The Curse of Swan Lake

January passed and we finished collecting our ingredients for the Animus potion. Soon, we reached the moment when it was time to prepare the brewing process. It was nothing I did not feel prepared for, but what did bother me was the fact that ever since Professor Snape and I had collected the Goosegrass together, he avoided me like the plague.

He refused to look at me, did not even stop by my cauldron in class as he usually had and in our private brewing sessions, he gave me short instructions before leaving the room.

What is wrong with him?

I tried not to think about it too much and focused on my studies instead, as well as researching my curse. Barely any books held any information on the Curse of Swan Lake, but I wasn't ready to give up. I needed to figure out what the purpose of this curse was because I was sure there was more to it.
The difficulty was that since every cursed woman in my bloodline had been a different type of swan, it was hard to figure out what the connection was supposed to be. Most of the cursed witches had been non-magical swans, I was one of the few Cygnus Cantare.

I basically had no clue what to look for and once again tried finding something new in the book, written by Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter.

I flipped through the pages, sighing as I skimmed the familiar passages.
Towards the back, my thumb suddenly got stuck. My head snapped up and I straightened up involuntarily when I realized, two pages had been stuck together.

I held my breath as I carefully pulled the pages apart, making sure not to rip any holes into the brittle paper.

Old runes covered the entire page, runes I did not recognize. I felt disappointment wash over me as my eyes flitted across the unfamiliar black symbols.
And at the bottom, there was one sentence in English.

This inscription is copied from Nimue's Revelations, the sorceress who cursed Odette to become a Singing Swan.

My mouth dropped open.
Odette had been a Cygnus Cantare as well?

I turned the page in the hopes of finding something else, but it was blank. Biting my lip, I stuck the book back under my pillow and looked around in my room.
At least I had a clue on where to look. Nimue's Revelations was an old book, of which only two copies existed. But as far as I knew, one was in the wizard's library in London, which was in the Royal Opera House. I just needed an excuse to get a portkey to London so I could copy it. That was illegal, but I couldn't take the original with me, much less keep it for several months to try to decipher the runes.

The weak sound of the ringing bell signaled the end of lunch break and I groaned quietly. I had Potions next.

Severus' P.O.V.:
As the seventh-years filed into my classroom, I crossed my arms in front of my chest and scowled slightly. Ignoring the brown-haired witch sitting beside Potter, I began with my lecture. As I talked, my mind kept wandering off. The past weeks had been strange and extremely difficult for me to understand.
Granger's scent suddenly seemed to be everywhere. In my classroom, in my private lab, in the Great Hall- I'd taken to avoid her at all costs and it still did not make a difference.

Before the incident with the Goosegrass, I had blocked out Granger's scent as I had with the ones of others. Years of practice made it simple enough. But now, it seemed for me impossible to do so. The sweet fragrant of that witch had forced its way into my brain, becoming a prominent presence in my day. As if that was not worse enough, my vampiric side would not stop longing to get a taste of her blood. I had to feed every two weeks now to control my blood thirst, otherwise- who'd know what could happen.

As I turned around to write something on the blackboard, I felt my lips curl back from my teeth in annoyance. I had always felt pride in knowing I was not like the other bloodthirsty vampires that could not control their hunger. Yet now, I was no better than them, lusting after a student's blood.

"Get to work", I snapped once I had finished and turned around again. "I want everyone to be at stage three with their Animus potion before the end of the lesson."

I felt the eyes of Granger on me, filled with curiosity, as they always were since I avoided her. She turned away to light a fire beneath her cauldron.

Striding around my desk, I took a seat and pulled out papers to mark. Anyone who dared to look at me got an icy glare from me, which made them lower their eyes faster than they could blink.
Granger, however, did not look at me again, which was exactly what I had wanted.

The lesson passed too fast for my liking and I found myself confronted with having to do what I would have preferred not to.

