It Happened One Hallow's Eve

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 24 ~ A Plan

Harry and the Potions Master apparated back to Hogwarts, Harry standing back as Severus unwarded the gate. The green-eyed student studied the tall, pale wizard, dislike evident in his gaze. Severus looked at him.

“Come along, Potter,” he said darkly, “The Headmaster wants to see you immediately.”

Harry walked through the gate and started across the grounds as Severus warded it back. The wizard put on his stride and caught up to Harry, whose silence was so thick with questions it was deafening.

Severus looked at him sidewise.

“No deluge of questions, Mr. Potter?” he asked him.

“No. Dumbledore will tell me what I need to know,” the wizard replied shortly.

Severus approved. Finally, the boy was showing some discipline. Maybe what he had to do wouldn’t be so bad. The Potions Master had been quite reluctant when Albus suggested it, but there was nothing for it. He owed Harry’s father a life debt after all. If he could keep the little bastard alive until Voldemort fell, he’d be free of all things Potter.

They entered the castle and flooed directly to Albus’ office. The Headmaster was sitting behind his desk. He smiled when he saw Harry, then stood up, walked around his desk and embraced the young man.

“Harry. It’s good to see you my boy,” he said to the young wizard.

Harry accepted Albus’ embrace rather stiffly. This was not the time for niceties. He had been taken from the Burrow on Christmas day. Something important was going on and he wanted to know what.

“Thank you, Headmaster,” Harry said when Albus released him. “Now what is going on?”

Albus’ eyes grew dark.

“Have a seat, Harry,” the wizard said, returning to his desk and sitting down. Severus sat on the sofa against the far wall, where he could observe Harry’s reaction. Harry took the armchair in front of Albus' desk, sitting on the edge of it.

Albus looked at Harry, cleared his throat then began to speak.
“In little more than a week, you will be facing Voldemort, Harry. He is going to initiate the Final Battle and try to kill you and everyone here at Hogwarts. The time has come for you to face him,” Albus said, his eyes sympathetic as Harry went pale.

Severus studied him. At least the boy had the good sense to be afraid.

“Voldemort is under the impression that the Order ranks are at an all time low, due to misinformation delivered to him by Severus. If we can surprise him, it is likely his horror will end. However, his main focus will be destroying you, Harry. You must meet him and keep him engaged,” the Headmaster said.

Harry had been practicing his defensive and offensive spells since his fifth year and was a good duelist, but he knew he was no match for Voldemort. He might last five minutes at best.

“Headmaster, I hate to say this…but I don’t believe I can beat Voldemort. He’s too powerful,” Harry said.

Albus looked at him sadly.

“I know, Harry, but you still must face him. You must fulfill the Prophecy,” the wizard said.

Harry took a breath.

“In other words, I have to die trying to destroy him,” Harry replied.

Severus interjected here.

“It is quite likely you may die, Mr. Potter…but we believe that the connection you have to Voldemort might offer you some protection. He transferred power to you when you were a child…it is likely that if you battle him, if he hexes you…he might feel some residual results,” Severus said.

Harry frowned.

“When Voldemort was brought back at the graveyard, he crucio’d me and didn’t suffer any effects from it,” the young wizard said.

“Not at the time. I have it on good authority that when he returned to the stronghold, he was weak and needed to take a double amount of his elixir. The cauldron he was resurrected from was full of that same elixir. He should not have needed any more, but he did. He has also suffered great headaches that corresponded with your magical visions of him…when you bothered to tell anyone. That is another reason he wants you dead. He can feel any magically generated pain you suffer and believes at your death, the power he gave you will be returned to him,” Severus said.

Harry absorbed this, then frowned at the wizard.

“Why didn’t anyone ever tell me this?” he demanded.

Severus scowled at him.

“Because you weren’t ready to know, that’s why. You might have done something…stupid,” the wizard purred. “Like trying to find him and confront him before you were ready. You aren’t known for your restraint, Mr. Potter. Or for your good sense. Remember the Ministry.”

Harry’s face contorted as he remembered his error then, which resulted in the death of his godfather, Sirius Black. He had been tricked by Voldemort into believing Sirius was being tortured and gone to the Ministry to save him. Sirius wasn’t there, and was killed when he arrived to try and save Harry. It had been horrible, and Harry still felt guilt about it. His eyes filled.

Severus was unmoved. Harry had to show restraint this time if he hoped to defeat or help defeat the Dark Lord. He continued.

“His attack on you will be physical, though he may use magic to ‘soften you up’ willing to take the pain in order to subdue you. He will try to kill you with his own hands. Most likely with a dagger or sword,” the Potions Master said, his eyes shifting to the wall behind Albus. "Our hope is that you will be able to weaken or disable him enough that someone else can strike the killing blow."

Here, the Potions Master's eyes glittered for a moment. Then he reoriented on the wall behind the Headmaster.

“May I, Albus?” the wizard asked.

