It has formed a connection to her, but is not draining her life force. If we should try to pull it by force it would certainly damage her…"

"Well, there has to be some way to push him out of her mind." Harry sighed.

"Indeed." Severus agreed and suddenly a plan began to form in his mind. "Mr. Potter, I do believe we simply have to persuade the bracelet to set her free. Be it forcefully, if necessary."

Harry blinked, a confused look on his face. Once Snape began to explain the plan, Harry nodded, starting to see where this would be leading to.

In the mean while, McGonagall stepped out of one of the many fireplaces at St. Mungo's. This one was placed in the lower levels of the hospital and closer to the morgue than the fireplace visitors would usually use to get in. She moved a bit further back, waiting for the children to come through. Sighing, she wondered how she was going to break the news to Draco that his father had been killed by Death Eaters, the very people his father had worked with for years.

McGonagall herself was still a bit stunned to have learned that Severus had been a part of the group which had killed Lucius Malfoy. The Potions Master had always despised bloodying his hands by killing, which was why Albus' death and the fact that Severus had caused it had bewildered her. When she finally understood why Severus had done it, she had wanted to slap both him and Albus for not confiding in her, even if she had to find a way to strike a portrait's cheek.

Still watching the fireplace for any sign of the three teenagers, McGonagall tapped her foot slightly against the floor. Ronald was the first to stumble out of the fireplace, a disorientated expression on his face as he rubbed lightly at his head.

"Gnn, must have hit something on the way." He grimaced as he gingerly touched the bump forming on his forehead.

McGonagall rolled her eyes and chuckled lightly at Ron. "Watching your step in the Floo-system would help to stop something like that from happening."

Draco came through next, bumping into Ron. He grunted and rubbed his nose. "Do you have to block the entire path, Weasley?" He grumbled.

Hermione soon followed, coming to a halt in time to prevent herself from walking into Malfoy's back. She peered over his shoulder with a frown. "Ronald!" She sighed. "Give us some room, will you?"

"Shut up, Malfoy." Ron grumbled, but moved out of the way when Hermione asked him to, muttering a quick apology to her and ignoring Malfoy completely.

Hermione came to stand beside Ron and she involuntarily shivered. "It's cold here." She frowned. "Where are we exactly, Professor?"

Draco looked around the bare hallway. He had to admit Granger was right. It was rather cold in here. He glanced at McGonagall, waiting for her to answer Granger's question.

"St. Mungo's. We're in the lower levels of the hospital, below ground level to be precise." McGonagall answered and began to walk out of the room they had Floo-ed into. "Follow me, children."

Ron stared at McGonagall, blinking rapidly. "The lower levels? But the only thing in the lower levels of St. Mungo's is the morgue and potion's laboratory." He remembered his mother telling him about it when he was younger and his grandfather had just died. Back then, he hadn't understood why the place his grandfather had been kept was so cold. But his mother had been patient, if a bit evasive, with her answers.

Draco frowned. What were they doing here? But he simply shrugged and followed. Hermione shot a few glances at Malfoy from time to time. She didn't feel very comfortable. Like Ron said, the only things down here were the morgue and the potion's laboratory. If McGonagall had come to collect Draco, then she figured they were not going to make a visit to the potion's laboratory. She gulped.

They walked down the chillingly cool hallway in silence until they reached a large door with a plaque labelling the room behind the door as the 'St. Mungo's Morgue'. McGonagall stopped abruptly and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Before we enter, I would like to speak with you." She said quietly.

Draco looked at her, all colour starting to drain from his face. He didn't like the prospects of this. He couldn't even bring himself to nod. He noticed his own hands had started to tremble slightly.

"Draco." McGonagall sighed, gently squeezing his shoulder to give him comfort and something to focus on. "I am so sorry, dear child…" She paused, not knowing how to continue. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked at the boy with sad eyes. "Draco, you father… was murdered earlier tonight."

Draco roughly pulled away from the hand on his shoulder, taking a few steps back. "No." He spoke through gritted teeth. "No, it's not true. He was in Azkaban. He was safe there. I don't believe you!"

"He was in Azkaban, Draco." McGonagall reached out toward him again, gently replacing her hand on his shoulder. "Death Eaters somehow gained entrance to the prison, killing two guards in the process as well."

Draco was silent for a few minutes, shaking his head and rubbing at his face. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be true. His father was dead? He didn't believe it. He suppressed a sob and looked back up at McGonagall, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. "I want to see him." He said in a croaked voice.

