In Which Death Eaters Are In The Woods
Chapter 37:
Methos stood and raced over to his staggering and pallid lover. He caught Severus just as he fell forward, his satchel of ingredients falling to the grass.
"Severus! What happened?" Severus looked up, eyes unfocused.
"The forest…they're in the forest."
Minutes Before
Severus walked, head down, scanning the forest floor for the plants he needed. He wasn't paying much attention to direction, only paying enough to always know what direction Hogwarts was in. he paused every few moments to pick a plant or check a flower. He was doing as such when he felt himself surrounded. He straitened slowly, placing his latest acquisition in his bag. His eyes fell upon the leader of the group.
"Lucius."
"Ah…Professor Snape. What a …surprise…to see you here. You weren't summoned."
"I'm collecting ingredients. Every Potions Master needs ingredients." Lucius raised an eyebrow.
"Why here?" Severus blinked at the sharp tone.
"Where else? This is where the plants grow. I always collect plants here…some of them don't grow anywhere else in the forest. And I need them fresher than I can get at the store. Lucius nodded, accepting his explanation.
"Very well. You must, however, refrain from collecting plants from here in the future," he nodded at his goons, whose faces Severus could not see. They grabbed Severus by the arms, restraining him. "Just to make sure you don't forget, I've arranged a little reminder for you. Stay away when not invited and remember to whom your loyalties lie." He nodded again, disappearing into the trees as the beating began.
'COWARD!' Severs screamed mentally as the last bit of Lucius' black robes faded into the forest.
Hospital Wing – later
Severus lay on a bed in the Hospital wing, physically healed, but unable to move yet from fatigue. The heads of house and those there for protection were assembled around his bed, much to Madame Pomfrey's dismay. Once again Severus found himself explaining.
"…as I look up I saw Malfoy and a few big men with their faces hidden. He asked why I was there and I told him I was "gathering ingredients." I don't think he believed me, though it was the truth. He told me to stay away from that part of the forest as long as I wasn't invited. His goons then decided to literally beat it into me. They left me there and walked away without a single word. I pulled myself together, dragged myself back to the castle, and you know the rest." Methos, who was sitting by Severus' side, took his hand. Severus smiled at him. Albus leaned back in his chair and stroked his beard.
"This is interesting." He muttered to himself.
"But what does it mean?" asked Sprout.
"There are Death Eaters in the forest." Severus said frankly, looking at everybody. "And they'll attack within the week, at most a month, at the least tomorrow. For Lucius to be this wound tight, I'd guess it's pretty damn soon."
"What will we do?" squeaked Flit.
"We must prepare as well." Dumbledore stood, "I want everybody to be on their guard at all times. Don't let any student wander at night, but lets not give them undo reason to worry." He looked at Minerva and Severus. "You need to keep an especially close eye on both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy; Ginny and Ron Weasley as well. Miss. Granger is a smart girl…i don't think she'll have any problems staying out of trouble.
"Remus," the large black dog at his feet raised his head as Remus looked over. "I want you and snuffles to do a nightly patrol. You can alternate with Percy and Oliver." They nodded.
"Adam, you help as well. Severus can join you when he is better, and not brewing more healing potions for Madame Pomfrey."
He looked over at Sprout and Flitwick, the only two professors with noting to do. "Sprout, Flit, Stay with the students. If there is an attack, I want you to gather them in the Great Hall and defend them there. Inform the prefects of this when they return tomorrow." He looked over each teacher carefully, certain he had everyone's complete attention.
"We must prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best."
Gryffindor Common Room
Fred and George sat next to each other, twin statues deep in thought. Hermione and Ron sat opposite them in an over stuffed chair. Harry and Draco sat close, but not quite touching, on the sofa to their right.
Thoughts were whirling through Fred's mind. They flew from the tornado in his mind to the hurricane in George's, riding the slipstream of thought. Oliver had just told them of his suspicions when Percy and Oliver had been called to the Hospital Wing. Watching them now, though, they could see why Oliver thought that way. Harry and Draco did seem to be hiding something.
'they sense their own.' The thought slipped into Fred's mind from George, and he sent an internal chuckle back. They had known Oliver was Gay since his fifth year, when he had come out to the team. He and Percy were always friends, but didn't get really close to their seventh year, when Percy was dating Penelope. The twins were a little surprised that had happened. Their geeky older brother had not only a best friend, but a popular best friend, but a girlfriend as well! Nobody suspected that the popular Quiditch Captain could ever be friends with the arrogant prissy Prefect, but it happened and they were close ever since. Closer, even, since Percy had broken up with Penny.
