Chapter 14
The Word of the Elves

There they lay as the dead. Some shrouded in white, others in blood red. For each body, there were two or four desperate to heal and comfort. Again and again, body after body, they plied their learned arts. Results were mixed, success elusive. Yet, they kept on chanting their bits of wisdom knowing that time heals all wounds..

"The foot bone's connected to the ankle bone," said the medic corp house elves in unison as Hagrid had taught them. They could not be faulted for their honest efforts as they continued to chant and warble while attending to their pretend patients. "The ankle bone's connected to the leg bone."

Dobby hovered around Harry making sure none of the medics inadvertently harmed his friend. Harry was splattered with fake blood in strategic places courtesy of Hermione. Being a charter member of SPEW, he was obliged to act as surrogate patient in exchange for transfiguration homework help so here he was in an empty classroom on a Sunday afternoon along with Ron and Hermione. But they were joined by several new members of SPEW - Justin Finch-Fletchley, Lavendar Brown, Dean Thomas, the Patil twins, Ernie Macmillan, Seamus Finnigan, and, surprisingly, Millicent Bulstrode. They talked among themselves while the elves practiced bandaging and basic non-magical first aid.

"The leg bone's connected to the knee bone."

"- told me that Professor Snape had fallen head over heels in love and was now chasing the unfortunate woman across several continents." said Parvati. An elf fitted a neck brace around her neck..

"Why are we doing this again, Hermione?" Ron whined keeping both arms outstretched as two elves wound some bandages around each of his arms from wrist to shoulder.

"Harry, are you going to sign up for Hooch's new flying acrobatics class?" asked Dean.

"The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone."

"Well, it's all part of their training, you see. House elves need to have skills if they're to make a living on their own someday." Hermione explained. An elf was attempting to "cure" her sprained ankle. The elf at her elbow visibly shuddered at the mere hint of freedom.

"That's not what I heard," answered Lavender reclining to let an elf wound bandages around her pseudo head wound while blood trickled down her face. Hermione had assured her that the blood was just a temporary glamour spell and would wear off in an hour. Trust Hermione to prefer realism even in practice, she thought. "I heard that he had gotten someone in trouble, in the worst way imaginable, and was now on the run."

"The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone."

"Name's already on the list, Dean, looks like it's going to be a lot of fun." Harry managed to say through a bandage wrapped around his jaw.

"A woman together with Professor Snape. I can't see it. " Justin observed. His face was plastered with small bandages as an elf picked out debris and shrapnel from his face and neck. " I don't want to see it."

"Ernie, want to make a bet on the outcome of the Chudley Cannons and London Flyers game?" asked Ron.

"The hip bone's connected to the back bone."

"I'm not believing anything until I see it on the front page of the Prophet," said Seamus who was in an immobilizing arm cast. "Besides, I heard that it's more likely that he poisoned someone and that someone is after him, so he left."

"I talked to Madam Hooch and she said that the elective was so popular, Dumbledore is considering making it a permanent part of the curriculum," Dean supplied. One of his arms was in a sling and the elves were working on his bloody knees.

"The back bone's connected to the shoulder bone."

"The Flyers are a sure thing, Ron. They demolished Pickwick last week." Ernie said looking on as an elf used a makeshift splint on his gory, broken leg. The bit of bone protuding out his skin was realistic enough to make him feel nauseous. He looked away quickly.

"Millicent, he's your house head, do you know where he is, what he's doing." asked Padma.

"The shoulder bone's connected to the neck bone."

"I know one thing if he did poison someone, no one would ever be able to trace it back to him." Millicent answered while having her wrist wrapped. "As for a woman being involved, possible, but who would know for sure? He keeps that to himself. Dumbledore came to our common room and said that he would be back in a few days as he had some personal matters to attend to."

"I'll put a sickle on the Cannons, Ernie." Ron was swaying and bobbing his head in rhythm to the elves' song. He'd never heard it before and it was rather catchy in elvish acapella.

"- said that we would learn synchronized group flying," Harry commented.

" ... maybe someone tried to poison him and he's writhing in agony somewhere," Lavender considered her conjecture to be highly plausible given how many times she herself had wished Snape dead and/or in agony over the last few years.

