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sua_layAuthor: Rimau Sua Lay
Rating: overall NC-17, Angst, Drama, Action/Adventure, First Time
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairings: Harry/Snape, Ron/Draco, (Sirius/Remus)
Date: December 2002 - ?
Disclaimers: Not mine, borrowed without permission, am not making any money. Please don't sue. Sherbet Lemon?
Summary for Book Two: -Voldemort has a plan. To make it work, he needs his most loyal Death Eaters and their progeny. After a vicious attack, two Slytherins must decide if blood is thicker than potions.
Warning! Cliffhanger endings in some of the following chapters (oo! actual plot!). Also, this whole book was finished before PoA (movie) or OotP and HBP (books) came out, so any evil plot twists or Shakespeare quotes come from my weird mind.
Ron was starting to feel like he was now living in the school library.
It had been like this for weeks now. When the classes were over, Hermione would drag him to the library. Whenever he was around, Harry would join them. They'd spend hours by the tables, browsing through books.
Arithmancy, Herbology, Potions, DADA, Divinations... It was all a jumble in his head. He wasn't sure he could get every single piece of knowledge he'd aquired in its right place. With his luck, he'd ramble about unstable parables in his Herbology test.
Too much knowledge was bad for you. It had been the Weasley motto ever since Bill had attended Hogwarts. Percy may have renounced it, but Ron was a firm believer. His throbbing headache was proving him right.
"That's it." He slammed the book he'd been staring at with glazed eyes shut. "I refuse to read another sentence. My head is about to burst open any minute now, and before that happens, I intend to enjoy this weekend."
Hermione had jumped at the loud sound, now staring her friend with disapproval clear on her face. The desperate words made her expression soften. "Okay."
Getting ready to rant and rave to defend his statement, it took a moment for Ron to actually realize Hermione had agreed with him. "Huh?"
"I think you're right. It's no use if you burn out studying." She smiled at that. What a novelty to most of her yearmates that must be. "Let's just leave the books till Monday."
Or maybe Sunday afternoon. She'd enjoy the Hogsmeade weekend like the rest of them. A sugar rush sounded perfect right now. So did sleep. Trying to take care of her duties as the Head Girl and studying for the final exams was almost impossible, but she did her best, and as a result rarely got more than five hours of sleep every night.
Ron was still staring. "Are you feeling all right?" He was only half joking. Ever since the beginning of the term, Hermione had spent all her free time studying.
Deciding it was futile to get mad, she just stuck out her tongue at him.
Harry was smiling at the both of them. It was good to see Hermione relax for once. The whole school was buzzing about the weekend. There would probably be lots of visitors for Madam Pomfrey's Sunday morning; there was such a thing as chocolate overdose.
Things were going quite well. He'd even managed to read through the accursed Potions book, even if it had taken him most of the week. Sirius had sent him an owl yesterday, telling him that everything was going smoothly.
He was going to enjoy the Hogsmeade weekend as well. It was only the second this year. This time nothing short of a Death Eater attack could stop the students from getting some happiness in their lives. How on earth were they supposed to study without sweets? Chocolate was supposed to be good for your mind.
Snape's comment about feeding the brain popped up in his mind and he wondered what his professor would say if he visited him while he was on a sugar high. Would probably sigh in exasperation. "I think we definitely need to visit Honeydukes."
"Oh yeah!" Ron was practically bouncing now. "They should have got that new shipment of Chocolate Frogs by now!" Last time they'd been to the store, they'd run out of his favorite sweets.
The glare Hermione threw at him reminded of the one McGonagall usually saved for her most irritating students. "You are not going to have a frog hunt in the boys' dormitory again." Ron's excellent idea had resulted in half the Gryffindor boys ending up in the hospital wing.
"Of course not! Wouldn't dream of it." Looking like the epitome of innocence, Ron patted his friend on the shoulder as he got up. When he was certain she couldn't see, he winked at Harry over her head.
Hermione pushed her books in the bag, and then said sweetly, "I believe you, of course." Her turn to share a knowing glance with Harry.
All three were wearing identical grins on their faces as they escaped the library.
Draco Malfoy slipped from behind the shelves he'd been using as a cover. He hadn't really been hiding, no. He'd simply tried to avoid yet another unpleasant encounter with Weasley. Didn't fancy getting his nose broken by him again. Once was quite enough.
Snorting at the thought, he walked to the tables. So maybe he had been hiding. How appropriate. He was a coward after all.
