CARNIVAL du MYSTIQUE
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
Chapter 17
*The character of Nancy Nightingale was created by Daisy Durr- used with permission.
**Artwork above of Nancy Nightingale is by Darren Kelly (Based on the mental images of Daisy Durr)
The Carnival du Mystique opened its gates in George Square, Glasgow Scotland. As always, the first paying customer through the front gates was Nancy Nightingale. The rubenesque, raven-haired witch shuffled across the carnival grounds in her flowing green robes. She had plenty of food, drink and other supplies to last the weekend.
Sasporilla Bucket waited for Nancy on the front steps of the hall of mirrors. The Magizoologysts standard weekend destination. A big sign hung on the locked door behind her reading "CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE."
"What is the meaning of this?" Nancy demanded.
"I've been waiting for you." Sassy said. "I need to take you someplace. We need to talk."
"What you need to do is let me in there!" Nancy Nightingale insisted, her tone starting to take on a hint of panic. "Please Sasporilla I'm begging of you. I must see my Severus."
"I know." Sasporilla said. "But he's not in there any more. The mirror has been sold."
"WHAT?!" Nancy cried. "WHEN? WHY? TO WHO?"
"Don't worry." Sasporilla said realizing she was doing nothing to calm the distraught woman. "It's with friends. Safe. I'll take you too it now, if you'll come with me?"
Nancy clutched her bag tight to her chest and nodded trying hard to hold back her panic and tears.
"Take my hand." Sasporilla said to Nancy. "Hold on tight."
In a flash the two young witches disappeared from the carnival and reappeared outside a small farming cottage with an old style thatched roof, on the outskirts of Hogsmeade.
"I know this cottage." Nancy said. "Why are we here?"
"This is where the mirror is, for now." Sasporilla said opening the front door and offering the first entry to Nancy Nightingale. "After you."
Nancy stepped inside. The entire cottage was visible from the front door. The kitchen was no more than a stove and cupboard with a table. The smell of fresh baked apple strudel was a pleasant surprise. A friend had worked very hard to bake it for her, knowing it was her favourite. He’d wanted to make her feel comfortable as soon as she walked through the door. The fire place, a book case and oversized chair was The entirety of the living room. Narwell sat in the chair with a look of concern on his face, the mirror beside him covered with a blanket.
Nancy ran over to the mirror and ripped the blanket off. It showed only her reelection. She placed her face against the glass, as if to hug it.
"It is all right mine liebchen." Nancy said. "I'm here Severus. You're safe."
"Yes professor Snape." Sasporilla Bucket said. "You are perfectly safe here. Please come out."
In the mirrors reflection, professor Severus Snape walked into view and stood before them.
"How did you know?" Professor Snape asked.
"There was no history of a precursor or prototype to the mirror of Erisad." Sasporilla said.
"I knew it was inevitable that some insufferable know- it-all would figure it out." Professor Snape said. "Who was it? Miss Granger I suppose?"
"Karry Curtis actually." Sasporilla said proudly.
"Ah yes," Professor Snape snuffed, "and who figured out I was... alive?"
"That would be me professor." Sasporilla said.
"You Ms Bucket?" Nancy Nightingale said surprised. "How did you figure it out?"
"The first year speech." Sasporilla said doing her best professor Snape impersonation. "There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few who possess, the predisposition... I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put A STOPPER IN DEATH. Those words started to echo with me. You see Nancy and I had to save a child from a spider recently, she carried all kinds of potions in that bag of hers. Told me 'HER SEVERUS TAUGHT HER TO BREW POTIONS FOR EVERY EMERGENCY.' Always be prepared, right Nancy?"
"Yes." Nancy said reaching into her bag and pulling out a vial containing a black liquid swirling with gold rivers of fluid. "The Nolite Mortem potion. The potion that puts a stopper in death. I carry a vial everywhere at all times."
"And it was not by chance you had one the night Professor Snape lay dying in the Hogwarts boat house." Sasporilla said. "As I remember you were never more than five meters behind professor Snape at all times, you must have saw the snake attack him?"
"I got there to late to stop it." Nancy said. "I arrived just after he'd passed out from the pain and loss of blood. Potter and his friends ran off thinking Severus dead. Children. I activated the potion and forced it down Severus' throat. I stopped his death seconds before passing but he needed a safe place to hide him. To heal him. The future of Hogwarts, of the Wizarding world was in doubt. I couldn't heal him in the hospital wing or apperate him to St.Mungos! I needed to put him someplace where he could heal and the dark lord couldn't find him. So I used SPECULLO TERRUM."
"You turned the mirror into a mirror world." Sasporilla said. "A safe place for the professor to heal."
"Indeed Miss Bucket." Professor Snape said. "I was overjoyed to hear that the dark lord was defeated and that Hogwarts still stands. I know you will find that hard to believe."
"No professor." Sasporilla said. "We know the part you played to stop Voldemort. You are looked upon as a hero sir, by some."
