Mask of Oblivion

MASK OF OBLIVION

Chapter 6 - Return to Hogwarts

When Simon woke in the morning he was in Hermione's bed but he was all alone. The most amazing thing was that he had not dreamed despite the magical environment. Then he remembered the nightcap that Hermione had prepared for him. What had she called it? Dreamless Sleep Potion. Well, it was certainly effective.

In the cold, clear light of morning his own behavior the night before stunned him. How was it that Simon Smith, extremely moral married man, had fallen so quickly into bed with a woman little more than half his age, who he barely knew? He had never been unfaithful before. What worried him most was that he did not feel guilty. He felt better than he had in a long, long time.

When he had dressed he descended the stairs. He could hear voices in the living room. When he entered the room he saw a very strange sight. Hermione was sitting in an armchair facing the fireplace talking to a disembodied head that was floating in the flames. At first Simon thought it was Bill's head, and then he realized that there was a resemblance, but the head in the fire had shorter hair and slightly sharper features.

Hermione appeared to be in the middle of a conversation with the head. "So I shall be out of town for an indefinite period," she said, "but I should be able to come back for our date each month."

Date? Simon moved quickly forward into the centre of the room. The eyes of the head in the fire turned in his direction. "Bloody hell Mia! Who is that bloke? Have you started picking up Snape look alikes? I knew you had masochistic tendencies, but this takes the cake!"

Hermione turned sharply and winked at Simon, before turning back to the fire. "Not exactly Ron," she laughed, "I can't really tell you too much. He's part of the project I am working on." Her voice took on a serious tone. "I suggest you don't mention to anyone, not even Gabi that you saw him here."

"Of course not Mia. You know you can trust me. I had better go now." The head then disappeared, the flames in the fireplace closed in, and there was no indication that it had ever been there.

"Who or what, was that?"

Hermione grinned. "I was just having a quick chat with my best friend Ron Weasley. I always let him know when I am going to be unavailable. Otherwise he will worry."

"Best friend? What was that about a date?" He looked at her suspiciously.

She came over put her arms around his neck. "Ever since we left school Ron and I have made a point of getting together - just the two of us once a month." She gave him a light teasing kiss. "He is married now, so you need not get so concerned. Not that you have any right to anyway."

Simon pulled away out of her grasp. He knew he did not have any right to be jealous, but he couldn't help being irritated by the statement. "Why not? What about last night?"

Hermione shrugged her shoulders and gave him a little smile. "Last night was just one of those things. It was very nice but nothing serious."

Simon could not believe how casually she was dismissing what had happened between them. He looked at her in utter disbelief.

"I hope you are all packed and ready," she said in a very businesslike manner, "the Ministry car will be here in ten minutes."

The morning passed in a rush and a blur. On reflection, Simon decided the best part was the stunned expression on his assistant manager's face when he told him he was going on six months leave without pay starting immediately. Robinson had always wanted a crack at Simon's job, but obviously he had not expected to be dropped in at the deep end with no notice.

Thankfully Anne was not home when he stopped by the house to collect some more clothes and toiletries. As he left, he placed a letter in a prominent position on the kitchen table for her.

Dear Anne,

Last time we spoke you told me not to come back until I sorted my problems out. I have decided, just for once, to follow your advice. I have been approached by some people who believe they can help me find answers regarding my past, my reaction to magic and the nightmares. It will be necessary for me to go away from London for an indefinite length of time. I will not be coming back until I have the answers. We then have to decide whether we have a future together at all. You don't need to say anything to Bella as I will be sending her a letter also. Take care of yourself and I will be in touch when I can.

Love Simon.

He felt a twinge of guilt as he left the letter sitting there. There was so much he was not telling her, but it had never been in his nature to share.

They were traveling north, away from the city. Simon was amazed at how fast and smoothly the car was moving. He asked Hermione about it. "Weasley drive," she said cryptically.

"As in Bill or Ron?"

"Their late father invented it. It's a series of magical modifications that can be fitted to any make of car. All the Ministry cars have it, of course."

