IT'S CHANGED (SNILY)
CHAPTER 42 The clue
He hid behind the wall, panting. He had run from the dungeons to the upper floors and it was damn tiring. And in the cold, it was even more. He heard someone's faint footsteps and sucked in breath, pressing himself flat on the wall, to escape from the comer's notice.
He frowned when he saw no one coming through the path. He peeked his head out a little to see Filch running in the opposite direction. Another of the students strutting at night. He scoffed. Stupid kids. At least they gave him a way to reach the library.
He was about to keep the next step when his hand brushed through his own cloak and he felt a weight in it. He flipped open his cloak and rolled his eyes on himself. He was almost angry with himself for forgetting to wrap the invisibility cloak around himself. So, that he did, visible nothing more than thin air.
He easily slipped out of the wall and walked through the corridor. He saw Filch again… chasing after someone and shouting something to his cat. Severus didn't pay any heed to it. Must be the stupid kids.
He continued to walk until he reached the library. He approached the book shelves and searched for the ones that said about magical aquatic beings. He searched and searched for that shelf he found one.
Now, through the rows for the correct book on something related to the of lakes in Scotland… better if he found something for winters. He moved his fingers from book titles to next. He sighed and waved his wand for a tempus charm. The time in numbers floated in the air saying, it was half past three. He gasped. He'd been out of the common room for more than an hour. He had to hurry up.
He increased his pace in searching for the right book when he found it. He sighed thankfully and took it out of the shelf.
The Waters of Magical Scotland.
Great. He hurriedly flipped to the part where they were talking about the lakes or such water bodies in winters. Even in such cold weather around him, a droplet of sweat dripped down his forehead. He wiped it away with his sleeve and concentrated again.
He groaned and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Panicking is going to take him nowhere. So, he calmed himself and turned the giant tome to the start again to read about the general things that happened in lakes in Scotland.
He was reading when his eyes landed on a chapter denoted to Mer-people.
They lived deep under the lakes… … … … … … -Severus' eyes widened- … … … were greatly attracted to music.
Mer-people were attracted to music? That is why he heard that song that seemed to be sung by angels. That meant that the lake wasn't producing any sounds… it was the Mer-person there! They must be singing… but so mesmerizingly?
The Mer-person had shown signs of being fascinated by the screeching noises of the egg. Could they know something? He had to ask them. But for that he had to get into the lake for them to talk about the screeching noise.
He groaned. The other creatures would kill him and eat him as shreds, if he at the very least, placed a foot inside the lake. And then the cold water. That would freeze him to death. Though there must be some spells to protect oneself from that.
He kept the book in its place and began searching for another. In the similar row he found another book.
The Deads in the Waters of Scotland
Severus opened it. Perhaps, it showed about how to survive them with a spell or two. It showed everything about the people who died in the waters without a trace or their being. A shiver ran down Severus' spine. He didn't want to be dead. And not from the deadly creatures that are found there. He read more until he found something.
Grindylows
The Grindylow was a sickly green colour, with green teeth and small pointy horns on its head. It had long, strong (albeit brittle) fingers which it used to strangle its prey, and was a rather good swimmer, since it was adapted to live in water.
Aggressive towards witches, wizards and muggles alike, the Grindylow was only ever tamed by Mer-people; the half-fish water dwellers who sometimes kept them as pets.
Grindylows survived, for the most part, on fish, algae, and small sea creatures; however, occasionally they would eat humans (it is for this reason that they are classified as dark creatures).
In the entire description his eyes kept fixed on the word 'Mer-people'. They were known for taming them. Then, it was easy, he could simply take the egg in the lake, that would attract the Mer-people and he'd be saved by the vile Grindylows. Easy. He happily kept the book back again in the shelf and fastened the invisibility cloak around himself.
He looked around and walked out of the library. And was shocked to see that Filch was still after someone. He had spent almost three hours inside the library and Filch was still looking for the tyke who was roaming around in the corridor. Filch was losing his touch.
