A/N: Gah! I got derailed again, but I still plan be done by the 31st! And now, I present the prelude to the Final Showdown!
Chapter 33 - "If not three, then seven." - Part I
Harry had the awareness to know that he'd been Apparated to someplace unfamiliar via Severus. He also knew that he still gripped his school trousers in his hand, and that the sleep pants and T-shirt he'd been wearing for this whole event were doing little to shield him from the intense chill. He couldn't see, but he heard two additional cracks of Apparation and assumed it was Lucius with Neville, followed by Remus. Severus was levitating Harry horizontally. All that was within Harry's view were a few barren tree tops in the periphery, and the deep, midnight blue of the sky overhead. He could also hear the footfalls of the three adults on a gravel path, so Neville was obviously being levitated as well.
"Lucius? Darling is that you?" Narcissa Malfoy's alarmed voice carried over to them from a short distance.
I guess we're at Malfoy Manner. What time is it?
"Yes, my love," Lucius replied. "We've got Harry, and Neville Longbottom with injuries that we need to assess."
"I'll call Augusta," Narcissa responded briskly.
The overhead scenery changed from open sky, to high opulent ceilings as Harry was brought into the Malfoy home. In a matter of minutes he was released from the body bind and carefully guided to be seated on a settee in a large, elegant room. This is easily ten times the size of the Dursley's sitting room, Harry couldn't help but reflect. He gritted his teeth as his shoulder was tweaked, and his left hip and ribs reminded him that his injuries were not minor, but he leaned carefully back into the soft upholstery and had a look around. He had no idea what it might be like to live with this level of wealth. But in truth, he didn't feel as out of place in this grand home as he'd thought he might. In the meantime, he used his right hand to fish into the pocket of his school trousers to reassure himself that the small lead box was still stowed inside his pocket locker. It was there.
Madam Malfoy waited beside the fireplace at the far end of the room for Neville's grandmother to floo through. "We'd only just finished a floo call about what was happening to the Gryffindor fifth year boys," she explained further, as the adult wizards set about assessing the damage done to Harry and Neville. "And, she'd just confirmed with the Deputy Head Mistress that this portkey incident was the only currently open drama within the school."
Severus handed Harry a pain relieving potion as he dropped to one knee and cast a scanning spell. Across the room, Lucius was doing the same with Neville, who was lying on his back on a long upholstered bench. Like Harry, Neville was typically stoic about pain and injury, and he was not giving away how much he was suffering at the moment. Neville's Gran, Augusta Longbottom, emerged through the floo and strode briskly toward her grandson to see for herself how bad off he was. Mrs. Malfoy followed closely, and passed a vial of potion to Lucius, who proceeded to help Neville drink it down.
Remus casted and sent off three rounds of his Patronus, then went over to stick his head into the fireplace, starting a floo call to an unknown party, while Mrs. Malfoy made her way over from her husband's side to have a look at Harry. She's actually quite pretty, now that she doesn't seem to be inclined to lord her wealth and societal standing over people, Harry thought to himself. She was regarding him with a concerned maternal frown that rivaled Mrs. Weasley's. He tried to smile, to proclaim that he was fine, but was barely able to muster a grimace. He felt drained from having had to endure yet another round of pain, brought on by Voldemort-related violence. His whole left side was aching, and he was back in the emotional slump he'd fallen into after being targeted by Pius Thicknesse.
"Take the potion, Harry," Severus chided the distracted teen.
"We've an elf who could reset his shoulder," Narcissa suggested as she read Severus' diagnostic charm and confirmed Harry's suspicion that he'd re experienced the same injury. "Aflie!"
"Lucius can do it!" Harry blurted out just as a female elf popped into view. He didn't miss the small approving smile on Mrs. Malfoy's face as she asked the elf to fetch an assortment of potions, Harry's slippers, and a warm jumper. That confused Harry a tad. Is she going to get them from Hogwarts? Wait I don't own slippers! But his eyes were drawn back to Severus' intense frown. He gulped down the pain reliever.
Severus rested a hand lightly on Harry's right knee. "You and Longbottom landed quite harshly, didn't you?" Severus commented. "Longbottom sustained a broken leg, and you're badly bruised on your hip and lower rib cage on your left side. The others seem to have fared better with their landings."
Harry only heard the reference to the others. He hadn't known that more of his mates were involved. "What happened to them? And who else got hurt?" he asked anxiously.
