-1The Downside of Sleeping Spells - Chapter Two

"What is it, Albus?"

Dumbledore looked away, shameful, sorrowful, and it unsettled Severus very much.

"Voldemort's vial is gone. I disguised it to look like nothing more than a potion, but it seems someone stole it from here last night."

Severus felt as if he was electrocuted. Gone? Voldemort couldn't be gone- it was safe here. It was safe in Hogwarts with Dumbledore there. There was no way anyone could have gotten in. Unless…

"Do you suspect it was… one of our own?"

The old headmaster merely nodded.

"Though I don't have a clue as to whom. We have several new professors this year, and the students don't make me feel anymore safe. Minerva has already checked on Lucius and administered Veritaserum. And it seems he really doesn't have any idea who or what might have taken him."

"The portraits?" He was racking his brain for any idea.

"The perpetrator stayed in the dark, he or she knew exactly where it was. Which troubles me even greater."

Severus was hesitant to ask… "But… how…?"

"I thought I heard a commotion outside my office, so I went to look. There was nothing so I came back and slept. I've only just noticed." His eyes were watery, as if he might cry, but he sounded as resilient as ever, just a little weary.

"That is… unfortunate…"

Severus didn't know what to say beyond that. Now Voldemort was back on the loose again. It hadn't been a happy three months, but at least the threat was diminished. Now it was back, full force.

"I want you to continue your role as a student here, watch the students and the professors. If anything is amiss, report to me directly."

"Yes, Headmaster." He answered and swept out of the room.

He shouldn't be angry at the old man, but he was. He felt guilty about being angry as well, but there was nothing that he could do. If it had been him, he wouldn't have taken the bottle out of his pocket, but Dumbledore was worried.

He shouldn't be angry.

x

"Have a good time at school, Ginny. We'll visit you as much as we can." Ron hugged his sister and gave her a kiss on the forehead. She managed a smile and said, "Yeah, right."

"We promise," Harry added, embracing her as well. His kiss however was on the lips and made Ron's ears turn red.

He cut in, "That's enough, you two. Mom wants the car back, so let's go Harry."

He laughed and looked back down to Ginny, "If you ever, ever need me, just send an owl or a letter, or whatever, okay? I love you Ginny."

"Love you too."

She walked toward the train, luggage dragging behind her. Climbing aboard, she struggled to put her suitcase in the over-head compartment. However, she was standing on her tiptoes and lost her footing. The suitcase came at her head and she closed her eyes, trying to duck, when at the last second, someone caught it from behind her.

She opened her eyes and saw the hand that had saved her. She instantly recognized it; she had watched the long, pale fingers for nearly seven years now.

Severus Snape pushed the bag into the compartment and closed it.

She turned to face him, but before she could thank him, he said quietly, "After you."

Surprised, she went into the compartment and sat down waiting for him to explain himself.

He must've put seventeen different spells and charms on the door before she finally asked, "Professor, what's going on?"

He finished his spell and turned around. He had a somewhat grave expression, troubled, anxious... fearful? Whatever it was, it have her an unpleasant feeling.

Finally, he sat down and sighed.

He leaned forward and spoke low, "Apparently, Voldemort has returned to his regular form. And no one knows where he is."

Ginny gasped, "How did he get out from Dumbledore?"

Snape shook his head, "Dumbledore went to investigate a noise he heard outside his office. When he came back, Voldemort's vial was gone."

"But how..."

"We don't know. It couldn't have been an invisibility cloak, and he sent McGonagall down to the dungeon and Lucius hadn't a clue what was happening. Whoever it was, was in the school, and most likely still is. We all need to keep and open eye and ear for anything that is suspicious."

Ginny was thinking fast, about what to say or think. How could this have happened? And at the worst possible moment, too. Days before Hogwarts started again...

"But, they're going to keep the school open, right?"

He shrugged his shoulders and sat back against the seat. "For now."

It was silent for a few minutes. Then Ginny spoke again, "So why are you telling me?"

Snape looked at her, his eyes alive, it seemed.

"We're the only ones left, aren't we? To contact Potter through owl would be mad. All the staff knows, Hermione is still... asleep. Face it, you're the only one left of your group. And I've no one else either. I had to share with someone."

