More Reviews! Thou hast not forsaken me! Verily, yay! And if the page appears to all be comments from where you're sitting, then fear not, it's down there…somewhere. And sorry for the length, ye lovers of short chapters. Bye, now! ~8]
Iris: Thanks, Iris! I'm glad you've stuck around for this long! Hell, I'm surprised I've stuck around for this long, though I never had any plans to leave the story hanging, or anything. And yes, Nagini is surprisingly lucid…and quite lurid, too, for a snake. But, one must remember: while regular snakes are usually pretty quiet about things, slithering along here and there in search of whatever it is snakes like to look at on a daily basis (a reptile-ologist I'm obviously not, if such a profession exists), Nagini is an evil snake, and one can never truly guess the ill-natured intentions of an evil snake…I'm not helping explain myself, am I? : \ That seems to happen a lot, 'round here…anyhoo, thanks for the comments, and hope you won't be disappointed with the few (gasp!) remaining chapters to come!
Allocin: Glad you enjoyed that spider bit…come to think of it, that's what I enjoy about spiders, too--their bits and pieces (so far the count is Danielle: 24, Spider: 1/2…heh. Figure that one out.) And where have I been? Well, usually stuck in a round hole or square hole in the middle of Forestville, Nowhere, VA. but I've some downtime from work, which may mean I might be able to GASP! finish the story…YAY!!! And yes, the Doppleganger's eyes flashed because not only of his connection to Voldemort, but evil things, in general, have red eyes…my theory of 'evilness' is confirmed quite clearly in the movie itself. Mrs. Norris? That's right--red eyes. ::Bows to thundering applause:: Thank you, thank you… ;]
Lisa: Hmm…interesting point….no other Parselmouths, eh? Might I call upon the Fanfic Author Omnipotence Act of 1993? You know, the one that goes, "Any glaring errors and mistakes heretofore (or something snazzy like that) unseen and un-noted by said Fanfic Author/ess are to be shoved under the rug and forgotten like so many dust bunnies"? What? That doesn't exist? Oh…hmm…::laughs nervously for second chapter in a row:: Heh. Heh. Well, then, I suppose you are indeed correct about that. Seeing as it's a bit too late for me to go about fixing that last chapter (well, now second to last chapter) without being noticed, I'll make up something on the spot: Um, Voldemort decided it was a good idea that at least a few Death Eaters learned a wee bit o' the Parseltongue (I'll treat it in this instance as a sort of 'foreign language'), because, ah, with snakes being about as trustworthy as a snake can get, our one and only Dark Lord figured that maybe, just maybe, Nagini might try and cross him one day, because, well…he's the overtly paranoid Dark Lord-type individual. Hope that helps. If not, note point made near end of next comment. Heh….heh… (:]
me: I haven't come across any definition of a Doppleganger (which I've found is also spelled 'Doppelganger') as being anything but a "Double Walker," or something which takes on the full characterization of another. It is sort of a 'shadow,' if you want to think of this particular sort of shadow as having fleshed-out facial features and the like, but, hey, I could be wrong. It's happened before, and I'll be damned if it won't happen again (most likely in the very, very near future, with the way my luck's going…)! ~8]
Stonehenge: Made your day, eh? Well, at least you didn't end that comment with '…punk,' like some gravelly-voiced Western-type Hollywood actor…who once appeared in a movie called "Unforgiven"…which starred Richard Harris…sniff…gonna go cry now…thanks for the encouraging comment, anyway…sniff… :]
Psychochick: Drive you crazy with the story? Nah. If I really wanted to drive you crazy, I'll pull one of those "Wanna know what drives a fanfic reader crazy? Click HERE to find out," bits. So, for further elaboration on this, click HERE riiiiight…NOW! (Heh.)
Megz: So very very glad you're enjoying the story, which will be updated just as soon as I shut up…riiiiight….Now!
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Disclaimer: Oh, for the love of--Just see Chapter Previous, alrighty?
Chapter 23: Antici…..pation (Sorry about the unwarranted Rocky Horror reference...it was bound to pop up sometime)
"Hermione!"
