A/N: *cringes* Please don't hate me! School has just been one thing after
another; senior year and all. I know you're probably upset, just please
DON'T FLAME ME!
And just so you know, I realize this story doesn't look like it applies much to the summary, but it should all become clear within the next couple of chapters, ok?
*~Chapter Six~*
The door to the Headmaster's office slowly creaked open, revealing Snape and Lupin. The Weasleys and Tonks all rushed from their seats towards the two men as soon as they saw them enter. Dumbledore, however, remained sitting quietly behind his desk. The twinkle in his eyes was nowhere to be found.
"Where is Harry?"
"What did you find?"
"How -"
All the questions being bombarded at the two ceased as Snape less-than- gently shoved the crowd out of the way, leading Lupin to a chair directly in front of Dumbledore's desk. Lupin collapsed into one of the large armchairs, staring blankly ahead of him. Snape grabbed a cup of tea from the tray the headmaster had put out, and offered it quietly to Lupin. The lycanthrope didn't look up as he accepted the cup, and he didn't make any indication that he was going to drink it. His eyes seemed withdrawn into his head, and were bloodshot from crying. His face was pale and drawn. Curiously, the group that had risen slowly returned to their seats.
No words were said for many minutes. Lupin continued to stare into space, not seeming to realize that Dumbledore was seated in the space he was staring at. Snape sighed and massaged his temples, seeming more exhausted than ever. Dumbledore looked between the two, trying to asses the situation, but respecting their wishes for silence. Ron kept looking back and forth from the three older men, as though he were watching a non- existent tennis game. His face was tight with worry. Ginny kept fidgeting with her hair. The twins were uncharacteristically silent. Molly and Arthur sat quietly, not sure of what to say. Tonks looked as though she were ready to burst, and after Ron's head moved back to Dumbledore for the fifth time, she couldn't contain it anymore.
"Where is Harry?!" she practically shouted, then turned red as she realized how loudly she'd spoken. She mumbled an apology, staring at her feet.
"Sirius," whispered Lupin, seemingly become aware of his surroundings. Tonks looked at him, confused. Dumbledore leaned forward and forced Remus to meet his gaze.
"What did you say, Remus?" he asked softly. Remus hesitated for a moment, trying to calm himself. When he spoke, it sounded as though he were choking.
"He's with Sirius."
Dumbledore looked grave, and closed his eyes. He hid his face in his hands.
Ron, looking more confused than ever, finally stood up. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? WHO is with Sirius?" He looked furiously at Lupin. "WELL?"
Lupin turned to face Ron, and the boy was suddenly struck with how old and miserable his ex-professor looked. He visibly cringed from the despair that radiated from the man.
"Harry," Lupin whispered. "Harry is with Sirius."
Ron continued to look confused. "What are you on about? That's impossible! Sirius is -"
"Well spotted, Weasley," Snape sneered from his chair, glaring daggers at the boy. "I'm certain Lupin was completely oblivious of the fact that his closest friend is deceased! Please, continue to demonstrate your insensitivity. Lupin certainly looks like he's up for it, don't you think?!" By this time, Snape was shouting. Ron cowered back into his chair. Snape sighed again, and continued to massage his temples.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but I don't understand," squeaked Ginny, tears streaming down her face in slow realization. "Are you saying that Harry is...well, that he's..."
"Dead," Lupin said, still in shock. "Harry Potter is dead."
Ginny let out a strangled sob, burying her face in her knees. Molly instantly burst into tears, hugging her husband close. Arthur seemed too shocked for words. The twins went over and hugged a weeping Tonks, tears streaming down their own faces. Ron looked frantic.
"What?" He let out a bitter laugh. "You've got to be kidding me. That's impossible. Harry is perfectly safe at the Dursleys." He glanced at Lupin, who gave the boy a pitying look. At this, Ron became even more panicked. "You don't get it! That's not possible. Dumbledore's got him protected - tell them, Headmaster, tell them that -"
"I apologize, Ronald," Dumbledore said, lifting his eyes from his hands and giving Ron an apologetic look. "I truly believed Harry would be safe at his relative's house. I truly did."
