My Eternal Curse

My Eternal Curse

By Mara456

Chapter Forty-Three

Summits and Depths

Tom lay awake, oddly grateful that what little sleep he had gotten hadn't been disturbed by dreams. He continued feigning unconsciousness, in case someone took notice and wanted to chat. He had no idea what to say to any of them, Severus least of all.

"Ginny, you awake?" Loren softly purred.

Tom carefully whispered a privacy ward. Once the charm took, he manipulated their wand with his thoughts, directing it to write a small illusion spell so that no one would bother them.

Taking on the voice of his little princess, he answered aloud, "Yes. What is it?"

"A lot of humans have been checking on you," Loren told him. "They're worried for you."

"How long have we been asleep?" Tom inquired.

"Oh, awhile now," Loren replied. "It's hard to tell in your cave. Why did you put up that spell stuff?"

"Because I don't want them to know I'm awake," he explained.

"Don't know what to talk about, huh?" sympathized the young Chimera. "My uncle always says that with family, it's not the words that matter in times of need, but the fact they're there."

"Your uncle is very wise," Tom agreed.

He wondered what Severus would think of them if the wizard knew what he had really been protecting all this time. Even if Tom no longer intended to pursue his childish, shortsighted ambition of taking the glorified title of Dark Lord, his roots were never very far from Voldemort's. That fact had come to genuinely frighten him.

"Is it because you're life bonded to two individuals instead of the one, like you told them?" Loren probed.

Unable to hide his shock, Tom weakly denied, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't be afraid. Your secret's safe with me," their friend promised. "I haven't told a soul, and I won't either."

"How did you find out about us?" he asked.

"I get extra insights into things when I touch or smell them," Loren explained. "Mommy once told me that re-cept-iv-ity like mine is really rare amongst my kin. She says it makes me all the more special."

"So you have The Sight?" Tom guessed.

"By the elders, no! Sasha, that's mum's name, she says it has something to do with heeding and understanding, but I never did get what she meant by that," Loren recalled, returning to his soothing purr. "The bizarre girl's still asleep, isn't she?"

Tom hesitantly nodded.

"What's your name?" Loren asked.

"Tom," he disclosed.

"Tom," Loren whispered, as if his real name were somehow precious. "I like it. Do you have a last one?"

"I-I'm not sure what my rightful last name is anymore," Tom confessed, using his own inflections.

"Either you do have one, or you don't," Loren simply stated. "Or is it... that you're caught between more than one?"

Observing their young protector, Tom appraised, "You're a perceptive little cub."

"I'm not little - I'm strong," argued Loren.

With a small smile, Tom agreed, "That much is certain."

"What's wrong with your last names?" the cub persisted.

Seeing little point to not answering, Tom confided, "One name I've always hated, the other I'm not worthy of."

"Who says you're not worthy?" the young Chimera asked.

Tom didn't know how to answer him.

"Does it matter?" Tom enjoined.

"It matters to you, I can hear it in your voice," Loren observed. "If the name belongs to your bloodline, then it's your birthright. Nobody can tell you you're not worthy of that."

"Out of the mouths of babes," he whispered, realizing how innately true Loren's assertion was. "He might be the one wizard in the world we can tell about us... Snape."

"Huh?" Loren puzzled, confused.

"Snape is my mother's true last name," he expounded. "She died when I was born. I was raised in a muggle orphanage because my father didn't want me."

"Doesn't that make your master your kin?" Loren realized.

"Yes, he is," confirmed Tom. "I just found out this morning. I have no idea what I'm going to say to him."

"Start with the truth. The rest is bound to fall into place," Loren advised. "Your master seems like a good human. He'll learn to understand and accept you."

Tom snorted in uneasiness.

"If only it were that simple," Tom sighed. "What is it I do to attract individuals who believe anything is possible, like you and Virginia?"

"It's what you need," Loren firmly stated.

"You're a good and true friend, Loren," Tom said, wishing that he had known such a creature in his first youth. "Thank you for protecting us in our time of need."

"You're welcome, Tom," Loren replied.

Something about hearing the sound of his own name served to lift his spirits.

Nodding towards the foot of the cave under the bed, Loren inquired, "What's that book over there?"

Being careful to modulate his strength, Tom summoned the book that had called to them in Salazar Slytherin's library. In all the excitement since they had discovered it, the bonded trio had all but forgotten the mysterious empty book.

"Wow, it's really old and powerful," Loren sensed. "Where did you find this small treasure?"

Tom began thumbing through the pages just as Ginny had a few days ago. What could it hurt to tell him?

"Hidden, in an ancient library-" he began. Tom hissed as the edge of one of the pages cut his index finger. Reflexively, he pulled back his hand. It had done that intentionally! This object craved his blood. He could feel with absolute certainty that it wasn't going to tell him anything until it got a taste. Examining their finger, Tom noticed that the wound was deeper than an ordinary paper cut. A small rivulet of blood welled up, threatening spill onto the pages.

"Oh, an old blood magic locking enchantment, and a Dark one too!" Loren understood. "It wants to know if you're a proper owner."

Vaguely recalling reading about those, Tom questioned, "What else do you know about this?"

"Not much, really. Just that they were common in the time before humans lost touch with the great forests. Whoever placed the lock is looking for a specific trait. You can still find them in the forest today if you look carefully. I don't know anything else, I'm afraid," Loren supplied.

"No, that's plenty. Thank you for your insight, my friend." Tom said. "Book, do you intend to harm me if I don't fit your parameters... or if I do? Make no mistake, if you lie to me, I will know it."

Sincerely, the object insisted that no harm would come to them. If this really was Slytherin's diary he had to exercise the utmost caution in handling it. He remembered Draco's warning to inform their master if the book started acting independently. Cutting them so that it could have a taste of their blood certainly fit that description. The young cub was right; this book does have a Dark nature. Ever so carefully, he let the blood from their lacerated finger drip onto the blank page. At least, if something goes wrong, help isn't far away, Tom assured himself. The ancient artifact drank greedily, instantly absorbing every drop. A strange impulse to give more came over him, and he willingly squeezed their finger, forcing the blood to flow more freely. Tom winced. The desire to feed the book faded as the drops took longer to be absorbed. Eagerly, it thanked him, informing Tom that, as a rightful claimant of Salazar Slytherin's legacy, it would disclose whatever he wished. Words and diagrams appeared where only blank space had previously been.

Stirring, Ginny grumbled, "Oww..."

"Go back to sleep, my sweet," Tom whispered, intoning a healing enchantment that he somehow knew, far older than the school, instantly mending the cut and soothing them. Ginny's mind easily drifted back into her troubled slumber.

"Amazing. I've never seen a human perform a blood rite before!" Loren exclaimed, fortunately after Ginny had gone back to sleep.

"Loren, you're worried about something. What is it?" Tom inquired.

"My mommy must be getting worried about me by now," Loren replied.

"I could bring your mother here..." Tom began to suggest. He trailed off when a set of keys bound by a rusty old key ring fell out of his ancestor's book.

"Well, what do we have here?" Tom asked, examining the keys. "I wonder why old Salazar hid you in there."

He noticed Loren gasp.

'Absorb what wisdom I have to give, and surely you will find out,' the book silently told him.

