Chapter 8

Knowledge is Power.

The noise within the keep when the Gringotts party returned was incredible. Everyone was happy to see them, excited that they'd made it back safely with our mission completed so easily. Harry could barely containing his excitement at the acquisition of the numerous journals in his parent's and Sirius's vaults. The Marauder's diaries, all their pranks, all their plans, their spells and notes. Their research and notes on animagus training. James's Transfiguration journals, the Marauders guide to becoming Animagi, his mother's potions and charms journals, all a wealth of incredible knowledge. Most cherished of all were the last journals kept by his mother, father and Sirius, started when his mother had been pregnant. While the other's poured over the piles of books, old spell journals, gadgets and potions, he sat holding those precious journals. Lily's smelt like her.. like flowers and sunshine and potions. She'd loved gardening. He had a single precious memory of her singing as she gardened, making him giggle as she made the flowers bloom with little waves of her hands, golden sunlight gleaming off her long red hair. She'd let him dig in the rich dirt and get dirty, He remembered that her hands had been dirty and she hadn't minded a bit.

"Harry! Earth to Harry." he jumped as Dresden poked his arm. "Sorry.. just a nice thought.. what were we talking about?" there was laughter and Molly pushed a large plateful of sandwiches and a big glass of butter beer towards him. He fell on it hungrily. He'd been too nervous to eat before they'd left. Dresden was eating from a similarly loaded plate and, after an experimental sip, he lifted an eyebrow, and then drank down his own butter beer. As I looked around everyone was eating, drinking and chatting. We were all together and safe. The planning for the assault on Hogwarts could begin.

"We need allies, more wands. We need to get word to those we trust, to Remus and to Snape. If we want to get into Hogwarts undetected we need his help." Dresden said.

Hermione, having gained some strength, mused, "It won't be easy.. he is already suspected of being a spy, he'll be closely watched."

I grinned. "I think I have a way. I need some parchment and a quill"

Dobby came the instant I called, popping in loudly, startling Molly right out of her seat, almost bouncing in place. He took the rolled parchment, glowed with the praise we heaped on him and disappeared with another loud crack.

Hogwarts School For Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Headmaster's Office.

Severus Snape, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was exhausted and haunted. Outside the school a war raged and within these stone walls it was being fought by children. Most of the teachers worked constantly to protect the youngest innocents, always on guard against the enemies within. Severus himself was playing a dangerous delicate juggling act, preventing serious harm coming to the more defiant students while playing the part of Evil Headmaster. He'd had to change passages and staircases to help the DA escape the Carrow's more then once and he'd rescued Ginny Weasley from a particularly nasty fate at the hands of several seventh year boys. All with the finesse of a spy.

So it was a tired, beaten Severus Snape who sat at the great ornate desk that night. A small chime let him know there was an incoming house elf, he'd added it to his wards after almost killing one of the accursed little creatures who'd startled him one late night. The incoming elf turned out to be that barmy Potter Fan-elf, Dobby. He was visibly shaking with excitement as he bowed, handed the parchment scroll he held to Severus, and vanished. Without a word. Snape blinked.. and after checking for harmful spells on the scroll, sat down to read the mysterious missive.

To The Half Blood Prince

Greetings from the Speaker who Seeks.

I have gained some talented and clever new friends, A Lady and her Knight, from the Realm of Winter. Their allies too have joined the fray. Man, demon, woman and beast.

The Pretender and the Traitor will all soon face Her judgement for She is displeased and Death has been cheated of his rightful prey.

It is time for the Pretender to be revealed, to see who will stand by him in the light of Truth.

His Anchors we severe and cast to the winds. Our Allies are hidden, unknown but strong, they move silently and within the shadows, cleaving away the Pretenders safeguards. This mighty, unseen force moves even now.

It is fabled that one should never anger a red-haired woman, her fury will know no bounds, not death nor dimension. Our own fiery lady has sought out aide for those she loves and her plea has brought about Judgement.

If you wish to know more, go to the place in your nightmares where yellow eyes once gleamed at Midnight tomorrow.

Son of Prongs.

