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Six Feet and Falling

by Saerry Snape

Chapter 17 :: November 29, 1995 :: Hogwarts – Midday

Sheyne groaned and opened her eyes to find herself staring up at the white plaster ceiling of the infirmary.

"Oh, look," she said to herself.  "The infirmary.  Again."

"You should be glad anyone had the sense to bring you up here, girl," scolded Madame Pomfrey as she appeared quite suddenly beside Sheyne's bed.  "You and Mr. Potter had quite the spell.  It's been the talk of the school for days."

Sheyne's jaw dropped and she gasped, "Days?  We've been out for days?"

"Yes, my dear.  Mr. Potter is still out.  Though he does he mumbling about things."

"What sort of things?" asked Sheyne.

Madame Pomfrey smiled and patted Sheyne's hand.  "Nothing for you to worry about, m'girl.  You just get well.  Severus has been in here every moment he hasn't had class and when we didn't force him to eat.  Worried over the both of you."

Sheyne gasped and sat up straight, her eyes bugging.  Sitting up, however, did not turn out to be a good thing to do right yet, as a wave of dizziness overcame her.  She slumped back against her pillows and moaned as Madame Pomfrey tutted over here.

"Childling, you can't go sitting up like that until you've got something in that belly.  You'll just get dizzy again.  And yes, I know of your and Mr. Potter's rather odd connection."  The mediwitch smiled and added, "I helped bring the two of you into the world, you know!"

"Really?" asked Sheyne, finally getting the dizziness down.

"Yes, m'girl.  I actually pulled Harry into this world and you…well, my hand in yours wasn't that great, except to keep Rowena from taking Severus' head off.  I have always found it odd that the two of you were conceived and born on the same day.  Very curious…"

"Waitaminute.  Born on the same day?"

Madame Pomfrey nodded.

"Yes.  Unless I am much mistake and it is another child of a Rowena and Severus that I am thinking of…"

"No, no…  It's just…that is really weird."

"Isn't it, though?  Now, m'dear girl, you are to get some food in that stomach and then rest."

"Yes, Madame Pomfrey."

Madame Pomfrey patted her hand again then walked over to check on the peacefully sleeping Harry before vanishing into her office.  Sheyne watched her for a moment then leaned over to pick at the food on the bedside table.

* * *

A few hours later, Sheyne was released from the infirmary.  Madame Pomfrey still hadn't told her what side effect she'd suffered from touching Harry's scar and she was determined to know.  So she began the long trek towards the dungeons.

As she passed through the entrance hall, a sound behind her alerted her to someone else in the room.  Turning, she saw a familiar robed and masked figure.

Grey eyes glared coldly at her from behind the mask as she snarled before her body Shifted, replaced by the sleek form of a black panther.  She lifted one black lip to show her gleaming fangs, a growl forming in her throat.

"If you think that's going to scare me, Sheyne Snape, you have another thing coming."

The panther snarled and leapt, claws outstretched at the man known as Lucius Malfoy.

He had his wand on her in an instant, crying out, "Praestringo!"  Silver ropes flew out of his wand and bound her paws together.  She let out a cry and fell to the floor, rolling before she came to a stop.  Muscles bunching, she made to snap the cords but another spell fell on her.

"Carpo!"

The cords now refused to budge and she began to yowl.  Malfoy snarled out, "Silentio," ceasing her last means of being found.  He then knelt down beside her and said, "And don't try to Shift out of those, my pretty.  If you do, they'll just shrink to accommodate whatever form you go to."

She glared at him and he laughed, eyes glinting maliciously.

"Your mine once more, my dear.  And this time, Severus won't be getting you back."

With that he waved his wand at her and she floated up into the air, bobbing behind him as they walked out.  A face in one of the high windows noticed them and began to run towards the Headmaster's office the moment they winked out of sight after passing the gates.

Carpo – Hold onto

Praestringo – To bind fast

Silentio – To Silence