The Firetah
(Part Fifteen)
Severus Snape strode irritably across the lawn of Hogwarts. His hair was filthy, his robes torn.
The pale moon darkened his face with shadows and made his scowl look even more menacing. "This had better be important, Dumbledore..." he thought, as he made his way silently up the stairs to the Headmaster's office. He was weary to the bone, and he was sure he was on the verge of an important discovery about the Dark Lord...then he was called away to listen to a story about a child. How could he be of any use here?
"Ah, Severus. Good of you to come."
The voice was not the one he remembered from last summer. He looked at Dumbledore wearily and was taken-aback at how tired and old he looked. Still, his discovery could win them the war...if only he could find out what the secret was. He pushed on, impatient to get back.
"Professor Dumbledore...what is the meaning of asking me back at such an important time? You understand that I was just about to..."
"Wait, Severus. This news, I assure you, is important enough to warrent your utmost attention. I believe you can help me. You see....I think I've got it all wrong."
Severus was silent for a few moments. "What have you got all wrong, Albus? I don't think I'll be able to help you, whatever it is." Snape's face had twisted into an impatient grimace.
"Just let me explain, Severus. Sit down...this will take a while."
An hour later Snape was standing at the window of the Headmaster's office, trying to piece it all together. His reverie was broken by Albus's tired, frail voice. "Do just look at them tomorrow and see if it's the same, Severus...will you?"
Snape was exhausted. He turned to Dumbledore. "If you say, Headmaster. Now I am tired and I am going to bed. I'll see what I can do, in the morning."
********
Anchoret woke up the next morning pale and cold. Her eyes were dry and her hair was mussed into an anxious tangle. She pushed it back with one pale hand and stood up groggily. She swayed for a moment but then seemed to regain her balance. She didn't notice Hermione until she spoke, making Anchoret jump.
"Sorry, Anchoret...but I decided to wait and walk with you downstairs. I thought you might be a bit...shaky." Anchoret felt her eyes well up with tears. Friends. She turned to Hermione and smiled. Just for a moment they were teenagers again, carefree. After Anchoret was ready, they made their way slowly downstairs. It was a Saturday and everyone was just waking up.
"So, Hermione...you made the discovery. I wondered when one of you would find out. It was so hard...so hard to keep such a thing from you. But I couldn't tell...I just couldn't. Do you see?"
Anchoret had said all this very slowly and with much difficulty. Hermione just looked at Anchoret with compassion and hugged her, right there on the stairs. "It'll all work out, Anchoret, I understand. It'll be all right tonight, when you choose. I know you will make the right decision. I think you are wise in a way no one else is. I also think that we are going to be late for breakfast. So come on!" Anchoret smiled a tiny smile and followed her. She seemed to be doing a lot of following these days...
********
Draco made his way silently down to breakfast. He felt different...changed somehow. Ever since Anchoret had walked away from him last night he had been silent. No insults, no pushing. He had things to work out. He wanted her. As sure as he had wanted to be on the Slytherin Quidditch team, as sure as he had wanted his snake, Shakura. But those things he had wanted to show off, to brag about. With her it was different. He realized with a start that what was different was that he needed her, too. Needed her like air, or sunlight. She had become as essential to him as money. No...more.
His stride lengthened with determination. He would tell her. And not just to get her away from Harry, like it had felt at first. But he would tell her because he loved her. His mind blanched at the words. He had never said them aloud to anyone. Not even to his parents, not even when he was little. He would say them today, though. It was the only thing left to say. He must say the words, tell her everything his kiss did not. His father and anyone else that disapproved could sod off. He shoved a third year Ravenclaw out of his way as he approached the noiser than usual Great Hall.
It would all come down to this.
********
Harry sat at the Gryffindor table and sighed. He felt like he had just finished his N.E.W.T.s...and he hadn't even thought about them yet. He was glad, in a way, that it would all be decided tonight. It would end. He would be free, either way.
He couldn't take any more of this constant worrying, the ever present nervousness he felt when she so much as looked at him. Friends or lovers, they would always share a bond. He knew this, and for once, when he watched her walk across the room, laughing with Hermione, he felt peace.
He knew like he had seen it in one of Madam Trelawney's crystal balls that even if she did choose that dirtbag, Malfoy, they would still be friends. He didn't know how, and he still wanted her with all his heart, but it would be all right. She would choose wisely. He ate with gusto.
********
Harry didn't yet see the man who would help Anchoret choose. Snape stood in the shadows, watching them silently. Brooding. He didn't quite know what to make of it all, yet. How did Dumbledore think he could help...
Just then Malfoy walked in. Anchoret's eyes went to him as if he were a magnet. Draco was staring at her purposefully. Snape's thoughts stopped dead....his body, hidden by the shadows, stood rigid. His breathing stopped...the world went black for an instant. Then he forced himself to come out of it. To crawl out of the miserable pit of his memories and live.
Because as soon as Malfoy walked into the Great Hall, Snape knew everything.
