Chapter 16:
Amazing how heavy silence can be. No one makes a sound; no one draws a breath. All eyes are fixed on Voldemort, including mine. The thin lips have become a scant line; his red eyes mere slits. The gears moving in his head to adapt this bombshell of information are visible.
Slowly, very slowly, I straighten up and take three steps back from my intimate interview with the Dark Lord. As I wait for his response, I risk a look over to Severus. He is standing five steps to my left. Spell shocked. His face is stony, betraying no emotion. I know, however, that inside a storm is raging.
A slight rustle from Voldemort and my gaze snaps back to meet his eyes.
"I do not believe you, Bena."
I behave confidently...too confidently. "Very well. I will take my knowledge elsewhere." I take my wand from an inner pocket, but before I am able to cast the apparition spell, I find myself on the ground, experiencing bone-shattering pain.
Lucius has cast cruciatus while my attention was diverted. Damn. Remembering Severus's trick to not crying out, I begin mentally reciting the ingredients and instructions for first the polyjuice potion, followed the Draught of Living Death, Concoction for Coughing, and several others, gradually becoming more complex in nature.
Eventually the curse is lifted. It could have been thirty seconds or thirty minutes. I have no concept of how time has passed. I sit up, gasping. I did not cry out, of that I am sure. That knowledge is further enforced by the expressions on the faces of Lucius, Severus and Voldemort.
Lucius looks furious. Severus relieved. Voldemort, with what little emotion he is able to express, seems very interested. "How did you do that?" he asks finally.
"My lord?" I inquire.
"You did not cry out. How?"
Deciding the truth would earn me a chuckle, "By reciting the ingredients from my N.E.W.T. level potions text."
Severus lets a small smile play across his features. Voldemort gives a dry laugh. "Very well played, Hummel." He catches himself. "Dumbledore." He corrects.
"Very well, I accept, Bena. Tomorrow Severus will guide you to a special meeting place. He has to deliver a potion there. You and I will discuss this new alliance. Go now, before you are missed."
I step back, feeling a bit concerned. I do not know where I am; it will be difficult to disapparate back to Hogsmeade. Suddenly, Severus is at my side, his hand grasping mine. "Let me guide." He whispers in my ear.
We bow together to Voldemort and disappear with a crack. Moments later we are appear just outside the gates of the Hogwarts grounds. I turn to Severus, a large smile playing on my features.
"It worked, Severus, I was able to convince him." I am overjoyed.
Severus answers me harshly, "How pleasant for the heir of the Dumbledores. Excuse me." And he begins to stride harshly towards the castle, leaving me gaping on the other side of the gates.
Hoisting my robes, I scurry after him. Before Severus has reached the castle, though, Albus has come out to greet him. Albus's face looks haggard, tired and old. He has been worried for this lost son.
Night is still heavy all around us, though in the far eastern view across the lake, the very early signs of morning have begun. Severus stops briefly to talk to Albus, but continues his rapid gait to the castle almost immediately.
Albus turns to look at me. His face now contains every trace of sadness. Wordlessly I come to his side and we lean heavily upon one another as we make our way up to Albus's office. I know I will not be welcome in the dungeons any time soon, and though I will be forcing the confrontation shortly, I welcome the respite of tea and lemon drops.
Albus sits on a small sofa I have not seen before in front of his fire. He pats the space next to him and I gratefully move forward to join him. Just as I did when I was a little girl, I curl my legs up under me and place my head on Albus's lap. He absently begins to pat my head, his old fingers swirling through my hair.
My thoughts, already swirling, drift back to the last time I found myself being comforted by my great uncle.
It was my wedding night. Severus had left hours before with his father and the Malfoys, with no word as to their destination. The guests had left hours before as well. Narcissa and I were the only ones left in Malfoy Manor. I do not find her much comfort for the unexplained absence of my new husband and so have retreated upstairs to the suite Severus and I have been lent for the evening.
I drift off and am awakened moments later by hushed voices outside the main door to the suite. Unable to discern actual words being said, I freeze when I hear the knob rattle and Severus's voice say, very clearly, "I understand, Father. I will immobilize her first and then cast the killing curse. No, I am quite capable of doing this. Thank you."
Casting my eyes around wildly, I know the moment I have feared is arriving. The months leading up to our wedding have been filled with arguments and odd behavior by Severus. I know he supports Lord Voldemort, a politician who has been gaining many supporters as of late. I also know I do not agree with his views on muggleborns.
I grab my wand from the night table and scurry to the French doors off the bedroom. Using my wand to silently open the doors, I step out into the cold winter air. My breath is taken away, but I urged myself sideways onto the ledge. Slowly, I carry myself to the rainspout and slide down, smashing my wrist in the process.
Watching the lights flare in our suite, as first Severus, then the others find it empty, now four floors above me, I scamper across the yard. Once safely outside the anti-apparation wards, I pull my dressing gown tightly around me, and apparate just outside Hogwarts. Albus comforted me then as he is now.
We sit in silence for a while longer, before I gather my strength and make for the dungeons, and the argument that is waiting.
