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Both Sides	By : ccino49 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 10429 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
I do not own any of the characters or places from the Harry Potter books or films. They all belong to J.K. Rowling. All that is mine is Lou and the plot. I am not making any money from the writing of this story.

Both Sides.

CH 22 The serpent ring

�Hello.� Said a voice from the seat beside Lou.
�Hi.� She answered and turned her head. Then she let out a piercing scream, as she knocked her chair flying while scrambling to run in the opposite direction to the Baron.

�That�s a ghost.� She screeched from the far end of the small dining room they were using.
�Of course I�m a ghost, you silly girl.�
�It talks.� She squeaked, as she looked to Severus for help. �Make it go away.�
�Baron you are frightening my charge, please leave so I can explain to her.�
The Baron nodded and floated through the wall, much to Lou�s horror.

She edged her way back to the table, frowning at Albus who was laughing fit to burst.
�That was a real ghost wasn�t it? Will it come back? What did it want? Why didn�t you tell me there�s a ghost here? I�m not coming here if there�s a ghost.�
Severus righted her chair and told her to sit down. �Hogwarts has many ghosts Lou. They are part of what this place is. They will not harm you, though it is rather uncomfortable should one pass through you.�
�Through me? I don�t want one to pass through me, I don�t like them. How many are there?�
�Quite a lot. The Bloody Baron, whom you have just met, he is Slytherin�s resident ghost. The Grey Lady is Ravenclaws, Nearly Headless Nick, Griffindor, and Hufflepuff have the Fat Friar. Then of course their is Peeves.�
�Peeves, what�s a Peeves?�

�Peeves is a poltergeist.�
A pol �oh no. Nononononono. I am definitely not staying here, not with ghosts and poltergeistestess. No way. I don�t wanna be haunted for three years. No.�
He chuckled. �You will be coming, ghosts or not. And the correct plural for poltergeist is poltergeists. Hogwarts ghosts are not here for the sole purpose of haunting you Lou, though Peeves may cause you some major irritation at times. I shall teach you how to handle him, but you will keep those methods to yourself. You will get used to them, like everyone else.�
�I don�t want to get used to them.� She moaned, staring round the room in case another appeared. �Severus I�m scared to death of them. Please.�
�You were afraid of elf�s at first, and the fact that the portraits can speak back to you. Ghosts are no different.�

Lou argued they were a lot, lot different, that she�d never met a ghost before and didn�t want to again.
Kreatcher told her that he would protect her from the ghosts when she came to Hogwarts. He would serve her personally and no one else, that he would keep them away from her at all times.
Severus and Albus had to admit that the elf was strangely different around Lou than he was with anyone else.
�Kreatcher, perhaps you would care to show your mistress around some of the castle.� Severus suggested.
�Kreatcher doesn�t need the blood traitor to tell him what to do. Kreatcher was about to ask her himself.�

That was exactly what he did and Lou, under protest, followed the elf from the room.
�I take it you wish to speak with me privately Severus.�

�I do Headmaster. Can we go to your office, we shall need your pensive.�
Severus put in the pensive, the memory of what happened between him and Lou that day in her rooms, then he put in the one of his Legillimens on her.
�Truly Headmaster, I would enjoy nothing more than exacting my revenge on those maniacs who were supposed to be caring for her. Also, when she is residing here things are going to prove difficult for her. Those scars are very noticeable when she undresses. She will not take well to being placed in a dormitory with several other females.�
�I agree it will be hard for her Severus, I could arrange for her to have her own room, but it may alienate her somewhat from her housemates if she is seen to be given special treatment.�
�I shall speak with her, see what she thinks to the idea of sharing, the result she might expect if she decides to take a private room.�
�What is with Harry, Ron and the others? I must confess I am very disappointed in their attitude toward Louhi. I was under the impression that she and Harry were getting along fine after their little chat.�

