Potions and Snitches
Snape and Harry Gen Fanfiction Archive

Author's Chapter Notes:
First, I'd to apologize for this chapter being a bit late. It's been written and edited for about a month now, but in light of the current events around the US (specifically how they relate to the subject of this chapter) I felt it best to delay it out of respect. While this chapter was always going to have a bit of a trigger warning, I chose to expand it to be more explicitly stated and added a disclaimer. Yet even after writing them, it still doesn't feel like enough. The warning below does contain a major spoiler for this chapter, so if you don't want to know ahead of time, you can skip this part. I ask that you please read the disclaimer copied at the bottom. Again, I'm trying really hard to be respectful given the current school violence events happening around my area.

First up, the Trigger Warning (Spoilers): This chapter has an act of violence in it that details an active school attack on students and teachers, which may be triggering for some readers.

Disclaimer: Under no circumstances was this written to mock, take advantage of, or make light of any school attack. My heart has been heavy thinking about the recent shootings around the US and I understand the timing of this chapter could not have been worse. Please know that this chapter has always been part of the original "things to happen" outline for Smoke and Mirrors. While the list has grown, shrunk, and been chronically rearranged several times, this one has stayed the same. Unfortunately, there has been too much groundwork laid out to move the event or change it without completely unravelling the end of this story. I'd also like to specify that I wrote the action sequence of the chapter at the beginning of May, before most of the events occurred around me. All of this to say, when I wrote it, never did I think something would happen so close to my subject of writing.
Defense Against the Dark Arts

~~~~SS~~~~

Tuesday 2 December 1997

Severus sat behind his desk in the front of his Defense classroom, listening to the scratching of his first-year students as they took their quiz on the Knockback Jinx, Verdimillious Charm, Imps, and Gnomes - a necessary part of their revisions for the upcoming end-of-term exams if any of them expected to pass - his attention shifting between his students, his galleon, and the missive securely locked away in his office desk.

They're coming for us.

Over the last nine hours, those four words became permanently imprinted in Severus's mind, obliterating any chance he had for the refreshing night's sleep he so desperately needed. Rather than crawling into his warm bed, the professor spent the night out in his sitting room, the first half dedicated to casting every curse identification and tracking spell he knew on the missive, going as far as pulling out some of his least questionable Dark Arts texts from his quarters. The heavier material would have to wait for him to make a dedicated trip to Spinner's End. Once he confirmed the parchment contained no curses or any viable means to track down the individual who left it for him, Severus moved on to analyzing the message delivered; an act which took up an unproportionate amount of the second half of his night given its very short, explicit directive.

By the time the first rays of light filtered through his enchanted window, Severus had made only one revelation: the word "us" implied he belonged to the same population as whoever delivered it and was separate from "they". Regrettably, the populations Severus could lay claim to - particularly those who might be a target - were limited to professors, potioneers, half-bloods, or former Death Eaters. If he included Lucius's account of Narcissa being followed recently, it confidently narrowed his guess down to the latter. It did not, however, provide him with any insight into why a Death Eater might be in danger when, allegedly, the Death Eaters were the ones causing all the recent chaos, at least according to Samson and Albus.

Needless to say, the missive and his initial interpretation of it left the professor uneasy long into his day. Every movement towards the staff table during breakfast made him nervous, the whispers of his students as they waited for the morning bell heightened his suspicions, and his compulsive need to check in on Harry - did he sleep well, how's his stomach, is he going to group therapy later that morning - did not go unnoticed by the teen.

HP: What's with all the messages today? Aren't you supposed to be teaching or something? Or have you already given up on this lot?

Despite not answering the professor's last question, Harry's latest message made Severus smile.

SS: First years are taking a quiz that I have little hope they'll pass, meaning I will have to do a full revision lesson next week before final exams. That's hardly giving up on them. In fact, I'd argue it's quite the opposite.

HP: Since when did you start revision lessons? Pretty sure you didn't do those for Potions.

"Keep your eyes on your own parchment, Mr Grouse," Severus warned, not so much as lifting his head from the galleon. "If I catch you attempting to cheat off Mr Rook again, you'll cost Gryffindor fifty points."

"Yes, sir," the skittish Gryffindor muttered, and Severus made sure his head remained focused on his desk before responding to Harry's statement

SS: I did revisions, as needed, in all of my potions classes.

HP: Well, I don't remember a single one in the whole five years I took your class.

Severus had no hope of holding back his audible scoff.

SS: I suspect a bit of your bias for my counterpart was to blame for that. However, I'd also like to point out that for it to be considered a revision, the student has to actually learn the material the first time around. Otherwise, it's called a normal lesson. I can see where your confusion came from.

A movement in the corner of his vision caught his attention. Hala Khatib had been uncharacteristically fidgeting in her seat since she first entered the classroom; that was, if one could call anything she did as characteristic. Having such a peculiar student in his house certainly made it difficult for him to tell when she was acting out of sorts or not. But between his current anxiety and his three months of knowing her, he deemed her constant twisting and turning - all while keeping her gaze on her own work - enough to warrant his involvement.

"Miss Khatib." Severus's firm voice echoing on the walls in the otherwise silent room caused every student's head to lift. "And only Miss Khatib," Severus emphasized, "please come here."

At the sound of her chair scraping against the stone floor, Severus glanced down at his galleon, not at all surprised to see Harry's sarcastic response.

HP: Wow, Severus, that hurts. Really, it does. Has absolutely nothing to do with you or the quality of your teaching at all.

"Yes, Professor?" Hala's timid voice drew Severus away from Harry and to the small first-year standing, as he requested, in front of his desk.

Given her unique gift, his previous encounters with her regarding it, and Severus's overall disposition, he took a moment to examine his student for any signs of despair. Except contrary to the nervous child he watched at her desk, Hala stood before him with her head held high, her arms still at her side, and her dark eyes never once avoiding his. If he wanted to, she provided him with the perfect opportunity to slip undetected into her mind. However, he didn't. Something inside of him warned him that doing so might cause him more trouble than it was worth.

"Are you feeling well?" He asked, needing some reason to have summoned her away from her quiz. She didn't answer. Simply stared almost through him. He cleared his throat and clarified his question. "Do you need to go to the hospital wing?"

"No, professor," she replied, in an eerie, monotonous way. "I think I'll be alright today."

"So, why are you-" a distant creek and a soft thud above his head cut Severus' question short.

"Perhaps I should ask you the same question, professor. You seem a little jumpy today," said the young Slytherin. But before he could chastise her, she asked, "What's the fastest route to the library?"

Severus frowned.

"I suppose one could always create their own passages if they needed to get to… the library…" she responded cryptically with a casual shrug of her shoulders. "Can I return to my quiz now? I believe I need to redo number twelve, and I want to make sure I have time to finish."

Severus frowned at the answer key faced down on his desk and reminded himself that no natural means of x-ray vision existed in any world.

"Go." He waved her away. "And everyone, get back to your exams!" He sneered at the students and watched them until they returned to their work before picking up his galleon.

HP: C'mon, Severus. It was a joke. I guess it shouldn't surprise me you missed it, though.

SS: Sorry, I had to deal with a student. You never answered my question. Are you goi-

Another thump, closer now, followed by a scraping noise, cut him off mid-sentence. Severus stood, coin held tightly in his hand, to take a cautious lap around the rows of desks; if for no other reason than to release some of his pent-up rage over the events.

"Professor?" Aimee Loris, a Hufflepuff muggleborn who rarely spoke up in class, addressed him as he passed by her desk. "What's that noise?"

"It's nothing, Miss Loris," the professor lied. A long, loud scrape ran over the ceiling above them, making nearly all the students jump. "Get back to work-"

Once again, Severus was interrupted but this time by his classroom door bursting open so hard that dust of crumbled stone fell to the ground when it hit the wall. In the doorway now stood Firenze, pacing around on the other side of the threshold.

"We have a problem, Severus," the centaur and newest Divinations professor said urgently.

"What exactly is going on out there?" Severus races over to the door. "It's disturbing-"

"Get everyone out, NOW!" Hala's terrified scream reverberated throughout the classroom and deep into Severus's bones. He spun around, engulfing himself in his black robes, to the horror of his student holding her ears closed and her face contorted in terror. "Hurry! Before it's too late!"

