All characters belong to the brilliant JKR... Except for the one.
Thanks JarODirt, GreeceGirl99, SnapeBella415, TheEscapeFromReality and ScottK010 for your kind words. I really appreciate it.
Here is how our story continued... And be honest with you, I'm never sure about the ratings. I just thought that because of certain language choices, violence, and some other potential issues, M is probably necessary from here on. I'm a mom with a little girl, so I am always a bit paranoid. =)
Chapter Six - An Unexpected Friendship
"Excuse me? What did you say?" Olivia stared at the young Slytherin boy in front of her in disbelief.
"Please, Professor Macmillan. I just want to see how a television set works one more time; and I promise I will be able to finish up with the essay that you assigned us." A blond hair boy begged in his teacher's office.
"But why do you care so much about this essay?" Olivia looked at the student curiously. "I know you are worried. But why? It's just Muggles Studies for heaven's sake. Why would you care so much about this subject?"
"I haven't had a good mark for my other classes for a while Professor." The boy continued to plead, "My dad will kill me if I don't get something above a P."
"And he will let you off the hook if you get an A in Muggle Studies?" The teacher did not seem convinced.
"Yes!" the young Slytherin answered eagerly. "Please Professor. I don't even know where to start with the homework. Just let me see how it works one more time and I will do fine."
Olivia rolled her eyes and let out a grunt. What a hassle being a teacher! Now she has to set it all up again. Not that it's difficult, but to make a television to work within the castle would require a generator to be hooked up to the machine, with a complete antenna properly positioned outside the window. Thank goodness for magic. If she couldn't have it all done with a few waves of her wand, she would have made the boy draw a television set in exchange for an A.
With a wave of her wand she had the television out from the cabinet and all the other equipment necessary for the display. She then turned to open the window and began getting all the wires connected with the antenna for the demonstration. Without her knowing, the young Slytherin carefully pulled out a glass vial and walked by the cup of tea on the teacher's desk. While Olivia was thoroughly annoyed by the wires created according to Muggle logic, she did not notice the boy slowly emptying the content of the vial into her cup.
"Alright, take a good look and go finish your homework." Olivia pointed at the news program on TV and gestured the student to come forward.
The boy quickly walked over to the muggle technology. After a few glances, he smiled brightly at the teacher. "Thanks professor! This really helps! Good night professor!"
"That's it?" Olivia couldn't believe her eyes. As the boy walked by her desk she suddenly detected something strange from the boy. He was hiding something. What could it be? Was it really a common trait for all Slytherins to be so secretive? She frowned, but did not have the interest to stop the student for interrogation.
With another wave of her wand, she turned off the television and sent everything back into the storage room. It was getting late in the evening. She sighed as she looked at a pile of the homework that she still had to grade, and absentmindedly picked up her tea.
They used to say back home in the old days that the good women would always become teachers or nurses. Olivia was sure teaching was not the thing for her. With her previous experience with potions, she was sure nursing would be out of the question, too. Well, maybe she was never a good woman to begin with. Olivia shook her head and laughed at her own thoughts.
Suddenly, she felt her hands beginning to tremble. She put her cup down so that she wouldn't spill the tea. She looked at her hands and became further alarmed as her fingers began to feel numb. Quickly she got up from her seat, wondering what had gone wrong with her. But as soon as she got up her legs gave up on her. As she fell to the floor horror struck her: she had been drugged.
As she lost control over her limbs her mind was racing... the Slytherin boy. Why did she sense so much fear in him when he first arrived in her office, and so much relief right before he left? Someone had threatened him into doing this. The tea! He put potion in her tea!
Olivia began to panic as she realized she had lost all her feelings in her legs. Who could she ask for help? There was only person that came to her mind. Before she completely lost control over her arms and hands she summoned her wand. A silvery falcon flew out of her window before her wand slipped between her fingers and dropped to the floor.
She could hear footsteps coming to her office. Could that be him? That was quick! But her relief quickly turned into alarm as Amycus Carrow walked in the door.
The Death Eater was grinning ear to ear when he found the witch lying helplessly on the floor. He pick her up by her hair and sneered, "I always get what I want Macmillan. You made quite a mistake when you turned me down!"
Olivia wanted to scream for help, but realized in horror that she couldn't make a sound. She stared at the Death Eater as fear began to fill her heart.
Without warning Carrow slapped her hard in the face and let her fall back down on the floor. "That's for slapping me, bitch!"
