Sorry guys that you had to wait so long for this, but i think that most of you will find that its worth it. wink wink

Devil's Minion: Part 2
Chapter 7: Tragedies and Cures
slytherinphoenix7

After a few days of recovering in Saint Mungo's, Mum came home. Slowly she returned to her normal activities. I hadn't realized how much I missed her cooking until I tasted it for the first time since that summer. In between helping Mum, I worked on getting caught up on my homework. Different people dropped in who would help me with various subjects. Fred, George, and Katie came for dinner occasionally. Sometimes I would catch a glimpse of Dumbledore or Snape.

One afternoon I was sitting in the kitchen by myself, finishing an essay as I wanted only that night's homework when I went back to Hogwarts later that day, when I heard someone come in. I looked up. It was Snape. I was so startled that I dropped my book. He came over and set a pile of books and parchment on the table. I stood up and went over.

"Miss Weasley," he addressed me. "I was sent to take you back to Hogwarts. "

"Oh… thank you…" I said. "Why?"

"Dumbledore would have done it… but he was called away on some - erm business."

"Oh."

"And I have to teach you a potion we learned in class today."

I groaned inwardly. I could teach the potion to myself. All you had to do was follow the directions! Isn't that what we did in class normally?

He looked around. "Do you have a cauldron somewhere?" he asked, going over and looking in cabinets.

"Er, no, I don't think so," I said. "But Mundungus came a few minutes ago – he might have one." I turned to leave. "I'll be right back."

I walked down the quiet halls to the back of the house. I found him with Tonks. They stopped talking as soon as I came in. Embarrassed to have barged in on a private conversation, I directed my question to Mundungus immediately.

"Cauldrons? I might 'ave 'un 'ere somewhere."

He dug through a bag he had sitting next to his chair. After a moment of searching, he pulled a small cauldron out and handed it to me.

Thanking him, I left quickly.

I returned triumphantly to the kitchen.

"I found one," I announced.

Snape nodded, but didn't look at me. He had pulled my potions book out and put it on the table, open to the correct page. However, he laid another piece of paper on top, with his illegible writing all over it. Silently, he laid out the different ingredients and knives.

Waiting, I looked at the paper. There was no title. What was he teaching me? Intrigued, I didn't say anything.

"Take this," Snape said, pointing to one of the many ingredients, "And chop it into 32 equal pieces, each 4 centimeters long."

I took the root-like ingredient and began to slice it, while Snape turned away with the cauldron and filled it with some water. Then he lit a small fire in the tall fireplace in the wall and put the cauldron over it. He walked back over to me, and watched unsmilingly as I finished my task.

"Now put them in the cauldron, one at a time," Snape ordered, reaching for a knife and slicing a different root into pieces so thin you could see right through them.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

He looked up. "They normally come pre-sliced, but I was unfortunate enough to not be able to purchase those."

"Oh," I said.

I moved across the room to the cauldron, and began dropping them in, one by one. Finishing that, I went back to the table to receive my next instruction. Snape was ready.

"Mix that," he pointed to a small vial of a purple liquid. "And this." He handed me a small bowl with a thin white powder in the bottom.

I started to turn away, when he grabbed my arm. "Make sure you mix it slowly, and very little at a time. It might be the last thing you do otherwise," he let go of my arm.

I shivered, laid the bowl on the table, and gingerly picked up the purple bottle. Uncorking it, I tipped it slightly and let a little dribble out and into the bowl. It made a hissing noise, and a little bit of steam came up. Relieved that nothing drastic happened, I continued to pour it on a little bit at a time. When I finished, Snape beckoned me over to the cauldron. I carefully carried the bowl over and handed it to him. He poured the now blue liquid into the deep cauldron. It let off a jet of steam, which made both of us flinch.

Three quarters of an hour later, as I finished the last ingredient, I felt a sense of triumph. I would be free to finish my other work as soon as we were done. That way I would be fully caught up, and wouldn't have any make-up work to do when I got back.

I took the last ingredient over to Snape, who had been incessantly stirring the cauldron for about fifteen minutes. He stopped only when I approached him. As I gave it over, his hand briefly touched mine. It was frigid. How could his hand be so cold if he had been standing by the fire and cauldron for the past five minutes? Then I took the job of stirring and realized that the potion was letting off icy jets of steam. Not hot, as I had supposed from the other side of the room.

Surprised, I blinked, and almost withdrew my hand. "Why is it so cold?" I asked.

"It was the only way it would have worked."

"What potion are we making?"

"A memory-restoration potion," he answered shortly, concentrating on adding the last part in.

"I've never heard of it."

"That's because it technically doesn't exist," he explained.

"Oh…" I said, confused.

