Chapter Six: Of Swords and Daggers
Severus found himself in the same private room that he'd been married in a little over two years ago. This time, however, the mood was far more somber.
Albus Dumbledore began the meeting. He looked at the men assembled. Percy, Bill, Christopher, Lapis, Harry, Sirius and Severus all looked back at him. "The first of the stolen swords have been recovered." he said, without preamble. "The remainder of the cursed weapons are still at large. Percy."
Percy was leaning over a large sheet of parchment. "I know that there were four swords and four daggers stolen from a Muggle antique shop last winder. The culprit turned out to be the Dark Knights. They cursed the objects and were planning to use them against the wizarding community. When Jarod and Jade Packer were killed, the weapons were scattered and have not been seen since."
Bill picked up the thread. "I have been working to find out how the items were cursed. So far I have found only the curses on the swords. One of the swords still out there is cursed with the Vires curse, which will give the wielder incredible strength." Bill sighed and rubbed his temple. "The second sword has the Vinco curse on it. This makes an expert swordsman or the wielder, even if he has never held a sword in his life."
Harry was frowning. "What about the daggers?"
Bill looked at Severus, who stood while Bill sat. "The daggers stolen were cursed to make them almost perfect assassination weapons. Two of the daggers will be found together. They have been cursed with the Furtim curse. This curse grants the assassin stealth capabilities They can move about without being seen or heard."
Christopher whistled.
"Yes, it is a nasty piece of work." Severus said. "Bit it is child's play compared to the second set of daggers, which will also be found together. The curse on them is Venenum. The blade of the dagger is poison to anyone stabbed, pricked or touched with the blade."
Harry looked over at Severus. "Is there an antidote?"
Severus smiled, and it was a smile to make the blood run cold. "There is." he said, slowly. "But you aren't going to like it."
Lapis groaned. "Let's hear it."
Severus nodded. "Since there is no actual poison on the blade, the only antidote must be in the form of a spell." He reached into his robes and removed a bundle tied with a piece of leather.
Severus untied the bundle. There were seven stilettos in a neat row. "These stilettos have been, well, you will call it cursed, I have no doubt, by me. I have been working on this particular curse since I discovered that the poison cursed daggers existed." he said in the voice both Harry and Percy remembered from their school days. The voice was just the side of a whisper, but captured the audience.
"The victim of the Venenum dagger must be stabbed by the Antidotum stiletto in the very same place or places of the Venenum wound or wounds."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "There was no other way, Severus?" he asked softly.
Severus shrugged. "No."
"I have a hard time believing that." Sirius said. "You are a sadistic son-of-a-bitch, Snape."
Severus raised his eyebrows at Lapis. "Perhaps I am, but I know what I am doing. Dumbledore asked me to find the simplest and most expedient way to transmit an antidote. This is both."
Dumbledore raised his hand, ending a confrontation before it could begin. "I would believe him, Sirius." he said. "Severus is a bit sadistic, but that wouldn't have figured in here. "I asked him exactly as he told you I did and if this is what he's come up with, then this is the only way. I suppose my mistake was in using the word expedient. Severus does have a tendency to be so literal." Dumbledore smiled. "It is a gift of his."
"Seven?" Harry said, standing and leaning over Percy to get a better look at the stilettos. "One for each of us?"
Severus nodded. "Eight actually. One for each of Tapain assassin to carry. I gave Amethyst her's before we parted at the school, and you will give one to Draco." Harry nodded. Severus looked into the eyes of Dumbledore. "Dumbledore has refused to carry one."
A great murmuring broke out at this announcement. Dumbledore raised his hand and silence fell. "I have mentioned before that I am only a guide for the Taipan. I am not here to fight its battles. I am only a guide. If the Taipan assassins have a leader among them at all, it is Lapis."
"Who is the extra for, then?" Percy asked, "There are only seven Taipan assassins. Why eight stilettos?"
Dumbledore looked at Bill. "The eighth is for Bill Weasley. He will even out our numbers. If he will accept the challenge."
Bill did not react with shock. "I was expecting this." he said, glancing at Christopher. He slowly nodded, then he rose from his seat. He walked to face Severus across the table. Severus picked up one of the stilettos and handed it to Bill, who removed it from its sheath and looked at it carefully. Both the stiletto and its sheath were made of platinum, with a snake etched into the handle. A taipan, Bill assumed correctly. He re-sheathed it and placed it on the inside of his robes.
