Part 11:
Gryffindor Dorm:
"Lily." A soft voice called to the sleeping body. "Wake up, child. I must speak to you."
The eyelids fluttered for a moment before opening slowly, then widening in shock at the sight that greeted her. At the foot of her bed, floating gracefully in the air, was a tall, elegant woman with generous curves and laughing green eyes. Her hair was a long auburn brushed until it shone. Or maybe it was the glow from her ghostly light. "Who are you?"
"I have many names but the one that you would be familiar with is Morgaine le Fay. Although, I have some fairy blood within me, it isn't enough to rate that name." She sat down on the bed.
Lily leapt back against the headboard of her bed. Her eyes were wide as she realized just who this woman was. "You get out of here right now! I don't associate with betraying, lying, back-stabbing tricksters!" She railed, trying to come up with a plan to save everyone in the school from this vindictive creature before she figured out what the Gryffindor was planning.
"Calm down, child." Morgaine sighed. "I can see that you have been exposed to lies about me. Many of those stories were written by men who wanted to scare women into submission. There is no truth to the tales that Arthur was my enemy. Nor did I have his son. He was my brother, my friend."
Lily was slowly relaxing, listening to her. "Merlyn never trusted you." Still she doubted her words.
"Merlyn not trust me? What an absurd thought that is. I can just hear the laughter I'll get when I inform Merlyn of that fact. The necromancer was the wisest person I ever knew. A friend and teacher of mine. It is sad that the truth has been twisted over time." She sighed, becoming serious. "Lily, the second has been released and given to Voldemort by Septina Snape."
"Don't you start on her or about Severus." She snapped. "I have had just about enough insults, insinuations, and hate flung at them. It sickens me to think that you would judge them after what you have just told me about your own self."
The hand rose imperiously, silencing the younger girl. "If you would allow me to continue. I was going to say that it happened through no fault of her own. I admire your loyalty to your friend, it is truly a unique gift."
"Thank you." Lily was humbled by her compliment. "I am sorry."
"It is understandable after all you have gone through for them." Morgaine forgave her easily. "You have been under my eye for sometime."
"Why have you come now?"
"You need more than this school can teach you. I am here to guide you on your path towards your destiny, my dear niece."
"Niece?" Lily was startled.
"Yes. You descend from Arthur himself."
"He had no children save Mordred, the betrayer."
"Mordred was not a betrayer. A series of miscalculations lead to the final battle. He was the true heir of the throne and not illegitimate. Arthur's first wife bore him successfully, but died. Mordred was sent to me to raise because I had recently lost my infant daughter and had the milk to sustain him. It was on Arthur's orders. Being king, he had other concerns. One was the war he was fighting and could not spare the time to provide for him by remarriage." She explained.
"Oh, so that's where they got the idea that he was your son."
With a smile, Morgaine nodded. "It is nice to know that I was not underestimating your intelligence."
"You're going to teach me?"
"On the condition that you never tell anyone without my permission. By necessity, Albus Dumbledore knows what is happening. But then, this is his school. He is responsible for the welfare of his students. As your magic progresses rapidly, I'm sure that the twins will suspect something. You are to continue to learn the dark arts from Septina." She murmured to herself, her hand restlessly plucking at her gown. "An ill wind blows about her, it worries me. Her path is as cloudy as the one her brother must walk."
"Is nothing easy for them?"
"It is the life they were born for." Morgaine answered. "And now, I must go. You need to get some sleep, child. Tomorrow begins a new chapter in your life. A life which will tear you to pieces before it stitches you back together."
It was not, Lily thought reflectively, a comforting thought to sleep on.
Breakfast the Next Day:
"How are you, Narcissa?" Septina asked solicitously when the Slytherin girl moved to sit by her. "I heard about the unfortunate incident of yesterday."
"I'm all right." She said through tight lips. "Listen, Luc tells me that you had a vision regarding that bloody Evans girl. Is that true?"
"Quite true." It was said with a straight face, though she had no idea what Narcissa was referring to. It was true that she had seen something but whether it had anything to do with Lily, she wasn't so sure. But Narcissa didn't need to know that.
"Thanks." She was upset and stared at her food. "I'm not hungry." Narcissa stood up abruptly. Her response to Septina's inquiring gaze was sharp.
A few weeks later:
Septina watched her friend as she paled after a particularly difficult spell. "Lily, are you sure that this isn't to much for you?" Her hand rested on her friend's shaking shoulder.
"I'm fine." Lily spat at her, green eyes flashing fire up at her. "Stop hovering over me like I'm a child. I can do this."
The Slytherin jerked away, quickly disguising the hurt that entered her eyes. "I never said you couldn't, Lily." It was carefully neutral.
"I'm sorry, Sept. I'm just tired."
"Why? This term has been easier and with Quidditch canceled, you shouldn't be this tired."
A hand ran through red hair restlessly. "Recently, I came into some knowledge about myself. It actually came in the oddest way one night. I was awakened by..."
"Wait!" Her hand rose, something in Lily's voice made her wary of hearing this. "Is this something you are allowed to share?"
"Not really."
Her wand twitched and something appeared. She handed it to Lily, with a twisted smile. "This is a time turner, use it to accomplish all that you need to."
Lily turned it over, then looked at Septina. "I thought we weren't supposed to have one of these."
"Think of it as a gift." Sept saw her brother walking towards them. The look etched on his face was familiar, it had been there all to often recently. "I've got to go. Get some sleep."
The Gryffindor watched the pair disappear into the depths of the forest with a sigh. Where do they go?
"Trust me, dear, you don't want to know." Morgaine said softly. "Let's go."
Christmas Break:
Professor Dumbledore smiled brightly at the assembled, sleepy eyed students. They were in the dinning hall, some still dressed in sleepwear. "Good morning, students and visiting alumnus." He was to cheerful for the early morning hours. "I'm sure you're all wondering why you've been called down this morning."
"What does he take to make him so cheerful all the time?" Septina muttered grumpily to Lily. She was sitting between James and Sirius and could care less.
She answered after she finished yawning. "I think he was born that way."
"Then his parents should be punished for bringing him into the world." Sev grumbled, trying to go back to sleep.
