snape and skull

68

An Unfortunate Reputation
S

everus stared hard at the comatose gamekeeper, all the while muttering a half-forgotten litany of prayers that Hagrid respond to this treatment and not expire on the spot. The Potions Master waved his wand and conjured a stretcher, then using the Hover Charm to move Hagrid onto it.
N

o sooner had he done so then Hagrid began to cough and his face flushed with color. He blinked and slowly opened his eyes. "Huh? Where?"
"Easy. You need to lie still," Snape soothed, laying a hand on the other to keep him prone. "You were poisoned, Hagrid, and even though the bezoar I gave you neutralized it, you still need treatment. I'm bringing you to the Hospital Wing."
"Severus . . .feel all weak . . ." Hagrid muttered, shaking his head slightly.
"Yes, I think that's a side effect of being poisoned," Severus said, keeping his voice low and even.
He gestured and the stretcher began to float alongside him.
They walked back to the castle, Severus being careful not to jostle his patient. Hagrid still looked like death warmed over, but at least he was not at death's door any longer. But when he attempted to thank Snape for saving him, the professor murmured, "You'd do better to thank Callie, who went and found Skull to tell me you were sick. Otherwise I'd have come too late."
"But ye came, Severus," Hagrid protested. "An' yeh knew what to do t' help me."
"Any wizard who paid attention in school would know how to treat a poison victim with a bezoar," Snape coughed in embarrassment. "I teach that to all my students in third year."
"Aye, but how many o' them would have remembered, Severus?" Hagrid countered. "I won't forget this."
Snape shook his head. "Please. You don't owe me anything, Hagrid."
"I think . . . I'll be the judge o' that," the big man replied, shutting his eyes. "Sorry . . . feel sleepy . . ."
By then they were inside the castle and students who were roaming the halls gasped when they saw who was being carried in on a stretcher.
"Hagrid!"
"Merlin, what happened?"
"Was he attacked by a wild beast? Like the one that got Creevey?"
"Children, move!" Snape ordered irritably. "Quit gaping like village idiots and let me bring Hagrid to Madam Pomfrey!"
The students scattered, allowing the professor to continue to the Hospital Wing. Upon entering, he found Pomfrey preparing a bed while Skull and Callie fluttered overhead.
"Sev! How is Hagrid?" Skull hooted. He glided down to land upon his wizard's shoulder.
"He's alive," the Potions Master said. "But he's going to need rest to recover from the poison."
"Poison?" gasped Poppy. "Severus, who would want to poison Hagrid?"
"I believe the same creature which harmed Mr. Creevey and Silvanus," Severus told her. "There were scratches upon his arm which were infected and poisoned." As he spoke, he helped Pomfrey levitate Hagrid to a bed. "I treated them, but the poison had already begun to affect other parts of him. He stopped breathing, so I shoved a bezoar down his throat to counteract the poison in his blood."
Poppy ran a diagnostic. "He seems to be breathing fine now, Severus. Thanks to your timely methods." She carefully transfigured Hagrid's clothes into comfortable pajamas while the gamekeeper snored. "I think he will make a full recovery after a day or two of rest and plenty of liquids and pain relievers and a Strengthening Solution."
Severus nodded. He glanced over at the second occupied bed. "How about Kettleburn?"
"He is faring better than yesterday." Poppy allowed. "The wounds have mended and I shall release him soon."
"That's good," Snape nodded. "Well, I shall leave him in your hands, Poppy. Good afternoon."
He left quickly, moving rapidly down the stairs to his lab, hoping that Lena had finished replicating the fifty amulets.
He found the library witch pacing up and down his lab, the finished amulets glinting softly in the light of his mageglobes, which hung at intervals from the ceiling, providing a consistent quiet light that was easy on the eyes yet enabled one to see the smallest details of a potion ingredient or textbook.
Though his approach was soundless, Lena turned as he entered and called, "Sev! You're back! What happened to Hagrid?"