~~~~HP~~~~

SS: Sorry, I had to deal with a student. You never answered my question. Are you goi

"Harry? Did you hear me?"

At the sound of Dr Michael - the AYA Group counsellor - calling his name, Harry tore his gaze away from Snape's still unfinished message, simultaneously clenching his hands closed around the object to keep it out of the muggle's view. He'd been staring at the half-completed message since he left his room ten minutes ago, practically willing it to heat up. But no matter how fiercely he stared at the enchanted object, it remained cold in his hands and Harry just knew something bad happened because it wasn't like Snape to stop mid-word. As Dr Michael waited for Harry's answer, the young wizard nervously shifted his weight in the uncomfortable plastic chair just enough to gain access to the pocket in his jogging bottoms to secure the enchanted object away next to the one he used to message his friends.

Harry had every intention of waiting for his future father to finish with whatever student was causing a problem during their revision quiz before heading to the Hub for group therapy.

I'm sure it's a Slytherin, Harry sniggered to himself. Probably cheating too.

He could practically see Snape sitting at his desk with his galleon in front of him, using a quill to avoid raising suspicions, when the craning neck of his Slytherin cheating interrupted him.

Snape would have at least finished his word before reprimanding them, Harry argued. And he certainly would have been back by now.

No. Whatever interrupted the professor had to be disruptive enough for him to drop his quill immediately as well as keep him from returning to his desk. And as the minutes ticked away, so did Harry's belief that whatever happened was something simple, and by the time he stood outside the Hub door, he worked himself into a panic. To make matters worse, no sooner than turning around to go back to his room, Dr Michael motioned him over to the same corner of the room Harry and his friends had occupied on Sunday, leaving him few options unless he wanted to cause a scene. What he didn't expect was to be called out for not paying attention.

"Erm…" Harry stalled, trying to think of anything to say, but his mind was completely blank except for his worry over Snape.

"You seem a little distracted today," Dr Michael prompted. "Is there something you'd like to talk about?"

As Harry looked around at the others in the group, a ridiculous idea sprung to his mind. Drew, Evie, and Joseph were all there, sitting in the same clear plastic chairs as Harry, all looking just as pained as the young wizard by them.

"Am I the only one who wonders who thought these bloody chairs would be perfect in a room designed for children who have almost zero body fat to cushion them?"

Just as Harry had hoped, the kids in the circle burst out laughing and nodding their heads in agreement.

"I'll bring it up with the administration," Dr Michael stated. "But I have a feeling it's more than just the chairs bothering you today, am I right?" Harry averted his gaze away from the man who appeared to see into Harry's soul. "As I stated in your first meeting here, you don't have to share anything you are uncomfortable sharing. However, we are to help you and listen."

The burning of eyes upon him made Harry's palms sweat despite the cold overtaking his body; another side effect of his thinner frame.

"This is my first time staying here alone," he nervously began. "And before coming here this morning, I was… on the phone with my… guardian… Well, he's going to adopt me soon, so he's practically my dad already. He works at my school and he called to make sure I was coming here today, but I could tell something was wrong… something in his… voice… seemed off. Then, he hung up quickly and I haven't been able to reach him since.

"And I guess I'm kind of worried about him. He has so much going on right now and I see it wearing him down and I don't know how to help him. I thought telling him I was fine when he said his substitute for his classes fell through and he wouldn't be able to stay here would help, but I don't think it's enough."

It hardly scratched the surface of what Harry knew Snape had on his plate. It still didn't account for whatever Death Eater stuff he had hanging over his head or Draco's situation that he knew Snape got involved in or being a Head of House or the massive project he's been pouring himself into for his lab work or anything else he didn't share even a hint of to Harry. And, like an iceberg, he was sure there was more beneath the surface for Snape to handle, making Harry feel even worse about taking up so much of the man's mind space.

