Secret Keeper

Chapter 7 -- A Day of Meetings

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to JK.

Author's Note: Thank you to ALL of my loyal readers, who have followed this story through the past few months despite lagging updates and poor writing. I sincerely appreciate every single one of you for sticking with me. Special thanks to all those who have reviewed, both in the older and newer version. You guys give me the inspiration to keep writing. :) And, as always, it's very interesting to see what you guys think is going to happen. ;P

Genetics is a very complicated thing to explain, and I know I had a very hard time watering it down so that you guys could understand. If you don't, feel very free to email me for an explanation, or simply search for "Punnet Squares" in Google. :)

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"Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy day to come to this impromptu meeting." Albus Dumbledore graciously said to his gathered staff as they milled about his small office, looking for a place to sit or stand. "I apologize for the cramped quarters, but I would prefer to tell you my news in person, rather than through the distant means of parchment."

Severus Snape's lip curled disdainfully. Filch had just sat in the chair next to him, bringing a noxious odor and the annoyance of that blasted cat of his. He stifled the strong urge to move away from the caretaker, cursing his habit of being near the closest exits. Old habits died hard though and once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater. And so, Hogwarts' most feared professor, sat stiffly on the edge of his rickety wooden chair, pale hands clasped on his lap, dark eyes constantly moving about the room. He hoped the meeting would finish quickly - it was the first day of classes and, while this morning he had given the younger years an essay due tomorrow, the sixth and seventh years had a test that needed to be administered to them. He had no doubt the summer had drained away what little knowledge they possessed about Potions. Sometimes he wondered why he bothered. Most of the time he wondered if he was being paid enough to teach the lackwits.

"May I stand here?"

The quietly solemn voice drew his attention and, upon realizing just who it was, he rolled his eyes. "As long as you don't bite me."

Severus knew that if he cared enough to look, Lupin would be frowning at him. "I asked a simple question, Severus. There's no need to be rude."

"On the contrary, Professor Lupin," he drawled, emphasizing the proper address, "when others ask stupid questions, I'm obliged to be rude and/or sarcastic."

"It wasn't a stu --"

"Come now, let's not take too long to find a seat or place to stand." Dumbledore clapped his hands, the sound easily cutting through the general murmurs that often accompanied such gatherings. The Hogwarts staff loved to gossip just as much as their students, after all. "This is very important news about two of our students that will be greatly affecting their academics and school behavior."

"I bet it's Harry and Malfoy ... " Professor Lupin whispered, bending down slightly towards his colleague.

"A very astute and utterly unneeded proclamation. It never has been anyone else." Severus scowled. "I wonder what Potter did this time."

"It's not always Harry's fault." Professor Lupin argued, his voice strangely serene in its exasperation. The potions master could hold grudges like no other. The teasing he had endured when he was in school with James was horrible, but more than thirty years of grudge-holding? And passing it down to Harry? That was just plain ridiculous. He wished Snape would lighten up, but he didn't see that happening unless some sort of catastrophe struck. That's how it always had been and always would be - human nature, he supposed, to become complacent and resistant to change, stuck in a comfort zone.

"There, now that we're all settled - more or less," the Headmaster glanced at a small altercation between McGonagall and Trelawney, "I would like to start by saying that the next few months are going to require great compassion and understanding from all of you."

Severus wondered if Dumbledore's telling look was directed at him or Filch. Since he greatly disliked Potter and Filch greatly disliked any student, he could probably safely assume it was meant for the both of them.

"Harry is part of a rare species called Zatiga. They are able to transform themselves into any animal, magical or otherwise." Dumbledore stated abruptly, his robes swishing as he walked around to stand behind his desk. In the silence of his surprised and uncomprehending staff, he sifted through the stacks of paperwork on his desk until he found what he was looking for. "I have taken the liberty of writing down what you should know, lest I forget a detail that may be crucial." He briefly held the sheet of parchment up for them. "I would advise you each to listen very carefully to what I will be saying. Zatiga can be very dangerous when misunderstood or provoked."

Oh, get on with it, old man, and stop giving me those looks. Dumbledore always had been one for dramatics.

"The very fact that Harry is a Zatiga is an almost impossible discovery. In the days before wizard encroachment, the species was very reclusive and shunned any intruders, instead preferring to interact and mate with their own kind. Unfortunately, as the centuries passed and wizardkind grew larger and more invasive, the Zatiga elders came upon a crossroads." The Headmaster walked back around to the front of the desk and regarded his staff. He had their complete attention. "Their species was dying out, mostly due to loss of habitat and the senseless killings of their kind, as they could often be mistaken for other persecuted species, such as the werewolf. They could maintain the traditions they had upheld for a millennia, or they could adapt and disperse in to the changing world around them. The elders chose the latter. What they did not know, however, was that the Zatiga gene is recessive to the wizard gene." He raised an eyebrow. "Do all of you know what that means? Or shall I have to go in to deeper detail?"

