Disclaimer: I'm just a poor mother with no prospects of making any money, I'm not J.K Rowling and the whole world belongs to her not me, she's got the great book deal and all the money, I'm just borrowing some characters for a while to have my wicked way with them and a tub of Ben and Jerry's.
Author's Note: Ok, this chapter covers book six, HBP, it's going to be much longer than I originally planned, so I'm splitting it into three or four parts which I will be posting all this week. Remember I've moved everything two years ahead from the books, so if a date is wrong please forgive me. I've also changed part of the beginning of HBP so please don't shoot; I know Ron wasn't working for his brothers but I needed him out of the way for a short while. I can't find my copy of PS so I'm not sure if it actually ever says Dumbledore was a Gryffindor, but for the twisty ness of my plot he was in Slytherin. Any Latin I've used in this might not be quite accurate, I never learned it at school, (I'm only 25), so I've been using the online Latin- English dictionary. My brain feels like it's been twisted into knots writing this chapter so sorry for any errors I haven't picked up. Thanks to my beta Erin for her wonderful advice and guidance. Also very sorry I haven't updated when I thought, but I've been really ill this week and then when I sat to write this I got writers block half way through;( Any way, here's what you've all hopefully been waiting for, enjoy the show .)
Extracts from the Journal of Lucius Malfoy.
23 May 1979.
Tonight I take the first step to exacting my revenge. I go to Voldemort to take his mark with a burning hatred in my heart, I will bring this half blood bastard down if it's the last thing I do. He should have covered his tracks better; I know it was he who killed my parents when they refused his friendship all those years ago. But I will have to be convincing, once I take the mark there is no turning back until one or both of us is dead.
25th December 1980
I meet Dumbledore tonight, I have realised that in my youthful arrogance, I have underestimated my ability to deal with this matter on my own. I will offer him what information I can, to help bring The Dark Lord down, while keeping my place here to create instability from within. Distrust and fear go a long way to help others make mistakes. I hold onto the hope that with his help we can bring him down.
June 5thth 1982
Tonight my son was born we have named him Draco. He is the most precious creature in the world to me. He looks like an angel, but I fear the life Narcissa and I have brought him into. I continue to keep my true motives from my wife. She is the sister of Voldemort's most ardent supported, Bellatrix Lestrange, I cannot risk Bella discovering me. I know Narcissa loves me but Bella is capable of reading her too well, would know if she were keeping a secret. My love for my family is absolute, but the path I have chosen, I cannot turn back on, it is too late for regrets.
October 31st 1983
Voldemort fell tonight, defeated by my cousin's son. He is no more than fifteen months old, a baby still. Unfortunately I must remain the loyal pure blood, Dumbledore had denied my request to care for the boy. It is my right as family, but he has refused, he believes it better for him to be looked after by muggles who cannot possibly understand the terrible trauma he has endured. He says Voldemort is merely weakened and will return, that Harry must not grow up pampered and spoiled, that he must be made strong. I did not like the sound of this letter; it has made me worry for his safety. But none would back me against Dumbledore, I've been told to plead Imperio, to remain free; Dumbledore will ensure I get off. How I despise that manipulative old bastard, he has ensured my reputation will stay tainted.
July 31st 1986
Tonight I finally found where Lily's muggle sister lived and went to try and see the boy. I could not cross the wards, probably because of the dark mark I still bare. I watched from a distance as a small, dark haired child, so much the image of his father, sat on the front steps. But there was something so completely wrong with the picture. His clothes hung many sizes too big, on frighteningly thin shoulders; a small pair of broken glasses adorned his thin, pinched face. Trying to look closer, I realised that under the thin white t-shirt there were purple and black bruises on his arms and shoulders. Fury welled within me, was this what Dumbledore had meant by not being spoiled, to have him beaten and starved by his aunt and uncle? He was a child, just four years old, this was unacceptable, even in the wizarding world such treatment of children is completely abhorred. A wizard or witch caught treating a child in such a fashion would end up in Azkaban for life. I confronted Dumbledore just an hour ago to inform him of the situation, he just told me that it was none of my concern and that Harry would be fine. He expects me just to let this continue on, how can he let this happen? There is nothing I can do; I have never felt so helpless in my life.
August 1994.
My mark has started to become more noticeable again, Dumbledore was right, he is returning. Last night the head master asked me to meet him. He gave me a book and told me to ensure it ended up in the basket of one of Harry's friends. Upon questioning him, he told me that it was a part of Voldemort, that had to be destroyed, that Harry must do this to prove he was the one and capable of eventually being strong enough to destroy him. We argued vehemently over this but once more he overruled me. So I must put my poor cousin in more danger, however, if he doesn't get to school he might be spared. I called my most loyal elf Dobby and together we tried to devise a plan to keep Harry safe. Even after this, Dobby will stay on at Hogwarts to spy for me and to try and help Harry when he can.
