A/N: Well, here we go again. Disclaimer, which I haven't included at all
since I reposted: I really wish I owned Harry, Voldemort, Snape, and even
Dumbledore, but I don't, so please don't sue me. I pay more for school
each year than I make. I am a poor college student. Please don't sue.
Court costs might be all you would get from me. Also, any characters you
don't recognize belong to me. On with the story! ~Sylvia
Harry sat down on his bed and collapsed backwards. He smiled at the thought of Matthew's face, eyes wide in shock, the first time Harry had disarmed him. He shook his head and laughed. He had been Voldemort in battle, but in an ordinary duel, he was really bad. He hadn't wanted to hurt Matthew. Voldemort, however, he had had no problem cursing the man. That had been easy. He wondered if the whole stress-of-battle thing was true, that you could do things in your distress that you could not do anywhere else. He made a mental note to ask Tom about that. He jumped when he heard his door lock. He sat up and stared at the lock. It had moved by itself. Harry frowned and went to the door. It had been done by a spell, that much he knew. He tried to unlock the door. Nothing. After trying the doorknob several times, Harry went over to the window. Matthew and Tom might be leaving for a while and didn't want anyone in his room. Harry felt his eyes grow wide at the sight of five Death Eaters, two carrying another one, exiting the house and Apparating. What had they been doing here? Had Tom called them? Why would Tom be calling them if he didn't like Voldemort's ways? Harry went to the door and tried it again. Unlocked. He took a deep breath and went downstairs. Tom and Matthew were still were he had left them. "Do you think that Malfoy suspects?" Tom asked. "He's certainly suspicious, but he had no proof. The others won't support him without proof." Harry heard Tom sigh. "I do not know how much longer I can keep this up, this dodging and fighting. I am not Voldemort, but I certainly can't let him take over. He may hate Muggles worse than Voldemort." Harry stepped into the room, finally figuring out what had happened. "That was your opposition?" Matthew and Tom both jumped and whirled. Harry dodged two curses. "Jumpy?" he asked with a smile. "Harry! You certainly gave us a fright. You are supposed to be asleep." Tom smiled at the boy. "Malfoy wants to take over the Death Eaters, doesn't he?" Harry asked, going over to sit down next to the two men. Tom looked at Matthew, wondering if he should allow the boy to know what was going on. "Yes, he does." Matthew answered. Tom frowned. Matthew had made Tom's decision. "He doesn't like the fact that there hasn't been any raids in a while, and wants to take over that responsibility. Tom and I have been able to hold him off this long, but he has grown suspicious. Very suspicious." Harry nodded. "I can see where that will be a problem." Harry said. Matthew looked at him thoughtfully. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Both Tom and Matthew shook their heads. "You do not need to be involved in this." Tom said gently. "I understand your wanting to help, but you need to leave this to us." Harry looked as though he was about to object, but crossed his arms and nodded instead. That was the best promise they were going to get. "Now, back to bed. We're going to have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Harry looked up. "Potions." Harry nodded and left the room, leaving Matthew and Tom alone.
"What is it, Matthew? I can see something bubbling in that brain of yours." Matthew stared at the door through which Harry had just exited for a second before answering. "Did you notice that Harry has been picking up your language?" Tom looked up. "No, I did not. Is he really?" Tom asked, interested. "Yes, he has. It has been a very short time since he joined us, hasn't it?" Tom smiled and nodded. "It's odd that it feels like he has always been here." Tom said with a grin in Matthew's direction. Matthew nodded and looked at the doorway again. "What is it, Matthew?" Tom asked with a sigh. He could tell when something was bothering the young man. "I just noticed that he does not have anyone his age around." Matthew leaned back in his chair. "He's starting to pick up our vocabulary and mannerisms. He looks so much older than his sixteen years, doesn't he?" Tom nodded. "What is really bothering you?" Matthew sighed. "I'm just afraid that he will become unhappy without anyone his own age to hang out with." Matthew admitted. "Hang out with? Ah, idiom." Matthew chuckled. "If I hear that word come out of Harry's mouth, I will be taking him out for the day and let him find some of his old friends." Matthew threatened.
