(5)The Sword Of The Dead

Merida marched inside with Harry following, still suffering a laughing fit. Dumbledore shook his head at them as he, Mcgonagall & Lupin stood outside for a moment. "Well....." sighed Lupin. "at least we actually made it out the door this time!"

"Oh, Remus!" Professor Mcgonagall laughed out loud.

The three of them went back inside. Dumbledore finally broke the silence. "Remus? Would you mind watching the Potions class for a day or two? Just until Severus is back with us."

Professor Lupin was slow to answer, but finally, he decided he would. "OK, but only today, tomorrow & I can do Friday to but only if it's in the morning." he started & glanced around before continuing. Lowing his voice a little, he finished. "Full moon Friday night, remember?"

Dumbledore nodded, understanding. Professor Lupin was a werewolf & on the night of every full moon, he would turn into a beast of fury. "Don't worry!" Dumbledore assured him. "I'm sure Severus can get back to class be Monday." Dumbledore dared to believe those words. He had never before seen a spell like the one that had injured Professor Snape. Was there even a cure for such a horrific curse?

"Now, now Severus!" Madam Pomfrey warned. "You're supposed to be resting, remember? NOT writing letters!"

"Doctors!" Snape muttered & winced as the sword poked him. "And they aren't letters! Just two little notes!" he defended, though somewhat weakly. "This one is for Minerva, explaining what four members of her house did this morning--------!"

"You would do ANYTHING to make Gryfindor lose points!" Pomfrey retorted.

"-------& the one I'm doing now," Snape went on, ignoring her. "is for Albus & it's urgent, so see that he gets it!" he snapped.

"Yes, SIR!" Pomfrey stated flatly. Professors are the worst sort of patients imaginable, particularly Potion Masters!!! she thought darkly.

"And Poppy?" Snape added. "Knowing Minerva & if Albus has his way, those Gryfindors will probably EARN points for being brave & coming out to help, not LOSING them for being stupid & coming out to help! I didn't enjoy writing that report but it must be done for the good of the school!" he scowled. "Oh & I heard that thought of yours!" he suddenly went on. "I know Occlumency, REMEMBER? Now," Snape finally got back to business. "What did you want, really?"

Pomfrey glared at him. "To jam that accursed sword into your heart, myself!! Never mind Bellatrix!" she threatened. "Here drink this!" she ordered.

"In a moment!" Snape barked. "Just let me finish this last note to Albus! As I said, it's urgent!"

"Fine! But hurry it up!" Madam Pomfrey sat on the bed beside Snape, watching him as if to make sure he won't try anything else afterward! Snape cast her an evil look & then returned to his writing.

I remember the incantation Miss Black said. It was 'Sweord aef se Ded' which appears to be Medieval English for 'Sword of the Dead.'

Miss Black also told me that they know she is here. You know of whom I speak. I think it is best if she be moved out of Hogwarts to another secure location.

One last thing, if you meet the Flaxen mare, try not to insult her! I had a problem with that! She should be removed from the forest for her own protection.

Professor Severus Snape

Snape checked it one last time to make sure he didn't miss anything & then folded it into an envelope. "OK, now i can take that!" Snape grumbled, lying back on the pillow. Pomfrey could see that Snape was in lot more pain then he cared to show but he bore it quietly. "What is it, anyway?" he asked, taking the goblet offered him.

Pomfrey started! She was hoping Snape wouldn't have asked because this particular potion was only given in an extreme emergency & she didn't want to worry Snape any more than necessary. "It's---It---" she stuttered & then sighed. "It's the 'Draught Of The Living Dead,' our most powerful sleeping potion. Oh don't worry!" she continued, noticing Snape's look of shock. (Was it really that bad? Snape asked himself.) "It won't kill you, despite the name, you know that. It'll just put you into a deep sleep so you won't feel any more pain & to stop you from moving----like as in writing NOTES?!" she raised an eyebrow. Snape gave her another evil look. "Besides," Pomfrey decided to defend herself. "Moving agitates the sword & causes it to grow faster. Its point is already close to your ribs! I don't like gibing you this potion but.....no one knows if I can even cure the curse & it's best if.....we can slow down its growth!"

"In other words," Snape said softly(for once). "I might not wake up again & you just don't want me to suffer?"

"No," Pomfrey tried lying & dodging the Occlumency at the same time. Protecto! Protecto! She kept pushing the Occlumency aside. "It's just a precautionary so I have more time to find a cure for you!"

"Very well, then," Snape pretended to believe her so she wouldn't worry but the seriousness of the situation was becoming very real to everyone, though no one wanted to say anything & stop hoping for the best. Snape thought a moment & actually smiled a bit.

"What's so funny?" Pomfrey asked.

"Nothing, really," Snape answered. "I'm just remembering Mr. Potter's first time in my class & I popped a quiz on him. I had asked him about this potion among other things. I never thought I would one day be using it on myself!"

"Drink up now!" Pomfrey ordered. She picked up the two notes to give to Dumbledore & Mcgonagall.

"So it's your dad's car then?" Merida laughed a bit.