"It wasn't his heart." Severus answered. Then he sent, He was poisoned by the dragonelle. He was almost dead when I arrived. Luckily, I managed to arrest the poison . . . He quickly told her what he had done.
"But if the poison is that deadly . . . then how did Hagrid manage not to succumb to it for so long?" Lena mused.
"I believe it has to do with his heritage," Snape replied. "You know he's a half-giant. Perhaps his giant blood gives him resistance to such a thing."
"That makes sense," Lena conceded. "While you were gone, I finished all the talismans. There are fifty of them so far."
"Good. I shall give two to my sons, and then give the rest to the Headmaster to distribute to students who will be outside for classes. I would make more but I have class to teach in five minutes." He waved his wand and the finished amulets, except for two, were placed inside the moke-skin bag. The bag was made of the magical skin of a lizard that could shrink and enlarge itself, and bags made from it could hold anything, even things that looked like they could not fit inside it.
"Wait, Severus," Lena held out a hand as if to halt him. "I can finish some more amulets while you teach."
He raised an eyebrow. "Don't you need to be getting back to the library?"
"Not yet. Aunt Irma works the day shift now while I do the evening," the library witch replied. "So I have time to replicate more talismans. Might I use the rest of your potion also?"
"Yes. Just . . . don't drive yourself to exhaustion," he reminded softly.
Lena snorted. "Says the man who works eighteen-hour days and almost never takes a day off."
"That's different. I only meant—"
She put a finger to his lips. "No apologies. I was teasing." Her aqua eyes sparkled with humor. "Don't worry so much. You'll give yourself gray hairs, Sev."
"Humph! If I don't have any from Harry and Dante by now, it's a miracle." He captured her hand and kissed the back of it gallantly. "I shall see you later, my Lady Rook."
"I look forward to it," she laughed, and reluctantly reclaimed her hand from his. "Would you like me to bring the talismans to Dumbledore for you?"
"No, that's all right. I need to speak with him anyhow about the Dueling tournament and Hagrid." Severus declined. Then he swept out of the lab with a flourish, his cloak billowing behind him.
"You like him, don't you?" Callie queried mischievously.
Lena flushed and nodded. "Yes. Very much. Now don't go repeating that." She waved a finger at the small raven.
"I don't need to repeat what people can see with their own eyes," the bird twitted. Then she perched on the end of the table and watched the witch continue to make talismans using both her charm and Snape's Doppleganger potion. Lena sniffed the air, finding that a certain spicy herbal scent laced with spearmint still lingered, and she breathed it in as if it were the Elixir of Life, smiling to herself. Observing, Callie chuckled, wondering how long before the humans were mates.
Before classes were done for the day, rumors had flown all about the school that Hagrid had been brought to the Hospital Wing by Snape with wounds like that of Colin Creevey and Kettleburn. Many concerned students sent cards to the infirmary and small sweets also. Harry, Dante, and Ron slipped into the Hospital Wing to see for themselves what was truth and what wasn't.
They found a rather pale Hagrid sitting up in bed talking to Professor Kettleburn about salamanders and his latest acquisition—a young thestral with an injured left foreleg.
"I was wonderin', Silvanus, if yeh could look in on Nightrunner there for me while I'm laid up here?" Hagrid was asking the Magical Creatures professor.
"Hagrid, normally I would say yes, but I'm behind in my classes since my own injuries and I doubt I shall have time, old boy." Then he looked up and caught sight of Harry, Ron, and Dante. "However, maybe these three enterprising fellows can help?"
"I'd be happy to, Hagrid, but I can't see thestrals," Ron told the gamekeeper, sighing.
"I can," Dante spoke up.
"So can I," Harry asserted.
Ron stared at them. "Harry, I know you can because of your mum, but you can too, Dante?"
The older boy nodded. "Yes. I was there when my dad passed the Veil. So I can see thestrals."
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't know," Ron coughed awkwardly.
