* * * *
Snow fell on the ground of Hogwarts just after the first week of November. Students were dressing in warmer clothes for the classes they had in the more drafty areas of the school. The dungeons were especially cold and as she sat in Potions, Hermione could see her breath puffing out in front of her. She hunched down further in her scarf and attempted to concentrate on the instructions Professor Snape had written on his blackboard.
Despite her efforts to pay attention to what Snape was saying, Hermione drifted away from his voice and found class over much quickly than she had thought it would be.
Harry elbowed her just as the other students began to collect their books. "You were sleeping," he hissed.
Hermione looked devastated. "I was not," she whispered.
Kendra, who had taken to sitting with the others near the back, nodded. "Yeah, you were."
"I couldn't have been," Hermione replied. "I don't sleep through classes."
Ron laughed quietly behind his hand and said, "Well, you do now."
Parvati smiled at her as she passed by, walking a few steps ahead of Lavender.
"What if Snape saw me?" Hermione whispered, frantically trying to collect her books.
"Miss Granger," a cool voice said from the front of the classroom.
Hermione's eyes widened and she slowly turned to find Snape staring down at her.
"May I have a word?" he asked.
She nodded slowly, all the while silently cursing herself for falling asleep.
"Good luck," Harry whispered as Hermione walked down the long aisle to Snape's desk.
"Yes Professor?"
Snape stared down at her for a long moment before handing a thick book over his desk. "I thought you may find this of some interest to you."
Hermione turned the leather bound book over in his hands and looked at the cover. "Wizard lineage?"
Snape nodded. "Haven't you ever wondered where you got your abilities? Your mother and father are both Muggles, if I remember correctly."
Hermione nodded. "Yes, but I always thought that-"
"With this book, you may find that what you once thought was the truth is nothing but fiction," Snape said softly, then his eyes shifted from the book to her face. "I trust my book will be returned to me in top condition Miss Granger."
Hermione nodded quickly, then turned and began to leave the dungeons.
"And Miss Granger, I'd appreciate if you tried to stay awake during the next lesson."
Hermione cringed, but nodded again and disappeared into the hallway.
Snape watched as the door closed behind Hermione. He remained staring at the stone wall for a few moments longer before he let out a great sigh and stood from the desk. He had given her the book like Dumbledore had asked and soon enough Hermione Granger would find out that she didn't come from a family of Muggles. She would discover where her roots in magic originated and when she began to find other familiar names, families who had been close to her own ancestors she would begin to wonder. It was her curiosity that Snape was counting on to bring The Five to a complete realization of what they were.
"I'll give them the prophecy book as soon as she finds out about their past," Dumbledore said, entering the room from a side door. "Hermione is a smart girl Severus, it won't take her long."
"We are running out of time Albus," Snape said quietly. "You and I both know that. I can feel it and I know that you can feel it too. Voldemort gets stronger with each passing day and he knows that we haven't prepared The Five yet." Snape's lip curled up in an ugly sneer. "He can sense them better than I ever could and now I fear that he's preparing to kill them."
Dumbledore laughed softly and stepped closer to Snape. "You, Severus, know as well as I do that Voldemort cannot kill them. They are powerful."
Snape turned to him, his dark eyes blazing. "They are still children Albus! They have much to learn before they can even hope to hold their own against Voldemort." He shook his head sadly and looked away. "I am terrified that they are in grave danger."
"They are safe here Severus," Dumbledore said. "They are perfectly safe in this school and they will remain here until they are ready."
"Christmas is only a few weeks away," Snape said slowly. "Some of them will want to return home for the holiday."
Dumbledore shrugged his problem off, then nodded. "I suppose you are right, but, as you know, Hermione, Harry and Ron always stay at Hogwarts for the holiday. I'm sure we can find some way to convince the other two to stay here as well."
Snape sighed. "I'm just worried. That is all. Their lives . . . I shudder to think what Voldemort would do to them if he found them." He turned back to Dumbledore again. "Just children Albus . . . they are just children."
"I must remind you Severus, of a time not long ago, only eighteen years ago in fact. A time when you were just a child really, a time when you gave up everything for the same man that these children are destined to battle."
