Disclaimer: We are the Harry Potter fic called "Not Myself". Resistance as you know it is over. We will add your reviews and flames to the bucket in the corner. You will be sucked in. Resistance is futile.
Disclaimer for Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Nor the Borg. Other people own them.
Author's Notes
Atra: I can't believe you mated a crow and a raven.
Saerry: Well, Jar's not an ordinary raven, now is he? And didn't we already go over this?
Atra: What are the children going to be? Cravens? And, yes, we did.
Saerry: Atra…
Atra: Yes, my darling host?
Saerry: Shut up.
Atra: Of course, my…
Saerry: ATRA!!
Not Myself by Saerry Snape
Chapter 140 – A Chapter of Many Happenings (Niamh POV included)
"What the hell is that!"
"Whas i' loo' li?" mumbled Harry around the end of his quill. He was sitting at the end of the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, staring down at the five words he'd written so far on his Transfiguration paper and sucking on the end of his raven-feather quill.
If Jardin were around, he'd have slapped him with a wing.
Draco frowned and replied, "It looks like the Gauntlet that latched onto O'Feir."
"Correct," said Harry, spitting out bits of feather as he finished his first sentence.
"What are you doing wearing it, Potter? And shouldn't you be in the hospital wing?"
"He threatened to burn it down if Madam Pomfrey forced him to stay," said Ginny, coming around the blonde to plunk her books down on the table. She sat down across from Harry and pulled out her Divination homework. "She decided he's much safer outside the hospital wing than he is in."
Draco arched one pale eyebrow and gave Harry a sideways look.
"You threatened to burn down the hospital wing."
"Yeh," said Harry, sucking on the end of his quill again in thought. "'Sides, I feel fine."
"People always say that before they drop dead," remarked Draco. He ignored the glare Ginny shot at him and continued, "So, answer my first question."
"I did."
"Why are you wearing the Gauntlet, Potter?"
Harry sighed and tossed his quill onto the table before turning towards Draco, eyes dark.
"I' was killing Ni. I could'na allow tha' ter happen. So I took i' from 'er."
"How?" asked Draco. "Only those of Elven…" His eyes widened in sudden realization and he slammed his hands down onto the table, leaning forward so his face was only a few inches from Harry's.
"You're Elven-blooded," he gasped in a harsh whisper. His gray eyes were full of wonderment and fear.
"Yeh," said Harry. "So?"
"The Elves are supposed to be dead, Potter," sneered Draco. "If anyone were to find out that you…"
"No one will find ou', now will they?" growled Harry, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "'Cause ye won't tell a soul."
Draco looked at Ginny, who smiled tightly and said, "I already knew."
The blonde turned back towards Harry with a hurt look.
"Aw, tell them but not me?"
"Would ye liked ter 'ave been pummeled by Ron?"
"Potter, only you can pummel be into anything. Weasley couldn't hit a dragon if it sat on him."
"He has a point," remarked Ginny, laughing when Draco looked at her in astonishment. "What? I know my brother, Malfoy. And your absolutely right."
The blonde eyebrows arched and Draco laughed, choking out, "I can't believe this! A Weasley and a Malfoy agreeing! I really am putting a dent in the family reputation."
"Do ye really care?" asked Harry, idly rubbing the spot where his arm disappeared into the Gauntlet.
"Not as much as I used to. You alright there?"
"Hmm? Oh, jus' an itch. Nothin' ter worry about."
"Right," said Draco, sounding unconvinced. "Well, I suppose I'll leave you to your studies." With that he turned and left the Hall, leaving Harry and Ginny to look at his disappearing back.
"That was…interesting," remarked Ginny as Harry turned back to his paper.
"Heh."
* * * *
~*Niamh's POV
I can't believe he did this. Even now, with him walking around with that…that THING…on his arm like its nothing, I can't believe it.
He took the Gauntlet.
Harry, my Harry, took the Gauntlet.
It was killing me. I know. I could feel it sucking the life from me. I can still feel it. Every time I go near the accursed object, the runes that are now forever etched into my skin appear and I feel it pulling at me again.
I hate it.
If it were alive, I would kill it. I would kill it for what its done to me and for what it is even now doing to my Harry.
My Harry…
When did I start to think of him as mine?
I touched the silver dragon ring on my hand, that last gift that Cedric had ever given me. What would he think? He'd want me to be happy – I know he would.
He loved me. And I him. But…I love Harry too.
There. I said it.
I love Harry.
