Bride of the HP Dragon

Chapter 6 Review

"What do you plan to do if you are free one day?" Snape asked.

Lucius' answer, without hesitation or pretentiousness, disturbed Snape.

"Take my son, like it or not, and run," said the former Death Eater.

"You're really going to put him in that situation?" Snape asked. "He has to cut himself off from everyone he's ever known, and keep running and hiding?" The flames died out, only a wisp of green smoke drifting, Lucius' figure began to fluctuate.

"I will," Lucius said, his voice echoing: "Without hesitation."

With a muffled bang from Mars, the Floo call was terminated.

The conversation had ended in soot and smoke, and Snape was, in fact, sleepless, sane, and, if he didn't want to admit it, shaken.

He walked to the desk and sat down. It was a good table, with claw-shaped legs, made of sandalwood, with a mother-of-pearl luster on the surface, and it had been used by his family for three generations.It was one of the few things he had in his life, on which he pinned his affections.

From the outside this desk has four sizable drawers with brass handles, two on each side.But when Snape pulled his wand from the center of the table and muttered a short spell, a fifth, much smaller drawer appeared.

The hidden space popped open to reveal a bundle of green velvet.Snape stared at the bundle for a moment before taking it out, his hands trembling a little, but he was a Potions Master and his professionalism left him no room for weakness.

He unfolded the cloth carefully, and wrapped in it was a shiny golden key.

Harry was fidgeting, all because Ron wasn't in Dumbledore's office, talking to his father using McGonagall's Floo.

Usually Ron was the one told to calm down, without him Harry would be the most excited person in the room, and he didn't like it.

He was too eager to sit quietly for a minute, and Professor McGonagall had twice warned him sharply not to "pace up and down".So he let Ginny pull him into the seat next to her, and didn't seem to notice that she was squeezing his hand so tightly that it nearly cut off the blood flow to her fingers.And Harry, having participated in Quidditch for seven years, was used to Hermione holding his hand like this.

She rolled her eyes as soon as the match started and pretended to be indifferent, but Hermione would shake hands vigorously when she was nervous.Ron once commented that she nearly yanked Ron's fingers off during Harry's first match of the Triwizard Tournament.

"It's all my fault." Ginny whispered, she had already told Dumbledore, McGonagall and Lupine all about meeting the fake Harry. The guilt of having helped kidnap Hermione was nothing compared to that.

"I can't believe you thought it was me," Harry muttered helplessly. "You kissed him!"

Ginny was half sobbing, half moaning, covering her face with her hands for the fifth time in ten minutes.

Dumbledore had already briefly told Professor McGonagall of his search for Gryffindor Tower: "Harry," he began, "if everyone mistook the Death Eaters for Alastor Moody all semester , I can guarantee that Miss Weasley's misidentification is also very possible, remembering that I have known Alastor for more than 40 years."

"Where is Alastor?" McGonagall asked.

"Investigating Miss Granger's room," Dumbledore said calmly, but it was the calm before the storm, and the storm and lightning were coming: "His team has secured all the exits. If Miss Granger is still in the castle, we will Hope to find her."

"Why kidnap her now?" Lupine wondered. "Why did the plan wait until the last day of the school year? There's no guarantee she'll stay at school, most of the students have already packed up and left."

Ginny's head looked up, her face was stiff and white as she looked at Harry: "Oh, Harry, we have to tell them!"

"Tell us what?" McGonagall yelled.

Yes, they have to speak out.If Dumbledore was looking for a clue or something out of the ordinary, it might be Draco and Hermione's marriage.

Harry nodded stiffly and ran his hands through his hair. He opened his mouth to speak, but the headmaster took a step ahead.

"Professor Snape seems more appropriate to tell us about Miss Granger's ... unique situation," Dumbledore explained. "In view of the events that have occurred, this situation must be stated with care."

Harry glared at him. "So you know they got married after the graduation party?"

Professor McGonagall obviously didn't know, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Who's married?"

"Yes, Harry, the Headmaster knows now," Lupine explained.

He patted McGonagall's hand sympathetically, and went on to explain how her favorite student had sneaked out with the notorious Hogwarts student and married that guy.Lupine quickly added, albeit in a drunken state, and went on to talk about marriage tattoos and irreversible spells.

McGonagall almost had a stroke after hearing this brief explanation.

Moody walked into Dumbledore's office, perhaps "walking in" was a soft word.He bursts in, flanked by Kingsley Shacklebolt and Astrid Hudgens, Donald Bly's Orlo girlfriend.

