Albus Dumbledore felt as if he were reliving his life from over fifty years ago. The difference was that Draco Malfoy was not as charismatic as Tom Riddle had been. Even though they knew what Draco's ultimate goal was, both Dumbledore and Professor Snape were forced to admit the boy was being extremely cautious and stealthy.
Even worse was that ever since the headmaster began taking over teaching Defense against the Dark Arts to allow Professor Snape more time to focus on unlocking the secret of the cursed necklace to revive Miss Bones, Draco had become a model student in nearly every aspect of his academic life.
Dumbledore still held out hope that they could reach Draco, and show him what his current path would lead to, but until they were able to catch him in any wrongdoing, it was nothing more than blind hope.
Still Dumbledore clung to his hope that because Draco was still so young that it would be possible to save the poor boy's soul before it was corrupted beyond saving. He'd yet to take a life, and that gave Dumbledore hope.
But then he would watch the boy in class and in the Great Hall, and he would be reminded of another young boy who acted similarly, and hoodwinked the world at large of his malevolence, all the while he was plotting how to destroy all he felt were inferior to him.
Also weighing heavily on his mind was the situation with Harry Potter. The balance of the war weighed very heavy on Harry. More specifically, the destruction of the horcrux within him. Dumbledore had not yet told the boy any of this, for fear that he would retreat from his friends, and even himself out of fear of hurting anyone. This simply could not be allowed to happen. So long as Voldemort believed Harry could defeat him and Harry still lived, the Dark Lord was distracted.
Dumbledore had seen first hand evidence that he was right about Harry's condition. Dumbledore had witnessed a distinct improvement in Harry's power level. At least until Susan Bones had been hospitalized. Dumbledore was certain that the more positive emotion Harry felt and returned, the weaker the horcrux would become. But Harry would only truly be rid of it when he felt truly and deeply loved. Unfortunately, Dumbledore was unsure when or how that would happen.
Dumbledore had watched Harry and Susan in the weeks before the incident, and he felt that they appeared very happy together. He had also felt immense pride when he'd learned Harry had given up his position on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in order to have time to spend with Susan. He knew of course that Harry was spread quite thin this year with his lessons and his special training. Harry's choice to give up something he had until then seemed to care a lot about told Dumbledore that Susan meant a lot to Harry, and that was a good sign.
Madam Pomfrey had kept Dumbledore informed on Miss Bones condition and had also mentioned each time they spoke that Harry was in the hospital wing sitting next to the young woman every free moment he had. This was not unheard of. Harry had done similar when Miss Granger had been petrified in their second year. Dumbledore wondered if it had not been for the betrothal contract, if perhaps Harry would have begun dating Miss Granger.
Still, Miss Bones accident had brought the progress of the relationship to a grinding halt. One that if not remedied soon, could turn the tide of the war. While Dumbledore had collected several of Voldemort's Horcruxes, and felt he was close to another, he knew that so long as the one inside Harry remained intact, there was no defeating of the Dark Lord. Susan had to be revived soon, because Dumbledore was not about to use the only alternative. He would not sacrifice Harry. The boy had more right than most to live a very long fruitful life, and Albus Dumbledore meant to see it happen.
Dumbledore sat at his desk looking over Regulus Black's journal as he often did when he could not seem to think straight. Somehow, knowing that someone like Regulus could turn their life around and do what was right, gave Dumbledore hope that Draco could also be saved. Dumbledore thought briefly of allowing Draco to read from the pages, but dismissed it almost at once. If Draco was as Severus had said, the boy would get word to Voldemort and the remaining horcrux that had yet to be found would be hidden again. Dumbledore had four, including the destroyed diary, and he knew that Voldemort's familiar, the snake known as Nagini was a horcrux. That left only one. One remaining piece of the Dark Lord's soul unaccounted for. Once Dumbledore finally found it, he would destroy the cup, the locket and the ring as well as the fourth one all at once. Then it would be down to the serpent and Harry.
