May 18, 2004

Disclaimer: Not mine… wish it was… don't we all?

Authors Note: Good God, as I'm sure you all are thinking to if anybody is left. 4 months… that's no good at all… I'm sorry. Life, along with my other fic "I Know I'm Not Sleeping," got in the way, but summer has finally arrived to the relief of all! whew So, since I haven't updated in ages, I'll give you a short summary of everything that has happened up to now unless you want to go back and reread the whole thing as I'm sure you'd otherwise have to! So here goes:

Sirius and the crew have found Harry on the verge of death by the hands of You-Know-Who in the middle of the forest and battle ensues. Taking up our near dead hero, Sirius takes him to St. Mungo's for some patching up and then Remus and Sirius cry (sniff, sniff). After the man tears have been released, our favorite werewolf heads back to Hogwarts to tell the Weasley's and Hermione what's up (along with, you know, teaching) and Sirius goes back to the hospital only to find that some evil being has put a spell on Harry that makes him have a stroke. On top of all of that, the Ministry may be coming for our loveable non-convict which weighs heavily on his mind as Harry lies comatose in front of him. Oh yeah, and maybe Voldemort isn't the one in power after all! Dun, dun, DUN!

So now that you have been refreshed with my somewhat dry sense of humor, let's get our read on! Presenting for one unknown-amount-of-time only, Chapter 8 of "Tell it to My Face!"

Looking up at the Head table at supper that night, Hermione, Ron and Ginny all noticed that Professor Dumbledore, Professor Lupin and Professor McGonagall were all conspicuously absent.

"Where do you think they are?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know," Ron somberly replied, "but McGonagall and Dumbledore are rarely gone at the same time. One of them is always here in case something happens."

"Well they've certainly found someone to take their place," Ginny bitterly added. Glancing up at the long table again, the three saw, with no uncertainties, one Professor Severus Snape glaring at them as if they were next on his hit list. "Why does he keep staring at us? It's giving me the willies," she shivered.

"Just don't pay attention to him," Ron told her, and she leaned forward in her seat, shadowed by her brother's size. "But if Lupin, Dumbledore and McGonagall are gone, then it must be something to do with Harry. Do you think something has happened to him?"

"Ease up, Ron," Dean said to him from three seats over causing the trio to turn a shade red and sink in their chairs a bit, "it's just the flu. I don't see why his aunt and uncle don't just send him here; Madame Pomfrey would have him up and ready to go in no time."

"Er, you're right, Dean, he'll probably be back in a few days. I'm sure he's getting better all the time," Ron tried to recover and quickly he turned away, trying to hide himself in his sister's shadow but to little avail. Whispering this time, he said to both girls, "Are you almost done? I don't want to risk blowing our cover again."

"Yeah," Hermione said, the disappointment in her voice only overpowered by the concurrence of feelings she had for Harry.

Trying to act as neutral as possible, all three rose from their seats, Hermione and Ginny grabbing their book bags, and they began to head for the great oak doors that would separate them from the rest of the student body.

"I'm sorry," Ron murmured to Hermione as they passed the edges of the four titanic tables, just paces from freedom.

"Don't worry about it," she whispered back, finally passing the arch and they continued their path across the castle foyer straight to the tower.

"And just where do you think you three are headed off to?" a dark, silky voice demanded from behind them. Hesitantly they turned, knowing who they were about to face, but wishing it wasn't to be so.

"We were just heading back to the common room, Professor Snape, to do some studying," Hermione said, her voice clear and level.

"I see," he said, surveying them carefully. "You three will follow me to my office. There is something that I must discuss with you. Immediately," he said sharply, turning on his heal and walking swiftly to the corridor of the dungeons. With the utmost confusion and admittedly a little fear, they warily followed the man into the dark recesses of the fortress they called home.

"We're sure, Albus, I was there. They know who he is and if we don't get him out of there and I mean now, they will come for him."

Methodically, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore paced his office. "But it is admittedly strange that they have not turned him over to the authorities as of yet. Very curious, indeed."

