Sleep, for the first time in years, had been peaceful for him. Until of course, an old familiar feeling began to interrupt his soon to be forgotten dreams. Dark eyes flashing open, the pain began to ravage on his arm. The mark of the pain's origin began burning blacker than his own eyes. Reluctantly, he sat up in his bed, careful not to disturb the woman at his side. For a moment, he looked at her - remembering what they had shared that evening. She, like himself, was still undressed and wrapped in his warm blankets. Her breathing was even and easy, her eyelids flickering a little bit as she continued dreaming. He was sure that she would sleep for several more hours, as it was still awhile before dawn. Glad that he could leave before she saw what he was bound to, Severus bent down and kissed Audrey on her forehead. A mournful smile slipped cross his face as he slowly left the bed, got dressed and then went to answer the call from the one whose dark magic was pulling him. Like on so many other nights before this, he did not look back to the hallways that were his sanctuary once he had left the building. If he had, it would have destroyed his resolve . . .
They met in a clearing surrounded by a vast forest which was virgin to the touch of men. It served the purpose of their meeting not being interrupted by auras. Only a few of the old guard were present, no more than that -save for their lord, who waited silently in the shadows of the trees for the last arrival. Of course, the last one had an excuse not to feel the master's displeasure - Hogwarts lay in his way, after all. At the master's side was Wormtail and the new widower, Malfoy. The others were only there as witnesses to the plot, or because the master found them entertaining. No one questioned their reason of being there, though . . . it wasn't their place to. Finally, the last member of their little party made his appearance - cloaked and masked like the others. Only Wormtail did not wear the Death Eater's 'uniform'."Ah, Snape . . . so pleasant of you to decide to grace us with your appearance -all be it a slight bit too late to be fashionable." The Master began, casting a long moon born shadow upon the one to whom he spoke.
"My Lord . . ." Severus began, but Voldemort cut off his sentence with a sweeping gesture of his hand."No excuses. I know well what hinders you." Then, a horrid version of a smile crossed his serpentine face. "I know all too well - don't I, Lucius?"
The man in question merely bowed his head in acknowledgement. Snape knew that the elder Malfoy was smiling beneath his mask. After all, this was a trap baited and set which Severus could not escape. It had to give Lucius pleasure to play witness to such a thing, and prove even more of an ecstasy to help cause it. Voldemort turned his red eyes back onto the man who played the role of Potions Master at Hogwarts School. The smile had left his face, and he tilted his head in what seemed a curious angle."But, we are here to make hindrances into aides." A sparkle to the red eyes, one that could be called cruel humor. It made Severus' blood turn icy. "Which is why I called you, my Potions Master. Knowing well that you want to prove yourself out of my suspicions . . . I've a plan for you. I hear that you've an old friend in Hogwarts . . . one who had a miraculous recovery some years ago, as I remember?" Voldemort was sure that Snape lost what little color he had, but he gave no hint to his underling. "Well? Is Lark Windsong truly returned from the grave as is rumored from so long ago?"
"She never died, as I recall." Lucius added, unasked. Voldemort gave him a warning look, which made the man resolve to silence."Then, if that is so, it was a fault on your side -Severus. As it was that I gave you the order to kill her, and watched you administer the potion myself." Voldemort seemed to grow bored with what he was giving remembrance too, but he knew that Severus was squirming more than ever. "I recall that she was spotted some time after that evening, and that you were tortured for that little fault. Is this so, are am I going senile in my own rebirth?"
"It is so, what you've recounted. I used an unsound measurement in the poison you had me brew to execute her with, and it put her into a shortened coma instead of sending her into the next world." Snape's voice did not give off the fear he was feeling, only letting out the sound of disappointment at failing Voldemort. There was no mention of the truth of what he had done that mentioned evening. Saying that he had mixed in his own blood - enchanted with a charm of protection- would have cause his death right at that second. "I was held under suspicion then as well, milord.""That seems to always be the case with you, Severus." Voldemort's laugh was harsh. Then, the ugly face cleared, and he gave the masked wizard a serious look. "However, I feel it is time to let you prove yourself. The task is simple. You will bring Madame Windsong to me, and I shall have an audience with her. Our talk will have drastic influence on her future." He let the implications those words had set into Snape's mind.
"As you will have it, milord." Severus finally stated, voice still clear of his real emotions."Yes." Then, Voldemort waved the man away. "Now, you may go back from whence you came. Can't have you missed, can we?"
Moments later, Snape was gone . . . the others with him. Only Voldemort, Lucius and Wormtail remained."He will have his uses for awhile." The Dark Lord began, not looking at either of the two with him. "Let him believe he can regain my trust with this."
