Swept From the Past

Chapter 7: Little Green Riding Hood

A week later, Professor Burns arrived late to her Defence Against the Dark Arts class. When she entered the class, her hair was covered with a slimy, bluish substance, which trickled down her cloak to the floor. A red liquid, which looked like blood, dripped also on the floor from her cloak. It mixed with the blue substance and turned a dirty, violet colour.

"Morning, class," Burns said and sat at her desk.

Everyone stared at her. A few students, especially the Slytherins, started to giggle at her appearance. Harry didn't know what to think. What had happened to her? He was not used to seeing her looking so ridiculous. He threw Hermione a quick glance. She stared at Professor Burns, her eyes wide opened. She looked shocked.

"I know!" Burns said sharply. "My hair is blue! That's very laughable, especially for me!" She touched her hair and grimaced. "So, laugh hard now. You can do it! I give you two minutes! Then, we'll start the lesson!"

Some students burst into laughter. Harry saw that Snape's upper lip was curling.

After about one minute, Hermione raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" Burns queried.

"What is that substance?" she asked.

"It's Chinese dragon blood," Professor Burns responded. "I killed one this morning, but when my sword slipped on a vein, I got splashed. Disgusting!" she grimaced.

Everyone suddenly fell silent. A Chinese dragon? Harry saw that Snape's features hardened. The Potions Master raised an eyebrow.

"You killed a Chinese dragon?!" exclaimed Ron.

"Yes, Master Weasley," Burns retorted.

"Alone?" he repeated, dumbfounded.

"Just me... and my sword...." Burns replied. She took out a big sword from her cloak and made it whirl in her hand. The blade was covered with the same sticky blue substance. "Now I think I must get another sword... I can't take the blood away... I tried to wipe it off quickly, but it didn't work. That's a shame. I liked this sword... I also liked my hair, but I think it's too late..."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, intrigued.

"Oh... Well, I have to cut it off, Miss Granger!" responded Burns. "Dragon blood is like glue!"

Snape looked startled.

"But..." Hermione continued, surprised too. "You don't need to cut off your hair. You just have to use a potion for that!"

"Really?" asked Burns. "Hmmm..." she retorted in sort of awkward manner... "Yeah, right... but I... prefer the hair-cut solution... I'll use the potion next time... I don't have enough time to... mix things..."

"But, Professor..." Hermione replied, her eyes wider. "You just need a solution with eggs, vinegar, and asphodel... It only takes three minutes..."

"All right..." retorted Burns, who sighed. "I don't know anything about Potions. Satisfied, Miss Granger?"

A few whispers were heard. The students looked at each other. Harry cast Snape a quick glance. He was completely puzzled.

"But," said Hermione, "how...?"

"I'm not even able to make the simplest potions, that's all!" Burns interrupted. "Anyway, I don't need potions to do my job! For example, I don't need a potion if I want to erase your memory of this event. A simple memory spell would do!" she said ironically.

A few students gasped.

"I won't use it," Burns replied. "After all, it doesn't matter if you know."

Hermione raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" asked Burns.

"To become an Auror, you had to pass your Potions exam, didn't you?" Hermione said.

"Hmmm... Yes... Miss Granger..." Burns replied. "But it was a very long time ago. Potions... it was just something like Divination for me... something you learn for the exam and you forget after... Indeed, I was very bad at it, and that has never changed."

"If you've become an Auror," Hermione continued, tenacious, "you obviously were not as bad as you say."

"I had... a good teacher at the time," Burns responded finally. "I'll think about your anti-Chinese-dragon-blood-potion, Miss Granger..." she added. "Well, any questions about these creatures, class?" she demanded, changing the subject. "Any comments?"

Ron raised his hand.

"My brother Charlie studies dragons in Romania..." he uttered. "He says that Chinese dragons are almost as dangerous as the Magyars!"

"He's absolutely right, Master Weasley," replied Burns. "The Magyars are just one or two meters higher than the Chinese ones. Not a very docile animal, I would say."

Harry raised his hand. Since he had seen a real Magyar, he couldn't believe she had killed a dragon by herself, even a small one.

"Yes? Master Potter?"

