Guilty as Sin

CHAPTER 33

“Where are we going?” Harry spoke calmly as he caught up with Snape who was striding ahead of him and Draco.

“Godric’s Hollow.” Snape replied coolly not averting his gaze from their darkened path ahead of them.

“We’re going to walk all the way to my parents old house?” Harry spat incredulously, his feet already killing him and they’d only been walking for six hours.

“Not the entire way no, if I can commandeer a wheeled muggle contraption then we shall be lucky.” Snape snapped irritably obviously disliking being disturbed while he was trying to concentrate on where they had to go next.

“You mean a car.” Harry muttered having taken a moment to decipher what Snape was referring to.

“Yes if that is what they are called, I just have to find a suitable one.” Harry came to a complete stop and stared up in darkness at Snape who had also stopped in the middle of the deserted London street. From the tower at Hogwart’s the three of them had portkey’d to a strange deserted house in London. Harry couldn’t believe what he was seeing as he’d stepped out of the house into the London street to find not a single muggle about. The place was abandoned, like the occupants had left in a hurry taking none of their possessions with them. There had been bodies too, strewn haphazardly about but Harry had ignored them and simply stepped over them just as Snape had done. On the horizon of the darkness Harry could see a red fiery glow in the distance but Snape had refused to explain anything to them and instead ordered them to follow him and start walking.

Draco was lagging behind, the wizard born boy having never been in muggle London before, and was overwhelmed by so many of the muggle items lying abandoned on the streets.

“Are you going to explain to us what’s going on or not?” Harry demanded finally losing his temper with the elder wizard who after stopping for a while continued on walking. It was ridiculous walking around in what could be circles for all they knew. Snape stopped immediately and Harry regretted loosing his cool as Snape strode back over to him and slapped him hard across the face, the echo reverberating around the deserted street.

“Do not think because we are in danger that I will tolerate your attitude Mr. Potter, now I would appreciate you placing a little faith in my judgment and protection of you. Now get in the damn Kor.” Harry held his stinging cheek as he looked up at Snape and frowned in confusion before following the man’s pointed finger over to where a small red car sat abandoned on the side of the road.

“Car.” Harry corrected automatically receiving another stinging slap for his trouble. Obediently Harry climbed into the passenger side of the little red car, having helped Draco into the back. Snape confidently sat down behind the wheel and stared at the multitude of gears and levers on the dashboard and steering wheel. Harry stared at Snape for a long time waiting for the man to start the engine but Snape did nothing and merely stared at the wheel with a stern scowl. “Do you even know how to….” Before Harry could speak Snape had grabbed him by the collar and hauled him over into the drivers side essentially swapping their seats.

“No I do not, so put your muggle heritage to some use and get this thing moving before we’re discovered.” Harry nodded and with a deep breath turned the key in the ignition and started the engine. Harry silently cursed Snape for choosing a manual car as he accelerated a little and went to change gear. The gears clunked and scraped against one another and the car bunny hopped a few times before Harry had got the car into second as he steered steadily through the deserted streets.

“We’re heading west Potter.” Snape commented as he pointed to a road sign that read western suburbs. Harry nodded and with a more confident hand changed gear again as they set off towards wherever it was that Snape was taking them.

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“Where are we?” Draco leaned forward between the front seats to stare out of the windscreen at the derelict looking house they’d pulled up outside.

“Godric’s Hollow and hopefully not too late.” Snape muttered as he opened the door of the car and stepped out onto the grass. Harry glanced at Draco in the rear view mirror and shrugged his shoulders. He’d given up trying to get information out of Snape and had simply settled into the long drive. It was strange seeing the house he was born in but Harry pushed aside his emotions and stepped out of the car to join Snape standing in the overgrown front garden.

“Now what?” Harry whispered as he wrapped his cloak tighter around him in the chill of the wind rushing up the moors.

“We see if anyone’s home.” Snape spat sarcastically as he strode through the rusty iron gate and up the gravel path.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Harry muttered as he shook his head in frustration. Perhaps the rumors had been right, Snape was completely cursed and mad as well.

“Are we going to die?” Draco rested his head against Harry’s shoulder exhausted after the day’s trek. According to Harry’s watch it was quarter past twelve, lunchtime yet it was still dark like the middle of the night, and unseasonably cold too.

