DISCLAIMER: As everybody knows, I don't own Harry P. Severus S. etc. Only the plot and OCs are mine.

Well, finally the next chappie. I came back yesterday (22 hours on the bus!!!) Aachen is magnificent and so is Koeln. And I applied for the job in the research center and will probably make my doc there! Gosh, I'm happy!

OK, the next chap probably next weekend (I have an exam this week :-(    )

Chapter 13

SIEG

Snape swears. That's all he needs – Draco, a Death Eater.

"Thanks, Pansy, thanks, Bjorn. He'd die without help. Has anybody noticed?"

"Crabbe and Goyle, of course, but Millie obliviated them." Well, Falco does the hell of good job, teaching them. "Then we took the Cloak you had given us and came here. Do you need our help?"

"No, thanks. Go to bed. If somebody asks, tell Draco felt ill, OK?" They nod. My, they are great helpers, always on the right place in the right time, their minds are sharp as Immensifers and they keep their mouths shut. Real Slitherins, through and through. Ignis the Dark Phoenix emerges out of darkness and stares at the Dark Mark with her huge, wise eyes. "Great you are here." – whispers Snape. "You know when to come." Big, shining tears are falling on the ugly brand, soothing the tormented skin. After a while it looks normal again, just the dark red tattoo remains. Snape fetches the antidote from his lab and gives it to Draco. Stupid kid. He couldn't know Heavy Duty Pain Potion doesn't help against the pain, caused by such magic. Other stuff does; Narcissa and Lucius should have told him! Why the hell did they send him to school with the fresh Mark? He should spend a few days in bed after branding. Even Severus' Assassin mother, though she never pampered him, just the opposite, helped him to heal and this boy was left alone with his pain. Draco's fever keeps growing, he starts raving again. It's dangerous to give him another potion or to use a spell, too much magic has already mingled inside him. Snape leaves to the bathroom and comes back after a while with a wet sheet, then he stripes Draco and wraps him in it to prevent the overheating. Another sleepless night… He stares at the boy's face, listening to his fast, uneven breathing. His eyes are half-open but blank. He's just fifteen… Why does Voldemort hurry so much? Draco's neither an Assassin, nor a skilled Potions' Master nor a wizarding genius… Even as a spy he wouldn't do much, because everyone knows who his parents are, so what's the point? What for should he give the boy the Dark Mark, the sign that may betray him? Suddenly it hits him. He may use the youngest Death Eaters to unleash some demons. Teenagers are the best mediums to contact and free the beasts. Please, no… Now everything is clear. Voldemort knows, due to the prediction (Snape knew about it – he didn't tell Harry because Dumbledore insisted to wait till the boy is grown up enough) that Harry probably is the Demon Fighter. Two Fighters (Dumbledore and Potter) would probably defeat the demons but when the boy is dead… So, this madman will try to attack soon. DAMN! Poor boy… What has he done to be on the hit list? Why does it happen to a child? The pictures start running across Snape's mind…

(Flashback, Snape's POV)

It's late at night. I've just finished my potion and I'm swooping around the castle. I don't know why – my vampire intuition tells me to so I allow it to lead me. Strange indeed, I climb the stairs of the Astronomy Tower. Vampire intuition is never wrong but what can I find there at midnight? Students brewing illegal stuff? As I reach the chamber on the top my senses tell me I'm not alone. I can hear a hushed voice, and the sniff the smell I recognize. To my surprise, it's mixed with the fragrance of wine. I sneak into the room and hide in the shadows. I'm a vamp so the darkness is my shelter. No human can notice me if I don't want them to. Potter, in his pajamas, barefooted, is sitting on the windowsill and his owl, Hedwig is on the opposite side of it.

