Chapter Sixteen

"It was just a hunch at first," Leo said, "I've known Matteus since we were children, I know what he's like, and I can't see him being fool enough to be captured by Valkyries."

"How did that happen by the way? I didn't quite catch that when I was eavesdropping."

Leo grinned in spite of himself. "He was outside the school grounds with my uncle, gathering Potions ingredients."

"Lord Gryffindor does that?" Sarah asked, bemused.

"Not usually, but given the rather precarious circumstances, he seemed the best person," Leo said.

"And he took Matteus with him?" Sarah asked.

"No, Matteus asked to go," Leo said. "That's what puzzled me. He has never, ever volunteered to do anything he'd call 'servant's work'."

Sarah nodded. That made sense. She had thought Matteus was an arrogant prat when she'd first met him.

"So I went back to where it happened, near the woods in Hogsmeade, and everything was so open. They didn't go very deep into the woods, there's no way the Valkyries could have ambushed them there."

"They did though," Sarah said. "I mean, they must have done it cleverly, but they did."

"Yes, and my uncle is no easy man to fool," Leo said. "Even he was confused. He said he turned his back on Matteus for a few minutes to pick some nightshade, and the Valkyries were everywhere."

"And?" Sarah asked, sensing Leo was finally going to get to the point.

"Tactically, there's no way the Valkyries could have snuck up on them," Leo said gravely. "Matteus saw them coming."

"But he said nothing?" Sarah said incredulously. "Why would he do that?"

"Because I think he's the traitor."

Sarah sat numb, trying to process this information. Matteus was an unpleasant git, and it wasn't hard to jump to such an equally unpleasant conclusion about him.

"That's a very serious accusation Leo," Sarah said. "There's no way anyone would believe you without proof."

"I know," Leo sighed. "But it just fits. He must have seen them coming from a mile away and kept my uncle distracted."

"Why not take out Lord Gryffindor?" Sarah said. "He's much more valuable than Matteus."

"He's in it for the long game, I'm sure of it," Leo said grimly.

"Which is?" Sarah prodded.

"He wants the school," Leo said.

"So he helps the Valkyries take over Hogwarts, they give it to him, he probably promises not to bother them?" Sarah said skeptically. "You have to realize how that sounds."

"I know, I know," Leo said. "I'll prove it though."

"That's what you need me for?" Sarah said.

Leo looked at her a little sheepishly. "It's not my intention to use you as a pawn, but your help would be much appreciated."

"What do you want?" Sarah asked.

"Get me into the Slytherin common room. I'm going to search Matteus' quarters, and Lord Slytherin's too if I must."

You're so like Harry, Sarah thought, with a pang of sadness. She had to find him soon, and hopefully smooth things over. She felt guilty that she was almost glad he wasn't going to be staying for much longer. Things were getting so toxic between them.

The sound of Leo scraping back his chair startled Sarah out of her current train of thought. He walked over to the stone fireplace near the table and fiddled around with the wood and his wand until there was a roaring fire.

It warmed Sarah immediately, and her anxiety started to recede slowly. Harry could wait, she decided. She was going to do something herself, something that didn't revolve around him, for once.

"I'll help," Sarah said, getting up and plopping herself on the stone floor beside the fire. She was cold for a split second before the fire's warmth overpowered the coolness from the stone.

"Let me bring you the chair," Leo said, looking down at her.

"No, this is fine," she said.

Leo hesitated for a second, before sitting down next to her. "Thank you," he said quietly.

She didn't say anything, but rested her head on his shoulder.

Once they'd left the comfort of Leo's room, they made their way quickly, and discreetly as possible, towards the Slytherin common room. Many of the students were making the most of the evening outside, or were in the Library trying to cram some study time before exams, which began the next day.

Sarah and Harry were exempt from them, having not been there long enough to know the relevant material, and, as Slytherin was always quick to point out, due to the failings of their teachers in the future.

"Stop here," Sarah said, as they approached a familiar stone wall.

Leo glanced around, confused.

"This is the entrance," Sarah explained. "Open," she hissed. The wall slid back on a panel and a small, dark tunnel emerged.

"How very Slytherin," Leo said.

Sarah raised an eyebrow and he shrugged at her.

"You know what I mean," he said, following her as she led the way to the common room. Hardly anything had changed from her time. It was just as elegant, dark and foreboding. She wrapped her arms around herself to stop herself from shivering, and nodded towards a door under the arching staircases.

"That was our Head of House's room in my time," Sarah said. "Lord Slytherin doesn't have chambers here, so I'd bet that'd be Matteus' room."

Leo looked about. The common room wasn't full, but there were still one or two people milling about. Hardly any of them glanced their way, but those who did started, stared and then quickly went about their business.

"We need a distraction," Leo muttered.

"For how long?" Sarah asked.

"Five – ten minutes, at the most," Leo said.

"Consider it done," Sarah said, steeling herself for a moment before moving to the centre of the common room, and then, with a great, theatrical cry, fainting. That caught everyone's attention. Soon she was surrounded by people helping her up, getting her a chair, and asking if she needed the nurse. In the midst of this, Leo slipped into Matteus' room.

