Swept From the Past

Chapter 9: A weird curse

Harry went out of the Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Hermione and Ron were waiting at the door.

"What are you doing here?" asked Harry, still confused by the discovery he had made. "I asked Hermione not to follow me!"

"We've been waiting for you, mate," replied Ron. "You didn't think we would leave you alone now!"

"You left so quickly," continued Hermione. "We worried about you! Ron came back to the Gryffindor common room a few minutes after you left! He decided to miss class! And I also missed Arithmancy to be here!"

That was the proof. She was really worried about Harry.

"You've been in there a long time!" Hermione added.

Harry didn't reply. He was lost in thought.

"Er... Harry? Are you ok?" Hermione asked gently. "What did Professor Burns say?"

"I didn't see her," replied Harry. "But I know for sure that she was my mother's best friend."

"How do you know that?" asked Hermione.

"I saw it in her Pensieve," Harry responded. "They were in the same class! And she dated Sirius! She wrote him a love letter! I don't know why Burns hid the truth, but next time I see her, I'll ask!" he said angrily.

He felt helpless and betrayed. Secrets! Always secrets! Did people really think he was that stupid? He had the right to know about Sirius! Since his godfather had died, Harry had kept dreaming about him. Almost every night, he was seeing Sirius' eyes widen in shock, his body falling through the veil. Harry had talked about it to no one, not even Lupin. That was too painful. Although he had managed to get used to the idea Sirius was dead, the memory of his murder was fresh in Harry's mind. He wanted Bellatrix to pay. And knowing that people were hiding things about Sirius from him reawakened the devastating feelings he tried to bury.

"Harry," said Hermione, "you can't speak to her about that!"

"And why not?" Harry demanded furiously.

"That's what I tried to say before you left!" responded Hermione. "You can't tell her we checked on her! And you can't tell her either that you looked in her Pensieve! You know it's forbidden! She'll be very mad at you!"

Harry considered Hermione's warning. He remembered the reaction Snape had had the previous year, when he had looked in Dumbledore's Pensieve and seen the Potions master's worst memory. Hermione was right. Burns would be furious. Maybe it was better to say nothing and continue inquiring about her.

"We'd better go now, Harry," warned Hermione. "Remember we're supposed to be in class!"

They started to leave.

"So, mate," asked Ron, "What did you see in her Pensieve?"

Harry told them what he had seen in the first memory. When he mentioned the second memory, he changed several things. He had never talked to his friends about Snape's worst memory, so he chose to hide a few upsetting things. He just said that Snape had been attacked by James and Sirius, and helped by Burns. He omitted the details and focused on Burns' attitude towards Snape and Sirius. He finished by telling them about the love letter written to his godfather.

"So, Professor Burns really dated Sirius?" Hermione asked, startled. "That's hard to imagine!"

"She defended Snape. She... she acted like a Gryffindor," Harry replied. "In fact, Hermione," he continued awkwardly, "she reminded me of you in a certain way."

"Me?" asked Hermione, puzzled.

"Well..." Harry uttered, "she was rather kind and... she showed pity. Not the same person at all," he concluded. "I know you don't like her, but if you had seen her, you would have changed your opinion. I don't understand why she has changed that m--"

"What are you three doing here?" the voice of Snape barked from behind.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione jumped. The Potions master quickly descended the stairs, a satisfied expression on his face. Hermione swallowed. They had been caught.

"So," Snape hissed, "do you really want me to repeat myself?" He threw a menacing stare.

"Er...we were returning to our common room," replied Harry.

"And where did you come from?" Snape whispered under his breath.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other. They didn't know how to respond.

"We... er... we went to see Professor Burns," said Harry.

"So," Snape retorted softly, "I'm sure that Professor Burns gave you a signed note to excuse your absence from your classes."

"Actually," replied Ron, "she wasn't in her office."

Snape's upper lip curled a little. "No signed note? No one to give you an alibi? Tut, tut, that's a shame. I'm sure that Mr. Filch will be happy to deal with you. Of course, your parents will be informed that you missed your classes."

Ron blanched. Harry could still hear the Howler Mrs. Weasley would send to her son.

