The charm
30th June 1997
Severus Snape felt numb. He wanted to feel something, anything, but at the same time, he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to deal with his own emotions. He increased the speed of his pace. If there was no way to avoid the meeting, it was better to face them as soon as possible. He glanced at the Death Eaters. He knew he must be quite famous by now.
After all, he'd killed Dumbledore, Voldemort's nemesis. "He must have found it", the Potions master thought.
Severus tried to keep his guilt under control, seeing how this was the worst place for such thoughts. If he were to fail, everything would be in vain: Lily's sacrifice, Dumbledore's death, and every other sacrifice that would come. He was glad that the Dark Lord was used to his habit of saying little and enjoying being left alone.
His gaze stopped on a new face. She smiled when she noticed his confusion. There was something about her that made him wonder what she was doing there. She was like a tiny poppy in a field of wheat.
The comparison was unrealistic, though. None of the Death Eaters carried the golden beauty of a summer harvest, nor the nobility of its very nature. However, she was just like a poppy. Delicate, desirable, and beautiful. Her scarlet lips were tempting and intimidating at the same time. Red on her milky skin. They reminded him of blood on an ocean of snow.
He tried to read her feelings, but her face was as cold as ice. Even her cat-like eyes let him see nothing but coldness. What he'd thought was a warm smile proved to be a smirk. There was nothing warm inside that marble goddess.
She stood up in order to welcome him. He saw that she was wearing a very daring red dress. Her marble skin contrasted with the colour of the dress, completing the picture of a beautiful demon. From the line of her dress up to her neck, her ivory skin was covered by a translucent veil. Here and there, scarlet snakes danced over the blood sea of her veil.
Another big, silver snake hold still her rebel, brown curls which otherwise would have concealed half of her back as well as her mesmerizing shoulders. As it was, her hair lay still on her left shoulder.
He stopped. She was beautiful indeed, but he found her hollow. Severus was undoubtedly aware that behind that perfect mask, was lying a monster. He couldn't explain how he knew, but he had hardly ever judged someone wrongly.
"You must be Severus." The mysterious woman addressed him in a voice that revealed neither interest nor curiosity. It was clear to him that she was only trying to be polite. Her voice was as emotionless as each of her gestures was. If it weren't for the colour of her dress and her scarlet lips he might have thought that she was the daunting Snow Queen from the story his mother used to tell him while he was only a child. An old book she must have found somewhere in the old attic of the house they'd used to call home.
Severus allowed his feelings to break his concentration, but it was only for a short time. He knew where he was, and so he returned to his cold posture once again.
"Excuse her, Severus," Voldemort spoke in the sweetest tone he could master. Severus knew it was only faking it. The Dark Lord was only pleased that he'd gotten rid of Dumbledore. It was stupid to think he cared for someone.
The memory of Dumbledore made him sink into an ocean of grief. He couldn't allow himself that privilege. He had to stay firm and play this game.
He didn't bother to say more than necessary. He turned towards the Dark Lord as he invited Severus to have a seat at the spot he'd reserved for his 'honored guest'. Severus would have rather been somewhere else. Anywhere, but not around the Dark Lord and his cronies. He wondered how he had ever been able to find pleasure in being around these people. Thinking back, he had never enjoyed that life. But it was better than being alone. Even as a Death Eater, his only pleasure was to create spells or to brew some potions. He had felt that only success would make him feel appreciated, so he did his best to be successful.
He sat down. To his surprise, the girl in red tried her best to get a chair next to his, but the Dark Lord didn't seem happy about her childish attitude.
"Viper, let him alone. He prefers more intellectual company." To Severus' surprise, the girl didn't seem offended by his comments. It was normal for those around the Dark Lord to keep their mouths shut, but she didn't seem afraid of Voldemort, either.
"Maybe, she's really stupid. Just a pretty, stupid girl." Severus considered the possibility. However, something didn't click. He sensed it was something about her. She wasn't ordinary. "What is she doing to me?" He wondered as he realized the strong effect she had over him. It was like she'd put him under a spell or something. Much as he struggled he couldn't focus on something else. So, Severus was glad when she finally sat down on her chair, far from him, defeated.
"She's Viper. Our beautiful guest as you can see for yourself." The Dark Lord started his speech. His voice carried the pride a hunter must have felt when shooting one of those very rare breeds. "However, she's so much more than her looks…." As he spoke the words, Viper stood up and climbed on the huge table. All eyes were on her and she seemed to enjoy it.
She was hardly tall, but her high-heel shoes and the goddess-like posture made up for it. As she stood there, above all Death Eaters, she looked tall and imposing. She smirked at Bellatrix, the latter clearly unimpressed by her show.
Viper took a deep breath. Suddenly her body started to change its form. It was a mixture of colours and patterns dancing into a whirlpool which later took the shape of a long, dark ribbon. Severus realized that it wasn't a ribbon, but a huge snake. The snake watched him with mesmerizing eyes and then she slowly crawled toward him until her head was close to his face. She kept watching him.
"What do you think?" Voldemort asked with a hint of pride in his voice. "She is special, indeed." The Dark Lord was very pleased with his acquisition. So were most of the Death Eaters.
