The Question- Chapter 6

As usual, all the characters are JKR's. Only Killian is mine. I don't look to profit from this so don't sue me please. An enormous 'thank you' to Lantaana for betaing, and as always comments are welcome and appreciated.


Harry apparated to one of Hogsmeade's alleyways and took a quick look around. Save three squirrels, the area was empty. Confidentiality taken care of, he tapped the trunk of the old birch that leaned precariously against the side of the Leaky Cauldron. Inside, the tree was hollowed out into a spiral staircase with windows into every one of the building's three secret rooms, one on every floor. While the order members generally knew of the rooms, no one but Harry and Rosmerta were aware of the tree's dual functions. This allowed him to observe the people gathered in the rooms without being noticed; to everyone outside, the trunk appeared whole.

The scene inside was too peaceful for the individuals assembled. Severus Snape, Malfoy the elder and Ron Weasley were in the same four walls and no blood was flowing. Draco was not found, and Harry decided to wait it out. The younger Malfoy's entrance would serve as a diversion for his own. As much as he trusted the people inside, he did need to keep some secrets to himself. Meanwhile, he took his time to observe those assembled. Snape, looking not much better than he did yesterday half sat- half lounged on the plush mud-coloured sofa and was obviously embroiled in a discussion with Lucius. His fingers moved rapidly around the page he was holding and the long lost snide glint was back in his eyes. To Harry, he was magnificent, a phoenix in raven's clothing, always playing with death, fooling him on a bi- weekly basis yet never dying himself. Lucius sat with his back to Harry, so he could make no decision about the man. His body language however radiated restrained excitement, which intrigued Harry further. It was rare for both of the senior spies to agree so completely with each other. Ron occupied an armchair opposite the two older men and had an old copy of the Quidditch Monthly in his hands. He was not reading it. Instead, he would raise his eyes a bit every few seconds and glance at the blond. Then, as though afraid of being detected, he would train his eyes on the page again, only to repeat the process seconds later. That was unexpected. Before Harry could ponder his friend's behaviour further, the door opened and the willowy Draco stepped in giving Harry the split second needed to slip into the room undetected.

"Afternoon everyone, sorry I'm a bit late", said Draco as he made his way to the other unoccupied armchair and flopped down.

"Did you see Potter on the way?" replied Snape and when Draco's confused eyes met his added, "He is rarely late."

"I wasn't aware I was late Severus" said Harry and made his way to the coffee table in the middle of the room. Ignoring three pairs of confused/irritated/impressed eyes was not an easy task. Finally Snape shook himself and sat up on the sofa.

"You Mister Potter are in danger of turning into the next Dumbledore."

"What can I say, he rubs off on people. It's an occupational hazard of working with the man. What have you got for us?"

"Eager one, are you? Perhaps Lucius will explain it better than I, but we may have found a way to off the bastard. Lucius, if you will?" Saying all of that proved hard for Snape and he gingerly lowered himself back onto the pillows. Harry filed the expression on the man's face away for further examination. Maybe he was not healing as rapidly as he claimed. Knowing Snape as he did, Harry make sure to see the man later and check up on his ribs. He knew and accepted his inability to make Severus happy. The best he could do for the man he cared so much for was make sure he lived long enough to find someone else to do what he cold not because of his parentage. Lucius' melodic tones brought him back to the present and he turned his attention to the piece of parchment in front of his face. It was the same one he and Snape talked about before Harry came in.

"Earlier this year, Draco and I noticed that every Death eater meeting was arranged the same way, meaning that certain people always stood in the same spot making a semi circle around Voldemort. It's the same structure as the human eye, in a way. Voldemort puts himself in the position of a focus, and thus uses his followers' power instead of just his own. That's why he appears virtually all powerful."

"Have you checked the theory?" voiced Ron, worry evident in his tone.

"Yes Mister Weasley. Between Severus and myself, we have enough Occulmency to realise when our power is being siphoned off." Answered Lucius with a slight half smile on his lips. Ron flushed and retreated back into the chair. Harry barely resisted raising his eyebrows; this was most unexpected of both parties. Instead, he looked at the diagram in front of him. In Snape's spidery handwriting every name and figure was labelled. It did, in fact look like a diagram of the eye.

"So the bastard draws all of the inner circle's magic and focuses it?"

"Yes Potter, glad to know you can infer the obvious." Harry ignored the dig and looked up at Ron, who was looking at Lucius, who was looking at Ron's reflection in the mirror. That clinched it. He'd talk to Ron about it and get him to do something. This was rare and precious and easily lost. He knew so from experience and wouldn't wish it on Voldemort himself.

"Ron?"

"Uh? Oh, yeah, what?"

"Any ideas?"

"Well, if we can cut him off from the supply, he should be easy to Avada off. The only issue is the way he draws magic from people. Professor Snape?"

"Yes it's through the Dark Mark, which is not erasable, believe me, I've tried", barked Snape and snuggled further into the couch looking like an offended raven. Draco, who until then sat quietly in his corner rose and walked over to Harry and took the diagram.

"Would you mind if I took it to Herm? She'd be grateful for a task and may find out more." Collective nods answered his request and he sat back down, easily slipping back into the role of observer.

"So, gentlemen, let's assume we can find a way to interfere with the energy transfer. How can we get at the big bad then? What use is this diagram if we can't off him anyway?"

"Harry really, this is elementary. Once the supply is limited we can just run him into the ground." When Ron saw that his answer was only a puzzled look, he elaborated. "We can use you as a conduit and ground. It's something muggles use for lightning. Lucius says it will work. Theoretically, you would just pass his magic through you and into the ground below. You've done it before when you survived him the first time around."
"Honestly Mister Potter, it's the only way you could have. Thus, your body has to have some sort of sense memory of it, which theoretically should make your task easier. All you would have to do is train, and luckily, Severus is right down the stairs from your rooms."
"Lucius! You cannot be implying that I train him yet again? Besides, there's Killian to consider..."
"If this fails, there will be no Killian to consider! Also, Ronald and I are available to take care of him." Snape only scowled and Draco took the silence for tacit agreement. "That's settled then. Would you lot mind setting the next meeting for a week from now?" With nods of agreement all around the Malfoys rose and walked out leaving Severus, Harry and Ron in the room. Harry thought about helping Snape back to Hogwarts, but Ron was already there. Besides, he had to check up on his son and a class to teach. With a quiet pop, he apparated to the Forbidden Forest and started the long trek to the school.