Author's Note: There is rape in this chapter. If this squicks you, please don't read it.


Chapter Twenty-Six

Aftermath

ONE

Draco was reading his Occlumency book again when the outside door opened, Harry and Professor Snape coming in looking dazed.

"Are you all right, Harry?" Professor Snape asked, concern lacing his voice. "Please, say something."

"I just want to be alone," Harry muttered, moving toward his room without a backwards glace.

"What's going on?" Draco asked nervously.

Professor Snape sighed heavily, dropping into his favorite chair and placing his head in his hands. "Ronald Weasley is dead," he said flatly.

Draco felt his stomach drop at such shocking news. "What? How do you know?"

"Because I found his body, Draco." Professor Snape sounded worn out and sad. "And so did Harry and Miss Granger."

"Hermione saw him?" Draco asked, standing up so fast that the sofa tipped back slightly. He ran to the door, and Professor Snape didn't have any time to stop him from leaving. He ran down the Halls as fast as his legs would carry him, intent on getting to his girlfriend. Only when he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady did he realize that he didn't know the password.

"Erm, hello," he said to the portrait.

"You're not a Gryffindor," the Fat Lady said suspiciously.

"I know, but my girlfriend is," Draco replied, attempting to remain polite. "Hermione Granger? Perhaps you know her."

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you in unless you know the password," the Fat Lady insisted.

"Please! It's important. Her best friend just died! I need to make sure she's okay!"

"Died?" the Fat Lady asked skeptically. "How would you know that, hmm?"

"My professor told me," Draco replied, losing his tight grip on his patience. He started pounding on the frame, hoping that one of the Gryffindors would let him in.

"How rude!" the Fat Lady exclaimed. "Stop that! Stop that, I say!"

Draco ignored her and continued to pound on the door. After a moment, someone on the inside pushed it open. Draco crawled up and into the common room before anyone could stop him. The Gryffindors in the common room all stared at him as his eyes roamed the room, looking for Hermione. "Where's Hermione?" he asked urgently.

"Up in the dorm, crying her eyes out, Malfoy," Parvati Patil said coldly. "I suppose you've done something to her. She won't talk to anyone."

"God," Draco muttered, pelting toward the girl's staircase. Much to his surprise, the stairs flattened themselves out, sending him sliding back to the common room amongst peals of laughter from the Gryffindors. "What in the Hell?" he exclaimed, looking at the stairs with confusion.

"Boys aren't allowed up there," Parvati giggled.

"Please, I need to see her," Draco pleaded with the dark-haired girl. "It's very important!" His head was starting to swim with the amount of thoughts bombarding his mind, but he did his best to ignore it.

"Why should I get her for you?" Parvati sneered. "So that you can make her cry more? I think not!"

"I didn't do anything to her!" Draco shouted, starting to feel angry and confused by Parvati's assumptions as well as by the thoughts rolling through his brain. "This is about Ron, not me!"

Parvati's eyes narrowed. "What about Ron?" she asked suspiciously.

Draco sighed, running a hand through his hair desperately. "He's dead," he said. "Please, I must make sure that Hermione is okay."

The common room grew very quiet. "How do you know that?" Parvati asked. "How do we know you're not just making that up?"

"I wouldn't do that!" Draco yelled at her angrily. "Bloody Hell! I have to speak with Hermione! I don't have bloody time for this shit!"

"What's going on down here?" a girl asked from the steps. Draco turned to find Ginny Weasley on the steps, looking at him curiously. "How'd you get in here?"

"Someone let me in," Draco replied. "Please, Ginny, I need to see Hermione."

"Do you know why she's so upset?" Ginny asked. "She won't tell anyone what happened, but she did say it wasn't you."

"Yes, I do know," Draco affirmed. "Please, may I see her? It's so important. Please?"

"I'll just go tell her you're here," Ginny replied, turning around and going back up the stairs.

Draco sighed in relief, glad that at least one Gryffindor wasn't so quick to blame him. A moment later, Hermione was running down the stairs and into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder. Draco's heart broke for her as he held her close. "Oh, Hermione," he whispered sadly. "I'm so sorry. So very sorry."