"I'm with you." Sirius said, not even shocked at this. It was too early for him to disagree with anything either twin had to say.
"As the lucky students who are here this holiday break, and visiting older students, you will be experiencing the wonder of the stage." He paused, a twinkle in his eye that became more pronounced as he listened to the moans and grumbles of the students. "What is this? You aren't excited at the joys that await you as you tread the boards?"
"I think the collective answer to that is: no." Someone from Ravenclaw mumbled.
Dumbledore heard it and smiled even wider, proving that he could, indeed, became battier. "I have no doubt that once you've tried it, you'll never be the same. Rehearsals for our play-which has been randomly selected-will begin this afternoon. I was trying to decide the best method for choosing roles, therefore I decided the best way to do this is to see what you are capable of. So, each one of you will have the opportunity to try-out for any of the roles-or to give a speech if you don't want to risk repeating something another has done-after breakfast. Try-outs are mandatory, no exceptions will be made. Those who do not win major roles will work behind the scenes."
He turned to Professor MacGonagal. "Have I covered everything?"
"Except for what they are to be doing, perfectly." She replied tartly, tired like the students. "Now let the children eat."
Turning back around, he waved his wand and the food appeared, as well as the scripts. With little enthusiasm, they started to eat. There was even less enthusiasm as they reached for the scripts and began to read them.
Lily poked Severus gently. "Wake up, sleepy head. The food is here."
"And I don't want to eat your greasy hair." Sirius commented idly, but there was no venom in his voice.
"Shut up, Black." He mumbled. "Lily, I need a few more minutes of sleep to function." He stumbled over the word a few times, trying to remember what he was saying.
She ignored him and continued to prod him. "If I'm denied my rest, you have to suffer as well, my friend."
"Stop it, Lily. I'm up." He finally surrendered and sat up straight. Across the table, Septina was snoozing peacefully. With a wicked grin, his hand hit the space in front of her and she jumped up, startled. "Rise and shine, sunshine." The voice he used was deliberately cheerful.
"I'm going to kill you, Sev." She threatened, yawning. It wasn't much of a threat.
He smirked. "You'll have to do better than that, sister dear. You sound like Black."
Black looked at him and blinked. "Not today, Snape. My head hurts to much."
"Why? Have you been attempting to think?" Sev asked, reaching for the script.
"Sev, that would be as likely as you failing potions." Sept quipped, yawning.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Don't you guys ever let up?"
Severus was thoughtful, before he answered. "Sure. Never around you, but it has been known to happen."
James was silent, watching all of this with tired eyes. "Could you make an exception and let it go? I fear that if you don't, this play will be even more horrendous than it already is." Severus was about to reply, when the Gryffindor finished. "And I realize that you aren't part of my fan club, I'm asking this as a fellow tormented student."
Septina and Severus exchanged looks. "All right. But not because you asked, Potter. It is merely that you make sense."
"I wouldn't dare to presume otherwise." Dry.
Lily had been silent the whole time, studying the play. "Guys, the play is "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this book slightly violent?"
"It is but only near the end of the second part and there are some scenes in the third." Remus' reply was quiet, having just arrived at the hall. He had been the only one excused from Dumbledore's speech because Poppy had kept him under observation. "What did I miss?"
Quickly, they brought him up to date. "Nice that we're having a truce." Was his only comment.
Breakfast came to an end even though the students tried to prolong it, hoping that Dumbledore would give up this scheme. No such luck and Dumbledore once more addressed them. As he leaned against the table, he spoke. "I don't know how far you all got on your readings of the play, so I will tell you the basic story of "A Tale of Two Cities" is about. It begins in 1775 Mr. Lorry is sent to France to retrieve an old client, Doctor Manette. Along the way, Mr. Lorry picks up Lucie Manette, who learns that her father is alive but is not well after a long imprisonment. With the two is Lucie's faithful companion, Miss Pross. They go to the Dafarge's inn and find him a prematurely aged man who finds comfort only in making shoes. They take him back to England in the hopes of restoring him to life.
"Five years later, all three find themselves called to court as Charles Darnay, a man they met on their voyage home, is charged with treason due to secret trips back and forth across the channel. Lucie is called to testify and, through clever manipulations, gives damaging evidence against him. The case falters because Darnay bears a striking resemblance to one of the lawyers, a certain Sydney Carton. In the face of this evidence, the witness cannot clearly identify the prisoner, who is then acquitted. Both men, who have developed a fondness for Lucie, go out to dine and talk. It is revealed that Carton doesn't like Darnay, that he actually hates him. Darnay, while he would never come out and say it, obviously feels the same way. During a meeting at Stryver's house it is revealed that, while Carton may be a careless drunk, he is the sole reason behind Stryver's success in court.
"Back in France, the people experience devastating poverty and start preparing for revolution. These people use the name of Jaques to identify each other. We meet one example of the aristocracy in the Marquise St Evremonde when his carriage kills a child and he throws a few coins to the grieving father before driving off. At his chateau it is revealed that Charles is this man's nephew and sole heir. When his uncle is assassinated that night, he inherits everything but renounces it, wanting to retain his honor.
"Both Carton and Darnay had spent a lot of time calling on Lucie Manette, though only one is assured success. While Charles was talking to the doctor and gaining his permission to propose to Lucie, the lawyer was bearing his soul to her. He told her that, though his life was not something he could change, she has a special place in his heart. If ever she was in need, he would be there and would lay down his life for her or one she loved. After Darnay and Lucie wed, he sought assurance that he could come and go as he pleased, that he would never take advantage of the situation.
"In 1792, Darnay receives a plea from on old servant for help and leaves, without telling his wife of 11 years what is going on. Upon arriving he is arrested for being an enemy of the state. Lucie, along with her father and her daughter, goes to France, hoping that Mr. Lorry, who is there on business, can help them free Charles. But it is not Mr. Lorry's power who can free him, it is the wrongful imprisonment of the doctor that gives him the power to do so. On the day of the trial, Manette is able to secure an acquittal.
