Dawn was shining on her face. She had gone so long ago, but still she smiled down on him, vaguely in the soft light the man had his breakfast, having been walking his bar ever since Severus had left after the Elf, and he cursed himself for not having asked for a serving before he had been gone. But in such a situation no one might have pondered about their next breakfast. In addition, it would have been rude and selfish.
He hadn’t come back to report. But yet again, he was with the boy; maybe; with his friend, in more pleasant company than that of a grumpy old man who couldn’t sleep due to something he had seen that night, the things he had gotten to acknowledge.
“That’s illogical.”, he grunted to the chunk of bread and took a nice bite, which he drowned with some tea to calm his nerves. “He never is.”, but some other voice in his head said differently. “No.”, he continued arguing with himself. “He’s just empathetic, that’s all. And the boy’s called for help. They’ve been on the same frequency. That, is, all.”, but the taste of the dry sausage his teeth ripped angrily, was not with him. “You’re imagining things.”
As if that was confirmed, he could have sworn to see Ariana walk away. She had never done that. There was no portrait in the house she would be able to go to. But when he looked up, she had turned her back on him, walking into some kind of tunnel, into distance. It hadn’t been there before. Or at least, it had been hidden behind her. But now she was clearly getting lost in a distance he hadn’t known to exist.
Dazzled, hoping for his eyes to play a trick on him, he gazed up at the frame that showed nothing but the wall she had been painted before and the tunnel in it, dark and empty. Only few minutes later she came back, a small dot in the black, growing with every step. But she wasn’t alone. The piece of sausage slid from his fingers onto the cutting board and he tried to make out who she brought there, taller than she was. Then the portrait swung aside with a scarce smile of hers. It had never done that either. And in a real tunnel he hadn’t known to be there at all, illogical even, much more illogical than what this fact had managed to temporarily wipe from his mind, stood a young man he knew, but didn’t recognise at first.
His face was smeared with blood, some cuts were still bleeding or bleeding again, and his clothes were torn, showing the same red stains. Not believing his own body to be so agile, his legs straightened and he jumped up to catch him before his weak knees gave in for him to fall out. He caught the slack figure, dragged him over to the chair he had sat on, holding him upright by the shoulders.
“Goodness sake! How did you get here?”
“No idea.”, Neville chuckled with a flaccid smile. “I ran from the Carrows. Room of Requirement. Hid in there for a while. And when I got hungry, there suddenly was this portrait on the wall, with this girl.”, he slackly pointed up to her when she swung back in place. “And she waved me to her and I climbed into that tunnel behind. I just went along.”, the light of his wand died down when he placed it on the table.
“You say, the room created – ?”
“S’ppose so. If I’d known it to be that easy, I think we’d never dug the other.”
“And you say, the Carrows did that to you?”
“Yeah. Must have figured out I’m the leader, now that Ginny’s hiding hell only knows where. I got a coin message just hours ago, I think. She meant she and her parents had to flee, but that they’re safe. No idea when or how she got out of the castle. But well, maybe they just thought I’d said a little too much to them or because they caught me unchaining little Emily down in the Dungeons. She’s been a whole lot faster than me. Never knew she was such a good runner. They both went after me then. Caught me up on the fifth floor and nailed me to the wall.”
“When was that?”
“Dunno – yesterday? Day before? Didn’t want to know yet. What day’s it?”
“It’s the first of April. And I’m not fooling you. Here. Have the rest of my breakfast. I’ll find something for your wounds.”
“Thanks, mate.”, Neville sighed and continued eating what Aberforth had abandoned. “Hey – why’s she going?”
“What?”, Aberforth spun around and saw that his sister was indeed disappearing again. “Come on over there, boy.”, he pulled him up and to the stairs, that would be in blind angle when the canvas would open again. “Keep your wand ready.”
They both raised theirs, pointing on the mantelpiece, ready to strike. For several minutes, nothing happened. Then the portrait swung open and they saw Ariana standing there like she had been painted, but gently and slowly shaking her head with a smile. Neville was first to lower his wand in confusion, when nothing happened for some more moments, until –
“Hello?”, a girl whispered into the room, and, recognising her voice immediately, Neville rushed around the painting, having forgotten how weak his legs were.
“Hannah! What the heck are you doing here?”, he helped her down and Aberforth came along, his wand still held out slightly.
“I saw you disappearing in there from around the corner and ran for my life before they could spot me. And when you didn’t turn up for lessons, I just had to check, didn’t I? After all I’m Head Girl.”
“Yeah.”, Neville led her over to a second chair and sat down where he had before, while Aberforth went for some Essence of Dittany.
“God – you look horrible!”
“Oh it’s okay, Ab’s getting something for me.”
“Well, anyway, it took me quite a while to get in. I saw that painting up there and got curious, why there would be the painting of a tunnel in the Room of Requirement. So I went to check it, but couldn’t get to move it. Then she appeared.”, Hannah pointed on Ariana’s portrait that was back where it belonged. “She nodded to her frame and suddenly I could open it.”
“Okay. That’s how I got here as well.”
“Are you sure you’re fine?”, she took one of his hands that showed no less bruises than his face.
“I am.”, he said softly and closed his fingers around hers to emphasise it, with a smile that was as kind as Ariana’s.
“Good.”, she sighed, sadly however, and pulled her hand away when Aberforth returned.
“Hello, by the way.”, he meant and came to halt before Neville.
“Hi.”, Hannah chuckled.
