Tel\' Lindar (The Bard)

Chapter 29

A Snowball's Chance in the Dungeon or The Lost Child of Hogwarts

***

Lately, I've been walking, walking in circles
Watching, waiting for something
Feel me, touch me, heal me
Come take me higher

In the Shadows
The Rasmus

***

This was a new place; one the Voydid did not recognize.

The natural surroundings blended in with the architecture, nature and Elvish workmanship all complimenting each other. A soft breeze blew, fall leaves fluttering across the walkways. The Voyeur wandered the halls, taking in the artwork, the carvings.

A door at the end of a hall stood open, a light beckoning. He quietly stepped through.

The Big Elf stood in the room -

Of course he stood in the room; should this be a surprise?

- his back to the Voyeur; a variety of herbs arranged on a table before him.

"Thank you."

The Big Elf's voice was contrite, restrained. Almost...

"For what?"

The Big Elf's shoulders rose and sank in a heavy sigh and the Voyeur thought to enjoy lording over him for the moment.

"Your care of my wife, while she is ill. I thank you." He turned to look at the Voyeur over his shoulder.u cou could have left her to Lord Elrond and his sons. You did not."

The Voyeur smirked. "I trust them as easily as I trust you."

"Do not gloat. It is still within my power to make your every breathing moment a living hell."

The Voyeur shrugged. "I cannot imagine how it could get any worse."

The Big Elf sighed, obviously holding his tongue. He reached out to the table before him and picked up a packet of herbs."This is an extract from-"

"Echinacea, which comes from coneflowers. I am already giving her that."

A grim smile lit the features of the Elf. He turned and opened his hand, slivers of metal enclosed within. "This is zinc. Muggles have a rather pleasant tasting throat lozenge with zinc in it. No doubt, Lord Elrond can tell you how to make it."

"This is to aid her in some way?"

The Big Elf's head was bowed; the Voyeur could see his jaw clenched, ticking. "You will need to alternate the Echinacea and the zinc every fourteen days. Else, she will build up an immunity to them. Have the house elf continue to fumigate the castle. She should be fine." The Voyeur looked at the coneflower leaves. "As long as she lives in the bowels of the castle, you will need to use preventative herbs. Especially when she is trapped indoors."

It was quiet for a moment; the sound of the wind, rustling through the leaves was the only thing audible. Finally-

"She is a veritable demon when ill." The Voyeur spoke softly.

The Big Elf snorted through his nose. "This is nothing - a mere warm-up to when she is pregnant." He raised a finger to silence the Voyeur. "She cries at everything; in sorrow, in joy, she weeps like a spring thunderstorm."

The Voyeur raised an eyebrow. "At her advanced age, I am pleased that will not be an obstacle or problem." He did not see the Big Elf's knowing glare.

The Voyeur looked in each hand. Echinacea. Zinc.

"Honey will soothe her throat, if that gets out of hand. Watch her closely. The Vessel cracks."

The Voyeur allowed a true, slow smile. "I will take care of your Air."

"Your Treasure."

"Our most Precious Jewel."

***
No sleep
No sleep until I'm done with finding the answer
Won't stop
Won't stop before I find the cure for this cancer

In the Shadows
The Rasmus
***

Friday morning dawned cold and clear, the sun rising over the Scottish hills. The castle slowly began to stir, began to awaken.

As the sun rose over the mountain, she did not budge or roll from the couch.

After twelve hours, she finally began to stir. She stretched, arms over her head.

"I trust you slept well?"

She stopped in mid-stretch, eyes popping open. She twisted around, entangling blankets twixt her limbs, staring over at...

Him.

Snape sat in a leather chair - not hers, where had it come from? - elbows braced on his knees, and his chin propped on steepled fingers. Black eyes bore into hers. "Well?"

Her eyes roamed wildly. She stretched, feeling every muscle, breathing deeply...

Breathing...

Deeply...

"What did you give me?" It was not the accusatory tone he expected.

"How do you feel?"