"Oh, so it's bad to improve a teenager's vocabulary, is it?" Matthew shook his head. "He's old enough as it is, Tom." Tom smiled and nodded. Matthew saw an opening and took it. "You know, he should really be able to interact with people his own age." Tom looked up. "What did you have in mind, Matthew?" Tom asked. They had discussed Harry visiting with his friends. It just seemed too dangerous to allow, with Dumbledore breathing down the pair's necks, wanting to know the instant Harry tried to contact one of them. Harry had accepted the situation with little complaints, after "it's not fair" before succumbing to the older man's decision. "Well, there is a youth football league starting up down in the village." Matthew told Tom as he pulled out a paper. He handed it across to the other man. "It would serve two purposes, allowing Harry someone his age, and giving that little bookworm some needed exercise." Tom took the paper and looked at the information. It seemed like a good idea. "What would happen?" he asked. "There would be practices and games, working with other boys his age to move a small ball around on a field." Matthew explained. "I know what football is!" Tom said, exasperated with the young man sitting next to him. Matthew smiled at his face. "Do you think Harry would like to play a sport? And would it be safe?" "Harry would be able to don his magical disguise. No one will be looking for Harry Potter among Muggles, now that they have seen him with a wizard. In fact, the Muggle search has already been called off. By the time that the league actually starts, he'll be forgotten in their world." Matthew smiled before giving up the next bit of information. "He's already signed up." Tom stared at Matthew. "Prepare to deal with Michael Riddle, football enthusiast." He told Tom. Matthew saw Tom's wand appear out of the man's sleeve. Matthew ran out into the hallway, dodging Tom's hexes as he ran, knowing that he did indeed go over the man's head, but he had done it for Harry. He laughed as Tom came after him. Matthew changed course and charged up the stairs, locking himself in his bedroom to avoid the man. He would be much better at breakfast the next day, he was sure. Before he told Tom that he and Harry were going to London to pick up some football equipment. He smiled when he thought of having to dodge curses again. It certainly kept him on his feet.
Two Weeks Later.
"Riddle!" The team coach shouted as Harry caught the ball from entering the goal. "Where did you get these reflexes, kid?" Harry smiled and waved to the man, eyes going back to the scrimmage taking place in front of him. He was having fun, and in a lot of ways, it was like Quidditch, where he had had to have good eyes to follow the Snitch. Now he was watching one ball, and he found his eyes came in handy, as well as his fearlessness when it came to the ground. There was just something about going from a broom to feet firmly on the ground. His coach was already calling him "Geranimo" from the number of times that Harry had hit the ground, or jumping into the air, or rolling out of a save. Matthew called it fearlessness. His coach called him mad.
He did not mind being called Michael Riddle. Well, maybe a little. It was Voldemort's old name, one that he now associated with the man who had become his teacher. Tom had been right, saying that he expected Harry to learn from all those books and more. They had covered a great deal of material and had plenty more to go, according to Matthew's estimation. So now, in Muggle public, he was Michael Riddle. His teammates thus far he shortened it to 'Mike', and he wasn't sure if he liked that. He had glared at Matthew when he had tried that name. One of his teammates, a boy named Brian, had started with Riddle and had left it at that.
"Riddle, come on in!" Coach Cooper called. Harry nodded and went into the rest of the team. "All right, team. I'm going to post the results of today's scrimmage in just a few minutes. Cool down and I will see those who have made the team this Saturday here at the field, for uniform measurements." He dismissed the boys to their families, but most of them stood there, waiting to see whether or not they had made the team.
Brian smiled at Michael and motioned towards Coach Cooper. "Don't worry about making the team. We all made it. He does this every year with all of the kids." Brian said. "And you're definitely on the team, with the way he yelled at you today." Michael smiled over at Matthew, who was standing in Muggle clothing with the rest of the parents, masquerading as Michael's older brother. The man returned his smile and pointed at the bulletin board. The results were up. Brian dragged Michael along to the papers posted there. Michael walked around the rest of the cheering kids and looked for his name.
