4,311The Games They Play
Chapter 48
The three wizards stepped into the Hospital wing, Poppy wasn't there, they did hear her in her office, the door just slightly ajar. Albus was laying in bed, clearly weakened but his twinkling blue eyes were indeed coherent as ever.
"Excuse me a moment," Severus murmured, stalking immediately over to Poppy's office, this wasn't a wizard who had been informed he had lost his magic. He looked worried, yes, but nowhere near the kind of devastation one would feel…after losing their magic they'd had their entire life, fifteen decades of it. "Poppy…have you given him the news?"
Poppy turned away from her paperwork, taking a few seconds for Severus' answer to comprehend. "Oh, no, not yet, I've only ensured he's had something to eat, and ran a basic diagnosis on him." she truly didn't want to be the one to inform him…regardless of what he'd done, the evil he'd perpetrated, losing magic wasn't something she'd wish on anyone. "He's been severely weakened, I do fear that learning of his loss of magic might give him a heart attack…and he's already so frail, without magic he might only have a matter or days, perhaps a few months at most." Normal Muggles didn't live to the age he has, without magic and the regeneration properties they had…yes, he was quite frankly going to pass within half a year, she wouldn't give him more than six months. It would take a miracle if he did get passed the one month mark let alone six.
"Which makes imprisonment very unlikely," Severus stated, rather unhappy with that, but not really surprised.
"Very unlikely," Poppy agreed, "I suppose I should give him the news," truly reluctant, but he needed to know.
"You should, yes," Severus nodded, it was better coming from her instead of Blake, not that Dumbledore would be inclined to believe Blake of course. "We do need to talk to him before the Aurors arrive," and since they've already been informed that he was awake, they didn't exactly have all day.
"I'll be through in a moment," Poppy informed him, placing the documents she'd been searching for on her desk. Shuffling more documents about before nodding in satisfaction, there, she could get it done upon her return.
Once she was ready to leave her office, she noticed Severus had already left. Opening and closing her door behind her, she made her way towards Albus' bed, her stride determined. Without pause, she sat on the chair next to his bed, "Albus? I'm afraid I have some…news about your health, that you must hear."
"Oh, Poppy, I've not been taking too many calming draughts I can assure you," Albus said, with a fond yet exasperated smile on his face.
Blake arched a brow, giving Sirius and Severus a look of utter bafflement and doubt. How could he not be concerned by his lack of magic? Surely, he could feel something was missing? Then again, he had never lost his magic, he wasn't sure how it would feel…and would rather not to be frank.
"I'm afraid it's much more severe than that," Poppy stated, unable to give him any reassurance, her own personal feelings aside. She honestly wanted to throttle the idiot for trying to kill Blake…kill Harry.
Albus sobered up a little hearing that, refusing to show how concerned he was with Slytherin in the room. He rather hoped it wasn't life threatening, he'd never passed out before, was it his heart? He couldn't rest yet, he had to hunt down the Horcruxes…Slytherin had caused him a whole lot of new concerns and with his advancing age…he'd screwed everything up. He only had Harry in his school for a few more years, after that he wouldn't be easily moulded and manipulated into the sacrifice Albus needed when the time was right. "What is wrong?" he demanded of Poppy.
"Albus, you interfered with a duel," Severus' cutting retort prevented Poppy from replying, for that she was slightly grateful. "With that comes consequences…even you are not above, magic herself has judged you…" and found you wanting.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Albus stated calmly, not even a hint of bluster in his voice. He was too good at what he did to become flustered when he was accused of anything. Although, it hadn't helped him when he basically lost control of the Order and everyone he had spent decades grooming to listen to him.
"You can deny it all you want, you stupid bloody old fool," Blake sneered, "You've lost your magic because you cannot help but interfere with everyone's lives."
"I have no…what?" Albus was about to reiterate his previous statement when Blake's words actually registered. "That's impossible, I didn't interfere," he shook his head, already meditating, trying to find his magic, but no mind shields rose to protect his mind from mental intrusion. "This cannot be happening!" losing his cool quickly, panic completely overcoming him.
