LoDK
Harry Potter: Alchemy
Chapter 9: Quidditch
Disclaimer: This is solely a not-for-profit fan activity and does not intend to infringe on copyrights held by Time Warner, DC Comics, Bloomsbury et al, and JK Rowling. Any characters that are original to this work remain the property of the author.
A/N: The Last Daughter Series diverges significantly from accepted canon for the Harry Potter series from the outset, as in addition to the crossover elements, there are several deviations from the books that will be covered where they fit into the narrative. The timeline of the DC Comics elements borrows heavily from Young Justice (2011),) and may adapt elements and characters from the comics and several additional other media installments including but not limited to Smallville (2001) and the upcoming Superman and Lois (2021) and relocates the series to the Eighties and early Nineties rather than the New Tens as screened and includes several 'legacy' and original characters as a result.
A/N: Thanks to mystic_magic88 and other members of the Caer Azkaban group for their help on this chapter. Further information on the non-HP characters is included in the Last Daughter Guide to Major Characters file on the group (link in my profile).
*-*-*
Hogwarts Grounds,
Scottish Highlands.
November 1st, 08:35 GMT.
"Forager is ready, Queen Mera," reported the Bug from his pilot seat as the rear ramp flowed closed.
"Take us up, Forager," ordered Mera.
"Taking off now," confirmed Forager.
A few moments later, a light ignited on Karen's console, indicating that the communications system had reception again.
Almost immediately, the radio came to life. "Prestwick Area Control to unidentified aircraft at five thousand feet over the Cairngorms please ident."
"Prestwick Area Control, this is Bio-Ship 1… departing classified location proceeding north-west and climbing to five thousand feet, speed eighteen-hundred knots," reported Forager, promptly.
After a pause, a male voice echoed over the radio. "Bio-Ship 1, Prestwick… ident received. What's your destination?"
"Bio-Ship 1 is bound for the western coast of the United States. Bio-Ship 1."
"Understood, change course to three-one-zero, ascend to flight level one-zero-five."
"Course three-one-zero, flight level one-zero-five," confirmed Forager.
A couple of minutes later, the radio sounded again. "Bioship 1 from Prestwick Area Control… south of the Inverness Radial you are clear to flight level three-one-five, maintain current course."
"South of Inverness Radial, ascend to flight level three-one-five, maintaining current course," confirmed Forager.
*-*-*
Kent Farm,
Smallville.
KS 67524.
November 1st, 04:54 CST.
"Thanks for your help, Forager!" said Karen as she hurried down Bio-Ship's ramp.
"Kara Zor-El is very welcome," Forager assured her.
As Forager was taking off again, Karen jogged towards the farmhouse. Once next to the wall, she leapt silently to her windowsill and eased open the window. Then she clambered into the room and after changing out of her clothes, collapsed on her bed for a nap.
*-*-*
First Kansas Bank,
509 Main Street,
Smallville.
KS 67524.
November 1st, 17:35 CST.
Lana pulled her jacket more tightly around her as she stepped out into the street. She immediately noticed a familiar face propped against a nearby tree. "Karen!" she exclaimed, running over and sweeping the brunette into a hug. "Is Hank okay?"
"He's fine," Karen told her, firmly. "Is Kyle at home?"
"No, he's on a training event with the fire department."
"Can we go back to your place, and talk there then?"
"Sure," agreed the older woman, and broke the hug. "Let's go, it's cold."
Karen shrugged. She could sense that it was a little colder than average, but nowhere near cold enough to hurt her.
*-*-*
82 South Main Street,
Smallville,
KS 67524.
18:35 CST.
"So, what happened?" asked Lana once they were installed at her kitchen table with drinks and bowls of stew.
"Someone – we're still not sure who, but we've got people on it – let a troll into the castle…"
"A troll?" repeated Lana. "What's that?"
"A minor magical creature," Karen replied. "About twelve feet tall… maybe one to two tons of grey-skinned stupid," clarified Karen. "Most of the students were herded safely back to their houses by the prefects… but our boy decided to run off and find a classmate who didn't know and could've been in danger."
"That sounds like Hank," agreed Lana, grinning a little in spite of herself.
Karen nodded. "He and his friend Ron managed to rescue her… and then he wiped out because he's been skimping on his meditation so that he could prioritise learning new stuff and Quidditch."
