21

Chapter 21: Lilies

Griphook gestured for Narcissa to enter, an amused smile playing on his lips. Goblins seldom delved into the affairs of wizards, but Griphook was certainly aware of them, and took particular joy in doing nothing at all.

Narcissa stepped carefully into the room, having been warned that there was a duplication spell on anything she touched. Mounds of gold intermixed between illegal artifacts, precious family heirlooms, and various other things were piled to the ceiling of one of the deepest vaults.

"Hufflepuff's cup..." Narcissa murmured, spotting it amid a thin tower of jewels. She stepped carefully around the treasure, walking as close as she could to the cup. "I don't suppose Accio works down here..." she muttered bitterly.

Griphook laughed from the door.

"Climbing is the easiest way."

Narcissa tried not to glare at the creature, for she knew that as soon as she touched something, everything would multiply and scorch her body. But it was nothing a little potion couldn't fix. Firming her resolve, she leapt into the air, grabbing wildly at the tower than began to crumble into millions of fake coins and jewels. She could only imagine how foolish the goblin thought her.

She grunted with the effort of staying afloat. It was like grabbing a fistful of sanding and praying that it could hoist you up. The fake treasure burned her bare arms, legs, and face as things went flying. Eventually, her hands clasped the handles of the cup, and this too began to multiply.

"Ahh!" She kept a firm hold on the real cup, sensing a sort of power run up her arm at the touch. What was this? Why had the Dark Lord entrusted such a dangerous object to her sister and not to her? Well, there were seven- perhaps they were scattered everywhere. A dread settled over her heart- though she knew not why, and she leapt for all it was worth, down to the blazing pit of gold, before scampering out the door.

Her body ached from the burns, and she cradled the cup to her chest. The duplication spell had worn off as she exited the vault, and Griphook shut the door behind her.

"Well done! Well done!" he cried. "Would you like a bag, perhaps?"

Narcissa glared at him, "Yes, please." she hissed, angry that he found such joy in her suffering.

The two clambered back into the cart, where Griphook reached beneath the seat and pulled out a small woven sack. As the ride began to the surface, Narcissa secured the cup inside of it, and spelled it tied onto the owl.

Oh, what she did for strangers...she rubbed at her arm, determined to ask Severus for a burn balm as soon as he stopped by.

She thanked the goblin, who was still chuckling under his breath, and strode out into the lobby feeling triumphant. Finally, she was able to help her family, even if her part was never known.

From somewhere on her right, a deep honeyed voice spoke to a preoccupied goblin. This speaker was hidden beneath a heavy black cloak, yet her face was imprinted into Narcissa's mind. Black hair, full lips, heavy lids.

"Vault 989."

.oOo.

Severus Snape approached the Hospital Wing like a ghost or some other creature of the night. His eyes were a burning obsidian and his composure was altogether decomposed. There were many things pressing on his mind, and as immaculate as he liked to think himself, he knew that even he could not hope to organize the mess that was his life.

Perhaps it was when he woke up previously that day to the sound of panicked knocking...

Now, Severus didn't like to overestimate his reputation, but he was pretty sure only a dunderhead would dare to wake the Potions Master at this early hour. Even so, he dragged himself out of bed, grabbed a long black robe (the teaching kind, not a bathrobe) and thrust open the door to bring doom around the ears of whoever it was that stood outside. A foolish Gryffindor, out pranking? A stupid Hufflepuff who had lost his way? An indignant Ravenclaw, ready to spit fire because of a bad grade?

"What?" Severus growled, before realizing that there were two of them, each from a different house. His heart froze midbeat. Without really knowing it he knew at once that it was about Hasan. Hadn't the same thing happened last year?

"Professor Snape!" Theo urged. "You have to come, quick!"

"It's Draco, professor. Draco, Neville, and Hasan! They're unconscious and—" Hermione began to shout hysterically. He noticed that her usually bushy hair was curled in soft waves, not exactly the typical bed head. In fact, what where Theo and Hermione doing out this early anyway?

"Where are they?" Snape demanded, growing pale. It was not only Hasan, but his own godson, and the supposed boy-who-lived. The three people who were to avoid trouble at all costs, and the three most likely to find it.

"They're outside the girl's bathroom, sir!" Hermione shouted, licking her lips nervously.

"Get Madame Pomfrey!" Snape said, fairly running to the rescue. Merlin, could he never get a break? Upon arriving, the most peculiar sight met him. Hasan Castell, Draco Malfoy, and Neville Longbottom lay haphazardly on the castle floor. In Neville's hand was a wand and...a book with a gaping hole that appeared to have been started from acid. Moving closer, he could just make out the title, "Tom Marvolo Riddle." he breathed.

