I don't own anything that isn't mine. Umm. I mean I don't own any of JK
Rowling's things. That's better.
Note to reader: What did you think of Thamala Blake? Harry has had his archenemy, and now Morag has Thamala. It just keeps getting more and more complicated, huh?
Thanks to: Shannon, for your wonderful Sev (I know, it's the second time I've thanked you for it. But now the Severus character is being used more…bet you anything that I thank you again at the beginning of the next chapter). Erin, for listening while I told her about this silly endeavor (Yes, I know what's going to happen in the end…long way from now. Plenty of chapters between to work out). All my friends at school (though I wish you'd stop calling me BlingBling), thanks for paying attention when I speak.
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Chapter Three: Potential Danger
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Thamala sat next to Morag that day, at breakfast. Draco was on Morag's other side. Her clear blue eyes were devoid of any emotion – her usual fire dampened by Thamala's presence.
"Lilli, is it?" Thamala asked. Her voice was silky, hypnotizing. But Morag was careful to remain alert. She couldn't afford to be lulled, by anything.
"Yes, that's me." She forced a smile. "You are?"
"Thamala Blake." The dark-eyed girl introduced herself. "I just transferred from Beauxbatons."
Already, Morag was inclined to dislike the slender girl with the eyes like fire. Eyes that burned right into you. Eyes that bared your soul and set it alight. Eyes of a predator. "Beauxbatons?" she managed after a few moments. "My mother's family went there."
"The Montaques?" Thamala raised an eyebrow. "Lucia Montaque's still a legend there – nobody ever broke her record."
"What record?" Draco interrupted. Morag shook her head slightly to Thamala.
"It's a french thing. Wouldn't translate." Thamala said drily. Draco frowned.
"So you're the new Slytherin?" Morag attempted to change the subject.
"Yes, that's me. Your cousin, Sylph, she told me you went here." Thamala didn't seem prepared to change the subject too far. Morag was proud of herself for not wincing at mention of Sylph Montaque.
"Sylph? I saw her just last summer." Morag's tone was mild, calm. She saw the way that the fire ever-burning in Thamala's deep dark eyes leapt, she knew she'd scored a point. Not many girls could remain so perfectly calm when speaking of the girl who was caught – unrepentant – kissing their boyfriend. She'd known for a while that she'd be showing Piers the door – but that didn't change the fact that he betrayed her trust. Sylph had made a point of making sure everyone at Beauxbatons knew, as well. The Montaque's fought their battles long and hard – but Morag's was over before it began.
"So she said." Thamala replied. "She and Piers send their love."
Morag narrowed her eyes. Now she was being blatantly tested. She kept her eyes carefully blank and smiled slightly. "How nice of them. I'm sure Sylph's got enough love to make the world go round."
Thamala actually laughed at that. It was probably true, but what a way to put it! Morag couldn't help but laugh a bit herself. She could see, in the corner of her eye, Harry was looking at her. She ignored him, now was not the time.
"That was a bit spiteful of me, wasn't it?" Morag said ruefully. Most of the Slytherins were observing them now. Thamala unnerved even them – but Morag seemed not to notice Thamala's odd eyes, the way she moved in that almost serpent-like way. The way her smiles never quite made it to her eyes – the way she was always watching.
"Not at all. Sylph's been acting like she owns the place ever since that episode with Piers, and you definitely have a very good point. Sylph Montaque's got enough love to make the world go round. That is, if you want to call it love." Thamala smiled that knowing, cruel smile of someone who doesn't do anything without an ulterior motive.
-
Morag was down by the lake. It was evening, they'd just finished dinner. Her father stood behind her.
"Morag." He said quietly. "Morag, turn around."
"Why should I? You're not my father." It was said purely out of spite – like so many things lately – and she knew she'd hit a low blow.
He forced her around to face him. "That is not true – I am your father despite whatever biological accident happened between your mother and O'Connell. I raised you, Morag Snape, your mother and I. Not him; he didn't want a damn thing to do with you! It was my fault that we were ever in this mess, Morag – if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be here. Think about that."
