Some people update in a week...
Some make it a habit of daily...
But the one's who don't do for months...
Are actually called sod and lazy...
-by me. But I'm not lazy... It's just I've been very busy.. Extremely..
Anyways...
HERE IT IS...
HAPPY READING...
PLEASE REVIEW AND VOTE LET ME KNOW AM I IMPROVING OR NOT. PLEASE MAKE IT WORTH THE WAIT FOR ME.
(This chapter is unedited. since I'm already late in posting hence I'm not proofreading it. Point out the mistakes and I'll correct them accordingly)
I adore you all...
December 26,1991.
"Mum, I have to, please" Harry whined.
"No, you don't. I've had a chat with Minerva and she doesn't seem to notice any of your things left at school. Besides, it's not as if you can't make up for it after the holidays. I'm sure Filius will understand that" Lily said concretely.
"But, then I have quidditch practice and all. I won't have time for the assignment."
"Then you skip the quidditch, Harry. No arguments."
"You don't just skip the quidditch, Lily. It's a.. Uh.. Crime" James intervened but she paid him no mind.
"Mum, Ron and Hermione are coming too. I promised them I'd be there."
"You mean to say you already knew you'd be forgetting your charms book under your quilt" Lily said, arms crossed on her chest.
"No... I.. Uh... I mean on train. When I mentioned it to them. We agreed to meet at Hogsmeade station on twenty-eighth."
"Not convinced, Harry. No, you're not going back early."
"But Lils, it's not like they'll be wasting time sneaking away to forbidden forest or something. They're going to study for a few extra days, although I don't really get it why, but what's the harm" James supplied again but got an annoying look from his wife again.
Harry's eyes widened at his father's words. He masked his expression so as to not give away anything.
"Yeah, mum. Dad's right".
She gave him the same look she gave James before she huffed and said, "Fine, I'll consider".
"That's progress" James muttered under his breath.
Later that day, Harry was finishing up his potion's homework under the watchful eyes of Lily in the study. He was about to start conclusion when a thought popped up in his mind.
"Mum"
"Mhh hmm" Lily hummed her eyes off the charms book she was reading.
"Was it over that night?" Harry asked.
"What was over at which night?" Lily queried not giving the question her full attention.
"Godric's Hollow. Halloween night"
"What about it?" His mum further asked still engrossed in the book.
"Voldemort was not dead that night" Harry spoke bluntly.
This perked her up as she gave him a scandalous look and got up from her seat to sit next to him.
"Harry, we've discussed it before and decided this is not something to give attention. What happened in the past, you cannot change that. So, stop thinking about it." She told him seriously.
"But people think he's not gone completely" Harry continued.
"That's people's way of-...Wait, which people do you mean, by the way?" She asked him.
Uh ho.
"I.. I have heard.. Uhm.. Things, you know"
"Harry, son, have you been listening to something you shouldn't" Lily inquired with a serene tone.
"I wasn't eavesdropping. It's just I was just past the tapestry, they may not have seen me and I heard headmaster Dumbledore telling professor McGonagall that he didn't think it was over that night" Harry explained.
Lily thought for a few seconds before getting up, "Dumbledore speaks many things no one understands. I'm sure even Minerva would be confused as to what he meant by that" She walked to her previous seat and picked up the book.
"You shouldn't fret over those things, Harry. It was just a random attack on us just like over many families at that time. It's not about you or us, our family. It never was. Now finish up the conclusion, I want to see it next fifteen minutes" She walked to the door and before exiting turned to him once more.
"And yeah, sweety, Moly is a powerful plant that can be eaten to counteract enchantments. It is a black-stemmed plant with white flowers. And if my memory persists, it doesn't have a double 'L' and definitely not the other name for dittany" She said before walking out of the door.
"What?" Harry turned to his parchment, indeed, he did make the mistake she mention. 'But when did she even look at it'. He sighed and went back to his work after correcting the error.
Before the dinner, Harry once again thought of bringing up the same subject with his father but decided against it. He knew his reaction would be no different than his mum. So, he, instead, targeted the third adult in the house.
He found Remus in the potion's lab. He was working on some strange black potion with faint blue smoke.
"What's that?" He asked surprising Remus. Remus who didn't notice him entering, fumbled with his wand, almost dropping it into the hot liquid.
"Ohh, Harry. Give the man a warning next time."
"Sorry" Harry said, guilty.
"It's okay, cub. So, how come you're here at this hour?"
"Uhm... I was wondering if you could tell me something which mum refuses to talk about" Harry started. He waited for Remus to say something before continuing.
"What is it?" The scarred man asked.
"Can Voldemort come back to life?"
There was silence for a few seconds during which Harry was doubting his idea of bringing up the subject with Remus. He was about to excuse himself and take a voluntary exit when Remus spoke up.
"He was a very dark wizard, Harry. One who was so buried in the dark arts that he lost his very soul in it. I don't know what capabilities he'd gone to during his terror reign but I know for one thing coming back to life is not easy, not to mention, It's against the laws of magic. So, as your mother says, don't fret over things that don't concern you."
Harry listened intently to Remus speech before he nodded, "I guess, yeah. One more thing" He asked.
Remus gave him a mock look before nodding.
"What do you know about the philosopher stone and how to make one?"
"Nothing. Because all the information Flamels had about it was destroyed with them. They never talked about it to anyone or wrote anything about it"
Remus words concerned Harry, because if Flamels never had a book about the stone, which book is Snape after and what was it Dumbledore was talking about.
He left Remus to his strange potion and never mentioned anything to any of the adults for the next couple of days.
28th of December arrived too soon much to Lily's chagrin and unwillingly she had to let her son go back to school before the end of holiday's.
His father apparated him to Hogsmeade station. The father son duo walked up rest of thr way to the castle. The silence was unsettling so James broke it.
