(11)Reunion

The late afternoon sun streamed in through the window & landed on Snape's face, waking him. He tried to stare into the darkest corner of the room to let his eyes readjust!

"It's about time you woke up, Severus!" came a very familiar voice. "You've been out for hours! That was a nasty little hit you received, wasn't it?"

Snape froze. He knew that voice all to well! "My Lord!" he gasped & gripped his Death Mark as it began to burn ever so slightly.

"My pet can help to ease that sensation in your Mark!" said Voldomort as a Phoenix flew down to Snape. The tears however, didn't work. The bird lifted it's right wing. There in the down, was the name, Mystique! Not a real Phoenix?

So she had taken the appearance of a human to save her own skin? How could you? Snape asked through Occlumency but before he had time to return to reality, he heard her send something back to him.

Not me, sir! Voldomort doesn't really know me! Now, Snape didn't know what to think; however, he pretended that his Death Mark no longer burned.

"Phoenixes are rare & I was quite surprised when this one flew in that very window!" said Voldomort. "I tried releasing her, but she stayed. We've been good friends ever since!"

"How did you do it?" Snape asked. "How did you find Grimmauld?"

"Wasn't my idea!" answered Voldomort. "That credit goes to my "faithful"," he put extra emphasis on the word. "servant!"

"Who did you con this time?" Snape snapped. His Death Mark seared with Voldomort's rage!

"SILENCE!" Voldomort commanded as he slowly calmed down. "Honestly, you should learn to bite your tongue at times! Can you think of no one? He scurried in that night when Molly left the door open!"

Snape cast an odd look to the Mystique Phoenix. He knew she could change her shape. "How'bout a rat?" Snape quoted Lupin.

"How'bout a rat!" said Peter Pettigrew, as he stepped out of the shadows! "I'm surprised Albus thinks that Grimmauld would still be safe after Sirius & Remus exposed me! After all, I'm Ron Weasley's pet! I am SCABBERS!! I know everything about the place for I was there hundreds of times! & it's all thanks to my beloved master, Ronald Weasley!" At that, both Peter & Voldomort burst out laughing!

Snape stepped backwards once or twice, wondering if he could handle any more surprises! Why didn't anyone think of Weasley's old pet? Sirius & Remus had exposed him but then, the subject was dropped. Even Harry Potter knew of Scabbers! Harry Potter! Snape looked up at his Master. "Why me, sir?" he asked. "Surely you must have known Mr. Potter was there?"

"I'll deal with Harry on my own time!" Voldomort declared. "Right now, I want you to tell me where she is? I know Albus & his Order have been hiding her at Hogwarts! But," Voldomort sighed. "I believe it is to hard a task to ask of you! I may have to interrogate you the hard way! It's your choice, Severus?"

"Yes, it is to hard for me to tell you!" Snape answered. "Simply because she is no longer at Hogwarts & I no longer know of her whereabouts!"

"You lie!" Voldomort taunted. "You do know!"

"No, I do not know where she is!" Snape defended. "But even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!" he added quickly.

"Shall I Cruccio you?" Voldomort raised his wand.

Snape knew there was no escaping this! "Torture me to insanity if you will, but I simply can not & WILL not tell you! Pity," he sneered. "You have the Malfoys at Hogwarts as your spies & yet you do not know that she is gone?"

Voldomort lowered his wand. "An excellent idea, Severus!" he said. "Lucious? It's been a while since you last saw your son! Perhaps another visit is in order?"

"Sir?" Mr. Malfoy stared. "I just saw him a few days ago! The Quidditch match?"

"Yes!" Voldomort sympathized. "Pity that Harry is on Gryfindor team! Once I get rid of him, I will make Draco Malfoy a name to be feared in Quidditch! But did you even think of the girl while you were there?"

"I understand!" Mr. Malfoy smiled evilly. "I will--uh--visit Draco immediately!" He headed for the door.

"He's a good man!" Voldomort said as Snape tried desperately not to scoff! "A faithful servant! We will wait for him to return. If he confirms what you say is true, you may leave but if not you will die horribly!" Voldomort put a hand out to Mystique For her to perch on & left the room. Peter followed & snatched up Snape's wand on his way out. A light surrounded the room & then all returned to normal with the exception of a seal on the door & window. Snape was trapped there until Malfoy returned.

