Chapter 43

The halls at Hogwarts were lively again after a week of mourning. Although most were still grieving for the loss of Cedric Diggory, and some were fearful of Voldemort’s return, everyone was happy for one reason; the time had come to go home.

While students were wishing each other a safe and happy summer, Severus Snape was preparing for his departure as well. He wasn’t taking the time to pack thoroughly. He knew that once things were settled with Raven at St. Mungo’s, he could return and finish up.

The night before, he gave Professor Dumbledore his full report on what happened in his week with the Dark Lord. He also mentioned the conversation he had with Tobias in his dream. Dumbledore became concerned but assured Snape that he would do what he could to protect her as long as she stayed with him. Before Snape laid down to rest, he wrote a letter.

Lucius,

We need to talk.

St. Mungo’s
5:00 PM
Saturday evening

Be there.
Severus

Once Snape had mailed the letter, he went to bed.

On his way out of his office the next day, he was stopped by George and Fred Weasley.

“Professor?” asked George.

“I do not have the time to speak with you,” Snape grunted.

“I know you know where she is! Where is Raven?”

Snape paused. He thought that they had known about Raven’s condition, especially if their parents knew and were guarding her. “She’s ill. If you want to know more, you’ll have to speak with your parents.”

“What do you mean ‘ill?’” the twins asked simultaneously.

“Sick! Under the weather! Not feeling well!” Snape started to walk fast, away from the inquiring twosome.

George ran in front of the Potions Master and stopped him. “She was fine when I last saw her! No one has seen her since the task. You’re hiding something!”

“I’m running late. Your parents can fill you in. I don’t have the time.”

“Look, let’s pretend we are not at school and you are not my professor. I am in love with Raven and you are hiding something about her! I am not going to wait for my parents to sugar-coat a story. I want the truth and I want you to tell me. Now!”

“First of all, Mr. Weasley, we are at school and I am your professor.” Snape sighed. “However, being that you are fond of my niece, I will tell you all I know. She is severely ill. She is under the effect of a powerful spell. It is unclear to me how she became that way, but she fell ill while at the Third Task.”

“She wasn’t there! You made her stay in the dormitory!”

“She doesn’t listen to a word I say, does she? I realize, now, that you two have more in common than what I thought. She was in the maze that night. How she got there and what exactly happened, I don’t know. I do know that I can’t find out what happened while I’m standing here talking to you. Your parents have been keeping an eye on her while I can’t. They will talk to you. Now, if you don’t mind, I will be off.”

George or Fred never uttered another word while Snape walked away.

Snape left the grounds at Hogwarts and walked towards the small wizarding village of Hogsmeade. His plan was to apparate to St. Mungo’s from there. Once in Hogsmeade, he was greeted by Professor Dumbledore.

“Severus, before you go, I have something to give you. It will aid you in your task ahead.” Dumbledore handed Snape a rolled piece of parchment. “To bind, it must be in ink and blood.”

For a moment Snape didn’t know what he meant. He unrolled the parchment and read the writing. It became clear to him what he had to do. Snape nodded and shook the Headmaster’s hand.

“Good luck to you, friend,” said Dumbledore. “I will be at St. Mungo’s once I have cleared up some loose ends at the school.”

“Thank you, sir.” Snape said, and then disappeared.


When Snape arrived at St. Mungo’s, he went straight to Raven’s room on the fourth floor. To his surprise, there was someone already in the room with her. It was a woman, about his age, with dark hair and complexion. She wasn’t dressed like a Healer and he became concerned.

“Who are you?” he demanded.

The woman turned around suddenly. “You must be this young lady’s uncle. I was told you would be arriving today.”

The woman came over to shake Snape’s hand. “That doesn’t tell me who you are.”

She smiled at Snape‘s bluntness. “I am Marcela Morales. I was summoned here from Spain to treat this young lady.”

“From Spain?” Snape was baffled. He had never heard of the Healers summoning someone from another country. Of course, he didn’t know how Healers operated. “Why couldn’t the Healers here deal with this situation?”

“They tried many different techniques to revive her but were, obviously, unsuccessful. They asked me to come here because they heard of some of the things I was doing in my country with mind magic. When I came here, there was really nothing I could do. The Healers, here, did everything I would have done. There is nothing left for us to do. The work needs to come from this young lady, and I think she’s has nearly given up hope.”

“That‘s it? You‘re giving up?”

