What's Said, Is Said
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames are not. OOPs! We forgot to add to the disclaimer last chapter that the songs used belong to their respective writers, producers and performers. Blame old age. -GF and the Frau
Chapter 42: The Evil That Men Do
"Would you care to explain your apprentice's words in the Three Broomsticks, Severus?" Albus asked without the customary twinkle in his eyes. He had called Severus into his office when news of Apprentice Williams ill-fated words had reached the Headmaster's ears.
To say that Albus Dumbledore wasn't happy at being derided in such a public place was an understatement.
Severus looked at his former mentor and smirked. Finally, something got the old man's attention! "Garion Williams has not been too impressed with this school, or our world. However, that is beside the point. I bear news about the Dark Lord, Albus. You might want to call a meeting. I refuse to repeat myself."
Albus straightened. "You've been called? Why haven't you said something before?"
"No, I haven't been called. One of my little snakes passed along a message and I had to verify its truthfulness before I brought to your attention."
"Quite right, quite right," Albus agreed. "I'll call a meeting. And Severus, try to keep that apprentice of yours under control. We can't have him undermining the War effort."
0o0o0o0o0
Several people crowded into the headmaster's office that evening. Severus stood in the shadows in the corner. What many failed to notice was that he wasn't alone.
A slender young man with feathered, fly away hair and brilliant green eyes stood beside him. It could be said that he bore a passing likeness to their missing savior, Harry Potter. However, this youth was taller, more filled out and more refined than the missing savior.
"Why are we here?" asked Molly Weasley. "Has Harry been found?"
"No Molly, I am sorry," Albus said sadly. "I called you here as Severus has news of a possible attack. Severus, your report?"
Severus, with a mental huff at the coot's assumption, stepped out along with his apprentice who had his guitar case strapped to his back. "Albus. I said nothing about an attack. I said I had news."
"What's he doing here?" Molly screeched, before anyone else could say anything. "A child has no business in these meetings."
"Can we trust him?" Alastor Moody asked, standing as he drew his wand.
Garion laughed as he hopped up onto Albus' desk with no respect for anyone in the room. "Pay up Severus! Told ya those two would be the first to speak out and it wouldn't be about the business at hand. Wizards are so predictable."
"What do mean wizards are so predictable? Albus! What in Merlin's name is going on?" Moody growled, ready to fire off several spells at the boy. His magical eye trying to trace the power he could feel emitting from the boy.
"Show some respect, young man!' Molly snapped as her husband tried to calm her.
"Now Molly," Arthur Weasley chided,
"Alastor, Molly please. And you, my boy, please get off my desk!" Albus said, in a huff. When did he lose control?
Garion shook his head and expounded, "'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears! I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar.' That is to say that Severus and I called you all here for a reason. Tomorrow is Halloween and it's time to end this farce of a War you all seem so hell-bent on continuing. And I do mean continuing! Your Order, the Ministry and the people of your world have done nothing to end it!"
"Severus?" Albus asked. Those gathered started to protest their disbelief.
"It's true, Albus," Severus said, standing by his apprentice's statement. "If the Side of the Light had worked together, He wouldn't have enough followers to fight a war. So, after tomorrow night, Mr. Williams and I will see to it that the Dark Lord will be no more."
"But the prophecy? Isn't Potter suppose to be the one? Isn't he suppose to be the Chosen One?" one of the Order members asked.
Garion snorted, hopping off the desk. "As I said, wizards are so predictable. They'd much rather hide behind the robes of someone they feel is more powerful than themselves, such as a sixteen year old boy," he snarked, "than stand up on their own two feet to do what's right."
Several people sputtered as the pair walked out. "You did your duty and told them," Severus commented as he held the door open. "That's all you can do."
"Merlin knows they still won't pull their heads out of their arses."
Behind them, they could hear the protests and screeching. Someone called after the pair but once past the door they were nowhere to be seen.
0o0o0o0
Halloween morning, October 31st, started a bit chilly as a grey mist rose off the Black Lake.
Students staggered into breakfast in the Great Hall not realizing the events that were to be played out that day.
Albus Dumbledore was sitting at the Head Table clutching a note in his hand. His beard looked uncombed and his usual twinkling eyes looked faded and tired. His mind-boggling robes were also subdued this day.
When the Hall was full, the headmaster stood and the room grew silent. "All potions classes are canceled for the next week. Professor Snape had a family emergency come up. He and his apprentice, Mr. Williams, will be absent. A lesson plan has been posted on the Potion Classroom's door. Please take the time to look it over. All assignments will be due as noted."
