An Exchange
folder
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
5
Views:
2,847
Reviews:
13
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
5
Views:
2,847
Reviews:
13
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
In The Great Hall
A/N Hooray! I have found a new beta! The lovely Lady Zephyr has graciously agreed to beta my story! Thank the gods! Onward to the story now!
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Harry could hardly believe that it was his sixth year here at Hogwarts. So much had happened and his life before Hogwarts seemed like several lifetimes ago. Already he felt age before his years creeping up on him and most of it was from the loss of Sirius Black. *Gods, Sirius! Did you ‘have’ to egg Bellatrix on like that? Did you ‘have’ to play the hero? Did you ‘have’ to die?* One part of him was angry that his godfather had rushed in where angels would fear to tread and the other part was furious with himself for having been the cause and allowing it to occur. *If I had only studied Occlumency as I had been told to do! If I had only thought it through! If…if...only I had trusted Snape!* That was the thought that rankled the most!
Here it was Halloween and Harry found himself enjoying the festivities and wondering why. *Am I so callous? Sirius, Cedric and others are dead because of my actions and their belief in me! Why am I enjoying this at all?*
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Dumbledore looked about the hall at all the children entrusted in his care and sighed softly to himself. He knew that Harry was taking this hard as were all those in the DA club but, Harry especially. He had brought Remus back as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in part to help comfort Harry and in part because he was one of the best qualified. Now that the Ministry had vindicated him and the others, he could finally implement some of the changes that would help the most without his hands being tied. What next would happen? He was afraid to ask yet, even as the question formed in his mind the doors to the Great Hall began to shimmer and move as if in answer.
The doors began to change form becoming whispery and blowing outward by an unseen wind soon becoming a cloth that resembled the Veil of Mysteries….. *No! It couldn’t be!* Just for a moment a wild hope soared through Albus Dumbledore as he stood up to get a better view.
Albus noticed that at the same time Severus Snape and the rest of the faculty had stood as well, drawing their wands. It was feasible that Voldemort had finally figured a way into Hogwarts. Those who had battled him at the Ministry recognized what the doors had become as well and were fearful that the final battle was to be tonight! They watched as a solitary figure fell through landing hard on her rump with a distinct “ouch!”
“Ow! Did you have to push??” A distinctly female voice exclaimed loudly as she began picking herself up off the floor. She dusted off her simple long black dress, picked up her fake broom and witches hat and looked up at the place where she had just fallen through. The doors to the Hall were rapidly returning to the door it had once been. She began to breathe hard in panic as she watched the transformation.
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*This wasn’t right! Doors don’t just change like that! Wait! It *had* been nighttime! Why is it suddenly so bright?*
Talene turned around slowly looking about her in disbelief, eyes wide! *Am I dreaming? Did they knock me out? Did I die and am in Heaven? Hell maybe? Probably! If I am where I think I am then I doubt *he* would look at me twice! Shit! What now?*
Across the room she saw him and froze…..Professor Snape!
“Drop your sorry excuse for a broom and your wand now!”, Ordered Professor Snape from the teacher’s table.
Talene looked up with wide frightened eyes and ‘eeped’ to herself inwardly dropping the toy broom as per instruction but she had no wand or anything else with her really save cab fare should she have needed it. *Well, you dreamed about getting his attention girl! Here it is!* She swallowed hard and another inward voice answered, *Yes, I did but….not like this!* Talene swallowed hard trying not to give into the vertigo that now threatened to overwhelm her.
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Dumbledore took stock of the frightened girl. She was about 15 or 16 years old though she looked a bit older, stormy grey-blue eyes, dark brown hair, about 5’5”, pale and focused almost exclusively on his Potions Master. Hmmm. Dumbledore held up a arm to ward off any possible attacks on her.
“I don’t believe there is any need for wands. The girl is unarmed and frightened enough as it is.”, Finally making eye contact he gently said., “Come here child.”
Dumbledore watched closely as Harry and his group stood as well with wands at the ready should an attack come. He watched as the group observed the frightened girl. Albus smiled as Hermione lowered her wand and shook her head.
“Harry, Ron…there is no need. She’s just frightened is all, not much older than we are and obviously a muggle.”
Talene heard her say this and made a mental note to thank her for the compliment later. She never even glanced their way as she headed up to where Prof. Dumbledore waited. The journey to the teacher’s table seemed like a mile long to her over conscious self. Upon reaching them Talene extended a hand to the good headmaster.
