A/N: This is mostly Alyssa/Harry, and Alyssa's trials with the shadows. Will she give in to them?
Following Severus's lead, Remus disapparated outside the gates of Hogwarts.
"What now? I doubt the gates will still open for you now that you're not a teacher," Remus pointed out as he watched Severus look around.
"Now, we call for Hagrid," Severus said calmly, drawing his wand. "Albus won't have told him what happened yet, so we will be able to ask him to let us in."
Severus conjured his patronus, sending it to the groundskeeper with a message stating that he had gone to Hogsmede earlier in the day and was now unable to return to the castle as the gates were locked.
"I hope this works," Remus murmured as he watched the silver doe gracefully gallop away.
"It has too," Severus murmured, "We have no other option."
Five minutes passed; five excruciatingly long, torturously slow minutes. Both men were worried, hoping that Alyssa would be able to hold on until they were able to collect all of the ingredients and brew the potion. Finally Hagrid approached the gate.
"Sorry fer not comin' sooner Professor," Hagrid said as he approached the gate and let the two men enter, "I was in the fores' talkin' ter Aragog. Where's Lyssa?"
"She was working on a potion," Severus said smoothly as he entered the grounds, "And we are running low on some necessary ingredients for our stores. I went to Hogsmede to buy some of them, but others are more potent when they are gathered fresh. Lupin volunteered to help me gather them, as he was not doing anything else.
Remus did his best to keep from gaping as he walked with Severus and Hagrid across the grounds. Merlin, I know he was a spy and all, but I know the reason we're here and I still almost believed his lie.
"Tha's nice professor, I always said you an Lyssa an the Marauders coulda been friends in school if yeh tried," Hagrid said, practically beaming.
"Yes," Severus replied with a grim smile, "Now if you'll excuse us Hagrid, time is of the essence."
Hagrid just nodded, watching from the door of his hut as the two men disappeared into the forest. 's nice ter see the professor wit' some friends, Hagrid thought as he scratched Fang's head contentedly.
Sirius was sitting beside Alyssa's bed at St. Mungo's talking to her and trying to get her mind off of the pain he knew she had to be in. "So, how does it work that a snake if affecting you this badly?" Sirius teased, "Won't your venom act like an anti-venom?"
Alyssa smirked. "Tell me Black, if you get bit by another dog, would you get rabies?"
Sirius let out his usual bark-like laugh. Hurt or not, she hasn't lost her touch.
Alyssa smiled slightly, even though it was the last thing she wanted to do. She felt horrible, like death warmed over. She couldn't shake the chill that clung to her bones, no matter how many blankets were heaped upon her thin frame. The shadows in the corner moved restlessly, getting more pronounced as time passed.
You should not have returned seer, they hissed, and she knew Sirius couldn't see or hear them. You belong with us now.
She shook her head, doing her best to ignore the voices that clamored more incessantly with the passage of time. It was getting harder to block the worst of the pain, but she held on. Looking at the clock to distract herself from the whispering voices, she realized how late it was. Time for dinner, at least for Sirius and Harry; I know I should eat as well, but I doubt I could.
"Sirius, why don't you go to the café to get some food for you and Harry," she suggested, looking at the little boy who was still nestled close to her side, not moving or speaking much but still looking content.
"Will you be ok alone?" Sirius asked worriedly. What if I leave and she goes into a coma, or worse?
"I'll be fine," she replied, with more confidence than she felt, "Besides, I won't be alone. Harry will still be here, right Harry?"
"Yep, me an Hissy," he said, stroking his toy snake. Harry didn't want to leave his aunt, not now. He could see the shadows in the corner and hear them calling to her. She won't go, he thought defiantly, Aunt Lyss is staying here.
Alyssa smiled. "See Sirius, I'll be perfectly fine with my two guardians."
Sirius nodded, still a little uneasy but trusting Alyssa regardless. "I'll be back soon," he promised as he left.
As the door swung shut, the shadows seemed pleased. See, they hissed, he doesn't care; none of them do. You're a burden, worthless. Return to us seer, your time here is done.
