Archmage

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Potterverse and from Dragonlance and surely I don't earn any money from my fan fiction. Of course, if someone wants to give me money, I would not object.


Raistlin awoke to a sound of some unknown chanting. He opened his eyes and realized, that he is in some sort of a hospital. Woman responsible for the spell sit on a chair near one of the beds and she was healing the wounds of her patient. She was a witch, not a priest. And she healed with magic! This was really something new to Raistlin, for as far as his knowledge went; only priests were able to heal. Although he was still weak after his space and time moving spell (with help of great magic instability caused by some strong spell, he had to admit), he was eager to learn this new healing spells.

But first must go first. As the woman spoke some unknown language, Raistlin cast a translation spell on himself to understand. Raistlin checked his surroundings and he realized, that this entire building was magical item of extraordinary strength, just like Towers of High magic on his beloved Krynn. All inhabitants of the room were wizards. Some were young "“ the apprentices, some were strong "“ the masters.

His moves during these observations attracted attention of the witch-healer. She came to him and started:

"You are finally awake. All you needed was to rest, sleep and cure your lungs. You care poorly for your body. You are malnutried and I can't fully understand, what is wrong with your lungs. It looks like some kind of TBC, and I have done my best. Who are you, young man? Nobody recognized you and you seem rather unforgettable with those white hairs and golden skin"¦and those eyes"¦ Don't scowl at me; I saved your miserable ass from battlefield, although you did not seem to be hurt in the fight. You will lie here on this bed until you gain some more weight."

Raistlin had hard time not to laugh. Him, Fistandantilus, Master of past and present, called young man and cared like a pupil in a school.

"My name is Raistlin Majere and I don't like anyone yelling at me. I'm fully capable of taking care of myself, woman. I don't know, what you mean by TBC, but nobody can cure my lungs. This weakness is punishment from gods for my seeking of power. As well as my eyes."

"A little egocentric, are we? When you are unconscious, you are not fully capable of anything, let alone care for yourself. You are staying here at least another day."

"Well, I surrender. I'm most curious about you. I have never seen witch healer. Besides, where exactly I am?"

"You are exactly in infirmary of Hogwarts school of Wizardry and Witchcraft, my name is Madam Pomfrey. I am medi-witch, and that's rather common. You can ask another questions to our star student Miss Granger, as she is apparently eager to amuse herself with something else than lying on a bed. Now I must care for another patients. Don't get out of your bed." And she left.

Miss Granger was a young woman in next bed, which curiously listened to their conversation with wide-open eyes. And with the same curiosity she looked at Magius' s staff standing beside his bed, and of course at him, through she seemed to be rather shy and lowered her gaze, when he looked directly at her. "May I ask you several questions, Mr. Majere?"

But before Raistlin could response, he heard another voice join their conversation. This voice low, slow and almost purr. "In your place I would not let her, since she is able to exhaust you to death with her inane questions. Do not say that I have not warned you. Believe me, I speak from my own painful experience with our know-it-all Miss Granger." This man laid in another bed across from his, had long black hair and black eyes and from smirk in his face Raistlin could tell, that he is making fun of Miss Granger.

Miss Granger rolled her eyes "Oh, may I introduce you? This is our soon-to-be Headmaster Severus Snape. He is always such a nice person."

"I'm Raistlin Majere," acknowledged Raistlin and gave the headmaster a little bow of his head. Headmaster obviously did not care for lack of titles or other explanations; he apparently waited for Miss Granger's questions to know more about strange wizard Majere. Like a spy waiting for an enemy's move.

"Mr. Majere, why is your skin golden? And your eyes are mostly unusual; I've never seen eyes like this on human being. I've never read of something like this. Does it improve your sight?" Raistlin gave her his best evil look, but Granger did not flinch from him, just like fearless kender happily observing some interesting awaking dragon.

"My eyes, Miss Granger, do not improve my sight. They are punishment for me, I see with them only decay and death. Everything before my sight is growing older, dying and rotting. Even you I can see as old woman just before your death. And my skin is golden, because I reflected fireball from dark elf. Is this sufficient enough?"

Hermione felt a little shaken and a lot more curious. "Where are you from? You have never seen a medi-witch, but you have seen a dark elf? Elves are extremely rare creatures and surely they are not dark. I can't imagine one of them casting a fireball."

"I'm not from this world. My world was Krynn, but I had to leave it. I came here, when there was running loose some magic. Quite big magic is necessary for moving between worlds"

Another sentence came from Headmaster: "I remember your coming. I have lain quite close from that damned Potter's spell. It almost killed me, as usually, when that brat"˜s involved. So it was you, who appeared in those flames."

Hermione looked shaken with his words "Harry saved your life, while he sacrificed his! You should not speak of him that way. You are completely ungrateful"¦"

"Watch your tongue, Miss Granger"

"But still it's true. You can't admit he's brave, unselfish man, who had done something of most importance"

"Miss Granger, let's say he was born for it and I see no credit in simply being what you have been born to. More important question is what will happen with Hogwarts now. We miss half the staff and one quarter of students, especially from sixth and seventh year. Not that the seventh years matter, they are gone by now. Now I have to search for some new teachers."

As Raistlin was obviously forgotten, he speculated of this amusing wizard school. One thing in life he never done and that was teaching children. And he realized, that he wants this very much. He was best expert on Dark Magic, wasn't he? He can teach children some basic knowledge. Not necessary Dark Magic, but simple spells. And he was skilled alchemist too. Alchemy was his hobby.

"What teachers do you miss?"

Snape turned to strange wizard "I need skilled teachers that can tolerate our dunderheads. I need transfiguration teacher, potion teacher and teacher of flying. And arithmancy one as well."

Hermione was surprised "Why potions? Are you going somewhere? I thought, that you would continue your gentle tutoring potions to your beloved students, now when Professor Slughorn is dead."

"No, Miss Granger. I will teach Defense Against Dark Arts again. Together with my Headmaster's duties, that will be everything possible for me. My beloved students will be graced with my presence pretty much."

"Professor Snape, I am in arithmancy as good as was poor professor Vector. With both my friends being dead, I have no plans for holidays or for another school year. Please, can you let me see syllabus for arithmancy? I'll prove myself useful."

Snape knew Hermione to be top school arithmancer in last one hundred years or so. This plan of hers was quite reasonable after all. Even professor Vector was not able to fully understand all of Hermione' s calculations. Especially in last year' s Advanced Arithmancy class.

"Let me consider this though a while, Miss Granger. I don't say yes, but maybe you just solve one of my many problems."

"Oh, thank you, professor! I won't disappoint you."

"Save your thanks for future. You will hate teaching dunderheads who are unable to add two and two together."

Before they could continue chatting over inner school problems, Poppy came with vials of Sleeping draughts and ended their conversation.