All Seems Darkest Before The Dawn Cometh
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
Chapter 2
Professor Sprout met the girls as they poured into the Hufflepuff common room.
"Ladies please." Professor Sprout said holding up her hands. "This year has seen the lowest enrolment in Hogwarts history. Some of your friends may not be attending school this year because of concerns by their parents."
A murmur built amongst the girls who couldn't believe the frank honesty of their House Mistress.
"Due to this issue," Professor Sprout said, "dorm assignments will not be based on year in attendance but will be mixed year to maximize bed space. Unused rooms will be closed off. These are the orders of the Headmaster."
Sasporilla and Karry looked at each other hopefully. As Karry was now a fourth year and Sasporilla was now a third year they would not have been able to room together normally. Perhaps they would get the chance to share a dorm after all. It was bad enough their class schedule would keep them separated.
"Here is this years dorm schedule." Professor Sprout said holding up a parchment that flew from her hand and tacked itself to the girls dorm door.
The girls piled in front, Sasporilla and Karry elbowing their way to the front.
The squeal of delight that came from the girls as they realized they'd be roomed together shook the Hufflepuff dorm room windows. Not only were they together again, but they were left in their same old room. Sassy and Karry danced and cheered as the others checked their room assignments. Once everyone had checked the list, door to the girls dorm unlocked and they flowed in.
Sasporilla and Karry found there things at the ends of their beds as they always were.
Both girls flopped down on their beds.
"Feels good to be back in our room." Karry said. "Last year I was down the hall with Enchandra Benz, Mindy Drogan and Cheyline Gorsitch."
"Not a bad bunch." Sasporilla said sniffing the air. "God it's been a full year and I can still smell Janeys farts."
Sassy and Karry burst into laughter.
"Ya the house elves have had quite a time trying to clear out that stench, bless her heart." Karry said.
"Though I won't exactly miss her smell." Sasporilla mused. "I will miss Janey quite a bit."
"She was an innocent, honest soul." Karry said.
"Don't forget brave." Sasporilla added.
"And smart in her own way." Karry added. "Figured out we were all Obliviated," Karry said, "and figured out the counter spell. With some help from me of course."
"Of course." Susan Bones said walking into the room, taking the bed next to Sasporilla. "Are you still on about that Karry Curtiss. It's all we heard last year."
"Yes but Sasporilla missed last year so I have to catch her up." Karry laughed.
"How you doing Sasporilla Bucket?" Susan Bones asked concerned. "You all right now?"
"A lot better thanks." Sasporilla smiled.
"I should say so." Susan said sitting on her bed to start changing into her robes. "We honestly thought you were done for."
"Close, but not quite." Sasporilla said. "Geuss we should start to get ready for dinner."
"I wonder who will be in the last bed?" Karry asked.
**********************************
Madrigal Neelander was a first year sorted in to Hufflepuff. She was more than happy as her entire family going back ten generations had been sorted into Hufflepuff.
She joined the Hufflepuff table in the great hall amidst the cheering from her house mates. She sat in between a second year girl and Sasporilla Bucket.
"Hi." Sassy smiled warmly. "Welcome to Hufflepuff house. I'm Sasporilla Bucket and this is my friend Karry Curtiss."
"Hello." Karry leaned in and waved.
"I'm Madrigal Neelander." The young witch beamed. "And thank you for the kind welcome!"
Sasporilla looked around the great hall. No table was full of students. Most had almost half a table of free space, with exception of Slytherin who were at about ninety percent.
"I guess the rumors are true." Sasporilla said concerned. "Guess a lot of families chose not to send there children this year."
"A lot of them have packed up and just moved away." Madrigal said. "Our neighbors of 175 years just packed up in the night and left. No one wants to be in the UK with you know who on the prowl."
"Students." Headmaster Severus Snape said from his podium at the front of the great hall. His tone was slow and droning as he addressed this years students. "This year brings many changes at Hogwarts. Some Professors have left us and others have stayed. Amongst our newest members of faculty are Deputy Headmistress Alecto Carrow and our new defense against the dark arts Professor Amycus Carrow. They are also in charge," Professor Snape turned to look at Sasporilla Bucket specifically, "discipline."
The usual murmur of the student body was nowhere to be found. The silence in the great hall was deafening. Sasporilla couldn't believe it but Hogwarts had gotten even more oppressive under Snape than it was under Umbridge.
"Excuse me sir?" Sasporilla said standing up and leaning against her cane.
"Sit down miss Bucket." Professor Snapes eyes almost pleaded with the girl.
"I just wanted to, on behalf of all of us I'm sure, want to welcome the our new teachers and deputy Headmistress personally."
There was a half hearted clap from the Slytherin table but from no one else.
"I was wondering though sir. Did they have to murder the people they're replacing to get the job like you did?"
"Impudent girl!" Alecto Carrow yelled.
"Crucio!" Amycus Carrow cast riddling Sasporillas body with excruciating pain. The professor of dark arts walked up to the Hufflepuff table maintaining his spell on the girl. Sasporilla screamed in agony.
