Part 7:
Severus and Lily stared at each other, neither willing to give an inch. In the back, Septina was slumped against the wall.
The words they'd both spoken hung in the air. Neither twin dared to put into words the thoughts that danced through their minds. All words were useless to describe them. All words were necessary to describe them.
Finally, Septina broke the tense silence. Her voice sounded far away from them, drained of all life or energy. "A shadow that follows behind every light. The night that follows day. A hiss, a myth, a whisper in the dark. We are what our father made us. What our mother created. Darkness brought to life."
"Demons?" Lily's hand rose to cover her throat unconsciously, fear rising in her eyes. It would've been amusing had not the gesture reminded them of what Lucius had said to them both.
Severus shook his head, a slight gesture. "I suppose one could call us that for we are not totally human. Sirius Black was right about that." He stopped, unable to believe he'd said that. "And it galls me to admit that he could be correct about anything."
"So, then are you angels?" She asked, sitting on the piano bench. In the back of her mind, she wondered if they could play the instruments she could make out in the gloom of the room. "It would explain your ability to move so soundlessly."
"What are angels, Lily?" Severus asked. His intense, curious gaze focused solely on her.
"Something I learned of in the muggle world. They are heavenly beings or messengers. In times of trouble, they help out through various means. I prefer to think of them as guardian spirits." She sighed, shaking her head. "Since you don't know about them, I can guess you aren't."
"No. Helping people is not high on our list of priorities." He was wry.
Lily was puzzled. "That doesn't make sense. Last night you told me that you were trying to prevent a threat from rising. Now you are saying that helping others isn't a concern? You can't have it both ways, Sev."
"We want to stop the threat because we want no part in a dark world, we like the gray. If humankind benefits from our machinations, is that our fault?" He was slightly defensive.
The redhead shook her head, hiding a smile. "Fine. So, all you put yourself through it to spare yourselves. Got it. One of these days you two are going to have to admit that you care, then what are you going to do?"
"Why we'll turn ourselves into Azkaban and spare the wizarding world the sight of our demoralizing efforts to be compassionate human beings." He was blunt. "Of course."
"Of course." Lily rolled her eyes, then happened to look at Septina. "Are you having trouble?"
She didn't answer. To be more precise, she didn't respond to anything. Not the cold in the room or the voices that she heard.
A chill of dread raced through him. Severus quickly went to his sister, feeling her rapid pulse. "I should have suspected this would happen." He cursed himself for blundering blindly into this. Visions were nothing to be toyed with.
Septina was not breathing easily, it was coming in harsh gasps. But she was unaware of it as she stared into the flames, mesmerized by them. There was a hollowness and empty feeling inside her, it was eating away at her soul. Feeling the touch of her brother roused her somewhat and she turned to face him, seeing only a dark form floating at the edges of her consciousness.
Another warm touch forced her concentration to turn once more. Lily was holding her other hand, the green eyes were worried. Giving into the pull, she closed her eyes. Turning away from them, she started to tear herself to pieces, searching for the oblivion inside. A sharp slap opened them and dark eyes met.
One was worried. The other was an endless well of misery. "Septina." His voice was harsh, trying to reach her. Before anything else could be said, the eyes of his sister took on a haunted look. Then he felt the presence to.
He jerked up and grabbed Lily, pulling her towards a closet. Before he shut the door, he hissed. "Be quiet. Stay down. And, if you value your life and sanity, don't move!"
The door closed just as a chill swept through the room. Lily curled up on the floor in a tight ball and looked under the door frame, barely breathing.
The fire place flared up briefly with flames before going out. A figure emerged from the fireplace, immaculate. Eyes as dark as night burned in the shadowy face as they darted around the room. Like a hawk's, they pounced on Septina. A resounding slap echoed in the still room. She dropped to the ground. Lily winced, imagining the pain.
"You denied a vision, girl." The voice was quiet, matter of fact.
"I did." No excuse was apparent in her voice, nor were there any plea for leniency.
Crack!
Her brother joined her on the ground. Twin marks formed on their faces. Hideously bright on their pale faces.
"You let her." The voice never rose above a whisper. Yet it was clearly heard in every corner of the room. Lily shivered but was unable to turn away from the sight.
"I did." Also resigned, seeking no escape.
The staff in the pale hands shifted lightly back and forth, swinging over their heads. "I am very disappointed in you both."
The sudden blow sent them back against the stone wall. Lily struggled against her impulse to run out and rescue them. She was horrified by the violence being enacted before her eyes. Her lip was raw as she bit down on it to keep from screaming every time that staff hit the twins. The two were strangely quiet and seemed to welcome the pain. It was hard to see the same proud students she had come to know in these supplicant figures who accepted the beatings.
Finally, it was dropped to the ground. Sauron sat in the chair, waiting with his head in his hands. It was almost as if he didn't recognize his own actions towards them. The two crawled slowly to him and rested their heads against his cloak.
"Forgive us, master." They begged in raspy tones, faces bowed to the ground. The strain of holding back their screams of anguish was obvious.
"Why did you do it?" He asked, giving them no hint to the state of his emotions. "You must've known what the consequences of such actions would be." But his hands left his face and stroked their hair and they leaned into the touch, feeling the slight pressure of his magic travel through them.
"We did." Again they spoke in unison, then Septina looked up at him. "But we were in class and had no other option. It was deny or reveal ourselves."
