White-golden light in a white-golden field. The moist grass shone sparkling in the rising sun under the old gnarled tree, but it didn’t reach him in his dark cavern inside the fellow. Embracing his knees, he stared at the wood. His spine and head were still aching from the encounter with the wall, but he did his best to ignore that. Thoughts were spinning wildly in his mind, inside the again intact skull, making it hard to shut away the pain. Then there was this feeling. No sound, but a feeling. And eventually a sound. The sound of quiet feet moving through the short grass, dividing the gold, crushing it cautiously. The light was gone. Blocked by the person standing in front of the narrow hole.
“Incredible, that you still fit through that gap.”, she said so soft, her whisper could have been mistaken for the breeze outside. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”, he only gave her a stiff nod in his dark hiding place. “Have you packed everything?”, her voice became a little louder.
“I packed weeks ago.”
“Good. Your Mum said, we’d be leaving in ten minutes. You’d better get your stuff.”
“I’ve go’ me stuff.”
“Where?”
“In ’ere.”, he reached between the shirt and jumper of the uniform he already wore and pulled a little black pouch with purple embroidery.
“Er – ”
“Undetectable Extension Charm.”
“Really? Can you teach me?”, only another curt nod accompanied by a grunt. “Oh please, Sev.”, she moaned pleadingly. “You know I didn’t mean to do that.”
“’T’s go’ nuthin’ ter do wit ye. I merely wanted ter be in ’ere one las’ time.”
“Last – ?”
“’Aven’ ye looked at it? I dun’ think it’ll still stand when we return.”
“Yeah. It looks dreadful. Like you. Are you sure, you’re alright? You know, I always wondered whether this tree resonates with your emotions.”
“Why would it do tha’.”
“I might – ”, she knelt down with her big cat still on her arms, “Suck at anything that’s got to do with mind intruding, but I’ve known you long enough to see what you really feel, even if you hide it to your best. I love you, Severus.”
He looked up, but still not at her. Not even when she giggled at the swishing that came from above. The leaves that had hung down slackly, were now standing straight as though it was a wonderful early summer day.
“Got you.”, Lily smiled, not unseen, leaned forward and kissed him, the cat apparently not minding being trapped in between.
“An’ I love ye even more.”
“Come on. Get out of here, or we’ll miss the train.”, Severus sighed.
“I see no sense in doin’ ’is. I mean, we Apparate ter London fer takin’ tha train? Couldn’ we jus’ Apparate ter Hogsmeade already?”
“It’ll be the last two times we’ll be on that train. I want to enjoy them. But I can’t, if you’re not with me.”
Her sad voice echoed in his ears, mixing with those of many others. Others that filled the misty air, resounding uncanny over distance that had no measure. Blood red and grey hazes passed his eyes. As though someone had thrown a ball of wool into steaming hot water, a knot of unknown origin filled his insides. But it wasn’t as unpleasant as he thought it would become any second. A pair of dark, shiny eyes drilled into his own. It was a young girl, he was sure of, came from the past. That was what she would have looked like, he knew. But he had killed her. That monster had killed her along with her mother.
The thin fingers were wrapped around the handle of the silver mirror, being a peacock. The only thing he still had not the slightest clue of what kind of connection that was supposed to have. He had brooded over it, but it was unclear to him, even after years. And there was her locket. Lily’s locket. Dangling down, swaying gently on its silver chain, though barely reflecting anything but the vague shades of colour in the near.
Bright sunlight from above. All became star-like glistening. The locket fell. Just slow, as though time had changed its course. Then it hit the non-existing ground with a loud ringing. Not again, he thought, before his sudden consciousness made his head rush up.
Everything was a gloomy blur. Some flames before him, burning his tired eyes immediately. Soot blackened the otherwise shiny copper cauldron. Lacewings. Where were they? Where? The black emergency alarm clock was still ringing, thronging him with its loud sound. Every portrait around was wide awake, but not he. His neck hurt, his spine hurt, his shoulders and now even his ears. In addition, there was a horrible taste in his mouth, the specs hung askew on his nose and the eyes behind them couldn’t see a thing but the flames and the shade of soot on the underside of the cauldron. Irate, he grabbed the clock and and worked the usual trick on it: a meeting with the floor.