Dumbledore sighed again and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Lately had been feeling more and more his age. His knees creaked much more than they used to and his joints in his wrist and fingers often felt stiff and painful. Albus Dumbledore was no longer a young man, and he was not the only one to understand this. Lord Voldemort had taunted him during their last battle, but it had been more than that. Lord Voldemort knew that he no longer had to fear Dumbledore. It was almost as if Dumbledore was a weakened gazelle and Voldemort was a lion preparing to pounce.
"So much left to do." Dumbledore said as he looked to his familiar, the brilliant red phoenix which sat watching him intently. "I only hope there is time to finish what I've begun."
The Christmas holidays arrived and the students of Hogwarts abandoned the classrooms and dorm rooms destined for their own homes and families. The castle was emptier than any teacher could remember in a very long time. Only two students remained. Harry Potter, and Susan Bones who was still unconscious.
The day before the holidays began, Harry was joined in the Hospital wing by his friends. Hannah, Hermione, Lavender, Ron and Neville all came to wish Harry and Susan a happy Christmas, and to spend time as a group before they left the next morning. Harry, as always, sat at Susan's side, his hand clasped around hers.
"So Zach's actually relieved that we're going home. He's been on edge for weeks thinking you might do something to him." Hannah said with a grin.
Hermione just shook her head. "I don't plan on it. Revenge isn't really my thing."
The others just stared at her for a moment as a wide rather unsettling smile spread on her face.
"On the other hand, it is kind of cool to know he's afraid of me. Maybe he'll treat his next girlfriend much better."
"Su Li's told every one who'll listen what a complete prat he was to you." Lavender smiled softly as she watched Harry next to Susan. She was just as worried for Harry as Hermione Ron and Neville seemed to be. Yet, at the same time she had a feeling that their suffering was coming to an end. She could not say how she knew, and she had not shared it with any of her friends, but deep in her heart, Lavender knew that everything was going to be ok for Harry and Susan, and it was going to happen soon.
"It's not to late, you know." Ron smiled. "Harry and I could make him see the error of his ways." Neville nodded his agreement but Harry shook his head.
"There's nothing we could do that would be worse than his fear of Hermione. With us, he'd get a few hexes, or maybe a bruise and a bloody nose. With Hermione, he could end up losing his bits permanently. What would you fear more?" Harry asked with a smirk.
Everyone agreed with Harry's logic, especially Hermione.
Madam Pomfrey had kicked them out at curfew, as she always did, but Harry was back first thing in the morning with his holiday homework, and a few pieces of toast that he had taken from the Great Hall just before coming to Susan's bedside.
Harry could hear the parade of his schoolmates heading down to the carriages for the trip back to London and the start of the holiday break. He occupied himself for most of the morning by finishing his homework and occasionally staring at Susan's face, looking for any sign that she was about to wake up. He would silently offer up prayers that she would do anything to let him know she was waking up.
Madam Bones arrived that afternoon with Dumbledore at her side. They speaking in hushed tones as they approached Harry, who was snoozing softly. He was sitting in his chair, bent almost double with his head resting on his arms which were folded on Susan's bed. The two adults watch the to tens resting for a moment before Amelia awoke Harry and greeted him kindly. After the pleasantries were exchanged, Amelia explained why she had come that day.
"The Headmaster and I think that it is time that we should move Susan to St. Mungo's." Amelia said with a sad sigh. She moved to the other side of Susan's bed and softly touched her niece's cheek. "Although Madam Pomfrey is capable. Susan will get special help there."
"Why have you waited this long?" Harry asked sullenly.
"That was my decision." Dumbledore said. "I believed that we could discover the curse and find it's cure. Unfortunately we have been unsuccessful."
""We're making arrangements to transfer Susan in the next few days. Then, I would like it if you came home with me for the remainder of the holiday. I don't like the thought of you here all by yourself." Amelia said with a hand on his shoulder. Harry looked at Amelia and then to Dumbledore, noting the sadness in each of their eyes before he nodded resignedly.
