Disclaimer: I don't own HP so please don't sue, I can't afford it! ;P

A/N: Sorry for the delay, my beta has her final exams (Good luck Sweetpea28!) and RL is hectic at the moment.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter!


"Did you hear what happened at the Ministry?"

"You know who attacked—"

"Albus Dumbledore drove him off!"

"—Grindlewald you know…"

"Ran off with his tail between his legs!"

"The Aurors were useless, of course!"

"How he even got in—"

"But…"

"—nothing to worry about. This "war" will be over in a month!"


Albus Dumbledore swept through the corridors of St. Mungo's trying not to flinch at what he heard. Everyone seemed to be forgetting he had responsibilities of his own, caring for the future of the Wizarding world. He obviously hadn't done as well as he'd thought on that front. Tom Riddle of all people, preaching Pureblood supremacy…

The boy once had such potential! Of course Albus had always been suspicious about the Acromantula incident—he given Hagrid a job after all—but he'd simply believed that Tom had seen Hagrid's 'pet' and jumped to conclusions. A trifle overzealous perhaps; but when looking at a spider the size of a first year; completely understandable.

But now that whole situation had taken on a decidedly sinister cast in Albus' mind. Was that where it all started to go wrong for Tom? His first taste of murder? The thrill of getting away with it? Or was it before then, before he'd ever even heard of Hogwarts and took pleasure in using his abilities to hurt the children around him?

Power, that's what it all came back to. Tom and his insatiable need for control, for domination.

Albus felt like a failure.

Even as people praised him for 'defeating Voldemort,' he knew it wasn't over. He had bruised Tom's pride—a setback—but one that he would eventually recover from. Voldemort would return. And Albus knew Tom as a cunning, intelligent boy. He wouldn't allow himself to be caught by surprise twice. There was no way he would ever put himself in a position to be humiliated again, especially not in front of his followers. He would avoid Albus like the plague until he was confident that he could destroy his old professor without much of a fight.

Which while good news for Hogwarts and the children under his protection; it also unfortunately meant that this war was only just beginning.


Healer Thornton was frazzled. She desperately wanted to sit down, take a breath or maybe a Pepper-up but there was just no time. The massive influx of the dead and wounded, sadly the former was far greater than the latter, meant that every Healer and apprentice was pulling double shifts trying to keep up.

The Healer gazed at her current patient in sympathy and reluctant admiration. He really should be dead. She sighed, her gaze drifting over the jagged curse scars, the bandaged eye that hid an empty socket and the depression in the blankets where his left leg should have been. He'd probably wish that he had died once he woke up.


The room was incongruously cheerful and bright. The woman lying in bed looked vaguely perplexed by that and Albus stifled a smile at her woozy glare. She should have looked frail; her thin body devoid of her bulky Auror robes and fearsome hat but her blue eyes betrayed that picture. Though fogged by potions, they caught his gaze as soon as he stepped through the door.

Albus Dumbledore paused, taking in the steel in Augusta Longbottom's gaze. Yes, a very formidable woman indeed. Outnumbered ten to one by Death Eaters and yet she managed to save a handful of her squad as well as herself. Considering the circumstances, it was something close to a miracle. An idea began to take root in his mind and he gave it space to unfurl as he focused his attention on the Witch before him.

"You came," she coughed and he hurried to her side.

"Of course," he replied, transfiguring a cup from a napkin and summoning water with his wand.

She sipped his offering with shaky hands but Albus made no move to assist, knowing it would be politely rebuffed.

As she handled the cup back, her strength seemed to fade.

"The others?" she gasped, fighting her suddenly heavy eyelids.

Albus couldn't keep the sorrow from his face and she closed her eyes.

"How many?" she demanded weakly.

"Dearborn and McKinnon survived," he said heavily, "The rest of your team were killed."

A low sound of pain escaped her before her eyes flew open.

"Alastor?"

"He's alive, Augusta," Albus reassured her. "His condition is critical but the Healers are optimistic about his chances."

Her sudden burst of energy gone, she relaxed back into the pillows. "Of course he is," she muttered fondly. "The old goat is too damn stubborn to die."

"Naturally," Albus agreed placidly, taking a step back as he saw a Healer hovering anxiously in the doorway. "Is there anything I can get you before I leave?"

"Frank," she sighed. "I want to see Frank."