"It must have been an important vision to come at such a time." He scolded, fingers gently smoothing the marks that he'd created. "It might even have been the one I have longed for." With each stroke, he took their pain into himself and felt renewed.
She whispered, shame coloring her voice. "I know not what it is that you seek there. But I did sense that it has awakened."
Hands lifted her up off the ground and pulled her onto the lap. She found herself staring into his inky black eyes. "It?" He questioned, a smile slowly crossing his thin lips.
Sev was startled by the sight of his sister on their master's lap, held like a child. "What she was able to see was good?"
Dark eyes turned to him and he released her again, settling her against his side. Gesturing for Sev to sit on his other side, he linked his hands together. "It is better than good. It is what I have waited these long years to hear."
"I have pleased you?" It was a desperate question. Septina had never known one of her visions to please anyone.
"Very much." His eyes glowed with an unknown light. "So much that I will grant you the use of my powers until your own have had a chance to recharge." Taking her hands in his, he gently opened his mind and poured some strength into her. And she opened herself to it, feeling it fill her.
Severus felt the power surge even as he saw the dark light surround the two as the exchange was begun. Without warning, his mark began to burn fiercely. Septina also tensed, feeling the burn of the mark though her father's pull was stronger. A green light tried to breech the dark light and all three felt the pain of Voldemort's call. But only Sauron had the strength to pull away.
Pulling his sister into his arms, he was shocked by her shaking. Sauron's hands clenched tightly, anger tightening his features. "Did any of that reach her or did he leach it?"
The dark haired boy closed his eyes and focused. Even though he had watched as the green light was deflected, he had to be sure she was all right. Diving down into his sister's center he found it, pulsing brightly in the inner recesses of her soul. He breathed a sigh of relief, meeting his father's eyes. "Its there."
"All of it?" The venomous intensity scared Severus-though he'd never admit it. "Are you absolutely sure of this?"
"Yes." His answer to both questions was unequivocal.
Sauron stood up and turned away from them. Bending down, he picked up his staff. "Find a healer you can trust. But tell them nothing."
"Of course." Severus was indignant. "You think I would betray you?"
He didn't answer his son's question, though his hand ruffled the dark hair. The hand drifted to his daughter's, stroking the pale and bruised face before going to the fireplace. "If she should have another vision in class, share the pain between you. That will allow the vision to happen but will dilute the pain faster."
"Yes, father." He was quiet.
Sauron waited for a moment, his shoulders then straightened as he came to a decision. "Don't answer any summons from him unless you feel you should."
The emphasis was deliberate and Severus nodded, stroking Septina's hair. With one last, remorseful look at his children, the dark wizard disappeared. A fire flamed up behind him and warmed the room.
Lily waited for a few moments, waiting for someone to let her out. When it became obvious that Sev had wasn't going to, she stood up and opened the door. "Who was that horrible creature?" It was barely a whisper but seemed to echo loudly in the room.
Severus jerked at the sound and looked up at her, his eyes wide with fright.
She realized that he hadn't momentarily put her out of his mind for her safety, he really had forgotten that she was there. Frowning slightly, she pulled out her wand and performed the few healing spells she'd learned. As she did so, he seemed to come out of his catatonic state and she made to take Septina from him.
"No!" He screamed, moving away from her.
"Severus, its me." She soothed, trying to pry his arms off of his sister's injured body. "Lily, I'm your friend."
"Lily?" Childlike, his eyes were studying her now. But he wasn't letting her get any closer.
Her hands rested on her hips, impatient with his behavior. "Severus Snape, you let Septina go right now. Now is not the time to be acting like a baby." There was no softness in her voice now. It was brisk and seemed to do the trick better than being calm and quiet.
Ever so slowly, her voice reached him. He seemed to be coming back from wherever he'd escaped to. When his eyes met hers again, they were cognizant. "Lily?" He asked again, no longer in a voice she didn't recognize.
"Welcome back." Her voice was slightly scathing. "Now, hand her over."
He seemed strangely reluctant to do so, though he believed she was who she said she was. But her determination was a palpable thing and he let go. Across her pale face, the flames danced.
Not wasting another moment, Lily's wand moved briskly over the body. She assessed the damage and went about repairing it. Much to her surprise, she found that she could do it easily. The flow of power was greater than anything she'd expected or experienced.
Severus himself was surprised by the power he felt from her. I must remember to check into the bloodlines of her family, he thought. A mudblood wizard should not be able to house this kind of power. Come to think of it, most pureblooded wizards wouldn't either.
Septina jerked up, pulling him out of his thoughts. Her eyes opened and she choked, spitting out dried blood and mucus. "Sev, you've got to go to Voldemort's gathering. Father may not want you there, but he may need someone to watch his back. Voldemort is being rather rash with him."
"No surprise there. Where?" He asked, quickly covering his wounds. With a quick gesture, he brought forth a cup of steaming chocolate with a little whiskey in it.
She accepted the cup from him, answering. "Hogsmead. It would be best to go by the air trail. Are you going to be able to concentrate?"
He nodded, sending her a scornful look. Then he left quickly, feeling the pressure his father was under.
Lily sighed and sat behind Sept, after cleaning up the mess. Using her position, she massaged her friend's sore back. "You're a psychic?" She asked quietly, still trying to figure out what they were.
"Not really." Septina answered, going on because she heard Lily's exasperated snort. "I can see things that can be changed. Every once in a while I see something that can't be changed but only in conjunction with something that can. In all the years that I've been cursed with this gift, I have never seen anything for the sake of seeing it. And before you ask, no. I cannot conjure one up."
