Chapter Text
The air is far too quiet. Fern’s breath comes out in soft white puffs as the night becomes frigid and dark, the dense tree line becoming black like ink.
He looks at the others. “...Should we go in?”
“Are you crazy!?” Hermione hisses as she rubs her hands together. “Do you want Snape to kill you?!”
Draco shivers and shakes his head. “I am not going in there. The forest makes people disappear.”
Fern shrugs. “I don’t know, I feel like we should do something?”
Hermione speaks firmly. “Professor Snape is a professional! He knows what to do!”
“I cannot believe you actually admitted that.” Draco chuckles at Hermione before he continues. “But Hermione’s right Fern, we’d just get in the way. We should really be going back to our houses before we get caught.”
“Mr. Malfoy is spot on Mr. McJones.” Adds a smooth and warm voice.
The three of them jump as they turn to come face to face with Headmaster Dumbledore, dressed in a frankly garish lemon coloured robe, and looking serene with a twinkle in his eye. Fern automatically looks away from Dumbledore and aside to wave at a slightly chilly looking Percy instead.
Hermione flounders. “Headmaster! We- uh, we are-”
“It is quite all right Miss. Granger. Professor Snape warned me of what was happening here.” He nods knowingly. “And also that you might be waiting for him.”
Percy grumbles under his breath. “Really. It’s always you three.”
“Good Evening to you too Percy.” Draco tsks, although he is grinning almost proudly.
Dumbledore hums over the exchange, “Prefect Weasley is going to escort you all back to your dorms.” Fern looks up as Dumbledore’s hand briefly lands on his shoulder. “Don’t dilly dally now.”
Fern pauses as his eyes accidentally meet Dumbledore’s. He braces, but does not feel the tell tale prod of Ligilmency.
He still looks down to the headmaster’s eye searing robes instead, mostly playing up being sheepish at getting caught out and about. “Um, Headmaster, is Hagrid in trouble?”
“Trouble? Whatever for my boy?” Dumbledore chuckles, his voice deep and soft.
“Oh, uh...” Fern fidgets as he decides. “Us being out late.”
Dumbledore shrugs easily. “Ah, not at all. He, as well as you, simply lost track of time.”
Fern nods as he skirts around the Headmaster and hurries up to Percy with the others.
“Let’s go troublesome trio-” Percy starts, disrupted by shuffling from the wood’s edge.
Snape and Hagrid hurry out of the tree line in an uneasy fumble, and Fern is surprised that Snape looks oddly disheveled, hands tightly gripping at the collar of his leaf scattered cloak.
“Ah! We’re back!” Hagrid announces sheepishly.
Draco instantly breaks away to call out, “Sev! You-” Snape looks at Draco so sharply he jumps in response.
“What are all still doing here?” His voice is level in an almost unnerving way.
“Professor, it’s all handled.” Dumbledore offers smoothly as he wanders up, dragging Snape’s attention to him. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
Snape gives Dumbledore a long hard stare as he straightens up and starts talking, tone back to cool and clipped. “...A Baby Dragon has taken up residents in the woods. Hagrid had brought it into his hut to care of it. We returned it to...”
Fern is unable to hear him once they are far enough away and nearing the castle again.
He speaks lowly to Draco, who is suddenly very quiet. “Is everything okay?”
Draco looks at him as he is pulled from his thoughts. “...Hm? Yeah, it’s- don’t worry?”
Fern nods. “Worried about Snape?”
“...he seems off.” Draco offers.
“Yeah?”
Draco shakes his head. “He looks like he has... seen a ghost.”
“Maybe he did?” Hermione points at The Bloody Baron as he floats past.
Draco presses his lips together. “Not the Hogwart’s friendly ones Hermione.”
He falls quiet again and Fern turns to his own thoughts. Draco isn’t wrong, for a moment there Snape looked less haunting and more haunted. I wonder what he saw out there? Fern brushes the thought aside. He is pretty opportunistic, but he is also absolutely sure he wants nothing to do with the Forbidden Forest. More dangerous things to have right by a school. Geez.