Conversation was limited during the trip. Simon was still annoyed by Hermione's attitude to the events of the previous night and not inclined to be conversational. So Hermione had produced some books that she said would give him some background about the magical world and the place he was going. She then settled down in her own seat with a large book whose title Simon could not decipher as it appeared to be some ancient script.

So he picked up 'Hogwarts, A History' and had to admit that it really was quite an engrossing read.

Some hours later as it was starting to get dark the car turned off the highway on to a small country road which quickly deteriorated into a dirt track. The ride in the car continued to be very smooth, as if the car was floating rather than traveling on the ground. They soon came in sight of a small village. In the glow of the street lamps it looked like something from the eighteenth century.

"This is Hogsmeade," announced Hermione proudly, putting down her book. "We are nearly there."

"It seems rather quaint and old fashioned."

"Hogsmeade is the only totally magical village in Great Britain. The magical community is rather set in its ways and change comes very slowly."

They passed through the town and into the darkness beyond. The road ahead was lit only by the headlamps of the car. They were now climbing steeply. Hermione rummaged around in the bag at her feet and pulled out a long grey cloak with a hood. "Here, put this on when we get there."

"Are you trying to hide me from someone?"

"Everyone, actually. Although Severus Snape, has been gone from Hogwarts for fifteen years, there are pictures. We don't want you scaring the students."

Simon obediently pulled the cloak on over his clothes, feeling decidedly silly. They rounded a bend in the road and he gasped in astonishment. Ahead of them, high on the side of a mountain was an enormous castle. It was almost like a small fortified city with lights blazing from all the windows of which there were many. It could have been something from the crusades, thought Simon, or a really monstrous wedding cake.

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Once again you have proved you are no Muggle."

"Why?"

"If you really were a Muggle you would not be able to see it. All you would see is a pile of old ruins and by now you would have a really pressing desire to be going somewhere else." Hermione paused, peering at him in the dim light. "Does it seem familiar?"

Simon concentrated hard on the image in front of him willing himself to remember anything. "No." He shook his head. "I don't remember it at all." Hermione seemed slightly disappointed.

The car stopped in front of an imposing set of steps leading up to a large carved wooden door. The door was slightly ajar and as Simon got out of the car he could see the form of someone in a robe silhouetted against the light beyond. He pulled the grey cloak tight around him and pulled the hood up so that his face was cast in shadow. When they had nearly climbed to the top of the stairs Simon recognised the man in the doorway as Bill Weasley.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, Simon," Bill said as he ushered them inside. The cavernous entrance hall was deserted. They moved quickly across together and Bill led them up a flight of stairs. Simon soon lost track of where he was going. There were so many turns and different corridors and he could have sworn that some of the staircases moved.

Finally they stopped near the end of a long corridor with nothing in front of them but a blank wall.

Hermione shot Bill an inquiring glance. "The third floor corridor? There isn't a three headed dog lurking behind there by any chance?"

Simon was puzzled, but Bill just laughed. "No, the closest thing to Fluffy behind there at the moment would have to be Sirius." He then took his wand and tapped the wall in some sort of pattern. Suddenly the wall started to glow and the shape of a door appeared, which solidified into a real door. Bill opened it and stood back to let Simon and Hermione pass through.

Simon entered first into a brightly lit room. The small group of people sitting at the round table in the centre all turned as he entered. He pushed the hood back from his head.

Minerva looked with pride at the team she had been asked to assemble. They may have been some of Hogwart's youngest teachers, but they were also Hogwart's finest. The Ministry had offered to bring in other experts from elsewhere, but with Hermione Granger as the Ministry representative and team leader, Minerva and Sirius had asked to be allowed to undertake the project without any extra outside help.

Hermione was the one that got away. Once Minerva had high hopes that the girl would return to Hogwarts as a teacher, but Hermione had chosen the life of an Auror. It was really not surprising as she had been one of the Boy Who Lived's closest friends for seven years. She had become, what was Sirius's expression? "An adrenalin junkie," and the life of a Hogwarts professor post Voldemort offered few thrills or chances for adventure.

