Chapter Twenty-One
Ginny and Draco
"He could get trapped in the castle with You-Know-Who," Ron said after Snape and his shadow left the room. He's bait for the trap." They'd already sent Neville on a mission and he had also left the room.
"Isn't it time you called him by name," Hermione sniffed. "Voldemort. Say it Ron. It's not so hard."
Ron dropped his head for only an instant and then straightened and said very plainly, "Voldemort."
"He already knows he's the bait," Hermione added. "We have to trust that Neville will do what needs to be done."
They stared at each other in silence, no one wanting to say more.
Harry looked at both of them and gave the signal. "Right, then."
They left the room and headed for the Room of Requirement. This time it would not be the cozy replica of the home in Godric's Hollow. This time it would be to the cabinet that led to Knockturn Alley. From there they would apparate to the real Godric's Hollow. They had taken a chance and had given Snape the real Horcrux. Now they had to follow.
Snape could go to Voldemort and give the Horcrux to him which would show where his true loyalties lie, or he could follow their plan. From the look in his eyes after he faced his Doppelganger, Harry was sure that he would follow the plan. He knew that if Snape hadn't been a strong wizard that the Double would have immediately taken his sanity. AS it was, the man looked like he was battling a monster.
Harry didn't feel sorry for him and yet he could not bring himself to gloat. They had a connection even if he didn't want to admit it. And it was through a dead woman. Through his mother. Otherwise, Harry knew he would never have trusted the man.
"I wish I'd known what you were up to, Hermione," Ron said. "I'd have been happy to give him that scar."
She growled at him under her breath before replying. "As it is Ron, I have disfigured him and he might possibly carry that mark across his face for the rest of his life." Hermione moved ahead of them, hurrying towards the Room of Requirement. It was clear she was feeling bad.
Harry didn't say anything. He was past talking about such things. He felt a profound solemnity to their actions. He decided that they would all be lucky to survive the night. Who was going to care about a white zigzag scar from Snape's temple through the eye to his cheek. After all, Harry thought, I have carried one all my life.
"Harry, this is really dangerous. What if Voldemort finds out that you're in his mind? Could he...push you out?" Ron asked.
Harry knew what he meant. The last time, the time in the Ministry, when Voldemort had possessed him and then had pushed away. At Hogwarts in the Room of Requirement Harry had experimented. He was in the Dark wizard's mind for such a short period of time that he knew Voldemort was unaware of his presence. Dumbledore told him the wizard could not share his mind without pain. Now he wondered about entering the wizard's mind for a longer period of time. Will I be strong enough? Can I control the situation long enough to give Voldemort a glimpse of where the Horcrux is? It is the only way to entice him into the castle. Snape's life depended on it. All questions he could not answer until the time came. It wasn't worth worrying about. There were other pressing matters.
...
Ginny Weasley consented to returning home after receiving the urgent letter from her father. It seemed that things were coming to a head and people were gathering at Hogwarts. At least the Order of the Phoenix was gathering there. She had no idea where Harry, Hermione or her brother were or the rest of her family. She was in contact with no one and she felt all alone.
She took the tired, worn-out broom that she rode to Diagon Alley and was attempting to get it to move along a little faster. During Quidditch matches she was able to use a school broom, and although they weren't like Harry's Firebolt, they were fast and maneuverable. She had not wanted to wait for the wizard or witch her father said would come to fetch her and George and Fred could not persuade her otherwise.
It was growing dark. Even in the late summer when the sun had finally gone down it was usually a twiligh-kind of darkness. Tonight, it was an ominous midnight black and a moon the size of an enormous gold coin was rising over the tops of the trees. People were going inside instead of enjoying the summer evening out-of-doors. They were afraid and becoming more-so as tensions rose. Voldemort was sending his Death eaters out to terrorize people, to create chaos, but as yet was not killing and murdering outright. Still, it was asking for trouble to be outside at night.
Ginny knew that it was dangerous, but she felt that since it was dark she could escape detection. She was one person riding alone. They would overlook her, wouldn't they? she wondered. She only hoped she didn't have to make a run for it because the old broom would collapse from under her and leave her defenseless.
