Part 11:
George and Fred sat in their office, pouring over the text that Snape had given them two days before. By their sides was a notepad filled with notes and questions. Fred yawned and stretched, "I don't believe this. We've done more bookwork in the last few days than in all of our years at Hogwarts."
"Professor Snape is a very exacting taskmaster. I just didn't realize it until now." George picked up Fred's pad and perused it, noting that his twin did the same to his.
"Do my eyes deceive me or am I seeing my lackadaisical brothers doing something that resembles work?" Percy spoke, leaning against the doorframe.
"Percy, what are you doing here?" Fred glared at him. "Don't you have a few boots to lick?"
"Fred," George began warningly.
Percy flushed and interrupted, "watch how you talk to me, Fred Weasley."
"Or you'll what, Percy? Tell on me? To who? Mom and dad? Oh, wait, they aren't speaking to you because you're being a blind, moronic, two bit loser." Fred barked, sneering at his brother.
Percy's flushed face became pale, "how dare you use that tone of voice with me. I am still your brother."
"Brother? Hah! In whose eyes?" George scoffed at him, feeling Fred's disappointment by his inaction. "You may share the Weasley name, but you do nothing-nothing-to live up to it."
"I used to be proud to have you for my brother, even if you do annoy me. Now, I am ashamed to call you so," Fred hissed, "get out. You're not wanted."
The older Weasley had no choice but to leave, hurt beyond imagination by this reception. Inside, his heart felt crushed under the weight of their words. He had never dreamed that one decision would result in this miserable existence he now knew.
As the heavens opened up and rain fell down upon them, he lifted his face to the sky, allowing the rain to mingle with his tears. With aged movements that seemed to come from an older man, he made his way slowly towards his cold and lonely flat.
Percy gave a muffled yell when he was pulled into the darkness and dragged away.
"Fred, something's wrong," they exchanged looks of shock.
Dashing off a note to their tutor, they traced the feeling. Both fearing that it was Percy and wondering if the professor would answer their summons in time.
The professor was, at that moment, enjoying a nice cognac while his sister read the paper when the note appeared on his desk. Glancing at it with bored interest, he idly read it before crushing it in his hand. Standing up, he grabbed his wand, "foolish boys," he growled.
He and Septina made their way through the forest and apparated to the shop. Finding the door locked, Severus frowned and closed his eyes, relaxing. Using the sixth sense, he scouted them and traced their essence to an abandoned warehouse.
"Cover my right," he whispered, blending into the shadows seamlessly. Without a pause to confirm her presence, he cautiously crept closer to the building, going down onto his hands and knees when necessary. Peering over a half-wall, they saw the Weasley twins reaching for something in their robes. Drawing out some firecrackers and explosives, Severus was disappointed in them.
They were in a Death Eater hide-out and all they had to defend themselves were a few tricks? Had he not taught them better? He was over the wall and by their sides before they made their next move. "Silencio," he hissed, cutting off any sounds they might've made. "What were you planning to do with those, gentlemen? Throw and run, hoping to avoid any death eaters that are hidden elsewhere in this place?"
George looked sheepish, for a moment, then his stubbornness reasserted itself. "We have to save Percy-even if he is a prat."
"Did I say that you shouldn't?" he asked, his eyes studying the both of them. "I just think that you need to create a plan that goes farther than immediate distraction. Because, as much as I hate to say it, you both have brilliant strategic minds. Fred, join my sister and search the right. George and I will study the left. Be back here as quick as you can."
Pointing to the wall, he waited until he knew that Fred saw her. "Get going, we don't have much time to waste."
To the brothers, the search seemed to take hours. Percy's screams echoed in their ears, though they tried to shut him out. Every so often, they were instructed to plant the smaller explosives in the walls, tied together by a thin, webby style magic. "Are we done yet?"
"It has only been thirty minutes." Septina whispered back, rolling her eyes. "Come on, we just have a few more meters to go."
"What's the plan?" Fred blurted out after they regrouped.
Giving them his most enigmatic stare, Severus replied blandly. "Your original plan will do."
"But you said it wasn't thought out!" Fred protested.
"And now it is," he slouched back and blended into the floor, moving towards the closest explosive. A quick glance behind confirmed that his sister had done the same thing. If she'd even moved away in the first place.
George gulped, once again removed the firecrackers. Taking a moment to think, he and Fred imitated Snape and moved closer to the center of the room. The feeling of approval passed through them and they moved much closer than originally planned. Sharing a look, they lit the crackers and tossed them onto the floor in opposite directions.