A cowardly descendant of a coward.
He sat down on an empty table. There were no Slytherins at the library at this hour. All were probably either in the Great Hall or the common room. He didn't really care as long as they stayed out of his way.
This was unbearable; to know everything was about to change forever, and simply stand by and watch it happen. Draco had been dreading for this weekend for days, hoping that by some miracle the teachers would change their minds and cancel the trips to Hogsmeade.
Now it seemed like hope had completely abandoned him.
There had been no notes from his father. The sly old fox probably knew mail would draw attention to his son. Draco had burned the letter he'd got a week ago. The lessons had been well learned; never leave evidence.
The words were still playing in his head, though. He didn't need to see them written down to remember every single sentence. He wished he could rid himself of the knowledge.
A line from one of the only Muggle stories he'd ever liked came to his mind. Something wicked this way comes. How true. Evil was arriving, and it would destroy everything. Not just the disgustingly goody-goody Gryffindors, but absolutely everything.
Draco would have to hide his real feelings. He'd have to go through the motions, appear an obedient son. Since there was no hope left, all he had was survival.
He wondered if he could just stay here in the library for the evening. He wasn't at all hungry. Actually, he was quite sure he'd throw up if he tried to eat. But everyone would be gathering in the Great Hall soon. Even Vince and Greg would be there, both looking frightened after their weekly tutoring session with Snape.
His absence would be suspicious. There would be questions later on. He wasn't stupid, he knew that there were always eyes watching. His father had been most adamant about the date.
Sighing, Draco collected his belongings.
He didn't bother to go to the common room, the detour would take too much time. Besides, once in the dungeons, he might be tempted to stay there. To continue hiding, not just from Weasel and his friends, but from the whole world.
The Great Hall was full. Dinner had already been served, and most of the people were eating and speaking at the same time, making plans for tomorrow. Especially the third years seemed to be excited. It would be their second Hogsmeade weekend ever, and since the first one had surpassed all expectations, everyone was thrilled.
Even those who would usually look dour or scared were now full of nervous energy. Draco sat at his usual place next to Vince and Greg, noticing that the two were looking rather happy.
He poured himself some juice, knowing that very soon, most of the Slytherins would look even happier. From the corner of his eye, he could see Millicent casting expectant looks at the huge doorway as if she was expecting for something to happen.
It certainly made Draco wish his father had not chosen her for him. He abhorred stupidity, even though his choice of company might sometimes suggest otherwise.
Vince and Greg he could handle. He didn't have to share a bed with either one of them.
Not really listening to whatever his friends were talking about, Draco kept his attention divided between other tables. He cast a brief look at the Gryffindor table, noticing that Potter and his cohorts were still joking and laughing. That didn't really interest him right now.
He could see some somber faces at the Ravenclaw table. It didn't exactly surprise him. Not all Death Eaters were Slytherin, no matter how eagerly the other Houses seemed to believe that.
Finally he looked at the Head Table. His gaze hit the empty seats at first. Oh yes. Hooch and McGonagall were once again patrolling Hogsmeade, making sure the students would be safe the next day. Nothing strange with that. Dumbledore was talking animately with professor Pahicna, managing to draw out a smile or two from her with his words.
The only person at the teachers' table looking gloomy and forbidding was Snape. Draco stared at him for some time, wondering if it was because that dark expression was Snape's trademark or because of what would happen soon.
He honestly couldn't tell. Snape had always been a complete mystery. He seemed to be a rather simple man, with passion towards potions and tormenting his students, but he also had a secret life outside Hogwarts. His gaze was unreadable. Sometimes the dark eyes shone with malevolent glee, but most of the time, they were completely blank, like an obsidian mirror revealing nothing but a reflection of the one standing in front of him.
Snape had to know. From what Draco had seen, he was one of those people Voldemort truly needed. There weren't many Potions masters alive, and having one work for him voluntarily was not something the Dark Lord would willingly throw away.
It was amazing how Snape could just sit there and eat calmly, as if nothing was wrong. As if the world wasn't coming to an end.
"Draco? Could you pass me the potatoes?"
The small voice jolted him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see Blaise stare at him from the other side of the table. "Yeah. Sure." Grabbing the bowl he hadn't touched, he shoved the potatoes towards his housemate.
Blaise flashed him a smile, the first real one in weeks. "Thanks." He shoveled more food on his plate, his appetite probably due to the fact that Pansy was keeping her attention on the door and not on him.