There was a tense pause. Severus stifled a disgusted sigh when Filch raised his hand. It was a good thing Hagrid wasn't here, otherwise he'd be here all day with the old coot having to explain everything.

The Headmaster's blue gaze twinkled and he nodded, a gentle smile gracing his face. "Yes, Argus?"

With all eyes upon him, Filch squirmed nervously and began to reflexively pet Mrs. Norris. "I'm not understanding that last part. Not that I understand anything else neither," he muttered conspiringly to Snape, who grimaced and moved over slightly on his chair, away from the fried fish smell that wafted over him.

"Ah, okay. I'll explain this in a simple manner, but genealogy is quite complex." Dumbledore carefully moved a stack of papers over and sat down on the corner of his desk. "In genealogy, there are two kinds of genes - dominant and recessive. The dominant gene is always the one that is capitalized and the recessive is always lowercase. Because the Zatiga gene is recessive, it is shown as two lowercase letters while the dominant wizard genes are shown as either two capitalized letters, or one capitalized and one lowercase." Dumbledore raised his wand and blue light poured forth from the tip, forming a 'BB', 'Bb', and 'bb'. "Each child gets two genes - one from the mother and one from the father. The dominant traits will always be expressed over the recessive traits, unless you have two recessive genes in a child." He nodded towards the blue 'bb'. "In order for there to be two recessive genes in a child, in order for those characteristics to be displayed, both the mother and the father need to carry the recessive gene. This means that if the wizard was 'BB' dominant, the recessive Zatiga gene would not be displayed at all, whereas in the case of a wizard who was 'Bb' dominant, the recessive Zatiga gene would be able to display half of the time." He paused. "Unfortunately, as each successive generation was born, the Zatiga gene was fast becoming obsolete in expression. Simply because if both parents were 'Bb', which is to say that they were carriers, but not displayers, of the gene, they would only have a twenty-five percent chance of having a child who could be Zatiga. Do you understand now, Argus?"

There was a supiciously long silence after the question, in which most of the teachers turned to regard their silent colleague. Filch wheezed and nodded vigorously. "Aye, aye, sure, I understand, of course." Leaning in close to Severus, who proceeded to lean just as far away, he grunted, "Didn't know what he was talkin' about after the first sentence. Think the poor bloke's gone mad, he has."

Or you're just incredibly dense. Snape thought snidely.

"Good," Dumbledore smiled. "Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Not only is it incredible that Harry is a Zatiga, but it is also amazing that he has a mate!" Dumbledore beamed at his staff as they immediately burst into curious and excited murmuring. "Now, now, let us calm ourselves." He waved his hands genially. "The mate has already been identified, so there really is no need to get into a tizzy."

A foreboding feeling settled in to Severus' gut. Oh god. Can I really be put in to such hell?

"The odds of a Zatiga being able to mate are quite long as there are two genes that are passed down through the species' heritage. One is a dominant Zatiga gene and one is a submissive Zatiga gene." Dumbledore shook his head, as if to ward off any questions. "They are not to be confused with the dominant and recessive genes, however. Zatiga genes are recessive, but there are two sub-types: dominant and submissive." The headmaster stood up and slowly walked over to Fawkes, who sidled warily on his perch and eyed his owner. "In other words, two people may express the Zatiga gene, but may be unable to mate because they both have the dominant gene, or perhaps the submissive."

Yes, I really can be put in to such hell. Only such absurdly long odds would ever be placed on the head of Potter. And where Potter goes, Draco will follow. Severus briefly closed his eyes. May the gods be with me this year.

"As it so happens, Harry has the dominant gene." Dumbledore shifted slightly, placing his body between the phoenix and the proffessors. "One other student has the submissive gene needed for the mating to occur." He cautiously reached a gnarled finger out, trying to stroke his pets head. "They have already made contact with one another, although not through the typical means." He hissed quietly and snatched his finger back, narrowly avoiding the snap of his phoenix's beak. Dumbledore frowned before turning back to his professors with a smile. Why had Fawkes begun to snap at him? "Draco Malfoy," he said succinctly.

Severus silently watched the commotion the other professors created, wondering why any of them should be so surprised about this.

"What does this mean, Albus?" McGonagall asked in a tremulous voice, eyes wide and a hand raised to her neck.

"THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE LORD HAS ARISEN AND COME FORTH IN ACCORD." The deep, booming voice resonated through the small room, instantly silencing the occupants. All eyes turned to look at the spindly figure of Professor Trelawney, rigid in her chair, with her enlarged eyes rolling wildly behind her glasses. "EQUALED IN DESTINY BUT WITH A POWER KNOWN NOT, EITHER MUST DIE, FOR LIVING TOGETHER THEY CANNOT." Trelawney's body heaved once, twice. "THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE LORD HAS ARISEN AND COME FORTH IN ACCORD. EQUALED IN DESTINY BUT WITH A POWER KNOWN NOT, EITHER MUST DIE, FOR LIVING TOGETHER THEY CANNOT." Her head lolled back and forth, her body convulsed, and then she sagged in to her chair, her head dropping down to her chest. After a few moments of utter silence, she seemed to rouse herself, gazing up at them with wide, bespectacled eyes. "Why, excuse me. Must have dosed off," her wispy voice uttered before she hastily looked to Dumbledore and shook her head. "And by no means do I intend to offend you ... My Inner Eye often seeks rest from muddied influences when I descend from my tower."

The headmaster seemed dazed as he slowly shook his head and wandered back around his desk to collapse in his chair. "No ... no, that is quite all right, my dear." his voice sounded faint, confused.

"Albus ... " McGonagall said sternly, gaze flitting between the other shocked staff members, the embarassed Professor Trelawney and the dazed Headmaster. "Are you -- "

"My dear Trelawney ... " Dumbledore's bemused tones interrupted McGonagall, his twinkling blue gaze unusually sharp. "It appears that you have just given a prophecy."

What is this now - three total? Severus thought sarcastically, no less surprised than any other person in the room. He didn't think the old fraud had it in her.

Professor Trelawney blinked and laughed shrilly. "Another prophecy? Surely you must be ... " She suddenly stopped and began to fiddle with her shawl, the beaded necklaces layered around her neck clacking together. "Rather, I suppose ... this is just so surprising ..." She paused, gazing around at her colleagues before regarding Dumbledore in confusion. "What did I ... say?"

He dismissively waved a hand. "Nothing we do not already know, but it lends itself some questions. Why now? Will you give any more?" He sighed and rubbed his temples. "But now ... We really should get back to discussing Harry and Draco."

"You can't just brush off a prophecy!" Proffessor Trelawney objected, her necklaces clacking and her bangles clinking wildly as she half-stood from her chair. "My Inner Eye has spoken despite the clouding effects of being in the presence of others so blind!" She tried to hide the blatant look she sent to McGonagall, but the pursed lips and scowl that formed on the recipients face signaled that Trelawney's efforts hadn't been successful.

"On the contrary, Professor Trelawney," McGonagall said icily, "You have yet to inform us of anything that we do not already know. As such, it makes perfect sense that we should discard your ... prophecy ... and continue with our previous discussion of Harry and Malfoy."

Snape smirked. When angered, McGonagall could be just as nasty as he. You would never hear that from him, of course.

Lord Voldemort was in one of his 'moods' and every Death Eater knew it. The rage that boiled beneath the surface of his reptilian skin filtered in to the room until the atmosphere was rigidly tense and anticipatory, like glass waiting to break. He stalked amongst his followers in long, powerful strides, whirling his black velvet cape around his legs, red slit eyes glaring malevolently at them. Their punishments had been swift and merciless, and often for the slightest infractions - such as the wrong amount of subservience in their words. A slithering sneer warned them before they were hit with a Crucio. For many of his oldest followers, this was the angriest they had ever seen him.

Severus Snape, for one, knew to keep his hood down and his movements to a minimum - despite the nauseating levels of pain that wracked his body. He'd been hit with his Lord's choice of punishment at least five times since the start of the meeting an hour ago. Considering the level of fury simmering in the eyes of Lord Voldemort, he had done well.

A flash of light and another ungodly scream drew his attention back to the middle of the circle they had formed. Crabbe Sr. had suffered under the Cruciatus curse for over fifteen minutes now and Severus knew, as the designated healer of the D.E.'s and potions master, that much longer and the man would lose his mind, much like the Longbottom's had. Of course, he thought disdainfully, he didn't have much in the way of intellectualism to lose. A trait he had passed on to his son - of which the test today was more hard evidence of that.

