Harry Potter and the Green Snake of Slytherin

15.

The new Beginning

The Potions master came back to his office, his hand clenched over the valuable green stones. Meanwhile, Albus Dumbledore had managed to collect a few silvery tears from Fawkes, his faithful phoenix. The delicate, sensitive bird had already contributed to saving Harry Potter's life three years before; thus, he could not refrain from weeping a continuous lachrymal flow when the Hogwarts Headmaster had told him about the boy's agony in the dungeons.

Both professors were now looking worried at Harry, who was still infected by the virulence of the Inmentus Potion. His body was huddled up, trembling on the paved floor... He had merely enough strength to keep his blood red eyes half-open.

Snape took a small wooden bowl and started to mix the powdered Malachite stones and the phoenix tears together. The most difficult part was to find the right proportions. Maybe Salazar Slytherin had left a clue in his diary... He seized the small, green book on the bench and began reading the serpentine words. Nothing useful could be found in the chapter dedicated to the Inmentus Potion. Still, leafing through the diary, he noticed that the first pages of the book contained also writings in Parseltongue.

"If I shall invert my draughts, the colour I shall invert too"

This was a clue not easy to follow. For if Slytherin was right, the remedy for the Inmentus Potions should be a vivid purple. He would have to try out several combinations to find the right colour. After a few minutes, he assessed his mixture had a reached a satisfying hue. Carefully, he came close to Harry. Sustaining his back with his hand, he fed him the concoction. Dumbledore and the Potions master were still nervous, although they knew that Phoenix tears would prevent the mixture from bad side effects anyway.

After a few never-ending minutes, they noticed that Harry's eyes were opening slightly wider. The blood within seemed to recede as well, conferring them a more expressive look.

Finally, the boy opened his mouth. A faint whisper came out "Professor Dumbledore? What...What am I doing here?"

"Harry, please keep your strengths. Don't talk. We're going to take you to Mrs Pomfrey's. Everything is going to be alright".

Snape fed him another spoonful of his mixture and said to Dumbledore darkly "I assume you don't need me anymore". The Headmaster nodded "Thank you Severus, thank you very much for your help". Snape hovered away in his billowing black cloak.

Then, for a short instant, the picture of the ancient, green-clad Dark wizard filled his sight. "Severus Snape, if you choose the wrong side, I swear nothing will be able to save you, not even your potions" hissed the representation of Salazar Slytherin.

The Potions teacher was feeling depressed, unworthy of living, because of his treachery towards his own House. He bucked his head and spoke humbly "Forgive me, Master Slytherin".

Then, the Dark Mark on his forearm started burning more intensely than ever, as if Voldemort was warning him that he would perhaps not forgive him for his betrayal. But as long as Dumbledore was at Hogwarts, Snape knew he was safe from the Dark Lord's malevolence.

***

In the meantime, Dumbledore had brought Harry into the Nursery, using one of his useful levitation charms.

"Poppy, that young boy needs a lot of rest" said Dumbledore. "Please provide him with a very quiet room".

"Sure Albus, you can count on me to treat him right" said the nurse

During the next two days, rumors were haunting the Hogwarts corridors and rooms about Harry's vanishing.

On a cloudy morning, the boy with the scar on his forehead finally opened his eyes, tucked up in confortable white sheets. Looking all around him, he recognized the warm, soothing atmosphere of the Nursery.

"I must have been ill for a long time" he said to himself, wondering how his body could have become so frail. Still, he could not remember what had happened. He must have been feverish, for the only thing he recalled was going through a series of atrocious nightmares. But everything was over now. It had all been a bad dream.

Someone knocked at the door. Poppy Pomfrey came into the room, along with Ron and Hermione, whose arms were packed with huge and numerous presents.

"Harry! Are you O.K?" said Ron, hugging his old friend heartily.

"So and so, Ron...But now that you're here, it can be only better"

"There, I've brought a whole bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Take one, that'll cheer you up"

Harry plunged his hand inside the bag and withdrew a grey bean "Hmm...Pepper... Interesting", he said, finding the taste strangely familiar. "Not what I had wished, though". The three Gryffindors burst out laughing.

"Do you remember anything about what happened?" asked Hermione, still believing in some kind of conspiracy.

Harry shook his head "Hmm... Not really. The only thing I recall are some really gruesome nightmares. Voldemort was there too, and I was plagued with pain..." he hesitated for a short moment and decided not to tell Hermione about the other nightmares he remembered.

Hermione thought suddenly of Moody's research and the Inmentus Potion. But she ousted that thought, for it was silly. That potion did not exist; it was merely an attempt of Salazar Slytherin to intimidate the other three Hogwarts founders.

"Oh Harry," said Hermione, "I'm so glad too see that you're recovering quickly. I've been so childish with you during the past few weeks. I hope you pardon me... For a moment, I thought Avara would harm you'

"You perfectly know I would not do such a thing, Hermione", said the limpid, deep voice that Hermione loathed.

"Avara?" asked Harry, surprised.

"For sure, Harry! Hope you're fine. Professor Snape told me you had been ill"

"Hello Avara," said Ron shyly. He secretly hoped that Hermione had made up her mind and that he could now speak to the Slytherin girl without fearing the icing Pithy-glare his female friend was sometimes capable of. Avara beard that unreal expression of self-confidence on her face, as if nothing had happened two days before. She was wearing a silky satin robe and a striped Slytherin scarf, which were contrasting nicely with her perfectly combed jet-black hair. Yet, one was unable to tell what her peridot-green eyes were expressing; was she ashamed of having failed, happy that Harry was safe or already devising her next cunning plan?

She reached out her hand to Hermione, grinning. Hermione accepted it, mainly because she didn't want Harry to believe that she was still being capricious.