"You look very suspicious, Weasley... as always!" Snape said. "I'm sure that you, Granger, and Potter," he accentuated the 'P', "were up to something. Seeing Miss Granger missing one of her classes is the best proof ever." Snape stared at Harry with a disdainful look. "This year, I won't let you win, Potter. History repeats itself! Your father, the werewolf, Pettigrew, and Black were already breaking the rules of Hogwarts at the time. Always plotting against me. Fortunately, Black isn't here anymore!"

"Don't talk about Sirius!" shouted Harry. Hearing someone insulting his godfather was too much for him.

"Silence, Potter!" Snape snapped. "Not talk about him?" he hissed. "Black cost me the Order of Merlin!!! But more than that, I remember what happened many years ago because of him! He spoiled my life more than you and your foolish friends can ever imagine!" he whispered under his breath.

"YOU WERE ABOUT TO CONDEMN AN INNOCENT MAN!" yelled Harry. "And Sirius--"

"Silence!" Snape snarled again. "Innocent? Innocent? You don't know the damage he caused!" he barked. Now, he was furious.

"I ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE WHOMPING WILLOW AND YOUR WORST MEMORY!" Harry shouted, angry.

"YOU HAVEN'T SEEN MY WORST MEMORY!" Snape yelled louder. Now, he was irate. "YOU IDIOT POTTER! THE WHOMPING WILLOW OR THE EVENT NEAR THE LAKE WAS NOT IMPORTANT COMPARED TO WHAT BLACK DID TO ME! EVEN THE TROUBLES CAUSED BY YOUR MUDBLOOD MOTHER WERE NOT IMPORTANT!!!" Snape took his wand out and put it on Harry's chest.

"EXPELLIARMUS!!!" a voice shouted behind them.

Snape's wand fell on the floor a few feet away. He blanched. It was Professor Burns.

Harry didn't know if he was happy to see her now. Of course, he wanted Professor Burns to give Snape a correction, but he also was very mad at her. After all, she hid the truth from him! And he couldn't even tell her he was furious!

"NEVER DO THIS AGAIN OR I SWEAR I WILL KILL YOU!!!" Professor Burns yelled to Snape.

"I was just-- " justified the Potions master.

"I know what you were just about to do!" she interrupted with a murderous stare. "Still the same, hey, Snivelly?" she replied disdainfully. "I heard the argument all the way down the hall. I wonder how you managed to convince Dumbledore..." she said, almost spitting her words.

Snape had become as pale as a vampire. Harry raised an eyebrow. What was she talking about? Convince Dumbledore of what? And what did Snape mean, when he talked about the troubles caused by Harry's mother?

"So, now, it's Potter's turn?" Burns said softly. "Oh, yeah... I guess... since your Master didn't succeed, you had to try something by yourself?"

Burns spoke very quietly, but Harry felt she was infuriated. He saw that everyone could feel it. Ron had turned white and Hermione shivered. Harry, himself, didn't feel safe. The frames up on the walls shook.

"But I have to warn you, Snivellus," Burns said louder and louder, incapable of controlling her fury, "I won't let you do this! I WON'T LET YOU ATTACK THE BOY OR ANY OTHER STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL! HOW DARE YOU? HOW DARE YOU SPEAK LIKE THAT ABOUT SIRIUS BLACK? HE WAS MORE NOBLE THAN YOU WILL EVER BE! ...WHAT DID BLACK DO TO YOU? TO YOU?!"

Her eyes flashed with a red light. Her breathing became rapid. She faced the wall to her right. She put her hands on her heart, and shook. She groaned and shut her eyes as if she suffered a lot, her jaws clenched. Suddenly, the pain became too strong and she screamed hard. A blue light abruptly went out of her chest, like a blast. It bumped into the wall. The impact of the explosion left a very big hole in the wall.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were terrified, but Snape was the most horrified of all. Professor Burns was still shaking. The blue jet of light had returned to her; now it was swirling around her like a little tornado. After several long seconds, the light returned to her body violently and her chest jumped. A little bowl of blue energy remained on her breast for several minutes. Then it faded, and the pain seemed to cease. Professor Burns fell onto the floor, exhausted and hurt. She fainted.

"GO AND FIND MADAM POMFREY!" Snape ordered the three Gryffindors. "GO NOW!!!" There was panic in his voice.

