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How the other half lived	By : MusicLady2009 Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Het - Male/Female Views: 1881 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own any of JK Rowling's characters, places or ideas and I do not make any money off this story.

Chapter List
- 1-How the other half lived
- 2-2-3
- 3-4
- 4-5
- 5-6
- 6-7
- 5
- 6
Chapter 7

Halloween

                Halloween was a big deal in the wizarding community, and even more so for Chris. As her students filed into her classroom that morning they found her room almost as decked out as the great hall, though in a different way. There were tissue paper ghosts hung from the ceiling, a pile of pumpkins in the corner, and muggle candies of all kinds piled on her desk. Streamers of orange and black are hung from the ceiling, and an enormous wardrobe stands in the corner of the room.

“Take your seats,” she calls as a group of 6^th years head in. Chris is dressed in a black dress that comes to her knees and appears to be overlaid with silver spider webs. Her tights are striped purple and black and her shoes are black low heels with a silver buckles. Her hair has been spelled solid black and is left loose and messy under her wide brimmed, pointed witch’s hat with the purple band and plastic spider hanging from it. The sleeves of her dress are tight to just below the elbow and then flare to hang below the hem of her dress. She smiles at them all.

“Happy Halloween! Today is one of many holidays that we share with the muggle world and so I thought it would be fun to learn how and why they celebrate. The first order of business is to get you all properly attired. In the wardrobe are muggle Halloween costumes. If you find something you like but it doesn’t fit you are welcome to alter it with magic but that is the only magical additions you may make. I encourage you to take a make-up palate and try that out too. Just make sure you match your make up to your costume. You have half an hour. Go!” As the students tentatively make their way to the wardrobe and come out from behind screens dressed as princess and fairies, astronauts and pirates. Once all the students are costumed the idea of trick or treating is explained. Each student is allowed to choose some candy from her desk and they trick or treat among one another’s desks. Their time flies by and soon it is time to leave. Pictures are taken, costumes returned to the wardrobe, and make up is removed before she sends them off to their next class each carrying a heavy bag of candy.

Chris’ last class of the day does not go as smoothly and leaves her cleaning up costumes from behind screens and spelling her room back into a semblance of order. She sighs as she realizes that she will miss the opening of the Halloween feast if she takes the time to change and decides, instead, to simply go as she is. She hurries down to the great hall and slips into her seat beside Paige just as the food appears in front of them.

Chris is just reaching forward to take a piece of chicken when the Great hall doors fly open. Professor Quirrell runs in, stops in the center of the room and shouts “TROLL… IN THE DUNGEONS… Though you ought to know…” and then he collapses in a heap where he stands. Chris stands along with most of the other teachers and her wand is instantly in her hand. The students begin to panic but silence falls as purple sparks erupt from Professor Dumbledore’s wand.

"Prefects," he rumbled, "lead your Houses back to the dormitories, immediately!" In a lower voice he adds, “Poppy, see to Quirrell, Minerva, Severus, Filias, Pomona, with me. The rest of you go to your corridors. Keep students calm and send word to me immediately if you see anything.” He hurries off quickly with the heads of house following close behind. Severus pauses a moment beside Quirrell and then hurries on. Chris quickly heads towards her emergency post at the bottom of the stairs to the third floor. She stands beside the banister watching each direction, waiting for the all clear. Her brain buzzes with wondering how and why a troll would be in the castle. Footsteps catch her attention and she turns and faces a limping Professor Snape.

“Severus? I thought you were in the dungeons?” She inquires, dropping her wand from its ready position.

                “I was,” he replies, “There was… a minor complication and I came to check in on it.”

                Chris has no time to ask further before a pale silver tabby cat materializes and scurries down the hall to them. It stops in front of them and announces:

                The troll is in the ground floor ladies room.

                Having done its job, the cat disappears.

                “My office is here, we can floo from there to one of the classrooms nearby.” Chris tells him. Severus only nods and they make their way to the scene of the incident.

Upon arriving, McGonagall is already stepping into the restroom; Severus goes in after her, followed by Quirrell who has also just arrived. Chris stands back, knowing that too many of them in the room would make it more dangerous for them all. She is stunned to see Harry, Ron and Hermione marched out of the room with McGonagall following them, muttering something about foolish risks. Chris smiles a little, ready to find out what happened as soon as things settle a little.

Severus exits the room after them, looking much paler than usual and his usually unreadable face shows a small grimace each time his left foot touches the ground.