"But in the wings, a silent enemy has now awakened with the power to put an end to the Evremonde line. Madame Dafarge possesses papers that the doctor wrote, telling the story of what happened before he was taken. It is the story of a peasant family who was abused and died at the hands of the Evremonde brothers, save one daughter who was hidden away. That daughter is revealed to be none other than Madame Defarge herself. His words denounce the Evremonde family for all time. Charles is rearrested and convicted, using these words written by his father-in-law.
"Sydney Carton sets out to keep the promise he made to Lucie. His first move after the conviction is to find out what Madame Defarge plans to do. When he learns that she plans to have Lucie and her daughter denounced, even the doctor if necessary, he plots with Lorry to get them out of France. Giving him his papers to leave, he pleads that the banker wait only until his spot is filled and then leave. After leaving the bank, he recognizes one of the workers in prison as John Barsad, the paid spy who had tried to convict Darnay and blackmails him into getting Sydney a way inside.
"On the night before Darnay is to be led to the Guillotine, Sydney visits him in his lonely cell. Though Darnay tries to fight when he realizes what the lawyer plans to do, Sydney is able to subdue him and takes his place. No one inside the jail figures out that there has been a switch, save a little seamstress who truly sees through his disguise. Madame Defarge does not wait until after Charles is executed, like Carton thought she would. Instead, she immediately goes to the residence of the doctor. It is there where she meets Miss Pross and is killed by this woman who wants to protect the girl she thinks of as her daughter. The story ends when Carton is walking up the steps and has a vision of a better world coming from the chaos of the old. Are there any questions?" He asked, no one moved. "Good, then we will begin the auditions."
"Lovely. School wide humiliation." Septina muttered. "I thought Dumbledore was Gryffindor through and through."
"He is." Sirius answered, starting to feel more like himself.
"Then why is he subjecting us to this cruel torture?" She asked.
"I don't believe Dumbledore feels it is torture." James answered, though he partly agreed with her.
Raising a doubtful eyebrow, she faced him. "And they say that Hufflepuff is the blindly loyal house."
"Loyalty isn't a one house trait." He responded, then suddenly grinned at her as he realized something. "Neither is the ability to torture."
"James Potter!" Dumbledore called him to the dais before she responded.
"You'll do fine, James." Lily encouraged him.
Sirius agreed, having had his turn. "It's no big deal."
"Hey, Potter." Severus said. "I hope you humiliate yourself brilliantly. I could use a good laugh."
"Sev! That wasn't very nice." Lily smacked him.
"I'm not a nice person, Lil. I thought you already discovered that."
"Should've let him sleep, Lily." Sirius grumbled. "Then we wouldn't have to hear him."
"Lucius Malfoy!"
Septina smirked. "Oh, this'll be good. Lucius always was a ham."
After they had all gone, Dumbledore spoke for the last time. "Wonderful. After you leave, we will match students to roles. Remember that rehearsal will begin this afternoon."
Afternoon:
The students gathered in front of the list and read it:
Paris Group:
Dr. Alexander Manette: Sirius Black
Lucie Manette: Lily Evans
Mr. Jarvis Lorry: Remus Lupin
Ernest Defarge: Lucius Malfoy
Madame Defarge: Narcissa Alway
Marquise St. Evremonde: Gilderoy Lockhart
The Vengeance/Narrator: Septina Snape
London Group:
Charles Darnay: James Potter
C. J. Stryver: Igor Karkaroff
Sydney Carton: Severus Snape
Jerry Cruncher: Even Rosier
John Barsad/Solomon Pross: Peter Pettigrew
Miss Pross: Molly Weasely, returning alumni
Various Extras: A list followed naming those who'd have lesser and greater roles.
The students reacted with mixed emotions. Narcissa and Lucius both felt a certain rush that they could exorcise their frustrations at the Gryffindors, while Severus felt uncomfortable knowing what his role would be called to do. Of all the roles, I get the one that calls for me to be a worthless sot used for his brains to help someone else rise in life only to go all 'noble' over some woman, he thought, ignoring his sister's amused glance.
James and Lily weren't pleased because for most of the play they would have to react to other people's machinations. "Window dressing, that's what we are." She murmured to him. Gilderoy Lockhart was pleased with his role because he got to wear clothes that showed off his majesty.
Sirius was disturbed by the thought of playing Lily's father. Remus was upset that he would be in a lot of the play, his condition being what it was. Molly wondered how she let Dumbledore talk her into this, though she saw the logic behind it. Being a mother, she could truly invest in the role of Lucie's surrogate mother. Septina was concerned by the thought that she'd be the one who opened the play and was a part of the pivotal second and third acts.
"Children! May I have your attention, please?" Dumbledore clapped his hands and they slowly quieted down. By his side was a man who looked uncomfortable. "I'm sure you all know Arthur Weasley. He has kindly volunteered to help me out as assistant director. You will follow his instructions as you would mine."
"Doesn't look like he volunteered to me." Lily whispered to them. They stifled their giggles.
Albus glanced over at her, shaking his head in bemusement. These students were proving to be more resistant to the idea than he thought they'd be. They should've warmed to the idea by now. "We'll be working on act 1 first, that is why you've been divided like this. For the most part, these are the groups you remain in. So, I want the Paris group to follow me. Those in the London group will stay in here with Mr. Weasley. The extras will go with Professor MacGonagal to work on the sets and their parts. Oh, did I mention that we will be performing when the students return as part of opening ceremonies? There will be two performances, one for the students and one for the parents."
For the next week, they were separated into three groups. Septina was placed with the extras since her role was mainly a late second, early third part. At the beginning of the second week, Dumbledore called them all together to rehearse. They started right away with our first view of the unfortunate man, Doctor Manette.
In the room sat a tired looking, old man sitting at a bench. "Good day!" said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.
It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: "Good day!"
"You are still hard at work, I see?"
After a long silence, the head was lifted and the voice replied, "Yes, I am working." This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.
"I want," said Defarge, "to let in a little more light here. You can bear a little more?"
The shoemaker stopped his work; looked with a vacant air of listening, at the floor on one side of him; then similarly, at the floor on the other side; then, upward at the speaker. "What did you say?"
"You can bear a little more light?"
"I must bear it, if you let it in."
