Author's Note: The ideas are mine, of course. Amethyst Rayne Black is mine as well. The rest of the characters belong to the author of the original Harry Potter series. This particular story is taken from Severus' experiences during the third book (POA). I may be able to write more. It helps a great deal if you have read Severus Snape's True Love, if not the entire Liber Severi Series. There are things in those three books that will help those who are not familiar with Amethyst and Severus in my world.
Cassandra Jasmin Houston
Chapter 2 The End of the Third Year
While Lupin was 'ill', Severus took the opportunity to give a hint to the third year class about Lupin's 'illness'. He barely hoped that someone would figure it out. Probably Hermione Granger. And she was such an insufferable know-it-all that he had little doubt that as soon as she did figure it out, she would tell her little friends and they would spread the news all over the school. Then he would be rid of Remus and perhaps a little more peace would come to this exceptionally miserable year. But just in case, he gave Ron a detention in the hospital wing, hoping the daft redhead would wonder where Remus could be if he was ill but not in the hospital wing.
Severus watched Harry's fall with only the slightest of anxiety. He was white as a sheet himself listening to Sirius screaming at him. Dumbledore saved the boy and Severus was torn between relief and anger. Harry was all right, but that only meant that Severus was still obligated to protect the boy. And of course, the fate of Harry's Nimbus could do little but help Severus's house to victory.
Christmas came complete with an angering and embarrassing reminder of Neville Longbottom and his grandmothers' hat. He managed to overhear the conversation between Minerva and Hermione about Harry's Christmas present and was grateful for the lessons Remus would give Harry after the New Year began.
Remus kept him abreast of the anti-dementor lessons. Even Severus had to give Harry credit for his obvious magical power. Remus shared with Severus that he suspected that part of the problem was that Harry wanted to hear the voices of his parents, which kept him from reaching his full potential.
Severus thought about this a moment and nodded. They were sitting in Remus's office. Severus was standing and looking out of the window. He turned when he heard what Remus murmured next.
"I cannot imagine why he would want to hear his parents being murdered."
Severus turned around to face Remus. "Oh, I think I may. He never heard their voices before. Any memory for him, even a dying parental voice might be better than none at all."
"I suppose you may have a point." Remus conceded. "But if you'd been there when Amethyst was mur,"
Severus cut him off. "I wasn't." he said shortly. "Or she wouldn't have been. And in any event, I have so many good memories of Amethyst. It is that bastard of a brother of hers I hear when the dementors get near me."
"And your Patronus?" Remus asked, curiously.
Severus chuckled. "Are you asking me about my happiest memory, Remus?"
Remus looked at him and raised his eyebrows.
Severus thought a moment. "Alright then. You are doing me a favor teaching Harry the Patronus Charm. I'll give you this."
Severus walked over to the desk and sat behind it. Remus sat in a chair in front of the desk. Severus looked down at the desk for a moment. When he looked up, Remus was taken aback by the joy in the potions masters face.
"There are several." Severus began. "But the one I use when I am fighting a dementor is the memory of the day I asked Amethyst to marry me and she accepted." His face clouded over a little. "That was about six weeks before she died."
Remus found himself sighing. He grappled with his own memories a moment before he nodded. "Thank you, Severus." He said simply.
"We are even, Lupin." Severus said, rising and leaving the office.
He remained stony faced until he got back to his chambers. As soon as the door closed, he grasped the invisible rings in his hand. He could feel the cold metal in his hand and a familiar cold touching his heart.
Severus seriously considered killing Draco Malfoy and his cronies for the stunt they pulled at the match between Griffindor and Ravenclaw. He was actually concerned with his apparent loss of control over his temper that he seemed to be having this year. The stress of the circumstances was having on him.
The excitement of the attack on Ron Weasley did nothing to relieve his stress. It meant that he got no sleep and once again his thoughts were zeroed in on Sirius Black.
When Draco came to him, covered in mud and whining like a baby, Severus took off for the third floor as quickly as he could. He knew that Harry had found a way out of the castle and he found that he was absolutely furious with the boy. Of course, Harry had no idea of the debt Severus owed James, and there was nothing that would make Severus tell him.
