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Chapter six. The here and now
The students had finally departed for the summer and the castle heaved a sigh of relief. The teachers were gathered for their last official meal of the term before those who actually had a life outside Hogwarts would go to their well earned rest.
Severus was not actually one of them; he lived in the castle all year, students or no students. Dumbledore was presiding over the meal as usual, which was held in an anti-chamber of the great hall. "We must be thankful to have survived this year, more or less intact, it has been difficult for all of us. I hope next year will not be quiet so stressful, however with the open acceptance of Voldemort's return, I have a feeling that things can only get worse, however that should not stop us from enjoying our meal, so please." Dumbledore indicated to the food laden plates.
There was a general chatter as the teachers ate, pleasantly quiet without the students, halfway through the meal Severus felt a familiar burning in his arm, he rose so swiftly from the table he caused Professor Flitwick to tumble from his place. "I must take my leave, I apologize" and with a swish of his black robes he left the room closing the door behind him, he broke into a run, summoning his death-eater robes from his chambers on his way out of the castle. The robes caught up with him at the gates were he ran beyond the castle limits before apperating to the meeting, wondering what new crisis had emerged.
"What took you so long?" hissed Voldemort, "I do not appreciate being kept waiting"
"My apologies Lord, but I had to leave the boundaries of the castle to reach here" answered Severus in a quiet voice.
"Were you able to find out the boy's location?"
"No Lord, Dumbledore alone knows where he spends his holiday" replied Severus.
"You too have failed me" Severus fought to remain standing as the Cruciatus curse ripped through his body, he was vaguely aware of the ever present form of Pettigrew, wringing his hands in delight as he watched. Severus concentrated on him staring malevolently, eventually Pettigrew turned away, and Severus felt that small insignificant victory.
The pain subsided and Voldemort spoke again,"Dumbledore, he always manages to protect the boy, I had thought that you would be a useful spy for us at Hogwarts, was I mistaken?" Voldemort raised his voice a fraction.
"My Lord is wiser than I in these matters" Severus returned with just the right amount of arrogance. It had the hoped for effect The Dark Lord's rasping laugh echoed around them, making Pettigrew squirm slightly, "I like your spirit! Does Dumbledore suspect that you are reporting to me?"
"He is suspicious of me, but will not act without proof; his greatest weakness is giving those around him a second chance!" Severus smiled sinisterly. He knew the Dark Lord was testing him again, hoping for some idea of his true feelings, Severus allowed his resentment of Dumbledore's continuing interference in his affairs stray to the forefront of his thoughts, better to mislead The Dark Lord than to block him out completely arousing his suspicions.
"You did well softening the boy's mind for me, did you use a potion?" asked Voldemort. "Yes Lord," Severus lied, "it was effective?"
"It was, however the fools I sent to the ministry were not, many of them are in Azkaban, I will leave them there for a while, let them ponder their failure before allowing them to return." Replied Voldemort.
"Dumbledore has arranged wizards to guard the prison after the last breakout" Severus told him.
"I am aware of this" hissed Voldemort, "he knows the dementors are no longer loyal to the ministry, it only makes our task simpler."
Severus walked a dangerous line, Voldemort had to believe he was giving him all the information he could, yet he could not reveal any of the secrets that would put the order in danger.
"I have contacted the Goblins, they will be useful allies, and they can control the trolls easily, in the mean time return to Hogwarts and find me access to the boy! Some of his little friends must know where he spends the summer" Severus knew he was dismissed but as he turned to leave he heard Voldemort whisper "Wormtail?"
The curse hit Severus in the back; a surprisingly warm feeling tingled down his spine, he realized it was the warmth of his own blood running freely from the large chunk of flesh Pettigrew's curse had ripped from his back. Severus turned and pointed his wand at Pettigrew waiting, Pettigrew stepped back a pace, fear apparent on his face, and said, "no-one turns his back on The Dark Lord"
Severus looked at The Dark Lord with his eyebrow raised in question, Voldemort smiled benevolently and said "you may go."
Retreating backwards, keeping one eye on the Rat, Severus left the room, he closed the door and leant against it for support, he had lost too much blood and would soon have no energy left to apperate, but still he pressed his ear on the door and waited.
He did not wait long however, Pettigrew's indistinct, cowardly mutter could be discerned and in answer Voldemorts hissed "find me information on squibs, Dumbledore cannot put wizards near the Boy as we could track them, he must be using someone else to pass him information, the birth records are at the ministry, start there and follow the family lines, try the oldest families first, they have more squibs born than any other. Well why are you still here? Go now"
Severus hurried back from the door and disapperated, he fell on his hands and knee's just beyond Hogwarts gates, it seemed like a much greater distance now, than when he had run down the hill less than an hour ago! Raising his wand, he was amazed at the effort required to send the bright silver light towards Dumbledore just as he passed out in the dirt.
Dumbledore was just rising from the dinner table when a light burst in front of him and Severus' voice could be heard "A little assistance at the front gates if you please" Dumbledore ran uncharacteristically out the front door and down to the gates.
