Downside of Aging Potions - Chapter Twenty-four

"Swim in the smoke
the hero will drown
intoxicating beauty tears everything down."
-Story of the Year, And the Hero Will Drown

"Harry! Oh..." Hermione looked at Snape.

"Sorry Potter, forgot to tell you she was safe." Snape was in an unconcerned manner and went back to the potion.

"Oh yeah, and when did you plan on telling me, Snape?"

Snape looked between Dumbledore, who gave a large yawn, and Harry for a few moments, then Harry added angrily, "The Pensieve, remember?"

Snape stiffened, "And you told him this?" He spat at Dumbledore.

"No, Severus, I did not. You remember Harry's... fifth year, I'm sure. The Pensieve does explain it all. Mr. Potter barged into my private quarters demanding of me an... explanation. And the rest is downhill, I'm afraid." He paused twice to yawn, his body slightly swaying.

"Hermione," Harry said earnestly, "I'm your best friend, you could've told me."

Before she could respond, Snape interjected, "You really think she could, Potter? Even though you don't like to think so, there are things that are better off unknown to you."

"I think you kids can take it from here. I am going back to bed." Dumbledore said, his eyes glazed. Hermione did not fail to notice this, but snapped out of her trance when Harry spoke again.

"How is this better off without me knowing?" Harry demanded.

"The Dark Lord, Potter, think." Snape growled.

"What about him?"

Snape rounded on him, "I am missing, Potter. You think if he knows your involved he's just going to sit around and do nothing? You think that with you knowing about me you don't have a double target on your head?"

"He's quite right, you know, Potter." A voice said, stepping from a corner.

Lucius Malfoy stepped out, folding an Invisibility Cloak around his arm, clutching his cane-wand in the other.

"How the fuck-" Snape started, but was cut off by an abrupt spell Hermione wasn't even sure she could pronounce.

But Snape was frozen, it seemed, unable to move, speak, but eyes were burning with fury, trying to gesture to something.

"What-How did you-Dumbledore?" Harry sputtered.

"Ah yes, you know, it's amazing how well asphodel and wormwood work together. And amazing how foolish of a man it would take to turn his head for one second."

Hermione shook her head, "But Dumbledore, he can see through Invisibility Cloaks."

"He can, Miss Granger," He said silkily walking over to her slowly, deliberately, tossing the Invisibility Cloak aside, "But how foolish and old he's becoming-" he murmured the same spell he used on Snape- "don't you think?"

When Harry tried to lunge on him, he pushed him off easily with a shove of his arm, and then turned, again murmuring the deadly spell.

Hermione looked around frantically. This wasn't the Body-Bind, but what the hell was it?

Too soon, she was being put in the fire place and for a moment, thought he was going to burn them. But instead he stepped in, took Floo powder from him pocket, and shouted something, but Hermione couldn't hear him.

And she felt rather glad she didn't.