Major jump in time (Nine years) Let's cut to the chase! Like always, I'll try to smooth things out. Note that the Harry Potter games are not considered in this story (No secret vaults in Hogwarts). I can't believe I wrote 300 000 words before Harry Potter showed his face at school! Hehe. It will follow the books, but modifications along the way to fit my characters, but we will see how it goes. Enjoy. Here's Chapter 70! AwooO!
"Some of the best lessons are learned from past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom of the future."
The purpose Chapter 70 Harry Potter
Hogwarts, Headmaster's office, July 14th, 1991
''You want me to what?'' Asked Ruma.
''To be the History of magic teacher.'' Repeated Dumbledore. ''I need your classroom and the rooms below it to protect the philosopher's stone. Professor Binns does not mind roaming the school like other ghosts.'' Said Dumbledore casually.
Ruma blinked several times.
''What? What the h… Flamel's stone? Does this have anything to do with Voldemort? Corban did tell me he has finally heard traces of rumours in Albania.'' Said Ruma.
''The stone is one of many ways that he could come back, and if he found enough strength in the last years to move, it is going to be the first thing he is going to go after.'' Said Dumbledore.
Ruma grinded her teeth.
''You don't plan on actually letting him get it, do you? You want him to fail? You do know what my nation wants, Headmaster?'' Asked Ruma. ''Does Flamel knows it could be bring back Seth, too?''
''I can't hide anything from Nicholas. He wished several times he could have spoken with Seth before he was gone. There is still a possibility that the stone needs to get destroyed depending on what happens this year.'' Said Dumbledore.
''My godson is starting school in September. By placing the stone in the school and trying to draw out Voldemort, you are bringing danger here. You are also placing a very conflicting situation towards what I should be doing.'' Said Ruma.
Dumbledore sighed and readjusted in his seat as Fumseck let out a soft chirp.
''I know I am asking too much of you, Ruma. I am asking you to wait a little more. I fear Voldemort's return will happen one way or another, and I want to have the least possible victims in the process… you are aware this is also the time Harry Potter is beginning school in September too?'' Said Dumbledore.
Ruma opened and closed her mouth, then crossed her arms.
''That boy… is not even aware of magic yet. You want to draw out Voldemort in here? With the boy in even bigger danger than he should for a first year? What's going to happen with Magical Defense class anyway?'' Asked Ruma.
''Quirrell has come back from his vacation. He was the muggle studies professor, but I found another to replace him already… and I thought about giving him the Defense Against The Dark Arts class.'' Said Dumbledore.
''Back with the jinx now? You really want next year to be something.'' Said Ruma as she stood up. She made her way towards the exit but stopped before the door. ''I will not refuse any students that seek me out for defensive magic and be aware that I will not follow Binns's ridiculous agenda.'' She added before leaving.
Dumbledore chuckled.
''I would not expect any less from you, dear Ruma.'' Said Albus to himself.
OoOoO
Hogwarts, September 1st, 1991
The garlic smell coming from Quirrell's turban was nauseating. He sat on Severus's left side while she was at his right, and he would not stop stuttering, talking about his adventures that seemed to have traumatised him. He even said he placed garlic in his turban because he is afraid of vampires.
''You are afraid of everyone you mean. That garlic smell will repulse everyone, Quirrell. Clearly, you don't know anything about vampires.'' Sneered Ruma as first year students were making their way in front to get sorted.
''I-I d-don't want-t v-vampires to come a-after me again.'' Stuttered Quirrell.
''There's no vampires in Albania.'' Replied Ruma. ''And vampires don't chase after people, unless you did something.'' She sneered.
Unless Quirrell had encountered Corban somehow while he was investigating. He might not have recognised him too if he was cloaked… or angry. Severus placed a gentle hand on hers, bringing her to stop arguing with Quirrell. She sighed, resigned, then watched as the students began to be called to the sorting hat. Soon enough, McGonagall called her godson's name.
''Regulus Black.'' Called Minerva.
The little black-haired boy, the spitting perfect replica of his father, smiled and gladly went to sit on the stool. The sorting hat took a minute before shouting.
