Harry Potter and the Wandmaker of Avalon

Part 5

Chapter 4

Awkward silence reigned in Snape's living room as the man in question had woken up some fifteen minutes ago and was glaring at the current occupants. Poppy had excused herself while Albus had stayed behind along with Harry and Ron. Jeeky had made all her houseguests tea and was serving it with biscuits that had even Ron drooling.

"Damn Snape, your house-elf is amazing," Ron said between bites. Jeeky preened at that and give Ron another biscuit. Harry guessed a long time ago that the way to Ron's heart was through his stomach.

"And this tea is absolutely marvelous," Albus stated as he took a sip of the hot beverage. Harry gulped as both Ron and Dumbledore blatantly ignored the pink polka-dotted elephant in the room.

"Albus......" Severus muttered. "Give me back my wand."

"Now Severus, why don't you calm down first," Dumbledore said as he put the teacup down and then reached into his robes to pull out a small bag. "Can I maybe interest you in some sherbet lemons?"

"Albus, I am calm and keep those infernal candies away from me," Snape said icily. "Do we need a repeat of the Gilderoy incident?"

"No....." Albus sighed but he did put his candy bag back in his robes, much quicker than Harry would have thought. Harry and Ron looked at each other and they too shuddered. Though they had still been in second year back when Lockheart was teaching they knew exactly what had transpired. The incident was afterall rather famous in the Auror department.

The facts were this: Professor Snape had a sweet tooth he'd almost never admit to. The only sweet the Potions Master hates, however, are those that are lemon flavored. So when Lockheart found out Snape had a sweet tooth he devised a plan to win him over to assist with the Dualing club. This resulted in not only Severus' quarters but also his classrooms being filled to the brim with Lemon drops since those were the easiest to get ahold of and people suspected Albus might have also had a hand in it. The Aurors had to be called in when Lockheart faced Snape's ire and that was one of epic proportions.

"Albus, can I have my wand back now," Snape's tone was getting sharper and Ron took an audible gulp of the biscuit he had been eating, only just realizing which dangerous professor sat on one side of him. He wanted to scoot back since he was seated right in-between Dumbledore and Snape.

"Professor maybe we should look at this more rationally," Harry managed to get out and Snape's eyes landed on him.

"My, Mister Potter, I thought you of all people would be incensed," Snape said in his silky smooth voice. "Afterall we just found out that your girlfriend has been dosing you with a mild Love potion for Merlin knows how long. Me making an example of her should elate you."

"Professor, I'm mad. I'm really really mad but right now I don't think chopping Ginny up in tiny pieces and using her in your potions would be a good idea." Harry said but that only earned a snort from Snape and surprisingly Draco. The group had actually forgotten that the blond was also present and Harry looked at Draco who was seated on a stool at the kitchen counter with a bowl of popcorn Jeeky had made him.

"Don't mind me, this is pure gold," Draco said with a dismissive wave as if he was enjoying the drama.

Snape ignored Draco mainly because he was already used to his Godson's antics. Instead, he said "Mister Potter if you think for one moment that Miss Weasley is even remotely going near my potions then you need to see a Healer.

"I was actually thinking of getting even with her," Harry said as he then took a sip of his tea. "I think we need a little payback,"

This intrigued Snape and he leaned a bit closer. "Just what do you have in mind, Mister Potter?"

Ron was looking at the two and mentally cursed. He knew his sister didn't stand a chance then. Snape could be vindictive and Harry, best friend that he was, could hold a grudge. Those two actively plotting against someone was scary. Next to Ron sat the Headmaster, sipping his tea as if these two plotting was an everyday occurrence.

Harry met Snape at his home the night of the gala. "You clean up nice professor," Harry commented with a whistle as he took in his former professor's dark navy blue dress robes. It was a pleasant change from the all-black ensembles Snape wore daily.

"Minerva and Poppy insisted I buy this one," Severus muttered. "Also I already contacted Minerva and explained the details of our plan. She was rather supportive."

"You feel bad about not escorting her professor?" Harry asked.

"I did promise Mister Potter, though Albus got roped into that task now," Snape said. "Also call me Severus. We need to be on a first-name basis if this plan has any success."

"Right.... Uh..... Severus," Harry's cheeks actually tinged a bit pink as he said it.

Snape nodded and then patted his inner pocket a bit. Harry cocked his head to the side slightly and saw Melvin peeking out of the pocket. "You're taking him with you?" Harry asked. Sure Melvin couldn't be seen by others unless Snape introduced them directly but he'd never thought Snape would willingly go anywhere with the little grimreaper that ate his food and slept in his drawers.

"The gala has a buffet. I figured if he eats his fill then he won't scarf down all of my food." Snape explained. The little grimreaper waved at Harry happily before ducking back into the pocket. Harry supposed that Melvin, after five years of living with Snape, was used to this. He could still remember the night it all happened.

--------Flashback------

Harry's vision was blurred but he felt as if he was being shaken. Slowly his vision returned and he saw that he was still on the battlefield but this time surrounded by Hermione and Ron. It was a pain to get up, every joint in his body hurt, but he sat up anyway and this elicited the cheering of those that had fought for the Light. Harry was still disoriented but he looked around. Not far from him lay the corpse of Voldemort.

"Harry, mate, you did it!" Ron exclaimed as both he and Hermione enveloped him in a hug.

Harry was shocked, not because of his friends embracing him but because he could see the skeletal cloaked figure hovering over Voldemort. "Who...... are you?" Harry asked aloud.

"Maybe we should take him to Madam Pomfrey," Ron suggested as he heard Harry's question.

Harry, however, realized who he was seeing and why. He didn't need an answer to know that it was Death himself hovering over the battlefield, picking up the discarded souls. Death greeted him with a simple hollow voice "Hello master." and that set Harry out in a sprint to the Shrieking shack not noticing the people calling out from behind him. If he was right..... Just... if he was right.

Harry was out of breath by the time he arrived back at the shack. He still could still see the blood smeared on the glass from the outside. When he got inside his breath hitched. "Headmaster?" Harry called out meekly as he saw Dumbledore, surprisingly still alive, cradling professor Snape's body on his lap.

"You faked your death," Harry determined and said slowly. Dumbledore had his head down and didn't offer excuses when he said "Yes"

"Why?" Harry asked as he walked closer waiting for the answer.