Battle not with monsters
lest ye become a monster
and if you gaze into the abyss
the abyss gazes into you.
Two butterbeer bottles clinked together, the sound echoing through the empty office. Empty save for two figures sitting in overstuffed armchairs near the tall windows facing the Quidditch pitch, a mop of messy black hair peeking over the back of one chair and wavy red over the back of the other.
"To tomorrow," Ron proposed stoically.
"To tomorrow," Harry replied with a strained smile. Ron took a large swallow of butterbeer. "I can't believe Voldemort hasn't taken Diagon Alley already. Do you think we really have a chance of getting those people out?"
The redhead scratched his chin and nodded. "I really think You-Know-Who is concentrating on more valuable targets. Hogsmeade made sense because it's close to Hogwarts and close to you. The attack on the Ministry was obviously coming sooner or later. Diagon Alley is right next to Knockturn Alley, I can imagine that he's got a few friends there."
"That might be a problem."
"Nah." Ron waved a hand. "Most of the shop owners in Knockturn Alley are more concerned about making a galleon then helping out any dark lords."
"I hope you're right."
"Don't worry so much. Just concentrate on tempering your power a little. Remember, we're there to save people, not destroy the place."
Harry blushed. "I've gotten much better. Tonks said that I'll be fine as long as I stick to less destructive spells like stunners."
Ron finished his butterbeer and set it on the table between them. With a bright shimmer it disappeared, a full one taking its place. He marveled at the mysterious magic of house elves.
"Where's Hermione been anyway? I passed by the library yesterday and didn't see her."
Ron's brow furrowed. "I'm not sure what she's working on now. I saw her out in the rose garden with that Panos woman. They've been spending a lot of time together."
"Hmm…I hope she's not feeling left out. I want to include her in things, it's just…"
"It's hard to know how to act around her," Ron put in helpfully. Harry nodded sadly. "I know what you mean. I can't imagine…you know…losing my magic. It's gotta be even harder for her. I mean, she didn't even know magic existed until she was eleven and then to have it suddenly taken away." He shivered at the thought.
"Yeah, there were times when I first came to Hogwarts that I was afraid to go to sleep at night because I was sure I'd wake up and be back at the Dursleys."
"Speaking of the Dursleys, I'm sure surprised your Aunt decided to stay."
"Me too," Harry agreed, holding his half empty bottle of butterbeer up to the moonlight shining in through the window. The reflection played against his glasses, making them glint in an odd way.
"And I'm surprised Ginny actually left." Ron frowned. "I didn't think she'd really go."
Harry ran a hand through his hair and downed the rest of his drink. "It was for the best."
"I don't know Harry…"
"It was for the best. I really care about her Ron and if Voldemort were to find out he'd go after her for sure."
Ron dropped the bottle in his hand to the table in a violent manner. "I care about her too Harry, just as much as I care about the rest of my family."
"I never said you didn't," Harry interrupted.
"Let me finish," Ron said angrily. "I care about them, but I also know that they need to do what's best for them. It's not my place to tell them where to go or what to do. Don't you think Mum tried to talk me out of going tomorrow? In the end though, she knows I have to do what I have to do."
The bottle in Harry's hand suddenly shattered and he stared despondently as his blood dripped to the floor. "I can't lose her Ron," he stated and looked to his friend with a grim expression in his deep emerald eyes. "I need something to fight for and I don't have much left."
Neither wizard noticed the eyes that watched them from the shadows of the Headmaster's office. The figure slipped away into the darkness hurriedly, anxious to pass along such valuable information.
DSz
"If you want to be of any help, then you need to learn control," Elsie Panos chided as Hermione attempted to extract her hands from the mass of vines in front of her.
The young girl shook her head, attempting to concentrate. The vines retreated slightly but her hands remained stuck. A gasp of pain escaped her as a thorn scraped across one finger, drawing a few drops of blood. The drops fell upon one of the green plants and the vines slipped away immediately. Hermione's eyes widened in surprise.
"But how?" She gave Elsie a confused look.
Elsie grasped her hand and held up the injured finger. "Sacrifice," Elsie explained wisely. "Sacrifice will always be recognized by any and every living being on this green Earth. Even humans are affected by sacrifice, although they may not even realize it at the time."
