6. R.A.B. and Snape

Harry, Ron and Hermione stood outside number 13 Gimmauld Place. Ron was holding pig's cage in one hand, the tiny owl flapping around excitedly within while Crookshanks, who was curled around Hermiones feet, eyed him impatiently. Sturgis Podmore and Hestia Jones were arguing behind them.

'Don't be ridiculous, Sturgis! How on earth am I going to carry that?' said Hestia, pointing at Ron's trunk.
'Well you can't float it in the middle of the street in broad daylight, can you?' Sturgis said as he struggled with Hermiones book laden luggage.

'We'll come back out for it,' said Harry over his shoulder. He and Ron were each holding an end of Harry's trunk. Hermione was loaded down with parcels Mrs. Weasley had piled on top of her before they left. She had apparently completely emptied her kitchen cupboards in an effort to ensure they didn't "fade away to nothing" while they were out of her care.

They walked through the small gate and up the path; Harry stopped and concentrated Number twelve Gimmauld Place The Black Family home expanded before their eyes, looking as dull and dingy as Harry remembered it. He pulled his wand out when they reached the front door, and tapped it near the twisted serpent-handle.

'Alohomora!' There was no familiar clicking of locks.
'No, no … you cant do it like that.' Hestia pushed her way passed Harry, she raised her wand and tapped the door 'Open Sesame!'

Harry and Hermione exchanged looks as the locks clanked open behind the door. Ron, however was oblivious to the meaning of the password, he was tapping on Pig's cage in an effort to subdue her.
'Who set the password?' but before Harry had even finished asking he knew.
'Dumbledore. Seemed to think it was rather amusing … cant think why.' Hestia was obviously from an all-magic family, like Ron.

'Shut up Pig!' Ron said in a hushed voice. No one spoke as Harry and Ron placed their load carefully in the hall and then went out to collect the other trunk. Hestia and Sturgis relieved Hermione of some of her teetering packages and once they had retrieved the other trunk Harry and Ron stopped to look around. To his dismay Harry noticed the curtains that covered Sirius' mums portrait were still there, though the other paintings had gone. The shrunken house-elf heads had also been removed. (Harry was thankful but silently wondered what Kreacher would have to say if he knew)

'You take these,' Sturgis whispered as he emptied his parcels onto Ron 'we'll be outside on duty.' Hestia unloaded hers onto Harry and smiled wryly at him 'Welcome home!' She and Sturgis closed the door behind them leaving the three of them standing in the gloomy hall in silence.

'Let's take these to the kitchen.' Hermione whispered, and they headed through the cramped doorway and down the stairs, Ron still clutching Pig's cage and Crookshanks following. The kitchen was cold, damp and gloomy and even less friendly now that Sirius was gone. They tipped their packages onto the table.

'I'll get a fire going.' Ron said and he placed Pig on the sideboard and strode off towards the sitting room.
'Might as well get this stuff put away.' Hermione sighed and began opening the parcels. Harry picked up a piece of parchment that was lying on the bench top.

Harry,

I hope this note finds you as I feel here is the safest place for you now.

There's a few supplies in the cupboard even though I am sure Molly did not let you leave empty handed.

Try not to disturb Mrs. Black's portrait, I have found her most disagreeable of late.

I've organized for Hagrid to send Hedwig on to you, I should be back in a couple of days.

There will be Order guards on duty round the clock in the meantime,

Lupin

Harry smiled. The moon had been bright last night, so he guessed there must be a full moon due. Harry knew Lupin was no longer able to go undercover to infiltrate the werewolf underworld, of which he was secretly glad. Greyback would have seen him fighting against the Death Eaters at Hogwarts that night and Snape was bound to have given his master the names of all The Order members by now. As Harry's thoughts turned to Snape he felt his blood boil.

'Once we've got this lot sorted, we'll go up and unpack.' Hermione was stuffing the shelves, glancing at Harry every now and then. Harry did not speak for some time, his mind was whirling with the thought of how much Snape knew. He had known that whilst Dumbledore was The Orders secretkeeper, no one except him could say the location of Headquarters. Now however with Dumbledore gone, he began to wonder if Snape was able to reveal the location of twelve Gimmauld Place.