Several pops could be heard as Dumbledore, Lupin, Tonks & Mr. Weasley apparated to Grimmauld's living room.

"What a mess!" Tonks declared as she glanced around at the room that was half destroyed by spells bouncing everywhere!

"Watch yourself!" Dumbledore pulled out his wand. "We don't know if whoever did this is still here or not!" Everyone pulled out their wands. "Remus, did you get to see anything at all?"

"Not really!" said Lupin. "Just some short man."

"I still say it was Mystique!" Tonks glared at him.

Lupin bared his fangs. "Mystique is a girl! We were attacked by a man!"

"How do you know?" Tonks teased. "You didn't see much! It could have been a woman attacking Severus!"

Lupin growled softly but said nothing. He knew she was right! "No Dora!" Dumbledore cut into his thoughts. "I hate to disagree wtih you but I know Mystique! She is an Order member defending us & Severus! She did not do this!" Tonks just stared. Lupin had a big grin on his face that reached from ear to ear! Tonks felt like smacking it off! Before she had time to say anything, in flew a horned owl & dropped a letter at Dumbledore's feet. The bird flew away again before anyone had a chance to pay it.

Dumbledore picked it up & read it to himself. "Severus is being held by Voldomort & Lucious is on his way to Hogwarts right now!" he finally said. "PS: Scabbers attacked Grimmauld!" he read the last line aloud.

Lupin stared at the floor. "I saw a rat run inside that night we saved the Dursleys! How could I not have recognized him?"

"This is my fault!" Dumbledore hung his head. "I should have remembered Ron's pet!"

"We all forgot!" said Mr. Weasley. "The fault belongs to all!" Everyone nodded agreement.

"Let's get back to Hogwarts!" said Dumbledore. "Lucious being sent to the castle is not a good sign!"

"Out of curiosity," Tonks started. "Was that owl Mystique?"

"No, Mystique isn't anywhere near he Dark Lord," said Dumbledore. "Voldomort must have his own traitor among his Death Eaters! This is not the first anonymous letter I received! The first one was the law against anyone having the Mark of a Death Eater! Let's go!"

Mystique flew back into the Riddle House & followed Peter. She stole Snape's wand & flew outside to the window. Snape heard "Allohamora!" hit the window & it flew open. Next moment, his wand sailed passed him! Snape picked it up & stared out the window. No one was around to cast that spell but the Flaxen was waiting for him. The spell seemed to have been sent by Mystique. Then he remembered he still had his Occlumency turned on.

"Now what are you up to?" Snape snapped at the horse as he climbed out the window. "First you're siding with my Lord? Now rescuing me? Please pick a side Mystique & stay with it!" Mystique snorted impatiently. Voldomort or Peter could show up at any moment! "I'm coming. I'm coming!" Snape complained. He climbed up onto Mystique as she was to mad at him to let him on! Snape rolled his eyes & sighed dejectedly. It dawned on him that he didn't know where exactly he was & Hogwarts could be anywhere. Going back to Grimmauld was out of the question. As if knowing what he was thinking, Mystique headed for Hogwarts.

It was early evening as Mystique & Snape appeared at the top of the hill & Hogwarts Castle came into view & what a view! The sky above the castle was a cloud of Dementors! Several charms could be seen coming from various wands on the ground. "My Lord must have been in a fine mood when he found out I had escaped!" Snape pulled out his wand & headed Mystique into the bushes close to the edge of the swarm of Dementors.

"Expecto Patronus!" Snape sent forth the shield. It, also, had the shape of a dolphin. Mystique twisted her head sideways to eye Snape. Then she copied his spell! "Pick your own Patronus, Mystique!" Snape ordered. "Two students, Miss Hepburn for one, already have a Dolphin Shield, as do I!" Mystique bucked up her hind quarters, throwing Snape onto her neck! "Sorry!" he muttered, not meaning it at all. He shoved himself back down.

Lucious Malfoy & Bellatrix Black were trapped in an ongoing duel with Harry, Neville & Lupin. Lupin dived out of the way as a Cruccio spell came charging for him. "Now you made me mad!" Lupin jumped out. "Exotis!" Bellatrix was caught up in the force of the spell & was thrown backwards. "Tsk! Never cross the ways of a werewolf!" Lupin smiled as he turned to Lucious.

