All right, this is a pretty confusing part of the book, so let me know if
you totally lose track. Otherwise, enjoy!
*~*~*~
"Knockturn Alley," said the sign above the narrow, cobble-stoned street. Severus slipped along in the shadows, thankful that the dark doorways of the shops were mostly deserted. He was wearing, not his usual robes, but a ragged pair of black trousers and a loose gray shirt.
In the center of Knockturn Alley the walls widened out a bit, creating something of a central square. In the very middle of the square was a large iron grate. Severus walked quickly to it, glanced right and left to make sure he wasn't being observed, and lifted up the grate. It squeaked as Severus peered into the inky depths. He hesitated for only a moment, then slid down into the sewer beneath.
It was impossible to see, so Severus felt his way along the slimy stone walls by feel and long memory. Turn right, then left, then two rights, he chanted to himself silently, picking his way through the sewage. Finally he reached his destination - a stone wall.
A single candle flickered in the darkness, providing just enough light to read the words painted upon the grim masonry. "Beware," the warning said in blood-red letters. "This is the Labyrinth of the Lost."
Severus squinted at the wall, then reached up and put his hand on one of the stone blocks. His thin, agile fingers tapped out a rhythm upon the rough granite, and the blocks began to shift. The whole wall turned back slowly, allowing just enough room for Severus to squeeze through the doorway and re-enter his childhood home.
*~*~*~*
"Daddy, why are we staying at Hogwarts?"
George Cooper patted his daughter, Felicity, on the head. "The wizards say we'll be safer here."
"Until when?"
George sighed. "Until the war stops."
Felicity shook her golden hair in sorrow. Although the two were not actually related, Felicity did greatly resemble her foster sister. The little girl looked back at some of the students in the hallway. "And why do they call Erin "Erin Kristoff"? Isn't she still Erin Cooper?"
"No," said George absently, "no, she isn't anymore."
Felicity twitched her hand and fell silent. Once again she glanced back longingly down the hallway. "Daddy, can I explore? Thanks!"
And before her startled father could say a word, Felicity scampered away.
It took her a long time for Felicity to find what she was looking for.
"Erin!" she shouted, and slammed right into her sister.
"Felicity!" said Erin in surprise, giving the little girl a hug. "What are you doing here? I thought you were back in America!"
"Some wizards came and got me," said Felicity simply. "And they brought me to Mommy and Daddy."
"Good," said Erin, but she her thoughts were already wandering. She glanced into Severus' office and turned away with a puzzled frown.
"What's wrong?" asked Felicity anxiously, trotting alongside Erin.
"I can't find Severus."
"That's the man who's taking care of you, right?"
Erin smiled. "Yeah, something like that." She looked down at Felicity's wide brown eyes and smiled a little wider. "Hey, let's go down to the kitchens and get some ice cream."
"Okay!"
*~*~*~*~
The space behind the walls, if not any warmer, was certainly brighter. Candles shone every few feet, and the walls, while still rough, were clean and dry. In the distance, Severus could hear music.
He walked forward, feeling enormously self-conscious, and entered the main plaza of the Labyrinth. It was a high stone dome filled with booths and bustling people. Except for the thick shadows in the corners, it could have been broad daylight.
Everywhere people hurried by, their footsteps in time with the jingling music of the minstrels. The people were of all different shapes, sizes, and colors, but they were all thin and dressed in rags. Nearly naked children played with giant pet rats, and barefoot teenagers kissed openly in the streets. Severus stood for a few moments and inhaled the air of the underground chamber, breathing deeply in the familiar scents of dust and sweat. Over in the far corner, he could see a whirlwind of motion where two young boys were slashing at each other with knives. Surreptitiously Severus felt for his own knife at his side. To be above fifteen years old and not have a knife was to court death in the Labyrinth, where wands were little more than sticks of wood.
Here was the largest wizarding slum on Earth, composed mainly of Squibs and those who deliberately chose to leave magic behind. No one was quite sure how the Labyrinth had been started, but it had grown to enormous size - more from the large rate of children per family than by any immigrants. Wizards rarely, if ever entered it, and even the secret entrances were strictly avoided by those above ground. It was filthy, poor, and extremely dangerous.
Also, it was where Severus had grown up.
He skirted the booths and plunged into a side tunnel. A few morose beggars lifted up their hands, but Severus ignored them. He knew one of them anyway, a man who pretended to be blind but in reality could see a bat in a pitch-black night. The Labyrinth was full of such fakes.
It was a good walk to his destination, but he finally reached the little cul-de-sac. The walls here were lower than in the main cavern, but there was still no feeling of being trapped or smothered. Outside the wooden doors set in the stone, a few children played a game with some marbles made of smooth stones. One of them looked up at Severus and ran forward.
"Uncle Sev!" he shouted, flinging himself into Severus' arms. Severus hugged him quickly, then set him back down. The boy stared up, his blue eyes curious.
