Unexpected Actions chapter 11
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything associated with JK Rowling.
Severus was halfway through a rather large bottle of Ogdens Firewhisky when the Baron floated through the door followed by a chuckling Draco.
"Well Severus, the plan appeared to work" The Baron said "Mr. Weasley ran by us like a dragon was on his tail"
"I think you scared the freckles off him Sir" Draco said laughing.
"yes brilliant" Severus said sourly
"We don't appear happy" The Baron observed
"Thank you for noticing" Severus snapped at him.
"what happened?" Draco asked him "Granger wasn't there long enough to irritate you to drink- speaking of which.... why did she leave so fast."
Severus sighed as he thought of how to dodge the question.
"She was a bit upset" He admitted grudgingly
"Upset?" Draco asked sharply "Why? Did she see the Weasel?"
"No" Severus answered. "I may have upset her"
The Baron looked at him silently and then gave a visable jerk
"Merlins Beard!" He exclaimed "Something happened between you two"
Severus took another long drink of his firewhisky and didn't answer.
"So the little Lioness is more attractive to you than we have anticipated" The Baron teased.
"Sod off" was the grumbled response
Draco stared at Severus in shock
"You were snogging with GRANGER?" He asked incredulously
"Really Draco" The Baron reproved "Snogging?"
"I didn't snog her" Severus said loudly gaining both of their attentions "At least not really"
He groaned and slumped in his chair
"It's not like I meant for it to happen" He said
"Of course not" The Baron agreed trying not to laugh
"Certainly Sir" Draco said with his lips twitching.
"Get out both of you" Severus said exasperated, having seen their amusement.
"Of course Sir" Draco said formally before adding mischeiviosly as he left the room "Want me to find Granger to help you brew a hangover potion? That is, if you two can keep your hands off each other"
Severus snarled and threw a cushion at Draco as he ran laughing out of the room. He then turned a baleful look at the Baron who was silent and thoughtful.
"I wonder Severus" He said musingly.
"You wonder what?" Severus snapped "How I could have been so stupid?"
"No" The Baron answered "How I could have missed how alike the two of you are."
"Oh yes" Severus said rolling his eyes "Besides the fact I'm 20 years her senior, male, pureblood, and have been a Death Eater, we could be twins"
No need to be sarcastic" The Baron said mildly "I meant that you both are strong willed, hot tempered, and have an unquenchable desire to learn. Not to mention loyalty"
"Whats the point" Severus asked
"I think you found your perfect match Severus" The Baron said proudly before adding "God help you"
"My perfect match?" Severus repeated "Are you mad? Granger, that irritating know it all be MY perfect match?"
"Stranger things have happened" The Baron said mistily "Take for example myself"
"You?" Severus questioned warily "You've never mentioned a match between yourself and anyone"
"I don't often discuss it... for reasons that it wouldn't be fitting for the ghost of Slytherin to admit to loving a Muggle among other things"
"You? And a muggle?" Severus slurred, starting to feel the effects of the Firewhisky
"She was stunning" The Baron said quietly "Not just her looks, but her heart and her desire to learn. Of course in my day it was frowned upon for Muggle women to be too educated. She was a neighbor of mine. I hated her for years, mostly due to my family. She was just a muggle of course! Barely worthy of notice in my fathers eyes. Then she became a rather annoying part of my life as my sister took a liking to her. For years she became an irritant whenever I was home from Hogwarts. But one day (oh what a blessed day) She became the love of my life. A rather large group of local young muggle men took a dislike to me in the village near my home. As it was a law even then that students could not do magic outside Hogwarts I thought a few of my bones might suffer under their fists. But they didn't. That wonderful women placed herself between me and that group and called them things that to this day would turn your ears red. They were so shamefaced after the verbal abuse she let spill from that normally sweet mouth of hers they slunk home with thier tails between their legs."
The Baron stopped to laugh briefly
"What could I do but kiss that insane woman senseless?"
Severus smiled until the Barons eyes darkened
"The next year was the best of my life." He whispered. "Until my father found out. He, and his friends, decided it was a folly of mine that had to be dealt with. They went to the girls home and set it alight with flames. With her in it."
He paused at Severus' intake of breath.
"Even before the Dark Lord there were wizards who enjoyed Muggle killing" He said grimly "I had gotton word about their plans and ran to stop them, prepared to swear I would never speak to her again and obliterate her mind of every memory of me if necessary. But I was too late. I challenged every single one of them to a duel, I will blame either the tears falling from my eyes blinding me as my downfall or just my lack of skill at killing. Either way my father finally ended my brutal slaughter by stabbing me."
