A/N: To the guest who so gently suggested that the PM had been sent by an account close to mine, they would have then simply had to reply to it, or click on the name to reach out to that person. This was targeted trolling, but it's great that you see the best in people :)
Yes the cliffhangers shall be addressed in this chapter!
Thank you for sticking with me :) Enjoy!
Auror Friedrich had located Karkroff hidden deep in the Taiga. Living off the land on fish and moose. Covered in bearskin Karkroff looked like a deer in the headlights when he came face to face with another wizard. Their duel had nearly destroyed the center of the forest where Karkroff was hidden. As he lay there exhausted and bleeding, Friedrich walked up to him and said "Those who can't do… Teach… I suppose that's true after all…"
"Please… don't take me to him… Just kill me now… please…" Karkroff begged
"I'm sorry, but your old friend paid a handsome price for you…" Friedrich replied as he bound him and charmed a piece of wood to become a portkey to Wiltshire. "You are a apparently necessary sacrifice…" he whispered and with a faint pop they were gone, leaving muggle scientists to wonder what happened there.
—
Hermione wasn't sure herself if she had a plan, but she was making one up as she headed out of the castle towards the dark forest. Meanwhile Draco shrunk and pocketed whatever that cursed object that Filch was supposed to plant on potter was. He was not sure what to do with it just yet. He decided to head to the only person he was sure he could trust. His godfather.
He came to a sliding halt outside the door of the positions classroom. He hoped to merlin that Snape was in there. He knocked and heard a curt "Enter…" so he stepped in
Snap was sitting at his teaching desk looking calm and disinterested in the essay he was supposed to be grading. Draco knew better, Snape's shoulders were tight and lips were thin and his entire posture had been crafted to appear calm while a storm raged within
"Draco?…" Snape said glancing at the door
"I came alone, I was not followed… I need your help… Hermione is in the woods…" Draco said softly
Snape nodded and stood up walking towards his office and Draco followed once inside with powerful silencing charms he asked "Where's Ms. Granger?"
"I don't know, she said that the Dumbeldore's Army was building some kind of weapon and she was going to show Umbridge where it was and she just left with her at wand point… but…"
"What?!" Snape said "What weapon?"
"Oh no I don't think it exists… it was all made up… actually Hermione asked to meet me urgently, she didn't tell me what about but since she got Potter's cloak, I figured it was urgent but then we heard Umbridge plotting to put this cursed object in potter's things…" Draco said in a rush putting the now restored to original size bag on Snape's Desk.
"Okay so where is Ms. Granger taking her?" Snape asked
"I umm… I'm not sure, but she's wandless…" Draco said "… oh and Umbridge confessed to sending Dementor's to potter's home… If that is relevant…" Draco finished looking at his Godfather….
"…" Snape was nonplussed for a second "Umbridge confessed to what?" Snape asked slowly
"Sending…. Dementor's…. to potters home…" Draco said confused about how that was supposed to help Hermione. Why was everything about that boy anyway
"Draco, leave 's stuff with me. Go to your dorms and stay there." Snape said sternly
"But Hermio…" Draco started with concern
"Is a student and I will find her and ensure that no harm comes to her. Now go." Snape said with finality
Draco knew when he had been dismissed and left.
Snape threw in a handful of powder into the floor "Minerva! Minerva!" He called out stressed
McGonagall came to the fire "Severus?"
Snape ignored her and continued "you need to get Potter to find Ms. Granger on his father's map. Umbridge has abducted her…"
"What on earth! Snape the floor being monitored?" McGonagall hissed
"I'm sure we can discuss the details over tea Minerva, but right now I have a Godson in distress and Mr. Potter is Ms. Granger's best bet…"
"I can't believe the 4 of them did something worthwhile…" She mumbled as she walked out of study thinking about the mauruders and all the mayhem they used to make
Once she left, Snape scribbled a short note on a piece of parchment. He grabbed a little string and walked up to the old Headmaster's office. Fawks was sitting there on his perch chirping happily.
"I thought you might be here… Can you get a message to him?" Snape asked the bird
Fawks tilted his head and looked Snape up and down and then lifted his leg. Snape tied the note and Fawks flew out the window.
—
The screams of Umbridge being carried away by the centaurs were nothing compared to the howls or horror that Karkroff was enduring at the hands of Voldemort. After all, he was supposed to have been the general building International relations and ensuring that the Dark lord has an army of creatures from the Dark Forests of Albania to command. Instead he had been busy doing nothing and playing headmaster.
The Carrows were throughly enjoying every curse they used on him. The twins were great healers and so they knew exactly how and where to cause pain. They were the perfect instruments of torture and Karkroff was their new plaything.
Disgusted by the gore of it all, Narcissa had found the perfect excuse for avoiding their house guest by taking her sister and herself to Gringotts. Bellatirx had taken polyjuice potion to look like some muggle from one of the smaller towns near Wiltshire. However They both knew that 'The Thief's Downfall' would reveal her and so Griphook was key because he could open the vaults beyond that point and he knew what was at stake.
Once they arrived, the dragon was shoved aside by the clackers and the vault was opened. Bellatrix's vault was a mess. Narcissa had kept her's organised and had even insisted that the interests be dumped in specific containers so that she can keep a record. She had even paid a large sum to Gringots to install shelves and and cases where she could keep here jewels. Bellatrix's vault looked like a hot mess of gold and priceless artefacts dumped in the center. It broke Narcissa's heart to see how come heirlooms had been trashed. Bellatrix however, was unconcerned and was pushing the gold and jewels aside and then she saw it lying on top of a pile. She climbed up to it like child reaching for a hidden easter egg and grabbed the cup of Huffelpuff, it burned her hand "Aaah! Dammit! I forgot I put the Gemino Curse on it!" She said dropping it as it multiplied. Casting the counter curse, she picked up the cup and brought it over to Narcissa…
"Thisss" Said Bellatrix leering "This is what he asked me to keep safe for him Cissa… Look at it!"
