Disclaimer: As usual J. K. did it all.
CRUMBLING MYTHS
Evan Rosier
"Floo powder?"
"Yes." Answered Severus, examining the soft, volatile, greenish dust in the small glass flask.
William Wilkes looked at him, surprised.
"I thought you were looking for a graveyard."
"I am."
"Are you expecting to find a fireplace in there'?"
"What?"
"I'm talking a floo connected fireplace. Are you seriously expecting to find one in a cemetery?"
"Not really. I've never been in one though."
"I don't think you'll find a fireplace in Hogsmeade graveyard." Insisted Will.
"Okay. Have it your way. I won't get there by the Floo Network."
Both boys were crouched near the lighten fireplace in Slytherin common Room. The place was hardy crowded. Only two finalists studying in a corner, looking very dignified and stern, completely ignoring the two younger boys whispering on the other side of the room, and over a couch, a sleeping second year; Evan Rosier.
"Why did you steal this from the Marauders, then?"
"You're so smart. Tell me."
Will thought for a while.
"Could it be so they couldn't use it? I heard them talking about going to London."
"See? You're a smart little fellow."
"And you're pushing it. I don't believed anything I said."
"I wander if anybody does."
"Snape!"
"What?"
"What do you want floo powder for?"
Severus had to grant this to the younger boy. He was irritantly persistent to a point Severus had to wonder how patient Will really was and how far could he push the envelop, just to check. So far he was certainly impressing Severus.
"To season my food. You see, I've been developing these strange symptoms in my intestines lately. I think it might be gas. I read it somewhere floo powder could help transporting farts far away to safe places."
"You're disgusting."
"I do try."
"Where do you want to go?"
"Actually, I'd like to go to bed."
"With the floo powder."
"Okay!" Severus raised his hands in defeat. "You win. Listen carefully. I will say this only once; it's none of your bloody business."
"Sev. Severus." Will corrected himself quickly. "I won't tell a soul."
"Neither will I. Your soul is included."
"Where will you use it?" The boy ignored the tirade.
"Why?"
"Will you use it in here?"
"Maybe. And then, maybe not."
"It won't work."
Severus guessed the first year was probably right.
"Hogwarts is one of the most heavily protected places in the whole world." Pressed Will. "You can't possibly apparate in here. I read it in 'Hogwarts, A History'."
"Does the fact that you read something, means that you shouldn't try?" Asked Severus smugly.
"It won't work."
"Okay. It won't work."
"So." His point expressed, Will continued. "If you try, will you let me watch?"
"Certainly not."
"I will, anyway."
"I won't use it in Hogwarts."
"Why not?"
Severus was starting to fume. It certainly wasn't easy to fight in William Wilkes territory.
"It won't work." Severus answered in a tone he could use on a dimwit.
"Are you sure?"
"Someone told me, he had read it in 'Hogwarts, A History'."
"Someone did. But someone told me he was not that convinced and I'm an open minded person."
"I've heard this before."
".I'm always willing to try new paths in life, to test theories, to register a new patent on what other people missed. We can share our profits. Fifty to fifty percent each."
"You want to get rich."
"Certainly, I do."
Severus rose from his spot on the floor.
"Good night." He said.
"Just like that?"
"Like what?"
"You didn't tell me anything. You owe me." Will pointed his finger accusingly.
"I did." Severus answered solemnly. "You asked me what was on the flask and what I wanted it for. I told you it is floo powder, which is the absolute truth, and you already know what it is supposed to do. Now, allow me to wish you a most pleasant night. Sleep well and dream with the million galleons I'm sure you'll possess some day. I'm tired out and going to bed." Whit a smug smile, Severus left the younger boy and left to his room.
He did not lie about his weariness. He was sore from his skirmish with the Marauders, and had not gone to the infirmary. He didn't want to call more attention to himself, than the possible publicity the Marauders would be spreading about him, just then.
