CHAPTER XVIII

A few leaves drifted harmlessly to the ground as a rustle came from up in the canopy. Two black robed sentries watched them fall, then looked up into the trees.

"What was that?" asked one in a deep voice. He was taller, and broader shouldered than the other.

"No idea, probably just a bird," said the other. This one sounded nasal and irritated.

The larger man drew his wand slowly, his eyes scanning the dense foliage above his head. There was another rustle, and he caught a glimpse of brown feathers, before there came an animal cry, and the bird launched itself from its perch and disappeared into the trees.

"Told you," said the smaller death eater.

The other grunted, but did not respond.

***

Harry landed a ways away, transforming back into a human as he touched the ground. Looking around to make sure no one was around, he ducked down and slid himself through a small gap between a huge fallen log, and the ground. The log had long since rotted away on the inside, leaving an empty shell surrounded by plants under which you could remain unseen. Inside, his old potions master sat next to a smokeless bluebell flame, eating some bread and salted ham, a scowling. As usual.

"It's no use," said Harry, brushing some dirt off his shoulder. "They've got the entire forest filled with sentries and camps. The whole thing is so thick with detection spells it's like walking through a bog. I'm still seeing spots from all the magic."

He rubbed a hand over his eyes and blinked rapidly. Snape chewed his bread thoughtfully. He seemed to have been suppressing his bad manners lately, something Harry found amusing and grateful for.

"You're sure there's no way we can get through?" he asked civilly.

Harry shook his head.

"You'd be as successful if you decided to blow a foghorn in every ear for 5 miles around."

Snape grimaced.

"We'll have to split up," he said, looking torn between joy and reluctance to break his promise to Dumbledore.

Harry nodded.

"If you show up there, all you have to do is find an excuse as to how you escaped and you're back in the clan. I'll have to slip by as a merlin" he said.

Snape shifted and reached over for his pack.

"Alright fine," he said irritably. He slipped his wand from his sleeve and waved it, forming a picture in midair. With little glowing X's he indicated where Harry should go.

"Fly to the west side of Azkaban, to the place where the wall has crumbled away. It's completely caved in and sealed off, but in your shadowcat form you should be able to pass through. There is an old drainage pipe that used to gather rainwater from the roof and run it straight into the ground," he circled his wand around the approximate spot, "but since the cave in, it's been split open. It leads straight down to the cells, where I suspect they're keeping the girl. You should be small enough as a merlin to fit through. From there you'll have to check each cell yourself."

Harry stared at him incredulously.

"How on earth do you know all that?" he asked.

Snape smirked.

"Merely observation Potter," he said in response. " Now listen carefully. Once you find Weasley you'll have to move fast. There is a hidden tunnel that leads straight under the water to the shore, its entrance begins just below the hall that leads to the Dark Lords throne room, take that."

Harry nodded briskly.

"I'll hang around to make sure everything goes alright with you."

Snape looked less than pleased, but didn't argue.

"You could always try and slip through the camp with me in the invisibility cloak." He suggested as well.

Harry shook his head, meanwhile part of him was silently shocked at this entirely decent conversation he was having with the man he hated.

"Too risky, I'll do it your way."

Snape, as though remembering he wasn't supposed to be acting decent towards Harry, merely nodded with an air of disinterest. He reached into his pack, and to Harry's surprise, pulled out three weapons, one of which was much to long to fit in any ordinary pack. They were rapped in cloth. Snape laid them out over the ground.

"Dumbledore gave these to give to you if you needed them. They were passed down from your mother I believe. The belong with the coat and belt."

Harry looked at him, puzzled. He reached over, for the longest object, which looked to be a sword, and unwrapped it. It was indeed a work of art. The pommel was wrapped expertly in black dragon hideLooks like hydraskin, Harry thought with wonder. The hilt itself was fashioned of a strange silvery black metal and carved with an elegant, yet simple geometric design. It looked familiar. The sheath was also covered in the black material. It had two little silver clips on the flat of it, just at the top, where Harry assumed you attached it your belt. When he flipped it over, he found, on the other side in the same spot as the clips would be, a silvery black insignia, in the form of a merlin, talons outstretched and wings spread as though ready to capture it's prey. A merlinHarry had a sudden realization where he'd seen this metal before. He pulled aside part of his trench coat and looked at his belt. The buckle and the little metal grommets and loops were all fashioned and carved in the same way from the same metal. It all made sense now. Harry recalled something Merlin had told him once. She, and therefore you, is a direct descendant of me.' Merlin had been referring to his mother, which explained why the weapons had been passed down to her. They must have stuck in the family, while the coat and the belt and the boots must have remained with Merlin. Harry looked at his belt again, seeing for the first time, several other loops. He slid his sheathed sword through one perfect sized loop, and clipped it on. He picked up the second object. It was also a blade of some kind, but a strange length.

