A/N-More notes at the end of the chapter. One part of this chapter you've seen before (Chapter 12), but it needed to be added back into this chapter as well for a greater perspective. You'll also get the end of Trelawney's prophecy, which I've deliberately withheld from you.
The song that's quoted at the end is I Need My Girl by the National. Link to listen in my profile.
Also, a reminder that I veered from canon post OotP and kept Dumbledore alive until 1998, kept the trio at Hogwarts, and didn't emphasize The Deathly Hallows in the Battle of Hogwarts. You'll understand this reminder as you get through this chapter.
"Our government has everything under control," Shacklebolt issued a statement to the Ministry a couple of hours after the news broke that Snape was a wanted man for the terror in London and the release of Barty Crouch Jr. The news that he was missing hadn't broke yet, but Shacklebolt was sure it would by the end of the day.
Despite his calm demeanor as he addressed the rest of the Ministry, chaos reigned in his office later that day; the atmosphere was a mixture of anxious activity and incessant chatter. The intensity was enough to drive Hermione crazy as she sat silently in the midst of it all, feeling sick to her stomach and ready to scream at everyone to shut up.
"The Prime Minister is livid, of course. He thinks we're purposely hiding Snape," Shacklebolt announced, drawing eyes towards him and the chatter to die down.
"We searched the Nott estate. Both Theodore and Pansy were home and cooperated in the search. We can't find any evidence to link them to Snape's disappearance." Tonks shrugged, looking worn and defeated. Harry and Hermione exchanged a pained look. If Theodore and Pansy were cooperating then they really had no clue what had happened to Snape or where he had gone.
"He was last seen with Draco in Hogsmeade, at Hog's Head," Ron reported. "No sign of Draco either. We interviewed his parents this morning and they said he left the house around 6 that evening to dine out with Snape and never came home. They didn't think it was unusual that he wasn't home when they went to bed, they said he stays out late from time to time. They were a more worried this morning when the House Elves said he never came home. They did note he seemed apprehensive for the last few days, just preoccupied and distracted, but other than that no unusual activity," Ron flipped a page over in his notepad as he read over his notes.
Harry turned to Hermione, his face stern. "Hermione, you brought Draco to the meeting, I'm sure he overheard some stuff. Do you think they ran away? Do you think Snape would do that?"
Hermione shook her head adamantly. "No, no! I know he wouldn't run away. Draco had information for us but you guys kicked him out!"
Harry threw his arms up in frustration. "Then Draco was lying to you all along!" His yelling caused everyone's heads to snap towards him, the room fell completely silent and still.
"No!" Hermione cried out, but Harry cut her off.
"You don't know! You over heard one conversation between Draco and Theodore and as you reported to us, Draco didn't even say much in that conversation, so we really don't know where his alliances lie. For all we know Draco is a secret spy for Nott! Maybe Draco is planning something even worse than what's already happened. You put our whole operation in danger when you invited him to that meeting!"
The tears stung in Hermione's eyes and she struggled to breathe. No matter Harry's tirade, she still believed Draco was innocent and truthful when he agreed to come to the meeting.
"Either you believe Snape willfully left you," Harry's emphasis on "you" hung heavy in the air between the two of them, "or you were gullible and believed Draco."
"Harry," Ginny's stern voice drew everyone's eyes to her now. "Stop haranguing Hermione. We don't know-"
"But we do know," Harry began pacing, his eyes wild. "Nott's estate was searched. Nothing. Draco's parents said he seemed moodier than usual. That's all we have to go on."
Tonks shot a nervous look at Shacklebolt, hoping he'd step in and settle Harry and Hermione down before the whole meeting became derailed into a mess of emotions.
"Tonks, what's the next step?" Shacklebolt raised his eyebrows at the Head Auror.
"Right," she nodded, "I've already sent a group of Aurors to search the Carrows' home, since they're the next on the suspect list. They should be reporting back soon."
Shacklebolt turned to ask another question when one of his aides ran in, waving a parchment poster. "Someone is posting these all over the place!" The aide cried out, trying to catch his breath. Hermione didn't want to look but a series of gasps drew her eyes to the dark eyes and look of determination on Snape's face in the moving photograph as he followed Draco through the streets of Hogsmeade.
Above the moving photograph it read: WANTED & MISSING: SEVERUS SNAPE; and below: Have we been wrong in trusting him this whole time? Snape released Barty Crouch Jr. & now he's fled. Death Eater loyalties never die.
