You saw me from the cathedral
Well I'm an ancient heart
Yes, you saw me from the cathedral
Well here we are just falling apart
You catch me
I am tired
I want all that you are
I saw you from the cathedral
You were leaving me
And I saw from the cathedral
You could not see to see
So take my lies
And take my time
'Cos all the others want to take my life
~ "Cathedral Song," by Tanita Tikaram
Snape, now wearing his black jacket to ward off the cold, gazed about the chapel in the famous cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, taking in the entire glory of the church. Lights hit the colored columns at haunting angles, and the Hogwarts students flitted in and out of the waxed pews, some snapping photos, some chatting, some praying. McGonagall kneeled in the first row, head bowed in prayer. Severus never really believed in a God, but at least he could admire the vast beauty of the cathedral. It was so open, so cold, sound resonating from every stone-cut corner.
So holy.
Notre Dame seemed even holier with Hermione Granger in it, standing by one of the few stained glass windows, her dark eyes fixated on the crucifix. Even if she had tamed her wild hair much more than her younger days when it would be a giant frizzy ball of auburn fluff, it still maintained a few stray scraps. These frizzy hairs framed her head and gave her a sort of halo Snape had never noticed before.
A trace of a smile crossed his face. She looked like an angel.
"Professor…perhaps you can help me solve this problem," Professor Sprout stated, approaching Snape. Her portly frame was lost in a mess of maps as she twisted and turned them and tried to locate her destination. "I'm trying to find the Eiffel Tower…oh, you'd think it wouldn't be too hard to find…"
"Pomona," Severus soothed, taking her shoulder and stopping her so she would look at him. "You just stand right there, and I'll be back with something a lot more useful than a map." Leaving Sprout where she was standing, Severus marched over to Hermione.
"Miss Granger?" Snape said, snapping her out of her trance.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, turning. Gently taking her by the crook of her arm, Snape led her into a small enclave on the side of the church. This area was blocked out of sight by the Hogwarts students, and it was filled with a semicircle of votive candles surrounding a statue of the Virgin Mary. Here was where all the visiting lit candles to pray for themselves or loved ones.
"Professor Sprout wants to take the children to the Eiffel Tower," he explained.
"Well that's quite reasonable. The Tower is not too hard to find…"
"Yes, well," Snape continued, picking up a white candle in its tall glass container, "I was wanted you to aid me in making a portkey."
"Professor," Hermione gaped, more angry than shocked. "You know portkeys can't be created when they are unauthorized by the Ministry."
"Yes. That's why I asked you to help me create one, Ministry girl."
Flushing with embarrassment and frustration, Hermione grabbed the candle, as well. "Snape, I can't believe you actually want to do this. Just take a bus, for Merlin's sake!"
Severus' stomach pulled at the very mention. He couldn't admit to having those awful dreams of Albus. "Muggle transportation…makes me…nauseous."
Hermione wanted to pity him, but that "Ministry girl" remark still stung. "Well that sounds like a personal problem."
"Listen to me," he grated, putting his other hand on the candle, encasing hers. "I am going to create this portkey. You are under my authority."
"I am not under anyone's authority!" Hermione screamed in a whisper so it wouldn't attract attention from the rest of the group. "I am a graduate of Hogwarts and I will do as I please so you just…"
"Fine. Then I will just create my own portkey. Easier, you know."
"Professor," Hermione hissed, eyes widening. "Don't you dare -"
"Portus!"
Suddenly, in a puff of smoke, Hermione and Snape were gone.
Minerva folded her knobbly fingers together and tried to block out the sounds of the students as they milled about, just children. How badly she missed Albus, his wooly beard and soothing voice like crunching fall leaves, the jokes he made, the little candies in his office he fancied. She'd tried to forgive Severus for the sin he'd committed, but extinguishing a person so rare and wonderful was a crime beyond compare.
"Minerva?" Flitwick interrupted her train of thought, standing by her side and trembling nervously. McGonagall snapped her eyes open and looked at her small friend.
"Filius?"
"There's been…an accident," he whispered, gesturing for her to come with him. Quickly, Minerva stood and followed him into a small enclave off the side of the chapel. Pomona and Horace stood there already. Professor Sprout's kindly face was warped with worry as she stroked the empty place on the candle rack.
"Severus is gone," Pomona choked out. Minerva felt relief and concern tangle and fight inside her.
"He took a portkey," McGonagall announced quickly, smelling the residue of the spell in the air. "And judging by the quality and size of the spell…it feels like he brought someone with him…"
"Hermione is gone as well," Flitwick piped up. "Though we didn't hear much from over here, so it suggests she went somewhat willingly." This statement made the concern overwhelm the relief in Minerva.
"My word," McGonagall huffed. "Alright, the three of you listen to me. We will proceed with the trip as planned. Show no worry of their disappearance to the students. I will concentrate on finding them both. If you receive contact from either one of them, you are to report it to me immediately. We will deal professionally with this emergency and no one will be hurt. Is that understood?"
The trio nodded, even if Slughorn did nod a bit hesitantly. They went to gather up the students to head to their hotel, and as they did, a shadowy figure peered from the corner of the cathedral.
Stoically, the slender, dark man gazed up at the ceiling and smirked at the image of the falling Lucifer, pointy white canines glistening.
Then, in a pull of shadow, he disappeared into the darkness.
