The Weight of the World

Chapter 14 - Dissendium!

The next couple of days were rather uneventful. Harry and Hermione spent a lot of time in the library, but mostly at separate tables. Harry wasn't avoiding her, but he was spending most of his time going through restricted books reading information about Slytherin and Gryffindor, and it was just something he wanted to keep to himself. She would come over and check on him from time to time and look down at the books he was reading and make horrible faces at some of them because of the noises they made, or what was on them. Old books were very unpredictable, and the ones that were in the restricted section weren't just there because they contained information about dark magic. Some of them would cover your hands with blood when you opened them. Some of them would catch fire, and try to burn your hands or get cold and try to freeze them. But Harry felt as though the information he was looking for had to be in one of them.

One late afternoon towards the end of the week, the four of them were in the library. Hermione and Meagan were going over OWL studies, Harry was inside of the restricted section cage, and Ron was going over Quidditch books. Dumbledore walked in and asked Ron and the others if they knew where Harry was.

"I'm in here Professor," Harry said peeking out from behind some of the stacks.

"Harry, might I have a quick word with you outside?" he asked.

"Yes Professor."

Harry walked outside the door of the library with Dumbledore. Ron and Hermione gave each other a worried look, but didn't say anything. They just watched as Harry followed the Headmaster outside.

"Harry, we have found out more information regarding the plan discussed in your dream. Once again I won't worry you with details, but I want you and the others in the common room before dark tonight and I want you to stay there, and under no circumstances are you, or any of the other three to leave. I'll have Dobby bring you all some dinner and I'll send word when it is safe. I must insist again that under no circumstances are you to leave,” He said firmly.

"Yes sir. I'll tell the others. Professor Dumbledore sir?" Harry asked.

"Yes Harry?"

"If I am putting the others in danger, maybe it's best if they don't stay here sir,” Harry said softly.

"Harry, we are all in danger with Voldemort back. It doesn't really matter where we are. I'll send word tonight."

"Yes sir," Harry said.

When he walked back into the library, everyone was staring at him.

"What did he say Harry?" Ron finally asked.

"He said that something is going to happen tonight. We are supposed to head to the common room before dark and we aren't allowed to leave until he comes for us."

"What's going to happen, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know Hermione. But it has something to do with the dream I had,” Harry said as he walked back to the stacks he had left when Dumbledore came in.

They didn't talk much after Harry's meeting with Dumbledore. Hermione went to help Harry gather some of the books he wanted to take back to the common room with him. She kept looking at him as though she was giving him the chance to talk to her privately. After they all had a decent reading supply they went back to the common room. The first thing Harry did after he sat the books down that he brought from the library was go to the foe-glass. He spun it around and pulled out his wand to find that it had already been repaired. He was about to turn around to ask Hermione if she had done it, but he couldn't help but notice how large the shadowy figure had become now. He didn't seem very far off at all this time. In fact, Harry found himself squinting to try to make out any features of the person's face.

"I fixed it this morning Harry," Hermione whispered from behind him.

"He's getting close," Harry said without turning around.

"Don't worry Harry. Dumbledore will take care of it," She said reassuringly.

The clock seemed to slow down to an unbearable pace that night. The four of them all sat in the common room and none of them really talked much at all. They each had their individual books. Harry had "Great Wizards of the Last 3000 Years," Ron had "Polly McMillan's guide for the Quidditch Keeper," Hermione had "The Official OWL Study Guide," and Meagan had "Hogwarts, A History." But each of them didn't seem to really be reading their books.

"I can't stand this!" Hermione yelled loudly as she shut her book with a pop. "What's going on out there?"

"Hermione, calm down, there probably isn't anything going on out there yet. They just want us out of the way so they can search the castle or something," Harry said calmly.

"So they think Voldemort is sending someone here tonight to kill you?" Ron asked.