The Dark Lord clapped his hands to show his admiration and soon the others followed his example. Dolohov was thrilled. "Bravo", his strong voice echoed in the huge dining room.
The snake put some distance between herself and the other Death Eaters and then her body changed again. She was once more the mesmerizing girl. Her hair was a bit ruffled, but the rebel ringlets made her look even more attractive.
A few Death Eaters stood up to help her get out of the table. She ignored them and offered her hand to Severus Snape. He looked at her hand confused.
"Will you help me get down from here?" She inquired impatiently and a bit offended by his ignorance.
"So, she can be furious." Severus noticed. Despite his desire to avoid her, Severus stood up and took her hand. It seemed so small compared to his. She smiled as she noticed the way he studied it, but she still didn't get down. Instead, she waited to have his complete attention.
"You should take me in your arms. I can't jump from here. I'm going to break my legs if I try." She explained to him as if he was a child. He was speechless. He hadn't thought she wanted him to carry her down from that table.
"You can use my chair to go down."
"But it won't be fun that way, will it?"
"You can handle yourself. I don't know why I've bothered with you." He answered annoyed and he sat down. She stood there shocked.
"So, you won't help me." She said surprised.
"No. I have better things to do."
"It seems our beloved friend doesn't enjoy your company, Viper." Voldemort laughed. "I can't disagree with him. I hope that at least some of the news is true, though. I want Amberrose."
"Of course, My Lord. She's at the hotel. I'll send her to you as soon as I get there." She promised. "Why don't you send Severus with me so I can give him the cat?" Viper suggested. She was really stubborn, Severus realized. It would be a true challenge to get rid of her.
"Severus?" The Dark Lord questioned Severus, but everyone knew it was an order not a question.
"If the Dark Lord requests my service, I will gladly serve him." Internally, though, he cured Viper and her stupid plan to drag him in whatever business she was involved in.
"It seems she's not that stupid since she found a way to make me go with her. But it will be in vain. I'm not going to give her more attention than will absolutely be necessary." He promised
"I don't doubt your loyalty to me, Severus. You have already proven to be a valuable servant to me. I won't forget that."
"Thank you, My Lord."
"I want that cat today and I know none more qualified than you to deal with such a responsibility. She's not an ordinary cat. I suppose you are aware of it" Severus nodded. "Good. Let's enjoy the celebrations."
Not everybody was enjoying the show. Lucius was definitely horrified, though he did not dare to disagree with his master, so he was among those who had applauded. Bellatrix, however, did not mind showing her jealousy or whatever had caused her to be so against Viper. Narcissa followed the example of her husband and urged Draco to do the same.
"We should send her to the Ministry, shouldn't we, Pius?" added Yaxley. The Death Eaters burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Viper got close to Dolohov and Yaxley who were still standing, willing to help her, reached out both her hands and put her right hand on Yaxley's shoulder and on Dolohov's with her left. Having her hands on the men's shoulders, she jumped down the table. Everybody laughed while the two were taken by surprise.
"You can't resist my charm, can you?" Viper addressed the two. It was such confidence in her voice that for a moment the two felt like two little puppies. She laughed. Dolohov took her hand and studied it for a while.
"No woman can compare with a pureblood." He declared. "Look at her. She's a true goddess. Not like those filthy Mudbloods." Viper made a tiny bow in front of them.
"I don't understand why those Mudbloods are still alive." Fenrir Greyback muttered in his savage way.
"I guess I haven't answered Yaxley's remark." Viper remarked. " If My Lord desires so, I will go to the Ministry." She accompanied her words with a bow. Yet, it did it in such a way that it didn't make her look less noble. "Though, I don't think Mrs. Umbridge will enjoy my company." The Death Eaters laughed again.
"You should start to weak pink and replace your snake necklace with a cat." Yaxley joked. Even Voldemort seemed to enjoy the remark.
"Nice remark, Yaxley. However, Viper is a snake, not a flamingo." The Dark Lord laughed. "I prefer you here, Viper. There's enough space here. You don't need to live in a hotel."
"Thank you, My Lord." She bowed again. "If My Lord has someone in his mind, I'll be honored to get rid of the filthy Mudbloods."
"I will do that, My Lord." Bellatrix volunteered.
"I can take care of it myself, Bella." Viper threw at her.
"I will go with her." Dolohov volunteered.
"Don't you trust me?" She addressed the Death Eaters. "So, who are those Mudbloods I'm supposed to kill?"
"Fine. Consider it my test for you, Viper." Voldemort decided to intervene. "Who should it be, Lucius?"
Lucius was caught unprepared. He'd hoped that the Dark Lord would forget about him and would finally let him be. Viper smiled at him, enjoying the terror she read on his face. She didn't bother to hide the satisfaction.
"The Mudbloods from Hogwarts." Lucius barely muttered. Draco was shocked. He tried to hide his feelings, but Viper's glance met his eyes and he knew he was doomed.
