The Casket Of Artemis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 1 - Dreams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Severus Snape stalked down the corridor to the dungeons, glaring at the flaming torches on the walls.
If looks could kill, the subjects of the pictures on the walls would be dead ten times over.
Today had started with Potter sending a cauldron of boiling potion cascading over the bottom of
Severus's robe. Then Longbottom had trodden on his foot in his rush to get out of the way of the
potion. And THEN the Weasley boy had accidentally set his own robes on fire, which in turn had made
the shelves of books combust spilling black smoke into the classroom and adding to the confusion.
Suddenly, a red haired missile hit him in the chest. He looked down and saw the tear stained face of
the youngest Weasley.
"Weasley..." He growled.
"S-sorry, sir." She stammered, turning bright red and furiously rubbing her eyes. "Sorry, I d-didn't mean
t-to..." She gave a small sob and ran away down the corridor.
"Weasley! Get back here!" He yelled at her retreating back, but she disappeared round the corner, her
head in her hands. "Oof!"
He was winded as another figure barrelled into him. It was Potter.
"Where did she go?!" He yelled at Severus.
Although Harry was a seventh year, he was still slightly smaller than Severus, who grabbed hold of him.
"Right, Potter! WHY are you running through the corridors?" He asked, "And what did you do to
Weasley?" He added as an afterthought.
"Oh, get off me!" He said, disgruntled, pulling his arm away from Severus.
"I asked you a question, Potter."
"I'm chasing after Ginny, not that it's any of your business. And I haven't done anything to her."
"Hmm. Well get outside. The sun hasn't gone down yet and I'm sure no one wants you getting injured
so you can't play the quidditch match." He added with a sneer. "Get out!"
Harry gave him an insolent glare and stalked past him, knocking him with unneccessary force.
Severus breathed deeply, but took his anger out on a painting. The Tudor lady who had been sitting
sewing jumped up and screamed as she turned into a rat.
Severus gave a twisted smile and continued his march to his chambers.
That Night
~~~~~~~
"Severus, I need you to make up a potion for me." Proffessor Dumbledore said.
"Of course. Which potion do you require?" Severus replied.
"Inframus Procutus."
"Certainly. May I ask why?" Severus asked, curiously.
"I have been informed by a reliable source that one of the students will require protection from the
dark arts in the coming months. I have taken the action of preparing many charms and I will be needing
the procutus potion to complete the incantation." Proffessor Dumbledore spoke as always in his gentle
yet commanding voice. He was completely calm.
"May I ask which student?" Severus asked.
"Unfortunately, Severus, to reveal her identity would be to betray the confidence entrusted in me. As
she herself does not yet know of the coming dangers, I do not feel it would be right for anyone else to
know. Also," He added, "I do not wish to risk the chance of any word of my knowledge reaching the
ears of Voldemort."
"But, Albus!" Severus exclaimed, "You know I would never betray your trust. Especially to Voldemort!"
Proffessor Dumbledore remained calm and regarded Severus carefully.
"I was not meaning to imply that you would, I merely meant that spies could be lurking anywhere. The
more people that know, the more danger there is. Surely you understand?"
"Yes, of course. I apologise."
"Not at all. Now, I will be needing that potion tomorrow."
"But I'll need a hair from the pupil for the potion to work." Severus reminded him.
"That is being taken care of. Poppy will bring you a hair from the pupil, however she will not know what
it is for."
"Good. I'll be in my office, Albus." Severus nodded and left.
Proffessor Dumbledore sighed wistfully and sat down in his chair, thoughtfully stroking his beard.
Later that night, Severus's office
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Severus rose from his seat as there was a knock at the door. He opened it to see Madame Pomfrey
holding a single hair.
"Severus." She said in her usual crisp manner, "Albus instructed me to bring you this."
"Thank you, Poppy." Severus took the hair from her.
"Is there anything else you'll be needing?" She asked.
"No thank you, Poppy. Now, if you don't mind, I really must get on with this..." He spoke sharply,
making it clear that the conversation was over.
"Yes, of course. Good night, Severus." She turned and walked back down the corridor, not bothering to
wait for the return of the 'good night', because she knew it would never come.
Severus shut the door firmly her and peered at the hair. It was long, so obviously a girl's, and bright
flame red. Only one person in the school had hair like that. It belonged to the Weasley girl.
"Well, well." He muttered to himself, "If it's not Potter, it's one of his cronies."
He took the hair over to the desk and dropped it into the small cauldron. The green, evil smelling liquid
bubbled and hissed and turned a rather lurid purple in colour. He spooned a ladle full of the potion into
a glass jar and sealed it.
Placing the jar on a shelf, he put out the torches round the walls with his wand and retired into his
chambers.
Meanwhile, in Harry and Ron's dormitory
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"But you can't do that, Harry!" Dean said loudly.
"Just watch me." Harry said grimly.
"But what did she do to make you hate her this much?" Dean asked. "You two are perfect for each
other."
"Were perfect for each other." Harry corrcted. "Now she's dumped me and humiliated me infront of
the whole school. I have plenty of reason to hate her."
