Disclaimers: Refer to Chapter One
When Living is No Longer Enough…
Chapter Ten
"Merlin" Snape exclaimed closing his eyes momentarily as he assimilated the news of the student's deaths.
"But that doesn't make sense," Hermione cried out, tears coursing down her cheeks as she remembered the young people that had resided and studied at Hogwarts. "Tara Jacobs was a pure blood wizard and Jeremy Maltis was a half-blooded wizard. Why would Voldemort deliberately attack them? I mean I can see where he might go after Jeremy, but Tara?"
"Yes Hermione it is most upsetting and unusual for Voldemort to carry out such a bold stunt however I am certain that he had very definite reasons in mind for both deaths" the headmaster said as he handed her a handkerchief from the top drawer of his desk. "Severus, Tara was in Slytherin House. Have you heard any of the students talking lately about anything that might give us a better understanding of Voldemort's plans?"
"No, things have been unusually quiet as of late. There has been nothing more than the usual in-house rivalries amongst the Slytherins. I do know that Tara's family was believed to be opposed to Voldemort. Perhaps that is why he choose to make an example of her," the potions master said thoughtfully.
"But what about Jeremy and the other student's families that were killed tonight?" Hermione asked. "What purpose would their deaths serve?"
"Their deaths would serve as a warning to those wizards who have yet to decide whether or not they should come out in full support of Voldemort. The fact that he went after a pureblood as well would merely support his position that no one is immune to his wrath," Snape explained gently to the distraught charms professor.
"And the fact that he chose to attack Hogwart's top students was meant to serve as a warning to me," the older wizard said sadly. "With these particular actions, Voldemort is pointing out the fact that I cannot protect the students at all times. It is his way of informing me that he is just about ready to make a more definitive bid for war between the light and the dark. I fear that it will not be long now before he makes a move against Hogwarts."
Hermione's eyes widened at Dumbledore's words. "Professor Snape said the exact same thing earlier."
"Alas, I fear that he is correct," the old man acknowledged. "How much time do you think we have left Severus?"
"Not long," the potions master replied. "I estimated that he would make his final move around graduation and after tonight's events, I am fairly certain that is his intention."
"Indeed. I fear that no one is safe during these dark times that have fallen upon us but perhaps we can find a way to, as the muggles would say, even the score a little as it were, hmmm?" the headmaster said allowing his gaze to fall upon both professors. "Tell me, have the two of you managed to make any progress in your research for a potion that might weaken Voldemort?"
"We feel that our best chance of success lies in the creation of a potion that would attack Voldemort's reptilian DNA causing a breakdown of bodily systems and severely weakening him. The immortality potions and magic that he has been using would probably not have accounted for the different DNA so we plan to use it as sort of a back door to weaken him. This should allow us an advantage in overcoming him during a final confrontation," Snape said.
"Fascinating," the headmaster said as the usually present twinkle in his eyes began to resurface ever so slightly. "But tell me, how do you plan on presenting this potion to Voldemort?"
"That's one of the aspects of the plan that we have yet to work out," Hermione said with a glance towards Snape. "We aren't certain what form of presentation the potion will require. It may need to be introduced via contact with the skin or it may need to be ingested. Also, we will need someone to deliver it and for obvious reasons, it cannot be Professor Snape."
"No, I see your point," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "Perhaps I can come up with something that might help us overcome that particular obstacle. I will think upon it for a while. How long before the potion is ready and how long will it take to work once it has been delivered to Voldemort?"
"Albus, we just came up with the idea this evening and have yet to begin our research. It will take weeks of research and experimentation just to determine whether or not this plan is even feasible and then quite possibly several more weeks to concoct such a potion. I cannot even assure our success at this point let alone provide you with a timetable" the potions master declared defensively.
"I understand that of course Severus," the headmaster said in a placating manner. "Please forgive me if I seem to be rushing the two of you but so much is at stake and we must actively pursue any options that become available to us. So far, this sounds as if it is our best chance for weakening Voldemort enough to ensure a victory and bring an end to his reign of darkness and terror over the wizarding world once and for all."
Sensing the sudden tension between the two men, Hermione stepped forward and placed a tiny hand on Snape's shoulder in a gesture that served to provide both comfort and a warning to remain calm. "I am sure that Severus understands your motivations just as I do, Headmaster. We plan to begin our research tomorrow evening after classes and will work non-stop until we find an answer to the problem that lies before us."
