This was just too much. Snape couldn't handle any of this anymore. It had taken all his skill to prevent himself from letting loose and killing the lot. Of course, he wouldn't have lasted long, so it was good he could hold his temper. This was the exact thing he was hoping not to see when he walked in to Malfoy Manor that night. He felt horrible for Charity, but he couldn't help picturing Athelina's face the entire time.
He had seen far too many people he cared for murdered, and this would be the end. He knew their plans, and he needed to keep his promise to help Potter defeat them in any way possible.
He always intended to do his job, but lately he'd become a bit sidetracked by the whole falling in love thing. He wouldn't let that stop him from his work anymore. She was important – the most important thing, but that meant doing everything to protect her.
He'd settled down once he woke up the next morning, and he came up with his plan of attack. He left Athelina sleeping peacefully and went out to sit at the desk. Dumbledore's desk. Well, it was his desk now. Strange how quickly things had changed.
He reviewed the facts. Voldemort was putting him in charge of Howarts, which would allow him to make sure his allies were well protected, even if they thought he was an enemy. He also had access to powerful tools within the castle, which would prove helpful.
Voldemort knew Potter was to be moved soon, before his 17th birthday. He knew the date they would likely move him, and he also knew someone was giving them false dates. He tried to cleverly encourage the false information without seeming obvious. It wouldn't be long until they wound up in Grimmauld Place. He just needed to keep monitoring, and waiting patiently for everything to start.
He'd managed to avoid being part of the offensive sent after Potter and the Order members protecting him. He'd already done enough damage to his allies, without actively hunting them.
Besides, he knew that the minute he was spotted, they would target him. He wasn't exactly popular with the people he was trying to help.
At least Voldemort knew about this last point. Snape was a very wanted man, so sending him out in the open where he might be recognized was dangerous to the mission. This gave him several days to figure things out, without having to worry about being interrupted.
First, there were a few people he needed to talk to.
Athelina woke up rather confused. Her body wasn't used to the time change yet, and the Headmaster's quarters were unfamiliar. Light was creeping in through the curtain, and when she pulled it back she realized it was almost midday!
Where did Severus go that was so important he didn't bother waking me up?
Just as she got dressed and wondered whether she would be stuck there alone again all day, she heard voices coming from the other side of the door. She pressed her ear against the crack, trying to figure out who was there.
Severus was obviously there, it was a voice she could recognize from miles away. Deep, commanding, and yet instantly comforting.
She couldn't quite make out what he was saying, but she definitely heard other male voices.
There was a charm in one of her books that amplified hearing, but it was probably still in Severus' library. Snooping on his conversations wasn't exactly polite, but she had every reason to know what was keeping him. Didn't she? After all, maybe it was something she could offer perspective in.
Running out of ideas, she transformed into a snake and stuck her head under the door crack. She couldn't see, but at least she could hear.
"No one has been in the house since you came by to check the state of the wards Severus. If I see or hear anything I will certainly let you know. We Slytherin Headmasters need to stick together after all." This made no sense to Athelina, and she couldn't tell where the man's voice was coming from.
"Thank you, I just need to know when the children arrive, and to make sure no Death Eaters get in. Now then, they are moving Potter soon. I have given them incorrect information, but they may still attack at the correct time. I have no way to make sure they are safe until they get to Grimmauld Place." Snape was pacing, she could see his feet moving back and forth. She couldn't see anyone else in the room.
There were other voices, all talking at once. Her hearing as a snake was excellent for judging distance, but an entire room of voices was hard to differentiate. She could only hear snippets of words until…
That voice. I know that voice, but how can it be him?
"There is only so much one man can do Severus. You will need to focus on your specifics tasks only. There are skilled wizards looking after the boy who can take care of him until he can escape to the house." It was his voice all right; she must be hallucinating. Too much stress or something…
She snuck back into the room to lay down for a bit. It couldn't actually be him, as he was most certainly dead.
It was always believed that the Headmaster of Hogwarts needed the best advisors available. Who better to understand the burdens of running a school than those who had already done it? The portraits had no ulterior motives, no way to betray the Headmaster the way so many mortal wizards tried.
When there was no one else Severus Snape could turn to for advice, he was very glad he was the Headmaster.
The portrait of Dumbledore had gone up not long after his death, but Snape had little chance to speak to it until this point. The other portraits had plenty of advice, but Albus knew the situation…he planned for everything.
"How can I just sit around and wait for news? Our lives depend on what happens over the next few days. " He shouldn't have taken the time off, he wasn't prepared for this.
"There is nothing else to be done but wait. Soon you will have a school to run, and you will be the least popular man around. Have things ready for each stage of the plan. Protect the school, protect the students, and most of all protect the girl. That is your job now. Everything else will fall into place when it needs to." He always made it sound so effortless. Other portraits began to chime in again.
"Yes indeed, protecting the school should always be the top priority of the Headmaster. In my day I had to fight off a number of dark forces, but I remembered to…" He never got to finish his story, as Dumbledore cut him off.
"Yes Vindictus, we know, but now isn't the time. If the rest of you wouldn't mind stepping out for a moment, I'd like a word with Severus." Despite some grumbling, the other portraits left their frames to wander around the school.
