Chapter Forty-five

As Harry made his way to the chambers the next day, he passed the Weasley twins.

"Hey, Harry," one of them greeted cheerfully. "How've you been? Snape treating you well?"

Harry nodded in response. "Yup. Are you going to the Great Hall?"

"Sure are," another replied. "So tell us Harry, are excited about coming to Hogwarts next year as a student?"

Harry nodded eagerly. "Oh yeah."

"What House are you hoping to be in?"

Harry gave the question a little bit of thought before saying, "I'd be fine with any House, honestly."

The twins exchanged surprised glances. "Even Slytherin?"

Harry nodded his head. "Sure."

"Well Harry," Fred said, "we'll still be your friend no matter what House you're put in—just as long as you don't go Dark on us." He winked as Harry laughed.

"Don't worry, I won't."

"Oh, and Harry," George said before Harry left, "near the end of the year, would you give us the honors on participating in one last prank with us before summer holidays?"

"I'd love to," Harry responded with a large grin as the twins headed in another direction, towards the Great Hall. He resumed his walking towards the chambers as he thought about what type of prank the twins had in mind—and then, Sirius invaded his mind. Ever since he'd visited Remus, Sirius's death was all Harry could think about—that, alongside getting Slyther back.

Wrapped up in his own thoughts, he didn't even notice the dark figure coming towards him until he had already ran into him. Harry's head quickly shot up to see Snape standing in front of him, eyebrows raised.

"Sorry," Harry apologized sheepishly. "I didn't mean to bump into you. I was just coming back, and I didn't see you—"

"It's all right," Snape interrupted. "Are you ready for breakfast yet?"

Harry didn't move or say anything, a blank expression on his face until he realized that he was being spoken to. He shook his head as if waking up from a trance and looked at Snape intently.

"Huh, breakfast? Yeah—yeah, it's right now," Harry replied, only seeming partially confused. "Why?"

"No, I didn't ask when breakfast was. I asked if you were ready to go down to the Great Hall and eat breakfast now," Snape corrected, looking slightly annoyed. "Do you have something else on your mind that's keeping you from the present?"

A confused look crossed Harry's face. "What? I mean… yes, I do have something else on my mind. Sorry—again. Well, c'mon, let's go have breakfast."

Harry turned around and started to walk, Snape soon following after digesting the somewhat confusing conversation.

-

Harry didn't bother going to Snape's classes after their breakfast. When Snape offered to stay with Harry, he was so tempted to accept, but then realized that Snape missed a lot of classes for him already. So, in the end, Harry declined the offer and assured Snape that he would be fine in the chambers alone… which Snape was hesitant to agree with.

Harry wasn't exactly certain that he would be fine, though. Aureus was able to sneak into the chambers that night to take Slyther, and Harry was positive that she could do it again. Though Snape arranged a new password to get into the chambers (actually, Snape let Harry pick a new password, one that Harry made sure Aureus couldn't guess: Hippopotamus. Though, knowing Aureus, she might find a way…)

Harry made sure though, that he picked a password that would be less likely for Aureus to choose. He did, of course, need a day to figure the password out, but in the end Harry was satisfied with himself for choosing a—what he thought was a 'brilliant' —password, even though Snape wasn't too keen on it.

He had other options for the password, too. Harry had also suggested: 'Aureus's a Git' (which Snape almost agreed to, then said no); 'Chocolate Gateau' (but then he decided against that one, since he realized every time he'd say that he'd get hungry). So, then he decided on hippopotamus.

This was yesterday, Harry recalled. And Slyther was taken…—actually, he didn't know how long it'd been. He stopped counting the days when he got to five, but he knew that the snake was taken sometime in the middle of January, so it'd have to be a fairly long time.

He lay on the couch by the fire, which Snape had lit for him, his head resting against the armrest, staring up at the blank white ceiling thinking about everything that came to mind. Every time Slyther or Sirius popped up in his mind, he'd make sure to push them away by thinking of something different. Perhaps chocolate gateau, or some other sweet luxury.