He looked at Ron who was stoking a roaring fire and opened his mouth to speak. Twelve Grimmauld Place! His lips would not form the words and no sound came out. 'Harry?' he realized Ron was looking at him with a curious expression on his face.

'We're finished here, let's go.' Harry said as Hermione put the last loaf of bread away.

Harry took Sirius's room up the top of the stairs while Ron took Pig to the room he and Harry had shared. Hermione retreated to where she and Ginny had slept last time. They made up their beds with clean linen left over from when Mrs. Weasley had been there and met back down in the kitchen around lunchtime. Crookshanks purred as he sat curled by the fire. Ron started to pull food from the cupboards and Hermione busied herself laying the table.

'I think we should take another look at that locket and note after lunch.' Harry was standing by the fire, staring at the flames as they licked high into the air. 'It's all we've got to go on.'
'I've been thinking about that.' Said Hermione, placing three cups beside the plates 'What if R.A.B. isn't a person?' Harry looked her.

'Whadya mean?' Ron said doubtfully 'What else could it be?'
Hermione shrugged 'I don't know, it's just that I've already looked up the well known powerful witches and wizards, remember? And none of them seemed the least bit likely to have written it.'
'Maybe they're not well known … whoever they are.' Ron said
'That will make our job next to impossible then,' said Harry, looking into the fire again.

Harry remained quietly by the fire as Ron and Hermione launched into an argument over sandwich fillings. The enormity of the task ahead of him seemed insurmountable, and yet Dumbledore had trusted him to go on. He had believed Harry capable of overcoming the odds. But then Dumbledore had also trusted Snape. He felt sick to the stomach every time he thought about it. But he had no choice but to go on and do the best he could. Over the past week Harry had developed a renewed sense of urgency. He was running out of time, he could feel it. Voldemort had wanted Harry to alienate himself for only one reason. He was coming for him.

'Harry,' Hermione dished up a large plate of sandwiches and sat down next to Ron. Harry turned from the fire slowly, not feeling a bit like eating anymore.
'C'mon,' said Ron 'you'll be hungry later and we're not going to stop until dinner.'
'That's right,' said Hermione gravely reading Harry's face 'we'll get somewhere with it today … I know we will.' They sat and ate in silence.

'Arrrgh!' Hermione let out a frustrated groan 'I'm going to need more parchment but this is all I've got until we pick up some school supplies. Have either of you two got any?' She had been working through complicated permutations of the R.A.B. letters, trying to figure out if they had hidden meanings. This was her last desperate resort to find something that would unlock what happened to the original locket, and now she had finally run out of space on her lone roll of parchment. They had worked through without dinner because none of them had felt like eating. Ron's efforts scanning through books he had found in the study upstairs had not yielded any results either. All their time spent troubling over the problem had come to nothing and it was past eight o'clock.

Harry and Ron shook their heads in answer 'Might find some upstairs in one of the desks.' Harry said as he stared into the fire again, feeling frustrated and useless. He hadn't been of any help at all, from the moment he sat down it was as if a huge mental block went up around him. Hermione lifted herself off the rug by the fire and jogged up the stairs.

'Don't suppose you've had any brainwaves?' Ron was looking exactly how Harry felt as he turned another book over in his hands.
'No … nothing'
'You know, for all our efforts I get the horrible feeling the answer is staring us in the face' Ron said.
'Yeah … like we're missing something.'
'Or reading too much into it!' Ron tilted his head to the ink covered parchment on the floor.

Harry didn't want to admit it, but he was beginning to think Ron was right. The lack of sleep over the past couple of months had dulled Harry's brain, and he suspected the sleepless nights spent in his room at The Burrow had had a similar effect on his two best friends. He made up his mind to try from now on to get a better nights sleep.

'Harry!' Hermiones voice from behind them sounded so strange that both Harry and Ron turned in their chairs to look at her. Her face was ghostly white as she stood with a fresh piece of parchment clutched in her hand. They jump up immediately.

'What's wrong?' Harry said urgently.
'Hermione! … What's happened? … Did you get bitten by a doxy or something?' Ron grabbed her hands and started pulling her sleeves up, inspecting her arms.
'No!' she breathed then looked at Harry 'I know who R.A.B. is.'

'Who?'