"It's the Death Eaters, isn't it?" Lily asked, digging her nails into a particularly tight spot.
The girl relaxed for a moment before speaking again. "Severus will get there in time."
The knowing sound in her voice stopped Lily's hands. "What do you mean?"
"Lily, this has happened before." She turned to face her friend. "It has happened to Sirius Black, that is one of the reasons he despises us. Bad things seem to happen wherever we are. He may be right to fear us. Maybe you should listen to him."
"Oh."
Septina had an amused smirk on her face. "Is that all you can say? Here Severus and I both tell you that Black may be correct about us and all you can say it oh? I'm impressed by your grasp of the English language."
"For now it will do." She temporized. They fell silent, listening to the fire crackling.
"Would you like to see what is going on?" She finally asked. Her gut was twisting nervously. If Lily hadn't been there, she'd have been watching the events raptly. Though she knew that her brother could handle anything that was thrown at him, she still worried.
Lily's eyebrow rose in shock. "You can do that?"
Gesturing towards the flames, she smiled slightly. "If you trust me enough not to pull you in or let whatever violence may be happening hit us, I can project it in there."
The Gryffindor shivered. "No offense but I'll take a rain check."
"All right. Did you read the book?" She asked, changing the subject. If she couldn't watch her brother, she needed to concentrate on something else.
"Some of it."
"How much did you understand?"
"I understood the part about how you need to be focused on what you are doing. That you must be dedicated to what you are doing. But it really doesn't seem to be much different from white magic."
The dark eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Lily, no one would sees the dark arts as just another form of magic. Tell me, what do you know about your family line?"
"Not much." She answered, leaning against the wall. "I didn't even know there were wizards in the family until I got my letter inviting me to Hogwarts."
The Slytherin chewed her lip, studying her. "How odd. Are you serious?" Why am I echoing myself?
Lily nodded, eyes curious. Septina was looking at her in much the same manner that Severus had earlier. He probably thought she hadn't noticed because she was intent on her healing but she had. Little escaped her attention lately.
Something about her tickled her mind and she remembered what Sev had been thinking earlier. "Do you trust me enough to let me see into your mind?"
"What are you going to do?" She asked, ignoring the question for the moment.
"I'm going to trace your family line. There's something odd about you." Septina mused. Lily knew her well enough to take no offense at the comment. "And I don't just mean the fact that you trust us. We trust you. Well, as much as we can."
"Will it hurt?"
"No. You'll feel a little tingle, unless you fight against it." Septina soothed.
"All right."
Her eyebrow rose in question. "Don't you think you should think about it?"
"No. I trust you."
"I should've remembered the famous Gryffindor courage. Always rush into a fire, even when everything else screams to get away from the flames." She muttered, moving into what is commonly referred to as Indian style seating.
Lily slid closer, mimicking Septina's position. "Just get it over with, Sept."
"Give me your hands and look straight at me." She instructed, then warned. "And whatever you do, don't break eye contact."
"I understand."
Her look was dead serious. "I hope you do."
Hogsmead:
A dark bar somewhere on the edge of town.
Sauron strode into the room, knocking the death eaters to the ground. The very air trembled with his power and his rage.
"How kind of you to come, but why are you here, Sauron?" Voldemort asked, proud that he didn't stumble over his words.
Without glancing at the fallen wizards, he marched up to Voldemort, fury darkening his eyes to black jets of light. The staff swung up and crashed down, shooting lightening out at the stunned wizard. "Did you think that I would allow you to interfere, Tommy?" He asked, slamming the staff into his throat. This time the pain was applied directly to him.
His followers slowly rose, prepared to defend their lord. A quick gesture from Sauron flattened them against the wall. From somewhere, he felt Severus enter the room and hold them in place. Reminding himself to thank his son later, he concentrated on the man before him.
"You will keep your nose out of my children's lives." He snarled. His anger lent strength to his attack and Voldemort jerked again as pain washed through him in waves. "And before you open your mouth and let something asinine escape from it, I don't care if they are marked. They are *mine*. You keep your grasping hands off of them."
Slowly, very slowly, he let Voldemort drop to the ground.
"You can't protect them forever, Sauron." He wheezed, trying to stand up.
With contempt in his voice, Sauron looked at him. "Soon, I won't need to." Turning sharply, he walked to Severus. "You may let them go. I'm sure they will not harm us."
They dropped to the ground. "Yes, sir." Severus followed after him, wondering what his words meant.
"And Severus," He rested a hand on his son's shoulder. "Thank you."
His eyes widened in shock. Of all the things he'd expected to hear, that was not one of them. "You're welcome." They walked in silence until they reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest where they parted.
Voldemort glared at their backs, wishing he could incinerate the wizard. "One of these days you'll go to far, Sauron. I will have what I want." He vowed. "And I will use your children to get it."
Forbidden Forest:
Severus watched his father leave before preparing to depart himself when he heard a cry. Without a thought, he followed the mournful sound until he came to a clearing. On the ground, tangled in a web of snares, was a phoenix. Sev slowly walked out and made sure that he was seen. "May I be of some assistance?"
The most radiant bird he'd ever laid eyes on, just looked at him pitifully.
Making sure he was not startling the creature, he knelt down as close as he dared to the vines that snared it. With a trembling hand, he slowly touched the head. The bird leaned into his touch, nuzzling his palm. Severus almost stopped, he was so surprised. "I hate to leave you here alone but I need to get Hagrid. He'll know what to do."
