Hello again everyone! As promised, here is the next chapter. I had to cut the final chapter in four parts of 6000-7000 words to make it more digestible, but since they are part of the same event and there's a lot happening on many fronts, I will post the next parts fairly quickly. For instance, I plan to post the second part on Monday.

A huge thank you to my amazing reviewers! I really needed your reassurance after all that time without posting.

Thank you to SharonT, EmeraldEyed and Cherrie-san, my guest reviewers.

Cherrie-san asked me for a head count of which Horcruxes remain. I think that a lot of you were a bit confused as well, so here it is:

Canon Horcruxes in order of conception (as far as I know):

Diary (used to create Voldemort's current body in 1982)

Ring (destroyed)

Locket (reabsorbed)

Cup (Intact, as far as we know)

Diadem (destroyed)

Harry (alive)

Nagini (alive)

I hope it helped!


Chapter 50 : Victory Day, Part one, 3rd of April 1998

Today was Victory Day. Preparations for the grand celebration had occupied the better part of the last weeks. Or, well, it had been the focus of certain select people who were in the know, I should say.

As for me, I had little knowledge of what the day would bring, aside from guessing that Marvolo had planned some sort of grand reveal that was probably related to the brewing war with France. Well, I said it was brewing, but I didn't know much about that either, to be honest. All I knew was that my warding project with Severus was finally complete and would be up and running hopefully right after the hub of activities related to the "V-Day" had passed.

The celebrations brought up certain nostalgia in me. It was, after all, at a Victory Day parade that I first saw the Dark Lord. In my childhood and early adolescence, the parade and the speech that unmistakably came after were not only the points of contacts between me and my "destined enemy", but also the only moments in which I had felt part of the British Wizarding community as a whole, instead of being restricted to the Rebel faction.

Today, I would once again live through a reversal of perspectives, as I would be part of the parade instead of just being an awed onlooker like I used to. Surprisingly, perhaps, I was not all pleased about it and was trying very hard not to blow my lid off at Marvolo, who had an even worst temper than mine those days. His mood was as fluctuating as his hair since the destruction of two of his Horcruxes. Sometimes, it would grow back, some others, it would fall or only grow by patches. He hadn't told me anything about it, despite my questions, but I guessed that his body was somehow trying to reach a new balance and that, when it would be stable again, he'd firmly be in the non-bald category.

In any case, bearing his difficult situation and consequent fluctuating temper in mind, I would normally try not to aggravate him needlessly, but today, growing frustration at being left in the dark and brought to light only when he deigned informing me was starting to wear on me. Not even the fact that Narcissa was there to witness the argument and that I didn't wish to make a spectacle of myself was enough to keep me calm and understanding, despite my better efforts.

"All I am saying is that I would have appreciated if at any time in the past weeks, you had told me you wanted me to go with you, or if you had asked for my opinion about it," I explained in a controlled voice before shooting another look of discomfort at a very pregnant Narcissa who was sitting in the corner of the room with her feet propped up and who was politely feigning fascination for her book.

"It should have gone without saying that you would accompany me like you did in the previous official functions. I do not understand why you are making a fuss of this," said the Dark Lord who made a dismissive move of his hand before returning to the papers spread in front of him.

The man was always busy those days and it irked me that, although I was still sharing his bed, I was firmly kept out of everything related either to the celebrations of today, or to the war that would unmistakably affect me given my place as his lover. I felt like little more than a bed-warmer at this point, and it was bothering me because I was so sure that what we had had grown deeper than that in the past months or even in the past weeks.

"I think I have a right to get even just a glimpse of what is coming today if you expect me to take part in the celebration at your side," I pointed out, annoyed.

A dark threatening aura built up around him suddenly.

"Oh, you think you have a right, now? A right to order me around? A right to demand that I share with you more than I am willing to? " he hissed out in a menacing voice.

I clenched my jaw in frustration at his response, but didn't back down.

"Stop twisting my words. You know what I mean. It's not a question of rights, but I would have thought that, by now, you could have included me a bit more in what is going on in your life and what you have planned for the day. As it is, I feel like I am little more than a glorified...eye-candy or puppet at your side for the day. The only thing you said was that I should bring my backpack. Why would I need it more than usual? What is planned? What is it that I am asked to do? Stand at your side and smile charmingly, waving a demure hand to the crowds until whatever you are planning blows up in my face? I'm not your bloody trophy wife! I am a man and a fighter too, for Morgana's sake!" I shouted at him, loosing my temper despite myself.