He withstands so much. And even when one of us – some poor soul that he's taken into his heart – falls ill, he stays strong. Maybe not inside but on the outside.
I admire him for it.
But I suppose one must be emotionless when living on the streets.
Damnit, it was supposed to be me!
Harry's not supposed to die. But…neither am I.
Yet I saw my own death.
Although I do recall something that I read once about Seers. It said that if a big enough even happens, it could change the future.
Mine changed when the Gauntlet took me.
The question is…has Harry's future changed?
I'm not sure I even want to know. I don't want to know. I – I don't want to see him die…
~*End Niamh's POV
Silent tears spilled down Niamh's cheeks and she felt a brush of coarse fingertips against her cheek. Blue eyes snapped open and she saw Harry looking down at her, his emerald cloak slung haphazardly over one shoulder.
He used the back of his left hand to brush her tears away and smiled gently down at her.
"'Lo,"
"'Lo," replied Niamh softly, hugging herself. "Harry, I…"
"Shh," said Harry, sitting down on the couch beside her.
"But…"
A finger covered her lips and Harry shook his head at her.
"I've goh somethin' I want ter say."
"O-okay."
"I'm sorry if…if wha' I said in tha' hospital wing disturbed ye."
Niamh looked at Harry in astonishment. She stammered, "H-Harry, I…"
"Doan worry about i'," interrupted Harry, not looking at her. "If ye doan feel…"
"Harry, will you listen to me?"
Wide emerald eyes met ice-blue and Niamh's breath caught in her throat.
Is this what it means to be spellbound? She wondered.
"Ni?"
Harry's gentle inquiry brought her back and she gave him an askance look.
"Harry…I wasn't disturbed. Surprised maybe but not disturbed."
"Oh."
Tell him, tell him… urged a part of his mind.
"I…"
Thomas suddenly came charging into Arx Serpens, his hair wild and his eyes rolling slightly. There was blood on his shirt and several of the first years screamed shrilly at the sight of it.
Harry leapt to his feet and snapped, "Tom! Wha's goin' on?"
"M-Mischa," stammered Thomas. "A-and M-Mika."
Harry and Niamh exchanged a glance and then they were both running, dragging Thomas after them. They got directions from him and hurried to the hospital wing, leaving the other Slytherin in the care of Amanda and Victoria.
On the way up the stairs from the dungeons, Niamh slipped and nearly fell. But the cold metal of the Gauntlet closed about her wrist and Harry pulled her up after him. The Gauntlet enveloped her much smaller hand as they continued their run, Niamh blatantly ignoring the prickles of the runes on her right arm coming to life.
Inside the hospital wing, they found one bed closed off behind a curtain and a solemn Severus talking to Dumbledore.
"Professor," called Harry softly, his eyes darting about the room.
Black eyes blinked and turned slowly to meet green.
"Harry? Niamh? What are you two…?"
"Tom said something about Mika," explained Niamh hurriedly. "And Mischa."
Severus' face went stony and Dumbledore frowned.
"Miss Moody is…not well."
Harry glanced towards the curtained off bed then back towards the two solemn professors. His eyes narrowed and Niamh picked up the thought he was broadcasting rather loudly.
"She's dying, isn't she?" she said softly. "The blood on Tom…its hers."
Dumbledore nodded slowly and Harry growled, "Where's Mika?"
"Mister Davids is currently safe…"
"Doan ye dare tell me a lie, headmaster," snarled Harry. "Where's Mika?"
"He was drawn into the forest," said Severus softly. "One of the seventh years had dragged his sister into it. He went to save her. It was a trap."
"Oh no," gasped Niamh. Harry didn't look at her but his hand tightened about hers. She could feel the clawed tips of the Gauntlet's fingers digging into her skin but ignored it.
"Death Eaters," snarled Harry, his eyes flashing black momentarily. He looked at his father and said, "Righ'?"
Severus nodded and replied, "Yes. Miss Moody – Mischa told us this before she fell unconscious."
"What'll they do to him?" asked Niamh in a horrified voice. She looked from Harry to his father then to Dumbledore. "What will they do?"
"I dare not say," said Severus softly, which caused a tear to flow down Niamh's cheek.
"Oh, Mik…" she murmured. "This isn't right."
"Nothin' ever is," said Harry softly.
Dumbledore looked from the two sixth years to Severus and said, "I shall go contact Alastor and Calissa. They'll want to be here." He stood there for a moment, as thought waiting for a confirmation from the three people. Seeing he wasn't going to get one, he turned left.