The house elf named Aflie suddenly popped back into the space beside Severus with a pair of fur lined slippers and a very soft and warm blue jumper. She left several potion vials hovering in the air within Severus' reach. Next she snapped her fingers and the slippers were suddenly on Harry's feet and resizing themselves to fit him perfectly. And finally, she placed the jumper on the settee beside Harry, her eyes meeting his, as if to tell him he'd have to put that on for himself, and nodded before popping away.
Madam Malfoy gave nothing away, but Harry suspected she fully enjoyed the open confusion on his face. "We've got a room for you here, Harry, with clothes and things you may need, at your disposal, any time."
Harry blinked.
But before he could respond, Remus answered Harry's previous question. "Seamus, Ron and Dean all took a portkey to try to come help you, Harry, but they were taken to the forest, and confronted by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback," Remus informed them all. He had pulled away from his floo call and was making his way back to the group. "Dean was dealt some severe injuries, but he's at St. Mungo's now, and his parents have been notified." Now Remus looked over at Neville, who was currently having a whispered argument with his grandmother, as Lucius made his way over to Harry. Remus returned his attention to filling in his peers and Harry, "All three of them transported together, and Dean was attacked. Ron was able to fight him off with your wand, Harry, which he'd brought along, thinking he'd be able to give it to you, to help you escape."
Harry's jaw was hanging open. As usual, there was way too much information to process. "Where are Ron and Seamus?"
"They're both fine, and back at Hogwarts. Madam Pomfrey's already patched them up," Remus reassured him. "Now we need to see to you and to Neville."
They all heard a rather assertively harsh whisper of "-at Hogwarts!" coming from Neville right then. Remus raised impressed eyebrows and winked at Harry. "I'm betting Neville will shortly be having his leg addressed by Madam Pomfrey," he surmised quietly. After a quick glance over his shoulder he saw that Mrs. Longbottom was eager for help to get Neville immediate treatment.
"Professor Lupin," she requested in her stern but respectful voice, "it seems my grandson has overruled my opinion on where he should receive healing. Are you able to get him to Hogwarts to see Madam Pomfrey?"
Lucius stepped closer and Severus made room for him to stand in front of Harry. "Shall we deal with your shoulder, young man?"
0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0
The passage back to Hogwarts was taken via floo to the Headmaster's office. Severus and Harry emerged first, and were clearly right on the heels of Albus himself, who was only just returning from his aggravating session at the Ministry. Lucius came through after them, and made a beeline for a view of Albus' copy of the Map, to check to be certain Draco was safely in his dorm.
"Gentlemen," the Headmaster greeted them with marked weariness. His wisened old eyes assessed each of them, resting the longest on Harry, where he stood in close proximity to Severus. "I've not been given details, but I have been assured that my students are all accounted for and being tended to, and that the assailants of this most recent farcical event have been neutralized."
"I actually think Wormtail is being digested, by Nagini, as we speak," Harry said with a revolted shiver. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the lead box with the ring inside. "One more horcrux," he announced as Dumbledore levitated it from Harry's open palm over to his desk. Harry wished he could muster a triumphant grin, but…. no. Not possible. "This makes three in safe keeping, plus the diary is four," he summarized. "Kreacher said if not three, then seven, since apparently dark wizards favor those two numbers when collecting evil things-"
"He's quite correct about that," Lucius muttered from where he was still bent over the Map.
Harry smirked. "So that means there's one more left that we haven't yet discovered, after the snake and my scar."
"I believe I'm ready to place my faith in my strongest hunch about what that last horcrux might be, Harry," Dumbledore replied, although his comment was meant for the room. "There is a missing Ravenclaw artifact: the diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw. It disappeared while Tom was a student here."
"That's got to be it," Harry said with raised eyebrows and zero enthusiasm.
"Where on earth might that be hidden away?" Lucius said in impatient disgust. He came to stand on Harry's other side, and now the three of them faced the Headmaster across his desk as the aging wizard took a seat behind it.
"I've already assumed it's within the Room of Requirement," Severus reminded his best friend. "Why else would there be such suspicious activity centered there?"
Remus stepped through the floo, presumably from the Hospital Wing, and came to join their circle as he surveyed the tenor of the energy of his peers, and the discussion he was walking into.