"Come to see Momma?" he asked cheerfully, and without waiting he took Severus by the hand and led him through a door and into his sister's house.
"Momma, Momma, it's Uncle Sev!" his nephew shouted, still impatiently tugging on Severus' hand. A woman, half-hidden by shadows, walked into the room.
"All right, Christopher, that's enough," she said, a hint of wry amusement to her voice. "Off you go."
Christopher looked longingly at his uncle's pockets. Solemnly Severus reached in and pulled out a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans - an unheard of treat for Labyrinthians. Christopher crowed with delight and immediately ran outside.
The woman stepped into the light to hug her brother. "Severus," she whispered. "You shouldn't be here."
"Mariah, we've discussed this," said Severus, stepping away to look at her. Mariah was his elder by a few years, but she looked a decade younger than he did. Her pale skin almost seemed to glow in the lamplight, and her thick black hair fell to her waist. Where Severus' eyes glittered coldly, hers were filled with a flaming vibrancy that was not easy to forget. She was a beautiful woman.
"Too many people find out about your origins," said Mariah firmly, "and you'll be out of a job, Severus."
"I don't care any more, Mariah," he said.
She shook her head, but didn't seem inclined to argue further. Severus changed the subject. "Where's Nina?" he asked, referring to his niece.
"With her friends," said Mariah, sitting down on the low couch. Severus sat down beside her and hugged her again. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed having someone he could trust.
"Now," said Mariah, smoothing her long gray skirt. "Tell me everything."
She listened intently, neither interrupting nor letting her attention wander. It took Severus a long time, for it had been years since he'd last visited the Labyrinth. He started with discovering Angelina's will up to Dumbledore's idea that Erin and Harry could see each other's dreams, and perhaps even communicate telepathically. When he was finally done, someone handed him a glass of water. Severus turned with a start to see Nina, whom he hadn't seen come in.
"Erin's my age," said Nina calmly. Unlike her brother, she took after the family profile of pale skin, dark eyes, and dark hair. Of all the family, Severus thought absently, this girl was probably the most like him. He nodded, accepted the water, and drank thirstily.
"What do you want us to do?" asked Mariah. Severus very nearly smiled. That was his sister. She got right to the point.
"Come back with me," he said. "All of you. I need friends."
"No, I can't let you do that."
Severus motioned impatiently. "I should have gotten you all out of this hole years ago, and quite frankly I'll be quite happy to lose my job. I'm tired of teaching, and if they don't want me to teach because I'm - I'm a street rat, then fine." He lowered his voice. "Blast it, I need you to help me take care of Erin."
Mariah hesitated, started to speak, and then blew out a huge sigh in exasperation. "All right." She went to the doorway. "Christopher!" she called.
The little blonde boy ran up to his mother. "Mommy?" he asked.
"We're going to Hogwarts."
*~*~*~
"Knockturn Alley," said the sign above the narrow, cobble-stoned street. Severus slipped along in the shadows, thankful that the dark doorways of the shops were mostly deserted. He was wearing, not his usual robes, but a ragged pair of black trousers and a loose gray shirt.
In the center of Knockturn Alley the walls widened out a bit, creating something of a central square. In the very middle of the square was a large iron grate. Severus walked quickly to it, glanced right and left to make sure he wasn't being observed, and lifted up the grate. It squeaked as Severus peered into the inky depths. He hesitated for only a moment, then slid down into the sewer beneath.
It was impossible to see, so Severus felt his way along the slimy stone walls by feel and long memory. Turn right, then left, then two rights, he chanted to himself silently, picking his way through the sewage. Finally he reached his destination - a stone wall.
A single candle flickered in the darkness, providing just enough light to read the words painted upon the grim masonry. "Beware," the warning said in blood-red letters. "This is the Labyrinth of the Lost."
Severus squinted at the wall, then reached up and put his hand on one of the stone blocks. His thin, agile fingers tapped out a rhythm upon the rough granite, and the blocks began to shift. The whole wall turned back slowly, allowing just enough room for Severus to squeeze through the doorway and re-enter his childhood home.
*~*~*~*
"Daddy, why are we staying at Hogwarts?"
George Cooper patted his daughter, Felicity, on the head. "The wizards say we'll be safer here."
"Until when?"
George sighed. "Until the war stops."
Felicity shook her golden hair in sorrow. Although the two were not actually related, Felicity did greatly resemble her foster sister. The little girl looked back at some of the students in the hallway. "And why do they call Erin "Erin Kristoff"? Isn't she still Erin Cooper?"
"No," said George absently, "no, she isn't anymore."
Felicity twitched her hand and fell silent. Once again she glanced back longingly down the hallway. "Daddy, can I explore? Thanks!"
And before her startled father could say a word, Felicity scampered away.
It took her a long time for Felicity to find what she was looking for.
"Erin!" she shouted, and slammed right into her sister.
"Felicity!" said Erin in surprise, giving the little girl a hug. "What are you doing here? I thought you were back in America!"