Eerie. There was no other way to describe it. Neville's shirt had some clean rips through it, as though someone had sliced his robes with a cutting spell, and Draco's robes seemed soaked with blood, or some other dark substance. Gazing upon the third, he could not detect any abnormalities, which of course put Hasan under the most scrutiny. Why were they here? Why were they together? Had they fought? Against what? And how was a book of Voldemort's somehow involved?

Perhaps if he were not as tired he would have realized what the diary was right on the spot. But as it was, he was tired, and he had quite enough to be thinking about. Just as he reached out to pluck the book from Neville's limp grasp, the headmaster and Madame Pomfrey turned the corner.

"Oh dear!" Poppy lamented, clutching at her nightgown.

Severus snatched his hand back, but Albus had already seen.

"What is that, Severus?" Albus asked suspiciously, even as he summoned it.

"I'm sure I don't know." Snape sighed tiredly. "But it appears to have been destroyed."

"What happened?" Poppy gasped, completely oblivious to them. She conjured some stretchers and levitated each boy onto one. "What were they doing out here past curfew? And I believe two of them are from your own house, Severus."

"Two students from Gryffindor were also up and about." Snape reminded her shrewdly. Apart from being irked about house prejudices, he had no intention of telling Dumbledore of his previous whereabouts anytime soon.

Poppy clicked her tongue and bustled away, levitating the stretchers behind her. Severus was about to follow when Dumbledore shook his head.

"I think it is best to get the full story in the morning." he said. "I just can't believe how I keep failing. No, don't comfort me. I know I'm missing something, but I just can't see it. Perhaps we are all tired...I'll write to their parents in the morning. Good night, Severus."

The headmaster seemed tired, remorseful even. But there was a glint in his eye that caused Severus to doubt, and it did not go unnoticed when the headmaster slipped the book of Tom Marvolo Riddle into his cloak pocket. Voldemort, Severus remembered absently. The book belonged to Voldemort...

He didn't remember when he went back to bed, only that he knew he did, and that he woke for the second time that morning with pain running through his arm. He didn't need to glance down to see that his Dark Mark was bright red and looked like hell. Sure, he had known since last year that Voldemort was back, but the diary and now this? Severus groaned. Today was not his day.

But perhaps the thing most prominent thing in his mind, (if he had to choose), would be that Hasan Castell was Harry Bloody Potter.

Hasan Castell, the prodigal son of the idiot Altair, was the bloody savior of the Wizarding world, which was not even to mention the son of Lily Evans and that bastard James Potter! To be extremely honest, the emotion residing in Snape's heart was fear. How would he handle this situation? Who could he tell? What was he to do? And then of course, Harry Potter's disappearance smoothed over the resentment he had felt towards James Potter through some form of pity. So what Snape really feared when it came down to it, was NOT being able to hate Hasan Castell.

How funny he should fear something as trifle and nonsensical as not hating! Perhaps he was just horrified at the prospect of what Dumbledore would say or how Minerva would act. Why, they would probably have a heart attack and then have him carted off to St. Mungo's for mental instability. No thank you! Now that Voldemort was back, Potter resurfacing was a blessing. Hadn't the poor boy proven himself capable of eradicating the madman thrice already? Once as a baby, twice as a boy? If anything, Snape should be rejoicing, but now, as he stood here in the doorway, all he could think of was Fuck and Mercy.

For not only was Hasan Castell looking straight at him with his dead jade eyes despite his best efforts not to be noticed, but Lucius Malfoy and his son were awake and present as well.

How could he hope to speak of Altair with Hasan if the Malfoy Lord was present as well? Snape stiffened in his otherwise smooth stride, trying in vain to unlock his jaw, a rather bothersome habit. It appeared that the three had been conversing with one another, but about what? What interest did Lucius have in Hasan? If Lucius suspected any more about the boy...

"Ah, Severus," Lucius greeted heavily. "How are you, my friend?"

Ignoring those jade eyes the best he could, Snape replied, "Fine, Lucius. Fine as always," What a lie, "And you?"

"Fine, as well."