"At the Tournament, in fourth year, they needed almost twenty wizards just to put one of them to sleep... How did you manage--?"

Burns frowned. "If I'm well-informed," she said, "you tried to steal a golden egg from a Magyar at this tournament, didn't you? And if I'm right, you succeeded. Am I wrong?"

"Yes, but it was very difficult," retorted Harry. "I had to avoid the Magyar, not to kill it! I didn't want to approach it! And it spits fire--"

"Not a problem for me..." responded Burns, as if it was nothing.

"But, it has claws!" exclaimed Harry. He was not totally convinced. "Weren't you injured?"

"Claws?" Burns repeated. "Oh, yes, this little detail... do you think this is enough to convince you?" She winked. She stood up and removed her cloak. Her left arm was bleeding profusely, deeply grazed from the shoulder to the elbow, as if many sharp swords had penetrated her skin.

The students gasped; many of them screamed. Harry grimaced. It was not a very nice spectacle to see.

"Professor Burns!" Snape exclaimed with horror. "Everyone, OUT!!!" he ordered.

"What?" she asked, while the students were leaving. Harry left the room with Ron and Hermione.

"Go and bring Madam Pomfrey," Harry said to his friends, "I'll stay here. There's... something I want to know... I'll see you later..."

"But, Harry..." said Hermione.

"Go," Harry replied.

He didn't have his invisibility cloak on him, so he hid behind the door. From there, he could see through the opening what was happening inside the class. He wanted to know how Snape would react to Burns. He wanted to decode the unreadable expression Snape had had at least twice in front of her. He wanted to understand.

"It's nothing! It's just blood!" Burns exclaimed.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" shouted Snape.

"They are old enough to see injuries and blood!" she responded, outraged.

"I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT!" he yelled. "YOU ARE LOSING A LOT OF BLOOD!"

The interior of her cloak was soaked with the red liquid.

"YOU NEED HELP NOW!" he shouted. He tried to grab hold of her arm.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" she yelled. She pulled her arm out of his reach. "I WARN YOU, SNIVELLUS, DO NOT EVER TOUCH ME!!!"

Snape looked really frightened, dumbfounded, and angry at the same time. Harry didn't understand anything anymore. Did Snape really care about Burns? How was that possible? Burns had humiliated him! And, all the more, she had called him 'Snivellus,' like the Marauders did! If Harry had said that to the Potions Master, he would have killed him! However, Snape seemed to worry more about Burns than about himself. That was highly improbable, unless... Was it possible that he...? No, it was Snape. Snape didn't have such feelings.

The room started to shake. Burns took her little flask of liquid, like the previous time, and had a gulp. The agitation ceased.

"GO WITH ME TO THE HOSPITAL WING!" Snape pleaded.

"NO!" she responded.

At that moment, Madam Pomfrey quickly entered the room.

"I have been told by the students that... oh, my God!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, when she caught a glimpse of her arm. "What happened?!"

"A Chinese dragon injured her," Snape replied coldly, avoiding the menacing look Burns threw him.

"It's nothing," Burns retorted.

"Nothing?" exclaimed Madam Pomfrey. "I could collapse just by looking at your arm! And I'm a nurse!"

"Jesus, just that for a stupid scratch..." Burns sighed, raising her eyes to the sky.

Harry grimaced. It didn't look like a scratch. He was suddenly taken out of his thoughts by the meowing of Mrs. Norris. He could no longer stay there. He quickly left his hiding place before Filch could find him.

***

Professor Burns had been taken to the Hospital Wing, although she hadn't wanted to go. Her face had turned white and she had nearly collapsed. Since she had been weak, it had been easier to transport her with a levitation spell. Madam Pomfrey uttered the spell. Burns had categorically refused Snape's help. He had nevertheless accompanied her to the Hospital Wing, in spite of all her protestations.

"Come on!" Burns exclaimed. She fidgeted in her bed. Madam Pomfrey had used a spell on her, to prevent her from getting up. "Can I leave now?" she asked the nurse.

"No," Madam Pomfrey responded. She prepared the utensils, the potions, and the bandages to cure her.