“Now, boy. That will sting a little. You’re ready?”
“Can’t be worse than it already is, can it?”
~~#~~
Clouds, omnipresent these days. They glided across the sky before the high glass, the wind refusing to try cutting holes into the thick blanket for a shimmer of blue to shine through. On the other side of the window front, a number of blonds was assembled in leather armchairs, placed randomly in a sort of circle that would only become visible if the viewer was pinned with their back to the ceiling that was still missing a grand chandelier. Its pieces laid shattered on the wooden floor, untouched, not cared for. Hannah, a cup of already cold tea clutched by her ashen fingers, stared over to her boyfriend who sat opposite to her, further away and his blank eyes drilled the holes into space the wind couldn’t drill into the cloudy sky. Between them, the woman’s back turned to the empty fireplace, sat Draco’s parents, Lucius grey marbles every once in a while flicking over to the smashed bottle of whine in the corner.
“Lucius!”, his wife hissed quietly, making him sigh as she shook her head with disbelief upon the discovery, but then looked back over to the empty armchair that closed the circle of five and the one who had been supposed to sit there, but now stood by a window, gazing outside.
“Would you – mind repeating that?”, he said softly, though faintly hollow.
“Er – Dobby dropped the chandelier, Bellatrix pushed Hermione away, it fell onto her and Griphook and some shards and splinters hit me too.”, Draco confusedly brushed over his face that was as it had been before the incident. “I really couldn’t help. It just happened so fast, sorry.”
“I didn’t mean the chandelier,”
“What then? I mean, I’m sorry! She just pushed her over!”
“Stop being so focused on the chandelier!”, Severus snarled.
“Stop speaking about the chandelier then, okay?”
“Why don’t you stop?”
“Because you won’t allow me to apologise!”
“Why on earth – ”
“Oh why on earth I would want to apologise for not being able to prevent your girlfriend from being buried beneath one of our chandeliers? By our former Houseelf?”, Severus had spun around, the moment all other eyes shot on Draco as well, with a very similar expression.
“Draco!”, Narcissa gasped.
“What.”, he huffed.
“Can you recall what you just said?”, she then moaned attentively.
“Yes, I can recall very well.”
“Then you might also know that you just said that Hermione Granger is – ”
“His girlfriend? Yes, I know. I mean, she is, isn’t she?”, Draco turned back to Severus, frowning.
“How come you think – ”, that one’s brows narrowed.
“You should apologise for that rather.”
“Oh I don’t know.”, grunted Draco. “It just – ”
“Never mind.”, Severus interrupted him impatiently. “That is, as I said, not what I was talking about. What did you say, happened after?”
“Well, Mum and Bellatrix spotted Dobby and they had a little argue, but then he fled with them before Bellatrix could hit any of them with her knife. Dunno where it landed.”, he unintentionally leaned to the left and examined the area where Dobby had Disapparated, but couldn’t spot the blade.
“Right where she had meant it to, I guess.”
“You – you guess?”, Draco gargled.
“He’s dead.”
“What?”, the four blonds gargled.
“How do you know?”, whispered Draco.
“I – ”, Severus took a deep breath and sighed it over to the fireplace, “He doesn’t respond to my call. They are safe where they went, but Dobby doesn’t respond.”
“No – ”
“Now again. What did Harry do before they got away.”, he said coldly then, composed again, but yet wasn’t fully able to hold back all of his emotions and he feared they might notice, even in their miserable state.
“Why is it so important to you that he stunned Greyback?”
“You still got me slightly wrong there.”, Severus murmured. “It is not important what he did, it is how he did it.”
“Not all too hard with three quite powerful wands, is it?”, Draco chuckled, but Severus only huffed. “Okay, okay! Yes! I lost my wand! Feeling better?”, he hissed, yet Severus wouldn’t drop the left of his eyebrows.
“How.”
“He didn’t even disarm me, the bastard! He just pulled it out of my hand with the others!”
“Did you struggle?”
“What – of course I did! It’s my wand, after all!”, he became furious.
“But when your mother seized you for getting you safe, did you try to run after him or did you – ”
“I – I gave up.”, snorted the teenager, forcing himself to look at a little smile that grew on Severus’ whole face. “Does that make you happy or what?”
“You haven’t got the slightest idea how happy it makes me.”, the smile though vanished immediately when he spoke on. “However, I want you to swear to me. All of you. No one, and if I say that, I mean it. Don’t tell anyone. Not a single being, living or dead, is supposed to know that Harry has won your wand from you, Draco.”
“Why?”, Hannah asked.
“I am not allowed to tell you, but it is important. Only the slightest chance that the Dark Lord finds out that detail – let me say, there are two ways for our side to lose the war, and we have it in hand, by our secrecy. Hannah, I insist that you return to Hogwarts immediately, and don’t come back again. He can’t reach you there. Draco, stay with your parents, please. I will pick you up tomorrow. There is someone you need to get to know a little better.”
“Who?”
“You’ll see soon enough. But first, I got to find him. And I tell you, that is far from easy, even for me, and despite he keeps wr– ”
Plop. All jumped at the sound. Draco and his mother had to lean over to see what had caused the sound further behind their chairs. Completely jazzed, the ginger looked around in the room, seeming not to fully see where she was when five jaws dropped slightly and she panted as though she had run a marathon.
“Where the hell do you come from, suddenly?”
