Kiss Of Death
Kiss Of Death
\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\" xmlns:w =
\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm\">lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">Title: style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"> style=\"FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: \'Matisse ITC\'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial\">Kiss
Of Deathstyle=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
Author:style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\"> Sacaralang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm\">lastyle=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\"> NC-17, romance – a little angst
lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">Rating:
Pairing:
HP/SS
Summary: Voldemort is gone, but now the world has to deal with
the aftermath. He stole one precious thing from them. Is there a way that
everything will eventually take a turn for the better?
style=\"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm\">lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">Challenge: style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">First Line/Valentine\'s Day Challenge.
“style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt"The"There is a new ghost
here at Hogwarts, and I think it is Harrystyle=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: \'Courier New\'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt\">
style=\"mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Potter,\"
said Dumbledore. style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm\">lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">A/N:style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\"> I apologize for any similarities with other stories.
It was not intended. There are just too many of them to check all. Sometimes
it’s kind of AU, you’ll know what I mean….
style=\"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm\">lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">Part of the \"From Dusk till Dawn - the
Harry Potter/Severus Snape Fuh-Q-Fest\" at href=\"http://www.kardasi.com/HPSS\">http://www.kardasi.com/HPSS
style=\"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm\">lang=EN-US
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm\">lang=EN-US
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">\"There is a new ghost
here at Hogwarts, and I think it is Harrystyle=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: \'Courier New\'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt\">
style=\"mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Potter,\"
said Dumbledore.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagal stared in awe at
him………….. .
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">~*+++*~*+++*~~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">The war was over, finally. style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB\">Somehow everyone tried to
get back to life – normal life – whatever that was like, due to the fact that
nobody knew how to really live anymore. Everything had centred on The Dark Lord
and his minions. That was
over now, Voldemort was gone, and the sun was shining again, if you could say
so.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">°~°
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">Another year was about to start at Hogwarts. First
years were rambling about. The teachers were busy preparing for class.
Everything seemed to be back to normal.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">Nearly everything.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Ari>
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">°~°
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">Like every first night at the beginning of a new
school year Dumbledore was about to give his speech.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">When the tall white-haired wizard rose, everyone in
the great hall became silent. Many eyes were directed at
him.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">Everyone thought he would say some words but he
opened his mouth to speak, then paused for a minute, closed his mouth and just
said: ‘Let the feast begin!’
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">The Headmaster sat down again. The tables filled with
all kinds of delicious food, but no one seemed to begin to eat. They all seemed
to be completely startled.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
S
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Dumbledore noticed the
great hesitation amongst the students and even amongst the Professors. He rose
again: ‘my dear students and fellow Professors, I was not able to find the right
words this year. Please begin and enjoy the lovely
meal!’
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">He sat down again his
shoulders slumped, seemingly depressed.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Those
present slowly started to eat wondering what terrible thing must have happened
this time to conjure up a mood like this in the Headmaster.lang=EN-US
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">~°~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Every now and then the
professors would direct their heads to the Headmaster. Whenever one of them
tried to talk to him, he did not seem to be his old self, even though he
answered the questions he was asked or would kind of participate in their
discussions. The twinkle in his eyes was gone.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Something was definitely
wrong with him, so far everybody agreed. Professor McGonagal gazed at Snape. A
knowing look on her face. Snape sneered.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">‘Of course’ he thought,
it was about that Griffindor brat. He knew it. The old bat was worried sick
because of the ‘infamous’ Griffindor Golden Boy.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Severus
sighed.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“Headmaster?” Dumbledore
turned his head towards Snape.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“Can I talk to you in
private?” Dumbledore\'s brows shot up. He nodded slightly and made a small
gesture that meant that he was to follow.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Dumbledore did not even
look back once to check if Severus had gotten the hint. He just went straight on
to his office. Severus had to run to follow suit, when normally he was the one
that had to slow down. Minerva was right behind him. This was something she
would not want to miss; of course, it was her concern as well as Griffindor Head
of House.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Severus sighed again.
‘Why me?’ he asked himself repeatedly.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">~*+++*~*+++*~~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~*+++*~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Dumbledore stood at the
window when Severus and Minerva entered his office.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Slowly he turned around.
