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Fun fact Number 3: Severus found several dirty entries in Damian's journals along with dates and times in which Damian had followed him. Damian also wrote Severus several love letters that he kept hidden away which Snape had to break through several layers of warding and charms to get to, each one made him thirst for more. To this day Severus Snape keeps these letters along with a suspicious photo album locked away.
Mistress Slytherin
Chapter 9
Albus Dumbledore smiled warily at his brother as the small oak burned between them. They were alone this Yule, as they had been for nearly ten Yule celebrations now. Albus would have given up the celebrations years ago if it weren't for his brother's instance and the lingering regret that he was never quite able to subdue. His eyes slowly roved to the third chair where a small candle burned in honor of their younger sister, it was the real reason he believed that Aberforth clung to these traditions. His sister had always been sensitive to wild magic, and she'd always revered the holiday rituals as well.
"I've come across some information." His brother said finally. Albus felt his eyebrows rise in shock. His brother had flat our refused to have any part in the war during the first war, he'd nearly shut Albus out of his life for it.
"Oh?" Albus said a glimmer of hope sitting in his chest. His brother was more powerful than even he was though it was a little known fact these days- if Aberforth joined the light it could be the force they needed to win-
"Julius and Katrina are alive." Dumbledore frowned his mind taking a moment to place the names. He felt his face pale and for a moment he was silent.
"It has been a long time since I've heard those names." He managed to say warily. Of course, young Julius had been like an adopted son to Aberforth when he decided to marry Katrina who was decidedly a dark witch.
"I've thought of them often." His brother said staring into his larger with wary old eyes. "Their son used to come to me when he was still just a lad, he would ask me about them because his family refused to tell him anything. Poor lad hasn't asked me about them for a long time now." He said shaking his head.
"You act as though they are dead but you say that they are alive." Albus pointed out with a frown.
"That is because the Julius and Katrina that I once knew are long gone." Aberforth said taking a long drink.
"You've seen them?" Albus said unable to keep himself from leaning forward in anticipation.
"I've been scrying for them ever since the day they disappeared, all this time I hadn't found a thing, but this morning just before you came- late I might add- I managed to find them." He said softly. "Something happened to Voldemort, that's the only reason I can figure that it worked. Something cut the channels he was using-"
"Channels?" Albus interrupted.
"Old magic, it took me a moment to realize just what it was because he'd warped it so badly. Voldemort is using their magic to bind the dark mark to his death eaters." Aberforth said anger written across his features.
"But…how?" Dumbledore said frowning.
"There is a ritual, one made by the Romans hundreds of years ago that would bind a slave to his master in such a way as to create a conduit between them. If the master ever found himself in a rough spot during a battle, he could draw on his slave's magic to save himself. The ministry banned its use in 1881 when they realized that a wizard could effectively turn their slave to a squib using it. I'm not certain how Voldemort even heard of it, the only reason I did was because I was studied wizard bonds in school and I remembered I had to go through a lot of paperwork to get the book."
"So he's siphoning their magic?" Dumbledore said in disgust.
"He's managed to use Julius and Katrina as an anchor for the dark marks which are effectively slave bonds, the marks are tied to him through them because their marks are directly tied to him. As far as I can tell nothing like this has ever happened before, but from what we know about the way magic works through a body…"
"They'd be catatonic." Dumbledore said softly.
"Exactly, there is no telling what their cores look like or if they will be freed from their minds once the channel is cut." Aberforth said grimly.
"Once the cannel is cut-! You can't mean-"
"To free them? Yes. That's why I'm telling you. I am going to free them, it might cost me my life but I'll be damned if I don't give Julian the chance to live again- to give that lad more than just stories about his parents." Aberforth said smiling softly. Albus didn't know what to say, on one hand the two had been Voldemort's most powerful duelists during the first war. Katrina especially had been nearly as cruel and imaginative as Bellatrix, though she'd had the added benefit of being sane. And Julian had been entirely loyal to his wife even going so far as to take the dark mark for her. If they survived this with their minds in tact they could become a liability…unless…unless their son joined the light. He doubted that even a cruel women like Katrina could battle her own son.
