Toile D’Araignée by MithrilQuill

Fortifications

Fortifications


“After all, we wouldn’t want Potty to waste his precious time going after something that’s already destroyed.”


Blaise picked up his History of Magic text and attempted to decipher a paragraph on the Giant Wars that wasn’t making any sense because of all the numbers and really long names.


“Please, Zabini!” he looked up to see Weasley smirking, “The only reason I’m agreeing to this is because it might help Potter realize he’s not the only capable of doing important things.”


She broke off into a long string of muttered swear-words that Blaise, thankfully, could not hear. He went back to his History of Magic book leaving the letter to her. He’d make sure he used a good charm to change the handwriting. One that even Granger wouldn’t recognize.


“So,” Weasley said at length, tying the completed letter to the leg of a school Owl, “Do you think Slytherin can manage to scrape a few points before we win this weekend?”


“Shut up, Weasley,” Blaise replied, “You know you’re going to be creamed.”


She snorted and Blaise remembered that if they did win it would probably be because of her and her lessons anyway. How ironic. And irritating, he’d never get to rub it in her face properly. He shook his head at his own increasing fondness for the sport.


A knocking sound at the window brought him out of his thoughts and he looked up to see his mother’s Owl carrying the latest issue of the Daily Prophet. Blaise opened the window to let it in and grabbed the paper.

Ministry Raids Intensify and Scrimgeour Assures Wizarding Community That Copperation is Key to Winning the War



He scanned over the drivel about the Minister’s theories on Death Eaters and glanced at the names of the “Death Eaters” they’d caught so far and all the items they’d confiscated. Suddenly a name jumped out at him.

Severus Snape has taken hold of Malfoy manor and fortified it against any outside influence. It is unknown whether Mrs. Malfoy is being held hostage or not, but Ministry Aurors insist that they are doing their best to resolve the situation as soon as they can and with minimal damage.


Blaise snorted. The situation wasn’t that funny, really, but Narcissa Malfoy being held hostage by Snape was laughable. He searched the paper for a note from his mother and finally found it scratched on the fifth page beside an article titled: “Narcissa Black Malfoy, Death Eater or Innocent Victim?” It was short and to the point, his mother was clearly in a hurry. She was moving out a few days early and wanted him to figure out what he was going to do with his horse, Shadow.


Weasley grabbed the paper from his hand unceremoniously and he watched her face change color with amusement. She took a while reading through every scrap of information about the raids and Snape’s interesting move. Finally she got up.


“I’m going to go tell Hagrid about your horse, he’ll be able to keep it and take care of it until you can find another safe place.”


She didn’t leave him enough time to listen to the awkward silence in which he would wonder whether he should thank her out loud or not. Strangely enough he trusted the Half-Giant with this one.


Blaise began pacing the room, his mind on Draco and Snape now. Suddenly he found himself staring at a small radio which he could have sworn wasn’t there a moment ago. He grabbed it and moved it to the table, placing it right in the middle on top the pile of books and turning it on.


He let his head hit the desk as he listened to the latest garbage and then finally, the idiots at the radio realized that something was going on and switched over to the reporter in Wiltshire.


“The Ministry is not allowing reporters to come too close, but even from a distance the efforts of the Aurors to get in are clear. It seems that Severus Snape, dangerous murderer and former spy at Hogwarts, has succeeded in fortifying Malfoy Manor against entry.”


Ginny came in and sat down heavily. “I told Hagrid, he’s gone to get the horse right now; I just hope your mother doesn’t say anything about half-breeds or something, Zabini.”


“Thank you, Weasley, she won’t.”


…


“All Quidditch Games, Practices and Hogsmeade Weekends have been cancelled until further notice. Classes will resume as usual, including the evening Careers Classes for Sixth and Seventh Year students.” McGonagall’s voice boomed ove the loudspeakers, “Students are to be cautious at all times and practice their defensive spells daily, but do not allow this to disrupt your lives and your studying. You will be immediately informed of any new developments or immediate danger.”


Blaise hurried to his Defense Against the Dark Arts class, eager to see what was going on first hand. Rumors in Slytherin were that McGonagall had received some sort of warning with Potter and that she was negotiating Early OWLs and NEWTs with the ministry so that the students could go home early this year.


The class was silent as he entered, but most of the students were there already. They were all sitting facing McGonagall as she stood behind her desk. Blaise weaved his way to his usual seat quickly and quietly, but he noticed that the Headmistress’s gaze lingered on him a little longer than usual.


“As you may have heard I am attempting to arrange Early NEWTs so you may spend the hour studying,” she said when everyone was seated, “I will call your names and you will enter my Office one by one for a short meeting. Quietly please.”


