The Seers' Truth: Beyond the Darkness
By Lady Lestrange
Chapter 32
Gryffindor Luck
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infrigement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. Thanks JK.
--Lady Lestrange
Special thanks to my beta, ennui de mort who always does such a good job being my extra muse as well as proofreading, moral support and just plain fun.
15 reviews: I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 15 reviews for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to the reviews follow the story. You guys are catching up to me, so maybe I should make it 20 reviews…
(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down.)
Up to this Point: Alternate 5th year book. Voldemort was uncertain which was the prophecy child, Samara or Ginny so he kidnapped them both. Beatrice made a mad dash after them in her animagus form. She has been since crucioed and rescued and returned to Hogwarts still in her bunny animagus form.
Harry, Ron and Hermione struggle to figure out how the prophecy might aid them. The trio travels to Hermione's house, Samara's house, the Riddle house and eventually the Snow Castle in search of the girls.
Ginny, who has a Dark Mark, is torn between the visions of Tom in her head and what to do to stay safe from Voldemort at the Snow Castle. Snape is an unexpected help to her.
Voldemort meanwhile has some unpleasant Christmas surprises in store for Harry and Neville. Neville's grandmother ends up in the hospital and the Dursley's are dead, leaving Snape as Harry's guardian.
Back at Hogwarts, the trio tries to ascertain how they will save the girls. They enlist Draco and Lauren's help.
Voldemort has some trouble within the ranks and sends Ethan to learn with Narcissa and Gloria. Meanwhile, the trio works out some differences with Draco, and miss a chance to save the girls. Now, Snape gives some timely advice and Harry invites Neville to their little planning gatherings, which ends in an altercation between Neville and Draco.
Voldemort sets his plans in motion by giving Samara the Dark Mark, but she is far from defeated by this. Ginny on the other hand is ready to give in to save her family. The plot continues as Volemort sets family members upon family members in a quest to destroy all who might thwart him.
Meanwhile, Harry considers the meaning of curcio and tries to puzzle out what Voldemort is doing by reading his scar pangs.
Ethan and Edward prove their worth to Voldemort and Beatrice is finally released from the bunny animagus.
Ginny, under polyjuice potion, is impersonating Madam Amelia Bones. She is following direct orders from Voldemort who is speaking to her in parseltongue from the small snake animagus she is carrying. She saves her father and her brother, but doesn't seem to be able to save herself.
However, Harry Potter and his trusty Gryffindor rescue squad is on the way. Unfortunately, they get waylaid. Ginny is unconscious and the girls are currently looking for the boys and wind up in Voldemort's dungeon with a slew of vampires and a three headed dragon. The boys, Harry, Ron and Draco are going to rescue the others from the veelas, but Valeriana and Narcissa get in the way--or not-- Luckily the twins are armed with puppy puffs and a sense of humor. Now, the intrepid trio have some difficulty determining a course of action. It's no wonder! Perhaps, they should put it to a vote there are so many people involved in the decision. Well, as Dumbledore says, "it is the decisions we make, that make us the witches and wizards we are!" And now, since the group has saved Neville, will they be able to save themselves. Oh, and Severus' unknown plan is finally discovered. Muwhawhawha!
For further discussion, visit: YAHOO GROUPS, TheSeersTruth
Chapter 32
Gryffindor Luck(PG-13 Warning: Voldemort is at his most devious self here. If you were upset by Chapter 5, "Visions of Voldemort" this one will probably swick you too. Suggested slash. Nothing explicit, not even a kiss.)
Voldemort thought there was not a prettier sight in the world than his trusted Death Eater, Severus Snape levitating the body of Albus Dumbledore into his presence, but there was no time for Voldemort to enjoy Snape's news, because a portkey had been used—an unauthorized portkey. He had thought that sending Carman ahead with the children was enough supervision. Apparently he was wrong. Voldemort's eyes narrowed. The child using a unauthorized portkey would be punished, of course, but he was in entirely too good of a mood to be truly angry. He simply waited while Snape levitated the body to him.. He expected one of his Death Eaters to come to him with an explanation about the portkey, but in the meantime, he wondered, which of the children would be so bold. Unless it was not a child--How could any of the aurors have known where the Snow Castle was? Did Albus tell them? When? And weren't they all rather busy at the Ministry? The mystery bothered him. He was anxious for some Death Eater to come and give a report of what had happened.
The wards of the Snow Castle had reset and locked after Snape's apparition back to the Dark Lord was completed. Severus was one of the last of the adults to arrive, but he had been on a special mission. Some had come from the Ministry as they finished their appointed tasks and were dismissed. Others had taken their charges to Askaban. Although the dementors no longer haunted the place, it was still a rock devoid of magic and a safe place to hold the pureblood wizards until he had use for them, or killed them. Now that Albus was dead, he had no doubt that many would see reason.
Gillroy rushed into the room with an explanation for the portkey use.. "My Lord!" He dropped to his knees and when acknowledged, continued speaking. "Someone has used a portkey against the wards. It's not one of ours. It's an intruder."
"Then they are still inside the Snow Castle," said Voldemort.
"Yes Master," agreed the Death Eater.
"Should I set the alarm?" Gillroy asked.
"No," said Voldemort softly. "They got in, but they will not get out. Take a team of Death Eaters and search the castle."
