- Nafisa Haji
+ + + +
If Severus could guess any events following his near-death experience, trekking onto the haunted grounds of the Misty Dell with the Chosen One, was far from one of them.
There was nothing else Severus could do to convince the bone-headed trio to remain beside the safety of Grimmauld Place. No matter what he'd suggest, they will likely go off on their own accord anyway. They have had far too many near misses when they've decided to run off oblivious to the situation, so the very least Severus could do was be brutally honest with them about what they were getting into. Well, almost honest. As much information as Severus was able to provide, without frightening them into submission. Potter had enough to deal with in that head of his and Severus didn't want to unnecessarily add to that. The Misty Dell was notorious among the Death Eaters and the horrifying things that took place here were something that no teenager needed to hear.
Either way, Severus knew that they would find this place upon the use of their tracking charm, so much to his displeasure, accompanying them during this task was the only logical option. There was no way he was sitting alone at Grimmauld Place while three Gryffindors gallivant off into Death Eater territory. He didn't want to be here any more than they did. This place haunted many, even Severus. The Misty Dell was not a place to be treated lightly. It was a place that still plagued Severus' dreams, even now, and it was a place he'd never thought he'd ever see again.
Severus and Potter made their way past the ancient, twisted trees around them, as they slowly descended the stone steps to the bottom of the hill. The further below they ventured, the more the mist shrouded them and soon enough, they could barely see the canopy of trees overhead. Combined with the Invisibility Cloak that both of them remained under, they were as good as the mist that surrounded them. The steps were slick with the condensation and a few times Potter slipped over a few steps, causing Severus to frequently grab the boy's jumper instinctively until they finally reached the bottom without further blunders.
Once the rough, rocky steps blended into the forest floor at ground level, they continued on the path now obscured by thick fog.
"When you mentioned Misty Dell, I didn't think you meant that literally," Potter whispered.
"The mist – or fog now rather - is an enchantment to repel Muggles, Potter. No one will be stupid enough to blindly venture down here, unless they knew exactly where they were going," Severus' voice was barely audible in response. The fog was the perfect cover for an operational base and was highly successful in keeping away prying Muggles, or otherwise. The charm as it now appears had been active since the First War and did its job of masking the horrors within.
He didn't want Potter here. Severus would have been more than willing to venture here on his own, just to appease the Gryffindors. But he knew Potter would likely follow him here and he was not about to let that happen again.
Eventually, the unlikely Slytherin-Gryffindor duo diverted away from the path to their right and stopped just beyond a rockface with a small carving of a strange symbol on its surface.
Immediately, Severus removed the Cloak and handed it to Potter for safe keeping, "Keep the Cloak with you. Any sign of danger, you run to the others and disapparate back to headquarters. No further discussion. Otherwise, remain close to me within my view, understood?"
With a hasty nod from the Gryffindor, Severus turned towards the twisted old willow tree within their view, and took several strides toward it, raising his wand. Once he reached the tree, he took three more strides beyond it and stopped. He heard Potter's shuffling of his feet, as he stopped just beside him. The atmosphere was eerie at the very least, just as Severus remembered. The fog itself not only acted as a visual barrier but a sound barrier as well, absorbing all sounds reverberating from within.
Which from Severus' past experiences, were for the best.
Outstretching a careful hand, Severus tried to feel for the wards that may be present, but nothing could be sensed beyond his knowledge. Crinkling his brow, he took one more step forward and tried again. But still nothing. Finally raising his wand, he began a series of detection incantations in a barely audible whisper, but once he was done, he was left confused. There were no wards in place, except the fog charm which was all but harmless. Severus stood there for a few moments in thought, calculating his next move. Their sight was limited and Severus knew that the path would take them directly to where they needed to go. He considered bringing down the fog charm, but for infiltration's sake, it was wiser to keep them active should they need to use it to their advantage.
