BedtimeStory- Hah! I have you now! (tries pitiful best at villainous laughter and now requires throat lozenge and a lie down) Thank you!
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Discovering the Hidden Heart
Part Nine
Friend of My Enemy
When Hermione opened her eyes she was staring at the high vaulted ceiling of the infirmary. She turned her head. Madame Pomfrey, Minerva, and Snape were all standing there staring at her. Madame Pomfrey looked nervous. Minerva looked worried. Snape displayed no expression what so ever. Gods! She knew what ever they had to tell her that it was going to be terrible.
"How long have I been here?"
"Today is Thursday," said Madame Pomfrey. "Do you remember what day Professor Snape brought you here?"
"Tuesday. What's wrong with me, Madame Pomfrey?"
Poppy and Minerva exchanged a look. Neither of them spoke. Poppy's lips pressed into a thin line as though sealing in words she did not wish to say. Hermione waited.
"Madame Pomfrey?"
Madame Pomfrey glanced at her fleetingly but did not meet her eyes.
"Professor Snape?"
"You have contracted a magical parasite."
"Now, it's not necessarily a parasite-" said Pomfrey to Snape.
"It bloody well is for her!"
The amount of his venom in his voice and perhaps his swearing visibly startled Pomfrey already looking nervous enough to jump out of her skin.
"Such language, Professor!" said McGonagall
"Minerva, Miss Granger has heard worse."
"Not from you I hope!"
"So Professor Snape, you were telling me about my magical parasite?"
"Understand that at this point everything is conjecture. I theorize that Lucius Malfoy was the previous host. Malfoy's blood after his death mixed with your blood. This gave the parasite an opportunity to transfer itself from a dead host to you, a living healthy one. It could not continue to survive had it remained in Malfoy."
"What does it do?"
"It feeds off certain emotions."
"Oh. That explains some things."
Snape leaned in with his fists on her bed. She had the mad idea that he was about to crawl on top of her. He stopped short of that so that his nose was nearly touching hers.
"HOW LONG?"
"Professor Snape!" said Madame Pomfrey
"Severus, do calm down. It does no good to shout at the poor child," said Minerva. Snape took no notice.
"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AWARE OF SYMPTOMS?"
"Out! I will not have you shouting at my patients! Out of my infirmary right now, Professor Snape!" said Madame Pomfrey.
Snape did not budge from the spot.
"No! He's the only one answering my questions! If Professor Snape is leaving you can bet that I'm following him down to the dungeons!"
"Best Professor Snape stays then I'd say Poppy. Can't have Miss Granger traipsing off down to the dungeons in what she's wearing."
For the first time Hermione took notice of what she was wearing. It was the low cut, lacy, wouldn't-get-caught-dead-in baby doll nightie that the Patil twins had given her for her birthday last year. Gods, it was at the bottom of her drawer! The House Elves truly must despise her! She tried to look nonchalant or at least a bit chilly pulling the covers up over her shoulders.
"I protest!" said Pomfrey.
"Oh Poppy, no one else is in here. We're the only ones who can hear Professor Snape's bellowing."
"Hmmph, I for one refuse to listen to any more of it! I will be in my office. Never.. born days.. not if Albus Dumble-" Poppy's office door closed off the rest of her rant.
"I thought it was all psychological, Professor. I didn't see any point to getting the scrapes on my hands looked at when Seamus and Blaise and all the rest of the injured- what does it matter? We know now."
"We could have gotten it out of you, you stupid girl! Last week, I may have been able to dislodge it safely!"
"Is it going to kill me?"
Snape's anger seemed to fade.
"No."
"Then I'm missing the big picture, Professor."
"If you were a Death Eater you might consider that -thing- in you a symbiote. It devours certain emotions and in return excretes raw magic into you.
"Severus-"
"It does!"
"Perhaps, but surely you could phrase it differently."
"Headmistress, I don't care how he phrases it. I need this information. Is there any reason I have to stay here?"
"No. Take that wretched gown off and come with me."
"Poppy hasn't released her!"
"There is nothing Poppy can do for her. Miss Granger, you can not conceive children."
"Severus!"
"She needs to know, Minerva."
"What else, Professor?"
"You no longer experience a normal range of emotion. However, that thing in you has a will of it own. It has needs and will drive you to meet them. It may cause personality changes, odd cravings, and alterations in your behavior."
"What sort of emotions does it feed on?"
"Most of them, child. Anger is yours to keep," said Minerva.
"Hatred?"
"Yours," said Snape.