“Is that you, Draco?”, Ginevra blinked heavily, swaying with every breath she took. “You’re a bit blurred, sorry. Who else is here?”
“Mum, Dad, Hannah,”
“Where do you actually come from?”, Severus hurried over as she buckled sideways and he caught her.
“Phew! Blimey! That was close, thanks!”, she laughed flatly into his chest, still shaking when he pulled her to him. “So it worked? I meant to get to you.”, that gave him a short pause.
“To me? Do you have the slightest – ”
“I know it’s dangerous. But what else – could I do?”, Ginevra moaned and wrapped her arms around his back likewise, digging her fair fingers into his black robe as good as she managed to. “Mum won’t stop crying.”
“What – ”
“She’s got a feather message from Bill. Dobby’s dead.”
“I know.”, Severus gargled, glad that his face was turned away from the others so they wouldn’t see what he couldn’t hold back – and didn’t want to at the moment.
“How’s Harry?”, whispered Ginevra.
“Angry.”, Severus said as quiet.
“Understandable.”
“Lonely. ’E – ’e misses ye – ”
“Really?”, she chuckled.
“Yes. Bu’ ’e’s also more determined now.”
“About finding the remaining Horcruxes?”
“No’ as much at tha momen’, bu’ tha’s a diff’ren’ story.”
“Tell me.”
“No.”, Severus said definite and held her head a little closer, onto which he placed a soft kiss before he rested his right cheek on her hair. “’T’s a lil too complicated.”
“Okay. Thank you, Dad. I think I’d have hit the floor if you hadn’t caught me,”
“Any time. Was it yer firs’ – ”
“What are they – ”, Hannah whispered, but Draco shushed her, listening as intently as the other three.
“Yeah. It’s – it’s been the first time I actually Apparated.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks. But I should get back at one point. They think I’ve locked myself in. Placed some charms on the room so they won’t notice. I hope it worked.”
“Secon’ – ”, Severus raised his head and stared at the curls below. “Are ye tryin’ ter tell me tha’ ye jus’ Disapparated from wit’in tha borders o’ tha Fidelius Charm on yer grandaun’s ’ouse? Inter ’ere?”
“Guess so.”, Ginevra snickered.
“Ye know tha’s – ”
“Amazing? Yeah. I don’t need you to tell me. So? What’s the further plan?”, Severus could only chuckle and his head sunk back onto hers. “That’s not much,”
“Dun’ – ”
“Though it feels good,”
“It does.”, he considered.
“So?”
“We’re close.”
“Oh hang on – I didn’t notice.”, the girl smiled, her eyes shut like his.
“Ginevra, tha’s no’ funny. Ye know wha’ I mean. ’E’s dyin’.”
“Tz. Has he even figured that much?”
“I dunno. Bu’ it’s ’bou’ time ’e does now. An’ if thin’s go as intended, ’e’ll soon do ’is final breath. Fer now though, I can’ do ’is alone anymore.”
“So I came just in time?”
“Qui’e, yes. I need ye ter keep tha pack gathered. Make ’em stand down, bu’ ready any momen’. Remus knows ’bou’ mos’ o’ me plans. Ye can trus’ ’im. ’E’ll ’elp ye.”
“Right.”
“I’ll brin’ Hannah back ter Hogwarts. If tha Dark Lor’ should return ’ere, it’s no’ wise fer ’er ter stay. Then I’ll ge’ ye back ter Muriel’s. Stay ready fer tha las’ strike. I’ll flock tha rats tergether.”
“Rats?”, Draco asked, having been able to understand the whispering at last. “Which rats?”
“I align with him.”, Ginevra loosened herself slightly and eyed Severus from below. “Which rats?”
“Jus’ be ready, me foxy.”, he smiled gently and brushed a curl behind her ear.
“I’d like to know,”
“Course ye like ter. Bu’ I can tell ye jus’ as much – there’s a certain dripstone mouth tha’s been far too lazy over at leas’ tha las’ three years. Hannah?”, he turned for her.
“I’ll get my – er – things – ”, Hannah frowned at her large handbag that dangled in front of her in midair. “Okay?”
“How can you be so rude.”, huffed Draco.
“Time is money.”, Severus said conclusively. “And we’re broke.”
~~#~~
Lights and more lights of all colours were swamping him, like the voices and mixed other sounds around as they squeezed themselves through the bustling street of old buildings with red painted wooden balconies and Severus was not sure whether he knew where he brought them, seemingly too in love with their surrounding.
“You see that here? It is amazing, isn’t it?”
“Slightly.”, Severus sighed and they walked on, leaving the woman shout for more customers to attract.
“They will be alright; stop worrying and rather enjoy the atmosphere, will you? Just look at me!”, he turned with a broad grin, his arms stretched out to he sides and shovelled his path backwards through the confused ducking masses.
“Tz. There’s hardly anything that can shatter you, if it’s not about yourself.”, Severus examined the delicate long-sleeved shirt of ornamented red and blue silk he wore above matching blue trousers. “And watch out.”
“Huh?”, Igor spun about just in time to not crash into a stand that was jam-packed with tons of traditional Chinese masks of all colours. “Боже мой! Now how wonderful! Severus – look at that over there!”, he pointed on one that was red, white and black and looked a little scary, probably mostly to the fact that there were no holes for the eyes, which were painted instead. “Isn’t it great?”, he beamed when the salesman hung it off and gave it to him, starting to explain all sorts of details, though in Chinese.
“You’re a little obsessed with masks, aren’t you?”