Severus handed stilettos to Sirius, Christopher and Lapis. Of the remaining three stilettos, he handed two to Harry and placed the final one into his own robes.
"When the cursed weapons are recovered, keep the stilettos. I will remove the antidote charm and they will be the weapon of the Taipan assassin."
"Do you think I should have begun teaching again?"
"Why should I care one way or another? It is not my life, Hermione."
Amethyst and Hermione walked from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade. Amethyst had come to the school to deliver the final instructions to Hermione for the potion which would restore Remus.
"You are still adjusting to socializing, aren't you?" she asked.
Amethyst laughed herself. "I suppose you could say I am." she said. "I am not the social type, but you already know that." and she stopped laughing. "I am surprised you called me up here." she swept one of the earliest of the falling leaves off of the ground without breaking her stride. "You haven't spoken to me since before Ron died." she said this as if commenting on the weather.
Hermione flushed. "I have had a rough few months." she said, quietly.
Amethyst grunted her agreement, "And you are trying to decide if a friendship with myself and people like myself is what killed Ron." she stated simply.
Hermione cursed Amethysts ability to see beyond just about anything. The thin woman was extremely sharp and rarely missed anything. She sighed. "Ron's dedication to Harry is what killed him." she said quietly.
Amethyst nodded. "Well, Harry found the murderer and they have paid."
Hermione gave Amethyst a sharp look. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked.
Amethyst's gaze did not waver. "Harry found the murderer and they have paid." she repeated. Then she decided to give Hermione's mind a break. "Remember, he is a Ministry cop, Hermione."
Hermione's mind relaxed. "Of course." she said. But in the back of her mind, doubts still swam. Hermione knew that there was more to Harry than a simple Ministry cop in the small and apparently unimportant Department of Independent Investigations. She and Harry had been drifting apart ever since she and Ron had gotten married. And since he'd gotten involved with Draco, he seemed to become even colder. Not as bad as his lover, but there was something behind the eyes that Hermione had never known there before. He was keeping something from her. And Harry never kept secrets from her.
Amethyst brought her back to earth. "Now, about your teaching." she said. "You have children to raise. You cannot live off of his parents. You have too much pride for that. And your parents want you to leave the magical community. You would never do that. The insurance the Ministry provides is inadequate. You are not rich. You have to do something." she shrugged. "I don't know. I think it would have driven me insane, staying home with the children." she shuddered.
Hermione looked at Amethyst as they entered Hogsmeade. "Why are we friends?" she suddenly asked.
Amethyst laughed for a long time. "I ask myself that all the time, Hermione." she said.
"I think," Hermione said, slowing her pace a bit. "That it is because you are a lot of the things I wish I was. Absolutely sure of everything you have ever done. Confident."
Amethyst scoffed. "Have you been drinking First year potions, Hermione?" she asked. "You are confident. You are, are," and Amethyst struggled to look for a word to describe her friend.
"A hopeless romantic?" Hermione said, giggling.
Amethyst remembered the time she'd called Hermione that. So long ago it was. "Yes," she chuckled. "Yes, you are that. But you are also bubbly and cheerful. Or you were." she added.
"I'm getting back there." Hermione said. "Ron's death shocked me so badly. I knew that nothing bad would happen to him, after Harry killed You-Know-Who. Then he was killed and killed in such a horrible way. No one ever told me why they would scalp him or drain his blood. Vampires don't scalp people. No vampire killed him. Why, Amethyst?" and Hermione stopped and grabbed Amethysts arm.
There was nothing that would make Amethyst answer Hermione's question honestly. So she took a deep breath and sighed. "I don't know, Hermione." she said. She saw the tears in Hermione's eyes and quickly said. "Don't think about it, Hermione. Just think that the killers have been caught. And know too, that Harry would never let anything happen to you and your family."
Hermione got herself under control and began walking again. As they passed the Three Broomsticks, they saw Harry coming out of it with Severus. Harry smiled and hugged Hermione tightly.
"I have to be going." Harry made excuses when Hermione invited him to dinner. "Draco and I are going to be dining at 1013 tonight. We have a private suite."
Hermione chuckled. "You are becoming such a recluse." she said. "I'm surprised to see you off that island of yours. You've been spending too much time with these two." and she nodded to Amethyst and Severus. "They are rubbing off."
