A/N To all my loyal readers, and those of you who've just found this story I would like to say thank you for your patience. I'm so sorry if it has been so long since my last update, but the dreaded brain freeze of writer's block takes no prisoners. Please enjoy the next chapter in this story.
Chapter 21 Woes of the Half Blood Prince
Severus had been informed of what had happened to Sirius and where his niece and nephew were. He was enraged that the dog headed, flea bitten, excuse of a man had left his sister and her infant children alone. He was also very worried according to what Dumbledore had told him, Voldemort was aware that Eden was alive, and that meant danger for both her and him.
As night fell he felt his dark mark burn, and knew that the Dark Lord was not going to be in a pleasant mood when he appeared before him. Before he left the castle, he took his memories of Eden, Sirius, and the twins out of his head and placed them into a vial for safe keeping. The last thing that he wanted was to be tortured and have his mental guards demolished, for Voldemort to learn his secrets. He just couldn't bare it if anything happened to little Regulus and Eileen because of him.
At Malfoy Manor, the Dark Lord awaited Severus Snape's arrival. Severus swept into the room and bowed low to the Dark Lord. "You summoned me, my Lord?" asked Severus calmly.
"Yes, Severus, have a seat, we need to have a little chat you and I," said Voldemort smoothly. He waited for Severus to take a seat before he spoke again. "I have been informed that my dearest daughter and your sister are not dead as we were lead to believe, but very much alive," he began.
Severus's face paled and he adapted a shocked expression as he looked into the Dark Lord's face. "She can't be alive, we cremated her body," said Severus in shock. "If my sister was alive why wouldn't she make that fact known to me?" asked Severus as he wiped away tears of fury that the Dark Lord mistook for tears of pain.
"If you are truly unaware of the fact that she lives than someone has lied to me," said Voldemort as he drew his wand and pointed it at Severus.
"I would never lie to you My Lord you have been my only family since her death," said Severus a little too fast to be believed.
"You say that you would not lie to me. We shall see how honest you truly are, Crucio," yelled Voldemort making Severus fall from the chair screaming and writhing in pain. "Tell me the truth, Crucio," he yelled again watching as tears streamed freely down Severus's face.
"I swear on my life, my lord if she is alive I know nothing about it," screamed Severus as the cruciartis curse was released and he gasped for air. "If you don't believe me, I beg you to please search my mind. I have nothing to hide from you My Lord," panted Severus. He felt the familiar feeling of the Dark Lord as he searched through his mind and shook as the Dark Lord retreated from his mind and offered him a hand to help him back to his feet.
"Forgive me my most trusted adopted son. I had to be certain that you were not lying to me," he said as he placed a hand on Severus's Shoulder. "I have attempted to summon her, but regrettably she knew how to remove the Dark Mark. Either she is truly dead as we believed, or she has removed her mark and faked her death. Though I can't picture her ever leaving your side," said the Dark Lord as he turned and gazed out the window thoughtfully. "You may leave after the meeting," said Voldemort as he exited the room with Severus and his snake Nagini in his wake.
A few days later Severus was doing a bit of research in his study in the little house on Spinners End when he was visited by Narcissa and her deranged sister Bellatrix. He heard them knock at the door and sent Wormtail to open it for them. Wormtail grumbled and complained while he walked to the door to let in the two witches who were arguing in whispers on the door step.
Wormtail led the two ladies into the house and showed them into the sitting room lined with shelves and shelves of books. "You may leave us, Wormtail," said Severus with a flick of his wand making the door close in Wormtail's face.
"I-I know that I ought to not be here. The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of this," muttered Narcissa nervously.
"If the Dark Lord has forbidden you to speak of something, than you should hold your tongue," said Severus in a smooth and silky tone as he poured a glass of elf made wine and handed it to Narcissa. "It would also be prudent if you didn't touch what does not belong to you, Bellatrix put it back where you got it from," he said as he spotted Bella attempting to pocket a round object from his mantel.
"As it just so happens, I am aware of your situation Narcissa," said Severus as he took a sip of his own glass of wine.
"You, the Dark Lord told you of his great plan?" asked Bellatrix in a shocked tone.