He ran his finger down the list and froze when he got to the goalie position, "Riddle, Michael". "I made it." He said to Brian. "Goalie." Brian smiled at his friend.
"Told you so, Riddle." He answered. Michael looked over towards his brother. "Go on, I'll see you Saturday." Michael ran off towards the parents.
"Matthew, I made it!" he shouted as he got near. "I made goalie!" Matthew caught him as he crashed into him. "I made goalie!"
"That's great, kid!" Matthew said, easily slipping into his big brother persona. "Come on, let's get back up to the house." Matthew easily swung Michael's gym bag onto his shoulder and threw an arm around Michael's shoulders. He led the kid through the village. Several people looked at them. When the people of the village had found out that the old Riddle mansion was inhabited again, and by relatives bearing the name Riddle, reactions were mixed. Some remembered the fact of the murders that had happened there years ago, while others were happy to see someone living there, even if there had been murders in their house. When Matthew and Michael Riddle, nephews of Tom Riddle, the man who had lurked in the house for the last two years, arrived in town, people became curious. Who were these nephews and why were they there? The town's gossips speculated that the two boys would be dead soon, cursed by the house.
The speculations had died when Matthew showed up to sign up his younger brother for football. Several people had starred, but no one said anything to them. The coach could care less who his new goalie was related to; the kid had eyes and reflexes like a cat.
"So, how did it go?" Tom asked the minute the two of them walked into the house. "What position are you playing?" Tom waited for an answer. Harry turned to him with a smile.
"I got goalie. First team practice is on Saturday, nine am." Tom smiled and took Harry's hand.
"Congratulations, Harry. I believe Nellie has a snack for you in the kitchen." Harry rolled his eyes. Since he had taken up football, she had been leaving snacks everywhere, claiming that athletes needed more food than anyone else. Harry thought that she was just trying to fatten him up. "Better go find her." Harry groaned and wandered down the hallway towards the kitchen, thinking how he was going to get around this snack thing that Nellie had so far enforced after every practice.
"You should have seen his face, Tom." Matthew said from the entry way. "I've never seen a smile so wide on his face." Tom turned and smiled at Matthew.
"He certainly seems happy." Tom said. Matthew nodded. "Don't even say 'I told you so' to me, or so help me, I will hex you into next year." Matthew grinned madly, knowing that he had gotten his point across. He went off to the kitchen to help Harry eat his mandatory snack, knowing that Nellie always went over board. Tom stared out the window. He hoped that nothing bad would come of Harry playing football in the village, but police inspectors looking for Harry Potter had yet to show up, and it had been a full week since Michael Riddle had made his first appearance. It seemed that Harry was indeed safe for now.
Severus Snape stormed through the hallways at Hogwarts, just itching to catch someone, preferably a Gryffindor, wandering around the halls, so he could take points. He begged Merlin to allow a first year to slip out. Just one. Snape glared at nothing when one failed to materialize. He sighed deeply and continued to the Room of Requirement, knowing he would find it because he needed to, Albus having summoned him there for a secret talk that, it seemed, could not take place even within the confines of Albus's office. Snape wondered what could have such importance, and then checked himself. Possibly something to do with Potter, the Boy Who Bloody Disappeared. Snape glared at the wall, finding the door within a second.
"I'm here, Albus. What is this about?" he asked. Dumbledore looked at him with sad eyes.
"There has been an attack on Muggles, Severus. An attack with the Dark Mark left afterwards. Minister Fudge has already been notified, of course, and Aurors responded to the scene. Did you know about this?" He asked. Great. The headmaster was now thinking that Severus was keeping information to himself.
"No, Albus." Snape sank heavily into a seat across from the headmaster. "I have not been called since before Potter disappeared. Not since the fight at the end of the year last year." Dumbledore nodded.
"Do you think that Voldemort suspects you and does not want you to endanger any massacres that he has planned?" Dumbledore pressed.