"I know this is hard, Harry, but Susan isn't getting any better here, and you're not as focused as you should be worrying about her." Dumbledore said heavily. "Alastor Moody told me your last session was quite dismal and that your performance had severely diminished.
Again Harry nodded and turned back to stare at Susan's deceptively serene face. He knew they were right. He had allowed his studies and his training to deteriorate in the past weeks. He'd also stopped sleeping regularly. He had often returned to Gryffindor tower, donned his father's cloak and returned to the hospital wing to sit by Susan's side. While he was under no illusion that someone had noticed, Harry was grateful that no one had yet confronted him about it. But it was clear that the tolerance for his lack of progress was at an end, though no one had said so.
Amelia bent low and kissed her niece's forehead and gave Harry's shoulder another squeeze before she and the Headmaster left Harry alone again. Harry sighed as he caressed Susan's hand.
"I don't know if you can actually hear me Susan, but I'm sorry. I should have just stunned you, or put you in a body bind. Anything. If I had thought, just stopped and thought, maybe you wouldn't have gotten hurt, and they wouldn't be taking you away from me."
Susan didn't move, but Harry hadn't been expecting her to. She just remained as still as she had been these past weeks. The soft sound of her breathing her giving the only sign she was still alive.
It was with a heavy heart that Harry forced himself out of his chair and gathered his books. Harry felt he needed to get used to the fact that soon he would not be able to se Susan anytime he wanted. He was going to have to move forward, and Susan would have flayed him alive if he just hid himself away, just as Sirius would have hexed him into the next century if Harry had not gotten on with his life.
So Harry decided it was time to do what he probably should have been doing all this time. It was time to begin figuring out just who was the cause for Susan's condition, and make them pay for it.
The problem was that Harry had no idea where to start. He didn't even have the necklace. But just because he had nothing to start with didn't mean he was going to give up. An idea occurred to him on his way to the library and with a smile, Harry turned around and headed down to Hagrid's hut. Harry knew that Hagrid was far more informed than he liked to appear, and with a bit of a push, Harry was sure that he might get an idea of where to start looking for Susan's attacker.
Soon, very soon, Harry would make some one pay for their offenses.
As soon as Harry stepped out of the castle, he was blinded by the sun reflecting on the fresh blanket of snow that had fallen the night before. Harry blinked several times before marching through the nearly knee high snow towards the gamekeeper's hut, where a very cheery plume of smoke twirled into the steel gray clouded sky.
Harry found Hagrid outside of his hut, gathering more wood for his fire. The half giant gave a cheery wave and invited Harry inside where he began to make tea for himself and his guest, while Fang, the boarhound, nearly knocked Harry flat to the floor in his attempts to lick Harry's ears.
"It's good ter see yeh." Hagrid smiled as he set to bucket sized mugs down. "Though I wish you'd been able to continue me classes."
"I'm really sorry about that." Harry blanched.
"Ah." Hagrid waved it off. "Yer growing up, and there's not much need to know many magical creatures when yeh're an Auror. And what with all yeh're training, I expect tha next time you meet You-Know-Who, he'll be in fer quite tha surprise, Yeah?"
"Maybe." Harry said gloomily. "I've been distracted lately.
"Tha's to be expected. I'd be disappointed if you hadn't been." Hagrid smirked as he took a long sip of his tea while keeping his eyes on Harry, who was looking sadly into his own mug. "I never said nothing about it because it were none of me business. But I did find it odd that you and Susan were together. I actually thought that you and Hermione might start dating or something." Hagrid chuckled. Harry gave a soft laugh as well.
"As much as I love Hermione, It'd be too weird to date her." Harry laughed.
"I thought it was a bit odd that I'd never seen you and Susan together before. I still got no idea how you got together. I mean it was always just you Hermione and Ron all these years. Then you three come back this year and yeh've got yerself a mess of new friends. Well, Ron and Lavender tha's to be expected. I seen Lavender watching Ron for two years now."
"Wait, What?" Harry looked up shocked.