"That once belonged to Salazar Slytherin?" Loren asked with wonder.

"You know of him?" he inquired in return.

"Yeah. He was one of the Dark wizards who helped found the school with the Light," Loren enthusiastically growled. "Before the humans abandoned their covenant with us, he was the forests' respected friend and ally. It was said that he often toured the forest, coming to us for understanding and guidance. Everyone knows that."

"No, not everyone. The humans have forgotten much over time, more than we would have guessed," Tom corrected, pocketing the keys and placing the book on the floor next to them. Reaching out with his senses, Tom could see that Sasha was already searching for her cub. "How about I wake Virginia and explain things, then we'll bring your mom to you? Would that be acceptable?"

"Great!" Loren enthused.

Oh, Ginny is just going to love hearing about this, he ruefully thought.

*~*~*

Ignoring the Professor's visitors, Myrtle concentrated on the obstacle before her known as eating. Everything about this new existence was hard. Recalling the faded memories of her depressing mortal life, Myrtle remembered how the little things the living take for granted hadn't always been a chore for her. She wondered what her parents would have thought of this, had they been alive today. The former ghost still didn't know how it had happened, but she understood more than she did last night. Myrtle knew that, if their spirits hadn't moved on yet, she had the power to summon her parents. She wondered what Flitwick and Nick would think about that. Something told her they wouldn't approve. They wouldn't believe it's possible, or something. Maybe the idea was a silly one, but every fiber of her recreated being imparted that she wasn't like normal wizards and witches, except for maybe Professor Flitwick. She could do this-

"By Merlin! Moaning Myrtle, is it really you?" Hermione's voice startled the young Necromancer out of her reverie.

Myrtle smiled at the sight of Harry and Hermione, who'd shown up with some other kids. She saw equally stunned expressions on the two Gryffindors as they entered ahead of the strangers. It was a struggle, but Myrtle pulled herself out of the chair unaided. Her friend Nick floated to her side to offer his assistance. She gratefully took it, leaning on him for support.

"It's really me," she timidly confirmed, unable to contain her fear. "I've... come back." She noticed that they were keeping their distance. "You aren't scared of me, are you?"

Closing the gap between them, Hermione answered, with a look of wonder, "No, this is just incredible!" The elder Gryffindor gave her a warm, welcoming hug, washing away Myrtle's fears that they would hate her. "You are incredible."

Tears of joy and relief fell as Harry hesitantly did the same.

Just before releasing her, Harry whispered in her ear, "Welcome back."

"You poor thing, you look exhausted," Hermione expressed with concern, leading her back to the chair. Harry and Hermione pulled up additional chairs to sit with her. "I've seen some pretty amazing feats in my time, but this definitely tops them all! You simply must tell us everything about your revival, what it felt like, what you remember from it. I want to hear everything!"

"Give the girl a break, returning from the dead after fifty years isn't something you just bounce back from," Harry interjected. "Once you've had the chance to settle in you can tell us what you want."

"Maybe later," Myrtle agreed, not wanting to talk about it in front a group of strangers anyway. "Who are your friends?"

"This is Rebecca, Annika, and Neville," Hermione quickly introduced the others while they pulled up seats. "Everyone, this is Myrtle."

"Yep, we're the outcasts of Gryffindor," Rebecca announced. "Don't worry if you feel like you don't fit in around here, most of us haven't since we were displaced from Gryffindor Tower."

"Outcasts?" Myrtle echoed, confused. She turned to Hermione. "I lost track of you after the Tower was destroyed. I'm so glad you're okay, but after that I had no way of finding out anything."

"Don't worry, we'll fill you in," Harry assured.

Sensing the Gryffindor House ghost's discomfort, Myrtle said, "Don't feel bad, Nick. I'm sure they don't blame you."

"Of course we don't," Annika affirmed.

"We'd never blame you," Neville added.

"Yeah, you didn't turn Gryffindor against the kids who see differently, Ron did that all on his own," Rebecca concurred.

"Thank you, children," replied Nick. "Your support means a lot to me."

"And so does yours, Nick," returned Rebecca.

The Gryffindors launched into an explanation of the problems brewing in the school during the past few weeks. It sounded like a scary thing to be caught up in. She could sympathize with how they must feel. To this day, she remembered what it felt like to be all alone in a crowd. Having mysteriously come back from the dead, Myrtle knew that she couldn't avoid being an outcast again, but with Harry and Hermione helping her this time, at least she wouldn't be alone. That fact made the bewildering experience of being alive again feel not quite so bad.

*~*~*

When Hagrid, with Fang got there, he was surprised to see Alexis, Remus, Snape, and Montgomery sitting together on a sofa waiting outside Ginny's room. Before anyone had a chance to speak, Ginny's father rushed out of her chamber, looking pretty upset.

"Ginny, she- you've got to see this!" Arthur blurted out, grabbing Hagrid by the sleeve.

The Auror led him and Remus into Ginny's room, while everyone else remained in the hallway. Hagrid was spooked by how much the girl's room now reminded him of the forest. Fang hid behind his legs, whimpering at the gloomy atmosphere, not to mention the scent of predators in the air. The first thing he noticed, planted on the other side of the room, was an apple tree, with unnaturally big fruit that reached up to the ceiling. Ivy vines covered the tapestries lining the walls. Looking up, Hagrid could see the raging storm outside, just like the ceiling in the Great Hall, but more than that, he could hear the rain clearly. Then he noticed the distinctive sound of Chimeras purring.

"It's as if she's recreating the atmosphere of the forest," Remus observed, seemed to grow concerned.

Arthur went back into the corridor to explain what was going on, leaving the two teachers alone.

"I like your change of scenery, but... why redecorate now?" asked Hagrid.

"Redecorate? Oh, my new friends!" Ginny realized, her voice, oddly enough, coming from under the bed. "I was hungry but I didn't want a normal apple, so I created a tree that would give me a better one. I didn't want the tree to be lonely, so I created some ivy to keep it company. Neither of them liked the color of the carpet, so I made it grass green. I was tired of experiencing the storm at such a big distance, so I changed the room to match."

Bending down to catch a glimpse of her, Remus said, "Greetings, Sasha. I hope your visit has been a pleasant one."

Sasha growled, greeting the werewolf. Hagrid waited to speak until Virginia was done translating.

"Hey, Loren, Sasha," he said, looking under the bed himself. "How you been doin' young cub?"

With a growl Sasha told Hagrid her cub was doing much better thanks his help.

"I'm glad," Hagrid replied. "Just 'member to come back to me if you need anythin'."

Sasha assured him that they would.

"Would you three like to come under here for a visit?" Ginny offered. "There's plenty of room."

"Sure, but we'd never fit through the entrance," he pointed out.

"Sorry, it's easy to forget that from under here," replied Ginny. "Wait a sec, I'll fix that for you."

A set of grass green carpeted steps leading under the bed appeared between them.

"Wow, I didn't know a wizard could do that!" commented Hagrid.

"They can't, but I can," Ginny replied.

In a low growl, Sasha told Ginny, now that her humans were here to care for her, it was time for the Chimera and her cub to return to the forest. However, if the young witch needed them, they would be only a summons away.

Giving the cub a warm hug, Ginny expressed her gratitude, "Thank you so much for protecting us. Your help meant a lot to us."