Amazing how heavy silence can be. No one makes a sound; no one draws a breath. All eyes are fixed on Voldemort, including mine. The thin lips have become a scant line; his red eyes mere slits. The gears moving in his head to adapt this bombshell of information are visible.
Slowly, very slowly, I straighten up and take three steps back from my intimate interview with the Dark Lord. As I wait for his response, I risk a look over to Severus. He is standing five steps to my left. Spell shocked. His face is stony, betraying no emotion. I know, however, that inside a storm is raging.
A slight rustle from Voldemort and my gaze snaps back to meet his eyes.
"I do not believe you, Bena."
I behave confidently...too confidently. "Very well. I will take my knowledge elsewhere." I take my wand from an inner pocket, but before I am able to cast the apparition spell, I find myself on the ground, experiencing bone-shattering pain.
Lucius has cast cruciatus while my attention was diverted. Damn. Remembering Severus's trick to not crying out, I begin mentally reciting the ingredients and instructions for first the polyjuice potion, followed the Draught of Living Death, Concoction for Coughing, and several others, gradually becoming more complex in nature.
Eventually the curse is lifted. It could have been thirty seconds or thirty minutes. I have no concept of how time has passed. I sit up, gasping. I did not cry out, of that I am sure. That knowledge is further enforced by the expressions on the faces of Lucius, Severus and Voldemort.
Lucius looks furious. Severus relieved. Voldemort, with what little emotion he is able to express, seems very interested. "How did you do that?" he asks finally.
"My lord?" I inquire.
"You did not cry out. How?"
Deciding the truth would earn me a chuckle, "By reciting the ingredients from my N.E.W.T. level potions text."
Severus lets a small smile play across his features. Voldemort gives a dry laugh. "Very well played, Hummel." He catches himself. "Dumbledore." He corrects.
"Very well, I accept, Bena. Tomorrow Severus will guide you to a special meeting place. He has to deliver a potion there. You and I will discuss this new alliance. Go now, before you are missed."
I step back, feeling a bit concerned. I do not know where I am; it will be difficult to disapparate back to Hogsmeade. Suddenly, Severus is at my side, his hand grasping mine. "Let me guide." He whispers in my ear.
We bow together to Voldemort and disappear with a crack. Moments later we are appear just outside the gates of the Hogwarts grounds. I turn to Severus, a large smile playing on my features.
"It worked, Severus, I was able to convince him." I am overjoyed.
Severus answers me harshly, "How pleasant for the heir of the Dumbledores. Excuse me." And he begins to stride harshly towards the castle, leaving me gaping on the other side of the gates.
Hoisting my robes, I scurry after him. Before Severus has reached the castle, though, Albus has come out to greet him. Albus's face looks haggard, tired and old. He has been worried for this lost son.
Night is still heavy all around us, though in the far eastern view across the lake, the very early signs of morning have begun. Severus stops briefly to talk to Albus, but continues his rapid gait to the castle almost immediately.
Albus turns to look at me. His face now contains every trace of sadness. Wordlessly I come to his side and we lean heavily upon one another as we make our way up to Albus's office. I know I will not be welcome in the dungeons any time soon, and though I will be forcing the confrontation shortly, I welcome the respite of tea and lemon drops.
Albus sits on a small sofa I have not seen before in front of his fire. He pats the space next to him and I gratefully move forward to join him. Just as I did when I was a little girl, I curl my legs up under me and place my head on Albus's lap. He absently begins to pat my head, his old fingers swirling through my hair.
My thoughts, already swirling, drift back to the last time I found myself being comforted by my great uncle.
It was my wedding night. Severus had left hours before with his father and the Malfoys, with no word as to their destination. The guests had left hours before as well. Narcissa and I were the only ones left in Malfoy Manor. I do not find her much comfort for the unexplained absence of my new husband and so have retreated upstairs to the suite Severus and I have been lent for the evening.
I drift off and am awakened moments later by hushed voices outside the main door to the suite. Unable to discern actual words being said, I freeze when I hear the knob rattle and Severus's voice say, very clearly, "I understand, Father. I will immobilize her first and then cast the killing curse. No, I am quite capable of doing this. Thank you."
Casting my eyes around wildly, I know the moment I have feared is arriving. The months leading up to our wedding have been filled with arguments and odd behavior by Severus. I know he supports Lord Voldemort, a politician who has been gaining many supporters as of late. I also know I do not agree with his views on muggleborns.
I grab my wand from the night table and scurry to the French doors off the bedroom. Using my wand to silently open the doors, I step out into the cold winter air. My breath is taken away, but I urged myself sideways onto the ledge. Slowly, I carry myself to the rainspout and slide down, smashing my wrist in the process.
Watching the lights flare in our suite, as first Severus, then the others find it empty, now four floors above me, I scamper across the yard. Once safely outside the anti-apparation wards, I pull my dressing gown tightly around me, and apparate just outside Hogwarts. Albus comforted me then as he is now.
We sit in silence for a while longer, before I gather my strength and make for the dungeons, and the argument that is waiting.