Author's Note: I have not been neglecting my duties as the Dark Prince's writer; I've been on vacation. The Dark Prince does not have good benefits for his staff so I ran away. Damn bastard found me. ::smiles:: So, without more chatter- here's the story. Enjoy and many thanks to the people who helped me: my Beta and my muses. ::winks:: Especially my Devil Muse…beware of Mini Amissa!!!
A man Harry had never seen before stepped into the Hall and quieted it with a look. Tall, and thin, he had a stern demeanor. He was entering age with a grace only possible for the rich. But this man didn't look rich or even refined; his light brown hair was beginning to pepper and it fell over cold ice blue eyes. His stance was tense and poised, like a snake rearing up to strike. He looked like a man who lived life by a code of right, or wrong, black and white.
Such a man had no place at Hogwarts.
"Mallory." Greeted Dumbledore as the aged Headmaster rose from his seat and held out his arms.
Mallory embraced Albus but did so awkwardly, "Headmaster, I've come with news for Professor Snape and my Aurors.
"Kaiya usually takes her meals alone with Professor Lupin. I will try and find them."
"And Snape?"
Dumbledore and Harry both turned to the staff table just in time to see a black cloak disappear behind a door. Mallory smiled softly. "Oh yeah, real mature Morning Star."
Harry's ears perked up. He stared at the man. "What did you call Professor Snape?"
The man seemed to barely recognize where he was. He did a sort of half turn, taking in the Great Hall before resting his sharp eyes on Harry. The man's face was kind. He smiled softly, an action that seemed to change his entire posture. Now he looked like what Albus might have looked like in his youth. But there was something familiar about him.
"I called him Morning Star. It's an old nickname."
"Gideon Mallory, this is Harry Potter."
Gideon was the first person whose eyes didn't search for the scar. Instead, quite calmly Gideon extended his hand. The hand was calloused. "Harry."
"Do you know Snape?" Harry asked. He ignored the fact that it was probably not his place to question.
Gideon, however, seemed amused. "We work together on occasion and we share many friends." He winked. "I hear you beat him in a Quidditch match. Wish I could have seen that. Sev was amazing when it came to Seeking."
"Maybe you should go talk to him." Dumbledore reminded Gideon. Harry noticed Dumbledore looked unhappy.
"Right, well. Let's go hunting."
"What happened?" Harry blurted out. "Why is an Auror meeting with Professor Snape?"
Gideon turned and regarded the boy. He smiled. "Maybe I'm going to arrest him." He winked. "Get you and yours out of a Potions exam."
"A strong ally of Professor Snape was attacked last night. She's alive, thankfully but Gideon seems to believe…"
"Headmaster?" Gideon interrupted. "Is it wise to share this information?"
"You will find, Gideon, that Harry has his own way of finding these things out regardless of our best intentions."
Gideon nodded. "I shall have to watch you with great care then Mr. Potter." He turned towards the exit Snape had disappeared in and stalked off. His stance faltered only once, when he passed the Slytherin table. He stared at Draco Malfoy for a long moment before turning and walking, not as assured as he had been.
Harry looked at Dumbledore, waiting.
"Your friend Ron is waiting for you." Dumbledore said, motioning to the Gryffindor table.
Gideon Mallory found the Morning Star sitting on the floor with his back against the wall in an empty room. The room was long and high arched with two rows of armor. He looked around, walking across the length of the room. Severus had his legs to his chest and his head bowed between them. He wasn't speaking. Gideon was simply pacing.
"You know, they should have never made Inman the new Head Coach of the Wasps," Gideon began. "He's running them into the ground."
"I didn't attack Jamie, Gideon." He said it softly.
Gideon turned and walked towards Snape. He squatted down. "I know you didn't."
"The Prince…" Severus inhaled; then corrected himself. "I wasn't even called last night."
Gideon nodded. "You never told Dumbledore who the Dark Prince was did you?"
"He knows the Dark Prince is a monster."
"But he doesn't know you're the Dark Prince, does he?" Snape didn't answer. Gideon sighed heavily. He rubbed the back of his neck and made a noise. "Does Kaiya know?"
"She knows what I am, yes."
Gideon pressed his back against the wall. He looked over at Snape. He reached over and grasped Snape's shoulder. He slid down to sit beside his friend. He looked over and exhaled. "Any ideas who is behind this?"
"Choice mentioned someone who is trying to ally with Lord Voldemort. He wants a war against the Dark Prince."
Gideon felt a shiver down his spine. "It could be unrelated."
"You know that's not true." He rested his head against the wall. "He knows who I am."
Ron Weasley tugged on his collar and waited for the woman to appear. He didn't like this. He was cold and tired and hadn't slept since he had joined forces with the dark haired woman. He felt like a traitor. He looked up and saw her. Jacqueline was wearing black lace over a red dress. Her black hair was pulled into a braid. She smiled at Ron and extended her hand. "What do you have for me, Ron?"
Jacqueline was intoxicating to look at. She was deathly pale and had wine colored eyes. She was beautiful to look at. Ron walked towards and kissed her. She let him take his time before pulling away. Jack smiled. Men were useful but easily manipulated. "So, what do you have me for me?"
"Harry got his father's dairy from a man, it had your picture in it."
Jacqueline raised her brow. "Does he know about James and me?"
"Not yet but he could find out…"
"He'll find out in time." Jack said slowly, she turned her attention to the castle. "And Snape?"
Ron shrugged. "Snape is Snape."
She considered her options. Although she couldn't say she felt love for Severus Snape, she was willing to overlook his disloyalty to Voldemort. He had saved her from Azkaban, and from the Dementors. In return, she kept his secret safe. Once, the Dark Prince and Jack the Ripper had been grand together. So great had their strength been that they still felt some loyalty to each other.
But he belonged to her past as she belonged to his. Their paths had separated. She accepted that. But she wouldn't, however, lose the only thing she ever loved on earth. She wouldn't leave their son to his father's wrath.
If she had to choose between Modred Eames and Severus Snape, the Prince would fall like lightening. Modred was her all now. She wouldn't let Snape hurt him. She turned to Ron. "Keep an eye on them both."
"Will I see you again?" Ron asked.
Jack smiled. "Go home and kiss your girlfriend goodnight, Ron. You'll see me soon enough."
She watched as he left and waited. Soon enough, she felt the brush of a raven feather against her cheek. She looked up and waited. The bird was perched on a tree, watching her with his black eyes.
"I didn't warn him." She told the bird. The bird seemed displeased, cawed and flew away. Jack pressed down a shiver. Modred was the son of two of the greatest Dark Wizards alive. He was the son of bloodshed. Both parents had killed entire villages with a whim. She feared the son more so than she ever feared the father.
After all, Modred was his father's son.