"These are all over the place?"
"All over the place, sir. Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, just outside this building."
"Get them down." Shacklebolt commanded and the aide rushed out of the room, slipping and nearly falling as he went.
"I want reports on the Carrow's residence within 10 minutes. Hermione, you better get back to Hogwarts. You're probably going to have a slew of parents' letters to deal with. If we can have Harry's teaching load covered as much as possible, I think we better put him back on the streets."
"Yes, sir," Hermione said meekly.
"No one better breathe a word of what we've discussed in here today to anyone outside this room. Understand?"
Shacklebolt looked around the room as a chorus of "ayes" and "yeses" accompanied by nods resounded around the room.
Snape fell to his knees, a harsh shove on his back compelling him to do so. His head was covered with some cloth-like device and he felt groggy like his mind had been drugged. His hands were bound behind his back with both a rope and some kind of magical spell, he sensed.
The cloth sack covering his head was pulled off his in a quick and jerking motion as he struggled to retain his balance on his knees. When he finally got his bearings he realized he was in the middle of a forest; at dusk or dawn, he couldn't quite tell, but only faint twilight could be seen through the trees. As he gained more awareness, he could tell that he had, indeed, been drugged with some kind of potion. But his senses and mind had been altered so much he couldn't figure out what potion had been used. He could barely remember what had happened before he had been drugged and apparently abducted. Three shadowy figures stood in front of him, one of them casually tossing a small object in the air and catching it in his right hand; over and over and over.
"Where am I?" Snape growled. The response was only laughter.
Snape struggled to loosen the grip on his wrists, trying to focus his mind on possible counter-spells, but the effort proved to be too taxing; a polluting haze hung over his mind, limiting his cognitive and magical skills. It felt like a large weight was bearing down on his magic, suppressing and suffocating it. He heard a groan near him and looked over to see Draco in the same position as he; on his knees, his hands bound behind him.
"Draco has served me well," the man tossing the stone in the air finally spoke up, noticing Snape's glance.
Draco murmured something incoherently, apparently under the same mind-altering spell that had been used on Snape.
"Draco, Draco, Draco…" the speaker clacked his tongue against the roof of his mouth to mark his disapproval, "He was most unwilling to help, but I still needed him to serve my purpose." The shadowed figure walked over to Draco and slapped him across the face, a brutal sound in an otherwise peacefully still night. Snape winced at the movement, his body jerked in response to the sound.
"And hello to you, professor," the speaker turned towards Snape again, stepping closer now, a sneer on his face.
"Theodore Nott," Snape sneered back, recognizing the young man now as he came closer, looming over Snape.
"It's a shame we are meeting again under such circumstances."
"Draco," Snape hissed weakly, looking at the other young man next to him.
"Draco didn't actually do anything himself. Don't be too upset with him, professor. I merely used him like a pawn, that weak-willed ferret. Professor Moody was right about him when he transformed him into one, or shall I say Professor Crouch Jr., who, by the way, just happens to be right over there." Theodore's dark profile turned as he pointed at a large square cage about 20 feet away.
"Amycus, why don't you alert our good pet that we have guests?"
The tall, slender figure banged a stick against the bars of the cage, the rattling sound echoing throughout the forest. Snape saw something on the ground stir when Amycus used the stick to poke and prod through the bars.
Barty Crouch Jr. woke and made a startling growl, sounding more like an animal than a human.
Draco shifted on his knees, his eyes wide with horror. Snape could see that he was fidgeting his hands and arms, trying to free himself. Theodore noticed this as well.
"Ah, but you won't be able to free yourself, I'm afraid. We've secured you in more ways than one. But I do thank you for your service, your body, in particular. The Imperius Curse worked like a charm." Theodore smiled in a sickingly sweet way. He turned back towards Snape.
"Glad you're finally conscious. You've been out cold for a day," Theodore smiled slyly, resuming his tossing of the stone. "We need to have a chat. I have a proposition for you."
"Here is your tea, dear," McGonagall smiled sadly at Ginny. "Thank you for humoring an old witch and coming over. I'm sure you have other things you'd much rather be doing this afternoon." McGonagall moved around stiffly to the other armchair in her cottage. She gave Ginny a tight lipped smile as she sat.
"Not at all," Ginny replied, blowing on her tea. "I'm happy to visit you."
"I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to come over."
Ginny gave her former professor a quizzical look. "I assumed you wanted company? I know you were close friends with Snape. I'm sure this is all really hard for you," Ginny gave McGonagall an empathetic look over her teacup.
