Disclaimer: Draco Malfoy belongs to JK Rowling.
A/N: I was originally going to break down the chapter count in Book 6 as 4-4-6-5-6-5 to keep it on pace with Book 3 when we get there. But since I'm not going to write the readings interleaved with each other anymore, I'm going to make it 7-7-4-4-4-4. That's a more sensible pace balancing the urgency of the reading on the weekend with having actual work to do during the week. So Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape will be covering seven chapters of Half-Blood Prince in this chapter, and in the next.
Chapter 3: Saturday
Albus Dumbledore sent an owl to Madam Bones on Saturday morning informing her (in appropriately vague terms) that he had no new developments to report. He suspected she would appreciate the extra time to devote to other pressing matters.
Minerva McGonagall was certainly glad of the extra time to relax in the morning. With the breakneck pace of the readings, both public and private, plus the duties of Headmistress and her classes (she was still covering N.E.W.T. Transfiguration), she'd had far too little time to breathe over the past week, and next week looked no better.
Severus Snape, though his duties were now much reduced as the full-time Deputy Headmaster, was also feeling the strain. However, for his part, he was still more affected by what he had read last night about the prophecy regarding Potter. He spent a lot of that morning contemplating the narrative of the books, whether it would necessarily lead to Potter winning the war and surviving it (not necessarily the same thing), and whether the ending of the books was bound to follow narrative conventions in any case given that they also described real-world events.
By agreement, the three of them met up again in the Headmistress's office after lunch, so that they would not be reading long into the night.
"We do not need to read the whole book at once," Albus said, "nor do we need to spend all day on it. However, I do believe that we should take the opportunity to increase our pace over the weekend. That should lessen some of the pressure to push forward in the coming week."
Minerva sighed. "I suppose we can afford to spend more time on reading today," she said. "We might as well make the most of it."
"Agreed," said Severus.
"I have brought copies of the next book," Albus said. He produced three large books (though not quite as large as the monster they had just finished) and handed two of them to his colleagues. "It is titled, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."
Severus nearly dropped his copy in surprise.
"Severus? Is something the matter?" Minerva asked.
"Yes—or, perhaps," he said. "That title. How would he know?"
"Pardon me?" she said.
He groaned just perceptibly. "I am the Half-Blood Prince, Minerva," he said. "My mother's maiden name was Prince, you may recall. But I told that…nickname for myself to very few people. In Slytherin, I did not advertise my blood status if I could help it. I don't know how Potter could ever find out about it."
"Hm. Presumably he finds out from someone who knows you in this book," she mused. "I find it interesting that you're named in the title, though. The…yes, the only other person described in the titles was Sirius Black."
He scowled. "The same Black who is now dead in the story," he pointed out. "Why do I have the feeling this is going to go poorly?"
"Well, perhaps you will get lucky, Severus," she said. "Let's get to it, then." They opened the books and began to read.
Chapter 1: The Other Minister
"Well, that was certainly…different," Minerva concluded. "I do wonder where the author of these books is supposed to get—or have got her information. Very few of the chapters are not from Potter's point of view, and when they are, they contain information that no one ought to know…although getting Potter to talk this much about his life may be an even greater challenge."
"Ah, the mysteries of time," Albus mused, "although in this case, interviews after the fact may be the simplest explanation. In any case, this was an unusually helpful chapter, despite the change in subject matter. We now have an extensive lists of the Death Eaters' likely targets. I am sure Amelia will be pleased."
"Or worried. This was meant to be only the second week after the revelation of You-Know-Who's return," Minerva pointed out. "Some of these attacks could be imminent, especially the one on her."
"With luck, we have a little more time than that," he replied. "Voldemort is as yet delayed by the prophecy, and he has not had as much time to recruit. Even so, as he is forced out into the open, it is only a matter of time before he strikes back."
"It also hints at our actions," Severus observed. "Shacklebolt was meant to guard the muggle Prime Minister; he is now a professor. Do you want to make the effort to put one of our people on the task now?"
"I think that is not necessary," Albus said. "The Prime Minister is the Ministry for Magic's business more than the Order's."
"For what amount of good it will do," Minerva said. "It seems to me that Fudge's cavalier attitude toward the muggle Prime Minister may come back to haunt us. Honestly, I'm surprised he was as sympathetic as he was to Fudge."
"A not uncommon problem at the Ministry, I am afraid. We will make do," he assured her.
