The Severus Snape Saga-Book 1, the Sordid Hat

Chapter 7: Remember Lord Voldemort

The next day passed fairly without event, unless you counted Antonin flicking his wand the wrong way in charms and ending up with a pair of long, pink, fuzzy ears. On Thursday, Severus had his actual first lesson with Professor Binns privately, and decided to show off the knowledge which the hat had given him. When Severus entered Professor Binns' office, he saw the old ghost professor levitating behind his desk looking benignly at Severus through a pair of outrageous spectacles. If the way I feel is any guide to what this will be like, thought Severus, I'm in hell.

Binns motioned for him to take a seat on the other side of the desk. "So, Master Snape," said Binns, "It appears that now you and I must have a little heart-to-heart lesson. First off I do appreciate your tolerating my class and the wheezing dronings of a dead man. I can assure you that these lessons will be different," he sighed. "How can I honestly expect to reach anyone in that stifling classroom with you all packed so closely together and with such pent-up energy. Not to mention that I know no one listens to me...oh, you young people are such sharp critics, so what choice do I have to be boring so as to accommodate your desire not to listen?" Severus was getting drowsy already. "However," said Professor Binns in a loud voice which completely started Severus out of his stupor, "With only one of you in my perfectly comfortable office where there are no others to talk to and no notes to pass I can actually believe that I will be reaching someone!" Severus felt a little shudder go down his spine. What was Binns talking about?

Binns got up, conjured a large blackboard that levitated in mid-air. "Right then!" he said in a cheery voice totally unlike himself, "Today we'll be studying the goblin riots as incited by Emeric the Evil! Now Emeric is called 'the evil' because..."

"Sir?" asked Severus, raising his hand, "I know all this."

"You do?" asked Binns, surprised, "Oh, bless my soul, you actually did listen in that first lesson. Well, it's no matter because I'll just go on..."

"Sir?" asked Severus, "I may be wrong, but I think I've learned everything we're going to learn this school year."

"How did you do that, Master Snape?" asked Binns in a bewildered voice.

"On the train," said Severus. "I really enjoy this period of history, so I read all these books about it. You could probably give me the final exam right now and I'd pass it."

"Do you want to risk that?" asked Binns in a quiet voice.

"Yes, sir. I'll live with whatever grade I get," said Severus honestly.

Binns made a sound in his throat that sounded like Kids!, and gave Severus a monstrously long test. But Severus sped through it as if it was nothing. Every question seemed ridiculously easy, and he wrote everything he possibly could on all of them. Then he handed the test to Professor Binns, who then spent the rest of the class time checking the answers and when the bell rang he gaped openmouthed at Severus.

"Flawless," he gasped, "Full marks!"

Severus left the office feeling supremely self-confident. But there was a big confidence crusher waiting for him when he entered the great hall. Almost as soon as he entered, he heard a voice shout "Impedimenta!" and a minute later he found that he could only walk at the rate of a worm's crawl. He then was hit with the jelly legs hex and fell flat on his face. He heard the muttering of voices walking away and laughing and caught the word "Snivellus."

With a tremendous effort, he rolled over to see James Potter walking away. "Never turn your back on me, Potter," Severus chuckled and he conjured up as much hatred as he could and focused it on Potter before yelling "Mortuus Dormire!" The curse blasted from his wand and hit Potter full force. He fell over and an instant later, Severus heard contented snoring. He chuckled, he had just cast a Death Sleep curse on Potter, which would shut down the victim's mind until the caster performed the counter jinx or the spell wore off (which happened after about 24 hours), whichever came first.

Severus chuckled and joined his friends at the Slytherin table just as the owl post started arriving. Severus, Antonin and Lucius received another note from Professor Riddle telling them that their next lesson would take place a week from Friday. Severus stuffed the note into his pocket to prevent anyone reading it over his shoulder. Then he turned his attention to Corlagon and saw him receive more letters and a Howler.

Bellatrix had used a magical voice-changing charm which she'd found in the library to make her voice sound more adult and shrill until it was unrecognizable. They had then created the Howler using her voice and it was the crown jewel of their bombardment of Corlagon. The instant he received it, he quite calmly tore it open.

