Ival Pythonica

A/N: I do not own Harry Potter, any of its characters, etc. They are all the property of J.K. Rowling. For no profit of any kind, I am simply borrowing her characters for a short while. Only the Original Character of Megan Malfoy is my own, though her last name is borrowed from J.K. Rowling.

Megan’s sobs echoed in the empty Common Room, the fire in the hearth beginning to die down to embers. She took a shaky breath and walked up to the Girl’s Dormitory, each step dragging her feet. When she reached her bed, Megan sat down on the edge of it, starring around her. The green coverlets thrown back off the disheveled beds and the sheets and pillows were rumpled. The evidence of the girls’ hasty retreat was everywhere.

“I have eight days to live.” Megan whispered to the empty room in disbelief.

She stood and walked over to the desk where her school stuff was carefully piled. On top of the stacks of notes and papers was her wand, glowing in the dim candlelight on the desk. Megan had been rereading the notes she had collected over the last two weeks. She had been searching for any potions or spells that she could have missed. She knocked the parchment off the desk and proceeded to throw everything within reach at the walls, the floor, anything to release her anger.

Suddenly her hand closed upon her wand and it all became clear Megan.

She stopped crying, turned and walked out the dormitory, down the stairs and out of the Common Room. Megan didn’t even grab her cloak.

******
Meanwhile, Lupin had heard the ruckus Snape had made in the Slytherin Common Room, since his personal rooms and classroom was only one floor above. Lupin had been checking his personal library of Dark Arts books to brush up on his knowledge of Ival Pythonica. He decided, after reading deeper into the curse, he should have a few words with Megan before Dumbledore told her all about the girls’ intentions.
Lupin went down to Megan’s room in the Dungeons but she wasn’t there. He stopped by her dormitory, knocking first. However, there was no answer. Tentatively, he opened the door, calling out.

“Megan? Megan? Are you in here somewhere?”

Lupin halted suddenly when he saw the condition of the room. There were papers scattered all over the floor, books thrown against the wall, a couple of water glasses shattered on an opposite wall, clothes ripped and scattered around the room and mattresses shredded with feathers still floating around the room.

“Dear Merlin in Heaven! What on Earth went on in here?” Lupin exclaimed.

Lupin glanced around and realized Megan’s wand was missing but her cloak, slippers, and robe were still there. Instantly, Lupin realized something was gravely wrong. He turned and ran for Dumbledore’s office at warp speed, praying all the way that Megan was unharmed.

Lupin stopped at the stone griffin and rasped, out of breath, “Orange Creamsicle!”

The gargoyle swung aside and Lupin didn’t even wait for the revolving steps to bring him to the top. He vaulted up the stone steps and flung himself through the huge oak double doors.

“Lupin, did you forget? There is such a thing as knocking.” Snape said drolly.

“Megan’s missing!”

“Excuse me? That’s impossible I saw her when we were leaving to escort the girls out of the . . .” Snape suddenly flashed on the look in Megan’s eyes and had a horrible thought.

“Did you check her office, her spare room, and her lab?” He asked.

“Yes. They were all empty. The Slytherin Girls Dormitory was, for lack of a better word trashed.” Lupin said, trying to catch his breath.

“Trashed?” Snape raised an eyebrow.

“It was trashed in the sense that it looked like a giant troll had been in there to redecorate. However, her cloak, slippers, and robe were still there.”

“Well, she couldn’t have gotten far without those.” McGonagall added hopefully.

“Her wand was gone.”

“Her wand was missing but not her personal effects. This behavior is unlike her.”

“Yes, I know. It is as if she just walked off . . .” Lupin stopped suddenly, a look of horror passed across his face.

Snape mirrored Lupin’s face; fear seized his usually calm features. He turned on and ran out of Dumbledore’s office. Lupin was fast on his heels. McGonagall shouted after him.

“Where are you two going? We have to locate Megan!”

“That’s exactly what I am doing! Watch the girls and I will return shortly.” He ran down the stone revolving steps.

“Where are we going?” Lupin asked, trying to keep up as they ran down the hallway.

“You are going to look in the courtyard.”

“Where are you going to look?”

“The one place Megan would go, if she’s up to what I think.” Snape announced, still running.

“Up to what, exactly?” Lupin asked as they were about to part ways at a corner.

“An act committed by only the very desperate.” Snape growled.

Snape ran and hoped he made it there in time. He knew Lupin wouldn’t find Megan in the courtyard. Megan had predictable habits and this predictability was what Snape was depending on.

******
The air blew in soft, very cold gusts across Megan’s skin. Goosebumps rose all over
Megan’s body as she absorbed each gust. She stood by the window she had been standing by nearly 5 hours ago. She looked at the moon and the stars, sighing. With a deep breath, Megan smelled the sweetness of the chilly air and the slight scent of coming snow on the air. Her pajamas ruffled in the breeze. She could feel the hardness of the wand in her grip, her fingers tingling with cold.

“At least I will see the stars one last time.”

Megan glanced at them once again, and then sat down on the open window’s stone ledge.

