Oh yeah,
Did I mention…...
By Aldesina
Disclaimer: Oh yeah, need I mention that I own nothing?
Also need to mention that this was written prior to the 5th book's appearance, but I might update it and incorporate those newly found factoids into the story. . . . . or not.
Dumbledore was busying around his study, magicking books, changes of robes, quills, parchment and various other things into his suit case where everything shrunk down to tiny versions of themselves and slipped into their proper compartments. He had a rather important task at hand and unfortunately due to circumstances beyond his control, had to go see to it himself. He had just located a box of licorice snaps when he heard a sharp knock on the door. Ah yes, right on time.
"Come in Severus" He called through the door. Professor Serverus Snape with an expression more dour then usual stepped into the headmaster's office.
"Headmaster are you certain that this matter couldn't be taken care of by some underling?" Dumbledore peered at Snape through his spectacles and shook his head, "Now, now, you know I wouldn't leave unless it was of the utmost importance. I will only be gone a week and I trust you will be able to keep things running smoothly till then?"
"Yes, Headmaster, however with He Who Shall Not Be Named on the rise. . . . "
"Yes exactly, Voldormort on the rise is exactly why I must be off." He closed the lid of his truck with a snap and with a flick of his wrist shrunk it down to pocket size. Walking over to the fireplace were a temporary floo network was set up he left Snape with a few final words.
"Oh yes, before I leave. Did I mention that Armageddon is scheduled to pay us a visit this weekend?" Snape visibly paled
"What did you say?"
"Armageddon is coming this weekend, don't worry though, I'm sure that you can handle it, it's not like it's the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse or anything. It's only Armageddon."
Snape turned so pale he might have been translucent. He went even paler then his usual ghostly shade if that was even possible. Even the grimy green look of someone who was constantly ill was gone from his complexion. The people that passed him in the hallways in Hogwarts for the remainder of that day would swear up and down that when you looked at his face right now you would be able to watch the blood course through his veins. He had a very good reason to be this way of course. Armageddon was coming this weekend. And he was put in charge of the castle. Fantastic! Of all the times he had to get his wish of having more authority over the school grounds, why the hell did it have to be the one weekend that Armageddon wanted to come into town.
"Will it be hitting the surrounding countries as well as England?" Snape asked Dumbledore who was doing a final check of the floo network.
"Hmm, oh well yes, yes of course, it has to travel the world you know? Not necessarily in one day, the world is just too big, and it's job to great, however, I know that it will be hitting England over the weekend, it'll probably be here by Saturday morning, and leave around Sunday afternoon, sometime before I come back I wager. It won't be too much trouble for you to look out for Armageddon right?" Dumbledore looked up from the fireplace, patted the suitcase in his pocket and smiled at his thoroughly horrified former pupil.
"I know you can't possibly miss it. Also most of the students will be gone because of the holiday vacation."
Snape blinked, and then breathed a sigh of relief, yes, Dumbledore was right, the students will all be home at the time and he won't have to worry about anyone dying, or be blamed for it, or get a howler with curses in it when a parent discovers that Armageddon hit Hogwarts and he wasn't able to protect their baby. Then a though hit him. What if the parents did blame him for sending them home because the parents thought their babies would be safer at the school because Dumbledore was there to protect them? What if they get angry at him for sending the kids home?! What if they find out that Dumbledore isn't here?!
"Er Professor Dumbledore, if Armageddon really does hit, wouldn't it be more prudent for the students to stay here. The castle walls are completely warded and protected and the foundation is constantly being worked on and is quite advanced. Not to mention that there are shielding spells here that I'm sure the parents will not have access to and…."
"Oh ho, Serverus, don't be so somber, there is no need to worry about the children, besides they miss their parents. I'm sure that not even you have the heart to deny them a visit back home?" Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "Besides if you miss the students there are always a couple of them here for you to look after. As you know, Mr. Potter always stays, and along with him, Mr. Weasley and Miss. Granger as well. They never leave him alone." Serverus's face became more and more severe as Dumbledore listed the three names. Potter and his rest of the dream team, they're always here, and getting in the way. Why are they always here and getting in the way? Great, now I have to make sure that they don't get themselves killed in the process of their daily stupidity. If they did end up killed or injured in any way he'd have the whole Wizarding World up in arms against him. 'Serverus Snape former Deatheater back to his old habits!' He could just see the headlines now. 'In his efforts to regain the trust of his former lord and master this black hearted fiend blames the death of The Boy Who Lived and his brave companions on Armageddon.' Snape could practically see himself screaming at a newspaper reporter now, just like that crazy Sirius Black did when they were taking him away. He'd be ruined. Little did Snape know, Dumbledore was watching him with a critical eye.