"That's crazy! Why would Voldemort want to kill Harry straight away? You would think he would want to kill Fudge, or Moody, or even Dumbledore first so he would have an easier time at it. I just don't understand why they think he is coming straight after you," Hermione said looking at Harry as thought she was waiting for him to say something.

Harry knew why. But he didn't have it in him to explain it to them. Not right now anyway. He wasn't sure about anything that was going on outside the portrait of the Fat Lady and it was silently driving him crazy as well.
Snape was alone in Dumbledore's office. He was having a large glass of brandy, which was very unusual because he hardly touched the stuff. He favored his own concoctions.

He was good at making them too, but tonight was different. In a few minutes he was about to execute a plan, and a very complicated plan at that. This plan was coordinated by both sides, and there was possible potential for disaster. There always was with plans like these, but that was part of the risk of being a spy. He looked at the clock on the wall and saw that the sun had set almost two hours ago. In just two more hours, Dumbledore's plan would go into action, and he would be leading a Death Eater into the castle.
Ron and Meagan had decided to play chess despite Ron's excuses that he was still in the middle of his book and wanted to finish it.

"You told me you've read that book three times Ron," Harry said smiling.

Ron looked at him for a second then said, "Well I have, but there's this one move I still don't understand, so I try to review it from time to time."

"You're just stalling," Meagan said laughing. "You don't want me to beat you again, that's all," she said.

"Fine, I won't take it easy on you anymore if you're going to talk like that," Ron said sliding into the chair across from the chess board. "Did I ever tell you how I beat Professor McGonagall's enchanted chess board in our first year?" he said as he moved a pawn.

"That makes about five times I've heard you tell her myself Ron," Hermione said.

After just a few minutes, Hermione saw how caught up in the chess game that Ron and Meagan were. She glanced over at Harry and saw that he was looking at her. She gave a quick glance over her shoulder that told him she wanted him to meet her upstairs. She then got up and walked up towards her dorm room. Harry waited a few minutes then walked up there to join her.

She was waiting just outside the entrance to her dorm room when Harry saw her and walked up to her.

"Harry, there's something going on tonight that you aren't telling me," she whispered.

"Hermione, I don't have any clue what's going on I swear," he said.

"Tonight when I said that it was foolish for Voldemort to come looking for you, you looked at me funny, like you knew something," she said staring at him.

"Hermione I'm telling you I don't know what's going on," he said again.

"Harry, I've known you for too long. You're a horrible liar. You told me the other night that there was something going on. Something you said you wanted to tell me, but you said you'd have to wait. This has something to do with what's going on tonight doesn'tit,” She said just above a whisper.

Harry looked at her, then down at the ground. He knew he was a bad liar, and he also knew that she was right when she said that she could tell. Hermione could sense that he was deciding whether or not he could tell her.

"Come in here so we can talk," she said pulling him into her dorm room.

She had a hold of his hand and she led him to her bed and they both sat down on it. He just looked at her and didn't say anything.

"Harry, I've been noticing some things about the books you've been reading," she said.

"What do you mean?" he said.

"Well I know you said you wanted to find out more about Godric Gryffindor, but I've noticed that some of the books you have been looking at have nothing to do with him. I saw one advanced defense against the dark arts books you had and you were reading more about Salazar Slytherin than anyone else. What's going on?" she asked.

Harry looked at her a second with surprise in his eyes. He should have known better than trying to be discreet about books with Hermione. Harry joked to himself many times that he figured by the end of their seventh year she would have probably read every book in the library. But he didn't think he was ready to tell her about everything he knew. He also didn't have time to prepare himself to answer her in a manner in which he knew she would not feel left out.

"Hermione, I told you the other night, I don't know enough about it myself to be able to tell you the details. Dumbledore said that when things quieted down a bit, he would help explain them to me,” Harry said.

"Harry, it's okay. I understand that you don't want to tell me," she said slowly looking down at the floor.

"Hermione, I don't know what to tell you! That's the problem. I honestly don't know what to tell you," he said.

"Okay Harry. That's all I wanted to ask you," she said quickly.

