Disclaimer: (Places sorting hat on the chair and steps back)
I own nothing, save this plot.
I know it's sad, but true.
Anything you recognize
Belongs to You Know Who.
A/N: Wow - It has been forever since I last posted. I hope that everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving, and hopefully no one overstuffed themselves as I did. It's going to take a full day of shopping for me to work off all that food. =)
Thanks to those of you who reviewed the last chapter, and also to those who continue to read. I appreciate you humoring me! Despite the fact that I write simply to keep my muses from taking over the house, it's always nice to know that someone else is enjoying my insane rambling.
And now, on to chapter 18!
~Chapter 18~
Harry left dinner early Thursday evening and went back to the Gryffindor tower. Sirius had told him not to go off alone, but he had promised Fleur that he would try to meet her in town, and he intended to keep that promise. He pulled his invisibility cloak out of his trunk and put a thick sweater on over the shirt he was wearing. With that, he proceeded out the portrait hole. After making sure that no one was around, he put the cloak on and swept down the stairs toward the front door. Just as he passed the Great Hall, Harry's heart skipped a beat as he nearly plowed into Snape. He held his breath and stood motionless.
Snape stopped and squinted his eyes. He could have sworn that someone was watching him even though there appeared to be no one there. He started to move forward again, right where Harry was standing, when Dumbledore appeared behind him.
"Ah, Severus, there you are," Dumbledore said while looking in the exact place Harry stood. "Would you mind joining me for a cup of tea? I have some new requisitions which require my attention, and I would appreciate your opinion on some of them."
Snape raised an eyebrow. He couldn't help but feel like Dumbledore was up to something. "Of course, Headmaster," he agreed while taking one last look behind him.
Dumbledore smiled in Harry's direction and then led Snape in the direction opposite the main door. Harry wondered why Dumbledore was willingly letting him sneak off into the night alone, but it did make him feel a little less worried knowing that someone knew he was leaving.
Shortly thereafter, Harry arrived at the Inn where Fleur was staying. He pulled the cloak off and stuffed it in his pocket as he went inside. In front of a large brick fireplace, he saw Fleur waiting on him.
"Oh, 'Arry! You made it. Thank you for coming. Zis could not 'ave been easy."
"Actually, I didn't have any trouble at all," Harry said, taking a seat next to her.
Fleur looked around the room to ensure that they were alone. "'Arry, I have somezing to tell you zat is of great importance. You must promise me zat if anything happens, you will not tell anyone how you found out. I could lose my job."
"I promise, I won't tell anyone who told me."
"Okay," Fleur took a moment to take one more glance around the room, "Zer is a traitor at Hogwarts, 'Arry, and zey are trying to get Professor Dumbledore and several other teachers fired."
"Who?"
"I am not certain, but I know zat zey are working under Cornelius Fudge. I saw ze reports on his desk a few weeks ago."
Harry felt a flame building within him. "What do I need to do?"
"Wait. Zer is more. Fudge is still denying Voldemort's return, and zis is another reason zat ze situation is becoming out of hand. Ze ministry is being ripped in half by ze controversy. Fudge is trying to bring Dumbledore down and Voldemort has been able to rebuild his circle of Death Eaters in ze meantime."
"All the problems at the ministry are providing Voldemort with the perfect opportunity to strike and it go uninvestigated," Harry muttered to himself as he sat back in the chair.
"Zat is right. More importantly though, 'Arry," Fleur leaned forward and whispered, "We have reason to believe zat ze traitor in ze school is a Death Eater."
A look of suspicion ran across Harry's face as Fleur continued. "Voldemort has learned a very ancient technique of altering ze appearance of a person without the use of a Polyjuice potion. It is extremely difficult and risky, but Voldemort has successfully trained six of his followers to perform ze transformation for short amounts of time."
"I know. We caught one of them in the school already.but how did you find all of this out without Fudge coming across it?"
"We have someone watching ze Death Eaters as we speak."
"Who?"
"I am afraid I cannot tell you his name for his own safety. I can guarantee, however, zat I am sure you trust him," she added with a slight smile of intrigue.
Harry looked at Fleur and debated telling her what Sirius' letter had mentioned. After a long pause, he decided it was for the better to be honest with her. "Fleur, I have a contact who told me that the Death Eaters were looking for something in the school. He also said that they were preparing for some sort of ceremony. Do you know anything about that?"
Fleur's facial features changed to pensive and astonished. "Yes, I did know, but how did your contact know zis?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe our contacts are working together," he added with a faint smile. He noticed that Fleur was becoming increasingly fidgety.
"I cannot be certain, 'Arry, but I don't think~" Fleur was cut short by the sound of the door swinging open. An older wizard in deep green robes stammered up the stairs to his room, and out of sight. "Everyone will be returning soon, and it will not be safe for us to talk any longer." Fleur pulled two tiny vials from her robes. "'Arry, I want you to take zese and guard zem well."