"You know, son, when I said about how you're not gonna sneak into forbidden forest or something"
Harry's ears perked up and he had an unsettling feeling creeping up his neck.
"Uh.. Yeah"
"You're not gonna do anything like that, are you"
"Dad, I told you I came to-"
"You're my son, Harry. No matter how much of your mother you have it in you, still you're my son. So, I'll ask again, you're not gonna do anything stupid, are you?"
Harry consider his options, "Dad, you both don't trust me?"
"Of course we do, Harry" James stopped and dropped to his level, "I know the chat you had with Remus. Harry, Voldemort is never coming back and even if he does, he wouldn't be after you, he never was. We were just a random name on his list. He's just a maniac killer who wants to rule over everyone. Much like those muggle TV shows you and your mother watch. Don't worry about him because now the ministry is much more powerful than those times. That is 'if', by any chance, he comes back"
Harry absorbed in everything his father said. Somehow, all these coming from his father gave him much more surety than he thought.
James stood up and they continued their stroll to the castle. A few more steps and Harry remembered something, "Dad, where's my trunk?"
"In your dorm" James answered automatically.
"How?"
James smirked at him, "magic".
They laughed as they reached the large double doors of the castle.
"So, Harry. This is it. Study hard and... No, no, no, that's your mother's lines. Uh.. Let me think." He made a show of thinking hard before shaking it off, "forget it, just enjoy yourself and Have fun".
"Yes, dad." Harry responded, wide smile on his face.
"And say a 'hello Mins' to Minerva, will you?" His father said.
"Dad, you know I can't" Harry smiled at him before he hugged his father goodbye and went inside the castle. James waving at his back before turning around to march down the psth back to Hogsmeade.
Ron and Hermione arrived later that day, just in the time for supper. He told them about the conversations with all the three adults.
"I don't understand. Why is it no one wants to talk about him? Isn't this making him more mortal than he ever was?" Harry muttered.
"Same" Hermione agreed. "It's like every book is jinxed against mentioning anything about him. Even Not a single book mentioned any information about him."
"I don't understand" Ron brought up, "why are you going through books? What good is it to us?"
Hermione huffed, "because, Ronald, every information in magical world comes down from books." She turned around to face away from him and concentrate on her food.
"What are we gonna do next? How will Dumbledore believe us? We're just bloody first years" Ron said with mouthful of food.
"Language, Ronald" Hermione supplied without looking away from her food.
"We will follow him" Harry said suddenly.
The other two turned at him with gobsmacked expressions.
"What!?"
"Harry, he's a teacher don't you think it'd be pretty hard to trick him. He'll know."
"Not if he can't see us" Harry said.
"What do you mean?" Ron and Hermione said together.
"I have to show you both something" He replied with a grin.
Harry, Ron and Hermione chose a secluded corner in the common room with a view of Hogwarts' grounds at one side and warm fireplace at the other. It wasn't hard to find such spot due to lack of student mob currently.
Currently, Ron and Hermione were sitting, waiting for Harry to fetch whatever he has to show them from his dorm.
Harry marched down the stairs excitedly and joined them holding something inside his robes.
"Finally! Now, what is it, Harry?" Hermione asked impatiently.
"This" Harry said, producing the silky, almost transparent fabric from his robe.
Hermione didn't have an idea but Ron could guess very easily.
"Holy Merlin, Harry. Where'd you get it?" He exclaimed.
"Christmas present from dad. He said it's a family heirloom" Harry answered.
"But what the hell it is?" Hermione interrupted before Ron could say anything.
"It's an invisibility cloak" Harry told her.
"Oh, but aren't they easily available. How come can it be a family heirloom?" She wondered out loud.
"I've got no idea. Dad said it's history is way beyond than his' and his father's times."
"Really. But... Yes, it looks different than the other invisibility cloak in the stores. See it's make. It's so... Uh... Fine" Ron said examining the cloak in his hands.
Harry could only nod in reply as he further told them his plan to follow Snape to the forest. The two friends listened to his plan, which was too risky to be flawless but still a good enough to work.
"But Harry, what if the invisibility cloak gives up in the middle? What if it's power wears off at some point?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked at her, "but why will it? It's from generations in the family and I've tried it many times at home. It works."
"But still you can't be too sure about these cloaks. The magic in them is not so residing" the brunette argued.
"Whatever, this is our best shot. We just have to trust it."
"Fine" She spoke but didn't sound convinced.
"What about Neville, how come he isn't here? Didn't he say he was gonna follow you" Ron asked.
"He would've if not for the distraction" Harry said with a smile.
"What do you mean, Harry?" the redhead asked.
"Well,... " Harry went off to tell them the story of his day back to home. He told them how she was sick but then his mum and healers cured her. How Neville reacted to reunion with his mum. How his father is gonna be okay soon too. At last they all agreed that while Neville's mind is off them, they had the best chance at busting Snape.
"So, now we just have to keep an eye on Snape's moves" Harry said.
The three friends talked some more about their Christmas and then went to bed to rest for the night.
The opportunity they were waiting for didn't come up until the day before the holiday ends.
It was the first day of the new year, grounds were covered with snow, giving it an unusual silvery glow. Harry usually keeps his invisibility cloak with him at all times.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting and talking in the clock tower courtyard after finishing up the lunch. It was then when Hermione saw a person with black cloak skulking his way to the forbidden forest. He was using large stones as a cover once a while.
She nudged Harry, who was listening to Ron gloating about beating the perfect prefect Percy in wizarding chess.
"Oww..What, Hermione?" Harry asked loudly.
She hushed him and pointed out the person.
"And then, it was only my father who lasted the longest. Charlie was the easiest one, the boy didn't know a thing about chess. And Ginny, uh.. She's still a baby so I don't think she'll be able to play, but I think... Heyyy, are you even listening, Harry" Ron said annoyingly, punching Harry lightly on the shoulder.