"She is a danger . . . we should just kill her." Lucius replied, trying not to sound to obtrusive. That failed immediately. A second later, he was writhing on the ground from being cursed by Voldemort."You think giving one more try to harnessing magic as old as that woman has is unwise? Pity, Lucius . . . I always thought you had wit. Perhaps I am wrong?" Voldemort stayed calm, unamused as he watched the other man suffer. Wormtail stood away from them, watching with half masked fear. Growing bored, the Dark One lifted the curse . . leaving Lucius sprawled out on the clearing's dying grass. "but, don't fret too quickly . . . I know you covet her life. If she refuses my service again, you may have her . . . and Severus may pay attendance to whatever it is you choose to do with her."
"I simply want that heathen dead." Lucius said, still trying to cast off the pain of what he'd just experienced."That will prove entertaining enough. I'm sure Snape will agree with you." The smile on the serpentine face chilled Lucius, though he was giving him favor of such a grant over another life. "Either way, it shall be pleasing - that meeting. Though, I will pity the loss of such a source of knowledge. Very few of her people ever come to our shores . . . and even fewer would have her placement in our honored house. Such a pity." Then, the smile cleared, and he looked towards Wormtail. "Come, we leave." And with that, those two were gone . . . leaving Lucius alone in the shadows of trees.
~~~He was half way to his destination when he was met by Dumbledore in the corridors.
"Severus, I understand you have need of my ear?""One would say that, Albus." The younger man nodded, trying to catch his breath and not to begin raving with panic. "And for this, we must call Audrey to the meeting as well. It concerns her a great deal."
"She is already here." The woman in question stepped out of the shadows after Dumbledore, and caught Severus around the middle to help support him. Lark could see the horror etched into his face. Whatever had gone on in that meeting had greatly affected him. "But, before we talk - you should. . .""No! You will both here me out now, for we have little time which to plan . . ." Severus stated, looking at her sharply. Then, his eyes went to Dumbledore. "And I don't think that, whatever we come up with, will be good enough to fully solve this situation."
~*~ The Plot Thickens ~*~Fawkes, the phoenix, watched the scene with interest. He knew what was going on well enough, and wished there were more he could do to help the humans prowling Dumbledore's office. Lark watched as Severus paced the room, his fingers cradling his chin as he thought -speaking what passed his mind out loud. It was not a sight she'd never seen before.
"Obviously, there is not much we can do . . . unless of course Audrey takes my own path. Or, I could always silently renounce my false allegiance, and go into hiding. Those," Snape took his fingers from his face, looking directly at Dumbledore, "seem to be the only answers. Unless of course, I sacrifice myself . . .""Which will benefit no one, nor will I allow you to do that." Lark cut him off, standing from the seat she had taken.
"And you think I'd allow it of you?" His long arms crossed themselves over his chest. "I know you'd never give into what . . . will be asked of you, nor will I lead you into death - for I have no way of leading you out again, as I did last time.""It wasn't your fault last time, you didn't lead me . . . I was trapped, as you'll recall . . . by Lucius and one of his plots. Something which I should have noticed immediately - and failed to do so." Then, she took a breath, "And, there may be away for me to lead myself out this time, if it comes down to me being led into danger."
"You will use Earth Magic?" Dumbledore asked, having stayed silent during the slightly hidden lover's squabble."A form of it, yes . . . but, I'll have to consult my Uncle Rattle on what I want to use."
"I'm sure the Dark Lord will be tracing every move you make, better not have your family involved with this too . . ." Severus stated, shaking his head with dismay."That won't matter. Rattle is already here. He was here each year I attended school, and he guided me out of the forest that one time . . ." By then, Lark had noticed the smile on Dumbledore's face. "You knew?"
"Of course." The Headmaster's twinkling eyes made her smile a bit back. Severus, however, was looking rather confused."Rattle was here?"
"Yes, and you met him many times. He brought me my mail then, as he does now, only under a different name." A smirk crossed her features. "Don't you think Horus looks so like Corbin did?""Another unregistered Animagus?" Severus raised his eyebrow.
"Not quite that. Our people don't learn to do it . . . we either have it or not." Lark shrugged. "And Rattle came with me in disguise. I didn't even know it until after that one night . . ." Another smirk. "I, of course, should have realized it - as I inherited the same type of trait. Different bird though.""What type of bi . . ." Before Snape could finish, a rather large black raven was sitting on his shoulder, beak to nose with him. Audrey, however, was gone. "I see." Severus stated. The bird rubbed it's head gently against his cheek, then took flight. It flitted to the chair where Audrey had been sitting, then in a small mist, she reappeared - her bird form gone in less than a half second. "I take it, then . . . that if your plan works, you will go into hiding?"
