After pulling Snape, crying and kicking out of the coffee shop, they rode up to Gabby's house where she explained to Harry, Ron and Hermione how she knew Snape. She was his sisters, cousins, nieces, uncles, fathers, daughter...twice removed.
Harry and Ron then took turns explaining to Gabby how they had been assigned by their headmaster, Dumbledore to 'fix' Professor Snape. Hermione, still big on her S.P.E.W. beliefs, insisted on helping the house elf's with the tea and cookies that Gabby had offered upon entering her house.
Snape, who was curled up on the couch in the sun room, sleeping, looked just a little too innocent to be a heartless, cold, smelly, good for nothing, frightfull potions master. they had promised him a new cup of caramel latte as soon as he took a two hour nap. Everyone was relieved as they heard the soft snores of dreamland emitting from the big black lump. Now that they were all calmed down, Harry got to the point.
"We think that maybe he could be possessed. Hermione did some reasearch and found out that some cemetaries will help us rid him of...whatever it is he has." Gabby furrowed her brow.
"Where did she read that? Usually that isn't the case, usually a drop of leech juice mixed with eye of newt works just fin--" She was cut off. Hermione came out of the kitchen, a tray of tea in her hand and she was looking at Gabby.
"That's only for the first stage. For all we know, by how Snape has been acting lately, he could be in the second or third stage by now."
"It never hurts to try...could save you time."
"We'd be waisting our time if it didn't work, wich it won't."
"Then you're waisting your time now."
"That's what you think."
Gabby rolled her eyes and sighed. Ron and Harry exchanged looks before Harry looked to Hermione.
"It is worth a try, Hermione." Ron added a nod. Hermione snorted and sat the tray down and went back into the kitchen mumbling something about how long it would take to make the potion and not doing it.
"What's her problem?" Gabby asked. Ron sighed.
"She's in one of her moods, continue with caution." Ron replied with a smirk. They laughed and continued in catuion, planning the rest of the night.
*******
They reached the cemetary. It was small, yet cozy all in the same. A few trees scattered the soft rolling ground. They had to tread lightly to not wake the people that lived across the street in trailer homes. They scailed the fence, brushing their knees off as they stood from their landing and began to walk to the middle of the cemetary. They only stopped when they heard the voice of their professor, yelling from the cemetary gates.
"Hey you guys!"
Harry, Hermione, Gabby and Ron turn in shock.
"Now's not the time to play Goonies, Severus. Be quite and get over here right now." Gabby pointed a finger sharply beside her, and he winced and climbed to the top of the gate. He went to turn around to work his way down, but his footing slipped and he went for a tumble, the butt of his trousers catching on a pointed rod. Once again, there was a loud scream and the four kids ran to Snape and slapped their hands over his mouth.
"Shut up!" They yelled in unison, where they got a muffled reply. Snape's eyes showed a bit of humor in them. Hermione, who's hand was the first to cover his mouth, let out a scream and pulled away quickly.
"Eeeeewwwww! Snape! You're gross!" She wiped her hand on Ron, who was standing next to her. Ron looked disgusted.
"I warned you." Stated Snape.
"Oh yeah? When?" Hermione tilted her head, rubbing her hand on her clothes, her face still screwed up.
"When you covered my mouth. I simply said 'I'll lick you.'" Snape grinned as he tumbled down from the gate. Hermione glared at him as they all started walking towards the center again. Harry looked around him as they came to a hault in the middle of the cemetary. Tombstone were around them, some with flowers and some without. He tried to squint his eyes to read the names that were engraved on the shiny stone faces. Harry gave up. With the lack of moon light, it was near impossible to see two feet infront of you, not to mention read. They began walking again and Harry only knew where he was going by Snape, who was infront of him. He had started singing an old childern's tune.
"Have you seen the ghost of John?
Long white bones with the skin all gooooone,
Ooooo ooooo ooo ooo ooo oooooo,
Wouldn't it be chilly with no skin on?"
It had been his third time through the song before Harry stepped on his heels. Snape stumbled foward and into Hermione. Hermione fell flat on her face, Snape on top of her. Hermione turned around as best she could to see what had happened. As Snape and her eyes met, Hermione felt her cheeks grow bright red before she wiggled out from under Snape.