''Slytherin!'' Yelled the hat and Regulus happily went to the Snake's table where they cheered for him.
A little bit after, the boy's name was called, and the room went into whispers. She wondered what the hat had been telling him for a few minutes now, before he was finally placed in Gryffindor, where the cheers were loud.
''Just like his insufferable father.'' Whispered Severus so low but Ruma had heard him.
''He's just a kid, Sev. He does not even know his parents. He does not seem to have live such a nice childhood; can't you see how skinny he is?'' Said Ruma quietly.
Severus made a grunt in answer.
The sorting was almost done, where she saw a young Malfoy get sorted into Slytherin too, and again, another Weasley in Gryffindor, before the ceremony was done with Zabini. The Headmaster stood up and mentioned the rules of the school, but also that if any students went to the third floor where her classroom used to be, they would face a painful death and that it was forbidden. This caused confusion among all students who had classes with Ruma the years prior.
''This might cause confusion, but changes has been made. There will no longer be Magical Defense class.'' Began Dumbledore and boos were heard from every table.
''You can't be serious! We never had a teacher like her!'' Said Percy Weasley while others agreed with him.
Ruma blushed and giggled.
''Thank you, Mr. Weasley. But this decision was made so that Professor Quirrell takes Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and Mrs. Vulken takes History of Magic, replacing our professor Binns. She has mentioned she will not refuse any inquiry about her previous classes. Now, time to eat!'' Declared the Headmaster and the feast appeared on all tables.
''Stop that giggling.'' Said Severus.
''Oh, but I know you are just jealous. Besides, History of Magic might just kill me this year, so… no more jealousy anyway.'' Said Ruma as she placed a handful of vegetable rice on her plate.
''I don't need recognition for my class. There's no one better than me.'' Replied Severus coldly.
''Yes, yes. But you also know my runes make your potions better too, just like the one we used last night, hm?'' Said Ruma with a mischievous smile.
''Shush!'' Replied Severus.
They had made a potion where any sort of pain is instead pleasurable, but the potion itself had to be used within an hour, and the effects lasted only for a dozen minutes. It could have been a discovery if it could last longer, since any victims under the cruciatus would feel something else entirely, as well as being used for war situations.
Severus had used Ruma's dagger, the one without curses on, on her body several times until she had used all the potion. Only after she had revealed the duration of the potion's effect had Severus felt bad, since they had been having sexual intercourse for two hours. She had not told him it was the first time she had actually felt pleasure rivaling with her time with Gellert, even with the pain. She had seen in his eyes how much he had loved being in control, like he always had during their interactions, one of the very dark side of Severus.
After the feast, he had gone to speak to the Slytherins, since he was the Head of his house, and her eyes followed his cloak flying behind him and disappearing along with the Snakes. She sighed and went to her room, since the next day she already had the fifth years in the morning and first years in the afternoon.
OoOoO
History Of Magic class, first floor, September 2nd, 1991
Ruma looked by the window as she waited for the first years to come and take seats. The students from fifth year had been disappointed they would not have her Magical Defense classes anymore but had been surprised when she integrated magic and runes in History instead. She brought forth live action and projections as she told them about the four founders and what had happened to them in an interactive way and when she had asked questions at the end of the period, everyone had been able to answer something, and she had given points profusely. There was no history of magic in sixth and seventh year and knew too well the contents Binns gave covered barely anything else than goblin and giant wars.
''Ruma! Erm, I mean, Professor… hi.'' Said Regulus's voice behind her as he sat closest in front.
She turned and greeted him too, seeing he was joined by his friend Blaise Zabini. As he grew up, Callum thought he ought to have some friends, and since he still held a grudge on the Malfoys, he had preferred his wife's family, the Zabinis. They still got to meet at certain times and Regulus had also been acquainted into other pureblood families, like Crabbe, Goyle, Greengrass, Parkinson and at times where Draco Malfoy had gone to see his own godfather, Severus, Ruma had also been there with Regulus and where the boys had played together.
