Disclaimer: Rowling created Hogwarts and all characters in 'Harry Potter'.
As usual , I'm just having fun and hoping you'll have as much fun reading
as I'm having writing.
Disclaimer: Fire rose is Nyarth Kyukon's creation and she gently authorised me to borrow it.
Thank you: To the wonderful readers who reviewed. You know how much it means to me.
CRUMBING MYTHS
Challenges
"I need a graveyard.. " Severus disclosed to himself.
"What?" William Wilkes had such good hearing he didn't miss a whisper around him.
"Nothing. Shut up."
"What do you need a graveyard for?"
"None of your business."
"Okay."
The first year's attitude did get on Severus' nerves. The bloody kid was always trying to snoop on what he, or anybody else was doing. When rebuked, though, he would act as if nothing had happened.
Severus turned to his book once more. He was studying a botanical book called 'Compendium in Botanical Hazards' By Wisthmink Woonk. He had first grabbed it out of necessity of additional information to his herbology management of mandragore. In this book he had found a reference to a Rosa de Ignis. A fire rose. It was incredible. With it, he could make a potion three times more potent. Plus, if the ancients picture had some truth to speak for it self, it was beautiful and dangerous to deal with as it dripped embers. Those were reasons enough to set Severus working to have one.
The problem in this whole new fancy, was the explanation on how to create a rare specimin. Apparently, it wasn't so easy like buying it at Diagon Alley's street market. Woonk had written in his book, the seed of the hazardous flower had to be planted in a lightening strike and be covered with graveyard soil. Now, how the hell do you do that?
Starting with easier problems; The graveyard soil. Was the soil supposed to be FROM a grave? Would the soil in anywhere in a graveyard precinct do? Would the seed have to planted INSIDE the graveyard? Or could he just bring it to where a storm was at work? Where was he going to find a graveyard? There was none near his neighbourhood, so waiting for the holidays was no good. As a second year student, he wasn't allowed to leave the school perimeter. Where was he going to find such a place? There wasn't a graveyard in Hogwarts. Was there? Did it have to be a human graveyard? Was an animal grave any less important than a person's? If it was all the same, could he ask Hagrid where had he buried any of his tragic pets? But he wasn't certain if it was worth the risk, enraging the enormous game keeper. If an animal's grave got to be inappropriate to set things going, he'd be risking his neck for nothing.
That leaded to the second problem; Risking his neck, figuratively speaking. If you needed graveyard soil, then you were messing with the dead. The fact that the particular deceased one you choose would never miss a hand full of dirt, or the presence of a seed in his or hers grave, didn't change matters; the spell was classified Dark Arts. So he couldn't spread notice on his intentions.
Third problem; Risking his neck, in a more literal sense. The lightening bolt. That was supposed to get hot and Severus wasn't trilled with the prospect of roasting his brains. How was he supposed to seed on this conditions? That had a simple answer; he needed someone to plant it for him. Someone bold not to run in a lightening storm. Someone not greedy, so as not to claim the rose to him/herself. That clause alone, immediately cut all and any Slytherin as a hypothesis. A Ravenclaw was too smart to be wound up in such a scam. A Hufflepuff could work out. A Gryffindor was better still.
The face of a candidate jumped in his mind, but Black would NEVER do anything willingly for Severus. He had to be tricked.
Tricking Sirius wasn't that hard. The problem was, the hot headed git was always surrounded by the Marauders and a whole retinue of fans. In this business, secrecy was the key, and Sirius Black was a serious liability.
"There is a graveyard in Hogsmeade." Said William Wilkes conversationally.
"How do you know that? You're a first year. You can't leave Hogwarts grounds."
"True. You can't either." Observed Wilkes.
"Of course not." Cut Severus, who should know by now his efforts were fruitless. The freshman repeated.
"There is a graveyard in Hogsmeade."
"What do you care?"
"I don't"
"In that case, leave me alone and stop snooping on me."
"Don't you feel too important. I do snoop on everybody. I told you before, I like a good gossip."
"The question is, what do you like the most? Hearing or spreading it?"
"What? Do you think I'm a tell-tale ?"
"I don't know what you are." Admitted Severus.
"I'm someone who'll keep his ears open, will know where is trouble coming from and learn in advance how to block it. I'll be grand some day. Not in the near future but slowly and steadily. And I'll remember my friends."
Severus was mute for some moments, watching the boy and reading between the lines.
"Strong words."
"Plus, I'm not a tell-tale. I choose to whom I speak. I'm just not picky on where and from whom I gather information."
"Meaning?"
"I can help you, if you want me to. And you can help me. Straight forward business."
"What is it you need?"
"Nothing. Right now at least. I don't mind having people owing me favours, though. I'll collect later when it comes in handy."
"I don't know."
"Where is the gambler in you?"
"I'm not certain there's any."
"When I want to hear music, I sing. You're nothing but a gambler. All Slytherins are. We play for the best odds and work as best as we can with what we get."
"Okay, what are you offering?"
"I'm a hell of a spy. I'm small, cute."
"I'd hate to delude you, but you're a Slytherin, not cute."