The bird tilted his head, studying him. He chirped.
"I know. Its almost curfew and I've always been a stickler for some rules. Oh, well. Serving detention didn't kill my sister, it shouldn't kill me." Sev ended on a laugh. "And I can't believe that I understand you."
Chirping again, the phoenix tried to flap her wings. She was delighted that he could talk to her.
"Don't do that." He soothed. "You'll just get more tangled up."
A soft cry.
"You'll be all right." Sev said, using his wand he started a little blaze. The vines crept closer to the light, loosening a little bit from the trapped bird. His hand never stopped its ministrations.
Chirping, the bird gestured to the flame.
Severus nodded, understanding the message. "I agree with you. But I shouldn't be starting fires here without supervision. I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise. Maybe you should dim your flame a little, that way it wouldn't cling so to you."
A chirp of agreement, the bird did was he recommended. Then watched as the boy slowly rose and disappeared into the dark woods.
He ran straight to Hagrid's hut, never able to tell anyone just how he'd found it in the dark. He pounded on the door, hoping the half-giant was in. "Hagrid! I need help." He called.
"You shouldn't be out here so late, Mister Snape." Hagrid said as he opened the door. Fang sniffed the boy suspiciously before deciding he was okay and went back to the fire.
"Never mind that. There's a phoenix in the forest. She's trapped by some vines. We need to get her out." He was panting heavily as he spoke. "Come on."
"A phoenix you say? In the forest?" He asked, disbelief on his normally open face. "Are you drunk?"
"No." Severus said, hurt by the accusation. "I am completely lucid."
"But there aren't any phoenixes in these parts-except for Professor Dumbledore's. And he wouldn't let Fawkes out of his sight if he thought there was any danger."
"Hagrid, just come with me." He was practically pleading. "This bird is in trouble."
"All right. I'll get my coat." Hagrid reluctantly agreed to go, suspecting some kind of trap. Wasn't this student in Slytherin?
"Thank you." He waited patiently for Hagrid and they traveled together, Fang at their heels to where he'd left the bird.
Hagrid's eyes widened when he saw the phoenix in the snares. She started to move with happiness when she saw them. He nodded approvingly when Severus went up and knelt by the bird, soothing her again. "I've brought help. See? Hagrid will know just what to do."
"Well, I see you've got the right idea." He said, gesturing towards the tiny flame. "Now, how about we get her out of there. I want you to start eight medium sized fires in these places." Hagrid walked around and marked the eight spots.
Severus shrugged. It didn't occur to him that he should ask why Hagrid didn't do it and did exactly what he was told to do. The vines moved towards the flames, releasing the phoenix slowly. He whispered to the bird and she doused her flames completely. Almost immediately, the vines jumped away from her.
"Don't let her take off just yet. She isn't safe." Hagrid counseled.
"Not yet, little one, they could still trap you." Severus soothed, reaching over the moving vines to stroke her head. "What are those things, Hagrid?" He asked, still in a soft voice.
"They're kind of counter to devils' snare." He answered, keeping a wary eye on the things. "Some herbologist decided it would be a good idea to have a counter to it. Unfortunately, the idea didn't work the way he'd planned."
"I see." Sev watched the snares. "What are we going to do once they've curled around the fires?"
"When I give the word, you will turn the flames to ice." He said.
"Won't that kill them?"
"Yes." Hagrid said, his voice serious. "I don't like it much but that stuff's dangerous. Imagine if it found it way around one of the students."
Severus shivered. He may not like most of the student body of Hogwarts but he would never wish them harm. Well, except Black. Then shook his head, I want to be the one to hurt him, he thought.
"Now, boy." Hagrid ordered. Without a thought, Severus killed everyone of the flames. The vines turned black, curled in on themselves, and were gone in a heartbeat.
The bird rose to the sky with an exultant cry, leaving a fiery trail behind her.
Sev watched her, a tiny smile on his face. "Farewell." He said softly, just a whisper on the breeze.
"Come on, we've got to get you to Professor Dumbledore. Fang! Leave those alone." He barked at the dog who was scratching away at the dead plants.
As they walked into the clearing, the bird descended and landed on Severus' shoulder. Dumbledore was standing at the entrance. "Ah, I see you've found Fawkes and a wandering student, Hagrid. Good work."
"I didn't. He did." Hagrid blushed at the compliment and pointed to Severus.
"That explains why she has attached herself to you." Dumbledore smiled at the Slytherin. "Well, come in. Your sister and Lily are in the kitchens having dinner, you may join them."
"Yes, sir." He started to walk past him, but turned to face him. "About my detention?"
"We'll forgo it because of the circumstances, my boy." Albus watched him go, the bird still on his shoulder. "What do you think about him, Hagrid."
"I don't know what you mean, sir. He's a student."
The blue eyes turned to him. "Yes, you do know what I mean, Hagrid."
Hagrid scratched his head. "Well, your bird likes him, that's good enough for me. Why?"
"No reason. Good night, Hagrid." He walked into the school.
"Good night, Professor Dumbledore."
Severus walked into the kitchen and saw the two girls right away. Fawkes studied Septina and nodded her approval.
"What's with the phoenix?" She asked her brother, stroking it softly.
"She's attached herself to me." He sat down and started to put food on his plate.
Lily was quiet, she waited until Severus had some food in his stomach before speaking. "So, are you going to tell me what it means to be of the Pendragon?"