“Good evening, sir. You are Professor Dumbledore I am guessing? Talene Chapman. How do you do?” *Gods! That sounded so trite and campy!* Fearful thoughts of the possibilities that ran rampant through her head at an alarming pace and “What if’s’ were bouncing about her brain like so many hyperactive bunnies on a caffeine and sugar high. She almost giggled with that amusing panic induced thought.
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Albus watched her intently as she attempted to introduce herself as though this were perfectly normal. To her credit she managed to make it sound normal and conversational if a bit formal. She was nervous he knew but he noticed that her eyes opened wide as his Potion’s Master drew nearer.
Professor Snape fixed her with a piercing glare and used tones that he usually reserved for either Longbottom or Potter.
Albus winced and sighed inwardly as Professor Snape fixed her with a piercing glare and used tones that he usually reserved for either Longbottom or Potter. “Who are you and where did you originate from?”
Talene opened her mouth and answered in such soft tones that she could not have been heard by anyone save maybe the most acute of hearing. Albus smiled. *Is she deliberately trying to provoke him??* Albus noticed that she was very nervous in regard to Severus and that nervousness was rapidly deteriorating into stark terror. He knew that Severus hadn thn the fear in her eyes and felt the Potions Master stiffen imperceptibly. Albus knew that there was something different about the girl’s fear. She did not fear Snape the Death Eater, nor Professor Snape the teacher. No… she feared Severus Snape the man. Well! Albus smiled to himself.
“Severus…let her have a chance to sit down and get something to drink at least. We cannot forget our manners. Perhaps, my dear, we could continue this conversation in my office?”
Severus looked at Albus and cast a searching glance his way.
Albus knew that Severus had jumped to the conclusion that the girl could be a spy. He watched her nod still watching Severus with eyes that seemed to be trying to tell him so much. Albus would have been surprised if Severus understood all that the girl was trying to tell him with her eyes.
Albus addressed the rest of the Hall.
“Please continue as you were and enjoy the festivities! There will be no attack tonight and we must see to our new guest.”, Turning to Professor Flitwick and the others he made a request. “Please be sure that they have as normal a night as possible and they get back to their dormitories on schedule. Professor McGonagall, if you would accompany Severus and myself?” With this Albus turned and swept toward his office knowing all invited would follow.
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Harry could hardly believe that it was his sixth year here at Hogwarts. So much had happened and his life before Hogwarts seemed like several lifetimes ago. Already he felt age before his years creeping up on him and most of it was from the loss of Sirius Black. *Gods, Sirius! Did you ‘have’ to egg Bellatrix on like that? Did you ‘have’ to play the hero? Did you ‘have’ to die?* One part of him was angry that his godfather had rushed in where angels would fear to tread and the other part was furious with himself for having been the cause and allowing it to occur. *If I had only studied Occlumency as I had been told to do! If I had only thought it through! If…if...only I had trusted Snape!* That was the thought that rankled the most!
Here it was Halloween and Harry found himself enjoying the festivities and wondering why. *Am I so callous? Sirius, Cedric and others are dead because of my actions and their belief in me! Why am I enjoying this at all?*
*********************************************************************************************************
Dumbledore looked about the hall at all the children entrusted in his care and sighed softly to himself. He knew that Harry was taking this hard as were all those in the DA club but, Harry especially. He had brought Remus back as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in part to help comfort Harry and in part because he was one of the best qualified. Now that the Ministry had vindicated him and the others, he could finally implement some of the changes that would help the most without his hands being tied. What next would happen? He was afraid to ask yet, even as the question formed in his mind the doors to the Great Hall began to shimmer and move as if in answer.
The doors began to change form becoming whispery and blowing outward by an unseen wind soon becoming a cloth that resembled the Veil of Mysteries….. *No! It couldn’t be!* Just for a moment a wild hope soared through Albus Dumbledore as he stood up to get a better view.
Albus noticed that at the same time Severus Snape and the rest of the faculty had stood as well, drawing their wands. It was feasible that Voldemort had finally figured a way into Hogwarts. Those who had battled him at the Ministry recognized what the doors had become as well and were fearful that the final battle was to be tonight! They watched as a solitary figure fell through landing hard on her rump with a distinct “ouch!”
“Ow! Did you have to push??” A distinctly female voice exclaimed loudly as she began picking herself up off the floor. She dusted off her simple long black dress, picked up her fake broom and witches hat and looked up at the place where she had just fallen through. The doors to the Hall were rapidly returning to the door it had once been. She began to breathe hard in panic as she watched the transformation.
