Chapter 5

With a 'pop' Narcissa and Draco landed at a house that hardly anyone else knew about. Together they went through everything that the house elves had managed to salvage, which was more than they had at first thought. With a smile, Narcissa got the elves to help put her clothes and belongings away. With all the instructions to put things in certain places, it was well into the night before they were finished. There was just one bag left for them to open and when they did they gasped. The money from Malfoy Manor was in the bag. They both realised there must be a charm at work and finding an envelope, Narcissa opened it and read out loud:

"This is the key to a Black vault, just one. When I die, you will get more, obviously. After all, you are a Black; I would not deny you your inheritance. I wish you luck in the future. Draco, I will be seeing you at Hogwarts, but I don't know who I'll be. Whether I go as a Snape or Potter is a decision I have to make. I hate Dumbledore and Snape; I wish I could have been put in Hufflepuff. Would that not have been the best joke? The famous Harry Potter a Hufflepuff! Anyway, see you there. Harry no-last-name."

As Narcissa finished the letter, a tear ran down her cheek. She had just a small idea what Harry was feeling. She had hardly gotten to know her own father, she knew what it was like for a parent to be alive and want nothing to do with you. She just wondered which place Harry was going to blow up next, she had been reading the news papers about the bombing, wondering who was doing it. In a way, she had been glad she had been worried that either she or Draco would be blown up at one of the meetings. It had made her keep herself busy and have excuses at hand to avoid the meetings.

But it was not long before she had told Lucius outright 'no, he was not going'. Draco had been asked to hurt her. When he had refused, Lucius had fallen into a rage, locking them in the dungeons and hitting them with the Cruciatus Curse. After torturing them, Draco still refused the mark. Narcissa could not believe her baby's bravery. She was happier that he hadn't joined than she would ever show.

They got the Daily Prophet delivered, but there was nothing in there for the next few days. Harry had to get more bombs because he didn't have any left, and it had taken two days for them to be ordered. It was his luck tonight that there was to be a huge gathering of nearly three hundred Death Eaters, including the inner circle. Snape was due to be there, too.

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Harry

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Harry got back from the shop after collecting the explosives and the Order was not even aware that he had been away, thanks to silent apparition and an Invisibility Cloak. He also used a few charms to change his appearance because he wouldn't want anyone to recognize him now. He put the bombs in a secret place he had created, not wanting them under the loose floorboard under his bed.

Taking two, he apparated out of there and into the house where he knew the Death Eaters were meeting. Just as he planted the first bomb, he heard the sound of people apparating. Quickly, he planted the other bomb and walked out and across to the bush where he felt the wards end. It was only five feet from the Dark Lord's throne room and was open like a garage. The throne room was in the open too, with doors that lead to the dungeons. The place was a bit of a shambles.

Before he knew it, the new recruits were there. No Draco, obviously, and Snape looked worse for wear. His son wanted nothing to do with him, and he thought his godson was dead. It was taking its toll on the once proud and aggressive man. All Harry could think was 'they have not spoken to Snape yet'. They all looked like they would rather be anywhere else then where they were at that very moment.

Voldemort was last to appear, and all the Death Eaters bowed to him. Harry felt his heart glow, his father was the bravest man he knew, not only did he lie to the Dark Lord, but also he bowed to him, knowing he was an evil maniac and a half-blood. His breath got stuck in his throat and tears stung at his eyes at the thought that he would never know how much Harry loved him. Harry had no intentions of telling, or getting to know him. What no one knew was that Harry had foreseen his death three weeks into the holidays. Fate had warned him, and he had taken the warning to heart. He had been shown different endings but he had misunderstood the point. He could have changed the future if he had wanted to. Harry had just accepted his fate and not even thought of the other visions he'd had. One was where he and Sev had gotten on together, another was where he'd died and Sev had committed suicide at the loss of his son. It seemed that there were seers in the Snape bloodline, and it had been repressed when they had made him a carbon copy of James Potter.

"My new recruits, come forward," said Voldemort. His snake like voice spoke in its commanding tone that also held a not of warning but he was not going to get what he wanted this night, none of them walked forward, they just shook their heads.

Severus felt proud of them, but he would rather them become Death Eaters than lose most of his Slytherins that night. The Dark Lord unfortunately, had things to do this night, so he hissed at Severus, "Get back to Hogwarts, Severus. Let the old man think they were recruited." Then he turned to the others while Sev was still there, "And you make them change their minds. Do anything, just don't kill them," and with a 'pop' he was gone.

"You heard the Lord, man. Get going so I can have my fun," said Nott who was a faithful follower. He would have hurt his own son if it were not for Harry's actions, although they didn't know that.