"Yes indeed," McGonagall paused, looking down at her hands sadly, "but I actually have something specific I want to talk to you about."
"Oh?" Ginny's interest was entirely piqued now as she sipped her tea.
"I have it on good authority that you've also grown close with Severus over the last few weeks, is that true?"
Ginny raised an eyebrow. She hadn't told anyone she was having weekly tea with Snape except for mentioning it to Harry the first week it occurred. "And who is your source?" she asked slyly as McGonagall shrugged like it was nothing.
"Oh I'm not at liberty-"
"The portraits. Dumbledore's portrait." Ginny narrowed her eyes. By the look on McGonagall's face Ginny knew she was correct. McGonagall looked sheepish as she smoothed her skirt around her thighs.
"Well I'm happy that he has another friend. Stubborn man, always tries to keep himself isolated. It's not good for his health," McGonagall tried to brush off her intimate knowledge of Ginny and Snape's friendship.
"Where is Dumbledore's other portrait?"
McGonagall sighed. "It's in the Ministry of Magic, outside the Wizengamot chamber. I go to meet my friend, Ursula Canady, who is a current member, from time to time. We lunch together. I was there the other day and struck up a conversation with him. Now, are you done interrogating me, Mrs. Weasley-Potter?"
Ginny held up her hands and grinned. "I'm just following your lessons, professor. Always think things through thoroughly.'"
McGonagall shook her head but couldn't restrain a smile any longer. "Oh Ginny, you were always one of my favorite students. Bright and clever. Not as obnoxious as most of your brothers."
Ginny straightened, her smile widening. "Thank you," she said in a sugary sweet voice.
A House Elf popped into the room holding a small plate of biscuits. "Here have a biscuit, my dear. Now, tell me, how are you feeling after these last few days?"
Ginny bit into her biscuit, drizzled with honey, and chewed slowly, trying to surmise and put into words just what she felt.
"I…I know he's innocent and I never doubted that. And I don't think he's trying to hide. That's not in his nature. I know it looks like he went with Draco voluntarily, but…I just have a feeling something else happened."
"Mmmm," McGonagall hummed, nodding her head solemnly. "I feel very much the same way." She put her cup down on the end table next to her chair.
"He's still alive. I know it. I can feel it. But something bad has happened," Ginny continued, her face deeply pensive like she was trying to envision what had happened.
"I want to tell you something." McGonagall stood up abruptly, her black gown rustling as she moved past the chair and over to the shelves that lined the other side of the room. "Something that I've never told anyone. Only Albus knows." She reached for the small Pensieve she had on one of the top shelves, near some books. "Or, rather show you something."
Ginny's eyes widened as McGonagall brought the stone bowl across the room. Apparently she would now play secret keeper for McGonagall, after having already stored away Snape's memories of Hermione only days before. She groaned inwardly; this was a burden too great to bear.
"I'm showing this to you for a couple of reasons," McGonagall continued as she pulled a silvery thread from her head. "Snape will return, it is only a matter of time. He and Hermione still have a string of fate binding them, connecting them. And in case something were to happen to me I feel it necessary to pass along this information. Albus agrees; in fact, it was his idea."
Ginny stared at the bowl with a grim expression, her lips drawn into a straight line. She dreaded whatever McGonagall wanted to show her, instinctively having a bad feeling about it.
"You're so sure Snape will come back?"
"Yes. I am absolutely sure of it. These memories is from April 1998. Professor Trelawney made another prophecy that evening."
Ginny continued to stare at the bowl, every part of her mind urging her not to view the memory and just leave.
"Go on," McGonagall encouraged.
Ginny sighed, grabbed both sides of the bowl and plunged her head in. She immediately felt the falling sensation and then landed in the headmaster's office, seeing Dumbledore and McGonagall standing over Trewlaney, who trembled on the floor.
"The dark lord approaches…
The girl with 'very little aura' is called…against her will…
To the place where the Grindylows sleep
She will go to the one whom you trust
They are in grave danger…"
"Seven will approach seven, in the seventh year
Evil will not rest.