“Are you alright?” Chris asks him, concern on her face. He looks at her and thinks a moment before he answers.

“Quirrell is taking care of the troll, and Hagrid is on his way up to help him. Do you have a moment to help me with something?” He doesn’t really answer her question, which intrigues Chris even more.

“Of course, and maybe we should floo to your office? It might be easier,” she suggests. Severus only nods. In a few moments they are stepping out of the fireplace. Chris nearly has to catch him as he steps wrong. She helps him into his chair. “Are you going to tell me what is wrong with your leg now?” She asks matter-of-factly.

“Not yet. If you would though,” he hands her a small brass key, “unlock the cabinet there and bring me the bottle of dittany, as well as the vial of sanitatum beside it.” He points to set of doors in the bookshelf. “Please,” he adds, almost as an afterthought.

Chris takes the key and retrieves the potions. When she returns Severus has used his wand to cut off his pant leg at the knee. There are several deep, angry looking scratches running down his leg. When she sees it, Chris has to look away for a moment as she catches sight of what appears to be bone. The blood is pooling in his sock and running down to form a small puddle around the heel of his shoe. Once she catches her breath, Chris kneels down beside his injured leg.

“Dittany first and then the sanitatum?” She asks as she uncorks both bottles and sets them down next to her.

“Yes, I will take a pain draft once the pain isn’t the only thing keeping me conscious.”

“This is not going to feel nice.” Chris warns as she moves to apply the Dittany. She pours the clear liquid onto the wound and winces as she hears the hiss it makes as it stops the bleeding. Severus’ knuckles go white on the arms of the chair and he barely contains a shout of pain. Chris looks up at him. “That was the worst.” Without another pause she pours the sanitatum potion onto the exposed muscle and watches as it begins to knit itself back together. Severus lets out a sigh.

“Thank you, Christine,” He says, “I have 2 more favors to ask you. First off, there is a lavender vial of Sanguinem Ædificans Potion in the same cabinet you got the dittany from. I desperately need that.” Chris nods and stands to retrieve it. “And, there is a green bottle of Monstrum in the cool portion of that cabinet as well. That will help as well, I think.”

Chris hands him both vials and busies herself cleaning up as he measures out doses and takes them both. With a wave of her wand the blood from the floor is gone. Another wave and several rolls of clean white bandages float through the door from his classroom and she kneels again. She slowly and gently wraps the still open wound. Even with the best potions available it will take weeks for something this deep to heal completely.

“How did this happen, Severus.” She asks finally. She looks up at him and her eyes demand answers this time. She knows the potions he took have begun to take affect by now and she is not about to walk away now that the danger has passed. He looks at her a long moment and then nods.

“Do you know what is hidden in the school right now, Christine?” He asks

“Hidden? No… I suppose I don’t.” She answers with a little surprise. He nods.

“Then I am not able to tell you. What I will say is this. Dumbledore is keeping something safe, and I believe it may not be as safe as he thinks it is. Great measures have been taken to protect it. I believe the Troll was meant as a distraction, that someone was after it tonight. However, I underestimated one of the barriers so I am certain the thief did not succeed.”

Chris nods. Not sure how far she can push him on this.

“Did you speak with Dumbledore?” She asks simply.

“Not yet. I will speak to him in the morning; the thief will not strike again before then. And, as you can see, I am much more convinced the object is safe than I was earlier in the evening.” He smiles half-heartedly.

“Do you need any more help?” she asks. She is curious and concerned with not getting more information, but her trust in Dumbledore and his judgment is unwavering. If he has decided not to tell her, then she doesn’t need to know… yet.

“No, Christine. Thank you for the help you have given.” He stands slowly and takes a couple halting steps. “I will be better tomorrow.”

“Anytime,” She replies. “If you need help with the sanitatum tomorrow, you know where my office is.”

“I do, and I will, most likely, take you up on that offer.” He waves his hand and his office door opens for her. “Forgive me for not seeing you out.”

“Of course,” she giggles, “I will see you tomorrow then.” She steps towards the door.

Severus sighs as she leaves and then waves his hand to close the door before limping towards his quarters and then to bed. Chris wanders the halls for a long time before making it to her room and also falling into bed for a long sleep.

A/N: Per Google Translate Latin translations are as follows: Sanitatum=Healing, Sanguinem Ædificans=Blood Building, and Monstrum=Monster (Yup… a fun play on an energy drink… J )

Next chapter WILL have what u r looking for... will be here tomorrow or Monday!
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How the other half lived