Loren purred that the forest would welcome her presence any time. After that, she sent the Chimeras home in a pulse of blue-white light.

In the blink of an eye, Loren and his mum reappeared in their forest. Not far from them, a big white animal with large, funny black spots and little weak looking legs, stood on a patch of grass.

"Mom, is that the weird human food-animal the bizarre girl fed us, a... cow?" Loren asked.

As his mum walked up to it, taking in its scent he was surprised by the lack of understanding coming from the beast.

"Yes, the bizarre one is both wise and generous. She has gifted us with this creature as compensation for time lost hunting," mum answered.

Not understanding the danger it was in, it told them to just leave her alone and let her eat, then began chewing on the grass.

"She's stupid ma, she doesn't even know to run!" Loren complained, walking up to the creature and poking it with his tail. "Make her do something!"

"If his species ever had any intelligence the humans have bred it out of her, dear," mum explained. "Their ways are indeed hard to fathom."

Making a mournful sound, he walked around the stupid creature and nudged it with his head. The cow mooed irritably and took a step forward.

"It's going to be hard work getting this beast home," Sasha growled.

"Hey mum, look at what I can do!" he laughed, continually nudging the silly cow-animal forward. "We can just walk her back home."

"Good thinking, my precious cub," purred mum, affectionately rubbing her face against his.

They began heading back to their cave, but paused when the rain started coming down heavily, like it had before he went to visit. But now the storm had lots of thunder too, telling them how bad the bizarre girl was feeling.

"Mum, are you sure it was a good idea to leave the bizarre girl in the humans' care?" Loren asked, worried for his friends.

"If we are needed, she will call on us, my cub," mum uneasily purred. "Trust in that."

"I'll try," he mournfully agreed.

Loren hoped his mum was right, but he was still worried. If anyone needed understanding, Tom, Ginny, and Ix Chel certainly did. He feared that the ones in the castle couldn't give them that, and would only end up hurting them. Loren wished they would come to stay in the forest. The forest would surely accept the joined three as they are, and, in time, help heal their pain. If their master couldn't learn to understand, he knew it would only be a matter time before they left Hogwarts for good. As sad as that would be for three who loved the human world so much, it would be great to have a new denizen and protector of the forest.

Remus ignored the strangeness of Hagrid, Fang, and himself traveling down a staircase that led to the bed's cavernous underside. The scent of Virginia's raw pain drew all his focus. The fifth year was down here somewhere, going through the greatest trauma of her life. She would need all of them before this dark hour had passed. Poignantly reminded of the terrible night he had been transformed into a werewolf at so young an age, Remus wondered how much worse he would have fared had he suffered that fate later in life, when he would have understood the full magnitude of what he had lost. Could there actually be an advantage to not comprehending the nature of the bigotry directed toward you? Would Virginia be in this unforgivable state now if she really were the age she had reverted to? Could that air of innocence really be a good thing? Personally, without that incidental protection, he doubted he would have become the same compassionate person he was today.

"That's not true, Professor. You're stronger than you know," Virginia disagreed with his thoughts. He turned in the direction of her voice. In the darkness, his first visual impression of the witch was the shadowy, huddled outline of her form. "Some day, when you realize the power of being more than the sum of your parts, you're gonna come into your own. Then you'll know just how special you are."

Concerned, Remus gently asked, "My dear, are you alright?"

In a small, child-like voice she answered, "No, I'm broken. I'm tired inside, so tired. I don't wanna play the games anymore. I don't wanna pretend anymore. I can't. I've lost it..."

Remus sat by the girl's side and gave her a hug. Hagrid joined them on her other side, placing a supportive hand on her shoulder, while Fang took up the spot at her feet, whimpering in sympathy. He watched as she softly wept, expressing her misery, but he could feel her take some solace from their presence.

"Do you need anything, Gin?" Hagrid asked, the half giant's worry mirroring his own.

"No, nothing I can have," Virginia replied. "Thanks anyway for thinking to ask me."

"It isn't a problem-" Remus started to say but stopped when, in the gloom he noticed the damp mess that had become of the teenager's hair. "What happened to your hair?"

"Loren combed it out for me," Virginia simply answered.

"The Chimera?" Remus confirmed.

She nodded.

Noticing his expression, the Creatures Professor explained, "Grooming is something critters use to comfort each other."

Without warning, Virginia tensed in his arms.

"What is it, dear?" probed Remus.

Rubbing her temples, the young witch groaned, "Mum's here. I wish she wouldn't scream so loud. Especially not at dad, it's not his fault..." Virginia clamped her hands over her ears and screamed. "Stop it, damn you, stop it! How dare you hurt him when you don't even know what's going on!"

Remus got the most horrible feeling that the others in the corridor had also heard that. The sounds of rain and thunder intensified, confirming his fear. How much more was this situation going to deteriorate before this day was through? In her fragile state, how much more could this young power take? Remus was tempted to try convincing Severus to bar all visitors, period, until Virginia had regained some of her emotional equilibrium.

Giving her another reassuring hug, Remus promised, "Don't worry. I'll go make sure the situation is taken care of and then come right back, okay?"

Virginia timorously nodded and Remus got up. As he climbed out, he noticed Hagrid wrap an arm around the young woman in an attempt to soothe her. Thinking about how vulnerable she was currently, he guessed Zach was right after all. The more gifted you are, the more you are in need of protection and compassion.

*~*~*

Arthur had just finished explaining what Ginny had done to her room when Fred and George returned with Molly. Arthur saw his wife's angry, panicked face, and knew full-well that she wasn't going to be terribly understanding about the delicacy of their child's predicament, nor about his role in all of this. He steeled himself for the upcoming fight; for Ginny's sake, he had to make Molly understand.

"What have you people done to my little girl?" Molly cried. With one trembling hand, she pulled a crumpled letter out of her damp robes. "I leave her in the supposedly capable hands of Hogwarts' staff, in your capable hands-" Arthur's apprehension increased as she set her enraged gaze on him. "And you people run her right into the ground!" Shoving the letter into his hands, she yelled. "Arthur Weasley, I expected better from you! Since Snape's never known what it is to be a parent, I can understand him not being able to manage, but you... you have no such excuse! You were supposed to be protecting her! You promised me you would, but then, in her time of need where were you? What in Merlin's name was so bloody important that you couldn't make the time to help Ginny through this? And, don't you dare tell me it was your duties as bodyguard that kept you away, because I know Hermione is one of her friends, so it's nothing of the sort!"

Remembering their daughter's ability to hear at distance, Arthur tried to stop her from saying something that they both might regret, "Mol, listen, this isn't the place-"

"I refuse to listen to your excuses! I came here for my daughter!" Molly fumed, turning to storm into their child's room. In a desperate attempt to stop his wife from making a terrible mistake, he seized her arm. She spun around and slapped him with enough force to make him stumble backward, giving her the opening she needed to shrug him off. Stunned, Arthur rubbed his stinging cheek.

Bearing down on him, his wife shrieked, "Coward! How dare you keep me from my little girl when-"

Without warning, Ginny's scream surrounded them, her desperate wail echoing through the corridor, "Stop it, damn you, stop it! How dare you hurt him when you don't even know what's going on!"

