Harry Potter and the Guild of the Night

Katling

Story Summary:
Harry suffers a terrible injury at the Dursleys that leaves his ability to face Voldemort in doubt. But with the help of Remus Lupin and a mysterious new teacher he has a chance to become more than he was before. Features a grudgingly neutral Snape and a Ginny who knows what she wants or rather who she wants.

Chapter 23

Chapter Summary:
Severus demands a plan. Harry has his first Quidditch game. Snape informs Harry of the need for a plan and they wait. Draco lets something slip and Harry and Snape can wait no longer.
Posted:
08/18/2004
Hits:
6,084


Chapter 23

Severus apparated back to the outskirts of Hogsmeade and stalked back up to the castle. He wasn't sure if he had done the right thing back in that room or not. He had surely increased the risk to both himself and Black but he couldn't tell whether he had done any good. The Dark Lord had greeted him on his return to the parlour and Snape had spun a story that had seemed to satisfy him. He had been ordered to come to Malfoy Manor every couple of days to continue 'gaining Black's trust' so he knew he had ample excuse to go into the room now.

When he walked into the castle he headed straight for the Headmaster's office. This was something Albus needed to know now. Even though it was just past midnight, he knew the Headmaster would still be awake and he was proven right when he knocked on the door. He walked in to find Dumbledore sitting by the fire, waiting for him.

"Severus," the Headmaster said warmly. "Sit down. Would you like some tea?"

Snape shook his head and sat down opposite Dumbledore. He looked down at his hands for a moment then looked back at the Headmaster.

"I gave Black a Memory Restoring Potion tonight," he began. "He remembers everything now, I think."

Dumbledore gazed seriously at Snape. "Do think that was wise?"

"Probably not, Albus," Snape sighed. "But I believe it was the best thing to do. The Dark Lord had gone a long way towards convincing Black he was a vicious murderer whose duty was to kill Potter. This was...not sitting well with Black."

Dumbledore looked at his Potions Master with a wise smile. "What do you propose we do now?"

Snape shook his head. "I do not know. But whatever plan you were developing must be brought forward. I do not trust Black's ability to dissemble in front of the Dark Lord. He is a Gryffindor and not suited to doing so. If the Dark Lord suspects that Black remembers anything, he will use Legilimency and all of our work will be undone."

"And your own life will be in jeopardy," the Headmaster said.

Snape waved that concern away dismissively. "Irrelevant. I...also have a message from Black for Potter."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Well, that is good but I think I would wait before you give that message to him, Severus. He has his first Quidditch game tomorrow, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. I think it would be best to wait until after the game."

Snape grunted and nodded his agreement. "Albus, we must bring our plans forward," he said urgently. "The Dark Lord wants to use Black against Potter. He plans on brainwashing Black into killing his godson. We cannot rely on Black holding out against the kind of vitriol the Dark Lord will use."

"I understand, Severus," Dumbledore said soothingly. "We will be as quick as we can but some things cannot be rushed."

Snape nodded uncomfortably, unsure as to whether Dumbledore truly understood what was at stake. He rose and nodded to the Headmaster.

"I must go, Albus," he said and left the office at Dumbledore's distracted nod.

He walked down to the dungeon, trying to come up with a plan. It was clear the Headmaster was distracted by something else. They could not rely on Black; his natural instinct was to protect his godson and the Dark Lord would inevitably say something that would cause him to react without thinking. They must get him out...and soon.

*****************************************

Harry and Ron stood at the entrance to the Quidditch stadium with the rest of the Gryffindor team behind them, waiting to be announced. With the graduation of Lee Jordan, Dean Thomas had taken over the announcing and commentating duties. Despite his muggle upbringing he had done a fine job during practices and Madam Hooch had had no hesitation in giving him the job. Kirke and Sloper stood fidgeting behind them, brooms in one hand, bats resting on their shoulders. Ginny and the Creevey brothers stood behind the Beaters, waiting with outward calm. At a wave from Dean, they mounted their brooms and shot out onto the pitch. This was their first game of the season, against Ravenclaw, and both Ron and Harry were very nervous about how the team would go. They and the Ravenclaw team took their positions and Madam Hooch, who was refereeing the game, released the Golden Snitch. She then released the bludgers and finally the quaffle and the game was on!