He took his clothes off and studied the bruises on his torso, arms and legs. This had been worse than ever before. Never, in any situation prior to that day, had the Gryffindor gits physically attacked him. Hexes and curses were common occurrences between not only the Marauders and Severus but also between any conflicting students of different house-teams and occasionally, inside house-teams. Punches and kicks were considered too savage and primitive. Such behaviour was not to be tolerated by teachers and parents alike.
Severus felt he had had his reasons to behave that way, though. Will Wilkes was not so wrong when he fought to get what he wanted. Severus wouldn't budge to use his weapons either. The flask he had laid over his bed was worth any bruises and pain.
He had to smile, thinking about the marks on the Gryffindors faces. He alone had caused them! His pride swelled to dragon size. He'd held his ground against four! Well, actually three. Piggish Pettigrew had been out of the way when the fist brawl had started.
Severus frowned thinking about Peter. He had been dangerous enough to start with. Should weakling Pettigrew know such a hex as the burning spell? Severus would have to study the situation. Last time he had looked, the burning spell was dark arts. It could have gone out of hand. Had not Severus known the counter spell to cool down, he might have start burning in flames.
This was serious material for blackmail, but Severus had to think this from all angles. If the weakest link of the Marauders was not so weak, then he had to be careful around him. The pros and cons of blackmailing him had to be carefully measured.
~~~~*~~~~
"Javier!" Severus cried, happy to see him in Hogwarts' dungeons. "You're here! You're okay!"
The Spanish boy smiled broadly, his white teeth showing flashily against the brunet colour of his skin.
"Pup."
"How did you get here? Where are the others? Are they still frightened of me? Did they forgive me?"
But the older boy just kept smiling and didn't supply any answer.
"Javier? How are you? Are you okay?"
Javier, still smiling turned his back on Severus and walked away.
Annoyed, Severus followed him and turned the same dungeon's corner the other boy had, and then, he wasn't at Hogwarts anymore.
A known, silent London alley spread before his eyes. There were the same brick walls, the same rubbish bins at the same corner.
Severus squirmed. He didn't wish to go near the bins. Still, something pulled him there, some powerfully attractive spell, for he didn't move his legs.
He saw the same boots he had robbed for Javier, just like he had seen before and steeled himself for what was coming. And then, like he had expected but wasn't prepared in spite of his attempt to be, Severus saw Javier's dead body, just the same way he had before.
"Hey! Severus! Wake up, you git!" Someone was shaking his shoulders roughly. "Stop screaming! Wake up!"
Severus opened his eyes but didn't stopped screaming. The bloodied head of the deceased Javier didn't leave him, imposing as if printed in his mind.
"Shut up!"
Severus felt the slap, stinging sharp on his bruised face. It helped. Javier's head went away. He stopped screaming.
"Good. You woke everybody!"
Severus looked up to see Evan Rosier kneeled on his bed.
"What are you doing on my bed?"
"Shutting you up!"
"And doing a bloody bad job of it!" Complained Louis Lestrange who turned on his bed and pulled a pillow over his head. Andrew Avery shoot them a glare that could have incinerate them for the intensity of it.
"You see?" Whispered Rosier laying next to Severus. "You're annoying everybody."
"I was dreaming." Severus glared at Rosier, silently telling him to move away.
Evan supported his head on his harm and looked at Severus.
"Let us let them sleep." He said in such a low whisper, Severus had to move closer to understand. "Then we'll speak."
"What do you want?" Severus whispered back. This closeness was becoming innerving.
Evan didn't answered and waited for the other two room mates to fall asleep once more. When they heard the boys slow and regular breathing, Rosier spoke.
"I think we could use that floo powder tonight."
"What?" Severus sat on the bed and looked at the other boys direction to check that none of them was indeed awake. "You were not asleep down there, at the common room." Severus accused, furious.
"That would be a correct assumption." Answered Rosier untroubled. He kept on the same position smiling smugly.
"What do you want?" Severus gave up sulking and passed to practical matters. "To blackmail me? Tell me what you want and lets not waste our times."