Albus nodded soberly, and Severus stood and walked behind Albus’ desk, removing a beautiful jeweled sword that hung there. Holding it reverently, the dark wizard walked around the desk and up to Harry, presenting him the handle. Harry took it, and a golden glow washed over both him and the sword, then faded. Albus looked very pleased.

“This is the sword of Godric Gryffindor, forged in the days before Hogwarts to battle evil. It is very powerful. If you can strike Voldemort with it, he will die,” Severus said.

Harry stared down at the sword.

“And what will happen to me, Professor?” the wizard asked, looking up at the wizard. “The sword is magic. Magical attacks affect us both.”

“I don’t know, Mr. Potter. You may be spared because although it is a magical sword, it is still a sword and the attack will be physical, though the resulting effect magical. That difference may be enough to save your life…but there is no guarantee,” Severus said.

Harry looked down at the sword again. It was a beautiful blade, slightly curved.

“I…I don’t know how to use a sword,” Harry said softly.

Severus stared at the young wizard and drew in a breath.

“That is why I will be teaching you, Mr. Potter. How to use the sword and a number of offensive hexes that will slow him down without weakening you too much. Now since you will not be proficient with the sword in such a short time you will need to utilize your surroundings in order to even out the discrepancies between your skill and the Dark Lord’s. You need to fight with something at your back, Mr. Potter. Since the attack will take place on the Hogwarts grounds, the best place to face him will be near the Whomping Willow, which will be stilled in advance so you aren’t dispatched by the tree. Your training will begin tomorrow morning. As far as the spells are concerned, I will give you the proper invocations and wand movements. I suggest you have Miss Granger assist you. She is familiar with them, and from what I understand, quite the taskmaster. You will wear full protective gear while we swordplay, Mr. Potter…to keep from losing a limb or three. I will not hold back or give you any quarter.”

Actually Severus was looking forward to hacking at Harry. He smirked. Hermione definitely wouldn’t approve. Ideally, she would be there to watch him have at her best friend. She’d be furious, but would have to accept it because all in all he would be trying to help Harry save his own life. He would just enjoy the process.

Harry looked up at the Potions Master. He was going to train him? The wizard sighed. He was in for it now. More than likely the wizard would take advantage of the situation to vent some of his frustrations on him. Then Harry brightened.

“Will we be dueling with the new hexes I learn?” the wizard asked.

Severus’ eyes narrowed.

“We will not be using the actual hexes, no. But we will engage each other to hone your skills. You will have your chance to blast me off my feet, Mr. Potter. I sense that has long been a dream of yours,” the wizard said, amusement in his voice.

Harry grinned, he couldn’t help it. That was one bright spot in a very dismal future.

Albus shook his head slightly. The two wizards were going to let out a lot of steam this coming week. He only hoped Severus could help Harry get up to snuff. The Potions Master knew all about dirty fighting and most likely would utilize this dubious skill to teach the boy. Most likely Harry was in for a painful week ahead.

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Severus didn’t show up for either lunch or Christmas dinner, nor did the Headmaster. Hermione was surprised however to see Draco seated at the table. He looked distracted and didn’t even give her his normal sneer of disdain as she seated herself at the table.

Argus Filch looked at the witch with distaste. He wasn’t spying on her and Severus any longer…but he had “happened” to be around when Hermione went to the Potions Master’s office last evening. She never came out.

“Like rutting hippogriffs,” the caretaker muttered under his breath, cutting into his goose and masticating on the meat with a few browned and snaggled teeth too stubborn to release their grip on his gums.

Hermione picked at her food half-heartedly. Where was Severus?
After a rather dismal dinner, Hermione left the Great Hall. She hesitated, trying to decide if she should go down to the dungeons and find out if Severus was back, or head up to Gryffindor Tower and try to get some studying in. She had received some clothing from her parents for Christmas, but nothing else exciting. She sighed and turned to take the main stairs when a silken voice called out to her.

“Miss Granger, a word if you please.”

A thrill went through Hermione and she turned to see Severus standing by the dungeon corridor entrance.

“Severus! You’re back!” she said joyfully, running toward the wizard, only to slow when he scowled at her blackly and made a motion with his hand for her to slow down.

Standing behind him, Harry’s brow furrowed. Had Hermione just addressed the Potions Master by his first name?

“Yes, I have returned, Miss Granger,” Severus said, emphasizing his formal address of her warningly. “And I have a Christmas gift for you…of sorts.”

Hermione stared at him.

“What is it?” she asked.

Severus stepped aside and Harry appeared, his green eyes shifting from Hermione to the Potions Master.

“Harry!” Hermione squealed, flinging herself on him and kissing his cheek.

Severus’ jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything. The two went back to their first year and were only friends. Still, he felt a bit jealous as Hermione pressed her body against the wizard and kissed him.

“What are you doing here on Christmas? I thought you were staying with the Weasleys?” she said looking the wizard over.

