The Games They Play

Chapter 50

Blake and Severus stared at the wizard before them. It was quite daunting really, in an odd sort of way, to observe such a powerful wizard in his infamy and on his death bed to boot. If it had been anyone else, there would have been a mass outpouring of tears and heartbreak. Neither wizard so much as felt a tear duct twitch. They had been more horrific sights in their lives, and unlike the majority of the world, they knew what Dumbledore was capable of.

Exhausted and pained filled blue eyes flickered open, recognition flaring briefly. It let them know that despite his illness that he was aware, cognizant enough to recognize them both. "Sev-erus, Bla-ke," Dumbledore murmured weakly holding out a hand, silently urging them closer.

"Dumbledore," Blake stated coolly, stepping forward, staring impassively down at the dying wizard. Refusing to feel sympathy for the idiot who thought he could do whatever he liked without consequence.

"P-ulz, forgive me," Dumbledore rasped out, body shaking a little and utterly out of his control.

Blake gaped in disbelief, "You tried to kill me, give me one good reason why the hell I should?" the audacity of the old fool continued to astound him, despite the fact he'd known going in exactly what the old fool would want from him.

Dumbledore struggled to talk, opening and closing his mouth wordlessly. Either he couldn't get the words passed his mouth…or he just couldn't come up with an excuse great enough to convince Blake that he was deserving of forgiveness.

"What's worse…you don't even know what you did, what you could have done…what you very nearly did." Severus said derisively, the urge to strangle Dumbledore was just as strong, despite him laid out unable to move on his death bed.

Dumbledore's eyes dimmed a little, his gaze cautious and worried as he stared at the pair. What a formidable pair they actually made, powerful, strong, impassive, and impenetrable. His heart clenched a little, had that been what he and Gellert looked like? Shaking off those thoughts. He feared that they would never forgive him, but he had thought he was doing the right thing. He'd wrongly assumed he was the only one who knew about the Horcruxes. He'd had no idea that anyone else knew, that they knew, he'd just assumed that if Voldemort was defeated (as temporarily as he thought it would be) that he'd return. He'd been doing what he thought was best, for the greater good.

"Do you want to see what your actions caused? Your belief that you new best?" Blake prowled further forward, none of his tattoos hidden, but not a lot of them showing. Not enough to reveal to the world just who he really was. Bending over Dumbledore, crowding his personal space a look of utter disgust on his face.

Dumbledore feebly tried to move away; he did not get far at all. Fear twisting in his gut, he wasn't afraid of death, per se, but for some reason the look on Blake Slytherin's face scared the hell out of him more than the news of his impending death had.

"What do you think? Will he survive the knowledge?" Blake asked Severus, a twisted look of revulsion on his face, still staring right at Dumbledore. "You are responsible for all of it, Gellert, the deaths he perpetrated, Voldemort, the Death Eaters…Severus, you should be lucky you didn't turn Harry into a goddamned Dark Lord as well."

Dumbledore shook his head, entirely in denial over what Blake was suggesting. He was not responsible for other people's actions.

"If you had just taken Tom Riddle out of the damn orphanage…gave him a job at the school…he would have changed, instead you allowed the Darkest Wizard since Gellert become a broken shell of man, repeating your mistakes with Severus and then condemning Harry to the same thing." Blake told him, a twisted sneer on his face. "Every. Single. Damn. Death. Is. Your. Fault."

"How many students in your lifetime have came to you begging for mercy?" Severus harshly asked, "How many students have you failed in your tenure as Professor and Headmaster? The belief that you knew best failed old man, you condemned the entire magical population for decades…and for what? Too damn lazy to lift a damn finger to help." He spat out fury thrumming through his veins, remembering how helpless he felt every summer holidays, knowing potentially hundreds of others had endured the same, he'd had someone…the others…Harry wasn't so lucky.

Finally, finally they saw a simmer of guilt in the old man's blue eyes. It wasn't what they wanted though, they wanted to crush him, utterly destroy him. They wanted him to know what he had caused before death claims him.

Blake removed his wand, "You don't see what your actions caused…but you will." He promised the old man.

Fear got the better of Dumbledore as he weakly tried to press the call button for the healer at the side of his bed. The way they were talking was horrifying, he did not wish to find out exactly what they had planned. A small cry of agony left his lips as Blake pressed his hand into the bed, preventing his weak and frail grasp from touching the button that would summon a healer or Medi-witch or Medi-wizard.

"No, you'll see everything before we leave," Blake promised, green eyes gleaming as he forced his way into Dumbledore's mind. It wasn't easy transferring memories rather than just planting fakes, but Blake wanted Dumbledore to know what he had condemned the world to, his world to. Wanted someone other than himself and Lucius to know what had happened…what the world was reduced to.

