The first few weeks of the new term were passing rather fast. Snape tortured them with the most ugly smelling potions, Professor Priscus had – in consideration of the still progressing war – doubled their pensum of complicated defence spells and they still failed to see anything at the Divination classes.
It was the fifth week and still they had managed to keep their relationship a secret. Or so they thought...
Hermione, Harry and Ron were at the library, learning for an difficult Arithmancy-test they had to do the following day. Hermione was searching for a special Arithmancy book which contained some helpful explanations about the examples they were working on, while Harry and Ron were sitting at one of the tables, brooding about their scrolls.
She moved over to a another bookshelf, practised fingers sliding along the spines of the books, like she had done it a thousand times before. She knew this library like the back of her hand. So she was even more surprised, when she caught a glimpse at a book she had never seen before. Excited she took it down to have a closer look at it.
It was old. Well, most of the books in this library were old, but this one was really old. It seemed to be enchanted, to prevent from damage by simply using it. Silver letters on the dark brown leather binding said: "Atlantis – a wizarding point of view" which draw a puzzled look on Hermione's face. A Muggle myth discussed in the wizarding world? How weird. But then again ... wizards had always been curious about Muggle-habits. So why not write a book about a Muggle myth?
She decided to read it after finishing her studies, grabbed the book she had come for and returned to Ron and Harry. Ron looked up, as she sat down again beside Harry. "What kept you?" he asked. Normally it took 'Mione only seconds to come back.
"Found a book I've never seen before," she answered. "Here!" she placed it in the middle of the table, right in front of him.
"Atlantis?" Ron sounded confused. "Never heard of that before. What is it? A person? A place? A planet? A game?"
Hermione rolled her eyes about Ron's ignorance and explained: "It is a legend. A myth. It is supposed to be the most advanced and wealthy community that ever existed. But no-one knows where it was. It ...disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Ron asked.
"Yes, disappeared. 'In a single day and night of misfortune, the island of Atlantis disappeared into the depths of the sea.' Plato wrote, at about 360 B.C. And he didn't even see it with his own eyes. He only heard about it, 'cause even at this time it had happened long ago."
"Er.....and who is Plato?" At Ron's question Hermione closed her eyes and sighed, ... and Harry tried his best not to laugh too loud.
Professor Snape eyed the potion Mr. Longbottom had made, suspiciously. It had indeed the right colour and he had to admit that Mr. Longbottom was doing quite good at his lessons the last time. "Well Mr. Longbottom, seems like you have finally learned something." He snarled, turning around with blowing robes.
He walked through the classroom , stopping at Draco Malfoy's cauldron and bringing a satisfied smile to the student's face by saying, "Well done, Mr. Malfoy, five points to Slytherin." Then he turned around again, checking on some other students before finally facing Harry Potter.
"Mr. Potter, "he started, "I am relieved that you seem to have gotten this right. So at least I won't have to worry that Dumbledore's 'golden boy' will poison himself in the war against the Dark Lord. There are far too many chances to mess things up." He wanted to go on but Harry chose this moment to raise his chin and look at his teacher.
Snape was taken aback by the look in these amazingly huge, green eyes. Well, he had realized before, that Potter wasn't wearing his glasses but he never had taken a closer look until now. It was like the glasses had shielded what these eyes were truly holding. Like the glasses had prevented to see the depths, but now they were gone. And Snape had to admit, that it slightly scared him, what he saw in this emerald eyes. Knowledge. Burden. Tolerance. The Gryffindor courage. Wisdom way above his years. A glimpse at overwhelming sadness.
Eyes too old for such a young face.
The moment passed and Snape managed to steady himself. "Class dismissed, "he said hastily, watching the students clean their cauldrons and leave the room. Leaving him alone with his thoughts. When had it happened? When had he changed like that? When had he matured like that? When had the 'Potter boy' turned into a grown man? Had he actually ever been a child? Probably not.
For the first time in all these years Severus felt truly sorry for this young Gryffindor.
Hermione settled herself comfortably on her bed. She was alone in the room, enjoying the much needed silence. It had been a hard day, the Arithmancy-test had been difficult and Professor Priscus had been inexorable about the defensive spells as well. Hermione wished she could have some private minutes with Harry, but she knew it was impossible. How good it would feel to lie back in his arms and to just shut out the world for a few precious moments.