He really should've agreed to go to Snape's potion class, since it'd take his mind off everything that had been going on.

Harry began to think about sleep. It did sound good then, he thought as his eyes started to flutter. He didn't get much sleep the night before, since he was actually afraid to. He and Snape didn't get much time to practice the 'instead-of-blocking-Slyther's-voice-block-Aureus-from-entering-his-dreams', or whatever it was called—perhaps it was still called 'Impedio' as he named it. So, Harry stayed up what seemed like the whole night, although he was sure that at least at some point he was able to at least get a few minutes sleep.

Oh well, Harry thought as he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer. If Aureus comes, then she comes.

He emitted a yawn before somehow falling asleep.

-

"I'm not doing this everyday," Quirrel said to Aureus with a frown. "I'm not sitting in this chair everyday, sensing if Potter's asleep or not. That's just… I'm not doing it."

Then Quirrel stiffened as he felt something, or rather sensed something. Potter was sleeping.

"He's asleep, Aureus," Quirrel said, leaning back into the chair. "Why do you want to know, anyway? Didn't you already see him yesterday and tell him that you took his snake? Or rather, human?"

He ignored the glare that Nathaniel shot from across the room.

"I did," Aureus admitted, pacing back in forth in the front of the room. "But if I know Harry, I know that he won't come to me unless something really valuable to him is at risk. Like a life."

"What do you call that over there?" Quirrel asked, nodding his head toward Nathaniel, who looked as huffy as ever, although he did look bored at the same time.

Aureus looked over to where Quirrel was indicating. "Yes, well, I should've thought bigger. I know that Nathaniel is dear to Harry—well, as a snake anyway—but I also know that there's something more important to Harry than his snake."

"Oh?" Nathaniel said from across the room. "And what's that, his hair? Aureus, Harry cares a lot about me and you know it. But of course, you wouldn't know what friendship was since you never really experienced it, right?"

Aureus glared at Nathaniel. "Shut it, Jacobs. Of course Harry cares about you, that's why I have you here! But he does care about his dear old Potions Master more."

Nathaniel raised his eyebrows. "That greasy git? Why, I'm shocked! And hurt. I certainly would've thought Harry would've cared about me more than him. But of course… I am just a snake…" Nathaniel added with a scowl.

"You're a human," Aureus reminded Nathaniel. "Not just a snake."

Nathaniel curled his lip in disgust, blowing a piece of his curly brown hair out of his eyes. "Don't remind me. Can you just change me back and get it over with? Besides, if you say Harry doesn't care about me, then you have no use for me anymore. Oh and here's another question: why should I believe what you say? You are, after all, just Aureus."

"Oh, just shush up," Aureus snapped, turning around to Quirrel. "Now, can you do as you did before? Take me to Harry."

Aureus waited for Quirrel to grab onto her shoulder as before, and then she felt herself being sucked up again.

-

"No… not again," Harry moaned, squeezing his eyes shut as he stood in the middle of darkness. "Why did I let myself fall asleep? Argh… I'm so thick…"

"Thick?" Aureus's voice repeated. "What does that mean, slow to learn? Large in diameter? See Harry, I've spent most of my years in America. I'm not exactly used to this… language. Words."

Harry could see an outline in the darkness of Aureus, and glowered at it.

"Oh, my," Aureus said in a disapproving tone as she stepped closer. "You don't look like the handsome Harry Potter I know. Wipe that glare off your face, love."

Harry didn't move a muscle, nor did he follow her instructions. Aureus let it go, anyway.

"I'm not here to tell you that I give in or anything of which you're hoping," Aureus said, now standing in front of Harry, completely in Harry's view now. "I've actually come to make you a deal, love. I've had enough of this kidnapping and everything else that's been going on, you see? So you're going to come to me on your own free will."

"I am, huh?" Harry said impassively. "And how's that?"