Hermione just continued to cry, unwilling or unable to reply to him. Draco gently led her out of the common room, into the corridor to get away from all of the random thoughts that were clouding his brain. Once they were away from the rest of Gryffindor, Draco could hear Hermione's thoughts clearly. He could see the scene when they found Ron's body, and he had to forcibly stop himself from shuddering.

"We have to tell Ginny," he muttered gently, knowing that Hermione wouldn't want to do that.

"I can't!" Hermione wailed miserably. "Oh God, I can't!"

"We'll take her to Dumbledore," Draco suggested. "He'll know by now. He'll tell her. We can't just not say anything."

"I know," Hermione sniffed. "How could this happen? We only left him for a moment. Just a moment! How could they get him so fast? Why did they take him? Why!"

"I don't know, Hermione," Draco soothed, running his fingers through her hair. "I wish I could help somehow."

"You're helping now," Hermione whispered, burying her face more into the crook of his neck.

"Let's get Ginny, shall we?" Draco suggested. Hermione nodded against his shoulder, but she didn't say anything. "I need the password, love," Draco reminded her.

"Gallantry," Hermione replied, sniffling gently. As she said it, the portrait swung open.

Draco released his hold on Hermione and crawled back into the common room, looking around for the youngest Weasley. He spotted her in a corner, working on some homework. "Ginny," he called, catching her attention. "May I speak with you for a moment?"

"Sure," Ginny replied, setting her books aside and following him out into the corridor. "What's up?" she asked once the portrait closed behind them. Draco could hear her worried thoughts about Hermione.

"We need to go to the Headmaster's office," Draco replied, placing a supportive arm around Hermione's shoulders. "He can explain better than I can."

Ginny was confused, nevertheless she said, "Okay." As the trio walked toward Dumbledore's office, Draco's head began pounding painfully from the thoughts he couldn't keep out. He ignored it, though, preferring to be there for the two girls when Ginny was told what had happened to her brother. They reached the gargoyle to find Professor Snape waiting for them.

"Sugar Quills," he said when they reached him, and the four of them proceeded up the spiraling stairs and into Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, looking older than Draco had ever seen him. Harry was seated by the window staring out silently apparently not even aware that more people had entered the office. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were by the fireplace, whispering quietly to each other, obviously still wondering why they had been summoned here.

"Ah, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said when he saw them. "Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, please, take a seat." Everyone present sat down, except for Professor Snape, who moved to the window and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. He bent to whisper something into Harry's ear, making Harry turn his attention to the small gathering.

"I'm afraid that I have very bad news," Dumbledore said gently. "During the trip to Hogsmeade this afternoon, Ron was kidnapped, though by whom, we do not know."

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stared at Dumbledore horror stricken. "Who's looking for him?" Mr. Weasley asked. "Do you have the Order out searching? I want to help."

Dumbledore held up his hands to stem the flow of Mr. Weasley's concern. "I'm sorry, Arthur," he said. "He has already been found. He did not survive."

Mr. Weasley paled as Mrs. Weasley burst into tears, leaning against her husband for support. Ginny sat stunned next to Hermione, staring at the Headmaster as though she'd never seen him before. "You're wrong," she whispered. "You have to be wrong. Maybe it was someone under Polyjuice to make us think he's dead, but he's really alive somewhere."

"Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said gently. "I wish that were true, but we have—"

"No!" Ginny shouted, standing from her chair, sending it toppling over backwards. "You're wrong! He's not dead! He can't be dead!"

Hermione erupted into a new fit of sobs, clinging to Draco desperately as Ginny stared at all of them wildly.

"What's the matter with you?" Ginny demanded of them. "He can't be dead! Ron wouldn't have let them kill him! He was part of the D.D.L.! He knows how to defend himself! They can't kill him!"

Mr. Weasley left his wife's side to engulf his daughter in a tight embrace. He held her close, one hand on the top of her head as she finally burst into anguished tears, screaming, "It's not true!" over and over again into her father's chest.

TWO

"Tell me, my faithful," the Dark Lord said silkily, pacing around the circle of his followers gathered before him. "Who decided that it would please me to kill the Weasley boy?"

Trembling, the Death Eater stepped forward, aware that his Lord was not pleased at all. "I did, My Lord," he replied, forcefully keeping his voice steady.