Severus gripped his wand tightly. Lucius took it from him. 'Calm down, Severus. You can kill me later in charms. Save it for then.'
Jenni looked at Morganna. 'What was his problem?' she watched Jonathan O'Connell's retreating figure.
Morganna shrugged helplessly. 'I'm safely married off now – he's more or less free to harass me. So he does.'
'Jerk.' Jenni said decisively. 'How'd you get involved with him, if you don't mind my asking?'
Morganna avoided Severus's gaze as she answered. 'I was unhappy and flattered at his attentions.'
Severus felt rooted to the spot. He was plagued by guilt – knowing that it was him who had caused the unhappiness that had them in this miserable situation.
Morganna turned. Her brilliant blue eyes, soft and always full of love, held his. 'It wasn't your fault.' She told him.
'Yes, it was.' He insisted. Lucius had backed off a bit.
'No, it wasn't. You were engaged – what else could you have done?'
"Think about that or what? You'll invade my thoughts too? I can't have a friendship with anyone in Gryffindor or the evil Lord Voldemort'll kill us all. I can't say two polite words to Harry or the evil Lord Voldemort'll kill us all. Yet you, when you first started, were best of friends with Lily Evans. How is that fair? Hmm? See the hypocrisy, father dearest?" Morag's eyes were nothing like her mother's – hard as agates and twice as cold as ice.
Danger. That's what Severus Snape could see in Morag's sea-blue eyes. None of her mother's kindness, none of her mother's happiness, none of her mother's inner radiance. Just fire and fear.
-
Danger, everything was dangerous. Nothing could be done without first careful thought – no spontaneity in this family anymore. Morganna considered her every act, Morag – ah, Morag – she never said a single word without first checking who was around to hear it.
And for the first time in her life, Morag was truly afraid. Not of Voldemort – he had always been there, but of what Thamala represented. In Thamala there was a potential danger – if she ever found out what Morag was doing, what she planned.
Note to reader: What did you think of Thamala Blake? Harry has had his archenemy, and now Morag has Thamala. It just keeps getting more and more complicated, huh?
Thanks to: Shannon, for your wonderful Sev (I know, it's the second time I've thanked you for it. But now the Severus character is being used more…bet you anything that I thank you again at the beginning of the next chapter). Erin, for listening while I told her about this silly endeavor (Yes, I know what's going to happen in the end…long way from now. Plenty of chapters between to work out). All my friends at school (though I wish you'd stop calling me BlingBling), thanks for paying attention when I speak.
-
Chapter Three: Potential Danger
-
Thamala sat next to Morag that day, at breakfast. Draco was on Morag's other side. Her clear blue eyes were devoid of any emotion – her usual fire dampened by Thamala's presence.
"Lilli, is it?" Thamala asked. Her voice was silky, hypnotizing. But Morag was careful to remain alert. She couldn't afford to be lulled, by anything.
"Yes, that's me." She forced a smile. "You are?"
"Thamala Blake." The dark-eyed girl introduced herself. "I just transferred from Beauxbatons."
Already, Morag was inclined to dislike the slender girl with the eyes like fire. Eyes that burned right into you. Eyes that bared your soul and set it alight. Eyes of a predator. "Beauxbatons?" she managed after a few moments. "My mother's family went there."
"The Montaques?" Thamala raised an eyebrow. "Lucia Montaque's still a legend there – nobody ever broke her record."
"What record?" Draco interrupted. Morag shook her head slightly to Thamala.
"It's a french thing. Wouldn't translate." Thamala said drily. Draco frowned.
"So you're the new Slytherin?" Morag attempted to change the subject.
"Yes, that's me. Your cousin, Sylph, she told me you went here." Thamala didn't seem prepared to change the subject too far. Morag was proud of herself for not wincing at mention of Sylph Montaque.
