Chapter 13: Horrible Losses…Horrible Gains.
Running through the field, Susan didn't dare slow with two hefty Death-Eaters just yards behind her. Blindly lobbing blasts behind her, she knew she couldn't hit anyone, but it sure would make them duck. Half a mile further was her Aunt's estate and her aunt would be able to back her up. As the distance fades so does her attention and she falls face first onto the ground. With her ankle screaming in agony she can't hear the men approaching behind her. With a flick of the wrist, Susan's wand flitters out of reach, and the Death-Eater closes to finish her off. As his counterpart raises his wand to say the death curse, he stops him. "Hold on! I have something better first."
With a flick of his wrist, Susan's jacket gets torn off her body as his friend laughs and cheers. Susan bawls helplessly trying to cover herself. With a second flip, her skirt tears away, leaving her black tights in place. As he lowers his wand he suddenly stops mid swing, and a terrified gaze covers him. As Susan cringes she returns her gaze up to see them petrified in place. Panting she pushes herself up and nearly passes out from the pain in her ankle. Crying she feels an icy hand touch her and she starts to scream but instinct stops her. Looking to her left, Constance kneels to her side and casts a mending spell on her ankle. With the pain subsiding, Susan gingerly gets to her feet, and looks with disgust at her would be rapists. With a powerful swing she back-hands him leaving three defined scratches on his face. Unable to flinch or react, he stands motionless; she reels back three feet and places a perfect kick between his legs, and he remains standing. Pain shoots through her ankle, but she enjoys it nonetheless. As she prepares for a second run at him, Constance grabs her arm and shakes her head.
"Sweetie, he's probably unconscious now. We have to get to your aunt's!" Susan nods and begins gingerly limping forward. Constance yells to her: "I'll be there in a second!"
Turning to the two petrified men, she seethes.
"The Bones are now under my protection." With a quick flick of her wrist, their wands fly into her open left hand. "You tell them, that Constance Hollander now owns them and…"
Susan's horrific scream stops her and she turns running. Over her shoulder she throws a spell at them, encasing them in thick roots preventing their immediate escape. Reaching Susan's kneeling pose, she hesitates to ask, as her gaze reaches the image of their large house. Over the main house, where they had once kissed and professed each other's love, the horrific green skull and snake of the Death Eaters hovered proudly overhead. With several fires burning and gaping holes punched in the house, it hardly resembled the haven it once represented. Putting her arm over Susan's shoulders, Constance looks back at the captured men, and flicks her wrist. With a grotesque slurp, they slip deep into the earth using their last breaths hundreds of feet below them. Under her breath, Constance murmurs: "They'd have fouled up the message anyways."
Susan starts to ask what happened to them, but notices the two huge gopher mounds where they had once stood, and bites her lip, rationalizing if she didn't ask, she wouldn't really know the truth. Constance retrieves the jacket, but the skirt will take considerable mending and just rolls it up into a ball. Constance leads her to the Fawcett Estate and tries to explain the situation. Within the hour, Aurrors arrive, take statements, and expedite the investigation. Almost a week later, Susan finally returns to her house to gather her things with 4 Aurrors and Constance. Constance corrals her away from the kitchen area where her aunt was found. It was obvious a serious search was done of the premises for Susan, but fortunately they assumed the two slags they sent would find her. Sniffling, she gathers everything of personal value into four massive trunks, and portals them away to the Fawcett Estate for safekeeping. Crying on Constance's shoulder, welcomes the cold embrace, and remembers little in the weeks and months that followed.
Despite the security concerns that both the Fawcetts and Ministry expressed, Susan opted to return to Hogwarts so long as Constance returned. Constance reminded her that she had to return early, but Sara and her family promised to ensure her safe delivery to the Hogwarts Express. In the papers, the announcement of Severus Snape assuming the position of Headmaster had mixed reactions. The Fawcetts questioned how safe either Susan or Sara would be, while Susan trusted Constance's advice to return because he was headmaster. In the end it was Susan's choice; and the Fawcetts had been able to stay quietly uninvolved in the first war, so they remained just as unnoticed in the beginning of this one. As neither a threat nor ally, they wouldn't directly threaten them for some time.
