Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything associated with it.
The song Fooling Yourself, belongs to the band Styx
Authors note: Thanks again for the marvelous reviews. Hehehehehe me and my continuity errors (I'm sorry…hmm lets just pretend that Dumbledore sometimes refers to himself in the third person)
And the Rain came Tumbling Down
Chapter 3
"How could you be such an angry young man when your future looks quite bright to me." Eridani sung as she walked down the corridor walking to her Arithmancy class all by herself, when some girl by the name of Narcissa came up to her.
" Stop that ridiculous singing you todger!" Narcissa said slapping her in the face.
Eridani stopped, shaken by the attack but soon continued walking and still singing.
" How can there be such a sinister plan that could hide such a lamb such a caring young man." She continued and then another slap followed. This time laughter filled the halls as all of Narcissa's friends came over to her and adding to Eridani's humiliation.
" Get up get back on your feet you're the one they can't beat." Eridani sung holding back tears. Finally irritated by her singing Narcissa and Bellatrix went for her books and threw them across the corridor and then pushed her down.
" Bloody elve!" Bellatrix yelled, " Filthy creature!" She spat. Eridani continued on the floor, not wanting to fight back, but knowing that her control would soon slip.
" I have done nothing to you!" Eridani snapped back.
" You breath our air! Go back to your filth where you belong and leave us wizards alone!"
"You think I don't want to? You think I love being surrounded by you?" Eridani said as she picked up one of her books from the floor. As she leaned forward to get up she caught out of the corner of her eye, Severus.
Eridani looked at him, but his face was passive and he did nothing to help her, just stood there with the others looking at the drama
" Voldemort I think is a little too soft on them when it comes to his policies." Bellatrix said leaving from the area jinxing Eridani one last time.
Eridani felt her legs wobble and she found that it was impossible to get up and her arms did the same. Soon everyone left and Eridani was helpless. She tried to reach for a book but her arm flopped like a wet noodle. Eridani looked both ways trying to see if anyone was kind enough to help her, but saw no one. Eridani put her head down and started to cry.
"Firmalous."
Eridani saw a small stream of blue light hit her shoulder. Slowly but surely the muscles in her body began to operate again, and she was able to stand up again. She shook her head and wiped the tears from her cheeks and mentally lifted her books from the far away. The books hovered gently towards her and back into her arms.
" Thank you." Eridani whispered to whoever had been kind enough to lift the curse. She straightened up and arrived to her Arithmancy class ten minutes late.
" Bloody chit always getting herself in trouble." Snape said as he headed off to Defense against the dark arts. Not that he completely understood Narcissa's reason for attacking Eridani he wasn't going to get involved.
Professor Dillyweed sat poised in her seat, waiting for silence to set over her students. The young witch was inexperienced, but she put up a front of competence, which deceived the students. She could easily be broken.
" Everyone please pass in your essays on the Tribes of the northern Goblin." She said as the students pulled out their scrolls and laid them on her table. She waited for them to take their seats before she began.
" Now today, we will be learning about the Elves." She said, " Please open your books to page 482, where we shall commence."
Sirius Black began to mimic her by using his hand as a puppet. Dillyweed coughed into her handkerchief, to try and get his attention. Sirius stopped and looked at her intensely, which only served to distress her.
" What is it Mr. Black." She said.
" What is what, Madam Dillyweed?" He said innocently. She sighed and then began her lesson.
" Elves are the distant relatives of the northern goblins and look human with the exception of pointed ears and extra vertebrae." She said, " They also have the gifts of telekinesis and telepathy. Yes, Mr. Snape."
" Is there anyway you can stop them from reading your thoughts?" He asked.
" Well, yes, Occlumency, the ability to block any intrusion of one's thoughts or mind." She said a little disconcerted, " As some of you know, there is one living in our midst."
" Really?" Sirius Black said, " Why?"
Dillyweed almost regretted mentioning the fact.
" Anyways, you shouldn't worry about Elves in general they are benign creatures." Dillyweed said quickly.
" Then why are we learning about them here?" Peter Pettigrew stuttered.
" Because they are good for nothing," Narcissa interjected, " They reap benefits from our government to keep them safe! After all the Wizard blood shed by them."
Dillyweed reddened and said, " If you are referring to the Rebellion of 1942, that was a long time ago."
" What does it matter? My grandfather died fighting against them! They killed pureblooded wizard children and woman over a few feet of land that rightfully belonged to us!" Narcissa said trying to win the class over with her argument.
" Ms. Black, please save your political rantings for professor Binns." Dillyweed said, " Five points from Slytherin for such an outburst."
Snape along with the others glared at Narcissa and then put their undivided attention back to Dillyweed.
" As we all now know thanks to Ms. Black we did indeed fight against them, but that is only because there was a border issue and the politicians back then were not intelligent enough to handle the situation. Although the Elves do live in seclusion for fear of more conflict.
" But referring back to your question Mr. Pettigrew, the reason we are learning about Elves in this class, is because it has come to my attention and that of the magical world, that a reunification is desired between both races."