Just as she was having these thoughts she saw a dark figure approaching. She immediately recognized the white hair and pulled up to wait for the person. There was nothing else she could do. Wand out, she waited. "Hello, Malfoy," she murmured.
"Hey Weasley," he muttered, not at all in his usual haughty voice. "Fancy seeing you here."
"Yeah, fancy that," she said and waited. There was no response. "Well if it's all the same to you, I'm in a hurry." Ginny knew he was involved in Dumbledore's murder and most likely a Death eater, but she was not afraid of him. She felt, in a dual, they might be equally matched. After all she had seen him dual with Harry and she was older and knew the same spells that Harry did. But she didn't want to start a fight. She didn't want to have to test her theory.
"Hey Weasley," he whispered and moved closer.
She was ready to outflank him and run. He had the advantage with his Firebolt, but she wouldn't give up without a fight. "What?"
"Look," he began tiredly, stumbling over the word. "He...he's looking for you," Draco said.
Ginny moved away from him, searching the night, trying to think of a way to escape.
"Don't try anything; just listen for a minute." He pulled alongside her. "See I don't even have my wand out."
She could see his face in the moonlight and sensed that there was a difference in him. His hands were out in front of him and he held no wand. "What do you mean? What do you want?"
"The Dark Lord," he began again, "he's looking for you. Wants his Death eaters to bring you in. My dad is sending wizards out everywhere. The order is to find a Weasley- any Weasley- and bring them in for questioning."
"You mean torture," Ginny hissed.
Draco nodded and bent over his broom toward her, whispering, "What say you jump on behind me and I'll get you home."
"Right."
"I won't take you to him," he said firmly. "I mean it. I've been following you and I saw you leave tonight. If I wanted to capture you I could have done it before now. I waited until we were away from Diagon Alley. No one's following us. I didn't send for any of them."
Ginny stared at his dark figure and considered his proposal.
"Look, if he catches me he'll kill me," Draco moaned. "He probably wants me more than he wants you."
"That's too bad," Ginny smirked and then saw the young man's face in the moonlight. Draco looked like he was already dead; he looked dreadful.
"You're never going to make it home on that thing," he muttered. "If someone comes up on us I can get us away." He nodded at the Firebolt he rode. "We're both good at Quidditch. Better than most of my father's men."
Ginny thought about it and nodded. They dropped to the ground and she waved her wand at the old broom. It did an about-face and headed off into the trees.
"Can we get back to Diagon Alley and warn my brothers?" she asked as she climbed on.
He shook his head. "No need. I sent a message to them."
"They're not going to believe you."
"It was an owl from your mother," he answered. "We've gotten good at forging people's handwriting. Or should I say the Dark Lord has people who can do that sort of thing."
"What about my father and mum?" Ginny asked as they whooshed through the cool night air. She had to admit it definitely felt better on the Firebolt. IF necessary she could use a spell on Draco and steal the broom. She still had her wand.
"They're safe," he answered and took a sharp turn away from lights that shone below.
"Where are we going?" Ginny asked, suddenly concerned.
"Hogwarts," Draco answered. "Your mum and dad are there. Along with other members of the Order." He waited for a moment and then turned to her. "I need you to help me get in and vouch for me. At least until I can tell them what's happening."
Ginny considered it as they rode through the night. They were high in the sky and unnoticeable. There was time to think. She was not surprised that he was aware of the Order. It had to happen sometime. If he was telling the truth then it would be safer at Hogwarts than at home.
"I can do that."
They were nearing the outskirts of Hogsmeade when they were suddenly overtaken. It came as a shock to both of them and yet Ginny had seen this maneuver in the Ministry of Magic when Lucius Malfoy and his soldiers had descended on them. This tyime it was Lucius; he was alone. He was also lightening fast and there was no getting away from him.
"Stop Draco!" Lucius' voice was hoarse but soft.
Draco stopped midair and drew his wand. "I won't let you take her father." His expression was unreadable and Ginny was hiding behind Draco, holding onto the broom and mentally drawing up the energy to use a defensive spell.
"I'm not going to stop you, Son," the voice was soft, void of the granite ferocity that was normally there. Ginny could here a sob break away from Draco and the young man's head dropped.
