Ah, sorry, sorry, sorry! Moving, starting work full time, rogue plot
bunnies, and no internet access in my summer sublet! Wah!
Here's chapter 12, my longest yet…I figured I owed all of you! Thank you ALL so INCREDIBLY much for the wonderful reviews…I love you all dearly! I'm going to refrain from listing my wonderful, kind reviewers and responding to questions as I can't do that from home *sob*, and I gather you'd all rather I upload this chapter once I get in to work rather than take the time out to reply to reviews anyway. :-)
So, enjoy. More blasted Fudge. Grr.
Disclaimer: So, so so so definitely not mine…
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The Color of Crimson
By Lady of Arundel
Chapter 12: Arrivals and Accusations
"Minister Fudge." Severus ground out between clenched teeth.
"Ah, Severus. A pleasure to see you're alive after all. Gentlemen?" Fudge nodded at the group of Aurors and one stepped forward, confiscating Severus's portkey. Fudged continued, "Dumbledore has been rather evasive about that, hasn't he? About whether you survived that very…nasty…ordeal this summer. Dumbledore seems to be evasive about many things. Isn't that right, Mr. Potter?"
Harry, who had been looking back and forth between Fudge and Severus, swayed but remained on his feet.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Of course you don't, boy." Fudge's tone was sugary, as if he were talking to a five year old. He turned to address the Aurors. "As I said, mad beyond a doubt."
"Now, Severus…"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Lucius strode through the lavish halls of the east wing of Malfoy Manor, step jovial and light. He quickly wound his way around corners and through rooms, lush green carpet crushed beneath his feet and portraits of his ancestors watching approvingly from the gilded walls.
At last he came to his destination, the final suite of rooms at the end of the final corridor. He flung open the doors and smiled jovially at his six guests.
"Avery, Goyle, Crabbe, Nott, Rookwood! I trust Gingy has seen to your injuries and other needs?" After receiving five nods to the affirmative Malfoy turned to face his last guest and smiled.
"Ah, Bernard Basil. I trust the journey here was uneventful?"
"Yes, sir. Quite."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
At Minister Fudge's declaration Harry had shrunk back, his stomach sinking at the Minister's tone and the indescribable glint lighting his eyes. Fudge. Fudge, who didn't believe him. Fudge, who had refused to accept Voldemort's return. Who very likely thought Harry to be insane. Fudge, who probably thought Harry had been responsible for Cedric Diggory's death, and rightfully so…
Mrs. Figg's potion was beginning to wear off and Harry felt his injuries and illness returned with seemingly increased intensity. Stomach queasy and brow beginning to bead with sweat, Harry stumbled backwards and sank into the soft confines of the couch. Harry heard but did not really process the conversation of the adults as he wrapped his arms around his middle and clenched his jaw against the returning pain. His body shook as the fever returned to its former strength, worsened by the rising fear of what Fudge might have meant when he said Harry was not going anywhere with the professors…
A sudden movement in the periphery of his vision and awareness brought him sluggishly back to the present situation. Harry looked up, eyes wide with alarm and pain, as Fudged advanced uoon him, followed by two of the Aurors. He saw Remus try to go to Harry, but one of the Aurors prevented him, snarling something that sounded suspiciously like "foul werewolf" under his breath. Remus's face darkened but he ignored the insult, glaring at the Minister instead.Of the remaining Aurors, two took position by Arabella and Severus, leaving the last to standing guard by the entryway.
"Harry's obviously unwell, Minister. He needs medical attention," said Arabella, her Auror too preventing her from going to the shaking boy on her couch. Fudge chuckled.
"I see he's managed to fool you as well. Quite the actor, had me quite convinced for a long time, but I had a bit of an…awakening, if you will, last spring. The boy is obviously only pretending to be ill—trying to escape the consequences of his actions, no doubt." Harry gaped at the Minister, struggling to formulate a protest but the words caught in his throat.
