Trinity

Chapter 22

Harry made his way down the stairs and out the back door of the Hog's Head without any complications then he headed back towards the school. Once he was back inside the gates, he let his thoughts wander.

That had been one of the oddest events in his life. He would never have thought that Snape would be willing ask for his help. While it was true that the Potions Master's options were extremely limited, it was still very odd that he would choose Harry. Maybe he'd misjudged the man. Harry snorted at that thought; maybe Snape was just desperate and had no one else to turn to. Either way it had certainly made an interesting cap to the evening.

Harry quietly pushed the doors to the school open and slipped in before pulling out the Marauder's Map and activating it. The teachers patrolling the school had changed. Hagrid was up near the Astronomy Tower while Professor Sprout was down in the dungeons. Harry quickly darted up the stairs to the Gryffindor Tower and, after a short discussion with the Fat Lady, climbed through the entrance hole.

"Where the hell have you been, mate?"

Ron's voice startled him and he let the cloak slip a bit. Ron was peering at him from around the back of one of the large armchairs, his expression flat though with a hint of worry.

"Merlin, Ron! You scared the life out of me," Harry gasped.

"Yeah, well how do you think I felt when I woke up and your bed was empty?" Ron said flatly as Harry stripped the cloak off and closed the Map. "You could have left a note if you were going somewhere."

Harry walked over and slumped into the chair next to Ron's. He pulled his wand out and cast the Muffliato spell as a precaution.

"I've just had the weirdest experience of my life, Ron," he said dryly. "Give me a break."

Ron frowned. "Why? What happened?"

"I couldn't get to sleep after we got back so I just sat in the window for a while hoping I'd get tired," Harry explained, ignoring Ron's sudden concerned look. "As I was sitting there a silver phoenix came flying up to me."

"A what?" Ron said incredulously.

"It was a Patronus, Ron," Harry replied with a grin. "Remember that's how the Order sends messages to each other."

"So who in the Order has a silver phoenix as a Patronus?" Ron asked, looking intrigued.

"Snape," Harry said with an arch smile. He couldn't wait to see Ron's reaction.

The redhead didn't let him down. "Snape!" he yelped loudly, certainly loud enough that Harry was glad he'd put the Muffliato up. "What did that git want? Was it a trap?"

Harry grinned. "Calm down, Ron. You're going to burst a blood vessel. It was a request...well, more of an order, I suppose, that I come down to the Shrieking Shack. He said he needed help."

Ron stared at him for a long moment. "Snape asked you for help? Are you sure it was really him?"

That got a laugh out of Harry. "Yes, Ron, it was really him." He sobered. "He'd just come from reporting in to Voldemort and the bastard wasn't pleased with what happened tonight. Malfoy was passed out entirely and I think Snape was holding on through sheer stubbornness. Geez, Ron, I don't think I've ever seen anyone in as much pain as he was. He hid it pretty well though."

"How did you know he was really in pain then?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"Ron, he actually needed me to help hold him upright at one point," Harry replied patiently. "Do you really think Snape would go that to those sorts of lengths if he wasn't really hurt?" He frowned and continued quietly, "Besides he was coughing up blood the whole time. It wasn't faked."

Ron looked rather shocked. "What spells did Voldemort use on them?"

"Just Cruciatus, I think," Harry replied. "Snape said it wasn't the duration of the spell that did the damage, it was the intensity. I'd say Voldemort was extremely pissed off."

"So what have Snape and Malfoy been told to do now then?" Ron asked.

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "They've been told to try and lure someone, preferably one of my friends or an Order member, out. That's if they can't lure me out."

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Bait," Harry replied succinctly. "Voldemort knows me a bit too well. He knows if he kidnapped one of my friends or someone from the Order, I'd do pretty much anything to get them back. After the Ministry and...Sirius, that's a pretty good bet."

Ron was silent for a moment as he considered that. "So what are you going to do?"

Harry sighed. "I'm not really sure what I can do. I mean there's only so much I can tell Professor McGonagall without giving the game away. And Professor Dumbledore's right. He has to stay hidden for Snape to stay safe and we need Snape safe so that he can find out where the damn Horcruxes are." He grimaced. "I'll tell you one thing though. I don't like Snape and I doubt that will ever change but as soon as we know where the last two Horcruxes are, I'm telling him to get rid of Nagini and get the hell out of there. No one, not even that greasy git, deserves to go through what he did tonight. And for what? Because we ruined the whole thing. Nothing Snape or Malfoy could have done about it once we attacked. Voldemort's a real bastard."

