Cheryl Dyson

Chapter Forty One – Grave News

            Draco was bored out of his mind by the time Snape arrived.  The Muggle girl had been right—Stonehenge or not, they were rocks.  They were only interesting for about twelve minutes.

            Snape walked out from among the stones and Draco assumed he had boldly Apparated somewhere close by.  He was surprised to see Snape in Muggle clothing.  Snape wore black trousers similar to Draco's, and a high-necked black shirt with long sleeves.  The outfit looked far too warm for the balmy summer day, but Snape was probably immune to discomfort.

            Snape's eyes flitted from person to person as he approached Draco, alert for anything.  There was no recognition in his eyes when his gaze passed over Neville and Luna.  Hermione and Ron were out of sight.

            “You're looking well, Draco,” Snape said with something that vaguely resembled a smile.

            “I'm doing all right,” Draco replied.  “Better than I was trapped in my room at Malfoy Manor, at any rate.”  He followed Snape's lead by scanning the area, alert for Death Eaters or other potential danger.

            “Your mother asked me to bring you a message.”

            “How is she?” Draco asked quickly.  Snape grimaced.

            “As well as can be expected.”

            “And Father?”

            “The same.”  Snape jerked his head sharply.  “There are too many Muggles here.  Walk with me.”

            Snape turned and Draco flicked a glance at Hermione, barely visible now in the shadow of one of the stones.  He shrugged and followed Snape.  As soon as they were out of sight of onlookers, Snape turned, gripped Draco's shoulder, and Disapparated them.

            Draco staggered a bit when they arrived at their new destination.  After a moment of disorientation, he realized they were on a pier.  He scowled at Snape.

            “You could have bloody warned me before taking me through like that,” he snapped.  Snape shrugged.

            “You should know by now you can trust me, Draco.  This place is away from prying eyes and Muggles.”

            A sound made them start and they realized a man was walking down the pier toward them.  He carried a fishing pole and tackle box.

            “You were saying?” Draco said blandly.

            The man approached and Draco saw he was a rather old, somewhat pudgy gentleman in a flannel shirt.

            “Hey, lads!  Where did ye come from?  Thought I 'ad the place all to meself today, I did.  You 'ere fer the fishin'?”  As he approached, he seemed to notice they carried no gear at all.  His brows beetled down.  “Now, ye ain't them damn environmental types, are ye?”

            When the man was three meters away, Snape pulled out his wand and downed him with a single blast of green light.  He looked around carefully to make certain the man had been alone.  There were no others signs of life along the barren coast.

            “Damnable Mudbloods,” Snape growled.  “They multiply like rabbits.  You cannot go anywhere without running into a nest of them.  Too bad Voldemort was lying about exterminating them.”  He laughed sharply.  “Or not lying, exactly.  He just plans to exterminate the rest of us, as well.  The bloody half-blood freak.”

            Draco was taken aback.  He'd never heard Snape spew such pureblood venom before, and decided it would be a bad idea to mention Snape's own half-blood ancestry.  He tried to ignore the fallen Muggle, as Snape did when he walked casually farther down the pier toward the water.

            “The Dark Lord is keeping a close eye on your parents, especially in light of the curious disappearances of four Death Eaters, recently.  You wouldn't know anything about that, I suppose?”

            Snape's black eyes glinted with merriment.  Draco was well aware of Snape's ability as a Legilimens, but he didn't get the impression Snape was using it.

            “Which four?” Draco asked casually.

            “It doesn't matter.  I can't stay long.  I've left Goyle and Avery in a stupor and I must get back in time to modify their memories.  I've come to warn you, although there is a limit to what I am allowed to say.  You know he's placed his version of the Fidelius Curse upon us.”

            “Where are my parents?”

            “That, of course, is one of those closely guarded secrets.  I can tell you, however, that he plans to attack the Ministry of Magic.”

            “When?  And why is that knowledge not protected by the Charm?”

            “Within the next few days.  The Dark Lord did not bother to silence us because too many Death Eaters are aware of the plot.  What they do not know is that the attack is merely a diversion.  The Dark Lord does not care if it succeeds or not.”

            “A diversion for what?”

            The Galleon on his chest suddenly grew hot.  Draco wondered if it would be possible to send a message without touching the coin.  Then again, he was touching it with his skin…

            I'm fine, he sent to Hermione.  I'll be right back.

            “It's difficult to answer direct questions, Draco,” Snape said and Malfoy had to backtrack his thoughts for a moment.  The Ministry attack… a diversion.  “Instead, perhaps you should ask yourself what the Dark Lord wants.”

            The words brought back Draco's conversation with his father.  Voldemort wanted the Ministry of Magic crushed.  And Hogwarts.