As they were talking, Hasan noticed something peculiar about the way Draco reacted. Draco almost appeared to be resentful of his godfather, an emotion that Hasan had never seen directed at Snape at least. He seemed to shrink back, twisting the sheets unconsciously between his fingers, as he gazed at the Potions Master. What had happened? Was it as Hasan expected? That Snape had asked Draco for his books and this had started it all-wait! If that were true then why was it that Snape didn't open the chamber? Unless, perhaps, Snape was only after his Lord of the Rings books and Draco took the diary for himself...but why would Snape want those books? His head started pounding. He was over thinking things...again. With a sigh, he returned his attention to the conversation at hand.

"Snape." Draco said coolly, causing his father to raise a slight eyebrow.

"Draco." Severus returned lightly. "Mr. Castell." He added, nodding in the boy's direction.

"Professor Snape." Hasan replied pleasantly enough.

"Well, now that introductions are out of the way, perhaps you could tell us what happened, Severus. Dumbledore's been no help in that regard."

"I would imagine." Severus sighed. "I know only how I found them. Maybe Draco or Mr. Castell would be so kind as to enlighten us about the rest?"

Eyes fell expectantly on Draco who only flushed and looked desperately at Hasan.

"I-I was possessed by the Dark Lord."

"The Dark Lord?" Snape repeated in surprise.

Draco nodded numbly. "I believed him when he said that there was something to show me. I- I let him!"

"Draco, the Dark Lord does not ask." Lucius swooped in comfortingly. "He takes and twists situations around so that you have to live with the guilt of his sins all your life."

Severus blinked, startled. Had Lucius turned coat?

"But I don't think you understand!" Draco protested feebly. "I said yes. He-" he gulped, "-We were writing..."

Snape paled. Was the Diary they found more than a mere artifact? Was it one of them- a horcrux? But it was found destroyed with a gaping, sizzling hole down the center, and if Draco had been lured by it before the incident then...someone in the chamber had had to have destroyed it. His black eyes flickered momentarily to Hasan who sat thoughtfully on the hospital bed.

"Draco," Hasan said quietly, "I said I forgave you." He didn't want Lucius to know that he had taken the diary in the first place.

"But I still did it and I'm- oh, gods, Hasan, I'm so sorry." Draco sighed.

"Perhaps you should take a Calming Draught. Severus?" Lucius asked.

Snape nodded, extracting a glass vial from his cloak.

"Drink this." he said, handing the boy the potion.

Draco looked dubiously at it as he uncorked the vial, before downing it in one go. Hasan bit his lip as the smell of another potion filled his nose but he couldn't dwell on this for long as Lucius doubled over in pain, grasping his arm with a hiss.

"Please excuse me." Lucius said hoarsely, but as he went to say goodbye to Draco, he noticed that the boy was out cold. He shot Severus an inscrutable look before fairly running out of the infirmary.

"That wasn't a Calming Draught." Hasan spoke suddenly. "Why?"

Severus looked him straight in the eyes, trying to picture James' face around it. He couldn't. "So that we could talk, come." Snape gestured towards the door and the two were off down the hall, arriving at an abandoned classroom in minutes. Snape cast privacy spells around the room before fixing Hasan with a very rigid stare. The man looked more tired than Hasan remembered and more than a little stressed.

"Tell me," Snape said lowly, "Are you wearing a glamour, Mr. Potter?"

"A...glamour?" Hasan repeated, feeling his entire soul constrict.

"Yes, Mr. Potter, a glamour. A disguise if you will." Severus whispered, taking a step forward.

"I don't know what you mean." Hasan denied shakily. His breath was coming out shallow and he swallowed. No! No! No! Luna knew, but who would believe her? But if Snape knew...if Snape knew then Dumbledore would know and then what? He'd be labelled as Dumbledore's golden boy and reeled in just like Neville. His façade would shatter. His life would shatter. Hasan Castell would die. "And why are you calling me Mr. Potter? I'm just Hasan!"

"I don't believe you!" Snape snarled and wrenched into the boy's mind with ferocity. Teachers were not to use Legilimency on students at all costs, but Potter was an exception. There was no room for doubt anymore, he had to know. He expected a simple answer. A word of true or false. What he was not expecting was to be smacked into a memory so utterly foreign that his own mind reeled from the impact.

A younger Altair Castell sat cross legged on a bed that Severus identified as Lucius'. The blond aristocrat was not far off, however, as he was standing in the chamber with a peculiar black book in his hands. It appeared to be handwritten, and the ink stains on their hands seemed to indicate that Altair and Lucius had written it. But what was it and why? For the life of him, Severus could not imagine anything the two had in common.