But Severus could not resist bating Harry about his father. Severus may have been indebted to James Potter, but that did nothing to improve his opinion of the boy's father. And so he informed him of the attempt on his life made on him by Sirius and James. He had never truely believed that James was not at least as responsible as Sirius for that incident with the Whomping Willow. That James had saved him did not improve Severus opinion of him, nor did the favor that he did for Amethyst, further deepening the debt owed by Severus.
Severus recognised the parchment. Amethyst told him about it while they were all still in school. He did not know how to use it and it's refusal to obey his commands only served to make Severus more angry than he had been. The maps creators still held he same opinion of Severus and the words Severus read brought the memories of his school days crashing down on him. And so he called up Remus. His frustration was trebled. He opted to keep his knowledge of the map to himself, for now. Not even Remus knew that he knew about the Maureders Map. Only Amethyst knew that Severus knew and, of course, she would never tell. And, knowledge kept to himself, he only grew angrier that Remus would insult his intelligence in defense of Harry Potter.
Severus slammed his fist on the desk when Remus took Harry and Ron from his office. Protecting Harry Potter was never an easy task. He found himself, not for the first time, half hoping that Harry would get himself killed. Sirius Black killing him would be a sort of poetic justice as far as Severus was concerned. Severus would get over the little guilt he might feel at failing to protect his charge. Protecting Harry Potter was a full time job. He was undoubtedly his father's son.
Severus inwardly sighed when his house team was beaten by the Griffindors. The most intelligent from the Slytherin house were not on the quiddich team. As a matter of fact, it seemed that it was true that it was the house relied on size rather than skill. But they were at their creative best in cheating and for that Severus was proud.
Exams were almost like a beautiful dream for Severus. The stress he was feeling was nothing to the stress he could feel emminating from his students. He enjoyed every minute. When June the sixth dawned, Severus woke, almost depressed. Being the last day of the exams, it would be the last day that his students would be more anxious than he was.
When the time came, Severus prepared the wolfsbane potion for Remus and took it to him. That is when he realised that Remus was not there and the map was lying on the desk, showing all of it's secrets.
He put on the cloak at the whomping willow and followed the passageway into the shrieking shack. He crept up the stairs and slipped into the room, where he listened quietly under the protection of James' invisibility cloak and his own silence. The more he listened, the more upset he became.
He almost chuckled when Sirius seemed so surprised about Severus working at Hogwarts. Amethyst was good at her memory charms. And in listening to the story of his mishaps with the Whomping Willow, although a bit inaccurate, he became infuriated. When he finally revealed himself, he was infuriated.
He found himself ranting a bit, but very carefully avoided mentioning Amethyst. He was suddenly overwhelmed in the memories of their time in school, when they did all they could to hide their relationship. He also decided suddenly that he would not kill Sirius, although he was almost shaking with the temptation. What was left of his rational mind knew that Amethyst would probably want her brother to suffer, not die. At the very least he would not kill Sirius with his own wand, he would let the dementors take care of him.
And suddenly he was flying through the air and felt the sharp pain when his head hit the wall.
When Severus regained consciousness, he took a quick look around and quickly found Harry, Hermione and Sirius. Severus conjured stretchers, bound Sirius and took them all to the hospital wing.
Severus could not care less about the Order of Merlin. He was looking forward to the dementors' kiss being performed on Sirius Black. That alone was worth more than six first class orders of Merlin to him. He was as polite as he could stand to be with Cornelius Fudge. He even tried to get Fudge to reign in Harry, but knew immediately that he had failed.
When he and Fudge entered the hospital wing, Snape did not have to work very hard to convince Fudge that the children were under some spell or other. However when Dumbledore arrived, Severus could tell with one glance that there may be trouble. Snape found himself insulted and showed it. He was also incredibly frustrated that Sirius might simply be sent back to Azkaban. Even his reminding Dumbledore about Sirius' attack on him while they were in school seemed to fall on mute ears. He left the room in barely controlled fury.
And when he found Sirius gone, he almost lost control. Escaped? Surely no one could believe that? Severus could not see through his fury. His revenge ripped from him. His chance to heal, ripped from him.