Severus turned to Potter and motioned for the teenager to follow him. He was rather surprised the Gryffindor wasn't firing twenty questions at him, thus far, so he commended his current ability to keep his mouth shut when the situation called for it. They made their way back onto the stone path and followed ahead when eventually, the fog began to lighten, and their view less cloaked. A few steps forward and the fog suddenly dissipated once they crossed the invisible threshold. Immediately, Severus grabbed Potter's wrist and tugged him to the side behind another willow tree a few strides away. They ducked down as far as the mudded roots went, and they waited.
Severus peered beyond the tree to finally obtain a better visual of what they were dealing with. A quick sideways glance, and he noticed Potter doing the same.
There it was. The infamous Misty Dell. Only known to Death Eaters and a site with far too much spilled blood soaked into its grounds. Severus' breath was caught in his throat, once his onyx eyes rested upon the old stone house that was situated in the center of a small clearing. The house itself had crumbled in places, and a wall had crashed down. At certain points around the area, there were remnants of other buildings long since destroyed, but some of its walls and stone foundations still remain. Around the main house were areas of swampland, covered in wetland flora, with the familiar putrid smell of rotted leaves and human remains. Severus turned his nose in disgust as he surveyed the area. The site itself was not much to look at, but the things that took place here were beyond anyone's nightmares.
Though one thing which made Severus unexpectedly uneasy; there was not another soul here.
With a single nod at the Gryffindor, Severus moved out from behind the tree and pressed forward towards the old stone house, wand raised at the ready. The darkness overhead was so unnerving, even despite the moonlit grounds, that even the Lumos charm provided no sense of comfort as they wandered closer to the center. It wasn't long until a sickening CRUNCH was heard directly behind him. Severus spun on his heel immediately, to find the horrified expression of Potter as he glanced down at his shoe to find the shattered remains of the bone structure of someone's hand. Severus let go of a breath he didn't realise he held.
But during Potter's unsettling discovery, it was then Severus glanced down at the muddy terrain around them, beyond the now concealed path they were once on. Coming here was a mistake. Perhaps he should have body-binded them after all. That, at least, would have been easier to deal with.
Around them, were littered with skeletal remains of prisoners dated all the way back during the First War. Men, women, and even children. Severus was barely older than Potter when he was first initiated into the Death Eater stronghold among the Dark Lord's proud achievements. Receiving the Dark Mark was a sign of glory and power, and the highest form of honor for the wizard amongst the dark ranks. But what followed that initiation, was enough to even repulse some of the senior Death Eaters. The Misty Dell was not just a prisoner encampment.
Severus shut his eyes.
This location was one of the main sites during the Dark Lord's tamper with Necromancy. One of the most sinister branches of dark magic to have ever plagued the magical world. It was here, that the Inferi were reborn into tools of destruction and unimaginable horror. Creatures so twisted and dangerous, that even a glimpse of them, sent shivers down one's spine. Severus, as a new recruit, was often tasked with assisting to transport prisoners after a raid to deliver them here pending their fates. It was also here that Severus was tested, and it was here that he made his first cold-blooded kill.
Severus made one of his mistakes by taking the Mark. But taking an innocent life…Severus wished he could erase that deed from his mind. This was not what he signed up for.
The victim was barely a few years older than he was at the time. Ripped away from the clutches of his younger sister, a mother who was an Auror, and a father who gathered wand woods for Garrick Ollivander. They raided a small town, mercilessly destroying property, while many of his new comrades casually killed those in their path like they were nothing. Severus was tasked with kidnapping to appease the Dark Lord. He took this boy; this young adult and delivered him directly into the Misty Dell. The other Death Eaters tortured him as he watched trying desperately the mask the horror on his face, as the man writhed in pain before him. But Severus' mission was not over, as his next task was to perform his first act of the Killing Curse on this victim already so damaged. The man looked Severus in the eye slowly weeping, as Severus cast the curse, convincing himself endlessly in the nights following that it was out of mercy. Refusing such an act would have resulted in his own death.
He had no choice.
The screams of the prisoners before their untimely deaths would forever haunt Severus. One by one, the prisoners were eventually slaughtered and turned into Inferi, ready to fight. The fog charm was ideal in keeping their ghastly presence hidden, but the swamps…
"…Professor Snape?"