Narcissa gasped at this.
" Even Voldemort, sees this as a wise thing to do." Dillyweed said looking directly at Narcissa.
" Which is why Eridani is here to learn about us, so that it will be easier for both races to merge." Snape said, rather loudly. He did this quite often, his thoughts often left his mouth, he was mortified. Narcissa along with many others gave him scathing look.
"I see you have met her?" Dillyweed asked.
Snape shook his head, " No I just, happen to overhear." He said nervously.
He was already unpopular as it was; admitting that he was hanging out with the school outcast at this point was not wise.
" Nonetheless, you are correct. You see someday it is hoped that both races can live happily."
" What's next letting the muggles in on our little secret?" Bellatrix joined in this time, " I don't think it would be safe, and it's not safe for that little twit to walk among us! Its not safe, she could be using her powers against us! They can take us over! I will be telling my parents about this."
Dillyweed sighed and shook her head, " It's a real pity, seeing as Eridani and you are named after stars you two could be the best of friends."
Narcissa and Bellatrix glared at Dillyweed, who felt uncomfortable, wishing she had never taught the lesson.
Just as she was going to assign the class a reading assignment, Minerva McGonagall came into the classroom looking very grave.
" Merced," Minerva whispered pulling Dillyweed aside. She said something into her ears, which caused Dillyweed to clasp her hand over her mouth.
" How did this happen? Why?" She asked.
The students had no idea of what was going on. Minerva quickly left the room to inform all the other teachers. Dillyweed stood still and took a deep breath.
"Class is dismissed. Please return to your dorms quickly."
The students began to file out of the classroom confused and some scared.
" Madame Dillyweed what's happened?" said Lily Potter. Dillyweed looked like she was about to cry, but when she tried to reply, nothing came out of her mouth. Lily hugged her, knowing that what probably happened was not good news.
Severus came out of the classroom feeling a little unnerved. Another thing that popped into his mind is why Dillyweed did talk about Elves. Although she seemed supportive of the elves, it appeared that she was in denial about her own feelings concerning them. Snape mulled over this as he went towards his dorm.
Slughorn was awaiting his entire house to enter the common room to tell them the bad news. Eventually all of them came in and looked attentively at him.
" Children, the Ministry of Magic has suffered a horrible attack. I am afraid there are many casualties, if the following students can please come forward." Slughorn said gravely.
It was then that students began to panic, because many had parents whom worked at the Ministry. They knew that if they heard their name being called it meant that they had lost someone precious. Slughorn continued to call names, many had lost a father a mother an older sibling or just about everyone they held close.
Severus of course stayed passive as always, not letting anyone's loss bother him.
" Snape, Severus." Slughorn called, his voice now very hoarse. Severus felt his knees buckle slightly. He took a deep breath and went over to receive the news.
" Severus your mother, Eileen, is dead." Slughorn said quietly. Snape shook his head.
" What?" He said.
" My boy, my poor boy." Slughorn said patting him in the shoulder.
" No you don't understand my mother doesn't work in the ministry." Snape said gulping.
Slughorn's eyes narrowed slightly, " I'm afraid, there was no mistake, She was killed in the attack."
Snape nodded and left Slughorn, he didn't feel sad, just numb. Why was his mother at the ministry? What about his father, he should have died, he worked at the ministry.
He looked around the common room and saw that friends and siblings were comforting people.
Snape had no one.
Time seemed to slow down and the only thing Snape heard was mournful cries and anger.
No one was allowed to leave the common room the rest of the day; for fear that the school might as well be under attack.
Several days after the attack, the school was very empty with about half of the student body gone. Many had gone to attend funerals and others had simply been pulled out of school. Many felt that their children would be safer at home, and that was most likely true.
Dumbledore had spent many days comforting students, talking about the attack and giving advice. However, no one gave any details about why they were attacked or who did it.
Severus had written an owl to his Father, but he did not reply, Snape decided he didn't care anymore and went to the library.
He entered the library, as always it was empty and very quite. Snape then went on a quest to find a book on Occlumency. His fingers scanned the spine of the manuscripts, but none seemed to contain anything based upon what he was looking for. However, just as he was about to ask a librarian, a book slowly came out of place. Snape looked at it, not quite sure as to whether he should go near it. The book again made another movement, threatening to fall off the shelf.
He went over to it and saw that it was about Occlumency; the big Golden letters on the spine let him know that. He hesitantly pulled it out of the shelf.
" Zombie?"
Snape blinked and looked at the gap left by the book. Eridani was looking at him form the opposite side of the bookshelf.
" What are you doing here?" He said.
" Hiding."
" From who?" Snape said annoyed.
" Everyone."
" How did you know?" Snape then asked about the book.
" Just a hunch."
" Have you been following me?" Snape remarked suddenly very upset.
" Well…I needed to talk to you."
" About what? You aren't supposed to talk to me during the day." Snape whispered.
