CHAPTER THREE
OLD ENEMIESIt was just as she remembered. The high-enchanted ceiling was showing the beautiful colors of the sky, as it was sunset. The room was brightly lit with floating candles and four long solid oak tables with benches occupied the floor of the hall. But something was different. Normally the teachers sat at the long table at the front of the room, with Uncle in his magnificent 'headmaster' chair, but the teachers weren't there. Instead, they sat at one of the four tables on the main floor. With a look of confusion, and a fierce protective sense toward Sirius, she approached the professors with him not far behind.
"I'm sorry we're late," Orion said to Albus, "It's good to see you all again," she said to the rest of the staff as she bowed and took her seat. When Sirius was uncovered, a great gasp was heard from the teachers. Some rose from their seats and pointed their wands as Snape had done; others were too shocked to do anything but stare.
"Will everyone please calm down and control yourselves," boomed Dumbledore, "and Professor Flitwick, please be so kind and SIT DOWN." There was complete silence as the professor dropped his wand to his side and returned to his seat. "Now, as I was about to say, Sirius is here as a guest, and he shall be treated as such. You may have your own opinions of him, but I will be damned if any of you try to hurt him," said Albus, shooting a fierce glance at Severus. "Now, back to business, eh?" he replied with a much lighter tone.
Orion ate her meal slowly as she listened to her Uncle's plan. "As you know, a great war is brewing. Our forces are strong, but we are in need of any creature that we can find to help defeat Voldemort once and for all," a few teachers shivered at the sound of Voldemort's name, but Orion kept on chewing. "I have sent Hagrid to the mountains, where he is currently trying to convince the giants to help our cause, but I feel as though we should also recruit within our own forest. Orion, since you can speak to practically every magical creature you come upon, I will be sending you there. Since Hagrid isn't here, I will send Severus with you as he knows these woods almost as well as him." Severus looked up at Orion, who was sipping her wine and focusing on Dumbledore. Her eyes seemed a little wider and more agitated. As he finished giving the rest of the teachers their assignments, Orion contemplated on what to say to convince some of the meanest creatures around to give to a cause that they could care less about; and how to survive a night with the hated Potions master.
"Remember, once the semester starts, we will act as we have always acted--calm and serene. Not a word of this to any student." There was a nod of heads from all the teachers. Although Albus sounded confident and sure, Orion could see the worried look on his face. As everyone got up to leave, she gave her Godfather a hug. "Don't worry Uncle Albus, good will always prevail over evil. We will win this fight."
"With you here on our side, I have little doubt."
***
With a smile and a wave at the front gates, Dumbledore sent Severus and his goddaughter out to the forest. When he was out of sight, the professor turned and smiled at his companion.
"I would just like to reintegrate the fact that I hate you," she said at the sight of his smirk.
"I have missed you as well," he said with the heaviest of sarcasm, "Let's not let our feelings get in the way of our mission though shall we?"
"If you can control yourself I will try also," she said with a clenched jaw. They entered the woods. Though it was barely eight o' clock, the forest seemed darker than ever. The wind whispered in their ears and twigs snapped every few minutes, making them both jump. The first creature they came upon was a Unicorn. "Thank God," Orion whispered as they neared the great animal. She stepped in front of Severus, as it is accustomed to have the woman approach a Unicorn before any man. She gently stroked the horse's snout and face, while she recited, "O magnificent creature of the forest, we are in desperate need of your help. A great evil threatens these woods, and we would be forever in your debt if you would join our cause and defeat the evil Lord Voldemort, so that all of the world will be safe and harmonious again." The Unicorn looked at Orion's luminous green eyes and nodded its great head, then turned and disappeared into the trees.
"Well that was easy enough," she said more to herself than Severus.
"Only because you are a woman was that easy for you," he replied.
"Don't talk to me," she snapped, turning on him. "Just...don't. I'd rather not have to tolerate you're damned sarcasm tonight." And so they walked on, not speaking a word to each other, until they came upon Firenze, the centaur. "Firenze! How good to see you!" cried Orion as she bowed in the deepest respect to her old friend.
"Orion, it's been a long time. What brings you to the forest?" asked the great animal. Orion recited her speech, though with much less authoritative tone.
"Of course I am on your side, I will always stay where good reigns," Firenze agreed, "and I will be sure to help recruit others, though the other centaurs will be hard to convince. It's good to see you again," he said with a wink and a smile.
