CHAPTER FIVE:

ANOTHER USELESS CHAPTER

By the Goddess of Silence

Juliana Raven, alone in bed, shook with a cold sweat. The memories of her past haunted her, hanging over her mind like a looming monster, ready to swallow her whole. What was it about this school that made her shiver so? Was it the fact that he had once been there? Or was it merely getting in touch with the fact that her future might actually exist. Rolling to her side, her let herself go limp, moonlight sprinkling her cheek and tear drops tricking down their beams. Sleep overcame her, but rest never did.

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Harry Potter walked alone in the halls of Hogwarts, his cloak thrown over his shoulder and a grimace on his lips. In his hand he carried his wand. He was after Snape. He wouldn't kill the man yet; simply put a curse on him to make him speak the honest truth. The thought of the greasy son of a bitch spurting out his innermost thoughts and feelings made the young boy laugh. Of course, it would only last for a little while; he didn't think he could bear the results if Snape turned out to be a pink loving, teddy bear hugging, girly-man! At least he would have those five precious minutes to question the man about Dumbledore's death. And, with his handy dandy tape recorder, he would have proof for Professor McGonagall! Having Hermione as an endless resource for spells was a blast!

A light turned the corner, and Harry held his breath. As the carrier got close, a wicked grim formed on the student's face; it was Severus Snape.

Wand poised and ready to strike, Harry muttered the words that would seal Snape's fate and surely land him in Azkaban.

The lantern dropped to the floor as the spell struck, and Harry flipped on the tape recorder. Snape's eyes opened wide, and his mouth gaped like those of a fish. Without any prompting, he would begin to speak, Hermione had instructed Harry earlier.

"Juliana Raven has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen," the professor said in a monotone voice. Harry's mouth dropped. So, the prompting was necessary if you just wanted to hear random information!

Dropping his cloak, he looked into the cold eyes of the teacher. They were unblinking eyes, and unfocused. The spell had consumed him so he wouldn't remember anything that happened.

"You killed Dumbledore, didn't you," Harry said harshly, his words echoing through the empty halls. Snape's eyes fogged a bit. "Tell me you did."

"I cannot tell a lie," the man said, and Harry leaned in a bit, tape recorder still running. "I did not kill him. I love that man like a father. I look up to him. He is the good, whilst Voldemort is the bad. I am good, at heart."

This was not what Harry had expected!

"But we all saw you! We saw you destroy him!"

"I did not," the older man said, his voice rough and forced. "I would never harm the headmaster!"

"You did! You did, you good for nothing son of a-" Harry began to scream, but his words were interrupted as Minerva McGonagall in her nightclothes swept in upon the situation.

"Dare you put a spell on a professor, Harry Potter!" she scolded, a hand over Severus' mouth for fear of him telling the boy that Albus lived. "I know you are upset with him, but he was under a spell when he did it! Just as he is now! He's simply telling you what he did consciously!" Her hand slipped away.

"Juliana Raven has pretty eyes," the spellbound man said softly. McGonagall looked at him with a strange expression on her face.

"Truth spells are dangerous, Harry, because you might end up knowing something you didn't want to know. Especially the one you used," Minerva scolded. The black haired boy continued to stare at Snape with malice.

"Juliana Raven has the most luscious lips I have ever seen, and her skin is like porcelain. I should like to-" again Snape began to ramble, and Minerva clasped her hand tightly across his face.

"See, Harry? He's revealing his innermost desires," the teacher explained to Harry. "We're all lucky that Severus is a very controlled man," she added in a whisper. "This truth spell isn't a controlled one; even without you asking questions, he will continue to reveal the truth."

"It wears off, professor," Harry muttered.

"In time, yes, it does, but not soon enough for my liking," Minerva replied, her hand still across Snape's mouth. He murmured words that could hardly be deciphered. "I want you to go to bed, Harry, and erase that tape, alright?"

"I suppose."

"Yes, you will, Harry," Minerva replied harsher that time. "And I never want to catch you up in the middle of the night again. Hogwarts might be fairly safe, but the dorms are always safer than the hallways. Besides, I do not want you to hear anything else lovely Severus might say," she added the last part under her breath.

Harry turned away, looking back at the two figures. McGonagall wore a desperate expression, and Snape's eyes were faraway.

Once Harry was out of ear shot, Minerva removed her hand. Out of the man's mouth came tumbling all the things he longed to say.

"I really do enjoy potions; I was just being obstinate about the Defense job. Dumbledore and I used to have tea and play Wizard's Chess once a week in secret. I sleep with a teddy bear named Ressie because I miss my dog. Juliana Raven has enchanted me. I don't trust her, and neither do you, but I'm willing to put my life in her hands at the moment. I always admired James Potter. Voldemort loves to dance. I once turned myself into a puppy and went to all of the girls I could find because I was so lonely. I haven't been in love since I was eight. You have pretty eyes," he finished, looking up into McGonagall's eyes. She drew a shaky breath.

"Severus, you had better pray this spell wears off before tomorrow morning, or you'll be sunk," she muttered, leading him to his room.