"Yes, I will go into hiding here, as your or another teacher's raven familiar - in front of the students, of course." Then, her icy demeanor left. "Because, I don't think I could leave you again - and I know I'd not be able to bear your total lose -as I'm sure would happen if you went to Voldemort empty handed or went into hiding yourself. Besides, you are needed in this war . . . far more than I am needed.""Consult your Uncle, then, my dear Lark." Dumbledore nodded. With that, before Severus could protest, Lark turned herself into the raven, and left through the window.
"I don't like it." Severus muttered.The other bird in the room had left it's perch as well, landing on Snape's shoulder as the raven had. The tall man sighed gently, casting his dark eyes to the floor.
"Let her do as she will . . . it seems she knows what should be done, and I agree." Dumbledore stated."So, you'd let her go blindly into death, if it choose to claim her?" Severus growled, trying to push the bird from him. Fawkes stayed put though, not in the slightest bit disturb by this treatment. Snape's attitude was usually like this . . . though perhaps less afraid, less worried.
"You do it as well, and for the same cause. Besides, I have a feeling she won't go into death at all, and she'll see that you don't face it as well." Dumbledore replied, his voice grave. Then, the twinkle returned to his eyes and he smiled at the younger man whom he'd taken under his wing -as much as Severus would allow himself to be taken. "Now, I'll call for you when Lark presents her plans . . . for the moment though, I think you should seek your bed. Let Fawkes go along with you, he seems as though he misses your presence."~~~
>"I don't like it."> Rattle stated, sitting on Lark's floor. He didn't like furniture . . . never really had. But, that wasn't what he was speaking of. >"After all, he is resigned to his path. . .">>"Death isn't on his path, not for years to come."> Lark argued, furrowing her brows.
"Nor is it on yours." Rattle broke into English rather abruptly."No, it won't be if I take this turn in the road. That is considering you help me make this spell. I can't do it on my own." She sat on the floor next to him, laying her head on his shoulder. "Rattle, help me. I know you can, and I know Grandmother would want you to."
"You know what you want to." He stated, shaking his graying head slowly."She saw me live for years, but in a shadow for many of those years." There was silence after she spoke that, and finally, she heard her Uncle sigh deeply. "Can we really question fate?"
"Do you move so quickly to push it on yourself?""And do you move so quickly as to destroy the one thing besides my family that still matters to me?"
Again, he sighed."Very well." Rattle stated. "But, I am going to warn you . . . it will not be anything so easy as what you did to the Sirius person. It will take you to the very edge of death, and you will be awake for it all . . . there will be no coma, no darkness . . . you will see the very edge of the spirit world, only to be sucked right back into your body - though you have already seen one form of it completely die. That, I assure you - will leave some after affects."
"As long as I can help him, so be it." Lark whispered, after thinking it through for a few moments. With that, her Uncle nodded, and he begin to tell her a story, one that would lead to the songs and chants to help her on her way. When that was finished, she would go to the Headmaster, tell him her path . . . and then have Severus lead her to the darkness.~~~
In his rooms, Severus thought about the events of the evening. His mind was humming with pain, and the phoenix, as much as it wanted to be a help . . . was only making him more aggravated."Why must you try and play hero, Audrey? I'm not so important as that, am I?" He asked no one, ignoring the bird that was trying to comfort him.
"You'd be surprised." The voice startled him, since the speaker was known to be dead. Severus looked up to see the ghost of Narcissa hovering beside him. "Didn't expect to see me? No, I wouldn't think so . . . but, then again . . . I didn't think I'd show myself - not until after I heard what was going on. Dumbledore called me out of the shadows after you'd left his office. Didn't think he knew I was present.""That was very bad judgment." Severus smirked.
"It seems to be catching." Narcissa returned the expression. "And vanishing as well. You know something . . . while Lark is planning on saving you, I think you should be looking after my son. His head is clearing of the grief now, and I don't want to startle him. However, it might be a ripe time for you to drop some hints to him . . . let him leave his Father's fate in the hands of those who know how to handle it, so to speak.""Would you think he'd listen to me? After all, he knows I'm under suspicion now . . ."
"And to believe, I once thought you clever." With that, Narcissa faded from the room, but her voice lingered. "Go to him, give him hints . . . and see what I mean."~*~ Doubtful Tidings ~*~
Snuffles, as Harry was calling Sirius Black while the man was masquerading as a dog, sat in the corridor outside of Dumbledore's office. As soon as his flanks touched the ground, the pathway in opened and Albus came out."Ah," the Headmaster stated, "there you are. Come in, we're about to start." The old wizard moved so the dog could trot past him. Albus followed a second later, and the corridor outside was empty. The rest of the school, save for those invited to the meeting, was asleep for the evening - or at least pretending to be.