"Albus-" Remus started again in a huff but was quickly cut off by Professor McGonagall.

"Albus, there must be something we can do. Use an invisibility cloak to smuggle him out of the hospital, break down their anti-apparation wards for a few minutes, use a portkey, something. We can not leave him there any longer than we already have. The ministry may already be on their way!"

"No, I don't think so…" he trailed off but before Remus could jump in again, he said, "I think that may be the safest place for him as a matter of fact."

"What?" Remus asked disbelievingly.

As if he hadn't heard a word, Dumbledore moved swiftly to the fireplace, throwing in a pinch of Floo Powder and called, "Madame Pomfrey!"

With very short delay, a grey flecked head of hair appeared in the flames and said, "Yes, Headmaster, what can I do for you?"

"You worked at St. Mungo's for a time, correct?"

"Well of course, Albus, you know that well enough," she replied, her furrowed brow looking menacing in the shadow of green flames.

"What is their policy of convicts in the wards?"

Sirius couldn't bring himself to do anything besides sit at Harry's bedside, the fingers of his right hand laced through the fingers of Harry's left. His chin sat resting on the edge of the mattress, eyes sweeping over the still figure before him. For all that went racing through his mind, the only thought that stuck with him was that, in any second, a loud crash and yelling voices would bring in the ministry and he would never see Harry again. 'Couldn't protect you before, can't protect you now,' he thought glumly and sadly closed his eyes.

When the door opened, he didn't even look up, just waited to feel the wand pressing into the back of his neck, to feel the hand grab his hair and yank his head back, to feel uncountable hands pull him out of his chair and throw him to the floor but it never came. In fact, nothing came. After he was sure a full minute had passed with nothing to show for it, he ventured to look up and found that the door must have been blow open by a breeze or by somebody with the wrong room, unwilling to close the door for fear of "waking up" the people inside. Too drained to bother to rub his eyes, he merely set his head back down as he had done that very morning. With his eyes closed and other senses sharpened, he could feel Harry's pulse thumping from his wrist onto Sirius', he could smell the antiseptics from the bandages and blankets, and he could hear the nurses talking in the hallway beyond the door. Uninterested at first, he began to liven up when he heard Kyren's voice coming from down the hall.

"Well if you think it's him then you need to tell somebody, I mean, besides me. There's not much I can do to help you but there are plenty of aggressive people here that would be more than glad to do their part."

"I don't know," another voice came, disturbed, frightened. "I'm just so worried about it. What if he comes to find me or something?"

"Eleanor Thile!" Kyren said again. "Would you just listen to yourself? What total nonsense."

"Well nothing has happened in years! And with the war coming back I don't know if I want to create more trouble, especially not for myself…" she trailed.

"Well, if you're not going to do it for yourself, which you deserve, then do it for all of humankind! Take your revenge on Sirius and if he rips your heart out, just give me the signal and I'll fix you right up."

'Oh my God. What the hell kind of person do they think I am? They think I'm a murderer, that's what. A violent, crazy man that rips out peoples internal organs in my spare time for pleasure.'

"I suppose you're right, Kyren," Eleanor sighed, "Just please, if I do decide to do this… just pray for me, okay?"

"I will, love, don't you worry about that."

It was cold in the bowels of Hogwarts. Professor Snape seemed perfectly at ease with the temperature as he strode through the maze of hallways, his black robes billowing behind him and whipping as he turned the dark corners. Ron, Hermione and Ginny were practically running to keep up with him wondering all the while what they had done to deserve this unforeseen punishment, for what else could it possibly be?

As they rounded the last echoing corner, they saw Snape standing in front of his office door, just finishing unlocking it and he turned to them, beckoning them into the dark cavern.

Hesitantly they did as requested, Ginny entering first, followed by Ron and then Hermione. They stood together in the unlit room waiting for some sign from the overpowering man until he slammed the door closed behind him, causing all three to jump and shake from both nerves and cold.

"Lumos," they heard their Professor say and were surprised to see him standing on the other side of them behind his desk, absently shuffling through papers and books completely ignoring them. After a moment had passed without him even acknowledging their presence, Hermione cleared her throat to speak up but was cut off abruptly.

