AN/- Jehanin, I seriously hope you reach this chapter soon and when you do you'll review =) waiting! PS: This one's for you =p
Chapter 64
It hadn't been as easy as he had expected. Slughorn even though inebriated had been hard to tackle—he was stubborn and cocky at times but he had finally succumbed to his request which involved some sort of emotional blackmail that had concerned using the guilt of his dead mother. But it had worked and Harry had only Felix to thank for.
"Very good Harry—this memory is the link to all the things we need to know," said Albus as he poured the memory into the pensieve as Audrey plunged her head into the basin as custom shaking her head as the two men always made her fall head first into the blasted thing—she always landed on her bottom while they came into the memory smoothly.
Harry offered her his hand and helped her up as she smiled politely at him. They looked around the office—they hadn't been in this office before—it now belonged to Professor Charity Burbage who was the Muggle Studies teacher.
"Oh—Tom—what are you doing here?—you don't want to miss curfew," said Slughorn his huge belly moving as he walked to a handsome 16 year old version of Voldemort.
"I like spending my time productively sir and I find that it is most fruitful when I am in your presence," said Voldemort as he Slughorn chuckled.
"Now then if you're done with the flattery Tom," laughed Slughorn obviously very impressed by the boy.
"I was in the library the other day sir and I came across a certain interesting piece of information—however I believe only you could help me out with it sir," said Tom.
"Why so?" asked Slughorn frowning.
"Well—I don't believe the other professors would understand it," said Tom further flattering Slughorn's knowledge.
"Well—go on then Tom," edged Slughorn jovially.
"Well sir, I was wondering what—what a Horcrux is?" asked Tom riddle as Slughorn's face could be seen fall rather drastically as Riddle turned to him.
"A Horcrux is an object in which a person can conceal a part of his soul," said Slughorn a little wearily, his wine glass half empty as Audrey noticed Riddle playing with the ring on his finger.
"Yes, but I don't understand clearly," he said leaning forward as Slughorn frowned.
"Well when you split your soul a part of you is kept safe if you are ever attacked," said Slughorn as Riddle did not seem very pleased with his answer.
"It means you cannot die," said Slughorn as Riddle finally seemed to be satisfied the glint in his eye even made Slughorn fail to hide a shiver. Riddle walked over to face the crackling fire in the grate playing even more with the ring on his finger.
"And how does one split his soul sir?"
"I believe you already know the answer to that Tom," said Slughorn looking a little peeved about the conversation and just a little frightened.
"Murder," answered Riddle.
"Yes, killing a person in against the laws of nature, against the laws of magic—it rips your soul into parts," stated Slughorn uneasily sipping his wine.
"And how many times can one exactly split his soul sir? Say seven?" asked Riddle casually, even Audrey could not believe how calm Riddle was while manipulating Slughorn.
"Seven times! Killing one person is bad enough Tom—but seven!" said Slughorn gulping.
"But this is all hypothetical—all academic—correct?" asked Slughorn uneasily as Riddle turned around and gave Slughorn a handsome and somewhat reassuring smile that shook Slughorn a little.
"Of course sir—it will be our little secret," said Riddle as the memory than burst to smoke and the three observers were pushed out and into their present.
Audrey took a deep breath as Harry noticed Dumbledore walk over to the steps before his desk and sat down placing a hand over his forehead and sighing as the teenagers followed their mentor.
"Sir?" began Harry as Dumbledore spoke.
"This is worse than I perceived," said Dumbledore.
"So you're saying he succeeded," asked Audrey a little afraid of his answer.
"Yes—he did not just succeed –he succeeded seven times," said Dumbledore as Harry gulped.
"So...umm...what are these objects exactly sir?" he asked.
"They could be anything—anything at all—but I believe we most certainly have a start," began Dumbledore surveying the two teenagers over his half moon spectacles.
Dumbledore strode over to his desk and opened up the first drawer within his reach placing two items of interest onto the desk—one which Audrey noticed had been seconds back in young Tom Riddle's finger.