"You know, Hedwig" – Potter is whispering. "I can't stand it anymore. I'm alone. I'm scared. Voldemort is after me and I don't even know why. One day he'll get me and I'm afraid of death and pain. Especially pain. I'm afraid he'll hurt the others like he did with Fred and George and Cho, and Hagrid... Ron is angry with me and doesn't want to talk to me anymore. Hermione does her best but I can't tell her how I feel, she has enough her own problems. She helps so many people, she's so tough but she won't understand me. She doesn't know how it hurts when you're cursed, she didn't have to run for it with Death Eaters at her heels… I'd like to talk to somebody who knows that. Somebody who knows the pain, and fear and despair, somebody who had to fight and escape… But how should I tell him that? Professor Snape, I'd like to tell you I'm afraid of Voldemort? He faces him and he isn't sniveling because of that. He'd think I'm a coward. I'm so alone." – he takes another draught form a bottle. Who the hell gave him wine? Alcohol doesn't solve any problems, though it promises so, it just causes new ones. "Sirius hates me. What have I done to lose all I love? Why did he accuse me?.." His head sinks to his knees and his arms start trembling. If I could get this mongrel, I wouldn't kill or torture him, as many think. I would show him his "beloved" godson, drunken and crying in the empty chamber because this idiot thought he was my lover and called him names because of that. And even if he were, so what?! Even if this boy really fancied and desired me, SO WHAT?!!!!! Potter stops sobbing and he whispers again: "Why do I get these Howlers? What have I done? Why do all condemn me?"

"I don't." He stares at me, terrified, and his bottle slips out of his grasp and crushes, falling down. Potter's emerald eyes are wide of fear.

"Professor Snape?" – he splutters.

"As you can see." – I answer.

"What… what have you heard?"

"Enough." He turns even paler.

"How… how much points does Gryffindor loose?" The only thing he cares about is his House?! Sure, he's done enough to get him expelled but the comeback to the Muggle world means death to him. Even if this madman doesn't get him he may try something stupid. He's falling and I don't want any of my students to crash, even these I really dislike or rather disliked. I can't hate them anymore, watching their haggard faces and haunted eyes. I could give them a kick when they were happy, pampered brats but I'm not evil enough to torture them anymore. They suffer enough.

"None." He gasps, not able to believe my words. "I just want to know who gave you the wine." His jaws go rigid. "OK, I'm not going to force you but I tell you he or she wasn't your friend. I tried this and that myself and saw the others doing it. It doesn't help." He stares at me, his emerald eyes full of an unimaginable suffering.

"I can't anymore…" – he whispers. I just listen but he is silent.

"All right, Mr. Potter" – I say finally – "You can't stay here all night. Come with me."

"I won't come back to the Gryffindor Tower." – he refuses. "They can't see me like that."

"They won't. I meant we are coming to me." He follows me obediently, though I have to help him down the steep stairs. When we are half way down to the dungeons I can hear footsteps so I push Potter into the corner. Falco doesn't notice anything, human senses are abysmal in darkness. I would have seen him even if my senses weren't sharpened but I'm a vamp, child of the night.

"Thanks." – he whispers. I tell him to wash and change clothes. He follows my orders obediently. When he's finished I beckon him to sit down. He curls on my bed, as if he expected beating. I sit on the opposite side of it and just stare at him. At first he endures the silence but then he bursts out: "Come on, Professor Snape! Tell me I'm an idiot! Tell me you condemn me! Tell me you hate me! Tell me…"

"You know I don't hate you. I've never had. And I think I'm not the proper person to judge and condemn, don't you think?" He sighs.

"Sorry."

"You're not the first student with problems, you know." His eyes spring wide open.

"No?.."

"Sure. This walls have heard many stories, Ha.. Potter. You're not the only one in trouble in this school. There were the others, abused, beaten, alone, poor, humiliated, drunken… Whatever." I can see tiny sparkles of hope in his eyes but they are quickly gone.

"They were Slitherins."

"Not always." I'm not lying, there were a few others. It's strange how they can find me, how they can see through my wall of steel. And they come, bruised, terrified, abandoned, to seek help in the iceberg called Severus Snape. I've never understood why. Maybe they feel my soul is as fractured and dark as theirs and they feel I'll understand and help. And I do my best. I can laugh when they're spoiling the potions, I can ridicule them for their puppy loves but when they're so desperate they come here (or sometimes are brought here) I never do. I may dislike them but I don't want to see them falling and crashing. There must be some limits. These who don't have them turn Dark.

