Chapter 5
“We have much to cover today and only a short time to tend to it,” Albus groaned after he sat down at the head of the conference table. Looking around at the teachers seated there, he asked, “The house ghosts, Professor Binns and the other ghosts are keeping watch over the students?”
“They are,” Minerva told him with a short nod. “We've also made sure that none of the students know we are otherwise engaged. If something comes up, one of the ghosts will alert us.”
“Good,” Albus said, settling in. After popping a lemon sherbet in his mouth, he said, “I'm going to just give the basics of what I know. Later tonight, after curfew, we'll have a longer meeting.”
Seeing nods, he pressed on, “First, let's delve into what's coming when it comes to Messrs. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle—they are looking at serious charges. As of now, they are under indefinite suspension. If they're convicted of even one of the charges leveled against them, they will be expelled and their wands snapped. I was given the foreshadowing that the families may take the step of having them drop out to stave that off as it looks like all of them will end up convicted of at least one charge. The only reason for that is so they don't have their wands snapped. I was told plainly that we can expect the paperwork on that in a matter of days. If it happens, it'll hold off issues for us, honestly.”
Pressing on, he said, “The Board isn't happy with what happened. They do realize when you have this many students housed in one place, especially given the ages, we have issues with behavior. Where the problem comes in is just what was done. It goes beyond the normal experimentation, shenanigans and the like. There is no other use for that potion. Which means the three knowingly brewed something illegal in the dorms. They also knowingly negated the spells Severus set up to detect such behaviors, spells, potions, whatnot. Those in that particular dorm ignored it and didn't report them. Everyone in Slytherin had knowledge of them doing something not only against the rules, but illegal as well, though they may not have known just what. The Prefects didn't step in as was required. All of it. Which means, we have issues. To that end, they are not only issuing punitive measures for the entire house, but setting up a few other bits for us to tend to.”
“What they want done is this, and it is by official decree, that all the Slytherin Prefects are having their badges revoked. We'll find replacements, of course, but we can't have ones from the sixth year. They also have to prove they had no knowledge of the wrong doing. The Quidditch team is suspended for the rest of the year and no Hogsmeade visits are allowed for the remainder of the year as well. I know this sounds harsh, but plenty on the Board were all for suspension of those in that dorm and the Prefects for not doing their jobs. This was the best I could manage.”
Seeing sad looks and head shakes, he shrugged, “It took a great deal of talking for me to get this. I plan to pass that along tonight when I talk to the students in Slytherin.”
Looking down at the notes he had on the table, Albus sighed then shook his head before imparting, tone weary, “Severus is suspended for the remainder of the year as head of Slytherin House.” Seeing a thunderous look on the Potion Master's face, he said, “I'm sorry, Severus, that's the best I could manage. Aurora will step in for the rest of the year. At the beginning of next term, the Board will take the issue up again and decide what to do. While he's out as head of house, they agreed to keep him as an adviser for Slytherin. He has a relationship with the students that Aurora can't cultivate in such a short time. Which means, as always, students can go to him with problems and he can help with other areas.” This was where he desperately needed Severus. He knew that the only thing that stood between some students and them following the Dark Lord was Severus. That they all needed with some of what was going on.
Pressing on, he said, “Tonight, during tea, Filius, myself and Minerva will go into all the dorms and apply a spell the Board is now mandating. It will not only set off a signal that tells us someone is pulling such a foolish stunt again, but will sound an alarm when someone tries to negate the spells we put on the dorms to monitor them. It's also one that the students can't negate or modify. In fact, it’s one they can’t detect is even there. It's only going to go up for the time being. Over winter break, the Board is hiring specialists to come in and do a more permanent one which is woven into the castle itself. Not only heads of houses, but myself will monitor it. When they get the second one up, it's going to monitor the entire castle as there have been instances of people brewing or doing other bits in places beside the dorms.”
“How hard is this spell to apply?” Filius asked, curious.
“It's a difficult one,” Albus admitted with a sigh. “We won't have an issue, of course, but it'll take us time.”
