Severus' private lab
"There you are. Albus said we needed to talk to you." Sirius said as he and Remus walked into the room.
Severus just held up a hand while he slowly poured the potion he was working on into a small vile. "I'll drop this by your quarters before we leave in the morning."
"Sure, where are you going?" Remus asked.
As he took off his work gloves and started cleaning up the workstation he sighed, "Well Harry has asked for me to train him in the dark arts."
"He what? I hope you refused to." Sirius stated.
"That I did but he was insistent."
"Why in Merlin's name would he want to go through that?" Remus asked.
"It seems that since the incident last weekend he has felt like he should have been able to do something to prevent it."
"He's a kid. Don't tell me you gave into him just gave into him like that. You know how dangerous it is, even the training sessions."
"I tried to talk him out of it. None of us have any idea on what he went through while we were gone. While I was captive I was forced to drink a numbing potion. At first I wasn't in the right mind to think of the results it would have, I was just glad to be rid of the pain. Unfortunately what I didn't realize at the time was that it removed all senses that the dark mark's curse would usually pass onto him."
"That explains a lot." Remus stated." Bria said that Harry had been extremely moody while we were gone. He must have thought..."
"That I was dead. It wasn't until the potion had worn off that night that she tried telling me what was happening. I didn't believe her nor did I want to. Unfortunately after last night I realized that what she said was the truth." Severus continued. "After all that had gone on I still didn't think he would start to care."
"Severus, we told you to give him time to come around." Remus stated.
"And just when there starts to be a breakthrough, this happens."
"That still doesn't explain why you would give in and agree to train him in the dark arts." Sirius stated.
"I did not give into him. It was strongly advised by Albus that the children learn how to defend themselves. Before you say anything, he did make a strong point, Harry is not the only one Voldemort would be after." Severus sighed. "He will eventually go after the twins, not only because of their bloodline but also in vengeance towards you Black. As for Bria, it's not Voldemort that she needs to defend herself against, it's Lucius and she must be able to fight back."
"Not if I get to him first." Remus replied
"I agree and I feel the same way but you won't always be there and just in case she will need to be able to take care of herself."
"I don't like this Severus. I agree with you but, I cannot allow her to go through with that you are requesting."
"Bria is fourteen, correct?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"In her culture she will be considered an adult at the age of fifteen. Why don't you let her make the decision."
"Because she's not living in that world anymore."
"So you are going to take away everything she was raised to believe?" Severus asked.
"Remember that's the same world that believes her and her mum are evil and deserve to die."
"And if Lucius catches her then she will surely die. I know you don't want this for her, just like I don't want it for Harry but Albus was right. If they learn how to defend themselves then they will survive what we all know is coming sooner or later."
"This isn't my decision to make alone. You guys do what you see fit with your children. I need to talk to her mum first."
"I wasn't expecting you to join us until Sunday anyway. The two of you can talk about it until then and let me know." Severus said as Remus nodded and left the room.
"Do you really think the twins are in that much danger?" Sirius asked.
"I have no doubt about it. In a way my sister disgraced Voldemort by not joining his ranks. He would enjoy nothing better than to recruit them even if by force."
"What are you going to do with Draco?"
"He will also be going along. I know he can withstand the training since his has been more strenuous in the past. He would probably be better at helping them learn along with brushing up on his techniques."
"And what about that Matt?" Sirius spat.
"Well we could invite him along. This way he would be a little more preoccupied with the training instead of Ann." Severus replied
"Your parents home had dungeons right?"
"Yes of coarse they did."
"What about old time torture devices?"
"It was one of their favorite collect...Wait a moment Black, I know what your thinking and I will not allow you to torture, maim, or murder that boy during his holiday. Especially on the family property where it would be traced back to me"
"You're no fun"
"This holiday isn't meant for fun."