Sighing Hermione stuffed another pillow behind her back, the 'Atlantis' book on her lap. She remembered something Ron had said about the book yesterday, but she hadn't paid too much attention then. What had it been? Ah, yes...the song.
Ron had put away his quill sighing, " I swear my head is going to burst if I don't take a break." With that he had grabbed the book from the table and had opened it somewhere in the middle. After a few seconds he had muttered to himself, then directed his words at Hermione, "Hey, Mione, look I found notes. A song. Maybe we can enchant a harp or a flute to play it to us, huh? Ancient music. Cool."
Hermione hat rolled her eyes at his words, taking back the book from him and shutting it with a audible thump. "Ron, this test is important. I'm trying to figure out this stuff. I suggest you do the same." With that she had put the book away and bent her head over her scroll again.
Ok, let's have a look at this song then Hermione thought. She opened the book somewhere around the middle, searching for the song, Ron had described. Something strange happened as Hermione touched the pages. For a second the book in her lap seemed to hum and whisper. Confused she shook her head and decided it had been a kind of ... hallucination, for now the book was totally silent. So she turned some pages.
After searching a little bit longer, she eventually found what Ron had described. On the first glance it looked in fact like notes...a song, but something did not seem to fit. Not quite sure what had caused this impression, Hermione thoughtfully traced her fingers over the notes..... and then it happened. Without warning the notation lifted itself up from the paper, whirling around, curling itself into something new. A part of this figure was flashing bright blue, like it should indicate something....
"What the...." Hermione cursed, stunned by the impression flowing in midair, a few inches above the book. This 'structure' looked somehow .... familiar. But at the same time so totally strange. It had something to do with the flashing part of it, but Hermione could not figure it out 'cause her brain refused to work properly. Her thoughts were whirling with amazement. What is this? What did I do? Have I caused this? Why do I feel like I should know what it is? Where have I seen something like that before? Had Ron seen it too.
No. That was impossible. If something like this had happened at the library she would have noticed it, no matter what....
"Ok, calm down. Think!" she whispered to herself. "You have seen something like this before." And then, with another close look at the structure in front of her, realization hit her.
It was DNA. Probably human DNA. But she could not be sure. It would never be possible to know what it was, and what the blue flashing lights were for. Did it indicate a mutation? Maybe this was the piece, which had made the people of Atlantis so special? Or was it a manipulation? That thought scared her. But then, who in Merlin's name would have the power to do such a thing?
This demands research she thought, suddenly very awake.If this had happened more often, Professor Trelawney would maybe have noticed the beginnings. But the simple facts were: it did not happen very often that she had any real visions. So it hit her quite unexpected.
She was sitting in the teachers lounge her only company was Professor Priscus who was reading a book about some scary looking creature Sybill wished she would never have to face. It began slowly, causing a slight dizziness and an unexpected warm feeling in her stomach. Then the room began to shift. She let out a surprised gasp what caused Professor Priscus to look up from his book.
Right in time to see her eyes roll back in her head. With a deep, trembling voice she began to speak: "The book has been found. Touched by the heir. Late. Almost too late. The chosen one is not prepared. Running out of time. The awakening is near. No room for mistakes this time. Everything will be lost, if the chosen one holds back his soul. Need the heir. No other key can be found."
With that she sank back in her chair and was sound asleep.
Professor Priscus, also known as Methos, was not amused. She had obviously been talking about the prophecy. Gods, he knew that Octavius was about to free himself in a short period of time. It was impossible to bind him any longer. That's why the world needed this child. This special child... But how on earth could it happen that Mr. Potter would take part in this plan willingly? And who was that heir? Was it really Ms. Granger? And if it really was her, wouldn't that make things worse?
With a deep sigh he left the room, relieved that no-one else had been around to witness this little incident. Sybill would wake up soon, thinking she was fallen asleep and had been dreaming.
He closed the door behind himself carefully.
Professor Snape sat in his armchair in his rooms, right in front of the fire. He held a glass of whiskey though he hadn't tasted it yet. His thoughts kept wandering. Back to Potter. And those eyes. Had that Potter brat not caused enough damage until now?
Had Dumbledore's golden boy not gotten privileges others could only dream of? Was it not enough that every teacher and every student of this school thought of him as their saviour? The person who would rescue the wizarding world? The one who would defeat the Dark Lord? The boy who lived?
More likely the boy who refused to die. Snape thought sarcastically.
Could the Potter boy not at least stay out of his head?
