When All is Lost One is Found

Chapter 111: Fading Under a Watchful Eye

When All is Lost, One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 111: Fading Under a Watchful Eye

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

May, 1998.

Three months had come and gone, and with the passing of time came very little information. All he had was an enraged Dark Lord that was, fortunately, at a great distance from Hogwarts. Despite being under the monster's control, it was still a refuge. Even the Carrows had avoided his rage.

He took the Dark Lord's anger as a sign that the three were still alive. That his witch was alive.

His only source of anything was the newspapers. Although pureblood radicals manipulated most of the content, they always put any sightings of Potter on the front page. After all, his head was the most valued one of the wizarding world. Paper after paper, day after day, the information recycled.

His worry had built up so much that it filtered off into his dreams. Images of her torture plagued him to the point he refused to sleep. He just couldn't face what his mind offered now.

He'd had nightmares before, several of them, but this time they were invading his mind to the point he was unable to control them with his occlumency.

Now he had no choice but to avoid the staff and refuse Pomfrey's visits. He was sure that if he looked in the mirror he'd scare himself with his aspect. It would be a waste of time to allow the mediwitch to waste her time and potions on him. In the near future, she would need as many potions as she could get so there was no use in using them on a man sentenced to die.

The window vibrated and he turned. He smiled slightly at his small owl. He waved his wand, the window opened and the little thing flew to him and landed on his shoulder. Another owl flew in shortly after and dropped a newspaper on his desk. He scattered some coins on the table, it rummaged around for the proper one and then left his office.

He handed his little owl a biscuit. It went over and perched on the fireplace mantle. He sighed, sat down at his desk, and opened the paper the other owl had left.

He stared at the paper for a full minute. Then, he shook his head and the paper as if it would change what was on the page. He looked at it again.

"Well...Shit."

The image of a dragon shooting upward and destroying the ceiling in Gringotts with a silent roar, greeted him, but that wasn't what made him nearly rip the paper in half. He could distinguish the silhouette of Hermione, Potter and the brainless idiot settled on the creature's back.

When did this happen? It was highly amusing and insane at the same time. Seeing that she was well, and riding a damned dragon out of Gringotts of all things, alleviated his worry about her recovery at least. Now he had to be confident that there was a reason for the idiocy she was taking part in.

He glanced at the date. First of May. This happened today.

He read the article. Through the various insults and redundant words, he determined that they were trying to steal something from Bellatrix's vault. He thought about what he'd seen in there and what would compel them to break in.