OH-AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THE UNKNOWN-TO-ME AUTHOR WITH ME ON AUTHOR ALERT!!!! THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING!!! YAY!!! (well, this is kinda late in the story for a first author alert...well, for all of you explerianced authors, this is a reminder of your first author alert! *smiles*)
Chapter Five
"Show support for the truth!"
By Brandy of Hufflepuff
As we all know, about three months ago, a student was removed from our midst by the infamous He-Who-Mustn't-Be-Named. That student, Cedric Diggory, was murdered. Ever since that first disappearance, more and more witches, wizards, and muggles have gone missing, and many a few were reported dead.
It has come to my attention that the Ministry hasn't lifted a finger to prevent these very tragic occurrences, and Headmaster Dumbledore has been forced to take his own actions.
All these disappearances, and eventually, deaths hold the clues to the answer. It's so clear, but no one acknowledges the dangers. Don't any of you remember when You-Know-Who was in power? How your parents won't ever speak of that horrid time? Do you want the magical community to suffer like that again?
The terrible time, only fifteen years ago, is here again.
"What is this world coming to?" Questions Hannah Abbot, one of my fellow Hufflepuffs.
How many of you have felt the powers of You-Know-Who first hand? Like me, wouldn't you do anything to stop it this time? What will you do to take a stand against the Ministry's lazy actions? Or will you not even believe our own teacher?
"Unbelievable." Said Ron, as his eyes scanned the article. "How does she get all this information? It's like a Rita-Skeeter repeat."
"We've already got one of those, I just hope the ministry doesn't get a hold of this article…" Hermione said.
Harry's eyes turned towards Roni. He hadn't really noticed her before, because she was usually so quiet. But still, it was amazing how accurate Brandy's article was.
Speaking of accurate, he remembered last night, when that Malfoy had followed him up to the owlery. How his worries had made him careless. He hadn't even noticed her footsteps trailing behind him. And the way she read his mind was unreal. It was so precise, like they knew each other before…like she could read his expressions like Hermione could… But that was impossible. She was a Malfoy, and he was a Potter, right? Right.
Then, Harry remembered what was in the letter. He had chosen careful wording, incase the owl was intercepted, which it almost was. He had told him of his nightmares, and him waking up in a pool of cold sweat, scar throbbing again. Harry figured that since he ignored his troubles during the day, they caught up with him at night. But these dreams had been different, not just images of the white, bony scull and the red, snake eyes that were Voldemort…Harry was sure Sirius would go crazy with concern again, but Harry figured that it was about time they owled each other again.
"Harry?" Hermione asked, sounding a bit worried.
"Yeah?"
"Oh, nothing…you just looked…a bit dazed, that's all. Is there something bothering you?"
"No, I'm fine," he lied.
***
Who knew? Who in all of England, knew that he would be joining his old master in a few hours? Who would've thought that in a few days, he, Severus Snape would walk up to danger, and bend over, exposing his neck to the sharpened dagger of death? Yet, there he was, climbing out of the train, searching for Malfoy Manor.
Fear. Fear is horrifying. It takes over your entire body, and engulfs it in a dark, nothingness feeling. It is nauseating. Fear is walking up to death, and spitting in its face. Fear is the knowledge you will die, and doing it anyways. Fear is regret. Fear is drowning in cold fire, you are so terrified.
Of all the old Death Eaters that were still free, Lucius Malfoy was the worst of them all. Lucius, his old partner, who despised him more than anything else in the world. That is who he feared. Lucius had remained with the Dark side, only faulting in not searching for him. And he feared Voldemort. The cold, gray eyes, the freezing, unresistable radiance that spread through your body like fire in the brush….
He knew he could not apparate right into the estate, for it would be too easy for the Aurors to raid them of the valuable dark arts objects hidden in miles of tunnels beneath the hearth…. He knew he had to enter through the front gate….