She stretched some more, breathing, closing her eyes in bliss. "I feel pretty good." She swallowed, rubbing her neck. "Throat is a little sore, but otherwise, good. Really good." Her mood suddenly shifted and she narrowed her eyes. "What did you give me?"

Snape stood up and went over to the tea service on the sideboard. He proceeded to pour a cup of tea, pouring a dollop of honey into the steaming liquid. Stirring it with a spoon, he handed her the cup. "up. up. Drink this."

She was mutinous. He could feel it coursing through her veins like a barely quelled riot. "Not until you tell me what you gave me. Elrond was not happy-"

"Lord Elrond-" he enunciated each consonant clearly, "is unhappy it was not his potion." He nudged the cup towards her. "It is only tea with honey. As for what I gave you last night, it is an old family recipe, given to me by an old battle-ax of a ghost."

Reluctantly, Bronwyn took the cup from him, but finally took a grateful sip. "Professional jealousy would not set Elrond on edge like that. There must be something in it he considered unnatural." She inhaled the steamy drink and took another sip.

Severus leered and sat back down. "If you insist, sugar and alcohol. As for Elrond, he can be as disgruntled as he wishes. It is working much better and faster than anything else we've tried." He waited as she finished, levitating the cup back to his outstretched hand when she drank the last drop.

"Speaking of, where is Elrond? The Twins? Erestor?" Her eyes narrowed further. "Amadeus? Did you run them off?"

Severus never lifted as much as an eyebrow. "They have been given guest quarters. Lord Elrond is getting much needed rest and Amadeus is with the Twins. I -" he stood up and proceeded to pull the blankets she had slept under away from her and threw them onto the corner of the couch, "stayed with you last night." He interrupted her brewing tirade with a single finger to her lips and led her to the bottom of sta stairs. "You need a shower, madam." He nodded up the stairs.

Bronwyn slowly started up, halting on the third step. "Severus. Did you spend the entire night in that chair?"

"Yes."

"You didn't need to."

"Bronwyn," he came up the stairs behind her, tall, dark and menacing, "I have had several nights of uninterrupted sleep. You have been well-watched." He placed his hand at the small of her back and gently propelled her up the stairs. "I took my turn," he added tersely. "Shower." He pushed firmly.

Half-heartedly she resisted. "Your turn?"

Sighing heavily, he personally escorted her into the bathroom. Reaching around her, he turned on the shower. "Yes. My turn. You are my responsibility and put in my care. It is a chore I take very seriously. Must I disrobe you as well?"

Bronwyn's heart fell. A responsibility. A chore. She turned her back to the Wizard. "No, I am quite able to do that." She pulled the belt apart and dropped the robe to the floor around her dinosaur - clad feet.

Severus felt her mood shift and he wondered what drug had caused that after affect. Merlin, her moods shifted and swung like a spastic metronome and just trying to keep up with them made him dizzy.

"May I have just a little bit of privacy, please?" Bronwyn stood at the edge of the tub, with her back to him, shod in her Godzilla slippers and night - shirt.

"As you wish. I will call Bobbin to inform him we are ready for breakfast." He turned in time to catch her reflection in the mirror toeing off the house slippers and to see her oversized nightshirt hit the floor. As the shower curtain closed behind her, he Accio'd the items, disposing them in her clothes hamper. He was becoming familiar with her dresser, removing under things, and a long sleep shirt. He laid them at the foot of her bed and went down stairs to await her for breakfast.

***

She had ignored the clothing he laid out. Somehow, he was not surprised; she was beginning to feel better, her independent streak was beginning to reassert itself. He hated to admit it, but he had missed it; missed the verbal sparring, missed the playful banter. Dammit, he even missed her sitting in his lab, asking her endless questions.

At least, she was curious. And intelligent enough to ask cla clarification of their world when she did not understand.

So he was not surprised to see her come down the stairs in a 'Phew U' sweatshirt and sweat pants, her ridiculous footwear on her feet. Her wet hair was pulled back in a ponytail and as she sat down, he handed her yet another cup of honey-Echinacea doctored tea.

"You put a silence spell on my house slippers," she muttered into her cup.

"Yes I did. Damned things were annoying."