"Yes master." The man hesitated.
"What is it?" snapped Voldemort.
"Most of the adults are still--absent."
"Then use the children and the veelas. They are capable," said Voldemort. "Find them," Voldemort said succinctly waving the Death Eater away confident in the man's ability to find the cause and culprits behind the use of the portkey. Perhaps it was just one of the students, trying to return late to Hogwarts. It was not something he was worried about yet. He turned his attention to Severus, a satisfied smile creasing his face. Nothing would mar this moment in his mind: the moment he first beheld Albus Dumbledore's dead body.
Voldemort had turned the main Hall of the Rosier Snow Castle into something of a throne room. It had a large open area where most if not all of his Death Eaters could gather, but now, there was no one present but himself and Severus Snape. He watched while Severus struggled with the simple spell, the body slowly dropping until it was a bare foot off of the floor. Severus was tired, he thought. Perhaps Dumbledore put up more of a fight than he thought he would, even though he had to have been tired when he got away from the Ministry.
Snape dropped the body on the marble floor with a klunk. "It is done as you wished, Master."
Not exactly as he wished, thought Voldemort. He would have liked to deliver the killing blow himself, but it was done at last, and he still had Harry Potter to look forward to.
Severus pocketed his wand and pushed the strings of his hair back from his sweated face as he spoke. "Now, your destiny with Harry Potter can proceed unhindered by the Old Man."
Voldemort paced around Dumbledore, staring at the matted white hair, the pursed, unyielding lips. He reached down and pulled open an eyelid and examined the sightless blue eyes. There was no twinkle there now, only death.
"I closed them," said Snape. "They seemed—"
Voldemort turned, fixing Severus with a stare. "Accusing, perhaps?" asked Voldemort with a slight smile..
"He is here," said Severus coolly. "My loyalty is to you."
"Loyalty?" said Voldemort with a small smile. He reached out and touched Dumbledore's beard, pulling his hand back almost as soon as he touched the downy white mass.
"So it is," said Voldemort. Reaching out his other hand and touching Severus face. As expected, Severus' exhaustion left him more open than usual to Voldemort's perusal. All of the wards were still there, but he did see a bit of regret, but more, he saw anger. The number of times he, Severus Snape had been passed over for the Defense against the Dark Arts job—The anger covered everything else obliterating every other emotion he might have felt from Severus.
"But he gave you that in the end," said Voldemort, and Severus mind snapped shut like a trap. "and why do you care what happened when you are a child," Voldemort continued. Why do you care that he never treated you like a Gryffindor? You are the superior creature."
"That is why he is dead," Severus answered. His voice was expressionless and soft. His shoulders drooped slightly as if a great weight was on his shoulders. He did not seem happy about Dumbledore's death, but then Severus never seemed happy about anything. Even in Muggle baiting, he was cool and calculating, holding himself above the frenzy, but Voldemort would not let Severus' reserve mar this moment.
Voldemort laughed, a full, belly rolling laugh, but the sound grated from his snake lips, and he threw his arm around Severus in a comraderly fashion. "You are my finest," said Voldemort.
Severus ducked from beneath his arm. "May I be excused to wash the Gryffindor stink from myself?" He raised his wand, "and I'll remove the offal—"
"No," said Voldemort laying his hand on Severus' bare palm. There was a flash of something, so quickly squelched that Voldemort couldn't catch the emotion, and then there was only the quiet mind of Severus Snape, like stone: cold, gray, unbreakable.
"I wasn't intending to destroy it," said Severus. "There are so many uses—"
Voldemort nodded. "I rather thought a monument—" He gestured grandly, Severus Snape killing the great and undefeatable Albus Dumbledore. We could, of course, have one of the aurors take polyjuice to look like you and then one of my basilisks could turn both the auror and the body to stone, so much more economical that sculpture.
"More life-like too," said Severus in a dry voice. Voldemort's eyes narrowed, studying Snape, trying to decide if that was Severus' version of a joke. "We'll have to wait a while though. The basilisks won't have their eyes open until June," he said evenly.
Snape didn't answer.
"If you have betrayed me," said Voldemort in a low voice.
"Betrayed?" Whiffs of guilt rose from Severus, quickly squelched and followed by fear. "He is dead," said Severus coldly. "You know more about death than any wizard alive. You know he is dead—"
"If this is not Albus Dumbledore's body—"
"My Lord!"
"We should burn it!" Voldemort raised his hands, Elemental fire contained in his closed fists.
"Wait!" A blast of cloying fear issued from Severus.
Voldemort squelched the fire and folded his arms waiting. "Why are you afraid, Severus?"
"I'm afraid—I will never have your trust." Voldemort could feel Severus' anger building. "If you don't believe that this is Albus Dumbledore, then all I have worked for is for nothing. I've done what you asked! Gladly!" Severus was shouting now and pacing the floor, his black robes billowing. "I've given you more than my life." He turned to face him. "I deserve your trust." He sneered.
"You deserve nothing," spat Voldemort. "How dare you make that presumption." Voldemort expected Severus to realize his mistake and grovel at his feet, but as usual, Severus was full of surprises.
Since they were alone, Voldemort raised an eyebrow, waiting while Snape dug through the inner pockets of his robe. "What are you looking for?" asked Voldemort curious.