"Sylph? I saw her just last summer." Morag's tone was mild, calm. She saw the way that the fire ever-burning in Thamala's deep dark eyes leapt, she knew she'd scored a point. Not many girls could remain so perfectly calm when speaking of the girl who was caught – unrepentant – kissing their boyfriend. She'd known for a while that she'd be showing Piers the door – but that didn't change the fact that he betrayed her trust. Sylph had made a point of making sure everyone at Beauxbatons knew, as well. The Montaque's fought their battles long and hard – but Morag's was over before it began.
"So she said." Thamala replied. "She and Piers send their love."
Morag narrowed her eyes. Now she was being blatantly tested. She kept her eyes carefully blank and smiled slightly. "How nice of them. I'm sure Sylph's got enough love to make the world go round."
Thamala actually laughed at that. It was probably true, but what a way to put it! Morag couldn't help but laugh a bit herself. She could see, in the corner of her eye, Harry was looking at her. She ignored him, now was not the time.
"That was a bit spiteful of me, wasn't it?" Morag said ruefully. Most of the Slytherins were observing them now. Thamala unnerved even them – but Morag seemed not to notice Thamala's odd eyes, the way she moved in that almost serpent-like way. The way her smiles never quite made it to her eyes – the way she was always watching.
"Not at all. Sylph's been acting like she owns the place ever since that episode with Piers, and you definitely have a very good point. Sylph Montaque's got enough love to make the world go round. That is, if you want to call it love." Thamala smiled that knowing, cruel smile of someone who doesn't do anything without an ulterior motive.
-
Morag was down by the lake. It was evening, they'd just finished dinner. Her father stood behind her.
"Morag." He said quietly. "Morag, turn around."
"Why should I? You're not my father." It was said purely out of spite – like so many things lately – and she knew she'd hit a low blow.
He forced her around to face him. "That is not true – I am your father despite whatever biological accident happened between your mother and O'Connell. I raised you, Morag Snape, your mother and I. Not him; he didn't want a damn thing to do with you! It was my fault that we were ever in this mess, Morag – if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be here. Think about that."
Severus gripped his wand tightly. Lucius took it from him. 'Calm down, Severus. You can kill me later in charms. Save it for then.'
Jenni looked at Morganna. 'What was his problem?' she watched Jonathan O'Connell's retreating figure.
Morganna shrugged helplessly. 'I'm safely married off now – he's more or less free to harass me. So he does.'
'Jerk.' Jenni said decisively. 'How'd you get involved with him, if you don't mind my asking?'
Morganna avoided Severus's gaze as she answered. 'I was unhappy and flattered at his attentions.'
Severus felt rooted to the spot. He was plagued by guilt – knowing that it was him who had caused the unhappiness that had them in this miserable situation.
Morganna turned. Her brilliant blue eyes, soft and always full of love, held his. 'It wasn't your fault.' She told him.
'Yes, it was.' He insisted. Lucius had backed off a bit.
'No, it wasn't. You were engaged – what else could you have done?'
"Think about that or what? You'll invade my thoughts too? I can't have a friendship with anyone in Gryffindor or the evil Lord Voldemort'll kill us all. I can't say two polite words to Harry or the evil Lord Voldemort'll kill us all. Yet you, when you first started, were best of friends with Lily Evans. How is that fair? Hmm? See the hypocrisy, father dearest?" Morag's eyes were nothing like her mother's – hard as agates and twice as cold as ice.
Danger. That's what Severus Snape could see in Morag's sea-blue eyes. None of her mother's kindness, none of her mother's happiness, none of her mother's inner radiance. Just fire and fear.
-
Danger, everything was dangerous. Nothing could be done without first careful thought – no spontaneity in this family anymore. Morganna considered her every act, Morag – ah, Morag – she never said a single word without first checking who was around to hear it.
And for the first time in her life, Morag was truly afraid. Not of Voldemort – he had always been there, but of what Thamala represented. In Thamala there was a potential danger – if she ever found out what Morag was doing, what she planned.