Chapter fifty-four. It's Happening Now
- Well, we can't make it public, Severus, Voldemort's gonna realize who you are spying for.
- What I'm saying is that we might make an ambush as at the New Year Ball.
- No, no! It comes down to the same: too big a coincidence.
- Great! We surrender the Castle? It's in two hours!
- I hear that... - Dumbledore turned around the corner and they proceeded down a long corridor at a brisk pace, the general havoc muffled their conversation.
- Wait, where are you going?
- I have a lesson right now, remember?
- A lesson? - Snape asked bemused.
- It's for an hour and a half, and then... Then I will have to greet them myself.
- You are not actually considering this? What about the Council squad? They are stationed nearby.
- Out of the question. They have a task - to protect physicist magic channel. Severus, do not contact them whatever, it's our only hope.
- What? This whole set up was a whim of a ministry malcontent and a do-whatever-you-please person, aka you.
- Yes... no... not exactly.
Dumbledore was acutely aware of Snape staring at them, as it was their habit whenever Dumbledore attempted to leave out some important information. They quickly resumed:
-The greatest strength as well as the greatest weakness is found within.
- What??
Dumbledore closed the door of the classroom, Snape stood still for a moment, then slowly returned to the dungeons.
When Draco saw Professor Dumbledore enter the classroom and start the Defense Against the Dark Arts class as usual, he couldn't believe it. His dad just wrote him about an upcoming assault on the Castle. A month ago he would've cheered with other Slitherins, involved in Death Eaters stuff, but today it appeared to him for the first time what he was dealing with, what Death Eater's activities implied and what exactly the Dark Lord was striving for. And for the first time he could see the difference between his own goals and theirs. It was excruciating to witness without any say in the matter, there was absolutely nothing he could do. He was one of the bad guys. By complacency. And there stood the only qualified person he new to be against the Dark Lord, ploughing on with this stupid lesson, obviously oblivious to the whole thing, wrongly believing that Snape worked for them and would give the Dark Lord's plans away. "What if I speak up? No. Father's message is already autodestroyed. They would never believe me on my word. Well, I wouldn't either...", "I should hide so that parents don't spot me, or Dumbledore, I can't stand to be perceived as an enemy..."
Once the class was dismissed, Draco felt nauseous: half an hour. It was a three hours break, nobody seemed to go outside as it was chilly and rainy. Draco walked around the Castle down the gallery, and chose a hiding place under the arch in the shadow of an abandoned porch. Apparently, the walk took a fair amount of time as suddenly there was a flash of magical light in the sky and Draco knew the game was afoot. Invisible shield, protecting the Castle, emitted a thundering sound under the rain of spells targeting one point that now could be effortlessly located in the sky. A few teachers ran outside, and, instantly drenched by the rain, started to enforce the spot. Draco's heart jumped to his throat, when he heard running footsteps right beside him, in the deserted porch. He leaned to the porch wall the better to hide in its shadow and eavesdrop at the same time. The pang of dismay pierced his chest when he clearly heard Snape's voice, but he listened in nonetheless:
- What's the point? I am supposed to fight on your side, that's why The Dark Lord never gives me any combat missions.
- I must ask you not to challenge your colleagues - at this Snape smirked with exasperation - use only defensive spells. I can explain...
- Then do it! Please.
Draco have found a slit between stones where the cement had fallen out and could actually see the speakers a little from behind.
Dumbledore sighed and said quickly:
- I am interested in you being in Voldemort's good books, if I am not sure that he trusts you.
- But you are sure.
- Exactly.
- I see. - surprisingly, Snape sounded convinced.
Draco couldn't *see* any sense in this explanation.
- Thank you, Severus.
Draco saw Snape take a step to the side to squint through the space between rickety door panels and noticed that they and Dumbledore were actually holding hands. "Snape overplays sometimes..." - thought Draco. "Ah, but of course!" - he mentally exclaimed seeing Dumbledore perform the Waterproof spell on both of them "It's the Spell Link". Dumbledore made a step to the door, but Snape blocked the passage, their faces now were inches from each other. Draco's jaw dropped again.
- Keep in mind, I've established the line with the ministry, just in case.
- I remember, you told me that only two hours ago.
"What? So, they knew all along? So, Snape told them! They don't even try to suck up to the Headmaster! Maybe it's because they are on their side to begin with?" those thoughts distracted Draco for a while and the next time he peered through the slit the porch was empty and the fight outside began.
Dumbledore was performing with a breathtaking technique, Snape was reflecting curses on the other end of the yard, several qualified students joined them and other teachers. Then, something strange caught Draco's eye: one of the students was shouting something like "Coward" and "Traitor" at Snape, who was repeatedly declining the challenge of one of the Death Eaters. Draco strained his eyes to see in the distance and recognized his father and Harry. Suddenly, Harry attempted to catch the Red Wire intended for Snape and duel with Malfoy himself. Snape cut Harry's spell, but this split second diversion was enough for Malfoy to strike against all rules of contest. Snape fell to the ground, their black robes becoming darker as they soaked in water and blood, the Waterproof spell being destroyed by the curse. "The spell put on several wizards, expire for all of them at the same time" - recalled Draco, he wiped his face and squinted at Dumbledore on the other end of the field. Indeed, the change in permeability was significant: the Headmaster cast an extensive shield charm and a white signal light. "They've warned the ministry!" - thought Draco. Several Death Eaters fled at once, some were intercepted by Enforcement Magicians. The field now was much more crowded, though on one Death Eater there was less than one EM. Dumbledore walked in Snape's direction, who was carried in the air towards the Castle by some teachers.