Chapter Two
Shadow released the shivering lump that was a former death eater when they landed, "hold out your arm!" he commanded fiercely. Snape did it immediately and Shadow lifted the robes to look at the Dark Mark, "You are a good man, Snape. Let this be a sign of my respect for you! Inshallah!" he whispered, placing his hand on the Dark Mark which slowly faded away.
Immediately, Shadow stood, "can you make it to the Hospital Wing?" he asked.
Snape nodded slowly, "Yes, I'll be fine."
Shadow cast a quick strengthening charm and then hurried up the stairs, having hundreds of people to treat, but first he did not go to the Hospital Wing. Instead, he hunted down the girl he had sent back earlier who had not managed to find the Hospital Wing.
When he found her, she was huddled in a lump crying on the ground. He sat down beside her and tapped her arm, "Hey," he said, "don't cry, you're safe now. The man's in prison."
She shook her head and continued to cry, "I- I- I'm just so scared and muh- my pa- parents were there!" she gulped out.
Shadow put an arm around her shoulder, "I can't do anything about your parents, but if you want, I can take you upstairs and get you cleaned up and then I'll find you somewhere safe to stay. Would you like that?"
She nodded mutely, tears still streaming down her face, and he lifted her up and started back towards the Hospital Wing, holding her to his chest to reassure her that he was still there and she was still wanted.
When he went into the Hospital Wing, Snape was just entering and the Potions Master stared at the lump in Shadow's arms, "What's that?" he asked in undisguised disgust, "it looks like a- - -a girl!"
"Yes, Snape," Shadow said, emerald green eyes flashing behind the shadow that hid them, "I found this girl at exactly the same sort of critical moment as I did you. She, however, has a far more important need for treatment so if you would excuse us."
The girl had been crying into his robes, and she raised her head to look at the sallow potions master, her bedraggled hair falling over her pitiful, sad, eyes, "My name is Sandrilene," she said softly to both of them.
Shadow smiled fondly at her, "well, Sandrilene, let's go see Madam Pomfrey!" He carried her inside and placed her on a bed, "MADAM POMFREY!!!" he called over the muttering that was present in the expanded Hospital Wing.
Since the war had started, the Hospital facilities had been expanded to sleep over one thousand wounded or ill witches, wizards and occasionally muggles. She hurried over to him, "Shadow!" she cried, wringing her hands, "I have five hundred patients to treat! What do you want?"
"Sandrilene needs to be treated," he said calmly, "and if you would only ask, I'd help you here, you know!"
"Oh," she said quietly, "well, of you go – get to work!" and she turned to Sandrilene, "well, dear, how about I give you a full check up and then Shadow can tell me where you're to stay."
*~*~*~*~*~*
When Shadow was finished, he went to Sandrilene, "Sandrilene," he said softly, "I need you to come and meet someone with me, and then I'll take you somewhere where you're safe, okay?'
She nodded mutely, having closed her vocal box (according to Madam Pomfrey, an automatic reaction induced by extreme shock).
He led her down the corridor to a stone gargoyle. He stared at it and began to murmur various candy names until finally he gave up and placed his hand on it's head. After a moment he smiled, "interesting," he said, "I never knew that Dumbledore ate candied kangaroo's. I've never eaten them myself. But I've heard that they're quite tasty."
"Mr. Shadow," an old wizened man with a purple pointed hat said neutrally, "My name is-"
"Albus Dumbledore," Shadow interrupted, "I know. I am Shadow and this is Sandrilene. I need some help," he said quietly.
"Well," Dumbledore said jovially, "how can I help you?"
"I need a long-term place where Sandrilene can stay and be safe," Shadow said bluntly, "what do you want in return?"
"I want you to join a group that is a major part of the resistance; the Order of the Phoenix."
"I don't think so," Shadow shook his head, "I will come to a meeting and give advice, but I work best alone. It is not smart for you to try working with someone like me."
"And why is that?"
"Because you don't know anything about me! For all you know I could be a death eater in disguise!"
"But you aren't," Dumbledore said meaningfully.
Shadow sighed, "I will come to your meeting, but Sandrilene gets a safe house."
"Agreed."
Putting Sandrilene on a sofa he smiled at her, "Sanrilene, someone will be up shortly to take you somewhere safe and I promise I'll come and visit you soon, okay?"
She nodded, "Thanks," she said softly.
Shadow stood, "I suppose we should go now?" he said, "you always seem to have meetings after a conflict."
Dumbledore turned and stared, "you know when we meet?" he asked in surprise.
"I am a Mage, Dumbledore, not a fool. I have sources everywhere. I need to know what is happening to act effectively."
"Do you have knowledge of the Death Eaters?"
"You wound me, Dumbledore!" Shadow cried, "Now, are we going to this meeting or not."
This was a concern for Shadow. If he made it to the meeting, then there would doubtless be certain people who would be able to see, or smell as it may be, who he really was.
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed, "you will give me the answers I demand, Shadow," he said fiercely, "it is rude to evade questions posed by a senior."
"Sir," Shadow said firmly, "you are out-dated. I can do what I please. So can we just get this over with?"
"Of course," the older man acquiesced, "come along," he pushed open a door into his study, and then another door that led into what was obviously a meeting room for the Order. The ten or so members of the Order were already there, waiting for Dumbledore.
Shadow kept his head respectfully bent but slipped over beside the two who he had no doubt would see through his disguise. To be frank, he was quite interested as to how Dumbledore hadn't seen through it.
"Moody," he whispered, "don't say a word!"
"far be it from me, boy, to prevent a victory for the light side by going along with Albus," the ex-Auror said with a twisted smile, "I'll warn Wolf."
Stepping back into the shadows, Shadow removed his hood, his long unruly black hair falling down his back in long thick strands. He let it drape forwards to hid the left half of his face, and then he looked up just as Moony passed him a cup of coffee.
"Thank you, Mr. Lupin," he said.
The man passed the next one out and merely nodded to him. Shadow sniffed the coffee, and immediately detected Veritaserum on it. It was probably a good thing that he was immune to it and could appear to be telling the truth. He sipped on the coffee and sat down to wait for the interrogation to begin.