"The neck bone's connected to the head bone."

"You're on, Ron. I'll put a sickle on the Flyers!"

"I got it! He spurned some woman who poisoned him, so that if she couldn't have him, she decided that no one else would!" said Parvati. "He's off finding an antidote before it's too late!"

"That is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard!" Hermione exclaimed her disbelief more than evident. All other side conversations stopped as they turned to look at her. What outlandish tales had Neville spread about? "I can't see anyone mindlessly pining after Professor Snape out of true love, especially any sane, sensible woman."

"Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around in dem bones!"

"Love doesn't always make sense, Hermione," said Padma. "I may be a Ravenclaw but even I have to admit that romantic love is definitely not logical or sensible."

Let's see what you do when it happens to you, Ms Granger." Lavender added.

"Behold! Our practical Hermione brought low by love." Seamus stood up and took the arm cast off. As a bard of old telling his tale, he struck a pose looking off in the distance, hands clasped together anxiously. As he spoke he moved about and gestured as if he were Hermione all aflutter with love. "She saw her beloved glide across the room towards her. The room was crowded but her eyes were for him alone. She trembled in anticipation shivering with need to feel his powerful arms about her.

He paused leaned his head back slightly and put his right hand to his forehead as if moments from a full swooning faint. "But, alas, he passed her by, for his desire was not for her but for another."

Seamus straightened up and with a determined look continued. "Crushed but not defeated, she turned away taking solace in the knowledge that her love for him was neverending. Her love was agony. Her love was ecstacy. Her love was truth. She would wait for him, for someday, she knew, they would be together. It would be their destiny and their joy!" With that, Seamus sighed dramatically, crossed his arms, sank to his knees and bowed his head low.

The impromptu performance was greeted with applause, whistles and much laughter. Hermione was laughing the hardest of them all. When she got her breath back, she said "My God! If I ever behave that way, Seamus, you have my permission to commit me to St. Mungo's with as much haste as possible. In fact, you may use SPEW funds for just that purpose. When I fall in love, truly in love, it will be heart, body, soul and a fully engaged mind, thank you very much."

"Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around in dem bones! Oh, hear the word of the elves! Dem bones!"

- - -

THWACK! The arrow embedded itself into the tree with a very satisfying report. In quick succession, the tree trunk was covered with more arrows of various lenghts and styles. THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! Close by, a tall, dark-haired, slim woman, clad in a leather jacket over blue jeans and a black t-shirt, was bent over a strange contraption of wood and metal. After a few adjustments, several more arrows shot out with far more accuracy and power than the first attempts.

"Gol, that's impressive, that is!" said Hagrid. He had helped Madam Pince set up the contraption for some target practice as well as provide guide services in the dark forest.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I got the idea from your crossbow," Pince said. "It's an adaptation of a medieval ballista with a few magical modifications. I'd like to see a wizard fight off spells and physical weapons at the same time coming from multiple directions."

"Looks powerful enough to me. 'Course, there might be some things bigger 'an a wizard sent to us," Hagrid observed. The first drops of rain started to sprinkle down and the wind picked up ever slighly. "Hmmm... best be headin' back now."

"This is just a prototype, a sample. The real ones will have to be much larger." Pince added. She put an invisibility charm, an anti -rain spell and a levitating spell on the miniature ballista and both headed back to Hogwarts walking quickly. "I was wondering do you think the centaurs would consent to building our version using this model as a guide."

"Canna hurt to ask," said Hagrid. "We can pay them a visit later tonight and ask."

"That would be fine. I've never met a centaur before," Pince admitted. "Reading about them is rather inadequate preparation to meeting one in person."

"They're all right. Just nod yer head a lot when they start talkin' 'bout stars and such," Hagrid advised. "Aren't you supposed to be resting? You were on the sitting schedule last night you must be tired?"

"A little, but there's so much to do. Compared to Poppy or Cera, I'm not busy at all so I help them out whenever they need me." Pince explained. "Running a library isn't as tiring as a keeping the infirmary or teaching classes."

"Well, we all have to be careful 'bout burning ourselves out only to have nothin' left when it really matters." Said Hagrid wisely. "You can only prepare yourself so much."

