Chapter Twenty
Hermione, Ron and Neville attended classes. They had one month before the end of term and their graduation. The news about Harry passed through the school like a storm. That evening they met with the rest of the D.A. group. Everyone was talking at the same time.
"We have to go and get him, Hermione," Lavender said. "We all went and rescued Snape and we don't like him at all. It's the least we can do for Harry."
Hermione was standing in front of the thirty or so people now in the group answering questions. "I've done some research on the caves of Basgareth." She handed out pages of parchment. "This is what I found out." Heads were bent over the pages and then minutes later, moans and cries.
"How horrible," Ginny said glaring at the page. "Dumbledore set Harry up. He lied to me!"
Hermione nodded, "Yes, he did. Now don't all of you get in a roar. It doesn't do us any good to think about why he did it- it's already done. We need to think… and plan. We can get mad at Dumbledore and waste our time or we can go and fetch Harry." She pulled her robe sleeves up and held up the parchment she carried. "Now…finding the caves is the first order of business."
"But Hermione," a fourth year boy spoke holding up the paper. "No one has ever escaped You-Know-Who's slave mines. They'll have Dementors and other horrible creatures protecting the slaves. D'you expect us to be able to fight that?"
Hermione nodded slowly. "I understand what you're saying. No one has to go if they choose not to. This is strictly for those of you who choose to go. I think you should remember Harry is out there fighting Voldemort for us. It's not just his war, it's ours, too. Sooner or later you're families will be at risk and the more of us that stand up and do something the better chance we'll have."
Ron stood and faced the group. His face was flushed and he swallowed hard before he spoke, "I'm not going to leave Harry there. This paper tells you what they do to prisoners. They are tortured to death!" Ron glared, "If I have to go by myself then I will. We have four weeks until end of term and summer when everyone will be gone. This has to be done now."
Snape sat in his study, his potion's ingredients lay near his cauldron untouched, student papers waited. His mind was fixed on some distant horizon and he didn't hear the knock when it came.
"Severus, open up," the voice was muffled and then louder.
Realizing there was someone knocking, he jumped and opened the door. Lupin. McGonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid and most of the other teachers stood waiting patiently.
"May we come in?" Lupin asked.
Snape stood aside and watched a long line troop in.
"It's been two days Severus," Lupin began. "We thought you would come to us before now. Do you have any idea how to find Harry?"
Snape searched their faces and sat down. He waited a few minutes and the addressed them. "The Senseve seems to think he was put in a railcar and sent to Basgareth. It is likely." He waited until the hushed murmuring died down. "If he is there, then it will be very difficult to find him. The caves are unplottable- heavily guarded- it is said. There are hundreds of them, a labyrinth, filled with traps and dangerous passages, guarded by every imaginable creature. I would guess we must first find the location, other than that I have no ideas."
"The children are snooping around for information," McGonagall said. "I wasn't even aware of what was taking place the other evening. I find it hard to believe Albus involved these children in such a deed, but I understand that he did. Still, it is beside the point. Now Potter and Tonks and the others have been kidnapped and taken off to this notorious, hideous place. We've got to do something!"
"Albus, felt that the Houses needed to be united against an enemy of Hogwarts; Voldemort, of course," Lupin said and turned to Snape. "He's accomplished that. All the students want to go and fetch Harry. Is there any way to find the caves, Severus?"
Snape sat with his finger to his lips and contemplated their questions. "The caves cannot be approached by large groups of people in a stealthy manner, which is imperative. I understand they are guarded by giants," he glanced at Hagrid who shuffled and stared back, "trolls, goblins and other creatures. The slaves are kept in the lower levels of the mines. Those that can be controlled through the Imperius Curse are used to work the mines. Those that can't are killed outright; sometimes used as playthings to amuse the Death Eaters and others. They torture them to death. The life span of a slave is about two weeks. Harry has been taught to survive," Snape waved his hand in the air and finished. "If his identity is not discovered, he may live a little longer."
Lupin sat in a stiff high back chair leaning forward, his elbows on his legs, hands folded together. "All right. You say only a few people should go. That means you and me."
Snape raised his eyebrows and stared at Lupin without speaking.
"I'm sure Jolie would also go," Lupin continued. "Just tell us how you think we should proceed. According to you we have less than three weeks."
