12: Eyes of Wisdom and Lies
Word spread through the castle, like wild fire, of the happening on the grounds. Not all of the school was affected, in fact a very small area by the lake was all that was touched and really the only true indication of what had happened was the fallen tree. From the forest to the castle, in nearly a perfectly straight line the grass was tattered and the mud and debris traced the path of destruction but nowhere else showed any damage. Though no other parts of the school were effected inside the news spread quickly and before it was over nearly the entire student population were witness to part of, if not all of the encounter. They crowed around the windows and doors over looking the area where all the commotion was. They swarmed around Harry and his friends, millions of questions filled their ears and dizziness rushed in on Harry. He couldn't see and no longer could he hear his friends in the crowded hall. Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape had to fight back the crowd to make room to get inside. The doors were slammed shut finally and bolted.
"All Prefects are to take the student, all students no exceptions, back to the common rooms to wait for further instruction. Once all students are safely in the dormitory common rooms the prefects are to take a head count and only the prefects are to report to Professor Dumbledore's office. Tell the house guards to not let anyone out after the prefects," McGonagall yelled into the crow.
Slowly prefects called to their houses and the crowd reluctantly disappeared into the halls of the castle. The entrance was once again calm and silent.
"Harry can you see at all?" Belinda asked as she rushed over to him.
"Not really. My eyes sting if I open them," Harry said a bit calmer as he rubbed his eyes.
"Don't rub them, you're filthy, it will only make it worse," Belinda said taking his hands. She turned to the four others standing around her, "Dominic you go find madam Pomfrey and bring her to Dumbledore's office we will meet you there. Ron go quickly and fetch Hagrid. Fly straight to his cabin on your broom. Don't stop for anything and bring him back to the castle and to Dumbledore's office as well. Amelia, take the upper floors, Hermione take the lower floors and gather all of the other professors and staff members of the castle and bring them to Dumbledore's office." she said quickly pointing them off in different directions, "don't dally, this is very serious! Come on Harry I will help you," she said helping Harry to his feet.
"Thank you," Harry said holding onto her arm as they walked steadily through the halls.
Dumbledore's office was in disarray. Fawkes had been in a state of panic as the commotion brewed outside. The bird could sense the danger and felt that he had to help but he was locked away. Dumbledore knew it would be the worst thing to let the bird out and so he locked the door to the office and slipped down the stares alone. He met the bruised and bloody unfortunates at the bottom of the staircase and looked at them his face white with concern, "perhaps we should take this meeting somewhere else," he said looking at them, "my office is in a bit of a shambles as it were."
"Madame Pomfrey and Hagrid are on their way here right now," Snape said coldly.
"Alright," Dumbledore said calmly, "go on up. I will fetch the rest of the teachers an be with you momentarily."
"They are also on their way here," McGonagall said, "Amelia and Hermione are rounding them up as we speak."
"And Ron and Dominic?" Dumbledore asked.
"With Hagrid and Madame Pomfrey," Belinda said, "the prefects are also on their way."
"Alright then up you all go!" Dumbledore said leading the way up the stairs. He opened the door slowly. Fawkes was pacing across his perch screeching loud and angry, "calm down Fawkes they are all safe!" Dumbledore said as he raised and annoyed hand to the screeching bird. Fawkes flew from his perch and landed on Harry's shoulder.
"I'll be fine Fawkes," Harry smiled as he reached up to touch the bird.
"Returnum!" Dumbledore said with a slight wave of his wand and the disorder of the office was swept away to their rightful places and the figures in the pictures, mounted on the walls, began to emerge from their hiding placed.
"Good heavens what happened to you child!" Madame Pomfrey exclaimed as she reached the door and spotted Harry, "why was he not brought to the hospital wing" she asked angrily.
"Yeah, what happened Harry?" Hagrid asked from the door, "you look like you been fightin' dragons or such!"
"Just thought I would start the year off with a bang Hagrid," Harry joked as Madame Pomfrey fretted over the blood on his face.
"Sit still boy!" she said, "and let me clean you up!"
"What exactly happened?" Dumbledore asked as he took his seat behind his desk.
"An attack sir," Snape said coldly, "very powerful, very close."
"Directed at Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Not at first," Snape sighed, "seemed more so directed at Belinda."
"Well Voldemort is aware that you are at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said looking at Belinda who was surprisingly composed.
"I know sir," Belinda said, "and that is why I am here."
"He's getting stronger and more powerful every time," Harry said, "I felt him worse than before and he came right onto the school grounds."
"That is something Hagrid and I will have to look into," Dumbledore said, "we will work on the barrier that blocks him from coming. It must not reach far enough away from the school."
"Why does he want my mum so bad?" Dominic asked fearfully.
"I'll tell you later Dominic," Belinda hushed, "what should we do Dumbledore? The whole school witnessed it."
"The whole school always witnesses everything that goes on, on these grounds. We'll go on as we have," he said smoothing his beared, "Hagrid and I will address the issues of security before the night is over and all will be set right in the morning. No need to worry."
"And what about all the witnesses?" Snape asked.