The evening continued on as such, nobody moving, nobody speaking as the feeling of dread and anticipation deepened in their stomachs.
Unknown and unseen, Harry's necklace and bracelet started to glow a dull green.
Hospital Wing
Methos sat watching as Severus changed out of his hospital gown. Underneath his robes, Methos' pendant began to glow as well, but instead of protective wards, it was a warning.
Danger was near
Border of the Forbidden Forrest
Remus walked along, his keen eyes missing little as Snuffles darted in and out of the trees. A smile tugged on the corners of his mouth as Snuffles tripped on a fallen tree. He smiled when Sirius stood up.
"What's so funny?" he growled, catching Remus around the waist.
"Who says anything is funny?"
"You're laughing." Remus looked at him oddly. "Ok, you're smiling, but for you that's laughing."
This time Remus really did laugh, bringing his arms in to wrap around Sirius. He leaned up and kissed him, not letting it get very deep.
"As much as I love to kiss you," Remus murmured, "we do have a job to do. Wait until we're off patrol." Reluctantly Sirius agreed, pulling away. Moments later Snuffles was once again darting in and out of the forest.
Astronomy Tower
Percy sat in the middle of the room, legs folded and eyes closed, concentrating. He felt with his mind the wind patterns, the faraway storms and the nearby clouds. He felt the familiar tingle in the back of his skull, something missing since his time in Russia. This was the first time he had done such a concentrated, extensive reconnaissance. He wanted to know exactly where every bit of weather was that he would possibly have to call on. For the first time since Russia, he felt in tune with the weather.
He had to be careful, however, without Oliver there to ground him. He could float away on the wind, leaving an empty shell of a human carcass. As if thinking of him made it happen, Oliver was, at that moment, climbing the stairs to the Astronomy Tower. He was slightly winded by the time he reached the top, as he was no longer used to such stairs, nor as young as he once was.
He opened the door slowly and stood in the doorway, watching his love meditate. He walked in then, not realizing he had left the door slightly ajar, just enough for sound to get through.
Kneeling behind Percy, Oliver started to massage the tense shoulders, knowing that Percy needed the contact to help him stay grounded. Percy relaxed into the ministrations, floating back to earth. He was grateful for the contact, for he had almost been lost in the storm when Oliver brought him back.
Percy inhaled deeply, coming away from the storms and into the tower. He relaxed further, falling back against his liver. Oliver wrapped his arms around Percy, leaning over him, smiling. Percy smiled back, leaning up. Oliver took the silent invitation and kissed Percy's lips. Percy turned so they were facing each other and started to crawl, forcing his lover to lie down. Laying back, pressing against his lover, things quickly got…serious, picking up where they had left off before. But, like before, the twins were not far away.
They had left the common room, the serious mood too much for them. Deciding to find out more about Harry and Draco, they searched for Oliver and Percy. They came across Sprout, who directed them to the Astronomy tower, where she knew Percy had gone to meditate. They had almost reached the top when they decided to sneak up on their brother and surprise him. Then they would find out where Oliver was.
Softly creeping up the last few steps they paused at the door, eyes widening at the sound from within. There was no mistaking the thumps and bumps and moans for anything else than what they were. Fred grinned at George.
"Sounds like Perc got himself some healthy shagging. I wonder who it is?"
"You think it's that Divination bird, Cassandra?"
"Might be. Let's have a look-see." They crept up to the ajar door, slowly pushing it open enough to see two pairs of pale legs then,
"PERCY!"
"OLIVER!"
"AHHHH!!!" The twins screamed in unison, practically tripping over themselves to get down the stairs. They didn't stop running until they were inside the common room. Harry and Co. looked at them oddly. Ron went over to them.
"What's this then? What's wrong?" George looked at Ron.
"Did you know? About Percy? And Oliver?" Ron nodded.
"Yeah, since New Years. They didn't announce it or anything, but it was obvious. They didn't try to hide it, either. Ginny also made some comments, so she knows."
"Mum? Dad?"
"I don't know. I don't think so, but this is Mum we're talking about." The twins nodded, now clam, they realized how foolishly they had acted. The tips of their ears were red and George said,
"Let's wait for them to come with us, when they're decent." Fred nodded, paused and laughed.
"Who'd ever have thought that we'd ever be saying that bout Prissy Percy?" George laughed.
"How true." He grinned, "our Percy's finally discovered sex! He's getting so grown up!" They laughed about this. When Percy and Oliver entered the room a few minutes later, they took one look at Oliver's slightly rumpled appearance and Percy's red ears and burst out laughing all over again.