"Caregiving, no matter who it falls on," Dr Michael spoke to Harry, but also drew the attention of the group to him, "comes with its own set of challenges, even before adding in the complexity of your changing relationship with Severus." Harry flushed at the mention of Snape's given name. "Most often, the caregiver has little choice in the matter because you had no choice in your disease, which can leave you feeling guilty or helpless."

Harry sat back and listened to the other patients share similar stories about their feelings surrounding their caregivers, with guilt over taking their time away from other siblings, work, or spouses topping the shortlist. For each person's situation, Dr Michael provided insight to help them preserve and, just as it always did, when the meeting ended, Harry felt lighter. At least, until the last five minutes of their meeting, when he felt one coin in his pocket getting hot. Harry resisted the urge to bolt out of there for his room only because they were so close to ending, anyway. Snape would want to know if Harry attended the entire meeting.

"Harry, can you please stay a minute?" Dr Michael called him back when Harry stood up to finally leave.

Harry frowned, considering his options. His hand was already in his pocket, fingering the two coins, wishing he'd put them in separate pockets. Then he'd know if it had been Snape who had replied or his friends giving him some mundane quip about how lucky he was not to have to study for seventh-year term exams; not that Harry was at all bitter over Ron's slew of messages last night.

"Yeah," Harry grudgingly answered, pulling his IV stand towards Dr Michael. "Everything alright?"

"I wanted to tell you I'm happy to hear about the adoption." The sincerity in his voice touched Harry in a way he never expected. How was it possible he grew up with the Dursleys when people like this existed? It didn't seem very fair to Harry. "Are you excited about it? A little nervous, perhaps?"

One coin in Harry's pocket warmed again. Another message he couldn't answer yet.

"Absolutely," he nodded enthusiastically; whatever it took to end the conversation quickly. "Excited, I mean. s'probably why I'm so worried about him, I guess. I hate putting him through all of this after we practically just found each other."

"Listen, Harry, I don't know Severus much more than a conversation here or there in passing-" The revelation surprised Harry as he didn't realize they'd ever spoken. If he had to venture a guess, he would've pinned Christopher as the one to give up the information to the therapist. "-but I can tell you if he's gone as far as adoption, he will not turn away from you now."

"I suppose." Harry scuffed his slippered foot across the floor.

The other man lightly touched Harry's shoulder. "You're a good kid, Harry," he stated emphatically. "Talk to him about your worries. I imagine that family counselling will be a requirement of the adoption. Given everything you're overcoming, it will help you both navigate life once this is all behind you… which it will be someday. If Severus needs any recommendations for a good family counsellor, I can leave a few for him."

Harry nodded slowly. "Thank you, Dr Michael, I'll let him know. Was there anything else?"

"No." The doctor gave him a friendly smile. "Go on back and get some rest. I heard you're done as of tomorrow morning."

Harry sighed. "Maybe my blood counts will behave for once and I'll actually be able to go home tomorrow."

"That's the positive thinking I like to hear." Dr Michael gently clasped his back. "Do you need any help to get back to your room?"

"I'll be fine taking it slow," Harry reassured the counsellor as he started walking his way towards the door. Dr Michael wandered the other way, towards Drew, Allie, and Charlie at the table, who were already two rounds into their usual post-therapy poker game.

Harry slowed down once he was safely halfway across the room, unable to wait until being back in his room to check the coins. As he reached into his pocket for the first coin, his hand trembled. Blank. Dammit. Perhaps this one was his friend galleon, meaning the other held a message from Snape, most likely blaming his long absence on his idiotic first years, and demanding to know if Harry went to therapy.

Audibly gulping down the lump forming in his throat, Harry repeated the action to fish out the second coin, pleased to see writing on it. His relief, however, was short-lived, and Harry collapsed to his knees after reading the message sent from Hermione's coin - based on the HG initials. People rushed to his side, but the young wizard couldn't see them through his blurred vision, and the sound of his heartbeat drumming in his ears kept him from hearing them yell his name. Harry was frozen in time and space, glaring down at the words in his hands, hoping to find some hidden meaning behind them, but knowing he'd find none.

