As you probably should know by now, nobody on this site owns Harry Potter unless they somehow have the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling. Which, my initials are SRCND, so no, I don't own.
"Parseltongue"
"Normal Talk"
Thoughts/spells
Enjoy!
Dumbledore sat calmly in his office, watching Severus Snape and Molly Weasley pace frantically across over and over again. Moody had disappeared, and had been caught by a rather angry Minerva McGonagall, who revealed that he was none other than Barty Crouch, Jr.
Winky panicked, and starting screaming at her former master, but to no avail. He was now immobilized in Dumbledore's office, with Arthur Weasley and Percy Weasley on either side of him. Fudge was looking around nervously, and a dragon patronus was soon seen coming through the window.
"Father, and anyone else who may be worried about Harry's and my safety – we're safe," Kiru's voice came from the serpentine dragon. "We're fine. James Potter is back in the grave where he belongs, and Myrtle is still with me. Voldemort used a potion to bring himself back, which I snatched to use on Moaning Myrtle's body to let her have a second chance at life. Harry, Myrtle and I are fine – we're on our way there now. Please don't panic."
Severus breathed a sigh of relief, but was short-lived. What had she meant 'back in the grave'? He continued to pace anxiously, not trusting the dragon patronus since Kiru was known for downplaying injuries.
"Of course!" he yelled suddenly. "Why didn't I think of it before now? Dobby!"
"Yes, Master Snape?" Dobby asked, appearing with a loud crack. "Did he get any word of Mistress?"
"Find Kiru, Harry, and Myrtle, and bring them here immediately," Snape ordered. "And don't even think about taking them to Poppy in the Hospital wing."
Dobby vanished with a crack, reappearing with another one a few seconds later, with Harry and Myrtle. He did so again, and this time returned with Kiru sitting firmly on a unicorn's back, looking very confused as to what just happened.
"Harry!" Molly cried, bringing him into a tight hug. Severus realized that they were both wearing black travelling cloaks, not unlike the ones the death eaters wore.
"Kiru," Snape sighed, pulling her into one. "Don't you ever do that again, do you hear me?"
"Not our fault," Harry reminded him. "What happened anyways? I mean, I know that it was Voldemort, and that he's dead – again. But, he was saying about having four other methods of coming back. What does that mean?"
"Albus," Snape realized. "The locket."
"How'd you know about that?" the trio asked, and Severus' eyes widened. "What?"
"Kiru," Severus warned.
"Legimency," Kiru grinned. "I used it on him while he was dueling Harry. Quite fun, really. I got a sneak peek into his brilliant – but twisted and disturbing – mind. You have to admit, when he's not in a rage, he really thinks things through."
"Speaking of which," Harry grinned. "We saw Death Eaters as well. Twelve of them. We even got names and faces. Can we show you guys with the Penseive?"
"But of course you may," Dumbledore obliged as he put it on his desk. "Now, Harry, I want you to think of the memories very clearly in your mind. We shall do the same with Miss Snape later. But, for now, I think we must get her and Miss Prince to the Hospital Wing. Severus, if you could?"
"Of course," he said quickly, herding the two girls towards the exit. Once they were out of earshot, he grinned. "It's alright. Everyone is back in their dormitories now. They're too terrified of you-know-who getting back out, and even Filch is in his office terrified. You may speak freely."
"Dad, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have used the Nocturne of Shadow!" Kiru gasped, but he squeezed her shoulder tightly.
"It saved your life," he said simply. "I'm sure the minister will agree to let you keep your … necromancy… as long as you tell him that you can only summon each person three times and only when in a time of a major crisis when you know that you must either summon or die."
"Thank you, father," Kiru sighed. "Now what?"
"We get you two to Madame Pomfrey," Severus snorted. "Did you hear anything of your mother, Kiru?"
They all lurched onto the floor of Dumbledore's office. Fudge immediately yelled at Percy to go get Kiru, but Dumbledore stopped him.
"That won't be necessary, Cornelius. Harry, when has Kiru summoned corpses before?" the headmaster asked.
"Well, the only times that she's done it was when it was a time of either summon someone or die. She can only summon them three times. This was her third time summoning my dad," Harry explained. "I don't know what about my mom. I think she already summoned her three times."
"I see. And you're sure she's not a musiclancer?" Cornelius snarled.
"I'm sure. She can't carry a tune on any instrument to save her life," Harry scoffed. Molly and Arthur nodded, raising their eyebrows in agreement.
"Very well. Since she cannot summon those three corpses that she has summoned previously, we will allow her to keep her powers. However," Cornelius added harshly. "She is not, under any circumstances, permitted to use them for anything except for self-preservation."
"What about to protect any future home she may have?" Molly gasped, and Fudge glared at her harshly.
"We shall speak with her when she becomes pregnant," he decided. "Until then, I trust you to inform her of this decision we've made, Albus. As for Severus Snape – you're positive he was the spy?"
"I'm sure, sir," Harry nodded. "My mom's been keeping an eye on him from the other side – long story short, I almost died and got to talk to her while in limbo. She said that Professor Snape was the spy since he didn't want anything to happen to his daughter. She also said that Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were Death Eaters."
