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.
Preliminary comments : Thank you all for pointing out that Mrs./Miss-problem. I fixed it : ) Everything between * indicates thoughts.
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`For the next lesson please read the essay on page 306 and summarize the arguments that are listed in it. Dismissed.´
The class left the Astronomy tower in a subdued mood and left a relieved Prof. Sinistra behind to retire for the rest of the day.
The seventh-year Slytherins and Ravenclaws slowly made their way down to the great hall, where lunch would be served in about ten minutes. One student, however, did not join them.
`Go on, you two,´ Draco Malfoy ordered his two companions Crabbe and Goyle, `I´m not hungry. I think I´ll make use of the nice weather and read the book that father has sent me. Meet you after lunch.´
The two enormous boys grunted in agreement and hurried to catch up with the rest of the crowd their minds firmly set on the prospect of getting some food while Draco allowed himself a slight smile. Phase one of his plan had succeeded perfectly: skipping lunch would give him some time to attend to his business and giving Grabbe and Goyle a story about reading would work as a perfect alibi if it should take longer than he had originally planned. Hogwarts´ grounds were so vast that no one would get suspicious if he wasn´t found immediately. Now on to part two of the plan…
Adopting a leisurely pace, careful not to betray his anxiety by walking too fast, Draco wandered off into the main direction of Gryffindor tower making sure that he was seen by as many people as possible. As soon as he was satisfied with the amount of `witnesses´ the silver-haired boy vanished into the shadows like only a Slytherin can. He pulled out his watch and tapped it with the tip of his wand muttering a quick incantation that would activate a hidden stopwatch function. Numbers sprang to life on its surface and proclaimed zero seconds.
`Aaaaaand go!´ he whispered softly and the watch started counting the seconds.
Malfoy sped down the corridors as fast as he could while staying hidden in the shadows until he reached a secret passageway behind a thick carpet which led to the oldest part of the castle which was located within a great cave. Judging from the little information that he had got out of using a timing-potion on the walls the Slytherin supposed that this part of the castle had already existed when nobody had ever heard about Hogwarts. Stalactites hung down from the low ceiling and the stony walls were pitch-black as if there had been a devastating fire once. Draco had learned about this cave during his second year when he had searched frantically for the chamber of secrets. Potter had beat him to that but Draco had discovered the hidden passageway and beyond it – a chamber of secrets of his own. During the next years he had methodically explored the better part of it but it was not until last year that he had found a passage to the dungeons. Draco didn´t dare to make any light since he wouldn´t put it past Dumbledore to know about this way to the dungeons and have it guarded. Instead he slid his hand into his pocket and drew out a small glass-phial. Giving it a disgusted look he drew himself up, opened it and quickly drained the colourless liquid that was inside it.
`Ugh!´ he barely repressed the urge to throw up as the potion worked its way down his throat and burned his insides. *Come on, now…* he silently urged his body on, *work already!* He waited without moving. One minute passed, then two, then five but nothing happened.
`Damn!´ he swore impatiently, *I was sure I´ve performed the potion perfectly, so why-*
Suddenly he felt a pain as if his head was about to burst, a pressure building up behind his eyes that he feared they would pop out of his head. Frantically Draco bit into his fist to keep himself from screaming as waves of pain hit his head. As abruptly as it had started the pain vanished leaving a heavily breathing Draco behind. `Oh my…´ he panted breathlessly and carefully tried to open his eyes again hoping that they wouldn´t fall out.
*Mighty Hekate!* Malfoy stumbled back as he was blinded by the light that suddenly filled the cave and brought out every pebble in sharp detail. He hadn´t used any spell to light the cave! Had he been caught? Already? Before he really began his investigation? Calm, he reminded himself clearly recalling several his father´s voice. `Logic, son. Above all you must let yourself be guided by logic. Emotions are for Muggles and Mudbloods, they cloud their minds. We, however, must use calm rationality. Everything else is beneath a Malfoy.´
*Ratio, ratio,* Draco reminded himself and finally felt years of training kicking in and a cold calmness descended upon him. Once again he opened his eyes which he had closed in a panic after he had been blinded only seconds before. Still everything was almost painfully bright and he could almost swear that he felt his pupils contracting as they adapted to the surroundings. He made his way to a stone with a polished surface which had previously been hidden in the darkness but now stood out like a torch against a dark night. Looking at the shiny surface of the stone Draco couldn´t help but smile at his reflection. His eyes had changed from their natural icy grey to a blood-red colour.
*Ha!* he grinned in satisfaction, *So I´ve done it after all!* He merely hadn´t anticipated to succeed as well as he had done as he realized that his self-brewed `nightvision potion´ was far more effective than he would have thought. A glance at his now painfully bright watch told his that six minutes and forty-three seconds had passed since he had initiated phase two of his plan to break into the dungeons. He had lost some time because of the retarded reaction of the potion but Draco hoped to make up for the loss by using his enhanced eyesight to the fullest extent.