"This won't be the last time we see each other," Orion replied as Firenze gave another smile and went off through the trees.
Although it seemed their job was easy, Orion and Severus did come across some of the less desired species of the Forbidden Forest. Convincing a troll to join them and stay away from the castle was quite the challenge, and Severus had to paralyze a werewolf in order for Orion to even talk to him without getting bitten. After a long hard night, the two weary travelers made their way back to the castle.
"It's too bad we hate each other, we make a pretty good team," Severus began.
"I wouldn't be getting any ideas Professor." The conversation was at an end. As they walked, Orion a few feet in front of Severus, she heard a horrifying noise. "Get up in the tree," she commanded to him.
"What? Why? What's going--"
"NOW," Orion cut him off. Both scrambled up into the nearest tree. Severus still did not hear or see anything to be so frightened about.
"Here, eat this," Orion said as she handed a flower petal to him. He nearly spat the disgusting thing out as he tried to choke it down. Orion swallowed hers with ease. Then she reluctantly put a hand to Snape's, and the pair became invisible. Just then, Severus noticed the ground moving beneath them. Leaves jumped out of the way as a great snake eased its way through the forest floor. It was the largest of the species that he had ever seen. He gasped in horror as it slithered passed their tree. The serpent stopped and raised its enormous head to sniff the air. After being satisfied that there was nothing there to be eaten, he moved on. Orion had one hand over Snape's mouth and the other was holding his hand in a death grip. After the snake was out of sight, she let go.
"It's a good thing you're so quiet when we're being hunted," she said sarcastically.
"What the hell is that thing doing here?" demanded Severus as he rubbed his hand, "and what was that disgusting stuff you made me eat?"
"It was an enchanted rose petal. When eaten, it makes you smell like a rose. It confuses the snake--one minute he smells human flesh, and the next a nasty flower. As to why he's in the forest, I suspect it has something to do with our favorite Dark Lord. And you are quite welcome for saving your pathetic skin," she said as she slid effortlessly from the branches back onto the ground. Snape followed her with much less ease.
"We should have followed it," Orion said.
"Are you insane? You want to die tonight, don't you?" Orion cocked her head. "I have no objections, but I would rather live to see tomorrow!" shouted Severus.
"Shh, he might hear you," said Orion, and he immediately shut up. She laughed at his cowardice. "Not so tough when your life is on the line, are you?"
"Listen, Miss Avery, just because you're not a student here anymore--" he was cut off as Orion squealed, "Look, he left a trail through the leaves. Let's have a look, shall we?" Orion grabbed his robes and half dragged him toward the end of the snake's path.
***
It seemed to go on forever, and Severus was no longer frightened, but annoyed. "Honestly, we could be resting safely in our own beds right now," he said as his eyes scanned their surroundings. "Who cares why that snake is here; there are a lot of terrifying things in the forest. Let's turn around."
"Well alright if you want to go back," Orion said as Severus heaved a great sigh of relief, "I just hope you'll be able to find your way back on your own." There was no use. She had her mind set and there was no use trying to change it. She laughed to herself, and then abruptly stopped. Up ahead through the trees, there seemed to be some sort of clearing. There were great spouts of fire being thrown over and through the trees, and the roar of a great animal could be heard.
"Oh my God, Artemas!" Orion shouted. She immediately grasped Snape's hand and the trees disappeared and a cave grew out of the depths. The great dragon stood with his back to them, breathing fire and cursing the humans that had dared to disturb him. Orion stepped out from the shadows, though Severus was not so sure, and so remained hidden in a nook against the cave wall. Orion walked calmly to where Artemas could see her. He gave one last breath of fire and turned his back to the intruders outside the cave, throwing his great spiked tail every which way.
"Orion, what are you doing here?" he asked in his own flowing language.
"I heard you needed a little help fending off some nasty pests," she replied with a smile. Artemas laughed. Then he turned around again to further his fight. Orion stepped out from the cave and saw twenty-five masked wizards, all holding their wands and pointing them toward the great dragon.
"Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters," answered Snape as he came up behind Orion. "I don't know why they would be trying to fight a dragon, though. His magic is much more powerful than theirs; they don't have a chance." Orion, with eyes that glowed with a fire of their own, advanced on the Death Eaters. She threw her hands outward, and the wizards went flying into the trees. Nearly every one of them had been knocked out. Severus and Artemas were impressed. It seemed as though someone else was too.