He addressed the two of them; his normally watery blue eyes now a dark deep
blue.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“Severus, Minerva!” he
paused.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“I don’t know what to do!
The first time in my life I feel completely helpless. There will have to be done
something. Harry’s. .” Dumbledore stopped there with a deep
sigh.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“ ……… A
ghost!”
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">~°~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Ariaso-aso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Two pairs of eyes
suddenly stared at the Headmaster. The first one to overcome the speechlessness
was Professor Snape.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“What do you mean by that
Headmaster?” his voice full of surprise.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
lang=EN-US
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">The ground around
Hogwarts looked terrible. Dead bodies of members of the light and the dark were
scattered above. The members of the order mostly overpowered the Death Eaters.
Somehow the colors seemed to return to the world and the clouds seemed to
dissolve. Dumbledore, Snape, Remus and all the other courageous fighters for the
light were trying to help Harry fulfill his task to finally destroy Tom Riddle
alias Lord Voldemort.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Right after the final
strike coming from Harry’s wand the battle was over, or so it seemed. Green
sparks, as emerald as Harry’s eyes emerged from the force of the spell and the
Dark Lord was about to give his last breath. No one could believe that it really
should be true, the pain, the suffering, and the depression were over - could it
be true that now the world would come to peace again?
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">It was true - for the
moment.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">But somehow that special
moment was about to become one of the most tragic ones in Harry’s
life.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">It all happened in a
split second. The Dark Lord knew it was over, he knew Harry’s last stroke would
be a lethal one, but he was prepared. He had one last ace up his
sleeve.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“Muta Lamina!” Voldemort
croaked weakly while falling into the soft grass. He centered all his remaining
magic powers into the last spell he should ever cast. Then suddenly the
snake-like Voldemort vanished into a dark grey shadow. The shadow exploded into
red sparks and The Dark Lord appeared again. This time he was nothing more than
some kind of a hologram that walked straight towards Harry. Voldemort had gone
through a metamorphosis and now seemed to be a dark red sparkling cloud in the
shape of a man. The Griffindor was startled. He looked around to search for
Dumbledore or Snape. ‘What was this thing? Hadn’t he just killed Voldemort?’ He
did not know what to do. Somehow nobody seemed to notice what just had happened.
They all still were busy holding the remaining Death Eaters at
bay.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">The hologram came closer
and Harry stepped back, almost tripped over a dead body lying there peacefully.
His heartbeat accelerated and he felt his palms getting sweaty. He could cope
with a Voldemort that still was some kind of a human being but this, this
personified cloud was too much. Why could this not come to an end, finally? He
had no power left in his body. Every inch was spent, every muscle hurt and he
had not one cell in his still small body that did not scream for sleep. He was
exhausted, as simple as that.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">But there was no
mercy.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Voldemort walked straight
on, with nothing and nobody to stop him. Harry stumbled and fell face forward
into the mud. His wand slid out of his hand and then it all happened in slow
motion. Harry turned round; his eyes wide open behind broken glasses. The
hologram grabbed him by the shoulders and picked him up with inhuman force. Then
the snake-like eyes stared at him with a terrifying gaze. All of a sudden that
thing pulled him towards his face and kissed him, no, not really – it just put
his should-be-mouth against Harry’s broken and split lips. It burned through
Harry’s as if someone had poured burning hot liquid down his throat. He felt
himself getting light and feeling numb. What was happening with him? The cloud
somehow started to invade his body and mind. It entered his body through his
skin and his cells and Harry could not prevent it. There was nothing he could
do. He tried to stop this but he didn’t know how, and he couldn’t find his wand.
He must have lost it.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Harry gave up. Was he
about to die here?
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">~°~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">That moment, only seconds
after the hologram appeared, there was not one free Death Eater left. They were
all stupefied or kept in check somewhere. Dumbledore searched for Harry. The
sight let his blood freeze in his veins. There was Harry surrounded by red
sparks and pressed against a transformed Voldemort. He must have cast a very
dark and special spell. Dumbledore had never in his long life seen such a thing.