Fern also puts aside the original plan for the night. They will have to visit the Cerberus again tomorrow.
...
Dumbledore leads the two of them back to his office, and through the slight tension around his words, and the urgency when he insisted they have to talk Now, Dumbledore suspects Severus has something rather important to tell him tonight. Dumbledore hums at him fondly, despite his companion’s over cast state and blank frown as the door to the Headmaster’s office slants shut. He notices the tension still does not leave Serverus’ shoulders.
“Hm, so the dragon has found an unlikely home.” Dumbledore chortles as he motions to the armchair. “And a mysterious hooded figure. Ah, no matter, I’m sure they won’t get too far-”
“Albus we can’t leave it like this.”
Dumbledore looks at him, still standing more hunched and hand absently pressing on his wrist, his voice holding a tone of subtle desperation.
“Severus?” He asks his attitude losing some of it’s rosy edge.
Severus snaps as he speaks in body and tone. “I saw him in the woods! He was out there in the Forbidden Forest.”
He need not say who. Dumbledore already knew. “Oh. I am so sorry my boy.” He presses his lips together as he watches the younger man begin to pace about, much like a caged animal. “Are you sure it was-”
“Don’t you dare.” Severus growls as he threads his fingers up on his scalp and grips his hair. “I know what I encountered out there! I know I saw him! I looked him in the eyes!” he drops his hands and paces a little faster. “He is feeding off unicorns to stay alive- Quirrell Dammit!” he clenches and unclenches his hand as groans in frustration and worry. “He is probably looking for the stone to try and revive him fully. And he is targeting students because he is trying to find and hurt Harry Potter. He must know he is here, but not who he is. Or he is targeting someone else for a similar reason-.”
Dumbledore walks up and gently puts his hands on Severus’ shoulders, preventing him from pacing a trench in his office floor. “Severus, please calm down.”
“How can I calm down?!” Severus starts again bristling. “If he is hiding in the school then they are all in danger-”
Dumbledore cuts him off. “Did he recognize you?”
Severus blinks at him in surprise. “What?”
Dumbledore asks again, tone even. “Did Lord Voldemort, or whatever is left of him, recognize you?”
Severus catches his breath and stares at Dumbledore for a long moment. Their eyes are met, but Dumbledore does not try to look inside his head.
Severus drops his gaze and speaks lowly. “No. He was... feral. He could speak, and probably think somewhat, but he didn’t remember me when he saw me.”
“Hm I see.” Dumbledore lifts his hands away and wanders to his desk, eyes casting over to Ymir in their terrarium bubble.
What...
Ymir responds.
“What are we going to do?” Severus groans in dismay. “Albus what do we do!?”
Dumbledore hums. “Nothing.” he sighs as he wanders up to pat Fawkes as she croons. “We are not going to do anything.”
The silence between them becomes thick like lead. Dumbledore continues to pat Fawkes and not look at Severus, who is now glaring a hole into the back of his head.
“...I’m sorry?” Severus says, voice deathly calm.
“There is nothing to do Severus.” Dumbledore nods as he looks back to meet his gaze. “The plan is already set-”
“Are you out of your MIND?!” Severus hisses at him as he stalks closer. “THE DARK LORD is in the school somewhere! He has caused injuries already and may even cause a death or two before the school year ends! Fern-”
Dumbledore cuts him off easily. “I already suspected Quirrell was working for Voldemort. I also already suspected he might be hiding on school grounds. There is already a plan to stop him in motion. With the trap we set-”
Severus fires back. “Our ‘Traps’ could technically be defeated by a first year student with two brain cells to rub together! They won’t-”
“Not that trap.” Dumbledore intones. “The other plan I set up.” his gaze slides over to Ymir again. “Although it might be different this time.”
Severus scoffs angrily. “Another- You cannot be serious, I do not believe you have a plausible plan for such a situation, tell me-”
“Severus.”