Seeing nods from the two, he continued, “Heads of houses are now required to make their presence better known in the dorms, turning up several times a week. They also want us to perform spot inspections twice a month on all four houses. I do know this is an added burden, but it's been proven that we need to do something. We all know there have been other issues, such as love potions turning up and affecting students, malicious pranks, artifacts that don't belong in the castle and such. Most don't rise to the level of what we just dealt with, but they aren't allowed either. The Board seems to think that we need to crack down to make it clear that such bits are now not tolerated.”
“I can't blame them there, Albus,” Pomona sighed, shaking her head. “This was something which should never have happened. I don't blame Severus, of course, but, since it happened once, students are likely to try again. As disastrous as this ended, we need to take steps to make sure it doesn't occur again.”
“I do agree,” Albus nodded. “I just don't like such intrusions on our student's privacy is all. This is taking a step in that direction.”
“When people take these steps, they prove that the trust we have in them is negated,” Aurora told him pointedly. “We know once the first one takes that step, others will as well. All along, all of us have heard of others brewing potions they shouldn't. Poppy can attest to that because of what she's treated. Most times, it backfires on them and they have to deal with the consequences, this time it wasn't the case. The Board is well within its rights to take this step.”
“If Mr. Potter hadn't been quick with his shielding, some of our first years would have been affected by this 'prank' as well,” Filius sighed, shaking his head. “Considering what that potion does, that could have ended horrifically. And we know, from experience, those in Slytherin aren't the only ones known to pull such stunts, not thinking of the consequences or believing some of what's written about potions. I know I've caught several in mine preparing to take such missteps. We all also know our students are sometimes smarter than we give them credit for. And sneaky. Something needs done.”
“More points that are valid,” Albus sighed as he nodded. “For now, these are the measures they want in place immediately. They also want the students informed that we are taking these steps as well. They are convening a full meeting this week and will probably put more stringent matters in place at that time.”
“What are we going to tell the students, Albus? Rumors are running rampant. My house knows Mr. Potter is gone. Those in his dorm know his personal items vanished as well. Of course, that was passed around, making the rumors and speculation all the worse.” Minerva told him, shaking her head. “We do have to say something before this grows more confusing.”
“Yes, we do,” Albus admitted with a nod. “I'll write up something today and the heads of houses can convene meetings tonight to impart it. And I think this is a case of we need full honesty in what happened. No details, of course, but Mr. Potter probably isn’t coming back. That alone will cause speculation that will run amok. Prosecutions will also be in the paper. That will make it worse, looking like we are hiding information from them. Something such as that won't help. I'll manage somehow.”
“Does anyone know where Mr. Potter is?” Filius asked, looking around. “I mean—we all know what happened, of course, but is there any hint where he was pulled to?”
Groaning, Albus shut his eyes, shoulder slumping. Shaking his head, he told him, “No. We don't have any clues. I have people trying to find him, but we don't know where to look. The DMLE has mentioned trying to help, of course, but it'll take time.”
“This is a nightmare,” Minerva sighed, shaking her head. That was compounded by what she knew was going on. There was nothing even Albus could come up with to help the situation or give aid. Poor Harry and Sirius were good and stuck because of a prank.
Pressing on, Albus went over some small bits that he would discuss later, hoping to end this so they could all get back to watching over a castle full of students.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flopped on the bed, holding Harry close, Sirius was trying to think. At the moment, Harry was dozing off. Well, no, that wasn't accurate. Harry was out cold. His poor godson felt stressed out, tired and all kinds of other things, so he was dead to the world. That was fine. Let Harry sleep. It could only help and would probably assist him in resetting plenty so he could cope better. That they needed.
His own eyes sliding shut, Sirius let out a ragged sigh. He was dead on his feet as well, but was too leery to sleep. At this point, with what he knew of what was going on and himself, he didn't think the evil git could pull anything and if he did try, he would wake, he just didn't want to sleep. Not to mention that his brain was too chaotic for him to get much rest beyond an occasional doze. He was trying to figure out what to do.
Honestly, by now, he had come to the realization they were stuck. Good and fucking stuck with no one able to do a damned thing. Which meant, he had to work with the situation as it was. Not fun as he had no clue how to do that. Part of the problem was that he had no idea what might come of this or what the bond created would pull for. He had clues, considering what he knew of some bonds, but this one was odd. Each bond tended to have specific intents and bits it needed. With this one he didn't know what that could be. Which meant he needed information. Now. Not only did he need prepared, so did Harry. He wasn't sure when it came to his godson what his feelings were on so much or his experience level, so he needed warned before it hit. That's all there was to it.