"Shh, Ronald" Hermione hushed him too. It was then Ron noticed what they've been watching.
"It's him, it's Snape" Ron thundered out loud and Hermione quickly stuffed her hand on his mouth.
"Shut up, you. Anyone would think you've got an embedded speaker phone in your neck".
"Sphhmr" Ron tried to speak with her hand on his mouth.
Hermione rolled her eyes and removed it, "what?".
"Spicker! What's a spicker?"
Hermione and Harry huffed, so much for being a pureblood.
"Forget it" Then said simultaneously.
"Should we go?" Harry asked looking at Hermione.
"I don't know. It's.. Uh.. I.. "
"Hell, yeah, we should" Ron said with an obvious look.
"No, maybe it's not safe. What if-"
"We'll be Invisible, Hermione" Ron said as Harry nodded.
Hermione looked between the man, who has snucked into the forest, and them back and forth before nodding.
"Okay. But we didn't know what's in there. We must have some back up" She said.
"What kind of backup?" Ron asked.
"We should tell someone we're going in the forest" She said.
Ron slapped his forehead, "and what exactly do you think they'll say.. 'Yeah, go ahead, all the very best for dying out there in the forest'.. No Hermione, we can't tell anyone"
Hermione gave them a look before saying, "Harry, now that I see it, I don't think it is wise for us to go alone in there. Sun sets anytime now. We don't know what we'll come across in there"
"Hermione, no adult will believe us. And if anything we know, it's that Voldemort coming back to life doesn't concerned them but me and my family. We have to take this matter into our hands" Harry said as he pulled out a quill and his cloak from his robes. He quickly scribbled a note and folded it.
"What's that, mate?" Ron asked.
"Backup" he said before walking over to Mr Filch, whom none of them noticed standing near the entryway, "Mr Filch, I was supposed to give this to headmaster Dumbledore but I don't know the password to his office. Can you deliver this to him"
Filch took the parchment from him and started opening it, "what's in it boy?"
"We're not supposed to know. It's a concealed message only for headmaster. Even I've not read it" Harry said, hastily stopping the caretaker from opening it.
Filch looked at him with a piercing gaze before nodding and marching back inside the tower.
"Why did you do that? Do you want them to find us?" Ron whined.
"No, I don't, Ron. I did it to fend off Filch. And don't worry about Dumbledore coz Filch will never find him." Harry told his mate.
"Why's that?" Hermione asked.
"Because" Harry said as he placed the invisibility cloak under his arm and started walking, "I overheard professor McGonagall telling some weird woman with large glasses about it. She was saying something about stars and earth".
"Must be professor Trelawny" Hermione interrupted.
"Whatever. So, I know he'll just wander off around the castle till he finds headmaster Dumbledore. And by the time he does we'll be done with our rendezvous." Harry finished with a smile.
Hermione raised her eyebrows at him as they reached the bridge, "when did you get so smart?"
"Evans genes"
"What?"
"Never mind"
With Filch gone, no one was there to pay much mind to them as they sneaked towards the bridge and ran to the standing stones.
Upon reaching there, the spared a glance at Hagrid's cabin which looked to be occupied, judging by the smoke coming out of the window. 'Another backup at hand' Harry thought as they moved past the stones towards the edge of the forest.
Once they entered the forest, Harry took the cloak and hurled it in the air and covered the three of them. Making sure that they were all completely covered brought them up very close to each other.
Due to the packed arrangement, they were unable to walk very fast and hence they lost the sound of walking along with the sight of the man before.
"Oh, no, were not gonna find him now" Ron moaned.
"We will, Ron. Don't give up. Let's just keep walking for a while" Harry urged.
They kept walking deeper into the woods, looking for any trace of Snape. Foot marks, black cloak... Anything.
Somehow all the three first years knew, this rendezvous of their's isn't gonna be as butter like smooth as before.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MEANWHILE AT ST MUNGO'S
"Are your sure you wanna do this, Ali? We did it last time too, me and McCarthy can handle it pretty good." Lily said to her best friend for the umpteenth time that day.
"Just Stop it, Lily. You're over doing it with your worry. I want to do it. It's my husband after all. Plus, you took a whole of two days explaining this charm to me. I won't let your teaching go in vain" Alice retorted.
She then nodded to Snape, on the other side of the room, "thank you for doing this, Severus."
Severus Snape nodded briefly in return, his expression not changing a bit. Lily looked awkwardly at him, remembering her last time they were doing this and the aftermath. The thought of that nightmare still gave her chills.
"Now, come on, let's wake this lazy husband of mine" The two friends pointed their wands at the sleeping form of Frank Longbottom just as Snape murmured the incantation.
"Leglimens"
The two woman followed after his nod a few seconds later,
"Cellulis aperire animum"
Just like last time, the cells inside the brain were severely damaged and it will too take alot of time to repair.
Severus dig as deeper in the Frank's mind as he could without losing his head. Alice and Lily, after diagnosing, went on repair the cells of his brain, one by one. Surely it was talking a lot of magic from them but still it was better than last time with one added person.
Healer McCarthy stood examining all the four persons in the room. Just as planned when she was ready to step up for any one of the woman must they feel need to to rest. The previous experience was enough for them to be prepared for every minute thing this time.
After sometime she saw Alice trembling with her wand. So, she took out her wand and muttered, "damnum reparo" and nudged Alice to break the spell and take a break.
Alice did that for quite sometime before she motioned Lily to take a break and took her position.
Unfortunately, they didn't have any backup for Snape's position. Hence, by the time they were finished with the spell Snape was down on the floor. He was gasping for breath as Alice and healer McCarthy went towards the patient.