Severus instantly falls silent to the cold, unrelenting tone in Dumbledore's voice and eyes.
“You will do nothing.” Dumbledore says calmly. “You will let things play out, and you will not tell anyone what you encountered today. Do I make myself clear?”
Severus drops his gaze to the ground instantly. His hands twitch like he may ball them again, but the fight seems to leave his sails as fast as it came. For a moment, Dumbledore swears it’s almost like back then, back when he was a headmaster who knew so little, and Severus was but a troubled kid, who might have a future.
The memory is gone in an instant as Severus looks up again, not meeting Dumbledore’s gaze as he smoothly crosses his arms over his chest, face drawn and blank. “Yes Headmaster.”
Without a word more he whirls around to leave and Dumbledore speaks up. “All in good time my boy.” His tone is warm, but resigned. “Please try to get some rest.”
Severus doesn’t look back or respond to him before he stalks out the office like a thundering storm. Dumbledore watches him slam the door, which of course, falls slanted again off it’s hinges. Dumbledore looks up as Ymir flutters overhead, having escaped their terrarium yet again.
Things are change d ...
...
The trunk falls shut again with hardwood shaking thud. Regulus stretches as he stands, joints creaking in a distinctly unhelpful way as he recovers from his slightly more exciting evening. He picks up the black book from his desk, charcoal stylus posed, when a burst of ethereal light stampedes into his room, literally.
The doe patronus bounces to a halt, and Snape’s voice emerges from it, dripping with barley restrained rage, and something Regulus might almost recognize as fear. “Emergency Meeting, NOW!”
Regulus need not be told twice, and as the doe bounds away to harass the other residents of Grimmald place, Regulus snaps his wand to summon a clean and stylish outfit onto himself as he shoves out of his last secret lab. He sweeps down the hall and right into the spacious fireplace a room over, not even pausing in stride as he tosses the floo powder at his feet and hisses his destination with clear pronunciation.
He strolls out at Spinner’s End and side steps a pillow as he slows. Glancing around, he can clearly see Severus has not made his usual preparations, which makes sense since this is an emergency apparently, but he recognizes the mess round is more than that. The ripped open cushions and smoldering pile strewn on the dining table are indicators of anger Regulus has not seen from the other man in a while.
Snape sits hunched on the chewed out couch, wrapped in a very nice custom cloak, feathered, embroidered and slightly mussed with leaves and twigs. He has not acknowledged Regulus, instead glaring into the drink glass he holds in his hand, half drunk with his favored muggle brand of scotch, the drink he only ever seems to tolerate in celebration, or sheer despair. Regulus swallows his disquiet, suddenly aware that although dressed to the nines, he is in no way prepared for what he is about to learn.
“Drinking on a school night.” He starts, hoping to break the unease weighing heavy in the air.
Severus swallows hard and doesn’t meet his eyes. “The Dark Lord is hiding on the Hogwarts grounds.”
Regulus feels his stomach drop, “Where- How?”
His voice is laced with disgust. “He lives as a shadow, feeding off unicorns in the Forbidden Forest.”
Regulus closes his eyes for a moment before he responds. “What are we going to do? Did you tell Dumbledore?”
Severus’ lip curls back in a snarl, “Nothing. He told me we are going to do nothing.”
Regulus stares at him and sighs. “Well fuck.”
Severus stops staring despondently into his drink to look up at him in surprise as Regulus sits down beside him. He makes a ‘gimmie’ motion and Severus hands him an empty glass and the bottle. Johnnie Walker? Then again who is Regulus to argue? He pours himself some and sips the golden brown liquid, thoughts swirling.
The fireplace flares as Sirius and then Lupin fumble in, one tripping on the sprawled pillow and promptly stumbling into the other, sending the two full grown wizards who were once on the front lines of a war slowly fumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Regulus watches the two of them with a sip of his drink, unable to prevent himself from noticing Sirius laughing nervously as he helps Lupin up, whose ears are remarkable pink. At least their world wasn’t ending. Yet.
