It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 50

X X X

"And how do you know this isn't a deliberate implant of a vision to, perhaps, get you to go to those places, in an misguided effort to confront him?"  Severus asked, after Harry had relayed his vision of what Voldemort had planned.

"I don't think that's the case, sir, as I think he accidentally let his wards down during . . ." Harry ground to a halt, blushing, trying hard to keep from bursting out laughing

" . . during . . .?"  Severus waved his hand a bit, to have Harry continue.

"Severus! That was very good!"  Katie Treiber smiled at her patient.  "You didn't even notice you'd used your hand, did you?"

"What? Oh, no, I hadn't," replied Severus, who then smiled at the Healer, but remembering Harry and his two friends were watching, turned and explained.  "Progress!  Now, what were you saying, Harry?"

"Oh, sorry I interrupted," Katie whispered, but Severus turned his head and winked at her, something that did not go un-noticed by the three teenagers, who smiled.

"During . . . well,"

"OUT WITH IT, POTTER!"  Severus growled.

"He was shagging Bella Lestrange! . . . Do you have any potions or spells available to wipe THAT scene from my collective memories?"  Harry added.

Katie and Hermione exchanged glances and then buried their mouths in their hands, as they giggled at the vision that conjured.  Ron just rolled his eyes.

"Ah, I see . . .  well, I suspected as much; Bella was summoned to his private chambers a few times too often, even as exalted in the ranks as she is, to not be having some physical contact with him.  If she thinks she's gaining favor by being his 'pet', she's even more pathetic than I imagined," Severus snorted.  "We need to talk to Albus about this, now!"

"He's at the Hogs Head, using the CB to talk with Dad," Ron informed them.  "But he should be back soon."

"Right . . . Katie . . . find a wheel chair, won't you?  We're going for a little road trip!"

X X X

"Where do you think he'll go first, Albus?"  Severus was sitting in his wheelchair, Katie on a chair to his right, facing the Headmaster.  Ron, Hermione and Harry were seated on a nearby couch.  Albus leaned back in his armchair, stroking his beard.

"Well, I think he will head to the Gaunt dwelling first, as it is the most vulnerable site.  The cavern is better hidden and the most heavily guarded of his Horcruxes.  When he discovers that one has been replaced, I believe he'll understand that his backup plan has been discovered . . . his only hope, then, will be to try and retrieve the Ravenclaw Diadem when he comes to Hogwarts."

"What about the Hufflepuff Cup?  Will he send Bella to retrieve it? Or just have a look at your memories, Severus?" Ron asked.  "If it was me, I'd want it in my hand."

"After he finds the Locket gone, I dare say he'll send Bella to retrieve the Cup . . . that will seal your fate, Severus, no more Death Eater meetings for you, I'm afraid," Albus added.

"I could show him an altered memory; that I took no more than two steps into the vault, laid the sword on the table, then turned and walked out to join Draco and Narcissa," Severus proposed.  "That is, if and when I'm able to go to him . . . it might become a moot point."

"But, if he has Bella retrieve the Cup and the Sword, I'm sure he'll have one of the Gringott's Goblins come and authenticate them . . . at which time . . . I think he'll either become extremely dangerous and impulsive  or he will hole up and rethink his plans.  Regardless, he'll be livid and, hopefully, a bit panicked that we know his secret," Albus added.  "He might not believe your memory at that point, Severus."