A Time for Understanding

Chapter 14: A Discovery

~ Turning to face the four of them, Severus ordered "Stay here. Do not go outside. And be vigilant." He looked at each individually, trying to impart the seriousness of his words with his eyes. His expression remained unchanged, yet he allowed his gaze to linger slightly on Hermione, who looked at him worriedly. He gave her a brief nod and without further warning disappeared, leaving three Gryffindors to breathe a sigh of relief, while Hermione's fingers turned white from the strength of her grasp on his cloak.~

Ron turned to his three friends, shrugging nonchalantly before wandering over to the larger of the two pieces of furniture occupying the room. Hands on his hips, he dismally surveyed its threadbare state, only to collapse a moment later atop the worn mattress. The springs groaned in tired protest against the unwanted weight, and he coughed heavily as a thick infusion of dust invaded his nostrils. He spluttered for a bit, and then for dignity's sake acted as if nothing had happened. "So," he wheezed, "what are we supposed to do?"

Harry shook his head, gingerly taking a seat next to Ron on the bed. "I don't think there is anything we can do. We have the map, and we can check to see if there are any changes...but other than that, I don't know." He leaned his head against the wall tiredly. "I think we just wait."

Still standing, Neville stared at Harry and Ron, fiddling his thumbs and shifting nervously. "What if Professor Snape doesn't come back?" he asked in a small voice.

Harry sighed. "He wouldn't leave us here. Besides, I need to be in the battle, so he has to come back to get me."

"I don't know, Harry," Neville said dubiously. "He didn't seem to want us to participate in any of the plans. He probably doesn't want us fighting either."

Harry's mouth was half open in response when Hermione cut into the conversation, her angry eyes burning into an already agitated Neville. "What are you thinking? Of course he is going to come back!" she answered vehemently. "And have you even thought about the reason he might not want us to fight? He doesn't want any of us to get hurt! Why can't you understand that?" She glared at Neville and then stalked over to a dark corner of the room, sinking into an irritated heap upon the floor.

Ron raised his brows in surprise; Hermione had never yelled at Neville before. In fact, she was usually his greatest supporter. Curiosity stirred, he shifted on the bed to face her, head crooked to the side as he gazed at her more critically. She was sulking in the corner, her knotted hair obscuring the greater portion of her face, which in all likelihood didn't have on too pleasant an expression at the moment. She'd completely drawn into herself--knees hugged into her chest, and a heavy cloak covering her body, acting as a barrier between her body and the source of her annoyance. Ron's eyes trailed upwards, trying to get a better view of her expression, when his gaze was inexplicably drawn back down to her cloak. Except...it didn't really look like her cloak. And it appeared to be too clean to come from the likes of the cabin. And...it was rather familiar as well.

"Hermione, what have you got there?" Ron questioned, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

She looked up at him tiredly. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

"I'm talking about that cloak you're grabbing at," he said accusingly.

"Professor Snape gave it to me this morning," she stated flatly, clutching the fabric all the tighter.

Ron stared at her in shock. "Hermione, are you mental? You don't just go around wearing Snape's clothes!" His voice rose dramatically, the appalled exclamation filling the tiny room. "And why'd he give it to you in the first place?"

Livid, Hermione responded sharply. "Not that it's any of your business, Ronald Weasley, but he gave it to me because I was cold!"

Ron shot up from his seat, his eyes flashing a warning. "Snape doesn't just give people his clothes, Hermione, cold or not! This is dangerous. Do you even know what you're doing?"

Hermione's hands formed themselves into fists, white-knuckled and clenched, while Ron's escalating exasperation had tinted his face an angry scarlet Grimacing, Harry jumped up in an effort to intervene, setting his body between the two as he let out a shout.

"That's enough!"

Harry looked to his red-headed friend, allowing the command to shock him into silence so that he might finish uninterrupted. He took a deep breath and then continued, his voice softening although its authority remained unmistakable. "Hermione's business is her own. She's always been the brains of the three of us. I figure she can decide for herself what's in her best interest." Harry rose from the bed, closing the distance between himself and Hermione in a few long strides. He took a seat beside her on the floor, and she turned to look at him gratefully. "Thank you," she whispered softly.

Harry nodded, smiling at her fondly before turning to face Ron and Neville. "Now, I know that we're all under a great amount of stress, and that there are certain...issues among us. But now is not the time to discuss them. I'm betting we'll be here for a good part of the day, maybe even through the night. So if we can't put aside our differences, let's just agree to keep quiet." He gave Ron a pointed look. "There's no room for petty fighting. We have a bigger battle to fight out there." Harry gestured towards the door with a jerk of his head.

Ron frowned, hearing the truth in Harry's words, but still bothered by Hermione's admission. A scowl marring his face, he haphazardly sank back onto the bed, coughing as another invisible ball of dust rose to surround him. Neville took a seat on the floor next to him, and the unhappy four sat in a silence that while lacking in words, had tension in excess.

