The Dark Conspiracy
A/N: It's been a while. Sorry. I have no valid excuse other than I have lost steam in the middle of my hospital arrest. I'm out of that crazy antiseptic institution and am now transferred in the care of my paranoid friends. Never fear. I will never abandon any of my stories, especially this one – this is my first born and therefore, close to my heart. Anyway, this chapter and the next two are written under the influence of pain killers. But don't worry. I will quite redeem myself in Chapter 37 (where IT ALL HAPPENS) which is currently in the process of being rewritten. Bear with me for three chapters. Thank you. Enjoy and don't forget to review!
DISCLAIMER: Even if I manage to get into the afterlife, I will never own Harry Potter.
Chapter 34: Possibilities
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Draco stood up from the comforts of his armchair to welcome the caller from the other side of his floo. As he knelt down in front of the blazing emerald hearth, a floating, disembodied head with red hair and freckles all over his face greeted him.
"Lo, Malfoy!"
"Weasley?"
"Hey, no need to spit out my name with that much venom. Call me George,"
Draco's eyebrows went dangerously near his hairline.
"When did I ever get social calls from you lot?"
George shrugged.
"Hermione would've called instead but that watermelon on her tummy is making it quite cumbersome for her –
"Don't call your nephews a watermelon, George, seriously!" Came a muffled voice from behind George. The redhead smirked.
"So, Malfoy, care to step over here? We have loads to discuss."
Draco's eyebrows went further up. George noticed the hesitation in the blonde's face.
"I know about Harry. Hermione told me. I will testify under Veritaserum that I mean him no harm," George sighed. I am not your mole."
Draco's face registered a faint surprise.
'You may not be it, but your brother certainly is. What was Granger thinking, telling this Weasley?' Draco thought. He then tried to study the disembodied face and right then wished that he was as accomplished as a Legilimens as his godfather was. After seconds of intense moral battle in his head, he relented.
"Step aside, I'm coming thru."
George's face split into a grin. Draco took a handful of floo powder from the urn by the mantel piece and threw it at the roaring fire. Seconds later, he was in the kitchen, yet again, of #2 Ivy Lane
"Draco," Hermione greeted him as he brushed the soot off of his stylish navy blue robes. "Where's Severus?"
Draco eyed her, then George before sighing.
"He went out on his own to look for Harry." The young Malfoy said curtly. "I thought you understood how important secrecy is, Granger –"
"I trust George," Hermione cut him off with a glare. "He's not the spy –"
"But he can very well be close to the spy!" Draco exclaimed, his pale gray eyes ablaze. "You know how dangerous this is, not only for Harry but also for my godfather! You can't just go around telling people you trust! I thought you were wiser –"
"Hey, calm down, people," George held both of his hands up. He looked at Draco.
"I understand your sentiments, Malfoy. Hermione already told me. I swear on my magic that this does not get out between us five. "
"Five?" Draco asked suspiciously.
"Harry, Professor Snape, Hermione, you and me –"
"And your brothers?"
"Not even Fred's portrait will know,"
"And Ron?" Draco challenged. George exchanged looks with Hermione. To Draco's surprise, it was Hermione who answered him.
"He –he won't be involved." She said meaningfully. Draco decided to file that awkward look in her face at the back of his head. He turned to George. The redhead smiled.
"I further swear that I mean no harm to neither Harry nor Professor Snape and that I have never and never will be consorting with any fanged creatures such as vampires. So mote it be."
A swirl of white light erupted from George's wand and went around all three of them, signifying the wizard oath that he had just enacted. Draco sighed and held his wand out –a similar swish of light came out of it, sealing the oath. George smiled.
"Now that we got that covered, can we start our grand plan of finding Harry Potter?"
Hermione stepped forward.
"I have unearthed a possible locator spell. But it is not working as it is – I am getting a reading for magical interference of some sort – as if he is made Unplottable. And if my research is correct, should Harry have fallen into the hands of those Sangres –"
"I sure hope not," Draco interrupted. Hermione gave him a look.
"It's just a possibility. I wouldn't want Harry and or Professor Snape for that matter to fall into the hands of those vampires." She sighed. "What I'm trying to say is the probable reason why I'm not getting a reading is because Harry has been taken into a vampire lair. And as you guys know –"
"A vampire's lair is Unplottable," Draco finished. "How the heck is that going to help us?"