"You know we'll have to hide it." Lucius spoke evenly, breaking the silence. "We can place it in the Malfoy vault or disguise it here."

Altair shook his head. "No. I'll take it."

"You know he'll kill us both if he finds it." Lucius said again. He turned the book over in his hands.

Altair shrugged. "You know it's only a matter of time before he figures out I heard him."

The tension in the memory was so thick Severus even felt uneasy.

"I wish you hadn't."

"But I did. Look, Lucius." Altair sighed. "You don't need to go through this. You haven't done anything wrong. You come from an old pureblood family and you've got a chance to survive. Go marry that Black from school, have an heir, be free."

"Touching." Lucius sneered, "But what would life be without you? I'm coming with. We already have the locket, the diary, and know the location of the cup. All we need to do is publish this and destroy the items."

Altair nodded solemnly. "As soon as you publish it, your head will be wanted too. He'll want to know who's responsible for his drop in numbers. I can't allow that."

"Then how do you propose we take down the Dark Lord?"

"With both of us alive."

Altair turned slowly to face the blonde. His eyes were bloodshot and his wand was in his hands. It took Malfoy a minute to register the change.

"Wait, Altair! No-!" he said, stepping forward.

"Stupefy."

The blonde crumpled to the ground. The air was still. Altair got up slowly and kneeled beside him, taking the book from his nonexistent grasp and brushing back his blond hair in a tender sort of way. He walked around the room, summoning his own possessions from various drawers, almost as if he lived there. After pocketing the locket, he took out a thin blue phial and his wand. Severus held his breath. The wand touched Lucius' temple, and pulling away, held a wispy memory. "Oh, Lucius. I hope you'll forgive me." Time passed. The phial filled. "It was the only way."

The memory ceased with Lucius being laid gently on the bed.

Severus found himself staring into dull green eyes. He blinked and found that his eyes were moist. He expected the boy to start screaming, protesting that he had unjustly ripped his way through his mind, but...nothing came. The boy was as pale as he.

"What was that?" Snape finally demanded, sinking onto the nearest desk.

"I don't know." the boy replied nervously. "I- Was that Mr. Malfoy?"

"A young one, yes."

"Then why did he tell me he never met another Castell?"

"Perhaps because you aren't a Castell, now are you, Harry?"

"It's Hasan." he said shortly. "And I don't think Mr. Malfoy was lying."

Snape sighed—he'd work the Potter thing out later. Right now, he had to know what the hell was going on.

"A simple memory charm—" Snape said impatiently with a wave of his hand.

"B-but, I thought it was only the Blo-" Hasan suddenly flushed, not wanting to mention the Black Blood Book. "I didn't think he had erased every single memory of himself." he murmured.

"When one is running from the Dark Lord, loose ends are best tied." Severus told him, (secretly impressed that Altair had thought as much.) But why should Harry Potter of all people have these memories...? That was the real mystery. "Have you ever remembered anything like that happening before?"

Hasan bit his lip and placed his hands behind his back, gripping another desk for support.

"Twice. Whenever I go near dementors I remember more of the...other memories. Are they real, professor? Am I just imagining these things? Do you think that the dagger transferred some memories over to me?"

Dagger? Snape thought. As in, the Malfoy dagger? He vaguely remembered something about it, and filed it away for later.

"Hasan, do you remember which form your patronus took?" Severus began slowly.

The boy gave him an odd look as if to say, what did this have to do with anything.

"A peacock," he answered slowly.

"And did you think that perhaps it didn't fit you?"

Hasan shrugged. This was too weird. "What are you trying to say?" he asked with an edge.

"I think..." Severus took a calming breath, "I think that Lucius' memories are trapped inside your mind."

Hasan stopped breathing for a minute. His suspicions were confirmed then. He had been wondering all year, but now it was obvious. The Blood Book was the cause of all of this, he thought bitterly. It was all about Voldemort in the end, wasn't it? So then who was he? Was he Harry Potter? Savior of the Wizarding World? A child? A warrior? Altair's only son? Or maybe he was just a tool, a worthless vessel fit for EVERYONE to use. When had Altair done this to him? Why had Altair done this to him?

