Senses

Chapter 44

Severus had waited as long as he'd been able, the pain of his summons nearly making him lose what little had been in his stomach. Now, he sat at the long dining table trying not to show any emotion as another body hit the floor. A recent raid had brought in four of the known wand wood-gatherers on this part of England. They were exceptionally difficult to catch and even more difficult to find. It had taken months for them to be captured.

"Why does everyone seek to tell me information that I already know!" Voldemort sneered at the last wood-gather who'd been left alive. An apprentice, a young woman possibly in her mid-twenties.

Severus pursed his lips tightly, looking straight into the eyes of the woman. She was strong, though he could clearly see her quivering she had made no noise, nor shed a single tear. Her hands were held behind her back, while she sat on her knees. It was rather curious to him actually. It was only when he pressed into the surface of her thoughts did he realize that she was a mute. She had no way of answering the madman's questions.

"My Lord, perhaps...an alternative method?" Severus knew speaking now would be dangerous but he just wanted it to end. All of it. Everything. He was so tired.

Voldemort hissed in the back of his throat, slowly turning towards Snape. His wand hand twitched to correct his disobedience but his intelligence told him he had only one chance left to find the answers that he sought, "Speak then."

"She is the last, yes? Of the wood gatherers? Perhaps...she would know where to find a wandmaker." Severus didn't dare to stand and kept his voice as even as possible, "A wand maker might have the answers you seek."

"They are protected." Voldemort turned away from the girl now coming to stand center.

"Protections can be broken." Severus took a slow breath of the air filled with growing danger, "With patience."

"Patience..." Voldemort snarled the word in a low whisper. Turning away from Snape, he looked down at the girl who had intelligently lowered her head in his presence.

"My Lord. We've retrieved it." Bellatrix couldn't have walked more like a cock on the walk if she tried, the door she'd flung open dramatically hit the wall with a heavy bang making the girl on the floor jump.

Voldemort grinned turning his red narrowed eyes towards Snape, "Patience indeed."

oOo

"I can't believe we did it." Ron grinned dumbly at Harry. The energy from their success riling the both of them with renewed hope.

"I can't believe you did either. That was extremely risky." Bill sat down a plate of food in front of both of them, "But this is good. At least now we have a way forward. I'll ask around to anyone who may be willing or able to help."

"Thanks Bill, we really couldn't have done all this without your help." Harry was just so relieved that they'd made it in and out without getting caught. Being that close to Bellatrix had made his stomach fill with stone but now the worst seemed to be over. Just three more Horcuxes left and the war would finally come to an end. They still had to figure out a way to get into Hogwarts, but it was something already in the works.

"A little help here." The fireplace behind Bill flared to life and a very familiar red-head pushed his way through, "Ah! Bill, can you fetch Fleur?" Fred looked back into the fireplace as George ducked low under the mantle, a bundled girl in his arms.

"Wha-" Ron came to his feet as Bill pushed past him, his eyes wide and filled with confusion, "Who's that?"

"Someone who needs our help." George kept the girl's head tucked into his neck though she was well into the realm of being unconscious, "Found on our doorstep, quite literally."