Inside the Headmaster's office, a small gathering of people sat around a warm fire blazing in the hearth. They were chattering amongst themselves- well, save for two of them. At the side of the room stood Severus and Lark -neither speaking, but they stood close together, and Snape's face was close to the woman's temple, so it could very well mean that they were whispering. The Animagus ignored them though, and changed into his human form. He stretched a bit, then took a seat next to Remus Lupin, who had arrived earlier that day."They seem more guarded than usual, don't they?" Sirius asked him, tilting his head ever so little towards the two he spoke of. Lupin looked towards the two from the corner of his eyes.
"Of course they would, Sirius. Lark is the reason we are meeting now. Seems we're going to be planning some academic changes - whether or not her plan works." Remus had stayed calm during that statement, but he gave a sorrowful glance towards the two Slytherins."What?" Black furrowed his brow with concern. Despite all that had happened, despite that little curse she'd put on him -and whether or not it had happened, he'd never know - despite all of their animosity . . . he still cared for her well being.
"Friends." Albus broke the light chatter, and all faces turned towards him. "We all have a common goal -and with that their comes sacrifices. And, that is why we are here tonight. One of our Professors has a plan to protect another. However, there will be a great deal of chance involved in it. The protectee has asked that we hear the plan, and help him convince her not to go through with it." Then, he turned towards Lark and Severus. "If you will begin, Professors . . ."~~~
"I don't like it." Sirius told Remus. The meeting was over, and the vote had been in favor of Lark's plan - much to Snape's disapproval. As well as to the disapproval of Sirius as well. "How is she sure it will even work?""I think the question you want to ask is 'Why for him?' Am I right?" Lupin asked, letting his eyes tease his old friend just a bit.
"Bugger off.""You know it's true."
"And you've gone dumb.""Then, I won't be much help as a teacher to take her place will I?" Remus' smile made Sirius role his eyes.
"I don't see how Dumbledore is taking this chance, or letting her do so as well. When you come back into the academic system, students will most likely be pulled out.""There are greater threats than what I pose, Sirius." Lupin sighed.
"Do you really think they'll care?""If the families are wise, they will see that . . . The Ministry isn't pretending anymore now. They know what's going on, that it's started again. Therefore, our whole world knows most of the truth and if they'd let their children from the safety of Hogwarts because they think that Dumbledore can't keep my nature under control then they are fools."
"Last time I checked it was a potion that kept your nature under control.""You're missing the point."
"Maybe." Sirius rubbed his face. "Maybe . . . But, I still don't like it."~~~
"You shouldn't be doing this." Severus stated, looking at two different versions of his Audrey. One was flesh and blood - her eyes blank and staring. The other was thin and shadowy, but still in her form - almost like a ghost. It was her essence, her life force. She would control her body outside of it's limits for this task, and when it was over, her essence would form another shell. All they needed now was to collect blood from her blank flesh, and send her on her way."I've been telling her that since she set her mind on it. There isn't any use, she'll hear nothing of what we say." Rattle told him, taking the hand of the fleshling Audrey and cutting slightly into the palm. While he did, he chanted lightly -doing exactly what the spell called for. He collected the blood on a robe his niece wore a lot. That would be laid out upon Snape's bed, ready for when the old body died and the new body formed. And then, when it was all over - she would be in hiding until better days dawned. But, Rattle decided , she would be alive and with the one she loved. That was a good end to the problem, he asked himself, wasn't it? He shook of the thoughts as another spirit form came into their room.
"I think she's very right in this." The ghost of Narcissa stated, wrapping ghostly arms around the essence of her best friend. The two spirits smiled at one another."I'm glad to see someone has faith in me." Both the body and the essence spoke. It had an eerie affect, drawing the room into silence.
"They have faith in you as well, they're just scared." Narcissa told her. Both the men seemed to ruffle at her statement. Her transparent eyes went back to Snape. "You spoke to him?""Yes."
"Good. He seemed to be more at peace with himself today." She nodded, then the room fell to silence once more.After a moment, Severus groaned gently- but, it was enough to break the quiet in the room once more.
"Well, we need to be off if we are going." He pulled up his sleeve, to show his mark glowing blacker than his own eyes. "He calls.""Good luck, Lark." Rattle stated. "We'll be here ready to make the rest of the arrangements."
Moments later, Severus and Lark were gone from the room, on route to their destiny."May the Wakantanka bless you now, little one." With that, Lark's uncle looked towards the ghost of Narcissa. "Now, we have our own work to do."
"I'll go get Albus." Narcissa nodded, then vanished as well. Left alone, Rattle began chanting over the robe stained in blood. He would not fall silent until he saw his niece take form on the bed, her new body a perfect copy of her old one.*************************************************************************
*Wakantanka = Great Spirit ^_^******************
More Soon! The End is near!