A/N: I had such a time trying to get this written, it's unbelievable.... I know they're slightly OOC (Dumbledore especially! ^_~), but I decided to throw in some humor to balance the darkness, because there's a lot of it...yessiree-bob...

Chapter 14: To Train an Assassin

Rating: PG-13/ R (can't decide...it's not that gory, I think, but hey. How do I know how people are going to react?)

"did you hear??"

"Freaky! Right in Hogsmeade, too!"

"I wonder if Dumbledore knows what this is about?"

"Is it...(gulp)...You-Know-Who? I mean, is he behind it....?"

Such were the words flying around the Great Hall one fine morning in October at breakfast after the mail came. "What? What is it?" Harry, Ron, and Leena pressed Hermione, who was quickly scanning the Daily Prophet for the news. They watched with bated breath as her sparkling brown eyes flew over the paper. "wow..." she whispered as she read, "This is big..." She brought the paper even closer to her nose. "WHAT????" came the three's anguished cry of frustration. Just then, a huge bang, clang, and coughing reverberated throughout the room. Everyone's eyes focused on the High Table as Professor Snape stared bug-eyed at the paper, clutching his throat in a feeble attempt to quell the sudden coughing spasm he had. The silence was deafening as he managed to get it under control. Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers were staring at him warily. "What?" he said in a would-be innocent voice. Everybody went back to their breakfast and the news. Dumbledore peered at him out of the corner of his eye. "Did you honestly think nobody would notice you spitting your pumpkin juice over the table while knocking the goblet over and then upsetting the table when you hit it with your knee?"

"Of course not."

"Then don't try to play innocent, Severus."

"I wasn't."

"Yes, you were."

"Was not!"

"Were too!"

Leena watched the whole exchange amusedly while Harry and Ron pressed Hermione for the news.

"Was not and don't try to convince me otherwise!"

"You most certainly were!"

"BOYS! Knock it off!"

Professor McGonagall had decided to intervene. It was a good idea, because Dumbledore had a spoon of applesauce and was taking careful aim at Snape. Snape was wielding a piece of bacon like a sword. Not a great concept to get them started...She shook her fork at them sternly. "Don't make me have to use this on you..."

"WHOA!" Leena snapped her attention back to the table. "Check it out!" Hermione had finally given the boys the paper and they were busy poring over it. Front page was a photograph of a cloaked rider on a huge horse silhouetted against the moon on the hill the Shrieking Shack resided on. The horse tossed its head a few times and small jets of steam were issued from its nostrils. A drop of ice made itself nicely at home in Leena's stomach as she scanned the article.

"...mysterious Black Rider unknown...seen in Hogsmeade of late...whether it's the work of Dark wizards or witches is not known at this time...parents advised to keep children indoors after dark...nothing more is know about esoteric horseman than the rider always wears a black, hooded cloak...Officials might be brought in to review case..."

No wonder Snape had a spasm attack. She furrowed her brow, thinking of the tongue lashing she was sure to come by her way. She saw Mina give her a measured, non-chalant look from the Ravenclaw Table. She made a point of not meeting the frigid blue eyes. She didn't notice Hermione peering at her with a calculating expression, either.

***

Later that night, Snape was having conniptions at her. "RIDES IN HOGSMEADE??????? Are you INSANE????" he yelled at her cringing figure in a chair. "Not insane, criminally insane. There is a difference," she snapped back. He rubbed a hand across his forehead, sighing. "Details, details," he grumbled, "You're supposed to be make sure that you're not accused of anything suspicious. This is something suspicious." Leena raised an eyebrow coldly. "I hadn't noticed by the way you're ranting about it," she said dryly. "Now is not the time for joking around. Stick to riding in the Forest or something, there's nothing in there really that you can't handle," Snape suggested, "At least until this whole 'Dark Rider' thing dies down." Leena scowled, "Black Rider, Black Rider! Honestly, and you call yourself observant at times?" She preferred riding where she could actually see the ground. Or where there was somebody she could cry out to for help if the need for it arose. Still and all, the forest would be interesting to explore.

"Whatever they've dubbed you, I don't like it and I want you to keep on the grounds"

"Okay! No need to get all defensive and junk on me..."

"If you held your attitude in check, I wouldn't get defensive."

"I'm not so sure it's my attitude that's getting you defensive, I think you might really be worried"

"Nonsense! I have utmost faith that you can fend for yourself," he said gruffly. Leena nodded. "Mmmm-hm. Like I said: You're worried. And I need to get back to the common room. Pleasant dreams."

Her father snorted as she left the room. Women....

