Chapter 24: Rationem
"I do not know why the process has been unsuccesful. We have had to distill the main ingredient three times already." Lucius Malfoy bent over his work table in the dungeons of the Malfoy Manor. It was covered in blood.
Professor Snape was hunched in a corner over a scaly, bloody heap. A few minutes ago, the creature had been screaming- crying rather- after all, it was just a baby. Now it was dead. Its blood spread in dark pool around Snape's feet as he cut away at its chest.
"Patience, Lucius. Flamel and Dumbledore hardly created their stone in a decade, you know. Our progress has already been remarkable."
Lucius' cheek twitched in frustration.
"The next council on Draco's 19th birthday approaches, if we do not have results to show to our Lord on that day, Severus, I do not think he will be very pleased."
"We will have results" Snape said as he reached into the chest cavity of the dead creature. He felt for the heart and had to swallow his vomit as he ripped it out. His hands had managed to squeeze most of the blood out of the heart before removing it from the creature- Snape only hoped it was enough. He handed the still throbbing heart to Lucius who put it in a crystal bowl. He began to drag the creature's carcass into a sack.
"Put it with the rest of them, the house-elves will clean up the mess later." said Lucius and he began the delicate spell on the heart.
"I hope we don't run out of supplies. The dragons are apparently beginning to notice the loss of their eggs." said Snape as he washed his hands at a sink.
"The eggs are in plentiful supply. The dragons are stupid beasts and they spawn like flies. A few eggs won't even make a dent in their population." said Lucius, "Those dragon-keepers up in Romania are fools. Nott is running circles around them."
Snape nodded. A nest of snakes lay pulsating in a nearby tank.
"Hand me one of those, Severus" said Lucius, not taking his concentration of the heart whch was now turning black.
Snape reached into the tank and picked up a snake. It hissed angrily as he handed it to Lucius.
Lucius smiled at the snake. "Eat up" he said, putting it into the bowl with the heart.
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Sometime in mid-August, Albus Dumbledore sat in his study surrounded by many people. On his left sat Professors Lupin, Snape and McGonagall. On his right sat Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. In front of him, Sirius Black paced slowly up and down. A heated discussion was in full swing.
"I still say we not put *both* of them under a Fidelius. It is far too dangerous and complicated. It is already complicated enough having one Secret Keeper, with two, any number of complications might arise." Sirius addressed Snape.
"The last time our plans failed because you backed down at the last minute and asked Pettigrew to take over. It's really a very simple process." Snape said coldly.
Sirius turned on the professor with his eyes flashing, "As a double agent, my life was at risk! If I had died, the secret of the hiding place would never have been revealed and the Potter's identity in the wizarding world would have vanished. I thought that Pettigrew lived a much safer, quieter existence. The secret was safer with him."
"You thought" said Snape.
Sirius clenched his fists. "I did die in the end, didn't I, Severus?" Sirius said in with a dangerous glint in his eye. Harry Potter felt himself go cold at the memory.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen" Dumbledore raised his hand and indicated that he wished to speak. Snape and Black glared at each other.
"Forgive me, Albus, but Sirius has a history of taking unnecessary risks." Snape said, quietly, but loud enough so that Harry leapt up from his chair in anger.
"He only wanted what was best for me! Don't – you- talk- about- Sirius-like-that" said Harry, choking.
Albus Dumbledore regarded Harry carefully. The boy had become even more protective and admiring of his godfather ever since that disastrous incident three years ago when Sirius Black had entered the Vale of Shadows.
"Harry, it's all right. Sit down." Said Sirius, in a clenched way.
"And Potter clearly takes after his godfather, the boy has no control over his emotions" Snape said, unflinchingly.
Draco only had a vague idea what was going on. He had heard, like the rest of the students, that Sirius Black had been killed in battle with Lord Voldemort but that apparently, he hadn't really died, and that Dumbledore had gone on a journey to look for him in the Vale of Shadows. No one would talk about it. The Vale of Shadows was a place wizards feared. It was where the soul lingered before it left this world…and some souls never left it at all but were in torment forever, the undead. Nevertheless, Draco knew it must be hard for Potter to hear Sirius badly spoken of.
"Leave Harry out of this," said Sirius, in a tired way, his anger having drained quickly. He knew there was truth to Snape's words. "Albus, what do you suggest?"
"I agree with you, Sirius. The Fidelius is a complicated charm and separating and hiding both mother and son with two Secret Keepers results in a high risk of permanent disappearance of one or the other. I have seen these high-level charms go wrong when too many are at work at the same time."
"But Albus…" Snape turned to the Headmaster fiercely, "I have told you that during the course of my research with Draco over the summer, I discovered that even more potent than Draco's blood in creating a second stone would be the blood of his child. If Lucius or Voldemort ever learn of this, they will stop at nothing to find the child! And as they need a smaller quantity of this child's blood to perfect the stone, they will not have to wait for him to reach manhood, like they waited for Draco here."