"But why did you come back as a ghost?" Severus asked "Why not join her in the next world?"
The Baron smiled a cold smile
"Before I felt my lifes blood draining from my body and my heart slowing I placed a curse on those present. A most powerful one. It was formed from love and vengence, 2 of the most powerful forces. I refused to leave this world until I saw justice done to those who killed my love"
"And did they pay?" Severus asked hesitantly
"Oh yes" The Baron said heatedly "I wasn't a Slytherin for nothing you know. I was quite cunning. I possibly put Salazar himself to shame with my degree of cunning. Those I placed the curse on never knew it was me ravaging their bodies and ruining their blood lines until they were moments away from death. Then I showed them exactly who was responsible and reminded them why. Now they were gone and I remained. Where else to go but Hogwarts? It was a place that facinated the mind of my love. I wish she could have seen it just once but I feel closer to her, even now, with every day I am here."
"Do you regret it ever?" Severus asked curiously
"Choosing the path of remaining a shadow of my former self?" The Baron asked.
Severus nodded.
"Sometimes in an odd moment" The Baron said slowly after some thought "Mostly when I see some of the students and the looks on thier faces when they realize love for the first time. I don't envy them. It was the scariest time of my life. Even death paled in comparison." He chuckled before continuing "But I am also saddened when I see opportunity for a possible greater love than even I had get ruined by stubborness and because it 'is impossible'"
"Baron" Severus said exasperated "There is nothing between me and Miss Granger. Just a kiss that shouldn't have happened"
"That's what I said once." The Baron said gliding towards the door. "I hope that comforts you at night"
"Well it won't now" Severus muttered at his back before asking "The girl- what was her name?"
The Baron turned and smiled a shadowed half smile "Emily. Emily Granger"
And with that he turned and left a stunned Severus sitting in the shadowed room.
.......................................................................
This chapter turned out a little more dark than I usually like to write but I hope everyone enjoys it. I would like to thank all of you who took the time to review. It is appreciated more than you know. (That was a hint to please review if you have time)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything associated with JK Rowling.
Severus was halfway through a rather large bottle of Ogdens Firewhisky when the Baron floated through the door followed by a chuckling Draco.
"Well Severus, the plan appeared to work" The Baron said "Mr. Weasley ran by us like a dragon was on his tail"
"I think you scared the freckles off him Sir" Draco said laughing.
"yes brilliant" Severus said sourly
"We don't appear happy" The Baron observed
"Thank you for noticing" Severus snapped at him.
"what happened?" Draco asked him "Granger wasn't there long enough to irritate you to drink- speaking of which.... why did she leave so fast."
Severus sighed as he thought of how to dodge the question.
"She was a bit upset" He admitted grudgingly
"Upset?" Draco asked sharply "Why? Did she see the Weasel?"
"No" Severus answered. "I may have upset her"
The Baron looked at him silently and then gave a visable jerk
"Merlins Beard!" He exclaimed "Something happened between you two"
Severus took another long drink of his firewhisky and didn't answer.
"So the little Lioness is more attractive to you than we have anticipated" The Baron teased.
"Sod off" was the grumbled response
Draco stared at Severus in shock
"You were snogging with GRANGER?" He asked incredulously
"Really Draco" The Baron reproved "Snogging?"
"I didn't snog her" Severus said loudly gaining both of their attentions "At least not really"
He groaned and slumped in his chair
"It's not like I meant for it to happen" He said
"Of course not" The Baron agreed trying not to laugh
"Certainly Sir" Draco said with his lips twitching.
"Get out both of you" Severus said exasperated, having seen their amusement.
"Of course Sir" Draco said formally before adding mischeiviosly as he left the room "Want me to find Granger to help you brew a hangover potion? That is, if you two can keep your hands off each other"
Severus snarled and threw a cushion at Draco as he ran laughing out of the room. He then turned a baleful look at the Baron who was silent and thoughtful.
"I wonder Severus" He said musingly.
"You wonder what?" Severus snapped "How I could have been so stupid?"
"No" The Baron answered "How I could have missed how alike the two of you are."