Draco was about to mutter something polite to him as he felt a shiver run down his spine. It was a ghostly touch, a premonition.
Proving his instincts right, Pansy gasped, "Here it comes." She grabbed Millicent's arm in excitement. "Watch this!"
The door to the Great Hall banged open, the sudden movement drawing everyone's attention to the slight form entering. Whispers started immediately as Madam Pomfrey strode across the room, an angry expression on her usually so calm face.
She was accompanied by a brightly colored form that followed her with silent wings. Fawkes the phoenix was in the middle of his cycle, looking magnificent.
"Poppy?" Turning his attention from the DADA professor, Dumbledore frowned. It was rare to see her out of the infirmary. Seeing Fawkes follow her was even rarer. He usually never accompanied anyone but him. "Is something wrong?"
Keeping her steady pace, Madam Pomfrey walked to the Head Table, not saying anything. When she reached the Headmaster, she leaned down, whispering something urgently.
Everyone was staring at the scene. They wanted to know what had happened, knowing by now it had to be something bad. If someone had been killed, the Headmaster would undoubtedly make an announcement any second now.
Draco watched the old wizard's face. Even after ridiculing the man for so long, he was well aware he was the most powerful wizard alive, with the possible exception of his father's Master. That's why he felt panic rise when he saw the expression on the Headmaster's face.
No anger, no sorrow. Nothing. There was no emotion on Dumbledore's face, his eyes flat and lifeless.
Fawkes landed on the back of his chair, making a soft sound. The magnificent creature seemed to know his presence was sorely needed now.
When their mediwitch straightened herself again, everyone sat in silence, waiting. Dumbledore simply sat there, staring into distance. The sight was scaring everyone. If the news affected their Headmaster like that, it must be terrible indeed.
He didn't seem to be aware of the questioning looks. It was as if his consciousness had disappeared somewhere, leaving only a lifeless husk behind.
Fawkes made the soft sound again, like a questioning note.
It brought Dumbledore back to this moment. He blinked, and then nodded at Madam Pomfrey. "Thank you, Poppy. Please stay." Clearing his throat, he stood up, only his iron will keeping him from swaying. "People! I am sorry to have to tell you this, but the flying lessons have been cancelled for an indefinite time. Madam Hooch has been seriously injured."
There were a few gasps at that.
"Also, due to an unfortunate accident, the Hogsmeade trips have been cancelled." It was added almost as an afterthought.
This time there were more gasps, even barely concealed protests. They died at the Headmaster's stern glare. No wonder. Dumbledore rarely showed such a grim face.
"That is all. I suggest you all finish eating and then go to your dormitories." Pushing back his chair, Dumbledore reached out with his hand. "Come." Fawkes obeyed the gesture immediately, rising into the air and then following the Headmaster as he and Madam Pomfrey walked out of the Great Hall.
Everyone was so busy talking at the same time, that no one noticed the phoenix brush his wing against Snape's head as he passed the Potions master by.
From the general commotion, it was clear that no one would be eating anymore. The noise level in the vast room was almost deafening. Even the teachers were talking out loud with each other, no one controlling the spreading turmoil. It was usually the Headmaster's work, and if he was indisposed, professor McGonagall would quickly take over. Neither was present now.
Draco for one wasn't at all surprised when Snape's voice rang out even over the ruckus. "Everyone, follow the prefects back to your Houses." He paused for a fraction of a second, and then added, "Immediately."
His voice was probably the only thing everyone present would obey. If not out of respect, then out of sheer fear and self preservation. The prefects jumped up as if prodded with a spear and began herding the students towards their common rooms. Draco was one of the first Slytherins to get up. He just wanted to go to his bed and pretend none of this was happening.
Sleeping would be difficult, probably because most of his yearmates would want to party.
Harry sat frozen in place, not following the others as they hurried towards the door. Ron and Hermione sat with him, both looking alert. They all had seen Dumbledore's little gesture with Fawkes, the soft word he'd uttered as clear as a message, as if he'd addressed them directly.
"We should follow the others and then slip away from the crowd and head to his offices." Hermione's lips barely moved as she whispered that out. Not that anyone would have paid her attention even if she'd shouted it out loud.
Nodding, the boys got up and drifted towards the door.
Out in the corridor, they followed the crowd to the staircases. Once on the second floor, the three Gryffindors slipped away from the mass of rather frightened students. Hiding in the shadows, they sneaked around the corridor towards the familiar gargoyle.
