The Severus Snape Saga-Book 1, the Sordid Hat

Chapter 14: Through the Cauldron

Severus turned his attention to the staff table and saw that none of the staff members looked even remotely ruffled. Even Professor Verbrechen was just cleaning his glasses absently, so Severus gave up trying to spot any guilt. However, there was one thing he didn't notice at first. Professor Riddle wasn't there at all. Odd. Severus nudged Bellatrix and pointed up at the staff table.

"Where do you reckon he's got to?" he asked, indicating Professor Riddle's vacant seat. Bellatrix shrugged.

"He's probably sleeping late, Sev," she said, but that didn't quiet Severus' mind. He knew Professor Riddle had never slept in all year, so something had to be up. He didn't want to bug Bellatrix anymore, so he turned to Antonin.

"Hey, Ant, what do you reckon's going on with Professor Riddle?" he asked. Antonin looked at the staff table and threw him a worried glance.

"I dunno. I'd think he was sleeping in, but Professor Riddle hasn't slept in the whole time we've been here. It seems a bit odd to me that he'd just suddenly decide he's going to."

"Riddle isn't up?" asked Augustus eagerly. "Oh, good! Then I don't need to worry about turning in my Potions essay to him yet! Maybe he's not even in his classroom and I can get a little forbidden research done!"

Severus' ears perked up at the mention of going into Riddle's classroom. He wanted to find out what was going on with Riddle. He had to admit, he did have his suspicions...

"Bellatrix," he said to Bellatrix, "get all the executive members of Villa Severum together as soon as possible please. We are going to investigate Riddle's classroom."

"Ok, Sev," said Bellatrix with a look that said quite clearly:

"But I think you're being too suspicious."

It was a school day, so Severus had to sit with his nerves all day. He found Defense against the Dark Arts particularly painful, because his father stubbornly refused to speak to him and even pointedly made a point of not listening to him. Even History of Magic did little to calm Severus' already swollen nerves, which had to be pumping out fear at an incredible rate. Finally, when Binns had let him go with his usual smile and "see-you- tomorrow", Severus ran off to the dungeons and the Slytherin common room...

But before he got there he found himself facing all the executive members of Villa Severum. They had their wands out and were all looking extremely dangerous. Bellatrix had her hair done up in a neat bun and her face was a mask of cold fury, which made her look very much like Professor McGonagall during menopause. Michelle's wand was being gripped so tightly that her fingers were white and Michelle was looking ready to kill something. Lucius had his trademark Malfoy calm about him, but there was ice in his grey eyes and he looked just as grim. Lucas Avery's wand hand was shaking with barely contained rage. And then there was Lily. Lily looked like what Severus imagined Satan would look like. Her red hair proved to enhance her already grim looking face, which had a look of extreme desire for vengeance plastered over it. It was with somewhat cringing thoughts that Severus found himself facing this formidable assemblage.

"Well, you ready to investigate?" he asked them. They all nodded in agreement. Severus took a deep breath and opened the door to Professor Riddle's classroom and breathed a sigh of relief. It was empty.

The Potions classroom had to be one of the most dismal places on earth to be even when it was in full swing and now it was downright creepy. The phantom shapes of desks seemed to be intentionally there to displace their coordination. At the front of the classroom stood the massive cauldron that Riddle would rise out of before classes. But near the cauldron was another smaller lump. And when Severus approached it he found that it was the last thing he had expected: the hat Voldemort had sent him.

Severus would know it at a glance. He had expected to find it again for ages and here it was. He reached out his hand and picked up the hat. To his amazement, it still yielded to his touch. However, just as he was about to jam it on his head he heard an unwelcome voice from the back of the classroom.

"Stop right there, Snape!" It was Dalverry Corlagon, and he had just thrown an invisibility cloak off. He had his wand out and he was giving Severus a sadistic grin. Severus thought there was something SLIGHTLY wrong with his eyes, though. They had a glassy look. However, Severus didn't have time to worry about that, as Corlagon had suddenly screamed:

"Crucio!"

It was pain beyond anything Severus could have possibly understood or imagined. His every fibre and muscle twitched with demonic pain and his head span as though his very brain were being ripped to pieces by hungry dogs. His eyes sent out so many tears that his face seemed to rain with a deep, unbelievable pain. And over this all, he became unaware of all but the excruciating pain....