'I'll show you,' Harry and Ron exchanged looks and followed her as she led them up the stairs 'I was hunting around for some parchment and for some reason I stopped to look at it' she was saying 'and there it was' She had reached the first floor and was heading into the drawing room. She finally stopped in front of the sprawling Black family tree tapestry, pointing at the very bottom of it. Harry and Ron leaned in squinting at the writing. There, in tiny black letters was the name Regulus Black.

'Sirius' brother?' Ron said incredulously, but Harry knew from the moment he had seen the name that she was right.
'Why didn't I see it earlier' he said darkly.
'He was a Death Eater, he must have been close to Voldemort!' said Hermione.

'Sirius said that his brother had wanted out before the end,' Harry spoke quietly 'when he found out the lengths Voldemort was going to, to gain power.'
Ron looked stunned 'Maybe it wasn't the usual Death Eater activities that made him turn on V-Voldemort, maybe he found out about the Horcruxes?'

'It could explain why he suddenly did a turn around.' Hermione agreed
'Regulus was a purist,' Harry said with distaste 'that's why he joined the Death Eaters, but if he found out about the Horcruxes he would have realized Voldemorts true agenda, total domination and immortality.'
'Not just elitism' Hermione added.
'It all fits' Harry said gravely.

'But Voldemort killed Regulus didn't he?' Ron asked
'Yeah … or at least his Death Eaters did. But he must have had time to retrieve the locket before they found him. R.A.B. was pretty sure his own death was immanent.'

'Well that's it then!' said Ron confidently 'He found the locket and destroyed it before the Death Eaters got to him!'
'But he didn't know how to destroy the locket!' Hermione put her hand out to Harry 'Give me the note.' Harry pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to her, she unfolded it 'See … he wrote that he was going to destroy the locket as soon as he could.'

'So did he destroy it before they caught up with him?' Ron looked to Harry who was deep in thought.
'We wont know until we find it.' Hermione frowned

'But how did he get it?' Harry said aloud, then he looked between the two of them 'I mean, it was protected by very powerful magic,' his voice went flat 'even Dumbledore had trouble, and it took the two of us. Dumbledore said it couldn't be done alone.'

'Maybe he took a fellow Death Eater along who wanted out too?' Ron suggested.
'No … Voldemort made it so that only one wizard could get to it,' Harry said darkly 'and then he enchanted it so that only two people could actually remove it.' He hated thinking about what he had done to Dumbledore in the cave. It had all been for nothing. The locket was a fake.

Their state of excitement was slowly being replaced by disappointment. The answer they found had raised even more questions. They left the room and headed back to the warmth of the sitting room, discussing the possibilities. Hermione made some tea and they slouched in their chairs sipping it dejectedly, Crookshanks curling into her lap. Their conversations seemed to take them in circles, always the same questions popped up. It was late by the time Harry decided they were going to get no further with it tonight, so they cleaned up and headed off to their separate rooms.

Harry was feeling worn out. The excitement of finding out R.A.B.'s identity, and the consequent questions it had produced had left Harry wondering yet again about the seeming impossibility of the task ahead of him. He threw off his clothes, leaving only a t-shirt and pants on for warmth, and slid under the blankets. Before long he sank into the darkness of sleep.

There was a dull thud.

Then a slithery snake like feel intruding on Harry's skin. He squirmed slightly as he half-woke from sleep. He opened his eyes partially and tried to shift his position. But he seemed unable to move. He tried to rouse himself; his eyes opening and closing in the darkness, then suddenly, something wrapped itself around his face, sliding across his mouth and parting his lips with force. Harry let out a strangled gasp as he went to sit up, the panic rising in him, but he fought against something that bit painfully into his skin. He tried to yell but only a muffled groan escaped the dry wad in his mouth.

All traces of sleep had left him, his arms were pinned at his sides and his eyes were wide open as he thrashed about trying to break loose of the restraints that held him down. There was a sudden burst of light and his heartbeat raced. His eyes narrowed at the glare as they searched the area in front of him. A dark figure was coming into focus. Harry felt a droplet of sweat roll down his forehead as the figure moved to stand over him.

His stomach lurched painfully as he looked into the cold dark eyes of Severus Snape.

Snape's greasy hair hung over the bed as his hand came down towards Harry's face. Harry groaned and pulled his head away. He did not want to die like this, bound and gagged, useless and at Snape's mercy! His eyes followed Snape's hand as it slipped under his pillow and pulled out the wand that lay hidden beneath. Harry fought against his bonds as a wave of nausea flooded through him. Snape was going to kill him with his own wand!

