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. Next to that I dedicate this story to my wonderful reviewers! You´re all great! The best! : )
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`Ow! Watch it!´
Harry Potter, valiant Gryffindor and the famous boy who lived, was not happy. His head ached, Quidditch practice had been cancelled ages ago and he was sneaking into Snape´s private rooms. The black-haired boy didn´t know what he feared more: the intimidating `emerald disease´ which had attacked Hogwarts a few days ago (had it only been a few days? It felt like a lifetime…) or the wrath of his dark and ominous potions teacher should he find out that what Harry was doing at the moment.
`Move out of the light, Potter! I can´t see…´
There was another reason why Harry felt unhappy: his companion on this mission was nobody else that his own personal archenemy, Draco Malfoy, who was standing in front of huge wooden shelves which were filled with dozens of ancient-looking books, pots and cans and tins with faded labels which Draco tried to red in the dim light and some glass canisters in which swam formless creepy things.
`Wow!´ Malfoy reached for an old brown can and sniffed it. `I didn´t know that this was still in use. I´ve only read about it in…never mind.´
`What is it?´ Harry inquired hope sounding through his voice. `A cure?´
`Sure, Potter,´ Draco sneered, `Snape has had a cure for the whole time but he didn´t feel like giving it to us.´
`Hmpf.´ Harry turned around and searched another corner. He had always known that his least favourite teacher was an odd man but the weird stuff that littered his private rooms surpassed his wildest expectations. There was an assortment of books on his nightstand with charming titles such as `Poisonous plants and their use in everyday life´ or `Killing me softly – Medusa´s favourite potions´. A black quilt had been thrown carelessly over Snape´s bed while…Blimey! Will that headache never pass? Or will the room stop spinning, for that matter? Harry swayed on his feet as he tried to reach out for Malfoy.
`Dra…?´ The rest of his words was lost as he fell onto his knees and began vomiting violently.
`Potter?´ A gurgling sound had alerted the young Slytherin. `What the..?´
Draco´s eyes fell on the shivering form of his nemesis and he swore loudly. `Way to go, Potter! Of all the times you could have chosen to fall ill you do it now? Snape´s going to kill us!´
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The owlery was filled with silence. Unnatural silence which contrasted strongly with the usual hectic coming and leaving, the rustling of feathers and the nervous chit chat of gossiping owls.
Severus looked around carefully taking in every detail of the birds behaviour and positions. Most of them seemed to nurse a heavy case of flu which they fought by tucking their heads firmly under their wings and trying to sleep it away. From time to time a wing would suddenly jump up sending feathers everywhere when the unfortunate owl couldn´t suppress a sneeze.
`Sokrates?´ Severus called for his feathery friend. `Don´t worry I´m not going to make you deliver a letter. Where are you?´
`Hooooo!´ a shaggy-looking owl raised his head and looked accusingly at Snape who went quickly over to the bird and held out a hand full of oval brown things that he had brought from his own potion-indigent supply. The owl looked at them full of distain.
`I know I haven´t visited you but I have been very busy.´
Sokrates didn´t seem to accept the explanation and turned his head away. `Hooo!´
`Now don´t be such a…´ Severus sighed and asked himself quietly why his life lately seemed to revolve around talking to birds. `All right. I´m sorry. Now, will you help me?´
Sokrates seemed unsure. On the one hand it wasn´t often that his human friend asked for forgiveness and he had brought those tasty brown dots but on the other hand the owl still felt quite ill and Severus hadn´t been there to fuss over him. Finally the need to be cuddled won over and Sokrates leaned into Snape´s surprisingly warm and comfortable hands and affectionately nibbled at the potion master´s long fingers. `Hooooooot.´
His talent and sensitivity concerning animals never ceased to amaze Snape. It was as if everything ounce of feeling had been reserved for animals and potions leaving him painfully incapable in dealing with human beings.
`Sokrates,´ he finally broke the silence, `I need your help.´
The owl blinked at him in a dignified manner and Severus almost imagined the his owl had nodded.
`The children in the castle have fallen ill and I suspect that the first victim has been infected by her owl. Her name is Moira Donovan and I´ve read that she has just gotten a new owl by the name of Ludwig. Where can I find him?´
Sokrates left his hands and flew a short circle over the owlery until he found whom he was looking for. Letting out a series of agitated `Hooooo! Hoooo!´s he alerted his human friend and Severus made his way to him trough tons of feathers and mice skeletons.
In a secluded corner sat a snowy owl which was almost as beautiful as Hedwig, and stared miserably at the walls. His feathers were badly ruffled and his eyes seemed out of focus.
`Ludwig, I presume?´ Severus had finally found the source of the infection. The next step would be to get some blood samples and investigate the way that the bird´s body fought off the malady and then, finally, gain a cure.
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Harry Potter thrashed around wildly curling up into a fetal position the one second and vomiting a sticky green substance the next. Half of Snape´s private room was already stained by Harry´s vomit and still Draco Malfoy who had accompanied Harry had no idea how to help his enemy. Draco swore without even pausing for breath as he frantically rummaged through Snape´s private belongings searching for whatever it was that protected the potion masters health. Malfoy knew that this was Harry´s only hope since he had witnessed specially educated professionals trying to help Filch but even they had had no chance. The Slytherin was intelligent enough to recognize his own limitations, so he had to find an alternative.
`Hekate! Where is it?´ Draco felt that he was close to panicking as something small and blue caught his eye. It was a glass phial which was standing on the nightstand labelled `dreamless-sleep-potion´. That´s it! That must be it! Malfoy grabbed the phial and returned his attention to Harry who was rolling on the floor in pain and confusion.
`Potter!´ Draco roared in utter contrast to the strained silence the boys had held only a short while before, `I have it, Potter! Drink this!´
He brought the potion close to Harry´s lips but the Gryffindor succumbed to another seizure and nearly knocked the precious vial out of Draco´s hands.
`You have to try to…damn!´ Harry´s cramps had increased in strength and even Malfoy had to realize the futility of trying to feed the potion to the black-haired boy. But Potter needed to take the potion! What was he to do? Suddenly a thought desperate crossed Draco´s mind and the young man pressed his lips together in determination.
`Potter?´
Harry whimpered pathetically.
`I´m sorry. At least a little.´ Malfoy pointed his wand at the Gryffindor and shouted `Imperio!´
Suddenly the pain seemed to cease and the fog which had obscured Harry´s eyes seemed to lift. A gentle voice could be heard: drink the potion! The stubborn streak in him that had only too often caused any kind of trouble replied immediately: why should I do that? I bet it tastes like crap! DRINK THE POTION, POTTER! The first voice shouted, more determined this time and the rational part of Harry´s brain agreed: You´ll die if you don´t drink it!
That settled the matter. The young man grabbed the phial with shaky hands and drowned the potion in one mighty gulp.
Pain! That was the first sensation which was quickly followed by even more pain as the potion seemed to find its way into every pore of Harry´s agonized body. He screamed and miraculously founds his mouth free to do so. He didn´t feel the urge to vomit! Harry´s world came back into focus as Draco finished the incantation and Potter glared at his nemesis.
`You put the `Imperius´-Curse on me! I can´t believe it! You…´ the rest of his exclamations were lost as Harry succumbed to a deep, dreamless sleep while Draco slid down onto the floor next to him.
`Damn.´ Malfoy looked at the peacefully sleeping form of his enemy whose head was encircled by green vomit like a corona. `I´ll never ever accompany a Gryffindor again. Your plans suck, Potter.´
Harry snored.