Harry flew above the game, watching with one eye for the snitch and keeping his other eye on the players below. He had become accustomed to flying with Oversight by now, though the crowd did add an extra dimension to everything that he wasn't used to. He could see that Ginny and the Creeveys were working well together and also working well with the two Beaters. Ron was doing an outstanding job keeping and soon the score line stood 80 to 20 in favour of Gryffindor. The Ravenclaw Seeker was shadowing him and Harry grinned. That was no way to beat him. Ginny knew how; play your own game, watch for the snitch yourself and you might have chance of seeing it before he did. He flew a few more circuits of the pitch. The Ravenclaw chasers managed to pull themselves together and get a few past Ron. The score was soon 130 to 90 and Harry began seriously looking for the snitch.

He saw a flicker of purple in the middle of the pitch and instantly dove down towards it, the Ravenclaw Seeker hot on his tail. The snitch, almost seeming to realise it had been spotted, tore off down the pitch. Harry raced after it, his concentration absolute. He followed the snitch as it flew up beside the stands, losing the Ravenclaw Seeker for the moment. He flew upwards after the snitch alone, the Ravenclaw Seeker seemingly not having the stomach for such aerobatics. The snitch jinked left and right and he closed in on it. He was just about to grab it when it shot downwards. He followed it, not hearing the oohs and ahhs from the crowd. As he headed straight down, he realised that he was going to be able to catch it but he was going to have to pull up almost immediately when he did so or he was going to plow himself. He put on a small spurt of speed and his outstretched hand closed around the snitch. He yanked hard on his broom and just barely managed to pull up before he hit the ground. There was a chorus of screams and shouts as he did this that slowly modulated into cheers as they realised he had the snitch in his hand.

"Gryffindor wins!" Dean shouted. "Harry Potter has caught the snitch. Gryffindor wins 310 to 120 from Ravenclaw!"

The rest of the Gryffindor team made a bee-line for their Seeker and swamped him with hugs and back slaps, though Ginny added a kiss. He and Ron grinned at each other. The team had performed above their expectations. Ravenclaw had a fairly settled team and, after only six weeks of training, their new team had managed to rattle the Ravenclaws early and gain a decisive advantage. They knew they would have to do more work before they took on a team like Slytherin but this was a damn good start. The team trooped off to the rooms to get changed and headed back up to Gryffindor tower for the party.

**********************************

Later that night, Harry and Ginny slipped away from the party and wandered around the castle, talking and laughing. They had spent much of their time together talking; about what had happened to them during their time at Hogwarts, about what they had done before Hogwarts and anything in between. Harry had been pleased to find out that Ginny wasn't really inclined to want Harry to rescue her anymore. He was just thinking about finding an empty classroom and stopping the talking when the nearly ran into Professor Snape.

He glared down at them as they apologised then Harry saw one of his eyelids close briefly in what he swore was a...wink.

"Potter, my office!" Snape snarled and walked off towards the dungeons in a swirl of robes.

Ginny stared after him, incensed but calmed when Harry whispered into her ear.

"I think he wants to talk to me, Ginny. I think he...well, he winked at me."

He paused and then very delicately nibbled on her earlobe. He turned to head down to towards the dungeons, grinning smugly to himself at Ginny's expression. He had discovered that that was a most effective way of getting Ginny to stop talking. He was still grinning when he got to the door of the Potions classroom and stood outside for a moment to compose himself and wipe the grin off his face. He could only imagine what Snape would say if he walked in with that kind of look on his face. He opened the door and walked in.

"Yes, sir," he said flatly.

"Close the door, Potter, and sit down," snapped the Potions Master.

Harry obeyed and waited for Snape to finish what he was doing. As he watched, Snape wrote what Harry was sure were a few scathing words on an essay and put both the parchment and his quill aside.

"I gave your godfather a Memory Restoring Potion last night, Mr Potter," he said. "The...circumstances seemed to warrant it. He remembers everything."

Harry stared at Snape in disbelief for a moment then smiled broadly. "Thank you, sir!" he said jubilantly before something seemed to occur to him and he sobered. "Er, sir? Is that going to get you in trouble?"