*********************************************************************************************************
*This wasn’t right! Doors don’t just change like that! Wait! It *had* been nighttime! Why is it suddenly so bright?*
Talene turned around slowly looking about her in disbelief, eyes wide! *Am I dreaming? Did they knock me out? Did I die and am in Heaven? Hell maybe? Probably! If I am where I think I am then I doubt *he* would look at me twice! Shit! What now?*
Across the room she saw him and froze…..Professor Snape!
“Drop your sorry excuse for a broom and your wand now!”, Ordered Professor Snape from the teacher’s table.
Talene looked up with wide frightened eyes and ‘eeped’ to herself inwardly dropping the toy broom as per instruction but she had no wand or anything else with her really save cab fare should she have needed it. *Well, you dreamed about getting his attention girl! Here it is!* She swallowed hard and another inward voice answered, *Yes, I did but….not like this!* Talene swallowed hard trying not to give into the vertigo that now threatened to overwhelm her.
*********************************************************************************************************
Dumbledore took stock of the frightened girl. She was about 15 or 16 years old though she looked a bit older, stormy grey-blue eyes, dark brown hair, about 5’5”, pale and focused almost exclusively on his Potions Master. Hmmm. Dumbledore held up a arm to ward off any possible attacks on her.
“I don’t believe there is any need for wands. The girl is unarmed and frightened enough as it is.”, Finally making eye contact he gently said., “Come here child.”
Dumbledore watched closely as Harry and his group stood as well with wands at the ready should an attack come. He watched as the group observed the frightened girl. Albus smiled as Hermione lowered her wand and shook her head.
“Harry, Ron…there is no need. She’s just frightened is all, not much older than we are and obviously a muggle.”
Talene heard her say this and made a mental note to thank her for the compliment later. She never even glanced their way as she headed up to where Prof. Dumbledore waited. The journey to the teacher’s table seemed like a mile long to her over conscious self. Upon reaching them Talene extended a hand to the good headmaster.
“Good evening, sir. You are Professor Dumbledore I am guessing? Talene Chapman. How do you do?” *Gods! That sounded so trite and campy!* Fearful thoughts of the possibilities that ran rampant through her head at an alarming pace and “What if’s’ were bouncing about her brain like so many hyperactive bunnies on a caffeine and sugar high. She almost giggled with that amusing panic induced thought.
*********************************************************************************************************
Albus watched her intently as she attempted to introduce herself as though this were perfectly normal. To her credit she managed to make it sound normal and conversational if a bit formal. She was nervous he knew but he noticed that her eyes opened wide as his Potion’s Master drew nearer.
Professor Snape fixed her with a piercing glare and used tones that he usually reserved for either Longbottom or Potter.
Albus winced and sighed inwardly as Professor Snape fixed her with a piercing glare and used tones that he usually reserved for either Longbottom or Potter. “Who are you and where did you originate from?”
Talene opened her mouth and answered in such soft tones that she could not have been heard by anyone save maybe the most acute of hearing. Albus smiled. *Is she deliberately trying to provoke him??* Albus noticed that she was very nervous in regard to Severus and that nervousness was rapidly deteriorating into stark terror. He knew that Severus hadn thn the fear in her eyes and felt the Potions Master stiffen imperceptibly. Albus knew that there was something different about the girl’s fear. She did not fear Snape the Death Eater, nor Professor Snape the teacher. No… she feared Severus Snape the man. Well! Albus smiled to himself.
“Severus…let her have a chance to sit down and get something to drink at least. We cannot forget our manners. Perhaps, my dear, we could continue this conversation in my office?”
Severus looked at Albus and cast a searching glance his way.
Albus knew that Severus had jumped to the conclusion that the girl could be a spy. He watched her nod still watching Severus with eyes that seemed to be trying to tell him so much. Albus would have been surprised if Severus understood all that the girl was trying to tell him with her eyes.
Albus addressed the rest of the Hall.
“Please continue as you were and enjoy the festivities! There will be no attack tonight and we must see to our new guest.”, Turning to Professor Flitwick and the others he made a request. “Please be sure that they have as normal a night as possible and they get back to their dormitories on schedule. Professor McGonagall, if you would accompany Severus and myself?” With this Albus turned and swept toward his office knowing all invited would follow.