It\'s All Done With Mirrors

Here\'s the latest chapter - I\'m posting it on the author\'s behalf, as she is in hospital. Hope I\'ve done it right!

A/N: Dear readers, I thought I would give you a chapter while I\'m away. So I\'ve asked my boyfriend to add it for me! Il bel be out by tomorrow evening (6pm GMT at the latest!) and then I\'ll log on to read all my lovely reviews muahauhauah! Hope you like. much love, Kait xxxx

Chapter Twenty Five
Things that go Bump in the Night


Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts, August 2010

Severus suppressed a howl of rage. That bloody old man had sneaked away again! Where was he?

He’d spotted him, when he, Severus, had sneaked in – uninvited – to the Naming Ceremony Party that was still going strong in Potter’s rooms. But Albus had done some fancy footwork, and always had been just out of reach. Other than pushing rudely past everyone, and causing mayhem, or shouting at the top of his voice andng tng told to leave, Severus had had no other option but to wait outside and try to catch him leaving.

But the crafty old bastard had second-guessed him. By the time it had occurred to Severus to use his wand to locate Albus, he’d discovered that the former Headmaster was no longer on Hogwarts Grounds.

One rule for you, and another for everyone else, Albus bloody Dumbledore, he thought acidly.

Leaning against the wall, he tried to calm himself down.

His breathing had just returned to normal when he heard the tap of footsteps coming towards him. From the sound of the shoes – sensible, hobnailed, and the tread light and confident – Severus concluded that the wearer was Gryffindor and female.

And about five seconds later, he realised that he was perfectly correct.


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Ravenclaw Tower, Hogwarts August 2010


“I can’t sleep, Luna,” Neville Longbottom shook his friend gently by the shoulders.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I can’t shake the feeling that something’s going on.” He was frowning, standing by her bedside in his pyjamas. Luna blinked twice, feeling the worry coming off him almost iikesikes.

“Shall I get up and make us a cup of tea, Nevi?”

“Good idea…thanks, Luna.”

Luna pulled on her dressing gown and followed Neville down the spiral stairs into the Ravenclaw Common Room. She threw herself onto the dark blue velvet couch and pointed her wand at the fire, making the flames leap up the chimney.

“What’s on your mind?” She asked Neville, her gentle voice soothing, as the kettle whistled.

“It’s just all this preparation, setting the wards, and stuff like that,” Neville replied, frowning. “It doesn’t seem enough, somehow. I was just saying to Snape earlier when I was sealing the Floo network in the Potions Lab – we’re battening down the hatches, but what happens if it’s too late?”

Luna poured the tea, conjuring three lumps of sugar to plop into her own mug.

“Too late? You mean…if she’s already here? She can’t be, Nevi – I’d know if she were.”

That comforted Neville a little. Luna’s extra sensory perception rarely failed. She went on: “Although you’re right in feeling there’s something…off…but Albus seems to think everything is in order.”

“I’m not happy with him having a Portkey, Luna. I know Albus needs to get in and out of Hogwarts, but it leaves a big margin for error. I’d be happier if everything was sealed…even the Floo from Fred and George’s to Minerva’s Office. Or does that make me a coward?”

“Of course it doesn’t! You went back into the Potions Lab today and actually spoke to Snape! Nevi, you’re a Gryffindor through and through.”

He laughed, and she went on. “You’re concerned? It’s your job to be concerned, Auror Longbottom! But I don’t think you should worry about the Portkey. It will be fine. And, “ she continued, putting the tea things away, “I am willing to bet that no one could work out what the new password to Portkey to Hogwarts could be, not in a thousand years.”

Neville’s face brightened considerably. “Yeah. Who’s going to guess ‘Chapeau’?”

Luna rose gracefully from the couch, and pulled Neville to his feet. She brushed her lips softly over his.

“I know just the thing to help you relax. Come to my room, Neville,” she murmured, and taking his hand, led him to the Head Girl’s bedroom.

“I thought you’d never ask, Auror Lovegood,” he replied gently.

Nathan Bulstrode waited ‘til they’d ascended the stairs, and crept out of the portrait hole. “And I thought you’d never tell, Auror Longbottom,” he whispered, a sneaky smile crossing his plain features.


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Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts, August 2010


I walked hurriedly towards the Gryffindor Common Room, my thoughts focussed on getting back to my son. Whispering the password, I waited impatiently for the portrait door to swing open.

But it didn’t. Because the Fat Lady wasn’t there.

The portrait was empty.

Trying not to panic, I looked at the portraits on either side of the Gryffindor opening. No Fat Lady.

This was not good. With a growing sensation of alarm, I retraced my steps, searching each portrait as I walked swiftly along the corridors.