“Say you,”, Igor laughed, then asked for the price, which he naturally beat down a little.
“When have you learned Chinese?”
“Oh, a while ago.”, he shrugged and they went on, Igor quickly shoving the mask into his brown furred pouch and that under his clothes. “I love Nanshi, I thought I wrote that. Kept coming here quite a number of times and even worked a bit. You won’t believe what sorts of meat they sell here,”
“Hardly.”
“But you should see it at day. Really impressive. Are you hungry?”
“Just a bit.”, actually he was starving – he hadn’t had any meals since that breakfast with Voldemort two days ago and really regretted to have asked Kreacher to spare himself some work.
“Alright, I know a good restaurant down the corner. Not too expensive, but they got some delicious stuff. I hope you can eat with sticks. No cutlery here and I don’t think, they will let you do it with fingers.”
“You’d be surprised. Just as I am about your hair. Not the innocent angel anymore?”
“What is wrong with black? You have black hair as well – ”
“Mine, is natural.”, he had to push him away from a stand with even more decorated and pompous masks that looked rather cheap compared to the others. “And even though I don’t really like it because it made you look wiser than you are, I can’t deny the white flattered your eyes.”
“Uh?”, again, Igor spun, and Severus almost walked into him, which could only be prevented by the other’s quick reaction to stop him with flat hands against his chest.
“Not – er – as much – as – your natural – ”
“Are you blushing?”
“I’m not!”, Severus gnarled loud enough to make some people turn their heads for a second.
“You are!”, chuckled Igor. “And don’t dare to try blaming it on the lanterns,”
“I – ”
“You never said that you like my real hair colour,”
“Is that relevant now?”, Severus moaned in a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.
“Do you?”
“Gorij – ”
“Do you?”, he giggled like a girl and tapped his right index finger on the tip of Severus’ nose.
“Don’t touch my nose,”
“And what if I do it again?”, he did.
“Igor!”, Severus hissed, though this time in a volume only his friend could hear it. “We’re – ”
“I will stop it if you tell me that you don’t like my natural hair colour.”
“But that is exactly the point! I – I never said it because I knew that you hate it – ”
“So you do like it?”, Igor’s childish grin froze and the hand sank back to Severus’ chest.
“Could we – ”, Severus’ head rushed around, “Discuss that – somewhere else please?”
“Alright, alright.”
Past more masses of people, they finally arrived at a rather small, humble restaurant that was quite full too, but Igor immediately spotted a table in a corner between a bush of bamboo and an aquarium that turned out to be – a stew. Severus realised it when one of the fish was taken out the moment they sat down.
Igor swiftly picked a menu and meant to translate it for him, though a waitress had already come. So he ordered two teas first. Severus stopped her kindly. He had spotted something that seemed to match his favour. Taken aback, Igor hesitated at her look when he ensured she understood a very important detail, but also ordered himself something then, which he claimed to have eaten there numerous times already and liked. The waitress slightly bowed with a smile and again turned to go.
“And when have you learned Chinese?”, his friend chuckled disbelievingly.
“A while ago,”, Severus smirked.
“Oh come on – ”
“There had been a time when it had been boring to only teach in between waiting for two different parties to be giving me orders. But actually living here, I don’t know.”
“What is wrong with China?”
“Everything. The whole system. The reign.”
“Nothing you wouldn’t have anywhere else either.”, Igor meant to budge him, but was unsuccessful.
“Not as brutal as here, not as monstrous and crawling. Yes, I know there are countries where it is even worse, but – ”
“Since when do such conditions scare you?”
“Bother, more likely.”
“No need. No need for bothering me at all.”, the Russian grinned and wiped back a black strand. “I can take care of myself now. You taught me enough.”
“If you say so; but I for myself would not be able to live here for a second, ignoring what is going on around.”
“Keep your heroism where you have enough influence, my dear. And after all, we had lived in Ukraine, not? And very close to Russia even! I cannot recall you had complained about their treatment of human rights a single time.”
“Well, guess, you know as much as you should be able to understand why I didn’t care about such things then.”
“Yes. But I am just saying.”
“So am I.”, Severus countered grim.
“There are countries with a much better law system, much more tolerance, and what do you see there? Just the same! Only that the mob is silenced with empty promises, rather than being killed. And they still believe that one day, they will be granted their right.”, even Igor’s voice became hissing now the more he blustered into the topic. “Tell me, Severus. How many in those supposedly free countries live a double life in order to escape the government’s control over their privacy? And how many of those aren’t hiding generally harmless things?”
“If you are trying to imply that despotism has a better crime control, you are voluntarily launching yourself away from me.”
“No, I am merely trying to say that it does not matter who sits on top, if the power lies with the middlemen.”
“And still people do fight – ”
“They do, and die.”
“So does everyone who doesn’t fight either.”
“Yes. Especially those who cannot defend themselves. Now what about children, huh? And I am not talking about those who suffer from war or any system. I am talking about those who suffer, regardless from war and systems and you know that as much as I do, that it doesn’t matter where you grow up. Who watches after them when their parents fail? Or – ”
“Don’t bring up parentage, you know nothing about it. Just because you still believe your parents did the most cruel act by putting you into an orphanage – ”
“And you don’t go making your parents look like saints; your father abused you and your mother let it – ”
“Igor,”
“Happen. They were no better, if you look at the whole. And it does not matter to me that you and your mother looked after me kindly. It does not make her less – ”
“But I am not looking solely at the whole. I consider the details.”