"And I want you to stop transforming my knickers!" Severus snorted at the command, as if she could order him about! "There was enough material in this pair to completely clothe three fully grown Elleths!"

"Madam, you exaggerate." He picked up the folded Daily Prophet and opened it with a snap. "I only wanted it to cover your arse."

"Cover my... ack!" Bronwyn's screech was cut off by the sudden materialization of a bowl of porridge with brown sugar and apples and a glass of orange juice in front of her. She pointed her spoon at the seemingly relaxed Wizard. "Don't think this conversation is done!"

"May my eyes bleed if it ever is," Snape whispered sullenly into his paper. Lazily, his spoon stirred his coffee as his eyes raked the headlines. "Lovely."

Bronwyn looked up from her porridge. "What's that?" The way the two sat, one would have thought they were an old married couple.

Severus continued to scan the news item, before folding the paper neatly and laying it on the table.

"Oh nothing, really. According to the Daily Prophet, the Elves of Middle Earth, including the supposed ancestors of lesser Wizards," Bronwyn's eyebrows arched at that, "have invaded and taken over Hogwarts."

***

Of all the owls that Albus received that morning, the one he laughed over the most was the Howler he got from Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. The thing had spat and sputtered so much, it was too soggy to shred itself. Between the hiccups and screeching, the only understandable words had been 'Elves' and 'crackpot Elfish Twins'.

"Is anything amiss, Headmaster?" Elrond sat at his left elbow at the head table. His sons were at the end, where Severus and Bronwyn normally sat, regaling Remus, Erestor and Amadeus with tales of an era long past.

"Oh no," he replied. "Nothing unusual for Fudge."

Elrond returned to the missive delivered to him that morning.

A missive that disturbed him greatly.

***

The morning crawled by, Bronwyn doing Bronwyn-y things while Severus taught and the Elves were busy, teaching or wafting about the castle. Erestor finally found the library and thought he had completed his task on Middle Earth and had returned to the glorious libraries of Valinor. Elrond decided to either quell or bolster his opinion and stepped quietly into the back of Severus' class and sat with glittering sapphire eyes, watching the Potions Master bully students from one potion to another.

He was difficult, this Wizard, but he was effective, thorough. Elrond could clearly see Haldir's and Bronwyn's irritation with the man, but at the same time he could see the jewel buried within the coal black exterior. The quiet strength, the deeply thought out logic, the ability to plan and take charge of a situation. Twice, Snape stopped a student from making a costly error. Of course, the student received a tongue - lashing that made Elrond cringe, but chances were very likely that the child would never make the mistake again.

The Elf Lord was certain Bronwyn had a lot to say about Severus Snape's teaching methods. He stepped out of the way as class was dismissed and students literally fled the dark, dank room.

"Care to critique my methods? No, let me guess." Snape had a hypnotic baritone that Elrond figured wreaked havoc with many students, and quite possibly many women. "I am too harsh, too stern, I am cruel and I have no patience."

The Elf Lord took a deep breath before responding. The Wizard's tone was meant to stir, to bait, and Elrond was not going to rise to it. "It is not my place to judge your methods. You teach a difficult and dangerous class. You teach in a manner that works for you. Has Bronwyn observed you?"

Snape began putting away labeled bottles and levitating cauldrons to the sink. Cleansing charms, for some reason, did not seem to do well with the cast iron of the pots and he hated washing them by hand. Usually, he could 'detention' a student into it. Today had been no exception.

"Yes, she has a few times. I doubt it does her any good."

'And I doubt you are wrong,' the Elf Lord thought to himself. "Have you observed her?"

The cauldrons dropped into the sink with a metallic bang. "Whatever for?"

Elrond was toying with a beaker on the desk in front of him. "Perhaps, you might gain some insight towards how she reasons-"

"Reasons? Bronwyn?" The voice had dropped in volume several notches and Elrond was sure it would have raised the hackles on many a man or Wizard's neck. But he was an Elf and had faced demons more frightening than Voldemort.