"Minerva, you will address the staff as Hermione and Amelia arrive with them. Tell them what happened and tell the Prefects to assure to the students that what had happened is being looked into. Make sure the students know that they are perfectly safe inside the school and by the morning they will be fine on school ground as well." Dumbledore explained and Minerva turned and left the room.
"Will we have to cancel Quiddich?" Harry asked sadly.
"Not while I am headmaster of this school," Dumbledore smiled, "what we need to keep spirits high is some top notch entertainment. Our whole world is in a state of panic as it is very difficult for anyone to keep any sense of normalcy while the Dark Lord is strong and gathering followers. We have to try our hardest to keep the students at ease. They must know that they should not be worried about what is going on. There are people that will handle it and they are here to learn and they are safe. We must enforce that, so Quiddich will go on as planned. We will provide heightened supervision and security. Now I want you all to be check out by Madame Pomfrey and return to you class rooms and dormitories." he smiled.
"Harry, how do you feel now?" Madame Pomfrey asked handing him back his glasses.
"Better," he said, "at least I can see again. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Madame Pomfrey smiled and continued to check and patched cuts and bruises on the rest of the children and they were shooed off to Gryffindor tower. Belinda was also bandaged up but Snape refused any treatments. She rushed off in search of McGonagall to see if she was in need of any treatment herself.
Dumbledore was left alone with Snape and Belinda. He stared at them both for several moments, reading them and contemplating what to ask. "Please, take a seat," he said motioning to the two chairs in front of his desk. Belinda and Severus took their seats and sat quietly while Dumbledore stared, "I see what happened, it is very vivid in your minds but would you like to tell me yourselves why you feel it happened?"
"He just came out of the forest," Snape said coldly.
"It was not Voldemort," Dumbledore stated, "at least not all of him."
"How can that be?" Belinda asked, "Harry felt him."
"Harry feels his powers and his emotions," Dumbledore said, "to an extent it is an early warning for him if Voldemort is near or his powers at least. But Harry must learn to close his mind to all of Voldemort when it gets to be to much. It is Harry's greatest weakness. He has a very noble heart and a very loyal mind. But he mustn't be as trusting and learn to close off his mind to the Voldemort's powers."
"He hasn't been practicing sir," Severus stated.
"He has too been practicing," Belinda said angrily, "he has been practicing with my children!"
"And what would two teen-agers know about advanced Occlumency!" Snape laughed.
"Are you implying that my children do not know how to use their own powers?" Belinda said angrily glaring at Snape
"That's enough you two!" Dumbledore said raising his hands into the air, "Severus, Amelia and Dominic have had Occlumency perfected, of the most highest form, naturally for a very long time. It is a maternal connection they have as twins. Their minds have been connected since birth and they learned naturally to use it better than almost any witch or wizard I have known, much better than you or I, because they fully understand it and know it from the very roots of its existence in side their minds. Belinda, Severus is unaware of how strong your children's connection is and was only assuming under normal circumstances what Occlumency does really entitle. Even some of the best witches and wizards wouldn't dream of even attempting to use the art. And even though there have been many attempts there have been many more failures."
Both remained very silent.
"I believe Belinda, that Harry will trust in your children more than he would any of us. Perhaps the best teachers to aid in a quick learning and mastering of the art would be through help from your children," Dumbledore said with a smile, " there can be no greater teacher than your true and loyal friends."
"I will talk to them about it," Belinda said happily, "I am sure they will knowing the circumstances."
"And perhaps it would be wise for you to try and pick up some yourself," Dumbledore added, "it is probably the best way to free your mind and keep locked away the secrets that Voldemort wants. Until he knows what he need you will remain alive."
Belinda nodded.
"What is it exactly that Voldemort does want?" Snape asked finally.
"That is not something I can tell you," Dumbledore said, "it can only come directly from the source. It is not my secret to tell," he said motioning toward Belinda.
Snape looked at her for a moment and lowered his eyes.
"I will tell you what you want to hear Severus, but not a word can be repeated out of this office," Belinda said softly.
Snape looked up again as Fawkes flew across the room and landed on Belinda's outstretched arm, "what ever you choose to tell me will not fall upon any other ears," he said finally.
"Voldemort wants another phoenix feather from the person and the bird that gave the first feathers in his wand," Belinda said.
"But two wands made of the same core can't be used against each other and Voldemort knows that. What would he want Fawkes for and what do you have to do with those wands? You would have been a baby when those wands would have been forged," Snape said with a tone that implied Belinda was lying to him.
"Severus," Dumbledore sighed noticing the pain and anguish in Belinda's eyes, "The Phoenix has many mysteries that you do not know of or understand. Every time a phoenix life cycle is over they burst into flames and they are born again from the ashes."
"Yes I know that," Snape said impatiently.
"Every time the phoenix is born again their genetic make up changes, making them physically different from the previous. The longer a phoenix goes on in its life cycles the longer, more intricate and more powerful the maturing magical genetic threads become," Dumbledore explained as Severus listened as if he were once again in a lecture of his wizarding school days, "Fawkes has lived for many centuries and will live for many more because it is impossible to kill a phoenix. They die only when they choose to. They may die by their own choice or they may sacrifice themselves for another life, the phoenix is one of the most noble creatures every created."
