A/N: So here it is everyone! Wow, can't believe so many people are actually interested in this story still. Sorry for taking so long with the chapter, I'll admit this story has been on low priority for quite some time. But that's going to change. See the end Author's Note for more details.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Soul Eater
Accidents
Stein awoke suddenly.
Senses alert, the ghosts of his visions still lurking behind his eyes, he flared his soul wavelength menacingly, sending it out all around him. It was unlike anything any other Meister could produce. An all-consuming wave; one that would shred anything, mind, body or soul to dust.
Well, that was his intention.
Instead, Stein heard a small crackle of electricity as his soul pulsed weakly. There was a gasp that was far too close for comfort and Stein realised someone was holding him up!
His hand darted out and grabbed at the source of the sound, ready to dissect and tear through it, to get at the soul contained within. A beautiful green-blue soul, howling in defiance like a monstrous wolf running underneath the light of cackling full moon. Oh, he would make it heel.
Only then, gradually, did sanity return to Stein.
He was suddenly aware he was holding on to what happened to be the front of Remus' robes. He took a quick millisecond glance at the startled man's face before the memories of the attack came rushing back. He had fought and killed several creatures; horrible, hooded beasts that had driven him into a deep pit of terror and despair.
The newest teacher yelled as Stein pulled him closer, nearly unbalancing the both of them.
"What happened?" he demanded, his senses sweeping the area wildly for more of those... things. "Where are we?!"
Remus blinked, a little shocked at the sudden recovery and the intense look on Stein's face.
"Um, you fainted and right now we're getting off the train near Hogwarts," Remus supplied helpfully with a nervous smile. "How are you feeling?"
Stein quickly pulled himself away from Remus, his legs only shaking slightly as they fully supported his weight once more. He had passed out?! That was unusual...
He was physically uninjured and he hadn't suffered any blows to the head recently. He had never fainted because of anything other than blood loss before, so he was a little unaccustomed to the sensation.
He put a hand to his screw, turning it slowly clockwise. His surroundings quickly came into focus, along with the souls of all the children disembarking the train some ways away. Oh, so he hadn't been unconscious for that long then? Strange, it felt longer for some reason...
Although speaking of strange, his whole body felt unnaturally cold and stiff, like he'd just taken an ice bath. Not to mention he still felt on edge despite there being no danger around. He could still feel the adrenaline pumping through his body, making him shake and his eyes dart around.
Shaking himself to try and get rid of the sensation, Stein reached into his coat and hastily lit a cigarette. The familiar feeling was enough for his mind to grasp onto and he felt his soul slowly reassert itself over his festering madness.
"Fainted? Do you have to put it like that?" Stein asked once he was sure his voice wouldn't shake. "I do have my pride you know. At least tell me the students didn't see."
"Well..." Remus grimaced, reaching into his robes. "A few-"
"That's not too bad."
"-dozen."
"Damn."
There was the sound of crinkling foil and Stein turned to see a brown bar being presented to him.
"Here, this'll help," Remus explained, an honest smile on his face. "It'll warm you up after a Dementor attack."
Stein grabbed the bar and examined it for a moment. It was obviously chocolate; he could even see the name of the company who made it imprinted on the top. Was it magical in some way? Either way, it would be unwise to accept such a gift, so he refused the chocolate as politely as possible. Remus just shrugged and ate the bar himself.
'Dementor'.
That word was familiar. He must have come across it among the small library of books he had read throughout the last year. Right now, he was still a little too disorientated to focus. How could those things have had the power to reduce even him, Shibusen's greatest meister, to a fainting wreck?!
"I've checked on the other students," Remus informed him, interrupting his internal lamenting. "It seems no one else was outright attacked by the Dementors, although there were a couple of close calls. A few students tried to stand up to the Dementors."
Had Stein been a considerate person he would have winced. The thought of children facing those things, considering how well he fared...
"This sounds like there'll be quite a few angry letters going around," Stein commented, quickly checking he still had his wand on him.
Ollivander would definitely murder him if he had to replace it a second time.
"I can't imagine anyone being happy about this."
"I know," Remus groaned. "Dumbledore will be furious. Letting the guards of Azkaban anywhere near children is inexcusable and the Ministry should be well aware of that."
Wait, those things were government officials?! Guards, even?
Azkaban was the wizarding prison, so those were the prison guards looking for their prisoner?!
