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Chapter Ten
Night Terrors
Lily and I had been woken abruptly in the middle of the night by a squeaky house elf who was a little more then shocked to see that we were no fully clothed. Lily had screamed, pulling up the duvet to cover her bear breasts while I grunted in annoyance demanding to know what the bloody hell was so important that he had to be disturbed at two in the morning.
"Tippy is sorry Professor but Tippy was told by the Headmaster that it was urgent you meet him in his office."
"Fine. Leave!" I snapped and the small elf disappeared with a 'pop'.
"Sev, do you have any idea what might be going on." Lily asked as she pulled on her robe.
"No," I replied hastily dressing, "but it sure as hell better be important." I fumed. Lily and I had our quarters to ourselves for the night, her friend Mary, who I will admit I never cared for, offered to watch the kids so we could have some alone time. We would be heading back to our family home in a couple of days for the Christmas holidays and Mary would meet us there with the children. Naturally I took full advantage of our freedom and planned and executed a romantic night including Champaign, rose petals and hours of lovemaking.
"Do you want me to come," she offered, "perhaps I can help."
Normally I would tell her not to worry that I would handle it, but with the children gone, and I didn't want to leave her alone to worry.
"Yes, as brilliant as you are I'm sure you can help in whatever the Headmaster needs."
She grinned, happy to help in whatever way she could, then rushing to dress. Ten minuets later we were entering the Headmasters office. We were both quite surprised to see not only Dumbledore there but Potter, McGonagall and The-Boy-Who-lived as well.
"What's going on?" Lily asked turning first at the solemn expressions of her colleagues and then to Longbottom who looked as if he was ill.
"Severus," The Headmaster spoke, "There's no time. Voldemort has already begun to penetrated his mind."
For sometime Longbottom has been having dreams, nightmares, caused by the Dark Lord himself, who was slowly testing the waters to see how strong or weak his enemy's mind was. If The Dark Lord could control Longbttoms mind with out resistance, he could control Longbottom.
"You want me to begin Occlumency lessons now!?" I asked. While I understood the importance of the situation, the boy looked as if he could pass out at any moment. He was far to weak to withstand such intrusion into his mind especially after having in recently infiltrated by the Dark Lord.
"He is venerable, Severus. We must begin now."
"Albus, you know I'm not one to agree with Snape, but he has a point. I think Neville's been through enough for one night." Potter said placing a comforting hand on the boys shoulder.
"I understand your concern James, but if he falls back asleep with his mind in it's current state…
"How about this," Lily spoke up, taking a step closer to Longbottom. "We give him a nice cup of tea to help calm him down, see if we can get him something to eat and then a mild pepper up potion to keep him up through the night. Then Severus can show him some basics of occlmency, enough to keep his mind guarded when he sleeps."
"I think that sounds like a marvelous idea." Minerva spoke up for the first time, "What do you think Neville?"
The boy nodded weakly, "Yes, tea would be nice."
"Excellent," Lily then took the boy's hand helping him stand. She gave him a motherly smile and his hand a gentle squeeze. "Now how about we head back to mine and Professor Snape's quarters, we have a fire going so it will be quite warm and then we will get something in your stomach."
"O-okay."
Lily escorted the boy out of the Headmasters office, Minerva followed close behind.
Potter paused for a moment, his gaze shifting from the individuals leaving and then to the Headmaster. "I'm going to do a quick security check, then I'll check on how Arthurs doing."
Dumbledore simply nodded and Potter left the room.
"Arthur, as in Weasley?" I asked. The old wizard nodded and with a weary sigh ran a wrinkled hand over his tired eyes.
"What does Arthur Weasley have to do with Longbottoms mind being infiltrated by the Dark Lord?" I asked curious as to the connection, if there was one at all.
"Neville had a vision of Arthur, who is on guard at the Ministry, being attacked by Voldemorts snake."
"Nagini?"
He nodded, continuing, he said, "Yes, thankfully we got to him in time. The vision was both a blessing and a curse it would seem."
I would indeed.
I knew the Prophecy, or at least part of it, I was the one who had overheard it and relayed it to my Master in the first place. I knew that he was after it and I knew the Order had set up guards to watch over it. The Dark Lord had asked me for a rotation of the guards, wanting to know who was watching over it and on what days and times hoping to fish out the weakest of those assigned and in so getting a better idea of when to put his plan into motion. What his plan was exactly I was unsure of, though it was become more and more obvious that it somehow involved Neville Longbottom.
I had told The Dark Lord that Dumbledore did not have a fixed list but decided day by day who to place on guard duty, which was true.
"Severus," Albus said moving to sit being his desk, "Please don't let Lily mother Neville too long. I know she means well but… time is off the essence."
"Of course Headmaster."
I understood where he was coming from, of course, and while Neville was The-Boy-Who-Lived, and apparently had an obligation to rid the world of a megalomaniac, he was still a child. A child like Rose and Harry.
"I'm assuming the boy's father has been notified."
I know I sure as hell would have wanted to be informed if my boy has having The Dark Lord implant visions into his mind while he sleeps.
"I will tell him in the morning. No need to wake him."
While I did not agree with his decision in the slightest I made no comment but instead turned and left his office.
Returning to my rooms I found my wife and Neville on the sofa having tea and cucumber sandwiches and talking softly. I gave then another ten or so minuets before finally instructing the boy on the basics of blocking his mind.
XXX
A/N: Short but sweet. Up next Lily has a surprise for Sev.
