A New Story

Chapter 31

Snape stepped through the fireplace and entered Dumbledore's office.

'Severus, my boy, I'm deeply sorry for the disturbance. I know this a late hour. I need to tell you something of deep importance.' Dumbledore told him, sitting in his chair behind his desk with his arms folded in his lap.

'What is it, Albus? It better be as important as you make it out to be.' Snape spoke in his deep voice, obviously annoyed to be here at such an ungodly hour.

'I've got some information about your boy, Harry, and it's not good.' Dumbledore took off his glasses, appearing very tired.

Snape immediately became focused.

'Sit down first.' Dumbledore gestured to a chair at the other side of this desk.

Snape took the chair and his patience was running thin, 'Will you get on with it, Albus?'

Dumbledore inquired, 'Do you know what a Horcrux is?'

Snape paused for a moment before saying, 'I read about it somewhere. A Horcrux is  an object in which a had hidden a detached fragment of his or her in order to become immortal, correct?'

Dumbledore nodded, 'Do you know how one is made?'

'Creating a Horcrux requires committing an act so heinous that it tears apart the creator's soul, usually through cold-blooded murder. Now what that have to do with Harry?' Snape asked, trying not to jump into conclusions.

The old man sighed and began, 'Tom was always interested in the Dark Arts, when he was in Hogwarts, he did research on Horcrux, he was in the process of making six. On the night Lily and James were killed, Tom tried to kill young Harry too, but we all know this story, Tom failed to kill the boy and his curse rebounded. Though what we didn't know was that, when his curse rebounded, it unintentionally made Harry a Horcrux too. If we want to defeat Tom,' Dumbledore stopped for a moment, 'We'll need to kill Harry.'

Snape was silent, he sat there, his expression unchanging and staring at Dumbledore with no emotion.

'Severus, I know this is a shock to you but-'

'But what? You just announced that you want to kill a child, my child, just for "the greater good"? How are you sure that the Dark Lord isn't already dead?' Snape spoke, his voice trembling with anger

'Severus, I think it'll be better to discuss this tomorrow. So that we'll have a clear head.' Dumbledore said with a look of pity.

Snape got up, walked out of the door, slamming it hard and stormed off to his living quarters.

The next day, Harry, Ron and Hermione were more upbeat than ever. They were ready for action. Hermione checked on the potion and assured the boys it wouldn't be long until the plan can be put into action. 

They were going about their day as normal but when DADA class came about, they thought something was not right. Snape didn't strut dramatically into the class, he didn't even come to class.

'What do you think happened, Harry?' Ron asked him.

'I dunno.' Harry shrugged, a bit concerned.

'Snape is never  absent.' Hermione remarked.

Students were chattering around them when Dumbledore came in and the voices died down.

'Good afternoon, boys and girls. Professor Snape is taking a leave today and as I could not find a substitute, I'll be teaching DADA class.' Dumbledore smiled kindly at them, 'Now, we're going to be talking about a special kind of creature called Basilisks. Can anyone tell me what they are?'

After the class, the trio were heading to their next class. 

Suddenly, Harry stopped, seeming to be hearing something. 

'Woah, that was creepy.' Harry said as he looked around.

'What was?' Hermione frowned.

'Didn't you hear? Someone said something. The voice sounds like it's coming from the walls.'

Hermione and Ron looked at him with a puzzled expression.

'Mate, we have no idea what you're talking about. Are you okay?' Ron asked, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder.

'Huh,' Harry shrugged, 'I guess I was imagining it then.' And they continued walking to Potions.

The rest of the students came in and took their seats, some were still talking about how weird it was that Snape wasn't teaching today.

'Now, now, students. Please be quiet as I talk about today's lesson plans.' Summer told them with a sweet smile. 'I know that I've been teaching without professor Snape for a while and so, I'm sorry to announce, we will have a quiz today to see if you understand everything I've taught in class.' 

A couple of groans sounded out but at least she said sorry. The students completed the quiz, Harry couldn't concentrate well with the sounds of his classmates banging their heads on their tables, though he did do fine.

Finally, after a painstaking wait, they finished all the classes of their day. After getting a few sandwiches from the dinner table, they quietly went to their secret potion-brewing bathroom. 

Hermione looked at it for a moment and said, 'It's done.' 

They scoped up the potion into some vials Harry took from his potion making kit Snape gave him at one point.

Harry took out his Invisibility Cloak from his pocket and used it to cover his friends and him. They checked before getting out of the bathroom, even if they were invisible, they still couldn't risk bumping into a teacher or prefect. 

They made their way through the halls of Hogwarts, hearing the sounds of students eating dinner in the Great Hall. Ron's stomach grumbled and Hermione nudged him. Arriving at the hospital ward, they looked around for any sign of Madame Pomfrey and seeing no one around, they took off the Cloak. Ron immediately took out his BLTs from his pocket and ate them hungrily.

They scurried to Lockhart's bedside and the clock struck nine. His chicken body started to shimmer, his wings turning into arms, feathers turned into flesh and finally, he changed back to the blonde idiot the trio hated. Harry immediately grasped Lockhart's head with force and just before Hermione was able to pour the potion in, a voice yelled.

'Help!'