Snape's eyes hardened. He hated when Dumbledore tried to remind him of his past as a way of teaching him a lesson.
"If you do this Albus, Kendra will suffer as well."
Dumbledore nodded. "She has a great curse upon her life, but she will adapt Severus. She has to. When they finally meet with Voldemort she will hear more things going through her mind than she ever thought possible because all five of them will be terrified . . . as will you and I."
"To remind me of my past deeds is unnecessary, I assure you," Snape said.
Dumbledore shrugged, his shoulders stooping greatly. "Are you sure of that Severus?"
Snape looked at the top of his desk and tapped his fingernails gently against it. He didn't want to remember, he didn't want to picture what Voldemort had done to Janet Logan that night. He hated remembering the horrible deaths he had taken part in . . .
. . . Snape twisted his fingers violently in Janet Logan's hair and yanked her to her feet. She had fallen to her knees a few blocks back, forcing Snape to drag her along by her arm. The closer they got to Voldemort, the more she fought him and eventually Snape had picked her up by the hair in order to control her better.
"Please," she stammered again, tears streaming down her face.
Snape rolled his eyes and pulled her closer to where Voldemort was hiding. He had chosen the Muggle world to commit the crime because it was easier to get away with a murder in a Muggle alley. Both Janet and Snape could sense the enormous power that radiated over the streets of this world, Voldemort's power was unmatched anywhere.
"Why are you doing this?" Janet asked, her hands finding Snape's fingers in her hair. "Why?"
"Because he wants your power," Snape answered simply. "What Voldemort wants, he will have."
He dragged her onward, his hands tugging at the thick hair of the small witch. She was strong and in her fear she put up a good fight, but Snape was stronger. He was young still, lean but his body was all sinewy muscle. It took little effort for him to drag her down the darkened alley which acted as a sanctuary for Voldemort. At that time in his life it never occurred to him that the Dark Lord was hiding while the Death Eaters did all his work.
"Janet Logan," Snape said, throwing the young witch at Voldemort's feet.
A smile much more terrifying than Snape's crossed Voldemort's face. He stared down at Snape with cold eyes, then glanced at the witch by his feet.
"She's the one I wanted?" he asked.
Snape nodded. " The same, my Lord. I tracked her down for you, brought her to you."
"You have done well, Severus," Voldemort hissed, his eyes carefully studying Janet. "She is powerful, yes?"
"Very powerful, my Lord," Snape said, his head bowed. "I sought her out in the Muggle world and found her blatantly using her power. She did nothing to hide, the witch deserves everything she gets."
Voldemort snorted and Snape glanced at him, startled. "I thank you greatly for your approval of my actions Severus," Voldemort said sarcastically.
Snape's head bowed once more. "I apologize, my Lord. My presumptions shall be the death of me."
"They shall," Voldemort agreed, "but not tonight."
"I thank you, my Lord."
Voldemort waved his hand dismissively and Snape turned to disappear into the shadows. This time, however, he could not resist ducking into a corner to await the fate of Janet Logan. He wanted to see, for the first time, what Voldemort did to the people he had his Death Eaters bring to him.
"Janet," Voldemort hissed, leaning down. "Janet, Janet. Don't cry, my dear girl."
Trembling, Janet looked at him and spat directly into his face.
Without hesitation, Voldemort's hand lashed out and he slapped her face so hard that the skin split over her cheek. More tears fell from her eyes as she toppled backward, clutching her hands to her face. Blood trickled between her fingers and Janet began to sob, knowing all her efforts were futile. Tonight was the night she was going to die.
Snape watched eagerly from the shadows, waiting for the moment when Voldemort would deliver the final blow.
"Wretched mudblood," Voldemort spat viciously. "How did one such as yourself get to be so powerful?" He didn't wait for an answer, not that he expected one. He turned from her and continued, "It disgusts me, the way Wizards treat you people. Only the purebloods understand my loathing for you."
In the shadows, Snape cringed. He was not a pureblood, his father had been a Muggle and his mother a witch. Why had Voldemort taken him as a Death Eater if he only wanted purebloods around?
Voldemort cocked his head at Janet. "Say the words on your mind. They shall be your last."