"Explains a bit about Lucius Malfoy. How long do you think he was infected?"
"How would I know? He would have had to contract it some time between Draco's conception and the battle. It is irrelevant."
"Probably. Why have I been so cold?"
"Too bad you were not the least bit curious about that last week!"
"Now Severus-"
"It's all right Headmistress. Professor Snape doesn't annoy me in the least any more. Maybe it's the parasite."
"Perhaps I should get one then," mumbled Minerva.
"Talking to you helped, Professor. That's why I thought the cold was psychological."
"Talking to Professor Snape helped?" said Minerva perking up as though her interest had peaked.
"Well, yes, before and after my lesson we talked. I wasn't cold then."
Minerva laughed like this was the best joke she'd heard in years. Snape glared at her.
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time, Severus," she said wiping tears away with her kerchief.
"What?"said Hermione trying to look puzzled though she knew very well what Minerva was suggesting. She suspected Minerva wouldn't find the whole thing so hilarious if her Gryffindor Head Girl told her just how correct that notion was.
"It seems that thing is leaching BTUs when you are not supplying it with sufficient emotion," said Snape.
"Doesn't -the thing- even have a name?"
"There are many names- manitou, water spirit, lake devil. All are far too general to be particularly useful. Name your guest Fido if you would like. It falls loosely under the category of Magical Creature and is native to the Great Lakes region of North America. These things do not infest us under normal circumstances. They can not use Muggles as hosts at all."
"So emotions and BTUs, is there anything else on which it can feed?"
"This is a rare condition, Miss Granger, for reasons I would be happy to discuss with you at length. There is next to no information in Mediwizardry. Before you, acquiring one was thought to be impossible without the use of Dark Magic. As far as you feeling cold, perhaps you are more effected than Malfoy since body heat tends to be more centralized in females. Having a higher percentage of body fat doesn't help since the drain comes from within. I can brew you potions to help alleviate that problem."
"May I help, sir?"
"Yes. You would do well to learn how to brew them for your future use."
"I'll inform Poppy that Professor Snape -has- released her patient to the dungeons then. Hermione, just because there is no known cure doesn't mean that I don't have every faith that you will find one. We shall help all we can." Minerva looked pointedly at Snape who rolled his eyes but nodded.
"Thank you Headmistress and you Professor."
"Dress. I will meet you in my office." Snape stalked out.
Hermione dressed quickly and left the infirmary before Minerva or Poppy emerged from Pomfrey's office. She made her way down to the dungeons expecting the worst. She doubted the small taste he'd given her in the infirmary compared to the full fury he'd unleash without Poppy and Minerva there to shield her. She knocked and entered when the wards admitted her. She found him in his chair staring thoughtfully into the fire.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I should have told you everything. I didn't recognize what I was experiencing as symptoms. I just thought-"
"It is not your fault, Miss Granger. Most likely your secrecy is the result of that thing protecting itself."
"Do you really believe that?"
"I believe it is responsible for all the changes in your mood and behavior since the battle. It befriended me not you. Perhaps it remembers me from when it was in Malfoy. I do hate to think our conversations are just continuations of my dealings with him."
"Professor-" what could she say that he would believe? I'll still fantasize about you when I get rid of my parasite? "Gods, this is awful. I don't have a shed of credibility so long as it's in me!"
"Do not worry, Miss Granger, if that is you to whom I am speaking. I have not shared my views on this aspect of your infestation with anyone in case I am wrong."
"Professor, this is me. I know it has been feeding on my emotions. I know it has been exerting influence. It is certainly not in control of me. It's not forcing me to be secretive. I don't feel like I need to keep secrets for you. Honestly, I would have told you everything if I'd known it was important. It just seemed so trivial that I felt cold after the war when so many other people died. I trust you. Why would it trust you? You want to help me get rid of it. So you see this is me. I'm not going to turn into a Death Eater."
"I do hope you are correct."
"If you weren't angry at me why were you shouting at me?"
"Temper tantrums were one of the first social tactics I ever learned and are still surprisingly effective. I needed Minerva to tell me to help you. She did. I needed Poppy to keep her nose out of it. She will. I am surprised she put up with nearly two days of me. She can not abide me at the best of times never mind when I go about swearing and making scenes. All that shouting afforded me a great deal of leeway in treating you. You should know that Minerva will not approve of any of my solutions to your problem. However, since it is your life Minerva will not be having a say."
"What are your solutions, Professor?"
"First, you need to know what I know and suspect about that thing you are hosting in your body. Sit." Hermione sat. Snape levitated a cup of tea to her. "By the way, I have your Kneazle in my rooms."