"A little notch and I must spend my life in this stupid place!" Burns seethed. "All because of you, Snivellus!" she shouted.

"A notch?!" Snape retorted, furious. "I don't think that dragon claws are notches! If it had just been a splinter, believe me, I would have never wasted my time to bring you here, thoughtless girl!"

"Out of my sight, stupid git!" she ordered.

"That would be my pleasure!" he yelled. He left, slamming the door violently behind him.

In spite of all her protestations, Madam Pomfrey gave Professor Burns something which made her sleep. When she woke up, the potion she needed to remove the dragon blood lay on her bedside table.

"Professor Snape just brewed this for you," Madam Pomfrey said, designating the potion. "There's a note with it."

Burns read the little piece of paper that accompanied the potion, a grimace on her face.

"Professor Burns, I've prepared the potion you needed to get rid of the dragon blood. I hoped it could also get rid of your awful nature, but I'm afraid that I don't own any Miracle Potions!

Wishing you a speedy recovery,

Signed: The stupid git."

Professor Burns snorted. A speedy recovery? How ironic was it. She would never recover.

***

When Burns entered the Great Hall the following day, she wore a long, green, leather cloak. Her hair was perfectly washed, no more phosphorescent glue. Her arm was bandaged.

Snape noticed her presence, but he didn't show it. Because of her, he had grumbled all night in his office, swearing and cursing against the whole world. She had hurt him again. Not only with her words, but with her condescending attitude. God, she could have died! The Potions Master shivered unconsciously.

He risked a quick glance at Professor Burns, who walked to the teacher's table. Although Snape was still angry, he suddenly felt relieved. She was fine; and she had used his potion. She had accepted something he had given her. That was an encouraging sign. Professor Burns sat at her place.

"How do yeh feel, Professor Burns?" asked Hagrid. "I've heard that yeh were hurt by a dragon?"

"I'm fine," she responded.

Snape listened to the conversation, although he acted indifferently. After all, he had his pride. Maybe the big oaf would question her? Indirect information was better, for the moment. He swore to not utter a word during the whole meal.

"It was just a tiny Chinese dragon. I was only slightly injured," continued Professor Burns. "It was nothing."

Snape's jaws clenched. Nothing? Slightly injured? And what about the terror he had felt, when he had seen her injuries? It had not been slight!

"A baby dragon?" Hagrid demanded.

"No, an adult," replied Burns.

"I tell yeh that coz of Norbert," said Hagrid. "Oh, he was just a baby when I adopted him, but he was so cute..." He repressed a sob.

Burns turned to him. She raised an eyebrow. "Norbert?" she asked, grimacing.

"Yeah..." responded Hagrid. "The baby dragon I had five years ago. He's grown up since! He was taken away from me. I hope he still remembers me... I was like a mama to him!" he sobbed loudly again. "I hope the other dragons didn' make fun o' him..."

Professor Burns burst into laughter. "With such a name, they surely have!"

Hagrid stared at her with a desperate look.

"Come on!" she replied. "It was just a dragon! You teach about Magical Creatures and you really think that dragons make fun of each other? Silly!" she added, giggling. "Dragons are just what they are, animals! They have instincts, but they don't gather in groups in a playground and tease each other!"

It was too much for Hagrid. He fell into tears.

"Oh, God!" Burns replied. "Can't you stop sobbing all the time? I didn't tell you he didn't remember you!" she said and rolled her eyes.

Hagrid's sobs ceased. "Do yeh think he really remembers me?" he asked.

"Dragons are like elephants, they always remember what happened in their childhood..." she replied.

"Maybe I should write him a little letter..." said Hagrid, plunged deep in thought.

Burns stared at him for several seconds. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll appreciate that," she added finally.

With a great smile, Hagrid left the table, ready to send Norbert a little note.

"He's nuts!" Burns murmured, when he had left the room.

"He has always been," responded Snape, trying to establish contact with her. He swallowed his pride and abandoned his previous resolution to keep silent.

"Hmmm," she retorted.

To cut short the conversation, she had taken a glass and sipped its contents slowly. She did not even glance at Snape, as if she hadn't notice he had talked to her. The Potions Master tried to keep quiet. She could really get on his nerves!