Severus scowled. "There are worse fates, Hermione."
Hermione nodded, as the four of them began to walk. "I suppose there are." and she glanced at Harry. "What brings you all the way into Hogsmeade?" she asked. "Ten Thirteen is in London."
"Just meting Severus for a drink while he waits for his wife to make her delivery." Harry said.
Hermione looked at Harry closely. "But why no Draco?" she asked. "I thought you two were joined at the hip."
"We are, Hermione." Came a voice behind them. Hermione completely missed the look of relief on Harry's face as Draco sauntered up to them.
"If you must know," Draco said, and Hermione marveled again at how sharp Draco's hearing was. "I had to stop at that antique shop your brothers-in-law run."
"Was that delivery for you, Draco?" Hermione said.
"Yes." Draco said. "My father collected antique weapons. It is one of the few passions we shared. The Ministry has finally given me the weapons from his house. They are going to turn the house into a museum, you know?"
"Are they?" Hermione gasped. "Whatever for?"
"They want people to see that the Death Eaters are all gone and harmless and that there is nothing more to fear." Draco said, shrugging.
"You don't agree?" Hermione said, as they reached the front of Fred and George's store. Candlelight streamed from the upstairs windows.
Draco grinned. "You know me, Hermione." he drawled. "I don't think this is a safe world. If not the Death Eaters, then someone else."
Hermione simply sighed and shrugged. She hugged everyone good-night and entered the store. Amethyst, Severus, Draco and Harry all began walking toward Hogsmeade Station.
"Were you able to catch up with the mystery delivery man?" Amethyst asked.
"He sang like a canary before he broke his back." Draco shrugged.
"And what song did he sing?" Severus asked, half a smile on his lips.
"A song of six weapons, of course." Draco smiled, coldly. "And where we might be able to find them."
A/N My lovelies, this is the final chapter FFnet will be getting of Exploring the Sinus. I don't upload many chapters, as I so much prefer doing the final editing on the KeeBook. So tune in there and find out more G.
Pax,
Crystallina Auctia
http://home.earthlink.net/~crysmeaker/ls/
Severus found himself in the same private room that he'd been married in a little over two years ago. This time, however, the mood was far more somber.
Albus Dumbledore began the meeting. He looked at the men assembled. Percy, Bill, Christopher, Lapis, Harry, Sirius and Severus all looked back at him. "The first of the stolen swords have been recovered." he said, without preamble. "The remainder of the cursed weapons are still at large. Percy."
Percy was leaning over a large sheet of parchment. "I know that there were four swords and four daggers stolen from a Muggle antique shop last winder. The culprit turned out to be the Dark Knights. They cursed the objects and were planning to use them against the wizarding community. When Jarod and Jade Packer were killed, the weapons were scattered and have not been seen since."
Bill picked up the thread. "I have been working to find out how the items were cursed. So far I have found only the curses on the swords. One of the swords still out there is cursed with the Vires curse, which will give the wielder incredible strength." Bill sighed and rubbed his temple. "The second sword has the Vinco curse on it. This makes an expert swordsman or the wielder, even if he has never held a sword in his life."
Harry was frowning. "What about the daggers?"
Bill looked at Severus, who stood while Bill sat. "The daggers stolen were cursed to make them almost perfect assassination weapons. Two of the daggers will be found together. They have been cursed with the Furtim curse. This curse grants the assassin stealth capabilities They can move about without being seen or heard."
Christopher whistled.
"Yes, it is a nasty piece of work." Severus said. "Bit it is child's play compared to the second set of daggers, which will also be found together. The curse on them is Venenum. The blade of the dagger is poison to anyone stabbed, pricked or touched with the blade."
Harry looked over at Severus. "Is there an antidote?"
Severus smiled, and it was a smile to make the blood run cold. "There is." he said, slowly. "But you aren't going to like it."
Lapis groaned. "Let's hear it."
Severus nodded. "Since there is no actual poison on the blade, the only antidote must be in the form of a spell." He reached into his robes and removed a bundle tied with a piece of leather.
Severus untied the bundle. There were seven stilettos in a neat row. "These stilettos have been, well, you will call it cursed, I have no doubt, by me. I have been working on this particular curse since I discovered that the poison cursed daggers existed." he said in the voice both Harry and Percy remembered from their school days. The voice was just the side of a whisper, but captured the audience.