Constance's return to the school was heralded by a letter from the new Headmaster Severus Snape. In it, he clearly detailed her new position as the new Professor of Magical Defense, the previous Protection against the Dark Arts, had been abolished by the new Ministry. He expressed his sincere regrets regarding the loss of Susan's aunt, and promised no harm would come directly to her due to her aunt's previous associations against the Dark Lord. In effect, she was no longer on a kill list, like many people outside the school, and Constance showed the letter to everyone in good faith. Most still had firm resignations against the return, but Constance left before the final word was decided. Unsure if Susan will heed the Fawcetts or join her at school, Constance left a week early and was greeted by Professor Filtwick in Hogsmead. Surprised to see him so disheveled, she gingerly looks around to see if anyone is paying undo attention. A pair of local boys put Constance's trunk onto a cart, and ushers it ahead of the pair. As they walked towards the school and the cart is barely in sight, Constance finally breaks the silence imbedded between them.
"I'm kinda confused Professor. I still have one more year to finish, and yet am I being promoted to full Professor status?"
He shakes his head no. Practically sprinting to keep up with Constance's stride, he pulls on her long doomsday cloak and whispers.
"You are technically still a student, but Headmaster Snape feels that some defense is needed for the student body. The idea of an uncertified professor would amuse 'Who Cannot Be Named' and provide a negligible level of training. The headmaster will fill you in. I am pleased you decided to return. We are still unsure of what will happen and most of us are in turmoil for what the new ministry will demand of us. For now, you are protected by the fact you are not one of us, and you have not displeased you know who, ministry, or the Headmaster. As officially a student, you fall under the control of the School Headmaster, not the ministry. We believe that if you were openly attacked but them, it would draw all the colonies into this, upsetting his plans thoroughly…err…um…Untied States, I mean."
Constance giggles hearing his correction. "It's okay, I got used to it after my first year here. So basically the U.S. and the rest of the Wizarding World is waiting for 'You Know Who' to pull a Pearl Harbor?"
Feltwick looks at her in complete confusion, and Constance can only shake her head.
"Never mind, I understand the situation though. You need to get with Professor Burbage…" Constance stops herself when referring to the missing Muggle Studies Professor. "Um, she's listed as still missing huh?"
The deep remorse in his face and slow nod tells Constance that she's another one of the many victims missing without any signs. Constance curses under breath and continues trudging up the path towards the school.
With her trunk carted off to Snapes's old room, Constance makes the long march up to see the new Headmaster. She has to wait several minutes before she's allowed to enter; and as she's permitted to climb the revolving stairs, she runs into a malicious pair exiting. They growl at her and are surprised when she doesn't shirk back in fear. As they begin to draw their wands, a snide voice chides them from up the stairs.
"Harm her, and you will both have to answer to the Dark Lord for your quick tempers." Even more irate, they storm away staring coldly. Constance had learned from experience to never turn her back, and these two were exactly the reason. Even as they stroll away, they too stare back waiting for trouble. Constance carefully backs up the stairs and turns quickly to rush up the stairs. As she breaches the room, Headmaster Severus Snape sighs dramatically.
"You took long enough. Those two are the Dark Lord's new professors, the Carrows, and will not be a problem. I know this is unusual, but I have assigned you as the new Assistant Dark Arts Professor. The Dark Lord actually doesn't want a generation of helpless children, but doesn't want them to be too adept right now. There aren't any Seventh Year classes to teach, nor sixth as Amycus will directly teach those. You will concentrate on the First-years thru forth, and ensure you teach basic prescribed methods instituted by that creature Umbridge for your first two, and then gradually work them towards application. I am confident you can follow my instructions as if I was teaching them, so we won't have too many problems. I will ensure Amycus doesn't get in your way. Questions?"
Constance ponders over that thought far longer Snape could imagine. Unsure how it might go over, Constance dances on recklessness by asking what was stirring in her mind.
"I was there when they killed Susan's aunt; not in the house, but close with Susan. I had to defend us, and I eliminated a pair of…" Constance is cut dramatically short from finishing her sentence.
