A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter. This chapter is dedicated to Tanasia Maleficarum. Severus wanted me to tell you that he can still be mean and cruel and that he loves how you portray him is your stories and that he is very pleased with you. He said to tell you….Tanasia, my love, this is for you…..
When Evil Returns
Chapter Two: Deception
The owl arrived in the Great hall with the rest of the owl post depositing the letter on Darci Codrington's plate. She silently removed the letter and placed it in her pocket. She knew that this letter needed to be viewed in private. After breakfast, she made her way back to her room, having a little time before her first class, she sat down on her bed, took out the letter and read:
Darci,
We need to meet. I will be in Hogsmeade tomorrow. Come to The Three Broomsticks and ask for the key to room 21. I have a new toy for you. I'll be waiting.
Your Lion
This made her day. She was going to see Lucius in just a few hours.
The next morning after breakfast, Darci Codrington left the castle and headed to Hogsmeade. When she arrived at the Three Broomsticks she asked for the key to room 21. With key in hand she smiled as she walked to her destination. When she opened the door the room was dark. She walked in and was struck from behind. A gag was placed over her mouth, a blindfold was placed over her eyes then she was thrown on the bed face down. She felt the cold steel around her ankles and wrists as she was manacled to the bed. When in place a cruel voice whispered in her ear, "Are you ready?" She nodded her head yes as a pair of hands grabbed her robes and pulled, ripping the material to shreds. As he lay on top of her biting the back of her neck, he pulled the gag from her mouth.
"Hello Lucius my love."
A few hours later as they were lying in each others arms Lucius decided it was time to talk.
"How is my daughter?" he asked.
"She is too nice, It's very hard to find things to harass her about. She is the perfect student. I have had to make things up that she has done wrong. I am running out of ideas on how to upset her," said Darci, "Do you have any?"
"Oh yes, that is one reason I needed to see you. I want you to set up a little rendezvous with Severus. One that his wife might not like and I want Kyleigh to witness it. I want her to hate him. I want her to despise him. Do you think you can handle that?" he asked.
"Piece of cake," she said smiling wickedly.
~~*~~
The next week went pretty well for Kyleigh and company. No detentions and only minimal points had been taken for Professor Codrington's class. But that was going to change very soon.
It was Friday and the morning had started out pretty good for Kyleigh. It wasn't until she needed to stop at the bathroom before transfiguration that things started to go wrong. Kyleigh stopped to use the facilities closest to the transfiguration classroom. It just happened to be Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. As Kyleigh was washing he hands, Myrtle came out of her toilet, startling Kyleigh who gave a small yelp of surprise.
"Why are you in my bathroom? Why haven't you been to see me lately?" asked Myrtle.
"I beg you pardon. Who are you?" asked Kyleigh who was now recovered from being startled.
"Oh come now, it hasn't been that long. You don't remember me?" sniffed Myrtle.
"I have never seen you before in my life. This is my first year at Hogwarts. Hey wait a minute, aren't you Myrtle?" asked Kyleigh.
"Yes, but if you have never met me then how do you know my name?"
"My Mother old me all about you and how you were so helpful in helping Harry and Ron find the chamber of secrets."
"That was your Mother?"
"Yes."
"Did she tell you that she came in here to make a potion?"
Polyjuice potion. Yes I know. She said that you were very helpful and that you also helped Harry with that tri-wizard tournament egg."
This made Myrtle blush, well as much as a ghost could blush.
"How is Harry? I haven't seen him for ages," asked Myrtle.
"He is wonderful. One of his children will be starting school here next year," explained Kyleigh.
"Oh," said Myrtle looking sad, "I didn't know he got married."
"Yes, he married the girl he brought out of the chamber of secrets."
"Oh, I see."
"Oh no," exclaimed Kyleigh, "I'm late for transfiguration. Professor Codrington is going to kill me. Well nice to meet you Myrtle."
"Nice to meet you too. Come and visit sometime," said Myrtle.
"I will, bye."
As Kyleigh left the bathroom she knew she was in for it. She thought about skiving off but knew that it would only make it worse. When Kyleigh reached the door she took a deep breath and opened the door stepping inside.
"Well Miss Malfoy, nice of you to join us," growled Professor Codrington.
"I'm sorry I'm late, I needed to use the …….."
"I don't want to hear any of your excuses. You get no marks for today, ten points from Gryffindor and a detention," snarled Professor Codrington.
"But it wasn't……."
"Don't talk back to me. That's another ten points from Gryffindor."
"But that's not fair," Jamie blurted out.
"Well I can see your protector is at it again Miss Malfoy. Ten points from Mr. Hawk and you can join Miss Malfoy in her detention. Anyone else?" she snapped.
No one answered.
"Good, now as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," she said looking at Kyleigh with loathing, "Today we will be turning straw into needles. Get out your books."
