They don't belong to me..only Hero does.
Chapter Three
Everybody was Kung Foo Fightin' (not)
Hero Charen was nervous. He was half an hour late, and she was pacing the floor. Any number of things could have gone wrong. He could have been found out, or the bugs could have been found. He could be dead. He could be under torture.
He had learned to perform his assigned task with remarkable ease. They had practiced over and over again. First with a dummy, clothing laden with bells. After a few tries at the dummy he had rung them no longer, the bugs were planted successfully. He had even managed to slip one or two of them onto her without her knowledge.
He'd acted like a complete ass when it came to the Karate lessons by steadfastly refusing to take them. He didn't need them, thank you very much. Everyone else was already immersed in the program, and class was held three nights a week at Grimwald Place. She was very pleased with her student's progress, especially Minerva McGonnagel who had taken to the art like a duck to water. On the other hand, he was brewing some rather poisonous potions for her to tip the throwing stars in and was becoming quite adept at throwing them.
She was especially enjoying working with the students. Harry, Ron and Hermoine were smart, gung ho kids, willing to learn anything that would help in the effort to defeat Voldimort. Harry was especially eager and understandably so being as he was the one fated to either die at his hand or defeat him with it. Hero's job was to make sure that Harry was the victor and not the victim. She wouldn't have traded places with him for all the riches of the world, and she admired the way he was handling what must have been a great deal of pressure. Perhaps the Karate classes helped him to vent, either way he was excelling.
Thirty-five minutes late. She continued pacing. Where was he?
Defense Against the Dark Arts was going well, the students already ahead of the curve because of the lessons they had gotten under Potter's tutelage last term. Thank you Delores Umbridge!
Hermoine had taken over teaching some of the muggle classes, and was proud of herself, as she should be. Authur Weasley was in wizard heaven, with his fondness for all things muggle. His collection of cell phones had come in quite handy, as Hero was able to have them repaired and put into service.
Albus Dumbledore was pleased, and The Order had thrown themselves into "The Plan" as they had dubbed it, out of duty at first, then all out enthusiasm as time passed and their confidence in Hero grew. Mad Eye had actually complimented her the other day.
So far, so good. But. Where the hell is Snape? This is the first night of implementation. The first of the GPS and bugging devices were to be planted and so far no joy. The computer mockingly silent.
Molly Weasley watched the pacing with a worried eye. Hero was either cool and efficient or perky and playful, bordering on flippant when it came to the object of her nervous behavior. 'Like oil and water, those two' Perhaps a cup of tea would be in order? She asked as much of Hero.
"No thanks, Mol. I don't think that I could drink a thing right now."
At thirty-seven minutes past his expected arrival time, they heard a loud thud in the hall. Hero ran to the door of the library and flung it open. A black clad figure was attempting to pick himself up off of the floor.
'Severus!" she ran over to him
"No! Don't touch me!" he said, pain evident in his voice. "I don't need any help."
"Sure ya don't. Come on, Snape. Up you go!" She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him up. "Molly, go get the medi kit from my room and then bring some firewhiskey." He had flung her arm off of him and was staggering into the library. Hero followed him closely.
"He looks like he needs St. Mungos."
"Just go get the kit, Molly." she said and closed the door behind her.
He had made it to the sofa and plopped down on it. His hands shook as he tried to remove his silver mask.
"Let me help you." Hero said with a sigh, reaching for the mask.
"NO! D-don't touch!" his voice raspy with pain.
"You are in no condition to argue! Gods! What happened?"
The face behind the mask was twisted in agony, blood dribbling from his nose. His dark eyes glittering with unshed tears, wild with anger and pain. Hero removed the gloves from his trembling hands and grasped them in hers. His whole body was shaking now, the shock slamming into him and stripping self-control away from him. He fell into her lap, shaking.
"Where is Molly?" she thought as she stroked his hair and made soothing noises.
"What do you think happened to him? Poor dear!" Molly exclaimed as she came into the room.
"No questions now, Mol. Get the fire whisky will you?" The woman rushed back out of the room. "Come on Sev, sit up. Let me help you for heaven sake!" he was struggling against her. "Molly! Hurry!"