"We need your godfather, Malfoy." George said. " The locator spell was used to look for Harry using an object that belonged to him, in this case, a piece of parchment with his handwriting and magical signature. But we figured that since he and the Professor are bonded –"
"We need Severus' blood. It would give us a more potent base to figure out Harry's location. And if my theory is correct –"
"Professor Snape's vampirism will bypass the creature wards of the vampire lair." George finished. Draco looked at the two Weasley and sighed. He had to admit, if Granger's theory was correct, that Harry had already been abducted, it was a viable plan. He just hoped that it wasn't the truth, for he did not know how his godfather would react to it.
"Well, if he hasn't found Harry yet, my godfather should be back at the Potter Manor…" The blonde eyed the muggle watch he was wearing. " …right about now."
George nodded.
"I say we go there now."
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Severus woke up with a blinding headache. He groaned as he tried to reach for his temple and rub it – only to find out that he couldn't.
Both of his hands were shackled by heavy chains.
'Great, just great,'
Instead, the half-vampire attempted to shake his head and focus his vision. His eyes were greeted by a cold, dark space, lit only by a couple of torches. And, judging from his sense of direction, he was tied up against the wall. Severus shuddered as his head cleared up. He knew where he was. He knew this place well. Too well.
'Argen's lair… dungeons…'
The dark-haired wizard then took a breath and resigned to await the inevitable.
'Merlin, I just hope that Harry is okay.
Out of the blue, he then tried to open his link to his bonded.
'Harry?'
Silence. Severus sighed. He did not know if his mental message would carry over through the natural wards of the vampire lair, but it was worth a try. He was already about to close off the link when…
'Oh my god, Sev?'
'HARRY?'
'SEV! It's me!'
Severus could not describe the joy he felt at hearing the younger wizard's voice once more, even if it was just through their mental link.
'Merlin, Severus, are you okay? Where are you? Are you hurt? Did they –'
'Slow down, Harry,' Severus smiled to himself. Harry tended to be a worrywart more than he would like to admit it. 'I should be the one asking you that,'
Silence.
'Harry?'
No answer.
'Harry James Potter!'
Severus could almost feel his bonded cringe at the "Professor" tone he had used.
'Sev?'
'Yes, Harry?'
'Promise me you won't try and do anything stupid…'
Severus snorted despite everything.
'I believe, Mr. Potter, that the matter of stupidity rests well within your repertoire of expertise,'
Harry sighed but did not say a word. Severus could not help but feel irritated.
'Where are you, Harry?' he snarled.
'Sev, I-'
'WHERE. ARE. YOU. POTTER?' Severus felt his chest muscles constricting as his mental voice took on a dangerous tone. His instincts were flaring up, but he fought hard to push them away. He focused on his bonded, hoping that Harry would dispel the dread that he was feeling. A soft, unmistakable sob came from the other end of the link.
'Sev, they have me.'
Severus felt his heart stop.
'Excuse me?'
'They –they have me. I'm sorry, Sev. I should have listened to you –'
Severus's mind blanked out. Harry, his Harry was…
'That is why the link was working!' Severus told himself. He did not know if Harry heard that for the younger wizard was busy rambling.
'Don't worry about me Sev –I'll find a way out of here. You know me, I'll –'
Severus remained silent. Harry noticed.
'Sev, you okay?'
It was now the half-vampire's turn to be speechless.
'Sev, where are you?' Harry asked tersely. Severus Snape was never a quiet man –especially not when it comes to Harry and his 'Gryffindor idiocies'.
'Sev?'
No answer.
'Severus Tobias Snape!'
Crickets.
'SEVERUS! I just called you Tobias, you daft man!'Harry practically yelled into their link.
'Harry,' Severus' deep baritone came on quietly.
'Where are you, Severus?' Harry's voice screamed of worry and apprehension, as if not wanting to hear the older man's answer. Severus took a deep breath.
'I'm right next door, Harry.'
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A/N: Apologies for the short chapter. I literally had to force this out of my brain. My muse went on strike so…
Next chapter: A continuation of our boys' dungeon experience. Somebody visits one of our dynamic duo and it all becomes clearer to Severus.
In the meantime, kindly review. I would like to know how this is doing. And also, if you do, my muse might come back… I really do like her, temperamental but brilliant… I want her back, please help me…
*puppy dog eyes*
-Eastwoodgirl