***

"But why a Gryffindor? If it was a Ravenclaw or even a Hufflepuff, I might be able to see why, but a Gryffindor??? That's a bit below Slytherin code, Draco," Pansy whined at him. He regarded her as one might a mosquito that was buzzing 'round your head. "Because she has special connections with certain people, that's why," he said venomously. "Ooooooh, like, you mean, like Potter? You gonna pump her for information on him for your father? Good plan," and she leaned back into her chair with satisfaction. "No, because she's related to friends of my father's and she can tell them all about Potter herself. If she cared to," Draco added as an afterthought. Pansy pouted. "I'm beginning to think that you like her more than me!" she wheedled. Draco rolled his eyes, thinking, 'I do, dumbass...' Out loud he said, "I like her equally as well as you. Don't worry." Pansy got up and stretched. "I'm going to bed. See you in the morning, my dragon..." and she leaned over for a good night kiss. Draco kept his eyes on his book and said distractedly, "G'nite, then..." She leaned farther over the couch's arm, hoping that the message would get across. It didn't. "Pansy, you're blocking the light! Move!" Draco shoved her face away and she fell off the couch in an ungraceful heap. Pansy got up slowly, hoping he'd notice her. He was back to reading his book again. Casting a longing glance over her shoulder, she turned to the corridor that led to the Slytherin 5th year girls' dormitories.

Pansy pulled back her green bed-hangings and found a dark blue envelope with her name in silver resting on the pillow. Cautiously, she opened it. Paper of the same midnight shade and silver ink shone up at her. She read the short note:

I know certain secrets of a certain somebody. This could help you to get Draco Malfoy to like you better. In order for me to trust you, you will need to carry out a small task. To find out what it is, meet me in the stairwell behind the tapestry on the 3rd floor in two days time at 10:00. TELL NO ONE.

At the bottom of the letter was a small seal, with a fancy R stamped into the blood red wax. Pansy considered. Getting closer to Draco? Maybe this was worth looking into...She folded the letter into her Herbology notebook and hummed a little as she gathered her toiletries for bed. Check that; it was definitely worth looking into.

Two nights later, Pansy paced up and down a few steps at a time, waiting for the sender of the queer note. Glancing around, she almost bumped into the figure that had suddenly appeared next to her. "Oh!" she gasped. The person was wearing a cloak of the same navy blue as the paper the letter was written on. Th hood hid the face completely. "Very good. Punctuality is a virtue, you know," a soft voice hissed at her from beneath the folds. Pansy squinted, straining to see who was under the hood. It was no use; the staircase was too dim. "You'll need to procure some special potion ingredients for me. As you're in Slytherin, I'd imagine the request is quite easy for you to do," the velvety voice murmured. "Tell me the list of what you need," Pansy said, raising her chin arrogantly.

The quiet voice chuckled, saying, "Do we have a deal, then?" and a gloved hand snaked out of depths of the robe. Pansy hesitated, looking at the outstretched hand. "Well...?" the person prodded. Pansy took a firm grasp. "Deal," she said firmly. "Good...here's what I need." A list of forbidden potion ingredients on the blue paper was handed to her. Pansy read it: Liquid smoke, ashes of a mooncalf, dried trompillo leaves, black nightshade roots, golden chain seed pods...odd. All the plant parts were known to contain deadly poisons. It didn't concern her, so she didn't say a word about it. "When do you need them by?" The cloaked person considered for a moment. "Next week, before the full moon," they said decisively. "Consider it done," Pansy said smugly. She tucked the list into her pocket. When she looked up again, the person was gone.

***

A few days later, Hermione couldn't stop thinking about the Black Rider and Snape's odd reaction to reading it. "He must know something of it..." she said aloud. "What, Herm?" Harry asked. He and Ron were in a bracing match of chess. Leena was sketching something in front of the fire, legs flopped comfortably over the arm of her chair. Ron moved his knight. "Check. I half-wished that Snape'd choke to death, then we wouldn't have to do this stupid research paper on Relaxing Elixir. I mean, all I need to do to relax is take a hot shower and I'm set," Ron said. Harry moved his bishop and replied, "You're forgetting the crucial element of the hot shower: The pajamas and the teddy to curl up with in bed while you read your favourite story."