"Granger", I said sharply as the students left my classroom. I motioned her to approach my desk, which she did cautiously.

"Sir?", Granger said.

"Tonight you will accompany me to collect ingredients", I said flatly. "We will leave at six and I expect you to wear appropriate attire since we will be trekking a long way."

Granger paled considerably.
"Tonight? Wouldn't earlier be...better? We'd have more sunlight."

"I need to collect the hair of Mooncalves. As you know, they only leave their burrow during a full moon."

She nervously started chewing on her lip.
"I- I can't tonight", she said and her eyes avoided mine, staring at my desk.
"I promised Ginny-"

"I do not care who you promised to write an essay for", I snapped and narrowed my eyes. "A Potions Master collects ingredients whenever possible and if you want to continue to learn as my apprentice, you will come with me."

Granger's fingers turned white as she clenched her bag.
"Yes, sir", she breathed so quietly I barely heard her.

I flicked my hand and the classroom door opened with a creak. Granger hurried out of the room without a second glance and I let it slam shut behind me. Then I leaned back in my chair and pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers.

Granger had to learn to collect ingredients properly, especially dangerous ones. It was essential that I taught her that, even though I had no desire to. Not since... the blood incident.
But I had been the one to approach her about an apprenticeship, so this was now my problem to solve.
I would stop in the woods for another meal before meeting Granger. That would be the best.

****

Hermione's P.O.V.:

"I need to break a leg!" I said frantically as soon as I had shut my bedroom door.

Ginny sat down onto my bed and raised an eyebrow.
"You do know that 'break a leg' is just a saying, right?" she said with a grin. "If someone says it, that doesn't mean-"

"I know what it means," I snapped and threw my bag onto the floor.

"So why did you drag me into your room then?"

Ginny watched me walk around the room in a circle, and I tugged at my hair in panic.
"Professor Snape wants to collect ingredients in the forest tonight," I said out of breath, feeling close to hyperventilating. "I can't go! The moon rises at eight and there is no way we'll be back before!"

Ginny's mouth had opened to form a perfect 'O'.
"That's not good," she said slowly.

I stopped and banged my head against the wall.
"He won't except any excuse. The only way for me to get out of this is-"

"-if Madam Pomfrey says you're too ill," Ginny finished for me with a serious face. I didn't reply, instead the wheels kept turning inside my head. There had to be another way out of this.

"I have some sweets from George that give you a short fever," Ginny suggested, "that might work. Or-"

"I can't pretend I'm sick every time I have to go into the forest at night," I whispered and gave the wall another bang with my head. "What was I thinking when I accepted this apprenticeship? I- I need to tell him that I changed my mind and I no longer want to-"

"What? Are you nuts?"
Ginny leapt up and grabbed me by my shoulders. She started shaking me roughly.
"You. Will. Not. Throw. This. Opportunity. Away!"

"But Ginny-"

"You worked too hard for this! You're already searching for a cure, don't give up just yet! Otherwise you'll regret it. For. The. Rest. Of. Your. Life!"

"Okay, okay! I got it," I said, pulling her hands off me. "But what else should I do?"
My voice had a desperate whine in it, that made me cringe.

Ginny crossed her arms.
"You go to Professor Snape and tell him."

"WHAT?!"

"It is the best option-"

"This is your worst idea ever! Do you know any Potions Master who wants an apprentice that turns into a swan at night? He'll cut my apprenticeship!"

"I thought you just said you wanted to quit," Ginny pointed out.

"Well-  quitting and getting fired are not the same thing," I said stubbornly and crossed my arms. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Girl, you need to tell someone. Who do you trust the most of the staff?"

I bit my lip and looked at the floor.
"Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall," I mumbled.

"If Professor Snape isn't an option, then go to Professor McGonagall," said Ginny softly. "And maybe she'll convince you to tell the dungeon bat-"

I glared at her.

"-the truth."
Ginny's eyes fell onto the clock.
"It's dinner time. McGonagall always leaves early so if you go now, you'll catch her before curfew."

