Snape's Secret Part XVI: The Midnight Wanderors
[ A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and voted! I hope that you enjoy this chapter. We are going back to Hogwarts for a bit here to set the next part of the story into progression. Enjoy, r/r and vote!! -- Kat]
Albus Dumbledore sat at the desk in his huge office, tension lines marking his forehead as he frantically checked the morning post. Nothing, again. It had been weeks now since he had received a letter from Issabelle or Snape and he was getting very worried.
Forcing himself to focus on the present, Dumbledore made his way down to the great hall and wearily took his place at the high table. Looking up as he sat down, it took Minerva McGonagall 5 seconds to figure out that something was wrong.
" Still no news, Albus? " she asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
" Exactly. " Dumbledore replied, mechanically taking a bite of waffle and looking at the students, who were sitting at the tables down either side of the room, generally oblivious of the dangers which he knew were occouring.
" Maybe they had a close call, " Sibil Trelawny suggested, sighing as she looked at Issabelle and Snape's empty seats, " I'm sure that they are all right, though. "
" Well, if I receive nothing by the end of the week, then we will have to take immediate action. We cannot risk them being discovered by Voldemort. " Dumbledore said, frowning.
" Agreed. " Minerva said, her eyes now glowing with determination, " And what are we going to do about the Morgana situation? "
" We will have to deal with it when we deal with Issabelle and Snape's delimma. I am certain that they have found a way to protect her to some degree. "
" I certainly hope you're right, Albus. " Sibil said, resting her chin in her hands, " Because that's something I have a bad feeling about. "
******
" Herm, Ron, do you realize that Morgana has been gone for nearly two weeks now? " Harry asked, looking at her empty spot.
" Yeah... " Hermione said, finishing her pumpkin juice, " I still say that the death eaters got her... She went missing the night of the raid... I do not believe what they are telling us. Do you? "
" No. " Harry said, " And I say that it's about time we took matters into our own hands. "
" I don't know... " Hermione said, rubbing a finger against her chin, " This isn't our normal mystery, ya know? This is serious... We could end up getting her -- and us -- killed. "
" I know, I know... " Harry mumbled, " But the idea that Voldemort has her makes me sick. I still think Draco had something to do with all of this, too. Gee, Ron. You're being awfully quiet. "
" Uh, I'm not feeling well. " Ron said, looking deathly pale, " I think I am going to go to the infirmery. "
" Well, see you. Maybe you should stay here if you feel so bad. " Harry said, looking at Ron and shaking his head, " I mean, it might make you easier for the Death Eaters to catch. "
" Yeah. " Ron said, sighing, " Sorry guys. "
" Hey, we undertand, don't we, Harry? " Hermione asked, looking at Ron, " You go and get some rest. We'll be back before you know it. "
" Okay, guys. Bye. " Ron said, walking towards the infirmory.
******
" Where are you two going? " a smug voice asked, emerging from the shadows. It was ten minutes past midnight and Hermione and Harry were just outside the main doors leading out of the castle.
" How did you -- " Harry stopped, realizing that one of his laces was untied and that it was showing, " Look, Draco, we have no time to waste on you. "
" Oh, dear... " Draco said, " I guess I'll just have to get Peeves. "
" Lotta good that'll do. " Hermione snapped, " Then we'd all be in trouble. "
" Oh well... " Draco said, smirking and taking a breath.
" We are going to rescue Morgana. " Harry said, his eyes burning into Draco's, " And you had better keep your mouth shut about it. "
" I'll do one better then that, " Draco said, " I'm coming with you. "
" No way! " Harry said, making a face, " I don't trust you. "
" I come or I call Peeves, Potter. " Draco said icily, " Your choice. "
******
Morgana watched Anna in awe struck silence as she did the final button on her long black leather trenchcoat. Dispite the older girl's frail appearance, she sure looked tough dressed from head to foot in black kombat clothes. Morgana silently wished she was the one wearing them and turned to face Anna once she had finished pulling on her gloves.
" Where are ya goin'? "
" I'm not sure I should tell you, Morgana. " Anna said, taking a final look at herself in the mirror and sliding her wand into the clip for it on her belt, " Your aunt would not like that very much. "
" Aww, " Morgana said, groaning, " I won't tell her. You can trust me. "
" Hmmm... " Anna said quietly, stopping to think and wondered if giving Morgana a valuable peice of information might make her loyal to Voldemort, or at least to her. " Well, it's top secret, you know... You'd have to promise me you won't say a word. "
" I promise. " Morgana said, crossing two fingers behind her back.
