Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Warner Brothers bought me out.
Harry watched as the ex-professor took off his mask, revealing his familiar scowling face. "I trust you know why we're here," Snape said.
"Yes, Severus," Dumbledore replied. "But I'm interested in why you're here."
"I've been given no choice," Snape replied, almost in a monotone.
"I tried," Dumbledore said softly. "There was nothing I could do."
"I know," Snape replied, almost sadly.
Harry was confused. What was Snape talking about? His confusion mounted as Snape turned around and shouted, "Stupefy!"
Harry's eyes widened as the death eater behind the ex-professor slumped to the ground. The death eaters were taken by surprise as well, and Snape quickly turned and stunned another death eater.
"AVADA KEDAVRA" roared the four remaining dark wizards, enraged at the betrayal.
Harry watched numbly as Severus fell to the ground. Suddenly, the three closest death eaters found themselves flung up against the wall, unable to move a muscle. The fourth was thrown as well, but 'missed' the wall and was bowled through the open door. The three pinned against the wall groaned painfully and Harry looked over at the headmaster.
Dumbledore was breathing heavily, his face actually showing more anger than he did even last year at Barty Crouch Sr. But after several seconds the headmaster blinked and his face softened. The death eaters slid down the wall, their hands held in magical restraints. Dumbledore knelt over Severus' crumpled body; the three students didn't interrupt his silence.
After a silent moment, Dumbledore softly said, "I'm sorry, Severus."
Harry went over and squatted down by the headmaster. "Sir… what just happened?"
Dumbledore didn't answer right away. Just when Harry was about to stand and back away to give the headmaster some space, Dumbledore whispered, "He was given no choice. I tried, but I couldn't take it away."
"Sir…" Harry said softly.
Dumbledore turned to face the three students, and then focused on Harry. "You deserve an explanation. It's my fault Severus attacked you, Harry."
"Wh… what?" Harry asked, confused.
Dumbledore sighed. "I had the third gem hidden here in my office, which Voldemort was bound to discover. Of course, the easiest way to get it would be to have Severus retrieve it for him. Of course, Severus vowed to not let that happen. I placed him in a position where Voldemort would demand his service in a role he couldn't fulfill. And he couldn't refuse, either – a different group would come to retrieve the sapphire instead – after they killed him. A group which would have murdered Flitwick, you three, and any other students they passed by on the way up."
Dumbledore paused for a second, and took another deep breath. "I hoped if he was released from professorship, he wouldn't be asked to lead the group to retrieve it. And he couldn't simply quit – Voldemort would ask why he gave up his position as a spy for him… hence he did what he had to. But apparently Voldemort felt he was still the best person for the job. And I suspect Severus accepted in order to make sure nobody would be killed… even though it would most likely mean his death."
The four stood silently for a minute. Harry didn't know what to think; his mind refused to come to any sort of conclusion and paced doggedly in circles.
Dumbledore broke the silence, and softly said, "You three should leave now. You have your Herbology O.W.L tomorrow morning… and you should all study…"
Harry led the trio out of the office. He suspected that the headmaster wasn't concerned about their academic performance, but simply wanted to be alone for awhile. Harry felt the same way.
But his melancholy worsened enormously as he looked out the Gryffindor tower window. The death eater that managed to escape was at the edge of the forbidden forest, his hand outstretched. And catching the sunset's light was an unmistakable glint of blue from something in their hand.
"Get up!"
Harry groaned. "15 more minutes…"
"No. Now."
Harry rolled over in his bed and looked up at the offending voice. "Go away, Hermione. I just got to sleep."
"Harry," Hermione said insistently. "It's 9:30."
"It is?" Harry asked, amazed. Then his brain rationalized, "It's ok. The Herbology O.W.L doesn't begin until 10:45."
"Get up!" Hermione said firmly, and pulled at his hand.
"Can't you nag someone else?" Harry said sleepily, then instantly regretted it.
"Nag?" Hermione said hurt.
"I'm… I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry quickly said, suddenly fully awake. "And you're right – I should get up." He twisted out of bed and said, "Look, I'm up."
"Come on," Hermione said, "Let's go for a walk."
Harry nodded. He really didn't have anything better to do; he knew his mind wasn't going to let him focus on studying at the moment, anyway.
Hermione let the way around the opposite side of the Giant Lake, neither saying a word. When they reached a section a decent ways around from the castle, Hermione said, "You didn't sleep, did you."
"No. Well, not until around… 9:20."
"Harry," Hermione said soothingly, "It's not your fault Professor Snape died. There was nothing you could do."
Harry turned to face her. She didn't know.
"It's not that…" Harry said involuntarily, and then trailed off. He didn't have problems sleeping because of Snape. Every time he closed his eyes, he imagined the horrors that Voldemort was going to release. And every time he closed his eyes, he was afraid that one of the newly released creatures was going to attack him.
"What then?" Hermione asked, curious.
Harry balked at telling her. Why bother? There was nothing she could do – and she had to take the O.W.L.'s as well in less than an hour. Why burden her with it?
Because she's going to find out anyway, Harry thought. And who knows? Maybe she might know something that can stop this.
"They… they have all three stones."
Hermione gasped. "Then… then there's only one step left!"
"What?" Harry asked.
"They've only got one step before they can summon the legion!" Hermione wailed.
"There's another step?" Harry asked, hopefully.
"Yes!" Hermione answered shrilly. "All they have to do is…"
But before Harry could hear the rest of Hermione's statement, the world disappeared around him, to be replaced with a dire and dark marshland. Rotting trees surrounded him, and the feeling of decay was almost palpable.
Harry looked around and was greeted by the most unpleasant sight.
"Hello, Potter," Voldemort said, smiling. And next to him stood Lucius Malfoy and a lecherous man that was almost completely transparent. "There's an entire legion I'd like to introduce you to…"
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Ok, I know it's another cliffhanger. But it should be the last one, and I'll have the next chapter up within 2 days at most.
I think I managed to confuse everyone with the last chapter. I blame myself. Hopefully it makes a little more sense now.
Heck of a lot of reviews. I posted at 11:00 PM, and checked my e-mail at noon the next day, to find 6 reviews. 4 more came before the end of the day. Hmmm… maybe I should end more chapters on cliffhangers where death eaters invade the castle…
Serayane: Thanks! To tell you the truth, I didn't think that far into it. It certainly makes sense that Dumbledore made the schisms when he brought the stone to Hogwarts as a means of protection.
Loser Kid: Thanks!
Hrei-siesn: I love how you went from apologizing to me to moving onto the cluelessness of guys in general. Oh well. :) Well, like I said, this cliffie should be the last. Sorry about confusing you on who was evil. I think Dumbledore's the only person I could never see as making the bad guy in any capacity.
Erinamation: :)
Katani: Wow… I think you might have some built up hostility towards Snape. Well, if it makes you happy, he's dead now…
Rathien: Good call!
Xan: Thanks!
MicroChick: To tell you the truth, I don't know even know for sure what the puzzle was. I guess you could think of each room as a distorted reflection of the rooms next to it. Severus, instead of trying to figure which path to take in the reflections, simply broke the spell creating the reflections in the first place. Yeah, that sounds good…
Myrhfire: Um… I take it from your comment you didn't enjoy the last chapter?
Castus: Sorry. I can't find it within myself to make Snape the bad guy. But I did kill him off! :)
Epholge: Wow – thanks! Hmmm… I think you've given me an idea for the next story… Anyway, if Harry beats Ron, it'll be a freak event.
Feel free to review!