Lana groaned, a slight flicker of fear in her expression. "But he's okay?"
"He's fine," Karen confirmed. "He just needed a boost and a reminder."
"Good!" said Lana. "Have you made any progress on speeding up response time?"
"A little," admitted Karen. "Apparently Linda has a friend of a friend who might be able to cut through the red-tape and get us another Zeta-Tube in Britain."
"Do you know who?"
"A travel writer… a woman called O'Connell?"
Lana shrugged, "I don't recognise the name."
"Unfortunately, she's in the south of England," Karen admitted. "So, we still haven't got any tubes in the north of England or Scotland. But we're working on it."
"Anything else?"
"I've checked with Oracle, she thinks that if we set up something private then we shouldn't have problems with the League of Shadows," Karen added. "So, if it's okay with you, I'm going to Zeta up to the Fortress and see if Kelex can help me put together some sort of magical trinket to link me with Hank."
"Do it."
*-*-*
Fortress of Solitude,
The Arctic.
19:00 EST.
"Recognised, Sunstone B40,"declared the Computer as Karen walked out of the Zeta Tube into the Fortress.
One of the golden servitors that maintained the facility glided up to her. "Greetings, Miss Kara Zor-El. Can we be of assistance?"
"I hope so… Kelex?"
"Affirmative," confirmed the servitor in its usual electronic monotone.
"I need to create a pair of communication devices that can function in a magically charged environment," Karen explained. "Standard Justice League comm-links are totally ineffective at that location, and the Bio-Ship's communications are limited to satellite connections. However, as those lines do function, this may be due to the surrounding mountains, not magical interference."
"Analysing… Did you attempt to establish telepathic links with personnel on site?"
"I did."
"Were you able to maintain the connections as normal?"
"As far as I could tell," Karen confirmed. "Could we use a variation on Zee's Glamour Charm to boost the signal? Maybe in sunstone?"
"Insufficient data. Accessing Justice League database for information on Glamour Charms…"
Karen stood watching the servitor for several minutes and was just about to prompt it for an answer when it spoke. "Specifications indicate that the proposed variation is possible."
"Can you figure out the necessary structure?"
"There is insufficient data for a precise determination. However, existing records within the Fortress' database indicate that a standard heptagonal pyramid should be suitable."
"I'll need paired crystals of course…" mused Karen.
"Affirmative."
"We should probably fabricate at least two spare sets as well," Karen added. "I might need a couple of attempts to get the sigils right."
"Understood. Given stated parameters, fabrication of the necessary materials will take seventy-two hours."
"Why is it going to take so long?" said Karen worried. That didn't give her much time to enchant the crystals if she was going to give one to Hank at the weekend. "Normally fabrication is almost instantaneous."
"Affirmative. However, given the unknown factors present, it is recommended to factor in extensive error checking to ensure maximum quality of known materials."
"Okay, that's a good point," conceded Karen, and drifted over to a computer terminal. "Pull up the magical database, display all known sigil variations of the 'communications' sigil."
"Displaying now… The Da-El-Kann set would seem to be the logical starting point."
"I agree," said Karen. "But that can have range issues, so I might combine it with something else…"
"That would be logical," agreed the servitor, then drifted away to continue its tasks.
*-*-*
Fortress of Solitude,
The Arctic.
November 4th, 04:08 EST.
"Diagnostics complete," reported Kelex in its usual electronic monotone.
"Do they work?" Karen asked.
"Analysis indicates that your enchantments have a 0.00001% error margin and should function within ideal environments."
One in a million, thought Karen. I take those odds… Then she clocked what the servitor had said after that. "Ideal environments? What about the intended environment?"
The servitor paused. "There is insufficient data to assess probability of success beyond 51% in target environment."
"So they're more likely to work than not… but that's as far as you can be sure."
"Affirmative."
"Well, even that's an improvement over what we've got now," observed Karen. "So, I'll take it. Continue analysing any available data to identify potential improvements."
"Affirmative."
Karen yawned. "What time is it in Smallville, Kelex?"
"0312 hours."
"I'm going to head back," said Karen. "Even I have my limits, especially outside of emergencies."
Seconds later, the Zeta Tube spun up and she disappeared.