Ron was having a full blown panic attack. "YOU'RE LYING! HARRY ISN'T DEAD; HE'S THE BOY WHO 'LIVED', THERE IS NO WAY IN HEAVEN OR HELL THAT HE'S -"
"Stupefy," muttered Snape, and Ron fell to the ground, unconscious. Snape gently lifted the boy's form into the chair he'd been occupying. "I apologize, Arthur, but if he were to continue like that..."
"Of course, Severus," whispered Arthur, rubbing circles around his distraught wife's back.
"If you'd like, I could take him to the hospital wing for you..." Snape trailed off. He was unaccustomed to being comforting, and he didn't feel he was doing a very good job now.
"S'alright, Professor," said George, walking towards his youngest brother.
"We'll take care of it," Fred said, nodding. Pulling out their wants, the two whispered, "Mobilicorpus," and floated their brother out the office door. Tonks and Ginny quietly followed after the boys, closing the door behind them.
Molly pulled a handkerchief out of one of her pockets, and loudly blew her nose. Sniffling, she looked up at the headmaster.
"I can't believe it."
Dumbledore sighed. "I anticipated something like this, though I didn't think it would happen so soon. I did, however, take safety measures; giving Snape a way to contact me in case of emergency...hooking up the one- way floo from my office...and the ring..." The old man sighed. "Why didn't he use the ring?"
Arthur gave Dumbledore a curious look. "What do you mean, the ring, Albus?"
"The one safety precaution I thought was foolproof, Arthur," said the headmaster, looking older than ever. "I gave Harry a portkey in the shape of a ring. I told him that, were the Death Eaters ever to attack him at the Dursleys, he was to use it. It would take him straight to my office."
"He wanted to protect the muggles," said Snape quietly. Everyone turned to him. He met all their gazes. "He wanted to protect the only family he had left; it didn't matter to him that they were horrible, hateful, ignorant muggles. He still wanted to protect them from that which they weren't capable of understanding."
At this, Molly was overcome by a fresh wave of tears, and buried her head in her husband's chest. Things like, "the poor dear," and, "such a brave boy," could be faintly heard.
Albus walked over to one of his cupboards, and pulled out what looked like a small earthquake detector. The small hand that would normally be going back and forth, however, was still. Dumbledore turned off the device, and pulled out the long piece of parchment that seemed to have been recording something. As he unraveled it, a spot was visible where the hand had been going at a steady pace back and forth, seemed to have a sudden burst where the lines went nearly to the edge of the page, then the line became flat. Dumbledore walked over and handed the parchment to his Potions Master.
"It appears that there was a peak of energy before the portkey was destroyed," he said quietly. Snape nodded at this.
"Most likely a result from the Killing Curse," Snape whispered. Dumbledore nodded morosely.
"Arthur," he said, seating himself once more behind his desk, "I believe it would be advisable for your family to remain at the castle for a while, for your own safety." Mr. Weasley nodded at the old man. "Also, I believe it would be prudent to extend an invitation to Miss Granger as well; she's is, most likely, also in danger."
"I will attend to it," Snape said suddenly, standing. "It would be wise for me to fetch the girl immediately, I would think."
Dumbledore nodded. "Go to Hogsmeade and apparate to her home, Severus." He handed the potions master a small glass ball. "This portkey will return the two of you directly the front gates." Snape nodded at this, turned and left the office in a swish of Death Eater robes.
"As for you three, I will set you all up accommodations. I believe the children will wish to stay in Gryffindor Tower tonight."
The Weasleys nodded, but Lupin only acknowledged he'd heard anything with a small grunt. He still seemed to be too deep in shock to register much of what was going on.