Severus shrugged and walked away to the common room. It was so much easier to strut around with an invisibility cloak. He yawned and approached the egg, that was still placed on the alcove. Okay, so three hours away, sure could fill the bladder, easily and fully. He had been ignoring those needs for long. So, he picked the egg up, closing it and running to his dorm bathroom, before coming to his bed again.
He looked at the side watch and groaned. Just three hours or so, the time for only a nap. Fine. At least there was the scope for a sleep. He set the alarm clock at eight in the morning. He knew that the next day would be another of the adrenaline-filled ones, as he chose to wake up at such a time. Because if he was sleep deprived already then, he'd obviously miss the alarm and… he couldn't comprehend more because of the pleasing sleep that was laying over him, as he drew into breathing evenly.
*Page Break*
He thanked Merlin, that today wasn't a day with potions where he had to forcefully sit with Lily and deal with her. He didn't even want to think about her. He wished to stop loving her, but only if that was so simple. He still loved her. He was scared of the rejection and that is why he had never asked her out. He had realized that until it was reciprocated, it was more bitter and hurtful than sweet and beautiful.
As much as he had loved Lily in his life, from some days he had been wishing to never have met her. He sighed, taking another bite of his sandwich in the library. He had some homework to complete so, he had sneaked in two sandwiches from the Great Hall to the library. He was anyway sitting in one of the corner tables, that he and his friends often occupied, where Madam Pince wouldn't be able to see him.
"Afternoon, Severus" a voice came from his side and he turned.
"Selene… anything I can help you with?" he asked curtly.
She rolled his eyes and took a seat beside him. "Can't I just come and see how my friend is doing?"
Severus raised his eyebrow. "Pregnancy has sure changed you"
That earned him a smack on the shoulder. "Don't bring that in every conversation" she glared.
"Sorry" he dismissed it, going back to the reading he was doing before his own thoughts and then Selene had interrupted.
"Hmm… what are you doing, by the way? Taking pleasure in sneaking sandwiches in the library like a firstie?" Selene teased, eyeing at the sandwich in his hand.
"You are irritating me, Selene" he muttered, not looking at her.
"Do you have another of those sandwiches, they smell good?"
Severus fully turned to her, huffing. "I sneaked in just two. Go and have them in the Great Hall"
"That's means you have one more!" she sat straighter, happily.
"No. That means I have just one more, so, go and help yourself from the Great Hall" he explained slowly, as if to a little kid, keeping the growl from making an appearance in his voice.
"Please, Severus" Selene, grabbed his arm, with both her hands. "Please. It's bad to keep a pregnant woman hungry, you know"
Severus raised his eyebrow. "You just warned me on not bringing that in every conversation"
"Sorry" she said soberly, looking down, feigning sincerity. "Now, please, the sandwich. I had lunch, so, I wouldn't ask for another"
"I don't even have another" he picked the sandwich up from the table on his side, wrapped in paper napkins, and gave it to her. "Happy?"
"Thank you, Severus" she kissed him on the cheek before taking a bite, happily. "You have no idea how brilliant you are"
He rolled his eyes and set back to work. Stupid Selene. Now, he had only one sandwich. He hurriedly bit into it, lest she asks for that one too.
"Hey, guys!" another voice came from their side and they turned.
Severus nodded as Shane came to near to give Selene a kiss and then, to take a seat across them, eating a bar of chocolate.
Selene's eyes widened. "Shane…" she said very sweetly… it was too much exaggeration, even for Selene.
Shane seemed to have already understood what was she going to ask for, so he opened the packet of the chocolate further, giving it a lick. "Yes, Selene?"
"Would you please give me some of your chocolate?" she batted her eyelids.
Shane smirked. "Ah, the chocolate? Go and ask Remus for some… he has plenty"
"I'll have to walk a lot in that, Shane" she whined. "Please, Shane… it's not like I ever ask much from you, it's just chocolate"
"Not ask much? Who asked for the History homework when we were in the third year?"