*-*-*
Smallville High,
Smallville.
KS 67524.
November 5th, 16:00 CST.
When the bell rang for the end of class, Karen glanced down at the blank screen where her class notes should have been.
Again.
If she didn't shake her current distracted mood, then she would be in trouble very soon. I'll take my assignments with me to Hogwarts, that way then Hank can catch me up with this subject at least.
An urgent voice cut through her distraction.
"What?"
It was Dolly. "Do you want to hit the Beanery… My treat?"
Karen was about to decline, but then she realised that she hadn't much time with these friends lately, and she could spare a little time and still get home in time for a nap before catching the Javelin to Scotland. "Sure, I just need to make a call," Karen told her stocky friend. She burrowed into the pocket of her hoodie, extracted her rarely used Q-Phone and dialled one of the few numbers she had programmed in.
After several rings, the phone picked up. "Kent residence, Jonathan Kent speaking."
"Pa, it's Karen."
"Hi sweetheart, how was school?"
"It was fine," Karen assured him. "Dolly wants to treat me to a visit to the Beanery. Can you?"
"Cover your chores…" finished the old farmer. "Of course, you have fun."
"Thanks, Pa," said Karen and hung up.
*-*-*
The Beanery,
Smallville.
KS 67524.
November 5th, 18:00 CST.
This was a good idea, mused Karen as she mopped up the last of the chilli sauce on her plate with a fry. With all the excitement that comes with hanging with the Outsiders, it's easy to forget how fun it is to just hang with ordinary friends and just relax.
"Have you got any plans for the weekend, Karen?" asked Jenn, who was still picking at her own salad.
"Yeah, I'm booked on a redeye to the airport near Hank's school," Karen replied, with as much truth as she could spare. "He's playing tomorrow."
"He's on his school team?"
"House team," Karen clarified. "His school is divided into four houses and they each field a team."
"Soccer?" asked Dolly, looking up from the remnants of her own burger and fries.
This time Karen didn't reply, she didn't want to lie to her friends, but it wasn't her story to tell. "In fact, I should probably get going. I've still got a couple of bits I need to pack."
"Have fun," chorused her two friends.
"I'll see you on Monday," replied Karen as she rose, gathering her things as she did.
"See you then!" chorused her friends in agreement.
Once she was outside, she checked around to see if the coast was clear, once she was fairly sure it was, she cast the sigils for her flying spell and took off.
*-*-*
Stornoway Airport,
Isle of Lewis.
November 6th, 0745 BST.
"Nice weather," noted Karen as she and her companion exited the Javelin onto the tarmac, shivering a little in the near freezing air. The cold didn't bother her, but even after over two years on Earth she couldn't shake her instinctive reactions.
"I like it," observed Mera, undeterred by the thundering storm that dumped sheets of water on them every second.
"You would," griped Karen, grateful for her wool-and-leather letterman jacket that she'd chosen for Gryffindor solidarity.
"Well, maybe it'll be a bit warmer."
"Like either of us would really notice that," snorted Karen, not mentioning that while it could easily get warmer than it was now, it would still be warmer in Smallville.
Mera nodded. "Well, let's get going."
"Sounds good to me," agreed Karen and lead the way across the asphalt towards the terminal.
*-*-*
Hogwarts Gates,
Scottish Highlands.
November 6th, 0755 GMT.
A golden portal appeared on the path, and Karen and Mera stepped out a few seconds later, then walked towards the entrance.
Hagrid was waiting for them on the other side and opened the wrought-iron gates for them. "Harry'll be pleased to see yeh," the huge man noted. "Did yeh come on tha' flyin' thin' again?"
Mera shook her head as they passed through the gates. "Forager was otherwise occupied today. We used other methods."
Hagrid nodded, clearly curious but unwilling to push the issue. "Did yeh want to settle in firs' or see 'arry?"
"I should probably exchange pleasantries with your headmaster before I do anything else," noted Mera.
"I can take the bags up," said Karen. "Are we in the same suite as before?"
"Yeah," confirmed Hagrid. "We don' get tha' many visitors so Perfessor Dumbledore tol' th' elves t' leave everythin' as yeh left it."
"Are the main doors are unlocked?"
Hagrid nodded, "We don' close during' the day all tha' often."