Evan smiled amused.
"Actually, I don't want to blackmail you. Why would I? You're a Slytherin mate."
"So?" He looked as if that didn't matter at all.
"So, call me crazy, but I have my principles and my loyalties."
"You're crazy. You should be in Gryffindor. And you shouldn't ever repeat what you said."
"Gryffindor? Please, don't speak blasphemy." He smiled. "Plus, you are intelligent and cunning."
"Aren't we all?"
"Not all, I assure you. Anyway, I want to get out of here."
"Why?"
"For a business of my own. There is no need to tell you. You have the means for me to leave Slytherin dungeons unnoticed and so we'll try it."
"What if I say no?"
"I'll kick your arse."
Rosier was lean and graceful, not a very tall boy, but still he was taller than Severus who was still hurting from the beating earlier. Evan was also popular amongst the girls and that sure gave him some power near Slytherin's male population. Severus didn't think the other boys in the room would take his pains over Rosier's.
"What is your problem?" Demanded Evan. "Don't you want to use the powder, anyway?"
"I do." Admitted Severus grudgingly. "But, not only am I uncertain it will work in Hogwarts, I only have a small quantity of it."
"My boy, hear and learn." Rosier was the total picture of smugness. "You can't apparate in Hogwarts grounds. Using the floo is not apparating." The taller boy rose from the bed and dragged Severus out of it. "Grab the flask and lets do it."
Silently, Rosier striped his night shirt and dressed his robes.
Severus followed the example and extracted the flask from behind his pillow.
"It was there?" Rosier noticed disappointed. "It I had known, I'd have taken it from you while you were yelling your guts out."
"I Know. Life is a disappointment." Smirked Severus.
So silently, no one in their dorm noticed, the two Slytherins left the room, with their senses alert for anything that moved. This was frightening and exciting at the same time. Severus was used by now to these particular mixed feelings.
The problem was, after his dream, he wasn't so sure anymore if he wanted to return to London and to his friends there.
CRUMBLING MYTHS
Evan Rosier
"Floo powder?"
"Yes." Answered Severus, examining the soft, volatile, greenish dust in the small glass flask.
William Wilkes looked at him, surprised.
"I thought you were looking for a graveyard."
"I am."
"Are you expecting to find a fireplace in there'?"
"What?"
"I'm talking a floo connected fireplace. Are you seriously expecting to find one in a cemetery?"
"Not really. I've never been in one though."
"I don't think you'll find a fireplace in Hogsmeade graveyard." Insisted Will.
"Okay. Have it your way. I won't get there by the Floo Network."
Both boys were crouched near the lighten fireplace in Slytherin common Room. The place was hardy crowded. Only two finalists studying in a corner, looking very dignified and stern, completely ignoring the two younger boys whispering on the other side of the room, and over a couch, a sleeping second year; Evan Rosier.
"Why did you steal this from the Marauders, then?"
"You're so smart. Tell me."
Will thought for a while.
"Could it be so they couldn't use it? I heard them talking about going to London."
"See? You're a smart little fellow."
"And you're pushing it. I don't believed anything I said."
"I wander if anybody does."
"Snape!"
"What?"
"What do you want floo powder for?"
Severus had to grant this to the younger boy. He was irritantly persistent to a point Severus had to wonder how patient Will really was and how far could he push the envelop, just to check. So far he was certainly impressing Severus.
"To season my food. You see, I've been developing these strange symptoms in my intestines lately. I think it might be gas. I read it somewhere floo powder could help transporting farts far away to safe places."
"You're disgusting."
"I do try."
"Where do you want to go?"
"Actually, I'd like to go to bed."
"With the floo powder."
"Okay!" Severus raised his hands in defeat. "You win. Listen carefully. I will say this only once; it's none of your bloody business."
"Sev. Severus." Will corrected himself quickly. "I won't tell a soul."
"Neither will I. Your soul is included."