Chapter six. The here and now
The students had finally departed for the summer and the castle heaved a sigh of relief. The teachers were gathered for their last official meal of the term before those who actually had a life outside Hogwarts would go to their well earned rest.
Severus was not actually one of them; he lived in the castle all year, students or no students. Dumbledore was presiding over the meal as usual, which was held in an anti-chamber of the great hall. "We must be thankful to have survived this year, more or less intact, it has been difficult for all of us. I hope next year will not be quiet so stressful, however with the open acceptance of Voldemort's return, I have a feeling that things can only get worse, however that should not stop us from enjoying our meal, so please." Dumbledore indicated to the food laden plates.
There was a general chatter as the teachers ate, pleasantly quiet without the students, halfway through the meal Severus felt a familiar burning in his arm, he rose so swiftly from the table he caused Professor Flitwick to tumble from his place. "I must take my leave, I apologize" and with a swish of his black robes he left the room closing the door behind him, he broke into a run, summoning his death-eater robes from his chambers on his way out of the castle. The robes caught up with him at the gates were he ran beyond the castle limits before apperating to the meeting, wondering what new crisis had emerged.
"What took you so long?" hissed Voldemort, "I do not appreciate being kept waiting"
"My apologies Lord, but I had to leave the boundaries of the castle to reach here" answered Severus in a quiet voice.
"Were you able to find out the boy's location?"
"No Lord, Dumbledore alone knows where he spends his holiday" replied Severus.
"You too have failed me" Severus fought to remain standing as the Cruciatus curse ripped through his body, he was vaguely aware of the ever present form of Pettigrew, wringing his hands in delight as he watched. Severus concentrated on him staring malevolently, eventually Pettigrew turned away, and Severus felt that small insignificant victory.
The pain subsided and Voldemort spoke again,"Dumbledore, he always manages to protect the boy, I had thought that you would be a useful spy for us at Hogwarts, was I mistaken?" Voldemort raised his voice a fraction.
"My Lord is wiser than I in these matters" Severus returned with just the right amount of arrogance. It had the hoped for effect The Dark Lord's rasping laugh echoed around them, making Pettigrew squirm slightly, "I like your spirit! Does Dumbledore suspect that you are reporting to me?"
"He is suspicious of me, but will not act without proof; his greatest weakness is giving those around him a second chance!" Severus smiled sinisterly. He knew the Dark Lord was testing him again, hoping for some idea of his true feelings, Severus allowed his resentment of Dumbledore's continuing interference in his affairs stray to the forefront of his thoughts, better to mislead The Dark Lord than to block him out completely arousing his suspicions.
"You did well softening the boy's mind for me, did you use a potion?" asked Voldemort. "Yes Lord," Severus lied, "it was effective?"
"It was, however the fools I sent to the ministry were not, many of them are in Azkaban, I will leave them there for a while, let them ponder their failure before allowing them to return." Replied Voldemort.
"Dumbledore has arranged wizards to guard the prison after the last breakout" Severus told him.
"I am aware of this" hissed Voldemort, "he knows the dementors are no longer loyal to the ministry, it only makes our task simpler."
Severus walked a dangerous line, Voldemort had to believe he was giving him all the information he could, yet he could not reveal any of the secrets that would put the order in danger.
"I have contacted the Goblins, they will be useful allies, and they can control the trolls easily, in the mean time return to Hogwarts and find me access to the boy! Some of his little friends must know where he spends the summer" Severus knew he was dismissed but as he turned to leave he heard Voldemort whisper "Wormtail?"
The curse hit Severus in the back; a surprisingly warm feeling tingled down his spine, he realized it was the warmth of his own blood running freely from the large chunk of flesh Pettigrew's curse had ripped from his back. Severus turned and pointed his wand at Pettigrew waiting, Pettigrew stepped back a pace, fear apparent on his face, and said, "no-one turns his back on The Dark Lord"
Severus looked at The Dark Lord with his eyebrow raised in question, Voldemort smiled benevolently and said "you may go."
Retreating backwards, keeping one eye on the Rat, Severus left the room, he closed the door and leant against it for support, he had lost too much blood and would soon have no energy left to apperate, but still he pressed his ear on the door and waited.
He did not wait long however, Pettigrew's indistinct, cowardly mutter could be discerned and in answer Voldemorts hissed "find me information on squibs, Dumbledore cannot put wizards near the Boy as we could track them, he must be using someone else to pass him information, the birth records are at the ministry, start there and follow the family lines, try the oldest families first, they have more squibs born than any other. Well why are you still here? Go now"
Severus hurried back from the door and disapperated, he fell on his hands and knee's just beyond Hogwarts gates, it seemed like a much greater distance now, than when he had run down the hill less than an hour ago! Raising his wand, he was amazed at the effort required to send the bright silver light towards Dumbledore just as he passed out in the dirt.
Dumbledore was just rising from the dinner table when a light burst in front of him and Severus' voice could be heard "A little assistance at the front gates if you please" Dumbledore ran uncharacteristically out the front door and down to the gates.