"Repeat it," I ordered.
They did. Their pronunciation was painful, but it would do.
"Right, now try to remember that until we're in the Great Hall."
"But, Draco, what if they're still there?" Goyle asked. Much as I hated to admit it, he had a point there.
"Well, we'll have to lure them out. We can't have them seeing us." Of course, I was not afraid of Potter and his fan club. I just figured it would be sensible to keep my involvement hidden from the three most imposing teachers of the school.
I closed the book. It was titled "Useful Modern Curses". I had found it in my father's private library, you know, the one in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. The one I didn't really have access to. The one I was not to mention to anyone. The one with the books Flourish and Blotts didn't sell. The one … I think you're getting the picture.
I didn't know if the book was rare or valuable, but I was dead certain that I would have hell to pay if it was found in my possession. So I put it away carefully before we left again.
I had double-checked the fact that the curse could only be removed if the countercurse was spoken at exactly the same place as the original incantation. Frankly, I was not too keen on heading back, as it was hard sneaking around at night with two companions as clumsy and noisy as Crabbe and Goyle. I could have run around with an armada of Norwegian Ridgebacks at my heels and would have drawn less attention to myself.
~*~
"Do you suppose we belong here?"
I shrugged. "Could be. I mean, we are kind of wearing these robe-thingies with the coat-of-arms that was also on the banner in that hall."
"Yeah, but maybe we have been kidnapped by cult-members or something, and these are, like, sacrificial robes."
I must have gaped, because my black-haired companion quickly added, "It's not likely, though. I mean, they would have killed us, or placed some guards."
By now, I was ready to accept any explanation. I was getting more frustrated by the minute. I mean, losing your memory was bad enough. Losing it at a location like this was making things infinitely worse. Finding you're actually participating in a happy little group amnesia was more than one person should have to suffer without a constant supply of chocolate. Oh well, I had been hungry ever since we had left the castle. Hey, it might be an inappropriate thing to focus on in this situation, but I couldn't help it.
We had left the castle through a huge front door and were wandering around the grounds aimlessly. I was glad I wasn't alone, because this castle (from the outside it was quite obvious that it was one) was rather frightening. The moon was almost full, and there was enough light to see where we were going. Enough light to produce scary shadows. I shuddered.
A while ago, my companion and I had concluded that we were approximately the same age when we had checked our appearances, glancing in the water of a nearby lake. I had been terrified when my red-haired reflection had stared back at me, because the tall teenage boy with the freckles was a total stranger. What was more, seeing ourselves had not triggered any memories, and we were feeling more helpless than ever.
As we continued our search for help-slash-food, my companion broke the silence. "Must be autumn."
I agreed. It was not cold outside, but there was a hint of a chill in the air.
"At least we're not going to freeze," he added.
"But maybe starve," I replied gloomily.
Before he could answer, a giant shadow fell over us. It belonged to a bear of a man. I caught a glance of a mane of wild hair way above me, and heard the creature roar out like an animal, and for once knew exactly what to do. I turned around and made a run for it.
Only I never got very far.
In one swift movement the grizzly caught the collar of my robes as well as my companion's arm. I was screaming and kicking and turning (trying to bite him), but we were being dragged away. The creature was still roaring. Only when I managed to discern some words, I realized that this giant indeed was a human. That made him the tallest, hugest person I had ever seen … er, I guess.
As he shoved us into a hut and pushed us down on a sofa, he roared, "What do yeh think yer doing, wanderin' around the grounds at night, eh? Really, I thought yeh might have grown out of it. … What's the matter with yeh two? Jus' sittin' there like yeh've never seen me before … Harry?"
"Who?" I blundered out, but my companion poked me with his elbow. Leaning closer to me, he whispered, "He seems to know who we are. Play along."
Confused, but in no shape to offer any resistance, I complied. Harry (as that seemed to be his name) took a deep breath and said, "Er … well, we were … er, just taking a stroll, you know, er… how about you?" He broke off and looked at the giant expectantly.
"I was jus' lettin' Fang out. He likes ter run around the forest at night. Then I saw yeh two, walkin' round the lake. What has gotten into yeh, takin' strolls past curfew? I will walk yeh back ter the castle now. An' I really should report yeh ter the headmaster this time." He turned to me now. "An' when I try and talk ter yeh, Ron here gets all mad an' starts fightin' an' all."
"I'm Ron?" I asked and received another poking elbow in the ribs.
Our new acquaintance shook his head. "Yeh shouldn't be seen, or yeh'll be in trouble. Where's yer Invisibility Cloak, Harry? Yeh should summon it."
Harry looked at me and back at the giant man in front of him, dumbfounded. Then he slowly got up, tugging at my sleeve. "Erm, right. I'll just go and … summon … my Invisibility Cloak. Come, Ron. Help me summon my Invisibility Cloak." He made for the door, whispering, "Let's get out as quickly as possible."
What can I say? We actually made it to the door of the hut, and we even managed to open it, but we didn't leave.
For standing right in front of it was an enormous black boarhound with its fangs bared at us.
~*~
"And what have we here, heh? Oh …. It's you, Professor."
The ghost was hovering in mid-air, and nothing I did made it disappear. I blinked and shook my head and closed my eyes for a few moments, but after every single one of these desperate actions there was still a ghost hanging in the air in front of me.
The girl had fainted and was lodged somewhere underneath a desk, which indicated she had seen the entity as well. It was quite fascinating, the way it shimmered, the light shining through its translucent form. I was so absorbed in examining the apparition, I didn't at first notice it was addressing me.
When its words sunk in, I was electrified.
"What did you call me, spectre?" I demanded boldly. I was not going to be scared by a vision. Not after all that had happened tonight. Collective mind loss and strange people, staircases that led to nowhere and talking portraits – what was a simple ghost compared to that?
