11. Chance Meeting
The first actual day of classes at Hogwarts was a dull, dark, somber day. The rain hit hard, at times on the glass windows of the castle class rooms. The clouds were grey and dark outside but moved quickly across the sky. No animals came out of the forest, nor did birds fill the gloomy sky. And yet the castle was filled with life. Classes were under way, students packed the halls and the stair cases. The library was opened once again and the study hall was already filled with students. Yet the day could not pass fast enough for Harry. Dominic, Ron and Harry shared all of their classes but Harry's breaks were spend in McGonagall's office planning for the Gryffindor Quiddich tryouts. Hermione and Amelia shared most of their classes as well, which was refreshing for Amelia as a new student at Hogwarts. Her first transfiguration class with McGonagall was her favorite class already. She felt she learned more in one class at Hogwarts than she ever did in her old school and she was very excited to pursue other studies under the guidance of McGonagall. Thunder crashed loud and lighting flashed bright in the windows of the great hall as lunch rolled around. Hermione and Amelia had joined most of the boys for there spare period in the study hall and had all headed to lunch together. Harry showed up half way through lunch and rushed to take a seat with his friends. He frantically grabbed some food before the tables were cleared and shoveled it into his mouth, his faced filled with excitement.
"Harry you aren't an animal!" Hermione said a little disgusted, "chew your food, please."
"Yeah you're going to choke!" Amelia said leaning away from him, "its not very becoming at all!"
"Ok Harry, what's up?" Ron asked looking at him very seriously.
"McGonagall is posting the tryout sign up sheets in the common room today," Harry said excitedly with his mouth full.
"When are they?" Dominic asked feeling the excitement as well.
"They start tomorrow on the Quiddich pitch. We are starting to fill the chasers position first and if we have time tomorrow we will be picking beaters as well. Hopefully we will get it all finished in one day so we can dive into practicing," Harry said so fast that he was hard to understand.
"Sounds like a great plan Harry," Ron said, "the team will have a lot of new players."
"Exactly," Harry smiled, "its going to take a lot of work, but it will be worth it!"
"At what time?" Dominic asked making a mental note of all that Harry had just said
"Starting at three in the afternoon," Harry smiled, "we'll have to rush from class to get our practice robes on Ron. We need you on the pitch as the teams keeper to help test for our new chasers!"
"Wicked!" Ron said happily giving Harry a high five, "do you need Ginny too?"
"Yeah we want her still on the team," Harry smiled, "McGonagall was going to talk to her today about the position she most wanted to play besides seeker."
"Yeah I guess you stole that position back from her!" Ron laughed.
"Yeah, but we want some seasoned players. Really all we have are the three of us left from the old team," Harry said.
Ginny ran up excitedly and hugged Harry, "thanks for still letting me be on the team!" she smiled as she sat down.
"McGonagall already spoke with you I assume!" Harry laughed.
"Oh yeah," Ginny smiled, "I'll be one of your chasers this year Harry!" she added, "and I know a few people that want to come out to the tryouts!" she said, jumped up from the table and ran off with a group of friends buzzing about the tryouts.
"You gonna come out Amelia?" Harry asked.
"I don't know if I can," Amelia frowned, "If I want to continue with extra studies in transfigurations with McGonagall and the amount of work I already have with this class load I don't know if I can give up the time for it."
"McGonagall has decided that she is going to try and be present at all of our practices because she doesn't want the Slytherins stealing our practice time. So you wont be able to work with her during scheduled practice!" Harry said, "so you should come out and at least give it a try!"
"You can't play favorites either Harry, I know you want all of your best friends on the team but you can't not give other gryffindors a chance," Hermione said sternly.
"I know," Harry said, "but that doesn't mean that Amelia can't come and try out."
"Alright I will come and give it a try," Amelia smiled, "but I am not promising anything. School has to take priority over Quiddich."
"If we make the team Lia I'll help you with whatever you need so that we can play!" Dominic smiled as he hugged his sister.
"And I guess I'll do the same Dom," Amelia jokingly rolled her eyes.
"Hey!" Dominic laughed, "I know what you are thinking and I am a way better flyer!"
Amelia giggled.
"Hey I read that!" Harry said smiling.
"I know I felt it!" Amelia smiled, "your getting better Harry!"
