Chapter 1
Disclaimer: The characters portrayed in this story are the property of J.K Rowling, the brilliant genius. I make no money off this, so all you'll get if you sue me are my gym clothes.
The Dark Mark burned with unquenchable fury. Pain shot through his arm and mind as the bond between him and the monster was activated. The pain in his arm came from the mark itself; the pain in his mind came from the knowledge that this would not be an ordinary meeting.
It had only been three days since the last calling. Usually the Dark Lord allowed his minions longer than that to recover from his gentle administrations. The fact that this meeting was coming hard on the other's heels was ominous. Snape shivered with uncharacteristic fear. Every time he went to these meetings, the threat of discovery increased. But if it weren't for the Cause, he wouldn't care if he were uncovered. Death would be a welcome relief from his guilt. The only reason he was alive was the Cause. If he let one thing slip, the Order of the Phoenix would suffer considerable damage and their best shot at destroying the Death Eaters' Circle would go down in smoke.
"Class is dismissed." Snape sneered in response to the barely concealed glee on his students' faces. They all filed out of the room, though Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked at him in askance. Ever since they had learned of his work as a double agent in their fifth year, they had begun to grudgingly respect him.
"So enamored of my presence, are you? Perhaps you're looking for extra work to make up for the short class, hmmm?" The trio hurried out the door before he could make good on his threat. Once out of his earshot, they turned to each other, each with puzzlement and concern on their faces.
"The only reason he would dismiss class early is that You-Know-Who has called him. Why would the Dark Lord call him during the day, when the revels are at night?" Hermione confessed to be confused. Ron's eyebrows were drawn together as well.
"Yeah. He's usually called during or after supper. Plus, the last revel was called just three days ago. You don't suppose that they."
"Shush. We're not really supposed to know about this, remember?" Hermione looked over her shoulder, checking for eavesdroppers. There were none, but she lowered her voice anyway.
"Listen, this doesn't look good for Snape. I know you guys still don't like him much, but we've got to do something."
"Such as what, Hermione? Go ask him to take us on his little adventure?" Ron said sarcastically.
"You're getting to be as bad as Snape with that sarcasm," Hermione replied heatedly. Ron turned red, making his freckles stand out.
"Me? Have anything in common with that greasy git? You're."
"Stop it, both of you," Harry interrupted. "'Mione is right. We have to do something. We should go to Dumbledore. He'll know what to do."
"You think he doesn't already know? Dumbledore knows everything that goes on in this castle, or if not, damned close." Ron retorted. "We should leave it alone. If Dumbledore knows, he'll take care of it."
"You never know. He might have missed this one. And even if he hasn't, it's our duty to tell him. Maybe he'll even agree with our idea to go after Snape." Harry insisted, with conviction. Ron sighed at that; Harry never let go of something when duty or honor was the issue.
They walked quickly through the halls, stopping at the gargoyle that halted their progress. Hermione whispered the current password and they ascended into the Headmaster's office.
Fawkes sang out a greeting to them and Dumbledore turned around from the bookshelf he had been perusing. His eyes twinkled as he smiled at them.
"Ah, I was wondering when I'd be seeing you three in my office again. Lemon drop?" They declined politely. Albus popped one in his mouth and gestured them to sit down.
"Planning on doing something with the free time you have on your hands?" They all started at that. Albus chuckled at their reactions but sobered quickly, though a slight twinkle lingered in his eyes.
"Professor Snape always informs me when he is summoned." Dumbledore's brow arched as Ron mouthed, "I told you so" to the other two but he didn't comment.
"Was there something you wanted to ask of me?" the headmaster asked. They looked at each other.
"Well, sir, I.we were slightly worried for Professor Snape because these are unusual circumstances for him to be leaving. We were wondering if there was something we could do to help," Hermione finally managed to get out.
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, sucking on his lemon drop. He was lost in thought for a long moment and the three were exchanging a glance of whether they should get his attention, when his gaze focused again. "Actually, there is."