The two who will rot in the cage
The two who held hands at birth
Two pureblood snakes, coiled together in marriage
The one thought to be eliminated by a kiss
The Outside threatens those Within…"
"But he, the sufferer of unrequited love,
The cycle of love and love lost will carry on,
Until he confesses his love
For the lion, the Healer, the Maiden; earth in her veins
the one with whom a blood bond binds"
"The harmony comes slowly,
willing, she will be, the second time
the Healer will shield the Sage with her love
He will find the redemption and solace he desires,
but only through the shedding of her blood"
Trelawney fell silent, the room thick with tension as her head rolled to the side and she fell unconscious. McGonagall dragged her eyes up from Trelawney's body on the floor to Dumbledore's.
"Albus…who is the prophecy about? The lion, the healer, the maiden?"
Dumbledore studied McGonagall's face, his eyes calculating.
"Severus…" he began.
"Oh dear." McGonagall frowned.
"and I believe it to be Hermione."
"Albus!"
"I know," he replied, his face stern, his eyes grim.
"How long have you known?"
"A couple of months." He began to pace his office, his hands behind his back as the edge of his robe stroked the floor.
"Oh dear…" McGonagall was clearly in shock as she looked back at Trelawney.
"Sybill will be fine. The process her body and mind goes through to make a prophecy is really quite taxing. She'll sleep it off and won't remember a thing when she wakes up."
McGonagall nodded, still looking unsure and wringing her hands in front of her.
The memory swirled and Ginny felt like she was floating in circles for a few seconds before the vision steadied and she once again found herself in the headmaster's office, McGonagall on one side of the desk, Dumbledore on the other. Sunlight filtered in through the window, different from the dark moonlight that accompanied the memory of Trelawney's prophecy.
"But why her, Albus?" McGonagall sat stiffly. Ginny could tell her from her body language and tone that she was upset with Dumbledore.
"Because she is naturally suited for him."
"How so?" McGonagall bristled.
"Think of his only friend when he was a student at Hogwarts."
"Lily Evans." McGonagall didn't miss a beat, the answer right on the tip of her tongue.
"Indeed. Hermione resembles Lily in certain ways, does she not?"
"Yes…in a few ways. But she's vastly different in other ways."
"And perhaps those other ways are the ingredients for a better match."
"Albus Dumbledore…are you playing matchmaker?"
"I never said anything about a romantic match."
"But she's SO young."
"Right now, yes. But she's always been more mature than her fellow students…even the older pupils. Plus, I daresay she may have gained a year with that Time-Turner," he winked.
"How much of this did you orchestrate, Albus?" McGonagall sat back in her chair in a huff.
"Some, not all. Let's just say the stars aligned and gave me perspective."
"Are you sure it's her?"
"Quite. I was studying the Ancient Runes texts. Their signs align."
Hermione sat with her legs tucked under her in an oversized armchair, staring at the pale blue and purple hues painting the twilight sky. She was in Snape's-nay, now her-office. The news of Snape's disappearance had officially broke to the public and she had been spending most of her time as the new headmistress answering letters from upset parents, reiterating the Ministry's message: There is no conclusive evidence yet, there is an ongoing investigation conducted by the Ministry. A few students had been pulled from the school. Other parents threatened to do so. Distrust towards the former Death Eater was revived and festering again. Even the professors were on edge, some of them visibly torn about what to feel. Her Saturday had been draining to say the least.
The last two days she had absolutely no appetite. Her nights were filled with the same reoccurring dreams; she was either trapped and alone in a dark pit with only her mind to keep her company or she was throwing her body in front of someone, that someone she assumed to be Snape, as something attacked them. Sometimes it was Nagini. Other times it was a bright flash of light. It was always a searing pain that course through her even in her dream state. She woke up that morning in a cold sweat, shaking and crying.
Another letter flew in through the fireplace. She ignored it and turned back to look out the window. Where is he? Why did he leave? He wouldn't have willingly left us; that's not like him at all. She just knew Harry was wrong. In all honesty, she was glad to have him leave Hogwarts for all but one class as he went back to a full time Auror position. Only his class with the 7th years created a scheduling issue with no professors suited to take it on, so she had retained him for that, while she, Neville, and two other professors took his other classes. Vector had stepped up to the deputy position and now took over the day to day issues, trying to relieve Hermione from as much of the burden as possible as she taught 2 years of DADA classes, all 7 years of Potions, kept up with Ministry and Thunderbird operations, and dealt with angry parents. It was no wonder that Hermione thought she might be losing her mind. In a way it was nice that she barely had time to dwell on and miss Snape.
Now, she found she couldn't pry herself away from the chair by the window and from thinking about Snape. The office didn't feel like hers, though. It still smelled like him, his books were still there. She had peeked inside his rooms, but couldn't bring herself to go in. He has to come back, he just has to, she pleaded to an unknown source. She saw Hagrid walking along the edge of the forest, looking lonesome and forlorn. We're all just barely surviving it seems.