Later that night while Severus was explaining to the kids what their holiday would be like, Bria sat alone in the front room of her mom's quarters studying while her parents discussed the situation down the corridor. Finally she closed her books and decided to head over to Remus' to bid them goodnight. As she went to knock on the door she overheard them arguing so she turned to head back where she came from. As Bria started to leave she had heard her name mentioned so she decided to sit outside the door and try to listen to what was wrong. About a half-hour later Matt woke her up on his way to Remus' from the meeting when Bria looked up at him and said "You may not want to go in there, they are fighting."
Matt tried to listen to the loud mumbled noises "You think that's a fight? That's not even an argument compared to my parents, that's just a little discussion. Come on inside, you can't sit out here all night." He said as he took her arm and pulled her up off the ground.
"Nah, I'm just gonna turn in." Bria said as she headed onto bed.
As Matt entered Remus and Dannie immediately stopped their discussion. "So did Severus explain to everyone what is going on during the holiday?"
"Yes sir he did." Matt continued. "We will be leaving at sunrise. Thank you for allowing me to stay here this week."
"You are welcome." Remus then looked at his pocket watch. "I didn't realize it was that late. Bria's probably asleep so we will have to talk to her in the morning."
As the kids finished getting ready to leave Severus went to Remus' with potion. "Good morning. Have you two decided if you will be joining us?"
"I am sorry Sev, but I still cannot allow Bria to go through that."
"I cannot say I disagree with you but I do wish you would reconsider for her sake."
"I have thought about it and everything keeps telling me that it is wrong."
"As you wish. We will see you just before the holidays are over." Severus turned around to leave when he saw Bria standing in her mother's doorway. "We will be leaving in five minutes if you wish to say goodbye to Harry." Bria then glared at her father and followed the man down to corridor.
As Harry was picking up his duffel bag Severus and Bria entered the room. "I guess your parents decided you aren't going."
"It looks that way. Although I don't understand why."
"Have you asked him?" Severus asked.
"No, I haven't had the chance to. He hasn't even come out and told me that we are staying here. I had to overhear him telling you."
"Well why don't you talk to him later. Let him explain his reasons. You may even decide you don't even want to go."
"I'll talk to him but I don't see how it could be bad enough for him to disagree with then everyone else is going."
"Just listen to what he has to say and I'm sure you will understand. I have to gather up the others. Why don't you two head onto the foyer and wait for us." Severus suggested.
Harry and Bria soon were standing at the school entrance saying their see ya's when everyone arrived. Harry then kissed Bria and left with the rest of the group. Bria watched the group cross the grounds to the main gates where they used a port-key to transport to their destination. Unknown to anyone, Lucius was at the edge of the forest also watching them leave. His attention was then turned towards the school and he smiled as he watched the girl enter the building.
The group quickly appeared on a small dirt road at the bottom of a wooded hill. "Dad are you sure you didn't mess it up. This area is deserted."
Severus glared at Harry "Yes I am sure I didn't mess it up. For your information this is the boundary of the estate. You will be able to see the place from the top of the hill."
Harry, Matt and the twins ran ahead while Draco stayed behind. "Whoa Shit!" Jamie stated as they looked around.
"Uncle Sev, you and mom actually lived here?" Ann asked.
"I would prefer saying we survived being here. It wasn't quite what you would call living."
The more they looked at the view before them the less they understood how anyone could have an unhappy childhood in such a place. The road leading down was outlined in sculptured bushes made to look like various animals. In the center of a small valley the house itself was an 14th century Spanish style white with fire orange trim, and stood 3 stories high. To an old wizarding family the house itself wouldn't be considered too extravagant in appearance but to the three kids it was spectacular. Behind the house ran a small river with a brick bridge leading to the center where stood a small dock that held a smaller house which could have been used as a playhouse for children. To the right there sat a gazebo in the center of a snow-covered garden. On the opposite end were remains of what looked like it could have been a stable.
Severus stared at everything before him, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. "Sir, are you alright?" Draco asked.
"I'll be fine. Just old memories resurfacing." He sighed.
Harry heard what was said and he looked at the man. "Dad, I know you said you didn't want to come back here and I don't know exactly why but thank you for doing this for me."
"Just remember, what you see now was mainly just for show. Everything was much different inside those walls."