"See Hermione!" Harry said excitedly, "I've been practicing!"
Hermione shook her head, laughed and tugged Amelia away from the table and off to their next class.
"Hermione I know what you are thinking!" Harry laughed.
"Stop practicing on me!" she yelled jokingly and left the great hall.
The day began to clear after lunch but Harry was feeling more and more distracted from his studies. He was trapped in his classes, tied to his work and yet he was to excited about the start of the Quiddich season. His mind wandered as the sun started to shine outside and he longed to be out on his broom. But classes were still in process and worst of all his final class was potions with Snape. Ron and Harry sulked into Professor Snape's class room but Dominic was looking forward to it. Snape arrived and was stone cold to all the students but the few that were in his own house. He was almost as cold as the ice potion that he had been teaching to his class. The potion cause the inflicted to slowly become as cold and as solid as ice. Nothing a simple warming potion couldn't fix but it was a very slow and painful thawing process and the inflicted becomes so brittle that it was very dangerous to move while in the ice state and risk breaking off limbs. There was also great danger in mixing the ingredients to the potion. Even if it touched a persons skin the potion would take effect and most of the ingredients in there most rudimentary form were very dangerous to handle. The students in the class wore special gloves and other safety apparel to simply mix the potion. Thought it was a dangerous potion for human, the potion was very useful for many household uses and was one of the best for preserving foods for long periods of time and keeping important biological materials for future studies. It is often used at most wizarding hospitals and research facilities. Dominic had been taught many of the ice potions in the far north in his first few years of school and had mastered the ice potion as one of his favorites. Snape hovered over him in this first class, trying very hard to intimidate Dominic. Harry and Ron were quite relieved that Snape had chosen someone else to pick on but Dominic wouldn't let it brother him. He knew the potion so well that Snape couldn't even point out errors in mixing or make clumsy comments. Dominic even volunteered to test his potion first because he had learned a few very quick thawing charms that worked faster and better than the thawing potion that would be next in the class for the students to learn. By the end of the class time Snape had become very testy towards the rest of the Gryffindors because he was unable to pick on Dominic for his potions skills.
"Wow, you really got under his skin," Ron whispered from one side of Dominic.
"Yeah but at least he wasn't picking on us!" Harry whispered back.
"Oh well to bad for him. I mean he wants to find anyway possible for me to screw up to get back at my mom and its not going to happen," Dominic said taking out the rest of his potions books, "aside from defense against the dark arts potions is my best subject and I had highest potions mark at Starysnow for three years running. Its going to be hard for Snape to find problems with my potions skills." he finished and began to read ahead in his potions text.
Potions class finally finished and Harry and his friends rushed away from the class and up to the great hall to escape any further torment from Snape. The sun was now shining bright out the windows. The clouds had moved off and it was now becoming beautiful and hot outside. It was to nice to spend the rest of the evening in the castle so Harry, Ron and Dominic pulled out their brooms and flew low around the grounds of the school. Hermione and Amelia also tried to enjoy some of the sun and brought their books out and settled down by the lake to try and get threw some of their school work. Shaded by a large tree at the edge of the lake Hermione and Amelia covered a lot of their work and before long they had packed away the books and laid on the grass watching the boys.
"So Amelia, how was the first day?" Hermione asked as Ron landed his broom and sat down beside her.
"Not much different from the old school. About the same amount of school work," she laughed.
"Yeah but we didn't get free time like this to enjoy the sun and the warm weather and fly around on brooms!" Dominic said as he refused to land his broom and take a seat with the others.
"Yeah in that respect Hogwarts is way better!" Amelia laughed.
"Well its good to see you are all having fun!" a voice said from behind the tree.
"Mum!" Amelia smiled.
"Hey mum!" Dominic called from just above the tree.
"Oh get down from there child," Belinda laughed, "and give your mother a hug!"
"Awe mum!" Dominic whined.
"Your class was so great today mum," Amelia said as she hugged her mother.
"Yes Professor Cross," Hermione added, "it was very informative."
"Well thank you Hermione, that is what I had hoped for" Belinda laughed, "how were the rest of your classes?"
"Oh my gosh mum, professor McGonagall's is an amazing teacher. Her class was so much more than I expected and I got more out of her class than I ever did in any of my other Transfiguration classes. I have lots of work but its so fascinating and Professor McGonagall always keeps your attentions. It was fabulous," Amelia said excitedly.