Dramatic snoring drew her attention away from the window as she looked across the room at Armando Dippet's portrait. She sighed and looked around the room at the rest of the professors she assumed were only feigning sleep. Finally her eyes fell on Dumbledore's portrait, but he wasn't pretending to asleep, instead he was staring at her with a contemplative expression.
"Do you know where he is?" she asked accusingly.
"No, Ms. Granger, I'm afraid I don't."
She steadily held his gaze, her eyes fiery as they met his icy blue pair.
"Did you know he was going to leave?"
"I assure you I did not. He is a man of his word, Ms. Granger, and if he said he was going to London to turn himself in to the Muggle government then he was planning on going to London."
She let out a short breath and pulled on the sleeves of her sweater. She saw Phineas Black pop one eye open to glance at her.
"Ms. Granger, what are you going to do when he returns?"
She looked back up at Dumbledore with curiosity. The former headmaster's voice was calm and steady and she was struck by the confidence in his eyes.
"What will you say to him when he returns?" Dumbledore continued his line of questioning before she could speak.
She shook her head sadly. "How do you know he'll come back?"
"He will. I know it."
"I suppose I'll ask him where he's been."
"Do you love him, Ms. Granger?"
"Do I love him!? That is an awfully personal question, sir!"
The other portraits opened their eyes now, watching the exchange.
"But the only question that perhaps matters."
"I can think of a lot of questions that matter at the moment!"
Dumbledore continued to calmly stare at her, stoking her annoyance and maddening her. She jumped out the chair, rushing to grab her coat and a scarf.
"I do not have to sit here and listen to this!" she huffed angrily. "You're meddlesome and shame on you!" She flung the door open and ran down the stairs.
"Well that went well," Phineas quipped.
Outside Hermione walked quickly and furiously. It was nearly dark but she didn't care. A cold wind pulled at the tendrils of curls that hung around her head and neck, the rest of her hair thrown up into a lopsided messy bun. The March evening was chilly but she didn't notice.
"Am I in love with him?!" she mimicked Dumbledore out loud. "What is he even thinking!?" It didn't matter if she loved him or not, they had to find him! They had to figure out what was going on! They had to fight back!
She began to slow her pace, staring at the trees along the edge of the Forbidden Forest, as realization set in. Dumbledore saw right through the situation, as he always did.
She did love Snape. She couldn't ignore how she really felt any longer. She had deeply wounded him and now he was gone. And she was left with a gaping wound in her heart. If only she could go back in time and reconsider so many decisions. If only she hadn't held him at arm's length and then pushed him away. If only she could tap into her emotions and allow herself to feel and be vulnerable with others.
"I love him," she whispered incredulously as it set in. A gust of cold wind picked up again, both caressing and stinging her face. She blinked as her daze waned. Dumbledore's words echoed in her mind. "What will you say to him when he returns?"
"No! No."Ginny pulled her head back up, shaking. "What does it mean?" she questioned, her voice filled with agitation.
"I do not know for sure-"
"We have to tell her," Ginny's cried frantically.
"You run the risk of disrupting and thereby altering the prophecy if you do."
"Why did you show this to me then? You had to have known that I would tell her. I can't keep something like this a secret!"
McGonagall paused, casting her eyes downward as she thought through her answer. "I only ask that you give it some thought before you decide to tell her. Please understand that if you try to change the outcome of the prophecy it could lead to more devastating circumstances."
Ginny slumped down into a chair. "I wish you wouldn't have told me," she murmured, rubbing her forehead with her right hand.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have," McGonagall admitted, sounding ashamed.
"She's going to die?"
"Ginevra," McGonagall rushed to her, taking her hand.
"She's going to die," Ginny said more forcefully, this time not as a question.
"We don't know exactly what the prophecy means, but…it would seem that way."
Ginny's shoulders slumped in defeat. Her throat felt thick, her eyes heavy.
"When will all this madness end?" her voice cracked, her eyes wide with shock.
Snape's eyes were trained on the black stone that Theodore continued to toss.
"And what is your proposition?"
"I want you to join us. You're such a valuable asset."
"Who is us?!" Snape spat out, actual spit flying from his mouth as he asked.
Theodore chuckled. "Alecto and Amycus, of course. With all due respect, professor, I would have thought you would have pieced that together already." Theodore refrained from explicitly incriminating the Carrow twins.
