Eleni's Missing Years

Chapter 10

Snape was floating, peaceful and sublime in his dream, ignoring whatever it was that was trying to return him to consciousness. It was like a ceaseless banging, like someone had left a door open somewhere.

‘Why doesn’t someone shut the damn thing up,’ he muttered in his sleep.

Then from somewhere he heard a familiar voice.

‘Severus,’ it said, ‘wake up. Severus.’

He mumbled in his sleep, willing the persistent voice to go away.

Suddenly his eyes shot open in recognition. The sound he could hear was not a door banging somewhere, it was frantic knocking and it was coming from outside his door.

‘Severus, please open the door,’ said the voice.

Snape cursed and pointed his finger to the lamp beside him. Instantly it lit up as he threw back the covers. This better not be some sort of student prank he thought. But the knocking did not stop.

‘Yes what do you want,’ he said crossly, flinging the door open.

Professor McGonagall was standing in her nightgown.

‘Minerva,’ he said in surprise. ‘What is it?’

‘Severus,’ she said, ‘I hate to disturb you but with Albus away and…’

‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, noting the agitation in her voice. And by the look in her eyes Snape knew that this was no unnecessary false alarm.

‘Eleni is not in her bed,’ she said. ‘I’ve looked but she seems to have disappeared.’

‘Are you sure? She’s probably on some escapade with Potter, Weasley and Granger.’

‘No,’ she said, ‘I thought of that but they’re all fast asleep. Two of the first years came to wake me. They were terrified because they had heard screams and yells coming from Eleni’s room. I went to check and found her bed empty.’

Snape rubbed his chin in rapid movement, his eyes glittering in the lamplight.

‘Severus,’ said McGonagall, ‘I thought you said you gave her a potion to diminish the effects.’

‘Of course I did,’ he said crossly, ‘but it’s useless discussing that now. She needs to be found immediately.’

‘Shall I wake Filch.’

‘No,’ he said, ‘I’ll find her myself.’ He waved his wand. His nightshirt was replaced by his usual dark attire.’ Snape then spoke sharply to his wand, which rolled around in his hand and then pointed to the direction of the stairs.

‘Don’t worry Minerva,’ he said. ‘I’ll find her.’

‘But what if she’s outside the castle grounds. You know Albus warned you about leaving it’s protection.’

‘I’m sure she hasn’t gone far.’

Snape’s wand behaved like an over eager hound dog, straining in his hand, willing him to go faster. It led him up out of the dungeons, through the corridors, to the main entrance and in the direction of Hagrid’s hut.

Perhaps she’s gone there, Snape thought, stepping quickly through the dewy grass. But when he reached Hagrid’s hut, he saw that there were no lights and that his wand had no interest in stopping.

Snape contemplated momentarily, waking Hagrid up to help with the search but it would only take time and enough time had been wasted. I’ll find her myself he thought, she has to be around him somewhere.

Inevitability the wand led him to the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Snape stopped and breathed angrily. ‘Damn,’ he said, ‘she should know better. All students know that this forest is off limits. She’ll be lucky is she’s not expelled.’

He had no choice. If he was to find her, he had to go into the forest, no matter the risk. Snape took a deep breath and took his first steps, noticing that the black mark on his forearm had begun to tingle. He also noted that there wasn’t a star in the sky, like they had taken fright and scampered off but Snape kept walking, not daring to stop.

* * * * *

Eleni was running. Running and running. Her heart thumped in protest but she pushed herself on and on. She stumbled and wrestled through broken branches, always getting up when she tripped and fell.

She ran like a pack of wolves were chasing her. Only that the wolves that were chasing her, were lodged in her mind, tearing it apart.

The forest became thicker, the branches stretched out like cat’s claws, intertwined with each other, clutching at her clothes, ripping, as if the forest had become alive with a malevolent power.

‘Let me go,’ she’d cry, every time the branches entrapped her. And somehow she’d manage to fight free and continue.

But the trees were moving, closing in, wanting to do battle with her. She fought tirelessly but eventually a root lifted from the ground and flung her up, somersaulting her into the ground.

There with her head mushed into the ground, she began to cry. Rasping sobs erupted out of her, like waves crashing onto rocks. Despair and pain sunk deep into every fibre of her being.