"Hmm. I still say the Ministry needs an eye kept on it, and I would have done anyway. And I did notice how Fudge and Scrimgeour both want to use Potter—for what is only vaguely implied, although it seems to be political."
"Probably something banal and performative," Severus replied, rolling his eyes. "Reassure the populous that the Ministry has things in hand or some such. I wouldn't worry. Potter is hardly the cooperative sort."
"No, with the Ministry, I suppose not. Well, you'll certainly have plenty to report, Albus, but I suppose we should keep going."
They turned to the second chapter, but at once, Severus's eyes widened, and he stared at the page in surprise. "Spinner's End?" he said under his breath.
"Isn't that—" Minerva started.
"Where my house is, yes. Why any action would be happening at my house, I do not know, but I doubt it's for a good reason." He grumbled. "Well, let's get it over with."
Chapter 2: Spinner's End
If he was nervous before the chapter, Severus was definitely regretting this reading afterwards. He looked up at his two colleagues and immediately saw Minerva eyeing him suspiciously with a feline stare. He looked over at Albus. The old man was appraising him with that thoughtful look he got whenever he was planning something. Severus wasn't sure which one worried him more—although Minerva was the more immediate concern. The two of them stared each other down.
Finally, Albus broke the silence: "That was certainly an unexpected turn."
"I have a few other words I'd use for that chapter, Albus," Minerva replied drily.
Severus decided to head her off: "If you have something to say, then say it, Minerva."
"Isn't it obvious, Severus," she said. "I know Albus trusts you, but this glimpse of the future makes me wonder. You made an Unbreakable Vow to finish Malfoy's mission for You-Know-Who. You nearly offered it yourself!" She paused and took a deep breath to collect herself. "I know the book didn't tell us what it is, but it's something dangerous enough that You-Know-Who expected Malfoy to die trying, and…" She flipped back and checked the book again. "Yes, and Narcissa implied it was something even You-Know-Who himself had trouble with. And besides that, you helped You-Know-Who murder Emmeline! Tell me why we should continue to accept your loyalty to the Order?"
For a moment, Severus was brought up short. The Vow was confusing, but the death of Emmeline Vance was…not unexpected, but that he had taken credit for it was a tad jarring, not knowing the context around it. He paused, considering, and flipped back to that page to begin piecing together what the book didn't say. "I also took credit for Black's own blunder getting himself killed," he said. "These secondhand reports cannot be trusted. Regardless, if the Order did not accept some risk attached to what I tell the Dark Lord, he would never trust me as a spy."
Minerva's mouth pressed into a thin line, and he was reminded uncomfortably of his days as a student. "That may be, but you are a double agent. How can we be any more sure you're on our side than You-Know-Who is?"
"I do still trust Severus, Minerva," Albus interrupted.
She started and turned to him. "Still?" she said incredulously. "And why is that? Has Severus ever given you an Unbreakable Vow, Albus?"
"I have never asked him for one."
"Why not?"
"Because I have no need of such crude methods."
"Hm…I suppose you've always been too noble for such things. I know you've always hinted to us that you have some ironclad reason to trust Severus, but without knowing it, I'm really starting to wonder if we're pressing our luck. Should we even be allowing him to read this book?"
Albus shook his head: "I have no reservations. The reasons why I trust Severus are between the two of us. However, they are strong enough that I do not doubt him even now. Regardless, if Severus were truly loyal to Voldemort, then he would have told Voldemort the full prophecy last night, if not attempted to steal the remaining books for him."
Minerva didn't look convinced. "Then what was the Vow for?" she demanded. "To kill Potter? To kill you?"
"Enough!" Severus cut in, turning their attention back to him. He gave a resigned sigh. "I may as well tell her, Albus," he said, before turning to Minerva. "Since I can foresee that this conversation will not be resolved and may grow all the more contentious over the course of this book…" Severus raised his wand and waved it over his head. "Expecto Patronum," he muttered, and a silver light appeared, coalescing into the shape of a doe.
"Lily!" she gasped, her eyes widening. She looked to Albus, who merely nodded. "Really? With how you've got on with Potter all this time, I would have thought—"
"I have been made acutely aware of my shortcomings in that regard in the past two weeks," he said sadly. "My opinion of him today has changed less, but I was a fool to assume he was his father. But that is immaterial. Whatever I think of him, I can assure you, Minerva, that my loyalty to the cause—" He glanced at the doe again. "—has never wavered."