Percy, blush non-withstanding, took one look at Harry and Co. and then at the twins. He stalked over to the twins, lifted his hand up behind his ear and…
Whack! Whap!
"Ow!"
"Oi! Wazzat for?"
"For not nocking." Fred and George grinned sheepishly, but before they could answer a bright green flash erupted from the fireplace, or rather, the chair next to it. The bracelet on Harry's arm and the pendant around his neck were glowing a bright green. He looked up at his friends and family, his face pale.
"They're here."
Dumbledore's Office
Dumbledore stood once more by the window, his hand on the golden perch Fawks normally resided on. Currently, however, the phoenix was in the golden cage by its side, a much safer place until she was reborn. He stayed in his position by the window when Methos and Severus came bursting through the door.
"Albus," Methos said, his voice calm but not without emotion, "they're coming."
Dumbledore turned away from the window then to look at them, the twinkle gone from his eyes. He took in the defensive stances of the ready to fight and the effects of the adrenaline pumping through their veins. Then, he saw the pendant glowing green at Methos' neck.
"I have to say you're wrong Methos," Dumbledore said, his voice grim, "But you are." He turned back to the window and pointed at the dark shapes coming from the forbidden forest.
"They're already here."
TBC.
This chapter was fun! This was also the end of my break from writers's block. I need to be able to reference the beginning of my story for more info, (my memory isn't that good) so I can't write it at school. I've started my Percy/Oliver story, but I'm not posting anything until I finish this.
Aurulumpi – yes, you are gonna see more Highlander characters; BUT NOT IN THIS STORY. They appear in the sequel, which is the summer between this year and the next. It's over, but not for long. The next chapter might be a little forced.
Tidmag – thanks for the heads up on that error. I'll fix it right away.
Cal – look at what I said to Aurulumpi.
Vampire Child – yes…that is odd…hmm…
Shinigami – um…not in this story, they aren't. They're twins, so in my mind, they're telepathic. They just don't know it yet. I'm thinking of doing a story for them as well, but it won't be for a long time.
Lady Cinnibar – you, my dear, are an absolute gem! This Pooka is pleased, and hopes you are as well. I must say, ghosts kicks ass. About those threads…um…I don't remember the ones I unraveled in the beginning, so some might end up a little frayed. All will be tied in (hopefully) in the sequel.
Until next time I was, am, and will always be, Immortaljedi
Chapter 37:
Methos stood and raced over to his staggering and pallid lover. He caught Severus just as he fell forward, his satchel of ingredients falling to the grass.
"Severus! What happened?" Severus looked up, eyes unfocused.
"The forest…they're in the forest."
Minutes Before
Severus walked, head down, scanning the forest floor for the plants he needed. He wasn't paying much attention to direction, only paying enough to always know what direction Hogwarts was in. he paused every few moments to pick a plant or check a flower. He was doing as such when he felt himself surrounded. He straitened slowly, placing his latest acquisition in his bag. His eyes fell upon the leader of the group.
"Lucius."
"Ah…Professor Snape. What a …surprise…to see you here. You weren't summoned."
"I'm collecting ingredients. Every Potions Master needs ingredients." Lucius raised an eyebrow.
"Why here?" Severus blinked at the sharp tone.
"Where else? This is where the plants grow. I always collect plants here…some of them don't grow anywhere else in the forest. And I need them fresher than I can get at the store. Lucius nodded, accepting his explanation.
"Very well. You must, however, refrain from collecting plants from here in the future," he nodded at his goons, whose faces Severus could not see. They grabbed Severus by the arms, restraining him. "Just to make sure you don't forget, I've arranged a little reminder for you. Stay away when not invited and remember to whom your loyalties lie." He nodded again, disappearing into the trees as the beating began.
'COWARD!' Severs screamed mentally as the last bit of Lucius' black robes faded into the forest.
Hospital Wing – later
Severus lay on a bed in the Hospital wing, physically healed, but unable to move yet from fatigue. The heads of house and those there for protection were assembled around his bed, much to Madame Pomfrey's dismay. Once again Severus found himself explaining.
"…as I look up I saw Malfoy and a few big men with their faces hidden. He asked why I was there and I told him I was "gathering ingredients." I don't think he believed me, though it was the truth. He told me to stay away from that part of the forest as long as I wasn't invited. His goons then decided to literally beat it into me. They left me there and walked away without a single word. I pulled myself together, dragged myself back to the castle, and you know the rest." Methos, who was sitting by Severus' side, took his hand. Severus smiled at him. Albus leaned back in his chair and stroked his beard.
"This is interesting." He muttered to himself.
"But what does it mean?" asked Sprout.
