Possession
Chapter XLVI - The Three Sides of Hogwarts
----------------------------------------------------
Sirius paced back and forth in his quarters at Hogwarts. It had seemed so easy last night. Harry had chosen to go after his beloved and for him the only choice had been to follow Harry to protect his Godson.
But then he'd seen who Harry loved and if it hadn't have been for the shadowy presences guiding his movements he would have turned to his Godson and demanded an explanation then and there, regardless of who was watching, regardless of the consequences. But they had stopped him, telling him that it was Harry's choice and then showing him what to do to destroy the vampires. He'd followed their instructions, finally apparating back to Hogwarts where he'd met with Dumbledore to tell the ancient wizard about the Death Eater incursion all at their instruction and backed by their power when necessary because he had not been fit to act on his own.
The man had told him to rest, going so far as to see that he was escorted to his quarters and he could sense the guards outside even now. He couldn't rest, not now, not when he knew the truth. It had seemed so easy then but it was anything but.
How could Harry love that man? Was he even a man? How had it happened? How anything!
He wanted answers but the only one who could answer him was Harry and at the moment he wasn't available and he didn't know where his Godson had apparated to with the Dark Lord. It was so frustrating! How could this have happened?
-Because it was inevitable.-
"No!" Sirius snarled. "I don't believe that."
-Because it was his choice.-
"So why did he choose it?"
-It will make him happy.-
"Volde-fucking-mort will make him happy?" Sirius hissed the question with a passion would have done any serpent proud.
-Yes. He will make our Master happy.-
"How?" Sirius was angry and he couldn't hide it.
-Because he alone will understand.-
"Understand what?" His vision went red.
-Everything.- They paused. -We will protect him, even against you,- the shadows' power pulsed around him, threatening and warning but still for the moment keeping its distance from him. -This is the only way for him to be truly happy.- The power flared again in a warning that was not necessary.
The anger seemed to drain out of him all at once at the words. "The only way?" He whispered.
-The only way,- the Shadows confirmed.
"Voldemort will not hurt him?"
-Never.-
"Voldemort will not betray him?"
-Never.-
"Voldemort will not use him?"
-Never.-
"Voldemort truly loves him?"
-For all time.-
"Harry..." Sirius whispered the word, looking up at the ceiling. "Harry," he cried the name.
Sirius gulped, sniffing deeply. "James... I'm sorry. I am so sorry." This was the ultimate betrayal of his friend but he could not help it. The shadows wrapped around him and he felt warm, they were supporting him as he cried.
-Shhh...- They whispered under his hearing, soothing but strong.
He rocked back and forth as the tears streamed down his face, murmuring his apologies to his dead friend. When he was almost cried out he felt several shadows enter him gently, slipping into his bloodstream and pulsing through him. -You are one of us now,- the voice was no longer external.
"James," Sirius whispered, as he wiped his eyes. "I will protect him, James. I swore once that I would guide him James, but I also swore that I would let him be his own man. Guess we never saw this one coming! But I will be his guardian for all time. I will stand with him. I will protect him, James. It isn't what we expected but if he is happy... if he is happy, James, watch him and be proud."
He glanced down, feeling strangely at peace. "I guess I'd better go to breakfast," he said quietly, looking around for a fresh set of robes.
---
Dumbledore looked at the gathered Hogwarts students quietly, his eyes sombre. He knew Tom had followers here but he had never dreamt that it had gone so far, but the bodies retrieved did not lie and the Dark Mark was burned into their arms. He knew then that there were others here, who hadn't died, hiding amongst the students and there were the one's who'd taken Harry for Tom. It had been a well co-ordinated effort, as all the events last night had been until Lucius Malfoy's rebellion had struck.
He turned blue eyes towards Draco but the blond lad was sitting quietly as he ate, giving no indication that he knew of his father's plans. It was possible that was the case but the Headmaster couldn't shake the thought that Draco knew something.
The media didn't know yet, but they would soon. He had ordered Sirius to rest last night, he wasn't sure the man had but he was sure that Mr Black had at least spent the night in his chambers, which would hopefully give him the strength now to go on.
It would not be easy once the media knew Harry was gone... Although, he gave a wry smile, Snape had suggested that in the chaos Harry would probably escape. It had been a snappish, snide comment but it did betray Severus' worry. Albus was worried but he knew Harry was resourceful and no matter what most people believed to the contrary, the Dark Lord was still courting, he would not hurt Harry. Not physically at least.
There was a rather large and conspicuous empty spot at the Gryffindor table. Miss Weasley was still in the infirmary and her brothers and Miss Granger were with her. There was some quiet speculation about that and it was slowly growing. He sighed, best to deal with that now.