"The victim of the Venenum dagger must be stabbed by the Antidotum stiletto in the very same place or places of the Venenum wound or wounds."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "There was no other way, Severus?" he asked softly.
Severus shrugged. "No."
"I have a hard time believing that." Sirius said. "You are a sadistic son-of-a-bitch, Snape."
Severus raised his eyebrows at Lapis. "Perhaps I am, but I know what I am doing. Dumbledore asked me to find the simplest and most expedient way to transmit an antidote. This is both."
Dumbledore raised his hand, ending a confrontation before it could begin. "I would believe him, Sirius." he said. "Severus is a bit sadistic, but that wouldn't have figured in here. "I asked him exactly as he told you I did and if this is what he's come up with, then this is the only way. I suppose my mistake was in using the word expedient. Severus does have a tendency to be so literal." Dumbledore smiled. "It is a gift of his."
"Seven?" Harry said, standing and leaning over Percy to get a better look at the stilettos. "One for each of us?"
Severus nodded. "Eight actually. One for each of Tapain assassin to carry. I gave Amethyst her's before we parted at the school, and you will give one to Draco." Harry nodded. Severus looked into the eyes of Dumbledore. "Dumbledore has refused to carry one."
A great murmuring broke out at this announcement. Dumbledore raised his hand and silence fell. "I have mentioned before that I am only a guide for the Taipan. I am not here to fight its battles. I am only a guide. If the Taipan assassins have a leader among them at all, it is Lapis."
"Who is the extra for, then?" Percy asked, "There are only seven Taipan assassins. Why eight stilettos?"
Dumbledore looked at Bill. "The eighth is for Bill Weasley. He will even out our numbers. If he will accept the challenge."
Bill did not react with shock. "I was expecting this." he said, glancing at Christopher. He slowly nodded, then he rose from his seat. He walked to face Severus across the table. Severus picked up one of the stilettos and handed it to Bill, who removed it from its sheath and looked at it carefully. Both the stiletto and its sheath were made of platinum, with a snake etched into the handle. A taipan, Bill assumed correctly. He re-sheathed it and placed it on the inside of his robes.
Severus handed stilettos to Sirius, Christopher and Lapis. Of the remaining three stilettos, he handed two to Harry and placed the final one into his own robes.
"When the cursed weapons are recovered, keep the stilettos. I will remove the antidote charm and they will be the weapon of the Taipan assassin."
"Do you think I should have begun teaching again?"
"Why should I care one way or another? It is not my life, Hermione."
Amethyst and Hermione walked from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade. Amethyst had come to the school to deliver the final instructions to Hermione for the potion which would restore Remus.
"You are still adjusting to socializing, aren't you?" she asked.
Amethyst laughed herself. "I suppose you could say I am." she said. "I am not the social type, but you already know that." and she stopped laughing. "I am surprised you called me up here." she swept one of the earliest of the falling leaves off of the ground without breaking her stride. "You haven't spoken to me since before Ron died." she said this as if commenting on the weather.
Hermione flushed. "I have had a rough few months." she said, quietly.
Amethyst grunted her agreement, "And you are trying to decide if a friendship with myself and people like myself is what killed Ron." she stated simply.
Hermione cursed Amethysts ability to see beyond just about anything. The thin woman was extremely sharp and rarely missed anything. She sighed. "Ron's dedication to Harry is what killed him." she said quietly.
Amethyst nodded. "Well, Harry found the murderer and they have paid."
Hermione gave Amethyst a sharp look. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked.
Amethyst's gaze did not waver. "Harry found the murderer and they have paid." she repeated. Then she decided to give Hermione's mind a break. "Remember, he is a Ministry cop, Hermione."
Hermione's mind relaxed. "Of course." she said. But in the back of her mind, doubts still swam. Hermione knew that there was more to Harry than a simple Ministry cop in the small and apparently unimportant Department of Independent Investigations. She and Harry had been drifting apart ever since she and Ron had gotten married. And since he'd gotten involved with Draco, he seemed to become even colder. Not as bad as his lover, but there was something behind the eyes that Hermione had never known there before. He was keeping something from her. And Harry never kept secrets from her.
