The red envelope dropped into his lap that morning along with the rest of his mail as he sat sipping his tea before the fireplace. Before he could curse the Howler into oblivion, it burst open before him. "SEVERUS SNAPE!" yelled Molly Weasley's voice through the transfigured mail. "I WARNED YOU NOT TO CRUSH HER SPIRIT. HOW COULD YOU? I'VE NEVER SEEN LUNA IN SUCH A STATE. EVEN GINNY IS BESIDE HERSELF WITH WORRY! JUST WHEN I WAS BEGINNING TO THINK MORE OF YOU!" It shredded, raining confetti onto his robes.
His stomach churned as he imagined Luna's slumped shoulders and expressionless stare as she sat on the Weasley's long dining table, silently picking at her plate.
He groaned as he reached for the remainder of the mail. The Quibbler had not arrived, meaning this week's issue was not released on time for the first time since its return after the war.
He pulled open The Daily Prophet, closing away his guilt behind his mantra that it was for the best.
"Ongoing Security Concerns at Azkaban. An anonymous source reports ongoing concerns with inmates with wands in their possessions at Azkaban. One individual, whom the source would not name, has had three wands removed since his incarceration five months ago. While there have been no reports of harm coming from these wands as of yet, the obvious threat to security remains. How these wands have repeatedly made their way into the hands of inmates also remains unclear. As the dementors were not brought back to the facility after the Final Battle, bribery of current staff may be the likely explanation, as it was in the times before the dementors came to be the primary guards. Minister Shacklebolt promises change and Aurors have been sent to investigate."
As he closed the page, a house elf interrupted with a 'pop' as he appeared before him. "Mr Snape. Another letter for you." The young elf bowed low, holding the black-sealed envelope above his head. When Severus took it, the elf disappeared just as quickly as he appeared..
Seeing the now familiar seal, he reached for his wand, planning to incinerate it, but before he could think the words, he changed his mind and pulled open the seal. Your secret is safe with me, but your witch is not. A torn copy of Luna's photo from the recent Prophet back page was secured beneath the now familiar scroll.
He hissed as chest seemingly sank into his abdomen, his promise to protect Luna ringing in his ears. He crumpled the letter in his hand, glaring at it as if his anger could undo its existence. The black wax seal fell from the letter, and he leaned to grasp it from the floor. Turning it over in his hand, he noted the faintest hint of magical signature beneath his fingers.
Of course, the letters were more than just empty threats. He pulled his wand from his sleeve, specialis revelio. He dropped the seal as the portus and tracing charms revealed themselves. The seals were portkeys.
With another flick of his wand, the seal flew up, and he wrapped it in a used napkin from his breakfast before storming out of his chambers.
He tapped the Eagle statue at the Headmistress's office three times, each with more urgency until it finally gave way to the stairs behind it.
"Severus, what is it?" Minerva asked as soon as he appeared at the top of the stairs.
He charged into the office, his dark robes billowing in his wake. "Portkeys - fucking portkeys. That is how he has been doing it!" he slammed the napkin onto her desk and the seal rolled out. "He is using a trace charm to trace and somehow must be linking portkeys via these seals."
"Severus. Stop! What are you talking about?"
"Lestrange! That is how he has been escaping - linking portkeys with the letters. I need Shacklebolt. Don't you have some sort of direct connection to him or something."
"It's not like he is at my beckon call. He is the Minister of Magic after all."
He glared at her. "Then I will go to Azkaban myself."
Minerva sighed. "I am sure you read the Prophet this morning. Aurors are onsight. They have probably already investigated."
"Humor me before I make a scene."
She shot him a stern glare and pulled out her wand. With a swirl, her tabby cat patronus appeared before them. "Kingsley, we have urgent information about the security breaches at Azkaban. Please advise." The cat ran through the room and disappeared into the wall with another wave of her wand. "Those take a lot of energy this early in the morning. Satisfied?"
He nodded and sat in the chair in front of her desk, arms crossed over his chest.
"Take a seat, I guess."
"If something happens to Luna –"
"Severus, please. Where is she now?"
"With the Weasley lot, I imagine."
"Then she is safe."
He huffed. "Lestrange is not to be underestimated."
She nodded and poured him a cup of tea. "Perhaps you should just go and verify for yourself."
He glared at her. "I will not give her false hope."
"Why must it be false? Your fears and concerns are not."