" its good to know that I effect some of my students in a positive manner!" McGonagall said as she appeared from behind the tree as well.
Amelia went red noticing McGonagall, "I'm really hoping I could ask for some extra help actually," she said shyly.
"On your animagus?" McGonagall asked, "that is actually why I have come out here to find you. I was hoping we might be able to do a little work now because soon I will be very with marking and other class preparations. Now would be an ideal time. If you aren't to busy," she smiled.
"Really?" Amelia said jumping up off the grass, "I would love too!" and she followed McGonagall back up to the castle.
"And you Dominic how was your first day," Belinda asked as Amelia left.
"Oh it was school mum," Dominic said with a shrug, "no big deal."
"How was potions?" She asked.
"Oh we did the ice potion today," Dominic shrugged.
"Well that would have been a breeze for you. You can perform that potion in your sleep," Belinda smiled.
"Mum, a little dangerous to take that lightly but yeah it was easy," Dominic said.
"Sorry to interrupt," another voice came from the edge of the water this time. Coming towards them was professor Snape, "I'd like a word with you Mr. Cross." he said coldly as he arrived.
"Good evening Professor," Belinda said acknowledging Snape.
"Good evening Belinda," Snape said lowering his eyes.
"Am I in trouble Professor?" Dominic asked coldly.
"No," Snape said, "I feel that with your advancements in potion making, you are going to need special treatment. In my class I do not play favorites (Harry and Ron rolled their eyes) and so I will not, during regular class time, but I would like to you to take a look at this book of advanced potions and be prepared. If you are already well versed in our daily potions to be preformed in class, you will be set to the back of the classroom to work on another more difficult and less familiar potion."
"Thank you professor," Dominic said taking the advanced potions book from Snape.
"Mr. Potter," Snape said turning abruptly and catching Harry off guard.
"Yes Professor," Harry said a little shakingly.
"I was under the impression that we would be starting our practice again shortly in Occlumency," Snape said and added, "but as you have been made the new captain for the Gryffindor Quiddich team, Professor Dumbledore has decided he will be working with you when your schedule is open because I was not willing to accommodate your extracurricular activities."
"Alright, thank you," Harry said.
"Good evening," Snape said and turned away from the group.
"Professor Snape may I have a word with you?" Belinda mustered the courage to ask him.
"I am needed back in the dungeons," Snape said.
"It will only take a moment. The walk back to the castle will suffice," Belinda said as she walked down to the waters edge where Snape was now standing.
"That was my mum right?" Dominic asked as he watcher her walk down to the water.
"Yup!" Harry, Ron and Hermione said together.
"That's not like her at all," Dominic said in a concerned tone. He watched very fixated as she went off with Snape.
Belinda and Severus walked along the waters edge for a few moments in silence. Awkwardness had set in and Belinda couldn't find the words that she wanted to say. Her past feeling were flooding in around her at nearly blinding speeds. Being with Snape had always felt so right and here she was again. She felt as though she was drowning and no one was near enough to reach out to. Snape broke the silence.
"We did this on your last day," He said softly looking at the ground as they walked.
"Yes we did," She said stopping to look out at the water, "it seems like yesterday."
"But it wasn't," Snape said finally rasing his eyes to look at her, "you left all magic, you have married, you have children, and now you are back."
"And you never left," she said as a breeze blew her hair into her face.
"I couldn't," Snape sighed, "I couldn't leave the lake. I come down here everyday. Everyday since you left. I knew you wouldn't be here, it was stupid and childish to look for you as I did. But I did every day. And now here you are and what am I to do now?"
"Severus, I never meant for any of this to happen," Belinda said turning her face to the ground, "I was young and stupid and afraid. I was afraid for my life, for my parents, for you and of you. What else could I have done?"
"You would have been safe at Hogwarts," Severus sighed.
"I would have followed you to the ends of the earth. And that became the scariest thing. I was torn between my family, the life I knew and the goodness that filled me or being with you and living that other life. I couldn't choose you but I wanted to," she said taking his hand.
"I chose you over the dark," he said lowering his eyes to her hand now.