"Where will you use it?" The boy ignored the tirade.
"Why?"
"Will you use it in here?"
"Maybe. And then, maybe not."
"It won't work."
Severus guessed the first year was probably right.
"Hogwarts is one of the most heavily protected places in the whole world." Pressed Will. "You can't possibly apparate in here. I read it in 'Hogwarts, A History'."
"Does the fact that you read something, means that you shouldn't try?" Asked Severus smugly.
"It won't work."
"Okay. It won't work."
"So." His point expressed, Will continued. "If you try, will you let me watch?"
"Certainly not."
"I will, anyway."
"I won't use it in Hogwarts."
"Why not?"
Severus was starting to fume. It certainly wasn't easy to fight in William Wilkes territory.
"It won't work." Severus answered in a tone he could use on a dimwit.
"Are you sure?"
"Someone told me, he had read it in 'Hogwarts, A History'."
"Someone did. But someone told me he was not that convinced and I'm an open minded person."
"I've heard this before."
".I'm always willing to try new paths in life, to test theories, to register a new patent on what other people missed. We can share our profits. Fifty to fifty percent each."
"You want to get rich."
"Certainly, I do."
Severus rose from his spot on the floor.
"Good night." He said.
"Just like that?"
"Like what?"
"You didn't tell me anything. You owe me." Will pointed his finger accusingly.
"I did." Severus answered solemnly. "You asked me what was on the flask and what I wanted it for. I told you it is floo powder, which is the absolute truth, and you already know what it is supposed to do. Now, allow me to wish you a most pleasant night. Sleep well and dream with the million galleons I'm sure you'll possess some day. I'm tired out and going to bed." Whit a smug smile, Severus left the younger boy and left to his room.
He did not lie about his weariness. He was sore from his skirmish with the Marauders, and had not gone to the infirmary. He didn't want to call more attention to himself, than the possible publicity the Marauders would be spreading about him, just then.
He took his clothes off and studied the bruises on his torso, arms and legs. This had been worse than ever before. Never, in any situation prior to that day, had the Gryffindor gits physically attacked him. Hexes and curses were common occurrences between not only the Marauders and Severus but also between any conflicting students of different house-teams and occasionally, inside house-teams. Punches and kicks were considered too savage and primitive. Such behaviour was not to be tolerated by teachers and parents alike.
Severus felt he had had his reasons to behave that way, though. Will Wilkes was not so wrong when he fought to get what he wanted. Severus wouldn't budge to use his weapons either. The flask he had laid over his bed was worth any bruises and pain.
He had to smile, thinking about the marks on the Gryffindors faces. He alone had caused them! His pride swelled to dragon size. He'd held his ground against four! Well, actually three. Piggish Pettigrew had been out of the way when the fist brawl had started.
Severus frowned thinking about Peter. He had been dangerous enough to start with. Should weakling Pettigrew know such a hex as the burning spell? Severus would have to study the situation. Last time he had looked, the burning spell was dark arts. It could have gone out of hand. Had not Severus known the counter spell to cool down, he might have start burning in flames.
This was serious material for blackmail, but Severus had to think this from all angles. If the weakest link of the Marauders was not so weak, then he had to be careful around him. The pros and cons of blackmailing him had to be carefully measured.
~~~~*~~~~
"Javier!" Severus cried, happy to see him in Hogwarts' dungeons. "You're here! You're okay!"
The Spanish boy smiled broadly, his white teeth showing flashily against the brunet colour of his skin.
"Pup."
"How did you get here? Where are the others? Are they still frightened of me? Did they forgive me?"
But the older boy just kept smiling and didn't supply any answer.
"Javier? How are you? Are you okay?"
Javier, still smiling turned his back on Severus and walked away.
Annoyed, Severus followed him and turned the same dungeon's corner the other boy had, and then, he wasn't at Hogwarts anymore.
A known, silent London alley spread before his eyes. There were the same brick walls, the same rubbish bins at the same corner.