Severus opened his eyes at the call of his name and found Potter standing before him concerned. He was torn; he really did not want to be here. Severus hesitated as his heart raced within his chest, trying desperately to remove those horrendous memories from his mind.
"…What exactly happened here?" Potter's voice dropped, as he struggled to formulate any kind of sentence. He was quite noticeably anxious, too.
Severus' voice quivered, "Do you recall the lesson I gave on Inferi in your sixth year?"
Potter frowned, "Yeah, I do. But I've encountered them…With Dumbledore on the night that he…" The Gryffindor bit his lip. "…We were retrieving a Horcrux that night. It was guarded by them."
"I see…" Severus' eyes glossed over, "Well, as you can see here, these are…the remnants."
"You said this was a prisoner camp?"
"It is. And…were."
"Wait, those Inferi were actually prisoners? Then…" Potter took another glance around him and looked stricken. He grimaced, "…If this camp hasn't been used since the First War as you said, then their reanimation must have forfeited once Voldemort was killed the first time."
"Yes, precisely," Severus winced, "And watch the name, Potter. It holds a different measure of power to me that you so carelessly throw around."
Potter continued to look at the Professor with worry, "Something tells me you've seen enough here. Before, I mean."
Severus pursed his lips, trying to subdue his rising nausea from being plagued by such a horrible place, "This was not a pleasant dwelling, Potter. Many terrible things happened here. Things that still haunt me to this day."
"I didn't mean to drag you here – "
"-I couldn't let you come here alone, Potter. We are lucky this site is inactive. But…No one should witness this."
They began to slowly walk along the pathway to the ruins of the stone cottage, as they continued in conversation. Potter couldn't help but ask," …What did they do to the prisoners?"
Severus' heart lurched within his chest, as he looked at Potter with distaste, clearly bothered by it, "That, Potter, is something I do not wish to disclose. Some things are best left unsaid."
Potter sighed, "Well, it looks like no one has used this place since. Can I summon Ron and Hermione now?"
Severus gave the Gryffindor a curt nod, "Certainly."
The Potions Master watched as Potter retrieved the coin, and spoke the incantation to activate them, indicating that the charm extends only to Weasley and Granger. A few minutes later, the pair apparated to their side, looking in horror at the littered boneyard around them. Immediately, Granger extended the sleeve from her jacket and held it against her nose and mouth, trying to mask the putrid smell. Weasley looked nauseous.
"That's disgusting," Weasley grimaced, as he looked at Severus, "You couldn't have picked somewhere more…pleasant?"
"The Death Eaters cared not about pleasantries, Mr. Weasley," Severus retorted. He eyed each student before him, carefully, "Do not stray too far, and keep away from the swamps."
"…What's in the swamps, sir?" Granger lowered her voice, almost frightened to wake the dead.
"The Inferi…They kept the Inferi in the swamps, didn't they?" Potter asked. It was a relief to Severus that the Gryffindor was increasingly developing some intellect and method of common sense.
Severus looked at Potter and nodded grimly, "The Dark Lord hid many of them there until they were needed. As a result of his downfall, they likely have all reverted back to their lifeless state," He looked uneasy, as he turned to the others, "We'll continue ahead and scout the cottage. We don't need to stay here longer than necessary."
Turning swiftly on his heel, Severus raised his Lumos-lit wand and continued up the path to the cottage. Granger and Weasley wandered around the area a distance behind the Professor, while Potter was hovering between them and Severus. Stopping multiple times, Severus paused as he surveyed the area he once frequented during his youth. Everywhere he turned, he envisioned exactly the places he treaded through. It felt like yesterday that he was here last and yet those memories would haunt him until his death. No matter where he looked, he could see his Death Eater comrades, sadistically torturing poor victims either by magical or Muggle means, like it was a sport. He was too powerless to do anything as he was forced to watch and pretend it didn't affect him. That was no life for a teenager barely older than Potter now. A life of darkness that Severus never wanted.
"…Sir, did you ever…participate here?" Potter snapped him back to reality once more, as his voice pierced through the tortured silence. Severus silently admitted he was grateful for the company.