For the second time that week did Ron Weasley watch in horror as yet another one of his friends vanished seemingly into the air before him. His frightened scream was left to reverberate against the surrounding walls for several short moments, until the echo finally died against the cold stone. Although he clung to the hope that Hermione had simply been transported into the next corridor over, he wasn't in the least bit surprised when the young witch failed to return his cry.
Fighting to restrain the panic rising within, Ron brought up the slack in his jaw so that it would close properly and allow him to force a large gulp down his throat. He cursed himself aloud with words that would surprise even Fred or George for not kicking the enigmatic orb away from Hermione's reach, or at least thinking to levitate it to Dumbledore's office. Tearing his eyes from the now empty space before him and taking a deep breath to calm himself, the young wizard stuck a fumbling hand into the outer pocket of his robe and withdrew the Marauder's Map. It wasn't until he had his hand upon the well-worn parchment did a particularly alarming thought occur to Ron: She might not even be in Hogwarts…
He hurriedly unrolled the magicked plan of the school and scanned it frantically for Hermione's name, ignoring the whereabouts of Harry's Other for the moment. It wasn't long before he gasped loudly, clutching a hand to his chest in relief.
"Bloody Hell…"
He had found Hermione, her animated speck juxtaposed with that of the Headmaster's inside his office.
Just where she said she was going…
His legs having been given plenty of time to rest themselves, Ron stuffed the map back into his pocket and sprinted off yet again in the general direction of Dumbledore's chambers. A sensation of frenetic energy quickly filled the young Gryffindor, and with lungs and legs pumping at a speed as yet unmatched did Ron race through the halls against an unseen clock, eager to find his friend lest she disappear yet again.
* * * * * *
Eyes quite round in astonishment at her sudden change of venue, Hermione looked slowly from the metallic orb still clasped in her hand to the equally startled Headmaster sitting behind the mahogany desk before her. Taking in her surroundings, she realized she had somehow been transported to that very place on her mind only moments ago, quite misplaced from the darkened corridor within the Hufflepuff wing of Hogwarts she had occupied a split second before…with Ron.
"Might I be of some…assistance, Ms. Granger?"
Looking up at her Headmaster, Hermione saw in his countenance that he was as perplexed as she was concerning her unconventional arrival.
"Professor Dumbledore…I-I should certainly hope so…" At a loss for any more words, she hesitantly stepped forward and placed the sphere atop Dumbledore's desk with great care, lest it roll off the edge of the great desktop and crack itself in two. Dumbledore watched curiously as his student moved her hand away to reveal what had been concealed within. Although it appeared as nothing more than an ordinary silver ball, the seemingly ageless Headmaster was well aware of its design.
"Where…exactly did you get this, Ms. Granger?" Dumbledore asked in a tone which quite belied the alarm apparent in his eyes.
Hermione sighed, the memories of the night's events swirling about in a rush inside her head. "After Ron and I saw that Draco made it safely to the Infirmary after we rescued him," she began, "we happened to catch sight of Harry's na--"
She paused awkwardly, catching herself before she could finish 'name on the Map.' As Dumbledore wasn't aware of how they had rescued Draco with help from the Marauder's Map (Or does he know? she allowed herself to question), now wouldn't be a particularly good time to begin explaining the concept of it to the Headmaster, for Hermione feared that she would only end up digging herself a grave deeper than she was able to get out of. Resuming the conversation as if she'd simply slipped up in her speech, Hermione continued indifferently, as if nothing had occurred. Whether it had escaped the Headmaster's attention was another matter altogether, however.
"Well, that is we caught a glimpse of what we thought was Harry in one of the corridors, but we knew that it couldn't be him…only his doppleganger. Regardless, we pursued it for a while, and we'd nearly gotten the best of it until it managed to block Ron's stupification spell with its wand, and the next thing we knew, it was gone again. Only, it left that behind," she finished, jabbing a finger at the metallic sphere. "I guess the doppleganger was so startled that it dropped whatever that is."
Dumbledore remained silent in thought for what seemed to Hermione several uneasy moments before he finally breathed a long and tired sigh.
"That was very brave of you Gryffindors, Hermione," he finally remarked, but before the heated blush could fully rise against the young witch's cheeks did he add, "Very brave, but also very dangerous."
Hermione's face fell a few inches at the reprimand, and focusing on the small orb did she stumble out an apology. "I-I'm--We are sorry, Professor Dumbledore, it's just that--" Before she could continue, she was surprised at hearing an amused chuckle come from the Headmaster.
