Chapter 28:
"Something is definitely…not right," Rawlins said to Maxim, only loud enough for him to hear and no one else.
"I know," he replied. The two were sitting in the (former) Gryffindor common room, where it was late at night. Both were still up since a few of their group were at the library, studying. The school had been very quiet, despite the lack of Dragon presence and randomly cancelled classes. "He must be planning something big."
"Then we must plan," Maxim countered. "Grandpa was never unprepared and we shouldn't be either."
"I agree, but what can we do?"
"Are you serious?" Maxim teased his friend. Rawlins was the only person he could really open up to besides his family. "We were able to distract them when Uncle Harry and Draco rescued Kevin and his father."
"Point. But that was a distraction. We, apparently, are very good at distractions. But preparing for a battle? Maybe we should leave that up to the Order. We can't do anything—we having finished our seventh year here yet."
Maxim sighed. "It's almost May," he said.
"So?" Rawlins said. "You're changing the subject."
"Am I?"
"Now you're talking in riddles. If you are going to keep this up, I'll just go to bed now and leave you to wait for the others." Rawlins started to stand up but Maxim stopped him.
"Listen to me. When we hear the stories about the adventures of Harry and company in Hogwarts, when does the grand finale always take place?"
"In…May…crap, do you think the same thing would happen to us here with Newman?"
"I don't know…but I think it would be a good bet to make."
"Then I won't take you up on it," Rawlins said, rolling his eyes. "Is there anything we should know from their old stories Newman might want to replicate?"
"Well, he'd be an idiot if he continued to use the Chamber of Secrets…let's keep it under tabs just in case."
"Check. What about where Grandpa Albus hid the Sorceror's Stone?"
"Nah. Newman's not smart enough to think of that."
"True," Rawlins replied.
"Shrieking Shack?"
"No, Newman would be too scared to use it despite the fact that the 'ghost' was my dad and he's definitely not transforming there any more."
"Portkey to a grave yard?"
"Now you're just getting silly there."
"It must be too late for me," Maxim sighed. Head in hand, he leaned down. Fortunately, that's when the last group came in. They said their good nights before going upstairs to bed.
Arden had long been to bed, as had her roommates. She slept in a mostly dreamless states; as a seer, she preferred this to the random images that often flashed in her mind during the night. They left her confused and she didn't have the time to ponder them. However, as Maxim and Rawlins climbed the stairs to their bedrooms, Arden's peaceful sleep was disrupted…
Arden was back in the spectral version of Hogwarts. "Helena? Are you back?" she asked before hitting her head. Of course Helena wasn't back. The Hogwarts ghosts weren't back so she couldn't be.
"I guess you already figured out the answer to your question?" a voice asked from behind Arden.
She spun around and faced Lily Potter's ghostly form, once again dressed as a Hogwarts' student. "You're back. I'm guessing that this is important then?"
Lily smiled and nodded to a nearby classroom. The two sat down and Lily sighed. "I'm afraid the big battle is drawing near," she said.
"We all kinda of guessed," Arden confessed. "It's almost May. According to Uncle Harry, everything big always happens in May."
Lily shook her head. "My poor baby. He's been through so much," she said. Arden nodded and a few moments of silence passed through the two girls.
"So…did you have anything else to add to 'the big battle looms' message?" Arden asked.
"Oh, yes. Sorry, I guess I got a little lost in my own thoughts there!"
"That's okay. So, what's the rest of the message, Lily?"
"Well, James can't believe this, but Snape is the key to everything."
"Uncle Severus? Does this have to do with the old grudge between the Newmans and the Snapes?"
"Yeah, pretty much. You should hear James joke about it…"
"Probably saying the same things Daddy was saying until Uncle Severus and Aunt Kiki punished him. No one will tell us what they did, but Daddy couldn't talk for a week."
Lily was shaking in silent laughter, tears running down her cheeks. "I always had a nagging feeling that maybe Kiki and Severus were actually suited for each other. I guess I was right," she said. She took a deep calming breath and straightened up, becoming more serious. "Do you think you could get a message to Severus from us?"