Lily was the only one free so she went towards her old friend and helped him to sit up on a chair near by.
"Severus, you okay" She asked.
"Yeah... Just... A... Minute" Severus gasped out.
She handed him some water, which he gulped down at one go.
Meanwhile, healer McCarthy and Alice were beaming with joy at the results of their spell. Alice came running to Lily enveloping her in a big tight hug.
"It worked, Lils. It worked. He's gonna wakeup now. He'll remember me now" Lily could see tears of joy in her eyes evident in her eyes as she looked proudly at the group in room.
Severus too gave an inside smile as he stood up, when he could, and announced, "I'll leave then, if my requirement is fulfilled here"
"Sure, Mr Snape. I'm so glad you helped us with this insane operation" McCarthy said.
Alice and Lily said their thanks too as Snape walked out of the room. He was quite eager to get to Hogwarts at the earliest. Something tells him there's an air of confusion around it.
###################################
Argus Filch was never the one to like kids, especially of Hogwarts. He must've been amongst them but due to him being a squib he didn't get sorted and that fueled his hatred towards them. He always finds reason to punish the students. And if not that he'd just try to outsmart them all.
Today was one such opportunity for him as he strolled to the stairs to the headmaster's office. The Potter boy told him it was urgent for headmaster to read this parchment, that reason itself was enough for him to peek inside it to read the message.
'Something's wrong in the forbidden forest. We're following Snape. He is the one behind everything.' - H. J. Potter
Filch ran to courtyard back to find the trio gone. It was like they vanished into nothingness in a matter of seconds.
Finding this a perfect opportunity to get them expelled, the caretaker ran towards the headmaster's office to inform him of the same.
Upon turning the corner he saw the said oldman just standing in front of the gargoyle, about to enter his office.
"Headmaster! Headmaster Dumbledore" He shouted.
The headmaster stopped to turn towards him. It was then he noticed, Dumbledore wasn't alone but was accompanied by professor McGonagall.
Perfect.
"Students causing trouble" he said as he gave the parchment to the teachers and explained them the situation.
Albus Dumbledore read the parchment and then passed it on to head of the Gryffindor house.
"Mr Filch, the sun's about to set any time. Why don't you round up the young students from outside. Meanwhile, professor McGonagall and I will look into this matter" He said to the caretaker.
"Of course, headmaster. I ran to check up on the three of them but the just vanished in a matter of seconds" He said before turning back and leaving.
"Albus, you don't think they know, do you" McGonagall said once Filch left.
"Adults may sometimes underestimate the young one's. But sometimes young one's too underestimate the adults." He said thoughtfully.
"Albus, I-"
"Contact Hagrid, Minerva. He'll get them. And I should write a letter to Mr Potter about this" He said indicating the parchment in Minerva's hand.
"Oh, he'll be ecstatic to know his son has taken after him"
"Then I'll remember to address it to Mrs Potter too" He smiled as they parted ways.
Dumbledore entered his office and immediately went for the magically hidden cupboard behind the portrait of professor Dippet.
He waved his wand in an intricate patterns on the wall behind it to reveal a hidden section in his library. He found the book he was looking for and checked for any spells used on it.
He was happy to see that the book wad clear of any spell or touch. No one has touched it beside him. He kept the book back and hid the section again.
He strolled to the window with a view of the large dark forest. From the distance he could make out the small figure of Hagrid marching inside the forest with his crossbow in his hand.
He hoped it didn't come to this but it has. So, he sighed and sat on his chair, taking an lemon drop from the dish. He took out a parchment from his drawer to write the intended letter to Potters. How in the whole living world is he gonna explain it to them that there son is so imperfectly perfect combination of the two of them.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
'If only they had a map of forest with them' Hermione though as she digged deeper into the dark forest along with the two boys.
Last year if anyone would've asked, she'd have told them the most adventurous she could get to was skiing during Christmas. But now here she was marching into the dark forest in search of the man they were 'supposed' to follow.
Harry and Ron couldn't bear along anymore too. It's like they're crossing same path again and again.
At some point Harry was sure he could hear neighing and was bound to follow it but Hermione kept them on track.
They were almost in the middle of the forest when there was some ruffling towards their right and the huge form of Hagrid came into view.
He had his crossbow in hand and was scanning the area thoroughly.
The three students exchanged a look under invisibility cloak. They stayed there rooted on spot till Hagrid went away.
"Mate, next time don't make the plan" Ron said.
Harry blew a breath as Hermione too gave him a pointed look, "yeah, mate. I won't".
They went in the opposite direction to Hagrid, hoping they'd not cross him again.
Another hour later and they still hadn't found any trace of the black cloaked man, supposedly Snape, they were supposed to follow.
Hermione was just debating the fact of returning back to the castle stating they should've never considered this. But then Harry's voice broke into her thoughts.
"What's that?" He said pointing to the base of a large tree trunk where a small black cloth was tangled in a thorny bush.
The three of them exchanged a look before approaching the tree. Hermione picked up the rag and examined it. If the black colour and greasy texture wasn't something evidential, then the faint burning and foul potion's odour was enough to draw the conclusion regarding the identity of the owner.
"It's him. Snape." She confirmed Harry's suspicions.
"I knew it" He muttered as they looked around for any other clue as to where the greasy haired professor trailed further.
Hermione meanwhile walked ahead, unbeknownst to the two boys, and inspected the abnormally large tree. Something about it seemed strange to her. As if there's something not meant for the naked eyes of children. Strangely similar to how her parents keep there liquor collection away from the analytic eyes.
She took out her wand and muttered a simple spell she read about in a second year's book. The unusual flicker in air around the tree gave light to another of her insticts.
"It's here" She called out.
The two boys approached her and shared a sceptical look above her head when they didn't see anything.
"Uhh.. Hermione, what exactly are we supposed to see?" Ron asked.
