Disclaimer: Unfortunately for my bank account, I do not own Harry Potter's universe. All the characters are JK Rowling's. This is a response to the Severitus Challenge. The rest is mine.
Author Note: Maybe I'll manage to have a hundredth reviews after this chapter!
Chapter eleven: missing in action
"Ron, we have to contact your parents. They might know something!"
Hermione was pacing in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. The day before, the Headmaster had made an announcement at dinner, claiming that Voldemort was no longer a threat. The news were greeted warmly from almost every student, Ron and herself included, until the second bit of information was shared. Harry Potter was missing.
She just couldn't believe it. The year so far had been pretty calm, they hadn't been involved in anything dangerous yet, and she couldn't understand how Harry could have gone and killed the madman without asking them to go with him. Sure, they had grown a little apart these past few months, but they were still the best of friends, as far as she was concerned!
She wondered if he still thought of her that way, though. Guilt submerged her at the thought that she should have made herself available for Harry, instead of enjoying every minute of her free time with her newfound boyfriend. The thing was, Harry spent most of his time with Malfoy, and she just wasn't about to become friends with the Slytherin.
"I don't know, Mione. I don't think they would tell us anything."
"Of course they would! We're his best friends!"
"Then why didn't HE tell us he was going to do something stupid?"
She couldn't think of anything to answer. Why, indeed? Why hadn't he told them what he planned to do? It was painfully obvious. He was afraid of losing them, just like he had lost Sirius. That proved how much he cared about them, and she felt even guiltier for allowingtheir friendship tofall apartthat much. She vowed that if he was found, she would never let him down ever again.
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Later that day, Severus received an unexpected visit. Draco Malfoy entered without even knocking, wand raised towards his Potions professor as he spat angrily.
"What have you done to him?"
"To whom are you referring to?" Severus enquired with a sight. Why couldn't everyone leave him alone with his Firewhiskey?
"Don't be stupid. Harry Potter. Where is he, and what exactly have you done to him?"
"What makes you think I have anything to do with the fact that he's missing? If you remember correctly you stunned me and freed him. He was the one who stunned you."
"Probably because you had him under Imperius."
"Potter is quite capable of resisting Imperius, or have you forgotten?"
"Some similar Dark Spell, then. I'm not going to believe that it's a mere coincidence if he disappeared the night after I found out you attacked him."
"I didn't attack him. If you must know, I just defended myself."
"I find it hard to believe."
"And no, it's not a coincidence. Harry wanted to stun me, then brew a Polyjuice Potion and take my appearance to go to a Death Eater meeting and end the Dark Lord. I defended myself, and was in control of the situation, until you showed up. It's entirely your fault if he's missing!"
"And I suppose you're going to blame me for your master's fall as well? What the hell is going on, here? First you take him into Remedial Potions, which you never proposed to Neville Longbottom even if he clearly needed them more than Harry, and now you tell me he's competent enough to brew a Polyjuice Potion alone and unsupervised? And since when is he Harry to you, anyway?"
Severus berated himself for his carelessness. Draco wasn't finished, however.
"And is the Dark Lord really dead? I figure you'd know if he was…"
Glad for the change of subject, Severus lifted his sleeve, leaving his arm's skin bare. There was no mark. Draco's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You mean that's true? Harry managed to kill him?"
"I only know for sure that he's gone. Forever, this time."
"And Harry? Why isn't he back? You don't think he's dead, do you?"
"I think it highly unlikely that the remaining Death Eaters would kill him so soon. They will want to make him pay, probably going to bring him near death and heal him several times, just for enjoyment…"
"Why aren't you with them, then? My father told me you were one of the most loyal followers of the Dark Lord. Surely you want to make him pay too, for killing your Master."
"I have no wish to discuss my loyalties with you, Draco. Lower your wand now."
"Not until you tell me where Harry is."
Severus snorted. "Then we're going to be stuck in here for a very long time."
"I don't think so. My father taught me some spells you may find amusing. I want to know where Harry is. NOW!"
"As do I."
"What do you mean?"
"Are you completely stupid? I wasn't there at the last Death Eaters meeting, because someone had stunned me. I have no way of knowing where he is!"
He must have let his frustration show, because Draco gave him a long look, trying to decipher his meaning. Severus felt the young mind probing his thoughts, and lifted his primary defences just for a second. It was enough for Draco to understand that he held no ill intentions about Harry, but not enough to understand the reasons behind this.
Draco's eyes widened, and he finally lowered his wand.
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Miles from there, Harry Potter abruptly came to awareness as a Death Eater cast Crucio on him. It only lasted for seconds before it was lifted, and he found himself in front of the very person he hated most.
"Potty Potter, " said Bellatrix Lestrange crazy voice. "You played a nasty tricky on us, making us think you were that naughty snappy Snape. And you took my master's powers away… But don't worry, he'll regain them, I'll make sure of that. He's Salazar Slytherin's heir after all. Anyway, you played with us, and now it's my turn to play with you. What do you say, puppet? Should we play?"
She smiled down at him, and then took out a long knife from under her sleeve. She spoke in a dreamy voice, polishing it with her eyes lost in thoughts:
"When I was younger, my daddy used to play with me, too. He would cast petrificus totalis on me, and make all kinds of nasty little cuts on my beautiful skin. He always had a lot of fun. I think I'll like it too…"
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"Severus, here you are. I was just about to send word for you."
"What did you wish to see me about, Albus?"
"I hear you didn't join in the celebrations yesterday. Why is that? Surely you don't think you need to keep your cover, with Voldemort gone for good, do you? You have done more than enough to repay your youth's sins. You are free to run your life as you wish, now. I of course would be glad if you decided to stay at Hogwarts to teach. Potions Masters are very hard to find, these days."
"Celebrating is just not in my habits, Albus. I assure you I'm rejoicing of the Dark Lord's demise, in my own way."
"About that matter, I have filed an official document to the Ministry, to let them know what role you played in this. I have no doubt you will soon receive an Order of Merlin First Class, as well as Mr Potter. His will be posthumous, of course."
"What do you mean, posthumous? You know as well as I do that he's not dead yet, we still have a chance to find him alive!"
"Do you have any idea where he might be?" challenged the Headmaster. "I cannot search every mile of the world. We don't even know if he's still in England. It would be far better for all of us to simply move on, I'm sure Harry would have agreed. I'll make sure he is remembered."
Severus could barely believe his ears. He wasn't about to look for him? He was just declaring him dead? He knew the Headmaster was right, of course, the chances of finding Harry were very slim, if not totally inexistent, but to hear him say that with such bluntness was disconcerting, to say the least. Severus wasn't about to abandon so easily.
He made up some excuse to leave and retired to his dongeons. He had books to read, and a son to save. Every second he wasted speaking with Albus, his fresh and blood was being tortured. The thought was unbearable.
I'll find you, Harry. I promise.
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