The thought struck Stein with the force of the Hogwarts Express. Maybe the Ministry wasn't quite as pathetic as he had first suspected. Being able to unleash monsters like those on anyone who angered them would be quite the intimidation tactic, not to mention being able to control them to such a degree that they were confident they wouldn't outright attack their children.
He was still considering the implications of this when they entered the carriage and were carried all the way towards the school.
"Hopefully that's the last we see of them," Remus said, looking out the window as if expecting to see them gliding over the treetops.
"Well now you've said that they'll probably all be sitting next to us at the dinner table," Stein added, similarly checking the area with his Soul Perception as their carriage practically flew by the slower student ones.
Remus snorted at the image he was obviously conjuring in his head. Then they passed a child in a carriage, who happened to be crying his eyes out, and the Professor sobered up instantly.
"Let's just hope it doesn't become a reality," he muttered, soul burning with a protective fervour.
Stein observed this with interest. He was already attached to the students, probably because he was once one here himself. His mental discipline had helped him recover pretty quickly, but the students didn't have any such luck. They had bunched up together into far larger groups than normal; their souls all quivering together like little candle flames in a stiff breeze. It was honestly rather adorable in a way.
Adorable how easily he could snuff them out...
Crank! Crank!
Alright then, Stein decided turning his screw, mental discipline might not have been as effective as first hypothesised. Maybe he should have said yes to the chocolate, it was probably magical.
Stein leant back against the seat as the entrance came into view. If he was going to be encountering those things regularly this year was going to be worse than just torture, it would be pure undiluted hell.
The two Professors left the carriage as soon as it came to a halt, Remus pausing only to pick up his small suitcase. They hurried to the door where they were greeted by Filius, who beamed up at the two of them.
Stein quickly slipped back into his friendly teacher persona with ease and smiled nervously.
"Er, sorry I didn't realise I was supposed to already be here," he apologised, with a small smile. "I didn't know."
Filius laughed.
"Not to worry, you're hardly the first to have made such a mistake," the small man said jovially, waving it off. "And Remus Lupin, it has been far too long. Why I haven't seen you since your graduation!"
"It is good to see you again, Professor Flitwick," Remus replied, smiling warmly at the man.
"Oh none of that Professor nonsense, my boy," Filius responded. "Just call me Filius. We're colleagues now and I'm sure you'll fit in just as well now as you did back then."
"I can only hope," Remus responded warmly, although Stein felt a flicker of sadness in his soul as he said it.
"Well come in, come in! We don't want to miss the feast!"
The two quickly followed the diminutive Professor, before Remus' eyes suddenly shot open as he remembered.
"Oh, Professor Fli- I mean Filius, has Harry Potter arrived safely at the castle?"
"No, not to my knowledge," Filius responded, his voice having lost its cheer. "I'll let Albus know to keep an eye out for the boy. Why, did something happen?"
"He wasn't on the train," Stein explained. "Nor was his friend, Ronald Weasley."
"Not on the-" Filius gasped. "Why didn't you say anything?!"
"I'm sorry Professor Flitwick," Remus apologised, old habits dying hard. "But we were distracted by the Dementors!"
"The Dementors were on the train?!" the little wizard squeaked. "Oh dear, oh dear oh dear. Albus must be informed immediately!"
He flicked his wand and Stein felt the wizard's soul shift. He watched in amazement as it's wavelength changed and shortened, before splitting itself from the soul and being surrounded with magic. Silver shot out of Filius' wand and smoothly formed the image of a buffalo.
Stein's mind immediately flew back to the silver cat that had spoken with Minerva's voice last year. This was obviously the same spell and it confirmed his suspicions beyond doubt that some spells did indeed use the soul of the caster in order to work. Was the primary purpose of this spell just for communication? It was a little too obvious for spying and for anyone with soul perception it was like a beacon.
So what other uses did it have?
Could these wizards actually be aware of its calming wavelength?
While Stein considered this, the huge animal then turned and sprinted up the corridor and out of sight.
"That should reach Albus quickly," Filius said, putting his wand back underneath his robes. "Of all the years for this to happen! Tell me exactly what happened."
Stein gestured towards Remus, who explained what happened. About the Granger girl, about the train stopping, the Dementors and Stein passing out. He had just about finished his story when there was an explosion of flame and Albus Dumbledore, with Fawkes sitting on his shoulder, was suddenly standing there amongst them.
"Ah, I do beg your pardon for the sudden entrance," the headmaster said quickly. "And I apologise for startling you, Professor Stein."
Stein, who had both his wand out and palm forwards, slowly lowered his arms.