"No problem," Dante shrugged. He looked eagerly at Hagrid. "I can help take care of Nightrunner until you're well. I used to own a horse a few years ago, and I know about thestrals from my mentor Eagle Crest. Only in Lakota they're called shadow-horses." He spoke a liquid-sounding word in the Lakota tongue.
"I want to help too," Harry said, not to be outdone.
"If you're sure, lads?" Hagrid frowned. "I don't want yeh skipping class or not doing homework on account o' me."
"Us? Skip class?" Dante shook his head vigorously. "Not unless we want to be skinned and hung out to dry by Severus."
"And that's only if he's in a good mood," Harry added wryly. "We know better, Hagrid."
"Uh, right. Forgot about that," Hagrid nodded. "All righ' then. Lemme tell yeh how to care for Nightrunner. She likes to eat steak and ribs mostly, though sometimes she'll eat alfalfa too to cleanse her insides. Or you can give her some basted bone treats . . ." He went on to detail how to feed her, and how much, and how often.
Both boys listened closely, and Harry wrote down the instructions on a spare piece of parchment.
"Hey, is there anything I can do?" Ron asked, not wishing to be left out.
"You can feed the salamanders in their rock pool," Hagrid said kindly. "They need to be kept healthy for . . . an experiment."
"What do they eat?"
"Glow worms and small pieces of peppered beef." Hagrid replied.
"I can do that," Ron said happily.
"We'll feed and walk Fang too," Harry offered, recalling the boarhound.
"Thank you, Harry. You too Ron and Dante," Hagrid smiled. "Just remember to ask your dad, Harry, if it's okay and don't go down to my hut alone."
"We'll be careful, Hagrid." Harry assured him. He knew as well as Dante and Ron that none of them would be allowed out unless accompanied by a professor.
Snape's quarters:
Harry and Dante arrived at the Potion Master's quarters to find Severus cordially thanking Lena for replicating more talismans.
"I've offered to teach Filius my charm too so he can help, Sev," Lena was telling him eagerly.
"Good. Because we'll need more talismans than two of us can replicate," Severus said. "Even though we're two of the strongest spellcasters in the school, it's still rather draining to replicate so many talismans in one day."
"True and it's only fair the other professors also participate in helping to protect the students and themselves," Lena put in.
"I owe you dessert, Lady Rook," Severus murmured. "Since we got interrupted last time."
"Oh? What do you have in mind?"
"You're going to have to be surprised," the professor smirked.
"Then I shall look forward to it," Lena smiled. "When will I be having this dessert?"
Severus considered quickly. "This weekend. I'll send for you when I'm ready. If you aren't busy?"
She shook her head. "No. I do take Sundays off."
"Sunday it is. I will see you at dinner," Severus said with a quiet smile.
Lena departed, humming softly. Harry and Dante hid smirks behind their hands.
Severus lofted an eyebrow. "And just what do you two find so amusing, hmm?"
Dante shrugged. "Nothing much."
"Looks like you've got a hot date," Harry said softly as he followed Severus inside his suite.
"Never you mind, mister," Severus mock-scolded. "Go and do your homework."
Harry sighed then nodded. "Okay, Dad. But first, can I ask you something?"
"Yes, you may," his father corrected. He went and sat down on the couch.
Prissy popped in a moment later to bring him and the boys spearmint tea.
As they slowly sipped the aromatic brew, Harry looked at Dante and then gathered his courage and asked, "Dad, you know how Hagrid is in the Hospital Wing?"
"Yes. But he should make a full recovery," Snape replied.
"I know, Dante and I went to say hi before we came here," Harry began. "And Hagrid asked us to do him a favor. Well, us and Ron."
"Oh? What is this favor?"
"Hagrid asked if we could help take care of Nightrunner, his thestral foal," Harry answered. "Feed her and groom her."
"And I can change her bandage," Dante volunteered. "I've taken care of sprains on horses before, Severus."
"You can see thestrals, Dante?" asked his cousin.
"Yes. Because I saw Dad pass," the thirteen-year-old replied.
"Ah. I see. Well, I think that is acceptable. What will Ronald be doing?"