"Wise advise, Hagrid." Said Pince taking two steps to every one of Hagrid's giant strides.

"Ah, it's only common sense, Lenore. You hafta be strong to win battles, but only the ones that can last are gonna be around to win the war." Hagrid replied. "And we gotta last."

"There's so few of us against so many." She kept her wand hand on the leviated ballista and stuffed the other in a jacket pocket. "The odds are -"

"There's enough, if we're smart 'bout things," he commented. "That's what Dumbledore says, make small mistakes not big ones."

"Speaking of small things, how are your elf medics doing?" she asked.

"Fine, doing fine. That song you found fer me really helped. The charts were confusin' 'em but the bit 'bout the bones they got right quick," Hagrid replied. "Now, if I can only get 'em to use your transport system. They don't ken to the idea much."

"I don't blame them. It's works very differently than what they're used to. Not even all the teachers know how to use it." She said. "Tell you what. In exchange for helping me with the centaurs, I'll help you with the elf transport problem. Is it a deal?"

"It's a deal." They shook hands. They were halfway to the castle when the rain turned into a serious downpour. Pince plucked a leaf off a plant and transfigured it into a gigantic umbrella. Hagrid held it aloft. They certainly made a strange sight as they approached the castle.

- - -

Pots clanged, pans sizzled and knives chopped away merrily in the Weasley family kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was preparing for lunch. She was floating on a cloud of maternal bliss at the moment. Her oldest son had come for a visit and hinting that they may be seeing more of him. She floated the food out and settled them on the long trencher table in the dining room. Arthur, Bill and Percy were already gathered and waiting.

"This visit is a bit of surprise, Bill," asked Mr. Weasley.

"But we are not complaining," added Mrs. Weasley.

"It really was a spur of the moment decision. Came to mind that I had a lot of unused vacation. With a lot of us being reassigned, I thought I'd take my days off now before my new assignment comes in," Bill explained.

"Any idea where you're going to be sent to?" his father inquired.

Bill took a deep breath before he said. "I've actually asked for a posting here in England. Glastonbury maybe."

"Oh, that's wonderful, Bill, dear. Finally, I won't worry about you being so far away doing such dangerous things," exclaimed Molly Weasley.

"There is another offer, I'm thinking about that's closer to home, mum. Professor Dumbledore has asked to me to fill in as assistant teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts for the rest of the year. Strictly temporary and -"

"When do you start?" Percy inquired eagerly. He was glad that his brother was taking a more visible career which could only help the family in the long run.

"I haven't accepted yet. It's a lot more responsibility than I'm used to. I've worked alone for so long." said Bill passing around the second course.

"Assistant? Who's the primary DADA teacher, then?" asked Mr. Weasley food forgotten as he thought about this latest information.

"Don't know. Dumbledore won't say."

"You must accept, dear. What an honor! First head boy now a professor," Mrs. Weasley radiated so much happiness and approval she fairly glowed. "And you couldn't be safer than at Hogwarts."

"You know, Bill, you could be the one to break the curse on that job. It is what you do." Chuckled Percy. "I say take it. Offers like that don't happen very often."

"Dad, what do you think I should do?"

"Since it's only temporary, take it and see if you like it. You may be surprised. Dumbledore will be there to guide you." Mr. Weasley advised.

"I promised to let him know my answer tomorrow. I'll think about it tonight."

"I can't imagine you living at the castle like the other teachers do. Too confining." Percy observed.

"That's what I thought too. Dumbledore suggested that I stay in Hogsmeade and just go to Hogwarts when I have classes and such."

"That's unusual," said Mr. Weasley. "I think I'll have a chat with Albus tomorrow."

"Oh, I have packages and things from Ron and Ginny, Mum," Bill reached into the chair next to him. He handed one rolled parchment to his mother, another to his father and a bundle for Percy.

Mrs. Weasley unrolled her parchment. "Oh, my word! Ron ... Ron got top marks on a poetry essay. He's finally taking his homework seriously. What does yours say, dear?"

"It seems that Ginny has shown marked improvement in potions," Mr. Weasley peered down at the signature. "It's not from Severus. Eve Delacour, name sounds familiar."

