Hi guys! Sorry it took a little longer to update! But here it is; chapter 10! You might also want to read the note at the end of the chapter; it may quell some of your fears. ^_^
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The curse of the DADA teacher
Chapter 10: Why won't she wake up?
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"2 DAYS, ALBUS! IT'S BEEN 2 DAYS ALREADY!" Severus Snape paced back and forth in Albus' office and Fawkes merely stared at the potions master, unmoving, sometimes letting out a calming tune. It was also a shame that the phoenix was nearing his burning day.
Albus frowned but it wasn't because of Severus' impatient behaviour, on the contrary. The past 2 days had been completely hectic for the poor headmaster. Albus had to refuse the access to Hogwarts to all reporters, nosy or not, and some of them had tried to get in by using Polyjuice potion! Luckily, the headmaster had seen the deception just in time. The sudden return of Harry's parents had greatly shaken the entire wizarding world and the only bits of news in the journals were coming from the parents whom children had written to them about it.
So now Dumbledore was loaded with letters from wizards and witches demanding what was going on and if the Potters really were back. When 20 more owls flew into the office and let their letters drop on his desk, Dumbledore sighed annoyingly, making Severus stop his ranting for 2 minutes to stare at the old man. Albus grunted. "No more mister nice headmaster" he deadpanned, making all the letters pilling on his desk fall on the floor with a push of his arm. He took a relieved intake of breath and smiled, popping a Lemon drop into his mouth.
"ALBUS-" Severus started, but didn't finish his phrase as Albus lifted a hand to stop him from saying anything else.
"I know, Severus. I've also become worried, so I would like to ask James to accompany you to Godric's Hollow to see if she's still there. And don't argue with me! You're old enough to forget about the past, and anyway; James already apologized for the way he treated you, as well as Sirius, and even Remus who I personally think didn't do anything wrong. So go get James so you can enter Godric's Hollow."
Severus didn't even have the time to say a word as the headmaster grinned widely before all he saw was the door closing in his face. Severus scowled and proceeded to march to the Gryffindor common room. He arrived in front of the Fat Lady's portrait and scowled even more, muttering under his breath; "Here I am at the Lion's den. What I wouldn't do for her!"
He all but growled "Quidditch forever!" the latest password to enter, and the Fat Lady scrunched up her nose when he didn't even bother saying hello to her. Snape found him exactly how he thought he would. Potter senior was sitting on the bright red couch, probably laughing at something Black had said and Potter junior was sitting between his father's legs on the ground, making sure that at least one part of him touched his father. Truly, the boy was still trying to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
Lily was sitting beside her husband, Black and Lupin on another couch, and Weasley and Granger had adopted the loveseat. Oh the lovely family reunion. He was going to sneer in disgust when Sirius did something Severus never thought he would. He stopped in mid-joke and got up swiftly when he spotted the potions master. "Snape! Do you have any news of Serena?" he asked worriedly.
Severus' eyes softened. 'That's right; I'm not the only one who cares. Maybe Black actually meant his apology…' He rasped his throat when he saw everybody look at him curiously and James almost jumped when Severus spoke to him with a much softer voice than normal. "We haven't got any news from her yet, that's why the headmaster finally permitted me to search for her. That's why I came here, Pot-…James. I need you to open Godric's Hollow so we can take a look if she's still there."
James was surprised as well as everybody else when Snape actually called him by his name but nodded seriously nonetheless, getting up and asking Lily to watch for their son. "Right. I'm also beginning to really worry about her. But do you know how we'll get out of here? Hogwarts' grounds are swarming with reporters and the likes. I don't really feel like getting mobbed here…"
Severus snorted. "I'm leaving this matter to Albus. He surely already found us a way to get out of here." James nodded to him and exited the common room.
Before he could descend the steps, Sirius called him. "Hey Prongs! Can I come too?"
The stag animagus almost sweatdropped when he heard Harry's muffled voice in the background sounding suspiciously like "I wanna go too!" Moony was probably trying to keep him in the room and had some difficulty in doing so.
James shook his head at the disappointed Sirius. "You better not come this time, Padfoot. The means of transportation will probably be for only 2 persons anyway, and I wouldn't risk anything with all the people after us. You better wait at the infirmary until we come back. We never know. Though, I wish she'd be ok…" With that said, he and Snape departed for Albus' office.
~*~
*BAM!*
"Shit! I really hate Portkeys!"
Severus smirked as James swore and dusted himself off. 'It seems that the son has taken some of his father's traits' Severus thought amusedly, and James called him on his smile.