"What am I?" Hasan asked with suppressed rage. "Am I just a tool for you? You go tearing through my mind to solidify your place in the Light! Altair only adopted me to use as a glorified pensieve! Draco only became my friend to spy on me! And Dumbledore! Do you see how he treats Neville? Imagine once he learns of who I am! Neville isn't the same anymore! The attention is getting to his head and it's all Dumbledore's fault! But I suppose my life doesn't matter because as soon as Voldemort knows where I am, because we've already met, I don't even stand a chance! He'll just Avada me and all my problems will end like that!" Hasan's face was flushed, his chest was heaving, and sometime during his speech, he had gotten his wand and now gripped it tightly in front of him. Severus was scared—the boy was unpredictable, and worse, the boy made perfect sense. "All I want," Hasan cried. "Is to be me. I don't bloody want to be used anymore!"

"Hasan-!"

But before either of them could move, Hasan was writhing on the ground. Pain like scalding knives sliced Hasan's forehead open. He was bleeding.

Severus watched in horror as the boy shuddered and gasped from the effects of the cruciatus, but that wasn't possible! Unless...he watched the famous scar become outlined in blood, though the glamour-or whatever it was-held strong. Dumbledore was right. There was a stronger connection between Harry Potter and Voldemort that no one would understand.

He hadn't realized the full implications of Lucius' leave just prior, but now it made sense. The Dark Lord had returned and had enough strength to risk summoning Lucius, not to mention what he was doing to Hasan so many miles away. It was only a matter of time before Severus himself was Called...

As he stared down at the suffering body before him, all he could think of was how Lucius?

-VISION START-

Hasan's eyes were blazing. It was a shame that his eyes were also shut so no one could see them. But if they could, they would have seen molten emerald. His entire body shook, but whether it was from pain or power, he didn't know. These emotions...they were all too much. He tried to tell himself that they were just chemical reactions in his brain triggered by his nervous system, but somehow, he didn't find this answer as satisfactory as before. How could he logic away this pain? How could he ignore his anger?

"Lucius...You disappoint me." a deadly soft voice came from nearby.

"M-my Lord?"

"Crucio!"

Hasan was attacked by the knives again, but no scream came out, almost as if his body were mocking him. It was the scream of another that echoed around the room. Hasan cracked open an eyelid to see the Malfoy lord groveling on the floor, confusion and fear splayed clearly across his face. Beside him was his wife, but she was kneeling out of fear, and not from pain. Why were they here though? Hasan wondered.

"Perhaps you can tell me why you have not been overseeing your family vaults and why I have been robbed of a valuable artifact. Especially when your sister, Bellatrix, was dutifully serving me in Azkaban and unable to carry out the task I gave her."

He saw how Lucius hesitated to meet his wife's eyes, but he did so, risking the Dark Lord's wrath. There was a question there, but Narcissa shook her head minutely.

"You may answer too, Narcissa. After all, you are all equally responsible."

"I don't know, my Lord! Please forgive us!" Narcissa begged. Her face was tear stained, but her voice was strong. Lucius seemed to draw from her confidence for he straightened his back in his kneel.

"That may be, but you should still be punished. That cup belonged to the House of Hufflepuff and now someone has stolen it! Right from under your nose." Voldemort hissed, and it was then that Hasan realized that the voice was coming from him! It was not from his mouth, rather, it was like being trapped inside something that's mouth moved without consent. The Malfoy's stiffened and bent their heads in resignation. "I should punish you." he continued. "I would not find pleasure in punishing my servants, but I do what I must to remind some of their places. Instead I am willing to move past this little incident."

If anything, the two tensed even more. The Dark Lord did not forgive. And the Dark Lord did not forget.

"What can we do for you, my Lord? We only wish to serve!" Lucius cried.

Hasan felt the lips the quirk up.

"As I have always thought, Lucius, Narcissa. Your entire family has always been very loyal to me. Let me not be proven wrong..."

Narcissa stilled and swallowed.

"How old is your son, Lucius?"

"T-twelve, my Lord."

"Going into his third year, is he not, Narcissa?"

"That is correct, my Lord."

There was silence for all of a minute. The Dark Lord ran his fingers up and down his phoenix wand, basking in the suspense.

"I have a task for young Draco." the Dark Lord murmured. "A very important task. If he is successful then we can forget all about this little...lapse in judgment. But should he fail...I will know if you are truly loyal."

"He is not of age yet, my Lord!" Narcissa pleaded. "Please, my Lord!"

"You dare to question me? After I have given you another chance? CRUCIO!"

-VISION END-

Pain. Pain. Pain. PAIN. PAIN. PAIN. PAIN.

That was all Hasan knew before he was panting on the floor. He gulped in breath after breath of air, not knowing why he felt the need even after the constrictive feeling had passed. So many things were whirring in his mind...literally as well. If part of Lucius was in his mind, then perhaps...was part of Voldemort in there too? And what was this cup that Bellatrix Lestrange had in her vault? Perhaps it was...