"Now, I can see things have changed between the two of you, as I'd hoped." Of course Dumbledore would clear the room just to talk about his personal life.
"Yes, you were right of course." Snape began pacing again, "But is it really a good idea? I mean, I'm happier than I can ever remember with her, but if I stick to the plan it certainly can't last." Dumbledore smiled at him kindly. He felt like he was being pitied by the painting, like he was weak for being unable to open up to love.
"Severus, if she makes you happy, be happy. Don't worry yourself over the future and overlook the present. Do what you need to do when you need to do it, but if you can't let your fears go and be with her, don't lead her on. You know full well she has had enough heartbreak in her life, and she trusts you." How could one person be so wise, and always know exactly what to say? Snape had no response.
He knew exactly what he needed to do next, so he nodded thanks and apparated away.
Dumbledore's portrait had a few visits of his own to make, leaving his frame before the other portraits could return.
She woke up from her very confusing dream, where an entire court of death eaters was being held in the office. It was a trial, and Dumbledore was strapped to a chair. When she walked back over to the door the voices had stopped. She couldn't even hear him working. She slid under the door again, looking for any traces of visitors. Seeing the empty room, she transformed back so she could take a look around.
"Well in all my years on this wall I have certainly never seen beautiful women materialize out of nowhere. "
She jumped when she heard the voice.
"Who said that?" No one was there, but now there were several voices laughing. She looked up towards the walls and saw the portraits staring down at her. She forgot they could speak, as she had never had an actual conversation with one. She read about it in a book at one point, but the idea of paintings having the ability to move and converse was a bit confusing for her.
"Well now, I said it, but I should like to know who you are and how you got in here." The man in question seemed different from the rest of the paintings. He was just as regal, but looked a bit less friendly. It was probably the dark hair and eyes, combined with the pointy beard and his snide tone.
"Athelina Kinsey, sir. I'm actually a student under Professor Snape." She felt like she shouldn't be introducing herself to anyone, but this was a painting. They couldn't do any real harm.
"Ah yes yes! Her majesty the Heir of Slytherin! My own house, you know. Phineas Nigellus Black, surely you've heard of me at some point. Terribly sorry for being rude my dear but I've only had a few glimpses of you before. I have heard all about you from Albus, of course, but you can never trust his opinion. After all, he was always getting involved with the wrong sort. Mudbloods and fools! We purebloods need to stick together! Of course you would understand that, with such an honorable lineage. I was just saying the other day how nice it is to finally have another Slytherin in charge around here. " He finally stopped talking, and she realized why he seemed less friendly. She had heard of him before, and all the historical records of Hogwarts made him seem like a less than efficient Headmaster. He was also very set in his pureblood ways, which she could tell after only a few minutes of conversation with his portrait.
She decided to cut their little chat short there, and use the opportunity to take a look around. The office was filled with magical equipment she was dying to get her hands on, and this could be her only chance to get a good look… but where to start?
She investigated the shelves, testing out instruments and tinkering with trinkets, when she saw it: a tattered old hat, sitting high on a shelf. She had always been curious about sorting; it was a part of the Hogwarts experience she regretted missing. The house you were sorted into said a lot about your personality and what you could expect for your magical future, according to everything she'd read at least.
It was pretty high, but using her wand she was just able to pull it off the shelf.
I probably could have just used magic to get it down…
She would remember that when she needed to put it back up. She could feel the magic radiating from the old tattered hat, and she was suddenly afraid. She felt like one of the first year students, about to sit down on the stool and have their fate decided. The outcome had no real effect on her, but something about holding it made her uneasy.
"Ahh, I wondered whether I had seen the last of the great line of Slytherin. I always feared what circumstances would bring a new heir under my brim. But I see you are different…very different indeed. Not exactly the age I'm used to sorting either, what caused you to put me on today?" The voice in her head was startling, but something about it calmed her immensely. The hat sounded wise, just the way a sorting hat should.
I suppose I was just curious, since I never got the sorting experience
It was weird trying to think a conversation.
"Hmm yes, well I've never sorted an adult before. It is very different with children, because the decision I make will affect their school experience. What house will they get the most out of? Where will they fit in best? It isn't just about general characteristics, but they are fairly easy to read. You are much more complex it seems. Lets see, well we certainly can't discredit that you are the heir of Slytherin. You have a thirst for knowledge; very Ravenclaw…however there is also bravery and loyalty. Cunning, snake-like impulse, protective, with a bit of a thirst for vengeance I see. It could be argued any way, but I would have to go with Slytherin. A parselmouth even; yes, you would certainly belong in Slytherin." Then the hat was silent.
She supposed she couldn't expect any less. Blood was thicker than water, as they said. Besides, being in love with the head of Slytherin house allowed her to ignore the negative stereotypes a bit. She sent the hat back up on the shelf and turned back towards the bedroom. It satisfied something in her, confirming that she was indeed doing the right thing. She would be a Slytherin, and the best one there had been.
A/N- this one took me a while to get started, sorry for the delay. I wanted to add in the sorting bit because if I were Athelina I would always be curious :)