Jailbird
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling (JKR), various publishers of the Harry Potter (HP) series. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Lilith11, thanks for your comments. You caught me cheating when I ran short of time. I rewrote Chapter 5 and I'm happier about it.
Chapter 6 (uploaded 11/18/03)
Dumbledore paced his office, "Dobby, come to my office, please."
With a pop, the house elf appeared. He wore a stack of hats on his head and several layers of socks. "Sir called Dobby?" He wrung his hands while he waited for a response.
"Thank you for coming so quickly. I need to know who is in the castle. Everybody. Check everywhere, including passageways, cupboards and cabinets. Enlist the help of all the elves and report back to me."
"Yes, sir." The house elf popped out and left Dumbledore pacing in his office.
In just a few minutes, Dobby popped back into the Headmaster's Office. "Sir?"
Dumbledore sat in the armchair and looked at Dobby as he stood on the other. "Dobby reports that Professor Trelawney is in her tower, Professor Hagrid is in the hippogriff pen, Mister Filch is oiling armor on the third floor."
"Professor Snape? Were his quarters checked?"
"Sir, Professor Snape wards his quarters against elves and ghosts. Elves is not allowed cleaning unless Professor Snape is asking."
"Thank you, Dobby. Unfortunately he also takes his floo off of the Hogwarts network and keeps no pictures, save for his mother on the night stand."
The worried headmaster fell asleep at his desk, waiting for any word from his potions professor. He woke up with a start when he was shaken awake by Professor McGonagall early that summer morning. It was still dark. "Minerva, you're back." He stretched, trying to remove the stiffness from his muscles.
"Albus, you look terrible. What could worry you so much that you would sleep at your desk?"
"Severus is missing."
"You know, when students go missing in the forest, Severus sends an owl with a glowing twig. Then he follows the owl. The glow makes it easier to spot in the dim forest light."
"Wonderful idea, Minerva. I must be too tired to think. May I borrow your hand mirror?"
She pulled her mirror from her pocket and handed it to Dumbledore, who in turn gave it to Fawkes, his phoenix. "Deliver this to Severus, please." Fawkes flew only a foot off his perch before disappearing in a flash of fire. He returned to his perch less than a minute later without the mirror.
Dumbledore picked up his own mirror and spoke into it, "Severus Snape." The mirror showed the interior of his quarters. Fawkes had placed the mirror over the mantle overlooking Snape's bed. Snape was fast asleep under the covers, only his face, recognized easily by his hooked nose, could be seen. McGonagall peered over Dumbledore's shoulder.
"Minerva, please go to the Hospital wing and retrieve the antidote to the Draught of the Living Dead. Meet me in Severus's room. I'll need to over ride his wards."
"How do you know he's under the Draught of the Living Dead?"
"I don't, really, but Fawkes might have been able to wake him up if he were under a charm or curse, at least enough to answer the mirror. The antidote for the Living Dead is good for all sleeping potions, though it causes side effects when used against the others. We can fix that later if I'm wrong."
"Very good." They both rushed out the door, turning their separate ways when they reached the stone gargoyle in the hall.
At the brick wall that hid the entrance to Snape's chambers, Dumbledore announced, "I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Open this door." There were several pops as Snape's security wards were broken, then the wall split, revealing a tastefully furnished room." Dumbledore took back the mirror on the mantle and lit a fire, "Incendio."
McGonagall arrived to find Dumbledore sitting on the bed next to Snape. He looked so peaceful, the lines on his face etched by decades of scowling and sneering were ironed smooth. She smiled, "He looks good. It's amazing what a little beauty sleep will do for a person." She sat down on at the foot of the bed, as well.
The twinkle found Dumbledore's eyes again. He dribble a little antidote into Snape's mouth, then waved his wand, "Enervate." First, Snape's eyes fluttered open and was greeted with Dumbledore's bushy face and twinkling eyes. He was stiff, even his face, he noticed as he tried to curl his lip.
"How long?" Snape croaked.