HG: Harry, there's something big in the castle. We're hiding in the libr

~~~~SS~~~~

"Get everyone out, NOW! Hurry! Before it's too late!"

Whereas any other professor might have questioned the potential seer first, Severus didn't hesitate to push the growing crowd of curious students - who abandoned their quizzes as soon as Firenze blew the door open - further into the classroom.

"Everyone, stand back, now!" Severus roared, leaving no room for interpretation of the gravity of his demand. A sudden cacophony of falling chairs clattering to the floor and children's trainers thundering erupted behind him, and he turned to see the students lined up near his office door; all except for Hala, who appeared to be inching her way towards him with her hands still covering her ears and her eyes fixed on the door in an unfocused gaze.

"Miss Khatib, that includes you!" Severus angrily yelled at the eleven-year-old. She didn't respond, nor did she retreat in her slow journey forward.

Severus jumped at a loud, angry growl vibrating coming from the corridor behind Firenze, followed by the sound of metal clanging on stone. Whatever was in the castle - and there was definitely something there - it was large, dangerous, and getting closer to his classroom.

"Get in here." Severus yanked Firenze's muscular arm and dragged him into the classroom, slamming the door shut behind him. Unfortunately, he had little faith that the wooden door would keep whatever was on the other side out if it wanted inside badly enough, therefore they'd need an alternative plan soon. "What the hell is going on out there? Where's Albus?"

"The Headmaster was called to the Ministry this morning," Firenze replied.

"Of course he was." Severus threw his hands up into the air. Why did it seem as if the most important person in the school was never present when he needed to be? "So, do we know what we're dealing with yet?"

"No," said the other professor. "I've never seen anything like it. As soon as she detected it, Minerva sent me to get your help while she contacted the DMLE."

Another round of metal and wood carnage filled the classroom, this time sounding as if coming from the classroom next to his. Severus raised his hand to silence the worried children behind him.

"I have to go!" Hala screamed and darted past the professor, lunging for the doorknob.

Severus extended his arm, grateful for his quick reflexes, grabbing the hood of her green Slytherin robe right before she made it to the door. "No one is stepping even a foot outside of that door!"

The small girl said nothing as she twisted and contorted in a pattern oddly similar to the one he saw her doing right before he called her up to his desk during her quiz.

She foresaw this. And she didn't stop it from happening? Why?

The gravity of his realization startled him enough that he unintentionally loosened his grip on her, right as she dipped her head beneath her pinned hood, allowing her to twirl out of his grasp. Seeing her beeline for the door, Firenze backed up to block her path at the same time Severus pulled his wand to cast a locking spell on the door. The next events happened so quickly that Severus would later question the statistical likelihood of them occurring at all. He cast his spell at the exact moment Firenze moved, putting the centaur's right side squarely in the path of the yellow streak of light. Not only did he now block the spell's intended target of the spell, but the spell stung Firenze so badly, he ran forward, giving Hala an unobstructed route to the door. Hala never paused as she drew open the heavy door to slip out, closing it harshly in her wake.

"I'll go after her," Firenze offered. Without waiting for Severus's reply, he swung the door open again and left after the Slytherin.

Hala's actions left the room in a deafening silence. Severus, himself, stood for a solid ten seconds trying to comprehend the enormity of the situation going on around him. A harrowing scream accompanied by a crash on the wall to the right of the door, creating a jagged diagonal crack across the length of it, served as a reminder of the genuine danger in front of them.

"Everyone, to my office!" Severus instructed his students.

His directions came too late and before anyone could move, a three-meter-tall creature with rotting flesh falling from a partially exposed skeleton appeared in the doorway. At first, the creature - a draugr, he could now identify - seemed unsure whether it wanted to enter the classroom. It sniffed the air before flicking its black tongue out three times, like a snake. Severus stood frozen, his heart nearly beating out of his chest as he held his arms out wide to block the children, fully aware that if a creature of this size wanted to get past him, there wasn't much he could physically do to stop it.

They stood there for what felt like minutes but were probably only seconds while Severus formulated a plan, and a backup plan in case the first one failed, and yet another as a backup for his backup. Every part of him wanted to believe the draugr would flee, and he'd be able to get his students to safety before dealing with the beast. Recognizing the slim chances, the professor went on the defensive, casting protego between himself and the draugr, then summoning the chalkboard to act as a physical barrier. The two spells naturally drew the creature's attention to them in the room and it took off in their direction. The draugr's thunderous steps shook Severus to his core in a way he'd never felt before and hoped he'd never experience again.

"Office, now!" Severus yelled over his shoulder to his students, who didn't hesitate to move.

Severus held his ground, keeping the protective charms in place as the draugr stormed across the room, knocking over any desks and chairs in his way. As books, quills, and parchment flew around the room, Severus cast a sticking charm on the bottom feet of the chalkboard and raced to shuffle the last two students - both Gryffindors - into his office, slamming the door shut and locking it using the strongest protective charms he knew.

"Wh-what is that thing?" A Ravenclaw wizard asked.

"It's a draugr. You'll learn about them in seventh year," Severus responded, simultaneously moving his largest bookcase to block the door, and transfiguring his desk to extend the width of the room to give the students a place to hide.

"How do you kill it?!" The expected question came from the same Ravenclaw.

"Get behind the desk and stay there," Severus stated, unwilling to discuss the details he hadn't figured out himself yet such as where to find an iron weapon and a large fire.

He counted his students as they jumped over the surface, taking cover underneath the also expanded bottom. He accounted for all of them, except one - Hala.

The door and bookcase rattled violently with each attempt the creature made to enter. Severus stood tall in front of the desk, wand in hand, and ready to act when, not if, the draugr's super-strength eventually broke down the door. Each pounding became more powerful than the previous one, and in less than two minutes, the bookcase fell to Severus's feet.

"Protego Maxima!" Severus cast the protective spell just as the creature ripped the door off its hinges, creating a perfectly fitting white shield that successfully blocked them from their attacker. The smaller footprint, compared to the one he made in the main classroom, gave Severus a better chance of fortifying it to withstand the creature's attack, hopefully until another professor arrived or it gave up to find easier prey. His stomach lurched at the second thought. How many people had it injured already on its way to his classroom?

"Professor! Watch out!" The Hufflepuff, Aimee Loriss, warned him, pointing to the top left corner of his shield.

In a terrifying display of its shape-shifting abilities, the draugr's hands grew to thrice their normal size, and its fingers transformed into long, serrated claws. Using the new, more efficient claws, it struck the shield at its weakest point, the corner of the shield. After only three strikes, Severus could feel his magic draining. It wouldn't take much more for the creature to obliterate their only means of protection.