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Opportunity Squibs Office, Knockturn Alley, August 2010


“I mean it – you tell me where she is, or I’ll – “

“Oh spare me the heroics, Weasley,” drawled Pansy, pushing him back into the chair, where he sprawled, grunting with fresh pain. She shrugged her outer robes off, revealing a rough, shapeless, undyed smock. “At least you don’t have to be caught modelling the latest Azkaban fashions. Millie, get me out of this. I’ve got a reputation to keep up!”

Millie glared at Pansy. “And if I don’t?” she asked, sneeringly, while Ron rubbed his head, groaning.

“If you don’t, I will seek you out and eventually tear you limb from limb. Try me,” spat back Pansy.

“Oh very well, Pan. Green? Pink? Blue?”

“I really don’t care as long as it fits, darling. Don’t make it red though. We’ve got enough of that in this room with Weasel’s hair.”

Millie waved her wand and Pansy Malfoy was resplendent in emerald green velvet, her hair smooth again.

“Right. Thanks. Not bad. Maybe you were listening in McGonnagall’s classes after all.”

Millie sighed. “Now, are you going to tell me what the bloody fuck is going on? Because getting owls telling me not to leave my office until you get here makes me kind of pissed off. And I notice you don’t have a wand on you, so, Pansy…you’d better start explaining.”

“All right – just put Weasley under for a few, and I’ll tell you what’s going on.”

In a flash, Ron Weasley was snoring in the fireside chair.

“We’re back in business, Millie. How’s your brother doing?”


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Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts, August 2010


Severus stepped away from the wall, and stood in her way.

“Mrs. Weasley,” he began…

*

“Out of my way, Snape! This is an emergency.” I tried to get past, but he held my upper arms in his powerful grip. I struggled for a few seconds, but realised it was no use.

“Where are you going to in such a screaming hurry, Mrs. Weasley?” his voice was soft, but because the nearest chandelier was shining behind him, I couldn’t read his expression.

“The Fat Lady’s gone, and I can’t get into the Common Room. And there’s a – Oh! Look. Thank gods…get off me, Snape! Excuse me! Madam!”

The Fat Lady crouched inside a small frame, looking absurdly comical.

“Madam, you left your Portrait?” Snape’s voice rumbled in his chest, against my ear.

The Fat Lady had the decency to look abashed. “Professor Snape, I am truly sorry – I went off for a chat with one of the Office Portraits. I did leave Sir Cadogan in charge…is he not there?”

“Apparently not, Madam. Although I fail to understand what the desperation is all about. Get back to your place, now, please…and I will investigate.”

The Fat Lady scrambled from the confines of the miniature frame, and wobbled as fast as she could across the walls, and back to her own Portrait.

I let out an exhalation of relief. Then I realised that Snape was still holding on to me.

“You can let me go now,” I suggested, in a neutral voice.

However, his response was to march me down the corridor back towards the Gryffindor Common Room. Struggling was not an option. I needed all my wits about me just to keep up with him.

“Mrs. Weasley, I am not in the mood to be trifled with. Some strange occurrences over the past two days have led me to believe that there is a great deal of meddling going on. And I am certain that some of the answers can be obtained far more easily from you – “

He paused for breath, as we reached the Fat Lady’s Portrait.

“ – than it appears they can be from Albus Dumbledore.”

“Godric’s Sword,” I spoke the password, playing for time. Then I looked at him. And as I looked, I realised that his exhausted, baffled countenance could be an exact mirror of mine. So I took pity on him.

“You can come in. But you’ve got to be quiet. There’s someone else in here.”

He released me, and gestured chivalrously. “After you”, he said, raising an ironic eyebrow. I shivered, suddenly aware of his close proximity. I’d thrown caution to the wind, and hoped that it had been the right decision.

Then I crawled through the Portrait hole, very aware of his presence behind me as he followed.


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Opportunity Squibs Office, Knockturn Alley, August 2010


“Nathan? Oh, he will have got our latest Owl by now. Though I wouldn’t hold out much hope that he’ll be able to swing this. I still can’t believe that he hasn’t worked out that all this time he’s been having meetings with his own sister!” Millicent Bulstrode laughed nastily.

“Don’t underestimate him. He managed four years at Hogwarts before they realised he was a Squib, after all,” snapped Pansy. “He must be pretty resourceful.”

“Well – what do we do now? Sit here and wait for him to Owl?”

“Precisely,” drawled Pansy, her unpleasant smile widening.

“And then you can get into Hogwarts.” Millie smiled, too, but her smirk soon faded after hearing Pansy’s next words:

“Oh no, Millicent, dear. It won’t be I who is going…”

“Kali’s skulls, Pansy, I can’t bloody well go! They’re looking for me, too! There’ll be Aurors and everything!”

“Very true, Millie.” She sidled over to the chair by the fire, and pinched the nose of the occupant, who spluttered in his enchanted sleep.

“No one, however, will be casting any locator charms about for…a dead man.”

The two Witches sniggered nastily.