Chapter 29: The Venomous Horcrux

Following the sessions in the hospital ward with the Malfoy's, Severus and Melodia joined Professor McGonagall and Harry for tea and discussed the search of the suspected Horcruxes. Melodia fought several waves of nausea as she nibbled her cookie, and prayed that Severus wouldn't notice.

At last Severus suggested they begin to move forward and Professor McGonagal agreed. She rose to her feet and escorted them from the office.

Melodia reached the bottom of the staircase, and swayed a bit causing her to stumble against Snape's arm slightly. He caught her in his arms quickly.

"Loddie, are you all right?" he asked nervously.

She brushed her face with her hand and answered, "Yes, I am fine. I just got a little dizzy on those spiral stairs I guess," she managed as she smiled at her lover.

Severus frowned at her. "Perhaps you should wait here with Minerva, Love," he said worriedly.

"Don't be silly, of course not. I will not impose on her that way and besides, we are a team. Remember?" she asked cautiously.

"I assure you, dear, it would be no imposition," McGonagal said firmly. Something in the way she looked at Melodia gave Severus an uneasy feeling.

"No, Minerva, I promise. Severus is simply a great fat worrywart. That's all. I 'm fine, really," she said simply.

Severus watched her closely for a moment as if trying to ascertain if she was telling the truth.

Professor McGonagal finally broke the uncomfortable silence by saying, " Well…thank you again for your help with the Narcissa, Melodia…and you as well, Severus."

Melodia hugged her friend, "You are most welcome, Minerva. I am glad we could be of service to you, as well as to them. It was obvious that they have both been mistreated and taken advantage of for many years," she said with a shrug. "I guess it was all bound to come out sooner or later and I am glad we could be here for them," Melodia said honestly.

Severus took her hand in his and squeezed it adoringly.

"It was our pleasure, Minerva," Severus said affording her a gracious bow.

"Good luck Potter. If you encounter difficulties, send your Patronus," McGonagal told him as she squeezed his arm affirmatively.

"Thanks Professor," he said with a smile. "I will."

Upon arrival to the seventh floor, Harry pulled the Marauder's Map from his back pocket.

Severus scowled at him disapprovingly, "I see that you are still in possession of that 'infernal map', Potter," he said with mild distaste. Harry met his gaze and grinned sheepishly.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Harry recited.

Melodia watched in awe as writing magically appeared upon the once blank parchment he held in his hands.

"Oh Harry! How fascinating!" she declared enthusiastically. "May I see it?"

Harry blushed under Snape's distasteful gaze and handed the parchment to her.

She smiled broadly as she read the words aloud:

'Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs

Purveyors of Magical Mischief Makers Are proud to present The Marauders Map

"The Marauders Map, huh?" she asked curiously. What is this Harry?"

"It's a map of Hogwarts. It really has a lot of details about castle and the grounds," he answered steadily.

"May I?" she asked looking hopefully at Harry. He nodded his approval, still avoiding the gaze of his Potions Master.

"Oh wow! This is really cool, Harry! Hey! That's us!" she said excitedly as she noticed the tiny labeled dots of herself, Harry and Severus.

"Yeah, it shows where everyone is at any given time," he said pointing at the map. "See?" he said as he pointed toward the parchment. It said 'Minerva McGonagall' in her office.

"So has this it ever helped you out before?" she asked with a mischievous wink.

"Undoubtedly, it has Melodia, or he would not still have it," Severus said in his usual dark tone.

"Oh lighted up, Shaggy!" she scolded playfully. "This is the most awesome thing I have ever seen!"

Harry covered his mouth to keep from laughing at her cheek and at Snape's pet name.

Severus looked menacingly at Harry, leaned closely to his ear and snarled, "If you ever let that name pass your lips, Potter, you will wish that you had never been born," he hissed.

"Oh no, sir, I promise," he answered solemnly.

"So what are we looking for guys?" Melodia asked cheerfully, as she studied the map.

"There is a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching trolls to dance ballet and the Room of Requirement should appear all along the wall right across from it. All we have to do is walk by the wall three times and concentrate hard on why we need it," he said knowledgeably.

"See it's just there," Harry said pointing to correct spot on the map.

"Genius, simply genius," Melodia said wondrously.

"Shall we go, then?" Severus asked seemingly annoyed with the entire scene.

As they approached the Tapestry, Snape held his hand out to Harry.

"May I, Potter?" he asked almost congenially.

"Sure, ok," he answered as he handed the map to Snape.

"Harry, you call for the room," Melodia said eagerly, "since it seems you have done this before," she added cautiously looking at Severus.

Harry nodded soberly, and approached the blank section of the wall.

"I need to find the Slytherin Spittoon Horcrux and destroy it!" He mumbled as he walked past the wall three consecutive times.

Almost immediately, the wall became a door. Melodia's eyes widened and she took a few steps toward it staring.

