A/N- Woo! I am definitely past my little writer's block, news I know many of you are glad to hear. I've discovered that my muse is on duty mostly between the hours of 1 am and 5 am, but that's not too bad, as work is in the evenings and I can come home and write. When I started posting this over two months ago, I thought I'd be getting all kinds of bad reviews, but, as you can see if you take a look, none of the hundred-odd reviews are bad. Claws, I'm sorry you got a bit bored, but I agree, Fifteen was the worst chapter so far. I've been in a whirlwind of writing lately, and Eighteen may follow close on this chapter's heels. Read on and ENJOY!!!
Bonds of Pain
Chapter 17
In which there are many discoveries
Severus snarled to himself as he made for the dungeons. Poppy Pomfrey had asked him to brew more Pepper-Up Potion for the infirmary stores recently, and potion-brewing would calm him. He had been speaking to Albus about Hagrid's tutoring when the Dream Team came in. Draco's treatment of Miss Brown had truly surprised him. The young man had been tender and careful with the unconscious Muggle-born witch, an attitude the Potions Master had only seen his godson take in the presence of his mother and absence of Lucius.
The gaunt man found himself with tears in his eyes at the thought of Narcissa. Between the way her husband treated her during term and her beloved son's torture in the next three weeks, the former Ravenclaw had taken leave of her senses. After Lucius' arrest, Aurors combing the Manor had found the strikingly beautiful woman gibbering on her bed. She now resided at St. Mungo's where the staff had experience in treating traumas similar to hers.
While Severus doubted that the strict and secretive Lucius had allowed his wife to tell their son of his grand heritage from her side of the family before the boy had received the Dark Mark, he was equally sure the headmaster would be telling him now. The war effort might depend on the children he taught, as little as he wanted to admit to the fact. Albus had finished explaining the lineage of both his godson and Potter less than half an hour before the Dream Team had interrupted with their prophecy.
He didn't really believe in divination, but when a strange voice came from a person in cryptic sentences, he took notice. If Miss Brown really had spoken with a male voice, delivering the lines he had seen over his mentor's shoulder, then a search for the six Dreamers was in order. Because the Order of the Phoenix was to meet that evening, he suspected Albus would ask then for help in the quest.
Severus shook his head. There was just over a week before Halloween, and the full moon landed the day before. Lupin would need to begin taking the Wolfsbane Potion the next day for the full effect, and it needed to be brewed tonight, especially if he was going to test his fur theory. At least he could Floo to his manor in Greece and test the potion with his computer. A former student who specialized in Muggles electronics had helped him develop the program and the probes that would test magical properties without risking lives. As Hagrid was learning under Minerva this evening, he would be free to do all the brewing and testing he needed. Lupin's data was stored on the computer, and all that was needed was the potion and the fur.
Two hours later, Severus filled a large flask with a portion of the completed potion and sealed it, pouring a bit of wax over the cork for safety. A phial of grizzled werewolf fur—Lupin's, of course—went into an inner pocket. Stepping through the Floo Network into his villa, he took a deep breath and savoured the salty Mediterranean air. He had inherited the house and island, but the locale had been one of his favourites since childhood. He looked out a window at the sheltered beach and the multicoloured sunset before entering the lab to boot up the Muggle contraption.
~Twenty years ago, I would have scoffed at the idea of Muggles inventing something so ingenious without the aid of magic, but they did,~ he thought. While his classes would be vastly enhanced through the use of computers, Severus knew the machines could not work in the magical environment that was the castle.
A clean beaker on the table before him, he decanted a bit of the smoking potion into it, followed by four carefully selected hairs from the phial. A light swirl changed the colour from a smoky violet to a deep indigo, still smoking. Satisfied that his results were as predicted, Severus inserted the proper sensor and started the intricate program. With nothing to do until the test was finished, the Potions Master moved to the kitchen and retrieved a Pepsi form the icebox before retreating to a comfortable seat on the balcony, where he watched the waxing moon rise.
