He is Proud of Me –II
Severus billowed his way to the staff room of Hogwarts. An hour of sleep had done him much good. But he had missed lunch. Minerva was sure to dote on him and diagnose forty different ailments he might be suffering from, and would not be sated until he got an actual medical report from Poppy, who would rant again about potions masters and unhealthy eating habits. For all their stern façade, the women were simply mother hens when it came to his health and well being. Severus loved Hogwarts, not only because it had been his sanctuary for so long, but also because of his cranky colleagues who cared so much about him.
"Ah Severus! There you are. I heard you had an action filled morning?" the teasing voice of Filius Flitwick, indicated that he had already reached his customary place at the staff table.
"I see the rumor mill has already started!" he commented dryly and continued "What did you hear Filius? That I used Mr. Crabbe's intestines in my new potions experiments?" he asked mockingly.
"Actually Severus, I heard that you saved two Gryffondors, Mr. Longbottom being one of them from a very nasty potion explosion using wandless and wordless magic, which was so powerful that you were bathed in blue light which reminded the students of Merlin's incarnation," commented Minerva with a snort.
"Seriously! The things which these children come up with! I assure you Minerva; I merely banished the potion before it touched any of their hides! Nothing more! And I had a perfectly peaceful noon, after that, thank you very much!"
"Ah! This reminds me… SEVERUS TOBIAS SNAPE! WHY DIDN'T YOU COME FOR LUNCH TODAY! WHENEVER WILL YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUSELF YOUNG MAN? YOU ARE…"started Minerva when Severus cut her off "I assure you Minerva! I am hardly young!"
"Sure Severus! You are as old as I am and I taught your mother!" commented Pomoa.
"Oh! Hush all of you! We don't want to lose our dignity in front of students. The headmaster is bringing the third year Gryffondors and Slytherins for their DADA lesson. So shut up and sit down." shouted Sinistra.
"Oh! So the old man is following the footsteps of the resident werewolf! What is he going to show them today? Dementors?" commented Severus.
"Severus!" said Minerva simply, but there was warning in her tone. She would not take lightly any criticism of Lupin. The third years came in silently in a single file and the teachers were amused to note the obedience in their stances. They were obviously intrigued by the fact that they were being taught by none less than THE headmaster of the school and put up their best behavior. Dumbledore however, was seemingly blissfully unaware of the glances he was being shot and started the lesson.
"I am very sorry to inform you that Professor Lupin has taken very ill and will not be able to take any classes, and I will be taking them for him, though I am happy about it." He started cheerfully.
"Today, we will be learning about Euryale. Who can tell me what is a Euryale?" he asked.
Several hands shot up in the air, the most impatient one being of Miss Granger, but Severus was surprised to note that Potter also had put up his hand. Maybe, he could find out how the boy was at other subjects today.
"Miss Granger"
"A Euryale is a dangerous creature with brass hands, sharp fangs, and hair of living, venomous snakes. It transforms itself into the victim's greatest desire and lures them into its traps much like a Lamia. It is generally found…"Granger started ranting and gushing out all the rote up information in an effort to prove herself and Severus felt the strong urge to snap at the girl, but the headmaster did it for him, though not quite in the same way.
"Very good, Miss Granger. I am glad that you have read the reference books beforehand. We will come back to you if we have any doubts." smiled the headmaster and Granger beamed, obviously not seeing through the straight faced sarcasm, though the other students certainly did.
"Excellent. Now as Miss Granger has been so kind to introduce the Euryale to the class, I will get to the spell which will protect us from it. The spells is a tricky one—please repeat after me- Peredere adlucinatio."(Latin for-destroy the illusion)
Thirty different voices repeated the incantation. "Excellent. Let's say it again" and so the whole class repeated the incantation five times until the whole class got it right. "Very good. Now I want all of you to think about your greatest desire and work out how you will stop yourselves from the temptation. I have trapped a baby Euryale in my lemon drop box and we will have a demonstration too." The headmaster said.
"I think Albus is trying to prove that Slytherins and Gryffondors can be taught together without any disasters." commented Minerva.
"Wait till the end" was all Severus said. He was not actually listening to the murmur of the teachers. In fact his eyes were e fixed on a certain messy haired Gryffondor who was looking very distressed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~LILY SNAPE~~~~~~~~~~~LILY SNAPE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry did not want to face the Euryale. Sure he had sulked when he wasn't allowed to face the boggart, but now….. No… he absolutely could not face his Euryale. It would break his heart. He could not even think about it….
"I think we are all ready. I will give you a short demonstration and then everyone will get a chance to face the Euryale. As soon as you say the incantation the Euryale will be blown backwards and that will give you the time to run away from it. The stronger your conviction, the farther it will be blown. Let me tell you, we are merely banishing the Euryale, for a short time."
The headmaster brought out the lemon drop can, from inside the teachers' cupboard and opened it, before standing in front of the Euryale. The hideous creature turned into Albus, wearing purple pajamas, with moons and stars on it, happily drinking hot chocolate, sitting on a couch.