"If he suspected me, Albus, I would be dead. He would summon me and then kill me, slowly, if I know his habits well enough." Snape told him, trying to keep his voice calm. Damn the man, but Albus could be infuriating sometimes, with his pressing questions. "Any news on Potter?" he asked.
"No, I'm afraid. It seems as though whoever has him has put an end to Harry going anywhere near another wizard. After Minister Fudge called off the Muggle search, almost all sightings have stopped. There has only been one in the last two weeks, and it was a false alarm. I fear that Harry is gone until he fights his own way out." Dumbledore told him, digging in his pockets for something. He found it and held out the small sack to Severus.
"Jelly bean?" He asked. Snape shook his head no and stood.
"Is that all, Headmaster?" He asked. Albus nodded, chewing on a bean. He made a face. Snape, who told himself that he should know better, asked what flavor it had been.
"You don't want to know, Severus." Albus said cryptically. Snape left it at that. If Dumbledore really didn't want to share the flavor he had experienced, perhaps it was better if he did not know. Snape returned to the dungeons, wondering about the attack. When he entered his rooms, he found an owl sitting on top of his mantle, letter in her beak. He took it and recognized the handwriting. The letter was from Lucious Malfoy.
Reviews:
Kaye: Thanks for your two reviews! I love getting them. However, while your suggestions did make me grin evilly, I must tell you that that is not the direction in which this story is going. Sorry to disappoint. Perhaps you would like to write that POV? If you want to and wish to use some of my characters, just let me know. Otherwise, thanks.
Hermionegreen: Thanks for your continuing support. The twins will be back soon. They're such fun characters.
Rhinemir: Thanks for reviewing. I love adding twists. Wait and see, for more will be coming.
DaughterofDeath: Persistent, aren't you? Here's your new chapter, but who knows when the next will be? J/K. I'm going back to school, but I should be able to update once a week or so. Also, more to your review than "update" would be appreciated, even though I love getting reviews. Thanks.
PrphtssP: Thank you! I love having my work called original! There's more to come!
HoshiHakari4ever: Thank you for reviewing and staying with me. I love receiving reviews.
To everyone not listed, I still love hearing from you. Reviews motivate me to write more. I didn't believe it when I first read it, but it is true! As long as someone likes to read my work, I will continue writing. Thanks again! ~Sylvia
Harry sat down on his bed and collapsed backwards. He smiled at the thought of Matthew's face, eyes wide in shock, the first time Harry had disarmed him. He shook his head and laughed. He had been Voldemort in battle, but in an ordinary duel, he was really bad. He hadn't wanted to hurt Matthew. Voldemort, however, he had had no problem cursing the man. That had been easy. He wondered if the whole stress-of-battle thing was true, that you could do things in your distress that you could not do anywhere else. He made a mental note to ask Tom about that. He jumped when he heard his door lock. He sat up and stared at the lock. It had moved by itself. Harry frowned and went to the door. It had been done by a spell, that much he knew. He tried to unlock the door. Nothing. After trying the doorknob several times, Harry went over to the window. Matthew and Tom might be leaving for a while and didn't want anyone in his room. Harry felt his eyes grow wide at the sight of five Death Eaters, two carrying another one, exiting the house and Apparating. What had they been doing here? Had Tom called them? Why would Tom be calling them if he didn't like Voldemort's ways? Harry went to the door and tried it again. Unlocked. He took a deep breath and went downstairs. Tom and Matthew were still were he had left them. "Do you think that Malfoy suspects?" Tom asked. "He's certainly suspicious, but he had no proof. The others won't support him without proof." Harry heard Tom sigh. "I do not know how much longer I can keep this up, this dodging and fighting. I am not Voldemort, but I certainly can't let him take over. He may hate Muggles worse than Voldemort." Harry stepped into the room, finally figuring out what had happened. "That was your opposition?" Matthew and Tom both jumped and whirled. Harry dodged two curses. "Jumpy?" he asked with a smile. "Harry! You certainly gave us a fright. You are supposed to be asleep." Tom smiled at the boy. "Malfoy wants to take over the Death Eaters, doesn't he?" Harry asked, going over to sit down next to the two men. Tom looked at Matthew, wondering if he should allow the boy to know what was going on. "Yes, he does." Matthew answered. Tom frowned. Matthew had made Tom's decision. "He doesn't like the fact that there hasn't been any raids in a while, and wants to take over that responsibility. Tom and I have been able to hold him off this long, but he has grown suspicious. Very suspicious." Harry nodded. "I can see where that will be a problem." Harry said. Matthew looked at him thoughtfully. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Both Tom and Matthew shook their heads. "You do not need to be involved in this." Tom said gently. "I understand your wanting to help, but you need to leave this to us." Harry looked as though he was about to object, but crossed his arms and nodded instead. That was the best promise they were going to get. "Now, back to bed. We're going to have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Harry looked up. "Potions." Harry nodded and left the room, leaving Matthew and Tom alone.
