Chap. 21: Suspicions
Vladimir grumbled, his head pounding.
It was another day in DADA, and Quirrell was just as bad as usual. And lately, he couldn't help but notice that the stuttering teacher would give him weird looks when it looked like no one was looking. Not just weird as how they looked, but weird for who held them. They were steady, dark looks. The kind that Vladimir would get from someone like the Molfoys'; not some skittish, stuttering teacher.
And it wasn't just Vladimir that had seen it. Sometimes Ron or Hermione would tell Vladimir that Quirrell was giving him "that look" again. Of course, Crimson was never able to tell him, because she always took off during this part of the day, not wanting to be around the smells that followed the man, and during meals and in the halls, he was surrounded by too many people to pull the look off unnoticed- even if he was still noticed in the classes.
And just to add to the whole issue involving the professor, there were moments when Vladimir felt waves of some sort emitting from the man, normally during the time he was looking at Vladimir. They too were dark, and almost seemed to be full of hate. And it always delivered a nasty amount of pressure to his head, and he swears it made his scar burn with white pain.
And it was no different this day.
In fact, it seemed to be worse than most. For the 30th time since Quirrell had entered the classroom, Vladimir felt that wave of darkness, soon followed by the added pressure and burning scar.
It was the last straw. He couldn't handle it anymore.
Standing up abruptly, his chair knocking backward, he cut the silence in the room and had everyone looking at him and whispering. But he wasn't paying them any attention. He was looking at Quirrell, as he stood there quivering, a frightened look in his eyes.
"M-m-mis-mister H-hel-lsing…? S-s-s-somth-ing the m-m-matter….?" Quirrell stuttered out.
"Who are you…?" Vladimir practically hissed, enticing more whispers as some wondered what he said, and other that had heard relayed what they think he said.
"W-w-w-what do you m-m-mean, Mister H-hell-sing…?"
Vladimir looked at him, long and hard, and focused. He wasn't entirely sure if he was seeing it right, given all the shadows cast by the candles, but he swore he could see a dark aura around the teacher.
Without saying anything else, Vladimir left, his head pounding too much to focus by now. He just needed to get out of there.
He had no idea where he was going once he was out of the classroom, but before he knew it, he found himself in an empty corridor, leaning on the wall, his head still pounding, but unable to focus on walking anymore.
Sliding down to the floor, he decided he'd rest there until he had the strength to get back up. But, just has he settled on the floor, a voice called out angrily.
"Mr. Hellsing, what are you doing out of class?" came the voice of Severus Snap.
Looking up, Vladimir saw the man striding down the hall toward him.
So much for resting. Using the wall for support, he tried to get up, and almost managed it before his legs decided to give out completely.
Luckily, Snap broke his fall.
"Mr. Hellsing? What is wrong with you? Get up!"
But it was no use. Vladimir had blacked out.
Vladimir was walking around, not entirely sure where he was headed, aside from the fact that it looked like the library. He just didn't know why, but at the same time, he had a destination to get to.
He was in the restricted section, a section that he'd wanted to get into, but the first years weren't allowed. Well, not really because they just weren't allowed, but all years had to have special permission to be able to access the books there, and that permission came from the teachers. And since the lessons from first year students shouldn't require the books there, they essentially weren't allowed.
So why was he here now? He certainly didn't remember getting permission. Actually, come to think of it, he didn't even remember opening the gated door to get in. He'd just sort of… found himself there, and started moving with a purpose.
Turning a corner, he paused when he saw Miss Norris, the caretaker's Cat. He knew he wasn't supposed be back there, and knew that the cat would, dare he say it, rat him out.
Knowing it was pretty much a hopeless effort, he was about to turn back and hide somewhere, but then he realized that she couldn't see him. In fact, it was only then that Vladimir realized that he wasn't solid, as she walked right through his shins.
Blinking, he looked down at himself to find that he could see through his limbs and everything. It was like he was a ghost. Had he seriously died? He didn't remember dying, or having had something happen to cause him to die. What had he been doing before he found himself in the restricted section…?
Well, it didn't matter, as a new thought popped up. If he were a ghost, then Miss Norris would have seen him, as shown by all the other ghosts in the school. Even if she was used to them, she'd still have shown a sign of having registered he was there.
So not a ghost…
Then what did that make him? It could all be just a dream, but there was something that told him otherwise. It was the detail, there was simply too much of it to make it a dream. Everything from looks to sound was crystal clear.
