Fatal Affair

Chapter 33: Hogwarts

Nova raced after Bellatrix outside. Death Eaters were already taking off in their flying form, appearing as black mist traversing the skies. This was a power gifted to those closest to Voldemort, a power Nova now knew she would never get. She caught up to Bellatrix and grabbed her arm before she took off with the others.

"Where?" Nova asked, breathless. 

"Borgin and Burkes." Bellatrix turned away, evaporating into black smoke and taking off. 

Nova partly thought that Bellatrix was trying to send her to the wrong location, but it was all she had to go off of. She took one last look at the Malfoy Manor, knowing she wouldn't be coming back. She thought about how Lucius and Nacissa were in there, oblivious to what was going to happen tonight. She turned away, closed her eyes, and apparated. 

The world spun into view once more and she blinked away the dizziness until the small shop appeared before her. 

The street was quiet, as if the world had fallen silent for the events that were about to take place. Nova could hear her heart beating in her ears, felt the blood course through her veins. She slowly took a step forward, and another, and another, until reaching the door. 

She walked inside. At first, it appeared empty and she felt convinced that Bellatrix had purposely sent her elsewhere. Fear started creeping up as she worried about what she would do next. 

"Go!" Bellatrix's voice echoed through the dark shop. 

Nova took a deep breath and followed the voice. She found a couple of Death Eaters in the back, next to the cabinet Bellatrix was looking at the other day. 

"What is this?" Nova asked as a Death Eater, Fenrir Greyback, stepped inside and closed the door. 

"Vanishing cabinet," Bellatrix muttered. She opened the door and Nova's eyes widened. Fenrir was no longer there. 

"This is safe?" Nova asked, running a finger against the wooden cabinet. 

"We'll find out, won't we?" Bellatrix said with a smile. "Your turn." 

Nova hesitated for just a moment before stepping into the cabinet, half willingly, half because of a shove from Bellatrix. Bellatrix quickly closed the door and the cabinet felt like it was being thrown from a cliff. Everything shook and Nova could no longer distinguish whether she was right-side-up or not. It felt like an eathquake had hit the tiny shop and Nova braced herself for the impact that was surely to come. 

As suddenly as it had happened, the shaking stopped. Nova waited a moment, then nervous that Bellatrix might be coming in right after her, opened the door and stepped through. She was in a room full of objects, as if it were a hoarder's storage room. She didn't have time to look at any of the objects before Bellatrix appeared behind her. 

"Let's go," Bellatrix took off with Nova at her heels. 

They left the room and found themselves in the corridors of Hogwarts. Nova recognized them right away because of her time as a student here. She had only graduated a few years ago. She almost felt nostalgic at the old stone walls and the flickering flames lighting the halls, but was disrupted by Bellatrix's excitement. 

Bellatrix started cackling. "It has been so long since I've been here." The other Death Eaters stopped to listen, waiting for some sort of command. "This is going to be fun. To the Great Hall!" 

"What about Draco?" Nova asked, standing amongst the circle of Death Eaters. 

"We'll find him eventually," Bellatrix said dismissively. "We might as well cause a bit of destruction while we're here." 

'A bit' was an understatement. The Death Eaters were blowing up walls, making chandeliers fall from the ceiling, and causing as much noise and destruction as possible. In the Great Hall, Bellatrix destroyed everything she could find. As glasses shattered with an ear-splitting screech, Nova looked around. She realized Severus would probably be here somewhere and considering that she would be disappearing soon, took off the find him. 

She knew where his office was, remembering the detentions she served in there as a student. She also knew that he liked to stay up late. She made her way down into the dungeons, and knocked loudly onto his door. She didn't stop knocking until a grumpy Severus opened the door. His eyes grew wide upon seeing who was disrupting his night. 

"Nova, wh-" 

"Draco told us to come," Nova quickly explained. 

Severus wasted no time. He quickly closed the doors and set off. Nova followed closely. 

"Where are the others?" he asked. 

"I left them in the Great Hall," Nova said. "They seemed... busy, for the time being." 

They rounded a corner and ran into Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor and transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. Nova tried to make herself small, knowing that McGonagall hadn't seen her since she was a student here and didn't know she worked for the Order.

"Severus," McGonagall said, panic in her voice. "The Death Eaters, they infiltrated the school. We need to protect the students." 

"I know, Professor McGonagall," Severus said. "I-" 

"Miss Harrison?" McGonagall said, finally seeing Nova cowering behind Severus. "What on earth are you doing here?" 

"Hi Professor," Nova said. 

"I need to find Dumbledore," Severus interrupted. McGonagall's eyes slowly made their way back to Severus. "Do you know where he is?" 

McGonagall looked between the two, trying to make sense of what was happening. Nova could see how confusing the situation was. "He left for something," McGonagall said slowly. "Severus, the students." 

"Dumbledore has to be here," Severus said, a bit aggressively.

"Well I can assure you, he is not," McGonagall said, puffing up her chest. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Severus, I have a duty to this school." 

She jogged passed them, towards the Great Hall. 

"I'm sure Dumbledore can handle Draco," Nova said.

"This doesn't concern you," Severus uttered, turning to continue his walk away from the Great Hall. "Go back to the others." 

"And what? Fight the Order? I'm not doing that, Severus. I'm staying with you." 

"Fight whoever you want," Severus said, quickening his pace. "It won't matter soon." 

"Why are you so keen on finding Dumbledore?" Nova asked, growing impatient. 

Severus turned on his heel quickly, causing Nova to collide into him and take a step back. "You need to mind your own business, Nova. None of this concerns you. Go. Back." 

Nova opened her mouth to speak, but then a loud crash came from somewhere above them. Both their faces looked upwards, waiting to hear more. Another loud bang. 

Severus turned towards a nearby staircase. Nova recognized it as leading up to the Astronomy Tower. Nova tried to follow but Severus stopped her. 

"Stay here," he whispered urgently. "Don't follow and do not try to interfere." 

Nova had no idea what he was talking about. Nova took a step down and allowed Severus to make his way up. When she could no longer hear his footsteps, she followed quietly.