Title: The Art of Necromancy
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
E-Mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Harry/Severus
Time: begins right after GoF
Summary: Harry returns to Hogwarts to spend the summer. Out of sheer boredom, he scours the library for books to read and stumbles across a book that will change his life…
Disclaimer: I own not a thing
WARNING!!!! THIS IS A SLASH STORY!!!! IF YOU DON'T LIKE SLASH OR THIS PARTICULAR PAIRING… LEAVE NOW!!!!
Chapter Four: Journal Entries
Illiar has been helping me understand all the information I received in my Ascension Sleep. He says I'm learning fast, or rather I'm understanding fast. Ylura says it has something to do with my age. I'm the youngest Necromancer ever. It's a kind of scary thought because I know this means that I have more power than any other Necromancer ever has had. It is also a good thing though. I know that this added power will help in the war against Voldemort. I'm focusing on healing magics at the moment though. I think that, at the moment, it is where I can give the most help. Voldemort is going to begin his Death Eater attacks again, I want to be able to help when that finally happens. I'm afraid of everyone's reactions when they find out I'm a Necromancer. Will they all turn on me? Augustine says I shouldn't worry, that my true friends will stand by me no matter what. I'm glad someone has faith in human nature. I guess after the whole Slytherin's Heir thing and the fiasco with the Triwizard Tournament I don't have much faith at all. Ylura has been going over some of the history and lore of the ancient Necromancers. She makes history seem much more interesting then Professor Binns ever could. I'm a little worried about writing this all down in the Necromancer's Rune. I have some pretty powerful spells on my journal, and I even increased them yesterday, but still… it makes me nervous. I think the only ones who could crack the spells on it are Dumbledore and Voldemort and I can't think of any reason why they would do so. So, I guess I'm safe. As long as I'm careful about where I write, whose around me, and locking it up, I should be okay.
- Harry
Snape rubbed a hand over weary eyes, his fingers rubbing the aching scar tissue around his right eye. Translating Potter's journal was difficult, but he believed it was worth it. He still hadn't gone to Dumbledore with what he had translated; he figured he'd wait until he's uncovered a little bit more information.
***
July 26
Snape came back today. I think he was a little surprised to see me working in the Potions classroom. Now that I can actually do my homework over the summer, I'll show him I'm not as abysmal at Potions as he thinks. Ah! I can't believe I wrote that! What do I care what he thinks! He hates me anyway. I think he's probably keel over and die before liking me. Totally stinks that I respect him. Why couldn't he be a fool as well as an arse? I found out today what I'm going to look like, well sort of, when I change into my animagus form. I'll be white and hairy. I better not be a bunny rabbit, I'll run screaming to Voldemort pleading with him to kill me. Ylura says I shouldn't worry so much. She says that the animal chooses the wizard and that I'd never be a bunny rabbit. I'm glad she's confident!
- Harry
July 31
Today was my birthday and for once, it was actually good. It was more than good, it was the best birthday I've ever had. I've never had a birthday party before, or ever received so many presents, or had someone wish me Happy Birthday to my face. It felt like someone actually cared I was born. Snape gave me a birthday present too! Granted it was a book on Potions and the inscription on the inside wasn't exactly flattering, but hey it's the thought that counts! He's actually very pleasing to be with when he's not giving his Death Glare. …I did not just write that… moving on! Bloody Hell! So I admit it! He's sexy! The dark, mysterious, touch-me-if-you-dare thing is very appealing! I'm sure I'm not the first to think so even! His sarcastic, dry wit is a hell of a lot funnier then most people's jokes. …damn… I have a crush on Snape.
- Harry
August 1
I finally did a complete animagus transformation! I'm a white wolf! Augustine laughed and told me I had been worried for nothing. Ylura, the sneaky conniving woman that she is, figured out about Snape. She won't stop teasing me! I tried to tell her that I'm only fifteen and that the likelihood of Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ever returning my affections is slim to none. She won't give it up. I think she's trying to drive me bonkers!
- Harry
August 5
I think Illiar is worried about something. He hasn't said much the last few times I've been in the Necromancer's Haven. I wonder if something is wrong. Augustine seems concerned about how fast my abilities are coming to me. I think even they don't really know what to expect when you factor my age into the equation. Necromancer Olivia had a lot of powers that normal Necromancers didn't have. Fredrick said that everyone believed that it had to do with her age. If she was 56 and having problems, what is me being fifteen going to do? Fredrick also said something about her disappearing for a few days. Apparently she just got up and left one day, or so the story goes. I think I'll reread that chapter he wrote on her. Whatever happened to her is probably going to happen to me. I just with I knew for sure what really happened. Fredrick's account is only what's been passed down by her descendents. If one of the three closed-mouth guardians would just tell me what happened, I wouldn't be stressing out about it! What is the point in not telling me? Is whatever it is so bad that this horrid waiting is a blessing in disguise?
- Harry
Snape stared down at the entry. The next day, Harry had disappeared.
The Easter holidays were long gone. It had taken him two months to translate all of Potter's journal. Parts of it had been amusing, parts disturbing, and parts had been completely confusing. Ever since he read the first entry regarding him, he was having difficulty deciding how he truly felt about the Boy-Who-Lived. He pushed his thoughts to the side. He's deal with them later.
So, even Harr—Potter! hadn't known he'd be leaving… well not really. Apparently he knew something was going to happen, but not what. What made the whole situation even more disturbing was that he had been missing for nearly a year. The woman, Olivia, had only been gone for a few days. Snape was not looking forward to translating Fredrick's book.
Snape rubbed a hand over his eyes, or more specifically the scar tissue around his right eye; it tended to ache when he read for too long. Dumbledore would be here soon to check on his progress. He felt slightly guilty. He still hadn't told Dumbledore what was in the journal beyond the bare facts. The Headmaster knew that Harry Potter was a Necromancer but other than that, Snape hadn't said much.
***
TBC…