OLD MAGIC

Chapter 13: Setting a Trap

A huge shape stepped from the darkness of the forest and walked across the green to the rustic hut that was the groundkeeper's home. Wine came alert and mewed a greeting.

"And a good evenin' to you, Wine. What brings you by tonight, eh?" Hagrid asked, as he dropped his load of firewood onto the woodpile near his front door.

Wine responded by rearing up in the air, forepaws waving, head raised upward.

"Ah, I see," Hagrid murmured, untying the ribbon that held the small paper tube around the kneazle's neck. Giving Wine a gentle caress to the head before standing up, he unwound the ribbon allowing the note to unroll. Frown lines creased his face as he read the missive then used a bit of magic to incinerate it when he'd finished. Glancing down at the kneazle, he said, "Thank you for deliverin' the message. Harry give you other instructions?"

The kneazle nodded dropping his body and going into a stalking pose as if he were hunting a mouse.

"Ahh...wants you to watch Professor Quirrell, eh? Good idea, but mind you don't let him spot you. Return to me if you see him doing something suspicious, especially if he's lurking about in areas he don't belong," Hagrid warned then suddenly he and the kneazle went still and alert, staring in the direction of the castle.

A dark form, it's clothing flapping around its body in the light evening breeze, was hurrying swiftly toward them. The warm light spilling from one of the hut's windows spilled over the approaching individual revealing a worried Professor Snape.

Saying nothing, Snape nodded toward the hut. Hagrid inclined his head in understanding, reaching out to open the door to his home then gesturing for the thin man to precede him. Giving Wine a brief nod farewell, Hagrid stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

Now alone, Wine sniffed the air, seeking any sign of danger. Finding none, he took off at a run for the castle.

Inside the hut, Hagrid eyed his guest thoughtfully, then asked, "Would you like some tea, soir?"

"No thank you Hagrid. I assume Wine has brought you a message from Harry about a certain professor?" Snape asked, taking a seat before the fire and getting down to business while he warmed his hands.

"Aye, just moments ago. I understand the boy's concern, something must be done quickly and he's taken the first step." Hagrid sat down in a huge chair he'd built for himself.

"And that is?" Snape asked, glancing up at the half-giant.

"Wine."

"Ahh, good idea. I only learned of this earlier today when Harry came to me with a headache caused by being in the presence of this malevolent spirit."

Hagrid flashed him a concerned look. "Harry's alright though?"

"He's fine. Except for the headache, nothing else seems to have happened to him. I gave him a dose of one of my better headache potions and it set him right immediately," Snape was quick to assure him.

"Tha's a relief, though the cure is often just as nasty as the pain itself," Hagrid teased, having been a recipient of some of the Professor's potions. "Would it kill you to try to make them taste a little better than Thestral piss?"

"What would be the fun in that," Snape said haughtily, a smile tugging at his lips.

Hagrid rolled his eyes and smiled at Snape's attempt at humor before getting back to the more serious subject at hand. "So, do we know what's taken up residence in the Dark Arts teacher?"

"I wager we both know who it might be but there is no way to know for certain unless we confront it or Wine is lucky enough to find proof of its true identity," Snape said.

The half giant frowned. "Aye, and confronting it be a bad idea, so we wait."

"Unfortunately, yes but once we know who we're dealing with then we must have a way to force it out of Quirrell and destroy it before it jumps to another body or escapes," Snape warned.

"Forcing it out mayn't be easy if Professor Quirrell has been possessed for too long, sir. Do you have a clue when this might have happened?" Hagrid asked.

Snape grimaced. "Everyone has noted Quirrell's been different since he returned to teach this year. He has an appalling lack of self preservation and has been known to traipse around the Forbidden Forest alone hunting for supplies, so the odds are good that it happened sometime this past summer."

Hagrid sighed and shook his head, his expression grave. "I'm afraid tis too late then, sir. All that can be done now is free the poor man's soul...what there is left of it."

Snape shivered at the finality of Hagrid's words. He may have not cared for Quirrell much as a person nor as a teacher but never would he wish such a fate on anyone. "Harry said he could only sense a thin shell left," he murmured, sadness in his tone.

Hagrid's eyes narrowed with anger. "The foul thing must be gotten rid of quickly. If it is our enemy then careful plans must be made to prevent him from escaping our grasp," he rumbled deep in his chest.

"But how do we destroy it?"

"My elders will know how to remove and destroy this thing, sir, have no fear of that," Hagrid assured him, solemnly.

"That's good news," Snape said relieved.

"However, we do still have another problem."

Snape raised his eyebrows in a questioning look.

"Professor Quirrell must be coaxed out of the castle and into the forest. We don't want anyone else to come to harm when this be done."

"That will be difficult as I've noted he trusts no one."

"But there's something he wants more than anything... that's if he be possessed by Voldemort."

Snape stared at the half giant, puzzlement in his eyes then a light went off as he realized what or rather who, Hagrid meant. "No! Absolutely not!" He shouted, fear and anger clogging his voice.

"Easy sir. You know I would never endanger the lad if it weren't the only way to do this. Harry's mind is well protected and he is the only thing that evil wants."

