My Eternal Curse

Chapter Twenty

They Moved the Moon...

Severus gently placed a sleeping spell on Miss Weasley, and checked her temperature. She was slightly cooler than in Minerva's office, but still burning up. Severus had hoped that the magical fever would abate when she released the power trapped within her, but that didn't seem to be the case. This was bad, very bad... Severus turned to face Potter, who still held Ix Chel; both of them looked terrified for their friend. The girl would need all the help she could get... help Severus could trust.

"Potter!" Severus snapped, getting the boy's attention. "Go to the Slytherin dormitories, and get Levine. Miss Weasley needs her friends to help care for her now. The password to the Slytherin entrance is 'Werewolves'. I suspect you already know where it's located. Go!"

Potter looked surprised by the orders, but acted immediately and without question, first depositing Ix Chel on the bed next to Miss Weasley before running out of the room. Severus watched Ix Chel, wondering what she was thinking. He knew that the girl meant a lot to her. To see her like this must be unbearable... Severus thought about everything Miss Weasley had told him just before the others showed up. Those Gryffindor bastards had attacked one of their own, just because she was different; and to be betrayed by her own brother! Severus wasn't going to let those vultures get anywhere near the girl again, not if he had anything to say about it!

Poppy arrived, and bristled when she saw Miss Weasley. She hesitated for a moment, then headed over to check on Weasley's condition. Severus and Ix Chel closely watched Poppy and her readings, as she made her diagnosis. Miss Weasley's fever had spiked to 107 degrees earlier; enough to boil the human brain if kept at that temperature for too long... Severus guessed that it must have hit that temperature just before Miss Weasley released the overload of Gray magic. Now, her temperature was 105, and wasn't showing signs of abating anytime soon. If anything, it was going to start climbing again, before long.

Poppy sighed heavily with a strained look on her face, as Potter returned with Levine. Levine caught sight of her new friend and gasped in horror. She looked to Severus, silently requesting permission to go to her friend, but Severus shook his head. From the pained and dejected look on Levine's face, Severus guessed that she wanted to object, but thought better of it. Poppy stood and walked over to where he, Albus, Potter, Levine, and Granger stood anxiously awaiting news on Miss Weasley's condition.

"How is she?" Albus asked.

Poppy shook her head in reply. Granger and Levine began to cry, while Potter and Albus looked devastated. Severus stiffened slightly, but refused to give into hopelessness so easily.

"I'm sorry, Albus, but I've never seen anything like it before." Poppy stated in a surprisingly calm and collected manner. "She's barely stable at the moment, but that won't hold for long. Any time now, Miss Weasley's fever is going to start climbing again, and when it does... I'm afraid that Miss Weasley is dying."

"But there must be something you can do for her!" Potter protested desperately, his eyes welling up with tears. "Fever-reducing charms, a potion, something - anything... You can't just let her die... not like this..."

"She has no intention of helping young one," Ix Chel accused, sounding desolate. "The healer believes young one is working for the Dark..."

"I'm sorry, but there isn't," Poppy replied. "Miss Weasley has another half-hour, an hour at most before her fever causes permanent brain damage... She won't survive the night."

Severus couldn't, wouldn't let Miss Weasley die, not at the hands of those monsters... Memories of the werewolf attack in the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack on Christmas Eve flooded his mind again. He had survived, despite the 'perfect little Gryffindors' who tried to kill him, and so would she. Virginia Weasley was a survivor, just like him! She would make it, no matter what Pomfrey said!

"Then your services here are no longer required," Severus said cuttingly. "Go tend to your patients, Pomfrey. I'll take care of Miss Weasley. She isn't going to die-"

"You're wrong!" she shot back. "Your denial isn't going to save her. Whatever poisoned her system is resistant to all forms of magical intervention. You don't know-"

"I know more than you think," Severus countered. "Now get out of the way, and go pester your patients." Pomfrey opened her mouth to protest. "GO!"

She took one last look at Miss Weasley, and left.

"She was so strong..." Potter whispered, as he began to cry. The poor boy looked like he was going collapse under the weight of his own despair.

"I don't think that she's going to give in so easily," Severus said, his voice filled with determination. Severus went to Miss Weasley's side, and checked the charmed bracelet Poppy had placed on Miss Weasley's wrist to keep close tabs on her temperature. It read 105.2 degrees. "We need to keep her stable for as long as possible. If magical intervention won't work, then we'll have to resort to muggle means. Do any of you know any muggle means to bring down her temperature?" he asked.

