Chapter Thirty Five

Scrabbling for Plan B

Albus was absolutely furious as he made his way back from the Ministry of Magic. How dare those fools throw him Albus Dumbledore out of the Ministry of Magic! He who had fought of two Dark Lords!

He who was the only hope for their world now that the Slytherin brat had joined his father! Didn't they understand that they were handing the Wizarding World to the Dark on a silver platter? They should have been begging for his help instead of sentencing them to death and enslavement in a world ruled by Dark Pure-Blood extremists despite Voldemort and his son being Half-Bloods.

More than just being furious at the bloody Ministry of Magic and the Dark Lord he was terrified of what it would mean for the outcome of the war! Hadrian Slytherin was supposed to be sacrificed for the war but now Albus had lost that weapon.

Now that both Slytherins were aware of the truth the only thing to be done about Hadrian Slytherin was to kill him. He was too powerful to be kept around too do anything else. Albus had hoped that he could sway the boy back to the Light side but clearly that was not to be.

Then there was the fact that the Dark was going to use what Albus had done for the Greater Good of the Wizarding World against him. Albus knew that without the seats he had spent the past eighteen years using either as either Harry Potter's guardian or when James Potter-Slytherin was under his control enacting his political goals would be difficult. More so when he knew that the Dark were trying to destroy his reputation which Albus could only fight with the truth that the whole world refused to believe because they were bleeding cowards.

Then there was the question Severus' continued loyalty. Severus had switched sides because of his love for Lily Evans. Severus had remained because of Albus' manipulations to protect Lily's son. Would Severus remain loyal to the Light when his affinity was naturally Dark after finding out that Harry Potter didn't exist?

Albus couldn't predict Severus' actions. On the one hand, the Dark Lord had killed the woman he loved. On the other hand, he was after all Dark. The Dark would always be attracted to the Dark. Without the constant reminder in the form of Lily's eyes of the fact he had contributed to Lily's death by telling the Dark Lord to fake prophecy would Severus be able to continue the call of the Dark?

Albus hated not being able to predict the actions of his followers. Unfortunately, recently everything had gone wrong. First there was Ronald's slip up. Next there was Ginevra losing the Amortenia potion which Albus suspected hadn't been lost so much as stolen by Slytherin when he discovered their plans. Then the Dark Lord returned to his body. Something that Albus now attributed to the fact his son and heir had joined him. Now there was the question of Severus' loyalty.

Albus was furious to realise that everything could have been attributed to that damn Slytherin brat. Albus should have done what Granger had told him to and killed him years ago. Despite how useful he would have been it would be better that Slytherin was dead than alive and causing this amount of trouble for Albus.

He needed to talk to Severus to see for sure if Severus was still loyal to them but first he needed to talk to his most trusted followers and then the rest of the Order. Albus sent Fawkes to Molly, Ginevra, Frederick, George, Ronald and Miss Granger. Albus had to find out exactly how long ago was it that the Slytherin brat had found out about their plans.

Ten minutes later Ginevra and Ronald Weasley turned up looking very distressed whilst the twins looked worried and guilty. Albus frowned at the noticeable absence of Hermione Jean Granger. Where had the Muggleborn disappeared to?

'Professor Dumbledore,' the Weasley boy said distress clear in his voice. 'Hermione's gone!'

'We haven't been able to find Slytherin either,' sneered the Weasley girl.

It was at this point that their mother walked through the Fireplace to hear that her children had lost Hadrian Slytherin. Albus could see the anger in the plump woman's reddening face. Molly blamed her children for losing Hadrian when it was not their fault in the slightest but Voldemort's.

'Are you telling me that my children have lost Slytherin?' hissed Molly. 'You know how important it is! Especially now YOU KNOW WHO IS BACK!' shouted Molly. 'I would have expected more from you.'

'Molly,' Albus interrupted the woman's diatribe. 'It is not young Frederick, George Ronald or Ginerva's fault. I know where Slytherin is,' Albus said dark fury coating his voice.