Delayed for just a second through the boys' experimentations, when they did go off, it created instant chaos. A cacophony of sound and smoke filled the area, blinding the eyes of the torturers. Leaping over the wall, they grabbed Percy's beaten body. Running towards the exit, they were startled when a travel broomstick appeared before them.
"Go, you fools," a familiar voice hissed from the shadows.
Once airborne, they saw the flash of one explosive before it set off the others in rapid succession. The whole building flared, under attack. People screamed and tried to get away while others tried to get it under some kind of control. From a distance, it looked beautiful. "Move it!" Another order, this one from behind but rapidly approaching, then overtaking them.
George held Percy, allowing Fred to take control. "He's back. You-know-who's back. Save him," Percy stuttered as they passed over the Forbidden Forest.
"We know. We've only been saying it for three years," George's reply was dry.
"You saw ol' red eyes?" Fred asked, forcing himself to remain calm. The brooms responded more easily to touch and emotions, almost too easily.
Percy's head bobbed up and down like a rag doll's. "Evil. Whispered things. Ugly, terrible things. Not happy. Not happy thoughts at all."
George bit his tongue to prevent from saying something he, well, he wouldn't really regret but knew he should keep quiet. His mother would not be pleased-and he knew better than to think she wouldn't find out. "Where's the professor taking us, anyway? Hogwarts is right there."
"I wish to ascertain that your brother has not brought back anything that could backfire on us," came the reply from over head. "As far as I can tell, he's clean. Madame Pomphrey should be able to tell if there is anything I missed."
***
Upon landing, Percy was taken to the Infirmary. "Professor Snape, I am beginning to wonder who is really our enemy. You keeping bringing patients to me," she teased, even as her hands flowed freely over the body.
"I assure you, madam, if I were he, I would not be bringing my victims to you. I prefer them dead," his reply was typically acidic.
"You need to learn what jokes are, Professor. It might help you develop people skills," she advised.
"When I want advice, I shall solicit it from a professional-preferably a Slytherin, not a jabbering old busybody," he snapped.
"That will do, young man. You may be able to treat your students in that obnoxious way but I will not have it. I am your superior, through age and experience, and you owe me respect. Curb your tongue or I shall give you the thrashing you deserve."
Severus flushed, mumbled an apology, and left the room. There was only a momentary pause before Fred followed him to the Headmaster's office. "Sir? What are you going to tell him?"
"The truth, to a certain point, Mr. Weasley. I do not think that we need to tell the headmaster that you both forget your wands." He slightly smiled, "in the future, do not forget them. We might not be able to rescue you."
Fred bit off his automatic reply to this statement.
"Good, you're learning. In time, you will be more than capable of taking care of yourselves." The gargoyle started to move, recognizing him and granting automatic entrance, "a word of advice, if I may?"
He waited patiently. Fred slowly nodded, almost afraid to hear it.
"Gain roots and exercise them, both mentally and physically. Do not rely on magic alone, that is a deadly trap to fall into." Letting his words flow slowly and clearly out of him, he turned and went upstairs.
The redhead wizard watched him go, thinking about his message. It made no sense to him but he knew that was part of the challenge. As much as he hated it, Professor Snape had much that he needed to know. And he'd just begun to crack the nut around that knowledge.
"Are you all right?"
"I will be, George, I will be."
Next Day:
Septina was in the library, curled around a book. Beside her sat Hermione, reading to her occasionally from another book. Every once in a while, they'd pause and the Gryffindor would compose a few notes. The picture was slowly, but surely, coming into focus.
Draco quietly joined them, sitting by Hermione. They talked quietly for a few moments, then she turned the conversation towards what they'd found so far. "Ms. Snape?" He finally turned to her, hesitant to disturb her concentration. There was also a fascination in watching the way her fingers felt and processed the words, occasionally she seemed to be spelling things out.
Septina absently nodded, letting him know she was listening to him.
"Mrs. Malfoy sent this to you," he passed a scroll over to her.
Accepting it cautiously, she noted that Draco still referred to his mother by her formal name. "Do you know what it is about?"
"It's spelled so that none but you can open it," Draco spoke ironically. "One would think my mother doesn't trust me."
"Mrs. Malfoy trusts no one-not even herself. It's how she survives," was the wry response. "Hello, Severus." She broke the seal and opened it. When nothing happened and she felt no twinge of danger, she passed it up to him.