But still, the risk was too great.
He opened his mouth to say no, to fight with his brother and convince him not to go even if it meant using force- but a sharp pain in his ankle stopped the words in his mouth. Aberforth smiled grimly before leaning down to scoop something up. Ice rushed through Albus' blood rendering his legs useless, and then his lower half until it traveled up his torso and through his arms.
"The Gingo Scorpion is a wonderful creature." Aberforth said setting a jar on the table where sure enough a scorpion was clicking its claws at him. "One sting can paralyze a fully grown man for ten hours, two can kill him." He said before standing. Dumbledore was reminded again that his brother was at one time a Slytherin. "If I die, I want you to burn a candle for me too brother." Aberforth said with a determined gleam in his eye as he scooped up his cloak and hat.
Albus couldn't even turn his head to watch his brother walk away from him.
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Lucius felt his nostrils flare as he read the note from the dark lord. This was his chance to redeem himself! His failure in the Ministry had caused his family a great deal of grief and his standing in the Inner Circle had been compromised. But this…his lips curled into a thin smile. With a nod he turned on his heel and moved to his desk.
He had a letter of his own to write.
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Damian sighed happily a calm buzz whispering through his mind as the last of his wine swirled lazily in his cup. It was their last hour now, he could feel the sun lowering in the sky and soon the three day feast would end and the ritual would be complete. He smirked as his uncle hiccupped across the table from him- it seemed that the twins had made it their goal to get not just Potter, but every one else in the family as drunk as possible. Even Severus had fallen to it at some point and Damian in his amusement couldn't bring himself to stop the man. This was their last chance to simply enjoy chatting with each other, tomorrow they would have to return to training Potter. The headmaster had at least given them an extra week before they had to return to school, but Damian knew that his time with Severus would be limited even then. He sighed softly and blinked when a long fingered hand settled on his shoulder and pulled him until he was leaning against Severus' shoulder laying his head on the man's chest.
"You sighed." Severus said blearily. "Did I do that?" He said with a frown before wrinkling his nose in distaste. "Shit I'm drunk aren't I?" He asked sneering at his cup. Damian snorted.
"You've been drunk for quite some time now I'm afraid." Damian said amused.
"Blast." Snape said shaking his head.
"Enjoy it." Damian encouraged. "These moments of peace may be our last for a long while." He said wistfully.
"Don't be sad, I don't like it when you're sad." Severus said with a frown that was almost like a pout. Damian smiled.
"Beautiful smile." Severus said with a nod. Damian flushed brightly. "Beautiful eyes too- don't know why you hide behind those horrid glasses." Severus said tilting Damian's chin up. "You don't have to go back to wearing them do you?" He said cocking his head to the side as his dark eyes devoured Damian's features in a way that made Damian's mouth go dry.
"Kiss me?" He pleaded unable to help himself. Severus frowned.
"I'm drunk." He stated. Damian smiled helplessly.
"And I'm taking advantage of that fact." He said firmly. Severus' lips quirked.
"I can appreciate that- perhaps not when I'm sober, but now I think I like it. Always like it when you're being sly." He murmured before leaning forward and gently touching his lips to Damians. "Beautiful." Severus muttered again before capturing his lips in a slow lazy kiss. Damian shuddered at the feeling, warm, firm, guiding lips massaged his carefully as though he would break if they became any more demanding. His breath grew ragged and his heart thudded in his chest as he felt himself become dizzy wondering if he wasn't more drunk than he'd thought. And then Severus' tongue slipped past his lips and he felt himself gasping, leaning into it breathlessly as Severus played a sensual dance with his mouth hot tongue sliding against his as Severus' scent seemed to sink into his bones.
"That-!" Damian and Severus fell apart abruptly. "-is quuuuite enough of that!" His grandfather drawled drunkenly. Baldwin was pointing an unsteady finger at them and frowning deeply his eyes squinting as though he couldn't quite see straight. Damian watched as he tried to take a step forward only to tumble to the ground in a heap.