Niamh shivered suddenly and Harry unclasped his cloak, swinging the heavy green cloth from his shoulders to hers. It heaped on the floor about her feet but she drew it up she was completely covered in its warm folds.
"Why Mik?" asked Harry, looking at his father.
"Moody's son and your friend – both make him an enemy of Voldemort's," said Severus. He looked at the curtained off bed and sighed. "I fear for what this shall do to Calissa… First her husband, then her brother, and now her children. Istveil lo ka."
Niamh blinked and looked at Harry, confused by the foreign language.
"It means 'Heaven help her,'" said the dark-haired teen softly. "Da…"
"The Potter's are distant cousins of the Snape's," explained Severus hastily. "From Tarven Snape."
"Tha firs' mortal ter wear the Gaun'let?" said Harry.
"And the last until you two."
"What about Mik?" asked Niamh in a thin voice. "What…"
"There's nothing we can do for him now," said Severus. He looked at Harry and added, "Not unless…"
"No," snarled the dark-haired teen. "We can'na risk i'."
"Harry is isn't someone we don't know…"
"I know that!" bellowed Harry. "I know tha'…"
Niamh looked from one to the other and asked, "What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing," replied both Snape men as one, not looking at her.
Niamh frowned then jumped when Madam Pomfrey appeared and shouted at them to get out. Severus hurriedly ushered the two of them out, barely making it into the hall before the doors slammed shut behind them.
"Hot chocolate, anyone?" offered Severus, looking at the two teenagers. When they both nodded, he began to walk in the direction of the dungeons and his quarters. Niamh and Harry followed, the girl leaning up against the taller boy as they walked. After a moment, his right arm slid around her waist.
Just before they lost sight of the hospital wing, Harry turned around and saw Calissa Davids sobbing into Mad-Eye Moody's shoulder. The grizzled old Auror was whispering something in her ear and Harry felt a swoop of shame, as though he was spying. He turned away from them and found Niamh watching him, her blue eyes serious.
He forced a smile for her, though it might have been more of a grimace than he wanted. They continued on down into the dungeons and spent the rest of the night curled up on a couch in front of Severus' fire, their thoughts entirely on their kidnapped friend, his dying sister, and his parents.
Author's Notes 2
Saerry: Five pages. Two more than the last chapter.
Atra: Still not very long.
Saerry: You wanna be stuck in a cheerleading outfit again?
Atra: …no…
Saerry: Okay then…
Elven Translation
Istveil lo ka: Heaven help her.
Review Replies
Ariana15: I think all of us are wondering that about our dear flamer…
Grace James: Thank you!
Sally-Jo: One can have as many muses as one's brain will support. Mine apparently can support far too many as there are several other people besides my muses running around in there. Was being a Trekkie ever not cool? I've liked all of the Star Trek's with the exception of Enterprise. Comes from having a mother who probably has every Star Trek book ever written…
Hakkai-Gojyo-Goku-Sanzo: Continuing! ^_^
Shahanna: No, its not. But Mel's a severe romance muse and coupled with my own romantic half…we could do some damage. *locks Mel and romantic half into a box*
Midnight: *blushes* Thanks!
A Sly Fan: Romance is always best in small doses…
Musicstarlover: Harry take Gauntlet for angst effect. Writing angst is FUN! =D And I won't kill Harry, I swear. Horrendously wound, sure. But KILL…oh, no. Too many hordes of fans ready to rip me to shreds if I did such a thing. *eyes crowd of fans nervously*
Darkmb101: Why, thank you!
Callie Marie Black: YAY!
Auburnbeagle: I've sworn off all Harry killing… Maybe just a little… NO!!!! Damn.
L.I.T Wanderer: I try to do long chapters but sometimes they just cut off short and the muses yell "THAT'S ENOUGH!" and…it ends. Or perhaps just fades away into the dredges of my mind… Moving on.
Kangaroo: I KNOW! I love the Sev/Ni hug too. So sweet… *sniff* No killing of the Harry. Aye, Captain Ma'am Sir! *salutes crookedly and falls over* We inspire THAT? Would you rather inspire one of her friends? *horrified* NO! Then stop complaining.
Wytil: Hell on wheels. I like that. And it's a little stressing to have an ancient Gauntlet imbued with Dark Magick suddenly latch onto your arm… But he is bed-ridden no more! Behold…WONDER HARRY! Can I leave? No. But she's NUTS! Point being? *sulks*
Everyone else: *throws Chocolate Frogs at all* I love all your reviews! And Harry won't be dying anytime soon, I assure you!