The Dark Conspiracy

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter… Just that, no witty remarks this time, sorry…

A/N: Longer chapter than the previous one, yay! :)

Chapter 28: Wild Goose Hunt Part I

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The tandem of godfather and godson landed in front of the war memorial in Godric's Hollow, a few minutes after they had disapparated from outside the wards of Malfoy Manor. Draco looked at the sun –'It must already be past noon,' he thought. He then looked over to his godfather. Severus was already trudging along a dirt road off to one side. Draco followed begrudgingly –he really hated walking. About a couple of minutes later, they were standing outside impressive wrought iron gates. Draco let out a low whistle.

"Not bad, not bad at all," he whispered to himself as he stared at the impressive property before him. Of course, it wasn't as impressive as Malfoy Manor, but he could tell that Harry had put his fortune into good use. He then turned his attention back to his companion. Severus' face was still indescribable. He held his palm out in front of him. He then turned to Draco and gave the blonde an impatient look.

"I'm keying you in, Draco, just do what I do," He said rather gruffly. Draco furrowed his brows but did not say a word as he too, held his palm out in front of him. Once he did, Severus dropped his glare and began to speak.

"I, Severus, Tobias Snape, Lord Prince, bonded to Harry James Potter, Lord of Potter Manor, hereby vouch for and grant express permission of access to Draco Lucius, Lord Malfoy, to enter your premises, under the protection of and allegiance to my being, so mote it be,"

A warm green glow escaped Severus' hand as he spoke, as it did, Draco's. The blonde's eyes widened.

"Wow, Harry actually gave you authority to key in people?" He asked his godfather, sounding surprised. "Really fancy wording too, by the way –just to say that I am allowed in as a guest," Draco smirked. But Severus was already sprinting ahead of him towards the Manor. Draco sighed and followed him.

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"Thanks for the treat, Harry," Hermione smiled as he and Harry exited the coffee place/ "I feel so much better now."

"No problem," Harry returned her smile. "Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you home?" Hermione waved him off.

"Nah, I can manage. And besides, you still want to get that 'make-up' present for Severus, right?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Harry laughed at his pregnant friend's antics. He gave Hermione a brief and somewhat vague rundown of what happened between him and Severus last night over a course of coffee, cheesecake, and more cheesecake for Hermione. Hermione shrugged and told him to just let the older wizard cool down first before apologizing. And of course, being the brilliant witch that she was, she then suggested that it might help if Harry bought a 'I'm-sorry-if-I-was-a-jerk-to-you-please-forgive-me' present for his bonded. Harry immediately liked the idea, but he was at a complete loss on what to get for Severus.

"You're right," He then frowned. "But I still have no idea on what to get him, Mione."

Hermione clapped him on the back.

"Just get him flowers then, it never fails –"

"That's it!" Harry exclaimed and hugged Hermione. "Mione, you're a genius!"

The pregnant witch laughed. "You are so clueless, Harry Potter,"

Harry gave her an embarrassed grin.

"Well, you can't blame me. The last time I bought something for someone was when I was with Ginny, and that didn't really work out, did it?" He sighed. "I mean, I was trying to woo her and everything –Severus… well, Severus is different. He's –"

"The love of your life," Hermione finished for him. "All the more that he won't care what you get him, Harry. He loves you deeply, I can tell that."

"Thanks, Mione," Harry beamed. "And oh, about Ron-"

"I know, I know. I'll let him explain before I kill him." Hermione smiled as she turned to leave for the nearest flooing station as she could not apparate anymore due to her advanced pregnancy.

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Severus entered the Manor apprehensively. Something is just not settling right in his guts.

"Harry! Where are you? Get your ass down here this instant!"

No answer. Severus' heart raced. He tried once more.

"Harry, darn it! Why aren't you answering me –"

"Uh, probably because he's not here?" Draco suggested quietly. Severus glared at him. The half-vampire then began storming every place in the Manor that Harry could possibly be in –but a few minutes later, there was still no sign of his bonded.

"Damn it!" Severus cursed under his breath. "He's not here! How come he's not here? I explicitly told him to stay out of trouble until I get back! Foolish Gryffindor –"

"Have you tried your mental link again?" Draco asked as he took a seat in the library while his godfather raided the Manor in search of Harry.