Septina felt a chill run up her spine when she saw Sirius. She shook it off. When he spoke, it came back-stronger than before. From somewhere in her mind, she could sense a painful reverberation of his future. "Shadows." She murmured. "It is merely a shadow of things to be."
Surprisingly, James Potter noticed her distraction and quietly asked what wrong. "Are you all right?"
"What?" Wide eyed, pale, she blinked as she turned to face him. "I'm fine." Getting up, she practically fled the building.
Giving James a hateful look, Severus went after her.
Lights dim as they descend the stairs.
"Much better, Mr. Black. I got chills just seeing your face. And your voice, your inflections were magnificent."
"Set up the courtroom scene." This order was from Mr. Weasley.
"Where did he go in such a huff?" An arriving Lily asked, seeing the door close behind Sev.
"After Septina," James answered.
"Why?"
"She was muttering and when I asked if she was all right, she fled."
Instantly, she was alert. "Did you hear what she was saying?"
"No." He was tense, suspicious of the Snape twins, and it didn't help that Lily had been distancing herself from them all even more lately. "Lily, what is going on?" The curiosity from third year that he had allowed to fade, flared up. Burning brighter than ever. It seemed to him that everyone in the whole place knew what was going on except for him. And, he thought bitterly, if I'm as popular as the twins think, why am I left out of the loop?
She was trying to remember if anything had happened during any of lessons. "I don't know, James."
Professor Dumbledore walked over to them. "Where did Severus go? You three should be on stage."
"Sir, someone should go after Septina." Lily objected. "James said she seemed to be upset about something. I don't think she should be alone."
"I'll send Hagrid to find her." He promised, leaving to do just that. "Hagrid, send Severus back when you find him. See what you can do for Septina."
"Yes, sir."
Septina crawled into Hogwarts as dawn crept over the horizon. It had been a long, restless night, she'd spent most of the early evening walking aimlessly around. That was before Hagrid had found her and brought her to his home. Not a word did she speak to him and he seemed to understand her need for silence. Dumbledore was waiting at the door for her. "Go eat. Since some parents are visiting today, we'll only have rehearsals in the afternoon."
With a nod, she went down the passageway to the dinning hall. She shrieked when an arm reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her into the cool darkness. "Stop doing that. You are a Slytherin, not some commoner."
It was Lucius. "What do you want?" She hissed.
"To see how you were doing. To make amends for my silly and childish behavior in the past." He was contrite.
"Sing another song, Lucius." Severus sneered, arriving suddenly. "You've got no intention of doing any such thing."
Lucius frowned. "You wound me, cousin."
"Where?"
"Life just isn't the same without your sparkling intellects." He said, probably the truest statement he'd made in a while. "Tell me how I can prove myself to you."
"You really want to prove something to us?" Against his better judgment, Severus was listening to him.
"Yes. I do. I won't even make a comment about your...unusual associates." Placating. Soothing. All the while, chanting, 'let him believe me'.
Severus was not going to let him in. "If you really want to help out, leave me with Sept. We need to talk about things and while we do, we'll think of something. Mind you, I'm not making any promises."
"Thank you, cousins." Lucius left them.
Severus and Septina walked away, silent in the contemplation. "Want to tell me what happened?"
"Not right now."
James appeared, with Lily at his side. "How are you?" Lily asked, still upset with James.
She shrugged, looking at James then. "It wasn't you that upset me." Grudgingly said. "Look, I'm really tired, so I'm going to go lie down."
Lily went with her. But before she disappeared, she turned to them. "You guys might want to practice the scene in the bar."
"You want to?" James asked. "Though it is rather hard out here in the open to see the scene."
"That's what imagination is for." He was scathing, but slid into the role easily. "How does it feel? Is it worth being tried for one's life, to be the object of such sympathy and compassion, Mr. Darnay?"
"Thank you for the service you rendered me." He was stiff.
"I neither want any thanks, nor merit any," was the careless rejoinder. "It was nothing to do, in the first place; and I don't know why I did it, in the second. Mr. Darnay, let me ask you a question."
"Willingly, and a small return for your good offices."
"Do you think I particularly like you?" Though Severus tried, he couldn't quite keep himself out of the question.
"Really, Mr. Carton," returned the other, feeling it. "I have not asked myself the question."
"But ask yourself the question now."
"You have acted as if you do; but I don't think you do." James now had trouble keeping himself out of the role.
"I don't think I do," said Carton. "I begin to have a very good opinion of your understanding."
"Nevertheless," pursued Darnay, "there is nothing to prevent our parting with ill-will on either side."
Carton said, "Mr. Darnay: I am a disappointed drudge. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me." Painfully close to the truth.
"Much to be regretted. You might have used your talents better." That was certainly true, he thought. Though Slytherin Severus was, he had the talent to be more than that house encouraged its denizens to be.
"May be so, Mr. Darnay; may be not. Don't let your sober face elate you, however; you don't know what it may come to. Good night!" And in completion of the scene, as though he were really alone, he turned towards an imaginary mirror.
"Do you particularly like the man?" Feeling more like himself with every word he muttered, "why should you particularly like a man who resembles you? There is nothing in you to like; you know that. A good reason for talking to a man, that he shows you what you have fallen away from, and what you might have been! Change places with him, and would you have been looked at by those eyes as he was, and commiserated by that agitated face as he was? Come on, and have it out in plain words! You hate the fellow."
James applauded. Severus looked at him suspiciously. "You and Sirius really know how to get lost in your roles. If only I had that kind of luck."
With a smug smile, he started to walk away. "It's the role, Potter. You and Lily both have necessary but pale shadow roles. Black and I have roles that cause us to change and evolve, or devolve, as the situation calls."
"How true." James fell into step with him and they were silent.
The play was surprisingly well received, though Dumbledore was heard to say that he might not attempt it again anytime soon. Maybe their next venture for peace keeping would be to do a school wide sing-along night. Fortunately, for the students, that idea was dropped for reasons that were never discussed. It was in Severus' personal opinion that he'd been threatened for suggesting it and those he told, agreed with him.
Gryffindor Dorm:
"Lily." A soft voice called to the sleeping body. "Wake up, child. I must speak to you."