'I'd stay still if I were you.' Snape said indifferently. Harry closed his eyes and let his head drop back on the pillow. Snape was going to kill him in the same cowardly way he had murdered Dumbledore. Harry began to shake as anger seeped through every nerve and fibre of his body.

He would not die like this! He would not lay here helplessly waiting! And with the strength of a madman, Harry suddenly thrust himself against the coarse ropes that ensnared him and for a moment it seemed that they loosened. But just as quickly they pressed in on him again, even tighter than before, cutting into his flesh. Snape watched him with a raised eyebrow.

'You never know when to give up, do you' seemingly bored by Harry's useless determination. Harry squirmed; he struggled to draw breath into his lungs as the binds around him squeezed in on his body. 'Once again you're making things harder for yourself … you should learn to do as your told.' Harry could feel the dampness of blood on his skin around the white-hot gouges the ropes inflicted. His eyes stung from the pain as he glared at Snape.

'What? No witty come back?' Sarcasm dripped from Snape's voice. Harry seethed as he let out a muffled roar of angry frustration. 'Unfortunately, although this conversation would be far more productive one way, it is necessary that you speak. I shall remove the gag in your mouth … however,' Snape leaned in menacingly 'if you should decide to yell for help, you will be sealing the fate of whomever comes to your aide. Do you understand?' Harry felt sick as he remembered Ron and Hermione were only a floor below. He gave a slight nod; he would not call them to their deaths.

Snape straightened and pointed his wand at Harry's face. The gag slid from his lips and retreated to the pillow. Harry ploughed his tongue around his dry mouth 'What do you want?' making no attempt to hide his hatred.

Snape sneered 'As unlikely as it seems, you and I have a common problem.'
'Yeah, you!'
'Ah… that delightful wit of yours again.' Snape mocked smoothly.
'I wasn't being funny' Harry said through gritted teeth. 'Get me out of these ropes!'
'I'm afraid I cant do that, you see, I know you would attack me' Snape's silky voice taunted 'and then I would have to hurt you...' he looked down at the blood that seeped through Harry's sheets 'again.' he mocked distatefully.

Harry's hatred was complete. There was no longer any trace of fear in his voice when he spoke. 'You're a pathetic coward who only attacks people who cant fight back!' All traces of amusement dropped away from Snape's face as he lifted his wand and renewed its aim. 'You're not going to disobey your master are you?' Harry goaded him recklessly 'doesn't he want me for himself. He wont be pleased with you if you do the job for him, will he now?'

Snape's wand began to tremble slightly as his lip curled in fury. Harry thought that any minute Snape would lose the battle that obviously raged within. But it appeared his fear of Voldemort was greater than his loathing for Harry. He lowered his wand slowly.

'You are so sure of yourself, Potter.' His distaste evident. Then he added smoothly 'One of these days, your wanton behaviour will get you into more trouble than even you can squirm out of.'

'What do you want' Harry's jaw was clenched in rage. Snape's face darkened.
'I am here to offer you Bellatrix LeStrange.'
Harry's jaw slackened as his eyes narrowed 'What?'
'You want her for what she did to that young girl,' he said and raised an eyebrow 'Not to mention that fool of a Godfather of yours.'

'Don't you dare talk about Sirius like that!' Harry tried to sit up again, but winced painfully as the ropes tore at his raw wounds 'He was a hundred times the man you'll ever be.' His anger dulled the pain as he struggled once more.

'Really?' Snape said with amused contempt. 'Yes ... well, he did spend twelve highly productive years in prison, not to mention two memorable years in hiding on the run.' he mocked 'Clearly he is worthy of such high regard.'

'You better hope these ropes hold because if I get free I'm going to tear you to pieces with my bare hands!' Harry roared, he was using every ounce of strength he had left in him to fight his bonds, but once again they tightened so severely that Harry thought he might pass out unable to breathe.

'You're still as stupid and as arrogant as your father was! The more you struggle, the tighter they get.' Snape sneered down at him 'Lay still for a minute and you will be able to breathe, struggle…' Snape raised his brow 'and you will faint. I know you better than you know yourself, Potter. You want LeStrange ... and I can give her to you.' Harry's blood was boiling but his head swam dangerously from lack of oxygen. Sweat dripped into his eyes as he forced himself to relax and after a moment his lungs could expand more easily.