"What is it?" Narcissa asked fearing the worst
"It's a cup 'Cissa… Are you blind?" Bellatrix said annoyed
"I can see that, but what's so special about it Bella?" Narcissa was pushing her hoping to discover something more…
"No… Well, I don't know… look at it though, looks like an artefact…" Bella said dangling it in front of her sister's face
That's when Narcissa saw it and gasped. She reached out for it and Bella pulled it away "No! Mine!" Bella said
"Of course it's yours, but look at it… It looks like it has the Huffelpuff insignia on it…" Narcissa said carefully to keep her hands clasped as she tried to look at it
"Eugh!" Bella said dropping it in disgust "Huffelpuff, why would he want anything to do with that! He's the heir of Slytherin… he's not going to need that…" Bella said kicking the cup and then cackled, she then got distracted with the gold and jewels
Narcissa picked pocketed the cup while she wasn't looking.
"This!" Bellatrix said standing up holding a box. Narcissa nearly jumped out of her skin with shock. "These were regulus's cufflinks… I think they put half the stuff in my vault and half in yours after he paid a life debt to the dark lord…" Bella said proudly "Draco should have these… Regulus was a good solider, Draco will also be…"
"Yes… I think they will look lovely with the robes I'm getting for his birthday…" Narcissa gave her the best fake smile she could muster
After that, they made a stop at Narcissa's vault and then left the secure section. After crossing the waterfall, Narcissa ensured Bellatrix had a swig of her Polyjuice before they got on to the main floor of the bank. Griphook made a stop at Mr. Burk's on his way home and picked up his priceless payment and forgetting anything that happened in the vaults that day.
—
By the time they got back, the men had concluded their business and Lucius was in his study. After ensuring they were alone, Narcissa handed him the cup. Lucius examined it and hid it in a pouch sewn into his travel robes. He knew he had to go back to Gindelwald to ask him about the cup, but he had missed his wife. The cup had waited almost 20 years to be discovered, what was one more night.
That night as Lucius and Narcissa made love, they don't know if it was fear, lust or the thrill of it all that was driving them. They writhed in pleasure as their bodies contorted over and around each other. They were clinging to hope, they were clawing at the possibilities, they were sucking away at the sensitive spots to lose all rational thought. Because they knew if they thought rationally, they would die. Their moans of pleasure were the euphoria that made them feel invincible. Together, they could do anything.
Narcissa was in control, she was always in control. She dominated him and even relented to him. It was not just the way she felt but the look in her eyes that turned Lucius on. He watched his wife command his attentions. She guided his face to her lower lips where his tongue strove to match her the pleasure she was giving him. She rode him as he guided his hands to her breasts. She bucked her hips to match his thrusts. And when she had finally had her fill, she let him twist and toss her as she kissed him and teased him with here looks and the tips of her fingers till he made her want more.
—
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley can I see you for a moment please" Minerva McGonagall's presence in the Gryffindor dorms had quite the impact on everyone. Everyone was straightening up or pretending to be actually studying. Harry and Ron who had been sitting in a corner discussing what other mischief his father and Sirius could have gotten up to were quite shocked to hear their names because for once they were sure they hadn't done anything.
"Yes professor" They said in unison stepping out of the portrait hole
"I understand that you have… inherited…. a map of the school that shows where everyone is at all times?" McGonagall said seriously
"Umm…" Harry and Ron were in shock, they were sure the map was their secret
"The portraits can talk you know… We don't hang them around the school just for the aesthetics… " McGonagall said stiffly
"Yes mam, but I've never…" Harry began
"Remus told me how you can be trusted with it. Save it for another time Mr. Potter… Please fetch that and come join me, we need to find Professor Umbridge and Ms. Granger…" McGonagall
"What's happened?" Ron asked concerned
"It seems that Ms. Granger is leading Ms. Umbridge to a weapon that the DA built for Headmaster Dumbledore… I believe that she has Ms. Granger hostage, now if you would hurry up we can get to them before anything truly damaging happens…" McGonagall snapped irritated with lot of them. Oh she swore she would let Snape have it when they had tea next time…
Hermione was running out of the woods by the time McGonagall, Ron and Harry got to her.
"There! Professor!" Ron said running in her direction followed by Harry
"Mione are you okay?! Are you Hurt?! What weapon? What did Umbridge do?" Ron and Harry bombarded her with questions but Hermione was very worried looking at Professor McGonagall behind them
"Are you okay Ms. Granger? Where is Professor Umbridge?" McGonagall asked
"I'm so sorry professor, but Umbridge was going to put something cursed in Harry's luggage to get him expelled and she was the one who send the dementors to his house… and she's been using veritaserum to question the students…" Hermione was rambling
"It's okay Ms. Granger… breath… good…Now, tell me where is Professor Umbridge?" McGonagall asked again gently
"I… I…. She… I took her Grawp and she got carried away by the centaurs…" Hermione wailed
"She what!" Harry and Ron could barely control their laughter
"Oh…" Professor McGonangall said and then after a pause continued "well, they can't hurt witches and wizards, we have a pact, besides she is teaching Dark Arts, I'm sure she can handle herself… Let's get you inside and you can tell me exactly what happened…" She said putting a hand on Hermione's shoulder leading her in
Hermione was confused and Harry and Ron couldn't stop snickering…
See you next weekend!
And yes I promise I will get to the revelation in the letter soon!
Please review!