The eyelids fluttered for a moment before opening slowly, then widening in shock at the sight that greeted her. At the foot of her bed, floating gracefully in the air, was a tall, elegant woman with generous curves and laughing green eyes. Her hair was a long auburn brushed until it shone. Or maybe it was the glow from her ghostly light. "Who are you?"
"I have many names but the one that you would be familiar with is Morgaine le Fay. Although, I have some fairy blood within me, it isn't enough to rate that name." She sat down on the bed.
Lily leapt back against the headboard of her bed. Her eyes were wide as she realized just who this woman was. "You get out of here right now! I don't associate with betraying, lying, back-stabbing tricksters!" She railed, trying to come up with a plan to save everyone in the school from this vindictive creature before she figured out what the Gryffindor was planning.
"Calm down, child." Morgaine sighed. "I can see that you have been exposed to lies about me. Many of those stories were written by men who wanted to scare women into submission. There is no truth to the tales that Arthur was my enemy. Nor did I have his son. He was my brother, my friend."
Lily was slowly relaxing, listening to her. "Merlyn never trusted you." Still she doubted her words.
"Merlyn not trust me? What an absurd thought that is. I can just hear the laughter I'll get when I inform Merlyn of that fact. The necromancer was the wisest person I ever knew. A friend and teacher of mine. It is sad that the truth has been twisted over time." She sighed, becoming serious. "Lily, the second has been released and given to Voldemort by Septina Snape."
"Don't you start on her or about Severus." She snapped. "I have had just about enough insults, insinuations, and hate flung at them. It sickens me to think that you would judge them after what you have just told me about your own self."
The hand rose imperiously, silencing the younger girl. "If you would allow me to continue. I was going to say that it happened through no fault of her own. I admire your loyalty to your friend, it is truly a unique gift."
"Thank you." Lily was humbled by her compliment. "I am sorry."
"It is understandable after all you have gone through for them." Morgaine forgave her easily. "You have been under my eye for sometime."
"Why have you come now?"
"You need more than this school can teach you. I am here to guide you on your path towards your destiny, my dear niece."
"Niece?" Lily was startled.
"Yes. You descend from Arthur himself."
"He had no children save Mordred, the betrayer."
"Mordred was not a betrayer. A series of miscalculations lead to the final battle. He was the true heir of the throne and not illegitimate. Arthur's first wife bore him successfully, but died. Mordred was sent to me to raise because I had recently lost my infant daughter and had the milk to sustain him. It was on Arthur's orders. Being king, he had other concerns. One was the war he was fighting and could not spare the time to provide for him by remarriage." She explained.
"Oh, so that's where they got the idea that he was your son."
With a smile, Morgaine nodded. "It is nice to know that I was not underestimating your intelligence."
"You're going to teach me?"
"On the condition that you never tell anyone without my permission. By necessity, Albus Dumbledore knows what is happening. But then, this is his school. He is responsible for the welfare of his students. As your magic progresses rapidly, I'm sure that the twins will suspect something. You are to continue to learn the dark arts from Septina." She murmured to herself, her hand restlessly plucking at her gown. "An ill wind blows about her, it worries me. Her path is as cloudy as the one her brother must walk."
"Is nothing easy for them?"
"It is the life they were born for." Morgaine answered. "And now, I must go. You need to get some sleep, child. Tomorrow begins a new chapter in your life. A life which will tear you to pieces before it stitches you back together."
It was not, Lily thought reflectively, a comforting thought to sleep on.
Breakfast the Next Day:
"How are you, Narcissa?" Septina asked solicitously when the Slytherin girl moved to sit by her. "I heard about the unfortunate incident of yesterday."
"I'm all right." She said through tight lips. "Listen, Luc tells me that you had a vision regarding that bloody Evans girl. Is that true?"
"Quite true." It was said with a straight face, though she had no idea what Narcissa was referring to. It was true that she had seen something but whether it had anything to do with Lily, she wasn't so sure. But Narcissa didn't need to know that.
"Thanks." She was upset and stared at her food. "I'm not hungry." Narcissa stood up abruptly. Her response to Septina's inquiring gaze was sharp.
A few weeks later:
Septina watched her friend as she paled after a particularly difficult spell. "Lily, are you sure that this isn't to much for you?" Her hand rested on her friend's shaking shoulder.
"I'm fine." Lily spat at her, green eyes flashing fire up at her. "Stop hovering over me like I'm a child. I can do this."
The Slytherin jerked away, quickly disguising the hurt that entered her eyes. "I never said you couldn't, Lily." It was carefully neutral.
"I'm sorry, Sept. I'm just tired."
"Why? This term has been easier and with Quidditch canceled, you shouldn't be this tired."
A hand ran through red hair restlessly. "Recently, I came into some knowledge about myself. It actually came in the oddest way one night. I was awakened by..."
"Wait!" Her hand rose, something in Lily's voice made her wary of hearing this. "Is this something you are allowed to share?"
"Not really."
Her wand twitched and something appeared. She handed it to Lily, with a twisted smile. "This is a time turner, use it to accomplish all that you need to."
Lily turned it over, then looked at Septina. "I thought we weren't supposed to have one of these."
"Think of it as a gift." Sept saw her brother walking towards them. The look etched on his face was familiar, it had been there all to often recently. "I've got to go. Get some sleep."
The Gryffindor watched the pair disappear into the depths of the forest with a sigh. Where do they go?
"Trust me, dear, you don't want to know." Morgaine said softly. "Let's go."
Christmas Break:
Professor Dumbledore smiled brightly at the assembled, sleepy eyed students. They were in the dinning hall, some still dressed in sleepwear. "Good morning, students and visiting alumnus." He was to cheerful for the early morning hours. "I'm sure you're all wondering why you've been called down this morning."
"What does he take to make him so cheerful all the time?" Septina muttered grumpily to Lily. She was sitting between James and Sirius and could care less.
She answered after she finished yawning. "I think he was born that way."
"Then his parents should be punished for bringing him into the world." Sev grumbled, trying to go back to sleep.
"I'm with you." Sirius said, not even shocked at this. It was too early for him to disagree with anything either twin had to say.