"Uncle Sev, can we go on ahead and look around?" Jamie asked.
"You might as well, you won't have a chance to later. Just be careful, the winds off the mountains can be quite strong and bitterly cold."
The kids then raced down the hill to the doorway where they dropped their stuff down to start exploring. When Severus entered the house he noticed it was almost as if nothing had changed. The white marble floors had been freshly polished, protective covers removed from the leather furniture, and not a speck of dust anywhere. By looking around nobody would have suspected that the house had been empty for the past 15 years. The only differences from his last visit was that all the portraits of his parents and ancestors were removed just leaving behind traces of paint on the walls that wasn't faded from the sun's exposure.
The two men entered the front room where a warming fire had been lit by one of the school's elves and they started to go over the plans for the week. Unfortunately making necessary changes due to Remus' decision.
Bria searched the castle for her father and finally found him in his office grading papers. She then quietly entered, sat in the chair across from his desk and just stared at him. Remus looked up from the papers and putting his quill down said, "Are you rested for tonight?" Bria didn't reply so Remus then stated. "Alright now, do you wish to tell me what is wrong?"
"You don't know?"
Remus sighed, "You would like to know why we aren't going to join your friends tomorrow."
"Yes sir."
"Professor Dumbledore feels that it would be best for your friends if they learned the Dark Arts so that they would be able to fight Voldemort's followers by using the same curses. In order to do so they need to go through a very strict training regiment that is equal to what future Death Eaters go through."
"Why won't you allow me to go through the same training?"
"You don't quite understand. It is a very painful and exhausting lesson on both the mind and body. The curses alone could make you cry out begging to die."
"If it is that bad then why would their parents put them through it?"
"Well for his own reasons, Harry has requested to go through it. Severus and Sirius agreed to it because they feel that it's the only way that the others will be able to fight off Voldemort's followers. As for Draco, he has been going through this type of training since before he started school here so he will probably be helping with the sessions."
"What if I had wanted to go through this training as well. You didn't even give me a chance to decide."
"I don't want to have to see you go through it." Remus continued "Your mum has made it very clear that in two months it will become your decision to make. I do hope that when the time comes, you will follow my request and not participate in it."
"And if I don't?"
"Love, this is not something that a young lady should have to go through but, when the time comes, if that is truly what you wish to do. I suppose I could support you. Now why don't you get your mum, sunset is in less than an hour."
Everyone sat around the dinner table finishing up their meals when Severus stood up and said "Now, if you would gather your belongings I will show you to your quarters."
"Well we sort of found the bedrooms earlier and picked out which ones we wanted to use." Harry said
"You found your rooms already did you? Where may I ask did you find these rooms that you assume you will be staying in?"
"Well up on the third floor there are some rooms that seemed to have been make up for us to use." Jamie stated.
"Well run up there and gather your belongings and I will escort you to where you will be staying."
"I told you that he wouldn't allow you up there." Draco said, as he remained at the bottom of the staircase watching the others follow their orders.
"Mr. Malfoy, by you remaining here without your belongings am I to believe that you have either not brought any change of clothing or that you think you are above the others and will be permitted such accommodations."
"Well sir, since I am more experienced that them I thought that I should be..."
"You obviously thought wrong. You will be staying with the others."
"But..."
"Unless you would prefer less hospitable living arrangements I suggest you learn to work as a group Mr. Malfoy and stop assuming that you already know what you will be taught."
"Yes sir." Draco said. Harry, Jamie, and Ann all smirked watching as he headed up the staircase. He soon caught up with them and snapped "Sod off Potter."
"Poor ferret got his fur ruffled." Harry teased.
"Just you wait. I doubt you will last through the end of this week."
"We will have to wait and see who lasts and who doesn't" Harry replied.
"Boys! That is enough!" Snape snapped.
"Yes Professor." They said in unison.
A few moments later the kids gathered at the base of the stairs. Without saying a word Severus led them down a spiral stairwell at the back of the kitchens and through the dungeons to a ladder that emerged from a hole in the ground. While waiting to descend the kids looked at the different cells when they noticed that each cell held a different form of punishment ranging from simple handcuffs on the wall to chairs or beds covered in metal spikes with straps to obviously hold the captive down with.
