52Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Snape's POV
"It appears you are all here. Now I must ask each of you to stand and step inside this circle." the goblin said as he waved his hand and a large white circle appeared in the center of the room. Etched runes glowing throughout it. Severus studied the circle, something about it seemed familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"What is this about?" he turned to ask the goblin.
"I'm afraid, Mister Snape, I can not tell you until each of you as stepped into the circle," the goblin's black eyes stared up at him.
"I will not-"
"Enough, Severus," Lucius demanded stepping into the circle, two confused redheads watching him. "This is Draco's spell work. I would recognize it anywhere. Get in here." His blonde friend glared at him. "Now."
He felt a shiver run down his spine. He hadn't taken an order from Lucius in years, not since they were young, but his body still reacted. He returned the glare, stepping into the circle.
Zabini following behind him just a little hesitant.
He saw the twins look at each other and nod, before they too joined them inside the circle. Severus wondered what they were doing here. If Draco had set this up, the rest of the group made sense, but not the twins. Unless, Draco was working with Potter? But still wouldn't their younger brother and Granger be here?
He felt the magic snap in place around them.
"I must have each of you swear, that what you will not speak of what you learn here today. Not to anyone not locked inside the circle with you.
"Fucking…" one twin said at the same time the other cursed, "Hell…" and to his surprise Zabini spoke in sync with the duo, "Truth circle." Severus saw the twins eye the Slytherin, then they both grinned, and he felt a wave of worry. Not for Blaise but for the rest of the world if the three became friends. Keeping Draco and Blaise out of trouble was problem enough without the two Weasleys influence.
Lucius however ignored the small exchange, "I swear."
"Luc, stop," he ordered moving towards his friend, "You have no idea what you are swearing to. This could be a trap."
"You think Draco would trap us?" his friend said looking him in the eyes, anger and worry clear as can be.. "You think Dragon would do anything to hurt us, his father? His godfather?" his friend growled, then tilted his head towards Blaise. "What about his best friend?"
He fought against a forgotten instinct to lower his head to his friend. It wasn't something he did anymore.
He gritted his teeth. "He would if someone tortured him or forced the spell from him," he said, hating himself for doing it. He didn't want to think about the horrible things that could be happening to his godson, but it was his job to think about things like this. Normally Lucius would be thinking the same, but his judgement clouded by worry over his son.
"He wouldn't," Luc said, straightening his shoulders. He wanted to reach out and shake the man, because it was killing him not knowing, but walking into something blindly just because he was worried was stupid.
"Luc-"
"We wouldn't be here," one of the twins said, cutting him off.
"What?" Blaise said.
"If this was something personal about the younger Malfoy, we wouldn't be here," the other twin said.
"And if Harry…"
"Is involved…"
"They would have targeted Ron.." he was starting to get annoyed with the bouncing back and forth, and from the way Luc's eyes darkened, so was he.
"Or Hermione."
"Not us," they finished together.
"How can you now for sure?" Blaise asked, looking intrigued. Great.
"Easy," one of the twins said smiling at the younger boy. "No one knows how close we are to Harry," the other said, grinning. How close they are? Okay now he was curious. He stepped back from Malfoy so he could see everyone in the circle.
"Aside from Harry," the first one said again.
"So, your the proof," Luc said eyeing the twins. "That Potter and Draco are for some reason working together."
Both redheads shrugged. "We are just saying that, the only reason we are here. Is because Harry wants us here."
As much as he hated to admit it, they made sense. Though he was going to have to rethink the connection to Potter. He had no idea, they knew him that well. He knew Potter was close to their brother, but he had never seen any sign of friendship between the three boys. And if he hadn't neither had anyone else. Which meant the three Gryffindors were better at hiding and keeping secrets then he expected.
"Fine. Alright. I swear," he said. He saw Luc's shoulders relax.
"We swear," the twins said, getting a sigh from him and Lucius, and a chuckle from Blaise who then added, "I swear." The circle glowed and then a box appeared at its center.
One of the twins was the first to move, kneeling down on the floor and opening the box. Inside it were a number of letters. Severus took a step closer, only to be handed a letter with his name and the number 1 on it from the young man kneeling on the floor. Then he watched as a few more were handed out. One to each person in the circle, though he could see a couple of letters left in the box.
He sighed and opened his letter.
