Chapter 11: Banshee in Hogwarts
"Poppy, please help him." Pomona pleaded between sobs.
"Pomona, please give me some room." Poppy commanded as she immediately bent down to the small Charms Professor.
"POMONA FLITWICK SPROUT, I warned…." Rolonda stormed into the green house, but was silenced when she saw Poppy hovering over Filius. Pomona immediately went to Rolonda for comfort. She collapsed on her sobbing hard into her shoulder. Rolonda felt like she would collapse herself. She never believed the stories were correct.
"Pomona, he's still alive!" announced Poppy gratefully. She felt his low staggering heartbeat beneath her palm. Pomona sobbed harder as she gripped Rolonda's clothes.
"You know, that should have had the opposite effect." Rolonda pointed out dryly.
"Could you just…shut up and be a good friend." snapped Pomona, and then she let go of Pomona as she staggered over towards her husband. Rolonda huffed irritably as she folded her arms across her chest and made her way to the small professor as well.
"I'm a good friend." she mumbled to herself.
Pomona cupped her husband's pale face in her big hand as she sobbed. "Don't leave me, please stay with me."
"Pomona, I have to get him to the informatory. He's alive, but just barely. He had a heart attack which has taken a great toll out of him. If he has another one, Pomona, he just might not make it." warned Poppy. Pomona wept harder as she reached for Rolonda, whom this time, remained silent. She held her dear friend and tried to comfort her. Poppy conjured a stretcher to carry Filius's body to the informatory.
Harry sat up in his hospital bed and slowly touched the bandages that were wrapped around his ears.
"I wouldn't remove them if I were you." warned Kingsley.
"Why not, they feel fine."
"Do what you want, but don't say I didn't warn you when you have to face Poppy."
Harry laughed as he faced Kingsley. "Let me guess, she reprimanded you."
"More like threatened to curse me into oblivion if I didn't get back to my bed."
Mad-Eye interrupted the conversation as he walked into the room. "Where the bloody hell are the other Professors?" he roared.
"Well aren't you Mister Sunshine." retorted Remus Lupin as he entered the room as if there weren't enough people there.
"Where were you?" growled Mad-Eye. "We could have had you're help in catching Minerva."
"Sorry, Tonks needed me." he confessed nonchalantly. Mad-Eye just huffed as he was looking sour as ever. Harry smirked. He loved everyone. The order was like his family. He looked around as most of the Order was in their hospital beds looking like they'd rather be anywhere, but the informatory. There was only one person missing.
"Hey, does anyone know where Ron is?"
"Out of the way!" ordered Poppy as she barged through the doors with Filius on the stretcher. Mad-Eye and Remus moved quickly out of the way. A still sobbing Pomona and a silent Rolonda were behind them.
"What happened to him?" Remus was the first to collect himself.
"He was attacked by a Devil's Snare which gave him a fatal heart attack." explained Poppy. "Now, everyone who isn't supposed to be here, get out. This informatory isn't big enough for all of you."
"SOMEONE HELP ME!" yelled a very anxious voice.
"Was that Ron?" asked Remus as he looked around.
Harry's eyes grew bigger as he nodded. "That sounded exactly like Ron."
Just then Ron came running like a bat out of hell into the informatory. He slammed the doors shut behind him as he was heaving for breath.
"Quick, close the other doors before she comes!" ordered Ron as he moved quickly to the other doors.
"What do you mean by she?" asked Harry as everyone else was wondering the same thing.
"She, the Professor, Professor McGonagall, she's still that glowing thing. I thought that was a dream, but I saw her Harry. She was bloody chasing me!" stammered Ron as he closed the other doors shut and looked around frightfully. Harry got up from his bed as he went to calm down Ron. He gripped Ron by the shoulders to hold him in place.
"Ron, Ron," yelled Harry, but Ron's eyes still darted around the room. Getting fed up Harry slapped Ron across the face. Ron shook his head in disbelief.
"Harry, you just hit me." Ron muttered incredulously. Pomona at that point broke from Rolonda's embrace as she approached Ron.