'Where?' demanded Ronald. 'Is that where Hermione is!?'

Albus certainly hoped that the young, intelligent woman was not with Hadrian Slytherin but given the timeline Albus was certain that Granger had disappeared at the same time. More so by the fact that the Dark Lord had returned once more. Albus knew that to give a life you had to take a life so suspected that Hermione Granger had been killed.

Albus sighed, 'I hope not but unfortunately I believe that she is?'

'Where is he?' demanded Ron.

'With his father,' Albus said grimly.

'He's been kidnapped,' Molly said gleefully. 'If the Dark Lord attempts to kill the brat he'll be gone again just like last time.'

Albus sighed, 'as much of a relief that would be I am afraid that is not what happened. Both Slytherins are now aware they are father and son.'

'What!?' three Weasleys screeched at once.

'How?' demanded Ronald.

'As to how I do not know,' sighed Albus. 'I got a letter informing me that Hadrian Slytherin's father had claimed guardianship over the brat. I went to the Ministry to try and get the Slytherin brat back on our side. He revealed he knew about our use of his money and the potions which Voldemort will be pressing charges on.'

'Can't we use the trial to prove that the brat is You Know Who's son?' demanded Molly.

'Unfortunately,' sighed Albus. 'Voldemort has managed to procure a fake Family Tree proclaiming that Tom Marvolo Slytherin died in 1981 and a Gringotts Birth Certificate proclaiming that Foma Salazar Slytherin is Hadrian Slytherin's father. Despite the fact that Foma is the Russian form of Thomas Fudge will not even contemplate the idea that Foma Slytherin is Lord Voldemort.'

'What can we do?' asked Ronald.

'At the present there's not much we can do,' Albus admitted reluctantly. 'We have to wait for Voldemort to make a move to prove that he is indeed back.'

'And Slytherin?' demanded Ronald.

'As useful as I had hoped the Slytherin heir would be for the war he is now a major threat,' Albus said grimly. 'We have always known that Hadrian Slytherin is magically and politically powerful. Now that his father will be training him the only choice we have left is to-'

Albus took a huge, deep breath pretending that what they had to do weighed heavily on his consciences. In actual fact it did not weigh at all on his conscience. Maybe once it did but after sentencing Gellert to life in prison Albus found it only too easy to do what he needed to despite how morally objectionable it was.

'-kill him,' Ronald said taking over for him.

'But what about his money and seats?' demanded Ginevra. 'YOU PROMSED ME THAT I'D BE LADY POTTER!' screeched the red haired bitch.

For a moment Albus was reminded of Lily Evans who had been furious when she realised that James Potter was Dark. Evans and Weasley were two red heads who always envisioned themselves as Lady Potter. Something that Albus had encouraged but unfortunately the Potters in question did not do what Albus wanted them to do.

Albus smiled, 'don't worry I'll make sure that the two of you get married before Slytherin dies.'

'And if that doesn't work?' asked Molly flatly.

'Then we'll extract some of his sperm,' Albus replied. 'As the mother of an underaged Heir you'll claim regency.'

Ronald scowled, 'I don't want to be related to a Slytherin!'

'They'll carry the Weasley name,' Molly said sharply. 'And we'll, of course, control to child to prevent any of their Darker impulses.'

'Because that worked so well for Slytherin,' muttered Ronald.

'Are we really considering-' began Fred.

'-raping a teenager-,' continued George.

'We're not raping him?' Molly said sharply.

'How else-,' Fred began disgustedly.

'-are we planning on-'continued George.

'-extracting his semen?' demanded Fred.

'There are many spells that at your age you do not know,' Albus said softly.

They were right of course but he could not handle more deserters. Not after Hadrian Slytherin joining his father side. Not after the spin on Albus' actions that the Dark Lord had made. If it came to it Albus would have to Obliviate the two of them.

'Okay,' the two said together.

'But what about-'began Fred.