"No-no," Sarah said hastily, a bit surprised. The Slytherins in her time would have started ridiculing her. "I've just been feeling funny all day," she said.

"Aren't you a Gryffindor?" one of them asked. "I've seen you with that other new boy."

"Oh, yes I-I am," Sarah said hesitantly. "Lord Slytherin just needed me to fetch something for him, he let me in and then had to rush off."

"What was it? We can probably get it for you," a girl to her right said.

Sarah blinked at her. "I can't quite remember," she said quietly, hoping Leo would reappear soon. The adrenaline from her previous, bold action was starting to fade, and she began shivering again. "It started with a 'b' though."

"Book?" someone suggested.

"Yes, maybe, but I'm not sure which one," Sarah frowned.

"There are only a few books we keep in here," the girl said, "Perhaps you should take all of them with you and see which one Lord Slytherin wanted?"

"That won't be necessary," Leo said from behind the group. He had a large roll of parchment in his hand. "I've got it."

"What are you doing in here?" the Slytherins' hostility had returned.

"I accompanied her," Leo said. "Lord Slytherin didn't think it wise to let a new student wander about. Besides, she's my protégé."

Sarah almost rolled her eyes. There was that stupid word again.

"Then you should have helped her, Gryffindor," the girl said.

Leo nodded his head slightly. "Ay, I'm sorry Sarah. I didn't think you were in any immediate danger." He took her arm and guided her away to the entrance. Sarah gripped him tightly as they left, feeling the eyes of the Slytherins boring into her back.

She breathed a sigh of relief when they were out of the common room and in the corridor again.

"What did you find?" Sarah asked.

"Correspondence between the Queen and Matteus. Quite the plot they've got going on," Leo said. "Not only that," he continued, lowering his voice. "This," he held up the parchments, "was on his bed. There were papers everywhere, it was a mess."

"Someone's already searched it," Sarah whispered.

"And I bet I know who," Leo said grimly. "Slytherin."

"Why would he keep quiet about it?" Sarah asked.

"We don't know whether he's talked to the other founders about this yet or not. My guess is that he hasn't. Slytherins can't stand disgrace."

"Slytherins are also very good at scheming," Sarah warned. "He'll have a plan."

"I know," Leo said.

"Perhaps it would be best to tell Lord Gryffindor now," Sarah said. "We have proof."

"I want to wait a bit," Leo said, with a shake of his head. "I want to see where Slytherin stands."

"You mean you want to know whether he's in it with Matteus?" Sarah said. "I don't think so, he was furious."

"He's a good actor," Leo said. "I just don't want to make things worse between him and my uncle, especially if he's only trying to get Matteus out of trouble. My uncle will think Slytherin was in on it too if I tell him now."

Sarah was silent.

"Speaking of acting, that was quite a display," Leo said, tucking the parchment away in his robes. It broke the somber mood a little and Sarah smiled slightly.

"You don't know how many times I've had to do that," Sarah said.

"For Harry?" Leo said.

"Yes, we never planned anything, so there always had to be last minute distractions. Back home, they all thought I was very sickly."

Leo snorted a little. "That does seem like him. Running into dangerous situations when he'd best stay out of it."

"He's saved countless people and stopped the Dark Lord from returning numerous times," Sarah defended.

"I don't think it was ever only up to him," Leo said.

"Well it was," Sarah said firmly. "We're all the better for having him. He'd do anything for his friends, which is more than can be said for most people nowadays – or rather in my time."

"He's impulsive but when the crucial moment comes, he doesn't go far enough," Leo said bluntly. "In a war, if you can't see things through all the way, you have no business fighting."

"That's not true!" Sarah said, "Harry's not a killer, and he may be impulsive but he's not an idiot!"

"I wouldn't say that," a voice said behind them.

Leo and Sarah spun around. It was Lord Gryffindor, looking very solemn.

"Harry and Alistair have left the school grounds. We think they may have gone to confront the Valkyries," he said.

"What!" Sarah cried.

"What do you need me to do uncle?" Leo asked

"You're to come with Lord Slytherin and I," he said. "We'll talk tactics on the way, or, even better, we might be able to head the boys off."

"How could he be so stupid!" Sarah burst out. "This isn't like him at all!"

"Of course not," Leo said.

Her eyes narrowed at his tone.

"We can discuss stupidity later," Gryffindor said. "Miss Selwyn, go back to the Gryffindor common room and stay there. Under no circumstances are you to leave."

"I can help," Sarah said earnestly.

"No you can't," Gryffindor said. "These creatures are extremely dangerous. Do as I say, or I won't hesitate to lock you up."

Sarah was a little startled by the steely edge to his voice.

"Yes, m'lord," Sarah said quietly.

Leo gave her a small push and a reassuring smile but Sarah was far from comforted.

What in Merlin's name had Harry done?

What's this? Another chapter so soon! Hahaha, I want to finish this story within the next few weeks, and there's only a few more chapters to go!

xx