Selene gasped. "You still remember that. Then, according the long remembrance of mine, you asked me for the Transfiguration homework in the sixth year"
Shane's eyes widened. "How cruel could you be, Selene?! I was sick and, that is why, I had no choice but to ask for it"
She sat back in her chair. "Then what about all the times I have helped you in all your lessons and home-works"
"That way I can also ask for all the help I gave you for all the lessons and home-works" he folded his arms on his chest, keeping the chocolate on the table, forgotten.
She huffed. "You are being pathetic!"
"Oh? Then what are you?" he narrowed his eyes comically.
Selene held her chin up. "Pregnant"
Shane gasped. "You can't use that against me! I have given a sperm for that… and that way, I am pregnant too"
"Please, Shane. I am responsible for the kid and that means I am the only one pregnant"
"I am responsible for my wife too then… Fiancée, I mean" he blushed red.
She blinked. "Wife… that sounds so good. And that is why you must give me the chocolate, future-husband"
"Now, if you are calling me that, we can settle for half"
"Just half?! Please, a little more than that. Please" she made the best puppy-eyes she could.
Shane pretended to ignore them, but he obviously, was melted, though he had to keep tough for her health and bend down on her whims. He took the chocolate in his hand and broke into uneven pieces. Though, the difference between them wasn't much.
He gave the slightly larger one to Selene. "It is more than half" he reasoned.
Selene slumped but seemed happy to at least to get something. She took a bite and savoured the melting-in-the-mouth rich flavour of it. Shane smiled at the look of her face, making her even the least bit happy, gave him the best satisfactions of life.
Selene looked up at him, just as he had looked down on the table sighing. "I can still share, Shane… I mean, if your part was really less"
That just grew Shane's smile. He shook his head. "Finish it, because I would actually take if you are offering this way"
She shrugged. "I was offering for you to accept… but if you say no…"
"Complete it" he rolled his eyes. "I have saved mine for later" he patted on his pocket, showing that he had kept it in. Though, perhaps, the whole world knew that, the other piece of the chocolate was for Selene also, just for later… He was such a hopeless romantic.
None of them had remembered Severus being in the same place too. He had started watching to two in annoyance which had soon changed into amusement and then his emotions had appeared as a small smile on his face, though sad. Looking at another couple made him remind him of himself and Lily.
He shook his head. He was just seventeen. Were these thoughts normal? Weren't the thoughts like of an old man who had lost his wife? He was going insane by all of those ideas popping up in his mind. He wanted Lily but he didn't even want to admit that to himself.
He wiped the smile off his face, as Shane and Selene both turned to him, blushing deeply. They hadn't realized that Severus was still there. They cleared their throats.
"Well, Severus…" Selene searched something to say, that would divert their minds from their embarrassment. "… would you like some chocolate? I had your sandwich, so, probably, you are hungry"
Severus opened his mouth to speak but Shane interrupted him. "You had the sandwich?! Selene… how to make you understand?" he massaged the corners of his eyebrows, tiredly.
"What's the problem with that?" Selene asked casually, though her voice held some amount of anxiousness.
"It had chicken liver, Selene. It is rich in vitamin A, which could harm you and the baby. What more do you want to hear?!"
Selene's eyes filled with tears and she looked down in her lap. "I am sorry"
"It's fine" Shane stated shortly.
"I really am" her voice cracked. "I didn't know… you were listening to what all Madam Pomfrey was saying. I am sorry"
Shane shook his head. "It's fine. Don't upset yourself"
"I am a bad person, aren't I? You always try to keep things proper, but it's me who ruins all of it. I am sorry, Shane, I don't deserve you…" she blabbered amidst her sobs.
Severus began to panic. Why was she crying that bad?! He looked at Shane asking him to do something to calm her, else, he would have to run away from the place soon.
Shane sighed and gestured Severus to stay cool, before getting up from his seat and crouching beside Selene. He kept a hand on her back, directing her head to lean on his shoulder. She instantly, wrapped her arms around him, sobbing in his shoulder. He rubbed her back.
"Shh, Selene, I forgive you. Calm down. You are alright" he whispered.
"I am sorry…"
"I know, just next time, heed to what I say"
"I promise"
"Good. Now, calm down"
She pulled back and wiped her face with her sleeves, sniffling. Shane smiled at her, pressing his lips on hers, gently.