The final battle of Hogwarts, the horcruxes, Harry's death, his return, Voldemort's so-called defeat, Voldemort's inevitable return.

The deaths of people who continued to rally against him.

The Muggles finding out.

The actions the Muggles took.

The death and destruction they left in their wake.

The dwindling magical population.

The strive for survival, eating anything they could, drinking what they managed to get.

The death of so many people trying to save the next generation.

Harry's return to the past, the realisation of being able to do everything different.

Donning a new identity, using one of his many estates to do so. Plans after plans on how best to see it through. Adopting Harry as his ward to protect him from Dumbledore. The collection of the horcruxes. Discarding the poisoned food.

When Blake became aware again, he was being held up by Severus. His arms wrapped around him, preventing him from toppling over using such a mass amount of magic to transfer so many memories to Dumbledore after his duel with Voldemort had left him once again wiped out.

"Eighteen minutes has passed since you began," Severus commented calm and quiet, such a stark contract to the cold and harsh voice he'd used on Dumbledore previously. Part of him wanted to see what Dumbledore had…but the reality of it…terrified him. He'd heard a little of what it was like and that was more than enough for him. All he and Blake could do was prevent it, but a part of him wondered if exposure was inevitable and what to do if it was?

Blake nodded, grateful when Severus magically propelled a chair over and eased the woozy wizard into it. Pressing over a plastic cup of cold water that was on Dumbledore's cabinet, after checking to make sure the contents were exactly what it was meant to be.

"I doubt very much his eyes will ever open again," Severus commented, standing behind the chair, hands gripping his shoulder for added security while he regained his equilibrium. Eyeing Dumbledore critically, listening to the fanatic pounding of his heartbeat displayed magically atop the bed. It was seconds away from going on alarm and alerting the healers and Medics that there was something seriously wrong.

Blake grimaced, eyeing Dumbledore pondering on whether that was true or not. Ah, well, no matter, he knew Dumbledore had digested everything he was seeing. The feedback he got from the old fool down the connection confirmed as much. It was echoes really, of real emotion, but it was enough to satisfy him and confirm the old man understood where his actions had led.

When he pulled out though he'd felt Dumbledore's disillusionment and pain. He'd definitely understood the truth of it, acknowledged that it wasn't faked, the memories couldn't be faked. Not the way he had done it at any rate. Even Albus in his frail state knew that much for certain. "I'm surprised he didn't automatically go into denial," he confessed, it's sort of something he had expected.

"Denial isn't always automatic," Severus pointed out, "He could very well completely reject all he's seen at any given time." It just depended on whether Dumbledore found it too much to cope with, and if he did, his mind could just click, go into denial. The mind was a funny thing, capable of amazing feats, for such a small organ it truly was immensely wonderous. Yes, magic could get around you mind, but so could normal mundane means, such as Stockholm syndrome. Even magic wasn't closer to understanding the brain, in fact, he would say Muggles understood the mind better. Sliding his thoughts aside, focusing once more on Dumbledore.

"You played the game and failed, you sanctimonious old fool," Blake bit out when Dumbledore's eyes opened once more, and with that the alarms blared, setting off a signal to the healers that Dumbledore was in trouble.

"I'm sorry but we have to ask you to leave," the Medi-wizard urged as the healer got to work.

"Of course," Blake murmured, standing up, stepping around the working medical professions, and moving out of the room, Severus staying close in case he needed him but not too close as to make anyone wonder.

Blake leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the door, which had been left open. He was able to hear everything that the healers were saying. "Think there's any point to staying?" he pondered, as if he was just wondering whether to eat, not watch the death of Dumbledore.

"I doubt he's going to be here much longer," Severus commented, hearing what the healers were saying, it didn't look good at all.

"True," Blake murmured, he felt zero guilt over what he'd just done. Dumbledore deserved to see where his self-righteous actions had led. To see what he had created, and it certainly wasn't bloody world peace like he'd probably envisioned. The greater good his ass, Dumbledore was the pinnacle of all that had gone wrong with the world.

"Time of death…" the healer went on to detail everything, as Dumbledore's body was covered.

"I'm sorry…but Albus Dumbledore has…" the Medi-witch explained emerging from the room in her white uniform sombre and doing a good job of trying to reassure those she felt would be hurting at his passing.

"We heard," Blake said, cutting her off without a bite to his voice. "Thank you, we'll leave you to it." there was no further reason to be there.

