Disclaimer: Having a disclaimer
Isn't really bad
All say is: they're not my books
It keeps the authors glad
*
But since I'm writing this
Very late at night
This won't be a poem
Because I've lost the ability to rhyme (
Chapter 5: The Curse and the Boggart
Lupin in strode into the infirmary to stand beside his wounded twin, his eyes
intensely examining the open wound.
"What has happened here?" He repeated, his tone demanding a response from the
stricken silence. Dumbledore took a step towards him, away from a seething Snape.
"Sorry, I was just very shocked, Lupin. I didn't expect to see you here..."
Dumbledore began apologetically. Lupin raised an eyebrow.
"Why shouldn't you see me here?" Not waiting for an answer, he turned to Snape,
who's expression resembled that someone who would dearly love to viciously gut a
person while that person was still conscious. "Severus, the attacker was indeed after
Malfoy wasn't he? Can you confirm who the attacker's identity?"
Snape had never been famous for concealing his hatred. It was a miracle to all
present that he did not strangle Lupin for speaking to him like he was questioning
witnesses.
"The only one who knows that ..." Snape said, ice hanging off his words, "Is lying
half dead. Besides, why would I tell you, even if I did know?"
Lupin blinked slightly at Snapes words, but merely shrugged.
"He's not dying." Lupin said looking down at his brother once more. "The problem is right here." His next action caused everyone but Madam Pomfrey's stomach
to roll unpleasantly. Pulling back the sleeve of left arm, Lupin plunged his hand into his
twin's ugly, gaping gash. The man laying on the bed had fallen unconscious already, and
so was spared what would have been cruel torture.
Removing his gore stained hand, Lupin held his hand palm up, to show his disbelieving
observers. Using a cloth by the bed to wipe it clean of most of the blood, Lupin showed
them a nickel sized piece of shining metal with grisly pointed edges.
"The curse released these into his body, worsening his condition. Hundreds of
tiny metal shards like this one."
Snape shook his head in disapproval. He could see quite easily how Lupin's theory didn't
quite add up.
"Even with those nasty little things, his wound was is large enough to explain the
severe fever he has developed."
Draco nodded from his place on the sidelines, Snape was quite right of course.
What interested Draco more however, was Lupin's survival, he had to know more about
the plot and why his life was involved.
"Ah, but you have missed the most obvious thing, Severus. Really, a member of
the Two should have picked up on this kind of thing."
Lupin's light comment sent Severus' mind into a back spiral. 'How could he have
known?' He thought in tense worry. But as his mind righted, Severus' expression of
blank shock was twisted into a wry smile.
The most obvious answer had presented itself.
Nodding to Snape's knew expression, Lupin continued for the rest of his audience's
benefit.
"The fever does indeed rise from these shards, if unintentionally by their maker.
The knife used and the shards released are made of pure silver. Remus was quite
unfortunate to be the one in the way of such a weapon."
Romulus smiled at the surprise that he could see in the Headmaster's face. He
could here his mind voice laughing inside him: 'If you can't tell the difference between
us now, how will you when it really counts?'
With Romulus' discovery of the silver shards, Remus was quickly healed. Much
to his twin's dismay, Remus stayed on at the school. He had "matters" to discuss with
Dumbledore. In Romulus' mind that meant two things: the Order and himself.
Romulus was aware of what Remus and Dumbledore thought of him. They knew he was
a Death Eater, but like Snape, they thought he was gathering information for the Order.
Romulus had never given the side of good much credit for being smart...
Sitting in his office, Romulus and Severus spoke to their Dark Lord, the only true
lord. They were quite aware of Draco Malfoy, who was hiding behind a bookshelf,
listening. By this time, they knew it to be vital that Draco overhear what they would say.
Draco had discovered only that morning that Potter and his friends knew something about
Romulus' secrets. Apparently, he had once let loose a phrase that Snape had wanted kept
quiet.
"We were three and then were two but I was half and so were you." The phrase so
far meant nothing to the three Gryffindors, but upon hearing it, Draco had cunningly
recalled that Romulus had said that Professor Snape was "a member of the Two".
"Are you certain that no one can overhear us, Romulus?" A voice inquired. It was
that irritatingly familiar voice that Draco couldn't quite place. To look around the
bookshelf to see the speaker would have meant revealing himself.
"Positive." Romulus replied; "Only members of the Two can understand what we
are saying."
"What of the Three? How are we dealing with them right now? A member of the
Order just arrived, didn't he? What information has he brought?"
"Both sides of the Three are now aware that Draco is a key to a curse." Severus
answered to the unrecognized voice. "They do not know that it is connected to Romulus'
curse or to the sacrifice we will need for your rising, my lord."
"It had better stay that way." The voice snapped. "When are your friends arriving,
Romulus? The sooner we have control of the school, the better."
