Darkly Bound

19

I had a full slate of classes the rest of the afternoon. Fortunately they were far more successful than my morning and I had some time to consider what had happened earlier. The whole thing had settled on me as a dense cloud of dread. I knew I'd have an answer soon enough, too soon.

When it was time to go to the main hall for dinner I considered not attending but decided that wouldn't change anything. Most of the teachers were already at the head table when I arrived. Dumbledore and Snape, however, were not. I sat down heavily and felt a huge hand on my shoulder.

"Ar'ye a'right, miss? Ye' lookin' a bit pale this evnin'." Hagrid was standing above me with a look of genuine concern on his broad face.

"Thanks Hagrid, I'm fine. Really."

"You're sure 'bout that?" There was more to Hagrid than met the eye.

"No, Hagrid, maybe not. I think it's going to be a very late night."

Dumbledore and Snape came in together and Hagrid looked at me in surprise. "I think you're right about tha' Miss." He moved on to his seat without another word.

I looked over at Dumbledore who had begun an animated conversation with Professor McGonagall. I could never read him, it was pointless to try. I reluctantly slid my gaze along the table to Snape. And there it was. Exactly as I expected. The inky black aura I had seen when Dumbeldore showed me his image the day I arrived. I closed my eyes and tried to clear the sight, but when I opened them, the scene remained the same.

He was avoiding looking at me, but he couldn't avoid my thoughts.

When?

Tonight. It's nothing. I'm just going for some information.

You're not going to listen to me, are you?

These are minor players. They're nothing! They have no power.

That's why they're so dangerous. Don't you see?

I noticed that Dumbledore had taken a keen interest in this exchange. I wondered if he'd join in, or just be content to eavesdrop.

It's simple. I know these men. I've known them since we were all students here. I know what they want. I don't think you do. Not anymore.

There will be Aurors, ready to go in at a signal.

That's suicide! Can't you see what I can see right now! What I see all around you!

Suddenly our link seemed to be cut. Dumbledore smiled amiably but I glared back at him. "Professor Claros, after our meal I'd like to invite you to my office for an after dinner drink. Would you honor me with your presence?"

"Yes sir," I answered through gritted teeth. "I'm quite looking forward to that."

***

The tension in Dumbledore's office was so think you could cut it with a knife. Dumbledore sat at his desk, scribbling at something with a ragged quill. Moody stood stiffly by the desk and looked like he'd rather be anywhere else than in that room at that moment.

"It's that simple, is it?" I confronted Snape. "You go in, visit with your old friends then call for the ministry clean-up crew once they freely admit to some crime."

He stood, wrapped in his robes, straight-backed in the middle of the room; not slumped or leaning, which caused me even more alarm. "That's about it, yes." He watched me through narrowed, glittering eyes. "If you had any idea how many times--you came with me! When I met with Malfoy!"

"This is not Malfoy. Go see Malfoy! Malfoy's got nothing to prove. It's this Avery I'm worried about. How far would he go to gain favor with his master?" I turned to Dumbledore and Moody. "What would these Aurors do, the ones who are waiting for this signal, when-- if no signal comes? How long would they wait before going in on their own?"

"Why wouldn't...?"

I turned on him. "Humor me."

Dumbledore stepped forward. "I can assure you that no one will set foot in that place until they receive a signal to do so. I'll give it myself if it comes to it."

Snape took a half step forward and looked like he was about to say something, but stopped. Everyone looked at him expectantly, but he turned on his heel and swept out of the room.

20.

There was nothing left to do now but wait. Time passed slowly. Moody seemed to be dozing. Pacing helped, but it annoyed Dumbledore. "Miss Claros, please! You'll be of no help to anyone if you work yourself up into a state of agitation. Perhaps you can find something to occupy yourself with in here." I suddenly noticed that my trunk was in the middle of the room.

"Where'd that come from?" I asked stupidly.

"Your rooms, I expect," he answered. "Perhaps your office? How are we doing by the way?"

"Fine. He's fine. He's also trying to block me which is very stupid as it takes way too much energy and is far too distracting!"

Dumbledore smiled knowing that the last part of that remark was not meant for anyone present.

The reason Dumbledore had summoned my trunk was excruciatingly clear. I should have been pleased that someone had at last taken something I'd said seriously, but the implication here was too grim to celebrate. I was just unwrapping the black mirror on the bottom of the trunk when a wave of shock and surprise rolled over me.

"Dammit!" I shouted. How did you miss that? A second later I staggered back as a crushing blow from an invisible force hit me head-on. "You've just lost your signal, headmaster," I managed to gasp just before a second hit.

Moody jumped forward. "Block it! Can't you block it?"

"I'm trying." It was difficult. My mouth was full of a bitter, metallic taste.

Dumbledore was standing over me. "I'll send in the Aurors."

"No! These men are trying to impress their master. I can feel the Dark Mark! Voldmort's calling a meeting and these men are planning to make sure Severus makes it to this one. They'll want to deliver him alive. If one Auror sets foot in that room he has no chance. They'll kill him before a wand is drawn." I was blocking the worst of the impacts but doubled over gasping at a particularly violent strike. "Let me try to get him out first. Just give me a few minutes, if he has that long, to get him out. Then send in as many Aurors as you like." I clutched the mirror to me. My hand was shaking as it hovered over the lantern portkey which I had kept packed in the trunk with the obsidian mirror.