Disclaimer: The characters portrayed in this story are the property of J.K Rowling, the brilliant genius. I make no money off this, so all you'll get if you sue me are my gym clothes.
The Dark Mark burned with unquenchable fury. Pain shot through his arm and mind as the bond between him and the monster was activated. The pain in his arm came from the mark itself; the pain in his mind came from the knowledge that this would not be an ordinary meeting.
It had only been three days since the last calling. Usually the Dark Lord allowed his minions longer than that to recover from his gentle administrations. The fact that this meeting was coming hard on the other's heels was ominous. Snape shivered with uncharacteristic fear. Every time he went to these meetings, the threat of discovery increased. But if it weren't for the Cause, he wouldn't care if he were uncovered. Death would be a welcome relief from his guilt. The only reason he was alive was the Cause. If he let one thing slip, the Order of the Phoenix would suffer considerable damage and their best shot at destroying the Death Eaters' Circle would go down in smoke.
"Class is dismissed." Snape sneered in response to the barely concealed glee on his students' faces. They all filed out of the room, though Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked at him in askance. Ever since they had learned of his work as a double agent in their fifth year, they had begun to grudgingly respect him.
"So enamored of my presence, are you? Perhaps you're looking for extra work to make up for the short class, hmmm?" The trio hurried out the door before he could make good on his threat. Once out of his earshot, they turned to each other, each with puzzlement and concern on their faces.
"The only reason he would dismiss class early is that You-Know-Who has called him. Why would the Dark Lord call him during the day, when the revels are at night?" Hermione confessed to be confused. Ron's eyebrows were drawn together as well.
"Yeah. He's usually called during or after supper. Plus, the last revel was called just three days ago. You don't suppose that they."
"Shush. We're not really supposed to know about this, remember?" Hermione looked over her shoulder, checking for eavesdroppers. There were none, but she lowered her voice anyway.
"Listen, this doesn't look good for Snape. I know you guys still don't like him much, but we've got to do something."
"Such as what, Hermione? Go ask him to take us on his little adventure?" Ron said sarcastically.
"You're getting to be as bad as Snape with that sarcasm," Hermione replied heatedly. Ron turned red, making his freckles stand out.
"Me? Have anything in common with that greasy git? You're."
"Stop it, both of you," Harry interrupted. "'Mione is right. We have to do something. We should go to Dumbledore. He'll know what to do."
"You think he doesn't already know? Dumbledore knows everything that goes on in this castle, or if not, damned close." Ron retorted. "We should leave it alone. If Dumbledore knows, he'll take care of it."
"You never know. He might have missed this one. And even if he hasn't, it's our duty to tell him. Maybe he'll even agree with our idea to go after Snape." Harry insisted, with conviction. Ron sighed at that; Harry never let go of something when duty or honor was the issue.
They walked quickly through the halls, stopping at the gargoyle that halted their progress. Hermione whispered the current password and they ascended into the Headmaster's office.
Fawkes sang out a greeting to them and Dumbledore turned around from the bookshelf he had been perusing. His eyes twinkled as he smiled at them.
"Ah, I was wondering when I'd be seeing you three in my office again. Lemon drop?" They declined politely. Albus popped one in his mouth and gestured them to sit down.
"Planning on doing something with the free time you have on your hands?" They all started at that. Albus chuckled at their reactions but sobered quickly, though a slight twinkle lingered in his eyes.
"Professor Snape always informs me when he is summoned." Dumbledore's brow arched as Ron mouthed, "I told you so" to the other two but he didn't comment.
"Was there something you wanted to ask of me?" the headmaster asked. They looked at each other.
"Well, sir, I.we were slightly worried for Professor Snape because these are unusual circumstances for him to be leaving. We were wondering if there was something we could do to help," Hermione finally managed to get out.
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, sucking on his lemon drop. He was lost in thought for a long moment and the three were exchanging a glance of whether they should get his attention, when his gaze focused again. "Actually, there is."