Riddle seemed to crawl into Harry’s body, seemed to enter it
somehow.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">What should he do? Albus
Dumbledore, probably the greatest remaining wizard on earth was at a loss. He
had no idea how to prevent Harry from being “killed”? He didn’t know what was
about to happen to the young man. He could only hope that Harry somehow remained
alive.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">~°~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Severus saw the look on
the Headmasters face and followed his gaze. Like Dumbledore before him he froze.
What was happening with Potter? He’d never seen such a spell before. Potter
seemed to be trapped inside a red cloud and Voldemort was inside him, killing
him from the inside or so it looked.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Why wasn’t Dumbledore
doing anything? The Headmaster just stood there.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“Albus!” he called. “What
can we do?”
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Dumbledore turned to
Snape. He said desperately but quietly: “I don’t know my dear boy, I don’t know…
I have never seen this before!”
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">~°~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Now all of them were
standing around. They all had worried looks on their faces. If Dumbledore was at
a loss, what could they do?
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Then, only some more
seconds later, the red cloud and the hologram within dissolved with another
explosion, and red and gray colored air puffed out of Harry’s lungs. He sunk to
the ground with a low thump.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">The first one to wake out
of their state of trance was Lupin. He ran towards Harry and knelt beside him.
Awkwardly he touched Harry’s neck to check for a pulse. Potter’s heart was still
beating, but very weakly. The others followed. McGonagal conjured a stretcher
and spelled it to hover slightly above the ground. They put Harry on it and took
him to the infirmary.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Snape took care of the
Death Eaters. The aurors sent by the Ministry were already there to take
over.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">The professors led by
their Headmaster went into the castle. They were all silent. Not one word passed
between them. They should be more than willing to talk, now that everything was
over, but somehow nobody was in the mood to chitchat or even celebrate – the
hero was not able to participate!
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
lang=EN-US
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~
lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
lang=EN-US style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
lang=EN-US
style=\"mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“What
I mean, Severus, is that Harry is somehow vanishing. And I am not able to stop
it. I don’t know what kind of spell Riddle used, and I don’t know which kind of
dark magic was involved. I just don’t know…!” Dumbledore sighed
deeply.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Snape and McGonagal
exchanged glances. This was a first. They had never seen Headmaster Dumbledore
in such a state of distress. Usually he would know a solution for everything.
Who could help Harry Potter if not Albus Dumbledore?
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">~°~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“What do mean by
‘vanishing’ Albus? Is he invisible? Where is he? Is he here?” McGonagal’s eyes
were searching around.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“No, Minerva, he is not
here, he still is in the infirmary under Poppy’s strict
protection.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">But, yes, somehow he gets
even more diaphanous every single day. He is feather light, Poppy had to hold
him down to keep him from hovering over the bed. As if you had levitated
him and not the stretcher the other day.”
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Albus Dumbledore was
babbling. Somehow the whole situation was ludicrous. If it were not that tragic
it could almost be funny.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“Harry is slowly
transforming into a ghost-like creature. He is fully conscious but translucent.
Sometimes we are able to touch him, other times not. Most of the time he cannot
even hold a glass. Above all, he does not need any food or liquids. Yes ladies
and gentlemen, all I am able to tell you: Harry is a ghost! And I have no idea
how to get him out of this terrible predicament. The worst of all is that
sometimes he is able to hold something in his hand and the next time isn’t. His
wand is therefore useless to him – well most of the time. I think he still has
his magic, but, like I said, sometimes cannot cast a spell – as he’s not able to
hold his wand. At the moment he is exercising his wandless magic. Thank God
Harry is such a formidable wizard!”
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">The Headmaster shook his
head. He shrugged and sighed again.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“We have to find out how
we can help him get his body back. He is too young to be a ghost for the rest of
his life. Besides he is not a real ghost, as he had been made one by a dark
spell. At least at the moment it is not getting any
worse.”
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“We will have to research
this!” he addressed Snape.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“Severus, please search
through your mind and your books. Maybe you’ll find the spell or something
similar. I think you should interview Harry, so that he can tell you exactly
what happened that day. Perhaps there is something he hasn’t told us yet. I so
much hope that there is a way out of this.”