"Excuse me? Before you leave, will you be setting up his funeral?" the healer asked, emerging from the room, a grim but determined look on his face.

Blake and Severus glanced at each other, realization dawning.

"We hadn't planned to, no, we aren't family...we weren't even really close, we're merely professors, he was our boss." Blake explained, he wasn't going to waste a damn sickle on the old fool.

"He has a brother," Severus pointed out the obvious. Although, truthfully it wasn't 'obvious' not everyone realized that Aberforth and Albus were even related.

"I understand that, truly I do, but…he's declined to visit each time a Medi-witch or Medi-wizard wrote a letter on Albus' behest." The healer explained, "I have a feeling the same will occur when he sent a notification of his death, which we legally have to do anyway, since Aberforth is set as Albus' medical emergency contact. And I'm not sure you realize what happens to unclaimed bodies…"

"Cremated," Blake nodded, well aware, wizards and witches actually didn't like being cremated, almost everyone was buried, those that weren't were usually unclaimed bodies in St. Mungo's either unidentifiable or without family.

"Yes," the healer nodded, "Regardless of his actions, I think everyone deserves their final rites." Funerals were massive things in the magical world, their last send off to their loved ones. They sometimes last days. They were nowhere near as big as the Egyptian wizards like to make of them, but still.

Blake and Severus glanced at each other again, silently contemplating what to do. The last time Dumbledore had been buried in a marble tomb on Hogwarts grounds for Merlin's sake. He wasn't sure who had paid for it in all honesty…and maybe that had been Dumbledore's last request? Either way there had been a big how-to-do about it despite the dark times, although he'd never attended.

"Look if you can't get through to the brother…I'll deal with it," Blake sighed, utterly exasperated how was this his life? "Just let me know, but only if Aberforth doesn't come." He damn well wouldn't be giving Dumbledore a massive funeral. He'd be buried though, with a damn minister saying his last rites, but that would be about it.

"Can you put your details in here, please?" the healer looked mighty relieved as he handed over the clipboard.

Blake gave a look to Severus conveying 'Can you actually believe I'm doing this?' as he put his details down, giving Hogwarts as his place of residence, his cottage would always remain his fortress of solitude and he didn't want it becoming public knowledge. Plus, it wasn't like the owl wouldn't be able to find him if he wasn't at Hogwarts anyway, smart little buggers that they are.

"There, now if you'll excuse us," Blake said passing it back over, making it more than clear he was leaving now, and he wasn't going to indulge the healer any further. Hopefully Aberforth would deal with it all, he frankly didn't want to waste a single Knut on the damn fool.

"Thank you," the healer said, guiding them towards the door and opening them as he led them out of the ward.

"Did I really just do that?" Blake asked shaking his head, it was the most absurd moment of his life…and considering who he was, it said a lot.

Severus snorted, "I'm sure Aberforth will do his duty," he was his brother after all, and despite him not wishing to see Albus, they were still sort of on talking terms. Or had been during the last war, since Aberforth had been part of the Order last time. Oddly enough, not this time around. Which made him wonder what Aberforth knew, or had perhaps found out about his brother in that time.

"He'd better or Dumbledore's getting stuck in a hole and nobody will know where the hell he is." Blake grumbled, as they exited St. Mungo's ready to head back to Hogwarts. "Are you staying at Hogwarts or joining us at the cottage?" he hadn't actually asked before and wanted it to be more than clear that he was welcome. He'd just assumed Severus would come.

"If you wouldn't mind the company, I'd very much like to come," Severus' reply was rather diplomatic.

Blake arched a brow, amused by Severus' words, "I meant immediately, it was a given that you were coming." Making it more than clear that Severus was always welcome. Their relationship was new, there would always be bouts of insecurity, especially since both of them were solitary men.

Severus said nothing, as they apparated away, there was nothing that needed saying.

"Are you coming to the Weasley's dinner?" Blake asked, as they reappeared at Hogwarts, taking the long trek back to the castle. His own distaste showing. They'd been invited but had not exactly replied with an answer.

"I'd rather be at a Death Eater meeting, or an Order meeting, it's difficult to determine which was worse," Severus said dryly, recalling the look on Harry's face, he wanted them to go, which had surprised him, but he just wanted someone in his corner Severus reckoned. He might have learned occlumency but he still wore his heart on his sleeve. "Yet…we're wanted." He sighed, grudgingly, wondering where this fondness for Harry had come from…that he'd endure a Weasley dinner for.

And that, that was the epitome of all Severus was…he would endure hell to make those he cares for happy. Do anything for them, beg and plead for forgiveness despite the fact he was a proud man. That it was Blake loved most about him.

