Chapter XII: Stupefied Snape
While it is not out of character for Ron to whimper when he is upset or scared, his bemoaning of late was quite out of tune. He smeared his mucus tears onto his sleeves and peered over at Hermione who took full charge of the scattered students. Her voice echoed throughout the room, blasting at every newcomer who dared badmouthed the school. However, it was no use, fear took the best of each and every student, including Ron himself.
"Ron, we are stuck here for however long, and I don't need your weakness right now. Be a man," Hermione commanded and patted Ron on the left shoulder.
"I'm not a man," Ron responded, rubbing his shoulder. "I'm not even a real wizard."
"Ron, why would you say such a thing? Of course you're a wizard."
"No, no I'm not." Ron stood up at once, defending himself in a staggering sort of way. "If I were a wizard, I could use my magic to unlock these doors and find out what's going on out there. If I were a wizard, I could snap my fingers and everything would be all right. If I were a real wizard, a real one, I'd have the courage to say half the things you do."
"What things would you say, Ron? What could you possibly be afraid to tell me?"
"I love you," Ron whispers to himself, trying so very hard to utter it louder so that Hermione might here and utter the same words back.
"What did you say? Speak louder! Or don't speak at all then."
"I love—" Ron started, his voice loud and strong. "I love—"
Abruptly, a horrendous squeak unhinged the two doors to the Common Room. Slowly, the doors reopened and a person emerged wearing a dark robe and slender black hair, shoulder length. He paced through the doors and rushed over to the exact spot where Ron and Hermione were standing.
"Where's Potter?" he asked.
"Professor, what are you doing here? How did you get in?" Hermione babbled.
"No time. Where's Potter?" he repeated.
Ron replied, "We don't know. We haven't seen him in hours. What do you want with him? Shouldn't you be with your own House?"
"That's none of your concern. If Potter isn't here, then where could he be?"
"We already told you, we don't know."
"Very well! I'll have to search for him myself. Carry on, Prefects." And with that, Professor Snape left the room, storming out just as he stormed in a few seconds prior. He paced his steps faster and faster until there was nothing left heard throughout the halls but his own footsteps.
Snape snarled, as he could not see any person in it. As a Headmaster, he could enter almost any room in Hogwarts, including locked Common Rooms. However, his ability to teleport wherever he wished was painful. He used it once that day, traveling to Hogsmead. He could not risk using it again without damaging himself. And so, he continued his search on foot, poking in and out of each room he passed, hoping to capture a glimpse of Harry or his counterpart Kimberly.
As he neared yet another plain corner, he came across a pathway most intriguing. A few papers lay on the ground scattered in the middle of an open doorway. Snape tried to recall whose office it was that was in such dishevel. Oh yes, Marcus Malfoy's office, he remembered. As he now entered the room, Snape found broken lamps and scattered glass on the ground.
From out the corner of his eye he spotted a small pool of blood on the ground. Raising his suspicions of foul play lurking about, Snape knew that the answers he sought would not been found there. And so, he left the office and started to head toward the local bathrooms until he heard the shrillest voice behind him.
"What have you done with my daughter?" the voice asked.
Snape jumped slightly and turned around. "Madame Hooch. What a pleasant surprise. I am too in search of someone. Now, who are looking for?" Snape asked in kind, strange manner.
"My Kimberly! That boy she was with, oh what's his name, he's famous… Oh, Harry Potter, yes, he took my transfera, and I just know he's getting my daughter in trouble! I will not stand for such ruckus!"
"When did you last see them?"
"I can't count the hours. But I was hoping to find Mister Malfoy—"
"Oh?"
"Yes, he is in charge of keeping this place orderly, and this is not orderly! Perhaps he could help me find my Kimberly."
"He is not in his office right now," Snape said as he attempted to block her view of the disheveled doorway. "However, I will find them. Now, you said Mister Potter took your transfera. Where would they be if they were to use such an item?"
"Oh, Kimberly would never use it! She knows better. Too dangerous for a girl her age."
"Humor me. Where would they be?"
She pondered for a bit, using her hands as a scratching post. "Somewhere dark. Any closed classroom would do. But roomy too. You can't be disturbed when using it. If you disconnect from the linkage, serious brain damage will happen. No. You don't think Kimberly would seriously try to use it?"
"Madame Hooch, I cannot say for certain," Snape gritted through his teeth. "I must go searching for them now. I suggest that you stay in your office."