"Veritaserum," said Snape, pulling a vial from one of the myriad pockets.
"It could be faked," said Voldemort.
Growling, Severus threw the expensive vial to the floor, smashing the glass bottle into a million tiny shards. Within seconds, the potion had evaporated from the floor. Voldemort didn't need to touch Severus to know he was angry. The emotion rolled off of him in waves, drowning every other emotion, and Voldemort smiled as Snape railed. "I've killed my mentor—my friend—" Snape closed his lips, but the thoughts were nearly shouted: I've killed my mentor, my friend and this is your repayment to me! Damn you! You— The thoughts were squelched and fear returned. Severus looked at him, eyes still burning with anger, but now under strict control. Severus began digging in his robe again, this time pulling out a vial of gloppy gray liquid. "Polyjuice," he pronounced, "Use it and your agent can go to the heart of Hogwarts, to the last stronghold of the Wizarding world." I have given you this freedom. I, Severus Snape, and no other!"
Voldemort stared at the vial. It did indeed look like polyjuice. Polyjuice would certainly prove this was Dumbledore's body, but he had no intention of drinking anything from Severus' stores even if he hadn't been an animagus. It could just as easily be poison.
"Drink it then," said Voldemort.
Severus took two steps forward and yanked one of the hairs from Dumbledore's head, but Voldemort stopped him. He reached forward and pulled a different hair, making sure that it had indeed been attached to Albus' head before dropping it into the proffered bottle himself. Severus downed it in one gulp. He didn't even grimace as he began the rapid change. His hair growing longer and whiter, his beard sprouting on his face and his black eyes lightening into blue, but there was no twinkle in them.
"I didn't betray you," Severus said evenly, and then as the mannerisms and voice tone took effect, Severus continued. "Alas, I am defeated. You have won, Tom." He brought a hand up to stroke his long beard as if in amazement. "You have defeated Albus Dumbledore." Severus took a breath, his voice strangely his own. "This is good," he said. "I can return to Hogwarts, and be seen by any number of teachers. It will throw suspecion off of me. Otherwise, you know, I will be the first to be suspected. The polyjuice will allow me to clear my name.
"OH, no," said Voldemort. "You won't need to go back there again.
Nerves, thought Voldemort. That was what the fear was. He could smell the sweat, not a lot now, but a little—Well, I guess that was to be expected, after all, killing Dumbledore was a bit of a feat, even if the Old Man was exhausted from the battle at the Ministry building. "It pleases me to have you by my side, Severus."
"Yes, Master. Thank you Master," said Severus, but there was an undeniable hesitancy within Severus. Something was not right.
Voldemort knew he could not penetrate Severus' shields, nonetheless, He spoke the word softly, "legilimens!" But instead of searching, he pushed his burning demands into Severus mind, blinding him to all else in that moment. Voldemort's thoughts wrapped around Severus' thoughts like a serpent, squeezing themselves into places that they didn't belong. The words were sibilant and venomous. "If you are lying to me, Severus--if you have betrayed me, Severus--we will see the limits of a time turner and you will beg for death again and again, and again, in every minute that it will afford us. I promise you--" He felt Severus shudder under the impact of his invasion, but the cold smooth impregnability of his thoughts was unchanged, but he grated against the edges of Severus' mind, like a snake wriggling beneath a rock. When he withdrew, Severus staggered, his hand going automatically to his now throbbing head. He looked at Voldemort, meeting his eyes defiantly.
"If I have betrayed you, I will bring the time turner," he sneered. "Just as I have brought you Albus Dumbledore."
The ghost of a smile crossed Voldemort's face. "What of the werewolf?" he asked changing the subject.
"He sleeps in the Hogwarts' infirmary, as does Sirius Black and Draco Malfoy."
"Malfoy?" said Voldemort.
"His spine was shattered and he needed bones re-grown. Lucius thought it more prudent to take him to Hogwarts than St. Mungos, since he is supposed to be at school now."
"Good." Voldemort nodded thoughtfully. "But the werewolf is lost to us."
"If I entered Hogwarts as Dumbledore it would be a simple matter to regain him for you."
Voldemort shook his head. "Let's wait until we are closer to the full moon. There is no point in us taking care of the creature now. We can retrieve the werewolf at our leisure." Voldmeort continued to stare at Dumbledore's prone body. "There is plenty of time now that the Old Fool is out of the way."
Snape stood for a moment more before speaking—"I'll clean up here for you." Severus raised his wand in the direction of Dumbledore's body.
"No. Leave him lie there for a while. I want to look at him. It's been so long, Severus. I've waited so long for this moment."
Voldemort snapped his fingers and Winky appeared. "Bring us some wine, elf," Voldemort ordered. "The best wine in Rosier's cellars."
Winky nodded and disapperated. Within seconds she had returned with the wine and glasses balanced on a silver tray. She put it on the side table. She hesitated obviously unwilling to speak. At last she squeeked, "Shall Winky pour, Master?"
"No," said Voldemort waving her away and pouring the glasses himself. He passed one to Severus. "To the new beginning of the wizarding world," he said raising his glass.
"To the new beginning," Severus echoed, and they both silently sipped the wine.