“Were here! What is-”
“The Dark Lord is hiding in the Forbidden Forest, and Dumbledore says we are to do nothing.” Regulus looks at Severus to confirm, only to find the other man has folded over, resting his head on his knees.
The change to the others is instant, Sirius eyes flickering bright and electric with fury as he growls, “What? WHAT!? What the-”
“What does he mean nothing?” Lupin’s voice is eerily calm and his eyes cold.
The fireplace blazes as Lucius stalks in, and falls still at the sight before him. “What- Severus your cloak! Why is it-”
“Dark Lord. Forbidden Forest.” Lupin fills in succinctly, none of the usual warmth in his tone.
Lucius’ posture straightens defensively as he stares between them, “You’re certain?”
Regulus jumps as Severus shoots out of his seat, voice a barely constrained scream. “I saw his eyes Lucius! Those damn red eyes!” He visibly winces as he whips his glass against the floor, shattering it on the dusty wood boards as he storms on. “He attacked me but he is basically feral animal. At least he will be until Quirrell gets the stone.”
Sirius curses and gnashes as he starts stalking around and Lupin runs his hands down his face.
Lucius grits his teeth as he circles closer, “And what did Dumbledore say? You spoke to him of course-”
Severus cuts him off sharply. “He said we are to do nothing.”
Lucius looks nigh apocalyptic. “Excuse me? We are Not doing NOTHING!”
“Hold it! Hold on!” Sirius yells as he pauses his meandering pace “Did he say he had a plan?”
“It’s the same plan as before. Mostly.” Snape tries to fold his arms, and then frowns, suddenly stepping away. “He seems to have some kind of end game in mind, but he didn’t tell me what it is-”
Lucius rounds on Sirius. “Who cares what it is! My son-”
Sirius glares at Lucius in turn. “Now hold on, Dumbledore has never let us down-”
“He’s never let YOU down you stupid mutt!” Severus snipes from across the room. He slams the drawer he was rummaging through shut and points the deteriorated first aid kit at Sirius menacingly “Unlike you, we’ve been let down by that conniving old man more times than I can count.”
Lupin speaks up firmly, “But his plans are usually sound-”
“So why does he always keep everyone in the dark!” Lucius sweeps over to Severus despite speaking to Lupin, grimacing at him as he rolls up his sleeve to reveal a series of scratches, no longer fresh but still glistening. “He sacrifices every one he decides to without a second thought-”
Regulus whistles aloud sharply, causing everyone to jump and turn to look at him. “Arguing will get us no where.” He sips his drink and places it down on the nearby side table. “Let’s go over the facts. The Dark Lord is hiding in the school, and surviving by feeding off unicorns. He is apparently not of sound mind.” He watches Severus wipe his wrist clean, “Did he recognize you?”
“No. And he doesn’t know who the boy who lived is either.” He spits under his breath. “Quirrell has been firing blind for him, hoping to urge the boy out, to no avail.”
“And Dumbledore is aiming to put a stop to them, related to the guarded hallway and the philosophers stone.” Regulus traces the rim of his glass. “I hate to be the one to say this, but I think Dumbledore has some sound logic.” He waves off the various pointed looks the others send him. “Hear me out. If we try to outright expose Quirrell or attack wherever the Dark Lord is hiding, one or both of them will react rashly, resulting in a further, possibly explosive conflict, inside Hogwarts.”
Lupin picks at his sweater vest absently, “So nothing is the correct thing to do.”
Regulus tilts his head at him, “I didn’t say that. I’m purposing an out right confrontation is simply not viable. But that doesn’t mean we can’t act at all. Subtlety is key. We have to prepare for when they will make there next move.”
Sirius grumbles lowly, “Okay. Alright. What can we do?”
Regulus glances over to look at Severus as he speaks up, hands busy wrapping his arm. “I am the most entrenched in this. I contributed to his plan and regularly monitor the hallway. I can put up more measures, but I’m just one person, I can only do so much.”