Aureus shrugged, pacing back and forth in front of Harry, hands clasped behind her back. "I don't know. Perhaps if Snape accidentally has a, well, accident?"

Harry frowned. "What?"

Aureus stopped her pacing and stood still in front of Harry, an innocent smile playing on her lips. "Oh, don't play dumb! Do I have to explain this? Because if I do then it loses the whole effect… you know?"

When Harry didn't make any move to answer, Aureus let out a sigh.

"Oh, fine. Ruin the effect. I'm threatening you, Harry. Do you understand that? If you don't come to me, then I'll kill Snape. Do you understand that? You know, knife through the heart; killing curse… Some other fulfilling way to get rid of Snape?"

Harry felt his mouth go dry, and was left with a taste that wasn't exactly appealing. "You're going to kill Severus? What makes you think, if you do that, then I'll go with you?"

"You don't want your dear old Potions Master dead, do you?" Aureus put on a look of mock astonishment.

Harry slowly and warily shook his head, while Aureus smiled at the response.

"I didn't think so, love. Do you see now why you're going to come to me on your own free will without us having to do this anymore?"

Harry swallowed. "I'll come to you on my own free will on a few conditions." Harry waited until he had Aureus's full attention. "One: you'll let Slyther go. He'll be fine and you'll free him."

Aureus nodded, a solemn look on her face as she did so.

"And two, you won't kill Severus. You most definitely won't hurt Severus in any way. Promise?"

Aureus smiled, and grasped onto Harry's hand, which Harry was so tempted to pull away.

"As long as you hold up your end of the deal, I most certainly do promise."

"You can come get me tomorrow," Harry said numbly. "The password… is... Giraffe."

Harry, wondering if he made the right choice, pulled his hand away from Aureus's grasp and then pitched his arm, not caring if he pinched too hard or not this time.

-

When Harry felt himself wake up from the dream, he didn't bother to open his eyes. Instead he squeezed them shut tighter. What would he tell Snape, exactly?

It looked like he had to think fast.

"Harry?"

Harry opened his eyes and saw Snape standing over top of him.

"Hi Professor," Harry greeted with a yawn, sitting up. "Is it lunch already? Wow, I must've slept for a long time. Didn't get much sleep last night."

Snape studied Harry for a moment before answering.

"You look pale. Should I take you to Poppy?"

Harry smiled and shook his head. "Nope, I'm fine. It's just… I need to talk to you about something. It's very, very important and cannot wait. Lunch can, though. Do you… mind?"

"If we miss a bit of lunch?" Snape asked, sitting down next to Harry. "Not in the least. Talk."

Harry gave a nervous smile, wondering how Snape was going to react to this, and started. "Well… it was Aureus. You know how she can be in my dreams—"

"She was in your dreams," Snape finished with a sigh. "I'm just glad to see you're not hurt. What did she do this time?"

"She… she threatened me," Harry said quietly, and then looked up. "But it doesn't matter, because I settled everything out!"

Snape raised his eyebrows. "You settled everything out? What's that suppose to mean?"

Harry felt a tinge of pink in his cheeks, which must have been noticeable since Snape did point out that he was pale, and it must've really stood out. "Well… she—she threatened to hurt you, if I didn't go with her—"

"And you didn't agree to go with her, did you?" Snape interrupted, his face showing slight alarm. "I can defend myself, Harry, so I hope you didn't agree to go with her to spare my life, since I can—as said—defend myself."

Harry looked down at his hands. "I did. I said that I'd let her take me as long as she leaves you and Slyther alone. So… she's coming tomorrow."

Snape closed his eyes, breathing in and out slowly. "Sometimes," he started, "you don't think. You should've thought this through first instead of just giving in to her like that. I could've helped you through this, Harry."

Harry kept his eyes downcast. "I'm sorry, Severus. I didn't tell her the real password though, so she'll never guess it... it might stall her a while until we can do something."

"Well, I suppose that's one sensible thing you did."

