Title : working title – Hogwarts under siege
Author : odyssey
Disclaimer : This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Brothers Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Spoilers : to be safe – for all four books
Summary : When a mysterious disease attacks Hogwarts in Harry´s 7th year it is up to Prof. Snape and his band of merry Slytherins to find a cure in time.
Dedication : To all the great fanfic-writers whose stories have brought me hours of pleasant entertainment. I hope that I can give some of it back with my little narration.
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This is a nightmare. It´s not true. It cannot be true. Ron Weasley, Gryffindor Beater and chess master extraordinaire, closed his eyes, rubbed them thoroughly and opened them again. It´s still there, he thought desperately, but it can´t be. It´s just a figment of my overactive imagination. Shouldn´t have drunk so much butterbeer…
`If you´re trying to stare a hole in me, Weasley, then you´ve failed. But that shouldn´t come as much of a surprise since you must be used to failing.´
`It´ spoke and `it´ sounded suspiciously like his worst nemesis, Draco Malfoy. `Dean?´ Ron asked his friend, `do you see it as well?´
`Yep,´ Dean Thomas nodded sagely, `but I choose to ignore it.´
`It´ shook its head in disgust and sneered. `Gryffindors. You´re all mental.´
Several rooms away similar scenes could be witnessed as Millicent Bulstrode, a Slytherin seventh-year with the build of an elephant cow, heaved her masses towards Ginny Weasley who was busy ignoring her new roommate.
`You,´ Millicent grunted, `get out of that chair.´
Ginny ignored her and continued doing her charms homework.
`Are you deaf, Weasley? Or are you just too poor to get some proper ears?´ the fat girl laughed, proud of her `witty´ comment.
Ginny kept ignoring her and wrote more furiously. Millicent narrowed her eyes until they were little more than slits and bend down to whisper into Ginny´s ear.
`Get out, you stupid little…umm…´ no fitting insult would come to mind, `you…umm…you…I want to sit here!´
Frustrated she grabbed Ginny´s thin arm and roughly yanked her out of the plush chair sending the younger girl´s quill and parchment flying. Startled Ginny let out a piercing scream as she fell to the floor and spilled ink all over her homework. Suddenly the door swung open and the strict voice of Hermione Granger filled the room.
`What is the meaning of this? What´s Ginny doing on the floor?´
`Maybe she´s found some money.´ Millicent grinned. `Why don´t you join her, mudblood? You could use it to buy yourself a new face.´
A chilling calm descended over Hermione as she quietly put her books down and drew herself up to stare right into Millicent´s little pig eyes. `What did you just say?´ she asked in a deceivingly calm voice.
Millicent grinned. `Maybe you little mudblood should buy yourself a new look. Or even better – why don´t you just poison yourself like that stupid Moira?´
Ginny´s eyes grew wide and unconsciously she pressed a hand on her mouth. She knew Hermione and she knew what the expression on her normally serene face meant.
`Out!´ Hermione hissed while she clenched her fists as hard as she could in order to prevent them from lashing out at the Slytherin girl.
Millicent still seemed oblivious. `Is that all you can do? Out? Well, who do you think you are? You´re supposed to share your quarters with me! Dumbledore himself said so!´
`He won´t after he learns how you treat Ginny. Now – leave! You´re not wanted here.´
Millicent bit her bottom-lip while thinking hard. `You can´t throw me out. Where should I stay? The dungeons are still off-limits!´
`You should have thought about that before you start threatening people.´ Hermione said icily making Millicent give a small whimper.
`So if you plan to stay here in Gryffindor tower, as a guest, I suggest you behave like one and apologize.´
Millicent turned to Ginny and reluctantly mumbled something that sounded like `sorry´; then sped off to nurture her wounded pride while Ginny approached Hermione.
`You know, it´s not that I´m not thankful since that cow really deserved what she got, but since when are the Slytherins only guests? I thought Dumbledore had made it clear that they have as much right to be here as we have?´
Hermione smiled sweetly. `I know that, but she doesn´t.´
Ginny laughed. `You´re wicked, Mrs. Granger.´
`And you love it,´ Hermione smiled back as the two of them started tiding up the mess Millicent had made.
