**** Disclaimer in Part One******
A/N: Thank you to everybody who's had a kind word, a suggestion, or any general thoughts on this story. It's a lot of fun to write, and I'm glad people are enjoying it.
*****
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Minerva McGonagall was a sly witch indeed. Her keen intellect and quick tongue made her a match for nearly any wizard or muggle alive. What was often overlooked was her well-hidden mischievous streak. In her hay day, Minerva had been the rebel rouser or Gryffindor. This particular characteristic had led her to follow a hunch she'd felt from short screenings of the comings and goings of the Hogwarts four while they were in America.
Albus had shared clips of the trio as it pertained to Minerva's position of head of house. And because he had wanted to see how the old girl reacted to Severus' hauling the Head Girl out of bed in the middle of the night. Dumbledore enjoyed the look on her face, and the shock in her eyes as she viewed the men's machoistic display over who was doing what with the young women. Seeing Severus Snape with a tail was a rare treat indeed, and something she was sure to goad him for in the years to come.
Despite speculation, the two got on quite well in their own way. Minerva had taken a young Severus under her wing during the man's early years at the magical school. His defection to the dark lord had been a hard blow to accept. Snape turning spy for Dumbledore against the death eaters had held their bond together by a thread, but now, over a decade later, Minerva found it hard to completely forgive Severus. It was a strained relationship but they made it work. And strained or not, Minerva still loved to rag on Severus about a multitude of things. The latest tape from Dumbledore gave her enough material to taunt Severus with for the next century. Naturally, Minerva couldn't resist the temptation to goad him at once.
The head of Gryffindor took a dash of flu powder and sprinkled it in the fireplace of her private quarters. "Severus Snape in America" she said, as she stepped into the flames.
A few moments later, she stepped out of the fire and into a dark room. Snape didn't appear to be in his quarters. Casting 'lumos' Minerva examined the different muggle articles in the room. A strange clock that appeared to be plugged into the wall and cast a blue light, the modern looking bed without any curtains on it, and finally her interest settled on the tablet of paper and a pen on the nightstand. Minerva hadn't had much to do with the muggle world since her own entrance into Hogwarts. She'd taken muggle studies in her latter years, but hadn't seen a pen in ages. It interested her greatly. She sat on the bed and picked up the pen and paper. She clicked the cap off of the pen and brought it too her mouth as she would before writing with a quill. Unfortunately she didn't remember the whole concept of built in ink until a few drops dripped onto her tongue. She quickly threw down the pen and stomped into the bathroom where she conjured up a cleansing spell to rid herself of the black menace in her mouth. As she was checking her work, the door opened and a very weary Snape strolled into his chambers.
"I was wondering where you'd gone off too. Perhaps to haul Miss Granger out of her bed again" the old witch said with a stone face. The glimmer in her eyes betraying her true feelings.
"Bloody Dumbledore, I should have expected something like this." Snape groaned.
"Well, if you weren't manhandling one of my students at such an inappropriate hour, then I wouldn't be here."
"Minerva, it was hardly manhandling. And it was all her fault. She was being utterly impossible. Ruddy Gryffindor stubbornness."
"Severus, you just didn't like it because someone stood up too you. You've never liked being told no or what to do. Even when you yourself were a student, you hated it when people didn't go along with your every word."
"She defied my authority! She set a terrible example and is going to destroy my reputation here."
"So the girl saw it, she and the girl are friends. Besides Severus, you're not as bad as you think you are. Now moving on to my real reason for being here, it pertains to Miss Granger as well- have you taken a likening to her Severus?" McGonagall asked point blank.
"Good God woman, have you gone mad? The idea of me being fond of any student, especially a Gryffindor is preposterous." Snape finished hotly.
"Deny it if you will Severus. I just want to make sure you are holding up alright here, and that my students are safe."
"The Pryd girl is just about finished with the sheets, and I think we're close to having some sort of a spell we can use on that bloody thing. We could really use Albus' help though I'm afraid. Things would go quicker with him here."
"Albus chose you because he knew you would get the job done Severus. And you will. Just carry on with your work, and let that brilliant mind of yours do its job. And let Hermione help you, Harry and Ron too. That's why they are here. Let them do their job, ease up a bit, even if it is just a smidge." Minerva told her young college.
"Yes, well pardon me but I have got to get some rest. All those classes to teach, in a subject, which I'd rather not be speaking of. The history of American Wizardry is much more interesting than teaching about muggles going berserk and killing each other in a bloody war every few decades."
Minerva laughed softly, "well, better me than you I must say. Take care Severus, and I hope to see you back home soon." she warmly said.
"Yes, thank you Minerva, I dare say I would like to get this thing over with and get back to a place where people know how to serve a decent cup of tea."
"Oh and Severus, Hermione's good for you."
"Oh bugger off you old bat!" he shouted, but all in vain as Minerva McGonagall had already traveled back to Hogwarts.