"Tom Riddle's diary!" said Harry picking up a small black book that seemed to have been stabbed rather brutally in the middle.
"Yes, when you brought this to me in your second year—I knew then that this was a piece of dark magic—but till now I could not figure what," said Dumbledore looking from Harry to Audrey as he noticed Audrey staring at the ring.
"I see you noticed the ring," said Dumbledore a little seriously.
"This is Morfin Gaunt's ring—you know where Voldemort settled his first Horcrux then?" asked Dumbledore casually as Audrey nodded—feeling odd—so Voldemort had murdered his uncle to get this Horcrux. All this seemed like a rather well written plot of horror movie—for a second Audrey could imagine Voldemort trying to suck out the souls of his victims.
"How do you find these things?" spat Audrey a little disturbed as Harry reached for the ring. The next few seconds that passed were odd as Harry cracked his neck once his hands were off the ring.
"Usually—this magic—leaves traces," said Dumbledore gravely as they both looked at Harry worriedly as Harry looked back as if he had not noticed anything.
"So is that where you've been going the whole year sir—when you leave the school?" asked Harry.
"Yes—and I believe I have found another one—although this time cannot hope to destroy it alone."
"Once again—I must ask too much of you," he said looking at them as they nodded in understanding.
"I hope to see you next week on Monday—after dinner," said Dumbledore as Harry and Audrey nodded as Dumbledore gave them a small smile dismissing them.
"Have you ever considered that you ask too much, that you take too much for granted—has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that maybe I don't want to do this anymore!" snapped Severus doggedly as Dumbledore turned to face him, he could hear the two steps of two people climbing up to the astronomy tower.
"Whether it has or it hasn't is irrelevant—all I know Severus is that you've agreed—there is nothing more to discuss," stated Dumbledore as Severus took hurried steps towards him.
"It was different then—it is different now—circumstances are different!" said Snape as Albus noticed the door being creaked open.
"No Severus the circumstances are the same—you've always had a daughter—except you were unaware then—you should be more prepared now," stated Dumbledore as Severus's nostrils flared angrily.
"She's going to hate me for life—is that you're only aim!" snapped Severus his voice growing heavier as Audrey walked in on their conversation—she didn't know what they were or who they were discussing about. Dumbledore turned to face Severus and smiled.
"You underestimate the power of love Severus—you always have—if you truly believe that she will hate you—you are sorely mistaken," said Albus.
"How—Albus—how am I mistaken if she-!" began Severus as Albus cut him short announcing for the two teenagers to come forth.
"Harry—Audrey—I see you got here on time," said Dumbledore as the two came out from around the staircase. Audrey could see her father stiffen—he did not say anything else as he threw a look at Dumbledore and then walked towards her—she noticed him give them a small nod as he made his way out of the tower.
"Harry my friend—I believe you need a shave," smiled Dumbledore as Harry ran his hand through his jaw.
"You're the one to talk," stated Audrey as a little moment of amusement was shared by the three.
"You know sometimes I forget—how you've grown—you still remind me of the girl who I used to read stories to," said Albus smiling as Audrey gave him a faint smile.
"Forgive me I am an old man," he said smiling at his nostalgic comment.
"You still look the same to me sir," said Harry smiling kindly as Albus chuckled looking at Harry.
"You are a lot like you're mother—always seeing thing that were far from perfect as lovely—the kindest woman I had the fortune of knowing," said Dumbledore as Harry smiled a little.
Dumbledore grew graver as he walked towards the railings close to the end of the Astronomy tower as he sighed, his hands behind his back while he spoke.
"Our destination today is extremely dangerous—now I know I promise that you will follow every order I give you—if I tell you to run you run, if I tell you hide you hide-if I tell you to abandon me and leave—you do that, do I have your word?" asked Albus as Audrey and Harry looked a little unstable.
"Your word?" he called again.
"My word," stated Harry confidently as Albus looked over to Audrey.
"I promise," she said nodding her head.
"Grab my arm," said Dumbledore raising his arm to the others.