"I heard that Narcissa has her new Muggle serving tea at Malfoy Manor," Voldemort said conversationally. "Lucius tells me, she has never liked the look of house elves. They are ugly creatures, but they have their uses."
"Yes, Master," Severus said as he sipped his wine.
"So what have you done with the Muggle woman I gave you. Severus?"
Severus sat his wine on the table and folded his hands in his lap. "I gave her the task of tending some herbs for my potions," he said. "She has a good hand with them."
Voldemort shook his head. "I gave you the most beautiful of them all, and all you can think of to do with her is shut her up with your potions ingredients. Has she no feminine charm?"
"She has no magic," Severus answered immediately. "I have never understood wizards' dalliance with muggles--"
Severus broke off suddenly. Something dark and terrible had crossed his Master's face. He frantically tried to think what he might have said wrong. "Are you angry at my actions with her, my Lord," said Severus in a penitent voice.
"Lack of action, perhaps," said Voldemort, swirling the wine in his glass. He drank the last of it, and sat silently looking at Dumbledore's body.
"If I may be so bold, what will you do with him?" asked Severus.
"You are bold," Voldemort answered.
"I just thought, there are so many uses for his body—polyjuice not withstanding," said Snape gesturing to his own waist length white beard."
"Perhaps, but not for you. I want you finally by my side where you belong."
A long silence followed.
"You are pensive, My Lord."
"I'm trying to think of when I first wanted to kill him--Probably when he made me stay after transfiguration owls in fifth year. I had planned the basilisk's hatching so carefully—after all classes were done. I didn't know owls were the following week.
"Anyone elses' class I could have gotten out of –but not Albus. I had abbreviated the date."
"Pardon, My Lord," said Severus.
"I abbreviated the date, Jun. 14, He wanted to know why I thought it would save so much time to abbreviate when it only saved a single letter. I needed to take the time to smell the roses, he said. Time with people. Stop rushing through life. Enjoy my friends. Be patient. And while he kept me standing there in the corridor, my basilisks were hatching. My friends—were hatching and they were dying. My basilisks were eating each other. When I saw him at the head table, at supper that night I wanted to kill him. I burned to kill him. Do you know what I mean, Severus? Have you ever felt such a consuming need to kill someone?"
"Yes, Master."
"Of course you have, and you have satisfied that need." Said Voldemort touching Severus' face. "I don't like these hiding your face from me," Voldemort commented, pulling on the white beard that the poly juice had given him.
"Do you know what he said that night at supper? He said 'we had such a nice chat.' He worried I had no close friends. Worried because I had skipped meals. I was in the Chamber you understand."
"I understand."
He tried to orchestrate my friendships. "Can you imagine the arrogance of that man?"
"I can. What about Carman?"
"He didn't know about Carman at that time. We were very discrete. No, he thought I was all work and no play Tom. He never understood me. There was so much more than he ever saw. It's the nature of Gryffindors I believe to be such shallow individuals, don't you think?"
"Undoubtedly."
"Now you, Severus," said Voldemort drawing a long finger down Severus' now wihiskered cheek. "You have always understood me better than anyone."
"Better than—H—her? Valeriana?" Asked Severus.
Voldemort raised an eyebrow, and cupped Severus chin in his hands. It was pillowed by Albus ample beard. "Jealousy? Will you at this late date join the ranks of those jostling for my right hand?"
"Not jealousy," said Severus evenly. "Curiosity."
"I should have known." Voldemort moved his face a little closer to Severus', tasting the air and observing his facial expressions as well as feeling for his thoughts. Dumbledore's blue eyes had lost their twinkle in Severus contol, but there was no inkling from them what Severus was thinking. There was nothing. Nothing at all, and Voldemort moved closer still, so that his lips were just a breath from Severus'. "By the way," he whispered, "Now that Dumbledore is dead, you don't need all of those shields. I understand that, like the Muggle, Valeriana was not to your liking?"
"Did she tell you that?"
"She didn't have to." Voldemort waited for some flicker of information, but none came. A moment longer he waited, letting the thought that perhaps Valeriana let some secret of his slip, but still Severus mind was as smooth and enigmatic as ever. "Perhaps I have decided, I needed to take matters into my own hands," Voldemort whispered, his mouth so close to Severus that if he wanted to, he could taste his lips with his tongue, but he waited. He wanted Severus reaction. There was none. Absolutely none, and truthfully, Voldemort found the long white beard that Severus now wore, particularly repulsive, he let go of Severus' face and sat back in the chair. "Yes, he said, "I think a celebration is in order. You may choose who you want, Severus. If not Valeriana, someone else. I must tell you her magic was entrancing." He paused his voice wistful as he continued, "Although Narcissa is more beautiful--I could persuade Lucius to share, he has done so before, or any of the students from Durmstrang or Beaubatons could be yours. I'm sure that we have a veela or two among the children.
"No," said Severus in a hoarse whisper and at last Voldemort felt a flicker of feeling from him. He was repulsed.