Harry glanced at Neville, suddenly remembering something. It was getting dark & the full moon was tonight! Harry turned back to Lupin & was face to face with a mad wolf! He was to late. "NO LUPIN!" Harry yelped. "Hurry Neville! Run!" Harry snatched up Lupin's fallen wand & fled, Neville close behind. They ran into Hermione & Ron.

"It's Lupin!" Neville gasped for air. "The full moon is up!"

"Great!" Ron retorted. "That's just what we need! Dementors, Death Eaters & a mad wolf!"

"I know!" Hermione came up with a plan on the spot. "Let's separate! He won't know where to go!" Lupin came bounding through the bushes. His eyes first landed on Hermione. She backed up into the tree as Lupin came closer.

"Hey over here!" Harry yelped. "I'm easy!" Lupin snarled & glanced at Hermione & then Harry. He decided to continue towards Hermione. "GET OVER HERE!!" Harry ordered, angrily! Werewolves respond well to excitement. Lupin growled & ran after Harry.

"Don't make me do this Professor!" Neville pleaded. Lupin barked at him but kept his eyes firmly on Harry who was in a tree. "Sir, I'm really, really sorry about this but....." Neville threw a handful of rocks that hit Lupin hard & ran for it. Lupin abandoned Harry & charged after Neville. Ron ran after Lupin.

"RON!!" Harry yelped as he jumped down. He & Hermione started to run but Lucious Malfoy blocked their way.

"You keep company with werewolves?" he sneered. "My son would never do that!"

"Your son is nothing more than a bully!" Harry pulled out his wand.

"Oh, you still want to duel?" Malfoy laughed. "Very well then! I shall kill you both!"

As the first rays of sun hailed in the morning, the last of the Dementors & Death Eaters were driven out. Dumbledore & most of the Order were in his office. "Now that Grimmauld is fallen, we must set up our forces here!" Dumbledore was saying. "I have a feeling that tis is not the last we will see of Voldomort's power!"

The door opened & Mcgonagall poked her head in. "We found Severus & Mystique!" she said. "They're both fine, just a bit winded. I've sent them to Poppy but," she sighed. "Remus is still missing & so is Harry & his friends."

"It was full moon last night, Minerva!" Dumbledore tried to calm her. "Remus will return to us when he is back to normal! Let's go see Severus!"

Lupin was back to normal, in appearance. The wolfish insanity was gone from him as the sun's rays touched him, curing him yet again from the disease for another month. He stood up in the light of the morning, letting the soft glow wash away the wolf from the man.

He was now hurrying across the beach with Ron & Neville straining to keep up with him! Lupin, however, was ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry!" he finally said. "I didn't mean it. You'll be alright though!" he tried to calm both Ron & Neville as well as himself. He suddenly stopped walking.

"Oof!" yelped Ron as he collided with Lupin.

"Ow!" Neville squeaked as he collided with Lupin & Ron. "What's wrong, Professor?"

Lupin had his eyes fixated on someone lying on the beach where the waves met the shore. It was Hermione! He ran to her & picked her up but she didn't move. "Let's get her to Poppy!" Lupin said.

Dumbledore led the others in to the hospital wing.

"I'm alright!" Snape greeted them. "It's a good thing Mystique can copy spells! She recreated my Patronus & helped to keep off the Dementors." Snape eyed Dumbledore closely & finally got to ask the question that had been bugging him for a few days! "What type of sorcery is that creature?!"

Dumbledore smiled softly. "Mystique? I do believe it''s time to tell him!" Mystique shook her head, changed into a Phoenix & flew up into the rafters. "Oh, come, come now! Don't be foolish!" Dumbledore ordered. "We both knew this day would come!"

"Tell me what?" asked Snape.

Dumbledore sighed, slightly frustrated & cast a pleading look up to the bird! "If you don't then I will!" Dumbledore threatened!

Mystique flew down & cast Dumbledore a disapproving look. A light surrounded her & then---------------Merida Hepburn appeared brandishing a black serrated sword with the word "Mystique" written on its blade! The next scene happened VERY quickly!

"What?!" Snape jumped out of bed! "What do you think you're doing Merida Hepburn Snape?!?!"

"What did you call me?" she retorted.

"Something you should have known long ago!" Dumbledore smiled softly.

"What?!" Merida looked at Snape!

"I'm your father! THAT'S what!" he snapped back at her!