Dalverry Corlagon! How dare you, after all these years, still not admit what you did to me! Took advantage of me like I was some common whore and then broke my heart! If you don't break it to our daughter, then I will! Dolores Umbridge is OURS, Dalverry, and you still haven't told her! You still haven't told her what happened between us, you fink! Well, now it's out of the way so with that, GO TO HELL!

Corlagon's face was so white it would have passed for a piece of paper. Severus sneaked a look at Umbridge and saw that she too looked terrified. Severus flashed a grin at Bellatrix, who returned it happily.

Then, to make matters even better, Lucas Avery stood up and started applauding the Howler. Soon the entire Slytherin table had joined in, and then the Ravenclaws, and then the Hufflepuffs. Even a few Gryffindors joined in the standing ovation. Corlagon looked furious at this blatant show of disrespect. Dumbledore, however, acted as if he hadn't even noticed. Professor Riddle, on the other hand, was beaming.

Corlagon stood up after the ovation had finished and panted, "I don't know whose idea it was to send me this...revealing...joke. But rest assured that I will not rest until whoever it was has their wand snapped in half and sent home! If you know anything about it, you had better mention it to me or else risk losing 500 house points!" and with that, he sat down. But Riddle stood up.

"And if any members of my house manage to mislead Dalverry, I will personally award them 50 house points each!" And with that he sat down with a very smug look towards Corlagon, who returned it with a deathly glare.

When Severus and his gang had finished their lunches, they walked together down to the Herbology classes, which they had with the Ravenclaws. Severus quite regretted having to be cooped up in a Greenhouse on a beautiful day like it was but contented himself with grumbling.

When they actually reached the Greenhouses, Severus thought he had never seen a more dingy locale. The place smelt strongly of unpleasant smelling herbs and petrol. The plants didn't add much to the décor either, because some of them looked like huge worms coming out of the ground.

"Ugh," said Bellatrix disgustedly. "Bubotubers."

"Bless you," asked Lucius.

"No. Those plants, they're bubotubers. Their puss is really good acne medicine but...they're disgusting," she shuddered.

"Disgusting," said Antonin, looking at the plants admiringly.

"What are those little bumps on it?" asked Lucius, but before Bellatrix could answer, a booming woman's voice with a slight Irish accent sounded from a shady corner of the greenhouse.

"Those, m'boy, are the swellings where we get the Bubotuber puss from! These are a beauty, they're so full of puss! My fourth year class will have such fun with them!"

And a second later, Professor Lodovico stepped from behind a large potted plant which was making gurgling noises. Bellatrix, Lucius, Severus, Rodolphus, Augustus and Antonin simultaneously jumped. They had never seen a woman as short or as thin as Professor Lodovico. But the real spectacle was her face, which, while it sported massive amounts of wrinkles, still looked like a young woman's.

"Wicked!" said Antonin, looking at her with his mouth open, "You're a hag!"

"That I am, young sir, and I'm quite proud to be the only vegetarian hag working at Hogwarts!" she said proudly.

"But aren't you the only hag?" asked Bellatrix.

"Well, yes, that too," she admitted, "But as I am the only hag, I am also the only vegetarian hag. That way I get two distinctions! Rather convenient, don't you think?"

"How come we never see you at the feast?" asked Severus.

"Oh, I can't stand the sight of all that meat in the same place!" she whimpered. "I think it's quite sickening. Oh, the rest are here. Good morning, class!'

Professor Lodovico spent the period teaching them how to uproot Gibble Mushrooms, which proved to be quite dull. All the same, it afforded Severus a chance to talk to the others about his hat.

"So what d'you reckon? You think I'm carrying around a dark artifact?" He said in a low voice to Antonin.

"I don't know, Sev. You might," said Antonin, "I mean, it's a bit strange that on your first day of school you get sent an omnipseent-"

"Omniscient," correct Severus.

"Yeah, that," said Antonin, "It's a bit strange that you received an omniscient hat on your first day of school."

"Well, I'd love to know who sent it but the Hat won't tell me," said Severus.

"Maybe you can trick it, though," said Antonin, "Maybe you can get it to tell you without answering that question."

"That's a good idea. I think I'll try it when we get down to testing it this Saturday," said Severus enthusiastically.

When they had finished with the plants, Professor Lodovico let them go with a cheery smile and an assurance that she would see them the next day. However, as Severus and his gang was walking back up to the castle, they noticed a large crowd of people swarming around one of the pillars near the entrance to the great hall.