"Alright?" he asked.
"Yeah" she rolled her eyes, as if it was obvious.
Shane chuckled and got up, returning to place again, when he looked up at Severus. He was looking in his lap, smiling, again.
"Well, Severus, you never got to give the answer. Selene offered you some chocolate… from my part because she has already finished hers" he said, side-glancing at Selene, who blushed red.
Severus looked up, caught off-guard. "Ah, no thank you"
"Well, as you wish…" Shane looked at Selene to say further.
Selene caught the rope and turned to Severus. "Umm, Severus, what are you doing this weekend?"
"This weekend? Why, what is this weekend?" Severus frowned.
"Umm… nothing. Just we were thinking of visiting Hogsmeade" she replied casually.
"Hogsmeade? I am not in the mood, Selene… I don't want to" he sighed, looking back to his book.
Selene and Shane while, were communicating with their eyes, on what to say further to make him agree to come there. Severus turned to them and looked at them funny.
"Is something wrong?" he raised an eyebrow.
Selene and Shane straightened immediately, smiling like idiots. "No. Nothing's wrong. But then, why don't you want to come to Hogsmeade?" Selene tried to keep on with the conversation.
Severus shrugged. "I have work to do… for the second task too, because apparently- never mind" he sighed and turned back to his opened book on the table.
Shane and Selene leaned on their chairs. Shane spoke up. "So, you can complete your work and then meet us there… for just an hour or two"
Severus huffed exasperatedly. "I am going to add nothing to the fun you'd have, in fact, deplete it perhaps… am I even necessary?"
Selene huffed, standing up and keeping her hands on her hips. "Take that look off your face! Now! And what's up with you? Why are you behaving so moody with everyone?"
Severus raised his eyebrow at her antics. "Well, for what you must know, you are not my mother. And, so, it isn't necessary for you to know everything about me"
She raised her chin in the air. "Well, obviously, I am not your mother. Do I seem that old? No. But still being a… a Slytherin friend of yours, I need to see what happens with you"
Severus closed his eyes and dropped his head in his hands. "I am tired, Selene and I need a break from everything… so, please, don't force me for anything"
"You are sick?" Shane asked with mock-concern. He knew that Severus' state wasn't because of being sick. But soon he would start harming himself physically too, if he didn't get any better.
"I am not sick, Shane. Just tired. If I get some time alone… with myself" he asked.
"Not even with Lily?"
Severus jerked his head up. They were aware of something. He rotated his eyes from Selene to Shane, before dropping his head in his hands again, and rubbing it tiredly. "Not even with Lily" he answered.
"Hasn't something happened between you two?" Selene asked slyly.
Severus got up, all of a sudden, throwing his bag on his back and picking up the book he was reading. "No" he said shortly before leaving the other two.
He had done it so suddenly that neither Shane nor Selene was able to comprehend what happened so fast. He was there a second and not there the other. They sighed and sat for a while in silence, hoping that he'd show up at Hogsmeade.
*Page Break*
The last two days before the Hogsmeade weekend went down, pretty well. Almost better than anticipated… in silence and ignorance. Every time Severus and Lily came close to any confrontation, he'd simply walk away as if she was a stranger to him. She had wanted and tried for him understand what she was aiming at but he wasn't ready to listen any.
The other four friends of theirs were making their own plans on getting them together more and often. Leaving them, with one another to talk and shout at, and hoped they did so, if not for Severus. Because Mr. Beautiful-Eyes didn't catch the hint as he walked away each time, whenever, he saw anyone walking away leaving himself with Lily alone. Stupid idiot, simply wanted them to work more. Why in the blazes were Slytherins so difficult?! Lily was so much easier than him.
Well, today was the day, when Severus would ask for the help of the Mer-people for the egg. He hoped they knew something and wouldn't slaughter him for being human flesh and blood. Of did they even eat humans? If not, they could hold him as a prisoner! Better he be careful with his wand if they seem hostile. He knew how to spell non-verbally, so, it will be fine. But wait? Then how was he going to talk with them? He groaned. Why all the loopholes seem to show up at the end?