"There is a hidden entrance in this tree. I think he went inside the tree." She said not taking her eyes off the tree.
Ron gave her an aghast look, "Hermione, I don't doubt you, mind you, and I appreciate your intelligence but I don't think there's much space inside a tree trunk to establish a hidden potions laboratory".
Harry looked amused as Ron challenged the insticts of 'never-so-wrong' Hermione Granger. He might give some points of bravery to his best mate. Hermione cut off his train of thoughts as she huffed loudly and faced Ron.
"Have you ever heard of magic, Ronald? You should know most about it, considering you've grown up in a magical household" She looked crossed at being challenged for her intelligence.
"What do you mean, Hermione?" Harry asked, speaking for the first time and at the right time so as to avoid any bickering match between the two.
She turned to him and spoke, "there is a charm for enlargement. The Undetectable Extension Charm. It-"
"Yeah, the one dad used in the shed back at home" Ron interrupted, gaining a rude look from the two. "Uhm.. Sorry"
Hermione rolled her eyes at him before continuing, "I think Snape used the charm inside the tree trunk to make it useful as well as unrecognizable. But that is other matter, we should first worry about the entrance to it" She paused then added as an extra thought, "if there is one".
"Revelio" Harry muttered to the astonishment of Hermione and Ron. Hermione dropped the cloth in her hand in surprise while Ron took several steps behind to get away from opening, in case something crawls out of it.
And sure enough as of waiting for the show of magic, a crack appeared in bark of the tree. As the charm worked it's way, the crack opened wide and wider until there's was a hole large enough for a grown man to crawl inside much less children eleven years of age.
Without any dubeity the three students crawled inside the tree cavity only to meet with utter darkness as the opening closed behind them.
Panic rose in Harry's mind as images started to flash up in his mind. It was as if a slideshow started in his mind. The confined space was doing something to him. He tried to dampen his heart rate as his attention focused on the conversation of those two around him.
"I don't like this at all. It's so dark in here, it's- Ow! What was that... "
"Sorry, I think I stepped on your foot-Ow! Herm-"
"I'm sorry, Ron. It's just - Ohh... " She walked ahead and took both of them with her.
The three friends fell through a slide- or they thought it was a slide, as they rolled on for forever and came into an open and well-lit area.
Hermione pushed Ron from above her as the said boy tried to disentangle his arms from Harry's legs. The other boy was breathing heavily as he tried to adjust to the surroundings. He chanted again and again in his mind that he was in open now. There was light around.
Harry looked up to see Ron and Hermione were busy freeing themselves. Hence, they must not have noticed his state of panic and breathlessness.
Hermione was the first to stand up properly, followed by Harry, who was now in complete control of his breathing and pulse rate, and then Ron.
"What.. "
"The.. "
"Hell.."
"Is this?"
The fourth voice came from a distant corner of the room. The three eleven year olds shared a look of aghast before Harry took upon himself to cut the pleasantries.
"We know you're Snape. Show yourself"
A low laugh came from the corner but no reply. Harry looked at Hermione who shrugged at his questioning glance.
"Why don't you step ahead and see me yourself" The voice said.
Hermione shook her head subtly but Harry didn't took the hint and stepped forward. Creeping slowly to the dark corner, the only place in the whole cave with no light.
Hermione, being the intelligent she was, took out her wand and raised it towards the front. Ron followed her example, but with not so much of courage.
Harry, unlike the other two behind him, didn't raise his wand but hand. He hoped someone, preferably Snape, is waiting for them and is in a mood to talk.
Meanwhile voice kept speaking, "tell me Harry Potter, how did you come to this secret hideout of mine"
"We caught you more than once sneaking into the forest" Harry said and continued, "we know you are the one with killing spree on unicorns".
He had an unusual knack in the pit of his stomach of being led into some trap, but since the voice came from this side as well, he quashed that thought.
"Hmm.. Yeah a few prominent oblation in my expedition for greater good" Voice continued.
Hermione was hissing something behind him but he was too focused ahead. Sensing a strange smell, like dead leaves, he became more curious and increased his pace.
"Where are you, Snape? Don't play with us. Just show yourself already" Hermione said louder this time. She could swore she saw some tentacle-like thing moving on ground but it didn't look like any animal or reptile.
Another laughing grunt was his answer before a shot of light came up from behind them and the three wands flew away from their owners.
"Wha-" was only what Harry managed to say as at once the vines emerged from behind them and wrapped around their limbs.
They were pulled towards the corner by thick binds and secured to what felt like a wall of thick vines and tentacles.
Ron screamed and pushed against the binds only to be pulled more securely. The vines tightened around his legs and arms. Some even crept up to his face and rendered him dumb.
Hermione noticed Ron's struggle and immediately made the connection, "Stop. Stop moving. Both of you. It'll squeeze you to death."
"What?! What do you mean, Hermione?" Harry asked as he stopped moving and so did Ron.
"Honestly, can't you see?" She said incredulously, "it's in dark, has tentacles or vines, whatever, smells like dead leaves and dark green in colour. It's obviously-"
"Devil's snare." Came the voice but now from the side of the opening where they entered the cavern. "It's more than one occasion now that I've appreciated your smartness Miss Granger"
"And I regret to have fooled you with sound reflecting spell"
They looked up at the man who had his back to them and his black hood was up. He seems to be working on some icy liquid, surrounded by many different size of cauldrons and dishes. There were some glass containers having different ingredients some half full, some empty in front of him. To Hermione it looked like those crystallization experiments in muggle schools.
"But how much I wish you'd have thought of informing some professor instead of just following me here to a dead end"
"How do you know we di-"
"We were following you down here" Hermione cut off Harry and gave him a pointed look. Harry understood her plan and shut his mouth, giving her a subtle nod.