Severus snarled.

"He's not answering. Either he has turned off the link on his end, or…" his voice trailed off. A look of worry and dread crossed the dark wizard's face. Draco caught it and cleared his throat.

"Hey, don't worry too much Uncle Sev. For all we know he could be like, planning a surprise for you that he did not want you to know of, you know Potter. Now is there any way that we could get a cup of tea? I could really use one right now."

"Perhaps, " Severus responded absent mindedly. "But now is not the time for tea, Draco! We need to –wait a minute, that's it! Winky!"

A small house elf appeared by his side.

"Master Severus? Winky –"

"Tea please, " Draco, interrupted. Severus shot him down with a murderous look.

"Where is Harry, Winky?" Severus turned to the elf. "Where has your foolish master gone to this time?" He asked in a rather gruff voice. Winky's eyes widened but she answered nonetheless.

"Oh, M-master Harry told Winky to tell Master Severus when he comes back that he went with Mistress Grangy –"

"Grangy?" Draco raised one eyebrow but Severus completely ignored him.

"Did he say where?"

"No sir, Master Harry is not be telling Winky where he is. But he is be telling Winky that he'd be back by dinner time –"

"See, Uncle Sev? He's just probably out shopping with 'Grangy'. Let's just sit here and wait for him –"

"No, Draco! Are you out of your mind? Or are you forgetting what you have warned me about? We're going to look for Harry. If your source is certain that the Sangres are after him, they wouldn't mind taking him down while he's shopping for knickers!" Severus's voice shook with frustration. Draco held his hands up.

"Okay, but geez, Uncle Sev, no need to bite me,"

Severus gave him a look. Draco paled realizing what he had just said.

"Erm, sorry… really crude vampire joke, I didn't mean it though…"

Severus did nt reply to that but instead turned his back against the blonde. Draco sighed.

"So what's next, Uncle Sev?"

Severus looked at him once more before heading towards the nearest fire place.

"We pay a visit to the Weasleys."

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Harry exited Fernisa's Flowers for All Occasions in Diagon Alley, unsure of how to feel. He had just spent half an hour choosing among their "over a thousand blooms" before deciding on roses. He then had to decide which type of rose. He sighed dejectedly as he settled for a dozen Ecuadorian roses after contemplating for another half hour. By the time he had managed to decide on the color (a deep, dark red) he had already spent more than an hour and a half of his afternoon. When Fernisa asked if he wanted it wrapped with either organic baby's breath or cultured aster, that's where he drew the line. He sighed and just told the kind shopkeeper to do whatever else that she thought would be nice for his bouquet and that he'd just come back after a couple of hours to pick them up.

Harry crossed the street over to Flourish and Blotts to see if there was something there that Severus might like and not have yet. He gave a quick nod to Mr. Blotts before heading off to the back. Harry perused for almost an hour before deciding on two newly published Potions texts: Recent Breakthroughs in Advanced Potions-Making by Arsenius Jigger and The Self-Updating Guide to Gathering Ingredients by Elmina Scythe. Harry was about to head off to the counter to pay for them when he bumped into somebody from behind him.

"Oh –sorry" He mumbled apologetically as he turned to face the person behind him. When Harry saw who it was, his face registered recognition.

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The floo flared up in the kitchen of #2 Ivy Lane. Hermione rushed to meet up whoever stepped out of the fire.

"Ronald Weasley!" She bellowed. "You've got some nerve –"

The rest of Hermione's rants died in her throat.

It wasn't Ron who came out of the floo.

"Se –Severus?" Hermione gasped, sounding very much surprised. But what surprised her even more was the man who came with her former professor.

"Malfoy?"

Draco smirked.

"Hello, Grangy," he said loftily. Hermione arched her brows.

"Grangy?"

Draco continued to smirk. Hermione ignored him as she turned to Severus.

"Is there something wrong, Severus? Did harry –"

"Actually Mrs. –erm, Hermione, I came here for Harry. Winky told me that he went out with you. I was wondering if –"

"You mean… he's not back yet?" Hermione mused. "But –but we parted ways… about… a couple of hours ago," Severus' expression darkened. He glanced at Draco for a moment before turning back to Hermione. The witch caught the look they shared but did not comment on it. Severus cleared his throat.

