XV
Snape immediately regretted telling the three teens that they could come along with him. As he swept through the halls, knowing he had precious time before the other classes let out for lunch break, and that he did not need to be seen carrying a student in his arms by the entire future wizarding generation.
"Would you bloody well hurry up and stop arguing constantly!" He snarled over his shoulder at the bickering crowd behind him.
He was met with a " Sorry, Professor," and greeted by instant silence. Wishing he had just sent them up to the Great Hall, knowing it was too late for that now, Snape strode on in silence, trying to work out what had gone on in his Potions class, which he now referred to in his mind as " The Debacle", and wondering what had caused Cassandra's strange reaction. Could it have been something in her potion? Didn't seem likely as Malfoy didn't seem to have any problems, and the girl had been so clear-headed when she was casting her spell on Granger.
Another thing was bothering him too - how had the visitor from the Ministry known Cassandra's name? Then there was the matter of his dark mark driving him crazy when that man had entered the room. He would have to tell Dumbledore immediately that there was a Death Eater in the Ministry of Education, most likely put there in an attempt to oust himself and the Headmaster. Very worrisome times. He must inform Dumbledore immediately so that we can take measures to prevent any further problems. Fudge won't believe us about it, Gods, what if he is in on this??? What if the real reason he denied what happened at the TriWizard Tournament was because he himself is involved in Voldemort's plans??? A shiver crawled up his spine as Professor Snape swung the door open and swept into the Infirmary.
"Ooch, not her again?" Madame Pomfrey cried out, causing eyebrows to raise amongst the spectators. Shooting the Matron a withering glare and tipping his head towards Draco, Hermione and Harry, he placed Cassandra on a bed, and told the others to wait outside.
Closing the door, Poppy came rushing over, wand out.
"What happened this time, Severus? She got this far without a seizure, and she was supposed to start her new medications today. What happened?"
Snape explained the incident, and the events leading up to it. Looking worried, Pomfrey went over Cassandra again, and then simply said
"Enervate."
The girls eyes flew open wildly, and she sat bolt upright, crying out as she did so.
" I've got to get…" then her eyes rolled back and she fainted dead away.
"What is it Poppy?" Snape asked, grinding his teeth. " What do you think the problem is."
"Well, whatever is was Severus, the girl quite simply fainted. There are no physical signs of any illness or injury, in fact she is far healthier than last time I saw her. I think she was so terrified that she was overwhelmed by it. Did anything strange happen in the class?"
Cassandra's actions and words from the night before came into Snape's head. He decided to bite his tongue and wait to talk to Dumbledore. Even with the silencing charm around the infirmary, he really didn't trust the three children behind the door.
"How long will it take her to calm down?" He asked.
" I'll place a relaxing charm on her, and that will give her the illusion that she is safe from harm. Try to bring her around in about five minutes again, see if you can find out what's wrong.. She isn't comfortable speaking with me for some reason, poor little soul."
Snape was again amazed by the medi-witch's capacity for forgiveness and compassion. Had a student declined to speak to him ( as they often did) he took offense and got angry. He wondered at the woman's big heart.
Standing over the bed, looking down at the terse girl and rubbing his still stinging arm Snape was suddenly reminded of the cowering girl in his study the night before, and watched the clock tick past, chewing his lip and hoping the child would be willing to talk with him when she awoke. He pulled out his wand and prepared to bring her out of her unconsciousness when she began mumbling and speaking. He waited, breath held, hoping that her ramblings would give him some clue as to what had occurred in his class.
Thanks for reading my story everyone. I expect that my postings will be farther apart now. I will do my best, but this is not my focus right now. We had a baby pony born here on Thursday, and after 56 hours of intensive care and treatment, we lost her. I wish that we had a Medi-Witch here at the farm, but that only occurs in Harry Potter Land. Please spend a moment to think of little Pippa, our tiny baby girl, now resting in God's hands.
Thanks, Candledot.