"Sorry," he said, giving a meek smile. "I'm a little on edge."
"That's quite alright," Dumbledore turned to look at the others. "I already have a few others combing the grounds for Harry and Mr Weasley. You see, not long ago, I received a rather panicked floo message from a Mr Arthur Weasley. Apparently, the barrier at Platform 9 3/4 stopped working right before the two students were due to enter. Interestingly enough, he also reported that his flying car was gone when the barrier started working."
Stein blinked, trying to take this information in. The barrier stopped working? Sabotage? Badly needed maintenance? Wizards had flying cars? Dumbledore didn't seem particularly worried, although the man's soul flickered a little with anxiety for a reason the meister couldn't quite place.
"So what do you think happened?" Remus asked, still looking nervous. "That Siriu- I mean Black, actually managed to-"
"No, no," Dumbledore interrupted calmly. "It would take highly specialised and advanced magic to interrupt that old barrier, doubly so without being noticed or caught. I think it's far more likely that Potter and Weasley, being impatient twelve year old children, chose simply to take the flying car to Hogwarts this year."
Filius buried his face into his hands.
"Having taught those two for the past year," he began slowly. "Not to mention the stunt they pulled with the Philosopher's Stone; you might very well be correct, Albus. Those two do seem to possess more bravery than sense."
"I've seldom met a twelve year old that doesn't," Dumbledore commented with a chuckle. "Still, let us hope that they didn't get lost along the way. I have already used my own not inconsiderable resources to begin tracking their path. Wherever they are, we shall find them soon. Until then, I propose we do not worry about it and instead commence with the feast."
Stein didn't really feel like eating, but it was best to keep up appearances. The four soon approached the Great Hall where children were beginning to sit down amongst their friends and catch up from not having seen each other all summer. It was far from the festive and strangely joyous event that started the beginning of the last year however.
Their souls felt heavy, oppressed by their brief contact with the Dementors. Even though those strange creatures were far away, flirting at the very edges of Stein's senses, the children still started and looked nervously over their shoulders. It was almost as if they expected one of those hooded monstrosities to walk right through the door.
Stein himself could practically smell the fear in the air and it seemed none of his companions had missed it either. Dumbledore's gait seemed to change. Right before Stein's eyes the man transformed from bumbling headmaster to greatest wizard of his age.
Instantly, children began looking up towards them, their eyes fixed on Dumbledore's mighty countenance. And to Stein's utter amazement they began to calm. The fluttering of their souls subsided and their panic soon retreated and became only the occasional whisper.
This was the kind of respect and reassurance that someone truly great could accomplish.
Stein didn't understand it, never could. How a single person, without magic, without wavelengths or without uttering even a single word, could so reassuringly assert themselves amongst others. It was moments like these where the truly great shone and Dumbledore was barely even trying.
A sudden memory came to Stein.
Arriving on the battlefield strewn with the dead, he alone stood against the deadly Witch Allitora, DeathScythe in hand. Then, from behind, he heard the young blood-soaked meisters and weapons cheer just as his opponent turned to face him. He thought nothing of it. The noise was nothing but an annoying distraction. One that would get in his way of dissecting this most interesting specimen...
Then like a dying ember the memory vanished as he gave his screw a good couple of turns. He needed to focus right now!
As they soon walked behind the staff table to join the few teachers already sitting there. Stein said goodbye to Remus and took his usual place between Septima and the reinforced seat that belonged to Hagrid. Huh, he must have missed the man at the platform, somehow...
"You're looking a little pale there," Septima said, a touch of concern in her voice. "And you missed the meeting earlier. Does it have something to do with why everyone seems so tense?"
Stein nodded.
"It would seem Mr Potter and Mr Weasley have performed a vanishing act on us," he explained, noting the very worried look she gained. "Though Dumbledore seems to believe they'll show up soon."
"Well that's something at least," she responded, not mitigated at all. "Honestly! We lost Harry Potter?!"
"And with the Dementors about..." Stein muttered.
"It's Black we should be worried about," the witch said firmly. "I just hope the Dementors catch him quickly, they give everyone the creeps."
Stein froze for a second, suddenly fitting together the puzzle pieces he had been handed.
Oh.
Sirius Black? The famous mass murderer who escaped from prison recently? Increased security, Dementors are government officials...
Oh.
The Dementors were after Sirius Black! That's why they were here! They were searching the train for a mass murderer and he... killed one of them.
A few of them in fact.
Ah.