"I'm still cute. Sweet smile, sweet brown eyes." He flapped his long eyelashes.
"Who lied to you?"
"So funny."
"I'm not intending to be. Leave me alone, okay? I'm not interested in your grand schemes."
"Still, there is a graveyard in Hogsmeade." The boy said two seconds after Severus turned his attention to his reading. So he asked, a bit impatiently.
"Have you ever been there?"
"I told you already, I was not."
"So, you never saw that graveyard."
"No."
"I don't even want to know, how come you think you know what you're saying."
"You have a way with a phrase."
"Thank you. Now."
"Still there is a graveyard in."
"Hogsmeade! You told that already!" Severus sneered.
"Good. I thought you weren't paying attention."
Severus snarled in frustration and covered his face with his hands.
"Okay! Tell me what you want."
"Me? I don't want anything. You said you needed a graveyard for Merlin's know what! I just wish Merlin would share the information."
"I believe you would."
"It must be something illegal."
"Really?"
"A graveyard. You're not intending to visit your dead grandmother in just any graveyard at hand, I suppose."
"You got there by yourself?" Still that was an excuse as good as any, if he was caught with his hands dirty.
"I'll learn what you're up to."
"Good for you."
"Just save the time and trouble to us both."
"Why? I love to see you beg."
"Sev, you're not funny. Don't chose that line of work."
"You can bet I am." He answered in a frozen tone. "And don't call me Sev, Sevvie or any other cute friendly name. I'm not a Marauder. I don't like nicknames. My name is Severus."
Under the cold glare, Will seemed abashed for a second. Then he reacted;
"Well, if you were a Marauder, you would have a way to go to the graveyard."
This caught Severus out of guard.
"What do you mean?"
"The Marauders." Insisted Will. "The pricks were talking about an underground passage they'd found. It seems it goes all the way to Hogsmeade. They were talking about the 'Shrieking Shack' and the graveyard near it, on the other day. I think they want to see the ghosts in there."
"Nonsense."
"What is?"
"What is that Shrieking Shack? I never heard about it."
" I hadn't either. I got informed after" Will leaned forward conspiratorially. "it is a haunted old house."
"So. What's the big deal?" We're sleeping in the place registered as the most haunted in the whole British islands."
"Hum. Yes."
"Those gits are up to something else. Would you waste your time looking for ghosts?"
"No. But these particular ghosts in that shack are some kind of yellers. I can only guess that's part of the attraction."
"Yellers. Poltergeist? That's why the 'shrieking' nomenclature."
"Exactly."
With this information at hand, Severus had something more to work with. Now he had to find where that underground passage was. Where it started and to where it leaded.
"Thank you." He said and meant it.
"You're welcome."
Disclaimer: Fire rose is Nyarth Kyukon's creation and she gently authorised me to borrow it.
Thank you: To the wonderful readers who reviewed. You know how much it means to me.
CRUMBING MYTHS
Challenges
"I need a graveyard.. " Severus disclosed to himself.
"What?" William Wilkes had such good hearing he didn't miss a whisper around him.
"Nothing. Shut up."
"What do you need a graveyard for?"
"None of your business."
"Okay."
The first year's attitude did get on Severus' nerves. The bloody kid was always trying to snoop on what he, or anybody else was doing. When rebuked, though, he would act as if nothing had happened.
Severus turned to his book once more. He was studying a botanical book called 'Compendium in Botanical Hazards' By Wisthmink Woonk. He had first grabbed it out of necessity of additional information to his herbology management of mandragore. In this book he had found a reference to a Rosa de Ignis. A fire rose. It was incredible. With it, he could make a potion three times more potent. Plus, if the ancients picture had some truth to speak for it self, it was beautiful and dangerous to deal with as it dripped embers. Those were reasons enough to set Severus working to have one.
The problem in this whole new fancy, was the explanation on how to create a rare specimin. Apparently, it wasn't so easy like buying it at Diagon Alley's street market. Woonk had written in his book, the seed of the hazardous flower had to be planted in a lightening strike and be covered with graveyard soil. Now, how the hell do you do that?
Starting with easier problems; The graveyard soil. Was the soil supposed to be FROM a grave? Would the soil in anywhere in a graveyard precinct do? Would the seed have to planted INSIDE the graveyard? Or could he just bring it to where a storm was at work? Where was he going to find a graveyard? There was none near his neighbourhood, so waiting for the holidays was no good. As a second year student, he wasn't allowed to leave the school perimeter. Where was he going to find such a place? There wasn't a graveyard in Hogwarts. Was there? Did it have to be a human graveyard? Was an animal grave any less important than a person's? If it was all the same, could he ask Hagrid where had he buried any of his tragic pets? But he wasn't certain if it was worth the risk, enraging the enormous game keeper. If an animal's grave got to be inappropriate to set things going, he'd be risking his neck for nothing.
That leaded to the second problem; Risking his neck, figuratively speaking. If you needed graveyard soil, then you were messing with the dead. The fact that the particular deceased one you choose would never miss a hand full of dirt, or the presence of a seed in his or hers grave, didn't change matters; the spell was classified Dark Arts. So he couldn't spread notice on his intentions.