It was not without surprise that Draco, Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe joined the seats behind Regulus. All those children of people she had gone to school with. She had a sudden thought that Regulus could have been her own son, that she had always wanted children, but instead had been teaching them for so many years now. She eyed the new students that did not know her, like the boy, Harry Potter, who had already made friends with a Weasley. It felt like yesterday when she had grabbed Harry in her arms, reassuring him after his parent's deaths.
She understood Severus's hatred because he did look just like James, and had to have Lily's eyes, and she made her best to remind him that she was also there for him. When they all settled in their seats, she waved her wand at the chalkboard, writing her name.
''Hello students, my name is Ruma Vulken, but you may also hear from others that one of my last name is Black, and before bad rumours reach your ears, Regulus is not my son, but my godson. He will not be treated any differently because of that, and he knows it.'' Said Ruma as she stared at him.
''Yes, madam.'' Gulped Regulus.
''You may also wonder about my last name, Vulken. I was born on Vulken's isle, where my family served the vampires there, but I was the only witch born there. None of you ever encountered vampires before I am sure, until you went to Gringotts for the first time, where I know none of you would have recognized him. Or the few of you who have gone to the ministry may have seen one or two.'' Said Ruma.
''What? Gringotts? There is a vampire at Gringotts?'' Asked a brown-haired student.
''Your name is?'' Asked Ruma.
''Sorry madam, Seamus Finnigan.'' Answered the boy.
''Well, Seamus, yes, and his name is William Vulken. Every vampire has the family name Vulken, and every servant born and raised on the isle has the name Vulken.'' Explained Ruma.
''So… you are a vampire servant?'' Asked Finnigan.
The Slytherins looked at Seamus with a condescending look, for they all knew who she was because of their parents.
''It's alright, Slytherin.'' She told them before addressing the Gryffindor. ''I should have been, Seamus, but I was born a witch, and it made the whole difference.''
''She's the vampire Queen, freaking idiot, look at her crown.'' Said Regulus.
''One point from Slytherin for name-calling.'' She sighed, but now the Gryffindors were looking at her wide-eyed. ''I am the vampire Queen, but you will all learn that in the republished vampire book you all purchased recently. I am no vampire, but this was simply to explain my family names so that you hear it from me, and not from rumours. Now, I will call your names, so I can place a face on it.'' Said Ruma.
She called the names she did not know, but the ones she did, she whispered it and passed to the next.
''Harry Potter.'' She said, knowing who he was, but still wanted to connect visually with the boy.
He placed his hand up as he said 'Here'. The other students giggled, and she smiled, knowing his gesture had been of habit of being in a muggle school, and not where he was already known everywhere. He placed back his hand down, knowing what he had done.
''It's okay, Harry. There's no shame into raising your hand, simply because everyone in the wizarding world knows who you are. I welcome you in my class like any other students, and your fame does not change a thing for me.'' Said Ruma.
She finished her list and waved her wand again at the board where she wrote History of Magic.
''Now, does anyone know when magic started?'' Asked Ruma.
Only one raised her hand.
''Yes, Miss Granger?'' Said Ruma, already remembering her name from the list.
''Magic in itself has always existed, but a lot of witch hunt were done and having such powers was frowned upon, resulting into an early hiding of the wizarding world. There are no recorded dates, but drawings dating from early as a thousand years before Christ has been seen. Diverse magic exists around the world where some don't even need a wand.'' Said Hermione.
''Good. Five points to Gryffindor. Like she said, magic has been there for a very long time, but we soon had to hide because muggles do not, and still don't, tolerate anything out of the ordinary.'' Said Ruma.
''But there are exceptions, right? Some muggles can be aware…'' Mumbled Hermione.
''Of course, and there are other things they should be aware of in those cases, but that is not something I will discuss today.'' Said Ruma.
She did not want to tell them her views about muggles, especially so young, and Hermione was a muggleborn, for that she quickly deduced with her family name, and she was probably of the lucky ones whose parents had been tolerant towards her being a witch. She continued her class by speaking about the first communities of wizards and witches around the world where they focused on specific places to gather and over the years, took preferences and grew larger in number, especially in Britain, and secondly, in the east of the United States.
The bell rang to end classes and as her students left the classroom, a few six and seven-years students came barging in, talking at the same time. She placed her hands up so they would calm down.