The creature struck twice more before pausing. Severus didn't dare lower his guard, instead, he used the brief respite to channel all of his strength back into the spell. It didn't matter, though. The creature mocked him with a sinister grin across the milky barrier, and shifted his hands again, replacing the jaggedness on his claws with glowing pinchers. Aiming for the shield's centre, the glowing pinchers melted it away like hot molten lava on ice. Everyone in the room screamed as the creature rushed over the fallen bookcase and onto the desk, deliberately ignoring Severus. The professor attempted to cast another protego over the students, but the creature was faster than his actions and blocked the stream of white light before it could latch onto any surface. When he saw the reformed, decaying hand reach under the desk and drag out Oran Grouse, the Gryffindor boy Severus reprimanded for cheating, the professor switched from defense to offense.

"Incarcerous!"

The conjured chains which wrapped around the creature's powerful arm eventually fell to the ground because they had nothing to grip onto. Desperate to get the creature to drop the young wizard, he spat out every curse, jinx, and spell he knew, even going as far as crucio. However, his intent wavered too much for that one to be effective.

"Sectumsempra!" He shouted out his homemade curse; the same one he had regretted inventing. He aimed it at the arm clutching Grouse so tightly the boy's side was bleeding from the cuts made by the razor-sharp claws. Fortunately, his curse worked to sever the creature's arm at the shoulder, causing the student still grasped within it to fall harshly onto the top of the desk.

Their reprieve did not last long, and he watched in horror as the draugr regrew his missing appendage, an act which should not have been possible in damage caused by his cutting curse. Fear threatened to creep in as he racked his brain for any way to get the creature to leave. Finally, he settled on one last option. Although it would be risky to do in his small office, given the sheer volume of texts surrounding them, he knew it would work as long as he maintained control throughout the spell.

Severus threw himself in front of the draugr and exclaimed, "Incendio!"

A fireball erupted from the tip of his ebony wand, illuminating the surrounding area in a soft, fiery glow. The creature jumped backwards, nearly tripping on the fallen bookcase at the door. Severus approached the creature cautiously, taking care not to ignite any of the papers surrounding them. Even catching one book on the flames would quickly transform the room into an oven, killing them all.

The risk paid off, and the draugr retreated into the classroom, furiously waving its hands in front of it. When they got halfway through the room, the creature appeared to give up on his students, turned around, and bolted out of the door, taking a left down the corridor. His students were now safe, but the rest of the school certainly was not.

Thinking fast, Severus hurried back to the office, where he repaired the door back onto its hinges. He needed to make sure his students were safe while he went after the creature.

"Do not leave this office until I, or another professor, opens this door, do you understand?" He warned his student, gravely. Collectively, they nodded. "I'm going to lock it and place a protective enchantment around it and the corridor door. Stay behind the desk and keep quiet."

With one last look at the two dozen terrified eyes trusting him with their lives, Severus closed the door and locked it as promised, then did the same to the classroom door. It'd have to do, and hopefully with the creature farther away, it wouldn't have a need to return to them.

Severus, now standing in the corridor, got his first glimpse of the monster's devastation. The walls were littered with crumbled holes roughly every meter, where the creature slammed its powerful fists in search of its victims. The portraits, now empty, were ripped to shreds and dangling haphazardly, threatening to fall on any passersby who so much as breathed the wrong direction; not that anyone would willingly do so right now. Explaining the crushing metal sounds he had heard, the Suits of Armour, usually assembled at the ends and middle of the corridors, were in pieces, flung all over the floor. The most upsetting sight of all, however, was the line of injured students on the floor, those who had been enjoying their open periods or going to or from the library for classes when the beast suddenly attacked them. Poppy was already there tending to their wounds, predominantly scrapes, cuts, and broken bones.

"Oh, Severus!" She gestured to his classroom. "Were any of your students hurt?"

"One," he replied. "It cut Mr Grouse on his side, but it does not appear to be life-threatening. I've magically locked the doors here and to my office, where I told the students to stay put until a professor arrives. I suspect they'll be relieved to see you."

The medi-witch nodded her understanding of what she needed to do.

Severus began his pursuit of the draugr by following the path of pure destruction and screams. He ducked his head into every room he passed, looking for anyone who might be hiding. If that was the case, he told them to stay put, sealed the door behind him, and labelled the outside with the standard identification marks the Board of Governors forced them to learn in safety training every year: a red triangle if there were injuries inside, and a yellow circle if there weren't.

Lost in his thoughts of how a damn draugr, of all things, got into the castle and how they were going to kill it, Severus almost missed the giant hole in the floor, stopping as his right foot slid precariously over the edge.

"What the hell?" He breathlessly exclaimed.

He bent down carefully to inspect the hole large enough to fit the draugr's body. It went straight through the solid stone floor to the second floor, where another identical hole led down to the first floor. Clearly, the breast had broken through the floor to get somewhere - did it have a destination in mind? - in a hurry. Severus now had to decide whether to continue on to the Grand Staircase or jump down the holes. The staircase would ensure he arrived in one piece, but the chances of catching the stairs in the proper configurations to take him down efficiently were small. And how many more people would the draugr harm because of the additional time it would take him to reach them?

Too many.

With his mind made up, Severus removed his teaching robes so they wouldn't get caught in the trip down, then inspected the two aligning spaces. If they were even a little off-centre or the timing on his slowing charm too late, he'd slam into the floor two stories below him; surely injuring him beyond magical repair. Nonetheless, he had to trust his instincts and take the risk. With one last big breath, he jumped into the hole, feet first, and almost immediately muttered, "Arresto Momentum" as if his life depended on it. He landed on the floor a moment later, harder than he preferred, but since nothing snapped in his legs, he counted it as a success.

Unfortunately, the sound of screaming emanating from the direction of the library reminded Severus of Hala's words:

What's the fastest route to the library? I suppose one could always create their own passages if they needed to get to… the library…

He looked up at the double holes leading from the Defense corridor to the one outside the library. But why did it want to go to the library? Or perhaps a better question: who in the library did it want?

Unwilling to waste precious seconds in answering those questions, the professor followed a similar path of broken stone, glass, and armour that led to the library. He came to a halt at the sight of Firenze, motionless on the floor in front of the double library doors. Severus cursed under his breath as he kneeled down to close the other professor's unseeing eyes, catching sight of the ripped flesh across the length of the centaur's side; clearly the cause of his death.