"Crookshanks?"
"Does it really answer to that?"
"Not usually. You have my Kneazle as a house guest, sir?"
"I believe I just said that."
"Why?"
"It does require feeding and a minimum of attention. Does it not? I did not know then how long you would be in the infirmary."
"That was kind of you sir. He would have been all right on his own. He can get out to hunt though he much prefers being lazy and getting looked after. Has he been a complete monster?"
"No, it was very well behaved."
"Are you certain you've got -my- Kneazle, sir?"
"According to the House Elves it was in your room."
"Why was I unconscious for two days?"
"Potions. We did not know what was wrong with you or whether you were contagious. Clearly you did not want to be in the infirmary. Sleep seemed the best way of keeping you there."
"Was it you who diagnosed my condition, Professor?"
"Yes. I recognized a second consciousness with Legilimency. At first I thought you might be pregnant. When Poppy ruled that out we ran further tests. Identifying the parasite required research. How familiar are you with Native American culture and its magical traditions?"
"Not very I'm afraid. I know every tribe had a unique language and it's own set of beliefs. At one time all native cultures incorporated Muggles and the occasional Wizards into one society. Magical traditions were integrated throughout the culture as a whole. This gave rise to the idea of religion. In most cultures, religion resulted in Priestly classes whether those in that class were Wizards, Muggles, or both. In Britain, much of Europe, and the Middle East, Wizards separated from Muggles out of self-preservation when Muggles took power over the Priestly classes and called for our extermination. In other societies, no such schism occurred. Even today, despite a long, brutal history of interference by a hostile government and Muggle missionaries many Native American tribes still embrace their magical traditions. The shaman, the wise woman, or the healer is just a member working toward the greater good of the tribe. Magic is something certain members of the tribe produce and is no more frightening or out of the ordinary than a quilt or an addendum to tribal law. Currently some of the best Wizarding Schools in America are located in casinos on land under tribal ownership."
"Do you know the story of Nanabozho and the Great Serpent?"
"No sir."
"Native Americans living in the Great Lakes region told of the Great Serpent, a spirit of great evil, in control of lesser spirit minions. They also told of Nanabozho a great wizard revered as a hero-god who battled the Great Serpent when it captured Nanabozho's cousin. It is a flood story. When the cousin is killed, Nanabozho mortally wounds the Great Serpent. Before dying, the Great Serpent and its minions cause a revenge flood in order to destroy Nanabozho and his people. The wizard and his people survive on rafts until the flood waters recede. They find the Great Serpent dead. However, its minions escape back into the lake. Before Europeans named it Lake Superior, it was known among other names such as Spirit Lake and the Lake of Devils. It also contains the world's largest known concentration of the magical parasite within you. I believe the spell used to attract the lake spirit was some variation on the Binding of the Dark Familiar. I know Voldemort used that spell on Nagini. I believe something like it was used to bind the basilisk. Potter did report that it would only respond to Riddle's commands in parseltongue."
"Did Voldemort know?"
"About Lucius? Perhaps, but I doubt it. Unbeknownst to Voldemort Lucius spent fortunes on Dark Arts objects which he hoarded away from his master. He searched high and low risking any spell he thought might increase his magic. He hoped to one day rival Voldemort or to succeed him. I am certain that Lucius jumped at the chance to contaminate himself with what you have in you now."
"You said the parasite falls loosely into the category of Magical Creature. Why?"
"Before it infected a host it was a non-corporeal entity, a sort of lake spirit. It was no more and no less a creature than Binns. Once in its first host, perhaps Malfoy perhaps not, it changed taking the physical manifestation of its spiritual form."
"Which is?"
"It now looks a lot like a red lamprey."
"Ugh. Sir, the strawberry reminded me of a snake's head. That's what triggered my reaction. I imagined blood on my hands and the battle-"
"Yes, I know, I viewed that memory. Perhaps the infestation is the source of your aversion. Part of your mind may have been aware of the parasite all along. Perhaps that part of your mind has been battling against it."
"How big is it?"
"Larger than you would ever imagine it could be and still growing."
"How could that get in through a tiny scrape on my hand?"
"It shed its physical form and grew a new one upon entering a new host."
"I want it out of me."
"As I said, I have some ideas about how to accomplish that. I think you should investigate the problem yourself and formulate your solutions to the problem independently. We may then collaborate."
"Like the paper, sir?"
"Yes, I read yours. I think you put too much emphasis on the original problem, the dating of the saying. On the whole it is very good, much better than the average claptrap published in journals."