Amethyst brought her back to earth. "Now, about your teaching." she said. "You have children to raise. You cannot live off of his parents. You have too much pride for that. And your parents want you to leave the magical community. You would never do that. The insurance the Ministry provides is inadequate. You are not rich. You have to do something." she shrugged. "I don't know. I think it would have driven me insane, staying home with the children." she shuddered.
Hermione looked at Amethyst as they entered Hogsmeade. "Why are we friends?" she suddenly asked.
Amethyst laughed for a long time. "I ask myself that all the time, Hermione." she said.
"I think," Hermione said, slowing her pace a bit. "That it is because you are a lot of the things I wish I was. Absolutely sure of everything you have ever done. Confident."
Amethyst scoffed. "Have you been drinking First year potions, Hermione?" she asked. "You are confident. You are, are," and Amethyst struggled to look for a word to describe her friend.
"A hopeless romantic?" Hermione said, giggling.
Amethyst remembered the time she'd called Hermione that. So long ago it was. "Yes," she chuckled. "Yes, you are that. But you are also bubbly and cheerful. Or you were." she added.
"I'm getting back there." Hermione said. "Ron's death shocked me so badly. I knew that nothing bad would happen to him, after Harry killed You-Know-Who. Then he was killed and killed in such a horrible way. No one ever told me why they would scalp him or drain his blood. Vampires don't scalp people. No vampire killed him. Why, Amethyst?" and Hermione stopped and grabbed Amethysts arm.
There was nothing that would make Amethyst answer Hermione's question honestly. So she took a deep breath and sighed. "I don't know, Hermione." she said. She saw the tears in Hermione's eyes and quickly said. "Don't think about it, Hermione. Just think that the killers have been caught. And know too, that Harry would never let anything happen to you and your family."
Hermione got herself under control and began walking again. As they passed the Three Broomsticks, they saw Harry coming out of it with Severus. Harry smiled and hugged Hermione tightly.
"I have to be going." Harry made excuses when Hermione invited him to dinner. "Draco and I are going to be dining at 1013 tonight. We have a private suite."
Hermione chuckled. "You are becoming such a recluse." she said. "I'm surprised to see you off that island of yours. You've been spending too much time with these two." and she nodded to Amethyst and Severus. "They are rubbing off."
Severus scowled. "There are worse fates, Hermione."
Hermione nodded, as the four of them began to walk. "I suppose there are." and she glanced at Harry. "What brings you all the way into Hogsmeade?" she asked. "Ten Thirteen is in London."
"Just meting Severus for a drink while he waits for his wife to make her delivery." Harry said.
Hermione looked at Harry closely. "But why no Draco?" she asked. "I thought you two were joined at the hip."
"We are, Hermione." Came a voice behind them. Hermione completely missed the look of relief on Harry's face as Draco sauntered up to them.
"If you must know," Draco said, and Hermione marveled again at how sharp Draco's hearing was. "I had to stop at that antique shop your brothers-in-law run."
"Was that delivery for you, Draco?" Hermione said.
"Yes." Draco said. "My father collected antique weapons. It is one of the few passions we shared. The Ministry has finally given me the weapons from his house. They are going to turn the house into a museum, you know?"
"Are they?" Hermione gasped. "Whatever for?"
"They want people to see that the Death Eaters are all gone and harmless and that there is nothing more to fear." Draco said, shrugging.
"You don't agree?" Hermione said, as they reached the front of Fred and George's store. Candlelight streamed from the upstairs windows.
Draco grinned. "You know me, Hermione." he drawled. "I don't think this is a safe world. If not the Death Eaters, then someone else."
Hermione simply sighed and shrugged. She hugged everyone good-night and entered the store. Amethyst, Severus, Draco and Harry all began walking toward Hogsmeade Station.
"Were you able to catch up with the mystery delivery man?" Amethyst asked.
"He sang like a canary before he broke his back." Draco shrugged.
"And what song did he sing?" Severus asked, half a smile on his lips.
"A song of six weapons, of course." Draco smiled, coldly. "And where we might be able to find them."
A/N My lovelies, this is the final chapter FFnet will be getting of Exploring the Sinus. I don't upload many chapters, as I so much prefer doing the final editing on the KeeBook. So tune in there and find out more G.
Pax,
Crystallina Auctia
http://home.earthlink.net/~crysmeaker/ls/