Ron gave him a dubious look. "You're going soft in your old age, mate."

Harry snickered then sobered. "You didn't see Snape tonight. He could barely stand, was coughing up blood and didn't even have the strength to cast a simple levitation spell."

Ron gave a dubious grunt then looked up at the clock. "We'd better get to bed. We've got classes in the morning and Hermione'll never let up on us if we fall asleep during them."

Harry laughed and took the Muffliato down. "That's going alright then," he asked with artful casualness. "You and Hermione, I mean."

Ron's ears went a fetching shade of red and he gave a bashful grin. "Yeah."

"Good," Harry replied and the two boys headed up to their dorm.

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The next morning at breakfast, and under the cover of another Muffliato, Harry told Hermione of his late night excursion. She stared at him in utter shock for several minutes after he finished, her spoonful of porridge frozen halfway to her mouth.

"Does...does he need anything?" she said when she finally managed to get her brain moving again. "We have potions we could leave with the Headmaster."

"Hermione, Snape's a Potions Master," Ron said carefully. "I think he'll be right on that score."

"Well, maybe not, Ron," Hermione replied. "It's not like he can easily get hold of ingredients. There are a lot of places he couldn't set foot in right now."

"But some of the other Death Eaters can," Ron countered. "So it's not like he isn't able to get hold of what he needs."

"He'll be fine," Harry interjected. "He had a whole casket full of potions. If he needed anything, he'd have told me."

Hermione nodded dubiously. "So what are we going to do?"

Harry shrugged and looked frustrated. "I have no idea. All I can really tell Professor McGonagall is that I don't like the idea of the students leaving the wards. I've also got to warn Hagrid, Professor Sprout and Madam Hooch about Greyback's pack without telling how I know."

"That one's fairly easy," Hermione said. "They already know about the attack at Bill and Fleur's wedding. Just tell them that you're concerned that Greyback might decide to do something here. They'd already know that Hogwarts would be a logical target."

"Good point," harry said with relief.

"Did Snape say he and Malfoy are going to make some appearances before the first Hogsmeade weekend?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded. "Yes, he said something along those lines."

"Then wait until that happens," Ron said firmly. "I'm sure he'll make it look good without really putting any of the students at risk. Then you can go to Professor McGonagall and suggest cancelling the next Hogsmeade weekend."

"That's going to make me popular with everyone," Harry replied dryly.

"Better that everyone stays here than going out, getting kidnapped and being used as bait or getting killed," Hermione said.

Harry grumbled then took down the Muffliato and the trio finished their breakfast. They then headed for their first class where Harry took the seat behind Ron and Hermione. He was flipping through his text book when someone sat down next to him. He looked over expecting to see Dean or Seamus and was surprised to find Theodore Nott sitting beside him.

"Nott," he said with a nod.

"What happened after I left?" Theodore asked quietly but urgently. "I heard you lot attack but I didn't look back."

"They got away," Harry said softly. "Draco portkeyed out and Snape ran then apparated away. Have you had any response from Voldemort?"

Nott flinched at the name then shook his head. "I'm expecting something though. Maybe this evening, tomorrow certainly." He looked down at the desk, his face full of worry and concern.

"You know the Headmistress will help you if you go to her," Harry suggested.

Nott gave him a sceptical look. "Really?"

"Of course," Harry said firmly. "Look, I know Professor McGonagall is a Gryffindor but she's always been pretty fair, hasn't she? She takes points away from Gryffindor and gives us detentions when we do something wrong as quickly as any other student. She'll help you if you ask."

Not nodded slowly but before he could say anymore, Professor Flitwick walked into the room and the two boys settled down to pay attention to the lesson. At the end of the class, Nott gave Harry a brief nod then quickly walked out of the classroom.

"What was that all about?" Ron asked quietly as the trio walked to their next class.

"He wanted to know what happened last night," Harry replied.

"How much did you tell him?" Hermione looked slightly alarmed.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Give me some credit, Hermione. I only told him what he needed to know. He's expecting a response from Voldemort today or tomorrow."

Both Hermione and Ron winced. "That's not going to be pretty," Ron said.

"I know," Harry replied as they walked into their first Defence class and got ready for Moody.

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Severus stood beside the window in his room in the Hog's Head and stared out into the village. People were going about their normal morning tasks and Severus let his mind wander to what he might once have been doing on a morning such as this. While teaching was not something he overly enjoyed, the time it gave him to conduct research was always appreciated and the odd student who came along who was gifted in Potions was always worthwhile.

