Minerva McGonagall and William Pendragon rounded the corner just as Severus and Lyria burst out of Snape's room. Minerva only had a second to take in their appearance, noting Lyria's dress and their general flustered appearance, when her attention was drawn to a fire burning down the hall.
Lyria ran ahead of the group and approached the fire, she recognized this type of flame. It was a deep orange and danced with animal-like shapes, not having much to feed on it remained somewhat subdued, but nonetheless it started to race down the hall toward where the other professors stood.
Minerva raised her wand to cast water upon the flames when Lyria cried out "No! Don't use water, that will only feed the flames further. Severus!" She looked at him and understanding passed between the two. They knew these flames, imbued with dark magic, conventional means would only serve to grow their power. The two raised their wands with steely expressions and aimed at the fire. Where moments before they had been in the throws of fervent passion, they were cool and collected, their masks falling into place. Hiding their emotions was second nature to them.
Each muttered incantations as McGonagall and Pendragon watched on in awe. They worked effortlessly in tandem, taming the animals and extinguishing the blaze. When the last of the smoke cleared they turned and went back to where the others stood. "Fiendfyre." Panted Lyria, the effort of dousing the magical flames catching up to her.
"That is very dark magic, how did you recognize it? Or put it out so quickly." asked Minerva, concern evident on her face.
Severus jumped in to save Lyria from answering, "It is not an uncommon tool of Death Eaters. Most aurors are familiar with it. My concern is the concentrated nature of the fire, whoever cast it has specific training."
"No one cast it." Stated Lyria, she had wandered back to where the flames burned brightest and bent to pick up a smoldering black shell.
"Minerva gather the other Professors quickly, search every floor of the castle for a black object like this. You should be able to detect the curse even if you can't see the object at first. Severus be ready to tame more fires." Even in her dress and heels Artemis was an impressive figure as she barked orders. Command was natural for her.
"Pendragon I assume you also know how to smother fiendfyre, go with them. Make sure none of these explode! You should have a few minutes to get to them. Diffuse them by casting Aparecium and then destroy the shell. Alert all prefects to keep students in their beds until we have searched the castle in its entirety. Make sure to double check the dorms where the students from Ilvermorny and Durmstrang are staying. There is no time to lose." No one questioned the apprentice, it was obvious she knew more than they did about the present danger and William quickly followed after Minerva as she sped down the hall, sending off patronuses to wake the other teachers.
Lyria turned back to where the flames were darkest and Severus noticed for the first time that they were right in front of the door to her room. The door itself had been blasted open and she stepped deliberately over the debris. Snape followed after her and watched as she crouched down just inside the door and lifted a black rose from the floor. As she stood she pulled a small roll of paper from around the stem and unfurled it. As she read her face went white and Snape rushed to her side, "What is it?"
He looked down and read the paper in her hands.
"You're time is nearly up, make your choice. Join us or die with them."
"Lyria," but he was too late. She had thrown down the note and the flower. With a flick of her wrist her dress was replaced by her robes and she left the room, leaving the door hanging on it's hinges.
"We don't have a choice Severus."
Snape followed her as they moved to join the search for more dark objects. He understood, they would have to tell Dumbledore what they knew.
Dumbledore considered the cracked black sphere on his desk. "How many were there?"
"We found four in addition to this one, luckily we were able to disarm them before anymore went off." said Minerva.
"Where were they located?"
"There was one near the dorms we constructed for the Ilvermorny and Durmstrang students and one outside each house common room except Slytherins." Answered Snape.
"Where did this one explode then?"
All eyes turned to Severus and Lyria who stood next to one another. Snape turned to Lyria for an answer, not sure how much she wanted to reveal right away.
"It exploded near my door Headmaster. However I was not in my room at the time and was therefore not injured. Professor Snape and I heard the noise and went to investigate, which is where we met Professor McGonagall and Professor Pendragon who had been on patrol and I assume also heard the noise."
Snape kept his eyes fixed on the object, not daring to look anywhere else should he implicate himself.
Lyria, Severus, Minerva, and Dumbledore stood alone in the study, the other Professors attending to the students.
"We were able to choke the flames before significant harm was done." added Snape.
"Ms. Artemis I'm afraid I must ask you to enlighten me. You recognized this object and knew there must be more, how?"
His voice wasn't angry nor was it accusatory, simply curious.
She remained steadfast under his gaze, "I helped to develop them Sir."
Snape's eyes shot to her as did Minerva's.
