Chapter Nine
*~*~Hogwarts~*~*
A sharp intake of breath was drawn in the room. Marcus Flint was just at Hogwarts last year. He was the Quidditch captain for Slytherin and one of their chasers. McGonagall covered her mouth in horror, but Dumbledore looked unaffected.
"Why were you at Hogwarts today?" asked Dumbledore.
They all gave basically the same answer, "we came with our master to collect Harry Potter."
"And who is your master?"
"Lord Voldemort," their voices were lifeless and monotone.
At the mention of His name a shiver ram through the room. Dumbledore turned to Fudge, "There is you proof Cornelius. There isn't much more proof you can get unless you meet face to face with Voldemort himself."
Fudge made some sort of grunting noise, "for all I know you've hired these people to tell me all this. Where is the Potter boy anyways?"
"I assure you that I have not hired these Death Eaters for my pleasure, and Harry is at the safest place for him right now."
Fudge's face flushed a deep red, his eyebrow arched and his breathing grew heavy, "I don't think I have any more business I need to attend to at Hogwarts, so I think will leave. I will take these four with me for proper questioning." He turned on his heel and walked out of the room, the four hostages floating silently behind him.
McGonagall was outraged at the Ministers actions. Ever since their fiasco with the Dementors she never was on the same foot with him again. "Well Albus, that just shows you how much has changed about him."
"One does try to hop Minerva." Dumbledores eyes weren't back to their normal twinkle, but his face showed no irritation. "I think we need to have a staff meeting. If you could please send an owl to all of the Professors who aren't here it would help a great deal. I will contact Severus and tell to bring Harry back to Hogwarts." The room emptied and dispersed everyone feeling a bit solemn. Dumbledore stayed behind and sat down on the floor. Feeling somewhat angry, tired, vulnerable and old. He was getting old and was starting to feel its affects. Leaning against the wall he put this head in his hands 'he was just too ole to have to worry about this any longer.'
Dumbledore sat on the floor for about twenty minuets-just thinking-before anyone found him. As it happened it was Minerva McGonagall; she was just passing by on her way to Dumbledore's office and noticed him sitting there on the floor. Immediately she thought something happened to him and rushed to his side
Her face was covered with worry, "What happened Albus?"
Dumbledore just looked up into the Deputy Headmistresses face and simply replied, "You Minerva are one of the best things that has happened to this school. For that I am truly thankful. When I'm gone-."
But he was cut off, "Oh Albus, what are you saying? You're not going to be gone for a long time," a tear was starting to glisten in her eye.
"I know, I know," he said taking McGonagalls hand, "I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you and what you've done for me and Hogwarts." He gently squeezed her hand.
Minerva sat down net to Dumbledore still holding onto his hand, "Albus, what is the matter?" She said with a kind voice.
"I am just worried m'dear. I am getting older and our young Mr. Potter is going through such a terrible time. I have many sleepless night just worrying about him." Dumbledore turned and smiled at Minerva.
"That sounds similar to myself. I think Harry kept me awake throughout his time here longer than any other student. I should be given some kind of award for not falling asleep in my classes." Chuckled McGonagall. "I'm pretty sure all the teachers at Hogwarts don't sleep often when Potter is here," she smiled at Dumbledore.
He patted he hand and gently brought it up to his lips. "What would I do without you?" McGonagall's face turned a light pink. "I think it is time we got off this floor." Standing up and helping McGonagall as well. "I am sorry Minerva I will meet you in the lounge I forgot to contact Severus."
A small nod and she was gone.
~*~*Manor*~*~ Harry was falling, falling, swiftly through the air until he remembered he had his firebolt with him. Swinging his leg over the handle he stopped himself just in time. Hovering only a couple of feet above the ground. Above in the window Snape was leaning so far out it looked like he might fall himself.
"Harry! Harry are you okay?"
Harry just looked up at Snape-correction his father-and flew off towards the tallest tower. He didn't want to talk to him about anything right now. He just wanted to be back at Hogwarts so he might be able to avoid Snape. At least better than at his own house. This sucked and there was nothing he could do about it!
Snape watched Harry fly up to the roof without even acknowledging him. That was cold, but to he truly was his fathers' son. He stated back to his private rooms. When he entered there was a head in his fire.
