Who'll Fill a Coward's Grave? ↣ Harmione

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter 16 - Meeting the Minister

When Albus received the information from Shacklebolt, the old wizard immediately rushed down to the dungeons and informed Severus. Waking his Potions Professor with the news that Voldemort had killed everyone, bar the prisoners, in Azkaban was a severe shock to Severus' system. That the Dark Lord had then gone on to murder the Minister of Magic and his security detail in the Leaky Cauldron left the potions master shaking his head in disbelief.

"Albus, I scanned him not two days ago. That body of his wouldn't have had the power to even make a portkey to Azkaban, far less do what you're suggesting. It's simply not possible, unless..."

Albus wasn't using legilimens, Severus' thoughts were closed to him anyway, their minds just reached the obvious conclusion at the same time. "Unless he performed some sort of ritual on himself. The only ritual I could think of that would supply him with anywhere near that level of power boost, especially if he was so low in magic as you say, would be reabsorbing one of his horcruxes."

Albus could see that conclusion hit Severus hard.

"We're pretty sure the only horcrux he has left is Nagini. That snake is the only living thing the Dark Lord gives a shit about. If that's indeed what he's done then this could be bad. It would mean the Dark Lord has discovered or suspects the rest of his horcruxes are gone, and will also be swearing vengeance on everyone for forcing him to end Nagini's life."

"Severus, you can't go back there - even if summoned. The castle wards will protect you until we can defeat him."

After a moment's thought, Severus asked what was almost a rhetorical question. "I'm assuming today's Prophet will lead with that story?"

With a grimace, Albus answered him anyway. "I can't see anything else pushing the Minister of Magic being murdered by Voldemort off the front page."

That was what he'd expected. A determined Severus then made his intentions known. "Then I need to return, if only to confirm our suspicions."

"Severus..."

"I have to do this, Albus. If he has reclaimed his horcrux, that means the Dark Lord is now mortal. We need to know for certain. If I can discover that information, and then slip away, nothing will get me back to his side again. I've got to do this, I'm the only one who can."

Nodding in defeat at that reasoning, Albus had one last piece of advice for Severus. "I'll ask Fawkes to listen out for your call. If things get bad, don't hesitate to call for him. As Minerva said yesterday, don't go all Gryffindor on us now."

Severus was already trying to calm his mind, knowing one mistake could see him dead before breakfast. He decided to leave as early as possible. If the Dark Lord was sleeping, a chat with Pettigrew should provide all the information he needed. Neither Death Eater would dare wake their Lord without a dire calamity that needed brought to his immediate attention, hopefully allowing Severus the excuse of calling back later - which he would never voluntarily do again. It wasn't much of a plan to pin your survival on, but it was the only one Severus had available.

-oOoOo-

After hugging the life out of Hermione and Harry when they returned to Grimmauld Place from their Diagon Alley mission, Emma still couldn't settle. She more than any of them had been praying Severus would have been able to end this on Sunday. Hearing that Voldemort had returned and murdered the guards in Azkaban, before then doing the same to the Minister of Magic, had her really on edge. Picking up on this, Harry offered a solution to the group he now considered his family.

"Sirius, do you think we could stay at the safe house tonight? I'm sure I would sleep better knowing that only the people living in this house knew where we were, and there's always the phones if we have another emergency."