No one responded.

"With every second we waste wallowing in our own self pity, any hope of saving Weasley diminishes," Severus snapped sharply, trying to pull them out of their despair-induced stupor. Granger wiped away her tears, her features showing intense concentration.

"Muggles sometimes put people in a tub of ice water, when they have a heat stroke, to bring down their core temperature," Miss Granger supplied. "Maybe that will help her."

"It's worth a try," Levine agreed. Levine pulled out her wand and transfigured the nightstand next to the bed into a porcelain tub, half-filled with ice water. When that was done, Potter pulled out his wand and levitated Weasley, as Levine transfigured her robes into a bathing suit. A part of Severus noticed Levine's obvious talent with transfiguration, and made a mental note to speak with Minerva about it later. Potter placed Miss Weasley into the tub as gently as possible. Only her head, and her right wrist, which held her bracelet, remained above water. Ix Chel moved to the edge of the bed, trying to stay as close to the tub as possible. Severus checked the bracelet for any signs of change. After a minute, it came down to 104.5, even better than he could have hoped. They'd bought her some time, how much only Merlin knew...

Severus stood and turned back to the group.

"Miss Granger, go help Professor McGonagall with the Gryffindors in the hospital wing," Severus ordered. "Potter, Levine, Ix Chel - look after Weasley. If the temperature on the bracelet approaches 106, come get me. Albus - follow me. I need to have a word with you."

Granger left. After taking one last look at Miss Weasley, he and Albus also left.

*~*~*

A lone book floated in the darkened Gryffindor fifth years' dorm. The surprisingly large and heavy Potions tome, which had several bloodstains on it; it hid when people came to take away the attackers of the tome's mistress. It knew that it was alone, and it needed to return to its mistress, and soon. It quickly flew out of the girl's dorm, and down into the dimly lit, ruined common room. Broken furniture and objects littered what remained of the floor. The walls and ceiling were covered in a myriad of cracks, and had several large holes, while many of the floorboards were torn up. The surface of the floorboards was horribly scuffed, as though the wood itself had been violently shaved off.

All of a sudden, it sensed someone coming who had a burning hatred for its mistress, and it growled. A few moments later, it heard a person swear. A tall, red-haired boy, who it knew to be the one called 'Ron,' arrived at the portrait hole, staring at the destroyed common room in shock. It felt a terrible darkness, greater than the one it had defended Mistress from, and acted. The boy gave a strangled cry as the tome attacked, knocking him unconscious with one blow. The boy barely had a chance to glimpse the title, which read, 'Potions: An Art Form Unto Itself,' before losing awareness.

The tome watched him, making sure he was unconscious. Once it was sure he wouldn't be getting up any time soon, the tome hit him in the ribs for good measure. Then it left Gryffindor Tower in search of its mistress, who had given it true life in the storm.

*~*~*

Severus and Albus entered Severus' office, only to be greeted by Minerva, who had just stepped out of the fireplace. Severus shot Minerva a questioning look as he closed the door, then put a silencing charm on the room.

"Miss Granger explained the situation," Minerva replied to the unspoken question. "She's watching over the other Gryffindors for me. There must be something that can be done for Miss Weasley, something we haven't tried! We can't just sit around and wait while she..."

"I'm afraid not," Albus sighed heavily. "Whatever is wrong with Virginia is resistant to everything Poppy's thrown at it. Virginia will need a miracle, just to survive the night."

"Poppy doesn't know what she's talking about," Severus said. "There is still every chance we can save her, but there is something you need to know first... The reason why Weasley is lying in there, dying. The Gryffindors attacked her, two of them even tried to kill her in her dorm room. What are you going to do about this, Albus?"

"That's not what the Gryffindors told me," Minerva said, aghast. "According to them, Miss Weasley summoned Dark magic, and attacked them. You both felt the Dark power she unleashed."

"I have never felt anything quite like it, but there can be no doubt..." Albus agreed, sadly. "The amazing powers she displayed were Dark magic..."

"You're both wrong," Severus countered, shaking his head. "The powers she displayed were used purely in self-defense-"

"How could such power be in self-defense?" Albus asked. "I could feel the amazing darkness radiating out of her, from my chambers. Don't tell me that you don't still feel remnants of that power, even now, Severus. You, better than anyone, should be able to distinguish between corruptive Dark magics, and self-defense magics."

"The power Miss Wesley used was not corruptive magics!" Severus snapped, losing his patience. How could they mistake Gray magic for corruptive magic, some of the most terrible magics in the Dark Arts? The truth hit him. Of course, that would explain a few things... If that was true, then he had no choice but to tell them, and hope they could be made to see reason.