Severus sighed. Yes, it was not fair. He knew it had not been fair to put such a burden onto the shoulders of a child. So much responsibility. So much pain. But what else could they do? They all had tried to keep it from him, without success. It seemed that this was his destiny. To be the one who had to face it. And he had taken everything. Everything life had thrown at him. He had endured it. Had accepted it. Had dealt with it.
Better that some had expected him to do.
But what else could he have done?
Snape could not help but feel that he did not really know the boy – young man – whatever, he had taught over the last six years.
Maybe he was worth a closer look. Though he was a Gryffindor.
Careful not to be seen Hermione took the book to the place they had used for secrets before: Moaning Myrtles toilet. Her hand was shaking slightly in anticipation when she opened the door to the first cubicle and settled on the toilet-lid. The book was humming in her grip like a living being and whispered to her seductively when touched. On the first page it said, "Atlantis - a wizarding point of view, Methos 1011 A.D.".
The most beautiful painting was faintly moving in the middle of the page, showing something that looked like a huge city on a rocky island amongst the surging waves, guarded by a statue of Atlas.
On the spur of the moment Hermione touched the picture, but was disappointed when nothing happened. Her fingers lingering on the colourful depiction she only very reluctantly turned the page.
Hermione was disappointed once more when – again – nothing special happened. The first chapter was about Atlantis in general. She found herself faced with a somewhat interesting piece of history about the people of Atlantis. It was not exactly boring but much less than she had expected to find. It was so normal. Stuff about science, art and technology. Nothing that could not be somehow read in a Muggle book
Stretching a bit and trying to find a more comfortable position on the toilet-lid, Hermione decided to read one more chapter and then go back to the dormitory before someone would miss her.
She knew something was different the moment she turned the page to chapter two, which was supposed to tell something about the disappearance. Right before her eyes the letters began to rearrange themselves on the page. Telling a totally different story than seconds before.
Now the story said that Atlantis did, of course, not sink in any sea or some other stupid explanation the Muggles came up with. No, some powerful wizards had simply cast a concealing spell over it. One that would allow no-one, not even wizards or witches to see beyond. You had to know where it was and how to get in, to ever get access to it.
Stunned by what she had read Hermione put in a bookmark and closed the book. Her back hurt but she did not care. Her thoughts were whirling. If that was true and it was possible to hide a whole city, no island, then Atlantis might still be existing. A excited fluttering feeling began to build up in her tummy and she smiled as she thought that it felt a bit like when she kissed Harry. Then she murmured to herself, "Oh, I'm such an idiot. Why have I not thought of that? If Hogwarts can be enchanted to look like a ruin, why not let an island disappear?"
Then another thought occurred: maybe the question was why someone would let it disappear. It seemed like everything was going fine. Why would one hide a place if not absolutely necessary? What had happened? And who had done it? It had to be a group of powerful wizards to do such a thing. And it was complicated. So, what had changed? What was the reason for all of this?
Nervously Hermione tired to figure what time it was. She longed to read the next chapter and maybe find out more about the reasons that had made them cover Atlantis. But on the other hand being late and getting detention would do no-one any good.
Sighing deeply she hid the book carefully under her robes and stood. Her back felt worse now from sitting in an uncomfortable position. She ignored the stinging pain and rushed to the door where she ran into Harry.
"'Mione!" Harry's face showed relief as he took her in his arms. "I was searching for you for the last half hour. What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Harry, what time is it? "Hermione wanted to know.
"We got less than ten minutes, then we need to got back." He answered, knowing why she had asked.
"Ok, do you remember the book I found in the library? The one about Atlantis?" As Harry nodded she took it out under her robes and passed it to him. Then something strange happened.
"Whoa!" Harry almost dropped the book Hermione had given to him. The moment he put his hands on it, it began to glow, hum, whisper and even to shiver. Like it waited to be opened. "Oh!" was all Hermione had to say. The book reacted to him even stronger than to her. "Mione?" Harry on the other hand looked like it was going to bite him.
"It's ok, ... I guess." She tried to assure him. "It reacted to me, too. Well, not that much, but it did. That's why I came here. I thought I should not experiment with it where I can be seen..." She had not finished her sentence when the book finally seemed to get impatient und opened itself at a certain page.
Well, that was unexpected.
"Severus, my boy, have a seat." Albus Dumbledore smiled patiently at Professor Severus Snape and handed him a cup of tea.
