Disclaimer: What disclaimer haven't I used yet? I'm out of witty ideas. I
don't own any of the characters. I'm not making money. Don't sue because
frankly my dear, I don't have a dime. Case closed.
Footsteps echoing like thunder in the silence, Harry ran through dimly lit halls and up staircases, his mind focused on getting to Dumbledore and the fact that with his luck, this was probably Snape's night to patrol the corridors. He fervently wished that he had remembered to bring his father's invisibility cloak and it was only by sheer luck that he didn't run into Filch on his nightly patrol.
It wasn't until he was standing in front of the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the Headmaster's office that Harry realized that he might be making a terrible mistake. There was no misconception over the name that had been on the headstone of the grave that Voldemort had dug up. But what kind of can of worms would this open?
Then Harry shook his head. Who knew for what dark purpose Voldemort had uncovered the grave? He had a duty to tell the Headmaster, to at least warn him about what the Dark Lord had been up to. He wouldn't want someone digging up his parents, after all. So Dumbledore, Harry reasoned, even if he usually pretended his son never existed, wouldn't want Severus disturbed.
"Jelly Slugs," Harry said aloud to the statue, using for the password the candy that Black had told him was the sweet of the month. Sure enough, the gargoyle sprang to life and moved aside to allow Harry entrance.
Harry rode the stairs up and knocked on the door. Then he held his breath, listening for sounds beyond the door. What if the Headmaster was asleep? Should he knock again? Or maybe just wait until morning and come back then.
All his concerns were put to rest when the door opened to reveal the Headmaster, still dressed in his day clothes. Didn't the man ever sleep?
Dumbledore did not seem bothered by Harry's arrival nor his choice of clothing. Instead he smiled, rather amused at Harry's disheveled state and stood back to allow him inside.
"A bit late for a visit, don't you think Harry?" Dumbledore said, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses as he took his usual seat behind his desk and waved Harry towards a chair.
Harry blushed, a soft rose color creeping into his face, and began to apologize for bothering him, but the Headmaster stopped him with a calm gesture of his hand. "I am teasing you, Harry," Dumbledore said with a smile, "You would not be up here if it were not important."
Harry nodded, relieved, and in a halting voice, began to relate what he had seen in his dream. He did well, telling the Headmaster everything he remembered, until he came to the part about the Death Eaters digging up the grave. He was treading in dangerous waters and knew that he'd have to proceed carefully.
"The headstone was broken, I couldn't read the whole name," he lied, unintentionally avoiding the Dumbledore's piercing blue gaze and missing the flash of horror that played in the old Wizard's eyes.
"I did make out your own last name though," Harry added in a slow, measured tone as he quickly crossed his fingers behind his back, praying that because no one his age was supposed to know about Severus Dumbledore, the Headmaster wouldn't suspect that he knew the truth.
When the Headmaster didn't say anything, Harry looked up cautiously and was at once worried to see that Dumbledore's face had turned deathly pale. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Where was Hermione to hit him over the head with Hogwarts, A History when he needed it? He should never have come.
"What," Dumbledore shook his head, trying to remain calm even as his heart took off at a ridiculous rate. His son was safely asleep downstairs. There was no reason to panic. And still."How did Voldemort react?"
Harry chewed on his lip, not sure if he should answer the Headmaster with the truth. Hadn't he done enough damage tonight?
"Please," Dumbledore said suddenly, startling Harry with the distinctly strained sound of his voice. "It is very important."
Holding back a heavy sigh, Harry recalled what he had heard the Dark Lord say. "He said, 'how very clever,' and then repeated, 'very clever,'" Harry picked at a few loose stings on his sleeve. "And then I woke up."
Dumbledore nodded, his smile looking considerably weaker. It was as though his mind was already miles away. Harry was about to speak again, wanting to make sure that the Headmaster was all right when a loud crack made them both turn.
Dobby, complete with clashing socks and enthusiasm that had yet to meet its match, hopped from one foot to the other. "Professor Snape sir, bids Dobby tell the Headmaster sir, that he is going out," the House Elf announced, incurably cheerful.
Dumbledore, still looking impossibly pale, began to tremble. Harry glanced over at Dobby whose tennis ball eyes were wide with worry. So this wasn't the Headmaster's usual response to the House Elf's message.
"No," Dumbledore whispered, as if he were caught in a trance, "Not again." Cautiously, Harry got out of his chair and inched closer to the dismayed Wizard. "Sir, are you all right?" Harry asked timidly.
Without answering Dumbledore suddenly sprang to his feet and grabbed his cloak, throwing it around his shoulders. "Dobby," he ordered, the elf snapping to attention, "Go to Hagrid and tell him that he is to stop Professor Snape from leaving. I can't explain why, but tell him it's imperative that Severus remains on Hogwarts grounds."
Dobby nodded, his absurd ears flapping like banners, and rushed off to do the Headmaster's bidding.
Knowing that Dobby would deliver his message did nothing to assure Dumbledore that Snape was safe. Without looking back at Harry, indeed he seemed to have completely forgotten about the youth, Dumbledore threw open the door and hurried down the stairs.
Staring blankly in shock, wondering what had just happened, Harry shook his head and raced after the Headmaster. Relentless curiosity demanded he find out what was going on.
Dumbledore and Harry hadn't gone down two halls when Professor McGonagall, trailed by Hermione and Ron, appeared coming towards them. McGonagall skidded to a stop as the Headmaster passed right by her without stopping and turned back around to walk with him.
"Albus?" McGonagall asked, not liking his silence. She knew that Harry had gone to see him, but he was acting as if it were something other than one of the boy's visions. "What's-"
"He knows," Dumbledore interrupted her. Just saying it out loud made the danger seem worse. "He knows and he has summoned Severus to him."