"The power Miss Weasley used was Gray magic," Severus explained, regaining his composure. "It's a far older magic than Light and Dark... To Light wizards, the power of Gray feels like extreme Dark, just as Dark fanatics would only feel extreme Light. Miss Weasley panicked, and tried to use it to defend herself, but she lost control of it. Let me assure you, if she wanted to kill those people, they would be dead. The girl had only sought to protect herself, so no one was killed. The magical overload is what is causing her fever, and that is why Pomfrey can't abate it. However, I believe there is a chance I can."

"Gray magic?" Minerva asked, astonished. "How do you know this, Severus?"

"Because I have been studying it with her," Severus replied. "Now, our time grows short... Ronald Weasley is responsible for spreading destructive rumors around the school. Also, Colin Creevy has charged that I have been... sleeping with her. To top it off, the Gryffindors Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil ambushed Miss Weasley in her dorm room, and tried to murder her. They would have succeeded, if she hadn't fought back. Serious action must be taken if we are to salvage the situation."

"Forgive me, Severus, but what you're saying about the Gryffindors isn't possible," Albus said, disbelieving. "They would never have attacked Virginia without provocation. She must have done something to-"

"All Miss Weasley did was be different," Severus cut him off, livid. "Your perfect little Gryffindors didn't need another reason to do what they did, they never have... Nothing has changed in twenty years, has it? You're just as much in denial now, as when Sirius Black tried to kill me! What are you going to do when she awakens? Punish her the way you did me? Punish her for being the victim, because she's inconvenient, because it's easier to tear down an innocent, then it is to face the truth. Are you trying to turn her Dark, Albus, the same way you did me?"

"Of course not!" Albus protested. "I am saying that there is every possibility that they simply reacted out of fear for their own safety."

"Simply reacted?" Severus growled loudly. "Two Gryffindors laid in wait for her, ambushed Miss Weasley, trying to throw her out of a window, Albus! That is premeditated, not an act in the heat of the moment! They would have killed her, and gotten away with it, if Weasley hadn't acted when she did. You are both very lucky she didn't want them dead after that... I want Patil and Brown expelled for this! If they are incredibly lucky, Miss Weasley might not press charges that could land them in Azkaban!"

"Whether or not that's true, people won't see it that way," Albus countered, raising his voice slightly. "If anything, Virginia will be the one to pay for this, and that's assuming she survives the night!"

"I agree that they should punished, no matter what their motives were, but expulsion is a little harsh," Minerva suggested. "Perhaps they can serve two months of Detention with me. I will teach them the error of their ways."

"A slap on the wrist won't fix this!" Severus replied. "If you two refuse to act in her best interests, then I will. I will not let her be harmed any longer... I've wasted far too much time arguing with you already. Miss Weasley needs me, but mark my words Albus, this is far from over!"

Severus walked out of his office, leaving Albus and Minerva behind.

*~*~*

The Potions tome arrived at the Dungeons, and wandered about, still searching for its mistress. The book had encountered several people on its way that held ill will for its mistress, and dealt with them accordingly. It knew she was down here somewhere, but the tome had no way of sensing where. The book sensed someone approaching who felt like its mistress. It was the one the tome knew as 'Snape,' and it instinctively knew he could be trusted. The tome floated up to him, allowing Snape to pick it out of the air and examine it.

"You're alive, aren't you?" Snape whispered. The tome shook slightly in response, in what could only be interpreted as a nod, while chattering in agreement. "You're trying to get back to your mistress..." The tome nodded again. "Very well, I'll take you there."

The book became still and allowed Snape to carry it with him, content that it would be reunited with its mistress soon.

*~*~*

Professor Flitwick stood in the Ravenclaw common room, listening to a status report from the Head Boy and Head Girl. Other than one student who had been attacked by a rogue tome, which was believed to have escaped from the Restricted Section, everyone was unharmed and accounted for. After listening to the report, he sat by the fire in an armchair, designed specifically for him, contemplating the situation in Gryffindor Tower. From what he had heard, things were a mess over there and, somehow or other, poor Miss Weasley was at the heart of it. The report he had gotten from Professor Hagrid had been sketchy as to what actually had happened, but Filius was certain that the girl wasn't the aggressor. Why, had she been sorted into Ravenclaw, none of this-

"Professor, I heard about what happened to Ginny," Mr. Dippet said, startling him out of his thoughts. Filius looked up and studied the young man, who was obviously worried. "Can I go see her? I need to know that she's alright."

