A/N: A little note.  The italics are Harry's mind and the italics inside the dashes ( - ) are Harry talking back.  Just so you guys don't get confused.

Disclaimer: I own the plot and Saerry Snape.  Everything else is JKR's.

Harry Potter and the Dark Defenses

Chapter 24 ***Voices in the Head and Another Meeting***

Harry flew through the gates, Hedwig coming to rest atop them to wait for him, and not caring in the slightest if anyone saw him.  As he ran he wondered why he was in such a hurry.

She's Snape's sister.  Why are you worried about her?  After all the man made most of your school year miserable.

-You point?-

Why do you want to save her?

-Because I'll hate myself if I don't!-

Don't you already do that?

-Oh I can't believe this…-

What?

-I'm getting questioned by my myself!-

*mental smirk*  That means your going insane.

-I AM NOT GOING INSANE!-

I never said you were.

-Oh shut up.-

I can't.

-And why not?-

Because.

-Because why?-

*mental smirk*  Because.

-OOOOOOH!  BLOODY HELL!-

Thank you.

-*mental groan*-

(A/N: Wasn't that fun?  ^-^)

Harry jerked himself out of his thoughts as he plowed past an Auror standing guard at the castle's main door.

"HEY!"

Not bothering to respond he raced through the halls until he skidded to a stop in front of the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the headmaster's office.

"Chocolate Frog!"

The gargoyle sprang open immediately, as if it felt the panic rushing through him.

He thundered up the stairs and burst into Dumbledore's office, throwing the hood of the invisibility cloak off roughly which broke the grip of the clasp he had hastily snapped about his throat and sent it to the floor.

To be greeted by the shocked faces of Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Draco, Remus, Sirius, Dumbledore, and Snape.

Sheepishly Harry said, "Um, hi guys."  Turning to Snape he asked, "I have something you might want to hear."

Snape scowled at him and growled, "Out with it."

"Voldemort has Saerry."

Snape's eyes went wide and Harry saw for a moment a flash of panic in the ex-Death Eater's black eyes before it was clouded over.

Ginny asked, "How do you know?"

"A dream.  I kinda took a nap in the forest and I saw her."  Harry looked at Snape and continued, "I think he's got something against you."

Snape smugly said, "Well he would wouldn't he?"

Ron barked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"To him I'm a traitor," replied Snape."

Sirius growled under his breath, "Ain't it the truth," and Remus elbowed him.

"OW!"

Remus hissed, "Be quiet Padfoot."

Sirius glared at him but fell silent.

Ginny held up a hand and asked, "Can I know what's going on?  First I find out Harry was a Death Eater and now I'm confused."

Snape sighed and pulled up the left sleeve of his robe, revealing the faded skull and serpent that was there.  Ginny gasped and stared at Snape.

"Y-y-y-y-you…"

Draco rolled his eyes and sneered, "Yes, Weasel, he was a Death Eater."

Snape snarled, "Was being the keyword.  Now Potter, where the hell is he holding my sister?"

Nearly everyone in the room was shocked by Snape's question as most still thought him to be somewhat heartless.  Except for Harry, Dumbledore, and Draco of course, who had all seen some measure of emotion besides hate from the man.

Harry sighed and shrugged.  "I don't know.  It looked like a basement, all crumbled.  Could be anywhere."

"That wasn't the answer I wanted Potter," snarled Snape.

Dumbledore stood and said, "Be calm Severus.  We will get Saerry back.  Ginny, will you aid in the search?"

Ginny nodded and asked, "Where shall I start?"

"Any house with a basement will do.  Start in Hogsmeade.  I'm sure you can find a way from there.  And ask Minerva to help you whenever she can."

Ginny smiled.  "I don't think she'll help Professor.  She's not too fond of Saerry."

Dumbledore smiled and said, "I'm sure she will.  Good luck."

With a nod Ginny turned in a pure white ferret and bounded out of the office.

Harry peered after her then looked at Draco, a look of amusement on his face.  Draco caught it and stared at him for a moment before his face clouded.  He growled, "Don't say a word Potty."

Harry chuckled.  "I'm not saying anything Ferret."

Draco's face turned red as Ron burst into laughter and a faint smile appeared on Hermione's face.  She reached up to Draco's hand on her shoulder and whispered, "You have to admit that was quite funny."

"Not to me."

Dumbledore smiled and interrupted, "Perhaps we should get back to the matter at hand."

Ron, Harry, and Hermione mumbled, "Sorry Professor," and Snape coughed, earning him a glare from the trio and Remus and Sirius.

Harry picked up the invisibility cloak and said, "I should go now.  I thought you all might have wanted to know about Saerry."

Hermione rose out her chair and cried, "No, Harry, stay.  Please?"

"I can't Herm.  It's too dangerous."

Ron rose and hissed, "For you or for us?"

"For you.  And besides, I can do more on the outside.  I might even be able to find Voldemort and stop him before anyone else gets hurt!"

Harry's eyes went wide and he pursed his lips tight.

Sirius sprang out of his chair.  "What does that mean?"

Harry shook his head frantically and vanished under the invisibility cloak.

"OH NO YOU DON'T HARRY JAMES POTTER!"  Sirius dove at the spot where his godson had been but the door flew open and slammed shut.  He ended up hitting the door.

"Ow…"

Hermione gasped, "Sirius are you alright?"

Snape spat, "If Black wasn't so clumsy he wouldn't have a problem."

Hermione whirled to face Snape and snapped, "You always have something bad to say don't you?"

"I'm sad to say I do."

With a growl of frustration Hermione helped Sirius to his feet with Remus and Ron's help.  Blood was flowing freely from Sirius' nose onto his robes and it looked crooked, as though it was broken.

Remus frowned and peered at his friend for a moment before saying, "Padfoot, old friend, I think you've broken your nose."

"Thank you Moony for that rather informative piece of information."

Ron grinned and said, "He's fine.  Except for his nose of course."

Sirius frowned.  "Oh thank you Ron.  Now I'm going to have a nose like Snape's."

Snape scoffed from his corner, "You'll be lucky to get that Black."

Before Sirius could lunge across the room at Snape Dumbledore said, "Remus, Ron, Hermione, Draco, would you walk Sirius down the Hospital Wing?  I wish to speak with Severus."

The four of them nodded and Remus, Hermione, and Ron frog marched Sirius out of the office with Draco trailing behind them.

As soon as they were gone Snape asked, "Do you think we'll find her?"

Dumbledore nodded slowly.

"Yes, Severus.  We will find her."

"Alive?"  The note in Snape's voice was worried with a tremor of fear in it.

"Of course.  I suggest you get some sleep."

Severus sighed, "I won't get any sleep until Saerry is safe."

Dumbledore smiled and said, "She will be safe soon enough Severus.  Get some sleep."

Severus nodded and left the office, shoulders slumped, head tilted downward.  If any student happened to be wandering about they wouldn't recognize him as the somewhat evil-looking Potions Master.

At the moment he looked like a shadow of himself.

A/N: Good gravy, I've written 24 chapters already.  Wow.  That's a lot.  Anyway, what do you guys think?  Specifically, what do you think of Ginny's Animagus form?  I thought that was hilarious.  ^-^