"Phoenix," Harry declared. Unlike the other password, this was unchanged. The gargoyle started to move, and he hopped to the stairs, letting the spiral carry him up. His friends were following right behind him.
The Headmaster's chambers were almost full of people, most of the Order members who lived in Hogwarts or Hogsmeade were already there. Harry saw Dumbledore standing alone by the wall, a blank look on his face. Madam Pomfrey was talking to Hagrid, looking angry.
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked quietly to the couch, sitting down without a word. They could all sense the undercurrent of grief and unleashed violence thrumming in the room.
"What is going on, Albus?" Professor Sprout was the only one with courage enough to ask the question.
Dumbledore turned to face his people. He seemed to ponder about the question for a moment, then he shook his head. "Poppy will explain." With that, he gestured at the slender woman.
"All right." Keeping her voice level only because of the seventh year students present, Pomfrey nodded. "Earlier this evening, Rosmerta and Xiomara flooed into the infirmary from the Three Broomsticks." She glanced at the tavern keeper, who was sitting by the fireplace with a large glass of something definitely alcoholic in hand. "Xiomara was badly injured. She and Minerva had been attacked by Death Eaters."
That drew loud gasps from most of the people in the room. Hermione looked around frantically, and then whispered to Ron. "Where is professor McGonagall? She's not here, is she?"
Ron glanced around as well and shook his head. She was nowhere in sight.
"Thanks to Fawkes, Xiomara will live." Gratitude in her eyes, Pomfrey looked at the phoenix that was sitting on a shelf next to the Headmaster. "She had been hexed, but also attacked physically and stabbed with a sharp object. Without Rosmerta, and Fawkes' tears, she would be dead now. She will recover fully, she regained consciousness right before I came to see you."
There was a silence full of dread and expectation. It was clear something bad would come next. A simple attack would not affect Dumbledore like this.
"However... She was able to tell me that the Death Eaters weren't apparently after her. They were concentrating on Minerva."
At that point, all the hair on Harry's neck seemed to prickle. He forced himself to breathe. This was not happening. Not like this. Not now.
"Is she dead?" Horrified at the words that had slipped out of her mouth, Hermione stared at Madam Pomfrey. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear about it.
The mediwitch gazed at Madam Rosmerta. "Apparently not. At least there was no... body to be found when Rosmerta found Xiomara outside her tavern." Her voice was angry. "Xiomara's words seem to confirm it. The Death Eaters took her alive."
It was a relief, even though a small one.
"What can we do? We need to find her somehow." Ron's words were full of anger bordering on rage. No matter how stern McGonagall had always been, she was the Head of the Gryffindor House, and they'd do anything to get her back. "Do we know where they took her?"
It was a sign for everyone to start talking at the same time. Hagrid's voice boomed over the others. " 'e's right! We can't leave 'er to those bastards!" Realizing there were students present, he looked a bit sheepish. "I shouldn't've said that."
No one paid attention to his slip.
Harry listened to the suggestions and demands with a sinking feeling in his stomach. They were too scattered, the small group of people not enough to rescue anyone. Even if they knew where McGonagall was kept, they'd have to wait for days until everyone of the Order would arrive there.
Their secret -- or not so secret -- Order wouldn't be big enough to attack Voldemort's forces. They'd need the help of the Aurors, and that would be a problem. As long as Fudge was the Minister for Magic, he wouldn't let the Aurors join a fight like that. If the Death Eaters attacked Hogwarts, they would come. But not now. Not when they were needed.
His gaze meeting Dumbledore's, Harry realized the Headmaster knew all this. The look in the wise eyes was shattered, full of terrible pain.
"No."
The husky voice carried over all the noise as if boosted by the sonorus charm. The room silenced in a second, and everyone turned to look at Dumbledore.
"We have no way of finding out where they are keeping her." Still looking at Harry, Dumbledore repeated. "None. We can not fight now, not yet. Our order is too small for a full attack on Voldemort's forces."
A part of Harry had hoped the Headmaster would find some solution to this; maybe something Harry hadn't thought of. How horrible to realize he could not do everything after all.
Hagrid shook his head. "What if we sneak in, save 'er and sneak out?" It sounded like a simple plan.
"No. Even if we knew where she is, we can't risk that. For that kind of a mission to succeed, we would need to know the place where they are holding her as well as our own home. We'd encounter dozens of Death Eaters. Maybe even Voldemort himself. It simply is not possible."