"I know that now, and I am sorry for everything that happened in our past. I never intended that," she said and added, "but you have to know how much you scared me. How much fear filled me when my parents were murdered. I knew I was next. I had to leave."
"I do know," he said with a sigh, "you made it very clear when you left. The hardest thing was having to hear it second hand from Dumbledore."
"I'm really sorry about that you have to believe me," Belinda pleaded, "but I had to hear second hand about the path you did choose."
"Life is full of little secrets," Snape said after a long silence, "why did you come back? let me hear it first hand from you."
"Because now I am not safe anywhere else," Belinda sighed.
"She's to far away I can't read her!" Dominic said as he watched his mother and Snape walk along the waters edge.
"Dominic its none of your business!" Hermione said finally, "sit down and let them sort it out like adults would."
"She's my mum it is too my business!" Dominic said still staring.
"Hey Harry is that your owl?" Ron asked seen a white owl fly into the tree above them.
"I don't think so," Harry said looking up feeling a slight pricked oh his forehead.
"Amelia?" Dominic said as he squinted up to the owl.
The owl flew down to the ground as it did it changed from the brilliant white to the dark robed Amelia, "what did you think!" she asked with a smile.
"That was fast!" Dominic said excitedly.
"She just needed to understand how she did it." McGonagall said coming across the grass in a bit of a run, "its hard to keep up with an owl even as a cat!" she laughed as she sat down beside Amelia.
Amelia giggled, "cause I had done it once Professor McGonagall just had to explain to me how I did it and how to keep it." she said with a smile.
"That didn't take long at all once she understood the mechanics of it then we just worked on adapting to the animal form," McGonagall smiled.
"I have to work on landing! That's hard!" Amelia laughed.
"And not something I can teach you!" Mcgonagall said, "I prefer to keep my four legs on the ground!"
"Professor McGonagall has promised for the first Hogsmade trip she is going to come with me to get my Animagus registration. Then I can do it whenever!" Amelia said excitedly.
"Gonna teach us how?" Dominic asked.
"Yeah it runs in my family too, my dad wad one!" Harry smiled and rubbed his forehead.
"I don't think I could teach you but I am sure professor McGonagall can if you have it in you!" Amelia smiled.
"Lots of work and concentration but it can be done!" McGonagall smiled.
"Harry are you ok?" Amelia asked noticing him flinching as he touched his scar.
"Yeah, its nothing," Harry said a little grumpily, "its just prickling right now. Voldemort is planning something."
"Are you sure Harry?" Ron asked.
"Maybe you should see Professor Dumbledore," McGonagall said looking worried.
"No I'm fine it will pass," Harry said.
"Nothing will happen to you at Hogwarts," Snape said finally, "nothing ever would. I wouldn't have let it happen."
"I know that now," Belinda said, "I had a lot of growing up to do."
"But now what?" Severus asked, "how are we to go on from here?"
"Well we have to work together that's the bottom line," Belinda said, "I'm not asking you to forget all that I have put you through. I am just asking for you to forgive me and I hope that we could get along professionally." she said as she finally looked up into his eyes and another breeze, stronger than the last blew her hair.
The wind pass over him and fear set into his eyes as his arm began to burn and he fell to his knees
"Severus!" Belinda cried.
"AH!" Harry yelled as the pain in his forehead became to much. It stung like fire and the scar had actually began to bleed at the edge. Harry felt dizzy and began to rock himself as he sat on the grass
"Harry what wrong?" Hermione yelled.
"I can't see! Its worse than ever before!" Harry said, "he's really strong and really close!"
"Lets get you inside to see professor Dumbledore," McGonagall said trying to help Harry to his feet.
"I can't!" Harry said as he fell over onto his side disoriented. "I can't move!" he said panic stricken.
"Severus!" they heard Belinda cry out from by the lake.
The wind became violent all around them. Water was swept off the lake. Dirt flew violently around them. Leaves from the trees and grass was ripped off and whipped around by the wind. The tree rocked violently, its roots becoming weak. The tree began to crack, branched fell to the ground all around them. Dominic and Ron grabbed Harry and pulled him away from the tree.
"We have to get back to the castle!" McGonagall yelled over the wind.
Waves grew violent on the lake. The water crashed angrily up against the shore and rocks. The waves crashed up against Belinda and Severus.
