Title: The Art of Necromancy
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
E-Mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com
Rating: R
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 Fourteen: Midnight Classes
A week later, the remaining Hogwarts students were sitting at dinner when Professor McGonagall went to eight students and handed them each a sealed letter. When the students started to open them immediately, they were instructed to open them in private. Hermione and Ron, both receivers of the letters, took off for Gryffindor Tower to read them. Hermione opened hers first.
Ms. Hermione Granger –
Your presence is requested at midnight tonight in Professor Snape's Potions classroom. Should you choose to decline this invitation, know that this will be your only invitation. You will no longer be considered for this privilege. Come alone or not at all.
The letter was unsigned. Ron opened his letter. Other than the name at the top, the letter was identical. "What do you think it is?" Ron asked.
"Since Professor McGonagall gave it to us, I don't think it has anything to do with You-Know-Who…" Hermione trailed off as her brow furrowed in thought.
"Yeah, but what is it?" Ron prompted.
Hermione glared at him. "I know just as much as you, Ron," she snapped.
Ron cringed. Hermione was mad… again. "Look, I'm sorry, Hermione. It's just that, you're very smart. You've a much better chance at figuring this out than I do." They sat in silence a bit before Ron continued. "What are you going to do?"
Hermione looked down at her letter. She reread it before looking back at him. "I'm going to go."
Ron looked down at his letter. He sighed. "I guess I'm going too."
***
Snape stood in his classroom waiting the eight selected students. They were meeting here and once assembled moving to a room deeper in the dungeons that Harry had chosen for its secrecy and size. Snape would take the students to the room after casting spells to make sure they weren't being followed by anyone, and after making sure that the students that showed up were truly the students invited.
It didn't surprise him at all to see Hermione Granger walk in first. She was always early. Ron Weasley and Dean Thomas trailed in behind her. "Professor Snape?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"Ms. Granger?"
"Why are we here?"
"You are here because you were chosen and you accepted. Do not ask any more questions."
Hermione gulped and glanced at Ron and Dean who were looking a little pale. Any further attempts at talking were stopped when Susan Bones entered the room. Terry Boot came in a few seconds later. Jason Limpol, Portia Maverin, and Ashley Finley came staggered in a few minutes later.
Unbeknownst to the students, Snape had been casting spells since the moment the first one arrived. Satisfied that each student was who they appeared to be, Snape cast a few more spells to ensure they wouldn't be followed down to the room Harry was waiting in.
The students were speaking quietly amongst themselves. Snape straightened from his slouched position once the final spells were in place. The students turned to watch him apprehensively. "Follow me."
Snape led them out of the classroom and deeper into the dungeons. After nearly ten minutes of walking, the students were being to feel terrified. Their tall, dark, and evil teacher whom had been miraculously healed by some mysterious means was leading them into the depths of Hogwarts. It was rather creepy.
Just when they were ready to bolt, Snape stopped at a portrait of a beautiful, seductive witch in black. She smiled coyly at Snape. "Password?" she asked.
Snape smirked. "Harry Potter."
Snape didn't pause to take in the startled reactions of the students, he stepped right on into the room. After a moment of shock, the students followed him in.
The room was fairly large with high ceilings. It was bare of furnishings and paintings except for two armchairs in one corner on either side of a small table. Snape stood slightly inside of the room watching them. It took them a few moments to notice, but they eventually saw that one of the chairs was occupied.
The young man stood. The students took in his appearance, from the messy black hair on the top of his head to the vivid green eyes they could see even from that distance. Not even two seconds after seeing him, they were each willing to bet that a lightning bolt scar could be found on his forehead.
"Harry?" Ron asked astonished.
The young man smiled. "Hey, Ron."
"Harry!" Hermione squealed. Hermione and Ron rushed forward to embrace their friend. The other students watched, grinning, as the trio was reunited. They were also a little confused. Why were they here?
"Where have you been?" Hermione demanded.
Harry broke away from them, stepping back so he could see them clearly. "That is a story for another time."
"We should begin," Snape prompted.
The students turned to glance at him. They had forgotten he was standing there.
"Right," Harry replied.
"What's going on, Harry?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"This is an extracurricular class for selected students," Snape broke in before Harry was forced to reply. Harry shot him a grateful look, and he scowled. Why had he just helped out the annoying brat? "You will be trained above what the other students receive. You were chosen for your skill and our beliefs that you do not sympathize with Voldemort." The students flinched at the name.
"I guess that explains why you're here, Harry," Ron said aside to his friend. "You could use the training more than any of us."
"Actually, Ron," Harry spoke loud enough for the everyone to hear. "Professor Snape and I will both be training you."
Ron was flabbergasted. "What?" Dean gasped shocked. Hermione's eyes narrowed as she considered her friend's statement. The rest of the students were silent in disbelief.
"I will be one of your teachers," Harry replied. "And we should begin. We've only a few hours left before you should be sent back to your dorms. We don't want anyone to become too suspicious."
Before the startled students could speak, Snape stepped forward. "Tonight's lesson is simple. We must determine where your individual strengths lie. Be it defensive, offensive, or support magic. If any of you show an aptitude for healing magic, you will be the one most hard pressed."
"Please line up, doesn't matter the order," Harry instructed.
The students, still in shock, didn't move. "Now!" Snape snarled.
The students rushed to line themselves up, watching their two teachers warily. "Ms. Maverin," Harry said, looking at the girl on the far right end of the line. "Please, step forward. You will be first."
It was nearly two o'clock before the students were released. Hermione and Ron waited until the other students left before speaking to Harry. "What's going on?" Ron demanded.
"Now is not the time," Harry replied calmly. "I will speak to you tomorrow. I'm very tired, and I'm sure that you are as well. It can wait until tomorrow. I'm not going anywhere."
Hermione remained silent for a bit before grabbing a hold of Ron's arm. "Come on, Ron. Let's go. We'll talk to him tomorrow." Ron began to protest, but under the combined stares of his two best friends, he relented and followed Hermione out of the room.
"What will you tell them?" Snape asked, his expression blank.
Harry turned to face him. "Everything."
"It is fortunate that neither possesses any talent for healing or support magics."
"It is," Harry acknowledged. "I'm glad that Limpol and Boot both do. We need battle-trained medi-wizards more than we need fighters."
"Yes," Snape agreed as they walked out of the room. "They should consider themselves most fortunate."
"Oh?"
"They will be learning from a Necromancer."
"Was that a compliment?" Harry asked mock-shocked.
"No, it was a statement of fact," Snape scowled.
"Oh, well then, the others should consider themselves fortunate as well. Nothing like having a former Death Eater teaching you how to counteract one," Harry said with a sly smile.
"That was not a compliment."
"Are you saying that your 'statement of fact' was a compliment? Because I could have sworn you said that it wasn't so I was just saying my own 'statement of fact.' I wasn't trying to compliment you," Harry replied, watching as his needling began to irritate the tall Potions Master. "If I was going to compliment you, I'd say: the students should count themselves fortunate to learn from a world-renown Potions Master of more than considerable skill… and you're dead sexy." Harry was grinning by the time he finished.
Snape glared at Harry though his eyes did dip to rest on the younger man's lips.
"Goodnight, Severus," Harry said with a smile. "Pleasant dreams… of me." Harry's gaze had turned lustful.
Snape's mouth went dry as the Necromancer sauntered off down the hall.
***
TBC…