The Prize

NOT ALL DEAD …

…something in the depth of the dark eyes vanished, leaving them fixed, blank and empty. The hand holding Harry thudded to the floor, and Snape moved no more.[1]

At that, moment in the far dark corner of the room light flickered. Harry didn’t notice but Ron and Hermione jumped. Female emerged from the light. She looked as if she was made of light herself, on her back hung what appeared to be pair of long wings. She ran towards the Snape, pushing Harry away

- O no, you won’t. – mumbled woman placing her hand over the wound – You, boy… - turned to Harry, but at that moment cold voice spoke.

Time seemed to freeze as Lord Voldemort conveyed his message. The entire time woman was whispering to dead man in front of her. Harry was frozen; Ron and Hermione stood still, their wands at ready. When message was over, she turned to them

- You boy, go and do what you have to do. –

- Who..what…-

- This is not a time to ask questions! Not now! Just go, and take the other boy with you. You girl, stay! –

- I’m not leaving Hermione… - growled Harry

- No. – stated Ron

- No delays! Do as you’re told! I believe that phial you are clenching in your hand is something important. – yelled woman. Hermione looked at her friends and slowly nodded, not letting her wand down.

- Go, I’ll catch up in no time. She won’t harm me. – she whispered

- How do you know? – blurted Ron, Harry nodded in agreement

- I don’t know; I just do. Go now Harry. –  

The boys left the room reluctantly, and run down the passage. Hermione was now looking at woman, not sure, why she felt the way she did. In the midst of all this madness, she felt oddly safe. Her eyes popped out of her head and the mouth hung open the moment woman spoke again, addressing the man on the ground

- C’mon, cooperate with me now, be a good boy. – Hermione fixed her stare on the professor sure that he will rise and hex the life out if the strange woman

-Who,…what are you? –

- Irrelevant. - snapped the woman – You just stay here. I…he will need whitens. –

- To what… -

- You talk too much girl… - growled woman, reminding her at that moment at now dead professor. She was watching while woman ripped the man’s clothes, robes, frock coat, west and shirt, exposing his pale torso. She placed one hand on bare flesh, other hand still hovering over the wound on his throat. She was muttering something under her breath. From the wound a milky ooze started to drip, and Hermione widened her eyes.

- That’s it. C’mon, don’t disappoint me now. I know you deserve this, just be big of a bastard as I hope you are. –

Hermione gasped, not at the words but at sight before her. The woman started to glow harder, light was pulsating around her. Ooze stopped dripping and portion of blood pooled on the floor creeped back to a body, then wound knitted itself. Woman was still glowing pressing her hand at Snape’ chest harder and Hermione could swear that woman was getting paler and paler under that glow, swaying lightly.  

- No, it cannot be. – the girl mumbled

Her jaw dropped again as woman’s lips almost touched Snape’, she was expecting to see woman kissing him, but glowing apparition in front of her just lightly blown in to his lips. Suddenly, Snape’ chest moved, he was breathing again. Light disappeared unexpectedly, and next to the, now breathing, professor was a plain looking woman with chestnut hair, no wings and dressed in a muggle manner. Woman that looked too pale and unstable, swaying ever so lightly as she sat on her heels while large specks of sweat pour down her face.

- How… - was a first coherent word Hermione was able to say

- I’m afraid this is one in a lifetime show, girl. - woman sighed tiredly and waved her blood covered hand in her direction, a rush of protective magic cowered Hermione. Woman lose more color from the face – You go now girl, I placed a protection over you, it will last until you find your friends. When you are asked what you witnessed … repeat what you saw, provide the memory if needed be. –

- What… -

- Just go, and tell your friend, the one with glasses, to send medics and aurors. I’ll be here with him until they arrive. Oh, girl, also tell your friend, they won’t be able to take as prisoner me or him until the boy arrives here. Only after he tells what he knows, I’ll stop protecting this man. Be sure to remember and pass my message clearly. Go now, while my spell still protects you. – her voice was stern, the girl looked at her for a long moment, lowered her wand and run off.   

When the girl left Katya breathed out in relief, she managed to make just marginal interference – for now. Fully aware that she is changing the history, everything from that moment on is going to change, for the better, she hoped. Link to her place closed, and for the better or worse, her Prize worked. She was stuck here until her Prize reaches intended goal. For the moment wondered if she should be happy or sad. Looking at the unconscious man at her feet she softly smiled with a pale, painful smile:

- I knew that you are bastard enough. You are going to be royal pain in my but until I finish my task, aren’t you? I guess you are worth the trouble. –  

Listening to the sounds from outside, she shuffled and leaned to the nearest wall, not breaking the physical contact. He won’t wake up soon, and she felt weak and drained, bit of sleep can help her for things that will come. She closed her eyes, letting her hand still linger on his chest. Next few hours where crucial, but they will be alone, what will happen next was entirely depending on her actions. For now she could sleep, her magic will continue to work, completing her spell and working towards Phase 2

[1] JKR, Deadly Hallows, p.658