"Minerva, I will not have this conversation with you again. I will not subject her to a future with me. Even if she refuses to see it, it would not be right."
As the elder witch was about to retort, a silver lynx bounded in through the wall. The patronus evanesced before her as Kinglsey's voice spoke, "There has been an escape. I am there now."
Severus stood as all feeling poured onto the floor beneath him. "It's him," he hissed as he stepped to the fireplace of the office and tossed the floo powder. "The Burrow."
Severus stepped into the sitting room of the Burrow and scanned the space for Luna.
Molly turned to him from the kitchen. "Severus? I -"
"Where is she, Molly? She is in danger."
"She and Arthur are out with the press." She waved to the yard. "What is going on Severus? What do you mean?"
"The letters, destroy the letters. They are -" Severus pointed at her strange clock as the hands of Luna Lovegood and Arthur Weasley moved from 'The Burrow' to 'In Mortal Peril.' He hissed as a loud crash of a magical explosion cut off his pending tirade of curses. Molly and Severus ran out the door and Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Harry came running down the stairs after them.
They found the shed blown open and Luna locked in battle with a masked wizard in black robes just outside as Arthur Weasley struggled to regain consciousness in the doorway. Within two volleys, the wizard's identity was clear to Severus, Rodolphus Lestrange. As he drew his wand and took aim, the masked figure disappeared only to reappear behind Luna.
"Luna!" Severus shouted as Lestrange wrapped his arm about the witch. "Rodolphus, do not do anything rash."
"Ah Severus, does this belong to you?" His wand poked Luna in the abdomen. He laughed.
As Severus approached, the two disapperated. "No! Damn it," he hissed through his clenched teeth. He forced his mental walls around his silent anguish as he felt his agony overtake his mental acuity. Stay focused. He must stay focused.
"How...the...wards…" huffed Molly from beside her husband.
Hermione and Harry and Ginny now circled the area. She stopped and stooped down in the doorway for the destroyed shed. "It was a portkey." She picked up the envelope on the ground. "He used the letters he's been sending to locate the press and create the portkey." She stepped into the remains of the shed and stepped out a few moments later. "See? They are connected."
Severus snatched the two envelopes from her, seeing the matching seals, irritated that the witch had understood in moments what had taken him months to discern. Specialis revelio he silently cast. "Yes. He did the same to gain entry to my home as well and tried to do the same to access Hogwarts I believe." He pulled the letter from his inner pocket. It was almost too clever for Rodolphus, using his threatening letters to locate the witch's location and enchant his portkeys to follow the seals and wait until the security changes to occur to make his moves.
"He's supposed to be in Azkaban," Harry said.
"Yes, well, obviously he is no longer there." Severus replied. "But where would he go now?"
"His estate?" Ginny offered.
"No. It will be under Auror guard," said Arthur as Molly assisted him back to standing. "He must have gone somewhere else. But all the former Death Eater properties are currently under surveillance."
"Not all." Severus grunted and then disapperated.
He spat as he arrived in front of Malfoy's gate. As he approached, the gates opened, still apparently recognizing him as a friend. He marched to the manor doors, wand at the ready, senses on hyperdrive. What if he were too late? No, he could not think like that. His throat tightened as he pushed back the thought.
As he reached for the handle of the large wooden door, he saw it; the wispy vapor. "It's a trap. Don't trust Lucius," Luna's voice said from the vapor. Her patronus, weak, but effective, and advanced magic.
He hissed under his breath as he backed away to regain his thoughts. Luna must be safe enough for the moment to be able to send a warning. He let out a long breath of relief and pulled his mental walls back in place yet again. Concentrate. Focus. He recalled the enchanted knut and pulled it from his coin purse. Yes, a perfect excuse to visit.
Straightening his robes and running his fingers through his hair, he cleared his throat and approached the stone stairs of the main entrance.
With a strong knock, he waited, creating his mental facade of nothing more than a friendly visit.
"Ah Severus," Lucius greeted him as he stepped into the foyer. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
"I heard you have been looking for me, Lucius. Harassing Muggles is below you. You could have simply owled like any dignified wizard."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"The young barista at the coffee house. I believe she gave you something." Severus opened his hand to reveal the coin.
"Oh, yes. Well… why don't you come sit down. I think we have a lot to discuss."
A/N: Merry Christmas. Please leave me your thoughts.