Ginny almost laughed. But she only smiled and looked out the window. "True," she said.

They were mostly silent for the rest of the ride, commenting every once in awhile. It wasn't awkward though; it was quite comfortable.

She watched him as he stared at the window vacantly. Ginny couldn't possibly imagine what he was going through. If that had been Harry, she don't know what she would do. He loved Hermione so deeply, and she didn't find it strange at all. Her mum didn't approve, but she thought it was mostly because Hermione essentially turned down Ron for Snape.

Soon, they arrived and they started to climb off the train. He helped her once more

"Ginny!" Ginny frowned at the unfamiliar voice and turned around to see who was calling her.

She saw a boy with curly chocolate hair and brown eyes.

Her face relaxed as she recognized Riley Schmidt, fingers laced with and followed by Gina Goyle.

"Oh, hey guys. What's up?"

"We've been looking for you, that's all. We need to stick together this year, don't you think?" Gina suggested, flashing a near-perfect smile.

Ginny had written back and forth with them a few times over the summer, but that didn't eliminate some of the awkwardness she was feeling now. They only got to know each other the last few weeks of school.

"Professor." "Professor."

Riley and Gina greeted Snape with a nod and a half-smile.

"Mr. Schmidt, Miss Goyle. I hope your father-"

"I hope my father rots in Azkaban, Professor, in all due respect." She said sweetly, causing Riley to wince and Ginny's eyebrows to raise.

"Well, your brother-"

"Will be out of Juvenile Azkaban shortly. Thank you for your concern, Professor."

Snape didn't try to follow up again, but simply nodded, hiding his slight-shock. Gina smiled again and led the way off the train.

"I must ask that you all don't address me as 'professor.' I am Sloan. Don't forget. We can't risk my cover being blown still.

They all nodded in understanding.

The feast was short as the only thing Dumbledore said was, "Watch your back."

Not only that, there were only 2 tables in the Great Hall. Nearly three-fourths of the Slytherin house was gone. And half of both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were gone. Most Gryffindors remained, however. There were only 9 new first years.

So they all sat congregated and ate quickly to get to bed faster.

"Wait, wait a moment, before you all go, one announcement," Dumbledore rose and waited for everyone to sit back down, "We have removed the Slytherin Common Room from our school. We feared it too dangerous and that there was too much potential of invasion. So we have converged the new Slytherin Common Room with Gryffindors. Ravenclaw, your Common Room is now converged with Hufflepuffs. Needless to say, Slytherins follow Gryffindors, and Ravenclaws, follow Hufflepuffs. Goodnight to you all."

The mood in the Castle was gloomy, and there was no doubt it would be like that all year. She wondered when she could go visit Hermione.

"Awesome, Ginny, maybe we'll get to be roommates, now." Gina said excitedly.

"Oh yeah, "Ginny said and managed a smile, "that would be great."

She could have sworn she heard Snape chuckle but when she looked he looked as serious as ever.

When they entered their new common room (password: Scales and Tails,) the first thing they saw was a picture of a snake wrestling a lion. Ginny sighed.

She turned to Snape as Riley and Gina started a long "goodnight kiss."

"Well, sir, I guess, I'll see you in the morning. Will you be going to classes?"

"I suppose."

"Will you, um... meet me for breakfast?" She said before she changed her mind.

He didn't hesitate, but promptly replied, "Of course, Ginevra. I'll be here at seven."

"Goodnight." She walked away, and heard him softly reply, "Good night..."

Ginny felt a little warm as she walked up to the dorms. But she couldn't figure out why, it was already cold outside.

Soon she was joined by Gina and they looked over their new dorm room list.

"Hmm, I don't know any of these other people." Gina frowned.

Ginny shrugged, "They're not bad, I suppose."

They went into new dorm and the other three girls were already asleep. Ginny was thankful she could get some rest and wouldn't have Gina talking in her ear the whole night.

She liked her well enough, but she needed sleep.

Ginny kicked off her shoes and pulled back the covers, drowning in the cool sheets.

Almost instantly, she fell asleep.

x