He was woken from a light doze by the insistent chirping from the computer that signified the end of the test. Crossing his fingers and hoping for luck, Severus rose to check the results. Blinking on the screen were two phrases that caused Severus Snape, dour Potions Master and most feared teacher at Hogwarts, to whoop in joy.
TESTING COMPLETE.
SUBJECT ON FILE CURED OF LYCANTHROPY.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You're not joshing?" Harry asked the headmaster. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Himself the heir of both Merlin and Gryffindor? And Draco the heir of Ravenclaw? This was beyond bizarre. The blond to his right looked equally stunned, but just to be sure, he pinched himself. "Ow."
"No, Harry, I am not. I only hope that the two of you and the Dreamers from Miss Brown's prophecy will be able to defeat Voldemort. As Harry has lately seen in his visions, Voldemort is rapidly gaining power. It is my sincerest hope that you and the Dreamers will be ready when the time comes to fight."
Harry frowned, and the gleam of Gryffindor's sword on his lap caught his eye. ~We didn't tell him about our weapons training, did we?~ he asked his friend. The paler boy gave a tiny shake of his head. "Sir, we have to admit we're a tad ahead of you there. We—the Dream Team, that is—purchased armaments during the first Hogsmeade weekend, and we've been practicing with them ever since." He blushed and ducked his head, half-expecting to be reprimanded for acting without approval.
"Really? Excellent use of your own judgement and initiative, gentlemen. One less thing for us to do in preparation. May I see these weapons?" Draco nodded and reached into his robes as Harry moved his own to unbuckle the daggers and their belt. The dark-haired boy carefully laid blades, scabbards, and belt on the desk as Draco murmured a spell and his sword grew to full size in his hands. Dumbledore pushed his half-moon spectacles higher on his nose ad he peered at first the giant sword and then the vicious-looking daggers.
"Interesting. These both look very familiar, for some reason. Follow me, please." The bearded man stood and tipped a book near where Gryffindor's sword had lain. The shelves moved to reveal a set of rooms that seemed to be Dumbledore's private abode. Harry carefully held his daggers and the slivery sword , and Draco swung his sword-belt across his torso, the meter of blade in its proper place slanting over his back.
Inside the rooms, the silver-haired wizard stopped them before a large canvas in the second room. The painting was empty at the moment, save for four closed doors bearing familiar colours. Each was subtly trimmed in the combination of one of the four Houses. Dumbledore rapped gently on the frame of the portrait before calling out.
"Godric? Rowena? Could I speak to you for a few minutes?" In response, the red-and-gold door cracked open and a head appeared. Harry only registered bright blue eyes and tousled black hair before the painted wizard spoke.
"Albus! Good to see you again, old chap. A question, you say?" As the wizard stepped into the painting from behind the door, the green-eyed young man could clearly see the Sword of Gryffindor over his shoulder. This, then, must be his ancestor, Godric Gryffindor. Moments later, a blonde witch opened the blue-and-bronze portal.
"Good evening, Albus," she said stiffly. "May I ask who these two young gentlemen are?" The woman gave Harry a brief, piercing look that sent shivers down his spine before she fixed Draco with a stare. Dumbledore just smiled.
"The young man holding your sword, Godric, is Harry Potter, your heir and also Merlin's. The other is Draco Malfoy, the last of Rowena's line. Actually, my question is about your favoured arms." Godric seemed to stop listening after the mention of Harry being his descendant.
"Really. I must say, Harry, it looks like you inherited the family hair, as well as having my sword." The legendary wizard ran a careless hand through his own coal-black lock before reaching back over his shoulder to lightly caress the hilt of his painted sword.
"Yes. I told you Harry withdrew it from the Sorting Hat in his second year to defeat the basilisk in Salazar's Chamber. I wanted to know if you recognized these." Dumbledore carefully drew one of the daggers and held it up towards the portrait.