Red eyes turned to him, flashing menacingly. "I see," he said, moving toward the Death Eater gracefully. "Why did you think you should kill him, hmm?"

"He was the Potter child's best friend," the Death Eater muttered, lowering his eyes submissively. "I thought we could break Potter by killing off his friends."

"Interesting," the Dark Lord purred. "And did you not understand when I said that you were to kill the Mudblood?"

"My Lord, I could not find her. Sh-she was n-not at th-the pub. I th-thought the W-weasley boy w-would be a g-g-good substitute."

"Did it never occur to you that Weasley was a Pureblood? He could have been turned to our cause!"

"I th-thought –"

"I do not keep you here to think!" the Dark Lord snapped. "I keep you here to follow orders! The Weasley brat could have made an excellent spy! He was in the perfect position to report Potter's movements to me! HE'S USELESS IF HE'S DEAD! CRUCIO!"

The Death Eater crumpled to floor in pain, his screams echoing in the deserted clearing in which the meeting was being held. How long the torture went on, he didn't know, but eventually he blacked out from the pain.

THREE

Once he was certain of his health, the Death Eater made his way to Hogwarts, intent to leave the circle of Death Eaters he had so foolishly joined two years ago. He didn't know if Dumbledore would believe him, but he knew he had to try. He could gain the power he craved once the Dark Lord was vanquished.

"You are sincere in your change of heart?" Dumbledore asked mildly, picking a yellowish round ball from the tin in front of him and placing it in his mouth.

"I am," the Death Eater replied, nodding his head for emphasis.

"Then you wouldn't mind answering some questions under Veritaserum," Dumbledore remarked, his blue eyes twinkling brightly.

The Death Eater swallowed nervously, but agreed nonetheless. To his great relief, Dumbledore did not ask if he was the one who murdered Ronald Weasley. After Dumbledore was satisfied, he said, "Very well, I believe you. I will assign you to assist Mr. Filch in his care taking duties. We will discuss your roll in the war once you've settled in."

"Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore," the Death Eater sighed in relief. "I will prove my worth to you."

Dumbledore waved his hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it, Jason," he said. "Everyone deserves a second chance."

Jason McCullen felt that if he could just survive this war, he would be able to obtain the power he craved. With this chance Dumbledore was giving him, he knew his chances at surviving were greatly improved.

FOUR

Severus held Harry close to him, worried about his young lover's state of mind. Harry had been very quiet since seeing Weasley's body hanging from the tree in Hogsmeade, but not silent as he was when his godfather passed.

"You worry too much, Sev'rus," Harry muttered softly from his place against Severus' chest. "I'll be fine."

"You don't seem fine," Severus negated. "You've been so quiet."

Harry sighed, tightening his grip on Severus' waist. "It was a shock, seeing him that way," he whispered. "I'll be okay, I promise."

Severus tightened his grip as well, unsure if Harry truly would be okay as he insisted. "I know," he sighed. "I know."

"Go on," Harry said, stepping back. "You have a class to teach, and I have a class to attend. I'll be okay. Don't worry too much about me." He smiled reassuringly, though it did nothing to make Severus feel any better. It had been two weeks since Ron was killed, and Harry didn't seem any closer to dealing with it than he had the day it happened.

"Very well," he said. "Go to class, and do try to have a good day."

Severus' teaching was extremely subdued that day as his mind swam with worry for Harry. As his last class came to a close, one of the Hufflepuffs exploded his cauldron, sending potion flying everywhere.

Severus sighed, rubbing his temples gingerly. He moved to the student's desk, inspecting the cauldron to discover his mistake. "Tell me what you did wrong, Mr. Smith," he said.

"I-I don't know sir," Smith replied nervously.

"Did you crush or chop the root?" Severus asked patiently.

"Crush, sir," Smith replied.

"I see. And what do the directions say to do?"

Smith looked up at the board and groaned. "Ch-chop, sir," he muttered.

"Yes, chop," Severus agreed. "Ten points from Hufflepuff for abominable lack of attention. Class dismissed." As the class filed out, Severus contacted Filch to clean up the mess of the room so he could shower before dinner.