"Yes. Reasons. It is obvious the two of you do not see eye to eye although for some strange reason, she cares for you." This caught the taciturn Wizard off guard. "I know Haldir has not used the best examples of showing you how to work with her, but the fact is, you need to direct and focus her in the quest. Right now, she is focused on anything but her task."

Severus let the silence fall along with the dust as he contemplated the Elf Lord before him in the shadows.

"Lord Elrond." Each consonant was carefully placed. "For five months, I have watched, have pointed, have done everything except hex her to get that woman 'to focus.' I cannot imagine the stress or the grief she feels as it is beyond me. All I know is that it sucks me down in a vortex of emotion that is foreign to me. I have done things in the past I regret, but as far as I am concerned, I have atoned enough. There are times when hell would be a glorious reprieve from her."

He could see Elrond smiling.

"But?"

Snape tucked inwards, coiling like the snake he was. He stared off over the Elf Lord's shoulder, focusing on the jars of dead, immovable things stored above his head.

"Allow me to phrase it this way, Severus. Perhaps, if you observe one of her classes, how she teaches, you will see a way to get her to focus." The Elf Lord stepped closer to the Wizard, leaning in as if to share a confidence. "Elves are disappearing, Elves who were close to her, Haldir, their family. We fear the worst. We have sent her daughter, grandchildren and Haldir's brothers back to Valinor for a time. The Wizard, this descendant of Bronwyn's and Haldir's, who has her bow, must be uncovered and stopped. The consequences of him obtaining her knowledge and using Dark Magic to recreate what she knows, w be be devastating to all. I know you wish to get her well, but time is not your ally. Waiting for her to focus is not a luxury either one of you can afford."

Severus turned his back on the Elf Lord, going to his desk, stacking, resorting parchment. "I have better things to do than to sit on one of her infernal classes."

"Suit yourself." The Elf Lord was amazingly calm as he made his way into the solitary sunray coming into the room through the smoke coated window. ouldould think that any insight to rid you of her finally would be of interest."

Severus waited until the door quietly shut behind the Elf before breathing again.

Finally rid of her.
he she sound of that should be a balm on his soul.

Strange. He was not looking forward to that.

***

"Are we ready?" Ron pulled his white hood over the flaming shock of red hair. "Everyone know what they have to do?"

"We're ready, Weasel! We've been through it dozens of times. Spread out. Up in the trees, under the trees, behind the trees, stay quiet until they are completely in the woods. Run fast and hard. In and out. Don't be seen. Pick them off." Malfoy was ticking the list off on his fingers. "I'll signal when the last one enters the forest." He leered at Pansy. "I so love watching the rear!"

Pansy giggled and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Look, you two. You can find a cave when this is over and rut to your hearts' content, but until then," he motioned with his finger, "apart! Now! I want some serious space between you. Everyone have their gloves?"

The two Houses pulled on their gloves, and spread their fingers for all to see.

"I can't believe this is the only magic we're allowed." Crabbe griped. "Professor Lupin took my wand!"

"Professor Lupin took all of our wands!" Hermione chided, pulling her gloves on. She reached down and scooped up some snow. "Let's check these out, shall we?" She patted the snow into a ball and threw it at a tree. A splatter of metallic gold ice trickled down the trunk. "I'm set! Anyone else?" Matching silver and gold snowballs hit the trees.

"Who charmed these anyway?" Harry inspected his gloves at arm's length, as if afraid they would bite him.

"Not a charm, scar-head!" Malfoy drawled. "Dipped in a special potion, made by the Head of Slytherin."

"Great." Harry murmured. "We will either be slaughtered or when it's over, we'll be eaten alive with Slytherin snot!" He flung his hands high and hard, specks of gold flying towards the ground. Heads flew up as The Great Clock chimed the hour.

"Places everyone. Quick." The group spread out in different directions, clothing and camouflage donned and at the ready.

"Goyle?" Crabbe lumbered through the bushes. "Do you really think those Elves were telling the truth about a group of Elves that lived in the trees?" He found a sturdy tree and slowly began to climb.

