I suppose there's no point in asking where everyone went? FF.NET appears to have slowed to a crawl - very few people updating or reviewing all the sudden. Are we all too taken up with the third movie and the announcement of the 6th's book's title, maybe? Ah, well, at least it isn't Sorting Things Out that's being ignored, as that would be upsetting. This one is just a "what if," and you won't need to know what happens in it to understand my next fic. I just thought it would be fun. So without further ado, here comes Chapter 7 - a huge deviation from STO:

Chapter 7 - Breaking and Entering

Muriel sat with Macnair while Severus went to look for Draco. He found him in the library, reading another letter from his father.

"Draco? The rest of the Order is congregating in the hospital ward. Would you like to join us?" The blond boy looked up, startled.

"He knows." Severus looked at him warily, and Draco explained. "He knows I showed the letter to Professor Deesia. I don't know how, but he does." Figuring he had nothing more to lose, Draco held up the parchment in front of him with a shaking hand.

Severus felt the anger boiling in him as he read. When he looked up, he could see that Draco's usually calm demeanor had dissolved. The boy looked, as Moaning Myrtle would say, 'distraught.'

"Come with me," Severus said crisply, turning to go. He heard the boy's chair against the floor and knew he'd been obeyed. He didn't bother to look at him again until they reached the ward. He looked a little calmer. Professor Deesia was in the corner, sitting on Macnair's bed. Severus led Draco toward her.

"Don't kill him, Mur," they heard Macnair rasp forcefully.

"Shhh, don't try to talk. Poppy says you're going to be alright." Muriel sounded very worried, and Severus held back outside the curtains that were pulled partially around the bed. It wasn't like Muriel to sugar coat anything, but if Macnair was dying she might.

"You can't kill him for taking the mark," her old friend tried again, determined that she hear him. "He loves you, Mur," he whispered.

"I know," she whispered soothingly, pressing a cool towel to his forehead. He looked so frail as he closed his eyes. Who knows how long he was under that curse? Perhaps he was raving. She looked up to see Severus and Draco standing beside the curtain, and decided that no, he probably wasn't raving at all. Severus looked absolutely horrified.

She smiled wanly and held out a hand. "Poppy says he'll be alright if we can keep him away from the ministry." Severus hesitated before he took her hand and looked down at Macnair, wondering if she could feel his pulse beating against his fingertips.

"If he'd seen you there, he would have come with us. This never would have happened." He'd been trying to find out about Macnair's loyalties for over a year. But the fear of Voldemort had kept anyone from openly asking questions, even of their most trusted friends. Macnair had refused to acknowledge any of his hints. At least with Muriel here, able to see what he thought, they knew he was ready to change sides.

Professor Snape looked up suddenly at Draco. "If there's anyone in your house that you care about, Draco, you need to convince them not to take the mark. Or one day, you will stand here and look at one of your friends after the Dark Lord tortures him and wish you had done more."

Draco nodded grimly, looking rather nauseous as Macnair began coughing up blood again. Muriel held his head over a tray, her face a mask of fury.

Professor Snape swept out of the chaotic ward, passing Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter on the way. He nodded to them as he made his way to his own quarters, wondering whether he was going to be ill. It had been a long time since he'd allowed himself to feel guilt so strongly. But it had been his fault Macnair took the mark. If Severus hadn't caved, Macnair would have joined the Order and fought the Dark Lord beside him. It was almost more than he could stand to think about.

Draco followed him to the door and nearly ran into Harry. The boy didn't say anything, but Draco stopped anyway. A single beat fell before they nodded to one another, and Draco continued into the hallway, confused, but not quite so queasy.

When Macnair was finally sleeping peacefully, Muriel set his hand gently on the bed and looked around for Severus. The noise level in the ward had fallen off, but her head was pounding. She wondered if he was still upset about what she'd said earlier.

His quarters were sealed shut with every locking charm Draco had ever heard of and then some. Muriel came upon a very dejected Draco, sitting outside his Head of House's door with his head in his hands. Snape had taken him to the hospital ward to hear about his father, but he hadn't gotten any answers. Mur could feel his frustration, and quickly told him that she'd taken his father to the Ministry of Magic.

"If they put him in Azkaban, there's a good chance he'll just break out again. If he or Narcissa send you any more letters, I'd like to see them."

"Of course," he croaked out. "When can I join the Order?" Muriel smiled, then, feeling as though her face might crack with the strain. It had really been a long day. She looked forward to telling Macnair that his predicament had helped save the Malfoy boy. That would really mean something to him.

"You already have."

Draco looked up at her and she smiled a little wider. "You tried everything on that?" she asked, pointing over his head at the door. He nodded. "Best get out of the way, then."

He scrambled to his feet. "Off you go," she said kindly, nodding back toward the hospital wing. Draco was on his way back up the stairs when he heard an impressive explosion and a few choice words from below him. He was still shaking his head when he pushed open the hospital ward door.

"Bloody Hell, Mur!" Severus exclaimed, shielding his eyes from the wood chips that flew into his quarters. A moment later she had repaired the door and was standing inside, grinning at him.