McGonagall nodded silently and with a gentle push on his back she guided him through the door to the morgue. They were greeted by one of the healers working the night shift in the morgue and after exchanging a few words, they were led to a steel table in the back.

"We have just finished with readying him for the funeral." The healer said as he reached out to pull away the white sheet covering the body beneath it.

Draco closed his eyes as the healer pulled the sheet away. He slowly opened them again, coming face to face with the sight of his father on the cold steel table. As he lay there so still and with his eyes closed, he seemed to be asleep, but Draco knew better. He couldn't hold the tears back anymore and he choked on a sob. He noticed the cuts on both his face and chest, recognizing them as werewolf injuries. There was only one known werewolf in Voldemort's ranks and that was Fenrir Greyback.

Greyback had been a friend of the family and that fact struck Draco twice as hard. He started to back away, hitting the wall. He managed to tear his eyes away from his father's body and fled into the hallway, pushing Hermione and Ron, who had been standing near the door, out of the way.

Ron blinked in surprise when Malfoy ran into them and then he stared at his retreating back as the other teen ran down the corridor. "Malfoy, wait!" He called out, trying to get the blond to stop. It would not be a good thing if Malfoy was discovered by any Auror that might be at the hospital.

"Stay here." Hermione sighed, before running after Malfoy.

Draco stopped at the end of the hallway, leaning against the wall before sliding down. He buried his face in his hands. This just couldn't be true... His father was gone and he could barely believe it. Hermione caught up with him and kneeled down beside him.

"Malfoy?" She softly asked, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Do I look like I'm alright?" Draco jerked his head up and snapped. His cheeks were tear-streaked and his eyes were all red and puffy from crying. He pulled his shoulder away from her touch. "Don't touch me, Granger. I'm not a kid." He furiously wiped at his face, willing the tears to stop falling.

"You just lost your father. It's alright to cry..."

"No, it's not." Draco sniffed. "Malfoys don't show emotions."

"Nobody will give you strange looks when you're crying over losing a parent." Hermione quietly said.

"You know nothing about my life, Granger, so stop pretending you know me, or my family." Draco snarled.

Hermione's expression hardened. "I might not know about how you were brought up, Malfoy, but does that still matter? We are all on the same side here. So sorry if I was trying to help you." She got up again and started to walk towards Ron and McGonagall who were coming in their direction.

McGonagall stalked down the hallway toward Hermione, a concerned expression on her face. "Miss Granger?" Then she noticed Draco sitting against the wall a little further down in the corridor. "Mr. Malfoy?" She asked. When he didn't answer, McGonagall walked closer to him and crouched down in front of him. "Draco?"

Ron reached Hermione's side within seconds and looked at her, placing at hand by her elbow and nudging her gently. "Hermione? Are you alright?"

Draco refused to look up, so he stared at his knees instead. "What?" He bit out.

Hermione gave Ron a small smile. "Yes, don't worry. I'm fine. I've dealt with worse things."

Ron nodded and gave her a smile of his own. Slowly, he turned his head to look at Malfoy who was still sitting on the floor and McGonagall who was trying to get the boy to stand up. Malfoy was persistently refusing to comply and simply remained on the cold floor. McGonagall was talking in low tones to the other teen, trying to coax him to do as he was told. Grumbling, Ron couldn't believe he was going to do this for Malfoy of all people.

He stepped closer to Malfoy and, crossing his arms, he looked down at the blond crouched on the floor. "Malfoy, come on. Get up. Sitting there won't do anyone any good." Then he reached out with one arm and took a hold Malfoy's arm, pulling at him slightly. He actually felt sorry for the git. "Come on, we'll go back to Grimmauld Place, warm up with a cup of tea."

Draco jerked his arm away. "Leave me alone, Weasley." He grumbled.

That was it. Hermione had had enough. She pushed Ron aside and sharply backhanded Malfoy across the face. Malfoy looked up at her with a shocked look in his eyes. Hermione put her hands on her hips, pursing her lips.

"Are you going to sit here all night, Malfoy?" She bit out. "What good will that do? Are you going to sulk and cry like a five-year-old? I thought I knew you better than that, Malfoy. Where's the bloody git that's been nagging me about my blood status for six years? Don't you have any balls?"

"Hermione..." Ron quietly said. "His dad..."