"Don't you just love the dark arts?" Carrow walked over to Olivia's side and began coldly, "Just a few drops and you are all mine. That little vial cost me twenty galleons. But I bet it's worth every single knut!" He laughed wickedly as he got down to pick up the witch's limp body.
It was absolutely a torture as she could see and hear and feel everything. She wanted to vomit as the Death Eater ran his fingers down her chin and began fondling with her breasts. But she simply could not react. Not a single muscle seemed to respond to her command.
The Death Eater walked out of the witch's office with his prey in his arms, eager to return to his quarters. But he was stopped by a stern voice from behind.
"Good evening Amycus." It was Snape. "May I inquire what you are doing with Professor Macmillan in the corridors in such a late hour?" the Headmaster asked in a slightly sarcastic tone.
Carrow slowly turned around to face the Headmaster. He was surprised. He didn't think anyone would be visiting this part of the school at this hour.
"S..S..Snape!" the Death Eater stuttered, "Well, sh...sh...she fainted."
Snape raised an eyebrow as he walked towards the Death Eater. He took a quick look at the witch. One of her arms was dangling by her side. Her head slouched backwards lifelessly. There was a small cut in the corner of her lips. Her eyes were half open in a daze.
"Fainted?" Snape looked back at Carrow and said in his smooth cool voice, "Do you honestly think after being the potions master for two decades, I can't tell the difference between fainted and drugged?"
"Alright alright you caught me." Carrow smiled slyly at the Headmaster. "Look, let's just keep it between us alright? This assignment at Hogwarts is really getting on my nerves. It's boring as hell Snape. I really don't know how you can take it for so long. These kids are giving me the worst headache. I need some fun with a lady friend alright? She won't dare telling anyone. I will make sure of that."
"You might have picked the wrong witch for your entertainment I'm afraid." Snape stared at Carrow blankly.
"What makes you say that?" the Death Eater's eyes widened but he quickly smirked and said, "Oh I see Snape. You've got good taste. Didn't know you've got a thing for her too. Well, I don't mind sharing." He gave a nasty smile at his own suggestion.
"I have to admit that I have underestimated how filthy your mind is." Snape gave the Death Eater a disgusted glare. "How unfortunate," he went on coldly, "the wizard that's got an eye on this witch is not as easy going as me. Do you ever wonder what the Dark Lord would say if he discovers his newly acquired companion was violated by a pitiful follower of his?"
All colors disappeared from Carrow's face. His jaw dropped wide open upon hearing Snape's word. He blinked a few times before he could find his voice again, "That's not good... not good... I didn't know... What should I... I must obliviate her, right this minute! Will you please keep the secret for me? Snape, Please!" The Death Eater began to plead desperately.
"Obliviate her?" Snape laughed coldly, "You really think the Dark Lord can't tell if her memory had been tempered? You really should know by now, that the Dark Lord is often worried more about what is NOT there."
"What should I do then?" The Death Eater looked mortified.
"Too bad you don't have the right potions to wipe her memory clean, Amycus. Only potions can do this job. You have my most sincere condolence." Snape inclined slightly towards Carrow and slowly turned away.
"Wait!" Carrow hurried to catch up with the Headmaster, "What do you mean? Potions... You know potions. You have a way. You have a way to fix this don't you. Please! You've got to help me. Please! I will do anything! You name it, I'll do it!"
Snape looked at the Death Eater with a blank stare. A moment later he said, "I will only help you this once. If you do anything this stupid again you will be on your own."
"Yes yes yes!" Carrow answered eagerly, "Bloody hell! I will never lay a finger on her ever again! Only an idiot would want to get in his way!"
The Death Eater quickly dropped the witch in the Headmaster's arms as if she was a piece of burning hot iron.
Snape stood quietly in the corridor with the witch in his arms as the Death Eater hurry down the hall. Watching Carrow disappearing into the darkness, Snape murmured, "Hopefully I will never need to rescue you from this idiot again."
After laying the witch gently down in the sofa, Severus hurried to his work. Even though he was no longer the potions master, he still maintained quite a collection of potion ingredients his office. He was always prepared to put together an antidote with moments of notice. If Dumbledore had come to him sooner... Severus winced at the memory of the old Headmaster's injured hand. He wondered how everything would have turned out if he was given a chance to cure the old wizard's cursed hand.
