Title: A Broken Beginning Ch 11

Author: Nicki C.

Email: Nimacu@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: "It's all been done before"- Barenaked Ladies.  I don't own Buffy.   Nor do I own the world of Harry Potter.  They both belong to Joss and J.K.

Summery: Something happens that causes the Scoobies to head to England.

Feedback: I used to think that I didn't need it and it wasn't very important, but then I got some and I really liked it, in fact the more feedback I got the more I wanted. I think you get the idea.

Thank You

AlienBeing- As always you're a wonderful Beta-reader

Jeanne- Glad you like it.

Wild- Thank you and finally here's more.

Angeleyes- I'll try and keep it up.

Mystic Queen- Researcher's Rock

Steph-It might be awhile before they get together, but I'm setting up for it big time.

Slyslayer13- I am dedicated, and I constantly kick myself over plot holes. *Blushes* I've never been called brilliant before.

Dark Comet- Thank you

Athene Saile- I'm trying

Ally- This is a little longer than some of the others.  They probably could be really long I just get so excited when I write that I want to post write away. 

AND MY BIGGEST THANK YOU TO JENNIFER S. who put me on her favorite author's list.  I was so honored I almost cried (seriously).

Severus surveyed his surroundings, looking at the other wizards and witches who occupied the dank pub, it was dark and gloomy and so were the people in it.  Usually it was his favorite place to be but today as he sat there with a pint of Butterbeer in front of him his stomach was in knots.  He knew that very possibly these could be his last moments on earth.  The girl at Hogwarts had been a surprise and he hated surprises, especially when his not knowing could very well mean his death was imminent.  But he had no choice but to wait and see. 

The Black Candle was without a doubt the place to be for anyone involved in the dark arts, he owled Lucius Malfoy and was waiting for him to arrive.  Lucius who was at this moment one of the escaped prisoners from the "happier, friendlier" Azkaban.  In other words, he'd spent a couple of weeks in the dementor-less prison before he'd escaped with the three others he'd been arrested with. Lucius was probably the closest thing Severus had to a friend in Voldemort's army, they'd grown up together and he knew that Lucius was the safest person to get the answers from that he so desperately needed. 

Just as Severus was starting to worry Lucius wouldn't show, the blond wizard walked in the door.  Severus smirked to himself as he watched him, any other man who was on the run from the entire magical community would disguise himself or at least keep a low profile, but not Luc, nope.  He arrived with as much flare as ever, almost daring somebody to try and stop him.  

Lucius pushed his trademark Malfoy blonde hair out of his face as he spotted Severus and sat down at the table with him.  Lucius motioned for the waitress to bring him a Butterbeer and turned to his companion.

"What was so bloody important that we had to meet right now Severus?"  Lucius asked.

"We had a visitor last night at Hogwarts, would you know anything about that?"

"DAMN, you do know I'm supposed to be a fugitive don't you?  You called me all the way here to ask me if I know anything about a visitor at Hogwarts?"

"God, this can't be good," Severus gave a defeated sigh and put his head on the table.

"Well what is it? What's so special about this visitor? Why did you need to discuss it with me?"

Severus seemed to debate a moment, staring at the impatient man next to him before speaking. 

"Well, around eleven thirty or so Minerva McGonagall was doing a check of the grounds and she found something she wasn't expecting" Severus paused, trying to drag the story out.  Some things never got old, and irritating Lucius was one of those things.

"Would you continue, you fool, what did she find?"

"The Dark Mark above the Gates.  And of course she went and got Dumbledore. And the minute he heard that old fool ran out there by himself to see what had happened." He'd added the last part because of course he was supposed to hate Dumbledore.

"Never was one to wait for reinforcements was he? Too sure of himself; that'll be his downfall in the end…Now if..." Lucius stopped, as he seemed to realize that he was starting to rant.  "Enough of that for now I suppose, what did he find by the Gate?"

"A unconscious girl, an American Witch to be exact."  Severus decided that Lucius didn't need to know what was so special about the girl.  He was the enemy after all.

Lucius looked at the table and his face formed into a frown as he processed that information.  Then looking up at Severus with a hint of panic.  (Only a hint of course since Malfoy's don't panic).  Slowly Lucius spoke.  "I had no idea what happened, and that can't be good." 

Severus gave an exasperated sigh "That's precisely my point."

~.~.~.~.~.

In a dark room somewhere in Canada.

A short, pale balding man stood next to a cloaked figure, the man fidgeted nervously listening the other talk. "It's all working perfectly Wormtail, my plans are finally coming together.  With nothing but the boy wonder to stop me, I'll be the greatest and only evil in the world." 