"Here!" she rushed over and handed the glass to Hero.
"Severus! Drink this!" she held the glass to his lips and forced his head back. He managed a gulp of the dark fluid. He swallowed than coughed and sputtered. "Another sip. Here Sev, take it. That's it, there we go."
He grabbed the glass from her and drank the contents down in one gulp swearing as the whiskey hit his belly like a fireball. He threw the glass at the wall.
"Get out!" he yelled "Both of you! Now!"
Molly almost ran from the room, letting the door slam behind her. Hero calmly walked over to the bar and poured another glass of whiskey.
'I told you to leave, Hero!" he growled at her as she handed him the glass.
"I'm not leaving you in this state! Shut up and drink!"
"Out!"
"NO!"
He took an unsteady step toward her, his face twisted in anger, but his legs betrayed him. He collapsed to the floor.
Hero stood there, arms folded, looking down at his prone form in silent regard. He knew that she knew that he had been tortured into this present state, and that the adrenaline had worn off, there was no way he was getting up un-assisted. He'd be damned before he asked her for help.
"You know," she said after a few moments of silence 'you can be such a stubborn ass!" She bent down, grabbed him under his arms and hauled him up. He allowed her to assist him to the sofa and sat down.
Hero poured them both a drink and they sipped it in silence.
"What happened tonight?" she finally asked.
"We had tea and scones and talked about the state of the roads and the poor educational system in Great Britain. What do you think happened, Hero?"
"Drop the snarky attitude, Sev. What hexes were thrown at you?"
"The usual, but they were more prolonged. It wasn't just me. He was testing all of us. Our loyalty is under question."
"So we were right about that."
A few moments of silence passed. Hero drained her glass, swore and flung it at the fireplace.
"What did you do that for?" he asked.
"Well you broke one and I broke one, so now we have an even set."
"Foolishness!"
"No. Balance." she replied with a slight smile "Did you manage to plant any bugs?"
"Yes, two." he signed "But that's all you are worried about anyway, isn't it?"
She looked at him, her eyebrow raised "You know what, Sev? I had just started to think that you weren't such a bad guy after all, then you have to go and act like the great bat you are!"
" Has it ever occurred to you that I don't care how other people think of me?" snarled Snape.
"Look lets just check out the damage and save the psychoanalysis for another time.. Sit up so I can get these Death Eater robes off of you." she said scooting closer.
"I don't need any bloody help." he groaned as he sat forward.
"Yea. I'll remember that. Now, lets skin the Snape!" Hero chuckled to herself.
"Just bloody well get on with it." he snapped. Probably at any other time he would have enjoyed getting into a debate with her, but at present his whole body screamed in pain and agony.
After tossing the robes on the floor, she realized her hands were sticky. Looking down she saw that blood was smeared on both hands. Granted his nose was bleeding but this was too much for a little nosebleed. It had already stopped. She looked back at Snape sitting there his eyes closed and his head resting on the back of the couch. Every now and then his body would give an involuntary twitch. Reaching forward she began to unbutton his shirt.
"Why can't you just leave me in peace. Get the bloody hell out of here!" he growled, brushing her hands away
"You're bleeding from somewhere you old bat. Be quiet and let me see." she hissed back.
Pulling back the shirt she looked at his chest. Red lumps were already turning purple and blue. Some were in the shape of a large boot. Others were triangle shapes. The bleeding was coming from a long gash that traveled from the top of his belly button around and across his ribs to his back. If Hero didn't know any better she could swear it looked like a bull whip mark. Except his shirt and robes were still in one piece. Taking out her wand and muttering the proper incantation the wound healed its self. She pulled a couple of vials from her medi- kit and handed them to him.
"Drink these. They're counter-effects for the hexes and something for headaches. Just a generic mixture, though. Brewed them myself."
He eyed her then drank down the contents of both, his face wrinkling in disgust at the taste.
"Molly?" she yelled.
"Hell and Damnation woman. Keep your bloody voice down!" again with the snarling at her. His head was pounding and threatening to split in two.
