Chapter eight

Another pain another plan

The next morning Sheldon and Draco woke early and dressed silently. The two men weren't in the rooms so they assumed they had already gone up to breakfast. When the two boys got to the great hall they were surprised to see two empty chairs and a beaming Albus Dumbledore. Sheldon knew something seriously wrong was happening but decided a public confrontation had to be avoided at all costs. His classes were spent in nervous anticipation. It slightly annoyed the professors that even when he was this distracted he still never missed a question.

Draco watched his brother his everyday mask covering the worry Sheldon could feel radiating off of him. Draco could also sense something was seriously wrong. They were lucky to have a free period before lunch that they could go up and speak to the headmaster. Getting through class until the break proved to be pure torture for both brothers.

Finally after a few agonizingly slow hours, Professor Flitwick gave them their assignment then released the class. The two brothers practically raced to get their things and leave for the headmaster's office. By the time they made it there Sheldon's nerves were so frayed that he would occasionally lose control over his tremendous power and any students they met in the halls stood stock still as the power radiated off of the tall figure. When they got to the headmaster's office the gargoyle at the entrance reacted to the escaping power and moved aside without the need for a password.

The two young men entered the circular office warily at Dumbledore's cheery greeting. "Ah Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Snape, I have been expecting you. Lemon Drop? Tea?"

Sheldon held it together surprisingly well considering what this man had put him through. His tenuous grip on his powers only slipped marginally but it was enough to get Dumbledore's attention. The headmaster's mouth opened like he wished to speak but the enraged Shadow Daemon just held his hand up to silence the old man and started speaking in a deadly quiet tone that even Draco had never heard the normally composed Slytherin use.

"Where are my Father and Godfather? If you lie I will know it." Sheldon said.

"They are on a mission I got some news recently that Voldemort is planning an attack in a very public place soon. Those two men are our best intelligence gatherers and so we used them." Dumbledore said carefully. Sheldon wasn't fooled everything the headmaster said was true but a light Legilimency scan showed that that wasn't even half of it.

"What is the rest? What are you hiding?" Sheldon asked letting his power out to make a thick aura around him that was blindingly white just so Dumbledore would know exactly what he was messing with.

All the twinkle went out of the headmaster's eyes and he attempted to look sorry, "They were supposed to be back last night or early this morning at the latest I fear they have been captured." If Dumbledore had pulled this act with Sheldon a year ago when he was still Harry Potter it might have worked, but alas he was not used to Sheldon Snape.

Sheldon knew that Dumbledore was acting he was not sorry at all to the headmaster's way of thinking those two men were some of the only direct obstacles between him and Sheldon's enormous power. But the aged man had committed a fatal error he had messed with Sheldon's family his pack. There was a reason his secondary form was a wolf he protected those he considered family with his very life not caring about himself.

The aura that had surrounded him throughout Dumbledore's speech flickered a bit then whatever grip he had on his power let loose and Dumbledore was faced with a fully enraged Shadow Daemon and for once had no idea what to do.

An unearthly wind filled the small office and Sheldon was lifted off his feet and held there his previously pure white aura now hummed and crackled with power flashes of beautiful silver and green electricity could be seen. His deep green eyes were lit from within like two pin pricks of flame. The sight in a word was awesome. And it compared little with the actual power released the raw magic went through the office like a whirlwind showing off one of Sheldon's dominant elements air. It was trashing the headmaster's office and the very walls were shaking.

In the rest of the castle it was like a massive earthquake had been focused on one spot and that spot was Hogwarts School. The walls shook some of the hastier hung portraits actually falling from there places on the walls. In the Slytherin common rooms they all felt the upheaval and the five friends of the two brothers knew that something went terribly wrong when they met Dumbledore.

In Gryffindor tower it was really bad and no one noticed four students slip out of the tower and down to the Headmaster's office. On there way they met up with the group of Slytherins. They were all lucky that Draco had thought to warn them about there meeting with Dumbledore during class so they all knew where to go.

They got to the gargoyle and it immediately stepped aside sensing the urgency. The nine students were met with an awesome sight. The aura of power still radiated around Sheldon and his feet were still not touching the ground. The one thing that was immediately apparent was his large silver and black wings were unsheathed. In his anger Sheldon's wings had responded by ripping through the cloth of his robes and now Dumbledore knew exactly what he had angered.

The nine students quickly found Draco who had stepped into a sheltered alcove to avoid flying debris.