“Honestly! Could you – ”, moaned Dilys Derwent, but he solely fobbed her off with a grunt. “Fine, then not.”
He finally found his wand between some trash and a number of knives. Giving it a lightening flick, he rubbed his eyes and searched for the stewed flies. Incredibly calm at the edge of the table, Crookshanks mewed quietly, nodding with his head towards a bowl. With a sigh of gratitude, he took the pasty mass, added a last rest to the cauldron and stirred the pulp three times counter-clockwise. Yawning, he filled some of the potion in a flask. Accompanied by another yawn, he picked up the brush that used to be a paper long ago, pulled a hair and slipped it into the crystal vessel. He hated himself for not having put his experimental fingers on that one yet. Though he gave the bits in the flask a finishing wave, hung it into a stand and deadened the fire.
Severus stretched like a cat, his mouth wide open with a noisy yawn again and slid back in the high chair, eyed by the Half-Kneazle. He lazily took off the glasses and placed them in the middle of his mess. Crack. Not having expected it in the slightest, he didn’t even notice that he had lifted about three inches from the chair, the light on his wand that laid on the desk, quivering.
“Cor blimey, Dobby!”, he groaned at the Elf that had Apparated by his side, his big eyes shimmering spookily in the wand-light.
“Good morning, Sir! Dobby is sorry, if he should have scared the Professor,”
“You didn’t scare me. More likely almost killed me.”, Severus grumbled.
“Then Dobby feels sorry as well, Sir.”, the little one smiled embarrassed. “But Dobby had to come. Dobby had to say Merry Christmas, Sir.”
“Oh yes. There was something.”, Severus leant forward onto the desktop and ran his fingers through his greasy hair, resting his massive full beard in his palms afterwards. “Thank you, Dobby. Merry Christmas as well.”
“Dobby has got presents for the Sir!”, he beamed and Severus raised his head with interest, looking at him at last, still blinking heavily though.
Dobby wore a red woollen cap with white bobbles all over. Obviously Luna’s present to him. In his bony hands, he held the strings of a baggy sack.
“Dobby has found them in front of the Sir’s door and spent hours sorting them out. There was some horrible stuff among it, but also nice things. Dobby hopes that the Sir isn’t angry with Dobby that he got rid of the – erm – anti-presents.”
“Not at all, thank you.”, sighed Severus and gladly received the sack, shrinking it by will while dropping it in his lap, before he rummaged for his pouch and put it in. “I will have a look at it later. There is something very important I need to do first.”
“Not a problem, Sir.”, Dobby grinned.
“But I have something for you as well.”, he reached in deeper and pulled out a soft, green parcel.
“For me, Sir?”, like always when getting a present, Dobby’s eyes became teary.
“Of course. You have been a wonderful friend.”
“F-friend?”, the Elf aspirated, a little gargling.
“Yes.”, Severus smiled softly. “I consider you as a friend.”
“Thank you!”
Before he could prepare, Dobby had hopped onto his lap and flung his thin arms around Severus’ neck. Unable to help, he simply completed the embrace and closed his eyes, leaning his head against Dobby’s disproportional. It was odd, holding something that bony, but it actually felt good to hold – something. Draco wasn’t enough, and he hadn’t seen him once in two weeks. He needed – he needed her. Or probably even more, a single look at Harry – getting visible proof that he was alright. His troubled emotions were just not what could cheer anybody up. Unable to hold it, he started crying.
Completely shocked, Dobby did what felt most wrong to Severus: he let go. Even worse, he slipped out of his arms and jumped to the floor. Not willing to look into those big green eyes, he buried his face in his right hand, leaning onto the side rest.
“Dobby didn’t mean to make the Sir feel sad.”