"Thank you Hermione," Dumbledore said quietly as he stood from behind his desk "I have every confidence in both of you and have no doubt that together, the two of you will succeed in your task. In the meantime, please feel free to come to me at any time if you require anything."
"We will," she assured him as both she and Snape exited the Headmaster's office
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They made their way down the winding staircase leading from Dumbledore's office to the main floor in silence each lost in their own thoughts. It wasn't until they came to the corridor that led toward Gryffindor Tower that Hermione came to a halt.
"I guess that I'll see you tomorrow evening and we can begin work on the potion," she said quietly to the tall man standing silently beside her. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight?" he asked in confusion as she turned to make her way towards her quarters. Quickly catching up to her retreating figure, he gently took her by the arm and began steering her back towards the Great Hall. "I don't think so. Dinner isn't quite over and we still need to eat."
"Eat? How can you even think about food at a time like this?" she asked in amazement. 'Men must have some undocumented built-in mechanism that allows them to eat no matter what the situation. Harry and Ron always worried about their stomachs too,' she remembered as she thought back to some of the more notorious escapades the trio had undertaken during their school days.
*** Begin Flashback***
"Well of course there's time for a quick snack Hermione," Ron had said just before they set off to bypass Fluffy and steal their way through the trapdoor during their first year.
She had looked at him as if he had grown an extra head himself and then gave up in exasperation when she glanced at Harry for support only to find him nodding his own head in agreement and reaching for a handful of Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans.
The young witch might have put their actions down to the immaturity of eleven-year-old boys if the same situation hadn't continued repeatedly throughout their years at Hogwarts.
"Crikey! Wait a minute would you?" Ron had demanded as he pulled out a handful of brightly wrapped candy packages from a drawer and stuffed them into the pockets of his robes.
"But Ron, we need to go NOW," Hermione had told him and began pulling him along by the sleeve of his robe. "Harry could be in real trouble if we don't get there soon and here you are worrying about your stomach. I mean, honestly, a person would think that that the school doesn't bother to feed you at all."
"It's best to be prepared, I always say," the red-haired boy said philosophically as he pushed another chocolate frog into his mouth. "And going into a situation on an empty stomach is definitely not prepared."
"Well, you tell Harry that your stomach was more important when he's laying dead on the ground because we didn't get there in time to help him get past that dragon," she had replied crossly.
"What, you think the dragon will give a knut whether or not I took the time to eat first?" he asked in disbelief. "You really need to get your priorities straight."
"So do you Ron Weasley and right now Harry should rank a little higher than that bottomless pit you call a stomach," she said marching off to help the Boy-Who-Lived.
"Women," the boy muttered following right behind her, "they're all a little batty sometimes."
***End Flashback***
That had been at the end of their seventh year and as Hermione now stood staring in disbelief at her former potions master she was more convinced than ever that concern for one's stomach was just something indicative to men in general.
"Well, let me put it to you this way Professor Granger," the potions master said slowly as if speaking to a disoriented child "you have classes tomorrow and all of the students have been affected by Voldemort's actions this weekend. Which means, that they will be distraught, unpredictable and veritable pains in the arses tomorrow. So, you will not only need your wits but your strength as well and to accomplish that you will need to be well nourished and well rested. Now, are you coming or do I have to cast the Imperius to get you to the Great Hall?"
The young woman's eyes widened momentarily at the threat issued by her colleague. "You wouldn't dare!" she told him, outraged by his high-handed manner.
"Wouldn't I?" he asked casually in his silkiest tone of voice. Pulling his wand from his sleeve, he allowed his gaze to rest pointedly on the well-worn piece of wood. Looking up from his perusal of the magical item he slowly observed the young woman standing before him and, using the wand, he raised an eyebrow and mockingly made a gesture indicating that she should start walking.
Giving him one last icy glare that would probably have scared the Dark Lord himself, she turned and angrily stormed off in the direction of the Great Hall without a backwards glance. She never saw the amused smile that played about Snape's lips as he placed the wand back into the safety of his sleeve and quietly followed the fuming Gryffindor to dinner.
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TBC