McGonagall gasped and her hands flew to her mouth. So that was it. Severus. Dear Merlin, they couldn't lose him now. "How," she whispered, almost refusing to believe what she had been told. "Not after, everything."
Dumbledore nodded, both his heart and face grave. Their window of time was small. Too small for comfort. "We have to reach him first."
Dumbledore turned slightly and saw that Harry and his friends were still with them. He shook his head. He didn't know what was going to happen and was not about to put the students into danger. "You three go back to your rooms," he said, not slowing but pointed down a hall.
The two adults hurried on, not glancing back to see if the students had obeyed. Harry glanced at Ron who looked over at Hermione. A quick nod from her was all the permission they needed and they continued after the teachers, who seemed to overlook the fact that the children were still with them.
***
It was dark. That was fine, he liked the dark. But he hated nature. Snape growled in frustration as another branch caught his cloak and this time succeeded in dumping the melting snow it had been supporting onto his neck and down his back.
Not that he was unfamiliar to the uncomfortable feeling of cold, slushy ice down his robe. When he had been in school, Potter and his little gang found an excuse to do just that at least once a week during the months snow covered the school grounds, and then once more some time in May or June with a snowball they had preserved just for him.
With a muffled curse, Snape tried to wipe off the snow that still remained on his collar. Then the feel of metal, cold from the snow, stopped him. He realized with a queasy lurch of his stomach, that in his haste to leave he had forgotten to take off the chain.
Snape looked back the way he had come. As if sensing his unease, the wind howled a bit louder as it rushed through the branches of the trees; such a lost, forlorn sound that made him shiver. There was something sinister in the air. He couldn't prove it, nor could he explain it. "It feels bad," he said aloud, wincing at his choice of words.
For a second he debated going back to hide the rather incriminating charm and its chain in his room. But then he shook his head. He was wasting time, dawdling. Delaying the inevitable. He had to answer Voldemort's summon. Everything would be fine. He was just being paranoid again.
'Just think,' he told himself as he pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders to discourage it from catching on anything and looked ahead into the mass of trees, 'Someday you'll look back on all this, laugh nervously, and change the subject.'
Hidden deep in the shadows, practically invisible save for his eyes, Black smothered a snarl and trailed Snape deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
***
Harry was panting with exhaustion as he tried to keep up with Dumbledore. Who would have guessed that the old Wizard was so fast? Harry tried, but for all his athletic training, the Headmaster outdistanced him easily and Harry dropped back to a slower pace beside his friends and an ashen faced Professor McGonagall.
Dumbledore vanished into the trees ahead of them and out of their sight. With a worried frown, Hermione looked back the way they had come and then into the tangle of trees before them. "What are we going to do now?" she asked aloud.
Professor McGonagall's tread faltered a second, almost tripping over a root as she realized that the three students were still following her. But, completely abandoning the thought to take them back herself, she offered the young Granger girl a weak smile. "I know the way to the apparation site as well, Miss Granger. We will find the Headmaster there with Professor Snape and Hagrid."
McGonagall blinked back the tears she felt forming in her eyes. 'Please,' she added silently, 'Please let us find him there.'
***
Snape stepped out into the clearing and was surprised to see two Death Eaters waiting for him. Inwardly he suppressed a shiver. 'I have a bad feeling about this,' he thought to himself.
Outwardly though, he showed no nervousness, just the irritation and dark suspicion that he was famous for. "What are you doing here?" he asked, not bothering to play down his annoyance.
"We were sent to make sure you answered the summon," the taller of the two replied, moving forward to meet him.
Snape took an instinctive step back and scowled. Why was it imperative that he acknowledge this particular summon? "I always answer the Master's call," he replied, sounding offended, "If I am able. They keep tighter tabs on me here than you would expect. If I can not get away, then there is nothing I can do about it."
The other Death Eater shrugged. It sounded reasonable enough to him. But he had his orders. "All the same, we've been sent to make sure you do come to this meeting."
Snape felt an uneasy twinge in his stomach. "Escorts," he sneered. "How thoughtful."
***
There was only one thing on Dumbledore's mind as he raced through the trees, somehow avoiding all the branches that reached out to hold him back; Severus. Somehow, he had to reach him. Just ahead, he saw Hagrid and Fang moving in a steady, lumbering gait, and he called to them.
Hagrid turned around, surprise on his face just visible in the yellow lantern light that cast creepy shadows across his weathered face. "Professor Dumbledore?" Hagrid asked. "Is somethin' the matter, sir?"
"Severus," Dumbledore said shortly, without preamble. "Have you found him yet?" Hagrid shook his head and Dumbledore swallowed a curse.
"We're not far now," Hagrid added, seeing the disappointment and, what.fear? cloud the Headmaster's face. Dumbledore pushed past him and hurried on, leaving Hagrid to follow loyally after him.
"Severus?" Dumbledore called into the woods, praying that his son would hear him, "Severus!"
***
Snape had already rolled up his sleeve, prepared touch the burning mark and apparate to Voldemort's chosen meeting place; to leave the safety of Hogwarts grounds, when he paused and made a small half turn back the way he had come.
"Let's go Snape," the tall Death Eater said sharply. Being so close to Hogwarts made him nervous.
"I thought I heard something," Snape answered, not bothering to look back at the two men who were getting impatient. Then he heard it again. Someone was calling him. His father.
Snape made his mind up at once. "I'm not coming," he said taking a step away from his convoy and pulling his sleeve back down. "The Headmaster is in the woods. He is calling for me. Something must have come up. I have to stay here."
The two men frowned. One, they didn't want to meet up with Dumbledore. Two, they had strict orders to bring Snape with them. "You must come," the shorter man insisted.