Seated across from Snape, Draco nodded grimly. Snape and him had made this discovery sometime in the last week while trying to find counter-poisons to lessen the effect of Cinnabar. Ancient wisdom, and Lucius, had always believed that the life's blood of a pureblood wizard born under the water sign of Aquarius was the special type of blood-and-water needed to transmute Cinnabar into Philospoher's Stone. However, Snape had always suspected, and recently confirmed through detailed research with help from Draco, that more potent than this blood alone, would be the blood of the child given by the father.
"What?!" Harry Potter practically leapt up from his seat. "Professor Snape, Malfoy…why didn't you tell us that the child might be in danger from Voldemort?!"
McGonagall watched in sympathy at Harry's worried expression. She knew of the deep friendship that existed between Harry and Hermione. Dumbledore also nodded in acknowledgment of Harry's concern.
"Harry, Professor Snape and Draco's research has been extremely complicated and delicate. Once they came to me with their conclusions, I was naturally distraught, and before I announced this to you all, I thought I would do a little research of my own to confirm it. As you know I have had previous experience in creating a Philospoher's Stone."
"Well then is it true?" asked Sirius impatiently.
Dumbledore looked over the gathered persons in the room, they were waiting for his answer, Harry was practically falling off the edge of his seat.
"Yes. I'm afraid so."
Snape's shoulders slumped. So the Headmaster's own research had confirmed it to.
"Why? How?" asked Remus in confusion. "For years, we have known that Draco's blood was the perfect final ingredient- the pureblood-and-aquarius combination. Of course, every drop of it would be necessary- volume is important, but why his child?"
Professor Snape looked at Draco and Dumbledore. All three knew the reason why, but it was Dumbledore who spoke first.
"The Stone works to perfect the imperfections of our mortal nature. While we exist in this flawed human form, we cannot attain supreme life. One symbol of the Stone is the Jormungand, the snake-dragon devouring its tail. When the snake-dragon seizes its tail it unites the polarities of our nature- darkness and light, despair and hope- into a circle achieving solidity amongst the dualistic energies of the soul forces….The blood-and-aquarius combination of Draco going into creating his own son and his subsequent destruction of his own son, would create the ultimate Philosopher's Stone. Better even than Flamel's and mine- which was created only with transfigured human blood and therefore, was destructible. This is what Voldemort has always wanted, to have supreme life. Immortal life."
"Then the child is in greater danger than we feared! We thought Lucius might destroy it out of petty hatred. But now that it is useful to Voldemort, the remaining Death Eaters might set their whole will on finding the child for their evil purposes!" Sirius sat down suddenly in a chair after making this speech. "Perhaps Snape is right, two Fidelius charms might be necessary."
Snape looked triumphant. But Dumbledore shook his head. "Minerva and I have great experience with Fidelius Charms. It was us, after all, who created the Potters' and the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Two charms existing within the same family will bring nothing but trouble. Too many secrets spoil the broth, as they say."
McGonagall, who had so far been silent spoke up, "Albus is right. Do not worry Professor Snape and Mr Malfoy," she looked with sympathy at Draco, "Albus and I have come up with another plan which will keep your family as safe."
"What is it?" asked Draco.
"Minerva, perhaps you would explain to our guests." Dumbledore said.
"Well, as you all know, we had decided that Miss Granger and her child had to be separated from Draco's family for the time being, until Severus and Albus could stop Voldemort. We will place the child under a Fidelius- for that is the more powerful concealment charm- and place him with a foster family. None of you will know that family, but we have already chosen it. Mr Malfoy, I can assure you we chose the family very carefully and your child will receive great love and care. Miss Granger will not be under a Fidelius, being a powerful witch and much better able to look after herself. We might also need her help in the future. However, she will be under a powerful concealment charm which will blind your family to her- but not the rest of us. No Malfoy can ever find her without her consent."
Draco nodded briefly.
"Who is to be the Secret Keeper?" asked Harry suddenly. "Why not me? I would rather die than tell on Hermione's baby!"
Albus Dumbledore looked sharply at Harry. "I have no doubt you would Harry and so does half the wizarding world, including Lucius. Which is why you are not the right choice- you are far too obvious. However, fortunately for Miss Granger, it appears that there are quite a few others in the world who are prepared to die for her. I think it shows a lot about Miss Granger's character. Besides, Harry…" and here Dumbledore paused and looked directly into Harry's eyes. Harry could feel Dumbledore's voice speaking to him within his mind, have you forgotten your prophesy Harry? The one Sirius already died once to protect from Voldemort? Do not be too confident Harry- your life is not entirely your own, it belongs to the hope of the whole wizarding world. "…I think you may have other more important roles to fulfil if we are to try to defeat Voldemort in the near future."