*******
Elsewhere in the mansion, Rogue and Hermione who'd been unable to sleep since the event in the library had decided to take a walk on the grounds. Logan had gone down to the Danger room and took his frustration out on a holographic Snape. The three had been burdened with a lot that evening and were tired of caution and on Rogue's part, wanted to know the whole story. Hermione felt it her duty to inform the girl, the target of the entire plan.
"They're after you Rogue. The people we're here to protect you against. They're evil and they need you, and we don't know why." Hermione finished up.
"Me? What the hell? Why are people always after me! Damnit, I already went through this once. Level with me Mia, what is it this time. Is it because of my skin?"
"It's because of who you are, and your mutation has something to do with it. You're half Dementor. Don't take this the wrong way, but dementors are evil creatures with no feeling who suck the souls out of people. The haglets, the people after you are a breed of Dementor, only worse. They want you because you share some similarity with them. You're half dementor Rogue. It doesn't make you a bad person, you are what you are."
"You just said they're evil fiends who suck the life out of people. That sounds pretty damn bad to me Mia." Rogue said angrily.
"Look, there's no use getting upset about this. It's just what is and they want you. You'll deal with this better if you're calm. That may sound cold, but we need to keep our wits about us" Hermione burst out, she caught a look at Rogue who was suddenly very still.
"What is it?"
"Run. Run now!" Without a backwards glance the two young women sprinted back towards the mansion.
The hooded figures advanced slowly on the girls, their presence striking fear into the very air. Six figures closed in on their prey and two more emerged from the shadows blocking the door to the castle. Bindie, the strongest immobilized Hermione with a hard punch to the side of the head. Rogue ran to her side and was quickly dispatched of by Civ. A look into the terrible face of the haglet was enough to paralyze her with fear. This wasn't Sabertooth, or Magneto, or any foe she'd ever encountered. This was pure evil, and she was powerless to do anything. A shot in the arm, caused Rogue to pass out and the two girls were dragged away by the powerful haglets.
**********
An insistent series of knocks awoke Severus Snape hours before his alarm clock was set to go off. Without throwing a robe on he answered the door.
"Sir, Hermione's not here. We found this outside in the yard." A white faced Harry said as he presented Hermione's wand.
"Rogue is gone too, Logan has gone to look for the girls." Ron announced, as pale as his best friend.
"Professor Xavier wants you right away, and he gave us instructions to get Dumbledore and McGonagall." Harry said in a hollow voice.
Snape conjured clothing and practically ran to the headmaster's office.
"Please get her sir. Don't let them get her." Ron pleaded to his least favorite teacher.
"With Dumbledore and McGonagall we won't fail Weasly. I assure you," he told the boy with a deep sincerity. "Get the others, we haven't got much time."
TBC...
A/N: Thank you to everybody who's had a kind word, a suggestion, or any general thoughts on this story. It's a lot of fun to write, and I'm glad people are enjoying it.
*****
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Minerva McGonagall was a sly witch indeed. Her keen intellect and quick tongue made her a match for nearly any wizard or muggle alive. What was often overlooked was her well-hidden mischievous streak. In her hay day, Minerva had been the rebel rouser or Gryffindor. This particular characteristic had led her to follow a hunch she'd felt from short screenings of the comings and goings of the Hogwarts four while they were in America.
Albus had shared clips of the trio as it pertained to Minerva's position of head of house. And because he had wanted to see how the old girl reacted to Severus' hauling the Head Girl out of bed in the middle of the night. Dumbledore enjoyed the look on her face, and the shock in her eyes as she viewed the men's machoistic display over who was doing what with the young women. Seeing Severus Snape with a tail was a rare treat indeed, and something she was sure to goad him for in the years to come.
Despite speculation, the two got on quite well in their own way. Minerva had taken a young Severus under her wing during the man's early years at the magical school. His defection to the dark lord had been a hard blow to accept. Snape turning spy for Dumbledore against the death eaters had held their bond together by a thread, but now, over a decade later, Minerva found it hard to completely forgive Severus. It was a strained relationship but they made it work. And strained or not, Minerva still loved to rag on Severus about a multitude of things. The latest tape from Dumbledore gave her enough material to taunt Severus with for the next century. Naturally, Minerva couldn't resist the temptation to goad him at once.
The head of Gryffindor took a dash of flu powder and sprinkled it in the fireplace of her private quarters. "Severus Snape in America" she said, as she stepped into the flames.
A few moments later, she stepped out of the fire and into a dark room. Snape didn't appear to be in his quarters. Casting 'lumos' Minerva examined the different muggle articles in the room. A strange clock that appeared to be plugged into the wall and cast a blue light, the modern looking bed without any curtains on it, and finally her interest settled on the tablet of paper and a pen on the nightstand. Minerva hadn't had much to do with the muggle world since her own entrance into Hogwarts. She'd taken muggle studies in her latter years, but hadn't seen a pen in ages. It interested her greatly. She sat on the bed and picked up the pen and paper. She clicked the cap off of the pen and brought it too her mouth as she would before writing with a quill. Unfortunately she didn't remember the whole concept of built in ink until a few drops dripped onto her tongue. She quickly threw down the pen and stomped into the bathroom where she conjured up a cleansing spell to rid herself of the black menace in her mouth. As she was checking her work, the door opened and a very weary Snape strolled into his chambers.