"What d'you reckon that's about?" asked Rodolphus when they came in sight of it.

"Dunno," said Serena, "But I'm gonna find out!"

A few minutes later she came back with an ecstatic look on her face. "Quidditch tryouts are this Friday!" she squealed. Antonin looked terrified.

"Friday?!" he hissed. "That's tomorrow!"

Antonin rushed up to the sign and a minute later he let out a roar of rage.

"The pieces of shit!" he roared, and he ran back to Severus and the rest of them with a look on his face that suggested emotions which were perfect for casting dark curses.

"First years aren't allowed to try out!" he raged, "And that means we're stuck watching while a bunch of inferior players get the positions!"

"Antonin, you don't know that they'll be inferior," said Serena, but Antonin seemed to be beyond all reason.

"What's wrong with first years?" he snarled. "What, they think we're babies or something?"

"Probably just don't want the extra pressure of Quidditch practices on us our first year," said Severus, though he was silently fuming too. Why can't we be on the teams?

Antonin was opening his mouth to say something when suddenly the two of them heard the voice of Professor Riddle.

"Snape! Dolohov! In my office, now!"

"What have we done?" asked Antonin confusedly.

"Nothing, I just want a few minutes of conversation. Now come on!" Riddle snapped.

"If he just wants a few minutes of conversation I'll marry Umbridge," said Severus as he and Antonin followed Professor Riddle into his office. Standing there was Ludo Bagman, a burly third year who was looking bored.

"Alright. Mr. Snape, Mr. Dolohov, We lost six members of our Quidditch team this year and Ludo is the only one left so he's Quidditch captain by default. Now, I have heard from Professor Dolohov that you two did some exceptional flying in flying class today. That included tossing a pinecone between you at distances of as wide as five yards. Now, as you both are aware, First years are not usually allowed on House Teams, but I've discussed it with Ludo and we're going to give you an opportunity to try out. Gods know we need more talent. This is no guarantee that you will get on the Quidditch team, it is only a fighting chance. Do I make myself clear?" Riddle finished.

Severus, Antonin and Ludo nodded.

"Dismissed," said Professor Riddle.

As soon as they were out, Ludo folded his arms and looked them over. "Well, we'll see whether Professor Riddle was right to let you two try out. All I can say is you'd better be damn good. We need good, fresh meat more than ever now!" And he walked away.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Antonin jumped into the air and whooped.

"I knew it! I knew it! I knew we'd get past that stupid rule somehow. You are a GOD, Professor Riddle, a GOD!"

"Then stop shouting outside my door before I smite you," growled Professor Riddle's voice from his office.

Antonin and Severus both shouted their apologies at the office door and ran off happily. However, once they realized just how close the tryouts were, the color drained from their faces.

"Sev, how are we supposed to practice?" Antonin gasped.

"Er," said Severus. He hadn't thought of that. How were they supposed to practice?

"We're doomed!" sobbed Antonin. "We're going to make fools of ourselves in front of everyone!"

"Calm down!" said Severus, trying to stay level-headed. "If we're lucky, maybe we can sneak down to the broom shed before curfew, but that's all I can think of."

"We could get in real trouble for that, Sev," said Antonin concernedly.

"It's worth the risk," said Severus savagely, "Where's your Slytherin pride, Ant? Only one thing matters in this situation and that is getting on that Quidditch team. We're gonna do anything, you get me Ant? Anything! The end justifies the means!"

"Man, Sev, you're sounding like a real Slytherin now," said Antonin admiringly.

"Well, that kind of figures since the Sorting Hat put me here," said Severus sarcastically.

"Alright, I guess you know what you're talking about. When do we do it?"

"After dinner," said Severus.

They walked to their next class, Defense against the Dark Arts, as slowly as possible. Neither of them was in any hurry to deal with Corlagon after his howler, and it was with a profound sense of pessimism that they pulled out their books and wands before entering Corlagon's classroom.

However, it wasn't Corlagon who was sitting behind the desk, but Severus' father, Pravus Snape. As soon as the bell rang, Severus' father clapped his hands and turned to address the class.

"Due to the fact that Dalverry Corlagon is currently spending some time in the hospital wing in order to recover from a fit of epilepsy, he will be unable to teach this lesson. Therefore, Dumbledore has asked me to tutor his class and considering that I am free I decided to do so. For those of you who do not already know me I am Pravus Snape. However, while you are in this class you will address me as either Sir or Professor at all times."