"Taking care of the salamanders," Harry told him. "And feeding Fang."
Severus nodded. "Then I shall escort you after dinner." He reached into a pocket. "Put these on. They are Talismans of Thought-Blocking. With them on you can't be seduced by the dragonelle." He handed each boy a teardrop-shaped black and red amulet on a silver chain.
The boys stared at them in awe before putting them on. "Wicked, Dad! Did you make them?"
"Yes. Lena and I both did." Severus said. "Hopefully this will eliminate the way the dragonelle hunts by luring prey to it. I want you both to wear these at all times. Hopefully by the end of the week we shall have enough to give to all of the students and the staff who is not versed in mind magic techniques."
"And you discover how to make the Dragon's Tear potion," Skull chirruped.
"Yes. I've asked the Ravenmistress if I may come up to Ravencrest castle with you two in order to do research on the Dragon's Tear Elixir." The professor said. "But until I receive a reply, that will have to wait." He looked at Dante. "Dante, this week you are spending with my Slytherins, correct?"
"Right, Severus. Draco and Blaise said they are having a wizard chess tournament later on after their study session in the common room."
"That's one of their favorite pastimes," Severus acknowledged. "Though anyone is free to amuse themselves with a game as long as it's not too noisy or disturbing to another House member after their study session is over."
"You have scheduled sessions for each year, right, Sergeant?" Dante remarked saucily.
"I do. And as long as you are with my Snakes, so do you, Mr. Prince," Severus said crisply.
"I figured, considering you're like the homework police," his cousin groaned.
Harry chuckled. "You only just figured that out?"
Dante glared at him. "Hardly. I'd feel bad for you, Harry, but you and Ron need both Severus and McGonagall on your case to make you study more."
"I do not! Ron might," Harry argued.
"Enough squabbling," an exasperated Snape ordered. "I want you both to read a chapter of your homework before dinner. This way you won't have too much to do once you return from caring for Hagrid's animals."
"Okay," Harry sighed, and pulled out his Charms text. Then he asked impishly, "What will you be doing while we take care of the animals, Dad?"
"Making sure you don't destroy the place," Severus answered, smirking.
"You're hilarious, Dad," Harry grumped.
"But truthful," Skull put in.
Dante rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He pulled out his potions book and flipped it open to the correct chapter on antidotes.
Seeing that his boys were studying, Severus pulled out some first-year essays to grade, and for the better part of an hour and a half the three wizards were busy working in quiet harmony.
When the mantle clock chimed a quarter to six, they all set aside their books and parchments and went down to dinner in the hall.
Tonight Dante sat with the Slytherins, next to Draco and third-year Evan Twethewey, another half-blood whose Muggle father was from Cornwall, and owned a tin mining company. Even was a slender boy with light brown hair and hazel eyes, he had a pointed chin and reminded Dante of one of the fae. Evan had a rare Weather Talent, and could sense storms and even call up rain and snow on occasion.
Dante knew some weather magic, learned from Eagle Crest, and spent a pleasant hour discussing it, as well as some mishaps that had occurred while using it.
Meanwhile, Harry told Blaise, Daphne, and the others about assisting Hagrid with his creatures, so long as he was accompanied by his father.
"That all well and good, Snape, but what about that creature that's stalking us?" Draco demanded. "It's still out there."
"Dad made me and Dante talismans to wear that will prevent any creature from sending to us, like it did with Colin and I think Professor Kettleburn also. He said they're making more and should have enough for everyone soon."
"Professor Snape is making us amulets?" Daphne clarified.
Harry nodded. "Yes. Along with Lena and Professor Flitwick."
"Finally someone is doing something!" sighed Blaise. "I thought we were all going to be trapped inside the castle until whatever this is was caught."
"I hope this creature is caught soon," Draco scowled. "Otherwise my father is going to hear about this."
Harry rolled his eyes. "How about you tell your dad about the horrible classes Lockhart's teaching instead? I'm sure his opinion on that will be welcome—not to mention necessary."