Severus,
Please don't be angry at me. Or Potter. We had no hand in what happened to us. I don't know what to say in this letter. I feel I should ask you to reassure father that I did not run away nor was I taken. I would never shame or betray him like that. However, I am stuck where I am, and need your help, and that of the others hopefully standing in the circle with you.
I know you will find this hard to believe, but Potter and I are stuck in the past. Your past. Well yours and fathers, and a group of strange Gryffindors. The only proof I have is that after sharing a room with a younger version of you and father for the last several weeks, I have decided you owe me an explanation on many things, and that I had no idea how much father truly disliked mother.
As to what happened to us. I still am not sure. I had been out for a late night walk, my cat needed it. I heard Filch coming so I hid. Imagine my surprise when Potter hid in the same spot. After Filch wandered off, we started talking, well, arguing, whatever. When this bright light appeared along one of the castle walls. I tried to warn Potter, but when he tried to move away from it, it started pulling at us. Dragging us into it. After that, all I remember is walking up, outside during the day.
While I don't know how we got here. We have worked out a plan to get back. We hope.
Inclosed in another letter is a set of instructions and supplies. Potter assures me that the twins can get a few of the harder things to find. And I believe him. Let them help, Sev, please.
The hardest part of the spell, outside from needed help from people in our time is time.
We have no idea if the days are passing at the same rate. Or if we are moving at a different pace. Which leaves us with a problem. How can we work the spell on the same at the same time, if we don't know. I am trying desperately to find a suitable time. I will send another letter, hopefully when you get this one. You will get that one as well.
Hope you are well,
Draco.
Lucius POV
He watched as one of the Weasley twins knelt down over the box. He felt worried as the young man handed out letters to everyone in their group. He had to will his hands not to shake as he took his. Was Draco okay? What had happened to him? Why hadn't he just come home?
Taking a deep breath, he opened his letter.
Father,
I am sorry. I know me disappearing cannot have been easy on you, and to make matters worse, I'm sure the Dark Lord thinks I have run off like a coward. While I do not believe in him like you do, I would never betray you.
I have explained most of this in detail to Severus, about what happened, please read it there.
However, I must ask you not to show this letter to anyone, (outside of Fred and George, as they are the only two Potter trusts.). Potter is a submissive. A bound one, father, I don't know what to do. He is emerging slowly and he has never been informed about any of it. I have tried to help him, but we don't know anything about the Potter's line or their inheritance.
Dumbledore! The man Potter has trusted above anyone else, is the one who bound him. 7 different spells, father I was furious when I saw them. It seems being here, in the past, is causing them to unravel, but I fear for what will happen once we return. The headmaster is sure to feel his spells have gone. I don't think Potter has thought about it. Truth he is distracted. Between his inheritance and being around his parents, I don't blame him.
Another note, his so called friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, are liars. He found out they have been faking their friendship with him all these years. I don't know what they are telling people, but watch them closely and believe nothing.
Now for the part of the letter Potter, will kill me for. Find Remus Lupin. He is important to Potter and I have seen how protective the younger version of the man is towards Potter. No way he would ever betray him. I know the circle is set to stop you from speaking to anyone else, but I have written in an exception, not that Potter or the goblins know. You can tell Remus, everything. I believe he needs to know. Potter is going to need him when we get back.
I know you joked about me being in love with Potter, with how often I talked about him. At least I had thought it was a joke, but in truth, I am confused. I feel drawn to him, and here in this time, with no one influencing us, we have become friends. I am not sure though if it's me that is drawn to him or my cat. I hate feeling confused father.
I hope to see you soon.
Love, Dragon.
Blaise POV
It felt strange to be standing in a circle with two older students (well ex) that he had never said a word to before, his professor and his best friend's father. He knew which families stood on which side of the war, and the fact that these four people (not counting him) had been not only civil towards each other but seemed to be in agreement to trust that this was all set up by Harry Potter and Draco surprised the hell out of him. So much so, that he jumped when the smiling Weasley handed him a letter with his name on it.
"Thanks," he muttered, turning it over and breaking the seal. With a deep breath he read it.
Blaise,
Time travel is real, and it is horrible.
I never wanted to know things about my father, that I now know.
I'm sorry if my disappearance scared you. Or if it has in anyway caused you problems.
I explained most of this in Severus letter, but Potter and I have been thrown back in time, going to school with our parents, and we need help to return.