Poppy was quick at hand with a calming draught, aware that she would need it to ensure Albus remained calm.
"Tim left a confession with his wife, the Aurors now have it," Blake continued on relentlessly, "He was a good man, he didn't deserve whatever damn manipulations you heaped upon him you fucking bastard." Losing his cool entirely, and had to be held back by Severus, who understood Blake's reaction, but he wasn't about to let him go near Dumbledore.
"Why did you interfere? Albus? He won! He actually won! We won!" Sirius pointed out, "It's almost as though you want the dark side to win! Which is how it's going to look when the news gets out!"
Albus shook his head, the calming draught forcing calm upon him, "You don't understand, Sirius, you can't understand…you know the prophecy, it was meant to be Harry…now he will just find a way to return again." He would return, it was just a matter of time.
"Oh, come on! Nobody cares about the damn prophecy except you! Harry already did his part! He survived him once…you can't expect him to keep it up for the rest of his life!" Sirius spat defensively.
Blake arched a brow, surprised, did that mean Sirius actually thought that in the previous timeline? Or was therapy making that much of a change to Sirius that he was able to use his own thinking and come to that conclusion.
"He will return, Sirius, he might have already returned," Albus stated firmly, meeting Sirius' eyes, making it clear he wasn't kidding around. "Harry will need training," he would mourn his magic later…he had works still to be done. Even as he thought of it, he felt sick to his stomach, had a gaping hole in his heart where his magic used to be. Nobody could find out about this, he needed a way to make sure that these three wizards couldn't reveal the information. Black would be easily subdued, Severus also but Blake? He didn't have a scrap of information on him to use as blackmail. Poppy was bound to confidentiality.
Blake snorted, "Your idea of training? learning about Voldemort's past?" eyes gleaming with worldly knowledge.
Sirius watched Albus' reaction to Blake's words, he'd hit the nail on the head there. Looking back and forth between Albus and Blake, really, really looking at Blake for the first time, his breathing hitching, it couldn't be…no, that was insane. He looked exactly like Harry, right down to his teeth and that grin…but it couldn't be obviously, he was seeing things.
"You're interference has cost us precious time that we could ill afford," Albus retorted in disgust, "Every single death that now occurs when he returns…is on you." Damn his lack of mental shields, the wizard was able to read him like a book.
If only he knew that wasn't the reason at all.
"What are you talking about? He's dead! We all saw him die!" Sirius argued, rolling his eyes, "You saw it too." He'd been there after all. "Nearly the entire magical world saw him die!"
Blake smirked, wondering if Dumbledore was desperate enough to confess what he'd only told Harry in the past. Not even Severus had been privy to the information about the Horcruxes.
"Just like everyone thought he was dead fourteen years ago," Albus chided patiently, treating Sirius like an errant child and scolding him.
"You mean the Horcruxes?" Blake commented idly, as though it was nothing but a little magical trick. "Oh, they're gone, Harry destroyed every single one of them, just before I defeated Voldemort for good. You lost your magic for nothing you sanctimonious old fool."
Albus paled drastically, eyes going wide as they all but popped out of his head.
"What are Horcruxes?" Sirius asked, watching Dumbledore's reaction, quite frankly he looked ready to have a heart attack more than when he learned about his magic being gone…then again he probably hadn't had a chance to digest it. When he did then they'd see the reaction they wanted.
"Containers hosting someone's soul," Blake informed Sirius coolly, still staring Dumbledore down. "Voldemort created six of them."
"And unwittingly created another in Harry until I successfully removed it from him." Blake informed Sirius, speaking so low that Dumbledore couldn't hear.
"Harry?" Sirius croaked out, pale and shaken by the news, his godson had had a piece of Voldemort's soul lodged in him?
"Oh yes, Dumbledore knew, and was all too willing to sacrifice him in order to end this war. Raising him like a lamb for the slaughter, without even a single attempt to remove it, even while Harry was a baby." Blake informed Sirius, so low that Dumbledore was oblivious to anything until he flinched seeing the look of sheer disgust on Blake's face.