"But I thought you can't apparate in and out of Hogwarts sir?" asked Harry as Dumbledore gave him a known smile.
"Well—being me has its privileges," he said as Audrey snorted holding on his hand, a pop and they were gone.
"We need to get him to the hospital wing!" Audrey said unsteadily as Harry sniffed and nodded as Dumbledore who looked like he had no energy left pulled Audrey by her collar and to his face.
"No—Sev—erus—I need Severus!" he said adamantly.
"But Uncle Al—that'd hardly solve anything!" she said tears running down her eyes as the locket dangled in front of her. She pushed it into her sweat shirt.
"Go get Severus—wake him up—tell him what happened—speak to no one else—don't get spotted!" Dumbledore said getting up and standing wearily against the pillar as Audrey pursed her lips. Several footsteps were heard as the revolving staircase leading to Dumbledore's office had begun to wind up.
"You remember me telling you to listen to everything I say—I want you to leave—do not be seen by anybody!" said Dumbledore as none of the teenagers moved.
"Go—trust me!" said Dumbledore shaking his hand desperately as Harry nodded and pulled Audrey's sleeve towards the hidden staircase below the balcony of the office and the astronomy tower.
"Audrey!" he called as Audrey shook her head as the stair case completed its winding.
"Go Audrey—please!" said Dumbledore as Audrey shook her head as she ran over to him and through her arms around him in desperation as Dumbledore sighed.
"I'm sorry," she said crying.
"Hush—child—nothing is going to happen to me—you must trust me," he said lifting her chin as sniffed.
"Now go and whatever you do, do not come out—unless I say so!" he ordered as Audrey nodded and followed Harry into the safe hole. Just as they settled down they saw Draco barge into the office his wand pointed at Dumbledore's heart as Dumbledore was disarmed with nothing more than a flick of Malfoy's wand.
"Draco—you don't want to do this!" said Dumbledore softly as Draco gulped.
"Shut up—you don't know anything!" snarled Draco.
"Oh but I do—several years ago a young boy just like you took the wrong decisions—you are far to noble to follow them Draco—you made sure the sorting hat knew that you needed to be in Slytherine—that is why he put you in Slytherine other wise—"
"SHUT UP—you old fool—I was chosen for this—I out of all the rest—out of all his faithfuls he chose me!" snarled Draco as he yanked the sleeve of his robes away from his left forearm showing off his dark mark.
"But—we could protect you Draco—I could make sure you would be safe!" said Dumbledore gently.
"He'd kill me—he'd kill my parents!" cried Draco his wand shaking along with his shivering body.
"Are you done yet Draco!" snarled a rather crude woman in the background as Draco shut his eyes.
Audrey pulled out her wand but Harry pulled her back shaking his head—hoping that his idea that Dumbledore would have a back plan for this were true. But they both saw a pair of eyes in the back as Audrey breathed a sigh of relief—her parents were here—they'd get rid of the death eaters—they'd save uncle—her grandfather.
"Pappa!" she said hugging Severus tightly as Severus placed a warm arm around her back holding her in place for long—longer than normal as Audrey noticed her mother dissolve to tears as she quickly got rid of them and pulled Audrey into a hug.
"I love you, so much Audrey," Rachel thought as she gave Audrey a weary smile.
Severus looked at Harry in the scene as he stood there awkwardly taking in the family moment. Severus gave the boy a final nod and cleared his throat to order Rachel to follow him up.
"KILL HIM ALREADY DRACO—Just like your stupid father—can't do much can you!" snarled Bellatrix angrily.
"Keep calm Bella!" said Severus in his baritone as Rachel followed him into the scene both their wands out.
"Oh—Snape I see you've got your whore along!" cackled Bellatrix as Snape gritted his teeth further.
"I can't do it!" said Draco in tears as Dumbledore smiled kindly.
"Pathetic!" snarled Bellatrix.
"Snape—you said—you made the vow—Snape—will do it!" said Draco turning around to Snape as Severus raised his head—his eyes met Dumbledore's as Severus looked into the eyes of his mentor, his friend, his wife's father, his surrogate father.