Snape rubbed the burning mark on his arm, but stubbornly shook his head. "If I leave, my cover here is blown. I won't go." Snape's wand was in his hand faster than either of the two escorts thought possible, making it clear that he had no intention of going with them.
"Send the Master my apologies," Snape said, slowly backing up, "But tonight is one of those nights I can't get away."
Snape was concentrating so intently on the two men in front of him that he didn't sense the other presence until it was too late. An enormous black dog lunged out of the shadows, his cruel, sharp white teeth reaching for Snape's throat. Snape stumbled backwards in self defense and dropped his wand. The Death Eaters saw their chance, rushed forward and grabbed him.
"Let me go!" Snape yelled, struggling in their unforgiving grip. 'Hear me. Please help me.' But there was no sign of his father. He was just too far away.
"Sorry Snape," the taller Death Eater grunted as Snape tried to elbow him in the stomach. "But the Master has decided it will be our lives if we don't bring you back with us."
That, doing nothing to ease his fear, Snape struggled harder, resisting their attempt to pull him over the apparation line. "Let go!" Through the dark strands of hair that had fallen in his face, Snape could see the large dog sitting to the side, watching. Then his captures succeeded in pulling him over the line with one last jerk and they disappeared.
***
Dumbledore burst through the last of the trees and looked around desperately for his son, the echoes of the young wizard yelling for someone to let go of him still resonating in his head. But Snape was no where to be seen. Only a large black dog who greeted him cheerfully with a wag of his big tail.
Dumbledore ignored Black and picked up Snap's wand from where it had fallen in the struggle he had heard, but had been unable to reach in time. Snape's wand felt cold in his hand. Alder and Phoenix feather, twelve inches long. A powerful combination, indeed. The sight of Snape's wand tore at his heart. There was no possible chance that Snape would have left it behind on purpose.
A quick glance around and Dumbledore saw a green and silver envelope lying on top of the mushy snow, left by the Death Eaters on orders from Voldemort. Dumbledore bent down to retrieve it, shook the snow off the letter, and read the message left for him.
Dumbledore closed his eyes, not allowing himself to think that he would never see his child alive and well again. He wouldn't let that happen. He was not going to fail Severus again.
Dumbledore wasn't sure how long he stood there, lost in his thoughts that stayed with his absent son, but when he turned around, the rest of the group had joined him. The three students (didn't he tell them to go back to their rooms?) looked confused, Hagrid's dark eyes were worried, Professor McGonagall was loosing a battle with tears, and Black.Dumbledore's eyes narrowed. The dog looked proud of himself.
Uncontrollable and irrational rage flooded Dumbledore's system as his vision was blinded by a red haze. His eyes turned diamond hard and bore into Black with furious intensity. "What did you do?"
The people gathered in the clearing flinched at Dumbledore's voice and looked at each other to see who he had directed such a hateful tone at.
"Sirius Black," Dumbledore snapped, crossing his arms across his chest and glaring at the dog. "What did you do!" The dog looked surprised for a second and then shifted back into his human form, ignoring the gasps from Hagrid and McGonagall.
"Well," Black started, giving Dumbledore an innocent smile that wilted under the Headmaster's icy glare; "You keep telling me that Snape is on our side." Black shrugged. He couldn't see why Dumbledore was so upset. It was just Snape. "And he seemed like he wanted to skip a meeting tonight so I," Black smiled to himself, "Merely gave him a push in the right direction."
Harry would later figure that he must have blinked because he would swear he never saw Dumbledore move. One second the Headmaster was listening to Black's account of what had happened to Snape and then next he had pinned the animgus to a tree and had a death grip on his throat.
"I am warning you, Sirius," Dumbledore said, his voice a low, poisonous hiss cutting like knifes through everyone witnessing the alarming scene. "If Severus doesn't come out of this alive, I will personally see your ass back in Azkaban faster than you can say 'Innocent.'"
Black squirmed in Dumbledore rough hold. He had never seem the old Wizard so furious. And it scared him. "I-I didn't think-" Black began weakly but Dumbledore cut him off before he could finish.
"That is your problem, Sirius!" Dumbledore exploded, "You never think. You don't see the consequences of your actions. Those years in prison taught you nothing! You still seem to think you live a charmed life and can do whatever you damn well please."
Black began to choke as Dumbledore' hand got tighter around his throat. "Severus is not going to be victim to your stupidity. Do. You. Understand." Black nodded frantically and Dumbledore released him with a frightening air of detachment.
Black coughed violently, the cold air hurting his lungs even as it relieved him and he slid to the ground, rubbing his throat where bruises were beginning to show.
"Albus? What's going to happen to Severus?" McGonagall asked with a quelled sob as she took pity on her former student, who managed to look quite forlorn, and helped him off the ground. But once he was on his feet, she moved to Dumbledore's side, seeking an answer to her question.
Dumbledore showed her the letter he had found. A snake with burning red eyes had been blazed into the paper. "A timed portkey. I am to go alone and without my wand," Dumbledore said with deepest resolve as his eyes turned somber. "Tom wants to discuss Severus's ransom."
Professor McGonagall shook her head, tears falling from the corners of her eyes. She had little doubt that if Dumbledore answered Voldemort's call, she would never see him, and most likely Severus too, again. In a rush of emotion, she latched onto his arm, teary hazelnut eyes pleading with him. "Ablus, you can't," she sobbed.
Dumbledore calmly removed her desperate grip from his arm with cool aloofness. He was not going to let Voldemort kill his child. "I have no choice."
***
Snape tumbled to the ground with a complete lack of grace as the two Death Eaters abruptly let go of his arms as they appeared in the meeting room. The entire chamber was done in dark green and black with faint traces of silver along the gray stone walls. There was one throne-like seat draped in black silk in the front of the room for the Dark Lord's use. Everyone else was to stand, no matter how long the wait.
