Chapter Twenty-Four

Listening to those words closely, Severus Snape could only pray that they did not mean what he thought, that the Dark Lord was not coming back from Hell. But glancing deeper into those bright emerald eyes, his hope and prayer were swiftly shattered. "How are you planning to stop him this time?"

"By fighting back."

Severus felt like Osiris was possibly hiding something but wanted to believe the Mage would never hold back when it came to wanting the Potions Master nor wanting to ruin what little ground Severus allowed the Mage to gain. "When do we leave?"

Unknowingly echoing his Potions Master's very words in his office, Albus Dumbledore warily asked, "When do we leave?"

Auror Alastor Moody chuckled deeply as they watched the rapidly disappearing vampire Mage disappear. The vampire had rushed from the dungeons to explain to the two residing figures in the Headmaster's Office. "I don't think he heard you, Albus."

"Yes, but I wonder what the Mages could have learned to demand this."

"Hasn't that seeing vision thing you do been working?"

This time a solemn Albus laughed, becoming the twinkling annoying headmaster everyone loved and knew, "I am not a seer, my good man. But I do have my ways. And sometimes I wish I was wrong." As the Auror laughed, Albus was left alone to his thoughts, thoughts he feared from Hogwarts. 'I fear the shadows shall rise again. Ah, Hogwarts, my dear, the poor boy must be sacrificing again. This time I can only hope this will be the end of the Dark Era but I fear the Harry Potter curse shall always happen.'

As the planning at Hogwarts began, "New Year's Day. So fitting, don't you think?"

"You won't get away with this!"

"We already have. Not even your precious Mages know things are amiss. By the time anyone can find you, it'll be too late."

"They know! They always know! And you'll never win!"

The cold laughter of Cho Chang echoed in the small room. "You still believe in them, Weasel? If they know, as you say, where were they these past months?"

"Finding a way to stop you for good!" Ron was not going to break. He believed in his best friend. Yes, he may have turned against him, maybe even envied or accused him, but Ron would always have faith in his friend. He never wanted to lose Harry, never wanted to lose greatest friend he had ever known. More laughter broke free. It seemed to last longer than the last time, even long after their captor left. But Ron still clung to his faith. "They'll find a way."

Millicent may wish to be saved but as a Slytherin she didn't believe anyone would even want to try to save someone from the snake house at Hogwarts, a house of Dark wizards and witches. "How can you be sure?"

"I'm a Gryffindor. We refuse to lay down and die when there is still hope. We do our best to remain loyal to the cause and our allies."

"And this connects the Mages how, Weasel?"

"A) You, Malfoy, happen to belong to one. I doubt anyone can fool an elf, let alone a fully trained Mage. B) One Mage happens to be a pure-blooded demon. Old Voldie was in cahoots with that Queen at one time. I believe she'll know something."

Draco had forgotten those two points, "What if she doesn't know?"

"Malfoy just trust a Gryffindor for once. Think about it." The haughty blonde frowned heavily. Ron sighed, "C) One Mage happens to have a hero-saving complex. Your favourite little rival." For that moment Draco Malfoy had truly started to feel relief. He did forget that besides his mate and the demonic Mage, there was Harry-Bloody-Boy-Who-Lived-To-Save-Everyone-Potter, a righteous Gryffindor hero.