Invenio Veritas
By penpunk
Chapter 24: Assumption Can Be a Dangerous Thing
"Are you certain Draco?"
"Yes father."
An evil grin flashed across Lucius Malfoy's face as his head floated in the green fire.
"It seems Severus and his son was up to something after all," said Malfoy as his look up at his son. "Does Alex know you know?"
"Yes father. I asked him about it during potions," said Draco as he brushed a few blonde strands of hair out of his face.
"And what did he say?" asked Lucius with interest.
"He said it was his mother's."
"Interesting," muttered Lucius as he looked down.
"What do you want me to do father?" asked Draco.
"Nothing," replied Lucius. "This conversation never took place. Act like you have no idea about the ring. Tomorrow morning, I want to know if he is still wearing it. Owl me as soon as you see him. Is that understood Draco?"
"Yes Father."
"Acid Pop."
Severus waited for the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's door to move before bounding up the stairs. He rapped on the office door sharply and entered after hearing Dumbledore's voice.
"Good morning Severus," said Dumbledore as the potions professor walked in the door. Severus nodded in return.
"So have you any ideas about what we will possibly do?" asked Severus as he started to pace. "What did you do with the ring?"
"It is safely hidden," said Dumbledore. "And I have figured out what we will do."
"What? What did you decide?"
"Well, I figured that it is pretty unlikely that Lucius would question Draco about the ring. I mean, they are going after muggleborns so why would Draco know anything?"
"True, but that doesn't mean he won't know later," said Severus as he stopped pacing to sit in front of Dumbledore's desk.
"Yes, I know. That's why I've decided to place a memory charm on Draco. It saddens me that I have to do so on a student but it is for everyone's safety."
"When are you going to do it?" asked Severus.
"After breakfast," said Dumbledore. "Speaking of which, we're going to be late."
"Are you certain that Harry will be safe?" asked Severus.
"Nothing is ever certain Severus," said Dumbledore as he placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "But I certainly hope so."
Severus looked up at the old man, his black eyes glittering with appreciation.
"I will eventually repay you for all that you have done for us Albus," said Severus with his usually formality. "You've done so much for us. I can't even begin to thank you."
"Severus," said Dumbledore with a laugh. "For someone who is rare in giving thanks, I believe that comment was thanks enough."
Dumbledore almost got a smile from Severus, who quickly recovered from showing so much emotion on his usually stony face. Severus took out a quill from his pocket and asked Dumbledore for a piece of parchment and an inkwell. Dumbledore complied and gave him both. Severus quickly scribbled down a note and rolled the parchment up, sticking it in his pocket. He then stood up and followed the headmaster out of his office.
"By the way Severus," asked Dumbledore as both walked towards the Great Hall. "You will be attending the quidditch game tomorrow, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," said Severus, enthusiasm barely lining his silky voice.
"I figured as much. Have you figured out who you will cheer for?" asked Dumbledore with a smile.
"What do you mean?" asked Severus as he turned his head sharply towards Dumbledore, eyeing him strangely.
"Well, will you cheer for your own house or your son?" asked Dumbledore innocently, gauging Severus' reaction. "Since both will being playing in tomorrow's game."
"I will be cheering for both," said Severus as he turned his head forward once again. His face suddenly twisted in confusion and annoyance as he looked back at Dumbledore again, who had a small grin on his face. "Since when did I cheer anyway? I do not cheer."
Dumbledore sighed as he looked back at Severus. The grin grew larger.
"I know how much you love quidditch Severus," said Dumbledore. "Could you let go for once and actually act like you love it? The only reaction I ever see on your face during those games is a scowl if Slytherin loses and a smirk when you win."
"Well, since I will be cheering for both, the combination of a scowl and a smirk should be quite amusing to you Albus," said Severus with annoyance. "Besides, I wouldn't cheer for the Gryffindor team. Just Harry. I'd much rather see Slytherin win the quidditch cup anyway."
"Well, you love your house, I'll give you that much," said Dumbledore. "You show a little more favoritism then I would normally like to see but-."
"I do not favor my house because I believe they are better than everyone else," said Severus as he cut off the headmaster. "I favor my house because no one else will. Albus, you know how the rest of the school treats the Slytherins. They are practically discriminated against. If I do not show them kindness, they will not be witness to any."
"Too true," mumbled Dumbledore. "We'll have to work on intra-house relations, especially during times like these."
"Teachers as well," added Severus. "Most are fair, like McGonagall and Flitwick, but not all are. They need to learn to treat my house with respect."
Dumbledore didn't answer, but the look of admiration was answer enough. On the outside, Severus Snape looked as though nothing was worth his time. He acted like he didn't care about anything or anyone, but Dumbledore knew better. He cared for his house. It was his family as a student, no matter how dysfunctional it was, and it was his cause as an adult. Perhaps the feelings towards his house helped him in slipping into the role of being a father.
