Standing Against the Tides

Last time I looked at my driver’s license, it did not say J. K. Rowling. Yep, it’s just me, an unpaid and unknown aspiring writer. The characters of the Potterverse do not belong to me and I am making no money from this endeavor.

A/N: Spoilers through OotP. As I am still in denial, I refuse to acknowledge the events of HBP or DH at this point.

Unbeta’d as BabyGurl is busy with her own life.


Chapter 22 Is There an Echo in Here?

As Minerva and the three older men sat discussing the events leading up to Remus and Kingsley landing so abruptly on their doorstep, Harry found his thoughts drifting. He already knew much of this from the castle’s earlier warning, and he couldn’t help but wonder at Dumbledore’s state of mind. Was the old wizard so far gone around the bend that he was willing to forego freedom in favor of attempting revenge? Or did Albus still imagine himself to be so powerful that he would have back control of Hogwarts after Severus and he were killed?

The discussion and Harry’s thoughts were interrupted by the rather flashy arrival of Fawkes. Harry narrowed his eyes as he regarded his new familiar. If it were at all possible, the Phoenix appeared to be grinning. Concentrating on their bond, Harry was shocked and surprised to see what had the bird feeling so smug.

“Um, sirs,” the young man hesitantly started. “You might see about attending to a certain old man’s injuries. It seems that Dobby and Fawkes decided to punish Dumbledore for his actions earlier.”

Harry cringed as two identical smirks appeared on Severus’ and Kingsley Shacklebolt’s faces. Briefly the young man wondered why he had never noticed the obvious similarities between the two men before. Shaking his head to clear such thoughts, Harry’s attention was brought back to the resulting conversation when he heard the Auror proclaim that he would accompany the Potions master to see the hurt wizard. It was quickly decided that for safety reasons, Remus would stay with Harry, while Minerva would see to running the school. The fact that they were in fact concerned about saving Dumbledore from the werewolf’s wrath was conveniently ignored.


After the others had left, Remus turned to the last remaining member of his pack. “Harry,” he hesitantly began. “Are you truly all right? I mean with this, with everything?” Concerned hazel eyes regarded the young man who had once again had his life turned upside down.

Harry shyly smiled at the werewolf. “Remy, I’m fine. More than fine, really,” he reassured the older man. “I know that this seems all so sudden, but in a way it feels like my life is finally on the right path. Almost as if it has all been wrong up until now.” Frowning as he tried to put into words what he barely understood himself, Harry continued, “I am not sure this makes any sense, but I think this is right, I think this is what is meant to be.”

The nervous young man was rewarded with an understanding smile and an encouraging pat on the shoulder. No more words needed to be said. And perhaps for the first time, Harry truly felt as if everything would be all right.


Striding confidently through the castle halls, two men were single-minded in their purpose: to pay a visit to Albus Dumbledore and to make sure that the man suffered some more. Cautious students hurriedly scurried out of the imposing pair’s path. Not even the fiercest curiosity could withstand the force of the determined duo.

Finally reaching their destination, Severus smirked when the gargoyle bowed before stepping aside. There certainly were perks to being connected to the one in charge, he thought smugly.

Once inside the remote tower office of the former Headmaster of Hogwarts, the two men paused a moment to admire the view. In particular, one old wizard, magically bound, with painfully red and flattened fingers clenched against the arms of his chair.

Severus carefully placed his potions kit on the large desk before turning to regard his former mentor. “Tsk, tsk, Albus,” the Potions master intoned. “What have you gotten yourself into this time?” he inquired.

Albus attempted to achieve the appearance of nonchalance. “Severus, my dear boy. As you may have noticed, I am at a bit of a disadvantage. Perhaps you might be so kind as to release me?” At this point the former Headmaster did his best to regain the authority he had once held over the other man.

Alas for Albus Dumbledore, an ironically arched eyebrow would be the only answer he would receive from his former protégé. Meanwhile, a rather amused Ministry Auror stood silently on the sidelines, observing the interaction between the two men.

In the background, ignored, and smiling broadly, Dobby watched interestedly to see what the two men would do with the bad wizard. The house-elf did not have to wait long to hear the answer to his question.

Drawing himself up to his full height, Severus Snape grinned evilly at his former friend. “Actually,” he purred, “I do not believe that I will, Albus. I find that I rather like you in this position.” Reaching down to brush a finger against the older wizard’s damaged hand, the Potions master nodded in satisfaction at hearing the hiss of pain that Dumbledore could not contain.

Inordinately pleased with the sorry state of the man who had been so instrumental in causing so much pain for so many people, Severus paused to consider his options. He could heal… no, of course he would do nothing to help the man. Albus deserved this and so much more.

“Now, what is your complaint?” Sparing a brief glance at the injured digits, the Potions master sneered. “It appears that your hands are just fine,” Severus easily commented.

Albus started violently at hearing this pronouncement while Kingsley quirked an eyebrow. The Auror thoughtfully brought a finger to his lips before announcing, “You are the Potions master here, Severus. I believe we will have to defer to your expertise in this matter.”

Unable to comprehend this latest betrayal, Albus could only stare at the two men. But, damn it! His hands hurt. How could they not help him, …and how in Merlin’s name could the wretched creatures stand to punish themselves so harshly? If he weren’t bound and if his hands didn’t hurt so, he would gladly throttle the two men and the insufferable house-elf. But, perhaps if he were patient, an opportunity might just present itself.

The smooth tones of the Potions master’s voice caught his attention. “…wonder why he didn’t bother trying to leave when he had the opportunity? It seems rather ridiculous that he instead chose to try to seek revenge.”

“Actually, I have an answer for you,” the dark-skinned Auror began. “One of our top instructors in the academy, Auror Echo, has advanced a theory that the very insane, or extremely overconfident, tend to believe themselves to be invincible. It simply does not enter into their minds that they might be discovered or caught. Of course, this fact makes them highly unpredictable as well as extremely dangerous.”

At this pronouncement, both men turned their attention back to the former Headmaster. “Then it may no longer be safe to keep him here at Hogwarts,” Severus mused. “We cannot jeopardize the safety of the children.”

Kingsley Shacklebolt nodded. “Agreed, but where do we keep him? It would have to be someplace safe and unknown.”

Albus cringed when he saw the wicked gleam enter his former protégé’s eyes. “There is the room that was set aside for Lupin’s transformations in the basement of 12 Grimmauld Place. It is soundproofed and spelled to resist physical as well as magical attacks. And somehow it seems appropriate that he be a prisoner in the house where another man was once imprisoned.”

Knowing that that would be the closest his companion would ever get to admitting any compassion for the late Sirius Black, the Auror wisely held his tongue. After all, the enmity between the two men was legendary. Turning his mind instead to the suggestion, Kingsley had to agree that it was a worthy idea. The problem would be in securing a safe transfer without anyone being anymore the wiser.