Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it!
Final Test
You've Got To Be Kidding
Hermione staired at the boy laying on her classroom floor. What the hell has gotten into him? It's bad enough that he had the nerve to call her his but then he was going to beat her? What was up with that. She looked to Severus who was keeping his distance from her. In less than seven weeks, her life was turned upside-down and was making less sense then usual.
"What is going on, Severus?" she whispered.
He shugged. "I don't know." He took a few cautious steps towards her. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
She shook her head. "N-no." In one quick moment Hermione had her arms around the potions master's waist, with her face buried in his chest. "I-I was so-so scared." she cried. "He-he's lost his mind. Harry would never attack me." Severus wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her as he looked down at the unconscious boy.
"Something has done this to him."
"You are right, Severus." Albus said walking into the room. Hermione refused to pull away from him.
Ron staired at his potions professor and best friend. "Hermione, what happened?" he asked.
Hermione lifted her face from Severus' chest. "Harry came in and said we needed to talk. Then he started talking about how Severus told him he thought Harry was self-centered, and Harry asked me if I thought so too. When I told him I did, he he lost it, saying that I was sleeping around and I was his and only his and that no one would love me. I've never seen him act like that," she explained in one breath.
Severus pulled her closer. "Albus, what is going on? First Hermione falls ill, and now Potter is acting like a raving lunatic. Something is up, and you know it, so why don't you just spit it out and get it over with."
Albus' eyes, twinkle long absent, looked at his two professors. "What has happened to Harry is a terriable thing, but I can't explain what is going on."
"That is bull!" cried Severus. "You know everything that happens in Hogwarts. You know it, I know, the whole staff knows it. Something is going on, and it must be serious. Now spit it out!"
Albus looked defeated. "I-I can't." He looked away from Severus. "You wouldn't understand, and it's no something I wish to explain."
"How can we fight it if you wont tell us?" asked Ron. "Hermione gets sick and then Harry losses his mind. What's gonna happen next?"
"I don't know what will happen next." sighed Albus. "We just have to wait and see."
Hermione let go of Severus. Her eyes grew wide. "Wait and see? WAIT AND SEE?! Harry just tired...," she couldn't bring herself to say it aloud. "AND you want us to WAIT AND SEE? Have you lost your mind, as well?"
"Hermione, I..." started Albus.
"You what? Kept yet another secret from us and caused us to put ourselves in danger once again? You've done this every year we've been here and you know what? It's getting on my nerves. We've not childern anymore, Albus; you don't have to coddle us anymore."
Ron staired at Hermione with his mouth open. It more musing to see that Severus had the same look on his face. 'Had she just yelled at Albus?'
"I know this, Hermione. But sometimes you need to learn these things on your own."
"How come that seems to be the theme? First year, Harry needed to find that bloody stone. Second year, that damn snake. Third year, Pettegrew...do I need to go on?" Albus shook his head. "Tough! Fourth year, those blasted three challanges. Fifth year, that damned prophecy. Last year the final end of that bloody battle! What's next? I swear I'm never going to make it out of this school alive!" Hermione paced the floor. "You know, I don't even think it's a coincidence that I'm the DADA professor. I mean hell, how many have made it past one year?"
"Professor Quirell was here for two years," stated Albus.
"Not before he turned evil!" retorted Ron. "Hermione's right. It may not involve me this time, but I can tell something is up. Something is wrong with Harry and has been since Vol-" Ron paused and took a breath. "Voldermort was killed."
"There is nothing we can do about this tonight." stated Albus. "We shall discuss this tomorrow. We only have half a day because of the holiday. Severus, Hermione why don't you take Mr. Potter up to the Hospital Wing and restain him. Tomorrow is going to be a big day." Ron looked at Albus like he lost his mine. "The ball of course."
"You've got to be kidding!" cried Severus. "Potter has lost his mind and something is going on in the castle, and you want to go on with the bloody ball?"
