'*' marks the beginning and end of Trisha's dream state. Keep in mind it's
a dream 'state'.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Snape looked at Trisha expressionless as usual, but inside he was a bit
shocked, "You're a what?"
Trisha looked up at him with the same blank expression, "I'm a Death Eater."
His temper rose, "Quit fooling with me child! I am not an incompetent moron! Voldemort does not make children Death Eaters!"
Trisha sighed and rolled up her right sleeve. There branded clear on her pale skin was the Dark Mark deeply embedded.
If he wasn't such a trained Death Eater himself Snape surely would have let a shocked expression command over his face. Instead he lashed out with harsh words, "Why would Voldemort need a mere child?"
"You got awhile?"
Snape gave Trisha the expression that clearly stated he wasn't going anywhere till he heard the whole, complete story.
She sighed, "You do know my mom was an aurora?"
Snape had no doubt about this. He knew Elena had always wanted a future as one. She use to talk about it all the time. He gave a nod.
"Well she was caught by a few Death Eaters and brought before Voldemort. He made her swallow a potion that told of her most beloved person; being me. I believe he apperated me the very moment he knew about my mom having a daughter. I was only four then and scared to death. Voldemort showed no mercy and burned the Dark Mark clear into my arm in front of my mom. She tried to fight, but the Death Eaters were too powerful and now I was one."
Trisha stopped and took a breath allowing this to sink in. When Snape gave a nod again she continued.
"Well what happened to her after that I don't really know. They took her away without me getting to say goodbye and I never saw her again. Voldemort, however, kept staring at me, like he was considering something. He called for someone and a blood red potion was handed to him. I was forced to drink it. Apparently it made me older in soul and left my body alone. I think it made me into my late twenties. As soon as Voldemort saw the potion take effect he began to explain his plan."
Trisha paused for a moment to collect her thoughts then continued again.
"He kept telling me I would be a spy for him since no one would expect a child to be working for him. He explained the potion and how it made me older in mind and spirit, but left my outer appearances alone. But my soul would have energy bursts and I would be five for a few minutes sometimes. And I was to a year's training then try to retrieve his enemy, Harry Potter. In that year I grew close into Voldemort's tightest circle; knowing the best of the Death Eaters. I knew his closest contacts, but he carefully made sure I avoided you. After a year he let me go back to the wizarding world. How he knew who you were or how the ministry was able to send me here was all his doing and he never mentioned how he was going to do it, but he did. So I am here to bring Harry Potter back to Voldemort."
No amount of training prepared Snape for that. Shock was clearly expressed on his face. He composed himself quickly, "What about this potion you are brewing?"
"I never wanted to be a Death Eater, but I didn't have a choice. It was either agree or die. But now that I am away from Voldemort I can try to create the potion to make me five again. I have all of the ingredients but one and I can't figure it out. I've tried all the suitable ingredients and came up empty."
Snape understood everything now. Trisha was a spy for Voldemort by force. She didn't have a choice. He felt an odd feeling start to seep into his body. Was it a bit of respect for this tiny girl? Or astonishment? Or was it sympathy?
No, Severus Snape does NOT give sympathy. He didn't know what sympathy was. But every time his eyes caught the darker ones something plagued him from inside and wouldn't quit.
He quickly wiped the feeling away, "You can't just turn five again just like that."
Trisha put her hand up, "I know. Voldemort will kill me when he finds out, but I don't want my soul to be four times older than I actually am my whole life. Besides, I don't know if my life span is altered by this. Do I die when my soul is old or when my body is old?"
Snape knew the answer. She would die when her soul is old because the body cannot cope with it anymore.
"Don't give me that look," Trisha exclaimed at Snape's expressionless face, "I know the answer now."
"What 'look'?"
"I have your eyes. I know what you're thinking."
Snape's eyes narrowed, "Nobody knows what I am thinking."
Trisha sighed at his stubbornness she had acquired from him, "Now that you know the whole story. Welcome to my living hell. Still want to help?"