Snape finished and turned to me, motioning for me to continue stirring. "I've been working on it for almost a year now. I have tested several variations in the months past, but after more research I discovered what I was doing wrong. In order for the potion to have an effect it has to be finished within two hours. Otherwise the ingredients don't mix properly."

"You couldn't finish it by yourself in the time limit?" I asked.

"No. I cannot be done," Snape said shortly. "You were the only option, and coincidentally one of the few I would trust to do it. Unlike your brother, you are a remarkable potion maker."

"Oh." I said, surprised at how much he had just spoken. "How are you going to test it?"

"On a memory patient at St. Mungo's."

"That makes sense. When?"

"I don't know. I'll freeze it and try it later."

"How much longer do I have to stir this?" I asked, my arm turning numb by the second.

"It should be done now," Snape said. He put out the fire, and began ladling the potion into various vials.

I stood and placed my now finished essay in a bag with the rest of my books. Then I left the room to get my trunk. I levitated it down the stairs to the entry, and set it where the troll's leg umbrella stand used to be. Mrs. Weasley had had it removed because it kept tripping people.

I re-entered the kitchen to see Snape placing the last of the vials into a box. I walked over and grabbed my school bag and followed him out of the kitchen.

"How are we going back?" I asked.

"Apparating to Hogsmeade." He said shortly. "You have taken the test haven't you?"

"Oh. Yes. Last summer."

Nodding he quickly grabbed the handle of my trunk and disapparated.

"I'M LEAVING!" I shouted. "BYE!"

I heard several people yell a farewell as I disappeared.

The gates were open to Hogwarts from Hogsmeade as I apparated. I saw Snape running up the path, wand in hand, and robe billowing behind him. I didn't know what was going on for a second, but when I saw lights and heard the screaming I figured it out. I tore after Snape, and entered the Great Hall panting.

Students of all ages were running around, and Death Eaters were among them. Many of the students lay on the ground unmoving or severely wounded. I dodged a jet of light heading my way, and ran down the stairs, cursing the Death Eater who had thrown it. He fell to the ground hard, his body rigid. The full body-bind was one of my favorites.

I cursed a few more, only receiving a minor burn on my leg. I quickly hid behind a statue to catch my breath when I saw him. Colin.

He was cursing a twitching Death Eater on the ground. Another one was coming behind him. He raised his wand.

I stepped out to warn him. "COLIN!" I screamed, trying desperately to get to him, but in all the chaos it was nearly impossible.

He looked over, and then up, but it was too late, the death eater had already thrown the spell and it was impossible to stop it. The green jet of light hit Colin full in the back, and he crumpled to the ground.

I quickly ran over and dropped to ground ungracefully next to him. He lay there unmoving. He was dead. I was too late! There was nothing I could ever do. He was gone.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed, sobbing. "NOOOOO!"

I stood up, tears coursing down my cheeks. I looked around desperately for his killer. There he was, helping his comrade up. Hatred burned in me, as I raised my wand. I felt a violent need to kill him. I pointed my wand at him, my hand shaking in rage.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" I screamed, waving my wand in a violent motion.

The same green light shot at him, hitting him with such a force I didn't know I could ever possess. He fell to the ground. I was filled with madness. Mercilessly, I sadistically cursed every Death Eater I could. My sanity had escaped me. I had forgotten everything, and only the thought of Colin's murder remained.

I sat up, rubbing my head. One of the Death Eaters had stunned me. The room was filled with teachers and students tending to the wounded. They were taking the dead into another room.

Colin!

I scrambled to my feet and almost fell down. I regained my balance and searched wildly for him. There he was – not too far from me. They hadn't gotten to him yet.

I ran over and dropped to my knees next to him. His face had a startled expression on it. His mouth was open. I closed it with a shaking hand and leaned over and kissed the corner of his mouth. Then I crumpled and buried my face in his chest and cried.

A hand touched my shoulder and I slowly sat up. McGonagall knelt next to me.

"Ginny," she said kindly, "we need to take him now." She motioned behind her.

I let Snape pull me to my feet and lead me away. I didn't even know exactly what was happening. He sat me down in a chair, and went to help Professor McGonagall.

Hermione approached me, her face was white, and she had tears on her face.

"Ginny," she said, her voice cracking, "it's Ron."

I snapped out of my trance at his name.

Hermione pointed across the room. Harry was bent over an unmoving figure with red hair. It was Ron, and he was dead.

dude, i wasn't happy to kill colin, but it had to be done - i mean, otherwise no one would read my story if he didn't die! SO i did what YOU want (kill colin to get harry into the picture) you do what I WANT! (cough review cough)

omgosh... maybe i can get 75 (i have 61). i think that if EVERYONE who reads this reviews i could get that many or more... I absolutely LOVE reviews..and i've made my story so that it accepts reviews from NON-MEMBERS! ok? there's nothing stopping you!

luv ya all,

slytherinphoenix7