Swag--I think you were using a different penname back then :)
Ashpop--thanks for the review.
Alrighty then, this is for my two readers...thanks for reviewing ;)
Don't own anything, not a literary masterpiece, etc. etc. etc.
--aimes
"I think that covers it," Snape said tiredly.
"Right. You do realize that you've just listed half the wizarding world," Hermione pointed out. Then again, he really has ticked off half the wizarding world. Or more. It could be anyone from a vengeful Death Eater or a disgruntled former student and everyone in between. Fantastic.
"I think we can all agree that I am hardly the most popular individual in the world," Snape responded irritably. "Perhaps we should focus more on what spell is being cast."
"I think you know what spell is being cast," Hermione pushed quietly. I hate doing this, I hate doing this, I hate doing this.
"Zalaana Morte," he said miserably.
"That would be my guess," Hermione responded gently. "The ugly or unfortunate death. I researched it a bit a couple of years ago for Albus, in the hopes that if he or Harry cast it, there might be some chance of weakening Voldemort significantly. I recognized it in this context fairly quickly."
"What do you know about it?" he asked.
"It takes a singularly powerful witch or wizard to cast it and it can be done from any distance. It begins as a slight malaise that escalates into fever and then a ravenous hunger as the body burns its resources fighting the curse. Eventually it consumes the victim but it doesn't end there. The body dies but the soul stays trapped, enslaved by the caster of the spell. From there, the caster can feed off the soul's energy or use the soul to do his or her bidding."
"Yes, that's about what I know of it. However I've never found record of it being cast, nor the proper incantation."
Voldemort must have had him research it years ago. "I've never found the incantation either; that's why we never tried to use it. I thought it had been lost for good."
"Obviously not, considering my wife is dying in the next room," Snape responded acidly.
"Watch it, Severus, she's important to me as well," Hermione warned. There has to be a way to help her.
"My research was done quite a number of years ago, however from what I recall, killing the wizard casting it will not lift the curse. Of course, that was hearsay only and not solid fact."
"Unfortunately my research indicates that as well," Hermione admitted. "It's a bitch of a curse." Actually, my research indicated that the caster had to voluntarily lift it…and the only way to get him or her to do that usually involved torture. She studied Snape as he rose to go check on Callah. And I have no doubt that he is perfectly willing to do it if it will save her. She rose and looked in on the bedroom. Snape was sitting on the edge of the bed, caressing Callah's face gently, his own expression mild and affectionate. Callah was smiling up at him exhaustedly, looking limp and diminished. Come to think of it, I've got no problems with the torture route either. After all, my time with Dayrin and Bellatrix Lestrange has given me a unique insight into how to properly torture someone.
He returned to the sitting room and took his place on the armchair once more, his face an expressionless mask but for the anguish in his eyes. "So what do we do, Miss Granger?" he challenged.
"We figure out where the caster is located," she replied, settling on the couch and curling her legs beneath her.
"What do you mean?" he asked curiously.
"Well, according to what I learned when I worked on the spell, it can be cast from anywhere in the world, but it takes more energy if you're very far away from the victim. Considering how slowly the spell has moved in on Callah, I have to assume that whoever's doing this isn't particularly close to us. If he or she were…"
"Callah would be well into the ravenously hungry stage and approaching comatose instead of just feverish and hungry."
"Right." Hermione shifted in her seat and rubbed at her fingers worriedly. Snape caught her hands.
"Stop that," he admonished quietly. They sat for a moment, hands entwined, both worrying about the woman in the next room. "Where have you been for the last six months, Hermione?" he asked suddenly. Hermione was thrown by the abrupt question.
"What do you mean?" she replied curiously. "I've been with Remus, obviously, in Italy."
"But you've quit the Institute for Archaeological Studies," he pushed. "You loved working there, according to Callah."
"Yes, well, I've been working with Remus for the Order lately," Hermione mumbled.
"Why?" Snape challenged. Why indeed, sir. Because it nearly killed me every time he left me for yet another mission for the Order that might be his last? Because I ached during the cold and lonely nights when I didn't know where he was or what kind of trouble he was in? Because I'm selfish and I need him and can't let him go?
"I don't know," she finally said, knowing that he wasn't buying it.
"Do not let your love blind you to the fact that you are still your own person. In the end you must keep your independence and remember that there are other things in life beyond him and beyond your love for him," Snape said gently.
"Dear Kettle. Love, Pot," Hermione retorted.
"I never claimed to be above hypocrisy," he replied. "Or do you not recall your entire educational experience?" Hermione graced him with a smile, seeing the pain and worry beneath the banter. Unfortunately I have no idea what to do to help her beyond the very basic 'find the bastard.'
"So the bastard's nowhere near here, which automatically eliminates at least half of this list," Hermione ventured. "We can account for their whereabouts and most of them are conveniently located right here in the UK."
"Yes. I believe we can eliminate half of the remaining out of sheer inability to pull off something this elaborate. There are faster ways to take revenge."
"Okay, so between geographical impossibility and utter stupidity, we're down to a quarter of the originals, right?"
"So it would seem," he replied. Snape seemed ready to venture further opinion when there was a loud knock on the door. He glanced up, startled, and called his permission to enter.
Remus Lupin strode into the room, looking tired and disheveled.
"Hello Severus," he greeted warmly, sitting next to Hermione and entwining his fingers in hers.
"Lupin," came the terse reply. Lupin shot him a confused look, knowing that Snape was irritated at him but unsure of the reason. Hermione gave Snape a warning glare. Bugger. Remus and I will have to discuss some things later since it seems that Severus does not plan to let this drop.
"Hello, love," she said with a brilliant smile in Lupin's direction.
Hello, Sweetness, came the echoing reply in her mind. Their telepathic connection was one of the fringe benefits of Hermione's encounter with a reanimated Lucius Malfoy nearly a year earlier. They usually restricted it to the bedroom, relying on good old fashioned communication to make the relationship work, however on odd occasions one or the other of them would switch to projection more or less for the hell of it.
It's rude to use telepathy in front of others. Makes them feel left out, Hermione chided him mentally. Besides, what if I were thinking private thoughts?
I can only read what you want me to read,he reminded her.
"Sorry," Lupin apologized sheepishly.
Snape shrugged. "Callah does it too," he noted, not at all confused as to what Lupin was apologizing for. The mention of his ill wife sobered everyone.
"How is she?" Remus asked quietly.
"Feverish," Hermione replied tensely. "What have you learned?"
"After realizing that you two would be working on who was doing this, I sat down with your old notes to verse myself more fully on what the spell was. Though I'm sure you're familiar with what the curse does, I figured you haven't looked at the notes in over three years and may not remember the actual requirements to cast it."
"We don't even know the spell," Snape spat.
"No, but there are a lot of guidelines regarding who can and cannot cast it," Lupin replied. "Those guidelines might narrow down who the culprit is. Also, I'm fairly sure I know what part of the world the bugger's in."
There was a moment of shocked silence. Well at least he delivers…and in more ways than one. A small smirk crossed her features before fading in the excitement of the news.
"Well?" Snape growled. "Out with it then!"
Lupin rose and went to make himself a cup of tea. "Settle in, this is going to take awhile. And afterwards, we all get to go on a very long trip."