title: Summer Lessons
chapter 4: Locations?
author: Raven Dancer

disclaimer: All characters property of JK Rowlings with the exceptions of the Drs. Barnes. I receive no monetary compensation for these works.



Harry pushed into the hotel room. His eyes settled on the non-descript black suitcase next to the closet. Black followed him in and threw himself on the bed with a dramatic sigh.

The damned git did this on purpose! He just wants to
ruin our vacation! the animagus asserted. Lupin leaned against the door jamb.

That's unfair Siri! Severus just forgot, he countered.

You promised you'd flame Professor Dumbledore this
morning if the bag wasn't picked up, Harry ignored his godfather and stared at Lupin. Another melodramatic sigh sounded from the bed.

Yes, I did promise, the werewolf agreed. He crossed the room and sat at the desk positioning a heavy ashtray in front of him. Using his wand he touched the center of the glass object.

Lupin commanded and a bright yellow-blue flame sprung up. Harry handed him a small pouch and stood against his shoulder peering into the flame. Taking a pinch of greyish powder Lupin tossed it on the flame and spoke Dumbledore's name aloud.

After a full minute Lupin began to take another pinch of powder; then the head of the Headmaster appeared, half in the flame half above it.

Well, Remus! Delightful. Hello Harry! Dumbledore's cheerful voice filled the room.

Hello Headmaster, the younger wizard answered dutifully. He then nudged his older companion.

How's London? Are you having a good time? Dumbledore asked curiously.

Oh, it's great, Harry said half-heartedly. We went to a
football game yesterday afternoon.

Splendid! Muggles have such intriguing games, the Headmaster chirped.

Albus, we know this is rather silly, but did Severus forget
to send Dobby out for his bag? Lupin hesitantly asked. The face in the flames looked confused.

Why would Dobby come for Severus' things? Doesn't he
need them? Dumbledore asked.

I'm sure he does. That's why we wondered if Dobby was
busy. Severus left yesterday you know, Lupin explained. The confusion changed to one more akin to fear.

No, I didn't know Severus left yesterday, Dumbledore said firmly.

He apparated to the beach house about 1in the afternoon
our time... Harry said over Lupin's shoulder.

Remus, Severus did not come here, the Headmaster asserted. Harry gripped the werewolf's shoulder and Black rose from the bed to join them.

But we saw him leave Albus, the animagus flustered.

Severus Snape is not here, Dumbledore reiterated. The older wizard's face fell.
And if he's not here and he's not with you then...

He's been captured, Harry choked out.

I'll... I'll start inquiries, the Headmaster began.
You just carry on with your vacation.

Harry and Lupin responded immediately.

Albus, we'll come and help, Black said softly.

I'll send Dobby. He'll get you here, Dumbledore muttered.

Albus? It'll be ok, we'll be there soon, Lupin half-heartedly consoled the despondent wizard. There was no answer, just slight shrug and the Headmaster disappeared from the flame.

Within the hour they'd packed and apparated to the spacious beach house Dumbledore owned. A sanctuary from the turmoil of Hogwarts and the Ministry and all things populated. Warm and bright with a steady tropical breeze.

But today it seemed cold. The Headmaster was brooding in the sun-washed kitchen, fidgeting with a tea kettle. He gave no indication that he even noticed the three wizards that sat down at his table.

Why did Severus leave you? Dumbledore asked quietly, not turning.

He said he wanted some quiet, Black hedged looking decidedly uneasy. Lupin frowned while Harry glared outright.

Severus felt I needed some time alone with Sirius, Harry snarled. Dumbledore turned around, his piercing blue eyes probing an embarrassed animagus.

I... I suppose I was rather possessive of Harry's time... Black equivocated. The Headmaster raised one eyebrow not breaking visual contact. Black squirmed.

I made him leave, Albus. I just wanted to be with Harry, the animagus said weakly.

But Remus was all right... Dumbledore unkindly pointed out. Black's head bowed down. Lupin broke into the conversation.

Albus, we need to find Severus... the werewolf said carefully.
Getting angry will not help. Dumbledore turned his considerable attention to the second wizard.

I am well past angry, Remus. But you are correct. We
need to find Severus and quickly. It's been over twenty-four
hours since he left London, the Headmaster stated.
Dobby? Tea please, and something light. The house elf appeared from seemingly nowhere and began opening cupboards.

I've sent owls out to several of the Order's members and
contacts. I expect answers soon, Dumbledore sat at the table across from Lupin and Harry.
Although I'm sure they'll all be negative.

Would they take him out to Riddle's old mansion? Lupin asked.

I don't know. The mansion is being watched. Any unusual
activity will be reported, the older wizard answered.

He might be taken to one of the Death Eater's places.
They meet without Voldemort at times, Black pointed out. He had done some reconnoissance work in his animagus form.

