-79-
When I finally reach the top of the Astronomy Tower, immediately the wind tangles in my hair so it floats and keeps getting into my eyes. "Oh..- Damn it." I curse under my breath while trying to maintain the situation. Right away, I notice no one's here anymore. Hmph, and I came all the way here for nothing. Back when I was a student, I never really came up here. Only if it was necessary regarding the studies. Really don't know why I was never interested coming here, maybe I was just too lazy climb all the way up. But I am here now. Wonder how it all looks from here? With that in mind, I walk towards one of the railings just to see the view. Woah! It's beautiful. Sure - it's very dark and gloomy evening, but I can only imagine how it all looks when it would be beautiful sunset. I need to bring Severus here someday.
All of sudden, I hear behind me the sound of when someone does the Apparate spell. It got me so off guard, I flinch and let out a small gasp:"Wah!". Quickly, I turn around to see who just appeared. My eyes widens when I realize it's Harry Potter, who's trying to keep Dumbledore - the Headmaster himself, on his feet. Looks like he's hurt or something. "Wha..-?! What happened?!" I rush to them. "We need to get him to the Hospital Wing..- To Madam Pomfrey!" Harry looks at me worried. We quickly help the old man to sit down on the metal stairs that are near by. Harry steps aside to watch as I try to create eye contact with my boss. I hold onto his shoulder and try to main calm:"Albus, please talk to me. What happened? What you need?". He looks very weary, like his heart might stop beating any second now. Dumbledore keeps gasping under his breath:"Severus. Severus is who I need.". Severus.
Then, I turn my head to look over the shoulder to see the boy behind me. For a split second, I try to figure out which one of us should go to him. My mind is all over the place. I can't leave the poor man here alone with the young teenage boy. Then again, I could use Apparate to get to Severus. But I'm not in that state of mind to be able to do that now. Urgh! In panic - that I try so hard not to show, I let out:"Harry, go. Go get Severus. Tell him everything that happened and bring him here.". Harry stands there, watching Dumbledore and not saying a word. Like he doesn't know what to do. After all, he's just a boy. "Harry!" I raise my voice to snap him out of it. He then looks at me. I keep the determinant stare at him:"Severus. Get him here and tell what happened. Now.". The thought of he might be a Death Eater doesn't concern me right at this moment. Dumbledore trusts him. I trust him.
Harry rushes down the spiral staircase to go get the Potions Master as fast as he can, leaving me and the Headmaster alone on the top of the Astronomy Tower. My attention goes back to my boss and I place a hand on his shoulder again. "It's going to be alright, Albus. You are going to be fine." encouraging smile creeps on my lips as I try to convince myself as well. He really doesn't look too good. The old man breaths now a lot more calm manner:"You really are... A light in middle of darkness, (Y/N). Remember that.". Alright, he really is lost his mind at this point. "Sure. Whatever you say, sir." I nod with caring smile people like to do when they speak with elderly, who has lost their mind or such.
Dumbledore then told me what happened. How he and Harry went to this mysterious cave where they believed one of the Horcruxes made by You-Know-Who was hidden. They successfully obtained a locket from a lake inside the cave, where Dumbledore weakened himself by drinking a potion somekind and they managed to escape from a group of Inferi. Inferi. Cold shivers goes down my spine just hearing the word. That's what my parents used to scare me by saying if I won't behave like they want me to, they will turn me into one. 'That way you could finally be useful' - they said. Then, we hear fadely how someone's climbing up the spiral staircase. My head snaps to the sound, slightly amazed. That was fast!
Dumbledore holds onto my hand, and I can feel how he just put something inside my fist. Hm? Then, he holds onto my shoulder and tries to get up. Quickly, my focus goes back to him and I hold onto his arm to keep him in balance:"Oh..- No, no. Please, don't get up, Headmaster. Just sit dow..-", "Hide yourself below, (Y/N)." he orders, his voice almost sounds like a whisper. "Huh?" I look at him confused. Hide? His blue eyes are looking right into my eyes:"Don't speak or be seen without my permission. Whatever happens. Stay below.". "What..?" I frown, completely confused by the request. Has he really lost his mind? He gives me a small push and I'm forced to take a step back. The sound of someone coming becomes more clear. "(Y/N), do as I say." Dumbledore insists, looking so serious about this. I hesitate what to do here. Why in the world I should go hide? "Trust me." he whispers. My heart jolts. It made me feel like I was seventeen years old again. Back when he and Mad-eye burst in thru the doors of my family home to rescue me. "Trust me." he repeat, hint of desperation in his voice. Then I nod as in 'alright', and quickly rush one level down.