Leena giggled. "True, true...Although Hermione's right, with a reaction as strong as that, I wouldn't doubt if even he was the one galloping around like the Headless Horseman or something...And close to Halloween, too, no wonder people are getting spooked," she said seriously. "The Headless wha? Check mate," Ron said. Harry put his chin on his hand and said glumly, "So what else is new?" Leena sighed and closed her sketchbook. "Headless Horseman. He's a famous ghost in American Muggle literature, a classic story. He hangs around a little town called Sleepy Hollow..." Hermione nodded in agreement, she had read about the tale. Then she caught sight of Ron's watch. "Oh my goodness! It's late! You'll have to tell us another time, Leena, breakfast comes early." Ron scowled good-naturedly at her. "Aw, c'mon, it shouldn't take that long to tell..." Harry stood up, yawning, "I think I'm going to have to side with Hermione on this one, Ron, I'm beat. Good night, girls, see you in the morning." Leena grinned, then said, "I'll make sure to tell you later in the week, to get all of you in the mood for my favourite holiday."

Hermione and Leena went off to their dorms and Hermione grinned. "Ron'll be happy, he likes to get in a spooky mood. And the full moon will give him all the more encouragement to scare the younger students." Leena frowned. "It's on Halloween?" Hermione bent over her calendar, checking. "Mmm ...yes, full moon on October 31st. Why, is it that big of a deal?" she asked inquisitively. Leena's eyes immediately clouded grey and her face went guarded. "Not in particular, I wasn't expecting it," she replied in a would-be casual tone as she turned towards her bureau. This time it was Hermione who frowned.

***

"Professor Snape?"

"What," he said grouchily, looking up from his notes. Pansy was standing nervously before him. "I-I-I...nothing," she stammered, starting to walk away. He watched her walk a few steps, then shook his head, going back to his notes. "I need to talk to you...la-later tonight..." He sighed impatiently. "Alright. I'll leave my door open. Now scram," he said quickly, going back to his notes again. 'Strange girl...' he thought

He sat at his desk, feet up again, correcting recipes from his third year Ravenclaw class when Lupin walked in later that night. "If I throw a stick will you leave me alone?" he snapped irritably at him. Lupin smiled tolerantly, then said, "Naw, I prefer Frisbees better...easier on the teeth." Snape scowled at him darkly, causing Lupin to chuckle. "A what?" came the curt response. "A Muggle toy, Severus," Lupin explained quietly. "Is your sole purpose of coming down to my office to annoy me or is there some other ulterior motive behind it?" he snapped back. Lupin regarded his colleague carefully for a moment, then said, "I just wanted to be sure that you knew the full moon is on Halloween."

"Rest assured that I have not forgotten your little problem."

"It's not me I'm worried about, actually, I was wondering if you were going to make another batch for Leena."

Snape glared at him. "And why wouldn't I make it for her?" he asked indignantly. Lupin shrugged. "Exactly what I thought. Now get out."

"Severus, learn to be a bit more patient..." Lupin trailed off with a sigh as he turned to go. "Remus, learn how to knock..." Snape mocked back. Lupin shook his head as he walked out the door and ran head-first into Pansy. She gave an offended squeak while she staggered backwards dramatically to show him exactly how hard he had smacked into her. "Sorry," he said, not even bothering with formalities, brushing past quickly as she stared hatefully after him. "You should be..." she muttered moodily as she entered the dark room. "Professor...?" she began hesitantly. Snape slammed his quill on the table. "Jesus wept, you would think a person might be able to get some form of work done without being interrupted every two bloody minutes! What?!?" and he turned to glare at her. She stared at him dumbly. "Weeeell?" he said softly, drawing the word out to about three syllables. Pansy thought it was the most dangerous sounding word she had ever heard in her life. "I...I-I...I...." Her teacher heaved a sigh. "Spit it out, I haven't got all night," he growled at her.

"I...I...get chronic nosebleeds!" she blurted out, saying whatever popped into her head first. "And I should give a damn because why?" Snape said, puzzlement evident, "That's what Madame Pomfrey is for. Go bother her with your nose in all its bloody glory." He turned back to his notes again, but she came around to face him. "I thought since you were the Potions professor and my Head of House besides, you'd be able to help me more..." Pansy started babbling, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand. "What exactly did you have in mind, Miss Parkinson?" She thought for a moment. "A blood coagulant," she said, crossing her fingers, "Or something to stop the bleeding with."

Snape heaved a gusty sigh again. "Go see Madame Pomfrey, like I said before," he said icily. "Alright," she whispered, backing out of the room. 'Damn,' she thought as she went down the corridor, 'I'll have to get Millicent or somebody to create a diversion so I can get in his private stores.' She reached the bare stretch of wall that was the Slytherin entrance and snapped, "King Cobra!" It opened noiselessly.