"Even though I despise Potter fully, I do not think the Headmaster would approve of the wizarding savior to be brought to Voldemort by my daughter. I shall help."
Trisha's lips formed a smile at the corners of her mouth, "I didn't think you were a true Death Eater. So I guess that means you're a spy huh?"
"Yes."
"I knew it."
Before Snape could ask how she knew she interrupted him, "So do you have any ideas about the potion?"
"Did you try paled trice roots?"
"Didn't work."
"Blue pulp blood?"
"Tried it."
"Kytis scales?"
"No results. What else could be used?"
"I might have to do a little research."
Trisha yawned.
"Bed," Snape ordered.
For once Trisha didn't argue and climbed into her bed and shut her eyes apparently having no use for bed clothes.
Snape turned off the lights and walked to the doorway and turned around staring at his daughter. Maybe it was the dim lighting in the dungeon or an optical illusion, but if anyone was actually watching Snape at that moment they could have sworn that his lips made a half smile before he closed the door completely shutting Trisha into darkness.
*I wake in a strange place and open my eyes alertly feeling what stood around me. My image, my soul, my thirst craved for his blood and overtook my mind. I pleaded for it, I needed it, I wanted it.
I escaped my four-wall prison and snuck past a stranger sleeping soundly having no use of him. I snuck out of the cage and crept along miles of stone going higher and higher seeking my craving. I could smell him, I could see him, I could taste him.
I stared at the blockade to my goal puzzling it out to how to get inside to my prize. I started scratching and clawing at the stone till a few bits gave way and then more. The feeling of my thirst grew until I was blinded by the rage. I pleaded for it, I needed it, I wanted it. I was almost there, so close, but pain struck my side and I was thrown from my goal; my obsession.
I attacked my attacker straining to keep the upper hand of dominance. It fought well for my skills. I sliced my claw into its hand and left it bleeding. A pain to my head then total darkness.*
Trisha woke early the next morning lying face up in bed with a tremendous headache. She sat up which was a big mistake, her head began to swim. She stumbled toward one of her suitcases and fumbled around for her headache potion drinking it greedily until her throbbing pain in her head completely left.
She sat on the ground leaning against her dresser inhaling deeply trying to remember what happened. All the memory allowed was something about a thirst, a craving.
Trisha's soul burst back and she began to cry, shaking horribly. There she sat on the cold, hard ground wrapping her arms around her knees and laying her head in her lap sobbing uncontrollably.
"Mom." she whispered into the darkness.
Snape was already up since it was a few minutes past four in the morning. He heard strange sounds coming from Trisha's bedroom.
He exhaled in frustration trying to breathe, "I swear this child will not give me peace!"
Without knocking he opened the door slowly and looked into the dark room. Trisha's bed was messy, but she was nowhere to be seen. His eyes fell on a black ball huddled by the dresser in the corner. She was crying.
Snape sort of looked around for a little help considering he had no idea what to do! He was never in these predicaments! Damn this child! Looking for help rendered useless because he knew there was no one else there. His temper began to flare when the girl wouldn't stop sobbing. He couldn't deal with this!
His thoughts reflexed on McGonagall. Control your temper, be patient. Snape inhaled deeply and breathed out trying his best. He took a few strides over to Trisha who still yet had to notice him. He laid a hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him teary eyed.
Trisha's complexion was even paler with tearstained cheeks. Her face was a mixture of pain and sorrow and she had a lost look in her eyes.
Snape felt his temper rise, but he pushed it down trying his best to keep his patients. But this was so unlike him! He scowled at himself and kneeled down to the lost little girl that was his daughter.
Trisha looked at him unsure. Her teary eyes made him look blurry but she looked into his eyes. His eyes may appear cold and uncaring to the untrained eye, but Trisha saw past that. She saw what he was trying to do; he was trying to comfort her. That was enough for her.