Arden made a face and cleared her throat. "Uh…no. We have a slight problem. He's disappeared. Well, actually, we believe he was captured."
"Captured? That's not right…nothing in the spirit world has said anything about him getting captured. By whom?"
"Best guess is Newman. We just can't figure out where he hid him. We think the Order just got a tip, but for some reason, they aren't telling us."
Lily looked thoughtful. "You know what? I'll go check on this. But I know this from the spirit world: once Severus comes back to Hogwarts, the battle will begin."
Fog started to cloud around Lily. Arden tried to see her, but soon the vision was lost and she found herself floating in the black space between the end of her vision and the beginning of a dream. Now all she had to do was remember the message until the morning, when she could tell someone.
Maxim Michaelson was not a morning person. Rawlins could certainly testify to that. The Lupin boy was very tired of pulling his friend and roommate out from under the covers then praying that Maxim would put on his uniform on correctly. Then he would practically sleepwalk to the cafeteria, Rawlins following to make sure he didn't hit into any walls. Yes, mornings were not pleasant for either boy.
So Maxim was not fond of being attacked before breakfast. Which someone was doing to him now. When he could open his eyes, he would kill whoever it was—especially if their name was either Christina or Rawlins.
He cracked open an eye. Standing there was Arden, hand on his shoulder. His annoyance melted away; he had long had a soft spot for the Black girl. He opened the other eye and motioned for her to sit down. She did so, handing him a goblet. "I know better than to come to you before you've had something," she explained. He took a sip and his eyebrows shot up. "I pleaded with the house elves to make you some coffee. And it's just the way you like it!"
Maxim took another sip and shot her a look. "How do you know how I take it?" he asked. He swore he saw a blush tinge her cheeks as her eyes began to dart away from his.
"I got it out of Christina or Rawlins or somebody."
"Which would make sense, except neither knows how I take my coffee. Rawlins can't stand the smell and Chris just can't be bothered," Maxim said, leaning back.
Arden's blush grew darker and started to grow as she became agitated. "I bring you coffee and you start interrogating me like your father!" she accused. Finally, she sighed. "I've watched you at family functions, okay? I noticed how you took your coffee at Christmas. Happy?"
"Very," Maxim replied, sipping his coffee with delight. Of course, he wasn't sure if that delight was from the fact he was able to get her to talk (plus the agitation) or the fact that she watched him (plus she looked cute agitated). He decided to keep talking. "Why did you bring me the coffee?"
"Because I wanted you to be up for what I am about to tell you," she replied. Maxim nodded and leaned in. "Good. I had another visit from Lily last night. She says the big one is drawing closer."
"Really?" he said. "Did she happen to mention something useful, like, when?"
"She said it would happen when Severus Snape returns to Hogwarts."
"Great, wonderful, bloody fantastic. Did she mention a date?"
"Maxim! She told me what she could," Arden scolded. "I'm lucky that I have direct connection. Most seers speak in riddles."
"Well, we know for certain that Newman doesn't have Uncle Severus here than," Maxim sighed. "Else the battle would've started and Lily would've been a bit behind with her message."
"Actually, the spirit world didn't seem to know about Uncle Severus' capture," Arden confessed.
"Great. Wonderful." Maxim hit his head on the table. "Something that the spirit world didn't know!"
"Maxim, they can't know everything," Arden argued, before throwing her hands up in the air. "I told you what I had to. I'll leave you to your coffee."
Maxim grabbed her arm. "I'm sorry…it's just…why does everyone always come to me about these things?"
"I don't know. You just seem to exude leadership. Have a good day!"
Maxim watched Arden walk away and sighed. He took another sip of his coffee, a growing feeling of dread occupying his gut.
"Kiki, dear, what are you thinking of?" Harmony asked her friend as they sat in the parlor of 14 Grimmauld.
"How best to kill my husband when I find him," Kiki replied. "I think the Spatula is too light. How about boiling?"