"Well, I don't give a bloody shite, Ronald." She snarled. "Harry never knew his parents because that maniac murdered them." She turned back to Malfoy. "What is it with you, Malfoy? Life isn't fair. Big deal. Are you going to sulk every time something doesn't go the way you planned it?" She paused. "Listen carefully, Malfoy, if you even think that you will survive with this attitude, then you're clearly mistaken. Nobody will spare you because you lost your father. It comes all down to you now. Wake up and decide for yourself for once. You can either sit here and keep feeling sorry for yourself, or you can get your stupid arse off that floor and go with us. Your pick." She grabbed Ron's sleeve and started pulling him into the direction of the fireplace. "Come on, Ronald. This git isn't worth wasting time on."

Ron let himself be dragged away by Hermione, feeling a sense of pride at how she handled Malfoy. He grinned at her. "You're bloody brilliant, Hermione." Then with a sudden courage he took a hold of her hand and laced their fingers together, smiling softly at her. "Come on, let's go home. Hopefully, Harry and Snape haven't destroyed the house yet."

"Annoying twit." Hermione muttered, give Malfoy once last glance over her shoulder, before smiling back at Ron. "Thanks."

Draco watched them. He was still suffering from a small aftershock from Granger's words. Still rubbing at his cheek, he started to get up, trailing behind them on the way to the room they had Floo-ed into.

Caitlynn O'Hare stalked through the dungeons with a frown on her face. She hadn't seen Pansy in any of her classes lately, and after asking around, it seemed that she hadn't been in any of her others either. Touching the bare wall, she spoke the password and entered the Slytherin common room. Several heads turned to look at her, but she didn't recognise Pansy among any of them.

In one of the corners, the seventh years were chatting amonst each other and she walked over to them.

"Mr. Zabini, have you seen Miss Parkinson as of late?" She coolly asked as she looked down on the dark youth seated on the sofa.

"No, Professor." Blaise shook his head. "We haven't seen her in a while."

"It isn't like she hangs out with us." Millicent added with a snort. "She seems to be daydreaming a lot, talking to someone who isn't there."

'If her housemates figured out that much...' O'Hare cursed inwardly. This could be dangerous. She grunted and nodded. "Right." She lightly replied. "I'll go check with the other teachers then. If she decides to show herself again, then you know where to find me."

After that, she turned around and left the common room, heading for the Hospital Wing. That was the only place she hadn't been to yet. Striding through the door, she noticed the nurse arranging some replies on the shelves.

"Poppy." She nodded in greeting.

"Caitlynn." The nurse glanced over her shoulder. "What can I help you with? Did the first years muck up your classroom again?"

"No, actually..." O'Hare gave a small smile. "I was wondering if you had seen Pansy Parkinson. She hasn't been in any of her classes."

Poppy nodded and suddenly remembered what Tonks had told her. "She came in some time last week." She gave a sad smile. "Apparently, she caught some contagious illness I'm not very familiar with. She will not be returning to classes any time soon, I'm afraid. She's not allowed to have visitors either. I don't want any more students to contract it."

"Oh." O'Hare frowned. 'Now that's bad luck.' "Poppy, would you be so kind to keep me informed on her progress?"

"I will, Caitlynn." The nurse nodded. "The minute she turns out to be alright, she may return to her classes."

"Thank you, Poppy." She nodded, before turning around with a grumble. She had to inform her Master about this unfortunate incident. He would not be pleased. With a sigh, she headed for the owlery.

"My Lord,

Something has come up. It seems that the Parkinson girl has contracted a contagious illness and is not allowed to leave the Hospital Wing anytime soon. She is not allowed to have any visitors either. What should I do?

~C.C."

"That is most unfortunate, indeed. Do nothing until further notice. Leave her to recover. For all we know, she could heal in a week. I repeat, do nothing until further notice."

Hermione, Ron and Draco Floo-ed back to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. While Ron took Draco to the kitchen to make some tea, Hermione went to the drawing room to look for Harry and Snape. When she didn't find them there, she called out Harry's name. She received no answer and climbed the stairs with a frown. Suddenly, Harry's head popped out of Pansy's room.

"Hermione?" He frowned. "You yelled?"

"Yes. We just got back from St. Mungo's."

"Where's McGonagall?" He asked.

"She went back to Hogwarts. She didn't find it necessary to make a detour." She looked past him. "What are you two doing with Pansy?"

"We're going to try and get that bracelet off her. It might take a while, but we'll be down afterwards."

Hermione nodded. "Sounds good. We'll be in the drawing room."