"I'm sorry, young man, but no," Filius replied. "I know how hard this must be for you, but you must understand that there is nothing you can do for her right now. All you can do is trust that the girl is in the right hands. The others will take care of Miss Weasley. You can visit her tomorrow, when she's doing better."

"Yes, Professor," Mark said, looking downcast.

"Don't worry about her, Mr. Dippet, she'll be alright," Filius reassured him. He needed to try to get the boy's mind off of her for a little while. An idea occurred to him. That could work... "Tell me, how have your studies been progressing?"

*~*~*

Ron awoke slowly, as if shaking off the effects of a long sleep. He wished with all of his might that the last week had been a nightmare, not the harsh and terrifying reality he had been trapped in for all this time. He opened his eyes and saw the destroyed common room. By Merlin... It wasn't a nightmare... He cried as it all came back to him. He remembered the look of fear in Hermione's eyes when he accused her. He remembered the hurt, betrayed expression on Harry's face, and the terror in Ginny's eyes... He had almost hurt Ginny tonight!

Merlin, how could this be happening to him? What could he have done to deserve this? Ron shook his head. He was running out of time, and he knew it. This may be his only opportunity to reach out, to warn somebody about this, to warn Harry! Ron wiped away his tears and groped through the wreckage, looking for a quill and parchment. He spotted one of Harry's muggle spiral notebooks, with a pen still clipped to it. Perfect... Ron picked up the book, opened it to an empty page, and started writing. When he was done, Ron dropped the pen and threw the muggle notebook through the portrait hole. With luck, Harry would find it before- Merlin help him! He was back...

"I'm so sorry, Gin..." Ron whispered, as he lost his grasp on the world around him again.

*~*~*

Harry sat on a wooden stool that Alexis had transfigured for him from a quill. He held Ginny's hand as he watched the temperature on the bracelet change. It now read 105 degrees. They may have bought her some time, but it was running out, and fast. Harry found himself hoping that Snape would get back soon. He hated the Potions master, but Snape really did seem to care about Ginny, something Harry never thought him capable of. If there was any chance Snape could save her... Harry saw the reading increase to 105.2... Merlin, she was failing faster than Poppy had predicted.

"We're losing her..." Harry whispered softly, without realizing it. Alexis put a comforting hand on his shoulder, quietly reassuring him that he wasn't alone. He looked up at her, and saw her eyes were glazed with tears, as she struggled to hold her emotions in check.

"Maybe if the water was a little colder..." Alexis said absent-mindedly, as she pulled out her wand again. Alexis transfigured some more of the water in the tub into ice and Ginny's temperature dropped to 105.1 again.

"How did you do that?" Harry asked. "Aren't ice and water the same thing?"

"Everything has its own individual states," Alexis explained. "In Transfiguration, most states can be altered. The difference between water and ice is simply dictated by the speed the molecules are moving at. Temperature and many of the other things we cling to, in reality, are immaterial when you can change their states."

"Giving Potter a lesson in Advanced Transfiguration?" Snape piped in, startling them. Harry noticed a large Potions tome in his hand, and wondered faintly if Snape had brought it with him for reference. "Unless the curriculum has changed since I left school, that's a little advanced for a fifth year. Isn't it, Levine?"

"I have been studying a little ahead, on my own, Professor," Levine answered, sounding surprisingly sheepish.

"If I recall, they don't teach about that sort of manipulation till seventh year..." Snape replied thoughtfully, placing the tome at the foot of the bed. "Potter, Levine - leave us. If I'm going to help Miss Weasley, I need... solitude."

Harry didn't want to leave Ginny's side, but he knew that every moment they wasted arguing would only hurt Ginny more. Harry got up and followed Alexis out the door. Alexis removed Harry's Prefect's badge, and placed it on the floor near the wall, across from the door, then transfigured it into a comfortable, midnight blue sofa. They sat down next to each other, silently praying that Snape would be able to help Ginny.

*~*~*

Hermione led the uninjured Gryffindors through the halls. The injured students were ordered to stay the night in the hospital wing, while she was ordered to bring the other students to the Great Hall to spend the night. The Gryffindor students still looked shell-shocked from the disaster in Gryffindor Tower. While Hermione was in the hospital wing, she had heard a hundred different stories about what happened, and didn't know what to think about it anymore. Whatever really happened, only two things were for certain. Ron had something to do with this, and Ginny was at the heart of it. Ginny... If what Madam Pomfrey said was true, then she didn't have long to...