"It may, if your godfather cannot act appropriately," Snape said and Harry grimaced.

Snape paused for a long moment. "Your...godfather asked me to give you a message," he said slowly. "He...said to tell you that he is okay and that he will be with you soon."

Harry beamed at Snape again as tears welled in his eyes. He ducked his head and tried to recover his composure. When he had he raised his head again.

"What's happening now, sir? How are you going to get him out?" Harry asked urgently. "Sirius won't be able to last for that long. He hates Vol...er, the Dark Lord. His temper will get the better of him sooner rather than later."

"It appears the Headmaster does have a plan but I do not know when it will go ahead."

Harry scowled. "I meant what I said about not waiting for long," he said angrily.

"Rush off on another half-baked rescue mission," Snape sneered. "After the success of the first one."

That cooled Harry off a bit though he did not step back from his statement. "Not half-baked, sir," he said firmly and then smiled grimly. "This time I'll take more than just my friends. I'll have to take them; they'd kill me if I didn't. No, this time I'll take Master Nhean and you with me, sir."

Snape was startled at Potter's almost cocky air. "And what makes you think I would go with you, Mr Potter, and not lock you up for the Headmaster to deal with?" he said archly.

Harry dropped the cocky air. "Because you're not happy with the delay and you want something done to get Sirius out of there as soon as possible," he said bluntly. "That's understandable, sir. Sirius...well, Sirius isn't exactly the most subtle person and if the Dark Lord starts tossing out threats, eventually he isn't going to be able to help himself." Harry smiled fondly then sobered. "Then he'll be dead and you'll be dead."

Snape nodded. "Very good, Mr Potter. You seem to have gotten your brain working this year. I trust you will continue thinking."

Harry rolled his eyes. Severus Snape; master of the back-handed compliment. "Can I go now, sir?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr Potter," Snape said with a smirk. "I must ask you to keep this information quiet. I...would prefer that you did not tell your friends about this. One misplaced word could be dangerous. I would not object to you telling Lupin, however."

Harry nodded and left the classroom; to all appearances sullen and angry but incredibly happy inside.

************************************

Harry and Snape waited. They continued their normal round of classes as they waited, impatiently, for the Headmaster to get his plan moving. Harry threw himself headlong into his training in an effort to relieve his nerves. He began to take large strides and after three weeks reached the point where Master Nhean refused to let him spar with any of his friends, saying he was too advanced for them. Snape became more and more waspish in his classes until even the Slytherins began to complain. He approached each trip to Malfoy Manor with growing trepidation. Black was getting more and more frustrated with his situation and Snape was glad that he had not told him about Potter's blinding. That would undoubtedly have tipped the man over the edge. Black had told him that he was spending a great deal of time as Padfoot; apparently the dog was able to handle this better than the man.

Another week had stretched by and both Harry and Snape were close to breaking point. Remus was still calm but Harry suspected that that was only a front and the man was as tightly strung as he and Snape. He was walking back to the Gryffindor tower from his Saturday morning Potions lesson. He and Snape had spent the last couple of weeks being excruciatingly polite to each other in these lessons. They both knew that one irritated remark from either of them would trigger an outburst from both and they had come to like working with each other. There were still many points of contention hanging between them but they had found that by ignoring them they were able to work together well.

He was walking down a corridor, not paying much attention when he was grabbed and pinned to the wall with an arm across his throat. Hands grabbed his arms and pinned them against the wall as well, not allowing him to bring his cane and sword into play.

"What are you playing at?" he snarled at Malfoy as he tried to pull his arms out of the grips of Crabbe and Goyle.

Draco leaned forward with a malicious glint in his eyes. "My father has something of yours," he said. "He was going to keep it but it seems its getting inconvenient to do so."

Harry went very still and Draco leaned in until they were almost nose to nose. "Don't you want to know what it is, Potter?" he spat.

Harry relaxed some more and when he felt Crabbe and Goyle's grips loosen slightly, he suddenly let all his weight drop down. He dropped right out of their grasps, getting a hard knock on the chin as he got away from Draco. He rolled across the floor and let his momentum bring him to his feet. He half-drew his sword and glared at Draco.