"I hear there was an incident in here," a very recognizable voice said from the door as Severus cleared off his desk. His head snapped up at the voice and he found himself looking at Jason McCullen.

"What are you doing here?" he growled angrily. "Does Albus know you are here?"

Jason moved farther into the room, pulling his wand from his robes as he did.

Severus had his wand out and aimed in an instant.

"Jumpy, Severus," Jason said amicably, holding his hands up to show he was not a threat. "Dumbledore knows that I'm here. He's assigned me to assist the Squib, so I have come to clean up this mess."

Severus growled low in his throat, sweeping out of the room in a cloud of billowing black robes to confront the old codger about his most recent appointment. He stormed into the headmaster's office without knocking. "What is he doing here!" he demanded of Dumbledore.

"Who?" Dumbledore asked mildly, not even looking up from his paperwork.

"Jason. McCullen," Severus grated angrily.

"Ah," Dumbledore said. "I've assigned him to help Argus with his duties."

"Why?" Severus demanded.

"He's asked for sanctuary," Dumbledore replied, finally leveling his calm gaze on the irate Potions Master.

"AND YOU GAVE IT TO HIM!" Severus exclaimed. "HAVE YOU FINALLY GONE MAD!"

"Of course I gave it to him, Severus. Would you have me turn him away?"

"YES I WOULD! YOU CANNOT TRUST THAT… THAT…BLOODY BACKSTABBING LIAR!"

"Many have said that of you, Severus," Dumbledore said gently. "I must give him a chance, just as I gave you a chance."

Severus dropped into a chair, staring at Dumbledore in disbelief. "Surely you are not comparing him to me?" he asked incredulously. "He's already proven that he cannot be trusted. How could you put this school in danger this way?"

"I questioned him under Veritaserum," Dumbledore remarked gently. "Do you believe I should just leave him to his fate with the Death Eaters? Do not all men deserve a chance to prove that they are worthy of forgiveness?"

Severus shook his head. "I do not trust him," he stated. "You will instruct him to keep away from me and both of my charges. I will not have them placed in danger."

Dumbledore sighed wearily. "Very well, Severus," he conceded. "I will instruct him to steer clear of you and yours, but I warn you that he will be around the castle. I cannot restrict all of his movements, or he would be of no use to Argus."

"I swear to you now, Albus, if anything happens to any of the children in this school because of that man, I will never forgive you. Do you understand?"

"I do, Severus," Albus affirmed.

Severus nodded curtly and left the office, storming back to his rooms for that shower he'd wanted before, angry that he would be late to dinner.

FIVE

Harry walked around the lake slowly, thinking about many things that were bothering him. Foremost on his mind was Severus. Severus had been in an exceptionally bad mood for the last two weeks, and Harry simply couldn't understand why. Severus had gone off to teach one day, worried but not sour, and then he'd returned in a terrible mood, and had been since then.

He also thought of Ron, and how he could have kept his best friend protected from what had happened to him. He felt that if only he had kept his friends from him, perhaps Ron might still be alive. Of course, he didn't tell anyone he thought this because he knew that they would just tell him he was being silly. He knew they couldn't understand how guilty he felt, and he didn't want to add to their worries.

"You shouldn't be wandering around out here on you own," a man said behind him, startling Harry from his thoughts. He turned to see a tall man with dark hair and stunning blue eyes regarding him coldly. "Aren't you Harry Potter?" he asked.

"Erm, yes," Harry replied, feeling a great amount of trepidation towards this man. The malice was practically dripping off of the man. "Sorry, but who are you?"

"Jason McCullen," the man replied with an incredibly fabricated smile. "I'm Mr. Filch's new assistant."

Harry remembered hearing rumors of a handsome man helping Mr. Filch around the castle. "Yes, I've heard of you," he said. "The girls can't get over how cute you are."

"Really?" McCullen asked with another fabricated smile. "Pity for them that I don't lean that way."

"Which way is that?" Harry asked sarcastically, liking this man less and less with each moment. "Toward teenage girls or just girls in general?"

McCullen's smile faltered a bit under Harry's harsh tone, but he hitched it back onto his face almost immediately. "Just girls in general," he replied.