"Sometime between lunch yesterday and dinner time, I imagine," Dumbledore replied.
"Welcome back to the living, Severus," greeted McGonagall. "What do you remember?"
Snape peeked under the covers, "I'm still in my robes." He stiffly got out of the bed and lumbered to his closet. His legs were still asleep as he dragged his toes on the plush green carpet. Not that anyone could tell, he emerged from his closet holding a fresh set of black robes and went into the bathroom for what seemed an eternity.
"Severus," Dumbledore called out, "you haven't fallen asleep, have you?"
"I'm fine," came the hoarse, muffled answer. "Arrrrggghhh!"
Finally, the bathroom door reopened. Snape was dressed, a reddish hue to his normally gray colored skin, either from scrubbing or from hot water, McGonagall imagined. His hair was wet down and combed back. "I must go. The Dark Lord calls."
"Severus, before you go," Dumbledore grasped him at the elbow, "What do you remember?"
"I remember lunch with you in Hogsmead. Malfoy and Crabbe were waiting for us when we returned. Malfoy! It was Lucius!" Snape growled as his eyes narrowed to slits.
"I remind you, again, Severus. Don't do anything rash, especially in the presence of other Death Eaters." Dumbledore let go of his arm. "Has the mark been burning all this time?"
"I don't think so, Headmaster. It would have blistered by now if it had been burning all night."
"One more thing, Moody was captured last night. Malfoy thinks he has me and neither man will be expecting you there." I'll walk with you into the forest and tell you about it.
~ ~ ~
Snape apparated to the meeting. Fortunately, it was large attendance and he could hang back in the crowd. Whatever the cause of the meeting, it was going to be a show for the Dark Lord. He had a special chair set up for him, almost like a throne. Snape walked around the area as everybody milled around. He made mental notes of possible exits, hiding places, and places to take cover in case of a raid. If he learned anything from his tormented years at Hogwarts, it was to expect anything at any time.
The area was a large clearing in the middle of a dark forest. Lucius Malfoy appeared and ordered everyone into a circle. Only Malfoy and Voldemort were the only ones without masks and hoods on. Snape recognized Crabbe from his size, next to Malfoy, and Bellatrix Lestrange from her bony hands. She stood to the left of Voldemort, and Malfoy stood to his right. Crabbe dragged out a large trunk in front of the Dark Lord and rejoined the circle. Malfoy kneeled before him, "My Lord, I recently happened upon an opportunity. I captured Albus Dumbledore and I present him to you." Voldemort said nothing, his red eyes glowed brighter as he nodded.
The hooded crowd gasped and drew their wands, pointing it at the trunk. Malfoy unlocked it and threw open the lid. Dumbledore was curled up in the trunk face down, all that could be seen were his purple robes and pointy hat flattened on his back. He didn't move until Malfoy waved his wand, "Enervate."
The body twitched then stood up, but not as tall as expected. Moody declared, "You are all under arrest! Put down your wands at once!"
Malfoy stepped back and tripped on his robes, "WHAT!?! It can't be!" He fell back on the soft forest floor. The Death Eaters all laughed, some doubled over. Voldemort was the first to draw his wand, but his spell hit Lucius Malfoy, turning him into a sleek golden ferret.
As spells started flying in all directions, Snape broke the circle and ran for a better vantage. Moody turned the trunk over and was crouched under it. Somebody thought enough to blow the trunk into the sky. When it cleared, Snape turned Moody into a ferret, as well, and didn't look back. Malfoy ran into the trees, and Snape ran after it. He managed to scoop it up just as Bellatrix spotted him. Snape tore off his mask and looked at her, "I'm going to Malfoy Mansion. Find the auror!" She nodded and ran off.
Snape held Malfoy in his cloak as he watched the other Death Eaters scouring the bushes. He pretended to do the same, only hoping the other one might find him now that he had his mask off. As he went along a line of bushes, something brushed his leg. He looked down to find a brown ferret with a claw for a hind leg, wiggling his nose up at him. He scooped up the other ferret and disapparated to Malfoy Mansion.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling (JKR), various publishers of the Harry Potter (HP) series. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Lilith11, thanks for your comments. You caught me cheating when I ran short of time. I rewrote Chapter 5 and I'm happier about it.