Severus and Lily stared at each other, neither willing to give an inch. In the back, Septina was slumped against the wall.
The words they'd both spoken hung in the air. Neither twin dared to put into words the thoughts that danced through their minds. All words were useless to describe them. All words were necessary to describe them.
Finally, Septina broke the tense silence. Her voice sounded far away from them, drained of all life or energy. "A shadow that follows behind every light. The night that follows day. A hiss, a myth, a whisper in the dark. We are what our father made us. What our mother created. Darkness brought to life."
"Demons?" Lily's hand rose to cover her throat unconsciously, fear rising in her eyes. It would've been amusing had not the gesture reminded them of what Lucius had said to them both.
Severus shook his head, a slight gesture. "I suppose one could call us that for we are not totally human. Sirius Black was right about that." He stopped, unable to believe he'd said that. "And it galls me to admit that he could be correct about anything."
"So, then are you angels?" She asked, sitting on the piano bench. In the back of her mind, she wondered if they could play the instruments she could make out in the gloom of the room. "It would explain your ability to move so soundlessly."
"What are angels, Lily?" Severus asked. His intense, curious gaze focused solely on her.
"Something I learned of in the muggle world. They are heavenly beings or messengers. In times of trouble, they help out through various means. I prefer to think of them as guardian spirits." She sighed, shaking her head. "Since you don't know about them, I can guess you aren't."
"No. Helping people is not high on our list of priorities." He was wry.
Lily was puzzled. "That doesn't make sense. Last night you told me that you were trying to prevent a threat from rising. Now you are saying that helping others isn't a concern? You can't have it both ways, Sev."
"We want to stop the threat because we want no part in a dark world, we like the gray. If humankind benefits from our machinations, is that our fault?" He was slightly defensive.
The redhead shook her head, hiding a smile. "Fine. So, all you put yourself through it to spare yourselves. Got it. One of these days you two are going to have to admit that you care, then what are you going to do?"
"Why we'll turn ourselves into Azkaban and spare the wizarding world the sight of our demoralizing efforts to be compassionate human beings." He was blunt. "Of course."
"Of course." Lily rolled her eyes, then happened to look at Septina. "Are you having trouble?"
She didn't answer. To be more precise, she didn't respond to anything. Not the cold in the room or the voices that she heard.
A chill of dread raced through him. Severus quickly went to his sister, feeling her rapid pulse. "I should have suspected this would happen." He cursed himself for blundering blindly into this. Visions were nothing to be toyed with.
Septina was not breathing easily, it was coming in harsh gasps. But she was unaware of it as she stared into the flames, mesmerized by them. There was a hollowness and empty feeling inside her, it was eating away at her soul. Feeling the touch of her brother roused her somewhat and she turned to face him, seeing only a dark form floating at the edges of her consciousness.
Another warm touch forced her concentration to turn once more. Lily was holding her other hand, the green eyes were worried. Giving into the pull, she closed her eyes. Turning away from them, she started to tear herself to pieces, searching for the oblivion inside. A sharp slap opened them and dark eyes met.
One was worried. The other was an endless well of misery. "Septina." His voice was harsh, trying to reach her. Before anything else could be said, the eyes of his sister took on a haunted look. Then he felt the presence to.
He jerked up and grabbed Lily, pulling her towards a closet. Before he shut the door, he hissed. "Be quiet. Stay down. And, if you value your life and sanity, don't move!"
The door closed just as a chill swept through the room. Lily curled up on the floor in a tight ball and looked under the door frame, barely breathing.
The fire place flared up briefly with flames before going out. A figure emerged from the fireplace, immaculate. Eyes as dark as night burned in the shadowy face as they darted around the room. Like a hawk's, they pounced on Septina. A resounding slap echoed in the still room. She dropped to the ground. Lily winced, imagining the pain.
"You denied a vision, girl." The voice was quiet, matter of fact.
"I did." No excuse was apparent in her voice, nor were there any plea for leniency.
Crack!
Her brother joined her on the ground. Twin marks formed on their faces. Hideously bright on their pale faces.
"You let her." The voice never rose above a whisper. Yet it was clearly heard in every corner of the room. Lily shivered but was unable to turn away from the sight.
"I did." Also resigned, seeking no escape.
The staff in the pale hands shifted lightly back and forth, swinging over their heads. "I am very disappointed in you both."
The sudden blow sent them back against the stone wall. Lily struggled against her impulse to run out and rescue them. She was horrified by the violence being enacted before her eyes. Her lip was raw as she bit down on it to keep from screaming every time that staff hit the twins. The two were strangely quiet and seemed to welcome the pain. It was hard to see the same proud students she had come to know in these supplicant figures who accepted the beatings.
Finally, it was dropped to the ground. Sauron sat in the chair, waiting with his head in his hands. It was almost as if he didn't recognize his own actions towards them. The two crawled slowly to him and rested their heads against his cloak.
"Forgive us, master." They begged in raspy tones, faces bowed to the ground. The strain of holding back their screams of anguish was obvious.
"Why did you do it?" He asked, giving them no hint to the state of his emotions. "You must've known what the consequences of such actions would be." But his hands left his face and stroked their hair and they leaned into the touch, feeling the slight pressure of his magic travel through them.
"We did." Again they spoke in unison, then Septina looked up at him. "But we were in class and had no other option. It was deny or reveal ourselves."