"Severus?" it called out. "Severus are you there?" the head looked around. "Ah, Severus we need you back at Hogwarts. Emergency teachers meeting. Bring Harry too, I need to talk to him immediately also. Thank you Severus. Severus?"
"Yes Headmaster?" He said in a sulky tone.
"What is the matter?"
"I told him Albus. He knows and I don't think he is ever so much more happy now." Severus said in a sarcastic tone.
"He'll come around. Don't worry just get back here and things will sort themselves out. They always do." Dumbledores head left the fireplace.
Severus summoned a house elf to his side, "Shep, Mr. Potter needs his things brought to Hogwarts."
"Okay Sir, right away Sir."
"Thank you Shep." Two of his long white fingers were squeezing the bridge of his nose. 'POP.'
'POP.' Harry turned suddenly around, Severus Snape was standing right behind him. "Harry, we are going back to Hogwarts. NOW. Hold onto my hand." For the second time in one week Snape was running pulling Harry along side of him.
Running, running, running, running, running.
They reached the edge of the roof and jumped. This time when they landed Harry fell atop of the Professor knocking the wind out of him. They were in the balcony of the teachers lounge. "Ugh." Both of them uttered. Snape pushed Harry off of him and stood up to recompose himself. When he looked up many eyes were on him.
All the teachers were there already waiting for something, probably him, but who cared. Harry still sat on the ground looking a little dizzy. Offering his hand for help up, Harry swiped the hound out of his way and shot him an angry glare. Obviously still mad at him Snape walked away and sat down in his chair at the table. Harry stood up looking around at the teachers. He didn't want to go in with them, but what else could he do? He took one step forward and stepped on something hard. It was his firebolt, 'thank Merlin.' He picked it up and looked out the balcony.
Sensing what Harry was about to do some of the teachers stood. Others followed their lead. A quick glance back at the teachers, and he mounted his broom. Al of the staff now (except for Snape) were half running half walking toward Harry.
A/N okay well that's it R/R
love ya peeps BJR Sidda
*~*~Hogwarts~*~*
A sharp intake of breath was drawn in the room. Marcus Flint was just at Hogwarts last year. He was the Quidditch captain for Slytherin and one of their chasers. McGonagall covered her mouth in horror, but Dumbledore looked unaffected.
"Why were you at Hogwarts today?" asked Dumbledore.
They all gave basically the same answer, "we came with our master to collect Harry Potter."
"And who is your master?"
"Lord Voldemort," their voices were lifeless and monotone.
At the mention of His name a shiver ram through the room. Dumbledore turned to Fudge, "There is you proof Cornelius. There isn't much more proof you can get unless you meet face to face with Voldemort himself."
Fudge made some sort of grunting noise, "for all I know you've hired these people to tell me all this. Where is the Potter boy anyways?"
"I assure you that I have not hired these Death Eaters for my pleasure, and Harry is at the safest place for him right now."
Fudge's face flushed a deep red, his eyebrow arched and his breathing grew heavy, "I don't think I have any more business I need to attend to at Hogwarts, so I think will leave. I will take these four with me for proper questioning." He turned on his heel and walked out of the room, the four hostages floating silently behind him.
McGonagall was outraged at the Ministers actions. Ever since their fiasco with the Dementors she never was on the same foot with him again. "Well Albus, that just shows you how much has changed about him."
"One does try to hop Minerva." Dumbledores eyes weren't back to their normal twinkle, but his face showed no irritation. "I think we need to have a staff meeting. If you could please send an owl to all of the Professors who aren't here it would help a great deal. I will contact Severus and tell to bring Harry back to Hogwarts." The room emptied and dispersed everyone feeling a bit solemn. Dumbledore stayed behind and sat down on the floor. Feeling somewhat angry, tired, vulnerable and old. He was getting old and was starting to feel its affects. Leaning against the wall he put this head in his hands 'he was just too ole to have to worry about this any longer.'
Dumbledore sat on the floor for about twenty minuets-just thinking-before anyone found him. As it happened it was Minerva McGonagall; she was just passing by on her way to Dumbledore's office and noticed him sitting there on the floor. Immediately she thought something happened to him and rushed to his side
Her face was covered with worry, "What happened Albus?"