Stein slumped in his seat. That might have been a mistake; although he didn't feel like he had much choice at the time.
Now that he was sitting here in a warm room with plenty of powerful people around him to keep him in check, his brain seemed to be working again. So these Dementors, who worked for the wizarding government, went into the train searching for a famous mass murderer and instead he killed a few of them.
Lord Death was not going to be very happy with him.
A sudden gathering of souls distracted caught Stein's attention. Children were still entering the Great Hall, but that wasn't what he was sensing. The Dementors were congregating somewhere just beyond the grounds of the castle, outside of his range of soul perception.
Stein risked a quick glance at the headmaster, and found the man was looking down the table directly at him. Did the man somehow know? Did Dumbledore expect him to do something? Or was he expecting him to react?
Well, it wasn't like he would risk his cover just for Potter and Weasley. If the headmaster suspected him then it was only sensible he would do his best to fit in.
"So Septima, how was your summer?" Stein asked, deliberately avoiding Dumbledore's curious gaze.
"It could have been better honestly, what with-"
He slowly tuned her out, making sure to pay just enough attention to nod when it was appropriate. In reality his concentration was focused on the outside of the castle, where some odd events seemed to be occurring.
It was too far away to tell exactly what was happening, but he soon felt the Dementors leaving his range of soul perception. Instinctively, he felt himself relax.
"Is some'ing the matter, Stein?" a deep voice asked.
Stein forced himself to smile politely as Hagrid's massive frame sat down next to him.
"I'm feeling perfectly alright, Hagrid," he answered. "Although I did have a slight run in with our um... guests earlier today."
"Guests?" Hagrid's brow narrowed in thought.
"From Azkaban."
In an instant the giant's face lost all colour. The man swallowed hard with all the sound of bowling ball hitting the floor.
"No wond'r then," he said gruffly, a hand reaching into his ever-encompassing coat. "Not pleasan' that. Not at all."
The man withdrew his hand and slammed down the largest bottle of Firewhiskey, or in fact any type of drink, that Stein had ever seen. The table itself shook from the impact and Hagrid drew more than a few glares from the other professors. As well as a few giggles from nearby students.
"'Ere this'll warm yer right up," Hagrid said cheerfully, apparently oblivious to all that.
"Um... this is a little much," Stein admitted, resisting the temptation to say he was a teetotaller. "I mean I'm honoured but-"
"Nonsense," Hagrid said, clapping Stein on his back hard enough to push him into the table. "Think of it as a gif' from a friend."
Hagrid wouldn't take no for an answer, so Stein acquiesced. This was probably more alcohol than he could get through in a month. While it was a true a sound soul would dwell in a sound mind and a sound body, even Stein's soul didn't help his liver much with detoxifying alcohol.
"Thank you, Hagrid."
The man beamed down at him, before looking out towards the entrance.
"Ah, looks like the firs' years are here."
Stein moved the bottle aside to see Minerva leading this year's plethora of first year students into the Great Hall. The women's stern expression flickered towards Stein for a split second and he felt her annoyance.
Well it seemed he was still in trouble.
She then turned around and explained the whole sorting procedure just like last year. This time it was even more difficult to resist the temptation to try and dissect everything in sight. He kept getting looks as he loudly turned his screw over and over again.
It was frustrating him how little difference it seemed to be making. Eventually after Minerva's third annoyed glance towards him, Septima nudged him hard in the ribs and Stein was forced to give up for the moment and just watch the sorting.
He tapped his foot idly and bit his bottom lip hard. Anything to keep his mind off of his growing madness. Stein closed his eyes, trying to will time to go faster and not focus on any of the very interesting unique souls that were floating around in the room.
It was a meditation exercise he had taught himself long ago. By turning his Soul Perception inwards into his own mighty soul, he could better track and subdue his ever growing madness. The downside to this was it made him incredibly vulnerable to the outside world, but right now he didn't have anything to lose.
Stein settled in for a long meditation, only the lowest dins of Minerva's voice penetrated the bubble of his infested soul.
"Creevey, Colin."
Some likened it to falling down a cliff or standing at a precipice, something they could fall down at any moment.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Stein had never really likened it to that, although he could see how many could draw that conclusion.
"Lovegood, Luna."
But it wasn't hard to stay away from an edge, to keep yourself from tumbling down a cliff that you could see.
"RAVENCLAW!"
To him, it had always been more like trying to stay afloat in a tumulus ocean. You knew it was there, that it was all around you in every direction as far as the eye could see.
"Weasley, Ginevra."
