Snape walks the halls of the school in the early morning hours, his mind full of racing thoughts, most of which are difficult to pin down. He knows where most of his allies are; Ginny, Luna, Neville, and Draco are in their 안전한, 안전 place. Ginny, Luna and Neville will be waking soon to start their classes. Peeves is patrolling high above the Death Eaters, watching their every move. Minerva is preparing for her first class of the morning. Only Dobby's location is unknown; he has yet to return from his mission.
This concerns Snape greatly, but not quite enough for him to risk asking Kreacher where the courageous little House-Elf may be. He knows that Kreacher is absolutely loyal to Harry now though he does not know exactly why. But whatever Lily's son may have done to win over the former servant of the Purist Black Family, he's glad for it. He just does not want Kreacher to know where his true loyalties lie. Not just yet. He knows where his loved ones are; 안전한, 안전 in the ancient city that has become 더 많이 than just a sanctuary for him. He muses that if he could just get Kingsley and the Weasleys there he would feel much 더 많이 secure, but that would leave him very few allies in strategic places.
He knows where most of his enemies are, though the current location of the most dangerous, the Dark Lord and his most loyal servant, is beyond him. Sometimes, however, it's best not to know.
As he passes the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, his mind settles on the thoughts that are causing him the most disquiet. Where are the loyalties of Narcissa Black? He knows her 사랑 and devotion to her son are beyond 질문 and unwavering, but if she learns of the path he has chosen will she attempt to drag him back down into the Darkness, 또는 will she join him in the Light? He knows Narcissa is a clever and resourceful woman...she must know 의해 now what fate following the Dark Lord will bring her to. He believes she does, and may be facing the same test both Lucius and Draco have. What bothers him is that he has no way of knowing for certain.
But deeper than the 질문 of where Narcissa stands is another...what became of Micha Rasmussen? He thinks of the pale, awkward boy peeking shyly out at little Elsbet through the bushes and sees himself, so many years ago. An eternity ago. He thinks of that boy whom Elsbet and Elomer loved without reservation, that special boy Atheme believed in, and feels a need...he has to know...Over the 다음 couple of hours he completes his rounds of the castle, then returns to his office. Once securely inside, he sits down and takes out a parchment, picks up his quill, takes a deep breath and composes his thoughts, then begins 글쓰기 with a steady hand.
***
Grifter, Blood and Sand wander carefully and quietly through the Black House after silencing the portraits; in their misty forms they examine everything they encounter in the minutest detail. Every bump in the wall, every wrinkle in the rugs, crack in the wooden floors, every mote of dust is known to them. And in short order, they begin finding Black gold secreted away in hiding places scattered throughout the house. As Blood and Sand begin collecting the items, slipping them gently into their own bodies for safe-keeping, Grifter examines the room that had belonged to Sirius. He knows Snape had been there, though he does not know why; he catches the lingering traces of grief and senses tears were shed. He does not believe, however, that those tears had anything to do with Sirius.
Grifter finds the picture of the Marauders, affixed to the 벽 with a Permanent Sticking Charm, that Harry had tried to remove not too long ago. He watches the four young wizards laugh and thinks about how horribly sad it is that things worked out the way they have. He picks at the picture and thinks that someday, this house will be passed on to someone else, and all of this will be gone...he traces the edge of the picture with an ebony finger and decides not to leave it behind. He presses his hand flat against it and feels himself seeping in between the picture and the wall, and after a few moments he lifts his hand, the picture coming away with it. Gently, he slides the picture into his chest, then goes about his business.
He finds a few things here and there, scattered among the mess, but finds the most important things affixed to the underside of the bottom drawer of the dresser in Sirius' room. He doesn't stop to examine them, he just rolls them up and lets his body take them in. Suddenly, he hears Blood shout for him and Sand, and in a second, they are beside her. She's holding up a scroll of parchment, unrolled, her hands trembling. She turns it for them to see and they are equally moved. It is a beautiful portrait of Elsbet, sketched 의해 a loving hand, and now there is no doubt that as Padfoot, Sirius saw through Atheme's enchantment. And it's also clear that Sirius loved her very much.
Blood reluctantly gives the scroll to Grifter, who gives it a very close look. Ellie the Elf Maiden, dressed so regally, her hair a cascade of curls, and down toward the bottom almost 로스트 in the curls is a much smaller sketch of Brother Noctem, surrounded 의해 tiny leaves of Lorien. Sand asks her where she found it as Grifter rolls it up and hands it back to her. She takes it back and kisses him quickly, hearing him in her 심장 saying, "you found it, 당신 should be the one to take care of it." She draws it into her body, then points up at the 벽 above her. "I found it behind that awful thing," she says, and the men shudder with loathing. Heads of aged House-Elves in a row, mounted like trophies. They note she's pointing to the last head, that of a female.