She pointed her wand at her heart and licking her lips, began to say,

“Avadra . . .”

“Expelliarmus!” A deep voice shouted.

Megan was startled as her wand flew from her hand and into the darkness. A figure stepped forward, glaring at her in the most menacing manner.

“Miss Malfoy, have you lost what is left of your sanity?” His voice was dark, angry.

“I don’t really know, Professor. I don’t think it matters at what level my sanity is right now. I have 8 hours left before I start a painful, slow death. I will be aware of everything, feel every inch of pain and suffering and yet I will be in an irreversible comma. I would rather die on my own terms than theirs.”

“You would give up? Just so easily you would end your life? Then you are not the person I thought you were.” Snape shrugged.

“I believe we already covered the “you don’t really know everything about me” conversation earlier.” Megan sarcastically quipped.

Snape strode across the short distance between himself and Megan. He leaned over her and instead of shrinking back as he expected her to do, she tilted her head up to look at him. He bent closer so his face was inches from hers.

“I do not know everything about you? That may be so. However, I know enough about you Megan Malfoy to know suicide is not your style. The Megan I know would fight to the edges of the Earth for what she believed in and who she loved. She would never quit.”

“You know a girl who has served you as an apprentice, worked as your student, talked as your equal. However, the depths of my heart are hidden to you and always will be. I am not a person to you. I am a brain with a name. I have always known that and always will. The Megan you know will soon be dead and quickly replaced by another hungry student or half-decent apprentice. You will find someone else to discourse with smarter than I and I will be forgotten by you.” Megan spat each word at him, standing at the end of her speech.

“Is that so? Then YOU Megan do not know me at all.”

“Oh, I think I do. I at least know enough to know if I jumped out of this window right now, you would only mourn the fact there was no one to do your work for you, nobody to run your errands, no one to fetch things for you and you would only be upset that the blame for my suicide would rest on your shoulders!” Megan shouted her weeks of personal frustration at his face.

Snape reared his head back in surprise. Megan had never spoken to him in such a way and the concept of her thinking he felt such a way about her, blew him away.
Megan huffed, filled with anger. She was waiting for his retort and glad to see shock on his face, when suddenly the room spun. White spots danced in front of her eyes and she felt herself begin to fall towards the floor.

Snape saw her falling and caught her. Snape lifted her limp form in his arms, as if he were going to carry her over a threshold.

“Place your arms around my neck. Maybe this will teach you not to yell at people trying to save your life.” Snape grunted at Megan.

She placed her arms where he asked, the rough material of his robes scratching her skin. She felt darkness taking her under, the room spinning again.

“Concentrate on my eyes, Megan. Focus on me and stay conscious!”

Megan looked up into the dark obsidian of his eyes, framed by the moonlight coming from
the window. She sighed.

“I always loved your eyes.” She began to close hers, drifting into darkness again.

“MEGAN! Stay awake, stay with me Megan!” Snape shook her.

Just before she passed out, Megan leaned close to him and kissed his kips, pressing softly against them. When she pulled back a little, Megan saw the shock on his face.

“I couldn’t die before doing that.” With that she passed out.

“You’re not going to die if I have anything to say about it.” Snape muttered as he whisked her as quickly as possible to Dumbledore’s office.
******

Snape came to the griffin, puffing with the effort of running. Lupin was waiting there and his eyes widened at the sight of Megan passed out in Snape’s arms.

“Sweet Merlin! Is she alright?” Lupin helped Snape get her up the stone steps and into Dumbledore’s office.

“I am not sure. She was yelling at me and then passed out. I do not think it is the curse taking her into a comma yet.” Snape placed her on an elongated window seat.

McGonagall fetched some wet cloths, placing them on Megan’s forehead, neck, and wrists. Lupin sat with her head in his lap, moving the cloth occasionally, trying to rouse her.

Just then Dumbledore came out of the fireplace, followed by Kingsley Shacklebolt, Tonks, and Mad Eye Moody. The book was in Dumbledore’s hands, magical gloves protecting his hands. He placed the tome on his desk after having magically made every thing on it disappear. Mad Eye Moody glanced at Megan and walked over to her, eye spinning. He reached into his pocket, bringing out a flask. He placed it to Megan’s lips.

“Remus, help me here.”

Lupin tilted her head back and pulled her chin down, opening her mouth. Snape walked over to see what the two were up to. Mad Eye slowly and carefully poured the amber colored liquid down her throat. Lupin massaged her throat to swallow. A few seconds later Megan stirred and then leaned over Lupin’s lap, coughing violently. Once she was finished, Megan looked up.

“Mad Eye, it’s always so good to see you.” Megan smiled weakly.

“As it is to see you lass, you have never looked lovelier.” He grinned, stroking her hair softly.

Snape snorted and then turned to Moody.

“Giving Fire Whiskey to barely legal school children now, Moody?”

Moody’s eye swiveled to look through his skull, to his side. His other eye never left Megan.