"I'm on it," said Karen, then held out a hand for Mera's bag. Once she had both in hand, she disappeared in a blur.
"Galloping Gargoyles!" exclaimed Hagrid. "I knew she was fas', but tha's faster than a unicorn!"
Mera nodded. "Kryptonians are fast on their feet, some are even faster flying."
"They fly?"
*-*-*
Hogwarts Great Hall.
0800 GMT.
To her delight, Karen was able to sneak into the Great Hall without attracting any attention. as she moved up the room, the sound of Mera's voice even at a whisper rang out of the crowd and drew her eye to the top table where the red-head was sitting on the headmaster's left side and talking to him and Professor McGonagall.
Then she turned towards Gryffindor table and quickly located Harry. As she walked up behind him, she saw him take his glasses off and hand them across the table to his new friend, Hermione Granger, who tapped them with her wand, whispered a spell and then passed them back.
"What was that spell for?" she asked by way of an introduction.
"It was an Impervious Charm," replied the bushy-haired girl automatically. "It repels water."
"That's sounds good," said Karen, taking off her own spectacles. Even if the lenses were fake, fogging and water droplets were still annoying. "Can you do mine?"
"Sure," replied Hermione, holding out her hand. When Karen placed the frames in her hand, she looked up and almost dropped them, flustered. "Sup… Kara… Karen?"
"Either Kara or Karen's fine here," Karen assured her, catching Harry in a one-armed hug as he turned to greet her. "If you ever come to visit us in the States, it's Karen like this and Kara or Sunstone when I'm working."
Karen paused and looked down at Kellah Moon, who was sitting on Harry's near side – Ron was on the other – and gave her an enquiring glance. The shy girl immediately got the hint and budged up a bit to allow Karen to slip in between them. Karen looked down , glancing at his plate that still seemed pretty full. "You don't seem to be eating much, Hank."
Harry glared at her and broke out of their hug. "I don't want anything."
"Harry, you need your strength," chipped in Seamus Finnigan. "Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team."
"Thanks, Seamus," said Harry, with a touch of sarcasm as he watched Seamus pile ketchup on his sausages.
Karen wasn't sure that Seamus' tactic was quite the right one, but the Gryffindors were right that he shouldn't play without eating properly. "Remember the conversation we had about a week ago?" she asked as she slipped into the space between Harry and Kellah.
"No," said Harry, quietly.
"Are you sure?"
Harry scowled and sighed. He picked up a slice of toast and began to nibble it mutinously.
"I'm surprised you didn't think of the Impervious Charm yourself," Hermione observed. "Or something like it at least."
Karen shrugged. "Kryptonian magic… is both far simpler and more complicated than your sort of magic."
"How is that possible?" asked Hermione, curiously.
"Kryptonian magic is based on a set of twenty-four sigil representing the mage-artificers that created the system. Each spell is formed by one, two or three sigils with no repeats…"
"That would allow for over eleven thousand different spells," observed Hermione.
"In theory," conceded Karen. "But the records we have fragmentary, with only a handful of simple spells actually included in the books. So far, Hank and I have identified only twenty-seven of the possible combinations…"
"Twenty-six," corrected Harry.
"Twenty-seven," confirmed Karen. "The long-distance portal spell's range still isn't what I'd like but it works."
Harry conceded the point with a nod. "And something like the Impervious Charm hasn't been a priority. Smallville's in a pretty dry part of the state and most of the other places I visit are similar."
"Would it be possible?" Hermione asked.
Harry thought about it. "Maybe… there isn't actually a sigil for water in Kryptonian so it wouldn't be easy."
"Might be worth trying," Karen suggested, she indicated her glasses. "I'm guessing that this isn't permanent?"
"Probably not," Hermione agreed. "I've read about Permanent Charms, but they're more difficult than that one… mostly OWL or even NEWT level spells."
Karen nodded. "That makes sense. From what I've heard, your magic prioritizes consistency and precision rather than the raw power of Atlantean or Kryptonian magic or the flexibility of logomancy."
"Logomancy… that's Zatanna uses, isn't it?" asked Hermione.