***

"Does anybody know where my potions notebook is?" Hermione bustled around a week later, looking under all the benches in the Great Hall around Gryffindor's table. "No, why? Has it gone missing?" Leena asked, picking at her oatmeal. The Wolfsbane potion made her feel nauseous and the heavy food that Hogwarts served only exacerbated the feeling. Hermione grabbed her hair at the sides of her head. "Arrrrrrgh!! This is soooo annoying!" she complained. Harry peered at her owlishly. "Go check your dorm. Maybe Parvati or Lavender's seen it," he suggested. Hermione pawed through her bag frantically. 'There's not enough time to go back up there and then to the dungeons in time for class," she snapped hurriedly. Ron didn't even take notice of her flustered state; she was like this far too often for it to be a concern of his. Leena dropped her spoon listlessly in her bowl. "C'mon, we're running the risk of experiencing the wrath of the Ice King even as we speak," she said dully.

Harry laughed brightly. "Ice King?" he said between giggles, "Good one! I never thought about him that way, but it's a rather accurate description." Ron was busy trying to stuff one last piece of toast in his mouth before class. Hermione slung her bag over her shoulders, brows knitted in vexation. "I just don't understand it..." she said. "May'e 'ou lefft it on the 'ork benth," Ron advised, blowing buttered crumbs everywhere. Leena wrinkled her nose in disgust and clutched her stomach. "Ugh, Ron! That's nasty!" she groaned. He grinned lopsidedly at her, "Sorry," and swallowed. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Sure you are." she said shortly. They had reached the hallway that led to the classroom when they saw Millicent Bulstrode leaning against the wall smugly. "Uh-oh, that can't be good," Harry whispered. Millicent reached into her robe and pulled out a notebook. "Hey! That's mine!" Hermione cried out. "And it was ever so useful, too!" Millicent chortled as she held it above their heads. Footsteps echoed down the corridor and Draco appeared, Crabbe and Goyle in tow. "Well, well, well...Looks like Millicent could use some help. What say you, boys?" Draco sneered. Crabbe and Goyle laughed stupidly, cracking their knuckles. Hermione and Co. had taken out their wands and were aiming them all at their classmate. Draco waved his hand boredly and said, "See you all in class," and walked down to the dungeon.

"Umm...maybe you'd be better off just letting them borrow it, Herm," Ron said uncertainly. "I don't think so!" Hermione said angrily, "Hand it over. Now!" Millicent waved it tauntingly over their heads. "Or you'll do what?" she said. "I've had enough of this," Leena snapped, stepping over to her, "Give it back or you will find some serious damage done to all three of you." Crabbe and Goyle moved closer to Millicent's side, looking like bodyguards. As Millicent was already so huge herself, the effect was quite unnerving. Millicent chuckled again. "And if I don't?" Leena bared her teeth, tossed her wand aside, and launched herself at her. Ron and Harry looked wide-eyed at each other, then jumped in. Hermione grabbed her head and groaned. This was about as good as committing suicide.

"And what have we here?" a frigid voice broke through the commotion. Everyone froze. Snape stood there, hands on hips, lips pursed. Hermione spoke up timidly, "Millicent took my notebook, sir, and wouldn't give it back. They were just trying-" "Hold your tongue, Miss Granger, you talk too much," Snape said. He looked over all the students, who were brushing themselves off. Nobody except Millicent noticed Pansy slip in the office door that Snape had left open. "Miss Bulstrode, if you please..." She scowled, then brought it forth. "I was just borrowing it," she grumbled. Snape took it from her, then said shortly, "Ask next time. I'll see you three in my office later tonight." Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent nodded, then slunk down to the classroom. Snape turned slowly to stare at them. "What on earth were you thinking?" he snapped, "That you would be able to beat them and take back a ridiculous little notebook and everything would be the same?" The four of them kept their eyes trained on the floor in front of them, abashed and silent.

"10 points off. Each. For initiating a fist fight." Leena raised her head, angry. "They started it!" she started. "Make it 20 for you, then," he said silkily. Her jaw dropped in surprise, "That-" He cut her off, waving an impatient hand. "I suggest that you stop talking right now unless you want to make it 30." She shut her mouth, eyes a blistering black, staring straight into his. Snape gave a quiet laugh, not blinking for an instant. "Staring down a person is a wonderful trait you have, but don't try to best a person who does it for a living," he said softly. Still she glared, not breaking down. He didn't either. Harry and Ron glanced worriedly between them, expecting sparks to fly. Hermione observed them carefully, lips pursed in concentration. Barely audible this time, Snape continued, "Obviously the acorn does not fall far from the tree it originated from..." Leena blinked and she got an indignant look on her face. Snape's face curled into a positively evil grin. "You lose. Now get to class. All of you!" he barked at them. Hermione paused, asking, "Could I at least have my notebook back?" Snape thrust it at her and she took it. All of them scampered down the stairwell. Snape watched them go, not even noticing Pansy slipping back out the door to his office and up the other end of the hall.