"It's quite alright, Ms. Granger. We are all forced to do things most dangerous and unbecoming of our nature when the situation calls for such actions to be taken," he paused, subconsciously glancing at his now dormant fireplace, "and this whole…affair has been one such long and trying situation, indeed." As he finished talking, Dumbledore rose from his chair and walked to where Hermione stood, placing one comforting hand upon her shoulder and holding the orb with the other.
"In acquiring this, Hermione," he began, hefting the weight of the ball in his hand for demonstration, "have you taken from that vile abomination its primary means of transport, as I don't believe that it has the ability to fully apparate itself back to Voldemort even if it were knowledgeable enough to try once it had left school grounds. Harry's doppleganger is now trapped within Hogwarts, Ms. Granger, and here it will stay until taken care of properly."
Hermione nodded her head in understanding, although a bit unsure as what was meant by, 'taken care of properly.' "The orb is some sort of thought-controlled Portkey, isn't it? Although I told Ron we should bring it to you as soon as possible, I didn't really think it aloud in my head until after, right before I found myself here."
"Astute as always, Ms. Granger," he commended, setting the Portkey down. Dumbledore then placed his free hand atop Hermione's other shoulder before speaking again. "Hermione…I must now ask you this, and I want you to think before you answer," he began cautiously, watching the slightly puzzled look cross his student's face.
"Y-Yes?"
The Headmaster sighed, a slight grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Wherever did you leave poor Mr. Weasley?"
Ron! She had nearly forgotten about him since her arrival. He must be worried sick…unless he thought to read the map properly…As if her unvoiced question had been answered, a frantic knocking suddenly fell loudly upon the door, startling both professor and student.
Excusing himself from Hermione, Dumbledore quickly crossed the room in an effort to still the bothersome rapping upon the doorway. Upon turning the knob was he greeted with a familiar yet uncharacteristically pained face betwixt the small crack in the door. "To speak of little devils," he chuckled, much to Ron's confusion.
"Professor Dumbledore! Hermione…is she here? I-I think I've…lost her…"
"And now she's been found," Dumbledore responded with a smile, stepping aside to reveal the female Gryffindor.
Relief spread over Ron's elated features, and before he could make meaningful words come from his mouth did he rush forward and tightly hug his friend in view of the amused Headmaster. "Hermione…! I didn't know what happened to you…I thought…" Ron released his hold on Hermione as he took a step back, his words faltering. He didn't realize until now how truly scared he had been. "…I thought you might have ended up with…with Harry. Not that I particularly like him being alone, or anything, but still…"
Hermione gave him a genuine smile, surprised at her friend's surge of emotion. "For a moment there, Ron, I thought I was going to see Harry sooner than we had planned on, too. But," she paused, indicating with a pointing finger the orb lying still atop the desk, "it turns out that it's nothing more than a thought-controlled Portkey. I was thinking of coming here, and then I did."
Furrowing his eyebrows in concentration, Ron responded with a nod. "So that's how that bloody git--sorry, Professor--kept losing us so many times. Not because it was running faster than we were, but because it had a Portkey! That's why it kept disappearing from the ma--" A death glare blind to the eye of Dumbledore was quickly shot from Hermione to Ron, who couldn't at first understand his friend's disapproving stare. What's her probl--ohhh… Suddenly Ron understood, quickly backtracking in order to erase any indication of the word 'map' from his previous sentence.
"--maa--main hall? The main hall! Everytime we corned it in a main hallway, it would…disappear," he finished lamely, ignoring the pained wince that crossed Hermione's features. A crooked eyebrow from Dumbledore was his only response before the Headmaster stepped forward to place a reassuring hand on each of their shoulders.
"In light of what you've both just told me, along with the fact that Harry's doppleganger is now loose about the hallways, I believe the best and safest place for you at the moment is in the safety of numbers--namely those in the Gryffindor dormitories." A look of silent defeat crossed both of their haggard faces, but Dumbledore quickly continued before either could protest. "It's best for both of you that you each get some rest--"
"But, professor," Ron interrupted hesitantly, "have you heard anything about Harry? I mean, you said before that you had someone helping him…?" he trailed off, too worried and exhausted to form valid or complete sentences at that point.
