Chapter One: Prelude to Darkness
The June air lingered, stifling and sticky, although it was well past sundown. The cool of the Hogwarts dungeon was welcoming to Severus Snape as he made his nightly rounds, so it was a shame he couldn't spend his entire time there. Absently he navigated the labyrinthine staircases and passages. There was no real reason why he needed to make his rounds tonight. He knew he wouldn't find a single student breaking curfew. The students had just gone home for the summer after a very trying year.
"Still awake, Severus?" a voice said behind him. Snape started and realized he had wandered straight to Dumbledore's office. "Why don't you come in? I was going to wait until morning, but since we are both awake, I have some things I'd like to discuss with you." Dumbledore turned to the gargoyle and said, "Blood Pops." Snape snorted.
"Sit! Sit!" Dumbledore waved to a chair in front of his desk, which Snape took. " I just made some tea, would you care to join me? I'm afraid I've already added the honey however, I hope you don't mind honey in your tea." Snape shook his head.
"Now then," Dumbledore said as he settled himself behind his desk, "to business! First, I would like to discuss your position here at Hogwarts."
Snape looked up sharply, nearly spilling tea on himself, "My position, Headmaster?" Could it be that Dumbledore finally saw that the students, now, more than ever before, needed a good Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?
"Yes, well your positi-"
The door flew open and a woman stumbled in closely followed by a breathless professor McGonagall in tartan pyjamas. Dumbledore stood up with a quizzical expression on his face.
"I need to use your fireplace," She gasped as she sank into a nearby chair, she had a gash across her arm that looked as though it had been cauterized, clearly a spell wound, "Death Eaters…" She stopped to catch her breath, it looked as though she had run the entire way.
"Care for some tea?" Dumbledore offered calmly but the woman gave him a look and waved it away as if it clearly wasn't the time for tea.
Snape eyed the woman carefully, noting the fact that she wore in her belt a row of sharpened pikes, "Why do you need the fireplace?" Snape asked coldly.
There was an uncomfortable silence.
Finally she looked up, "I was in the woods, when I heard whispering in a clearing nearby, I thought it was possibly a vampire. But I reached the clearing, and it was some sort of … well, I don't know… it looked like…. Like…. Tangible darkness…" She was calmer now, and no longer out of breath, her eyes began to roam around as she talked, " I turned around to leave, but a Death Eater attacked me. I was closer to this end of the woods. I ran here. Now, can I use your fireplace?"
Snape looked back at her, saying nothing, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the look she was giving him. He broke his gaze and looked to Dumbledore.
"Ah… what did you say your name was?"
"Deanna, Deanna Sande."
"Well, Deanna, obviously this must be reported immediately, Severus, why don't you take our guest to the infirmary? Those burns look serious. Madame Pomfrey will see to them immediately."
"This? This is nothing… really. I can-"
"Nonsense! I insist. Severus? Will you please?" He gave him a look.
"Certainly headmaster." Snape said, his face unreadable as he escorted her from the room.
Deanna, "Really, you don't have to…" Snape said nothing, "I'm fine. It's just a fleshwound."
Snape looked as though he hadn't even heard as he brought her down the hall. "Hey buddy, I'm talking to you…. you mute...?" She asked, not taking her eyes off Snape.
Snape stopped, "I most certainly am not mute." He said finally, continuing down the hall with Deanna in tow.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too," she said sarcastically. They both lapsed into silence again, and for a few minutes the only sounds were their footsteps on the marble floor. Finally Deanna broke the silence, asking, "So... who are you anyway?"
"I'm the Potions master."
"Ahh…right, Severus Snape, now I remember…" More silence. "So it's true what they say about you," Deanna said as they turned a corner in the dark hall.
He drew in a breath sharply, "And what is it that they say about me?"
"You really are a great greasy git."
He stopped suddenly, turning to face her. "And you really are an unfeeling murderer."
Deanna's expression turned dark, "Oh, you're one of those... bleeding hearts…." She mumbled, "Your hearts really would be bleeding without people like me."
"Surely not every va-" he began before she cut him off.
"Don't give me that," she spat, looking away. She looked as if she would say more but a low growl echoing from an unknown direction distracted her.
Both of them turned to see a young woman standing in the hallway with a black cat draped across her shoulder. She was quite tall, with the grace and poise of the feline that stared at them from its high perch. She wore deep green robes with a high-necked collar that came to her chin. Her hands were covered in black gloves. Her long curtain of jet-black hair obscured her face, but there was a flash of green as she passed her poison stare over both Deanna and Snape in turn.