"Not really, Malfoy," he said firmly. "I'm just not interested in what you have to say."

He deliberately turned his back on the blond Slytherin and stalked down the corridor. He could hardly believe his luck when there were no curses thrown at him and as soon as he turned the corner he took off at a run towards the tower. He flew up to the dorm, ignoring his friends' questions and grabbed his invisibility cloak. When he got back down, he gestured abruptly for his friends to follow him out of the tower. When they got to the corridor he threw the cloak around his shoulders and turned to face them.

"Go and find Luna, Master Nhean and Remus and wait for me in the Guild classroom," he ordered. "Don't ask any questions now. I'll answer them later. GO!"

His friends jumped at his shout and stared at him for a moment then ran off to do what he had asked. Harry covered himself fully with the cloak and headed down to the dungeon. He knocked on the door of the Potions classroom but got no answer so he headed down the corridor to the portrait that guarded the Potion Master's rooms and hoped that he was in there. He knocked softly and was relieved when a very startled Snape opened the door.

He quickly brushed past with a whispered, "It's me, sir," and waited for Snape to close the door. As soon as that happened, he drew off the cloak.

"Sir, I'm sorry to barge in like this but...when did you last see Sirius?" he asked breathlessly.

Snape frowned at him. "Two days ago, Mr Potter. I was due to go tonight. Why?" he demanded.

"I think something's gone wrong," Harry said urgently. "I just got bailed up by Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy was going on about his father having something of mine and that his father was going to keep it but that it had gotten inconvenient."

Snape's eyed narrowed as he recalled the conversation he had had with Lucius two days ago, just before he had left. The elder Malfoy had hinted that Black was getting difficult to handle and that he suspected that his memories were coming back. He had also said that if he could prove it, he would tell their master. Snape had no illusions about what the Dark Lord would do if he deemed Black to be useless. If Black was lucky he would die quickly. He scowled as he realised that there was no way of determining if Black was alright without going to Malfoy Manor and if things had gone wrong that was the worst possible place he could be.

He glared at Potter with frustration. "And just what exactly did you have in mind, Mr Potter?" he said acidly.

He was surprised when Potter looked hesitant. "Er, well, I was hoping you might have an idea, sir. Look, I don't know if Malfoy was telling the truth or just yanking my chain but can we really afford to take the risk. I was kind of hoping that you or Professor Dumbledore would have come up with something by now."

Snape grimaced. "I am afraid the Headmaster has been distracted by events at the Ministry. He felt that Black would be capable of holding out for a while longer and has placed the planning for his rescue on the backburner."

Harry looked furious. He and Dumbledore generally spoke once a week about what was going on as Harry was generally unable to attend Order meetings due to school. The Headmaster had not told him about this however. He took a deep breath and attempted to calm himself.

"Sir, we have to do something," Harry said urgently.

"I am aware of that," Snape snapped irritably. "I am thinking, Mr Potter."

Harry stood and waited, his hands gripping his cloak and cane tightly. He really wanted to rush off and get Sirius out of there now but he had learned his lesson from last year. Rushing into things just made the situation worse.

"I presume your friends will insist on coming along?" Snape said sourly.

"Yes, sir," Harry said firmly. "I sent them to find Luna, Master Nhean and Remus and I told them to wait in the Guild classroom. I'm sure Master Nhean will want to help and I don't think we could keep Remus out of this."

Snape eyed Harry with a little more respect. "At least you have applied some thought, however small, to this," he said grudgingly. "Very well, I believe I may know a way to do this. Put that cloak on. We cannot be seen together. Go to the classroom and wait for me."

Harry nodded and threw his cloak over his head. He wanted to ask Snape what he had in mind but wasn't game enough to risk the Potions Master becoming angry and stopping them. Though he supposed there probably was a much lesser chance of that happening this time; Snape's life was also in danger if Sirius was in trouble. He made his way as quickly as possible to the Guild classroom. He walked in and stripped off his cloak.

"What's going on?" Remus asked tightly.

