Spanning the River of Blood

Chapter 2 - Tasks

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was the oldest school of its kind in the world. For over a millennia in its halls and classrooms young witches and wizards had received their education in the magical arts. In addition to being a school it was also a rallying point for those fighting against the dark forces prowling the land.

Most took their cue from Albus Dumbledore the aging headmaster. Well respected within the wizarding community he was the unofficial leader against the tide of evil spreading across the land. It was therefore of no surprise that a council of war would be held in the headmaster's study when called.

Professor Snape the Hogwarts Potions Master was in a foul mood as he went to attend this meeting. He didn't like large gatherings of this nature, preferring to deal with the headmaster on his own. When he caught sight of a form on the stairs ahead of him his mood darkened, it was unmistakably Remus Lupin. They had attended school at Hogwarts at the same time and the sparks had flown between them even then. That Lupin had also spent a time as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Master a few years previously did nothing to change Snape's feelings. His dislike of Lupin was well known, and he knew that if Lupin was here then Black would be as well. His hatred of Black was even stronger than that for Lupin.

Snape reached the top of the stairs and went through the door into Dumbledore's office. Glancing round the room he saw that most of the staff were already there along with others including some students. 'Yes, there he is,' Snape thought as he spotted Black deep in conversation with Lupin in the far corner. 'Well at least I don't have to stand next to him,' and tried to push his presence from his mind. Scowling even deeper he went to stand in the corner and waited to see what the meeting was about.

At last Dumbledore came into the room and went to sit in his favourite chair by the fire. Noting that this was a bad sign Snape shifted his weight slightly so that he could see the older man's face clearly. Clearly he anticipated a long meeting. His sparkling blue eyes caught Snape's for a moment and their customary twinkle was easily evident.

'I'd like to open this meeting by thanking you all for coming at such short notice,' Dumbledore began calling the meeting to order. He did not need to raise his voice and spoke quietly and clearly to the room. 'I am sure you are all most curious as to why you are here. So I will get straight to the point.'

'As you are aware Hogwarts is protected by a series of wards around the boundaries. Since the school was founded these wards have never been breached, except for one occurrence at a quarter to one this afternoon,' he paused as gasps erupted around the room. All eyes were on him now and he waited for them to take in what he had told them.

Given the extreme enormity of what had been said Snape wondered why his old friend was sitting before them so calmly. The murmuring was growing louder and eventually Minerva McGonagall the Deputy Headmistress voiced what was on all their minds.

'Do you think it was.... well... you-know-who?' she asked her question directed to Dumbledore. The room fell silent as they waited for his answer.

He slowly reached over to the table beside him and picked up a goblet. He raised it to his lips and took several sips before answering. 'It is a possibility, but I do not believe so.' More confusion in the room followed. Snape observed how the old man allowed everyone to assimilate this new information before coughing politely to regain their attention.

'Whoever passed through the wards,' he stated simply, 'did so with ease. They also left of their own accord. I do not believe Voldemort would have left in that manner.' Snape knew that he was leading them somewhere with this but was at a loss to know where.

People were now making suggestions as to who it might have been and Snape turned his attention to everyone else. The Gryffindor three, as he called them, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, looked rather shocked. Granger was busy telling the boys on either side of her all about the protective wards around their school and they looked like they might physically gag her soon. 'Now that would be worth seeing,' he thought. Black and Lupin stood in the corner behind the three and muttered to each other. Moving on he could see the diminutive Charms Professor, Merlin Flitwick talking wilding with Madam Hooch the flying instructor. He appeared to be trying to make up for his small stature by gesturing wildly.

After some of the theories started to get rather wild, he heard Hermione Granger raise her voice. 'Professor Dumbledore, sir.... Can I ask who you think it was?' she said addressing her headmaster. The room fell silent as all eyes turn first to her and then back to the old man.

'That's a very interesting question, and I'm afraid, my dear, I don't know who it was.' He was clearly amused that it had been her who had asked him. 'However the fact remains that Hogwarts is vulnerable.... and that is something we must change.'

Slowly he started assigning tasks to those present and the room slowly emptied as people set off to get started. Most were to work on developing new wards to be put in place as soon as possible. Eventually only Snape and Lupin were left. 'Severus I wonder if you would be able to make this potion for me,' he asked Snape holding out a piece of parchment. Taking it Snape looked down. Detailed instructions were given for the brewing of a potion that he had never seen or heard of before. Clearly bewildered he simply nodded and left the room.

Lupin watched him go and then turned his attention back to his friend and mentor. 'So what do you have in mind for me?' he said sitting himself down in a chair when Dumbledore seemed in no rush to speak.

They sat in silence for some time before he received his reply. 'I need you to find someone, and I need you to do it quickly. Our intruder was not Voldemort, but he will be looking for whoever it was. We must find them before he does.'