The class tittered excitedly. One girl raised her hand.

"Yes?" sneered Mr. Snape.

"Sir, did you really invent the Cruciatus curse?"

"I am afraid I did, Miss...."

"Tonks, sir."

"Then yes, Miss Tonks, I did create the Cruciatus curse? Why, has Corlagon fed you some crap about me being the next Grindenwald?"

"Well, you were one of the wizards we could do a report on as the darkest wizard in the world," said Tonks, blushing furiously.

"I see. Well, let me assure you that I am not going to torture or kill or mind-control any of you while you are in this class. As a matter of fact, let me tell you that you could not possibly be safer in this room while I am here. You see, while Corlagon may have told you that I was some twisted villain, I am in fact a highly respected, decorated and thankfully retired auror. Therefore, fear nothing while I am here. You may put your books away, this will be a practical lesson."

There was an anxious muttering as people shoved their books into their book bags. They had not yet had a practical lesson. Mr. Snape then walked over to a large cabinet and pulled a tray with several cages out of it.

"These are Pogrebins," he said, indicating the things in the cages, and everyone looked intently. All they could see were black rocks. Umbridge raised her hand.

"Yes?"

"Sir, they're rocks."

"Ha! Don't be fooled by their stony appearance, my dear. I shall show you whether they are rocks right now!" snapped Mr. Snape, and he pulled one of the cages off the tray, opened the door, and turned his back on the cage. Almost instantly a hideous little black thing with long, emaciated fingers and sharp teeth scuttled out of the cage and was just about to bite Mr. Snape when he whirled around and kicked it across the room.

"You see? Rocks, eh? These rocks have a very real appetite, and can be very dangerous. Who can tell me the way a Pogrebin attacks?"

Antonin raised his hand.

"Mr. Dolohov?"

"They follow you around and when you turn around they turn into rocks. If allowed to trail someone for long enough, the victim sinks into a pessimistic despair and just as they sink down to weep at the pointlessness of it all, the Pogrebin bites," said Antonin proudly.

"Excellent, ten points to Slytherin. Yes, if you allow a Pogrebin to follow you for long enough you will be in very real danger. That is why it is essential that you know the symptoms of a Pogrebin attack when they are trailing you. Who can tell me what those are? Severus?"

"Er....you hear a sort of weird clicking in the back of your head," said Severus, "Is that right, da...I mean, Professor?"

"Yes, that's the most easy way to recognize that you are being followed by a Pogrebin. Who can tell me another one? No one? Hmm, it seems my son is the only one who has actually taken some interest. Five points to Slytherin. But after all, the best way to learn to defend against a dark creature is to actually do it, so I'm going to call you up here one by one to fight them off. First I think we'll have...Mr. Lestrange!"

Rodolphus got up with some fear, but as Severus was watching him go up he suddenly felt a horrible sensation in the back of his head like someone was grabbing his brains. And above it all he heard a vaguely familiar voice crying out Help! HELP!

Severus screwed up his eyes at the pain, but eventually it got to be too much and he screamed. His father, who had just finished telling Rodolphus to kick the instant the clicking got too loud, stared at him with a look of surprise and amazement.

"Severus! What happened?" he gasped, rushing over to Severus.

"Dad...I need to go to the hospital wing! I think someone's trying to turn my brain into mush!"

"Everyone stay here! Alright, Severus, up you get. That's right, come on. Don't black out one me now, son."

Severus only vaguely registered that Serena wasn't in the classroom as his father pulled him out the door and dragged him up the stairs. When they reached the hospital wing, his father laid him down on a bed and ran to get Madam Pomfrey. Severus no longer felt the fingers grabbing at his brain, but his head felt horribly numb. What had just happened?

When Madam Pomfrey had bustled over and checked him, she said in quavering tones "I think he's somehow mentally experienced a Leglimental attack on someone else. His brain waves are certainly abnormally fluctuating. He's also cold as ice. Good thing you brought him here, Pravus."

"Is my boy going to be alright?" asked Pravus Snape.

"I think so, assuming he gets plenty of rest and doesn't get into any stressful situations," said Madam Pomfrey.

"Don't you dare die on me, Severus," said Pravus, looking at Severus with a fatherly affection Severus never thought he'd see in his father's eyes. "You hear, boy? You rest and stay alright. Anybody disturbs you just give me a holler!"