"Can you tell me where you've last seen him?" He asked the pregnant witch in a calculated voice. Hermione frowned.

"Is there anything wrong with Harry?" She asked. The two wizards exchanged another look, with Draco nodding and Severus sighing resignedly.

"Harry's in trouble, Hermione. I need to find him as soon as possible."

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"Harry Potter, just the man I needed to see!"

"Xeno," Harry sighed. Of all people he could bump into, it had to be his boss. Harry looked at the man apprehensively. Xeno's eyes shone like the early morning sky…

'This can't be any good...' Harry thought to himself. When his boss' eyes danced like that, it was either he was about to get another crazy assignment of the man had wanted to discuss his progress with the Nargles. Harry took a deep breath.

"I was heading to your place later, Xeno. You sent me a letter asking me to meet with you –"

"Ah, yes," The man's robin's egg eyes brightened even more. "But now that you're here, no time like the present, don't you think?" He winked at Harry. The young man groaned.

"Really, Xeno, I have –"

"Ah –ah, Harry Potter," Xeno waved a finger in front of him. "Let us not waste time, the Crumplehead Snorknacks are a-calling!" The blonde man said in a singsong voice as he dragged a very put out and very reluctant Harry out of the bookshop.

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After leaving the Weasleys' home (and briefly explaining to a somewhat disgruntled and appalled Hermione ("A spy? Who would betray Harry like that! Why are those vampires after him? Hasn't he done enough for the Wizarding World? I'd better go find Ron and ask him to help locating Harry –")) Severus and Draco parted ways to cover more ground; Draco had volunteered to go check out Hogsmeade –if by any chance harry had decided to do his "shopping" there (Hermione had reluctantly told the men about Harry's earlier "plan" –as Draco smirked and Severus found himself blushing a little). Severus headed off to Diagon Alley where his instincts carried him.

'Harry, where in the world are you?'

Then, remembering what Hermione had mentioned about flowers a while ago, Severus decided to make his first stop at the only flower shop in Diagon Alley that he knew of: Fernisa's.

He pushed the heavy glass door open and he was immediately greeted by the smiling proprietress.

"Hello, Professor Snape! Anything I could get for you? Roses? Tulips? Lilies?" Fernisa asked him cheerfully. Severus sighed and did not even bother to correct her for calling him 'Professor'.

"Actually madam, I'm here for Harry Potter, and I –"

"Oh, you're picking up his order then?" Fernisa gave him a wide grin and disappeared behind the counter. Severus fought the urge to scream. But he totally lost his desire to do so when the shop owner came back.

"These were handpicked by Mr. Potter," she said gushing, gesturing towards the elegant arrangement she had levitated next to her. Severus' mouth went agape.

"He –he picked these out?"

"Why yes," Fernisa giggled. "The poor man seemed really distraught at first –spent almost two hours going over my catalogue. He seemed really keen on impressing –all I can say is that whoever gets this is one lucky girl!"

Severus didn't really bother to correct Fernisa on that one. He did feel like a giggly girl just thinking about Harry going through all that trouble just to make it up to him.

'Harry had wanted to give me these,' Severus thought as he let his fingertips brush against the delicate petals of the gorgeous Ecuadorian roses. They were exquisite –a deep blood red color and sweet smelling. Severus blinked, trying hard not to lose it in front of the already staring shop keeper. He then cleared his throat loudly to cover up the awkward moment. He was already doing fine, that is, until he chanced upon the card nestled among the flowers. It bore Harry's untidy cursive handwriting:

I'm sorry, Sev. I've been a jerk. Please take me back. Seriously, I mean, what would you do if I died today, eh? Just kidding. But I do hope that you forgive me soon. I' lost without your presence in my head. It's almost as if I can't hear my heartbeat anymore…

Yeah, I know, I sound like crap. But I really don't know what to say.

I love you… with all my heart, mind, soul and gorgeous body.

Always Yours,

Harry

P.S. I mean it. All of it. Not just the "gorgeous body" part.

Xxxxxx

'Harry,'

Severus dropped the card he was holding and made a mad dash out of the shop.

'Harry, please be alright,'

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A/N: Cliffie anyone? I hope that this was more satisfactory than the previous short chapter. So… reviews? Please? 5 more for this chapter would be nice… Love, Eastwoodgirl