"Kiki…you are not going to kill Severus."
"Yes, I am. With my own bare hands. No jury in the world would convict me—justifiable homicide. I'm sure Sam would agree with me."
"I don't think Sam would be too happy if her mother killed her father," Harmony said. "She's like Lily. Special bond with her daddy."
"Don't need to tell me about it," Kiki replied, now lounging on the sofa. "But I'm still killing him when we find him."
"Before or after he explains what happened? Why he did it?"
"Before. You know my policy."
"Torture Sirius by hiding his boxers and replacing them with briefs?"
"HEY!" Sirius popped up by the window. "That's you?"
"What are you doing by my window?"
"Gardening."
"Oh," Harmony replied. "Well, at least you have a valid excuse unlike the time…"
"Let's not mention that!"
Harmony shook her head. "Anyway, back to where we were," she said, returning to Kiki as Sirius jumped in through the window.
"How did you do that?" Kiki asked. "Without breaking anything?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
"Right…anyway, I can go now."
"What?" Harmony and Sirius replied. "Why?"
"Because I figured out how to kill my husband! I'll knock him unconscious with the Spatula, strip him, boil him and stick a stake of holly through his heart! Aren't I a genius? Came up with it by myself!"
Harmony cocked her head to the side as Sirius scratched his. "Darling, I think Charles Dickens came up with the boiling and sticking a stake of holly thought the heart," she told her friend gently.
"Really?" Kiki asked. "Cause I'm pretty sure I came up with it myself."
"No, Scrooge said that to his nephew Fred after Fred wish his uncle a Merry Christmas," Sirius declared.
"Read the book or see the movie?" Harmony asked.
"I saw a movie version…with singing rag dolls!" Sirius exclaimed. "This blue creature was Charles Dickens and he had a rat and a frog was Crachit and…"
"And it sounds like the Muppets," Kiki replied. "Well, I guess I need to rethink how to kill Severus. Hey, Sirius, have any old plans I could use?"
"Actually, I do have one I tried…"
"Um, one, don't involve my husband and two, Kiki stop trying to kill yours! We'll listen to what Lucius has to say tonight. Maybe there's a good reason for why Severus went into that old escape plan," Harmony said, arms crossed.
"But I don't know why he would have that escape plan," Kiki said. "He was too…well, too damn noble. He would consider something like that a cowardly thing to do. He was offered so many ways out but he wouldn't leave Hogwarts or me."
"He probably made up this escape plan before he started working at Hogwarts, before he started dating you, before he joined the Order," Sirius said. "Back before he realized he had honor."
"No matter how long I've been with Severus, it still amazes me when I hear you speak kindly of him," Kiki admitted, hugging her friend.
Sirius hugged her back. "Well, it was either learn to like Severus somewhat or lose you as a friend. Considering how bad the latter is, the former seemed quite easy to do."
"Aww, you would never lose me as a friend. You know too much," she replied. "But really. How do we know he didn't just tire of me and run away?"
"Kiki, you're talking nonsense!" Harmony exclaimed. "I highly doubt for how long he pined for you he'd tire of you. He had, what, fifteen years to do that from the time you ran to Italy to the time you ran back to England."
Kiki started cry a bit and her two friends grew concerned. "Come on," Sirius said, picking her up. "We're going back to my house. I think you need a nap."
"I don't need a nap," Kiki protested as they walked out of Harmony's house and into Sirius' yard. They were met by a concerned Bianca and even more concerned Itsy.
"Yes, Miz Snape does! Miz Snape not sleeping well. Itsy knows, Itsy sees Miz Snape pacing at night!" the house elf said, practically jumping up and down.
"Ha! You, Miz Snape, are taking a nap!" Sirius ordered triumphantly.
Kiki made a noise of defeat. "Fine! But could I at least walk to my bed? You can follow if you don't trust me," she told Sirius. He put her down and she walked away, knowing he was following her out of spite. And she wouldn't have it any other way.