It had been a trying day. The rain had begun to fall around noon, and the cabin had taken on a dismal state of dampness that only added to the gloom felt by those inside. Ron had broken the silence long enough to urge for a fire, but Hermione had pointed out that the smoke might be visible from the castle. When he suggested that a warming charm might work just as well, Hermione had wondered whether their magic might be tracked. The boys hadn't bothered to answer her, and instead stripped the beddings and wrapped it around themselves, all the while trying to disregard the musty odor. They talked very little. Harry and Hermione were pensive, Ron was in a terrible mood, and poor Neville was terrified, probably wishing that he had been able to locate his grandmother. They took out the map every now and then, making the odd remark. But other than that, the room remained in an anticipatory silence.

When Professor Snape did arrive, it was not until much later in the day. He apparated into the middle of the room, sneering as Neville yelped in surprise, falling backwards onto the bed.

"Professor!" Hermione exclaimed, scrambling to her feet. "What happened? What did the minister say? Were you able to find Professor McGonagall?" She looked at him expectantly, all the conserved energy of the day expelled from her mouth in a burst of verbal curiosity.

Severus held his hand up, attempting to put a stopper in the flow of eager questions. "Yes, Ms. Granger. Professor McGonagall was the first person I came in contact with. However, it seems my presence was not necessary, as she had already been informed of our situation...by Professor Dumbledore."

"Dumbledore!" Harry yelled, "What do you mean, Dumbledore?"

With barely contained exasperation, Snape replied, "Mr. Potter, if you'd let me finish..." As the words trailed off, his brow arched, daring the boy to speak. Biting his lip, Harry willed himself to remain quiet. With an arrogant look, Severus continued. "As I said, the Order was made aware of our predicament by Albus. It seems the portkey led to a destination far enough so that he was not able to immediately return to Hogwarts by apparition. Trusting that I would take care of things at the school, he worked his way towards the ministry headquarters instead."

Hermione shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. Why would Voldemort just send Dumbledore to the middle of nowhere?"

Snape's face hardened. "It seems that Voldemort has retained at least some semblance of sanity. He has always feared Albus, and therefore did not wish to send the Headmaster anywhere near himself, even with the protection of his loyal Death Eaters. Nor do I think he wished for Albus to be harmed. It seems he wanted the Headmaster gone, just long enough to erect wards around Hogwarts that would make it impossible for anyone to easily enter."

Hermione looked at him in confusion. "But what purpose would that serve? What did he gain in doing so?"

"Voldemort is taunting us, Ms. Granger. He has ensconced himself within Albus' office, with the belief that he has chased us from our home. His purpose is to have his revenge against Dumbledore and myself for pulling the wool over his eyes. This attack is purely personal, and I doubt based on any grand desire for power. As it is, I'm sure he is delighted that the school has been closed." Severus finished the sentence simply, all evidence of emotion erased from his voice.

"I saw him...in my dreams," Harry said slowly. "He was gloating, as if he conquered us." He looked up to meet Snape's eyes. "But he hasn't. Let him have his fun, let him think that he's won...It won't be for long." Harry finished, and was surprised to find Severus looking at him with something close to respect.

"So what's the plan?" Hermione urged.

"Early tomorrow morning we will launch an attack. The minister was unable to resist the headmaster's more...compelling arguments." Severus' eyes glittered dangerously. "There are many aurors ready and willing to join us in battle. Your family is among then, Mr. Weasley, as are many other Hogwarts alumni. At six o'clock tomorrow we will assemble at the edge of the forest." Severus glanced at the four faces eyeing him, checking to see if they understood the magnitude of his words. "We have quite a few advantages. Mr. Potter's map will ensure that we will know the location of the Dark Lord's men. And as Voldemort has erected wards similar to Albus', we can be certain he will not be able to flee by apparation. If we can keep the battle inside the castle walls, there is a good chance this can be ended once and for all."

They were silent for a moment, each picturing the possible events of the following day.

"We'd all better get some rest then," Harry said. He looked to his friends stoically. "We have a big day tomorrow."

Severus quickly interrupted. "Out of the four of you, Mr. Potter is the only one whose presence is required in battle. It would be best if you the rest of you were to remain here."

"No!" Ron objected. "If you think that we're staying here, you're wrong! Harry needs us, and we are all capable of fighting."

"And equally capable of dying!" Severus voiced was raised suddenly, and then settled into a malicious whisper that brought goose bumps to the flesh of all who heard it. "Do you know what it's like--watching your friends die? You may very well get a good taste of that tomorrow, Mr. Weasley. To watch the blood leave their bodies, life leave their eyes...and know there is nothing you can do to save them. Is that an experience you will savor?"

A small cry interrupted Severus' words, and four sets of eyes came to rest upon Hermione, whose hand had traveled to her mouth in order to stifle her reaction to the vivid pictures her professor had so aptly described.

Instantly regretting his outburst, Severus reached his arm out as if to comfort her. Hermione cringed away at the movement, only to then look at him in horrified silence.

Severus watched her, the confusion visible in his face. It was a long moment before he processed her actions, his look of bewilderment turning into one of hurt, then disappearing altogether into the façade of the sneering Potions Master. He quickly retracted his hand, composing himself as he drew up to his full height, ignoring Hermione's sorry gaze. "Fine. You wish to fight? Then prepare yourselves. We leave at dawn." With the cold indifference of those final words, he promptly swept out of the room, the door slamming angrily behind him.