"Yes?" Molly asked poking her head into the room.
"Please help me get Severus upstairs." Hero asked.
"I don't need help. I have to get back to Hogwarts and report to Albus'
"I've already let him know that you are here." Molly said "You are to spend the night here and then apperate back to Hogwarts tomorrow morning. He wants you there too, Hero." She looked at the potions master, a worried expression on her face "You really need to get some rest, Severus. Albus worries about you and you look simply awful!"
He looked up at her with a scowl, but held his tongue. Bossy and loving Molly Weasley was like a mother to the whole group of them, clucking over them like a mother hen. Even Severus Snape held his tongue where she was concerned, when he could possibly help it, that is. "I'm sorry I snapped at you Molly." he muttered.
"Think nothing of it Severus." she smiled down at him.
"Well, that takes care of that then. Come-on Sev, lets get you to bed before Molly worries herself into a tizzy."
Too tired to argue, he allowed himself to be led upstairs to one of the bedrooms.
After settling him to bed, Hero went to work on the computer. There had to be a reason that the GPS wasn't working. Had he not planted the chips properly? No, there was nothing to that. She bent over the keyboard and began to work. Perhaps a re-boot?
She poured herself a drink while she waited for the machine to come back up. Glass in hand, she paced back and forth, things on the war front were still quiet. There had been no attacks since the New Year, which bothered her greatly. Too quiet by far. Almost like a calm before the storm. She was filled with a great since of foreboding. Severus was under suspicion with Voldimort, and she wasn't sure how much longer he was going to be able to spy for The Order. It was imperative that the bugs get planted as soon as possible so that she could start tracking. They would have to step things up. Perhaps Severus could visit some of the Death Eaters homes? They had a suspect list. No, too suspicious and Severus wasn't exactly a social creature. Perhaps a parents weekend? Yes! A parents weekend! Complete with Quittich matches. Griffindor against Slytherin. The Death Eater's would turn out in droves!
Her computer beeped so she sat back down and pulled up her tracking program. Bingo!
Chapter Three
Everybody was Kung Foo Fightin' (not)
Hero Charen was nervous. He was half an hour late, and she was pacing the floor. Any number of things could have gone wrong. He could have been found out, or the bugs could have been found. He could be dead. He could be under torture.
He had learned to perform his assigned task with remarkable ease. They had practiced over and over again. First with a dummy, clothing laden with bells. After a few tries at the dummy he had rung them no longer, the bugs were planted successfully. He had even managed to slip one or two of them onto her without her knowledge.
He'd acted like a complete ass when it came to the Karate lessons by steadfastly refusing to take them. He didn't need them, thank you very much. Everyone else was already immersed in the program, and class was held three nights a week at Grimwald Place. She was very pleased with her student's progress, especially Minerva McGonnagel who had taken to the art like a duck to water. On the other hand, he was brewing some rather poisonous potions for her to tip the throwing stars in and was becoming quite adept at throwing them.
She was especially enjoying working with the students. Harry, Ron and Hermoine were smart, gung ho kids, willing to learn anything that would help in the effort to defeat Voldimort. Harry was especially eager and understandably so being as he was the one fated to either die at his hand or defeat him with it. Hero's job was to make sure that Harry was the victor and not the victim. She wouldn't have traded places with him for all the riches of the world, and she admired the way he was handling what must have been a great deal of pressure. Perhaps the Karate classes helped him to vent, either way he was excelling.
Thirty-five minutes late. She continued pacing. Where was he?
Defense Against the Dark Arts was going well, the students already ahead of the curve because of the lessons they had gotten under Potter's tutelage last term. Thank you Delores Umbridge!
Hermoine had taken over teaching some of the muggle classes, and was proud of herself, as she should be. Authur Weasley was in wizard heaven, with his fondness for all things muggle. His collection of cell phones had come in quite handy, as Hero was able to have them repaired and put into service.
Albus Dumbledore was pleased, and The Order had thrown themselves into "The Plan" as they had dubbed it, out of duty at first, then all out enthusiasm as time passed and their confidence in Hero grew. Mad Eye had actually complimented her the other day.