"Indeed?" Severus Snape said surprised. "I always assumed Nancy was trying to cheer me with such stories."
"Oh Severus." Nancy chuckled.
"Now that you're healed Professor and the wizarding world is clear of Voldemort," Sasporilla asked, "Why stay inside the mirror?"
"He can not leave." Nancy said.
"I'm afraid Ms.Nightingale is quite correct." Professor Snape sighed. "You see as I lay there healing. Taking potions, eating food reflected in the mirror from things brought by Nancy. Slowly healing in a mirror, hidden in a house of mirrors by a girl with a crush on me. A girl who used a simple memory charm to convince others they had always had the mirror in their carnival. A girl who loved me more than anyone or anything. A love I understood so well. A love I thought I could never return to her. Until that day."
"You do love her?" Narwell the giant young man asked standing from his chair ducking near the roof.
"Very much." Severus Snape said. "You see, the only way for me to leave this mirror world is for someone to exchange places with me. However the act must be done not just as an act of selflessness..."
"But as an act of pure love." Nancy said.
"I had to place a barrier spell on the gateway between this world and yours to stop Nancy from sacrificing herself for me." Snape said. "I lost one love in my life. I will be damned if I lose another."
"My Severus." Nancy said touching her hands to the glass against his. A green barrier glowed between them. "I love you so much."
"And I you. Nancy Nightingale." Severus Snape smiled.
"As do I Nancy." Narwell said shoving the raven-haired witch away from the mirror, reaching into the glass and pulling his large form inside as Professor Snape was thrown out into our world.
"Narwell!" Sasporilla cried. "What have you done?"
"An act of love." Narwell smiled, a small tear rolled down his cheek. "I'd rather live in here alone knowing my Nancy has found her true love out there, than us both living miserably out there."
"No Narwell I never meant for you to do something like this!" Nancy cried.
"You brave stupid boy." Severus Snape cursed.
"Just promise you'll come visit me once a week. Maybe on Mondays, after Dinner." Narwell said. "I've left the cottage and the farm to you Nancy."
Narwell walked out of site in the mirror world. Nancy Nightingale cried both tears of sadness and tears of joy in the arms of her Severus.
A knock came to the front door of the cottage. Sasporilla answered the door and showed in the party Karry Curtis had brought from Hogwarts. Head Mistress McGonagall gasped at the site of Professor Snape alive and well.
"Ah ha!" Mr.Filch said. "I knew someone'd nicked the boat house mirror!"
*The character of Nancy Nightingale was created by Daisy Durr- used with permission.
**Artwork above of Nancy Nightingale is by Darren Kelly (Based on the mental images of Daisy Durr)
The Carnival du Mystique opened its gates in George Square, Glasgow Scotland. As always, the first paying customer through the front gates was Nancy Nightingale. The rubenesque, raven-haired witch shuffled across the carnival grounds in her flowing green robes. She had plenty of food, drink and other supplies to last the weekend.
Sasporilla Bucket waited for Nancy on the front steps of the hall of mirrors. The Magizoologysts standard weekend destination. A big sign hung on the locked door behind her reading "CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE."
"What is the meaning of this?" Nancy demanded.
"I've been waiting for you." Sassy said. "I need to take you someplace. We need to talk."
"What you need to do is let me in there!" Nancy Nightingale insisted, her tone starting to take on a hint of panic. "Please Sasporilla I'm begging of you. I must see my Severus."
"I know." Sasporilla said. "But he's not in there any more. The mirror has been sold."
"WHAT?!" Nancy cried. "WHEN? WHY? TO WHO?"
"Don't worry." Sasporilla said realizing she was doing nothing to calm the distraught woman. "It's with friends. Safe. I'll take you too it now, if you'll come with me?"
Nancy clutched her bag tight to her chest and nodded trying hard to hold back her panic and tears.
"Take my hand." Sasporilla said to Nancy. "Hold on tight."
In a flash the two young witches disappeared from the carnival and reappeared outside a small farming cottage with an old style thatched roof, on the outskirts of Hogsmeade.
"I know this cottage." Nancy said. "Why are we here?"
"This is where the mirror is, for now." Sasporilla said opening the front door and offering the first entry to Nancy Nightingale. "After you."
Nancy stepped inside. The entire cottage was visible from the front door. The kitchen was no more than a stove and cupboard with a table. The smell of fresh baked apple strudel was a pleasant surprise. A friend had worked very hard to bake it for her, knowing it was her favourite. He’d wanted to make her feel comfortable as soon as she walked through the door. The fire place, a book case and oversized chair was The entirety of the living room. Narwell sat in the chair with a look of concern on his face, the mirror beside him covered with a blanket.
Nancy ran over to the mirror and ripped the blanket off. It showed only her reelection. She placed her face against the glass, as if to hug it.
"It is all right mine liebchen." Nancy said. "I'm here Severus. You're safe."
"Yes professor Snape." Sasporilla Bucket said. "You are perfectly safe here. Please come out."
In the mirrors reflection, professor Severus Snape walked into view and stood before them.