"Are you laughing at me, Snape?!"
Severus shook his head negatively and explained; "I was just contemplating on how you and Harry seem to have a lot in common, even though the brat is less arrogant than you ever were in your younger days."
The stag animagus ignored the insult and looked at Snape curiously. The potions master sighed when they reached the door and let James open the lock, all the while explaining; "What I meant by that is that you and Harry both hate Portkeys with a vengeance. And you both can't seem to be able to stand up correctly when you arrive at destination. I mean, falling flat on your face even at your age, Potter? Very graceful!"
James pouted at Severus' mockery but decided to snap his mouth shut for the moment. He pushed the door open and they both entered Godric's Hollow calmly. Nothing was out of place and the dead silence bothered Severus even more, almost to the point of making him squirm.
They searched the 1st floor but unfortunately, there was no sign of life. They went to the second floor and separated. Severus searched in the 2 spare bedrooms and was preparing to go to the attic when James' amplified voice made him let go of the staircase in a jump and rush to where the voice seemed to be coming from.
He entered a bedroom painted in soft blue color and concluded it had been Harry's room when he was a baby when he spotted the crib. What made him panic though was when he spotted James crouching on the floor in front of something…someone.
He hastily moved to him and held his breath when Serena showed no signs of life. For the first time he truly panicked and didn't know what to do, until James slapped some sense into him, surprising him out of his petrified stance.
*SLAP!*
"Damnit Severus! I don't need you having a heart attack right now! She's breathing, maybe very faintly, but it's still there! You're the rational one here! What do we do?" James said with an urgent but ticked voice.
After he finished nursing his stinging cheek, Severus breathed a sigh of relief and took her into his arms carefully. "What did you do this time, stupid girl!" he muttered with fondness. "We should activate the Portkey now, Potter. I don't want to see what'll happen if we wait!"
James nodded seriously and took the innocent looking quill out of his pocket. He gave one last concerned look at Serena before he put a hand on Severus' shoulder and activated the Portkey.
~*~
When they both reappeared, it was in the headmaster's office. Albus was surprised they had actually found her to still be in James' house, because their DADA teacher had the mysterious habit of disappearing without a trace at will.
He checked her over her quickly and frowned. James saw the old man's brow furrow and knew what he was thinking about. "I know what you're thinking, Albus. I checked her too. There's no trace of blood anywhere on her, no cuts, no bruises! She's having a bit of difficulty to breathe but I don't see anything that could stop her from waking up!"
Albus nodded and asked them to follow him to the infirmary. They didn't come across any students in the corridors, which made James look around curiously, until his stomach protested the lack of food. There was his answer; it was lunch time.
Poppy rushed to them the moment they entered and asked Severus to put her on a secluded bed. Sirius, Harry and Remus were equally absent so he came to the conclusion that they couldn't pass up a meal. He was sure his friends didn't think that Severus and he would've found Serena so fast anyway.
Poppy rushed back and forth between her potions and scribbled little notes on a pad of paper once in a while. Still, she gave the same frown Albus did in his office. "What's the verdict, Poppy?" Albus asked calmly.
Poppy shrugged visibly and felt powerless. "I just don't know, Albus! I did all the tests I had to do on her and they all came out negative! From our point of view, nothing's wrong with her!"
Albus started to frown again and was about to talk when James' stomach growled loudly, making the man blush in embarrassment. Albus turned to the nurse and asked her if it would be ok to leave Serena alone in the infirmary. Poppy nodded. "I don't se any problems with that. I'll put up a warning charm in case something comes up."
Albus nodded and looked playfully at James, who blushed again faintly. "Good, because I think James' stomach is trying to tell us something." Poppy giggled and Severus couldn't help but to let a small chuckle out when he saw James' face.
~*~
When they finally arrived in the Great Hall, Harry, Sirius and Remus automatically stood up in a rush. Albus held his hand up and motioned for them to sit down again, and they did so reluctantly. Severus and James took their place and the students calmed down when Albus remained up.
The old man had on a serious face when he started to speak. "Children, we have finally found our DADA teacher."
Whispers started and Harry smiled widely, before his father gazed at him with a sad face, making him calm down immediately and look worried.
"She presently is in the infirmary where she has been tended to by madam Pomfrey, and is still unconscious. Unfortunately, we do not know what could have happened to bring such consequence and therefore nobody will be permitted to go to the infirmary unless it is absolutely necessary. We don't know what happened to her and we don't want to risk anyone's health over this matter." Dumbledore sat down and let the people say what they wished.