April 14th 1998
Things are escalating out of control, I must protect Draco, he cannot take the mark! I just don't know how to tell him the truth, but I must and soon. Voldemort is back and Harry is in more danger than ever, I have told Dumbledore Voldemort is entering Harry's mind, that it might be used as a trap, he still doesn't seem to listen. Everything is falling apart, how can I hold my family together through this, I must find a way and Draco must listen to reason, I know he is a good young man at heart, but he may need my help and support to see the truth, as soon as summer comes I will have that talk with him. I pray to whatever deity's are listening, help me find a way!
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
June 30th 1998
Azkaban Prison.
Lucius Malfoy paced his cell impatiently, the dank stone floors and walls echoed with a dull sound as his feet hit the floor repeatedly. Two days ago the Dementors had left Azkaban and with them many of Voldemort's supporters, he had been left behind. It was entirely possible he had been found out by the Dark Lord, on the other hand he might just be angry that Lucius had failed in getting the prophecy. He was warring with himself inside. He wanted to get to Draco and Narcissa but at the same time he knew he had to stay undercover. The wait for Dumbledore to visit was becoming unbearable. As he reflected on the past events he remembered quite clearly the last time he and the old man had been face to face. To say it had been an unpleasant confrontation was an understatement.
"That book had to be destroyed Lucius! It means one less obstacle in our path to defeat him." Dumbledore insisted, his eyes flashing with anger that the younger man would challenge him.
"But you put Harry in danger! He is part of my family whether he knows it or not! Why was it so important to risk his life in that way? Just for the sake of your little prophecies and plans, he could have died!" Lucius was not backing down yet; he still wanted to make the old man see his point of view.
"No, Lucius, it was not merely for my amusement, we had to know that Harry was definitely the one, that he had the courage to do it! Not only that, it helped him see what his destiny was, it was necessary!" His voice was raised and taut, never breaking eye contact with Lucius as they leaned over the desk, glaring at each other
"Don't lie to me Dumbledore, I know what you really are, even if no one else does. Once a Slytherin always a Slytherin!"
"Well, it does take one to know one my boy." He said scathingly.
Lucius stood and holding his chin high he stared at Dumbledore with anger.
"You can't keep the truth from him forever, he should know now so he can be ready for it, if his destiny is so bloody important you should let him learn what he needs now. If you don't, I guarantee you will regret it, if you fail him I will go against you, I cannot allow you to put my cousins child in such danger. Destiny or no, he is still a boy, one who has been rejected by his guardians and feels isolated by his fame. Why do you deny him a chance to feel loved?"
"He must not be allowed to become weak, his anger at Voldemort must stay intact, it is what will give him the most power."
Lucius laughed, it started as a chuckle in the back of his throat and then turned to full blown howl as he threw his head back.
"And you spoke of love being a stronger weapon than revenge. You doubt the one emotion you insist is strength, and deny your boy of prophecy that one small thing. I will never understand you old man, but I do believe you are underestimating love's power. His love for a mother and father he never knew and the anger at their deaths will never have as much power as the love he will find in his friends and what he could have found with his family, his true, family. You may just have taken from him the power he needed, because you were trying to mould Harry as you believed was best, instead of doing what was right."
Dumbledore looked at Lucius as though he were seeing him for the first time.
"You are wrong Lucius, you have to be because there is nothing we can change now." He told him thinly.
A door creaked open and Lucius shook himself from his revere. In the doorway stood the master manipulator himself. Albus Dumbledore wearing dark crimson robes, trimmed with silver stars and moons swept into the room. His hat perched precariously on his head didn't even move has he inclined his head to Lucius.
"Well, Mr Malfoy, it would seem that you were correct when we last discussed Harry. Love for his Godfather drove him further into battle." He said dryly.
"Don't take that tone with me you old fool, I did my best that night, trying to distract them, holding them back from killing those children, creating diversions trying to stall for time, waiting for you and your precious order to appear, but you didn't, not in time. You even had one of them take me out right away, I might have helped, stopped Black from falling through the veil. But no you had to make sure I was stunned and bound."
"It wasn't like that Lucius, I didn't want you discovered as a traitor, I took those steps to protect you. To protect your family. I was wrong, I admit it, Harry's love for those he cares for right now is stronger than his love for his parents. But now he is more withdrawn than ever. He is blaming Severus for it, goddess only knows why, he warned us, told Black not to come but you knew Sirius, couldn't stand by when there was adventure afoot."
"What do you mean, Severus?" Lucius asked confused. Albus shook his head tiredly.