Please let me die she wept. I want to die. Please someone let me die.

* * * * *

Snape doubted he had ever cursed as much or been this angry. Only Sirius Black’s escape from the clutches of the Dementors had been worse.

What had possessed her to come out here, he spat to himself. There was going to be hell to pay for this foolish behaviour.

But through the tirade of angry thoughts, Snape noticed that the air had thickened around him and that a grey mist was swirling at his ankles like a ferocious whirlpool.

In the back of his mind, he knew that with every step he was entrapping himself in the gravest of dangers.

‘Damn you Eleni,’ he muttered again, ‘where the hell are you? Surely by now you would have run yourself out with exhaustion.’

Snape’s wand suddenly stiffened in his hand and swung its beam to the right.

Except for the sound of his breath, the forest had gone silent, as if anticipating and waiting.

Then he heard it. A muffled sound in the direction of where he wand was pointing. He fought his way through the undergrowth, using his wand to blast the branches out of his way. Then he saw what looked like a shaking form by a tree trunk. When he got closer he saw that the form was wrapped in fetal position and sobbing into the hard ground.

Despite his fury, Snape was relieved he had found her. Now all he had to do was get her and himself out of the forest in one piece.

* * * * *

Chapter 11

Eleni sprung up to sitting position when she felt something grab at her shoulders.

‘Who’s there,’ she mumbled incoherently.

Snape couldn’t keep the sneer out of his voice. ‘Professor Snape,’ he said.

‘Go away, leave me alone,’ she said, again curling up into herself.

‘Miss Devon,’ he said, restraining himself from yanking her up and shaking her hard, ‘obviously it’s unbeknownst to you but we are in great danger. Now get up because we must leave as quickly as possible.’

‘I don’t want to go anywhere,’ she cried softly. ‘I want to stay here.’

Snape’s crouched down and roughly shook her shoulder. His voice turned low and dangerous. ‘Miss Devon, I said get up now.’

She struggled up to sitting position and leant back against the tree trunk, looking at him with weary eyes.

‘Please Professor Snape I don’t want to be rescued. Just tell everyone that you couldn’t find me. I don’t deserve to be rescued; I deserve to be left here to die.’

Snape looked murderous. ‘Did you or did you not take that potion I made you.’

‘Yes,’ she gasped, rocking backwards and forwards. ‘And now I understand everything. No wonder no school wanted me. I know what I did. Because of me all these people died.’

‘That’s utter nonsense,’ he said.

But Eleni’s voice broke as she wept into her hands. ‘You don’t understand, I killed them all, even my parents.’

‘Stop it,’ he hissed. ‘I don’t want to hear another word. What happened, happened and it wasn’t your fault. Now either you get up or I’ll have to carry you out my self.’

‘But…’

‘Shut up,’ he spat. ‘I don’t want to hear another word. We’ll talk about it later. How could you do such an inane thing as coming into this forest after you’ve been expressively told to stay away from it?’

Eleni continued crying but managed to get on her feet. ‘I didn’t come in here on purpose,’ she said in between sobs, ‘I just kept running because the memories were tearing my head apart. I didn’t know where I was going.’

‘It was my potion you took wasn’t it,’ he asked, standing up himself. ‘You didn’t mix it or take something else?’

But before Eleni could answer, Snape grabbed his forearm and flinched in pain. ‘Damn,’ he hissed. ‘Come on we’re got to get out of here. Stay close and follow.’

But as they tried to move, a red mist descended around them. Snape tried to move through it but was flung back, like an elastic band.

‘Obliterate,’ he yelled at the red wall. ‘Dispel.’ But his wand was limp in his hand, as if its power had been drained away. ‘We’re trapped,’ he said, looking around for another escape.

Eleni’s tears dried as she became aware of their predicament. Now because of her, his life had been put into danger too.

‘Professor Snape,’ she suddenly yelled, tugging at his arm, ‘look over there.’

Snape whirled around and watched in horror as white figures flew towards them.

He grabbed Eleni and pushed her roughly aside. ‘Quick get behind me,’ he said.

At his words, a flicker of something touched her but she cast it aside, horrified at the creatures that were approaching. He was grabbing at his forearm where she knew the mark was. It could only mean one thing. These things were somehow connected to Voldemort.

