Haunted Memories
-Chapter Nineteen-
The Orb of Recollections
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters within J.K Rowling's story.
Severus closed his eyes, trying to fend off the memories which threatened to invade his mind now that he had let down his mental wall. Each and everyone one of them was poisonous and wanted to push him off the edge. As he recounted his adventures as a muggle, they relentlessly filled him as dread. For though his years as a muggle were hard, Severus knew that he would have to face the magical community again and that was the hardest obstacle of all. Still weak from his last encounter in the burning house, he wrapped an arm around a broken fence post hoping that it would support part of his weight. Staring hard at his surroundings, Severus called out for his wand. Instantly, the familiar tugging of his magic lead him to the very spot that he had been found five years ago. Keeping close to the battered walls for support, he held out his hand and waited. Nothing happened. Frowning he closed his eyes and called out for his wand again. This time he felt a stronger tug at his magical core. Severus opened his eyes and spoke the words that came to his head. "Accio wand."
Instantly a wand flew from behind a pile of rubble towards Severus' waiting palm. Examining his wand, Severus felt a jolt of magic and knew that his wand was not damaged. At 12' long and slightly crooked at the handle, his wand now vibrated with energy. Severus smiled. His wand was quite unusual for it was made of Hawthorn wood, an unlucky wood indeed. Dark coffee brown and rigid to the touch, Severus wondered why Gregorovich had chosen such a wood for the making of his wand. However, Severus still remembered the first day that he had gone into the wand shop. He had tried Olivanders' but had found the man to be too much of a nuisance as he tried wand after wand with no luck. When finally, he gave up and traveled to Gregorovich's getting a custom wand from the gruff man. Severus had always been alone. No one came with him on his trip. However as he entered the shop, he remembered distinctly, feeling a attraction to the different woods around him. The Elder wood laid stately on a small black cushion, adorned with a royal purple sash. It called to him with a friendliness, urging him to touch him, but when he had tried one of the Elder wands, Severus knew that it would not do. Next came the Willow branch. It's call was less welcoming, too energetic for his liking and he put the wand down without another swish. But then Gregorovich presented him with another rare find. The Hawthorn. Oh how Severus' whole being vibrated in sync with the wood as he touched it's slender bark. Severus knew that the Hawthorn would be his there and then. It gave off a pleasant berry smell and Severus bathed in its fragrance as Gregorovich promised to finish the wand within two days. It had been hell for Severus to wait those two days. He was an underage wizard in an unfamiliar country. There was not much to do in those two days but wait for his wand to finally be finished --- but it was worth it. When he entered Gregorovich's on the appointed day, he found the wand waiting for him. 12' Hawthorn wood, quite rigid and a dragon heart-string core.
As Severus now touched his wand,examining every aspect of its being, he wanted nothing more than to go rest. He now felt complete but totally exhausted. With wand in hand, he decided to try apparating back to the vicinities of Hogwarts, hoping that no one would be at the school, as it was summer holidays.
Severus allowed the warmth from the room to envelope him. It has been a while since he has felt such warmth emanate from any fireplace. But it was strange to him just how warm he felt now. For even in the earlier years when his dungeons were lit with a fire, there was always a lingering dampness which would settle into his bones. But now...everything had changed he felt ever so warm! Allowing a small smile to creep towards his lips, he covered it by bowing his head and letting a curtain of dark black hair cover his face. Suddenly, looking downwards, Severus found his hand were grasping something warm and quite alive! Losening his grip, he was surprised to find Hermione Granger's small hands cradled by his own. Severus had been so intent on telling them his story that he did not realize what he was doing. Now he let his eyes wander up to the young woman's face, bracing himself for her criticism, her laughter, her cruelty. Instead, she just smiled as she reclaimed her hand and gently rubbed the circulation back into her fingers. Severus looked into the fireplace, wondering what she was thinking and whether or not she would eventually laugh at him for the incident. Slowly, he decided to show them the reason that he had come back to Hogwarts in the first place.
Hermione perked up at the end of the story and watched as Severus stood slowly up. That was when he was seen in Hogsmeade! The tall man walked slowly towards his desk, pointing his wand at the lowest drawers and concentrating hard as a bright light shot from his wand and enveloped the wooden furniture. Instantly, the drawer opened and in it, Hermione was surprised to see a small wooden trinket box rest in his palms. Heading towards the two woman, he silently settled back down on the coach and cradled the mass in his hands. Curiosity overtook Hermione as she watched him open the box and unfold the material carefully...ever so slowly.