But she stopped when she saw the Lupin twins standing in the foyer. "Hello, you two, come to visit your parents? They live next door, in case you've forgotten? And why isn't my daughter with you? Busy?"
Lily coughed as Jamie answered. "Aunt Kiki, Lily and I remember where we live. We're here, well, because of Sam," she said.
"Oh?" Kiki said. "What's wrong with my daughter?" Jamie and Lily looked unsure of how to answer as their godfather was shaking his head so hard, they thought his hair would fly off. "Ignore him. Tell me."
"She left the apartment last night and hasn't been back since," Lily said. "We went into her room and saw she had packed an overnight bag and everything."
Kiki shrugged. "Maybe she's spending the night at a friend's house studying? Finals are coming up."
"Checked it. She's not there and she's not babysitting Selie either," Jamie replied. "In fact, Lucius seemed quite upset when we asked for her. I think he's coming here."
"This was the last place we wanted to check cause we figured you would've kicked her out if she tried to spend the night," Lily added.
"Not necessarily," Kiki admitted. "But she isn't here. Do you think Lucius knows where my baby has disappeared to?"
"Probably went to go find her father." Lucius' sudden appearance made the twins jump in surprise. Lily ended up in Sirius' arms while Jamie clutched her chest. She stalked up to Lucius, poking him in the chest, exclaiming:
"Don't do that!"
Lucius rolled his eyes before gently moving Jamie out of the way with his cane. She crossed her arms as he stopped before Kiki. "I told her not to go, to wait until we could get a group of Order members to go with her…but apparently, well, she's…"
"Stubborn. I know. She's my daughter. She's stubborn to a fault."
"Well, she's stubborn but she's also very loyal to her father," Lucius continued. Everyone nodded but gasped when Kiki suddenly grabbed Lucius' robes.
"Where is my daughter?"
"Mood swing?"
"Tired. Now, tell me!"
"Fine!" Lucius said. "I'll tell you. And I advise you send people after her."
Sam got off the Knight Bus in the same town in England. Why would her father come to this uncharted, forgotten town near the coast line? People seemed to be lost in time here, watching her with interest. She gulped and started to walk, keeping her head down until she found a local diner.
There were mostly male customers in the diner, eating and watching a game of football on the television in the corner. Sam took a deep breath and sat down at the counter. The waitress behind the bar held up a finger as she counted her tip money. Sam nodded and tapped her fingers.
"What can I do for you sweetie?" the waitress said, cooing at the younger woman.
"I'll have a soda, if you don't mind?" Sam asked, glad she had some experience in the muggle world. No one looked like they had ever received a Hogwarts letter. The waitress nodded and rushed off to fulfill the order.
Another waitress, about Sam's age, walked over the counter and sat down next to her. "Hey, Betty, I'm taking a break. Can I get a Sprite and a sandwich?" the girl called after the woman.
"Sure thing, sugar," Betty called back. "Hey, sweetheart, care for anything to eat?"
"Uh, no thanks," Sam answered as Betty put down the sodas.
"I'll be back with your sandwich," the woman told the other waitress.
The girl took a sip and looked over at Sam. "So, wha'cha running from?" she asked.
"Pardon?"
"Look, I've lived here me whole life. No one comes here unless they want to be forgotten and forget themselves," the waitress said. "Now, wha'cha running from?"
"I'm actually running after someone," Sam replied.
"Maybe he doesn't want to be found," the waitress replied as Betty returned with her sandwich. "Thanks."
Betty leaned over the counter towards Sam. "Overheard you were looking for someone," she replied. "I hope you don't mind me butting in."
"No, that's okay," Sam said. "I'm looking for my father."
"Honey, are you sure you want to do that?" Betty asked gently. "Susie here can tell you, your dad may not be the man you imagined him to be."
"Definitely," the girl, Susie, agreed.
Sam laughed dryly. "I'm not looking for a dead-beat dad," she replied. "He disappeared almost a month ago and my family has been worried."