"Dunno. Don't care." Goyle had found a large, droopy bush. "Do you think there are spiders around?" "Na "Nah. Do you think she would know?" Crabbe's face was red with exertion. "So you think she would know about Elves in the trees, I mean?"

Goyle had crawled into the trench underneath the bush and was checking to make sure he was completely hidden beneath the snow and the branches. "She probably lived in one!"

"True, but-"

"Look! Ask the bitch when she comes back to class. She could probably show you in that weird way of hers. Just shut up and manage to hide yourself."

Ask the bitch, Crabbe mused to himself. That would probably be for the best. People who lived in trees. Shite. In caves, yes, in trees? That was just too weird to contemplate!

***

"Where are you taking me?" Bronwyn was bundled from head to toe, silenced slippers and all and following in the black wake of Severus' trailing robes.

"The Astronomy Tower." He was moving fast, she almost - - -

@@@@@@

...stumbling to keep up, the Elves were moving swiftly through the trees, she following behind on the ground...

@@@@@@

"Bronwyn?" Severus had stopped and turned towards her, a questioning look on his face. He had seen the flashback, the shadows of golden leaves, flickering about the hall, the smell of the flora, the hiss of insects-

Bronwyn was struggling to pull her mind back to the present. "I thought the Astronomy Tower was closed."

Snape was towering over her, his brow furrowing. "It is; however it has the best view for you to see what a mess you have created."

She started to retort, snap back, but as her head whipped up, she saw the faintest trace of a smile, lurking about the edge of his mouth. "The mess?" she replied smiling slowly. "What mess?"

"Why, only the only most anticipated snowball fight in the history of Hogwarts, madam." He tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and continued up the stairs. "Somehow the Seventh years have managed to be excused from classes for the afternoon-"

"Severus. The Seventh Years are the next to last class of the day and Remus has them last. He agreed tis wis weeks ago!"

"In addition-" Snape responded through gritted teeth and with a tone that Bronwyn doubted was serious, "the younger years are threatening a revolt if they are not allowed to watch! Apparently, the pairings are enough to make all die of curiosity."

Slowly, they made their way upwards. "It's just a snowball fight!"

They wapprapproaching the first landing.

"Ah, but for the first time in anyone's memory, Gryffindor and Slytherin have been pitted not against, but with each other." They reached the landing and he turned to her, waiting for her to catch her breath. "Whatever possessed you to pair them; team them up in that way?"

Bronwyn reached the landing and put a hand out to steady herself. As her fingers clenched the railing,

@@@@@@@

*** "Hermione! Ron!" Harry looked disheveled, a long scratch razed across his cheek, "Don't allow anyone any further!" There were screams, cries of pain, audible in the background.

"Harry!" Ron started up the stairs. "You can't go alone-"

"He's not alone!" Remus Lupin came from nowhere and pushed past them. "Harry's right. Stay put." The Wizard ducked as Harry pulled his wand and pointed down the stairs over Lupin's left shoulder.

"Stupefy!" A masked person in a black robe keeled over-

@@@@@@

"Bronwyn?" Severus' voice cut through the hazy vision and Bronwyn turned loose of the railing as if it were hot to the touch, jerking her eyes to his.

"Some... sometimes," she started shakily, "one must work with someone they don't like in order to accomplish their goal." She dropped her head and gently caressed his arm. "Sometimes, it's necessary to set personal differences aside in order to succeed."

His hand tightened over hers. Her mind was flittering back and forth, attempting the grace of a butterfly, but with the gait of a lumbering elephant.
"I'm ready for the next flight, if you are." She began to slowly climb the next flight up.

Snape followed up behind her. "Perhaps, this was not such a good idea."

"Nonsense, you clot! I'm fine." Her spine became more resolute and he watched swaying hips move ahead of him. She reached out her hand, fingers splayed, to grasp the top post at the head of the stair-

@@@@@@

***Lupin and Potter stood at the top, only a Death Eater between them and the last door. The black - garbed Wizard reached up and pulled off his mask, throwing it angrily to the floor.

Severus...

