Author's notes : Oooo, bit of gruesomeness for you there, don't know
what came over me. Of course you can expect more. :) Thankyou all the
lovely reviewers, I'll try and keep the rest of it just as interesting.
Disclaimer: I only own the story.
*Resistance* - Chapter 4
Ron watched as Harry disappeared in the flames, one arm still supporting
Draco. He turned to Hermione, who was as white as a ghost.
"Where'd they go?"
"Oh, um, I think Harry's taken him back to Snape's house."
"Oh." Neither of them knew what to say, both still reeling from the
horrors revealed behind the black door. Hermione shivered, and Ron
almost unconsciously led her back to the staircase to sit down.
"So.... we should wait here then?" He asked her.
"I guess so. I hope he doesn't take too long." She leant her head against
Ron's shoulder. Ron felt himself go a bit pink, and silently hoped Harry
wouldn't rush back too quickly.
Harry felt Draco pitch forwards as they reached Snape's, and grabbed him
by the back of his robes. Harry choked on some soot, he never got used to
floo powder. Glancing around, he saw Snape's summer residence looked
normal enough. A bit like Privet Drive in fact, all neatness and no
personality. Seeing Draco was still in shock, Harry called out hesitantly,
"Hello?" There was no answer, but his call seemed to wake Draco up a
bit. He turned to Harry and said,
"He'll be in his study. He's always in his study." He said this a little
resentfully, then the glazed look came back. Harry heard glass clinking
behind the door at the end of the hall, and checking Draco wasn't going to
collapse, moved towards it. He knocked, and the scraping noises stopped.
"What is it now Draco?" It was unmistakably Snape's voice, but Harry
had never heard him say Draco's name with such contempt. Harry pushed
the door open. Snape looked up irritably, then his eyes widened in
surprise.
"Potter? What are you doing here?"
"Um, we found something at Malfoy Manor. Draco was a little,..... upset
and....." But he was cut off by Snape striding past him and into the hall.
Draco was still staring into space. Snape looked from him to Harry and
back again.
"What did you find?" He asked, not unkindly, but Harry felt this was a
little blunt. Seeing that Draco wasn't going to answer, Harry said,
"It was a chamber. A... a torture chamber." He whispered the last words,
afraid Draco might withdraw even more. But it seemed to have the
opposite effect, Draco shook himself a little, and the light returned behind
his eyes. He looked up at Snape.
"I looked in there once when I was little. Father shouted so badly......." He
trailed off again. Snape considered them both. Then he brushed past Harry
without a word. Harry saw him write a note and attach it to an eagle owl's
leg. It swooped out of a high window. Then Snape marched back towards
the fireplace, knocking Harry out of the way.
"Where are your things, Draco?"
"Oh, um, still there, with Granger and Weasley." Harry almost laughed to
himself as the sneer returned. Draco was obviously feeling a bit better.
Snape turned to Harry.
"I take it you are staying with Weasley?" Harry nodded. "Go back to his
house and explain what you found. I will send Weasley and Granger
back." Harry looked uncertainly at Draco.
"But..."
"I will handle this, Potter." This was said with such finality Harry felt his
legs move towards the fireplace. Draco didn't look at him as he passed.
Realising there was nothing more he could do, Harry took a pinch of the
proffered powder and was gone with a shout of,
"The Burrow!"
Harry felt a pair of hands grab him as he fell out of the fireplace. It was
Mr Weasley, looking especially grave.
"Hello Harry." He said, pulling Harry to one side and looking at the now
empty fireplace.
"Ron and Hermione might be a while." Said Harry. Mr Weasley looked
up, confused. Harry continued, "We found something at Malfoy Manor
and I had to take Draco back to Sn..I mean Professor Snape's house. He's
going to tell them to come back here."
"Found something?" Mr Weasley's eyes sparkled, and Harry remembered
how he wanted to find the dark magic objects in Malfoy Manor.