"Delacour? One of the contestants at the Trr-Wizards Cup was Fleur Delacour, maybe a relation." Percy commented opening his package from Ron. Inside, he found his favorite treats - sugar quills from Honeydukes.

"Eve is Fleur's sister. She's teaching -" Bill started to say.

"Eve?" asked Percy his tone conveying far more than what he actually said. Both Percy and their father looked at Bill questioningly.

"Eve is a graduate student assisting Professor Snape in potions. She's going to be assisting for the rest of the year." Bill whipped back. His countenance was completely innocent but it didn't fool the Weasley men at all.

"I see," said Mr. Weasley smiling. "If I remember correctly, Fleur Delacour was half veela."

"Well, seems like we do have a teacher in the family now," Percy gave Bill an all too knowing smile.

- -

Demos peered out the corridor looking left then right. Not seeing anyone, he cautiously left the dungeons staying in the shadows. At the first picture, an older man in spectacles, he made his request. "Please inform the headmaster and the heads of houses that the fruit of blessing is here."

The picture communications network began passing the message along until it got to the headmaster and heads of houses by picture or ghost messenger. Demos went first to the infirmary in search of Professor Sprout. He wanted to deliver the news personally. He quickly found the herbology professor in the infirmary with Madam Pomfrey sifting and analyzing more of Professor Snape's test results.

"It's here, Professor, the fruit," he said.

"What does it look like?!" Pomfrey asked excitedly.

"Never mind that, let's go take a look for ourselves!" Sprout cried and all three of them headed for the dungeons.

They met up with Dumbledore, Flitwick and McGonagall impatiently standing by the Tree of Blessings. There on a low branch, just hanging there, was a large fruit so deeply red it seemed almost black.

"Well, Cera, you have the first honor," Dumbledore was smiling but his eyes were teary with relief. The first fruit was never a true certainty. Now that it was here and earlier than expected, they all knew that the tree was thriving, healthy, and, if given time to mature would protect Hogwarts for as long as it bore fruit. As to what properties the fruit actually had, they would find that out soon enough.

Professor Sprout steadied herself released her companion and cast a suspension spell around her companion. Her companion entered the field and neatly severed the fruit off the branch. The fruit hung behind the companion as it returned to Professor Sprout. The suspension spell allowed the fruit to pass through the barrier. As it floated in the center of those gathered, they held their hands out towards it feeling the warmth that emanated from it as well as see the glow it was emitting.

Professor McGonagall conjured a plate while Professor Sprout began to cast spells to pare the skin off and slice the fruit into pieces. The pared skin continued to glow and it crackled with energy.. As the fruit was sliced, a sweet citrusy aroma filled the air. The meat of the fruit did not glow but instead looked very much like pink grapefruit. Sprout, Flitwick, Dumbledore and McGonagall each took a slice. Madam Pomfrey abstained watching carefully ready to assist if anything strange happened. They hoisted the slices to each other as if in a toast before taking a small bite. Each of them finished their slices beaming at each other none the worse for wear.

"Delicious. Here, Poppy, have a slice," said Sprout offering the plate to Pomfrey.

"Not just yet. I'd like to observe you all for a few minutes more." Pomfrey replied.

"Sweet and tangy at the same time - just the right balance," McGonagall observed.

Flitwick smacked his lips. "And juicy, too."

"It looks like there will be enough for every one to have a slice," Dumbledore looked closely at the fruit. The peelings were still glowing and crackling.

Demos peered at the fruit, the slices and the peelings. Sprout's companion was also hovering close to the peelings. The companion experimentally touched a peeling and for a moment it glowed bright as the noonday sun. Then, the companion started to whirl around the room leaving a trail of rainbow colors. After that little display, the other companions were released by their hosts and given a chance to "taste." The companions darted about leaving streams of color in their wake. Their hosts laughed at their antics.

Demos advanced closer himself. He solidified and took one of the peelings and made a fist around it. Nothing happened for a moment or two. Then his whole body started to flash gray, then black then gray then back to black again while at the same time rapidly shifting from transparent to solid. He stopped shifting after a few minutes.

"Demos? Are you all right?" Pomfrey asked.