"No longer am I thrall to that madman." He tore the hated robe from his body, flinging it over the railing. "Your wand is useless against his, Potter." He turned his own wand to face himself, point the handheld end to the teen. His eyes bore into Lupin's. "It is finished," he spat through clenched teeth. "I've done my best by the brat. My oath to his father is repaid."

@@@@@@@

She was aware of hands pulling hers from the post.

"Ghosts... this place is full of angry memories and ghosts," she whispered.

"If you touch another rail or have one more flashback, I am taking you back to your room." He was speaking to her back, now moving toward the final landing. Quickly, he moved up and around her. Grabbing her chin, he turned her face towards him, forcing eye contact. "Do you understand?"

Bronwyn pulled back, her brow furrowing. "I heard you!" She shoved her hands in her pockets and stormed to the door, grabbing the knob through the fabric...

@@@@@@@@@

***... the dflewflew open, showing a room bathed in sickly, green light-***

@@@@@@@@@

She turned loose, a little too quickly and turned a cool face towards the Potions Master. "It's locked."
BronBronwyn..."

"It's locked. Or warded." she reiterated. She waved her hand towards the door. "Saes. I want to see if this experiment works." She looked at him in a most beseeching manner.

Severus' single indention between his brows was very much evident as he moved around her and unwove the threaded wards he himself had created. "If I were fond of drooping heroines from tawdry romance novels, I would find your act to be heartrending." The door flew open. "However, I am not fond of the silly things and therefore I am not moved."

He walked into the darkened tower and bowed, ushering her in.

" That's the problem, Severus." Bronwyn followed him in. "You are never moved."

***

As the last Ravenclaw quietly entered the forest, a pair of ice blue eyes followed her progress slowly. Hidden beneath snow and dead flora, the small mound on the ground was not as innocuous as it appeared. She did not see as the heap rose from the ground, leaves and twigs falling aside.

The soft hoot of an owl echoed through the forest, shaking the nerve of more than a few Hufflepuffs. They weren't aware that the little Ravenclaw heading up the rear had already been picked off and was leaning against a tree, reading a book she had tucked in her hip pocket. She was covered with silver snow.

***

"Severus?" Bronwyn was searching the landscape, watching the goings on through a pair of very Muggle binoculars. "Where is Amadeus?"

"With the twins." He had a pair of omnioculars that Bronwyn didn't trust. He pointed to the right. "Right there."

Through her binoculars, she could see her friend, sitting passively next to the Twins, neither of whom were bundled against the cold.

"Bloody blighters!" Severus hissed. "They should be freezing!"

Bronwyn shrugged. She could explain until she was blue in the face, but he would never understand.

***

The rest of the group reached the center, in a clearing. Ernie looked around, the silence hanging the air.

"Ernie?" Aidreian, a dark-headed Irish Ravenclaw, pointed to the trees. "I think we are in trouble."

Silver and gold dotted the base of the tall oaks that dotted the landscape.

"Oh, shite..." Ernie looked around. "Spread out! Take down anything that moves..."

Slowly, one by one, Sprout's anitwiitwick's pride and joys were filtered out, separated, pelted with silver and gold snowballs. Snow came from under bushes, from hidden shadowed areas. At one point, several males were lured into a clearing where Pansy Parkinson stood alone beckoning to them, only to find themselves plastered with golden splatters of frozen precipitation. By the time they realized they were being attacked from the trees, it was too late.

***

From high in the Astrology Tower, Bronwyn's countenance slowly turned from concentrated worry to slow spreading grin. From the sparsely wooded area, moans and groans slowly changed to shrills of laughter, color brightening the all whierraerrain.

"Proud of yourself?" Severus stood to the side, arms crossed, omnioculars dangling from a long finger.

"They aren't hexing each other, they aren't fighting. Yes. I am proud."

***

Ernie Macmillan knew it was over. The end had been too swift, too fast. Everywhere he looked, silver and gold splatters coated his team, the ground around them. With great reluctance, the white flag of truce went up and he could hear cheers and groans come from the castle grounds as what was left of his team surrendered to Ronald Weasley.

"Don't feel too bad," the red-headed teen whispered to the Head boy. "Your team, despite outnumbering us, was supposed to lose."