The figures hovered over them like phantoms, taunting, black eyeless sockets and blood coated fangs. Snape stepped back, one arm back around her making sure she remained behind him and the other holding his wand, shaking it, trying to bring it to life.

‘What are they?’ she whispered.

‘Vampirimot’s,’ he said. ‘Followers of Voldemort.’

‘You mean they’re vampires?’

‘No but they’re from the same family. These ones feed off strong emotion. I want you to stand back for a moment,’ he said, ‘I think there’s something left in my wand. Let me try vanquishing them.’

Snape moved forward ‘Expelliarmus!’ he yelled. But the spell ricocheted back, slamming Snape against a tree.

Eleni ran to him. ‘Professor Snape, are you okay?’

‘Yes,’ he said, looking a little dazed. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Owww,’ she cried out in pain, clutching at her stomach and falling to her knees.

Snape picked himself up and then lifted Eleni back to her feet.

‘Listen to me,’ he said breathing hard, ‘you must stay strong. They’re feeding off your emotions, all the pain you’re been through tonight.’

Eleni grabbed her stomach again. ‘Ahhh,’ she cried out before again sinking down to her knees.

‘You must cut yourself off from your emotions,’ he ordered, ‘otherwise you’ll only make them stronger.’

‘I’m trying,’ she gasped.

Snape pulled her up straight. ‘Breathe,’ he said, clutching his forearm, ‘concentrate. Count from one to ten, don’t let them get inside you.’

Eleni shut her eyes and counted. She could feel beads of sweat trickling down her face. ‘1…2…3…,’ she began, as another blow hit her midsection, ‘4…5….’

She wiped away the sweat that was now dripping down her face and neck and was stunned to see that it wasn’t sweat she was wiping away.

It was blood and her hands were covered in it. Eleni searched for the source of the blood but couldn’t find any cut or abrasion. Meanwhile blood continued to drip down her face.

‘I’ve got blood all over me,’ she said, trying to keep the panic out of her voice, ‘but I can’t find where I’ve hurt myself.’

Snape moved towards her and tried to shield her with his cloak.

‘You haven’t cut yourself,’ he said, ‘it’s them. They’re sucking out your blood.’

‘Oh my God,’ she cried, staring at the blood seeping through her clothes. ‘It’s coming from everywhere.’

‘Keep breathing,’ he yelled, ‘you’ve got to control your emotions. They’re feeding off you.’ Snape knew he had to get her out otherwise she’d bleed out. He never remembered these creatures being so powerful. Voldemort must have fed them extra power in exchange for their loyalty.

He again grabbed at his arm. It was burning like it had been doused in acid. He had to find a way to hold them off otherwise neither he nor Eleni had much hope of surviving.

Of course he thought grimly, this was Voldemort’s way of revenge. His way of treating enemies. Snape was sure that Voldemort was somewhere laughing, knowing that he was bringing a traitor to his knees.

He looked helplessly at Eleni down on her knees, dripping in blood, when he heard something in the distance. He breathed when he recognized the sound. Hooves were coming in their direction.

Eleni kept counting from one to ten. Then she began to methodically through the wall of pain summarize the chapters in the History of Magic but nothing she did would stop the trickle of blood. Her breathing was becoming shallow and her limbs hung down weakly. She moved her eyes upwards and saw two Vampirimots above her, grinning in delight. They had doubled in size and height.

Particles of blood, her blood, were floating in the air towards their open mouths, feeding them, making them stronger and powerful. She saw Snape holding up his wand trying to extract something from it, trying to shield her, yet grimacing in pain.

Eleni wished he hadn’t come to save her. It didn’t matter if she died, she deserved it but not him.

Then she heard something, the sound of a horse.

‘Professor Snape,’ she heard a voice say.

Eleni lifted her head weakly and saw a man with a horse’s body.

‘Ronan,’ she heard Snape say. ‘Thank God.’

‘Bane and Firenze are here too,’ said Ronan. ‘Looks like you’re in a bit of a bother.’

‘Yes,’ said Snape, holding himself upright with difficulty, ‘my wand’s useless against them.’

‘The other centaurs are surrounding the place,’ said Firenze. ‘They’re going to hold the other Vampirimots back. The place is teeming with them.’