So far, so good. But. Where the hell is Snape? This is the first night of implementation. The first of the GPS and bugging devices were to be planted and so far no joy. The computer mockingly silent.
Molly Weasley watched the pacing with a worried eye. Hero was either cool and efficient or perky and playful, bordering on flippant when it came to the object of her nervous behavior. 'Like oil and water, those two' Perhaps a cup of tea would be in order? She asked as much of Hero.
"No thanks, Mol. I don't think that I could drink a thing right now."
At thirty-seven minutes past his expected arrival time, they heard a loud thud in the hall. Hero ran to the door of the library and flung it open. A black clad figure was attempting to pick himself up off of the floor.
'Severus!" she ran over to him
"No! Don't touch me!" he said, pain evident in his voice. "I don't need any help."
"Sure ya don't. Come on, Snape. Up you go!" She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him up. "Molly, go get the medi kit from my room and then bring some firewhiskey." He had flung her arm off of him and was staggering into the library. Hero followed him closely.
"He looks like he needs St. Mungos."
"Just go get the kit, Molly." she said and closed the door behind her.
He had made it to the sofa and plopped down on it. His hands shook as he tried to remove his silver mask.
"Let me help you." Hero said with a sigh, reaching for the mask.
"NO! D-don't touch!" his voice raspy with pain.
"You are in no condition to argue! Gods! What happened?"
The face behind the mask was twisted in agony, blood dribbling from his nose. His dark eyes glittering with unshed tears, wild with anger and pain. Hero removed the gloves from his trembling hands and grasped them in hers. His whole body was shaking now, the shock slamming into him and stripping self-control away from him. He fell into her lap, shaking.
"Where is Molly?" she thought as she stroked his hair and made soothing noises.
"What do you think happened to him? Poor dear!" Molly exclaimed as she came into the room.
"No questions now, Mol. Get the fire whisky will you?" The woman rushed back out of the room. "Come on Sev, sit up. Let me help you for heaven sake!" he was struggling against her. "Molly! Hurry!"
"Here!" she rushed over and handed the glass to Hero.
"Severus! Drink this!" she held the glass to his lips and forced his head back. He managed a gulp of the dark fluid. He swallowed than coughed and sputtered. "Another sip. Here Sev, take it. That's it, there we go."
He grabbed the glass from her and drank the contents down in one gulp swearing as the whiskey hit his belly like a fireball. He threw the glass at the wall.
"Get out!" he yelled "Both of you! Now!"
Molly almost ran from the room, letting the door slam behind her. Hero calmly walked over to the bar and poured another glass of whiskey.
'I told you to leave, Hero!" he growled at her as she handed him the glass.
"I'm not leaving you in this state! Shut up and drink!"
"Out!"
"NO!"
He took an unsteady step toward her, his face twisted in anger, but his legs betrayed him. He collapsed to the floor.
Hero stood there, arms folded, looking down at his prone form in silent regard. He knew that she knew that he had been tortured into this present state, and that the adrenaline had worn off, there was no way he was getting up un-assisted. He'd be damned before he asked her for help.
"You know," she said after a few moments of silence 'you can be such a stubborn ass!" She bent down, grabbed him under his arms and hauled him up. He allowed her to assist him to the sofa and sat down.
Hero poured them both a drink and they sipped it in silence.
"What happened tonight?" she finally asked.
"We had tea and scones and talked about the state of the roads and the poor educational system in Great Britain. What do you think happened, Hero?"
"Drop the snarky attitude, Sev. What hexes were thrown at you?"
"The usual, but they were more prolonged. It wasn't just me. He was testing all of us. Our loyalty is under question."
"So we were right about that."
A few moments of silence passed. Hero drained her glass, swore and flung it at the fireplace.
"What did you do that for?" he asked.
"Well you broke one and I broke one, so now we have an even set."
"Foolishness!"
"No. Balance." she replied with a slight smile "Did you manage to plant any bugs?"
"Yes, two." he signed "But that's all you are worried about anyway, isn't it?"