A strange thought suddenly popped in her head. "What if it's a sacrifice forcibly taken?" This time it was Elsie's turn to look confused. "What if someone forcibly took something from another, like flesh or blood?"
Elsie shook her head, expression dark. "The worst of things one can do. To take a part of someone else without consent." She shook her head again. "There is nothing worse then this. All things must be repaid. If blood is taken, then blood will be repaid in a most terrible way."
"Voldemort returned to his body through a ritual," Hermione explained, "It was a ritual that used Harry's blood, forcibly taken."
"A very dark spell then," Elsie put in and Hermione nodded.
"Yes, it was definitely dark. I doubt there are many spells the Dark Lord does which aren't dark."
Elsie drew in a strangled breath. "The cost for such things is high."
"I don't think he cares," Hermione replied. "He does so much evil and he doesn't care at all."
The old woman shook her head. "He does care and that is why he fears death. In death he will see the worth of his soul reflected."
Hermione gave her a questioning look. "Do you think the blood he took from Harry could help fight him? Perhaps we could find some advantage…"
Elsie nodded sagely. "The value of a sacrifice is in the way it's given, good or bad. A sacrifice, which is stolen, has only bad value. In Harry Potter's blood is all that makes him what he is. Now that blood runs through the Dark Lord, connecting more than they were connected before, but the connection has been made worse. It is bad and can only bring evil." She waved her hand over Hermione's finger, healing the small wound. "Do not attempt to direct that evil, the evil will find its own way."
DSz
A small noise from the bedroom caught Snape's attention. He turned to the closed door and drew his wand, prepared to battle whatever enemy might be on the other side. The door opened slowly, revealing a long red cloak. With a sigh he dropped his arm to his side.
"I could have killed you."
The cloaked figure chuckled at that. "Many have tried and all have failed."
Severus rubbed his brow wearily. "Why have you come? Have you found another?"
The hood swayed back and forth in negative reply. "No, but I do have information. They're headed to Diagon Alley in the morning. They plan on saving as many as they can."
"The fools," he scoffed angrily. "Potter would put himself in danger for a rabble of muggle-borns that can't help him in the least."
"He wants to save them," the mysterious figure ground out angrily. "Why can't you see the good in that?"
"Good! If Potter gets killed then it's all over, the plan dies with him."
"I thought the Dark Lord no longer wanted to kill him."
Severus ran a hand through his greasy hair. "That is correct, but some of his followers are difficult to control."
"Bellatrix." The name ended in a hiss. Snape nodded in agreement.
"There is her and many others who would be absolutely giddy to watch the Boy-Who-Lived be destroyed once and for all. You must make sure that does not happen."
The hood gave a nod of understanding. "I'll do what I can. Are you sure the Dark Lord's spy will know of their plans?"
"The spy is very well informed and no, I don't know who it is, or even what it is. My first thought was the house elf, Kreacher, but I doubt that it would be given the freedom to traipse about the school. No…it must be someone else, someone very close to the boy. The information the Dark Lord is receiving is exceptionally detailed." Snape shrugged. "We will have to hope that Potter's luck holds."
"He is exceptionally lucky." The figure turned to leave.
"Wait," Severus said, calling them back. "I have some information that may be beneficial. It is rumored that Bellatrix holds something in her vault, something of great value to the Dark Lord. The chaos in Diagon Alley may be the perfect distraction."
"Break into Gringotts'? Are you mad?! Do you even know what I need to look for?"
"A cup," Severus explained coolly. "Engraved upon it will be the symbol of Hufflepuff house."
"Another horcrux?" Severus nodded. "Then I'll do my best. I can't promise anything though, Gringotts is well protected, what with the dragons and all."
"If Potter could handle a dragon at fourteen, I'm sure you'll do fine."
"Ha ha Snape." The cloaked figure poked a gaunt finger at the Potions Master. "Just wait until this is all over." A swirl of red and Snape was alone.
"If we live to see the end," Severus whispered to the empty room, tilting his head to one side. "If we are so lucky…or so cursed."