Lupine was surprised to find that she was back at work so soon after Bly and Tonks disappeared.

"Hi, Lupine," she said.

"Hello, Astrid," he replied, and they exchanged a sad look.

Dumbledore stood, and Harry realized that he hadn't noticed the headmaster's apparent uncanny calm until now.

"Alastor?" Dumbledore needed to confirm the worst situation. Everyone in the room felt a very slight fluctuation in the air, as if a static electricity was released, and the hair on the back of Harry's neck stood on end. .

Moody just paused to glance at a heartbroken Meg before he announced his findings.

"Well, we're sure the girl didn't go willingly."

As he spoke, he limped three steps to Dumbledore's desk and put Hermione's wand on it.

Dumbledore's face darkened, and they sincerely hoped that Hermione had only been delayed for some unspeakable reason, and not really taken away.

But the truth is on Dumbledore's table, and everyone who knows Hermione knows she carries her wand with her wherever she goes.

Lupine's face also sank: "Then she was taken away."

"Yes," Moody huffed, staring at the wand. "If the suspicion of Death Eater recruits at Hogwarts is to be believed, then this may be evidence. Albus, your student may have Found this son of a bitch, wherever she is, I swear I'll get my missing team back too."

"That's what Hermione did when the Chamber of Secrets opened." Ginny's voice was listless.

Because of Moody's inquiring gaze, Dumbledore told him at length that Hermione discovered the basilisk responsible for several attacks at Hogwarts in her second year, and that when she tried to tell others about her theory, she was caught off guard because of her cleverness. Use a hand mirror to look around corners without dying.

Moody sighed. "Unusual intelligence. Once we get her back, I'm going to talk to her about taking a position at Oro College."

Harry didn't think he knew Moody very well, so it was hard to tell if the remark was meant as a joke to lighten the mood in the room.If it is, it has no effect.

"What about the other missing students?" Lupine asked.

"Where's the girl named Parkinson?" Moody asked aloud. "I hear she knows something about Slytherin."

"Professor Snape is questioning her," Dumbledore told them, adding, in response to Moody's glare, "I insist."

Moody rubbed his chin: "Poor boy," he said without mercy, "I'll wait for my turn, Albus, four of you are missing here, three of them are in one of our It's on the list of pretending not to know."

"What list?"

"The list of students most likely to become Voldemort," Dumbledore told him, clearly unwilling to bring up the subject.

"This list is strongly advocated by the Minister for Magic."

"Brace Zabini is also on the list?" Harry couldn't hide his surprise. "Who decides which students are on the list?"

"The Hogwarts faculty," said Dumbledore, "and me."

Harry glared at him. "Then you must know something about Zabini that we don't, because he's as eager to join Voldemort as Hermione is."

Dumbledore looked at him levelly: "The choice is not taken lightly, Harry."

"What about Malfoy? Based on what we know of him, do you think he's still harboring evil intentions?" Lupine asked.

No one mentions Gower, and some facts are obvious and hurtful.

"Narrow it down, Albus," suggested Moody. "They're your students, think about it. Before the end of the week, I want my missing Oro back, by whatever means."

McGonagall looked bewildered. "You think one of them is a recruiter? A student, Alastor?"

"Tom Riddle was once a student too," Dumbledore reminded everyone.

Moody yelled, the only one who seemed unfazed by Dumbledore's quiet anger, staring at the Headmaster: "I'm going to speak to Parkinson now."

"I've asked Professor Snape to bring her here."

"If you find anything, please take me with you," Harry told Moody.

Moody snorted. "I'll take Oro, boy," he said, looking down at Harry. "You were still in your school uniform when I made my rounds last time."

Harry's eyes were green with rage, and he was too angry to notice that Moody's tone was more defiant than refusal: "I'm old enough to know this." These words were addressed to Dumbledore, who Then looked at Lupine: "I'm old enough to do these things. I'm not Sirius Black. I won't make the same mistakes. Hermione taught me more."

Lupine was clearly distressed, but the light in his hazel eyes was firm: "If you noticed I didn't veto your proposal right away." He replied in a warm voice, and McGonagall leaned forward and patted his hand .

Harry blushed, and whispered to Lupine, "Thank you."

"If you die, Harry, I will not forgive you."

"I'm not going to die." Harry vowed.

Moody mumbled, "Albus, your missing student is the clue we've been waiting for for a long time. We need to question the parents and learn about the backgrounds of Zabini and Goyle."