Standing again, Severus examined the condition of the corridor beyond the library. The wall and windows were still very much intact, suggesting the creature had entered the library and remained trapped inside, seeing as no alternative exit existed.

The atmosphere in the vast library was unusually quiet, considering what the professor knew hid within the stacks and stacks of texts. The visuals, on the other hand, told him a very different story. Most of the long, solid wooden tables had been overturned, either on their side - used as a protective cover - or completely upended, and it had shattered at least one into pieces. He crept up the centre of the room, meticulously placing his feet to avoid the crinkling of parchment or the crunching sound of a broken inkwell beneath his boots.

"Psst, Professor, over here," the noise from the bookcases to Severus's right caught his attention as he passed by the fifth aisle.

Huddled together under a rather impressive white protection dome sat three second-year Hufflepuffs, Hermione, Draco, Hala, Neville, Daphne, and Miles Lypus.

"Where did it go?" Severus whispered, urgently yet in control of his emotions.

"It's a draugr, sir," Hermione frantically replied.

"Yes, Miss Granger, I am aware of that," he hissed. "I asked you where it is, not what it is."

Her face flushed, and her brows knitted in concern. "I'm not sure. It came in and began… attacking everything, so we came here to get away-"

"And made the protective charm," Miles added.

"Yeah," Hermione agreed. "We figured it's got to be better than nothing, and the younger years couldn't defend themselves at all, so we gathered everyone we could. It must have worked because the draugr ran right past us towards the Restricted Section, and it's been eerily quiet since."

Severus leaned against the bookcases, his gaze drawn to the Restricted Section. If any students were back there, they weren't visible from his vantage point, but a streak of blood smeared along the floor caught his attention.

"Is anyone injured here?" He asked the group of students, visually examining them for cuts, scrapes, or missing appendages. Everyone appeared to be alright, but it meant someone else created those marks.

"We're fine, sir," Neville spoke up, surprising Severus with his even, almost fearless tone. "But there were a couple of other study groups at the tables behind us. We tried to get them over here… well… we didn't see what happened to them or the… draugr."

"It was huge, Professor," Daphne added. "How can it just disappear?"

"Remember, Miss Greengrass, it can shape-shift." He turned away from them to monitor the walkway. "It probably changed shape to conceal itself better in this environment. I'd assume something small and quiet."

"What does it want?" One of the second years asked, a little too loudly for Severus's liking.

"I don't know," he humbly answered. "It may have a specific target in mind or not, and I don't particularly want to keep it alive long enough to find out."

"How do we get rid of it?" Miles said, his voice tense.

"You do nothing," Severus stated, empathically. "The other professors, Aurors - if they ever actually arrive - and myself must either capture the creature, or my preferred method of removing its head with an iron sword, burning the damn thing, then tossing its ashes in the sea. Let's see who gets to it first."

The young students went wide-eyed at his description.

"I'm going to flesh it out of here and search for anyone hurt," Severus explained. "You all stay here and under the protective charm. Be aware, though, I know from experience it's learned to melt through the shield. Incendio appears to drive it away. Just be cautious using that charm around all the texts here. Nobody wants to survive a draugr to perish in a fire."

"Oh, but they have-" Hermione started in on what Severus assumed would be a lecture on the anti-fire charms of the books, but stopped at his warning glare. "Right."

He'd barely taken two steps out of the aisle when Minerva cried out from the entrance, "There you are, Severus!"

He whirled around to see the acting headmistress - given Albus's absence - distraught as she ran up to him. "Firenze is…" her wrinkled hand covered her mouth.

"I saw."

He watched her face go through at least a half-dozen different emotions as she dealt with the death of someone they both considered a valued colleague or friend. "The Aurors have been called," she eventually told him, "but they do not know what we're dealing with because I didn't know-"

"It's a draugr," he interjected.

"Are you certain?"

Severus refrained from rolling his eyes. "Yes, I am sure of it. So the aurors better come prepared with more than a wand… an iron weapon, to be exact."

"No magic?"

"Not unless we feel like experimenting. There have been many debates for centuries about the exact requirements to remove its head, however an iron sword… or any iron weapon… has consistently worked."

Together, they walked towards the Restricted Section, stopping once for Minerva to transfigure two quills into battle-axes. "Will these work?"

Severus took a test swing with the weapon. "I'm not sure. It might not work because you transfigured the molecules in this, but it's as good as anything right now."

Severus told her about the events that transpired in his classroom, including Hala's strange behaviour, the hole he jumped through down two floors, and what little he learned from Hermione. They had reached the edge of the Restricted Section when they were startled by a noise behind them.

"We have to go," Hala screamed in the quiet room, dragging a reluctant Draco out of their aisle by his arm.

"Are you crazy?!" The blonde wizard pulled away. "We have to stay under the protect-"

He didn't have time to finish before an angry roar ripped through the air, practically sucking all the oxygen out of the room.

"Follow me," Hala yelled, sprinting for the doors with Draco right as the draugr appeared undetected between the professors and the students.

It growled at the two Slytherins, sharp claws poised to rip them apart as Severus suspected it had done to Firenze until Neville Longbottom darted out of the aisle. He stepped confidently between the monster and its prey, his wand drawn and a stream of controlled fire emanating from it.

"Go!" Neville called out to Draco and Hala over his shoulder. "Get outta here now!"

Except Hala didn't act with the same sense of urgency she originally had when she dragged Draco into danger. Sensing their continued presence, Neville angled his shoulders to see them, inadvertently pulling the fire away in the process. An amateur move, which Severus foresaw as soon as the Gryffindor noticed the two lingering behind; a real-life demonstration of the lessons he'd been teaching them about staying focused on their opponent.

Desperate and out of all viable options, Severus threw the battle axe at the creature, using Wingardium Leviosa to help carry it the extra distance. Although it didn't carry nearly enough force to knock the creature out, the hit distracted it long enough for Hala, Draco, and Neville to escape through the library doors.

"We have to go," Severus motioned for Minerva to follow, which she did without hesitation; after all, she didn't become the Head of Gryffindor for nothing.

Moving into a more active pursuit, the professors rushed down the corridor after the draugr and two students, navigating around broken statues, through shattered windows, and checking on the students they encountered along the way; relieved to find that none of them had been wounded too seriously. No, it almost appeared as if the draugr had just one goal right now: either Draco or Hala, and Severus figured the odds were roughly equal between the two.

As they approached the Great Hall, Severus's stomach plummeted to his feet at the very distinct sound of Draco shrieking; a scream of pain, not of fear.

No, no, no. He repeated to himself, running as fast as his legs could carry him.