"No, I mustn't think like that," Hermione thought, pushing her feelings of fear and sadness aside. "Ginny is strong, and Professor Snape is one of the most knowledgeable wizards I have ever met. If anyone can figure this out, it's him."

She only prayed that was true.

Hermione entered the Great Hall and saw that the house tables had been moved aside, with sleeping bags set up for them in the center of the room. She helped the other Prefects get the students settled, then spotted Macdonald and Neville talking in a corner of the room. She went over to speak with them.

"...you see the look in her eyes, Neville?" Macdonald asked. "I have never seen anyone so scared in my life."

"Yeah," Neville agreed. "It was like she couldn't control any of it."

"I'd go so far as to say that she was more scared than we were," Macdonald added.

"Maybe she was trying to defend herself from something, and things just got out of hand," Neville suggested. "That could be why the people who didn't want to harm her weren't touched by the storm."

"Something or someone?" Macdonald asked. "Remember the condition Parvati and Lavender were in, when we found them in the girl's dormitories? They were the only students to be hurt in the dormitories themselves... and that's where Ginny ran after her confrontation with Colin."

"What exactly is wrong with Colin?" Neville asked, slightly confused. "I tried to ask him, but he just glared at me."

"That's pretty much all he can do at this point," Macdonald said. "According to Madam Pomfrey, his vocal cords have been frozen. Pomfrey says she's never seen anything like it. She told me that he might get his voice back in a few weeks, if he's lucky."

"Couldn't happen to a nicer Gryffindor..." Neville said, shaking his head. "What did Colin say in her ear to get her to freak out like that?"

"I don't know, but whatever happened with Parvati and Lavender afterwards must have been explosive to get her to lose it," Macdonald replied.

"You think they started this?" Neville asked.

"Started what?" Hermione interjected, surprising them.

"Hi, Hermione," Neville began. "We were just talking..."

"About Ginny," Hermione finished for him. "What do you think happened?"

"We've been comparing notes, and I think that Parvati and Lavender have something to do with what happened to Ginny," Macdonald explained. "They might have even caused it."

"What brought you to that conclusion?" Hermione asked.

They told Hermione everything they had seen.

"I have to agree with you," Hermione said. "If there's even a chance that's true, then we have to do something for Ginny before this snowballs."

"But what?" Neville asked.

"I think I've got an idea..." Hermione answered thoughtfully.

*~*~*

Once Potter and Levine were gone, Snape turned back to Ix Chel. He had a few ideas as to how he could help Weasley, but he needed to consult Ix Chel first, to be certain. He checked her temperature, then turned to face Ix Chel.

"Is it possible that a portion of the Gray magic she unleashed, is still infecting her?" Severus asked in Parseltongue.

"Yes, from what I can tell, she's suffering from the effects of an overdose, but it's on a level I have never believed possible," Ix Chel replied. "There is no way to predict what this is doing to her."

"Will her fever break if I can siphon off the excess energy?" Severus asked.

"At your current level of experience, any such attempt could prove fatal," Ix Chel said. "There is also a chance that what's happening to young one will spill over onto you."

"Will it work?" Severus persisted.

"It can," Ix Chel answered.

"Then let's get to work," Severus replied. Ix Chel explained what he would have to do. It was tricky, but, with luck, he would manage. Severus pulled out his wand and levitated Miss Weasley out of the tub. He quickly used a drying spell on her, and placed her on the bed. He pulled up the stool to the bed and checked the bracelet. Away from the stabilizing influences of the cold water, her temperature spiked, reaching 106, continuing to climb. Severus started the procedure without delay, gently draining off excess energy by transferring it into him, and carefully releasing it harmlessly back into the environment. As time passed, Severus began to feel his own temperature climb, as hers finally began to lower. Despite the creeping awareness that his body's symptoms were beginning to mirror Weasley's, he didn't stop or slow down. He was determined to help her if it was the last thing he did.

*~*~*

Ginny felt herself drifting slowly downward, into nothingness. Ginny saw that she was in a strange and desolate expanse, like she was under water. Alien, blue-white light illuminated the area. Looking down, she saw an inky black void beneath her, through which no light could penetrate. Fighting it was so hard. It would be so much easier to allow herself to just stop, and let go... She knew that she was dying; if she stopped fighting it would be over, but she just couldn't bring herself to keep fighting any longer... Besides, what was there to go back to? In the end, who really needed her? What would it hurt to rest, just for a little while? She felt another person slipping into the void ahead of her, and recognized him. It was Tom. Ginny could feel that he was too weak to fight at all, and that he would die without help.