"The Dark Lord had assured me Susan was not on his list anymore, so she has nothing to worry about by returning. As for your actions before then, the two were sloppy to have been taken out by a pair of sixth years. If you hadn't killed them, the Dark Lord most assuredly would have. Anything else?"
Constance shakes her head no, and rises slowly. Bowing dramatically, she waits for Severus to dismiss her. After a long silence, he releases her and Constance strides out of the office. As she begins clopping down the stone stairs in her two inch heels, she hears Severus mention: "I did a bit of reorganizing in here, and I believe some of your things were stored here accidentally. I sent it all to your office… Professor Hollander."
Constance pauses, bows her head, and says: "Thank you Headmaster."
Arriving at Headmaster Snape's old office, Constance finds her chest and discovers her first conundrum: she only has outfits for her as a student. As Professor she was now free from the any of the dress requirements from either school, and meant she could develop her own style appropriate to the day or season. Perplexed, she made a list of things she needed for within her office, only to discover a fully stocked desk of parchments, ink quills and various supplies need to begin immediately. Thankful, she moves on to her lesson ideas and retrieves the infamously fundamental book of defense against the dark arts Umbridge utilized, and began mapping out a basic lesson plan for the first and second years, incorporating the fundamentals of magical defense and protection. By dinner, having worked through lunch without realizing it, she drags her weary bones to the great hall and joins many professors waiting in the kitchen for their plates. Chit-chatting, the room falls quiet as she enters, putting her in the worst situation she ever imagined. As she's on the verge of tears, Constance cannot manage to find her voice. After a minute, when they realized she was alone, did Professor McGonagall break the wall down and speak openly.
"I'm sorry Miss Hollander, we thought the headmaster might be with you. You almost have his aura at times and…well, it was rude of us." Behind her a meek man's voice corrects her.
"That's Professor Hollander isn't it?" With her eyes watering, Constance nods quietly and turns to her Charms Professor Filtwick. "Yes. The Headmaster informed me only after I arrived. I've been super busy trying to develop some sort of lesson plan for the first and second years, and I think I can manage something which accomplishes what the…ministry…requires, and what I can prepare them for. Though honestly, I doubt it's enough. Um…Umbridge kinda messed things up last year, so the second years aren't too far off kilter but the 3rd and 4th years will be trying."
McGonagall reaches out and hugs Constance apologetically and the mood gradually returns to normal. Ordering a chef's salad and a few butterbeers to take with her, Filtwick joins Constance in her study and spends the remainder of the evening offering his advice in developing her plan. Often they talk of the summer and Constance reluctantly retells Amelia Bones' murder. The horror of it, even with omitting her killing of the two Deatheaters, still sickens the professor. By midnight, the two professors part ways and Constance yearns to collapse into her bed from exhaustion.
The hair on the back of her neck stands up, and she instinctively throws the bag into the corner and pulls out her wand in one motion. With a stupefy spell on her lips she stops as she recognizes the dark ominous shape by her window. With him only having his hand on the wand in his robe, he stops realizing he can't pull it out in time to defend himself. One of the few tactics in dueling is if you don't have the drop on someone, don't make any sudden moves. Slowly pulling out his empty hand, the Headmaster emphasizes his intention to not harm her. With extreme reverence, she quickly tucks her wand away and bows once. His dry tone is dangerous as any raised wand.
"The dark lord wishes to meet you…tonight…now."
Constance can't say or think of anything to say. Pulling out her leather duster to keep her warm, she drapes it over her arm and lets the Headmaster lead the way. Traveling the Floo Network, they arrive in London to a shop, practically screaming dark magic. Donning her coat, she follows Snape as he quickly drifts away going from street to street, in an almost unpredictable pattern. After twenty minutes, he deposits her into a decrepit house. Devoid of light, she casually fondles her wand, expecting trouble around every corner. As she eyes a perfect spot for an ambush, she finds Snape leading her towards it. From the opposite side of the room, a dark shadowy form solidifies and four henchmen hover just outside her view. The menacing demon within her illuminates every one of them, and she sees they are unconcerned with her, and more concerned with their surroundings. The dark malign voice of Lord Voldemorte grabs her full attention.
