Chapt 7 An Assassin Neatly Wrapped
Voldemort dreamed and found himself bowed down in front of his Master. "Rise soon to be family."
The Dark Man watched Voldemort rise.
"My daughter hid herself within time and that is swept away, anchoring Erin in the present."
"Where is she My Lord? I will bring her to you myself."
The green, scaly, claw tapped lightly on the arm of the intricate throne he sat, thinking what he revealed would weaken him in the eyes of the one mortal he ever bonded himself to. He needed the mortal long enough to impregnate Erin and hang around long enough for his daughter to give birth and he would have the child that he deserved to have, one that would rule the plane of existence in this world.
A child he was denied when he foolishly agreed with the White Lady for their daughter to grow up in Dark and Light and decide when she became of age. Then again, things change and maybe he would not need his vessel. He discarded enough of them before.
"I'll use your present name Chosen One." Leaning forward and allowed his face to be revealed and checkled when Voldemort shrank back.
The same clawed hand tapping on the arm reached up and touched a horn on his head and leaned forward revealing his face into the light.
"I've given you control of my forces Thomas Binns. You find her and if you do not I will punish you and condemn you to nothingness." Waving a clawed hand and sent the mortal away.
The horned creature that was the Dark Lord leaned back in his throne pleased on his decision to tell his chosen to act as he could not do so.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Everyone surrounded Sebastion and Harry listening to Sebastion talk of the different raids and the pros and cons of each one.
Sebastion looked to his Mum smiling. "Her memories were quite detailed. All we need to do is to gather recon to verify all of the targets are still in place at this time. If they are then we I suggest this will be our first target." Handing the leaders of the Phoenix parchments labeled "Alpha".
All looked it over. The target was a brothel located in Mould-on-the-Wold located in Muggle Cotswolds.
Sebastion continued. "Once we confirm the Assassin's schedule we can take him. Even though my father is with Voldemort he certainly does not enjoy status. Slightly is recognized as Binns's right hand man. We take him alive and find out what he knows."
Severus spoke, pleased of the plan. "I know Slightly from the past and maybe I can get the information out of him without torture. I do not meet with him much and only see him next to Voldemort when I am called. It is not that often as I am only charged in making sure the students are appropriately brain-washed into the regime."
Hermione looked pleased as well. In all of the futures she lived, they never went after Slightly first as he was dedicated to the Phoenix. Near the end she realized he was not who she thought and played them as Severus did with Voldemort in the past. "The Order of the Light is not known in this time. Have them watch and confirm."
Harry nodded. "It seems to be the best plan. What are your plans Severus?"
"Sebastion and I will visit Bane and make sure Donovan and Erin are ensconced safely."
Hermione begamn to speak and he halted her. "You need rest Hermione. There will be plenty of ways to reveal your Gryfindor brashness later."
Molly and Arthur held hands. "I've got the list Hermione gave us separating everyone into three teams based on skill. We will go to the safehouse and disperse them to their team location and isolate the three from one other."
"Once they are settled Sebastion and I will go in and do a target Obliviate to make sure the teams are unaware of one another if caught. It was our downfall hundreds of times in the past." Severus murmured. "Let me know when they are settled."
Harry stood up. "That's it then. Let's be about our business then."
All left leaving Arthur and Molly staying behind.
Hermione used her Bond with Severus re-established when she returned and time settled back into itself. "Go Severus. I saved so many and I was not able to save Percy and his family. They want closure."
"I'll gather Sebastion and check on Erin."
Severus left the room and went up the stairs.
Molly and Arthur stood holding hands. "Percy….my son…" Molly murmured.
Hermione rushed to them and wrapped her arms around them. "I tried to save Ron, Percy, and his family many times. I could not because despite everything I did, they died. Every single time. Their deaths are fixed points in time and nothing I did changed the outcome. I'm sorry." She felt miserable.
Arthur held her tightly. "Your memories gave me a bit of hope for a moment. Thank you for telling us."
The couple released her and Aparrated away to disperse the teams.
Binns woke up and shivered. He knew he was the most powerful wizard in the world here, but in the presence of his Master he felt weak and he hated that.
He kicked Slightly out of the bed laughing when the man fell to the floor and stood up flustered. "We've work to do Slightly."
Slightly fell down to his knees immediately, noting the red eyes glaring at him.. "What do you wish of me?"
"Erin is back. You have her signature so find her. Do nothing and report back her location."
"Your will My Lord." Scrambling out of the room.
Slightly went to his bedroom and dressed. He would visit Julia and see what he could find out from the Order. If Erin was back there was no doubt in his mind that Order would have contacted the lithe red-headed witch. That was why his Master was so successful. Harry Potter always kept his agents fully informed and that what made the Dark Lord so successful in countering the few pathetic attempts to hinder his Master's plans.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Severus and Sebastion Apparated deep into the Forbidden Forest. "It would have been handy to have Hagris here, bless is soul in the Veil."
Sebastion looked questioningly to his father. The man had kept him sheltered from everything in his dealings in the fight against Binns.
"Hagrid was a Half Giant and Keeper of the Keys of Hogwarts and Professor of Magical Creatures. He knew this forest like the back of his hand. He was murdered 18 years ago when Binn's came into power taking out those he felt a threat. He was the only one murdered other than Minerva when everything began. Strange that out of all of the staff, he would take out the least importance."