Severus knew the mansion's underground like the palms of his hands. So many times had he been there with Lucius; exploring the tunnels as boys, concealing forbidden objects as adults…
He knew he would have to face the past some day. For years, he had told himself, those days are over, its the end now. But in the back of his mind, he knew the time would come when the consequence would be paid. He only hoped it wouldn't be too soon.
Lost in his thoughts, it seemed too soon that he arrived at the front gate of the manor. Severus gazed up at the elegant iron designs, and memories flooded his mind.
*sigh*…if only I had the trust I had twenty years ago…
"Severus?"
It was Narcissa. Snape had found himself in the Manor. His busy mind had subcontiously guided him into the gardens, where Narcissa was tending to the gardens outside of the mansion. He could see her wearing garden-gloves, just like in school. Herbology and Potion-mixing had always been her strenghths.
"Hello Nars. I'm here to see Lucius."
"Oh. He's in the study." She said, giving him an encouraging wink.
Severus stepped into the mansion, and made his way down the halls. He tried to remember the way down to the tunnels, but his memory was fuzzy, and he seemed to find himself in the same corridor twice many times.
He found the study, and made his way over to the fireplace.
I hope this works… He said, reaching for his wand to unlock the door. Luckily, it was still tapped to let him through. He could still get in.
Snape climbed down into the dungeons. The underground city that he used to call 'the hide-out.' It was full of dark magic, just like it was when he was a teenager. It wasn't that long ago, actually. Only a few years back, and those times stood out vibrantly, like a zebra in the Serangetti.
Submerging into the heart of the underground city, Severus took the route he knew best. His mind told him this was the way to explore most of the tunneling, and he continued on the path down the barren, grimy tunnel; minutes passing slow as a drippy faucet.
It wasn't for what seemed like hours that he finally saw something stir up ahead. The faint red glow and the burning on his forearm could only mean one thing: Voldemort.
"Lucius, we have a visitor." Hissed the icy voice as his eyes focused right on him. All of his life as a Hogwarts professor dreaded this moment, yet there was no way around it: The time is now-I must pay the price now.
***
"Brandy, I'd like to speak to you." Dumbledore said as he caught up with her. She was headed to Potions, but the tension in his voice made her forget about the lesson, and made her nervous.
"Yes, professor?" she replied.
"Will you come to my office?"
There was something going on-something had happened. Something big and it involved her. Now the tention was in her voice too. Not many people had been in Dumbledore's office. This was definitely something major.
She followed him to the statue that was the entrance to Dumbledore's place.
"Pumpkin Pastry!" He announced. The statue jumped to life, and stepped aside to reveal a passageway.
They climbed up the spiral staircase to the Office, and Dumbledore made a gesture telling Brandy to do the same.
"Brandy," He said as he sat down. "Your…your father was tracking down a known death eater. He left last week, and he…we can't contact him. He has disappeared."
She let out a gasp. This was anything than what she expected… first her mother, then her father. She didn't even want to imagine what they might be doing to him right now, she thought as silent tears rolled down her teary-eyed face. She wiped her eyes. Brandy was overcome with grief. Her heart ached, and felt as if it had been cut through. Her mind was wiped blank, only knowing the present, how sad she felt, and she could no longer fight the tears any longer, and let her emotions spill out as she wept.
"It's okay, it's okay," Dumbledore said, as he hugged her, trying to comfort her. He patted her on the back as she wet his shirt with her tears. It reminded her of how her dad hugged her when her mother had died.
"C…can I go to my common room, professor?" She asked, trying to hold back the sadness that had lodged itself in her throat.
"Of course. You will be excused from all of today and tomorrow's lessons. I'll note your teachers."
Her tears had slowed down now, but there was still a steady stream running down her face. Drip…drip…drip. She slowly headed back toward the Hufflepuff common room.
***
a/n- oh, dear-what am I doing to poor brandy and snape? That was terrible! Hmm....who thinks Snape should be the center of this story? what about Brandy's father's death, what's up with that? oh well, part of the plot. Thank you for reading! Don't forget to review, and thank you to all of you who have sent in your comments!
once again, brandy, bonnie, sugar-everyone-and especially to those of you who review, for your support!