"Albus…perhaps it is not wise to talk about the issue of Secret Keeper in front of Mr Malfoy?" warned Snape.
"Ah, of course, Severus. I am well aware that the Secret Keeper's identity must be kept from Mr Malfoy, just for safety's sake."
"You don't think I would harm my own child, do you Headmaster?" asked Draco angrily.
Dumbledore looked coolly at the silvery-blonde young man with the gray-blue eyes. He looked just as his father had twenty years ago. The headmaster sighed. "Those were your father's exact words to me twenty years ago, Mr Malfoy."
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As he walked into Hogsmeade to apparate back home with Sirius Black, Harry Potter couldn't help hearing Dumbledore's words in his mind…Sirius already died once…Sirius already died once…do not be too confident.
"Harry?" Sirius Black's kind voice broke into his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"I know what you must be thinking. I don't want you to dwell on what happened three years ago. I'm back now…there are others more unfortunate." Sirius' face took on a grim expression and Harry knew that he was thinking about his niece, Tonks, who had mysteriously disappeared last year along with half of the old Order of the Phoenix.
"I know, Sirius. It's just…it's just…just that I hate everybody thinking I'm the one to kill Voldemort…it makes me over-confident….and hurts those I care about. All those years ago….when I went to the Department of Mysteries…a big mess that was. I don't know if I can do it!"
Sirius did not know of the prophesy surrounding Harry's life, but anybody could see that much of the wizarding world and Albus Dumbledore, put their faith in Harry to eventually vanquish Voldemort. After all, the battles of the last three years had been getting bigger and bigger…everyone, except the perpetually closed-minded Ministry of Magic, were convinced that the final showdown could not be far away.
So Sirius nodded and patted Harry on the back. "No one's asking for more than you can do. Things have already worked out amazingly enough. Who would have thought that I'd be here by your side? Or that Draco Malfoy would join us? Or that Hermione will be a mother soon? It's a strange world Harry. There's still hope."
"It won't bring them back" said Harry hotly. "I should have done it long ago. It's no use! Their all dead because I wasn't fast enough!"
Sirius whirled on Harry and gripped his shoulders.. "That's enough, Harry Potter! Do you think Tonks would have liked to hear you say that her death was no use? Or perhaps Shacklebolt died in vain too, eh? Or maybe you would like to tell your dad and mum that!"
Harry gasped. "Y-you're right, Sirius. I'll get a grip."
"You're damn right you'd better. Because Dumbledore is counting on us to get to the root of this whole new Philospopher's Stone thing. It's out last stand Harry. Let him make that stone…and you can kiss all our asses goodbye!"
Harry steadied himself and took a deep breath and thought of the things expected of him soon. Surely nobody was as scared of the future as he was.
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Draco Malfoy was white as a ghost. His pulse raced and his throat felt dry. Dumbledore's final comment…. That's what my father said twenty years ago.
"Draco…" Snape put a hand on Draco's shoulder. The younger man flinched. "Do not take it so hard. Things change in this world. While I believe you have no intention of harming Miss Granger or the baby, I fear to think of the effects of the Dark Magic that you will have to suffer the next two years. Auror training is for battling- not so much for long-term subterfuge."
Draco listened to Snape. He had come to admire and trust the Potions Master.
"And I think it is unnecessary to mention our discovery to Miss Granger. It would only trouble her further."
"Yes, Severus." Draco unlocked the door to the Potions dungeon and sat quickly down on a bench. "We have to find a way to stop Voldemort. We have already alerted Charlie Weasley of Nott's stealing of the dragon eggs, but my father already has more than enough of them."
"There are other things involved in the making of the Stone, Draco. Already I have identified ten other substances, excluding the blood-and-water combination. We can slow him down. Once the ministry locates Voldemort, that will be the end of him, his plans will never come to fruition."
"It seems that every step we make, Voldemort makes two. I fear our discovery will be made by Voldemort soon. The Jormungand connection is not difficult to make- Lucius or Voldemort are bound to see it. They are very smart wizards."
"But till now, they have not made it," said Snape, taking out his cauldron from a cupboard, "and we have. That puts us ahead of the game. It's a big game, Draco. And our roles, as double-agents, are the most difficult."
"I wonder why my father has not thought of it. He has spent years on his research."
Snape lit the fire beneath his cauldron and turned to face Draco. "Because your still thinks of you as his son, a mere boy- the fact that you could be a father yourself has never crossed his mind." Snape smirked. "And that is his worst weakness. Dumbledore and I cling to the hope that one day in the future, his constant underestimation of you will be his undoing. Don't disappoint us, Draco."
Draco didn't even dare think about the future at the moment.
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