Perhaps, gesturing would do. He nodded mentally. That was fine. Now, what he had to face was cold water. He sighed. It wasn't as if he was dealing with that for the first time. He had bathed in cold water, even in winters all his life, so it was nothing unfamiliar. Even though, that was the one he had heated by a little accidental magic. But that would certainly do. The quality you get at being born in a poor home with a wretched father, who wouldn't place a penny on his son.
He picked his egg up and pointed his wand on it, shrinking it. He placed it in one of the pockets of his robes. They were spacious but shrinking was easy. He placed his wand in his robes too before walking out.
He froze the moment he left the confines of the Slytherin common room. All the walls were decorated with pink and red roses accompanying the heart balloons with the same colours. He looked around… and saw couples roaming around hands in hands, kissing all around the corridor. What was the occasion? He questioned himself when the reality dawned at him.
Valentine's day!
It was fourteenth of February. Lily… his thoughts trailed off, as he sighed. It could have been their first together, but… it simply wasn't. He sighed again, trying to keep the tears away from forming in his eyes and fall, as much as they wanted to.
He steeled himself, thinking about the work he had to do for that day. When, another reality dawned at him. This is why Shane and Selene wanted him at Hogsmeade! He huffed in exasperation. Stupid meddling friends. But still friends. And then they were trying to get his mood better. Wasn't that cute?
Severus' eyes widened. He did not just use that word! Even in his own mind! He dismissed it and willed himself to forget about that. His friends were simply silly… and nothing else.
He began walking through the corridor ignoring the snogging couples. He groaned internally. They were being so cheesy and weird… and even clingy. He cringed at a duo who were even moaning openly at an alcove. Pathetic people. Couldn't they just do all of that in private? Making others life miserable must have been the agendas of their lives.
He paced faster to not being able to look at any of them, because an accidental eye-contact in those positions was more embarrassing than anything. He soon came up to the Great Hall, where didn't even the staff members had left any place for joy for him. Dumbledore was wearing purple robes with tiny pink hearts that seemed to twinkle while Slughorn seemed have over-obsessed with the idea of pink roses all over his pocket lengths. The other teachers some or the other same kind of stupid patterns… except for McGonagall who was in her normal attire. They looked ridiculous.
Severus made a face and took a seat on the table, where he just wished to smash his head in the wall. The food was heart-shaped too! For, Merlin's sake, everything was extra… sickening. He simply pulled up an apple that looked normal, rolling his eyes.
He looked around and noticed that people had began leaving for the Hogsmeade trip. His friends must have been going too. So, he walked up to the entrance hall, where they all had hurdled up together. Charm… Austin, Shane… Selene and Lily. He sighed, but approached them.
"So, you are all going"
"Obviously, Severus" Charm rolled her eyes.
"Well, then"
"We hadn't gone to Hogsmeade this entire year because of the stupid tournament, now, when we get the chance, you have work do" Austin said, sadly.
Severus side-glanced Lily before speaking. "Perhaps, I'll meet you later, if I get time"
Their faces almost immediately lit up. "Really? Cool!"
"Why not just come now, and do your work later?" Charm suggested grinning.
Severus glowered. "Don't push the limits… and anyways, you wouldn't like me being a third wheel between you and Amedee, Charm"
"You believe me, you aren't" she rolled her eyes. "And if you see it that way, with whom would you be there?"
Severus tensed for a second before relaxing and smirking. "Shane and Selene"
Selene narrowed her eyes. "Wouldn't that be being the third wheel?"
"No" he shook his head. "You already have the kid as the third. I'll just be the fourth to make your cart work" he smirked.
"Stupid idiot" she muttered, flushing red.
Severus inhaled. "Bye, then"
"Bye" they all said before leaving the Entrance Hall and him back. He had never even once talked face-to-face with Lily. It was Valentine's Day after all. Couldn't have he forgotten the feud for once?
Severus stood their until they all disappeared from his view. He then, hastily paced to the out of the gates of Hogwarts castle and leaning to wall, walked in an exact opposite direction of the path to Hogsmeade. No one was here at that moment, because, everyone was obviously going to the nearby village.