A cheer that had started when Snape's absence had been announced quickly died when assignments were mentioned. Groans echoed at the thought of more homework.
0o0o0o0
'Down in the Underground, a land serene,' in the castle beyond the Goblin City, a war council was being held. The King of the Goblins lounged on his massive throne with one leg hooked over an arm, tapping a riding crop against his thigh.
Goblins roamed throughout the room chasing chickens and each other.
Four humans sat in a sunken pit lined with trash, dirty pillows and blankets. One of the humans was playing a guitar to his small, rapt audience. The other three were talking amongst themselves.
A beautiful woman dressed in a long flowing, green dress strolled into the throne room. She paused, with hands on her hips as she surveyed the room with disgust.
"Now, Sarah," Jareth said, standing to greet her. "You know I can't keep this place clean. We can go into the library if that is more to your liking."
She looked up at her husband and allowed him to usher her hurriedly out. The three men followed, smirking. They all knew that His Majesty, while a very powerful being, who ruled the Goblin Kingdom with an iron fist was in turn ruled by his beautiful but strong willed queen.
The Library was off limits to any and all Underground goblins. This was the King's personal safe haven from affairs of state and the chaos of his subjects. When he wished to be away from his subjects, wife and children, he retreated here.
Once everyone was situated, Garion sighed. "This is it! What everyone's been waiting for. We've . . ." he nodded to Severus before continuing. ". . . warned everyone that needed to be warned." he took a deep breath as he ticked off his mental to-do list. "Draco's mission has been sabotaged. Thanks to the Hogsmeade weekend, ol' Tom has been warned by Wormtail. Last night, Severus and I warned the Headmaster. Whether either took the warning to heart, remains to be seen."
"Are you ready, Garion?" Jareth asked as he placed a hand on his adopted son's shoulder. "We, of the Underground, have prepared you the best we could."
"Yes, sire," Garion said, looking up into the mismatched eyes of his father. "Really, there isn't any risk involved. The goblins you've sent are watching the Manor and there are no wards that will keep them or me out."
"You are NOT going alone!" Sirius shouted, standing up.
"Of course not, Snuffles," Garion agreed. "Not only will the goblins be there but Severus will be with me. After all, he is my apprentice and he needs the practice."
Sirius huffed, not convinced. Remus tried to calm the animagus down but Sirius would not be calmed.
Jareth gave a sharp glance at Sirius. "You are not going! The seers have spoken. Bardic Immunity would be nullified by anyone with him using offensive magic. When this is over, you can enter the manor."
Sirius huffed but settled back into his seat.
"Severus, my son is very important to me, to Magic. You will watch his back," Jareth commanded.
Severus bowed slightly but said nothing.
Sarah stood and hugged Garion. "When your father placed you in my arms as a child, you became mine. I could not be more proud or amazed that you turned out to be such a wonderful person, Garion."
"Thank you Mother."
0o0o0o0
On a hill surrounded by dying trees and overgrown weeds crouched a dark, run down manor house that had seen better days.
Inside, within a darkened ballroom that had been converted into a pseudo-throne room, sat a snake-like man. The difference between the Throne Room of the Goblin King and the Dark Lord known as Lord Voldemort was the lack of light and life. Oh, and the noise.
Chaos and mayhem was absent in this Pseudo-Throne Room. The whole held a feeling of stagnation and decay. The very air hung heavy and stifling. Death Eaters were standing around, in their robes and masks, waiting for instructions. Halloween would become a day of reckoning for the Death Eaters.
In the shadows of the Throne Room, goblin eyes watched from the shadows as more and more Death Eaters entered the room. A huge snake basked in the glow of the fireplace, completely unaware many goblins watching and waiting. Not even her keen sense of smell picked up their presence.
0o0o0o0
Outside the manor house, as the last of the Death Eaters disappeared inside, two forms stepped out of the shadows.
"He will be giving his plans to his followers, so we don't have much time," said the taller of the two .
The second nodded as he pulled an instrument from his case. He passed the case to his companion before starting to play a haunting melody on his violin. The moonlight and wind were a fine background to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
0o0o0o0o0
This is it, the first of the final show down. Two, maybe three chapters are left. One of our goals is to finish this story before Christmas so we can work on the story we have in progress.
As you may guess the quote is from Julius Caesar, Act 3, scene 2
Until next time. -GF and the Frau