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">°~°
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Severus sighed inwardly.
He had to interview the brat. Well, he couldn’t refuse Albus anything at the
moment. The Headmaster was the closest thing he had to a friend and he would
never deliberately hurt or disappoint him. The problem was, that when it came to
the Boy-Who-Lived, he had some severe difficulties to accept his duties and
obligations. The young man succeeded in irritating him twenty-four-seven and had
been doing so for more than eight years. Actually he was quite tired of it, but
also grew accustomed to it. Harry Potter had become, loath he was to admit, a
part of his life and he somehow was not able to picture his life without him.
Severus sneered. He would never, he swore to himself, never admit it to anyone
not even Albus. He looked at the Headmaster. Dumbledore had turned around again
and looked through the window. Minerva was watching him intently. He raised one
curved eyebrow at her, turned swiftly on his heels and stormed out of the
room.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Minerva opened her mouth
slightly to shake her head. She scoffed. Never in her life would she
understand that man. She walked slowly over to Albus and put one hand gently on
his shoulder. Albus patted hers and sighed significantly. She knew that he
appreciated not being alone now. McGonagal knew him rather well and he was not
one to like being alone. They stayed like this for several moments, until Albus
again turned round to face the professor beside him.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">“Minerva, I really hope
there is a way to fix this problem!”
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Professor McGonagal gave
him an encouraging smile.
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">~°~
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
lang=EN-US>Harry woke up with a scream. He had been hovering over the infirmary
bed for almost a week now and nothing seemed to have helped. Professor Pomfrey
was very kind and she looked after him with great care, but she couldn’t do
anything for him. Nobody could help him. He’d most probably stay a ghost or
whatever it was he was now. Harry tried to relive every detail of that encounter
with Voldemort. What had he done? He had muttered that spell and then everything
literally exploded. What was it he had said? The Griffindor hovered cross-legged
just inches above his bed while chewing on his lower lip. Even though he was
translucent he himself felt as if his body still was made of flesh and blood. He
was brooding about the spell when the door to the infirmary opened with a loud
bang, and was thrown against the other side. One very bad-tempered, dark-looking
Potions Master entered the room. He came to stand before Harry’s bed, looking
very tall and looming over him.
lang=EN-US>“Potter!” he growled. Harry tried to find a more formal position,
which was very hard as he always wobbled around attempting to stay still and not
upside down.
lang=EN-US>“Ye-es, Professor?”
lang=EN-US>“The Headmaster sent me to interview you about the happenings that
day you fought The Dark Lord! Please, Potter, try to gather what’s left of your
wits and thrill me with your acumen. Maybe there is a possibility to find a
potion or a spell that can bring The Boy-Who-Lived his famous Quidditch-steeled
body back!” Snape said this with such contempt that Harry almost flinched at his
words.
lang=EN-US>“I – I already told the Headmaster everything I remember. The only
thing, which I still can’t figure out, is the exact words of the spell.
Something like ’mooter lameener’. I have no idea what it was; I don’t know any
Latin except of course that used in the spells I’ve learned. I already told
Hermione so that she could look it up. But she hasn’t found it yet, I believe. I
don’t think she will, … it’s a dark spell for sure.”
lang=EN-US>“Well Potter – how very clever of you to think of that aspect. Of
course, it is a dark spell. The Dark Lord cast it, didn’t he? Why for Merlin’s
sake haven’t you told the Headmaster of that spell? Is he aware of it, maybe you
could have spared Ms. Granger the way to the library. Well, come to think of it,
she might have already hidden a secret cot somewhere in there. Anyway, you
arrogant brat. He said something that sounded to you like ‘mooter’ – that could
be MUTA in Latin, from the word mutare which means change, and the second one is
quite obvious because lamina in Latin means ghost in English and as you seem to
be something like a ghost – it.. .”
lang=EN-US>“It’s Muta Lamina… !” Harry shouted enthusiastically, before
getting silent again very abruptly when he noticed that he cut off Professor
Snape. That was a deadly mistake in class and normally would cost about every
single point that Griffindor has ever earned or will ever earn.
lang=EN-US>“Ohm, sorry Sir, I am just so excited about every kind of progress.