"You must forgive me Lucius, I have not slept in nearly six days, and I'm losing my edge. Severus, is a spy for the order, he came to me a few months before you did. I did not tell you before because I feared you might not be able to hide it as you should."
"You can't be serious, he's one of Voldemort's favourites, you must be mistaken, he would never betray his master." Lucius insisted.
"Dear boy, Severus Snape could out Slytherin, Salazar himself. He is very firmly on our side, and no I will not go into details but to say it had something to do with the late Lady Cassiopeia Prince." Coldness washed over Lucius, he had not heard that name in years. Snape's Great Grandmother had been a Ravenclaw, one his own grandfather had known and spoke highly of. Her blue-black hair and sparkling violet eyes had most of the gentlemen of Wizarding Britain swooning after her for decades before he was born. But more than that, she had been a seer of great renown, a valuable gift and one nearly extinct within the ancient lines. His Grandfather had meant to marry her but she had disappeared, then later just before he married Claudia Black, she returned from the continent married to Augustus Prince, a man nearly half a century her senior and an unapologetic traditionalist.
"What do you mean?" He asked dangerously.
"No Lucius, I can say no more, but I will tell you this, it was Tom's fault she also met her end. One more reason for you to see him dead if only for the love your grandfather once held for her."
His face suddenly becoming blank Lucius looked at Dumbledore again.
"So what am I meant to do now?"
"I want you to go to Ireland, then France, gather what help you can from the Seelie court and find out if House Half Moon is willing to step in."
"You expect me to try and find beings our world has had no contact with in nearly a thousand years? You think that even if I could find the Fae that they would help, or that the Elder of a vampire clan would let me even speak with him? You are asking me to do the impossible Dumbledore, they will never agree."
"Tell them that two of their own blood are in danger, that they are bound by the blood magic to help if they can. Two people connected to Harry carry the blood of the Fae and the House of Half Moon. Many generations ago Illyria of the Seelie court joined with a Wizard, she left him and their daughter to return to her people, now one of her descendants is in danger. When you speak to Karithal the Elder of Half Moon house tell him his son also left a Witch with a child of his blood, his descendant is now in danger. I don't need them to come and give aid, only that they cast the spells to wake the dormant magic in their blood to help protect them. I expect that they know of or will expect such a request, they will let you find them, but you must convince them that it is time."
He reached into his robes and pulled out a two glowing orbs. Inside silvery images flickered. "Show them these prophecies, I have made two copies, one for each, it should convince them of our sincerity. Return with their answer as soon as you can. If you return and I am no longer here I want you to go to Severus, he will help you, I trust him implicitly, I will tell him soon of your part in all this. You leave tonight, no one must know that you have left here, do you understand Lucius?"
"Yes, I understand, I can't even see my family, can I?"
"No, but rest assured, I will make sure they are protected, at all costs."
Lucius gave cynical laugh, "you expect me to believe that Dumbledore?"
"I make you a wizards oath Lucius," Albus said holding his wand aloft, he whispered a binding spell, "On my honour as a wizard I promise to protect your family, with my own life if necessary, I will make sure they are safe." Silver threads reached round his hand from the wand and glowed golden as they disappeared into his wrist.
"Does that satisfy you Lucius, I am bound now, to take care of them"
"Thank you, Headmaster, knowing that they are safe makes me feel more assured in my endeavor." He said cynically.
Albus smiled sadly, he and Lucius had never seen eye to eye and never would. Although Lucius might not have agreed with Voldemort, he was still against muggle born witches and wizards, his concern though was not based on purity of blood but on the threat of exposure they posed to their world. If the existence of Witches and Wizards were known it would start the witch-hunts all over again. Muggles may have become more open minded, but their tolerance for those who were different or stronger was still very low. Fear could very easily lead them to try and destroy the wizarding world. Malfoy did have a point, but Albus had always believed that everything had it's time and bringing new blood into the wizarding population was imperative to their survival as a race. He tossed Lucius a portkey and whispered good luck as Lucius disappeared.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
12 Grimmauld Place.
Hermione checked her notes once more and stirred the potion clockwise twice. Smiling as the liquid began to turn a silvery grey, she adjusted the fire to a flicker, keeping the potion just warm.
Watching from the door to the lab, Severus smiled inwardly. Her reaction was not unlike his own had been at that age. Confidant outwardly about her knowledge, but still relief showing that her abilities had proven true on the inside.
"Excellent work Hermione, cast a shielding charm and leave it for the next twenty four hours. We'll bottle it tomorrow and put it in the stasis spelled stores." She looked up startled at his voice.
"Were you spying on me Severus?" She asked sarcastically.
