Chapter 11- All will be revealed.
The dance had picked up, and the floor was now very full. Isis knew she had no chance of getting her date out on the dance floor while there were that many students who could see, but like her mentor, who along with the headmaster had found one reason or another to remain on the dance floor in each others arms for the past few hours, Professor Malfoy wanted-no she needed-to be held.
And so, she had pulled Snape off to a darkened corner where they could easily see the room, but they couldn't be seen. As soon as they were there, she threw her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. "Just hold me, please!" she begged him.
His arms went around her and he laid his cheek on her soft hair. And so they stood like that for an hour or more, until at 11:50, the dark mark on his arm began to burn. With a hiss he stumbled out into the courtyard. Isis alerted Dumbledore and McGonagall and the three of them joined him outside.
He stood tall and faced them all. There was no trace of fear or pain on his face. Only determination, immobile determination. "I will be back soon." He told them. Then he turned his heel and started walking away.
"Severus." McGonagall called to him. Her voice was shaking, but she tried to sound calm and teasing. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"No." He told her, staring both her and Isis in the eye so they could see he was serious. "I'm not taking you. I'll tell him I couldn't get you alone long enough to get you away without revealing myself. I'm still more used to him if I'm here."
"If you go without us he'll realize you're a traitor." McGonagall reminded him.
"I can take care of myself Minerva. I will be fine."
"Don't go." Isis whispered.
"Then he will definitely realize that I'm a traitor." He reminded her. "You said it yourself Isis." He continued, taking her tiny hands in his. "He can't get a hold of you. If I go, maybe I can stall for time."
"Or maybe you won't come back." She sniffled.
"I have to go." He told her firmly.
"NO!"
He growled and walked away from her. "I'm not arguing with you about this."
"Severus Snape! If you walk away right now, I'll.I'll." she searched around the castle for a worthy threat. "I'll throw myself off the North Tower!"
He stopped and turned back to her. "You wouldn't dare." He sneered.
"Yes I will."
"Isis." Her name was a plea, a plea for her to understand, to retract her threat, to let him go. He took in the stubborn set of her jaw, and steely look in her eyes and groaned. He wasn't willing to risk her life to call her bluff. "You realize we may very well all die because of this."
She let out a breath and hugged him. None of the professors notice the six students behind the statue exchanging wide-eyed glances. And no one noticed the rat scampering off towards the woods.
The dance had picked up, and the floor was now very full. Isis knew she had no chance of getting her date out on the dance floor while there were that many students who could see, but like her mentor, who along with the headmaster had found one reason or another to remain on the dance floor in each others arms for the past few hours, Professor Malfoy wanted-no she needed-to be held.
And so, she had pulled Snape off to a darkened corner where they could easily see the room, but they couldn't be seen. As soon as they were there, she threw her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. "Just hold me, please!" she begged him.
His arms went around her and he laid his cheek on her soft hair. And so they stood like that for an hour or more, until at 11:50, the dark mark on his arm began to burn. With a hiss he stumbled out into the courtyard. Isis alerted Dumbledore and McGonagall and the three of them joined him outside.
He stood tall and faced them all. There was no trace of fear or pain on his face. Only determination, immobile determination. "I will be back soon." He told them. Then he turned his heel and started walking away.
"Severus." McGonagall called to him. Her voice was shaking, but she tried to sound calm and teasing. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"No." He told her, staring both her and Isis in the eye so they could see he was serious. "I'm not taking you. I'll tell him I couldn't get you alone long enough to get you away without revealing myself. I'm still more used to him if I'm here."
"If you go without us he'll realize you're a traitor." McGonagall reminded him.
"I can take care of myself Minerva. I will be fine."
"Don't go." Isis whispered.
"Then he will definitely realize that I'm a traitor." He reminded her. "You said it yourself Isis." He continued, taking her tiny hands in his. "He can't get a hold of you. If I go, maybe I can stall for time."
"Or maybe you won't come back." She sniffled.
"I have to go." He told her firmly.
"NO!"
He growled and walked away from her. "I'm not arguing with you about this."
"Severus Snape! If you walk away right now, I'll.I'll." she searched around the castle for a worthy threat. "I'll throw myself off the North Tower!"
He stopped and turned back to her. "You wouldn't dare." He sneered.
"Yes I will."
"Isis." Her name was a plea, a plea for her to understand, to retract her threat, to let him go. He took in the stubborn set of her jaw, and steely look in her eyes and groaned. He wasn't willing to risk her life to call her bluff. "You realize we may very well all die because of this."
She let out a breath and hugged him. None of the professors notice the six students behind the statue exchanging wide-eyed glances. And no one noticed the rat scampering off towards the woods.