"Hello Harry." Came another voice before Harry could reply. Harry was
startled to see Albus Dumbledore in the Weasley's kitchen.
"Hell..hello Professor." Harry was completely thrown, what was going on?
He asked as much.
"I think it best I explain when the youngest Mr Weasley and Miss Granger
join us...Ah!" On cue, Hermione and a very peeved looking Ron appeared
in the fireplace. Ron turned his look on Harry and was about to start
ranting when Hermione elbowed him in the ribs and gestured to
Dumbledore. Ron's face showed the confusion Harry was feeling.
"Well," said Dumbledore, "Shall we adjourn to the living room?"
Harry realised the headmaster must have been talking to the Weasleys
already, they were all sat together waiting for him. None of them looked
too happy.
"What's wrong?" asked Ron.
"Perhaps you should tell us what happened at Malfoy Manor first." said
Dumbledore smoothly. Harry told them about packing all of Draco's
things up, about how Draco seemed afraid to go into this one room, and
the feeling he had that it was important they open the door. He then told
them what they had found in as little detail as possible, as the thought of it
still made him feel ill.
"So, so maybe someone should go over to the Manor?" Said Hermione.
"No doubt Severus has informed the proper authorities." said
Dumbledore.
"Yes but..." Hermione seemed a little hesitant, then pressed
on,"...Professor Snape isn't the most understanding of people, and Draco
seemed really upset." Obviously Hermione was thinking the same as
Harry, that Draco needed to talk to someone like Dumbledore. After all,
he was his student.
"Unfortunately Miss Granger, it is no longer in my realm to offer
assistance."
"What do you mean?" asked Ron. Harry noticed the sombre expressions
in the room grow. Dumbledore sighed.
"I have been asked to relinquish my role as Headmaster of Hogwarts."
Harry felt his mouth drop open. He was about to protest but Hermione
beat him to it.
"But, ....but you can't!"
"I'm afraid 'asked' was perhaps not a strong enough word." Said
Dumbledore. Hermione looked lost for words.
"But, you can argue can't you? You're aren't going, are you?" Said Ron, a
hint of a plea in his voice.
"This had come straight from the Minister himself, Ron." Said Mr
Weasley.
"Fudge?" Said Harry suspiciously. "But last year....."
"He was seen acting very suspiciously after the Geolite competition, yes I
know." said Dumbledore with a sigh. " That is why I am here. No doubt
he will have spun something for the Daily Prophet, but I wanted you to
hear it from me. You must all be on your guard, I am not sure where
Fudge's loyalties lie, I wish I was." On seeing their downcast expressions
he added, "However, I will not be far away. You will be able to contact
me whenever you wish. I will be continuing the fight along with Lupin
and Sirius and all our loyal friends."
"Continuing the fight?" Asked Fred. "But, You-Know-Who is gone, you
beat him." Harry shared a look with Dumbledore.
"No, I merely left him stranded for a while. No doubt he will find a way to
return." Harry found his eyes straying to a discarded newspaper on the
table, the word 'tremor' seemed to flash in neon at him. The atmosphere
in the room took a definite downturn.
"When do you leave?" Asked Ginny quietly.
"And who'll replace you?" asked George.
"I will go from here to join Sirius and the others, as to my replacement,
I'm afraid I don't know." Mrs Weasley spoke up.
"At least stay to dinner, Albus."
"I'd be delighted."
Dinner that evening was a strange affair. Harry listened to the
conversations, they were talking about normal things, Quidditch, the
weather. Hermione and Ginny were discussing Ginny's latest conquest. It
was surreal, that evening, Dumbledore would be gone, and when they
arrived at Hogwarts in a few days time he wouldn't be there. Harry didn't
feel very hungry. After dinner, Dumbledore took he, Ron and Hermione
aside.
"I thought it most kind of you to offer to help Draco move his things."
Harry squirmed a little.