The downside of that, though, was in order to get that information, he needed to say something to the evil arsehole. He has the books on it, which meant he had to get them from him. With his current mood in, anything he would say to the git wouldn't be taken well as he wasn't in the mindset for niceties. Yeah, well, he needed to do something. Besides, having those would give him and Harry something to do besides go mental from being cooped up in this room. That they needed, both of them because of all the pressure and stress from the situation alone.
With that, he was trying to come up with something, anything, that would allow him to get in contact with someone outside this mess from the right side of this nightmare. And he was coming up with shit. He didn't think they could do anything to help them or get them out of this disaster, but he could get information. That they needed. As of now, though, there was nothing. The only possibility was Snape and passing a message. That, though, wasn't going to be easy as he was sure the evil arse would be on guard about anything he might try. Plus, he didn't want to put Snape in danger by passing him something and having him potentially getting caught. Which meant he just had to think harder was all. He would come up with something, he just needed time to figure it out.
Feeling Harry start to stir, though he seemed to settle back down, Sirius ran his fingers through his godson's hair then looked up as the door opened. Eyes narrowing as the evil arse walked in, he waited to see what he wanted now. He hoped it wasn't something that would set him off.
Conjuring a chair, Tom took a seat and looked at Sirius. “I'm just checking in to make sure that everything is fine so far.”
“Oh, just tickety-boo,” Sirius sneered, snorting. Shaking his head, he said, “We want some books on this mess and whatever you've come up with so we can prepare for whatever hell this nightmare is going to unleash.”
Glaring at Sirius because of the attitude, Tom told him, voice tight, “That can be arranged.”
“I think it needs 'arranged',” Sirius shot back. “We're involved too. As this isn't something you plotted, we all ended up blindsided. What's happened already is enough to tell me we need a fair warning of what might come from it. That dream—or whatever it was, tells me we all need information about what this might do.” Glancing down at his sleeping godson, he added, voice containing a heavy sigh, then added quietly, “Especially Harry.” He didn't press further than that, hoping the arse got the hint he was going for.
Eyes sliding to the sleeping teen, Tom thought it over then gave a slow nod. That dream-like state, and what happened there, was enough to tell him that Harry probably did need to be warned. In doing so, he wasn't so much worried about doing it again, but to hold off issues with the one of them that had no experience with sex, with either gender at least that he heard of. He wasn't sure what fallout could come from that. He and Sirius were worldly-wise enough with experience that the implications of the bond were enough to give them a foreshadowing of what it might involve. Harry—it was doubtful he had that. Besides, a second pair of eyes looking over what he found would be good anyway. Sirius was smart enough to pick up on anything that he may have missed. “I'll have the elves bring in what I can for you and the notes I took what I've found so far. It's not much, honestly. I'm still trying to get my hands on the bond created. It's not covered much. Once I do, I'll pass those along as well.”
Pleased that a fight didn't come, Sirius nodded, continuing to stroke the sleeping Harry's head. “What do you want anyway?” He asked in a weary tone.
“Just checking on the situation,” Tom said honestly.
“We're fine. Just tired,” Sirius admitted, leaning his head back and keeping an eye on the evil git.
“Sleep,” Tom said with a shrug. “I'll be busy all day. If you need anything, summon an elf.”
Snorting at that, Sirius just glared at him. Not having the energy to do much else, he asked, tone weary, “Any clue yet who pulled this stunt?”
“Clues, yes,” Tom admitted with a nod. Hard look on his face, he imparted, “My intelligence is telling me Draco Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were the ones.”
“Malfoy...,” Sirius snarled, eyes flashing dangerously. “I figured he had to have a hand in this!” With that, he was already plotting revenge. Head whipping in the arsehole's direction, he asked, “You didn't put him up to this shit, did you?”
“I had nothing to do with it,” Tom shot right back, face taking on a hard look. “I know better than to involve Draco in anything. Not only wouldn't he be able to keep his mouth shut about it and would have to brag, he would fail. What he thought to accomplish is beyond me! My guess is petty revenge over that slight by Harry on their first train ride to Hogwarts. Nothing more.”