Avara took off her green and silver Slytherin scarf and handed it to Harry. "Take it, it'll keep you warm. And it is very valuable...For you could never get a genuine Slytherin scarf otherwise" she smiled.

Harry wrapped himself in the scarf, smelling Avara's pure and spicy scent. Looking at the embroidered silvery crest with the serpent, he asked her in a low voice: "Avara, where is Malachius?"

"Shh...Harry, don't speak. Keep your strengths. Malachius is feeling very tired. He's enjoying a well deserved sleep"

Ron and Hermione looked at each other. "Malachius is her pet snake" said Ron. His friend shook her head. To avoid being excluded from their conversation, Ron spread a copy of the Wizard Times on Harry's bed.

"Hey Harry! I've finally cancelled my Daily Prophet subscription"

"Right you were, Ron! What's news?"

"Look! Professor Troomveld, our new DADA teacher died mysteriously two days ago... The same night you fell ill..."

Harry, who was drinking the invigorating herbal tea Mrs Pomfrey had brought him, nearly choked.

"Oh no! He seemed to know his stuff so good. This job is definitely cursed!"

"I've heard Dumbledore will make a speech this afternoon before the Christmas holidays" said Hermione.

"I hope you'll be there too, Harry. That's why we'd better let you put your strengths together. You need much rest", said Avara, holding his hand.

When she left, Harry couldn't refrain from thinking about what he had omitted to tell Hermione. Avara had been very present in her nightmares too, revealing a frightening Dark side.

***

All Hogwarts students were gathering into the Great Hall for the winter solstice speech. The magical roof was decorated with an eerie canopy of stars; the room was lit by the hundreds of massive yule candles and filled with the scent of gingerbread.

Draco Malfoy was holding Servana Abbott's hand. Avara had been right about them; they had a lot of things in common and Draco was delighted by the fact that his girlfriend descended from Rowena Ravenclaw in person.

This time, the house banks were placed slightly differently. From left to right: Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.

The professors' assembly was there all together, but the seat of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher remained strangely empty.

Once all students was seated, Dumbledore stood up majestically and addressed the young crowd

"Ladies, Gentlemen. May I ask you for a few minutes silence and attention, please. Due to the recent happenings at Hogwarts, I'm contrite to announce you the vacancy of the Defense Against the Dark Arts job one more time. Professor Troomveld, who had successfully applied for the job and was about to start the lessons, died unexpectably two days ago. If you know someone qualified who likes risky jobs, please let me know about it. We need to find the new professor very quickly.

Now on to a more cheerful subject: I would like to seize the opportunity to announce the preliminary results of the Hogwarts Quidditch House Cup.

In fourth place, Hufflepuff with one hundred and fifty-four points."

At the Hufflepuff table, all students were lowering their eyes. Ernie MacMillan, who did not miss an occasion to lecture others and praised himself for being so virtuous, was doing his best to avoid the glance of students from other houses.

"In third place, Gryffindor with two hundred and twelve points."

At those words, Professor Minerva McGonagall's face became sterner than ever. She had gotten used to Harry's exceptional seeker performance and it was the first time in five years that her own house was not taking the lead. Hermione was still furious about Harry but she did her best to hide it from her convalescent friend. Harry Potter, still afflicted by his illness, did not really seem to care. Fred and George Weasley noticed Hermione's refrained anger, though, and offered her a few Fizzing Whizbees to raise her spirits.

"In second place, Ravenclaw with two hundred and eighty points" Among the blue-clad students, big applause could be heard. It was all directed towards Cho Chang, probably the best seeker in Ravenclaw's history. She had been deeply relieved when her housemate Servana Abbott confirmed that Avara and Harry were not dating each other and her Quidditch technique had bettered dramatically.

"And in first place, Slytherin with three hundred and thirty-three points. Well done Slytherin! But don't rest on your laurels, next term will prove very challenging to all of you." said the Hogwarts Headmaster, looking intently in Malfoy's direction. As for Severus Snape, he was delighted for his house had proved its blatant superiority one more time.

Avara was staring at Snape. Her ancestor Salazar had revealed to her how the teacher had behaved during that terrible night. But she couldn't be resentful to him, for his help had been more than valuable. The Potions master was glancing at her too; he knew she was indeed the Dark wizard mentioned in the prophecy. Full of awe and respect for her, and not devoid of shame, he lowered his eyes softly.

At the Gryffindor table, Harry was somehow pleased by the outcome. He was feeling a growing sympathy for Slytherin House for he was now more or less part of it. He had even been initiated to the Banquet, one of the house's most secret rituals.

"But for now enjoy your holidays! You have well deserved them". As Dumbledore ended his speech, there was a burst of joy among the students and the room was filled by hundreds of flying wizard hats.

***

Later on, Harry accompanied Hermione and Seamus Finnigan to the Entrance Hall, where the students were supposed to meet before taking the boat back to Hogsmeade.

"Goodbye Hermione, take care!" said Harry, "And don't work too much! We need you to relax for the next term"

Avara then walked into the Entrance Hall, along with Draco Malfoy and Servana. Her Slytherin friends Steven Packard and Xaver Eldritch were there too. She came closer to Harry, carrying a small leather suitcase, engraved with her family crest, and a smaller package, which was unmistakably Malachius's cage. "Sssee you, Harry Potter. If you miss ssspeaking Parssseltongue, jussst call me" hissed the tiny Gem snake, who had visibly fully recovered from his recent Malachite production.

"I'm going back home for the holidays. My parents need me by their side, now that their old friend Renatus Troomveld is dead. Great things await us, Harry."

The heir of Slytherin looked at Harry one last time before leaving. Her glowing green eyes were so intense; he felt that strange feeling of cold warmth again. Harry was feeling safe with her.

---End---