"Now all we have to do is find out what to do," said Harry. "I just don't want you and Slyther to get hurt..."

-

"What are we doing here?" Quirrel said, his brow furrowed as he stared at a door that Aureus brought him to.

"I have something important to show you," Aureus said, opening the door that led to the basement. "Come on. It'll be quick. It's just something… important."

Quirrel scowled. "It better be important, Aureus."

Aureus smiled sweetly, opening the door, indicating for Quirrel to go in first. "Believe me, it's important. There's a surprise waiting down in there, but I just have to get something first before I come down, too."

"I hate surprises," Quirrel said. "And you better make it quick. I'm not the patient type. Is—there somebody down there?"

"That's your surprise. Go now, Quirrel," Aureus said with a smile. "Just give me a second. Only a second."

-

Nathaniel coughed in the room upstairs. He hated not being able to walk. He hadn't in such a long time... he forgot how.

"That was a knife Aureus had in her hand," he muttered as he tried to stand up with the support of the bed. Excitement flooded through him as he stood—actually stood—straight up... but then began to wobble as he tried to take his first step. He just ended up sprawled against the floor again.

"Why would she want to kill Quirrel?" Nathaniel asked himself as he sat himself up. "I thought she was in love with his head. Or his other head. Boy, this is not coming out right, is it?" He shook his head. "And look at me. So desperate for somebody to talk to that I'm resorting to talking to myself."

He sighed, and then jumped, startled, as he heard a loud bang from below, and then a yell. More screaming and more bangs erupted from below, causing Nathaniel to squeeze his eyes shut. The thought of somebody being murdered in the basement gave him a cold rash of goosebumps.

-

Aureus blew a piece of her hair away from her face. She hadn't expected Quirrel to put up such a good fight. But of course, he really didn't stand a chance. He was already dead on the floor, the black mist that was Voldemort was rising up from Quirrel's body. It seemed to be escaping from Quirrel's ears, mouth and nose.

"Bloody hell," the man that had witnessed the entire thing looked pale and shaken, and he was pushed against the basement wall as far as he could. He tried pushing into the wall farther, as if hoping that he might be able to sink into the wall and stay there.

"Don't worry," Aureus said, glancing at the man and flashing a smile. "It'll be quick. I bet that you won't even feel a thing! But then again, I may be lying. I don't know, I've never done it before."

The man gulped. "Done what?"

Aureus smiled wider, watching as the black mist advanced onto the man. As it seeped into the mans body, it seemed to go in the same way it came out of Quirrel, and possibly in: through the ears, nose and mouth.

As soon as the mist had went into the man, Aureus stepped in closer just a bit, holding her breath and wondering whether it worked or not.

-

Nathaniel held his breath as he heard footsteps. Then a creak, and then the door opened—to reveal Aureus, with somebody standing beside her. A man, with an odd look in his eyes. Malevolence.

"I don't think we need introductions here," Aureus said in a bored voice.

"Moldemort," Nathaniel whispered, his eyes wide as he stared at the man beside Aureus, who scrunched her face up.

"Insolence," she murmured, narrowing her eyes. "Pure insolence—"

"Sorry, it's Voldemort, isn't it?" Nathaniel nodded. "Head's a little foggy, thanks. As are names. So many, can't really seem to keep them straight. Moldemort, Voldemort, all the same to me really."

The man grasped onto Aureus's arm as she took a threatening step forward. "We have more important things to do than listen to this. You can deal with him later, Aureus, in your own way."

A smile crept onto Aureus's face as she slowly looked back at Nathaniel. "I'll be looking forward to hearing you scream, Jacobs."
Nathaniel waited as Aureus and the man walked out, closing the door behind them, before he gulped.

"Stupid mouth," he muttered. "It's all your fault that she's going to make you scream. Stupid, stupid mouth. Cooperate with the brain next time it tells you to keep shut, hm?"

-

A/N: Next chapter'll be up soon.