"Perhaps I will also obtain a dreamless sleep draught for you, Remus," he said quietly, standing and directing the other man out the office door.
And just so you know, I realize this story doesn't look like it applies much to the summary, but it should all become clear within the next couple of chapters, ok?
*~Chapter Six~*
The door to the Headmaster's office slowly creaked open, revealing Snape and Lupin. The Weasleys and Tonks all rushed from their seats towards the two men as soon as they saw them enter. Dumbledore, however, remained sitting quietly behind his desk. The twinkle in his eyes was nowhere to be found.
"Where is Harry?"
"What did you find?"
"How -"
All the questions being bombarded at the two ceased as Snape less-than- gently shoved the crowd out of the way, leading Lupin to a chair directly in front of Dumbledore's desk. Lupin collapsed into one of the large armchairs, staring blankly ahead of him. Snape grabbed a cup of tea from the tray the headmaster had put out, and offered it quietly to Lupin. The lycanthrope didn't look up as he accepted the cup, and he didn't make any indication that he was going to drink it. His eyes seemed withdrawn into his head, and were bloodshot from crying. His face was pale and drawn. Curiously, the group that had risen slowly returned to their seats.
No words were said for many minutes. Lupin continued to stare into space, not seeming to realize that Dumbledore was seated in the space he was staring at. Snape sighed and massaged his temples, seeming more exhausted than ever. Dumbledore looked between the two, trying to asses the situation, but respecting their wishes for silence. Ron kept looking back and forth from the three older men, as though he were watching a non- existent tennis game. His face was tight with worry. Ginny kept fidgeting with her hair. The twins were uncharacteristically silent. Molly and Arthur sat quietly, not sure of what to say. Tonks looked as though she were ready to burst, and after Ron's head moved back to Dumbledore for the fifth time, she couldn't contain it anymore.
"Where is Harry?!" she practically shouted, then turned red as she realized how loudly she'd spoken. She mumbled an apology, staring at her feet.
"Sirius," whispered Lupin, seemingly become aware of his surroundings. Tonks looked at him, confused. Dumbledore leaned forward and forced Remus to meet his gaze.
"What did you say, Remus?" he asked softly. Remus hesitated for a moment, trying to calm himself. When he spoke, it sounded as though he were choking.
"He's with Sirius."
Dumbledore looked grave, and closed his eyes. He hid his face in his hands.
Ron, looking more confused than ever, finally stood up. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? WHO is with Sirius?" He looked furiously at Lupin. "WELL?"
Lupin turned to face Ron, and the boy was suddenly struck with how old and miserable his ex-professor looked. He visibly cringed from the despair that radiated from the man.
"Harry," Lupin whispered. "Harry is with Sirius."
Ron continued to look confused. "What are you on about? That's impossible! Sirius is -"
"Well spotted, Weasley," Snape sneered from his chair, glaring daggers at the boy. "I'm certain Lupin was completely oblivious of the fact that his closest friend is deceased! Please, continue to demonstrate your insensitivity. Lupin certainly looks like he's up for it, don't you think?!" By this time, Snape was shouting. Ron cowered back into his chair. Snape sighed again, and continued to massage his temples.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but I don't understand," squeaked Ginny, tears streaming down her face in slow realization. "Are you saying that Harry is...well, that he's..."
"Dead," Lupin said, still in shock. "Harry Potter is dead."
Ginny let out a strangled sob, burying her face in her knees. Molly instantly burst into tears, hugging her husband close. Arthur seemed too shocked for words. The twins went over and hugged a weeping Tonks, tears streaming down their own faces. Ron looked frantic.
"What?" He let out a bitter laugh. "You've got to be kidding me. That's impossible. Harry is perfectly safe at the Dursleys." He glanced at Lupin, who gave the boy a pitying look. At this, Ron became even more panicked. "You don't get it! That's not possible. Dumbledore's got him protected - tell them, Headmaster, tell them that -"
"I apologize, Ronald," Dumbledore said, lifting his eyes from his hands and giving Ron an apologetic look. "I truly believed Harry would be safe at his relative's house. I truly did."