"Oh yes" Severus said rolling his eyes "Besides the fact I'm 20 years her senior, male, pureblood, and have been a Death Eater, we could be twins"
No need to be sarcastic" The Baron said mildly "I meant that you both are strong willed, hot tempered, and have an unquenchable desire to learn. Not to mention loyalty"
"Whats the point" Severus asked
"I think you found your perfect match Severus" The Baron said proudly before adding "God help you"
"My perfect match?" Severus repeated "Are you mad? Granger, that irritating know it all be MY perfect match?"
"Stranger things have happened" The Baron said mistily "Take for example myself"
"You?" Severus questioned warily "You've never mentioned a match between yourself and anyone"
"I don't often discuss it... for reasons that it wouldn't be fitting for the ghost of Slytherin to admit to loving a Muggle among other things"
"You? And a muggle?" Severus slurred, starting to feel the effects of the Firewhisky
"She was stunning" The Baron said quietly "Not just her looks, but her heart and her desire to learn. Of course in my day it was frowned upon for Muggle women to be too educated. She was a neighbor of mine. I hated her for years, mostly due to my family. She was just a muggle of course! Barely worthy of notice in my fathers eyes. Then she became a rather annoying part of my life as my sister took a liking to her. For years she became an irritant whenever I was home from Hogwarts. But one day (oh what a blessed day) She became the love of my life. A rather large group of local young muggle men took a dislike to me in the village near my home. As it was a law even then that students could not do magic outside Hogwarts I thought a few of my bones might suffer under their fists. But they didn't. That wonderful women placed herself between me and that group and called them things that to this day would turn your ears red. They were so shamefaced after the verbal abuse she let spill from that normally sweet mouth of hers they slunk home with thier tails between their legs."
The Baron stopped to laugh briefly
"What could I do but kiss that insane woman senseless?"
Severus smiled until the Barons eyes darkened
"The next year was the best of my life." He whispered. "Until my father found out. He, and his friends, decided it was a folly of mine that had to be dealt with. They went to the girls home and set it alight with flames. With her in it."
He paused at Severus' intake of breath.
"Even before the Dark Lord there were wizards who enjoyed Muggle killing" He said grimly "I had gotton word about their plans and ran to stop them, prepared to swear I would never speak to her again and obliterate her mind of every memory of me if necessary. But I was too late. I challenged every single one of them to a duel, I will blame either the tears falling from my eyes blinding me as my downfall or just my lack of skill at killing. Either way my father finally ended my brutal slaughter by stabbing me."
"But why did you come back as a ghost?" Severus asked "Why not join her in the next world?"
The Baron smiled a cold smile
"Before I felt my lifes blood draining from my body and my heart slowing I placed a curse on those present. A most powerful one. It was formed from love and vengence, 2 of the most powerful forces. I refused to leave this world until I saw justice done to those who killed my love"
"And did they pay?" Severus asked hesitantly
"Oh yes" The Baron said heatedly "I wasn't a Slytherin for nothing you know. I was quite cunning. I possibly put Salazar himself to shame with my degree of cunning. Those I placed the curse on never knew it was me ravaging their bodies and ruining their blood lines until they were moments away from death. Then I showed them exactly who was responsible and reminded them why. Now they were gone and I remained. Where else to go but Hogwarts? It was a place that facinated the mind of my love. I wish she could have seen it just once but I feel closer to her, even now, with every day I am here."
"Do you regret it ever?" Severus asked curiously
"Choosing the path of remaining a shadow of my former self?" The Baron asked.
Severus nodded.
"Sometimes in an odd moment" The Baron said slowly after some thought "Mostly when I see some of the students and the looks on thier faces when they realize love for the first time. I don't envy them. It was the scariest time of my life. Even death paled in comparison." He chuckled before continuing "But I am also saddened when I see opportunity for a possible greater love than even I had get ruined by stubborness and because it 'is impossible'"
"Baron" Severus said exasperated "There is nothing between me and Miss Granger. Just a kiss that shouldn't have happened"
"That's what I said once." The Baron said gliding towards the door. "I hope that comforts you at night"
"Well it won't now" Severus muttered at his back before asking "The girl- what was her name?"
The Baron turned and smiled a shadowed half smile "Emily. Emily Granger"
And with that he turned and left a stunned Severus sitting in the shadowed room.
.......................................................................
This chapter turned out a little more dark than I usually like to write but I hope everyone enjoys it. I would like to thank all of you who took the time to review. It is appreciated more than you know. (That was a hint to please review if you have time)