It won’t happen again!” Harry almost didn’t have the heart to look into the
Professor’s eyes again, but when he lifted his head, he caught a glimpse of
Snape’s face and almost choked on his own saliva. If looks could kill Harry
would be dead already, even if he was a ghost.
lang=EN-US>“Potter!” Snape hissed.
lang=EN-US>“Yes Sir!” Harry said meekly.
lang=EN-US>“I will not deduct points this time, simply due to the fact that
maybe your pea-brain has suffered even more through this incident. Let’s return
to our so-called interview. I think
it could be ‘Muta Lamina’ – and even though I am not familiar with this spell, I
might find something about it. I will do some research now, and you Potter, try
not to complicate things any further, will you!” with those words, Professor
Snape stormed out of the infirmary leaving a very startled Harry Potter
behind.
lang=EN-US>“As if I did this to myself, and on purpose!
Greasy gitlang=EN-US>!” Harry muttered to himself and pouted. It simply was not f but but
when had life ever been fair to him. He just hoped that anyhow this would end in
a happy end.
lang=EN-US>Harry hated the way Professor Snape treated him. Whatever he did, he
even killed Voldemort, but never, not even once had Snape said something nice to
him. The greasy bastard simply and profoundly hated him and had since Harry’s
first day in Hogwarts. Of course, Harry didn’t like him either but there was
something, always had been actually, about the Professor that kind of stirred
something in Harry. Whenever they were in the same room he felt on edge of
exploding. Snape made him edgy, yes one could say that, he didn’t know how to
behave around the man. He was fascinated by him – fascinated, did he just think
that, no that couldn’t be. He wasn’t fascinated by Snape, Snape was a pain in
the ass, but a very ‘fascinating’ one, though.. ..
lang=EN-US>Harry forced himself to stop thinking about the Potions Professor.
That very moment the medi-witch entered the infirmary.
lang=EN-US>“So Harry, how do you feel?”
lang=EN-US>“Alright, I guess, thank you Ma’am! Do you think that I could return
to the dormitory – it’s awful boring in here. Up there I can at least be with my
friends and my things, even though I can’t do much with them?”
lang=EN-US>The witch looked at him with a pitiful gaze. Harry hated that. He was
not ill, he could take care of himself. And the most important thing, he didn’t
need pity. At least that was something he’d never get from Snape. Harry
chuckled.
lang=EN-US>“Oh, my dear boy, I am not sure, I will discuss that with the
Headmaster! In the meantime, I’ll send you your friends over, they literally
havsiegsieged me for days anyway. I think you’re well enough to have visitors!”
Madam Pomfrey left.
lang=EN-US>°~°
lang=EN-US>“Harry!”
lang=EN-US>“Harry – oh my !”
lang=EN-US>Ron and Hermione burst into the infirmary and stopped
short.
lang=EN-US>“Oh hello Ron, hello ‘Mione!”
lang=EN-US>“Oh my, Harry, you’re really a ghost!?” it wasn’t a
question.
lang=EN-US>“Yes, Hermione! I am something like a ghost. We’re not sure, what
spell he used. Did you find something? About the Latin stuff. Professor Snape
told me which Latin words he might have used. It’s Muta and lamina. ‘Change to a
ghost’ or something like that!”
lang=EN-US>Hermione watched him openmouthed. She saw him 8 days ago and then he
had looked normal, now Harry was translucent. He hovered in the air above his
bed and looked like Nearly Headless Nick. Hermions sps speechless and that
happened very seldom.
lang=EN-US>Ron was as white as a sheet. He had his mouth opened wide like
Hermione had some seconds ago, but he seemed to be in some kind of trance. He
didn’t close his mouth again, but stood there like a statue. Hermione nudged him
in the side.
lang=EN-US>“Ron!” Ron closed his mouth finally. He shook his head.
lang=EN-US>“I can’t believe it, Harry, you’re a ghost!” he grinned
silly.