PS Bring the He Who Howls at the Moon.

Tell him his Cub is waiting.

Staring at the parchment, Severus felt himself smile for the very first time in many years. The clues in the letter had hope blooming in him and he hurried to the Floo. Remus would not want to talk to him so he'd show him the letter first, and hope the werewolf didn't hex him on the spot. He flooed to Diagon Alley and began tracking down Lupin.

Having treated Lupin many times after particularly nasty transformations, Snape could track him easily with a simple spell. In fact he'd gotten enough samples from many of the students to be able to track almost anyone in an emergency, and no-one, barring Albus, had ever known. It was their last line of defence if a student were ever kidnapped and he'd sprinted straight for Harry's hair sample the night of the disastrous Tri-Wizard Tournament. Before they could Apparate out however the boy had made it back. Snape smiled at the thought, Potter could survive just about anything.

Lupin was in the Three Broomsticks, holding up the bar. He stunk. Snape looked from him, to Tom and back. Tom merely shrugged.. warily watching Snape. Snape gave him the smallest wink and Tom relaxed. Severus cast a few notice-me-not charms and quietly moved Lupin to the Floo and away, back to Hogwarts. Immobilising the semi-concious man Severus summoned Poppy, the only person who knew his true nature, and allowed her to tend the man. A powerful cleaning charm, a sobriety potion, a pepper-up potion and then another cleaning charm and Lupin was awake, staring warily at Snape as Poppy disappeared through the Floo. His skin was a little raw looking, Poppy wasn't gentle with hangover sufferers.

Severus held up his hand, forestalling Lupin's burst of outrage, and simply floated the parchment in front of the man's face, back far enough that he could read it. Lupin was a werewolf and his eyesight was impeccable.

Snape rather enjoyed watching Lupin's face, and the grin that spread across his face as he breathed out "Har.." Snape hissed and shook his head.. nodding at the walls. Though the portraits had been covered, Snape didn't like being watched, they could still hear. Lupin froze in horror then, carefully straightened. "What do you want.. Snape" he snarled winking at Snape. And so began a high-spirited hour of Snape 'interrogating' Lupin, and Lupin 'screaming' or 'cursing' at him. Somehow half a bottle of fire-whiskey disappeared along with years of animosity. They left before midnight for their rendezvous under the pretence Lupin was badly beaten, (Glamour charm) and being taken to his wife as a message.

Back at the Keep

It was a busy group, preparing the night's meeting. The Keep had a hectic air as Kreacher, Dobby and the newly sobered up Winky had been quickly absorbed into the Potter Elf contingent. The Keep's rooms and furnishings had all been restored, and were sparkling clean, guest rooms and a hospital room had been prepared and the Keep's larder was stocked for a siege. Everything was as ready as it could be. Harry was looking forward to introducing Dresden, Thomas and Molly to Lupin and Snape, though he wasn't sure who'd survive the latter introduction. His head was full of plans to open the different manors he owned and hide people from the Death Eaters before they launched the battle.

Hermione, Dresden and Molly were surrounded by books and journals and seemed to be in hog heaven. Even the Skull was pouring over the stacks of potions journals like one possessed, pardon the pun. Every now and then it spun and whooped. It would call things like "Theses potions will even work for Butters.. if we can get all the ingredients!" Ron and Karrin were talking tactics and she was showing the gangly redhead various fighting moves and technicians that would help him later. She'd also given him some shooting lessons and Dobby had bee sent out to get more weapons and ammo. Hermione had looked pretty freaked at Ron with a gun, but the redhead was a natural shot. A much recovered Luna was interviewing Thomas on his life as a Vampire and Olivander had been sent on quietly to Bill and Fleur's seaside cottage, his injuries too serious for any of them to handle. Hermione, though weak and subject to nightmares, had created new galleon messengers and they had made their way, via Air Dobby to trusted allies. Kingsley, most of the Weasleys, Lupin, Snape and the Tonks were ready and waiting. Dean Thomas, Lea Jordan and the Weasleys were passing on coded messages to the rest of the resistance.

When night fell they were as ready as they could be.