Blood Lines

CHAPTER 1:

Trying to stifle another wracking cough, Snape took his seat at the head table with as much of his usual decorum as he could manage.

"Not sick are we?" Minerva asked with as much apparent concern as she would give to the probable fate of a dust bunny.

Without waiting for a reply, that probably never would have come anyway, she scooted her seat over to make a few centimeters of extra room between herself and Snape. Turning to Lupin, seated on her right, she continued the conversation they had been having. "As I was saying," she momentarily flicked her eyes in the general direction of her left side, "I think it is wonderful to have you back with us again."

Severus, having regained control of himself, was busily attempting to ignore both the nausea that breakfast was inspiring and the headmaster's intense gaze. After holding out as long as he could Snape rose, careful to avoid touching Minerva's robes, and started the long trek to the dungeon.

"Severus? A moment if you please."

'Drat the old man's caught me.' "Yes, sir?"

"Maybe this would be easier if..." At this point all that Albus could manage was to wave a hand in the direction of the corridor and accompany Severus on his way.

The professors' early departure from breakfast did not go unnoticed at Gryffindor table.

"What do ya think's up with that?" asked Ron, who felt that it was always advisable to keep at least one eye on Snape whenever he was around.

"What, Ron?" asked an annoyed Hermione.

She had been talking to Harry about the importance of actually doing his homework instead of copying from the oldest book he could find. (This idea happened to be straight from Fred and George.)

"Professor Snape just left, -"

"So?" interrupted a putout Hermione.

"So," continued Ron, getting more worked up, "then the Headmaster got up and went with him."

Not seeing anything to get excited about she pointed out that Professor Snape often left meals early.

"Yah. But the Headmaster doesn't," countered Harry picking up Ron's point, (and seeing it as a way to get out of the lecture from Hermione.)

"Well what do you suggest we do about two professors who skip a meal?" Hermione challenged.

"Follow them!" said Harry and Ron, in unison.

"NO!" she cried, as quietly as her horror would permit, (they were in the middle of the dinning hall and breakfast after all.)

As Albus walked down the corridor, next to Severus, he lost even more of his nerve and could not think of a suitable opening for the conversation. They both knew it was coming; though neither of them noticed the three figures following them.

Severus, realizing that he was not going to escape the conversation, stopped suddenly and turned to face a startled Dumbledore, "I have been back to Mungo's as you advised and the tests came back positive," he said with a detached voice.

'There! it's said. Now LEAVE ME ALONE!'

His sudden revelation caused several different reactions. Ron and Harry's eyes got very large. Hermione's curiosity was piqued. And Albus went very pale. "No," was all he could whisper.

"They- " Severus started, with uncharacteristic uncertainty, but failed to finish with anything more than a harsh laugh. 'I can't lie to him, but I can't tell him the truth. I can't keep this to myself and get the time off I need.' His internal conflict continued. But, feeling another cough coming on, he rushed to continue before it, or his subconscious, won out. "They found an anomaly- actually a whole series of them- and I'm going to see a specialist..." 'I never should have said anything,' was all he could think seeing the desperate hope glittering in the older man's eyes. Not able to bare his mentor's gaze any longer he dropped his eyes to the stone floor.

As a coughing fit overtook him, Dumbledore guided Severus down the stairs to the privacy of the dungeon.

The three friends exchanged questioning glances. Both boys were surprised when Hermione was the one to urge them forward.

"Oh come on!" She whispered, "We all want to know what's up. Besides its not like we can't just... claim to be early for Potions." At Ron's disbelieving snort she quickly added, "just in case we're caught."

They carefully crept down the granite stairs.

Finally in his classroom Severus shakily made his way to the cold empty fireplace, and spit a wad of black phlegm into its depths. His pet expunge immediately surrounded it and began to dissolve all traces of this latest symptom he had developed. "Albus I-" he began but was suddenly overcome with the lingering nausea from breakfast. 'Oh no. I can't vomit again. I haven't eaten yet-' was all he had time to think, he could feel the bile rising in his throat, and leaning once again into the hearth he vomited up a thick black ooze, obviously the same substance as what ever it was he had just coughed up.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked into each other's startled eyes and decided there were things going on that they could get into serious trouble over. Backing away from the insufficiently closed door the three silently made their way up to Gryffindor tower.