Sebastion wrapped his robes around him, trying to settle and allow his eyes adjust to the dark and the strange sounds. "I think we know the reason why now Father."
Severus chuckled. "So it seems Sebastion. Fortunately I have a bit of help." Pulling a moleskin bag out of his robe and opened it.
"Out now Thanantos." Watching the raven fly out of the bag and land on his shoulder squawking angrily and pecking his ear.
"Still your anger Thanantos." Severus admonished. "We are in the Forbidden Forest and I am sure the many creatures here with the exception of the Unicorns would find you a tasty treat."
The bird immediately silenced and Severus pulled out a parchment and tapped on it revealing a picture of them in the forest.
Pleased, Severus folded the parchment and held it out and smiled when Thanantos took the parchment in her beak. "Go to Firenze and give him this and make sure he comes to us. Guide him if you need to."
The raven nodded and flew off.
Sebastion moved off and found firewood and brought it back and dumped it at his father's feet. "A fire while we wait?" He enquired.
Severus listened. He had been in here enough times and the insects chirping suddenly silenced.
"Pull your wand out and back into the woods with me. Something is wrong as the forest is never this quiet. Something is near us."
Sebastion did as he was told, heart racing and admired the cool demeanor of his father.
Limbs snapped in the distance. "Here that son?" Severus whispered.
"Yes." Sebastion whispered back, fighting the fear that engulfed him and felt his father's hand firm on his arm.
"I know you want to run Sebastion but that would not be advised. Listen further." His father whispered back.
Sebastion listened, focusing on any sound he could hear. "Heavy panting." Sebastion whispered back. "Plus something I've never heard. Little clicks like many legs of insects."
"Not insects but spiders." Watching a wizard running fall down in the clearing as twenty large Acromantula surrounded the hapless wizard, large mouths clicking nastily.
Severus watched Slightly using his wand to shoot out spells until one of the large spiders used a leg and flicked the wand away.
One moved up close and used a leg to push Slightly on the ground and held the wizard down.
"Who are you little man to invade my webs and kill my mates?" The spider asked as the remaining encircled him.
Slightly stuttered out. "I am here at Voldemorts command and you know who he is."
The spider released the wizard and chuckled when the man tried to escape and caught him in two legs and wrapped the man in a silky stream of web leaving only the head free and tossed the wrapped form down.
"Oh yes I remember him Man. We fought for him and we were decimated in the fight. You look to all that survive minus the ones you killed and we are very hungry, man flesh is so delectable as most are not foolish to come to our lands."
Severus placed his wand to his neck. "Aranon, Son of Aragog I wish to have a word with you."
Aranon looked up. "So more of Man is here. Come to me little man so my Brothers and Sisters will have a feast."
"Aranon." Severus called out. "You recognize my voice?"
The giant spider stilled in thought. "Headmaster Snape?"
"Stay and watch and kill any that make a move." Severus whispered to his son and walked out of the woods holding his wand down.
"Aye Aranon and I need that wizard." Pointing to the wrapped body.
Slightly screamed out. "Snape! Thank Gods you're here. Have you been called as well?"
Severus moved and the spiders surrounding their leader parted, allowing the man to pass, clicking their mandibles nastily.
He stood in front of the large spider. "My master would be displeased and kill all of you if you munched on his minion." Pointing his finger down at Slightly.
Aranon growled out. "Man that killed my mate"
Severus looked around, noting many females present.
"You have many others here Aranon to replace her. You remember Hagrid, wizard that raised your grandfather? I know you pass the stories down." Talking in a silky voice to sooth the angry spider.
The angry clicking silenced as the spiders waited for the man to continue. "Yes you fought for Voldemort and almost all of you perished because of you Aranon. I let you live because of Hagrid. I could have come to your web and exterminated you at any time if not for a promise I made to Hagrid on his deathbed. He begged me let you live and I have honored that request."
The angry clicking silenced of the rest of the group silenced.
Aranon regarded the man in dark robes. "You have to offer me something in return?"
Sebastion watched his father pulled out his moleskin pouch and held it upside down and five large black stallions erupted forth snorting and froze.
Severus smiled. "I think you will find what I offer is more than this small morsel."
Aranon watched the five large horses realizing the man was right and flicked a leg pushing the wrapped wizard towards the man dressed in black.
Aranon regarded the gift. "Call upon me if needed." Motioning a leg and the twenty large spiders moved into the forest dragging the horses along and soon the silent clearing erupted in the normal sound of the forest.
Severus knelt down to Slightyl growling out. "I've saved your life and hold you to a Life Debt. We'll talk more of it later. Sebastion!"
Sebastion melted out of the forest and joined his father. "Take him somewhere safe."
Severus watched his son pick the wrapped wizard up and placed him across his shoulder.
Sebastion looked to his father questioningly.
"Tell your mother all that has happened and I'll be back as soon as I can."
Sebastion nodded and turned his heal and Apparated away, pleased to be out of the forest.
Severus looked around the forest, lighting his wand tip and heard a sound of hooves and felt Thanantos land on his shoulder.
Firenze trotted into the clearing. "That was very clever of you Severus."
He sighed for plans changed with the inadvertent arrival of Slightly.
"Does Bane recognize my command of Herd Pact and protect those I sent forth because of the promise?"
"He does and no questions as the stars predicted it."
Severus nodded to the white centaur. "Tell my brother I will arrive soon and explain."
Firenze watched the wizard disappear and trotted out of the clearing into the forest to inform Bane.