A/N: Yeah, I know, it's a short chapter.


Open Hand

"Fuck."

For once, none of Bunny's co-workers saw fit to scold him for his language, most likely because they were thinking the same thing.

"This is very much a problem." Tooth sighed after a long moment.

"That it is," Mary groaned.

She needed a drink.

One she felt she rightly deserved after discovering that the Dark Lord planned on invading a school full of children, oh and let's not forget that the invasion would only happen because of one student of said school, which is to happen before or after killing the Headmaster.

"Scratch that, I need a strong drink."

Sighing again, she went to do just that. "Anyone wants a drink while I'm up?" she asked as she made her way over to her cabinet where her favorite liquor was.

"I'll take one." Bunny raised his hand, his voice overlapping with his co-workers who also took her up on her offer.

A few cups in, and Mary felt ready to discuss more.

"Good news, we messed up their plans by getting Dumbledore fired," Mary told them, "bad news, Mr. Malfoy's being pressured to find a way in sooner."

"How do they know there's one in the first place?" Jack asked nursing his cup.

"According to Mr. Malfoy, one of the Death Eaters knew of a secret entrance into the school." Mary explained, "and once their forces were ready they would give Draco the signal and he would let them in."

"Which would have happened in May the latest, correct?" asked Tooth, continuing when she got a nod from Mary, "but with Dumbledore gone the time frame has been moved up."

"It looks that way."

"What a mess."

Mary poured herself another drink.

~.~

Draco Malfoy did not think he would be here, sitting in front of his Professors, with Harry Potter by his side; the teenager's hand in his own underneath the table, squeezing tightly as the Professors yelled at him.

"Mr. Malfoy, how could you!?"

"See, this why you should never trust a Slytherin!"

"You co-"

"Enough!"

The quiet that came with the command was so sudden, it might as well have whiplash.

"How dare you."

Draco doesn't flinch, but his heart fluttered in a kind of nervousness that he didn't feel earlier when the professors had been yelling at him. Beside him, Harry squeezed his hand once more.

Sandy's voice is kind of scratchy, like sand, but it held something strong, powerful; dangerous as he spoke. "How dare you sit here. And yell at this boy who has come to you for help."

Hagrid spoke up, "But-"

"Being upset is normal," Mary spoke up, placing a gentle hand on Sandy's shoulder, "especially with all that has happened, however one should not place the blame fully on one person. There is always another side to the story, but that is for another time, right now you need to plan and prepare."

Mary doesn't say they had a fault in that side of the story, from the memories and things told to her by the students, this was inventively honestly. From what she's seen there was no trust between Slytherin students and the other Professors.

"You heard the lady," Bunny's gaze is hard as he stared at Hagrid, who had opened his mouth, daring him to interrupt. "you lot need a plan, we came up with one, and want to run it by you."

A a long tense moment, Minerva spoke up, ".…What do you have in mind?"