And there he emerged, clapping, with an evil grin on his face and a giant snake by his side; the man himself, Lord Voldemort. Orion had never felt such rage and hatred within her, but she managed to play Voldemort's game.
"Nice work, very impressive," he smirked.
"Tom! It's been awhile. How've you been?" teased Orion as she made her way to Tom Riddle. It seemed as though she was meeting all sorts of people she hadn't seen in ages. Some of which she would have rather not seen ever again.
"Very good indeed. You seem like you are in good health. And Severus Snape! How I've missed your ugly face," sneered Voldemort.
"Leave him be," said Orion as she pushed Severus back behind Artemas. The Death Eaters were beginning to rise and advance on Orion with their wands raised.
"No," protested Voldemort, "this one's mine." He made his way toward Orion with his own wand raised in her direction. He obviously did not realize whom he was messing with, for she had become much more powerful than the last time they had met.
"Are you prepared to die?" he asked with a smile.
"Are you?" Just then Voldemort's wand flew out of his hand and into Orion's. She placed it in her robes next to her Great grandfather's sword. "A moment of reflection, please," she said as she walked around the circle of Death Eaters that had formed around Voldemort and herself. "Don't think that I can't see each and every one of your hideous, repulsive faces!" she shouted at the masked wizards. She stopped in front of a rather tall, skinny man. "Lucius Malfoy. Tisk tisk. I thought you would've known better than to join up with the likes of him," she said as she looked through the robes and into the stark white face of Malfoy. "It's a shame really," she said as she moved in closer and put her arms around his waist, "I thought you were rather enticing." He wriggled away from her grasp and looked down at the ground, avoiding her gaze though it was directly at his eyes. She turned around and made her way toward the other end of the ring, while Voldemort watched her every move. "Vincent Crabbe, and Goyle! My dear boys," she said as she stopped in front of two rather large figures, "just wait till the headmaster hears about this, you will surely be kicked out of Hogwarts."
"Enough! It's you or me this time Avery!" roared Voldemort as he advanced on the Enigma, with his pet snake slithering menacingly behind him. His rage enveloped him as he tried to think of a way to bring her down. For once in his pitiful life, he was the underdog--fighting the biggest, meanest, and most powerful creature on the planet.
"I will kill you," he reassured Orion. She came [RJ1] back with a kick right in his jaw. Tom flew backwards and landed face down in the dirt. The serpent lunged at her, but Orion was too quick; she drew her sword and slashed through the reptile's skin. It fell onto the ground, heaving with pain. Voldemort screamed for his beloved as Orion advanced on him. She pressed her weapon ever so slightly into Riddle's neck. The Death Eaters were furious and raised their wands once more.
"Go ahead, take your best shot!" she commanded of them, still pinning down Voldemort.
"Cruico!" shouted all the figures at once. With one wave of her hand, the spells reflected back onto the Death Eaters. They were flown once again back into the woods, all nearly dead this time.
"Go home, all of you." And with another wave of her hand, the masked men disappeared, as she sent them to their homes.
Artemas and Severus emerged from the cave, amazed by what they had witnessed. "By the heavenly stars! That was brilliant Orion!" said Artemas. But Orion still had fire in her eyes, and with a defiant glare, silenced the dragon. Then she kicked Voldemort over onto his back, and after replacing her sword, knelt down to him.
"So here we are. After all that fuss about killing me, here you lay on your back looking up to the very person you just threatened," laughed Orion. She bent down so that her hair fell on Voldemort's face, and their noses nearly touched. "Does this scare you?" she asked, "or does it just piss you off?"
Just then Tom kicked Orion off of himself, and she landed on her back a few yards away. Before he had time to do anything she leapt to her feet, pointed a solitary finger at Voldemort's forehead, and he immediately crumpled onto the ground, clearly unconscious. Still fuming, Orion brought up a hand to guide her prisoner back to the castle.
"I think its time to go," Severus said as he again stepped out from the cave. The dragon nodded in agreement. As Voldemort floated a few inches from the ground, Orion came to Artemas.
"I think you should leave this place. The forest is no longer safe, not even for you. I will be fine here," she promised him, "and I swear if I ever need you, I will play my flute."
"When the time comes, I will be by your side." Orion gave the dragon another kiss, and his great head turned toward Snape.