"Hermione? Are you ok?" Ron's voice sounded out and went foward to help Hermione up.
"Yes...yes, I'm fine...thank you." Hermione's eyes were still connected with Snape as Ron helped her up and only broke away at the sound of Gabby's pushy and hushed voice.
"Stop lolling! We need to get moving before someone hears us and we get caught."
Hermione looked up and nodded. Snape stood up, brushing off his knees and Gabby spoke again after a few more steps.
"Now, Harry, you go over there, Hermione, stay where you are, Ron between Harry and Hermione and Snape, you in the middle." Gabby's fingers were busy pointing as she set them up in a squarish-circle. There was a rush of feet as they went to their assigned spots. Harry, starting to feel a dull pain in his forehead, grabbed his head and quietly hissed, hoping no one would notice. But, as it always did, Ron, who was walking amongst the others, opened his eyes wide and looked at Harry.
"Harry? What's wrong?"
"I-it's nothing..." Harry lied.
"I just stubbed my toe...that's all." Hermione bit her lip as she knew what was going on. Gabby cleared her throat dismissing the fact that Harry stubbed his toe.
"Shall we get started?" The others hesitantly nodded and Snape walked around in circl3es, eyeing the hole that was in the butt of his pants, due to the fall only minuets before.
"Spirits from the north, protect us and guide us through this transformation and help us rid the evil entity that resides in this man."
Harry tried to concentrate on Gabby's words, but the now constant tingle of hell pounded his forehead, although he wasn't quite sure that the pain meant that Voldemort was nearby; There had been a constant bickering coming from Hermione. Even though she had been two people away from him, he could still hear her whispers of 'I should be saying this...I thought of it...My idea, re-mem-ber?'
Ron must have heard her also because of the elbow that was jammed into her side that belonged to him. She shut up and stared at the ground.
"Spirits from the south, send away those who wish to harm--"
A rush of freezing air made Gabby stop talking. Harry grabbed his forehead as his knees gave out, making the pain in his forehead sting even more. A deep , hoarse, laugh drifted over the cold and cracked tombstones, into the circle. Snapes eyes widened as a small and weak "uh-oh" sounded from him. Hermione bit her lip again, as her and Ron exchanged looks.
"What's going on? Harry? Are you alright?" A completely clueless Gabby asked. Harry looked up with a dumbfounded pain in his eyes.
"You should get out of here." He managed to say as he pressed a hand tightly to his forehead. Snape who had gone awfully quite suddenly pulled up his left sleeve and gawked at his arm.
"Whoa!"
Hermione, looking at Snape's arm, hesitantly asked, "what's wrong?"
"That's odd." Snape looked at Hermione, holding his arm up for her to see the thick, black, distinctive outline of a skull with a mean looking serpant coming grotesquelly out of it's mouth.
"I could have sworn that I washed that off."
Hermione made an aggrivated noise and Ron grabbed her arm.
"Stand back Hermione..." Ron gulped, his eyes glued to Snapes mark.
"...He could get dangerous." Hermione took a step back behind Ron, heeding his words, her eyes moving to Gabby who still looked clueless, then over to Harry who was now trying to stand.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice was concerned.
"Go back to Gabby's house...send an owl--" Harry didn't get to finish. The harsh cold laughter returned even stranger and louder than last time and sent a shiver down everyone's spine. Snape snorted, studdying Harry.
"What's he laughing about? The kid's hurt, that's no laughing matter."
"I'm mearly laughing, Severus, because he's fallen into our trap." A voice, even colder than the laugh echoed through the cemetary. Snape jumped. He turned violently a few times before freezing like a deer that was caught in headlights of a muggle vehicle.
"Who said that? How do you know my name?"
"You can stop acting now, Severus. You have followed the directions clearly."
Hermione and Ron stared blankly at Snape. Harry stood straight, wincing to the now dull throb in his head.
"Act?" Harry asked. Snape looked at Harry and shrugged. Gabby stepped foward and stood next to Snape. The voice spoke again.