"I've seen enough of teenagers to know when they might be having crushes. It isn't to hard to figure out when you know what to look for. In me classes and in the Great Hall when no one was looking, Lavender'd watch Ron and smile all shy like. I suspect she was trying to figure him out or something. Maybe she was trying to work up her courage or summat like tha." Hagrid grinned.
"Maybe a bit of both. Ron said they got to know each other over the summer. She kept coming round to Ron's brothers' shop to talk with him." Harry explained. Hagrid nodded with a smile.
"Thought it be her that made the first move. Ron's not exactly observant. She's been a real good influence on him from what I've seen. Same as Susan's been fer you. Giving up Quidditch and all just so yeh could spend time together."
"I couldn't give up any of my classes or my training." Harry shrugged. He sighed heavily again and Hagrid smiled sympathetically.
"I know that it's been hard on yeh Harry, but you've got to hold on to yer hope that she'll be ok."
"I've never given up. It's why I've spent so much time with her. I want to be there when she wakes up so I can tell her…" Harry broke off, his face getting hot. Hagrid gave a soft chuckle and took another long drag from his tea.
" It wasn't fair." Hagrid said after a long silence. "Whoever made Susan take that necklace didn't care who they hurt."
"Do you know who it was?" Harry asked. Hagrid shook his head.
"No. But Snape is really angry, and that seems strange to me. I overheard him arguing with Dumbledore. Not the whole thing mind, but enough to know that Snape doesn't seem to think Dumbledore is taking things seriously."
"Snape is angry at Dumbledore?" Harry looked shocked.
"Aye. He's been especially surly this past month."
"Where has he been? Dumbledore's been teaching all his classes and I haven't seen him at meal times." Harry asked curiously.
"Don't know. I've only seen him in the staff meetings, and he doesn't say much. And between yeh an' me, He's been looking a bit out of sorts." Hagrid said concernedly.
"Why do you think Snape is mad at Dumbledore?" Harry asked. Hagrid shrugged.
"Blimey Harry, like I said, it seemed like Snape thought Dumbledore wasn't taking things seriously. But between you and me, I think there's something else. I think maybe Snape is tired of playing the spy. I think he's had enough of it all and just wants to rest. It can't be easy playing a double agent. Having to remember every conversation with everyone you've ever talked to so you don't slip up has got to be exhausting."
"Never thought about that." Harry admitted sadly. "Hagrid, who do you think gave that necklace to Susan?"
Hagrid blanched and looked away quickly. Harry noticed the half giant looking nervous suddenly.
"You know something, don't you? Why won't you tell me?" Harry asked pointedly.
"I know you think I know something, Harry, but I don't. I only have suspicions, and only because I overheard a few things that I shouldn't have."
"Who Hagrid?" Harry asked again, now a bit colder.
Hagrid heaved a great sigh. "You're going to make a great Auror, you know Harry. Able to interrogate people without making them all…"
"Hagrid!" Harry snapped.
"Alright, alright." Hagrid said. Exasperated. Again he sighed and then looked hard at Harry. "Now you listen to me, and listen good, alright. I'll tell yeh, but yeh've got to promise me yeh're not gonna go off half cocked. I'm not even sure I even heard right."
"Hagrid!"
"Alright!" Hagrid shouted. "I shouldn't have been there, But I was coming out of the forest after visiting with Grawp and, well this was some time ago mind, but I heard Snape mention Draco Malfoy's name."
"Malfoy?" Harry looked shocked.
"Now don't go crazy now. I don't even know if I heard right." Hagrid warned.
"What did Snape say?" Harry asked curiously, watching Hagrid closely.
"He told Dumbledore that Draco doesn't want to be saved. Dumbledore felt that Malfoy should be given a chance to prove he was better than we all thought. Snape objected and that's all I heard."
Harry sat silently for several minutes. It was possible that Draco could have been involved, but it didn't fit with Draco's normal modus operandi. Malfoy liked to make a spectacle of his perceived superiority. He thrived on the fear he tried to instill, and he loved getting a reaction. On top of that, Harry couldn't imagine Draco having the cognitive ability to plan and carry out something this elaborate.