"The child is not feigning illness, I can assure you, Minister!" cried Arabella indignantly. "Let us take him back to Hogwarts. Madame Pomfrey can assess his state of health and we can sort this all out with Headmaster Dumbledore—"
Head spinning, Harry closed his eyes. He was uncomfortably aware of the hard and accusatory stares of the Aurors. His cheeks burned in shame as he wished he could just melt into the couch and no longer cause trouble for Mrs. Figg and Professors Lupin and Snape, all of whom undoubtedly had far more important things to attend to than debate something as trivial as Harry's state of being. As much as he feared going with Fudge and the Aurors, Harry almost wished the others would just let him go and forget the whole issue.
"Nonsense, the boy is coming with me. I warned Dumbledore of the consequences of allowing this boy to go free and uncontrolled in his…his madness. I specifically told Dumbledore this past spring that if there was one more incident he could be assured I would be taking the boy into custody, regardless. Bad enough sticking out my neck and allowing the boy one more chance, despite the public outcry for something to be done! And now look what has happened! The boy is a menace to society and it is my duty to protect the public—"
"A *menace*?" he heard Snape snarl, "The only threat to the safety of the general public is *you*, Minister, not an ailing child, he himself a victim!"
What?! Snape *defending* him? Harry's eyes would have popped ipen in surprise if he weren't so thoroughly exhausted…
"Severus," Remus warned.
"Not a threat?! Tell that to the Diggory boy!" Throat constricting, Harry squeezed his eyes more tightly shut, not wanting to see the looks of disappointment and disgust undoubtedly displayed across the faces of his professors and Mrs. Figg. "Tell that to my four Aurors that he killed this very morning," Fudge spat.
This time Harry did open his eyes, staring numbly at Fudge in confusion.
"What?!" cried Severus and Remus in incredulous unison.
"This morning," replied Fudge, eyes gleaming strangely, "I sent four of my finest Aurors to escort Mr. Potter to Hogwarts. Potter, undoubtedly mad or worse, attacked and killed all four and managed to destroy half of his relatives' home in the process." Harry looked about the room wildly, searching the faces of the Aurors for some trace of sympathy or disbelief, but only finding cold hatred from each one.
"No! No, that isn't true!" he protested weakly, dissolving into a fit of coughs. He gasped out, "Death Eaters! They were Death Eaters!"
Fudge turned on Harry angrily, but was interrupted by Remus.
"Nonsense, Fudge! I was the first one at the scene—they *were* Death Eaters, I am as sure of that as I am of anything, and there were five of them, not four! They were all alive, only knocked unconscious, I checked them each myself. Basil, the driver, he can tell—"
"Silence, werewolf!"
"Please, it's not true!" Harry struggled to stand but could not summon the energy. Arabella tried again to rush to his aid but was physically restrained. "They were Death Eaters! I didn't mean to hurt them, I didn't mean to—"
"How," interjected Severus, who had been standing stock still, back ramrod straight and fists clenched. His voice was low and dangerous. "How, then, do you come to explain the appearance of the Dark Mark above the house, Minister?"
Fudge looked momentarily at a loss but quickly recovered. He smiled.
"Why, Potter cast it himself."
Chaos ensued.
Harry, desperate and terrified, shoved himself to his feet but quickly became overwhelmed and collapsed to the floor. At the same moment, Remus broke free from his guard and lunged at Fudge, who began to shriek. Then Arabella, too, launched herself at Fudge. The Aurors all joined the fray at Fudge's squeaking commands. As Harry collapsed, Severus rushed forward and eased the trembling boy to the floor, the Aurors temporarily distracted. Harry clutched at Severus's robes and looked up at the professor, eyes filled with distress.
"I didn't do it, Professor, you have to believe me, they were Death Eaters, they tried to…I didn't mean it, I…please, please believe me…" Harry gasped frantically, his sudden rise and fall having tore at the wounds crisscrossing his back and jarred his bruised and fractured ribs.
"Shh, I believe you. Just hold still." Severus had redrawn his wand and was glancing about the room as if in search of something. Harry tried to obey, but could not help but gasp as Severus placed what he thought to be a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. Severus's quickly turned at the sound, maintaining his grip. In the background Fudge, Remus, Arabella, and the Aurors still struggled in a tangled mess.
"Potter? What's wrong?" Severus asked, concerned. Tears of pain had welled in Harry's eyes.
