Chapter 21: Under the Oak Tree
Amarana and Draco spent several hours that afternoon trying to decipher the instructions he was given by Mr. Borgin on how to fix the cabinet. After numerous unsuccessful tries, Amarana started to despair on ever getting it fixed, but after reciting several strange incantations and performing many complicated charms, Draco pronounced himself optimistic. The cabinet was glowing what Draco called a "faint greenish-brown color", and Mr. Borgin's instructions said the cabinet must glow a dark forest green before the next process.
"It's the furthest I've ever gotten," Draco said happily.
They went to lunch in a subdued mood, each thinking their own thoughts, and ate in silence. Since it was a Saturday, not very many people were there, most students waited until later to eat. They ate quickly, neither of them putting much food on their plates. Finally Draco stood up.
"I'm going to bed," he announced. "Are you coming?"
"No, I think I'll go outside for a bit," Amarana said vaguely. She gave him a tight smile and he left her at the table.
Amarana got up slowly and made her way outside, headed straight for a large oak tree that grew close to the edge of the lake. There was a large root sticking out of the bottom, making a perfect seat. After making herself comfortable, she drew her knees to her chest and laid her chin on them, staring out at the water.
"What will happen now?"
She watched the giant squid wave a tentacle out of the blue water.
"Severus is a Death Eater. Does that matter to me?"
Amarana glanced around as if she were looking for the answer in the air.
"He's still Severus. I still love him." She bit her lip. "Is that what he meant when he said we couldn't get married until he took care of things? And if the Dark Lord disapproves of us, who will Severus choose? It wouldn't matter if he chose me anyway, if he disobeyed, he would be killed." She pressed her forehead to her knees, feeling anxious and unhappy. "I don't know what to do. What should I do? Break it off now, before we are made to break it off? Or should I let Fate do what it will?"
Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, she watched the squid's tentacles waving for several minutes, thinking hard.
"It's time to think about this logically. If Severus is a Death Eater, and Draco is a Death Eater, and my friends' families are, at the very least, affiliated with them, it stands to reason that most of my friends will eventually become Death Eaters or marry Death Eaters."
The squid leapt up into the water before submerging itself completely, with a great splash that soaked some fourth-year Ravenclaw girls who were walking arm in arm beside the bank of the lake.
"What I'd like to know is, does marrying a Death Eater force one to become a Death Eater, or are wives left out of it . . . unless they anger the Dark Lord, of course. Then they're either tortured or dead. I wonder, will the Dark Lord punish me when Severus makes a mistake, if I am one of his followers as well?"
She began to draw in the soil with the toe of her shoe, wrapping her arms around her knees and leaning back against the tree.
"I believe I could make a good Death Eater. My father disapproves of them, but he's never really told me why. If I had to guess, I'd say it's because he doesn't want to part with any of his precious money. The Death Eaters must be helping fund His plans . . . it wouldn't make sense for the Dark Lord not to utilize that method of gaining funds. Most Death Eaters come from rich families anyway, so they all have a lot of gold and assets." She smiled. "Like Lucius Malfoy for instance. Or the Lestranges."
Amarana set her chin onto her knees and gazed out at the sunset.
"I want to be with Severus, no matter what. They'd want me to join, when I'm older. Or maybe not, maybe they'd take me young. Draco's a Death Eater, at sixteen. I don't know whether or not the Dark Lord would allow another younger member. I might not know anything about the Dark Arts besides what we learn in Defense, but I'm as pureblooded as they come. If I don't anger my father before he dies, I'll be one of the richest eligible heiresses in England, perhaps in most of Europe. I don't need it all. I could afford to help fund the Dark Lord's mission."
Sighing, she watched the sun make its way down the sky into the mountains beyond.
"But do I want to become a Death Eater? Couldn't I be happy waiting at home for Severus to return, managing the house-elves and the children like a wife should?" She shook her head. "I couldn't stand that. And I know I could be an asset to Severus."
Amarana took a deep breath. "I'll discuss this with Severus," she decided. "I know he'll not want me to join the Death Eaters, but I'll convince him it will be for the best. It's not like I'll be becoming one now. It'll have to be when I'm older. We'd have to hide our relationship for several years, anyway." She sighed. "I need help. I need help deciding what to do."
She heard voices coming up the hill behind her and stood up quickly, peering around the tree. A grimace spread over her face as she realized it was Granger, Potter, and Weasley. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice her at all, half-hidden as she was. She could hear every word they said very clearly, and held her breath to listen.
"So what did Slughorn say?" Granger asked.
"He became frightened," Potter said. "And he said that if Dumbledore showed me the memory, then I already knew what he had told Riddle."
"But . . . he didn't, right?" Weasley asked. "Dumbledore said the memory had been tampered with."
"I wish the library had something about Horcruxes," Granger said irritably. "I mean, they have books on everything else."
"We already know what a Horcrux is, Hermione," Potter answered. "I just can't believe Voldemort would do that. It's just so . . . horrible."
"Look!" Weasley said, having noticed Amarana.
She stepped out from behind the tree with her chin high, making an impressive figure standing in front of the lake with her black robes billowing around her like a storm cloud.