“We are attempted using Legilimency to contact her through her thoughts and bring her out that way. However, her dream self is resisting us. But," she paused and stared intently at Raven, "I’ve just realized something.”

“What?”

“If you are skilled in the art of Legilimency, you could penetrate her dream, and bring her out of her coma. She trusts you and will likely follow you.”

"What do you mean?"

"Use your skill to get inside her mind and then into her dream. Talk to her as if she was actually standing before you and convince her that it's time to wake up. It should work."

"You make it sound easy. What's preventing you from accomplishing this task?"

"She seems to be using Occlumency to block anyone from coming in. You, being her uncle, will recognize you and hopefully let you in. The mind is like a house locked up tight. Just because you knock doesn't mean the person inside will let you in, especially if that person is a stranger. But if that person is someone they trust it’s likely they will open the door. If my guess is correct, she will allow you into her thoughts and then you could do what you need to do to wake her up."

"You say this was already attempted by Healers here. Do you know if they saw anything?"

"They don't talk about it much. All they saw was darkness and a very sad, traumatized girl."

"Did they see any details?"

"Forgive me, sir, but I'm wondering why that is important?

"I believe Raven saw some things about a particular incident that happened a week ago."

"I know what you are talking about. The return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I have already spoken with Professor Dumbledore. He stressed the importance of the situation."

"I’m not sure if she was there, or if she witnessed it. Something happened that night and I think there is a connection between the two. If word got out to the wrong person that she was here, her life would be at stake."

"Oh, yes, I understand. Anything that you tell me will remain confidential."

Snape nodded and looked over at Raven. He wondered if he could do what was put before him. He trusted Marcela. She seemed to care for Raven. He was thankful that she was there for her.

"Do you know when you would like to try this?"

"Tomorrow morning. I would like to get some rest first. The last few days have been restless."

"Yes, I understand. I will see you in the morning, then. Good day, sir."

Marcela left and Snape stood at the foot of Raven's bed and only stared at her. It appeared that there was no life left in her. The color of her face was as white as the sheets she laid on. Her lips were no longer red but purple, and her eyes were surrounded by heavy, dark circles. Snape walked to her side and sat in a chair close to the bed. Raven’s hand, that still bore the ring that Lucius gave her, was cold to touch.

His thoughts turned to the marriage contract, which made him think of the plans the Dark Lord has made for Raven. Anger and fear filled him. “If you had listened to me, this never would have happened. Your stubbornness has got you in trouble once again. Yet you never listen to me…you never will. You’re just like your father. Always leaping and never looking.” Snape paused and walked over to the window. “I’m…sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

As Snape looked out the window, he realized that his feelings for Raven have grown. Where he has always looked at her as a promise that needed to be filled, he now sees that he loves her as a father to a child.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. It was Molly and Arthur Weasley.

“Severus?” asked Molly.

Snape walked away from the window and toward them. “Yes, I’m here. Thank you for looking over her these past few days.”

“It was nothing. She’s very special to us. How are you?”

“I’m fine. We are going to try another technique to help her in the morning. We’ll know more of her status then.”

“Let’s hope that works. The poor thing is getting worse by the day.” Molly went over to Raven’s bedside and caressed her cheek. “Severus, I hope you don’t mind, but George is here and he is adamant about seeing her. I told him, it would be alright, if it was okay with you. You don’t have to say yes, just because he’s here.”

Snape knew there was no saying no to George. He also knew that he had a few more hours till his meeting with Lucius. Snape looked over at Raven and nodded his head.

Molly smiled, “I’ll get him then and then why don’t we go and grab a quick bite to eat and leave these two alone. I’m sure you haven’t had much all day. You need your strength for Raven when she wakes up.”

Molly waved in George and after taking two steps in, he stopped. He looked as though he was in disbelief of what he was seeing. “Mom! You said she was okay! You said she was fine! She doesn’t look fine! She doesn’t even look as though she’s ill! She looks like she‘s…dying!”

“George!” exclaimed Molly. “There is no need for shouting in a hospital. Have you ever thought that Raven can hear you?”

“I knew you would make her story sound better for my benefit. I would have been better with the truth!”

“Would you?” asked Snape. Snape went over and shut the door. “Would you have done better knowing that she witnessed the death of Diggory? Would you have done better knowing the effects of the Killing Curse that was used to kill Diggory, is what’s killing her? Would you have done better knowing that the Healer’s have done all that they can for her and her only hope is me? Would you be better if you knew that if I failed, she’s gone? I know the truth, Mr. Weasley and I can barely swallow it. Now that you know the truth, how do you feel?”