Dumbledore just looked up into the Deputy Headmistresses face and simply replied, "You Minerva are one of the best things that has happened to this school. For that I am truly thankful. When I'm gone-."
But he was cut off, "Oh Albus, what are you saying? You're not going to be gone for a long time," a tear was starting to glisten in her eye.
"I know, I know," he said taking McGonagalls hand, "I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you and what you've done for me and Hogwarts." He gently squeezed her hand.
Minerva sat down net to Dumbledore still holding onto his hand, "Albus, what is the matter?" She said with a kind voice.
"I am just worried m'dear. I am getting older and our young Mr. Potter is going through such a terrible time. I have many sleepless night just worrying about him." Dumbledore turned and smiled at Minerva.
"That sounds similar to myself. I think Harry kept me awake throughout his time here longer than any other student. I should be given some kind of award for not falling asleep in my classes." Chuckled McGonagall. "I'm pretty sure all the teachers at Hogwarts don't sleep often when Potter is here," she smiled at Dumbledore.
He patted he hand and gently brought it up to his lips. "What would I do without you?" McGonagall's face turned a light pink. "I think it is time we got off this floor." Standing up and helping McGonagall as well. "I am sorry Minerva I will meet you in the lounge I forgot to contact Severus."
A small nod and she was gone.
~*~*Manor*~*~ Harry was falling, falling, swiftly through the air until he remembered he had his firebolt with him. Swinging his leg over the handle he stopped himself just in time. Hovering only a couple of feet above the ground. Above in the window Snape was leaning so far out it looked like he might fall himself.
"Harry! Harry are you okay?"
Harry just looked up at Snape-correction his father-and flew off towards the tallest tower. He didn't want to talk to him about anything right now. He just wanted to be back at Hogwarts so he might be able to avoid Snape. At least better than at his own house. This sucked and there was nothing he could do about it!
Snape watched Harry fly up to the roof without even acknowledging him. That was cold, but to he truly was his fathers' son. He stated back to his private rooms. When he entered there was a head in his fire.
"Severus?" it called out. "Severus are you there?" the head looked around. "Ah, Severus we need you back at Hogwarts. Emergency teachers meeting. Bring Harry too, I need to talk to him immediately also. Thank you Severus. Severus?"
"Yes Headmaster?" He said in a sulky tone.
"What is the matter?"
"I told him Albus. He knows and I don't think he is ever so much more happy now." Severus said in a sarcastic tone.
"He'll come around. Don't worry just get back here and things will sort themselves out. They always do." Dumbledores head left the fireplace.
Severus summoned a house elf to his side, "Shep, Mr. Potter needs his things brought to Hogwarts."
"Okay Sir, right away Sir."
"Thank you Shep." Two of his long white fingers were squeezing the bridge of his nose. 'POP.'
'POP.' Harry turned suddenly around, Severus Snape was standing right behind him. "Harry, we are going back to Hogwarts. NOW. Hold onto my hand." For the second time in one week Snape was running pulling Harry along side of him.
Running, running, running, running, running.
They reached the edge of the roof and jumped. This time when they landed Harry fell atop of the Professor knocking the wind out of him. They were in the balcony of the teachers lounge. "Ugh." Both of them uttered. Snape pushed Harry off of him and stood up to recompose himself. When he looked up many eyes were on him.
All the teachers were there already waiting for something, probably him, but who cared. Harry still sat on the ground looking a little dizzy. Offering his hand for help up, Harry swiped the hound out of his way and shot him an angry glare. Obviously still mad at him Snape walked away and sat down in his chair at the table. Harry stood up looking around at the teachers. He didn't want to go in with them, but what else could he do? He took one step forward and stepped on something hard. It was his firebolt, 'thank Merlin.' He picked it up and looked out the balcony.
Sensing what Harry was about to do some of the teachers stood. Others followed their lead. A quick glance back at the teachers, and he mounted his broom. Al of the staff now (except for Snape) were half running half walking toward Harry.
A/N okay well that's it R/R
love ya peeps BJR Sidda