There you go, a little longer I think.
Sorry it's a little late, my cats (there are three) decided to play with my floppy disk (it was on my dresser) and knocked it into their water bowl. My dad tried in vain to dry it, but now it won't register in my machine so I lost this chapter and then next three so my updating may slow even slower than it already is.
For those of you who read my MASH story "Ah…Those Good Ol' Days" and "The Man Behind the Smile" than you are in for the same fate. The next three chapters were on that disk. So I will update as fast as I can, but no guarantees.
Chapter 16
Back to School
Two Weeks Later
Classes start tomorrow. They were moving back up to the Gryffindor tower today, needless to say, the next two weeks were interesting, but not nearly as entertaining as the weeks before. They were led back to the cliff with the unicorns every morning to fly. Hermione had mastered it perfectly, she often times would jump down with the unicorns and Snape. Harry could do it, but he didn't like it, he much preferred a solid broom underneath him. Ron on the other hand could do it, to a certain extent as long as he didn't look down or move his body in any way, shape, or form he was good. So his talent was more, standing suspended in the air out above a rapid river for hours with a horrified look.
………….
For Harry and Ron it felt great to be back in their old rooms in the Gryffindor tower, but the same couldn't be said for their once bushy-haired friend.
"Do you think Professor Snape would allow me to look at the books in Slytherin Common Room after the students arrive? Though that would be a bit odd considering I'm not a Slytherin," Hermione pondered, (Harry's assumption turned out to be wrong. It took Ron and Hermione at least another three days before they had that 'awkward apology')
"Well, Hermione, you might as well just ask Dumbledore if you can change houses to Slytherin, you love that bloody common room so much," Ron hissed.
"Ron, Hermione, please, I'm not in the mood, this report is do tomorrow and I have to finish it," Harry interrupted the soon to be full blown argument.
"I told you should have finished your homework earlier, I finished mine weeks ago," Hermione smirked triumphantly at their annoyed glares, "it's not my fault you procrastinate until the last minute," she then jumped up and stalked out without so much as a polite farewell.
…………………
She found herself wandering aimlessly, which….for someone who doesn't know Hermione, is something she doesn't do often. Her feet unintentionally carried her to the Slytherin Common Room Door, no harm in taking one last peak at those books, maybe Professor Snape will….loan…me some.
She entered the Common Room and was greeted by the sound of raised voices. She dove behind a near-by chair and peaked around the edge.
The source of the voices was coming from Professor Snape and another man that she didn't recognize. He was tall, about the Professor's height, maybe a little taller, he was strange looking. He was dressed in black pants with a water blue robe, and every time the man even made a move the cloak seemed to ripple, like the smooth surface of the lake being disturbed. His eyes were silver, wide-eyes, that were partially hidden by long blonde hair that kept falling in his face, every time he blinked they seemed to flash black before returning to their original silver color. The only word she could think to describe was fishy, a small pinched nose, long face, and…they couldn't be…yet, hidden behind his ears (that were very small) there looked to be closed up gills, as if he ate gillyweed and the effects had yet to wear off.
"I'm not going back," Severus was hissing furiously.
"Ashitaka…or is it Severus now, have you forgotten who you are? You can't just abandon us," the Fish (as Hermione had began referring him) snapped. His voice was a soft monotone; it had a watery sound to it, almost like a lisp, but not quite that severe a sound.
"You and your people are no longer my responsibility," Snape turned as if he was about to leave.
"Me and MY people, listen to you Ash, you make it sound as if you never were one of us, but don't forget you are, Ashitaka Jodiki, no matter how much you deny it, it's still true."
"My name is Severus, I am not longer one of your kind," Severus sent the Fish one of his infamous sneers. The Fish seemed unaffected.
"Don't try to hide behind that sneer of yours, Severus, you are more like us then you think, don't forget who you are…"
Hermione took this break in the yelling as an unsaid invitation to leave. She just prayed that her presence had remained unnoticed.
A Few Hours Later
The Feast in the Great Hall was brilliant as always, if anyone (besides Hermione) noticed Professor Snape's absence nothing was said. The new DADA Professor was introduced:
"Since the disaster last year with Professor Umbridge," Dumbledore began, "I have decided to bring back an old familiar face for those of you who were here two years ago, Professor R. J Lupin," the Gryffindor table went wild, Harry, Ron, and Hermione the loudest. Almost instantly every one looked to see the Potion Master's response, and that's the only time his absence was noticed, but nothing was said.
After the sorting was through (6 Slytherins, 5 Gryffindors, 3 Ravenclaws, and 4 Hufflepuffs) the feast began.