"Artemas old friend, this is Professor Snape, a teacher at Hogwarts. Professor, this is Artemas, the last of his kind, and a very dear and dangerous friend of mine." Severus bowed to the dragon, and Artemas nodded in respect.
"Now leave this place, and be happy and safe." And with an effortless stretch of his wings, Artemas flew into the sky. Orion looked at Severus with an exhausted but proud expression.
"Nice work," he said, "for an amateur."
Orion had had enough. "You know, if you weren't so Goddamned full of yourself--" and the fighting began as they made their way through the forest and back to Hogwarts, with an unconscious Voldemort following close behind.
***
As the night grew older and dawn approached, Severus spoke to his opposite. He would never admit it, but she seemed to have put a spell on him. He choked down a sneer and attempted to converse with her.
"What you did back there was rather impressive."
"Impressive, eh? You think that what I did was bloody impressive!?" shrieked Orion, "What I did was horrible, humiliating. What I did was primitive."
"Here we go again. You are given a compliment and you fail to accept it without some sort of criticism. Explain yourself." Orion paused to take a deep breath.
"Listen, I have great power, yes? I am one not to be trifled with. I am all powerful and anyone who defies me should be killed, right?" Severus blinked and cleared his throat.
"Well, if that's how you wish to be described." Orion snorted.
"My powers are to protect people, not hurt them. I'm not supposed to kill or injure anyone. My magic is pure, and should not be used against someone else unless it is absolutely necessary."
"Well I would say that was a necessary time. He certainly wasn't joking when he said he was going to kill you," Snape reminded her.
"Yes, that's true. And he probably would've killed me." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Still, what I did was unethical--I shouldn't have teased those Death Eaters. Every other time before this when I've met and fought Tom it was purely for show. I never felt the enormous amount of hate for him as I did tonight."
"And you could have killed him, but you didn't, which was very merciful, and unusual, of you. God knows I would have," Snape said, "and so you should have nothing to be ashamed of."
"Still--" Orion said as she looked thoughtfully toward the sky. When she brought her eyes back down they met Snape's. She had never really made eye contact with him. That was one of the many unwritten rules of Hogwarts. His eyes were pitch black and seemed empty. But there was something there. Perhaps loneliness? It couldn't be ruled out. 'Good Lord' she thought. 'Am I connecting with this slime ball?'
***
As they reached the castle grounds, Orion decided it would be best to apparate once more to Dumbledore's office in case anyone saw her floating prisoner. She placed her hand on Snape's cloaked arm, and with her other shaking hand she touched Voldemort's head. Her head pounded in horrible agony as Voldemort began to tremble and quiver in his spot in the air. The pain was too much for Orion, and before she could apparate, she pulled her hand from Riddle's head. She fell into Snape's arms, shivering with eyes wide open. Severus sat on the grass and held the broken woman, as Voldemort fell to the ground because she had lost all concentration.
"Your powers, they are pure, and evil must cut through you like a knife when you touch it," he said more to himself than her, "just as evil burns from the touch of a pure soul," as he noticed thin burns on Voldemort's face.
"I saw... I saw... horrible... screams... laughing," Orion stuttered as she tried to regain her composure. The Potions master sat on the moist grass, with a former student lying against his chest. He trembled at her touch, but he could do nothing but hold her.
And so they slept, Orion and Severus. He awoke first, to the bright sunlight that announced it was midday. Voldemort lay as he was the previous night, and his enemy slept peacefully on Snape's chest. He shook her lightly, and her eyes opened a little. When she saw where she had been lying she immediately stood up. After the pure shock of it all she asked Snape what time it was.
"Eleven thirty," he replied as he replaced his pocket watch, "It's time to show our guest to the headmaster."
Orion slowly got up and stretched. Her back and knees screamed out from torture, but her heart, her heart hurt more than anything. Then she remembered all the horrors that lie in Voldemort's head, and she wanted so desperately to kill him. "Let's go," she said. She raised Voldemort into the air once more, and this time she took part of her robes and placed them between her hand and Riddle's head. She grabbed Severus by the hand and their grassy bed turned to stone as the walls of Hogwarts grew up around them. They hadn't made it into Dumbledore's office. Orion's strength was not yet back. But it was gradually returning to her, for they were but down the hall from the entrance of her uncle's office. With Severus still holding on to her, Orion made her way to the gargoyle that guarded the stairs to Dumbledore. With a wave the statue moved to the side to let them pass. The professor was amazed once again, because she didn't need passwords to get around.
