violence in this chapter
the problem of random 'I' changes for proper names should now be sorted and I believe I have traced the source of the problem
Chapter 4 Vorsprung Deuch Schreklich't
Krait was apprehensive about the trip to punish Von Strang; and watched the Daily Prophet anxiously for news of the escape of the Death Eaters. As it was, Voldemort contacted her first.
"I have decided to delay the release of my loyal minions….it will alert the ministry, and I am inclined to let them do my work for me in discrediting Dumbledore's fears and making Potter out to be sadly unstable….we shall have to do it with just the assets at our disposal. Lucius will assuredly help; do you think it is time yet to blood Draco?"
Krait frowned in thought. She had panicked briefly, thinking of the blood magic ritual; but what her father meant was to blood him to battle. She spoke calmly.
"No, my Lord; he'd be more a hindrance than an asset. He's pretty immature, thanks in large to Narcissa. I'd not trust him not to freeze or panic. A year or so might make all the difference."
Voldemort nodded and cracked his long white fingers.
"I trust your judgement, my daughter….we shall apparate with brooms in hand to approach more closely. There are some half dozen minions in the castle, I believe. It will not be difficult."
"We must be careful of course….but you are the mightiest wizard ever, so I do not fear." Said Krait.
"Good, good." Her father approved.
-/-/-/-
The attacking formation of brooms swept down on the castle; and Krait, bottle of potion concealed under her cloak, broke away and plummeted through the window where bright colours suggested a nursery. The young woman there with a small girl and boy screamed; and the little boy put himself in front of both his mother and his sister.
"Brave lad….listen, you have one chance to get away" said Krait, urgently. "Madam, take this potion, it is invisibility potion, and flee with your children and hide amongst the muggles. Gnädige Fraulein, I must use your dolls to save you and your mother, I fear they cannot go with you."
The small girl stared at her with one finger in her mouth. Krait thrust the bottle at the woman.
"Hurry!" she urged. Really, the woman seemed quite half witted, the odd sandwich or several short of a picnic. At last the young woman seemed to catch on.
"Why?" she murmured. "there are brooms – are they attacking? Why? And why do you save us?"
"The hell with why – just go, or your children will die" said Krait brutally, taking the flask and tipping some into the obedient mouth of the little girl and passing it to the boy to drink. "Take mother's hands now you two, lad, hand her the flask, she can't see it as you disappear – and get out!" Quickly she picked up three dolls and threw them out of the window, transfiguring them as she dropped them, that they fell with the correct degree of heaviness; and lay broken on the rocks below. When she turned, the door was open and she was apparently alone; and making a partial change she checked with her heat sensing abilities that the baroness and her children were indeed gone. The potion was not a perfect invisibility potion; perfect invisibility by spell or potion was difficult; but it had, Severus assured her, been an unusually good batch and in the half dark of shadowy corridors should be good enough if nobody was actually looking for the fugitives; and would hopefully last long enough for them to get mostly away. Krait sighed with relief and ran up to find the sounds of magical fighting. It was virtually over.
"Where have you been?" her father asked sibilantly.
ssssCutting off root and branch ssss said Krait bluntly. ssssI defenestrated them…You didn't want his brats left to avenge him, did you? The older boy is another matter if he's Severus'….and we can infiltrate him back to inherit and get some control through him when he's older anyway especially if there's nobody else to contest.ssss She used Parseltongue to emphasise their supposed closeness.
ssssOh yesss, that was well done indeed.ssss He approved by his choice of the language as well as the words. He slipped back to English. "Only the Baron himself now…he's holed up and giving Lucius and Severus a hard time of it. I'd forgotten how good Severus really is in a fight…"
"My time, I think….." said Krait. "Sorry to have missed the fighting, but this is a snake's job…." She shifted into the ivory serpent and slipped past her father, brushing between Severus' legs on whispering scales as he dodged the spells that flew out of a door at the top of the narrow stair.
The venom Krait had chosen was fast, merciful; much as she loathed and despised the baron, she had no desire to prolong his agony. She had learned in killing the revolting Jonathon Malfoy that even if it might be just punishment that it revolted her and made her uncomfortable; and made her fear that she might be her father's true daughter in too many ways. Such was something she hoped to avoid!
Krait changed back and shouted,
"Clear!" as police officers often did on films. She had no desire to be spelled by Lucius and Severus by mistake as she stepped out!
"A little quick for my tastes….you will learn to refine your poison as you practise" commented Voldemort. "Severus, let her study venoms in potions….she will soon learn to duplicate them, I'm sure."
"Undoubtedly" said Severus. "She is remarkably talented."
"In all things Severus?" Voldemort laughed.
Severus flushed.
"I – I am well content My Lord" he said.
"I'm sure" was the dry response.