"What about Draco?" Ginny asked, a little puzzled why he was hardly mentioned.

"What's the matter with him?" Moody's magic eyes turned to where Ginny was sitting, and his cloudy blue and white eyes were uncomfortable. ’” Moody tilted his scarred head toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, “But the boy has villain blood, and he’s on the list.”

"Don't forget that the list is just an attempt at Ministry of Magic policy, Alastor," Dumbledore reminded in an almost hoarse voice.Harry was devastated by the fact that he realized how involved Arthur Weasley was in the day-to-day running of Hogwarts, almost cornering Dumbledore.

"The list will soon be proven correct." Moody also reminded.

Then Ron walked into the room, more depressed than Harry had seen him before.He paused, looked at the tension in the room, and cleared his throat.

"Daddy's on his way," he told the headmaster with great pressure. "They're sending for the Goyles and the Zabinis. We...then we've decided not to tell Hermione's parents."

"We have to say something to them!" McGonagall insisted: "The girl should have gone home tomorrow morning!"

Dumbledore walked back to the desk and sat down heavily: "Leave the matter of Granger's family to me, and we will wait for Severus and Miss Parkinson to come over. I hope the situation will help our investigation."

Snape stood in front of the fireplace, frowning slightly.His slender fingers clenched into a fist, and his right hand tightly grasped the golden key that had been hidden in his desk for three years.

The metal was already warmed by his body heat, almost scorched by his palms, and of course he was mentally exhausted.

This is part of magic, and powerful magic requires faith in its execution, trust in words, trust in effects.He clung to the dark object, delighted to be evoked with many untimely memories from his past life.

Sitting on the couch in the adjoining room, Pansy was tense at the moment, a hangover from the short-term wear-off of the veritaserum.Not long before he took her to Dumbledore's headmaster's office, Snape had obtained the information, albeit by coercion.

The girl's stubbornness stemmed from her commitment to Draco, and it was no surprise that the boy made Pansy so devoted.It's amazing how much she loves her troublesome godson.He was getting old, Snape thought, and hadn't noticed it earlier.

The floo's sparks popped, the flames rose, and Snape stared at the familiar old house-elf, who had never pronounced his name.

"Tolly bring Master Lucius here at once," the creature said quietly, before stumbling quickly out of sight.

Lucius appeared within minutes, dressed in immaculate robes the color of midnight tea.No matter what time it is, his ordinary attire is a certain improvement over the silk morning jacket of the past.

He ran into the fire, Snape could tell he was brightly colored, and he wasn't drinking, at least not this time.Lucius Malfoy's watery eyes were clear today, thank God.

And those eyes were very deep, when he caught Snape's expression.

"What's the matter? Is it Draco?" he asked immediately.

Snape didn't have to think about soft words, Lucius was always quick to take bad news.

"Your son rescued the soon-to-be Death Eater Gregory Goyle, and the recruiter's identity was confirmed."

"What did he do?" Lucius yelled, and the fire in the fireplace rose again.

A timid man might have been terrified in the face of Lucius' wrath, but Snape had seen worse.

Occasionally, he gets worse.

"You heard."

"Son of Goyle! I don't want to say it's not meant to be." Lucius closed his eyes: "Who is the recruiter."

"Son of Anton."

Lucius covered his mouth and panted, the scene was funny, if the situation wasn't so dire: "You're not joking!"

"That's what you think of me?" Snape was impatient.

"That boy adores Draco!"

"Yes, we know where the line between admiration and resentment lies." Snape smiled meanly: "Also, I suspect that Zabini has captured Hermione Granger."

He ignored Lucius' dramatic groans.

"In the end, we haven't decided yet, but the situation is clear..."

"Potter," Lucius concluded, taking a deep breath and lifting his chin: "But are you sure my idiot son is only there for Goyle? He doesn't know that girl was taken away?"

"If he doesn't know, then I doubt he will soon find out."

"You said 'we', what did Dumbledore do?"

When Snape allowed himself to make these "little lapses," as he called them, Snape sometimes thought about Lucius Malfoy's ability to be utterly ruthless in most emergencies.He reflected on this and regretted it. This characteristic may also be the reason why Voldemort once loved old Malfoy.

"He called Moody very presciently. As soon as I told them what to look for, they would start planning. Parkinson escaped Zabini's clutches with difficulty. Your stupid son may not have such luck. "

"Unless he's caught," Lucius added, the look on his face a mix of paternal pride and pent-up fear, Snape thought terribly out of place.