"As the lucky students who are here this holiday break, and visiting older students, you will be experiencing the wonder of the stage." He paused, a twinkle in his eye that became more pronounced as he listened to the moans and grumbles of the students. "What is this? You aren't excited at the joys that await you as you tread the boards?"
"I think the collective answer to that is: no." Someone from Ravenclaw mumbled.
Dumbledore heard it and smiled even wider, proving that he could, indeed, became battier. "I have no doubt that once you've tried it, you'll never be the same. Rehearsals for our play-which has been randomly selected-will begin this afternoon. I was trying to decide the best method for choosing roles, therefore I decided the best way to do this is to see what you are capable of. So, each one of you will have the opportunity to try-out for any of the roles-or to give a speech if you don't want to risk repeating something another has done-after breakfast. Try-outs are mandatory, no exceptions will be made. Those who do not win major roles will work behind the scenes."
He turned to Professor MacGonagal. "Have I covered everything?"
"Except for what they are to be doing, perfectly." She replied tartly, tired like the students. "Now let the children eat."
Turning back around, he waved his wand and the food appeared, as well as the scripts. With little enthusiasm, they started to eat. There was even less enthusiasm as they reached for the scripts and began to read them.
Lily poked Severus gently. "Wake up, sleepy head. The food is here."
"And I don't want to eat your greasy hair." Sirius commented idly, but there was no venom in his voice.
"Shut up, Black." He mumbled. "Lily, I need a few more minutes of sleep to function." He stumbled over the word a few times, trying to remember what he was saying.
She ignored him and continued to prod him. "If I'm denied my rest, you have to suffer as well, my friend."
"Stop it, Lily. I'm up." He finally surrendered and sat up straight. Across the table, Septina was snoozing peacefully. With a wicked grin, his hand hit the space in front of her and she jumped up, startled. "Rise and shine, sunshine." The voice he used was deliberately cheerful.
"I'm going to kill you, Sev." She threatened, yawning. It wasn't much of a threat.
He smirked. "You'll have to do better than that, sister dear. You sound like Black."
Black looked at him and blinked. "Not today, Snape. My head hurts to much."
"Why? Have you been attempting to think?" Sev asked, reaching for the script.
"Sev, that would be as likely as you failing potions." Sept quipped, yawning.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Don't you guys ever let up?"
Severus was thoughtful, before he answered. "Sure. Never around you, but it has been known to happen."
James was silent, watching all of this with tired eyes. "Could you make an exception and let it go? I fear that if you don't, this play will be even more horrendous than it already is." Severus was about to reply, when the Gryffindor finished. "And I realize that you aren't part of my fan club, I'm asking this as a fellow tormented student."
Septina and Severus exchanged looks. "All right. But not because you asked, Potter. It is merely that you make sense."
"I wouldn't dare to presume otherwise." Dry.
Lily had been silent the whole time, studying the play. "Guys, the play is "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this book slightly violent?"
"It is but only near the end of the second part and there are some scenes in the third." Remus' reply was quiet, having just arrived at the hall. He had been the only one excused from Dumbledore's speech because Poppy had kept him under observation. "What did I miss?"
Quickly, they brought him up to date. "Nice that we're having a truce." Was his only comment.
Breakfast came to an end even though the students tried to prolong it, hoping that Dumbledore would give up this scheme. No such luck and Dumbledore once more addressed them. As he leaned against the table, he spoke. "I don't know how far you all got on your readings of the play, so I will tell you the basic story of "A Tale of Two Cities" is about. It begins in 1775 Mr. Lorry is sent to France to retrieve an old client, Doctor Manette. Along the way, Mr. Lorry picks up Lucie Manette, who learns that her father is alive but is not well after a long imprisonment. With the two is Lucie's faithful companion, Miss Pross. They go to the Dafarge's inn and find him a prematurely aged man who finds comfort only in making shoes. They take him back to England in the hopes of restoring him to life.
"Five years later, all three find themselves called to court as Charles Darnay, a man they met on their voyage home, is charged with treason due to secret trips back and forth across the channel. Lucie is called to testify and, through clever manipulations, gives damaging evidence against him. The case falters because Darnay bears a striking resemblance to one of the lawyers, a certain Sydney Carton. In the face of this evidence, the witness cannot clearly identify the prisoner, who is then acquitted. Both men, who have developed a fondness for Lucie, go out to dine and talk. It is revealed that Carton doesn't like Darnay, that he actually hates him. Darnay, while he would never come out and say it, obviously feels the same way. During a meeting at Stryver's house it is revealed that, while Carton may be a careless drunk, he is the sole reason behind Stryver's success in court.
"Back in France, the people experience devastating poverty and start preparing for revolution. These people use the name of Jaques to identify each other. We meet one example of the aristocracy in the Marquise St Evremonde when his carriage kills a child and he throws a few coins to the grieving father before driving off. At his chateau it is revealed that Charles is this man's nephew and sole heir. When his uncle is assassinated that night, he inherits everything but renounces it, wanting to retain his honor.
"Both Carton and Darnay had spent a lot of time calling on Lucie Manette, though only one is assured success. While Charles was talking to the doctor and gaining his permission to propose to Lucie, the lawyer was bearing his soul to her. He told her that, though his life was not something he could change, she has a special place in his heart. If ever she was in need, he would be there and would lay down his life for her or one she loved. After Darnay and Lucie wed, he sought assurance that he could come and go as he pleased, that he would never take advantage of the situation.
"In 1792, Darnay receives a plea from on old servant for help and leaves, without telling his wife of 11 years what is going on. Upon arriving he is arrested for being an enemy of the state. Lucie, along with her father and her daughter, goes to France, hoping that Mr. Lorry, who is there on business, can help them free Charles. But it is not Mr. Lorry's power who can free him, it is the wrongful imprisonment of the doctor that gives him the power to do so. On the day of the trial, Manette is able to secure an acquittal.
"But in the wings, a silent enemy has now awakened with the power to put an end to the Evremonde line. Madame Dafarge possesses papers that the doctor wrote, telling the story of what happened before he was taken. It is the story of a peasant family who was abused and died at the hands of the Evremonde brothers, save one daughter who was hidden away. That daughter is revealed to be none other than Madame Defarge herself. His words denounce the Evremonde family for all time. Charles is rearrested and convicted, using these words written by his father-in-law.