Ron and Hermione left quickly, but Harry stayed behind a few seconds more and observed the Potions master. He had never seen him so worried.

Snape knelt beside Professor Burns. He looked shocked. Then he took her gently in his arms, leant over her face, and softly stroked her cheek.

"You're so frozen..." he said. "Oh my God, what have I done? What have I done... Kat...?"

***

Madam Pomfrey leant over Professor Burns. Severus Snape had stayed beside her in the cold corridor, waiting for the nurse. The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher had remained unconscious for almost ten minutes. Severus couldn't keep still. Madam Pomfrey looked worried. Why didn't she do anything? Why didn't she say anything?

"Is she all right?" Severus asked anxiously.

"I don't understand," Madam Pomfrey said. "What you told me... I have never heard of such symptoms. Her body is not at the right temperature and her heart beats very weakly. I don't know what to say," she responded eventually. "I can't do anything for her. This case is beyond my abilities. We must send her to St. Mungo's. She's... she's dying, Severus..."

"NO!" he yelled. "I WON'T LET HER DIE!!!" The whole world seemed to collapse around him. He held his head in his hands.

"Calm down, Severus!" the soft voice of Dumbledore said. Severus turned around.

"Headmaster?" the Potions master asked.

"I have just been warned by Harry, Ron, and Hermione that something had happened," Dumbledore said. "I have reassured them and ordered that they return to their dormitories. I came as quickly as I could." Dumbledore cast a quick glance at the unconscious Professor Burns. She looked as if she was dead.

"Headmaster, what does she have?" Severus asked with a shiver in his voice.

Dumbledore didn't reply. He knelt down and leaned over Professor Burns' chest. He tried to hear her heart. Then he took one of her hands and took off her glove. Her hand was cold and there was a scar on her wrist, as if something had cut her skin a long time ago. Snape paled at the sight of her scar.

"Headmaster?" he asked again, more worried than ever.

"I must try this," Dumbledore said finally. He took a little goblet full of a golden liquid from his robes. "If I am right, she should feel better if she drinks this." He raised her head and poured some of the strange liquid down her throat. Nothing happened.

"Headmaster!" shouted Severus, agitated.

What was he waiting for? It didn't work! She was going to die!

"Patience, Severus," Dumbledore said simply.

After two minutes, nothing had happened. Suddenly, Burns took a violent breath and regained consciousness. Snape sighed deeply. She would live! Thank God!

"Are you all right?" Dumbledore asked her.

She calmed her breathing and tried to rise. Snape frowned. What was she doing? She needed rest!

"You shouldn't move now!" warned Madam Pomfrey.

But Burns didn't hear her. She made a few efforts and stood up awkwardly. She was still very pale.

"I've got... work to do," she said with difficulty.

"Professor Burns," said Dumbledore, "your work can wait until--"

"Auror business," she interrupted.

She made a few steps, but she didn't have the energy to move more. She nearly collapsed and was quickly caught by Severus.

"Don't touch me!" she shouted, and tried to push him away. However, she was very weak. Too weak to defend herself.

"I'm taking you to the Hospital Wing," the Potions master said firmly.

"I won't allow you to!" Burns replied, with a final effort.

"Then I will do it without your consent," Severus hissed. There was no way for Burns to give him orders now. He lifted her in his arms. She struggled.

"Don't force me to hex you," he said sharply. "Don't tire needlessly. For the next few hours, I am the one who commands. Captain Burns or not, you will rest!"

"I... warn you..." said Burns, fidgeting. However, she didn't manage to continue her sentence and fainted.

***

Severus had brought Professor Burns to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey had given the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher a Sleeping Potion. Severus had demanded an audience with the Headmaster. Dumbledore had agreed and asked the Potions master to follow him in his office.

"Headmaster!" Severus insisted. "What does she have?! You must tell me now!!!"

"I cannot, Severus," replied Dumbledore. He was very calm.

"But, Headmaster!" Severus exclaimed. He was getting more and more angry.

"No, Severus!" Dumbledore interrupted. "I have suspicions on what she may have, but I cannot share them with you. It is too early. All that I can tell you is that I gave her a gulp of Flamma Dracontii."