"Old fool!" His grandmother laughed from where she sat with a reddened cheek in hand. Damian sighed and felt his stomach drop as the magic in the room buzzed and let out a crackle, the sealed doors springing open.
Yule it seemed…was over.
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Dumbledore sighed distractedly and paced across his office quickly to match the tempo of his thoughts. After the effects of the scorpion's sting had worn off he'd immediately used every method he could think of to find Aberforth. But Aberforth was far more clever than he let on most days and he'd always known how to hide from even Albus when he wanted to. His mind was drawn back to the days of their youth when the horrible accident that cost him his sister's life, his naivety, and his relationship with his brother. Aberforth had disappeared after her funeral, for seven years Albus had searched and yet Aberforth hadn't returned until he was good and ready with no help from Albus.
"Selfish- blast him!" He muttered stomping his foot in aggravation. He couldn't even go out and look for his brother now because of the war. It was too dangerous for him to leave the school now that the students were back from their holiday.
Though…Harry was quite safe in the Vermont household, their wards were more than just formidable these days. He'd given them a leave of absence for two weeks because he knew just how much Harry needed training and as he knew that he couldn't be the one to break Harry of the last of his childhood.
Sometimes he hated this weakness in himself.
With an angry huff he began pacing again this time with a niggling doubt in the back of his mind. The young Vermont heir had nearly decimated Voldemort's troups, and Aberforth had told him that something was wrong with Voldemort…he stilled his pacing and frowned to realize that he was already placing items in his pockets which might be necessary to save Aberforth. He stood very still for a moment understanding the he was making one of those decisions that leaders sometimes had to make.
A glance at the gilded frame propped up on his desk made his decision for him.
He'd failed his sister and in his failure had lost the brightest shining star in his life- he wasn't about to fail his brother too! With a determined nod he shrank a broom and slipped it into his pocket before striding for the floo.
In his distracted state, he never noticed the small silver pin slowly rocking back and forth beeping feebly.
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Lucius Malfoy smiled slowly as he gazed up at the impressive castle, behind him slow quiet growls and snarls rumbled powerfully enough to cause a steady vibration. Everything was set; his plan was flawless as it should be after years of training in the art of war. He smiled as the disk in his hand grew bright blue telling him that the wards he'd had Draco set up in the Headmaster's office alerted him of the Headmaster's leave.
A rush of pride filled him as things began to fall into place.
The small copper disk in his pocket warmed and vibrated telling him that his connection at the ministry had shut down all floo access to Hogwarts.
In the distance he could just barely see the flash of light signaling that Draco had successfully killed all the school owls.
A pop beside him and a solemn nod from his elf ensured that all the professors had been drugged and were suffering from a deep slumber that he was certain they wouldn't wake up from.
He took a deep breath as fire raced through his veins.
It was time.
With a grin and a wildness in his eyes he raised his hand and dropped it down. The sounds of snarling increased and a long howl filled the air hailing the moon which clung high in the sky wide and full and red like the color of blood. Lucius let out a slow powerful laugh as the furred creatures rushed past him- tonight he would paint the world red!
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Severus frowned as Damian twitched in his seat staring out the window intently. He'd been agitated all day a small frown marring his features. Severus had wondered if he'd done something wrong, or somehow angered Damian, but he'd been training Potter since dawn determined to teach the boy something before they returned to Hogwarts. It was late now and Potter had just taken his third pepper-up potion before sinking into his books. Severus hesitated in approaching his hopeful intended but in the end couldn't help but brush a cautious finger against the smooth cheek.
"Damian?" He entreated wincing at how bothered his voice sounded. Grey eyes, astounding brilliantly gray eyes stole his breath as they turned to him.
"Something is wrong." He said quietly. He felt his heart sink into his stomach. "The wards are shifting, they're uneasy." Severus felt his breath catch in his throat.
"Are we under attack?" he asked softly. Damian tilted his head to the side in curiosity.