The doe vanished, but the impression it left on her remained. The Patronus Charm didn't lie.
"Severus has proved his loyalty by his actions for many years," Albus confirmed. "In the books alone, you have seen that he protected Harry when he did not have to. He passed over opportunities to harm him. And he returned to Voldemort as a double agent when he could have remained here under my protection."
"Very well," she said. "I believe you, Albus. But that leaves me even more confused as to what this Unbreakable Vow business is about. I don't suppose you have any insights?"
"Not as yet, I am afraid," Albus said.
"Nor do I," Severus agreed. "I will say that, for obvious reasons, I do not believe I would break it unless it would lead directly to the death of the Dark Lord, and I would have considered that before making it. Thus, I can only assume that whatever concession it demands of me—of us—will be worth it."
"It had better be," she shot back. She looked back at the book again, leafing through the pages. "I assume that story is accurate to how you got back in You-Know-Who's good graces."
"It is," he confirmed.
"Hm. And don't think I didn't miss that boast about You-Know-Who being the greatest Legilimens in the world."
"An exaggeration, perhaps," Albus said with a hint of a smile, "though I do not doubt your remarkable ability with Occlumency, Severus."
"I assure you, it has not been easy," he said. "Now, is there any more, or can we move on with this book."
Albus reviewed his notes. "Just a small remark on Bellatrix's part, one that even you may not have noticed in the moment, Severus. 'The Dark Lord has, in the past, entrusted me with his most precious—' something. Not 'important' or 'closely-held,' but 'precious,' implying that it is a material possession."
"Meaning what?" Severus asked.
"Something that I suspect will be revealed in due time with further reading," he told them, "and if I am right, the key to Voldemort's downfall."
Severus grumbled at this. It figured Albus was keeping him out of the loop until they came to the point, but he said, "Fine. Let's keep going, then."
Chapter 3: Will and Won't
Thankfully, after the revelations of the previous chapter, the return to Harry's story was mostly uneventful.
"Still not the best situation, but going as well as can be expected," Minerva concluded. "But what happened to your hand, Albus? That sounded like a serious curse."
"Severus did mention an injury, although as it did not occur during the duel in the last book, I can only guess where I was when I received it. However, it sounds as if the damage was largely cosmetic."
"It sounds as if you're good at hiding it, you mean," she countered. "I'm not as familiar with dark curses as either of you, but I'm no fool."
"No, of course not, Minerva," he said kindly, "but at this point, I think only time will tell."
"I have a feeling that's going to come up a lot in this book. And I worry about Potter," she added. "Everyone learnt there was a prophecy. That's attention that the boy doesn't need. And his trust in you might not be so strong if he was that doubtful you would come to him."
"I hope that I can serve him better than that," Albus said. "However, you must recall that at this point in time, Harry has suffered a devastating loss very recently, one for which I partially blamed myself. It is understandable that his trust in others is at a low point, but I have hope that it can be mended."
"Shall we continue?" Severus cut in. "There seemed to be little development here."
"Just the Inferi, although that could just be paranoid rumour," Minerva pointed out. "Yes, I suppose we might as well."
They agreed and continued reading.
Chapter 4: Horace Slughorn
"I take it that this chapter proceeded similarly to how you and Potter persuaded Horace to return to the school last week?" asked Minerva.
"Quite similarly," Albus replied, "although as he was not in the bath, he had more forewarning, and we very nearly missed him when he attempted to Apparate away."
"Then you mean to tell me Horace has been moving every week since last summer? With a piano in tow?"
"He has. Horace, for all his good points, is quite the predictable fellow, and ostentatious."
"Like a great spider, Potter thought," she recalled with a smile. "I daresay he has the measure of the man." Then, her smile fell as she remembered that many of these events had already happened, and whatever Albus was planning with that move, it was already in motion. "And did you collect him for the same reason last week as you did in the book?" she asked shrewdly.
"Very nearly, I think," he admitted. "After all, in both cases, we needed to fill a vacant position on the staff."
"That isn't what I meant, and you know it, Albus. I smell one of your elaborate schemes regarding Potter and Horace, here. I do hope it's less dangerous than the madness you perpetrated in the boy's first year."
"Oh, that is certainly true. Harry will be under no threat from Horace, and you will note that I told Harry directly that Horace would try to collect him. Indeed, it was not so urgent to bring Horace back into the fold last week. I thought it a mission of opportunity with you moving to your new position, Severus, but the plan I have imagined can wait. Indeed, I now see that I am likely to achieve my goal for it merely by reading about it."