"N-nothing, sir." Harry shook his head, averting his gaze. Seemingly unconvinced, Severus hesitated a moment before quickly working the knot of Harry's uniform tie and the top buttons of his shirt. Harry gasped again, this time in fear of being discovered. "Please, Professor, it's nothing, I didn't mean to—" Severus shot Harry a quieting glare, albeit one softened with concern.
"It's alright, Potter, just let me have a look." He gently tugged aside both the jumper and collar of Harry's uniform shirt as the boy hung his head despairingly.
Severus breathed in sharply.
The shoulder Severus had bared was mottled with a multitude of bruises and scrapes. While some of the bruises were dark purple and blue and the scrapes raw, others were obviously older, yellowed and scarred over. One particularly gruesome and deep gash began beneath Harry's collarbone and arched over his shoulder and disappeared beyond view down the boy's back. Fresh blood seeped from the reopened wound.
Severus took this in, frozen in shock. Someone had done this to Harry, his Harry, his son! This was just the boy's shoulder, Merlin knew what other damage might have been done…
"Harry, who did this to you?" Harry shook his head silently. "We don't have time for…you need to tell me. Did the Death Eaters do this?" Another shake. Severus believed him. If the injuries had been inflicted by Death Eaters, the boy's clothing would show more damage; it wouldn't explain the older wounds anyways. Which meant—
"Severus! Behind you!"
Severus whirled and appraised the situation. The Aurors had at last managed to pull Remus and Arabella off the Minister, who was at the moment leaning against the fireplace panting as one Auror attempted to assist him. Several more held Remus and Arabella at wand-point across the room, and the remaining ones were now advancing on Severus and Harry. He was grossly outnumbered, and didn't have time to configure a portkey. Brazenly, he turned back to Harry, softly grasping him by the upper arms.
"Potter...Harry…there's something important I must tell you, I—"
"Step aside, Professor Snape." One Auror practically shoved Severus aside as another roughly grabbed Harry and sharply dragged the boy to his feet, causing him to cry out in agony.
"Professor!" Harry cried, hysterically reaching for Severus as he weakly resisted his captor. Severus lunged forward to grab his son but came up with only air as the sound of seven pops rang out in the suddenly quiet room.
Severus pulled himself to his knees, looking about the room frantically to find Remus and Arabella staring at him in shock.
Harry was gone.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
TBC…
Here's chapter 12, my longest yet…I figured I owed all of you! Thank you ALL so INCREDIBLY much for the wonderful reviews…I love you all dearly! I'm going to refrain from listing my wonderful, kind reviewers and responding to questions as I can't do that from home *sob*, and I gather you'd all rather I upload this chapter once I get in to work rather than take the time out to reply to reviews anyway. :-)
So, enjoy. More blasted Fudge. Grr.
Disclaimer: So, so so so definitely not mine…
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The Color of Crimson
By Lady of Arundel
Chapter 12: Arrivals and Accusations
"Minister Fudge." Severus ground out between clenched teeth.
"Ah, Severus. A pleasure to see you're alive after all. Gentlemen?" Fudge nodded at the group of Aurors and one stepped forward, confiscating Severus's portkey. Fudged continued, "Dumbledore has been rather evasive about that, hasn't he? About whether you survived that very…nasty…ordeal this summer. Dumbledore seems to be evasive about many things. Isn't that right, Mr. Potter?"
Harry, who had been looking back and forth between Fudge and Severus, swayed but remained on his feet.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Of course you don't, boy." Fudge's tone was sugary, as if he were talking to a five year old. He turned to address the Aurors. "As I said, mad beyond a doubt."
"Now, Severus…"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Lucius strode through the lavish halls of the east wing of Malfoy Manor, step jovial and light. He quickly wound his way around corners and through rooms, lush green carpet crushed beneath his feet and portraits of his ancestors watching approvingly from the gilded walls.
At last he came to his destination, the final suite of rooms at the end of the final corridor. He flung open the doors and smiled jovially at his six guests.
"Avery, Goyle, Crabbe, Nott, Rookwood! I trust Gingy has seen to your injuries and other needs?" After receiving five nods to the affirmative Malfoy turned to face his last guest and smiled.
"Ah, Bernard Basil. I trust the journey here was uneventful?"