Telling his charges that Remus was a werewolf was only slightly satisfying to Severus. It would mean that Remus would leave Hogwarts and take with him the sword in Severus's side.
Home from school for the summer, Severus found he could definately wait for next year. He could only hope it would be less painful than this year had been.
Cassandra Jasmin Houston
Chapter 2 The End of the Third Year
While Lupin was 'ill', Severus took the opportunity to give a hint to the third year class about Lupin's 'illness'. He barely hoped that someone would figure it out. Probably Hermione Granger. And she was such an insufferable know-it-all that he had little doubt that as soon as she did figure it out, she would tell her little friends and they would spread the news all over the school. Then he would be rid of Remus and perhaps a little more peace would come to this exceptionally miserable year. But just in case, he gave Ron a detention in the hospital wing, hoping the daft redhead would wonder where Remus could be if he was ill but not in the hospital wing.
Severus watched Harry's fall with only the slightest of anxiety. He was white as a sheet himself listening to Sirius screaming at him. Dumbledore saved the boy and Severus was torn between relief and anger. Harry was all right, but that only meant that Severus was still obligated to protect the boy. And of course, the fate of Harry's Nimbus could do little but help Severus's house to victory.
Christmas came complete with an angering and embarrassing reminder of Neville Longbottom and his grandmothers' hat. He managed to overhear the conversation between Minerva and Hermione about Harry's Christmas present and was grateful for the lessons Remus would give Harry after the New Year began.
Remus kept him abreast of the anti-dementor lessons. Even Severus had to give Harry credit for his obvious magical power. Remus shared with Severus that he suspected that part of the problem was that Harry wanted to hear the voices of his parents, which kept him from reaching his full potential.
Severus thought about this a moment and nodded. They were sitting in Remus's office. Severus was standing and looking out of the window. He turned when he heard what Remus murmured next.
"I cannot imagine why he would want to hear his parents being murdered."
Severus turned around to face Remus. "Oh, I think I may. He never heard their voices before. Any memory for him, even a dying parental voice might be better than none at all."
"I suppose you may have a point." Remus conceded. "But if you'd been there when Amethyst was mur,"
Severus cut him off. "I wasn't." he said shortly. "Or she wouldn't have been. And in any event, I have so many good memories of Amethyst. It is that bastard of a brother of hers I hear when the dementors get near me."
"And your Patronus?" Remus asked, curiously.
Severus chuckled. "Are you asking me about my happiest memory, Remus?"
Remus looked at him and raised his eyebrows.
Severus thought a moment. "Alright then. You are doing me a favor teaching Harry the Patronus Charm. I'll give you this."
Severus walked over to the desk and sat behind it. Remus sat in a chair in front of the desk. Severus looked down at the desk for a moment. When he looked up, Remus was taken aback by the joy in the potions masters face.
"There are several." Severus began. "But the one I use when I am fighting a dementor is the memory of the day I asked Amethyst to marry me and she accepted." His face clouded over a little. "That was about six weeks before she died."
Remus found himself sighing. He grappled with his own memories a moment before he nodded. "Thank you, Severus." He said simply.
"We are even, Lupin." Severus said, rising and leaving the office.
He remained stony faced until he got back to his chambers. As soon as the door closed, he grasped the invisible rings in his hand. He could feel the cold metal in his hand and a familiar cold touching his heart.
Severus seriously considered killing Draco Malfoy and his cronies for the stunt they pulled at the match between Griffindor and Ravenclaw. He was actually concerned with his apparent loss of control over his temper that he seemed to be having this year. The stress of the circumstances was having on him.
The excitement of the attack on Ron Weasley did nothing to relieve his stress. It meant that he got no sleep and once again his thoughts were zeroed in on Sirius Black.
When Draco came to him, covered in mud and whining like a baby, Severus took off for the third floor as quickly as he could. He knew that Harry had found a way out of the castle and he found that he was absolutely furious with the boy. Of course, Harry had no idea of the debt Severus owed James, and there was nothing that would make Severus tell him.
But Severus could not resist bating Harry about his father. Severus may have been indebted to James Potter, but that did nothing to improve his opinion of the boy's father. And so he informed him of the attempt on his life made on him by Sirius and James. He had never truely believed that James was not at least as responsible as Sirius for that incident with the Whomping Willow. That James had saved him did not improve Severus opinion of him, nor did the favor that he did for Amethyst, further deepening the debt owed by Severus.