"It's a medieval dagger," supplied Snape. "They made them longer at the time."

Harry nodded. It was about a foot and three inches long, and matched the sword. As Harry expected, one of the loops he had previously not know the use for fitted the dagger perfectly, although he spent several seconds fiddling with it until it lay right. The last blade, as Harry had expected, was a hunting knife. It sat comfortably just at his hip, just in reach of his fingers for short notice.

"I'll put the rest of your things in my bag," said Snape, interrupting his thoughts. Harry nodded. He got up on his knees and slid through the opening of the log, checking first to make sure the coast was clear. He beckoned, and climbed out more fully. When Snape was fully out, with his pack slung over his shoulder, Harry transformed into a merlin and flew into the trees.

***

Severus slipped through the dense forest, quiet as a snake, and eyed the death eater camp in front of him. One more step and their detection spells would raise the alarm. He stopped, tied on the black mask the exposed only his eyes and forehead, and then raised his hood. Pulling out his wand, he continued forward without any sign of hesitation. Shouts rang among the trees and there was the sound of running feet. Pulling down his hood and mask, he gazed calmly at the death eaters that had converged in around him.

"Severus Snape," said one.

"He was captured at Hogwarts," one said suspiciously, "how do we know it's really him?"

A smile crept across Severus' lips.

"You doubt that it is really me McNair?"

"Yes," hissed the other, "I do," more bravely than he should have when talking to someone of higher rank.

Snape gave a mirthless laugh, ringing unpleasantly through the area they stood in.

"Well then allow me to convince you," he said.

"Crucio."

***

Harry watched with a sort of unsurprised horror as Snape transformed completely from what he had been minutes ago, into an unfeeling, cold, terrifying character. At least there was no question as to his safety. Harry stayed long enough to hear Snape say he was to be taken to the Master, and then launched himself into the sky for the flight out to Azkaban, wings beating quick strong strokes. In a few seconds he was rocketing a long at a terrifying pace, exulting in the feel of the wind along his aerodynamic body. When he saw the coast ahead of him, he changed his direction slightly, heading directly out over the water.

***

Draco Malfoy woke up very abruptly at the sharp pain in his side as he rolled over on a rock. He was not, as he hade expected, in a bed at home, but rather lying on cold hard stone, and something cold was dripping down to his upper lip. He licked his lips, and realized his nose was bleeding slightly. He sat up, every muscle and joint screaming in protest and dabbed delicately at his nose. It didn't seem broken, although the rest of his body did. Draco looked around at his surroundings. It felt like he'd been asleep for years. His eyes traveled over the inlaid walls, with carvings on them, to the stone floor and then to the stairs at the top of which he seemed to be sitting. He turned and caught sight of soft looked black robes. His heart dropped into his bowels and he shivered. Everything gushed back into his head alarmingly, making it pound harder. He reached over, to brace himself on the floor and stood up, hissing as he did so. He clutched his forearm as he rose, gritting his teeth. It hurt more than anything he was accustomed to. As though someone had branded him. At this thought, his mind furiously backtracked through all of what he could remember. He threw back his sleeve hastily, confirming what he had wanted for so long, and strangely, what hewhat was it? Dread? Anger? No, that wasn't possible. This is what he'd wanted since he was old enough to understand what his father did. He wanted nothing more than to prove he could do it. And now he had. Draco bowed low to the horrible face in front of him and murmured,

"Master."

Voldemort extended a skeletal arm, and beckoned to him. Draco stepped closer. He was grabbed by the sleeve, which his new master threw back to examine to examine what was underneath. He trailed his fingers lightly, but nevertheless painfully over the burn and hissed in satisfaction.

