Disclaimer: This story is for entertainment purposes and no money is
changing hands. I do not own any of the 'Harry Potter' characters.
OK, I just wanted to add some quick notes before I continued the story.
First, Though Snape was a central character in the first chapter and will play a big role in this one, this isn't a big Snape Fic. He wont be changed and if he is it's not a big part of the story for me (I don't like or trust him much myself).
Second, I have decided to change a tiny bit in the first chapter (it may make sense later). So instead of a ring being made there are several that Hermione will have to deliver. The idea grew a bit and I like this way better.
Thirdly, if you have any suggestions of how I can improve this story please let me know. This is only my second Fic and helpful reviews are always appreciated. Criticism is always welcome if it is helpful.
Finally, I haven't set a school year to this and I don't know if I will. Some of this works with cannon so it could be Sixth year. It might work better in Seventh year though so I can't place the story in time yet. Basically the story occurs sometime after OotP but before the end of Harry's schooling.
And a big thank-you to Shellbert for the review.
Chapter Two
The lack of pain had be the first thing he had noticed. He thought that if death could release him from the agony then it wasn't to bad. He felt that he was moving, floating, somewhere so decided that he wasn't to the other side of the veil yet. When he got there he hoped to find his parents and Sirius. It would be nice to get to know them better. There were others he would like to meet and get to know as well. For now though he would finally rest peacefully with no dreams of torture or the horrors he had seen.
***
Severus Snape couldn't do anything until he passed on the messages. He wasn't sure if the magic driving him on was from Potter, the school, or something else. It didn't matter though, he had to pass on what he was told or he'd go mad. He was being driven by the magic and was forced to increase his pace again.
He was almost running when Filch tried to stop him, calling questions about the blood on his robes. All he could do was continue on his mission and call a garbled instruction to get the Headmaster to the teachers' rooms.
When he arrived at his destination Snape moved back and forth between McGonagall and Flitwick's rooms pounding on the doors and cursing loudly. "Always causing problems for people. No you couldn't just stay dead. Oh, no, you have to come back and force this on me. Need more attention do you boy? Couldn't just let us get over you and accept you were guilty. No you had to come back. Had to do something to prove your innocence and get even more attention. Damn it, why won't you ever just leave me in peace."
The teachers began opening their doors finally. There were gasps about the state of his clothing, but Snape ignored these when he saw the two people he needed. "Minerva, Fillius I need to speak with two students from your houses right away. Before you ask, no I haven't been drinking, it's not my blood, and I haven't lost my mind yet but if I don't talk to Miss Lovegood and Miss Granger quickly I just might." He shouted over the voices of the other teachers. When he had said this he nearly collapsed to the floor refusing to say anything but what he already had, and cursing.
After a short wait during which Headmaster Dumbledore arrived and Severus still refused to say anything new, other than some very original curses, the two students he had asked for finally arrived. Standing slowly he approached the two tired and confused students. "Miss Lovegood I have an important message for you. If you go to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, two Crumple-Horned Snorkacks will meet you. They will allow you to prove that they truly exist, as well as doing a study of them. I have been advised that I should join you in the studying, as their fur may be used in healing potions. It is your decision as to whether I shall be present or not. Be advised that you are not to try capturing them for it will not be allowed."
The girl's eyes grew large and bright as a dreamy smile appeared on her face. "Ooh daddy will be so pleased to hear this. I'll have to get a camera, and maybe have some reporters from the Quibbler." Having said this Luna fell silent and appeared to be planning what to write to her father.
Snape next turned to an even more confused Hermione Granger to pass on his next message. He knew that it would cause more confusion and turmoil, but that didn't matter to whatever force was driving him. "Miss Granger the rings have been made. By the blood he shed to protect your parents you are bound to deliver them. Do you understand?" With that said, and seeing a nod from Hermione, Severus collapsed to the floor again, now he felt drained and exhausted, but the magic had freed him at last.
Hermione now had a look of horror on her face. She gave a pained cry and fell to the floor crying. "He was innocent. The rings are proof and I never thought to check. What have I done? What have we all done? He's gone but he's hated, and I could have at least saved his memory."
Snape looked tiredly at the grief stricken girl and quietly spoke once more. "He's back. I doubt we can find him until he allows it, but he's back and being cared for."
Albus Dumbledore looked confused at what he had heard. He didn't understand much of what had been said here but knew it was important. "I think we all need to discuss what has been happening tonight. If you would all care to join me in my office?"
As Dumbledore finished speaking there came a loud explosion from outside the castle. Everyone but Snape jumped at the sound. Laughing Snape looked around at the teachers and students. "He did tell him he couldn't come back to the school. Did he listen? Oh no, Draco just had to try to get back." Having said this Snape got tiredly to his feet once more and looked at the Headmaster. "I need to go to the main gates and send Mister Malfoy home. He has been banished from the school and I need to tell him he won't be able to betray me to his master now. The last thing he said was a warning to me."
As Snape walked off towards the nearest entrance to the school Dumbledore called to him with a confused sounding voice. "Who warned you. Who banished young Malfoy?"