"Of course," he murmured as her eyes finally slid closed. The dormant idea suddenly burst into full bloom in his mind. If Tom wouldn't approach him, then they needed some other way of opposing him. Clearly the Ministry had been compromised but perhaps…

With a distracted smile he left the room, nodding politely to the wide-eyed Healer.

"Albus Dumbledore!"

"—defeated Grindlewald, you know!"

"Even You know who is scared of him!"

People turned and stared as he passed, but Albus kept walking. He couldn't do it alone. To stop the monster his student had become he would need allies, people he could trust, stubborn and strong-willed Witches and Wizards that Tom couldn't turn. Albus Dumbledore ignored the awed whispers as he headed towards the floo.

He had a promise to keep and plans to set into motion.


"Frank!"

Frank jerked awake to the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. He blinked around the dimly lit Gryffindor common room, the smoldering embers in the fireplace the only source of illumination. Severus was crouched beside him and Frank had a moment of disorientation before he remembered why the Slytherin was there. The fact that Severus hadn't slunk back to the dungeons made Frank grin woozily at him as he fought back a yawn. He opened his mouth to ask the time when he finally woke up enough to get a proper look at his friend. His mouth snapped shut.

Severus' body was taut as if he was fighting back the urge to run and his usually inscrutable black eyes were showing white all the way around. Frank sat up abruptly from their nest of cushions in front of the fire, his hand reaching out only to fall limply to his side as he saw the person standing behind Severus.

Albus Dumbledore regarded them calmly over his half-moon spectacles.

Frank's eyes shot to Severus' and saw resignation there. Something twisted inside Frank at the thought.

"Headmaster," he blurted, "it's my fault—I dragged Sev up here, I was selfish and—"

"Oh for Merlin's sake Frank," Severus exploded suddenly, "will you just shut up?! You hardly had your wand at my back, it was my decision." He lifted his head arrogantly. "If I didn't want to be here, then trust me—I wouldn't be."

"You wouldn't be here if I hadn't guilted you into it," Frank snapped, looking back to the Headmaster again. "You can't punish Severus, Sir, I'll take the detentions—"

Severus slapped a hand over his mouth. "Shut up Frank!" His eyes darted to Dumbledore's raised eyebrows and Frank heard him mutter something about stupid Gryffindor martyrs. A strange noise caught Frank's attention, had that been a snort?

"Ignore him, Headmaster," Severus said smoothly, tightening his grip as Frank squirmed and let out a muffled protest. "I know I'm not supposed to be here but it's not like I broke in or anything. I was invited by a resident. And I don't recall hearing about any…official…rules against such a thing."

"Release Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Snape."

Severus reluctantly let Frank go and glared at him as he opened his mouth. Frank glared right back, determined not to let Severus take the fall for this.

Before they could start arguing again, Dumbledore intervened.

"Gentlemen," he instructed, "take a seat."

Severus perched carefully on the edge of the couch, clearly uncomfortable and Frank dropped down heavily next to him. With an elegant wave of his hand, Dumbledore re-lit the fire. Light flooded the room to reveal the Headmaster beaming at them, his blue eyes twinkling merrily behind his glasses.

"It has been some time since I've seen such strong bonds between the Houses," he remarked cheerfully as he took a seat across from them.

"So…you're not upset?" Frank asked in shock.

"On the contrary, dear boy," Dumbledore smiled, "it gives me hope for the future. The friendship you two just displayed is what Hogwarts is all about." His smile dimmed. "And I believe that sort of unity will be needed more than ever now, gentlemen."

Frank cast a bewildered gaze at Severus who narrowed his eyes in turn. Severus tipped his head slightly and gave his friend a significant look. Frank frowned and followed his gaze back to the Headmaster. Or rather to his tattered robes and the scorch-marks that marred the eye-watering colours.

Frank felt his heart clench in fear and he grabbed Severus' arm, reflexively looking for an anchor.

"You didn't come here to catch Severus in the wrong common room, did you Sir?" he asked shakily. "You came to see me."

At Dumbledore's solemn nod, Frank's fingers gripped Severus tighter—he dimly worried that he might be hurting his friend but he couldn't seem to convince his fingers let go. In any case, Severus didn't protest and Frank quickly forgot about it, his eyes scanning the Headmaster's somber face, searching for some clue…

"Your mother is alive, Mr. Longbottom," he assured him but Frank didn't relax.

