Author's note: A fun chapter. Or perhaps I'm just morbid.
Disclaimer: We are not Ms. Rowling, nor do we own Harry Potter. We do, however, own the ritual preformed by Professor Snape, which, if anyone likes, may be used with our permission.
--Tamara
13
Pansy
She stood with Draco before Professor Snape, wincing as he glared daggers into her skull. Goyle, looking even more frightened than Pansy felt, cowered in a corner. Professor Snape did not even dignify him with a glance.
"I have a very hard time believing that neither of you knew of this," Professor Snape said coldly, looking from Pansy to Draco, eyes blackened ice. "Especially you, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco shrugged. "And yet I assure you, had I known, I would have put a stop to it more quickly. His actions tarnished the image of our house, and that is unacceptable."
'Especially because tarnishing the image of the house also tarnishes your image,' Pansy thought darkly, glancing over at him. 'And we could never have that.'
"And you, miss Parkinson?" Professor Snape demanded.
"Had I known, I would have come to you immediately," Pansy insisted. "And I would not have brought the others into this. As Draco said, he tarnishes the image of our House, and if I had known his identity, it would have been simpler to deal directly with you, and thus avoid all of the fuss and publicity."
Professor Snape sneered at them both, then rounded on Goyle. "What have you to say for yourself?" he snarled. "What possessed you to think that your behavior was even remotely palatable, not to mention acceptable?"
Goyle whimpered, trying to back up. Draco's wand was out and pointed at his throat before he could move, and he froze, trying to decide whether he was more frightened of Draco or of Professor Snape.
"I am waiting for an answer," Professor Snape said icily. "I am very interested in what you have to say for yourself."
Goyle gulped, looking down. Finally, he blurted, "I was doing it to follow his legacy!"
"Elaborate," Professor Snape said shortly.
Goyle looked up blankly, and Professor Snape snarled something incomprehensible under his breath. "Explain yourself, you fool!" he snapped.
"Slytherin's," Goyle said, his voice dangerously close to a whine. "I was doing what he wanted. I was driving the stupid, filthy mudbloods out of here, like he said to."
"Slytherin never hurt the students!" Pansy cried out, starting towards him. "And he would hate what you have done. He cared for all students, muggle born or not!"
"Silence, Miss Parkinson," Professor Snape snapped. Pansy fell quiet, retreating once more. Professor Snape turned back to Goyle. "Your actions were disgusting and unsuited for a member of the noble House of Slytherin." His voice was cold, and Pansy felt shivers run up her spine. She knew what this meant. Everyone knew. But she had never expected to witness it. This ritual, this punishment was arcane, ceremonial only. It had not been used for years.
Goyle knew what was coming too, and he began to tremble, tears running down his face and mingling with snot to form a dirty pool on the collar of his robes. Professor Snape watched him impassively, not reacting.
"Please!" Goyle blubbered. "Please not that! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"Your apologies will help no one," Professor Snape informed him icily. "Nor will your pleas for clemency. Had you wanted clemency, you should have granted it to the girls you violated." He looked at Draco and Pansy. "Mr. Malfoy, Miss Parkinson, do you witness the deed and accept the penalty?"
Both Pansy and Draco nodded. Pansy felt herself slowly becoming entangled in the ritual, her agreement sealing her to Goyle's fate in a way she would never be able to undo.
Professor Snape turned back to Goyle. "In the power vested in me by Salazar Slytherin himself, granted to me by the agreement of the senior members of our noble House, I declare you unsuited to life among us, and thus, by definition, among wizard-kind. You are hereby banished from our society, stripped of your magic and your memory, and turned loose into the muggle world to build a different life there." His voice did not change tone or volume, but Pansy could feel the ancient magics filling the room, magics placed there by the founders, magics rushing towards Goyle, sucking greedily, tugging at his magic, pulling and yanking, feeling that they would soon grow in number and wanting it.
"In the name of Salazar Slytherin, founder and protector of our noble House, I give permission to the ancient forces present in this world to suck you dry, to drink your magic, and to leave you empty, eternally thirsty for that which you once had and can no longer remember."
Pansy blinked as the magics rushed at Goyle, surrounding him, smothering him, enshrouding him. He screamed, a long, high scream that made her shudder. On and on it went, growing louder and higher every second until Pansy could not bear it any longer. She brought her hands to her ears, pressing and pressing, trying to block out the noise, but it continued, piercing her brain and addling her wits. Pansy sank to her knees, tears running down her face as she prayed, truly prayed, for the terrible scream to stop.
Finally, slowly, it did. the magics retreated, and all that remained was Goyle, lying on the ground, crying raggedly. Unmoved, Professor Snape strode over and picked him up, setting him on his feet with a strength Pansy had not realized he possessed. Silently, he marched the still crying boy out of the room, shadowed by Draco and Pansy.
Through the silent school they walked, stopped by none. Those who saw them winced and shied away, perhaps frightened of Professors Snape's thunderous face. Pansy did not blame them. She herself wished she could leave, but she knew she could not. So she continued, following Draco and Professor Snape out of the school and to the edge of the grounds. Once they had crossed over the boundary, Professor Snape looked at Goyle.
"Have you any last words?" he asked.
Goyle shook his head, still weeping.
Professor Snape nodded. "Very well. Obliviate!"
His wand flashed, and Pansy blinked, trying to get the light out of her eyes. Before her, Goyle stood, disorientated and obviously confused.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"You are lost," Professor Snape said shortly. "Your name is Gregory, and you were hiking. You became separated from your group and wandered here. Turn around and make your way back to the village."
"What are you doing here?" Goyle asked, looking at the three Slytherins.
"Guarding the ruins from tourists," Professor Snape said. "You are not welcome here, and night comes early. Leave, and do not return."
Goyle seemed to sense that Professor Snape was serious, and he nodded, turning and stumbling away. They watched him go, none of the three saying anything.
At last, Professor Snape turned and started back for the castle. Pansy and Draco followed him. They separated as they reached the door to the castle, all going to different places, and knowing without saying a thing that this would never be mentioned between them. Pansy herself would do her very best to forget about it. But first, she had to find Melina and the others, and tell them that she had kept her promise. Grimly, Pansy made her way towards the entrance to the common room, hoping that they were all there.