"Alright." Harry closed the door again, while he heard Hermione's footsteps descending the staircase again. "They're back."

Severus merely nodded and looked back to the sleeping figure on the bed, pulling out his wand and pointing it at Pansy's temple. "Then let us commence. Keep an eye on her… You might have to physically restrain her at some point if it proves necessary." He picked up the wrist with the bracelet and studied it for a moment. "Beautiful work." He muttered, then let the hand drop to the mattress again. After looking at Potter for a second, he returned his attention to the unconscious girl. "Legilimens." He whispered and was plunged into darkness.

Harry stood on the other side of the bed and nodded at Snape's words. He kept one hand on Pansy's shoulder. Should she try and start struggling, he could always lean over and press her down with hands.

Floating in the vast darkness around him, Severus twisted around to look for anything substantial to hold onto. However, he couldn't find anything until a sudden bright light flashed past him and blinded him. He clenched his eyes shut to block the light for blinding him any further. When he opened them again he found himself in what looked like the Slytherin common room. The large hearth was lit with a blazing fire, but the room was otherwise empty.

Slowly he walked toward the fireplace, wondering why he was here. Usually, when he entered another person's mind he was shown memories of the other's life. But if this was the case, then where was Pansy Parkinson? If this was a memory, then were there no people around to re-enact whichever event that had taken place here?

"Who are you?" A cold voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

Severus whirled his head around, his wand poised to strike if it was necessary.

"Who are you?" The voice spoke again, this time it was laced with impatience and annoyance. "How did you get here?

This was strange, Severus thought as he looked at the young man standing opposite him and watching him with narrowed eyes. How could this boy see him? Interact with him? Severus was only supposed to be a bystander in Pansy's memories until he found the link between her and the bracelet.

"Are you deaf? I asked why you are here." The young man stepped closer to him, his face twisted in an ugly grimace filled with anger.

"How can you see me?" Severus asked, slightly perplexed.

The other man snorted and glared at Severus. "I can see you because you're standing right in front of me… What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here."

"I am searching for something, Mr…?" Severus answered curtly and waited for the young man to give him his name, even if he did have a nagging suspicion

"If you want my name, I want yours first." He huffed and crossed his arms, staring distrustfully at Severus.

"Severus Snape."

"You may call me Riddle." Green eyes with a reddish tinge looked at him haughtily and even though the other man was shorter than him, Severus found himself gazing upward at Riddle. Suddenly, the other man smiled charmingly at Severus. "Now what are you searching for, perhaps I can be of service?"

Severus took a step forward, watching Riddle with an arched eyebrow. The young man was rather helpful all of the sudden. It was unnerving to see those reddish green eyes staring at you and Severus grimaced as he came closer to the younger incarnation of the Dark Lord. Something glinted on Riddle's right wrist and he found his eyes drawn to the piece of jewellery the other man had done nothing to hide. His eye twitched slightly. That was it, the connection between Riddle, Pansy and the Horcrux.

He was looking at the exact replica of the bronze and silver bracelet on Pansy's wrist. And it was on Riddle's own arm.

"Like something you see?" Riddle asked him as he followed Severus' gaze. "I take it this is what you came for. Sadly, it won't work. I'm not giving her back." He snarled.

In her spell induced sleep Pansy trembled violently, whimpering slightly as her body nearly jerked up and off the bed, but was restricted by Harry's arm on her shoulder. She fell down again, her limbs twitching slightly.

Severus stared as the green irises were filled out completely by crimson. "I will not let her go, she's mine!" Riddle sneered and lashed out at Severus with his wand, flinging a hex at the Potions Master.

Severus jumped out of the way and focused all of his strength and power on caging Tom Riddle in. A silver cage appeared around the young man, but Riddle simply smirked.

"You think this can hold me?" He stepped closer to the bars and reached out to touch them, only to be flung back as a wave of electricity was sent through his body. Riddle fell the ground, panting heavily. His eyes had narrowed into slits and he glared balefully at Severus.

Wearing a smirk of his own, Severus moved toward the cage. "Perhaps not the cage by itself. But this should do it. Hand over the bracelet, please."

"Not bloody likely." Riddle hissed.

"Give me the bracelet, Riddle." Severus demanded and glared at the young man behind the bars.

"Forget it." He sneered and jumped up to pace in front of the silver bars.

Pansy gasped and her eyes were wide open, but unseeing. She began to claw at her wrist, trying to get the bracelet off and fighting against Harry's hold on her.