"How long do I need to stay here?" asked Severus groggily.

"Until noon tomorrow at the very earliest," said Madam Pomfrey.

"WHAT?!" gasped Severus, "But...the Quidditch tryouts! I need to practice tonight!"

"Now, Severus, your health's more important than Quidditch," said Mr. Snape seriously. "I don't want you collapsing over a bloody sport."

"But-" began Severus.

"No buts!" snapped Mr. Snape and Madam Pomfrey.

Severus fell back on the bed and cursed himself for not being able to take it. But he knew underneath it all that he really had been in danger. Trying to make himself calm down about the practice, he began to think. Who had done that? What had it been anyway? He'd caught the words leglimental attack, whatever that meant. So what had just happened.

"Enjoying your rest?" came a horrible, cold, high-pitched voice in his head.

Severus froze. "What?" he thought.

"Did you miss me, Severus?" laughed the voice.

"Who are you?" thought Severus.

"Do you really want to know the answer?" asked the voice.

"Yeah, and make it quick," Severus snarled mentally.

"My name is Voldemort. Lord Voldemort," hissed the voice.

"What do you want with me?" questioned Severus.

"Let's just say, Severus, that I see us as being possible allies if your inclination towards power is strong enough," chuckled Voldemort.

"Depends what kind of power you're talking about," thought Severus.

"Oh, Severus, we both know what kind of power. The power you've known since you were six, the power you've been wanting for ages. The power you feel when you curse that girl Umbridge," Voldemort whispered ominously.

"The Dark Arts?" Severus thought, horrified.

Voldemort laughed a horrible, high-pitched, cruel laugh.

"You are a quick one, boy. That's precisely why I want you to be my faithful vassal. If you serve Lord Voldemort, he can give you everything. Whereas if you remain loyal to that muggle-loving, mudblood friend Albus Dumbledore..."

"One of my friends is Muggle born!" Severus snapped at Voldemort mentally.

"What, you mean Miss Acklebridge? Well, maybe I'll let her stay alive if you join me. Maybe I'll do what your friend Master Malfoy did and turn a blind eye to her heritage and assume she's part of your family. Maybe I'll even let her be a follower of mine too, but first you must join me. Join me, Severus, prove your worth to those fools Corlagon and Umbridge. Join me and prove to your precious Lily Evans that Slytherin really is the best house! Join me and be a God, boy!" Voldemort's voice was hypnotic in its seductive promises.

Severus considered it, but then he remembered what the voice had said about Muggle-borns. Lily was a muggle-born, and the voice would most likely not be as merciful to her as to Serena. The thought of torturing or killing Lily and enjoying it sickened him and he snarled mentally at the voice, "Go to hell, Lord Voldemort!"

"Well, it appears your judgment is not as good as I expected. We'll see how long your will lasts when I leave it no other choice, Severus Snape! You will learn to fear the name Lord Voldemort, and when you do you will kneel willingly before me! Remember this meeting, Snape. Remember the name of death! Remember the name of pain! Remember the name of isolation! Remember Lord Voldemort!"

And with that the voice left Severus' mind. A minute later he heard a scream and saw Madam Pomfrey, Mr. Dolohov and Professor Riddle ushering a stretcher into the hospital wing. On it was Serena Acklebridge.

"She has been afflicted with a powerful dark curse," Severus heard Madam Pomfrey say. "Most likely a hellfire jinx. The attacker probably meant it to be fatal. We are lucky that he only hit her arm and not her chest."

"Who would do such a thing, Poppy?" Severus heard Riddle's voice say.

"I don't know, but whoever it was must be caught before he attacks more students," said Mr. Dolohov seriously. "A dark wizard of this magnitude in Hogwarts! I am worried if such a person exists within these walls we will need to bring aurors into this."

"I think that would be my line," said the voice of Pravus Snape from the doorway.

"Pravus! Thank Gods! It's your adopted daughter, she's been attacked. It was a hellfire jinx which thankfully hit her arm. What should we do?" Madam Pomfrey whispered terrifiedly.

"Do you not see a pattern here?" asked Pravus bitterly. "Two members of my family are in the hospital wing. Somebody is obviously staging an attack on me. I recommend we investigate everybody in this school with a grudge against me. In short, Dalverry Corlagon."