"You cannot possibly think that you are entitled to give me a lecture about mutual trust, now, Harry, or should I remind you of this lovely duel you refuse obstinately to forfeit?" he bit out viciously.

"There is a difference between putting my very existence on your hands and letting me on plans that are going to be public knowledge soon enough anyway! I will not go with you there and just let you drop whatever you wish on me like the time you decided I needed to dream up a speech for your adoring crowd because you thought it would be amusing to throw me out there to the sharks!" I protested.

"Fine! Do whatever you wish, but do not expect me to include you in my next plans either if you have that attitude. This is the last thing I needed from you today! I expected you to understand that a lot was hanging on this day and that it was bigger than your wounded pride, but obviously I expect too much of you. I will not forget this," he proclaimed before striding out of the room grandiosely, leaving me alone and embarrassed at my display in front of poor Narcissa who was still pretending to be absorbed by her book.

I turned to her with a sigh. I expected a lifted brow or even a frown, but a different sight met my eyes. She had dropped the book on the table next to her and was now clutching her belly. She was breathing loudly and her face, despite her better efforts to control her expression, was twisted in pain.

"Narcissa! Are you alright? Is the baby okay? Do you need me to fetch a healer?" I asked, panicked. How could I have been so focused on a stupid pointless argument when she needed help right next to us? I really was egocentric.

After a few more seconds of laboured breathing, she opened her eyes and answered me with a tired smile.

"It's fine, Harry. The baby is coming earlier than expected, that is all," she explained.

Well, that didn't reassure me in the slightest.

"What? I know you said it would be premature, probably, but isn't it a bit early? Isn't that dangerous? What should I do?" I asked nervously. I had no idea how to deal with something like that. What if we were snowed in and only I was there to help the birth?

"Harry, please calm down. I said that the process has started, but the baby won't come out instantly. There is no need to panic at the moment. Lucius and I had arranged it so that my Healer would be available to come at a moment's notice," she explained calmly before returning to her breathing as a new contraction set in.

"But what if it snows?" I blurted out despite myself.

She let out a laboured laughter.

"It's April, Harry. Please go... find Lucius. He must be...Ministry," she hissed out between her clenched teeth.

"But you'll be alone!" I protested.

"My Elves will assist me, but they can't Apparate to the Ministry, so, please? If you would?" She asked, falling back on her chair after the contraction passed.

"Okay, yes, I can do that, I can do that, you'll be fine?" I asked one last time, having reached the foyer and taken a handful of Floo powder.

"Yes, yes, do go and fetch Lucius, Harry. I will see you soon," answered Narcissa while she was writing a note, probably for her doctor or for Draco.

"Okay, okay," I said to myself while taking useless calming breaths. "No reason to panic if she doesn't. She knows better, just go fetch Lucius and quick."

"Minister's Office!" I said before stepping in the green fire.

As usual, I landed in a heap in front of the foyer. I really needed to get better at that. The sight that greeted me was unexpected, however.

Crouch was sitting at Lucius' desk, plans spread out on the table. Somebody else that I didn't know was there, talking to him.

Both looked extremely surprised to see me.

I thought of addressing the weirdness of seeing Crouch sitting at Lucius' desk as if he owned the place, but my priority was to find Lucius for Narcissa.

"Narcissa is giving birth! Where is Lucius?" I shouted at them in my agitation.

Both looked at me incredulously before they looked at each other. Crouch nodded at the other and got up, extending his arm for me to take. I ignored it, obviously.

"I'm afraid that Lucius is down at the Auror's Department today. Sadly, as he is in one of the interrogation rooms, I cannot reach him through any other means than by going there directly. If you would accompany me..." he trailed off, glancing significantly at his arm.

I scoffed in disbelief. Crouch was so weird sometimes.

"Come on, it's urgent! Can't we run to the Department?" I pressed, already going for the door.

"Certainly, but I'm afraid the elevator cannot be rushed," he said, shooting another significant look to the other guy, who nodded in answer, before Crouch swept off the room with me at his heels.

All these looks were a bit strange. Maybe the other guy was his lover and interrupted an important conversation? Well, it was reassuring if Crouch had dropped his idiotic designs on me and settled for someone else who was more...willing.