"If you two are quite done with your... petty bickering..." She focused on someone who was standing behind the both of them, and her gaze softened slightly. "Albus..."
"I hope I am not too late." The woman again eyed Snape and Deanna.
"Oh, not at all. No rest for the weary, I'm afraid," Dumbledore said, deliberately misinterpreting her statement. "I have some things to discuss with you. I trust Dobby has settled you into your quarters?"
"Yes."
"Good." He smiled and turned to Snape, "Severus, I would like you to meet – or remeet, rather – Miss Raven Xavier, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Miss Xavier," he motioned in Deanna's direction, "Miss Sande, a vampire hunter – by the way, Miss Sande, I've contacted the authorities – and Miss Xavier, you know Professor Snape already, I believe."
Raven nodded.
"Good, now that we've got the introductions out of the way, I believe Miss Sande would probably like to get to the infirmary now. Follow me please." The group followed Dumbledore to the Hospital wing where Madame Pomfrey stood waiting at the door.
"Ah! Look at those!" Pomfrey tutted. "Do you know which spell was used?" she asked as she herded Deanna into the hospital wing.
"Now, you two." Dumbledore eyed Snape through his half-moon spectacles, "Severus, would you be so kind as to escort Professor Xavier to the teachers' wing?"
"Thank you, Headmaster, but I know where it is. You tend to your guest." She nodded at the infirmary doors and then turned on her heel and headed in the direction of the teachers wing, with her cat still sitting securely on her shoulder.
Neither Snape nor Dumbledore moved until she and her pet were out of sight.
"She's back, then?" Snape said finally.
Dumbledore nodded.
Snape sighed, "Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Severus…"
"We've already discussed it, I know."
"I have very good reasons why you shouldn't have that position, Severus, and I hope you will trust me on that, as I trust you."
"Of course, Headmaster," Snape agreed, though he didn't sound at all convinced. "So where has she been all these years?"
"Traveling abroad," Dumbledore replied enigmatically.
Snape bit back his growing frustration and hastily changed the subject. "What of that Sande woman, the vampire hunter? We can't have her prying…"
"I will see to it that she is healed and sent on her way. I have informed Alastor Moody of the situation. Meanwhile, perhaps you can do some reconnaissance in the forest?"
Snape nodded, "No rest for the weary." He smirked mirthlessly. "I'll be ready within a half an hour."
As Raven headed to her new quarters, her cat leaped from her shoulder to bound ahead of her. He turned and fixed her with his emerald gaze.
how long are we staying in this place? came a purring voice in her head.
For as long as Albus needs us, she sent back over their mutual link. He helped me out a lot when I was younger, and I owe him. She noticed the feline began to fidget, and she knew he was itching to go out and explore. Thorne, why don't you go out hunting? There's a forest nearby, and there should be plenty of game to keep you occupied.
don't have to tell me twice, he muttered before bounding off to parts unknown.
Once her cat was gone, Raven arrived at her new quarters and immediately began unpacking her few belongings. A few articles of clothing, a sketchbook, several vials filled with a murky solution, and a sharp, curved dagger were carelessly tossed in various drawers before she finally sat on the edge of her bed and looked around in distaste. It was much too opulent in here for her liking... too many unnecessary things. She would seek out the house-elves tonight to get rid of what she didn't need. All she wanted was a cot, a cabinet and a desk. Everything else was wasteful. It reminded her of...
She stopped herself mid-thought, shutting her eyes tight. Must not think of back then... She took a deep breath, opened her eyes and stood up. She had to get out of here, out of this castle. She left the room, making her way through familiar hallways, until she found herself outside, breathing the cool night air. Thinking only of working off all the tension in her body, Raven made her way towards the Forbidden Forest.
The darkness of the woods had a calming effect on Raven. As she wandered through the trees, a scent caught her attention. It was the metallic tang of blood.
Curious, Raven followed the trail to a small clearing. There she found the remains of what appeared to be a deer. Pulling off one of her gloves, she knelt down next to the animal's corpse and ran a finger through a ragged tear in its flesh. It was still warm, which meant it was a fresh kill. She stood, absentmindedly licking the blood off of her finger.
you really should be sleeping... came a rumbling voice in her head.
Raven smiled, and answered aloud. "I wasn't tired... and I thought I could use the exercise." She looked up to see large green eyes peering down at her. "I see you've had a nice dinner, eh?" Her question was answered with a snort of disgust.
hunting here is poor. most things in here are skin, bones and fur...
Raven smirked, "You shouldn't be so picky. Come down here."