"A gulp of what?!" Severus shouted, shocked, his eyes wide opened.

"You heard well the first time, Severus," replied Dumbledore.

"It could have killed her!" the Potions master exclaimed. "It is--"

"Poison, I know..." interrupted the Headmaster.

"You know?" Severus smirked.

"Yes, Severus, I know," replied Dumbledore. "I know that the Dracontium, also called green dragon, is perfectly harmless, but that the Flamma Dracontii, an extract of its leaves when they are soaked with roots of sage at full moon, is a very dangerous poison."

"And you gave her...?" Severus demanded.

"And I gave her..." the Headmaster agreed.

"Why?" Severus queried.

"Well, you are the Potions master, Severus," Dumbledore laughed.

Severus didn't appreciate the reflection.

"You are not very funny, Headmaster," he replied politely.

"If you insist, I will respond," Dumbledore said more seriously. "The Flamma Dracontii has warmed Professor Burns' heart and has allowed her temperature to rise up a little. You have noticed her skin was particularly frozen?"

"Indeed," Severus replied. "But I wonder why!"

"Do not be so quick!" retorted Dumbledore, who smiled in an irritating manner. "You will have to discover it by yourself!"

Severus smirked. Discover it by himself? Sadistic, old man!

"Headmaster, I don't have time to discover it by myself," he replied coldly. "This is not a game!"

"Severus," the Headmaster replied, "as I told you, I cannot do anything for her. There is only one person who can. And this person has to find his responses alone. Certain ways are obscure. In particular, when there are mistakes to repair."

"It is too late for that," Severus responded with bitterness.

"It is never too late, as long as you are alive," the Headmaster replied.

***

When they left Dumbledore's office, Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned to their common room. They had been shocked, but Hermione seemed to be the most affected of all.

"Are you ok?" asked Harry.

"I... I guess so," she responded.

She had been really terrified. Dumbledore had said that he would take care of the problem, and that there was no need to worry. However, Hermione was aware that was a lie. She had felt the anguish in Snape's voice, and saw anxiety in the Headmaster's eyes.

"What do you think happened to Burns?" Ron asked finally.

"No idea," replied Harry. "Hermione?"

"I don't know," the girl responded. "But that was terrifying! Did you feel her fury?"

Harry and Ron nodded.

"Snape felt it too, I guess," Hermione continued. "Did you see how scared he looked?"

"We all looked scared, Hermione," replied Ron.

"I think I was wrong," said Hermione. "Burns doesn't work for You-Know-Who. I don't know what's going on with Snape, but we can be sure she knows he was a Death Eater. And she doesn't trust him."

"Maybe he tried to kill her a long time ago?" Ron suggested. "She really hates him!"

"Or maybe it's linked to Sirius," Harry uttered. "Snape said he caused damage to him. I wonder what that's all about. I'll write a letter to Lupin. He surely knows."

"I hope Professor Burns is all right," Hermione said, deep in thought.

Ron's eyes opened wide. "I thought you didn't like her?" he asked.

"I just..." Hermione replied clumsily. "Well, you saw what happened to her! I didn't wish her to suffer so much! She was in so much pain! It was..."

"...Scary," Harry. continued

"Yes, scary," Hermione repeated. "I feel sad for her. And... I'm a little ashamed of myself," she finally confessed in a murmur.

"Why?" Harry queried.

"What?" asked Hermione, who turned red. She had said the end of the sentence to herself. "Er... well... I still don't like her," she uttered awkwardly. "But... I didn't give her a chance. I... had never thought she could be so ill. I didn't try to get information about her; I tried to find clues against her. Now, I want to know what happened to her."

Ron grinned.

"You finally understood how great she was?" he teased.

"I'm still suspicious about her," added Hermione. Her eyes flashed. "As long as I don't know the truth, I will be. But I guess I should be a little less antagonistic, when I speak of her."

Hermione hadn't told all the truth. Of course, her natural discernment had warned her against Professor Burns since the beginning of the year. However, she had felt ashamed for other reasons than the ones she had given to Harry and Ron. She had just understood how ridiculous it had been to envy Professor Burns. Strangely, she felt this awful feeling each time Ron spoke about the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. And Ron seemed to praise Burns all day. Was Hermione really jealous?

***

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