"My my! You are nothing I expected."
Constance drops to her knees in a humiliating fashion, unsure how she behave; too little reverence can be fatal, and too much can rouse his anger. Constance can barely think, and asks the demon within her for pointers. What comes out of her mouth surprises both her and the demon.
"Master! I am honored by your presence!" Constance never imagined she'd be submitting to him in this fashion. Laughter from the dark lord only confuses her, until he continues.
"Severus! You have prepared her for our meeting?"
Concern flashes over him, and he replies sternly.
"No master, I did just as you told me. From what I understand, she had many different tutors in the past years, and seems to react instinctively to her superiors."
Voldemorte laughs. "Well played Severus." Pacing around her, he examines his newest recruit. Minutes pass as he ponders her fate, and Constance never once raises her head or voice. Voldemorte sighs dramatically. "If I only had more like her, she knows and understands the concept of discipline." Pulling Constance's left arm up, he rips her sleeve open revealing the dozens of deep scars inflicted on her by her vile teachers when she was a little girl. Turning her arm over and back he sneers and laughs. "Ah, now I see where you learned your humble skills! EVERYONE! Notice as she keeps her eyes set upon the ground, never once lifting them towards me! This child was trained through extreme discipline, and instinctively knows how to honor her master!" Leaning over, he whispers into her ear: "I can feel the evil coiled around your heart, it beats strongly and with purpose."
Voldemort raises his wand then lowers it to her arm. As Constance cringes expecting his wand to etch the dreaded Deatheater mark into her flesh, he suddenly yanks his wand away and retreats from her side.
Constance nearly jumps out of her skin when he barks at her.
"RISE!"
Taking three good steps away from her, he spins around to face her. Constance rises slowly and waits for instructions. Suppressing her anger, she reminds herself she can always get Sara to mend her jacket and dress. "I won't make you one of us that easily. If you obey, which I have no doubts you will, I will reward you greatly for your service. Fail me, well, there's no place on this world for you to go that I can't find you. Show no mercy to those spoiled brats, and I care little if they are from Slytherin or not. Discipline you understand, so institute the harshest discipline you can imagine to train the weak into strong or let them die. Many Slitherin ilk have become weak sniveling brats because of their parents; so ensure this disgusting trait is removed from Hogwarts, and you will make me proud. Severus! Return and give whatever she needs to accomplish her task. And you! (Turning to Constance) You will assist the Carrows in their classes, Severus had intended for you to be the Dark Arts teacher, but I promised that position to my loyal followers."
Without waiting for Snape to reply he evaporates and leaving a malign haze in his wake.
Nothing is said or exchanged as they retraced their steps. It was only until they returned to Hogwarts did Headmaster Snape end the cold silence.
"You did well, Miss Hollinder, I have never seen him so pleased without torturing anyone. Umbridge's quills were stored here. I will have them delivered to your office, as you are now in charge of all detentions. You will show little mercy in this task, as we both heard." Showing Constance the door he whispers, "I'm sorry."
The door slams closed, and Constance drags her depressed soul back to her room and collapses in exhaustion, crying herself to sleep.
It's late after sunrise when Constance drags herself out of bed and freshens up. Enjoying her first private shower at Hogwarts, she wraps a towel around her hair sits back in her bed to relax. As her towel loosens around her chest she naturally sits up to fix it, when her eyes suddenly come to rest on a pile of objects at across from her bed. As her eyes focus, she remembers them as the bags she arrived with years ago. Exhilaration explodes as she leaps to them and extracts her most treasured traveling gear, officially off limits to any Hogwarts student, but now legalized under her professor status. Wrapped in leather and lined with green felt, the five-foot long box, not much wider than a child's shoebox, held her most beloved of artifacts the demon within her had located especially for her. Opening it, she extracts a Japanese wooden sword made of Brazilian Cherry Wood, hand crafted five hundred years prior. Constructed by a Japanese wand maker, the weapon was one of a kind; and saying it was priceless wasn't accurate enough. Bringing the sword to her cheek, she fondly embraces the weapon and swings it around her, executing her katas neglected from the moment she entered the castle. After an hour, and sweating profusely, she curses under her breath for needing another shower.