"Why Miss Granger, whatever would have given you such an absurd idea?" He replied in kind.
"I think it might have been the disillusionment charm Professor", she said raising an eyebrow in his direction.
Realising that he had been so caught up in watching her that he had forgotten to undo the charm before speaking to her, he almost blushed with embarrassment. Regaining his composure he quickly released the charm and smiled wryly at his friend.
"Simply testing your ability to notice your surroundings, you failed," he told her almost gleefully.
"Really? I know you were standing there for the last half hour, I'm disappointed you didn't trust me enough to let me brew this alone. As you see, I didn't need your help."
Severus was speechless; he had been there for the last half hour, how the hell had she known?
"How exactly did you know I was there? I was silent, I didn't disturb anything and never moved?"
Hermione turned away from him as she cleaned the workbench and then finally she decided to tell him.
"It was…. Well I know it sounds silly, but I have quite a good sense of smell, I smelt you, it's like parchment and cut grass, that red ink you use and cinnamon and sandalwood."
"So I smell of all those things? No wonder you've got such a feel for potions with a nose like that."
Hermione turned to look at him, red still staining her cheeks. She had to tell him the truth."
"It's not quite that good, you see I'm just able to smell the scents of people very well, the more I like them the more detailed I can define the smell."
"How curious, what does Potter smell like?"
"Apple and forest, summer, rain and mint."
"Weasley?"
"Strawberries, wool, rushes and thyme."
Severus almost let a laugh escape him.
"Dumbledore?"
"Lemon, nothing else even registers, just lemon, lemon juice, lemon cake, lemon tart, lemonade, lemon drops, it can be a little overpowering sometimes."
"Why am I not surprised it's the only thing he ever has around him, even professor McGonagall complains of finding those blasted lemon drops in the strangest places."
"So sir, what are our plans for tomorrow?" Hermione eagerly asked. For the past week since school had ended she had popped home to her parents for just a day before finding herself back at Grimmauld place. It was sad to be there without Sirius, but with only Molly there most of the time and Ron off helping the twins in the shop she found it wonderful to spend some uninterrupted time with her potions master. They had struck up a very fragile friendship in the last year and she was determined to build on it now as much as she could. In another three weeks she would be eighteen that meant that she would be viewed as an adult in the muggle world as well. Since she had arrived at Grimmauld place, Severus, as he had allowed her to call him in private, had let her help him in brewing potions for the order. For the last two days he had supervised her in the complicated process of making the Wolfsbane for Remus Lupin. It would be ready tomorrow to be bottled and it was unlikely anything would go wrong now.
"I'm afraid I have to be elsewhere tomorrow, but if you wish to continue being useful, you could start on the healing potions."
He strode over to the bookcase and lifted down a slim volume bound in green leather with gold embosses letters. He seemed to look at it for a moment before deciding to give it to her.
"Some healing potions are more potent than others, if you can complete the potions in this book it would be very helpful." He handed her the volume and she looked at it in interest. Sanctmonia Curatio.
"I trust you can understand Latin?"
"Yes sir, Pure Healing." She opened the book and slowly read the introduction; these potions could only be made by someone with purity or in other words a virgin. She blushed furiously as she met his eyes.
"I can make these sir, thank you."
Feeling uncomfortable Snape left with a curt nod.
Hermione was left staring after him. Good goddess, he must think her an inexperienced little bookworm. She knew most of the girls in her year would be unable to make these potions; they were already up to mischief back in fifth year. She also knew that Snape was probably aware that she was much older than the others in her year due to the time turner. Trying to push away her embarrassment she shook her head. It didn't matter; he was just her teacher and maybe a friend but nothing else. Besides, the older the innocent creating the potions the stronger they were. These potions and salves might make the difference for order members and friends between life and death if they were injured. Decided to read up on the potions before the morning she took the book to her room to read before bed.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Severus shifted uncomfortably in his chair. What had possessed him to ask the girl such a question? She must have felt even more uncomfortable than he had. But a small part of him was proud of her in her restraint, he had to admit he was surprised she had not succumbed to some ardent admirers charms, surely there must have been plenty of young men who would have chased her, she was a beautiful young woman with all the intelligence to match.
Proud of her restraint? A little voice mocked him at the back of his mind. Don't you just mean relived she'd still untouched, unclaimed?
No! She's not for me, there is another for me and we will meet when the time is right.
Ah but you want the little witch don't you, you like her?
No! I would never be so dishonorable!
Are you sure? It persisted insidiously.
Enough of this, he had to get out of here, it was completely inappropriate to have such thoughts about a student, especially when he might hurt her. The first person he had called friend in more years than he could remember and he was betraying her trust in his mind, unacceptable!
TBC...
Please Review
just down here:)