Dumbledore slowly rose to his feet as Minerva tapped her glass to bring the students to attention. He looked around slowly, noting the worried looks on many of the faces looking up at him. They might be young, but many had already read the paper and knew what that meant, they were not stupid. Even some of the youngest looked scared, knowing that even though they were witches and wizards, it may not be enough to save them from the Dark Lord.
"Last night, as I'm sure many of you are aware, the Lord Voldemort launched attacks on many Wizarding Buildings throughout our country and I'm sure many of you are also aware of what the Auror's are saying. You are all old enough to understand the truth, so I will not hide it. It was a very close thing and had it not been for a Rebellion within his ranks, Hogwarts may this morning have been the last hope for the Wizarding world.
"But this is not the case and while names have been named in the paper, we will not judge any related to those names. The actions of one are not the actions of another and everyone here will remember that. Anyone found prosecuting another student will be suspended without question.
"However, last night Hogwarts was not spared attack as the Daily Prophet would have you believe. A small group of Death Eaters were dispatched and with some help from several students here they infiltrated the castle. Their task was very specific and as I'm sure you have noticed there are missing places from both the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables." Dumbledore's voice was serious and his eyes, while still twinkling, did not show their usual mirth.
"While it pains me their mission succeeded and Harry Potter has been removed from the confines of this castle."
He paused as intense speculation broke out at his words but he hastened to reassure them. "Miss Virginia Weasley, her brothers and Miss Granger are absent at the moment because Miss Weasley is currently indisposed in the infirmary. They were not involved with the attack in any way."
There was a collective sigh of relief from throughout the room and he couldn't help but feel a small surge of pride. It appeared that everyone had been worrying and while there was still worry for Harry, it was good to see that at least some students had been worried about his friends. They would need that unity to fight.
The twinkle in his eyes died and his voice became stern as he continued, any feeling of a gentle patriarch vanishing from his stance. "Unfortunately, the other absences' at the Slytherin table are not due to anything so benign. Several students who, we believe, helped Lord Voldemort's forces enter the castle have fallen. Notification has been sent to their parents and the Auror's notified. The cause of death has yet to be determined but it appears likely that the Death Eaters, once the students fulfilled their task, were under orders to execute their young helpers. Such is the way of the Dark Lord so let this be a warning to you all."
A shiver passed through much of the Hall and Dumbledore suppressed a smile. It was a thought to give the potential followers of the Dark Lord pause and they should be aware that swearing loyalty to him was not a guarantee of survival.
---
What? Draco almost shouted as Dumbledore made his announcement but he was wise enough to hold his tongue. That had not happened! Potter was dead! They couldn't hide that. And the Slytherin students had not been part of the Dark Lord's forces, he had checked that carefully. There were one or two seventh years who were almost Death Eaters and his Father had warned him off asking them for help and while those who had helped last night would probably have become Death Eaters, none of them were in contact with the Dark Lord. And since there had been no Death Eaters here last night, how could they have been killed by the Dark Lord's forces?
Potter's pet basilisk had killed them and Dumbledore was covering that up! Dumbledore was covering it all up. He wouldn't have believed it possible but he was hearing it. What had Black told them? He cast grey eyes towards the man but the dog was slowly munching calmly through a piece of toast. He was not in the least bit distraught.
That was not right.
He blinked carefully, as a sense of unease crept around him when Black glanced at him. Draco almost swore the man was laughing at him and that just could not be. We killed him! Why isn't he raging?
There was something else happening here and Draco didn't know what it was. He had actually been expecting to be hauled out of bed last night once the dog recovered enough to go barking to Dumbledore that he'd killed precious Potter but nothing had happened. Everyone involved last night had left a doppelganger in the Slytherin Common Room, doppelgangers that had been spotted by almost all their house and Severus Snape several times when he checked the room. Had they discovered that and decided that Black was mistaken in his claims that they had killed Potter? Then why was he so calm and why was he still there, not hauled off to St Mungo's?
But if Black was here, and Black was calm, was Potter really alive? He and his followers had left as soon as Potter's body had hit the floor, so could Potter have been faking it?
No! I killed him. I saw the curse hit with my own eyes. Potter survived the Dark Lord as a baby because it bounced off, it did not bounce last night! Potter is dead and this is just their pathetic excuse to try to catch us off guard. It's not going to work.
Serendipitously Draco shook his head at his new followers. "Behave as usual," he whispered under his breath, willing them all to hear him. "They will have to tell the truth eventually and if we tell them, they will know we were involved. We say nothing and wait for the Ministry to fall."
There were small nods from all around and Draco smirked. He almost laughed when he realised that a large number of students were looking at him and had interpreted his smirk as his approval that Potter was gone. Well, let them think what they would. They were all living on borrowed time and borrowed hope and that would be crushed soon enough.
He knew the truth.
------------------------------------------