Dumbledore sighed, gently goading the two Gryffindors towards the door. "Harry is being taken care of as we speak by someone who has agreed to help us only in secrecy. Although I haven't heard anything back as of yet, I should very shortly. As soon as any word comes through, you two will be the very first to know." Softening his tone, he spoke quietly to them. "We're all hoping and praying for Harry's safe return, and I truly regret that the two of you have thus far carried the brunt of our grief. For that I am greatly sorry, but you must also keep this in your thoughts: Like the both of you, Harry is also a Gryffindor, and rightly so. The bravery that the three of you have exhibited since your arrival is nearly unmatched in the whole of Hogwart's history. I have no doubt in my mind that Harry is trying is best to remain strong as testament to the Gryffindor legacy in the company of Slytherins, and until we hear anything further, we have no choice but to keep that vision alive in here," he explained, tapping a finger lightly against his head, "but also in here," he finished, placing a hand atop his heart.
Now on the opposite side of the Headmaster's door, both Ron and Hermione thanked the kindly old professor before bidding him a good night. Waiting until they were out of earshot, Hermione asked Ron softly, "You aren't actually planning on going to bed, are you?"
His eyes suddenly alight with a fiery spark of excitement, Ron responded softly yet resolutely, "Not on your life." He then curled his left hand around the map and latched a firm grasp on his wand with his other as Hermione did the same with hers.
"Let's go find this bastard, shall we?" Ron asked, looking askance at his friend.
With her face set in determination, Hermione steeled her courage and rising anxiety against what lay ahead. As long as the Doppleganger continued to exist would it prove to be a constant and ominously unpredictable threat against the whole of the school, and if it should escape…Whatever it was, Hermione need only remind herself of two things: "It was created by, and is inherently a part of Voldemort, a former Slytherin. And Gryffindors have always, always come out on top against the Slytherins. "
Finally, with a tight nod and wicked smile did she answer, "Let's."
* * * * * *
Two thousand four hundred and nine…
Two thousand four hundred and ten…
Two thousand four hund--
Harry was interrupted in his counting of zooming snitches when he heard the door of his cell being unlocked from the outside. His heart began to beat erratically in trepidation as it swung open, his body trembling anew. He vaguely recognized the dark form of a Death Eater approaching him.
Not again…not yet…
Harry burrowed his head into his knees, squeezing his arms even more tightly around his body in a futile effort to protect himself. He jumped when the door slammed shut again, surprised to hear himself crying softly before Voldemort's servant had even laid a finger on him.
"…no more…please…it still hurts…"
The Death Eater dropped to one knee beside him, pulling his hood back and removing his mask. Harry slowly looked up, squinting in the dim light at the half-kneeling form. He'd never seen the face of a Death Eater without his mask before, even though their identities were, for the most part, common knowledge, and was quite surprised when he recognized this one.
"You're…Draco's father, aren't you?" Harry asked in a cracked voice upon noting the familiar visage. Lucius Malfoy moved a hand out towards Harry, who flinched instinctively. Lucius sighed heavily, pulling his hand back.
"Fortunately, can't say that I am."
Harry opened his eyes wide at the familiar voice. "Professor Snape?"
"In the flesh," the older man responded in a somewhat embittered tone. "Well, flesh masked with glamoury, to be exact."
His student then responded by narrowing his eyes quizzically. "Why on earth do look like Lucius Malfoy?"
Severus sighed, making it clear that he didn't wish to tell the story in its entirety at that very moment. "Since your classmates were successful in retrieving his son from the bowels of Hogwarts, he's decided to help us in bringing you back, however reluctantly. He wasn't too, shall we say, appreciative of young Mr. Malfoy's emaciated condition upon his rescue--"
"Draco? Is he going to be alright?" Harry interrupted.
"He was resting just now in the Infirmary, last I checked, but yes, he'll be fine as far as you're concerned. As I was saying, Lucius in part blames Voldemort for his son's disappearance, since it was his creation that…'hid' him in the first place--"
"His creation? My doppleganger's responsible for this? But why--?"