But then it stopped. He was back on the potions classroom floor. He heard screams and looked up to see that Corlagon had stuck Lucius, Lucas, Michelle and Bellatrix against the wall with the inscription "what you did to my daughter" hanging in front of them. The screams he heard were coming from Lily, who Severus saw with horror that Corlagon was torturing. He ran towards her and practically screamed:

"Finite Incantatem!"

But the spell ricocheted off Corlagon's wand and hit Corlagon instead. Almost instantly he raised his wand and looked around in shock.

"Where am I?" he asked in shock. "What's going on? Mr. Snape, explain why Miss Evans is lying on the ground under my wand!" he sounded thoroughly traumatized. He then turned to the other students and unstuck them from the wall without another word. It took Severus some time to tell the story, but when he had finished Corlagon was looking about as small as a pinprick of light in a dark box.

"The BASTARD!" he growled when they had finished.

"What, Corlagon?" asked Bellatrix with a sneer. She wasn't going to let him have one ounce of authority.

"Well...the last I remember is being suspended from my post at the school. No...the last thing I remember is that bastard...I think his name was Lord Voddmelort or something...putting the Imperius curse on me." Severus now understood what was wrong with Corlagon's eyes. Bellatrix, however, was not convinced. She stalked over to one of the shelves at the back of the classroom and pulled out a white potion, which she forced Corlagon to drink. Then she asked:

"Have you been under the Imperius curse?"

Corlagon's response was dull and emotionless. "Yes."

"He's telling the truth," said Bellatrix as she dispelled the effects of the potion with her wand, "I just gave him Veritaserum." She turned to Corlagon and spoke in a harsh voice. "Corlagon, if you don't want to be turned in right now, you'll come with us and help us defeat Lord Voldemort at once. Maybe then you won't be sent to Azkaban."

Corlagon nodded meekly, and Severus saw to his satisfaction that the once arrogant professor was now shaking with fear. Then, pulling out his wand, Severus walked to the cauldron at the center of the room and looked into it. He'd always wondered how Riddle managed to rise out of it like that...

The answer was obvious. The cauldron had a false bottom which was open and framed a set of dark stairs. "Well, this explains how Riddle gets into his classrooms," said Severus, beckoning the executive Villa Severum members over and pointing into it. Corlagon followed and Severus then decided to test the delinquent professor. "You first," he said.

Corlagon turned white and raised his hands only to find himself confronted by six wands. Severus watched with grim pleasure as Corlagon walked into the cauldron and disappeared. Severus heard him call up:

"There's nothing but a dusty old hat down here!"

"Wait for us!" shouted Severus, and he motioned Lily in. She walked in and then Michelle went as did Bellatrix and then Lucius and Lucas. Severus brought up the rear with his wand out when he got into the room with the hat, he found that it was completely overcrowded. He just managed to walk over to the hat and examine it before being elbowed unintentionally by Corlagon. Severus turned to the rest and went into "Leader of Villa Severum" mode.

"Alright, I'll take this hat. But since I think it might be a portkey I'll want someone else to come with me. Anyone interested?" Severus saw disappointedly that many of them looked a bit scared. Only Lily raised her hand. Severus nodded and pulled Lily to the front. Corlagon was protesting but Severus payed no attention. He and Lily had already seized the hat...

There was a flash and a jerk from somewhere around Severus' navel and he found himself and Lily swirling through space. When they landed they found themselves in a massive, vaulted chamber which was filled with representations of snakes. Severus shuddered as he recognized the place. It was the chamber of his nightmares. Lily was also looking a bit scared and Severus saw to his horror that there was someone else in the chamber.

"Ahh, Severus and...Miss Evans. What a pleasure to see you finally here. I've been waiting for Severus, but I never expected to see Miss Evans with you. It is inconvenient," hissed Voldemort's cold, high-pitched voice. "Avada Kedavra!"

Severus pushed Lily out of the way of the curse and lunged away himself. The curse blasted one of the fangs off a snake head. Voldemort looked furious and then pointed his wand at Lily. "This time I cannot miss."

"NO!" shouted Severus, and he finished with the word:

"Stupefy!"

Voldemort blocked the spell, but it gave Lily time to scramble away. "Lily, get the portkey!" shouted Severus, but Lily wouldn't listen. She stared at him defiantly and shook her head. Voldemort looked mildly amused (even though Severus could only see his eyes).

"Well, well, she IS brave. I think perhaps I will allow her to live having seen such courage..." Severus was sure that Voldemort's lip would have curled at that point. "However, I cannot let her be free. Incarcerous."

Thick cords flew out of Voldemort's wand and bound Lily. She struggled, but couldn't break them and Voldemort laughed wickedly. He then turned to Severus.