"Sydney Carton sets out to keep the promise he made to Lucie. His first move after the conviction is to find out what Madame Defarge plans to do. When he learns that she plans to have Lucie and her daughter denounced, even the doctor if necessary, he plots with Lorry to get them out of France. Giving him his papers to leave, he pleads that the banker wait only until his spot is filled and then leave. After leaving the bank, he recognizes one of the workers in prison as John Barsad, the paid spy who had tried to convict Darnay and blackmails him into getting Sydney a way inside.
"On the night before Darnay is to be led to the Guillotine, Sydney visits him in his lonely cell. Though Darnay tries to fight when he realizes what the lawyer plans to do, Sydney is able to subdue him and takes his place. No one inside the jail figures out that there has been a switch, save a little seamstress who truly sees through his disguise. Madame Defarge does not wait until after Charles is executed, like Carton thought she would. Instead, she immediately goes to the residence of the doctor. It is there where she meets Miss Pross and is killed by this woman who wants to protect the girl she thinks of as her daughter. The story ends when Carton is walking up the steps and has a vision of a better world coming from the chaos of the old. Are there any questions?" He asked, no one moved. "Good, then we will begin the auditions."
"Lovely. School wide humiliation." Septina muttered. "I thought Dumbledore was Gryffindor through and through."
"He is." Sirius answered, starting to feel more like himself.
"Then why is he subjecting us to this cruel torture?" She asked.
"I don't believe Dumbledore feels it is torture." James answered, though he partly agreed with her.
Raising a doubtful eyebrow, she faced him. "And they say that Hufflepuff is the blindly loyal house."
"Loyalty isn't a one house trait." He responded, then suddenly grinned at her as he realized something. "Neither is the ability to torture."
"James Potter!" Dumbledore called him to the dais before she responded.
"You'll do fine, James." Lily encouraged him.
Sirius agreed, having had his turn. "It's no big deal."
"Hey, Potter." Severus said. "I hope you humiliate yourself brilliantly. I could use a good laugh."
"Sev! That wasn't very nice." Lily smacked him.
"I'm not a nice person, Lil. I thought you already discovered that."
"Should've let him sleep, Lily." Sirius grumbled. "Then we wouldn't have to hear him."
"Lucius Malfoy!"
Septina smirked. "Oh, this'll be good. Lucius always was a ham."
After they had all gone, Dumbledore spoke for the last time. "Wonderful. After you leave, we will match students to roles. Remember that rehearsal will begin this afternoon."
Afternoon:
The students gathered in front of the list and read it:
Paris Group:
Dr. Alexander Manette: Sirius Black
Lucie Manette: Lily Evans
Mr. Jarvis Lorry: Remus Lupin
Ernest Defarge: Lucius Malfoy
Madame Defarge: Narcissa Alway
Marquise St. Evremonde: Gilderoy Lockhart
The Vengeance/Narrator: Septina Snape
London Group:
Charles Darnay: James Potter
C. J. Stryver: Igor Karkaroff
Sydney Carton: Severus Snape
Jerry Cruncher: Even Rosier
John Barsad/Solomon Pross: Peter Pettigrew
Miss Pross: Molly Weasely, returning alumni
Various Extras: A list followed naming those who'd have lesser and greater roles.
The students reacted with mixed emotions. Narcissa and Lucius both felt a certain rush that they could exorcise their frustrations at the Gryffindors, while Severus felt uncomfortable knowing what his role would be called to do. Of all the roles, I get the one that calls for me to be a worthless sot used for his brains to help someone else rise in life only to go all 'noble' over some woman, he thought, ignoring his sister's amused glance.
James and Lily weren't pleased because for most of the play they would have to react to other people's machinations. "Window dressing, that's what we are." She murmured to him. Gilderoy Lockhart was pleased with his role because he got to wear clothes that showed off his majesty.
Sirius was disturbed by the thought of playing Lily's father. Remus was upset that he would be in a lot of the play, his condition being what it was. Molly wondered how she let Dumbledore talk her into this, though she saw the logic behind it. Being a mother, she could truly invest in the role of Lucie's surrogate mother. Septina was concerned by the thought that she'd be the one who opened the play and was a part of the pivotal second and third acts.
"Children! May I have your attention, please?" Dumbledore clapped his hands and they slowly quieted down. By his side was a man who looked uncomfortable. "I'm sure you all know Arthur Weasley. He has kindly volunteered to help me out as assistant director. You will follow his instructions as you would mine."
"Doesn't look like he volunteered to me." Lily whispered to them. They stifled their giggles.
Albus glanced over at her, shaking his head in bemusement. These students were proving to be more resistant to the idea than he thought they'd be. They should've warmed to the idea by now. "We'll be working on act 1 first, that is why you've been divided like this. For the most part, these are the groups you remain in. So, I want the Paris group to follow me. Those in the London group will stay in here with Mr. Weasley. The extras will go with Professor MacGonagal to work on the sets and their parts. Oh, did I mention that we will be performing when the students return as part of opening ceremonies? There will be two performances, one for the students and one for the parents."
For the next week, they were separated into three groups. Septina was placed with the extras since her role was mainly a late second, early third part. At the beginning of the second week, Dumbledore called them all together to rehearse. They started right away with our first view of the unfortunate man, Doctor Manette.
In the room sat a tired looking, old man sitting at a bench. "Good day!" said Monsieur Defarge, looking down at the white head that bent low over the shoemaking.
It was raised for a moment, and a very faint voice responded to the salutation, as if it were at a distance: "Good day!"
"You are still hard at work, I see?"
After a long silence, the head was lifted and the voice replied, "Yes, I am working." This time, a pair of haggard eyes had looked at the questioner, before the face had dropped again.
"I want," said Defarge, "to let in a little more light here. You can bear a little more?"
The shoemaker stopped his work; looked with a vacant air of listening, at the floor on one side of him; then similarly, at the floor on the other side; then, upward at the speaker. "What did you say?"