(Part Fifteen)
Severus Snape strode irritably across the lawn of Hogwarts. His hair was filthy, his robes torn.
The pale moon darkened his face with shadows and made his scowl look even more menacing. "This had better be important, Dumbledore..." he thought, as he made his way silently up the stairs to the Headmaster's office. He was weary to the bone, and he was sure he was on the verge of an important discovery about the Dark Lord...then he was called away to listen to a story about a child. How could he be of any use here?
"Ah, Severus. Good of you to come."
The voice was not the one he remembered from last summer. He looked at Dumbledore wearily and was taken-aback at how tired and old he looked. Still, his discovery could win them the war...if only he could find out what the secret was. He pushed on, impatient to get back.
"Professor Dumbledore...what is the meaning of asking me back at such an important time? You understand that I was just about to..."
"Wait, Severus. This news, I assure you, is important enough to warrent your utmost attention. I believe you can help me. You see....I think I've got it all wrong."
Severus was silent for a few moments. "What have you got all wrong, Albus? I don't think I'll be able to help you, whatever it is." Snape's face had twisted into an impatient grimace.
"Just let me explain, Severus. Sit down...this will take a while."
An hour later Snape was standing at the window of the Headmaster's office, trying to piece it all together. His reverie was broken by Albus's tired, frail voice. "Do just look at them tomorrow and see if it's the same, Severus...will you?"
Snape was exhausted. He turned to Dumbledore. "If you say, Headmaster. Now I am tired and I am going to bed. I'll see what I can do, in the morning."
********
Anchoret woke up the next morning pale and cold. Her eyes were dry and her hair was mussed into an anxious tangle. She pushed it back with one pale hand and stood up groggily. She swayed for a moment but then seemed to regain her balance. She didn't notice Hermione until she spoke, making Anchoret jump.
"Sorry, Anchoret...but I decided to wait and walk with you downstairs. I thought you might be a bit...shaky." Anchoret felt her eyes well up with tears. Friends. She turned to Hermione and smiled. Just for a moment they were teenagers again, carefree. After Anchoret was ready, they made their way slowly downstairs. It was a Saturday and everyone was just waking up.
"So, Hermione...you made the discovery. I wondered when one of you would find out. It was so hard...so hard to keep such a thing from you. But I couldn't tell...I just couldn't. Do you see?"
Anchoret had said all this very slowly and with much difficulty. Hermione just looked at Anchoret with compassion and hugged her, right there on the stairs. "It'll all work out, Anchoret, I understand. It'll be all right tonight, when you choose. I know you will make the right decision. I think you are wise in a way no one else is. I also think that we are going to be late for breakfast. So come on!" Anchoret smiled a tiny smile and followed her. She seemed to be doing a lot of following these days...
********
Draco made his way silently down to breakfast. He felt different...changed somehow. Ever since Anchoret had walked away from him last night he had been silent. No insults, no pushing. He had things to work out. He wanted her. As sure as he had wanted to be on the Slytherin Quidditch team, as sure as he had wanted his snake, Shakura. But those things he had wanted to show off, to brag about. With her it was different. He realized with a start that what was different was that he needed her, too. Needed her like air, or sunlight. She had become as essential to him as money. No...more.
His stride lengthened with determination. He would tell her. And not just to get her away from Harry, like it had felt at first. But he would tell her because he loved her. His mind blanched at the words. He had never said them aloud to anyone. Not even to his parents, not even when he was little. He would say them today, though. It was the only thing left to say. He must say the words, tell her everything his kiss did not. His father and anyone else that disapproved could sod off. He shoved a third year Ravenclaw out of his way as he approached the noiser than usual Great Hall.
It would all come down to this.
********
Harry sat at the Gryffindor table and sighed. He felt like he had just finished his N.E.W.T.s...and he hadn't even thought about them yet. He was glad, in a way, that it would all be decided tonight. It would end. He would be free, either way.
He couldn't take any more of this constant worrying, the ever present nervousness he felt when she so much as looked at him. Friends or lovers, they would always share a bond. He knew this, and for once, when he watched her walk across the room, laughing with Hermione, he felt peace.
He knew like he had seen it in one of Madam Trelawney's crystal balls that even if she did choose that dirtbag, Malfoy, they would still be friends. He didn't know how, and he still wanted her with all his heart, but it would be all right. She would choose wisely. He ate with gusto.
********
Harry didn't yet see the man who would help Anchoret choose. Snape stood in the shadows, watching them silently. Brooding. He didn't quite know what to make of it all, yet. How did Dumbledore think he could help...
Just then Malfoy walked in. Anchoret's eyes went to him as if he were a magnet. Draco was staring at her purposefully. Snape's thoughts stopped dead....his body, hidden by the shadows, stood rigid. His breathing stopped...the world went black for an instant. Then he forced himself to come out of it. To crawl out of the miserable pit of his memories and live.
Because as soon as Malfoy walked into the Great Hall, Snape knew everything.