Once they reached the top Severus knocked on the door. He heard voices from behind it, and then Albus said, "Come in," and they entered. Sirius Black stood leaning against Dumbledore's shelves of books, and opposite him, leaning against a portrait of Rowena Ravenclaw (who was currently out), was Remus Lupin.
"Oh thank goodness you're back. We were getting worried--" Albus stopped. He noticed that there were more people standing before him than he sent into the woods the night before. "My God," he whispered. Both Sirius and Remus jumped out of their skins as Orion brought Voldemort in front of her.
"Please, don't panic. He was in the woods last night...with Death Eaters... I tried to be reasonable... he tried to kill--" Severus quieted her.
"We bring to you Lord Voldemort so that he can be questioned. His minions won't dare try to take over the world without him, so this gives us more time to plan."
Dumbledore thought a minute. He looked at Black and Lupin, they looked back puzzlingly at him. "Very well then, I never thought I would have this pleasure. Please, set him down."
The Enigma, now fully recovered, brought Voldemort to a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. Then she went embraced Remus; it was another reunion of old friends.
"Are you staying with us?"
"No, the full moon is almost here. I'm here to help...and get my potion from Severus," he said as Snape came to rest against Dumbledore's desk.
"Please Orion, wake him," said Albus.
The woman went to Tom and leaned over. "It's time to wake up," she whispered menacingly in his ear. He stirred a bit, and when he didn't open his eyes, she used the back of her hand and slapped Voldemort across the face so hard the other men grabbed their own faces in pain. Riddle's eyes opened wide and he stared at the four faces that stared back at him.
***
He was bound to his chair so that all he could move was his hideous head. "Well, looks as though I have a fan club," he sneered as he looked around the room. His eyes settled on Sirius. "I was hoping I would run into you sooner or later. You're looking mighty fresh since your unfortunate demise." Sirius snapped. He lunged at Voldemort. Orion stopped him in mid-flight, and Sirius looked at her like the mad man everyone thought he once was.
"It's all right, calm down Sirius. He can't hurt you," Orion said as she pulled him back to his position on the wall. Tom laughed at the scene. "You really should have killed me while you had the chance," he told her. She drew her sword and pressed it against Tom's neck, harder than the night before so that blood trickled down his robes. Sirius laughed this time.
"She may be able to stop me, but no one can stop her."
"Enough. Orion, please, as you were," commanded Dumbledore as he appeared from the shadows behind Tom and came to rest in front of him. "I want to ask you one simple question, and I would appreciate an honest answer." Voldemort stared Albus in the eyes with a wild look.
"Why did you go after the dragon?" he asked. Severus looked astonished. How did he know Riddle was hunting Artemas?
"If you would have paid attention in school, dear Albus, or if my faithful servant here would have studied some of the more rare ingredients that can be used in potion making, you would already know the answer to that." All five faces remained expressionless. "But since you all are the dumbest creatures on the earth, let me explain. Dragon's blood will protect you from all magic. Even yours, Orion. So you see, if I have dragon's blood, I can defeat even an Enigma." He smiled a most evil smile at the woman.
"You forgot one key step in trying to conquer a dragon," Orion whispered. The men in the room turned to stare. "In order to even come close to a dragon, since no magic will kill it, you must first put it to sleep. Only the leaves from an ancient Angeleye tree will create the necessary fumes to knock out a such an enormous creature."
"Of course I did not forget that step. I am not stupid. One of my servants had failed in retrieving the leaves for me. I thought I might try to kill the dragon anyway. I would have succeeded if it wasn't for you."
"Well, as long as you're here under our care you'll not be killing anyone," he said through gritted teeth, "Orion, please show our guest to his new home." He meant the dungeons.
Still bound by Orion's magic, Voldemort was lead deep into the basement of the castle. When she stopped, she opened the door of a regular looking jail cell--though there was nothing regular about Hogwarts.
"Your quarters, Tom," she said as she shoved him into his cage. She pulled the magic from his body so that he could move freely, and he came to her. With his face pressed against the bars he whispered,
"This will never hold me. I will escape, and you will help me."
"The day I help you will be the day Hogwarts crumbles to the ground." Before he could say anything else, the woman was gone.
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