"Ah, yes. Just ... I am all right," Demos was rubbing his fingers together and touching his face.

"Feel any different?" asked McGonagall.

"Yes ... no. I felt strange while I was shifting." Demos began to try shifting and was able to materialize through walls as normal. He seemed as his usual self. "Like it was not me ... but different. He never told me ... made me think I was ..."

"Who never told you what?" Sprout queried.

"Nothing. It's not. never mind." Demos replied. "I have questions for Severus. Many questions."

Seeing that no one had suffered any surprise ill effects, Pomfrey took a slice herself. Pince and Hagrid came in breathlessly. "The Gray Lady just told us the news," said Pince. She and Hagrid both took a slice from the tray that Sprout was passing around.

"Marvelous!" remarked Pomfrey slowly savoring the flavor.

Hagrid popped the slice straight into his mouth. "Really good."

"The taste . it tastes like a cross of tangerines and pears." Pince murmured.

"Well, we may now consider the tree of blessings an absolute success. Cera, this ... this is your crowning achievement," Albus declared the sentiment in a voice choked with emotion. The others clapped and cheered. The remaining fruit was put in the Eyrie so everyone could get a slice.

- -

The formal ball hosted at the Ministry that Sunday night in honor of some foreign dignitary was splendidly overblown. In attendance were the best sort of people socially, people in the highest of government positions and those who aspired to one day belong in the former two groups. Cornelius Fudge held court in one corner of the ballroom pontificating about some new amendments being bandied about to protect wizards and witches of muggle descent.

"It smacks of special treatment, I say." William Douglas remarked. Lucius Malfoy stood elegant as always to his right. Douglas had taken great pains with his appearance tonight. Crimping and hoarding his salary for a month in order to buy a custom fitted robe just for this ocassion. He fancied that though he could never reach the heights of sartorial elegance as his generous benefactor, he was a cut above the rest, especially Percy Weasley.

"There are more and more muggle borns every year. Most of them know nothing of our world and should not be expected to at the beginning." Percy Weasely pointed out.

"They should adjust to us not the other way around." Douglas continued. "Is it fair to impose limitations on the rest of us while we wait for muggle borns to catch up? I think not."

"It is scientific fact that it takes at least 2 generations for a muggle born witch or wizard to become fully acclimatized to our world," Percy Weasely pointed out calmly but firmly. He refused to lose this argument to some pandering social climber whom he had heard Douglas to be from the overactive Ministry staff grapevine. "At Hogwarts, the muggle borns did as well as the magic folk. In fact, I think the muggle borns tried harder than the rest of us. Even now the top scores for the fifth year class belongs to a muggle born."

"Hogwarts can hardly serve as a barometer of social conditions, Weasley." Douglas countered. "The classroom is no substitute or comparison for the real world."

"Hogwarts has the highest enrollment of muggle borns this side of the Atlantic." Lucius interjected. He stifled a yawn barely. He wasn't as completely exhausted as before but neither was he back to normal. The pepper up potion only helped a little. He scanned the room for Narcissa and saw her chatting with Genevieve Longbottom and the other society ladies. Perhaps, another hour more before they could depart.

"There, it's already skewed to the muggle borns. How can it be fair?" said Douglas.

"Hogwarts has the highest enrollment because the other schools like Beauxbaton or Durmstrang refuse to teach more than their lawfully mandated quota. Dumbledore, and rightly so, believes that every child with magical ability needs to be taught and trained no matter what their heritage." Percy was controlling his temper but he had a fight on his hands. "Besides, it also has the highest overall enrollment. Things do even out."

"Hogwarts also gives out an inordinate amount of scholarships. Three to one for muggle borns," said Lucius watching Douglas' reaction. He was not disappointed as Douglas flushed red and his eyes flashed with anger and remembered disappointment.

"Muggles still don't understand magic. Those children who want to go to Hogwarts are sometimes physically denied a return to their homes and families. Scholarships assure that those who fall in that category can continue their education. Surely, an educated wizard or witch who can contribute to our society is much preferred over an ignorant one." Percy shot back. No one, not even Lucius Malfoy, was going to get away with disparaging comments about his alma mater.