Severus felt ill to his stomach, looking sadly at Potter, and nodded, "I was not much older than you are now. I was forced to do things against my will. It was either that or face death much like these poor souls."
Potter turned away, looking at a curled-up skeletal form a few steps away. They both slowly continued on the path together, reaching closer to the cottage. Potter turned back to him after a short pause, "What did they have you do?"
Severus was not liking these questions at all. The boy didn't need to know everything, so he attempted to keep it vague, "A part of the Death Eater initiation was to perform your first Killing Curse. I senselessly took a life here once I was forced to watch their torture. That is all you need to know."
Potter hesitated as he bit his lip, "I understand it must have been – "
Severus turned quickly to look at Potter, eyes wide with fear, "Don't. You could never understand what that was like." He took a deep breath and turned away from him, "I was in an impossible situation, Potter. Had I known that it was part of the job description, I never would have taken the bloody Dark Mark in the first place."
Severus watched as Potter's face fell, "Sorry…I-I won't ask again."
Once Severus softened his gaze in appreciation – and relief – the pair reached the cottage. Baring the Gryffindor from walking no further than he, Severus crossed the threshold in the open door with Potter following closely behind. The cottage itself was only one-level, and often a small dwelling where the Death Eaters would rest in shifts, while the others guarded and tortured the prisoners as they saw fit. It wasn't constant, but there was no way anyone could rest here with screams and anguished cries of those poor souls writhing in pain echoing in the distance.
Severus felt incredibly uneasy being here. It wasn't so the fear of Death Eaters returning to find him here but were blood-soaked grounds that induced a panic-induced terror with the man and the resurfaced memories. There was another teenager much the same age as Severus at the time, who took the Dark Mark on the same day he did. Severus watched him perform the killing curse, as he remembered how visibly upset he was after that. Three days later, the boy took his own life.
Once the Dark Lord required a need for a spy a year later, Severus did not hesitate to step up to the task. There was less bloodshed involved in that role, and in a way, he was hardly required to participate in raids. That provided his own measure of relief, but often Severus would still be forced to watch his comrades and their twisted sadism. The thought was repulsive, even to Severus.
Room by room, Severus combed the dwelling with Potter for any sign of life. It was clear already to Severus when they first arrived that the Misty Dell had not been used since the First War, but he had to make sure that this place was nothing more than ruins. Severus could sense Potter's burning desire to ask more questions, often glancing up at him in deep thought. But he was at least appreciative that the boy kept his word and remained silent. Severus was pained enough to be here, and he refused to answer any more questions.
There was nothing more to be found within the cottage, much to Severus' relief. The swamplands had slowly taken over the stonework, leaving twisted, moss-covered vines to cover most of its interior as the forest attempted to reclaim it back. The worst of the Misty Dell was outside on the haunted grounds, where the mud was littered with the bones of the dead, once turned to Inferi. They exited the cottage and made their way back to Granger and Weasley, who were still scouting the grounds.
"Ready to escape this horrid place?" Severus stated.
"Gladly, " Potter responded, looking uneasy. Severus was struck with a pang of guilt.
"What are we going to do about…This?" Granger spoke with a timid whisper, as she motioned to the remains surrounding them, "We can't just sort of…leave them here."
Severus crinkled his brow at the unusual request, "You…want to bury them?"
Potter and Weasley shared a confused look and glanced back at Granger who appeared stricken. Potter looked back at Severus, "She's right. It's wrong to leave them like this…It'll be the honorable thing to do."
The trio looked at Severus, awaiting a response. There was a short silence between them, as he scanned the collective grim expressions of the Gryffindors before him. A part of Severus just wanted to leave, and never look back. But the teenagers inherited a delicate measure of compassion that Severus, regrettably, didn't really have enough of. As much as he didn't want to admit it, perhaps he might learn something from the Gryffindors after all.
Severus drew in a deep breath, as he spoke softly, "Very well. The quicker we do this, the quicker we can make haste. Understood?"
The trio nodded in compliance. Good. No arguments.