"Go," he said.

I grabbed the lantern and was instantly at the old stone circle. I dropped the mirror, now glowing an angry red, onto the old altar stone. I tried to find a quiet spot in my mind. I closed my eyes and tried to clear my head. When I opened them again the image in the mirror was clear enough to make out. Four figures. Gradually features became recognizable. Three men I did not know, and Snape. One of the men was holding him up, his arms pinned behind him while another had his wand held steadily at him. A third stood a slight distance away and seemed to be speaking.

I could hear others arriving around the circle. Senior professors I imagine, hopefully some medical help. Dumbledore was here already I knew, and Moody. I beckoned them over and pointed into the mirror. "Which one's Avery?"

Moody looked into the mirror and paled. He glanced up at Dumbledore who was regarding the scene with an expression of absolute fury.

"That one there," Moody pointed to the one who seemed to be in charge. "Can you hear them?"

"No," I said flatly.

"He's unconscious then," said Dumbledore. "So there is some mercy in this atrocity."

"No, he's not." In the mirror we watched in alarm as Snape abruptly stood straighter and began to speak. He leaned slightly forward, challenging his tormentors. No! Don't do that!

"What's he..?"

"Shhh!" I held my wand over the glass, it's glass end now glowing bright red facing the mirror. With both hands I brought it down hard on the mirror's surface. "Penetro!" The surface of the glass rippled like water. I turned my wand back around so that the business end was pointing toward the surface. The images were just as clear, but the surface had changed substance.

I had just turned my attention back to those images when I saw a flash of blue light erupt from Avery's wand and hit Snape. At that moment I was wracked by the most excruciating pain imaginable. I was pitched forward, and hit my head on the stone of the old altar stone, but even that didn't compare to the crushing pain that ran through the rest of me.

"The cruciatus curse!" I heard someone say.

I staggered back trying to hold my wand steady over the liquid glass. "Expelliarmus! Stupefy!" Red light shot through the rippling surface. In rapid succession, inside the mirror room, the blue light from Avery's wand sputtered out, the wand wielding Death Eaters were disarmed and all four figures in the room were knocked senseless.

I was shaking all over and every nerve was screaming in protest from the assault. I could feel blood seeping down the side of my face from where I'd hit my head on the stone. I turned to Moody. "Aim your wand in there. If anything moves, kill it."

Moody was pale and shaken, but drew out his wand. His magical eye was fixed on the mirror image. Even Dumbledore looked taken aback, although I doubt he was much surprised. And as for what the other spectators who had gathered outside the circle thought I could not have cared less. I walked a few paces away from the old alter stone and kicked off my shoes and began marking off paces. The stunning spell had bought me some time.

"What is she doing?" I heard Moody mutter. "She's completely mad. Those hits she took must have pushed her right over."

"She's not," was Dumbledore's quiet answer. "She's looking for a convergence. Ley lines run together under these henges."

A sudden jolt of energy told me I'd found what I was looking for. I knelt down on the spot and tried again to clear my mind. It was difficult, harder than I thought it would be and the pain in my head made it doubly so.

Incendio! the bases of the old stones erupted in a circle of flame.

It was time.

"Severus!" it came out a hoarse whisper.

We are bound, water to water, blood to blood!

Remember these words:

No mountain nor valley will hinder you.

No forest nor mountain will keep you. Not rivers of fire, Nor rivers of blood will

divert you. No man, no woman, no angel from heaven nor demon from hell

will deter you from your return to me." I felt as if I were in the center of a whirlwind. I could see nothing but a blur of whirling color. All I could hear was the rushing of my own blood in my ears, and my own choked incantation.

"We are blood-bound, we can not be kept apart body from body, soul from soul "

I reached out my hand, reached outside the maelstrom and grabbed--

--his hand, his arm. With a great strength I didn't know I had I pulled him into center of the vortex. He was whole, solid, complete. "We are bound. It is complete. The spell can not be broken."

At once the wind was gone. 'Ennervate.' I whispered. There was a lot of blood. I hadn't expected that. What had they done? I heard footsteps running towards us, but I held out my hand to stop them. He was barely stirring. His eyes were open, but empty. "Severus! Look at me! Concentrate on my voice. Stay with me. You've got to come back now, it's over." His grip on my hand tightened, then he seemed to become aware of what had happened. His eyes began to clear.

You did this!

I nodded, no longer able to speak.

Through the gates of hell, I told you.

The next voice I heard was Dumbledore "We have to get him to the hospital wing. That was a terrible blow you took when you hit your head. You should be checked for concussion. I'll be sending those Aurors in now for those three. You've done your part here."

I reached up and touched the bloody knot on my head. Except for the feeling like there was a knife lodged in my head, It didn't seem so bad. "No, Headmaster, if you don't mind. I'd like to be the one to give that signal. I'd like to be there when they're taken."

He regarded me thoughtfully for what seemed like a long while. "Miss Claros if I thought you had any intention of interfering with the lawful apprehension of those men..."

"I understand, sir. I'll see that they're safely delivered to your ministry Aurors."

He sighed. "Alright then, I suppose it's your arrest by right, you are the one who contained them, you should be the one who delivers them."

"Thank you, sir"

He vanished. I quickly swept my belongings up and dispatched them back to the castle.