***

Hermione sat deep in thought in the common room, mulling what their teacher had said to Leena that made her even more angry. She didn't think it possible for anyone to get that mad, but there were fingernail marks positively gouged into the desktop in the Potions lab now. And her partner's eyes had stayed dark and ominous, making her seem even more pale than she usually was. 'But now at least I know why Leena looks so familiar,' Hermione reasoned with herself, ' Take away the bangs and let her hair out of the ponytail flip, and they're practically identical. I can't for the life of me figure out how I missed it before... And what did Snape mean by '...the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree...'? They must be related somehow, otherwise they wouldn't look the same....oohhhhh, bother, this is so confusing!' She shook her head impatiently, trying to think straight.

Just then Leena came back from wherever it was that she disappeared to every night, looking tired. She flopped into a chair next to her friend with a sigh. "Leena, can you take your hair down?" Hermione asked thoughtfully. "What?" Leena asked, perplexed. "Would you please take your hair down? I don't believe I've ever seen you with it down," she replied. Leena complied, pulling out the hair tie. Jet black hair cascaded down her back as she shook it free. "Happy?" she said. Hermione looked carefully at her friend. "Hmm," she said. Leena smiled slightly. "I'm gonna put it back up now, if I have your permission," she said jokingly. Hermione put on an imperious air and said, "Permission granted to one of my most loyal subjects, who dared to bravely fight the Ogres from the Slytherin Dungeons without a second thought for her own safety all for the sake of a notebook." Leena giggled and pulled her hair back up into the ponytail flip that she usually wore. "I expect that favor returned someday," she said, mock-sternly. "You betcha," Hermione grinned back. Leena looked aghast. "Doth mine ears decieveth me?!? Didst I just hearith American slang spoken from the fair lady of Correct Grammar??" Hermione laughed good naturedly. "I admit it, you're 'Americanizing' me!" she gasped from between bouts of laughter. "HA!" Leena said.

***

Pansy paced up and down the staircase again, waiting for the Blue-Cloaked person to show up. She had the ingredients in a nondescript envelope, tucked into the sleeve of her robe. "You have them, then?" the velvety voice whispered quietly to her. She leapt up about three steps in surprise and turned to face them. They were leaning casually against the wall, hood pulled low again. Pansy swallowed her angry words and held the envelope out to the person. A gloved hand took it, tucking it into a small pouch. "You'll receive something of interest in a few days," they said. Pansy put her hands on her hips indignantly. "That's it? That's all the payment I get for going through all that trouble for you?" she snapped. Quick as lightning, the cloaked person's hand was in a vice-like grip around her throat, holding her against the wall. She could feel the iciness through the glove. "You'll receive something of interest to you in a few days..." the voice hissed at her menacingly, "...and if you decide to interfere with when and where you will acquire it, I just might change my mind about giving them to you." Pansy was starting to see shadows, blackness clouding her vision as her air supply ran low. The hand that was cutting into her throat unclasped itself and she dropped to the floor, coughing. When she looked up, the person was gone.

***

Leena sat in Snape's chamber morosely, kicking at the rungs on her chair. Snape himself was in his work room behind the banner of Slytherin, light peeking through the holes where the thread was, giving the snake an ethereal glow around it. She knew that the Wolfsbane Potion needed to be taken for the week preceding the full moon, but did it have to taste so...so....vile? Eurgh. Her stomach churned at the thought of downing another disgusting goblet-ful of it. She wrinkled her nose and gave a particularly vicious kick to the chair as Snape made his way towards her holding the telltale chalice. He gave her a slightly sympathetic glance as he handed it to her. "I know, I know...but you need to. Also, we've got another training mission to go on tonight, so drink up," he said, sitting of the desk comfortably as she regarded the goblet with nothing short of malice.