"You aren't so smart for a Dark Arts teacher. Even my daughter knows to stay away from the likes of you-never even read one of your books I imagine-and now you, an imposter of a teacher, expect me to sit still? Well, that's a snort. Ha. I'm coming with you."
"No! You are not!" Snape snapped back. "Madame, return, now."
"Who in Merlin do you think you are? You may scare the children, but you certainly do not scare me! However glorious you think you are, you are wrong. I will find my daughter myself!" And with that, Hooch turned about and headed in the opposite direction, her mouth still fuming in white rage.
"She certainly is scared; I can tell," Snape said to himself in a very low, slow space. "But perhaps not of me. That daughter, Kimberly, recognized me at Hogsmead. But from what her mother tells, she is not interested in the sorts of Dark Arts. Intriguing. What was that?"
A thud from the distance like the gallop of a horse pounded. Snape's eyes widened, realizing it was coming from the astronomy lab. He clutched his wand tight and fled toward the direction of the sound. As he closed in, Snape's sweat trickled down his forehead, brushing against his thick, chapped lips.
He heard two voices, both male, one old and the other not, from inside the room. It was nothing but murmurs to him from where he stood, but Snape knew that pitch from anywhere. He had heard that voice so many times that even walls could not hide its identity.
"Albus," Snape whispered. He waited for a few seconds until he spun his back from against the wall and faced the archway into the lab. There stood two figures across the plain. Both adult wizards he presumed from their stature. He squinted his eyes to make out the hat of Albus Dumbledore and another figure before him. But the shape was clothed in a robe, hiding any distinguishable features.
"We have company," Albus said loudly and shot a bright light at Snape's direction. A lime green flare lit up a path from Snape to Albus. Shadows disappeared in a foot wide path in bright green with thin white fog lifting from the ground. Standing next to Dumbledore was a character he did not expect to see.
"Mister Snape, so good of you to join us," he said.
"Albus, what are you doing here with him? How did he escape his trials?"
"There are pressing matters to be discussed. And I believe you are mistaken. Lucius here has never stood trial. Now, please, join us." Albus waved his hand, and Snape was pushed forward, his feet levitated from the ground. He appeared in front of Albus, his face twisted and confused.
"That office is a mess," Snape said in a stern voice.
"Yes, well, that happens when your brother goes mad."
"Severus, you need to be aware of matters which I wished would never be touched. Hogwarts is under attack."
"I know," Snape replied.
"Oh? How is that?"
"It does not matter. But I know that the Blue Bloods are here."
"I am afraid my brother may be the leader. We had an argument earlier. It was awful. There is nothing stopping him. Not even my son can reason with his uncle."
"Lucius, you must try and speak again with your brother Marcus. He must be stopped," Albus stated proudly.
"Yes… Where did the blood come from?" Snape asked.
"Excuse me?"
"The blood, in your brother's office. Whose is it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. My dear brother may have done something regrettable I'm afraid to dear Hooch and Potter."
"Then you have seen them?" Snape asked Lucius.
"Well, I," Lucius began, unsure of what Snape knew. Lucius paused and looked over at Albus who seemed most interested as well. "I don't know what Marcus is capable of. He may have injured the children."
"That doesn't answer my question, Lucius."
"There's no time for all these inquiries. We need to stop the Blue Bloods," Lucius responded and look at Dumbledore fiercely. "I will find my brother. You should speak again with Minerva. You know she is hiding something."
"McGonagall? What does she have to do with this?" Snape asked.
"Severus, it seems there are plots forming that we cannot stop. Minerva may be involved due to her brother, Theodore. Nothing is certain. We must all be alert. I will take your advice, Lucius, and put it to good use. Good day."
And with that Dumbledore left the lab, strolling with less ease than earlier. Snape turned to Lucius, studying his face intensely. Lucius's eye twitched, examining Snape as well. Both peered at each other's looks, every wrinkle and frown and suspicious gesture. After a few seconds, Lucius said,
"I must leave. I bid you good day."
Snape stood, alone in the astronomy lab, with no sign of Mister Potter or anyone else about. Something was very wrong. Was Dumbledore just conspiring with Lucius Malfoy? And where were the children? If they had been at the lab, they were no longer there now. Suddenly, Snape's heart stopped pumping. A single thought froze his circulation as he stood in a motionless trance. I may be too late—Potter is dead.