"That is an unforgivable curse." Karry Curtiss said. "I'll see you in Azkaban!"
That was when Karry noticed the tattoo on his forearm. The cuff of his robes had raised up just enough to see the Dark Mark below.
"Crucio." Alecto Carrow cast and brought down Karry to join her friend.
"Expelliarmus!" Korry and Zac cast knocking the wands from their teachers hands.
"Enough!" Professor Snapes voice boomed, causing everyone to grab their ears. They turned their heads to see Snape holding his wand to the side of his neck. The Carrows grabbed Sassy and Karry by the arms and lifted them to their feet. Korry and Zac stood before the Carrows defiantly.
"Impudence," Professor Snape droned, "will be met with discipline. Does everyone understand?"
"Yes headmaster." people said hanging their heads.
"PUT AWAY YOUR WANDS!" Snape insisted of Korry and Zac, who refused.
"Stupify." Snape cast and both boys fell.
"Does anyone else choose to defy my will, in my school?" Snape said making the Carrows smile. "Very well then. As punishment for your class mates actions all houses will now return to their Dorms without any supper."
The quiet broke with protests until Snape raised a questioning eyebrow. Then all went silent again.
The houses were filed out of the hall in neat even lines of students standing four abreast.
Professor Snape walked up to the Carrows with a look of disgust that was obviously meant for the children.
"What shall we do with them Severus?" Alecto Carrow asked.
"It's Headmaster Snape, Alecto." He said sternly, "you would be wise to address me as such."
"Our apologies Headmaster." Amycus Carrow said bowing his head and encouraging his sister to do the same. After all Severus Snape was one of Voldemorts chief council and most trusted Death Eater.
"Now." Snape said placing his wand under the Curtiss girls chin and looking in her shaken scared eyes, "I want to hear it from you miss Curtiss. Do you understand that any shenanigans you and your outsider friends get up to this year will be met with this sort of discipline?"
"Yes Headmaster." Karry said.
"Excellent." Professor Snape said turning to Sasporilla but leaving his wand under her friends chin. "And you miss Bucket?"
Karrys eyes pleaded with her. Their well being was in Sasporillas hands.
"Understood Headmaster." Sasporilla said very begrudgingly.
"Wonderful." Snape said. "Now if you would kindly have they're Heads of House escort them back to their dorms. I expect we'll have no more of this kind of trouble."
As the Professors of each house escorted their charges out of the great hall Sasporilla heard Snape demand Drooble be sent to his office.
Professor Sprout met the girls as they poured into the Hufflepuff common room.
"Ladies please." Professor Sprout said holding up her hands. "This year has seen the lowest enrolment in Hogwarts history. Some of your friends may not be attending school this year because of concerns by their parents."
A murmur built amongst the girls who couldn't believe the frank honesty of their House Mistress.
"Due to this issue," Professor Sprout said, "dorm assignments will not be based on year in attendance but will be mixed year to maximize bed space. Unused rooms will be closed off. These are the orders of the Headmaster."
Sasporilla and Karry looked at each other hopefully. As Karry was now a fourth year and Sasporilla was now a third year they would not have been able to room together normally. Perhaps they would get the chance to share a dorm after all. It was bad enough their class schedule would keep them separated.
"Here is this years dorm schedule." Professor Sprout said holding up a parchment that flew from her hand and tacked itself to the girls dorm door.
The girls piled in front, Sasporilla and Karry elbowing their way to the front.
The squeal of delight that came from the girls as they realized they'd be roomed together shook the Hufflepuff dorm room windows. Not only were they together again, but they were left in their same old room. Sassy and Karry danced and cheered as the others checked their room assignments. Once everyone had checked the list, door to the girls dorm unlocked and they flowed in.
Sasporilla and Karry found there things at the ends of their beds as they always were.
Both girls flopped down on their beds.
"Feels good to be back in our room." Karry said. "Last year I was down the hall with Enchandra Benz, Mindy Drogan and Cheyline Gorsitch."
"Not a bad bunch." Sasporilla said sniffing the air. "God it's been a full year and I can still smell Janeys farts."
Sassy and Karry burst into laughter.
"Ya the house elves have had quite a time trying to clear out that stench, bless her heart." Karry said.
"Though I won't exactly miss her smell." Sasporilla mused. "I will miss Janey quite a bit."
"She was an innocent, honest soul." Karry said.
"Don't forget brave." Sasporilla added.
"And smart in her own way." Karry added. "Figured out we were all Obliviated," Karry said, "and figured out the counter spell. With some help from me of course."
"Of course." Susan Bones said walking into the room, taking the bed next to Sasporilla. "Are you still on about that Karry Curtiss. It's all we heard last year."
"Yes but Sasporilla missed last year so I have to catch her up." Karry laughed.
"How you doing Sasporilla Bucket?" Susan Bones asked concerned. "You all right now?"
"A lot better thanks." Sasporilla smiled.
"I should say so." Susan said sitting on her bed to start changing into her robes. "We honestly thought you were done for."