That thought snapped her out of it. Tom! He didn't deserve to die! Merlin, she couldn't lose him, not after all of this! Ginny felt his sprit begin to fail and grabbed onto him, in a desperate attempt to keep him with her. She started fighting the desire to give in, and tried to swim to what, she hoped, was the surface of this nightmare. Each second that passed felt like an eternity, as Ginny struggled in vain against death itself. Just when she was beginning to lose hope that they would make it, Ginny felt another presence enter her mind, reaching for her, trying to pull her back out. It was Professor Snape.

Ginny clawed her way upwards, still clutching Tom, keeping him with her by sheer force of will. Tom's dead weight continued to drag her down, but she refused to give up and let him go. If they were getting out of here, it would be together or not at all. She could not be alone again... She had made a promise to him, one she had no intention of braking, not now, or ever! With the last of her waning strength, Ginny reached for Snape's outstretched hand, and grabbed onto it. Snape pulled them up, and the vision ended.

With that, Ginny's fever broke, and she opened her eyes. The world spun madly before her, and she was forced to close them again to escape the horrible vertigo. Ginny wanted to open her eyes but the vertigo refused to go away.

"Save your strength, Miss Weasley..." Professor Snape whispered soothingly. "You're going to be alright. I'll make sure of it... Now, rest."

Ginny tried to nod, but discovered she was too weak. After a few moments of trying, she gave up. Touching Tom's mind, Ginny was reassured that, although he was still weak, the danger had passed, and allowed herself to fall asleep.

*~*~*

Severus put the covers over Weasley, and sat watching over her until she fell back to sleep. When he was certain that she was going to be all right, he turned to Ix Chel, who sat by the girl's feet, obviously despondent.

"It wasn't your fault," Severus hissed tiredly. "If you want someone to blame, start with her attackers, the Gryffindors."

"I wasn't there to protect her," Ix Chel replied guiltily. "If I had been there-"

"You're a Seer's familiar," Severus countered. "Your master doesn't presume to know what might have been, and neither should you. You don't know what would have happened if you were there. For all you know, you could have made the outcome worse... Don't waste time reprimanding yourself. Your master needs you now more than ever. I must go. I'll be back later to check on her... but before I go..."

Severus pulled out his wand and placed several monitoring spells on Miss Weasley to alert him if something happened while he was gone. He stood, and swayed slightly, as a sudden wave of dizziness and lightheadedness hit him. Severus waited for it to pass, then left the room, only to find Levine and Potter sleeping on a couch in the hallway.

"Levine, Potter, wake up," Severus snapped loudly. Levine and Potter opened their eyes and stood, apprehensively, awaiting news on Weasley's condition.

"How is she, Professor?" Levine asked anxiously.

"I believe she will recover," Severus replied. Potter and Levine visibly relaxed. "I want you two to take turns watching her tonight. She will need a reassuring presence when she awakens... Levine, I want you to watch her tomorrow. I will make the appropriate arrangements for you to be excused from your classes for the day..."

Severus trailed off as a dizzy spell assaulted him, making the room spin. Potter and Levine grabbed him before he fainted, and led him to the sofa. Severus closed his eyes, trying vainly to avoid the horrible vertigo. Levine checked his forehead.

"By Merlin, you're burning up, Professor!" Levine exclaimed. "Harry, go get Madam Pomfrey."

"Don't..." Severus protested weakly. "I... will be fine. I just need a minute."

"Please tell us what we can do for you, sir," Levine implored.

"Just give me a moment..." Severus said. After a few minutes, the dizziness subsided, but the lightheadedness refused to go away. Severus stood slowly, while Potter and Levine remain poised to catch him, if need be. "If you need me, I'll be in my chambers."

"Let me escort you there," Levine suggested. Severus opened his mouth to protest, but another wave of dizziness changed his mind. The last thing he wanted was for the Slytherins to find him, in the morning, passed out in the corridor. He allowed Levine to walk with him, while Potter stayed with Miss Weasley. When he was safely inside his quarters, Severus pulled out a strong fever-reducing potion, and took a dose. After a few moments, he felt the potion take effect. Severus checked his temperature. It was 101, uncomfortable, but manageable. With luck, it would be gone by morning... Severus didn't bother to change, but slumped down on the bed, utterly exhausted, falling into a restless sleep soon after.

