Well, another day another chapter. Everyone review as seen fit. That's really I all have to say right now. Not in the mood to write a good A/N.

Chapter 13: Ghosts

Severus' heart was racing as he slowly made his way down the abandoned corridors of Hogwarts. He couldn't believe how so much could change in one day. He had let his guard down, that was it. He had spent so much time reveling in Mallory's love he stopped thinking that anything terrible could happen. Well, nothing terrible had exactly happened, not presently… but one overheard conversation changed the course of Severus' life.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he stopped and leaned against the cold stone wall. He tried to remember that morning when everything was pleasant…

He woke up, once again enjoying the warmth of another person. She was still asleep and Severus didn't have the heart to wake her peaceful form. He could hear rain lightly tapping against the chamber window. It was late March already and rain and storms were a constant. 

He turned his attention back to Mallory. He loved to watch her sleep. Her pink lips slightly parted, breathing quietly, her eyelashes making elegant crescents on her pale cheeks. She always seemed to emit an unearthly glow when she slept, giving her an angelic countenance.

He gently pulled down the blankets on her to reveal her unusual birthmark. At least, that's what she said it was. That she had had it her entire life. Her father had told her that Cerridwen, her mother, had a similar mark and wasn't at all surprised that she had inherited it. Carefully, he traced the mark with his finger and notice that it seemed to give off its own heat. Very peculiar. Looking her in the face, he asked in whispered wonder, "What kind of creature are you?"

Not at all expecting a reply to the inquiring, he was more than shocked when she responded in a disturbingly mechanical voice. "Some say I'm the daughter of the Oberon, a child of the Fae…" She rolled on her side, sighed, and continued sleeping.

What was that suppose to mean? He intended to find out. He gently shook her shoulder. "Mally, Mally."

She began to stir. "Mmm…Jesus Wept, Severus, what?"

"What did you mean by that?"

"By what, Severus? Go back to sleep."

"You were talking in your sleep."

"Was I? Didn't know I did that…but it's not like I had anyone around to tell me so before!" She giggled and even laughed at Severus' confused expression.

"But you…"

"Shh, don't worry about it. Come now, it's Saturday, sleep time," she said, patting the pillow.

So content, he felt almost innocent again when he was with her, but lost it all again that very night…

It was getting ridiculous. Almost a year since Voldemort's return and no good scheme had been revealed, only random attacks and other acts of violence performed by Death Eaters had been the only sign of activity. When they gathered it was more like a boasting contest. Who killed whom and how many etc…Severus almost half expected some to spread their arms wide while saying "I got me a mudblood this big!"

One of the biggest competitions, if it really could be called that, was who killed the most Aurors and how essential they were. That's when Severus over heard the conversation. He could easily recognize the speakers from the sounds of their voices.

"You? You never killed an Auror, no big league one anyway," came a superior, drawling voice.

"Yeah," broke in a gruffer voice, "You'd only be able to stand up to rookies."

"But I did!" Insisted a slightly squeaky voice. "Back in my youth, I got one of the more prestigious!"

"Really? Said the drawl, unconvinced. "Who then?"

"O'Kenly," the little man gloated, "Eamon O'Kenly, that stupid Irish transfer."

Severus topped breathing completely for a nanosecond. His entire insides turned cold. No. He remembered the promise to Mallory he made, and then came to the final decision, knowing exactly what he had to do, for the sake of the woman he loved.

He waited for some of the crowd to disperse and approached the small man. "Pardon me."

"Yes, what it is it Tucker?" He said, annoyed.

"I have some information to give you, but not right now, too many ears. Meet me at the ruins of Cladia tomorrow night…"

Swallowing hard and opening his eyes, Severus pushed himself off the mouldy wall and went on his way. He couldn't see her now; he'd see her tomorrow. Tomorrow evening, before he… Well, no use losing sleep over it. Yeah right.

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Mallory was getting concerned. She hadn't seen Severus all day. He almost seemed to be avoiding her. Almost seemed? He was avoiding her! This angered, upset, and confused her. There was no reason for it.

"Your move, dear."

Mallory was in her student-less classroom playing Cat's Cradle with the Grey Lady. Mallory picked a couple strings, laced them through her fingers, and sighed. "You seem a bit out of it, dear," Grey Lady commented. Mallory just smiled weakly at her. "I haven't seen you around Severus all day," she observed, "is that why you're so gloomy?"