"Mum!" Dominic yelled out as she was hit hard by the waves and forced to the ground. Severus rushed over to her standing over her and sheltering her from the water and wind. Rocks began to lift with the wind and were flung about hitting Snape and Belinda.
"Run!" Severus yelled as he pushed Belinda ahead of him and up toward the tree.
"What that!" Amelia asked fearfully pointing at the forest.
Black as oil, creeping, covering, destroying whatever was in its path a dark mass of clouds rose from the dark forest. A sound like laughter filled the air, evil and crazed. Two bright red eyes appeared in the forest, angry and filled with fire they came closer. Out of the forest and darkness a sick green serpent slithered from the base of the trees. Giant, it covered ground fast the only thing between them was the lake. It reached the edge of the lake. The laughed grew louder. The giant snake seemed to, with all its muscles push itself into the air and flung itself over the water coming closer and closer. Giant teeth bared, long forked tongue protruding from its ever grinning mouth.
"Get to the castle!" Snape yelled.
Amelia and Hermione had grabbed onto whatever they could to keep themselves from being swept away with the wind. McGonagall rushed to Harry who had been knocked to the ground again.
"Harry you must try to get up!" McGonagall shouted as she grabbed his arm and helped him to his feet and forced him forward. Ron and Dominic ran, booms in hand, back to Harry's side. Blood ran into Harry's eyes. He was dizzy and could no longer see at all. He ran blindly in the directed that McGonagall had forced him not knowing where he would end up. He felt Ron and Dominic pick him up by both arms and flew him across the grass on their brooms. They reached the castle and turned to go back for their friends. Before they could get half way the giant serpent was above them all. "Get down!" Snape yelled pushing Belinda and Minerva into the grass and running to grab Amelia and Hermione. The laughter was deafening as the serpent was above them. Dominic bolted forward with his wand drawn.
"Dominic stay there!" Belinda yelled seeing him sweep across part of the grass toward them, "get Harry into the castle!"
"But Mum!" Dominic cried.
"Do it!" She yelled.
The wind swirled around them. Dust and grass was flying fast into them. The great tree by the lake gave up its battle and crashed to the ground. It lay dead and broken where it once stood. Large rocks, bits of the trees and debris came down hard against the ground. Dirt and water flew through the air. The laughter still rang and echoed off the great castle walls. The serpent came down with a crash, shaking the ground around them and encircling the group stranded between the lake and safety. The serpents great red eyes narrowed on Belinda. Hunger and hatred looked down on her. Its great forked tongue reached out and curled around her.
"Mum!" Amelia screamed pushing Snape away from her.
"No! I wont let you take her!" Snape yelled as anger filled him and he rushed across the grass, his wand drawn.
With its great tongue the serpent slowly pulled Belinda toward itself. Insanity grew in its eyes. The laughter became crazy, sickening and deafening.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" was yelled over the laughter and Belinda flew out of the snakes grasp and through the air.
Snape ran after her and caught her before she was flung into the fallen tree.
Harry stood breathless on the steps of the castle, his wand drawn, shaking violently, "Ron did it work?" he yelled blindly into the wind.
"You got her!" Ron said grabbing Harry's shoulder.
"Harry run away!" Hermione yelled as the serpent turned its attention now to Harry.
The laughter had now changed to a low angry growl as the fire in the eyes of the serpent burned bright and red. It sped toward Harry faster and stronger than the wind.
"Harry its coming right at you!" Ron yelled pulling on his sleeve, "get in the castle!"
"INFLAMARAY!" Harry yelled and fire burst from his wand and directly into the face of the serpent.
As suddenly as it had started the serpent flew head first into the grown and the growl and wind stopped. The sun reappeared and all was calm again. The evil was gone. Stunned for a moment at what had happened they lay on the grass unmovable.
"Get in the castle quickly everyone to Dumbledore's office NOW!" Snape said as they all got up and ran to the castle.
Harry collapsed to his knees on the marble stairs of the castle, breathless, blind and exhausted. He felt the sun on his face, the pain in his forehead was gone but the blood was still thick and stung his eyes. The reality of what had happened was written all over his body and the destruction was strewn all over the castle grounds. His arms and legs were numb. He shook violently from the confrontations. He sighed deeply and covered his face with his shaking hands. His hopes for the Quiddich tryouts would have to wait for another day.