Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter 11: Uh Oh
"Knows?" Hermione asked frantically. "Knows what?"
"Snape told him who the Secret Keeper was," Harry said, feeling oddly calm.
"Who is it?" Draco asked.
"Snape," Harry said simply.
"Harry. Harry, this isn't good!" Hermione said, her voice rising in pitch as she neared hysteria. "Harry, you need to go straight to Dumbledore, tell him what happened. He'll get Snape in here, and you'll figure it all out. Oh, Merlin, he'll tell Voldemort where you're at, hand he'll come and find you and you'll have to go and fight and you might die and…Oh, Harry!" the brunette witch burst into tears and flung herself at Harry, sobbing into his chest.
Harry looked startled and put his arms around her, trying to calm her down. He looked up at Draco, who was looking at his girlfriend with a mixture of confusion and concern. The blonde moved to Harry and pulled Hermione off of him, carrying her to the couch, where she sopped onto his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead repeatedly and whispering soothing words into her ear until she calmed down. Luna moved and sat down next to Harry, who reached out and took her hand, squeezing it comfortingly.
"Guys, I think I'm going to head up to Dumbledore's office, let him know what's going on," Harry said, standing up. Draco looked at him in awe.
"Merlin, Potter, how can you be so calm about this?" the Slytherin asked.
"About what?"
"All of this!" Draco exclaimed. "Snape gave away your secret, you're going to have to fight the Dark Lord. You might even…die. And yet you act as if you're planning a picnic in the park. If it were me, I'd be tearing my hair out."
"No you wouldn't, you'd ruin it," Harry said, smirking. Draco laughed.
"But don't think you're alone in this," he said seriously. "We're all here for you. Let's go to Dumbledore's office." He stood up, grabbed Hermione's hand, and marched out of the room. Harry followed, still holding Luna's hand.
Harry knocked, for the second time that day, on the headmaster's door. Without waiting for a response from within, Draco flung the door open and charged into the office. Dumbledore looked up, smiling, his eyes twinkling.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy…and friends," he said good-naturedly. "What can I do for you today?"
"Sir," Harry cut in before Draco could reply. "I need to know something. Is…was Professor Snape my Secret Keeper?"
Dumbledore's smile never faltered, but his eyes lost the twinkle slightly. "Why, yes, Harry, he is," he said, sounding somewhat confused. "And if I may…why do you say 'was?'"
Harry took a breath to answer, but Draco jumped in. "Because that filthy scum bag told You-Know-Who that he was, and that he knew where Harry was," the Slytherin snarled furiously, his blue-grey eyes flashing. Hermione laid a hand on his arm.
"Draco," she said softly, but with a slight warning edge to her voice. Draco glowered, but backed off so Harry could talk.
"Dir, I had a vision just now of Professor Snape informing Voldemort that he was the Secret Keeper," he explained. The headmaster sighed, suddenly looking like the tired, one hundred-plus year old man that he was.
"Yes, my boy, I am afraid that Severus has come clean," he said sadly. At the four teens' outraged expressions, he held up a hand. "Let me explain. When Harry informed me of the last vision he had, it came into light that Voldemort was going to capture Miss Lovegood here, and torture her until she revealed who the Secret Keeper was." Luna nodded, having already known this from Harry's vision. "I simply could not let that happen. So I told Severus that he was to come forward and reveal himself to Voldemort. I apologize, Harry, but I am afraid that you are indeed going to have to fight Voldemort, though when that will be I am not sure. I am still waiting for Severus to report back to me."
"Actually, sir, in the vision Voldemort said that they would be attacking at sunrise in three days' time," Harry offered. Dumbledore gave him a small smile.
"Thank you, Harry," he said. "Now, I suggest the three of you go back to your dorms."
"Three?" Harry said, looking around. Sure enough, Luna was gone. "Where'd Luna go?" he asked. The other two looked around as well.
"I don't know, she must have gone back to the dorm already," Hermione said. Harry shrugged.
"Potter, you can stay in the Head Dorm tonight if you want," Draco offered. Harry smiled.
"Thanks, Malfoy," he said gratefully. Hermione made a small noise of frustration.
"Honestly, you guys are friends now," she said. "Call each other by your proper names already."
Draco smirked. "All right then. Hey, Scarhead, you wanna stay in our dorms tonight?" he said snidely.
"Sure, Ferret, why not?" Harry retorted good-naturedly.
"Honestly!" Hermione exclaimed, turning on her heel and marching to the door. Harry made to follow but was stopped by Draco's hand on his arm.