However, Lucius is out of date.

Snape rolled his eyes, he was already half-involved: "He might take his chance and get out of Goyle, if what you're talking about hasn't happened yet."

As Lucius moved closer, there must have been an open window in the manor's living room, because his long, loose hair was blown to his shoulders.Long strands of platinum-blonde hair floated out of Snape's fireplace as well.If he takes a step forward, he can touch it.

"Severus, you must find Draco."

"There may be a way to rescue Miss Granger, Goyle, and your son without the ongoing...consequences. I doubt the Dark Lord is aware of Zabini's recent movements. I have a suggestion, Lucius, But this will unfortunately prevent me from joining the quest to find Draco."

Snape had Lucius' full attention: "What advice is worth doing?" He asked with obvious desperation: "You can't give up the search! Nobody but you can do it!"

In reply, Snape threw the key into the fire.

Lucius caught it in mid-air, wincing from the heat of the metal.He stared at the finely crafted golden key for a moment, then looked up at Snape in surprise.

"I give you your freedom, Lucius. Then you will have to fight for it yourself."

"Draco." Someone was touching his brow pleasantly, like a kiss, no, a gentle touch, like a cool hand on his hot skin.That's the feeling, and an extremely familiar scent that made his stomach twitch from childhood memories.

"Sweetheart, wake up." The voice urged him, no longer reassuring, and it was clearly not coming from a dream, which was why Draco decided to answer.

Draco looked at his mother, thinking it was only natural for her to be here at this special moment.He had a lot to say, and he felt he should apologize first.

"Apologize for what?" Narcissa smiled, and Draco noticed that she seemed to be wearing a white ruffled skirt, and he wanted to snort and tell her that this outfit was tacky.

But then he realizes his eyes are still closed, weird, not scared, just weird.

"Because I couldn't save you," Draco replied. "Mother, who did it? Who killed you? Tell me," he pleaded.

"What would you do if I told you my name?" she asked Draco softly.

"Kill them."

She shook her head, and Draco realized that her beautiful blonde hair defied gravity too, floating around her as if underwater.

"Not for me, sweetheart, but for yourself, and you have to live with that belief. You're not your father, Draco. He'd do all those horrible things without guilt, but you do No, I'm afraid it's the influence of my family." She sighed: "Look at my sister Andromedo, and Sirius Black, we have a tendency to grow up to be strange wizards with moral codes, regardless of this How belated or inconvenient growing up is."

Draco had never heard his mother say this, this was Narcissa, but a Narcissa he didn't know.There was no resentment or alienation, and all he could feel was her love for him.Sensing that it was entirely true, Draco decided to take her word for it.

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"I have the benefit of..." She seemed to be searching for words: "I have gained a higher level of insight in the appeal process, so I speak out." Her smile is mischievous.

"They put you in heaven?" Draco asked, imagining how wide his eyes were.

She laughed and he laughed too, not wanting to sound suspicious.

"I should tell you that I'm not really here, it's in your head, and I dare say you've had a hard time in the head this week," she reprimanded Draco: "We don't have a lot of time, so you have to be careful." Listen to what I have to say."

"Um?".

As if to make sure he was really paying attention, she continued, "When the time comes, look for the light and move on. If you do, you'll be safe. Find that thing, and you'll be fine. If everything else you Can't remember, but remember this"

Oh my God, he's dying.

Since she was a figment in his head, there was no need for him to actually say it.Narcissa rolled her eyes, and the white robe floated up, as if her body also expanded, writhing with anger.

"Draco, I didn't say anything about death! Honestly, you're overreacting like your father. Heed my words and you'll be fine."

"Okay, white light, I see."

A chill swept over his whole body, ever since he knew that Hermione had been cast with the Imperius Curse, he had been burying his fear and understanding in his subconscious.Now that he was talking to his subconscious mind, he figured it would be a good idea to ask it about things he wasn't aware of that were bothering him.

"Mother?"

"Yes, hurry up, Draco."

"Given your vantage point from above, so... what happened to Hermione?" Draco asked. "Why can't I feel her? I've always felt her..." He saw himself touching Rubbing his chest, touching where his heart was, he felt a phantom pain.

His mother didn't smile this time, but the obnoxiously gentle expression was still on her face, which Draco didn't like and wondered why Hermione didn't respond to him.

"You still have time, remember what I told you, I'm sorry I couldn't make it clearer." She turned her head, as if hearing a voice that Draco couldn't, and left with a small smile.

Draco woke up.