"Corlagon? Surely you don't think he did it!" said Mr. Dolohov.

"I have known Dalverry's grudges to carry him to insane lengths. Look at Pierre Black," said Pravus grimly, "I will want to have an eye kept on him at all times. If he puts so much as a toenail out of line I'll send him off to Azkaban, where he belongs."

"Alright," said Riddle. "I'll put this in your charge then Mr. Snape."

"Nonsense, Tom. You're the head of Slytherin house. I want you to alert me to any and all attacks made against your house and the same goes for the other heads. We might be dealing with a madman," said Pravus. "With that, I'll leave you to tend to Miss Black, Poppy. Come on, we'll have to alert the school to this."

Severus sat up and looked at Serena. She was a dreadful sight, with her hair disheveled and a deep, smoking gash in her right arm. She was unconscious. Perhaps it was his imagination, but he thought he heard a high, cold voice say:

"Enjoying the ride, Severus?"

But Severus was not to be put off. He would not let Voldemort get to him. Not now, not ever.

Once he got over his shock at Serena's wounding, Severus managed to remember the Quidditch tryouts. Well, he'd be damned if he'd let Voldemort keep him from that either. He resolved to sneak out of the Hospital wing as soon as Madam Pomfrey's back was turned.

Finally the opportunity came; he leapt off his bed and scampered stealthily out of the hospital wing. He then pulled his cloak's cowl over his face and rushed down the steps onto the grounds.

I took him some time to find the broom closet, but when he finally did he was shocked to hear sounds going on inside it.

"Dammit, is trash all they have in here? These brooms couldn't carry a squirrel!"

"Antonin?" asked Severus, Antonin backed out.

"Wow! I didn't think you'd show up, Sev! Did Pomfrey let you out early?"

"No, I snuck out," said Severus sneakily. "Well, let's get to the Quidditch pitch. Just grab whichever broom suits your fancy!"

Antonin begrudgingly picked up a broom which looked less old than the others and Severus picked up the next best one he could find. However, just as he was about to follow Antonin, he heard a soft and kind voice in his ear.

"Out of bed so soon, Severus?"

Severus turned around to find himself staring into the eyes of Professor Dumbledore, who was sitting on the ground quite comfortably sucking a sherbet lemon.

"Didn't see you there, Professor," said Severus, hastily trying to replace his broom.

"Relax, Severus. I am not going to give you detention or take points from Slytherin, I am merely going to talk to you and try to make you understand what is happening. Sit down."

Severus nodded weakly and sat down. Dumbledore looked at him intensely.

"Severus, I know you have been contacted by a man styling himself Lord Voldemort. I also know that you have antagonized him sufficiently to make him attack Miss Acklebridge. I do not know who this man is, but I can only warn you that he is not someone whose worst possible action could be to make you lose the house cup. In short, he is not a teacher, he is a dangerous dark wizard. He can take away more than points. He can take away your humanity, your friends, your very self. He is a manipulator and you are allowing yourself to be manipulated if you do not take him seriously. Consider this: Miss Acklebridge will have suffered for nothing if you do not take Lord Voldemort at face value. You may practice for your Quidditch tryouts, I am not stopping you. But if you do, I must urge you not to think that Lord Voldemort is just another interfering wizard. He is a cunning and dangerous man who knows how to turn your feelings against you, and you must not let him do that."

Severus felt all his defiance seep out of him at Dumbledore's kind words. Dumbledore wasn't reprimanding him or ordering him to go back to the Hospital wing. Dumbledore was simply giving him advice and trusting him to listen. Severus felt a great warmth for Dumbledore and he nodded his head to let the old Professor know that he had listened and he knew what Dumbledore was talking about.

And he went to practice with Antonin with Dumbledore's voice ringing in his ears.

But Dumbledore stayed behind, for walking out of the shadows of the forbidden forest was a hooded and cloaked figure who strode across the grounds towards Dumbledore.

"A very pretty speech, Albus," hissed the creature, "But you know well as I that that boy will not listen to you. He is too willful, too defiant to listen to anything you have to say."

"We shall see, my good Lord," said Dumbledore patiently, "We shall see."

And with a flash, Lord Voldemort was gone.