We jogged down the office to the elevator. The place was empty; the secretaries were nowhere to be seen. I guessed the Dark Lord was pretty serious in enforcing public holidays if even the Minister's secretaries were given the day off.

Finally, the elevator doors opened and I hurried in with Crouch. When the doors were closing, I thought I saw a Patronus exit from Lucius' office and go through the floor. It struck me as strange because normally, only the Rebels used them to communicate between them.

I shook my head, trying to get rid of the paranoid thoughts. The technique had been obviously exposed and adopted by the Ministry at some point. It was a quick way to communicate, after all.

One bumpy ride and too much time I was comfortable spending alone in a closed environment with Crouch later, the door opened to the Auror Department. My first thought was that public holidays were apparently applied very selectively, because it seemed to me as if all the Aurors were there, at their desks and discussing in small pockets around the office. And apparently, there were a lot of Aurors in the Ministry.

And they were obviously waiting nervously for something to happen.

Well, that was a bit suspicious. The only explanation I could think of was that Marvolo would launch some sort of offensive today after his speech and that they were instructed to wait until he gave them a sign. It was his type of things to do, really: making everyone wait for hours long when he already knew the exact moment when he'd need them.

I scoffed mentally and followed Crouch to a nervous-looking Auror on doors duty.

The Auror cleared his throat and glanced between the two of us before Crouch spoke up.

"We are here for Lucius who is in the interrogation room," he said with a pointed look.

Poor guy (obviously intimidated by his boss' presence) gulped visibly before he said:

"Yes, sir, the...the protocol is that..." he started and Crouch nodded encouragingly. Yeah, he was most definitely a rookie.

"The protocol is that nobody can enter an interrogation room with a wand, because the prisoner could..." he continued, before Crouch interrupted him.

"Yes, yes, it is protocol after all, and no one is exempt," said Crouch before he handed over his wand to the now profusely sweating Auror.

They both turned to me expectantly.

I rolled my eyes at them and pulled out my wand.

Honestly, Narcissa will have given birth by the time Lucius arrived if they were stalling so much.

I handed it to the Auror at the desk who looked relieved he wouldn't have to force me to hand it over. Honestly, what had Crouch been telling them about me to make them think I would refuse to follow the protocol?

"Come on, Crouch, show me where Lucius is! Narcissa is waiting!" I urged him nervously and a bit annoyed.

I thought I heard an Auror snort in the crowd. I guess I did make it sound as if Narcissa was ordering her husband around. Oh well, too bad for Lucius's image, I thought with a mental snicker.

Crouch and I jogged down the corridor and turned to the right were the holding cells were. I didn't check to see if there were people in there, but I did hear a few moans of pain and indignant shouts after we crossed a warding sound barrier.

"We will get out of there, and you will pay!" threatened one.

"When the Dark Lord learns..." started another, but I couldn't hear the rest because we turned another corner to the left and went through another door. The door closed behind us with a resounding thud and we were faced with a staircase heading down for about twenty steps. It wasn't as well-lit as the other rooms and it was completely silent. Four Aurors were there, guarding two doors that probably held a prisoner each. We stopped in front of the one further from the entrance and to the right.

Wow, a dimly lit corridor, a deathly silence and bulky looking guys as guards. The whole place was gloomy. I guessed the atmosphere was part of the interrogation setting.

When we arrived in front of the door, Crouch stopped and nodded at the guards.

"Well, Harry, Lucius is in there, interrogating a Rebel that we caught this morning. It might not be a pretty sight, though. Are you sure you want to head in?" asked Crouch with a concerned frown.

Although I didn't see a reason for me to head in completely and witness the gory sight, particularly since it might be someone I knew, there was no way in Azkaban I was taking up Crouch's "solicitous" offer to stay out here when he went inside. I could stand a bit of blood and gore. The raid on the Rebel Camp had taught me as much.

I huffed in frustration.

"Can we get this over with? I have a message from his wife. It's urgent," I reminded him. Seriously. I had no idea how long it took for a baby to be born, but I was pretty sure I was pushing the time limits already, and we still had to head back out before Lucius could be at Narcissa's side.

Crouch had vicious smile and I suddenly knew that he was just egging me on. Damn him. Before I could shoot him a witty comeback, the door had opened. I only had the time to see that the interrogation cell was empty before I was suddenly pushed violently inside. I fell and sprung back up to my feet rapidly, taking stock of the situation. There were all sorts of weird instruments on the wall and what I imagine to be a "torture bench", but there was also a lavish bed with restraints on each corner at the back of the room. A shiver of dread went through me. The door of the cell closed with a resounding clank.