Nothing, not even Severus's strongest Occlumency, could ever erase his memory of the scene he ran up to: Draco sprawled out on the floor, trembling, breathing - he noted - and bleeding from lacerations not immediately visible through the young wizard's bloodstained robes. Draco's normally vivacious, grey eyes were so swollen shut, Severus doubted he could see anything through them, and surrounding them, patches of burnt flesh replaced his normally unblemished, pale skin. Kneeling by his side, holding onto his hand, was Hala, telling him he'd be fine in a soft but confident voice. Severus, though, wasn't so sure, and a large part of him assumed she'd already seen his death and her words were merely to console her fellow Slytherin.

For what it was worth, the draugr didn't seem to have escaped unscathed. Severus saw several patches of burnt, decaying flesh, although he doubted the beast noticed any of them. It stood at the entrance of the Great Hall, fighting against the protective enchantment fuelled by Filius, Horace, and Pomona; one far stronger than Severus's had been on his own. Seamus, Dean, Ron, Anthony Goldstein, and Blaise Zabini stood guard behind them, their wands raised, ready to fight the creature if it breached the barrier. Beyond the two lines of defense, a group of younger students were clustered together behind the high table.

No matter how badly Severus wanted to prioritize helping Draco - understanding Poppy couldn't safely arrive with the creature next to him - his duty as a professor and head of house was to protect as many students as possible, which meant containing, if not killing, the draugr first.

The Coats of Armour!

When he first saw the beast's devastation, the professor never stopped to think about why it had specifically ripped apart every single armoured statue it passed, sometimes forcing it to halt or detour its rampage. When he gave it another thought, though, he realized the Coats of Armour all had weapons. Weapons that had most likely not been transfigured. Weapons made of real iron.

"Accio iron battle axe!" He commanded, holding out his arm to catch the soon-to-be-lethal weapon from wherever it lay within the rubble, only to realize too late that he couldn't control which side came flying towards him. Fortunately, it came handle-side first, and Severus easily caught it.

"Move back," Severus instructed Filius and the other teachers, making one final calculation in this last attempt. The way he saw it, he'd either kill the creature or get himself killed, and as a Slytherin, he wouldn't take a risk he didn't think he could win. "Move back, then remove the protego on my signal… and only on my signal."

"Remove it?!" Filius exclaimed. "Are you crazy? It'll get in here!"

"That's the point," Severus hissed through his clenched teeth, half angry at his colleague for doubting his ability, and half trying to muster up any courage for what was about to happen.

It took Filius a second, but eventually, he placed his trust in their Defense Master and relayed the instructions to the others, leaving Filius to hold the primary barrier while Horace and Pomona built a new one around the younger students huddled in the far corner of the room. The older students remained in their original positions; albeit slightly further away.

As he intended, the brief conversation diverted the draugr's attention away from the Great Hall entrance, giving the Charms professor plenty of space to retreat safely when Severus gave his signal, "finite". Later, those watching him would say he never hesitated, that he appeared confident and in control. But he'd be lying if he believed them. The truth was, he felt absolutely terrified as he dashed up to the monster and swung the axe with all his might, aiming straight for its neckline. Since Severus had never seriously attacked anyone by muggle means before, he initially thought he missed because the cut went through so easily - having no muscle or actual skin to go through likely helped. But when he opened his eyes to the draugr's head rolling down the corridor, a wave of relief washed over his tired body.

You're not done yet, he reminded himself. You need to get it into the fireplace.

Dropping the axe at his feet, he drew his wand; the flipendo sitting on his lips ready to go, except standing there before the wavering monster he had found he had nothing left inside of him to cast it. His body felt sore and broken, surely a result of the morning's events catching up with him. Despite not having noticed any of them earlier, his wounds screamed at him from every angle of his body, demanding his attention and refusing to let him fight any longer. A quick examination of his body revealed deep bruising along the entire side of his right leg, most likely caused by the two-story fall through the holes, a wide lactation actively dripping blood onto the dusty floor beneath the ripped sleeve of his shirt, and a sharp pain in his rib and back jolting through him with every breath he took. His magic was in no better shape, and he couldn't summon even a spark if his life depended on it, which it practically did if the draugr never made it into the fireplace.

"Flipendo!"

A streak of yellow zipped past his face, striking the half-living draugr square in the chest, propelling it backwards into the Great Hall. Severus turned to see Filius, his wand expertly flourishing in front of him, approaching with an air of confidence he'd never seen in the usually timid professor. The room watched in awe as Filius demonstrated exactly how he'd earned his former title as duelling champion in a grand display of spell work. By rapidly firing off spell after spell, never once allowing whatever life remained in the headless creature to recover, he manoeuvred it around the Gryffindor table until it finally tumbled into the tall flames in the fireplace, followed closely by the head courtesy of Horace's levitation charm.

As the Great Hall erupted in ear-piercing cheers and applause, Severus gave a quick nod of gratitude to his colleagues. Students swarmed around them, eager to see their tormentor's body burn in the fireplace. Severus's victory, however, felt hollow because it came at the expense of a potential loss he was unprepared to face. With everyone regaling their individual stories of where they were when they heard the news, what they thought when they first saw the creature, and gossiping about those they knew had been attacked, Severus darted away to find Draco, ignoring every 'way to go', 'great job', and 'we're lucky you were here' thrown his way. He didn't care about the compliments. He didn't want the praise. More than anything, he needed Draco to live.

The commotion from the Great Hall spilled into the corridor where Draco remained, now joined by Minerva and Poppy, the latter already hovering her wand over Draco's chest, chanting the powerful healing spell Vulnera Sanentur. Meters behind them, Hermione, Ron, Luna, and at least a dozen other students from across all the houses waited in silence - aside from a few sniffles - to hear the news of what became of their classmate, friend, and boyfriend.

"How is he doing?" Severus dropped to his knees and asked Poppy after she finished whatever round of the healing spell she'd been on. If pressed, Severus would assume the young wizard would require at least five or six rounds to adequately close up the lacerations. "Have you given him a blood replenisher? How about Burn Salve? The Apothecary Grade should be in the lockbox, but if not, I have a jar in my quarters. And Dittany-"

"Severus," the mediwitch sternly stopped his rambling, placing her hand on his. "You did your job. Let me do mine. Now take a step back so I can work."

Severus sat stunned for a moment before realizing the significance of her worlds. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence for him to be called to the hospital wing to assist in the more serious or unusual cases; it never hurt to have an extra set of hands when multiple potions or spells were required or another mind to bounce ideas off of. However, an irrational or irate friend or family member could be detrimental to the healing process and today she placed him in that same category, sending him away in the same way she had Hermione.