And speaking of sounds…
"P-p-p-please… S-snap…" came the unmistakable stutter of Quirrell. Walking towards it, he found that Snap had Quirrell pinned to the side of a bookshelf, his turban askew.
"What's this…?" Vladimir muttered, as he drifted closer. His scar prickled the closer he got, but there was something that kept drawing him in.
And then he heard it. A voice, hissing but apparently unheard to Snape, but Vladimir was sure it came from Quirrell.
"Get out of here you fool! We need to hurry and find the stone!" the voice hissed out. Quirrell hadn't said it but he'd reacted to it. Snap would have seen it as Quirrell jumping in surprise, or just quivering, but Vladimir had seen the change in his fearful eyes. They went from scared to real fear.
"The stone!" the voice demanded again, so load that it made Vladimir jump
And suddenly he wasn't in the restricted section anymore, but looking up at the worried faces of Hermione, Ron, and Madam Pomfree.
"Wha…?" he mumbled, sitting up.
"Vlad!" Ron said, surprised.
"Oh, Vladimir, you're finally awake!" Hermione said, hugging him.
"How long was I out…?" he said, patting Hermione on the back before gently pushing her off of him so he could sit back on the pillows.
"About a day and a half." Madam Pomfree said, checking his temperature. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine, I guess. A bit dizzy I suppose, but not that much." Vladimir said.
"And can you tell us if you remember anything?"
"Um… I think the last thing I remember was Snap asking me what I was doing out of class."
Madam Pomfree nodded, her face stern by relieved.
"That's good; it means you didn't lose any memories."
But Vladimir wasn't listening now. He was recalling his dream, with Snape and Quirrell.
"I need to see Professor Snape." Vladimir said, shoving the blankets off and getting up. Of course, Madam Pomfree would have none of it.
"Now listen here young man, you need to stay in bed until you're completely okay. You only just woke up!"
"I'm fine. See?" he said, standing. It was only thanks to Hermione and Ron holding onto his back that kept him from wobbling, but fortunately Madam Pomfree didn't notice them doing this.
Staring at him, she realized that you never try and stare down a Hellsing and expect to win.
"Huh… Fine, but I want you to come back here after you see Snape so I can make sure you really are fine."
Vladimir nodded and turned to leave, thankfully over his momentary dizziness from getting up. Hermione and Ron were soon to follow.
"Vladimir, what's this all about? Why do you want to see Snape?" Hermione asked, keeping a steady eye on him in case he got dizzy again.
"Yeah, I mean, I know he took you to the hospital wing an all, but…"
"It's not that I'm wanting to thank him- though I'm not against doing that either- and don't give me that look, it's only right." Vladimir said as he saw Ron's incredulous look. "There's something that I need to ask him about."
"Ask him what?" Ron said, almost hysterical.
Stopping, Vladimir turned to face them. "Look, I had a dream, although I'm willing to bet it wasn't a dream at all, but…" he looked at him, not sure if they'd believe what he was going to say.
"What is it Vladimir?" Hermione asked, worry in her eyes.
"I'm thinking it was astral projection." He said.
"Astra what?" Ron said, completely confused.
"Basically, I think I was having an out of body experience. My soul left my body, and went off somewhere."
"Vlad, that's crazy! You'd have to be a ghost to have your soul wandering!" Ron said.
"That doesn't matter right now." Hermione said sternly, and then turned to Vladimir, "But what does it have to do with Snape?"
"Well, I saw him, and Quirrell. He had Quirrell pinned to a bookshelf in the restricted section."
"Wait, wait, Quirrell? I know the man's stuttering can get annoying, but seriously, to actually attack him for it…?" Ron said. "And by the way, what was with you running off during class?"
"Not the problem right now, Ron, sorry, but I'll tell you later." Vladimir said, and then continued. "Snape hadn't attacked him because of that. He seemed to be suspicious of Quirrell about something. And if I'm right in saying that, then I think he has right to be suspicious, and he might even know something."
"Why would he be suspicious?" Hermione asked.
"Because there's something odd about Quirrell. And I think I might have found out a bit about what might be off about him. See, when I was there, there was something calling out, hissing, demanding that Quirrell find some stone… Snape didn't hear it, but I know it came from Quirrell, but when it spoke, Quirrell seemed more afraid of it than of Snape.
"So I need to talk to Snape and see if what I saw actually happened, and if so, see if Snape knows anything."