"It must have been an important vision to come at such a time." He scolded, fingers gently smoothing the marks that he'd created. "It might even have been the one I have longed for." With each stroke, he took their pain into himself and felt renewed.
She whispered, shame coloring her voice. "I know not what it is that you seek there. But I did sense that it has awakened."
Hands lifted her up off the ground and pulled her onto the lap. She found herself staring into his inky black eyes. "It?" He questioned, a smile slowly crossing his thin lips.
Sev was startled by the sight of his sister on their master's lap, held like a child. "What she was able to see was good?"
Dark eyes turned to him and he released her again, settling her against his side. Gesturing for Sev to sit on his other side, he linked his hands together. "It is better than good. It is what I have waited these long years to hear."
"I have pleased you?" It was a desperate question. Septina had never known one of her visions to please anyone.
"Very much." His eyes glowed with an unknown light. "So much that I will grant you the use of my powers until your own have had a chance to recharge." Taking her hands in his, he gently opened his mind and poured some strength into her. And she opened herself to it, feeling it fill her.
Severus felt the power surge even as he saw the dark light surround the two as the exchange was begun. Without warning, his mark began to burn fiercely. Septina also tensed, feeling the burn of the mark though her father's pull was stronger. A green light tried to breech the dark light and all three felt the pain of Voldemort's call. But only Sauron had the strength to pull away.
Pulling his sister into his arms, he was shocked by her shaking. Sauron's hands clenched tightly, anger tightening his features. "Did any of that reach her or did he leach it?"
The dark haired boy closed his eyes and focused. Even though he had watched as the green light was deflected, he had to be sure she was all right. Diving down into his sister's center he found it, pulsing brightly in the inner recesses of her soul. He breathed a sigh of relief, meeting his father's eyes. "Its there."
"All of it?" The venomous intensity scared Severus-though he'd never admit it. "Are you absolutely sure of this?"
"Yes." His answer to both questions was unequivocal.
Sauron stood up and turned away from them. Bending down, he picked up his staff. "Find a healer you can trust. But tell them nothing."
"Of course." Severus was indignant. "You think I would betray you?"
He didn't answer his son's question, though his hand ruffled the dark hair. The hand drifted to his daughter's, stroking the pale and bruised face before going to the fireplace. "If she should have another vision in class, share the pain between you. That will allow the vision to happen but will dilute the pain faster."
"Yes, father." He was quiet.
Sauron waited for a moment, his shoulders then straightened as he came to a decision. "Don't answer any summons from him unless you feel you should."
The emphasis was deliberate and Severus nodded, stroking Septina's hair. With one last, remorseful look at his children, the dark wizard disappeared. A fire flamed up behind him and warmed the room.
Lily waited for a few moments, waiting for someone to let her out. When it became obvious that Sev had wasn't going to, she stood up and opened the door. "Who was that horrible creature?" It was barely a whisper but seemed to echo loudly in the room.
Severus jerked at the sound and looked up at her, his eyes wide with fright.
She realized that he hadn't momentarily put her out of his mind for her safety, he really had forgotten that she was there. Frowning slightly, she pulled out her wand and performed the few healing spells she'd learned. As she did so, he seemed to come out of his catatonic state and she made to take Septina from him.
"No!" He screamed, moving away from her.
"Severus, its me." She soothed, trying to pry his arms off of his sister's injured body. "Lily, I'm your friend."
"Lily?" Childlike, his eyes were studying her now. But he wasn't letting her get any closer.
Her hands rested on her hips, impatient with his behavior. "Severus Snape, you let Septina go right now. Now is not the time to be acting like a baby." There was no softness in her voice now. It was brisk and seemed to do the trick better than being calm and quiet.
Ever so slowly, her voice reached him. He seemed to be coming back from wherever he'd escaped to. When his eyes met hers again, they were cognizant. "Lily?" He asked again, no longer in a voice she didn't recognize.
"Welcome back." Her voice was slightly scathing. "Now, hand her over."
He seemed strangely reluctant to do so, though he believed she was who she said she was. But her determination was a palpable thing and he let go. Across her pale face, the flames danced.
Not wasting another moment, Lily's wand moved briskly over the body. She assessed the damage and went about repairing it. Much to her surprise, she found that she could do it easily. The flow of power was greater than anything she'd expected or experienced.
Severus himself was surprised by the power he felt from her. I must remember to check into the bloodlines of her family, he thought. A mudblood wizard should not be able to house this kind of power. Come to think of it, most pureblooded wizards wouldn't either.
Septina jerked up, pulling him out of his thoughts. Her eyes opened and she choked, spitting out dried blood and mucus. "Sev, you've got to go to Voldemort's gathering. Father may not want you there, but he may need someone to watch his back. Voldemort is being rather rash with him."
"No surprise there. Where?" He asked, quickly covering his wounds. With a quick gesture, he brought forth a cup of steaming chocolate with a little whiskey in it.
She accepted the cup from him, answering. "Hogsmead. It would be best to go by the air trail. Are you going to be able to concentrate?"
He nodded, sending her a scornful look. Then he left quickly, feeling the pressure his father was under.
Lily sighed and sat behind Sept, after cleaning up the mess. Using her position, she massaged her friend's sore back. "You're a psychic?" She asked quietly, still trying to figure out what they were.
"Not really." Septina answered, going on because she heard Lily's exasperated snort. "I can see things that can be changed. Every once in a while I see something that can't be changed but only in conjunction with something that can. In all the years that I've been cursed with this gift, I have never seen anything for the sake of seeing it. And before you ask, no. I cannot conjure one up."