Pulling a face, she threw back her head and downed it four gulps. Snape watched her with interest. "You know, when it's absorbed in your system, I can see it flow through your veins...Your skin is so pale that I can see the blood take on a bluish hue and trace it all the way around your body. See, look, there it goes..." Leena pulled up her sleeves and looked at her ashy skin. Sure enough, light blue lines were tracing themselves around her arms, snaking their way around and through her wrists. She gave a small shudder. 'Not exactly the best thing to tell me to watch when I'm feeling queasy to begin with,' she thought, closing her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw her teacher and father already in his black cloak. He was holding hers out to her. With a sigh, she slipped it about her shoulders and followed him silently through a hidden exit out of the dungeons. The moon glared harshly down on the grounds as they slid unobtrusively from shadow to shadow into Hogsmeade.

A few hours later, they returned to find Loki jumping about the desk, parchment bound to him. Seeing his master return, he flew to his shoulder, cawing excitedly. Snape read the paper and an unspeakable fury came over his face. He crumpled up the note and threw it into the fireplace, setting fire to it with a flick of his wand. "What is it?" Leena asked. "A deadline," he replied shortly, "You should go on up to bed, it's late." She nodded, then ran lightly up to Gryffindor Tower. "Woolen Socks," she panted at the Fat Lady. When she entered the common room, Ron pounced on her. "Tell me the story about the Headless Horse!" he demanded. "Horseman, Ron, How many times do I have to tell you?" she sighed. Harry and Hermione sniggered and settled down to hear the tale too.

***

Dumbledore stood up to silence the chattering student body at the Halloween Feast. "As most of you know, last year's Yule Ball was a great success. So, we've decided to have it again! The same rules apply as last year, fourth years and up are allowed to go. However, if invited, third years and under shall be allowed to come, too. That said, enjoy your feast," he said, and sat down to a splendid spread. Harry looked up at the ceiling. The full moon was stark against the black of the night sky, a few woolen clouds scudding across it every now and again. "Where's Leena?" he asked, suddenly realizing who was missing. "I think she said she had either a project due or a detention, I forget," Hermione responded distractedly. Ron nodded in agreement; his mouth was too full. Harry frowned into his pumpkin pie. "I hope she makes it in time to eat something," he said worriedly.

Down in the dungeons was a different case. Leena paced back and forth, back and forth, restless to be let out. If Snape didn't come with the potion soon, it would be completely worthless and then she'd try to murder him and everyone else who tried to get in and....she took a deep breath, telling herself to calm down. He made sure that she had it in the appropriate time last month, this month was no different. She pressed her ear to the door of the room, hearing murmuring voices. Lucius was here, she decided. No wonder Snape disliked the note last night, if he was being sent out on some mission with him; Lucius always took to torture, then kill after the victim gave the particular answer they needed. Red-hot needles poked every inch of her skin as the hair began to grow...'oops,' she thought, 'I guess that wasn't such a good idea...' For she had walked right through a beam of moonlight that filtered through the high window in the room. Pain that felt like it was going to tear her apart, from limb to burning limb, raced through her, making her howl in frustration, wishing it would stop-when it did. Immediately, she leapt at the door, smelling human scent, no longer in control of her actions.

Outside the room, Lucius smiled mirthlessly. "I think we can now officially start this mission," he said cruelly. Snape gave a curt nod and held his wand at the ready. "On the count of three..." Lucius said, aiming his own wand at the door, "3....2.........1!" The door was blasted to bits as both men shouted "STUPEFY!!!" Leena (now in wolf form) slumped, unconscious, to the floor. Lucius pulled his hood over his face and hoisted the limp form over his shoulder. "Lets go," he said, voice muffled and distorted through the hood. Severus pulled his hood too, frowning worriedly.

Next to the Fraser's house in the outskirts of Hogsmeade, Lucius slung Leena to the ground. "Ready?" he whispered to his accomplice. "Not quite," came the reply, "She's not in position." He magicked her form to the door step, then climbed up a tree next to the quiet house. Lucius, seeing what was going to happen, was quick to follow. "Ennervate" they both whispered, wands pointed at her. All they could do now was wait.

Leena was aware that more humans were around now than there were before...all she had to do was get through the door.

Severus waited, holding his breath. The lump of fur on the stoop was stirring and both men could see the murderous intent written on its evil, dark face. The crash of the wood connecting with the werewolf's claws was frightful.

Again and again, she attacked the door. Had to get to the humans...blood...fresh, warm, such a nice red...finally a space large enough to fit through appears. With a malicious growl reverberating deep in her throat, she quickly sniffed out who was where: The parents in the upstairs, the girls in the room down the hall. Quietly, like a wraith, she slipped around the corner and scared the cat senseless. The yowling and hissing from the ensuing fight brought the parents downstairs in a hurry. All that they found was a mangled mess of fur, blood, and bones with a growling wolf above it, eyes glowing with a hellish light. They retreated into the back bedroom, wolf close on their heels. "Crystal! Wake up!! We've got to get out of here!" the man called to his daughter.