"I don't think it's worth the effort. It's not quite wise to get into a war with the professors. Not yet." She emphasized the last words. "Pretty soon we are going to gain control over Hogwarts and then, My Lord, you will be able to kill those Mudbloods yourself. Yet, I can send them a message. Their parents are as vulnerable as a baby is."
The Death Eaters agreed with her answer. Draco was terrified. Yet he couldn't help throwing a furious glance towards his father despite Narcissa's attempts to calm him.
Severus felt sick. If Nagini wasn't enough, he had to endure the presence of this monster. He was certain that Viper was nothing but a bloody monster. For the rest of the night, he tried not to look at her.
"Pretty soon we will have Hogwarts under our command. I hope you'll enjoy the school's long halls. You've never been there, have you?"Voldemort asked her
"No, My Lord." She answered, bowing again.
"You'll have the chance. Today, bring me the cat."
"Yes, My Lord." She bowed again.
He was glad when he could finally leave that horrible place. Severus knew that the castle wouldn't be the same. He wouldn't be the same. He would have to pretend that he was proud of killing Dumbledore, pretend that he'd done it for power. It had to be done.
Viper had left a few minutes before he did. She had tried to get his attention several times during the dinner, but Severus was glad when she finally gave up.
As he left, he noticed her turning into that monstrous snake and climbing gracefully to the top of a tree. She crawled along one of the branches where a small bird had built her nest. The poor bird was desperate when it noticed the snake. Severus hoped that Viper would slip and fall, but she was very skilled and she made her way to the nest. He wanted to use his Sectumsempra on her, but he knew it would be stupid. He would have to explain his actions later. He couldn't tell the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters that he'd cursed Viper because she was trying to eat a bird. So he left. It was just another soul he wouldn't be able to save that day…
Andreas slowly opened the door that led to Amberrose's chambers. The place was too quiet and empty without her. He studied the surroundings. It was exactly how he remembered it: full of books and pictures.
Even without Amberrose a small part of her was still present in that room. Andreas' eyes wandered along dozens of photos, beautifully framed and scattered along the numerous oak shelves of books. She was looking at him from all those photos, beaming at the camera. He'd never acknowledged how mesmerizing she used to look back then, her amazing outfits magnifying her dainty beauty while revealing her queenish allure. He, eventually, stopped in front of a very old picture of a young couple and a five-year-old girl. The man was dressed in a military uniform and he wore it with pride and confidence.
"He fought in World War I" Andreas remembered Amberrose's words. "He'd survived the hell of the Verdun and Somme. He almost died that day. Instead, he'd met my mother, a French lovely nurse…a strong-willed woman who went against the prejudices and hatred towards the men who'd invaded her country and saw in the wounded soldier a young man alone in a foreign country. "
Amberrose was right to say her mother was beautiful, Andrew realized as he analyzed the image. She looked fragile and delicate as a spring flower, but there was so much determination in her eyes. Andrews wondered what the colour of those amazing eyes was. He'd never asked Amberrose. In fact, he had the slightest idea what colour Amberrose's eyes were either.
"Even if it wasn't common for women to go to university, she'd made it to Sarbona only her plans to be ruined by the war. She could speak German fluently as she'd always enjoyed the German authors and wanted to be able to read their works. So, she understood his desperate calls when everybody kept ignoring them. By God's will and with the help of my mother, he went home on his feet. But her memory accompanied him in the long journeys he made after that day.
He returned after the war. He looked for her. She'd finished university by the time they met again and…they married in a small village in Austria and eventually moved there.
And that's me." Andrew remembered vividly her words. "Their little angelic demon." She joked. "really. I was a very naughty child. Curious, intelligent, full of beans. It couldn't have been easy for them. They loved me so much.."
"I hardly remember them. I don't know if the memories I have about them are real or if I've been imagining them during the time. I don't know what type of people they were. I only have that feeling of immense love. A love none else has ever given me. And security… No matter how strong I've become during the years, I've never relieved that sense of security their company used to provide me with."
The room seemed hollow and cold without her. The lilies from the vase had started to wither and dust was already dancing over her piano. Andreas felt his hand trembling on the old photo he'd unconsciously taken into his hands. He hurried to put it back for fear he'd break the frame. He tried his best to prevent the sorrow that had gathered in his heart from conquering the rest of his body, but he was fighting a lost battle already.
"Here you were." He heard Brunhild's voice. He slowly turned towards her, hoping she finally brought news about Amberrose. "It might be a childish bedtime story," she started "but if it's real..the Snake Lady...she's" Brunhild stopped as she handed him a book. "not human" He took the book and looked over the page she'd indicated him. "I've found it in Amberrose's office." She explained.
"Were she a demon, I'll find her and make her pay for everything." Promised Edgar who had been watching them from a corner of the room. He'd been there before Andreas entered and he'd stood there while his friend wandered lost through the empty room.
"She won't escape." Allan joined them.
"But we can't leave this place. We've promised her we would take care of OZD and its staff." Brunhild reminded them.
"No, we can't," the others agreed with her. "But none of us knows what tomorrow may bring."
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Maybe, you can find some time and leave me a few lines to know how it made you feel.
Thanks for reading! Stay safe! Until next time!