"Very well." Severus said calmly. In flash, he had reached out and grabbed Riddle's wrist, holding onto it with a tight grip through the bars. With his other hand he pocketed his wand and then took a firm hold of the bracelet and ripped it off Riddle's wrist. Quickly, he let go of the other man and stepped back, watching as Riddle paced and swore. The young man began to throw curse after curse toward him, but they only got as far as the cage bars before they were dissolved.

With Riddle still trapped and helpless inside the cage, Severus focused on the bracelet in his hand. It was a small dainty thing resting in his palm and he found he could simply bend it to his will as he tightened his hand around it, crushing the metal into a fine powder.

Looking one last time at Riddle as the furious man snarled at him, Severus concentrated on leaving Pansy's mind. While the connection had been broken, Riddle was still present inside the girl's head and they would probably have to take the real bracelet off her to make him disappear.

Suddenly, he found himself standing in the room with Potter again, feeling slightly disorientated. But he managed nonetheless to hoarsely snap at Potter. "The bracelet! Take it off her, now!"

Harry blinked and quickly moved to pull the silver bracelet off her wrist. He turned it over in his hands for a few moments, before looking at Snape.

Severus breathed a sigh of relief. Though his body was exhausted from the exertion of using Legilimency and fighting against Tom Riddle with his mind and magic, he refused to let it show in front of Potter. He simply nodded and croaked. "Put it somewhere safe."

Harry nodded. "I will." He left the room, only to enter his own bedroom next door. He put the bracelet in a tin box on his bedside table, before placing some locking charms on it. One could never be too cautious, right? He moved back to Pansy's room, poking his head in. "Are we going to join the others downstairs?"

Taking a moment to compose himself, Severus nodded. "Of course." He walked out of the room, sparing a single look in the still unconscious girl's direction, and descended the stairs with Harry in tow.

When Harry and Snape entered the drawing room, Hermione got up from the sofa, cup of tea still in her hands. "How did it go? Did it work?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. We managed to get it off."

Severus entered the drawing room and went straight to one of the chairs, sitting down without a word to any of the others present. He saw an empty cup on the coffee table beside him and reached for the teapot. He poured himself a cup of tea, then put two spoons full of sugar into it and stirred.

Harry sat himself down next to Hermione, reaching for a cup himself. Draco had been thinking to himself, curled up in an armchair near the fireplace. He had barely noticed Snape and Potter enter the room, but when he looked up, his anger flared up again. He slammed the teacup down on the tray, stood up and stalked over to Snape.

"Why didn't you tell me that my father was dead when you came home?" He snapped, fists clenching by his sides. "You knew when you came home! Why did you leave it to McGonagall?"

Severus slowly took a sip from his cup of steaming hot tea, then looked at Draco with a expressionless face. "I thought it better to let someone who was not involved explain it to you." He said simply and returned to his cup of tea.

"You were involved..." Draco's eyes narrowed. "A reason more to tell me instead of shoving me into the fireplace and sending me here! I had the right to be told at that moment!"

Severus slowly rose from his seat, his eyes locked onto Draco's as he sneered steely. "What would you like to know then, Draco? That I had to stand by and watch as your father was killed by the Dark Lord's pet werewolf without being able to do anything to stop it? That I could not do anything, less I wanted to be branded a traitor by the Dark Lord? That I would have been killed on the spot as well, if I had tried to help Lucius?"

Draco cowered and took a few steps back, whimpering.

He snorted in disgust as the memories of the evening came back to him. "I didn't tell you, because at the moment I had watched one of my oldest acquaintances die right in front of me barely half an hour earlier." He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "Draco, perhaps you should contact your mother."

"I don't want to risk the owl being intercepted." Draco shook his head, sitting back down in the armchair. "I don't want to lose her, too..."

"She will need you, Draco." Severus said and sat back down in his own chair as well. "Your mother is in France at the moment, but she will undoubtedly return to Britain once she hears the news. Would that not place her in danger as well?"

"Yeah..." He softly said. "But what should I say? That she's to remain in France anyway?"

Severus picked up his cup of tea and sipped. "Explain the situation to her. Tell her it is too dangerous for her to return."

Draco nodded and reached for his drink again, curling his fingers against the warm cup, staring into the liquid. Harry, Ron and Hermione had been watching the scene with interest. This entire conversation had showed a different side of both Malfoy and Snape. Harry couldn't help but wonder what else there was to learn.