Tomorrow

Harry spent most of the day alone, Molly having take lunch to him on a tray. He let his thoughts wander, hoping the pieces would fall into place.

The place he most felt was home. Where he spent his happiest hours. The place has already been chosen. All the missing victims are hidden near there. Harry lay on his back staring at the ceiling while the words ran through his head. The information seemed to jibe with what Dumbledore had shared with Harry in the trips through the pensieve.

“Hey, Harry, you feeling better?” asked Ron who stuck his head around the door to the bedroom late in the evening.

“Yeah, I’m all right. Is Hermione with you?” he asked.

“Where else,” she replied, opening the door wider.

“Should have known.” Harry sat up and motioned for them to come in. “Shut the door. We need to talk.”

Hermione perched on the bed opposite Harry. “What is it, Harry? You look like you’ve thought of something.”

“I’m not sure, but hear me out and see if you come to the same conclusions I have.”

“Go on, mate, we’re listening.” Ron settled beside Hermione and lay back on the pillows.

“Remember I told you about what I’d seen in the pensieve memories about Voldemort, and what Dumbledore told me?” He waited until they’d nodded. “Think about what we read last night in Snape’s letters. He used the same words as Dumbledore –not in the same way maybe, but the same words.”

“Yes, you’re right, Harry. Are you saying you think he’s hinting that the other Horcruxes might be still at Hogwarts?” Hermione was nodding her agreement and thinking through a plan at the same time.

“Yes, I think that’s exactly what he’s trying to get at, but the last letter –the one he sent a week ago –he says the latest victims are hidden near there. What do you make of that?” He looked at his friends.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other. “The latest victims, as in the people he’s kidnapped?” asked Ron.

“Yeah. I think he means they are being held somewhere near Hogwarts. I’d bet anything the place has a Fidelius Charm on it and he can’t tell us directly.”

“Makes sense to me, but who do we tell? Who’d listen to us?” asked Ron.

Harry frowned in thought. “Let’s try Remus.” He rose and led the way out of the room.

Xoxoxoxoxo

Caitlin woke from a deep, comfortable sleep, cocooned in a warm quilt. It was light out, that much she knew. She opened her eyes and quickly closed them again. She was still held captive.

“I doubt you’ll be able to dose off again. You’ve just woken after a twelve hour sleep.”

She opened her eyes and looked over to where his voice had come from. Snape leaned on the wall, looking out of the window. Caitlin pushed herself up and brushed her hair back from her face. He looked over at her, his eyes pausing at her ripped robes. She self-consciously pulled them closed.

Severus approached her pulling his wand. She shied away from him and closed her eyes.

“Habilis Reparo.” With the incantation, her robes were repaired.

Caitlin opened her eyes and saw the tear had gone. “Thank you.”

Snape nodded. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to sleep in my bed for a while. The fire is lit. You can cook something for dinner tonight. Make it substantial, since we missed yesterday’s meal.”

“Yes, sir.” She scrambled off the bed and headed to her usual place by the hearth.

Snape crawled onto the bed and groaned as he stretched. Caitlin felt only slight pity for him, considering how many nights she’d spent on the floor. She turned to her task for no other reason than to occupy her mind.

Xoxoxoxo

“Surely you can see that he’s trying to tell us something. He must have spoken to Dumbledore as well.” Harry was becoming impatient with both Lupin and McGonagall who were doubtful about his idea’s.

“Harry, why would He Who Must Not Be Named choose a place so close to where the Ministry has placed extra protection?” asked Lupin.

“Because it’s close to where he... where he feels most at home. Maybe he has something he needs there.” Harry had almost divulged the information about the Horcruxes.

McGonagall shook her head. “The school is closed, Potter. It’s not safe for you to return there.”

“Professor, I’m not safe anywhere. Not really. It would be worth it if we can find out where they are holding the kidnapped people.” Harry hoped his argument would win an ally in Shacklebolt.

“Professor,” Hermione began, “If we can search the castle while there is no one around, we might be able to find out what Voldemort wants. Please, let us go there. The ghosts and elves will help us. They must protect the castle, mustn’t they?”

McGonagall nodded. “Yes, as usual you are correct, Miss Granger, but...” She trailed off, still reluctant to agree.

“Professor, we’ve nothing else to go on. It was a mistake to take him on last time, even though our hands were forced,” said Ron. “We need more information and if Harry and Hermione think it’s at Hogwarts, then we should go.”

“Minerva, I’m not happy with the idea, but they have a point. We can station some Aurors there and search the surrounding area. If nothing else, we can look for a Fidelius Charm.” Shacklebolt had sided with them.

McGonagall finally conceded. “Very well, I will accompany you and have the wards set to admit you where you need to go.” She stood and looked at the trio, pinning them with her trade mark glare. “You three had better be very, very careful, for if you’re not I’ll give you such detentions when you come back to school...” She stopped as her voice broke. “Bairns, we’re sending bairns to do an adult’s job.” She turned and left the room.