"Powers above! Albus, I lost those just a year before this picture was painted! My other self kept looking for them until the day he died. Of course I recognize them. They took months to forge, and then there's the time it took for all those enchantments. I'm so glad they've been found at last." Harry gaped. The storekeeper's rumour had been truth: they were Gryffindor's.
"I was hoping that was the case," the headmaster said, smiling. "I only saw them for the first time a few minutes ago. Harry might need to know about those enchantments later." Handing back the dagger, the wizened wizard turned to Draco as Harry replaced the red leather belt around his hips. When the headmaster bared the blade of Draco's sword, Rowena Ravenclaw's portrait gave voice to a very undignified squawk.
"That's my sword! Goddess of the Woods, I thought my other self would lose her mind when it disappeared. With the work she put into it, I don't blame her, either. It took forever to find good quality blue leather in the right shade." Harry could see Dumbledore's moustache twitch in amusement. Evidently the old man was trying not to laugh.
"Wonderful. Godric, I take it Harry has your blessing to carry both the daggers and your sword? And, Rowena, you don't mind Draco bearing your sword?"
"Of course I don't mind, Albus. He's my heir after all. Just be careful with it, young man. I'll help Albus make a list of the charms on it for you to study." The painted blonde reminded Harry strongly of Hermione. He was surprised when his friend swept into a graceful bow.
"Of course, my lady." The old smooth tones from their second meeting—but first officially—crept into the blond's voice. "It has been a great pleasure to meet you." Draco winked at Harry when he straightened. Realizing what he was supposed to do, he tried to copy his friend.
"A great honour, my lady Ravenclaw, my lord Gryffindor." He wobbled a bit, but "the Wonder boy of the wizarding world" kept from falling.
{Well, that was… intriguing,} Draco mused once they had left the tower. They were again on their way towards Gryffindor Tower, and this time they would not be turned aside.
~Absolutely, mate. Gryffindor must have done something truly sneaky to hide those enchantments, whatever they are. Even someone who finds them on objects for a living couldn't see them.~ Harry was insisting on a mental conversation to assure they would not be overheard. He had a vaguely unsettled feeling, as if his subconscious was warning him of some danger.
{You know, you're transmitting that irritating feeling. Maybe it's some sort of sixth sense.} Crabbe and Goyle lumbered past, glowering at the paler boy before crashing into a suit of armour because they weren't looking where they were going. Both Harry and Draco had to stifle guffaws as the armour proceeded to give the two lumps a sound thrashing, chasing them down the hall.
~You could be right. Shall we go to the library after dinner?~
{Of course. Bring the Cloak, though, we may need it to get into the Restricted Section.} Harry rolled his eyes at the blond's comment.
~You want to see if you can find the really dangerous information on sixth senses, you mean.~ His companion merely smirked.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco growled to himself and shut the book in front of him with a dust-filled snap! They would have to check the Restricted Section after all, as none of the books they had found in the stacks had any worthwhile information.
Lav had roused just before dinner and was feeling quite herself now that the prophecy had been delivered. Ron and 'Mione had disappeared after the meal, no doubt to find themselves a secluded nook. Ginny had dragged Lav up to the girls' dormitories over some cosmetic, leaving the two boys free to ransack the library.
"Madam Pince," the blond murmured as he approached the circulation desk, "I'd like to do some research in the Restricted Section, if I may." He expected a blunt refusal, but it never hurt to ask.
"Help yourself, Mr. Malfoy," the librarian replied, much to his shock. She must have seen his face, despite remaining engrossed in a thick tome. "The headmaster has requested that I give you and the rest of your little gang unlimited access." Looking up, the woman pierced him with a glare. "However, damage to any book is, as usual, intolerable. Harm one page, and I will do my utmost to have you banned from this facility." Draco simply nodded in acquiescence and strode to the dark, fenced-off shelves.
Ten minutes later, e normally dignified young man was doing his best not to throw a temper tantrum. There was no system in this section of the library at all! The books were, of course, chained to the shelves, but they were in no particular order. Moste Potente Potions sat to the left of a volume on ancient runic systems, and on the other side was a book of classic and complex rituals. He had half a mind to just remove the chains, sort the mouldy tomes by subject himself, and then reattach the chains. Perhaps Madam Pince would appreciate his reorganization.