Turning on his heel, Severus scanned around them for a location they could use, giving the area a thorough sweep with his gaze. Eventually, his wary onyx eye's rested upon an old, twisted willow tree by the cottage ruins, and he began to make his way towards it, hearing the careful steps of the Gryffindors following closely behind. Once he stopped at the tree, he raised both of his hands, wand pointed at the ready.
In his usual cool, silky voice, Severus chanted, "Tera amoveo." His wand glowed with a bright white light, as the ground beneath the tree began to shift. Sounds of rocks grinding together could be heard, as the dirt began to shift away, gradually digging itself deeper until there was a giant hole in the ground. The loose dirt and mud piled up beside it. Resting up against the tree, were the skeletal remains of someone long lost. With a non-verbal Wingardium Leviosa, he meticulously lifted the remains and lowered them into the new grave within the ground. Severus heard a shuffle behind him, as the Gryffindors realised what they needed to do.
The trio and Severus combed the grounds for anyone they could find, and gently lowered them into the mass grave. There was not a word spoken between either of them, as they completed the task with utmost silence, giving respect to those who lost their lives here. It took some time to walk around the darkened grounds, but once they found all they could, Severus closed the grave over once more, as the four of them stood idly in silence once the deed was done. Several moments passed them by, as Granger slowly walked up to the grave and magically rearranged the stones littered around to form a circle. Inside the stone circle, she conjured a wreath of white gardenias, which seemed to glow in the moonlight overhead. She stood back up and re-joined them once more. In light of Granger's kind gesture, Severus' lips twitched into a small smile, which was hidden anyway by the shadows cast over his face.
Breaking the silence as softly as he could, Severus turned to the somber Gryffindors. "Time for us to leave. Now, they can finally be at rest."
Leading the way, Severus and the Gryffindors made their way back through the charmed fog – Severus felt it was best to keep the Misty Dell concealed from prying Muggle eyes, so didn't bother to remove it – and all the way up the hill from whence they came. They made the small trek in silence, likely reminiscing at what may have happened there, and those who lost their lives. Severus did not want to reveal the details, because even that was far too much for him to fathom himself. But now they were venturing into uncharted territory. Severus knew there were several more camps likely concealed within the Forest of Dean, but he was not made privy to that information. As a spy certain information had to be withheld from him in case of capture.
Lighting the way with Lumos, Severus led the others to a less dense part of the forest, far away from the swamp marshes of Misty Dell. At least the night sky was far clearer in view, and the moonlight was able to illuminate the darkened forests around them. Once he felt it safe enough, he turned to Granger, with his hands tightly clasped behind his back. His traveling cloak was billowing slightly amongst the nightly breeze.
"Miss Granger, you may retrieve Miss Weasley's wand. We'll attempt the tracking charm here."
He watched as the female Gryffindor retrieved her own wand, as she called upon the other with an Accio charm over the beaded bag she was carrying. A slight rattling emanated, and the other wand shot up from its opening, allowing Granger to swiftly catch it in mid-air.
Granger held up Miss Weasley's wand, as she spoke the incantation with confidence, "Avenseguim." A jet of orange light encompassed the wand, as it flew up out from Granger's hand and hovered in the air in front of them. It took a few moments for anything to happen, when suddenly, the wand began to fly off in an easterly direction, still enveloped in the charm's orange glow. Immediately, the four of them took off after the direction it was heading, keeping up a medium pace with the self-directed wand. The wand itself spun through the breeze, twisting, and turning, giving the four no clear indication of where they were heading. Severus watched as the three Gryffindors darted defiantly ahead after the wand, leaving the Potions Master to keep a watchful eye on the grounds behind them in case they were followed. Despite the throbbing pain in his neck, he was still sound in mind and senses, so he used that to remain on guard.