“It’s a very special brand of Whiskey with a special ingredient to help invigorate the drinker. Think of it as an adult Pepper-Up Potion.” He winked at Megan.

“Where did you get such a thing?”

“Ask your apprentice.” Moody chuckled.

“What have you been doing on your spare time Miss Malfoy? Brewing potions for alcoholics that allow them to drink more often without negative effects?” He shook his head disgusted.

“Does any of this really matter?” Tonks asked. “What about the book and the girls?”

“Yes. Tonks is absolutely correct. We have obtained the book. Please, Minerva, bring in the girls. Tonks, would you please assist Minerva. I believe Miss Kennings and Miss Martin will be the most difficult. “

“Of course, Albus, but they won’t give me any problem.” Tonks announced as they left the room.

Dumbledore sat behind his desk and took off the gloves of protection. Megan sat up and watched the door as the five girls wondered through the door. Anna and Gina strolled through like they were in no hurry. Britney, Alison and Meredith shuffled through to the center of the room. Once they saw Megan, they could only look at their feet.

“Well, it’s a regular party in here. Why is everyone so somber? Did someone die?” Anna looked at Megan.

“Oh, lass, the party has just begun.” Moody leaned against the desk and leaned his hands on his cane, placed out in front of him.

“Oh, I know, you mutant. You want to scare me, right? I have lain at the feet of the Dark Lord, I have looked up into his eyes and seen horror, and I have watched gathering after gathering the terrors he had in store for disobedient followers, muggles and fighters of the Light, like you. If you think terror will make me give you the answers, it won’t. Not even the most disturbing forms of torture could make me tell you what you want to know. Nothing will stop me from enjoying the sweetness of watching her die.” Anna grinned with a darkness that made her look sinister.

“Big words lass, for a very little girl.” Moody retorted.

Snape had been conversing with Shacklebolt while this exchanged happened. He took the bag Shacklebolt handed him and began taking vials out of it. He handed one to Britney, Alison, and Meredith. They began to protest before Snape gave them one look which made them open the stoppers and drain the liquid quickly. Gina glanced at hers. Anna refused hers, throwing it to the floor. The vial burst into a thousand fragments of glass, the liquid seeping across the stone floor.

“I refuse to drink anything you give me. I WILL NOT FREE THAT VERMIN!” She pointed at Megan.

“I suggest, Miss Martin, you drink your vial. I would not want to be associated with someone who will be in a so much trouble; she will have wished she wasn’t born.” Snape ordered with a twinge of anger and malice to his voice.

“Gina is on MY side. She knows what we are doing is right. She will stand with me even if it means Azkaban! Won’t you, Gina?” Anna turned around.

Gina’s face was a mass of confusion and shock. She took a good, long look at Megan. She shook her head and looked hard at her once good friend.

“No. I won’t do this. Look at her, Anna. I wanted her to suffer but I don’t want her to die. If I had known that was your intention I would have had nothing to do with this. As it is, I don’t want to have any more to do with this. I am sorry, Anna. It’s not just the fact I don’t want to go to prison. I don’t want to be the monster you have become.” Gina unstopped her vial and swallowed it in one gulp.

“No? Fine then, it really doesn’t matter. Without me, the book doesn’t open, the contract remains hidden and Megan still dies. They can’t give you anything, anyway.”

“They can tell us what happened that night. That in and of itself is very helpful.” Dumbledore said.

“No, they can’t. I obliterated their memories. They have no idea what they have done and Gina here only remembers cursing Megan, not how, with what, or the contract. Only I know the truth.”

“You took their memories! That is magic no one your age should be playing around with! You could have hurt them permanently!” McGonagall was shocked beyond belief.

“Hey, I am just living by the good old Slytherin Creed: The ends justify the means.” Anna laughed.

Tonks strode over to Anna and grabbed her around the shoulders and held her still. Moody stepped forward and grabbing the girl by the chin, yanked her mouth open, pouring a large vial of Veritaserum in to her mouth. Dropping the vial to the floor, he used his hands, one to hold her mouth shut and the other her nose. Anna struggled to breathe and finally was turning purple with effort to fight them off.

“Just swallow lass, and I will let you go.” Moody said calmly.

Finally, Anna swallowed deeply and Moody rubbed her throat to make sure it went down fully. They let go of her and Anna fell to her knees gasping for breath. She tried, once she regained breath to throw up, but it didn’t work. Moody just chuckled.

“I thought you might try that, lass. So, the serum has an anti-vomiting agent and a quick absorption agent.” He walked back over to the desk, leaning where he once was.

“You bastard.” She looked at Moody then Snape when she said it.

“It also had a chaser ingredient that will make you do whatever I ask you to. Now, I will get all the answers I want.” Snape announced.

“This is illegal! I will have your jobs for this!” Anna sputtered, shocked, surprised and pissed.

Snape bent down to look Anna close in the face. He smirked. Turning to whisper in her ear, he snarled softly, “As you said, I am just living by the good old Slytherin Creed: The end justifies the means and there isn’t a damn thing you can do to stop me, you malicious bitch.”

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