Voldemort smiled, amused by Severus' reserve. "The veelas are restless," continued Voldemort, "But they will also be a challenge. You could choose from among my rank, men or women, boys or girls, I really don't care which—" and he felt Severus pull himself tighter away from him. "Relax," whispered Voldemort, touching his face again, and then pulling his wand. "Of course you have always been ambitious, Severus." He touched the top button at Severus neck with the wand and smiled. "Maybe I have read you wrong." Voldemort paused, putting a long finger under Severus whiskered chin, and raising his eyes to his own, but Severus immediately averted his eyes. The emotion was fleeting, but Voldemort latched onto it, trying to understand this man who had been so crucial to so many of his goals. It wasn't desire, but it was fiery. Anger perhaps—anger that he was so misunderstood—or anger about something else. "If you want something done right," said Voldemort in a matter of fact voice. "you have to do it yourself."
Severus was still as a corpse. He closed his eyes and wrapped his emotions tightly around himself. Voldemort could sense nothing, neither fear nor desire nor even Severus' ever present curiosity. No, he was closed up tight as a Gringott's vault. Voldemort smiled. Well he had gotten those open hadn't he?
Voldemort touched Severus' outer robe and disposed of it easily, but underneath Albus' robe was the same sort of robe Severus wore all the time, pure black and buttoned up to the neck with tiny buttons like a priest's collar. Volemort hesitated, seeking a reaction, but still none came. He touched the top button again, and then continued touching them one at a time, thirty seven of them from Severus' neck to his waist. "Recingo" he said softly. Still the buttons remained buttoned. He frowned. "Ah, a puzzle," said Voldemort. "Discingo! Don't tell me. Discinctus est!" He tried several more charms and when none of them worked, he folded his arms across his chest. Eyes narrowed he said, "I see your Avery blood here. This is a very Ravenclaw puzzle. Dissolvo" Finally,Voldemort released his magic and manually unbuttoned the top three buttons.
He laughed softly. "Would diffindo have worked," he asked.
"No," said Severus momentarily meeting the Dark Lord's eyes and he felt the contempt in Severus mind. Foolish dunderheads all-- It felt like a slip of Severus' control, but Voldemort was uncertain, and then it was gone. He did not remember Severus ever losing even a bit of that iron control and yet he was very close to the man, touching him, looking in his eyes and Severus was tired. His guard was down. Perhaps--
"The purebloods would have never gotten you out of these robes would they?" asked Voldemort. "I think I'll wait until your continence changes though. You're quite an ugly old man right now, Severus. I might forget myself and decide to kill him again."
Voldemort touched Severus' neck beneath the white hair, and felt the emotions quite clearly now. "Fear and anger."
"I like the fear," said Voldemort.
I like the anger, thought Severus with a strange glint in his steely blue eyes.
"My Lord," broke in one of the Death Eaters. He ground to a halt when he saw what looked like the Dark Lord with two Dumbledores, one on the floor and the other –
"My Lord," the Death Eater said again, keeping his eyes studiously on the floor in front of the Dark Lord. He said nothing else, but knelt in readiness, awaiting Lord Voldemort's acknowledgement, but Voldemort said nothing to the messenger. His attention was wholly on Snape.
Severus— we'll get back to this—about your occlumency wards." He ran his finger along Severus cheek and settled it on the snowy beard beneath his lip. "They will come down," His tongue flicked in and out as he rubbed his thumb along Severus' bottom lip. "They will come down, Severus--voluntarily or involuntarily. It's up to you." Without turning to look at the messenger, Voldemort snapped a stream of questions: "The ones who used the portkey? Who were they? Are they in my dungeon?"
The Death Eater hesitated, unwilling to answer.
"Someone was in the dungeon," the messenger said slowly with eyes downcast. "But we didn't catch them." He flinched as if expecting an attack, but continued when Voldemort said nothing. "The Vampires are attacking your hybrid dragon. Walden thinks they will drain it if they are not stopped. The dungeons are in chaos. He sent me to ask for help."
Voldemort's eyes narrowed in anger as he looked at the Death Eater. "Incompetents," he muttered. "Who could have used the portkey anyway? One of the Durmstrang brats?" Although he was angry, nothing could break Voldemort's elation over Dumbledore's death. For once he was merciful in his dealings with his Death Eaters. Nothing could stop him now that Dumbledore was dead. Nothing. He hoped they could save the dragon, but even this newest bother couldn't break his good mood.
"Aurors," said Severus. "they would look in the dungeon for your Prophecy Child. Albus said he knew where the Snow Castle was. I didn't think he told anyone except me. I must have been wrong. I beg forgiveness, my Lord." He dropped to one knee, and they were once again Death Eater and Master.
Voldemort ignored him glaring at the messenger. "You are lucky, I don't have time to deal with you now," he said. "We need to secure the Prophecy children just in case Severus is right. "Go!"
Narcissa stumbled into the room at an indecorous run that was certainly not her normal gait. "Master," she said, barely sparing a glance at the Dumbledore sprawled on the floor or the one kneelingin front of the Dark Lord. "There are new twins in the kitchen. They said they were your children, but I can't find Virginia and Valeriana has gone to collect the twins and bring them to you. They are Weasley's, Master. Weasley twins. Are they Death Eaters, Sir?"
Voldemort stood, crashing the table over in his ire and shattering the wine glasses.. "They are not," he said, his eyes blazing fire. "You will find them, Narcissa and you will bring them to me."
Narcissa extended her arm. "You do not want to summon Virginia?" she offered.