"Don't fret too much about Armageddon Severus. I'm sure that you will be able to see to the matter accordingly. You are a very talented Potions Master after all." Snape blinked.
"Headmaster, Shouldn't we be forming a method of defense?"
"No, no, no need for that, after all as long as you do whatever is asked of you, there won't be an issues at all." Snape's eyebrows practically rose past his hairline.
"You want us to comply with Armageddon?"
"Yes, yes, of course, the job can't be done single handedly. Oh you'll get a nice reward for this. It's usually very generous, and a nice thing."
"Headmaster!" Snape stuttered, looking at Dumbledore like he was completely out of his mind
"I think that Armageddon can do a well enough job on its own, it does not need help from anyone else, least of all me. Its reputation exceeds the…." Snape was cut off by a wave of Dumbledore's hand.
"Yes, yes, well that's only because it's had help over the years that it has come here." Dumbledore said with a wave of his hand.
"It's come here before?"
"Yes, of course it has, It comes every century or so, and the four founders of Hogwarts and the previous headmasters and mistresses have always accommodated it to the best of our abilities."
"The four founders of Hogwarts aided Armageddon?"
"Yes, and they had a wonderful time doing it as well. It's not everyday you get you help with something this grand. Severus, you should be feeling proud. I myself aided Armageddon about, ah well, exactly a century ago."
"I see, um I did not know about this Headmaster." Snape mumbled. Serverus was now torn between complete and utter confusion and total horror. The four founders of this school helped with the coming of the end of the world? And every single headmaster here at Hogwarts has aided it too? And why does it come around every one hundred years, and how come it's never written in those thrice blasted prophecy books? And how come they never succeeded, not that, that's a bad thing. But if the four most powerful wizards and witches of the time could not help Armageddon end the world, then how the hell was he going to help it accomplish that feat?
"Now, now, wipe that expression off your face Severus, it's not that bad, and if you really can't handle it on your own there is always Harry, and his friends to help you. They are indeed very talented wizards after all. They are also in their 5th year, and have the knowledge, or at least have the sense to know where to look for the knowledge pertaining to whatever it is that Armageddon might need." Dumbledore said with a smile. Apparently the floo network was up to his standards because he pulled out a small box with silvery dust in it and reached in for a handful.
"Headmaster, are you at least going to alert the ministry about this?" Snape asked "I mean wouldn't it be more fitting for them to handle, er, help Armageddon?"
"Why do you say that, Severus?" Dumbledore asked, "They are none more fitting then you or I, in fact like I have already said before. I believe that Armageddon would be aided much more by you because of your potion making skills. Now don't fret, I will be back on Sunday. At the most, if Armageddon doesn't get what is needed, you can ask it to stay for another night, and I will assist it when I get back."
Snape blinked at the headmaster.
"I, I, I, well…."
"Ta Ta Severus my boy, Dumbledore said patting him on the shoulders and threw his handful of floo powder into the fireplace, stepped into the green whooshing flames and disappeared from sight.
"Have a safe trip headmaster." Snape said as he left the headmaster's office and rapidly made his way back to his own chambers to make preparations. Armageddon was coming and he was not about to meet it unprepared. Dumbledore must have been out of his mind when he said that the past generations of headmasters and mistresses aided the coming of the end of the world. He must have meant aided the ministry in stopping the coming of the end of the world. It was too late to get an owl out, and he was stuck here on grounds with the dream team and a mismatched number of students in various years. He was going to have to get them all into the same area somehow, count them all and when Armageddon hits pray that they don't do anything stupid. Although with Potter here it seemed that this was going to be a long weekend.
Halfway through his ramblings and rantings, there was a soft knock on his door. Snape had not heard it, so the people outside the door decided to knock again. Nothing.
"Sonorous!" said a voice with her wand pointed at her throat,
"Professor Snape!" she called through the door.
Snape, in his room completely unaware of the knockings jumped a mile in the air. Was this what Armageddon sounded like?