"It would appear that your sister doubts me. It's not really surprising. After all I have played my part so well that not even the greatest Wizards in the world suspects me," said Severus with a smile on his face. Bellatrix snorted with disgust at his comment about Dumbledore.
"Make no mistake, Dumbledore is a great and powerful wizard. Only a fool would deny it," said Severus.
"I don't doubt you, Severus," said Narcissa as she gazed up at the dark robed wizard hopefully.
"You should be proud, Cissy, as should Draco. It's an honor to serve the Dark Lord," gushed Bellatrix in a loving tone.
"He's just a boy," whispered Narcissa with a sad tone in her voice.
"I can't change the mind of the Dark Lord, However it may be possible for me to help Draco," said Severus calmly. Narcissa got to her feet and whispered Severus's name as she got to her feet.
"Do it then, Make the unbreakable vow," demanded Bellatrix. "It's just empty words. He'll try his best, but when it really counts he'll just slither back into his little hole like a coward," cooed Bellatrix as she circled Severus rubbing her hand across his shoulders.
"Take out your wand, Bellatrix," snarled Severus angrily as he caught her hand and forcefully removed it from his shoulder.
Bellatrix drew her wand as Severus and Narcissa joined hands and grasped each other's wrists. "Do you, Severus Snape promise to watch over Draco and keep him safe as he attempts to accomplish the task that the Dark Lord has set him?" asked Bellatrix softly.
"I will," said Severus calmly as a ring of gold shot out of the wand and encircled his and Narcissa's wrists.
"Will you ensure that he comes to no harm?" asked Bellatrix.
"I will," said Severus as another golden band wound it around their wrists again.
"Finally, if for any reason Draco is unable to carry out his task will you do the deed that the Dark Lord as asked of him yourself?" she asked with a malicious grin on her face.
"I will," said Severus one last time knowing full well what he was agreeing to as the last golden cord encircled their clasped hands then vanished.
After Narcissa and her twisted sister had left the house Severus paced the sitting room of his small home wishing that he wasn't in the situation that he had gotten himself in. He shouldn't have let Bellatrix rile him up so, but he just hated when anyone called him a coward. Making the unbreakable vow was drastic and he knew that if he failed to keep his promise that he would die for certain. He wished that he could speak with his sister, but with Wormtail around that was impossible.
From What Dumbledore had told him, she hadn't taken the loss of her dog breathed husband very well. She was aware that the Dark Lord knew that she was alive and had given her children up into the care of Remus Lupin and his wife Nimphodora Tonx so that they would be safe before once again taking on her animagus form and fleeing for her life.
He was worried, too worried to sleep or even bother with eating. By the time that it was time for him to get ready for yet another dreadful year of teaching dunderheaded students he had lost a sufficient amount of weight, and looked quite sickly in appearance. He had just packed away his potions supplies when he heard a tap at his bedroom window. He looked up to see one of the familiar school owls pecking at the window with a letter in his beak.
He threw open the window and let the owl in, then took the letter, ripping it open to reveal Albus Dumbledore's familiar scrawl. As he read the letter a smile crept across his face.
"Dear Professor Severus T. Snape,
I am proud to inform you that you have been accepted for the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts. You may keep your customary quarters and office as you are still our head of Slytherin house. Also, I am once again pleased to inform you that your elder sister has taken up residency in the forbidden forest.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts school
Severus smiled and folded the letter before continuing his packing.
As the school year progressed Severus started to notice that some of the spells that he had invented were being used by various students throughout the school. He knew then that someone had somehow gotten ahold of his old potions books from when he was a sixth year student. As he went over the list of sixth year students who could possibly have his old textbook in their possession his mind kept running back to one particular student.
His fifteen year old nephew Harry Potter was the one out of the entire school who kept on waving red flags in his mind. The fact that Professor Slughorn could speak of nothing else, but the insufferable boy's talent at brewing potions didn't help his thoughts. If Harry did have his old textbook, then he would have to get it back from him, before the boy used a spell that was particularly dangerous if one didn't know the counter curse. The fact that he never wrote it down meant that soon he would find himself forced to use it on an unsuspecting student.