"What do you wish to talk about?" the headmaster asked after a few seconds. His eyes twinkled behind the half-moon glasses and Snape was almost sure, Albus knew exactly why he paid him this little visit. The old, manipulative wizard seemed to always know everything that was going on.
"We need to talk about Mr. Potter." Severus told the headmaster. The facial expression of Professor Dumbledore gave nothing away about his thoughts. If he was surprised, he did not show it.
"Is there something you want to tell me, Severus? Something I need to know? Is he in danger?" the headmaster asked in a neutral tone.
"Only if he has managed to get himself in trouble within the last 15 minutes." Snape answered dryly. Then he sighed. "I do not know if anyone besides me has noticed, but Mr. Potter seems to have changed over the summer. "he said.
"Of course he has changed. Like most of the students change in one or another way during the summer holidays. What are you trying to tell me, Severus?" Dumbledore's question sounded way too innocent for Snape's taste. But he decided to humour the man and spit it out.
"It is differentthis time. He looks different, he acts different, he even....." he broke off, before he could be so stupid as to say what he was about to say. That Harry even felt different in a weird sort of way. But the headmaster would not let him get away with that.
"He even what?" Dumbledore asked and those blue eyes sparkled even more.
"He even ...gets his potions right." Snape stated lamely for he could come up with nothing better.
The headmaster burst out in laughter. "And that makes you suspicious?" he gasped, shaking visibly and almost sending the tea-cup to the floor in process. "My boy, you should have more confidence in your teaching abilities."
"Headmaster, I am not joking. Mr. Potter has changed in a way he has not changed all the years before. This might be the doing of ...some charm or ..." Again he broke off, unable to put in words the weird feelings the Potter boy set free in him the last days. It was like he even began to like that annoying brat.
Professor Dumbledore smiled again and told the potions master: "Severus, what you sense is not the doing of a charm. It is really simple in fact: Harry is happy. I'd bet this were the first holidays he really enjoyed, since he had not to stay with his so called relatives." He did not reveal the fact that, if he had not misread the signs, Harry might as well be in love with Ms. Granger.
"Oh, yes, I bet to live with relatives that spoil and adore one, having a protected and carefree childhood – that is quite a hard fate." Snape spit out sarcastically.
"Is that what you believe, Severus?" Dumbledore asked, now in a serious tone. "Well, I guess, if being locked up in a cupboard or a tiny room all summer means protection and being treated as a servant or starved by getting one meal a day if you are lucky, means being spoiled, well then young Mr. Potter had a perfect childhood."
Snape's already pale skin whitened even more. "Did you just say starve?" he asked. Suddenly he felt sick.
Adam was on his way to his rooms and had passed the headmasters office, as he felt the Pre-Immortal buzz approach.
Snape.
Well, it had been quite unexpected for Methos to learn that the potions Professor would be one of their kind someday. There were not many immortal wizards. It seemed that when fate chose the people she granted either Magic or Immortality. Rarely enough it would happen that a person was born who would be both: a wizard or witch as well as immortal.
Methos had not liked the thought of taking on a student again, after over 600 years, but teaching a wizard to live an immortal life, was nothing he could leave to someone else. Especially not this wizard.
The name Snape was an old, respected, pure-blooded family name. Well known in the wizarding world. It must have taken quite some hard work for Mr. Snape senior to hide that Severus was not his own child. To hide his 'shame'. Not being able to engender an heir. And having a child around that would remind him every single day, of what he had not been able to have of his own.
After realizing that, Methos had made some discrete investigations. Severus had not been treated kind. He had been a lonely kid, separated from others, who might someday guess what he was. Not a Snape.
When he had entered Hogwarts he had been sorted Slytherin, everyone expecting him to be like his father.
That part of the story always reminded Methos of Mr. Malfoy junior, a clever boy, but misled by his father. Fortunately, the young man had soon after Adam had started teaching, begun to search his company. They had talked about many things and Adam had listened carefully. Offering other ways and more than one point of view. It had turned out, that a little encouragement was all, the boy had needed.
But Severus Snape had not had the chances to change his mind. He had joined Voldemort's Death Eaters at a very young age, soon realizing that he had made a mistake. He knew he could not break off any more, so he had done the only thing he could do: become a spy. Now he was teaching potion lessons at Hogwarts.