"What brought this one?" Ginny asked quietly. Draco quickly filled them in and by the end all of them had looks of rage on there faces. They knew there was no getting near Sheldon when he was like this. So all that was left for them to do was wait.

It only took another ten minutes before Sheldon started to reign in control. It was amazing the amount of power he had expended would have incapacitated a lesser wizard but he was barely winded. When he was completely under control and the only sign of his display other then the ruined office was the fire in his eyes.

He turned that fiery gaze onto the shocked form off the headmaster who had done something similar to what Draco had done and found a sheltered alcove. "If I found out that either of those men have been harmed worse then a few bruises I will personally kill you. I made it clear the other day in the great hall I will not follow you or the insane murderer I fight for myself and for those that cannot fight on there own. You have made your last mistake. I might have actually helped you if I saw reason now that you have hurt my family there will be no chance for redemption. Do not try to find me I will be leaving soon. I will be back however to finish once and for all. Enjoy your power while you have it after I kill riddle I intend to do a little reorganizing both here and at the ministry. Tread carefully and you might live." He said in the same deadly quiet voice he had used earlier that sent chills down the spine of everyone listening." He turned to his friends who had slowly came out of the alcove waiting to see if there would be a relapse of his power. He indicated for them to follow him.

"Where are we going?" Blaise asked hesitantly.

"A safe place." Was all the answer he got. "But first we have to pick up some people." He told them.

He led all of them to the great hall and entered. He didn't even bother to cover his wings. The entire hall fell silent everyone having just sat down to lunch. They all looked up to see one very angry Sheldon Snape striding up to stand directly in front off the head table facing the students. He cast a wandless Sonorous on himself then spoke to the silent hall.

"The time to choose is upon you, Voldemort is planning an attack. What side will you fight on? The murdering lunatic who couldn't even kill a child who tortures his own followers for fun. Or a manipulative old man who is supposedly the leader of the light." At this he stripped off the remains of his shirt and robes fully revealing his wings and uncovering his scars. "Both of these supposed leaders have contributed to this know what you are getting into before you jump. But you have a third option I plan to fight both of them and bring the Britain wizarding world up to the same standards as the rest of the world. I will fight to stop the killing I will fight to save the innocents. I do not care if you are pureblood half blood Muggleborn or muggle. And being a magical creature myself I am unable to turn someone away for that. So make your choice. Voldemort, Dumbledore, myself Sheldon Snape formerly Harry Potter, or you have the option of remaining neutral. I will say this if you choose to not take a side and the others win they will kill you just as easily as there opponents. Anyone who wished to side with me come and I will tell you what that entails." He stopped speaking and gracefully strode across the hall and out the doors. And he was not alone over half of the people in the great hall a mix of all house stood and followed him. He was pleased to see not one Slytherin stayed in the hall along with the students came three teachers, Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, and Madame Pomfrey.

Draco stood next to him with there nine friends around them protectively. He led the large body of people to the second floor. Anyone in fourth year or above knew this was where the first basilisk attack took place. They were all extremely nervous when Sheldon led them into Moaning Myrtles bathroom. He led them over to the tap that held an engraved snake and hissed a few syllables.

"Open," he commanded in snake language those close enough to hear backed up a little. The sinks once again opened to reveal the grimy pipes. Sheldon took care of that wandlessly transfiguring the pipes into a set of stairs. He then led the students into Salazar Slytherin's chamber.

They were all expecting more grime and darkness, but were pleasantly surprised. Sheldon while still Harry Potter had fixed up the chamber as a sort of safe haven from everyone else. It was clean and all the standing water had been removed. All the statues had been restored into there former glory.

Sheldon transfigured a large portion of the room into soft mats to accommodate everyone. All together they numbered a little over two hundred. The current number of students attending Hogwarts being about four hundred.

Sheldon observed everyone at first then spoke. "I was not exaggerating when I said Voldemort was readying for an attack. He has captured my father and godfather, we need to be prepared. I want everyone in this room to be comfortable with each other take this time to talk to someone you never have before. Something inside of you brought you here thus all of you have something in common you just have to find it. When we are all comfortable around each other then we can start practicing spells. I know you all have questions for me but that can wait a few of you know what I am they have full permission to tell you all you have to do is find them. I will be back in about an hour do not hurt each other you are all on the same side for now forget the school houses ever existed." He then left the group to there own devices. He caught his friend's eyes and motioned for them to follow him he also went over and quietly asked McGonagall to come with them.

