Unforgivable Promises

Unforgivable Promises

Chapter 25

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Harry fumbled for his wand as flames licked at the thick wooden beam supporting the small patch of roof above them. Professor McGonagall found hers first and deftly quelled the flames. Within seconds, a second fire started, this one spreading up from the doorway they had entered from.

"Death Eaters," Karkaroff said with little emotion.

Still queasy from freeing both Karkaroff and Severus from Voldemort's attack, Harry forced himself to focus on the task at hand. He pulled his wand out and helped McGonagall beat back the flames.

"We need to get out of here. Can you make a portkey, Professor?"

"Watch for fires," she responded, picking up a loose stone. "Portus." Harry grabbed Severus and Karkaroff's hands and nodded to the woman. She placed her arm on Harry's arm. Nothing happened. "It should have activated. This place must be warded."

"It was not when we arrived," Karkaroff growled.

"Then we fight," Harry said simply. "But we'll never survive in here trying to put out fires."

"Can you two walk?" McGonagall asked the former Death Eaters.

"I can if I have to," Severus replied. "But I am in no condition to outrun anyone. Harry can levitate Karkaroff while you protect them, Minerva. The wards surely do not extend more than a few hundred feet."

"And leave you here?" Harry asked. "You know that's not an option. I'll go out and fight. My cloak gives me an edge. Professor McGonagall can stay and make sure they don't burn the cabin down around you." Harry went to sweep the cloak about his shoulders when his professor stopped him.

"I cannot allow that, Harry," she said. "You will stay here. I will try to lead them away."

"I'm best when I'm attacking," Harry argued. "And they'll never follow you anyway. Not if they think they have two traitors in here. I'm the only target they'll like better than those two." He looked to Severus, hoping the man would see that his plan was the only that could work.

"As much as I hate to say it, Potter is right. Unless the Dark Lord's inner circle is out there, he can handle it. And his training has not focused on guarding others."

Not giving her a chance to argue, Harry stepped from McGonagall's grasp and donned his cloak. "If I can lead them away, I'll activate my bracelet. If any of them get inside, Severus can use his ring."

Outside, nothing stirred in the small clearing surrounding the cabin. Harry picked his course carefully, trying not to disturb any of the tall grass that grew in patches. When a ball of fire flew from a nearby try to strike the building, he trusted to the others to handle the fire and instead focused on the source of the spell.

There, Harry thought, spotting the flutter of robes beneath a fir's limbs. But how many? Silently, Harry circled his prey, wary of other wizards hiding in the forest. As he neared, he spotted a second person crouched next to the first. Both faced the cabin, and the fir tree's branches protected them from behind. He crept closer, unnerved by their gaze directed through him to their captured enemies. As he neared, he was forced to put his entire body between them and the cabin. Branches and leaves guarded the path, and a step to either side would alert them to his presence. Another fireball spell cast now would catch him square in the chest.

Wishing he knew if these two were the only wizards about, Harry decided that a spell would be too dangerous, as he could not cast without exposing his wand hand at least. He opted, instead, for a more Slytherin tactic. Stopping several feet in front of the pair, Harry ran his fingers along his potions belt, seeking a large bottle and its attached vial. Pulling it free, he uncorked the vial and drank its contents. Bitter, nearly noxious, the fluid made him gag. He wasted no time removing the large lid from the other bottle. The liquid inside evaporated immediately as Harry felt the reassuring tug of the wind at his back. He smelled nothing, nor did he expect to, but within seconds the two wizards in front of him slumped to the ground. Harry knew the gaseous potion would keep the pair unconscious for well over an hour.

Across the clearing, sudden rustling alerted Harry to more attackers. They must have seen their friends falling. Upwind from Harry, they were safe from that particular ploy, and Harry knew they would be more alert now.

Apparently, they had decided to take the fight to the cabin itself. Three cloaked figures broke into the clearing and began hurling fire spells at the structure. Again Harry hoped McGonagall, Severus and Karkaroff could handle the flames as he darted around the building to find a better place to attack from. He nearly ran into another group coming out of the woods on the other side of the cabin. Three enemies had become six, and Harry could not face one set without turning his back on another.