"Well, Professor Burns," Snape said, after five minutes of pure silence. "I see your hair is not blue anymore."

"Indeed... you have good eyes, Professor Snape," she replied.

"That means that you have used the potion," he retorted, not giving up.

He had to continue speaking. She obviously wanted to disturb him. He wouldn't let her win. Not now.

"Indeed... you have good brains, Professor Snape," she quietly responded.

"I added some vanilla extract to mask the odour of the vinegar," he said softly.

"Indeed... you have a good nose, Professor Snape."

"What are you playing at, Professor Burns?" Snape exclaimed, irate. "Is that a bad parody of Little Red Riding Hood?!"

He had enough of her little games. Didn't she see how many efforts he had made for her? Didn't she know him enough to realise?

"The better to raise your ire, my child..." she added, an amused look on her face.

"So, am I the wolf or the child?" he whispered under his breath.

"We'll see..." Burns replied.

She tapped her wand on her cloak and changed it into a deep, red colour. Then, she put up her hood and left. She laughed hard and left Snape puzzled, angry, and frustrated.

He looked at the left side of the table. He saw that Dumbledore observed him silently, a smile on his lips. Was he amused by what happened? Since the beginning of the year, the Headmaster had looked rather pleased to see him bothered. And since the beginning of the year, Snape had been convinced that Dumbledore was a sadistic, old man. Hiding the fact that Burns had come back had been cruel. Very cruel.

***

In the afternoon, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were seated at a table in the library. A few books lay scattered on the table.

"... I think it's strange that Burns doesn't know anything about Potions," said Hermione.

"So you think she cheated at her exams?" Ron asked, his eyes wide.

"Maybe she did. Or maybe someone has practised a memory-spell on her since," replied Hermione. "Did you notice how awkward she looked when we talked about that?"

"Or maybe she learned just for the exam, and decided to forget everything after," Harry replied. "That's what I would have done. Don't forget, she told us she hated Potions!"

He didn't want to anger Hermione. Fortunately, Hermione accepted more criticism from him than from Ron. She simply didn't notice.

"Even if you want to forget your Potions classes, you can't forget everything!" Hermione retorted. "You would still remember the basics!"

"Yeah, I suppose," Harry replied finally.

"And have you noticed that she never removes her gloves?" Hermione said. "Even when she eats! That's strange, isn't it?"

"That's right," Harry uttered, "I've never seen her without her gloves!"

"Do you think that she has the Dark Mark?" queried Hermione. "That would explain a few things. Remember when she talked about traitors! Maybe that's why she hates Snape!"

"Why do you always want her to be working for You-Know-Who?" asked Ron. "She told you she was not one of his servants!"

"Oh, she told me?" Hermione replied ironically. "So, I guess I must believe her! What solid proof!"

Ron smirked. "Do you think that a Death Eater would refer to You-Know-Who like she does?"

"Maybe she spies for him!" Hermione exclaimed. "Maybe he asked her to call him that way, to confuse people! What do you think, Harry?"

Hermione and Ron stared at him. They seemed to want him to choose sides? "Well," Harry finally said, "I don't believe she's a Death Eater."

Hermione frowned.

"But I think she's hiding something," Harry continued awkwardly.

"All right," decided Hermione. "This is the register of Hogwarts." She picked up one of the old books from the table. "Burns said she had a good teacher at the time. Could you both please search for the name of the last Potions Master?" she demanded.

"Why don't you do it yourself?" asked Ron, bored. He obviously didn't want to waste his time for that. Harry shared his lack of enthusiasm.

"Because I have to look in the Hogwarts' archives, Ron," replied Hermione, who raised an eyebrow. "It will take me at least the whole afternoon, so I think you can take ten minutes of your precious time to check on one little fact."

"All right," Ron replied in a grumbling voice.

***

In the evening, Hermione burst into the Gryffindor Common Room like a cannonball. Ron, Harry, Neville, and Ginny sat together near the fireplace.

"Harry, Ron!" she exclaimed, out of breath. She held a paper in her hand. "I've... found... something...!"

"Calm down, Hermione," replied Ginny.

Hermione threw the paper to Harry.