"That's just...wrong. Sick and wrong," Sand says, and Blood half-shrugs. "Well, look at this family." Grifter shudders again and tells them they need to be done soon, then returns to the upstairs rooms. He goes through them one 의해 one, collecting little things here and there, then eventually finds his way to the Tapestry Room. He studies carefully every little detail of the Black Family Tapestry, recognizing several of the names and faces on it. He frowns in disgust at all the names blasted off of it for the crime of going against the family's Purist beliefs. He flattens both hands against the tapestry and does 더 많이 than repair it, he actually heals it; the revitalized 이미지 are as vibrant as they were the 일 they were first added, and the names of those 메리다와 마법의 숲 souls shine as if done in silver.
He watches as Andromeda's image and name are renewed, and the image and name of Ted 통스 appears beside hers. Below them appears the name and image of Nymphadora Tonks. Beside Tonks' name and image appear those of Remus Lupin. Grifter suddenly realizes that the tapestry is 'righting' itself, and if he does nothing, it will expand and go on to display all the descendants of those who had been disowned. He notices toward the bottom of the tapestry the name and image of Lucius Malfoy beside those of Narcissa Black, and below them, those of their son Draco. They are changing. The features have softened, the script seems brighter than that of the people around them, and while it is still clear that Draco is their son, there is no longer a line linking Lucius and Narcissa together.
He looks to the left of him and sees the tapestry has begun, very slowly, to color the adjacent wall. He knows the pattern and texture will follow, and then the names and faces that belong soon after. He looks up and the same process can be seen. He looks to the right of him, and as he moves over to watch the process close up, something on the existing tapestry catches his eye. A witch named Dorea Black, married to a Charlus Potter. He shakes his head once, just a flinch, really, and presses his right index finger to the spot on the tapestry between them. "Where does this blood go?" he whispers, then steps back and watches. Before his eyes the name and image of James Potter appears, only to be followed 의해 those of Lily Evans. Below them are those of their son, Harry.
His dark eyes follow a line upwards, to the restored name and image of the witch Cedrella Black, and beside her are those of her husband, Septimus Weasley. He already knows where that blood goes, even though the tapestry is struggling to find a place for Arthur and his siblings. Grifter's 심장 thunders in his chest and his head wants to ache. He places his hand firmly in the center of the 벽 and wills the tapestry to pause its expansion, looks again at Harry's name and image, then says clearly, "secure this house." He steps back from the 벽 once 더 많이 and looks down at the palm of his left hand. Slowly, purposfully, he draws the nail of his right thumb across it; black, ichorous blood wells up and he allows three drops of it to fall onto the carpet of the Tapestry Room.
As he watches the wound close, he knows his companions have done the same, without question, but they're burning to ask what he's found. "We need to go," he tells them, and after having a last quick look around, they vanish.
This concerns Snape greatly, but not quite enough for him to risk asking Kreacher where the courageous little House-Elf may be. He knows that Kreacher is absolutely loyal to Harry now though he does not know exactly why. But whatever Lily's son may have done to win over the former servant of the Purist Black Family, he's glad for it. He just does not want Kreacher to know where his true loyalties lie. Not just yet. He knows where his loved ones are; 안전한, 안전 in the ancient city that has become 더 많이 than just a sanctuary for him. He muses that if he could just get Kingsley and the Weasleys there he would feel much 더 많이 secure, but that would leave him very few allies in strategic places.
He knows where most of his enemies are, though the current location of the most dangerous, the Dark Lord and his most loyal servant, is beyond him. Sometimes, however, it's best not to know.
As he passes the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, his mind settles on the thoughts that are causing him the most disquiet. Where are the loyalties of Narcissa Black? He knows her 사랑 and devotion to her son are beyond 질문 and unwavering, but if she learns of the path he has chosen will she attempt to drag him back down into the Darkness, 또는 will she join him in the Light? He knows Narcissa is a clever and resourceful woman...she must know 의해 now what fate following the Dark Lord will bring her to. He believes she does, and may be facing the same test both Lucius and Draco have. What bothers him is that he has no way of knowing for certain.
But deeper than the 질문 of where Narcissa stands is another...what became of Micha Rasmussen? He thinks of the pale, awkward boy peeking shyly out at little Elsbet through the bushes and sees himself, so many years ago. An eternity ago. He thinks of that boy whom Elsbet and Elomer loved without reservation, that special boy Atheme believed in, and feels a need...he has to know...Over the 다음 couple of hours he completes his rounds of the castle, then returns to his office. Once securely inside, he sits down and takes out a parchment, picks up his quill, takes a deep breath and composes his thoughts, then begins 글쓰기 with a steady hand.
***
Grifter, Blood and Sand wander carefully and quietly through the Black House after silencing the portraits; in their misty forms they examine everything they encounter in the minutest detail. Every bump in the wall, every wrinkle in the rugs, crack in the wooden floors, every mote of dust is known to them. And in short order, they begin finding Black gold secreted away in hiding places scattered throughout the house. As Blood and Sand begin collecting the items, slipping them gently into their own bodies for safe-keeping, Grifter examines the room that had belonged to Sirius. He knows Snape had been there, though he does not know why; he catches the lingering traces of grief and senses tears were shed. He does not believe, however, that those tears had anything to do with Sirius.