'-Ginny,' continued George.

'-being a teenager mother?' finished Fred.

'I'll be bringing up the child,' Molly smiled. 'I don't want to ruin Ginny's future.'

The twins shared a look but nodded unhappily apparently accepting Albus' word. Albus smiled glad that despite their obvious reservations they were following his lead. Still Albus didn't think it was a good idea to bring them in on anymore just in case they pushed the twins' morals too far.

'I don't care about Slytherin,' sneered Ronald. 'I want to know what happened to Hermione!'

Albus sighed heavily, 'I don't think it's a coincidence that Miss Granger and Slytherin disappeared at the same time.'

'Do you think the girl betrayed us?' demanded Molly.

'Do you think-'began Fred.

'-that H-'continued George.

'-Slytherin killed her,' gulped Fred.

'I fear as much,' sighed Albus.

'That fucking bastard,' snarled Ronald. 'Why?' demanded Ronald.

'I suspect that for Voldemort to return Miss Granger was sacrificed,' Albus sighed. 'I am still trying to confirm which ritual it was.'

Fred and George shared a dark look. Albus could have smiled knowing that Fred and George had always been conflicted about what they were being asked to do. Albus thought that Hermione Granger's death was enough to convince the Weasley twins that whilst what they were doing was not pleasant it would save their world.

'Now tell me what you know about Miss Granger's disappearance,' Albus said seriously.

'After meeting with you I went to tell Hermione and Ron about the plan,' Ginny explained. 'Ron was reading his magazines,' sneered Ginny leaving Albus with no doubt as to what kind of magazines they were. 'I went up to the fourth year girls' dormitory and found this note but it doesn't sound anything like Hermione.'

Dear Professors,

I am sorry for my abrupt departure. I did not attend to abandon my schooling like this but I could not stand to remain here for any longer. I have tried to weather through the comments that my peers have made. Ron's the only one I have left now so it is better than it was in Primary school but even he cannot shield me from the taunts that are so much worse than in Primary because they tell nothing but the truth.

It is true I did betray Harry. He thought he was my friend but I was not and never had been. He had found out the truth and was going to press charges against us. I am a Muggleborn it would destroy me. My parents would be so terribly ashamed of how I have acted and for good reason.

I am sorry Ron, Ginny, Professor Dumbledore for leaving you to face the consequences of our actions. You were my best friends and greatest mentor I could ever hope for. Thank you for teaching me so much, Professor.

Yours Sincerely

Hermione Granger

'Why would she write this?' demanded Ronald. 'She wouldn't really leave us!?'

'No,' Albus said grimly. 'I believe that the Dark are covering their tracks and implicating us at the same time. Has anyone else seen this?'

'I don't think so,' Ginevra said frowning. 'No one else was in the dormitory when I was there.'

Albus breathed a sigh of relief tossing the letter in the fire. Albus knew that it would only incriminate them further should it fall into the hands of the Ministry. The Ministry would most likely see this as yet another piece of evidence against Albus.

'When was the last time you saw them?' asked Albus.

'At the Champion's Ceremony,' Ron said.

'That's where I last saw him too,' Ginny said.

Molly nodded, 'yes that's where I saw him.

'Weren't you two with him?' asked Ginny of her twin brothers.

'We were,' agreed Fred.

'We were pranking-'George began.

'-the Slytherins,' continued Fred.

'-when we lost-'continued George.

'-Slytherin,' finished Fred.

Albus nodded, 'so that's when Slytherin disappeared. Miss Granger too. Now-' began Albus.

'YOU LOST THE SLYTHERIN BRAT AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ANYONE!' shouted Mrs Weasley.

The twins shared a look silently communicating the way only magical twins could. Albus knew that whatever was said out of either of their mouths now would come from both of them. Albus waited for the two of them to explain.

'We thought he was-,' began Fred.

'-going to the party,' finished George.

'That's what-' Fred added.

'-he said,' finished George.