Both Professors entered the Great Hall and sat in their respective seats. Dumbledore began to talk quietly with McGonagall as the students sat at their house tables. Severus steepled his hands in front of him as he looked around the hall. Draco was sitting with his friends at the end of the Slytherin table, talking smugly with them. Severus was reassured by Dumbledore that Draco wouldn't know the significance of the ring until his father mentioned something, but it was all a matter of time before Draco would know. Lucius was always one to share information to his "spy" but it all depended on time. His eyes skirted over the Hufflepuff table and landed on the Gryffindor table. Harry was talking quietly with Black, Granger, and Weasley. Before finding out that Harry was his son, Severus had always regarded Granger and Weasley as Potter's little cronies, but now that he was closer to the boy, he knew how much Harry depended on and needed his friends.
The same went for Black. Severus had been at the Deatheater meetings and he knew that Pettigrew was alive. Which meant something he had a hard time admitting. Black was innocent. There was no getting around that fact. But realizing that Harry's Godfather was innocent forced him to question himself. Could he have thought otherwise? Black was devoted to Potter and Lily unconditionally. When Severus heard the news that Black had handed them to Voldemort, he had a hard time believing it. It seemed that all the hatred he had built up for the man clouded his instincts and believing his guilt was easy.
He was brought out of his reverie as the plates in front of him filled with food. He scraped a few pieces of bacon onto his plate and buttered some toast before starting to eat. He looked back over at the Gryffindor house table just in time to catch Harry's eye. Harry looked up and gave Severus a quick smile and a brief wave. Severus waved back (if you call lifting his hand up a wave) and tried to smile, but his mouth was full of food. This cause Harry to laugh slightly before turning back to his friends.
Post came in with a rush of owls. Severus continued with his breakfast. He rarely got mail and did not expect any today. A familiar blur of feathers flew by him and dropped to the Slytherin table. It was Malfoy's eagle owl. Severus watched Draco suspiciously as he read the letter his owl brought him. After reading, Draco turned to Crabbe, who was sitting next to him, and started talking. Crabbe reached into his bag and brought out a quill, which he handed to Malfoy. Severus watched as Draco dipped it into an inkwell and scribbled down, which looked to be a one word reply. He tied the letter back on the eagle owl's leg and watched it fly off.
"Severus, you're grinding your teeth," said a voice behind him. Severus turned around suddenly and saw Dumbledore standing behind him. He realized that he was in fact grinding his teeth and quickly stopped. This caused Dumbledore to laugh quietly. "I need you to send Mr. Malfoy to my office. As his head of house, it seems appropriate."
Severus nodded as his turned back around. Some of the students were finishing their breakfast and getting up to leave. Severus swept down from the head table and over to the Slytherins.
"Mr. Malfoy," said Severus as he walked up behind the blonde boy. Draco turned around and looked up at his professor.
"Yes Professor?" said Draco as he took a quick side glance at Crabbe.
"The Headmaster wishes to speak with you this morning. He is waiting outside the Great Hall. You will follow him up to his office before going to class."
"What for?" asked Draco with his slow and drawling voice.
"What do I look like to you? Owl post? Just do as he asks Draco," said Severus. "Is that understood?"
Draco nodded. Severus glanced at the people sitting around him before heading over to the Gryffindor House table. He scowled at all the curious eyes as he walked by before stopping next to Harry and his friends.
"Alex?" said Severus in a formal tone. Harry turned around and looked up at his father.
"Yes Professor?"
Severus pulled the parchment out of his pocket and handed it to Harry.
"You left this in your room," said Severus. He held the parchment in his fist and with his other hand, traced around his forefinger, as if he was itching it. He looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow. Harry looked at his father's fist for a moment before realizing what he was trying to get across. He nodded and took the parchment.
"Thank you," said Harry.
"You're welcome," said Severus. He nodded to Sirius, Ron, and Hermione before walking away.
"What was that about?" asked Sirius as Severus left earshot.
"Remember what I told you three this morning?" asked Harry as he looked from Sirius to Ron and Hermione. He had explained his new situation to them earlier that morning before coming to breakfast. This worried Hermione greatly, caused Ron to curse, and Sirius to scowl. Harry could almost see his godfather's real face darkening under his borrowed appearance.
Harry looked back down at the piece of parchment and unrolled it. In his father's flowing, neat script it read:
I want you to be on your guard. Dumbledore is taking care of the problem and everything should be fine. Hopefully. The ring is safe and Draco is going to get a memory charm. You need to act as though nothing happened. My greatest concern is for your safety. Please be careful.
As serious as the letter was, Harry couldn't help but smile slightly at it.
