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 One ~ Left Behind

“Stay together now,” Minerva McGonagall said to the crowds of students hurrying through the main doors and out into the school grounds.

“Come along,” Pomona Sprout directed as her Hufflepuffs practically sprinted past her.

“Move it along now,” Professor Flitwick squeaked as his Ravenclaws strode past him.

Professor Snape stood by silently, his black eyes watching as his Slytherins exited Hogwarts without a sound. They knew better.

The students and staff stood about on the grounds, waiting for Albus Dumbledore to emerge. The Headmaster was checking the castle using the Marauder’s map to find any stragglers. Not one living person could be left in the castle tonight.

Albus stood in the main hall, making one more check. The castle was completely empty. He nodded and then strode out the double doors. Immediately, the castle rumbled and a green ooze emerged from the top turrets of the castle, pouring down the stone walls, coating the entire structure. It solidified as it touched the grounds, sealing the school in a solid green mass.

Suddenly Harry Potter shouted.

“She’s not here! Hermione’s not here!” he cried searching frantically through his housemates.

Minerva’s eyes grew wide as she too began to search for the seventh year Gryffindor.

Albus looked down at the map.

“She’s not on the Marauder’s map,” the wizard said. “The castle is completely empty.”

All four heads of houses gathered around the Headmaster, looking at the map.

Ron slapped his hand against his forehead.

“Oh no,” he groaned.

“What?” Harry said, his eyes wild.

“Remember when we kept using the map to track Hermione down last year?” Ron said, his eyes wide.

Harry blanched

“Fuck,” the young wizard said under his breath. “Come on Ron, we’ve got to tell the Headmaster.”

Ron swallowed and followed Harry up to the staff members standing about, studying the map.

“Er, Headmaster,” Harry said, looking very nervous.

“Yes Harry?” Albus said, looking over his half-moon glasses at the boy-who-lived.

“Hermione isn’t going to show up on the map. She found a way to keep it from tracking her after Ron and I kept using it to find her when she wanted to be alone to study,” the wizard said in a small voice.

“What?” Professor Snape roared, “And you didn’t think to tell anyone this while the Headmaster was checking for stray students? You bloody imbecile!”

Everyone looked at Professor Snape, shocked by his outburst. This was a missing Gryffindor student, not a Slytherin.

The Professor collared Harry, pressing his hooked nose inches from the boy’s own.

“She has no idea what is going to happen in there tonight! We only found out three hours ago. If she’s found, she’ll be killed…and it will be on your head, Potter!” he snarled, his black eyes wild.

“Severus! Severus, let the boy go,” Albus said gently, reaching over and loosening the wizard’s hands. “We don’t know for certain if Miss Granger is in there or not.”

Severus spun on Albus.

“Where else would she be, Headmaster? She lives in muggle London and has no way to get back there other than the Hogwarts' Express,” he said darkly.

“She can apparate,” Ron said weakly.

Now Severus spun on Ron.

“She wouldn’t have left that way without informing anyone you dolt!”

The sun was getting lower in the sky. Albus looked up apprehensively.

“We have to get the students to the platform now,” the wizard said. “Professors, start leading them across the grounds. Let no one straggle. We must all be gone by sunset.”

“But what about Hermione?” Harry cried.

Albus looked at Harry sadly.

“We’ll do what we can, Harry. What we can. Now go to the platform with your housemates,” Albus said, his eyes worried.

Harry stood there stubbornly a moment, then met Snape’s eyes. The wizard looked beside himself. What was wrong with him? He hated Hermione. If anything, Harry expected the wizard to look pleased.

“Get out of here, Potter. If Miss Granger can be helped, she will be,” the wizard said in a quiet, barely controlled voice.

Harry stared at him for a moment, then Ron pulled on his arm.

“Come on, Harry,” Ron said.

Harry stalled, then let his friend lead him away. Soon only Severus and Albus stood there.

“I can’t get back in, Severus,” the Headmaster said. “Even my signature is locked out because of the danger of death. Only your signature can pass through, because you are always in danger of being killed by the Dark Lord and you won’t register. Only you can apparate back into the castle to look for Miss Granger and protect her until this night is over. Otherwise, the witch is dead. I know it is a lot to ask. You will be risking your own life as well…again. And I must inform you, Severus, that the danger is doubled in Miss Granger’s case.”

Severus’ looked at him, his eyes narrowed.

“Doubled, Headmaster?” he asked.

“Yes. The ghosts will sense her because of her…innocence. Evil always prizes innocence, Severus,” the wizard said. “In Miss Granger’s case…it is a liability. You must save her anyway you can.”

Severus looked up at the slowly setting sun. Once nightfall hit, there would be no safe place on Hogwarts grounds. Besides, he would be able to apparate in, but not out again until morning. The purpose of the ecto-seal was to keep everything in until Hallow’s Eve passed. Getting in would be simple. Getting out…impossible. Not until sunrise, when the first rays of the sun would melt the seal away.