"Professor...?"
Severus did not acknowledge her question. He instead continued his careful aministrations until a glowing white misty substance emerged from within the folds of the black cloth within the box. Next to Hermione, Minerva gasped audibly. "Severus...that can't be?"
The man looked deeply into the eyes of the elder woman, then nodded before reaching further into the box. Without hesitation, Minerva stood to come closer to the box, huddling very near to Snape. He immediately tensed at the invasion of his space but allowed her to take a closer look. Besides, Miss Granger had also sidled up to his side and was watching from over his shoulder. Gently, he lifted the pearly object into his hands and allowed them their first look at a small white orb. A bright pearly white light came from it's very center and a gentle humming emanated from it. Along the outer layer of the orb, a white misty substance continually flowed outwards into its surrounding environment. When Hermione reached forth to touch the mist, she felt a slight coldness surround her fingers before it became a gentle warmth. Hermione felt calmed by its light and the misty substance which now surrounded her fingers. She looked at the Headmistress who had also reached out towards the orb, but instead of calm, she seemed to be in great anguish. Hermione was alarmed by the tears which had developed in the elder woman's eyes.
"Minerva, are you alright? What's the matter?"
Hermione went forward to envelope the woman in a gentle hug. The elder woman buried her shoulder and stayed silent for a moment. Finally composing herself, Minerva stood up and looked at the two youngsters, who had never seen the Headmistress cry once in their life times. "Excuse me, Severus. I need to have a word with Albus."
Severus nodded. Pointing in the direction of the hallway, Severus said, "He's outside right now."
Minerva inclined her head for a moment longer before smiling at Hermione. "Make sure he explains to you what that orb is."
Walking out, Minerva made sure she had a good long chat with the portrait of the man that she missed dearly.
Severus watched as the elder woman walked outside and heard the beginnings of a conversation. Feeling someone's fingers brush past his, he immediately turned back towards Miss Granger and stared as she continued her endless grasp for the misty substance. Her brown curly hair was clasped into a tight bun at the nape of her neck and as her fingers moved after the mist, her eyes shone brightly, mesmerized by their movement. Severus saw the same look that she used to give him when he was teaching the class. Her eagerness to learn made her face glow.Stopping himself from staring at her he smirked and said,"Miss Granger, I would suggest you pay attention to what I'm about to say next."
Hermione was startled to hear Severus Snapes' voice so near her and pulled back from him. She blushed deeply when she realized that she had been breathing down his neck. "Yes Professor."
Severus closed his eyes for a moment and looked at Hermione. " I believe I am no longer under the employment of Hogwarts, and you are no longer a child. Therefore I am under the impression that I'm no longer your Professor."
Hermione frowned as she watched the man turn away from her. "Yes... Mr. Snape."
Snape scowled. He remembered when people would address his father the same way. "Miss Granger. This, " he pointed at the pearly orb in his hands, "...is the Orb of Recollections." He allowed Hermione to absorb that information before continuing on. "What it's purpose is..."
To his bewilderment, Hermione smiled and interrupted him. " The Orb of Recollection is a tool in which a high trained wizard is able to collect his memories, thoughts and if strong enough, the soul into the Orb. It is also rumored to possess a high amount of energy which allows such a wizard to hone his magic to help in casting. Much like the use of a wand but on a higher level."
Severus sneered and watched the young woman clasping her fingers together in a arch before looking towards him. He turned away from her gaze, "I should have known that you would know Miss Granger."
"Yes Prof-- Mister Snape, but I didn't know that it was this mesmerizing!"
Severus nodded. "Do you know why it is very important right now?"
Hermione shook her head. Looking up at the face of the dark man beside her, she felt his penetrating stare upon her own face as he voiced the words she never thought she'd hear. "This Orb holds Albus Dumbledore's very soul."
A/N: You guys! You're supposed to tell me when I have spelling mistakes or parts of the story was cut off! I didn't realize until I reread the story a DAY after I posted it. LOL. Thanks again everyone for your reviews.