A.N.: Thank you, multilingualism, for betaing this chapter.
Chapter 30: Hide and seek
Now it was just a matter of a few hours until Dolores would finally know who the Open Link was. That brat had given her a runaround long enough but not any longer. If the Open Link didn't want to come to her, she would have to apply a bit more force. It was only for the best, after all, even though that stupid teenager would probably not see that right away. But sometimes one had to be forced into one's happiness, right? And it wasn't like she intended to hurt the Open Link, so there was nothing anybody could complain about.
Lunch in the Great Hall started as a silent affair. Dolores could tell right away that most teachers were not impressed with her, especially McGonagall. The woman was Dumbledore's lap-dog or better lap-cat and so it was only natural that she bristled when her idol's position was threatened by someone cleverer and more determined than him. It wasn't like Gryffindor's Head of the House could actually do something as Dolores' orders came right from the Minister of Magic himself, which meant that the Hogwarts staff had to stand by and watch her victory. First, she had to get through dinner though and some of the students and Professors were staring at her like they were hoping she would choke on a potato. But Dolores endured their sour looks with a victorious little smile before she took a careful sip of pumpkin juice. These interrogations would probably go on for the rest of the day so she better made sure that she was well fed. Who knew when she'd have time for another meal once the Open Link was finally in their possession?
She had just sliced the first bit of meat and wanted to put it into her mouth when the doors to the Great Hall suddenly banged open, a pair of well-known pranksters flying in on their brooms. With their robes billowing behind them in the air they flew right into the middle of the room, where they stopped grinning down at teachers and students alike.
"Fred and George Weasley!" Professor McGonagall shrieked to her right and stared at them with wide eyes. But whatever punishment their Head of the House would try to bestow on them, Dolores would claim the right to punish them herself. And she would thoroughly enjoy it. "What do you think you're doing?" McGonagall went on with her scolding. "You know very well that flying your brooms inside the school is strictly forbidden for students of this school! Have you lost your minds? Come down in this instant!"
"Well, that's the thing Professor," one of them replied grinning down at her. "We're no longer students of this school."
The other one nodded. "We quit. Things around here have gotten quite unpleasant lately…"
"…and we're really no fan of taking highly restricted potions against our will. We prefer drinking our own ones." Watching them talk while they switched back and forth between them made her head spin. It was like watching a tennis match. Nevertheless, the message had immediately sunken in. They didn't want to drink the Veritaserum - they would leave school in the hope to avoid drinking it, which could only mean that they knew something or one of them was, in fact, the Open Link himself.
She couldn't let them escape, Dolores decided, pulling her wand out of the pockets of her pink robe. Luckily there was no way these teenagers could escape a hall full of students and teachers. "Incarcerous," she whispered and saw the ropes flying from the tip of her wand. It was like the twins had anticipated her move though, as both of them simply moved their brooms aside with a cheeky grin.
"Thanks for helping us make a point, Professor," one of them shouted, waving down to the students.
"…and realizing that our future isn't lying in the academic sector at all. We prefer a more hands-on approach." The other redhead had barely finished the sentence throwing something into the air and a moment later a ray of fireworks exploded with a loud bang. Those weren't regular fireworks though, as several of them finally formed a huge dragon that suddenly rushed down towards her with its mouth wide open. But before the beast could reach her, the Headmaster banished it with an experienced wand-motion.
"I adjure you not to do anything rash, gentlemen," he said and looked up at them with blue piercing eyes. "I can assure you, that you are quite safe at this school, whereas the world outside these halls is just waiting for you to make a mistake. You will not be expelled if you agree to come down and accompany me to my office. We can find a way to protect you, both of you if that's what you wish."
For a moment the boy's eyes flickered towards the Headmaster and Dolores could have sworn that they at least considered his offer. "Sorry, Headmaster, but that's not going to work. Georgie and I do love our freedom and we're not going to be locked up to stay protected," the feistier one of them replied with a bold grin and threw another bunch of fireworks into the air. This time they formed a huge phoenix-like creature that again swooped down at her. Just when she tried to banish it, as the Headmaster had done it, the creature exploded in a mass of bright dazzling lights only for the room to be engulfed in complete darkness a moment later.