This caused Romulus to laugh a little.
"I contacted them before coming to Hogwarts. They should arrive any day now, if
I'm any judge."
"We will finally be able to set the future right." Severus, remarked with
satisfaction.
"But we'll need your help, Draco." Said the unknown voice. The bookshelf had
been dragged out of place before Draco had even known what was happening.
Seeing the man whose identity had eluded him, Draco smiled. Dumbledore could
not possibly imagine who was hiding in his very own school, plotting against him.
"Does my father know about this?" Draco asked, watching the eyes of the true
Dark Lord intently.
"No," He replied, "my plans do not include the use of Lucius Malfoy. I could trust
him about as far as I could throw a hippogriff." The young Slytherin nodded in
acceptance. His father's ideals had always seemed not quite what Draco had in mind for
himself.
Snape made to leave Romulus' office, he had a class to teach soon. He turned to
his fellow Death Eater:
"Romulus, I think you should fully explain to Malfoy the curse that you have laid
down, and the... finer points of Voldemort's contract."
Harry and Hermione sat down in their least favorite class. Ron would be missing
that day's installment of potions class; Romulus' actions the night before had upset his
stomach. They had heard that Remus Lupin had recovered once the shards had been
removed, but they had not seen him since.
"Bet you Snape got to him first." Harry muttered darkly to Hermione.
They had no further time to discuss it however, as Professor Snape entered the
potions dungeon. He clearly had something else on his mind. Most of the students had
never seen Snape so distracted; he was muttering to himself. Coming out of his mind for
a moment, Snape looked almost startled to the class full of students waiting for him to
begin the lesson.
"Ah, yes, this class will be a study period. I recommend you study, because I will
be giving you a test worth forty percent of your grade next class." Nearly the entire class
began to panic and shuffle through their notes, while Severus sat down at his desk in
relief. 'I am far to occupied to deal with students.' He thought to himself, justifying his
actions. 'The Two need a sacrifice, or He can never rise. But who?'
"Professor?" An irritating voice intruded his thoughts. Severus looked up and
resisted the temptation to spit at the face of Harry Potter, who was giving him the oddest
look...
Harry was worried by Snape's attitude. He had tried to sound cruel and nasty, but
it had seemed half-hearted to Harry. Snape never passed up an opportunity to enjoy being
nasty.
"What do you want, Potter?" Snape said lazily barely paying attention.
"Well, I-" Harry was trying to figure exactly what he wanted to say, when he was
abruptly denied the opportunity. Shrieks erupted from the class as a sinister cold swept
into the corners of Harry's mind.
"Harry look out behind you!"
"What is it doing in the school?"
Harry turned, dreading what he knew he would see.
A dementor stood in the door way. Its dark hood turned directly to Harry as he
was the closest thing to it. The rattling breaths it took almost drew Harry towards it.
Trying feebly to think of a happy thought, Harry called on his patronus.
"Expecto Partonum!" The mere ghost of his great stag flitted from his wand. The
dementor barely even hesitated.
"Out of the way Potter." Snape said, stepping in front of him. But as Severus
confronted the creature, it changed forms with an enormous CRACK!
What it became was a very shocking sight indeed.
The panic of the students increased as Lord Voldemort became visible. Harry
watched in utter shock as a small scene played out before him. He saw Dumbledore
appear as well. There was a flash of green light, after which Voldemort lay dead on the
floor.
"Riddikulus!" Severus called out angrily, causing the boggart to explode.
The class had gone completely silent after the boggart had gone, their confusion
making them still very much on edge. Snape's face was livid. The only time Harry had
ever seen more terrifying rage and frustration, was on Voldemort's face himself.
"Class is dismissed. I don't care what you do for the next hour, just go... NOW!"
Feeling the force built up in Snape's words, the students rushed from the dungeon. "Wait
a moment, Potter."
The last thing that Harry wanted to do at that moment was to sit around this class
any longer, but he knew better than to cross Snape when he was at his worst.
"Sir?" He asked innocently.
"Whatever it is you thought you saw that boggart change into... you've already
forgotten it. Is that clear?" Harry nodded, feeling as though he would be inches from
death, should he give the wrong answer. "Good, now leave Potter."
As Harry caught up with Hermione to tell her the news, he did not realize that the
Sixth-year Slytherins were leaving a class room and coming into the corridor just behind
him. As Harry's amazingly good luck would have it, Draco stepped in behind them just
in time to hear Hermione's whispered exclamation:
"Snape's worst fear is Voldemort's DEATH?!"
*
A/N: I would like to make a note about this fic. If I can get 35 reviews for it (I currently have 23) then I will through a huge party! Yeah party! So review!