In one vial there was a floaty black material. In the other was a thin, liquidy red substance. "What are they?"
"You musn't tell anyone - and this includes even Dumbledore - where you got zem or how you know what I am about to tell you." Harry nodded. "Zis vial contains a piece of a Lethifold," she said handing him the black vial. "And zis is the blood of a Re'em," she handed him the red vial. "Both are extremely rare and considered illegal to have in ze open market. Please guard zem well. Zese are what ze Death Eaters have been searching for."
"What? But, Fleur, how did you - I mean - what are they ~"
"Please, 'Arry, I cannot tell you anymore than zis. I am not sure what purpose zey would serve to zem, but I knew that if zey wanted zem, then zey must not get zem."
"I don't think I should be keeping these. If the Death Eaters are looking for them in the castle, then they should stay with you."
"No. I do not know why Dumbledore had them at Hogwarts, but I am sure he had his reasons. I will feel better if they are close to Dumbledore, even if he does not know exactly where. Besides, I believe the Death Eaters may have given up looking for zem. Zey have been in my possession for quite some time now. Snape believes zey were stolen in ze summer, so even he doesn't suspect their connection to zis fiasco." A group of men entered laughing, and with that, Fleur sprang up from the chair. "Farewell, 'Arry. Please be careful," she said while allowing herself a half worried, half thoughtful look. She then ascended the stairs to her room.
Harry placed the vials in his magicarryall bag, walked outside, and headed back to the school under the veil of the invisibility cloak. He knew that he had a lot of researching to do in the upcoming term. He just wondered how long he had to discover the secrets presented and how he was going to put the pieces together with so many secrets to keep from everyone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Weeeeelllll ~ Thus concludes another chapter. I hope that everyone is still awake. =) We don't have much further to go in our journey, folks! I only have 5 more chapters left to type, and since Christmas break is coming up, maybe I'll actually have time to spend on this story again. Thanks for hanging in there ~ .and don't forget ~ I LIVE OFF OF REVIEWS!!! It's just one of those little reminders that Snape and I aren't the only ones in this castle ~ Yes, believe it or not, he does like company ~ well, sometimes ~ Oh, alright, I enjoy company. He just runs down to his potions lab everytime someone knocks at the door ~
~ Please Review! =)
Next Chapter: The Most Likely Suspects
I own nothing, save this plot.
I know it's sad, but true.
Anything you recognize
Belongs to You Know Who.
A/N: Wow - It has been forever since I last posted. I hope that everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving, and hopefully no one overstuffed themselves as I did. It's going to take a full day of shopping for me to work off all that food. =)
Thanks to those of you who reviewed the last chapter, and also to those who continue to read. I appreciate you humoring me! Despite the fact that I write simply to keep my muses from taking over the house, it's always nice to know that someone else is enjoying my insane rambling.
And now, on to chapter 18!
~Chapter 18~
Harry left dinner early Thursday evening and went back to the Gryffindor tower. Sirius had told him not to go off alone, but he had promised Fleur that he would try to meet her in town, and he intended to keep that promise. He pulled his invisibility cloak out of his trunk and put a thick sweater on over the shirt he was wearing. With that, he proceeded out the portrait hole. After making sure that no one was around, he put the cloak on and swept down the stairs toward the front door. Just as he passed the Great Hall, Harry's heart skipped a beat as he nearly plowed into Snape. He held his breath and stood motionless.
Snape stopped and squinted his eyes. He could have sworn that someone was watching him even though there appeared to be no one there. He started to move forward again, right where Harry was standing, when Dumbledore appeared behind him.
"Ah, Severus, there you are," Dumbledore said while looking in the exact place Harry stood. "Would you mind joining me for a cup of tea? I have some new requisitions which require my attention, and I would appreciate your opinion on some of them."
Snape raised an eyebrow. He couldn't help but feel like Dumbledore was up to something. "Of course, Headmaster," he agreed while taking one last look behind him.
Dumbledore smiled in Harry's direction and then led Snape in the direction opposite the main door. Harry wondered why Dumbledore was willingly letting him sneak off into the night alone, but it did make him feel a little less worried knowing that someone knew he was leaving.
Shortly thereafter, Harry arrived at the Inn where Fleur was staying. He pulled the cloak off and stuffed it in his pocket as he went inside. In front of a large brick fireplace, he saw Fleur waiting on him.
"Oh, 'Arry! You made it. Thank you for coming. Zis could not 'ave been easy."
"Actually, I didn't have any trouble at all," Harry said, taking a seat next to her.
Fleur looked around the room to ensure that they were alone. "'Arry, I have somezing to tell you zat is of great importance. You must promise me zat if anything happens, you will not tell anyone how you found out. I could lose my job."