Snape got a surprise when a sudden burst of weight landed in his lap. He had to sit down or fall over. Unsure, he looked down and saw Trisha clutching the front of his robes tightly, crying hard into his chest.
At first it was uncomfortable; he didn't know what to do. He held his arms up unsure of where to put them. He saw the child, this little girl, his daughter, crying her eyes out; clinging onto him like he meant something to her. Then something clicked deep inside of him. An emotion hidden and sealed deep in the pits of his heart finally began to awake; fatherly instincts.
He wrapped his arms protectively around his daughter and began rubbing her back. Trisha's shaking managed to stop and her sobbing quieted down to small hiccups.
"Shh," his velvety voice soothed.
Trisha looked up at him, "Sowwy."
Snape was confused and no anger filled his voice, "For what?"
"I-I got your w-wobes all w-wet."
He looked down and there was a small wet stain of tears on his chest, "It's alright."
"Weally?"
Snape actually let a smile cross his lips at his daughter's true lisp, "Yes."
Trisha buried herself back in her father's robes.
"Why were you crying?"
She looked back up at him, "I got scared. I couldn't find my mommy, but I found daddy so it's ok."
Snape couldn't help feeling pride that his daughter admitted she needed him. And just for his secret, he kind of liked it. He liked being needed by someone.
Trisha jerked suddenly and Snape looked down at her alarmed.
"Whoa. what happened?" Trisha groaned. She felt arms around her and a warm body pressed against hers. She jumped back in alarm breaking the contact. But when she looked back down at the ground she saw her father.
"Did I just have a relapse?" Trisha asked very much confused.
"I believe you did," Snape stood back up.
"God, I'm sorry! I had no control over that! I don't even remember what happened!" Trisha all blurted out at once. She expected him to be angry with her for letting her original soul take over. It was a sign of weakness. What he said totally shocked her.
"It's alright. It wasn't your fault," with that Snape left and closed the door behind him.
Trisha stared after him in complete shock. He wasn't angry, in fact if she had any sense in her at all she could have sworn she detected a bit of sadness in his voice.
'What happened?' Trisha was left alone to ponder these new thoughts.
Trisha looked up at him with the same blank expression, "I'm a Death Eater."
His temper rose, "Quit fooling with me child! I am not an incompetent moron! Voldemort does not make children Death Eaters!"
Trisha sighed and rolled up her right sleeve. There branded clear on her pale skin was the Dark Mark deeply embedded.
If he wasn't such a trained Death Eater himself Snape surely would have let a shocked expression command over his face. Instead he lashed out with harsh words, "Why would Voldemort need a mere child?"
"You got awhile?"
Snape gave Trisha the expression that clearly stated he wasn't going anywhere till he heard the whole, complete story.
She sighed, "You do know my mom was an aurora?"
Snape had no doubt about this. He knew Elena had always wanted a future as one. She use to talk about it all the time. He gave a nod.
"Well she was caught by a few Death Eaters and brought before Voldemort. He made her swallow a potion that told of her most beloved person; being me. I believe he apperated me the very moment he knew about my mom having a daughter. I was only four then and scared to death. Voldemort showed no mercy and burned the Dark Mark clear into my arm in front of my mom. She tried to fight, but the Death Eaters were too powerful and now I was one."
Trisha stopped and took a breath allowing this to sink in. When Snape gave a nod again she continued.
"Well what happened to her after that I don't really know. They took her away without me getting to say goodbye and I never saw her again. Voldemort, however, kept staring at me, like he was considering something. He called for someone and a blood red potion was handed to him. I was forced to drink it. Apparently it made me older in soul and left my body alone. I think it made me into my late twenties. As soon as Voldemort saw the potion take effect he began to explain his plan."
Trisha paused for a moment to collect her thoughts then continued again.
