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Web of Lies: Revelations.

The prefects and some of the professors took the students to their common rooms. They thought it would be better to have them out of their way when the aurors arrived. The Death Eaters and the few students that had really intended to join Voldemort, were still lying unconscious on the floor of the Great Hall, waiting for them to be questioned. Severus, after talking shortly with Minerva, stood up with Alec still firmly tucked against him and followed his Slytherins to the dungeons.

Once they arrived at the portrait that led to the Slytherin common room, Severus nodded slightly to them. "Wait for me in the common room, I'll be right back."

Once that was said, the man walked deeper into the dungeons to his own rooms. He wanted to talk to his Slytherins, but he somehow doubted they would be comfortable with him talking to them in front of Alec.

Once he entered the large room, he put Alec down and looked at him intently. The boy was looking down at the floor, refusing to meet his eyes. Sighing, the Professor bent down on one knee, forcing the student to look him in the eye.

"Can I trust you to stay in here on your own and not to run away at the slightest chance?"

While Severus admitted that Alec was a very good actor and could misdirect people at his hearts content, especially when he had Dumbledore's backing up; he was not such a good liar. Snape was used to look for direct lies, and the teen's eyes immediately revealed the boy's true feelings on the matter even is he was shaking his head yes.

Sighing, the man shook his head. "I would appreciate it if you didn't lie to me like that." Feeling the boy wince, he sighed and stood up. "Come with me."

Reluctantly, Alec followed his uncle down to his bedroom. Once there he was ordered to get into bed. A look to the man's stern face told him there was no chance of him getting out of it, so he silently complied with the man's wishes. When he was safely tucked in bed, Severus handed him a potion. At once he recognised the sleeping potion. Knowing his magic wouldn't be able to fight against the effects, Harry turned his head away.

"I don't want it."

Snape frowned down at him. "But you need it, and not only because I want to make sure you stay put. Madam Pomfrey told us you had to take it easy, and today certainly didn't match that description. So, open up, because I don't really want to force you but I will if I need to."

Knowing that the man never made idle threats, Harry resigned himself and took the potion. He wanted to go out of the school, to save Dumbledore as the man had saved him. But he knew that with Snape watching him as he did, he wouldn't have the chance.

Severus stayed at the child's side for a long moment, making sure he was truly asleep. After that, he summoned a house elf and told him to make sure that the boy didn't leave the room should he awake.

Once that was taken care of, he headed to the Slytherin common room. After entering the room he remained at the door, waiting for them all to notice him while looking carefully over them. Once most of them had noticed his presence, he spoke.

"Firstly, is anyone injured?"

A few students groaned lightly, causing him to narrow his eyes. Finally one of the seventh years answered him. "Nothing serious, Professor. Just a few bumps and bruises and one or two cuts. We took them by surprise, and they didn't have much of a chance to fight back."

Snape nodded. "Madam Pomfrey is going to be down here in a bit, I want everyone that was hurt to let her treat you, understood?"

More groans came from the students, but they nodded in agreement. The potions master's eyes softened as he looked over them.

"I don't think I have ever been prouder of my little snakes as I am today. You have brought our house honour and glory, something that was long needed. By doing what you did, you've proved that you are just as much a member of the Hogwarts family as any of the other students and with your selfless actions, you have brought Hogwarts together once more."

While most students looked embarrassed, a fifth year snorted softly. "Yeah, right, selfless my arse. We just didn't want to join the nutter."

Severus chuckled along with most of the students. "Ah, well, there's no need to let the rest of the school know about that, now is there?"

More chuckles, a fourth year looked at him. "What's going to happen now, Professor? What will be done about Professor Dumbledore? Is Potter going to come back?"

Severus shook his head. "I don't know. I'm sure that by now the aurors are questioning the Death Eaters, and maybe they know where Professor Dumbledore is being held. After that, I don't know what we'll decide to do."

A first year approached him timidly. "Do you think the Dark Lord is going to hurt the Headmaster because of us?"

Severus frowned and the gently ruffled her hair. "I don't know, but do you really think that Professor Dumbledore would prefer you to join Voldemort to being hurt by him? I have known the Professor for many years, and don't doubt for an instant that he would sacrifice his life for one single student. So, don't feel guilty for doing the right thing."

The students were nodding, most of the younger ones looking relieved, when Poppy entered the room. After nodding to Severus, she immediately took charge of the large number of students who looked resigned at being poked and prodded. Severus, smiling slightly as all his charges were led to their rooms so that Poppy could look over them comfortably, left the room to go back to his own quarters.

Once he had made sure that Alec was still deeply asleep and would remain so for a few hours, the Potions Master made his way back to the Great Hall. There were already a few aurors in there and it seemed they had just finished questioning one of the Death Eaters under veritaserum.

Seeing him approach, Minerva motioned him to her side. When Severus reached her side, he motioned towards the unconscious men.

"Have they said anything useful?"