Another potion bottle in hand, Harry watched the Death Eaters cautiously approach the cabin. The fires were still under control, but Harry knew that the three inside would not be able to keep up with the six out here. Rather than risk fighting enemies on two fronts, Harry positioned himself to take out the three closest to him in one maneuver.

The sleeping potion bottle shattered on the front man's head as Harry cast Expelliarmus at one in the back. The force of the spell blasted the man directly into the third, just as Harry had planned. With one enemy snoring soundly, Harry tossed another potion into the fray before the two others could sort themselves out. It shattered on top of them, splashing them both with a viscous grey liquid. Once in contact with the air, the potion took on a life of its own, spreading out over the two men and covering them with its thick gel. Impossibly sticky, it pinned them to the ground and held their wands and arms fast.

Harry spent no time watching the potion work, however, as his actions had gotten the attention of the other group. "Enough of this," one of them shouted in a voice Harry did not recognize. "I'm going in. One of them is invisible. Find him."

The other two started throwing spells wildly in Harry's direction. He dodged a few, but most went nowhere near him. Ducking behind a rock to mask his exposed wand, Harry threw a blasting curse at one of the men. His target dodged and pointed in Harry's direction. He was pinned down, but the rock would protect him for now. A new vantage point was out of the question now anyway. Spells streaked at him too quickly for him to try to run, invisible or not. Knowing they were far enough away to dodge any curses, Harry searched for a new plan.

Directly behind the men, a fallen tree, split just above the ground by lightening, lay at an angle. Risking a moment to stand up, Harry's wand flashed out of his cloak as he called, "Accio tree!"

The great trunk hurtled toward him as if tugged by a giant string. The men in front of Harry were stuck in mid-turn, and Harry had a moment to panic when he realized that the spell had worked all too well. The mighty tree was indeed coming to him, and at far too great a speed to be safe. Dropping to the ground behind the rock, Harry curled into a ball and hoped for the best.

If being sliced by bits of wood as it shattered on the stone was the best, then Harry got what he had hoped for. Alive, but scraped and bloody, Harry peered over the trunk, wary of the final wizard. Nothing stirred. Harry settled his cloak again about him and crept up to the cabin window.

Inside, McGonagall's wand was pointed at the door. At her feet, the last attacker was spread, dead or unconscious. Harry did not know which and found he did not particularly care. These men had come to kill Severus, and no fate was too terrible for them.

"I think that's all of them," Harry called softly into the doorway before going inside and removing his cloak. "There were eight total. Three are asleep, two are stuck together with Oozing Glue, and two are either knocked out or dead. Plus whatever's wrong with that one." Harry pointed to the heap in the center of the room.

"Dead, probably," McGonagall said. "We three hit him at the same time. He may have survived one or two of us, but I doubt he can manage three blasting curses at once."

"You need help," Severus said to Harry, his eyes taking in his bloodied face and hands.

"Just scrapes. I sort of blew up a tree. I've felt worse." Severus did not look satisfied but kept his opinion to himself for now.

"Let us hurry, then," Professor McGonagall said. "More may come."

Severus and Karkaroff stood shakily and assured the other two that they could walk. Harry took the lead, invisible, and watched for trouble while McGonagall guarded their backs. Nothing stirred, though, and when McGonagall guessed they had gone far enough to avoid the wards, the four Portkeyed safely back to Hogwarts.

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Severus leaned on Harry for support, his legs still unsteady and aching from the phantom pain the Dark Lord had sent. As soon as the burning of the Mark grew beyond a normal summoning, he had activated his ring and assured Karkaroff that help was coming. As he slumped against the wall, unable to stand upright through the pain and vertigo, he wondered how far Harry had been from Albus when he got the signal. Just before he lost consciousness, he knew Harry was coming. He wondered, though, if the young man would be too late.

Granger and Weasley were waiting for them in Albus's office, and Severus forced himself to stand without help. The pair rushed over to Harry, anxiety written on both their faces. "Perhaps you two should escort Mr. Potter to the infirmary. His wounds are not severe, but shards of rotting wood lodged in the skin are not to be trifled with."