"Close, but not quite." Sasporilla said. "Geuss we should start to get ready for dinner."
"I wonder who will be in the last bed?" Karry asked.
**********************************
Madrigal Neelander was a first year sorted in to Hufflepuff. She was more than happy as her entire family going back ten generations had been sorted into Hufflepuff.
She joined the Hufflepuff table in the great hall amidst the cheering from her house mates. She sat in between a second year girl and Sasporilla Bucket.
"Hi." Sassy smiled warmly. "Welcome to Hufflepuff house. I'm Sasporilla Bucket and this is my friend Karry Curtiss."
"Hello." Karry leaned in and waved.
"I'm Madrigal Neelander." The young witch beamed. "And thank you for the kind welcome!"
Sasporilla looked around the great hall. No table was full of students. Most had almost half a table of free space, with exception of Slytherin who were at about ninety percent.
"I guess the rumors are true." Sasporilla said concerned. "Guess a lot of families chose not to send there children this year."
"A lot of them have packed up and just moved away." Madrigal said. "Our neighbors of 175 years just packed up in the night and left. No one wants to be in the UK with you know who on the prowl."
"Students." Headmaster Severus Snape said from his podium at the front of the great hall. His tone was slow and droning as he addressed this years students. "This year brings many changes at Hogwarts. Some Professors have left us and others have stayed. Amongst our newest members of faculty are Deputy Headmistress Alecto Carrow and our new defense against the dark arts Professor Amycus Carrow. They are also in charge," Professor Snape turned to look at Sasporilla Bucket specifically, "discipline."
The usual murmur of the student body was nowhere to be found. The silence in the great hall was deafening. Sasporilla couldn't believe it but Hogwarts had gotten even more oppressive under Snape than it was under Umbridge.
"Excuse me sir?" Sasporilla said standing up and leaning against her cane.
"Sit down miss Bucket." Professor Snapes eyes almost pleaded with the girl.
"I just wanted to, on behalf of all of us I'm sure, want to welcome the our new teachers and deputy Headmistress personally."
There was a half hearted clap from the Slytherin table but from no one else.
"I was wondering though sir. Did they have to murder the people they're replacing to get the job like you did?"
"Impudent girl!" Alecto Carrow yelled.
"Crucio!" Amycus Carrow cast riddling Sasporillas body with excruciating pain. The professor of dark arts walked up to the Hufflepuff table maintaining his spell on the girl. Sasporilla screamed in agony.
"That is an unforgivable curse." Karry Curtiss said. "I'll see you in Azkaban!"
That was when Karry noticed the tattoo on his forearm. The cuff of his robes had raised up just enough to see the Dark Mark below.
"Crucio." Alecto Carrow cast and brought down Karry to join her friend.
"Expelliarmus!" Korry and Zac cast knocking the wands from their teachers hands.
"Enough!" Professor Snapes voice boomed, causing everyone to grab their ears. They turned their heads to see Snape holding his wand to the side of his neck. The Carrows grabbed Sassy and Karry by the arms and lifted them to their feet. Korry and Zac stood before the Carrows defiantly.
"Impudence," Professor Snape droned, "will be met with discipline. Does everyone understand?"
"Yes headmaster." people said hanging their heads.
"PUT AWAY YOUR WANDS!" Snape insisted of Korry and Zac, who refused.
"Stupify." Snape cast and both boys fell.
"Does anyone else choose to defy my will, in my school?" Snape said making the Carrows smile. "Very well then. As punishment for your class mates actions all houses will now return to their Dorms without any supper."
The quiet broke with protests until Snape raised a questioning eyebrow. Then all went silent again.
The houses were filed out of the hall in neat even lines of students standing four abreast.
Professor Snape walked up to the Carrows with a look of disgust that was obviously meant for the children.
"What shall we do with them Severus?" Alecto Carrow asked.
"It's Headmaster Snape, Alecto." He said sternly, "you would be wise to address me as such."
"Our apologies Headmaster." Amycus Carrow said bowing his head and encouraging his sister to do the same. After all Severus Snape was one of Voldemorts chief council and most trusted Death Eater.
"Now." Snape said placing his wand under the Curtiss girls chin and looking in her shaken scared eyes, "I want to hear it from you miss Curtiss. Do you understand that any shenanigans you and your outsider friends get up to this year will be met with this sort of discipline?"
"Yes Headmaster." Karry said.
"Excellent." Professor Snape said turning to Sasporilla but leaving his wand under her friends chin. "And you miss Bucket?"
Karrys eyes pleaded with her. Their well being was in Sasporillas hands.
"Understood Headmaster." Sasporilla said very begrudgingly.
"Wonderful." Snape said. "Now if you would kindly have they're Heads of House escort them back to their dorms. I expect we'll have no more of this kind of trouble."
As the Professors of each house escorted their charges out of the great hall Sasporilla heard Snape demand Drooble be sent to his office.
PLEASE REMEMBER
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, research which charities J.K.Rowling donates to, then donate to them as such.