"Fine!" Fudge snapped angrily. "Fine! He's cleared of all charges. I expect you idiots to handle the rest of those – returning methods – that he's got. Understand?"
"Yes, sir!" Harry mock saluted. "We'd be happy to!"
Fudge stormed off towards the fireplace, throwing a handful of Floo Powder in. He'd grabbed Barty Crouch, who was tied up and gagged, wand withheld, and threw him in before joining him in the green fires going to Azkaban. Molly and Arthur sighed, pulling Harry into a tight hug. Percy scowled, glaring harshly, and headed back towards the Ministry.
Kiru, meanwhile, was eating chocolate in the Hospital Wing, while the medic checked on Myrtle's wounds. Nothing major, they conduced, and Snape was rubbing his temples in stress. It made him look suddenly old, and Kiru didn't like it. Counting the days, Kiru gasped, and Severus' head snapped up to watch her recount things on her fingers. He leered at her, hoping she wasn't counting what he thought she was.
"Dad," Kiru said at last. "Mom was three months pregnant when she disappeared, right? Well, if we find her in September, the baby will probably be born on Valentine's day!"
"Don't remind me," Severus scowled. "I can't stand another minute of this crap. First your mother disappears, then he shows back up, and to top it off, we've still got exams coming up."
"Well," Kiru started, but gasped. "Dad. Dad, I think I figured it out! One of the death eaters was muttering something about a painting! Dad, I think mom's stuck inside a painting somewhere!"
"It's possible," Severus contemplated, "If we knew the right spell and potions."
"Severus," Minerva said walking in alongside Draco Malfoy, both hefting a large painting. "You need to see this."
"I'm sorry, Professor Snape, Kiru-san," Draco said interrupting. "This was just sent this to me. I wasn't sure what it was, but – now – I don't know what to make of it."
"Severus? Severus, get me out of here!" they heard Chessie panicking, and heard a pounding of some sort. "Blast it, Malfoy, stand me up right!"
They stared in horror as Draco unwrapped the painting once more to reveal a painting of a no longer pregnant Chessie. She was pounding against the edges of the painting, as though the looking canvas were a wall that she was pounding on to get out. She was protesting, her dress stained in blood from below the waist. She was gasping and panting heavily, sitting back down wearily to give her legs a rest. After a few minutes of breathing and panting, she resumed banging to get out.
"Chessie – Chessie, are you – miscarriage," Severus said.
"Yes. I'm sorry love – the painting is cursed to do that! Severus, there's a potion to get me out – all you have to do is combine potions with Ancient Runes! Just get me out!" Chessie wailed just before another wave of pain struck her. "Hurry, Sev! I can't heal while in the painting!"
"Minerva," Severus panicked.
"I'm going," she said sternly. "Malfoy, stay here."
Severus resumed pacing nervously. He'd only cared about another woman like Chessie once before, and he hadn't been able to save her. he turned, and raced down to the dungeons at top speed, dodging the idiotic caretaker's cat. He slammed into the door to the dungeons, not even bothering to slow down for it, yanked it open, and headed in to the dungeon. He ran towards his private stores, finding the blood-replenishing potion and the draught of living death and the removal potion he'd need.
He sneered triumphantly, taking the stairs two at a time up to the room of requirement. He gasped as he watched it open for his two cohorts, and he joined them with the stores they needed. He and Minerva stood and watched as the runes were drawn quickly, but carefully, in a star shape on the floor, hidden inside a circle. He poured the two potions where he was instructed, and the painting was soon being levitated in the air by an unseen whirlwind. Chessie screamed, and the parchment became like a liquid wall.
Severus surged forward, thrusting his arms inwards, reaching out to her as she reached out towards him. He grabbed hold of her forearms firmly, and she to his. He struggled, and with luck, and a little help from the two other staff members, was able to pull Chessie out of the painting. They fell backwards, Severus landing on his back the floor and Chessie landing on top of him in a similar manner. The two older teachers landed on two chairs that appeared as the need arose for them. The two younger teachers were grinning, and kissed before they sat up quickly. Severus quickly pulled out the final vial, uncorking it with his wand.
It was then that Severus looked to see what Chessie was wearing. It was a long black Muggle dress that fluffed out like a tavern girl's dress in the renessaince, and was very low-cut
"Thanks, love," Chessie grinned before drinking the whole thing in two gulps. "I owe you one."
"Anything for you, my love," Severus said honestly. "If it makes you happy and doesn't mean that one of us will go to Azkaban."
"As touching as this is," the Ancient Runes professor scowled. "We need to get back to bed, and to get her to Poppy."
"Severus and I will handle that," the old woman smiled gently. "I'm sure Chessie will be more likely to cooperate if we levitate a chair with her sitting on it."
"Yes, love," Chessie smirked. "Please do."
"You'd better be happy I love you," Severus snarled menacingly, yet the two women could tell he was teasing cruelly. Chessie simply grinned widely and kissed his nose, causing him to flush a slight pink with embarrassment and confusion.
Anyhow, I'm sad to say that I'm in a hurry and have to go to class.
Review, please?