*~*~*

As soon as Alexis and Snape were gone, Harry went in to check on Ix Chel and Ginny. Her temperature had dropped to 99.5 degrees, and was still lowering. Whatever Snape had done must have been a miracle... Harry thought about how sick Snape was when he left here. He was pretty sure that there was nothing wrong with the Potions master when he first showed up, so why would he be sick now... unless Snape somehow managed to draw some of the illness into himself. But that sort of thing wasn't possible. Or was it? Harry knew that almost anything was possible in the right hands. He felt gratitude and a begrudging respect for Snape. If it hadn't been for him, he was certain Ginny wouldn't have made it. Harry looked at Ix Chel. She watched Ginny, looking sullen, and guilt-ridden. Harry sighed. He knew how much not being there at the critical moment hurt her. If only there was something he could do to help.

"Don't worry," Harry tried to reassure her. "Your mistress will be alright."

Ix Chel didn't even acknowledge his presence and, just when he thought she wouldn't, she spoke in a vacant tone of voice that disturbed Harry greatly.

"We almost lost them..." Ix Chel whispered. "Now she's closed off, even to me..."

"Closed off?" Harry asked, worried.

"She's shut me out," Ix Chel whispered. "Young one doesn't want anyone to know her mind right now. Young one will probably never want to speak to me again."

"Don't think that," Harry replied. "She doesn't blame you, no one does. When she's feeling a little better, I'm sure Ginny will let you in again. Just give her time, she'll come back out."

Ix Chel breathed a heavy sigh and fell silent. Harry noticed that the tome Snape brought in was still here. He felt a tingle of 'strange' magic as he picked it up. Where had he seen this book before? Of course, this was one of Ginny's favorite Potions tomes... but what would Snape be doing with it? Harry saw the bloodstains that covered the book, and decided it would be best if he cleaned it off. The last thing he wanted right now was for Ginny to awaken, and see it like this.

"Why don't we get you cleaned up?" Harry said softly to the book. Harry put it on the stool, for a moment, and went to the bathroom. He came back a minute later with a damp washcloth. Harry talked to the book, as he carefully cleaned off the blood. He wasn't sure why he would want to talk to a book; it just somehow felt natural to him.

"There... you're as good as new," Harry said appraisingly. To his complete and utter shock, the tome purred in obvious contentment. Before Harry had a chance to react, Alexis walked into the room. The tome jumped out of his grasp, and flew upward out their reach.

"What the...?" Alexis asked, looking at the book in the air. "How did that get in here?"

"Snape brought it in," Harry explained. "I think it's one of Ginny's books."

"But I thought animate books are only kept in the Restricted Section?" Alexis replied. "How could Ginny own one?"

"I don't know," Harry shrugged.

"Let's find out..." Alexis said, turning her attention back to the book. "Why don't you come down? We won't hurt you. We'd just like to see your title, that's all. I promise, no harm will come to you."

After a moment's hesitation, the tome landed in Harry's hands again. Alexis saw the title and frowned slightly.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"That's not a volume that belongs in the Restricted Section," Alexis replied. "In fact, it shouldn't be animate at all... Are you alive, book?"

The tome nodded, while chattering in assent.

"I guess that answers our question," Harry said. "How do you think it got like this?"

"Sentient books are rare, but not unheard of," Alexis said. "But I've never heard of spontaneous attainment of sentience from a book before... Well, whatever the reason, it's here and alive. Who do you belong to?"

The tome nodded to Ginny.

"Ginny's your owner?" Harry asked.

The tome nodded vigorously, as it let out an excited chatter.

"I guess, we're just going to have to ask Ginny how she got it, when she awakens..." Alexis said. "How is she?"

"Her fever's broken," Harry replied. "I think she's going to recover... How's Snape?"

"He's pretty sick," Alexis said. "What could be wrong with him?"

"I don't know," Harry replied. They both fell silent; each lost in their own thoughts.

*~*~*

Minerva walked through the darkened halls to Gryffindor Tower in silence. She had to see for herself, she had to know what had happened up there. Minerva could feel the powerful magic, which Severus referred to as Gray magic, still charging the air itself, making her feel like she was going to be sick. No wonder Albus thought of this as corruptive magic... Minerva stopped just in front of the damaged portrait hole, and lit her wand. She steeled herself for a moment, and walked inside, ignoring the intense discomfort she felt just stepping over the threshold.