"What do you want of me?"

"Just don't want you to drink. Just don't want you to ruin your life."

"Who cares?" Luck, Ruler of the World, turning life upside-down… Why does it happen to me? Potter, don't force me…

"I do." Shock. Disbelief. Confusion.

"You're lying." Why the hell I don't curse him out of the room? I leap to my feet and come closer. He sees my anger and winces. Well, a furious vamp is not the most pleasant view…

"Am I? So who came to save you? Who brews all the potions to make you healthy again? Who the hell faces Voldemort, wondering whether he knows already? Who the seven hells was unconscious for twenty days when your mother escaped the Death Eaters for the first time?!!!" Ups, shouldn't have revealed that… I've never seen him SO shocked.

"You… you were?" I nod.

"What happened?"

"That's my business." Yeah, it only increases his curiosity.

"Professor… Tell me, please. It's about my Mum and…" All right, Trouble Boy.

"So, it happened a week or so after your birth. He sent ten of us to bring you to him and they ambushed her. She was alone or rather they thought she was. James was in hospital, wounded and so was Black. Lupin had his transformation and Peter…You know."

"I do only too well."

"So, ten of us came to take you."

"Were you with them?"

"No. I was foolish enough to be with Lily then. There were the others standing guard so I, in my idiocy, came to take some rest. We were peacefully drinking tea when they burst in (they had killed the guardians) and saw us."

"And?.."

"Don't you know?"

"You killed them, Professor."

"We did. Lily fought like hell, too. A mother protecting her kid is capable of anything and she was a powerful witch. What else could we do? A spy seen without his mask is dead, unless he makes the witnesses dead. So, Voldemort was more than furious and released his rage on us. He didn't pry in who was responsible and who was not. I had a good alibi but he didn't ask about explanations, he just started… Killed one or two on the spot, had more fun with the others… I woke up in the Lestrange's Manor twenty days later. Mary brought me and a few others there and called the Mediwitch. She couldn't bring us to hospital, as you probably realize."

"I suppose so. What did he do to you? It was twenty days!"

"No idea. The Mediwitch said I had a broken rib and some bruises, so nothing serious. I remember I was cursed but Cruciatus doesn't do that. Professor Dumbledore brought me then to the best Healer he knew and he said it was brain injures. The Lord must have slammed me against a gravestone or something, I suppose, but I don't remember that. The Healer said I shouldn't have survived or at least turn blind, lose my memories or so but I healed. So I was a lucky fellow, I daresay." A lie. I've never healed completely. It was the time my mania started. Surges of uncontrolled rage. Attacks of unbearable fear, without any reason. Paranoid thoughts. Wild hatred. I went mad, literally. No one could approach me at first when I was rampaging and raving, except Dumbledore. He was the only one who could tame me. Of course, the Healer did his best to help me and after a few months I wasn't going mad without any reason anymore but some of it still remains. The night I ambushed Black and Lupin it came back. Luckily, the attack wasn't so strong but I lost my mind. I still wonder why Dumbledore didn't kick me out that night. I'm a Death Eater, an Assassin, a vampire and a madman. The least proper person to work with children and he trusts me.

"Must have been terrible. Voldemort is… he's more than evil. That day in Hogsmeade…" – his voice breaks. "Thanks you helped me for the second time." Boy, if you could hear yourself screaming, you'd do the same. "Why are you helping me all the time?"

"Would be a pity to lose my favorite cauldron scrubber." He smiles.

"I don't think so."

"Well, you can skin horned toads, too." He laughs.

"Most people wouldn't dare to use the Compassion Charm."

"I'm not typical, I daresay. I bet your aunt wouldn't call me normal."

