Chapter Forty Seven

Harry, Daphne and Pansy reached the hospital wing and knocked to get in, waiting patiently.

It was only a few minutes before they could hear footsteps and Madam Pomfrey opened the door and rolled her eyes.

"It's meant to be six to a bed at most and even then, only during visiting hours." She reminded them, "There is already six visitors in here."

"We'll be super quick." Harry grinned, "Promise."

Madam Pomfrey smiled at them, shaking her head, before stepping aside and letting them into the room, "A few minutes only, I mean it. Mr Corvus needs his rest."

Corvus was sitting up in bed, bandages covering his arms and chest. He looked a little pale and afraid to move, but otherwise happy enough.

Narcissa and Lucius were sitting close by, but allowing Thomas and Corvus to talk. Neville, Draco and Hermione were also, still there but mostly talking amongst themselves. Harry had the distinct feeling that Corvus really didn't want to be alone right now. Harry couldn't blame him.

"How are you doing?" Harry asked, coming over and taking a seat.

Corvus gave him a friendly smile, "I've been better, but I've been worse. I have to take blood replenishing potions for the next few days and smear this weird cream over all the cuts for two months, make sure they don't scar. I should be fine."

"I'm glad." Harry smiled, "I… I don't suppose you know who attacked you?"

Corvus's face fell, "No, I can't remember. I'm really sorry but it's all just really fuzzy. I remember needing to go to the bathroom, I was just washing my hands and then… I think, I think I heard a noise, or maybe someone calling me… then it all goes until I woke up in here. I'll keep trying though."

"Madam Pomfrey explained it is not unusual for people to have memory loss from a traumatic event such as an attack." Lucius told them, "It may return, or it may not, and you really shouldn't worry about it."

Corvus nodded, giving Lucius a small smile, "I didn't really get any information out of Gemini either. She just yelled and swore at be and told me to piss off and leave her alone." he said, "But… Rodolphus did think it was really funny that I hadn't heard anything from them, which suggests…"

"That they were in contact with your parents. I knew it." Harry sighed, he felt awful. He was sure that Gemini had been the one who'd attacked Corvus, and Harry asking him to get information could well have been the cause, "I'm sorry… that they've not… that you…"

Corvus shrugged, "Don't worry about it."

Harry smiled sadly, but didn't say anything more about it. The hurt was clear on Corvus's face and there was nothing Harry could do to help.

Harry chatted with them for a little while longer, filling them in on why he was still at school and not away Horcrux hunting with Dumbledore, but it wasn't long until Madam Pomfrey instructed everyone who wasn't in a hospital bed and under the age of seventeen to leave. Thomas asked if he could stay, Corvus agreeing and asking as well; Madam Pomfrey allowed it, with only a slight grumble.

Harry didn't mind, his mind was somewhat more at ease now that he could see Corvus was going to be OK. He paused to look out of the window, the darkness had swallowed the grounds completely by now, creating an eerie shadow over the place.

"Harry?" Pansy asked, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Are you OK?"

Harry nodded, "I guess. I was just wondering where Dumbledore was… it doesn't matter."

"You did the right thing." Hermione said firmly, "I can't believe Dumbledore would want to run off after everything that was going on anyway!"

"He seemed… weird." Harry tried to explain, "It was like he wasn't himself or couldn't think or… I don't know."

Neville gasped a scream and pushed into Harry hard, sending him crashing to the floor. Harry saw the flash of green light fly passed where he had just been standing and gasped.

"Stupefi!" Draco, Pansy, Daphne and Hermione shouted at once, the figure that had just rounded the corner fell to the ground.

Harry helped Neville to his feet, "What the hell?"

Neville wiped a stream of blood from his head, "Sorry Harry, I just saw him point his wand… I didn't think."

"Well I'm glad you didn't." Harry said, catching his breath and managing to force a half smile, "I would have been a goner!"

"Who is it?" Pansy asked asked.