Lupin stood and spoke next. “I’d be ready to go tomorrow, if I were you. I wouldn’t tell Molly before. All right, Ron?” He looked at the red head.

Ron nodded. “Yeah, I don’t want her upset anymore than she is. You’ll tell her something?”

Lupin nodded. “Yes. She’ll be fine, Ron, don’t worry.”

Xoxoxoxoxoxox

Caitlin had cooked and Snape cleared the dishes once more. They settled into the same routine they had established in previous days. Caitlin hadn’t really expected anything else. As she settled by the fire, she thought about all of the things she wanted to ask this man, and wondered if she’d ever have the opportunity. She leaned back on the lintel and started to doze.

Snape was violently awakened from a sound sleep by a woman’s scream. He pulled his wand from under his pillow where he kept it and jumped from his bed.

“LUMOS.” He lit his wand and looked for the cause of her distress. He found her standing on a chair with her skirts pulled tight around her legs.

“What happened? What is it?” he demanded, looking around for an intruder.

“Over there.” She pointed a shaking finger towards the corner. “M –m –mice. Ran over my foot.”

Snape heaved a sigh of relief. He walked over and lifted her off of the chair. “Come on,” he told her, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the bed. He opened a dresser drawer and pulled out a night shirt. “Put this on. And hurry up, it’s cold.” Caitlin stared at him, wondering what was happening. “Go on, I won’t look.” He turned his back on her. “If you don’t do as I say, I’ll do it for you,” he warned.

Caitlin swiftly obeyed, knowing full well he didn’t give empty threats. “Alright, I’m ready,” she told him when she’d changed.

He turned and pointed to the bed. “Get in and move over.”

She stared at him wide eyed, not believing what he’d said.

“Go on, do as you’re told. And don’t worry, I have no other reasons to invite you in other than there is a Warming Charm and wards against vermin around the bed.” He waited as she crawled between the sheets.

He got on the bed after her. “Nox.” He doused the light from his wand and settled down to sleep with his back to her.

Caitlin lay unmoving in the bed. A few minutes later she heard him snoring. It was warm and high up off the floor. Without realising it, she dropped off asleep a short time later, feeling more peaceful than she had for many days. When she woke the next morning, he’d already risen and dressed. She saw him standing at the window once more.

“Good morning. I’ve made tea.” He pointed at the burning fire. “Get up and have some.”

Caitlin rose and walked to the table. “Thank you, but I’ll wait for a bit.”

Snape shrugged. “Come and sit down.” He pointed to the table.

“I realize you have many questions going through your mind.” He joined her and poured a mug of tea out for himself. “I shall endeavour to answer those I can, as long as it does not involve information which, if leaked, could impinge on our current security.” He sat down and looked at her once more.

Caitlin was confused. “I – I hardly know where to begin. You are to keep me – I don’t know why. I don’t know anything.”

Snape frowned. “I’m not sure of his reasons either, but then he rarely gives any reason for his actions. I have a feeling you are a guarantee of my loyalty to him. If I should attempt any betrayal ... ” he shrugged in resignation.

“He’d use me against you,” she decided. “Pity it wouldn’t work.” She looked away from him to the window.

Snape looked at her strangely. “I meant what I said about you being a member of my family.”

“So? Since when did a member of the Prince family ever give a damn about anyone? They just want to save face and keep to their traditions,” she told him bitterly.

“Not all of them,” he told her quietly.

“What do you mean?” she asked, curious to know more about this strange man.

“My mother, Eileen, married a Muggle.” He watched for her reaction.

“Then, you’re a half-blood,” she concluded. “Why are you following this lot, then?”

“It seemed the right thing to do at the time.” He sipped his tea. “They were a bit more welcoming than my Muggle father was. I proved I was as good as them.”

“How long will we be here?” She asked.

Severus sighed. “I wish I knew. Why ask that among all the questions you must have?”

“If I’m going to be with you much longer, you might get offended by my odour. A bath and a change of clothes would make my presence a little more bearable. And there are a couple of female things that I will need, if you know what I mean.” Her cheeks coloured and she pulled her ear in embarrassment.

Snape looked at her blankly for a moment, then realized what she had said. “Oh, uhm, yes, well. A bath we can work out and I think I have some clothes you might be able to use.” He rose and headed toward his lab, but stopped and turned back. “Can you apparate?”

Caitlin laughed. “Of course not.”

He gave a one sided smile. “Then I shall fix the wards so that you might visit the Convenience without being accompanied.”

“Sir, is it possible to do that now?” she asked.

“Severus,” he replied.

“What?” she asked, confused at his answer.

“My name is Severus.” He turned and went outside to change the wards.

Caitlin was more confused than ever. Would she ever solve the mystery of this wizard?