“It’s got nothing to do with you.”, he took a good breath and moved to only hide his open mouth now, staring into blurred, dark space. “It’s just – my life.”, Severus chuckled hollow into his hand. “One should think, I’d gotten used to it by now.”
His head glided through the hand until his neck rested in the palm and his look was directed on the window to his left, where dawn was crawling around the horizon. A flapping sound. He reached down into his pouch once more and pulled out the paper with a snort. As relieving it was to see her handwriting, the purport panicked him.
We’ve been to Godric’s Hollow. Bathilda Bagshot is dead. You-Know-Who almost had us. Harry got bitten by Nagini and is still sleeping with fever, but I think the anti-serum you gave me works. Used Dittany as well. Had some trouble with the locket, but fixed that. Unfortunately I cracked Harry’s wand. It’s barely held together by the Phoenix feather. Ron’s still not back. Otherwise we’re fine. Thought, you should know. I love you – and Merry Christmas..
Sighing deeply he rummaged for a pencil and wrote back.
Thank you for letting me know. Merry Christmas, my precious. Take care.
“If you excuse me, Dobby, I have work to do. Would you keep an eye on the door, please?”
“Of course, Sir! Anything for you!”, the Elf’s eyes glistened and he held his parcel to his heart, then was gone with a loud crack.
Leaving his things on the desk and with the paper and pencil still in hand, he grabbed the crystal flask and wand which still cast its light, jumped from the chair and rushed upstairs, past the huge telescope and down the trapdoor and spiral stairs into the private chambers. There he undressed completely, glad about Hermione’s occasional forgetfulness. So he summoned a whole set of spare clothes of hers and laid them onto the bed next to his. Then he stored his own as well as paper and pencil and unstoppered the flask.
“Slàinte.”, he mumbled to himself and drank it all at once.
~~#~~
“An’ tha’s sure?”
“Quite. I mean, according to the map, we should only have about ten feet left.”
Dust all around, only the lights of wands on, they stood in the narrow space, dirty from the topmost hair to the bottommost lint of their clothes. The cold crawled up their legs and sleeves, but they were drunk with enthusiasm.
“Give me tha’ fer a secon’.”, Seamus held out his hand and Padma passed the dirty map past Ginevra, who just gratefully received a bottle from Neville and drank some of the soothing warm milk. “Gin?”
“Hmm?”, she frowned and lowered the bottle, swallowing.
“Are ya absolutely sure ya’ve done tha’ righ’?”
“I could give it a try.”, she licked her lips, unwilling to spread the dust on her face and hands even more. “Expecto Patronum.”, Ginevra whispered and the horse galloped past Seamus, straight through the soil.
“Yeah. Tha’s good. Le’s ’ope, ’e answers.”, right then, a glowing goat came back.
“You’re blowing up my cellar chimney if you’re going this way, but well, I never used it anyway. Get it down for good.”, the goat said with Aberforth’s voice and vanished.
“Right.”, Seamus gave the crystal in his hand a lively kiss. “Tha’s me las’.”
“Yeah. May it bring us some friends.”, Neville grinned when Seamus stuck it into the alcove and they backed away behind the shield he had conjured, holding their hands on their ears. “Ready?”
“Never more.”, Seamus grinned and shot a spark at it.
~~#~~
Even though it was Christmas and early in the morning, people had trouble getting through the gilded doors like at every meal ever since punctuality had been made a law.
“It’s not like they’re getting it, right?”, Ginevra chuckled, not having cared about straightening her hair after the necessary shower. “Half a year and no one’s been sent to the Dementors for being late for breakfast.”
“Wasn’t it you who said we should be careful?”, noted Parvati.
“Shut up, okay? Hang on – why are you still here?”
“Er – I – ”, Draco began but was slightly distracted by the look he got from Neville.
“Didn’t you say you’d be spending Christmas with your parents?”
“No idea – change of plan, I guess.”
“What a bad liar you are.”, Ginevra huffed.
“Okay, okay. Got me.”, he snorted, glancing impatiently over the heads by stretching his neck up. “Dad’s been hell. Mum chained him to an armchair when he didn’t stop drinking. No idea where he’s getting the stuff from, but she suspects Kreacher.”