He ran to the Lake and stopped at the very edge. He drew in a shaky breath. It was indeed cold. He took his cloak off, also pulling the golden egg out of its pocket. He tapped his wand on it to enlarge it again before keeping both of them on the ground. Then came off the robes, leaving him in only a pair of trousers and a thin white shirt.
He rubbed his hands on his shoulders before steeling himself. His conscience was still asking him not to do any of it, but he decided against it. He took the egg in one of his hands and the wand in other before dipping one of his feet in the water. His entire body jerked back with a shaky shiver.
He waved his wand making a shield around his eyes, that would enable him to see under water. That is what I was forgetting, the reason he gave to himself for not being able to dive at once. It had to be fast. He stood at the very edge of the water, before leaving himself limp by the legs and falling into the water.
The moment the cold water touched his skin, he knew it was a bad idea. His heart-beat fastened and he felt difficulty breathing. He willed himself to keep his eye open, the shivers that were racking his body.
He instantly turned the egg to his front and rushed it open, hoping for the screech to attract the Mer-people. But something different happened. No screeches… no Mer-people. The moment he opened it he began hearing a song. Another song, as if sung by the angels.
He floated up to take another deep breath and sliding beneath the waters again to hear what it said…
Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We have taken what you'll sorely miss,
And hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour- the prospect's black
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.
He had to go up the surface and come back to hear the song more than once. He took the gist and almost the memorization in after a few times before he saw something approaching him. He had to get out of here.
He flapped his legs as fast as he could to reach the land again. He threw the egg up from clutching the land with his fingers as much tightly as he could, to pull himself up. But the cold wind hitting his head and skin on the shoulders made him dizzy and lose up all energy. He willed himself to not pass away.
He was about to pull himself up when he felt something grabbing up on his right leg. He shook it to free himself but the hold was too tight for his fragile self to get lose from. He groaned loudly.
"Leave my leg!" he hissed through clenched teeth, shaking his leg even harder.
He left the ground and sunk in the water again. A sickly green creature with sharp little horns had its long and spindly fingers around Severus' leg. A Grindylow. Panic grew in his chest. It could be calling the others too. Its greenish-yellow eyes flashed at him with sadistic glee. Severus almost screamed at that, but his first instinct went to his fingers grabbing his wand from his side.
He pointed it on the Grindylow and non-verbally spelled 'Reducto', blasting it off his leg. Purplish-red blood spread around his leg as he had blasted the Grindylow. He didn't pay any more heed to it and got his head out of the surface water, pulling more of his body out.
The outer breezes were capable of making him black out. His head began to spin and lose his focus. He closed his eyes, taking in a shaky breath and slowly opening it again. He ignored the cold air meeting each inch of his skin as he came out.
He fell to the ground, and as soon as he took his right leg out, a piercing pain shot in his calf. He stifled a shout and looked down. The Grindylow had bitten him or had gashed its finger in him. The blood was flowing out, spraying on all over the grass as he began losing vision. He made a rumble in his throat and clenched his teeth together, as he was also shivering uncontrollably. He had to do something before he blanks out. So, he waved his wand with whatever he could muster, that dried his clothes.
He was still shivering but it was lesser than before. He pulled his robes and cloak over in the same half-lying and half-sitting position, making sure not to touch his right leg with them.
He knew no spell to stop the blood so he simply took his scarf to tighten in around the wound. It seemed deep. Bloody Grindylow. The egg simply needed a tap of the wand to shrink again that he placed in his robes.
But then as soon as he stood up, all the air seemed to have knocked out of his lungs, as he couldn't breathe. He gasped for breath and forced his feet to walk at least till the castle. Another wave of dizziness followed the step making him weak by the knees and black haze appear in his vision.
He was close to the gates of the castle, as he had walked leaning on the wall, when couldn't take it anymore. He knew this was a bad idea but he still did it. He sunk to the ground and blacked out, unaware of what was happening where he wasn't able to arrive.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapters...
Please, comment to let me know how felt about it.
Thank you.