“I can help.” Lucius adds as he glances back, making a face as he reaches over on instinct and holds the gauze, “I’m on the school board so I could make up a great many reasonable and even unreasonable excuses to give Hogwarts a surprise visit.”
Severus frowns at Lucius a moment, like he is thinking about something, before he sighs and shakes his head, accepting his help without argument.
“I could ‘visit’ as well.” Lupin suddenly offers, “Dumbledore feels responsible for my circumstances, even after all this time. He won’t turn me away if I suddenly appear to see him.”
Regulus rises to wander, grabbing his glass again, “I have my own inside man I can speak to about happenings in the castle, but I cannot go in myself. We have a good start at least.”
After a beat, Sirius throws up his hands. “Great. And that leaves me, sitting around doing nothing.”
“Well, unless you want to get caught.” Lucius throws him a wide smile, “I could help.”
“No, no, Absolutely not.” Lupin rebukes with a groan.
“Sirius.” Severus adjusts his bandage and looks over smoothly, “As much as it pains me to say what I’m about to say, I worry you will take Lucius up on his offer unless I do.” He takes a great grave breath, like he is about to impart upon them some even more terrible knowledge, “You have remarkable skills Sirius. You’re a man of action and an incredible assets in battle.” Severus nearly gags and holds up his hand for a moment to stop any of them from responding, but they are all a little too stunned to. “But that means that you lack a bit in espionage and sabotage.”
Regulus picks up Severus’ train of thought to spare him, “We will need you in the future, especially if Voldemort returns fully, but right now, the best you can do brother, is let us handle things where we can.”
Lupin continues earnestly, “I’ll tell you everything that is going on luv.”
Neither notice the collective eyebrow raise at Lupin’s sudden nickname as Sirius blows out a long sigh. “Fine. FINE! But the moment you need a ‘man of action’, tell me!”
Severus rolls his eyes and sneers at him dismissively, “Ugh, you’ll never let me live that down.”
“I may.” Sirius’ face breaks into wolfish smile, still uncertain at the edges. “Am I forgiven?”
“No.” Severus intones.
“Darn.”
“What a night. I need a drink.” Lucius shakes his head as he pours and sips from a repaired cup.
Severus recognizes it instantly. “That’s my glass.”
Lucius shrugs with theatrical indifference. “What, you have a pox you’re worried you’ll pass on?”
Severus gives him an incredulous look. “I- Nevermind. Everyone out. I have class tomorrow.”
“Even me?”
“Especially you.”
Regulus stares out the small window, foggy with dust and age as he lets the general meander behind him fade into the background. He ignores his tightened grip against his drink. I’ve barely made a dent in the remaining forces. I need more time. Frost clings to his finger tips. I’ll make more time.
...
Hermione doesn’t break the rules. At least she didn’t used to. But somewhere along the way this year, she is certain something has gone wrong in her view of the universe. Maybe it was when she met Fern and Draco, or when she faced that ordeal with the troll, or maybe when she learned what Quidditch was, but at some point, she realized that the world doesn’t inherently abide by the rules as written.
She watches, lips pressed in a slightly unimpressed line to dissuade how impressed she actually feels, as Fern uses cat treats to reel in Mrs. Norris and Draco grimaces as he runs his hand along her back to collect some loose fur. He leans over and sticks the cat hair over the rune on the wall, eyeing it a moment before he motions them through. Hermione still follows despite her wordless radiating of how bad an idea she thinks this is, and she barley looks down as Fern gently places a heart shaped dog biscuit into her hand. One by one, they slide the biscuits under the door, always followed by curious snorfing and happy dog noises. She keeps watch as they go, although behind them is only Mrs. Norris, watching them with her lamp light eyes.
Hermione deep down decides to pick up wizarding law books the next chance she gets. If she is going to bending, not breaking, any rules, she better be the utmost prepared.