"I was wondering where you'd gone off too. Perhaps to haul Miss Granger out of her bed again" the old witch said with a stone face. The glimmer in her eyes betraying her true feelings.
"Bloody Dumbledore, I should have expected something like this." Snape groaned.
"Well, if you weren't manhandling one of my students at such an inappropriate hour, then I wouldn't be here."
"Minerva, it was hardly manhandling. And it was all her fault. She was being utterly impossible. Ruddy Gryffindor stubbornness."
"Severus, you just didn't like it because someone stood up too you. You've never liked being told no or what to do. Even when you yourself were a student, you hated it when people didn't go along with your every word."
"She defied my authority! She set a terrible example and is going to destroy my reputation here."
"So the girl saw it, she and the girl are friends. Besides Severus, you're not as bad as you think you are. Now moving on to my real reason for being here, it pertains to Miss Granger as well- have you taken a likening to her Severus?" McGonagall asked point blank.
"Good God woman, have you gone mad? The idea of me being fond of any student, especially a Gryffindor is preposterous." Snape finished hotly.
"Deny it if you will Severus. I just want to make sure you are holding up alright here, and that my students are safe."
"The Pryd girl is just about finished with the sheets, and I think we're close to having some sort of a spell we can use on that bloody thing. We could really use Albus' help though I'm afraid. Things would go quicker with him here."
"Albus chose you because he knew you would get the job done Severus. And you will. Just carry on with your work, and let that brilliant mind of yours do its job. And let Hermione help you, Harry and Ron too. That's why they are here. Let them do their job, ease up a bit, even if it is just a smidge." Minerva told her young college.
"Yes, well pardon me but I have got to get some rest. All those classes to teach, in a subject, which I'd rather not be speaking of. The history of American Wizardry is much more interesting than teaching about muggles going berserk and killing each other in a bloody war every few decades."
Minerva laughed softly, "well, better me than you I must say. Take care Severus, and I hope to see you back home soon." she warmly said.
"Yes, thank you Minerva, I dare say I would like to get this thing over with and get back to a place where people know how to serve a decent cup of tea."
"Oh and Severus, Hermione's good for you."
"Oh bugger off you old bat!" he shouted, but all in vain as Minerva McGonagall had already traveled back to Hogwarts.
*******
Elsewhere in the mansion, Rogue and Hermione who'd been unable to sleep since the event in the library had decided to take a walk on the grounds. Logan had gone down to the Danger room and took his frustration out on a holographic Snape. The three had been burdened with a lot that evening and were tired of caution and on Rogue's part, wanted to know the whole story. Hermione felt it her duty to inform the girl, the target of the entire plan.
"They're after you Rogue. The people we're here to protect you against. They're evil and they need you, and we don't know why." Hermione finished up.
"Me? What the hell? Why are people always after me! Damnit, I already went through this once. Level with me Mia, what is it this time. Is it because of my skin?"
"It's because of who you are, and your mutation has something to do with it. You're half Dementor. Don't take this the wrong way, but dementors are evil creatures with no feeling who suck the souls out of people. The haglets, the people after you are a breed of Dementor, only worse. They want you because you share some similarity with them. You're half dementor Rogue. It doesn't make you a bad person, you are what you are."
"You just said they're evil fiends who suck the life out of people. That sounds pretty damn bad to me Mia." Rogue said angrily.
"Look, there's no use getting upset about this. It's just what is and they want you. You'll deal with this better if you're calm. That may sound cold, but we need to keep our wits about us" Hermione burst out, she caught a look at Rogue who was suddenly very still.
"What is it?"
"Run. Run now!" Without a backwards glance the two young women sprinted back towards the mansion.
The hooded figures advanced slowly on the girls, their presence striking fear into the very air. Six figures closed in on their prey and two more emerged from the shadows blocking the door to the castle. Bindie, the strongest immobilized Hermione with a hard punch to the side of the head. Rogue ran to her side and was quickly dispatched of by Civ. A look into the terrible face of the haglet was enough to paralyze her with fear. This wasn't Sabertooth, or Magneto, or any foe she'd ever encountered. This was pure evil, and she was powerless to do anything. A shot in the arm, caused Rogue to pass out and the two girls were dragged away by the powerful haglets.
**********
An insistent series of knocks awoke Severus Snape hours before his alarm clock was set to go off. Without throwing a robe on he answered the door.
"Sir, Hermione's not here. We found this outside in the yard." A white faced Harry said as he presented Hermione's wand.
"Rogue is gone too, Logan has gone to look for the girls." Ron announced, as pale as his best friend.
"Professor Xavier wants you right away, and he gave us instructions to get Dumbledore and McGonagall." Harry said in a hollow voice.
Snape conjured clothing and practically ran to the headmaster's office.
"Please get her sir. Don't let them get her." Ron pleaded to his least favorite teacher.
"With Dumbledore and McGonagall we won't fail Weasly. I assure you," he told the boy with a deep sincerity. "Get the others, we haven't got much time."
TBC...