Mr. Malfoy was very upset with him, Harry mused.
At the Door Rehanging Celebration he was furious. His three companions considered this. They didn't notice Dobby had ceased bustling about and was listening closely.

There's no way to check Malfoy Manor, Dumbledore said.

I have my invisibility cloak... Harry started but was waved off by Black.

There are wards that can easily detect the cloak. It may
work for Hogwarts and creeping about Hogsmeade, but not
at Malfoy's place, his godfather explained.

We can check other Death Eater haunts; maybe by the
process of elimination we'll find Severus, Lupin said.

In the meantime Severus will be killed, if he isn't dead
already, Dumbledore said heavily. A sharp *crack* startled all four wizards.

the Headmaster called, but the house elf did not respond.

Where did that house elf get off to? Black muttered. Lupin and Harry rose and went to finish preparing tea.


It was as Dumbledore predicted: every inquiry came back negative. No one had seen Severus Snape. There was no activity at Riddle's mansion... none at all. That was suspicious in and of itself.

As the sun westerned Lupin and Black closed curtains and lit lamps. The tea had been replenished although dishes were piled haphazardly on the side board making room on the table for parchments and maps. Harry looked on as the Headmaster leaned over a map of a ruined castle where there had been recent death eater sitings.

The slow ticking of the clock was the only sound besides the older wizard's mumbling. The three looked on waiting for Dumbledore to pull off a miracle.

*CRASH*

A dark shape rocketed into the room sending the precarious pile of crockery crashing to the floor. Both Black and Harry leapt back from the table with wands extended. Lupin sat up with interest as the projectile bounced off the far wall and landed with a resounding splat on top of the table scattering parchments and maps.

Dobby! Take care! Dumbledore scolded absentmindedly as he picked up the map he had been studying.

Dobby is sorry. Dobby no mean to make mess! the house elf wailed. But he did not punish himself; no ears were yanked nor head bashed against the table's surface. The creature sat uncharacteristically still. This gained the Headmaster's attention.

Dobby? Where have you been? the older wizard set the paper aside and looked at the house elf. Harry and his godfather sheepishly put their wands away and sat back down.

Dobby find Professor Snape the frightened creature whispered as he wrung his hands. All four wizards leaned forward.

Where is Severus?! Lupin urged the terrified elf to continue. Poor Dobby whimpered and crouched down further.

Professor Snape hurt. Professor Snape cannot get up.
Bad wizards. Many bad wizards... he trembled. Harry launched out of his chair and paced angrily upsetting the elf more. He cowered beneath its arms.

Dumbledore glared at the younger wizard and shook his head slightly before returning his attention to the elf. Harry stopped pacing, electing to lean against the wall and cross his arms in agitation.

The Headmaster carefully opened his arms and made low soothing noises at the frightened creature. Dobby shivered for a moment longer then looked up at his master. Slowly he moved across the table and sidled up close allowing Dumbledore to hold him gently.

Dobby, tell us where Professor Snape is, he said softly. After a few moments of shuddering breaths the elf pulled back.

Dobby finds Professor Snape, he said softly. Dobby
finds Professor Snape at old master mansion. Black exchanged glances with Lupin.

Severus is at Malfoy's place? Dumbledore asked.

Yes. Professor Snape is in dungeon. Professor Snape is
hurt. The bad wizards hurt Professor Snape. Dobby scared, the elf hid his face in Dumbledore's beard.

How are we going to get in there?! Harry agonized as he shoved off the wall and resumed pacing.

Can we get enough people to force our way in? Black asked no one in particular.

Not legally, mused Lupin. Dumbledore carefully peeled Dobby out of his beard.

You got in, Dobby, he suggested. The house elf nodded slowly.

Dobby know old ways in. Way into attic, way into kitchen, he recited.

Way into dungeon? Dumbledore prompted.

Way into dungeon, Dobby agreed.

You can take us there! Harry said triumphantly.

NO! NO! NO! Dobby shrieked, shaking his head.
Too many bad wizards! Dobby no take Harry Potter and
Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin and Professor Dumbledore!!

The Headmaster's eyes narrowed, considering the possibilities.

Dobby can take ME into the dungeon. I can shield myself
from detection, the older wizard said definitely. He was quickly blasted with negation from three sides. Only the house elf agreed shaking his head until his ears flapped.

Dobby will take me into the dungeon. We'll need to contact
Dr. Barnes... the Headmaster continued without appearing to have heard his fellow wizards.
How badly hurt, Dobby?

Dobby no know. Dobby see bad wizards hit Professor
Snape. Hit and kick Professor Snape. Step on Professor
Snape. Professor Snape clothes ripped and there was
shiny red on Professor Snape and on the floor, the house elf gasped in a long breath.

We'll need both Jeffrey and James... Dumbledore murmured very quietly.