Chapter 6 (uploaded 11/18/03)
Dumbledore paced his office, "Dobby, come to my office, please."
With a pop, the house elf appeared. He wore a stack of hats on his head and several layers of socks. "Sir called Dobby?" He wrung his hands while he waited for a response.
"Thank you for coming so quickly. I need to know who is in the castle. Everybody. Check everywhere, including passageways, cupboards and cabinets. Enlist the help of all the elves and report back to me."
"Yes, sir." The house elf popped out and left Dumbledore pacing in his office.
In just a few minutes, Dobby popped back into the Headmaster's Office. "Sir?"
Dumbledore sat in the armchair and looked at Dobby as he stood on the other. "Dobby reports that Professor Trelawney is in her tower, Professor Hagrid is in the hippogriff pen, Mister Filch is oiling armor on the third floor."
"Professor Snape? Were his quarters checked?"
"Sir, Professor Snape wards his quarters against elves and ghosts. Elves is not allowed cleaning unless Professor Snape is asking."
"Thank you, Dobby. Unfortunately he also takes his floo off of the Hogwarts network and keeps no pictures, save for his mother on the night stand."
The worried headmaster fell asleep at his desk, waiting for any word from his potions professor. He woke up with a start when he was shaken awake by Professor McGonagall early that summer morning. It was still dark. "Minerva, you're back." He stretched, trying to remove the stiffness from his muscles.
"Albus, you look terrible. What could worry you so much that you would sleep at your desk?"
"Severus is missing."
"You know, when students go missing in the forest, Severus sends an owl with a glowing twig. Then he follows the owl. The glow makes it easier to spot in the dim forest light."
"Wonderful idea, Minerva. I must be too tired to think. May I borrow your hand mirror?"
She pulled her mirror from her pocket and handed it to Dumbledore, who in turn gave it to Fawkes, his phoenix. "Deliver this to Severus, please." Fawkes flew only a foot off his perch before disappearing in a flash of fire. He returned to his perch less than a minute later without the mirror.
Dumbledore picked up his own mirror and spoke into it, "Severus Snape." The mirror showed the interior of his quarters. Fawkes had placed the mirror over the mantle overlooking Snape's bed. Snape was fast asleep under the covers, only his face, recognized easily by his hooked nose, could be seen. McGonagall peered over Dumbledore's shoulder.
"Minerva, please go to the Hospital wing and retrieve the antidote to the Draught of the Living Dead. Meet me in Severus's room. I'll need to over ride his wards."
"How do you know he's under the Draught of the Living Dead?"
"I don't, really, but Fawkes might have been able to wake him up if he were under a charm or curse, at least enough to answer the mirror. The antidote for the Living Dead is good for all sleeping potions, though it causes side effects when used against the others. We can fix that later if I'm wrong."
"Very good." They both rushed out the door, turning their separate ways when they reached the stone gargoyle in the hall.
At the brick wall that hid the entrance to Snape's chambers, Dumbledore announced, "I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Open this door." There were several pops as Snape's security wards were broken, then the wall split, revealing a tastefully furnished room." Dumbledore took back the mirror on the mantle and lit a fire, "Incendio."
McGonagall arrived to find Dumbledore sitting on the bed next to Snape. He looked so peaceful, the lines on his face etched by decades of scowling and sneering were ironed smooth. She smiled, "He looks good. It's amazing what a little beauty sleep will do for a person." She sat down on at the foot of the bed, as well.
The twinkle found Dumbledore's eyes again. He dribble a little antidote into Snape's mouth, then waved his wand, "Enervate." First, Snape's eyes fluttered open and was greeted with Dumbledore's bushy face and twinkling eyes. He was stiff, even his face, he noticed as he tried to curl his lip.
"How long?" Snape croaked.
"Sometime between lunch yesterday and dinner time, I imagine," Dumbledore replied.
