Twice Bitten ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 34 ~ A Grave Error

When Hermione arrived at the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning, Edgar was waiting for her.

“Did you manage to find a replacement for your rounds last night?” he asked the witch, stopping her at the door.

“Yes, I did,” Hermione replied.

”And did you sort out your ‘man’ troubles?” the Ravenclaw asked, hoping the situation had been resolved in a way that would be conducive to asking her out.

”I . . . I don’t really know yet,” Hermione replied a bit sadly.

“Well, it will work itself out,” Edgar said encouragingly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rolled up parchment. “Here.”

Hermione took it.

”What’s this?” she asked him.

”Your Advanced Arithmancy Report. You dropped it yesterday in the library when you left in such a hurry,” Edgar replied, smiling.

Hermione quickly opened it and scanned it over as if to see if anything were missing from it, then she looked at Edgar with narrowed eyes.

”Did you read it?” she asked him accusingly.

Edgar arched an eyebrow at her.

”If I had dropped my report and you found it, would you have read it?” he responded, answering a question with a question.

Hermione knew she would have read it in a second.

”I’m probably going to do some revisions on it,” she said, “it’s not finished you know.”

Edgar snorted.

”Right. Well, I guess I will see you around, Hermione,” he said, giving her another smile and walking into the Great Hall, Hermione staring after him, a bad feeling in her belly.

Normally, they would have made plans to meet in the library and work on their reports. Yesterday, Edgar was still having problems. But today, it seemed like he had all the answers.

They better not have come from her report, damn it.

Hermione put her violated report away and entered the Great Hall in a temper. Edgar watched her stalk over to the Gryffindor table and sit down between Harry and Ron. Both wizards took one look at her black expression and wisely continued to eat. Hermione was quite volatile when pissed off at someone, and that anger could easily be transferred. She didn’t so much as look up at the dais where Snape sat.

The dark wizard could tell immediately that someone had ticked the witch off. Her eyes were narrowed and her chin jutted out. Definitely someone had gotten on her bad side. Well, he planned to talk to the witch within the next day or so. He had to hurry through breakfast and get his classroom prepared for today’s lesson.

Lives depended on it.

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When Snape’s afternoon DADA class entered the classroom, they were surprised to find it completely empty of desks and chairs. The room was completely cleared and on the stone floor were three circles. One extremely large, one middle-sized and one small. Each circle had a second circle within it, and in the spaces between were drawn all types of glyphs and symbols. The smallest circle held a small cage with a rat in it.

“Everyone place their knapsacks and books against the wall on the right. You will find a box of Muggle pens and note-sized parchment paper. Since you have no desks, you cannot use quills. When you’ve retrieved your parchment and pens, move inside the largest protective circle and pay attention. This is very important. If you do not, you will be placing your mortal souls in danger,” Professor Snape said to the students.

”Mortal souls in danger? What is he talking about?” Harry said in a low voice as he and Hermione collected pens and parchments.

”He’s going to summon a demon,” Hermione said excitedly, looking at the circles. “The largest one is to protect the class, the mid-sized one is to contain the demon, and the smaller one will protect the Professor.”

“Wow. I’ve never seen a real demon, I mean . . . if you don’t count Vashti,” Harry said walking to the circle, followed by Hermione.

”Vashti was a vampire,” Hermione corrected him.

”Well, when she changed she looked like a demon to me,” Harry replied as all the students filled the circle.

Snape looked at the students critically, scowling slightly.

“Make sure you are far enough from the edge not to be accidentally pushed out,” the Professor directed.

Several students shifted back, leaving a two-foot clearance from the edge of the circle. Hermione was right up front, as was Harry. Neither wanted to miss a bit of this.

Professor Snape walked over to his desk and picked up a large, old and ancient-looking book. The cover had a hideous, tusked face on the front of it with very realistic looking red eyes. Hermione thought she saw them shift toward the wizard for a moment, then wiped at her own eyes and looked at the book again. No, it was staring straight up.

Snape stopped in front of the attentive students.

“Today we are going to learn about summoning spirits. Normally, this is not an act of wizards and witches, but a Muggle activity. Since we have magic, we do not normally require spirits to perform magic for us, though some foolish magical individuals still insist on disturbing these creatures often with dire results. I feel that even though it is unlikely any of you will find the insane need to summon any spiritual creature, you should know the dangers and pitfalls of doing so. There are thousands of these entities but I am going to break them down into three categories for simplification. That of Elementals, Departed Souls and Demons. Be sure to take notes because you will be tested on this demonstration tomorrow,” the wizard said.