"What happened, Harry?" Weasley asked as Granger took Harry's arm. Harry turned and gave him a suspicious look. He knew the young wizard would want to know about Karkaroff's defection, but what the man had to say could not wait, nor could Harry's injuries. Severus could tell Harry was about to say something and cut it off with a look he had given countless times before. With a raise of his eyebrow, he let Harry know that not only did he already know what Harry was going to say, he had already lost the argument. Looking annoyed, Harry let Granger lead him out of the room.

"Do either of you need healing?" Albus asked them. Albus was no mean healer, and Severus had received his help on many occasions after suffering injuries he could not explain to Poppy. Both men indicated they were fine and Severus took a seat, letting Karkaroff tell his story.

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Hours later, Severus finally strode past Salazar's bust and into his rooms. Hanging his cloak on the rack and noting that the archway was closed, he turned and said, "I am alone. You can come out of hiding." It was a safe bet that Harry was waiting. And if not, the empty room would not care that he was talking to himself.

A rustle near the couch revealed Harry. Severus's long stride took him quickly to the young man. He held Harry's face in his hand and tilted it toward the light of the fireplace. Running his thumb over Harry's smooth cheek, he said, "What in the world prompted you to blow up a tree?"

"It said some nasty things about Gryffindors. Be careful or you'll be next."

"I am always careful around you. The flailing manner with which you wave your wand about is likely to result in a lost eye."

Harry smiled at him and wrapped his soft fingers around Severus's rough hand. "You're feeling better, then?"

"Death was imminent," Severus said dramatically. "But the Dark Lord's presence is replaced with yours. Now I merely face impending aggravation."

"Flatterer." Harry stepped closer and embraced him. He was never much for physical contact. It generally made him uncomfortable, and he had cultivated a presence and a reputation to discourage others from touching him. Harry, of course, could not seem to spend more than a few seconds in his rooms without hugging him, or leaning against him on the couch. When Severus had asked him if he had to nearly sit on top of him, Harry had simply said no, he did not have to–he wanted to.

When asked why he wanted to, the young man had smiled and answered, "Because I can. And you know how I take my tea." Severus chose not to argue. He understood both answers, after all. Besides, he did not mind the contact so much with Harry.

"So, are you going to tell me about Karkaroff?"

"There is little to tell thus far. I spent most of the day making sure he was trustworthy. Albus is questioning him now about the Dark Lord's current plans."

"It took that long? What about Legilemency and Veritaserum?"

"A wizard of his power can withstand both for a very long time and not appear to be fighting either effects. Albus is satisfied, though. And judging by your reaction earlier, he was not feigning pain when the Dark Lord attacked me."

"No, I can vouch that he was being attacked too. It wasn't as bad as yours when I got to him, but that's probably partly because I knew what to expect, and partly because I'd already turned your pain back on the Dark Lord."

"With impeccable timing, I might add," Severus added, feeling he should in some way acknowledge that Harry had again saved his life.

"I'm sorry I took so long getting to you. First I had to get to the Headmaster's office, then-"

Severus silenced him with a brief kiss. "You came," he said, gazing into Harry's eyes. "Which is more than I deserve."

Harry hooked an arm around his neck and rested his head on Severus's shoulder. "I was so scared I'd be too late."

So was I, Severus thought. But such things were not to be said out loud. He had thought many things as he lay on the ground waiting for Harry, as the pain grew and death loomed closer than it ever had before. The thoughts had all been about Harry. Not long ago, Severus would have only had the memories of his sins to torment him even through the Mark's pain.

The young man pulled away and smiled at him. "Tea?"

Severus smiled and nodded. He settled into the couch and watched Harry move about the kitchen. He had promised himself, as rescue became less and less likely, that he would tell Harry how much he had come to mean to him. Now, in the safety of Hogwarts, with the pain just a memory, it seemed melodramatic. Such declarations were meant for silly novels, not reality, and he had scorned such scenes when he read them. Plus, it would appear less sincere coming after Harry had saved his life. Anyway, Harry was content simply to spend time together. He had said as such before.