A hand appeared in his line of vision, and he tentatively took it, his limbs shaking as the aftereffects of the Cruciatus.

"Drink this." Snape ordered, thrusting a vial in his face. "For the Cruciatus."

Hasan uncorked the vial and drank the bright re liquid, letting the warmth flood his body. It was almost as good as chocolate after a dementor...

"Are you alright?" Severus asked calmly when he had recovered his breath.

"I-Thank you for the potion." Hasan said.

"Your scar is bleeding." Severus pointed out before pointing his wand at it and muttering a quick healing spell. "Explain. What the hell was that?"

"It was another vision from Voldemort."

Snape winced. "Another?"

"I got one before, as a snake."

Of course he did. "What did you see?" Snape pressed.

Hasan froze. "Draco."

"Dr-!"

"His parents lost a cup from Bellatrix's vault and Draco's been given a task to punish them. I don't know what it is, but we can't let Draco go back there! Voldemort was torturing them. Draco can't handle that!"

"I will do my best to protect Draco, but you say that this is all about a cup?" Severus asked slowly.

Hasan bit his lip. If he was right in his guess and this cup was a indeed a bit of...soul, then how much could he tell his most trusted professor? But then, who else could he trust? Certainly not Altair...Dumbledore didn't even make the list. Narcissa, well, he barely knew her, and as it seemed, she was in frequent contact with the Dark Lord. But Snape, despite his flaws, and the mental attack, had watched over him from day one. Why couldn't he trust him?

"Is there a name for a soul vessel? I think Voldemort made some." he said presently.

Whatever Severus thought the boy was going to say came nowhere close to what he actually did.

"A-a soul...vessel?" Severus asked tersely, wondering if and how much Altair had told him.

"The Cup belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, and I think that Voldemort would have found other objects in which to place his soul. Actually, I know this for a fact. His diary told me. What I want to know is: Is there such a term?"

Severus was torn between saying yes and then yelling why on earth the boy insisted on involving himself, and denying it vehemently and coaxing the affirmation that he did in fact want to be a savior. Severus chose the former.

"It is a Horcrux, the darkest magic of all." Severus said seriously. "Did Altair tell you about them?"

Hasan's eyes flashed. "He knows?" he asked with wide innocent eyes.

"I-that is neither here nor there!" Snape snapped, though the boy knew the answer for what it was. "I think it would be best if you never mentioned it to anyone. Knowledge may get you killed...or kill someone in turn."

"But the dagger can destroy them!" Hasan protested excitedly. "The Malfoy dagger!"

"The dagger can only perform miracles when the holder is experiencing l-love." He did not know what made him say it. He couldn't even remember if it was true or not, but it sounded true to his own ears. Actually, he knew definitely that it was true. But then, when was Hasan ever in love? Severus decided not to dwell on this.

"But surely I can experience it again?" Hasan said hopefully.

"It must be unintentional." Snape stressed. "The dagger is tied to your magical core, your aura, and only the soul can access this. Your mind cannot, no matter how much you think you desire it."

A sudden image of the dagger came to Severus' mind. All emerald, silver hilt, and flashing blade. But where had he seen it before?

"My mind." Hasan repeated sullenly, remembering how messed up it was.

"Indeed."

"Is there a way to give the memories back? Or to protect against Voldemort? My mind feels like it's twisted in a knot." Hasan sighed.

"I was already thinking that we should start Occlumency, if you are not averse to it." Severus said.

"Mind protection?" Hasan said, knowing it from his lessons with Altair, even though the man had never deigned to teach him...probably to keep him from realizing how screwed up his mind was.

"Yes, beginning next year. It won't do to have our savior susceptible to the Dark Lord's torture sessions. Especially when he has them often." Snape added bitterly.

"Really? You'd teach me?" Hasan asked. "Even though...even though you don't like my father?"

Snape froze. How had the brat picked up on that? "Hasan, James and I never got along, but I certainly won't carry a grudge over from the dead, nor will I impose any lingering emotions on his child."

Hasan nodded. He had been worried about this too. "Thank you." he said, then yawned. "I...I haven't told you about the Chamber yet."

Snape watched the child's eyes droop, knowing that he must be exhausted.

"You can tell me next year. I might even see it." he said. "Now get some rest."

Never in a million years would he have imagined he would be carrying James Potter's son willingly in his arms, but now here he was. Wishing Hasan sweet dreams and a whole lot of luck.