"Well, well. Gabrielle. Long time no see. Tell me, how is life in exile doing?"
Gabby flinched as the word exile flew by.
"It's an extended suspension, My Lord."
"Right. Well, as it seems your job is done, you may leave. My battle is with Potter."
But Harry, who was still starring at Snape, tilted his head. He was confused. Was his professor just
putting on an act to get him to become vulnerable?
"What's going on Professor Snape?" Snape once again looked at Harry and shrugged.
"My patience is running low. Leave now." The voice sounded mad. Gabby turned on cue and began to walk off, yelling 'Let's Go' behind her as she walked. She stopped to look at who was following, but seeing no one trailing behind her, she turned to watch. As she turned there was a loud boom that shook the ground that knocked everyone off their feet.
"He's angry." Snape said, crawling to hide behind a large tombstone. Hermione and Ron crawled next to Harry and drew their wands. Gabby fell and hit her head on the side of a rock and passed out.
"For years I have waited for this moment." The voice said, there was a slight fog that made it harder to see anything. Harry squinted again, stainding in unison with Hermione and Ron, wands held out. Harry could see a slight disturbance in the fog ahead of him.
"What moment?" Harry asked. Ron, Hermione and Harry started walking in a slow circle, ready to fight.
"You, a few of your closest friends and me. Alone. No Hoggwarts to save you, no weapons to use. You can watch your friends die before I kill you. And this time, I will not fail." There was a sudden movement and Ron had been picked up by the front of his shirt. Harry saw a big thick black cloak holding Ron. Pressing Ron's back up against a tree. Hermione gasped and waved her wand, speaking quickly.
"Stupify!"
But nothing happened. The spell backfired and Hermione landed flat on the ground, a shocked expression stuck on her face and her body rigid. The voice laughed, looking over his shoulder, Ron struggling to look also.
"Stupid Mudblood. My cloak is spell-proof."
Harry glared at him, resisting the urge to hit him with all the hexes and curses he knew and clentched his wand tighter in his hand instead. The Dark Lord breathed out his mouth and onto Ron's face. His breath started clear, but turned into a cloud, thick and olive green. Harry watched as Ron's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his body went limp. Harry now half shocked, half scared, swallowed and held his wand hand higher.
"That was too easy." The Dark Lord said, letting Ron fall to the ground and turned around to face Harry. Snape jumped up and cheered.
"OH WOW! That was amazing! Can you teach me how to do that? Please? Please? I'd love to do that!"
The cloak turned to face Snape and in a pathetic tone he spoke.
"All in good time." He turned back to Harry.
"I'll tell you what. How about we rid our wands and fight like men?"
Harry laughed lightly.
"You've got to be kidding me." He mumbled.
"What was that?" The voice asked taking a step closer. Harry sucked in a breath as his scar sent him a warning pain. Harry cleared his throat and shook his ehad.
"You'd smash me."
"Ah, so you know my plan then. I'll give you the first hit..." He stepped closer and lowered his hood, throwing his wand aside. Harry stared in the dull grey eyes of Voldemort. Harry took in a breat. For once he was out of ideas and had begun to wonder why Dumbledore had sent him on this quest in the first place instead of going himself.
"Anytime you're ready Potter." He said. Voldemort stood, hands behind his back, ready for the blow, his face content. Harry furrowed his brow and gathered his strenght, not seeing any other way out of this and kicked. His foot connected with Vildemort's knee and a loud sickining sound happened. Voldemort went down with a grunt.
"You bastard! You broke my knee, that was not part of our plan."
Harry went to answer, but went silent as Snape jumped around cheering.
"Ra Ra Ree Kick him in the knee! Ra Ra Rass kick him in the---"
"Shut up!" Harry and Voldemort screamed. Snape stood still and bit his lip.
Harry glared and turned to look at Voldemort. The sunken eyes and the pale face told Harry this was going to be one long night.
******* Wow, long time no write, eh? Well, Here's a chapter, I hope you all like it! I'm soooooooo sorry for not writing. Snape insisted I move out, so I did and just got setteled in. Please, R&R! And keep in tune, there's more to come.