Harry returned shortly with the tea. Severus pushed away his sentimentality, banishing it as a reaction to his fatigue.

"Oh," Harry said, sitting next to him uneasily. "I know you asked me not to, but I told Ron and Hermione about us. Ron already knew I had a thing for you. I'm not much of an actor, I guess. He could tell how worried I was yesterday. I'm sorry for not asking you first. And I told Hermione last night while you were with the Headmaster."

He should have been angry, but the news was not entirely unexpected. One did not let Harry Potter into one's life without getting the rest of the group. "You mean you are not much of a liar, not an actor. I do not expect you lie to your two best friends regularly, and I will not be the reason you begin to."

"It's okay, then?"

"It will have to be."

"They won't say anything; you don't have to worry. We may not lie to each other, but we'll lie for each other." Harry grinned.

"As long as they do not believe that revealing this is in your best interest," Severus added. How long until Harry's friends decided he would be better off without a traitorous Death Eater far too old for him?

Harry looked unworried. "You'll just have to keep being exactly what I need, then."

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The following morning, Harry watched Severus sweep into the Great Hall for breakfast to a quiet grumbling from the student body. An entire day of canceled Potions classes had led to any number of rumors. Everyone knew he never missed a lecture, and the theories on his absence had ranged from a horrible brewing accident to open rebellion against the Headmaster. Harry simply kept quiet. His house-mates knew he and Severus were getting along better, but it would still appear odd to them if he stood up for the man. Not that Harry minded the rumors much. He shrugged them all off, even the nastiest, as little more than foolish chatter. Severus was safe, and nothing else mattered.

Hermione arrived late to the meal, her nose, as usual, buried in a book. The girl spent almost all her time lately trying to track down the last few spells Harry had seen used during the Marking. She had not been doing research last night, though, when Harry had told her about his budding relationship with Severus. Her reaction had proved that while she was certainly better in class than Ron, she was not nearly as observant when it came to her fellow students' emotions. For her part, she simply warned Harry to be careful, as Severus was much older than he. Harry had expected more objections, and he suspected by her tone that Hermione had wanted to say more, but she held back. Whether that was because Harry had just returned from battling Death Eaters or for another reason was unclear. Either way, though, Harry knew he had her support and loyalty.

"Another book of obscure spells, Hermione," Harry asked her as she sat.

"Hmm?" She looked up confused. "Oh, no. Ancient Runes. I didn't get a chance to reread this chapter last night, so I'm doing it now."

"Reread?" Ron asked, looking as if he was in physical pain. "Half the time I don't read the chapter at all."

"Yes, you read them half the time, and I read them twice. That's why I do four times as well as you. It's basic math."

Ron looked like he was trying to figure out if Hermione's arithmetic was right. Harry simply assumed it was to save time. As she turned the page, he caught a glimpse of a series of runes on the page.

"What runes are those?" Harry asked her. "They look familiar."

"Auxiliary runes," Hermione explained. "You've probably seen them before."

"What are they used for?"

"Containing energy. They're common to almost all runic magic."

"So where would I have seen them?" Harry knew he had seem the runes before. They were dancing at the edge of his memory.

"Anywhere," Hermione said to Harry's frustration. "They trap energy and provide power for connecting runes. Asking where you could have seen them is like picking up a battery and trying to remember what you saw a battery in before. Or asking what potions need a cauldron for brewing. Gringotts uses runic magic for protection. They were probably on the vault you went to with Hagrid before first year. I think there were some over the door at Sirius's house. And they're all over Hogwarts, but much more stylized."

"Hogwarts?" Ron asked. "Where?"

"Everywhere," Hermione answered. "They're just really, really fancy and look like decorations. Like the writing in old illuminated manuscripts. Half letters and half art. Most of the school's wards are runic. They're best for permanent spells."

"I guess it's not important, then," Harry said. "Never knew I was looking at runes all this time. I suppose a few stuck in my head."

Still, the familiarity tugged at him through breakfast. He finally pushed it out of his mind, refusing to dwell on it. He expected that once he forgot about the runes he would remember where he had seen them.