"It's the Death Eaters, isn't it?" Lily asked, digging her nails into a particularly tight spot.
The girl relaxed for a moment before speaking again. "Severus will get there in time."
The knowing sound in her voice stopped Lily's hands. "What do you mean?"
"Lily, this has happened before." She turned to face her friend. "It has happened to Sirius Black, that is one of the reasons he despises us. Bad things seem to happen wherever we are. He may be right to fear us. Maybe you should listen to him."
"Oh."
Septina had an amused smirk on her face. "Is that all you can say? Here Severus and I both tell you that Black may be correct about us and all you can say it oh? I'm impressed by your grasp of the English language."
"For now it will do." She temporized. They fell silent, listening to the fire crackling.
"Would you like to see what is going on?" She finally asked. Her gut was twisting nervously. If Lily hadn't been there, she'd have been watching the events raptly. Though she knew that her brother could handle anything that was thrown at him, she still worried.
Lily's eyebrow rose in shock. "You can do that?"
Gesturing towards the flames, she smiled slightly. "If you trust me enough not to pull you in or let whatever violence may be happening hit us, I can project it in there."
The Gryffindor shivered. "No offense but I'll take a rain check."
"All right. Did you read the book?" She asked, changing the subject. If she couldn't watch her brother, she needed to concentrate on something else.
"Some of it."
"How much did you understand?"
"I understood the part about how you need to be focused on what you are doing. That you must be dedicated to what you are doing. But it really doesn't seem to be much different from white magic."
The dark eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Lily, no one would sees the dark arts as just another form of magic. Tell me, what do you know about your family line?"
"Not much." She answered, leaning against the wall. "I didn't even know there were wizards in the family until I got my letter inviting me to Hogwarts."
The Slytherin chewed her lip, studying her. "How odd. Are you serious?" Why am I echoing myself?
Lily nodded, eyes curious. Septina was looking at her in much the same manner that Severus had earlier. He probably thought she hadn't noticed because she was intent on her healing but she had. Little escaped her attention lately.
Something about her tickled her mind and she remembered what Sev had been thinking earlier. "Do you trust me enough to let me see into your mind?"
"What are you going to do?" She asked, ignoring the question for the moment.
"I'm going to trace your family line. There's something odd about you." Septina mused. Lily knew her well enough to take no offense at the comment. "And I don't just mean the fact that you trust us. We trust you. Well, as much as we can."
"Will it hurt?"
"No. You'll feel a little tingle, unless you fight against it." Septina soothed.
"All right."
Her eyebrow rose in question. "Don't you think you should think about it?"
"No. I trust you."
"I should've remembered the famous Gryffindor courage. Always rush into a fire, even when everything else screams to get away from the flames." She muttered, moving into what is commonly referred to as Indian style seating.
Lily slid closer, mimicking Septina's position. "Just get it over with, Sept."
"Give me your hands and look straight at me." She instructed, then warned. "And whatever you do, don't break eye contact."
"I understand."
Her look was dead serious. "I hope you do."
Hogsmead:
A dark bar somewhere on the edge of town.
Sauron strode into the room, knocking the death eaters to the ground. The very air trembled with his power and his rage.
"How kind of you to come, but why are you here, Sauron?" Voldemort asked, proud that he didn't stumble over his words.
Without glancing at the fallen wizards, he marched up to Voldemort, fury darkening his eyes to black jets of light. The staff swung up and crashed down, shooting lightening out at the stunned wizard. "Did you think that I would allow you to interfere, Tommy?" He asked, slamming the staff into his throat. This time the pain was applied directly to him.
His followers slowly rose, prepared to defend their lord. A quick gesture from Sauron flattened them against the wall. From somewhere, he felt Severus enter the room and hold them in place. Reminding himself to thank his son later, he concentrated on the man before him.
"You will keep your nose out of my children's lives." He snarled. His anger lent strength to his attack and Voldemort jerked again as pain washed through him in waves. "And before you open your mouth and let something asinine escape from it, I don't care if they are marked. They are *mine*. You keep your grasping hands off of them."
Slowly, very slowly, he let Voldemort drop to the ground.
"You can't protect them forever, Sauron." He wheezed, trying to stand up.
With contempt in his voice, Sauron looked at him. "Soon, I won't need to." Turning sharply, he walked to Severus. "You may let them go. I'm sure they will not harm us."
They dropped to the ground. "Yes, sir." Severus followed after him, wondering what his words meant.
"And Severus," He rested a hand on his son's shoulder. "Thank you."
His eyes widened in shock. Of all the things he'd expected to hear, that was not one of them. "You're welcome." They walked in silence until they reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest where they parted.
Voldemort glared at their backs, wishing he could incinerate the wizard. "One of these days you'll go to far, Sauron. I will have what I want." He vowed. "And I will use your children to get it."
Forbidden Forest:
Severus watched his father leave before preparing to depart himself when he heard a cry. Without a thought, he followed the mournful sound until he came to a clearing. On the ground, tangled in a web of snares, was a phoenix. Sev slowly walked out and made sure that he was seen. "May I be of some assistance?"
The most radiant bird he'd ever laid eyes on, just looked at him pitifully.
Making sure he was not startling the creature, he knelt down as close as he dared to the vines that snared it. With a trembling hand, he slowly touched the head. The bird leaned into his touch, nuzzling his palm. Severus almost stopped, he was so surprised. "I hate to leave you here alone but I need to get Hagrid. He'll know what to do."