His black eyes flowed along the neatly written script, frowning fiercely. "Ah, Narcissa has spelled it so that only when you are alone will you be able to hear the message."
"How thoughtful," she put it into one of her pockets.
"Fascinating," Hermione murmured, bringing attention to her. She read on, unaware of the curious looks they gave her until Draco poked her lightly in the side, "huh?"
"What's fascinating?" he asked pointedly.,
"Oh, considering all that's gone into reviving Voldemort, the way to get rid of him is rather easy. First, all connections must be severed."
"Meaning?" the Slytherin pressed.
"The dark mark and Harry's scar connect and hold the Dark Lord here. They need to be cut," she explained.
"That could be problematic considering death is the only way to remove them," Severus joined them. "We cannot go about killing all those who bear the mark. There were those who were forced to join his ranks. Besides, it isn't practical nor is it effective."
"Yes, and there are ways around it," Hermione sighed and pointed to something in her book. "I missed this, he could transfer his power to an inanimate object, nullifying our ability to find it."
Draco turned to face them, "could you use the mark itself to destroy it?"
"Explain," Severus leaned forward, caught by the possibilities Draco's solution posed.
"Voldemort uses the mark to summon his followers, right? Theoretically anyone bearing the mark could do so, correct?" Draco paused, making sure he had that right.
"If they had enough power and control, yes." Severus conceded.
"Could you not then find a way to access them and sever the ties binding him to them?"
Again, Severus conceded, "it is possible. But Voldemort would have to be occupied to such an extent that he would not feel it when he losses them. As you say, his followers hold him here. He feeds off of them, borrows their powers."
Septina cleared her throat, "one problem. The true followers would give us away unless they were killed when the lines are cut."
"The it would have to happen during the final battle," Hermione concluded. 'Does anyone have that kind of power at their fingertips?" She asked, once the implications of her statement sunk it.
"If the Snapes' are to be believed, we do." Fred commented, emerging from the shadows. "Right?"
Severus slowly nodded, "it would take work and trust."
"And the four of us united could do it," George concluded.
"Exactly."
One word. It was only one word. But it shifted and changed the direction of their world. No longer could they be separated by house or belief. It was bond or die.
It was a frightening prospect.
An unsure chance.
But the only one they had open to them.
***
A.N.: Lily will wake up. Finally.
George and Fred sat in their office, pouring over the text that Snape had given them two days before. By their sides was a notepad filled with notes and questions. Fred yawned and stretched, "I don't believe this. We've done more bookwork in the last few days than in all of our years at Hogwarts."
"Professor Snape is a very exacting taskmaster. I just didn't realize it until now." George picked up Fred's pad and perused it, noting that his twin did the same to his.
"Do my eyes deceive me or am I seeing my lackadaisical brothers doing something that resembles work?" Percy spoke, leaning against the doorframe.
"Percy, what are you doing here?" Fred glared at him. "Don't you have a few boots to lick?"
"Fred," George began warningly.
Percy flushed and interrupted, "watch how you talk to me, Fred Weasley."
"Or you'll what, Percy? Tell on me? To who? Mom and dad? Oh, wait, they aren't speaking to you because you're being a blind, moronic, two bit loser." Fred barked, sneering at his brother.
Percy's flushed face became pale, "how dare you use that tone of voice with me. I am still your brother."
"Brother? Hah! In whose eyes?" George scoffed at him, feeling Fred's disappointment by his inaction. "You may share the Weasley name, but you do nothing-nothing-to live up to it."
"I used to be proud to have you for my brother, even if you do annoy me. Now, I am ashamed to call you so," Fred hissed, "get out. You're not wanted."
The older Weasley had no choice but to leave, hurt beyond imagination by this reception. Inside, his heart felt crushed under the weight of their words. He had never dreamed that one decision would result in this miserable existence he now knew.
As the heavens opened up and rain fell down upon them, he lifted his face to the sky, allowing the rain to mingle with his tears. With aged movements that seemed to come from an older man, he made his way slowly towards his cold and lonely flat.
Percy gave a muffled yell when he was pulled into the darkness and dragged away.
"Fred, something's wrong," they exchanged looks of shock.
Dashing off a note to their tutor, they traced the feeling. Both fearing that it was Percy and wondering if the professor would answer their summons in time.
The professor was, at that moment, enjoying a nice cognac while his sister read the paper when the note appeared on his desk. Glancing at it with bored interest, he idly read it before crushing it in his hand. Standing up, he grabbed his wand, "foolish boys," he growled.