''What's wrong?'' She asked.
''That defense teacher!''
''Quirrell!''
''It's ridiculous! We won't learn anything with that idiot!''
''Woh! No name-calling, even if it's true. The Headmaster said it at the feast… if you need anything in defense, I will help you, but I will not do the work for you. Find a subject, a spell, anything you would want more information on, and I will gladly spend time in the evenings, if it's educational for your NEWTS. You have very competent teachers for other subjects, now shoo!'' Said Ruma.
''Thanks, Professor!'' They said in unison before scurrying away.
OoOoO
October 31st, 1991, Dining hall
Ruma stared at the big bowl of pumpkin soup, her thoughts on that day, ten years ago now, that Seth was gone. Ten years that Gellert lived with Gaspard, in which he refused to see her for two years now. Gaspard had seemed… disconnected last time she saw him. He told her Gellert fed from him once every week, as if only to survive, and would not want to speak with him. Corban was restless ever since she had told him about the stone hidden at Hogwarts to draw out Voldemort, but mad that Dumbledore did not want that tactic to be used to revive him just yet. Her thoughts got interrupted by Quirrell bursting through the main doors and screaming about a troll roaming in the dungeons before fainting in the middle of the room.
''Stupid git, I'm sure he was the one to let him in.'' Whispered Severus beside her.
The students were yelling but Dumbledore calmed them by yelling louder and telling the prefects to escort the students back to their dormitories while the teachers followed him. She grabbed Severus's arm.
''You go check for that dog, and I'll escort the Slytherins since the troll might be near their dorms if he hasn't move.'' Said Ruma.
Severus nodded and went by the door behind them while she called for the Slytherin prefects to wait for her. When they arrived in the dungeons, there was no troll, and she made the students go inside their common room. Once the door closed, she ran to the third floor. As she arrived there, she saw Severus coming out of the room she used to hold her classes, and he was cursing profusely. Quirrell was just outside and was shaking, looking out of breath as if he had run.
''Quirrell, you better have a good explanation of your presence here.'' Sneered Ruma.
''I-I was j-just wondering if-if someone w-wanted to s-steal the s-stone!'' Stuttered Quirrell.
''Like yourself?'' Said Snape dryly.
''N-NO!'' Answered Quirrell.
''Come on, let's find that troll.'' Said Ruma urgently.
Severus pushed Quirrell in front of him and they followed Ruma. McGonagall joined them on their way, and they followed the sound of something big falling to the ground. Minerva gasped as she saw the troll on the floor with Hermione, Ronald, and Harry beside it.
''Oh my goodness! Explain yourselves! Both of you!'' Breathed Minerva.
''It was my fault! I-I wanted to confront the troll myself because I had read about them and if Harry and Ron wouldn't have come to help me, I'd probably be dead…'' Said Hermione.
Bullshit.
''Be that as it may, it was an extremely foolish thing to do. I expected more rational behavior and am very disappointed in you.'' Said Minerva.
Ruma looked at Harry who was looking at Severus's leg, who, in his turn, hid his injury with his cloak. She was suddenly wondering what Harry would think of the situation, and as Minerva was now giving points to him and Ron, she approached Severus and whispered in his ear.
''Come, I'll heal that for you.'' Whispered Ruma.
Severus scowled at the boy, then followed her with difficulty all the way to her room. Snape laid down on her sofa. She cleaned the area then looked at how the injury was made.
''That dog grabbed you fiercely. There's two puncture wounds and it went to your muscle. I'll heal that fine, but you might feel sore and limp for a few days.'' Said Ruma before waving her wand over his leg.
Severus winced as the muscle underneath the skin mended, then new blood vessels appeared before the skin closed afterwards, leaving the leg without any apparent damage. Satisfied, she placed back her wand in her wand holster, and Severus sat down on the sofa.
''Thank you.'' Said Severus quietly.
Ruma stood up to place back her chair to her small worktable.
''So, you bitterly regret Lily's death? You really think an eleven-years old, raised by muggles, would understand what you first said to him using wizarding names and literature?'' Said Ruma.
''Who told you that?'' Asked Severus.