Regretfully, however things didn't quite work out the way he planned. Severus was on patrol on the second floor not too far from the second floor girl's bathroom when he heard a blood curling screen come from within the girls bathroom. He ran into the girl's bathroom, and then gaped in shock at the scene that met his eyes.
Their laying on the floor surrounded and a pool of his own blood was Draco Malfoy with two deep gashes across his chest. His nephew Harry potter stood over Draco with his wand shaking in his hand and a stunned expression on his face. Severus drop to his knees and cradled Draco's head as he chanted the counter curse that would make the gashes heal.
Once he had healed the cuts on Draco's chest, he lifted the unconscious boy into his arms and proceeded to carry him up to the hospital wing for further treatment by madam Pomfrey. He glared dangerously at Harry as he passed him. "do not move from that spot Mr. Potter," he said in a dangerously low tone of voice.
To his shock and surprise, Harry potter was still standing in the girls' bathroom where he had left him when he returned. He stepped in front of his nephew and crossed his arms angrily across his chest. "where did you learn that spell Mr. Potter," he asked in an angry tone?
"I founded in a book sir," said Harry.
"Which book did you find it in, Mr. Potter," asked Severus as he tapped his long fingers on his arm?
"I found it in a library book professor," said Harry as he attempted to find a way out of the trouble he knew he was definitely in.
"you're lying Mr. Potter go and get your school books, all of them, now," snarled Severus. Severus waited in the bathroom while Harry ran up to his dorm to get his books. When his nephew returned to the girls' bathroom out of breath, Severus grabbed the book bag from the boy's hands and dump them onto the floor of the bathroom.
He then began opening each book one at a time to see if one of the books with a book that he suspected it to be. When he found Harry's potions book he ripped open the front cover to find that it said, property off Ronald Winslib. "this isn't your textbook Mr. Potter. This book belongs to a boy by the name of Ronald Winslib," said Severus as he glared down at his nephew angrily.
"No professor that is my potions book. Ronald Winslib is what I call myself, you know a nickname," said Harry. Severus close Harrys book with a snap and handed it back to him.
"that spell that you used on Mr. Malfoy is a very dangerous and deadly spell. I think you need to learn a lesson on what can happen when you use such a dangerous spell on a classmate. You will see me every day after classes are over for detention until the end of the year. If you choose to argue with me about your detention I'm sure I can see that the headmaster expelled you from Hogwarts," said Severus as he left the bathroom.
Distressed over what had happened that day, Severus use the cover of darkness to slip into the forbidden forest hoping to find his sister. As Severus walked deeper and deeper into the forbidden forest he watched and listened for any sign that his sister was near. Once he reached the familiar clearing where his sister would always meet him, he stopped in the center and looked around.
The forest was peaceful, not even the tiniest creature rustled the leaves of the nearby bushes and trees. He lit the tip of his wand to shed light in the clearing to let her know he was there. It didn't take long for him to hear the sound of hooves thundering closer and closer in the darkness. He spun around expecting to see his sister standing behind him; instead he was surprised to see the herd of centaurs with their bows and swords drawn.
"What business have you here in our forest," sneered the black centaur known as Bain?
"I need to speak with my sister, I know she's here," said Severus as he looked around the woods for his sister.
"The one you speak of has not resided in our forest for a long time. Your sister is not here leave now wizard, or die," snarled bane the centaur menacingly.
"My sister is here, I'm not going anywhere until I speak with her," said Severus in a defiant tone.
The angry centaurs were about to attack Severus when all of a sudden, a female voice screamed out to the centaur heard. "NO, don't hurt him, screamed out the familiar voice of Severus's sister Eden. The centaur heard parted to make way for the new arrival.
"Lady Black, should we escort this wizard from our forests," asked the grey centaur known as Ronan?
"No Ronan, you can trust him. I assure you that he will not give me away to the Dark Lord," said Eden as she moved closer to her brother.
"But Lady Black, surely you're aware that the centaurs do not trust wizards," Said Bain angrily.
"I am perfectly aware of your feelings for wizards and Wizarding kind Bane. You've known all along that I was not truly what I appear to be, and yet you protected me. You and the rest of the herd are not the only one protecting me; my secrets have always been safe with my little brother. That said I would appreciate it if you would back away and leave my little brother to me," said Eden as she stepped between her brother and the black centaur.