"Um, we didn't offer. He, sort of..."
"Forced us." Finished Ron. There was a pause.
"I see." Dumbledore stroked his long silver beard. "And what did you
think of Malfoy Manor?"
"It was horrible, all cold and dark. I thought they lived in a plush
comfortable Mansion. And that room, those people...." Hermione trailed
off looking repulsed.
"Yes, strange how things can be the opposite of what we think they will
be. Something you think is warm and inviting is actually hard and cold,
and something you think is hard and cold can have it's hidden depths."
Ron and Hermione looked lost but were nodding politely. Harry thought
he knew what he was getting at. There was a question Harry had been
meaning to ask.
"Professor," Ron and Hermione excused themselves, "Draco acted like he
couldn't go into that room, like his father was still there and would tell
him off. He does realise that Lucius is gone?" Dumbledore considered
him, then said,
"Since a very young age, Draco had probably been aware of the evil
taking place in that house, the evil his father was a part of. Unless he can
break free of those memories, they will continue to control him."
"How can he break free?" Harry wondered aloud.
"I'm not sure that he can. The things his father has done are terrible, and
for a child to see....well, it is distressing. The only way to ever really be
beyond Lucius' control is if Draco forgives him for what he did, and
forgiveness is one of the hardest gifts to give." Harry couldn't imagine
forgiving Lucius, and he hadn't ever had to live in that house. Dumbledore
looked at his pocket watch.
"Unfortunately, it is now time for me to go." He moved away from Harry,
through the living room to the kitchen fireplace.
"Goodbye, Arthur, Molly." Mrs Weasley made a particularly loud sniff.
Dumbledore turned to the assembled teens.
"Remember, you may contact me at any time, I will not be far away."
Harry found it hard to look at him. This couldn't be happening. A
Hogwarts without Dumbledore?
"You will see me again, I think." He paused, then grinned, making him
look much younger. "Oh yes, you will see me again." Then, with a jaunty
wave of his hand and a flash of floo powder, he was gone.
what came over me. Of course you can expect more. :) Thankyou all the
lovely reviewers, I'll try and keep the rest of it just as interesting.
Disclaimer: I only own the story.
*Resistance* - Chapter 4
Ron watched as Harry disappeared in the flames, one arm still supporting
Draco. He turned to Hermione, who was as white as a ghost.
"Where'd they go?"
"Oh, um, I think Harry's taken him back to Snape's house."
"Oh." Neither of them knew what to say, both still reeling from the
horrors revealed behind the black door. Hermione shivered, and Ron
almost unconsciously led her back to the staircase to sit down.
"So.... we should wait here then?" He asked her.
"I guess so. I hope he doesn't take too long." She leant her head against
Ron's shoulder. Ron felt himself go a bit pink, and silently hoped Harry
wouldn't rush back too quickly.
Harry felt Draco pitch forwards as they reached Snape's, and grabbed him
by the back of his robes. Harry choked on some soot, he never got used to
floo powder. Glancing around, he saw Snape's summer residence looked
normal enough. A bit like Privet Drive in fact, all neatness and no
personality. Seeing Draco was still in shock, Harry called out hesitantly,
"Hello?" There was no answer, but his call seemed to wake Draco up a
bit. He turned to Harry and said,
"He'll be in his study. He's always in his study." He said this a little
resentfully, then the glazed look came back. Harry heard glass clinking
behind the door at the end of the hall, and checking Draco wasn't going to
collapse, moved towards it. He knocked, and the scraping noises stopped.
"What is it now Draco?" It was unmistakably Snape's voice, but Harry
had never heard him say Draco's name with such contempt. Harry pushed
the door open. Snape looked up irritably, then his eyes widened in
surprise.
"Potter? What are you doing here?"
"Um, we found something at Malfoy Manor. Draco was a little,..... upset
and....." But he was cut off by Snape striding past him and into the hall.