Now it was Susie's turn to laugh. "Still sounds like a dead-beat dad. You the youngest? Cause if you are, I'm sure he was just waiting for you to go to university till he left your mum."
"You don't know my dad, so stop making judgments. I am actually the oldest and my little brother—the youngest—is no where near university," Sam snapped. "And my dad loves us. He's trying to protect us, but he's going about it all wrong!"
Betty and Susie shook her head. "She's in denial," Susie told Betty. Sam nearly growled and threw down some money.
"I hope that covers it," she replied. "Thanks for the soda." With that she left, leaving a shocked Betty and Susie in her wake.
But someone else had been watching Sam and he too left when she did. He ran down the street, trying to catch up with the upset girl. "Miss! Miss, please stop! I think I can help you!" he said, running after her.
Sam stopped, turning around to wait for the man to catch up with her. "You think you can help me?" she asked him, waiting for him to regain his composure.
"Yes. I think I've seen your father. You look like him."
"Really? Where?" Sam asked. "Is he hurt? Did he say anything?"
The man put up his hand. "Stop…stop, too many questions at once," he laughed. "My brain needs time to process it all. Why don't you try it again—slower!"
"Sorry. Anyway, first off, where did you see my dad?"
"He rented a cabin from about a few weeks ago. Is that about right?"
"Yes. Is he still in that cabin?"
"No, I'm afraid not, dear," he replied. "He left about two days ago."
Sam sighed. "Did he say where he was going?" she asked.
He thought about it. "I believe he mentioned some place in Scotland. Hogsmeade…know it?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Good. Cause I couldn't find it on a map."
"No offense, you can't find your own town on a map. I'm still surprised a bus comes here!" Sam laughed. "Did he say why he was going to Hogsmeade?"
"He mentioned that he had to talk to someone named Dumbledore and that it was important. You know him as well?"
"Yes, he's an old family friend. Was my dad hurt in any way?"
"No," the man said, thinking. "No, he seemed fine. A bit disorientated, couldn't tell me who the Prime Minister was and thought we were still in the old century. I offered to get him medical assistance, but he didn't have any of it."
"As long as he isn't hurt," Sam said. "Would you mind showing me the cabin is? The one Daddy stayed at?"
"Sure. It can't hurt," the man said. The two walked off as a squadron of brooms headed towards the town.
Remus carefully placed a tracking spell on Sam, trying to find her. Sirius, Tonks and Ron waited silently as the spell took hold. "Found her. Let's go and try not to cause more attention to yourselves," Remus said. The others nodded and followed.
They found Sam in a small cabin by the coast. "Sam, what are you doing here?" Remus asked, spooking the girl slightly.
"This is the cabin Daddy stayed at! The landlord is being nice and letting me go through his things for any clues," Sam replied, giddy like a schoolgirl.
"Sam, what do you think you were going to find here?" Remus asked her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Sam held up a chain around her neck where a key hung. "Whatever this fits into," she said.
"And what gave you the idea that it would be here?"
"Lucius."
"He told you?"
"Yes," Sam said, slowly as if talking to little children. "Didn't he tell you?"
"No, he failed to mention that," Sirius replied, shaking his head. "Did you find what were you looking for?"
Sam nodded and motioned for her uncles and aunt to follow her. "I found it in a back room. It was the only lock my key fit into," she explained as they walked into Severus' old bedroom. "He rented this place to recover from Summonings, to relax and then to escape."
"And he hid something in here?" Tonks asked. Sam nodded. "What?"
Sam held up a chest. "This." With that, she opened it.
A/N: Happy 2007! My vacation to Florida was loads of fun, if Disney was very crowded. I saw manatees and went wading into the Gulf of Mexico on New Year's Eve. Not much a usual occurrence up here in New York around this time. Also ate Greek pastries and ran into a friend…loads of fun. Now…back to school. Eck. Anyway, here's another chapter! Enjoy! And I hope your New Year's Resolution was to review more! HINT! Mac