"What is it, Matthew? I can see something bubbling in that brain of yours." Matthew stared at the door through which Harry had just exited for a second before answering. "Did you notice that Harry has been picking up your language?" Tom looked up. "No, I did not. Is he really?" Tom asked, interested. "Yes, he has. It has been a very short time since he joined us, hasn't it?" Tom smiled and nodded. "It's odd that it feels like he has always been here." Tom said with a grin in Matthew's direction. Matthew nodded and looked at the doorway again. "What is it, Matthew?" Tom asked with a sigh. He could tell when something was bothering the young man. "I just noticed that he does not have anyone his age around." Matthew leaned back in his chair. "He's starting to pick up our vocabulary and mannerisms. He looks so much older than his sixteen years, doesn't he?" Tom nodded. "What is really bothering you?" Matthew sighed. "I'm just afraid that he will become unhappy without anyone his own age to hang out with." Matthew admitted. "Hang out with? Ah, idiom." Matthew chuckled. "If I hear that word come out of Harry's mouth, I will be taking him out for the day and let him find some of his old friends." Matthew threatened.
"Oh, so it's bad to improve a teenager's vocabulary, is it?" Matthew shook his head. "He's old enough as it is, Tom." Tom smiled and nodded. Matthew saw an opening and took it. "You know, he should really be able to interact with people his own age." Tom looked up. "What did you have in mind, Matthew?" Tom asked. They had discussed Harry visiting with his friends. It just seemed too dangerous to allow, with Dumbledore breathing down the pair's necks, wanting to know the instant Harry tried to contact one of them. Harry had accepted the situation with little complaints, after "it's not fair" before succumbing to the older man's decision. "Well, there is a youth football league starting up down in the village." Matthew told Tom as he pulled out a paper. He handed it across to the other man. "It would serve two purposes, allowing Harry someone his age, and giving that little bookworm some needed exercise." Tom took the paper and looked at the information. It seemed like a good idea. "What would happen?" he asked. "There would be practices and games, working with other boys his age to move a small ball around on a field." Matthew explained. "I know what football is!" Tom said, exasperated with the young man sitting next to him. Matthew smiled at his face. "Do you think Harry would like to play a sport? And would it be safe?" "Harry would be able to don his magical disguise. No one will be looking for Harry Potter among Muggles, now that they have seen him with a wizard. In fact, the Muggle search has already been called off. By the time that the league actually starts, he'll be forgotten in their world." Matthew smiled before giving up the next bit of information. "He's already signed up." Tom stared at Matthew. "Prepare to deal with Michael Riddle, football enthusiast." He told Tom. Matthew saw Tom's wand appear out of the man's sleeve. Matthew ran out into the hallway, dodging Tom's hexes as he ran, knowing that he did indeed go over the man's head, but he had done it for Harry. He laughed as Tom came after him. Matthew changed course and charged up the stairs, locking himself in his bedroom to avoid the man. He would be much better at breakfast the next day, he was sure. Before he told Tom that he and Harry were going to London to pick up some football equipment. He smiled when he thought of having to dodge curses again. It certainly kept him on his feet.
Two Weeks Later.