"Sorry Ron." apologized Harry. He was then pushed out of the way by Pomona.
"Where's Minerva?" barked Pomona. Rolonda rushed over to pull Pomona off of Ron.
"Mr. Weasley don't answer that." commanded Rolonda as she reached Pomona. "Pomona, what are you thinking? It's not Minerva's fault that she's a Banshee."
"Ro, if you value your life, stay out of this! Now Weasley, where is she!"
"Weasley don't answer that!"
Ron looked back and forth from Rolonda to Pomona. He didn't know which one to oblige to, the furious one who looks homicidal, or the one who's trying to calm down the homicidal one? Mad-Eye then held back Rolonda, who was trying to hold back Pomona.
"Where's Minerva, we can still get her if she's still in the castle."
"Are you raving mad? If Pomona knows, she's going to try to kill Minerva, or get killed trying!" shouted Rolonda. Harry didn't know what to do and neither did Ron.
"Tell me where she is!"
"Don't!"
"We can still get her if you tell us!"
"Don't tell either of them!" yelled Rolonda before Mad-Eye put a silencing charm on her.
"Ron don't tell them! Hooch is right, they're out to kill." Harry warned and Ron nodded as he understood. Rolonda threw her arms up in the air as she had a finally-someone-agrees-with-me look.
"Pomona, get your hands off of Weasley, and Moody, how dare you hex one of the professors!" shrieked Poppy which made them all stop and tremble in fear. "Are you trying to give your husband another heart attack?"
"Husband?" questioned Harry and Ron simultaneously. Pomona reluctantly let go of Ron and looked ashamed. Mad-Eye flicked his wand, freeing Rolonda of the silencing charm.
"Thank you!" Rolonda snarled furiously.
Poppy shook her head disapprovingly as she stepped in between everyone. "I would have expected better behavior around adults. Honestly, does anyone have some sense of propriety?"
"Sorry Poppy." They all incomprehensibly mumbled in unison. Harry and Ron gawked at them. Yes, the matron was sometimes scary, but for all these adults to be cower from her too, was too good of a sight.
"Right then, Pomona, you will not try to kill Minerva since she's not the reason why Filius was attacked by a Devil's Snare." she reprimanded Pomona who nodded her head looking dejectedly. "And you Moody should know better than to point your wand at a Professor." Poppy continued to reprimand while waving her finger in Mad-Eye's face. "As for you Ro, I never thought I'd live to see the day, but you were the best behaved out of everyone in the situation."
"Thank you…wait…Poppy!"
"Hehe, Poppy just dissed you." teased Pomona.
"I'm glad I was able to make you laugh since your husband's accident." Rolonda responded which caused Pomona to stop laughing. Tears glassed her eyes as she was on the verge of crying once again.
"I'm sorry Pomona, I didn't mean to." Rolonda went to console her friend once again. Poppy then turned to Harry and Ron.
"Where is Minerva? It's about time Moody got her and turned her mind right."
"Thank you, finally someone wants to get her." Mad-Eye shouted up in the air as if he were yelling at the Heavens.
"I last saw her around the Great Hall." Ron answered.
"Let's go!" yelled Mad-Eye, only to retrieve disgruntled moans from the Order members as they got from their beds. "Come on, you bunch sound like old people!"
"Get off your high horse, we're coming." growled Kingsley.
"Yeah, well you don't look like it!" yelled Mad-Eye behind his back.
"Old prude."
"Don't think I didn't hear that!"
-/-/-
"Severus, Severus, Severus Tobias Snape wake up!" yelled a familiar voice. Severus's eyes fluttered open. His head was throbbing in pain.
"Severus, you need to go get her!"
"Argh…what…Headmaster, what's wrong now?"
"Minerva, I saw her. Merlin, you weren't joking when you said she was a banshee Severus." Dumbledore responded as he started to chuckle.
Severus jolted up as he remembered Minerva. He looked around the room. His eyes searched madly. She wasn't there. Where the bloody Merlin was she?