Lucius smirked as he heard Mr. Fraser yell. He hoped that he loved his daughter...it was the last moment they were ever going to spend together, after all. Severus clutched the branch he was resting on, reeling. He didn't want to know what was going on in there...and know that it was his doing was even worse.

"Dad? What is it? What's wrong?" came Crystal's frantic cries. Another female voice, groggy with sleep emerged from the floor. "Time for breakfast already?" they asked sleepily. The wolf scratched at the door, howling in frustration. The third form on the floor woke up. "Caitlyn, Shannon...Crystal!" the mother cried out in fear, "Oh, girls, I'm so sorry that tonight had to be your slumber party..." and she gathered them in her arms. The man took out his wand, determined to make a last stand fighting, defending his family and his daughter's friends. The door would give way any moment. With an unearthly groan, the door splintered and the wolf was framed in the ragged doorway. All the girls screamed and the wolf took her pleasure slowly.

Severus closed his eyes as the agonized screams erupted from the house. Obviously the Fraser's weren't the only ones in the house that night. Too bad for them. Lucius leaned forward intently, anxious to know what was happening. "Think we should close in now?" he asked, almost gleefully. Severus nodded, not wanting to see the grotesque sight that was certain to await him. They dropped noiselessly from the tree and made their way to the now silent house. Slipping in the broken front door, they had their wands out and poised for action. They didn't have any trouble following the claw marks on the polished wooden floor to the kitchen. Lucius snorted when he saw the remains of the cat. "If that's all that she can do, I'd have second thoughts about bringing her on other missions to do the dirty work..." he remarked, staring at it indifferently. Severus was busy inspecting the trail of blood and drool down the hall. "Somehow, I think she did quite a bit more than demolish the cat," he retorted sharply. "Most definitely," Lucius sneered back, jogging down the hall towards Severus.

Another door shredded and ripped from its hinges greeted them. Moaning and frightened whimpering were heard through bloodthirsty snarls. They burst into the room, looking quickly for the werewolf, shouting 'STUPEFY!!!' when they caught sight. She fell to the floor again, knocked out and breathing shallowly. Severus tucked his wand into his sash and nearly vomited as he took in the view: Blood smeared everywhere, puddles of it on the carpet, drying in sticky, rust-coloured patches. Parts of the man were strewn about in no particular order, same for two other girls. The two other girls were left barely clinging to life, skin hanging off of them like crepe paper. Lucius pulled off his hood slowly and looked the blonde one in the eye. "Thank god you came," she gasped, struggling to speak in agonized breaths. "What's your name?" he asked nicely, warmly. "Crystal," she replied, frightened brown eyes locked onto his icy grey ones, "Will you please help us?"

Severus pulled off his hood to inspect the other one. She had dark, satiny brown hair and her eyes were closed. Blood ran from her nose, mouth, and everywhere else, practically. He turned her over gently. Lucius smiled at Crystal, then said, "And you friend's name?" A few tears leaked out of Crystal's eyes. "Please, sir...It hurts!! Help me! Help us!" She started to sob. "I will take away the pain as soon as you answer some of my questions," Lucius replied, smiling at her still. "Shannon," the girl cried, "Her name is Shannon! Aahhh, the pain...the pain!!" Severus leaned over Shannon; he could hear blood gurgling deep within her chest. She was drowning in her own fluids...'A pity,' Lucius said later, 'She would have been a bonus.'

"Well, Crystal...It's been a real pleasure meeting you. May I shake your hand?" Lucius said pleasantly. More tears, stained an awful orange colour, dripped down her face. "I...I have no hand to shake yours with..." she choked out. Lucius grabbed her arms. True to her words, everything from the elbow downward had been ripped off, ligaments, sinew and skin dangled grossly from the joint. Crystal shrieked in distress, seeing for the first time the actual damage done. Severus looked up and wished he hadn't. The other, Shannon, let one more bubbling breath out of her cracked and bleeding lips, then stopped breathing altogether. Crystal choked back another sob as she looked fearfully up at the two men swathed in black. Lucius drew his wand out again, taking careful aim at her, straight between the eyes. "What are you going to do?" she whispered, struggling to keep conscious. "I'm going to do what I promised to do: Take away the pain," he said darkly, "Avada Kedavra"