There was no hope of rescue, of simply moving away from the ledge. Every waking moment you had to exert yourself to stay afloat, to use all your strength not to let your head drop beneath the water.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Because if you did, then you would never reach the surface again.
Stein awakened from his self-reflection thanks to the sudden feeling of the panicked soul behind him. Slowly the sounds of the world came back as everything swam into view. The sounds of people cheering and goblets knocking together, the sound of a girl crying her eyes out and the usual jeers and taunts between the houses.
Stein quickly leant back to see that Severus had just swept past him and was now talking in very low tones to Dumbledore. Both of their souls were fidgeting with alarm. Immediately the headmaster stood up and followed Severus out of the room, Minerva behind him as well.
He stared after the three of them.
"Are yer gunna eat, Stein?" Hagrid asked him.
He must have been more tired than he thought. He hadn't even noticed the food appear on the plates. He took a quick glance at Hagrid, at the man's concerned features.
Features split apart on a cold metal table. Saws and razors and scalpels all pointed inwards, eager to rip and tear away at the man's unique soul. To learn everything about what made him, to put him back together in so many different ways, to break the specimen into thousands of pieces. To-
-destroy him.
"Stein, are you sure you're feeling alright?" Septima asked gently.
He stood up abruptly.
"I'll be back in a minute," he said, unable to hide the shaking in his voice.
Without delay, Stein followed after Dumbledore, Severus and Minerva. Curiosity, concern and sheer terror forcing his feet forwards towards the backs of the three people who in this place probably had the best chance of putting him down.
"Professor Stein, this matter does not concern you," Minerva said the instant she saw him approaching. "Go back. I'll have a word with you later."
They had left the Great Hall behind them and were quickly coming up to the hospital wing, none of them having broken their stride. Stein could sense Potter and Weasley's souls up ahead, their wavelengths so weak they were almost impossible to detect.
It had been those two who arrived earlier. With that many Dementors they were lucky to be alive. Presumably Severus had been able to drive the creatures off, or persuade them somehow. Perhaps he used the same method as Remus?
"Sorry Minerva," Stein replied, doing his absolute best to seem sincere. "I'm not exactly feeling too good myself. I had a run in with the Dementors earlier on the train you see. I'm not exactly... at my best right now."
The statement was closer to the truth than Stein would have liked. His movements were sluggish and his soul was still recovering from the experience. Of course, he couldn't miss the opportunity to study the souls of others who had been in close contact with the Dementors. You could only learn so much from examining yourself after all.
His statement seemed to have worked however. Only now did Minerva's soul show even a flicker of concern as her eyes ghosted across his face.
He must have looked really bad.
"Minerva, he is well within his right to use our facilities if needed," Dumbledore interjected calmly, before anything more could be said. "Poppy will also need some cheering up, most likely."
"He's certainly better off than Potter and Weasley," Severus said briskly, just as they turned the last corner. "As you'll be able to tell for yourself, Headmaster, I very nearly didn't make it in time. Honestly, using a flying car, what reckless behaviour! Did either of them even think for a moment of the consequences?"
There was a quiet anger to Severus' words that went beyond merely being a teacher. It was clear that even he, although he hid it well, did care for his students at least a little bit. Either that or he found those soul eating creatures just as despicable as Stein did.
"Even so, they did not deserve an encounter with Dementors for it, Severus," Minerva sternly admonished. "They will make up their mistake in mandated punishments."
"The only appropriate punishment is expulsion," Severus shot back. "Although somehow I doubt that'll be happening."
She shot him a disapproving glare as the four of them entered the Hospital wing, revealing two rows of near-empty beds for them all to see.
Minerva actually gasped when they came upon the two boys, each in their own hospital beds. Weasley was sitting up with his knees drawn almost to his chest, eyes staring blankly at nothing as Poppy Pomfrey fussed over him with numerous potions and spells. His soul was still present, although greatly diminished. It had clearly exhausted itself trying to fight off the Dementor's madness inducing wavelength, but it would recover with time.
Potter on the other hand was lying down in bed, looking incredibly small under the large duvet. Had it not been for Stein's soul perception he might have thought the boy was dead, for his face was incredibly pale and there was little movement as he breathed. Potter's soul was, as always, very interesting to look at. The part of Voldemort's soul still attached to it seemed utterly unaffected by the wavelength, in stark contrast to the boy's dark blue soul. That was far smaller than it should have been and seemed almost deformed somehow, like putty that had been gently squeezed.