"Oooh, getting angry again, are we?" The ghost floated up and down, the movement the spectral equivalent of jumping. "And I haven't even started calling you anything. Shouting at poor Peeves for patrolling the castle, are we, Professor? Because I'm only doing my duty." It did a somersault.
I drew myself up to my full height (I seemed to be quite tall, judging by the furniture in the room). I was getting annoyed, now that it became obvious that I was in no imminent danger. I raised my voice. "Do you know who I am and what I am doing here?"
"Why, Professor Snape, I have no idea what you are doing here. But as this is your classroom, I reckon I can guess. Or do you care to enlighten me?"
"I am the one to ask questions, spectre. Now tell me what you know."
It didn't answer, because in that moment the girl regained her consciousness. Holding her head with her hands, she tried to sit up. I went over to assist her. Grabbing her arm, I pulled her to a standing position. "Are you okay?" I asked.
She nodded, but almost collapsed again at the sight of the still-hovering ghost. "It's alright, it won't do us any harm," I assured her, not at all sure about the entity's intentions. I just wanted her to stop whining, as this was eating at my nerves.
The ghost in question gave us a look of astonishment. Its pale eyes grew wide, and it floated backwards. "Hold on," it muttered. "You're not … you and that … Mudblood?"
"Just tell me what you know about her and me," I demanded again.
"Oh, I've seen enough to get the picture," it spat, floating over to the girl. As it was hanging inches from her face, she backed away. "Miss Granger, I see. Couldn't be just any student, had to be a Gryffindor. A Mudblood." It floated to the ceiling. "Oh, but it is perfect." It spiralled down again, halting in front of me. Staring into its eyes and through them at the same time was unnerving, but I couldn't direct my gaze away either.
"All those years of shouting at Peeves. All those years of ordering me around. All those years of chasing the Baron after me when I was just having some fun. You," it pointed a shiny finger at me, "have got a lot of apologizing to do now that I know about her and you."
It shot up again and flew right through the opposite wall. The last thing I heard it shout was, "But I doubt even that will keep me from telling EVERYONE."
I looked at … what had that apparition called her? Miss Granger? She looked thunderstruck.
In a tiny voice, she asked, "What was that?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "But it knew our names."
It had provided us with a lot more information than names, actually. Apparently I was a staff member and … what? … had something going with a student?
This mess was getting messier.
There was an awkward silence, then Miss Granger spoke. "So … what do you think you're teaching?"
The question was meant to dissolve the tension that was building between us, but I realized that I actually wanted an answer to it. "The … thing said this was my classroom. Maybe we should have a look around."
She nodded, and went over to the shelves at the back of the room. I decided to check the desk in front of the blackboard – my desk – so we brought as much distance between us as possible.
Apparently, she was not going to acknowledge the latest revelations about us, and I was most definitely not going to bring up the subject either.
I found myself glancing in her direction every now and then, though, wondering what was really going on between us. It felt strange. I mean, she wasn't even my type.
No, hang on … I didn't know what my type was.
But she wasn't.
~*~
What kind of a person am I?
I mean, am I, like, the kind of girl who'd do, like, kind of … stuff … in order to get good grades?
Hang on, I'm confused.
Mental inventory again.
Everything that vision has said indicates that something inappropriate is happening between me and … him.
But: Half an hour ago I wouldn't even have believed in the existence of such a thing as a ghost, and now I'm believing in what a ghost tells me?
But: He did save me from the talking portraits out in the hallway.
But: That might have been impulsive acting and might have nothing to do with me.
But: I did wake up on him.
But: …
…
I did wake up on him.
Uh oh.
I glance at him. Oh no, he's glancing back. I look away quickly, and so does he.
Concentrate. Do something productive. Actively improve your situation. Yeah, right. I scan the shelves in front of me, but the contents of the glass jars and beakers don't make sense.
"Look at that stuff. Weird jars of weird things. Weird books with weird titles." I grab the nearest volumes. "Moste Potente Potions. One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi."
He walks over and takes the books from me. Flipping through the pages, he says, "I can't open the desk."
There's little I care less about at the moment. This whole experience is becoming too much. "What does all this mean? Potions? Magical herbs and fungi? Oh, and talking portraits and poltergeists?"
He ignores the question as he becomes absorbed by the potions book. "Quite fascinating," he mutters, "absolutely marvellous."
I try to see what he's reading and catch the headline: Moste Potente Love Potions. "I don't think we need one of those," I remark pointedly, and immediately rue it. Great, Granger. Actively improving our situation, are we?
"I don't think you're in any position to be cheeky, Miss Granger," he points out, "Considering what I just learned about you."
"I beg your pardon?"
He's all aloofness and righteousness as he looks down on me. "Well, you are a student and I am your teacher, so apparently you were trying to improve …"
"Oh, that is rich coming from you." I'm not going to let him finish that sentence. "The way I see it, you probably seduced me. I should report you."
Have I really just said that?
He seems to be as astonished as I am. "Are you threatening me?" he asks in a low and deadly voice, his face a mask of fury.
From potential lover to potential murderer in less than half a minute. Wow.
I seem to have quite an effect on men.
Author's Note:
So far, so good!
This has previously been posted at WIKTT, with proper author's notes at the beginning of each chapter, but will from now on be continued here. I'll try and update as quickly as possible, but an annoying thing called "Real Life" is tugging at my sleeves, demanding attention. If anyone knows how to get rid of it, I'd appreciate some support.
If you're now feeling entertained, then I succeeded and can go watch the sunrise (another night has gone by while I was writing … see, I'm sacrificing my health for this … nah, just kidding!)
Bye, Lionora!