Severus raised his wand slowly,
"Severus please!" was the last thing that Albus Dumbledore was heard saying as the Avada kedrava through his wand made sure Dumbledore was thrown off the astronomy tower.
Audrey began hyperventilating—this didn't make sense-it did not make any sense—her father had just murdered her grandfather and her mother had supported him in the murder of her own father. Tears drained down her face as Harry seemed to be as shocked as her. Harry held her close as he tried his best to make her calm. Till shock changed to resentment and then an attitude for revenge-the office was empty—the death eaters and Rachel were making their way through the great hall.
"Audrey—Audrey!" snarled Harry running behind her as she ran as if on fire.
"You bastard—what did he do to you—he was everything—our last fucking hope—what have you done!" snarled Audrey as they ran towards the group of death eaters that was walking away from the castle towards the forest—towards the apparition points as Bellatrix set fire to Hagrid's hut.
"Go, I will handle this," snapped Snape as Rachel waited by his side while Bellatrix smirked and cast a spell making Audrey drop to her knees in pain as she clutched her abdomen in pain.
"She is for the dark lord!" snarled Severus as Bellatrix made a face at him.
"Well make sure you get her along Snape!" snapped Bellatrix and disappeared along with the rest of her gang as the dark mark was set boldly in the sky.
"How could you—he trusted you-!" cried Audrey as Harry pulled out his wand and shot spells at Rachel as she blocked them like she was swatting flies and then shot a spell that made him fall a few feet away.
"You're his daughter!" snarled Audrey accusingly looking at her mother.
"I was never his daughter—never considered more that a burden—he deserved this!" snarled Rachel as Audrey panted disbelievingly as tears fell down her pale face.
"I don't understand—why—pappa!" she looked at Severus—she was surprised to see a rather stony look fill his face.
"Do you not get it girl—or has staying around Potter made you daft? It was an act—an act—I fooled the greatest wizard of our time—I can fool a sixteen year old!" snapped Severus icily as Audrey could see Harry stirring as he picked up himself.
"Sectum—"Harry fired the spell through his wand as Snape threw him a disgusted look.
"How like your father Potter—he too liked to use my own spells against me!" snarled Snape pulling Harry by the collar and throwing him to the ground as Harry's eyes widened in horror.
"Oh yes, I am the Half Blood Prince!" said Severus proudly as Audrey went over to Harry to help him get up but her hands were yanked away from him.
"You need to come with us," said Severus as Harry got up on his own instantly as Audrey tried her best to free herself but the loss of blood due to the offering at the cave entrance made her dizzy. Harry however almost climbed over Snape's back and kept pounding his fist in Snape's shoulders, only when the two teenagers had been put under a body bind could they be separated—but Harry saw everything—he saw them take her way—his heart beat faster as he could feel the magic wave away from him.
Harry stood with a lot of effort to realize that Audrey had intelligently placed the locket around his neck. He could not help but cry—what was going to happen to her—he knew he could not live without her—and for the first time Harry began to regret that fact that he had waited so long to tell her he loved her.
Audrey could not see but the moving chairs and several happy voices could be heard as she recognized the comfortable silence that fell into the room as the leader spoke.
"Dumbledore is dead! The great fool Dumbledore—the leader of the order of the phoenix is gone—gone for good—let us to rejoice to this my brethren," said Voldemort in his cold voice as Audrey panted—she was beginning to get breathless as someone walked over to her—she could smell him but she could not see anything but black in front of her.
"Let her see Wormtail," ordered Voldemort as Wormtail pulled out the cloth over Audrey's face as Audrey released she was standing in the middle of a large dining room in front of a circle death eaters as Voldemort smiled at her and walked over to her. She tried to move but being bond by her hands and feet did not allow her that freedom.
"Ah, Ms. Snape—we meet again—so sad that you must be hurt every time I see you," smiled Voldemort as he stood in front of her surveying her hand.