Pre-Kishin always had to destroy the body of their victim in order to get at the soul, but could these things somehow not need to do that? Could they directly consume the soul without damaging the body? If so that would certainly explain why he was so weakened, yet they hadn't even been able to touch him. If Remus hadn't come along when he had, things could have been very bad for him.
"Dumbledore!" Poppy rounded on the headmaster with all the ferocity of a mountain lion. "How could you allow those things anywhere near this school?! I've worked here for decades and never before have I seen such a thing! It's a disgrace, an honest disgrace! The founders would be turning in their graves if they knew Dementors had been allowed anywhere near the students!"
"Ms Pomfrey, I understand your concerns," Dumbledore said slowly. "But if the decision had been in my hands, the Dementors would never have come within a hundred miles of this castle. The Ministry has overridden me on this matter and I can only hope that with this incident we can convince them to remove the Dementors from Hogwarts altogether."
"You mean to tell me you had no say in this at all?!" Poppy asked, unconvinced. "They couldn't possibly be able to arrange this over your head."
"You would be surprised how much power I don't have," Dumbledore explained, looking over the two boys sadly. "But it seems Fudge has his own agenda, one I can only guess at for the moment."
"Mr Weasley," Minerva said, sitting down next to the twelve year old.
Stein had never heard her voice sound so gentle.
"Can you please tell us what happened?"
"Professor McGonagall, I must protest," Poppy said. "He needs rest after his trauma, not an interrogation!"
"Ms Pomfrey, it is up to the boy in question whether or not he should tell us anything," Dumbledore declared. "But I guarantee you that no-one will be 'interrogating' anyone."
"Personally, I don't think there's anything to discuss," Severus remarked coldly. "Potter, aided by Mr Weasley here, clearly broke numerous school rules, not to mention laws. Merlin only knows how many muggles saw the two reprobates as they flew here in plain sight."
"Professor Snape, I will not have you accost my patients in such a manner," Poppy hissed in a way that would put a snake to shame. "If you cannot behave I shall personally remove you."
Severus' only response was to sneer.
"Mr Weasley," Stein interrupted, beginning to get sick of these delays. "Do you feel up to telling us what happened when you and Mr Potter travelled here?"
The boy was clearly terrified, his face ashen as his eyes flickered between the faces of the teachers.
"I-I-I'm in trouble aren't I?" he nearly whispered. "It was my idea, I-I didn't mean to-"
"Mr Weasley, I assure you that you aren't in trouble," she said encouragingly. "Please, tell us what happened after you stole the car."
Stein saw Weasley's eyes flicker briefly towards Severus and himself and had to restrain a sigh of annoyance. It seems that even after everything he did to help them last year the boy was still weary of him. Was it the screw? Or was it just the stitches that made him look untrustworthy? Honestly, sometimes Stein wondered why he even tried.
"Well," the boy sniffled. "We tried to cross into the platform but it didn't work. We were scared 'cause... D-Dad said Sirius Black was after Harry and this would have been perfect-"
Hold on, Black was after Potter specifically? Judging from everyone else's reactions, no one was surprised at this. The boy had stated it as a simple fact. Stein schooled his features, making sure to give nothing away. Why would Black be after Potter? Remus had been reluctant to elaborate and if it was common knowledge he couldn't just ask without seeming suspicious. Was Black connected to Voldemort? That would be a definite possibility.
Stein glanced briefly at Potter, who had begun to move a little. He was still clearly asleep, but muttering unintelligibly whilst tossing and turning.
"-And we were flying and it was dark and then things got really cold," Weasley continued to stammer. "The windows frosted up and I felt like... like I'd never be happy again. Harry, he-he started muttering. W-when I looked at him his eyes were white and I-I panicked and screamed. There were hands everywhere and I couldn't- just couldn't move- just scream and then we were falling..."
"Then you nearly hit me with the car," Severus added.
"Professor Snape!"
"Just be glad he didn't hit something valuable," Severus continued. "Like the Whomping Willow."
"Honestly-"
"Severus," Dumbledore interjected, holding up a hand. "Please."
The surly man took the hint and shut up.
"N-next thing I knew, I woke up here," Weasley finished, even managing to send Severus a small glare.
Stein smirked, clearly the boy would recover just fine.
"Thank you, Ronald," Dumbledore said. "Now it's probably best that you get some rest."
Immediately, Poppy swooped in on the boy and handing him a potion to drink. She then closed the curtains around his bed. Within moments Stein felt Weasley's soul relax and drift into a dreamless sleep.