Snape angrily pulled himself up off the cold floor, ignoring the part of his mind that was wondering how he was to get back without his wand. Instead, he chose belittlement.
"You idiots!" Snape raged at the two Death Eaters. "Do you have any idea of the trouble I'm going to be in when I go back? I'll be lucky if I'm allowed to keep my position." There, that was good. Make it seem as though if he couldn't spy on Dumbledore that it was their fault.
He had always been good at turning a situation around so that it no longer seemed his fault. That, and Potter and his stupid friends always attacked him when he was alone. One Slytherin against four Gryffindors? It was almost too easy to play the 'outnumbered' card. Never mind the fact that he was more dangerous and knew more curses than all of them put together and when a teacher finally did brake up the fight they looked a hell of a lot worse than he did.
"Severus Snape," a cold, cruel voice said from behind him, "I am pleased you could come." A few of the Death Eaters that had followed Voldemort into the room chuckled nervously. Snape could feel the fear in the air. Something was wrong. Still, he turned and bowed formally to the Dark Lord.
"My Lord," he said, lowering both his voice and eyes in respect even as he was aware of the loose circle that was being formed around him. But it didn't have the feel of the formation they usually stood in when called to their Master's side. This was an execution circle.
Voldemort moved forward and folded his arms across his chest. "Tell me, Severus, what do you know about The Child's Curse?"
At the inquiry, Snape felt his heart beat start to return to normal. The Dark Lord just wanted information about a potion. He could do that. Quickly, Snape racked his mind, calling on all the dusty old texts he had read in his spare time. You know, for fun.
"The Child's Curse is the name given to a Dark Arts potion that was labeled by the Confederacy of Magic as immoral and unethical. It was created during the Dark Ages when warring families wanted a way to protect the heads of their household. Among many rare and forbidden ingredients, the most important is a long bone from the person's oldest child. The bone is used in place of a spoon to stir the potion before it is added in the final step. Once completed, one person can drink the potion. That person will be protected from any spell that the child's parent can cast."
Snape struggled not to fidget. Had he been anyone else's child, he would not have been worried. A quick glance showed that all exits were heavily guarded and without his wand he didn't have a chance in hell.
"An interesting twist to the potion is that if the child was male, the potion will repel the spells of the father. Female and it's the spells of the mother. It was because of this potion that Aurors were created. The earliest Aurors were mercenaries for hire. They worked as assassins for the families whose enemy was protected from their power. The Child's Curse was branded as Dark and Forbidden in 1620. To brew the potion is punishable by expelment from the Magical World."
Voldemort nodded. "Exactly." He began to circle Snape, idly slapping his wand against his hand. "Tell me, Severus," he said with a cruel smile as he lifted Snape's chin with the tip of his wand. "What is you last name?"
Snape swallowed hard and looked up. It was taking all his will to remain still and not bolt for the door. Never mind the fact that it he moved he'd be dead before he took two steps. He had one chance to convince the Dark Lord. "Snape," he answered, glad that his voice did not waver and give himself away.
But if anything, Voldemort seemed more amused. "Liar," he breathed as he stepped back and leveled his wand at Snape's chest.
Wandless, Snape was unable to do anything to defend himself as Voldemort cast the Cruciatus cruse, pausing only long enough for Snape to recover his senses before he cast it again and sent the Potion Master into a new fit of screaming and twitching.
Finally Voldemort relented and waited for Snape to look up. He wanted to see to fear in his enemy's eyes. "Get up," he hissed, making several of the more jumpy Death Eaters flinch.
Snape, still breathing hard, pulled himself to his feet. His face was locked into resolute stubbornness. "My name is Snape," he rasped through abused vocal chords.
Voldemort made a quick motion with his left hand and wands appeared in every hand of the Death Eaters surrounding the room. Snape's dark eyes darted nervously back and fourth.
"Standard counter curse," Voldemort said to his followers, pleased that he could detect a faint drop in color on Snape's face as every wand was focused on him. "On my command. Now."
The combination of the anti-curse sent from over a dozen people caused Snape to collapse back to the ground, clutching his chest, gasping for breath. Voldemort stood back and waited.
He was not disappointed. Snape's hair lightened and lost its loose, stringy appearance as it framed his face in soft curls. Slowly, Snape raised his eyes. More than a few Death Eaters gasped.
"My Severus," Voldemort purred as Snape's fiery blue eyes narrowed in dark hatred, "You truly do have your father's eyes."
"Stay way from me," Snape hissed. Not in the least bothered by the unspoken threat, Voldemort snapped his fingers and two Death Eaters stepped out of the circle and hauled Snape to his feet.
"We must be thankful for men's curiosity," Voldemort said as he pushed the auburn strands of hair out of Snape's face. "If poor," a sneer appeared on the Dark Lord's face, "Unfortunate Walterscot hadn't done such extensive searching, he wouldn't have had anything to tell us before he died. True," he added, "It did take a few tries before I found someone who had the information I wanted."
Snape looked away quickly and Voldemort roughly took hold of Snape's chin and forced his eyes back up.
"I can't make the potion without a Potions Master," Voldemort whispered, "So I have to move to my second option." He leaned closer to Snape. "What would your father give me to get you back?" he murmured into the trapped wizard ear.
"He won't give into your demands," Snape replied, struggling to keep his dignity even as the closeness of the evil wizard was making him feel sick.
Voldemort laughed, a high-pitched laugh that made Snape's skin crawl, and then bushed his dry lips over Snape's cheek. "Dear Severus, it's your life if he doesn't."