In the dungeon the great Albus Dumbledore was trying to lie to himself about what he had just seen. The man he regarded as his own son was kneeling in front of an unused fireplace, trying to catch his breath after his ordeal. 'No Severus I won't let you go without a fight. You said there was some discrepancy in the test results and I have to stand by you through this.' Reaching out he gently placed a comforting hand on Snape's shoulder. He frowned when he received the usual response Severus had when being touched. Instinctively a violent flinch jerked the shoulder free, followed by apologetic eyes begging forgiveness.

"I'm-"

"Severus," Albus interrupted, "I understand." His eyes once again became filled with wisdom and compassion. He continued, "Just tell me what you can."

Carefully rising to his feet, Severus closed his eyes (as much to keep from seeing the effects of his next words as to focus on what had happened). He was unnerved. "You sent me to that friend of yours at St. Mungo's. I can't- he ran several tests. He couldn't keep all of them as confidential as we wanted. He had to apply for some sort of permission to run some of them." 'It was stupid to continue the tests I should have just left. Now things are out of control and everyone around me will get hurt. Again.' He released a breath that sounded more like a hiss.

Albus could sense the battle going on within the silent figure before him. A sudden, unexpected fear began to claw its way up from where he had banished all thoughts of the time before. It can't be...' thought the now deeply worried headmaster. 'No! We covered our tracks too well. There was never even a true investigation.' Dumbledore's thoughts turned to his accomplice, 'I have to contact Alastor as soon as possible. If he still has connections we might be able to stop this. Before its- NO we will stop it, we must.'

Drawing a deep breath (that ended with a traitorous rattle,) Snape continued in an urgent whisper, "They arrived as I was leaving. Five wizards with the question mark on their collars." His voice now held an edge of confused fear, "Five of them? They asked for me, by name. Why would they want me? Now?" Too uncomfortable to continue, the most dreaded professor Hogwarts had ever employed, turned away ashamed of his own fear. Close to panic and unable to ignore the fear radiating from Dumbledore, he made another move that both troubled and reassured his confidant. Silently crossing the room he sat at his desk and began grading the first assignment that this year's First Years had turned in.

"I will leave you to your work," the words of parting had a question in them, which Severus understood from prior use.

"Yes," he tried to reassure the older man, "I'll make the appointment."

@--'--,-------

On their way to Gryffindor Tower, silence was strictly observed.

Hermione was trying to decide which books in the library would most likely have useful information. 'I could start with the diagnostic medical text, but I don't know what other symptoms he might have. Then again I could start with the medically related dark arts section- but that's restricted...'

Harry's mind was still trying to process the idea that anyone could have that kind of stuff in them. 'How could he still try to show up for breakfast?' "Mudwump," he muttered to the Fat Lady.

With a slight tisk at his tone she swung away from the wall to let them pass. Upon entering the common room they didn't head for the warmth of the fireplace. A few queasy sideways glances were all it received. The only other sign that was given that any of them were aware at all of their surroundings was when Hermione slowed long enough to pick up a large throw pillow. Making their way to the corner by the stairs that lead to the boys' dormitory, they entered a recess that had been invisible before. This was their secret. The room had wards on it that allowed only people who knew it was there to enter. Here in 'The Closet', as they had dubbed it, Harry kept his invisibility cloak and the Marauders' map. Ron kept his second and third emergency stashes of candy. And Hermione had, without the knowledge of the others, hidden her diary. It was a place to share secrets, and plan practical jokes.

"Ok, we need to talk about this." Harry started their first meeting of the year.

(The Corsairs had been established at the end of their fourth year. The name was an obvious play on his father's gang, and he had taken the role of group leader, but neither of his friends minded. It kind of made sense.)

With a great deal of enthusiasm Hermione began telling them of her ideas... "So either way I think we should go to the library on our next study hall,"

Her suggestion was not well received.

Harry groaned, "I didn't plan to spend my first week back locked up in the library." There was a longer than expected pause then, because Ron did not add his usual disgruntled comments. Two pairs of eyes turned to him but he still seemed too preoccupied to notice. "Ron?" Harry hesitantly spoke.

Still no response. He seemed to be in deep thought. Or shock. But a slight cough from Hermione brought him out of the stupor he had been in.

"I think we need to get to class," was Ron's first voiced thought since they had left the dungeon.