It had been so long since something like this occurred, the wizarding world was almost caught unaware. Most were safe however. There weren’t many resident ghosts in most wizarding homes. The Manors had their share of them and the graveyards were warded to keep spirits in year around. The majority of households were safe from the Thousand Year Madness.

Every thousand years, the ghosts of the wizarding world became ravenous, bent on the destruction of the living, possessed by darkness. Even the friendliest ghosts became mad and would swarm over their most favorite humans, taking their life force in a manner similar to Dementors…but they only needed to pass through a human, not kiss him or her.

Legend has it that the two great powers of Good and Evil had made an agreement that for one night every thousand years, Evil could take hold of those beings caught between life and death and be used to claim the souls of all the living they could find. This agreement was supposedly made to stop the war in Heaven and to give Evil a sporting chance in the soul department, since Good ruled the world. But the humans caught on and protected themselves, as Good knew they would…yet Evil went to work immediately to make people believe the night of Madness was a myth.

Over the years as magical and non-magical people separated, muggles began to believe less and less in ghosts. As a result, these ghostly rampages moved to the magical world, since belief strengthened the ghosts’ abilities. Every witch and wizard knew that there were such beings as ghost.

Albus happened to be trying to think of a new Halloween theme to decorate the Great Hall with, and pulled out some very ancient pensieves to view. He saw a horrible sight…hundreds of people being set upon by ghosts on the grounds of Hogwarts, their spirits pulled out of them, bodies falling to the ground wide-eyed and staring. Albus recognized the Bloody Baron as one of the rampaging creatures and questioned him. The Baron told him that had been long ago when the night of Madness fell on them all and they killed and killed.

The ghosts must have been significantly older than the castle, which was new one thousand years ago. Possibly the founders and the ghosts struck up some kind of understanding. Or maybe they just moved in. Castles were perfect for ghostly habitations after all and it was quite difficult to remove a ghost once it settled in. More than likely the founders just let them stay, then eventually the creatures were bound to the castle and the houses. Evidently, the Madness superseded the binding because the ghosts were to protect the castle and its occupants to the best of their abilities.

Albus did a few fast calculations and found to his horror this Hallow’s Eve would mark another thousand years, and immediately ordered the castle and grounds emptied of staff and students. The animals would be fine…they had no souls for evil to collect.

The castle was sealed and no ghosts could escape it. But there might be a few stray ghosts on the grounds. So everyone made of flesh had to leave.

Now Hermione was in there, probably oblivious to the fact that her life was in danger. Where the hell was the witch anyway?

Severus turned to Albus.

“I’d better go. The sooner I enter Hogwarts…the sooner I can find the witch,” Severus said.

“The lower subdungeons might provide a safe haven. There is a protective circle there that was used for old earth rituals that involved summoning demons. If you can make it there, it should offer some protection. But if it is constantly assailed, it loses power. The witch’s innocence will be a powerful lure for the creatures. If they attack in great numbers…they might wear out the circle’s power. You will both be lost,” Albus said worriedly.

Severus nodded.

“I have no intention of being slaughtered by ghosts Albus. If Miss Granger’s innocence proves to be that great a liability, then I will simply have to make sure that liability does not remain an issue,” the wizard said coldly.

Albus looked at him, understanding.

”Save her Severus. The witch has a brilliant future ahead and will be an asset to the wizarding world and the war against Voldemort,” the wizard said softly.

“I am very aware of that Albus. The witch is a great hope for many,” the dark wizard said, his eyes glinting.

Suddenly, Severus disapparated.

Albus had the feeling something important had been left unsaid.

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Carrying a heavy backpack full of light reading, Hermione Granger made her way up from the subdungeons. She had found a quiet place down there where she was never disturbed by anyone. The witch coveted true solitude, and she found it there.

It was a twenty minute walk from the subdungeons to the dungeon corridor, up steep and crumbling steps. One had to be very careful. A tumble meant almost certain death. The witch made it to the landing, disillusioned herself, took out her wand and flicked it at the wall. It slid in. She peered out. Hermione did this every time she exited the area, not wanting her hiding place to be discovered.

Satisfied no one was present, Hermione exited the niche, closed the wall, walked up the dungeon hall a few paces then removed the disillusionment spell. She always removed the spell this way just in case someone was inadvertently watching. They would see her appear, but not know where she was coming from.

She walked up the corridor, aware the castle was eerily silent. Something flashed in front of her, from one side of the corridor to the other, and suddenly the corridor became quite cold. Prickles ran up and down her body. Hermione didn’t know why she felt afraid, but she drew her wand.

She cautiously continued up the hallway. She could see her breath.

Suddenly, Nearly Headless Nick materialized several meters in front of her. The ghost said nothing but hovered there, looking at her as if he didn’t know her.

“Nick?” Hermione said to the staring ghost, who didn’t answer her. “Nick, are you all right?”

Nick’s face began to slowly twist into a mask of what could only be described as hatred as he glared at the witch.

“Mortal!” he spat, “You are in the wrong place on the wrong night. You will join the ghosts!”