Draco was still staring into space. Snape looked from him to Harry and
back again.
"What did you find?" He asked, not unkindly, but Harry felt this was a
little blunt. Seeing that Draco wasn't going to answer, Harry said,
"It was a chamber. A... a torture chamber." He whispered the last words,
afraid Draco might withdraw even more. But it seemed to have the
opposite effect, Draco shook himself a little, and the light returned behind
his eyes. He looked up at Snape.
"I looked in there once when I was little. Father shouted so badly......." He
trailed off again. Snape considered them both. Then he brushed past Harry
without a word. Harry saw him write a note and attach it to an eagle owl's
leg. It swooped out of a high window. Then Snape marched back towards
the fireplace, knocking Harry out of the way.
"Where are your things, Draco?"
"Oh, um, still there, with Granger and Weasley." Harry almost laughed to
himself as the sneer returned. Draco was obviously feeling a bit better.
Snape turned to Harry.
"I take it you are staying with Weasley?" Harry nodded. "Go back to his
house and explain what you found. I will send Weasley and Granger
back." Harry looked uncertainly at Draco.
"But..."
"I will handle this, Potter." This was said with such finality Harry felt his
legs move towards the fireplace. Draco didn't look at him as he passed.
Realising there was nothing more he could do, Harry took a pinch of the
proffered powder and was gone with a shout of,
"The Burrow!"
Harry felt a pair of hands grab him as he fell out of the fireplace. It was
Mr Weasley, looking especially grave.
"Hello Harry." He said, pulling Harry to one side and looking at the now
empty fireplace.
"Ron and Hermione might be a while." Said Harry. Mr Weasley looked
up, confused. Harry continued, "We found something at Malfoy Manor
and I had to take Draco back to Sn..I mean Professor Snape's house. He's
going to tell them to come back here."
"Found something?" Mr Weasley's eyes sparkled, and Harry remembered
how he wanted to find the dark magic objects in Malfoy Manor.
"Hello Harry." Came another voice before Harry could reply. Harry was
startled to see Albus Dumbledore in the Weasley's kitchen.
"Hell..hello Professor." Harry was completely thrown, what was going on?
He asked as much.
"I think it best I explain when the youngest Mr Weasley and Miss Granger
join us...Ah!" On cue, Hermione and a very peeved looking Ron appeared
in the fireplace. Ron turned his look on Harry and was about to start
ranting when Hermione elbowed him in the ribs and gestured to
Dumbledore. Ron's face showed the confusion Harry was feeling.
"Well," said Dumbledore, "Shall we adjourn to the living room?"
Harry realised the headmaster must have been talking to the Weasleys
already, they were all sat together waiting for him. None of them looked
too happy.
"What's wrong?" asked Ron.
"Perhaps you should tell us what happened at Malfoy Manor first." said
Dumbledore smoothly. Harry told them about packing all of Draco's
things up, about how Draco seemed afraid to go into this one room, and
the feeling he had that it was important they open the door. He then told
them what they had found in as little detail as possible, as the thought of it
still made him feel ill.
"So, so maybe someone should go over to the Manor?" Said Hermione.
"No doubt Severus has informed the proper authorities." said
Dumbledore.
"Yes but..." Hermione seemed a little hesitant, then pressed
on,"...Professor Snape isn't the most understanding of people, and Draco
seemed really upset." Obviously Hermione was thinking the same as
Harry, that Draco needed to talk to someone like Dumbledore. After all,
he was his student.
"Unfortunately Miss Granger, it is no longer in my realm to offer
assistance."
"What do you mean?" asked Ron. Harry noticed the sombre expressions
in the room grow. Dumbledore sighed.
"I have been asked to relinquish my role as Headmaster of Hogwarts."
Harry felt his mouth drop open. He was about to protest but Hermione
beat him to it.
"But, ....but you can't!"
"I'm afraid 'asked' was perhaps not a strong enough word." Said
Dumbledore. Hermione looked lost for words.