Suddenly, three feet from Moste Potente Potions, the blond found a helpful book. He carefully copied the entire text on sensory divination and reshelved the moulding original before quietly exiting the cordoned-off stacks and sitting across the table from his raven-haired friend.
"I think this will help," he whispered, depositing the sheaf of parchment between them. The top sheet, serving as a title page, read Sensory Divination for Imbeciles. He raised one eyebrow on hearing a snort of suppressed laughter from the Boy Wonder.
"Sensory Divination for Dummies?" the other queried. "There's a whole series of Muggle books on various subjects that are 'for Dummies'. I wonder if the author is one of us… a wizard or witch, I mean." Harry's shoulders shook with silent laughter.
"Oh. Wait a tick, are these books bright yellow and black with a cartoon bloke on them?" The Malfoy heir had seen one thick tome by that description in Lucius' private library before. It had been entitled Dark Torture for Dummies.
"Mmm-hmm. Didn't know you'd been to a Muggle library or bookstore before."
"I haven't. I'm willing to wager that not only was the author magical, but he or she walks on the darker side of our world as well."
"That would explain why the instructions in the Muggle books don't always work right." The younger boy rolled his eyes. He must have had personal experience. Draco shuddered at the thought that the author of the Dummies books might have written the one he had just copied. Undoubtedly, the author was still around. Then he blinked as several random bits in his head connected.
"I just had the most unsettling thought. What if the Dummies author wrote this book, and he's still around?" He gave his friend a worried look, met by a shocked glance before Harry shifted the parchment between them so he could read. A few sheets turned to reveal the publishing information.
"Nineteen forty-six, Tom M. Riddle. Damn! This can't be right…" Not understanding the babble, Draco settled for staring blankly at his friend. The green eyes caught the stare briefly before an explanation began.
"Back in forty-two, the Chamber of Secrets was opened for the first time since Salazar Slytherin left the school. Tom Riddle supposedly caught the culprit, fingering Hagrid and getting him expelled. A Muggle-born girl was killed just before Tom 'caught' Hagrid. Tom was in sixth year at the time, I believe. He got an award for special services to the school and was told to keep his mouth shut. But here's the rub." Grabbing a scarp of parchment and one of his strange pens with a metal quill tip, the Seeker scrawled a name.
TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE
"He later scrambled the letters of his full name to give himself an alias that would strike fear into the hearts of his enemies and make most people fear and obey him." The dark boy wrote again, below the first name.
I AM LORD VOLDEMORT
"Get it? Mouldywarts himself wrote this book, two years after he graduated and three years after he opened the Chamber, framed Hagrid, and killed Moaning Myrtle."
It took a few seconds for the new information to sink in. So much was causing him to shift previous knowledge and slowed his synapses a fraction. Then the last phrase hit him.
"So his first kill was Myrtle… Have you told her? I mean, that Mouldy killed her? She might go haunt him instead of the girls' loo. Dunno why she's there in particular." He'd never figured that, and he wasn't about to go in there and ask the shade.
"She died there." The frank statement made Draco blink. "The entrance to the Chamber is in the sinks, and she looked out of a stall straight into the eyes of Mouldy's basilisk. I told you about killing it in second year."
"Oh." He would have to check his reference on ghosts, but they might be able to persuade Myrtle to haunt her killer instead of the locale where she died. He told Harry as much. "If we can get her to go after Mouldywarts, she might be willing to spy on him for us. Merlin knows we need good information that Uncle Sev can't bring us anymore." As he watched, Harry's lips curled into a truly devious smirk, sending the hairs on the back of the blond's neck straight up. That look on his friend's face was frightening.
What did Rowena and Godric do to their weapons? What will Myrtle say to Harry and Draco's suggestion? Find out next chapter!
Review, please!
Beth Weasley