Severus squirmed. He didn't wish to go near the bins. Still, something pulled him there, some powerfully attractive spell, for he didn't move his legs.
He saw the same boots he had robbed for Javier, just like he had seen before and steeled himself for what was coming. And then, like he had expected but wasn't prepared in spite of his attempt to be, Severus saw Javier's dead body, just the same way he had before.
"Hey! Severus! Wake up, you git!" Someone was shaking his shoulders roughly. "Stop screaming! Wake up!"
Severus opened his eyes but didn't stopped screaming. The bloodied head of the deceased Javier didn't leave him, imposing as if printed in his mind.
"Shut up!"
Severus felt the slap, stinging sharp on his bruised face. It helped. Javier's head went away. He stopped screaming.
"Good. You woke everybody!"
Severus looked up to see Evan Rosier kneeled on his bed.
"What are you doing on my bed?"
"Shutting you up!"
"And doing a bloody bad job of it!" Complained Louis Lestrange who turned on his bed and pulled a pillow over his head. Andrew Avery shoot them a glare that could have incinerate them for the intensity of it.
"You see?" Whispered Rosier laying next to Severus. "You're annoying everybody."
"I was dreaming." Severus glared at Rosier, silently telling him to move away.
Evan supported his head on his harm and looked at Severus.
"Let us let them sleep." He said in such a low whisper, Severus had to move closer to understand. "Then we'll speak."
"What do you want?" Severus whispered back. This closeness was becoming innerving.
Evan didn't answered and waited for the other two room mates to fall asleep once more. When they heard the boys slow and regular breathing, Rosier spoke.
"I think we could use that floo powder tonight."
"What?" Severus sat on the bed and looked at the other boys direction to check that none of them was indeed awake. "You were not asleep down there, at the common room." Severus accused, furious.
"That would be a correct assumption." Answered Rosier untroubled. He kept on the same position smiling smugly.
"What do you want?" Severus gave up sulking and passed to practical matters. "To blackmail me? Tell me what you want and lets not waste our times."
Evan smiled amused.
"Actually, I don't want to blackmail you. Why would I? You're a Slytherin mate."
"So?" He looked as if that didn't matter at all.
"So, call me crazy, but I have my principles and my loyalties."
"You're crazy. You should be in Gryffindor. And you shouldn't ever repeat what you said."
"Gryffindor? Please, don't speak blasphemy." He smiled. "Plus, you are intelligent and cunning."
"Aren't we all?"
"Not all, I assure you. Anyway, I want to get out of here."
"Why?"
"For a business of my own. There is no need to tell you. You have the means for me to leave Slytherin dungeons unnoticed and so we'll try it."
"What if I say no?"
"I'll kick your arse."
Rosier was lean and graceful, not a very tall boy, but still he was taller than Severus who was still hurting from the beating earlier. Evan was also popular amongst the girls and that sure gave him some power near Slytherin's male population. Severus didn't think the other boys in the room would take his pains over Rosier's.
"What is your problem?" Demanded Evan. "Don't you want to use the powder, anyway?"
"I do." Admitted Severus grudgingly. "But, not only am I uncertain it will work in Hogwarts, I only have a small quantity of it."
"My boy, hear and learn." Rosier was the total picture of smugness. "You can't apparate in Hogwarts grounds. Using the floo is not apparating." The taller boy rose from the bed and dragged Severus out of it. "Grab the flask and lets do it."
Silently, Rosier striped his night shirt and dressed his robes.
Severus followed the example and extracted the flask from behind his pillow.
"It was there?" Rosier noticed disappointed. "It I had known, I'd have taken it from you while you were yelling your guts out."
"I Know. Life is a disappointment." Smirked Severus.
So silently, no one in their dorm noticed, the two Slytherins left the room, with their senses alert for anything that moved. This was frightening and exciting at the same time. Severus was used by now to these particular mixed feelings.
The problem was, after his dream, he wasn't so sure anymore if he wanted to return to London and to his friends there.