"I take it that you won't deem it necessary to wake Potter?" Severus drawled, standing at the foot of Potter's bed. "To make sure their stories correlate?"
"Severus, they are twelve year olds, not mad genii out to get you," Minerva said. "Unless you have a good reason why we should risk waking a young traumatised boy just to hear the same story all over again, I think we can conclude that our business is settled for the moment."
The Potions Master still looked like he wanted to protest, but then the unconscious boy murmured something.
It sounded a lot like 'not her' to Stein's ears, but whatever it was it made Severus' face freeze up. For a brief moment, a thousand little emotions shot across the man's soul clear as day. Pain, loss, regret, anger, love- all flashed by in an instant before an iron will slammed down on it and it became almost unreadable once more.
Severus took a deep breath.
"Fine," he practically spat, stomping away from the bed.
There wasn't much more to tell after that. Potter had settled back down into a complete sleep and with Weasley out as well there was no more reason to stay here. They had almost certainly missed the feast, so all that remained was the final staff meeting before term time officially began.
"I will make sure to inform his family," Dumbledore decided. "To let them know that Ronald and Harry made it and that they are welcome to visit."
"Headmaster, I still feel that expulsion would be a better manner of dealing with this obvious transgression-" Severus piped up.
"You cannot be serious, Severus!" Minerva protested. "No harm has come to anyone other than those two because of this unfortunate event. Not to mention that whilst Sirius Black is on the loose, Potter must remain here where he is safest."
"Safest indeed," he remarked as they left the Hospital Wing.
"Harry will remain at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said with finality. "There will be no argument. The two boys were acting in their best interests, misguided though they may have been."
"Headmaster, with respect you didn't see those things!" Severus hissed. "They were tearing the car apart to get at the two inside. They are animals, plain and simple! Had I been but a moment later, had Weasley crashed a meter further away, you'd have nothing but two soulless husks rather than children!"
"I understand your concern on this matter," the Headmaster answered, sounding tired. "We would indeed all be better off if the Dementers were kept far away from the castle grounds, but if the price is compromising on Harry's safety then it simply isn't right."
The Potions master looked like he had swallowed a particularly sour lemon, but nevertheless let the matter drop.
"If you want my opinion," Stein spoke up. "I don't think these guards would be of much use considering Black snuck past them before."
Severus gave a haughty laugh.
"And I suppose you're clearly an expert on Dementors? If Black got by them once it was likely a fluke and nothing more."
"It's true I haven't had much experience with the creatures," Stein admitted. "But I tend to find that it's better to be safe than sorry. Especially when the potential consequences outweigh the benefits."
Severus observed Stein with a suspicious eye.
"You're looking awfully better all of a sudden," he said snidely. "Almost like you were never attacked at all."
"I must not do well in crowds," Stein answered with a sheepish grin. "I am feeling much better though. Thank you for inquiring."
Internally he was feeling anything but better. Severus was a suspicious person at heart, if his treatment of Quirrel last year had been any indication. He also had the ability to, like Dumbledore, mask his emotions to a rather high degree and was a skilled legilimens.
'Of course the one who can read minds is suspicious of me,' Stein thought to himself, feeling very annoyed.
With that, the four of them came up to the Staffroom and entered. Everyone who could consider themselves a staff member in any respect was there, from Filch to Hagrid to the Librarian, they were all there awaiting the Headmaster's return. Without further delay, Dumbledore turned to address everyone as Minerva, Stein and Severus stood near the back of the crowd.
"As you are all now no doubt aware, this year Hogwarts will be playing host to the Dementors of Azkaban."
Immediately people began grumbling and fearfully murmuring amongst one another.
"Tomorrow, all morning lessons will be cancelled so that I can give all the students a quick safety meeting on how to deal with the Dementors," Dumbledore continued. "Unfortunately, the Minister has gone over my head in appointing the guards here. They have assured me that the Dementors will only be guarding the entrances to the grounds and that under no circumstances will they stray from their given orders."
Somewhere behind him, Stein heard Snape try to suppress a snort.
He didn't try very hard.
"Now I know most of you have only heard of these creatures, but I am warning you now they are not to be taken lightly. If you are in any doubt how to deal with them I ask that you come and ask me directly," here Dumbledore drew a deep breath and seemed to age ten years. "As if to prove this is no joke, two students have already fallen afoul of the Dementors, one of whom you know as Mr Harry Potter. Thanks to the timely intervention of- one of our Professors, they have escaped mostly unharmed and were very lucky to do so. I will be petitioning the Minister to remove the Dementors from the grounds, but in such matters I cannot guarantee success, not with the likes of Sirius Black roaming around."