And Crouch was inside the cell with me, a satisfied smirk on his face.

.

o0o0o

Draco Malfoy wasn't pleased. Today was Victory Day and usually, that meant that he could assist to the celebrations with his family and be able to come back to Hogwarts lording over the rest of the students that he alone had been allowed to go. However, this year, he was in a bit of a tight spot. Despite his reassurances to Blaise, he had not kept his distance with the Weasel and he had tried to bait him into revealing his hand. Sadly, it had ended in a very physical fight and a teacher had spotted them before he could show the insolent pauper his rightful place in the food chain. Needless to say, he was stuck in detention until the end of the year, and Slytherin might just lose the House Cup for the first time fifteen years.

So, no, despite the joyful day, Draco Malfoy was not a happy bunny. And doubly so because he knew that Blaise, the arrogant son-of-a-black-widow, was invited to the ceremony in his quality of Death Eater. Damn him.

Which explained why he was currently sulking in his dormitory instead of heading at Malfoy Manor. That Blaise was dressing up for the ceremony next to him did nothing for his mood either.

"Honestly, Malfoy, it will be a boring ceremony for the most part. If anything, I will just stand there for hours doing nothing. It won't even help my fame because I have to wear full Death Eater regalia, and that includes the masks," said Blaise from his poster bed. "I'd rather stay here. I have this feeling in my gut that Weasley is planning something for today and I don't trust you to investigate it without alerting them to your intentions."

Draco protested grumpily at Blaise's insinuation of his character, before his eyes strayed on his Potions kit in the corner of the room and he got the idea of the century.

"Hey, Zabini, come here for a second," he called out. The young Death Eater stopped his preparations and cautiously approached him.

Draco casted an Anti-Eavesdropping charm and exposed his genius tactic.

.

A few hours later, a very self-satisfied blond strutted to his detention, oblivious to the ambush that was waiting ahead of him.

"Get him," whispered a feminine voice from its hiding place in a shadowed corner.

At her words, the boy standing next to her sprung to action.

"Expelliarmus," was the first spell uttered and it hit the unsuspecting blond in the back before he had a chance to react. His wand flew out of his hand and ended in the hand of the woman.

The disarmed Pureblood pivoted in her direction swiftly, years of training taking precedence over his beating heart and bewildered mind. He saw at the corner of his eye the blur of a person charging to him from the opposite direction, but he did not have the time to react. The next thing he knew, he was on the ground with a heavier man pining him down. Whoever had planned this was well-prepared, obviously.

He struggled under the weight before a Paralysis charm hit him.

"Are you sure it's 'im ?" Asked the woman in a low voice that did not completely hide her exotic accent.

"Of course it's him. I'd recognise the ponce anywhere and with hair like his, anybody could spot him from the other side of a Quidditch pitch, the bloody ferret," grumbled the person restraining him

"Weasley," hissed mentally the captured boy. The thought made him seethe with anger. He should have reported him the minute he discovered the ginger was somehow implicated.

And the girl was Delacour obviously, given her accent and the Veela allure he could feel oozing from the darkened corner. His Lord would be pleased if he managed to incriminate her. Better wait, then, he concluded as he forced his magic to settle down and stop fighting against the paralysis. Maybe he could bring three heads on a platter for his Lord today. On the day of his past Victory, he would bring forth a new success and his rank would be...

His thoughts were interrupted by a whispered incantation and a red light soon engulfed him. His muscles abruptly relaxed and his head lolled to the side as he felt his consciousness trickle away from him.

.

o0o0o

"Nonsense, Lucius, your wife is giving birth to your child as we speak and I do not need you for this," dismissed the Dark Lord with a short movement.

The Minister of Magic hesitated, despite his Lord's reassurance.

"My Lord, when Draco was born, it took nearly a whole day. I am sure it will not be much shorter," he pointed out. He would not admit to the Dark Lord that Narcissa had broken the bones of his wand hand at Draco's birth by squeezing his hand too tightly and that, as such, he was in no hurry to repeat the experience. Besides, he had felt useless then and had only been in the way of the Healers and Medi-wizards. If he arrived just in time for the delivery itself, it would be better for everyone involved.