"No," said Dean, shaking his head, "It's more than that. You didn't freak like this when Parvati dumped
you."
"Well this is different." Harry snapped. An evil grin spread over his face. "Just wait till I've finished with
them, then she'll be sorry."
"But he's a teacher. That's TEACHER. You just can't do that to a teacher. It's suicide!" Dean protested.
"I figured it was just a way of killing to birds with one stone. Him and her. Both of them. Ha!" he
laughed, "This'll be scandal of the century." His features darkened once more, "Oh yes, she'll be sorry!"
"Harry, you're starting to scare me." Dean said, backing away.
"I'm starting to scare myself." Harry whispered, the grin still evident on his features.
Meanwhile, Severus is dreaming...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a dark room, cold, and only lit from one corner by the wand of the wizard facing him, Severus could
see nothing except the wizard's face.
"Pettigrew!" He gasped, but the wizard seemed not to hear him.
"Wormtail!" A high pitched voice said sharply from behing Severus, "Get over here!"
Severus felt a shiver of horror run down his spine. He knew that voice, he would know it anywhere.
"Master?" Wormtail asked, kneeling before the bodyless voice.
"Is the bewitching done?" The high voice asked.
"Yes, master. It has worked well."
"Good."
"If I may ask, master..." Wormtail began, "What is the purpose of this action?"
"The purpose, Wormtail, is that we kill two birds with one stone."
"Two birds...?"
"The girl and the traitor."
"Ah, but master is that wise? It could arouse too much suspicion..."
"Silence! Even if it does create suspicion, I have enough power to once again take control!"
"Yes, master. I'm sorry master..." Wormtail grovelled.
"Quiet!" The voice screamed. "I feel strong enough to assume my form. Help me." It commanded.
Wormtail whimpered, but didn't protest. He placed a wand on the floor and closed his eyes, muttering
what looked like a silent prayer for forgiveness.
Severus held his breath as a blinding light began to appear. In a flash that caused Severus to cry out and
sheild his eyes, a figure appeared.
Severus gasped as the face of his once master glared down at Wormtail with glowing red eyes.
"Now get out of my sight!" He hissed.
Wormtail scrambled to his feet, a trembling mass of filthy robes. He scurried out of the room.
Voldemort turned to Severus.
"As for you..." He lifted his wand.
Severus felt a wall of light hit hit and woke up. He sat bolt upright, covered in sweat. He held a
trembling hand to his forehead.
//Get a grip, Severus. It was a dream.//
But something inside him stirred and told him that it was more than that. He hurredly dressed and
went to find Proffessor Dumbledore.
To Be Continued.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 1 - Dreams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Severus Snape stalked down the corridor to the dungeons, glaring at the flaming torches on the walls.
If looks could kill, the subjects of the pictures on the walls would be dead ten times over.
Today had started with Potter sending a cauldron of boiling potion cascading over the bottom of
Severus's robe. Then Longbottom had trodden on his foot in his rush to get out of the way of the
potion. And THEN the Weasley boy had accidentally set his own robes on fire, which in turn had made
the shelves of books combust spilling black smoke into the classroom and adding to the confusion.
Suddenly, a red haired missile hit him in the chest. He looked down and saw the tear stained face of
the youngest Weasley.
"Weasley..." He growled.
"S-sorry, sir." She stammered, turning bright red and furiously rubbing her eyes. "Sorry, I d-didn't mean
t-to..." She gave a small sob and ran away down the corridor.
"Weasley! Get back here!" He yelled at her retreating back, but she disappeared round the corner, her
head in her hands. "Oof!"
He was winded as another figure barrelled into him. It was Potter.
"Where did she go?!" He yelled at Severus.
Although Harry was a seventh year, he was still slightly smaller than Severus, who grabbed hold of him.
"Right, Potter! WHY are you running through the corridors?" He asked, "And what did you do to
Weasley?" He added as an afterthought.
"Oh, get off me!" He said, disgruntled, pulling his arm away from Severus.
"I asked you a question, Potter."
"I'm chasing after Ginny, not that it's any of your business. And I haven't done anything to her."
"Hmm. Well get outside. The sun hasn't gone down yet and I'm sure no one wants you getting injured
so you can't play the quidditch match." He added with a sneer. "Get out!"
Harry gave him an insolent glare and stalked past him, knocking him with unneccessary force.
Severus breathed deeply, but took his anger out on a painting. The Tudor lady who had been sitting
sewing jumped up and screamed as she turned into a rat.
Severus gave a twisted smile and continued his march to his chambers.
That Night
~~~~~~~
"Severus, I need you to make up a potion for me." Proffessor Dumbledore said.
"Of course. Which potion do you require?" Severus replied.
"Inframus Procutus."
"Certainly. May I ask why?" Severus asked, curiously.
"I have been informed by a reliable source that one of the students will require protection from the
dark arts in the coming months. I have taken the action of preparing many charms and I will be needing
the procutus potion to complete the incantation." Proffessor Dumbledore spoke as always in his gentle
yet commanding voice. He was completely calm.
"May I ask which student?" Severus asked.
