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Here it is; chapter 37. Enjoy!
Chapter 37: The truth.
I reckon that all totalitarian regimes have an extreme fear of ideas. Religion during Communism in Russia- from 1917 to the fall of the Berlin Wall- is a clear example of the power of faith, of the power of the mind and the apprehension it provokes on those who want, or do, rule us.
History tell us that in 1937 more than 136000 men and women who devoted their lives to the church in Russia were arrested and that soon after their capture, 85000 of them were murdered because of the power they held over the hearts and minds of the people.
There are not so many things, my friends, as dangerous as the power of ideas, of knowledge, of faith. It can easily erase cities from the world's map and it can also overthrow administrations of any kinds. That is probably why the ones in charge of the political and economical power have always tried to vanquish the icons of those ideas. But it doesn't really matter whether the flesh is dead or not, ideas are like balloons that fly free in the sky of blue until they reach someone else far away from the place in which they were originally released.
So, in the end, one can burn the books- like they did in Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451- in order for ideas to die, but reality is that they sleep within oneself and that not even death can destroy them because they are so much powerful than life.
Unfortunately for Lucius Malfoy, ignorance is always related to evil in stories such as this for he ignored that Severus was loyal to a dead Dumbledore but above all things, he ignored that even after his death people would still believe in goodness, in boldness, in truth, in honesty, in loyalty, in all things related to the side of light.
"Lucius," Severus said, with his head inside the green flames, "Lucius," he shouted at the top of his lungs for Lucius to hear, wherever he was. But no one came to meet him. Once again, he shouted: "Lucius! Lucius,". However, no one answered his plea.
He soon gave up after his throat failed to pronounce the name correctly and started wondering about his dear Hermione who was sleeping peacefully on the leather sofa located in his safe chambers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
How much he longed making love to her! The idea of her erected nipples, of her once shaved curls, of his fingers in her mouth while slowly being penetrated by him made him sweat cold drops of chastity. Those were just a few of all the images he ran in his head over and over again, desperately trying not to miss her by sexual stimulation. But no amount of self pleasure could replace her soft moans, her agitated respiration, her sweet perspiration, her sensual smile.
"NO!," he shouted, shaking his head from side to side and banging it with his right hand. All things related to an erotic nature should be banned from his head. Dumbledore was dead and all his moves needed to be precise for the tiniest of mistakes could cost the lives of many. So he kept shouting because the Order could not afford reckless errors, "Lucius!," he cried.
After perhaps minutes of yelling his name, the dark mind behind evil itself appeared dressed in red robes like the devil.
"Severus! What a pleasure to see you again," Lucius cynically stated, convinced that his friend in arms was there to supply him with good news.
"The pleasure is all mine, dear friend. I bring an excellent gift," Severus said, smiling slightly.
"Do speak, Severus," Lucius eagerly said, slapping his hands together and rubbing them in mild anticipation, as if Snape's news represented nothing more than a banquet for him and his Death Eaters.
"He is no longer a threat," the Potion's Master confessed with pure evil in his eyes. Lucius knew not of the nature of Severus' wicked glare but sure enough he had no idea that it was related to him and his sinful plans.
"When can I see him?," Lucius asked with his eyes wide open. Severus Snape could not help but wonder if Lucius resembled Saint Thomas to a certain point: both of them needed to see in order to believe. But then, after a moment worth of reflection, he decided that there was certainly no similarity between these two characters. How foolish of him to compare Lucius to an apostle.
"When do you find it convenient?," Hermione's husband asked, trying not to picture Lucius with an aureole on his head. No. That image was impossible to create, not even within a person's mind.
"Now!," Lucius said, anxiously waiting the moment he could contemplate Dumbledore's numb body.
"Then, I should return to Dumbledore's Chambers and connect your Floo Network to his," Severus explained, trying to finish with that meaningless conversation for once and for all. He had in his hands the perfect excuse to kiss Hermione's forehead one more time before battle because he knew as well as he knew that he loved her that a war was in order, and he could do nothing to prevent it. He had learned that long ago from a very wise man who lay now cold in his bed, as white as his beard, as pale as a ghost.
However, Lucius Malfoy was no fool and he could sense that something was wrong.
"Where are you talking to me from, Severus?," he asked, rubbing his chin in interrogation. Severus Snape swallowed hard while tiny drops of sweat soaked his raven hair. He smirked in order for Lucius to understand the stupid nature of his question, but Lucius did not grin back. He had the tiny suspicion that his best friend from school was hiding something from him, "You would not lie to me, or would you Severus?," he enquired, staring at the Head of Slytherin House.