Severus watched in utter amazement as the centaur heard backed away into the depths of the forest. He then walked around his sister in shock and took in her every detail. "Eden! What in Merlin's name have you done to yourself," asked Severus in a shocked tone?
"I have no idea what you're talking about, little brother," said Eden as she walked slowly around him with her arms crossed.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN BY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT," screamed Severus at the top of his lungs. "How did you transform yourself into a centaur," asked Severus gesturing to his sister in her current form?
"What's the matter little brother, don't you like my new form? If you really need an explanation, let's just say that the short period of time that I got to spend in my human form got me thinking. Voldemort is very well aware of what he knew to be my animagus form. So I changed my animaigus form so that I could live out my life hopefully without being detected by my father," explained Eden.
"That's not why you've come into the forbidden forest is it," asked Eden with a devilish grin on her face?
"You know me too well, Eden," said Severus as he leaned against a tree.
"Does it have anything to do with Harry," asked Eden hitting the proverbial nail on the head? The stunned silence and shocked expression on Severus's face said it all she needed no further explanation. "Would you care to discuss exactly what my son has done this time," asked Eden as she pressed her fingers to her forehead as if she was in pain?
Severus paced the clearing as he considered exactly how to tell his sister what her first born son had done. "Well Eden, do you remember how in my first year at Hogwarts your Christmas gift to me was a revised copy of the potions book for first year students," asked Severus?
"Yes I remember the book I gave you for Christmas, Severus. What does the first Christmas gift that I ever gave you have to do with my son," asked Eden as she narrowed her eyes with suspicion?
"Well, you see Eden, the book that you gave me inspired me to research and come up with new ways to brew potions more successfully. So after doing my research I made the changes necessary to my other potions textbooks. The problem is that I sort of lost my sixth year potions book," exclaimed Severus.
"That particular textbook got lost during my sixth year. Regretfully it has now fallen into the hands of your son, Harry Potter. Considering the fact that I've always wanted him to succeed in the art of potions brewing or anything else that he wishes to partake in, however that particular potions textbook contains a very dangerous spell that I invented. Considering that I taught that particular spell to you, I think you Know exactly which spell I'm talking about," said Severus.
"No, surely he hasn't learned the Sectumsempra curse, asked Eden with a fearful expression on her face? Severus couldn't look his sister and the eye; he simply turned away from her and nodded his head grimly.
"Severus, please tell me he didn't kill anyone with it," said Eden in a soft and shaky voice.
"No, thankfully I was nearby and was able to heal the person who he attacked with it. The only thing I wrote in that book on that particular spell was for enemies, I never intended it to end up in the hands of an innocent child," said Severus still refusing to look into his sisters eyes.
"It's not your fault Severus, to be fair you were going through a lot during that time. Please put my mind at rest and tell me that you found the book," said Eden as she placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"No, regrettably your son refuses to hand over the book. He presented me with a copy tonight that I assume belongs to one of his friends. I suspect that your son has a textbook hidden somewhere in the school," said Severus finally turning to meet his sisters gaze.
"Did you give him detention for what he did to the other boy," asked Eden curiously?
"Yes I certainly did, had I not been there Mr. Draco Malfoy would be dead at this very moment instead of recovering in the hospital wing," stated Severus coldly.
Eden released her grasp on her brother shoulder and walked around him a couple of times in thought. "What time is he supposed to serve his detentions with you," asked Eden deep in thought?
"After dinner, why do you ask," asked Severus now getting suspicious himself?
"Instead of making him serve out his detention inside the castle tonight, bring him to our secret meeting spot on the other side of the black lake. I wish to have a few words with him," said Eden crossing her arms.
"Have you lost your mind, he doesn't even know you're really his mother what good could you speaking to him do," asked Severus incredulously?
"Severus for once in your life, don't be a stubborn ogre. Harry May not know that I'm his mother but he still respects me. Just bring the boy," said Eden as she turned around and started walking back into the darkness of the forest. Severus shook his head as he watched his sister disappear into darkness.