My greatest concern is for your safety.
"This is it."
"The match we've been preparing for."
"There are people out there that want us to fail."
"Namely those gits on the other team."
"And the gits in their house."
"And their git of a head of house."
"Sorry Alex."
"No offense."
"But we also have all those people out there-."
"Excluding the gits."
"Thank you George. Yes, besides the gits, we have all those people out there counting on us to win."
"We must win."
"We win, we are in for the cup."
"Hufflepuff was absolutely killed by Slytherin so if we beat Slytherin, there is no way we can lose the cup."
"Excuse me Fred, but don't you mean 'When we beat Slytherin'?"
"Oh, yes. Sorry bro. When we beat Slytherin, there is no way we can lose the cup."
"We won't go into a long speech about upholding the honor of our house."
"Because we aren't bags of air like Wood."
"But we will say this."
"Go out there, do your best-."
"And kick them in the head!"
Sirius, Harry, Ron, Angelina, and Alicia all gave Fred and George a look of confusion and puzzlement before standing up and exiting the locker room.
"Kick them in the head?" asked Harry to Ron as they neared the quidditch pitch.
"You got me mate," said Ron with a shrug.
"Well, that is our fearless leaders for you," said Sirius as Fred and George walked in front of them. Sirius shook his head as they walked by but couldn't help but wear a big grin as he did it.
"What?" asked Harry as he started to smile as well.
"Well, with them, I can be confident that the Marauders left this school in good hands," said Sirius with a real smile.
"Ah, so they remind you of someone, do they?" said Harry smiling back.
Sirius didn't say anything but pushed Harry playfully in the shoulder.
"Ah, Severus. I've been looking for you," said Dumbledore as Severus walked out of the front doors of the school, on his way to the quidditch field. "Are you ready to cheer fo-."
"No offense Headmaster," said Severus as he put up a hand to stop Dumbledore from talking, "but stuff it. Really."
Dumbledore took no offense but laughed instead.
"How did yesterday go with Mr. Malfoy?" asked Severus as a group of students walked out of earshot of the two teachers. "Did he suspect anything?"
"I couldn't really tell," said Dumbledore with a shake of his head. "As his head of house, you know how the boy is. I asked him if he had spoken with his father lately. He said no but that couldn't really tell us anything. Lucius would make sure the boy didn't speak."
"But the issue has been taken care of I assume," said Severus as he and Dumbledore climbed their way to the teacher's box. Dumbledore nodded, though sadly.
"I know it was necessary but I still don't like the fact that I had to do it," said Dumbledore as he took as seat next to Professor McGonagall. "Nice day for a quidditch game, don't you think Minerva?"
"Oh yes," said the Deputy Headmistresses. "Wonderful. The Gryffindor team is really in top form this year. I had no idea Alex was such an excellent flyer. I didn't know what would happen when Potter was moved to Keeper, but they've done wonderfully so far. So Severus, who will you be cheering for?"
Severus made a strange sound in his throat and simply scowled as Dumbledore and McGonagall looked at him. Dumbledore turned to the Transfiguration teacher and whispered something in her ear. She looked from Dumbledore to Severus with a look of realization and said no more on the matter.
"Now Jordan, I don't care that we are playing Slytherin. I want a nice, clean, unbiased commentary. Is that understood?" asked McGonagall as she narrowed her eyes at the boy with dreadlocks sitting in front of her.
"I understand completely Professor," said Lee as he positioned the microphone in front of him. "Welcome students and teachers. Today we have a great match-up between two currently undefeated teams. Gryffindor vs. Slytherin!"
Immense cheers were heard around the stadium as the two teams flew onto the field.
"Madam Hooch is addressing the teams. Making sure they understand the rules, no doubt."
McGonagall looked over at Lee quickly. He decided to not continue on the train of thought and instead began to comment on the weather for the game. Harry was floating next to Sirius, who was doing some humorous stretches atop his broom.
"Madame Hooch has released the bludgers and there goes the snitch. And the quaffle is up! Gryffindor is first to take possession. Spinnet is off towards the Slytherin hoops."
Sirius turned around and sped towards the Gryffindor goal posts as Harry flew upwards, trying to get a good scope of the field. He spotted Draco out of the corner of his eye. The blonde Slytherin was keeping his distance from Harry. It seemed as though he was actually looking for the snitch on his own.
"And Chaser Sholtz takes a Bludger to the face. This new addition to the Slytherin team is certainly getting put through the wringer by the Gryffindor Beaters. Weasley with the quaffle now. Passes it to Spinnet. Spinnet to Johnson. Johnson back to Weasley. Weasley goes in for the goal. He shoots he. . . no, it's a fake. The Slytherin Keeper is pulled off the center hoop. Weasley passes to Spinnet who scores easily. Gryffindor leads 10 to 0."