Malfoy took a deep breath glanced once more at his watch, then started phase three. It was true that he was anxious to get into the dungeons and search for more clues (the most important ones would have to be found there!) but he wasn´t stupid. Secretly he had done a `Hermione´ and spent the last night in the library where he had read up on everything concerning protection spells. Draco knew that the specialists of the `Ministry for Magical Maladies and Injuries´ used a certain combination of spells and potions which had proven to be quite useful when dealing with magical diseases and being the methodical person that he was, he had prepared everything that he needed. He pulled out a small leather bag and spread its contents on the stony floor. Carefully he pulled out another phial filled with a murky brown potion and started pouring the items on the floor into it while chanting `Protecto! Protecto!´ in a low voice. Finally, with a loud hiss, the potion changed its colour to a misty white and once again Draco shut his eyes tightly, drowned the potion and waited for the pain. It didn´t come. There was no pain but only a feeling as if he were wading through cotton and a slightly dizzy feeling.
*Here we go, then* he thought and entered a dark tunnel which led into the heart of the dungeons. There was no turning back now.
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`Welcome to Hogwarts, gentlemen. I hope you have had a pleasant journey?´
Mr. Abbot and Mr. Cuther were greeted at the entrance of Hogwarts castle by a tall dark man. Everything about him seemed to revolve about the colour black – from the long dark robes that he wore to the black turtleneck pullover that peeked out from under them to his jet-black hair which hung down his face in untidy greasy strands. But the most captivating feature were his bottomless coal-black eyes which contrasted sharply with his pale face and his rather large nose.
`I´m Prof. Snape,´ he introduced himself and held out a long-fingered hand. `I will be your contact during your stay in Hogwarts. If there is anything you need for your work, information, access to certain places etc. just ask me.´ He informed them in a cold voice making clear that he would do everything in his power to help them solve the puzzle around Moira´s disease but not play their servant.
Mr. Abbot nodded thoughtfully and shook his hand. Snape…he had heard the name at the ministry but couldn´t recall the circumstances. A glance at his partner, Mr. Cuther, told him that he recognized the name as well. Abbot cleared his throat. `Very well, Professor. I am Phaedrus Abbot and this is my colleague,´ he gestured at the small wizard beside him who shook Snape´s hand as well, `Mr. Algernon Cuther. We´re from the Ministry of Magical Maladies and Injuries.´
Severus nodded, he had obviously not expected anything else. `You work closely with St. Mungo´s, don´t you?´ he asked referring to the magical mental hospital which had been filled drastically since Voldemort´s return a few years ago.
`You´re referring to a different section of our department,´ Mr.Abbot informed him in a curt voice, `We belong to the department which deals with more physical problems.´
`I understand,´ Snape nodded and changed the topic. `Would you like to refresh yourselves before we start or..?´
`No need to, thank you. Always ready for work, that´s our motto!´ Mr. Cuther smiled at him. `We can begin at once.´
`Good. I suppose you want to examine the girl.´ Snape gestured towards the corridor which led to the hospital wing.
`No, no, no!´ Mr. Cuther interrupted him with an enthusiastic smile and completely ignored Snape´s glare, `Always inspect the scene of the `crime´ first.´
`Another one of your mottos, I suspect?´ Snape asked, antipathy for the small wizard evident in his voice but Mr. Cuther seemed oblivious to it. He beamed at Snape.
`Why, yes Professor! I daresay a sensible man like you would feel right at home at the ministry!´ Cuther had obviously taken a liking to Severus whose left eyebrow rose slowly.
`I´m honoured.´ he replied, his answer dripping with sarcasm.
`No need to, good man. No need to.´ Cuther smiled and felt flattered. He jovially threw an arm around Snape´s shoulders and grinned at Mr. Abbot who stood stone-faced. `Let´s start, shall we?´
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It had taken only little time to summon Mr. Argus Filch, the caretaker, and his faithful sidekick, Mrs. Norris the cat. The two of them would accompany Snape and the two ministry men on their way through the dungeons in order to open all the doors and assist them in any way possible. Another few minutes passed as the men (and the cat) cast several protective spells which would keep them safe from any form of contamination and finally, impatiently, they headed for the dungeons. Dumbledore had explained several counter-charms to Severus and so it was only a matter of minutes until they broke through the headmaster´s protective spells which surrounded the dungeons.
Snape breathed in deeply. Standing there, in his dungeons, he felt safe and oddly reassured. If there was any way to find a cure it would be found here, in this place of knowledge and tranquillity.
`Some carpents would look nice on the walls, wouldn´t they? ´ Mr. Cuther broke the silence and received a deadly glare from Severus which once again had no effect on the happy little man. Was he blind or recklessly brave or just stupid? The others asked themselves but Abbot quickly came back to business.