They continued for what seemed like several hours, pausing occasionally to rest, mainly due to Severus' lapse in energy. There wasn't much spoken between the four of them, but once he allowed the trio to venture ahead, they were amidst in conversation. Severus couldn't help but acknowledge the tenacity and determination the Gryffindors adopted. They were far too headstrong for him to truly give credit to, as boneheaded at times they may be, they wore their hearts on their sleeves and continued forth with a determination Severus admired. Obviously, his own Slytherin approach was far different from theirs, but the three of them had overcome so much adversity in their lives since arriving at Hogwarts. It seemed like an eternity ago now when Severus first laid his eyes upon Potter at the Sorting ceremony in his first year. When he saw nothing more than a copy of James in all his arrogance and pretentious glory. When every single thing Potter did throughout the years was so much like his father, Severus had difficulty dissociating.
Never in his wildest dreams did he ever have his own change of heart and perception, that Potter grew up as a less likeness of James, and more into a version of Lily that Severus once remembered. And for that, he was grateful. He didn't want to continue hating the boy until his dying breath. Hate was far too much of a tiring burden to bear.
Severus was now growing warier with each passing moment. The four of them kept a medium pace – the wand was ahead slow enough to keep them from running after it. Several times Potter and Weasley seemed to trip over twisted roots in the dark, earning a scowl from Severus for making too much noise. Once they ventured closer to another clearing, Severus stopped the three in their tracks.
"Not so fast, Gryffindors!" Severus hissed, as the three halted to a complete stop. The wand kept going a few more paces as the four of them watched it fly off. But then, it suddenly stopped as if it hit an invisible barrier, and it dropped to the floor. Potter went off to retrieve it and stared off into the space it hit. Severus felt something wet drip from his nose, and as he went to dab it with the edge of his thumb, he discovered a trickle of blood. He let out a frustrated sigh. Granger had noticed and transfigured a blank piece of parchment from her bag into a cloth for him to use as she looked concerned.
Hastily snatching the cloth from Granger, he held it to his nose in order to stop the flow of blood. Taking that opportunity during their break in pursuit, Severus leaned up against one of the surrounding oak trees.
"…Are you alright, sir?" Granger asked a little nervously.
Severus shot a look of frustration at the young woman, "Never better. Just…give,/i> me a moment," Severus watched as she re-joined the other two, who were also looking alarmed in his direction, giving him a chance to try and catch his breath. It was getting more difficult to function with each passing day and it was a challenge to mask the shooting pain he felt in his neck every few hours. The pain itself was manageable, but he anticipated that it will gradually become debilitating for him. He didn't know how long he had left, or when this curse decides to release the quarantined poison again in increments. He knew it was going to happen eventually. It will happen, and yet masking the internal effects from the others was proving even more difficult. Despite the pain he felt, he tried desperately to keep up his strong front. It was bad enough for him that Potter had witnessed him in his more weakened state recently, but no one else needed to see him like this.
He knew Potter was growing worried. He thought that Severus wouldn't notice, but he did. He saw Potter dart his gaze his way occasionally, probably making sure he didn't find Severus collapsed somewhere. Severus already felt like a horrible burden that the boy did not need and yet he couldn't shake him. The last wish he ever wanted for Potter was to take care of a dying man. He did not want that for him. Or any of them. There was no way that Potter could understand the turmoil this man was enduring. He couldn't. And yet the boy kept trying.
Since his difficulty breathing that morning in the lab, Severus couldn't stop thinking about Potter's speech about not giving up. To be willing to keep going despite the odds, but he often wondered if Potter thought the same when he learned he had to die so that the Dark Lord could be defeated. How the boy managed to harbor that strength to sacrifice himself like that, was beyond Severus' understanding. Harry Potter was indeed brave and courageous. Reckless. But selfless and compassionate. Severus could undoubtedly see that even more so recently. They were more of Lily's traits as he last remembered. The boy was more concerned about Severus than anyone had ever been in the course of his life, and he didn't know how to feel about that. It was ironic enough that the boy he spent years hating, had finally come to understand him, and was willing to reach out as a sign of kindness.
Severus' heart, as cold as it was, was slowly warming up to the boy. The young man, now that he was. His presence was no longer an irritation to the man's personal space, but now he seemed to actually enjoy conversations with him. Who ever would have thought?