When they all reached the bottom Severus and Sirius led them through the corridors. "These catacombs run underneath the whole property. I suggest you pay close attention to where you are for it is very easy to get lost down here." Severus stated. They finally reached a large chamber where six plastic covered mattresses lay on the floor. "You will all be staying in here throughout the week. As your skills improve you will earn more hospitable arrangements. If you do not improve you will be moved to the cells above."
Harry placed his things next to one of the mattresses and was about to ask about the plastic but he stopped himself when he heard a faint ticking sound. He quickly looked around for where the noise was coming from but didn't see anything until he noticed the stalagmites that were slowly dripping water down where the mattresses lay. He then looked around the cavern for a place to move the mattress to but there wasn't an empty space that would be big enough.
"What is wrong Potter? Don't you agree with the arrangements I have provided you with?"
"They are more than adequate sir."
"Good, now I suggest that you all rest up. We shall start first thing in the morning." Severus said as he and Sirius left the cavern to proceed back up to the house.
"Snape is all of this truly necessary? I mean that Professor Git attitude of your is one thing but to have them stay in the catacombs is a bit much."
"I told you from the beginning that it wasn't going to be pleasant for them. If they cannot survive staying down there then how do you think they will survive if they are ever captured? Would you rather I have them stay in the cells?"
"You wouldn't dare."
"You are right I wouldn't be that hard on them but, we cannot be lenient on them either." Severus replied
Early Next Morning at Hogwarts
Lucius watched as the two adult wolves left the younger one sleeping peacefully in the cave while they went for a walk by the lake. After they were out of view he quietly walked up to the sleeping wolf but as he got closer she was startled awake. Looking around she quickly noticed that she was trapped since there was only one entrance. "Your pelt is more lovely than I imagined it would be." Bria started snarling to try to scare off her enemy but he just laughed at her. Lucius then started throwing curses at her but even though she was able to avoid a direct hit, she was unable to avoid them as they would ricochet off the walls. "I am trying not to damage your fur too much but if you don't behave I will have no choice."
Meanwhile Hagrid walked into the twilight and started gathering wood for his fireplace. From a distance he noticed flashing of light coming from the cave that his friends would use to rest in each month. Since everyone else had left for the holidays he suspected trouble so he grabbed his cross bow and headed towards where the light show was coming from. As he approached the cave the two wolves were also returning. Not realizing whom the large cloaked man was,Moony saw him as a threat and started growling at him Dannie then transformed into her human form and stepped between them to prevent the attack. All of a sudden they then heard a loud yelp so Remus ran after the sound. As Dannie started running after him Hagrid quickly stopped her, "Go to my hut and use the Floo powder to call Severus. He is going to need help, it's almost sunrise and neither of you have your wands."
As the wolf entered the cave he saw Lucius standing over the unconscious younger wolf with his wand pointed at her. "Now see what you made me do. I said I didn't want to damage you but no matter. I will use the mark as a starting point." He said as he put his wand into his pocket and pulled out a knife. Seeing the gleam of the knife as it was removed from its sheath, the wolf lunged at him but unfortunately Lucius quickly dodged the attack.Moony then started circling his prey and lunged at him every chance he had trying to keep the man from Bria as much as possible. All of a sudden from behind a large shadow at the cave entrance the sun started rising and the wolf started his transformation but the cub didn't.
Meanwhile Dannie entered the hut, found the powder and threw it into the fireplace. "S-S-Snape Estates" she called out. The view of the sitting room slowly appeared in view Come on, hurry up she though. Finally when the room was fully focused she started calling out "Sev, Siri, are you there? Kids? Please where are you?" Dannie continuously called into the fire "Hello? Someone please answer!"
Just then a house elf appeared "I is sorry Miss. The master is not to be disturbed. He is working with the children."
"Please get him or Sirius. It's an emergency. Just tell them they are needed at the school."