TBC
Author's Note: In regards to Dumbledore's rather violent reaction, I put it in because it relates to what McGonagall said in one of the other chapters about how Snape and Dumbledore have similar ways of displaying anger. Also, it supports Hagrid's belief that Dumbledore can lose it when Snape is in danger. It also gives a reason why Sirius is always doing dumb things (kinda)
Next: Not telling
Footsteps echoing like thunder in the silence, Harry ran through dimly lit halls and up staircases, his mind focused on getting to Dumbledore and the fact that with his luck, this was probably Snape's night to patrol the corridors. He fervently wished that he had remembered to bring his father's invisibility cloak and it was only by sheer luck that he didn't run into Filch on his nightly patrol.
It wasn't until he was standing in front of the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the Headmaster's office that Harry realized that he might be making a terrible mistake. There was no misconception over the name that had been on the headstone of the grave that Voldemort had dug up. But what kind of can of worms would this open?
Then Harry shook his head. Who knew for what dark purpose Voldemort had uncovered the grave? He had a duty to tell the Headmaster, to at least warn him about what the Dark Lord had been up to. He wouldn't want someone digging up his parents, after all. So Dumbledore, Harry reasoned, even if he usually pretended his son never existed, wouldn't want Severus disturbed.
"Jelly Slugs," Harry said aloud to the statue, using for the password the candy that Black had told him was the sweet of the month. Sure enough, the gargoyle sprang to life and moved aside to allow Harry entrance.
Harry rode the stairs up and knocked on the door. Then he held his breath, listening for sounds beyond the door. What if the Headmaster was asleep? Should he knock again? Or maybe just wait until morning and come back then.
All his concerns were put to rest when the door opened to reveal the Headmaster, still dressed in his day clothes. Didn't the man ever sleep?
Dumbledore did not seem bothered by Harry's arrival nor his choice of clothing. Instead he smiled, rather amused at Harry's disheveled state and stood back to allow him inside.
"A bit late for a visit, don't you think Harry?" Dumbledore said, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses as he took his usual seat behind his desk and waved Harry towards a chair.
Harry blushed, a soft rose color creeping into his face, and began to apologize for bothering him, but the Headmaster stopped him with a calm gesture of his hand. "I am teasing you, Harry," Dumbledore said with a smile, "You would not be up here if it were not important."
Harry nodded, relieved, and in a halting voice, began to relate what he had seen in his dream. He did well, telling the Headmaster everything he remembered, until he came to the part about the Death Eaters digging up the grave. He was treading in dangerous waters and knew that he'd have to proceed carefully.
"The headstone was broken, I couldn't read the whole name," he lied, unintentionally avoiding the Dumbledore's piercing blue gaze and missing the flash of horror that played in the old Wizard's eyes.
"I did make out your own last name though," Harry added in a slow, measured tone as he quickly crossed his fingers behind his back, praying that because no one his age was supposed to know about Severus Dumbledore, the Headmaster wouldn't suspect that he knew the truth.
When the Headmaster didn't say anything, Harry looked up cautiously and was at once worried to see that Dumbledore's face had turned deathly pale. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Where was Hermione to hit him over the head with Hogwarts, A History when he needed it? He should never have come.
"What," Dumbledore shook his head, trying to remain calm even as his heart took off at a ridiculous rate. His son was safely asleep downstairs. There was no reason to panic. And still."How did Voldemort react?"
Harry chewed on his lip, not sure if he should answer the Headmaster with the truth. Hadn't he done enough damage tonight?
"Please," Dumbledore said suddenly, startling Harry with the distinctly strained sound of his voice. "It is very important."
Holding back a heavy sigh, Harry recalled what he had heard the Dark Lord say. "He said, 'how very clever,' and then repeated, 'very clever,'" Harry picked at a few loose stings on his sleeve. "And then I woke up."
Dumbledore nodded, his smile looking considerably weaker. It was as though his mind was already miles away. Harry was about to speak again, wanting to make sure that the Headmaster was all right when a loud crack made them both turn.
Dobby, complete with clashing socks and enthusiasm that had yet to meet its match, hopped from one foot to the other. "Professor Snape sir, bids Dobby tell the Headmaster sir, that he is going out," the House Elf announced, incurably cheerful.
Dumbledore, still looking impossibly pale, began to tremble. Harry glanced over at Dobby whose tennis ball eyes were wide with worry. So this wasn't the Headmaster's usual response to the House Elf's message.
"No," Dumbledore whispered, as if he were caught in a trance, "Not again." Cautiously, Harry got out of his chair and inched closer to the dismayed Wizard. "Sir, are you all right?" Harry asked timidly.
Without answering Dumbledore suddenly sprang to his feet and grabbed his cloak, throwing it around his shoulders. "Dobby," he ordered, the elf snapping to attention, "Go to Hagrid and tell him that he is to stop Professor Snape from leaving. I can't explain why, but tell him it's imperative that Severus remains on Hogwarts grounds."
Dobby nodded, his absurd ears flapping like banners, and rushed off to do the Headmaster's bidding.
Knowing that Dobby would deliver his message did nothing to assure Dumbledore that Snape was safe. Without looking back at Harry, indeed he seemed to have completely forgotten about the youth, Dumbledore threw open the door and hurried down the stairs.
Staring blankly in shock, wondering what had just happened, Harry shook his head and raced after the Headmaster. Relentless curiosity demanded he find out what was going on.
Dumbledore and Harry hadn't gone down two halls when Professor McGonagall, trailed by Hermione and Ron, appeared coming towards them. McGonagall skidded to a stop as the Headmaster passed right by her without stopping and turned back around to walk with him.
"Albus?" McGonagall asked, not liking his silence. She knew that Harry had gone to see him, but he was acting as if it were something other than one of the boy's visions. "What's-"
"He knows," Dumbledore interrupted her. Just saying it out loud made the danger seem worse. "He knows and he has summoned Severus to him."
McGonagall gasped and her hands flew to her mouth. So that was it. Severus. Dear Merlin, they couldn't lose him now. "How," she whispered, almost refusing to believe what she had been told. "Not after, everything."