Janet's eyes slowly turned toward his face, a light behind them that should have been killed long ago. "You say that mudbloods disgust you, do they? That only the purebloods understand you? The Wizarding community will kill you Voldemort . . . they'll have your head on a stick one day and your reign, however powerful it is now, will not last. My death shall be one of many, but we will not die in vain."
Voldemort chuckled. "Lovely speech my girl, absolutely lovely." He leaned toward her, his wand in one hand. "Now, you shall die."
Janet's eyes closed and she leaned away from him, waiting for the fatal blow from his wand. The blow that would kill her and transfer all her power from her body to his.
Snape's hands twisted in anticipation, wanting so badly to see the Dark Lord at work.
In the dank alleyway, Voldemort held out his hand, his wand pointed directly at Janet Logan's chest. "Draconius Pevoro," he hissed, his wand glowing slightly, pulling power from her body. "Avada Kedavra."
A green light struck her hard at the same moment that a white glow enveloped Voldemort's body. A scream ripped from Janet's throat, slicing through the night air to Snape's ears. He shivered, enjoying the sound far more than he had ever imagined. He watched as her body slowly died, as her lungs hitched violently, trying to gasp in air.
Snape stood in the shadows and watched as an innocent woman died. He watched, black eyes sparkling with a light that had never been there before, a viciousness that had taken root in his heart. It would take years to undo the effect witnessing this murder had on him and even then he would remain an embittered man. His heart quickened as hers slowed, his breathing grew more rapid as hers gradually ceased. Snape fell life swell within him as Janet's ebbed away.
She died right before his eyes and he enjoyed watching it. It was an emotion that still frightened him . . .
. . . Snape shuddered involuntarily, knowing that Dumbledore was still watching him. His skin was clammy, a sheen of sweat glistening on his skin. He hated the blatant proof that his memories affected him so deeply, but he knew it was useless to try to hide things from Dumbledore. The much older wizard would know, he always did.
"Do you suppose that Miss Rayne is all right?" Snape asked carefully.
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "I'm certain that she will be just fine."
Snape nodded and looked away. "Yes, I suppose. Eventually, she'll be just fine."
* * * *
Snow fell on the ground of Hogwarts just after the first week of November. Students were dressing in warmer clothes for the classes they had in the more drafty areas of the school. The dungeons were especially cold and as she sat in Potions, Hermione could see her breath puffing out in front of her. She hunched down further in her scarf and attempted to concentrate on the instructions Professor Snape had written on his blackboard.
Despite her efforts to pay attention to what Snape was saying, Hermione drifted away from his voice and found class over much quickly than she had thought it would be.
Harry elbowed her just as the other students began to collect their books. "You were sleeping," he hissed.
Hermione looked devastated. "I was not," she whispered.
Kendra, who had taken to sitting with the others near the back, nodded. "Yeah, you were."
"I couldn't have been," Hermione replied. "I don't sleep through classes."
Ron laughed quietly behind his hand and said, "Well, you do now."
Parvati smiled at her as she passed by, walking a few steps ahead of Lavender.
"What if Snape saw me?" Hermione whispered, frantically trying to collect her books.
"Miss Granger," a cool voice said from the front of the classroom.
Hermione's eyes widened and she slowly turned to find Snape staring down at her.
"May I have a word?" he asked.
She nodded slowly, all the while silently cursing herself for falling asleep.
"Good luck," Harry whispered as Hermione walked down the long aisle to Snape's desk.
"Yes Professor?"
Snape stared down at her for a long moment before handing a thick book over his desk. "I thought you may find this of some interest to you."
Hermione turned the leather bound book over in his hands and looked at the cover. "Wizard lineage?"
Snape nodded. "Haven't you ever wondered where you got your abilities? Your mother and father are both Muggles, if I remember correctly."
Hermione nodded. "Yes, but I always thought that-"
"With this book, you may find that what you once thought was the truth is nothing but fiction," Snape said softly, then his eyes shifted from the book to her face. "I trust my book will be returned to me in top condition Miss Granger."
Hermione nodded quickly, then turned and began to leave the dungeons.
"And Miss Granger, I'd appreciate if you tried to stay awake during the next lesson."
Hermione cringed, but nodded again and disappeared into the hallway.