The man he'd referred to as Wormtail seemed to be debating whether or not to speak.  "Yes, my Dark Lord."  He stopped for a moment and even though he thought better of it spoke again "But why Lord have you excluded Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy?"

The cloaked figure lashed out and hit the little man. "That's for me to know and you to not worry about, just know if you see them you're to kill on contact."

"Ye..Ye..Yes my Lord."  The man answered crying from the pain of the blow.

~.~.~.~.~.~

"She's crying, Merlin.  She's crying!"  Charlie shouted to the medi-witch. 

"I've noticed that, young man.  Would you please give me a moment of silence to work with here?"  Pomfrey spoke in her no nonsense tone.

"Of course, sorry.  Just got a little excited." Charlie looked properly contrite.

Percy looked over at his brother with smug superiority.  A look that clearly said, "a mature wizard would never behave like that." But in all honesty Percy was as excited as his brother.  If the witch was crying, then somewhere deep inside she must be ok.  This was the best news they'd gotten so far.  If the girl woke up she might know something that would lead them to Voldemort.  Percy's thoughts continued to cycle in much the same manner until he noticed the older witch was standing straight up again and looked as though she was about to speak.

"Well boys, although it's a good sign that mentally there's something left of her.  I dare say physically her condition hasn't changed at all."  She grimaced as if saying it made it more so.

"Well at least it's something."  Charlie remarked.

"Yes, I daresay it's an improvement," Percy agreed.

"Yes, boys of course your right, I'm just a little disappointed that nothing I've tried has worked so far.  Now could one of you run and give Professor McGonagall the update."  As Pomfrey turned to head to her office she added  "And make sure she knows there's no reason to rush here."

"I'll go." Charlie told Percy.

"All right, I suppose.  I'll stay here and keep watch." Percy refrained from looking at Charlie as he spoke.

Charlie left the Hospital Wing and Headed toward McGonagall's office.  He could remember heading there as a teenager when he got in trouble.  Although now the feelings of trepidation and worry had nothing to do with dung bombs in the Potions room and everything to do with red-headed witches and evil Lords.  As he walked there he thought back to the last time he'd been in her office.

***"I'm incredibly disappointed in you Mr. Weasley.  As captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team your supposed to set an example for the student body.  I'll have you know Snape wants you removed from the team altogether.  But as always my soft spot for you won and you'll be doing detention with me until Easter." ***

Charlie couldn't ever remember a time where he'd been in trouble at Hogwarts that Professor McGonagall hadn't stood up for him.  When he'd been younger she'd been his hero, and then when he'd gotten older for a short time he'd developed a crush on the older witch (although for all the galleon's in the world he wouldn't admit it to anyone).  Although he still didn't know why she favored him, he'd found a kindred soul in the witch and she'd been a mentor to him as well.  He'd like to think that it was the same kind of relationship that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had with Dumbledore. It'd eased his mind to know that the three of them had a champion at Hogwarts as well.

By this time he'd reached the door to her office, he knocked quickly and then walked in without waiting for an answer. 

"Well hello, Mr. Weasley I see you manners haven't changed any" Her tone was strict, but her eyes were kind as she reprimanded him.

"Yeah, can't do too much about that.  It was that awful education I had.  You should have met some of the teachers.  Unbelievable." He joked with her. His voice and face both took a serious tone as he spoke. "But seriously I have an update about the girl."

"Well, what is it?"

"She was crying." McGonagall started to interrupt him but he put up a hand to quiet her.  "Don't get too excited though, Madame Pomfrey says that her physical condition is the same."  He sounded dejected as he spoke the last part.

There was a small smile on McGonagall's face as she spoke "Yes, but don't you understand what this means?"

"Yeah, all the lights may be out but somebody's home."

~.~.~.~.~.~.

"What are you grinning about Harry?" Ron looked at him quizzically over the pile of books between them in the back of the library.  The grin quickly disappeared from Harry's face as he swore

"Oh bloody hell!" He continued after a moment  "Nothing nothing at all. Voldemort must be the happy one."  Ron seemed to accept this and continued reading.  But Harry wasn't done ranting.  "I'm so sick of this! I feel like I've got this other person I share my emotions with and I can't do anything about it…" Harry was going to continue ranting but Hermione started shushing him and pointed to the front of the library where Madame Pince sat.  All three teens settled back into their reading with Hermione occasionally jotting down a random note. 

Suddenly Harry lifted his head up and exclaimed loudly.  "By Merlin, you two are never going to believe this!"