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By lunch, Harry had lost the nagging feeling, though enlightenment did not come. In the afternoon, Severus had Harry, Ron and Hermione stay back after Potions to tell them that several members of the Order would be in the Headmaster's office that evening going over what Karkaroff had told Dumbledore, and to let Harry know that Karkaroff had been given a ring to match his and Nott's. They were all anxious to know what the man knew, but as Severus was still in the dark about most of it, they would have to wait. He said nothing to the them about their now-shared secret, and Ron and Hermione certainly were not going to bring up the subject.

So, Harry followed his friends to the library and resigned himself to a Severus-free evening of homework. Luna and Neville were already there. Harry was happy to notice they had been spending a lot of time together since Neville had come to her rescue that morning a few weeks ago. They certainly made an interesting pair. Luna was almost as smart as Hermione, and Neville's confidence in himself had only been improving since the summer.

It was not long before Nott approached and asked them if they were working on Potions. As it happened, they were not, but Harry invited the boy to sit with them anyway.

"How is it in the dungeon," Harry asked. While the boy had not exactly opened up to them, he was a bit more willing to talk about things more personal than homework.

"As well as I can expect, I suppose. Half of Slytherin hates me for escaping the Dark Lord, and the other half are afraid I didn't escape at all."

"But Professor Snape looks out for you, doesn't he?" Luna asked.

"Lot of good that did me," Nott replied bitterly. Harry held his tongue.

"Hey Hermione," Ron said, changing the subject, "any progress on the spells?"

"No," Hermione answered, clearly upset. "We're pretty sure we know what the last two are." As far as Nott knew, they had gotten their information about the Mark from Snape, not Harry. "But there's still something missing. Professor Flitwick keeps saying that some kind of potion could bind the spells together into a single spell, but he's not about to suggest that Professor Snape didn't know about a potion. Anyway, Snape's expertise or not, he's said that Markings have been done after Voldemort had spent hours or even a full day with Death Eaters present. Whatever goes on during the Marking itself, there doesn't seem to be any kind of preparation beforehand. So it's all in our notes somewhere."

Harry resisted the temptation to rifle through those notes now. They were not supposed to let anyone see them, and were only to be looked at in the room set aside for the group doing the research. Not that the notes were that useful to Harry anyway. He did not have Hermione's mind for research. And most of the information they were going on still had Harry waking up shaking as he relived Nott and the rests' ceremony.

Suddenly, Harry jumped from the table. His friends looked up in surprise and several students from other houses glanced at him curiously.

"Nott, can you come with me a moment? You too, Hermione. Everyone else wait here." Nott looked suspicious, but agreed. "Bring your books," Harry added to Hermione, then led them to the corner of the library that held the tapestry of St. George.

"I realize this is going to be uncomfortable, but I need to see the Dark Mark," Harry said. Nott's face grew stony and Harry held a hand up. "I don't want to embarrass you, but it's important. Please. I'd ask Professor Snape, but he's not here." Nott clenched his jaw and looked over at Hermione. "I need her to see it too. I think I know what she's been missing. What we've all been missing."

As if took a physical effort, Nott pushed back his sleeve and exposed his forearm. Harry grabbed a piece of paper and beckoned the other two to the table. Looking between the Mark and his paper, Harry drew a swirling figure. "Hermione, tell me if this starts looking like one of those runes you've studied."

"It already does," she replied. Pulling out her book, she turned to one of the earlier chapters. "It's a foundation rune. That goes first and causes the rest to act together. My God, Harry. You're right. If the Mark is runic, that's the missing piece. Runes are best at binding and controlling magical energy."

"We need to talk to Dumbledore," Harry said. "Thank you, Nott."

"If you can get this off me, you never have to thank me for anything."

"That's the plan," Harry responded. "Hermione, tell everyone what we figured out. I'm going to the Headmaster. He'll never let us all up while the Order is there, so I'll come back as soon as I can."