"No no. After all, they cannot escape the Snow Castle unless I drop the wards which I am not going to do. They can run, but they cannot escape. Enjoy the chase, my dear," he said stroking Narcissa's cheek and looked down at Dumbledore's dead body. "Don't you think he looks better than he ever has?"
"Oh yes, my Lord," said Narcissa as he smiled at her.
"Go find the intruders," he demanded and she rushed to do her Master's bidding.
>
(POV)
A crash and a muttered oath made the small group of children freeze. The Death Eaters were closer than they had thought. "Cloak!" Harry whispered frantically, pulling the Invisibility Cloak from his pocket and shaking it out. It billowed over Ron and Neville as Harry shook it out. Draco grabbed an end and pulled it over himself, adding the piece he carried and Draco, Ron and Neville dissolved into invisibility and Melisande took charge of the muggles, calling over her shoulder. "Fourth floor."
Hermione pulled Samara close and did the spell that dissolved part of the wall, pulling Samara into it with her.
"Harry! Help me help Harry," Ginny begged of Tom.
"Come on Ginny," said Neville holding up an edge of the cloak, but she shook her head, stepping toward Harry who had raised his wand.
"Close your hand over his wand," urged Tom. "Stop his spell. He is too close. If Salazar is with the group, he will sense Harry's presence."
"You just want to touch his wand," accused Ginny.
"No—Don't use your wand," said Tom.
"Don't use your wand," Ginny echoed.
"But," began Harry.
Accessing Tom's knowledge, Ginny did the exact same spell that Hermione had done, pulling them into the wall and closing the outside over them. The spell was by nature, a one person space. As she brought her wand arm down, she had to squeeze her hand between Harry's chest and the wall. She turned slightly thinking to slip her wand into her pocket but Harry turned at the same moment. She felt a warm blush color her face as her arm brushed against his upper thigh. Luckily it was too dark to see Harry's reaction. Tom's reaction of course was not hindered by the lack of light.
"You don't have to be so cramped," complained Tom.
"Jealous?" asked Ginny but she decided to continue the spell, enlarging the opening so that Harry didn't have to stand quite so close to her, and working her way closer to Samara and Hermione.
Tom guffawed.
Harry opened his mouth to ask Ginny when Ron had taught her that spell and what was this variation that allowed movement within the wall, but she put her finger to his lips signifying silence. She felt his warm breath on her fingers and Tom attempted to take her over.
"So you are worried about my being close to him?" Ginny asked Tom as she edged the niche forward so that she and Harry were adjacent to the others."No," Tom said, but she knew he was lying. He couldn't hide anything from her anymore. From here, we should be able to hear if anyone is in the Hall," whispered Tom and she grew quiet, listening.
>
It was then, they heard the voices coming from the Hall: Snape and Voldemort! She had never heard Snape's voice so angry. "I've killed my mentor—my friend—" There was a shuffling of robes and then Snape's voice again. "Polyjuice," Snape pronounced, shortly. "Use it and your agent can go to the heart of Hogwarts, to the center of the Ministry. I have given you this freedom. I, Severus Snape, and no other!"
"Drink it then," said Voldemort.
"I didn't betray you," Severus said, and the voice changed, Albus Dumbledore and yet not Albus, continued in a slow, soft voice. "Alas, I am defeated. You have won, Tom." The voice continued. "You have defeated Albus Dumbledore." Then even though the voice still sounded like Albus Dumbledore, the abrupt style of speaking, was Snape's. "This is good," he said. "I can return to Hogwarts, and be seen by any number of teachers. It will throw suspecion off of me. Otherwise, you know, I will be the first to be suspected. The polyjuice will allow me to clear my name.
Harry brought his hand up to his mouth to stifle back a sob. Snape had killed Dumbledore!
"Snape! No!" cried Ginny. "I don't believe it."
"I heard it with our own ears, Ginny Love," thought Tom. " I guess we can't go through the Hall to the stairs. We'll have to find another way."
"Psst! Ginny?" whispered Ron from his vantage point in the corridor.
Ginny's hand on Harry's shoulder caused him to turn. She was moving the niche again, pushing out toward the corridor.Ginny peeked out, seeing that the danger was past and then stepped out into the corridor and looked around. "Samara!" Ginny called at a whisper, and Ron raised the edge of the Invisibility Cloak, peering at her and Harry. Neville was red-faced and Draco looked ready to curse someone. "I'm not supposed to be here," he hissed.
"None of us are, Draco," snapped Harry. "Shut up and think. Snape killed Dumbledore," he announced to his stunned friends. "We heard—"
"Us too," interrupted Samara, frowning at Ginny. "But his aura is all wrong--"
"We are extremely exposed here, Ginny. We need to find a safe place. We can discussall of thison the forth floor."
Ginny ignored him.
"Who gives a damn about his aura," snapped Ron. "the greasy snake killed Dumbledore. It just proves he's loyal to You know who!"
"Loyalty is a Hufflepuff concept. If Snape killed him, it was not because of loyalty." Said Draco..
"I agree," said Ginny. "Snape isn't a killer."
"He's a sodding Death Eater, Ginny," said Fred.
"So am I," Ginny said softly.
"You know he didn't mean it like that," George added, trying to put his arm around his little sister, but she pulled away from him. "It's just--" Fred ran a hand through his mussed hair. "It's Dumbledore. I thought he would live forever.