.oOo.

Luna Lovegood stood outside the Hospital Wing with a bouquet of white lilies tied with blue ribbon. She wore a bright blue robe, which matched the ribbon (not the other way around), and had in a pocket of that robe a most interesting invisibility cloak...

Right before Neville had entered the chamber, Luna had discreetly taken Draco's wand from his robes which she later used to Confund Neville, then Stun Hasan. She didn't intend to harm either of them, but it would look too suspicious if Hasan wasn't with them, for none of his house mates could confirm his presence. Besides, Neville was practically immune in the eyes of the headmaster. Hasan surely wouldn't be under scrutiny as the main savior if he were seen aiding Neville. The main thing was to make sure the headmaster didn't suspect Hasan capable of such feats. Whether Hasan was an ally or out past curfew was of little consequence.

Thus, it was a fool proof plan to stun the lot of them!

And so, that's just what Luna did: stunned them all and sealed the chamber after fifty attempts at hissing. Under the protection of Neville's invisibility cloak, she laid the boys down outside in the hall and waited with Myrtle for some passerby. Myrtle was admittedly not a good conversationalist. All she did was moan and say how attractive she thought the boys were. When she mentioned Hasan, Luna accidently flushed her down the toilet.

It was around four in the morning when laughter could be heard down the hall. Luna had poked her head out to see Theo and Hermione...snogging each other senseless. That was until Hermione looked towards her and let out a shriek.

"What's wrong, Hermione? Did I do something wrong?" Theo asked worriedly.

"L-look!"

Needless to say that the two weren't there for long. Snape came sometime later, with Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey not far beyond. What Luna thought a little odd was the diary of Tom Riddle. She had figured the anagram out—it wasn't hard. To her, the world was full of patterns. What was a simple anagram compared to the great Luna Lovegood? It was Voldemort's diary, but more than that, it held Voldemort's soul, or at least, it did.

Luna sniffed her flowers tentatively.

Some things were just fated to happen.

.oOo.

Severus came down the hall with Hasan draped across his arms.

"Miss Lovegood." he said tersely as he entered the hospital wing.

"Professor." Luna beamed. "You look like you would like a lily."

The professor laid Hasan gently on the bed before turning to face the girl.

"What on earth—"

But Luna had already taken a lily from the bunch and proffered it to the man. Her silver eyes blinked once, then twice, and seemed to dim.

"Oh."

The Inspiration had taken her again, and it took some quick deductions to figure out why the Potions Master held a flower—her flower, and why on earth he had received it.

"Thank you, Miss Lovegood." the man said tonelessly. He conjured a glass and placed the flower gently inside.

"Don't worry. He looks like a lily too!" Luna exclaimed happily, and dropped the entire bouquet into the glass with water. They left it on the table between Draco and Hasan. Severus frowned—was it possible that Miss Lovegood knew the truth of Hasan's birth? He had always thought her a bit mindless, but by now he knew that anyone who associated with Hasan could not be what they appeared.

Across the room, Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey, and Augusta Longbottom surrounded Neville's bed, completely ignoring Hasan and Draco who were just as injured, if not more, than their boy hero.

"How could this have happened, Dumbledore?" Augusta was sniffling. "I always knew that You-Know-Who would return, but to see Neville like this...oh!"

Suddenly a whole gang of Weasley's came bursting into the room with shouts and presents and tears.

"NEVILLE!" Ginny screamed. "NEVILLE!"

"Merlin, calm down, Gin!" Fred said.

"Yeah, Nev's going to be just fine!" George added.

Ron came trudging behind. He was concerned for his friend, but...goddamn it, why didn't Neville include him too? Everyone was singing praises to the Boy-Who-Lived, even Hasan and Draco's names were mentioned once or twice! What he wouldn't give to have a piece of the glory, just a fraction, a shrivel! He hated to admit it, but he was jealous, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Hermione and Theo came a bit later, holding hands unabashedly. It seemed that the image of three unconscious and semi-bloody boys caused them to seek physical comfort.

"Hey, mate." Theo said softly as he looked at Draco. "How are they?" he asked, turning to Snape.

"Recovering fairly well." Severus replied, raising an eyebrow at their clutched hands.

Hermione flushed and tried to pull her hand away, but Theo held her fast. He wasn't afraid of his head of house and he wasn't ashamed of dating a muggleborn either!

"Hasan, is he alright? He has some tremors going through his body!" Hermione shrieked in surprise.