She looked at him, her eyebrow raised "You know what, Sev? I had just started to think that you weren't such a bad guy after all, then you have to go and act like the great bat you are!"
" Has it ever occurred to you that I don't care how other people think of me?" snarled Snape.
"Look lets just check out the damage and save the psychoanalysis for another time.. Sit up so I can get these Death Eater robes off of you." she said scooting closer.
"I don't need any bloody help." he groaned as he sat forward.
"Yea. I'll remember that. Now, lets skin the Snape!" Hero chuckled to herself.
"Just bloody well get on with it." he snapped. Probably at any other time he would have enjoyed getting into a debate with her, but at present his whole body screamed in pain and agony.
After tossing the robes on the floor, she realized her hands were sticky. Looking down she saw that blood was smeared on both hands. Granted his nose was bleeding but this was too much for a little nosebleed. It had already stopped. She looked back at Snape sitting there his eyes closed and his head resting on the back of the couch. Every now and then his body would give an involuntary twitch. Reaching forward she began to unbutton his shirt.
"Why can't you just leave me in peace. Get the bloody hell out of here!" he growled, brushing her hands away
"You're bleeding from somewhere you old bat. Be quiet and let me see." she hissed back.
Pulling back the shirt she looked at his chest. Red lumps were already turning purple and blue. Some were in the shape of a large boot. Others were triangle shapes. The bleeding was coming from a long gash that traveled from the top of his belly button around and across his ribs to his back. If Hero didn't know any better she could swear it looked like a bull whip mark. Except his shirt and robes were still in one piece. Taking out her wand and muttering the proper incantation the wound healed its self. She pulled a couple of vials from her medi- kit and handed them to him.
"Drink these. They're counter-effects for the hexes and something for headaches. Just a generic mixture, though. Brewed them myself."
He eyed her then drank down the contents of both, his face wrinkling in disgust at the taste.
"Molly?" she yelled.
"Hell and Damnation woman. Keep your bloody voice down!" again with the snarling at her. His head was pounding and threatening to split in two.
"Yes?" Molly asked poking her head into the room.
"Please help me get Severus upstairs." Hero asked.
"I don't need help. I have to get back to Hogwarts and report to Albus'
"I've already let him know that you are here." Molly said "You are to spend the night here and then apperate back to Hogwarts tomorrow morning. He wants you there too, Hero." She looked at the potions master, a worried expression on her face "You really need to get some rest, Severus. Albus worries about you and you look simply awful!"
He looked up at her with a scowl, but held his tongue. Bossy and loving Molly Weasley was like a mother to the whole group of them, clucking over them like a mother hen. Even Severus Snape held his tongue where she was concerned, when he could possibly help it, that is. "I'm sorry I snapped at you Molly." he muttered.
"Think nothing of it Severus." she smiled down at him.
"Well, that takes care of that then. Come-on Sev, lets get you to bed before Molly worries herself into a tizzy."
Too tired to argue, he allowed himself to be led upstairs to one of the bedrooms.
After settling him to bed, Hero went to work on the computer. There had to be a reason that the GPS wasn't working. Had he not planted the chips properly? No, there was nothing to that. She bent over the keyboard and began to work. Perhaps a re-boot?
She poured herself a drink while she waited for the machine to come back up. Glass in hand, she paced back and forth, things on the war front were still quiet. There had been no attacks since the New Year, which bothered her greatly. Too quiet by far. Almost like a calm before the storm. She was filled with a great since of foreboding. Severus was under suspicion with Voldimort, and she wasn't sure how much longer he was going to be able to spy for The Order. It was imperative that the bugs get planted as soon as possible so that she could start tracking. They would have to step things up. Perhaps Severus could visit some of the Death Eaters homes? They had a suspect list. No, too suspicious and Severus wasn't exactly a social creature. Perhaps a parents weekend? Yes! A parents weekend! Complete with Quittich matches. Griffindor against Slytherin. The Death Eater's would turn out in droves!
Her computer beeped so she sat back down and pulled up her tracking program. Bingo!