Now I'm hidden in a storage space that is right below the top of the Astronomy Tower. The room is filled with old, dusty telescopes, tables and big boxes all around. I can hear how the wind howls a bit above me. As I look up, I can see Dumbledore thru the wooden floor gaps. I finally open my fist to see what he gave me. It's the locket he was talking about. What... What he wants me to do with this? I end up putting it inside one of my pockets and focus back to look up. Moment by moment, I start to feel more nervous. I have no idea what's going on. I don't like this. Then, for my surprise, Draco Malfoy comes in front of the Headmaster, his wand pointing right at him. What?! My heart sinks and I watch above me shocked. What the hell is going on?! Despite my discomfort, Dumbledore seems to be calm:"Good evening, Draco. What brings you here, in this fine... Spring evening?". Little bit taken aback by how quickly Dumbledore was able to compose himself. Almost like he doesn't want the student see how weak he feels at this moment. "Whose else is here? I heard you talking." Draco frowns, keeping the wand pointed all time.
Even my sight is narrowed, I can see how Draco seem to be on edge. "I've been talking out loud by myself. I found it extraordinarily useful. Have you ever whisper to yourself, Draco?" Headmaster asks calmly and walks little bit around the room. No answer. The boy just keeps glaring at the man in front of him. My mind is going all over the place as they keep talking. Harry's words about how he thinks Draco is one of the Death Eaters keeps replaying in my head. How Draco and I shared the bitter sweet moment back in the Boathouse. The way he looked at me when we were about to leave and he ended up biting his tongue... Was this what he wanted to tell me? The feeling of guilt washes over me. The thought I wasn't able to make him talk to me and tell me what he's about to do... It eats me up inside. Dumbledore gives compassionate look:"Draco... You are no assassin.". "How you know what I am?! Done things that would shock you." Draco quickly spat.
Before Dumbledore can say anything, Draco continues:"He trusts me. I was chosen!". He then rolls up his sleeve to show him the Dark Mark that has been tattooed on his left arm. My eyes widens. Even I can't see the mark, I can just tell that's what he just showed him. So it is true! With calm movements, Dumbledore raise his hand he got his wand in:"I shall make it easier for you..-", "Expelliarmus!" Draco quickly casts the spell and the Elder Wand flies out of the old man's hand somewhere. Only the sound of a wooden stick hitting the wooden floors can be heard. My heart skips a beat and instinctively take out my own wand back from my jeans. My hand is shaking. But so is Draco's. The look on Dumbledore's face won't change. He keeps looking at the boy with compassionate:"Draco... Years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Please let me help you.". "I don't want your help! Don't you understand?! I haveto do this. I have to kill you." he hisses as the wand in his hand shakes even more. It looks like he's about to cry. "Or he's going to kill me..." Draco's voice crumbles. Voldemort is going to kill him if he won't kill the Headmaster?!
His words cuts deep in my heart. I feel so conflicted. What can I d..- My thoughts get cut off when I hear the door somewhere in the distance opening and hear how there are more people starting to climb up the stairs. Huh? The thought it might be Harry and Severus strikes the worry in my heart. I can't let Severus get hurt! About to disobey Dumbledore's order and rush up there with them - when all of sudden, as soon as I turn around, I see Severus himself. Standing two meters away from me. Pointing his wand right at me. What?! My heart drops for a quick second out of confusion. What is he doing?! Where's Harry?! With slow moments, Severus raise one of his fingers up to his lips as a sing to stay quiet and to lower my wand. My heart is pumping fast as I stare back at him. But seeing he's alright and that he's here with us gives me some comfort, and I slowly lower the wand. He must know what he's doing. He must have a plan.
Can hear how there are now more people above us. My head snaps right back up to see who they are. What I can tell from where I stand, is that there is the Werewolf-man and the woman from the Christmas Eve whose name I can't remember now. And two others, but I can't see their faces. This is bad..! But now that Severus and I are here, maybe we could ambush them together and Dumbledore could run to get his wand from the floor. But we haveto be quick. And we need to save Draco somehow. Relieved about this idea, I turn to look at Severus, ready to whisper him the plan, he has made his way to stand right next to me. It made me flinch, since I didn't hear him approaching. He really is like a black cat. For my confusion, there is sadness in Severus's eyes as he's staring right down on me. With questioning look, my eyes flickers between his.
Then, the look in Severus's eyes changes in determinant one and he puts one of his hands behind my back while pointing his black wand at me. Huh?! Before I could react, with quiet voice he whispers:"Petrificus Totalus.". Immediately, my legs and arms snaps together and I become as flat as a board. WHAT?! I can't move. I've been paralyzed! Eyes wide, I stare as Severus gently places me on the floor. What?! Why?! What are you doing?! My mind is screaming at this point. After he had made sure I lay there, he moves a piece of hair behind my ear while looking down on me. From somewhere here in the darkness, a light hits his black eyes and gives this fade shimmer on them. It's really hard to read what's going on thru his head right now. But I'm fearing the worst. Then, Severus got up and leaves by my side. No matter how hard I try to fight against this spell that has been casted on me, nothing happens. SEVERUS!!!