"But, you can argue can't you? You're aren't going, are you?" Said Ron, a
hint of a plea in his voice.
"This had come straight from the Minister himself, Ron." Said Mr
Weasley.
"Fudge?" Said Harry suspiciously. "But last year....."
"He was seen acting very suspiciously after the Geolite competition, yes I
know." said Dumbledore with a sigh. " That is why I am here. No doubt
he will have spun something for the Daily Prophet, but I wanted you to
hear it from me. You must all be on your guard, I am not sure where
Fudge's loyalties lie, I wish I was." On seeing their downcast expressions
he added, "However, I will not be far away. You will be able to contact
me whenever you wish. I will be continuing the fight along with Lupin
and Sirius and all our loyal friends."
"Continuing the fight?" Asked Fred. "But, You-Know-Who is gone, you
beat him." Harry shared a look with Dumbledore.
"No, I merely left him stranded for a while. No doubt he will find a way to
return." Harry found his eyes straying to a discarded newspaper on the
table, the word 'tremor' seemed to flash in neon at him. The atmosphere
in the room took a definite downturn.
"When do you leave?" Asked Ginny quietly.
"And who'll replace you?" asked George.
"I will go from here to join Sirius and the others, as to my replacement,
I'm afraid I don't know." Mrs Weasley spoke up.
"At least stay to dinner, Albus."
"I'd be delighted."
Dinner that evening was a strange affair. Harry listened to the
conversations, they were talking about normal things, Quidditch, the
weather. Hermione and Ginny were discussing Ginny's latest conquest. It
was surreal, that evening, Dumbledore would be gone, and when they
arrived at Hogwarts in a few days time he wouldn't be there. Harry didn't
feel very hungry. After dinner, Dumbledore took he, Ron and Hermione
aside.
"I thought it most kind of you to offer to help Draco move his things."
Harry squirmed a little.
"Um, we didn't offer. He, sort of..."
"Forced us." Finished Ron. There was a pause.
"I see." Dumbledore stroked his long silver beard. "And what did you
think of Malfoy Manor?"
"It was horrible, all cold and dark. I thought they lived in a plush
comfortable Mansion. And that room, those people...." Hermione trailed
off looking repulsed.
"Yes, strange how things can be the opposite of what we think they will
be. Something you think is warm and inviting is actually hard and cold,
and something you think is hard and cold can have it's hidden depths."
Ron and Hermione looked lost but were nodding politely. Harry thought
he knew what he was getting at. There was a question Harry had been
meaning to ask.
"Professor," Ron and Hermione excused themselves, "Draco acted like he
couldn't go into that room, like his father was still there and would tell
him off. He does realise that Lucius is gone?" Dumbledore considered
him, then said,
"Since a very young age, Draco had probably been aware of the evil
taking place in that house, the evil his father was a part of. Unless he can
break free of those memories, they will continue to control him."
"How can he break free?" Harry wondered aloud.
"I'm not sure that he can. The things his father has done are terrible, and
for a child to see....well, it is distressing. The only way to ever really be
beyond Lucius' control is if Draco forgives him for what he did, and
forgiveness is one of the hardest gifts to give." Harry couldn't imagine
forgiving Lucius, and he hadn't ever had to live in that house. Dumbledore
looked at his pocket watch.
"Unfortunately, it is now time for me to go." He moved away from Harry,
through the living room to the kitchen fireplace.
"Goodbye, Arthur, Molly." Mrs Weasley made a particularly loud sniff.
Dumbledore turned to the assembled teens.
"Remember, you may contact me at any time, I will not be far away."
Harry found it hard to look at him. This couldn't be happening. A
Hogwarts without Dumbledore?
"You will see me again, I think." He paused, then grinned, making him
look much younger. "Oh yes, you will see me again." Then, with a jaunty
wave of his hand and a flash of floo powder, he was gone.