“Isn’t he supposed to be Harry’s now?”
“Should be, yeah. But I guess he’s still partly the Family-Elf, if you know what I mean. He can serve more masters as long as it doesn’t come within a ban one of them has spoken. Just because he sent him to work at Hogwarts, it doesn’t mean Kreacher has to stay here. Probably said it wrongly. I got to question the crawler on occasion. How’s the Homework?”, he threw her one glance in between, but returned to trying to figure out why everyone blocked the door.
“We’re through.”
“No.”, Draco chuckled, eyeballing her in disbelief.
“Yeah. Let’s hope, we did it all correctly. Wouldn’t be good if we get buried with additional work.”
“You really did it?”
“They did.”, Parvati said.
“Ingenious – oh come on – what the devil is going on there? Isn’t it supposed to be Christmas?”
“Please get back out!”, McGonagall’s voice partly answered his question, though she was nowhere to be seen. “There is nothing of your business happening! Oh goodness Poppy – ”
By the annoyed students backing away and making space for the nurse, they finally saw what had caused the jam. McGonagall was kneeling on the floor just yards into the hall. Beside her, Trelawney, who was swaying as she sat, breathing heavily through her wide open mouth and the big eyes behind her thick glasses stood awry.
“I did not dare to touch her – can you tell me what’s wrong with her?”, McGonagall whispered in panic, but the third woman just shook her head, no less frightened.
“I – I think she – has some sort of seizure – b-but – this is not my speciality – I – ”
“Wait – ”, Draco aspirated, something dawning on him and he stepped forward towards the three on the floor.
“What’re you doing!”, Hannah hissed. “Don’t – ”
“No – I – I think I know – what’s she – ”
He had knelt down and now stretched out his left arm. However, McGonagall caught his wrist firmly. But with a single glance he gave her to understand that he knew what he did and she let go, muttering something to herself he couldn’t understand. Momentarily, everyone present held their breath when his hand touched Trelawney’s shoulder, and a second later, many gasped in shock as she suddenly sized both his arms, with rattling, blood chilling panting, her face so close to his that he could not only see his reflection in her glasses, but her absent eyes at a time.
“The girl – ”, Trelawney breathed stertorously, her eyes rolling worse than before, “Who is surrounded by light, not as close to the boy as belief is, and her mirror, will come before justice’s five hundredth strike.”
“What – ”, McGonagall moaned but Draco shushed her with a hiss that resembled much a cat’s.
“There will be a sea of blood. Yet when all of it has vanished, three sisters in hearts and souls will step out of the shadows at last. The veil must not be lifted until silver falls from a loving hand for the second time. When Death is driven to its knees and the martyred souls have returned to the river, only then the Masters over Death can be reunited – but they must wait – wait for – the second time – and – follow – follow an angel’s verses – ”, Trelawney’s eyes rolled up and she keeled over, her hands skidding off at last.
“Sybill?”, McGonagall shrieked.
“I think, she fainted.”, Draco sighed; the rest of the hall laid in confused and frightened silence.
For a while, everyone just stared at the motionless woman, her load of jewellery and beaded wide clothing making her look like a big pile of – Christmas tree without a tree. Like all others, Draco had no idea what this had been about, but he had a notion whom it had been meant for.
“Mr Malfoy? What – was – was that – a – why – ”
“Maybe she’s fainted because she had to wait such a long time to get it out,”, he considered, “But yes, I think it was a prophecy.”
“How – how did – you know?”, Madam Pomfrey still stammered as well.
“Er – I – once overheard someone talking about a real prediction she had made. It had been similar to this.”, his gaze on the unconscious woman, he stood up. “I gotta go – ”
“What?”, both still conscious women gasped, but Draco already ran for it, upstairs.
He had no idea how he had managed to reach the tower. It was as if all memory of his rush had been erased the moment he arrived at the Gargoyle, trying not to lose a single syllable of the heard. For some seconds he just stared at the statue, until it raised its creaky voice.