I am also sorry to drag you into this. I know how you feel about getting involved with the war, and this helping Harry Potter, return, will impact the war. No matter how I look at it, I know that. Either he will come back and win or lose, but either way it means he will be there. I am sorry. You are my best friend and the only friend I trust. Speaking of, don't trust Pansy. I caught her sneaking off private information to her father. Be Careful, I think they tend to force your mother's hand.
Also, I will never punch you again when you joke about my obsession with Potter.
Please help Father and Severus. Also the Weasley twins. Potter tells me that they are smarter than they appear and have ways of sneaking unnoticed into Hogwarts. Maybe you can learn a few interesting things from them. Don't Trust Ron or Granger.
Draco
Fred saved his and George's for last, ignore the three still in the box addressed to them and Snape with the number 2 and 3. Then he stood next to George, who he let open it, because he wasn't sure with his nerves he would have been able too. He took one last breath, hoping his little brother was okay, and read it.
Fred & George,
Hey guys. I'm not sure how to say this. Or if you will even believe me. So I guess I'll start with the beginning. Towards the end of the year, I received a letter for Snuffles. Telling me not to trust Dumbledore. No explanation on why, just not to trust him.
I was angry at him at first, and confused. I thought the headmaster was our friend, but I have learned recently, not all those I thought are friends are. Like Ron, please believe me, I heard him and Hermione talking about me. They HATE me. I don't know why. I don't even know if they have always felt that way or if it's something new. I don't know what I did to make them feel that way. I wish I did. That way I could at least understand why they are faking our friendship. With them and Dumbledore, lying to me. I had to question a lot of things lately. Like my other friends. I hated that I started to doubt, everyone. You guys, Remus, even Sirius (briefly), and I pray I judged you right and that by sending you this letter, you understand my doubt.
Now as for a bigger bombshell. I'm in the past. With my parents! And Remus and Sirius! They are so different. More happy and relaxed, and it hurts knowing what is going to happen to them. I have to keep reminding myself that I can't save them from it. No matter how much I want to, but I finally got to know my mum and dad, a little. I'm scared to get too close to them, but actually seeing them and talking to them; it's so strange, and kinda great.
I don't know how we (Malfoy is with me. He isn't an arse, well not completely, or a dark wizard) got here, but Malfoy has found a way to get us home. Hopefully. He sent a letter with all the information, and as much as I dislike Snape and don't trust Malfoy's father, I need you guys to help them. You and Blaise, can get it the castle and the common rooms to get something to use as a tether, and you all (expect Malfoy) can be there to perform the spell.
I need you guys to do me another favor though.
Look into Sirius's trial. I have been thinking it over, and I can't remember anyone mentioning one. How could he have been sent away if he was never tried?
Can you also looked into werewolves getting custody of children. I wanna know why I wasn't sent to him when Sirius was locked away. Why did I have to go to my Aunt and Uncle? I can't believe it was because Remus didn't want me. It doesn't make sense.
Also, please ask the goblins about my accounts. I have a theory about something and need you to see if anyone outside of me as access. I have written a letter, giving you permission. I need you to know that it's not that I don't trust you, because I do, but the letter is spelled. It will only open if you are true in you desire to help me. Sorry.
I miss you guys,
Harry
"Fucking hell!" his brother shouted as they finished. George turned to him. "I'm going to murder him." He nodded. He couldn't believe what Ron had been doing.
"Umm…" a quiet voice asked, causing both of them to look over at the stunning olive skinned Slytherin, Fred really wanted to get to know him better. He was sure his brother would agree,
"Kill who?" They both chuckled.
Then frowned. "Our brother," he said. "He's been lying to Harry," his brother added.
He bent back down to the box, handed Snape his second letter and third letter, and took his back to George. "It seems we have some other business to attend to," he said looking over the strange group, "before we can leave. However, if any of you which to talk all this over, we have a flat over our shop. You can meet us there tomorrow."
The young Slytherin nodded and he looked to the older two. Who seemed to be having a silent conversation with their eyes. He grinned, it was weird to see someone else do that. He wondered just how close the two men where that they could? He had known they were friends, and that they both worked with Voldemort, but Malfoy had called Snape Draco's godfather? So they had to be close, at least enough for the elder Malfoy to trust the potions master with his son.
His brother nudged him, and he looked down at the letter. They both touched it and it gave a soft glow, then unwrapped itself. They looked at each other and let out a relieved breath.