"I have no family." Ups, he starts again… Why have I said that? "They haven't told me my parents were wizards. They told me they died in a car crash, because my dad was drunken." As much as I dislike James, I'd curse any person accusing him of such a thing. "When Hagrid came and gave me the letter about Hogwarts they went mad. They called me a freak and…" And so it went all night. I've heard all about his "lovely" Muggle relatives (if the Lord demands some toys of me I know whom to give him…), his struggle with Quirrel (no wonder he suspected me), the basilisk (How he managed to stay sane after that?), his first meeting with Pettigrew, the Tournament… Voldemort's comeback. Diggory's death. I was just sitting and listening as he kept talking. Strange, he told it to me, you think? I don't think so. He built a dam inside his brain not to go mad but no dam can hold when more and more water's coming. And it gave that night, so all his feelings poured out. Maybe if he wasn't a bit drunken it wouldn't have happened but I think it helped him. I saw he felt better the next day, it took some burden from his shoulders. He came the next evening, too. And the next. Well, he's welcome any time he comes. And I mainly listen. I'm not the one to give easy answers, to pamper and to say "Everything's going to be all right" when everyone can see it is not. I push, I demand, I require and it works. I don't know how but it does. First I help and listen and then force them to work. I don't allow them to wallow in self-pity, I don't give them illusions, I don't promise they'll feel no pain. Just the opposite. Life is brutal and I teach them to fight, push them to make decisions, encourage them to struggle. And I see they need it more than pity the others offer them. My fencing teacher always said that when somebody was wounded in a duel, healing is only the half of help. The other half is to teach them to fight so they won't get hurt anymore. That's why I think we shouldn't just protect the kids. We should also show them how to defend themselves. I looked at Potter, buried in the black hides on my bed, asleep, and I knew he was going to heal. At least he never tried drinking anymore.

(End of flashback and Snape's POV)

And now Snape is sitting, looking at raving Draco. And this boy isn't going to heal so easily. It's going to be a hard struggle so he decides to talk to the boy only three days later when he feels well enough.

"Well, Draco" - he says – "you're in trouble. Remember your prediction? You're already sinking, boy."

"How can you tell me such things? You're one of us, too."

"And curse the day I was forced to join." His eyes widen in shock. "I've already told you how it looks like. You're a servant, beaten and cursed and you have to do and witness things you never should."

"They are Muggles."

"Oh, really? Should give you a list of wizards, pureblooded as they could be, tortured and murdered? The McKinnons, the Longbottoms, the Potters…"

"She was a fucking Mudblood…" SLAP! For the first time in his life, Severus Snape hits his student. Draco realizes he's just made a mistake. Snape's eyes all full of wrath. Gosh, he's never seen his teacher so angry. Snape approaches him and Draco tries to wince but the gloved hands grasp him by the pajamas. Their faces are maybe a few inches close, Snape's fathomless, menacing eyes are staring straight into his from behind the curtain of raven black hair.

"One more such word about Lily Evans and you'll regret ever being born." – he hisses malevolently. Draco gasps.

"She wasn't your girl, was she?"

"No." – Snape lets him go. "But she was one of greatest witches and one of the most noble human beings I've ever seen and I can't even visit her grave because of that bloody Mark." Now it hits Draco.

"Professor… You aren't a traitor?" No, please, say no… I don't want to see you dead…

"I am. I've been for years." Draco's heart sinks.

"So you'll hand me over to the Aurors."

"No, I won't."

"Why?"

"Because I care about you, I've always have. I don't want to see you in prison. No one has ever turned an inch better there. I'll give you a choice. Either you drop this or become a Death Eater. If you choose the former, I'll give you the best protection possible. If you choose the latter, I won't betray you but you'll have to leave the castle. I couldn't tolerate you here, you understand, and I give you a fair warning: try to harm any of my friends and you'll have to fight me. It's a war, Draco, and if you want to be a Death Eater, you must accept the consequences. I do care about you but I have my duties. I've decided where my loyalties lie. Still, if you ever want to come back, you'll be welcome in this chamber. Whatever happens, when you call for help I'll come."

"Aren't you afraid I'll betray you?"

"So when he catches me, come and have a good gloat. Maybe you'll even be honored to cast a curse or two. Enjoy!" These words hurt worse then steel blades… (Sure, as Draco isn't the first Snape makes similar speech for, he's had a plan prepared years ago how to prevent this. He wouldn't have told Draco the truth, hadn't he known how to survive the potential treason. Sure, it's still hazardous, but if you don't like taking risks, you can't be a spy at all.) "By the way, was he in foul mood again?" Draco is silent for a moment, then he whispers

"He cursed me, Professor."