”Firstly, under no circumstances are you to speak directly to the creature I summon. Doing so can bind you to it if you inadvertently ask a service of it. This binding only occurs with demons, but often it is difficult to tell the difference. Even with the proper Summoning incantation, spirits can ‘cross’ and usurp the position another was supposed to occupy. Many have been lost believing they have summoned a low-key elemental, when they really have called forth a demon,” the wizard said.

”Elementals are nature spirits, which are grouped according to the element they are connected to. There are four elements. Earth, Air, Fire and Water. For the most part, they are benevolent and don’t mind serving humans. However, the higher up in the hierarchy you go, the less likely they are to be benevolent. Powerful entities do not like to be forced into service. The stronger the Elemental, the more likely you are to be crushed, dropped, burned or drowned for your audacity in summoning them,” Snape said pointedly.

”Departed spirits are the souls of the dead. The only reason they are usually summoned is to be asked a question about something they did or knew in life. Such as where money has been hidden or if they cheat on their spouses, inconsequential things of that nature. They are disturbed from their rest when this occurs, but humans being the selfish beings they are don’t care about that. A truly angry departed soul might hang about to give them a royal haunting because of this. Not the usual ghost type haunting, but a malevolent kind that can result in injury or death,” Snape explained.

”Lastly we come to demons. Demons are malevolent creatures whose only desire is to take the soul of the Summoner. It doesn’t matter if it is a low-level or a high level demon. All of them hate humans and covet their souls, which they torment forever if they lay claim to it. A demon will automatically seek out the soul if they perform the slightest service; this is why I tell you do not speak to them. They are a sharp lot. For example, a demon will ask what service would you like performed. You may reply you don’t want any service, and tell it to just stand there. If the demon stands there, he has performed a service. You are lost,” Snape said, with a small smirk. “However, there are two ways to break a demon’s bond. The first is to give him another soul, if there happens to be another useless human being available, and they do abound, believe me. I know several in this school alone that would be perfect demon fodder. The second way is to perform a service for the demon, thus evening the score, though a demon will never on its on volition ask a human such a thing. The soul is more important to them. Amassing souls is similar to our amassing wealth. They can never have enough.”

”Now, there are terrible misconceptions concerning demons which I will allow you to witness, rather than tell you what they are. I plan to correct those misconceptions in an unmistakable way,” Snape said, entering his circle and opening up the large book. “Now remember, the spirit that appears in the circle could or could not be what I intend to summon. Now all of you remain silent until I call on you. Remember NOT to address the creature I summon.”

Everyone watched as the wizard leafed through the pages. He stopped and studied one, then began to chant an incantation, his silken voice radiating power and authority.

Hermione watched thunder sounded, and a wisp of dark smoke filtered up from the stone tile then seemed to pour from the center of the mid-sized circle, filling it completely. When the smoke cleared, she stared at what was inside it, her jaw dropping open.

Inside the circle was Professor Snape. But a different Snape in that he was smiling at her, the harsh lines of his face smoothed and his eyes kind. He was looking at her with open affection, not a trace of snarkiness to be seen.

”She’s beautiful,” Harry breathed as a woman with flowing blonde hair and wrapped in a white and gold gauzy dress smiled at him prettily.

”He’s hot,” Padma said as her eyes fell on a golden-skinned, black-haired man, muscular and dressed in nothing but a loin-cloth. He gave her a rakish smile.

Padma swooned.

In fact, every student saw something different inside the circle, something not at all frightening. Only Professor Snape saw the creature as it was. Lavender saw the bunny she had lost to a fox years ago.

The demon looked at Snape and snarled, “What is your service?”

Snape didn’t answer it. He stared at it coldly. It bared its fangs at him.

But to the students, it seemed as if the creature in the circle looked at and addressed each one of them, and not in a snarling manner, but in a disarming, pleasant way as if it would like nothing better than to please them. Hermione stared at the Snape that addressed her, but said nothing.

“Gods, what I could ask her to do,” Harry breathed, staring at the beautiful woman, now posing sexily, licking her lips at him.

Padma was staring at the handsome, loin-clothed man with liquid eyes.

”He’s gorgeous,” she swooned.

“Raise your hand if the creature in the circle spoke directly to you,” Snape said.

Every hand in the circle went up.