"Why are you doing this, Nott?"
Draco moaned again, the potion poisoning clearly affecting him more than it had Snape.
"I'm doing this to rebuild and strengthen our kind."
"By causing havoc?"
"I'm bringing the institution down; the Ministry must crumble. It's the only way we can refortify our community. We need stronger leadership. What we have now is a joke. Now, what say you? Will you join our cause? Will you help us rebuild our community? To protect it better?"
"No," Snape growled through clenched teeth.
"Ah, I thought you might say that. That's why I have this," Theodore looked at the stone he held thoughtfully. "Do you recognize this, professor?" Theodore's voice turned soft and light as he stared fondly at the dark stone in his hand. "It's such a small object, but with so much power to entice."
When Snape didn't answer, Theodore continued. "It's something I heard so much about growing up. You see, my nanny used to read Beedle the Bard's tales to me. Even my dad talked about the lore of this object." Theodore held it up to inspect it.
"Where did you get that? That doesn't belong to you," Snape grunted, narrowing his eyes at Theodore.
Theodore ignored him. "You know, I heard a rumor once, while I was working at the Ministry, that you had once been in love with a former classmate of mine's dead mother." Theodore laughed bitterly and looked back at Snape, raising his eyebrows.
"Where did you hear that?!"
"I told you, at the Ministry. Lunch time gossip I guess you could call it." Theodore shrugged. "That's how you were exonerated from your Death Eater crimes, was it not? I always wondered how you got off so easily."
"What?" Snape was genuinely confused and not because of whatever potion he'd been drugged with. He wracked his mind, trying to file through the memories of what he knew after he had woken from his snake bite induced coma.
"Well, anyway, it made me curious, since my father was a fellow Death Eater and he trusted you as one. Why were you exonerated? No trial at all. Curious thing. So I did a little investigating. Similar investigating I did to find our friend Barty," he nodded back at the caged man with his head. "And I found the rumor to be true."
Snape's eyes widened with horror.
"Ah, yes, I know your secret. Don't worry. I haven't told anyone. Yet. Did you know that Harry Potter testified on your behalf to get your exonerated? He did so secretly, but the records are archived in the Ministry if you know where to look." Theodore began tossing the stone again, pacing in front of Snape now. "Yes, Potter had some of Dumbledore's precious memories it seems. Memories that proved your true allegiance, which was apparently to his mother first and foremost, then to Dumbledore. Love drove you to become a spy, how quaint," Theodore sneered. He looked at Snape, hoping for an outraged response. Snape maintained a stony expression, his eyes appearing lifeless.
"So, as a token of my goodwill to you, I want to give you this, the resurrection stone. You can be reunited with the love of your life." Theodore held the stone out in his palm.
"Lily will be all yours if you accept my proposal and join me. Would you like to see her again? Her green eyes and red hair? Hear her voice again?"
Lily formed in Snape's mind. A young, healthy woman, smiling and laughing. Lily, I would take you in a heartbeat. The vision looked back at him quizzically. Really Severus? She seemed to ask. The Mirror of Erised flashed before his mind. Lily fading. Hermione approaching, but this time he didn't feel angry. It felt natural to have Hermione appear before him. Hermione. I need my girl.
"No," Snape responded darkly.
"Oh, but why not?"
"It doesn't work as simple as that. Did you even pay attention to Beedle's story?"
"We'll never know for sure unless you take it."
"I won't."
"Professor, you're willing to give up the love of your life and let this community fall into danger?"
Snape's jaw twitched.
"I'm not letting you go if you refuse me," Theodore warned.
A brief pause fell between them, interrupted by Draco falling over on his side. He had passed out again.
Theodore shook his head in disgust. "Weakling."
"You had so much potential, why are you wasting it on these machinations?" Snape's eyes flashed; his words hit Theodore harder than Snape had predicted. Theodore's face twisted in agony as his anger finally got the best of him.
"I do still have potential and I'm not wasting it! My cause is an important cause! You and your government are making us Wizards weak! You're making us a disgrace to our ancestors! You're letting the Muggles walk all over us and control us! They will ruin us!" Theodore yelled hoarsely, his face reddening. "That pathetic excuse you call the Minister is weak! Wizardkind will not be controlled! We will not be bullied and we will not be defenseless!" Tears filled Theodore's eyes.