"Personally," said Samara. "It doesn't bother me a whole lot that he is dead. He was an interfering bastard and I think if Harry had been told the truth and then left to work out the details, this whole war would have been avoided."
"You mean Harry would have killed Voldemort?" asked Ron.
"Well, the prophecy does say 'ware of losing your childhood soon, and three brave childen mend the story," Hermione quoted. "After all Harry, how long can you still be considered a child, and what happens if the time passes and there is no confrontation. What happens to the prophecy then?"
Neville shrugged. "Would it just be proved false?"
"I'm not sure," said Samara, frowning at them. "The prophecy is already started because of the events of fourteen years ago."
"and Dumbledore let us use a time turner to save Sirius," said Hermione pieceing the ideas together. "Since one part of the prophecy is true, you generally assume that the rest is true."
"A time turner?" wondered Tom briefly, but his thought immediately went back to the problem at hand. "Ginny Love, you are standing in a corridor, and I really don't think there is enough space between us and Salazar. We need to move. Now."
"Be quiet Tom," Ginny thought.
"We will both be quiet for a hell of a long time when we are dead!" snapped Tom, and he attempted to take over her body.
She shivered, but tried to ignore him and concentrate on what Samara was saying.
"Yes, but you should know, Snape's aura is all wrong," said Samara. "There is something drastically wrong with him."
"So Snape went barmy or maybe it isn't Dumbledore?" asked Harry, suddenly hopeful.
"No, that's not it," said Samara. "It's Snape--he has two auras, his own and Dumbledore's."
Ginny said nothing, and although Tom speculated on the possibilities, he urged Ginny to convince the Gryffindors to hide.
"What!" whispered Hermione. "That's impossible."
"That son-of-a-bitch," snapped Draco. "It's not impossible."
"But how?" began Samara, her mouth falling open in horror as Draco uttered a single spell, "In immolo relinqui pectoris"
"Aislinn," Samara whispered so softly no one heard her except perhaps Draco and he didn't clarify.
"What's that?" asked Ron. "I don't know that spell."
"Slytherin dark magic," said Tom shortly. "He really doesn't want to know."
"Ron," began Ginny.
"The rough translation," Draco said, "is in sacrifice you bequeath to me your soul."
Ginny was practically hyperventilating, thinking of the awful spell that took Rookwood's life force and gave it to Voldemort. Surely Snape wouldn't do something like that to Dumbledore, but the proof was right there in front of her.
"Snape wouldn't do that," Ginny said shaking her head, and thinking of all he had said to her about the role of the Light when she had been at Hogwarts over Christmas. He couldn't. He wouldn't.
"We need to get out of here," Tom advised Ginny. "If Salazar is headed for our room, all hell's gonna break loose."
"We need to get out of here," Ginny blurted.
Ron frowned at his sister.
"They will be searching for us," said Samara aloud.
"We aren't going to make it are we, Tom?" asked Ginny.
"Doubtful," agreed Tom.
"We have to use the floo now," said Ginny. "If we can get in--" she broke off worriedly. "Since they are looking for intruders, let's slow them down, shall we, Tom?" asked Ginny.
"I think that's the best idea you've had in a long while, Ginny Love," said Tom. An extra ward might slow the Death Eaters, but your wards won't keep Salazar out. Eventually, he will break it."
"It doesn't need to keep Him out. It just needs to slow the Death Eaters down a bit, thought Ginny.
"Agreed."
"Let's just take a quick peek to see what they are planning before we go," said Ron as he disappeared into the wall.
"Gryffindors," moaned Lauren.
"Leave him," spat Draco, but Ginny entered the wall to retrieve her errant brother. As she did, she heard Severus addressing Voldemort. "Do you want me to secure Miss Weasley and Miss Donnally both?"
Ginny held her breath as Voldemort spoke again.
"No Severus," said the Dark Lord. "You," he said pointing a skeletal finger at the messenger, "Get a few Death Eaters to help you ward the dragon. Severus, you will administer the calming potion to the Vampires.
Ginny could feel the latent magic melting along her fingertips, a curse in her hands, and Tom tried to calm her as she reached out and touched Ron's sleeve. "Let's go," she mouthed to him.
Voldemort growled at the Death Eater who bowed and hurried from the room to do Voldmort's bidding.
Severus stared mutely at Voldemort. When he spoke, he said quietly, "The vampire's calming potion is at Hogwarts. Do you want to drop the wards so that I can go and get it?"
For just a moment Ginny had hope, and then it was dashed.
"No!" hissed Voldemort.
"Let's go," whispered Tom urgently. "You need to get control of yourself, Ginny Love. There is nothing you can do. Let's just go!"
Good idea, thought Ginny who didn't really want to see Snape tortured, even though he had just killed Dumbledore. She couldn't seem to process all of the information quickly enough.
"Just concentrate on one thing at a time," said Tom. We need to keep the Death Eaters busy for a while so we can regroup and strategize. We'll have to figure out how to get into his room. It's the only way out now. He isn't going to open the wards for us."
"We need a diversion," said Ginny. "Then the others can get to the forth floor. We can't plan in the middle of the corridor."
Tom's ideas flowed into hers.
"I have an idea," she said.
"It's my idea," Tom corrected.
"I'm not going to tell them that, Tom."
