Chapter Seven

Deeper Still

"Pumpkin pie." Snape spoke to the gargoyle with serious distaste for the password. Dumbledore was known for his sweet tooth and the way he used the names of his favourite confections as passwords. We stepped through onto the moving staircase. I felt fear rise up inside me. What if this was some sort of curse and I would be forbidden to perform magic again, for the safety of my fellow pupils? Either that or I'd really been possessed by Voldermort. Snape knocked on the door with his other hand, still inspecting the newly healed hand.

"Come in." Came a voice from inside. Snape opened the door.

"Oh, Severus, come in, how's the hand?" I paused outside the room until Snape tugged me in by the arm of my robes.

"Ah, and Miss Amethyst too?"

"Headmaster." Snape held out both of his hands to Dumbledore, obviously thinking no explanation was needed until the evidence was shown.

"Madame Pomfrey was successful?" Snape shook his head.

"Miss Amethyst was." Dumbledore looked slightly surprised.

"I don't know how I did it Professor." I told Dumbledore. "Is there something wrong with me?" I asked. Dumbledore regarded me with his blue eyes, but was interrupted by an owl appearing on his windowsill.

"Excuse me a minute." Dumbledore apologised and stood to deal with the owl. I glanced to Snape.

"That is a ministry owl is it not Professor?" The potions teacher asked, but Dumbledore was reading with a very serious look on his face.

"Miss Amethyst, Professor Snape, I think you should sit down…"

…We are regretted to inform you that Cassius Amethyst has been found dead. This confirms the report of the Avada Kedavra curse being cast. We entrust you to inform Miss Elixa Amethyst, daughter of the deceased, of the loss…

"Oh great Merlin, no." I said quietly to myself. My father had died at the hand, or rather the wand of Voldermort and he could come to find my mother or me at any time. It was the nightmare my parents had discussed before they had taken up their jobs.

"I think it is wise if you do not leave Hogwarts. You will remain here for Hogsmeade visits also, unless perhaps you are accompanied by suitable members of staff." I looked up.

"But Sir, isn't Voldermort more likely to go after Harry Potter than me?"

"We will have to play it by ear Elixa." I thought Dumbledore had spoken, but it was Snape, I turned to look at the head of Slytherin, realising I'd almost forgotten he was there.

"If Voldermort is performing murders again we have to be very careful with everyone." I nodded, Potter had shown he was able to fight the dark lord a few times, whereas I wasn't the greatest at duelling. A silence passed between us all, I was thinking things through. Dumbledore and Snape exchanged a silent glance, their eyes doing the speaking for them.

"Is there anything you want to ask Elixa?" Dumbledore asked. I looked up.

"Yes Professor… was the incident with Professor Snape's hand because of my father's death?"

"To answer honestly Miss Amethyst, I do not know. Until the Ministry performs the rest of the investigations, nothing will be clear. I'd concentrate on your mother, we have to do our best to help her recover if we've any chance of regaining information on Voldermort." I nodded.

"Is there any way I could visit her at St Mungos?" Dumbledore paused, and looked to Snape.

"I'll leave that to be arranged between you and Professor Snape." I cast an odd glance towards the head of Slytherin. Why would Snape be helping me sort it out? Did he know my parents?

"Get some sleep Elixa, it's past curfew, and teachers need sleep too." The headmaster blinked his eyes sleepily, and I realised a cup of hot chocolate had materialised on his desk. I got up and bade farewell to the Professor, and Snape and I left the circular office.