lang=EN-US>Harry was tired of hearing it, even if it was from his friends. He’d
like them to treat him normally. He hated it, why did everything always happen
to him?
lang=EN-US>“Ye-es Ron – I am a ghost!” he slurred. Harry rolled his
eyes.
lang=EN-US>“Wow! I think it’s great. Think about what you can do now. No
teachers can stop you now from haunting Hogwarts and you don’t need your cloak
anymore. And you can help Peeves. You don’t have to attend classes, oh I think
it’s great. I’d like to be iur sur stead!” Ron grinned again broadly.
lang=EN-US>“Ron, be serious, Harry is in a very strange situation and has to get
his body back. He’s not to think about haunting the castle. I don’t think he
wants to be a ghost for the rest of his life, like Ni Ron Ron
flinched.
lang=EN-US>“Sorry Hermione, I think you’re right, but anyway I think it has its
advantages. You could haunt Snape until he’s hopping mad and pay him back. The
greasy git deserves it for sure!”
lang=EN-US>“RON!” Hermione shouted.
lang=EN-US>Harry thought about what Ron had said. Yes, he would not only see the
disadvantages his situation brought. Truly, he could bother Snape a little,
haunt the dungeons. Harry suddenly felt a lot better. Rod had had a brilliant
idea. Let’s play ‘Haunt Snape’ Harry thought with an evil grin.
lang=EN-US>“Harry, you won’t listen to him, won’t you! Ron’s being an idiot.
Don’t try to do that, and leave Professor Snape alone. You’ll be getting
expelled when he finds out or even
catches you. Please Harry, you have that look on your face. Promise me that you
won’t haunt Hogwarts OR Professor Snape, especially not Professor
Snape!”
lang=EN-US>Harry didn’t answer. He already planned his evenings. That he didn’t
think of it himself …… ?
lang=EN-US>“Harry, promise me!!”
lang=EN-US>“What, yes Hermione, I promise I won’t do anything bad. I only will
play around a little bit. Come on Hermione, what else can I do, it’s so boring
here, and they won’t even let me get back into the dorm!”
lang=EN-US>“Oh Harry! Ron what diu dou do? Harry didn’t even think of something
like that. Ron you’re impossible! I will go now and leave you two morons alone.
Oh and by the way Harry, I haven’t found anything yet, but I’ll try under the
Latin words, which Professor Snape gave you! See you.” Hermione left the
room.
N laN lang=EN-US>
lang=EN-US>“Hey Harry what are you going to do? Can I come?”
lang=EN-US>“I don’t know yet Ron, but I think I’ll take you on and will go on
Professor Snape’s nerves a little bit!” Harry grinned.
lang=EN-US>“And no, you can’t come, you’re not able to be as quiet as I and you
can’t go through walls..!” Harry stopped there and contemplated whe hhe had just
said. Could he go through walls? He hadn’t tried it yet. He would do exactly
that. Harry turned around and faced the wall behind him. He hovered against it
until he was just inches away from it. Harry raised one hand and pointed his
index finger against the wall then slowly touched it and went through it, yes,
it worked, he could go through walls and doors and whatever he liked and it
didn’t hurt and didn’t need any magic.
lang=EN-US>This was about to be fun.
lang=EN-US>°~°AN>
lang=EN-US>Severus Snape was sitting at his desk in his office.
lang=EN-US>He sneered. Whenever he had a little free-time he was surely supposed
to save or find or fight for the impossible Potter-brat. Wasn’t it enough to do
that, he now had to do some extra research so that the little celebrity could
get his life back. He had to admit that he somewhat pitied Potter, because
no-one should spend their lives as a ghost, especially if they’re not even lived
long enough to become one the usual way. Of course he would help him, he’d
always done that, it seemed to be his fate acting as Potters persosavisavior.
Severus hated the fact that couldn’t just walk away from everything. He still
was in dept with Albus and it was paybtimetime – forever.
lang=EN-US>Anyway, he had searched through some of his Dark Arts books, which of
course
lang=EN-US>you only could get if you were a dark wizard and knew where to ask
for them. Albus knew that he still kept his books, and merely disapproved a
little bit. Snape always knew that sometime they would prove to be useful again.