He caught glimpses of worried words and sighed tiredly. Sirius was trying to cheer his godson who had run up to him but was failing spectacularly and James was hugging a crying Lily in his arms. Severus was clenching his fists so hard his knuckles were white and he was glaring at the food on his plate. All in all, they were really worried, not just because of Miss Moon, but also because of the impeding war that was to come.
That's how Setsuna found them.
~*~
Albus startled when he heard an amused chuckle chime through the Great Hall and was even more surprised to see his old DADA teacher again.
"You really should stop mopping around because of my hime, you know. Do you not believe in her?" Setsuna said amusedly from her position at the entrance of the room.
The students scrambled backwards and the teachers glared. Albus didn't find anything funny in this anymore. "What? No more light show or mist? Whatever are you here for anyway? Come and make fun of our misery?" Albus scowled.
Setsuna shrugged. "The mist happened where I appeared outside. I don't always make grand entrances, you know! I don't want the people I appear in front of to have heart attacks!" she joked, but rolled her eyes when nobody reacted. "Well, anyway, you guys were mopping around so much that I took pity, just this once. I just wanted to tell you to not be afraid for my hime's life, because she's in no immediate danger anymore. She just used too much power in a short amount of time and her body is trying to readjust to its normal level of energy. She'll be ok, just give her a couple of days."
Sirius raised his eyebrows suspiciously at her. "And how can you possibly know all of this? How can you be so sure of yourself so much?"
Setsuna smiled mysteriously, pissing them off even more, and James and Lily startled when she gazed at them with a knowing smile. "Ahh, James Potter and Lily Evans. It's been a while. And you should all know, you 2 the most, why she lost her energy. She brought you back, didn't she?"
Lily's eyes got bigger. "I didn't think it would be this great of a consequence to bring us back, even though I don't even know how she did it!" she said dumbly.
Setsuna rolled her eyes and snorted. "Didn't think it would be this great of a consequence, huh? Lily, before she could bring you back, she had to personally speak with the holder of your souls."
Everyone just looked at her dumbly so Setsuna specified with an annoyed tone of voice. "Don't you people ever read books? The holder of souls, the one to decide if they go to the heavens or hell! Hades! She had a face-off with death, so to speak."
Everyone was too stunned to say anything and she grimaced. "What? Did you think it was an easy task to bring someone back to life? My hime has this kind of power, but I wouldn't try to take advantage of that. She could've died for it and that's not something I'm willing to see again."
Severus whispered faintly, his face pale; "Again?"
Setsuna nodded to herself, seeing that her job was done here. She turned around when Sirius interrupted her. "Hey! What does 'hime' means anyway? You always call her that, and I heard you call her like that in the past, also!"
Setsuna merely smiled mysteriously and exited the school with a flick or her staff. Sirius growled at the now empty spot and sat down in a huff while Dumbledore rubbed his bearded chin. "I think there's a LOT of information missing about our dear DADA teacher. This whole story is getting out of hand, I'm afraid."
Severus put his head in his hands and sighed, utter frustration written in his eyes. "When this is all over, I'm taking a break from the little brats and going to whatever island which will be completely deserted."
Nobody objected. They were all getting stressed out themselves because of all the worrying.
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You guys happy now? SHE'S BACK! (unconscious, but back nonetheless-_-;) AND! I made Setsuna appear to reassure them she was ok. I hope she reassured you too!
I'll probably make Sere wake up in the next chapter…Well anyway, some of you asked me how my InuYasha/Sailor Moon fic was going. I've already written the first 2 chapters, even though the first one is kinda short (Hm, around the thousand words, maybe more, maximum) The first chapter is more explanations about how Usagi decided to change dimensions and the likes, but I still introduced Sesshoumaru in it near the end with a little battle scene.
I just want to finish Curse of DADA before starting to post it (The story will be named: Through your Heart) It won't be something mushy, don't worry, though Sess-chan will surely soften more as the story goes on. I wanna write as many chapters as I can before I start to post it, so I won't be rushed at the last minute. So just to warn you, I'm not backing off the challenge! ^_^
I saw the episode when Kouga kidnaps Kagome and with the birds of Paradise…Kouga is H-O-T!!! ^_^;
I wouldn't mind a threesome between Kouga/Usagi/Sesshoumaru! *excuse me while me and my perverted mind go drool somewhere else* ^.^;
I hope you've all enjoyed this chapter! REVIEW!
Love ya all!
Eternal Cosmos ^_~