Chapter XI: Perilous Hogsmead
"Another butterbeer, sugar?" A raspy old voice echoed over a Maplewood bar top. Her thick gray hair was pinned tightly to her bobbling, narrow head. Long teal tresses covered her aging body as she hurriedly served dozens of customers at a time.
"Keep them coming," a gentleman responded. He sat on top a rather tall, red stool parallel to the bar table. His long hair, tied back by a rubber band, fell over his shoulder every few seconds as the gentleman brushed it aside. Three empty beer jugs lined up in front of his weary eyes. Through each glass he saw a blurred version of the bartender whom now served him his fourth drink.
"I think that be enough of ye," she said. "Better be off to dat school of yers. I heard it be havin' some trouble."
"Yes, quite right," he said as he grabbed his drink and began to spill supple morsels of it into his parched mouth. Its golden color trickled down onto the gentleman's tattered robe that covered most nearly his whole body. Slender long fingers tried to rub out the stain, but it was useless. Very casually, the gentleman took out a wand and propped it up slightly as if to use it.
"There ain't be no magic here," the bartender squealed. "Put dat away or else there be a far worse punishment."
"Very well, then." Then, whispering to himself, he muttered, "I hope you close your eyes, for you'll be seeing much magic soon enough."
"What?"
"Nothing, you hag, fill me up another one," he snapped back. "I don't have all of eternity. Wait, I do, but that's besides the point."
"Delusional and fresh. Well, I never. Here, take it, but you better be worth the money."
The gentleman tossed a dozen gold coins onto the table, letting them ring and twirl a bit before they stopped circling. After much clamor, the bartender pulled one coin and held it up toward the little light there was. She then smacked it a few times and tried to bend it with her bare hands. After little luck in doing so, she looked up at the strange man and smiled.
"What brings such a rich man to mine fine establishment?"
The gentleman spit out his beer and hooked the lady with his cupped hands. He pulled her over the bar table, causing many heads to turn and watch in amazement. His grip tightened as he stared straight into the lady's gray, frightened eyes.
"What did you call me?"
"Oh, sir, I dids call you a rich man, nothing more. Ye must of misheard me, that all."
"A rich what?"
"Rich ma ma man, sir," she stuttered and darted her eyes to the other customers as if to ask for their help. However, the few robed strangers drinking ignored her wordless plea.
"Foul thing to call me. Dare insult me, wrench?"
"No, not at all. I means you a wizard. 'Tis a big difference, I know. Quite sorry, but if thee would put me down…"
Horridly, the gentleman tossed the lady's body backward into the glass filled shelves. She cracked her skull upon the hard objects and fell to the floor motionless. Strangely enough, no customer came to her assistance. Instead, they continued to drink their butterbeer and chatter over other subject matters.
"What the dickens is that," the gentlemen muttered as a glowing fire spread in the air. Its shape, a ring, extended across the bleak tapestry as light blue images phased through it. Two figures, short and ghostly in appearance, emerged from the circle of flames.
"Are you okay?" a boy's voice asked.
"Shaken a bit, but that's all. Harry, it worked."
The two stood staggering; they were nothing more than hollow images of smoke but very real to each other. As each gripped their balance, the gentleman pounced forward, nearly tackling the two down. He forced Harry and Kim behind the countertop so that no one else could see them but him. His voice, still cold and strong, now whispered.
"Mister Potter?"
"Aye, sir… Are you the one who summoned me?" he asked, trying to see the gentleman's face; yet he couldn't, it was covered in a dark robe shadowing his face.
"Perhaps. What a strange method of arrival… Quite intriguing… But that's not what I wish to talk about. Who is this?"
His eyes darted over to Kim who now shuttered. "Your voice is familiar," she responded.
"She is not needed here. Send her back," the gentleman snapped.
"Now I know that voice," she said again. "Remove your hood, sir."
He laughed. "You are ordering me around? What nonsense. Away with you!" His wand now trickled inches away from Kim's forehead. As if he were to hum an enchantment, his lips began to move ever to slowly.
"Professor Snape!" Kim shouted and rolled over to the side, leaving Harry alone. "I knew you were a Blue Blood!"
"Snape?" Harry repeated to himself.
"Don't you dare repeat those words here! Vanisho!" the gentleman shouted and the image of Kimberly disappeared. "Foolish of you to use a transfera unsupervised. Very dangerous you know and very illegal. Expulsion at least."
"Snape?"
"Potter."
"You are a Blue Blood? I should have known."