"I is sorry Miss. I is under strict orders."
"I don't give a damn what your orders are! I'm telling you this is an emergency and I..."
Sirius heard the commotion as he was entering the room "Dannie? What's wrong?"
"I is sorry sir. She wouldn't listen when I told her you and..."
"Get out of my way" he snapped at the elf.
Panicking at this point she blurted out "Thank the creator you're there. Please we need help. Bria's hurt, Remus after them and Hagrid...Now the sun."
"Calm down. Slowly what is wrong?"
Dannie took a deep breath and said, "I don't quite know. Bria was sleeping in the cave whilewe went for a walk and when we were coming back we saw Hagrid heading towards the cave with his cross bow. He stopped when he saw us then Bria yelped and Remie went after her and Hagrid told me to call you for help. Now the sun is rising."
"Give me two minutes while I get the powder from Severus."
"Hurry please." Dannie said and she started pacing the hut while she waited.
Sirius went running down into the catacombs. "Snape! I need the Floo powder immediately. Hand it over now!"
Severus and the group stopped what they were doing and looked over at him, "There had better be a good reason for your intrusion."
Sirius looked at Harry who seemed to be paying close attention to what was going on then he grabbed Snape's arm and pulled him out of hearing distance. "Dannie called, there is an emergency at school. I may need your help."
"I refuse to leave the kids here alone. You can take Matt with."
"Fine just hand over the powder."
"Follow me." Severus said as he stormed through the chamber.
"Matt, grab your wand and come with us now." Sirius shouted as they quickly followed Severus through the maze of corridors that eventually led them to a large bedroom with a fireplace in it.
"This is the only one that is open for travel right now but I will activate the one upstairs. If they are injured then you take them up to one of the bedrooms immediately so nobody sees them. We already have to many questions that they will want me to answer. I do not need any more."
The two men took their turns each grabbing some powder off the pot on the mantel and yelling "Hagrid's Hut."
Dannie was to worried and felt she couldn't wait any longer so she went running back to the cave. When she got there Remus was on the ground going through his transformation, Bria was still unconscious, and Hagrid was in a face off with Lucius. "It'd be best if you put that away now." Hagrid said with his crossbow aimed at the man.
Lucius did pay any mind to what was said and once again he stepped towards the young wolf. Dannie quickly transformed which caught Hagrid's attention for a moment. Lucius saw his chance and threw the knife at Hagrid hitting him in the arm. As he reached for his wand Dannie lunged at him but missed. Lucius quickly retrieved the wand from his robes and stepped onto a boulder and pointed it at Dannie in order to curse her. Just then Sirius called out "MALFOY!" from the cave entrance.
Lucius spun around and Dannie lunged once again at him this time biting the backside of her target causing him to fall forward from her weight and dropping his wand in the process. "You insufferable bitch! You have contaminated me." He said as he lay face down on the ground with the wolf standing on top of him.
Sirius walked up smiling and waving Dannie off of him "No need to worry about her Malfoy, she's not a werewolf. You just won't be able to sit for awhile." He said as he glanced at Dannie who was now at her daughter's side as she changed again.
"Shall I take them to the infirmary?" Matt asked.
"No, Poppy has also left for the hols. Help her get Bria back to the estates."
Dannie quickly looked over her daughter to check for injuries and then she gasped as she noticed a burn mark on the girl's shoulder. She then felt an arm around her own shoulder "She will be alright. We'll get her taken care of very soon." Remus said as he tried comforting her then he continued, "Hagrid, thank you for your help. Are you alright?"
"Yea, just a little cut. Some of my pets have done worse. If you two think you have him I'll contact the Ministry."
Sirius picked up Lucius' wand and handed it to Remus as he said. "I doubt he will be any problems, especially since he can't move that fast." Then he used his foot to nudge the cheek that was bit causing Lucius to flinch from the pain.
Matt levitated Bria back to the hut as Dannie and Hagrid followed behind. As soon as they got there he then gently lowered her to the ground. Dannie sat down beside her stroking her fur trying to revive her so that she could change back in order to travel. While they waited Hagrid threw some powder into the fireplace. "Ministry of Magic" he said.