"Sit down," he commanded, "just give me a moment's peace for Merlin's sake."

"But Professor," she began.

"Just let me finish this Granger and when I am ready we will continue. Is that fair enough for you?" he asked with a sneer.

"Quite," she spat back, thoroughly annoyed with the man for his rudeness, his lack of respect, and for dragging them down here with no purpose. She sat back in her chair pulling her book bag to her lap and began rummaging through its contents. Books, parchment, quills, ink, rubber bands, the only thing she was missing was the look of mixed amusement and annoyance on Professor Snape's face.

As he finally turned to a bookshelf and pulled a book out from its ranks, he said, with no conviction, "That's a very nice spell book you have, Ms. Granger."

Unsure of how to respond but long since intimidated by the man, she questioningly retorted, "Thank you, Professor. Would you like to borrow it perhaps? I can use Ron's book for a time if that is the case."

"I'm sure but I'd rather you used it," he said, finally sitting behind the large, wooden desk, the jars of eye balls and miniature squid in preservative staring blankly into the confines of the room. "In fact, that is what I've brought you here for. But before I say any more, you must swear to me that word of this meeting will never be let out. If you are asked as to your whereabouts, should you choose to stay, you were serving a detention with me-"

"You've got to be kidding me," Ron let out under his breath.

"-if not… make up whatever lie you see fit, but the decision is now. What is your choice?" he demanded, looking directly at Ginny who looked beyond her wits as to what to respond with. Vaguely coming to the conclusion that this must be something of substance other than random punishment, which she wouldn't put past the Slytherin Head, she nodded slowly saying, "I'm staying."

Ron, shocked at his sister's answer but unwilling to leave her alone with Snape replied, with less enthusiasm, "Me too."

Hermione, however, took a moment to study the man's face. She didn't know what she was looking for, perhaps some clue as to the need for such secrecy between teacher and student, yet inevitably replied with an inquiring, "And I."

"Good," he said, immediately to business. "Now, you will swear that this meeting has never occurred. You are now serving a detention, understood?" It suddenly occurred to the three that maybe he was planning some sort of elaborate and Herculean chore for them to do with their consent but before Hermione could question his motives, Ginny said stately, "I swear."

"Me too, I guess," Ron seconded.

"Say it, Weasley, or you're going back."

"Fine, I swear. Sir."

"Ms. Granger?"

"I swear."

"Alright. I have a task for you. Lupin and Professor McGonagall spoke to you about Potter, correct? What do you know?"

"Everything," Hermione said.

"Everything from where?" he demanded.

"Everything since before 3:30 this afternoon," she clarified.

"So you know about Potter's stroke then?"

All three of them nodded, Ginny wondering what this was possibly going to lead to.

"I pulled you after supper because I noticed you two had your book bags and thus your spell books. What other books do you have?"

"Advanced Transfiguration, Magical Plants that Hurt and Heal, Ancient Runes of the Second Century, and The Algorithm in the Wizarding World," Hermione read.

"I have The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, and The Monster Book of Monsters," Ginny added.

"Good, Ms. Granger, you will keep your Transfiguration and Herbology book out; Ms. Weasley, your spell book. We are going to be reading."

"Excuse me, professor, but what are you talking about?" Ron asked in a bout of courage.

Looking at all three of them distinctly for at least the second time that evening, studying their every move and squirm, he finally said, "Something has come up in Mr. Potter's case. It seems that we may be able to find out who cursed him but, admittedly, I can't think of everybody that would be out for his blood on my own. You, being his friends," he said with just a touch of disgust, "would know most if not all of the students at Hogwarts that could have started it."

"But Professor, the instigator has to come into contact with the victim within a week prior to it happening. Nobody at school could have reached him," Hermione pointed out.

"You think I don't know that Granger?" he fought back. "I'm not an imbecile! Why do you think I've asked about your textbooks? Those tomes are the only literature some of the students here read and if somebody against Potter found a mention of a certain spell in one of your books and passed it along to the correct person or persons, then we can narrow down the field of who almost killed your companion. Does that make sense, Ms. Granger, or do I need to explain it in smaller words?"