The discussion of Potter and Malfoy earlier in the day had been an hour long, which had taken up the professor's lunch time. He had gone to the seventh year's class in a foul mood as befitting anyone who had been deprived of a meal they desperately needed. Perhaps he had been a little ... unrestrained ... today; he really couldn't fathom Neville fainting just because he had looked at him. Either way, he had been in a sour mood all day. The students at school had given him a wide berth when he traversed their halls and, quite daftly, he had found himself having to bite his tongue from speaking out against his Lord. He could well imagine the scene that would transpire, if that should happen.

SLAM!

The sound of the large mahogany doors behind them being thrown open caused him (and all of the other Death Eater's) to swiftly whirl around, wand instinctively pointed at the intrusion.

There stood a tall, cloaked figure. The stranger's face remained in shadow, for the hood was pulled low, but the confidence (not to mention the bloody balls) with which he had entered these secreted chambers spoke volumes.

The agonized shrieking from behind them abruptly cut off and, despite their best efforts to keep him safely tucked away, some of the Death Eater's were shoved aside as Lord Voldemort stalked to the front of the pack.

"Why have you come sso late?" Voldemort hissed darkly, wand clutched in a white-knuckled grip. "You ssignaled for a meeting a well hour ago and yet you wait until now to gracce uss with your presencce?"

The potions master was shocked. He had no doubt that he wasn't the only one and that the only thing preventing his fellow Death Eater's from gasping or otherwise showing their surprise, was the threat of punishment hanging over all of their heads. The day Lord Voldemort had transformed back in to his fully human self had been the day he had ceased to hiss when he talked. To hear the lisp in his menacing tone again was at once frightening and amazing - a testament of just how deep his rage he was. And to think that this cloaked figure had the power to call meetings, just as well as the Dark Lord?

Severus could hardly believe what he was hearing - the amount of trust, the amount of faith, that his Lord had in this Death Eater was astounding. The trust was certainly at a level Severus had thought impossible for the Lord to feel. Glancing up to make sure that his hood suitably covered his facial features, he frowned, thinking back to the times he could remember seeing the wizard. He had been at every meeting, on time, though not garbed in the fashion of his fellow Death Eaters - he was simplistically dressed in a cloak that any wizard may wear out in public, perhaps of finer quality than the average wizard. The Death Eater had never volunteered information about Potter, nor had Voldemort ever asked him of any, and he had never helped come up with plans for attacks, nor had Voldemort ever asked him to. And ... now that Severus thought about it ... the Death Eater had never been seen at one of their attacks upon muggles - and everyone was asked, or rather demanded, to participate in one attack a year, no matter what their station in the wizarding world.

"I apologize." The hooded form said, confidently walking forward until he stood directly in front of Voldemort, his tone expressing none of the subservience that all who spoke to the Dark Lord had if they wanted to remain alive. "I was delayed in arriving because of a few things I wanted to set up before I left." Severus thought the Death Eater's voice was rather ghastly and croaky and thought it good that the person had decided to be silent, at least up until this meeting.

"That does not excuse tardinesss," Lord Voldemort replied and stepped closer to the figure, wand raising threateningly. "No matter what our agreement," and this he said snidely, "it does not allow for dissresspect or rudenesss. I trusst that you have important news with which to make up for it?"

"Oh, bother, Tom, come off your high horse and lower the wand, would you?" The hood shook back and forth as a few undisciplined Death Eater's gasped at the informal words of their fellow member. Many glanced uncertainly at each other and their master, unsure of how to react. "I've got jolly good news for the both of us. I think you'll find it hard to believe, but I assure you that every word I speak is the truth."

Red slit eyes narrowed and a tongue flickered out to taste the air. "Indeed. I ssuppose I shall come off my ... high horsse ... as you put it and hear what you have to ssay. Anything lesss than bloody amazing shall be met with a Crucio, however. No matter what the contract sstatesss." He turned around, immediately dismissing and denouncing the man as a threat. "Out of my way fools!!" He snarled and scowled and shoved his way through the surrounding ranks of followers.

Severus was bewildered. And he didn't like it one bit. Something was going on, something different than anything else, and he didn't know about it. How was he, Voldemort's second in command, not to know about whatever this was? He grumbled and stabbed his wand in to the back of the Death Eater in front of him. "Move." he growled and pushed past them towards the front of the ranks, taking some pleasure in their yelp and disgruntled muttering. He was bloody well going to get to the bloody bottom of whatever bloody thing was going on. No one pulled the wool over Severus Snape - not even the bloody lord of bloody darkness.

A black cane materialized out of nowhere, causing him to trip and catch himself on the person in front of him. Ignoring the complaints assaulting his ear's, he faced the very bane of his existence. "You wished to talk, Sata- Oh, pardon me, Malfoy?" He said dryly, watching the cane sneak back in to the folds of his rival's black cloak and resisting the urge to cradle his throbbing shin.