-/-/-/-
The trip to Durmstrang was the next priority; the Order was taking care of Harry, and Voldemort's bloodlust was temporarily sated. Severus knew the way and guided Krait on a long night flight by broom directly on from Von Strang's castle. The girl was almost dropping from tiredness by the time they saw the forbidding and brooding edifice that was Durmstrang looming out of the dawn mist.
"Ugly pile" she commented as they swooped in on a meadow pasture near the school. She leaned against Severus for support.
"Draw on the blood….it's what it's there for" he suggested.
"No need….we can rest a brief while to get my second wind. No point worrying people" said Krait. "I'm getting stronger, I'd never have lasted that long half a year ago."
"True…the morning runs are an excellent discipline. I feel much fitter myself."
"Your legs are much more muscular….no, better shy away from your legs, too much temptation to follow that thought up….in more ways than one…."
"I see you're feeling better already" he said, colouring slightly, and smiling down at her. "There's a solitary lad out there, even at this hour…..I wonder if he's our one."
"Let's ask him" said Krait.
-/-
The boy was a sturdy twelve year old with sandy hair and a gentle face. He had been staring disconsolately at the lake but turned quickly as they approached.
"Are you young Von Strang?" asked Severus bluntly.
The lad looked down his nose.
"My name is Erich Von Strang. What's it to anybody?"
"Would you be distressed to learn that your father is dead?" asked Severus baldly but not ungently.
"Distressed?" the boy changed colour several times. "No, I'd be glad to learn he was dead….is he? Does this mean that I've got to leave school and be put somewhere so as not to contaminate my brother and sister or something?" he asked bitterly.
"You poor little boy!" said Krait. "He hasn't been kind to you, has he?"
"He never did like me….I hated his cruelty" said Erich, simply. "I couldn't watch if he was torturing muggles….then he found out mother was part muggle, so he threw her off the tower. I saw it." He added quietly. "He – he kept me out of sight; and when he married Adalheid I played with the babies because she let me….I love Erwin and Helga, it's not Adalheid's fault he killed mummy….then he packed me off to school and left orders I was to stay in the holidays too. But it's somewhere to be, and I get to learn stuff…" Krait drew him into her arms and he burst into tears.
Presently the storm of sobbing was over and he gulped and said,
"I suppose you think that's pretty babyish."
"No, not at all" said Krait. "I think that's the first time you've been allowed to grieve properly for your mother; and it needed to come out. Now you can put that behind you and move on, without forgetting her of course; but you can rebuild your life."
"What happened?" Erich asked.
"It gets complex….he wasn't a nice man anyway and we had a hand in killing him…your brother and sister and stepmother got away, we helped them to. But we want to take you to Hogwarts"
"We told a lie that you are my son" said Severus. "To make sure you weren't killed too."
"Who by? Why?" he wanted to know.
They exchanged glances and Severus shrugged.
"Voldemort had quarrel with your father…..we engineered that quarrel, but he kills whole families. He believes your siblings to be dead….it's why it's safe to leave them for a while if they can hide amongst the muggles nearby."
"There are loyal ones….some would hurt them gladly. Adalheid isn't totally dim, though" he said judiciously "I should think she can take care of herself for a while." He looked thoughtfully at Severus. "You don't look cruel….I'd rather you were my father."
"That's settled, then" said Severus. "Your name is Erich Snape, and you'll enter Hogwarts next term in the second year….you can tell people that you first wanted to go to a school where your dad wasn't teaching, but didn't like Durmstrang. It's plausible enough. David Fraser, who is by way of being a ward of mine, will keep an eye to you until you settle in."
"I like being Erich Snape" said Erich firmly. "Can we go now? I'll need new uniform anyhow, and different books, so I've nothing left here to bother with."
"No personal items? Toys?" asked Severus in surprise.
The boy shrugged.
"I had a teddy bear….my father burned it when I was ten. Said I was too old for such things."
"I'd like to kill him again all over" said Krait, grinding her teeth.
"Save it for the next creep….there'll be others" Severus shrugged. "Let's get you safe home, lad."
The next person to worry about was someone Sirri had confided in Krait about.
"The – the old master had a house elf visit….to make me have a baby" she whispered. "She – she was taken away to be sold…HIS master and mine split the profit."
Krait was appalled.
"How old is she?" she asked.
"Nearly five….I miss her every day!" Sirri sniffed. "Sirri knows house elves isn't supposed to be happy, but you can do something can't you mistress?"
"I'll do my best….getting my hands on so much money to buy her out might be hard though" Krait said. Sirri beamed.
"Is no problem!" and snapped her fingers to dissapparate. After half an hour she returned with a big box filled to the brim – as she displayed by throwing it open with a flourish – with galleons.
"It was the old master's!" she said. "Is yours now!"
"It shall be used for buying out slaves" said Krait "Starting with your little girl. Severus will know how to go about it."
"He's very clever, isn't he?" said Sirri.
"Immensely" said Krait.
"And he doesn't order house elves to do things that is scary or painful" said Sirri with a sigh of satisfaction.
