A Working Relationship

A Working Relationship


Disclaimer: All canon characters are the property of JK Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.


The Rescue Party


Harry knocked at the door of the Potions classroom. There was no answer. He knocked again.

“Is he even in there?” piped up Fred. “Have you checked the map?”

“I can hear something,” said Ron. “Listen!”

The crowd of Weasleys closest to the door stopped and listened as Harry pulled the map out of his pocket. Neville watched nervously.

“I can hear it too,” said Bill. “I’m going in.”

“What if he’s warded the door?” said Percy. “You know what he’s like.”

“He wouldn’t ward a classroom door,” said Fred confidently. “His quarters and his stores perhaps… but not the classroom.”

“Even if he did, it’s not likely to be anything I can’t handle,” said Bill scathingly. “I did learn a thing or two from those Goblins you know. Out of the way!”

He shouldered his brothers out of his path and pushed the heavy door open.

“Can you see him Harry?” asked Ron as Harry fiddled with the map.

“Give me a sec, I haven’t even found this level yet.”

“Who’s this then?” asked Bill, from within the classroom.

“Malfoy junior, I reckon. No one else has got hair like that,” said George, from the doorway. “What in Merlin’s name is that green glowy thing?”

“Three dimensional map,” said Bill shortly. “This one’s Dark Arts. Can you feel it Charlie?”

“I can. Do you think Dumbledore realised he was cooking up this kind of thing on the premises?”

“I don’t think he was,” said Neville. “I can feel that thing from here. I’ve not sensed anything like that since the battle at the Ministry. There’s no way he could have been doing it regularly.”

“What’s it a map of?” asked George.

“Well he’s looking for Hermione isn’t he?” said Ron. “He’s not got Dumbledore holding him back anymore so he can do this kind of thing to find her.”

“This would need blood,” said Bill, “and a few other dodgy ingredients besides. I bet junior here was the donor. He’s gone looking for this one’s father.”

“We’ve got to go back upstairs in a minute,” said Percy. “The break’s nearly over.”

“You go if you want to,” said Harry. “I’m not going back. This meeting here’s about finding Hermione and it’s the only meeting I’m interested in right now. No one’s listening to us up there anyway.”

“Yeah Percy… go on back to Mummy,” jibed Ron. “Don’t you dare tell on us though.”

“We’d have been better off bringing Ginny down here than you,” said Fred. “At least she knows how to prioritise.”

“So what am I going to stay here for?” retorted Percy. “Are we just going to watch the Malfoy brat sleep it off and admire Snape’s collection of illegal potion supplies?”

“We’re going to follow Snape aren’t we?” said Ron. “I mean even if Lucius hasn’t got Hermione we might bring him back. He’s an escapee from Azkaban remember and I bet he knows more about what You-know-who is planning than Snape does. Harry, what do you say?”

“If Percy really doesn’t want to come, he doesn’t have to. I think we should go with Snape if he’s going to get Hermione back. Dumbledore wanted him to stick by her and that’s what he’s doing.”

“Have you considered though? What if Malfoy is with Voldemort and the other Death Eaters?” said Charlie seriously.

“I’ll have to meet him someday… and today he doesn’t know I’m coming. I’m going after Snape. The rest of you can go or stay… I can’t decide for you. Just give me time to get a head start before anyone comes after me to stop me.”

“I’m coming with you,” said Ron. “Let’s see if we can make head or tails of this map.”

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Severus and Hermione made their way across open ground towards the perimeter of Voldemort’s Apparition barrier. Severus kept casting worried glances in her direction, but couldn’t take the risk of appearing too solicitous towards her in case they were observed. Even in her slippers she was making good progress and in a few moments he would be able to Apparate her to safety. Perhaps they might stop off at his house in Hogsmeade to collect a broomstick and clean her up a bit before her mother saw her… or perhaps it might just be better to get her straight to the Infirmary, even if he had to carry her.

A movement in the darkness ahead startled him. He caught hold of Hermione. “Get down!” he hissed urgently. They dropped to the ground and looked dead ahead, where indistinct figures were Apparating into view. Hastily Severus cast a Disillusionment Charm over them both and they waited for the figures to make their move.

There appeared to be some confusion as the figures milled about. Severus squinted and wished they were in daylight. “It’s the Weasleys,” said Hermione.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“It is. I can see all the hair. Look that’s Bill over to the right and Charlie next to him. How did they find us?”

“I used Draco’s blood to lead me to Lucius. I was in such a hurry to find you I didn’t cancel the spell. Someone must have come looking for me and happened upon the map I left.”