"Knock off the joking, Severus, and tell me what the fuck you're planning." Lucius Malfoy hissed at him, silver eyes blazing in the shadows created by his hood.

"Why, I don't know what you are talking about, Lucius," Snape said coyly. It didn't matter that he really wasn't planning anything, and was actually well and good pissed at what appeared to be developing - everything was put on hold for the simple joy of teasing Malfoy. He took a step closer to the taller man and batted his eye's rather sarcastically at the blonde from under his hood. With no one else could he do this and not look the fool. "Won't you tell me what is going on in that pretty little head of yours?"

Lucius sneered and rolled his eyes. Severus always turned in to a blithering, imbecilic git around him. "Severus, really. I do think that for once in your life, you can cease your teasing around me and tell me what the fuck is going on." Each emphasized group of words had Lucius taking a step closer to the slightly shorter man until they were less than a foot away from one another.

Severus mentally sighed and regained his composure. He needed to choose his words carefully - the wrong ones would leave him vulnerable. "You mean that the great Lucius Malfoy, first in command after our Lord Voldemort, does not know what is happening?" He raised a single black eyebrow. "By the gods, Lucius, I think you're slipping." He smiled oily. "Next thing you know, I'll be surpassing you. Taking your place as chief confidant of our Lord."

Lucius froze briefly, caught off-guard by the abrupt switch in Severus. He could almost mourn the loss of playfulness in his rival, if he didn't know that they had now descended in to their usual cat-and-mouse dance of words. He sneered again. "Come now, Severus, do not play the ignorant with me." He stepped closer, eyes narrowing, glittering a challenge. "I saw how you reacted to the way that bloody fool spoke to our Lord and while you, I must admit, are a consummate actor and could most likely fool any of the others, it won't get by me." Lucius smirked. "I've known you for far too long, Severus, to be blind to your ways. You would do anything to move closer to our Lord, to gain more confidence from him."

Severus narrowed his own gaze in return and decided to take a different tack with the stubborn lackwit in front of him. "I haven't the faintest idea what you are blathering on about, Lucius. I do think that you have been under too much stress lately." He smirked smugly and leaned in close to whisper his coup-de-grace, absently noting the musky scent he inhaled as he did so. "Perhaps you are doubting the decision to give your son to our Lord?"

Lucius once again froze, this time in utter shock at the audacity of his fellow Death Eater. "Pardon me?"

"You heard me, Lucius." Severus said, delighted that his rival was so incapacitated. "I know all about it. Your 'secret' negotiations with our Lord, how you pleaded your case in front of him, regardless of how much you shamed yourself in doing so." He sneered. "I saw it all. I saw how he ... touched you. How you winced after you left him, to return to your wife and son with the knowledge that you had sold your soul to our depraved Lord." He stepped away from Lucius, away from his once-friend, shaking his head in disgust. "I do not understand it. You used to be so full of pride, never bowing to anyone. Even when we entered his service together, you told me that you would never be completely his. That you would always retain your pride and your bearing. That you were only doing this to gain more power for yourself." Severus snorted. "Amazing how that has changed, is it not, Lucius?" He retreated another step and turned to move towards the front of the ranks.

A strong hand clamped down on his right arm and yanked him back, back against an absurdly strong chest. "Nothing has changed, Severus," the familiar arrogant voice whispered, sending chills down his spine. "I am still the same person I was then - only stronger, more powerful." The hand tightened, was joined by another on his left arm. "We two have always been attracted to power, have we not?" Severus felt an index finger gently stroke the underside of his arm, reminding him of what Lucius and he had indulged in when they were younger. "All the more reason for us to --"

"Luciuss! Sseveruss! Why are you not in the front?" Lord Voldemort's angrily hissed.

It instantly snapped the potions master out of ... whatever the hell had been going on between him and the blonde man. "Get the hell off me, Lucius, and contain yourself." he whispered furiously and pulled free of the hands. Without a backwards glance, he pushed and shoved his way through the ranks, insulting those who stood in his way. "Yes, my Lord, sorry, my Lord." Severus said meekly and bowed, hearing the words repeated by Lucius as he came to stand next to him.

Voldemort eyed them for a moment, perhaps deciding whether he should punish them, then looked out over the mass of Death Eater's surrounding him. "I have great news, my friends. Great news indeed." He smiled nastily. "We now have a foolproof plan for the demise of that brat Harry Potter ... one that will eventually have him in the hands of all of us, to be played with as a toy."