Chapter 5: Unfaithful
"Harry, read this!" Ron shoved a copy of The Daily Prophet under Harry's nose.
DARK MARK AGAIN SEEN
The Dark Mark was seen hovering over Lindenwood Park, a housing development.
"Isn't that by your house?"
Ron nodded. "Keep going."
Reports say that nobody was hurt, but several anonymous former Death Eaters have said that there is a sharp pain in their arm where the mark was.
"Bet anything it's Snape," Harry grumbled.
"Keep reading," Ron urged.
There was a note written on parchment with crimson ink tacked to a nearby tree that read, "The Unfaithful Will Die." Ministry Detectives have concluded that someone is plotting to murder the unfaithful Death Eaters.
"But, Snape could die! This is bad!"
"I know," said Ron. "He's stuck up for us a lot."
"We need Hermione badly."
"She's been such a jerk, though," Ron said disgustedly.
Harry missed having Hermione for a friend. Last year, he had gone without Ron. Now, it was Hermione. Why couldn't they just get along?
"Hermione, I'm sick of this. Why aren't you speaking to us?" Harry knew why, but wanted to hear her side of the story.
"Well, it's about time. You guys always left me out."
"Well, sorry."
"I accept your apology-- and you?" she indicated towards Ron.
"Sorry," Ron conceded.
"And yours."
"And now down to buisiness," began Harry. "Professor Snape is in danger. Someone, probably Voldemort..." Ron winced. Harry continued, "is trying to kill him."
"I know. But what do we do? Go up to him and say, 'Hi, I'm Harry Potter. Leave, because Voldemort is trying to kill you and I'm here to the rescue'? I don't think so," said Hermione.
"It might not be V-Voldemort," Ron pointed out. "It could be someone acting in his place- or perhaps, unfaithful to good will die."
"No," Harry put in, "good does not kill others."
"The aurors did," Hermione added. "But since Voldemort's back and lost most of his followers when he fell, I'm pretty sure it was him."
After transfiguration class, they were going to the library. Harry had to return to the classroom because he had left his bookbag on the floor under his desk. Over by the chalkboard was a crumpled piece of paper. Harry couldn't resist picking it up and reading it.
Draco, Voldemort needs someone to perform a task at Hogwarts. It will be difficult and dangerous but would bring you great honor, not only to you, but to the Malfoys and all of Voldemort's supporters. He has enclosed a SpellaSend lettersheet for you to respond with. You know we're all counting on you and expect you to do this.
Lucius Malfoy
Harry gasped. Draco was helping Voldemort? Perhaps he'd kill Hermione... or... Snape! This was bad! There was another sheet attatched. It read:
SpellaSend Transcript:
I am sorry, Lord Voldemort. I am too busy with my studies to carry out your noble deeds.
Draco Malfoy
Harry's jaw dropped and he breathed a sigh of relief. Malfoy- not working for Voldemort? About a meter or so to Harry's right lay another crumpled piece of paper.
Dear Father,
I cannot do Lord Voldemort's task.
Draco Malfoy
glad someone's reading this
Studies? Draco never had had decent grades. As long as he was eligible for quidditch, it really didn't matter to him. Harry thought, "About like me. As long as I pass and am eligible for Quidditch, I really don't care."
Harry gathered up his books and ran towards the library as fast as he could. "Whoa, boy, slow down," Salvini muttered. He continued to whistle his particularly annoying song.
"Ron, you won't believe this! LOOK!" Harry tossed him the three wadded up sheets of parchment.
"What is it?"
"I found these on the floor in the classroom! Just LOOK!"
He unrolled them and read. "This is amazing! Harry, do you know what this means?"
"Yeah." Hermione entered the room.
"What are those?" she asked.
"Letters of correspondence between the Malfoys and Voldemort!" Ron said loudly. Several students gave him angry looks. "Sorry."
"Where did you find them?"
"They were on the floor," said Harry, "Come on, read them already!"
Hermione read them and frowned. "But Harry, how do you know this isn't a trap?"
Ron interrupted. "SpellaSend is more reliable than even an owl-- those are expensive! And they only work if the receiver activates it!"
Harry asked, "How do they work?"
Ron said, "After activation, you give it to someone who needs to contact you fast. They write the message on it, and the receiver gets a copy instantly. This isd the transcript, which is the sender's copy." He motioned to the paper.
Hermione, as usual, exclaimed, "I know about those! I've read all about them!"
