Go the Distance

Chapter 1

A determined voice came from behind her,

"I'll help."

Minerva turned to see Hermione Granger standing with a carpetbag full of Dittany. Minerva nodded,

"Right then. Lead the way, Mister Potter."

The great lawn was a terrible battlefield in the aftermath of a terrible war. Bodies, injured and dead alike, being helped or carried up to the castle's designated spaces. Harry led Minerva around the side of the school toward the Forbidden Forest. The large Whomping Willow, having done its part in dispensing with more than a few of Voldemort's army, stood in the distance. Harry pointed,

"Through there, professor."

The older witch took out her wand and shot a gray bolt at the tree hitting a gnarled knot near its foundation. The tree stilled. Harry and Hermione stopped, wide-eyed,

"How did you --"

Minerva hurried the two along, "Tell you later. Quickly, quickly."

The now acting-Headmistress knew this place all to well having been privy to the existence of the secret passageway. She also knew of Dumbledore's solution at hiding it by planting this enormous fistic tree. She had been against using such a dangerous form of concealment on school grounds even if it was an effective deterrent. More than a few students had ended up in the infirmary since its planting in 1971.

The trio entered the shack through a large hollow root at the base of the quieted Whomping Willow. The tunnel was still, its earthen walls cushioning any outside noises. Approaching the decaying wooden stairs up to the shack Harry said,

"He's in here."

The small rickety building groaned and creaked louder than usual as they entered. The distinctive cooper smell of blood hung heavy in the fusty air. A large pool of blood benignly seeped into the weathered old plank floors belying its tragic circumstance. Harry gasped,

"He was there, professor. We left him right there! Didn't we, Hermione!"

Hermione's eyes were wide,

"Yes, professor, he was there. We watched him... die...after he gave Harry his memories. There was so much blood. We couldn't do anything for him."

Minerva stood with hands fisted into her hips. She stared at the bloodstain as if thinking what to do next. Had someone taken him? Stolen his body? To help him? To destroy him? There was a desperate look on her face but a determined look in her eyes. 

A tracking spell, her mind concluded.  If he was dead his magic may not be traceable. She could only trace him if he were still alive. But Harry and Hermione both swore professor Snape was dead. Then she remembered.  Blood can be traced back to its owner, much like footprints. It was old magic and had fallen into antiquation as its use faded through the generations. Her mind focused,

"There's an ancient blood tracking spell...what was it now..."

 Then Hermione offered,

"Oh, I remember something about that as well, professor! I came across the reference in the Antediluvian section of the Library. I thought it might be useful when we were on the run.

It is an ancient form of the tracking spell, Appare Vestigium, whereby the blood of a living, or once living, being could be traced in case there were no footprints. It was used eons ago to track missing livestock, presumably preyed upon. If there was blood, they could track it." 

Minerva nodded, "Ah, yes! Good! Now, if I remember correctly the qualifier is Sanguis. No,no. Cruor!" 

Hermione had written down several spells she dimmed useful in an emergency situation like being chased by Death Eaters through an old forest in the middle of nowhere while hunting horcruxes. She dug into her bag finding the note on which she had scribbled the incantation, then read aloud,