Extending it out away from her she commands: "Akira, I order you to hide within these halls, until I require your services."
In a puff of red smoke, the sword apparates away, leaving the box vacant and lonely. Constance opens the second bag and extracts a wooden bracelet of native symbols and etchings, and sets it on the bed. Closing and latching it back, she tears off her towel, and returns to the shower once more.
Her first meeting with the Carrows went as expected; many orders, lots of telling, heavy doses of apathy, and little respect for the hoops she jumped through to become accredited through the ministry. Fortunately their opinion of her mattered little, as Voldemort had TOLD them that she was the Disciplinary Professor, and his word was final. To add insult to injury, Snape was technically over the Carrows and he held a high esteem towards Constance, far above either of the Carrows. She outlined her lesson plans, but it was obvious the Carrows had no clue as to what she was telling them. Leaving their office, Constance bit her tongue and refused to show them any respect. Being neither her equal or someone she reported to, she had others to please over them. Cracking open the text book for her class, she takes notes for the remainder of the day.
Waiting at the end of train station, Constance held her ground as the Hogwarts Express pulled in. With the rush of air and steam, Constance bowed her head and braced instinctively. As the engine comes to a halt far down the tracks, she waits for the last car to pull in and she breathes deeply. Exiting the train, several Slytherins are surprised to see Constance in a long black dress with glowing green lace decorating it. Smiling she begins reciting what all the professors are screaming down platform.
"Please would all first years assemble at the bottom of the stairs, while everyone else proceed to the left to the horseless carriages!"
Screaming the instructions over and over again, she fails to notice a ravishing redhead sneak up behind and pinch her. Jumping, she stops mid-sentence scolds Susan. "Hey! Don't do that!" Smiling she hugs her and Sara cordially. Noticing several first years nervously walking aimlessly she approaches them and directs them towards the stairs and resumes recanting the prepared speech. With the latest students following the coat tails of the other first years, Constance gets a minute to chat.
"I only have one class this year, and I had to choose between Charms and Care of Magical Creatures, so I thought it was best I chose charms. Hagrid didn't come back and it wouldn't be the same without him."
Nodding, Susan asks about study 'clubs' and Constance just shakes her head. "None! No more memberships okay you two? What we've got is what we got. No attention, this is as serious as I can get. Promise me! No one!"
Sara and Susan nod in agreement as Constance screams out her lines as a good professor, and leads the young first years to the boats. Leaving her friends behind, Constance helps the young kids into the boats alongside McGonagall and Filtwick. As the boats sail away, Constance disapparates to the castle entrance in time to help them out of the boats. No one ever asked who taught her how to disapparate, which brought a deep pleasure to her. Having learned from Amelia ages ago, she just got not using it until this year. With many students doing it, no one even bothered to ask her, especially as she was now a professor. With age came increased distance how far she could push it, and now she was impressed she wasn't even tired from the spell. With her wand out, supposedly for illumination, she watched the shadows as the other professors expecting trouble at any minute. With the last student safely in the castle, Constance brings up the rear and nods that everyone is accounted for. With relief exuding from everyone, the castle is sealed tight and Constance joins the other professors at the head table. As her first day, little fanfare was made of her and especially her new position. She couldn't ignore the whisperings across the room, from mixed elation from the Slytherin table to morbid fear from the Gryffindors.
As the evening ran to a close, Constance wandered casually back to her quarters and finds Susan waiting patiently by her door.
"I could give you detention for lingering in this area…this is a Professor only area, you know?"
Susan smiles deviously.
"I think I like the sound of that. The real reason I'm here it to return a bag you left behind at Sarah's cottage."
Constance opens her door and smiles as she fondles Sarah's hand holding the bag. "I think I'd remember leaving behind a Rigby & Peller bag, to say the least shopping there."
Susan shyly laughs, and bows her head. "Okay, you found me out. Just enjoy for now, and maybe you can model it for me sometime later." After a passionate kiss, Susan bolts towards the hall, practically dancing in the air without a wand.