"I can only assume there is much in play, and that we are dangerously blind to possible clues, all while having been waiting for incidents to occur, before we act," Lucius declared. His nostrils flared as he challengingly looked for agreement from Albus.
"But so far, the only one we've been able to catch at having access to the school is Wormtail," Harry interjected. "Ten to one, someone in Gryffindor will have seen a large rat running around our House in recent days. He's been biding his time, and playing with Fay to keep us all on edge."
Remus nodded with reluctant agreement. "I concur, Harry, and to be frank, the type of mischief and mayhem that's played out all week is his trademark."
"We would be foolish to assume that he was orchestrating all these events in their entirety," Severus added with disgust and disdain. "He had help. I question the complete innocence of Miss Dunbar, and we already know that many upper years are likely participating to some degree. The question is, how much longer can we sit as ducks, waiting to be targeted, yet again?"
"Yes," Albus agreed, "and for how much longer will there be silent support from the parents for my efforts to hold the school intact thus far?"
Harry was listening with an exhausted frown, remembering that Mrs. Malfoy and Mrs. Longbottom had been discussing what was going on at Hogwarts. How many other parents were doing the same? He sighed harshly, adding his two bits, "And in the thick of it, we're still supposed to appear for these ridiculously drawn out Wizengamot interview sessions! I don't even know when I'm supposed to show up for this next round - and it's the most important one! About taking out Voldemort! Why wouldn't they tell us sooner, so that we can plan our schedules? It's ridiculous." Merlin, I want to go to bed.
Severus reached over to place his hand on Harry's neck. He squeezed gently, as he addressed the group, "Perhaps, it would behoove our plight if we each give this some private thought, get some rest, and reconvene at the lunch hour tomorrow?"
"But what about protecting the school?" Harry asked, still feeling like more should be done. "Sir, are there still Aurors posted near the Room of Requirement?"
"There are two, Harry," Albus replied, assessing Harry over his spectacles. "I've requested additional assistance, but none has been provided just yet."
"Why not?" Harry demanded.
"As I'm sure you can imagine, the more sensitive souls in the Ministry deliberately inferred that I when insisted they get out of Hogwarts' bylaws, that I was washing my hands of Ministry law enforcement assistance, for any occurrence, ever again," Albus said this with an edge that rarely surfaced in his tone. He sighed wearily, "Alas, tonight's meeting was yet another episode, filled with imbecilic ranting and assuaging of egos," he added, sounding more like Severus than himself. "In fact, I demanded that they postpone the Wizengamot sessions until the entire problem of the remaining threat from Voldemort is resolved. I remain hopeful I was taken seriously. Severus, I agree that reflection is required. I myself simply would like to soak my feet and enjoy a large brandy by the fire."
"Then we will leave you to do so, Albus," Severus said. He looked to Lucius and Remus and suggested that they floo through to his quarters on route to their own. He next asked Harry if his aches and pains continued to be relieved, and once Harry had nodded yes, simply turned the exhausted teen to the floo and spun them away, ahead of the others.
0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0
"So maybe I won't have to worry about another interview this weekend?" Harry held up crossed fingers to show his three adult mentors how strongly he hoped as much.
They'd gathered in Severus' sitting area, and each of Harry's adult mentors was regarding him with varying levels of concern. He was still holding the trousers he'd warn to school. He sighed as he pulled out the pocket locker so that he wouldn't forget to put it into tomorrow's trouser pocket.
"I'm certainly crossing fingers along with you, Harry," Remus said, winking at him as he passed over Harry's wand and coin. "Ron asked me to get these back to you."
"Thanks," Harry said. He went to slide the wand up the sleeve of the classy blue jumper the Malfoy's had provided for him, and stopped as something nearly occurred to him, but the thought slipped away before it could fully form. He blinked and frowned in mild annoyance.
"Off to bed, young man," Severus directed with a paternal tone.
Harry's eyes jumped to his. There it is again. That's the way he sounded when he called me son earlier…. But Harry found himself unable to put too much energy into this new development and smirked at Severus before wishing them all goodnight.
"Harry," Severus added, as he watched the messy haired Boy Who Lived turn to head into his room, "have a lie-in tomorrow, will you? I'll excuse you from Potions, and also from Study Hall, and we'll reconvene with the Headmaster at lunchtime, as planned."