Arthur's ears rang painfully but he could hear the storm outside worsen. No one dared to speak. Struck speechless by the power of their wounded daughter's cry, Molly stood stock-still. Remus rushed out, looking as worried and disturbed as he himself felt.

"You heard her response?" Remus asked.

Severus hollowly nodded.

"Mrs. Weasley, I must insist, for your daughter's sake, that you leave the dungeons for the time being," Remus demanded. "Arthur, why don't you take her up to my office and fill her in? You shouldn't be disturbed there."

"Thank you, Professor," Arthur replied, gently taking Molly's arm and guiding her away. "Come along, dear..."

*~*~*

Filius watched young Myrtle interact with the Gryffindor children, noting how much her mood had improved after Mr. Potter and Miss Granger's acceptance. He hoped that together, they could show the young former ghost that there's more to life than pain. However, to deal with her more immediate necessities, with the minimum of fuss, Filius required outside assistance. Once he was certain that the small group of students in his living room would get along fine without him, the Head of Ravenclaw retreated to his study to make some fire-calls. He walked directly to his fireplace, passing his desk and the bookshelves that lined the walls. With a spell he started a strong fire in the hearth, then made his first call.

Seeing that the other end of the connection was dark, Filius called out, "Aldwin, wake up! This is important... Aldwin?"

"By Merlin, Filius, it's still day out!" his old friend groaned, his enigmatic, cultured voice resonating from somewhere in the darkness. "You day-walkers, have you no respect for the dearly departed?"

"I apologize for waking you at such an hour, but I need your help," Filius implored.

"Very well. I'm aware, I'm aware..." Aldwin gave in, walking into view. "Tell your problem."

His old friend appeared to only be in his early twenties, but carried himself with an august, old-fashioned grace. Aldwin had his kin's dangerous magnetism, a defense mechanism which, over the decades, Filius learnt to resist. Aldwin was tall, lightly built, with unnaturally perfect, practically white skin. His long, glossy mane of pure black hair draped his chest and back, as it framed his handsome face with unusual aqua eyes. He wore an old, worn, black nightshirt he'd used for longer than Filius could rightly remember.

"I need your assistance in both your current state and former profession," Filius stated, trying to pique his interest. "I have a young girl here who was a ghost for fifty years, and last night she came back to life because she's the first Reborn Necromancer."

"Well, you've never called me without good reason," Aldwin acquiesced, now very much awake. "It's good to see that some things never change."

"We're in the midst of another shift, my friend. In the current clime, I trust the dead more than I do the living," Filius admitted.

"And just how is your vaunted Headmaster handling it?" Aldwin asked.

"He's not, and that's not even the worst of it," Filius confided. "I haven't informed him of her return as of yet. When I do, I fear what Dumbledore's designs will be on the poor dear. Severus nearly lost his apprentice to that wizard's soulless machinations. Something in my bones tells me that next he will be after her power."

"Is this line secure?" inquired his counterpart.

"No-"

"Then, you do your end, and I'll take care of mine."

"You're not-"

In a low, commanding tone that to this day still made him jump, Aldwin growled, "Filius!"

The Head of Ravenclaw complied. Once that was done, his companion felt free to speak his mind.

"So you've got another on your hands... Have you a replacement in mind?" questioned Aldwin.

"Yes, but he isn't ready, not yet," answered Filius. "I know that look Aldwin, I didn't call you for that."

"Are you sure? If you want, I can make it look like natural causes, or even as though the Dark Lord himself did the deed," Aldwin offered.

"I have a dozen witches and wizards who are willing to make it look like natural causes. No, Aldwin."

His friend opened his mouth to speak.

"No."

"It would solve your dilemma."

"He's not ready and neither are the others," Filius maintained. "A misstep now may prove catastrophic. What I need you to do is rouse your brethren, get out word about the new Necromancer's revival. Once the necessary arrangements are complete, I plan to reintroduce the child to the ghost population. If anyone on the grapevine should hear tell of this unexpected event first, they're the ones her existence will most affect."

"It's nice to see that your time amongst the humans hasn't dulled your refreshing sensibilities," his old friend complimented. "When they ask her name or age, what am I to tell them?"

"Her name is Myrtle," he replied. "If memory serves, at the time of her death the child had just turned twelve. She was murdered in a bathroom by a Basilisk."

"Moaning Myrtle?" his companion slowly asked. Filius nodded in response. "I remember... I remember how deeply it cut you, knowing that you couldn't save her. Perhaps this is your second chance."

"The thought had crossed my mind," he admitted. "Another matter that worries me is how physically weak Myrtle is. I can't find anything wrong with the child, but I'm no physician, and I refuse to take her to the school nurse because she's under suspicion of child neglect. Severus has sent for a doctor from the Order of Salus, but there's been a delay. They aren't due to arrive until Wednesday, but this can't wait. I need you at Hogwarts to monitor her condition, at least until we're sure that the young Necromancer's revival is stable."

"You want me to come stay at Hogwarts?" exclaimed Aldwin in surprise. "Are you sure that's wise?"

"Wise or not, your presence is needed here. As long as our actions in public are careful, it should be safe enough," Filius conjectured. "Please, Aldwin, this is one I can't handle alone. I need your insight. I need your wisdom..." His voice dropped to a bare whisper. "I need you."

Those last three words were all it took to convince his companion that this child was worthy of their risk.

"I never could say no to you, sweet Filius," Aldwin relented, his bright smile revealing a pair of fangs. "You can expect me after the sun sets. Is there anything else I should know?"

"Tread softly, and guard your thoughts carefully, Aldwin," Filius advised. "The new Divination teacher has discovered a way to unlock buried gifts in The Sight. Zachary's been trying it on every student he can get his hands on almost since the moment he arrived. Some of the children he's uncovered are powerful enough to pierce a disciplined wizard's mental blocks. But I don't know how much luck they'd have against a vampire's defenses."

Taking his warning seriously, his companion promised, "I'll remember to watch my step. It is good to hear from you again, my young one. Even if the circumstances aren't the best, I look forward to tonight."

"As do I, my old friend, as do I," Filius softly agreed. He yearned to see Aldwin in person now, rather than wait. Averting his gaze, he reminded himself that life was never that simple. On that note, he ended the call. Shaking off the effects of seeing his old companion again, Filius next called Ollivander, who appeared as vital as ever.

"Ah, Filius, my dear boy, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?" Ollivander greeted.

Remembering how the previous discussion went, Filius inquired, "Is your end of the line secure?"

"I see... It will be momentarily," Ollivander said, immediately casting the necessary security charms. "Go ahead."

"I have an unusual situation on my hands. Do you remember the child who was murdered by the Basilisk, Moaning Myrtle?" he began.

"Willow and unicorn hair, ten inches, a very subtle combination, odd for a first wand, quite odd. How could I forget?" Ollivander reminisced. "You know, after her passing the girl's wand never wanted another. It didn't like potential buyers near it, especially children, and got quite abrasive if anyone apart from myself handled it. I was forced to put the poor thing away... Myrtle was a sweet child, terrible shame she never got her chance to shine. But, you didn't call upon me to chat about lost possibilities. What is it?"