Alyssa closed her eyes, trying to block out the hateful words. A small movement at her side made her open her eyes and look down. Harry had moved so he was sitting up and she stared directly into his bright green eyes. She saw the simple, pure love in his eyes, and her waning determination was rallied. You're wrong, she thought, they do care and I will do anything to keep them safe and happy. I'll endure the pain, because it will be worth it.
She noticed Harry stroking his toy snake as he lay back down beside her, and she asked the first question that came to her mind. "Would you like to have a real snake for a pet someday Harry?"
He nodded eagerly, worries about the shadows momentarily forgotten.
Alyssa smiled at his enthusiasm. "What would you name it?"
Harry thought about that. What would he name a snake?
The silence stretched, and the voices became louder. To get her mind off of them, she asked, "Do you want me to tell you a story while you think about it?" At Harry's nod, she thought back to the last book she had read, before the potions' text. Greek myths, that should keep him interested. One particular goddess came to her mind, even though she wasn't mentioned in very many myths in that book.
"Let me tell you about Nyx, goddess of night, mother of Sleep and Death, among others."
And so she began, weaving tales out of all the details she could remember. From Nyx, they moved to tales of Artemis, the goddess of wild things, and her twin Apollo, who was the god of truth. Harry was enraptured by the old tales, making Alyssa smile at his comments, few though they were.
"They're wike you an Papa," Harry said after she finished one of the tales of Artemis and Apollo.
Sirius's laugh sounded from the doorway, preventing Alyssa from replying. He had come in at the end of the story and heard Harry's comment.
"Harry's got a point," Sirius said, setting the tray of food down on the table that could move over the bed, allowing Alyssa and Harry to eat without straining themselves.
"Oh be quiet Black, otherwise I will have to tell the story of Orion and Sirius," Alyssa teased, cutting Harry's sandwich into bite sized pieces and handing it to him.
"You wouldn't dare," Sirius said, taking his food from the plate and worriedly noting that Alyssa didn't take anything. "C'mon Lyssa, I know this place is as boring to you as the Underworld is to Persephone in those myths you were going on about, but you can eat without having to return here."
Alyssa gave a light chuckle, causing the shadows to hiss in anger. "I know Sirius, but I'm not hungry."
That worried Sirius. Those who don't linger need no earthly sustenance, he thought, remembering the second brother's love in the Tale of the Three brothers. "You should eat something, you need the energy."
Harry looked worriedly at his aunt. He had been happy when the shadows seemed angry at her laughing, but worried when they seemed happy when she wouldn't eat.
You will come to us soon enough, you won't have the energy to fight us seer, they whispered.
"Eat Aunty, pwease," he begged, not wanting the voices to be right.
Alyssa looked at Harry, seeing the desperation in his eyes. He wouldn't be that worried unless…but it's impossible, isn't it? "Harry, can you see the shadows in the corner? Can you hear them when they speak to me?"
He nodded, his green eyes fearful. "No leave Aunt Lyssa, pwease," he begged, "Make 'em go 'way."
Sirius was looking between the two in confusion, wondering what had happened when he was gone.
"I can't make them leave child," Alyssa said sadly, carding his hair with her hand, "They will only leave once they get what they came for or if they are defeated."
"Eat," he implored once more, and Alyssa couldn't disobey. With a sigh, she took a small bite of her sandwich, causing Harry to grin. You can't have her, he thought to the shadows, she's staying here. You took mama and daddy, you can't have Aunt Lyssa too.
Foolish boy, we will have her yet, they hissed back, making Harry huddle closer to Alyssa, gripping her dress tightly in his small fists.
"I am not going anywhere Harry," she said, although part of her wondered how true that would be if Severus and Remus didn't hurry. I will hold on for as long as I can, she thought determinedly, and I won't give in without a fight.
A/N: They're wike you an Papa=They're like you and Papa, No leave Aunt Lyssa, pwease= Please don't leave Aunt Lyssa
I'm really not sure why I added the Greek myths. When I was little, if I was sick my mom would tell me stories, so I decided to do that here, except Alyssa's sick instead of Harry. Any thoughts on the shadows? Why can Harry see them, but not Sirius? Will Severus and Remus make it to the Glen and back in time?