"How many times?"

"Lost count. More than five, I'm sure." Damn. He's getting madder. He keeps cursing everyone for no reason.

"What else did you expect? He's the Dark Lord!"

"And he'll win!"

"I wouldn't bet that… I know you were asleep during the History of Magic as I was but maybe you remember he isn't the first one in history and no one of them ever won. For a few years, maybe, but the Dark Realms never lasted long."

"But he's the real Lord of Darkness…"

"Darkness has no Lords."

"Excuse me, sir?"

"Neither Darkness nor Light can be conquered or ruled by a wizard, no matter how cunning, educated or powerful. These who try this are fools. At first they may succeed but sooner or later the Power will take them over."

"Why?"

"It's simple. Some beasts, like a dragon or a manticore can't be controlled, can they? And there are creatures much more dangerous then they, like Balrog or Vaccus, for example… Magic much more powerful than the Unforgivables, which are relatively easy. Spells that can kill you when you try to use them. Potions so deadly and powerful that very few have the cheek to read about them, let alone brew them. The infamous Nine, for example, most don't even dare to talk about. One should think ten times before trying such a magic and these who are educated and wise enough don't unless they really have no other choice. Draco, he's getting mad. He's never been sane but it's getting worse lately. Something is taking him over or simply his mind is gone due to too many immortality experiments. One day he'll blast himself apart. The only problem is he can send all of us to hell before." Draco sighs.

"So what should I do?"

"Make up your mind. I want the answer. Remember, neither joining him, nor betraying him is safe. Whatever you choose, you may regret it one day. If you want to join us, I want to be sure you will be loyal. Prefer to follow Voldemort – it's your life, not mine, but remember you're only a cannon fodder for him. One day he may kill you for fun, no matter how faithful you are. So" – Snape stands up – "I leave you alone. Make up your mind. Every choice may mean pain and death but there's a difference between them. You've seen enough to know what I'm talking about. You know who your parents are. Don't think being a Pureblood will protect you, if you make him angry. Remember betraying him is also more than dangerous. Decide yourself. If you choose him" – he puts the bottles on the table – "Take this. Heavy Duty Pain Potion, Endurance Potion, Internal Injures Potion and Desire Stopper."

"What?"

"Desire Stopper. Opposite to Love Potion. If he starts raving you look beautiful, writhing on the ground it means you should use it. And here's a short description how to use them. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"So, decide. I'll be back in few hours." He leaves, slamming the door shut. He did his job. Now Draco's future is in his own hands. Boy, don't allow the darkness conquer you…

(Dumbledore's POV)

I look at the Hall. It's such a sad sight. Many chairs are empty – some families took the children form the school bringing them to Beauxbatons or Durmstrang. They act as they see fit but if Hogwarts is flattened, these two castles will yield, too. There's no better fortress than this one, none prepared better. I hope prepared well enough. I look at Harry. His talks with Severus are doing him good. My Potions' Master may be harsh and sarcastic normally but in the times of trouble he helps more than the others. Miss Granger… Reading even during dinner. She works so hard, she'll be one of the best soon. Millicent Bulstrode, Pansy Parkinson and Bjorn Bole… Studied boredom in their eyes, proud sneer on their lips, cold eyes. Severus was right, they are natural spies. Why do we have to teach them this? Severus told me once he didn't want to teach anyone the art of spying and killing and what are we all doing now? I know we have no other choice. When fighting the Dark Arts one must use methods I wouldn't call "Light". Many are similar to the Dark Arts, many ARE Dark Arts. I hope we'll never forget the difference between self-defense and using it for fun or power. My poor kids… Ronald Weasley is sitting alone in silence. His friendship seems to be broken, I think he blames Harry for his tragedy. His brother Perceval visited him last weekend. Poor Percy looked terrible, I bet he lost ten pounds if not more. His face was so pale, as if he were a vampire and his eyes were as haunted as Black's when I saw him two years ago. There was so much pain and fear in his eyes that it shocked me. I suppose he feels responsible for the tragedy, I wanted to talk with him about that but he turned me down. The boy must be tormented by suffering and guilt, as if it were his fault… I hope we'll find the traitor before this person harms more innocent people. Good Miss Granger helps Harry as much as she can though her own situation doesn't look well, because she's Muggle-born.