"Let's get out of the sky," Lucius suggested. "There are others covering Hogwarts and Hogsmeade." He nodded in the direction they were going. "We will be seen." He gestured and then went ahead of them, lighting on the ground waiting for them in the gloom of a fog-shrouded tree.
Ginny knew she was helpless. It was Lucius and not his son. She was no match for the wizard. That meant she could not fight him.
"Dad," Draco moaned. The elder Malfoy stepped over and pulled his son into his chest, gazing over his head at Ginny. It was a touching display of affection that Ginny could hardly believe.
" I have been looking for you everywhere," he murmured, his voice full of sadness. "I will make sure you get to the gates unharmed," Malfoy pushed his son away from him to look into his face. "Try to convince them that you were coerced into working for the Dark Lord."
"But dad..." Draco began, shaking from head to toe. His voice was agonized.
"No, Draco," Lucius said, gently. "Your mother is dead and I will be shortly. He doesn't need me anymore. He doesn't need any of us any longer. Don't you see that it is over? I want you to be free of...this." He gestured in the dark at his arm. "Bring the girl along. We haven't much time. He's away right now. I don't know where but I am in charge. It's the only chance we have to get you to safety."
Draco nodded, sobbing silently. Ginny stood by stunned by what she was hearing. Maybe I'm not going to die in the next few minutes, she thought.
Draco seemed unable to act. Ginny grabbed the Firebolt and took a handful of Draco's robe, pulling him onto the broom and held him as she took off. The elder Malfoy swept up beside her and they moved through the forest only feet off the ground. Lucius didn't look at her but maintained a steady stare at the approaching village of Hogsmeade. They took a wide arc around it and headed for the school only a short distance away.
The night was quiet. Too quiet. And suddenly she felt the awful cold and dread that was associated with Dementors.
"Stay by me," Lucius whispered. "Hold onto him, girl!" Ginny felt Draco collapse forward onto the broom. She held on tightly and thought about the happiest moment she could remember and held her wand ready to commit to the Patronus charm. In practice with Harry she had been able to produce a full Patronus. Now, and only now did she understand what Harry had experienced when he held off hundreds of Dementors. How he had done it was beyond her. One Dementor was chilling, the twenty or so that floated like ghosts made of gossamer shrouds felt to her like she was drowning in a pool of despair. The Dementors drifted through the forest surrounding the school.
This is what hell must be like, she thought.
"They will not attack you while I am here," Lucius said. "But you will feel the effects. Hold onto Draco and we will make it to the school. Can you do that girl?"
The boy in front of her was unconscious and she felt her own consciousness ebbing, but she nodded. She held her wand at the ready.
He reached for it and pushed it down. "Don't use your wand. You will draw attention to us!" he wheezed.
She realized that he didn't take the wand from her and it gave her added strength. She nodded and they sailed in tandem through the forest.
...
Snape moved slowly. He knew he didn't have time to adjust to his Double, to the echo of his thoughts reverberating through his brain, to the incessant braying of the Other's questions and comments. There was no time to spare. There was only one way to make sure the Horcruxes were destroyed and that would mean self-sacrifice. He'd come to understand that his life would end soon anyway and better that then be tortured and then killed by Voldemort. If he could manage it he would try to take the wizard with him when he died.
He remembered using the Candidas charm on Lily and her son and now he was going to do the same once again. If Voldemort tried to kill Potter it would rebound. Only this time the dark wizard would not be consigned to exile in a bodiless form. This time his Horcruxes would be destroyed and there would be no reprieve. He would no longer be immortal and his soul pieces would be gone. Snape could not imagine that. Would it be as terrible as having a Doppelganger riding you? he wondered.
As he moved through the trees towards the dark cottage he remembered once again the night that she was killed. He had buried her and the man she married. He carried the boy and his toy-or what Snape thought was a toy- to the foyer of the cottage. The toy turned out to be the Golden Phoenix but he had not known it at the time. Then, it meant nothing to him. The child dropped it at the bottom of the stairs as Snape handed the infant to Dumbledore who had returned after trying to catch Sirius Black. Black learned of the deaths of his friends and without entering the house he went after Pettigrew. A moment later, Snape heard the sound of a motorcycle takin goff into the night.