Minerva surveyed the wreckage. This would take a day or two to fix by magical means. Minerva attempted a repairing spell on a broken mirror, but it didn't work. She decided to try it on something else, still nothing. After her fifth try, she gave up. So, the damage here mirrored Miss Weasley's condition, as well as everything they had seen of Gray magic so far. It was completely resistant to almost all normal spells... This could prove to be a serious complication, when it came time to fix this place.

Minerva thought about Miss Weasley again. She had tried to help Miss Weasley in any way she could, but, in the end, Minerva knew she had failed her. The poor girl... What had her inaction done to her? What was going to happen to her now, after all of this? Minerva sighed heavily. She had lost hold of her own house, without even realizing it. Now things were spinning out of control, with no sign of stopping any time soon. Minerva knew she had to act swiftly and decisively, if she were going to salvage the Gryffindor name. She had to see Miss Weasley, and see if her relationship with the girl was still salvageable... Minerva took one last look at what was once the Gryffindor common room, and left.

*~*~*

Harry walked up the stairs leading to Gryffindor Tower. Alexis had relieved him, and made him take a break from him vigil over Ginny. Unable to get any rest, Harry had decided to take a walk. He checked his watch. It was 2:30am. Harry wasn't sure if it was curiosity, morbid fascination, or something else that drew him. All he knew was that he had to see it, and find any clue he could to what had happened tonight. Harry felt strange magic in the air as he entered the common room, old magic, unlike anything he had felt before tonight. He painstakingly inspected the smashed ruins, but could find nothing but a trail of destruction leading from Ginny's room to the common room.

After a half-hour of looking, Harry gave up. He attempted to leave, but tripped on his way through the portrait hole and landed face-first on the hard, cold stone floor. Harry noticed a small spiral notebook lying open, next to a nearby wall. After a moment, he recognized it. What was his notebook doing out here? Harry stood and picked it up. He looked at the page it was opened to, and gasped. Ron couldn't bear to be in the same room as him anymore, why would he want to write him a letter? Curious, and slightly suspicious, Harry read on.

Dear Harry,

I'm so sorry that all of this happened! It wasn't me, I swear! I've been under the control of You-Know-Who for the last week. He somehow used my hatred for Gin's pet to use me, to take over my mind! By the time I figured it out, it was too late. I was a prisoner in my own body. This is the first time I've been free enough to do anything since this started. I'm writing to warn you. Don't believe me; don't trust me! I'm only out to hurt you... Harry, You-Know-Who wants something from you! That's why he hasn't tried to kill you again. All I know is that it has something to do with a necklace. If you have it, Harry, never let him get his hands on it! There's no telling what he'll do...

Oh, Merlin! He's returning... I don't have much time left before... I'm so tired Harry, so tired! He's been chipping away at me, trying to take away my humanity. I'm losing myself to him. I don't think I'll be able to hold on for much longer. It may already be too late for me. I'm so sorry Harry! Don't blame yourself over me. It's not your fault! Tell Ginny and Hermione I'm sorry, will you? Tell them it's not their faults. Tell Ginny I'm proud of her, and that I still love her... for as long as I remain me... Blame Wormtail for this. I don't know how, but he did this to me. I'm sure of it!

You don't know the darkness, the sheer power coursing through me, tempting me... and Merlin help me, I'm beginning to believe it! Why did he have to take me? Why?

Beware Voldemort! Beware the necklaces, and beware me! Harry, please take care of Ginny for me! She needs you to watch over her now... Goodbye

Ron

Harry felt numb as he read it repeatedly, refusing to believe it. This couldn't be, it just couldn't! It had to be a lie...

Merlin please, let it be a lie... Harry silently pleaded. He read the warning about the necklace again, his right hand unconsciously straying to where it was hidden. Harry had never gotten the chance to tell Ron about the necklace, or the letter from his mum, so how would Ron know about it, unless...

Harry's eyes blurred with tears as the numbness he felt slowly gave way to despair and remorse. Merlin help them, it was true! It was true, and he'd missed it! Now Ron was being used as puppet by Voldemort, and there may be no way getting him back... Harry broke into a run to Dumbledore's office, but stopped himself after a couple of moments. From the letter, Harry doubted this was something as simple as the Imperious Curse. What if Voldemort had the power to kill Ron? Harry knew that if he went to him now, Dumbledore would try to detain Ron, and Voldemort would kill Ron in a heartbeat, as an act of spite. Voldemort would never let Ron go so easily...

Harry tore out the page with Ron's message on it, and hid it in his robes. He had to give his next move careful thought, because not only did Ron's life depend on it, so did his soul.

___________

TBC