“And you fuss so much into them that you – ”
“I can hear the right person talking here,”
“Now listen,”
“No, you listen.”, Severus’ finger dug into the tabletop. “You neither had a relationship with either your parents, nor ever had children.”
“And therefore I am of course to shut up about it.”, huffing, Igor leaned back, twirling his black goatee with his left elbow supported on his other hand’s back.
“The mere fact that you grew up in an orphanage, surrounded by little idiots that kicked you around because you were different; how can you even dare to try defending something you are so averse to, hmm? Let me tell you something. Yes, my father treated me badly as a child, but that is my business.”
“It is mine too. I – ”
“And he treated my mother bad as well, thereby she couldn’t bring up the strength to not let it happen. That was long before we met, so don’t say you know what it was like. Not now. Not after all those years I thought you had understood it. And besides, I forgave him.”
“You – ”
“I thought you’d figured that then. Just as I forgave all those little brats who kept tap-dancing on me, though some might not have been able to see it yet. You know how deep we both are into the cause, to return to the topic. And as long as we are, we should keep our private lives to ourselves and concentrate together on what we actually want to achieve and have the influence to change. You cannot cure every single family, Igor. Especially not when you yourself have not only no idea of how things work in a family, nor ever wanted to experience it. Concentrate on the victims you can avoid.”
“Well, I should keep an eye on them, you say?”, Igor agreed to the changed topic with a dull chuckle.
“Yes. I have a list here.”, Severus retrieved an envelope from his pocket and Igor pulled its content, hardly able to hold himself when he was through.
“You – you are kidding me, aren’t you?”, he grinned again, but Severus remained dead serious. “Okay, okay. You really did that then. Good luck, you hear me? That is a really tough thing to do. Well, I will see. I think I should do it. Just for the sake of one of their looks, should they find out. And for you, of course. It seems, my quiet life is over then.”
“Quiet.”, Severus puffed. “Why, yes, being in a different city or even country each few days is of course everyone’s idea of a quiet life. Achoo, bless you.”
“Don’t be so mean, Severus. I am certain you can’t understand, as used to be in one and the same crypt as you are. But indeed, it was a quiet life. I worked at the one or other place, and saw the world. Nothing big happened. What is a number of natural catastrophes I slid into in times, other than some funny distraction, huh? Though you are right. It is time for me to stop leaning back and get to do some serious work. You say, the end is near? Then I shall be Christ in the play.”
“Let Harry be that.”
“So it is clear now? He is the one?”
“Unfortunately I haven’t found any evidence of the opposite.”, at last, Igor’s grin was fully gone. “Yes, he will have to die.”, Severus could barely swallow down the knot that grew in his throat. “But after all he was sentenced to it. We all are. One day we all meet our Master. What matters is if the cause was enough to pay the Ferryman. Until then we shall continue filing the play of our own Apocalypse, in which you should be fine with slipping into the role of one of the Horsemen.”
“Do you happen to have a horse for me?”, Igor chuckled frantically, but Severus pulled a little purple bag from the same pocket. “What is this?”
“Let me say, I believe an increase of the number is badly necessary. Four is far too outdated and clichéd. I have another list for you. It is in there, with quite a few more of such pouches. Each carries a tag, so you don’t mess them up. Deliver them for me, please. You will find the rest of them on the list as well; those whom I will seek; just in case it is needed. You might remember, last year. Let me know when you are done.”, Igor quickly took it before the waitress arrived with their supper. “And promise me one thing, Igor.”, he continued with his chopsticks in hand when she had left, and his friend was as earnest as him now, “Please don’t take any detours. He’s got it.”, Severus significantly clacked the sticks together before he dug into his noodles.
“That is a joke now – ”, Igor aspirated, but Severus shook his head. “Now you are definitely fucking with me.”
“You wish.”, Severus sighed, feeling some warmth rising in his face.
“He has got the Death Stick?”
“Yes.”
“Then I will not even go to bed today.”
“That is the man I know, thank you. Also for the invitation.”
“Any time, my friend.”, and Igor started eating as well. “Oh goodnesh – ”, he munched, “Ipf I dun die pfor you, dan pfor de stupf dey sherpf ’ere.”
“How good to know that I have the devil’s food tester for my best friend.”
Igor nearly choked from his second mouthful, but swallowed it early enough and washed it down with a gulp of tea. Though eventually, they both had a good laugh on it.
~~#~~
A soft shine was lying on the old trees and balconies in the square yard between the old houses. No concrete but bricks, yet the roofs were lacking the one or other tile that had been too expensive to replace. In some of those holes bushes of grass or valiant little trees had sat down for a try to grow. Hardly any stars could be seen above the city lights, but the sound of the alleys and streets was nearly locked out by the firm standing walls. As though he had interpreted the fast steps towards the balcony door right, he hadn’t turned on any light in the small flat that only consisted of a little bathroom and one single room for everything else. Only the silver, shiny, utterly soft looking furball by the sink didn’t seem to fit in.
He hadn’t protested either when the locks of the balcony door had clicked to let rather fresh, cool evening air in, along with some smells from the alleys that wandered across the roofs with the chatting of from up there nameless people.
“For someone who didn’t want to stay long,”, Igor whispered when he joined him after making sure his humble home was still safe, “You do seem to enjoy the view.”
“I won’t deny it’s got its charm now that no one else is around,”, Severus whispered back.