Snape immediately regretted telling the three teens that they could come along with him. As he swept through the halls, knowing he had precious time before the other classes let out for lunch break, and that he did not need to be seen carrying a student in his arms by the entire future wizarding generation.
"Would you bloody well hurry up and stop arguing constantly!" He snarled over his shoulder at the bickering crowd behind him.
He was met with a " Sorry, Professor," and greeted by instant silence. Wishing he had just sent them up to the Great Hall, knowing it was too late for that now, Snape strode on in silence, trying to work out what had gone on in his Potions class, which he now referred to in his mind as " The Debacle", and wondering what had caused Cassandra's strange reaction. Could it have been something in her potion? Didn't seem likely as Malfoy didn't seem to have any problems, and the girl had been so clear-headed when she was casting her spell on Granger.
Another thing was bothering him too - how had the visitor from the Ministry known Cassandra's name? Then there was the matter of his dark mark driving him crazy when that man had entered the room. He would have to tell Dumbledore immediately that there was a Death Eater in the Ministry of Education, most likely put there in an attempt to oust himself and the Headmaster. Very worrisome times. He must inform Dumbledore immediately so that we can take measures to prevent any further problems. Fudge won't believe us about it, Gods, what if he is in on this??? What if the real reason he denied what happened at the TriWizard Tournament was because he himself is involved in Voldemort's plans??? A shiver crawled up his spine as Professor Snape swung the door open and swept into the Infirmary.
"Ooch, not her again?" Madame Pomfrey cried out, causing eyebrows to raise amongst the spectators. Shooting the Matron a withering glare and tipping his head towards Draco, Hermione and Harry, he placed Cassandra on a bed, and told the others to wait outside.
Closing the door, Poppy came rushing over, wand out.
"What happened this time, Severus? She got this far without a seizure, and she was supposed to start her new medications today. What happened?"
Snape explained the incident, and the events leading up to it. Looking worried, Pomfrey went over Cassandra again, and then simply said
"Enervate."
The girls eyes flew open wildly, and she sat bolt upright, crying out as she did so.
" I've got to get…" then her eyes rolled back and she fainted dead away.
"What is it Poppy?" Snape asked, grinding his teeth. " What do you think the problem is."
"Well, whatever is was Severus, the girl quite simply fainted. There are no physical signs of any illness or injury, in fact she is far healthier than last time I saw her. I think she was so terrified that she was overwhelmed by it. Did anything strange happen in the class?"
Cassandra's actions and words from the night before came into Snape's head. He decided to bite his tongue and wait to talk to Dumbledore. Even with the silencing charm around the infirmary, he really didn't trust the three children behind the door.
"How long will it take her to calm down?" He asked.
" I'll place a relaxing charm on her, and that will give her the illusion that she is safe from harm. Try to bring her around in about five minutes again, see if you can find out what's wrong.. She isn't comfortable speaking with me for some reason, poor little soul."
Snape was again amazed by the medi-witch's capacity for forgiveness and compassion. Had a student declined to speak to him ( as they often did) he took offense and got angry. He wondered at the woman's big heart.
Standing over the bed, looking down at the terse girl and rubbing his still stinging arm Snape was suddenly reminded of the cowering girl in his study the night before, and watched the clock tick past, chewing his lip and hoping the child would be willing to talk with him when she awoke. He pulled out his wand and prepared to bring her out of her unconsciousness when she began mumbling and speaking. He waited, breath held, hoping that her ramblings would give him some clue as to what had occurred in his class.
Thanks for reading my story everyone. I expect that my postings will be farther apart now. I will do my best, but this is not my focus right now. We had a baby pony born here on Thursday, and after 56 hours of intensive care and treatment, we lost her. I wish that we had a Medi-Witch here at the farm, but that only occurs in Harry Potter Land. Please spend a moment to think of little Pippa, our tiny baby girl, now resting in God's hands.
Thanks, Candledot.