He'd always considered it a pity that Miss Granger had been sorted into Gryffindor with the way things had been forced to run. Had she been a Ravenclaw he would have been able to attempt to lure her into the study of Potions, maybe even encourage her to try for her Mastery in the subject. While her tendency to towards wanting to know everything and her desire to have every answer come from a book was a touch on the irritating side, it was also something that could be trained out of her given time and enough examples. And she was a gifted student.

And apparently he might have to consider Potter as something more than a complete incompetent. While he admitted a lot of his attitude towards the boy came from his hatred of James Potter and his necessary dislike for the Boy-Who-Lived, the fact that Potter had been able to brew successful potions with his annotated copy of Advanced Potion Making spoke volumes. Severus wondered what had prompted Potter to follow his instructions rather than those originally written in the book. Most people would have ignored them, worried about whether they would cause more trouble. But Potter had not only followed them but followed them successfully. Slughorn was no fool, no matter how he acted. He would not have praised Potter unless he had earned said praise. Severus had no problems with Potter using his book; his modifications to the potions were superior to the original. What he was curious about was the sudden change in Potter's abilities; he usually didn't have that much of an effect on competent brewers.

"Severus?" Draco's voice sounded sleepy and slightly drugged.

Severus turned and eyed the blond boy archly. "Welcome back," he said dryly.

Draco winced as he sat up. "What happened?"

"I believe that was going to be my question," Severus said. "What happened after you used the portkey?"

Draco hunched his shoulders and shivered. "Our Lord wasn't pleased that I didn't have Nott with me."

"Did you explain about the ambush?" Severus asked.

"Of course I did," Draco replied sullenly. "He didn't listen."

"The Dark Lord does not accept excuses," Severus sneered. "You should have anticipated that Nott may betray us."

"Why didn't you?" Draco said belligerently.

"He was not my year mate," Severus replied silkily.

Draco scowled. "What happened to you? I don't remember you arriving," he said, changing the subject slightly.

"Potter and his little friends decided to pursue me," Severus said in an offhand manner. "It took me some time to escape them. They were surprisingly persistent."

Draco sneered. "I thought you said they weren't that talented."

"It seems they have learnt better," Severus replied, his voice full of silkily intimations. "The rumours I have been hearing of a Trinity apparently refer to Potter and his friends." He paused then smirked. "Was it not you who reported to our Lord that Potter was a mediocre student in all his classes?"

Draco paled then pushed himself rather shakily to his feet. "What are our orders?"

"We are to inform Fenrir to be more aggressive in his attacks and we are to increase our efforts to lure out Potter or one of his friends," Severus said idly. "Given the events of last night, I would recommend one of his friends. But not Granger or Ronald Weasley."

"What about Ginny Weasley?" Draco suggested. "She's supposed to be Potter's girlfriend."

Severus tilted his head back as he considered that. There was little he could say against it. The youngest of the Weasleys was the best option but not one that would please Potter or either of his friends.

"She will be wary," he said in a contemplative voice.

"She's the best choice," Draco insisted.

"I am not arguing that," Severus replied calmly. "But do not focus on her to the exclusion of all others. Any of the Gryffindors will do just as well. Potter would not allow any of them to be damaged on his account."

Draco nodded and sneered. Severus ignored this in favour of glancing out of the window again.

"I will go and inform Greyback as to the change in plans," he said briskly. "You will lurk around Hogsmeade and let suspicions rise. Try to be subtle."

He sneered the last comment then swept out of the room. Draco glared at his retreating back then turned towards the trunk lying in one corner of the room. He pulled out a change of clothes and headed for the bathroom.

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That evening after dinner, the trio were intercepted by Theodore Nott. The Slytherin looked pale and nervous and was clutching a piece of parchment in one hand. Harry held up a hand before Nott could say anything.

"Come with us," he said quietly.

Not nodded and the four students made their way up to the Head Student's common room. Hermione opened the door for them and once they were inside she cast silencing and privacy spells around the room. Harry followed that up with the Muffliato then he gestured to Nott to begin.

"It's from him," Nott said, brandishing the note. "He's not happy."

Harry took the note and opened it. Hermione and Ron leaned over his shoulders and the three of them read it. It didn't take long.

You will join me. Do not look to Potter to save you.

V

"He can't touch you while you stay inside the wards," Harry said firmly. He then remembered something that Snape had mentioned about Greyback. "Though if I were you, I'd stay close to the castle. I wouldn't put it past Snape to find some way of sneaking past the wards. He was a teacher here after all."