"Have an iota of patience, will you, Mr. Potter?" Snape grumbled irritably before continuing. "Apparently, from what we can discern, Peter Pettigrew's long-standing hatred of Lucius, for one reason or another, was one of the many traits your double acquired in its creation. This…dislike manifested itself more so than some of the others, causing your doppleganger to act out its aggression towards the next closest thing--his son."
The Gryffindor nodded haltingly in partial understanding, and once again turned his questioning gaze on the other man. "Why are you here, then, and not him?" In truth, although he'd never admit it to anyone, Harry was more than happy that the Potions Master had come instead of Lucius or any Malfoy, for that matter. He had never trusted the other man, even before he knew of his inclusion within Voldemort's ranks, and doubted he would trust him even now.
Snape breathed a low sigh as he answered. "I'm here because he refused to help us any more than by supplying us with information. Besides, even though it's been awhile, I know these tunnels better than he does, even if that bloody prat won't admit it…" The professor trailed off, his thoughts elsewhere momentarily.
Harry decided he'd rather not know where 'here' was, as he'd visited it and its many incarnations several times before, though only in his nightmares. He instead asked another question of his professor. "Won't Lucius be…punished for helping you?" Harry voiced quietly.
"Imaginably so, yes."
The Gryffindor nodded slowly, gulping softly at the realization that his classmate might soon be without a father because of him. Not that Lucius didn't deserve what was going to come to him eventually, but still, the thought remained.
"Right then," Severus sighed, snapping Harry from his reverie, "let's have a look at you."
Snape pulled out his wand to light it, but first muttered a few unfamiliar words under his breath as he turned the wand on himself. Harry could vaguely see the other wizard's transformation back to his normal guise, as the blonde hair which had been highlighted by a wayward sliver of light suddenly turned to black.
"It's like wearing a snake's skin," he explained offhandedly before turning the wand on Harry. With a quiet declaration of 'Lumos' the wand was lit, setting Harry's ashen face aglow. Nothing could have prepared the Potions Master for the condition his student was in.
His face twisted itself into a mask of horror as he studied Harry's. Violently-wrought bruises and lacerations formed hideous landmarks on the young man's face, and it looked as if his nose had been broken and then reset on at least one occasion. The darkened hollows encircling his bloodshot and clouded emerald eyes appeared no less than black, sunken pits beneath his student's averted gaze. Elsewhere it looked as if he had been beaten within an inch of his life, and Severus dare not think what damage lay beneath the young boy's shirt.
The sight that alarmed him most, however, was the slow but steady trickle of blood that continued to leak from Harry's scar, which appeared to have been slit open from end to end with the finest and sharpest of blades some time ago. "Great Morgana, what has that bastard done to you?" he gasped softly.
"That bad?" Harry finally asked in a voice that the Potions Master thought much too forlorn and weary to belong to a Gryffindor.
"Only looks like you've been beaten with a bloody bludger's bat." Harry felt his throat tighten at Snape's words, averting his eyes to the floor again. He didn't look up until he felt a finger rest lightly upon his tender scar, meeting the touch with a low hiss of pain. Severus quickly jerked his hand back. He wiped away the fresh blood in a smear on his pant leg, then tilted his head down to meet Harry's eyes. "Harry…what happened to your scar?" Snape asked softly, not bothering to disguise the worry in his voice.
Harry began to shiver uncontrollably as he recalled the most painful of memories thus far. "V-Voldemort pressed his fingers against it, hard, un…until it split open and s-started to b-bleed." He swallowed thickly before continuing. "And then h-he…kissed it, to m-make it feel better," Harry spat bitterly, the vile touch forever emblazoned in his memory. Snape's face scrunched up in disgust, moving to brush away some damp locks of hair that had fallen into the boy's eyes. Harry was quiet for several long moments, shaking his head ever so slightly against the realization of it all. "H-He wouldn't s-stop…" Harry turned his tearful gaze to Snape, whose normally contempt-filled eyes now held only sorrow and pity for his student. "I-It…it hurt…s-so much…"
Severus moved to pull Harry forward as the latter broke down completely. He hesitantly rested Harry's head on his shoulder as anguished sobs convulsed his student's battered body, rocking ever so gently as he held him close. The young wizard felt himself being engulfed in the other man's embrace, arms wrapping tightly around him as he shook in uncontrollable grief. Harry had wound the fabric of his Professor's cloak into his unyielding, white-knuckled grasp, never wanting to let go.