The bird tilted his head, studying him. He chirped.
"I know. Its almost curfew and I've always been a stickler for some rules. Oh, well. Serving detention didn't kill my sister, it shouldn't kill me." Sev ended on a laugh. "And I can't believe that I understand you."
Chirping again, the phoenix tried to flap her wings. She was delighted that he could talk to her.
"Don't do that." He soothed. "You'll just get more tangled up."
A soft cry.
"You'll be all right." Sev said, using his wand he started a little blaze. The vines crept closer to the light, loosening a little bit from the trapped bird. His hand never stopped its ministrations.
Chirping, the bird gestured to the flame.
Severus nodded, understanding the message. "I agree with you. But I shouldn't be starting fires here without supervision. I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise. Maybe you should dim your flame a little, that way it wouldn't cling so to you."
A chirp of agreement, the bird did was he recommended. Then watched as the boy slowly rose and disappeared into the dark woods.
He ran straight to Hagrid's hut, never able to tell anyone just how he'd found it in the dark. He pounded on the door, hoping the half-giant was in. "Hagrid! I need help." He called.
"You shouldn't be out here so late, Mister Snape." Hagrid said as he opened the door. Fang sniffed the boy suspiciously before deciding he was okay and went back to the fire.
"Never mind that. There's a phoenix in the forest. She's trapped by some vines. We need to get her out." He was panting heavily as he spoke. "Come on."
"A phoenix you say? In the forest?" He asked, disbelief on his normally open face. "Are you drunk?"
"No." Severus said, hurt by the accusation. "I am completely lucid."
"But there aren't any phoenixes in these parts-except for Professor Dumbledore's. And he wouldn't let Fawkes out of his sight if he thought there was any danger."
"Hagrid, just come with me." He was practically pleading. "This bird is in trouble."
"All right. I'll get my coat." Hagrid reluctantly agreed to go, suspecting some kind of trap. Wasn't this student in Slytherin?
"Thank you." He waited patiently for Hagrid and they traveled together, Fang at their heels to where he'd left the bird.
Hagrid's eyes widened when he saw the phoenix in the snares. She started to move with happiness when she saw them. He nodded approvingly when Severus went up and knelt by the bird, soothing her again. "I've brought help. See? Hagrid will know just what to do."
"Well, I see you've got the right idea." He said, gesturing towards the tiny flame. "Now, how about we get her out of there. I want you to start eight medium sized fires in these places." Hagrid walked around and marked the eight spots.
Severus shrugged. It didn't occur to him that he should ask why Hagrid didn't do it and did exactly what he was told to do. The vines moved towards the flames, releasing the phoenix slowly. He whispered to the bird and she doused her flames completely. Almost immediately, the vines jumped away from her.
"Don't let her take off just yet. She isn't safe." Hagrid counseled.
"Not yet, little one, they could still trap you." Severus soothed, reaching over the moving vines to stroke her head. "What are those things, Hagrid?" He asked, still in a soft voice.
"They're kind of counter to devils' snare." He answered, keeping a wary eye on the things. "Some herbologist decided it would be a good idea to have a counter to it. Unfortunately, the idea didn't work the way he'd planned."
"I see." Sev watched the snares. "What are we going to do once they've curled around the fires?"
"When I give the word, you will turn the flames to ice." He said.
"Won't that kill them?"
"Yes." Hagrid said, his voice serious. "I don't like it much but that stuff's dangerous. Imagine if it found it way around one of the students."
Severus shivered. He may not like most of the student body of Hogwarts but he would never wish them harm. Well, except Black. Then shook his head, I want to be the one to hurt him, he thought.
"Now, boy." Hagrid ordered. Without a thought, Severus killed everyone of the flames. The vines turned black, curled in on themselves, and were gone in a heartbeat.
The bird rose to the sky with an exultant cry, leaving a fiery trail behind her.
Sev watched her, a tiny smile on his face. "Farewell." He said softly, just a whisper on the breeze.
"Come on, we've got to get you to Professor Dumbledore. Fang! Leave those alone." He barked at the dog who was scratching away at the dead plants.
As they walked into the clearing, the bird descended and landed on Severus' shoulder. Dumbledore was standing at the entrance. "Ah, I see you've found Fawkes and a wandering student, Hagrid. Good work."
"I didn't. He did." Hagrid blushed at the compliment and pointed to Severus.
"That explains why she has attached herself to you." Dumbledore smiled at the Slytherin. "Well, come in. Your sister and Lily are in the kitchens having dinner, you may join them."
"Yes, sir." He started to walk past him, but turned to face him. "About my detention?"
"We'll forgo it because of the circumstances, my boy." Albus watched him go, the bird still on his shoulder. "What do you think about him, Hagrid."
"I don't know what you mean, sir. He's a student."
The blue eyes turned to him. "Yes, you do know what I mean, Hagrid."
Hagrid scratched his head. "Well, your bird likes him, that's good enough for me. Why?"
"No reason. Good night, Hagrid." He walked into the school.
"Good night, Professor Dumbledore."
Severus walked into the kitchen and saw the two girls right away. Fawkes studied Septina and nodded her approval.
"What's with the phoenix?" She asked her brother, stroking it softly.
"She's attached herself to me." He sat down and started to put food on his plate.
Lily was quiet, she waited until Severus had some food in his stomach before speaking. "So, are you going to tell me what it means to be of the Pendragon?"