"No, that's what bothers me, something big must be happening to be affecting the wards of Arburtus." He said shaking his head.
"Something big?" Severus said his throat dry. Gray eyes met his.
"Yes."
"How big?" Severus said felling a sense of foreboding. Damian gazed at him seriously.
"War." He said softly but with conviction. Severus felt the blood drain from his face.
"The ministry?" He said tightly.
"No- the ministry wasn't built on a hotspot." Damian said shaking his head sadly.
"Hogwarts." Severus said weakly it was the only hotspot he knew of. Damian hesitated but nodded slowly.
"The headmaster has access to the hotspot, that's why only powerful wizards and witches can become headmaster, if he connects to the hotspot there is no chance that Hogwarts can be destroyed." He said decisively. Severus had a moment, a rare one where his loyalty to the headmaster shifted.
"And if he doesn't?" He managed his voice strained. Damian pursed his lips and looked at him seriously.
"I can take his place because of my link to Arbutrus." He said pursing his lips. Severus understood immediately.
"That would ruin the façade you've built for yourself." He said dryly. Damian nodded.
"And if you don't?" It was Harry this time who was gazing at him with terrified eyes. Damian hesitated his eyes growing hallow.
"If I don't there will be hundreds of children that may die tonight, if the headmaster isn't there, then there is little the professors can do to stop what will happen." He said sadly.
"And if you take on the wards." Severus said narrowing his eyes in suspicion. "What will it do to you?" He demanded quietly. Damian frowned in understanding.
"It will not change who I am, but if I take the wards I will either become a guardian of the school or I will replace Albus Dumbledore." He said quietly. "Every hotspot is different, holds different knowledge and a different personality I can't tell you what will happen exactly because I don't know myself." He said shaking his head.
"Hermione's there…" Potter said horror stricken. Damian frowned and stood.
"Follow me." He said simply. Harry and Severus followed him out of the room and down the many hallways until they reached an engraved door. Damian whispered something quietly almost to himself and the door clicked open under his touch leading them into a small nearly empty room. In the middle of the room was a stone basin not unlike a pensieve, but this one was made of copper and had strange etchings on the sides. Damian whispered a spell and with a swift motion cut the pad of his thumb dropping blood into the basin.
"What are you doing?" Potter asked his voice shaken.
"This is the art of scrying Potter." Severus said his eyes glittering as Damian began to chant sliding the pad of his thumb around the basin several times. Harry watched as the water turned murky, inky black, and then changed. Scenery flew by almost too fast to see and a bell like sound filled the air as a familiar building rose in the image.
Hogwarts.
Smoke rose in the air curling around the castle- orange and red flames rose and flickered all around. The image shifted and they could see Flitwick and McGonagall slumped against a wall in what Damian assumed were her quarters. Several scenes like this one passed each professor either spelled or drugged. A high pitched sound that soon cleared became screams and the image of werewolves and Vampires running through the halls preying on children-
"Enough!" Severus said sharply. Damian cut the connection cleanly and turned to Severus.
"I will go if you ask it of me." He said quietly. Severus stared down at him, trembling and ashen for a long tense moment.
"Please." Severus managed his eyes slipping closed. Damian nodded sharply.
"I had hoped that you would ask me to go." He said with a small smile. "No war is worth the death of countless children." He said before taking a deep breath. "Potter?" He said turning to the green eyed boy. Harry turned to him with determined eyes- "Stupify." Damian said crisply. Potter's expression froze into one of shock.
"He can throw those off by now." Severus said glancing at him.
"Not mine." Damian said. "But just in case-" Ropes spilled out of his wand and wrapped tightly around Potter.
"That will work." Severus said with a nod. Damain smiled thinly and held out his hand.
"I will take us there." He said his eyes glowing faintly with power. Severus had to wonder what it would be like to see the full extent of Damians power, a part of him shivered at the mere thought of it. Damian's hand was cool and relaxed in his and Severus sighed when Damian wrapped his other arm around his waist. "You should close your eyes." Damian warned. Severus did as he was instructed and felt himself lurch. For a long moment there was nothing but a rushing noise and a crackle against their skin before suddenly his feet hit the ground and he stumbled dragging Damian with him.