Harry's face lit up. He grinned and exclaimed, "That's it! It has to be there! I concentrated on finding the Spittoon and the door appeared! That means it has to be there!" he finished breathlessly.

"I hope you are right, Potter," Severus began but his thought was cut off by Melodia's movement.

"Wow, that is really something!" she said softly.

She approached the door to open it, but was stopped cold by two large hands on her shoulders.

"Loddie, No!" he growled. "There is no way of knowing what lies behind that door!" he finished sternly.

"Oh, right. Sorry Darling," she said apologetically, "I was just…" she began.

"I know, Love. Stand back now, I'll go first," he said gently pulling her to one side. "Potter?" he said and gestured for Harry to fall in behind him and Harry obediently did as he was instructed.

Severus turned the knob and eased the door open and cautiously stepped into the room. He walked slowly about inside investigating the room's contents for a few moments before returning to the doorway.

Satisfied that there was no immediate danger from merely entering the room, he motioned for Harry and Melodia to join him.

They entered the room and beheld many shelves filled with items of all types. There were pictures, vases, statues of all sizes, and many more assorted hidden away tapestries. Some of them were very old and dusty, while others were shiny and newer looking.

Harry noted that they would all be very valuable, and smiled to him self, as he imagined the greedy look on Mundungus Fletcher's face if he could see this.

"Do not touch anything," Severus said firmly. "If either of you see something resembling the Spittoon alert me immediately."

They both agreed and began carefully searching the items.

The search took much longer than they had anticipated. Not being able to touch and move things about made it all the more difficult.

Suddenly, Harry called out, "Professor! I think I've found it!"

In the floor just inside the doorway along the wall, sat a gorgeous silver spittoon. It indeed bore the design of the Slytherin Shield, and was shining as if it had been recently polished.

Severus quickly appeared at Harry's side and studied the object for a long moment as he had the locket at Grimmauld Place. With outstretched arms, he gently pushed Harry and Melodia behind him.

He knelt before the Spittoon and murmured the same incantation that Harry had heard him use with the locket. This time, however, he was a bit more audible with his delivery.

With his eyes closed, concentrating intently he said "Acclaro arma securitas."

He reached down and lifted the Spittoon from the floor and held it in his hand. Severus didn't notice anything particularly suspicious about it, but he had a strong feeling that this was indeed the object they had searched for.

"Is that it, Professor?" Harry asked anxiously.

"It seems that it is," Severus answered thoughtfully.

Neither of them noticed the slight movement beneath Snape's grasp.

Harry stepped closer to Severus and asked cautiously, "May I see it?"

Severus considered Harry's request then answered, "Of course, but you must proceed with caution. I am not certain how long my counter curse will last," he warned as he handed the Spittoon to Harry.

Melodia stepped closer as well, and stumbled again, catching Severus's arm suddenly. Her instability rocked him slightly and he turned hastily to embrace her.

"Loddie, you are worrying me, Love," he said sternly. "Are you certain that you feel well enough to continue?"

She laughed softly, "Of course I do, Shaggy. I just think all of this excitement is getting to me at last," she said matter-of-factly.

"OW! Argh!" Harry exclaimed. Both Severus and Melodia turned to him as he dropped the Spittoon to the floor with a loud 'BANG' and sank to his knees.

"What the…" Severus began, just before a movement on the floor beside the Spittoon caught his attention. It was the very snake that had previously adorned the Slytherin Shield. He quickly removed his wand from his robes and forcefully exclaimed, "Excetra Evanesco!"

With a fiery burst of color and a short sizzle, the snake as well as the Spittoon evaporated. Realizing what must have happened he knelt beside Harry

"Potter, where did it bite you?" Severus asked frantically.

"Uh…here," Harry managed weakly as he pointed to the flesh between his thumb and forefinger. His eyes became glassy, and he slumped backwards in to Melodia's waiting arms, fumbled for his wand but could not manage it.

"It hurts, I mean…it…really…hurts," he said through tears of agony. He was growing weaker by the second, and wanted desperately to do nothing more than close his eyes and sleep.

"NO! Harry, stay with us!" Melodia cried shaking him roughly. "You must stay awake!" She looked to Severus pleadingly for support.

"POTTER! HARRY!" Severus called loudly in a forceful tone, "YOU HEARD MELODIA! YOU MUST NOT SLEEP!" he paused to search Harry's face for a sign of coherence. "POTTER! DO YOU HEAR ME? FIGHT THIS! " He demanded again.

Harry struggled to keep his eyes open and acknowledge Snape's voice.

"I'm trying…"was all he could utter.

Snape gathered Harry into his arms, "Lace your arms around my neck, Potter," Severus instructed easily. "I'm taking you to Madam Pomfrey."

Harry didn't have the strength to obey Snape's order and he began to sob and tremble violently.

"I…c..can't..sir," he whimpered.

Hold onto him now, Shaggy, I will get us to the hospital wing quickly," said Melodia.