"Zee and her protégé Traci yeah," agreed Karen. "I wouldn't fancy going up against either of them in a pure magical duel I can tell you. Their styles at least as flexible as wand magic and they're strong in it too…"
"Could they take you…"
"Traci would need to catch me by surprise," Karen said. "She's got power… but not much experience or stamina… she still has to think and focus on her spell choices, which would allow me to use my speed to eke out a win if nothing else… With Zatanna, I'd be in much bigger trouble… her spells take a little longer than mine to cast, but that's not a huge advantage and she's got a lot more experience than I have."
*-*-*
Hogwarts Grounds,
10:55 GMT.
Although Harry split off from the group a little earlier, most of the students stayed in the castle as long as possible before running down to the stadium, heads bowed against the ferocious wind, umbrellas being whipped out of their hands as they went.
Karen and Mera joined the first year Gryffindors up in the top row of the stand. As a surprise for Harry, Dean and Kellah – the groups' experts in drawing and Charms respectively – had painted a large banner on one of the sheets Scabbers had ruined that featured a large Gryffindor lion under the slogan 'Potter for President' and flashed different colours.
"Nice work," noted Karen with a grin. "Hank'll love it."
"Thanks," chorused the pair, although Kellah was barely audible over the wind, even to her ears.
Karen turned to Mera, "Anything new from the headmaster?"
"No," Mera replied. "He offered to 'host me' today, but I told him that I wasn't here on official business, so he shouldn't put himself out."
"With all the hats he wears I imagine he's got plenty to do."
"I thought so," agreed Mera. "Did Hank have anything new?"
Karen paused, "He seems to think that Professor Snape is trying to get whatever the headmaster is hiding on the third floor. It seems that he was injured by that Cerberus at Halloween and didn't go to Madam Pomfrey for healing."
"Really?" Mera said, sounding intrigued.
Hermione sitting next to Karen, apparently heard this and spoke up. "I'm sure there's another explanation…"
Karen nodded, "Could be, but…"
"I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe."
"Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something," snapped Ron from the brunette's other side. "I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past Snape. But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?"
Karen didn't know, but she was beginning to think that they needed to put some pressure on the headmaster and find out.
She was about to suggest this to Mera when movement below caught her attention. Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team were walking out onto the pitch, staggering sideways in the wind.
All around Karen, the crowd was cheering, but she suspected that Hank wouldn't be able to hear it.
A slightly familiar voice that she couldn't place echoed through the storm. "The players take their positions as Madam Hooch steps out onto the field to begin the game."
Once she was in position, well-braced in the middle of the field, she spoke briefly to the players, her eyes darting towards the Slytherin captain, an eighteen-year-old called Marcus Flint, who reminded Karen a little of the troll from her previous visit.
Hank didn't seem to be playing a great deal of attention, as he was glancing around the stadium as Madam Hooch talked. Karen could tell the moment that he spotted Dean and Kellah's banner, as he straightened up and his expression brightened then.
"Mount your brooms, please," ordered Madam Hooch, then she kicked open the chest of balls and the Bludgers shot out, followed by the Snitch.
"… Remember, the snitch is worth a hundred-and-fifty points," declared the announcer. "The seeker who catches the Snitch ends the game!"
Madam Hooch removed the Quaffle from the trunk, tucked it under one arm, and mounted her own broom. Then she put her whistle to her lips and gave it a blast that echoed shrilly through the storm.
Fifteen brooms rose quickly into the air, many of them – including Harry's – swerving slightly with the wind.
"Madam Hooch has released the Quaffle..." reported the announcer. "… and the game begins! The Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor… what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too…"
"JORDAN!"
"Sorry, Professor," said Jordan. "And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve… back to Johnson and she shoots and scores… ten points for Gryffindor!"
Around Karen, the Gryffindors cheered. She wasn't sure, but she thought that most of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws joined in.
"Well done!" declared Hagrid loudly.
"Slytherin takes possession of the Quaffle!" announced Jordan. "Bletchley passes to Captain Marcus Flint… Flint dodges Johnson, dodges Bell… and throws! Wood knocks it away with his broom… He smirks at Flint, who glares back. Johnson and Bell pass the Quaffle back and forth as they tried to get into position. Johnson takes it, throws..."
"Gryffindor scores! They now lead by twenty points to zero!"
"What's he up to?" asked Karen as Flint flew towards one of his beaters and snatched his bat. Before anyone could respond, he intercepted a Bludger and knocked it right at Oliver Wood. The iron ball hit the fifth year in the stomach, and he plummeted to the ground, knocked out.