The man turned a bit and too a pause from whatever he was doing and considered them.
"You shouldn't have picked up the cloth in the bush. That gave me the signal"
"But why are you doing this, Snape? What good it is to you if Voldemort comes back?" Harry spat directly at the man.
The man stopped his doings and turned around. His face was not visible completely but the round jaw was a striking contradiction to what Harry knew of his potion's professor.
"Bold of you to take the name of Dark Lord, Mr Potter" He said as he started approaching them. Harry could see their wands tucked securely in the pocket of his dark robes.
"Now as to your question, what good it is to Snape" There was a heavy sigh, "Severus' image is not in good graces amongst the students and faculty here and that sells the man. That's very cruel to him. But then again, that has been beneficial"
He was now directly in front of Harry, and Harry could make out the silhouetted figure remove his hood but the darkness kept him from seeing the face.
"Him?" Hermione asked.
"Lumos" the man muttered but kept the wand down.
"Yes, him. I mean who would have, in presence of Snape, doubted the scared, innocent" He raised the wand to his face, "P... P... Prof... Professor Qui...Qu... Quirrell"
If they'd been shocked till now, this certainly rendered them dumbstruck.
The familiar scared and low-esteemed professor was no where to be seen. Instead the man in front of them had an evil glint in his eyes and a confidence that could easily matched the Minister of Magic himself.
"Surprised, Potter" Quirrell spat at his face before he waved his wand around the binds of raven haired boy.
The vines came loose and Harry fell to the ground in front of his defense against the dark arts professor. Quirrell was quick enough to pull the boy's head back through his hairs.
Harry cursed at the tight grip on his unruly hair, "Oww- unggghg". His whining died down as quirrell thrust a potion vial in his mouth.
Hermione recognized the lime green potion from a higher grade potions book.
"Wait, that potion can cause death. You can't kill him. No, stop, please"
"Indeed. I'd have awarded you points miss Granger, but that doesn't work here. And as for your doubt. No, it's not supposed to kill him since the Acromantula venom I used was from a baby and not a fully grown beast. So, you may rest your heart. For the while." He said as he cast an 'Incarcerous' on Harry and levitated him towards his table.
"But don't squirm alot, Potter. It'll only spread the venom more quickly in your body. And that can be lethal" He added with venom in his voice.
"And all... tho' tems we th.. Thought... Sna.. Snape wa'" Harry tried speaking as potion took effect and he felt losing his consciousness.
"Yeah.. Yeah.. Snape. The goody defender he is, I highly doubt how could you three even suspect him. The man was a pain in arse. I could've killed you way before during that quidditch match if not for that bastard's protective spell."
Quirrell sat Harry on a chair and further bound him to the chair before continuing, "but then everything had to go bonkers with my robe on fire and distraction causing me to break my spell. Still couldn't fathom how did it catch fire in the first place."
"So what do you have planned for Harry. Since you have decided to keep him so close to you" Hermione spat at him.
"My master's wishes" He simply said without even giving her a glance.
"Mas'er" Harry said in his semi conscious state.
"Yes, Potter, yes. That's the fun part. Once I've created the stone he'll have a body, his body. His noble attire"
"Body? Attire? What do you even mean?" Hermione asked.
"Let me talk to them" A hissing echoed around the cavern. A chill went down the spine of the three students. This voice was not stuttering hesitated display of Quirrell's voice. But it sounded more like a dominating intimidating ond.
"Who' tha' ?" Harry said as he looked uncomfortable, almost squirming on the chair. Against the binds tying him. Just like he does when his scar hurts.
Hermione looked at him with concerned eyes as she repeated her question but Quirrell ignored her attempt as well.
"But, my lord, you're weak now. You shouldn't—"
"Save yourself the pain. Let me talk" Hissing voice interrupted him as for the first time since they arrived, Hermione saw the fear she's used to in Quirrell's eyes.
"My Lord, as you command" He said before he, to the utter confusion of the three students, started unwinding his turban.
Harry watched with his semi opened eyes as Quirrell disposed his undone turban aside and turned about.
The eyes of the three Gryffindors, if possible, grew more wide as they saw what, or precisely 'who', was at the back of Quirrell's head. Instead of bald head they hoped, there was another face surfacing out of his skull.
"Aahhhh" The face's mouth took a breath as he (probably, Harry thought) locked eyes with him and a searing pain ripped through his forehead, centering at his lightening bolt scar.
"Aahhh.. Uhhhh" Harry grunted as his scar burnt with intensity thousand times larger than that in forest. Nothing like before pain shot through his head and radiated across his semi-conscious body as the face spoke his next words.
"We meet again, Harry Potter"
'Bloody hell' was Ronald Weasley's last thought as he let the fearness encompass him and succumbed to unconsciousness.
†††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††
Meanwhile...
James and Lily Potter flooed to Hogwarts as soon as they read the Headmaster's letter. Lily was frantic as she followed her husband and appeared via floo to the headmaster's office.
"What the hell do you guys do at this school?" She spat at the gathering of two professors, one gatekeeper and a care taker.
"Lily, calm down" James muttered to no avail.
"Like hell, I will" She rounded up to Filch, "do you actually do any work or are you here just so one day you can complete your fantasy of hanging children by their ankles"
The fire in the green eyes of the Potter matriarch was very terrifying if the way filch shuddered was any clue.
"Th.. The... The... Boy... The.. Three... They... " He stuttered under her angry gaze.
James took a pity on poor guy, although he was enjoying this, and stepped directly in the sight of his wife, a very bold move in front of livid Lily Potter.
"Love, just sit first. Let us listen the whole story"
"You think we have time for it. Come on, we should move may be they are just past the perimeters. We could catch them." Lily said to the group as whole.