"Severus, what are you waiting for? Go get her. We can't have a banshee running through Hogwarts!" Dumbledore ordered Severus. Severus staggered down the stairs. He shook his head to recollect his senses before he went for a head long run out of his office, out to find Minerva. Being Headmaster he was bound to the castle. He could sense where everyone was. Severus sensed Minerva was swiftly moving towards around the Great Hall. What was that daft woman doing?
He ran faster down the corridors until he came to the entrance to the Great Hall. It was opened just a crack. He peeped inside where he saw Minerva standing still. She stood on the dias in front the staff table. She looked straight at the Headmaster's chair. He silently slipped through the doors unnoticed by Minerva.
Minerva stood silently. Her heart felt broken. Her best friend was gone, and the one she loves is the murderer. The most disturbing fact is that he actually loves her back. This can't be happening. No, it just can't be.
-/-/-
Mad-Eye, Kingsley, Harry, and Rolonda went straight to the Great Hall. The other Order members went in other parts of the castle close to the Great Hall to make sure she didn't escape, while Pomona stayed in the informatory since Poppy didn't think she was emotionally stable.
"Look, the door's open." pointed out Rolonda.
"Shhh." They all hushed her.
"Well then."
They approached the door with wands ready.
"Ah Moody," Harry muttered, "How are we going to get her this time? None of the spells penetrated her shield?"
"Good point, what are we going to do, because last time it didn't go so well." Rolonda stopped Moody.
"I am not getting my ears blown off again." Kingsley stated.
Mad-Eye sighed as he really didn't know what they were going to do. While the three debated the problem, Harry crept towards the door. He gazed through the opening. He saw Severus standing behind Minerva silently as she was standing before the staff table motionless.
"Minerva?" Severus said softly.
"Shh, you guys, look at this." Harry motioned towards the others to come by quietly. They all swiftly moved towards Harry. Kingsley and Mad-Eye tripped over each other as Rolonda beat them all to the door. Her jaw dropped in utter shock.
"If he does anything to her, I swear I'll hex him into the next century." snarled Rolonda.
"What the bloody hell is he doing?" Moody growled.
"He's doing what we're not." Kingsley jeered.
Minerva whipped around to see Severus only a few feet away from her. She hissed like a feral animal at him. Severus slowed his pace, but didn't stop moving towards her.
"I won't hurt you. I just want to talk to you."
Mad-Eye snorted in disbelief. "As if."
"Why isn't she screaming her head off?" wondered Kingsley out loud.
"Why isn't she decking him? I think she should rip his ear off." Rolonda added. The two men looked at her as they gave her the are-you-serious look.
"What, that's what I'd do."
"Do you see her?" interrupted Harry. "She looks nervous. She's trembling. I think she's afraid of Snape."
"What are you, the banshee whisperer?" Rolonda retorted.
Severus neared her as he stopped to stand beside her. He then averted his eyes to the staff table. He waited for her to calm down before he talked.
"What are they doing?" Rolonda broke the silence.
"Shh."
"I know I know, jeesh."
Severus turned to her finally as he said, "I didn't murder him."
"That's it, I'm going to kill him." growled Rolonda, but they held her back before she could give them away. "Let me at him."
"Shh."
Minerva looked at Severus with fury in her bright white eyes. Apparently she didn't believe him as much as Rolonda had. She hissed at him once again as she grabbed the collar of his robes and pushed him back against the staff table causing him to lose his balance. He fell with his back on the table and now with Minerva on top of him. She hissed again looking wilder than ever.
"You speak lies."
"That's my girl." Moody applauded.
"Give him the left hook Min." cheered Rolonda. Harry was astonished to see his professor act in such a manner.
"Harry saw you. He saw you kill him." Minerva gripped his robes even tighter. Severus thought she was going to rip them from his body so she could shred his bare flesh with her claws.
"I killed him under his orders. Did you think I wanted to kill him?" Severus said defiantly. Minerva pulled him by his collar so their face was inches away.
