On Tuesday, as they have spoken, Annelyse remained behind. Selena was getting along better with the Gryffindors that Katherina had asked her to supervise - so well, in fact, that she had begun preferring their company over that of other Slytherins. On the other hand, Anna didn't blame her much. Blaise kept trying to approach her and he didn't fear the company of his housemates, though if Selena was among Harry and his friends, the situation changed. For this reason alone, Anna had labeled him as weak and cowardly, even if she didn't voice her opinion.
Katherina and Draco seemed oblivious to those dynamics. Blaise was hanging out with them probably because they were generally seen as powerful figures at Hogwarts - the natural behavior of a coward. The Malfoys were doing well, or so she heard. Balthazar Blackwood was losing one business after the other, probably six or seven that spring. This infuriated him and made him wish to announce their official engagement sooner. Lucius Malfoy seemed hellbent on throwing Balthazar Blackwood out of Diagon Alley.
Once the laboratory had emptied, Snape walked to her and set a form on her desk, along with her notebook that she had forgotten by her nearly finished poison in the library.
"Fill this in truthfully, and if your answer shall be affirmative, you know where to find me."
Anna nodded and gathered her things, along with the form. "Of course, sir."
He watched her leave. It was lunchtime and he was also expected in the Great Hall, as usual. Snape gathered the report on the missing ingredients he had rewritten overnight to cover Annelyse's attempt at brewing perhaps the least dark of poisons, along with a letter intended for Lucius. He was going to justify being late with the report while informing Lucius that he was indeed following his recommendations and that if needed, he should be ready to force Siberius Rosier into his place.
Secretly, Severus had taken an interest in the Angel's Trumpet Draught the first time he heard about it. The poison was unusual in its effects, only causing severe drowsiness and a strong desire to rest. Once sleep takes over, the brain is filled with the most pleasant hallucinations, while the heart slows and the nervous system breaks down from the peripheric nerves to the spinal.
The antidote is much simpler than the poison itself, but what makes it so lethal is that the symptoms are difficult to detect. The chances are that if one were to be poisoned in a room full of people, they would be dead on a sofa while everyone thought they were simply drunk and slumbering. Even if the situation was recognized and an antidote provided, the nerve damage remained permanently, depending on how fast the poison had taken effect and if it had been once or twice distilled.
He had found it perfect for assassination. It was subtle and efficient, while its traces disappeared from the body in as little as half an hour after death. It also had the benefit that if the victim did manage to survive, they would be likely no longer able to fight back, walk, or even communicate properly. It had been suspected of having been used many times through history, but rarely ever proven.
The thought stayed with him as Severus made his way to the Great Hall. Annelyse said she intended on drinking the poison herself, but what if she didn't? Or what if she had some last-minute change of heart and decided to give it to her father instead? Snape admitted to himself that's what he would have done in her situation, but he couldn't encourage the girl to commit murder.
It would have made everything much easier, though... Just a few drops of the Angel's Trumpet Draught slipped by accident in his afternoon tea, or lacing his whiskey, or perhaps, double distilled, sprayed on his pillow for him to inhale...
"You are late," Flitwick pointed out the time as Snape had finally sat down.
"How observant. I wonder what I'd do without you pointing out the time." Sarcasm dripped off his words as he extended a file past Flitwick, nodding towards Dumbledore.
The headmaster took it. "Is this the...?"
"Yes, as you requested," Snape said briefly.
"I understand you regret this, but Mr. Rosier's decision follows everyone's thought, I believe," Flitwick tried to bring up the topic. "In another three years, based on her O.W.L. results, you know, nobody would question anything, but right now? It's dubious, to say the least."
Snape tried to ignore Flitwick. He had been acting as if the dwarf didn't exist ever since he had been forced to give up his apprentice - that, of course when Flitwick did not provoke him to the point where he would actively ruin his day.
"Severus, this is getting childish, pardon my expression-"
That was it. Snape threw his colleague a sideways glare.
"It strikes me as awfully convenient that Pomona has taken Longbottom to be her apprentice without any formalities, yet it seems that cannot be repeated for the House of Slytherin... Longbottom is also in his second year, is he not? One would be tempted to think that Longbottom being a Gryffindor may have influenced your collective consciousness, although we all know that would be scandalous and detrimental to everyone, so we must rule it out for the sake of the... greater good, was it?"
Flitwick found himself swallowing his words yet again and keeping his eyes on his plate. He knew Snape wasn't exactly the forgiving type, but he felt even worse to be on the receiving end of his anger. Although he spoke evenly and calmly, there was certain anger hidden by his perfect poker face, boiling just below the surface. Sprout tried to sweeten the atmosphere, along with Dumbledore, but Snape seemed determined to ignore them all. Perhaps he shouldn't have been the one to inform Snape of Rosier's intentions...
In truth, Severus didn't mind that it was Flitwick who delivered Rosier's message. What he couldn't stand was that Flitwick had deliberately informed Rosier about the situation. The dwarf even had the nerve to admit it to his face without him having any need to search his mind for answers - and felt no remorse for that!