"I intend to, believe me," Draco said, somewhat smugly. "How about the professor? What's he say about this petition?"
"Haven't had a chance to ask him yet," Harry remarked. "But I will later on down at Hagrid's. But I'm sure he'll write to the Board about Lockhart, if he hasn't already."
"Good. Maybe then we can get rid of him and get someone who knows what they're doing," snorted Mark Tarrant. "I'm sick and tired of wasting time listening to that idiot go on about matching ties and clothes or whatever. I go to class to learn Defense, not fashion, Merlin help me!"
All of the Slytherins agreed to write letters to their parents or guardians about their atrocious Defense classes and ask them to inform the Board of Governors about the terrible teaching methods and how their children had learned almost nothing useful in Defense that year until Professor Snape taught class for two days when Lockhart came down with laryngitis.
Dante said to Harry later that would be enough to get the ball rolling, and if students from the other three Houses joined in it would only help their cause. The older wizard also suggested that they have protests, like sit-ins, where students simply sat down and refused to do anything else in class. "It's not like we do anything anyhow except listen to Lockhart ramble."
Skull, Callie, and Loki all had watched several classes and could attest to Lockhart's incompetence and Harry had the recording of the class where he read his poem aloud, which showcased Lockhart's lack of real class structure and content.
With all of the evidence on their side, Harry just hoped it would be enough for the Board members to demand that Lockhart resign or they sacked him.
He ate his sticky pudding cake in record time, he was that eager to go down to Hagrid's and help care for the young thestral while Ron took care of Fang and the salamanders.
After dinner was over, the students filed from the hall in groups or alone, each going to their dorms or the library or wherever else they needed to be. Harry, Dante, and Ron waited patiently for Severus, who was discussing something with the Headmaster.
His conversation concluded, Snape swept down from the staff table, his robes billowing like dragon wings behind him. "All set, boys?"
"Yes, Professor," they chorused, and followed him from the hall.
Only to hear a girl's voice call, "Wait! Professor Snape!"
Severus turned to see a girl about Harry's age with long blond hair wearing Ravenclaw robes, her radish earrings bouncing as she rushed over to them. "Yes, Miss Lovegood? What is so important that you need to accost me after class?"
She drew to a halt, breathing a bit heavily. "Sir, I just wanted to let you know that Professor Dumbledore gave me an amulet so I could go with you to Hagrid's."
"Indeed? Why?"
"Because Hagrid asked me to look after his occamy for him. He forgot to mention it when Harry and Dante visited him earlier and when he saw me, he asked me to help take care of it. That's when the Headmaster gave me the Talisman of Thought-Blocking." She fingered the pendant she wore about her neck.
"Hmm. Very well. But mind you're quick, since I am too busy to be out there all night."
"Of course, Professor," Luna beamed at him, then went down the stairs after Harry, Ron, and Dante.
Severus followed them like a wraith from an opened crypt, silently fearsome, his wand out and ready just in case the dragonelle decided to ambush them.
But the evening remained calm and quiet and they reached the hut without mishap.
Severus opened the door of the hut and Fang raced outside barking and then returning to jump all over the students, only halting at a sharp, "Sit! Now stay!" from the professor.
The boarhound obeyed, sitting and panting, his tail sweeping the ground and scattering leaves all over.
"Good dog!" Dante praised, and patted the drooling boarhound. Fang grinned at him and licked his hand.
"Let me get his food," Ron said, and he went inside the hut to fetch it and Fang's dish.
"Come on, let's go down to the thestral pen," Severus urged, not wishing to be out here for any longer than necessary. Just because the talismans would block the dragonelle's sendings didn't mean that the children weren't in danger. When Fang would have accompanied them, Severus said sternly, "Stay, Fang!"
The boarhound whined but obeyed, lying down with his head on his large paws.
Luna chuckled. "Even Fang knows to obey Professor Snape."
Dante chuckled. "Animals can be smarter than people sometimes." He held out a hand. "Dante Prince."
"I'm Luna Lovegood," Luna introduced herself. "So you can see thestrals too?"