"Severus," Dumbledore said. "I know that you are in shock and that this is a dangerous situation to leave you in, but I must get the child to safety. I need you to take care of things here."
Snape stared at the body of the man on the ground, the man he hated, Lily's husband.
"Severus!" Dumbledore took his arm.
"Yes, yes, I will handle things here," Snape said stonily.
" You have to get rid of His body." He looked up the stairs and then his gaze dropped to Severus' face. "Do you understand? Find Lupin," Dumbledore advised. "He'll help."
Snape glared at the old man but nodded. He wasn't about to tell Dumbledore that he'd rather be face down in the dirt, dead, like Potter, then to ask for help from Lupin. Hadn't it been the werewolf that had stopped him and made it too late to save Lily?
They had argued.
"She doesn't love you Snape," Lupin said. "She's married and she has a son. You need to leave her alone."
"What business is it of yours?" Snape asked, seething.
"I saw you there," Lupin snapped.
Snape nodded. "Yes, I am aware of it. You were with the other two throwing spells at me. You could have hit Lily, or .. the child."
"What were you doing there?" Lupin demanded.
Snape was not about to tell him about the prophecy or that Lily had asked for the Candidas charm- the charm that would kill her and protect her child. "This is not important Lupin. I need to see her tonight."
"You cannot go to her tonight." Lupin shrugged. "Anyway, she has a secret-keeper. No one can find her."
"You are the secret-keeper?" Snape asked.
"No. Would I tell you if I was," Lupin snarled.
"I must go to her immediately, Lupin," Snape argued and then added. "If you know who the secret-keeper is you must tell me. I have to warn her."
"Warn her about what?" Lupin demanded. "That your master is out to kill her? She's aware of it."
"Is it Black?" Snape asked. "Is he the secret-keeper? Send him a message. Do it now."
"Who do you think you are? Lupin challenged.
And on and on it went.
He finally persuaded the werewolf to take him to Black. Severus was sure that Sirius would laugh in his face, but he had to try. If Sirius was the secret-keeper he was the only one who knew where the Potter's were.
When they found him he was credulous. "I made Pettigrew the secret-keeper!" he shouted to Lupin. The two of them stood together ignoring Snape.
Lupin paled and glanced at Snape. "If Severus is telling the truth, Peter knows Voldemort is looking for Lily and James. He is the only one that can find them. If he has betrayed us then he has betrayed them."
Black shook his head. "I can't believe that."
"Can we send a message to Peter?" Lupin asked ignoring his friend's disbelief.
"Is there a way to find out if the Fidelius Charm is still active?" Black demanded and turned to Snape when Lupin shrugged. "Do you know? Can we test it?"
Severus nodded, thought for a moment and dropped his head to concentrate.
"Why would Peter betray us-them?" Lupin asked, looking dumbfounded and dazed. "We've been like brothers to him."
Black shook his head angrily and said once again, "I can't believe it! Snape?"
"Let him think, Sirius," Lupin jumped in.
"Do you know what I have done, Remus? I feel it, I feel it in my bones. Something is wrong," Black growled. "I couldn't put my finger on it before. But now..."
Severus raised his head. "I'm going to send out my Patronus and see if I can reach her...Lily. If the Fidelius charm is still working it will come back to me. If it has been broken it will reach her and she will answer."
"And if she doesn't answer...for some reason...?" Lupin could not state what they all dreaded. If she didn't answer it would mean that she was unable to answer.
"She'll answer," Black growled. "Or James will. I'll apparate as soon as we know."
"We'll all go," Lupin said, putting a restraining hand on Sirius' arm. "Even Severus."
Black snarled and yanked his arm away, all the while staring at Severus. And then he nodded in agreement and waved his hand towards Snape. "Give it a go."
Snape took out his wand and wrote the message in the air, blew on it and sent it speeding towards its destination.
...
Black had gone after Pettigrew and Lupin after Black and there had been no one to stare into the dead eyes of Lily Potter. Only him. Those eyes, even now, gazed at him from the past; forcing him to remember his oath to her. He stood in the dark staring at the blazing lights in the cottage. He knew at once that Voldemort was in the cottage. And the wizard was furious.