Not being able to formulate his feelings into words was an impossible task for Severus, so the only small comfort he was able to provide was a reassuring hand to Potter. That was as much as he could muster, and even that was a conflicting gesture within his mind. He didn't really know what he was thinking, but it felt...right. It felt like the humane thing to do when both of them were hurting in their own way. He knew Potter was hurting, deeply so. He could see it in the boy's eyes. It was a feeling all too familiar to him, so in a way, Severus could relate. He just wished he knew how to properly help him. He didn't know how to truly be there for him. But he was trying, at least.
After clearing what he could of the blood, he ushered a cleaning charm on the cloth and stashed it back into the pockets of his robes. At the same time, he withdrew another analgesic potion to subdue the throbbing pain that would likely cause him to be incredibly grumpy later. Once he took the potion, he slowly made his way to the others, relieve relief as the potion kicked in. He often wasn't reliant on healing potions, but only if he felt he struggled enough and couldn't continue without them.
Severus walked up to the tree line and outstretched his hand out where the wand had stopped. Immediately he could feel the pulsating power of the wands that were assembled before them. From his line of vision, he could see the stony surfaces of what appeared to be an old quarry ahead. Some of the quarry was obscured with large oak trees and shrubbery. But most of what he could see had adopted a haze, designed to conceal whatever it was from outside onlookers.
He turned his head to the trio, "Lesson time. Hold your hands out here and tell me what you detect," As the trio looked at each other, one by one they lined up beside Severus, feeling ahead at the area he indicated. Severus watched the faces of the Gryffindors as they were deep in thought. A few moments ticked by without an answer, and Severus looked dully at the trio, "Ideally, sometime tonight."
Naturally, Granger looked at Severus in deep thought, "It feels like an odd kind of warmth. Like there's a fireplace there. Plus…it feels like my hand is being repelled, like a magnet. "
Severus nodded, "And do you recall some of the wards I mentioned with those effects?"
Granger scrunched up her face, "Protego totalum, and…Homenum revelio."
"Anything else?"
"It feels like I'm getting bloody zapped," Weasley quickly retracted his hand, "No idea what that one is, though."
"Very eloquent of you, Mr. Weasley."
"Fianto duri, right?" Potter interjected as he looked hopeful at Severus.
"Correct, Potter. What is the other ward that gives off static?"
"Cave inimicium, " Granger replied.
Severus smirked, "Good. Surprisingly attentive. Now follow closely," Raising his wand, he turned to the barrier," Claustrum revelio…Obex apertum…Ostendo incantatem…" With each incantation spoken, a shimmer within the shield rippled and emitted a series of harmless colored sparks as Severus drew each sigil in conjunction with each.
"Those are detection charms, right?" Granger asked.
Severus clasped his hands behind his back, "Indeed they are, Miss Granger. As you have just witnessed, I have now shown you both methods of ward detection. The latter, as the sparks indicate, are positive detections of said wards."
Granger grinned, "This is wonderful to know, sir. I understand, now."
"I sure don't," Weasley looked frustrated.
"I'll run through them again with you later, Ron, " Granger smirked.
"Okay, so how to break through them? You haven't shown us that yet," Potter asked, "If the wand stopped here, then Ginny might be in whatever is beyond that."
"Possibly. However, now that we have stumbled upon an active ward, we will be certain to find enemies hidden in there, " Severus dropped his hands to his side, as he looked at Potter, "We'll require more than just the four of us, I assure you."
Potter frowned, "Wait, so you're saying we can't get Ginny them back tonight? You said you were going to help us."
"I said I'll do my best, Potter. We've crossed off one potential location, and we've located another. This one is heavily fortified. We know enough to meticulously plan this. We walk in there, and we may not be able to leave unscathed."
Granger nodded as she turned to Potter, "Harry, he's right. We won't know what we are dealing with. I know you want to get Ginny back, and so do I…But if we are to do this, we have to do it properly."
"I can't bloody believe this!" Weasley threw his hands up in defeat, looking incredibly sour.
"Do you want to come out of there, alive?" Severus responded as he bared his teeth.