"And that goal is?" Severus asked.
"Information, naturally. Horace was Lord Voldemort's Head of House in his school days. I daresay he knows more of Tom's secrets of anyone who is not a Death Eater themselves, or dead."
"And you couldn't ask him yourself?" Minerva asked.
"I have, in the intervening days," Albus explained. "However, Horace is very tight-lipped about it, given the shame of his past failures. I believed Harry might be more persuasive. However, as it stands now, the book will likely resolve the matter more quickly."
"And the private lessons?" asked Severus.
"Part of the plan that I made when he began his Occlumency lessons. If these books do not resolve matters, I may yet read him in, but as things stand, it should not be necessary."
Severus couldn't fault that. Giving Potter some formal training probably would have been wise to do sooner, however successful he was with self-study. "Also on that matter, do you think it wise for Granger and Weasley to be told the prophecy?" he continued.
"Less risky than for Harry himself to know it in full. I would certainly trust Miss Granger. And while young Ronald is a shade less cautious, he would not betray Harry's secrets regarding something so important. If that is all…?"
"Just one other thing, Albus," Minerva cut in. "That ring on your cursed hand. I thought it was odd how the story pointed it out. Is that one you have now? Do you have something to help with the damage or…" It was hard to imagine why else he might be wearing it.
"It is not mine, though of its meaning, I am not certain. I am sure the answers will reveal themselves in time. Let us continue."
Chapter 5: An Excess of Phlegm
Minerva shook her head after seeing Harry's disappointed reaction to his O.W.L. marks. "It seems no one told Potter about remedial Potions courses as an alternate career track." Which he probably should have known since he knew Kwikspell existed. "I suppose I should have told him during his career session, but Umbridge had to interfere. I will be sure that Aurora knows to cover that."
"I should think that is moot now that Horace has taken over the position," Severus countered. "I'm well aware that his standards are more lax than mine are. If he manages those marks, Potter will get into his class easily."
Minerva rolled her eyes. "Horace's standards are what almost everyone follows except you, Severus. And mark my words, if you were still teaching, I would be having a talk with you about that…" She considered a moment longer. "I suppose you are technically correct, but it's good practice regardless. And I'll suggest for a Aurora to have a talk with Miss Granger as well. If that girl thinks she's failed all of her exams, then we aren't doing a good enough job of keeping her grounded. As for the Weasleys—"
"I think we can dispense with the family drama," Severus stopped her sharply.
"Ah—very well," she admitted. "But Molly does have a point about the security measures. There are better ways to detect impostors. In the Weasleys' case, their clock is a far better indicator."
"Something I am sure that most witches and wizards will realise," Albus said gently. "But Ministry regulations are often foolish and troublesome things. On other matters, however, the book continues to provide us with useful clues. I will recommend Arthur to Amelia for a new Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects."
Minerva resisted the urge to roll her eyes again. Of course Albus remembered the full name. "Perhaps recommend her a shorter name when you do."
"Mm, yes, a wise suggestion," he said.
"Now, next is…'Draco's Detour,'" she read the next chapter title. "Ah, perhaps we'll learn more about his plan after all."
"I doubt it," Severus told her. "If you recall, the book is written from Potter's perspective. Draco is not foolish enough to let it slip to him so easily." But he started to read nonetheless.
Chapter 6: Draco's Detour
"And in typical Gryffindor fashion, Granger was too clever for her own good and utterly lacking in subtlety," he concluded. "All she succeeded in doing was to place a target on her back, if the story had spread far enough."
Minerva wanted to defend her former charge, but she couldn't refute that. Asking questions that pointed would only tip off the enemy that she was onto them. Anyone who had lived through the first war would know that. It was probably lucky that Borgin didn't want to be involved. "At least we learnt something," she concluded. "It appears Malfoy's mission involves some sort of dark artefact from Borgin and Burkes."
"Assuming Potter interpreted what he heard correctly," Severus pointed out.
"He was certainly interested in something in there, and he didn't want his mother to know about it. If it wasn't his mission, I daresay he was up to some other kind of trouble."
Albus nodded. "It appears likely that the artefact was related to Draco's mission," he agreed.
"And fixing a duplicate of it?" she asked.