Suddenly, Nick swooped toward her, both hands extended into claws, his face contorted with evil as he bore down on her. Hermione was frozen with fear and couldn’t move even though her wand was out.

Suddenly she felt someone yank her out of the way, and a blast hit Nick, who congealed and dropped like a stone.

“Come on!” a voice hissed in her ear, dragging her back down the corridor. It was Professor Snape. He had a hold on her wrist and was running. She could hardly keep up. The wizard stopped in front of his office door, which was ajar and pushed the witch in. He followed her, slamming the door shut and placing several wards on it.

“It won’t keep them out long,” the Professor muttered then turned to the witch.

“Where the hell were you?” he demanded.

Hermione blinked at him. The Professor seemed very upset.

“I was…was reading,” she said meekly as the wizard glared at her.

“Where?” Severus demanded.

“In the sub-dungeons,” the witch replied. “I go there when I want some peace.”

Severus stared at the witch.

“If we succumb to the ghost tonight, you’ll have an eternity of peace witch,” he hissed at her, before walking around his desk and sitting down, drawing his hand down his face. He looked at her.

“You are in danger, Miss Granger. We both are. This is a night of madness for the ghosts that comes every thousand years. They want to take our souls in the name of evil. We cannot leave here until daybreak, and have no true protection. I was able to stun Nick, but he will soon thaw out and more ghosts will convene. Your innocence will draw them like carrion draws vultures. We have to get down to the subdungeons. There is a protective circle there that will hold them off for a time…but it grows weaker when constantly tested. We are going to have to come up with a way to survive…to either escape them or make them back off,” the wizard said.

“My innocence?” Hermione repeated.

Severus leveled his eyes on the witch.

“Your virginity is a liability, Miss Granger. It radiates innocence. An innocent soul is quite the prize and you will be the primary target of the ghosts. I will try my best to protect you intact…but you must be prepared to have me deflower you if I cannot hold them off,” the wizard said, his eyes glittering.

“Deflower me?” Hermione gasped, bringing her hand to her breast.

Severus nodded.

”Unless you prefer to die, witch,” the Potions Master said silkily.

Hermione stared at the dark wizard she had secretly fantasized about for the past several months, totally appalled at herself for finding the snarky Potions Professor so desirable. She was sure something was terribly wrong with her, but she found him sensual and sexual, and dreamed about the wizard taking her and teaching her about sex.

“No. I don’t want to die…” she said softly, “But…I don’t know…”

”There’s nothing you need to know. I know enough for both of us,” the Potions Master replied, frowning as he heard moans outside the door.

It didn’t fail to register that the young witch didn’t protest the possibility of him fucking her. Well, she was a logical young woman, though he preferred to think she might be amicable to the idea because she felt some attraction to him. Now wasn’t the time to think about that. They had to get out of here. The ghosts were in the corridor.

Severus stood up and quickly grabbed Hermione by the wrist and pulled her over to the bookcase. He pulled on a torch and the wall slid up. He pushed her through and followed, the wall sliding down and the wizard casting more wards on it.

The Potions Master released Hermione’s wrist and turned to her, a desperate look in his eyes.

“We are going to do a lot of apparating tonight, witch. I need you to open up your mind and let me see the subdungeons, focusing on the location you visit. We need to get there, and I need to utilize your mind so we can do so without entering that corridor. Now focus! Legilimens!” the wizard cried.

Hermione focused as hard as she could. She had good concentrative powers and Severus easily saw the area she went to. Several silvery forms began to penetrate the study wall, howling, their faces contorted. It was the Friar, the Grey Lady and the Bloody Baron, all with crooked hands and evil radiating from them.

Severus grabbed Hermione’s wrist once more and disapparated, leaving the ghosts casting about, howling angrily at their escape.

They wouldn’t escape them for long.

Severus and Hermione appeared in the subdungeons. Torches flared up. Severus looked about. There were broken pieces of the castle foundation strewn about, and several large arched entryways that led into darkness.

“Have you ever explored any of those passageways? We need to find the protective circle,” the wizard said to Hermione.

“No, I didn’t. I was afraid I might lose my way and not be able to get back,” Hermione replied.

“Damn,” Severus hissed, looking around the cavernous room. “Well, all we can do is search, and if the ghosts come, we will have to apparate to another part of the castle and draw them there, then come back here,” the wizard said.

Hermione nodded and followed the Potions Master as he headed for one of the arches. He pulled out his wand and marked the wall next to the entrance with an “X” so they wouldn’t inadvertently go through it again if it did not lead to the circle.

In the dungeon corridor, more ghosts congregated, casting about for Hermione’s signature of innocence. The Baron stiffened.

“I feel the mortal,” he said hollowly, “This way.”

The ghost sank into the floor. The others followed.

Wherever the witch was, they’d find her.

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A/N: A little Halloween story. Ooh, Severus might have to deflower Hermione to save her. How convenient for us. Anyway, please review. Thanks.