But as Harry thought about it, he could remember the last time Draco had tried to instigate a fight, or even throw a few insults at Harry and his friends. In fact, it was odd that Harry had not really had suffered any insults from any Slytherin.
"Harry, I know that you're angry and you likely want ter make whoever is responsible pay for it. I know I would. I also know you and Ron and Hermione always end up tangled up in some kind o' trouble. I know yeh don't go looking for it, and I'm not sayin' yeh do. But I'm asking you not to confront Malfoy, or anyone else fer tha matter until you have some real proof. Ok?"
Harry nodded and promised that he wouldn't do anything until he did have proof. Harry knew that Hagrid would be disappointed, but that Amelia Bones would actually flay him alive.
Harry and Hagrid turned their conversation to far more pleasant things and Harry left shortly before dinner time. He ate alone in the Great Hall, as even all the teachers were absent. Yet Harry didn't seem to really notice how empty the castle was. His mind was extremely focused on what Hagrid had told him.
Though Harry was loathe to even humor the idea, somehow the he just couldn't dismiss the idea that Draco Malfoy was involved in hurting Susan. The problem was that, to the best of Harry's recollection, Draco hadn't even been in Hogsmeade that day. He was almost sure of it. So how could he be able to get into the ladies room at the Three Broomsticks and put Susan under the imperius curse. Another question was whether or not Draco even could perform the imperius curse.
The more Harry tried to puzzle it out, the more his head began to hurt. Harry decided to leave it for now and spend some time with Susan. He didn't know how much longer he had with her until she got moved to St. Mungo's.
He found Susan just as he'd left her that morning. Sound asleep, her chest rising and falling softly. Harry sat in his chair next to her bed and sighed as he took her hand in his own.
"Oh Suze, I really miss you." He whispered. "I don't want them to take you away, but I can't keep letting you distract me. As long as you're here like this, I'm distracted. I can't focus because I want to be here with you. I need to be here with you. Maybe I needed you all along and this is what is making me realize it. I'm sorry for that. I'm not brilliant or anything, so sometimes it takes me awhile to catch on."
Harry sighed, and scooted his chair closer to Susan's bed. He stared at her face and he felt his heart break a little again as it always did when he thought about what could happen if she didn't wake up.
"You know, I had this whole plan." Harry said, then laughed. "Ok, it wasn't really a plan. Just the seed of a plan. I know you won't like this, but I actually got advice from Ginny, and as I thought about it, I guess it really made sense. So when Neville, Ron and I were out shopping for Christmas presents, I kind of took her advice to heart and I got you something special. Before I met you for lunch, I started thinking about how I might give it to you. Obviously the Room of Requirement was going to play a big part of it all. I was going to try and subtly get you to tell me what would be the most romantic setting you'd like, or something like that. I guess I hadn't even thought we might go home for Christmas. But, if you were awake, then maybe I could have spent more time thinking of the perfect setting."
Harry took a deep breath and gave Susan's hand a gentle squeeze. As usually, she remained unmoving.
"I guess this means I get time to really find the perfect way to bowl you over. I just wish that I didn't have to. I love you Susan, and even though we were kind of thrown together, I just don't want to live my life without you in it. It's crazy. Completely barmy, but there it is. And after talking with Ginny, I realized that I needed to tell you. To show you how much you meant to me. I wanted to give you something that you'd remember. A proposal that made you… I don't know. I just…I got you this great ring and I…"
"Then you'd better put that ring on my finger."
Her voice was hoarse and Harry barely heard it, but he'd seen her mouth moving. There was no mistaking it at all.
"Susan?" He asked, nearly falling out of his chair. He leaned forward as she slowly began to open her eyes and her fingers tightened around his hand.
"Hi Harry." Susan smiled weakly. Harry felt his eyes sting as his heart began to pound in his chest.
"I can't believe this. Are you… how do you feel?" Harry asked trying hard not to start crying like a five year old.
"Dizzy. Weak. And really thirsty." Susan whispered.