"Yes, sir. Quite."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
At Minister Fudge's declaration Harry had shrunk back, his stomach sinking at the Minister's tone and the indescribable glint lighting his eyes. Fudge. Fudge, who didn't believe him. Fudge, who had refused to accept Voldemort's return. Who very likely thought Harry to be insane. Fudge, who probably thought Harry had been responsible for Cedric Diggory's death, and rightfully so…
Mrs. Figg's potion was beginning to wear off and Harry felt his injuries and illness returned with seemingly increased intensity. Stomach queasy and brow beginning to bead with sweat, Harry stumbled backwards and sank into the soft confines of the couch. Harry heard but did not really process the conversation of the adults as he wrapped his arms around his middle and clenched his jaw against the returning pain. His body shook as the fever returned to its former strength, worsened by the rising fear of what Fudge might have meant when he said Harry was not going anywhere with the professors…
A sudden movement in the periphery of his vision and awareness brought him sluggishly back to the present situation. Harry looked up, eyes wide with alarm and pain, as Fudged advanced uoon him, followed by two of the Aurors. He saw Remus try to go to Harry, but one of the Aurors prevented him, snarling something that sounded suspiciously like "foul werewolf" under his breath. Remus's face darkened but he ignored the insult, glaring at the Minister instead.Of the remaining Aurors, two took position by Arabella and Severus, leaving the last to standing guard by the entryway.
"Harry's obviously unwell, Minister. He needs medical attention," said Arabella, her Auror too preventing her from going to the shaking boy on her couch. Fudge chuckled.
"I see he's managed to fool you as well. Quite the actor, had me quite convinced for a long time, but I had a bit of an…awakening, if you will, last spring. The boy is obviously only pretending to be ill—trying to escape the consequences of his actions, no doubt." Harry gaped at the Minister, struggling to formulate a protest but the words caught in his throat.
"The child is not feigning illness, I can assure you, Minister!" cried Arabella indignantly. "Let us take him back to Hogwarts. Madame Pomfrey can assess his state of health and we can sort this all out with Headmaster Dumbledore—"
Head spinning, Harry closed his eyes. He was uncomfortably aware of the hard and accusatory stares of the Aurors. His cheeks burned in shame as he wished he could just melt into the couch and no longer cause trouble for Mrs. Figg and Professors Lupin and Snape, all of whom undoubtedly had far more important things to attend to than debate something as trivial as Harry's state of being. As much as he feared going with Fudge and the Aurors, Harry almost wished the others would just let him go and forget the whole issue.
"Nonsense, the boy is coming with me. I warned Dumbledore of the consequences of allowing this boy to go free and uncontrolled in his…his madness. I specifically told Dumbledore this past spring that if there was one more incident he could be assured I would be taking the boy into custody, regardless. Bad enough sticking out my neck and allowing the boy one more chance, despite the public outcry for something to be done! And now look what has happened! The boy is a menace to society and it is my duty to protect the public—"
"A *menace*?" he heard Snape snarl, "The only threat to the safety of the general public is *you*, Minister, not an ailing child, he himself a victim!"
What?! Snape *defending* him? Harry's eyes would have popped ipen in surprise if he weren't so thoroughly exhausted…
"Severus," Remus warned.
"Not a threat?! Tell that to the Diggory boy!" Throat constricting, Harry squeezed his eyes more tightly shut, not wanting to see the looks of disappointment and disgust undoubtedly displayed across the faces of his professors and Mrs. Figg. "Tell that to my four Aurors that he killed this very morning," Fudge spat.
This time Harry did open his eyes, staring numbly at Fudge in confusion.
"What?!" cried Severus and Remus in incredulous unison.
"This morning," replied Fudge, eyes gleaming strangely, "I sent four of my finest Aurors to escort Mr. Potter to Hogwarts. Potter, undoubtedly mad or worse, attacked and killed all four and managed to destroy half of his relatives' home in the process." Harry looked about the room wildly, searching the faces of the Aurors for some trace of sympathy or disbelief, but only finding cold hatred from each one.
"No! No, that isn't true!" he protested weakly, dissolving into a fit of coughs. He gasped out, "Death Eaters! They were Death Eaters!"
Fudge turned on Harry angrily, but was interrupted by Remus.