With that Vladimir turned and made his way down the corridor. After striding down a few corridors, he felt slightly irked when he remembered he had portals that he could use to get the dungeons faster.
And with that, he summoned a portal- unfortunately causing him to be slightly dizzy, but he refused to back down just yet- and walked through, re-emerging in front of the potions master's office door, Ron and Hermione right behind him.
Knocking, he heard the grumbled reply of Snap. "Come in."
Opening the door, he nodded for the other two to stay out in the hall and wait for him; they had no objections.
Walking in, he met the eyes of Snap, who looked as surprised as he could get to seeing Vladimir in his office.
"And what can I do for you, Mr. Hellsing…?" he asked, rather sarcastically.
Vladimir didn't want to delay, as he was admittedly a bit weaker due to the portal, so he asked straight out, "Did you attack Professor Quirrell last night?"
Snape's widened in surprise, but covered it with a suspicious look.
"And why would you want to know a thing like that?"
Vladimir took that as a yes, he did.
"Because if your suspicious of Quirrell, they you have reason to be."
The potions master raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why, assuming I do have suspicions about the man, should I have reason?"
"Because, last night, I saw the two of you, but-"
"Mr. Hellsing, you were in the infirmary last night, and quite out of it if I remember correctly."
"Astral projection. That's not exactly the point right now. Look, I saw you two. You had Quirrell pinned to a bookshelf in the restricted section. You didn't hear it, but I did, and I know Quirrell did too. Some voice came from him, his mind or something, like he has a separate personality. It was telling him to find some stone."
Snape's eyes narrowed, his face serious now. Standing, he leaned on his desk, and glared levelly at Vladimir. "Thank you, Mr. Hellsing, for your insightfulness, but I believe it is time you left now. You should learn to speak better about your professors. 20 points from Gryffindor."
Vladimir sighed, having expected to lose some points for his house, but he wanted answers from Snape, so he wasn't leaving.
"Why are you suspicious of him?"
"I never said I was." Snape said, still standing.
"But you are. What about him made you suspicious? Most wouldn't suspect a stuttering, scared fool of a teacher, but you do. Why?"
"Mr. Hellsing, I suspect that you are getting into something too deep, and perhaps a bit over your head, and I suggest that you leave it. Now."
Vladimir glared at him for a second, before turning and leaving.
Opening the office door, he saw Ron and Hermione sitting on the floor, looking up when he walked out.
"How did it go?" Hermione asked, hopping up.
"He's suspicious, that's for sure." Vladimir said with a grumble.
"So he didn't say anything?" Ron asked.
"Nope. I only got that much, because of facial expressions and the last thing he said, saying I was getting into something too deep and a bit too over my head."
Hermione's eyes shown with worry. "Vladimir, maybe he's right. Maybe it is too much for you…"
Vladimir shook his head. "Whether or not it is, I can't just leave it be."
"But why?" she asked.
"Because whatever it is, it's affecting me. I know that stuttering fool act is just that, an act. And he's got some problem with me. Those looks he gives me… it's like I did something to him."
Hermione and Ron traded looks, but decided there was no point in trying to stop him. Instead, they changed the subject.
"Vlad, mate, you're pale. Maybe we should get you to Madam Pomfree…"
Vladimir nodded, allowing his friends to lead him- he hadn't the strength to pull off another portal- while he thought in silence.
AN: Woot! And another chapter down! I have one more day till I move into my dorm, and then I have till the 25th for my classes to begin, so let's hope I can keep this ball rolling!
O.O I might even finish Vladimir's first year before my first year starts… lol
Anyway, so what do you think? I absolutely didn't want to cut out the scene of Snape attacking Quirrell, so I had to have that, and I know it's a bit late in getting there, but… eh… :P Not too sure what I'm going to do about the whole Quirrell's attempt on Harry's life during a game, but I'll figure it out… Hmm… to be honest, I kinda forgot if I had Vladimir join the Quittage team this year or not… I keep meaning to go back and check, but I've been so focused on writing the next chaps. that I never get around to it- gotta get the story down before the spark runs out, you know?
So, because I don't know what to do about that yet, I'ma let you guys give me some ideas. The best idea I see, I'll take, but it needs to happen soon, like, within this next two chaps. So hurry and get some ideas in! (And I'll be sure to make a special mention to you and give you a cyber-cupcake ^-^)
Alright, well, I'ma go watch some anime, and get to writing the next chap. in a bit. Bye!