" Well, sorry to break our little agreement, but I need to know about what happened." Eridani whispered back.
Snape exhaled and shook his head, " No one knows, at least they are not telling us."
" Yes, well, I had the biggest depression of my life in the past couple of days." Eridani said very sadly.
Snape realized that with all the grief going around, Eridani must have picked up all of it.
" I never felt so alone and numb." Eridani said, trying to avoid tears.
Snape rolled his eyes, he still felt nothing, and the passing of his mother meant nothing to him.
Eridani's eyes widened slightly, " Did you lose anyone?"
Severus shook his head.
After some hesitation Eridani continued, " Who do you think was responsible?"
" I don't know, again no one has given any details."
" Well I hope they find out. It is just horrible, what they are did." Eridani said calmly.
Snape shook his head, " Probably muggles." Snape said quietly.
Eridani agreed, " They won't rest till the entire planet has been destroyed."
"Yeah, well, I have to be going now." Snape said placing the book away in his pouch.
" Right then, see you tonight?" Eridani said softly.
Snape nodded and he walked away. Eridani shook her head as she saw him leave.
"Poor, Zombie."
After finishing yet another detention, Snape went over to the Quidditch field late at night to find Eridani.
He deftly avoided Filch, who was busy mumbling to his Mrs. Norris. Snape decided that instead of leaving through the main doors however, he would go out one of the windows.
As soon as he made the descent he ran through the long winding path that lead to the field.
At the entrance he saw a dark shadow leaning against the door. It was Eridani, waiting for him patiently by the door.
" Ready?" She said as he came towards her. Snape nodded and opened the gate.
" So, I am going to ask just one more time." Eridani stated, " Did you loose anyone?"
Snape's eyes narrowed, he didn't want to talk about Eileen. The woman was not his mother; she was never fit to be his mother.
" You can tell me." Eridani said, " I won't tell anyone if you cry." She said placing her hand on his shoulder.
Snape shook off her hand and continued to walk down to the center of the field.
Eridani sighed, " Well, I have learned a lot about how you people grieve, some of you cry till your eyes come out of their sockets. Others become vengeful and others, simply won't accept the truth."
"Don't tell me Elves don't cry over their dead," Snape retorted.
" No we cry, we cry a lot, but we don't hide it or let it consume us. We celebrate death." Eridani said, " I mean, I suppose it is more cheerful when people die because of old age, or combat."
" What are you trying to say Eridani?"
" Death isn't the end Severus."
" Right, I suppose not with all the ghosts flying around the school." Snape said. He noticed, that Eridani had the knack of not always getting to the point immediately He found it amusing as much as it was irritating.
" So," Eridani said plopping down on the grass, " What are you going to teach me?"
"Wait just a minute." Snape said suddenly recovering a memory, " what the heck was going on between you and Narcissa?"
" You know that piece of trash?" Eridani said frustrated.
" Yes, but why didn't you stop them?" Severus said irritated.
" I can't, I'll get into trouble. They won't let me off as easy as they did you."
" You could have thrown them out of a window, or made a statue fall on them."
" Why didn't you do anything?" Eridani said looking very goaded now.
Snape became silent.
" Yeah, let me guess you didn't want to risk letting everyone know that Severus Snape gives a care." Eridani said, " I respect that, honestly I do, but you could have done something."
" You didn't ask."
" You made it perfectly clear that you didn't want people to know we were friends." Eridani said and then she changed her tone, " It doesn't matter okay. At least someone else was kind enough to lift the curse."
" You're welcome." Snape mumbled.
Eridani's eyes widened, " That was you?"
Snape exhaled and went to open a book on spells, " Okay, the spell you are going to learn today is Expelliarmus."
Eridani shook her head with a wide grin on her face, " Expelliarmus?"
"Yes, are you deaf? With ears that size I would be surprised," Snape said acidly.
Eridani put her hands over her ears thinking they do offend people. Snape cocked an eyebrow and went back to his book.
" Now I don't know how you're going to do this without a wand." Snape said uncertainly.
" Let me borrow yours." Eridani said evenly.
Snape looked fearfully at his wand, " I don't know, weren't you just saying how your people don't need wands?"
" I was exaggerating," She said sticking out her hand to receive the wand. Snape shook his head as he handed her his wand.
" Okay be careful with it," Snape said nervously, " Now all you need to do is firmly shout the spell and aim it at something, this spell is usually used to disarm an opponent."
" Right then, hold out your book," She said, " Lets hope I don't incinerate it."
" Right." Snape said, bracing for the worst.
" Expelliarmus!" Eridani yelled and aimed the wand towards the book.
The wand seemed to make a farting sound and then a little yellow light bounced onto the book and then nothing.
" Anticlimactic eh?" Eridani said frustrated.
" No one learns it the first time." Snape said relieved.
Snape has no intentions of ever letting his mother's passing affect him; in fact he didn't bother to go to the funeral. What will he do with all these repressed emotions? Conspiracies begin to fly around in the next chapter!