“It is small, but I can tell you, it is bigger than most flats around here.”
“I didn’t complain about the size; as far as I could see it, all in all it is bigger than my rooms at Hogwarts were.”
“You didn’t have to cook there.”
“I bet a Dragon and a duck that you haven’t touched a single piece of kitchen furniture or utensil ever since nineteen seventy-nine.”
“Keeping those two and to see how you can interbreed them would be a better idea.”
It took a while, but they could share a quiet little laugh. Igor similarly leant himself onto the wooden parapet before the door that was one of only three gaps in the main room’s walls, opposite to the entrance door. For a minute or two they just studied the crowns of the two trees in the yard swaying in the soft breeze, both feeling that either wanted to find something to talk about, while neither wouldn’t mind just standing there for the world to end. Nevertheless Severus decided to break the silence.
“Thanks for the dinner.”
“Non c’è´di che. I’m glad you survived it.”
“True. But you know what you – ”
“Yes. I may try to forget the past, but I am not as dumb as to actually do it. I am too selfish to let you die, I guess.”
“Good to know.”
“Really?”, Igor lightly raised his head and now studied him while he looked at the night sky.
“Actually. I somehow appreciate the thought that I wouldn’t be left to die in the end when it could be prevented. As shitty as it is, I think, there is enough good in my life to make it worth living.”
“I envy you.”
“Really,”, Severus chuckled.
“Really.”
“There’s nothing to envy there.”
“But I do.”
“Why?”, he looked at him now, but Igor turned his head to the trees.
“Because there is only one good thing in my life. Only one thing making it worth living.”
“Which is?”, Igor said nothing, but curled and bit his lips. “Which is?”, Severus repeated and bent lower so their heads were at the same level.
“Can – ”, he swallowed, “Can you – can you do me a favour?”
“Any.”
Igor had swallowed so badly now that he actually choked on his tongue. But Severus’ hand on his back could calm his breath and he stopped coughing at the bar that had lost some of its red painting over the years. Severus gently laid his right hand on Igor’s left cheek and turned his face so he could look straight into those crystal blue eyes that hosted some tears from the choking.
“Yes, anything.”, he said softly but firm.
“Um – ”, this time Igor swallowed a little more successful, “Maybe you have seen it; my bed is nowhere near big,”
“We used to share a smaller bed back in Germany,”
“But I did my best to make it comfortable – and I – I can understand if you don’t want, I mean, I could try to conjure another bed and try to fit it in here if it was possible to – to stop time a little – ”
“Igor, I can’t stop the time from passing, you know that.”
“I know.”, he gargled with a sniff.
“But I can gladly give a damn about time for tonight.”
“Can you?”
“I can not. I will. I already agreed to that when you begged me for allowing you to show me your current living place. So yes, I will stay. And if it’s to have you tell me in all detail how you could have possibly tamed a Demiguise.”
~~#~~
“Who’s Blackbeard?”
Her eyes had been on the straight horizon and her ears with the sound of the waves, not knowing what to reply this time. He had asked specifically. Though she had written almost a novel about Ron’s knacks and Harry’s visions and mental troubles, or how Griphook was doing and that Remus had at last become father, he had written back the same question, the last word in capitals then, as to tell her that it was what he had actually wanted to know and she was certain that she had written him nothing he hadn’t already come to acknowledge on other ways. After all, he was who he was and for sure he had his sources. She assumed, they might even have been spied on by animals that were under his control, able to pass their shields, and he would have read those memories then, just like he had done with that mouse, nearly exactly three years ago in the library.
“What?”
“Blackbeard. I mean, you’ve seen that big sheet of notes, haven’t you? Where he’d drawn that sign on multiple times? Sure, he’s becoming more and more obsessed with those Hallows, just like you said, but who’s Blackbeard and what’s he got to do with it?”
“Er – Blackbeard was a pirate in the eighteenth century – how come you think he’s got anything to do with it?”
“I don’t,”, he corrected briskly. “Harry does. I said that, didn’t I?”
“No,”
“I said, his name’s on that paper,”
“But – ”
“You say, he was a pirate? A Muggle?”
“Supposedly,”
“Curious enough, don’t you think? He’s written that name on there. And Eileen Prince.”
“Excuse me?”, she was still not fully getting what he was meaning to tell her.
“Yeah. Some weird stuff on there. Names I’ve never read before either. You reckon he’s going mad at last?”
“I – I don’t know – ”
“What’re you doing there anyway?”
“Writing a letter.”, she still gazed out through the open window the desk stood by, robbed the back of her head, and inhaled the pleasantly warm breeze of late April in the salty air, but the scent became slightly unimportant as the information started to sink in, somehow.
“To whom?”, Ron sat up on his bed; he had been staring at the shell-decorated white ceiling all during the past minutes.
“A friend,”, Hermione only meant, a little snooty.
“And who would that be?”
“You don’t really know him.”
“Him?”
“Oh wonder, Hermione Granger has other male friends than Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter.”, she huffed and inked her quill, ferociously writing down all her anger about the jealousy that had just been thrown at her with a single word.
“Blimey!”, Ron moaned hollow. “I was just curious! No need to go barking at me!”
“Who’s barking?”, Harry had entered through the open door.
“Hermione’s barking! She’s totally mad at me!”