In the meantime, Severus had almost forgotten Dumbledore's words when he first mounted the broom and soared upward onto the Quidditch pitch to join Antonin. Passing the Quaffle back and forth and shooting across the field, Severus began to feel that even Lord Voldemort couldn't touch him here...but then his thoughts returned to what Dumbledore had said.

He is a cunning and dangerous man who knows how to turn your feelings against you, and you must not let him do that.

Severus threw the Quaffle up into the air, looped around it, and shot it through the center goal post without pausing once and then passed it to Antonin, who made a beeline for the center post, but then threw it through the left one. He then passed it to Severus, who made a feint for the left goal post, pretended to toss the Quaffle, but really sent it through the center. He was just beginning to feel warmed up when...

"Dolohov! Snape! Down here now!"

They looked down to see Professor McGonagall, Professor Corlagon, Pravus Snape, Professor Riddle and Professor Dumbledore hurrying towards them.

"What do you think you are doing?" McGonagall snapped as they landed. "I would never believe it! Sneaking out of the hospital wing! Stealing brooms! Using Hogwarts property for unauthorized practice! I am very ashamed of you and have no choice but to have you severely pun-"

"No, Minerva," interrupted Dumbledore, "I do not feel that their actions merit punishment of any sort. These boys are both in the midst of a crisis that neither of them can possibly comprehend. All they know is that one of their friends has been attacked and I think anyone involved in such stressful circumstances is entitled to a little after-hours Quidditch." His eyes twinkled as they swept over the two, and Severus could have sworn that he saw Dumbledore wink.

"Professor Dumbledore, if every child who lost a friend was allowed to do this then we'd never get them to bed!" said Corlagon angrily, clearly hoping to punish Severus and Antonin, "Just because they are under stress is no reason that they should be entitled to break school rules!"

"You are of course right, Dalverry," said Dumbledore mildly, "Which is why I had a word with Master Snape as he was exiting the broom shed."

Professor McGonagall let out a small shriek.

"You knew this was happening," she sputtered, "And you authorized it?"

"Yes, Minerva. I gave Mr. Snape and his friend special license as soon as I was satisfied that they knew what they were up against and the risk they could be taking," said Dumbledore lightly.

"They are up against a maniac, Headmaster!" burst out Corlagon. Pravus Snape's lip curled.

"Yes, Corlagon, they are up against a maniac, and don't we all wish we knew who it was," he sneered. Corlagon turned a deep shade of puce.

"Surely you don't...you can't...you can't possibly think it's me?!" he gasped.

"Well, if the summoner's cap fits," said Pravus harshly. "Y'know, Corlagon, I've been wondering when you were going to let us all in on the fact that miss Umbridge is your daughter."

"That's none of your business, Snape!" snarled Corlagon.

"Just like it's none of my business that you're poisoning your class against me, an auror who brought in twenty dark wizards and at least a hundred would-be dark practitioners and is a member of the Order of Merlin third class?" sneered Pravus.

"I am doing no such thing," said Corlagon bitterly.

"Then why do they all see me as a dark sorcerer who invented the Cruciatus curse for his own amusement?" snapped Pravus, and Severus realized that his father had for once lost his cool. "You son of a dark wizard's whore, Corlagon! You'll never see beyond your own petty nose, will you? I remember Pierre Black, Corlagon! You killed him because his brother was a dark wizard who, I might add, I caught! And now you're fostering animosity against my son because of his family too?! You miserable, prejudiced GIT!"

Corlagon stared back defiantly. "If I'm the son of a dark wizard's whore, which I'm not, I am at least happy that I did not marry one!"

Severus had never seen his father so angry, he pulled out his wand and snarled "Scelesti Sanguinium!"

"And who's the one who fell all over your dark wizard's whore at school? Who's the one who called her an angel, said all he wanted was her? Who's the one who still hates me just because I got her and he didn't?! YOU!"

"Pravus!" interjected Dumbledore forcefully. "Control yourself and remove that curse from Professor Corlagon. You are here to investigate this attack, not get involved in petty childhood brawls! And Professor Corlagon, when Pravus has removed the curse from you kindly remove yourself to your office and remain there until I come to speak to you."

"Is someone there?!" came the soft voice of Professor Riddle from the darkness. "Albus? Pravus? Come quickly! There's been another attack!"

However, Severus had known it before Riddle showed up, for he had heard Voldemort's voice in the back of his head.

"Tag, you're it!"