Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter along with Scholastic and whoever else. I only own my characters so DON'T SUE!!!
Six Feet and Fallingby Saerry Snape
Chapter 26 :: December 31, 1995 :: Hogwarts – Afternoon
"I still do not see why Severus did not tell me about this," said Dumbledore with a frown on his weathered face. Hermione had just finished telling him about everything that had happened since that incident after lunch.
"I don't think he knew, sir," said Hermione. "I'm sure he would have told you if he had."
"Severus Snape was never one to ask for help, Miss Granger. He liked to take care of things himself."
"But I'm sure…"
"Hush, child. I believe that they are finally waking."
Hermione turned in her chair to see Neville lifting his head from where it was propped on the back of his chair. He blinked blearily and said, "'Ello, Hermione, Headmaster." Then he came fully awake and cried, "Headmaster!"
"Be calm, Mister Longbottom," said Dumbledore. "Miss Granger has told me everything."
"Oh," said Neville, looking even more nervous than before.
Suddenly there was a groan from the couch and Harry sat up, rubbing his forehead. He opened his eyes after a moment and saw Dumbledore, Hermione, Neville, and the still unconscious Sheyne and Malfoy. He then looked at Dumbledore and said, "That thing knocks out those carrying the Dark Mark, doesn't it?"
Dumbledore nodded and Harry looked at Hermione.
"You told him?"
The bushy-haired girl nodded and Harry looked at Dumbledore again, noting his stern expression.
"I take it you don't like our idea."
"I wish you had come to me when you'd have this dream," said Dumbledore. "We might have been able to do something."
Harry laughed at that and said, eyes a little mad, "Firstly, I had that when I was still unconscious. Secondly, and pardon my French, sir, we couldn't have done shit. Voldemort has a hold over his Death Eaters – and their children – that will not be broken until that monster is dead. We couldn't have stopped him from killing my father anymore than we could have from my mother and James."
"We can keep him from taking all of you," said Dumbledore.
"Do you honestly believe that, sir?" asked Harry. "I just wonder if you really believe that you can save the children damned by their parents."
"I do."
"Then I suggest we figure out how to keep Voldemort from taking us," growled Harry. "Because if you can't, you're royally screwed."
"What?" said Hermione.
"Well, what better way to take the most protected place in the wizarding world than from the inside?" said Harry. "I'm certain that's His plan. Take Hogwarts from the inside. We've probably got every Death Eater's child in England here. Not to mention if there are one's from Scotland, Wales, Ireland…you name it." He laughed, green eyes still slightly mad, and added, "It's a brilliant plan. Especially as – guess what – no one but him knew about it until a month ago!"
"Harry, aren't you being a bit negative?" asked Dumbledore. "Surely…"
"Negative?" said Harry. "Oh, no, sir. Certainly not. I'm seeing clearly. I see Voldemort's plan oh-so-clearly. And he's a sneaky bastard. He's even covered us, Death Eater's children who don't want to be a part of his little game. Just control our minds and he has an army that never whines, never tires. A bunch of mindless drones who will do all he commands."
The teen laughed when he finished and crowed, "There's that Slytherin intuition!"
"This is no time for comedies, Harry," said Dumbledore sternly.
"Oh, no, I think it's the perfect time for comedies, sir," said Harry, rising from the couch. He strode over to the claw-footed desk and placed his hands on it leaning down so he and the older wizard were eye to eye.
"I think I really need a laugh," he said darkly. "You see, my father, who I just recently found, is now dead, killed by the same monster who murdered my mother and James Potter. This same monster, ironically my great uncle, has made a claim on my life and my half-sister's. Which will in turn rob her adopted brother of the last bit of family he has." He lowered his voice and continued, "And all of this really – pisses – me – off."
On the last word, a silver contraption on the desk melted into a puddle and his eyes grew slightly brighter. Harry look down at it then back up to Dumbledore.
"See my difficulty? Plus, imagine what Sheyne and I could do in Voldemort's hands. The last Heir's of Merlin, who also happened to be a Shifter and an Heir of Slytherin. There'd be chaos."
"To put it simply," said Dumbledore.
"Yes," said Harry with a smug smile that Dumbledore had seen at times on his father's face. "Now we're catching on. And now the question, professor, is what are you going to do? What are you going to do?"
Blue eyes met bright green and locked. There was a long moment of silence then Dumbledore said, "We have to find a way to keep you out of Voldemort's reach."
"And quickly," agreed Harry as Sheyne and Malfoy sat up in their chairs. "He'll take the school this year. Else he wouldn't have made his claim on us now."
Dumbledore nodded then commented, "I see Mister Malfoy had joined us."
Malfoy looked up in surprise and Harry looked over his shoulder at him.
"Yeah," said the boy as he turned back to Dumbledore. "He has."
"I see the father does not make the son," said Dumbledore, eyes falling on Malfoy again. The blond looked into the older wizard's eyes for a moment then looked away.
"I don't want to be my father, sir. He's a madman. So is Voldemort. Getting rid of you, Muggleborn's – it wouldn't make much sense."