“No, but we might just all go mad.” Harry snapped as he grabbed hold of Draco’s elbow and pulled his friend hastily after Snape, who was already standing in front of the door on the porch. “Well is anyone home?” Harry bit sarcastically as he joined Snape on the porch. Harry didn’t miss the lavender hued gaze that Snape threw over his shoulder at him, a sure sign the elder wizard was losing his patience with Harry’s defiance.

“Let’s see.” Growling low in his throat Snape knocked four times on the door the sound echoing around the quiet countryside that the house sat on. Harry was stunned as Snape opened the door only to reveal nothing but a dusty, creepy old entrance hall of the house. Harry watched curiously as Snape swore to himself before closing the door again and knocking four times again only louder. Again Snape opened the door to reveal nothing but the empty entrance hall. “Fuck it.” Snape slammed the door closed and knocked once again the force of which splintered some of the rotten wood on the door panel.

“Can we just go in already?” Harry bit angrily as Snape opened the door a third time. Harry didn’t even look to see what he was walking into and simply strode straight through the open doorway. Almost immediately a bright light hit his eyes making him stagger back a little and shield himself as his sight adjusted. As the sparkles disappeared from his vision Harry was stunned as he stared into the brightly lit, neat, white hallway that certainly hadn’t been there the other times Snape had opened the door. Looking back Harry stared at Snape who sneered in satisfaction as he dragged Draco inside and closed the door on the dark world they’d just left.

“What is this place?” Draco seemed to perk up a little in the warmth of the hallway and the bright sunny appearance.

“One of the entrances into the underground.” Snape whispered as he walked forward past Harry to inspect a small piece of parchment that was sitting on the hallstand.

“The underground?” Harry replied skeptically as he watched Snape look up from the parchment and glare at him.

“You really are pushing your luck Mr. Potter, you may be carrying but I can still belt some of that attitude out of you if you continue to address me in that tone of voice.” Snape’s voice had lowered dangerously and Harry knew he’d over stepped the limits of Snape’s tolerance.

“Sorry sir.” Harry muttered as Snape turned his attention back to the parchment and having picked up the quill in the inkpot beside it, scrawled his name onto the paper. No sooner had the parchment been signed than a doorway appeared beside Harry and Draco who jumped a little at the crackle of magic that rippled along the white wall.

“This is doing my head in.” Draco sighed as he clutched at his chest at the surprise of the door appearing. Harry looked knowingly at the blonde but chose to say nothing as Snape pushed past them again and opened the door. The sight that greeted them was amazing and Harry stood gaping as he saw so many familiar faces amongst the hundreds, and hundreds of wizards and witches camped out in what appeared to be a massive tunnel network.

“Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy this is the underground.” Snape announced smugly as he drew both boys onto the steps that led down into the large main cavern, where most of the action seemed to be.

“Wow that’s why everywhere is deserted.” Harry declared as Snape slowly led them down the steps into the organized chaos of the cavern floor.

“Indeed the underground is a safe house for wizarding folk to come to when they need protection. This place has been in use for millennia during wars, plagues and even invasions. The wards are so ancient that nothing can penetrate them and the entire place is constantly moving so as not to be traceable.” Down on the cavern floor it was more difficult to move and Draco and Harry stuck close to Snape who was heading for somewhere specific. “The system is designed so that a family has one central portkey and that in times of crises they can activate it and it brings them, and all their associated family members here.” Harry was eagerly taking in everything Snape was saying, as he looked around.

“My family doesn’t have one.” Draco commented angrily having never heard his father or his mother speak of such a place.

“They did but it’s rendered useless if they have magical connections with the crisis taking place. The wards will not allow through anyone or anything that is considered a threat to the people already inside.” Snape explained casually as they made their way over towards a small camp, where Harry could clearly see the headmaster, the minister of magic, McGonagal, the Weasley’s, Lupin and several Auror’s.

“Then how did we get in?” Harry whispered as he pulled Snape to a halt by the arm before the man could approach the group. “And what about Lupin he’s a werewolf.” Snape smiled a little bitterly at Harry and then casually flicked Harry’s hand away from his elbow.

“Simple Mr. Potter we at present do not pose a threat to these people and while we may take no interest in helping them out of their current situation, neither will we use their unfortunate position to our own gains. Now both of you keep your mouths shut and just agree with everything I say understood?” With a narrowed glare Snape turned towards the group of conversing wizards and approached them confidently, with his usual impressive glide leaving Harry and Draco to follow.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>