"I promise, I won't tell anyone who told me."
"Okay," Fleur took a moment to take one more glance around the room, "Zer is a traitor at Hogwarts, 'Arry, and zey are trying to get Professor Dumbledore and several other teachers fired."
"Who?"
"I am not certain, but I know zat zey are working under Cornelius Fudge. I saw ze reports on his desk a few weeks ago."
Harry felt a flame building within him. "What do I need to do?"
"Wait. Zer is more. Fudge is still denying Voldemort's return, and zis is another reason zat ze situation is becoming out of hand. Ze ministry is being ripped in half by ze controversy. Fudge is trying to bring Dumbledore down and Voldemort has been able to rebuild his circle of Death Eaters in ze meantime."
"All the problems at the ministry are providing Voldemort with the perfect opportunity to strike and it go uninvestigated," Harry muttered to himself as he sat back in the chair.
"Zat is right. More importantly though, 'Arry," Fleur leaned forward and whispered, "We have reason to believe zat ze traitor in ze school is a Death Eater."
A look of suspicion ran across Harry's face as Fleur continued. "Voldemort has learned a very ancient technique of altering ze appearance of a person without the use of a Polyjuice potion. It is extremely difficult and risky, but Voldemort has successfully trained six of his followers to perform ze transformation for short amounts of time."
"I know. We caught one of them in the school already.but how did you find all of this out without Fudge coming across it?"
"We have someone watching ze Death Eaters as we speak."
"Who?"
"I am afraid I cannot tell you his name for his own safety. I can guarantee, however, zat I am sure you trust him," she added with a slight smile of intrigue.
Harry looked at Fleur and debated telling her what Sirius' letter had mentioned. After a long pause, he decided it was for the better to be honest with her. "Fleur, I have a contact who told me that the Death Eaters were looking for something in the school. He also said that they were preparing for some sort of ceremony. Do you know anything about that?"
Fleur's facial features changed to pensive and astonished. "Yes, I did know, but how did your contact know zis?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe our contacts are working together," he added with a faint smile. He noticed that Fleur was becoming increasingly fidgety.
"I cannot be certain, 'Arry, but I don't think~" Fleur was cut short by the sound of the door swinging open. An older wizard in deep green robes stammered up the stairs to his room, and out of sight. "Everyone will be returning soon, and it will not be safe for us to talk any longer." Fleur pulled two tiny vials from her robes. "'Arry, I want you to take zese and guard zem well."
In one vial there was a floaty black material. In the other was a thin, liquidy red substance. "What are they?"
"You musn't tell anyone - and this includes even Dumbledore - where you got zem or how you know what I am about to tell you." Harry nodded. "Zis vial contains a piece of a Lethifold," she said handing him the black vial. "And zis is the blood of a Re'em," she handed him the red vial. "Both are extremely rare and considered illegal to have in ze open market. Please guard zem well. Zese are what ze Death Eaters have been searching for."
"What? But, Fleur, how did you - I mean - what are they ~"
"Please, 'Arry, I cannot tell you anymore than zis. I am not sure what purpose zey would serve to zem, but I knew that if zey wanted zem, then zey must not get zem."
"I don't think I should be keeping these. If the Death Eaters are looking for them in the castle, then they should stay with you."
"No. I do not know why Dumbledore had them at Hogwarts, but I am sure he had his reasons. I will feel better if they are close to Dumbledore, even if he does not know exactly where. Besides, I believe the Death Eaters may have given up looking for zem. Zey have been in my possession for quite some time now. Snape believes zey were stolen in ze summer, so even he doesn't suspect their connection to zis fiasco." A group of men entered laughing, and with that, Fleur sprang up from the chair. "Farewell, 'Arry. Please be careful," she said while allowing herself a half worried, half thoughtful look. She then ascended the stairs to her room.
Harry placed the vials in his magicarryall bag, walked outside, and headed back to the school under the veil of the invisibility cloak. He knew that he had a lot of researching to do in the upcoming term. He just wondered how long he had to discover the secrets presented and how he was going to put the pieces together with so many secrets to keep from everyone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Weeeeelllll ~ Thus concludes another chapter. I hope that everyone is still awake. =) We don't have much further to go in our journey, folks! I only have 5 more chapters left to type, and since Christmas break is coming up, maybe I'll actually have time to spend on this story again. Thanks for hanging in there ~ .and don't forget ~ I LIVE OFF OF REVIEWS!!! It's just one of those little reminders that Snape and I aren't the only ones in this castle ~ Yes, believe it or not, he does like company ~ well, sometimes ~ Oh, alright, I enjoy company. He just runs down to his potions lab everytime someone knocks at the door ~
~ Please Review! =)
Next Chapter: The Most Likely Suspects