"Well, she's back," continued Filius. "Before you say anything, Severus and I tested her with Genus draught ourselves. The girl is human and possesses the full emotional compliment. Young Myrtle... is the first Necromancer to come into her powers in more than six hundred years."

"You've confirmed this?" Ollivander queried, referring to the young witch's dangerous gift.

"Yes," he attested.

"Then why has Miss Johnson waited so long to revive herself?" his old friend wondered.

"The Bloody Baron has a theory on that. He believes her counterpart is here, and that their time is near," Filius replied. "He also believes that witch or wizard won't be the only death we see."

"What do you think?" Ollivander inquired.

"I agree with him," he answered. "The climate here is ripe for trouble; if disaster strikes anywhere within the next few days, it will be at Hogwarts. You called Myrtle Miss Johnson. Was that her last name?"

"Why, yes," Ollivander confirmed. "It was a shame about her parents."

Remembering Myrtle's earlier assertion, Filius prompted, "Her parents?"

"They were killed in a fire... must be twenty years ago," Ollivander sighed. "It was all over the muggle press of that time. You didn't know?"

"Myrtle learned of it, during her communion with the other side," Filius confided. "You don't suppose she had any other relatives?"

Ollivander tried to recall. "No, not that I remember, but she was muggle born so I can't be certain."

Without warning, his mysterious friend got one of those looks, telling him that the wand master was caught up in a vision.

"When Virginia is feeling better - ask for her aid in ascertaining the Johnson clan's true fate," Ollivander intoned. "But... be careful in how you phrase your request, or you will only make matters worse, for both witches. Remember, the girl won't take the request well from any wizard but you."

"I won't forget," Filius promised.

"I'll be by later with Moaning Myrtle's wand, evening latest, and we'll do the initial assessment then," Ollivander concluded. "With luck, we've solved the riddle of her wand's behavior. If not, we'll work something out."

"Thank you, old friend," he agreed.

After they said their goodbyes, Filius lowered the security wards, and then retrieved a little something for young Myrtle.

*~*~*

After Virginia's parents left to talk privately, Zach listened to his companion silently sneer, "Well, that was a disaster. This nightmare just keeps finding unique ways of progressively worsening."

Unfortunately, he was stuck agreeing with Severus. His bonded one often drew the 'there's always a dark cloud accompanying the silver lining' conclusions, but even Zach had trouble seeing a light at the end of this particularly morose tunnel.

"There must be a bright side somewhere," he persisted. "It's only a matter of finding it."

"Sure Zachary, and Slytherin will be under siege by an invasion of unbearably cute things," Severus thought back with a snort.

"That must be the weirdest prediction I've ever heard!" he thought back, laughing aloud at what was undoubtedly a terribly inappropriate moment.

Irritated, Severus silently goaded, "And 'I'll end up excavating a girlfriend from the past' is perfectly normal."

Unable to banish the image of digging up a woman with a muggle shovel in the dead of night, Zach maintained, "No one said unconscious predictions had to be taken literally."

As Severus caught the mental image, he allowed himself a small smile.

"In case you haven't noticed, I was trying to make a point before," Severus mentally replied. "Inexhaustible supplies of optimism and blind luck aren't going to be enough to get us out of this."

"And stumbling about in the dark with sour perspectives will?" Zach pointed out. "Come on, Sev, even you have to admit that the occasional break of tension has its place. If we give up our ability to laugh in even the darkest of times, what do we have left?"

"Reality?" Severus supplied.

"A distinct lack of imagination," he retorted. "If you think about it, that quality is part of what makes Virginia so special. Through all this, the girl has had one constant, the ability to look at a problem from more than one angle. That is what we must hang onto. I have never seen a problem where actually having an imagination prevented someone from solving it."

"That is true, in moderation," soundlessly conceded Severus.

Miss Levine groaned.

"I promised Harry I'd meet him in the library ten minutes ago," Miss Levine told them. "I've got to go. If Ginny asks for me-"

"You'll be the first we'll call, Miss Levine," promised Zach.

"Thank you, Professors," the young Slytherin said before hurrying off.

While they carried on with their vigil Remus left to go check on Virginia. Some time later, the Defense teacher came out to tell them that Virginia had calmed down again. Watching Remus go back in, Zach felt useless. Instead of this he should be doing something, something useful. He'd visit with Virginia, but the senior teachers were already caring for her. He didn't want to risk crowding the young witch. Given how little time Zach had made for her, he had no doubt that he was partly responsible for her current state. He'd comfort Severus, but his companion wanted to sit around and be miserable. No one else needed him. He felt like little more than a waste of space.

Severus took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Zach felt a surge of loving concern through their connection and he looked into his eyes. The exhilarating sensation of actually experiencing his companion's love was more beautiful than anything he could have pictured. Sharing his own feelings with the other half of his soul, he placed his free hand on Severus'. His beloved gasped sharply at the poignancy of completion. He didn't know how long they just sat there gazing into each other's eyes before, without words, they mutually decided to look away. Without breaking contact, Severus wrapped an arm around him. Zach rested his head on Severus' chest, perfectly insinuating himself against his bonded one. Breathing in, he closed his eyes and relaxed. For this instant, amidst the horror, nothing else mattered.

Molly followed her husband away from Professor Lupin's office, feeling guilty for hurting their little girl before she even saw her. She kept trying to grasp that, not only was the unnatural storm outside an expression of Ginny's grief, but that their daughter could be listening to them from anywhere inside the school. She herself wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't experienced her little girl's strange power. In her cry for help, Ginny certainly didn't exaggerate about the magnitude of her talents. Molly couldn't help but wonder where Professor Dumbledore was in all this. But when she had asked her husband about it, Arthur had gotten this nauseous, bone-weary look, insisting that it didn't matter just so long as he remained well away. She had pressed him for more, but all he was willing to say was that it was a long story, one he couldn't bear to recount just now. After that Arthur reminded her that what they needed to focus on now was Ginny. Arriving in front of their daughter's door, they found Severus and that other fellow asleep on the couch together.

Approaching the door, which somehow opened before they reached it, Molly mentally remarked, "Those two gentlemen have definitely been working too hard."

"I guess it's mum's turn now. She really doesn't get it," Ginny murmured, perceiving her mother's reaction as the Light witch entered. "Thank you, all of you, for genuinely caring about us..."

"We'll be right outside if ya need us," Hagrid assured her.

Ginny weakly nodded.

As the bonded trio watched the two teachers and the dog leave, she tightened their grip on Alexis' bear, Aurora

Afraid of facing her mother after what happened out in the hall, Ginny thought, "I don't want to do this. I don't think I can take... She's going to look at me like I'm a monster."

"You don't know that," Tom countered.

"Don't I?" she whined.

"No, you don't!" Tom insisted. "You won't know for sure until you try."

Even if this does end badly, Tom thought to himself.

"...Ginny?" Molly called out. "Why won't you answer?"

"Sorry about that. I must have lost my focus again," she apologized.

"It's all right, dear," soothed her mum.

Reminding herself that she wasn't alone in this, Ginny hesitantly offered, "You can come in if you want to."