"How'd you get this?" asked Voldemort softly taking her hand into his own, Audrey did not reply.
"I asked you a question—Ms. Snape—must you be this—impolite?" asked Voldemort pressed his finger into the wound as she fell to her knees in pain as Voldemort lifted his finger and smiled.
"Something you want to say?" he asked as Audrey panted and blinked.
"Do it—kill me—get it over with then-!" snarled Audrey as Voldemort laughed.
"You're very feisty aren't you! I like that Snape—I like that very much—you I shall not kill" smiled Voldemort as Audrey thought she heard him wrong.
"Draco will take care of you—he seems to fancy you more than Astoria anyway," smiled Voldemort.
"Take her to your room Draco!" snapped Voldemort as Draco nodded as Voldemort set Audrey free from her bounds as Draco offered her his hand, she glared at him seethingly as the boy flinched. There was an uncomfortable silence as Audrey's eyes darted calculatingly towards the roaring fire and the open door—the floo was too guarded—she would have to run for—never mind—she thought as Greyback came to glare at her and stood protectively at the dinning room exit.
"I expect you to teach her our ways Severus—" said Voldemort as Audrey noticed her fath—Snape standing in one end and bowing as he nodded. Voldemort seemed pleased enough.
"You shall be her master Draco—you shall keep her wand—till she earns it back in our way," smiled Voldemort as Audrey eyed her wand that Draco placed his filthy paws on.
"Follow me," Draco said in all seriousness as as Audrey did not move.
"He asked you to follow him witch!" snarled Bella as a crucio was flung her way. Audrey had no choice but to do what Malfoy told her to.
Her eyes bore into her mother's as she noticed her standing next to Narcissa Malfoy as Rachel looked at her daughter the way she always did, but this time Audrey felt ashamed to look at her—she was dirty—just as sick as anyone in that room.
He kept looking at her for any sign of emotion but did not get any—she just lay on the bed staring at the white ceiling of the room while he waited for anything—any reaction. Nothing he got nothing—Draco could not hold it in any longer—he began sobbing—brawling more like as he quickly placed a non verbal silencing charm on the door making sure he bolted it. Neither of them spoke—Audrey didn't even move, sometimes when he cleared his eyes he felt like she hadn't blinked in that hour.
"Master—you have-," the house elf began as it popped into the room.
"Get the fuck out!" snarled Draco as the elf instantly disappeared. Draco crossed the bed to sat besides her .
"Audrey—" he began but he received no reaction, he sighed as he cleaned his face with his sleeve.
"Audrey—you should know I never wanted this—he'd have killed me—Audrey—he'd have killed my parents—he'd have killed Astoria—he'd have Audrey—I couldn't fail him—it was my only chance—to save my family—"he added as she suddenly sat bolt upright no longer looking at the ceiling, Draco could feel the instant increase in the heat of the room as her magic was magnified by her anger.
"What of my family—what of my only family—he was my grandfather—what of that—he was supposed to teach me spinning—what of that—what of my grandmother never seeing him—what of my world—what of ME—you fucking bastard!" she snarled at the top of her voice as he pulled his scuff and shook him harshly as her tears began flowing freely.
"What of me-?" she repeated softly as if afraid of the answer as she looked in his eyes. He had no answer—he had no reply to her questions as he bowed his head shamefully as Audrey shut her eyes and sniffed wiping her face with her sleeve.
"I'm sorry," he said as Audrey shook her head disgustedly.
"You don't deserve my forgiveness—I trusted you—I trusted you enough to fight with him—I fought for you—I shall never be able to trust a Slytherine again—never—this was your plan all along wasn't it—winning me over—getting me here—you son of a bitch—wasn't it your fucking plan!" she snarled in question as he looked away. She held on to his collar forcing him to look at her.
"Answer the fucking question MALFOY!" she spat in his face as Draco looked at her calm—as if unscrambling the world's toughest puzzle—he looked determined.
"I have wronged you—but I promise to set it right—I promise to get to out of here—I PROMISE!" he said.