Albus nodded, 'alright now we have to work out when Slytherin found out the truth,' Albus said grimly.

'Not in the summer,' Molly said. 'He trusted me enough to allow me the key to his vault. If he had known the truth he wouldn't have.'

Albus nodded, 'I suspect it was around the time we lost the money. We thought at the time it was a change in Managers but now I suspect that Slytherin had found out the truth. Was he acting at all odd at that time?'

Ronald frowned, 'wasn't that around the time he refused to go to Hogsmeade with us because he wanted to stay to work on the egg. Actually from then on he often had an excuse not to be with us. He knew!'

'And he found out about the Second Task being merpeople by himself and the Bubblehead charm,' added Ginevra. 'Hermione,' the girl gulped, 'was angry about it because she had hoped that revealing the knowledge of the second task would help her keep his trust.'

Albus nodded unsurprised at this realisation that it was no wonder they had lost the Amortenia. It was most likely that Slytherin had found out about it and somehow managed to steal it. Albus was sure that Slytherin was crafty enough and knew plenty of Dark magic to get passed the wards into the third-year-girl's dormitory.

'He also likely is responsible for the loss of the Amortenia,' Albus added.

'And the article,' muttered Ronald.

Albus nodded, 'he has enough shares to be able to encourage a story to be printed,' agreed Albus, 'but they would have not have succeeded had you not handed them the story,' Albus said coolly.

It wasn't actually Ronald Weasley Albus was annoyed at because he knew he had done exactly the same thing today at the Ministry. If Albus had said nothing or tried to offer the hand of friendship it would be different but the public had seen "the Boy Who Lived" scream at him for the "crimes" he had committed. After the Daily Prophet uncovered evidence of Albus' wrongdoing Albus knew that the whole Wizarding World would be clamouring for his head.

'I'm sorry,' Ronald said miserably.

'Go to Minerva,' instructed Albus. 'Tell her Miss Granger is missing.'

Albus knew that Minerva would use the armour, statues and paintings to confirm that Hermione Granger was missing. Then she would alert Amelia Bones to the fact that a girl was missing. Albus would just have to hope that the Ministry would see the missing girl as proof that Voldemort had returned but Albus doubted it.

'Molly, alert the rest of the members of the Order,' Albus instructed. 'I want us to meet at ten o'clock. I will have to tell them the truth about Harry Potter before they hear the lies the Daily Prophet is sure to print.'

'Yes, Albus,' agreed Molly with a twist to her lips. 'What do I tell Arthur?'

'Nothing for now,' Albus said. 'Make him believe you were as ignorant as the rest of the Order and the evidence is faked by the Dark trying to destroy the Light.'

That was, of course, the line that Albus was going for when the Order would ask him if it was true. At least for the worst of his deeds. For others Albus would explain that he was trying to control the heir to the Dark Lord but had sadly failed.

'Do you really think Hermione's dead?' Ronald asked miserably.

'I am afraid so,' Albus sighed sadly. 'I am going to speak to Severus to find out what he knows.'

'How do you know you can still trust him?' asked Molly. 'He's only on the side of the Light to protect Lily Evans son. Will he still be on our side if he knows the truth?'

'Severus does not yet know the truth,' Albus said calmly. 'I will deal with Severus should that need arise but it should be remembered that the Slytherins are responsible for Lily's death so I am sure Severus will remain on the right side.'

In fact, Albus was worried that in the time away from Hogwarts to speak with the other Death Eaters Severus had been with the Dark Lord. Albus had no way of knowing whether Severus was still loyal or not because unfortunately Severus was too skilled an Occlumens to be able to tell. That was why Albus was not inviting Severus to the Order meeting tonight because Severus needed to be told in exactly the right way or Albus would lose his spy.

The Weasley children lead my Ronald were the first out of the door. Albus knew it was because of the boy's hope to find the girl who held his heart. Albus felt pity for the boy knowing that there was no hope that Hermione Granger would ever be found.