"It is very rare, however, for a phoenix to actually sacrifice itself. There aren't many documented cases of it happening, "Belinda said more for herself then for Severus.
"Fawkes has been in the Bellatour family blood line for generations. He was at the bed side to witness Belinda's birth as well as he guided her through her childhood.," Dumbledore smiled, "he is very attached to her and it was by her young infant hand that the first tail feathers were pulled and made into wands."
"And now Voldemort wants a more mature feather to make into a new wand?" Severus asked
"No, he wants a more mature magical feather, taken by the same hands to add to the wand he now has. The phoenix is the only magical creature that this procedure works with. If the feather can be obtained of the same means as the first they can be blended together in the core of the wand and the wand will contain the same powers as the first as well as the new magically matured, genetically differing powers of the second. It is with this procedure that Voldemort wishes to counter act the sister wand that Harry has because it would no longer be of any match with his new wand."
"So why don't we do that to Harry's wand and be finished with the Dark Lord first?" Severus asked.
"No!" Belinda cried, "how could you even think of putting Harry in that danger! I would never take part in that!"
"We would not Belinda because of the dangers of the procedure," Dumbledore sighed, "only the most advanced wizards can handle the powers of the phoenix and that is what is enveloped in these double wands. The pure everlasting magical powers of the phoenix. You wouldn't be able to handle these powers, Severus, even in your advanced knowledge of wizardry because of the anger and the hatred that lives within you. The power of the phoenix plays upon your inner most impurities and it is in your heart were the pure anger subsides. The anger would take over and you would be lost within the darkness."
"That is why Voldemort wants the wand," Belinda sighed, "all of the pure evil and darkness that he could imagine, that he holds within himself would be produced by that wand."
"And Harry could not be taught?" Snape asked.
"Harry is too uncertain about his place in this world and what his life truly means. Harry believes that his soul purpose is to fight till the death with the Dark Lord and that is not the true intentions at all of the higher most powerful beings of this world," Dumbledore said softly but clearly, "with all the confusion and uncertainty the wand itself would terminate its life span and like the phoenix it would erupt in fire and thus it would terminate the life of the holder."
"It is probably what Voldemort hopes we will come to knowing Harry's weaknesses himself," Snape said raising his eyebrows
"Voldemort knows that Dumbledore would never put Harry in that kind of danger and so he wants the wand even more," Belinda said, "he's wanted the feather for as long as I can remember but thought, at first, that it was by my fathers hand that his wand gained it core. When he found out that, that was not the case he killed my father and my family," She sighed, "Voldemort knew that Dumbledore would protect me and the bird as long as he could here at Hogwarts. He is the only living man that has been able to master the double wand."
Snape stared unbelieving at Dumbledore.
"Yes it is true, Severus," Dumbledore said, "my wand is a double wand and Voldemort believes that he would be stronger than I had he a wand of the same make. But my wand is a pure wand. The feathers in my wand were pulled by the bird itself, that very bird," he said motioning toward Fawkes who lovingly nuzzled Belinda's cheek, "my wand is pure and used for only good. Voldemort wand is tainted with human weakness being pulled by Belinda and it is drenched in innocent blood. A wand like that could only provide terrible destruction."
"It is still a very dangerous situation," Belinda said, "Fawkes and I must stay at Hogwarts if only to prevent any such devastation."
"Yes, you will be safe at Hogwarts," Snape said, "it would be nearly impossible for Voldemort to obtain both of you with Dumbledore as your protector."
"Yes nearly but not impossible so we still have to be on our guard. But that is enough for tonight, you look exhausted," Dumbledore smiled, "off you go to bed." he said to Belinda with a slight smile.
"Thank you Professor," Belinda said as she got up. Fawkes flew from her shoulder to Dumbledore's. She sighed softly and quickly left the office.
"No matter how much you close your mind he is still with you," Dumbledore said looking questioningly at Snape.
"That was a choice I made," Snape said, "and now I can never take it back."
"Things will be very hard for you again Severus," Dumbledore said.
"We just have to work together," Severus snapped.
"I didn't mean you and Belinda," Dumbledore said casually, "I meant in you own personal battle with Voldemort's grasp. Any doubts he would have had in you were finalized in your mistakes this evening. You are no longer safe in the circles you once were."
Snape remained quiet replaying the events in his head and realizing exactly what Dumbledore meant. He had let his emotions get in the way of his duties and had blown the cover he had in dark magic circles. It wouldn't be long before many of his contacts would know about his betrayal to the dark side. And the mark on his body was a beacon, like a leash binding him to Voldemort. Severus finally spoke, "should I leave Hogwarts?" he asked a hint of fear in his voice.
"Absolutely not," Dumbledore stated, " that would only seal your fate. Besides you will do more good here than running from your past. You mustn't look back now. Keep you eyes fixed on the future."
And with that Snape was sent away from Dumbledore's office. He walked quickly through the school and down to the dungeon. He locked himself in his office for the rest of the evening and did not emerge again till the next morning when his first students filed into the class room. Things would have to go on as if nothing had happened.