“Let’s get down to them, before they’re seen. There’s no sense in everyone getting caught. Not now we’re out of there. Take the spell off and let’s get down there.”

He lifted the charm and helped her to her feet. She was wearing his frockcoat over her blouse and it hung down almost to her ankles. She was trembling. He couldn’t discern whether it was through shock or cold. Whatever it was, it did not impede her movements as she covered the ground towards her friends.

Ron saw her first and ran towards her, wrapping her in a bear hug. It took seconds for the rest of the Weasley brothers to catch up and surround her. Both Harry and Neville stood a little to one side and Severus made his way over to them.

“You fulfilled your Prophecy,” stated Harry seriously.

“I hope so. It was what Albus wanted… although not without cost.”

“Fawkes!” said Neville, pointing up to the sky. Severus and Harry turned to watch as the graceful bird flew towards them. Severus put out his wrist and Fawkes landed.

“Is HE in there?” asked Harry.

“Yes… along with Pettigrew and the Azkaban escapees. About eight of them all told.”

“They’re outnumbered then… and they don’t know what’s coming.”

“And what is coming Potter?”

“I am… we are…It depends. I can only make my own choice, but I’ll never have this chance again… Perhaps we can do two Prophecies in one night.”

Severus looked at the two boys in front of him and saw them as if for the first time. Two parentless boys…now men.

“Perhaps you’re right Potter. If you make your stand I will stand with you. Let’s go into the woods and work out a plan.”

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“So that’s the plan?” said Percy. “We’re just going to storm the place here and now, when You-know-who is there with his most fanatical followers. It’s suicidal!”

“It’s time,” said Harry. “I know it is. We’ve got surprise on our side and who knows how many followers he’s got that aren’t here.”

“’S true,” said Fred. “There must be some in the Ministry or else how would they keep taking liberties with the floo and we still don’t know how they got to Dumbledore. It could have been at Hogwarts or St Mungo’s or even through the Wizengamot.”

“It’s suicidal.”

“For Potter this conflict will always be suicidal,” said Severus. “He’s the only one who can beat the Dark Lord in combat. The rest of us have only to engage the Death Eaters. They’re powerful, yes, but none more powerful than I or Bill.”

“Or Hermione,” said Ron.

“Hermione can’t stay. She’s been through too much today already. It should be her task to alert the rest of the Order to our situation.”

“I’m staying… I’ve been a part of this thing ever since the troll and you will not send me home Severus.”

“Hermione, you’re not thinking clearly. You’re in no state to go into combat tonight… not after…”

“I’m staying. We’re partners remember. I love you. If you don’t come home to me, I’ll have to live the rest of my life wondering if things would have happened differently if I’d played my part in this battle. I can’t leave you.”

Severus was uncomfortably aware that Hermione had outed their relationship to her friends. He looked round expecting to see horror and revulsion on their faces. It wasn’t there. True, they were gaping like fish, but at her as well as him. She had noticed as well and said defiantly,

“That’s how it is. He’s my choice and I’m sticking to him. Are we all in this together, or what?”

“We’re in,” said the twins, in stereo.”

“Percy?”

“You’re my brothers…. I can’t walk away now… What would I ever say to Mum?”

One by one they all agreed and the plan was finalised.

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The raiding party reached the back door of Voldemort’s lair.

“What do you think?” said Severus tersely.

Bill stepped forward and ran his wand over the cracks at the edges of the door.

“I think it’s clean,” he said. “Too arrogant to ward it, obviously.”

“With good reason. No one in their right minds would try to do this, even if they did find the place.”

Harry spoke, his face gleaming white in the moonlight. “Is everyone ready?”

“As we’ll ever be,” said Charlie.

“Let’s go,” said Bill.

He pushed the door open and they filed in silently. They found themselves in an empty room opening out onto what must have been a servants’ staircase in days gone by.

“Up or down?” said Fred.

“Up would be our best bet. Hermione and I were downstairs earlier and it seems disused.”

“You’re right,” said Harry. “I think I can sense him.”

“Lead the way,” said Charlie.

Severus moved off at the head of the line. Hermione had wanted to be behind him, but her allotted place was near the back of the line, just in front of Neville, Ron and Harry. The crux of the plan was that Severus, Bill, Charlie, Percy, the twins and she would make it their business to take care of the Death-Eaters whilst Ron and Neville would do their best to support Harry in his search for Voldemort. After the Death-Eaters were taken care of they would attempt to band together again. Wands drawn they moved forward going up to the next landing. Hermione heard the door opening at the top of the stairs and froze in fear. She couldn’t see what was happening, but she heard a muffled groan and gasps from the young men at the front of the line. They continued to move and she pulled herself together and moved with them. The sight at the top of the stairs turned her stomach. Severus was supporting the corpse of Peter Pettigrew. He had used Lucius’ knife to cut his throat from ear to ear. She saw the faces of the twins. They looked as green as she felt.