Severus rolled up his sleeves before pulling out several glass phials from his cabinet. Carefully he laid them out on his desk next to a silver scale. With a wave of his wand, he had a small crystal cup on one side of the scale and a golden weight on the other. Drop by drop he added precise amount of liquid into the crystal cup. A few minute later, the liquid in the cup turned into a color of clear turquoise. With a sigh of relief he picked up the cup and walked swiftly to the witch's side. Holding her up into a sitting position with his steady arms, Severus tipped the cup against her lips and let the potions slowly trickle down her throat.
It did not take long for the magic to work. A moment later Olivia let out a gasp as all senses came back to her. For a lingering moment she found herself lost in his deep dark eyes. Seeing that she was all back to normal, he slowly released her from his arms and leaned her back into the sofa.
She closed her eyes briefly and let out a soft sigh. "I hate potions." She hissed under her breath.
"May I remind you that it was potions that brought you back?" He pressed his lips tight together.
"I wouldn't need it if it was not because of the first dose." She muttered.
"You are welcome." He shot back, with a small smile hanging in the corner of his lips.
"Fine. We are even now." She stared at him and said plainly. And then she blinked and smiled, "That was a terrible lie by the way. The Dark Lord's new companion? I can't believe he bought that."
"Carrow is too dumb to question it. Also, it is the best way to keep him away from you."
"That's for sure." she let out a small laugh, "He won't dare touching me again with a ten-foot pole!"
He shot her a curious glance, amused by her choice of words.
"Thank you by the way," she looked at him with her clear blue eyes, "for coming to my assistance."
"If you really want to thank me," Severus walked back to his desk and began to put away all the glass vials and instruments, "You will leave immediately tonight and stay as far as you can from the war." he paused for a second and looked back at her, "This is, after all, our war, as you had rightfully stated. It's not your place to be among the Death Eaters."
She looked down at her fingers and examined her nails. When she looked back up at him she smiled weakly, "You think I would be scared away by Amycus Carrow?"
Severus shook his head, "It is not about living up to the reputation of a Gryffindor. This has nothing to do with courage or bravery. You are here for a personal reason. That is not good enough to risk your life."
Olivia raised her eyebrows as she stared back at Severus, "do you hear what you are saying?" She smiled, "Isn't that why you are here? Aren't you here for a personal reason, too? Isn't that what you are trying to do? Revenge for her? Revenge for Lily?"
Her words startled him and he lost his voice for a brief moment. "No." He finally said, "You won't understand. It is beyond personal for me." He signed, "This is our war."
Olivia contemplated his words, while studying him from where she was sitting. Slowly he walked away from his desk, and stopped quietly by the window. The moonlight enveloped him in a soft pale glow. He stood tall in his long black coat, dark as a shadow, lonely as a ghost.
"Your war? You meant to say Severus Snape's personal war?" Quietly she voiced her observation. "Who do you have on your side Severus? The Death Eaters would eat you alive if they discover whatever secrets you are hiding from them. And the Order? Even Remus wants you dead. Not to mention McGonagall, who would for sure hex you if she gets the chance. You don't have a single ally in your war. You are doomed!"
"That is none of your concern." He shot back a stern look at her. "Don't try to change the subject."
Suddenly something in his arm seemed to distract him. Olivia watched in surprise as he winced and looked down at his left arm. A black serpent was swirling on his skin. It was the dark mark. When he looked back at her she saw a trace of fear in his deep dark eyes.
"He is calling, for you." He whispered, "You are running out of time. Leave! Now!"
"Absolutely not!" She stood up immediately, "I am so close now Severus! So close! You can't possibly be thinking that I will give up the opportunity to achieve my goal!"
"Don't be a fool!" He bellowed, "He wants you to be a Death Eater. It's the initiation tonight. There will be dozens Death Eaters there. It's always like that for the initiation ceremonies. Even if Bellatrix Lestrange does show up, it will be impossible for you to formulate an attack. And if you try, I can guarantee that you will not be able to come out alive!"
"You never know for sure." She stared back at him. "If I can't kill her tonight, I will for sure be one step closer by being inside the group. We will leave right away, after I get my wand from my office."
Quickly she walked out of the Headmaster's office, and returned within minutes. "Shall we?" she reached out for his hand, "Would you please lead the way?"
She watched as he let out a deep sigh before taking her hand. Right before she let the power of the swirl of black smoke take over for their journey, she sensed an unusual emotion in his deep dark eyes. She recognized it, almost immediately. It was something that she had not felt for many many years.
Sorry it's a little short. This is kind of an interim transition of the story. The next chapter will be a bit more emotionally charged. As always, I would love to know what you think! Review please?