"Yeah!" Ron said sheepishly. "I'm surprised it's still out there! By the way, did you happen to see---er--uh---seee-um--?"

"Giant spiders?" Merida asked. Ron & Merida had somehow formed a connection in reference to their shared phobia. "No! Thank Merlin! I was nearing the edge of the forest when that darn car lunged out on me! I didn't think i could run so fast!" Merida laughed.

"Guess what?!" Harry bounded into the common room. "Professor Lupin is going to take care of our Potions class while Snape is out of commission!!" harry was bouncing around the room, he could hardly contain himself.

"WHAT?!" Ron, Hermione & Merida exclaimed together & then ran around in circles chasing after Harry.

"Hey, I'm beginning to like Death Eaters!" Merida teased. "Lupin teaching our Potions! I'm in heaven!" she squealed. "Oh, sure! I DO feel a little sorry for Snape!" she added quickly, putting on a false sad face. "Just a little!"

That next Potion Class was the best one that Harry & his friends had ever been to. Lupin gave them all a quick smile before starting class. He had really missed them! Class was over all too soon, but Lupin reassured everyone that he would be back tomorrow.

That night was Harry's DA class, for Dumbledore's Army. he had Merida working on her Patronus Dolphin but just like she said, it would giggle once & swim away into nothingness. Merida sighed, dejectedly. "Fine target i will be for the Dementors!" She glanced at the now empty place where her charm disappeared.

"Are you thinking of happiness throughout the charming?" Harry asked.

"Um---what does that mean?"

"You must think of the memory the whole time, not just while you say the words!"

"Oh, really?" Merida exclaimed, "No, I wasn't doing that! I'd just push the memory aside once Flipper came out!"

"Flipper?" asked several random students at once.

"It's a muggle story about a dolphin named Flipper!" Harry answered. Merida smiled shyly at him, thankful she wasn't the only one who knew of muggle stories.

"I didn't mean to----uh----say the name out loud!" Merida laughed . "It's just a silly thing! Expecto Patronus!" She sent forth her dolphin again & tis time she kept thinking of her happy memory. Raised by muggles, Merida had been exposed to muggle things. Before she found out she was a witch, Merida had been into hore riding. She had won her first race & that was the happiest moment of her life so far. The dolphin stayed & swam around the room. Everyone watched it playing & doing flips.

"You're doing it! It's staying!" Harry exclaimed. Flipper jumped up & then took a dive straight for Harry! "Hey! Watch were you point your wand!" Harry ducked out of the way.

"Merida laughed. "Sorry!" She let Flipper disperse into air.

On Friday night was Astronomy. Everyone stumbled up the tower around midnight; full moon high in the sky. Professor Lupin had left earlier that afternoon, much to the dismay of everyone, so he wouldn't bite anyone. Professor Snape was still under the spell of the "Draught Of The Living Dead" & his condition was worsening. The Sword had now pierced through & cracked two ribs, the hard bone had slowed it but now, only a few inches were between the Sword's point & his heart. Though Harry, Ron, Hermione & Merida hated Snape with a passion, they were beginning to worry. But now was not the time. Tonight, Jupiter was in a special position & through a telescope, most of her moons would be visible. The trick was to find the planet & chart its path---within the next twelve minutes before Jupiter passed through the whole phase! Harry sighed. He just couldn't find it & the clock was ticking.

"Race you?" Merida asked.

"What?" Harry snapped to attention. He had been falling asleep!

"Let's see who can find Jupiter first!" Merida stared into her telescope & swung around. Harry copied her, fully awake now! He didn't want to lose this one!

"Haha! Found it first!" Merida triumphed after only five minutes! Harry stole a peek into her telescope & sure enough, there it was! Scowling, he adjusted his own to match & recorded the place on his star chart. Oh well, at least he didn't have a blank space on his assignment!

Back in the common room, Ron bounded up the stairs back to bed. "Coming Harry?" he yawned.

"Yeah!" Harry started after him.

"Goodnight, Harry!" Merida said, but didn't move.

" 'Night Merida," Harry stood & looked at her a moment. Merida came shyly up to him & finally gave him a kiss on the cheek. She turned to leave but Harry caught her.

Ron trudged back down stairs, wondering why Harry hadn't shown up. He soon found out! Ron watched until Harry & Merida finished their kiss. As Harry let Merida go, on suddenly became self-conscious & hurried back upstairs.

"I---um---I'll see you tomorrow!" Harry finally said somewhat shyly.

"Sure!" said Merida, equally as shy. "Goodnight!" She ran upstairs to the girls dormitory.

Madam Pomfrey was busy at her desk, rechecking her books for anything she missed. It was Sunday afternoon & Professor Snape was running out of time. As she put her books down for a moment & got up, she nearly collided with Dumbledore! "AHHH!" she squealed softly. "For Heaven's sake! You scared me!"

"Hmmm-I'm afraid I must scare you even more with some bad news!" Dumbledore said. "It's time to wake up Severus."

"What?!" Madam Pomfrey stared in disbelief. "NO! We can't! He'll die! He's now only three inches away from death! Why do you want to wake him?"

"Because I have found an answer to all this & possibly a cure!" Dumbledore said. Fawkes flew down from the rafters in the ceiling.