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`Unpleasant weather, isn´t it?´ the tall wizard said to his smaller companion who nodded mournfully.
`Unpleasant indeed, my dear Mr. Abbot.´ the small wizard replied and readjusted his enormous hat which constantly fell over his eyes and obscured his line of vision. `Let´s hope that Hogwarts is warmer on the inside than it looks from here. It´s quite run-down and shabby, if you ask me.´
`True, dear Mr. Cuther, very unlike the ministry. Now that´s what I call a proper castle.´
Both `hmpfed´ and thought about the great ministry building with its imperial decorations and their own comfortable offices inside as they struggled against the heavy downpour of rain.
`Now, now, Mr. Abbot´ Cuther spoke up, `There is no point in delaying the inevitable. Let´s go and check out Hogwarts and with a little luck we´ll be gone by tomorrow and I can attend my niece´s birthday party.´
`Let´s hope so, dear Mr. Cuther. Let´s hope so.´
The two wizards pulled out their green protecting robes and gloves and proceeded towards Hogwarts which loomed darkly at the horizon.
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`You must not be taking this! Winky must use it to make lunch!´ the tiny house-elf by the name of Winky jumped up and down trying to catch some of the items which Hogwarts enraged potions master had just `confiscated´ from the kitchen. `You must be putting it back! Winky will be in trouble if you don´t! Must make lunch!´ Her tomato-like nose quivered violently and tears of despair filled Winky´s enormous brown eyes. `You must not!´ she wailed staring up at Prof. Snape who was towering over her.
`Calm down you stupid elf. I´ll return the things as soon as I´m done with them.´ He glared at the small creature and wondered how anything in the whole wide world could value lunch more than extremely important potions experiments. `Now let go of my robes!´
Winky squeaked in terror but held fast onto Snape. `You bring it back soon enough that me can make lunch?´ she asked in a small voice.
Severus could hear his blood pounding in his ears and for a fraction of a second he felt something akin to pity for the house-elf, since the look that he currently wore had made even full-grown wizards run for cover. Of course that had been in his less-glorious time when he had still been…don´t think about that now, Snape ordered himself and tried to ignore the tiny spasms of pain which ran through his left arm as if they were trying to remind him of the picture that was forever burned onto it.
Snape eyed the terrified house-elf with gritted teeth and wondered just how much he could curse her without getting into too much trouble with his – or rather Dumbledore´s – conscience. Maybe `stupefy´ would be a good choice: nothing lethal, but effective enough to satisfy his anger. He raised his wand and spoke `S…´
`Severus! There you are!´ a cheery voice interrupted him and Snape barely suppressed a variety of colourful curses as he recognized Prof. Flitwick, the tiny charms teacher.
`What is it?´ the potions master hissed while continuing to press various items into his chest.
`Dumbledore is looking for you. He wants you to meet him in his office.´
Snape raised an inquiring eyebrow. What would he want now? Wasn´t it enough that he had been thrown out of his own dungeon? Did the headmaster feel the need to gloat over his misery? Dumbledore must have been in Slytherin, Snape thought and made a mental mark to investigate this matter sometime. He thanked Flitwick absentmindedly, whispered a mild `Expellarimus!´ which sent Winky flying into an array of about a dozen cans and pots and turned to leave but Flitwick´s voice called him back.
`Um…Severus, at the risk of sounding nosy... What are you doing with all those kitchen utensils? Found a new hobby?´
Snape froze and threw his head back in a dignified way. `Since I cannot use my laboratory in the dungeons I am forced to improvise with less…satisfying…equipment. Now I have an appointment so please excuse me.´ he huffed and vanished out of the kitchen with billowing robes.