'Some sense at last.' Snape said lightly. Harry could tell Snape was enjoying the control he had over him.
'Why Bellatrix?' Harry panted, his anger had not abated; it coursed through him suppressed only by his want to hear Snape out.
'My reasons are my own.' Snape said coldly 'I will tell you where and when, and all you need to do is not-mess-it-up,' he scowled 'if that is at all possible.'

'Your even madder than I thought if you think I would trust you after what you did!'
Snape scoffed 'I do not expect you to trust me.' He said contemptuously 'But you will do as I say. It's the only way you will get LeStrange … and you want her, I know you do.' he added darkly.

Harry looked up at the ceiling. He did want her; he wanted her so badly he could taste it. What if Snape was telling the truth? What if he could deliver her to Harry so he could make her pay. The thought of it consumed him. 'What do I have to do?'

'I will let you know when the time is right. In the meantime' Snape turned Harry's face to him with the tip of his wand, and leaning in he said darkly 'you must not tell anyone of our meeting. No one, do you understand? If you do, then not only will you not get Bellatrix, but you will find I will not be as pleasant the next time we meet.'

'There wont be a next time, Snape!' Harry hissed.

Snape momentarily faulted at the way Harry had addressed him but he recovered quickly to a look of distain 'I will release your bonds and then I will leave. Remember what I said, Potter. You tell no one!' Snape waved Harry's wand at him and Harry's body stiffened as the bonds slunk away and disappeared. Harry watched out of the corner of his eyes as Snape put the wand back under his pillow and then flick his own wand once, extinguishing the only source of light. The room fell into blackness and the sound of the bedroom door closed, signalling Snape's departure.

Harry lay motionless, furious at having been so easily overcome by Snape. His need to avenge Gabrielle meant he would bide his time. He would do as they had agreed. But one day soon he would have his chance with Snape.

As he lay there wondering how long the curse Snape had thrown at him would last, he became aware of the burning pain from his open wounds. Warm blood trickled down his skin uncomfortably.

After a time, Harry felt his body relax.

He lifted himself painfully off the bed and bathed, washing off the excess blood carefully. The warm water stung at the gashes across his chest and legs that turned out to be deeper than he had expected. Harry threw his torn and bloodied t-shirt in a drawer and pulled out his wand. He pointed it at the small splatters of blood that covered the sheets Tergeo! Hermione had used the spell to clean blood from his face last year, but the sheets remained stained.

Harry concentrated harder. This time the blood siphoned off leaving starkly white sheets again. Seeing that his wounds had started bleeding again Harry wiped them off impatiently and summoned some dressings, (though basic as he was not well versed in healing) to quell any further bleeding. Ron and Hermione must not find out he was hurt. Harry knew what their reactions would be; they would be horrified and try to convince Harry to report it. Then his chance to bring Bellatrix in would be gone.

Harry was looking around inspecting the room for traces of blood he might have missed when there was a sharp tapping at the window. He automatically spun round, clutching his chest as it protested painfully. He breathed heavily, wincing as he looked to the source of the noise.

There was a flurry of snowy white feathers hovering outside the window in the morning gloom. Harry walked over to the window somewhat gingerly and opened it. Hedwig fluttered in with a gentle hoot, carrying the backpack Harry had left at Hagrids, though Harry was glad to notice it looked much less full than he had left it. She let the bag drop on the floor and landed on the dressing table, looking somewhat pleased with herself as she lifted her leg for Harry to remove the small scroll that was tied there.

He gave Hedwig an affectionate scratch that she seemed to enjoy even more than usual. 'I missed you too girl' Harry smiled warmly 'I'm glad your with me again. I'll get you something to eat.' He dug out some owl treats and placed them on the top of the cupboard, letting out a small gasp of pain as he stretched. Hedwig stayed where she was, eyeing Harry reproachfully. 'It's alright Hedwig, it's nothing.' She still did not move 'Go on, go!' he laughed softly at her concern. She fluttered up to her perch atop the cupboard and trilled gently. Harry gave her a bowl of water then sat down carefully, mindful of the pain as he read the message.