Potter looked upset, as he turned away from Granger. Severus could tell the boy was heartbroken, but he had to be honest. They were no good to the prisoners dead or captured themselves. It was shattering enough for Severus to tell them that news, but It was crucial that they understand what was at stake.
Severus drew in a deep breath, and spoke softly, "Tomorrow, I recommend assembling the DA and I will discuss this plan with everyone present. Perhaps I might even give you an advanced practical lesson in dueling if everyone is willing to cooperate. Trust me when I say, we are ill-prepared to tackle this now."
Potter looked frustrated, "Fine. Whatever."
"If anything happens to Ginny in the meantime, I swear, that's on you, " Weasley seethed with anger, as he frowned at Severus. With a final glance, he turned to Granger, "Come on Hermione, let's go." Granger shot a helpless look at Severus before the pair of them apparated away. Not that Weasley ever had a personal impact on Severus, but those words cut through his heart like a hot knife. He didn't want to let them down, and now he felt like he did.
Potter was left standing with Severus, looking hurt. There was a short silence between the both of them, but Severus could see how devastated Potter was. And that hurt him, too.
"Potter, I want to help you. You cannot afford another Godric's Hollow incident. What if it were Granger or Weasley who gets attacked and taken next? My suggestions are not to spite you. They are to protect you. I – "
"– I know. You're right, I know. I just can't help thinking about what they must be doing to her. After what we have just seen at the Misty Dell…" Potter looked away, as his voice quivered. Severus' heart shattered, as he heard a sniffle from the boy, "I-I can't lose her."
Severus didn't know what to do. He was also worried about her safety, but he had to think logically about this. He could not afford to risk any more lives at the expense of a possibility. He spent years as a spy. It was his job to obtain the correct information, and any slight mishap could cost precious lives and likely torture by Crucio as punishment for false information. This was not a risk he was willing to take, and Potter just might go off and get himself killed if he didn't listen to him seriously.
"I understand. Harry – " Potter's gaze redirected to Severus at the call of his first name, "I cannot allow you to run into danger. We could all be killed, and what good will that be to the ones we are to rescue? I spent many years as a spy. Running blindly, headfirst into danger is against my better judgment. Ginny is alive – If they wanted her dead, they would have done it while you were there at Godric's Hollow. If you run in there now and something happened to you, I'd never forgive myself."
A tear tracked down Potter's face, looking defeated. Finally, he nodded without another word.
Severus looked upon the boy's face; he could tell he was struggling to put up a strong front, too. There was a fleeting moment when their eyes met, and Severus could not peer any further. He didn't intend to look any deeper – He did not need Legilimency to know that the boy was having difficulty processing what was happening. But from what he could sense, there was a strange block that Severus could not access without intentional force. A haze, prevented him from looking no further. But he also noticed that Potter had been avoiding his direct gaze since earlier that day. Did Potter feel uncomfortable with Severus' gesture? Or was he hiding something? He wasn't sure if that's why Potter did his best not to look at him today. He couldn't quite understand it.
Severus closed his eyes, feeling a wave of dizziness overcome him, as he outstretched his hand to steady himself against the oak tree. He cursed under his breath. But as Severus heard a panicked shuffle of footsteps beside him, he felt his arm being pulled up and over Potter's shoulder. Severus opened his eyes, barely registering the boy next to him as he started to feel sickly once more.
"I'll apparate you back to Grimmauld Place, " Potter gently reassured, but Severus could not verbally respond. Instead, he nodded, as they were suddenly whisked away in disapparition.
They arrived at Grimmauld Place, where Potter assisted him to his bedroom on the second floor and remained there until he was confident that Severus was comfortable. Potter was persistent in having him take an anti-nausea potion, in which Severus didn't protest against this time. He was grateful for the relief, even if that allowed him to rest to some degree. If he anticipated in advance that they'd be traveling to the Misty Dell, he would have brewed some Dreamless Sleep potions. Tonight was definitely going to be rough.
Severus didn't register much else, as he closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep as the analgesic potion kicked in, just as Potter closed the door in his bid to preserve whatever shred of dignity he had left.