"Uhh.. Actually Lily, uhh... I 'id a round 'long the perimeter, yeh know. I did'n see them" Hagrid said tentatively, not wanting to fire up her anger.
"But we came here as soon as we got the letter, how can you... So fast... Unless... " Lily turned to Dumbledore, "something you didn't mention on the letter, Albus?" She asked.
"Mr Filch, here got the note but he didn't find me until after almost an hour. So they must be quite ahead then our prediction."
"Fuck! You—mphhhff" Lily's words died down as James claimed her lips with his.
"Mr Potter" Minerva glared at him, though if one looked closely they could see corners of her mouth twitching.
James pulled apart and stared into the beautiful emeralds orbs of his wife. "Lily, he's our child, he'll be good, he will—"
A flash from the floo interrupted him. The group turned around to see a redhead couple arrive in the office. From the look on their faces, it was obvious they didn't expect to meet the Potters, but are here for the same reason.
"Where's that brat of ours? I swear I'm gonna trim his hairs off. What is he thinking sneaking off to forbidden forest. Fred and George, I'd have expected but Ron, I thought he was responsible" Molly announced as she looked up to Dumbledore.
"Excellent, now that all are here, we may decide on our next steps" Dumbledore said, ignoring Molly's tyrant.
"There's nothing to decide, Albus Dumbledore. We are going to the forbidden forest as well. I can't let my child in there any longer now that I know how much time has passed" Lily continued, as Molly came up to the young woman and hugged her sideways.
"Now I don't think that might be a wise move from Auror point of view" James said. This earned him a light glare from Lily.
"No Lils, understand me. The more people go in there. More likely it is we face dangers. We all know neither centaurs nor any other creature in the forest will welcome such a big group with open arms. So First things we do is form a company that goes to the forest" James explained, somehow due to situation his Auror mode kicking in.
He raised his wand and muttered, "expecto patronum", the silver stag erupted from his wand amongst the mist. James concentrated closing his eyes as stag circled him once. Then with a nod from James, it nuzzled Lily before flying out of the window.
Dumbledore raised his eyes at him, "Remus. He knows forest way better than most of us. And he being... " He looked at Weasleys, "good with magical creatures, we'll need him."
"That's quick thinking. Very good. So, Remus and Hagrid, definitely, next I think you'll want to go too, James."
"Absolutely" He agreed.
"And me" Lily snapped.
That brought on a still silence in the room. Lily met Dumbledore's eyes, challenging him to contradict her. James meanwhile had anticipated that but didn't have a cut for that in his mind.
"Lily, I don't—" James started.
"She's right" Molly interjected, "I will go too".
Arthur tensed at Molly's words, "Now, Molly, we can't all go there. Someone has to be here for when they return."
"But that doesn't have to be me, Arthur" Molly said forcefully. "Why don't, Dumbledore himself wait up here for our return"
"Yeah that way we can be sure nothing's gonna happen irresponsibly" Lily spat.
"Lily" James matched her with a gaze of his own, "I think, Arthur, if you'll agree, it should be me, Albus, Remus and Hagrid, who'll go to the forest."
Arthur agreed to this but, the redhead women don't go down that easily, "I understand you are an Auror, Mr Potter. But don't underestimate a mother when it comes to her child"
"I know Molly, and please call me James, but Arthur is right in saying, whatever it is they went for in forest, when they come back they'll need their mothers. Here. So, there should be someone at infirmary with Poppy awaiting their arrival. While we take care of other things. And we need to keep this quiet so as to not cause panic amongst students. You know how Hogwarts rumour mill goes"
"But, James,—" Molly tried to argue but Arthur nudged her. He ushered her to the corner and exchanged some forceful words with her. After a bit of heated discussion, which didn't go well for Arthur, they came back.
"We both will wait in the hospital wing." Arthur said for both of them, but Molly didn't look happy.
"But I won't" Came the voice of other redhead.
"Lily, love-"
"Don't even try, James Potter"
"Lily-"
"Neither do you, headmaster"
"Lily, I want to go too, but there's no need to create an unnecessary crowd. We will make ourselves useful here"
"But, Minerva, what good is a mother if she's not near her child at such situation"
James could see if this conversation goes on then Molly will soon reverse her decision as well so he gathered all strength he could and did what an Auror would.
"Snivellus, why are you here?" He spat looking towards the door.
Lily turned her head to match her husband's line of sight but found no one at the door. She didn't have time to contemplate as a voice behind her spoke.
"Ad somnus"
Lily Potter fell to the sleeping spell as Molly and James rushed forward to gather her before she could fall to ground.
"James, what.. " Molly looked at him with loss of words.
"It was necessary, Molly. We don't have time to convince her" James explained serenely. He planted a kiss on his wife's forehead before continuing, "take her to the hospital wing as well. We'll be back in no time".
Molly nodded, not wanting to waste anymore time with their children in a lethal forest amongst lethal animals and creatures. She levitated Lily and walked out of the door.
Minerva rounded up on James as soon as the door closed behind two women. "That was strictly not necessary, Mr Potter".
"It was Mins. It was. We were wasting our time trying to reason with her. I had to do something." James explained himself. "Now are we moving or not. Remus will meet us at the edge of the forest"
Dumbledore and Hagrid nodded as they prepared to go. Minerva gave James an annoyed look before she marched out of the door too.
James stood there, staring at the door of the office, deep in thought, when a hand on his shoulder broke through his thoughts. He looked up to see a look of understanding in the Arthur Weasley's eyes.
"Couch, tonight?" He asked.
"Couch, tonight" James confirmed. Then raised his eyes at him. "You?"
"Most definitely"
The two men sighed as Dumbledore and Hagrid finished up and then together with James they marched off for the forest. Arthur accompanied them till the double doors before he turned in another direction and went to wait up in the Hagrid's hut waiting for their arrival. Hoping to have company of the boarhound, flash, fed, or whatever his name was.