"Severus, this little meeting is between us. It is here that one of us will prove his worth. You or I must...what is the phrase you young people use? Oh yes, snuff it."

Severus felt terrified. He had gotten into the one situation his father always warned him against. He had got clipped. "It's either you or the other guy that has to bite it and don't you forget it, son." Severus braced himself for a curse to be hurled at him. Well, he'd be damned if he'd let that happen.

"Avada Kedavra!" he yelled as he pointed his wand at Voldemort, who simply vanished and appeared behind him with a mocking laugh.

"That won't work, Severus. If I had less of a sense of humor I might kill you right now. But I want you to appreciate the depth of your failure...I want you here, in the hour of death...to know who Lord Voldemort was. Well, little leader of Villa Severum, your adversary was not Dalverry Corlagon (though I did have him under the Imperius curse). Your adversary was not Armand Verbrechen, who despite his vampirism is harmless. Your adversary was not even Vladimir Dolohov, with his penchant for the unforgivable curses. Your adversary was..." the mask fell away to reveal a white face with red eyes that metamorphosed gracefully into that of a young man with intense green eyes and black hair. Professor Riddle. "Me," he finished in his frightening human voice.

And Severus saw his failure. Who was first at the scene of the crime always? Professor Riddle! Who had taught him, Antonin and Lucius the dark arts for the past year? Professor Riddle! Who had showed up at the Quidditch pitch right after Severus' meeting with Professor Dumbledore? The same person, Professor Riddle! Riddle laughed, and his laugh was ten times more frightening than it was in his high, cold voice.

"You are pathetic, Severus! Day after day I watched you squander your talent on useless morals! Day after day I saw you fall into the jaws of ethics! I tried to stop you, Severus, but did you listen? NO! Not even when I changed into your father at that meeting did you realize your erroneous choice of friends!" Severus was shocked. That had been Professor Riddle that had told him to stop being friends with Lily? He felt a terrible resentment well up in him. He wanted Professor Riddle dead. He felt everything the evil professor had taught them of the dark arts fill his head...

"You're wrong!" hissed Severus with almost a gloating note. An idea was forming. "You worked for ME, Voldemort! You did what I wanted all the time! I had you hoodwinked for ages, you fool!"

Riddle looked shocked. He clearly had not expected this. Severus managed to show Lily crossed fingers behind his back before launching into his fib. "Well, first you attacked Serena Acklebridge, right?" Riddle nodded. "I didn't want that filthy little mudblood in my family!" snarled Severus, "I would have been only too happy to get rid of her!" his voice sounded horrible. Riddle had turned white.

"Then you attacked Rodolphus Lestrange. I wanted him dead too, you know. I wanted that girl Bellatrix and knew that I never had a chance while Lestrange was still there. So I resisted you and let you attack him. I saw it coming all along!" Riddle's face had gone the face of sour milk. "Then you went for Bellatrix Black in that hat! You took over her! I wanted you to do that, because it would get rid of my competition on the Quidditch field: That fool, Antonin Dolohov!" Riddle looked like he could either be livid or terrified.

"And then you sent that pumpkin. I knew Corlagon was there all along and I'd hoped he'd drop another pumpkin. Unfortunately you went for Michelle Stormblossom, but I'd wanted her out of the picture anyway. The little brat belonged in Ravenclaw! So, then you let Corlagon attack Bellatrix. She'd turned me down on a date so I was happy to have her hurt. But he needn't have attacked me, though."

Severus was shocked at how easily he was lying. "Then you gave me all that strength and when she," indicating Lily, "made me angry, you put her under a curse like the good little stooge you were. And then I let you pump power into me for the next few days and when you gave up I let you attack Professor Lodovico! I didn't know you'd attack her, but I knew you'd be angry enough to attack a teacher. I'd hoped it would be Professor Verbrechen, but you can't have everything. And then, when you sent that Augurey, I wanted to cause a distraction and give Lucius more time on the Quidditch field and there you were, right on time like I'd anticipated! So you see that I've really been playing you along."

Riddle looked ready to breathe fire. When he did finally speak, it was in short barely controlled outbursts. "Never...you...tricked...me...you....scoundrel..."

"And you can kill her right now," said Severus. "I don't' care." Riddle grimaced, but he suddenly got a very unpleasant look on his face. "We'll see whether I've been working for you," he said and advanced on Lily...