Snape observed his former student. Theodore looked so emotionally raw and vulnerable in that moment and it caught Snape by surprise. This was a man who wasn't just power hungry, this was a man filled with so much fear and anxiety that he trembled with anger and terror. In his mind, his plan was the only way to secure the safety for the wizards, to protect their kind. He was maniacal, but not like Voldemort or Grindelwald. Snape could tell that the fear that festered within him had taken over his mind so much that the former pupil who once demonstrated calm thinking, now couldn't restrain himself from allowing his emotions to take over and dominate his line of thinking.
"Theodore," Snape entreated, his voice gentle but urgent, "you have a point. I understand you. But your tactics are wrong."
"No, they're not!"
"Come, let me out of these binds and let's discuss this more."
"No, you're not fooling me. I have to have your promise that you will stand by me. I will give you the resurrection stone in exchange for the Unbreakable Vow."
Snape shook his head. "No."
Theodore's eyes flashed. "You will live to regret this."
Ron arrived at work to hear the sound of sniffling, but an apparently empty room. The sound quieted for a moment as he hung up his jacket and he shrugged it off. Shuffling across the office, he began to rifle through the stack of papers on the desk, hearing the sniffles resume, accompanied by a faint whimper this time. Someone was crying. He looked around again.
"Hello?" he called out with uncertainty. The room quieted again, but now he had the impression that someone was hidden. He moved around the desk and saw Tonks, huddled on the floor, shaking as she sobbed silently, tears rolling down her blotchy red face, her hair looking ragged and untamed. Her knees were pulled up to her chest as she leaned against the other side of the desk, holding her head in one of her hands. She wore oversized black cargo pants and a white tank top, looking pale and thinner than usual.
"Tonks," Ron cried, rushing to her side, kneeling at eye level in front of her. "Tonks, what's wrong? Why are you hiding?" He looked over her face frantically. Her dark eyes had purplish circles underneath.
"I…I…I'm so tired," she stammered out between the hiccups that crept up.
"Oh, Tonks," Ron gave her a sympathetic look, his voice soothing and gentle. "When was the last time you slept more than a couple of hours at a time?"
"I…I slept…I don't even know! I can barely even think straight!"
Ron gently took either side of her face, holding her jaw and cheeks between his hands, assessing her carefully.
"But that's not even why I'm crying. I'm used to being stressed out because of work. I just miss Teddy so much!" The tears began to flood out of her eyes again, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. "I've barely seen him lately. I miss him so much and I feel like such a bad mother."
Ron began to caress her skin softly with his thumbs as he continued to hold her face and watch her. "I can't even imagine how hard this must be for you," he said softly. "I'm sorry."
Tonks tried to stabilize her breathing, meeting his eyes now. "I'm sorry. This is entirely unprofessional."
"Don't apologize. I'm going daft with all of this and I don't have a child or wife that I have to look after. You're so strong. I hope you know that." Ron stared at her earnestly, continuing to gently stroke his thumbs along her jaw line.
She swallowed as the hiccups began to subside. She hadn't been touched by a man since Remus, other than the occasional brotherly and friendly hug from Harry. She soaked his touch in without really registering that it was Ron, in the workplace. In that moment she just needed the calming touch and words he was offering.
Ron had just acted intuitively. He felt such compassion for Tonks, such admiration of her strength. Touching her felt instinctive and natural in that moment. He stared into her eyes and realized just how beautiful she really was; it didn't matter if she wore makeup, was balling her eyes out, altered her appearance, changed her hair, or even brushed her hair, he found that everything about her exuded beauty and vitality.
For a moment he thought he might kiss her. For a moment he desperately wanted to. But he shook himself out of that spell, realizing that even if she returned his kiss she was feeling very vulnerable and emotional at the moment. It wouldn't be fair to either of them if he kissed her now. He didn't want to take advantage of her vulnerability. She was exhausted and she was aching for her son.
"Go home, I'll combine our duties today," he assured her.
"Ron, no. You already help me-"
"I'm serious. It's Sunday. I want you to get Teddy from your mum's and spend the day with him. Go outside and get fresh air. Take a nap. Have a meal together."
She shook her head wearily. "How can I ever repay you for all the nice things you do for me, for us."
"Bring me some chocolate when you come back," he burst into a huge boyish grin. She returned his smile and rolled her eyes, inhaling deeply as her nerves finally started to settle and become calm. "Here, let me help you up." He held out his hands so he could help her stand.