"You are now one of us, Draco Malfoy," He stated. "And perhaps you will not be as irritating to me as your father. As for the news you so graciously bestowed on me while those imbeciles bickered outside about it, you are to be rewarded. And they will be punished."

Draco smiled, not feeling the least bit sorry.

***

Severus thanked whatever force was behind his luck as the deatheaters immediately cleared aside after his little demonstration. So far so good, he thought, knowing Voldemort would not be so impressed with something like that. He would no doubt want a good explanation as to how he, Snape, had managed to slip out of Hogwarts. He walked a step behind the sentry leading him to the safe apparition point in their camp. In a matter of seconds he would have to stick himself back into the middle of the setting he had been longing to escape from for so long. It was, unfortunately, also his job. He grimaced, an expression coming more and more easily to him lately. He noticed the people around him thought nothing of it. Positive expressions were rarely shown in a place like this. Snape scanned their respectfully downcast glances. He was willing to bet more than a few of them were regretting the decision they had made in joining this group. He hoped, in his hard heart, that they would come to their senses before it was too late. They reached a small clearing a few paces outside the edge of the camp. Little chips in the bark on the trees surrounding it marked the spot, and there was a shimmering barrier that separated it from anyone wanting to apparate. The sentry pulled out his want and murmured a little incantation, and the barriers fell, dissipating on impact in ripples, like water poured into a pond. Severus stepped impassively into the circle, accompanied by McNair, who had been following closely behind him. He clutched his side lightly and kept his nasty looks for when he thought Snape wasn't looking. The sentry outside the circle put the wards back up and signaled them to go ahead. Severus nodded, and disappeared with a pop.

It was some strange form of guided apparition, he felt as though he had been stuck into a tube and was pelting along inside of it in a direction that was not exactly what he'd intended. In an instant, he was inside Azkaban. However not where he'd though he would be. Instead of the apparition chamber, they were directly in Voldemort's throne room, a precaution, Severus guessed, against unwanted intruders. He looked up, beholding the source of his hatred in life, but also, something that surprised him: Draco Malfoy. Severus resisted shaking his head in regret, damn boy, he thought.

"Severus," came the familiar hiss, in a dangerous tone. "You have returned to us. How did you manage to escape this time?" he emphasized the last word, a his voice tinted with doubt.

Severus cringed inwardly, noticing Voldemort hand his wand in hand.

"Dumbledore released me, my lord," he said briefly.

"Ah, yes," responded the Dark Lord, this time his voice thick with hatred. "Dumbledore, the man who continuously thwarts me. But not for long, he released you, I believe, because he thinks you to be on his side, does he not?"

"Yes my Lord," responded Severus.

Voldemort caressed his wand with his stickly fingers, before lowering it and tapping the arm of his chair thoughtfully.

"And this is not true, is it Severus."

"Never, my Lord." Not.

"Good," he said slowly. "I would hate to lose by best potion brewer, especially when I will be needing you so soon."

What is that supposed to mean? Though Severus.

"Draco, I believe you father is looking for you, why don't you find him, and bring him to me, and you Severus, you will have plenty to do soon enough, I will summon you when you are needed."

This was a dismissal, Severus bowed low, and backed away a few steps out of respect before turning his back on the Dark Lord. He heard Draco Malfoy followed silently behind him, wondering what this job was that Voldemort spoke of, and wondering if the boy knew what he had gotten himself into.

***

Harry landed gingerly on a sharp piece of rock poking out of the ground. Similar pieces lay scattered all over, where the wall had collapsed somewhat forcefully some time ago. Changing into a cat, he found a good piece of shadow behind a large stone, and walked through the rubble in shadow matter form. He emerged onto the other side in a small room with one wall tumbled over and the cave-in at his back. He changed back into a merlin, and cast a sharp eye around for the drainage pipe Snape had spoken of. It came down through the roof in the corner, and when it was intact, would have continued down through the floor, but now there was a large chunk ripped out of the middle, plenty of room for Harry to fit through. He fluttered over and perched on the edge of the metal, casting one dubious eye down into the pitch-blackness of the tube. Here goes nothing, he thought vaguely, and pitched himself headfirst into it, hurtling downwards at breakneck speed, and wondering how exactly he was going to slow himself down.