''Regulus, of course. You know he tells me everything.'' Said Ruma.
''Tsk. Does he tell you how bad he is at potions?'' Replied Severus.
''Oh, he's not… he told me Blaise omitted a step and it ruined their potion.'' Said Ruma.
''You sure he's in the right house, blabbering as much?'' Said Severus and Ruma chuckled.
''He did not mean to blame, but I gave Blaise my highliner so he can mark the steps in his book and the color disappears after twenty-four hours. I'm sure you noticed a difference after that.'' Said Ruma.
Severus made a grunt, then stood up, placing his weight on his uninjured leg. Ruma went to him and gave him a hug, placing her head on his torso.
''Don't do that again, would you?'' Said Ruma quietly, not wanting him to get hurt again by the Cerberus.
He caressed her hair and promised her he would be careful.
OoOoO
Saturday November 9th, 1991
Quidditch. She never was interested by Quidditch, but this one was a promise to be something special since the youngest seeker in a century was playing his first match, and it had to be Harry Potter. She remembered how his father had been a great seeker but had loved to brag about it. Thinking of James made her think of Sirius who was still in Azkaban, then about Peter who had disappeared without a trace. Corban had told her he thinks Peter had taken Voldemort's wand before he disapparated from the Potter's cottage. Peter might be just the kind of person to wait that Voldemort comes back to show himself again.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Severus who began to chant a countercurse. She looked around trying to see the reason when she saw Harry suspended in the air, holding unto his broom who kept moving like crazy. Someone was trying to kill Harry! She began to imitate Severus and chanted the same countercurse. The person trying to kill Harry was very powerful, and, suddenly, a fire appeared at their feet which made them both jump, startled, and knocked several people around them. She quickly cast water over the fire, then a drying spell, and mumbled excuses.
''He's fine.'' Said Severus.
She looked at the field again, seeing Harry was now chasing the snitch.
''Where did that fire come from? Someone spelled it!'' Said Ruma.
''HARRY CATCHES THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS!'' Yelled Lee Jordan.
''Well, good for him. First match and he wins.'' Said Ruma.
''Git.'' Mumbled Severus and Ruma chuckled.
''I feel like taking some air under my wings. I'll see you later, Sev.'' Said Ruma. ''Maybe you should go tell Albus about what just happened.''
She left the Quidditch pitch and when no one was around, she morphed into her Animagus form and flew around for a very long while. When the sun was going down, she stopped by Hagrid's hut, and knocked on his door, back as a human. Hagrid opened his door and greeted Ruma.
''Hey Hagrid. Students not too hard on you?'' Said Ruma as she sat in a giant sofa.
Over the years as a teacher, she had grown attached to several teachers, but also with Hagrid with whom she had shared many secrets about the times she was a student. The only friends she had before were either dead or in New York, but she did have several dinner with the Malfoys, the Yaxleys because of Regulus, and other formal dinners just because she was the vampire Queen. Every summer in the last ten years, she went to New York and took care of watching over the business Gellert had made. She had obviously come to terms with the darker aspect of the business to which Steven and Galea assured her it was taken care of as humanly as possible, but she somehow knew they were lying and let it go.
''Can't complain. Ya want a cup o' tea?'' Asked Hagrid.
''Please.'' Answered Ruma.
''Ya know, the three lil' Gryffindors thinks Snape placed a curse on Harry's broom earlier. They even think he wants to steal whatever Fluffy's guarding.'' Said Hagrid.
''Do they know it's the stone? And that's ridiculous, Severus was trying to do the countercurse in which I even helped him before someone spelled a fire on his cloak.'' Said Ruma.
''Well, that's what I thought both of ye would do… and no, not yet.'' Answered Hagrid as he served hot tea in a small cup.
''Not yet… they are that snoopy? They should not be worried about something like that. If you could tell them, it's dangerous if they search anymore information about it… anyway.'' Said Ruma before sipping on her tea.
''Snoopy, eh? Don't that make ye remember of somethin'?'' Asked Hagrid.
''Pft, it was for my own survival in that snake pit that I had to know everything,'' Said Ruma.