Eleni looked up again and saw that the Vampirimots that were hovering over her had been swept back. And her blood had stopped bleeding out.’

‘Eleni,’ Snape said sharply. ‘Get up quick. We’ve got to get out of here.’

‘May I suggest Professor,’ said Ronan, ‘that you don’t leave via the same way you entered. We won’t be able to hold them back that long. Your powers will be restored underground and they won’t be able to follow.’

‘Of course,’ said Snape, helping Eleni to her feet. The pain in his forearm had somehow abated and his wand had sprung to life. ‘Thank you Ronan. You and the other centaurs have saved our lives.’

‘The darkness is upon us Professor. It must be defeated.’

Firenze turned to Eleni. ‘Stop blaming yourself for what happened. You were only a little girl. Duped like so many others. Darkness has a terrible way of deceiving.’

‘Yes it does,’ said Snape.

Eleni blinked but didn’t say anything. She had no strength left in her legs. It was only sheer will that was stopping her from falling flat on her face.

Snape grabbed her and pulled her over. ‘Now whatever you do,’ he said, ‘don’t let go. I need to find the line so we can descend.’

Eleni stumbled after him as he searched the ground. She didn’t understand any of it but was glad that he was pulling her along because she didn’t think she’d have the strength to go on.

‘It’s here,’ he finally said, stopping and holding his wand to attention. ‘Hold on,’ he told her.

‘Terrasotte,’ he cried.

Eleni felt a rush of air and then a sensation, like she was in an elevator falling to the ground.

She cried out as a jagged piece of rock razored her back before she hit the ground. For a few moments she was stunned, not knowing where she was or indeed where Snape was.

‘Lumos,’ she heard in the darkness. A light shone on her face. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked.

‘Yes,’ she managed to say, her back feeling like it had been ripped in two. She didn’t know where they were. It looked like a passageway of some sort. The ground was hard and the walls were rocky. In places clumps of roots were jutting out.

‘Where are we?’ she asked.

‘Under the Forbidden Forest,’ he said. His face was pale but his eyes were bright with relief. ‘These passageways were created for those that needed to escape the perils of the forest. But enough of that, we need to get out of here. Can you manage?’ he asked her.

‘I think so,’ she said.

He ran his wand across her front and back, murmuring a restorative spell. ‘That’s the best I can do,’ he said. ‘You should feel a little better. Poppy will have to take a look at you when we return.’

Other than a quick thank you Eleni didn’t say anything more. She could barely keep her eyes open from the weakness that had leached into her limbs. Her mind was in turmoil. She had put them both in danger. Snape was still rubbing his forearm. If they made it out, she was certain that her days at Hogwarts were over. There was no doubt she’d be expelled and sent off in disgrace.

‘Let’s begin moving,’ he said, turning and shining his wand down the narrow passageway.

Eleni moved painfully behind him. She could feel the blood drying on her face and body, making her skin feel uncomfortable and stiff yet she ran on, tripping and stumbling but never letting him get too far in front.

It didn’t take long for Snape’s restorative spell to wear off. There was nothing left in her body. No sensation in her limbs, as if the light had gone out of her eyes and she was a dummy running and running and destined to fade away to nothing. She could make out Snape’s silhouette in front of her, as he led her through a zigzag of tunnels. She didn’t know how long she could go on and now even the images of that terrible night had returned. Her parents crying for their life, killed by a mere flick of a wand. People writhing and screaming in pain, falling around her and a wand pointed to her own chest.

After what seemed an interminable time Snape abruptly stopped. She crashed into his back and if he hadn’t grabbed her she would have toppled backwards onto her back.

‘We’re here,’ he said. ‘Under the Whomping Willow.’

‘What?’ she asked weakly.

‘Never mind,’ he said, clamouring up out of the tunnel.

Eleni looked up, almost fainting with fatigue.

‘Give me your hand,’ she heard him say.

She barely had the energy to raise her hand. Snape leaned down and took a hold of her arm and half dragged, half pulled her out till they were out of the hole. Through her half closed eyes she would make out the castle in the distance.

‘Come on,’ said Snape. ‘We’re almost there.’

Eleni watched him move away. She took several uncertain steps before her knees began to buckle.

The last thing she remembered was calling out to him, before she felt herself crumble to the ground.