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The gargoyle moved aside and Harry rushed up the stairs, unable to wait for them to rise on their own and carry him to the office. At the top, he had just enough manners to knock before pushing the door wide. Dumbledore sat at his desk, as usual. Tonks, Karkaroff and McGonagall sat across from him, and several other Order members stood along the wall. Harry spotted Severus in a dark corner and could not help but beam at the man.

"I found the missing piece," he said before anyone had a chance to object to his intrusion. "It's not a spell or a potion, it's the Mark. It's runic. Binding and controlling, right?"

"Are you sure, Mister Potter?" Flitwick squeaked, grasping Harry's incoherent statements immediately. "It makes sense, but can you identify which runes?"

"Not all, but it starts with this one." Harry moved to Dumbledore's desk and laid the parchment down. "At first-"

"I think," Severus interrupted and grabbed the paper from the desk, "that this conversation should be had in more private company."

"Don't we usually say that to get you out of the room?" Tonks asked lightly. Severus gazed at her coolly until she started to squirm a bit.

"Information has never been shared freely within the Order. We all know the reasons for that. None of us would keep our secrets for very long under the Dark Lord's questioning. Albus, may I speak with Potter in the other room while you continue in here?"

"Of course Severus. Perhaps Minerva and Filius should join you. They have been taking an active role in all of this after all." Severus nodded and the four left the room.

"That was foolish," Severus said to Harry once the door was closed. "The fewer who know you can see through the Dark Lord's eyes the better. Karkaroff still does not know exactly how you saved him, only that it was you who did it."

"I'm sorry, sir. You're right. I'm just excited. I think we can finally solve this thing."

With the other two professors behind him, Severus gave Harry a soft, though brief, smile, before handing him the parchment back. "Explain."

"It was dumb luck that I recognized a rune from one of Hermione's textbooks. But dumb luck's what I'm best at." Harry added that before Severus could get it in. "When the Dark Lord created the Mark, he pressed the tip of his wand against their skin and the Mark kind of spread out from it. This," Harry pointed to the paper, "was formed in the first second or so. Hermione said it's a foundation rune. After that, more lined started to grow out of it. I bet more runes are formed as it goes, until it eventually lookes like the skull and snake."

"What did it form after that?" Flitwick asked, excited.

"I don't really remember," Harry admitted. "I was paying more attention to what he was saying. And it was kind of horrible to watch. It's not like drawing. The skin's burning. I could smell it." Harry shook his head. "Anyway, I don't really remember. I only remember this much because it's still pretty simple. I think there was another, an Auxiliary rune, Hermione called it. For containing energy."

"Yes, yes, that certainly makes sense," Flitwick said. "I can't believe I didn't see it before."

"I agree," McGonagall said. "Excellent work Mr. Potter. Fifty points."

"Where on the Mark did you see the Auxiliary rune," Severus asked. "The sooner we can break this down, the sooner we will have answers." Without hesitating, he exposed his arm and presented the Mark to Harry.

Harry went to point out the figure with his finger, but quickly realized that not only would the contact put him in Severus's mind, it would likely scandalize McGonagall to see him tracing patterns along Severus's skin. He went for his wand, but decided that bringing that into contact with the Mark may have its own unexpected reaction. Finally, Severus reached into his robe and pulled out a glass stirring rod. Harry caught his eye, amused, and accepted it.

"I am a Potions Master," Severus pointed out to the unspoken question.

"And wandering around with a stirring rod in your pocket proves it," Harry whispered back. "Would I lose points if I called you a Potions nerd?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then. I won't do that." McGonagall and Flitwick huddled close and Harry gave up the banter and concentrated on finding the rune hidden in the complex form of the Mark.

"That's two. How do we sort out the rest?" Flitwick asked.

"We would need to know the exact order in which the lines were made," McGonagall said. "If I stare at that Mark long enough, I am quite certain I will find nearly any rune. Severus, I don't suppose . . ."

"I only remember the pain. And if you ask Karkaroff or Mister Nott, I am certain they will say the same. That is as the Dark Lord wishes it."

"Then we need to find out when he's going to do another Marking," Harry said simply, hoping his voice sounded calmer than he felt. "And I should probably start studying likely runes so I'll know what I'm looking at."

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