"Ph--Ph--Phoenix tears?" Pomfrey stared at the bird.

"No that's a cure for the cure!" Dumbledore laughed in spite of himself.

"What?" Now Pomfrey was confused!

"There's no time to explain twice! Wake Severus & I'll tell everyone at the same time!" Dumbledore said. Pomfrey released the spell with an awakening charm.

"Albus! What are you doing here?" Snape asked weakly. "How long has it been?"

"Long enough!" Dumbledore smiled at him. "Beauty sleep is over! I have found a cure for you, but it's an off one; & what's worse, there are now four Unforgivable Curses! Long ago, there were only two, then one divided to make three while the original curse faded into history. "Sweord aef se Ded" is an ancient Curse that is the mother of Cruccio & Avada Kedavra. It's cure unfortunately, is drinking unicorn blood. Not a whole lot to kill the beast though; just maybe a glassful."

"But...." Snape started, wondering if his life could get any worse. "Once the blood touches my lips, I will have a half life! A cursed one! As if I don't have enough curses on me!" He retorted, glaring at his arm where the mark of a Death Eater was imprinted & thinking of the Sword inside him.

"Ah! But that is where Fawkes comes in!" Dumbledore started. "His tears will protect you only if they touch "Sweord" at the same time you drink the unicorn blood. Timing is critical for this cure. Like I said, it's an odd one! hagrid should arrive at any time with a unicorn for I have already sent im to fetch one!"

Hagrid arrived moments later, leading a blind-folded unicorn into the room. "Ruddy thing's so 'ild!" Hagrid said. "The blind will 'elp to ca'm 'im! "Ello Sev'rus! Gettin' betta yit?" Hagrid asked.

"Not quite!" Snape grumbled through gritted teeth.

Pomfrey charmed a glass to drain some blood without harming the unicorn & then handed it to Snape as Fawkes flew down to him. Snape watched the bird closely. One moment to soon & he would fall lower then Voldomort into a cursed life! The blood tasted like sweet nectar. Snape finished it as Fawkes returned to Dumbledore. For a moment, nothing happened but then, Snape felt a tearing pain as "Sweord" began to move. It slowly pulled out & lifted its point into the air, hovering for a moment & then faded, melting away into nothing. The "Sweord aef se Ded" was gone! Defeated!

For a moment, there was complete silence. then reality checked in. Pomfrey collapsed into a chair, crying! Dumbledore laughed softly & patted Fawkes who chirped happily, singing yet another tune. Hagrid was half laughing & half crying, while at the same time holding a braying stallion who had been startled by the sudden commotion! Snape let out a sigh of relief & lay back on the pillow.

When Pomfrey had regained control of herself, she stood up. "OK! Everyone, clear out! Hagrid, get that brute out of here before he breaks my potion vials!" The stallion had reared up & was pawing at everything while still blinded. "Severus, you just stat put! You've got two broken bones & a wound inside the length of Panama Canal! One more night with me & you can return to class tomorrow!" Snape nodded to her & completely relaxed. The worst was over.

It was Monday afternoon & there was an hour of free time before Potions Class. Professor Snape had returned at last, a bit weak from his ordeal but he would survive.

Harry, Ron & Hermione passed the time with a sense of foreboding! Potions would be back to normal from now on! Merida was in Dumbledore's office giving her own report of when the death Eaters attacked. Now that Professor snape was out of harm's way, Dumbledore had time for the students reports. Harry, Ron & Hermione had already done theirs. Now it was Merida's turn & then she would meet them in Potions Class, so the three of them headed to class to meet her but Merida had yet to show up. Professor Snape kept an eye on her empty seat & halfway through class, he finally spoke to the Gryfindors. "If your classmate doesn't show up in five minutes, I'll take fifty points from Gryfindor!" he snapped. Harry sighed.

Suddenly the door opened, but it was Professor Mcgonagall who entered. "Severus? Albus would like to have a word with you outside class," she said. "I'll watch them for a few minutes."

Professor Snape sighed, somewhat annoyed at the interruption, but left to see Dumbledore, who was waiting at the door. A few minutes later, he returned. As Mcgonagall left, Snape went to his desk but stood for a moment with his back to the class. He seemed upset by something. Finally, he decided to sit down, looking once more at the empty seat. "Forget what I said about taking points from Gryfindor!" he muttered. He tried to ignore Hermione, who had her hand up but, finally, he could stand it no longer. "What do you want you silly girl?" he retorted.

"To ask a question, you silly Professor!" Hermione equally retorted. While everyone else's lower jaw slammed the lowest spot possible in Hell below Earth, Professor Snape melted like an ice cube!

"Hermione!!!!!!!!!" Harry took advantage of the moment of silence. "Have you gone COMPLETELY insane?!?!?!" Ron could only stare at her!

"WHAT?!" Snape finally yelled.

"Do you know where Merida is?" Hermione asked, without flinching.

Snape sighed again. "She is----she's gone missing!" Snape surprised himself as well as everyone else with his unusual gentle tone. "She is missing." he said once more & then looked down to the parchments on his desk.