"Hermione, please don't be angry with me."

"I'm not Harry. You know me, I just hate not knowing things, and I feel like if you tell me what you're looking for I can help you find it," she said.

"That's the problem Hermione, I don't know what I'm looking for!" he said with obvious frustration.

Harry lay back on the bed and put his hands on his face under his glasses covering his eyes. What was he supposed to tell Hermione? He was so frustrated with everything. Just when he felt the weight of Cedric's death beginning to lift off of him, everything else was piling on even more. He just didn't know what to tell her. He didn't know what was going to happen tonight. He just wanted it to all be over.

He felt Hermione's hand on the top of his head. She was running her fingers through his hair. It felt really nice and it was helping him to calm down a bit. Her hand rested on his forehead and was tracing his scar on his forehead. She traced the lightning bolt several times before he opened his eyes and saw her staring at him.

"Harry did you ever wonder what your life would have been like, if you had never had this scar?" she said softly.

"Only about a hundred times a day," he said softly.

"I'm sorry this is happening, and I promise you I am not mad at you. I know you'll tell me when you're ready. It took you a while to tell me about Cedric, but you told me. Let's go downstairs and you and I will take on Ron and Meagan at Exploding Snap."

"Thanks Hermione."

"Anytime Harry."

Snape looked at the clock and saw the time was drawing nearer. He decided that he had drunk enough brandy, and didn't want to chance anymore since it might affect his judgment. He pulled his cloak collar higher around his neck, and walked through the castle heading to the spot where he had caught Harry several times coming and going to Hogsmeade a couple of years ago. He had always known there was some type of secret passage there but he had always been unable to find it and he knew that Potter would never have told him in fear of the trouble it would have caused. The fact that he knew about it now proved that Potter had lied to him about its existence and the fact that had been sneaking off to Hogsmeade. But punishing Harry for it wasn't important to him anymore. If he could have found out about it under different circumstances, he would have done everything in his power to see that the rule-breaking boy was expelled, but once again, that wasn't important to him anymore. As he got closer to the passage entrance, he glanced outside and noticed that there was no moon that night. It was extremely dark outside and during the summer, since there were no students at the school, the castle emitted very little light. He glanced at his time keeper and then pulled out his wand. He put his hand on the one-eyed witch and tapped her hump with this wand.

"Dissendium!" Snape said quietly.

The witch's hump slid away and Snape saw that someone was there waiting for him just as he and the Death Eaters had planned. The person was sitting down just a few meters from where the door had opened and quickly got up when they heard the statue slide away.

"Hello Professor," the voice said to him.

Snape squinted to see the person pull back the hood of their cloak. It was Draco Malfoy.

"Draco! What in God's name are you doing here?" Snape said with both surprise and anger in his voice.

"My father sent me. He said that there have been some new developments. He said that we don't have much time, so he sent me here to get you to come with me. He is waiting in Hogsmeade, at the other end of this passage,” Draco said.

Snape thought about this for a second then said, "Very well Draco. Lead the way."

The witches hump closed behind them and they began walking the distance to the Honeydukes' cellar.

Moody walked out of the classroom that was directly across from where Snape and Draco had just left. His magical eye was rolling around speedily in its socket. He looked over his shoulder and whispered, "You two wait here, if you see anything unusual shoot stunners and ask questions later. Something isn't right."

He then walked across to the classroom and took out his wand at tapped the one-eyed witch's hump. "Dissendium," he said and the hump slid open again. He glanced inside slowly and clumsily slid through the opening. He knew he had a long walk ahead of him.
Draco and Snape walked quickly through the dark tunnel. Snape had taken the lead and Draco had to almost gallop to keep up with him.

"What does Father want with you Professor, and why didn't you tell us Slytherin about this passage way?" Draco barked.

"Your father didn't mention anything to you about what was going on tonight, did he Draco?" Snape spat.

"No sir, not really, he just said that he had some secret meeting with you, but that something had come up. Probably something to do with the Dark Lord I'm guessing."