He and Septina made their way through the forest and apparated to the shop. Finding the door locked, Severus frowned and closed his eyes, relaxing. Using the sixth sense, he scouted them and traced their essence to an abandoned warehouse.
"Cover my right," he whispered, blending into the shadows seamlessly. Without a pause to confirm her presence, he cautiously crept closer to the building, going down onto his hands and knees when necessary. Peering over a half-wall, they saw the Weasley twins reaching for something in their robes. Drawing out some firecrackers and explosives, Severus was disappointed in them.
They were in a Death Eater hide-out and all they had to defend themselves were a few tricks? Had he not taught them better? He was over the wall and by their sides before they made their next move. "Silencio," he hissed, cutting off any sounds they might've made. "What were you planning to do with those, gentlemen? Throw and run, hoping to avoid any death eaters that are hidden elsewhere in this place?"
George looked sheepish, for a moment, then his stubbornness reasserted itself. "We have to save Percy-even if he is a prat."
"Did I say that you shouldn't?" he asked, his eyes studying the both of them. "I just think that you need to create a plan that goes farther than immediate distraction. Because, as much as I hate to say it, you both have brilliant strategic minds. Fred, join my sister and search the right. George and I will study the left. Be back here as quick as you can."
Pointing to the wall, he waited until he knew that Fred saw her. "Get going, we don't have much time to waste."
To the brothers, the search seemed to take hours. Percy's screams echoed in their ears, though they tried to shut him out. Every so often, they were instructed to plant the smaller explosives in the walls, tied together by a thin, webby style magic. "Are we done yet?"
"It has only been thirty minutes." Septina whispered back, rolling her eyes. "Come on, we just have a few more meters to go."
"What's the plan?" Fred blurted out after they regrouped.
Giving them his most enigmatic stare, Severus replied blandly. "Your original plan will do."
"But you said it wasn't thought out!" Fred protested.
"And now it is," he slouched back and blended into the floor, moving towards the closest explosive. A quick glance behind confirmed that his sister had done the same thing. If she'd even moved away in the first place.
George gulped, once again removed the firecrackers. Taking a moment to think, he and Fred imitated Snape and moved closer to the center of the room. The feeling of approval passed through them and they moved much closer than originally planned. Sharing a look, they lit the crackers and tossed them onto the floor in opposite directions.
Delayed for just a second through the boys' experimentations, when they did go off, it created instant chaos. A cacophony of sound and smoke filled the area, blinding the eyes of the torturers. Leaping over the wall, they grabbed Percy's beaten body. Running towards the exit, they were startled when a travel broomstick appeared before them.
"Go, you fools," a familiar voice hissed from the shadows.
Once airborne, they saw the flash of one explosive before it set off the others in rapid succession. The whole building flared, under attack. People screamed and tried to get away while others tried to get it under some kind of control. From a distance, it looked beautiful. "Move it!" Another order, this one from behind but rapidly approaching, then overtaking them.
George held Percy, allowing Fred to take control. "He's back. You-know-who's back. Save him," Percy stuttered as they passed over the Forbidden Forest.
"We know. We've only been saying it for three years," George's reply was dry.
"You saw ol' red eyes?" Fred asked, forcing himself to remain calm. The brooms responded more easily to touch and emotions, almost too easily.
Percy's head bobbed up and down like a rag doll's. "Evil. Whispered things. Ugly, terrible things. Not happy. Not happy thoughts at all."
George bit his tongue to prevent from saying something he, well, he wouldn't really regret but knew he should keep quiet. His mother would not be pleased-and he knew better than to think she wouldn't find out. "Where's the professor taking us, anyway? Hogwarts is right there."
"I wish to ascertain that your brother has not brought back anything that could backfire on us," came the reply from over head. "As far as I can tell, he's clean. Madame Pomphrey should be able to tell if there is anything I missed."
***
Upon landing, Percy was taken to the Infirmary. "Professor Snape, I am beginning to wonder who is really our enemy. You keeping bringing patients to me," she teased, even as her hands flowed freely over the body.
"I assure you, madam, if I were he, I would not be bringing my victims to you. I prefer them dead," his reply was typically acidic.
"You need to learn what jokes are, Professor. It might help you develop people skills," she advised.
"When I want advice, I shall solicit it from a professional-preferably a Slytherin, not a jabbering old busybody," he snapped.
"That will do, young man. You may be able to treat your students in that obnoxious way but I will not have it. I am your superior, through age and experience, and you owe me respect. Curb your tongue or I shall give you the thrashing you deserve."