Malfoy nodded at Hermione and continued, "Look at Granger. She's Muggleborn and the smartest witch in the school. Getting rid of people like her would just hurt our world. And look at Fudge. He's pureblood and an idiot. And Voldemort's half Muggle himself. What's the point?"
"There's isn't one," replied Dumbledore.
"Except for the belief that he's doing Slytherin's noble work," spat Harry.
"So, you know now?" said Sheyne to Dumbledore.
"Yes, my dear," said Dumbledore. "Now we must figure out a way to keep you from Voldemort." He looked curiously at Harry and asked, "Are there any others?"
Malfoy lifted his hand slightly and said, "There might be. I know all of the one's that wouldn't join us and most of those that would."
Dumbledore nodded and said, "very well then. Begin asking them. But tread carefully. You must not give yourselves away. They could contact their parents and Voldemort would move all the sooner. Miss Granger, Mister Longbottom, I suggest the two of you do the research."
"We can't do it on our own, professor," said Hermione.
"Ask Ginny," said Harry. "She may help. Stephen too. And as soon as we find others, they can too."
"So you are leader of this little army, aren't you?" remarked Malfoy.
Harry turned on him, eyes flashing, and snapped, "I told you, I'm not…"
"I know what you said," interrupted Malfoy. "And you heard what I said."
"I won't."
"You're all we've got."
"I won't," repeated Harry, eyes narrowed.
"Leave him alone!" cried Sheyne, turning violently on Malfoy, her face half shifting to panther then back. The blond leapt backwards, falling out of his chair onto the floor, gray eyes wide.
"Quiet!" bellowed Dumbledore, drowning them all out. "Mister Malfoy, leave that question open and alone. Miss Snape, control yourself. Harry…"
"We should get started," said Harry, head down, eyes on the floor. He turned and started for the door then stopped.
"Can you turn off the trap, sir?"
Dumbledore nodded and pulled out his wand, flicking it at the door. There was a faint popping sound and then Harry was gone, Hermione hightailing after him. Neville followed at a hurried pace, eyes wide.
Sheyne glared at Malfoy for a moment as he pulled himself up off the floor before she too left. The blond slowly followed her, closing the door behind him.
Dumbledore sat at his desk for a long moment before he said to the bird in the corner, "We are in a pickle, aren't we?"
Fawkes trilled softly in agreement then began to preen a wing.
* * *
"So, where to first, Malfoy?" asked Sheyne as they five teenagers headed back towards Gryffindor Tower.
"What?" said the blond, apparently deep in thought.
"I said, where to first?"
"Oh. Well, I suppose I should make a list."
"That's the smartest thing you've said yet," said Sheyne with a smirk.
Malfoy frowned at her then blinked when Harry said, "You'd better go back to the dungeons to do that, Malfoy. Imagine if you're seen with us."
"Good point. Where…"
"We could meet in the dungeons," said Hermione. "I know there are rooms down there that aren't being used."
Harry looked over his shoulder at Sheyne, who had paled severely. She then locked eyes with him and smiled, though it looked more like a grimace. He smiled in return and slowed his pace until he was beside her, where he slung his arm about her shoulder.
"You've been avoiding it, haven't you?" he said, absently listening to Hermione and Malfoy talking about which room in the dungeons to use.
"What?" asked Sheyne, avoiding the subject.
"The dungeons."
"No."
"Don't lie to me," snapped Harry, causing Sheyne to look up at him. "I know you have. I've seen you. Just like I've seen you run away from me."
Sheyne looked ashamed and whispered, "You look more like him than I do."
"I know. I've seen it too." He lifted her chin with his other hand so their eyes met again. "But we can't run from this, Shey. He's gone and we've both got to face it."
"I don't want to," said Sheyne. "I just found him. We just found him!"
"I know," murmured Harry.
Sheyne wrapped an arm about Harry's waist and pillowed her head on his shoulder, sighing.
"Why did this have to happen?"
"Maybe its fate," said Harry. "Maybe somebody up there has a screwed sense of humor. I don't know."
"It sucks."
"Life sucks, dear sister. But, think, we could be in Voldemort's hands."
"There's still that possibility," said Sheyne, tilting her head back to look up at him.
Harry looked down at her, his arm tightening about her shoulders. He stated, "But I won't let that happen. You're my sister and Voldemort can't have you."
Sheyne smiled and said, "Thanks."
"Anytime."
"So," said Malfoy, "we'll meet in the room four rooms down from Snape's classroom. That okay with all of you?"
"Yeah," said Sheyne and Harry.
"Okay then," said Malfoy. "I'll go make that list."
"What do we do?" asked Neville as he watched Malfoy's retreating back.
Harry gave a half-shrug and replied, "I guess we wait."
"I hate waiting," remarked Sheyne.
Harry laughed at that as they headed back towards Gryffindor Tower. He said, "You and me both."
A/N: The idea for the Marks on the Death Eater's children is inspired by Severitus' Serpent's Children in her fic A Father's Sin. Whereas hers are small serpents found anywhere on the face of specially bred children, mine is the Dark Mark in its usual place on every child of a DE after they were Marked. Voldemort has the power to take over their mind's (as he does in AFS) and control them. But not inside the wards of Hogwarts.