Ron was having a full blown panic attack. "YOU'RE LYING! HARRY ISN'T DEAD; HE'S THE BOY WHO 'LIVED', THERE IS NO WAY IN HEAVEN OR HELL THAT HE'S -"
"Stupefy," muttered Snape, and Ron fell to the ground, unconscious. Snape gently lifted the boy's form into the chair he'd been occupying. "I apologize, Arthur, but if he were to continue like that..."
"Of course, Severus," whispered Arthur, rubbing circles around his distraught wife's back.
"If you'd like, I could take him to the hospital wing for you..." Snape trailed off. He was unaccustomed to being comforting, and he didn't feel he was doing a very good job now.
"S'alright, Professor," said George, walking towards his youngest brother.
"We'll take care of it," Fred said, nodding. Pulling out their wants, the two whispered, "Mobilicorpus," and floated their brother out the office door. Tonks and Ginny quietly followed after the boys, closing the door behind them.
Molly pulled a handkerchief out of one of her pockets, and loudly blew her nose. Sniffling, she looked up at the headmaster.
"I can't believe it."
Dumbledore sighed. "I anticipated something like this, though I didn't think it would happen so soon. I did, however, take safety measures; giving Snape a way to contact me in case of emergency...hooking up the one- way floo from my office...and the ring..." The old man sighed. "Why didn't he use the ring?"
Arthur gave Dumbledore a curious look. "What do you mean, the ring, Albus?"
"The one safety precaution I thought was foolproof, Arthur," said the headmaster, looking older than ever. "I gave Harry a portkey in the shape of a ring. I told him that, were the Death Eaters ever to attack him at the Dursleys, he was to use it. It would take him straight to my office."
"He wanted to protect the muggles," said Snape quietly. Everyone turned to him. He met all their gazes. "He wanted to protect the only family he had left; it didn't matter to him that they were horrible, hateful, ignorant muggles. He still wanted to protect them from that which they weren't capable of understanding."
At this, Molly was overcome by a fresh wave of tears, and buried her head in her husband's chest. Things like, "the poor dear," and, "such a brave boy," could be faintly heard.
Albus walked over to one of his cupboards, and pulled out what looked like a small earthquake detector. The small hand that would normally be going back and forth, however, was still. Dumbledore turned off the device, and pulled out the long piece of parchment that seemed to have been recording something. As he unraveled it, a spot was visible where the hand had been going at a steady pace back and forth, seemed to have a sudden burst where the lines went nearly to the edge of the page, then the line became flat. Dumbledore walked over and handed the parchment to his Potions Master.
"It appears that there was a peak of energy before the portkey was destroyed," he said quietly. Snape nodded at this.
"Most likely a result from the Killing Curse," Snape whispered. Dumbledore nodded morosely.
"Arthur," he said, seating himself once more behind his desk, "I believe it would be advisable for your family to remain at the castle for a while, for your own safety." Mr. Weasley nodded at the old man. "Also, I believe it would be prudent to extend an invitation to Miss Granger as well; she's is, most likely, also in danger."
"I will attend to it," Snape said suddenly, standing. "It would be wise for me to fetch the girl immediately, I would think."
Dumbledore nodded. "Go to Hogsmeade and apparate to her home, Severus." He handed the potions master a small glass ball. "This portkey will return the two of you directly the front gates." Snape nodded at this, turned and left the office in a swish of Death Eater robes.
"As for you three, I will set you all up accommodations. I believe the children will wish to stay in Gryffindor Tower tonight."
The Weasleys nodded, but Lupin only acknowledged he'd heard anything with a small grunt. He still seemed to be too deep in shock to register much of what was going on.
"Perhaps I will also obtain a dreamless sleep draught for you, Remus," he said quietly, standing and directing the other man out the office door.