The first time Methos had met that man; he had known that the sarcasm, the arrogance, his whole behaviour, was a mask. A well calculated and masterly performed farce. Methos had to admit that he was impressed. It had taken quite some time until he, Methos, had gained perfection in that 'completely unreadable' look Snape used to wear.
And even if Snape could not see himself as such, Methos was quite sure that the Potions master was one of the "good guys". Not only in this war but also in general.
The other man passed him, greeting him with a nod and a "Professor", before disappearing in direction of the dungeons. Methos smiled. They had found out, that they kind of liked each others company and the thought to have Severus as student one day was not so annoying any more.
And that he would have him as a student sooner or later was nothing he had doubts about. He was a Death Eater turned spy in the war against Voldemort, which was increasing in intensity every day. And one day Severus would lose his life to the Dark Lord or his men. Finally proving he was not one of them.
The book had opened only a few pages ahead the structure, Ron had thought a song. Hermione grabbed the humming and glowing book out of Harry's hands, heading for the cubicle once again. She blinked surprised for she had expected, that the moment Harry would totally let go of the book, the glowing would end, but it did not. The book stayed as it was: Glowing, humming and shivering and more alive than it had ever been.
Harry, who had followed her into the tiny cubicle, shot her a worried look. "Are you sure that this book is safe, Mione?" he asked.
"I don't think Professor Dumbledore would have it standing in the library if it could cause any damage to the students," she said. She did not tell him, that the book might not have reacted to the Professor the very same way it did now, for it had not reacted to Ron in any way. So she made a quick decision, "Harry, love, I know you are as curious as I am, but I need some more time with this book. Could you please go up to the dormitory and cover for me if someone should ask? Please! I promise I will tell you everything I discover as soon as I am back."
Harry already knew that look upon her face. That glittering in her eyes, that excited flush that painted her cheeks. Gods, she was beautiful. He could not deny her anything, and she knew it. So he sighed and asked one last time: "You sure this is not dangerous?"
And she smiled thankful at him, kissed him softly and assured him: "I know what I do, love. Trust me." Then she pushed him towards the door, whispering a final, "Thank you." When she was alone again, Hermione took a closer look at the page the book had opened at. That specific page showed nothing but a painting of a person, holding a sword and getting hit by strange blue lightning. The picture moved, leaving the person's face in the shadow while the lightning kept hitting the body violently, who writhed in agony.
Hermione grabbed the book tightly. The mere sight of that scene sent shivers down her spine.
This looked incredibly painful. With shaking hands she touched it slightly, drawn by a strange feeling between curiosity and disgust.
The angle shifted. Now the parts that had been in the shadow were exposed to her searching eyes. She froze. The picture showed – without any doubts – Professor Priscus, her DADA teacher. And the blue lightning that hit him were streaming out of a decapitated body at his feet.
Hermione willed her suddenly fogged brain to think faster, fighting back the nausea he felt. This was impossible. This book was almost thousand years old. But nevertheless it showed someone who was still very alive and teaching at this school. Was there another philosopher's stone? Or was it a trick hiding one of Voldemort's spies? Who was Adam Priscus? This question was answered only seconds later, as the book once again became impatient and turned another page.
A soft gasp escaped Hermione's lips as she stared at the face of the man she knew as her DADA Professor, smiling up to her from the page. His voice sounded loud in the silent room, as he began to speak.
"Welcome to the world of Immortals, chosen ones! My name is Methos and I am the author of this book. This chapter is created to tell you everything about your duties that were not mentioned in the book earlier. You have learned about the prophecy already, so now let's have a closer look at the hows and whys of this all. It's my intention to guide you through this difficult situation as unharmed as possible. I know we expect a lot of you, but you will soon realize that this is about life or death and we cannot spare you. I'm really sorry for that."
Hermione sat there, stunned. She could not believe what she had heard a few seconds ago. A prophecy? Ok! That was nothing unusual in the wizarding world. But Immortals?
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath the young woman tried to calm down. She could not close this book and leave it alone. She was not sure if she would get the chance to ever hear him out if she did not do it now. It had been Harry who had caused this book to start all this and she was not going to let Harry near this book ever again. It was too dangerous.
She would read about that prophecy and listen to Prof.... Methos. And then she would decide what to do. Go and see Dumbledore or have a word with their teacher. But she would definitely not get Harry harmed in any way by this book or her so-called Professor. Not if she could prevent it.
Bracing herself for what was about to come, she settled the book in her lap comfortably and began to read.