Nott looked unconvinced. "You truly think the wards will hold?"

"They were put up by Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick," Hermione said firmly. "They'll hold. The only thing that could take them down is a concerted attack and I hardly think Voldemort would waste such an attack on you. No offence."

"None taken," Nott said with a wry smile. "And thank you. I...never expected the Dark Lord to target me personally."

"What I want to know is why is doing this at all?" Ron asked.

"He needs a spy inside Hogwarts," Harry replied. "He's lost both of the spies he had before with Snape and Malfoy gone."

"Exactly," Nott said sourly. "What worries me is that if I continue to refuse he'll go after someone with less backbone."

"Can you do anything about that?" Harry asked.

Nott shrugged. "Maybe. I'm not the kind of leader Draco was. They all know that the only reason I'm the Seventh Year prefect is because there's no one else."

"Will Slughorn be of any help?" Ron asked. "He's your Head of House after all."

"I didn't think of him," Nott admitted. "I guess I can speak to him. Can I drop your name, Potter?" He smirked.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh hell, why not? If it helps, do whatever you need to do."

Ron and Hermione laughed as Nott grinned sardonically.

"Do you really think anyone still in Slytherin would change their mind and follow Voldemort?" Hermione asked.

Nott grimaced. "I'd like to say no but if he intimidates them enough or threatens their families, I can't rule it out." He paused and eyed the trio of Gryffindors opposite him speculatively. "You three do realise that he will look to the other Houses if his efforts in Slytherin fail?"

Harry nodded soberly. "Yes. I know for a fact that Voldemort has non-Slytherin followers. My parents were killed because of that."

"Sirius Black?" Nott asked.

Harry snorted. "No. Sirius was innocent, framed by the true traitor, Peter Pettigrew. Otherwise known as Wormtail."

"Wormtail?" Nott said with surprise. "I've met him. Scrawny little rodent-like man, right?. Very nervous and twitchy. Has a silver hand. He's the one who made the initial approach to me at the start of the summer before Sixth Year."

"That's him," Harry replied grimly. "He was a friend of my Dad's when they were at Hogwarts. They had a bit of a gang and they were all Gryffindors. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. It was Pettigrew who was the Secret Keeper for my parents. He was the one who betrayed them."

"We're well aware that Death Eaters could come from any of the Houses," Hermione added softly.

"It was a Ravenclaw who betrayed the DA in Fifth Year," Ron pointed out then he grinned. "We trust no one."

"Except each other," Hermione said, poking Ron in the ribs.

"Yeah, well, that goes without saying," Ron replied.

"Not even me?" Nott asked.

"No," Harry replied bluntly.

"Good," Not replied. "Nice to see that Gryffindors are actually capable of thinking properly."

"I think that was high praise from a Slytherin," Harry said dryly. "What is the world coming to?"

"You caught me in a moment of weakness," Nott said with a small smile as he got to his feet. "I'd better go. If I'm going to try and make some inroads with my House mates I'd better start while the Dark Lord still has his sights set on me."

The stringy Slytherin gave them a short bow then headed for the door. Once he'd left, Harry raised an eyebrow at his friends.

"Interesting," Hermione opined. "I hope he can shift some of those neutral Slytherins."

Ron looked dubious. "I think we were lucky to get them as neutrals at the moment. I mean it doesn't really look good for our side with Dumbledore dead. Maybe if can have a few victories, they start shifting more to our side."

Harry nodded. "I think we need to start really airing out the Trinity. We haven't done much so far."

"What can we do?" Hermione said, with a helpless gesture of her hands. "The Aurors are the ones who get the alerts about any attacks from Voldemort. We're not likely to get the news in time."

"Maybe we can," Harry said slowly. "We'll have to sneak out sometime in the next few days and see Du...you know. He can pass a message on to...his greasiness. Maybe we can get some advance knowledge from there."

"Dangerous," Hermione warned. "What if Voldemort suspects something when we show up a little too conveniently?"

"His greasiness will think up a way around that," Ron said with a small grin. "He's got the experience after all."

"We can at least broach the idea," Harry temporised.

"Why are we using those names?" Hermione asked with a frown. "I would think we're safe enough in here."

"Yeah, probably," Harry replied. "But we don't want to get into a habit of using their names. We might slip in the wrong place."

"Fair enough," Hermione said with alacrity then she took the wards and spells down. "Well, I've got homework and I'm sure you two do as well. We can't ignore it just because the world's coming to an end."

Harry and Ron groaned but obediently got up and headed for their bags.