He led them deeper into the chamber to a spot where no one else could over hear them.

"I have had an idea and all of you are involved but this cannot become general knowledge even among our side. You are all aware of what I am, well one of my stronger powers is the ability to move through time I think I need to use it. I have too many new powers for me to control, today just proved that until I learn control I am a danger to others. I can carry people with me but they have to touch my bare skin. I want you to come with me. I will need something familiar to help ground me." He then turned to McGonagall. "This is where you come in I can bring us back to any second in time but like time turners I cant be seen by anyone who might see me in the future people could panic. I plan on going very far back in time and depending on what happens I might bring back some more people. I need you to contact my Father Lucius and get his permission to use the manor as a kind of training camp. I wasn't lying when I told the rest of them we would be back in an hour it will seem like that to them but we will have been gone longer by how much I don't know. Ask him to have the manor ready for several hundred guests." Sheldon then turned to his friends. "All of you may come but you have to touch me its your choose but we will be meeting some interesting people and possibly creatures if my idea works." Every one of his friends agreed to the plan and placed a hand on his heavily scarred torso.

Sheldon concentrated on his inner magic and slowly shifted out of sight flowing through shadows to his new destination. Professor McGonagall just looked on to the figure in awe then proceeded to do what Sheldon had asked her to do and contacted Lucius. He agreed to the plan and said he would have the manor ready for guests.

After that she waited and waited finally she saw a slight disturbance in the air and the 11 people who had left came back into view. All of them had changed the radiated power and confidence they also looked older it wasn't much but there was some noticeable differences especially in Ginny. "How long were you away?" McGonagall asked hesitantly.

"About a year for them longer for me but I will explain later," Sheldon answered. "Is my Father ready with the manor? I have already talked to the leaders of several groups of creatures they are waiting for me to pick them up."

"He said he would be ready. Where did you end up if I may ask?" She inquired, again her Animagus form was a cat and she was very curious.

"We will tell the full story only once, and that will be after I rescue my father and godfather which I plan on doing after I get everything set up here. Now that I can control my power better I will get them the moment they got captured and bring them back here after everyone is assembled." Sheldon explained. He then prepared himself to go collect the other creatures it would take awhile but one of the things he had worked on over the year is how to transport bigger groups. He could now carry about forty people at a time and they all had to be linked together but only two of them had to actually touch him.

He turned to Draco, "Warn father to expect the first group in an hour and after all the creatures from there are assembled to expect a new group of creatures every hour after that, I will bring the students last." His brother nodded in the affirmative then closed his eyes as if concentrating really hard on something. Draco stayed that way a few minutes until he opened his eyes again and spoke.

"He will be expecting you." He said simply.

"Good," Sheldon answered then blurred out of sight again.

"We had better go get the students ready to move and warn them they will be working closely with none humans." This was surprisingly said by Neville who had done a lot of maturing over the year trying to make up the time lost by Dumbledore's manipulations.

"Exactly what kinds of creatures are we talking about?" McGonagall asked.

"Well he got most of the Vampires, Werewolves, Veela, Elves all five kinds Wood, River, Fire, Sky, and House. As for the magical creatures he got goblins, unicorns both light and dark, Phoenixes both Fire and Glacial, Pegasuses, Centaurs, Hippogriffs, Dragons a couple of Sphinxes and most big cats like Nundus, Lions, and Tigers." Fred and George traded off naming them.

"How on earth was he able to persuade all of them to join together or even speak to the beasts?" McGonagall asked completely flabbergasted.

"To answer the first question he persuaded them what the greater enemy was, as for the second one he will have to tell you that one himself. Let him tell you the whole story it will be worth your time and we don't want to spoil anything too soon." Draco answered this one.

"Are we ready to go out and meet the others?" Pansy asked. They all agreed and they walked out into the main chamber hoping Madame Pomfrey hadn't been to busy. To there surprise everyone had done what had been asked and were talking amongst themselves. They had all taken off there outer robes so they wore no house insignia. It looked like Sheldon's plan had worked.

Blaise stepped up to the front of the room and cast sonorous on himself. "Alright we have made some decisions you are going to be moved to a secure location where we can train in piece. You will not be alone we have allies that will be there to. You need to know now that most of our allies are non humans. Some of them most of you have been brought up to fear but we assure you that you will come to no harm from them special consideration has been made for those beings with special needs. We will be the last group to be brought to the safe location so when you get there and see many creatures don't panic." He explained slowly and carefully.