The five of them were seated at a round table at which there were three more empty chairs. The crystal in front of Minerva started to glow blue. She cleared her throat and spoke, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have asked you to join me here this evening, because the Ministry of magic has asked for your assistance in a project of great secrecy and some importance." This statement was met by puzzled looks from three quarters. Sirius of course was already aware of the plan.

"Bill Weasley, Hermione Granger and a third person have just arrived at Hogwarts and are on their way to join us. Once they are here you will be briefed on what is required of you." At this point the main door way started to hum and glow as the wards were deactivated from the other side.

Everyone turned their heads as the door opened. Minerva was very nervous; she wasn't even sure how she would react let alone the reactions of the team. A tall figure totally covered in a grey hooded cloak entered the room, followed by Hermione and Bill who stood flanking him. The man reached up and pushed the hood back.

"Oh my!"

"It can't be!"

"Professor Snape?"

"Oh, shit!"

The expressions on the faces at the table ranged the whole way through mild surprise, to shock, to utter abject terror. Simon was intrigued that the sight of a face from the past should create these reactions, especially the look of terror on the face of the man opposite Sirius. What sort of person was Severus Snape?

Bill broke the stunned silence. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Simon Smith." The older woman rose from the table and came around to face him. She was of moderate height and weight with a stern face and iron grey hair pulled back in a severe bun under the type of pointed hat that witches wore in children's books.

"Simon, welcome to Hogwarts," she said with a strong Scottish accent as she shook his hand, "My name is Minerva McGonagall, and as you probably already know I am the head mistress of Hogwarts." She was gazing intently into his face as she spoke and Simon could only guess that she was looking for signs of recognition, which he knew he could not give.

She then turned away and gestured towards the four people at the table. "May I introduce the team of my teachers who will be working with Hermione on your case. You have already met my Deputy and our Defense against the Dark Arts teacher Sirius Black." The dark haired man half rose from his seat and nodded briefly without smiling at Simon who returned the barely civil greeting in a similar manner. "Our Charms teacher, Ginny Black." The young red headed woman sitting next to Sirius stayed sitting but managed a smile and a little wave.

Minerva then directed his attention to the young couple on the other side of the table. "This is our present Potions teacher, Anna Longbottom." The serious looking young woman whose honey-blonde hair was tied up in a severe bun to match Minerva's style stood up quickly with one hand on the shoulder of the man next to her and gave Simon a nervous smile before sitting down again. "And, last but not least, our Professor of Modern History of Magic, Neville Longbottom." Simon looked closely at the young man, who was still staring at him with a look of abject terror on his face. Neville tried to smile, but it was obvious that it was a real effort.

Bill now stepped forward. "It is late. Now that the formalities are over shall we sit down and go through the plan?" Simon noticed that there were small folders containing parchment on the table one in front of each seat. They sat down and Hermione now took charge of the meeting.

"Please open your files, thank you. As you can see, Severus Snape was not killed by Lord Voldemort, but rather managed a disappearing act so thorough that it has taken fifteen years to find him. The problem is that he remembers nothing of his life before that incident. Our task is to find the best and quickest way to restore his memory and also to fill him in on what has happened in the wizarding world while he has been gone." She paused for a moment and smiled at Simon. "Thankfully, Simon has been willing to co-operate, even though he has difficulty with the idea that he really belongs in our world."

Simon noticed that Sirius was looking at him with narrowed eyes and a general expression of extreme suspicion. Hermione continued the briefing. "Sirius, Anna and Ginny will be researching the best method to use for memory restoration, while Neville and I will work with Simon on putting together the dream memories in some coherent form and we will give him an overview of recent history and his own part in it."

Simon could see the tension in Neville's face increase at this information and thought to himself, "He really does not want anything to do with me. What on earth did Snape do to him?"

It was very late by the time they had finished discussing the schedule for the next stage of the project. Simon could not remember the last time he had felt this exhausted. He did not really take much notice of anything as he was ushered from the meeting room into the apartment next door, changed out of his clothes without thinking, collapsed into the bed, and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.