"What about those of wizards blood who are themselves financially incapable of attending Hogwarts? Don't they get some priority? You cannot support one side wholeheartedly and ignore the other." Douglas said.

"It's not a matter of choosing one side or the other. That's not the point. Scholarships go to the those who need it most. As Head Boy, I participated in the meetings to allocate those same scholarships. I can tell you that they were not just handed out. Each candidate, both wizard and muggle, were screened and analyzed painstakingly." Percy continued on bravely. "And, scholarships are limited by budgetary concerns. So, even if someone was completely qualified on every level, that doesn't mean they'll get a scholarship."

"Mr. Weasley is correct on that last point. Budget constraints have indeed cut into the number of scholarships this year. It's down by thirty percent from last year if I'm not mistaken." Fudge said. "But let us move on to less lofty topics, shall we? Time enough to debate the amendment over the next few days."

- -

The office was dim. A lone brazier cast a halo of light near the door. Hermione said the lumos spell. As she finished saying the word, she spied movement near the large desk in the center of the room. She was immediately on guard retrieving her wand from her pocket and with a flick of her wrist pointed it unerringly in the vicinity of the desk. It's almost eleven o'clock there shouldn't be anyone here, she thought. How did he get through Snape's wards? Spell Tag-honed reflexes propelled her to move, anywhere, just move, move, move. "You! Stay where you are!"

Demos rose from the chair. He walked around to the side of the chair. "Wait, -"

"I said not to move!" Demos heard the firm tone of command in the young lady's voice. He walked a step closer keeping his hands outstretched palms open.

"Petrificus Totalis!" The spell had no effect. Hermione frowned at her wand shook it a few times and tried again. "Stupefy! Suspenso corpore!"

Demos kept his arms outstretched and hands open to show that. The girl was not showing signs of relenting as she shouted a barrage of spells at him while she moved towards the light. Sparks of energy bounced off him as her spells found their target. He watched her watching him. As the light illuminated her face, he recognized her. "Put the wand down, Ms Granger."

"Professor Snape?" Hermione breathed a sigh of relief which turned into annoyance in less than an eye blink. "Why didn't you say it was you!? You were deliberately trying to give me heart failure! Really, a little more consideration, I am doing you a favor after all coming to - "

"I am not the professor." Demos emerged out of the darkness to stand in the periphery of the light just enough to make very obvious that he was not Snape or that he was even human. Her eyes grew wide as he revealed more of himself to her. "Please, I won't harm you. Be calm."

She wanted to run. Her legs wouldn't obey. She wanted to scream. Her mouth was silent. She wanted to cast a spell. Her mind was blank. She prayed she would faint but found no gods in the mood to listen. She stood her ground facing the unknown monster in front of her. It had the shape of a man but completely black. She could just about see right through him. It had sounded just like Professor Snape! That thought jarred her out of her paralysis. "Who ... who are you? What are you?"

"My name is Demos. I am Severus' shadow." Demos said. "You may think of me as his companion."

"P...P ...Professor McGonagall said that Professor Snape had a companion but you don't look anything like the other companions do."

"Severus tells me that I was not made as the others," Demos informed her. "I don't know what I am exactly. I'm me, just me."

"How do you know who I am?" Hermione still couldn't move but thought she'd keep talking to buy some time for her to recover her senses. "I know I've never met you. You would be hard to forget."

Demos lit several more braziers. He took a seat by the cold hearth and motioned for her to sit in the chair opposite him. She sank into the armchair feeling all the panic-induced adrenalin rush out of her. " I know that you work with Severus in the Club. I have learned to recognize most of the students at Hogwarts since I started doing Severus' nightly patrols. I remember you in greenhouse four indulging in a common human ritual with -"

"Stop! Fine, you know me ... all right." Hermione interrupted him not wanting to confront memories best left forgotten and left to rot in the far reaches of her mind. She pointed at the hearth and spelled a roaring fire to crackling life. "You're supposed to be here then but why were you in the dark?"

"Just thinking,." Demos said.

"Voice, looks, brooding in the dark, check. Shadow is a good description. You sound so much like him and up close you even have his profile, especially the nose, mouth and the chin."