Severus joins the table. He must have had a difficult time with Draco Malfoy. I hope the boy makes the right choice. Severus is on my right, the place Minerva used to be. He's sitting in silence, seeming not to pay attention to anybody but I know he keeps observing the Hall. Next to him is Remus. Their "truce" starts turning into sympathy. Severus saw some of Remus' spells and charms and started respecting him (and it's hard to win his respect.) They may be friends one day. Next, Mearas. I think Remus fancies her and she definitely likes him. They are similar – both peaceful and gentle but dangerous when cornered. Severus and Aegnor are totally different – they are wild. I saw Severus when he was raging, losing self-control and he was more than capable of anything then. I saw him after these brain injures and he was like an animal in the cage, attacking everyone, I can still hear his inhuman yells (even worse than these of a werewolf or a vampire during the bloodlust attack), I can't forget how he was destroying everything around with his bare hands, his blank, unseeing eyes full of incredible, animal fear… But he's even more dangerous when he fights cold-blooded and so is Aegnor. I do trust Severus and I truly believe he wouldn't hurt anyone neither for fun nor money but when the danger comes the Assassin wakes up in him. In his cold fury he's terrible – a deadly, emotionless machine, like a great predator, hunting. I know he won't come back to the Dark side but he's the last ancestor of the Order of the Assassins and the blood of these ruthless fighters runs in his veins and his childhood spent among them is imprinted on his mind forever. No one will pass the gates of Hogwarts as long as he'll be standing guard here. He's the son of his parents and will fight the way they did and the Order didn't won its grim renown for nothing. I know I won't see the end of Voldemort and I hope he'll lead the fight when I'm gone. He's the proper person, knowing the Dark Arts and the art of war better than anyone else and I'm sure he's strong enough to make the right decision in the crucial situation. I hope he'll survive to lead the final battle and I know he won't be afraid to pay the price for the victory. The only thing I didn't like in him was his wall of ice he had built around him but now I see it melting. He's always had much, much more heart than he was showing but I hope one day he'll dare to show the others the real Severus – tough and dangerous but definitely good, the man so noble and brave that he keeps putting his life on the line again and again, though he could be Voldemort's right hand if he wanted to. Though he could have chosen growing in power and wealth. Though he's talented and educated enough to try becoming the Dark Lord himself, then fighting Voldemort and taking his place, eventually. If Severus turned the Dark Lord and they fought he'd win. I know he knows how to become one, I also think he'd find the way to turn the Dark Emperor later, if he wanted to. I know it tempts him sometimes, because it'd mean the end of his sufferings. He'd be the Lord, not the cursed and beaten slave. He'd turn the Master. And I'd bet my life he never tries that because he has his heart in the right place.

(two hours later)

I'm working in my office with Lea helping me when Severus comes. I can see he's really worried.

"What's the matter? Did Mr. Malfoy?.."

"I've had no time to talk to him again yet, Albus."

"So what's wrong?"

"The Mark."

"Is Voldemort summoning you?"

"No. There's one useful thing in this brand, Albus – I can feel it when I approach anybody or anything filled with the Dark Arts."

"And it you can feel it now?" He nods.

"It throbs every time when I'm teaching the fifth years from the Gryffindor House, Albus." – he whispers. "And always when I pass their table in the Great Hall. Something is wrong there."

"Can you feel who it is?" He shakes his head.

"No, I can't localize the source, this Dark power isn't strong enough but…"

"Do you think it can be a Death Eater? I would be possible to find him."

"Or her. There's no better spy than the young, innocent-looking, pretty girl nobody would ever suspect." – he smiles sarcastically. "But I don't think so. Last time I came across the classroom I saw it. It was a red mist, with a white circle… And there was something in the very middle, revolving."