She then opened the double doors of the supply cabinet, bent over and looked on the bottom shelf looking for the straw they would be needing. As she was bent over, one of the doors to the cabinet suddenly swung shut, smacking her hard in the ass, nearly knocking her over. The class burst into gales of laughter. She came out of the cabinet fuming.
"Who did that?" she demanded.
No one answered as they tried to stifle their sniggering.
With a seething voice she yelled, "Fifty points from Gryffindor for rudeness."
The sniggers immediately stopped and were followed by grumbles of dislike.
"Would you like to make it one hundred?"
Instant silence.
"That's better. Now……"
The class was silent the rest of the hour, When the bell rang she said, "Miss Malfoy and Mr. Hawk, my desk, NOW!"
Kyleigh and Jamie made their way to her desk.
"You are to meet me here at 7:00 for your detention. Be prepared to scrub floors. Get out NOW," she demanded.
When Kyleigh and Jamie got out of ear shot to her room, Jamie turned to Kyleigh and said, "We have got to get rid of that woman."
After dinner, Kyleigh and Jamie made their way back to her classroom.
"You are a minute late. You just added another hour on to your detention. Kyleigh bit her tongue to keep from saying anything.
"Here are the buckets and brushes and cleaning solution you will be using. When I come back the floor had better be clean. Is that understood?"
"Yes," they said in unison.
She then left.
"I hate that woman," said Kyleigh through gritted teeth, "This isn't exactly how I wanted to spend a Friday night."
"I know what you mean. Well I guess we should get this done," said Jamie grumpily.
Over the next hour they talked about things that the other didn't know about. Kyleigh talked of life in England, wizard families and quidditch. Jamie talked of life on a reservation, Shamans and Baseball. As he was explaining the positions and jobs of each player he heard Kyleigh cry out in pain. When he looked up he gasped. Kyleigh was sitting on the floor looking at her hand that were now twice the size they should be and there were angry red blisters covering them.
"What happened?" asked Jamie as he made his way over to her.
"I don't know," she whimpered, " I think that I must be allergic to the cleaning solution. They really hurt." As she was saying this, more blisters were forming.
"I need to get you to Madam Pomfrey," said Jamie as he helped her to her feet.
"But what about Professor Codrington and the detention?" asked Kyleigh.
"As you British say she can sod off. Let's get you to the hospital."
In her hiding place from across the hall, Professor Codrington smiled as Kyleigh and Jamie left the room. This was going to be easier than she thought. After they disappeared down the hall she started to slowly walk to the potions dungeon. It was time to get Severus. She knew that if would only take a few minutes for Madam Pomfrey to heal Kyleigh's hand and to bandage them. After about an hour, Darci knocked on Severus door.
"Yes?" he called from inside the room.
Darci threw open the door and said, "Severus, it's Kyleigh. She had an accident, she isn't hurt bad but she asked for you. Severus immediately got up from his desk and strode to Darci.
"Where is she?" he asked concernedly.
"With Madam Pomfrey," she said as he strolled past her.
"I'll go with you," she said as she rushed past him.
Severus was walking like extremely fast noticeably upset. Darci jogged to catch up. Putting a hand on his arm she said, "Severus."
He stopped, turned to look at her with worry on his face.
"Severus, I'm sure she is alright," she said trying to comfort him as she placed a tender hand on his face as she reached up to kiss him. As her lips took his in a hungry kiss her hand shot out and grabbed him in the privates. His hand immediately grabbed her by the throat squeezing hard throwing her against the wall.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" he said through gritted teeth, "If you EVER touch me again I will fucking kill you do you understand me?" he growled.
~~*~~
Madam Pomfrey had no problem at all with Kyleigh's hands. After just a few minutes they were back to normal. As they made there way back to the classroom, Kyleigh stopped dead in her tracks. There right in front of them was Severus and Professor Codrington and they were….kissing and her hand was in a very inappropriate place. Kyleigh's hand flew to her mouth to stifle the cry as her eyes filled with tears, she turned and ran, not caring where, she just had to get away. How could he do that to Katarina. She didn't understand. She kept running as tears streamed down her face.
Jamie was transfixed to the spot. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. And then Professor Snape grabbed Professor Codrington by the throat and started to threaten her but she had this look of triumph on her face. When Jamie turned to look at Kyleigh he realized that she wasn't there. "Oh no," he thought, where could she have gone? He turned and started walking to Gryffindor tower. She must be there. When he got back to the tower he saw Neona.
"Hello Jamie, done already with your detention? Where's Kyleigh?" she asked as she saw the look on his face.
"I don't know. She just witnessed something that really upset her and she ran off. I was hoping that she came here," he said worriedly.
"No I haven't seen her. What did she see?" Neona asked with panic starting to rise.
Jamie pulled her aside and explained what he saw.
"That slut!" said Neona, "I think we need to tell my father. Come on."
When they got to Remus' room, Jamie explained what had happened. Remus' hand raked througt his slightly graying hair and said,
"Shit… sorry. You two go back to Gryffindor tower, stay there just incase she comes back. I'll go to Severus," he said as he went to his desk and retrieved a piece of old parchment.