"Lucius," interrupted his now annoyed Master. "I know your presence at my side for such an event is tradition, but I will not go with anyone else than Harry today. His presence is important for the announcement I have to make."

"But, my Lord," started Lucius, despite his better judgment. "I thought that Harry was...reluctant to accompany you."

The Dark Lord snorted in amusement.

"Reluctant is too mild a word. He absolutely refuses to go with me unless I tell him what we have been working on. The brat is restless those days. He knows that something is coming and insists to be informed," he remarked.

"My Lord, as much as I agree that his surprise is essential, perhaps there is a way for him..." attempted Lucius before he was cut off abruptly.

"I will not yield in my decision to accommodate a moody teenager!" protested Voldemort angrily. He forced himself to breathe calmly. His wavering grip on his temper was heavily tested those days and it had taken everything he had not to send a Crucio at the young man earlier. Flashes of Harry's concerned face at his weakened state after the destruction of his two Horcruxes had stayed his hand. It simply wasn't worth it to alienate the brat at this point.

Before he could urge his Minister away to his wife's bedside again, he felt the materialising presence of one of his House-Elves.

The ugly thing appeared directly after he felt it.

It bowed down ceremoniously and held a letter up to him.

§ Master Slytherin,§ it hissed. § A letter came for the young Master.§

A letter for Harry? Who could be writing to him? That Longbottom boy, again? He scanned the paper magically and did not find any offensive spell on it.

There was no envelope with it, indicating that Harry had probably already opened it.

It read:

"Potter,

We have the Malfoy boy. Come and get him alone if you want him to live out the day. The activation password is your tragically murdered godfather's name.

Come alone or we will kill him the second we feel the Portkey is transporting more than one life force.

Oh, and Potter, I know you are crap at this reading business, so here is a summary that you should be able to understand:

We have Draco.

We want you.

You come.

We exchange.

Say "Sirius"

Right now or bye-bye Draco.

Come alone or bye-bye Draco.

I hope it was easy enough for your little brain to understand.

After the short and despicable read, the Dark Lord turned to his House-Elf.

§ I suppose Harry has already left? § he asked, knowing pertinently the answer. The creature almost looked reluctant to answer, but finally did, after a second of hesitation.

§Yes, Master Slytherin. Young Master is not at home anymore. §

Voldemort threw the letter on his desk and clenched his fists in frustration.

§The little brat! We made a deal explicitly for such situations. I knew this was going to happen. He promised never to go charge in like a Gryffindor before at least informing me of his idiotic, stubborn and reckless decision. I should have made that promise magically binding, § he raged, pacing and hissing in his office. He noticed that the House-Elf had picked up on his desire to be left alone as it vanished after a deep curtsy.

Lucius's voice interrupted his monologue:

"Are you going to go rescue him?" he asked candidly, in a neutral voice.

The Dark Lord turned around to see his Death Eater with the letter in his hand. He felt surprisingly indifferent to Lucius' bold disregard of his privacy. He had bigger things on his mind, but he did a mental note to take Lucius down a peg when the...momentary problem was settled.

"I have a ceremony to attend. Traditions are important to keep up for the apparent stability of a regime," he answered indifferently.

"What? But, what about Harry?" asked Lucius, no, demanded Lucius. The blond will suffer for his insolence as soon as he will be able to dish out the punishment without risking to kill him.

"What about him?" he said, keeping his voice and facial expression neutral, despite the anger and stress and, dare he say it, worry, churning in his stomach.

"Are you going to let him die at the hands of the rebellion to preside a ceremony?" challenged Lucius. Decidedly, his Minister had chosen a very dangerous day to reveal his insolence.

" I do not need to barge in wand blazing at his rescue. Harry is supposed to be my equal. He will rescue himself if he is strong enough to deserve this title. I have more important things to attend to," he said dismissively, heading for the door. He would not go and give the rebels the pleasure of disrupting his plans for the day. He refused to let himself be manipulated so blatantly. Harry could not and would not be his weakness. If the young man succumbed today, it would be because he did not deserve to be at his side.

"What about Draco?" pleaded Lucius desperately, looking at him in defeated disbelief. The Dark Lord refused to be moved.

"Nobody sends a ransom letter without any sort of proof that they have the hostage. Nobody should be idiotic enough to react to a ransom letter if proof isn't provided. Severus has not reported any disruption at Hogwarts. He would have alerted us if Draco had been captured. And he will, if something happens now. The best place for you to be at the moment, Lucius, is by Narcissa's side and I would advise you not to do one more comment about my decision if you are still partial to having your head remain firmly on your shoulders. Am I making myself clear, Lucius?" he hissed out.