The six of them walked over to the stunned huddle of robes, wands raised. Daphne reached down and pulled of the Death Eater mask.

"Corban Yaxley." Daphne said, barely above a whisper, "Isn't it?"

"I think so." Harry agreed, "Fuck."

"You were right." Draco said, "What the hell do we do?"

Harry took several deep breaths, trying to think, "We need to find Dad."

Severus was patrolling the corridors, hoping to run into Harry and snatch a few minutes to talk to him. It was the end of June, they didn't have long now until Harry, and all of the other students, would be away for the summer and Severus still hadn't found a time to tell him that he wouldn't be returning to Grimmauld Place with them that year. He was going to have to go fully under cover with the Death Eaters.

He's been procrastinating, He knew that but he also didn't think anyone could really blame him, anyone facing the loss of their family would be procrastinating. He wouldn't be able to see any of them, he would miss at least a year of Danica growing up and he couldn't be there to help Harry with what would be one of the most difficult things he ever had to do.

And then there was what Dumbledore had asked of him.

"Colmsson, what are you doing out of your dorm?" Severus asked.

The first year Hufflepuff trebled slightly at the sight of Professor Snape looming over him, "It's still three minutes to nine, Professor sir. I'm not late yet, not really."

"Then I suggest you start making your way to the Hufflepuff common room, wouldn't want to be late to bed." Severus said coolly, "And you are a good way away from said common room. Run along."

The boy nodded and scampered off down the corridor. Severus walked slowly up the next staircase and down another corridor before someone, far larger than a student ran into him.

Severus caught the back of their collar and gave them a rough shake, "What on earth do you thin…Gibbon?"

The death eater shrugged himself free from Severus grasp, "Snape…"

Severus forced himself not to react, "What are you doing here? How did you get in here?"

Gibbon laughed and slapped Severus on the back, "You make it sound like you're not happy to see me!"

Severus looked him up and down for a moment, Gibbon was mostly muscle with very little brains, Voldemort mostly kept him around as he was very quick at combat; he was, however, very easy to get talking.

"I'm not, not if the Dark Lord doesn't know of your being here." Severus hissed, "This is a very delicate time."

Gibbon waved a hand dismissively, "Of course he knows. He sent us here."

Us? he wasn't the only one then, "How did you get in here?" Severus pushed, "Why did the Dark Lord send you?"

"Not sure of the details on why." Gibbon told him truthfully, with a shrug, "We're under Bella and it was her girl who got us in… surprised you weren't told, to be truthful."

Severus gave him a small smile, "The Dark Lord knows it's not easy to contact me while at school, he only does so when it's something I can assist him with or something I need to know urgently. I'd already informed him that there was no way I could help smuggle anyone into the castle."

"Fair enough." Gibbon nodded.

"So," Severus said, forcing himself not to sound panicked, "What are you up to? If you don't know the plan?"

"Distraction." Gibbon shrugged, giving Severus a nasty smile, "There's a few of us at it."

"Who exactly is a few of you?" Severus asked, "I should be aware in case I run into them."

"Carrows, both of em, Bella obviously. Yaxley. Rowle… and Greyback." Gibbon sneered.

"Fenrir Greyback in here? Now?" Severus said sharply, "Why would the Dark Lord send him?"

Gibbon let out a laugh, "He asked to come. You really think Greyback would give up the chance to 'visit' a school?"

Severus nodded, "I see… I think I should try and locate Bella, see if I can be of any assistance." he gave Gibbon a quick hug.

"See yea around." Gibbon said, rushing down the corridor.

Severus snapped Gibbon's wand, he'd managed to slip it from his robes as he'd left and it was one less thing to worry about.

Severus took the time to take several deep and grounding breaths before pulling out his own wand and heading down the halls, every sense alert.

Lily walked through the familiar corridors trying to work out if she should head straight for Dumbledore's office, go and find Severus or go and find Harry. Debating this had resulted in her mostly walking around in circles.