"Riddle!" The team coach shouted as Harry caught the ball from entering the goal. "Where did you get these reflexes, kid?" Harry smiled and waved to the man, eyes going back to the scrimmage taking place in front of him. He was having fun, and in a lot of ways, it was like Quidditch, where he had had to have good eyes to follow the Snitch. Now he was watching one ball, and he found his eyes came in handy, as well as his fearlessness when it came to the ground. There was just something about going from a broom to feet firmly on the ground. His coach was already calling him "Geranimo" from the number of times that Harry had hit the ground, or jumping into the air, or rolling out of a save. Matthew called it fearlessness. His coach called him mad.
He did not mind being called Michael Riddle. Well, maybe a little. It was Voldemort's old name, one that he now associated with the man who had become his teacher. Tom had been right, saying that he expected Harry to learn from all those books and more. They had covered a great deal of material and had plenty more to go, according to Matthew's estimation. So now, in Muggle public, he was Michael Riddle. His teammates thus far he shortened it to 'Mike', and he wasn't sure if he liked that. He had glared at Matthew when he had tried that name. One of his teammates, a boy named Brian, had started with Riddle and had left it at that.
"Riddle, come on in!" Coach Cooper called. Harry nodded and went into the rest of the team. "All right, team. I'm going to post the results of today's scrimmage in just a few minutes. Cool down and I will see those who have made the team this Saturday here at the field, for uniform measurements." He dismissed the boys to their families, but most of them stood there, waiting to see whether or not they had made the team.
Brian smiled at Michael and motioned towards Coach Cooper. "Don't worry about making the team. We all made it. He does this every year with all of the kids." Brian said. "And you're definitely on the team, with the way he yelled at you today." Michael smiled over at Matthew, who was standing in Muggle clothing with the rest of the parents, masquerading as Michael's older brother. The man returned his smile and pointed at the bulletin board. The results were up. Brian dragged Michael along to the papers posted there. Michael walked around the rest of the cheering kids and looked for his name.
He ran his finger down the list and froze when he got to the goalie position, "Riddle, Michael". "I made it." He said to Brian. "Goalie." Brian smiled at his friend.
"Told you so, Riddle." He answered. Michael looked over towards his brother. "Go on, I'll see you Saturday." Michael ran off towards the parents.
"Matthew, I made it!" he shouted as he got near. "I made goalie!" Matthew caught him as he crashed into him. "I made goalie!"
"That's great, kid!" Matthew said, easily slipping into his big brother persona. "Come on, let's get back up to the house." Matthew easily swung Michael's gym bag onto his shoulder and threw an arm around Michael's shoulders. He led the kid through the village. Several people looked at them. When the people of the village had found out that the old Riddle mansion was inhabited again, and by relatives bearing the name Riddle, reactions were mixed. Some remembered the fact of the murders that had happened there years ago, while others were happy to see someone living there, even if there had been murders in their house. When Matthew and Michael Riddle, nephews of Tom Riddle, the man who had lurked in the house for the last two years, arrived in town, people became curious. Who were these nephews and why were they there? The town's gossips speculated that the two boys would be dead soon, cursed by the house.
The speculations had died when Matthew showed up to sign up his younger brother for football. Several people had starred, but no one said anything to them. The coach could care less who his new goalie was related to; the kid had eyes and reflexes like a cat.
"So, how did it go?" Tom asked the minute the two of them walked into the house. "What position are you playing?" Tom waited for an answer. Harry turned to him with a smile.
"I got goalie. First team practice is on Saturday, nine am." Tom smiled and took Harry's hand.
"Congratulations, Harry. I believe Nellie has a snack for you in the kitchen." Harry rolled his eyes. Since he had taken up football, she had been leaving snacks everywhere, claiming that athletes needed more food than anyone else. Harry thought that she was just trying to fatten him up. "Better go find her." Harry groaned and wandered down the hallway towards the kitchen, thinking how he was going to get around this snack thing that Nellie had so far enforced after every practice.
"You should have seen his face, Tom." Matthew said from the entry way. "I've never seen a smile so wide on his face." Tom turned and smiled at Matthew.