"Shhh, now, or they'll hear us." Severus stroked a hand repeatedly through his student's hair, hesitantly at first, but then coming to feel more like a father at that moment than he'd ever care to admit. The comforting action seemed to have the desired effect, for Harry quieted down considerably. The Potion's Master then pulled Harry away after a few moments, gently cupping a bruise-mottled cheek slick with tears in his hand.
"Harry, I want you to listen to me," he said softly, "we haven't got much time. When I come back--"
Harry's eyes grew wide in panic, a great lump rising in his throat. "Come back? You're--you're not going to leave me here, are you? Professor, please, you can't leave me here…if I stay here, he'll--he'll murder me, just like he did my parents--" Snape used his thumb to brush away the fresh tears from Harry's frightened eyes. "Shhh, Potter, please. Calm down, now, we must keep quiet. Harry, I promise, it won't be for long. If Voldemort finds you gone, then he'll know something's awry. We can't just apparate out of here--"
"How did you get here?"
Snape sighed. "Well, I apparated, or more appropriately, I floo-powered myself off school grounds and then apparated, but that's not the point."
Harry bit hard onto his quivering bottom lip, nodding in understanding. "When…when will you come back?" he asked hesitantly, fearful of the answer.
"Soon. I promise you, Harry, I won't let you die here. Not like this."
Harry closed his eyes briefly as Severus began to stand up. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. "Wait! My glasses--can you see them around me anywhere? They were…knocked off my face earlier."
Snape turned to search the other corners of the cell when a glint off to the left caught his eye. Floating his lit wand over the area, Severus winced upon spotting the two halves of Harry's black frames lying within inches of each other. He picked them up by their earpieces, careful not to cut himself on the broken glass. Sighing, his tucked them into his robes. "If they see you with these back on, then they'll know that someone's been here." Extinguishing his wand of its light, he then gave it a small wave before the boy's eyes.
"Reparo oculus."
A surprised smile graced Harry's features as his vision cleared perfectly without the aide of lenses, his surroundings suddenly coming into focus. "My eyes! But how--?"
"Don't get too excited," the Potions Master interrupted, "the effects are only temporary. They'll serve useful until we can get you back to Hogwarts, where your glasses will be…waiting for you." Severus spoke those last words with such conviction that for the briefest of moments he felt that with absolute certainty that he could rescue Harry from this utter hell.
Harry watched as his professor stood up, moving to place the mask back over his face. "Professor, before you leave," he began hesitantly, "who is the Countess de Bathory?"
His lip curling into a disgusted sneer, Snape shook his head. "That you don't want to know. Why do you ask?"
Refusing to meet the older man's eyes, Harry let his forlorn gaze fall to the floor. "No reason. Just curious." Before Severus could ask any further questions, Harry gave a slight nod towards the door. "You'd better leave, or they'll start wondering why I haven't begun screaming yet."
Snape nodded sadly, then replaced the mask and cloak hood over his head after transforming his features back into those of Lucius Malfoy. With a last look at his student before he opened the door, he softly commanded, "Stay strong, Potter. This won't be the last time you'll see me, I promise."
Harry closed his eyes as the door swung closed once more, the outside lock again being magickally fastened together. With nothing else to do other than fret worriedly about his fate, the young wizard resumed counting imaginary snitches.
Two thousand four hundred and eleven.
Two thousand four hundred and twelve…
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I think I'll stop it…there. I'm Evil, I tell you, EVIL!!! ::Note, if you will, my flashing red eyes just then and there…::
EVIL! ::Look quickly now…did you see them that time? Good.::
Now, onto the ever-expanding and increasingly magical 'List'!
Rolllllll Calllllll: Lady Foxfire! Raven! Allocin! Loopy! Vampyra de Lioncourt! Tarawen! Iris! Zahrah Thomson-Radcliffe! Guess! Beccy! Amerkat! Mouse! Lili! Lady of Arundel! ArchArtist/Writer! Breea! Lassy D! Kim! Urania! Quoth the Raven! Melanie! Katma! Mel! Stonehenge! Agent 99! SiriusBPadfoot! Oceansun! Joey! Psychochick! Lisa! Me! AANNNDDD! Megz! Yay!!