A/N: Well here it is. A lot later than promised, but nevertheless, written and posted with the vow that by this time next year, HP and The Sacred Soul of Vietsvar will be finished and possibly a prequel in the works. I'm so irresponsible when I write sometimes, that from now on, if I am posting a story, I will already have several chapters written in advance. I apologize again for this delay, and I thank you for your patience.
Harry Potter and the Sacred Soul of Vietsvar
Rated: R
By: Handsofftheshinyshirtitsmine
Chapter 2 Double Snapes
Severus Snape watched his daughter cautiously that first evening in the Great Hall. His eyes narrowed as he noted her choice in companions, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger. But at least, he told himself, she was laughing, and appeared to be in very high spirits.
"Is something bothering you, Severus?" Dumebledore asked him, causing the usually well-composed potions teacher to jump. Keeping his attentions on the Gryffindor table, Snape gruffly mumbled a "no" to the headmaster.
"Are you sure?" He inquired further. Snape nodded, though barely decipherable to someone not attuned to the man's moods.
"Your daughter did wonderfully in my class today." McGonagall whispered to him, a gentle hand on his arm for an instant.
"I had no doubts." His quick response showed no emotion, but he now removed his black eyes from his only child, and looked at the aging woman who sat beside him.
"She is very like Catrine, is she not?" McGonagall commented as vague memories of Monique's mother came to her, regretting the words as she watched Snape close his eyes sadly. Again he was silent, his face masked behind his long hair.
"If you will excuse me." He said as he rose from his seat. Dumbledore waved a hand in the direction of the doorway, and Snape parted for his office, clearly bothered by McGonagall's comment.
"She is exactly like Catrine. Who was exactly like Severus." The aimeable headmaster mused after he was well out of earshot.
"Unfortunately, yes." McGonagall added.
"Wonder what crawled up Snape's butt?" Ron noted as he watched the disgruntled man stalk out of the hall, obviously in a peculiar mood. Harry and Hermione looked, but Monique continued to eat slowly.
"Think someone pissed him off the first day?" Harry suggested. Hermione laughed from where she sat beside Monique.
"Wouldn't doubt it." Monique finally raised her head, and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Maybe..." she began, causing all heads to turn her way. "...maybe he's just sick of being hated?" At this, Ron snorted loudly, spitting a bit of the milk he was drinking onto the table.
"He makes everyone hate him," Harry said snidely. "You haven't had class with him yet. You'll see."
As Monique made her way into the dungeon classroom of Severus Snape the next day, she felt a bit disturbed. The conditions in which her father taught were gloomy and dingy, in such a way that he would never have allowed their house to look. Taking a seat next to Hermione, she continued to look about with her nose wrinkled and one slim eyebrow raised, her usual look of disgust.
"Miss Es, do you find something to be unacceptable in my room?" Snape bellowed unceremoniously, startling both Monique and Hermione. Monique blushed furiously and looked up into the familiar black eyes.
"No, sir." She retorted, biting her lip as was habit when her father yelled at her, but otherwise quite calm. His face remained menacingly inches from hers for a long minute and then quickly, he walked to the front. Hermione and Monique looked over at Harry, who was wearing an expression that said 'I told you". S
"Welcome to N.E.W.T. potions." Snape began. "You are all in this class because each of you received exceptional scores on your Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations last year, and have now chosen to continue in your pursuit of this magic, for whatever reason." Monique listened only partially, remembering this speech from the various times she had heard him recite it in summers past. Her father did not know of her career choice, so her reasons for continuing on in potions were as vague to him as any of the others'. "We will begin by making a potion known as the Restorative of Dementia. Who can tell me what this allows the brewer to do?"
Hermione and Monique both raised their hands, causing Snape to sneer.
"I do believe Miss Granger has some competition. Yes, Miss Es?"
"The Restorative of Dementia allows the brewer to see everything through the eyes of the victim, while remaining in their own body. It has the special ability to last up to a full month with a single dosage, and to only be in effect when needed. It is not a takeover, but rather a visitation to the person, and most are never aware of it." Monique state simply, feeling herself grow red as everyone looked at her.
"Very nice." Her father replied, and he waved his wand as to place the directions on the chalkboard. "For house points, Miss Es, can you tell me why it is known as the Restorative of Dementia?" Monique racked her memory, remembering when he had taught her about this potion. Hermione's eyes were sympathetic.