"This brings me onto our next matter, Sirius Black."
What followed was nothing more than safety reports and instructions on what to do if Sirius Black should somehow enter the castle. They were clearly bureaucratic, most likely designed by the kind of person who had never been in a real duel in their lives, let alone met face to face with a mass-murderer. If Dumbledore hadn't added extra security measures, such as an emergency communication system and a general alert, it would have all been otherwise pointless.
"-these are trying times," Dumbledore finished up. "But I have confidence in our strength. As long as we never forget our courage, our loyalty, wisdom or our cunning, I am certain that we will emerge unscathed from this trial. Now, it's been a long day and my old bones need some rest. Goodnight everyone."
The crowd began to disperse, all muttering to each other about recent events. From the little snippets Stein could hear it seemed everyone was rather disgruntled with the Ministry. Dementors certainly had a reputation and if Black was smart he probably would stay away from Hogwarts and wait until the summer when Potter was vulnerable again.
That is, of course, unless he truly had found a way to sneak past the Dementors, which Stein was doubtful he could do. Those things didn't have eyes and seemed to be guided only by their soul perception and it was impossible to completely mask your soul. Hell, even the Witches Soul Protect spell wouldn't help, as it merely disguised them as a normal human being.
Even without encountering Black, this year at Hogwarts promised to be more interesting as well as more stressful than before.
Stein was about to quickly head down to the library when a hand landed on his shoulder.
"Hey, Professor Stein," Remus said, smiling at him. "Feeling any better now? I noticed you left without eating anything earlier and just wanted to make sure you were alright."
"Thank you, Remus," Stein returned the smile. "But just Stein is fine. I did feel a little off during the feast, maybe I should have had some of that chocolate you offered, ha-ha!"
"I still have some if you're interested," Remus offered sincerely. "That is if you've changed your mind?"
"I can already tell you'll be a better Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor than our last guy," Stein commented, accepting the chocolate. "He would have never offered me anything."
Remus raised an eyebrow.
"You mean the previous Professor who was a self-proclaimed Death Eater?"
"Well… I never said being better would be hard," Stein said, also mentally reminding himself to look up what the term 'Death Eater' meant. "But I think you might just manage it."
Remus chuckle was a little forced.
"Yeah, I think I can manage that," he said almost absentmindedly. "Although, I can't believe the Minister would be so brazen as to go over Dumbledore's head like that."
Stein ignored the sudden change of subject, it wasn't the first time it had happened when talking to Remus. The Werewolf seemed to have quite a bit on his mind; far too much for Stein to even begin to pick apart. He didn't like talking about Sirius Black or about his own abilities or history.
How delightfully suspicious.
"Is that not normally done?" Stein asked.
"Oh definitely not," Remus said, wide-eyed. "The Headmaster of Hogwarts has always been an important position. It's not the kind of thing the Minister should do if he is looking to stay in power."
"So you think he's desperate?"
"After last year with that Death Eater almost taking the stone, Fudge has quite a bit of face to save," Remus explained as the two walked down several staircases. "The first ever breakout of Azkaban happening on his watch doesn't look good."
"Politicians," Stein summarised with a smile.
"Exactly. Anyway, I believe this is my new office, so I'll be heading off now."
The two said good night and parted ways for that evening, with Stein already making plans as he double backed, using his Soul Perception to make sure no one was nearby.
It was child's play to quickly run up to the library and take as many books on Dementors and dangerous creatures as he could carry without being spotted, before running back to his room to study.
Stein had debated the usefulness of reporting to Lord Death right away, or waiting until he learned more about these creatures. Eventually he settled on simply studying them for the rest of the night.
There was no reason why he should give Lord Death an incomplete report.
A/N: So please tell me what you think, good, bad, terrible, troll? Whatever your thoughts, please tell me them so that I know!
It is amazing to see all the positive responses I got for this story. I never realised so many people loved it that much, so THANK YOU to eveyrone who reviewed, favourited or followed this story.
About this fic: Since I've actually got quite a bit of this fic planned I'm NOT going to just abandon it. I will from now on update this fic once a month, so that you guys won't have to wait or worry that it's not ever going to be updated again and become an abandoned story.
If this schedule becomes impossible for whatever reason, I WILL inform you at the end of the next chapter when I post it.
Until next time, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