Lucius stood still for a moment, something that looked dangerously like a rebellious flicker in his eyes before his expression cleared out and he nodded in submission.

"Yes, my Lord. May I still attempt to confirm Draco's well being in the meanwhile? I do not wish for him to fall prey of the rebellion yet again and do not have the same trust in his ability to defend himself against any possible danger directed at him that you seem to have in Harry Potter's," Lucius threw at him before briskly escaping the vicinity without waiting for his approval.

Voldemort did not bother with going in pursuit to punish him. It would be all settled in due time, in any case. It was an interesting perspective that Lucius had brought on his decision, still. Was he simply trusting Harry to be safe? Was he in denial, refusing to admit the very plausible outcome of Harry being overwhelmed by his enemies and killed, not only for his position as his lover, but also for his status as an Horcrux?

Still, he refused to bend down to the rebel's blatant attempt at manipulating him. By arriving late and leaving Harry to fend for himself for a while, he would also give them the impression that Harry was not valuable enough to be used as a tool for bargain.

How he wanted to throttle the boy for putting himself in such a precarious position! Had he not learnt anything of manipulations and power games in the months they had passed together?

He looked at the grandfather clock on the far side of the study and thought for a few moments more. Never mind, then. It was time for the ceremony.

.

o0o0o

Hermione saw her boyfriend enter the Gryffindor common room with relief. He had been gone for most of the morning and had even missed lunch, which wasn't an usual occurrence for him.

Yet, the usual happy twitch in her gut at his sight quickly evaporated as she narrowed her eyes at him in thought.

Something was wrong with him. His eyes were glazed over and he moved about mechanically. He sat down at her side on the couch, but did not acknowledge her otherwise. He did not flash her his brilliant smile like he usually did.

Hermione subtly took out her wand to cast a diagnostic charm at him. It came back negative for the Imperius curse, thankfully, but she still had no idea of what he had.

After a deep scrutiny of a few seconds during which Ron blinked only once, she tried something else.

"I am a bit hungry. I was thinking of going to the kitchens to grab a bite," she tried.

At first, there was no reaction. Then, a blink, and another. Finally, he shook his head and turned to her.

"What? 'Mione? What are you doing here? Where is..." he started before he drifted off, looking around and taking in his location with a bewildered facial expression.

"What the...?" He said. "Merlin's soggiest underpants!"

Hermione took in a deep breath to calm herself.

"Ronald, I would appreciate if you do not curse at me. It is not very polite, you know?" she pointed out.

The ginger shook his head again.

"Where is she?" he asked.

Hermione lifted a brow, kept a neutral mask up and died a little inside. Oh, it was a she, then, that put him in such a state. Well... She supposed it was to be expected. Someone like him was a good catch, after all, and she was as plain as her middle name. It was only a matter a time before her luck ran out and he would be snatched away from her.

"Where is Fleur, Hermione? Did she go somewhere?" continued Ron, unaware of the turmoil his girlfriend was putting herself through.

She started at his words. Fleur? The incredibly beautiful woman who had married his brother Bill after a scandalously short engagement?

Her eyes narrowed in thought again, considering what she knew.

She had always suspected Fleur of having blood of a magical species or another, and Ron had said as much, before he had cut her off and said it was not polite to ask. It had not stopped her from doing research on creatures that most often crossed species with humans and she had made a top ten of creatures from which Fleur might have inherited traits.

As she thought of her boyfriend's glazed look, she thought the most likely cause of it would probably be the Veela allure. Maybe combined with an Obliviation Charm if he didn't remember what happened?

She pondered what she could do now and concluded that she needed the Headmaster to help her with the situation. Although he had showed her the basis of Occlumency, he had never taken the time to instruct her in-depth, or even mentioned its pendant, Legilimency. She had found out about it in her own research and had guessed that, like most Occlumens, Snape probably had at least some idea of how to do Legilimency. Therefore, he was the only one that could help her and she would risk it to know what happened to her boyfriend, even if that exposed their secrets to him.

Worriedly, she took Ron's hand and headed to the Headmaster's office for a difficult discussion.


As I said, part two will be posted on Monday.

Thank you in advance for reviewing!