Albus nodded. "We mustn't let the students down. Some of them have been looking forward to this ball for weeks. I'm sure most of the other professors would like a chance to just...how do you put it...cut a rug."
The old man walked from the classroom, leaving a very confused Ron and two extremly ticked professors. Ron excused himself when Severus and Hermione went about bringing Harry up the six flights of stairs to the hospital wing. Luckly, they could just use a levitating charm on the boy. Once they had Harry strapped to one of the beds, Severus just let out all of his anger.
"The NERVE of that man!" he screamed.
"Shhh...." hissed Poppy from her office. Hermione led Severus from the Hospital and back down to the dungeons. Instead of going back to a classroom, she invited him back into her rooms.
She began to pace her common room. "I can't believe that man. I can't believe he would strut around, whatever had his robes in a twist. I mean it's bad enough that that whole thing about the tower happened." she stopped and looked at Severus. "Not that I'm upset about the outcome. But he has been tip-toeing around something for the longest time, and I'm really starting to get ticked."
"You!" asked Severus. "What about me? Albus never hid anything from me, and now he starts this crap? What is up with that man?"
Hermione stopped her pacing. "It has something to do with that tower. You know that, right?"
"I have come to that conclutions as well. But you know as well as I do that there isn't a book about that tower anywhere. We've checked the library and the book store in Hogsmeads."
Hermione's eyes got an evil looking in them. "Maybe were not looking where we need to. What is the one place that can give someone ANYTHING they need?"
Severus looked her in the eyes. "Your not talking about..." she nodded. He took hold of her hand and they ran from Hermione's rooms.
Severus dragged Hermione up seven flights to a spot on one of the walls. He knew all he had to do was imagin what he needed and it would appear. He walked in front of that one spot three times before a door appeared out of nowhere. He slowly open the door to show a vast library and two comfy looking chairs. Hemrione followed him into the room. Slowly the two chair tuned into a larg king size bed. This caused Hermione to blush.
"My, and what are you thinking about?" teased Severus.
"Oh, shush. Like you weren't thinking about it, too."
Severus walked over to the bed and laying in the middle was a small red-leather book. Written on the cover was Calada Tower: The True Story. "This is what we need." He picked up the book and showed it to Hermione. She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
"So you gonna read it or what?" she gave him an evil smile.
A smile crossed his lips. "You know, if I wasn't so sure you were a responsible person, I would say you were trying to seduce me."
"I was trying. Guess I'm not very good at it. That, or your just not intrested." she winked at him.
"Oh, I am." he grawled. "But let us figure this out before we tempt each other any further." A small pout formed on Hermione's lips, but she slid over so that Severus could sit with her. The bed turned into a love seat and a fire place appeared facing it.
Severus sat next to Hermione and allowed her to get comfortable against him. He opened the book and the both of them read the book.
The book spoke of the creation of the tower and why the founders felt it necessary to build it. They found a list of every person that had found themselves at the top of it. The list only had ten names, and their's were the last two. Contrary to what Severus thought, Albus' name was not on the list. He had turned to the last chapter of the book when he noticed Hermione had fallen asleep. That was when he read their fate.
'The school will choose its champions and they will protect it with their lives. With hearts so pure and minds so strong, their power will save the next generations from evil. Granted evil comes in all shapes and sizes, every few hundred years or so two new champions will be chosen. It will be their selfless love and devotion that will save the school and it's students. Unfortunately, these two lovers will give their lives so that other might live...'
Severus dropped the book. That was what Albus was keeping from him. Hermione and him will be giving up their lives just to save the school. He unconsciously held Hermione tighter. "Oh, bugger!"
Ok don't kill me. Yeah, they weren't suppose to find out but I just couldn't help it. I think there is only going to be like three more chaps. I've already started 19 and 20 is going to be the ball (where everything is going to happen) SOOO...tell me what you think. Raven Night Wing