She rose to her feet as Severus cradled Harry in his arms and grabbed a handful of cloth from his robe.

"Adsurgo-cieo," she said in a commanding tone.

They rose into the air and floated from the room and straight down between the staircase to the first floor and into the hospital wing.

"Stay awake, Potter!" Severus all but shouted, "You cannot sleep now, fight it!"

Madam Pomfrey clutched her throat when she saw Snape carrying Harry into the ward.

"Good Lord! What has happened?" she asked frantically.

"Snake bite," Severus said as he pointed to the wound of Harry's hand.

"Snake bite?" she asked dumfounded, "but how…"

"DAMN IT POPPY! DON'T' JUST STAND THERE AND STUTTER! HE NEEDS ANTI VENOM! NOW!" Snape snarled irritably.

"Of…of course, Professor, she said shakily. In all of the years she had been here at Hogwarts, no one had never been spoken to her that way, especially not Severus.

He placed Harry on the nearest bed and turned to Melodia. His face was shadowed with concern and guilt.

"Stay with Harry, I will fetch Professor McGonagall and make sure there is enough Anti-Venom potion to last throughout the treatment," he said, more calmly.

Melodia nodded and watched as Severus swept out of the ward, clearly unnerved by this ordeal.

Harry was at last allowed to sleep when Severus was satisfied that the immediate danger had passed. The remainder of the afternoon was spent administering more of the potion to Harry, and waiting anxiously by his bedside.

After a time, the sun had set and darkness began to fall. Melodia yawned and leaned against Severus sleepily.

Professor McGonagall watched her closely, and noticed that Severus appeared to be exhausted as well.

"I should think that the three of you will spend the night here, Severus," she said almost as an order.

"Yes, Minerva. It appears that we should indeed," Severus answered respectfully.

"Horace is not here at this time, so please take Melodia to your quarters and I will have your meals waiting for you there. I will alert you only if Potter takes a turn for the worse," she advised him easily.

"Thank you, again, Minerva," he said softly as his hand swept his sleepy lady's back lovingly.

Melodia watched sleepily as McGonagall slipped quietly out of the ward.

"Will he be ok now, Shaggy?" Melodia asked wearily as she sat upright.

"Yes, I believe he will, Love," he answered as he took her into his arms.

Melodia slipped out of his arms then stood, leaned over Harry's bed and kissed him gently on the forehead.

"Good night, dear," she said soothingly.

Harry stirred but did not awaken. Melodia turned and took Snape's hand.

"Did Minerva say there was food?" she asked still yawning.

He laughed softly and buried his face in her hair, then whispered, "Yes, Darling. Come with me."

The dungeon was just as Melodia had remembered it. She looked about his classroom and office nostalgically. She walked to the front of his classroom just outside his chamber door, and turned to take a deep breath.

"Oh, Severus, how I have missed this place. After my parents were killed, I never thought I'd be happy anywhere ever again; but when Uncle Albus brought me here, I was completely at home. I love Hogwarts so very much," she said with a tear streaming down her cheek.

Severus pulled her into a loving embrace and stroked her auburn hair soothingly.

"I know, Loddie. I feel exactly the same way," he told her honestly. She looked into his dark eyes and smiled.

"I am so in love with you, Severus Snape! I have waited all of my life to be just where we are today, and I want you so badly right now, I could absolutely die," she said as she wrapped her arms about his neck and kissed him passionately.

He returned her kiss eagerly; all signs of hunger and fatigue had faded from them lost in the sudden burst of passion.

Severus lifted her and held her body against his and approached his chamber door.

She slid the length of his body and felt his desire build as her feet slowly touched the cold floor.

The door to his chamber closed behind them with a soft 'click' and he pulled her to him again and kissed her deeply. His tongue probed her mouth hungrily and she melted into his embrace. He lifted her again and she wrapped her legs around his waist and clung to him as if she would never him let go.

"Take me, Shaggy," she pleaded softly into his ear.

Severus quivered with delight at the feel of her fingernails stroking his back gently. Her warm breath tickled the flesh under his earlobe. His hands held her bottom gently to steady her weight as he pushed her back into the closed door of his chamber.

Using his long fingers, he slid the hem of her robe up slowly.

"I love you, my little cat," he breathed raggedly as his now free hands began to unbutton her robe and then the blouse she wore underneath it.

She allowed her fingers to entwine the lovely long hair at the base of his neck as his mouth found her neck and breasts. Melodia moaned in anticipation of his love and trembled at the feel of his large smooth hands and mouth on her flesh.

"Dear God, Severus," she gasped when his hands found her love and slid again to massage her buttocks.

She closed her eyes as he entered her easily and cried out his name when brought her to climax repeatedly.

At last she collapsed against him, shuddering madly and he carried her to his bed.

He placed her upon it and lay beside her completely exhausted.

"That was wonderful, Darling," she gasped and snuggled against his body.

"I agree, my darling girl," he said softly before sleep overtook them both.