Severus recognised the parchment. Amethyst told him about it while they were all still in school. He did not know how to use it and it's refusal to obey his commands only served to make Severus more angry than he had been. The maps creators still held he same opinion of Severus and the words Severus read brought the memories of his school days crashing down on him. And so he called up Remus. His frustration was trebled. He opted to keep his knowledge of the map to himself, for now. Not even Remus knew that he knew about the Maureders Map. Only Amethyst knew that Severus knew and, of course, she would never tell. And, knowledge kept to himself, he only grew angrier that Remus would insult his intelligence in defense of Harry Potter.
Severus slammed his fist on the desk when Remus took Harry and Ron from his office. Protecting Harry Potter was never an easy task. He found himself, not for the first time, half hoping that Harry would get himself killed. Sirius Black killing him would be a sort of poetic justice as far as Severus was concerned. Severus would get over the little guilt he might feel at failing to protect his charge. Protecting Harry Potter was a full time job. He was undoubtedly his father's son.
Severus inwardly sighed when his house team was beaten by the Griffindors. The most intelligent from the Slytherin house were not on the quiddich team. As a matter of fact, it seemed that it was true that it was the house relied on size rather than skill. But they were at their creative best in cheating and for that Severus was proud.
Exams were almost like a beautiful dream for Severus. The stress he was feeling was nothing to the stress he could feel emminating from his students. He enjoyed every minute. When June the sixth dawned, Severus woke, almost depressed. Being the last day of the exams, it would be the last day that his students would be more anxious than he was.
When the time came, Severus prepared the wolfsbane potion for Remus and took it to him. That is when he realised that Remus was not there and the map was lying on the desk, showing all of it's secrets.
He put on the cloak at the whomping willow and followed the passageway into the shrieking shack. He crept up the stairs and slipped into the room, where he listened quietly under the protection of James' invisibility cloak and his own silence. The more he listened, the more upset he became.
He almost chuckled when Sirius seemed so surprised about Severus working at Hogwarts. Amethyst was good at her memory charms. And in listening to the story of his mishaps with the Whomping Willow, although a bit inaccurate, he became infuriated. When he finally revealed himself, he was infuriated.
He found himself ranting a bit, but very carefully avoided mentioning Amethyst. He was suddenly overwhelmed in the memories of their time in school, when they did all they could to hide their relationship. He also decided suddenly that he would not kill Sirius, although he was almost shaking with the temptation. What was left of his rational mind knew that Amethyst would probably want her brother to suffer, not die. At the very least he would not kill Sirius with his own wand, he would let the dementors take care of him.
And suddenly he was flying through the air and felt the sharp pain when his head hit the wall.
When Severus regained consciousness, he took a quick look around and quickly found Harry, Hermione and Sirius. Severus conjured stretchers, bound Sirius and took them all to the hospital wing.
Severus could not care less about the Order of Merlin. He was looking forward to the dementors' kiss being performed on Sirius Black. That alone was worth more than six first class orders of Merlin to him. He was as polite as he could stand to be with Cornelius Fudge. He even tried to get Fudge to reign in Harry, but knew immediately that he had failed.
When he and Fudge entered the hospital wing, Snape did not have to work very hard to convince Fudge that the children were under some spell or other. However when Dumbledore arrived, Severus could tell with one glance that there may be trouble. Snape found himself insulted and showed it. He was also incredibly frustrated that Sirius might simply be sent back to Azkaban. Even his reminding Dumbledore about Sirius' attack on him while they were in school seemed to fall on mute ears. He left the room in barely controlled fury.
And when he found Sirius gone, he almost lost control. Escaped? Surely no one could believe that? Severus could not see through his fury. His revenge ripped from him. His chance to heal, ripped from him.
Telling his charges that Remus was a werewolf was only slightly satisfying to Severus. It would mean that Remus would leave Hogwarts and take with him the sword in Severus's side.
Home from school for the summer, Severus found he could definately wait for next year. He could only hope it would be less painful than this year had been.