"How did you know?" Professor Snape asked.
"There was no history of a precursor or prototype to the mirror of Erisad." Sasporilla said.
"I knew it was inevitable that some insufferable know- it-all would figure it out." Professor Snape said. "Who was it? Miss Granger I suppose?"
"Karry Curtis actually." Sasporilla said proudly.
"Ah yes," Professor Snape snuffed, "and who figured out I was... alive?"
"That would be me professor." Sasporilla said.
"You Ms Bucket?" Nancy Nightingale said surprised. "How did you figure it out?"
"The first year speech." Sasporilla said doing her best professor Snape impersonation. "There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few who possess, the predisposition... I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put A STOPPER IN DEATH. Those words started to echo with me. You see Nancy and I had to save a child from a spider recently, she carried all kinds of potions in that bag of hers. Told me 'HER SEVERUS TAUGHT HER TO BREW POTIONS FOR EVERY EMERGENCY.' Always be prepared, right Nancy?"
"Yes." Nancy said reaching into her bag and pulling out a vial containing a black liquid swirling with gold rivers of fluid. "The Nolite Mortem potion. The potion that puts a stopper in death. I carry a vial everywhere at all times."
"And it was not by chance you had one the night Professor Snape lay dying in the Hogwarts boat house." Sasporilla said. "As I remember you were never more than five meters behind professor Snape at all times, you must have saw the snake attack him?"
"I got there to late to stop it." Nancy said. "I arrived just after he'd passed out from the pain and loss of blood. Potter and his friends ran off thinking Severus dead. Children. I activated the potion and forced it down Severus' throat. I stopped his death seconds before passing but he needed a safe place to hide him. To heal him. The future of Hogwarts, of the Wizarding world was in doubt. I couldn't heal him in the hospital wing or apperate him to St.Mungos! I needed to put him someplace where he could heal and the dark lord couldn't find him. So I used SPECULLO TERRUM."
"You turned the mirror into a mirror world." Sasporilla said. "A safe place for the professor to heal."
"Indeed Miss Bucket." Professor Snape said. "I was overjoyed to hear that the dark lord was defeated and that Hogwarts still stands. I know you will find that hard to believe."
"No professor." Sasporilla said. "We know the part you played to stop Voldemort. You are looked upon as a hero sir, by some."
"Indeed?" Severus Snape said surprised. "I always assumed Nancy was trying to cheer me with such stories."
"Oh Severus." Nancy chuckled.
"Now that you're healed Professor and the wizarding world is clear of Voldemort," Sasporilla asked, "Why stay inside the mirror?"
"He can not leave." Nancy said.
"I'm afraid Ms.Nightingale is quite correct." Professor Snape sighed. "You see as I lay there healing. Taking potions, eating food reflected in the mirror from things brought by Nancy. Slowly healing in a mirror, hidden in a house of mirrors by a girl with a crush on me. A girl who used a simple memory charm to convince others they had always had the mirror in their carnival. A girl who loved me more than anyone or anything. A love I understood so well. A love I thought I could never return to her. Until that day."
"You do love her?" Narwell the giant young man asked standing from his chair ducking near the roof.
"Very much." Severus Snape said. "You see, the only way for me to leave this mirror world is for someone to exchange places with me. However the act must be done not just as an act of selflessness..."
"But as an act of pure love." Nancy said.
"I had to place a barrier spell on the gateway between this world and yours to stop Nancy from sacrificing herself for me." Snape said. "I lost one love in my life. I will be damned if I lose another."
"My Severus." Nancy said touching her hands to the glass against his. A green barrier glowed between them. "I love you so much."
"And I you. Nancy Nightingale." Severus Snape smiled.
"As do I Nancy." Narwell said shoving the raven-haired witch away from the mirror, reaching into the glass and pulling his large form inside as Professor Snape was thrown out into our world.
"Narwell!" Sasporilla cried. "What have you done?"
"An act of love." Narwell smiled, a small tear rolled down his cheek. "I'd rather live in here alone knowing my Nancy has found her true love out there, than us both living miserably out there."
"No Narwell I never meant for you to do something like this!" Nancy cried.
"You brave stupid boy." Severus Snape cursed.
"Just promise you'll come visit me once a week. Maybe on Mondays, after Dinner." Narwell said. "I've left the cottage and the farm to you Nancy."
Narwell walked out of site in the mirror world. Nancy Nightingale cried both tears of sadness and tears of joy in the arms of her Severus.
A knock came to the front door of the cottage. Sasporilla answered the door and showed in the party Karry Curtis had brought from Hogwarts. Head Mistress McGonagall gasped at the site of Professor Snape alive and well.
"Ah ha!" Mr.Filch said. "I knew someone'd nicked the boat house mirror!"
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, donate to J.K.Rowling's charitable foundation LUMOS! Link below! ( https://www.wearelumos.org/ )
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, donate to J.K.Rowling's charitable foundation LUMOS! Link below! ( https://www.wearelumos.org/ )