"It's not healthy to get mixed up in your father's business Draco. Not yet anyway. You still have a lot of learning to do,” Snape said.

"Oh, I agree Professor, which reminds me, do you think we can start up another dueling club, I would like nothing more than to have a nasty accident to befall Potter during one of them. I doubt there would be anything the Ministry could do about it; father says they aren't too keen on Potter these days,” Draco said smiling.

"I won't be teaching this year Draco. You have a new potions teacher. She was at Hogwarts when I was. She is very capable I can assure you."

"You aren't teaching? Why? Is it Dumbledore? I bet father can pull some strings for you if he's the reason."

"It's not Dumbledore Draco, it's my decision. There are a number of. things going on right now that will require my attention. I won't have time for lessons."

Draco smiled. He didn't know exactly what Snape was doing, but he did know that he was back in Voldemort's inner circle.

It wasn't very long before they were bumping their heads against the floor of Honeydukes. Snape motioned for Draco to be quiet, and then he extinguished his wand and slowly pushed the door open.

Snape surveyed the area for a second, but didn't see anyone there. He slowly crept out of the passage way and Draco followed close behind. He stood upright and waited for Draco to come out of the passage way before he gently closed the trap door.

"Lumos."

Snape lit his wand and was able to see two people sitting at the base of the cellar stairs. He directed his light towards them and saw that it was Draco's father Lucius and a fellow Death Eater, Macnair.

"Hello Severus," Lucius said casually.

"Malfoy, what is this about? Why did the plans change and why wasn't I informed?" Snape said.

"You are being informed now Severus, are you not,” Lucius said plainly.

"Lucius, what is going on? I thought I was meeting Wormtail to hide him in the castle but instead I find your son waiting for me."

"Severus, Severus, Severus. It seems Lord Voldemort has other plans. You see, he has doubts about your loyalty, and I have to admit that I agree with him. Why was it you took so long to get back to us, after you knew that Lord Voldemort had returned?" Lucius said.

"What are you talking about Lucius; you know very well that I could never have immediately run to his side with Dumbledore and the others right beside me. I came as soon as I could, and I told Lord Voldemort that. Am I not a very valuable spy for the Dark Lord? Have I not proven on countless occasions that I can provide useful information to him?" Snape spat pointing below him to the passage way.

"He doesn't seem to think so anymore Severus, EXPELLIARMUS!"

Lucius shot the disarming spell at Snape and his wand shot out of his hand, and Macnair caught it out of mid-air.

"Father, what's going on here? Professor Snape is loyal, aren't you Professor? I think the Dark Lord is mistaken," Draco said loudly.

"Watch your tongue Draco!" Lucius said sharply.

Macnair used Snape's wand to conjure ropes, which wrapped around Snape's entire body and one that went tightly around his mouth so that he couldn't speak. The binding caused Snape to lose his balance and fall down hard on the floor.

Macnair walked over him and had an evil smile on his face.

"CRUCIO!"

Snape convulsed violently on the ground. The rope over his mouth was keeping his obvious screams at bay, but the shaking and the look in his eyes made the fact that he was experiencing the worse pain imaginable, very obvious.

"Father! Why are you doing this? Professor Snape is loyal. He even said that he wasn't going to be potions master this year because he would be busy doing work for Lord Voldemort! You have to make him stop father!" Draco said looking at Macnair.

"Draco! You will hold your tongue or you will be sorry for it!" Lucius said.

The spell had passed and Snape lay on the floor violently trying to catch his breath through his nose.

"The Dark Lord doesn't like to be double-crossed Severus. I think this was clear to you many, many years ago. It's a shame really. I always liked you,” Lucius said nodding at Macnair.

"CRUCIO!" Macnair shouted again.

Snape writhed in pain again. Blood started pouring out of his nose and as he was trying to breath, the blood was coming out hissing in bubbles.

"Rictusempra!"