Mallory gave another sigh. "I feel so dead when he's not around, like I'm no longer a complete person."

"You shouldn't revolve your life around one person, dear. I did that, and look at me now: Bound to earth waiting for a lost love that will never return. Not that I'm saying I'm not happy for you and Severus, I really am, but we all know what happened the last time you lost someone close."

Mallory looked up, concerned, at the ghost. "What do you mean, you think something's going to happen to Sev?"

 The Grey lady shrugged her silvery shoulders. "Well, playing spy isn't exactly the safest game, now is it?" She attempted to take the string off of Mallory's fingers, but the Irish woman suddenly stood up.

"I have to go find him!" She disentangled her fingers from the string. Just as she was about to leave the room, she ran smack into the person she was dashing off to find. "Severus, I was just …my God, what is it?"

Severus' appearance was definitely off. He was very livid, breathing irregular and obviously distraught. He seemed incapable of looking her in the eyes. "Mallory…"

The Grey Lady took her cue and floated through the wall behind Mallory's Desk.

Looking at him, Mally's breath caught in her throat. She reached a hand up and touched his face. "Please, Severus, tell me what's wrong."

He grabbed her by the shoulders and mustered all the strength to look at her directly. "I love you Mallory O'Kenly, always remember that."

Now she was frantically worried. "Severus what…"

He didn't let her finish. He pulled her into a searing kiss. She didn't like it; it seemed so final. She had no idea what was going on, and yet she was close to tears. He pulled away from her and handed her a small piece of parchment. "And you can never say I don't keep my promises." He gave her hand one last squeeze and left.

Mallory just stood there fixed, trying to work out what just happened. By the time she finally worked out to go after him, he was nowhere to be seen. She unfolded the paper he gave her. On it were only two words. A name:

Peter Pettigrew

In an instant, clarity struck. She knew what it meant, the name, and knew what Severus went off to do. Damn him. Curse him! In that same instant, she knew what it was she had to do.

Bursting out of the castle doors, wind whipped her braid about, undoing it with its invisible fingers. The rain mixed with tears on Mallory's face. The bastard, he knew this was mine to do. Why does he feel he has to bloody protect me? She slipped on the wet grass and took a tumble down an incline on the grounds. Luckily, nothing was broken. I'll set things right, then I'll kill him for being so…so… She couldn't even think. She was torn between a wave of hate, desperation, terror, and even an overwhelming sense of love was thrown in. Love for the father lost and for the man about to be.

Soaked through, she finally reached her destination, the Hogwarts Lake. On the shore, she bent on her knees and clasped her hands in a manner like praying.

"Children of Nature, hear your sister's plea.

Your Wisdom, Strength, and Power give to me.

Speak to me, Sprites, and give me aid

By magick, might, or by blade."

The recital finished, she leaned over to look at her reflection in the water, which shimmered and transformed. The Lady's skin was even paler than Mallory's and her hair shockingly white. Her blue eyes held an ethereal glow. Smiling (and the white woman smiling back) Mallory reached towards the water. The Lady mirrored her actions. Mallory then plunged her arm into the water where the two women's hands would seem to meet. She felt a weight in her grip as she did so. She stood, pulling a sword out of the lake as she did so.

Thunder and lightning continued around her as she took in the sword in all its glory. From blade to hilt, it was made entirely of the finest silver. The hilt was adorned with colourful gems and crystals not found in any earthly realm. In runic script, the blade bore its own name.

This magical artifact surged with power, a power that overwhelmed and overtook its beholder. Mallory felt a flash of burning heat, an immense pain, but it lasted a mere moment. In a flash of brilliant white light, Mallory O'Kenly vanished, Excalibur in hand.

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Hey, it's been a while since I've done this, but here's my Divine List of Reviewers:

swift_footed_e; Awen; Allosia Hemrand; Athena; Normandie M; Laura; Sor; Silverflame; Barrelracerchick; Phoenix Storm; Anna; potionsmaster; Iphigenia; Amazed; Waldomier; Bria

Thank You all Very much! Be on the look out for Chapter 14! While you wait, please r/r any of my other stories.

Oh, and say hello to my new employee, Joe. He's a leprechaun replacing the Parenthetical Phrase Elf I fired last weekend. Let's give him a warm welcome. And if any one could use their own leprechaun, ask Normandie M. Just make sure she doesn't push Aidan on you.