They exchanged no more words as Minerva helped him off the floor and to the side opposite the other students who were watching her work.

"He's a fighter, Severus-" Minerva took his hand in her and gave him a squeeze of support. "-just like Harry, you'll see. He'll be alright."

"Firenze-"

Minerva cut him off before he made the connection in his mind he'd been dreading since he first saw Draco. "According to the students outside the library, the creature ambushed Firenze almost unseen. Somehow it made it appear as if it was going to continue down the corridor away from the library, but then turned to attack him. I doubt he knew what was going on."

To Severus, that almost seemed worse, but he didn't dare share that anecdote. Minerva had sent Firenze, and whether warranted or not, Severus understood too well how her secondary role in his death would haunt her for years.

They stood side-by-side watching Poppy do her work, until the sound of marching up the stairs beside them drew their attention to the arrival of a group of six aurors, led by Kingsley and Albus.

"It's about time you've shown up," Minerva lectured the witches and wizards. "Severus and Filius took care of it already and you think you're going to stroll up here and take over?"

Having to always be the voice of reason, Albus said, "Minerva, there will be plenty of opportunities to assign blame-"

"Ooh, you can bet I'll speak up."

"-but as I understand, we have at least one fatality to account for and to finish the cleanup?" He asked the second half of his question to Severus.

"Someone needs to collect the ashes and toss them into the sea," he relayed the crucial step to permanently remove the draugr from their world. "Although I must admit, the precise consequences of missing pieces of ash or skipping the damn step entirely have not been thoroughly studied. If it were me, I'd wipe down every inch of that hearth to ensure I got every ash, but it's up to you and your team to decide how to proceed. I've done my part."

Kingsley, to his credit, didn't comment on Severus's sarcastic response, as the professor knew he wouldn't. The auror had too much self-respect to engage in such a public debate and simply inclined his head to accept Severus's suggestion on his way into the Great Hall; Minerva, Albus, and the team of aurors shuffling in behind him.

"He's going to survive," Poppy announced once the door to the Great Hall had been closed, offering them some privacy. She brushed off her robes and conjured a stretcher directly next to Draco, onto which she expertly levitated him without so much as shifting a single hair on his head.

Hermione collapsed to the ground in relief, sobbing into her hand upon hearing the news. Her friends surrounded her to support her in a way which selfishly pained Severus to watch. Had he been in Draco's situation during his Hogwarts years, only one person would have cried like that for him - none after his fifth year. Yet, against all odds, Draco Malfoy, of all people, broke free from his past to grow and flourish like no one he'd ever seen.

"I'll be transferring him to the Hospital wing, now that he's stable. I expect you to follow me up there so I can tend to you as well," Poppy lectured him, scrutinizing him from head to toe. She hesitated, as if deliberating what to say to tell him. But whatever it was, she ultimately kept it to herself, instead turning to silently levitate the stretcher out of the corridor.

As soon as they left, a streak of black behind the hovering students caught Severus's eye. He scowled when he identified what it - or rather who - was there.

"Go get yourselves checked out in the Hospital Wing," Severus advised Hermione and the other students, Draco's friends. "I doubt you'll be able to see Draco for at least a few more hours, but as a patient there, I suspect you'll be able to keep a closer eye on him."

Ron helped to pull Hermione up off the floor. "But Professor," the Gryffindor witch said, motioning to his bleeding arm, "you're-"

"Go, Miss Granger." His voice rose on the first word, but then fell back. It wouldn't be good for any of them if he misdirected his rage at them. "I'll be up soon. There are still some… things… I have to take care of down here."

Hermione swiped her tears away with the side of her hand. "Ok, sir," she sniffled. "Let's go guys."

He waited for the corridor to be clear before speaking.

"Get over here," he growled to the small first-year student hiding in the shadows. Hala emerged slowly, her hands clasped behind her back. The day had officially come full circle as she stood in front of him again, no different from how she had in his classroom. "What on this bloody earth were you thinking?" He reminded himself that being both her and Draco's Head of House, he should treat them equally. Except the more he thought about her actions and her words in his office, the more enraged he became, bursting the dam he had not-so-carefully built, unleashing his fury onto her. "You saw this happen! You knew, but you did nothing to stop it! Why didn't you tell me?! I could have helped you! I could have prepared the castle… or done something… anything… to have possibly prevented this!

"And then… Draco… you pulled him out of the safety of the library and-" he struggled to breathe, recalling her insistence in fleeing their protection. "You almost got him killed! Is that what you wanted?! Was that the point of it all?! And Firenze…"

The image of the slain centaur lying on the ground accosted his vision. To help control the panic rising in his chest, he ran his hands through his hair. It took him two solid minutes to regain his control and Hala remained motionless the entire time. In fact, she hadn't reacted to him, or his rant, much at all.

"Get out of my sight." He waved her away in the general direction of the dungeons. "I'll deal with you later."

But she didn't budge, didn't even flinch in the face of his stern voice. "Why are you still standing here?" He spat at her. "I said to leave!"

"I saved his life."

Once again, four small words practically unravelled him on the spot.

"Excuse me?" He snarled at her. "You what?"

She squared her shoulders in the same way Harry used to face him as a first-year… before Severus discovered the truth behind his insolent attitude and altered their reality.

"I saved his life," she calmly repeated. "And everyone else under the shield in the library. That… that thing… had already got past you and professor McGonagall. It would have killed all of us if we had stayed. It came for him, but by going to the Great Hall, Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and Slughorn could distract it before it…"

He didn't need to hear the rest of her sentence to figure out how it would have ended. Suddenly, the walls seemed to close in on him, and the longer he stood there staring at her, the more his excruciating body protested every second he remained on his feet. He'd taken two steps towards the Hospital Wing, more than ready for a strong pain potion, when her small voice stopped him.

"It was already in when I saw it," she explained to his back. "I can't always save them all, Professor, no matter how hard I try."

Chapter End Notes:
Coming up Next: The Draugr

Disclaimer Repeated: Under no circumstances was this written to mock, take advantage of, or make light of any school attack. My heart has been heavy thinking about the recent shootings around the US and I understand the timing of this chapter could not have been worse. Please know that this chapter has always been part of the original "things to happen" outline for Smoke and Mirrors. While the list has grown, shrunk, and been chronically rearranged several times, this one has stayed the same. Unfortunately, there has been too much groundwork laid out to move the event or change it without completely unravelling the end of this story. I'd also like to specify that I wrote the action sequence of the chapter at the beginning of May, before most of the major events had occurred around me. All of this to say, when I wrote it, never did I think something would happen so close to my subject of writing.

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