"Oh my goodness! Guys we're late for potions!" Hermione shouted.

Jumping up off the cushion she had brought in she ran to the picture/door closely followed by Harry and Ron.

~

"...AND ANOTHER twenty points from Gryffindor for interrupting my class with your silly excuses." Professor Snape was not happy.

Hermione flushed from running, and embarrassment moved to stand beside Neville at his cauldron, while Harry and Ron took the last available station and set to work.

As he paced up and down the aisles Snape tried to calm himself. 'Dumbledore will make the announcement when the time is right. Until then I have to contact Starch and see if he can fit me in soon.'

The rest of the period passed in the same vein. Snape taking points from Gryffindor for Parvati's sneeze and Harry's having dropped one of his scrolls in the hall. Everyone was left frazzled just trying to survive the double period. As the students scrambled to escape though, Ron paused as he moved past Snape's desk. His friends saw the look he directed at the glowering professor and were reminded of his strange silence earlier. It almost looked as though he was about to say something to Snape, but thinking better of it hurried on with the rest.

When he was once again alone Severus let go of his internal controls enough to acknowledge the full implications of that look. 'He knows! I must stop him,' began the chant in his mind. He repeated over and over until he couldn't stand the silence of the dungeons any longer, 'I have to get some time off and contact Starch. I couldn't kill the boy. The Headmaster would not like that.'

*And you promised not to kill any students.*

'BLAST! But Dumbledore could keep him quiet. Him and his friends.'

@--'---,------------

After their last class was over Harry and Hermione had planned to confront Ron, both having figured out that he knew more of what had happened than either of them.

"We have to see the Headmaster guys," Ron beat them to it.

"Is this about er, Professor Snape?" Hermione hesitated to ask.

"Yah, I don't know much about it. But from what my father told me," he paused, "it's real serious."

With that said they went to try and find Dumbledore. As they were leaving the common room however they were met by...

"Professor McGonagall," Hermione brightened. "We were just on our way to see Professor Dumbledore. Do you think he could speak with us, now?"

Minerva raised an eyebrow at this request. "I was sent by the Headmaster to bring you to see him." Her statement was taken well by everyone - except Ron. He actually paled at it. The four of them walked quickly to the gargoyle that marked the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office. "Ton Tongue Toffee," Minerva grimaced at the latest password Albus had come up with. 'Those Weasleys and their joke shop.' She led them up the spiraling staircase and paused at the door.

"Do come in Minerva." They heard the Headmaster's voice from within.

Upon entering they saw that they were not the only ones who had been invited.

"Professor Lupin," Harry greeted his favorite teacher with a smile.

Hermione was silent however, seeing the strange assemblage set off a train of thought in her head. 'Professor Lupin, Professor McGonagall, Harry, Ron, and me. What could possibly involve all of us? Well its obviously to do with Professor Snape's, er, problem. I wish I had time to read those medical books.'

"I have called you all here to speak with you about something that is of a rather sensitive nature." 'I hope he gets here soon. I can't tell them without his permission. It would destroy his trust in me.' The Headmaster paused and offered tea to buy some time.

"What is this 'matter' that has brought us all together?" Lupin queried, his curiosity also having been awoken.

But before Dumbledore could reply there was a soft tap on the door. 'Just one tap. It's his habit.' Albus smiled to himself remembering the many times he had almost missed that one soft tap that told him he was needed. "Come in Severus," he said confirming Ron's fears. "Severus please sit down and calm yourself."

Dumbledore's gentle tone would have been reassuring, if he had been talking to anyone else. But the potion master had never responded to anything like 'everyone else'. So it came as no shock to Albus when this small courtesy caused Snape to begin pacing his office in the same way he did in his classroom.

"His father," Snape began, his voice had a raspy quality to it, "is in the Ministry. Arthur was a First Year when Professor Cooliage died. He," now a long thin finger pointed at Remus, "will not be affected at all. They," he swung around to indicate Harry and Hermione, "are utterly uninvolved with any of this." He was forced to pause for a breath, and slight cough.

The Headmaster took the opportunity it provided to interrupt. "Severus, I have called a meeting. Of only the people who are directly involved or affected. And I will tell them, under the strictest confidence," he paused and passed his eyes over the group, waiting for each person's nod promising silence, "about the situation, as we know it. Will this be acceptable?"