“Working Legilimency on stone has no profit for either of us.”
“Er – what?”, Draco startled. “No – no. I wasn’t – I – ”
“And he changed the system.”
“System?”
“You are supposed to answer me.”
“What?”
“Yes. What rises from the ashes on demand?”
“The method everyone can apply.”
“Er – ”
“Let me through.”, Draco huffed. “It’s the feathers.”
“How do you – ”
“Well, you said `on demand´, didn’t you? A Phoenix doesn’t rise from its ashes on demand, it does due to its nature. But everyone can communicate by demanding feathers from its ashes; yet not every single being on earth can conjure a Patronus that can even talk. Enough of the insider knowledge?”
“Fine, fine, boy. No idea when Ravenclaw adopted you, but you may pass.”, grunted the Gargoyle and let him through.
~~#~~
The oddity struck him. Looking into the mirror doors of the wardrobe and down the body in turns, he was close to shiver from the cold in the room. Too marvelled to remember what he had meant to be doing for so long, he watched goosebumps grow. He had used Polyjuice Potion many times before, but only then he realised that he had never taken on a female body. It was so strange and unusual – all the thoughts spinning in his head – but there was a final one he reached that was so kin- inappropriate, he just had to literally shake it off and put on her clothes before he fell too low.
Tightly wrapped in his own cloaks which he shrunk to fit, he walked over to the window and opened it. To his frustration, some snowflakes flew in. CRACK!
“Goddamn’, Dobby!”, he raged when the first-second shock wore off.
“Dobby is sorry if he has startled the – Sir – ”, the Elf’s already big eyes popped out.
“Don’t look at me like that,”, Severus moaned. “I have a job to do and that is an easier way to carry it out, even though the preparation had been too time-devouring. Be brief.”
“Well, it is the Malfoy boy, Sir. He comes through the door any moment.”
“Oh. Thank you. Keep him busy, please. And tell the Gargoyle to ask for the tragedy of last year’s queen. The answer should be naming the exact move: castle to E seven. I hardly reckon anyone but Luna remembers and she is not here. Probably Hermione told Ginevra, whatever.”, meanwhile Severus had created a light bulb he kept firmly floating in front of the window.
“The tragedy of last year’s queen, castle to E seven.”, Dobby recited, looking to the ceiling. “Dobby will do so, Sir. Good luck with – your job.”
“Dobby – you – you don’t happen to have a slight idea where Ron Weasley might have gone?”
“If he is not at The Burrow,”, the Elf pondered, “He might be at – at that hut by the sea, Miss! Er – Sir!”
“Shell Cottage, you mean?”
“Yes! That was the name! Dobby heard his sister Ginny talk to Luna Lovegood before she left for the train, about their brother Bill having moved there with his wife, Sir.”
“Thank you, Dobby, thank you!”
“Any time!”, Dobby smiled and Disapparated into the office with another ear blasting sound when Severus stilled the light with relief and conjured a shield before he flew out of the window, invisible.
Clouds made way, only for a second, thinning out, just enough for some light to shine through, meeting down by the house with a woman, where only for that second, a silver shimmer flashed up before clouds moved back in place. The pot fell. The mix of sand and snow muffled the noise and her breath got stuck so instantly that she didn’t give a sound either. Ignoring the pot on the ground, she carefully shut the door and headed up the slope, her delicate wand held tightly. Right at the border of the Fidelius Charm she stopped and looked at the girl that searched the air with her eyes only.
“Fleur?”, Hermione asked her. “Is that you? Come on, I know that perfume. You wore it all through the tournament.”, convinced, Fleur opened a gap in the shield and let the other in.
“What are you doing ’ere? ’Ow did you find us?”
“I could contact Ginny. She told me about that place and suggested I might go looking.”
“And ’Arry?”
“Is fine in our tent up at the cliff.”, she attempted to check, but wasn’t left a chance. “Is Ron here?”
“Yes! ’E is up on zeh first floor – ”, Fleur pointed at the shell-covered house.