Blake inhaled sharply at his own thoughts, "I can make your excuses…"

"And miss the fun?" there was guaranteed to be something said or done to piss Blake off and have him give them a what for.

Blake barked out an amused sound of laughter, "You never know…Molly might have learned her lesson."

Severus snorted as they moved, "Hardly," they were a headstrong bunch, incapable of admitting when they were wrong. At least that had been his experience with them.

"He'll get over it, plus the twins won't let anyone bad mouth Harry," Blake said dryly, shaking his head. He'd meant to turn Harry into a confident yet independent young teenager, instead he'd made him mostly confident, a little independent and wholly desiring his approval. He hadn't taken into consideration what an adult who cared could do to him at that age. Or rather do to Harry at that age, they weren't the same person and never would be.

Harry wouldn't go through even a smidgen of what he had gone through.

"We'll go," Severus stated.

"Alright," Blake agreed, as they jogged up the steps, slightly surprised that Severus was actually willing to go. Especially after he'd given him an easy out. It just went to show, that he didn't know Severus fully, he hadn't had a chance to do so.

'It's the least I could do for being so very wrong' Severus thought, guilt slamming into him. Here he was thinking that Harry had a good life, being 'treated like a prince' came to mind. The worst of it was…he honestly didn't know whether he actually ignored signs of abuse or just didn't notice them. If that was the case…he wasn't sure which one he would have preferred. Neither sat well with him at all.

He did vow never again though, never again would he allow such a thing to happen while he ran the school. He would ensure all accusations were dealt with, investigated properly, and if its true then he would do everything in his power to ensure they were removed from their abusive environment.

He would need to bring in a mind healer, part-time, to give the student someone to talk to. In case they're too scared to come forward. With a little luck, the healer would help them understand it wasn't their fault and to go to someone who could actually change their circumstances, any teacher. He'd never ask a mind-healer to break their vows and promises.

He had a lot to do before Hogwarts started back up, but he would do it. Once everything was smooth sailing…it wouldn't need repeating. He was determined however, to mostly enjoy his summer holidays, the thought of no burdens, no calls, no demands…just enjoying life at the cottage…idyllic, it would be utterly idyllic.

Oh, he'd get bored quickly, he knew, so used to being on the move. It would be nice just to have the opportunity to be bored, to read a book or two instead of just a few pages and on really good days an actual chapter.

"Yours, mine or the office?" Blake asked in amusment, bringing Severus' out of his thoughts.

Severus blinked, surprised to feel that he'd actually stopped walking. They were still standing outside the entrance hall, shaking off his lingering thoughts. "Office, I want to get a few more things done before we leave for the cottage." He admitted.

"Need help?" Blake enquired, glancing at his watch, he had time, in fact, he had nothing but time. Harry no longer needed training, and the students no longer required it either due to the fact they're just finishing up exams. It would start up next year, just not so urgently, he rather hoped those he had helped get into their chosen field. He had all but promised to try his best, and if his best wasn't good enough…then what was the point of being a teacher.

"I'd like the company," Severus confessed, more so to keep an eye on Blake. He was still recovering from his duel with the Dark Lord, and now this.

"Alright," Blake agreed, and they both slowly made their way towards the Headmaster's office, which is exactly what Severus was…much to his disbelief still. He felt like that was all a dream, that Hogwarts herself had chosen him of all people to be Headmaster.

Still, he wouldn't let the sentient school down.

"Dumbledore will be all the news reports tomorrow…I won't get to see if any more of the Death Eaters are taken care of," Blake grumbled under his breath, not wishing to be overheard. The Daily Prophet was filled with greedy self-centred assholes who only cared about sales but they were handy, sometimes.

"It will be added, that's only if there's any new deaths," Severus refuted that, probably page seven or eight, but still mentioned.

"There's been at least one or two each day, all different methods, some look like accidents others murder." Blake said wryly, "Everyone knows it's Death Eaters and they just don't care enough to raise any noise or defend them. Even the wives are rather on the silent side actually."

Severus sighed, "That's because they're silently relieved," he admitted, rubbing his temples, "They haven't had easy lives, and with their husbands gone, the have control of the estate until the eldest son turns seventeen. Which gives them a few years for those that are Harry's age, to dump some funds into a vault of their own to survive if any of the children elect to be like their fathers."

"You mean abused?" Blake sneered, lips pursed, he hadn't thought of that. "I thought abuse was actually rather rare in the magical world." At least physical abuse, mental abuse is easily done even in the best of marriages. Thoughtless comments and such.

"Where did you get that notion?" Severus asked, barking out a bitter bout of amusement.