Umbridge heard someone to her right curse but she didn't have time to contemplate who it was, as she suddenly felt herself being enclosed by something wet and slimy. Unable to see she leapt from her chair with a disgusted shriek only to feel something cold splash next to her on the floor. "Get me those boys!" she yelled into the darkness and she could hear hasty movements to her left. But when one of the other teachers finally managed to light the room again, those infamous redheads were gone as well as the Headmaster himself.
"No!" she cried and tried to move towards the doors of the Great Hall. When she tried making the first step she had to realize though, that her feet were firmly stuck on the ground, as there was some sort of green slime surrounding them from her knees downwards. With another shout of anger, she tried banishing the stuff but without success. Every spell that hit the green mass only made it grow and it wasn't long until she was stuck from her hip downwards. "Arrrgh! Idiots! Help me!" Dolores shouted again but by now the room around her had erupted into chaos. Students were running around, shouting, laughing and the teachers tried to instill order again. No one even looked into her direction, no matter how loud she cried for help. She couldn't believe that the next potential Open Link was just about to slip through her fingers and she could only stand by and watch.
ssssssss
Idiots, Severus thought while storming towards his potions classroom. What did they think they were doing, running away after causing such a ruckus during lunch? It was obvious that they were trying to get away from the questioning, but now not only the Ministry and the Dark Lord would be after them, but Dumbledore was also right on their toes and it would only be a matter of minutes until he brought them back with a grandfatherly twinkle in his eyes. Then he would bring them to his office and wring the truth from their heads. The Headmaster was a skilled Legillimens himself and it wouldn't take him long to find out about the girl, Hermione.
But the Headmaster getting them into his fingers was still better than the Dark Lord capturing them. He had been merciful with the Brown-girl but with the Weasleys, he would know that their deception had been deliberate and as the Weasleys weren't particularly popular with the purebloods, there would be nothing to save those boys. Not that he cared about them in particular, no, they were just another bunch of brash, boisterous Gryffindor idiots without an inch of subtlety. But he had been wrong about them, had been convinced they'd betray Hermione and even though their actions could still mean the girl's downfall they had still tried to protect the girl.
Well, there was nothing he could do for them now and probably nothing he could do for the girl any longer. But he had to try because the Dark Lord would skin him if he was just sitting here twiddling his thumbs.
"Today's lesson is cancelled," be bellowed towards the little second year students waiting in the hallways for him. The kids looked at him with wide eyes and hastily scurried out of his way when he hurried past them. "Away with you, I've got better things to do today," he sneered and the first brats already hurried away from the classroom. Good. Now he had the rest of the day to search for those hot-headed idiots. He could only hope that he'd be able to find them before the others did because a well-placed Obliviation spell was probably his only way out of this mess.
ssssssss
"I can't believe it was them all along," Ron said for the hundredth time this evening, while they were sitting together in the Common Room. "Why wouldn't they have told us? Or agreed to accept Dumbledore's help? I'm sure he would have protected them."
Hermione knew why. Neither Fred nor George was the Open Link, after all. They just tried to protect her from this mess by focusing all attention on them. It had worked. There wasn't any questioning under Veritaserum today and there would be none until the two of them could be found and questioned. That's at least would a sour-faced Umbridge had told them during dinner.
"You heard them," Hermione replied looking up from her book. "and more importantly, you know your brothers, Ron. Can you imagine them having a permanent bodyguard or being locked up somewhere safe? They would be as bad as Sirius is, locked up in that terrible house."
"I know," Ron replied with a grumble. "But god, I can't help being worried about them."
"Me too," she agreed, putting her arm around him. "They just painted a large target onto their backs, before leaving the security of the castle. Merlin knows where they're now."
But that was the point. Hermione didn't know and she couldn't help feeling guilty for what they had to do because she had dragged them with her into this mess. By running away, they had bought her time, yes, but at what price? Would they pay for her security with their lives in the end? Or their sanity? And what would happen to the rest of the Weasley family? Were they now in danger, too? Because she wouldn't put it behind the Dark Lord or his Death Eaters to get to the twins through their family. That's why she let her own parents leave the country, after all. If something happened to any of them, Hermione wasn't sure if she could ever forgive herself. Severus had been right. She had been an idiot for letting them in on her secret. Whatever happened to them, it would be her fault.
ssssssss
"Well, Severus, by the look on your face you haven't found them either, have you?" Dumbledore said looking at him with a tired expression on his face.
