Chapter 32

Part 1

"Are you sure you're feeling up to the meeting tonight?" Sirius asked Remus, trying to sound as casual as possible since he had recently noticed himself sounding like a worrisome nag. In their school days, he had always been the one to talk Remus into sneaking out after hours, classroom pranks, and any other form of mischief that he and James could cook up. But since Harry's disappearance, he had lost much of his carefree manner. It felt something like growing up in a matter of weeks.

"I'm really fine, Sirius," Remus said, pulling a cloak around his shoulders. He was still a little sore and tired but he wanted to get out of their cramped accommodations. He thought that it would be good for Sirius as well. Being stuck in this room with nothing else to think about other than Harry was weighing heavily on him.

"All right. It's almost one," Sirius said, glancing at the grandfather clock that stood in the middle of one of the walls in the room.

"Right," Remus said, also noting the time. "Better be on our way."

The two schoolmates made their way along Hogwart's stony corridors. Both were silent, reminiscing of their days as students when being in the haunted halls of the ancient school at this hour was a common occurrence and both lingering on the absence of James.

"Chili Truffles," said Sirius, breaking the silence. I tiny smile crept up the corner of his mouth at Remus' revolted expression.

"Chili Truffles? Disgusting."

Once in the safety of Dumbledore's office, the two men relaxed a bit. No doubt students still wandered the halls at night, even in these dangerous times.

"Welcome, Sirius and Remus," Dumbledore said, offering a hospitable nod toward them both. "Please have a seat."

"Thank you, Headmaster," Remus said, taking a seat next to McGonagal.

Sirius gave a grateful nod and took a chair close to Remus.

"I believe that's everyone," Dumbledore said, taking a quick inventory of the room's occupants. "As was discussed in out last meeting," the old wizard began, taking a seat himself, "we're beginning to see many suspected Death Eaters inexplicably deserting their usual lives. Where they are going, we do not know."

"Is there any word on Draco's mother?" Minerva asked interestedly.

Dumbledore sadly shook his head. "Only suspicions and hearsay. The only thing we know for certain is that she has not been seen at her mother's home as she claimed would be her whereabouts."

Minerva nodded, a bit disappointed. She was hoping that Narcissa was not a Death Eater unlike Lucius. Draco would be at a significant disadvantage if both parents were among Voldemort's loyalists.

"Kingsley has collected some information," Dumbledore said, gesturing toward a middle aged wizard who stood up with a few pieces of parchment in his hands.

"It's not much," said Kingsley, "but it's all that we have at the moment."

Though Kingsley went on about the information that he had gathered, Sirius was no longer listening. Every time the Order of the Phoenix had a meeting, Sirius hoped that the meeting would have some information on Harry's whereabouts or well-being.

Sirius let his eyes wander to the floor, not really seeing the floor. Horrifying images of a pallid faced boy with a lightning shaped scar on his forehead, being tortured by Death Eaters taunted him. It was only when he felt Remus' hand grasp his forearm that he looked up. Witches and wizards were standing, talking together in small groups. Only he and Remus were left sitting. Turning to his friend, he saw concern in the werewolf's eyes. Awkwardly, he looked away.

"Sirius, are you all right?" Remus said quietly so as not to draw attention.

Sirius quickly nodded, then looked back to his friend. "How are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Remus answered, but sounding tired at the same time.

"We should be getting back," Sirius said, noting the exhaustion in Remus' voice.

Remus nodded and both men stood, said their goodbyes and made their way down the spiral staircase, into the deserted hallways. At least they thought the hallways were deserted.

Turning a corner, Sirius collided head-on with something quite solid. He let out a surprised grunt, as did whatever he had run into.

"Lumos," Remus said, holding his wand in front of he and his friend.

Draco Malfoy lay on the stone floor below them, looking up in surprise. "You!" he exclaimed, though Sirius and Remus could not decipher to which one of them he was referring.

"Draco? What are you doing out of bed at this hour?" Remus inquired, habitually going back to the state of mind from his brief stint as a professor.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here? And with him!" Draco shot back, quickly getting back to his feet and pointing at Sirius. Now uncomfortably close to a convicted killer, the fair headed boy took a cautious step back.

Sensing that Draco was about to run and tell a number of gossip-hungry students what he had just seen, Remus instinctively grabbed hold of Draco's wrist. "Draco, we can explain, if you just come with us to-"

"Let go of me!" Draco shouted, struggling against his old professor's grip.

Remus, strength waning, fought to keep hold of the boy, but Draco quickly slipped out of his grasp.

Fortunately for them, but unfortunately for Draco, Sirius was ready and grabbed Draco just above his elbow. Though the teen struggled against him, Sirius was in much better condition than Remus and had little trouble keeping hold of Draco.