"Go?" Snape said. "Go where? Where are we to begin Lupin? I have no insight into the whereabouts of the caves. I have heard about them, yes, but I have never been there."
"The Senseve, then," McGonagall said. "Let him track them."
Snape shook his head and growled, "I don't think so."
"We'll not be sittin' 'ere waitin' fer Harry to be tortured to death Snape," Hagrid growled. "I'll go back to the giants and talk to 'im. They prob'ly ken tell me where they are."
"It will take too long," Snape said.
"We can't leave him to die!" Flitwick said stepping forward.
"Why do seek me out?" Snape asked. "Do you believe I have some special knowledge that you don't?" He was looking calm and complacent staring at the faces surrounding him.
Remus was on his feet, shouting, "Stop it! No one cares! The rumors are true and everyone knows it who is in this room. We know you were one of Voldemort's Death Eaters and you changed sides. No one cares. We need you're help, Severus. We have to get that boy out of there! We have to rescue Tonks and McGrew and all of them. Are you going to help us?"
Snape's face grew stony and he replied, "Yes." He paused, "I know someone. It will be dangerous, but he may know how to find the caves."
"We'll go to him tonight." Lupin announced and walked to the door. Snape's eyes followed him as he left.
...
Hermione sat in the Gryffindor Common room alone and stared at the fire, just as Snape was doing in his own quarters. The rest of the Gryffindors were at supper she thought until Neville traipsed down the stairs from his dorm room. He was still looking upset.
"Hermione, I know I'm right," he began once again. She had heard it before. "Those rails will lead us to Basgareth. It used to be a tiny little village in the mountains. They mined gold there for hundreds of years. If there are caves there then we can find them.
"AND I've said it before Neville. There ARE probably thousands of caves there from all of the mining. How could we ever hope to find the right ones, get past the guards and assorted creatures and find Harry in the prisons? We don't know for sure if it's the same Basgareth."
"That ancient map we found shows all of the area. It's close to Hogwarts and it's connected by rail." Neville repeated standing over her looking down.
"That's all very well Neville, but what about the rest. There are less than a hundred 6th and 7th year students, even if they all came with us. We can't expect anyone younger to know enough to do any good. If we decided to go, HOW would we go and once we got there, then what?" She stood and paced the floor in front of the large walk-in fireplace. "We can't fight a legion of dark creatures."
"Hermione," Neville spoke quietly, "watch this." She stopped pacing and he turned to the fireplace. With a wave of his wand he created a blue blaze. It roared up and out, melting stone and rock, leaving a gaping, smoldering hole in the side of the room. With another twist, he quenched the flames and the rock returned to normal.
Hermione stared in disbelief, her mouth hanging open and muttered, "How d'you do that?"
He stared at her and closed his eyes and wrinkled his brow. She found herself suspended in air.
"Neville!" she hissed, swimming in midair. He lowered her to the ground.
"Try the Cruciatus curse on me Hermione," he said. "Go on."
Hesitating but assured by his nod, she raised her wand, "CRUCIO".
Neville caught the green sparks flying from the tip of her wand and they dissolved in the palm of his hand. "See Hermione. All we've got to do is get there. I know once we're there I can find him."
Neville looked suddenly very wise and very old. Hermione blinked and tried to clear her vision. I'm just imagining it, she thought. Neville looked the same as always.
"We don't need everyone. Maybe a dozen or less," he sat in on of the fluffy chairs. "The only problem is I don't know how to apparate."
She stared at him and almost laughed. It appeared he had gained some extraordinary powers and yet was the same old Neville. "All right then, let's figure out how to get you there."
...
Lupin waited outside the pub in Knockturn Alley while Snape went inside. He'd been in Knockturn Alley many times and knew how to handle himself. Remus waited in total darkness beside the pub door, on the rank, rancid stoop.
Snape was looking for a contact, someone who could lead him to Duncan. The name was notorious. Duncan was an expert, lethal assassin, who stalked the dark streets. His identity remained unknown and anyone who had ever met him usually ended up dead. Remus shuddered involuntarily in the warm night. He thought they both could easily be murdered before they ever left the Alley; word would spread quickly that they were looking for the man.
Snape stepped out of the door, the faint light dying quickly as he pulled Lupin into the shadows. Neither spoke until the few people on the street had passed by. Snape leaned in and almost mouthed the words. If Lupin had not had his wolfish keen sense of hearing he would not have heard what he said. "We will wait and someone will take us to him."