"Yes, Professor Snape. The potion's name stems from the after effect it causes, which is a temporary but recurring fit of hysteria when not taken voluntarily." She replied. Snape's hard expression faltered only a moment, between pride and shock, and then he quickly became the greasy potions teacher once again.
"I guess that deserves 5 points to Gryffindor." He concluded. All the jaws in the room went a bit slack, and again everyone turned to regard Monique. "Enough foolery! Get to work!" Her father snapped from where he stood at the head of the class.
Quickly, Monique got on track. As she diced the centaur's ear, she allowed the bubbling mixture to simmer, and grabbed this chance to talk with Hermione and Harry.
"Can't believe Snape gave you house points!" Harry exclaimed as he pinched some oak root into his cauldron.
"Must have taken a liking to you." Monique cast Hermione a look as she suggested this.
"From what you all present him as, I get the impression that Snape cannot feel like." Monique countered. She didn't pause to wonder at their pale faces until she again heard a steely voice from behind her.
"I would like, Miss Es, for you to get to work and stop gossiping. 10 points from Gryffindor and detention with me tomorrow night." Snape snarled. Monique's upper lip twitched, and she turned slowly, drawing in a deep breath.
"Yes, sir. What time would you like me?" She responded as she glared up at him.
"Six o'clock. Be on time."
For the remainder of class, Monique was silent and studious as she finished her potion. In fact, by the time she turned in the vial of blood-red potion, she was absolutely sure everything was perfect. Passing it into the capable hands of her father, she quickly shuffled away, avoiding his gaze, and waiting for Hermione near the door.
"I'm sure I messed up somewhere, but I can't figure it out. Diced centaur ear applied only after the bat's wing base and unicorn's tongue have simmered. Two pinches of oak root." Hermione muttered as she came up beside Monique. She looked thoroughly worried, and Monique touched her arm.
"What color did it turn out?" She asked as they began to climb the stairs from the damp classroom. Hermione thought a moment, adjusting the books she held absently, and smiling over her shoulder as Harry caught up with them.
"I think it was orange." Hermione concluded simply, looking at Monique, who grimaced.
"One drop too many of serpent's venom." Monique told her.
"How can you be sure?" Hermione squeaked anxiously.
"Simple. The potion was supposed to end up blood red, influenced mainly by the color of the unicorn's tongue and oak root. The venom, which was yellow, only influences color when a drop too much has been added. That also means it's poisonous." Monique answered. From behind her, Harry coughed.
"How do you know all of this?" He inquired, moving up beside her and appearing quite impressed. Monique gave him one of her brightest smiles, and shrugged, flipping her heavy hair over her shoulder.
"Potions are my specialty." The three of them met up with Ron at the main staircase.
"She's smiling after a potions class." He noted immediately, motioning towards Monique, who was still grinning like an idiot.
"She's the first Gryffindor in history to get house points from Snape." Harry told him, causing his eyes to widen in disbelief.
"Yes, but he took all of them and then some away ten minutes later." Monique corrected, her cheeks now as crimson as her potion had been.
"And gave her detention." Hermione added.
"Glad I wasn't there." Ron said, and the four began to make their way upstairs for History of Magic. Monique bounced up them happily, finally feeling at ease in Hogwarts. Her slim hazel eyes danced with excitement as they neared the top.
"And Monique is better than 'Mione at potions." Harry commented, as they entered Professor Binns' classroom and sat down. Monique's face tried to grow more red, and she pulled her hair about her in a futile attempt to hide her embarrassment.
"Oh, Monique, we've gotta warn you about Professor Binns..."
Monique and Flop curled together in a chair in the Gryffindor common room, Monique running a loving hand through the feline's silky fur. She had pulled her hair into a ponytail, and donned a pair of dark-framed glasses in order to concentrate on the book she was reading. The common room was fairly clear of anyone else, and she was enjoying this chance to catch up on some of her unfinished summer reading. Turning the page, she noted a photograph tucked into the pages and picked it up. Her lips turned upwards a bit as she looked at it, her father and her standing near one another in front of one of her father's stallions. Turning it over, she read the words scrawled on the back. 'Always with my love-Father'.
A/N Well there is chapter 2.... The end is a bit....just there, but I thought I'd give it a soft ending. You'll have that sometimes. And look, it is up by the promised time. Next chapter up by Thanksgiving!
Chapter 3: TENATIVELY TITLED DETETION
"...Monique looked at her father, a bit shocked at what he had just said, her expression faltering...."
(I realize how little that gives away, but that's what I want!)