"This is brilliant," Ron said, "Lupin back as DADA Professor, this year is going to be brilliant,"
"I wonder where Professor Snape is,"
"Who cares," Dean said from across the table, "maybe if we're lucky he'll be gone tomorrow too,"
"Watch it, Dean," Ron warned, "Hermione's got a thing for him now,"
Hermione exploded, "Ronald Weasley!" she snapped louder than intended, a ring of students at the nearby tables stared at here, but after seeing her death glare hurriedly looked away. Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and twisted him away so Dean couldn't see what she was saying, "I understand why Dean isn't not worried, but you know what happened last time he went you-know-where to see you-know-who," she whispered heatedly, "don't you dare say you can't be a little interested in what torture he is undergoing, in case you don't remember, the Order sent him BACK to Voldemort with a potion that doesn't even work, and it's a week late,"
Ron gulped, but didn't say anything, "that's what I thought," she hissed and stood and stalked out again. Harry wisely kept his mouth shut the whole time.
………
"Severus," the Dark Lord hissed, "this is the potion you promised?"
"Yes, my lord,"
"Why has it taken so long?" the anger in his master's voice was evident.
"The ingredients were harder to come by then imagined without Dumbledore suspecting something, forgive me my lord," Snape kept his head down.
The Dark Lord hissed and pushed Severus down on the ground, "Lucius, take him and punish him, he has disappointed me enough,"
Lucius and a masked other grabbed Severus by the upper arms and pulled him forward. Roughly, he was thrown into a cell.
"Severus….what's it like to serve two masters…hmm?" Severus wisely stayed where he was one the ground….he was, he had not wand, no match for Lucius unless he got into a brutal fist fight…., "must be tiring…and if I heard correctly, Dumbledore wants you to train the Golden Trio…right?" Lucius viciously kicked Severus in his already broken ribs, "Crucio!"
Severus tensed under the pain, but kept his mouth shut, "CRUCIO!" Lucius screamed again, his voice lathered in lust, he was pouring his power into that one word, and the pain was almost unbearable. Lucius released the curse and Severus let out a shuddering sigh, his breath coming in painful gasps.
Lucius smiles, magical torture wasn't working so old fashioned torture should work….
Walking forward he grabbed Severus by the arm and twisted it around. Severus let out a surprised scream as Lucius ran the dagger along his shoulder blades cutting through the material of his robes; he ran the blade along the open cut again, forcing it deeper.
Lucius chuckled at the pained expression on Severus' face. This was going to be fun….
……………
Hagrid hated doing this. He didn't mind looking out for Professor Snape, since the return of You-Know-Who every time he is called, Dumbledore asks him to watch for his return, well his return is either, finding the unconscious Professor at the gates or watching an obviously wounded Professor slowly make his way to the castle. Those are the times he hated the most, when he knew he couldn't help him, he remember one time in specific.
It was pouring out and Hagrid had been watching Professor Snape since he reached the gates. He was limping pretty badly and pressing a heavily bleeding arm to his chest, his other hand loosely holding his black wand.
"Professor?" Snape instantly spun around wand out, its end lit.
Snape seeing who it was just sneered and turned away and began walking again.
"Are you hurt, Professor?"
Hagrid could almost see him roll his eyes, "you have an amazing grasp for the obvious,"
Hagrid then made the mistake of placing his giant hand on Snape's shoulder. Snape tense and wretched himself out of the half-giant's grasp, "don't touch me," he hissed glared at Hagrid, he then staggered away again.
After that encounter Hagrid had quickly went into his hut and using the fire contacted Dumbledore and told him that Professor Snape was injured, he didn't elaborate.
This seemed not one of those nights, if it was, he would have been here by now. Hagrid sighed and turned away from his window, grabbing a cup of tea; he sat. This was going to be a long wait.
………
"I tried, my lady," Tal lowered his head.
"He is refusing?"
"Yes,"
"There is one way…..you say that he does not trust this….Order, correct?"
"Yes my lady, but are you suggesting, betraying him through this Order?"
"We need him back here, Tal, if betraying him through the Order is the only way, then that is what we are going to day," the beautiful woman smiled, "don't worry, he will come back to us, no matter the cost,"
"Yes my lady," Tal said, "I just don't want to hurt him,"
End Chapter 16
TBC
So I got a lot of reviews with answers to my question. I have come to the conclusion that Arthur and Molly Weasley were in 6th or 7th year when Severus started school and Alice and Frank Longbottom were in 3rd or 4th, if anyone thinks otherwise I need to know, because it will be a semi-key point in future chapters. I will update soon.