###################################
After half an hour, in the forest
"We are not getting anywhere like this" Remus cursed out loud.
"But they can't just fly away from forest. Even if Harry could and he will. But I doubt the same about the other two. I think there must be something hidden around here" James said, impatiently. The fear for his child was very evident in his face but not more than of his wife, who'll have a bunch of nasty words and curses for him as soon as they lock eyes again.
"I'll be with Remus o' thes 'ne" Hagrid agreed with the werewolf. "Am very familia' with the forest. There ar' hardly any hidden passages on such grounds"
"Yeah, prongs. It's not like forbidden forest is something new to us. We've been to the—"
"Not on, but maybe under" Albus Dumbledore's calm voice interrupted.
Everyone looked at him with expected eyes, "the grounds and forest of Hogwarts holds as many secrets of passageways and chambers as the school itself".
" You mean there's an underground chamber or passage for us in here. They are having a hideout" James asked.
"I don't know that, James. It's an assumptions and maybe there's a chance that it's just that." Dumbledore said giving him a supportive look.
"Okay, then we'll... " Remus left the sentence trailing as rest of them too followed his line of sight.
There on the ground near the trunk of a large tree was a rag piece. Coloured black, and as they approached it, smelled of disgusting potion ingredients.
"If I'm not wrong, I think I know where they went" Remus said, picking up the piece of robe.
"It belongs to Snivellus. He's been here. I bet he's the one who abducted my boy. Sneaky, little bastard. As like always. Still holding onto that school grudge and taking it out on my Harry. I swear I'll-"
"James! I appreciate your concern for your child, but let's not jump to conclusions without corroboration" Dumbledore said then continued, "Severus may be a tad out of sorts person but he will never harm any student. I trust him"
"And we trusted you to take care of our children. Let's see how that went, shall we." James interrupted the old wizard coldly.
"James, we aren' outta here to fight each other. I know yer worried, but like professor Dumbledore said professor Snape isn' the one to doubt here. As I told yeh, Harry, Ron and Hermione also had their theories of him being culprit but all coming to none" Hagrid tried reasoning.
"Yeah, James. Let's search for Harry and his friends first. And if this piece of robe tells us anything, then I think they went this way. What do you all say?" Remus spoke.
The others agreed with him but James stayed put. His Auror sense telling him something but he couldn't point to it. Nothing seemed out of sorts in the clearing everything was as normal as it would be in a muggle area.
Same green grass, same broken twigs on the ground, same old smell, same low light, same wild aura, same big tree, same... Now Wait.
"Since when did forest had trees with such large trunks" He spoke at once, halting the other three at their places. "And that too, just one of it's kind".
"What?" Remus asked.
"This isn't a normal tree it's... Its... Its like a... " James pointed his wand at the base of trunk and muttered "bomba—"
"Hold your spell, wizard" Came a familiar voice. "You've already done a great damage to the forest with your presence. No need for further damage."
"Bane! What are you doing here?" Remus asked as Hagrid moved ahead of the group, his crossbow loaded but secured at his back.
"Isn't that my question, werewolf" Bane said hotly. His tone wasn't at all friendly.
"Have you seen my child. He came here with his friends. Harry, Harry Potter." James said.
"Ahh.. The Potter heir. Yeah, the forest has felt his presence once or twice. But today it doesn't feels like he is 'in' the forest" Bane continued.
"Wha' do yeh mean, Bane?" Hagrid asked the magical animal.
"The forest has secrets of it's own, Hagrid. Very few of them are natural creation of it's own."
While Bane was speaking, Dumdbledore moved near the trunk where James stood and muttered some complex spell. The tree seemed to groan as it began to shrink.
"Ahh... the magical sequoia. I should have guessed it" He said turning to the group.
Bane was talking in hushed voices with Hagrid, while Remus and James stood perplexed as the tree shrunk to nothingness, revealing behind a large stack of stairs going under the ground into darkness.
"Wha... What is this?"
"I think now we know what Mr Bane, here, meant by 'Harry's is not in the forest'. He's under it."
"Professor, I need to talk to the pride of centaurs. They didn' seem to take our presence very nicely" Hagrid spoke coming up to them. Bane still stood at his place, waiting for Hagrid.
"Hmm. I understand their worries. Please go ahead, Hagrid. I think me and Mr Potter and Mr Lupin will be fine here"
Hagrid left with Bane as the three adult wizards switched to serious mode. All dreading the worse as the muttered 'lumos maxima' and stepped inside.
Walking after a few steps, James could tell they were walking along a slope and not steps. A few minutes of walking and he could tell they were about to get somewhere as he could see light coming from an opening, when something strange happened.
A combination of smoke, soot and dust emerged from the bottom near the opening. It appeared to form a face but everything so fast he could hardly tell.
One minute they were raising their wands ahead of them and the other minute they were ducking as the smoke zoomed past over their heads and out of the cavern.
The three shared looks of worry but any further statement by any of them seemed to die down in their mouths as a shriek from down captured their attention.
"HARRY!"
X#X#X#X#X#X#X#X#X#X#X#X#X#X#X
FINALLY... IT'S BEEN LONG TIME... BUT I SEE I WAS HARDLY MISSED... ln't make an impression yet...huh...I'M SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE... CORRECTION ...VERY LATE UPDATE.
I'LL TRY TO FIX THIS... I WAS ACTUALLY VERY BUSY STUDYING FOR SOME EXAMS...
BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS I'VE TIMELINE PLANNED FROM THIRD YEAR AND I LITERALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD FOR SECOND YEAR... THE CHAMBER ONE... GINNY WILL BE COMING SOON... AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT... SO I THINK I'LL SKIp THE SECOND YEAR... LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK OF IT...