Given
"Save me"

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

AN: Sorry this chapter is so choppy. It has to change perspective often because so much is happening. In the next chapter or the one after that, it will get better.


Two owls peck at each, chirping on the windowsill. Both of them stare with glittering eyes into the window, each insisting that the message they are carrying is more important. The larger white one snaps it's beak at the little brown, barely older than a hatchling. Albus Dumbledore doesn't recognize either of them, but they both fly in with an air of urgency. The smaller owl lands on his shoulder, holding it's right leg out. Dumbledore unties the scroll and unrolls it.

Dear Prof. Dumbledore,

About half an hour ago, my daughter Lavender went into a sort of trance. We believe that she had a prophecy. We've written it all down, but none of it makes any sense to us, and Lav doesn't remember what happened. According to my neighbor, these sort of events must be verified by an official. The Minister is away in Sweden, and many members of his Cabinet. I was hoping that you would have authority in this matter, or that you could refer me to someone who does. I hate to disturb you over the holidays, but if this is a prophecy, it is vitally important. There are references to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Sincerely,
Judy A. Brown

Dumbledore neatly rerolls the scroll and sets it upon the corner of his desk, where the second bird is impatiently demanding his attention. Suddenly, he recognizes it as Hedwig. Smiling a bit, he moves to pet the bird, but she pecks at his hand lightly.

"Calm, calm, Hedwig. Now let's see that letter, hmm?"

The snowy owl thrusts out her right leg where a paper is dangling from a bit of twine, folded into uneven quarters. On the back were a few phone numbers, as if the author was in such a hurry that it didn't matter whether the sheet was clean or not. Unfolding it, Dumbledore reads aloud.

Albus,

Harry's having another episode. Worst yet. Please come immediately. I'm sure something has happened, and I have no idea where Arthur is.

Molly Weasley

Hedwig hoots again, and Dumbledore puts that letter beside the first. Turning, he taps his knuckles lightly against one of the portraits. In a few second's time, clever-looking woman holding a black cat pops up. She bows slightly as Dumbledore instructs "Matilda, please fetch Professor Snape. Tell him to come right away."


Draco's eyes have a strange sheen to them, the kind induced by panic and desperation. They are wide as he stares at me. I ignore him and wait for Wright's verdict. The Malfoy boy might have let my heir die. If I must find a way to obtain a new heir, Lucius will do the same.

"Just fluid in the lungs. Perfectly normal. It wasn't this boy here's fault. Armand has a weak heart. He'll have to be monitored at all times, and make certain he stays warm."

I smile, knowing well the effect that action has on people. Much to Draco's discomfort, I clap one hand on his shoulder. To his credit, he doesn't flinch, though he stiffens, locks his knees. My eyes are reflected in his, I note, as I tell him "You have done well, Draco, to act with such...haste."

"I did only what I had to, my lord," he answers with a shudder.


Bellatrix stirs, panting, her eyes shifting under the lids in a disconcerting manner. She shivers despite the heat and the roaring fire. Narcissa sighs sadly, stroking her cheek softly. At that touch, her eyes flutter open weakly, and one slender hand rises, clawing at the air.

"My baby?" she croaks.

"He is safe so far as I know, though Armand is a tiny thing."

"I want him."

"I'll ask."


The heavy oak door slams shut. Draco sits down in the only chair, wishing it had a cushion and wondering why his father had dragged him here. Lucius paces, furious, muttering to himself. Several times, he stops, opens his mouth to reprimand his son, only to promptly shut it as if there are no words to express his wrath.

"Stupid boy!" he roars at last, storming up to Draco, who looks somehow defiant and submissive at once. Lucius stomped across the chamber, paced at least a dozen times, then halted to shout "Why? Why did you do it?"

"I didn't! I never did a damn thing to Armand! Even that doctor said so! What would I have to gain?"

"Nothing! Nothing! That's the point! All you accomplished is to make the Dark Lord suspicious."

"But I didn't do anything, I swear!"

"Do you think He cares? He would have killed you. Do you know how hard that would be to explain, how I would appear?"

Draco gawks, shocked completely still. He then leaps from the chair which rocks back and shatters on the stone floor. Clenching his fists, the teen bares his teeth and yells "Well, I'll try not to die painfully for your fucking benefit, Father!"


Severus enters the office without knocking, his steps brisk as he marches up to Dumbledore's desk. Dumbledore, who had been petting Fawkes with a weary countenance, jumps when Snape clears his throat politely. Bustling around to the front of his desk, the aged wizard says "I'm glad you're here, Severus. You see, Miss Lavender Brown had this vision, which might not be, and then Harry's in trouble and there's...Oh, just read these!"

Snape picks up the papers indicated and skims each, frowning with worry. Handing them back to Albus, he asks "Potter's at the Weasley home, correct? I should go there, and you to see Lavender. After all, I can't really do anything on that account."

"Agreed."

With a wave of their wands, each man vanishes.


Narcissa passes Draco in the corridor. The tension is palpable in his flashing eyes, his rigid posture. Concerned, she approaches her son where he is leaning against the wall with a wicked scowl. Deciding that it is better to let him alone for a bit, she inquires "Where is the Dark Lord?"

"Is He looking for me?"

"What? No, your aunt woke up. She wants to see the child."

"Oh...I'd check in the main hall, or the north wing."

Narcissa nods, leaving her son with a speculative expression. Following his advice, she heads to the main hall, where the Dark Lord is standing with Dr.Wright and a Death Eater she knows only by the ambiguous surname Smith. The woman walks there, the conversation ending abruptly.

"Yes?"

"Bella is awake now. She would like to see the child."

"Tell her to feed him," the Dark Lord orders the doctor, handing the infant to him. Franz Wright cants his head, half agreement, half a bow, and darts away quickly. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Narcissa does the same.

Smith coughs to attract his Lord's attention. He succeeds, receiving a harsh glare. Unable to backtrack, he forges on to say "My Lord, about Ellis, we caught him."

"Where is he then?" He asks, referring to the man who supplied their doctor with medical supplies. It ended up that he was a traitor, spying for the Ministry. Auspiciously, he had not known what they needed the various things for, just that they were buying large amounts, almost as if an event was coming up where a lot of people would need to be healed. Like a war...When Wright needed certain potions for Bellatrix, Ellis had to know what was going on, vaguely. Smith was sent after the traitor.

"Dead."

"I told you I wanted him alive."

"We weren't the ones who killed him. He had a group of banshees as his guard. Idiot. As soon as blood was spilled, the creatures got the madness. It couldn't be controlled in the Floo Network. Banshees move differently."

"Then why did you attack him?"

"The fool ordered the banshees against us, my Lord."

"Leave. I would kill you if I didn't have more to do in saving us all!"


Albus Dumbledore materializes in the Brown family's living room. Judy rushes up to him, her hands twisting her old-fashioned apron in her anxiety. All but dragging him, Mrs.Brown leads him to her daughter in the dining room. Lavender sips water, slumped over, depleted. Her eyes are hazy, staring at a blank wall.

"This is the paper," Judy tells him, stuffing it into his palm so she can comfort her child. He reads it, wishing it would prove false.

The Dark Lord's heir takes the first breath of life,
Paid by the mother's sacrifice.
The child shall bring on the wizard's strife,
And a second savior will rise.

He quits reading abruptly. Lavender is quivering, screaming. Her eyes unfocused, Lavender begins twitching in her mother's arms. Smoothing the girl's hair back, Judy tries to assuage her, but Lavender's spasm intensifies as she repeats over and over "I see them! I see them!"