"That covers a multitude though, sir," he replied unsteadily. "Tell me…please…how bad is it?"

oOoOoOo

She was asking for him.

All Frank could absorb was that his mother would fully recover with time and that she was asking for him. She was normally so strong and independent—she never wanted to let him see when she was hurt, only ever telling him after the fact. It made his heart swell with pride to know that she considered him old enough, strong enough to comfort her like he'd always wanted to.

Severus was beside him, pulling him to his feet and practically supporting all his weight. He dimly heard some garbled words like 'shock' and 'moral support' but it meant nothing to him until he had some rich warm chocolate shoved into his mouth.

He choked and spluttered, coming back to himself with a jolt as someone pounded on his back. He gasped and straightened up in self-defense, looking through streaming eyes at Dumbledore's chagrined expression.

"A little more care, Mr. Snape," he admonished gently.

Severus stared back unrepentantly as Frank finally swallowed the chunk of chocolate. "It worked, didn't it?" he demanded. "When someone goes into shock, they need a bigger one to snap them out of it." At Dumbledore's raised eyebrows, he relented slightly. "Although I suppose the chocolate was probably better than hitting him," he admitted grudgingly.

"Thanks," Frank rasped sarcastically.

Severus shot him an evil grin in response. "Guess you'll have to take better care of yourself if you don't want to suffer through my version of first aid again," he responded wryly.

Ignoring Frank's dark look, he raised an expectant brow at the Headmaster. Frank took a minute to be envious of Severus' self-control—just a short while ago he'd been scared of Dumbledore but now there was no trace of his earlier panic. Frank looked between the two. Clearly Severus wanted something badly enough to overcome his apprehension.

"Very well, Mr. Snape," Dumbledore said lightly, "If Mr. Longbottom has no objections of course."

Frank felt like he'd missed something as Severus immediately clammed up. Dumbledore's face softened as he looked at the Slytherin.

"Mr. Longbottom," he began, "I think considering the circumstances, that you shouldn't be alone. Due to what happened tonight, I have other business in St. Mungo's so I will have to leave you for a time."

Something clicked in Frank's mind and he felt a rush of affection for his awkward Slytherin friend. "Of course, Sir," he agreed. "Maybe…" he glanced at Severus, hoping he hadn't guessed wrong, "maybe Severus could come with me?"

"I think that will work very well," Dumbledore said twinkling at the pair of them. "Mr. Snape?"

"Of course," Severus replied stiffly but he moved easily to Frank's side.

As they headed towards the portrait hole, a thought struck Frank and he looked around the empty common room. "Where's Remus?"


Severus bit his lip. He didn't want to admit that Remus had left before the Headmaster arrived, when he thought they were both asleep. It was hard not to roll his eyes at the thought. As if he could even think of dropping his guard like that on what amounted to enemy territory.

In any case, Remus must have had a pretty compelling reason to break curfew like that, especially considering how worried he'd been acting about Frank. Then again, he was a Marauder… Still, Severus kept his mouth shut. Until he knew why Remus had disappeared, he wasn't going to announce that he'd snuck out of the dorms in front of Dumbledore.

"He was here when we went to sleep," Frank persisted, looking around as if he expected his fellow Gryffindor to spring out from behind a cushion.

"Well, perhaps he got tired of sleeping on the floor and went to bed?" Severus suggested coolly.

Seeing Frank's face drop slightly, he shrugged. Maybe he didn't know why, but Remus had still left Frank when he needed him, to say nothing of his promise to help get Severus out of the lions' den without anyone lynching him. The fact that so few Gryffindors had stayed for Christmas was the only reason he'd made it this far unscathed.

"Ah yes," Dumbledore said apologetically, with a rueful glance at the window, "I'm afraid Mr. Lupin has some family issues of his own to deal with. A sick Aunt I believe." The portrait hole swung open and he stepped out. "Shall we?"

Frank and Severus followed quickly, Remus' mysterious circumstances quickly pushed aside for now. Although something about the way Dumbledore had looked out the window, just for that split second, nagged at the back of Severus' mind. He had the feeling he'd missed something important. However, Frank's white face and strained expression took precedence.

They were headed to St. Mungo's.


A/N: Severus' only experience of first aid comes from the streets of Spinner's End which is not a nice place. So first aid (when anyone bothers) is bound to be a little…unorthodox! :P

Please review and let me know what you think!