"That part was less clear. He may have wished to keep one in reserve, outside the school's security, in case his first attempt failed. There are too many artefacts that pass through that shop to know what it was. It may not even be there yet."
"And what had Borgin so frightened? The Dark Mark?" she continued. "I wouldn't have thought, but Malfoy was sensitive about his left arm, wasn't he?"
Severus considered it. "Unlikely, I think," he said. "Draco would not be considered worthy, and there would be too much risk of it being discovered in the school. It may have merely been some sort of token from Greyback."
"Being able to threaten Fenrir Greyback on people is no small matter," she said, then she started as a thought struck her. "Another problem: how likely is it that Malfoy or someone will be given the same mission now?"
"Before Easter holidays, very unlikely," he assured her. "That is the sort of mission the Dark Lord will want to give in person. And in any case, if the mission were in the school, I would hear about it."
"Hm. Small mercies, there."
"As I said before, I believe we have some time," Albus told them. "In any case, I am heartened to see that the Weasley Twins will be able to do so well for themselves with their shop."
Severus just glared at him, and Minerva arched an eyebrow. "U-No-Poo?" she said.
"Perhaps not their most well-considered frivolity, but we may be thankful that they did not go in the other direction with the Skivving Snackboxes." Minerva and Severus both shuddered at the thought. "The shield cloaks are certain to be useful, however. In fact, I will suggest that to them presently. Even if we successfully end the war in a few weeks, they will be a valuable product for the Ministry." He grew more sombre. "Meanwhile, we can also add Ollivander, and Fortescue, oddly enough, to the list of targets."
"That was strange, Albus," Minerva said. "Why Fortescue?"
"I do not know. Perhaps the answers are still to come."
Chapter 7: The Slug Club
"That was cruel even by Malfoy's standards," Minerva said, glaring at Severus, which he felt was quite misplaced by this point.
"Draco is a sixteen-year-old boy with a lifelong antagonism to Potter. I am hardly surprised." He refrained from stating, but could tell Minerva suspected, that there was a time when he would have loved to do something like that to James. However, hearing about the younger Potter going through it now was less than satisfying.
"Well, I suppose we can conclude that Malfoy's mission isn't to kill Potter, or he would have done so," she concluded. "In fact, it's rather disturbing that he could have done it so easily."
"No," he said firmly. "Prophecy or no prophecy, the Dark Lord's pride will allow no one to kill Potter but himself to prove that he is stronger…As foolish as Potter was to fall into such a trap."
"Speaking of which, Potter seems entirely convinced that Malfoy was given the Dark Mark for his mission."
Severus sighed. "I cannot rule it out, I admit. Perhaps the Dark Lord thinks that keeping the Mark hidden is a prerequisite to a more difficult mission. Or perhaps it could be a further humiliation, proving that he was not qualified to be a Death Eater. I still do not consider it likely. The Dark Lord does not give the Dark Mark to just anyone. For Draco to be Marked, and then exposed, would bring too much loss of face."
"Maybe…Well, I suppose it doesn't matter overmuch in the end," Minerva said. "We know that Malfoy has his mission, which is worrying enough—and, it seems, not something we were prepared to anticipate. I admit that I would be reluctant to accept it myself if it weren't for the book."
"That may be Draco's chief advantage," Albus suggested. "As loudly as he praises Voldemort and the Death Eaters, few would suspect him of being given any real responsibility."
"Except you would know, wouldn't you?" she asked.
"From what we have read, I would be well aware of the situation, although as yet, I can only guess at my response to it."
She sighed: "I suppose that will have to be enough. With luck, it won't come up…er, this time around, shall we call it?" She thought and jotted down one more note. "I'll advise Filius to keep an eye on Lovegood. After the last book, I fear that girl may need more support than her friends can give her. Now, should we find out what happened with Potter?"
"It's early enough in the book that I think we can assume Potter will make it to school alive," Severus said. "Albus, if you agree, I think we have enough material for one day."
Albus nodded. "I am sure that this will be more information than Amelia knows what to do with, given the security expenses involved. We can turn our attention to the next school year tomorrow."
A/N: I've mentioned before that I've struggled to think of an alternate way to handle the horcrux in Bellatrix's vault in fanfic, so imagine my surprise when Bellatrix actually hinted she had one at the beginning of Book 6. (I'm kind of surprised I missed that before.) If Snape had known about horcruxes and caught that, it would have been a large improvement of the usual fanfic method of just guessing that she has one.