"Sir," Draco began. "I want both you and Harry to know that when this war starts, I'm by your side all the way. I'm not Death Eater scum like that prat I'm forced to call my father," he finished bitterly. Dumbledore smiled softly.
"Thank you, Draco," he said. "I will inform the two of you when the battle begins. In the mean time, I want all of you, Miss Lovegood and Miss Granger included, to be on alert at all times. I'm sure I'm correct in saying that the ladies will not be sustained during the battle."
"That is correct, sir," came Hermione's voice from the doorway. "Luna and I will remain by Harry and Draco without hesitation."
"I thought you left," Draco said, raising an eyebrow at his girlfriend. She scowled.
"I was waiting outside for you two, but you didn't come out. So I came back."
Draco walked over to her and kissed her forehead, placing his hands on the door frame on either side of her head.
"Go back to the dorms, love," he said quietly. "Harry and I will be there soon. There are just some things we need to discuss."
"Alright," Hermione agreed. "But I'm waiting up for you." She turned and left the office again. Draco sighed and slumped into a chair.
"I swear, that woman is the biggest pain in the neck," he groused. "I won't have her out there fighting Death Eaters where she may be killed."
"Draco," Harry said gently. "I seriously doubt you'll be able to keep her out of it. Ever since fourth year when Voldemort came back, she's been determined to destroy him. I think—as much as I hate to say it—the only way to keep her away from the battle is to kill her."
Draco sighed again, defeated. "I know, I just don't want to lose her, is all."
"And we will do our best to keep that from happening, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Stop calling me Mr. Malfoy," he snapped. "That's my father, and I don't want to be associated with him in any way."
"My apologies," the headmaster said. "Now, I believe the two of you should get to bed. I shall notify you when we have a plan of action."
The two boys thanked him and exited the office. They walked in silence for a few moments, before Draco turned suddenly.
"Wait, the dorms are this way," Harry said, scrambling to catch up. "Where are you going?"
"I need to take a walk," Draco said. "I'm going outside." Harry fell into step next to him and they exited the castle.
The cool breeze ruffled Harry's hair. He shivered slightly but didn't complain. It was a beautiful night. The two of them walked all the way around the castle grounds several times, and the sky had just begun to lighten whey Draco finally broke the silence.
"Are you scared?" he asked suddenly. Harry, knowing exactly what the blonde was talking about, shook his head slightly.
"No," he said. "I'm not, really. I should be, but I'm not. I mean, I know I have to do this. Not just for me, but for everyone."
"I'm a bit confused," Draco said. "Dumbledore had Snape come clean just to keep Luna safe?"
"Seems like it," Harry agreed.
"Too bad it didn't work."
Harry and Draco stopped dead. Both knew that voice only too well. They whirled around in unison, whipping out their wands by pure reflex. Green and grey locked with piercing red. Lord Voldemort chuckled.
"What are you going to do, boys?" he asked maliciously. "Kill me?"
"Bingo," Draco snarled, and he and Harry raised their wand. Voldemort chuckled.
"I wouldn't if I were you," he taunted. With a snap of his fingers, Death Eaters began Apparating around them. Harry and Draco stood back to back, hopelessly outnumbered.
"You see, children," Voldemort began, his eyes glinting with glee. "I can do many tings. I have a great number of loyal followers. You have nothing."
"All we have to do is kill you," Harry spat. "Once you're out of the way, all that remains is annihilating you Death Eaters."
"But if you kill me, they will kill you." Harry threw his head back and laughed.
"You think that scares me?" he asked gleefully. "Considering my life right now, I'd welcome death. Once I destroy you, I'll have fulfilled my purpose, and then I'm done. Face it, Tommy boy, your threats mean nothing to me. Why should I be afraid of a Mudblood?"
Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "How dare you speak to me like that, you insolent little brat. Maybe I don't scare you, but perhaps this will." He snapped his fingers again.
Two people appeared. Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape. Each one was grinning maniacally. And each one held a girl in his arms. Harry felt his heart plummet.
They had Hermione and Luna.
A/N: Dun dun dun! AGAIN! I told you that the next few chapters would be cliffies. LoL. I don't lie! Mwahahahahahaha!
Okay, I'm done now. Sorry, the devil on my shoulder has decided to take over lately. LOL! He's very evil, and he likes to scare little children. I'm putting him in time-out, though, so I'm hoping that will turn him around.
Nine chapters left…
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