“Hermione, are you barking at Ron?”, he chuckled and went over. “What the – `Seriously, I don’t even know why that makes me so upset, but he can be a such an obnoxious pest sometimes. Still I love him though.´ Looks rather like she’s mad for you – er what? Why are you writing that I just read that aloud to him? What the – ”, her writing was gone and some capital letters appeared, visibly written with the wrong hand and Hermione slipped a relieved sigh. “You know, Ginny won’t be so fond if she knew you were chatting with a paper,”
“This is absolutely not dangerous as long as you let me alone with it. And there is in fact a living person sitting on the other end.
“What is this? `You tell me nothing I don’t know already.”, Harry read again and Ron decided to join them. “`Thank you for the information though. And I am very pleased to see that your dear friend has mastered the advanced art of reading. Still I beg him to keep his comparatively small nose out of other people's business´ – Hermione? Is this who I think it is?”, he eyed her, getting the message more than she did; still she blushed when she wrote back. “`Oh he hasn’t mastered that; or rather, he – blatantly´ what? `Blatantly refuses to follow your advice´? Hermione! Why the ruddy heck are you pouring out your heart to him? Why do you have such a paper? Why does he?”, Harry raged.
“`Then why the ruddy heck are you still writing to me?´”, Ron read this time, all six eyes popping out. “`Can – you – hear – us?´”
“`No.´”, Harry read the answer in capitals, his undertone thronging. “`But though I had a P in Divination, your situation is not all too hard to guess.´ He’s had – what?”, he again chuckled then, though his fury wasn’t fading much.
“Yes, Remus has had a P in Divination.”, that was not even a lie, since Severus had told her that he had had as well, before both of them had dropped the subject, and without realising that by this she had actually convinced Harry to abandon all his rightful doubts, she grabbed ink, quill and paper and stormed downstairs.
“Remus?”, the boys called after her.
“Remus – ”, Harry aspirated in addition, gaining Ron’s interest. “Oh damn it. Sure.”
“Whom were you thinking she wrote to?”, Ron interpreted that right.
“Never mind. But I guess, I gotta apologise.”
“Yeah.”, though Harry had followed her already, finding her at the kitchen table.
“Don’t you even dare to.”, she snapped grim when he approached her from behind. “That is personal and it was a horrible thing of you to do that.”
“Guess, I know. And I’ve come to say that I’m sorry.”
“Save your breath.”, she huffed, suddenly reminded of something Severus had told her long ago.
“Really, I am. And if I have to follow you all day until you understand.”
“Please – ”
“I thought you were writing to Snape.”
“What?”, she spun her head, doing her best to keep her disgusted look convincing.
“Well, you know, that sentence about keeping out of other’s business – that’s almost exactly like the Marauder’s Map insulted him when he tried to read it in front of me before Remus found us.”
“Oh – you – you never told me – ”, Hermione aspirated; the transformation in her face was honest now.
“That’s why I thought, you know? Sorry. It was stupid of me to think that you would – absolutely illogical – ”
“No – it’s – it’s alright, Harry.”, she moaned. “I know how hard it is for you not to see an enemy in every single thing you face.”
“Thanks.”, he smirked sadly and sat down, whereby Hermione quickly rolled up the paper and hid it in her pouch; which she wore around her shoulder almost constantly now; so he wouldn’t spot the returned temporary words of goodbye. “Er – you don’t happen to know how Ginny is?”, Hermione blinked hard at the way he unconsciously scratched his neck under the shoulder-length black mess.
“She’s fine.”, Luna said and they turned for her as she came in from outside the house, walked to the dresser and hopped onto it to sit down for dangling her legs with her new wand stuck behind her ear. “I think, we’d know if she isn’t.”, that smile of hers visibly cheered Harry up, nevertheless he studied an anklet she wore above one of her bare feet.
“Aren’t – aren’t you cold?”
“Oh, no. The sea and sand are quite warm already. Not colder than the Black Lake would be now. And I’ve lost my shoes somewhere in the house.”, it was actually the first time for her to admit that some piece of her clothing had disappeared due to her own fault, especially surprising, it was her shoes. “But it’s not as big as Hogwarts, so I guess, I’ll have found them by tomorrow. I don’t want to summon them, just in case they might knock somebody out.”
“Yeah. That’d be awful,”, Ron joined into the laugh, having gotten downstairs too. “A Bludger or a Stinging Jinx are justified, but a pair of shoes simply isn’t something to be proud of getting into your face. I should know.”
“You – should know?”, Hermione giggled when he sat down at her left.
“Well, I walked myself into that now, didn’t I?”, he smirked. “Ginny’s once thrown a pair of trainers at me when I laughed about her shrubby hair after she’s washed it.”
“Then you totally deserved that.”, meant Hermione.
“Hey! She broke my nose by that! Luckily Mum could fix it! Blimey – should’ve figured then that she’d make a great Chaser,”
“So you really want to do that?”, Luna asked.
“Do what?”, her legs had ceased dangling and her expression became serious.
“Breaking into Gringotts.”
“Yes.”, said Harry, all of the trio first shocked that she had discovered it, but then on second thoughts, not really. “We’re going on Thursday. Three more days. We’ve been here too long already and I have – er – I have a feeling that – ”
“Then be cautious.”, she hopped off and walked back to the door outside. “Sometimes the blind see more than the seeing.”
“What’s she – ”, Ron chuckled.
“When in doubt, you should rely on your enemy’s enemies and the least considerable logic might turn out to be the most brilliant idea.”
“She’s totally freaky.”