Damian let out a soft grunt as he fell into Severus before shaking his head and sitting up. Snape blinked up at him as though wondering how he'd gotten there and Damian couldn't help but lean in and kiss thin lips.
Severus felt Damian kiss him and then words were being whispered against his lips as Damian slowly stood his eyes glowing with power as inky vines began to appear on his skin crawling up his arms and around his neck. Severus felt the wards respond felt a deep heavy bass sound echo through him shaking the room and nearly stopping his heart. Then something, Severus couldn't decide what, snapped. Severus couldn't quite tell what was happening after that, there was a loud roaring sound and everything went dark. It was several moments before he became aware of the crawling sensation and the pain of something forcing its way inside his mind.
"Let it in Severus." It was Damian. Severus could feel the smaller hand wind around his and felt himself arch and gasp and scream as he dropped his mental shields. There was a moment where he felt completely and utterly naked, stripped to the very core of his being- and then, all at once the air was still and the power was real, he could touch it, taste it, he knew it intimately.
Returning to himself was like climbing down from an unsteady high place, as though his legs would give way and he would fall at any moment, but when he did he knew immediately that something was different- no, everything was different. Slowly he turned to look at Damian and saw his young betrothed staring up at him in awe and love grey eyes glittering with pride and power.
"What happened?" Severus croaked.
"The magic decided that since my interests were divided that you should be the headmaster, and I the guardian." Damian said solemnly. Severus felt his heart slow to a near halt. Him, headmaster?
But now was not the time for shock, something reminded him. Damian nodded as though hearing his thoughts.
"We can investigate later." He said with a sharp nod.
"Protect Hogwarts." Severus felt himself say though they weren't entirely his words. Damian nodded sharply.
"I will meet you when this is over." He said darting up to press his lips against Severus' quickly before slipping away sliding right through a solid stone wall.
Severus felt power pulse inside him like a great rising beast as a song played through his mind-
His children were hurting.
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Lucius spun the moment he felt the air shift. Magic crackled around him and the werewolves lifted their heads almost at once listening to something Lucius couldn't hear. The Vampire beside him let out a hiss but before Lucius could understand why the Vampire simply exploded into dust. All at once things changed, the werewolves began growling and rushing to and fro but without purpose- the Vampires began exploding into flames as though the sun were touching them- and the walls around him rippled. He gasped as he felt the wards rise into the air his tears knitting back together as though they'd never been torn.
And then he felt it.
Rage. It was the same as the night the death eaters had turned against one another- it was cold, bitter, and wrathful. Die it said. And the creatures died. A small figure landed in front of him, hardly more than a blur and hands stretched out to the sides fingers wide. Lucius gasped when the fingers closed at the werewolves simply exploded covering the hall with blood.
Retreat
His entire body screamed with it and he didn't question it. He reached into his pocket and activated his portkey before the figure could turn to him.
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Damian wiped his forehead tiredly; the student on the floor beside him was the seventeenth turned student so far. With a quiet sigh he called for a house elf to move the boy to the great hall where the turned students were being quarantined. He didn't want to think about how many students he hadn't been able to save, most of them were little more than masses of flesh so torn up that he didn't know if they would be able to identify them. He stood carefully and cast a spell on himself to take care of any lingering mess before moving forward only to halt when a strangled whimper emitted just behind him. Damian frowned as he turned and caught sight of Potter standing in the midst of the wreckage pale faced and ill. Beside him or rather just behind him, was his grandfather Baldwin. Damian frowned.
"I don't intend to bring the Vermont's into this war grandfather." He said sternly. His grandfather lifted his chin.
"You didn't, we came the moment Potter told us what was going on, I've also owled our allies of old, what has happened here should never have happened." He said gravely.