Soon a young girl appeared, "Yes sir, how may I be of assistance?"
"We have captured someone who has attacked one of the students here at Hogwarts. I need you to send someone to come and pick him up."
"I will send some Aurors over right away sir."
A few moments later two men appeared out of the fireplace. "Where is the one that was attacked?" the younger one asked.
"Over there on the floor."
The two men looked over at Dannie and Bria. "I though you said a student was attacked, not a creature."
"She is a student. That is Professor Lupin's daughter." Hagrid snapped "Now if you will follow me I will take you to the monster who did this to her."
"Yes sir" the older man, said as they followed the giant.
Dannie continued to stroke her daughters fur as she watched the men leave wondering what king of justice would actually take place. Finally the wolf started stirring and whimpering. "Come on now, its time to wake up and change back. It's all over now." Dannie said. Bria just lay there as she was trying not to move too much due to the pain. "If you don't change then we won't be able to take you to be healed properly."
Bria looked at her mom and slowly changed to her human form letting out a loud ear-piercing howl as she continued. Just as she was done Sirius and Remus barged in the door "What Happened?" Remus asked as he looked at the ladies.
Bria just looked at him with tears in her eyes and trying to keep her shirt away from her burned shoulder. Dannie then looked over the wound again "Remus, the burn is getting larger."
"May I look at it?" He asked. Bria nodded and carefully pulled her collar away to show him the mark that was now covering the whole shoulder blade also proving that it was indeed slowly growing in size.
Sirius noticed the injury he walked over and carefully picked up the girl, "Let's go get you taken care of now."
"Sirius, where are you taking her. Poppy isn't here." Remus stated.
"I know she's not here but Severus should have the potion to stop whatever this is."
"I said I don't want her going there."
"Remus, if Severus can cure her then let them go." Dannie then looked at Sirius and continued, "Go ahead, I will be there soon."
Sirius nodded and stepped into the fireplace. "Mom, the gift." Bria quickly said.
"Where is it?" she asked
"On my window sill."
"Don't worry I will bring it with me." Dannie said as she smiled.
Matt grabbed the powder and threw it at Sirius feet as he called out "Snape Estates" and they were engulfed in green flames then As soon as the flames disappeared.
"You know I didn't want her going there." Remus stated
"After the way those Aurors looked at our daughter I don't want her taken care of by anyone other than him if Poppy isn't around. She needs help and not someone acting as if she were an animal. I refuse to put her through that right now."
"I don't know what you think you saw but St. Mungos wouldn't treat her that way and neither would an Auror."
"I know exactly what I saw. I saw the same disgusted look in their eyes that I use to see back home when the others would look at her. I don't trust them."
"Love, I know those boys, it's been a long night."
"I don't believe this. You of all people I would expect to understand, I know what I saw. You may know them by name but how well do you really know them personally? You were not here to see the looks they gave us."
Remus sighed, "You are right, I wasn't here. She is already at the estate and I don't want to fight about this so you go on and I will pickup the gift and some clothes for us and join you there later."
Dannie nodded as Mattgrabbed some powder, and the two of them stepped into the fireplace. She then looked at Remus but he turned away Dannie sighed,the powder was droppedand quietly they stated"Snape Estates" andwere gone.
Remus then left the hut and was on his way back to the castle he ran into the two Aurors and Hagrid while Lucius was in a body bind levitating behind them. "Remus, is Bria alright?" Hagrid asked.
"I'm afraid not, he cursed her with inner-burn. Sirius and Dannie took her to have it treated."
"Please give her my best. I have to go with them to tell them what happened."
"Well, if you wait for a moment while I grab some stuff from the castle I'll go with. Or I could meet you there so that I can also give a testimony."
The Aurors looked at each other and the older one said "Um, thank you anyway Professor, but Mr. Hagrid's should be sufficient. We better go and get him locked up as soon as possible."
"Well if you need me later just tell Hagrid and he'll know now to contact me."