George stopped and hung his head. His mother went over to him and wrapped her arms around him. “George, dear, she’ll be fine. You know she’s strong and she’ll come back fighting like she always does. Right now, you need to just be with her. Talk to her. Try to get her back yourself. Maybe your voice will help her.” George nodded. “We’ll be back in a little while to get you.”

Molly kissed his cheek and the three, including a frustrated Snape left the room.

“I’m sorry for my outburst, Molly. I just lost control for a moment. I should not have taken my fear and anger out on your son,” said Snape.

“You’re fine, Severus. He lost it, too. You and he both care for her very much. It’s hard not to lose a little bit of control when someone you love is as sick as she is.”

“Severus, what is your plan for her. You said that there is a technique that you are going to try tomorrow?” asked Arthur.

Snape nodded and explained what he was going to do. The Weasley’s seemed to think that the plan should work.

“But first,” said Snape, “I have something else to take care of.”

“What would that be?” asked Arthur.

“I’m getting Raven out of the marriage contract with the Malfoys. Lucius will be here in a few hours. He hasn’t got a choice. We will absolve the contract and at least that chapter in her life will be over. When she wakes, she will have one less thing to think about. The Healer, Marcela, said that her road to recovery will be long. One less item on her plate may speed that process along.”

“She will be thrilled,” said Molly.

“I hope so. I’m not exactly her favorite person right now. When I last saw her, we were not on good terms.”

“She will have forgotten it by the time she awakens. And you should, too. When she wakes up, focus on her recovery, not what happened a week, a month or even a year ago. You both will need each other to get through all of this. And you have us and Dumbledore for support.”


After a few hours of talking, Snape and the Weasleys returned to Raven’s room. Inside, they could hear muffled voices. Once they heard George’s voice shout, “Get out,” they rushed inside.

Lucius was standing at the end of Raven’s bed, visibly angry. George was leaning over Raven as if trying to protect her from him.

“What is going on here?” asked Snape. “Lucius what are you doing in here?”

“I came to see you, Severus, and a Healer told me that you would probably be in this room.” Lucius’ face returned to a normal color.” “I came inside and this young man began to verbally abuse me. When I tried to ask him what was wrong with Miss Snape, the assault of words only became worse. Arthur, I thought you taught your children better than to disrespect their elders.”

“George, let’s go,” said Molly, pulling her son up.

“No! I’m not leaving her in here with him!” yelled George.

“It’s okay, dear. Snape is here and he will take care of it.”

Molly and Arthur shuffled George out of the room. Before they left, Snape put his hand on George’s shoulder. “It’s going to be fine. Don’t worry about him and don’t worry about her. All will be better soon.”

George gave Snape a faint smile and left with his parents.

“Now that the riff-raff is gone, what is the meaning of this?” asked Lucius. “What has happened to her?”

“I’m not going to beat around the bush, Lucius.” Snape marched up to him. He knew his anger was uncontrolled now and Lucius was going to be just the person to take it out on. “She knows you were there, in the graveyard, the night of the Dark Lord’s return.”

Lucius took a few steps back. “How could she possibly know that?”

“I know that Barty Crouch Jr. made the Triwizard Cup into a portkey to get Harry Potter there. I also know that he planned for Raven to be there as well. Raven knew Moody was Crouch but didn’t understand what she was seeing. I knew. He overheard conversations between Raven and I about her visions concerning the tournament. He convinced Raven to get into the maze that night. But he needed some help, from you.”

“From me? How preposterous!”

Snape lunged at Lucius and pinned him up to the wall. “You gave him access to the powers in the ring, didn‘t you! You knew she was going to be there and you used the ring to find her for the Dark Lord!”

Lucius released himself from Snape’s grip. He straightened his robes and regained his composure. “I didn’t know she was going to be at the graveyard. And I didn’t give him access to the ring. I can only assume Crouch got the information from Draco.”

“Crouch could only get access from you.”

“I swear to you that I wouldn’t share this magic with anyone, especially one who I believed to be Alastor Moody!”

Lucius’ answer sounded truthful. But he didn’t answer all of Snape’s questions. “How did you know she was there?”

“I pulled out a mirror to show her to him. Instead, she was there in the graveyard with us. She was standing in the distance, but I couldn’t see her. For a moment, I thought she had an invisibility cloak. Turns out, she was never physically there.” Lucius paused for a moment and looked at Raven. “What is wrong with her?”