Later that night after dinner Harry trudged his way down to the office of his least favorite professor. He knew professor Snape's detentions were normally not the kind that a person would want to write home about. Not that he would bother writing to the Durslys at any rate. He was just about to enter the corridor that led into the dungeons when he was grasped roughly on the shoulder from behind.
"Not that way, Mr. Potter," came the silky smooth voice of professor Severus Snape. "this evening you will be serving your detention with someone much more intimidating than me," said Severus as he pulled the boy from the big front door of the castle.
"But professor I wasn't expecting to go outside, I'm not properly dressed, and its cold out there," argued Harry hoping not to go outside into the cold snow.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, are you not a wand carrying wizard, and did you not bring your wand with you," asked Severus? Harry nodded mutely before withdrawing his wand from his sleeve.
As the two wizards stepped out into the cold evening air they simultaneously cast warming charms on themselves. Harry was silent as he followed professor Snape as he walked around the darkness of the black lake and into a dark shadowy grove of trees on the far side of the black lake. Professor Snape stopped suddenly just inside the trees and looked around with cautious eyes. "um, excuse me professor," started Harry.
"Shush, Mr. Potter now is not the time or place for conversation," said Severus as he listened for the sounds of hoof beats in the brush.
Severus lit the tip of his wand, and Harry watched in astonishment as another light flared from the darkness of the forest. Harry strained his eyes through the darkness to see who or what was holding onto the other wand which was slowly moving toward them. As he strained his ears he could hear the soft thud of a horse's hooves coming closer and closer along with a light.
Harry gasped in shock as a female centaur, with the lower body of a black horse, and wild looking long black hair that flowed passed her shoulders down onto her equine back came into the clearing. "Mrs. Black, your alive," exclaimed Harry!
"Of course I'm alive Harry, surely you didn't expect me to just drop dead because my husband died," said Eden as she stepped into the light of Severus's wand. "I can handle things from hear Severus, you may return for Mr. Potter after an hour has past," said Eden as she stepped forward and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.
Eden extinguished her wand and replaced it back into a secret place that Harry could not see, and then she held out her hand for him to take Ahold of and pulled him onto her back. "if I were a true centaur the forbidden forest heard would have my head over this," he said as she started to move through the dark woods with Harry on her back. "Luckily for me and everyone I'm involved with, that the centaurs are very well aware that I am not one of them. Well, most of the centaurs are aware of that fact anyway," said Eden as she sensed the presence of a certain palomino colored centaur, which was hiding behind a thick tree watching her with piercing blue eyes.
She stopped and twisted the upper portion of her body slightly to face the tree that Firenze was hiding behind and lit her wand to reveal his presence to Harry. "Firenze, have you completely gone mental? Do you have any idea what Haggrid, professor Dumbledore, and I had to go through to make sure that the other centaurs didn't kill you the last time that you were in the forbidden forest," asked Eden in shock as Firenze stepped out of the shadows and gazed into her emerald green eyes fearlessly.
"I know what the penalties are, for my trespass within the forest, but it's worth it. When you're done speaking with Mr. Harry potter, I will be waiting for you just outside the boundaries of the forest by the black lake. I truly must have a word with you, it regards a matter of great importance," said Firenze.
"Firenze, if you intend on asking me to marry you again, the answer is the same as it has always been," said Eden as she turned away from him and walked into the darkness of the forest.
As they moved through the forest Harry gave the back of his god-mothers head a strange look. "Aunt Eden, does Firenze really want to marry you," he asked in a shocked tone? Eden chuckled under her breath.
"Firenze and every other male centaur in the forbidden forest heard. It appears that this particular centaur heard is comprised of nothing but a legible bachelor's, all of whom haven't seen a female centaur in years. Therefore you can understand why I've chosen this particular spot for my home," she said as she stopped just outside of a large clump of trees covered with vines.
She stepped up to the biggest tree and placed her hand on its trunk. Before Harry could blink, a door opened to reveal the interior of a cozy looking dwelling much like Haggrid's hut. "is this where you've been living," asked Harry as he slid from her back?