“No. She’s right.”, Harry said. “We need to be very careful. Just because someone acts as though they don’t recognise us, it doesn’t mean they actually don’t. And I guess, she means that if we get to meet someone who doesn’t like Death Eaters either,”
“We should accept their hand gladly.”, Hermione finished his sentence. “Let’s hope she’s right and we’ll have some ally there.”
~~#~~
In eerie gloom, a silhouette sat facing a crackling fire, fondling a thick dark stick. The bluish silver shine from the entrance of the cave didn’t reach the source of warmth. Patrolling behind the rock boulder, the husky of light paced up and down, silent. As silent as the man who just bound a stable Dragon leather corset around his chest and stomach. The other only sat on a blanket on the ground and watched the flames burning into his eyes like the black lines on his left forearm had done mere seconds ago, wondering how he could lace that all on his own. He wore such a corset already, under his plain black suit and shirt. He had done all day. It had taken him some time to get used to it, but when the itching at his left side had stopped, it turned out to be actually quite comfortable.
Of the same material, black bracers found themselves being strapped over purple sleeves of a robe. Only when something shiny was held down to him, the young man at the fire would take his eyes from it.
“Eat.”, the other said calm, almost fatherly.
“I’m not hungry.”, a firm and definite reply, though a tremble of fear in the back of his voice did not remain unnoticed.
“Eat.”, this time, the word was more like an order. “You will need it.”
“It’s red. I never eat red apples. Don’t like them.”
“Tonight, you will. It is red like the blood that flows in you. Eat it and pray for your blood to still be running through your veins un-spilled by the arrival of the morning sun. Eat – and believe that it brings you luck.”
A flash of conviction hit him, but not without a sigh, the pale fingers wrapped around the cool ball, bringing it to his mouth. Rows of white teeth dug into the sweet flesh, taking away its innocence and juice trickled down his lips, that he wiped dry with the back of his other hand, in which he still held the wand of his mother, suddenly feeling like he could tear a bear in two with his fingertips only.
More minutes of silence, not alone this time. The second man had sat down beside him and stared into the fire likewise. The apple was almost gone with surprising pleasure when he spoke again.
“Do not fear death, boy.”
“I don’t. I’m ready.”, he paused, “Ready to eat it up.”
With that, he ate the last bit and threw the stem into the fire, both sharing a look before they started laughing equally ironic. Barking. Their grins froze. Two heads turned and both were on their feet, the younger one holding his mother’s wand ready to defend himself.
“Don’t worry. It is him.”
The blue shine became brighter as the Patronus jumped eagerly around the approaching man’s legs. He too, had a smile on his lips, but it was concerned. The husky of light stepped out between them as the man in purple welcomed the one dressed in black with a returned embrace.
“It’s good to see you again as well.”, he sighed when receiving a whacking big kiss on the cheek.
“You look dreadful, my friend.”, the one who had kissed him said, wiping some black strands from his face. “And you are bleeding. Let me see – ah it is not so deep.”, he pointed the tip of the ornate reddish wand in his left hand at the cuts on his friend’s forehead and other cheek, letting them vanish with no visible sign of their former existence. “That is better.”
“Thank you. Windows aren’t the friendly mates anymore they used to be.”
“He called us.”, the youngest interrupted their conversation.
“Yes, he called me as well.”
“So Aberforth said the truth? He’s here?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’ll actually happen tonight – ”
“I’m afraid, it will.”
“How can you always know such things – didn’t bother ever applying for Divination as well, did you?”
“I dropped the subject after two months of useless homework. I don’t reckon Albus would have done more than laughing me down. Besides, I am sadistically satisfied with at least a fair number of our agreements.”
“Dad answered. But I don’t want him to come. That’d mean Mum would come too.”
“They don’t have many other choices. But are you sure – ”
“I am. If they fight – if you fight – I will. I feel confident enough. I’m ready.”
“All right.”
“Where’s Hannah?”
“Up in the castle.”
“Can you get her out?”
“No. You know that she would rather die than sitting somewhere in hiding while knowing her friends in danger.”, the man crouched down in front of the young one and fixed his open shoelace.
“What are you – oh. Thanks. Er – ”, he found two tender hands laid around his right ankle, then a pair of deep dark eyes looking into his from below with concern.
“Whatever happens tonight, Draco, remember that nothing can fully separate us. The five of us are bound together, in hearts and souls.”
“I know.”, Draco swallowed. “I know.”, he repeated a little more firm. “And we are – ”
Though he couldn’t speak further. Severus raised and gently took him into his arms, his friend’s hand on his right shoulder now. By the embrace, Draco regained power of speech.
“We’ll be alive.”, he said. “We’ll all be alive by tomorrow morning and he’ll be dead. I won’t let him get you – or Harry. I promise.”
The husky barked again, but its creator shushed him as he recognised the second Patronus joining them. Lighting the cave a little more, the goat raised its deep voice.
“He’s coming. I heard the careless gits Apparate on the hills. The Dementors are gathering around. Even more advancing, I fear. Saw many over the woods. My pub’s flooded to the ceiling with students and Aurors trying to get either side, so much, Ariana’s sat down against the frame, pouting. You’d better look for another way to enter. Good luck.”, the goat became blue glowing mist and was gone, like the Husky then.
“You know what to do, my friend.”, the addressed nodded. “I’m still Headmaster. The castle will let you in then. Have fun.”
In a rush of black fog they left the cave and the man wearing purple clothes Disapparated.
~~#~~