Now was the time.
lang=EN-US>°~°
lang=EN-US>Severus yawned. He looked at his muggle watch. It was almost 7 p.m.
and if he didn’t hurry there would be no food left in the great hall and he
would have to eat in his chambers. Severus stood up and left the dungeons to
enter the great hall. He took his usual seat at the teacher’s table. Albus
nodded to great him as usual.
lang=EN-US>“Did you find something, yet, Severus?” Dumbledore addressed
him.
lang=EN-US>“No, Albus, but the idiot brat told me something he obviously kept
secret to everybody.” The headmaster raised his eyebrows.
lang=EN-US>“So?”
lang=EN-US>“He didn’t tell you about the spell Riddle used, or did he?”
lang=EN-US>“Spell, not that I’m aware of. No he didn’t. What spell Severus?” he
sounded a little too hopeful and Severus didn’t want to destroy that.
lang=EN-US>“Yes, well, it might have been ‘Muta Lamina’style=\"mso-spacerun:\">&\"> if he understood correctly. I don’t know
yet. I have not found something about it yet, but there are some sources that
are still to be searched through and I think it will come to me. There could be
an ancient spell or such.”
lang=EN-US>“Oh Severus, my dear boy, that sounds fabulous. Maybe there is a
chance to help him. Still - I hope that Harry won’t get any weaker. Poppy told
me that he seems fine, no changes, he is obviously bored and wants to get back
into Griffindor Tower. I’m not sure yet, whether it would be wise to let him go
back. What if something happens.” Albus Dumbledore seemed to be deep in thought.
lang=EN-US>Snape put on his usual sneer. Of course the boy, well, young man, was
bored. There was nothing interesting in sitting or more so hovering in the
infirmary. He hoped he would not get into any severe mischief. It would be just
like Potter to use his position against the teachers. He would keep an extra eye
on the infirmary wing and the rest of the castle.
lang=EN-US>Just in case.
lang=EN-US>°~°
lang=EN-US>The professor wasn’t aware how right he was about hisumptumption.
Harry was somehow sitting on his bed and was plotting his evening adventures
soon too come. He kept getting better and better with being a ghost and almost
liked the light feeling of his body and his extremities. It was fun.
lang=EN-US>Harry thought about what Hermione had said. Sure, the professor was
helping him or at least trying to help him in finding a cure, but it would not
hurt him to just treat him a little better. Harry didn’t deserve such hatred, he
thought. He wanted to be respected by the Potions Master. Alright, haunting him
was perhaps not the wisest method
to earn this respect, but as it wasn’t about to happen anyway that Snape would
respect him he could as well annoy him a little bit. Harry grinned again
broadly.
lang=EN-US>Tonight he would start being Professor Snape’s personal
poltergeist.
lang=EN-US>He loved the thought.
lang=EN-US>°~°
lang=EN-US>The water came down on his skin like warm summer rain. It felt
wonderfully and he loved it. A shower was the greatest thing in the world. Snape
would never swap it for a cleansing spell, even if it was a lot faster. He
washed his hair with his self-made soap as usual. Snape simply refused to use
shampoo. He hated those muggle remedies. Loath he was to admit his hair looked a
bit greasy most of the time but actually it wasn’t, it was shi shiny. The water
ran down his taut body. There was not one ounce of fat on his body. He didn’t
work out, he simply had a good metabolism and ate very consciously. If anything,
he tended to be thin and skinny, because he used to skip breakfast or dinner
sometimes to do potions research or just to spend some time alone in peace
without the students getting on his nerves. Severus stood there with his eyes
closed, the water soothing the aching muscles in his neck. He was completely
oblivious to his surroundings.
lang=EN-US>°~°
lang=EN-US>This was when Harry came into the play. He slid right down the steps
that led to the dungeons and thus to the private chambers of Professor Snape,
his evil Potions Professor. He didn’t know exactly what he would do but he’d
think of something when he was there. Harry had always been a very spontaneous
who’d act on the spur of the moment. Anyways …
style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt\">
style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">
style=\"FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt\">