A few seconds passed then his voice was heard again from around a corner. `…and cooking is not a new-found hobby of mine. How can he think that? I´m a potions master, for Merlin´s sake! I´ve been cooking for more than half of my life. He should try my pasta al …´
The mumbling vanished in the distance leaving behind a very amused charms teacher. `Thank the great Rowling for Severus Snape´ he chuckled, `Hogwarts would be a boring place without him.´
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Five minutes later Prof. Severus Snape, minus kitchen utensils, sat in Dumbledore´s office and sipped hot fruit-tea.
`So, why did you want to see me, headmaster?´ he inquired as politely as possible. `Has Moira´s condition changed?´ Snape leaned forward expectantly but was disappointed by Dumbledore´s answer.
`I´m sorry, but she´s still frozen and Poppy has no idea what has happened. She has, however, started her research and can exclude several theories which she had made up as an explanation.´
`Such as…?´
`Well, it´s surely not a common disease.´
`Brilliant deduction´ Severus mumbled under his breath, `Longbottom could have told you that.´
The headmaster allowed himself a small smile but otherwise chose to ignore the comment. `There is no documentation to be found of a similar combination of symptoms like those that Miss Donovan suffers from. And yes, Severus, she has also searched through the Muggle books. It looks like something which has not yet been discovered.´ Dumbledore wrinkled his eyebrows in concentration. `Or something completely new.´
Snape regarded the headmaster full of attention taking in each of the other man´s movements, his gestures and facial expressions, anything that could be used as a clue to discern his real opinion. He was sure that Dumbledore had a suspicion. His whole stance bearing screamed `I have a suspicion but don´t want to name it, yet´. Severus was determined to find out what that suspicion was and whether it corresponded with his own uncomfortable gut-feeling or not but Dumbledore was not a man who could be pushed. He had to do this carefully…`So what does Poppy think? Surely she has some opinion of this?´
`She has enough on her hands with supervising Miss Donovan. The poor girl has lost a lot of water during the collapse and her body is at the verge of dehydration. Poppy is currently using a combination of spells – a highly dangerous one, I might add – and de-freezes part of Miss Donovan´s body in order to do some re-hydration spells. Very complicated stuff.´
Severus´ head shot up. `Wait a minute – if she´s able to de-freeze parts of Moira´s body we will finally be able to get some blood-samples which can be analysed!´
Dumbledore shook his head sadly. `Unfortunately not, Severus. The girl barely stands the strain of the re-hydration spells. Taking blood would only traumatize her further and that has to be avoided at any cost.´
Snape had to agree shifted uncomfortably in his chair. `So what can we do?´ he finally asked. `She hasn´t much time left.´
At that a bright smile lit up Dumbledore´s face. `You err on this point, my friend. If the re-hydration spells work, and it certainly seems that way, we can buy ourselves more time.´
`How much more?´ Severus asked instantly.
`It can continue like this for the next three days or for the next three years – as long as Miss Donovan´s body withstands the strain of being re-hydrated magically. Doing it physically is out of the question for obvious reasons; it would traumatize her even more.´
Severus nodded thoughtfully and silence settled between the two men. Each of them was lost in his own thoughts musing frantically about the past events. What could be done to help Moira? How could she be treated if they didn´t even know what was wrong? Finally Severus recalled the fact that he was sitting in Dumbledore´s office with a cup of cold tea in his hand and a seemingly asleep headmaster in front of him.
`Prof. Dumbledore? Albus?´ he tried quietly. Dumbledore´s head shot up and a warm smile lit up his face.
`Ah yes, Severus. I still haven´t answered your question!´
Snape furrowed his brows. What question? He usually had dozens of them but how would Dumbledore know that?
`I wanted to ask a favour of you. Those ministry specialists will be arriving soon and they will need a contact to whom they can turn to while they´re investigating this situation. Your lessons have been cancelled for the time being for obvious reasons, so you´ve got the time, you know the school and of course you have a certain knowledge which could prove to be very useful. Would you do that for me?´ the headmaster asked with a disarming smile.