The Potions Professor closed the distance to the Headmaster's desk with three long strides and let himself sink on the cushioned chair in front of it. "No, there's no sign of them. I asked around with several of my contacts in the shadier parts of London and checked all the Inns that they could have gone to. They're nowhere."
"Molly and Arthur haven't heard from them either," the Headmaster added with a grim expression. "I did have some hope concerning the Weasley family clock, as it is enchanted with a powerful tracking charm, but apart from showing them being in mortal peril there's nothing to gain from it."
Severus gave a humourless snort. "Those two are much cleverer than we gave them credit for. They shouldn't even have been able to leave the school. You were right behind them, weren't you?"
"Unfortunately those two are like devils on a broom and they know the castle probably better than the Marauders did. And even if it pains me to admit it, old friend, we're all getting older, even I," the old man behind the desk said and a bit of the twinkle was back in his eyes. He obviously hadn't given up and Severus realized that as long as the Dark Lord didn't find them, there was still hope.
Another snort escaped Severus' nose. "That, we are. But getting older makes us wise and wisdom is something those two are clearly lacking. Short-sighted idiots."
"The short-sightedness of youth is something, we're probably all guilty of, my friends. We've all made our mistakes and paid for them, you did and so did I. Let's just hope those two boys are not paying theirs with their lives. It would be a terrible loss for us to lose the Open Link."
Severus sighed. For a moment he had almost thought that the Headmaster actually cared about the Weasleys. But all that man cared about was the loss of another chess-piece in that game he was playing and wasn't that a sobering realisation? That man would never care for more than the greater good, whatever that may be in his eyes and Severus couldn't help but despise the man for it.
"What will you be doing now, Headmaster?" he asked and looked at the man with a neutral expression. Years of Occlumency practise had luckily taught him how to keep his emotions in check in front of the Headmaster.
"I'll keep looking for them, of course. Maybe I'll invite young Ronald for tea, or even Miss Granger. They seem to have gotten closer, lately. What do you think?"
Severus shrugged. "You can try, but don't get your hopes up. Try Grimmauld Place instead or check with their older brothers. One of them is currently in Romania, I believe. Maybe they decided to pay him a visit."
"Not a bad idea," Dumbledore replied while thoughtfully stroking his chin. "Leaving the country wasn't something I considered they could have done but you're right of course. In their eyes, it's probably the safest option."
The Potions Master nodded. He could only hope that the terrible two had indeed been that wise. Because otherwise, it was only a matter of time until they were found. The question was by whom.
ssssssss
Hermione couldn't sleep. Every time she tried she saw Fred's and George's face in front of her, but not with a huge smile like she was used to, but with several bruises and lifeless eyes. It would be her fault if they died, she thought over and over again. Only because she didn't want to lose them she had suddenly decided to spill the beans and in retrospect, she realized how selfish she had been. What had become of her during those last months and weeks? She had been afraid of becoming like Severus, being alone and without friends because she had to push everyone away. But now she realized that it would have never been like this. She would always have had him at her side, but now she did not even have that any longer.
It was no use lying around in her bed and staring at the ceiling like that. Her thoughts were running in circles and somehow she couldn't help but feel trapped in her dorm. She needed out, needed some air and so she decided to do a spontaneous Prefect-round through the castle. A flick of her wand transfigured her pyjamas back into her school robes with an additional jumper below. The castle could be cold at this time of the year, especially at night.
It wasn't long until she strolled through the empty halls of the school, leaving the sleeping portrait of the Fat Lady behind her. And really, the bit of exercise helped her to clear her mind and finally take a deep breath. The halls of the castle were empty at this time of the night, Hermione realized, as not even Filch or Mrs Norris crossed her path. She just wanted to turn around to return to her rooms, when suddenly a large hand appeared from behind and covered her mouth. Hermione wanted to whip around, but whoever held her in place was stronger and held her firmly in place. She cursed inwardly.
"Stop struggling Hermione," an urgent voice whispered into her ear. "It's us, Fred and George."
And it was true. Hermione would have known that voice anywhere.