"Harry, read this!" Ron shoved a copy of The Daily Prophet under Harry's nose.
DARK MARK AGAIN SEEN
The Dark Mark was seen hovering over Lindenwood Park, a housing development.
"Isn't that by your house?"
Ron nodded. "Keep going."
Reports say that nobody was hurt, but several anonymous former Death Eaters have said that there is a sharp pain in their arm where the mark was.
"Bet anything it's Snape," Harry grumbled.
"Keep reading," Ron urged.
There was a note written on parchment with crimson ink tacked to a nearby tree that read, "The Unfaithful Will Die." Ministry Detectives have concluded that someone is plotting to murder the unfaithful Death Eaters.
"But, Snape could die! This is bad!"
"I know," said Ron. "He's stuck up for us a lot."
"We need Hermione badly."
"She's been such a jerk, though," Ron said disgustedly.
Harry missed having Hermione for a friend. Last year, he had gone without Ron. Now, it was Hermione. Why couldn't they just get along?
"Hermione, I'm sick of this. Why aren't you speaking to us?" Harry knew why, but wanted to hear her side of the story.
"Well, it's about time. You guys always left me out."
"Well, sorry."
"I accept your apology-- and you?" she indicated towards Ron.
"Sorry," Ron conceded.
"And yours."
"And now down to buisiness," began Harry. "Professor Snape is in danger. Someone, probably Voldemort..." Ron winced. Harry continued, "is trying to kill him."
"I know. But what do we do? Go up to him and say, 'Hi, I'm Harry Potter. Leave, because Voldemort is trying to kill you and I'm here to the rescue'? I don't think so," said Hermione.
"It might not be V-Voldemort," Ron pointed out. "It could be someone acting in his place- or perhaps, unfaithful to good will die."
"No," Harry put in, "good does not kill others."
"The aurors did," Hermione added. "But since Voldemort's back and lost most of his followers when he fell, I'm pretty sure it was him."
After transfiguration class, they were going to the library. Harry had to return to the classroom because he had left his bookbag on the floor under his desk. Over by the chalkboard was a crumpled piece of paper. Harry couldn't resist picking it up and reading it.
Draco, Voldemort needs someone to perform a task at Hogwarts. It will be difficult and dangerous but would bring you great honor, not only to you, but to the Malfoys and all of Voldemort's supporters. He has enclosed a SpellaSend lettersheet for you to respond with. You know we're all counting on you and expect you to do this.
Lucius Malfoy
Harry gasped. Draco was helping Voldemort? Perhaps he'd kill Hermione... or... Snape! This was bad! There was another sheet attatched. It read:
SpellaSend Transcript:
I am sorry, Lord Voldemort. I am too busy with my studies to carry out your noble deeds.
Draco Malfoy
Harry's jaw dropped and he breathed a sigh of relief. Malfoy- not working for Voldemort? About a meter or so to Harry's right lay another crumpled piece of paper.
Dear Father,
I cannot do Lord Voldemort's task.
Draco Malfoy
glad someone's reading this
Studies? Draco never had had decent grades. As long as he was eligible for quidditch, it really didn't matter to him. Harry thought, "About like me. As long as I pass and am eligible for Quidditch, I really don't care."
Harry gathered up his books and ran towards the library as fast as he could. "Whoa, boy, slow down," Salvini muttered. He continued to whistle his particularly annoying song.
"Ron, you won't believe this! LOOK!" Harry tossed him the three wadded up sheets of parchment.
"What is it?"
"I found these on the floor in the classroom! Just LOOK!"
He unrolled them and read. "This is amazing! Harry, do you know what this means?"
"Yeah." Hermione entered the room.
"What are those?" she asked.
"Letters of correspondence between the Malfoys and Voldemort!" Ron said loudly. Several students gave him angry looks. "Sorry."
"Where did you find them?"
"They were on the floor," said Harry, "Come on, read them already!"
Hermione read them and frowned. "But Harry, how do you know this isn't a trap?"
Ron interrupted. "SpellaSend is more reliable than even an owl-- those are expensive! And they only work if the receiver activates it!"
Harry asked, "How do they work?"
Ron said, "After activation, you give it to someone who needs to contact you fast. They write the message on it, and the receiver gets a copy instantly. This isd the transcript, which is the sender's copy." He motioned to the paper.
Hermione, as usual, exclaimed, "I know about those! I've read all about them!"