Annelyse wasn't present enough to participate in the discussion between Katherina and Draco. Once again, Selena preferred to sit with the Gryffindors. Blaise had planted himself next to Anna, occupying the seat that had belonged to Selena. She would have been perfectly happy to remain her quiet self throughout lunch and then head to Charms class undisturbed, ready to prove to Professor Flitwick that she didn't neglect his subject, despite treating it with minimal interest. Of course, that would have been too nice...
Fuming over some argument between her and Katherina that was more than likely to involve Draco, Pansy aimed a pie towards Katherina right as Anna stood up to leave. The dark-haired girl had time only to see something flying at her fast, gasp, and close her eyes in anticipation. Yet, before the inevitable impact, there was a flash of light green light, then the pie suddenly stopped, breaking into pieces, cherry filling running to the ground.
Silence filled the Great Hall as everyone turned to look at her. Pansy was hiding behind some other Slytherins, hoping none of the professors had noticed it came from her. Katherina stopped mid-laugh, trying to understand what happened. Draco thought he recognized something, but... could it be, really? Anna's wand was still tucked inside her sleeve and her level of skill didn't allow her such fast magical performances, especially wandlessly and nonverbally. Annelyse noticed all eyes on her and shifted hers to the ground.
"What was that?" Blaise broke the silence. "How'd you do it?"
In lack of an answer, Anna stepped over the mess gracefully. "Excuse me," she mumbled as she hurried out of the Great Hall.
The professors also began talking in low voices so that the students won't be alarmed. It had clearly been the effect of some protective charm or spell, but Rosier didn't seem aware of it. In fact, she looked... confused.
Snape stood up as the students were beginning to grow agitated. "Silence!... Who threw the pie?" It had clearly come from another Slytherin and since it was his house, he found it his responsibility.
The Slytherin table was petrified in horror. They each looked at each other, a small group having seen Pansy, but uncertain if they should tell Snape about it.
"Do I need to repeat the question? Who threw the pie?" he asked again, slowly articulating each word.
Katherina elbowed Draco. "I'm going to tell him! What could possibly happen? He's on our side!"
The blond kept her seated by holding her arm. "You're not! We can handle this without Snape!"
"That was aimed at me," the girl protested.
"Shh!" Draco hushed her.
As this went on for a few minutes, Anna had stopped at the girls' bathroom. What exactly was that...? She wished she knew the answer to Blaise's question. The girl stared herself in the mirror - dark blue eyes framed by little red veins, dark circles, pale skin, lips thin and white - possibly out of fright. There was no doubt in her mind the entire school was going to speak of this. As she felt her thoughts becoming disorganized, she repeated her ritualistic phrase that she had always used - Calm down! Panic was a luxury she couldn't afford.
Analyzing herself a bit longer, Anna realized she was wearing two new items - well, mostly new. She had a dress fit for the spring weather, as she had grown comfortable wearing those instead of the usual skirt and sweater, and she had the mysterious gift placed for her in the Slytherin common room before the Secret Santa exchange.
She took out the locket that she had received before Christmas and looked at it. It had been resting underneath her clothes for months by then, not being taken off once. The feeling of the silver locket hanging between her breasts was so familiar that holding it in plain view caused her mild discomfort. Its weight helped her remain calm during her most tense moments.
Her dress was clearly not enchanted, as the designer was a squib who had created it especially for her. Not wanting to break the spell, a thought crossed her mind - what if she tried to open the locket? Carefully, she held it in her hand and tried to move its lid for the first time.
Thinking about it... she would have been surprised if it did open. It smelled of dried herbs and ashes, and ever since the moment she first saw it, she has had the undeniable desire of wearing it. Finally realizing what a treasure she has been keeping over her chest all this time, a warm smile spread across her lips.
Later that day, after Charms class was over, the girl excused herself in front of her housemates that she would be in the library. In fact, she strayed from her path to see Professor Snape again, this time her volunteer application filled and signed. The door to his study opened for her as it used to do during the first semester.
Much to her surprise, the room was empty. Feeling a little uncertain, she took a few steps and looked around to make sure that indeed, she was alone. It felt odd being there without Snape. Still, the girl assumed he would be there soon and so, she walked to his desk. Her chair was still there, just as she had left it a few months ago. A pile of books was neatly prepared and waiting for the professor, the coasters were absent, and there was one note waiting for her.
'I may be late. Place the form in the middle drawer of my desk. Feel free to commence the study of your next year's Potions textbook. I have marked the titles that should interest you. -S.S.'
Was this... trust? Well, obviously, there had to be a certain level of trust between a master and an apprentice, although she had never gone through his things before and it would have felt wrong to do so now, especially in his absence. However, it was his handwriting on the note...
Despite everything, she decided to cast Revelio on the note just to make sure there was no trap set in place to test her loyalties. When she saw that nothing had changed, Anna went ahead and followed the instructions. The textbook was on the desk as well - the top one of the pile. Upon opening it, she immediately noticed that it was signed in black ink, in very similar handwriting to the one on her Christmas present note - light strokes, rounded characters.
'This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince'
Thinking it was probably some joke a child had placed on a library book, the girl took it with her as she sat on the sofa. There were little messy stars or snowflakes drawn in front of certain potions marked on the contents page, so she used those as a guide.
Author's notes:
Thank you for your constant support, Ghostwriter71. I hope to hear from you again soon.