Doesn't Remind Me
Summary: AU, WiP: What would've happened if Severus Snape had choose a different path and proved is loyalty to the one who trusted him when no one else did?
Category: Angst/Drama.
Rating: PG-13 to R. For safety, deals with violence and suicidal themes.
Notes: To Dim, I fixed the spelling of Hermione. I can't believe I was spelling it wrong the whole time, especially since I was using the book to check that other things were correct! LoL. I noticed when I was writing the last chapter that I was writing Voldemort "Voldermort" but luckily I caught it before hand! If anyone is wondering, the title "Après" means "Afterwards."
I just want to say that I really appreciate all the reviews I've gotten, it's inspired me to keep writing at such a regular pace (which is amazing for me, but I'm guessing the fact that I have no school due to the BCTF Union being on strike is helping..celebrates).
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, if I did I'd be rich and not writing fanfics, now would I? Sue me if you wish but the only thing you'll get out of it is my pointe shoes because it's the only thing I've ever bought in my life. Anything recognizable is credited to J.K. Rowling anything unrecognizable can be credited to me, understood? Good. Now I'm going to shut-up so you can read the story!
Ch. 4 - Après
9 days later the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry found themselves in the same situation they had been in the day after the Death Eater attacks, isolated in the Great Hall. Most students took to filling the time with the same conversations about the same thing, "What exactly did happen that night?" The only ones who truly knew were the ones who had been there, and those particular students had been questioned mercilessly. And all of them had taken the route of less talk, saying only what was needed to be said so that they could be left alone. As a result, rumours were everywhere. And it was not the fact that Dumbledore had almost died, or that Draco Malfoy was now a known Death Eater, or even that Death Eaters themselves had managed to find their way into the school, that was the most debated topic. It was Severus Snape and the new found knowledge that he had been the one to save Dumbledore and the one to sacrifice himself for the safety of the school. Professor Snape, the one teacher who seemed to distaste the students the most, was the one to save countless numbers of them. It was an intriguing thought for the young wizard and witches, a thought that they could not seem to let go of. Every student had their own idea of where Snape was and whether he had the ability to escape his captors.
But Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Luna had taken to sitting in their own small group and discussing anything that had nothing to do with that night 9 days earlier. They had even resorted to doing their homework has a group in order to pass the time.
Security in the Great Hall had been lessened, the 4th years and younger still had to be escorted by the Head of House to the bathroom but the 5th years and older were now allowed to go to the bathroom escorted only be a Prefect (but they still had to ask the Head of House for permission). The result was that many students believed that they would be allowed to return to their dormitories soon. Which caused a frenzy of homework finishing for those students who had taken full advantage of having no classes and had neglected all schoolwork.
Each day was as boring as the previous day, and each day as repetitive as the previous. But on that 9th day, early in the afternoon, Neville Longbottom entered the Great Hall, having just been released from the hospital, to a loud applause and joyous cheers. Which caused the shy boy to turn red in the face from embarrassment and quickly join his 5 friends.
The dinner that night started out as all other dinners. Except for one small detail, Professor McGonagall was no where in sight. This, undoubtedly, was the center of conversation for all students. But their questions were soon answered as the door to the Great Hall opened and in walked Professor McGonagall, helping a very tired, but happy, looking Headmaster walk slowly through the Hall and to his rightful seat at the Head Table. The students sat in shock, they had not expected this.
It was Harry who started clapping first, with the rest of the school, students and teachers alike, following. Dumbledore looked over at Harry as he passed by and smiled, with that familiar twinkle in his eye. Harry knew right then and there, that Dumbledore might still be injured, might still be sick and tired, but it was still the same old Dumbledore. And that, was the most uplifting thing that had happened to Harry during the whole year.
Perhaps it took a little long for Dumbledore to reach his seat, but no one was complaining. With this recent event most students believed that they would be returning to their dormitories that night. And they were not disappointed.
Professor McGonagall sat down in her seat beside the Headmaster's chair while Dumbledore remained standing and as a result, the Great Hall went completely quiet.
"It brings me great pleasure," Dumbledore began with a smile, "to announce that all students will be allowed to return to their dormitories tonight. I have, however, decided that no students shall be allowed to leave Hogwarts grounds for any reason. This means that all Hogsmeade visits have been cancelled. Please note that any student attempting to leave Hogwarts grounds will not only be unable to due to new defenses that have been put in place, but they will also receive severe punishments. Also, I would like to say," Dumbledore's expression quickly became somber, "due to unfortunate circumstances all Defense Against The Dark Arts classes have been cancelled. All students are to stay in their dormitories instead of going to their Dark Arts classes. All students caught in the halls during class time will be punished. These are not safe times. And though Hogwarts is protected I still recommend that you take all precautions during the rest of this year. I do not wish a repeat of the events that occurred 9 days ago. If any of you think a fellow student is acting in a strange way I ask that you bring the matter to your Head of House, do not confront the student. I do not wish to have a death within Hogwarts and I do not think any of you would wish such a thing," Dumbledore smiled at the students, "Now, with all that depressing news out of the way I will leave you to finish your meal. You have permission to return to your dormitories after the meal, you will find that your bags have been returned with all your schoolwork placed neatly on your beds. For you will need to complete it since classes will resume bright and early tomorrow morning. I hope you have all taken this time off to catch up on any courses in which you might have fallen behind in."
And with that Dumbledore gingerly sat down and the students erupted into conversation.
"Tomorrow? School starts tomorrow!" Ron shook his head in disbelief, "On a Thursday too. Who resumes school on a bloody Thursday!"