“Rotten arse little shit,” Sirius mumbled, shaking his head. “He's going to get it if I get my hands on him.”
“I plan to do just that once I find out precisely what transpired,” Tom admitted, shaking his head. “I will not allow this to go unpunished.”
Groaning, Sirius rubbed a hand over his face, not sure what to say. Oh, he would do plenty that hurt the damned kid, but nothing like the evil arse in the chair would. That made him leery and he wasn't sure what to say.
“As will Lucius for not putting a stop to this long ago,” Tom said distractedly. Shaking his head, he told him, “When I have more information, I’ll let you know. Not sure what good it'll do us, but at least we'll know.”
“True,” Sirius admitted with a sigh. However, he planned to get his hands on the three at some point and let them feel his displeasure over this nightmare. Thinking it over, Sirius then looked at him again and said, tone level, “We want to get out of this room! Pronto! It's big and comfortable, but it's still the idea. None of this was our scheming and we didn't drop ourselves here on a lark.”
“I'll have warding up to the standards I want them today then you can roam,” Tom told him, planning to attend to that and make damned sure that neither of them could get messages out.
“Good,” Sirius said, pleased with that. He wasn't sure what it could do or how it could help, but he knew he would go mental if he stayed locked in this room. He felt damned sure that Harry was the same way.
“I have things to attend to so I'll be going. If you need anything, send an elf.” With that, Tom stood and swept out.
“Arsehole,” Sirius huffed as the door finally shut. Shaking his head, he sighed then leaned his head back and shut his eyes. Maybe a nap was in order because he was just about non-functional from lack of sleep. Besides, he would know if someone came in or tried something. Yeah, he needed rest if he wanted to stay effective.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sitting at his desk, Tom was staring at the mass of parchments and books there, but wasn't making a move to attend to any of it. Instead, he was thinking over the conversation with Sirius. Something was off there. He too readily agreed with much of what Sirius said and didn't know why. Normally, he wouldn't have. In fact, things would usually go the way he wanted them to and he would dictate. Instead, he agreed to whatever Sirius said and took the attitude from him. That made no sense to him. There hadn't even been a mental debate about it, it just came out of his mouth.
Drumming his fingers on the desk, he pondered it, wondering about the why. The only thing he could come up with was the bond in some way. How? That he didn't know, but was sure it was related. Which meant he had to figure it out before it grew worse. Either that or Sirius figured out that's what was going on then use it to his advantage.
Shaking his head, he decided it was time to get on with more intensive research than he had been doing and work on the bond itself. If this was a side effect of the bond, he needed to know not only what it could do, but what else may come as well. It wouldn't do to get blindsided by more.
After sending off the research so far and the books he had been through to the room where Harry and Sirius were, he began to grab the other books he found, but hadn't had a chance to go through yet. Of course, he had plenty of people he could farm out research to, some that might do very well in finding what he needed, but he couldn't chance it this time. No, he didn't want anyone putting two and two together then figuring out it was him that was affected by this. In time, he would let people know, but not yet. No, he wanted to know what to expect here before he did that.
Glancing through what was there, he tried to decide where to start. The bond, as a whole, was a complex issue that would take time. Which meant he wanted to start out in the area that might yield him the most answers. He wasn't sure what that was, though. Pondering it, hard, the only thing that came to mind was the magical signature part.
As his was different, that might yield him the results he needed. After all, it had to factor in there. He just wasn't sure how. If Sirius was Harry's true match, that meant it might affect him differently. And he had to know how if that was the case. He also needed to ensure that nothing could undo this. Oh, he was sure there wasn't a way, as that bond was unbreakable, but wanted it shored up. There was probably a way to seal it tighter, with what he knew of bonds, and planned to ensure that no one could throw a spanner into this. It was just a matter of knowing what was coming, or the best he could anyway, before then. Which meant he had work to do, a lot of it.
Grabbing the first book after sorting through them, he went to work. Once he tended to this for a time, he would go work on the warding. That he planned to get done today for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which was to thwart anything Albus may try to trace the two. So, yes, he had a full day ahead of him and needed to get on it.
Distractedly setting an alarm so he didn't get too lost in what he was doing, he began reading, making sure to have a quill and parchment close at hand for notes. He just hoped there was nothing here that would blindside him too badly.