"Ah! The pleasures of a relaxing Sunday!"Albus said wistfully before shouting Peredere adlucinatio .The Euryale was blown back by ten feet and Albus moved from his place, motioning for Hermione to take his place. The Euryale converted into Hermione wearing the head girls badge patronizing all the others. "Peredere adlucinatio" the girl said but the Euryale did not move. She shouted again and again but in vain. Albus banished it and motioned for Malfoy. Instantly, there was another blonde, wearing the robes of a rich aristocrat, taking the oath as the minister of magic. The blonde took five turns before blowing the Euryale back by two feet and quickly stepping out of the way. Severus watched amused along with the other teachers as each student came and revealed their desires, and only some were successful in banishing it.
Ronald Weasley wanted to become the captain of Chudley Canons, Lavender Brown wanted to become a fashion model, Theodore Nott became a healer, Pansy Parkinson became an auror, while Neville Longbottom became the Herbology Professor, to which Pomoa Sprout cheered rather loudly.
Blaize Zabini came forward and the Euryale turned into the headmaster of Hogwarts, and tried to banish it unsuccessfully. The headmaster chuckled and said " I assure you Mr. Zabini, if you get the required qualifications, I will be glad to give my post to you, but be warned! After that you will never have a Sunday. Now, finally our last student, Mr. Potter."
Harry was mortified. He did not know what to do. He simply wanted to run away. When the headmaster called him for the second time, he apprehensively made way to the front. He needed time. Apparently, the headmaster recognized this as well and said-"Remember students, I will tell you this out of experience. In life, it is far more difficult to face your desires and turn it away, than facing your fears and laughing at them. It takes more strength of character to NOT fall for greed than destroying your enemy. That is why though this spell is supposed to destroy the Euryale; we can only hope to banish it. It is considered impossible to destroy a Euryale….." He was saying, when the disgusting creature crept up in front of Harry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~LILY SNAPE~~~~~~~~~~~LILY SNAPE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Severus watched as the Euryale came in front of Potter and was going to whip out his wand when the air filled with a divine scent. He could hear the sound of soft laughter and was entranced by it.
"Angel" said someone. "No, it's a fairy." said another. Severus was sure it was one of these. The shape forming in front of the boy, was surely a divine why did it have red hair? He wanted to look at it, once… just once….
"Mum!" the strangled soft voice brought him out of his dreams. Yes… it was Lily! that laughter belonged to her. Severus stamped down the pain and looked at the boy. Unshed tears were glistening in his eyes.
"Oh! The poor child!" said Pomoa. Severus looked at the boy, silently begging him to go away… he couldn't take this anymore. If I feel this way, what must the child be feeling! Severus thought.
Come on Potter! They say you killed a basilisk, can't you banish a Euryale? Show me your Gryffondor strength. Where is your backbone Potter? Try child, please…
He watched Lily opening her arms and bending on her knee. "I am so proud of you son. I love you Harry." She was saying. Severus could feel the pain that shone in his eyes. He watched as the boy took an involuntary step forwards. No…. No child, it is an illusion… look at me… please no…. don't go Harry…
Green eyes locked with his as if he heard Severus' plea…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~LILY SNAPE~~~~~~~~~~~LILY SNAPE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry saw his mum. She was there, right in front of him. She said she was proud of him. She said she loved him. She wanted to hug him. I am coming mum… I missed you so much….
'No child, it is an illusion… look at me… please no…. don't go Harry…' Harry swore he could hear that voice in his head. His father had called him Harry…. He looked at the man… those eyes… he saw concern in those eyes. Then he recalled it. This was an illusion. Mum would not come… She would not be proud if he didn't fulfill her wish… he had a responsibility….
"Peredere adlucinatio"
He said with such force that the beautiful Lily Evans turned back into the snake haired Euryale. It began changing colors as if it was in pain. Screams echoed through the staff room as the yellow jet of power was flowing from Harry's wand onto the Euryale, everyone closed their ears and eyes… and finally, with a loud clap of thunder, the Euryale burst into a hundred pieces. The silence that followed was even more deafening….
Harry looked once more at the Potions Master whose eyes held a peculiar emotion. If Harry was honest with himself, he was sure the Potions Master was saying "That's my boy! Very good! I am proud of you" and Harry felt RIDICULOUSLY accomplished at the look…and he knew why!
He tuned to look at the bemused headmaster and completed his earlier sentence…. " Maybe it's not so impossible Professor!" he said and offered a small smile. The twinkle in the man's eyes was back in full force and said "Of course my boy! There is an exception to every rule!" he said chuckling.
"Impossible! Euryale is supposed to be indestructible! You can't destroy them." The nagging voice of a know-it-all brought them all out of their varied state of awe and shock.
"Well, you have proof!" said Dean Thomas irritably. There were only so many lectures you could take!
"Well, your homework will be a description of your encounter with the Euryale and how you could destroy it. That will be all. Class dismissed." The headmaster interjected, and diffused the situation before a fight broke out. After all, he had insisted that Gryffondors and Slytherins can have a peaceful class together!
All the students trickled out of the class recounting their experiences to their friends. Harry was making his way out of the room when he heard the voice of the headmaster.
"And Harry"
The boy turned around.
"I am sure your mother is very proud of you my boy. In fact both your parents would be proud of you. I am sure." The headmaster said. Harry's eyes involuntarily flicked to the Potions Master though no one noticed it.
"I hope you are right sir…" the boy said and left.
But Severus certainly could see the bounce in his step.
~~~~~~~~~~~tbc~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~