"Ouch!" exclaimed Karen, overs the audience's boos. "Do you think he'll be okay?"
"Probably," said Ron. "Rumour has it he took one to the head in his first game and he was fine… well mostly."
Madam Hooch awarded a penalty to Gryffindor, Alicia took the shot, it was saved by the Slytherin keeper, who passed to one of the Slytherin chasers who sped up the pitch at top speed. One of the Weasleys twins tried to stop him, but he dodged and scored.
On the other side of pitch, Flint and the third chaser flew towards Angelina, boxing her in, forcing her into the drapes covering one of the towers. She was knocked off her broom and fell to the ground.
Most of the crowd – including all the Gryffindors – booed as Madam Hooch awarded another penalty that was quickly put in by Katie.
Suddenly, Karen's attention was drawn back to Harry His broom had started bucking and turning erratically. "What the…!"
Her exclamation drew Hagrid's attention. "What Harry thinks he's doing," Hagrid mumbled. He stared through his binoculars. "If I didn' know better, I'd say he'd lost control of his broom... but he can' have..."
Suddenly, people were pointing up at Harry all over the stands. His broom had started to roll over and over, with him only just managing to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. Harry's broom had given a wild jerk and Harry swung off it. He was now dangling from it, holding on with only one hand.
Hermione had grabbed Hagrid's binoculars and was scanning the crowd, visibly muttering. "It's Snape! He's jinxing the broom!"
Karen broke off her watch on Harry and scanned the teacher's stand. "Maybe… maybe not…"
"What do you mean?!" demanded Hermione.
"You're right about the jinx… not sure about Professor Snape though."
"What do we do?" asked Ron, panicking.
"I'm on it," said Karen and disappeared in a blur of motion.
*-*-*
Hogwarts Hospital Wing,
Hogwarts.
Scottish Highlands.
12:15 GMT.
Severus groaned as he returned to consciousness. For a moment, he was confused as he was sure where he was or how he got there. Hadn't he been watching a Quidditch match? He had… his Slytherins had been trouncing those thrice-damned Gryffindors…
"You're awake, Professor," observed a familiar voice.
Severus turned towards the voice, wincing in pain as he moved. His jaw, his shoulder, his chest all hurt… What happened to me? As he suspected the voice belonged to the Hogwarts matron, Poppy Pomfrey. "Obviously."
"Don't take that tone with me!" barked the matron. "I didn't put you in here!"
While he admitted to himself that this was probably true – particularly as he had a vague flash of a brown-haired teenage girl as she mentioned it – he had no intention of apologising. Ignoring the matron, his mind drifted back to his attacker, for he was sure there had been one… That obnoxious know-it-all Granger? he wondered, then discounted the possibility. She might not be the goody-goody two-shoes she pretends to be… no Gryffindor ever is… but she doesn't have the talent, knowledge or power to leave me in this condition, particularly unscathed…
He scanned the ward and although two of the beds were filled by Gryffindors – one with the thuggish dolt Wood and the other by Johnson, one of the Chasers, he vaguely remembered both of them coming off during the match – there was no sign of the bushy-haired know-it-all. His attention returned to the present when two small crystal vials were placed in one of his hands.
"What are these?"
"An Invigoration Draught and a Headache Potion," replied Poppy. "And before you ask… Yes, you did make them."
Severus snorted, I do have standards, woman! he thought, but said nothing. "I must go and see the headmaster about recent events…" he said, once he'd drunk both potions and chased them down with a goblet of water. "There shall be punishment."
"He's in his office," Poppy told him. "He's expecting you."
With only a curt nod of acknowledgement, Severus got to his feet and swept out of the Hospital Wing, his black robes billowing behind him.
*-*-*
Headmaster's Office.
12:20 GMT.
"I'm not sure who was possessing him," said an unfamiliar, girlish voice as he burst into the well-appointed circular room. "But my Exorcism Spell removed him easily enough. I'm sure Professor Quirrell will…" "One moment," said the headmaster and turned to him. "Thank you for joining us, Severus. Would you like a lemon drop?"
No, I would not like a bloody lemon drop! Severus thought, barely resisting the urge to declare it aloud. "Headmaster, I demand that the student who attacked me is expelled immediately!"