Only a single word drifted back to the group that Snape was quickly leaving behind. That word felt almost like a physical blow to the aging Headmaster, and brought silence to the murmuring teachers around him
"Potter"
OK, I just wanted to add some quick notes before I continued the story.
First, Though Snape was a central character in the first chapter and will play a big role in this one, this isn't a big Snape Fic. He wont be changed and if he is it's not a big part of the story for me (I don't like or trust him much myself).
Second, I have decided to change a tiny bit in the first chapter (it may make sense later). So instead of a ring being made there are several that Hermione will have to deliver. The idea grew a bit and I like this way better.
Thirdly, if you have any suggestions of how I can improve this story please let me know. This is only my second Fic and helpful reviews are always appreciated. Criticism is always welcome if it is helpful.
Finally, I haven't set a school year to this and I don't know if I will. Some of this works with cannon so it could be Sixth year. It might work better in Seventh year though so I can't place the story in time yet. Basically the story occurs sometime after OotP but before the end of Harry's schooling.
And a big thank-you to Shellbert for the review.
Chapter Two
The lack of pain had be the first thing he had noticed. He thought that if death could release him from the agony then it wasn't to bad. He felt that he was moving, floating, somewhere so decided that he wasn't to the other side of the veil yet. When he got there he hoped to find his parents and Sirius. It would be nice to get to know them better. There were others he would like to meet and get to know as well. For now though he would finally rest peacefully with no dreams of torture or the horrors he had seen.
***
Severus Snape couldn't do anything until he passed on the messages. He wasn't sure if the magic driving him on was from Potter, the school, or something else. It didn't matter though, he had to pass on what he was told or he'd go mad. He was being driven by the magic and was forced to increase his pace again.
He was almost running when Filch tried to stop him, calling questions about the blood on his robes. All he could do was continue on his mission and call a garbled instruction to get the Headmaster to the teachers' rooms.
When he arrived at his destination Snape moved back and forth between McGonagall and Flitwick's rooms pounding on the doors and cursing loudly. "Always causing problems for people. No you couldn't just stay dead. Oh, no, you have to come back and force this on me. Need more attention do you boy? Couldn't just let us get over you and accept you were guilty. No you had to come back. Had to do something to prove your innocence and get even more attention. Damn it, why won't you ever just leave me in peace."
The teachers began opening their doors finally. There were gasps about the state of his clothing, but Snape ignored these when he saw the two people he needed. "Minerva, Fillius I need to speak with two students from your houses right away. Before you ask, no I haven't been drinking, it's not my blood, and I haven't lost my mind yet but if I don't talk to Miss Lovegood and Miss Granger quickly I just might." He shouted over the voices of the other teachers. When he had said this he nearly collapsed to the floor refusing to say anything but what he already had, and cursing.
After a short wait during which Headmaster Dumbledore arrived and Severus still refused to say anything new, other than some very original curses, the two students he had asked for finally arrived. Standing slowly he approached the two tired and confused students. "Miss Lovegood I have an important message for you. If you go to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, two Crumple-Horned Snorkacks will meet you. They will allow you to prove that they truly exist, as well as doing a study of them. I have been advised that I should join you in the studying, as their fur may be used in healing potions. It is your decision as to whether I shall be present or not. Be advised that you are not to try capturing them for it will not be allowed."
The girl's eyes grew large and bright as a dreamy smile appeared on her face. "Ooh daddy will be so pleased to hear this. I'll have to get a camera, and maybe have some reporters from the Quibbler." Having said this Luna fell silent and appeared to be planning what to write to her father.
Snape next turned to an even more confused Hermione Granger to pass on his next message. He knew that it would cause more confusion and turmoil, but that didn't matter to whatever force was driving him. "Miss Granger the rings have been made. By the blood he shed to protect your parents you are bound to deliver them. Do you understand?" With that said, and seeing a nod from Hermione, Severus collapsed to the floor again, now he felt drained and exhausted, but the magic had freed him at last.
Hermione now had a look of horror on her face. She gave a pained cry and fell to the floor crying. "He was innocent. The rings are proof and I never thought to check. What have I done? What have we all done? He's gone but he's hated, and I could have at least saved his memory."
Snape looked tiredly at the grief stricken girl and quietly spoke once more. "He's back. I doubt we can find him until he allows it, but he's back and being cared for."
Albus Dumbledore looked confused at what he had heard. He didn't understand much of what had been said here but knew it was important. "I think we all need to discuss what has been happening tonight. If you would all care to join me in my office?"
As Dumbledore finished speaking there came a loud explosion from outside the castle. Everyone but Snape jumped at the sound. Laughing Snape looked around at the teachers and students. "He did tell him he couldn't come back to the school. Did he listen? Oh no, Draco just had to try to get back." Having said this Snape got tiredly to his feet once more and looked at the Headmaster. "I need to go to the main gates and send Mister Malfoy home. He has been banished from the school and I need to tell him he won't be able to betray me to his master now. The last thing he said was a warning to me."
As Snape walked off towards the nearest entrance to the school Dumbledore called to him with a confused sounding voice. "Who warned you. Who banished young Malfoy?"
Only a single word drifted back to the group that Snape was quickly leaving behind. That word felt almost like a physical blow to the aging Headmaster, and brought silence to the murmuring teachers around him
"Potter"