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to reading yours."
"Use it as a break away from the problem at hand. There is no rush. The Wizarding World has done without that spell for a very long time. Your well-being is far more important. Minerva will excuse you from any work or classes you see fit to miss, providing she doesn't cancel them due to an unexpected sun beam." Snape summoned a piece of parchment and handed it to her. "These titles are all the books in my library containing useful information relating to your condition. The pages are listed. As you might notice the list is short. I urge you to conduct your own research in case I overlooked something. Use that list as your starting point. From now on my office wards will accept you. You are free to come and go as you please. You know how to access my library. You may take away any book you wish."
"I don't know what else to say. Thank you just doesn't cover it."
"Minerva has also consented to allow us the use of Dumbledore's private library for what ever good it will do. Come. I'll show you."
She followed Snape up to the second floor to the gargoyle guarding Minerva's office.
"Haggis."
The door opened revealing the staircase. Snape gestured for her to go ahead. When she started to walk up he caught her arm.
"Dumbledore's library."
Suddenly the steps reversed direction, winding downward into empty space. She followed Snape down into the darkness until finally the steps ended at a pale oak door in the shape of an ogee arch with a gold handle and brace work. Snape opened the door and held it for her. Inside was a daybed completely covered in hand-knitted pillows. A claw footed vase by the daybed held yarn of every color and knitting needles of various sizes. In the center of the room stood a stand with a single book on it. In the corner behind the door, loomed a sort of metal sculpture, with something that looked like a steam train whistle attached. The whistle part moved up and down making alternately huffing and wheezing sounds. To Hermione, the noisy monstrosity seemed like the last thing even Dumbledore would want in a library.
"What does that machine do?"
"Arcane knowledge is the one thing you can take with you. It seems Dumbledore absconded with that bit. I do not want to touch it to find out."
"Where are all the books?"
"There is only the one, I'm afraid."
"Don't tell me. It's a different book every time you come in here?"
"No it is always the same book until it is read. Then it changes. However, it seems to be a different book for everyone."
"Can I make a request?"
"You are most welcome to try."
Hermione walked up to the book. It was small and quite thin with a white leather cover embossed in a flowering vine pattern. There was no writing at all on the front or the binding. On the back in small gold lettering were the initials A.P.W.B. D.
"I want to read about magical parasites native to the Great Lakes region of North America."
Hermione opened the book to the title page. "Making Magic: A Squib's Guide To Ten Pin Bowling, oh for Merlin's sake!"
"It was worth a try. At least your book is in English. Mine was an insipid romance in Mermish. I read it using a translation spell from the pointless introduction to the last painful page of the epilogue on the off chance that there might have been something useful in it."
"There wasn't though was there."
"What do you think? My next book is a history of socks."
"Perhaps it is a trigger spell sir. Maybe you have to, I don't know, knit a pillow first before it gives you the book you want."
"A yarn for some yarn? Yes, I think you are definitely on to something there, Miss Granger. Do feel free to test that theory and let me know the results."
"There must be some trick to using the book. That or it's perfectly useless."
"If there was some trick to it Dumbledore took that secret with him too."
"Well the Room of Requirement is far better than this."
"That is where I came across the story of Nanabozho."
"Would you like to come with me?"
"Am I required?"
"Yes, if you'd like a change of scenery and are in the mood for some company."
"I suppose could write comments on second year essays every bit as scathing in there as I can in my office."
"Great! Then I'll meet you there, Professor."
"What shall I do about your Kneazle?"
"Just toss him out. Tell him to go home."
"Are you fond of it at all?"
"No. Yes. I don't know anymore. We've been horrid to each other. At first he was waking me up at all hours. Then I started tossing pillows at him. Now he hisses every time he sees me."
"This bud of domestic bliss blossomed after the battle; I take it?"
"Just in the last week or so."
"It is the thing in you to which your Kneazle is reacting."
"Do you think so?"
"Of course, Miss Granger. Kneazles are very clever creatures with senses far keener than ours. Perhaps it has been trying to alert you to your problem. I will continue to keep it for you since its presence is a distraction."
"I can't ask you to do that, sir."
"You did not ask me to do anything. I have captured a hostage that I may be willing to exchange for proper ransom."
"For my solution to my parasite problem for example?"
"That form of currency might be acceptable."
"You really do prefer the role of villain. Don't you, sir."
"It is your Kneazle's good fortune that I settle for menacing anti-hero."
"That's everyone's very good fortune, I'd say.
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