Blaise could not bring himself to concentrate on any subject so he began scribbling on the edge of his parchment and eventually he was able to compile a list of the chapters for each subject that he needed to review the most. Finally his name was called and he entered the office.


“Sit down, Zabini,” McGonagall pointed to a stiff backed chair and Blaise awaited the interrogation, “As you may have noticed most of the students left this room with a piece of parchment in their hands, but this is not an examination.”


Blaise nodded, waiting for her to continue and wondering why Professor Lupin was sitting on another stiff-backed chair opposite him.


“They were work positions, Mr. Zabini, based on predicted NEWT results. I will not allow my students to go out there unprepared and with nothing to do.”


“But you don’t have a position for me,” Blaise said predicting the rest of the speech, “It’s all right, Professor, I understand.”


“No, I think not.” McGonagall stared at him keenly from behind her glasses and he turned to Lupin, “I am about to make you a very rare offer based upon your skill and Mr. Lupin’s recommendation.”


Why the hell would Lupin recommend him? Blaise wondered. Did the man even have a job himself, being a Werewolf must make jobs a little hard to find, especially nowadays.


“Have you heard of the Order of the Phoenix?”


Blaise was thrown by the question and his head jerked in something between a nod and a shake. “I am offering you a chance to fight in the ranks of the Order of the Phoenix. If you do so your family will be protected. And make no mistake, this is no Spy job, Zabini, if you accept this you will be out in the battlefield, making a name for yourself among the fighters.”


She sounded as if she was sure he would jump at the chance, but he noticed that Lupin was trying to read him, perhaps less sure of this.


“I’m no one’s lap dog,” he said immediately, “…Professor.”


Lupin raised an eyebrow but remained silent and McGonagall looked rather taken aback. Finally she spoke:


“Aveline’s son,” she said shuffling with her papers, “I hear she has moved to France.”


Blaise visibly raised an eyebrow in his Headmistress’s direction. McGonagall did not gossip so what the hell was she on about? She handed him a piece of parchment, “Then I hope this will do.”


He scanned the parchment quickly: McGonagall had, apparently, found him a well-paying career in France. He nodded and stood up. “Thank you, Professor.”


Suddenly, he had the urge to run out of the room. If the Dark Lord saw this memory he would be killed. And what happened to Mother and Celeste now? The beginnings of doubt were creeping in, but he walked calmly out of the office, aware of Lupin following him.


His old professor finally spoke when he had his bag packed and was ready to go. All the students had been dismissed. “I’m quite fond of Ginevra Weasley, Mr. Zabini, as are many others.”


Blaise’s head snapped up so quickly he thought for a second it might have actually broken.


He opened his mouth to respond, but nothing coherent would come out and he felt his mouth dry. This man clearly knew too much and Blaise wondered just how much it was.


“Don’t make any excuses, Mr. Zabini, just make sure you haven’t inherited your mother’s method of dealing with partners.”


The way he said partners indicated that he knew quite a bit about what was going on. It almost sounded like “partners in crime”. Blaise gulped and nodded, exiting the classroom as quickly as he could. This was the last thing he needed on top of six older brothers and a “partner” with a death wish. Blaise was so lost in thought he even forgot to feel bitter for Lupin’s comment about his mother.


He took a few books from his dorm and then scribbled a quick letter to Weasley. Another night trying to study in the Room of Requirement was ahead of him, but he somehow knew there would not be a lot of studying.


”Theodore Nott, the voice on the Wizarding Wireless Newtwork said, “Is said to be hiding in a Muggle Orphanage where he previously took refuge after his mother’s death. Aurors have been dispatched to the Orphanage which, incidentally, lies very close to the former Zabini mansion recently sold to…


Blaise blanched and stared hollowly back at Weasley’s face. “What the hell are they doing going after Nott!” the girl exclaimed, “Snape’s the one they should be worried about.”


Blaise began to get up, but the next piece of news made him stop in his tracks halfway across the room.


“The Malfoy manor has now been taken by the minister and reporters are being allowed inside. Apparently both Snape and Narcissa Malfoy have escaped, presumably together and a large creature is hovering overhead, shrieking. A large serpent was found dead inside the manor.”


Blaise took out his wand and ran out the room, pushing students aside blindly and even pushing past Mr. Filch and Mrs. Norris. Snape was a madman. He was acting like a teenager. Couldn’t he wait to make his stupid statement. Suddenly, as he stunned the guards at Hogwarts’ gate and ran past to a safe Apparition spot Blaise realized that this could only mean one thing. The snake, Nagini, had been another one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes.

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