Potter narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
Amarana simply stared at him with a cold, piercing expression before turning haughtily away, intending on going back to the castle.
"Planning any more nighttime excursions, Ravinike?" Potter asked acidly.
Amarana stopped in her tracks as her body grew suddenly cold. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to remain calm. A cruel smile spread across her lips. She turned slowly and looked at each of them in turn, making Weasley shiver a little. "I don't know what you're talking about, Potter," she said frostily.
Potter smirked. "Sure you don't." His lip curled and he began speaking in a high pitched monotone. "But you must finish school. And there are . . . things . . . I must finish as well. Things I am involved in, that I cannot tell you about as yet."
The smile never left Amarana's face.
"So what things are you and Snape up to, Ravinike?" Potter asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe you should go see Madam Pomfrey, Potter . . . hearing things in your mind isn't healthy," Amarana sneered.
"I know you were there, Ravinike," Potter snapped. "I heard what you and Snape were saying. You asked 'what things?', and Snape answered, 'I am involved with something serious. Something that would put your life in danger'." He smirked. "Still haven't refreshed your memory?"
Amarana laughed. "Nice one, Potter. If I ever need to make up a lie, I'll be sure to come to you for advice." Inside she was relieved.
"If that's all he heard, then Severus and I are safe."
"How can you stand there and deny what we all know is true?" Potter asked loudly. "We know it was you down there! We know your voice when we hear it! We don't know why you . . . a student would be helping him, but I know it's for nothing good!" He pointed an accusing finger at her. "You're Snape's spy, aren't you? And if you're Snape's spy, then you're Voldemort's spy as well, since I'm sure that's who the bloody git works for! That's why you came here this year instead of staying in Italy, isn't it? That's why you know so much more magic than anyone else here! You probably learned it from Voldemort himself!"
"Harry . . ." Granger began timidly, looking a bit frightened.
"No!" he shouted. "Don't you see? It all makes sense, Hermione!" He turned to Weasley. "You believe me, don't you?"
Weasley took a step back, exchanging a worried look with Granger. "Sure I do, mate. It's just that maybe . . ."
Potter pressed his fists against his temples. "Aarrgghh!"
Amarana rolled her eyes. "All right, I've had enough of this!" she snapped, beginning to walk away.
Potter grabbed her arm above the elbow, his fingers digging into her skin. Amarana gasped in shock, and jerked her arm away before shoving him hard. He fell backward onto the cold, wet ground with a grunt.
"Don't ever touch me again, Potter," she snapped, drawing her wand, "or you'll find yourself worse off than sitting in a puddle of slush!"
Weasley and Granger pulled him up. His robes were covered with icy mud. Granger pulled out her wand and began siphoning it off. Weasley kept his grip on Potter, but he tore away from him, whipping out his wand and pointing it at Amarana. Before Potter could say a word, a loud scraping sound from behind them made them all turn quickly. They all watched in horror as a huge green snake slithered out from a hole in the oak tree, coming straight toward them.
Amarana drew in her breath, her wand at the ready. Potter's mouth froze in an O. Weasley and Granger stood stock still, staring at the snake as it slithered closer. Without warning, it reared up and hissed at Potter. It began to speak . . . and Amarana realized she could understand what it said.
"Ssstay back," it rasped, jaws open as if it were aching to bite Potter. "Sssoon he will come to claim her. Ssshe is not for you." And with that, the snake slithered over to Amarana, crawling right up her leg. She froze in fear as it reached her ear, and began to speak in a voice so low only she could hear.
"The High One will claim you asss hisss own, my child. Embrace your destiny, child of Ssslytherin." The snake slithered back to the ground and circled Amarana seven times, then slithered away.
Potter and Amarana stared at the snake in horror. Granger and Weasley looked back and forth between the both of them, worried looks on their faces.
"You understood it, didn't you?" Potter growled at Amarana.
She glared at him. "Of course I did! It spoke plain English, didn't it?"
"No . . ." Granger said slowly. "It spoke Parseltounge."
Amarana stared at him. "But I don't speak Parseltounge," she said.
"Well that's what it spoke," Potter snapped. "And don't lie. You don't just wake up some day and miraculously be able to speak to snakes."
Amarana rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, you stupid little cockroach." A wave of queasiness washed over her body, a result of her petrifying fear. She turned on her heel and staggered towards the school.
"I'll find out what you and Snape and Malfoy are up to!" Potter yelled after her.
"Oh, go to hell!" Amarana shouted back, willing her body to move faster. "And take the weasel and the Mudblood with you!"
She hurried into the castle and rushed down to the Slytherin common room. Her stomach suddenly felt so queasy that she knew she was going to throw up. Thankfully, no one was in the common room to see her mad dash for the bathroom, or to hear her as she retched up her dinner. After taking a cold shower, Amarana put herself to bed and drew the curtains around her tightly. Only after she felt the queasiness subside did she think about what had just happened.
She really hadn't known she could speak Parseltounge. That much was true, but the realization that she could didn't faze her. It was what the snake had said that really bothered her. Amarana closed her eyes. And then it hit her. She had asked for help, and the snake had done it. It told her what to do. It was a sign that could not be ignored.