It was late. She wanted hot chocolate, her book and the sofa, not to be trying to convince the Ministry her son hadn't in fact brutality attacked someone. She hoped that the note she'd left Kreacher wouldn't worry him too much.

He was struggling, although he never wanted to show it. The work the Dumbledore and the Order had him doing was dangerous and draining, but he so wanted to help.

Lily sighed and continued down the corridors, reaching the Entrance Hall for the second time and let out a loud sigh that made her laugh as it reminded her of Danica.

She needed to make up her mind of where to go.

"Dumbledore's, Severus's or Harry?" she mused.

"Lily Evans!" a voice boomed behind her.

Lily turned and smiled as Slughorn walked towards her, wrapping her in a hug, "Hello Professor."

Slughorn chuckled, "You shouldn't be calling me Professor any more, how many times do I have to tell you!"

Lily laughed, "Well I'm not an Evans any more either." she pointed out, "Haven't been for many years now."

Slughorn wagged a finger at her a chuckled again, "Touché, touché. You always were the brightest of sparks. So what brings you to Hogwarts this fine evening, or rather, not so fine evening by the sounds of things?" he said, hearing the rain crash onto the door.

"I wouldn't know if it was a fine evening or not," Lily shrugged, "It was nice in London…"

Slughorn frowned, "How did you get here then, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Oh, Dumbledore let me apparate straight to Severus's study, I had Danica with me and I didn't want to drag her out in the cold." Lily explained, "Harry seemed to have gotten into a spot of bother, although I don't think it was him for a moment, but Dumbledore called to have a meeting and… sorry, I'm rambling."

Slughorn's frown deepened, "How odd. You see, Dumbledore said he would be away this evening."

Lily's brown wrinkled in confusion, "Are you sure?"

Slughorn nodded, "Oh yes, made a point of telling all of us."

Lily nodded, forcing a smile, "Maybe with everything going on he had to change his plans."

"Maybe… although he did say it was very urgent…" Slughorn said quietly.

"What are you doing heading out in this weather?" Lily said brightly, changing the subject, although a strange doubt was already growing in the back of her mind.

"Three Broomsticks." Slughorn said cheerily, "I find it's important to get a break from the school every now and then. I think it's what burnt me out last time. Care to join me for a drink when you're all finished here?"

"Sounds lovely." Lily grinned, "I don't know how long I'm going to be though…"

Slughorn waved his hand dismissively, "Well if I'm back from the pub, feel free to join me in my office, always have a few bottles tucked away! And bring young Harry as well, he's such a wonder. And Danica, I do look forward to teaching her, she's going to be a star!"

Lily laughed, "She'll love it. I'll extend the invitation to Harry as well, as you suggest."

Slughorn gave her a pat on the arm, "I shall see you later then!"

"I hope so!" Lily said truthfully. She was hoping this wouldn't take long.

She watched Slughorn leave the castle, pulling is large hood up to shield himself from the worst of the rain. She was glad that she'd run into him, if for no other reason than he'd made the decision for her of where to head.

If Dumbledore wasn't meant to be here, it was to Dumbledore she would have to go first.

Lily felt strangely surreal walking through the empty corridors. She knew that there were tighter restrictions this year due to the ever growing threats but it was still strange.

She was jolted out of her thoughts however as someone rounded the corner, shoving their wand into her face.

Lily reached automatically for her own wand before her face fell, "Severus? What on earth?"

Severus looked her up and down, gasping for breath, "What are you doing here?" he hissed harshly.

"I came for a meeting." Lily said quickly, "Severus, what is wrong?"

Severus looked at he, his eyes wide, "Lily… the castle is under attack there's half a dozen or so Death Eaters here! Feniri Greyback included!"

Lily felt the world swim around her, she wasn't sure if she was going to faint or throw up as the blood drained from her face and left her shaking with cold, "Please gods… Danica… she's in your office!"