"He kept telling me I would be a spy for him since no one would expect a child to be working for him. He explained the potion and how it made me older in mind and spirit, but left my outer appearances alone. But my soul would have energy bursts and I would be five for a few minutes sometimes. And I was to a year's training then try to retrieve his enemy, Harry Potter. In that year I grew close into Voldemort's tightest circle; knowing the best of the Death Eaters. I knew his closest contacts, but he carefully made sure I avoided you. After a year he let me go back to the wizarding world. How he knew who you were or how the ministry was able to send me here was all his doing and he never mentioned how he was going to do it, but he did. So I am here to bring Harry Potter back to Voldemort."
No amount of training prepared Snape for that. Shock was clearly expressed on his face. He composed himself quickly, "What about this potion you are brewing?"
"I never wanted to be a Death Eater, but I didn't have a choice. It was either agree or die. But now that I am away from Voldemort I can try to create the potion to make me five again. I have all of the ingredients but one and I can't figure it out. I've tried all the suitable ingredients and came up empty."
Snape understood everything now. Trisha was a spy for Voldemort by force. She didn't have a choice. He felt an odd feeling start to seep into his body. Was it a bit of respect for this tiny girl? Or astonishment? Or was it sympathy?
No, Severus Snape does NOT give sympathy. He didn't know what sympathy was. But every time his eyes caught the darker ones something plagued him from inside and wouldn't quit.
He quickly wiped the feeling away, "You can't just turn five again just like that."
Trisha put her hand up, "I know. Voldemort will kill me when he finds out, but I don't want my soul to be four times older than I actually am my whole life. Besides, I don't know if my life span is altered by this. Do I die when my soul is old or when my body is old?"
Snape knew the answer. She would die when her soul is old because the body cannot cope with it anymore.
"Don't give me that look," Trisha exclaimed at Snape's expressionless face, "I know the answer now."
"What 'look'?"
"I have your eyes. I know what you're thinking."
Snape's eyes narrowed, "Nobody knows what I am thinking."
Trisha sighed at his stubbornness she had acquired from him, "Now that you know the whole story. Welcome to my living hell. Still want to help?"
"Even though I despise Potter fully, I do not think the Headmaster would approve of the wizarding savior to be brought to Voldemort by my daughter. I shall help."
Trisha's lips formed a smile at the corners of her mouth, "I didn't think you were a true Death Eater. So I guess that means you're a spy huh?"
"Yes."
"I knew it."
Before Snape could ask how she knew she interrupted him, "So do you have any ideas about the potion?"
"Did you try paled trice roots?"
"Didn't work."
"Blue pulp blood?"
"Tried it."
"Kytis scales?"
"No results. What else could be used?"
"I might have to do a little research."
Trisha yawned.
"Bed," Snape ordered.
For once Trisha didn't argue and climbed into her bed and shut her eyes apparently having no use for bed clothes.
Snape turned off the lights and walked to the doorway and turned around staring at his daughter. Maybe it was the dim lighting in the dungeon or an optical illusion, but if anyone was actually watching Snape at that moment they could have sworn that his lips made a half smile before he closed the door completely shutting Trisha into darkness.
*I wake in a strange place and open my eyes alertly feeling what stood around me. My image, my soul, my thirst craved for his blood and overtook my mind. I pleaded for it, I needed it, I wanted it.
I escaped my four-wall prison and snuck past a stranger sleeping soundly having no use of him. I snuck out of the cage and crept along miles of stone going higher and higher seeking my craving. I could smell him, I could see him, I could taste him.
I stared at the blockade to my goal puzzling it out to how to get inside to my prize. I started scratching and clawing at the stone till a few bits gave way and then more. The feeling of my thirst grew until I was blinded by the rage. I pleaded for it, I needed it, I wanted it. I was almost there, so close, but pain struck my side and I was thrown from my goal; my obsession.
I attacked my attacker straining to keep the upper hand of dominance. It fought well for my skills. I sliced my claw into its hand and left it bleeding. A pain to my head then total darkness.*
Trisha woke early the next morning lying face up in bed with a tremendous headache. She sat up which was a big mistake, her head began to swim. She stumbled toward one of her suitcases and fumbled around for her headache potion drinking it greedily until her throbbing pain in her head completely left.