"What?"

"I couldn't see it clearly. A black sun or a star, I'd say. It was very powerful and attracting. It felt as if it wanted to take me over."

"A kind of Enslaver?" He nods.

"Broken Sun of Darkness, bathed in blood and hate, fear of wizards and Muggles alike." – he whispers.

"Broken sun? What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I just felt it like that. Sorry."

"I wasn't your fault." My, what can it be? How can we find it? Severus, my friend, forgive me, but I have to ask this question.

"Could it be the Star of Destruction?"

"Vernichtungsstern? No."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm an Assassin, I'd have recognized it!" He leaps to his feet, his eyes shining angrily.

"I didn't mean Vernichtungsstern, Severus."

„So what?" – he yells. "So what did you mean?! Are you pretending you're blind like Fudge?! Haven't you seen what was written?"

"Excuse me" – breaks Lea in – "Can you explain me what are you talking about?"

"All right." – Severus calms down a bit. "Deep in the dungeons of this castle, on the entrance of the Salazar Slitherin's secret lab there's a prediction written by him."

"What does it say?"

"This castle will be standing, unbroken and proud, as long as the three Wizards of Death will come, yew will be their sign, and they will open the first door. Then, the five Masters of my art will open the Star of Destruction. Then, the One, the Light, will open the last door and find the answer behind it. The Two will join him later and they'll fight my Heir. When the battle is over these walls won't be standing anymore."

"Doesn't sound too optimistic." – whispers Lea. "But I can't understand what it has to do with you, Severus."

"Everything." – he snaps. "Yew will be their sign, don't you get it?"

"No."

"Of course, you don't know. Your father asked Mr. Olivander who bought the yew wands lately."

"And?.."

"There were only four wizards in this century. Tom Riddle, Severus Snape, Naya Zabini and Draco Malfoy." Lea gapes at him, shocked.

"Only four?"

"Only. Of course, the other wand makers also use yew wood or maybe Slitherin didn't mean the wands at all but…"

"There are four of you, not three, anyhow, so it can't be you."

"But maybe three of us against him."

"Severus" – she says – "Sorry, but I think you misinterprets this. It's your wands, not the sign."

"That's just the beginning, Lea. Look at my left cheek."

"Looks completely normal."

"Sichtbar." – he whispers the spell and she gasps. I've seen this scar before but its shape still surprises me. One long, vertical line, running from the line of hair down across the whole cheek and the two smaller cuts emerging from it in its middle and running diagonally down, one to the left, another to the right.

"What's on Earth is that?" – she says in a low voice.

"Got it in my first fight against the Lord's people. You know the runes so you understand it, I suppose." She looks at the scar for a minute. Pondering and turn pale as chalk.

"You don't mean the runes of Viviane, do you?"

"I do. I do mean runes of Viviane, Merlin's wife. She was growing up in the land which now belongs to Germany, Lea, and it is said her castle was standing in the place Einhornsburg is now."

"Einhornsburg? Castle of the Unicorn? Where is that? I haven't heard the name before."

"Sure you haven't." – he snaps. "Because only the inhabitants used that name. The others called it the Todesburg, Castle of Death, or simply the Assassins' Den."

"So what?"

"That" – he hisses – "that Viviane used ancient German runes and the one cut on my cheek is one of them, called Yr. It means the bow or the yew tree. And you know that yew, being poisonous, often symbolizes death."

"And, being evergreen, immortality and rebirth." – I add but he doesn't pay attention to my words.

"In the dungeons of Einhornsburg there's a very interesting door." – he continues. "Many tried to open it but no one succeeded. There's a giant iron symbol on the door, by the way."

"Yr."

"Exactly, Lea. Yr."

"What's behind the door?"

"Devil alone knows. No one opened it since the time it was closed but my aunt told me a legend the Assassins were passing from generation to generation. It is said that the door was made by the founders of the Order. All we know about them is that they were a married couple. According to the style the oldest part of the castle is built in, I'd say they lived about the times of Merlin. So, the legend says the door will be opened by a two wizards and a witch, whose fate will be to fight with magic, steel and poison. Their destiny is blood, it is said, and they will be the guardians with the extraordinary power to destroy. Nice and sweet, isn't it?"