Dumbledore nodded, both his heart and face grave. Their window of time was small. Too small for comfort. "We have to reach him first."
Dumbledore turned slightly and saw that Harry and his friends were still with them. He shook his head. He didn't know what was going to happen and was not about to put the students into danger. "You three go back to your rooms," he said, not slowing but pointed down a hall.
The two adults hurried on, not glancing back to see if the students had obeyed. Harry glanced at Ron who looked over at Hermione. A quick nod from her was all the permission they needed and they continued after the teachers, who seemed to overlook the fact that the children were still with them.
***
It was dark. That was fine, he liked the dark. But he hated nature. Snape growled in frustration as another branch caught his cloak and this time succeeded in dumping the melting snow it had been supporting onto his neck and down his back.
Not that he was unfamiliar to the uncomfortable feeling of cold, slushy ice down his robe. When he had been in school, Potter and his little gang found an excuse to do just that at least once a week during the months snow covered the school grounds, and then once more some time in May or June with a snowball they had preserved just for him.
With a muffled curse, Snape tried to wipe off the snow that still remained on his collar. Then the feel of metal, cold from the snow, stopped him. He realized with a queasy lurch of his stomach, that in his haste to leave he had forgotten to take off the chain.
Snape looked back the way he had come. As if sensing his unease, the wind howled a bit louder as it rushed through the branches of the trees; such a lost, forlorn sound that made him shiver. There was something sinister in the air. He couldn't prove it, nor could he explain it. "It feels bad," he said aloud, wincing at his choice of words.
For a second he debated going back to hide the rather incriminating charm and its chain in his room. But then he shook his head. He was wasting time, dawdling. Delaying the inevitable. He had to answer Voldemort's summon. Everything would be fine. He was just being paranoid again.
'Just think,' he told himself as he pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders to discourage it from catching on anything and looked ahead into the mass of trees, 'Someday you'll look back on all this, laugh nervously, and change the subject.'
Hidden deep in the shadows, practically invisible save for his eyes, Black smothered a snarl and trailed Snape deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
***
Harry was panting with exhaustion as he tried to keep up with Dumbledore. Who would have guessed that the old Wizard was so fast? Harry tried, but for all his athletic training, the Headmaster outdistanced him easily and Harry dropped back to a slower pace beside his friends and an ashen faced Professor McGonagall.
Dumbledore vanished into the trees ahead of them and out of their sight. With a worried frown, Hermione looked back the way they had come and then into the tangle of trees before them. "What are we going to do now?" she asked aloud.
Professor McGonagall's tread faltered a second, almost tripping over a root as she realized that the three students were still following her. But, completely abandoning the thought to take them back herself, she offered the young Granger girl a weak smile. "I know the way to the apparation site as well, Miss Granger. We will find the Headmaster there with Professor Snape and Hagrid."
McGonagall blinked back the tears she felt forming in her eyes. 'Please,' she added silently, 'Please let us find him there.'
***
Snape stepped out into the clearing and was surprised to see two Death Eaters waiting for him. Inwardly he suppressed a shiver. 'I have a bad feeling about this,' he thought to himself.
Outwardly though, he showed no nervousness, just the irritation and dark suspicion that he was famous for. "What are you doing here?" he asked, not bothering to play down his annoyance.
"We were sent to make sure you answered the summon," the taller of the two replied, moving forward to meet him.
Snape took an instinctive step back and scowled. Why was it imperative that he acknowledge this particular summon? "I always answer the Master's call," he replied, sounding offended, "If I am able. They keep tighter tabs on me here than you would expect. If I can not get away, then there is nothing I can do about it."
The other Death Eater shrugged. It sounded reasonable enough to him. But he had his orders. "All the same, we've been sent to make sure you do come to this meeting."
Snape felt an uneasy twinge in his stomach. "Escorts," he sneered. "How thoughtful."
***
There was only one thing on Dumbledore's mind as he raced through the trees, somehow avoiding all the branches that reached out to hold him back; Severus. Somehow, he had to reach him. Just ahead, he saw Hagrid and Fang moving in a steady, lumbering gait, and he called to them.
Hagrid turned around, surprise on his face just visible in the yellow lantern light that cast creepy shadows across his weathered face. "Professor Dumbledore?" Hagrid asked. "Is somethin' the matter, sir?"
"Severus," Dumbledore said shortly, without preamble. "Have you found him yet?" Hagrid shook his head and Dumbledore swallowed a curse.
"We're not far now," Hagrid added, seeing the disappointment and, what.fear? cloud the Headmaster's face. Dumbledore pushed past him and hurried on, leaving Hagrid to follow loyally after him.
"Severus?" Dumbledore called into the woods, praying that his son would hear him, "Severus!"
***
Snape had already rolled up his sleeve, prepared touch the burning mark and apparate to Voldemort's chosen meeting place; to leave the safety of Hogwarts grounds, when he paused and made a small half turn back the way he had come.
"Let's go Snape," the tall Death Eater said sharply. Being so close to Hogwarts made him nervous.
"I thought I heard something," Snape answered, not bothering to look back at the two men who were getting impatient. Then he heard it again. Someone was calling him. His father.
Snape made his mind up at once. "I'm not coming," he said taking a step away from his convoy and pulling his sleeve back down. "The Headmaster is in the woods. He is calling for me. Something must have come up. I have to stay here."
The two men frowned. One, they didn't want to meet up with Dumbledore. Two, they had strict orders to bring Snape with them. "You must come," the shorter man insisted.
Snape rubbed the burning mark on his arm, but stubbornly shook his head. "If I leave, my cover here is blown. I won't go." Snape's wand was in his hand faster than either of the two escorts thought possible, making it clear that he had no intention of going with them.