Hullo Harry,

Hedwigg has been diein to get back to you

Been pesterin me ever sins I got back from the Hollow

GRAWP says hullo too.

Hope yer sumwher safe,

don't go doin aneethin dangerus

Say hullo to Ron and Hermione fer me

Hope to see you soon

Hagrid

It warmed Harry's heart to hear from Hagrid, and for a short time he managed to forget about the nights events, turning his attention to GRAWP. He wondered how Hagrid was getting along with his Giant brother, from what he had seen at the funeral it appeared Hagrid had managed to get GRAWP under control, although he had not mentioned anything about the giants and whether they were yet teamed with Voldemort.

When he heard shuffling coming from downstairs he threw on his clothes and went down to the kitchen.

Hermione was busy making porridge in a large pot on the stove. She had already lit the fire so Harry went over to warm himself after greeting her. Crookshanks was lurking around her feet but as soon as Harry sat down he jumped into his lap, purring as he rubbed his head along Harry's chest. 'Owe' Harry pulled Crookshanks away from his wounds and held him aloft, 'Not today Crookshanks, sorry' he said quietly. He plonked the cat on the floor and went over to help Hermione. Ron joined them as the breakfast was laid.

'Had the strangest dream last night.' he said scratching his head 'I was watching the Weird Sisters play a concert but their music was really off, it sounded really flat, like the same note right through. Everyone was booing and throwing stuff on the stage. In the end they broke all their instruments and stalked off the stage.' Harry frowned.

'Now you mention it,' Hermione sat down next to him 'I remember dreaming I was on the Hogwarts express. Cant remember any of the details though, just the awful monotonous drone of the engines.' Harry looked between the two of them. Snape had used the Muffliato charm on Ron and Hermione to ensure they would not be heard.

'What?' Ron was watching Harry.
'Nothing,' he took a spoon and filled his bowl 'Hedwig arrived this morning.'
'Any news?'
'No. Just a note from Hagrid; he said to say hello.'

As the morning drew on, Hermione turned their conversation back to R.A.B. 'We need to find out what he did with the locket. Harry I think you're right; the first thing we need to figure out is how he managed to get it.'

'Yeah, I mean he wasn't anything special, was he?' Ron frowned.
'What do we know about the defences that guarded it?' She asked Harry.

'Like I said, only one wizard could cross to the island in the boat, and once there' Harry's voice lowered at the memory 'it would take two people to remove it from the potion.'
'But you went across in the boat with Dumbledore, didn't you?' Ron puzzled.

'Yes, but he said that didn't count because I wasn't considered a proper wizard until I was of age.'
'What else happened?' Hermione prodded delicately.

'Dumbledore made me promise to make him drink all of the potion protecting the locket' he said grimly 'no matter what he said once he started drinking it.'
'Why?' Ron asked.
'Because he knew it was going to be impossible for him to do it himself. He knew that whatever it was ... it would cripple him.' Harry was unable to look either of them in the face. Dumbledore's desperate pleas swamped him painfully. 'I fed him that poison … glass after glass … until he was almost dead.'

'You did what you had to, mate.' Ron said quietly watching him.
'Ron's right … he made you promise for a reason, Harry.'

'Once the potion was gone, the inferi attacked because I had to use the water from the lake to give Dumbledore a drink.' Harry looked up into their horrified faces. 'They came up out of the water and grabbed me. They would have pulled me in if Dumbledore hadn't used fire to scare them off.'
'Oh Harry! That's horrible…' Hermiones eyes watered.

They were silent for a moment until Harry spoke again 'Point is you'd have to have some powerful magic behind you, not only to get through Voldemorts defences, but to detect magic as well.' Harry explained how Dumbledore had felt traces of magic.

'Regulus would have to have had someone along who was powerful enough to detect traces of magic and defend them against the inferi. He wouldn't have been in any state to do it himself after drinking the potion.' Harry said gravely
'Regulus couldn't have been anywhere near as powerful as Dumbledore.' Ron added.

'So …' Hermione recounted 'Regulus took someone along who wasn't a wizard so they could get across the lake … but who had great power of their own to detect magic and defeat the inferi … and who would also do exactly what they were told to do even under incredible circumstances.'

The three of them looked into the fire for a moment then one by one they looked at each other 'Kreacher!' Ron spoke what they had all been thinking.