"Hey, are you trying to kill me?" he exclaimed. "What?" he asked, when he saw Hermione's expression.

"Read," she said.

Harry looked at the paper Hermione had given him.

"THE HOGWARTS GAZETTE

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT KING AND QUEEN ? by Frank Longbottom.

The Spring Ball is only a week away! Be happy, students of Hogwarts, there will be love in the air! Seventh Years, now it's time to choose your King and Queen!

As usual, we will publish the current list of registered couples. *"Hey, guys, there are a lot of beautiful creatures not invited yet, so you'd better hurry!"*

But first of all, don't forget to go and vote for the best couple! Ok, again, here are the rules:

- For the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Years:

1) You can come to the ball! Yippee!

2) Only the Seventh Years can be voted King or Queen (as long as the King or Queen is a seventh year student, their partner can be younger).

3) Go and find yourself a partner before the ball. You can choose someone from a lower year (*"Seventh Years Guys, if you don't find what you want in your year, have a look at the Sixth Years. I've seen a few of them who were rather interesting... ouch!... Sorry Alice!*)

4) Seventh Years, go and vote for one of the couples on the list. Be warned: everything is magically controlled. You can't vote twice. You can't come with more than one partner. You can only bring humans.

5) Have you respected the rules? Do you have a partner? Then, your name must appear on the list underneath the rules.

- For the First, Second and Third Years:

Sorry, you'll have to wait several years more, except if you have a partner in Fourth Year at least. (*"What a shame, eh?"*)

So, here is the updated list, and don't forget that you'd better not invite someone from this list. His/her partner would not appreciate that! [...]"

Harry looked at the list. His eyes recognised many names, while he was reading:

"[...]

James Potter/Lily Evans

[...]

Remus Lupin/Beth Reynolds

[...]

Peter Pettigrew/Anita Lancaster

[...]

Sirius Black/Katarina Burns

[...]

Severus Snape/Narcissa Black

[...]"

Suddenly, he was hit by something. "Sirius Black/Katarina Burns?" he exclaimed, startled.

"That's not all," replied Hermione. "Look at the fifth page!"

Harry turned the pages. On the fifth one was a photograph devoted to the "couple of the week". Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Sirius and Burns were posing for the paper, hand in hand. A caption appeared underneath the photograph:

"Will they be the King and the Queen of the year? That's your decision!"

"They went to the Spring Ball together?" Harry said, puzzled.

"It seems so," Hermione responded.

"Hey, that's my father who wrote this!" exclaimed Neville, who was reading the paper over Harry's shoulder. "Gran told me that Dad used to write things in a funny paper, but I had never seen an example before!" he said happily.

"And he went to the Ball with your mother!" Ginny replied. "Look at the list!"

"I had never thought Burns could have known Sirius," said Harry, still shocked. "I knew she was in Gryffindor, but I never imagined she was close to him. At least, not enough to be invited by him to a Ball!"

"How close do you think they were?" asked Ginny.

"I don't know," replied Harry. "After all, going to a Ball doesn't mean you are dating."

"Yes," said Ginny, "But seeing Sirius' large grin, I think he was rather pleased to go with Burns to the Ball."

Ginny was right. Sirius looked very happy. Burns was more reserved and smiled slightly. Harry felt his heart tightened. Sirius had never talked about the Ball. The lack of time, probably. Now, he would never know. Never. At least, not from Sirius.

"Pleased?" repeated Hermione, shocked. "How could have he been pleased? How could Sirius go to the Ball with a Dark Sorceress! Especially with Professor Burns!"

"I would have been pleased if I were him," replied Ron, looking at the photo.

Hermione frowned.

"I don't think she was a Dark Sorceress at the time," intervened Ginny, to end the debate.

"By the way," Hermione asked sharply, "what did you find out about the Potions Master?"

"Not much," replied Harry. "We discovered that a certain Professor Blazy taught at Hogwarts for about thirty years. When Snape left Hogwarts as a student, he became his assistant. When Blazy died, Snape took his job."

"Which year did he die?" asked Hermione.

"The year You-Know-Who was defeated," replied Ron. "On Hallowe'en."

***

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