Sirius froze, looking more like a marble statue as Blake's statement sank in. His grey eyes narrowed before he launched himself at Dumbledore. His hands around Dumbledore's neck, shaking him, frothing at the mouth, raging at the old fool for what he'd wanted to do to his godson. "You filthy Half-blooded old bastard! How dare you?!"
Dumbledore tried to bat him away, his attempts pathetic, even a child had more strength than him. The heat of Sirius' frustrated magic leeching onto him, making him lurch away in agony. He felt as though he was being seared alive. Both of them ended up rolling off the bed, Sirius making sure to use Dumbledore as a cushion his fall.
Dumbledore bellowed in agony, as his back and side hit the marble floor and Sirius' knee, elbow and body digging into the rest of him. What had Blake Slytherin said to Sirius to get this kind of reaction out of him?
Blake's eyebrows were high up on his face, watching in befuddlement. Had Sirius just called Dumbledore a filthy half-blooded old bastard? So much for not being a blood purist. It seemed as though he'd fallen into bad old habits from his childhood.
"I'm going to kill you! Do you hear me!?" Sirius' spittle was flying everywhere as he continued to choke and shake at Dumbledore, furious at what he'd heard. "I wish Lily were here! She would have cursed you so bad you'll have felt it for the rest of your miserable life!" he screeched, and yes, Lily was a hellfire when her ire was raised…and considering it was her son…oh, yes, definitely.
"Sirius, enough!" Poppy made her way around, trying to get Sirius off Dumbledore.
Severus smirked wryly, it was true enough, and he'd taught her nearly everything she knew. That was why she was one of the best students at Hogwarts, 'for a Muggle-born' had often been commented upon. Failing to realize she'd been taught by Severus, who had in turn been taught by his mother and her books.
Blake couldn't help but chuff at the sight, thin dainty Poppy trying to get Sirius off of Dumbledore.
"Severus! Blake!" Poppy protested, trying to separate them futilely, trying to get the two stronger wizards to help.
"Honestly, Poppy, are you a witch or not?" Blake asked wryly, giving her an amused look, despite the pain radiating down his body. "You might want to do it now before Sirius succeeds…he's looking a little blue." Which was true enough, Dumbledore's lips were going blue due to the lack of oxygen. There was nothing but mild curiosity on his face as he stared.
Severus just stared, he wasn't the slightest bit interested in intervening. He was rather enjoying the show, in slight disbelief that Sirius was using Muggle fighting instead of using his wand…it wasn't something he'd ever expected from the wizard.
Poppy turned back with a flick of her wand she had both of them separated. Kneeling down to see to Albus, who was already beginning to get some colour back into his cheeks.
"That's the Aurors coming," Severus commented, feeling the wards give way for the Aurors and Hogwarts giving him the heads up that they were coming. "You might not want to be here when they do," giving him a pointed look.
"Plausible deniability?" Sirius muttered bitterly, staring at Dumbledore with seething fury. He wanted to cause Dumbledore so much pain that he'd never recover from it. "Why should he get away with what he was planning?! He would have killed Harry!" his voice raised in his anger.
Dumbledore straightened a little hearing what Sirius was saying, why would he know that?
"He hasn't," Blake said with rare softness, wandering over to him. "He's dying, Sirius, he's going to die in excruciating agony, he's too old to survive without magic…his organs are going to close down, little by little, he's going to wither away and potions aren't going to be able to do a damn thing," soothing the seething rage swirling within Sirius.
Sirius did calm hearing that, "I just wish I could see his reaction when his loss of magic sinks in." he admitted bitterly, his shoulders relaxing.
"I do too," Blake admitted, patting the wizard on the shoulder, "You good?"
"Yeah," Sirius nodded, "I'm just…going to…go,"
"Find Harry, spend some time with him," Blake suggested. "I think you both could use it." Harry was already aware of what Dumbledore would have done, all for the greater good. Apparently not Sirius, and it was evidently a shock to the system.
Sirius stared Blake in the eye, having a funny feeling he had been, but dared not say anything in case he came across as sounding like a lunatic. Blake was related to the Potter's and Black's obviously, so he would look like them.
Perhaps he was insane.