Grifter finds the picture of the Marauders, affixed to the 벽 with a Permanent Sticking Charm, that Harry had tried to remove not too long ago. He watches the four young wizards laugh and thinks about how horribly sad it is that things worked out the way they have. He picks at the picture and thinks that someday, this house will be passed on to someone else, and all of this will be gone...he traces the edge of the picture with an ebony finger and decides not to leave it behind. He presses his hand flat against it and feels himself seeping in between the picture and the wall, and after a few moments he lifts his hand, the picture coming away with it. Gently, he slides the picture into his chest, then goes about his business.
He finds a few things here and there, scattered among the mess, but finds the most important things affixed to the underside of the bottom drawer of the dresser in Sirius' room. He doesn't stop to examine them, he just rolls them up and lets his body take them in. Suddenly, he hears Blood shout for him and Sand, and in a second, they are beside her. She's holding up a scroll of parchment, unrolled, her hands trembling. She turns it for them to see and they are equally moved. It is a beautiful portrait of Elsbet, sketched 의해 a loving hand, and now there is no doubt that as Padfoot, Sirius saw through Atheme's enchantment. And it's also clear that Sirius loved her very much.
Blood reluctantly gives the scroll to Grifter, who gives it a very close look. Ellie the Elf Maiden, dressed so regally, her hair a cascade of curls, and down toward the bottom almost 로스트 in the curls is a much smaller sketch of Brother Noctem, surrounded 의해 tiny leaves of Lorien. Sand asks her where she found it as Grifter rolls it up and hands it back to her. She takes it back and kisses him quickly, hearing him in her 심장 saying, "you found it, 당신 should be the one to take care of it." She draws it into her body, then points up at the 벽 above her. "I found it behind that awful thing," she says, and the men shudder with loathing. Heads of aged House-Elves in a row, mounted like trophies. They note she's pointing to the last head, that of a female.
"That's just...wrong. Sick and wrong," Sand says, and Blood half-shrugs. "Well, look at this family." Grifter shudders again and tells them they need to be done soon, then returns to the upstairs rooms. He goes through them one 의해 one, collecting little things here and there, then eventually finds his way to the Tapestry Room. He studies carefully every little detail of the Black Family Tapestry, recognizing several of the names and faces on it. He frowns in disgust at all the names blasted off of it for the crime of going against the family's Purist beliefs. He flattens both hands against the tapestry and does 더 많이 than repair it, he actually heals it; the revitalized 이미지 are as vibrant as they were the 일 they were first added, and the names of those 메리다와 마법의 숲 souls shine as if done in silver.
He watches as Andromeda's image and name are renewed, and the image and name of Ted 통스 appears beside hers. Below them appears the name and image of Nymphadora Tonks. Beside Tonks' name and image appear those of Remus Lupin. Grifter suddenly realizes that the tapestry is 'righting' itself, and if he does nothing, it will expand and go on to display all the descendants of those who had been disowned. He notices toward the bottom of the tapestry the name and image of Lucius Malfoy beside those of Narcissa Black, and below them, those of their son Draco. They are changing. The features have softened, the script seems brighter than that of the people around them, and while it is still clear that Draco is their son, there is no longer a line linking Lucius and Narcissa together.
He looks to the left of him and sees the tapestry has begun, very slowly, to color the adjacent wall. He knows the pattern and texture will follow, and then the names and faces that belong soon after. He looks up and the same process can be seen. He looks to the right of him, and as he moves over to watch the process close up, something on the existing tapestry catches his eye. A witch named Dorea Black, married to a Charlus Potter. He shakes his head once, just a flinch, really, and presses his right index finger to the spot on the tapestry between them. "Where does this blood go?" he whispers, then steps back and watches. Before his eyes the name and image of James Potter appears, only to be followed 의해 those of Lily Evans. Below them are those of their son, Harry.
His dark eyes follow a line upwards, to the restored name and image of the witch Cedrella Black, and beside her are those of her husband, Septimus Weasley. He already knows where that blood goes, even though the tapestry is struggling to find a place for Arthur and his siblings. Grifter's 심장 thunders in his chest and his head wants to ache. He places his hand firmly in the center of the 벽 and wills the tapestry to pause its expansion, looks again at Harry's name and image, then says clearly, "secure this house." He steps back from the 벽 once 더 많이 and looks down at the palm of his left hand. Slowly, purposfully, he draws the nail of his right thumb across it; black, ichorous blood wells up and he allows three drops of it to fall onto the carpet of the Tapestry Room.
As he watches the wound close, he knows his companions have done the same, without question, but they're burning to ask what he's found. "We need to go," he tells them, and after having a last quick look around, they vanish.