Severus flushed, mumbled an apology, and left the room. There was only a momentary pause before Fred followed him to the Headmaster's office. "Sir? What are you going to tell him?"
"The truth, to a certain point, Mr. Weasley. I do not think that we need to tell the headmaster that you both forget your wands." He slightly smiled, "in the future, do not forget them. We might not be able to rescue you."
Fred bit off his automatic reply to this statement.
"Good, you're learning. In time, you will be more than capable of taking care of yourselves." The gargoyle started to move, recognizing him and granting automatic entrance, "a word of advice, if I may?"
He waited patiently. Fred slowly nodded, almost afraid to hear it.
"Gain roots and exercise them, both mentally and physically. Do not rely on magic alone, that is a deadly trap to fall into." Letting his words flow slowly and clearly out of him, he turned and went upstairs.
The redhead wizard watched him go, thinking about his message. It made no sense to him but he knew that was part of the challenge. As much as he hated it, Professor Snape had much that he needed to know. And he'd just begun to crack the nut around that knowledge.
"Are you all right?"
"I will be, George, I will be."
Next Day:
Septina was in the library, curled around a book. Beside her sat Hermione, reading to her occasionally from another book. Every once in a while, they'd pause and the Gryffindor would compose a few notes. The picture was slowly, but surely, coming into focus.
Draco quietly joined them, sitting by Hermione. They talked quietly for a few moments, then she turned the conversation towards what they'd found so far. "Ms. Snape?" He finally turned to her, hesitant to disturb her concentration. There was also a fascination in watching the way her fingers felt and processed the words, occasionally she seemed to be spelling things out.
Septina absently nodded, letting him know she was listening to him.
"Mrs. Malfoy sent this to you," he passed a scroll over to her.
Accepting it cautiously, she noted that Draco still referred to his mother by her formal name. "Do you know what it is about?"
"It's spelled so that none but you can open it," Draco spoke ironically. "One would think my mother doesn't trust me."
"Mrs. Malfoy trusts no one-not even herself. It's how she survives," was the wry response. "Hello, Severus." She broke the seal and opened it. When nothing happened and she felt no twinge of danger, she passed it up to him.
His black eyes flowed along the neatly written script, frowning fiercely. "Ah, Narcissa has spelled it so that only when you are alone will you be able to hear the message."
"How thoughtful," she put it into one of her pockets.
"Fascinating," Hermione murmured, bringing attention to her. She read on, unaware of the curious looks they gave her until Draco poked her lightly in the side, "huh?"
"What's fascinating?" he asked pointedly.,
"Oh, considering all that's gone into reviving Voldemort, the way to get rid of him is rather easy. First, all connections must be severed."
"Meaning?" the Slytherin pressed.
"The dark mark and Harry's scar connect and hold the Dark Lord here. They need to be cut," she explained.
"That could be problematic considering death is the only way to remove them," Severus joined them. "We cannot go about killing all those who bear the mark. There were those who were forced to join his ranks. Besides, it isn't practical nor is it effective."
"Yes, and there are ways around it," Hermione sighed and pointed to something in her book. "I missed this, he could transfer his power to an inanimate object, nullifying our ability to find it."
Draco turned to face them, "could you use the mark itself to destroy it?"
"Explain," Severus leaned forward, caught by the possibilities Draco's solution posed.
"Voldemort uses the mark to summon his followers, right? Theoretically anyone bearing the mark could do so, correct?" Draco paused, making sure he had that right.
"If they had enough power and control, yes." Severus conceded.
"Could you not then find a way to access them and sever the ties binding him to them?"
Again, Severus conceded, "it is possible. But Voldemort would have to be occupied to such an extent that he would not feel it when he losses them. As you say, his followers hold him here. He feeds off of them, borrows their powers."
Septina cleared her throat, "one problem. The true followers would give us away unless they were killed when the lines are cut."
"The it would have to happen during the final battle," Hermione concluded. 'Does anyone have that kind of power at their fingertips?" She asked, once the implications of her statement sunk it.
"If the Snapes' are to be believed, we do." Fred commented, emerging from the shadows. "Right?"
Severus slowly nodded, "it would take work and trust."
"And the four of us united could do it," George concluded.
"Exactly."
One word. It was only one word. But it shifted and changed the direction of their world. No longer could they be separated by house or belief. It was bond or die.
It was a frightening prospect.
An unsure chance.
But the only one they had open to them.
***
A.N.: Lily will wake up. Finally.