As her mum and dad walked down, Ginny allowed the stairs to vanish behind them. Watching her mother through the gloom, she had to know if mum was a threat. The first thing Ginny could sense was the sincerity of her mother's concern. Mum didn't know what to think of her power, but, as long as Ginny was safe, it didn't matter. What Ginny perceived when she looked through the layers of intent worried her greatly. Molly was a Light extreme, much like Professor McGonagall. While mum's intentions were good, if Ginny wasn't careful her mother could be poisoned against her. Ginny doubted she could bear that too, praying it wouldn't come to that.

"I know you're sorry about acting rashly when you first arrived, mum. You shouldn't keep wondering if you could have changed things by showing up sooner," Ginny consoled, hoping to stop mum's guilty echo. "You didn't do this mommy, daddy... it just is. Please, don't fight about it anymore. I can't stand you like that."

"Don't worry, honey, it won't happen again," Arthur promised, sitting to their left while mum sat down at her right. Her parents held her. Ginny acutely felt their mutual desire to protect her, but, no matter how much she wanted to feel protected and soothed, it didn't fill the depths of her despondency. Bitter tears of frustration and helplessness fell from Ginny's eyes, expressing how miserable the bonded trio felt. How she hated this- this lack of control devastating them. She just couldn't do it anymore. Tom and Ginny were only beginning to understand that Dumbledore had stolen something from them when he callously shredded their defenses like tissue paper. Some vital part of their psyche had been savagely raped and murdered, leaving the pair impotent against the faceless monsters that would have them worse than dead. All for the sake of some unspeakable grander purpose. Ginny and Tom's denial had kept them going for a time. Only, now that they had stopped running from that terrible truth, neither knew how they were going to resurrect the mental armament that had taken each years to build. Her mother opened her mouth to speak, but Ginny spoke first.

"I'm tired of talking. Could we just sit for a while?" Ginny tearfully requested. "Please?"

"If that's what you want, sweetie," Molly said, giving her a handkerchief. "Just let it all out, we're here for you."

Ginny rested her head on her mother's shoulder, wishing she could be as sure of that as her parents were.

*~*~*

Engrossed in their discussion Hermione took little notice of Professor Flitwick's absence. Glancing out the window, she observed how much more severe the storm had become. She hoped Ginny was going to be okay. This past week had been hard on her friend, perhaps more so than the Gray witch was capable of handling.

"Her master is caring for her. Ginny will be fine," Hermione insisted to herself, praying that it was true.

Her reverie was suddenly interrupted.

"You look sad. What is it, Hermione?" wondered Myrtle.

"I'm just worried for a friend," she replied. "Never mind. You must be uncomfortable after wearing that same outfit for so long. Why don't we see what we can do about it?"

"Excellent idea, Miss Granger," Professor Flitwick piped in, guiding toward them a comfortably padded wheelchair with a houseplant sitting in it. "Since you've been having so much trouble getting around I figured this might make things a bit easier on you." The Charms Professor handed to Myrtle the healthy, green plant adorned with fuzzy looking leaves, which, Hermione recognized as violets. The Necromancer gazed at it with curiosity. "I also thought you might enjoy having something to care for."

Admiring the gift, the former ghost said, "He's a beautiful old thing." Closing her eyes, she held one of the leaves between her thumb and index finger, and smiled. "He was a present, bought by someone very special, someone you love. It remembers, you know, it recalls how it was in full bloom that late afternoon..." Myrtle's hand glowed, covering the plant in radiant light. The surprise on the teacher's face was nothing compared to everyone's astonishment at what happened next. In a matter of seconds, the plant regained its vitality, coming into full bloom.

"Oh, I'm glad I gave it a couple of weeks rest," Professor Flitwick remarked.

"You treasure him very much. I would be honored to care for him," the young witch said, opening her eyes. "This is how it was that evening, isn't it?"

"Why, yes I remember," Professor Flitwick whispered, fascinated.

"Amazing, it actually looks younger," Rebecca gushed.

"Oh, it is," confirmed Myrtle. "Once he told me what he had been like, I knew what to restore him to."

"Can you do that with any living thing?" Hermione avidly questioned.

Eagerly offering her knowledge, Myrtle answered, "Not exactly. The more complex the life the bigger the job. With a plant like this one, it's easy to extend its earthly existence well beyond what it would normally be. Healing and soothing the uncomplicated is kind of a kid's game. Doing it regularly helps a Necromancer hone and focus their gifts. Souls destined for great things can do it while still in their first life. I don't think I have the power, or have learned enough to do it with a person. Maybe I will a few lives from now."

"Maybe," Hermione thought to herself, wondering what it must feel like having so much power and responsibility on your shoulders. With Rebecca's help she guided Myrtle into the wheelchair, and they took her into the spare bedroom.

"Where are we going to find her a change of clothes?" Rebecca asked.

"No need," Hermione said, conjuring a measuring tape. Once she knew what the former ghost's size was, Hermione, with a muttered spell, transfigured a couple of outfits.

"Wow, magic sure has changed since I got my letter," Myrtle observed, admiring the muggle clothes the Gryffindor Prefect had made for her.

"Actually, magical advancements have been relatively small compared to how quickly the muggle world is evolving," Hermione explained. "The most prevalent discoveries have only been made in recent weeks. You've revived in interesting times."

"Weeks? Why weeks?" wondered Myrtle.

Watching Rebecca disappear into the adjoining bathroom, Hermione hedged, "That's kind of hard to explain."

"I'm a Necromancer who has come back from the dead after spending more than fifty years in the bathroom I was murdered in - try me," pointed out Myrtle. "Ah, this outfit is perfect!"

Seeing Myrtle's reaction, Hermione picked up the fuzzy black sweater with denim blue jeans and put it aside. She then created hangers and placed the other articles in the closet. Hermione turned back to Rebecca as the third year returned.

"How about we draw you a nice, hot bath, how does that sound?" cheerfully suggested Rebecca.

Scared of the idea, Myrtle hesitated, "I don't know..."

"You will have to bathe at some juncture. Attempting it sooner would probably be better than later," Hermione reasoned. "There's nothing to fear. Rebecca and I will be with you the entire time."

"You're safe with us, Myrtle. We won't let anything happen to you," Rebecca reassured.

Still nervous, Myrtle agreed, "Then I'll give it a try."

"I'll get things started," Rebecca replied, leaving the room.

Remembering something, Hermione assured the young Necromancer, "Don't worry, I'll be back in a moment."

She went into the bathroom to find Rebecca starting the water in the large tub.

"Be careful not to make it too warm," Hermione cautioned. "Myrtle's likely to be hypersensitive until she grows accustomed to having senses again." When Rebecca picked up the bubble bath, she added, "Oh, and try not to use too much of that. It may irritate her skin."

"I'll be careful," Rebecca acknowledged.

When she reentered the room Hermione espied the former ghost's unpleasant expression.

"What's wrong?" Hermione prompted.

"I have to go," Myrtle timidly moaned.

Understanding at once, Hermione wheeled her into the bathroom, offering the resurrected child help whenever she seemed to need it, which was surprisingly little, considering her former state.

Seeing her quizzical expression, Myrtle joked, "What, you thought after spending my un-life in the girl's bathroom, I'd forget how that stuff works?"

She just shrugged, but Rebecca giggled at the obvious point. Hermione checked the water temperature with her forearm to make sure it was just right, and shut off the tap. She and the third year helped Myrtle disrobe and settle into the chest-high water.