Next Chapter: Romulus' Dear Old Friends
Isn't really bad
All say is: they're not my books
It keeps the authors glad
*
But since I'm writing this
Very late at night
This won't be a poem
Because I've lost the ability to rhyme (
Chapter 5: The Curse and the Boggart
Lupin in strode into the infirmary to stand beside his wounded twin, his eyes
intensely examining the open wound.
"What has happened here?" He repeated, his tone demanding a response from the
stricken silence. Dumbledore took a step towards him, away from a seething Snape.
"Sorry, I was just very shocked, Lupin. I didn't expect to see you here..."
Dumbledore began apologetically. Lupin raised an eyebrow.
"Why shouldn't you see me here?" Not waiting for an answer, he turned to Snape,
who's expression resembled that someone who would dearly love to viciously gut a
person while that person was still conscious. "Severus, the attacker was indeed after
Malfoy wasn't he? Can you confirm who the attacker's identity?"
Snape had never been famous for concealing his hatred. It was a miracle to all
present that he did not strangle Lupin for speaking to him like he was questioning
witnesses.
"The only one who knows that ..." Snape said, ice hanging off his words, "Is lying
half dead. Besides, why would I tell you, even if I did know?"
Lupin blinked slightly at Snapes words, but merely shrugged.
"He's not dying." Lupin said looking down at his brother once more. "The problem is right here." His next action caused everyone but Madam Pomfrey's stomach
to roll unpleasantly. Pulling back the sleeve of left arm, Lupin plunged his hand into his
twin's ugly, gaping gash. The man laying on the bed had fallen unconscious already, and
so was spared what would have been cruel torture.
Removing his gore stained hand, Lupin held his hand palm up, to show his disbelieving
observers. Using a cloth by the bed to wipe it clean of most of the blood, Lupin showed
them a nickel sized piece of shining metal with grisly pointed edges.
"The curse released these into his body, worsening his condition. Hundreds of
tiny metal shards like this one."
Snape shook his head in disapproval. He could see quite easily how Lupin's theory didn't
quite add up.
"Even with those nasty little things, his wound was is large enough to explain the
severe fever he has developed."
Draco nodded from his place on the sidelines, Snape was quite right of course.
What interested Draco more however, was Lupin's survival, he had to know more about
the plot and why his life was involved.
"Ah, but you have missed the most obvious thing, Severus. Really, a member of
the Two should have picked up on this kind of thing."
Lupin's light comment sent Severus' mind into a back spiral. 'How could he have
known?' He thought in tense worry. But as his mind righted, Severus' expression of
blank shock was twisted into a wry smile.
The most obvious answer had presented itself.
Nodding to Snape's knew expression, Lupin continued for the rest of his audience's
benefit.
"The fever does indeed rise from these shards, if unintentionally by their maker.
The knife used and the shards released are made of pure silver. Remus was quite
unfortunate to be the one in the way of such a weapon."
Romulus smiled at the surprise that he could see in the Headmaster's face. He
could here his mind voice laughing inside him: 'If you can't tell the difference between
us now, how will you when it really counts?'
With Romulus' discovery of the silver shards, Remus was quickly healed. Much
to his twin's dismay, Remus stayed on at the school. He had "matters" to discuss with
Dumbledore. In Romulus' mind that meant two things: the Order and himself.
Romulus was aware of what Remus and Dumbledore thought of him. They knew he was
a Death Eater, but like Snape, they thought he was gathering information for the Order.
Romulus had never given the side of good much credit for being smart...
Sitting in his office, Romulus and Severus spoke to their Dark Lord, the only true
lord. They were quite aware of Draco Malfoy, who was hiding behind a bookshelf,
listening. By this time, they knew it to be vital that Draco overhear what they would say.
Draco had discovered only that morning that Potter and his friends knew something about
Romulus' secrets. Apparently, he had once let loose a phrase that Snape had wanted kept
quiet.
"We were three and then were two but I was half and so were you." The phrase so
far meant nothing to the three Gryffindors, but upon hearing it, Draco had cunningly
recalled that Romulus had said that Professor Snape was "a member of the Two".
"Are you certain that no one can overhear us, Romulus?" A voice inquired. It was
that irritatingly familiar voice that Draco couldn't quite place. To look around the
bookshelf to see the speaker would have meant revealing himself.
"Positive." Romulus replied; "Only members of the Two can understand what we
are saying."
"What of the Three? How are we dealing with them right now? A member of the
Order just arrived, didn't he? What information has he brought?"
"Both sides of the Three are now aware that Draco is a key to a curse." Severus
answered to the unrecognized voice. "They do not know that it is connected to Romulus'
curse or to the sacrifice we will need for your rising, my lord."
"It had better stay that way." The voice snapped. "When are your friends arriving,
Romulus? The sooner we have control of the school, the better."