"Send the Master my apologies," Snape said, slowly backing up, "But tonight is one of those nights I can't get away."
Snape was concentrating so intently on the two men in front of him that he didn't sense the other presence until it was too late. An enormous black dog lunged out of the shadows, his cruel, sharp white teeth reaching for Snape's throat. Snape stumbled backwards in self defense and dropped his wand. The Death Eaters saw their chance, rushed forward and grabbed him.
"Let me go!" Snape yelled, struggling in their unforgiving grip. 'Hear me. Please help me.' But there was no sign of his father. He was just too far away.
"Sorry Snape," the taller Death Eater grunted as Snape tried to elbow him in the stomach. "But the Master has decided it will be our lives if we don't bring you back with us."
That, doing nothing to ease his fear, Snape struggled harder, resisting their attempt to pull him over the apparation line. "Let go!" Through the dark strands of hair that had fallen in his face, Snape could see the large dog sitting to the side, watching. Then his captures succeeded in pulling him over the line with one last jerk and they disappeared.
***
Dumbledore burst through the last of the trees and looked around desperately for his son, the echoes of the young wizard yelling for someone to let go of him still resonating in his head. But Snape was no where to be seen. Only a large black dog who greeted him cheerfully with a wag of his big tail.
Dumbledore ignored Black and picked up Snap's wand from where it had fallen in the struggle he had heard, but had been unable to reach in time. Snape's wand felt cold in his hand. Alder and Phoenix feather, twelve inches long. A powerful combination, indeed. The sight of Snape's wand tore at his heart. There was no possible chance that Snape would have left it behind on purpose.
A quick glance around and Dumbledore saw a green and silver envelope lying on top of the mushy snow, left by the Death Eaters on orders from Voldemort. Dumbledore bent down to retrieve it, shook the snow off the letter, and read the message left for him.
Dumbledore closed his eyes, not allowing himself to think that he would never see his child alive and well again. He wouldn't let that happen. He was not going to fail Severus again.
Dumbledore wasn't sure how long he stood there, lost in his thoughts that stayed with his absent son, but when he turned around, the rest of the group had joined him. The three students (didn't he tell them to go back to their rooms?) looked confused, Hagrid's dark eyes were worried, Professor McGonagall was loosing a battle with tears, and Black.Dumbledore's eyes narrowed. The dog looked proud of himself.
Uncontrollable and irrational rage flooded Dumbledore's system as his vision was blinded by a red haze. His eyes turned diamond hard and bore into Black with furious intensity. "What did you do?"
The people gathered in the clearing flinched at Dumbledore's voice and looked at each other to see who he had directed such a hateful tone at.
"Sirius Black," Dumbledore snapped, crossing his arms across his chest and glaring at the dog. "What did you do!" The dog looked surprised for a second and then shifted back into his human form, ignoring the gasps from Hagrid and McGonagall.
"Well," Black started, giving Dumbledore an innocent smile that wilted under the Headmaster's icy glare; "You keep telling me that Snape is on our side." Black shrugged. He couldn't see why Dumbledore was so upset. It was just Snape. "And he seemed like he wanted to skip a meeting tonight so I," Black smiled to himself, "Merely gave him a push in the right direction."
Harry would later figure that he must have blinked because he would swear he never saw Dumbledore move. One second the Headmaster was listening to Black's account of what had happened to Snape and then next he had pinned the animgus to a tree and had a death grip on his throat.
"I am warning you, Sirius," Dumbledore said, his voice a low, poisonous hiss cutting like knifes through everyone witnessing the alarming scene. "If Severus doesn't come out of this alive, I will personally see your ass back in Azkaban faster than you can say 'Innocent.'"
Black squirmed in Dumbledore rough hold. He had never seem the old Wizard so furious. And it scared him. "I-I didn't think-" Black began weakly but Dumbledore cut him off before he could finish.
"That is your problem, Sirius!" Dumbledore exploded, "You never think. You don't see the consequences of your actions. Those years in prison taught you nothing! You still seem to think you live a charmed life and can do whatever you damn well please."
Black began to choke as Dumbledore' hand got tighter around his throat. "Severus is not going to be victim to your stupidity. Do. You. Understand." Black nodded frantically and Dumbledore released him with a frightening air of detachment.
Black coughed violently, the cold air hurting his lungs even as it relieved him and he slid to the ground, rubbing his throat where bruises were beginning to show.
"Albus? What's going to happen to Severus?" McGonagall asked with a quelled sob as she took pity on her former student, who managed to look quite forlorn, and helped him off the ground. But once he was on his feet, she moved to Dumbledore's side, seeking an answer to her question.
Dumbledore showed her the letter he had found. A snake with burning red eyes had been blazed into the paper. "A timed portkey. I am to go alone and without my wand," Dumbledore said with deepest resolve as his eyes turned somber. "Tom wants to discuss Severus's ransom."
Professor McGonagall shook her head, tears falling from the corners of her eyes. She had little doubt that if Dumbledore answered Voldemort's call, she would never see him, and most likely Severus too, again. In a rush of emotion, she latched onto his arm, teary hazelnut eyes pleading with him. "Ablus, you can't," she sobbed.
Dumbledore calmly removed her desperate grip from his arm with cool aloofness. He was not going to let Voldemort kill his child. "I have no choice."
***
Snape tumbled to the ground with a complete lack of grace as the two Death Eaters abruptly let go of his arms as they appeared in the meeting room. The entire chamber was done in dark green and black with faint traces of silver along the gray stone walls. There was one throne-like seat draped in black silk in the front of the room for the Dark Lord's use. Everyone else was to stand, no matter how long the wait.
Snape angrily pulled himself up off the cold floor, ignoring the part of his mind that was wondering how he was to get back without his wand. Instead, he chose belittlement.