The deputy headmistress looked thoughtful. "They don't know where Voldemort's base is, but they had portkeys to bring the children there." She motioned over to a table were several aurors were bending over, looking at something. "They're trying to track down where they led to. If they don't manage that, we may have to take them directly."

Severus frowned. "Voldemort might have guessed what has happened by now, if we use the portkeys, we'll most likely land in a trap."

Minerva pursed her lips. "I know, but what else can we do? No one knows where Harry is, and even if we knew, there would be no way we could put him in that kind of danger."

The Potions Master frowned. Should he tell her the truth? He agreed with her that they wouldn't use Harry, but the boy had other ideas and he could hardly keep him drugged for the next two days. Minerva might be able to help him to keep the child here. Sighing, Severus rubbed his eyes.

"I know where he is."

The Gryffindor teacher looked up at him sharply. She took his arm in a firm grip and drew him to a corner so that no one would overhear.

"What did you say?"

Severus looked down at her calmly. "I said that I know where Harry is."

Narrowing her eyes, the woman demanded. "Did Albus know? Who else knows?"

The man sighed. "Of course Albus knew. And as far as I can guess, only Amanda, Chris and maybe Poppy know." Looking at her intently, he added. "Albus didn't tell me, if that's what you're wondering; he doesn't even know that I know."

Minerva narrowed her eyes, but in a way she felt reassured that the old man hadn't confided in either of them. It would have hurt if Severus had been told but not her. Dismissing those jealous thoughts, she turned to the matter on hand. "Where is he then? Is he safe?"

Snape snorted lightly. "Right now I have him drugged, sleeping in my bed. He wanted to leave, the little fool."

Slowly, realisation started to dawn in her eyes, and Severus noticing this, nodded in encouragement. "Alec..."

Smiling slightly, the man shook his head. "Amazing, isn't it? The two of them have been playing us for months and neither of us suspected anything." Seeing the woman frown, he quietly added: "Don't be too upset, Minerva, they did it to protect the child, and you have to admit no one could have done a better job of it had they tried."

Sighing, the witch nodded. "I know." Looking up at him, she raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you can still get along with the child after finding out such a thing."

Severus grimaced. "The one who told me forced me to get over my hate for James and look at Harry as he is. I realised that Alec is probably the closest thing to Harry that I have ever known."

She was spared an answer when Serena entered the large room. Ignoring the aurors, she immediately headed to where they were standing.

Minerva nodded at her in greeting. "How are Remus and Pomona doing?"

The woman sighed sadly. "They were both quite badly injured, but the staff at St. Mungos assured me they will be fine in a few weeks. It seems they put up quite a fight, but the Death Eaters that took Albus managed to put up wards to keep others away so help didn't arrive in time. We're lucky that Albus' niece and her husband weren't there at the time."

Severus nodded in agreement. "Have they been informed?"

Sinistra nodded. "Yes, I went to tell them. They should be warning the rest of the family right now."

Her two companions nodded but instead of talking again, they watched as an auror approached them. Kingsley smiled tiredly. "We think we've been able to locate the place where the portkeys are directed at. We need to act quickly before Voldemort had the chance to move away." Looking at them, he added. "Will you be coming with us? We haven't had the chance to gather many people, so all help would be appreciated. But it's going to be dangerous."

Snape scoffed at the thought. "Of course we're coming, or at least some of us are, try to stop us."

The auror chuckled lightly. He had always appreciated the man's sarcastic words; they were a wonderful way to calm him down. "I'll go and get the others ready. We'll be going in an hour."

As Kingsley turned around, a ghost popped in existence next to them, startling them quite a bit.

Severus blinked in surprise. "Salazar! Don't do that!"

The ghost merely raised an eyebrow. "I merely wanted to warn you that the young one is starting to show signs of waking."

Cursing softly under his breath, the Potions Master turned around, ready to go back to his rooms. A soft voice stopped him dead in his tracks. "Severus." When the younger man turned to face the ghost, Slytherin spoke. "I know he's very young and that you want to protect him, but it would be good for you if you took him with you." He raised a transparent hand to halt the protests. "Look, I don't know if you realise, but Alec is extremely powerful and knows very well how to use that power. I myself have been training him even though there was quite little I could teach him by the time I met him. If you want to win this war, you will have to allow him to do his part. Without him, you don't stand much of a chance." Then he smirked lightly. "Besides, unless you tie him down somewhere, there's no way that you'll keep him here, and it would be better for him to go with some back up, wouldn't it?"

Without another word, the ghost disappeared. Snape sighed softly and once again turned to go, only this time he was stopped by a female voice. "Do you think he's right, Severus?"

The younger man turned lightly so he could watch the Gryffindor Head of House. "I hate to admit it, Minerva, but he probably is. Alec is powerful, and no matter how many of us go face the Dark Lord, we can't match his power. The only opportunity would be to sneak in and out, but it's unlikely that we succeed, especially since he will be waiting for us."

Not giving them a chance to comment, Severus finally left the room.

To be continued...

A/N: Thanks for all reviews and thanks to my beta-reader, Vinnie.