"No, I am not, and if you repeat that name once more," Snape paused and kneeled down to Harry who was now curled halfway underneath the countertop. "There are others here who are less appreciative of hearing that name uttered. You cannot trust them."
"But the letter—"
"I was hoping you would come in person to warn to you… It is unsafe to speak to you like this. Others can view a transfera too easily. I shall meet you back at Hogwarts. Stay where you are."
"Wait, I do not understand. So you're not a blue, well, one of them?"
"No. But I know who is and who must be stopped. Now, vanisho!"
Harry reopened his eyes to find himself back in the astronomy lab, darkness surrounding his confused body. Kimberly wasn't far away, slumped against a tree and staring into nothingness. Quickly, Harry crawled to her side and grabbed her chilled hands. She jerked back a bit and tilted her head at Harry's ashen face.
"I don't understand… How can Snape be a Blue Blood?" Kimberly asked.
"He's not. At least that's what he claims and for some reason, I believe him."
"Oh, Harry, why? Why would you believe Snape's word? I've heard all about the feud you two have. It's practically a legend around here."
"You don't know the half of it… Snape, well, he's helped me in the past. You wouldn't understand," Harry said and looked down into his hands. He still gripped the transfera, but it no longer glowed as it did before. "Did I break it?"
Kimberly shook her head. "It's recharging. We can't use it again for a while."
"Actually, you could, but your molecules would be dispersed through the Hogwarts' halls, and we wouldn't be needing that, now would we?" a deep voice entered the room.
It was dark though that no shadow could be seen or even cast. But a presence was felt that moved closer toward Harry and Kimberly. As it was almost in sight of them, the figure stopped and spoke once more.
"Funny how you both contain so much potential, but sadly, potential means nothing. Miss Hooch, begone with you. I have no purpose to discuss with the likes of you"
"And what does that supposed to mean?" Kimberly shouted back.
"Well, I knew your blood was pure and I wondered how such a rich line could have been forgotten. It hasn't my dear. For you see, Hooch is your father's last name. A pure bloodline too, but not as perfect as your mother's, whose heritage far surpassed my expectations."
"What are you getting at?"
"Miss Hooch, or should I say, Miss Gryffindor, you already belong to my sect. The House of Gryffindor has been loyal to us from the beginning. Though, it may seem hard to believe that you could have any of the same blood as a founder; well, my research proves no errors. And because you are a Gryffindor by blood, you are a Blue Blood for life."
Kimberly sat motionless, unsure of what to think or say. Her numb frame turned a shade of ruby, glistening in terrified shock. The figure snapped his fingers, and Kimberly was gone, much like before but this time, Harry had the feeling she would not be returning so soon. Then, the figure stepped closer and grabbed the transfera from Harry's hands. "Wonderful tool, when used properly. If only you knew what wonders this could do… Now, we have some matters to discuss, Potter."
"First of all, who the hell are you? Secondly, if you lay a hair on Kimberly I will—"
"A tad bit hasty are we? Well, to answer the later, Miss Gryffindor will be fine. Her power is a gift that shall help her when the time comes. Her destiny is with us now. As for myself, there is much that you do not need to know."
The figure now looked down at the transfera in his hand. "You used this recently. With whom did you speak?"
"I'm not telling you anything until I know who I'm talking to."
"Very well—" He stepped in front of Harry, his shadow covering Harry's already shaking face. "Oh, you should not be shocked, dear Potter."
"Malfoy?"
"Yes. But do call me Lucius."
"Malfoy," Harry uttered, gritting his teeth, "you are the leader of these Blue Bloods?"
"Heavens no! I am but a pawn in their mastered game. And when it is time to be checked, you must be sure you are not a fallen knight. The time is near when Hogwarts will fall and those who deserve to be with the likes of us will stand. There is a place for you with us if you choose wisely."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you will die with your little friends here when the battle begins."
"We will fight you and whoever else joins your little sect!"
"Little? You'd be surprised, Potter, how many of us there are. Several of your own friends share the same blood as us. And can be with them. Friends, like that girl of yours, Chang is it? Her grandparents joined us when we were in our infancy of growth. And when she fights with us, can you be able to destroy you?"
Harry did not even consider the possible that people like Cho could be apart of something with people like Malfoy. And if he stayed with Ron and Hermione, he would have to fight her. But if he were to betray them and fight along the side of Cho, then he would live with the greatest powers of all and the greatest guilt of destroying his friends. His decision was clear.
"I will join you, Malfoy." Harry said with pride and stood on both feet. He extended his hand and looked firmed into Malfoy's eyes.