"Welcome back to the living, Severus," greeted McGonagall. "What do you remember?"
Snape peeked under the covers, "I'm still in my robes." He stiffly got out of the bed and lumbered to his closet. His legs were still asleep as he dragged his toes on the plush green carpet. Not that anyone could tell, he emerged from his closet holding a fresh set of black robes and went into the bathroom for what seemed an eternity.
"Severus," Dumbledore called out, "you haven't fallen asleep, have you?"
"I'm fine," came the hoarse, muffled answer. "Arrrrggghhh!"
Finally, the bathroom door reopened. Snape was dressed, a reddish hue to his normally gray colored skin, either from scrubbing or from hot water, McGonagall imagined. His hair was wet down and combed back. "I must go. The Dark Lord calls."
"Severus, before you go," Dumbledore grasped him at the elbow, "What do you remember?"
"I remember lunch with you in Hogsmead. Malfoy and Crabbe were waiting for us when we returned. Malfoy! It was Lucius!" Snape growled as his eyes narrowed to slits.
"I remind you, again, Severus. Don't do anything rash, especially in the presence of other Death Eaters." Dumbledore let go of his arm. "Has the mark been burning all this time?"
"I don't think so, Headmaster. It would have blistered by now if it had been burning all night."
"One more thing, Moody was captured last night. Malfoy thinks he has me and neither man will be expecting you there." I'll walk with you into the forest and tell you about it.
~ ~ ~
Snape apparated to the meeting. Fortunately, it was large attendance and he could hang back in the crowd. Whatever the cause of the meeting, it was going to be a show for the Dark Lord. He had a special chair set up for him, almost like a throne. Snape walked around the area as everybody milled around. He made mental notes of possible exits, hiding places, and places to take cover in case of a raid. If he learned anything from his tormented years at Hogwarts, it was to expect anything at any time.
The area was a large clearing in the middle of a dark forest. Lucius Malfoy appeared and ordered everyone into a circle. Only Malfoy and Voldemort were the only ones without masks and hoods on. Snape recognized Crabbe from his size, next to Malfoy, and Bellatrix Lestrange from her bony hands. She stood to the left of Voldemort, and Malfoy stood to his right. Crabbe dragged out a large trunk in front of the Dark Lord and rejoined the circle. Malfoy kneeled before him, "My Lord, I recently happened upon an opportunity. I captured Albus Dumbledore and I present him to you." Voldemort said nothing, his red eyes glowed brighter as he nodded.
The hooded crowd gasped and drew their wands, pointing it at the trunk. Malfoy unlocked it and threw open the lid. Dumbledore was curled up in the trunk face down, all that could be seen were his purple robes and pointy hat flattened on his back. He didn't move until Malfoy waved his wand, "Enervate."
The body twitched then stood up, but not as tall as expected. Moody declared, "You are all under arrest! Put down your wands at once!"
Malfoy stepped back and tripped on his robes, "WHAT!?! It can't be!" He fell back on the soft forest floor. The Death Eaters all laughed, some doubled over. Voldemort was the first to draw his wand, but his spell hit Lucius Malfoy, turning him into a sleek golden ferret.
As spells started flying in all directions, Snape broke the circle and ran for a better vantage. Moody turned the trunk over and was crouched under it. Somebody thought enough to blow the trunk into the sky. When it cleared, Snape turned Moody into a ferret, as well, and didn't look back. Malfoy ran into the trees, and Snape ran after it. He managed to scoop it up just as Bellatrix spotted him. Snape tore off his mask and looked at her, "I'm going to Malfoy Mansion. Find the auror!" She nodded and ran off.
Snape held Malfoy in his cloak as he watched the other Death Eaters scouring the bushes. He pretended to do the same, only hoping the other one might find him now that he had his mask off. As he went along a line of bushes, something brushed his leg. He looked down to find a brown ferret with a claw for a hind leg, wiggling his nose up at him. He scooped up the other ferret and disapparated to Malfoy Mansion.