Dark Phoenix
PG-13
Another Snape-Harry story (NOT SLASH between them!) Unicorns, phoenixes, mages, healers… R&R! No Harry in this chapter but don't worry he's coming soon.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything recognizable.
Chapter 1
ANTIVERITASERUM
July 15th
Snape's POV
"CRUCIO!"
The curse hits me again. I can see nothing but a purple fog, my bones are on fire, my skin is ripped off my flesh… Luckily, it's the last time today. That's my penalty – five curses every meeting, every curse lasting a whole, endless, cruel minute, till it makes a hundred. One hour forty minutes of Cruciatus. Not a second less.
"Get up, you scum!" – he barks, kicking me in the ribs. Easier said than done but I am strong. That's the only good thing Aurors and my "Master" have taught me – how to endure pain and humiliation, how not to break, never, no matter what they are doing to you. Well, I take a double dose of Endurance Potion and Extra Strong Pain Potion before every meeting, to be honest. It lessens the suffering in a half and helps to overcome this uncontrolled trembling the curse causes. My best Heavy Duty Pain Potion would block the pain completely but it would be idiocy to use it. No one can stage the effects of Cruciatus so he would notice I'm cheating. I don't even dare to imagine the consequences… So, due to my potions and lots of practice I finally manage to get up and, wiping the dirt from my face, return into the silent, dark circle. It isn't SO bad, actually – after all I was accepted, I managed to beg my way back to him. It was quite easy, to tell the truth– some groveling, some boot-licking - nothing difficult for an experienced liar. I know he tolerates me only because he needs me – a spy at Hogwarts. Well, he accepts most of us only because he needs us. The next to be punished is Narcissa. I have no idea what she's done wrong but it can't be anything serious, I daresay, because her penalty is only some beating. Crabbe and Goyle, these pea-brained gorillas, are holding her arms and he's slapping her, slowly and rhythmically. I see Lucius clenching his fists but he's wise enough not to protest. Finally, it's over. The orders have been given, the guilty have paid for their mistakes. Now he should allow us to Disapparate.
"Snape" – he hisses suddenly and I feel my marrow freeze.
"Yes, Master?"
"Malfoy"
"Yes, my Lord?"
His voice is so suave and full of submission, it's worth to endure all this pain to see this vain, blond bastard begging and groveling…
"You are still not trusted. Therefore, next time you'll be given some Veritaserum to check your loyalty. No, Snape, you aren't the one to brew it. You're too cunning, you could make it malfunction." – he smiles nastily.
Sure, I could! I've passed lots of difficult potions exams, my research has won a world-wide renown, I've invented a few new potions and they aren't stupid ones that turn you into a canary for a minute or something but powerful medicines or antidotes. My Endurance Potion, for example, simply wipes the aftereffects of Cruciatus off and when I drink it no one is be able to notice I was cursed. Or my Internal Injures Potion. Cures nearly everything. Of course I'm not so mad to say that aloud. Me and Lucius just whisper "Yes, Master" in unison, and finally we can go home.
"Aren't you afraid?" – he asks. I give him an offended look.
"There's nothing I should be afraid of. I am loyal."
True, very true – I AM LOYAL but to Dumbledore. And I am not afraid, too – I'm simply terrified. I have three days to deal with the problem – how to cheat this madman again. I keep delving through all books I posses but every one says "There's NO antidote, NO countercurse, NO shielding charm. DAMN! Does my knowledge betray me when I need it most? Finally, I climb to Headmaster's office.
"Albus" – I say quietly – "may I use the Teachers' Library?"
Yes, there are TWO libraries in this school, one for teachers' use only because it contains books with very dark or dangerous magic. Or both.
"You don't have to ask for permission to go there."
I know but I always ask.
"Is it so serious?" – I see anxiety in his blue, wise eyes. I just nod. "No Antiveritaserum?"
"None. But I'll find it."
"If you don't…"
"I WILL."
No, Dark books, I won't even touch you. You won't help me, I know that but there are volumes that will. Few, very few people have ever gotten familiar with Sanguis Magia - Magic of Blood but I have and I bless every hour I've spent learning it. Sanguis has always been considered Dark by brainless idiots who have no slightest idea about it but it's neither good nor evil – I mean some potions and spells are darker than my hair but many are not. I've used Sanguis Magia a few times in my life and never to hurt or kill, always to heal and help. I open one of the volumes and start reading. Sanguis books are written in an ancient language with very complicated grammar and difficult alphabet so few wizards are able to decipher it, let alone brew the potions described there! The Lord has no idea I can, I was cunning enough not to tell him. It's getting dark when I finally find what I've been looking for. I'd lick the boots of a witch who wrote this book 500 years ago! Woman, you were a genius! Yes, the potion's effect lasts for 12 hours – I hope that's long enough, side-effects – bearable (but I should be careful not to overdose it), more serious problems develop when you use it for a long time – well, I'll probably have to endure them – they are nothing compared to things Lord would do to me if he knew… It takes only two days to prepare it, so if I hurry, I'll manage to brew it before he calls me again. Ingredients: blood of a user, one glass, 2 phoenix feathers… Gosh, 50 different things but I have them all and I am capable of brewing the potion. That will be the most difficult one in my life but I can make it. I have to. No, there's one thing I don't possess and I won't buy it in any shop, even at Knockturn. 2 glasses of blood of a Fire Unicorn. Fire Unicorn. Good heavens…
"So you can't make it." – I haven't noticed Dumbledore entering. Damn, I should have but I haven't. Maybe I'm simply too tired and cursed too many times to pay attention to everything. I get up, pull my cloak around my shoulders and look at him. God, he's so worried!
"I can put you under Fidelius Charm, Severus."
No, Headmaster. I won't be sitting idly, watching my friends fight the Darkness.
"You won't get this blood anywhere, Severus. One needs really heinous Dark Arts to kill a Fire Unicorn. Even if you know how to do it, I tell you not to."
"Albus, I can get this blood…"
"NO. I order you not to. It is a crime more terrible than slaying a normal unicorn."
"I do know that. Listen, please. I can get the blood but no Unicorn will suffer because of it, I swear."
He looks in my eyes, flabbergasted.
"I know more about Fire Unicorns than you do, Albus, and I have never hurt any. I'd rather die than harm them." Now he's really puzzled.
"Have you been lucky, Severus, to see one?"
See? Millions of times, I can even talk to them! But it is a long story and I have no time to explain so I just nod.
"Very few wizards had the opportunity to meet them. I wish it happened to me." Maybe it will. "But you won't hurt them?"
"I have sworn, haven't I?"
"Could you tell me how?" – he asks.
"My daughters will help me." I shouldn't have said that. It's hard to shock Dumbledore but I managed it for the second time in my life.
"Are you all right?" – he whispers.
"Yes, why?" Man, let me go, the time is running!
"First you say you know a lot about Fire Unicorns, then that you have seen them and now that you have children!" Well, I have never told him…
"Albus, that's the long story and I have no time. Please, I must hurry. I'd rather curse myself with Cruciatus than harm them!"
He fixes his eyes in mine and finally nods. I run to the Apparating Point at the gates. It's time to see my twins, high time indeed…