"Hm," Harry said coldly. "I wish I could say that it was pleasure meeting you, Mr. McCullen, but that would make me a liar. Good day to you, sir."

McCullen grabbed Harry's arm as he passed. "You should watch your tone, Potter," he warned. "Some people might think you had a superiority complex."

"Like I care what you think of me," Harry sneered, aware that he probably looked and sounded remarkably like Severus. "Unhand me, sir, before I take drastic measures."

McCullen removed his hand from Harry's arm, and Harry was aware of him watching as Harry made his way into the castle. Harry did not look back to confirm his suspicions though, as he felt that it would give the man some strange sense of satisfaction.

As Harry entered Severus' rooms, he found his lover pacing around in agitation.

"Where have you been?" Severus snapped the moment he saw Harry. "I've been worried out of my mind!"

"I was going for a walk, Sev'rus," Harry replied patiently, still unsure as to why Severus would worry about him on Hogwarts grounds. "I met the new Assistant Caretaker. McCullen, I think? I don't like him at all."

The effect of his statement was rather disconcerting as Severus rushed to him and began looking him over as though checking for injury. When he found none, he said, "Listen to me carefully. I want you to stay away from that man. He's very dangerous."

"Why would Dumbledore let him work here if he's so dangerous?" Harry asked.

"Because, the Headmaster trusts people too easily!" Severus exclaimed angrily, starting to pace again.

"I agree that he's unfriendly, but surely Dumbledore knows what he's doing," Harry argued reasonably.

"I know Jason!" Severus snapped. "He cannot be trusted! Do you trust Dumbledore better than me after he's needlessly risked your life time and again?"

"No, Sev'rus," Harry soothed. "I trust you better. I'll be careful with him, okay?"

Severus suddenly pulled Harry into a nearly bone crushing hug. "Just stay away from him, Harry," he whispered. "Please promise me you will."

Harry frowned a bit but agreed nonetheless.

"Do you have homework?" Severus asked after a moment, moving to his desk to grade papers.

"Of course I do," Harry replied. "N.E.W.T.s are next year, after all."

"Well, hop to it, young man," Severus said with a small smile. Harry stuck his tongue out at the man and sat down on the floor to start his homework.

SIX

"I have to patrol the halls tonight," Severus said a week later as he finished his grading for the night. "I'll be back late."

"Okay," Harry replied, not looking up from his homework. Severus pecked the top of his head and then left the rooms. Harry worked for a few hours until he finished his work, and then looked at the clock to see it was just after midnight. He sighed, deciding to turn in for the night, knowing that Severus wouldn't be back until at least two. He put away his things, stood to go to the shower and froze when he saw McCullen standing in the doorway.

"Hello, Mr. Potter," he said, mild surprise filling Harry's senses. "I must say, I hadn't expected to find you in Severus' quarters."

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked coldly.

"Looking for Severus, of course," McCullen replied easily.

"He's patrolling, so you can leave now," Harry snapped. He began to worry when the surprise was replaced by delighted giddiness.

"I think I'll wait, thanks," McCullen said, moving further into the room, closing and warding the door behind him.

"Just how rude do I have to get before you realize that you're not welcome here?" Harry asked sarcastically.

"You're too young to know whether I'd be welcome," McCullen returned easily.

"Get. Out." Harry grated, his temper rising.

"These are Severus' rooms, if I'm not much mistaken, so you've no right to tell me to get out," McCullen said. He stepped closer to Harry. "Why don't you make me feel welcome?"

"Perhaps because you are not welcome," Harry replied. "Professor Snape has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with you."

McCullen moved closer still, reaching out to touch Harry's face.

Harry flinched back from him with disgust. "Just who the Hell do you think you are?" he snapped angrily. "Don't you dare touch me!" He pulled out his wand as he scrambled away from the man, registering lust and hate pouring from McCullen in waves.

"Oh, come now, you're being terribly unfriendly."

"I can't imagine why that would be."

"Neither can I, Harry," McCullen purred, pulling his own wand from where he'd stashed it up his sleeve.

"Don't use my name," Harry growled.

McCullen moved so fast that Harry didn't have a chance to react. "Expelliarmus!" he cried, catching Harry's wand with ease and tossing it to the side where it would be useless.