“It’s quick and it’s quiet,” hissed Severus as he dragged the still bleeding body into the room. “The more of them we can pick off one by one, the more chance we stand of getting out of here alive.”

Bill nodded grimly and taking the lead, set off down the corridor. Ron, Harry and Neville continued to climb the stairs in an attempt to pinpoint Voldemort’s location.
The next room was empty and the one after that. They were gearing up to storm the third room when a high pitched screaming noise sounded. They whirled about in panic to see Dolohov running for the staircase. They were discovered!

“Split up,” said Severus.

Bill, Charlie, Percy and the twins set off rapidly in pursuit of Dolohov. Hermione and Severus were left to make their own way along that level. The siren throbbed and pulsed inside their heads and made concentration difficult. The remaining rooms on the corridor were all empty. They emerged onto the grander staircase at the end and began to climb up to the next level. There was a battle taking place on the next landing up. Charlie had fallen and Bill was standing his ground against two masked Death-Eaters. As Hermione watched she saw Bill block a curse and retaliate with one of his own. It winged one of the Death-Eaters who was knocked against the wall but still maintained consciousness. The other fled towards the back stairs.

“He’s mine,” called Bill. “Sort that one out for me!”

Severus leapt towards the man, wrenching the wand from his grasp as he landed. The wand struck Hermione on the leg. She didn’t need to look at the man’s face as Severus pulled the mask off. She knew who owned that wand. It was Lucius Malfoy.

“Traitor,” hissed the blond man. “The Dark Lord would not listen to me! You and your damned whore!”

“I’m proud to be a traitor… to ensure peace and order in our world. You were an intelligent man once Lucius. How did you ever come to this?”

“My Lord will take you and your death will be slow torture.”

“That may be so, but you will not be alive to see it. Hermione, I promised you the chance to stick this knife in him. Are you able?”

Hermione gasped and moved closer. She reached out a shaking hand and took the knife from Severus. She looked at the blade still stained with Pettigrew’s blood and at Lucius Malfoy’s pale exposed throat. As if in a daze she brought the knife down until the point grazed his throat. He looked fearful, his eyes glassy, vainly trying to suppress his trembling as he lay pinned by Severus. She held it there for fully thirty seconds before dropping it.

“I can’t,” she said helplessly. “I just can’t.”

“Tend to Charlie.”

“Are you…”

“Tend to Charlie.”

She moved to obey. Charlie was merely stunned and she ennervated him while trying hard to ignore the muffled noises of Malfoy gushing his life out behind her.

“Why didn’t you curse him?” she asked.

“It takes too much of my strength to do that. If we can’t corner the Dark Lord he’ll be able to revive the ones we don’t kill. Are you all right Charlie?”

“I‘ll live,” he replied. “Give me a few minutes.”

“We’re going on up. Follow if you can…escape if you can’t.”

“Will do!”

Severus and Hermione went up to the next flight. Bill and the twins were skirmishing with Death Eaters and there was also the sound of battle on the next landing up at the top of the house. Severus stepped in and joined the fight. A hex whizzed past Hermione almost hitting her and she realised that with so many wizards in such a confined space she would be unable to fire a hex without risking hitting a friend. Thinking quickly she ran upstairs to see if she could be of more use up on the top floor.

Severus’ battle was hard fought, but the Death-Eaters were subdued and dispatched eventually. George had a nasty slice down his arm, but nothing Bill couldn’t quickly repair. Charlie rejoined the group and they made their way towards the staircase. The sounds of battle had diminished somewhat and Severus’ stomach knotted with dread over what he might find at the top. They began to run up the stairs and were met by an almighty blast that lifted them all off their feet and threw them to the landing. All were unconscious.

Severus came to first. He groaned at the weight pressing into his chest. Opening his eyes he realised Fawkes was trampling him. All around there was silence. Whatever had happened up there, no one had come looking for them. He gave the bird his wrist and sat up dusting off some of the debris that had settled on him. He rubbed his nose and realised it had bled or was it someone else’s blood from earlier? Ignoring the recumbent Weasleys and carrying the Phoenix he made his way up the stairs to find his love.

Thank you to everyone who has made the effort to leave some feedback. There is one more chapter to go.