Snape nodded grimly since he was aware that he Dumbledore wanted a reliable source of information about everything that the ministry specialists would do. And who could be better for the job than Severus Snape himself, current potions master and professional part-time spy?
`You have my complete cooperation, headmaster.´
Dumbledore smiled that enigmatic smile of his and accompanied Snape back to the hole which led out of his office. `Thank you, Severus. You´ll be forced to work quite closely with them, but I doubt that there will be any problems. Anyway, goodbye for now.´
Snape nodded his goodbye and stepped out of the hole but suddenly followed an odd instinct of his throwing all caution out of the window. `Prof. Dumbledore?´
`Yes?´
`Why did you address Moira´s condition as a disease? She could have made a mistake and poisoned herself while making her potion.´
`But she didn´t and you know it. I know that you have researched the matter and I know just as well that there is no potion or poison that causes this kind of reaction. Or is there, Severus?´
`No, not in this combination.´ Snape shrugged, `Goodbye then.´
`That was good thinking. Goodbye.´ Dumbledore smiled, `Oh! And Severus? Don´t even think about breaking into the dungeons. I´ve taken measures to ensure that nobody can get in.´
Having said that the headmaster retired into his office for another round of tea and perhaps some of those delicious crackers he had gotten in the kitchen.
Comments :
· TheSlayer : I´m sorry that I didn´t address your review earlier (although it made me very happy, thank you!) but I had already uploaded the 3rd chapter and simply decided to thank you in the 4th chapter. Well, that was a very nice review and very appreciated, too since I had a rough day and that cheered me up. Thanks and keep reading!
· May : You know, I´m thinking of starting a `May-appreciation-society´. You have reviewed every chapter! Thank you! You´re an author´s dream! : ) Now on to your comments : I gave some hints as to what Sev has done during the time where he couldn´t get into his dungeons. Being a man of honour he didn´t break his word and kept out of them but being a practical person he has found other – less dignified - ways to help. However, he does have another problem : he can´t analyze what he doesn´t have. This problem will be addressed in the next chapter (I´m writing about that right now). Harry & Co. have been a little inactive lately but I´m planning to change that
· Alchemine : Ooohhhh! I´m on somebody´s author alert! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I´m honoured! Snape´s `kill-Fauwkes´-line is my favourite line as well but to be honest, I´m trying to bring in more lines like that one but it cannot be forced (otherwise it would sound too artificial – it has to fit into the circumstances, the person he´s speaking with, Snape´s own mood etc. etc.). Still, I´m giving my best and it´s great to see that other people like it as well.
· Enfleurage : First of all – thank you for your kind review! Now on to your question.Just between the two of us : yes, more people are going to get ill but I thought that I´d first show the impact of only one case in order to make the reactions to the second (and third?) cases believable. You will also have to keep in mind that the story so far has only spanned the timeframe from one afternoon to the next. I´m not really sure how these outbreak-situations work but it sounds plausible that the beginning is relatively slow and then the action increases in speed. I´m also trying to take the incubation time into account, i.e. if Moira has been infected or poisoned or whatever how long did it take from the application of the poison etc. to get a reaction? How does the contamination take place? That´s what our dear potions master and Mr. Abbot & Mr. Cuther from the ministry have to find out.
· Nicky : Thank you for your interest and the nice review. Like I have already said : more people will fall ill and you never know who will be among them. It could be anyone. You´re giving me evil ideas….HeHeHe. That´s the joy of writing as you go – you can take reader´s suggestions into account. I´m not saying that Harry will fall ill, but I´m not saying that he´ll stay unaffected either. By the way, I read your author´s profile and completely agree with your opinion of Dumbledore. I bet he was in Slytherin…
· Anneliese : I´m very glad that you´re interested. Like I said – I´m giving my best, but I´m whether a professional writer nor a specialist on maladies so it might get illogical from time to time. I´m trying to avoid that, of course : ) Anyway, thanks a lot for your review.
Next chapter : You have probably already guessed what will happen. Next to that someone will try to break into the dungeons.