Chapter 9
They spent the next four days tentatively planning and fighting. It was getting to the point where Malfoy and Harry where getting fed up with the two adults.
"Lets lock them in a room together until they get along," Harry grumbled.
Malfoy shook his head and kept eating.
"Wouldn't work. They'd kill each other without us there to keep and eye on them," Malfoy said.
The pair were sitting in front of a roughly drawn map trying to figure out a way in.
"Why won't this one work?" Harry asked.
Malfoy rolled his eyes, "I've told you already. Its guarded by spells that even Severus and I don't know. This one would be the best bet."
"But it seems to obvious. Even with the invisibility cloak it's a risk," Harry argued.
"Since when do you care about taking unnecessary risks Potter?" a voice called out.
Harry looked over and saw Snape and Sirius standing in the doorway.
"Since I don't know how far two certain people would be willing to go for me, or I them," he retorted.
Snape walked in farther and pulled another chair up to the table the other pair occupied. Sirius stayed in the doorway, away from Snape.
"So what's the plan so far?" Sirius asked from his place.
Draco spared him a quick glance before pointing to the map.
"Like I was telling Potter, This would be the best entrance. The few wards there are, I can bypass from the inside, and the three of you can sneak in under the invisibility cloak," Draco explained.
"We'll have to use a summoning charm after each of us gets to the safe point. Not all of us will fit under it," Harry took over.
"I don't understand. Why use such and obvious entrance?" Sirius asked.
During the explanation he had crept closer to the table for a better view.
"Its so obvious that they won't expect anyone to use it. They also won't expect Draco to be the one helping us," Snape said scathingly.
Sirius glared at Snape, but kept his mouth shut. Draco and Snape then preceded to explain the best way to get to Voldemort physically.
"Now we just need to find out a way to kill him," Harry said hesitantly.
"Not looking forward to fulfilling your role has the wizarding world's savior Potter?" Draco drawled.
Harry looked at Snape for a split second before answering, "Not really, no."
Draco was about to say something else, but seemed to decide against it. Sirius wandered off to find out about dinner while Snape just observed the two boys.
It was after dinner and Draco and Sirius had gone to bed. Harry was still up and looking at the map. Snape was staring into the fire with a glass of firewhiskey in hand.
"Potter, I think for the next bit, we should have Ms. Granger come and help us. She would be of much use," Snape said.
Harry spared him a glance, but didn't answer right away. He was thinking over whether or not he should bring his friend into this. It was bad enough that he was risking his godfather's life, but he didn't want anyone else that was innocent too much involved. Not to mention what would be done about Ron. There was really no place for him in this plan, and he didn't wan to leave his best friend out of it.
"I think we'll just have to make do with each other sir. They don't need to be caught up in this anymore than they already are," Harry answered him.
"Are you sure you want to do that Harry? And what exactly are you leaving them out of to begin with?" Dumbledore asked from the doorway.
The two jumped in their seats slightly before looking over at the man.
"Headmaster, why didn't you send word you were coming?" Snape asked slowly.
"I hardly think I need to send word to my own house Severus. And I had a feeling you boys would be up to something. You can't blame an old man for wanting to surprise you," the Headmaster illustrated.
"Of course not sir. And we aren't up to anything. We were talking about whether or not Ron and Hermione should join us here. We were thinking that they might not be safe at the burrow," Harry said quickly.
Dumbledore smiled at him, his eyes shining, before looking at Severus.
"As the boy said, we were concerned about Ms. Granger's and Mr. Weasley's safety," Snape back him up.
"Some how, I find that hard to believe. But we'll discuss it later," Dumbledore said, "Let's wake up the other two, shall we?"
They were once again all gathered around a table. This time, there was no map on it though. That was safely hidden in Snape's room, away from prying eyes.
Dumbledore was at the head of the little table, listening to the rest of the group argue.
"If this place is no longer secure then Hogwarts is the last chance," Sirius claimed.
"That's were he would expect us to go Black. Even Hogwarts won't be safe for much longer," Draco disputed.
Harry slammed his fist down on the table. "Then where else can we go?"
"Trust a Gryffindor to never think outside of the usual," Snape commented.
All four of them looked over at him expectantly. He just sat in his chair with his hands in his lap.
"I believe that the Headmaster already has another plan. Otherwise he wouldn't have come to us," Snape replied calmly to the silence.
"Unfortunately, you're wrong Severus. I don't have a plan other than Hogwarts," Dumbledore said sadly.
All of them sat back in their chairs at that. Sirius cast a smug glance at Malfoy, who scowled in response.
"How did he find out about your keep to begin with sir?" Harry asked.
"I have no way of knowing for sure. I don't even know if he's actually found it. But we can't risk the chance of cockiness being other that show," Dumbledore sighed.
The other four members of the group seemed to converse silently, as if debating something most urgent. After a little time, Severus and Draco gave nods of assent.
"We have a plan Headmaster, if you would let us explain it to you. It might make Voldemort think twice, so we wouldn't have to find some place else to hide," Harry said humbly.
"Well, no need to keep me waiting," Dumbledore said.
Snape left to go get the map. When he came back he spread it out on the table and the four creators gathered around it.
"We plan on entering through here. I know all the charms needed to bypass it, and there's a little grove that no one goes into," Draco started explaining.
"We'll be using my invisisbilty cloak to get from the grove to the entrance. We'll use a sommoning charm after each use," Harry continued.
"Once inside we'll follow these Chambers to voldemorts chambers. We'll be disquised as new recruits for the death eaters. Snape's plan, not mine. I rather go in and blast them all," Sirius stated.
"And we all know how brilliant that would go over mutt," Snape snorted.
Sirius kept himself to only a few threats and glares.
"Its when we actually get to the dark Lord we we're at a pause. We haven't the slightest idea on how to kill him, or if we can even harm him," Snape kept on.
"are you sure you don't want to involve ms. granger Harry? She could find some very useful iformation in the library at hogwarts. And Mr. Weasely would be a good man to have plan the assault on voldemort," dumbledore insisted.
Harry shook his head and said vehemently, "They don't need to be here for this. If the only man voldemort fears, two of his supposed followers, and one of the greatest pranksters in hogwarts history can't figure a way to at least do him enough harm to get him thinking then we have a problem," Harry said.
"Very well. There is a spell i'm familiar with. Unfortunately it will require a potion for you to take harry, or else it will effect you as well. good thing we have a potions master among us, isn't it?," Dumbledore chuckled.
Snape grimaced.
"Its called aksadler. it's a complex spell, but with enough practice i think you can pull it off harry. The spell essentially curses the blood. every time the one cursed tries to anything harmful to the caster it rebounds and triples the effect of the initial spell. Adventagious to our cause, don't you think?" Dumbledore told him.
"The potion in question will take a week in a half to make, and will only last six hours. We sure as hell have better be out of there by then," Snape grumbled.
Harry sat back and looked at the other three in the group. All of them looked a little apprehensive now that they had an entire plan formulated. The only problems would be if the disguises failed. They were all worried about a fire fight. All of them save Dumbledore that is. he was busy looking for a tin of lemon drops.