They chatted about the Quidditch a little, then her classes, and after she finished her tea, she stood up.
''Don't give them more information, Hagrid, and if you get in trouble, seek me out.'' Said Ruma.
Hagrid nodded and she left the hut. True to her habits, she went to the library. The few students that were there greeted her.
OoOoO
Hogwarts Library, January 3rd, 1992
Regulus had decided to go back to his grand-parents for the Christmas holidays, and for once, Ruma stayed at Hogwarts in case something happened concerning the stone. Again, she thought of Seth and knew that was his favorite time of the year and how Corban might just get drunk to try and forget his absence.
After the holidays, she spent nights at the library, sometimes hoping to find a book that Voldemort would have forgotten to remove about some reviving rituals. She had fallen asleep again, an open book in hand, in a corner of the library's restricted section, when she was woken by a scream, and a lantern falling on the floor and breaking.
''Lumos.'' Said Ruma and her light showed a surprised Harry with an invisibility cloak in his hands.
''Professor… I-I…'' Began Harry.
She remembered vaguely the marauders appearing out of nowhere at times, and if Harry had an invisibility cloak, then it could have been his father's before, then it could explain everything.
''Who's there?'' Asked Filch's voice.
Ruma sighed and rolled her eyes.
''Hide under your cloak but stay here.'' Ordered Ruma quietly.
Harry obeyed her promptly, putting his cloak back on. Ruma grabbed the broken lantern and went to the janitor.
''It's me, Argus, I dropped my lantern.'' Said Ruma.
''Oh, alright professor. Come, my love.'' Said Argus, talking to his cat and went out of the library.
Harry waited that the janitor goes out and removed his cloak again.
''Am I in trouble, Professor?'' Asked Harry.
Ruma repaired the lantern with her wand.
''Depends on your answer. What were you searching for in the restricted section?'' Asked Ruma.
Harry scratched his head, obviously looking for a way to go around the truth.
''Don't lie to me, Harry.'' Said Ruma.
''I… well, I was just wondering who Nicholas Flamel is, and we can't find any information about him.'' Said Harry.
Ruma closed her eyes briefly in defeat.
''Harry, I know why you want to know, and it is not for the good reasons. You are… a child and nothing, nothing should even push you towards why there is a three-headed dog guarding an object here. You would only place yourself in danger you should not be in. Severus getting hurt by it was not enough for you?'' Asked Ruma coldly.
''So, he did try to get pass that dog!'' Said Harry.
''You are not listening! Twenty points from Gryffindor for roaming at night, Mr. Potter. I should confiscate that cloak if I knew any better. Now, go to your dorm before I give you detention!'' Said Ruma.
''Yes, Professor.'' Answered Harry before placing his cloak over his head and leaving the library.
Ruma followed after him to go in her bed, but she saw Severus holding Quirrell by his clothes.
''You don't want me to be your enemy, Quirrell.'' Sneered Severus.
Ruma knew Quirrell was trying to steal the stone for Voldemort and wondered what he had done again to make Severus mad like that.
''What is he doing here at night anyway?'' Asked Ruma.
Severus and Quirrell looked at her and the potion master let go of Quirrell, pushing him hard against the stone wall.
''He was going back to his quarters, right, Quirrell?'' Said Severus coldly.
''Y-Yes.'' Mumbled Quirrell.
Severus's and Ruma's eyes followed Quirrell walking back to his room with a wobbly walk. When he was out of sight, Severus turned towards her.
''It's not your night, why are you up?'' Asked Severus. ''Fallen asleep in the library again?''
''Indeed, I have. Caught a Gryffindor though and removed twenty points.'' Said Ruma with a smile.
''Tsk, should have made him clean the trophy room too.'' Answered Severus.
''Maybe you are right but no matter how many punishment you give to students, they never learn.'' Said Ruma. ''I'm off to bed, you coming?''
''It's my night to watch.'' Answered Severus.
Ruma shrugged and passed beside him, not without passing a hand on his chest softly.
Author's note: A lot of Ruma's perspective! Reliving the books one after the other (But quicker). Hope you like it. Second part of first year in next chapter. Rawr.