"How come you're so sensitive to my needs?" Myrtle asked her. "I mean, how do you know just what's right for me when I don't understand it myself?"

"One of my other friends also suffers from terribly over-heightened senses," Hermione confided. "I learned something about the necessities of being appropriately attentive through helping her with that difficult experience."

"As bad as mine?" the Necromancer wondered.

"In some respects," Hermione answered. "You might know of her, her name is Virginia Weasley."

"I think the Potions master mentioned her," Myrtle recognized. "You still haven't explained why magic's changed so much only in the past few weeks."

Slowly, Hermione explained, "It has been discovered that Ginny has a new type of magic, or rather, a very old one, known as Gray magic. Its given her insights into the fallacies of current elder wizards' thought processes. She, in turn, has been teaching us. Ginny often refers to as 'understanding the importance of both listening and hearing.'"

"That makes perfect sense," Myrtle commented.

"It does?" Rebecca reacted with a slight squeak. "I still have trouble getting it."

"No, the reintroduction of old magics can have a profound effect on those around it," Myrtle clarified. "It's another way of saying the power of perceptivity and personal openness." When Rebecca still looked confused, the Necromancer went on. "Come over here and I'll show you." The third year sat on the edge of the tub. "Give me your hands, and close your eyes... Okay, what's the most prominent sound you hear and what's the least, in that order?"

"The rain, and... voices coming from the other room, I think," Rebecca told her.

"Now, block out the rain and everything else. Focus only on the sounds drifting in from the other room," instructed Myrtle.

"I can't, they're too far away," Rebecca said, shaking her head.

"Don't listen with your ears - listen with your mind," Myrtle urged. "Imagine you're standing just outside the room, and you're eavesdropping... Now you're making progress. Tell us, word for word, what are they saying?"

"...hope Ginny's all right," Rebecca reiterated, sounding just like Harry.

"They've been gone an awful long time. Maybe someone should go check on them," Rebecca spoke as though she were Neville.

"If there is a problem, I am certain Miss Granger and Miss Morden will inform us," the third year said exactly like Professor Flitwick.

"I'll go check," Rebecca spoke using Annika's voice.

Hermione's eyes widened as she listened to Rebecca flawlessly mimic each of them. Before long, the Gryffindor sixth year entered the room.

"Is everything alright in here?" Annika and Rebecca said at the same exact moment. The third year jerked as though startled. She let go of Myrtle's hands and lost her bearings, falling backward into the tub. Reflexively, Myrtle drew her legs back so her feet wouldn't get crushed, and nearly sunk in the process. Luckily, Hermione managed to steady her in time. Rebecca's shrill cry of surprise was cut short when her head was submerged in the warm water.

"What did I do?" Annika asked.

Kicking off her shoes and immersing her feet, Rebecca's head surfaced. Sputtering, she splashed Myrtle with water, "You did that to me on purpose! How did you make me see all that stuff?"

"What stuff?" Hermione probed.

"What's going on in here?" Annika pressed.

"I saw what was going on in the other room, and when Annika came in I saw myself through her eyes," Rebecca shook her head, pulling her dripping hair out of her face.

Professor Flitwick called from the other room in a worried voice, "What is going in there? Do you require assistance?"

In unison, the girls called back, "No!"

Hermione hastily added, "Everything is fine, Professor. Rebecca just slipped on something!"

"You did it all on your own, I just helped you focus enough to listen to the melody they were creating," Myrtle expounded. "Now do you get it?"

Starting to giggle as she splashed the other girl with water, Rebecca replied, "Yeah, I just wish that lesson was a drier one."

Laughing, Myrtle splashed her back, starting a good-natured water-fight between the two.

After a time Hermione said, "Okay, let's clean this up," and offered a helping hand to Rebecca, who gratefully accepted it. She continued to watch over Myrtle while the other two took care of the mess. Once the former ghost's bath was complete, they had an interesting time helping her dry off and get dressed. Thanks to Rebecca's efforts, more than Annika's or her own, they kept it from being the trying experience she had feared it would be for young Myrtle. After helping her back into her wheelchair, Rebecca set her up in front of the full-length mirror and, ever so gently, began brushing Myrtle's hair. Hermione thought the fuzzy sweater and denim blue jeans suited Myrtle quite nicely.

Staring at the mirror, Myrtle asked the Gryffindor third year, "Why is your hair blue?"

Hermione watched their jovial interaction, as Rebecca launched into a long explanation of how she ended up wearing her permanent hair charm. Sometime during the discussion the Gryffindor Prefect noticed that Professor Flitwick, with a thoughtful expression, was observing the pair from the doorway. Watching the elder wizard remain unobtrusive, seeming to be as caught up in the girl's interaction as they were, she could only guess at what wheels must be turning in the Head of Ravenclaw's mind. The former ghost was happier than Hermione had ever seen before, probably happier than even Professor Flitwick had seen. It hit Hermione that, by Myrtle's own admission, this was something she had never had at Hogwarts: acceptance. She knew that once the other 'outcasts' met their newest addition, little Myrtle would no longer have to worry about loneliness.

*~*~*

Remus followed Hagrid back out into the hallway. There on the sofa, they found Severus and Zach curled up together, fast asleep. The pair looked so peaceful, reminding him of how connected those two were becoming. It had taken him years just to begin forming a friendship with the Potions master. When he first saw how easily Zach and Severus got along, Remus had to admit his reaction had been possessive, even jealous. When Remus realized that acting on his territorial impulses was only going to permanently alienate Severus, he put those feelings aside. Since then, the werewolf had come to see Zach for the devoted, compassionate wizard he was, as opposed to 'the meddling Seer'. Once they had started actually talking to one another, the two wizards discovered that they both wanted the same thing: what was best for Severus, Virginia, and interestingly enough, Harry as well.

After that terrible incident with Harry and Sirius, Zach had come to him with his own concerns about the poor boy. He had described, in detail, the source of Harry's suffering with The Sight, the Dark Lord, and the real motives behind Lily and James' murder. This had confirmed Remus' fears that Harry wasn't as stable as he pretended. In some respects, the reasons why Severus had taken so well to the Seer were clear. Zach was something of a breath of fresh air. The wizard had a magnetic personality coupled with a sense of conviction, and an intuitive understanding of the world, then there was his endearing, unversed quality. They were characteristics Severus himself lacked, but at the same time, needed. Those two fit. As long as that was true Remus would do everything in his power to help them.

Another thing he had to admit to himself was that, when it came to Severus, his long time friendship with Sirius also put him at somewhat of a disadvantage. Mainly because Sirius had set up Severus to be killed, or worse still, transformed that ill-fated full moon. Sirius... He didn't want to think about his foolhardy friend, who seemed hell-bent on ruining what little he had left. After Padfoot's betrayal it had taken Remus a long time to forgive him. Moony never could. Perhaps, his own choice had been a mistake, perhaps things would've been different had he stood up to Sirius all those years ago, instead of giving into his isolation. Remus would never know. Maybe that was for the best. His perennial loneliness was a sorry fact of his existence. For all he knew, werewolves aren't meant to find companionship in any form. At that thought, Moony conveyed to him in feelings rather than words, that Remus would never be alone as long they were together, honestly desiring to make him feel better. For the first time in Remus' life, that assertion felt like a good thing. Arthur coming out of his daughter's room broke his train of thought.