"You knew?"

"I had... help."

The Hufflepuff pulled his hand back. "That's unfair! Why would Professor Powell-"

"You forget," Ron added conspiratorially. "We had to work with them." He pointed to the tight group of Slytherins.

"I think, " Erniesperspered back, "I would rather lose."

The two grinned at each other. "Exactly!"

Draco Malfoy sauntered up to the group, a snowball gently tossed up and down in his hand. With each pass, it turned a darker and darker shade of silver. "So, it's over. We're done?"

Ron was eyeing the snowball.

Up and down. Up and down.

"Yeah. We won. We worked together. Thank you."

"We won." Draco looked over his shoulder at his cronies - well, crony. Goyle had been plastered by three blue snowballs early on. "Good. Guess this means appropriate points have been awarded to appropriate houses."

Ron's eyes never left the snowball. "Yes."

"Good." Draco's smile was pure evil. "I've waited all week to do this!" And with that, he launched the large silver ball at Ronald Weasley's head.

Ron ducked, hearing it splat behind him, a sudden whoosh of breath from the unintended victim. He turned-

Hermione Granger stood there, snow in her hair, silver trickling down her neck. Ron choked.

"Hermione. I'm sorry. I didn't know you were behind me." Furiously, she stopped down, scraping together a snitch-colored ball to launch back. Ron was backing up. "Honest, 'Mione! I didn't know. I would have taken it on the chin, had I known you were behind me!"

A snort of laughter came from behind them. "As opposed to taking it up the arse?" Within the batting of an eye, Draco was pelted with gold snowballs.

Crabbe thought this was very funny.

Not for long.

Within moments, gold, silver, blue and green snowballs were being thrown furiously, rapidly, the throwers not caring if friend or foe was pelted. Students taken out of the game earlier suddenly appeared, joining in the random battle.

The halls and towers of Hogwarts quickly emptied, students of all years, spilling from the castle. The field soon became a riotous mass of color.

"I suspect Albus will join them shortly." Severus remarked dryly.

"I would like to join them." Bronwyn was wistfully remembering similar battles with her children. Echoes of thrown snowballs and childish play bounced from the ruined walls of the tower.

"You cannot. You are not quite well and I will not risk your health." Severus peered down at the field, colors now blending, squeals of delight and indignation rising into the howling recess of the tower. "I suppose someone should go down and act the adult; stop this nonsense."

A single hand restrained him. "N'uma. Do not. They are children, doing as children do."

Severus knitted his brow. "Children? They are battle-hardened warr-"

"Who have lost their childhood." Bronwyn's hand closed over his. "Severus. They have lost their childhood, thrown away for a battle not meant for children. Let them recover a little of what they lost. Saes. Just for ort ort time."

Severus' mouth quirked with sarcastic humor. "So with one snowball fight, you have saved the lost children of Hogwarts. How noble."

Bronwyn's responsive grin was humorless. He felt the sadness deep within her. Her hand reached up and Severus found himself arching his jaw into her cupped palm. "N'uma. There is one other that is lost. I pray he can be found."

***

Elladan and Elrohir, accompanied by Amadeus, watched the ensuing madness with glee. True to Severus' prediction, the Headmaster had joined in the melee, along with several of the younger and more spirited professors. Elrohir stooped to pick up a clump of snow, to add his own brand of mischief, when he felt the restraining hand of his brother.

"Wait." Elladan looked around, searching. "Where is Harry?"

The two E sea searched the group, looking for the tell-tale shock of unruly black hair.

It was nowhere.

"Perhaps he went inside?"

Amadeus was sitting, long nose in the air. With a yip, he took off into the woods. The Elves followed him, followed his lead, for several minutes. The sound of revelry drifted away as Elves and beast wound a twisting path. Soon, the only sounds heard were those of the forest; the wind rustling through the leaves.

Stifled weeping.

Keening.

Amadeus had taken off, a white blur amongst the hibernating trees and decaying leaves. Closer they came-

-to the young man huddled in the protective embrace of exposed roots.

Elladan stooped down, his hand reaching out to the grieving teen.