"Yes, it's the only place for Voldemort can't find me. I would've brought my children with me, but they would have been In danger had I done so," said Eden with a tone of sadness in her voice. "please have a seat Harry, it appears you and I need to have a little chat," said Eden as she went to put a kettle on for some tea.
"What do you want to talk about, Eden," asked Harry?
"My brother informs me that you cast a very dangerous spell, which could have caused the death of another student. Where did you learn the spell," asked Eden as she placed a plate of cookies and two empty tea cups on the table in front of him?
"Well, um, I found it in an old potions textbook," admitted Harry with a guilty expression on his face.
"Do you have the textbook with you Harry," asked Eden as she went to retrieve the whistling kettle from the fire?
"No, but I could bring it back and show it to you if you promise not to report me to your brother," said Harry.
"No, it's too dangerous for someone as young as you to travel alone in the forest at this time. Do you think you can summon it here with your wand," asked Eden?
"I've never tried to summon anything from this faraway before, but I can try," said Harry drawing his wand. "Accio half-blood prince's potions textbook," called out Harry as he flicked his wand.
After about an hour of talking to and being lectured by Eden, Harry was taken back to the forest to the edge of the black lake. Eden had managed to talk him into leaving the textbook with her. He left it with her resented me knowing that his potions grade would suffer severely. To both Harry and Eden's shock and surprise
Firenze was standing still as a statue by the still waters of the dark lake. Eden walked up beside Firenze, and watched with tear filled eyes as her oldest son walked away towards the castle. "Firenze, how long will I continue to let the demon who calls himself my father ruin my life and keep me away from the ones I love," asked Eden as she began to shake with silent sobs?
Firenze held her close as she cried against his shoulder. "The evil one will not be able to keep you from your family long. I've forseen this in the movement of the stars, it won't be long until everything comes to an end for better or worse I am not yet certain. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that it must be a member of the dark lord's own bloodline to defeat him," said Firenze as he cupped her chin up in his strong hand wiping away the tears. Up
"I understand that your love for your departed husband is still strong, I just want you to know that unlike the other centaurs of the forbidden forest, I'd truly do love you and want you for my wife one day if you will have me," said Firenze as he placed a tender kiss on her forehead and also walked for the castle. Instead of returning to her hut, Eden sat herself down next to the black lake and stared into the Moon longingly. She missed her mother whom she'd never truly gotten to know, she missed her husband Sirius whom she had loved, she missed her babies Regulus and Eileen, but most of all she missed and wanted the opportunity to be the mother that Harry deserved to know that he had.
Finally after months of waiting, Severus his god-son Draco Malfoy finally managed to mend the old vanishing cupboard, and death eaters were now within the boundaries of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. He had discussed the plan over and over again with the headmaster and knew exactly what he had to do to save Draco's innocence.
Severus arrived in the astronomy tower just as Draco's aunt Bellatrix and a few other death eaters were egging Draco on to kill the headmaster. Before Draco could act Severus came to a sliding stop at the head of the stairs and shouted at the top of his lungs as he flicked his wand at the headmaster. "Avada kadavera." Severus lunged forward and grab Draco by the hand dragging him down the tower stairs as fast as they could go and ran out onto the castle grounds to safety.
To his dismay he and the others were followed by none other than his nephew Harry James potter. The boy was apparently shocked when he attempted to use spells that were invented by Severus when he was younger on his opponent only to have them block successfully. Severus didn't want to hurt his nephew so he simply immobilized him. Then he stood over him with his wand pointed between his eyes and glared at his nephew with anger.
"How dare you use my owns spells against me boy," spat Severus angrily? "That old potions textbook that you found used to belong to me, I am the half blood prince. If you think that you'll be able to beat me in a dual than you are sadly mistaken. I was taught to duel by the best duelist in the world," said Severus as he spun around and ran for the apparition point.
When professor Snape had left, the castle, the spell that he had cast upon Harry had lifted, releasing Harry. Harry ran for the castle and collapsed to the ground on his knees by the side of the headmaster's broken body at the base of the tower. He sobbed bitterly at the loss of the headmaster. The only consolation that he had was the fact that the headmaster had left him the locket which was the key to Voldemort down fall.
A/N please review and tell me what you think, Chapter 22 A Force To Be Reckoned With will be up next.