" All right, " Anna said, looking into Morgana's excited brown eyes, " Lucius, Peter, Tom and I are going to do an attack on Hogsmeade. We figure that it will get Dumbledore's attention. "
" Ohhh... " Morgana said, " Can I come? "
" No... " Anna said, looking at her fondly, " This is going to be pretty dangerous... "
" Okay, Anna. Good luck and be careful! " Morgana said, leaving the room.
Anna smiled as she watched Morgana walk away. She was sure going to be a great Death Eater someday.
******
" Issie! Aunt Issie! " Morgana said, racing into Issabelle's room and closing the door, " I have something to tell you! "
" Morgana, what's wrong? " Issabelle asked, looking up from the potions book that Snape had loaned her and dropping it to the floor with a loud thud when she saw the expression on her neice's face.
" They -- They're going to -- " Morgana said, stumbling over her words as she hurried to tell what she had heard.
" Slow down, kiddo. " Issabelle said, getting up and guiding her to a chair, " Now, take a nice deep breath and quietly tell me what is going on. "
" They're going to attack Hogsmeade! " Morgana said, jumping out of the chair, " They're setting a trap for Dumbledore! And what about Harry and Hermione and... Draco...? "
" Breath, Morgana. Breath.... " Issabelle said, resting her hands on her neice's shoulders and causing her to sink into the chair again, " Where did you learn about this? "
" From Anna. " Morgana said, " And we can't even do anything or she'll get made at me... She told me not to tell and I promised I wouldn't. "
" Oh, dear... " Issabelle said, sitting in a chair next to Morgana, " Now, I want you to do a bit of thinking, Morgana. When someone asks you to keep a secret, you wouldn't tell normally, right? "
" Right. "
" But you told me about this. Now, think of why... " Issabelle said, her gaze meeting Morgana's eye to eye.
" Because someone is gonna get hurt... "
" Right. Now, what good will breaking your promise have done if no good comes of it? " Issabelle asked.
" Okay, okay... I get what you're saying. " Morgana said, looking away.
" Who all is going? "
" Tom, Lucius, Peter and Anna. "
" Thanks, Morgana. That took a lotta guts. Now, I've got to go... I can't leave all of those people defenseless! "
" I'm going with you! " Morgana said, her voice allowing no room for questions, " I know more about our powers and we'll do much better working as a team. "
" You sure, kid? " Issbelle said, looking at Morgana with concern and then spotting her determination, " All right, then. You're on. "
******
The smell of smoke became unbarable as Harry, Hermione and Draco made their way along the road leading into Hogsmeade. Turning the final bend, a terrifying sight met their now stinging eyes. The village was enveloped in flames which were mercilessly roaring, crackling and scorching their way into the little houses and shops.
" You sure about this? " Hermione asked, feeling very nervous as she watched one of the roofs cave in on a nearby building.
" I'm not taking any chances. Morgana might be in there. We have no choice. " Harry shouted, continuing to walk forward, " C'mon! "
" Ohh... Potter's trying to be brave. " Draco sniggered, following Hermione, who was racing to catch up to Harry.
******
Issabelle gasped in horror and Morgana shuddered as they looking down at the smoking ruins below. Cries for help and screams of pain rang in their ears with the fury and vengence of some long forgotten ghost from years ago. One thing was certain, though... had Hogsmeade ever been in need of a hero, the time was now.
" Tom, how could you do this...? These poor, poor people... " Issabelle said, wiping a single tear from the corner of her eye and watching as it restored a house to normal.
" You gotta stop that, Issie! " Morgana said, looking at her with a fixed expression, " Or you'll give us away. "
" R-right. " Issabelle said weakly, forcing a shaky breath, " What if this is all my fault...? "
" Why would it be your fault? " Morgana asked, landing on the roof of the buidling Issabelle had repaired.
" 'Cause I rejected him, I made him look like a fool. I use him... The list goes on and on... " Issabelle said, smaking a hand against her forehead.
" Knock it off, Issie. We have no time for that! " Morgana snapped, " Look! "
Looking down, Issabelle felt a knot slowly begin to form in her stomach. If it was at all possible, things had just gotten worse.