Harry crept out, still under his cloak pressing coins in to the hands of the recruits. They frowned but kept them in their hands anyway, knowing someone was there, but unsure whether they wanted to help or not. They took the chance that it was a saviour and did not want to get them hurt. He forced one in to Severus Snape's hand and said the word to activate the portkey. Harry made it appear that Severus had apparated outside, then he activated the new recruit's portkeys and they were gone. Snape turned around, his eyes widening when he saw he was with the recruits who had refused the Dark Lord. The remaining Death Eaters watched a young man run from the room pressing a button, his Invisibility Cloak back in his arms. It had been summoned, and Harry had just managed to summon it back. He moved swiftly because he did not want to be caught by the Death Eaters, or give them the chance to get away before the bomb went off.

They all fell after a loud 'BOOOOM' blasted the area. The recruits went flying, and a couple of them broke their arms, and a few, their legs. They all saw a figure they knew was not a Death Eater, fall before getting back up and with a 'pop' the person was gone. Sev cursed that he had not gotten a proper look at the guy. Severus was the only one who had not been hurt; he could not believe that this had just happened. The place had just been blown up with the inner circle in there, along with over 300 Death Eaters. Soon there would be to be no Death Eaters left. He knew if Voldemort was lucky, he had 56 Death Eaters left, spread all over the world.

Severus apparated to Grimmauld Place and called a meeting. Dumbledore was there as soon as he heard, McGonagall was right after and then the door was opening and shutting as rest of the Order of the Phoenix poured in. Closing and warding the door, they settled in. Severus didn't talk until he'd had a few brandies. He could not believe how close he had come to dying that day.

"Severus, what happened?" asked Dumbledore. Everyone listened in closely, not wanting to miss a word that was going to be said. Dumbledore was glad to finally get some information from the man; Voldemort had been too quiet as of late. What he was not aware of was that he would not be getting great information, but to Severus it was the best news he could have.

"Three hundred Death Eaters have just been killed in another of the Dark Lord's hideouts," said Severus, enjoying everyone's stunned expressions. There had been one hundred killed before in the bombings, but three hundred was a lot to take in. Like last time, Mad-eye smirked; glad they were out the way.

"How did this happen, Severus? Start from the beginning!" said Dumbledore. It was more like commanding Severus, who didn't like it but answered none the less.

"I went to the meeting as usual. I was told to bring the new recruits from Nott's house to the throne room, and then Voldemort entered. They all said no to getting the Dark Mark," said Severus sounding proud. "Then the Dark Lord turned on them, but he said he had another meeting. What his urgent business was, I don't know. Then I apparated outside," Severus was still unaware that he had been portkeyed out. "Then, the new recruits were behind me. Whether they were apparated or portkeyed, I don't know either. Before I could think much else, the place went up with a loud boom. I fell, and the others were hurt, that's for sure. I heard a few breaking bones. I could not help them. They had not accepted the mark; I just hope they got out of there. Then, someone came out of the building I believe it was the person who had blown the place up, but I didn't get a look at them, sorry," said Severus finishing his story.

"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore. The twinkle had long ago left his eyes and

He slumped against the chair, thanking the gods that Voldemort had not been there, or they would have known all about it.

"What about the Aurors? Have you found any leads about who is doing this?" asked Dumbledore, who was right now, a very desperate man. He needed to find out who was doing this before they destroyed Voldemort's body and sent his soul into the night. He could not kill Harry if Voldemort did not have his body, there would be no point.

"Still no leads, Albus. I'm sorry. There is nothing, no matter how much we try!" said Tonks. Shacklebolt nodded in agreement.

Soon after that, the Order meeting came to an end and they all left Grimmauld Place. The headmaster looked like he was going to have a breakdown, and so did McGonagall.

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With Harry

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Harry apparated to his room. With a relived sigh, he went for a bath to get the smell of smoke out of his clothes and skin. After that, he went to get something to eat, but could only manage a sandwich. He could not believe how tired he was, but what do you expect when you keep getting Voldemort induced visions? With a yawn, he went to sleep.

Harry slept through the night, not even Voldemort's anger, which was worse than it had ever been after losing three hundred followers interrupted his sleep. He took his rage out on muggles, but Harry felt none of it. He was in an exhausted sleep, and was not going to wake up any time soon.

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Severus after meeting

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Severus apparated away from Grimmauld Place and to the Hogwarts gates. He stalked in even though he really didn't feel like it; he was too tired and worn out. With a yawn, he sat down and drank nine straight shots of brandy, the whole time sitting with a picture he would forever have and remember.

It was a picture of Lily Evans-Snape, Harry Snape and Severus together. Harry was in his father's arms, and Neville was in Lily's. They had been very friendly with Frank and Alice. The Snape's had tried so hard to get custody of Neville when the Longbottoms were cursed to insanity; Neville was just one year old. Severus just thought about that perfect time, hoping one day that his son would understand why he did it. He didn't understand how Harry couldn't see that he had done it for his sake; he had given up his son so Harry could have a normal life.