Have you heard of Mens Occulus, Lucius?”

“Yes. But in order for the Mens Occulus to work it needs a base. It needs to have an object linked with the mind in order for it to work.”

“Dumbledore believes it was where the cup was placed. He believes that when she touched it, her mind was taken there.”

“That doesn’t explain her condition now.”

“Dumbledore briefly looked into her thoughts and saw that she was hit with the Killing Curse that killed Diggory. Her mind is reliving that night over and over. Every time getting struck by that curse.”

“Is there anything that can be done for her?”

“There is a possibility, but you don’t need to worry yourself about that.”

“What do you mean by that? She is my future daughter-in-law. Of course I’m going to worry about it.”

“Why? Because you can’t present her to Voldemort in this condition? He will be so disappointed, after you’ve already promised her to him.”

“I have never intended to give her to Voldemort!”

“Oh yes, that’s true. You never intended to give her to Voldemort when you signed the contract, but to use her for yourself. However, you didn’t intend on him coming back. And now that he is, you have just the reason for him to make you his favorite.”

Lucius walked up to Snape and got up to his face. Anger was in his eyes, and the only thing stopping him from killing Snape, right there, was being in a public place. “And there is nothing you can do, now, to stop me.”

Snape half-smiled. “Oh yes, Lucius, there is something I can do.”

“What’s that?” Lucius’ overconfidence was still unwavering. Snape knew that this was the moment to act.

Snape walked over to his niece’s bedside and pulled out the parchment that Dumbledore gave him earlier. “I have a contract for you drafted by Dumbledore and approved by me.”

“A contract? For me? How ridiculous! I’m not signing a contract.”

“You’ll sign this one.”

Lucius walked to the opposite side of the bed. “You seem pretty sure of yourself, Severus.”

“The contract states as follows:

‘I, Lucius Malfoy, of sound mind, do hereby release Raven Snape of all obligations of marriage to my son, Draco Malfoy. Any and all artifacts linked to the marriage contract signed by Tobias Snape and I, Lucius Malfoy, will be destroyed, including but not limited to, the signed contract and ring upon Raven Snape’s middle, right finger. Upon signing this contract, I agree that the subject of marriage between her and my son will no longer be discussed. I also agree that if I break the rules of this contract, Raven Snape is permitted to go to Ministry of Magic officials and give an eye-witness account of the night of June 24th, 1995. As long as the terms of this contract are met, Raven Snape will keep the account of such night, private.’

Then at the bottom it says, 'I give my blood and my name to bind this contract.‘ Any questions?”

“This is ridiculous! What makes you think that I will sign a contract that Dumbledore drafted? I will sign no such thing.”

“It seems that Dumbledore and the Dark Lord agree on something, Lucius. They don’t want Draco marrying Raven. At least, by force.”

“The Dark Lord?”

“Yes. He knows of your plan. He realized your plan the night you told him about her. He believes he can get Raven on his own without a marriage contract with the son of a Death Eater. You will do well to sign this. You have a lot to lose if you don’t.”

“Fine!”

Snape handed Lucius a quill with some ink and Lucius signed his name at the bottom of the contract. He then took the tip of the quill and stabbed his finger. When he saw his blood, he pressed his finger next to his name. The moment he let go, the drop of blood spread over the piece of parchment. When the blood had covered the page, the blood disappeared with only Lucius’ fingerprint remaining.

“It is done,” said Lucius, angrily.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Snape looked down at Raven’s hand and pointed at her ring finger with his wand.

With a heavy sigh, Lucius took a strange ring off his finger and threw it on Raven’s bed, along with a small mirror. Then he reached over the bed and grabbed her hand. He took out his wand and pointed it at the ring. “I release you.”

The orange stone glowed and the two serpents, which were encircling the stone, slid back to their original places, facing the stone. Inside the glowing stone were the words, “haud diutius reus.” Lucius took off the ring and threw it down next to the other one.

Lucius reached inside his robes and pulled out an old, rolled up piece of parchment and also, tossed it next to the rings. “These are worthless now, do as you see fit.”

“I shall expect Draco’s ring, and if Narcissa has one, by owl tomorrow if not by the end of the day today.”

Lucius let out a heavy sigh. “Yes! Of course!”

Snape nodded and Lucius walked towards the door. “Lucius.”

“What now, Severus? I’ve given you everything tied to that contract and you’ll get the other rings tomorrow. There is nothing more.”

“What do those words mean? The ones in the stone.”

“No longer bound.”