Chapter 26
The Dark Lord’s inner circle were gathered in his study, trying to make sense of the information that was coming in. Some of it was clearly useless, but some had merit. It was looking like an old property had opened up somewhere in Northern Ireland. Somebody who knew somebody at Gringott’s had heard rumours, and nobody could be quite sure who the property belonged to. They were planning a reconnaissance trip to gather information, to see if it was a viable place they Light side might be hiding Harry.
A heat in Severus’ pocket had him pulling out a sickle, glowing faintly.
’Dumbledore is calling. I’ll see if I can find anything out.’
‘Be careful, Severus. He’ll be watching you very closely.’ Tom warned.
Severus nodded, then left the room, heading for the apparition point just inside the front door, knowing the Dark Lord would be holding the wards open for him.
Grimmauld Place was quiet as Severus strode down the footpath, preparing his mind. Harry’s safety and wellbeing may be depending on Severus’ ability to play his role right now. He slowed his pace, giving himself more time to prepare.
He thought quickly as he walked – should he head for the front door, or around the side entrance behind the large bush? No, front door – that was normal. That was routine, would bring less scrutiny.
He knocked sharply on the door and set a slight sneer on his face.
Arthur Weasley opened it, and Severus let his sneer fade a little. Arthur wasn’t a bad sort, really. Bit of a sheep, following Dumbledore too easily, but a reasonable man.
‘Hello, Severus! Come in, shut the door.’ He said, jovial but quiet as he tried not to ‘wake’ Walburga and have her start screeching.
Severus gave Walburga a glance as he passed, and her face spoke volumes. Severus slowed a fraction, and Walburga’s expression turned even more intense. Severus couldn’t risk mouthing anything, lest someone see him. He raised a brow, and Walburga mouthed, ‘The boy is here!’
Severus’ heart rate picked up. He pressed a hand against his Mark, digging a finger into the snake’s tail, then continued walking as if nothing had happened.
The kitchen was full of people, and sure enough, at the centre of the crowd, looking utterly terrified, was Harry.
‘Come on, Prongslet! Say hello dad!’ James said, like he’d said it a hundred times already. ‘Say it! I’m your dad, mate, you need to say it. Say hi dad.’
Harry was shaking, eyes darting around fearfully. Severus tried to stay out of sight, but Harry caught him. He also caught Severus’ quick sign saying ‘No no no’, so he didn’t let his eyes linger.
Severus had helped him before. He wasn’t as kind as Tom or Carrick or Lucius even, but he was good. Harry didn’t know why Severus wasn’t helping him right now, but there was a lot of people here, and it might not be safe. Harry tried to hold back his tears, hoping desperately that Severus could come up with a plan to save him from these people.
James Potter pulled out his wand. ‘Come on, Prongslet, say hi dad.’ He said again. When Harry didn’t even meet his eye, he raised his wand.
‘James! What are you doing?’ Lily hissed.
‘It’s alright, Lils, it’s nothing Dark or bad or anything. Just something to help my little Prongslet to talk. Ready, mate? Say hi dad!’ James’ wrist twisted, and suddenly Harry’s little body went rigid, eyes wide and terrified.
‘It’s alright, mate, don’t fight it,’ James cajoled, ‘Just say hi dad!’
Harry was clearly trying to resist, but James was adding more power to the spell, bit by bit, trying to force the boy.
Severus’ fist was clenched, hand twitching for his wand but holding back. What could he do? Should he hex Potter? What was taking so long?!
He nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand brushed his.
‘Someone is pulling at my wards,’ Sirius said in a quiet voice. ‘I’m of a mind to let them in and end this fuckery.’
Severus gave a sharp nod, and suddenly, with an ear-popping surge of pressure, the wards dropped and there were Death Eaters everywhere.
The Dark Lord’s form twisted into shape in the centre of the room a second before chaos broke out, and Harry, still under whatever spell James was casting, looked him in the eye and croaked, ‘Daddy!’
Tom seized Harry, wrapping him in his arms and apparating away immediately. His followers were moments behind him, leaving several Stunned Order members and minimal damage to Sirius’ house.
James Potter was hanging from the ceiling, shirt falling over his face and boils erupting all over his skin.
Sirius suspected Severus had taken the chaos as an opportunity to hex James. Not that he could blame the man. What kind of father casts an Imperius on his own son?! Oh sure, it wasn’t called ‘the Imperius curse’, but it was whatever the Light version was called.
These self-righteous bastards thought Light meant good, as if only Dark spells could be harmful. Ignorant fools.
Sirius was surveying the area, and caught sight of Severus, nursing a broken wrist. He raised an eyebrow, and Severus smirked slightly. Probably cast it on himself, to make it look like he had been taken by surprise and attacked too. Clever man.
Dumbledore’s arrival was less dramatic than he obviously was hoping for, seeing as how most of his sheep were still unconscious. Sirius had moved to start checking over people when he felt Dumbledore enter his property, and Severus had followed his lead. They both looked like busy little bowtruckles when Dumbledore made his not-so-grand entrance.
‘You were late, Albus. Timeliness is next to… something…’ Sirius rambled. ‘That’s why I alwa-‘
‘What happened here? Where is our young Harry?’ Dumbledore interrupted.
Sirius frowned. ‘That’s rude. Who’s Harry? Is that who pulled my wards down? Cheeky bugger. I should send him some billywigs in the post. What’s his address?’ Sirius looked at Albus guilelessly.
Albus tried not to frown, but he was clearly frustrated that the only conscious person here was crazy. He caught Severus out the corner of his eye, casting on himself.
‘Severus, my boy! What happened here?’
Severus opened his mouth to speak, but Sirius jumped in again. ‘Were you getting ice-cream?’ he asked Dumbledore loudly. ‘Is that why you were late? Your meetings can be a bit boring, ice-cream would make them more fun. Do you need me to put it in the chiller while we sort this mess out? What flavour did you get?’
Dumbledore tried to ignore Sirius and focus on Severus.
‘Albus? Albus! ALBUS! Oh gods, have I gone deaf?! No wait – you can’t hear me. AM I A GHOST? AM I DEAD?! Oh, sweet Merlin, I’m dead!’ Sirius wailed.
Walburga’s portrait down the hall joined the racket, screeching and hollering so loud Severus was amazed nobody else woke up. The Dark Lord’s followers must have overpowered their Stunners – Merlin knew the Dark Lord wasn’t about to temper their behaviour, not this time.
Dumbledore was trying to calm Sirius down and shut Walburga up, so Severus took his chance. He brushed a finger over the Mark’s snake head, and a few moments later, felt an answering brush. He tried not to sigh in relief.
He gave Sirius a subtle nod over Albus’ shoulder, and Sirius abruptly shut up.
‘Why is everyone asleep in here? This is not a good space for a sleepover. Rennervate!’ Sirius waved his hands over the group.
Nothing happened.
‘Right. Need a bloody wand.’ he muttered, loud enough to be heard clearly. Severus bit back a snort.