"Unfortunately, Severus, to reveal her identity would be to betray the confidence entrusted in me. As
she herself does not yet know of the coming dangers, I do not feel it would be right for anyone else to
know. Also," He added, "I do not wish to risk the chance of any word of my knowledge reaching the
ears of Voldemort."
"But, Albus!" Severus exclaimed, "You know I would never betray your trust. Especially to Voldemort!"
Proffessor Dumbledore remained calm and regarded Severus carefully.
"I was not meaning to imply that you would, I merely meant that spies could be lurking anywhere. The
more people that know, the more danger there is. Surely you understand?"
"Yes, of course. I apologise."
"Not at all. Now, I will be needing that potion tomorrow."
"But I'll need a hair from the pupil for the potion to work." Severus reminded him.
"That is being taken care of. Poppy will bring you a hair from the pupil, however she will not know what
it is for."
"Good. I'll be in my office, Albus." Severus nodded and left.
Proffessor Dumbledore sighed wistfully and sat down in his chair, thoughtfully stroking his beard.
Later that night, Severus's office
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Severus rose from his seat as there was a knock at the door. He opened it to see Madame Pomfrey
holding a single hair.
"Severus." She said in her usual crisp manner, "Albus instructed me to bring you this."
"Thank you, Poppy." Severus took the hair from her.
"Is there anything else you'll be needing?" She asked.
"No thank you, Poppy. Now, if you don't mind, I really must get on with this..." He spoke sharply,
making it clear that the conversation was over.
"Yes, of course. Good night, Severus." She turned and walked back down the corridor, not bothering to
wait for the return of the 'good night', because she knew it would never come.
Severus shut the door firmly her and peered at the hair. It was long, so obviously a girl's, and bright
flame red. Only one person in the school had hair like that. It belonged to the Weasley girl.
"Well, well." He muttered to himself, "If it's not Potter, it's one of his cronies."
He took the hair over to the desk and dropped it into the small cauldron. The green, evil smelling liquid
bubbled and hissed and turned a rather lurid purple in colour. He spooned a ladle full of the potion into
a glass jar and sealed it.
Placing the jar on a shelf, he put out the torches round the walls with his wand and retired into his
chambers.
Meanwhile, in Harry and Ron's dormitory
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"But you can't do that, Harry!" Dean said loudly.
"Just watch me." Harry said grimly.
"But what did she do to make you hate her this much?" Dean asked. "You two are perfect for each
other."
"Were perfect for each other." Harry corrcted. "Now she's dumped me and humiliated me infront of
the whole school. I have plenty of reason to hate her."
"No," said Dean, shaking his head, "It's more than that. You didn't freak like this when Parvati dumped
you."
"Well this is different." Harry snapped. An evil grin spread over his face. "Just wait till I've finished with
them, then she'll be sorry."
"But he's a teacher. That's TEACHER. You just can't do that to a teacher. It's suicide!" Dean protested.
"I figured it was just a way of killing to birds with one stone. Him and her. Both of them. Ha!" he
laughed, "This'll be scandal of the century." His features darkened once more, "Oh yes, she'll be sorry!"
"Harry, you're starting to scare me." Dean said, backing away.
"I'm starting to scare myself." Harry whispered, the grin still evident on his features.
Meanwhile, Severus is dreaming...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a dark room, cold, and only lit from one corner by the wand of the wizard facing him, Severus could
see nothing except the wizard's face.
"Pettigrew!" He gasped, but the wizard seemed not to hear him.
"Wormtail!" A high pitched voice said sharply from behing Severus, "Get over here!"
Severus felt a shiver of horror run down his spine. He knew that voice, he would know it anywhere.
"Master?" Wormtail asked, kneeling before the bodyless voice.
"Is the bewitching done?" The high voice asked.
"Yes, master. It has worked well."
"Good."
"If I may ask, master..." Wormtail began, "What is the purpose of this action?"
"The purpose, Wormtail, is that we kill two birds with one stone."
"Two birds...?"
"The girl and the traitor."
"Ah, but master is that wise? It could arouse too much suspicion..."
"Silence! Even if it does create suspicion, I have enough power to once again take control!"
"Yes, master. I'm sorry master..." Wormtail grovelled.
"Quiet!" The voice screamed. "I feel strong enough to assume my form. Help me." It commanded.
Wormtail whimpered, but didn't protest. He placed a wand on the floor and closed his eyes, muttering
what looked like a silent prayer for forgiveness.
Severus held his breath as a blinding light began to appear. In a flash that caused Severus to cry out and
sheild his eyes, a figure appeared.
Severus gasped as the face of his once master glared down at Wormtail with glowing red eyes.
"Now get out of my sight!" He hissed.
Wormtail scrambled to his feet, a trembling mass of filthy robes. He scurried out of the room.
Voldemort turned to Severus.
"As for you..." He lifted his wand.
Severus felt a wall of light hit hit and woke up. He sat bolt upright, covered in sweat. He held a
trembling hand to his forehead.
//Get a grip, Severus. It was a dream.//
But something inside him stirred and told him that it was more than that. He hurredly dressed and
went to find Proffessor Dumbledore.
To Be Continued.....