”Fine. This is the first misconception about demons, that they will only address the Summoner. This is not true. In an attempt to garner as many souls as possible it will seem to address every person in its vicinity. Whoever answers falls into its binding. So you must be wary,” Snape said. ”Now, I am going to ask each of you what you see inside the circle, beginning with you, Padma.”

”I see a very handsome man in a loin-cloth,” the witch replied dreamily.

”Mr. Potter?”

”A very beautiful blonde woman,” the wizard replied, his eyes a bit glazed as he looked at the demon.

Snape went around the room. Everyone said they saw something different. When he got to Hermione, she was hesitant to say she saw him in the circle.

Instead she said, “Well, I see someone I know, but he isn’t quite right. He is too kind-looking. Too pleasant. I would know this was not the person.”

Immediately, the demon in the circle took on a malevolent mien, its brows drawn together and face pinched, the black eyes narrowing spitefully, a partial snarl on its face. It looked like Snape now, but much meaner.

“It looks more like him now,” Hermione added as she looked at the caricature of the wizard.

Snape studied her for a moment, knowing instinctively that the demon must look like him. Demons pulled the thing a person was drawn to from that person’s mind. Most of the time it was general, an image that had pleasant memories attached to it or a fantasy image. In cases of great focus however, it would take on the form of that most desired. In Hermione’s case, that was Snape.

”So, we can clearly agree that a demon will take the shape of something pleasing when appearing, if it is indeed a demon. It could well be an elemental instead, since they have many forms. There is one way to test this. A demon’s lust for life is so great, it cannot resist the taking of it in any form,” Snape said, bending down, opening the cage and taking out the squealing rat. He tossed it into the circle.

Immediately, the creature inside grabbed the little creature, tore its head off and consumed it, to the horror of the class.

”A demon,” Snape said with finality.

Then the creature began to address everyone, telling them their desires.

”You would like me to shag you, wouldn’t you?” the demon said to Harry, its golden tresses whipping about as it looked more beautiful than ever. It was almost easy to forget it had just messily consumed a rat.

The golden-toned man was attempting to seduce Padma, who looked at it with a blend of fear and fascination.

The demon-Snape arched an eyebrow at Hermione.

”What you want is to be on your back for me,” it hissed at her, “You want me to love you. To kisses and caress you. To tell you I will be yours forever, like in a fairytale, don’t you? So we can live happily ever after in some magical world full of love. You are such a weak, stupid little witch if you believe that ever can happen.”

The creature’s words stung. No one else heard it but Hermione. Everyone was getting their own little conversation.

”You shut-up! I don’t want anything from you!” Hermione blurted out as Snape looked at her with horror.

”Hermione! No!” he cried, in his excitement and despair, using the witch’s first name.

The demon-Snape smiled wickedly.

”Done,” it said, falling silent.

Hermione felt a little pull inside as she looked at the creature.

Snape quickly read the banishment spell, sending the smiling creature back to the depths.

”I’ll be around,” it said to Snape, then looked at Hermione hungrily as it turned back into smoke and funneled through the floor.

Snape stared at Hermione for a full minute before he came back to himself.

”Class dismissed! Except for you, Miss Granger,” the wizard said.

Murmuring, everyone gathered up their books and left the class, Harry lingering around the door.

”You too, Mr. Potter,” Snape snapped at him as Hermione stared at the clearly angry wizard.

Harry gave Hermione a worried look, then reluctantly left.

Snape immediately strode over to the witch, grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her like a rag doll.

”What did you do you idiot witch?” he snarled at her, “I told you not to speak to it! You told it to be quiet and it performed the service. It is after your soul now!”

Hermione looked at him wet-eyed.

”I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. The things it was saying to me . . .” she gasped.

“What in the world could it have said to make you speak to it? I warned you NOT to speak to it! You’re a seventh-year. You should be able to follow instructions by now which is why I felt safe doing this demonstration!” he hissed at her, still grasping Hermione’s shoulders.

“I couldn’t help it,” Hermione said lamely to the furious wizard.

Snape released her and pulled out his wand.

“Legilimens!” he cried, entering her mind so quickly, Hermione didn’t have a chance to even try to keep him out.

Snape listened to what the demon said to her while in his form, then exited the witch’s mind, looking down at her and sighing.

”You foolish over-emotional little witch,” he said softly, “the demon was goading you. It felt your desire for me and took advantage of that. You cued it when you said it wasn’t mean enough. You should have held your tongue.”