"There are Death Eaters in the forest." Severus said frankly, looking at everybody. "And they'll attack within the week, at most a month, at the least tomorrow. For Lucius to be this wound tight, I'd guess it's pretty damn soon."
"What will we do?" squeaked Flit.
"We must prepare as well." Dumbledore stood, "I want everybody to be on their guard at all times. Don't let any student wander at night, but lets not give them undo reason to worry." He looked at Minerva and Severus. "You need to keep an especially close eye on both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy; Ginny and Ron Weasley as well. Miss. Granger is a smart girl…i don't think she'll have any problems staying out of trouble.
"Remus," the large black dog at his feet raised his head as Remus looked over. "I want you and snuffles to do a nightly patrol. You can alternate with Percy and Oliver." They nodded.
"Adam, you help as well. Severus can join you when he is better, and not brewing more healing potions for Madame Pomfrey."
He looked over at Sprout and Flitwick, the only two professors with noting to do. "Sprout, Flit, Stay with the students. If there is an attack, I want you to gather them in the Great Hall and defend them there. Inform the prefects of this when they return tomorrow." He looked over each teacher carefully, certain he had everyone's complete attention.
"We must prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best."
Gryffindor Common Room
Fred and George sat next to each other, twin statues deep in thought. Hermione and Ron sat opposite them in an over stuffed chair. Harry and Draco sat close, but not quite touching, on the sofa to their right.
Thoughts were whirling through Fred's mind. They flew from the tornado in his mind to the hurricane in George's, riding the slipstream of thought. Oliver had just told them of his suspicions when Percy and Oliver had been called to the Hospital Wing. Watching them now, though, they could see why Oliver thought that way. Harry and Draco did seem to be hiding something.
'they sense their own.' The thought slipped into Fred's mind from George, and he sent an internal chuckle back. They had known Oliver was Gay since his fifth year, when he had come out to the team. He and Percy were always friends, but didn't get really close to their seventh year, when Percy was dating Penelope. The twins were a little surprised that had happened. Their geeky older brother had not only a best friend, but a popular best friend, but a girlfriend as well! Nobody suspected that the popular Quiditch Captain could ever be friends with the arrogant prissy Prefect, but it happened and they were close ever since. Closer, even, since Percy had broken up with Penny.
The evening continued on as such, nobody moving, nobody speaking as the feeling of dread and anticipation deepened in their stomachs.
Unknown and unseen, Harry's necklace and bracelet started to glow a dull green.
Hospital Wing
Methos sat watching as Severus changed out of his hospital gown. Underneath his robes, Methos' pendant began to glow as well, but instead of protective wards, it was a warning.
Danger was near
Border of the Forbidden Forrest
Remus walked along, his keen eyes missing little as Snuffles darted in and out of the trees. A smile tugged on the corners of his mouth as Snuffles tripped on a fallen tree. He smiled when Sirius stood up.
"What's so funny?" he growled, catching Remus around the waist.
"Who says anything is funny?"
"You're laughing." Remus looked at him oddly. "Ok, you're smiling, but for you that's laughing."
This time Remus really did laugh, bringing his arms in to wrap around Sirius. He leaned up and kissed him, not letting it get very deep.
"As much as I love to kiss you," Remus murmured, "we do have a job to do. Wait until we're off patrol." Reluctantly Sirius agreed, pulling away. Moments later Snuffles was once again darting in and out of the forest.
Astronomy Tower
Percy sat in the middle of the room, legs folded and eyes closed, concentrating. He felt with his mind the wind patterns, the faraway storms and the nearby clouds. He felt the familiar tingle in the back of his skull, something missing since his time in Russia. This was the first time he had done such a concentrated, extensive reconnaissance. He wanted to know exactly where every bit of weather was that he would possibly have to call on. For the first time since Russia, he felt in tune with the weather.
He had to be careful, however, without Oliver there to ground him. He could float away on the wind, leaving an empty shell of a human carcass. As if thinking of him made it happen, Oliver was, at that moment, climbing the stairs to the Astronomy Tower. He was slightly winded by the time he reached the top, as he was no longer used to such stairs, nor as young as he once was.
He opened the door slowly and stood in the doorway, watching his love meditate. He walked in then, not realizing he had left the door slightly ajar, just enough for sound to get through.
Kneeling behind Percy, Oliver started to massage the tense shoulders, knowing that Percy needed the contact to help him stay grounded. Percy relaxed into the ministrations, floating back to earth. He was grateful for the contact, for he had almost been lost in the storm when Oliver brought him back.