"Shocking." – she admits. "It must be terrible, power to destroy."

"Not necessarily." – I break in. "It depends WHAT they will destroy. If they are to ruin the Dark Realm or to kill an evil demon, it would be a blessing. Lea, destruction is as necessary as construction. If nothing old is destroyed, nothing new can be built. If the evil beast is alive, it kills. No power itself is evil or good but the way it is used makes it so."

""All right" – she says, after pondering over my remark. "But what does the rest mean? What's behind the door?"

"Slitherin wrote that the five Masters of his art will open the Star of Destruction." – continues Severus. "Do you know who he was?"

"No idea."

"A Potions' Master." I've never seen Lea so shocked and terrified. "And the legend says behind the door with Yr there's another huge stone door with a mosaic on it. A black, five-pointed star. We called it Vernichtungsstern, so Star of Destruction in German. Quite fits Slitherin's prediction, doesn't it? And my aunt told me that when the five Potions' Masters will put their hands on the points of the Star, the door will open. And do you know what is behind it?"

"Not another door, please."

"Guessed. The last door only a boy with the sign of Sieg can open and finally in the chamber behind it there's something. Something that will help them all in the great battle with The One That Takes Souls Away."

"A terrible name. Who can it be?"

"No one knows but I don't care meeting the monster. Don't ask me who's the Two that will join the One, called the Light, too. No idea. All I know is that the Demon Fighters are sometimes called the Light and the only one living is your father and Potter is supposed to be another one but nobody is sure. Still, I think he can be and he can be the boy from our legend. I'm pretty sure to be honest. All fits together. The Heir of Slitherin we have and a wizard with the yew symbol on his cheek. It's enough to wait for two another ones with such a cut, take five Masters of Potions and then politely ask Potter to open the last door and goodbye, old Hogwarts." Severus stands up and rushes to the door. "Sorry, but I have my duties. Have a nice day, Lea."

"Wait!" – she shouts. "Why do you think Harry is the One from your legend?" Severus turns in the doorway.

"Do you remember what Sieg is?"

"Also a rune?"

"Right again. Remember the shape of it?" Lea shakes her head. Severus' face twists in a sarcastic grimace. He draws the symbol of Sieg with his left hand and turns on his heel, slamming the door shut. I can hear him, walking down the corridor and singing Wagner (or rather yelling the aria as loud as he can.) Lea sits like petrified, staring at the sign. Severus' mage power keeps growing indeed, he made that rune without the wand and now it's floating in the air and looks as if made of fire. We both stare into the roaring flames for a few long minutes before I destroy it with a spell. When I and Severus discovered the Salazar's prediction 16 years ago I hoped he was wrong but more and more I feel he could be right. It does fit together and maybe the end of Hogwarts is really coming. The Heir of Slitherin. We learn who he is only three years ago. The symbol of yew and the yew wands. Sounds logical. Master of Potions. Is there any better than Severus? And he's the last of the Order and only an Assassin can lead someone into Einhornsburg. And Sieg. Why haven't I thought about that before? This rune has the shape of the lighting.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

My, I just made more mess in your heads. I'll explain what happened to Sirius and Draco in the next chap, OK?

Now, the meanings (lotsa German):

Vernichtungsstern is, as written the Star of Destruction

Sichtbar means "visible"

Einhornsburg and Todesburg are really castles of the unicorn and death, respectively

The runes I used: it's one of the interpretation of the ancient German runes. Yr is a symbol of yew or a bow (yew branches were used to make bows) and yew as poisonous is connected with the Dark Arts and death in many European countries but it also means immortality (evergreen!) That's why Mrs. Rowling gave good old Voldie a yew wand! The lighting-shaped rune is called "Sieg" or "Siegel" and it symbolizes victory or light. (another Mrs. Rowling's great choice!) Moreover, the word "Sieg" does mean "victory" in German.