"How is Ginny doing?" Hagrid asked.

Checking the time, Arthur told him, "Better, I think. At least Ginny's storm has let up some. We should go. The other Professors are going to be arriving at the entrance to Gryffindor Tower soon."

Remus somberly nodded. He knew Severus had decided that permanently sealing off the area would somehow help his apprentice. But, on the other hand, Virginia firmly believed that unless the space was healed, the magical contamination would only grow until it enveloped the entire school. Personally, he agreed with Virginia, but they were simply out of time and the poor child was in no condition to stop them. He wondered just how many other participants in Severus' plan also agreed with the young witch before he safely buried the concept.

"Well Arthur, don't ya worry about Ginny and the Mrs. I'll be here in case they need anything," Hagrid assured.

Remus found the task of rousing Zach fairly easy, unlike Severus, who began talking in his sleep instead of regaining consciousness.

The Divination teacher took out a book and pen from his robes and begin writing, while the Potions master uneasily muttered, "When The One Who Lived may not, and a spirit of the old ways comes full circle, The Fifth shall be revealed for better or worse, so exposing The Fourth's eternal curse..."

They all stared as Severus fell silent then awoke with a jolt.

With a sneer Severus brushed the hair out of his eyes, and snarled, "What are you people gawking at?"

Looking quite serious, Zach questioned, "Do you remember what you were dreaming about?"

"What does that-"

"Severus, please answer the question."

"No, I don't remember," insisted Severus.

"You uttered this in your sleep not thirty seconds ago," Zach explained, handing the Potions master his book. "Are any of these signs familiar?"

Severus' eyes widened in recognition, then abruptly ripped out the page. Remus could only stare as Severus, without so much as reciting an incantation, set it on fire with a sophisticated charm.

"Virginia is right, that way is far more direct once you understand it..." Severus whispered, closing his eyes as he let the burning sheet of paper fall. Before it hit the ground, it turned to ashes, extinguishing itself.

"Just an overly tired wizard's incoherent ramblings," Severus lied, his voice returning to normal volume.

"If that's all it was then why did you destroy it?" Zach pressed.

"Shouldn't we be getting up to the tower?" Severus tried diverting them.

Curious about what was really going on, Remus observed the Divination Professor reply through their odd connection.

Growing agitated, Severus hissed, "Because no one must pursue this, least of all me! Trust me, Zachary, this just is. What will happen must happen, that's all I know and all I dare discover!"

In a soothing tone, Zach assured him, "I understand. You're right. If we don't get going now, we're going to be late."

That answer seemed to put Severus at ease. The four wizards headed out of the dungeons together, bound for the corridor outside Gryffindor Tower. The only other time Remus had seen Zach treat anyone that way was with his Seers. Then why would- Severus also has The Sight! That certainly explained a lot, but if what they heard was some sort of prediction, why did Severus get so upset about pursuing it?

"Zach, why did the prospect of exploring what Severus just mumbled bother him so much?" Remus directed the thought at him.

Giving him a startled glance, the Divination teacher telepathically replied, "So you've managed to figure out that old trick. Somehow, I shouldn't be surprised. Sometimes those with the gift are compelled to take certain courses of action, or to abandon action entirely. For whatever reason, Severus' gift has decided that he shouldn't know the full truth until the time comes. Does that help?"

"Yes, thank you for the insight," he thought back to Zach.

When they arrived, Minerva, Lydia, and Alicia were there, leaving them to wait on Filius, Madam Hooch, and Maya, the Ancient Runes Professor.

"Oh, what is Hades doing here?" Severus sneered, staring at something.

Remus followed his line of sight, spotting a great eagle owl heading towards them. He could swear the look in Zach's eyes when he caught sight of the bird was one of old anger and fear. The owl dropped the envelope in Zach's hands and then perched on the poor man's shoulder. The Seer took out the letter and began reading to himself. Recognizing Lucius' handwriting, Remus couldn't help but look over Zach's shoulder to read.

"Your first panicked parent letter, and from Lucius, no less," Remus praised, patting the Divination Professor on the back. "Congratulations, you're now a Hogwarts Professor!"

"That is an achievement," Lydia attested. "Trust me, it's not easy to get under his skin."

"Unless you tell him his son's failing," Alicia added with a smirk.

Distantly, Zach advised, "Alicia, you should recheck Draco's progress in your class, and while you're at it, check his tutor's. I think you'll find things aren't what they seem to be."

"Why should she do that?" Lydia wondered.

Zach simply shrugged, saying, "It'll be better for you three in the long run."

"Now, that's a Seer non-answer for you, cryptic and to the point all at once," Alicia remarked. "Drop it, Lyd, he can't tell you more than he already knows."

Remus heard Filius apologize as he, Madam Hooch, and Maya joined them, "Sorry we're late. Each of us was unfortunately held up."

"You'll just have to respond to Lucius later, Zachary," Severus said, while trying to remove the owl from the Seer's shoulder. Despite the Potions master's best effort, the creature refused to budge. Remus quietly chuckled at the sight. Such were the joys of dealing with Lucius Malfoy. Even at a distance he was annoyingly intrusive. With an irritated sigh, Severus gave up. "Alright people, you know what your jobs are. Let us proceed."

*~*~*

When she sensed the new ward fall into place, Ginny lifted her head.

"Oh, they won the race. The tower's sealed up," Ginny murmured sadly. "Pity it isn't going to work."

"I'm sure the teachers know what they're doing, sweetie," mum tried to reassure her. "That place will never again see the light of day."

She let out a derisive laugh that greatly unnerved her mother.

"Teachers - they're children!" she snorted. "The fact they even considered their silly ward-thing proves that none of them grasp the true nature of the forces they're playing with!"

"But they designed the containment ward specifically to counter the foreign energy trapped up there," Molly protested.

"That's my energy, mum," she explained. "There's nothing alien about it, not really. The Light and Dark just don't understand the Gray anymore. They're all so young. They can't see they are only children, but now I see. You don't get it either. I shouldn't expect you to, not yet anyhow. Just take my word for it. The ghost will just grow and eat the ward."

Confused, Molly thought, "A ghost?"

"Not a person-ghost, mommy," Ginny corrected her. "I think Alexis put it best when she called it the 'ghost of an event'. You see, I unconsciously made it to protect me, but now it doesn't know how to stop. If nothing's done, it'll eat the school just to help me, and probably kill a whole bunch of wizards to do it in the process. Then the only one who'll be able to stay at Hogwarts will be me."

"Huh?" reacted Molly.

"Daddy met the ghost," Ginny revealed. "They had a nice conversation, at least they did till they tried to kill the Light Lord, Dumbledore, whatever you want to call him. But that's a long story. I don't wanna talk about it. If you want to know more, go ask dad. But be nice to him, I hurt him enough when I told him what happened." Ginny turned away so she didn't have to look at her mother's expression as she spoke. "I know you love me, but you shouldn't have come here, mum. I didn't want to hurt you too, but I guess I can't stop that either."

"I'm tougher than you think, little girl," mum said. "Don't worry, I won't leave you."

Beginning to cry again, Ginny whispered, "You may not still feel that way after you talk to dad."

___________

TBC