[ End Note: What's the great catastrope? Where are the feirce foursome? What will Harry, Hermione and Draco do? And... will Hogsmeade be saved? Thanks again for reading, please review and vote. :) ]
[ A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and voted! I hope that you enjoy this chapter. We are going back to Hogwarts for a bit here to set the next part of the story into progression. Enjoy, r/r and vote!! -- Kat]
Albus Dumbledore sat at the desk in his huge office, tension lines marking his forehead as he frantically checked the morning post. Nothing, again. It had been weeks now since he had received a letter from Issabelle or Snape and he was getting very worried.
Forcing himself to focus on the present, Dumbledore made his way down to the great hall and wearily took his place at the high table. Looking up as he sat down, it took Minerva McGonagall 5 seconds to figure out that something was wrong.
" Still no news, Albus? " she asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
" Exactly. " Dumbledore replied, mechanically taking a bite of waffle and looking at the students, who were sitting at the tables down either side of the room, generally oblivious of the dangers which he knew were occouring.
" Maybe they had a close call, " Sibil Trelawny suggested, sighing as she looked at Issabelle and Snape's empty seats, " I'm sure that they are all right, though. "
" Well, if I receive nothing by the end of the week, then we will have to take immediate action. We cannot risk them being discovered by Voldemort. " Dumbledore said, frowning.
" Agreed. " Minerva said, her eyes now glowing with determination, " And what are we going to do about the Morgana situation? "
" We will have to deal with it when we deal with Issabelle and Snape's delimma. I am certain that they have found a way to protect her to some degree. "
" I certainly hope you're right, Albus. " Sibil said, resting her chin in her hands, " Because that's something I have a bad feeling about. "
******
" Herm, Ron, do you realize that Morgana has been gone for nearly two weeks now? " Harry asked, looking at her empty spot.
" Yeah... " Hermione said, finishing her pumpkin juice, " I still say that the death eaters got her... She went missing the night of the raid... I do not believe what they are telling us. Do you? "
" No. " Harry said, " And I say that it's about time we took matters into our own hands. "
" I don't know... " Hermione said, rubbing a finger against her chin, " This isn't our normal mystery, ya know? This is serious... We could end up getting her -- and us -- killed. "
" I know, I know... " Harry mumbled, " But the idea that Voldemort has her makes me sick. I still think Draco had something to do with all of this, too. Gee, Ron. You're being awfully quiet. "
" Uh, I'm not feeling well. " Ron said, looking deathly pale, " I think I am going to go to the infirmery. "
" Well, see you. Maybe you should stay here if you feel so bad. " Harry said, looking at Ron and shaking his head, " I mean, it might make you easier for the Death Eaters to catch. "
" Yeah. " Ron said, sighing, " Sorry guys. "
" Hey, we undertand, don't we, Harry? " Hermione asked, looking at Ron, " You go and get some rest. We'll be back before you know it. "
" Okay, guys. Bye. " Ron said, walking towards the infirmory.
******
" Where are you two going? " a smug voice asked, emerging from the shadows. It was ten minutes past midnight and Hermione and Harry were just outside the main doors leading out of the castle.
" How did you -- " Harry stopped, realizing that one of his laces was untied and that it was showing, " Look, Draco, we have no time to waste on you. "
" Oh, dear... " Draco said, " I guess I'll just have to get Peeves. "
" Lotta good that'll do. " Hermione snapped, " Then we'd all be in trouble. "
" Oh well... " Draco said, smirking and taking a breath.
" We are going to rescue Morgana. " Harry said, his eyes burning into Draco's, " And you had better keep your mouth shut about it. "
" I'll do one better then that, " Draco said, " I'm coming with you. "
" No way! " Harry said, making a face, " I don't trust you. "
" I come or I call Peeves, Potter. " Draco said icily, " Your choice. "
******
Morgana watched Anna in awe struck silence as she did the final button on her long black leather trenchcoat. Dispite the older girl's frail appearance, she sure looked tough dressed from head to foot in black kombat clothes. Morgana silently wished she was the one wearing them and turned to face Anna once she had finished pulling on her gloves.
" Where are ya goin'? "
" I'm not sure I should tell you, Morgana. " Anna said, taking a final look at herself in the mirror and sliding her wand into the clip for it on her belt, " Your aunt would not like that very much. "
" Aww, " Morgana said, groaning, " I won't tell her. You can trust me. "
" Hmmm... " Anna said quietly, stopping to think and wondered if giving Morgana a valuable peice of information might make her loyal to Voldemort, or at least to her. " Well, it's top secret, you know... You'd have to promise me you won't say a word. "
" I promise. " Morgana said, crossing two fingers behind her back.