"Actually…I have no idea," Blake admitted, frowning.

"Child abuse is admittedly rare, very rare, more likely for the youngest sibling to be abused if the family has had an heir and a spare. The only cause of pureblood abuse I've heard of this generation is Neville Longbottom. Which is a surprise in and on itself. Child abuse and spousal abuse are two very different things." Severus conceded, perhaps that's what Blake had figured.

"That they are," Blake agreed bluntly, he was hardly stupid.

"Spousal abuse isn't a prerequisite of the witch or wizard then beginning to abuse their child. In fact, a lot of children aren't aware of the abuse their parent puts their other parent through." Severus mused thoughtfully, as soon as he stepped to the gargoyle guarding his office, it began to rotate and make way for him, he didn't even need the password. "The reality is that at least half the witches or wizards will suffer from some form of abuse in their lives. Mental, physical and even made to feel like they're insignificant with flouting affairs in their faces." The pathetic thing was, that they didn't consider it abuse, it was just a fact of life, arranged marriages, children, then having affairs on the side, with the only stipulation, no bastards. Wizards didn't always adhere to that, but it was easier to hide when it was wizards as apposed to witches.

Blake grimaced, "Yeah, well, if you try any of that shit, you'll find yourself minus a few things." Gesturing towards his crotch with a serious look on his face. "Just so you're aware."

Severus gave out a scoff of laughter, "Very unlikely," he knew what he looked like, thank you very much. "However, the same could be said of you." Out of them both, it was more likely for Blake to have many admirers and potential for suitors. Closing the door once Blake was in, and moving towards his desk.

"Unlikely," Blake bit back, he detested the thought of it, if you were unhappy with your partner then break the fuck up, don't screw around. Not that he'd really had a chance to do any of that shit, or have a relationship. "I don't think I could stay with someone I didn't care about out of habit or fear of hurting them. It would just cause more harm than good in my opinion." He told him as he slouched in the seat and propped his feet on the desk.

"True," Severus agreed, watching Blake pick up today's newspaper, two Death Eater's names emblazoned across the headlines announcing their deaths, there were obituaries for them, and of course, funeral dates at the back of the Daily Prophet, they hadn't attended any of them, but they doubted many people will have been attending. No doubt, by now they were all distancing themselves from the families of fear of being stamped a Death Eater and targeted. "I must admit, I wasn't aware of Aiden Williams being a Death Eater." He naturally missed a lot of meetings during the year, with the Dark Lord letting him off so not to 'raise too much suspicion' towards the end though, he hadn't cared, too unhinged really.

"He might not have been yet," Blake shrugged as he folded the paper again and set it aside.

Severus stared blankly, "You're not telling me he's going to go after future Death Eaters…the Dark Lord cannot return." Silently concerned, how many people was Lucius planning on killing?

"You know him better than I do," Blake pointed out, "But it is unlikely, it would just raise too many eyebrows and inevitably and potentially draw attention to him in a way he doesn't want." He might not be personally killing them all, but one wrong move would see him under intense scrutiny.

Severus relaxed back, nodding in agreement, that was true enough. Lucius definitely wouldn't risk it; he'd done all this to save his family. "Were Narcissa and Draco still alive in your time?" he questioned cautiously.

Blake just gave him a look.

"Merlin, perhaps I should visit and make sure he knows not to go too far." Severus mused, Lucius did love his wife immensely, and his son. He would go to whatever lengths he had to in order to keep them safe. Even if it meant sucking up the Dark Lord, making it look as if he didn't care one whit about his wife and more importantly, sacrificing his son's happiness (by forcing the issue of the mark) to keep him alive. Honestly, if Severus didn't know him so well, he would have been sucked into the appearance he kept up.

"Perhaps," Blake mused, "I think it's time we spoke anyhow." The question is though, would he be able to refrain from killing the son-of-a-bitch? He hated Lucius, there was no getting around it, he'd hated his son as well.

Yet he had given him a gift beyond…compare.

The gift of life, of love, of happiness.

Given Harry the gift of innocence.

Perhaps he could let bygones be bygones.

There we go! This story doesn't need a document since it's so very near its completion so it was able to be updated sooner than anticipated...although no luck on the next one :) I'll definitely need to do a document on whichever one I pick next since none of the others are near the end! I remember nearly everything about this one for most part...it has perhaps 4-5 chapters more! Will the Weasley's all be happy or will the dinner end in heartbreak with the twins distancing themselves from their family? Will ginny do something crazy to get Harry? or will she just sulk that she won't ever be Lady Potter ;) R&R please!