'Headmaster,' nodded Molly.

Molly too left for Hestia Jones' home in Wales. Albus used the Floo to go to Severus' quarters after his office was close. Albus found Severus in his labs hunched over a dark blue potion in a large black cauldron.

'Albus,' Severus greeted putting his potion in stasis. 'Is there something you needed?'

'Has the Dark Lord contacted you?' questioned Albus.

'No, he has not,' Severus replied. 'Something's happened.'

'I ran into the Dark Lord at the Ministry,' Albus said. 'He has somehow managed to get hold of a fake identity believed by the Ministry of Magic. The last time I saw him Voldemort-' Albus ignored Severus' flinch, '-was in a meeting with Cornelius.'

'The goblins run a service providing a backstory and fake documents for a price,' Severus informed the headmaster.

'Is there any way to prove they are fake?' demanded Albus.

'Not unless you can prove that the Dark Lord and his new identity is the same,' Severus replied. 'Do you have any blood that can prove they are the same?'

'Unfortunately not,' Albus replied.

'Even if you did it is unlikely it would work,' Severus said. 'We don't know what the resurrection ritual was based on but it would likely have changed his bloodwork.'

Albus nodded, 'you are likely right.'

'Something else happened,' Severus said perceptive as always.

'Yes,' agreed Albus. 'Mr Potter and Miss Granger have disappeared.'

Severus sneered, 'they're probably cosying up in a broom closet somewhere or sneaked off to Hogsmeade. It wouldn't be the first time.'

Albus knew that Severus was referencing the time last year where with the help of Frederick and George Weasley Harry had managed to get to Hogsmeade. Neither Ronald nor Miss Granger had been happy that the Slytherin brat was impinging on their only free time together. Hence, why Granger had spent the next few months trying to guilt Slytherin into staying at Hogwarts during the Hogsmeade weekend which was ruined when Black got involved.

'I don't think so,' Albus said. 'Miss Granger left a note-'

'So they've run off together,' Severus said. 'If you excuse me I do not have the time to find a spoilt brat who doesn't seem to realise he is not the centre of the Universe!'

Albus was quite pleased to hear Severus usual diatribe against all things Potter. Albus was sure that Severus would not be saying the same thing if he knew that Harry Potter was in fact the Dark Lord's son. Of course, Severus could be keeping an act up so Albus would have to continue keeping an eye on Severus.

'I don't think that's what happened,' Albus said sighing heavily.

'You think the Dark Lord's captured them,' Severus said flatly.

'Indeed I do,' Albus sighed again. 'I do not believe that Miss Granger would have broken the rules and run off.'

Severus nodded grudgingly, 'no. I can't either.'

'Nor do I believe their disappearance today of all days can be a coincidence,' added Albus.

'No,' agreed Severus. 'Where the Dark Lord is concerned there are no coincidences.'

'Have you any idea when they disappeared?' asked Severus.

'They did not make it up to the celebration party last night,' Albus said grimly.

'Around the time Karkaroff left,' murmured Severus. 'Could Karkaroff be responsible?'

'I thought he was planning to run,' Albus said.

'I thought he was too,' frowned Severus. 'Unless …. Unless he decided that the Dark Lord would find him no matter what. He couldn't return to the Dark Lord empty handed after betraying so many of the other Death Eaters. The only way he could return to the Dark Lord was if he had something of value like the Boy Who Lived and his "Mudblood" friend.'

Albus pretended to agree with Severus although he did wonder whether Karkaroff was Slytherin's point of contact. There had to be someone or someones in Hogwarts that were protecting the brat. That was yet another reason why Albus was so worried about Severus' loyalties.

'Thank you, Severus, keep me in the loop,' Albus said.

'Of course,' Severus said.

Albus turned around and Flooed back to his office. Albus wished he had found out more information about what the Dark was planning. Since Severus had switched sides and James had been kidnapped Albus had always had the upper hand but now all his plans were falling apart around him.