Snape watched as the door closed behind Hermione. He remained staring at the stone wall for a few moments longer before he let out a great sigh and stood from the desk. He had given her the book like Dumbledore had asked and soon enough Hermione Granger would find out that she didn't come from a family of Muggles. She would discover where her roots in magic originated and when she began to find other familiar names, families who had been close to her own ancestors she would begin to wonder. It was her curiosity that Snape was counting on to bring The Five to a complete realization of what they were.
"I'll give them the prophecy book as soon as she finds out about their past," Dumbledore said, entering the room from a side door. "Hermione is a smart girl Severus, it won't take her long."
"We are running out of time Albus," Snape said quietly. "You and I both know that. I can feel it and I know that you can feel it too. Voldemort gets stronger with each passing day and he knows that we haven't prepared The Five yet." Snape's lip curled up in an ugly sneer. "He can sense them better than I ever could and now I fear that he's preparing to kill them."
Dumbledore laughed softly and stepped closer to Snape. "You, Severus, know as well as I do that Voldemort cannot kill them. They are powerful."
Snape turned to him, his dark eyes blazing. "They are still children Albus! They have much to learn before they can even hope to hold their own against Voldemort." He shook his head sadly and looked away. "I am terrified that they are in grave danger."
"They are safe here Severus," Dumbledore said. "They are perfectly safe in this school and they will remain here until they are ready."
"Christmas is only a few weeks away," Snape said slowly. "Some of them will want to return home for the holiday."
Dumbledore shrugged his problem off, then nodded. "I suppose you are right, but, as you know, Hermione, Harry and Ron always stay at Hogwarts for the holiday. I'm sure we can find some way to convince the other two to stay here as well."
Snape sighed. "I'm just worried. That is all. Their lives . . . I shudder to think what Voldemort would do to them if he found them." He turned back to Dumbledore again. "Just children Albus . . . they are just children."
"I must remind you Severus, of a time not long ago, only eighteen years ago in fact. A time when you were just a child really, a time when you gave up everything for the same man that these children are destined to battle."
Snape's eyes hardened. He hated when Dumbledore tried to remind him of his past as a way of teaching him a lesson.
"If you do this Albus, Kendra will suffer as well."
Dumbledore nodded. "She has a great curse upon her life, but she will adapt Severus. She has to. When they finally meet with Voldemort she will hear more things going through her mind than she ever thought possible because all five of them will be terrified . . . as will you and I."
"To remind me of my past deeds is unnecessary, I assure you," Snape said.
Dumbledore shrugged, his shoulders stooping greatly. "Are you sure of that Severus?"
Snape looked at the top of his desk and tapped his fingernails gently against it. He didn't want to remember, he didn't want to picture what Voldemort had done to Janet Logan that night. He hated remembering the horrible deaths he had taken part in . . .
. . . Snape twisted his fingers violently in Janet Logan's hair and yanked her to her feet. She had fallen to her knees a few blocks back, forcing Snape to drag her along by her arm. The closer they got to Voldemort, the more she fought him and eventually Snape had picked her up by the hair in order to control her better.
"Please," she stammered again, tears streaming down her face.
Snape rolled his eyes and pulled her closer to where Voldemort was hiding. He had chosen the Muggle world to commit the crime because it was easier to get away with a murder in a Muggle alley. Both Janet and Snape could sense the enormous power that radiated over the streets of this world, Voldemort's power was unmatched anywhere.
"Why are you doing this?" Janet asked, her hands finding Snape's fingers in her hair. "Why?"
"Because he wants your power," Snape answered simply. "What Voldemort wants, he will have."
He dragged her onward, his hands tugging at the thick hair of the small witch. She was strong and in her fear she put up a good fight, but Snape was stronger. He was young still, lean but his body was all sinewy muscle. It took little effort for him to drag her down the darkened alley which acted as a sanctuary for Voldemort. At that time in his life it never occurred to him that the Dark Lord was hiding while the Death Eaters did all his work.
"Janet Logan," Snape said, throwing the young witch at Voldemort's feet.
A smile much more terrifying than Snape's crossed Voldemort's face. He stared down at Snape with cold eyes, then glanced at the witch by his feet.