The spell came from Draco, and he hit Macnair squarely in the back with it knocking him down. Draco then immediately turned to his father.

"What are you doing Father? You can't hurt Professor Snape. The Dark Lord is wrong!" Draco shouted.

Lucius walked up to Draco and hit him across the jaw knocking him to the ground. Macnair had already recovered from the spell that Draco hit him with and stood up looking down at Draco.

"Lucius, I thought you would have taught your boy better than this,” Macnair said.

"I can assure you that I did. It's just that the Professor is head of his house at school and he has taken quite a liking to him. I'll set him straight when we get home."

"You had better set him straight now Lucius. The boy just questioned the Dark Lord and then interrupted his orders when he hit me with that spell. You had better set him straight now, or I will,” Macnair said obviously very angry.

Lucius knew he now was in a bad position. If he did nothing, Voldemort would surely find out and punish them both.

"Deal with Snape. I'll take care of Draco,” Lucius said.

Macnair stared at him for a second then turned towards Snape.

Lucius knelt down over Draco. "Do you have any idea what you've just done? Do you have any idea what the Dark Lord is going to do to us both when he finds out what you've done here?"

"Get out of the way Lucius," Macnair said.

"What are you going to do?" Lucius said to Macnair with panic in his voice.

"Get out of the way Lucius, the boy needs to be punished."

"I told you I would handle it."

"It was me that he hit with that spell Lucius; I think I'll handle it."

Lucius wasn't sure what to do. He stood up slowly and before he knew what happened, Macnair had already hit Draco with a spell, and was magically throwing him around the room causing him to crash hard into barrels and crates of candy and jelly beans.

"Macnair, that's enough! We'll be heard!" Lucius said.

"Don't worry Lucius, I am almost done. The boy just needs a bit of a lesson taught to him, that's all."

He flicked his wand a few more times causing Draco to fly up to the ceiling and then crash down hard onto the wooden floor. He was obviously way past unconscious and was hitting the floor with a dull thud each time.

Lucius couldn't watch Draco being punished, but he knew that if he interfered, there would be repercussion from his master.

"Macnair! We have made too much noise already. Let's finish this and go,” Lucius said.

Macnair crept over Snape who seemed to be barely breathing but still had his eyes opened. The stream of blood from his nose had flowed down his mouth and chin and formed a pool below his head.

"They all learn not to cross him in the end. They all learn." Macnair took out his wand and pointed it down at Snape.

"Avada Kedavra." The words came out of Macnair's mouth and were instantly followed by the bright flash of green light from his wand.

Snape was dead.

"Let's get back and report,” Macnair said. "Leave your boy."

"We can't leave him here Macnair, he'll be found,” Lucius said.

"I said leave him Lucius. If he's good enough to get away from the Ministry, then perhaps the Dark Lord will forgive what he's done tonight. But I can assure you, if we take him with us tonight, Lord Voldemort won't be as forgiving."

Lucius stared down at his son for a second, then up at Macnair. He straightened his cloak and pulled his hood over his head. They then both apparated and were gone.

Draco lay unconscious and was bleeding from several cuts he had on his head, face and arms. Snape was lying just a few feet away from him, still tightly bound in his ropes, but dead.

Moody had finally reached the trapped door. He was out of breath and the stub of his leg was hurting from walking so far on its wooden base. He used his magical eye to see through the floor, and could tell that there was someone lying on top of the door. He saw another figure lying down not too far away from it. One seemed to be breathing, but the one directly above the door, wasn't. After a few more seconds of looking the room over with his magical eye, he pushed the trapped door open causing the body to slowly slide off of it. He could tell the room was empty. He looked around and saw the broken barrels and crates of candy whose contents were now scattered all over the floor. He used his wand to roll the body over and saw that it was Snape. The other body was a younger boy that he didn't recognize. He conjured stretchers and levitated both bodies back down in the passage below the door. He then went back to the basement of the shop and took one more look around. Whoever had been there was now gone.