Hermione blinked up at him and tears began to roll down her face.

”Stop,” Snape said, “We will find a way to break the binding, but you are going to have to be very careful. The demon will try a number of ways to get you to do something that will make you vulnerable. By vulnerable, I mean open the way to your demise. Demons aren’t very patient. Perhaps we can give it Ronald Weasley.”

”NO!” Hermione said, shocked, her tears stopping immediately.

Snape looked thoughtful for a moment.

”I know Mr. Potter is out of the question. How about Neville Longbottom?” the wizard suggested.

”No! I’m not giving anyone to the demon in my place!” Hermione declared.

”It would be the most expedient method. All we would have to do was put the person in the demon circle and summon it,” Snape said persuasively.

”No. I won’t do it,” Hermione said firmly, scowling at Snape.

“Gryffindors. They can never resolve a situation in a concise manner. All that conscience gets in the way,” the wizard muttered. “Very well. I have in my possession an amulet that will warn you of the demon’s presence. That should help until we figure this out. Come with me to my rooms.”

The wizard strode away. Hermione quickly gathered her knapsack and hurried after him.

Snape cursed under his breath. Minerva was going to have trolls when she found out Hermione was being stalked by a soul-stealing demon. He pinched his nose.

Shit. What a situation this was.

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“A demon? Of all the stupid, irresponsible actions, Severus! I can’t believe you exposed your class to a demon!” Minerva yelled at the wizard.

Snape sat stiffly in the armchair across from Minerva’s desk, taking the browbeating. There was little else he could do. Behind Minerva, Albus’ portrait shook its head ruefully.

“Minerva, these are not children . . .” Snape began, ready to defend his teaching methods.

”They certainly ARE children. I don’t care if they are over the Age of Consent or not, Severus! The fact is through your negligence, Hermione Granger’s eternal soul is in jeopardy! You are responsible for this! And you WILL fix it!” the Headmistress declared, completely incensed. “If that girl’s soul is taken, Severus Snape, hero or not you will be thrown into Azkaban for Gross Negligence and the senseless death of a student. You will protect her from this creature at all costs until you can break the binding! Do you understand me?”

Snape stared at Minerva.

”Minerva, there is no way I can protect the witch twenty-four hours a day. She has an amulet that will warn her of the demon’s presence,” the wizard said.

”That’s not enough, Severus. Demons are very sneaky, conniving creatures. She might know it is present but not the form it is in,” Minerva said. “It could come manifest itself when another student is approaching and Miss Granger, believing that student to be the demon will defend herself, perhaps with deadly force. This will also be your fault, Professor. Now I suggest you come up with a way to keep her under your wing until this matter is settled.”

Snape sighed.

”The only way I could possibly do that is to keep her in my domain, Minerva. How would that appear?” he asked her.

”Under normal conditions it would be completely unacceptable, but I am sure after I make my report to the Governors, such an arrangement would be sanctioned, Severus. This is Miss Granger’s life. Her perceived virtue is nothing compared to the loss of her soul. You are responsible for this. You will clean it up or face the consequences!” Minerva stated firmly. “Hermione will stay in the Potions classroom with you during the day, her assignments from her other classes will be sent to her. She will accompany you to all meals, sitting next to you on the dais. She will be with you in your rooms during the evenings. I expect her marks not to suffer and I expect you to do everything possible to end this situation. Your future depends on it, Severus. The last time I was this angry with you was when I believed you killed Albus.”

Snape pinched his nose.

”Fine,” he spat at the Headmistress, “but if the little chit had kept her mouth shut, none of this would have happened.”

”If you had been a more responsible instructor and not exposed your class to demons in the first place, this would not have happened. The blame falls squarely on your shoulders, Severus, and it is up to you to remove that weight. Now, you may go. Fetch Miss Granger from Gryffindor Tower and escort her to your rooms immediately,” Minerva ordered him.

Snape rose bad-temperedly. He was about to exit the office when Minerva addressed him again.

”And Severus?” she said.

The wizard spun, scowling.

”I expect Miss Granger’s stay to be as comfortable as possible. If that girl gives me one complaint concerning your treatment of her, you will wish you’d never returned to Hogwarts, believe me,” she said warningly.

Snape looked at her.

”Ah threats. How I've missed them,” he said to her coldly, then exited the office.

Minerva sighed. How could he have let this happen?

Well the bottom line was that he did, and he had to fix it or pay the price for his stupidity.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.