Severus looked away as the flash of green erupted and he heard Crystal screech out in fear and even that was cut off midpoint. The werewolf sighed, still oblivious to all the damage she had caused. Stepping over the remains of the mother, he hoisted his daughter over his shoulders and pulled up his hood again. "Let's go," he said gruffly, "If we dally any longer, we're sure to be caught; the commotion we made was more than enough to wake up Hogwarts." Lucius backed out of the room, smirking in self-satisfaction as he stepped on the last girl's head, Caitlyn's it must have been, and it cracked under him. "Such a pity..." he sighed as he also pulled on his hood, "They were all so pretty..." Severus turned back, dragging him out of the room. "Think we should leave the Mark?" he asked Lucius. "I'm not sure," was the reply, "If we did, then people would automatically know that we were back in business for real...If we don't, then evidence will lead them to believe that it was a werewolf attack alone. How unfortunate." he added sadistically. Severus shifted the dead weight to his other shoulder.

"I say we leave it. If they know the Death Eaters are out for blood and are not afraid to take it brutally, as before, they'll have a bit more respect for the purebloods," he said, glancing at Lucius's face as he said this. He knew exactly how to talk to Lucius and felt no guilt about flat-out lying to him, either. If they left the Mark, Dumbledore would put heavy security on Hogwarts and around Hogsmeade, to ensure safety. Aside from that, he would have agents on the look out for suspicious activities. Lucius allowed himself to grin as he fired the green skull and snake into the air above the house. Screams from the surrounding houses erupted in an instant. Ministry Wizards Apparated, some running from the pub, as Lucius said delightedly, "Until we kill again, old chap!" and Disapparated with a swish of his black cloak. Severus groaned and Disapparated closer to the Hogwarts Gates, away from the commotion. Nobody noticed the shadow running back to the castle in the distance, carrying the animal responsible for such horror.

***

Hermione woke with a start and checked her clock. 2:00 am. She looked over at Leena's bed. Still no sign of her. She slid out of bed quietly, snatching up her bathrobe as she went over to the window. 'Moonset in two hours,' she thought absentmindedly, rubbing her nose. The Forbidden Forest was decidedly pretty at night she realized, what with the black branches scratching up at midnight blue of the sky, diamond star-pins holding it back. She saw a shadow dart towards the greenhouses, then disappear completely. Crookshanks, maybe, he liked to prowl outside. Hermione turned away from the window, rummaging around for her copy of Hogwarts, A History. 'I'll read up on the history of the Forest in the common room, maybe I'll be able to get back to sleep,' she thought. The common room held a deliciously warm glow as the embers from the fire glowed merrily.

She fell into blissful contentment, reading about how the Forest had originally been planted to provide a safe haven for Centaurs and Unicorns, but quickly became a refuge for other, less-well-liked, magical creatures and how Slytherin, the House Founder, had encouraged it quietly for his own purposes. She read how many wizards and witches had thought how it contained the Fountain of Youth and never emerged from their expeditions to find it. The fire finally went out completely, plunging her into total darkness. "Oh, bother..." she said as she climbed the stairs for a candle. She checked her clock again: 4:30 am. Leena still hadn't shown up yet...Worried, she padded into the boys dorm and roused her friends up. Back in the hallway, she whispered her concerns to them.

"She's not been to the tower or the dorms all night!" she finished. "Well, we'll go look for her...It'll be alright, Herm, we'll find her," Ron said reassuringly, patting her on the back. Harry held up a hand, silencing them. Scuffling sounds and thumps were floating up the staircase to them. Harry snatched his wand, lit the tip, and crept down to the common room. Ron followed suit and Hermione bustled ahead of Harry, candle shaking in her hand. 'I hope she's alright, I hope, I hope...' she thought. "I don't...shyte!!!!" she gasped. Harry and Ron's mouths fell open. The tip of a black cloak had just slithered out of the portrait hole, Hermione had just let out a swear, and Leena was lying spread-eagled on the floor nest to the fireplace. The fire had just been relit. They rushed to her side, aghast. Her face was pale and taught, mouth set in a grim line. Hermione leaned closer to her face; small reddish lines were slashed all over her face on closer inspection. Hermione put a finger to one of the wider ones and the red stuff flaked off like paint. Ron pulled Leena's left hand out. "She cold as ice!" he gulped, "And look: Blood!" Blood it was, and it was caked under her sharpened nails. "My God..." Harry whispered, looking up into two more pairs of frightened eyes.

A/N: *cringes* I"M SORRY!!! It had to happen!!! But don't worry, things lighten up a LOT in the next chapter. However...*cringes again*...they're gonna hafta take a turn for the worst in the future. Forewarned is forearmed, think of it that way. ~~potions~~