She sat on the ground leaning against her dresser inhaling deeply trying to remember what happened. All the memory allowed was something about a thirst, a craving.
Trisha's soul burst back and she began to cry, shaking horribly. There she sat on the cold, hard ground wrapping her arms around her knees and laying her head in her lap sobbing uncontrollably.
"Mom." she whispered into the darkness.
Snape was already up since it was a few minutes past four in the morning. He heard strange sounds coming from Trisha's bedroom.
He exhaled in frustration trying to breathe, "I swear this child will not give me peace!"
Without knocking he opened the door slowly and looked into the dark room. Trisha's bed was messy, but she was nowhere to be seen. His eyes fell on a black ball huddled by the dresser in the corner. She was crying.
Snape sort of looked around for a little help considering he had no idea what to do! He was never in these predicaments! Damn this child! Looking for help rendered useless because he knew there was no one else there. His temper began to flare when the girl wouldn't stop sobbing. He couldn't deal with this!
His thoughts reflexed on McGonagall. Control your temper, be patient. Snape inhaled deeply and breathed out trying his best. He took a few strides over to Trisha who still yet had to notice him. He laid a hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him teary eyed.
Trisha's complexion was even paler with tearstained cheeks. Her face was a mixture of pain and sorrow and she had a lost look in her eyes.
Snape felt his temper rise, but he pushed it down trying his best to keep his patients. But this was so unlike him! He scowled at himself and kneeled down to the lost little girl that was his daughter.
Trisha looked at him unsure. Her teary eyes made him look blurry but she looked into his eyes. His eyes may appear cold and uncaring to the untrained eye, but Trisha saw past that. She saw what he was trying to do; he was trying to comfort her. That was enough for her.
Snape got a surprise when a sudden burst of weight landed in his lap. He had to sit down or fall over. Unsure, he looked down and saw Trisha clutching the front of his robes tightly, crying hard into his chest.
At first it was uncomfortable; he didn't know what to do. He held his arms up unsure of where to put them. He saw the child, this little girl, his daughter, crying her eyes out; clinging onto him like he meant something to her. Then something clicked deep inside of him. An emotion hidden and sealed deep in the pits of his heart finally began to awake; fatherly instincts.
He wrapped his arms protectively around his daughter and began rubbing her back. Trisha's shaking managed to stop and her sobbing quieted down to small hiccups.
"Shh," his velvety voice soothed.
Trisha looked up at him, "Sowwy."
Snape was confused and no anger filled his voice, "For what?"
"I-I got your w-wobes all w-wet."
He looked down and there was a small wet stain of tears on his chest, "It's alright."
"Weally?"
Snape actually let a smile cross his lips at his daughter's true lisp, "Yes."
Trisha buried herself back in her father's robes.
"Why were you crying?"
She looked back up at him, "I got scared. I couldn't find my mommy, but I found daddy so it's ok."
Snape couldn't help feeling pride that his daughter admitted she needed him. And just for his secret, he kind of liked it. He liked being needed by someone.
Trisha jerked suddenly and Snape looked down at her alarmed.
"Whoa. what happened?" Trisha groaned. She felt arms around her and a warm body pressed against hers. She jumped back in alarm breaking the contact. But when she looked back down at the ground she saw her father.
"Did I just have a relapse?" Trisha asked very much confused.
"I believe you did," Snape stood back up.
"God, I'm sorry! I had no control over that! I don't even remember what happened!" Trisha all blurted out at once. She expected him to be angry with her for letting her original soul take over. It was a sign of weakness. What he said totally shocked her.
"It's alright. It wasn't your fault," with that Snape left and closed the door behind him.
Trisha stared after him in complete shock. He wasn't angry, in fact if she had any sense in her at all she could have sworn she detected a bit of sadness in his voice.
'What happened?' Trisha was left alone to ponder these new thoughts.