"Fred? George?" she asked them after turning around with wide eyes. And really, here they were, standing in front of her with a nervous grin and a twinkle in their brown eyes.
"In person," they said in unison and nodded.
"Come to the lab with us," George continued. "It's too dangerous for us, out here in the corridors."
Hermione looked at them with wide eyes and a searing heart, as the pictures of their mangled bodies reappeared before her inner eye. "You can't just come to the castle, boys. It's too dangerous for you here now. Please, just go and be safe. I've brought you into enough trouble as it is."
Fred and George looked at her with a smile, while shaking their heads in unison. "Don't worry about it."
Then George stepped closer and tried to take her hand, but Hermione hastily took a step back. He said: "Please, Hermione. Come to the lab with us and we'll tell you everything, we swear."
She sighed, but finally she gave in and nodded with a serious expression. "Alright. I'll come with you. But I swear, this story better be a good one as coming here was so dangerous."
Fred sent her a boyish grin. "Don't worry, love. We've got everything under control." Hermione sighed. She could only hope that he was right in that estimation, but after the lesson she had painfully learned during her own mistakes, his words only sounded to her like Gryffindor-recklessness.
It was a short way into their lab and Hermione would probably have found it in her sleep. Ever since the twins had shown her the place, Hermione had seen the statue of the three-eyed troll with different eyes as she now knew what was hidden behind. But the twin's lab had changed since her last visit a few weeks ago, as it now held two makeshift beds and two suitcases in addition to their equipment. Hermione stared at the stuff with wide eyes.
"Don't tell me you're staying here," she said even though the answer was fairly obvious.
The boys shrugged, grinning. "Hogwarts is the safest place in wizarding Britain," George said and slowly sat down on his bed.
"And it's the last place they'll be looking for us after they saw us fly out of the castle," Fred finished for him with a smirk.
Hermione shook her head in disbelief. This is a bad idea, in so many ways.
"So you flew out, just to sneak back in? You used a secret passage, didn't you?" They nodded with a proud grin. She sighed. Even though it kind of made sense, she still couldn't quite wrap her head around it. "But you said you didn't want to be locked up. You'll have to hold out in that room for the whole day. What if you need the bathroom? And where do you get something to eat? Don't tell me you want me to steal something from the Great Hall, because I can tell you: somebody will notice."
"Don't worry about the food," George said motioning his head to a large pile of food on one of the tables. "We pre-packed enough to bring us through the next few days. After that we'll think of something."
Hermione could only shake her head about their carelessness. She couldn't help the feeling, that to them this was just a long game of hide and seek. Didn't they see what was at stake?
Fred looked at her with a nervous smile, when there was no answer from her. "And about the other thing: we know that you can disillusion yourself. Maybe you could teach us, considering the circumstances."
After everything they had done for her, Hermione had to take care of them. Being able to disillusion themselves was probably really an important tool to keep them safe. It was in her best interest for those two not to get caught, after all. But then she remembered all the trouble those two had gotten themselves into in the last years and their little stunt with the nosebleed nougat hadn't really helped to make her see their maturity. She sighed. " I'll teach you. But you still need to be careful. You only leave the room when it is absolutely necessary and never during break-time or whenever there's lots of students in the corridors. You can't get caught under any circumstances, do you hear me? This is not some sort of game."
"We promise we'll be careful," Fred replied looking at her with serious, brown eyes. "We know what's at stake. And you need us to keep an eye on you, right?" He winked at her.
George nodded. "If you need help, you know where to find us, alright?"
"Alright," Hermione agreed with a tired shake of her head. "Now, before I teach you this spell, there's probably something else I can do for you. Dobby?"
It was only a moment until the batty-eared house-elf appeared in front of them. "Harry Potter's friend called for Dobby, Miss?"
Hermione looked at the elf with a gentle smile on her lips. "I did. Dobby, these are Fred and George. They are very good friends of Harry too, you see?"
Dobby nodded. "Dobby is pleased to meet you, Messrs Weasley."
The twins looked at him with a wide smile. "The pleasure is all ours."
The house-elf looked at them with wide eyes. It was still alien to him, that wizards treated him with kindness. Hermione sighed. Maybe he and the twins would be good for each other because if the little elf agreed to help them, they'd be seeing quite a lot of each other.