`Where is the classroom? This is where Miss Donovan collapsed, right?´
`Yes,´ the potions master replied and headed off to a door on his right. `This room.´
They entered and stopped dead in their tracks.
`What´s this?´ Cuther asked in disgust as they surveyed the sparkling clean room which smelled suspiciously like `Madam Mim´s Indian Roses Mess-Remover´.
Snape was too shocked to utter a word but only pointed helplessly at the shining floor. What had happened to his beloved dungeon? It smelled like roses! He felt red hot rage surge through his veins and a glance to his left side confirmed his suspicions that the caretaker had cleaned his dungeons. Filch cowered nervously in a corner and inspected his fingernails with avid interest.
`What have you done, you miserable little…´ Severus advanced on the shaking caretaker whose terrified cat had long ago climbed onto the teacher´s desk and was spitting and hissing furiously.
Abbot and Cuther exchanged worried glances to access the amount of danger that Filch was in and quickly seized Snape´s arms in order to prevent him from ripping the caretaker apart.
`Roses!´ Severus roared, `How dare you make my dungeons smell like roses! I´ll shove them up your..!´ Snape abruptly ceased struggling as he realized that Filch trembled harder and harder. He wasn´t merely shaking because he was afraid of Snape, he was –
With a sickening cry Filch´s knees gave way and he fell onto the floor where he started writhing in agony while he clutched his stomach. Startled Abbot and Cuther released Snape and hurried towards the caretaker while checking that their protective spells were securely in place. Filch had started to vomit a sticky green liquid which reminded Severus painfully of the one that Moira had vomited only yesterday. He had his wand out in a second, but hesitated as he looked inquiringly at Abbot and Cuther. They were specialists, weren´t they? It was very probable that they knew better how to react in such a situation.
After a moment the two of them shook themselves out of their reverie and stormed towards Filch, their wands drawn and ready. Basically they muttered the same spells like Snape had done for Moira while the smell of roses was replaced by the smell of sickness and pain as Filch vomited large amounts of green fluid and cried huge emerald tears.
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Draco Malfoy´s eyes dilated in horror. He had seen the beginning of Moira Donovan´s collapse but this was different. Thick green liquor poured out of every opening – even out of Filch´s hairy ears! – and stained his robes and face. The two men, Draco supposed they were the ministry specialists, were standing over Filch and bewitching him in low voices while Snape had done the most sensible thing he could have done – he had stepped out of the way to give the specialists the room that they needed. Malfoy bit his trembling lips. This was horrible, really horrible! Even more terrifying than the Crutiatus-curse and Pan knows, he knew about that one.
Wishing madly to turn away Draco found that he couldn´t tear his eyes off the scene in front of him. This was madness! He shouldn´t have come! Shoving himself violently away from the door he turned around and headed back to the secret passage never suspecting that Severus Snape had caught a glimpse of shocking silver hair retreating through the stony corridors.
Comments :
· May : Thanks, oh you goddess of reviewers! I fixed the Mrs./Miss-problem and – here is the point where you all can be proud of me – I´ve researched a logical way about how this particular (and completely fictional) disease works. I realize of course, that right now one might wonder why Filch was the second victim but like I said, it´s all thought-out and logical. By now you have several clues how the disease works but they´re still hidden as well as the clue which can be used to find a cure. I´m curious if someone will find it out since at this point the evidence is there, but it´s still hidden under a lot of unimportant things. Have fun investigating!
· Handmaiden : I´m glad that you like the story and just to make it clear : there are no married students in this fanfic. Thanks for pointing out that `Mrs.-thing´ to me. I hope you´ll like the rest of the story as well.
· PurlpeSailorSaturn7: Yes! Hugs for poor Snape! After the second victim – who had to break down in his beloved dungeon as well – chances that he can return to it soon have just gone down. So prepare yourself for another round of Snape against Winky and Gryffindors and Slytherins in the same quarters. Let´s hope there will be anything left of Hogwarts by the end of the story. Thank you for your review : )
· Rosmerta : Now there´s a clever one! You´ve found one of the important clues! Maybe you´ll find out the rest, too. Anyway, I think that Snape is a very honourable man and if he promises Dumbledore to stay out of the dungeons then he will, even if they were opened wide with signs announcing `Come in, Sev!´. Draco´s not that honourable, though, and apparently he also has an unhealthy dose of curiosity.
· Enfleurage : Hi! Thanks for pointing my error out (it must have been quite striking since so many people addressed it, but if that´s the worst that can be said about my story I´m glad). I corrected everything – I hope – and will keep it in mind for the next time. If there are any more errors please tell me, because English is not my first language and it´s very probable that some `individual interpretations of the English language´ worm their way into the story. Thanks again : )
· Anneliese : Ooooh! Another kind review! Thank you and of course I´ll update as often as I can. By the way, I read some of your stories – they´re great! Please continue them!