"Why would you?—you're on their side—not on my—your heart is as dark as HIS!"
"No Audrey—you're the only friend who I will ever have—I don—I can't lose you—however much I have wronged you—I want to rectify it—just give me time—please!" he said taking her hands of his collar gently and kissing them softly.
"I promise Audrey—trust me," he said caressing her face lightly as he made his way out of the room—he could hear a disinterested thump on the mattress—he knew she was back to staring at the ceiling.
Something that terrified Draco much more now was his mind insistently stating of the possibility that Potter would attempt to come here to set his love free—but the more Draco thought of it—the more he wondered if that was why the Dark lord was holding her captive without just killing her. And what if Potter did not come—Draco was smart enough to know that Audrey would never consent to their ways even if she was subjected to the worse kinds of torture—she had outright spat at the dark lord commanding him to kill her—there would be no reason for the dark lord to keep her alive if Potter didn't turn up—and that seemed like a strong possibility—seeing he was guarded by the order. Draco had to devise an escape plan for Audrey before it was too late—his hand brushed against her wand in his pocket—he wondered if he could win her over by giving her her wand back—but he thought back—she would do the most reckless like any Gryffindor and get captured again—so Draco decided to wait till the morning when Astoria would come over to greet the new prisoner.
As the death eaters celebrated their victory the other side mourned at the death of their saviour and abduction of their trusted.
"Tell me what happened again!" Remus had demanded pulling Harry by his collar as Harry narrated everything to Remus who was more shattered than before. He pushed Harry away and made a beeline towards the entrance as Sirius grabbed his best friend around the middle.
"Remus—Remus—get yourself together!" he called.
"HOW—how do I get myself together—they could kill her—they could kill my girl!" he said as he could not hold back his tears. Sirius pulled his best friend in a hug supporting the broken man as Nymphadora rubbed the man's back gently.
"No, they wont—they're gonna wait patiently for Potter to turn up there to get her—their gonna then kill them together—we can't let that happen," barked Mad Eye as people agreed as Harry closed his eyes—once again—another unnecessary sacrifice—the girl he loved—her life was threatened.
He opened his eyes scanning the area of the hospital wing as he noticed Mrs. Weasley consoling professor McGonagall—it was obvious that she was the one who had suffered maximum loss—her husband was dead—her daughter had betrayed their cause and her grand daughter was as good as dead. He had never believed her to have cried but here she was broken and confused as any woman—he hurt for her—his mentor was dead—his love was in danger—and he couldn't do anything—he couldn't do anything but wait for the order to plan her breakout—which he knew they would delay as long as they could. He wished he could do anything—but he knew there wasn't much he could do, seeing he wasn't even of age yet. Harry shivered in a dark corner of the room as he closed his eyes again—worried—his heart beat faster than it normally did. A soft hand slipped into his as he opened his eyes to be looking right at someone he had never spoken to before.
Astoria Greengrass stood with him in the shadows holding his hand and she hugged him. He wept in her arms as she rubbed her cold hand through his hair.
"Is she dead?" he managed to ask finally as she pushed him away.
"No—they won't—Draco won't let them—she's like a sister to him—he loves her," she said as Harry's nostrils flared.
"How can you tell—he—"
"He didn't have a choice—look I am not here to defend what he did—I am here because we both care for the same person—Audrey is the only true friend I have—and I will not let anything happen to her," she said definitely. He let her speak without interrupting.
"I am to meet her once I get to London—is there anything you want me to give her?" she asked him softly as he blinked gulping—he had to risk it—he had to— convey his feelings someway.
"Meet me tomorrow at the funeral—I will give you something—but you must make sure that you only hand it in to her," said Harry threateningly as Astoria frowned but nodded as she turned around to leave he caught hold of her hand. She looked back to see him, his expression had changed.
"I trust you," he said as Astoria sighed and nodded smiling at him gently as he let go of her.
AN/- Well this here's another update...I know I am lacking behind but you can blame that on my hectic schedule. Although I promise I'll complete this story...no abortions here people.