"Malfoy bailed me up on my way back from my Potions lesson," Harry said tersely. "He implied that Sirius was in trouble. I went to see Professor Snape and he didn't exactly disagree with me. Dumbledore doesn't have a plan to get Sirius out yet but I think Professor Snape might have come up with something." Harry stared around the group, watching their energy colours flow and swirl and seeing the worried looks in the ghostly overlay. "Whatever Professor Snape's plan is, I'm going," he said bluntly.

"I'm coming with you," Remus said firmly and with a small smile. "I can see that trying to stop you would be pointless and I am your guardian. If I can't keep you out of trouble, I should at least go along to keep you as safe as possible. Besides, Sirius is my friend. I lost him once...no, twice. I don't intend to let that happen again."

Harry's friends immediately stepped forwards.

"Well, you know we're coming with you," Ron said. "We told you we're sticking by you, no matter what. Besides I think we proved last year that we can handle ourselves."

Master Nhean had been watching this with interest. "I think I will accompany you as well, Harry," he said calmly. "A Master must oversee the work of their apprentice." He looked at the students he had been training. "I think you five should get your swords. You may need them."

Ron and the others stared at Master Nhean in surprise. He had been very strict about their usage of their swords, not allowing them to use them except under his supervision. That he was allowing them to use them in a situation where he may not be there to correct them indicated either his trust in them or his belief that the situation was desperate. They walked over to the chest were the swords were stored and Ron pulled them out and distributed them to the others. The five teens strapped their swords to their waists. They did not use a sword and wandless magic like Harry and Master Nhean. They used traditional swords and held their wands in their off hands. They had had to adjust to using their wands in their non-preferred hand but all had managed. They were just testing the feel of the swords again when Snape walked into the classroom, potion bag in hand. He looked around and just for a second a looked of approval glowed in his eyes then he scowled.

"So I see you all intend being the idiotic Gryffindors that you are," he said sourly. Everyone in the room nodded determinedly, ignoring the Potion Masters tone.

"Very well. Then we will do this my way. Anybody who disagrees can stay here," he snapped. "We will floo through to my house. Lucius Malfoy's house is well-warded and his floo connection is restricted. You would not be able to floo in from here or any public floo hub but you will be able to come in from my house. The Dark Lord insists that all Death Eaters are able to get to each other easily in case of danger...and to ensure he has access to us at all times. I will then floo to Malfoy Manor, determine what is happening at Malfoy Manor and come and get you."

Harry raised a hand slightly. "Er, sir, sorry to interrupt but what do we do if you don't come and get us?"

Snape stared at Harry for a long moment, causing him to fidget nervously.

"Good point, Mr Potter," Snape conceded. "Very well, it should take no more than fifteen minutes for me to ascertain what is happening. If I have not contacted you after thirty minutes, floo in and do what you can. In light of that possibility, I will outline the plan here and now."

The others nodded and Snape walked over to the table. The others gathered around as he unrolled a piece of parchment. On the parchment was a hastily but accurately drawn map.

"This is a map of Malfoy Manor or at least as much of it as I know," Snape continued tersely. "You will floo in here, the formal parlour. Black is being held here." Snape pointed at a marked room some distance from the parlour. "Malfoy keeps no servants other than house elves but I believe both the Dark Lord and Wormtail are staying in the manor. There may be other Death Eaters there, particularly if Black has given himself away. Do not hesitate in your dealings with them." He glared around the table, lingering on the teenagers. "They certainly will not hesitate in their dealings with you. Go directly to Black's room, retrieve him and get out." Snape suddenly turned his full attention on Harry's five friends and fixed them with perhaps the worst glare they had ever received from him. "And you lot, do not, under any circumstances, leave Mr Potter's side," he snapped. "He is at the most danger in this entire ridiculous escapade. The Dark Lord wants him dead and any Death Eater presenting him with Potter will be richly rewarded, so they will be suitably motivated."

The faces of Harry's friends hardened and they nodded firmly. They shifted until they had formed a partial defensive perimeter around him. Master Nhean had begun training them a couple of weeks ago in concert work and had started with how to defend someone in a battle situation. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna had been learning how to become a genuine Battle Guard and Harry had been learning how to work in unison with his Battle Guard, not against them. Master Nhean's eyes had lit up every time he worked with them on this; he had told them there had not been a true Battle Guard formed in nearly two hundred years. It was very difficult to find five people who could all subsume their individuality and work to a single purpose with no jockeying for position, with no one wanting to be the leader or the best. Harry's friends hadn't really struggled with this aspect, they had simply concentrated on the idea that they were there to protect Harry and that had made their concert work much easier.