" All right, " Anna said, looking into Morgana's excited brown eyes, " Lucius, Peter, Tom and I are going to do an attack on Hogsmeade. We figure that it will get Dumbledore's attention. "
" Ohhh... " Morgana said, " Can I come? "
" No... " Anna said, looking at her fondly, " This is going to be pretty dangerous... "
" Okay, Anna. Good luck and be careful! " Morgana said, leaving the room.
Anna smiled as she watched Morgana walk away. She was sure going to be a great Death Eater someday.
******
" Issie! Aunt Issie! " Morgana said, racing into Issabelle's room and closing the door, " I have something to tell you! "
" Morgana, what's wrong? " Issabelle asked, looking up from the potions book that Snape had loaned her and dropping it to the floor with a loud thud when she saw the expression on her neice's face.
" They -- They're going to -- " Morgana said, stumbling over her words as she hurried to tell what she had heard.
" Slow down, kiddo. " Issabelle said, getting up and guiding her to a chair, " Now, take a nice deep breath and quietly tell me what is going on. "
" They're going to attack Hogsmeade! " Morgana said, jumping out of the chair, " They're setting a trap for Dumbledore! And what about Harry and Hermione and... Draco...? "
" Breath, Morgana. Breath.... " Issabelle said, resting her hands on her neice's shoulders and causing her to sink into the chair again, " Where did you learn about this? "
" From Anna. " Morgana said, " And we can't even do anything or she'll get made at me... She told me not to tell and I promised I wouldn't. "
" Oh, dear... " Issabelle said, sitting in a chair next to Morgana, " Now, I want you to do a bit of thinking, Morgana. When someone asks you to keep a secret, you wouldn't tell normally, right? "
" Right. "
" But you told me about this. Now, think of why... " Issabelle said, her gaze meeting Morgana's eye to eye.
" Because someone is gonna get hurt... "
" Right. Now, what good will breaking your promise have done if no good comes of it? " Issabelle asked.
" Okay, okay... I get what you're saying. " Morgana said, looking away.
" Who all is going? "
" Tom, Lucius, Peter and Anna. "
" Thanks, Morgana. That took a lotta guts. Now, I've got to go... I can't leave all of those people defenseless! "
" I'm going with you! " Morgana said, her voice allowing no room for questions, " I know more about our powers and we'll do much better working as a team. "
" You sure, kid? " Issbelle said, looking at Morgana with concern and then spotting her determination, " All right, then. You're on. "
******
The smell of smoke became unbarable as Harry, Hermione and Draco made their way along the road leading into Hogsmeade. Turning the final bend, a terrifying sight met their now stinging eyes. The village was enveloped in flames which were mercilessly roaring, crackling and scorching their way into the little houses and shops.
" You sure about this? " Hermione asked, feeling very nervous as she watched one of the roofs cave in on a nearby building.
" I'm not taking any chances. Morgana might be in there. We have no choice. " Harry shouted, continuing to walk forward, " C'mon! "
" Ohh... Potter's trying to be brave. " Draco sniggered, following Hermione, who was racing to catch up to Harry.
******
Issabelle gasped in horror and Morgana shuddered as they looking down at the smoking ruins below. Cries for help and screams of pain rang in their ears with the fury and vengence of some long forgotten ghost from years ago. One thing was certain, though... had Hogsmeade ever been in need of a hero, the time was now.
" Tom, how could you do this...? These poor, poor people... " Issabelle said, wiping a single tear from the corner of her eye and watching as it restored a house to normal.
" You gotta stop that, Issie! " Morgana said, looking at her with a fixed expression, " Or you'll give us away. "
" R-right. " Issabelle said weakly, forcing a shaky breath, " What if this is all my fault...? "
" Why would it be your fault? " Morgana asked, landing on the roof of the buidling Issabelle had repaired.
" 'Cause I rejected him, I made him look like a fool. I use him... The list goes on and on... " Issabelle said, smaking a hand against her forehead.
" Knock it off, Issie. We have no time for that! " Morgana snapped, " Look! "
Looking down, Issabelle felt a knot slowly begin to form in her stomach. If it was at all possible, things had just gotten worse.
[ End Note: What's the great catastrope? Where are the feirce foursome? What will Harry, Hermione and Draco do? And... will Hogsmeade be saved? Thanks again for reading, please review and vote. :) ]