When he got to Severus' room he didn't bother to knock.
"Severus, I need to see you," he said urgently.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Well it seems that while Draci was accosting you in the hall, a couple of students witnessed the encounter. At least part of it anyway."
"Great, who?"
"Kyleigh."
"FUCK. Where is she?" asked Severus as his stomach got this sick feeling.
"We don't know. She only saw part of it. The part with the kiss and the hand. She took off. Jamie saw the whole thing but realized too late that Kyleigh was gone."
"What are we going to do? Remus, I didn't welcome her advances, I immediately put a stop to them," Severus stated emphatically.
"I know. I never have liked Darci Codrington, there is something evil about that woman, Anyway, about how we are going to find her. Harry thought that I may need this," he said as he pulled out the Marauder's map. Harry thought that with the threat of Lucius, it might be a good way to keep track of where the children are. I am sure glad we have it."
As Remus laid it on the desk he tapped his wand to the corner and said, "I do solemnly swear I am up to no good." Immediately the map started to appear. Looking over it carefully he finally found where she was.
"She is in the Astronomy tower. Do you want me to come with you?"
"No I need to handle this on my own. Thanks," said Severus as he grabbed his cloak and headed out the door.
When Severus entered the Astronomy tower he heard her before he saw her. When his eyes focused to the dim light he saw her sitting with her back to the wall curled up in a little ball, sobbing. He made his way to her and sat down next to her. She recoiled.
"Kyleigh," he said reaching out to her.
"Don't touch me," she snarled.
"Kyleigh," he said, "It isn't what it looked like."
"Oh really, then what was it? How can you explain away the fact that I saw you kissing a woman that isn't your wife while her hand was on your crotch. Explain away if you can," she said with loathing and she turned to look him in the eyes as the tears streamed down her face.
"Had you stayed even a second longer, you would have seen me grabbing her by the throat, slamming her up against the wall asking her what the fuck she was doing," he said with his own tears starting to fall, "I would NEVER betray Katarina. Kyleigh, she is my life and I would NEVER ever hurt her. It makes me sick that another woman even got that close to me. Believe me I will be going to Minerva about this."
Kyleigh looked into his eyes. The anguish she saw was unbelievable. He was telling the truth. "Oh Master, I am so sorry that I would ever believe that you would ever do something so despicable. Can you forgive me?" she asked as her tears started to flow again.
Severus enfolded her in his arms, smoothing her hair as he said, "Kyleigh there is nothing to forgive. You are a good friend to Katarina. But what am I going to do? Darci is an evil woman, what if she owls Katarina telling her all kinds of lies? What should I do?"
"I think we need to go to the owlry immediately and owl Katarina, explaining what happened. Straight away."
"I think you're right," he said, then he noticed her shivering and gently put his cloak around her, "How are your hands?"
"They hurt but Madam Pomfrey said they would be fine. Let's go, it's cold up here," she said.
They walked back to Gryffindor tower in silence. When they reached the entrance, Kyleigh turned to Severus and hugged him saying, "I love you Master."
Severus knelt down hugging her tenderly. "I love you too, as if you were one of my own. Goodnight Kyleigh."
"Goodnight Master."
Severus went back to his office, penned the letter, went to the owlry and sent the letter. He felt better knowing that he had told Katarina. They had promised when they got married there would be no secrets.
The next morning was Saturday and the great hall was packed for breakfast. When they were about half way done with their meal, the post owls came streaming into the hall. Severus who was talking to Remus who was sitting on his left, immediately recognized his screech owl named Scully come swooping over to the teachers table carrying two letters. Scully deposited one to him and one to Professor Codrington who was sitting to Remus' left. His eyes grew large. Darci's letter was bright red.
"I would open that post haste if I were you," said Minerva who was sitting on the other side of Darci trying to hide a smile. By now all the students in the hall had their eyes glued to the teachers table wondering who would send a teacher a howler.
When she opened the letter it was almost like a bomb going off……
PROFESSOR CODRINGTON,
I UNDERSTAND THAT MY HUSBAND IS A WONDERFULLY HANDSOME, GIVING, AND LOVING MAN AND THAT YOU MAY FIND HIM COMPLETELY IRRESTISTABLE HOWEVER FOR HEALTH REASONS I THINK IT MAY BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF! I HOPE THAT I HAVE MADE MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR!
Darci's face went scarlet as the entire hall exploded with laughter. Through gritted teeth she leaned in front of Remus and asked Severus, "What's the meaning of this?"
Trying with all of his might not to burst into laughter himself he said quietly, "She means, Professor Codrington, for you to keep your fucking hands to yourself."
That was all it took Remus couldn't stand it any longer at burst out laughing followed by Severus and Minerva.
Darci, face flaming got up from the table and started to leave. Severus calling to her retreating back said, "Darci, you forgot your letter."
The room exploded again.