Percy inhaled deeply, coming away from the storms and into the tower. He relaxed further, falling back against his liver. Oliver wrapped his arms around Percy, leaning over him, smiling. Percy smiled back, leaning up. Oliver took the silent invitation and kissed Percy's lips. Percy turned so they were facing each other and started to crawl, forcing his lover to lie down. Laying back, pressing against his lover, things quickly got…serious, picking up where they had left off before. But, like before, the twins were not far away.
They had left the common room, the serious mood too much for them. Deciding to find out more about Harry and Draco, they searched for Oliver and Percy. They came across Sprout, who directed them to the Astronomy tower, where she knew Percy had gone to meditate. They had almost reached the top when they decided to sneak up on their brother and surprise him. Then they would find out where Oliver was.
Softly creeping up the last few steps they paused at the door, eyes widening at the sound from within. There was no mistaking the thumps and bumps and moans for anything else than what they were. Fred grinned at George.
"Sounds like Perc got himself some healthy shagging. I wonder who it is?"
"You think it's that Divination bird, Cassandra?"
"Might be. Let's have a look-see." They crept up to the ajar door, slowly pushing it open enough to see two pairs of pale legs then,
"PERCY!"
"OLIVER!"
"AHHHH!!!" The twins screamed in unison, practically tripping over themselves to get down the stairs. They didn't stop running until they were inside the common room. Harry and Co. looked at them oddly. Ron went over to them.
"What's this then? What's wrong?" George looked at Ron.
"Did you know? About Percy? And Oliver?" Ron nodded.
"Yeah, since New Years. They didn't announce it or anything, but it was obvious. They didn't try to hide it, either. Ginny also made some comments, so she knows."
"Mum? Dad?"
"I don't know. I don't think so, but this is Mum we're talking about." The twins nodded, now clam, they realized how foolishly they had acted. The tips of their ears were red and George said,
"Let's wait for them to come with us, when they're decent." Fred nodded, paused and laughed.
"Who'd ever have thought that we'd ever be saying that bout Prissy Percy?" George laughed.
"How true." He grinned, "our Percy's finally discovered sex! He's getting so grown up!" They laughed about this. When Percy and Oliver entered the room a few minutes later, they took one look at Oliver's slightly rumpled appearance and Percy's red ears and burst out laughing all over again.
Percy, blush non-withstanding, took one look at Harry and Co. and then at the twins. He stalked over to the twins, lifted his hand up behind his ear and…
Whack! Whap!
"Ow!"
"Oi! Wazzat for?"
"For not nocking." Fred and George grinned sheepishly, but before they could answer a bright green flash erupted from the fireplace, or rather, the chair next to it. The bracelet on Harry's arm and the pendant around his neck were glowing a bright green. He looked up at his friends and family, his face pale.
"They're here."
Dumbledore's Office
Dumbledore stood once more by the window, his hand on the golden perch Fawks normally resided on. Currently, however, the phoenix was in the golden cage by its side, a much safer place until she was reborn. He stayed in his position by the window when Methos and Severus came bursting through the door.
"Albus," Methos said, his voice calm but not without emotion, "they're coming."
Dumbledore turned away from the window then to look at them, the twinkle gone from his eyes. He took in the defensive stances of the ready to fight and the effects of the adrenaline pumping through their veins. Then, he saw the pendant glowing green at Methos' neck.
"I have to say you're wrong Methos," Dumbledore said, his voice grim, "But you are." He turned back to the window and pointed at the dark shapes coming from the forbidden forest.
"They're already here."
TBC.
This chapter was fun! This was also the end of my break from writers's block. I need to be able to reference the beginning of my story for more info, (my memory isn't that good) so I can't write it at school. I've started my Percy/Oliver story, but I'm not posting anything until I finish this.
Aurulumpi – yes, you are gonna see more Highlander characters; BUT NOT IN THIS STORY. They appear in the sequel, which is the summer between this year and the next. It's over, but not for long. The next chapter might be a little forced.
Tidmag – thanks for the heads up on that error. I'll fix it right away.
Cal – look at what I said to Aurulumpi.
Vampire Child – yes…that is odd…hmm…
Shinigami – um…not in this story, they aren't. They're twins, so in my mind, they're telepathic. They just don't know it yet. I'm thinking of doing a story for them as well, but it won't be for a long time.
Lady Cinnibar – you, my dear, are an absolute gem! This Pooka is pleased, and hopes you are as well. I must say, ghosts kicks ass. About those threads…um…I don't remember the ones I unraveled in the beginning, so some might end up a little frayed. All will be tied in (hopefully) in the sequel.
Until next time I was, am, and will always be, Immortaljedi