This caused Romulus to laugh a little.
"I contacted them before coming to Hogwarts. They should arrive any day now, if
I'm any judge."
"We will finally be able to set the future right." Severus, remarked with
satisfaction.
"But we'll need your help, Draco." Said the unknown voice. The bookshelf had
been dragged out of place before Draco had even known what was happening.
Seeing the man whose identity had eluded him, Draco smiled. Dumbledore could
not possibly imagine who was hiding in his very own school, plotting against him.
"Does my father know about this?" Draco asked, watching the eyes of the true
Dark Lord intently.
"No," He replied, "my plans do not include the use of Lucius Malfoy. I could trust
him about as far as I could throw a hippogriff." The young Slytherin nodded in
acceptance. His father's ideals had always seemed not quite what Draco had in mind for
himself.
Snape made to leave Romulus' office, he had a class to teach soon. He turned to
his fellow Death Eater:
"Romulus, I think you should fully explain to Malfoy the curse that you have laid
down, and the... finer points of Voldemort's contract."
Harry and Hermione sat down in their least favorite class. Ron would be missing
that day's installment of potions class; Romulus' actions the night before had upset his
stomach. They had heard that Remus Lupin had recovered once the shards had been
removed, but they had not seen him since.
"Bet you Snape got to him first." Harry muttered darkly to Hermione.
They had no further time to discuss it however, as Professor Snape entered the
potions dungeon. He clearly had something else on his mind. Most of the students had
never seen Snape so distracted; he was muttering to himself. Coming out of his mind for
a moment, Snape looked almost startled to the class full of students waiting for him to
begin the lesson.
"Ah, yes, this class will be a study period. I recommend you study, because I will
be giving you a test worth forty percent of your grade next class." Nearly the entire class
began to panic and shuffle through their notes, while Severus sat down at his desk in
relief. 'I am far to occupied to deal with students.' He thought to himself, justifying his
actions. 'The Two need a sacrifice, or He can never rise. But who?'
"Professor?" An irritating voice intruded his thoughts. Severus looked up and
resisted the temptation to spit at the face of Harry Potter, who was giving him the oddest
look...
Harry was worried by Snape's attitude. He had tried to sound cruel and nasty, but
it had seemed half-hearted to Harry. Snape never passed up an opportunity to enjoy being
nasty.
"What do you want, Potter?" Snape said lazily barely paying attention.
"Well, I-" Harry was trying to figure exactly what he wanted to say, when he was
abruptly denied the opportunity. Shrieks erupted from the class as a sinister cold swept
into the corners of Harry's mind.
"Harry look out behind you!"
"What is it doing in the school?"
Harry turned, dreading what he knew he would see.
A dementor stood in the door way. Its dark hood turned directly to Harry as he
was the closest thing to it. The rattling breaths it took almost drew Harry towards it.
Trying feebly to think of a happy thought, Harry called on his patronus.
"Expecto Partonum!" The mere ghost of his great stag flitted from his wand. The
dementor barely even hesitated.
"Out of the way Potter." Snape said, stepping in front of him. But as Severus
confronted the creature, it changed forms with an enormous CRACK!
What it became was a very shocking sight indeed.
The panic of the students increased as Lord Voldemort became visible. Harry
watched in utter shock as a small scene played out before him. He saw Dumbledore
appear as well. There was a flash of green light, after which Voldemort lay dead on the
floor.
"Riddikulus!" Severus called out angrily, causing the boggart to explode.
The class had gone completely silent after the boggart had gone, their confusion
making them still very much on edge. Snape's face was livid. The only time Harry had
ever seen more terrifying rage and frustration, was on Voldemort's face himself.
"Class is dismissed. I don't care what you do for the next hour, just go... NOW!"
Feeling the force built up in Snape's words, the students rushed from the dungeon. "Wait
a moment, Potter."
The last thing that Harry wanted to do at that moment was to sit around this class
any longer, but he knew better than to cross Snape when he was at his worst.
"Sir?" He asked innocently.
"Whatever it is you thought you saw that boggart change into... you've already
forgotten it. Is that clear?" Harry nodded, feeling as though he would be inches from
death, should he give the wrong answer. "Good, now leave Potter."
As Harry caught up with Hermione to tell her the news, he did not realize that the
Sixth-year Slytherins were leaving a class room and coming into the corridor just behind
him. As Harry's amazingly good luck would have it, Draco stepped in behind them just
in time to hear Hermione's whispered exclamation:
"Snape's worst fear is Voldemort's DEATH?!"
*
A/N: I would like to make a note about this fic. If I can get 35 reviews for it (I currently have 23) then I will through a huge party! Yeah party! So review!
Next Chapter: Romulus' Dear Old Friends