"More lies!" Minerva slammed his back into the table. Severus shut his eyes from the pain and then gripped her wrists and sat up. He forced her back on the table, pinning her there with his body.
"I'm not lying."
She thrashed beneath him. He restrained her wrists above her head. She then snarled at him while he smirked. She still had her resilient side in her.
"Liar, Voldemort ordered you to do it, and you so happily obliged being his bitch." she spat.
"Oh, nice one, that's the old Min I know." Rolonda laughed silently. She had bitten her fist to keep from laughing out loud. Mad-Eye and Kingsley were silently chuckling as Harry just gaped at the scene. He never heard her swear before, but yet again, he's not use to her being a banshee either.
Severus growled in irritation of her statement. Her eyes had turned green as her hair started to slowly change back to its raven black shade.
"Did you see that?" Harry questioned. The three adults terminated their laughter as they gaped at the scene.
"She's changing back." Mad-Eye said incredulously.
"So all she had to do was insult the greasy git?" Rolonda questioned sounding more furious than curious. "Personally, I'm offended!"
"Shh."
"Minerva, why don't you ask him yourself?" suggested Severus.
"How do you plan on doing that, Severus? Last time I checked, you killed him." she retorted as she started to fight against him again. Before he could explain she kneed him swiftly in the crotch.
"Argh." He rolled off of her.
"Ohh." The three guys looked away as if they were they one who were hit.
"Alright Min!" yelled Rolonda a bit too loudly. Minerva looked over in their direction looking vexed. Her hair turned back to its moon beam white, and her eyes glowed.
"What now?" asked Kingsley already starting to back off. The last thing he wanted was his ears blown off.
"Run!" yelled Rolonda running for dear life. Kingsley was right behind her as Mad-Eye stood his ground. With his fake leg, he couldn't really run. Harry on the other hand couldn't think what to do. Minerva sat up from the table, never taking her eyes off of Harry.
Harry almost felt like she was seeing right through him. He wondered what she was thinking. Minerva then shook her head as if she was in a trance. A small smile braced her lips. Harry wondered what she saw. She then looked at Mad-Eye. Her expression changed. Her smile diminished as she looked more empathetic than happy.
Suddenly a burst of blue light had been scent passed her head. Minerva's shield reflected it back at the caster, Remus Lupin, as he was knocked off his feet.
"I think I forgot to mention that last part." said Arthur, looking apologetically.
"You think?" he grumbled back. Minerva swiftly moved off the table as she ran for it, only to find her way to be blocked by two more order members. Molly Weasley and Tonks stood ready for her.
"Minerva, there's no way out, just come with us." Molly tried to persuade Minerva.
"We just want to help you." Tonks assured her. Minerva looked at Tonks as a vision flashed before her eyes. Molly and Tonks looked at each other questioningly. They lowered their wands. Molly slowly approached Minerva. She carefully placed her hand on Minerva's shoulder.
"Minerva dear, please let us help you."
Minerva moved away from Molly as she hissed. "You want to help me? Then stay out of my way!"
Minerva then ran pasted them. Molly went to hex her, when Tonks stopped her.
"She has a shield remember?" Tonks reminded her.
"Then how the bloody hell are we supposed to catch her?" snarled Moody as he made his way towards them. They just shrugged their shoulders. Suddenly Minerva felt someone grab a hold of her wrist as she was tugged in another direction. She collided into someone as they apparated away.
All three of them gaped at the sight. Severus had just apparated away with Minerva.
"I thought you couldn't apparate in Hogwarts." Molly stated confused.
"You can't." assured Tonks as she was just as confused as Molly.
"The headmaster can." Harry answered their questions.
This only made Mad-Eye furious as he banged his staff against the stone floor. "Well what are we waiting for? We have to find her. Merlin knows what he's going to do to her."
Author's note: I hoped you liked the continuation. I think two more chapters until the end. Yeah, I don't know about you, but I'm glad to see it almost coming to an end. Well good night, or more like good morning ;) Hope to update the next chapter soon.