"Yes. Can you?"
The girl nodded.
Harry looked over at Luna. "What does an occamy eat? And just what is one anyhow?"
"An occamy is a magical creature with beautiful light blue, lavender and silvery scales with wings and two forefeet. It's kind of like a snake or a wyvern but prettier."Luna explained. "It eats rats and small rodents or insects."
"It can also be bad tempered," Dante warned.
Snape frowned. "Then you ought to feed it without going too close, Miss Lovegood. I don't want to risk you getting bitten."
"Oh, this is a small one, Professor," Luna said airily. "Still a baby. I'm sure it won't be any trouble."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "I shall accompany you, to make certain it behaves itself."
"It will if it knows what's good for it," Harry muttered to Dante, who smirked.
They separated, with Luna and Severus going towards a fenced enclosure with a wire mesh dome while Harry and Dante continued towards a sturdy corral where a black skeletal looking foal with bat wings and a skull like face was trotting around. Harry gasped as he saw it, feeling an odd sort of awe. Dante whistled softly, trying to get the foal to approach.
"Here, Nightrunner," he called softly. "Here' girl." He held out a strip of beef on his palm.
Nightrunner lifted her head and trotted over cautiously. She extended her head and gently lipped the meat from his palm.
Dante grinned and reached up to gently scratch the thestral. "Hello there. You like that, don't you?"
"You're really good with her," Harry observed keenly. He reached over to pat the foal and she turned an inquisitive nose to him and nudged him. "Hey!"
"That means she likes you," his cousin explained. He unlatched the gate and walked inside. Then he summoned a curry comb and a soft cloth. He also noticed the bandage on one leg. He glanced over at Harry. "You pet her and give her this jerky," he handed the other boy some dried beef and chicken strips. "While I start grooming her."
"Okay," Harry agreed, marveling at how odd and yet how gentle the thestral was. "Is it true that thestrals bring misfortune?"
Dante shook his head. "No. That's just silly superstition. Because people can't see them unless they've seen someone die." He began running the cloth up and down Nightrunner's flanks in a smooth even motion. "A thestral is not an evil creature, despite how it looks. It's actually gentle and quiet."
The filly ate up the attention, leaning into Harry's hand as he stroked her. Her hide was like velvet, sleek as silk and a deep ebony. Her eyes were large and amber and she gazed at the boy trustingly.
Dante finished grooming and then slowly unwrapped the bandage. He summoned a bucket and dipped a cloth into cold water and gently ran it over the sprain. Then he heated another bandage with a warming charm and wrapped the leg again.
"Where did you learn to do that?" Luna asked.
Dante looked up to see the girl leaning on the fence with Severus behind her.
"I used to have a horse once. Firefly. And she sprained a tendon while I was jumping her over a course." The boy answered. Nightrunner flinched and Dante patted her. "Easy. Good girl." He took another jerky strip and fed her.
Severus noted that his cousin was quite good with the thestral, and together Dante and Harry cleaned the pen and then met Ron who had returned from feeding the salamanders in the rock pool.
"I'm finished sir." He told Snape.
"Good. Let's return to the castle and tell Hagrid," The Potions Master urged. It was growing on to dusk and he felt uneasy.
As he shepherded his charges back towards the castle he heard an odd singsong growl.
He spun, his wand out, to see the dragonelle hovering in the air behind them.
"Professor!" Luna gasped. "Is that the creature that hurt Hagrid and Colin?" she sounded both full of wonder and terror.
"Yes," Severus said evenly. "Now walk-slowly-back up the path. Don't run. Running will draw its attention. Go. Quickly!"
The children obeyed, his voice was like iron. Until Harry looked back and saw Severus was still standing there. "Dad! Hurry!"
"Go, Harry! Don't worry about me." Snape ordered. Then he flung a vial of salamander blood at the dragonelle, and the wizard slayer growled fiercely and attacked the black-robed professor.
A/N: Sorry this took so long-I moved and have been unpacking.