However, in the instant that Riddle's back was turned, Severus had whispered "Incarcerous!" to his wand, and it had shot out long ropes which wrapped around Riddle's ankles and rooted him to the spot. As Riddle was struggling to get his balance, though, Severus screamed:

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Riddle froze up.

But Severus' fun wasn't over. He was going to make Riddle pay. "You're going to regret teaching me the dark arts, Voldemort," he growled at the supine body. "Enjoying yourself yet? Let's see how strong my hate for you is! Crucio!" He felt elated as he saw Riddle's eyes take on that horrified look and knew the pain the evil professor must be feeling at this time. He let himself keep it up for a good five minutes before releasing Riddle and levitating him to the portkey. He bumped the evil Professor against it while touching it himself. Lily, who he had freed, grabbed it too and they were all off...

They landed under the cauldron with Bellatrix, Lucas, Lucius and a flustered Corlagon watching out. Michelle had apparently gone to get Dumbledore. They all looked shocked to see Riddle floating there, apparently harmless.

"It was Riddle?" asked Lucius in shock. "It wasn't Verbrechen?"

"No," said Severus. "This git said Verbrechen is harmless. We don't need to worry."

"Well, good," said Bellatrix, who had pushed her way up. But when she flung her arms around Severus, he realized how much pent-up energy she was feeling. Lucius himself shook hands with Lily and apologized for ever being a prat to her. Severus knew his heart wasn't in it, though. Lucius was just impressed with Lily like everyone else.

Michelle got back with Dumbledore a little while later. The old Professor looked broken to see Professor Riddle floating there under accusation of being Voldemort. He was also shocked to see Professor Corlagon, and was even more surprised when he heard that Corlagon had been under the Imperius curse. What surprised Severus and his friends was that Dumbledore beckoned him up to follow him. Severus followed Dumbledore through the school and up into his office with Corlagon in tow (he had been told to come too).

But Severus let out a gasp when he saw that the Minister of Magic was standing there. The Minister was a tall wizard with cropped grey hair and a very severe look on his face. He motioned for Dumbledore to close the door and sat down.

"Well, Dumbledore, you smiled the man causing these attacks and I see that you have produced him..." said the Minister, looking at Professor Riddle's form with a smile. But then he turned to Severus, who was terrified to see that the Minister did not wear the same happy look when looking at him.

"However," he said seriously, "Despite this student's heroism, there are some actions of his that must be taken into account. Firstly, Finite Incantatem." Riddle sprang back to life and began searching for his wand. He looked livid when he couldn't find it, but all color drained from his face when he saw the Minister of Magic.

"Minister," he said politely, making a bow. The minister stared coldly at him.

"Voldemort," he said. "We meet at last."

Riddle looked terrified. "Minister, surely you don't-"

"We have reliable evidence that it is you, Tom," said Dumbledore quietly. "Or would you like to be questioned with Veritaserum?"

Riddle spat at Dumbledore and said angrily to the minister, "Well, it seems I have no choice but to admit that I am Lord Voldemort."

"Good, then with...."

"Wait!" shrieked Riddle. "Before you send me to Azkaban, there is something you should know about Master Snape, here! He knows how to do the unforgivable curses! And he actually used one on me! He used the Cruciatus curse on another human being..."

"Silence!" barked the Minister, "Why should we believe you?"

"Because you can ask me anything you like with Veritaserum about this! Question me again and again you'll get the same response!" shouted Riddle. The Minister looked pained.

"Well, Dumbledore, if that is true, then this would appear to be the second time this boy has administered the Unforgivable curses on a fellow human being successfully."

Dumbledore was obviously shocked. "How so?" he asked softly.

"We have actual Leglimental evidence that this boy paralyzed and tortured Dolores Umbridge on the Quidditch pitch," said the Minister seriously. "Miss Umbridge's mother was concerned about her daughter's sanity, since her daughter had informed the mother she lost some piece of her memory. We sent a Leglimens here and he discovered that she was tortured and then silenced with a memory charm. The girl herself is still blissfully unaware, but I, that is to say the Ministry, believes that this merits expulsion at the very least."

Dumbledore looked serious, but he did not nod. "I think..." he said, "I will allow a test. I will give you Severus' wand but I will put a special charm on it. If he deserves to be expelled, his wand will break when you attempt to snap it. If he does not deserve that fate, it will be indestructible to you. Does that meet with your requests, Minister?"

"Fine," said the Minister with a satisfied air, and Dumbledore cast the charm on Severus' wand. The Minister took it and attempted to snap it over his knee, but it would not break. He tried a few more times and it wouldn't break then either. Then, with a radiant smile, the Minister returned the wand to Severus and said:

"Cleared of all charges."