Harry clapped for his team as the crowds roared with cheers. He headed back towards the Gryffindor goals, watching for the tiny golden ball. He came up behind Sirius and yelled out to him.
"Hey Padfoot!"
Sirius took one eye off the game as Harry flew next to him.
"Watch out for Sholtz."
"Which one is that?"
"He's the one with the bloody nose. He likes to fake a lot and pull the keeper off the center hoop, just like we did. He's weak when it comes to the left goal, your right. So best bet is to keep to the center and your left if he has the quaffle."
"Where did you hear this?"
"Pissed off Hufflepuff keeper," said Harry with a smile before he flew up and towards the center of the pitch.
"Spinnet loses the quaffle as she dodges a bludger but Weasley recovers. He flies toward the Slytherin goals and shoots. He scores! He is sure living up to the Weasley name as chaser on the Gryffindor team. You know, the Weasley family could very well have their own quidditch team. Does Percy and Ginny play? What with Charlie's seeker skills and the twins and Ron, why, we-."
"Jordan!" cried McGonagall, as the announcer strayed off the game.
"Sorry Professor. Gryffindor leads Slytherin 20 to 0."
Harry again cheered for his best friend, but as he did so, he looked up into the sky. At the start of the game, the sky was a clear as could be. Now, dark clouds had rolled in out of no where. Light drops of rain were beginning to fall as the sky darkened. He flew back down to Sirius who was busy watching the clouds as well.
"What happened to the weather?" asked Sirius as Harry flew near.
"I don't know, but it sure got dark quick," said Harry as he flew to Sirius' side and looked up at the sky. "Reminds me of the weather we had third year. Do you remember that game?"
Sirius nodded.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack when you fell. Try and stay on your broom this time please."
Harry gave Sirius a weak smile.
"And will you do the same for me?" said Harry with concern.
"What? Me? Fall off my broom? Never," said Sirius with a smug smile. Harry rolled his eyes as he flew off once again. Gryffindor had scored twice more, the Slytherin keeper and chaser trio being no match for Gryffindor.
"Gryffindor leads 40 to 0. My question is, what happened to the nice weather we had a few minutes ago?"
Severus looked up and noticed how the sky had darkened all of a sudden. The entire quidditch stadium was startled as a huge bolt of lightning flashed overhead and loud thunder began to boom through the land.
"That's odd," said Dumbledore as he looked up to the dark sky. The rain started to fall heavily upon the students.
"Alex!" shouted Fred as he flew by Harry. "Will you hurry and find the snitch? I don't want to be out here when it gets really nasty."
"I'm trying Fred!" shouted Harry but his reply was drowned out by another rumble of thunder and a crack of lightning. As the lightning flashed, Harry saw a glint of gold hovering at the end of the pitch, at the Slytherin end. He flew towards it with a rush of speed. Draco, who had been on the same side as Harry also saw the snitch but made no move to get it. Harry didn't look back, speeding ahead to end the game.
"I think Snape has seen something. It's the snitch. Malfoy doesn't even know what's hit him. He's just watching as Alex goes to the end the game."
Harry was getting ready to dive for the snitch, when the gold ball suddenly took a turn upwards. He followed it upward and closed in on it. As he reached out for the snitch, blocking out the sound of rain and cheers under him. He grasped the golden ball in his hand and could hear the cheer erupt under him. He turned his broom around and held the ball out for everyone to see.
"Snape gets the snitch and Gryffindor wins!"
Harry started back down towards the field when the wind began to pick up and the rain began to fall heavily. He looked back as a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Suddenly another bolt of light flew across the sky, but this one was red. It hit Harry in the stomach and he blacked out, falling from his broom.
"Oh my god," whispered Severus as he scrambled out of his seat. "He's falling! Dumbledore, stop him from falling!"
Dumbledore reached for his wand and started to speak but stopped as Harry was stopped from falling by a dark figure on a broom. Suddenly, a group of four dark cloaked figures flew out of the dark sky and surrounded the figure that was holding Harry. They started back up towards the sky. Jets of light flew from the boxes around the quidditch pitch as the teachers tried to stop the black figures. But it was no use. They were gone. As they departed, the dark clouds cleared and the rain stopped, leaving nothing in the sky.
Nothing but a green cloud of green smoke floating eerily above the stadium.
The Dark Mark.
I think I have a death wish everyone. This is only one of the many cliffhangers to come. We're nearing the end, as I have told you. I'd like to thank everyone who left a review last time. Especially those who ask me to give Draco a memory charm. I didn't know how I was going to explain some things, but that definitely helped me out. Thank guys. I'm telling ya, I really listen to your reviews. I love you all!