Severus told him what had been happening at the house and what Remus told him was said in the boys room within earshot of Lou.
�From what you have told me Severus, it would appear that Ronald has a bee in his bonnet about her and is rabble-rousing, the others are being unintentionally pulled into his web of mistrust. I shall have a word with him myself, see if I cannot get to the root of the problem. How is she coping with the magic, is she managing to contain it?�

�She is indeed. There was one incident when she awoke plastered to her bedroom ceiling, other than that, I believe she ready is to have a little more control.�
�Wonderful news. Would you like to do so here, before you leave?�

�I would prefer to yes. The Room of Requirement?�

Albus summoned an elf to go find Lou and Kreatcher and have them go to the ROR.
Lou wasn�t too keen at first at being sent off with Kreatcher, but she soon discovered that he was quite an asset when it came to the ghosts. True to his word, if one appeared he would snap his fingers and the ghost would shoot off in another direction. Peeves came screeching along one of the corridors and Kreatcher sent a spiral of flames in his direction and the poltergeist screamed as he shot through the ceiling.
�Wow. Where did you learn to do that Kreach?�
�Is elf magic, Kreatcher is old and powerful elf, not having to learn. Is always knowing.�
�You�re lucky, I have to start from the beginning. Severus is teaching me lots though. I wish you�d be a bit nicer to him, to everybody. Most of them are okay, I�m trying real hard to make friends Kreach, I know it�s not easy, but if you�re a bit nicer, they might be nicer to you. Severus said I�d start to make friends when I start here, do you think I will?�

�Kreatcher doesn�t know miss, never had friends.�
�We�ve both got a challenge then, to make friends. What do you think, shall we give it a go, both of us?�

�If miss wishes it.� The elf replied, his ears drooping and his shoulders slumped. �But I�s not knowing how, does you?�

�Haven�t got a clue, but I�m gonna try. Severus is my friend, he said so, if your nice to him he�ll probably be your friend too.�
They were stood outside the ROR having this conversation and Severus and Albus heard most of it before Lou and Kreatcher saw them.
�Merlin�s balls, she wants me to befriend a damned house elf Albus.�

�I know, aren�t you the lucky one.� Albus told him with a smirk.
�Very droll Headmaster. I don�t think.�
Lou was led into the ROR and once again stood on the dais.

�Err, don�t we need others here again, like last time?
�Not this time Louhi, Severus tells me you already have a marked control over what you have, I see no reason why you cannot take control of more.�

�But what if something goes wrong? What if I hurt you or ��
�Kreatcher is helping you miss, if you wishes. Kreatcher can contain big magic.�
All eyes turned to Kreatcher. They�d not even realised he�d entered the room with them.
�Will you Kreach? Can you do it?� Lou asked him, worried in case things went wrong.
The elf nodded and Severus and Albus took up their positions.
Albus stood in front of her and placed his wand against the collar. He whispered something Lou couldn�t possibly hear and she felt the new surge of magic burst forth from her.
�I can do this, control, control.� She told herself over and over. The magic as shone brilliantly as before, and she felt the lighting trying to erupt from her fingertips. She clenched her hands into fists.
Kreatcher waved his arms and produced a containment shield around her, preventing the magic from flying round the room and endangering the two wizards.
�Nononononono.� She shouted. Instead of firing the deadly lightning this time, Lou held it within herself as Severus, Albus and Kreatcher watched in trepidation and admiration.
Lou was containing the magic within herself. They started to breath again but as they did, Kreatcher gave a low, �Ooo.�
She was changing, it was no longer Lou standing on the dais, well it was Lou, but she changed.
�It would appear she has acquired her shape shifting abilities Severus. Oh my, what is that?�
Lou became a hag of immensely tall proportions, at least fifteen foot high. She shifted again, she was Severus, but a young Severus, youthful, unmarked, his eyes glittering blackly back at him. She was Remus, then a werewolf. Lou was the darkest of shadows, swaying in a light breeze, an eagle, soaring in the bluest of skies. She was a small shimmer of light in an otherwise darkened room, a bright glowing beacon on a deserted barren landscape. The tiniest if small golden fish, a whale crying it�s lament at the lack of ocean. Lou was Lou, she was standing on the dais, looking confused, tired and overjoyed.
�I did it, I stopped the magic, I controlled it. I think. I did didn�t I?� She asked, looking at Severus, who looked to her to be in a state of utter disbelief. Turning to Albus, she noticed he wasn�t much better.
�Kreatcher, what did I do, have I hurt them? I didn�t mean to, Kreatcher do something please.�
Kreatcher grinned at her wickedly and removed the shield.
It was Severus who spoke first.