After this announcement the talk in the room resumed with an undercurrent of curiosity they were all wondering what sort of creatures they would be working with.

Meanwhile Sheldon had been transporting group after group to the manor. He kept on schedule thanks to his time shifting abilities. What was an hour to the normal view point he was spending two or three. By the time he had gotten the last of the creatures moving. He couldn't just drift the creatures he actually had to travel back in time a few weeks to make sure the creatures would reach the manor within a twenty four hour period of time.

By the time he was able to take a breather and go back to Hogwarts and the students within the chamber he had been up for about 48 hours straight. Upon his entrance to the chamber however he put his fatigue behind him and stepped up to talk to them. "It is time for you to be moved I will take you in groups. We will be traveling by shadow drifting a mode of travel similar to apparating that is only used by Shadow Daemons which if you haven't figured out yet is what I am. I can take forty of you at a time so please split yourselves into groups." They complied with him and when they were done he spoke again. "I will be setting you down in an open area of land please don't wonder too far until I come to escort you to the main camp. As you have been warned there are many different creatures there. Treat them as you would any relatively high-ranking human. I can assume you can tell what ranks the creatures are by there baring if you cant, stick close to someone who can." He finished his speech and then started to methodically take groups to the area he had designated for all human allies.

Once they were all there Sheldon led them over a hill and they could look down at the extensive grounds of Snape Manor. It was entirely covered by different kinds of tents. There were clearly defined areas for each creature, and a large center pavilion that allowed for the different creatures to meet and talk. From the snatches of conversation Sheldon had overheard as he was moving groups some serious peace talks were happening.

There was also a very large number of creatures out there, the number of humanoid creatures was close to five thousand, the beasts numbers were even larger and only Sheldon knew that there was more beasts on the way.

"Merlin how on earth are we going to be able to get everyone fighting together by the time Voldemort attacks?" A burly seventh year Ravenclaw called out.

"We aren't," Sheldon answered seriously, "I highly doubt we will be ready by then but you forget what you are dealing with. You don't know this yet but I am going to be controlling the time around here. I will tell the full story later tonight so you will get the explanation then. Just know time is not running normally and leave it at that."

"Why can't you explain now?" Someone Sheldon could not identify asked.

"Because I have to do something first." Sheldon answered. "It shouldn't take me much time but I will definitely need to rest after words and I don't want to drift times to close together. It will probably be about an hour before I am ready to talk but even then you will still be setting up camp. Don't worry as long as you're on these grounds we have all the time we need." He assured them.

"What do you have to do," a curly haired Hufflepuff girl asked.

"I have to rescue my Father and Godfather they were captured thanks to Dumbledore. If I time everything right they won't have been in Voldemort's hands more then a few seconds. Then I will bring them back here wait for you to get used to things then tell you the whole story." Sheldon explained.

He then left the group in his friend's capable hands this was something he had to do on his own. He closed his eyes and concentrated, not on a specific time but a specific event.

He was pulled out of the grassy hillock and into a dark dungeon that he heard two simultaneous thumps as two bodies were thrown into a cell. Sheldon could see the silhouettes of his Father and Godfather thanks to some of his new powers. He went over to them and other then some nasty looking bruises and a couple of bumps on the head they looked alright.

They were also conscious and at the small movement Sheldon had made both men turned towards the source. He knew he had to be careful both men did not need a wand to inflict damage.

"It's alright both of you its Sheldon." He said quietly into there minds.

"Sheldon, how are you here and why?" his Dad asked him.

"Dad, I am a Shadow Daemon I used my drifting abilities and my time shifting ones to get here a lot has happened and I am here to get you out so you can here the full story." He explained quickly for both of there benefits.

He crept over to them and untied there hands and just as a shout was heard from the guards outside. He drifted the three of them to safety. They landed in a heap on the floor of Lucius's study in the manor. The blond man jumped up at the sight of them. Sheldon used his last bit of strength to call to Poppy and ask her to come help the two men. Finally the long hours of hard sleep on no rest and no food caught up and he collapsed boneless into one of the soft arm chairs and promptly fell asleep. He didn't even wake up when Poppy came in tended the two mens' wounds and Lucius carried him into his room. He would explain everything when he woke up right now was his time to sleep and he wasn't about to give that up.