Lupin nodded and stepped back to lean against a wall. His head was covered as was Snape's. No one bothered them; it was unlikely anyone wanted to take their lives into their hands. The rules in the Alley were much different than in the rest of the world and Lupin knew most of them. He thought about what they were about to do and then thought about Harry.
He was still angry at James for his actions, angry at Dumbledore and generally angry at the world. Remus had gone to Hogwarts and met Harry, got to know him and liked him; would have liked him even if he hadn't been James's son. And, he felt it had been reciprocal. Even though Harry had established a strong relationship with Sirius, he felt their relationship had also developed and had even strengthened after Sirius' death. Remus could not let his best friend's son rot in Voldemort's hellhole of a prison and let him be tortured. He knew he would die trying before he let it happen.
Remus was staring at the ground, his thoughts engaging him when he felt Snape's hand on his arm. He jerked his head up and remained still. They had agreed Snape would do all the talking. A small creature totally disguised ambled up and whispered to Snape who bent almost in half to talk to it.
Remus followed Snape as he moved off with the creature. They entered a winding, narrow passage smelling of sewage and decay. Lights went out as they passed and not even a cat meowed or a dog barked. The streets grew ever more ominous as they walked deeper into the heart of the district.
They reached a graveyard and the tall wrought-iron gates swung open to allow their entrance. A large mausoleum stood under an ancient oak tree shrouded in moss. There was a light, feeble but adequate, shining from the open door. Their guide disappeared off to the side and they were left to enter alone.
The vaults normally housing only coffins and mortal remains were empty like blank eye sockets. Remus stepped to the side as they entered and stayed at the door to guard anyone from coming in. Snape entered and stepped to the center of the marble floor marked by a black and white pentagram. He spoke and his voice echoed in the chamber, "Duncan, it is I, Snape."
"Why Snape, my old friend," a voice boomed from the recessed alcove, "whatever brings you to this part of the world? Up to your old tricks? Going to have a little fun? And you've come to the expert."
Snape waited without speaking. The shadow moved and a figure approached him.
"Who is you're friend?" the voice asked. "Sorry, old fellow, I don't recall you ever having a friend. Perhaps that was the wrong word to use." The voice was filled with mirth.
"He is a werewolf," Snape said.
"Yessss, the company you keep…" the voice hissed. "Well, this is all so unexpected. What is it you want Snape?"
"I want directions to the slave caves of Basgareth," Snape said without hesitation.
The figure moved closer and Remus almost vomited from the smell drifting his way. He didn't know how Snape could stand the putrid odor emanating from the figure when it was much closer to him. Lupin prayed the hooded figure would not reveal himself; he was sure that what would be revealed would be too horrible for words.
The figure stopped and hesitated, "Very well Snape, but you know there is a price you must pay. There is always a price." The voice crooned softly.
Snape bowed with respect and remained silent.
"I like you Snape," the figure said. "I always have, so I will make this easy. You know how I like to exchange different parts of myself for the beautiful parts of others that I see. Only just this morning we had a new burial and she is such a lovely creature- her skin so smooth and fresh. It's been such a long time Snape and you haven't performed your little works of art on me for ages. In exchange for the information you desire I would like you to perform a little transplant." The figure moved off to the right of the room. Candles flamed over it's head and a tray rumbled out from one of the vaults. Laying on it was a naked woman, her hair of gold fell off the side and almost touched the floor.
As Remus watched a hand extended from the figure's robe; a hand of decayed and rotting flesh. The hand lightly caressed the naked skin as white as alabaster. Lupin felt his guts clench and he was sure he would have to leave the room and retch into the stinking earth of the cemetery. He held back and watched. Snape didn't move but stared at the far wall.
The figure waved the hand and the lights went out. It spoke one word, "Tonight."
Snape bowed again. He turned to Remus and said, "You may wait outside while I perform this task."
Remus fled the tomb and walked several feet away to clear his lungs and gaze into the starry night. He thought of a number of things, many things, anything that would wipe the images and his imaginings from his mind.
Just before dawn Snape joined him in the dew-filled air. The stench from the tomb and the figure clung to his clothes. Remus watched in fascination as Snape used his wand to scour his clothes.
"Let's get out of here," Snape intoned. They apparated.