“Good. Look at me.”
“Yes?
She turned back, still astonished and the moment their eyes met, Fleur became downright dazed when Hermione’s voice spoke to her in French. But she turned once more and went back to the house where she picked up the pot, followed by the now invisible newcomer.
“Didn’t you want to – ”
“It slipped my ’ands.”, Fleur sighed at her husband. “I will ’ave to go again.”
“Oh.”
Severus used that moment to scurry upstairs, where a fizzing sound came through the gap of an open door. Hanging on a chair, he tried to find a signal, looking quite frustrated. Unseen by him, Severus tipped his wand at the wireless and the tuner sped onto an adequate frequency. Ron startled up and stared at the object as though he had seen it never clearer. Music. A song he didn’t know, but seemed to like immediately, that much Severus could tell from his expression. He could also see something in a pocket at his chest. The shape was unmistakable – and more than useful. Severus slid around him absolutely silent, his head stopping in front of it. It felt a little strange, almost childish and he feared he would start laughing, but he knew if he made a mistake –
“Ron.”, Hermione’s whisper left his invisible mouth.
“What?”, Ron turned his head – only his head, to Severus’ luck, or he might have knocked him out.
“Ron!”
“Hermione? Is that is that you?”
“Help us, please. Find us. We need you. I – need you.”
“Hermione? Where are you?”
“I cracked his wand – he needs another – please, Ron – help me, Ron!”, finally he looked down at the pocket and reached in, staring at the Deluminator he pulled. “Ron!”, Severus repeated in her voice, higher up now, to match the level he held it at. “Ron!”
He was more than prepared for it. The moment Ronald clicked the Deluminator, the lights naturally soared in, but quickly Severus cast his own version of a Tracking Spell, making it look like it had come from the instrument, shooting it through the closed window. Confused, the young man’s eyes followed the light, out of sight. When he jumped up, the chair toppled back and fell to the floor with a lot of noise. Severus stopped the light right where Fleur had dropped the pot before – and did again at the sight of the light bulb. Ron opened the window, not even noticing that someone stood next to him.
“Qu’est-ce que – ”, Fleur aspirated at the light and nearly twisted her neck when she turned her head up at Ron’s call.
“I gotta go!”, he panted with excitement. “Hermione sent me that!”
“’Ermione?”
“No idea!”, Ron laughed. “But I gotta go!”
Satisfied, he watched Ron pack his things hastily and leave the room at full speed, hearing him almost push his protesting brother downstairs. Outside in the white garden, he stopped by the light. Both gazed at it as it floated into Ron’s chest. Since he had been granted access, it was as easy for him to Disapparate as it was for Ron, once he had flown out of the window.
Furthermore, it had stopped snowing in the north and so flying back up to the castle was a flight of pure relief. He wouldn’t let her know. That would be his Christmas present and it would not be nearly as effective when he told her again to look out for Ron. Through the still open window, he rushed into the cold round room, landed silently and shut the window without magic. He had done enough of that for one day. All he wanted was to get out of her clothes and rid of her body. It just didn’t suit him, even though he quite liked that body. Touching, was fine. But actually being in it – with a deep sigh he became visible again, and nearly choked at his ow- Hermione’s tongue.
It was hard to tell who was closer to faint. He by the bed, or Draco in the doorway.
“What?”
“Dobby is so sorry, so terribly sorry!”, the Elf cried by Draco’s feet. “Dobby couldn’t stop him!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Sorry.”, Dobby squeaked pitifully again and was gone with a crack.
“What?”, Draco repeated. “Why’s she here and how come you’re stuck in her?”
“Do – do you have the slightest idea how silly that just sounded?”
“Do you have an idea how silly that sounds, hearing your voice coming from her mouth?”
“Believe me, I have hardly ever felt worse. And no, for Heaven’s sake, I haven’t done anything inappropriate. So if you don’t mind, either turn around or wait outside. I need to change back and I don’t think she would want you to see her naked.”
“Er – right – ”, Draco blushed and closed the door behind.
~~#~~