"She's the one I wanted?" he asked.
Snape nodded. " The same, my Lord. I tracked her down for you, brought her to you."
"You have done well, Severus," Voldemort hissed, his eyes carefully studying Janet. "She is powerful, yes?"
"Very powerful, my Lord," Snape said, his head bowed. "I sought her out in the Muggle world and found her blatantly using her power. She did nothing to hide, the witch deserves everything she gets."
Voldemort snorted and Snape glanced at him, startled. "I thank you greatly for your approval of my actions Severus," Voldemort said sarcastically.
Snape's head bowed once more. "I apologize, my Lord. My presumptions shall be the death of me."
"They shall," Voldemort agreed, "but not tonight."
"I thank you, my Lord."
Voldemort waved his hand dismissively and Snape turned to disappear into the shadows. This time, however, he could not resist ducking into a corner to await the fate of Janet Logan. He wanted to see, for the first time, what Voldemort did to the people he had his Death Eaters bring to him.
"Janet," Voldemort hissed, leaning down. "Janet, Janet. Don't cry, my dear girl."
Trembling, Janet looked at him and spat directly into his face.
Without hesitation, Voldemort's hand lashed out and he slapped her face so hard that the skin split over her cheek. More tears fell from her eyes as she toppled backward, clutching her hands to her face. Blood trickled between her fingers and Janet began to sob, knowing all her efforts were futile. Tonight was the night she was going to die.
Snape watched eagerly from the shadows, waiting for the moment when Voldemort would deliver the final blow.
"Wretched mudblood," Voldemort spat viciously. "How did one such as yourself get to be so powerful?" He didn't wait for an answer, not that he expected one. He turned from her and continued, "It disgusts me, the way Wizards treat you people. Only the purebloods understand my loathing for you."
In the shadows, Snape cringed. He was not a pureblood, his father had been a Muggle and his mother a witch. Why had Voldemort taken him as a Death Eater if he only wanted purebloods around?
Voldemort cocked his head at Janet. "Say the words on your mind. They shall be your last."
Janet's eyes slowly turned toward his face, a light behind them that should have been killed long ago. "You say that mudbloods disgust you, do they? That only the purebloods understand you? The Wizarding community will kill you Voldemort . . . they'll have your head on a stick one day and your reign, however powerful it is now, will not last. My death shall be one of many, but we will not die in vain."
Voldemort chuckled. "Lovely speech my girl, absolutely lovely." He leaned toward her, his wand in one hand. "Now, you shall die."
Janet's eyes closed and she leaned away from him, waiting for the fatal blow from his wand. The blow that would kill her and transfer all her power from her body to his.
Snape's hands twisted in anticipation, wanting so badly to see the Dark Lord at work.
In the dank alleyway, Voldemort held out his hand, his wand pointed directly at Janet Logan's chest. "Draconius Pevoro," he hissed, his wand glowing slightly, pulling power from her body. "Avada Kedavra."
A green light struck her hard at the same moment that a white glow enveloped Voldemort's body. A scream ripped from Janet's throat, slicing through the night air to Snape's ears. He shivered, enjoying the sound far more than he had ever imagined. He watched as her body slowly died, as her lungs hitched violently, trying to gasp in air.
Snape stood in the shadows and watched as an innocent woman died. He watched, black eyes sparkling with a light that had never been there before, a viciousness that had taken root in his heart. It would take years to undo the effect witnessing this murder had on him and even then he would remain an embittered man. His heart quickened as hers slowed, his breathing grew more rapid as hers gradually ceased. Snape fell life swell within him as Janet's ebbed away.
She died right before his eyes and he enjoyed watching it. It was an emotion that still frightened him . . .
. . . Snape shuddered involuntarily, knowing that Dumbledore was still watching him. His skin was clammy, a sheen of sweat glistening on his skin. He hated the blatant proof that his memories affected him so deeply, but he knew it was useless to try to hide things from Dumbledore. The much older wizard would know, he always did.
"Do you suppose that Miss Rayne is all right?" Snape asked carefully.
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "I'm certain that she will be just fine."
Snape nodded and looked away. "Yes, I suppose. Eventually, she'll be just fine."
* * * *