Dumbledore's every word hit Harry hard. He knew he was right; no one was so valuable to their cause to justify such a desperate attack. Not McGonagall, not Dumbledore. Not even him.
"Albus! You can not be serious!" Professor Sprout's comment was echoed by her most trusted Hufflepuffs. "It's Minerva we're talking about!"
"Yes. I know. And believe me, there's nothing I wouldn't do to save her if I thought we had even a small chance of succeeding. But we can not risk these children for one person, or leave them alone to go on a rescue mission which will undoubtedly fail," Dumbledore said with a cold voice. "We will have to wait and see what Voldemort wants. Until then, it will be your duty to keep our students safe. The rumors are probably spreading already, and you may have to deal with fear and hysteria. No one should leave the castle alone. Everyone should either stay in the common rooms or gather in the Great Hall to make sure we're all safe. Curfew starts at nine."
Professor Flitwick nodded. It was a good plan. He would make sure his Ravenclaws were safe. The thought made him glance at the three Gryffindors sitting on the couch, looking pale. Poor children, so lost without Minerva.
"But..." Sprout swallowed the rest of the sentence as she saw the extremely rare glare on Dumbledore. She wanted to protest, but knew he was right.
They simply couldn't go after the Death Eaters now.
"If everyone's clear with the plan, you should all go back to your rooms." Firmly dismissing his Order, Dumbledore watched most of them head to the door. "Harry. Please stay for a moment."
Harry smiled faintly at Ron and Hermione. "I'll catch up with you in the common room."
Looking worried, his friends trailed the other teachers out of the room. Hagrid followed them, closing the door behind him and leaving the Headmaster and Harry alone in the chambers.
As the door closed behind the groundkeeper, Dumbledore's shoulders drooped slightly. He looked at Harry, and Harry was shocked of how old the Headmaster suddenly looked. The familiar twinkle of mischief had disappeared from his eyes. It was quite possible it would never return.
"I asked you to stay, because you need to hear this." His voice barely a whisper, Dumbledore still managed to call out, "Severus. Please join us."
Snape stepped from the shadows he'd been standing at, hidden from everyone. "Of course, Albus." He looked calm and composed, his arms crossed over his chest.
It was clear he'd practiced that look to perfection, hiding any and all true emotions behind it.
"You will probably be summoned soon." Albus didn't have to elaborate. They all knew what he was talking about. "When you are, I don't want you to take any risks. Do you understand? I forbid you to send any messages to anyone in the Order. I do not want any foolish attempts to rescue one person, because it will only result in deaths of many."
Harry looked from Snape to Dumbledore, wondering if he should say something. McGonagall was the Head of his House after all. Still, inside he knew that there was nothing to say. He would gladly risk his life to save her, but wouldn't risk anyone else's. It was probably the way the Headmaster felt as well.
"She's probably held at the Malfoy Mansion." Snape knew Lucius wouldn't let this opportunity pass him.
"I know. I also know Lucius has wards all over the place. We couldn't get close without being detected." Rational words. Intelligent words that cut like glass. "She would be dead before we ever reached her. No, Severus. We'll wait and see what they want."
The dismissal was clear, even though the Headmaster didn't exactly say it. Snape nodded. This was logical. "All right."
Dumbledore glanced at Harry. "Do you understand?"
He wanted to shake his head. Wanted to say that no, he did not understand any of this. Instead, he nodded slightly. "Yes, I do." He wasn't sure what Dumbledore meant; his own role in this, Snape's, or something else? He had no idea. But he did understand, all of them.
Didn't mean he liked it.
"Good." Once again looking like a weary old man, the Headmaster gestured at the fireplace. "You should floo over to your common room. Your friends are already there. They need you tonight."
Harry certainly didn't want to wander alone through the corridors right now. He walked to the fireplace, grabbing a fistful of floo powder. Before leaving, he glanced at Snape. He was glad to see real emotion shine in the dark eyes. Anger. Impotent rage. It mirrored his own feelings perfectly.
"Sometimes we must choose our battles, Potter."
That was painful, but true. Harry nodded again, not wanting to agree with this either, even though he knew he had to. Heart heavy, he tossed the powder down. "Gryffindor common room."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-05-05 02:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-06 07:35 am (UTC)The thing is, Albus/Minerva is my het OTP in Potterverse, so the idea of Dumbledore sitting back and waiting as things process is even more painful...
*is insane*
no subject
Date: 2006-05-06 02:34 pm (UTC)