Chapter 8
No Good Deed
"May I ask what all of this is?" Mrs. Weasley entered Number 12 Grimmauld place, which was now littered with Harry's Inheritance from Dumbledore.
"Harry's inheritance." Ginny said calmly. Behind her, Hermione was reading one of Dumbledore's books.
"Oh, is this the thing from the castle? Oh, yes, Minerva told me all about this. Said she thinks it'll be very useful." She said. Mrs. Weasley was carrying two brown bags, over flowing with bread. "Where are the boys?"
"Eating, in the kitchen" Hermione slammed her book
shut. "where else?"
Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, and Ginny
joined the group of Harry, Ron, Bill, and Lupin who were all eating
sandwiches and chatting around the table.
I come bearing bread." Mrs. Weasley said, setting the brown bags on the counter.
"Oh, thank you, Molly," Lupin said with a smile on his face.
"Where's Fleur? I was hoping she would...never mind it's not important." Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Oh, she's in France. We agreed it would really be best if she returned to her family for a little while. She'll be back as soon as this is all over." Bill said.
"Well, that's that, then," Mrs. Weasley said as she began to cut the bread. "Ah, Minerva."
Professor McGonnagal entered the room. Her mouth as thin as Harry had ever remembered it. "Hello, Molly, Bill, Remus. Harry, I need a word with you."
"Alright, professor." He said getting up.
"In private if you don't mind." She motioned to the door. He walked over the threshold and she followed him.
"What is it?"
"Hang on," She quickly put imperturbable charms on each entrance to the dinning room, and then with a quick flick, made them sound proof.
"This is awfully, ominous." Harry said.
"This is very important. You are not going to like what I am about to say." She said, gravely.
"Oh, my God. Is everyone alright? The School, was there an attack?"
"No," She interrupted, holding her hand up. "No, everyone's fine. Well...maybe...well, that's what we're her to discuss."
"I'm not sure I follow, professor." He said.
"You of course remember that several months ago, Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy were both involved in the murder of Hogwarts' Headmaster Albus Dumbledore." She sounded as though she had been working out exactly what to say for some time.
"Naturally," He said, tilting his head. "What is this about."
"I...Well...I'll just say it...I came in contact, for a brief moment today, with my old Colleague, Severus Snape."
"What?" Harry said, half not hearing her, half waiting for an explanation.
"He called upon my office today. But it wasn't about him. It was about Draco."
"Professor, you can't..."
"PLEASE...Let me finish. And then I'll ask your opinion. I would not have come to you under normal circumstances. But the circumstances these days can hardly be considered normal. Either let me finish, or leave this room." She said, her face was sinking now.
Harry motioned with his head, as thought he would not speak anymore. But now their expressions matched.
"He told me a...very convincing story, that he and Draco have both been in hiding with the Dark Lord. And that it's only a matter of time before he kills both Draco and himself. But he did not come to me to save himself...More then a year ago, Narcissa Malfoy came to him, and he took an unbreakable vow to help and protect Draco. And he knows that he will fail. The Dark Lord will kill them both in a short period of time. Snape has been forced to be somewhat of a gatekeeper, where The dark lord is hiding. He could not tell me the location, as it protected by similar magics as our own Headquarters. I trust you are familiar with the Fidilius charm?"
Harry nodded.
"Well...He and Draco made the decision to leave. To find protection wherever they could. Snape can no longer be loyal to the dark lord, and he knows he can never be loyal to us again. So you see he is neutral. But that's not what this is about. Snape has performed a very complex bit of magic, Draco's body has essentially vanished. And His soul is currently living inside a small bottle. When the bottle is uncorked, his body will reappear, and he will not have aged, and no time will have passed. It is a most effective protection. But still Snape wants more. He wants to hide Draco's soul inside #12 Grimmauld Place. Anywhere, just somewhere that they cannot get to him."
"It's just like a HORCRUX! I WILL NOT HAVE SOMETHING THAT...UNCLEAN IN MY HOUSE!"
"No, IT'S NOTHING LIKE A HORCRUX. Draco's soul is intact. And the second he gets out of that bottle everything will be back together for him...Potter. This is Draco Malfoy's only chance to Survive this war. I came to you to ask for your help. And your permission, and you advice. And now I'd like to know it."
Harry stared at her. He was thinking no thoughts. Just staring. And she stared back.
"Harry...This really is the only way" she said after several minutes.
"I know." He looked down at the ground, without lifting his eyes, he said, "Bring him here. Hide him wherever you want. But if you come in contact with Snape again...I want to know."
She looked almost startled. For the first time, They stood facing each other. Harry was so tall now, he almost towered above Professor McGonnagal. He had a stern look on his face. And she had an unreadable expression. She backed away. He was the authority figure here. Neither can live while the other survives.
"Very well. Thank you, Harry." She did not make eye contact with him again. She flicked her wand and the spells on the doors lifted. "Enjoy your lunch." She said, and she dissapparated.
Short, I know. I tried to flesh it out, but I really just wanted this much to happen in a chapter. I was originally was going to have both the McGonnagal/Snape scene an the McGonnagal/Harry scene, but I realized I could convey all the info in just the McGonnagal/Harry scene. So, there you are. I really hope you all like this, I've been working towards these big set ups for a long time. This and the inheritance are both absolutely pivotal chapters, and I really hope that you've started to catch some of what's to come. If you haven't...well I'll just have to keep writing this.
If you've seen my profile you know I'm sort of a sporadic writer. I've only ever finished two or three pieces before. But I really like this one. This one has been brewing in my head for a long time. In Fact this evolved out a sixth book fic that's partially up, (by the way, it's god-awful don't read it) and it was called Veritas, an amazingly overused name. The Basic plot revolved around Filch's Family tree and how he is somehow related to Voldemort by Marriage somewhere in his line, and that his family had the key to a temple which held the source of Voldy's power. That whole plot line got abandoned when it evolved into the Seventh book, and not the sixth one. I'm sorry, I'm rambling now, why did I bring this up? Oh right, to show you that I'm not abandoning this. And if I do, it's because it's evolved again...into something even better.