"Let go!" Draco shouted, this time louder.

Remus cautiously looked around the corridors, scanning for anyone else. Sensing what Remus was thinking and thinking the same thing, Sirius used one of this arms, to trap Draco's body against his and cupped Draco's mouth with his free hand, "We need to get him to Dumbledore," he said to Remus.

"Yes, let's go," Remus agreed, turning around and leading the way as Sirius forced Draco along with them.

Once at the gargoyle, Remus whispered Dumbledore's password. When the three were safely in the spiral staircase, Sirius suddenly stopped. Remus turned questionably to him. "Better announce to Dumbledore that we're bringing a guest," Sirius said, suddenly remembering that the members of the Order were probably still in the Headmaster's office.

Suddenly understanding, Remus gave a quick nod and went the rest of the way alone. A few minutes later, he came back, "He's ready now."

Sirius followed his friend up the remainder of the stairs and into Dumbledore's office. Once there, he let go of a very frightened and angry Draco. Looking around, he saw that the only members of the Order that were still there, were Dumbledore, Minerva, Remus, and himself.

Draco pushed away from Sirius as forcefully as he could, quickly making his way as far away from him as he could.

"Ah, Draco," Dumbledore said as casually as if they had bumped into each other in the street. "It seems that we have some explaining to do."

Part 2

"Your move, Professor," Harry said to Severus from the other side of a chess board.

Severus, who had been looking out of Phaedrus' only window to keep himself occupied while Harry took his turn, looked back at the board. He was now able to sit up in bed without any help from Harry or Phaedrus and he wasn't sleeping as much. Chess is how he and Harry chose to busy themselves. It appeared that Harry was a very poor chess player.

Despite a bruised and cut hand, Severus effortlessly picked up a knight and moved it to a spot on the board, adjacent to Harry's king which was already being kept in check by Severus' bishop and rook. "Checkmate."

Harry looked at the board in disbelief for a moment. "How? Where did that come from?" he said exasperatedly.

"You have to be alert to the position of all of your enemies at all times. Even the ones that seem harmless," Severus advised the boy who looked like the last thing he wanted was a lecture on chess. "Another game?"

Harry shook his head. He was far too frustrated with the game at the moment to play another match and besides that, he knew that Snape was probably tired.

"How's your head?" Severus inquired.

Harry looked up, surprised by the question. He had almost forgotten about the injury his sustained during their river experience. "It's fine," he answered. "It really doesn't hurt much anymore."

Severus nodded and turned back to the window. The sun was setting and he was starting to feel sleep coaxing him to a more comfortable position in the bed.

Phaedrus had been asleep for a few hours but had recently started flinching, indicating he was waking up.

"Can I get something for you?" Harry offered.

"No, I'm fine," Severus said somewhat absently.

"Maybe you should try to get some sleep then," Harry suggested quietly, not accustomed to giving advise to his professors.

Severus, likewise not accustomed to taking advise from his students, but also very tired, conceded. Once the teenager had cleared the chess board and pieces off the bed, Severus eased his body into the comfort of the bed.

Part 3

A few days later, with the help of Phaedrus, Severus was able to get out of bed and walk around a bit. Standing, let alone walking was taxing but Severus didn't want to be in bed anymore and the exercise was good for him. Phaedrus had given him some clothes since his had been rendered irredeemable from the attack. He now wore faded black pants and button down shirt. It was a far cry from his usual impecible black wardrobe but the clothes were warm, comfortable, and most important, intact.

Even though Phaedrus had a slender frame, the clothes were loose on Severus, giving Phaedrus more fuel when he tried to get Severus to eat more. He left the shirt unbuttoned because he couldn't control his fingers well enough and he wanted to keep some remnants of his personal space. Most of his chest was covered with bandages anyway.

He and Harry spent most of their time playing chess while Phaedrus occupied his time reading or taking care of his two guests. Severus would read some of Phaedrus' muggle books if he was feeling too tired to to interact with anyone. Many of the books contained ridiculous storied about witches and wizards. He was amazed at the absurd ideas muggles concocted about his world.

A week passed by slowly and Severus was beginning to feel the impatient anxiety of cabin fever. He wondered how a youth like Harry must feel being stuck in the small house for this long. Every now and then he caught the teen staring out a window but he made it absolutely clear that Harry may not go outside. He knew that Voldemort would have spies searching for them.

Author's Note: Yes, it has been a while. A very long while. The usual work, poker night, friends, guests, weddings, visits, errands, and other distractions that life tends to dole out got in the way as usual. And yes, this was very short. I needed a chapter to get back in the habit of writing. I hope that it was a least a bit enjoyable. In the next chapter, we should find out what happens with Draco, Harry and Severus will need to make strategic decisions, and Severus might have to change his mind about certain creatures of the night.