"He certainly seems happy." Tom said. Matthew nodded. "Don't even say 'I told you so' to me, or so help me, I will hex you into next year." Matthew grinned madly, knowing that he had gotten his point across. He went off to the kitchen to help Harry eat his mandatory snack, knowing that Nellie always went over board. Tom stared out the window. He hoped that nothing bad would come of Harry playing football in the village, but police inspectors looking for Harry Potter had yet to show up, and it had been a full week since Michael Riddle had made his first appearance. It seemed that Harry was indeed safe for now.
Severus Snape stormed through the hallways at Hogwarts, just itching to catch someone, preferably a Gryffindor, wandering around the halls, so he could take points. He begged Merlin to allow a first year to slip out. Just one. Snape glared at nothing when one failed to materialize. He sighed deeply and continued to the Room of Requirement, knowing he would find it because he needed to, Albus having summoned him there for a secret talk that, it seemed, could not take place even within the confines of Albus's office. Snape wondered what could have such importance, and then checked himself. Possibly something to do with Potter, the Boy Who Bloody Disappeared. Snape glared at the wall, finding the door within a second.
"I'm here, Albus. What is this about?" he asked. Dumbledore looked at him with sad eyes.
"There has been an attack on Muggles, Severus. An attack with the Dark Mark left afterwards. Minister Fudge has already been notified, of course, and Aurors responded to the scene. Did you know about this?" He asked. Great. The headmaster was now thinking that Severus was keeping information to himself.
"No, Albus." Snape sank heavily into a seat across from the headmaster. "I have not been called since before Potter disappeared. Not since the fight at the end of the year last year." Dumbledore nodded.
"Do you think that Voldemort suspects you and does not want you to endanger any massacres that he has planned?" Dumbledore pressed.
"If he suspected me, Albus, I would be dead. He would summon me and then kill me, slowly, if I know his habits well enough." Snape told him, trying to keep his voice calm. Damn the man, but Albus could be infuriating sometimes, with his pressing questions. "Any news on Potter?" he asked.
"No, I'm afraid. It seems as though whoever has him has put an end to Harry going anywhere near another wizard. After Minister Fudge called off the Muggle search, almost all sightings have stopped. There has only been one in the last two weeks, and it was a false alarm. I fear that Harry is gone until he fights his own way out." Dumbledore told him, digging in his pockets for something. He found it and held out the small sack to Severus.
"Jelly bean?" He asked. Snape shook his head no and stood.
"Is that all, Headmaster?" He asked. Albus nodded, chewing on a bean. He made a face. Snape, who told himself that he should know better, asked what flavor it had been.
"You don't want to know, Severus." Albus said cryptically. Snape left it at that. If Dumbledore really didn't want to share the flavor he had experienced, perhaps it was better if he did not know. Snape returned to the dungeons, wondering about the attack. When he entered his rooms, he found an owl sitting on top of his mantle, letter in her beak. He took it and recognized the handwriting. The letter was from Lucious Malfoy.
Reviews:
Kaye: Thanks for your two reviews! I love getting them. However, while your suggestions did make me grin evilly, I must tell you that that is not the direction in which this story is going. Sorry to disappoint. Perhaps you would like to write that POV? If you want to and wish to use some of my characters, just let me know. Otherwise, thanks.
Hermionegreen: Thanks for your continuing support. The twins will be back soon. They're such fun characters.
Rhinemir: Thanks for reviewing. I love adding twists. Wait and see, for more will be coming.
DaughterofDeath: Persistent, aren't you? Here's your new chapter, but who knows when the next will be? J/K. I'm going back to school, but I should be able to update once a week or so. Also, more to your review than "update" would be appreciated, even though I love getting reviews. Thanks.
PrphtssP: Thank you! I love having my work called original! There's more to come!
HoshiHakari4ever: Thank you for reviewing and staying with me. I love receiving reviews.
To everyone not listed, I still love hearing from you. Reviews motivate me to write more. I didn't believe it when I first read it, but it is true! As long as someone likes to read my work, I will continue writing. Thanks again! ~Sylvia