"This was not a battleground." His grandmother said her eyes cold and hard as she surveyed the blood painted floors. "It was a massacre." She whispered. "I will not stand for this." She said with a dangerous glint in her eye. Damian could see others in his family beginning to appear, he knew without a doubt that in less than an hour they would have some semblance of control over the situation. His family was standing by him, was standing for what was right regardless of the risks. He felt something warm glow in his chest and a breeze whispered through the air.
"Thank you." He said with a smile. He nearly jumped when a strong hand settled on his shoulder. Severus gazed down at him with calm eyes- old eyes, and Damian leaned back slightly silently asking what the man wanted.
"The students are rather shaken; do you perhaps have something that might comfort them? Calm their spirits?" He asked quietly. Damian nodded slowly.
"Of course, I'll send for the goblins right now. He said before slipping away.
"The ministry has been alerted." Baldwin said calmly to Severus who nodded evenly. "Saint Mungos is already sending emergency staff and I've contacted the heads of several prominent families who have agreed to send aid." Severus felt himself relax slightly.
"Good, I'd made potions in case of an emergency but they will run out eventually. I've sent owls to my regular apothecaries who have been prompt in sending whatever they have on stock. My friends from the Potions guild are also on their way and a mass lab is being set up by the elves as we speak. I've had Madam Pomphrey and the other professors contacting whomever they can to help us, it won't be long until the students are on their way to physical recovery." He said with a nod before cocking his head to the side as though listening to something that only he could hear.
"What can I do to help?" Potter demanded his face as determined as it was pale. Severus blinked and gazed at him for a long moment.
"Work beside Madam Pomfrey, you're about to have a crash course in mediwizardry Potter, by the time everything settles I will expect to find you competent. There will be no complaining about how tired you are, you will work until you pass out and when you wake up you will continue to work is that understood?" He said sternly. Harry's eyes widened before slowly a different light began to appear.
"Yes sir." He said with a sharp nod before slipping away. Baldwin chuckled dryly.
"I do believe that you've finally dragged some respect out of the boy headmaster." He said softly. Severus shook his head.
"Will the wonders never cease?" He said rolling his eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me the Aurors have just arrived and I don't want them alarming my students." He said before slipping away. Baldwin nodded slowly.
"My students hmmm?" He said raising his eyebrows at his sister who's face twisted into an angry scowl.
"Stop poking me old man, we've got work to do." She snapped turning away.
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It would be another two days before all of the bodies were identified and families could be notified. The 97' Massacre as it would later be dubbed would be known as a pivotal turning point in the wizarding world. Families, dark, light and neutral would gather together, unified by the loss of fifty-two students and the turning of thirty-four children.
The eyes of the public were slowly opened to the reality that was their future and the families of the thirty-four turned students pushed for a repeal on the Werewolf laws. The Wizengamot, headless since the disappearance of Albus Dumbledore called upon one Baldwin Vermont to take his place and within three weeks of the massacre Werewolves were given equal rights provided they took their wolfsbane potion before the moon every year.
Rufus Scrimgeor, minister of magic and previous head of the Auror division opened a new division in the Ministry that focused on the brewing and improvement of the wolfsbane potion a week after the laws were passed opening up jobs for werewolves and easing some of the tension. He also worked extensively to help secure Hogwarts declaring it to be forever more 'neutral ground' in hopes that no war should ever touch the children of the wizarding world again.
The new headmaster, Severus Snape, would in that time gain a respect that he had never before had in his efforts to rebuild Hogwarts and mass produce the Wolfsbane Potion. The shrewd and immovable headmaster became well known as he worked to rebuild Hogwarts only opening her once more when he had ensured that she was safe and would never again be compromised. The dour headmaster would call upon families of old to share their knowledge and power in order to safeguard Hogwarts and would demanded Aurors be stationed by her gates and emergency methods of communication be set up so that Hogwarts could never be cut off from help again.
Four months after the massacre, Hogwarts was officially deemed safe by the ministry, the headmaster and the board of governors. Two weeks later the students returned and school resumed, but the memory of what had happened that terrible night was fresh on the minds of every witch and wizard, and the silence of the dark lord was unnerving…