"Nearing," Severus stated bluntly, as Poppy manoeuvred Dumbledore back into the bed, not that he would be there long. He'd either be sent to the Ministry of magic and checked there or sent straight to St. Mungo's with a guard at his beside to ensure he didn't go anywhere.
"Go," Blake nudged him just slightly. "We'll talk soon."
Sirius nodded before leaving the hospital wing without a single glance back. Spitefully hoping that Dumbledore would die only after all his dirty little secrets had come to light.
"Sit down, this might take a while," Severus gestured towards the seat, as Blake slowly approached him. summoning a chair of his own, and swiftly sitting, knowing if they were both seated together it might make him less likely to remain standing out of sheer stubbornness.
"Severus…you need me," Dumbledore choked out, his throat rubbed raw from Sirius' choking. "We have work still to be done." Not even sparing Blake a glance, he was no use to him right now…if he could convince Severus to prevent his exposure he had to act fast.
"If you're referring to Harry, the Horcrux has already been removed, months ago," Severus stated smoothly. The only sign of his anger was his hands balled into fists, as if he was trying to refrain from choking Dumbledore himself. "Something you could have done from the very beginning and elected not to do so. Something about scars being incredibly useful…was it not? Was it worth it? to observe what it would do to him out of curiosity?"
Dumbledore stared dumbfounded, gaping unattractively, as his last chance was wrenched so easily from him.
A knock at the door, prevented further discussion.
"Get me out of here or I shall rescind the fact you were a spy for me," Dumbledore ordered, eyes flashing furiously, "I gave you a second chance when nobody else would."
"No, Albus, you emotionally and physically blackmailed me with a good friends death and Azkaban to gain my compliance." Severus retorted in disgust, "Enter!" he said, and the doors of the hospital wing opened and two Aurors were emitted. None of them were from the Order, good, otherwise he would have had to detain them until they sent out new ones.
"Albus Dumbledore you're under arrest for the death of Tim…" before he could continue, he was interrupted.
"Albus Dumbledore has no magic, it has been stripped from him, he has mere months left," Poppy explained, handing over the documents, "Magic cannot be performed around him, it will worsen his condition."
"Well how are we supposed to get him to the Ministry of magic?" he protested, even the Knight bus ran on magic. Brooms ran on magic…they had to take him in, they had an warrant for his arrest.
"The Knight bus has the least amount of magic and will get there in the quickest of times," Blake offered up his own expertise.
"Much quicker than a broom and not directly on the magic," Severus agreed, Poppy pursed her lips clearly unhappy with the thought of Dumbledore being transported with magic. "You would agree Poppy that it's much better than Portkey or Floo?" noticing Dumbledore playing dead.
"Yes," she agreed grudgingly, "I would very much prefer to accompany you, just to be on the safe side." Regardless of the wrongdoing, it was her duty to take care of all her patients, and Dumbledore was her patient.
"Very well," the Aurors agreed, grudgingly, but it would be good to have a healer on hand until they could hand over Dumbledore to the Ministry's healers to see for themselves.
They took no chances and immediately bound Dumbledore's hands, "I'm sure there's no need for this," Dumbledore protested chidingly, "I shall come quietly,"
Blake straightened up, a sense of Deja Vu enveloping him.
"Call Fawkes," Blake informed Severus grimly, as the Aurors read Dumbledore his rights. "Immediately!"
"Fawkes!" Severus and Dumbledore called at the same time.
Bright light enveloped the room, but Fawkes did not go to Dumbledore…no he landed at Severus' side a thrilling song note leaving his beak.
"I'm afraid Fawkes will not be coming to your aid," Blake stated with a smug look of satisfaction as Fawkes let him pet him hooting at him, welcoming him like an old friend. "Fawkes belongs to Hogwarts and all she holds dear, always has been always will be." None of the headmasters had just elected to show off and allowed Fawkes free reign to do as he pleased, go anywhere he liked not keeping him leashed to the Headmaster's office or whenever he called.
A/N – There we go! I think the next chapter will be the future unless you can think of anything else I need cleared up before the story is finished? Hmm…I certainly could be missing something and wouldn't be surprised LOL but there we go another chapter done and longer than normal :D