Ginny explained to the others what she thought they should do. "We need something to throw them off our track. We should ward the door to our rooms," Ginny said to Samara. "If they apparate to our rooms and discover we are missing, they'll be able to find us in a minute. But if they hit Apparition wards, they will try to walk in from the corridor, and if they still can't get in, they will assume we are in the rooms and take the time to break our wards. We need to buy some time. We aren't going to get into his room easily or quickly." She wanted nothing more than to get as far from this place as possible.
Samara nodded. Speaking in whispers they planned. "My room is pretty well warded when I am in it," said Samara, but together, Ginny and I could make it stronger.
"I just hope it will buy us enough time to get the wards down on His room so we can use the floo," said Ginny.
"The floo?" said George.
"And our baby sister is going to do this?" said Fred with a note of skepticism.
"You continue on to the forth floor," Samara told the Gryffindors "Draco and Lauren can go with you. They know the way." She looked around worried. "Where's Melisande?"
"She was with the muggles," said Neville worriedly. "Disapperated?"
"Well, maybe she will come to the forth floor," said Samara. "She knew that's where we were headed."
Neville nodded, not entirely convinced that Melisande would show up.
"We'll meet you on the forth floor as soon as we finish the wards on our rooms," said Samara. "That will slow them down considerably. They will think we are inside the rooms and we can go to the floo in his room."
"As long as Salazar doesn't come," said Tom. "We need to see how fast you and Samara can do these wards. You're making me nervous, Ginny Love."
"He won't come," said Ginny. "He's a lazy ass who leaves all of that mess to his Death Eaters. After all, what's the point of having underlings if you have to do the scut jobs yourself."
"You may be right, Ginny Love, but we'd better hurry or this could be disastrous."
Draco shrugged. "The wards on your room might be a good idea," he agreed with Samara, but "You aren't going."
"Of course I am," said Samara. "It's the only way."
"Then I'm coming with you," said Draco.
"No," said Samara. "Ginny and I will be alright. After all, the Dark Lord never said we couldn't wander around the Snow Castle." She placed her hands on his shoulders. "Draco, if you apparate Harry, you can escape if you need to. I'd rather you didn't apparate considering your injuries, but you can all apparate. They need you."
"Why? Did they run out of Gryffindor luck?" snapped Draco.
"We don't need Draco," snapped Ron.
"What about the Muggle girls?" asked Harry. "They can't apparate."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Maybe be Melisande and the Muggles both got lost," he said hopefully.
"With the exception of the Muggles," agreed Samara, "but they are like Ginny and I. They can go where they please within the Snow Castle." She paused turning to Draco. "Look, Draco, if I get into trouble, you will know," she promised, putting a soft kiss on his lips, but before he let her go he pulled her close for a hard searing kiss, magic crackling around them like the remnants of lightening after a summer rain. The rescue team silently searched the stone walls as if to see if the niche spell had made any marks.
After a moment, Harry cleared his throat, and Draco pulled away from Samara and stalked towards the stairway. Ginny could see the haunted look in his eyes. She had seen that same look of defeat in countless other Slytherin's eyes. He no longer believed it was possible to escape. He had just kissed Samara goodbye and was planning how to take the maximum number or casualties with him.
>
(A/N: I know some of you said not enough happened in the last chapter. Well, you know, the calm before the storm, and all. I hope enough happened here to suit your fancy. Grins. Now, go review!)
Answers to Reviews:
DarkLordLongbottom: Glad you liked Neville getting a veela. Heheeh. Trusting that veela are we?
Life is Orange: Tom getting a body and living happily ever after means the story is over. Are you that anxious for it to be finished? Special Tom/Ginny stuff coming soon. Be patient.
Jager: I know it needs more Ginny/Tom, but it so much fun to make you beg before it comes. Promise it will be worth it.
JamToeMan: Draco with a sense of humor. Who would have thought it?
DraginLover: enough happen this chapter?
Cronenus: Volde dying by puppy puff. Sounds like a funny cookie. Why don't you write it. Longbottom Veelas.Well, yes, there is that possibility.
FieldOfGold: OK I'm off to write the next stuff.
Trillium: Glad you liked. I have to put a little "funny" before a chapter like this one.
Little Red Rabbit: More Tom/Ginny to come
Chernobyl: More Tom/Ginny to come and I promise that diary did have an effect on her.
Wormtail: Yes, funny Draco. What a thought.
Kemenran: Are you in a hurry for them to leave the castle? Why? I thought we were having fun. I know I was. Heheeh.
Fire Sprite: Tom wasn't able to help her with the imperio before. What makes you think he can now?
Silverfox: Your comment cracked me up, Harry Potter: contact address for snow castle refugees. Will assist all interested with fast and unbuereaucratic emmigration (if he can ever find the door, floo or any other exit). ... You do realise the required size of that spoon is increasing by the chapter (or was that by the paragraph?) while the chances of smuggling the whole group out undetected are steadily sinking. ... I love it. Now you all see what a great writerSilverfox is. Go read her stuff. By the way, you know of course which exit they have to take, right? And as far as the spoon…a preview…only Draco will use it. But it is currently useless. The wards are up around the Snow Castle. Muwhawhawha!
OK go review. I've earned it with this chapter. If you don't I will assume you are rendered speechless. LL. Chuckles.