My stomach tightened into a knot and I paled a little.
"Ginny- you know how the Wizarding World is. Anybody different gets classified as 'weird' and- I really want to continue my apprenticeship. I don't want to lose it just because people find out I grow feathers at night."

"Hermione, if anyone can help you with this, it's Professor McGonagall."
Ginny put a hand on my shoulder.
"I'll walk with you," she offered with a smile, "And I'll wait outside McGonagall's office the entire time."

I smiled back weakly. "Thanks, Gin."

The way to the headmistress' office seemed shorter than ever. Before I had even finished preparing what I was going to say, we had reached the gargoyle. I straightened my shoulders and tried to look more confident than I felt.

"Dragonscale," said Ginny to the gargoyle. It moved sideways with a crunch, revealing the staircase behind it.

"How do you know the password?" I asked surprised.

"Seamus told me," said Ginny, "He had to go to McGonagall for blowing up something again."

I almost had to smile at that, but my face felt like a stone mask. I stepped forward onto the steps, which began rotating upward. Glancing back, I saw Ginny give me a thumbs-up before she disappeared out of sight.
I was truly lucky to have a friend like her.

Suddenly, I was facing the door and the steps came to halt. Taking a deep breath, I lifted my hand and knocked.

The door swung open to the inside.
"Enter."

The office looked exactly like it had when Professor Dumbledore had been headmaster, except that some of the clutter had been removed. At the desk sat Professor McGonagall, reading in a thick tome with her glasses on her nose. She looked up.
"Miss Granger, what can I do for you?" she said.

"I- I need to tell you something," I said nervously and stepped inside. The door swung shut.

Professor McGonagall closed her book and motioned for me to take a seat. Once I sat down, I opened my mouth- and told her everything. Except about love being the only cure. Throughout my monologue, Professor McGonagall's eyebrow rose higher and higher, until in the end, after I had finished, she looked at me speechlessly.

"Miss Granger," she said finally, "why did you not come to me earlier?"

I fidgeted nervously with the hem of my sleeves. "I just wanted to finish my school year," I said quietly, "I was afraid that this would complicate things further."

Professor McGonagall exhaled, then pinched her lips together.
"Does Professor Snape know?", she asked.

"No, Professor."

"Then your next step should be informing him," said Professor McGonagall seriously, "I assume he would rather hear it from you personally."

"But-"

"Professor Snape needs to know," Professor McGonagall continued, a look in her eyes telling me that she knew exactly how I felt about telling Professor Snape. "He might surprise you, Miss Granger."

I seriously doubted that, but I didn't say anything.

"There will have to be adjustments made, considering your apprenticeship," said Professor McGonagall, "But I think it is nothing we cannot handle."

"Thank you," I said hoarsely.

Professor McGonagall glanced at me and I could have sworn she smiled a little.
"Your singing kept the castle up the entire night," she said, "most wizards and witches view it as a good omen if a Singing Swan resides nearby."

I blushed. "I didn't mean to keep everyone awake," I said with a red face.

Professor McGonagall put it off with a wave of her hand. "Not to worry, Miss Granger. Singing Swans are so rare nowadays, it is a true blessing to hear them sing."
She shot me a serious look. "If there is anything else bothering you, then do not hesitate to come to me."

I nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Professor."

After another twenty minutes, I left the office, a lot of the tension I had felt the past weeks disappearing. Why hadn't I spoken to Professor McGonagall earlier? That would have saved me so much trouble and worry...

"And?" said Ginny expectantly once I exited the staircase.

I shot her a grateful smile. "Thanks for making me go. Professor McGonagall said she'll figure something out so I don't have to sleep on the lake every night."

Ginny squealed happily. "And what about Snape?"

My smile grew tense. "I have yet to speak to him. Professor McGonagall said if he does decide to cut my apprenticeship, she'll try to convince him otherwise, but in the end- it's his final word that counts."