"Ok." Harry said. "I'll get Madam Pomfrey and …"
"Harry." Susan asked, holding onto Harry's hand as tight as she could.
"Yeah?"
"I love you too. And I meant it about the ring."
Harry smiled and leaned in to kiss his girlfriend before running off to find the matron so that Susan could be checked out. Harry had never in his life felt so relieved and happy in all his life. He could barely think straight at the moment and only one thought kept running through his head. Some stupid line from a long forgotten muggle movie. It was a Christmas miracle.
"Well done, Severus." Dumbledore said as he saluted his potions master.
Severus Snape nodded his thanks to the Headmaster and to a drink of his brandy.
"Once I broke through the protections, it was simple. As soon as I had the solution, I went to Madam Pomfrey and had her assist me in performing the counter curses. I suspect you'll be hearing that the Bones girls has awoken by tomorrow morning."
"Thank you Severus for your diligence in this matter." Dumbledore smiled again. "When will you be leaving?"
"This evening, and I'll return before the term starts. I'm curious as to what your time teaching my classes has revealed to you." Snape asked pointedly.
"We arrived at the topic much sooner than I thought." Dumbledore chuckled humorlessly. "I have observed a model student in regards to Draco Malfoy. Which, had we not had disciplinary issues with him before would have made me or any teacher extremely happy. However, is sudden change in behavior has me very suspicious of him. And his sudden change in behavior makes it very difficult in being able to detect him in any wrongdoing. As you have said, he has become paranoid, and is suspicious of everyone, especially me. I should have known he would try and hide his intentions, especially as I am his ultimate target. And you were right about his mind shields. Very strong. I suspect he knew I was trying to use Legillemency upon him."
"And you still feel he is worth saving?" Snape queried.
"That remains to be seen." Dumbledore sighed. "It is my deepest wish that he can be changed. To be put on the right path. I hope that he can see for himself that he being manipulated and it will be his undoing, just as you yourself learned that."
"Draco is not me. He isn't motivated by the same thing as I was. He's a spoiled, arrogant child. And worse, he feels he needs to prove himself. He needs to prove that he is more cunning, more ambitious, and more powerful than his father, and he will step over, or on anyone who gets in his way. Albus, I know how deeply you believe in redemption, but sometimes…"
"I know, old friend. Some people do not wish to be saved. I fear that you are right, and it breaks this old man's heart. Worse still, I now believe that Draco may actually accomplish his mission." Dumbledore sighed.
"Are you taking the mickey?" Snape asked looking bemused. "A student actually killing you? Are you out of your brilliant mind?"
"I'm old, Severus. I'm old and tired and not as quick as I once was. I am also distracted. When you get to be my age you may understand."
"What is it you're trying to say, Albus?" Snape said rising from his seat and eyeing the headmaster with suspicion.
"Severus, I am tired. I am tired of being a symbol for goodness, and people thinking that I will solve all their problems. I am tired of trying to change our society for the better and being battled by people who think they are better simply because the have gold or pure blood. I am exhausted by the repetitiveness of it all." Dumbledore said wearily.
"So you're saying you want to chuck it all in? You want Draco to kill you?" Snape asked incredulously.
"No. I do not wish to allow Draco to kill me, but I wonder sometimes if my time in this world is nearing it's inevitable end. Whether it will be Lord Voldemort, or illness, or simply that it is my time. I do not wish to leave until Voldemort's threat has been eliminated, but sometimes I fear that I will be unable to complete what needs to be done before…"
Snape stared at Dumbledore for a long moment before he found his voice.
"I will not pretend to understand your mind, nor will I say that I sympathize with your feelings. I will only say that you are not as alone as perhaps you think you are. I swore to help you, and if you choose to hold me to my oath…"
"Severus, in all the years we have know each other, when have you ever known me to hold someone to any oath they've sworn, especially in a time of emotional duress?" Dumbledore argued.
"Be that as it may, I am not as ignorant as some others. I can help you in more ways than I am currently. You can confide in me." Snape pleaded.
"If the need arises, Severus." Dumbledore smiled. "If the need arises."