"Nonsense, Fudge! I was the first one at the scene—they *were* Death Eaters, I am as sure of that as I am of anything, and there were five of them, not four! They were all alive, only knocked unconscious, I checked them each myself. Basil, the driver, he can tell—"
"Silence, werewolf!"
"Please, it's not true!" Harry struggled to stand but could not summon the energy. Arabella tried again to rush to his aid but was physically restrained. "They were Death Eaters! I didn't mean to hurt them, I didn't mean to—"
"How," interjected Severus, who had been standing stock still, back ramrod straight and fists clenched. His voice was low and dangerous. "How, then, do you come to explain the appearance of the Dark Mark above the house, Minister?"
Fudge looked momentarily at a loss but quickly recovered. He smiled.
"Why, Potter cast it himself."
Chaos ensued.
Harry, desperate and terrified, shoved himself to his feet but quickly became overwhelmed and collapsed to the floor. At the same moment, Remus broke free from his guard and lunged at Fudge, who began to shriek. Then Arabella, too, launched herself at Fudge. The Aurors all joined the fray at Fudge's squeaking commands. As Harry collapsed, Severus rushed forward and eased the trembling boy to the floor, the Aurors temporarily distracted. Harry clutched at Severus's robes and looked up at the professor, eyes filled with distress.
"I didn't do it, Professor, you have to believe me, they were Death Eaters, they tried to…I didn't mean it, I…please, please believe me…" Harry gasped frantically, his sudden rise and fall having tore at the wounds crisscrossing his back and jarred his bruised and fractured ribs.
"Shh, I believe you. Just hold still." Severus had redrawn his wand and was glancing about the room as if in search of something. Harry tried to obey, but could not help but gasp as Severus placed what he thought to be a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. Severus's quickly turned at the sound, maintaining his grip. In the background Fudge, Remus, Arabella, and the Aurors still struggled in a tangled mess.
"Potter? What's wrong?" Severus asked, concerned. Tears of pain had welled in Harry's eyes.
"N-nothing, sir." Harry shook his head, averting his gaze. Seemingly unconvinced, Severus hesitated a moment before quickly working the knot of Harry's uniform tie and the top buttons of his shirt. Harry gasped again, this time in fear of being discovered. "Please, Professor, it's nothing, I didn't mean to—" Severus shot Harry a quieting glare, albeit one softened with concern.
"It's alright, Potter, just let me have a look." He gently tugged aside both the jumper and collar of Harry's uniform shirt as the boy hung his head despairingly.
Severus breathed in sharply.
The shoulder Severus had bared was mottled with a multitude of bruises and scrapes. While some of the bruises were dark purple and blue and the scrapes raw, others were obviously older, yellowed and scarred over. One particularly gruesome and deep gash began beneath Harry's collarbone and arched over his shoulder and disappeared beyond view down the boy's back. Fresh blood seeped from the reopened wound.
Severus took this in, frozen in shock. Someone had done this to Harry, his Harry, his son! This was just the boy's shoulder, Merlin knew what other damage might have been done…
"Harry, who did this to you?" Harry shook his head silently. "We don't have time for…you need to tell me. Did the Death Eaters do this?" Another shake. Severus believed him. If the injuries had been inflicted by Death Eaters, the boy's clothing would show more damage; it wouldn't explain the older wounds anyways. Which meant—
"Severus! Behind you!"
Severus whirled and appraised the situation. The Aurors had at last managed to pull Remus and Arabella off the Minister, who was at the moment leaning against the fireplace panting as one Auror attempted to assist him. Several more held Remus and Arabella at wand-point across the room, and the remaining ones were now advancing on Severus and Harry. He was grossly outnumbered, and didn't have time to configure a portkey. Brazenly, he turned back to Harry, softly grasping him by the upper arms.
"Potter...Harry…there's something important I must tell you, I—"
"Step aside, Professor Snape." One Auror practically shoved Severus aside as another roughly grabbed Harry and sharply dragged the boy to his feet, causing him to cry out in agony.
"Professor!" Harry cried, hysterically reaching for Severus as he weakly resisted his captor. Severus lunged forward to grab his son but came up with only air as the sound of seven pops rang out in the suddenly quiet room.
Severus pulled himself to his knees, looking about the room frantically to find Remus and Arabella staring at him in shock.
Harry was gone.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
TBC…