Severus could have hugged the Minister, but he thought better of it. The man then pointed his wand at Riddle and motioned for him to get up. "You're coming with us, my friend," he said angrily. "You and your chum..."

"Minister, I think there is some doubt as to Dalverry Corlagon's guilt," said Dumbledore lightly.

"Are you calling the evidence of Auror Snape doubtful? The man is about to be made head of the department of magical law enforcement and you call him doubtful?!"

"No, I merely think there is one question I would like to ask Dalverry while he is under the influence of Veritaserum."

The Minister sighed and pulled a bottle of white potion from one of his pockets. "Here," he said. "I always carry some."

"Drink this, Dalverry," said Dumbledore gently as Corlagon drank the potion. Dumbledore faced him then and asked "Did you perform the deeds you performed in accordance with Voldemort under your own free will?"

"No. I was under the Imperius curse."

"There you have it, Minister."

The Minister seemed a bit disgruntled at this, but he forced a smile and cleared Corlagon of all charges too. "And Dalverry's suspension is lifted," said Dumbledore, "I need my Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher back, as I am sure Department Head Snape cannot afford to teach any more classes. Oh, and by the way, Tom, you're sacked."

"Of course, Dumbledore," said the Minister, and he turned to Riddle. "Right, come on, you!"

"I think not," said Riddle calmly, and his features changed to look like Voldemort's. The red eyes and pale face returned and he stared at the Minister with murder in his face.

"Dumbledore, what unearthly demon..." began the Minister, but Voldemort silenced him with a gesture and plucked his wand out of Dumbledore's hands. "I will not be going to Azkaban," he said softly, "I will be making you all wish you had never crossed me!"

And with that, Voldemort vanished. The Minister looked around in horror.

"Where did he go, Dumbledore?"

"Tom Marvolo Riddle is a metamorphmagus," said Dumbledore tiredly. "My guess is that he has simply made himself look like some section of the floor. He will be on his way by now and there is nothing we can do about it, Minister. I only hope he does not pursue the avenue he seems to be going down at this moment. If he does, I think things will get very bad in a very short time. But as for now, I think I need to award a few points. This, Minister, you do not need to see."

"Alright, then, Dumbledore," said the Minister grimly, and he strode out of the room. Dumbledore looked at Severus with one raised eyebrow.

"Well, Severus, it seems that you are full of surprises. You have managed to stop a powerful dark wizard with little or no effort and for this I commend you. However, I do know that you have taken the dark arts at this school against our policies. I would be angry, but your wand has shown me you do not deserve punishment. All I want is your assurance that you will not be trying it again."

Severus nodded and Dumbledore smiled. "Then I think it is only fitting that Slytherin receives 130 points and Gryffindor receives 50. You have performed admirably. Now, there is one more reward that you deserve and that is actually two rewards. The first is to keep the hat Voldemort sent you as a souvenir. I think I can have its Leglimency charm removed and then you will have a very nice omniscient hat to use. The second part of you reward is that from this point on I am sanctioning Villa Severum and giving you all permission to meet in this office every Tuesday. That is all, Severus, you may go."

Epilogue

It was with profound difficulty that Severus returned to the normalness of classes, and the entire school seemed to share his difficulties. Most of them would ask him for autographs between classes and even Sirius Black shook his hand, much to the chagrin of James Potter. Villa Severum met every Tuesday in the headmaster's office, but with Voldemort gone there was little to be done and Villa Severum soon became nothing more than a social club. Dumbledore didn't seem to mind, though. He actually seemed happy that this was the state of things.

Their next Quidditch match, the one against Gryffindor, was a joke. Severus steamrollered the Gryffindor chasers and Lucius caught the Snitch after ten mintues, which was record time. With the Quidditch cup and the House cup belonging hands-down to Slytherin, Severus approached the final exams with open arms...

But it was not all mead and roses all over the world. Even at that moment, somewhere in the forbidden forest, a tall figure was perched over a dead unicorn and was drinking its blood. When the creature had finished gorging itself, it lifted up its head and let out a high, cold, cruel laugh. Its features, pale with red eyes, looked at the moon with an expression of nothing but abject mockery and defiance. Then, when it had finished laughing, it raised its wand to the cry and shouted in half a sob and half a scream of triumph, a sound the wizarding population would learn to fear...

"MORSMORDRE!"

The End....for now.