Author's Note: Those who felt like the last chapter didn't really go anywhere will probably feel similarly about this one. I apologize but there's not much to be done about it. In terms of events written, it's looking like Tuesday is going to be a very, very long day.



chapter 26: Frustration - bound hands



Harry collapsed back into his chair from his half standing position, then snapped shut the jaw that had fallen open in shock. When Ron had jumped up from his chair like that, Harry had felt his heart leap into his throat, fearing that something must be terribly wrong. Ron had been looking paler and more listless all class period, and now Harry worried that he was really much more sick than he and Hermione had first supposed. Ron had looked almost panicked to get out of the room and, to Harry's shock, he had seen a small trail of blood running from under Ron's sleeve and over the back of his hand. Why was Ron bleeding? Harry flashed on some of his dream from the night before. Something to do with Ron crying, and blood on his hands. He pushed the image away, disturbed. It was just another bad dream.

Soon, the class quieted down, though a faint buzz of whispers ran continually in the background, and Binns returned to the lesson. Harry ran over possible worst case scenarios as the last minutes of class ticked by. Beside him Hermione was staring fixedly at the blackboard, but her quill lay unmoving in her hand, still poised over her parchment and slowly dripping ink onto her notes. Binns' lecture was dragging on forever. It was like an impossibly slow and painful torture, some sort of ancient method invented by the Chinese then unearthed by Death Eaters and let loose into the school system.

When the bell rang signaling the end of class Harry practically jumped out of his chair and snatched up his books and parchment from the desk. Hermione followed suit and together they were out the door in under five seconds. Not sure what to do or where to look first, they dashed off to their next class, Potions. When they got there, the first year class before them was still straggling out and they had to shove their way through the younger witches and wizards to make it to the door.

They looked around the class room, seeing no one and nothing but a few leaking cauldrons and a bunsen burner thoughtlessly left on. Hermione absently shut if off with a flick of her wand. Harry was about to suggest that they run and check the infirmary before class started when a door slammed off to their left and they turned to see an angry looking Professor Snape exiting his offices followed by an equally angry looking Ron Weasley.

To Harry's utter shock, Snape stalked over to Hermione, his scowl deepening until it was almost a snarl, and said coldly, "Keep the class in order until we get back, Miss Granger. I'm holding you responsible. If they haven't started on their potions and aren't working quietly when I step into this room, you may be sure I'll deduct fifty points from Gryffindor." With that he turned sharply and headed for the door. Harry caught Ron's arm as he moved to follow the Professor.

"Ron, what's going on?"

"Not now, Harry." Still obviously angry, Ron shrugged out of Harry's grip and strode after Snape and out the door. Stunned, Harry turned and looked at Hermione, whose capabilities seemed to have been reduced to opening and closing her mouth like a fish trapped in a bowl. Her eyes were wide and unblinking. She was supposed to get the Slytherins to behave?







For the first time in his life, Ron found himself on Snape's side in an argument. He and the Professor stood side by side in front of a large, wooden desk cluttered with odd bits and scraps of magical objects and behind which sat Headmaster Dumbledore. Currently the Headmaster's expression was implacable, and his voice stern. "At the risk of sounding repetitive, I will say once more and once more only, Mr. Malfoy has taken his son out of school for the day for a private family affair and has forbidden me to tell anyone where they have gone." Snape and Ron both began to protest and Dumbledore held up a hand to silence them. "He has promised to return Draco by then end of the day. Now, there is Nothing to worry about. You will Both Please return to class."

Beyond the point of caring that he had just been rebuked in front of a student, Snape cut in at this point. "But Headmaster, Lucius Malfoy is not to be trusted. Who knows what his plans are. For all we know he could be planning to use the demon for his own purposes. The boy is not safe with his father."

Dumbledore appeared impervious to this argument. "I am well aware, Professor, of your misgivings with regards to Lucius Malfoy, and believe me, they have been taken into consideration. But, I have been given means of contacting the family if it seems that things are getting out of hand. Beyond that, Lucius assures me that Draco has been given, and carries at all times, a vial of Ron's blood," here he smiled crookedly at Ron, who just sputtered, "in case of emergencies."

Snape appeared at least partially subdued by this but Ron himself was getting more and more frustrated. Unable to handle the idiocy of the situation any longer, Ron burst out with, "But that's ridiculous!"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at this, his eyes appearing far to calm behind his half-moon glasses. "And why would that be, Mr. Weasley?" Professor Snape lowered himself slowly into one of the chairs in front of the desk, looking at Ron attentively, and Ron knew then that the battle had now shifted to two against him.

He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself down enough that his arguments would have even a little coherency. Even still, he found he had the terrible urge to start pacing. "Because," he grated out, "A: if it's true that he does have a vial of my blood, that's stuff's got to be almost a month old (which is absolutely disgusting)." Dumbledore's eyebrow just lifted higher and Ron resisted the urge to snarl at him. "And B: even if he has my blood, it won't do any good. It has to be fresh for it to work."

Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair, placing his hands on his desk and said placatingly, "Now Ronald, you know that there are many spells capable of keeping things fresh. If, as you say, the blood is almost a month old, then that means you know there was a time when such blood was taken, and such a period of time is hardly a strain on any spell that might be used. I'm sure the Misters Malfoy have everything under control."

"No, that's not what I..."

"Your loyalty in this case is admirable, Mr Weasley, but everything will be fine. Let it go." Dumbledore's tone was final and Ron subsided, cursing silently to himself.

However, some of his argument seemed to have gotten through to Snape at least, for the Professor leaned forward with a frown on his face saying, "You know the boy does have a p...."

"That will be All, Professor."

Snape's jaw snapped shut with an angry click of his teeth as Dumbledore raised his hand and waved it toward the door dismissively. Professor Snape rose stiffly from his chair and stalked from the room, and Ron found no alternative but to follow him. Soon they were down the stairs, past the gargoyle, and walking once more down the hall.

As they were nearing the stairs to head back into the dungeons, Ron heard Professor Snape mutter under his breath what sounded like, "Crazy fool. Not fit to head this school. What does he think he's playing at?" In the past, Ron would have defended the headmaster, or at least thought very rebellious thoughts against Snape, but in the current situation, he was rather inclined to agree with the Professor so instead said something in the hopes of enlisting somewhat of his aid.

"He didn't understand when I said the blood had to be fresh. It's the sacrifice that sustains him, not the blood." When he didn't hear any negative sounds coming from Snape, he glanced over at him and saw that his face was, if anything, impassive. Taking this as a good sign, Ron continued, "Whatever blood he may have was sacrificed long ago and is useless now. Besides, if he's gone too long, it will hurt him. Even an hour late and he'll feel it. The demon will be trying to escape."

Snape stopped walking then, and turned to look at Ron, a serious, scowling frown taking up his features. "It'll hurt him?" Ron nodded. "But then that must be what Lucius wants. I know he killed your uncle years ago. It was made to look like an accident but if the rumors are true, he must want Draco to do the same to you. Perhaps he means this as some sort of punishment for leaving you alive so long."

Ron bit his lip at the mention of his uncle but just hung his head at the rest of Snape's pronouncement. That much he had already figured to be true.

"Well, there doesn't seem to be much we can do at this point." Ron looked up, surprised at Snape's tone. He sounded tired. "I promise to inform you the moment he comes back." With that, his mouth shut in a grim line, Snape turned and strode off down the hallway. Ron followed, trying to be reassured by Snape's promise but unable to keep the worry from beating at him. When they arrived back at the Potions classroom, both were surprised to find that the class was in order.