"Don't worry," said Ginny confidently. "He'd be stupid to fire you. There isn't anyone else who could replace you."

"Thanks," I said and gave my friend a short hug. "You don't have to come with me," I said once I'd stepped back. "I'm sure Harry would like to see you."

Ginny snorted. "He can survive without me for a few hours. But I'll let you go alone because I know you can handle Snape just fine. Promise me you'll tell me all the details later."

I nodded and then we went our separate ways. Dinner was almost over and I hoped that Professor Snape had already left the Great Hall. When I knocked on the door to his office, it swung open immediately. I felt both relieved and nervous, and stepped inside.

The door slammed shut.

"Granger," said Professor Snape and looked up from an essay he had been marking. "To what do I owe this visit?"

I ignored the biting tone in his voice and took a seat by his desk. Professor Snape's eyebrow traveled up to his hair, so I hurriedly began to speak. The faster this was over, the better.

"Sir, I have to tell you something about the swan on the black lake."

Professor Snape leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of his black-robes chest. "Make it quick," he said curtly.

I nodded and, feeling my heart thump wildly, I said, "I am the Singing Swan."

It was interesting to see how different Professor Snape's reaction was to what I'd expected. Instead of laughing, snorting or even shooting me a disbelieving look, he just stared at me. So, I continued.
"A curse runs in my family, known as the Curse of the Swan Lake. Every woman with magic in her blood turns into a swan after reaching the age of nineteen. The type of swan depends on the woman and in my case, it's a Cygnus Cantare."

I felt Professor Snape's black eyes bore into my own and firmly returned his gaze.
"I transform into a swan from moonrise until sunrise, which will continue until I- find a cure."

I paused, trying to think if I'd forgotten something. Professor Snape examined me, remaining silent. I felt myself grow more and more nervous as the seconds ticked by, but forced myself to not look away.

Finally, he spoke.
"You gave me a feather during the Christmas holidays," he said in his deep baritone. "Why?"

What? Isn't he going to point out how stupid this all sounds?

I shrugged and tried to find the right words. "I felt like you needed it."

"After already getting an entire handful from you?" said Professor Snape mockingly.

"No, I felt like you needed to get a feather from a Singing Swan personally," I said honestly. "But at least you know now where all of the feathers came from."

Professor Snape leaned forward, placing his elbows on his desk. "And why did you not tell me about this curse earlier?" he said in a sharp tone.

I swallowed and lowered my gaze to my shoes. "I wanted to keep my apprenticeship," I mumbled. "I was hoping to have found a cure before- you suspected anything."

Professor Snape raised an eyebrow. "You expect me not to notice my apprentice's odd behavior? Starting with catching her outside at the crack of dawn, or with a bag filled with invaluable feathers."

I stiffened. Did that mean I was fired (or whatever the term was for getting rid of an apprentice)?

"I assume your personal project revolves around breaking the curse," said Professor Snape and I nodded.

"You will continue researching it," he said, narrowing his eyes in thought, "And in the meantime we shall do most of the ingredient gathering before sunset."

I looked at him with wide eyes. "Wait, you're not- "

"I would be foolish to get rid of the only apprentice I believe to be competent," said Professor Snape and my heart started racing. Why was it getting so warm in here?
"But I demand that next time you discover you have a secret curse in your family-," he looked at me warningly, "You tell me this beforehand."

I nodded quickly, still not able to believe my luck. "And you're just going to believe me, without demanding any proof?"

Professor Snape smiled tensely.
"I shall get my proof tonight, won't I? You will meet me at the black lake ten before eight."

Of course. I should have expected that.
I swallowed my resentment against him watching me transform and said, "Yes, sir." Keeping this apprenticeship was worth showing him how I sprouted feathers, wasn't it? No matter how I disliked showing people. Ginny was supposed to be the only exception. I guess Professor Snape would be the second.