"Thank you," she thanked him warmly. Their fingers lingered before drifting apart and to their sides. She turned, rubbing her face, feeling achy from crying so hard.
"I hope Teddy still remembers who I am," she joked, walking stiffly to the door. She grabbed a sweater that laid across the back of a chair and threw it down over her arms and torso. Stretching her neck from side to side she turned again as she grabbed her purse.
"Ron, you are too good to me."
"Nonsense. Don't be absurd."
"I don't deserve everything you do for Teddy and I."
"Not true at all," he mused, beginning to go through the paperwork again. "You are a single mother, and a terrific one at that. You deserve to spend some time with your kid and to have a little down time. Now get outta here." Ron tried to make his voice no nonsense, but he never fully captured the commanding tone someone like Snape possessed. Still, Tonks gave him a small smile before following his command and quickly fleeing the room.
Ron glanced back down at the paperwork, the feel of her skin still imprinted on his fingers.
"It is time that we had leadership that can actually protect us! Our numbers are dwindling. Our autonomy is dwindling. The very essence of our identity is diminishing! The Muggle government has seen to that and will continue to see to that unless we make it known that we will not be bullied!"
Shouts from the crowd responded to Theodore's voice as he stood on a step, crying out passionately before a crowd at Diagon Alley.
"Do we have confidence in Minister Shacklebolt? Let us not fool ourselves. Have any of us in our lifetime had a stable, strong minister? We continue to cycle through the terror. Grindelwald, Voldemort, the Muggles! When will the terror stop!?"
The crowd roared in approval again.
"I call for Shacklebolt to be removed from office! I call for the whole Ministry to be reformed! It's the 21st Century, it's our century! Let us take charge of it! Let us get rid of the archaic ways! Who is with me?!"
The crowd went wild, cheering, shouting, clapping. Theodore looked around at them, his chest rising and falling as he weighed their approval.
Snape had to get away. He knew he should try to take on and actually fight Nott and the Carrows, but with his magic still drained, only returning to him very slowly, it wasn't really a possibility at the moment. If only he could defeat them now, he'd save the rest of the Order a whole lot of problems.
He rolled over, craning his neck to get a better look around. He saw Alecto and Amycus in the distance, gathered around a fire and warming their hands; making plans to dispose of him no doubt. He was surprised he was still alive after refusing Theodore's offer. It was only a matter of time, though. Theodore would make sure that he suffered for refusing him.
He looked around, trying to locate Nott himself, but to no avail. Draco was still passed out just a few feet away from him, his blonde hair falling over his face. Snape wiggled his arms, pulling at the binds. Snape still had no idea where he was exactly. Was it possible to apparate? Had enough of his magic returned? It was his best bet to make a speedy getaway.
He closed his eyes and concentrated. It took a couple of minutes but he felt a nudge in his mind. If he kept trying he thought he could do it, but it would be taxing and draining. Still, he needed to try. He needed to get away from these maniacs. He needed to warn the Order. He needed to find his girl.
I am good, I am grounded
I can't get my head around it
I keep feeling smaller and smaller
I need my girl
I'm under the gun again
I know I was a 45 percenter then
I know I was a lot of things
I need my girl
Will they be reunited in the next chapter?! Will they?!
A/N #2-ok, so we had some more Pensieve memories. I decided to go the more normal route of viewing them (like the books/movies), unlike what Snape experienced with Hermione's memories in Chapter 10. My explanation for how I changed it relates back to the magical blood bond they share (which I couldn't tell you right then in Chapter 10 because that would be spoiling future chapters).
The reference in the prophecy to: the lion, the Healer, the Maiden; earth in her veins, is based on Hermione (Gryffindor; Virgo is earth, its sign is a Maiden, and also known as a Healer)
If you like my writing and like Star Wars/Reylo check out my new story: Spectrum!
S/O-Thanks to all my readers, but special thanks to my reviewers from the last couple of chapters! I appreciate you! NowFlyAway, ZoeyOlivia, JuliSt, Myracle-Wryter, Onyx Obsidian, RhodaBush, Linlu8, teddyandlilyforever, DaisyChain2109, megumisakura, Fraulein Takoor, Glass-NotCannon, Son of the Mourning, decadenceofmysoul, just know I dream of Draco, BlueHP, TequilaNervous
I'm sorry I've been slow on updates! I'm back at work after the holiday break and I'm a moderator on a Star Wars forum, as well as doing a podcast now. But like I've said before, I won't abandon this story. I mean, I can't now! We're so close to the end! xoxo