0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0ooo0
Harry emerged from the loo the following morning and managed to intercept Severus before he had to leave to teach double Potions with the fifth years. It caught Harry's attention, for whatever reason, that Severus was today unshaven and wearing a set of open robes over dark grey trousers and a black jumper not unlike the blue one Harry still wore.
"You're not yet up for the day?" Severus posed the question as a statement and accentuated it with narrowed eyes.
No, Dad, Harry thought with a smirk, but then felt weird for thinking such a thing. Meanwhile, Severus hadn't yet released him from the narrowed-eye assessment, so he responded with a somewhat awkward, "No, sir." And after a long moment, when Severus still continued to observe him in that unnerving way, he finally couldn't stand it and demanded, "What?" in an exasperated tone.
"I'm wondering what would be best for you, psychologically, after having gone through yet another incident of violence to your person," Severus admitted. "Come, sit for a few moments before I have to leave."
Oh. Harry came around from behind the sofa and took a seat while Severus sat in his leather armchair. "I don't really know what would be best, sir. I just keep reminding myself that we're one step closer to ending this struggle."
Severus nodded. "Wise of you." Then he steepled his hands, resting his elbows on his knees and leaning forward to press his chin against the tips of his fingers. "And what will your life look like at that point, Harry? When we've ended this struggle?"
Harry blinked a few times and looked away. It was as if Severus could see that he was stuffing down a rising sense of panic. One week from today is the 31st of January. He'd be on his own, finally, yes, but what did that even mean anymore? With everything so unresolved with the magical governors regarding Voldemort, and the havoc on so many lives that Death Eaters continued to reap and sow, Harry no longer felt certain that it was better for him to be legally responsible for himself. What if I get caught and arrested over some magical law that I've broken while defending myself? He'd survived his last jail experience because of Lucius' ingenuity, and his three mentors had suffered that predicament right alongside Harry. He stuffed all of it down again inside his mind and pictured himself sitting on the metaphorical box that contained his turmoil. There, that will hold it for now.
"You do not actually have to know, Harry," Severus was saying to him, clearly reading that Harry was indeed struggling within himself. "I myself can scarcely imagine my own life without that threat. But pondering such an anomaly might be a positive means for stabilizing yourself after what just happened."
Harry opened his mouth to try to say something generic about the confusion he felt, but thought better of it, and only nodded to acknowledge Severus' observation.
"I am concerned about your psychological state," Severus admitted. When Harry met his eyes again, he continued, "These attacks on you must feel very personal. They always did when done to me."
"Yeah…" Harry agreed. "They do, and it's a strange feeling."
Severus nodded, as if waiting to see if Harry would be more forthcoming.
Harry waited a beat. "At the moment, though, what's really bothering me is that I went through that whole bloody event with my school trousers in hand…." He gave Severus a look of ironic irritation, and held it for a full minute.
Severus battled himself, but couldn't suppress the surge of his own snarky humor. Harry's laughter was triggered by the smile tugging at the corners of Severus' mouth.
"I'd refrained, with great effort, from asking why exactly you'd felt compelled to bring along a change of clothes," Severus admitted drily, which only made Harry laugh harder. Severus checked his watch again, reluctant to leave. He had about five more minutes. Harry noticed his actions and sobered quickly. Severus could feel his own visage reverting to his austere default, as he took the risk and asked the question that begged asking of Harry, "I wonder if you could be persuaded to stay all upcoming nights here, in your room, until we are completely rid of the lingering threat of the Dark Lord?"
What? Harry stopped himself from instinctive refusal. Severus was quite serious. "Why?"
"I made you a solemn promise, just two weeks ago, and I've already failed to keep it," Severus told Harry in a quiet, but tense voice.
"You can't take the blame for the portkey," Harry said adamantly, although he was deeply touched by what he was hearing. "And, now that Wormtail has had his fun, it's not like my dorm will be a likely place for more mayhem. He's the only Gryffindor among the Death Eaters coming after me, isn't he?"
"That's not the point, Harry," Severus said calmly.
"Then what is the point?" Why am I arguing with him? I like staying here. Harry noticed the flicker of Severus' reaction to his combative response and quickly added, "I like staying here, Severus, I just don't want you to blame yourself for every bad thing that happens to me."
"I want you here, nightly," Severus said firmly, without acknowledging Harry's comment. He checked his watch again. "We'll likely lunch in the Headmaster's office. I'll see you there."
He left after that, leaving the Boy Who Lived with some things to ponder over the coming hours and days.