"Dumbledore does," Hermione said with a laugh, "Good thing I got you two do some of your homework! You only have about 3 days worth of homework to do instead of 6."
"Oh thanks Hermione," Harry muttered sarcastically.
The rest of the dinner consisted of conversations about the unfairness of courses resuming the next day and complaining about all the homework that had to be finished in one night. After dinner the students happily returned to their dormitories, where they continued to complain about homework and the injustice of having school the next day.
"You know," Hermione told Harry and Ron, "you would be able to finish a lot more homework if you actually worked on it instead of complaining about having to do it."
Ron just scowled at Hermione while Harry ignored her, quite intent on completing a potions assignment he was finding quite difficult to do without the Half-Blood Prince's book to help him.
"I wonder if I can use Bill getting injured as an excuse for not doing my homework," Ron thought out-loud.
"With 9 days off I highly doubt it Ron," Hermione replied in her lecturing tone, "I told you that you'd have to do it sooner or later. But do you ever listen to me? No."
Ron stared at Hermione, she had even completed the lecture with a mocking smile and raised eyebrows, "Well I doubt your done all your homework," he spat back.
"As a matter of fact Ron, I am done. And I'm going to leave you two to finish your homework while I go to bed. Goodnight."
And with that Ron just watched Hermione leave, "Well, looks like she's back to normal," he muttered. Harry looked up and just shrugged.
After about and hour Harry and Ron decided to just call it quits and go to bed. Hoping that they were not the only students who had failed to complete their homework.
The following days went by as routinely as days can go by. Both Harry and Ron were relieved to find out that they were not the only students who failed to complete their homework. And they were not the only students who found the extra free block, where they would normally be in Defense Against The Dark Arts, filled with not joyous freedom but homework, homework, and more homework. Having 9 days off might of been good before but now it was a disaster. All the teachers had taken to assigning extra homework to make up for the class time missed.
It was 8 days after the return of school when Harry, Ron and Hermione had decided to go for a walk outside. Seeing as it was a Saturday Harry had been hoping to spend some time alone with Ginny but he could not. Ginny was preparing for her OWLs and as a result was unable to be persuaded to leave her studies. Much to Harry disappointment.
The three friends walked around the very edge of the Hogwarts grounds, making sure not to pass the invisible barrier that would alert the Headmaster.
"Hermione, if the barrier is invisible how do you know where it is?" Ron asked.
"It's pretty simple, the barrier is marked by nature. At some parts the barrier follows the curve of the lake while at other parts it follows the edge of a cliff, or the trees that outline the Forbidden Forest. Besides, you can't go through it, it's like an invisible wall."
"But isn't there already a wall around the whole grounds?" Harry questioned.
"Well yes, but that's further out. A wall isn't going to stop a lot. I suspect Dumbledore doesn't want the students going that far out of the grounds because if we were allowed to go as far out as the wall we would be able to go into the Forbidden Forest, and that wouldn't be safe," Hermione replied, as if this information was the most obvious information in the world.
"How does she remember all this stuff, and where does she get it all from?" Ron muttered to Harry.
"For you information," Hermione stated, her voice rising slightly, "in the first class back after the Death Eaters incident we all got a pamphlet describing the barrier and what to we should do if we find ourselves in danger while we're on the grounds. I read it, obviously you two did not."
By this time the three friends had managed to walk around the grounds and were now passing by the Forbidden Forest. They were so close that the trees shadows blocked out the sun and cast eerie shapes across the ground. Harry was just about to respond when there was a loud thud from within the forest. The three friends spun around and froze, facing the Forbidden Forest.
"What was that?" Hermione asked, fear colouring her voice.
"It sounded like someone, or something, fell," Harry answered, sounding and feeling more calmer then he thought he should be.
"We, we should go back, don't you think Harry?" Ron stammered.
"Yah Harry, we should go back. Tell Dumbledore," Hermione quickly added.
"No," Harry replied. When he saw the questioning faces of his two friends he quickly added, "It might be someone who needs our help."
"Don't tell me you think it's Snape," Hermione said, shaking her head, "It's impossible, it's been too long."
"It could be," Harry muttered, trying to see through the thick shadows of the forest.
"Harry, you can't be serious," Hermione said, trying to see through the shadows herself.
"Hello!" Harry yelled into the forest, not wanting to walk any further for fear of hitting the invisible barrier.
"What do you think you're doing!" Ron yelled back, "Trying to get us killed!"
"Whoever, or whatever, it is won't be able to make it through the barrier anyway. I just want to see it," Harry replied calmly.
Hermione opened her mouth to talk but was cut off by a rustling sound from the bushes. Followed by the sounds of someone, or something, trying to make it's way through the thick underbrush of the forest.
Hermione screamed as the thing came into view.
Note Oh.My.God. This chapter was incredible hard to write for me. I hit a major writer's block. I know what I wanted to say but I couldn't quite write it down like I wanted too. I don't quite like how it turned out because I don't like when I have to write a chapter with more explaining then action in it. I prefer writing dialogue. But this chapter needed to be written. I've read it over and to me it seems like someone else wrote it, it doesn't feel like my style of writing. I have this feeling that the characters are not quite out of character, like I just missed the mark this time. But oh well. I promise there will be answers in the following chapter, just stick with it okay? (Including what happen with Snape, is he alive or dead? Only I know! MWAHAHAHA!)
So I'm sorry if it isn't quite up to standards. My next chapter will be better, I promise!