Third problem; Risking his neck, in a more literal sense. The lightening bolt. That was supposed to get hot and Severus wasn't trilled with the prospect of roasting his brains. How was he supposed to seed on this conditions? That had a simple answer; he needed someone to plant it for him. Someone bold not to run in a lightening storm. Someone not greedy, so as not to claim the rose to him/herself. That clause alone, immediately cut all and any Slytherin as a hypothesis. A Ravenclaw was too smart to be wound up in such a scam. A Hufflepuff could work out. A Gryffindor was better still.
The face of a candidate jumped in his mind, but Black would NEVER do anything willingly for Severus. He had to be tricked.
Tricking Sirius wasn't that hard. The problem was, the hot headed git was always surrounded by the Marauders and a whole retinue of fans. In this business, secrecy was the key, and Sirius Black was a serious liability.
"There is a graveyard in Hogsmeade." Said William Wilkes conversationally.
"How do you know that? You're a first year. You can't leave Hogwarts grounds."
"True. You can't either." Observed Wilkes.
"Of course not." Cut Severus, who should know by now his efforts were fruitless. The freshman repeated.
"There is a graveyard in Hogsmeade."
"What do you care?"
"I don't"
"In that case, leave me alone and stop snooping on me."
"Don't you feel too important. I do snoop on everybody. I told you before, I like a good gossip."
"The question is, what do you like the most? Hearing or spreading it?"
"What? Do you think I'm a tell-tale ?"
"I don't know what you are." Admitted Severus.
"I'm someone who'll keep his ears open, will know where is trouble coming from and learn in advance how to block it. I'll be grand some day. Not in the near future but slowly and steadily. And I'll remember my friends."
Severus was mute for some moments, watching the boy and reading between the lines.
"Strong words."
"Plus, I'm not a tell-tale. I choose to whom I speak. I'm just not picky on where and from whom I gather information."
"Meaning?"
"I can help you, if you want me to. And you can help me. Straight forward business."
"What is it you need?"
"Nothing. Right now at least. I don't mind having people owing me favours, though. I'll collect later when it comes in handy."
"I don't know."
"Where is the gambler in you?"
"I'm not certain there's any."
"When I want to hear music, I sing. You're nothing but a gambler. All Slytherins are. We play for the best odds and work as best as we can with what we get."
"Okay, what are you offering?"
"I'm a hell of a spy. I'm small, cute."
"I'd hate to delude you, but you're a Slytherin, not cute."
"I'm still cute. Sweet smile, sweet brown eyes." He flapped his long eyelashes.
"Who lied to you?"
"So funny."
"I'm not intending to be. Leave me alone, okay? I'm not interested in your grand schemes."
"Still, there is a graveyard in Hogsmeade." The boy said two seconds after Severus turned his attention to his reading. So he asked, a bit impatiently.
"Have you ever been there?"
"I told you already, I was not."
"So, you never saw that graveyard."
"No."
"I don't even want to know, how come you think you know what you're saying."
"You have a way with a phrase."
"Thank you. Now."
"Still there is a graveyard in."
"Hogsmeade! You told that already!" Severus sneered.
"Good. I thought you weren't paying attention."
Severus snarled in frustration and covered his face with his hands.
"Okay! Tell me what you want."
"Me? I don't want anything. You said you needed a graveyard for Merlin's know what! I just wish Merlin would share the information."
"I believe you would."
"It must be something illegal."
"Really?"
"A graveyard. You're not intending to visit your dead grandmother in just any graveyard at hand, I suppose."
"You got there by yourself?" Still that was an excuse as good as any, if he was caught with his hands dirty.
"I'll learn what you're up to."
"Good for you."
"Just save the time and trouble to us both."
"Why? I love to see you beg."
"Sev, you're not funny. Don't chose that line of work."
"You can bet I am." He answered in a frozen tone. "And don't call me Sev, Sevvie or any other cute friendly name. I'm not a Marauder. I don't like nicknames. My name is Severus."
Under the cold glare, Will seemed abashed for a second. Then he reacted;
"Well, if you were a Marauder, you would have a way to go to the graveyard."
This caught Severus out of guard.
"What do you mean?"
"The Marauders." Insisted Will. "The pricks were talking about an underground passage they'd found. It seems it goes all the way to Hogsmeade. They were talking about the 'Shrieking Shack' and the graveyard near it, on the other day. I think they want to see the ghosts in there."
"Nonsense."
"What is?"
"What is that Shrieking Shack? I never heard about it."
" I hadn't either. I got informed after" Will leaned forward conspiratorially. "it is a haunted old house."
"So. What's the big deal?" We're sleeping in the place registered as the most haunted in the whole British islands."
"Hum. Yes."
"Those gits are up to something else. Would you waste your time looking for ghosts?"
"No. But these particular ghosts in that shack are some kind of yellers. I can only guess that's part of the attraction."
"Yellers. Poltergeist? That's why the 'shrieking' nomenclature."
"Exactly."
With this information at hand, Severus had something more to work with. Now he had to find where that underground passage was. Where it started and to where it leaded.
"Thank you." He said and meant it.
"You're welcome."