"Of course not," Severus answered without hesitation, "I am speaking through Mr. Borgin's Floo Network, at Knockturn Alley. You know his store, you have been there in the past, I am sure," Severus answered with a reproachful look on his face. Lucius felt ashamed; his contradictory feelings for Mrs. Snape had made him doubt his best friend's loyalty. It had been rather unintelligent of him to do so. After all, Severus Snape had never shown unfaithfulness to the Dark side; he had proved trustworthy throughout his life.
"I am sorry, my old friend," Lucius said, shaking his head rather quickly, "I shall wait, then,"
"Certainly, Lucius," Severus answered, taking a bow as if suddenly- after Dumbledore's death- Lucius had become omnipotent, the king of darkness.
"You have performed excellently, Severus. I am very proud," Lucius stated for the very last time before letting his best friend go. Time was an important factor.
Severus did not know this but that would be the very last time he would ever visit Malfoy Manor or speak politely to Lucius.
"I will see you soon, then," Severus said, before disappearing into the fire. Soon enough the green flames had ate his best friend's head and Lucius Malfoy was left alone with his thoughts, to reflect about his next steps.
The spell flew out of his mouth without him intending to pronounce those words while his wand reacted to the sounds with a marvellous circular movement. That was it. He had done it; all his Death Eaters would soon arrive at Malfoy Manor and so would war.
One by one, all the members of the Dark Lord's circle of malevolence apparated in a second after receiving the sign Lucius had created in the sky for them-and the world- to see. It was the same image they had once wore on their skins as a medal of honour. And now, after all they had been through, the side of dark was finally terrorizing thousands of wizards again by a mere drawing in the sky. Those who had proven useless and disloyal were going to pay the price of their daring.
Thus thirty minutes after Severus departure, a room full of people in dressing robes stood in front of Lucius' eyes which were shinning with joy. Those were, indeed, the eyes of a madman.
"The day has come, my friends!," Lucius shouted with his arms wide open, "Dumbledore is no longer a threat," he stated while a crowd of approximately a hundred men, women and children roared like elated lions about to eat their long awaited meal, "Yes, my comrades! Albus Dumbledore is dead and even though I have not seen his body yet, my most faithful servant has and I trust his every word for he has managed to kill the only obstacle between us and power!," he shouted, even louder, "To Severus Snape!," he commanded, with his glass up in the air.
"To Severus Snape!," they all shouted, in unison. And they all drank their ports for there was no sweeter wine than the one which represents revenge.
"To the Dark Lord!" Lucius shouted, raising his glass once again.
"To the Dark Lord," they all shouted once again, as if they were a unique voice. And opening their mouths, they filled their stomachs with the warmest of elixirs.
"To Lucius Malfoy!," a man with horrible skin said from the very back of the room and the rest of Voldemort's servants raised their glasses once again to pronounce the name of the man whose ambitions had made it all possible.
"A mon santé!" Lucius said in very exquisite French with an even more exquisite smile. The words "to my health" seemed appropriate for the new King of Darkness, "And of course, Mr. Borgin! Without you my dear friend, Severus Snape, would not have found a place to communicate with me. To Mr. Borgin!," Lucius shouted, once again. He was obviously drunk because I doubt he would have wasted his time thanking a peasant such as Mr. Borgin if sober.
The little man with horrible skin which had proposed to a toast to Lucius Malfoy some minutes ago seemed surprised by his new master's comment. He had certainly not seen Severus Snape in quite a while, at least not since he had married Hermione Granger.
Limping through the crowd of drunken men, intoxicated women and euphoric children, he murmured in Lucius ear: "Sir, I am afraid you are confused. Mr. Snape did not visit my store tonight. In fact, it has been long since he last visited me, sir," Borgin confessed in a low whisper. The crowd was laughing and drinking Lucius' marvellous wine collection when with a crack of his fingers, the room went as silent as a graveyard.
"Avery, Macnair, Goyle, Crabbe…," Lucius requested their presence in the lowest of voices. He needn't worry the rest of the crowd; they seemed to be enjoying themselves greatly. Sure enough their services would be needed soon, but for now it was not necessary to spoil their night.
When the four men reached the chair in which Lucius had stood for his speech, the new Dark Lord ordered them the most sinful of jobs: to murder youth; to murder love, "You have been chosen, Avery, Macnair, Goyle and Crabbe to kidnap Hermione Granger. I want her alive… that is the only condition. Beat her, if you must. Rape her, if you want. But bring Hermione Granger with a beating heart," Lucius ordered with abhorrence in his light blue eyes. His pale skin was no longer white but red as his robes and his once relaxed muscles where tense in anger.
Severus Snape was going to pay.
Lucius had a tiny suspicion of the whereabouts of Hermione Granger. Where could she be at this time of night if not in the chambers she shared with Severus Snape? He ordered his men to travel by Floo Network to Snape's chambers at Hogwarts and so they did, because in a war one cannot refuse superior's orders. And the war had started, indeed.
Severus Snape was going to pay.