"Severus…" said Albus.
"That could be tricky," replied the girl, cutting off the headmaster. "As I don't attend this school."
Severus' head snapped to one side and quickly identified the speaker as the brunette sitting next to the Potter brat and the red-headed woman that had sat with the headmaster a few times in the last week. "You… Potter! I should've known that you would be responsible… you, ungrateful brat!"
Potter scowled, but to Severus' surprise and frustration he said nothing.
"Professor Snape, my protégé was not responsible for your injures," said the red-headed woman that had sat with the headmaster that morning. He thought that she'd been introduced as another head teacher, but he couldn't remember if they'd been told for where. "Kara was unsure whether it was you or Professor Quirrell that was attacking Hank, so she decided – in my opinion correctly – that she needed to remove both of you from the situation and to sort it out later." The woman paused, and glanced across Potter to the girl, Kara. "I will admit that she could have been a little gentler…"
The girl shrugged. "I try to be gentle, but let's be honest… Hank's the one with the delicate touch… and Professor Snape wouldn't have been half as injured if he hadn't tried to slit my throat as soon as he got his bearings."
"Severus… is this true?" asked the headmaster.
"I was not attempting to 'slit her throat'," retorted Severus. Not specifically. "However, I did use a cutting spell to defend myself."
The headmaster frowned, "We discuss your defensive strategies later, Severus," he motioned Severus into another chair, placed almost at a right angle from the clump containing Potter and his groupies. "For now, we would like to hear your side of the events that led up to that incident…"
"Headmaster, I…" Severus began.
"Severus, there are broader issues at stake which require you to be forthcoming,"
Severus had heard that tone of finality from the headmaster only a handful of times. As hard as he tried, he couldn't remember any time when it had been directed at him… Resigned, he settled himself into the remaining chair, and looked at the headmaster. Deliberately facing away from Potter and the interlopers. "What do you need to know, Headmaster?"
"First, I would like you to confirm that you have no prior knowledge of the attempt to injure or kill Harry at the match today."
"I had no prior knowledge of any plan to do so," Severus confirmed.
"Do you know who might have made such a plan?"
"While I do not appreciate her manhandling me the way she did, I believe the girl was correct to suspect Quirrell," Severus replied. "I believe he has been subverted, he attempted to access the… item, while the rest of us were occupied with the troll… I was able to intercept him, but his answers were… lacking."
Dumbledore nodded. "I find myself in agreement. Just after you were knocked unconscious, a parasitic organism was revealed on the back of Quirinus' head. It attempted violence but was expelled by Kara."
"The Dark Lord?"
"Inconclusive," replied the headmaster. "However, that is the current working theory."
"Then he was not killed back in eighty-one by Potter," observed Severus. "He was probably attempting to acquire 'the item' in order to complete his resurrection."
"I agree," confirmed the headmaster.
"It is unlikely that this will be his only attempt," mused Severus.
"I do not believe he will make any further attempts along this avenue…" Dumbledore said. "I believe I will return it to Nicolaus."
"Not to Gringotts?"
"Gringotts served its purpose," replied the headmaster. "But the item was safe with Nicolas for far longer than they managed to secure it for. It will be safer in his hands."
"Can we get back to the point?" demanded the teenage girl, impudently.
"Indeed," conceded the headmaster, fixing both her and then Severus with a quelling look. "When did you know that something was amiss, Severus?"
"When Potter was unable to steady his broom after a moment or two," replied Severus. "Even I know that a brief instability, particularly in windy conditions, but even a middling talent can address that within a moment or two."
"And what did you do once you realised that the broom had been jinxed?"
"I cast a general counter-jinx to suppress it," Severus replied. "In such a crowd and without specific knowledge of the caster or spell, I felt it too dangerous to risk a more specialised counter."
Dumbledore nodded. "Presumably, you were hoping that if you bought him some time, either one of his team-mates would be able to rescue him or his attacker would lose concentration and he'd be able to escape."
"Exactly, Headmaster."
"A reasonable strategy," declared Dumbledore. "Do you agree, Headmistress?"
"It was… adequate, I suppose," replied the red-headed woman, her tone heavy with reluctance.
"You may go, Severus."
Without any further comment, Severus rose and swooped out of the room.