"I don't like it!"

"Neither do I and if you have a better idea, sir, I would be glad to drop mine for it," Hagrid admitted, quietly.

Snape jumped to his feet and went to stand near the window to stare blindly out into the night. Finally, he turned back to face the half-giant who stared at him quietly...waiting.

"I can't think of another way to do this," he admitted, bitterly. "Your plan does have the best chance of drawing Voldemort out of the castle and to his destruction. However, I insist on being at hand when it all goes down as extra protection for Harry," he said firmly.

"Aye, I thought you would," Hagrid nodded, smiling a little.

"So what is the whole plan?"

"Harry will leave the castle for the forest at dusk. We, meaning you and I, will be near wherever Quirrell may be and let him 'overhear' us saying Harry had been seen going into the forest alone and that I was going after him. You'll show some reluctance about me going alone but I convince you to stay and let me handle this. You go off on your normal rounds while I head outside," Hagrid explained.

"Once you're out of sight, slip outside and head toward the Whomping Willow. Come around from that direction toward my hut then go beyond the paddocks and into the forest at that point. That is where I'm sending Harry. I will head openly toward my hut so Quirrell can follow easily."

"How will we know if he's taken the bait? I certainly don't want to accidentally run into him and ruin the plan," Snape asked, concerned.

"Wine will be our spy. He'll keep by Quirrell's side and when he takes the bait and heads where we want him, Wine can hurry ahead to let me know, alert Harry and the others, then inform you so he can bring you to where the others wait."

Snape thought about the plan for some moments then nodded. "I see no flaws in it," he admitted reluctantly. Coming back to sit across from Hagrid, he sighed. "Then what's left to be done is for you to contact your elders while I return to the castle and pretend nothings going on. Do you want me to tell Harry what we planned or do you want to do it?"

Hagrid frowned a moment. "I do need to leave by sunrise to speak to my elders ... hmm ... perhaps, you best do it as I mayn't have time between notifying who I need to and returning to set up the trap. Also, you would be easiest for Wine to contact with what he finds out."

"True. It's fortunate Wine has the ability to be invisible. Even though the Dark Lord feels all non-wizard creatures are beneath his notice and no threat, he does know a kneazle in the castle means someone's familiar and will be careful of giving himself away."

He turned his head away and stared out into the night, saying nothing more for some minutes. Hagrid let him, his own thoughts preoccupying him until Snape broke the silence again.

"Quirrell is a poor Dark Arts instructor but I can't help but feel some pity for the poor fool for getting into such a situation with no way out...nothing to do but watch himself be eaten away bit by bit." He shuddered at the thought. "I do have to wonder how he came to be possessed. What little I know about it, the host has to be willing."

Hagrid gave him sad eyes. "...and normally that'd be true Professor, however Voldemort is na normal spirit. His dark magic is well up to the task of taking what he wants..."

"...which is why we are nearly certain it is he in that body..." Snape finished unhappily.

"Aye."

Sighing again, Snape rose to his feet. "Time for me to return to the castle. I hope I have something definitive to tell you when you return, however, it could be days before Wine has something for us."

"Aye, I'm aware of that but I'll at least have the plan in place till that moment we can strike."

Snape nodded. "Do you need me to provide cover for you?"

"Only if someone asks," Hagrid said, grateful for the man's assistance. "You can tell them I've gone to speak with the leader of the centaurs... it be only partly a lie as I do need to speak with Magorian about the plan and his part in it. I should be back by day after tomorrow."

Snape nodded. Hagrid rose and escorted the man to the door, opening it and saying, "Have a quiet evening and be careful, Professor."

"You as well, Hagrid." Snape turned away and hurried off toward the castle, the door of the hut closing behind with a thud.

As he walked, Snape thought about the evil walking the halls of Hogwarts right this minute. It would be the end of this damnable war if they succeeded in destroying it but he wasn't that optimistic. The Dark Lord always seemed to come out on top and he was afraid he just might do that again even if he was nothing more than a wandering spirit.

Reaching the heavy doors that guarded the castle, he pulled one of them open and slipped inside. Stalking across the foyer he made for the dungeon as the clock struck eleven.

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In a little used corridor, a dark figure wearing a turban on its head was pacing back and forth, muttering to itself. Hidden from view and watching from the thick heavy crossbeams of the ceiling, a pair of eyes peered down and listened hard.

"We must get the boy alone!" A sibilant whisper ordered, harshly.

"B-b-but m-m-master! How will I d-d-do that?" Quirrell stuttered, nervously, licking his lips and looking around to ensure they remained alone.

"Watch for an opportunity then do what I demand!" The eerie voice snapped, annoyed with his minion.

"Y-y-yes sir," the poor man said miserably then headed down the corridor, an invisible form following him.

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A/N: Sorry for taking so long with this but I'm having great difficulty plotting this story out. It's just not my usual genre. I'll keep plunking at it as I don't believe in leaving stories incomplete. Please be patient. And thanks to all of you dear readers who have reviewed and are enjoying this story. You are what keeps me going.