"The professors say that I look like Severus when he first started to teach at Hogwarts."

"He must have been very young when he started here." Hermione filed away that bit of trivia for later research. "You're not like anything I've ever read about. I don't remember reading about shadows quite like you. How did the Professor make you?"

"I remember only a few things about my making. You would have to ask Severus about me." Demos smiled before continuing. " I am glad to know that I am seemingly unique."

"A touch of the same ego," While they talked, Hermione had been peering closer at Demos noting that he seemed to have better defined features than she had previously thought. The planes of his face were chiselled and plain to see. If one looked long enough one could see the rises, valleys and lines defining his neck, shoulder, chest, collarbone and arms. He seemed to her a dark statue but this statue had the added bonus of sentience and mobility.

"Eeeh-go? What is eeeh-go?"

"It means a sense of your own importance or worthiness," she informed him.

"Is it good or bad?"

"It depends on the person or being. Ego is good if that person has knowledge or experience to support his attitude. Professor Snape certainly has the credentials to be egotistical about his craft. I wouldn't worry about that if I were you. Are you solid or not?"

Instead of answering, Demos stretched his arm out. Hermione ran a cautious hand over the forearm. In front of her eyes, her fingers seemed to go through his dark texture. She gasped in delight as Demos slowly solidified while flexing his hands. The hand underneath her probing fingers was warm and firm. Experimentally, she pressed into his arm feeling smooth bunched muscles underneath. "Amazing! So you can go solid or transparent at will?"

"I can maintain a completely solid shape for only a short time. Then I feel tired and must go back to my natural state."

"And you weren't affected by my spells," Hermione examined his fingers and twined it around her own.

"Most spells I do not feel at all. But Severus told me that I would definitely feel the stronger, darker magics." Demos said. "He was proven correct. When we met with Voldemort, I was very -"

"You ... you met with Voldemort?! You were with the professor?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, hidden. The headmaster thought that if difficulties arise I could at least provide a distraction allowing Severus to escape." Demos supplied.

"Hidden?"

"I can merge myself into Severus' body. In fact, after my rounds tonight I will be merging back with him."

This last bit of information left Hermione speechless. Information overload tends to do that to people. "I cannot stay unmerged for too long as it causes Severus some pain the longer we are not merged. I reached my record today - six hours unmerged."

"You're more than just a shadow, Demos. This is unbelievable, absolutely incredible. And you go with him everywhere even in class?"

"In the past, yes, we have been merged while teaching. While I am merged with him I get impressions of the outside world. We do not share consciousness so I do not see from his eyes completely."

"He controls you?"

"It is better to say that we coexist. We can and do take turns controlling the other letting the other rest for a while." Demos stood up realizing that his inner timesense told him that it was almost midnight. "Humans need their rest too, Ms Granger. It is very late for you."

"Oh, right. Professor Snape asked me to get something for him that's why I came down here." Hermione explained. She walked over to the large desk. She opened the upper right hand drawer. There the envelope lay as if waiting for her. She slipped it into her pocket. "Here it is. One more question, Demos, then I'll go. Can he summon you and are you aware of him all the time?"

"I am aware when he has great need of me. I am aware of his general health. But I cannot summon the professor to me. That limitation does not apply to Severus. He can summon me to come to him whenever and wherever he chooses." Together they left and locked Professor Snape's office.

Demos escorted Hermione out of the dungeons and made sure she got to Gryffindor tower. She watched fascinated as he materialized in and out of walls. She noticed that the sleeping pictures were not aware of him whenever he happened to pass through one.

Hermione paused in the hallway just out of sight of the portrait lady. "Thank you. You've given me a lot of think about."

"As you I. May we talk again?"

"Sure. Let's not make it so late though. We have to keep up appearances."

"As you wish it. Good night, Ms Granger." Demos merged into a wall and disappeared. Hermione went on, said the password and disappeared into the tower.

Unbeknownst to either Demos or Hermione, someone had accidentally overheard their conversation but had not seen them. This someone quickly made its way out of its hiding place to peer at the now empty hallway then turned to seek its own bed muttering as it went. "What's the mudblood doing with Snape? Snape is still here at Hogwarts. What is this leave of absence really about?"