"You idiots!" Snape raged at the two Death Eaters. "Do you have any idea of the trouble I'm going to be in when I go back? I'll be lucky if I'm allowed to keep my position." There, that was good. Make it seem as though if he couldn't spy on Dumbledore that it was their fault.
He had always been good at turning a situation around so that it no longer seemed his fault. That, and Potter and his stupid friends always attacked him when he was alone. One Slytherin against four Gryffindors? It was almost too easy to play the 'outnumbered' card. Never mind the fact that he was more dangerous and knew more curses than all of them put together and when a teacher finally did brake up the fight they looked a hell of a lot worse than he did.
"Severus Snape," a cold, cruel voice said from behind him, "I am pleased you could come." A few of the Death Eaters that had followed Voldemort into the room chuckled nervously. Snape could feel the fear in the air. Something was wrong. Still, he turned and bowed formally to the Dark Lord.
"My Lord," he said, lowering both his voice and eyes in respect even as he was aware of the loose circle that was being formed around him. But it didn't have the feel of the formation they usually stood in when called to their Master's side. This was an execution circle.
Voldemort moved forward and folded his arms across his chest. "Tell me, Severus, what do you know about The Child's Curse?"
At the inquiry, Snape felt his heart beat start to return to normal. The Dark Lord just wanted information about a potion. He could do that. Quickly, Snape racked his mind, calling on all the dusty old texts he had read in his spare time. You know, for fun.
"The Child's Curse is the name given to a Dark Arts potion that was labeled by the Confederacy of Magic as immoral and unethical. It was created during the Dark Ages when warring families wanted a way to protect the heads of their household. Among many rare and forbidden ingredients, the most important is a long bone from the person's oldest child. The bone is used in place of a spoon to stir the potion before it is added in the final step. Once completed, one person can drink the potion. That person will be protected from any spell that the child's parent can cast."
Snape struggled not to fidget. Had he been anyone else's child, he would not have been worried. A quick glance showed that all exits were heavily guarded and without his wand he didn't have a chance in hell.
"An interesting twist to the potion is that if the child was male, the potion will repel the spells of the father. Female and it's the spells of the mother. It was because of this potion that Aurors were created. The earliest Aurors were mercenaries for hire. They worked as assassins for the families whose enemy was protected from their power. The Child's Curse was branded as Dark and Forbidden in 1620. To brew the potion is punishable by expelment from the Magical World."
Voldemort nodded. "Exactly." He began to circle Snape, idly slapping his wand against his hand. "Tell me, Severus," he said with a cruel smile as he lifted Snape's chin with the tip of his wand. "What is you last name?"
Snape swallowed hard and looked up. It was taking all his will to remain still and not bolt for the door. Never mind the fact that it he moved he'd be dead before he took two steps. He had one chance to convince the Dark Lord. "Snape," he answered, glad that his voice did not waver and give himself away.
But if anything, Voldemort seemed more amused. "Liar," he breathed as he stepped back and leveled his wand at Snape's chest.
Wandless, Snape was unable to do anything to defend himself as Voldemort cast the Cruciatus cruse, pausing only long enough for Snape to recover his senses before he cast it again and sent the Potion Master into a new fit of screaming and twitching.
Finally Voldemort relented and waited for Snape to look up. He wanted to see to fear in his enemy's eyes. "Get up," he hissed, making several of the more jumpy Death Eaters flinch.
Snape, still breathing hard, pulled himself to his feet. His face was locked into resolute stubbornness. "My name is Snape," he rasped through abused vocal chords.
Voldemort made a quick motion with his left hand and wands appeared in every hand of the Death Eaters surrounding the room. Snape's dark eyes darted nervously back and fourth.
"Standard counter curse," Voldemort said to his followers, pleased that he could detect a faint drop in color on Snape's face as every wand was focused on him. "On my command. Now."
The combination of the anti-curse sent from over a dozen people caused Snape to collapse back to the ground, clutching his chest, gasping for breath. Voldemort stood back and waited.
He was not disappointed. Snape's hair lightened and lost its loose, stringy appearance as it framed his face in soft curls. Slowly, Snape raised his eyes. More than a few Death Eaters gasped.
"My Severus," Voldemort purred as Snape's fiery blue eyes narrowed in dark hatred, "You truly do have your father's eyes."
"Stay way from me," Snape hissed. Not in the least bothered by the unspoken threat, Voldemort snapped his fingers and two Death Eaters stepped out of the circle and hauled Snape to his feet.
"We must be thankful for men's curiosity," Voldemort said as he pushed the auburn strands of hair out of Snape's face. "If poor," a sneer appeared on the Dark Lord's face, "Unfortunate Walterscot hadn't done such extensive searching, he wouldn't have had anything to tell us before he died. True," he added, "It did take a few tries before I found someone who had the information I wanted."
Snape looked away quickly and Voldemort roughly took hold of Snape's chin and forced his eyes back up.
"I can't make the potion without a Potions Master," Voldemort whispered, "So I have to move to my second option." He leaned closer to Snape. "What would your father give me to get you back?" he murmured into the trapped wizard ear.
"He won't give into your demands," Snape replied, struggling to keep his dignity even as the closeness of the evil wizard was making him feel sick.
Voldemort laughed, a high-pitched laugh that made Snape's skin crawl, and then bushed his dry lips over Snape's cheek. "Dear Severus, it's your life if he doesn't."
TBC
Author's Note: In regards to Dumbledore's rather violent reaction, I put it in because it relates to what McGonagall said in one of the other chapters about how Snape and Dumbledore have similar ways of displaying anger. Also, it supports Hagrid's belief that Dumbledore can lose it when Snape is in danger. It also gives a reason why Sirius is always doing dumb things (kinda)
Next: Not telling