Harry’s eyes cut to Severus, who said, “I will leave you now. You both have a lot to talk about.”

Hermione looked at the wizard, who met her eyes for a moment.

“Miss Granger…Mr. Potter,” the Potions Master said, then swept down the dungeon corridor with a billow of robes. Harry noticed Hermione stared after him.

“Hermione,” he said.

The witch didn’t respond.

“Hermione,” Harry said again, louder. Hermione started and looked at him.

“Yes, Harry?” she said.

Harry scowled at her.

“What’s going on with you and Snape? You called him by his first name and sounded genuinely happy to see him,” the wizard said suspiciously.

Hermione’s eyes shifted.

“Nothing,” she said lamely.

Harry looked at her.

“Hermione, I can always tell when you are lying. Now tell me the truth,” he said.

Hermione sighed.

“You’re not going to like it Harry,” she said softly, “You’re going to have a bugbear.”

Harry stared at his best friend.

“I already know what it is, Hermione…you’re doing the Professor,” he said heavily.

Hermione scowled at him.

“I’m not ‘doing’ the Professor, Harry. We…we are kind of in a relationship…the beginning stages,” she said.

Harry snorted.

“The greasy git is just using you for sex, Hermione. You’re young, pretty and obviously susceptible to him…though gods know why,” the wizard said, “Why would you even let him touch you? He’s bloody horrible. You must keep your eyes closed.”

Hermione frowned at Harry. He didn’t understand how it was between them. How she felt about the dark wizard. How he felt about her.

“It’s complicated Harry. Promise me you’ll keep it to yourself,” she said to the wizard.

“Like I’d want to spread that around,” Harry said, shuddering. “I can’t believe it, Hermione. You could have got someone younger, handsomer and much, much nicer. Someone who wasn’t half evil.”

“He’s nowhere near evil, Harry. How can you say that knowing what he goes through with the Dark Lord? How he risks his life everyday,” she said to him angrily.

“And takes it out on everyone else, making them miserable,” Harry retorted. “He shares the pain, believe me.”

”It still doesn’t make what he does any less courageous. How would you act if you were constantly tortured? You wouldn’t be a very merry wizard,” she countered.

“I wouldn’t act like Snape either,” Harry said.

Hermione sighed. They’d better stop talking about this or they were going to have one hell of a row.

“Harry, let’s talk about this later,” she suggested, “Right now, I want to know why you’re back here.”

”Voldemort is going to attack Hogwarts on the morning of January fourth, Hermione. I was brought back to be trained up so I can meet him in battle,” the wizard said heavily.

Hermione gasped.

“No, Harry. He’s…he’s too powerful for you to face alone,” she cried, terror in her eyes.

“Snape is going to train me, teach me how to weaken and survive him. How to use a sword…I have to kill him physically…not with magic because we are magically connected. And I need to learn some knew hexes. Snape said you knew them and suggested I ask you to help me learn them,” Harry said, his eyes curious how Hermione would know such spells, and more…how Snape knew she knew them. Maybe through pillow talk.

Harry shuddered at the thought.

“The Professor is going to train you to fight with a sword?” she asked to make sure.

“Yes. And duel me,” Harry replied, his eyes lighting up at the prospect.

Hermione frowned. This didn’t sound good. Neither wizard liked the other. But then again, that might be a good thing considering hatred would be a factor when Harry met Voldemort. The witch still didn’t like the idea of the two wizards she loved most in the world trying to take each other’s heads off. Because that was what was going to happen. She stared at Harry, realizing he might be preparing for his death. Her eyes filled with tears.

“Oh Harry,” she cried, clutching him close and sobbing.

Harry patted her back.

“Don’t worry Hermione. I’ll be ready for this. It will be a relief to finally face him. Voldemort’s been a dark cloud hanging over my head all my life. At least…at least it will finally come to an end and I’ll be free of him one way or another,” he said softly. “Besides, if I can weaken him enough…someone else might be able to kill him. I think the Professor wants to do it. He didn’t say it…but I could feel it, see it in his eyes.”

Hermione drew back from Harry. If what he said were true, then Severus would also be risking his life. He could die as well. This was too horrible.

“Oh my gods,” Hermione breathed, tears streaming down her face. Harry wrapped a comforting arm around her.

“Come on, Hermione…let’s go to Gryffindor Tower. You can tell me about these spells,” he said softly to the sobbing witch.

Hermione sniffled. Yes, she could make sure Harry learned all the spells and help him. There was something she could do that might help him stay alive. As long as she did that, there was hope he might survived.

Hermione bucked up, wiping the tears from her eyes and drawing a deep breath.

“All right, Harry…let’s go then. You are going to have a lot to learn over the next ten days. I’m just the witch to teach you,” she said bravely.

Harry gave her a smile.

“That’s the witch, then,” he said affectionately.

They both headed for the main stairwell, arm in arm.

They had work to do.

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A/N: Interesting chapter. I’m very tired so no notes really. Just please review. Thanks.