Chapter Twenty
The Turban Returns
Snape had succeeded in getting rid of Lysander to Filch.
"Don't think you're getting off lightly either." Snape snapped at me, standing outside his office, which I found, was puzzling.
"I do have some specimens for you to pickle, but before that, you must promise not to scream, faint or do anything else remotely weak." I frowned.
"I think I've had enough practise with the things you keep pickled in there Sir."
"I take that as a yes then." Snape growled, and opened the door. As he did, I saw movement from near the desk. A ghost had turned, and at first I thought it was Peeves, but when the ghost stopped moving I saw it was a tall wizard wearing a turban, which I quickly recognised as Professor Quirrell. I kept my mouth firmly shut until I heard the door close behind me.
"Slatero, this is my niece, Elixa." Quirrell looked down at me, and gave a slight smile. It was the first time Snape had referred to me as his niece or any part of his family like that, and it sparked an odd feeling within me, which I suspected could also be the fact I was being introduced to a ghost.
"Elixa, this is Professor Quirrell." I nodded.
"I remember." I told them both. The ghost held out a hand to shake, and then took it back.
"Sorry, I still forget." He didn't stutter anymore.
"Have you come back to teach like Professor Binns, Professor?" I asked. Professor Binns taught History of Magic, and was a ghost. He'd got up one morning and left his body behind, to a new life of teaching as a ghost. The smile appeared on Quirrell's face once again.
"No, I'm not teaching Miss Amethyst." Quirrell looked at Snape momentarily. I glanced back and saw Snape nod before going over to stir the potion in the fireplace.
"Professor Dumbledore had me found and brought here. He and Professor Snape thought I could have some idea into how to help you." Snape gave a slight sniff from the fireplace that made me give a discreet smile. I knew Snape was trying to point out that he didn't have the idea, and still didn't like Quirrell, although the wizard was dead.
"You'd want to look at this then?" I asked, taking the necklace from my neck and holding it up to Quirrell.
"You weren't lying about the care you took Severus." The ghost form of Quirrell breathed. I wondered if ghosts still did breathe, despite not needing air. I'd never really noticed. The bloody baron wasn't the ghost you'd really want to ask.
"It is so frustrating being made of nothing solid sometimes." Quirrell muttered, the necklace passing through his fingers.
"Teneo necklace." I said gently, and let go of the necklace. It hung in the air.
"That won't last long." Snape said. As he did the necklace dropped to the floor. I gave a peeved look and dropped to retrieve it from the floor. Snape muttered something under his breath and the necklace hung in mid-air, he didn't even have to point to it like the glass the other morning.
"Thank you Professor." Quirrell and I spoke at the same time, speaking the same words.
"I think the Muggles call that a jinx." Quirrell told me. I smiled.
"I'd say it was a sign of friendship." I told the ghost. Snape went to stick two fingers down his throat. I shot him a stern look.
"You, start pickling." He snapped.
I spent the next two hours pickling fresh specimens by hand as Snape poured over his nameless potion (not that I'd asked) and Quirrell continued to look at the necklace and ask questions occasionally. Snape would grudgingly perform any spells needed for Quirrell to open books and look things up. I heard him mutter something about getting a thicker substance, although Quirrell was probably too marked by Voldermort to become a strong ghost like the house ghosts. I became quite used to having Quirrell in the room, and Snape seemed to be in an expressive mood, for once, making him easier to read and understand. I couldn't help but smile when he sent a book flying through Quirrell with a sly grin on his face. The ghost folded his arms and said a few curt words on respecting the dead before carrying on.