Krait stared in horror.
"Did that greasy old turd lay his filthy hands on you that way?" she demanded
Sirri bit her lip.
"Sirri need not punish herself…..Sirri need not punish herself" she said firmly, clasping her hands together. "He made me touch him….and things."
"Well done Sirri….you need never punish yourself again. Well, I shall tell Hermione Granger what an evil old lecher he was….she'll stop feeling guilty about killing the tyke then I wager" said Krait grimly. "That's if you'll let me tell her? In confidence?"
Sirri's big eyes filled with tears.
"Mistress Krait cares to ask!" she whispered. "Hermione Granger is a silly girl but well meaning….she needs to know what goes on if she really wants to help house elves."
"Not so much silly as single minded…she was much shocked to discover slavery in the wizarding world, and has no idea how to cope with the fact that most elves, especially if well treated, would be afraid of freedom….your family are remarkable."
"We is – are – going to talk like humans too" squeaked Sirri determinedly. "Sirri is – I am – going to bring up I to be a proper free person when you has found her."
"Good" said Krait, firmly.
Sirri knew her daughter's location, fortunately; and Krait came up with the idea of having Beloc slip a draught of will-weakening potion into her owner's drink whilst Severus was in negotiations with him. As Severus was probably the pre-eminent potioneer of the age, Krait was scarcely surprised when he turned up cuddling a terrified elf child as tenderly as if she were Jade or Lydia. And a good deal more gingerly; for she was so tiny and fragile-looking like a little doll!
With her little mother to dote upon her and the other two little girls to care for her, Krait had little doubt the child would soon settle in! Erich was settling well already, firm friends with David, and obviously charmed to spend time with the younger ones. He was plainly taken aback at having a house elf child treated as any other child; but kindness was a contrast to his father's ways; so he was happy to fall in with these new ways! He and David were also kind to little Grace Corbin, adjusting still to having been rejected by her own parents, and too shy to respond much yet to the unexpected gentleness she received from Krait and even the terrifying Professor Snape. She could not know that Severus too knew what it was like to have parents that showed clearly that they despised one, for whatever reason; and Severus had learned enough to recognise that impatience over low academic achievement was as damaging as bullying over physical weakness. He did not speak much to Grace; for he found it difficult to curb impatience with slower pupils, and it was better, he felt, to be remote than an object of terror. If he half regretted taking the child as his ward he gave no sign; and hoped fervently that the removal of pressure would help her academically, even as it seemed to do to Neville. Grace's gentleness was however helpful in getting Mimi settled!
Krait did not hesitate to tell Hermione all about Sirri's ordeals when next she saw her; and was rewarded by seeing the normally unemotional Hermione's eyes fill with tears of compassion.
"To think I felt almost sorry for that horrid man!" Hermione burst out. "I'm GLAD we shot him! I wish we could shoot him some more!"
"Hardly much of a discommodation to him now, I'd say" drawled Krait. "His nervous system being somewhat beyond any reaction to your lead-filled disapprobation"
Hermione stamped her foot.
"Oh, you're – you're IMPOSSIBLE!" she raged. "You know very well what I mean! Only you must insist on sounding like Severus!"
Krait grinned.
"Guilty….yes, of course I know what you mean…d'you think I don't feel the same way? I appreciate Sirri's feelings far more than you realise…."
"I thought you wanted to be with Severus? Or – Krait! Are you pregnant?" Hermione blurted, shocked. Krait blushed and nodded, smiling gently.
"Oh! How….IS it awful? You look pleased!" said Hermione.
"Tact? From you? Wonders never cease!" grinned Krait. "It could have been less inconvenient….but I'm due around February, so I'll be fine for the rest of my O.W.L.s by June I should think."
"If you're allowed to stay." Hermione was dubious.
"If I'm not there as a pupil I'll just move in with Severus….I can take the exams as an external student, surely; and if not, I can just study to a standard that'll please him" she said serenely.
"Well….I'll back you up" said Hermione staunchly.
"BEST of friends…and sister too, now!" said I happily, hugging her.
-/-
The Malvaison Chateau might yet too prove useful someday if there WERE indeed no heirs; and Krait asked the elves to visit from time to time to check nobody else had moved in, and to keep it more or less clean and in good repair. She was hazy about what she might plan to do with it; if, as Beloc and Sirri blandly asserted it was hers by right of conquest – or more properly, the whole Bloodgroup's, she thought – but she had at the back of her mind the thought that the loo connection could at a pinch be used to evacuate the entire of I too in an emergency.
cultural reference; the selling point of a German made car on a Brit advert was the line 'vorsprung Deuch technik' so I sort of usurped it a little bit. Schrecklikeit is totally trashed and destroyed. Well I though it was funny anyway.
I don't know if any accents I use will translate into the text but if they don't I do put on all accents and umlauts. If theydon't come through, I'm sorry.