�Are you not aware of what you did?� He asked softly.
�N �no, what did I did? Do?�
You shape shifted Louhi.�

She looked at Albus baffled. �Huh? How? I didn�t see it.�
They told her what she became, how she smoothly shifted from one thing to another, fluidly, quickly. They asked her if she felt anything, heard anything.
�I felt funny, odd funny. I looked down at you all, I felt like I did when you took me on your broom and we were high in the sky, I felt dark, like I was a whisper of nothingness, and light, a light, then a big hot fire, I wiggled, I cried, but strangely. I dunno, it was weird. I wanted it to stop and I told myself to make it stop, and it did. Did I do well? Or did I do wrong? Are you mad at me?�
�Lou you did extremely well, I for one am pleased with you.�

Her face lit up and she jumped from the dais and ran to Severus, happy that he was pleased with her. When she reached him she stopped. She�d been about to try and hug him again, but stopped herself in time.
Severus knew what she wanted, he was not going to push her away again. When she stopped herself he was surprised, so he took hold of her arms and pulled her into a hug of his own. He felt her stiffen in surprise for only a second before her arms flew round his waist and hugged him back, her cheek pressed against his chest and a beaming smile on her face.
He held her that way for several heartbeats until the Headmaster spoke.
�I too am very pleased with you Louhi. That was a remarkable feat you pulled off.�
Thanks.� She told him as Severus released his hold on her.
She was even more amazed when Albus too held out his arms for a hug. She looked at Severus, who in turn nodded, then she stepped timidly up to the Headmaster and let him hug her.
She liked it. Two, no three hugs in one day. She�d never gotten hugs like this before. At least not ones that really meant anything, not like these and she liked them.
�I got hugs.� She quietly said to herself. �Real hugs.�
The two men heard, but said nothing.

Lou was happier than she�d ever been as they headed down the staircases.

She�d pleaded not to use the floo and they agreed, but she only made two flights before her leg started paining her, Severus notice and immediately scooped her into his arms to carry her the rest of the way down.
He didn�t complain when she wrapped her arms round his neck, yawned and laid her head on his shoulder half asleep.

Her soft breath tickled his neck, sending shivers down his spine and he quickened his pace, wanting to reach the bottom and put her down.

They stood just inside the main entrance and he removed the cuff from her ankle. They bid Albus and Kreatcher goodnight and left.
At Headquarters, Severus was just in the process of re-attaching the cuff when Hermione stepped from the drawing room.
Her eyes went down to what he was doing as she headed for the stairs, but she said nothing. All Hermione saw was the Potions master, down on one knee with his hands on Lou�s ankle, she didn�t see the cuff he was attaching to her.
Lou though, turned a brighter shade of red. �They�ll all know now.� She told Severus downheartedly. Then her eyes hardened. �Well I don�t care what they know or what they think. I don�t like them so if they say anything to me, I�ll �I�ll �I dunno, but I will.�
�You could try just ignoring them.� He suggested.
�Yeah, I�ll do that too.� She told him firmly, limping to the kitchen.
He followed, a small quirk to his mouth at her reply. He made her sit down while he made hot chocolate for them both and surprised her when he pulled a bar of chocolate from his pocket. �The one from the supermarket, I thought now might be a good time to share it.� He also passed her a phial of pain potion and she drunk that first, followed by a very large chunk of the chocolate.
�Oh ish lumly.� She told him, smiling.
�Ah mo.� He replied, grinning, his own mouth full.
Then they both burst into gales of laughter at each other.
�You do remember we are due at the Ministry tomorrow? You will need to bring your satchel with you.�
�Do I have to show them everything, my letter and stuff?�

�No, only the formal documents, would you like me to help you select what you need?�
She nodded, she didn�t want a bunch of strangers looking at all her things.
They reached her room and she got the satchel from her bedroom and brought it through to empty onto the table.
Severus was rather surprised at the selection of curio�s she had. Amongst them, a ring. It was silver, in the shape of a serpent. It�s coils formed three narrow bands, it�s eyes appeared to be pale emeralds.

