Death at Hogwarts: The Next Generation

Chapter Nine

(Hey all! I'm terribly sorry you've waited so long. I lost inspiration on this story for a while and was waiting for it to return. It finally returned, so, here is the next chapter! Enjoy! Jay ^^)

I stood in the pouring rain outside my destination. It had taken me a while, but I was finally here.  Taking a breath, I strode through the doors to Azkaban prison. Inside the prison was as dark as it had been when I first entered. This time, however, I was here to visit one person in particular. While we had never met, I had heard plenty of stories. I was going to need their help, whether they liked it or not.

Humming Jingle Bells as I walked along, I stopped outside the cell I wanted and rapped on the door.

"Cuppa tea?" I asked cheerily through the bars of the tiny window set in the door. There was no reply.

"Come now, Dolores. Are you certain you wouldn't like a nice hot cup of tea? Do you some good."

Finally, Dolores Umbridge shuffled to her cell door, staring through the bars at me. Her face was gaunt and withdrawn. Although I'd kept tabs on her as Death, this was my first time seeing her as Dean. She was an ugly old toad, for sure. 

"Yes," she croaked. "Tea would be. . most welcome."

"Pity I can't conjure any then. sorry, but Gamp's Law and all, you know." I said, smiling sweetly at her.

"You -"

"That's enough." I said, dropping all friendliness from my voice. "Listen to me. You are going to help me."

"Why should I help you?"

"Well, not just me, you're also going to be helping Harry Potter."

At the mention of his name, she practically snarled at me. "I will not help that. . .that naughty boy!"

I thrust my arm through the door and yanked the old woman up against it.

"Listen to me, you horrible old witch. You owe Harry, and all his friends for all the pain and misery you caused them when they were just children. Now, you will tell me the whereabouts of  Godric Gryffindor!"

"Wha - I don't -" she spluttered. I shook her, hard.

"Cut the crap!" I shifted into being Death and she let loose a blood curdling scream and went limp.

Damn. I hadn't meant for her to pass out. Oh well. I could get what I needed much easier now. Dropping her unceremoniously onto the hard floor of the cell, I strode in and allowed my thoughts to enter her mind, taking the information I needed. 

The woman was crazy. She really hated Harry, and wanted him dead. Shaking my head down at her still form, I left. I now knew where Godric Gryffindor was. It was time to go have a chat with one of the Four Founders.

Meanwhile, back at Grimmauld Place, which was no longer a grim old place, Severus Snape was opening the door and getting the shock of his new life, seeing the place looking so bright and cheerful. Happy voices and laughter echoed up from the kitchen. His heart skipped a beat as he heard her laugh.

"Lily. . ." he muttered, closing the door softly behind him with a click.

Walking down the stairs into the kitchen, everything went silent as the assorted crowd stared at Severus Snape standing before them. Lily was the first to speak.

"Severus. . .it's been too long."

"Lily. . .forgive me. I -"

"There is nothing to forgive, Sev. I should be thanking you." she said, smiling and hugging him. "You protected my son for six years. You did more than I could have ever hoped. Thank you."