This is unexpected, Snape thought. Potter and his companions will be here soon. The Double nodded in agreement. I've got to draw him into the castle now and not wait. The Double once again nodded. Snape held the mirror in his hand and glanced at it. The scarred face stared back. I will go in and tell him that we have found the Horcrux. We should persuade him to go up to the castle before Potter gets here.
The Double turned to him and Snape stared back. The Double nodded. At least we are on the same page, Snape thought. If you go in he cannot use Occlumency. He cannot see through the plan.
It is you that he cannot read, the Other said. I am the true Severus Snape.
Snape nodded, his manipulation wasn't working. We shall go together then.
...
Neville left the castle without seeing anyone. Although Harry asked him to get help from the others; from McGonagal and the members of the Order, Neville knew that he had to do this alone. It was only after stepping out the door and walking along the path to the front gates and meeting up with Ginny that he was inclined to seek help.
"We thought you were captured," Neville exclaimed in relief. "Everyone is up there," he nodded at the school. They think you've been taken."
"Where were you going?" she asked.
"Then we'll do it together Neville," Ginny said after he explained what was going on. Draco stood beside her like a zombie.
"What about him?" Neville asked.
"Draco?" Ginny turned to him and for a moment they both thought he wouldn't answer them. Then he blinked and returned their look.
"I want to help. I'll go with you," he said. "They'll trust me and I'm the only one that can get you close to the snake."
Ginny nodded. "Are you sure Draco? Your father wanted you here; safe."
Neville looked on with astonishment. Something had definitely changed the situation with Draco and Ginny. Can Malfoy be trusted? he mused.
Draco stared back at her, tears dried on his cheeks and he nodded. "Maybe I can save my dad."
Ginny contemplated him and turned back to Neville. "Can you do a side-along apparation Neville? I can't apparate yet. We have to get there quickly and I don't think I want to go through the forest again." She shivered involuntarily and glanced over her shoulder at the Forbidden Forest.
Neville thought about it. He'd never been good at anything. He hadn't even gotten to Hogwarts by apparating, choosing to use a broom as the safer method of travel. But this was important and he could not fail.
"I can do it," Draco said, stepping forward to offer his arm to her.
"I will," Neville said and took a step forward, pushing Draco aside. The boy shrugged and stepped aside to wait patiently.
Ginny stared up at him. He knew she was nervous. He knew she didn't believe him capable. And then, to his surprise, she took his arm. "Let's go Neville. To the gates and outside the boundaries first."
Please, oh please don't let me splice her or me. Let us get there in one piece, he pleaded as they headed back down the path. He couldn't have known that Harry had thought the very same thing only a short time before.
...
McGonagal had been on her way to remove the cabinet in the Room of Requirement just after having a conversation earlier with Lupin. Then they discovered Snape thoughts in the Pensive and she'd forgotten about it.
Now, Harry and Hermione and Ron stood before the wall of the Room of Requirement. This time they needed to find the cabinet. With all three of them desperate to get into the room the door seemed to snap out of thin air and slam open as if they had said; 'Open Sesame!'
Without hesitating they found the cabinet and stepped in, one at a time.
When they arrived at the other destination, the room was bathed in darkness and only a sliver of moonlight penetrated from the front shop. Harry lit the end of his wand and led the way.
The shop was empty although the streets outside were not. He motioned for Hermione to unlock the door and they slipped out, staying in the shadows and away from the gas lamps that dimly illuminated the street. Furtive figures moved along the walkways and there were raucous noises emanating from a pub at the end of the street. Otherwise they were safe.
"Apparate now," Harry mouthed. Hermione and Ron nodded and disappeared immediately. Harry waited and watched to see if anyone was paying attention to the faint popping! noise.
Then he returned to the shop, reentered the cabinet and returned to Hogwarts. Moving quickly he made his way to Snape's old office near the dungeons and to the broom closet where Lupin was imprisoned.
"Lupin if you can hear me and understand," he whispered, "this is what I'm going to do."
He stood for a few minutes talking to the door. "I know that you would never forgive me if I left you here." He swallowed hard. "Thanks Remus. Thanks for being my friend."
There was no sound indicating that the werewolf was inside, or if he was, that he even understood his words. Then, Harry touched the lock and left.