Instead of responding the two just started walking to the main gate. "Don't you fret Professor, you know how some people are. I'll make sure they know everything that happened."
"Thank you again Hagrid. I better get going now. I'll let Bria know you asked about her." He said as he continued onto the castle.
Meanwhile at the estates
"Matt, get Snape, tell him about the curse. I'll get her upstairs." Sirius said as the boy arrived. "Oh and make sure you don't let the others know what has happened."
Matt then ran down to the catacombs. "Professor sir"
"About time you got back."
"Sir I need to talk to you. Professor Black said you could help."
Severus looked at the group and said, "You keep working on the rats. I'll be right back." Then followed the boy down the corridor and Matt told him about Bria's condition. Severus sighed "You are to stay here with them." Severus said as he started back towards the cavern. "Potter, Malfoy, you two catch Mr. Hollander up on what you are working on. Stick to the rats only, do not curse each other while I am away."
"Would you consider ferrets to be rats?" Harry asked.
"They most definitely are not Mr. Potter." Then once again he turned towards Matt and said, "Keep an eye on those two, do not let them kill each other, do not let anyone out of your site, and do not say a word of what happened this morning."
"Yes professor." He replied.
As soon as Severus left Harry quickly pointed his wand at Matt and said "Petrificus Totalus."
"Harry, what did you do that for?"
"Sorry Ann, I have to know what's going on." He replied as he quietly followed his father.
After stopping but the lab to pick up some salve, Severus ran up to the bedrooms. Just as he entered the occupied bedroom Harry quickly entered the room across from it. Although the boy was close enough to hear what was going on he was still able to remain unseen. "How bad is it?" Severus asked Dannie whom had arrived a few moments prior.
"It has burned her whole shoulder and is starting to move down her arm and across her chest and back." She replied. "What is causing this?"
"It's an inner burning curse. It slowly burns away everything from the inside out. I need you to put this on her, it will help sooth the pain and slow down the movement." Severus said as he handed Dannie a bowl of white goop. He then walked over to the bed where Bria was laying down. "I know it is going to hurt but I need you to prop yourself up on all the pillows and remain on your left side. You have to stay like this until I get the potion made for you. Alright?" Bria nodded and slowly sat up as her mom helped spread the salve across the burned areas. "As soon as it is ready I will bring it up immediately. Come with me Black" he said as he left the room.
"I will be by later to check on you." Sirius told the girls as he followed his friend. "Snape?"
"Just a moment." Severus continued. "Harry, I know you are in there so you might as well get out here now." Harry slowly walked out of the room. "Well you obviously know that she is here and she has been hurt, you might as well hear everything else."
"How did you know I was there?"
"That is one question you don't want to hear the answer to right now." Sirius said, then he turned to Severus. "Now, how bad is this curse. I have never seen it before."
"I am not surprised that you don't know of this one yet, Peter came up with it about ten years ago and it's rarely used. There is a potion to counter act it but it will take me the majority of the day to complete it so I will need you to go down and continue on with the group immediately." Severus continued "Harry whatever you did to Matt in order to sneak up here I need you to counteract as well."
"Sev, you still haven't told us how bad this curse is"
"Here step into the room, I don't want Dannie to hear what I'm about to say." He said. They all went into the closest room and sat down as Severus closed the door. "Whoever cast this on her knew exactly what they were doing. It has already spread very quickly and, if I don't get the potion started right away then it will easily work its way to her throat and heart."
"Um dad, can I help you?"
"Harry, this requires precise work. It's not like class. The slightest mistake and it becomes a powerful poison. Besides you have your lessons with the others."
"Severus, his mind is on getting her better. He wouldn't do any good with the other children right now except make them worried as well. What harm can he do working one on one with you?"
Severus thought for a few moments,"You do exactly what I say when I say to do it, understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Come on then we have a lot of work to do." Severus told Harry.
TBC
animegirl mika: Just wait...things will get oh so much more interesting.
Saavik: I hope that was to your satisfaction.
Lady Angelique of the Mystique:Glad you're enjoying but please don't put off your updates.