"Harry?"

The young Wizard was unresponsive, empty eyes staring nowhere.

"Harry Potter, lasto beth nîn, tolo dan nan galad!"

It was an order, sharp and slowly, the boy turned unfocused eyes into the grey ones of ancient warrior.

"Cho!" He gasped. "Why can't I remember what happened to Cho?"

***

Quietly, they brought Harry in through a back door, sending, calling for Elrond in subdued voices. Seeing what was going on from above, Severus had sent Bronwyn to her chambers, much to her ire, but the tone in his voice brooked no argument and in truth, she was too tired to fuss with him. She crawled into her bed with a book and a mug of honeyed tea, hoping to read, but instead falling into a fitful sleep. Making sure she was tucked safely in her rooms with Amadeus to stand guard, Severus left for the snowball field, ducking not - so - well - aimed snowballs and retrieved the Headmaster, Professor McGonagall and Remus.

The scene in the infirmary was not good.

***

The hall stretches forever. I cannot see the end of it; the pattern on the rug goes on and on until it melds and meshes into a riot of color that pains my eyes.

Behind me it is no different.

The portraits in the room beckon me; urge me to move forward. I lift a candelabrum from the wall sc, ju, just in case. Slowly I make my way down, move towards the seeming end of the hallway.

The portraits change; people I grew up with, people I knew, urging me forward. Elves who are my friends join in the raucous frenzy, pleading with me to continue the journey forward.

It frightens me, people I have not seen in ages, in an age. Some living, most dead.
lkinlking talking talking.

Where is Haldir? I catch a glimpse of my father in one painting. He glares and tells me yet again he has no time for childish games and silliness. My mother stands behind him and tells me it is time to grow up, stop chasing the butterflies, and complete the infernal task I was sent to complete. I try to run from their vile words, but they follow, moving from portrait to portrait.

The disharmony grows louder, everyone speaking at once. I cannot escape, I cannot move fast enough. I cover my ears, trying to block out the sound, silence their words, but nothing helps.

It hurts.

Being flung into the fires of Mount Doom would be preferable to this. At least that would be a quick death.

The hall veers sharply to the left and I fling myself around the corner, the rug sliding under me in my momentum..

The noise stops.

No one follows me.

I breathe a heavy sigh of relief and turn...

‘Nana?'

The elderly woman who comforted me, shielded me from my parents, gave me everything I held dear in my y yea years, stands in front of me.

Behind a large, rotting trunk.

It is open and I see bolts of material, books, mementos...

I reach for it-

Only for it to slam shut nearly on my fingers.

‘Nana?' I question her again.

It is not yours, child. None of it is yours.

Her voice reverberates inside my head. My hands brace on the lid as I lean over...

‘Nana?'

It is time, child.

‘Time for what?'

That sweet, precious smile I adored, craved as a child, graces her face and she bends over to place her parchment thin hands on my face.

It is time to leave the past behind, my precious one. Even for now, even for a little while, you must take the Wizard's hand and allow him to lead you through the mazes, through the dark places.

‘But Haldir... my love...'

Her eyes soften in sorrow.

Cannot lead you to where you must go. You can't keep your eyes on both, my child. You must give all of your attention and trust to the Wizard. You must find your bow.

She releases my face and strokes the trunk I am leaning on.

It is not yours, my child. None of it is truly yours. I am so sorry. You have been and will continue to be a wonderful caretaker.

‘Nana?'

A single finger silences me.

Find your bow. He will lead you. Listen to the child. She sees much. Follow the Wizard.

‘Child? What child? Nana, saes...'

Listen to the Wizard.

‘Nana?'

Trust WizaWizard.

‘Oh, saaeeessss....'

***

Bronwyn shot up from the bed, in a sweat. In her panic, she knocked her book into the floor, the spine splitting as the corner hit the stone. Unseeing, she reached out for the familiar ruff and was answered with a long, cool wet nose.

"Oh, Amadeus. I can't turn my back on him. Nor can I follow blindly." She buried her face in his comforting pelt.

"What am I going to do?"

***
TBC
***