Chapter Sixteen- Secret Learned
Dumbledore was absent in the weeks since Harry's last lesson, but this time, Harry was sure the headmaster was acquiring at least one memory in addition to whatever else he was doing. He was busy with classes, homework, Quidditch, Apparition, and being intimate with Snape. Spring was approaching and his thoughts were turning to love.
Snape too felt more intimate and this relaxed his strict behavior when teaching. He merely claimed he had spring fever; only the Gryffindors knew the truth as Harry was also as relaxed.
Snape kept a watchful eye on Malfoy via the map and, once walked by the spot. He saw a first-year girl there and yet the map said it was Crabbe. A rare smile crossed his face. Polyjuice Potion. I know Horace brewed some on the first day of N.E.W.T. class and that Draco was in that class. He could have stolen some and had Crabbe and Goyle take turns transforming into girls and standing guard. I doubt they know what Draco's up to as he won't tell me.
Harry laughed as Snape shared his findings the night before Harry's second Quidditch match. "I thought they looked unhappy lately. That explains it. I certainly wouldn't be happy if I was forced to be a girl and not told why specifically."
"I would be to. You know, Slytherin is not playing tomorrow. Draco may take the opportunity to work on his plan while everyone's at the pitch."
"If so, you could try to find out what he's up to."
"Yes. Let me know via telepathy if you see him or not."
"I will." Harry climbed into bed and Snape followed suite.
Harry kept an eye on Malfoy at breakfast. He noticed the boy seemed thinner and paler since he saw him at the Christmas party. He then turned his attention to Ron. His friend had become sad and a bit irritable, particularly when Lavender was around. "Ron? You okay?" he asked softly as Ron was sitting next to him.
"It's Lavender. I want to break up with her, but when I mention it, she holds on tighter. It's like going out with the giant squid. Harry, you're in love. Tell me how to break up with her," Ron said with desperate pleading in his voice.
"Ron, I've never broken up with anyone, but my suggestion is to firmly tell her it's over. Let her know you're not happy. She might cry, but at least you're not stuck in a relationship where you're unhappy."
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll do it…or maybe you could tell her."
"No, Ron. She's your girlfriend and you'll tell her."
"All right, but after the match."
"Good." Harry got up and added, "I'm gonna grab my Firebolt. See you in the changing room." Harry ran downstairs and grabbed his broom, noticing Snape wasn't there. Must be heading upstairs. He got to the Entrance Hall to see people heading outside…except for three people: Malfoy and two girls whom he suspected were Crabbe and Goyle. They were heading up!
"Severus, Malfoy's heading up with two girls; likely Crabbe and Goyle."
"Thanks." Snape, already on the third floor, took several shortcuts to reach the seventh floor corridor before Draco, took fox form, and turned invisible. He planned to be at Draco's shoulder to hear what Draco would say or get inside the room, his smaller form would easily be able to slip through a smaller opening. I will know what you're up to, Draco.
Snape stood by the blank stretch of wall and watched as Draco came into view with two scowling first-year girls. The girls took up positions at either end of the corridor while Draco walked back and forth three times, Snape at his heels. When the door appeared and Draco opened it, Snape slipped in first and returned to his true form, still invisible. He took in the room before following Draco. The room was enormous and piled high with alleys and rows of forbidden items and damaged objects. It was an amazing assortment of stuff. He followed Draco around a bend and stopped while Draco approached a handsome cabinet that Snape recognized: The Vanishing Cabinet; the one Peeves broke four years ago. He watched Draco for a time and saw him trying to fix it. His actions interested him. Why is he trying to mend it? What would be the point?
"Draco," he said after applying the Glamour and dropping the invisibility.
Malfoy whirled around. "How did you get in here?" he demanded.
"That is none of your business. My question is why are you mending this cabinet?"
"It's a pair. That's all I'll tell you."
"That's all I need to know. You see how easy that was, Draco? If you had told me earlier, I would have left you alone. I take it that repairs are going well?"
"They are."
"Then, I will leave you to it." Snape walked away, turned invisible, and left the Room of Requirement, the mystery solved, but Snape failed to see how a pair of cabinets would help him kill Dumbledore.
Harry's brow furrowed for a moment before it unknit and his gold-green eyes widened. "The other one is in Borgin and Burkes. I hid in it four years ago."
"Yes. If Draco fixes the broken one, they'll form a passage and allow anyone to bypass security. But, I fail to see how that will help him in his task."
"Should I tell Dumbledore at my next lesson?"
"No. I will tell him. It was my job to find out Draco's plan and I must tell him."
"Severus. What brings you here?"
"My mission, headmaster. I have noticed for a time that Draco would disappear from Harry's map from time to time."
"You were tailing him secretly. Very clever, Severus."
"Yes. Harry pointed out that Draco was using the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor and making it Unplottable. So, yesterday, Draco and two lookouts went there during the match. I waited for them, invisible, and slipped into the room before Draco did."
"What did you find?"
"A room of forbidden items and damaged objects. Countless rows of stuff. A broken Vanishing Cabinet resides there and Draco had been mending it this whole time. I confronted him and all he told me was that it was a pair.
"Harry revealed to me that its match is at Borgin and Burkes."
"Ah, I see. When the broken one is fixed, they will form a passage and bypass our excellent security."
"Forgive me, Headmaster, but I don't see how that will help him kill you."
"Don't you, Severus? I believe it is a crucial part of the plan. If he fixes it, he could have Death Eaters enter and create a diversion so he could kill me with impunity. At least, that's what I would do."
"Yes. That's brilliant."
"Quite. Do try to obtain a progress report from Draco and keep me appraised."
"I will try, Headmaster."
"I know you will. Oh and deliver this to Harry. It's his next lesson."
"Of course, Headmaster." Snape left the office and, as he headed down, dwelled on Dumbledore's condition. He didn't seem to be suffering from the curse. It does strengthen over time, he was certain of that. Perhaps my skills with curses is better than I thought. Or maybe Dumbledore is stronger than anyone thought.
His eyes lowered to the scroll in his hand. Harry's next lesson. He wondered when it would be. I can wait for Harry to open it.
"Tomorrow night," Harry read out loud. "I can't wait. Dumbledore will be pleased that I got the memory."
"I know he will, just as I was pleased that you succeeded. Dumbledore wants me to try to get progress reports from Draco and then tell him."
"Will he tell you?"
"I don't know, but I will try." Snape doubted Draco would cooperate, but he would try nonetheless.