He picked it up to examine it. Where did you get this?� He asked.
�It was my mums, at least that�s what I was told. It�s supposed to represent eternal life, the eyes are green diamonds. I�ve never put it on, it�s too big and if someone saw it, they might have taken it from me.�

�I think not. Put it on, you may be surprised.�
Lou put the ring on her right hand second finger because that was her biggest finger. Immediately the ring resized itself.

�Ooo, I didn�t know it would do that, here, you try it.� She tried to remove the ring. �It wont come off, what do I do now?�
�You wear it, like you were meant to do.�
�But wont I get into trouble when I go to school? We were never allowed to wear jewellery at the other schools I went to.�
�The ring knows nothing of school rules, and since it refuses to be removed, there is nothing to be done about it. I shall explain to the Headmaster.�
Severus put to one side the documents she would need for the Ministry and Gringott�s, and Lou put the rest of the items back in the bag.

She kept one item out though, she wanted to show it to Severus. It was a small silver case, similar to a cigarette box, only smaller. She pushed it across the table to him and he raised an eyebrow.
�You can probably open it, it explains the jewellery I think. I�ve always been the only one who could ever open it, but I think you�ll be able to because your magic.�
He took the small silver case, turning it in his fingers. �Am I liable to take a nasty shock if it does not open?�

�No, I don�t think so, it just wouldn�t open for anyone. I only opened it once, in secret. One of the Collin�s kids pinched it from me once, but it came back to me on it�s own. I didn�t know how it did it, but I suppose now it must have been magic. You try.�
He pressed the small catch with his thumb and the case flew open, revealing several small pieces of parchment written in the same hand as Lou�s letter from her mother. There was a small golden key with a silver �N� engraved on it. He resorted through the parchments until he found one that explained the small key. �Have you read all of these?�
�No, just a couple of them. They didn�t make any sense to me at the time. What does it say?�

�This is the key to your mothers vault, it would seem you are also the last of the Orvokki line. You are an heiress again, congratulations.� He told her with a wry smile.
�Again? Does it say what�s in it?�
�It does not, but it is more for you to discover tomorrow. We shall need to inform Gringott�s first thing in the morning, they can have the paperwork ready when we arrive. It looks as though you may be a young lady of substance.�

At her questioning look he added. �I think you may be quite wealthy.�
�Woo, I�m rich, that�s great. I mean, I would�ve preferred my mum and dad, but I�m rich. How cool is that? Can I buy something, anything I want?�
�Yes, you may purchase your supplies for Hogwarts.�
�What? But that�s boring, can�t I get something nice, something I want but don�t really need?�

�Why would you wish to purchase something you do not require?�
�Because I can. Well, I might be able to, depending on how much money there is. Do you think it�s more than a thousand pounds?�
�Lou, I have no idea what will be in those vaults, though I think it fair to say that any monies you find will be in the form of Galleons, not pounds. Let us wait and see what tomorrow brings, then you can decide if you have something to be excited about. You also have the Black inheritance remember. Meanwhile, it is time you were in bed, get your murlap and apply it, then get some sleep. I shall see you in the morning.�
�Will you look after these then, until we get back tomorrow?�
He gave her a smile as she passed him the required papers and left the room.
Lou did as she was told, but her mind was busy imagining what might be in the vaults and it took quite a while before she finally drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, she woke plastered to the ceiling again, only this time she couldn�t get herself down.
�Moon, go get Severus quick. I�m stuck.� She told the elf desperately

TBC

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