"While I was working in the Ministry I was asked to oversee many projects, while I believed them to be Ministry sanctioned I know now that many of them were not. These devices are rigged to explode and produce fiendfyre. It is assumed that the fire would rage until the person who had placed them deemed it time to put it out. The use of these devices reaffirms my confidence that I know who is behind these attacks."
Her voice was steady but Severus saw her knuckles had turned white and she had begun to shake. He suppressed the instinct to comfort her.
"Headmaster I would like to preface my explanation with this. While I understand that I will not be permitted to continue my apprenticeship I must ask to remain in the castle, for protection."
"And I must ask you not to assume my decisions before I have made them. Now, who is behind this?"
"My father."
Minerva gasped and a hand flew to her chest, Dumbledore's eyes widened and Severus winced.
"But... but I thought, how can that be?" asked Minerva breathily.
Lyria proceeded to explain her past to them, detailing how she had discovered her true blood status, her position in the Ministry, and even describing her experience in the circle of Death Eaters. She detailed other projects she had worked on that Severus had not heard about. Almost all of them involved dark magic. As she spoke her strength began to slip, so Severus moved nearer to her and placed a hand gently on her back to show support. It seemed to help and she continued.
Lyria rolled up her left sleeve and the makeup was whisked away with a flick of her wand.
"My father warned me that I would never be able to hide from him. I should have known his reach would extend to the school system. I hadn't been made aware of any plans to interfere with the tournament but the actions align with his overall objective. I believe he plans to unseat you Headmaster, and place someone in your position that is sympathetic to him and the Dark Lord."
All eyes were drawn to the snake that slithered around the stem of the rose on her arm. Minerva looked terrified but Dumbledore remained calm, pacing as he considered her information.
"Severus?"
"Yes."
"Did you know Edmond well?"
"No, he was many years my senior and we were assigned to different arms of the Dark Lords plan, I met him only a handful of times. Even then I was never privy to his exact tasks."
"Would he remember you as a Death Eater?"
Dumbledore eyed him critically and Snape considered the question, "I cannot be sure… he would likely have heard of me but he may not know I am in the castle."
"If my father knew about Sever- Professor Snape he would have already reached out to him. Rose was sure that all the remaining Death Eaters were connected to the Ministry. That's why I think he had to reach out to a non-Death Eater to help with the attacks."
"Do you know who is abettor may be?"
"Not yet." She answered.
"Very well, I will consider your suspicion but I am going to need your help to substantiate it." He turned to McGonagall, "Minerva I will leave it to you to debrief the other teachers, do not mention Artemis' involvement. Only tell them what they need know."
She nodded and turned to the door before changing her mind and rushing over to Lyria. The older witch hugged her and Lyria felt relief wash over her, she had been afraid Minerva would hate her.
When she pulled back McGonagall held Lyria's arms and addressed her sincerely, "We will work this out dear, but don't worry, you belong here."
Lyria tried her best to give her a smile, "Thank you for understanding Minerva." And she left, leaving Lyria, Snape and Dumbledore alone.
"This explains why the attacks have seemed to target you Ms. Artemis. Severus, I believe you must contact Mr. Rose."
Lyria looked up at Severus, he saw the fear in her eyes and understood, but if Dumbledore asked him to, he would have no choice.
"See if you can gain his trust, your loyalty to the Dark Lord must appear to remain intact. That is imperative. It may also give us an idea of who else he may be working with."
Both Snape and Lyria understood the logic in his proposition but neither liked it.
"Lyria," Dumbledore faced her and his blue eyes pierced her own, "Is there anything more you can tell me about Rose's plans?"
"Only that he meant for me to become Minister. When I ran he swore he would bring me back, that I would willingly serve the Dark Lord as he did. I don't know how I factor into his plans at Hogwarts but I do know him. He will try to use me in some way."
"Very well." he turned and sat behind his desk. "Severus I will see you tomorrow evening in my office, Lyria," He looked over his half-moon spectacles, "You will remain an apprentice of Hogwarts, Minerva is correct, you belong here. But I ask that you keep the information regarding the Ministry to yourself."
"Of course Sir."
"You both may go." Lyria started towards the door and Snape placed his hand on her lower back to guide her out, as he was about to close the door Dumbledore called out to him, Lyria continued down the steps but he turned back.
"Yes Headmaster?"
He peered at him curiously, "Look after her. She is in great danger, as are you. Stay with her."
Snape nodded and shut the door, needing no more convincing.