Taken aback by his sudden outburst, she quietly replied, "No, professor, I understand perfectly well. But could we do this in the library perhaps, or our common room? There is a bit more light in those places-" she gently lied.

"Why don't you just use your wand to provide you with more light? Or should I be telling you to use your head?" he spat.

With a dark glare she repacked her school bag, practically throwing Magical Plants that Hurt and Heal at Ron, and viciously clasping the latches before standing up to leave.

"You are not going anywhere, Ms. Granger, now sit down!"

"No!" she shouted in a bout of courage. "Despite what you think, I am not in your class any more and don't have to take your rudeness lying down," she said, making for the door. "I've put up with your remarks and I dare say your ego for the last five and a half years, Sir, and I don't plan on wasting another moment of my time."

"You made an oath-"

"Yes, well, I won't tell anybody and I'll still lie about detention. Happy?" she asked and swung the door open.

"I thought you had more heart, Granger," he called. "Apparently you don't care about your precious friend after all."

"You know what? Just because I won't stand for your injustice anymore doesn't mean I don't care. It means I've grown up and you can't bully me anymore."

"Five points from Gryffindor!" he called angrily to her back.

"Why not make it ten so it's even?" She shouted over her shoulder and slammed the door closed behind her.

"Go," he said to Ron and Ginny who were sitting silently in awe at the scene that just transpired. "Go!" he yelled more forcefully and quickly Ron gathered himself up and headed for the door, but Ginny remained behind. "What is it, Ms. Weasley?" Snape asked with malice and boredom.

"Um, I was just wondering, sir, what is the spell called, exactly, and its incantation?"

"It's a mixture of an enlargement, thickening, and a time charm in one. The spell itself is called The Encephalocclusion curse. The incantation is cerebroventis apoplessein. Do you think you can remember all that?" he said, just as bitterly as ever.

"Yes, sir. Thank you, professor," Ginny said and quietly followed her brother out into the hallway.

As the door was pulled closed, Severus Snape sat back in his chair, putting his feet on his desk in a very relaxed fashion.

"Severus, old boy, you've done it again."

Yeah, it's not really a place to stop I suppose, but the only thing I could think of to come next I want to wait on or we'll end up skipping like four days worth of time. So if you're still there, drop me a review or some hate mail for taking so long and maybe I can get something up faster for the next round!

Review Reviews!

FallenAngel: It was ALL you, don't doubt it for a second! You and the end of the semester… Death threats will still be accepted!

Tayce: I'm sorry I took so long and thanks for sticking with me! As for Sirius, well, I was going to let you find out what's going on with him this chapter, but that was part of what would skip too much time and it wouldn't be nearly as fun! J I have alternate plans for our favorite ungrounded-convicted-felon! And Harry, well, lets just say he'll wake up at an angsty time!

Nightspear: Thanks for all the specifics in your reviews! I really like knowing what you like and don't like; it is really helpful. How's writing coming for you and how was your bio final? I hope it went well and I hope you convinced your guy friend to go to HP3 too! Lol! Let me know!

Panda12289: lol, thanks for digging the dying drama! And I went back and re-read some of the story and you're right… Hermione and Ron kinda don't sound that upset but they are deep down… they're just hiding it from the rest of the school because, well, levels of worry for the flu and a stroke are kinda like a two and an eight on the Richter scale. Thanks for liking my story and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!

ParanoiaIn2005: lol! Thanks! I hope you enjoyed the chapter lol since we were just talking about this about 6 hours ago! lol shakes head at self

And to everyone: Again, I hope I haven't lost anybody due to my extended leave and I really hope you enjoyed the chapter. If this happens again, I give you all permission to come to my house and knock on my window shouting "Write! For the Love of God, Write!!" at 4:30 in the morning… lol… maybe then I'll speed up the muse!

May all of your finals be simple, your grades be high, and your summers be btchin' to say the least!

Ever yours,

Tini :D