"You can bear a little more light?"
"I must bear it, if you let it in."
Septina felt a chill run up her spine when she saw Sirius. She shook it off. When he spoke, it came back-stronger than before. From somewhere in her mind, she could sense a painful reverberation of his future. "Shadows." She murmured. "It is merely a shadow of things to be."
Surprisingly, James Potter noticed her distraction and quietly asked what wrong. "Are you all right?"
"What?" Wide eyed, pale, she blinked as she turned to face him. "I'm fine." Getting up, she practically fled the building.
Giving James a hateful look, Severus went after her.
Lights dim as they descend the stairs.
"Much better, Mr. Black. I got chills just seeing your face. And your voice, your inflections were magnificent."
"Set up the courtroom scene." This order was from Mr. Weasley.
"Where did he go in such a huff?" An arriving Lily asked, seeing the door close behind Sev.
"After Septina," James answered.
"Why?"
"She was muttering and when I asked if she was all right, she fled."
Instantly, she was alert. "Did you hear what she was saying?"
"No." He was tense, suspicious of the Snape twins, and it didn't help that Lily had been distancing herself from them all even more lately. "Lily, what is going on?" The curiosity from third year that he had allowed to fade, flared up. Burning brighter than ever. It seemed to him that everyone in the whole place knew what was going on except for him. And, he thought bitterly, if I'm as popular as the twins think, why am I left out of the loop?
She was trying to remember if anything had happened during any of lessons. "I don't know, James."
Professor Dumbledore walked over to them. "Where did Severus go? You three should be on stage."
"Sir, someone should go after Septina." Lily objected. "James said she seemed to be upset about something. I don't think she should be alone."
"I'll send Hagrid to find her." He promised, leaving to do just that. "Hagrid, send Severus back when you find him. See what you can do for Septina."
"Yes, sir."
Septina crawled into Hogwarts as dawn crept over the horizon. It had been a long, restless night, she'd spent most of the early evening walking aimlessly around. That was before Hagrid had found her and brought her to his home. Not a word did she speak to him and he seemed to understand her need for silence. Dumbledore was waiting at the door for her. "Go eat. Since some parents are visiting today, we'll only have rehearsals in the afternoon."
With a nod, she went down the passageway to the dinning hall. She shrieked when an arm reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her into the cool darkness. "Stop doing that. You are a Slytherin, not some commoner."
It was Lucius. "What do you want?" She hissed.
"To see how you were doing. To make amends for my silly and childish behavior in the past." He was contrite.
"Sing another song, Lucius." Severus sneered, arriving suddenly. "You've got no intention of doing any such thing."
Lucius frowned. "You wound me, cousin."
"Where?"
"Life just isn't the same without your sparkling intellects." He said, probably the truest statement he'd made in a while. "Tell me how I can prove myself to you."
"You really want to prove something to us?" Against his better judgment, Severus was listening to him.
"Yes. I do. I won't even make a comment about your...unusual associates." Placating. Soothing. All the while, chanting, 'let him believe me'.
Severus was not going to let him in. "If you really want to help out, leave me with Sept. We need to talk about things and while we do, we'll think of something. Mind you, I'm not making any promises."
"Thank you, cousins." Lucius left them.
Severus and Septina walked away, silent in the contemplation. "Want to tell me what happened?"
"Not right now."
James appeared, with Lily at his side. "How are you?" Lily asked, still upset with James.
She shrugged, looking at James then. "It wasn't you that upset me." Grudgingly said. "Look, I'm really tired, so I'm going to go lie down."
Lily went with her. But before she disappeared, she turned to them. "You guys might want to practice the scene in the bar."
"You want to?" James asked. "Though it is rather hard out here in the open to see the scene."
"That's what imagination is for." He was scathing, but slid into the role easily. "How does it feel? Is it worth being tried for one's life, to be the object of such sympathy and compassion, Mr. Darnay?"
"Thank you for the service you rendered me." He was stiff.
"I neither want any thanks, nor merit any," was the careless rejoinder. "It was nothing to do, in the first place; and I don't know why I did it, in the second. Mr. Darnay, let me ask you a question."
"Willingly, and a small return for your good offices."
"Do you think I particularly like you?" Though Severus tried, he couldn't quite keep himself out of the question.
"Really, Mr. Carton," returned the other, feeling it. "I have not asked myself the question."
"But ask yourself the question now."
"You have acted as if you do; but I don't think you do." James now had trouble keeping himself out of the role.
"I don't think I do," said Carton. "I begin to have a very good opinion of your understanding."
"Nevertheless," pursued Darnay, "there is nothing to prevent our parting with ill-will on either side."
Carton said, "Mr. Darnay: I am a disappointed drudge. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me." Painfully close to the truth.
"Much to be regretted. You might have used your talents better." That was certainly true, he thought. Though Slytherin Severus was, he had the talent to be more than that house encouraged its denizens to be.
"May be so, Mr. Darnay; may be not. Don't let your sober face elate you, however; you don't know what it may come to. Good night!" And in completion of the scene, as though he were really alone, he turned towards an imaginary mirror.
"Do you particularly like the man?" Feeling more like himself with every word he muttered, "why should you particularly like a man who resembles you? There is nothing in you to like; you know that. A good reason for talking to a man, that he shows you what you have fallen away from, and what you might have been! Change places with him, and would you have been looked at by those eyes as he was, and commiserated by that agitated face as he was? Come on, and have it out in plain words! You hate the fellow."
James applauded. Severus looked at him suspiciously. "You and Sirius really know how to get lost in your roles. If only I had that kind of luck."
With a smug smile, he started to walk away. "It's the role, Potter. You and Lily both have necessary but pale shadow roles. Black and I have roles that cause us to change and evolve, or devolve, as the situation calls."
"How true." James fell into step with him and they were silent.
The play was surprisingly well received, though Dumbledore was heard to say that he might not attempt it again anytime soon. Maybe their next venture for peace keeping would be to do a school wide sing-along night. Fortunately, for the students, that idea was dropped for reasons that were never discussed. It was in Severus' personal opinion that he'd been threatened for suggesting it and those he told, agreed with him.