"Bastard!" Harry yelled at him, even as he felt McCullen's triumph.

McCullen moved forward quickly and pulled Harry close to him. Harry pushed at him roughly, and then punched him in the nose. This seemed to enrage the man, as he returned Harry's punch with one of his own, followed by a swift punch to Harry's ribs. As Harry was doubled over, wheezing in pain, McCullen pinned the teen against the wall, holding Harry's arms over his head with one hand.

"Oh, you're a feisty one," McCullen breathed into Harry's ear.

"Get off of me, you psychotic monster!" Harry yelled, hoping that Draco would wake up and help him. Unfortunately, Draco was out late with Hermione, keeping her mind off of loosing Ron.

"That's not very nice, Mr. Potter," McCullen replied calmly, reaching between their bodies to caress Harry's groin. "Oh, aren't you happy to be here?" he asked when he found that Harry was completely flaccid.

"Get off!" Harry yelled again, continuing to struggle against McCullen's unwelcome presence.

"Oh, but you're such a pretty boy," McCullen purred, pushing Harry's robes up. He deftly undid Harry's jeans, and then he murmured a spell that, to Harry's horror and shame, made Harry hard as a rock in an instant. As his mind screamed for him to stop this, his body asked him to go on.

Harry intensified his struggled, an unadulterated fear coming over him as he fought.

"Oh, I love it when they're feisty," McCullen purred as he spelled his robes to the floor, revealing his full, naked glory. He pushed his body close to Harry's, their erections touching together with maddening friction. Harry tried to fight, but he was severely weakened by the spell, his body quivering with a pleasure that Harry didn't want to feel.

"So responsive," McCullen murmured as he began rubbing his shaft against Harry's. Harry felt sick at hearing the very words Severus had spoken to him their first time together coming from this man's mouth.

"Get away from me!" Harry exclaimed, though the words lacked the bite he'd intended due to his heavy breathing.

"Just relax, Harry," McCullen rasped as he sped up his thrusts. "I know you're enjoying this."

"No!" Harry denied, but just after he'd said it, his entire body tensed with his orgasm as the man rubbed harder still. A moment later, McCullen reached his own orgasm. He held Harry tight to the wall as he caught his breath, and then spelled his robes back on. He pulled Harry's jeans back up from the boy's thighs and stepped back.

"That was exquisite," McCullen remarked. "I can't wait to take things further with you."

"Go to Hell," Harry replied hatefully. "Go straight to Hell, you sick bastard." Harry remained where he was as McCullen left the rooms, feeling drained, dirty, angry and extremely pathetic. How was he supposed to defeat Voldemort if he couldn't even keep from being raped? When he finally found the strength to move, he took the hottest shower he could, scrubbing at his whole body until his skin was very red.

Once he couldn't scrub any longer due to the pain, he leaned against the wall, resting his head on his forearm, struggling to hold back his tears. "I'm sorry, Sev'rus," he muttered miserably. "I really did try to stop him." He went to his own bed that night, frightened that Severus would want something he knew he wouldn't be able to give, and gave in to his tears. He cried himself to sleep, feeling that somehow he'd failed everyone with his weakness.

Author's Note: Many thanks to Victoria Ennis for her hard work on this fic. Thanks also to…

Shiemi Shimabukuro: We'll see about María in the future. Hehehehe

Ktoddhim

DestinyEntwinements: I do too. Thanks for the cookies.

Jumping-Jo

Sword and Magic

LeeLeePotter: I just read too much Stephen King, I guess. Hehehehe

Shadow Eclipse

Nicky12330

CogniDi: What can I say? Torturing Harry is just too much fun.

SexylsSnape126: I wrote a story with a sad ending once and I got slammed for it. It was quite funny.

Chibi-Kaisie: Nope, I don't know much Spanish at all. I do, however, have some lovely reviewers who helped immensely with those lines. Hehehe.

Mariana

Rosalia

Jujube15: I would say not. HAHAHA

Sh'arra Rie

Deathbyspatula

Purplepaper

…

Hikari-Aoi: You seem to be the only one who shares my disdain for Ron. Thank you!

Completely unrelated note: Is it just me, or does this section seem to be getting rather big? Hehehehe