Severus glanced down at the boy who did indeed seem to be trembling. The aftereffects of the cruciatus—but hadn't he already taken care of that? With a frown, Severus tipped Hasan's head up and poured some dreamless sleep down his throat so that he at least could sleep in peace.

"Oh, hello, Luna." Hermione said to the blonde. "I'm so sorry I didn't see you!"

The girl in question was sitting in the back, creating a flower chain with some of the lilies.

"It's alright, Hermione!" she said brightly. "Oh look! You found your own lily!"

Hermione laughed awkwardly when she didn't understand, but Theo nodded as if that word 'lily' had some sort of significance.

"Yeah, I do like Hermione." he said bluntly. "It's about time someone knew."

Luna just swung her feet back and forth under the chair as the other side of the room erupted in cheers.

"He's awake!"

"How're you feeling, Neville?"

"What the hell were you thinking going down there at night?" Augusta screamed.

"My poor Neville!" Ginny cried, and lunged to hug him.

"Yeah, poor Neville." Ron grumbled disappointedly.

Neville rubbed his eyes and then groaned. He had a migraine, a super migraine. It was like being hit in the head with a brick, and then slamming into the entire brick wall...

"Wh-What happened?" he asked, wetting his lips nervously.

"You defeated You-Know-Who, silly!" Ginny beamed.

"Well..." Dumbledore cleared his throat and glanced towards where Severus was standing. "We don't exactly know what happened. When Mr. Castell and Mr. Malfoy awaken we will be able to talk to them."

"But isn't it clear what happened?" Ron asked exasperatedly. Why did they have to drag it out? Wasn't it obvious? "Neville saved us all again!"

"Is that a touch of jealousy in our ickle Ronnikins?" Fred and George cooed.

Ron blushed a furious scarlet, but retreated none the less. Maybe he had overstepped one of those things called boundaries again.

"Any luck, Severus?" Dumbledore called, as if he couldn't bring himself to get up and cross the room.

"Perhaps if you were to attend to them you would know yourself." Severus returned bitterly. The headmaster's face darkened.

"Of course, you are right, Severus." The old man shook his head as if warding something off, and approached the small group with measured strides.

"Professor Dumbledore?" Luna piped up from the corner. "Where's your lily?"

"Pardon, Miss Lovegood?" Albus enquired good-naturedly, though he faltered in his step.

"Your lily!" Luna repeated.

"Er, I think Luna means your lover...?" Hermione hesitated to add but Luna shook her head.

"Just Love." Luna grinned, causing Snape to blanche. There was no doubt in his mind now that Luna knew- about him and about Hasan. "I don't see it. Are you hiding it somewhere?" She looked over the headmaster's head, then peered closely at his beard, not looking directly in his face.

"Luna!" Hermione hissed. "You don't say that—"

"It's quite alright Miss Granger. Miss Lovegood has every right to question why I do not divide my attention evenly."

Severus raised a supercilious eyebrow. Oh, so now the headmaster decided to be honest?

"And pray, what would that be?" Severus nearly growled. "Isn't House prejudice beneath us?"

Albus swallowed audibly. "It is not exactly about Hogwarts, my boy...I don't—" Suddenly his eyes went blank and he shook his head. "I'm sorry. Severus, you were saying?"

"I can't believe this." Severus snarled, missing the look. "You say you're trying but where's the proof?"

"Don't be too hard on him, professor!" Luna interjected. "I think it's all the Carbuncle's fault. Carbuncles are like that, you know. My father wrote an amazing article on them in the Quibbler. Carbuncles have a jewel on their forehead and anyone who wishes to obtain it will be blinded. Of course, if that person is content, the Carbuncle will drop the jewel without a fight, but really, it is all the Carbuncle's fault!"

More or less ignoring this statement, the entire room focused on the headmaster who was swaying tiredly.

"Severus?" Albus asked uncertainly. "I was trying to meet with Mr. Castell and Mr. Malfoy, wasn't I?"

A strange look crossed Severus' face. "I don't know." he said slowly.

"Perhaps you should take a nap, Albus." Madame Pomfrey suggested hurriedly. "It's been a long night."

The headmaster nodded sadly as his gaze swept around the room. Everyone was looking at him with concern, but why? It wasn't his old age...and he felt fine! So then why did he feel as if he were missing something? Something critical?

Before he left the room, he gave a saddened glance towards the Slytherins. Something about the Castell boy threw him off, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was...In fact, every time he tried to think of him, his thoughts swam away from him...