The tree branches above her rustled as a dark shape dropped smoothly to the ground. It was the size of saber-toothed tiger with inky black fur, silver scythe-like claws, bat-like wings curled tightly over its back, and large green eyes. It moved towards Raven with unnatural speed, but she didn't move, only smiled. Thorne butted his large head against her chest and purred.
Suddenly both Raven and Thorne froze, as a sound reached their sensitive ears.
someone else is here... came his rumbling purr in her head.
"I know," Raven replied quietly. They both looked at each other for a few moments before Thorne nodded his massive head and silently disappeared into the shadows. Raven turned around and watched the forest around her, waiting for Thorne's return.
A few moments later he slunk into the clearing. Thorne, who was now the size of a housecat, shifted back into his natural form. He sat in front of Raven, running his tongue over dagger-like teeth.
a human's in the forest.. the same one from earlier in the castle.
Raven reached out to stroke Thorne's massive head, and tilted her own in thought.
So the vampire hunter is in the forest? she thought to herself. What could she possibly be doing?
With a slight nod from Raven, Thorne slipped back into the shadows. Raven made her way in the direction Thorne had last seen the vampire hunter. She decided that it would be better to let her know that there was someone else in the forest. She didn't relish the thought of having to pull a stake out of herself.
As she stalked through the darkness, her pupils dilated like a cat's, making her surroundings seem as clear as if it were daylight. She saw Deanna ahead of her, distracted by something in the underbrush.
Raven smiled and spoke. "What brings you here so late at night?"
Deanna smirked. "Me? Well... what can I say? I love the nightlife..." she replied smartly. "And what are you doing out here so late?"
Raven's lips twisted into a smirk.
"It was such a lovely night that I couldn't bear to be cooped up inside." She leaned against a tree trunk and snapped her gloved fingers. Thorne, in his normal house-cat guise, dropped down from the branches above to land smoothly on Raven's shoulders.
Deanna smirked back. "Cute cat..." she murmured, raising an eyebrow.
Thorne settled onto his owner's shoulders and looked at the Vampire Hunter straight in the eyes, his piercing gaze filled with intelligence. Raven causally scratched his chin and raised an eyebrow.
"Cute... Certainly not a word that I would associate with him."
Deanna nodded. "Although much cuter than some of the things I've seen."
Both Raven and Thorne tilted their heads as if hearing something that the hunter could not.
"Well, it's been... interesting. But I have other things to attend to... Enjoy your night." Deanna said casually. The thing in the forest wasn't far off. She had to investigate.
Raven slowly turned around, and fixed her with a cold, almost reptilian stare. "Let's drop the pretenses, shall we?" she hissed. "You should be in the infirmary."
"You're not my keeper."
"No. I'm not." Raven lifted her head, breathing in deep. She caught a strange scent in the air, something naggingly familiar... Deanna took that moment to disappear into the underbrush.
we should leave her... Thorne purred through their mental link.
No, she sent back, something's wrong with her, she's seen something disturbing... and it wouldn't do if she saw things that she is not meant to see. Plus, Dumbledore would want to know where she is...
Raven pushed her way through the brush roughly, but oddly not making a noise as she trampled through the forest. Thorne dug his claws into the material of her robes so as to not fall off. He was chuckling softly through their mental link.
lucky for you there's not a new moon out... then she'd get a real eyeful.
Shut up, she sent back. The scent was getting stronger. The familiarity of it was really beginning to unnerve her.
She stopped suddenly and held her hand out for Deanna to do the same. She motioned her head to another clearing just ahead. Something was writhing in the darkness.
Deanna stopped and squinted her eyes and they focused on the dark shadows moving in the clearing. What the... she thought.
The dark whirling mass gathered in the center of the clearing. It seemed to suck in all the light around it. Smoky tendrils snaked across the ground in almost every direction.
Raven held her arm out so that Deanna would not go near. "Whatever you do, do not let it touch you.. Don't even go near it," she hissed.
Deanna stared at the thing in the clearing. "What the hell is it?" she asked, her voice hardly audible.
Raven shook her head, "No time to explain," she turned around and stalked back the way they had come, "we need to go back and speak with Dumbledore... Now."
"Oh, you won't be going anywhere…" came an unnaturally-high pitched voice from the shadow of a nearby tree. The tall figure slunk out of the shadows, twirling his wand with a nimbleness that belied his years.
"I suppose you thought I was dead?" he asked them, seeing the recognition and utter terror on Raven and Deanna's faces. "I'm afraid the Ministry has been quite grievously misinformed... I am, and ever have been, very much alive..."
The evil red glint in the man's eyes -- if he could be called a man -- illuminated his snakelike smile.
"It would take a great deal more than a single curse to finish me off..."
It was Voldemort.