Harry had found it a little more difficult. The idea of a Battle Guard involved the one being guarded not only learning to work with their Guard but also learning to allow themselves to be guarded; to allow the others to take some of the risks. Harry had struggled with this until his friends had made it clear to him that this was going to happen. After that he had not been happy but he had allowed them to guard him and had learned to work with them.

Master Nhean watched the movement of Ron and the others and nodded in approval. They had reacted exactly how they should. Ron and Ginny were now standing on either side of Harry, hands on the hilts of their swords and flicking their gazes around the room. Luna and Hermione had taken up their positions behind Harry and were now facing away from the table, their backs towards Harry. Neville was standing to one side of Ron, waiting to take up his Point position. Neville had surprised them all with his ability once the weapons came out. He was no better than any of the others when they were unarmed but with a sword in his hand he was by far the best. Not as good as Harry but not too far off his standard. The Point position in a Battle Guard was always taken by the best swordsman or woman. It was the most dangerous and when Harry had found this out, he had tried to talk Neville out if it. Neville had listened to him and had very calmly told him where to stick that idea. Harry had been rather taken aback; Neville had never spoken to anyone like that before. Neville had then apologised and explained that if anybody had a right to be in this fight it was him. He could have been the subject of the prophecy and his parents had been permanently damaged by the Death Eaters. Harry had had no choice but to concede. Hermione and Ginny, the other two who had shown some skill, were spread out over the other two ranks, Ginny with her brother in the Flanking Guard and Hermione with Luna in the Rear Guard.

Remus and Snape watched their students with some surprise. While Remus had known about the new step they had taken in their training, this was the first time he had seen it in action and he was surprised by the professional attitude they were all displaying. Snape watched them and actually managed to relax somewhat. He too had noted the professional attitude and the Night Master's approval. He decided that perhaps, just perhaps, the students might be able to be relied upon to do more than just cause trouble and get in the way.

He nodded to himself and continued. "Lupin, Nhean, your responsibility will be to get Black and get him out. Do not stop for anything. Potter and the others at least appear competent; allow them to find out if they are."

"What about you, sir?" Harry asked.

"I will take care of myself, Mr Potter," Snape replied flatly. "I know the house better than any of you. If there is a problem I am more likely than you to be able to get out. Worry about your task."

"And what exactly is our task?" Harry said with a fair imitation of the Potions Masters acerbity.

Snape's lips twitched at the creditable imitation. "Your task, Mr Potter, and your friends' task is to get Lupin and Nhean to the room and get them back with Black to the parlour." Harry and his friends nodded. "Are you all clear on what you are to do?" Snape asked intently.

"What happened if Sirius isn't in the room?" Hermione asked.

"Then we are in trouble, Miss Granger," Snape replied dryly. "If that happens, we will have to search the house."

Grim looks crossed the faces of everyone in the room at that thought. Snape broke the mood by rolling up the parchment and handing it to Remus. He lit a fire in the fireplace in the classroom and pulled a bag of floo powder out of his robes.

"Now, go to my house and wait. Say Snape Manor," he ordered brusquely.

Remus shoved the parchment map into his robes and stepped forward and grabbed a handful of floo powder. He nodded to Snape and threw it into the fire saying "Snape Manor". He stepped into the green flames and disappeared. Nhean stepped forward and followed him through. Harry gestured for his friends to go through and waited until only he remained in the room with Snape. He then stepped forward and grabbed a handful of floo powder.

"Professor Snape? Be careful. For once I'd actually like to see you in fifteen minutes," Harry said with a grim smile.

Snape's lips twitched into an amused smirk. "For once I agree with you, Mr Potter. Now go."

Harry nodded and threw the handful of powder into the fire with a "Snape Manor." He stepped into the green flames and flooed to Snape's ancestral home.


Author notes: Thanks again for all your reviews.