"Some wizards came and got me," said Felicity simply. "And they brought me to Mommy and Daddy."
"Good," said Erin, but she her thoughts were already wandering. She glanced into Severus' office and turned away with a puzzled frown.
"What's wrong?" asked Felicity anxiously, trotting alongside Erin.
"I can't find Severus."
"That's the man who's taking care of you, right?"
Erin smiled. "Yeah, something like that." She looked down at Felicity's wide brown eyes and smiled a little wider. "Hey, let's go down to the kitchens and get some ice cream."
"Okay!"
*~*~*~*~
The space behind the walls, if not any warmer, was certainly brighter. Candles shone every few feet, and the walls, while still rough, were clean and dry. In the distance, Severus could hear music.
He walked forward, feeling enormously self-conscious, and entered the main plaza of the Labyrinth. It was a high stone dome filled with booths and bustling people. Except for the thick shadows in the corners, it could have been broad daylight.
Everywhere people hurried by, their footsteps in time with the jingling music of the minstrels. The people were of all different shapes, sizes, and colors, but they were all thin and dressed in rags. Nearly naked children played with giant pet rats, and barefoot teenagers kissed openly in the streets. Severus stood for a few moments and inhaled the air of the underground chamber, breathing deeply in the familiar scents of dust and sweat. Over in the far corner, he could see a whirlwind of motion where two young boys were slashing at each other with knives. Surreptitiously Severus felt for his own knife at his side. To be above fifteen years old and not have a knife was to court death in the Labyrinth, where wands were little more than sticks of wood.
Here was the largest wizarding slum on Earth, composed mainly of Squibs and those who deliberately chose to leave magic behind. No one was quite sure how the Labyrinth had been started, but it had grown to enormous size - more from the large rate of children per family than by any immigrants. Wizards rarely, if ever entered it, and even the secret entrances were strictly avoided by those above ground. It was filthy, poor, and extremely dangerous.
Also, it was where Severus had grown up.
He skirted the booths and plunged into a side tunnel. A few morose beggars lifted up their hands, but Severus ignored them. He knew one of them anyway, a man who pretended to be blind but in reality could see a bat in a pitch-black night. The Labyrinth was full of such fakes.
It was a good walk to his destination, but he finally reached the little cul-de-sac. The walls here were lower than in the main cavern, but there was still no feeling of being trapped or smothered. Outside the wooden doors set in the stone, a few children played a game with some marbles made of smooth stones. One of them looked up at Severus and ran forward.
"Uncle Sev!" he shouted, flinging himself into Severus' arms. Severus hugged him quickly, then set him back down. The boy stared up, his blue eyes curious.
"Come to see Momma?" he asked cheerfully, and without waiting he took Severus by the hand and led him through a door and into his sister's house.
"Momma, Momma, it's Uncle Sev!" his nephew shouted, still impatiently tugging on Severus' hand. A woman, half-hidden by shadows, walked into the room.
"All right, Christopher, that's enough," she said, a hint of wry amusement to her voice. "Off you go."
Christopher looked longingly at his uncle's pockets. Solemnly Severus reached in and pulled out a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans - an unheard of treat for Labyrinthians. Christopher crowed with delight and immediately ran outside.
The woman stepped into the light to hug her brother. "Severus," she whispered. "You shouldn't be here."
"Mariah, we've discussed this," said Severus, stepping away to look at her. Mariah was his elder by a few years, but she looked a decade younger than he did. Her pale skin almost seemed to glow in the lamplight, and her thick black hair fell to her waist. Where Severus' eyes glittered coldly, hers were filled with a flaming vibrancy that was not easy to forget. She was a beautiful woman.
"Too many people find out about your origins," said Mariah firmly, "and you'll be out of a job, Severus."
"I don't care any more, Mariah," he said.
She shook her head, but didn't seem inclined to argue further. Severus changed the subject. "Where's Nina?" he asked, referring to his niece.
"With her friends," said Mariah, sitting down on the low couch. Severus sat down beside her and hugged her again. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed having someone he could trust.
"Now," said Mariah, smoothing her long gray skirt. "Tell me everything."
She listened intently, neither interrupting nor letting her attention wander. It took Severus a long time, for it had been years since he'd last visited the Labyrinth. He started with discovering Angelina's will up to Dumbledore's idea that Erin and Harry could see each other's dreams, and perhaps even communicate telepathically. When he was finally done, someone handed him a glass of water. Severus turned with a start to see Nina, whom he hadn't seen come in.
"Erin's my age," said Nina calmly. Unlike her brother, she took after the family profile of pale skin, dark eyes, and dark hair. Of all the family, Severus thought absently, this girl was probably the most like him. He nodded, accepted the water, and drank thirstily.
"What do you want us to do?" asked Mariah. Severus very nearly smiled. That was his sister. She got right to the point.
"Come back with me," he said. "All of you. I need friends."
"No, I can't let you do that."
Severus motioned impatiently. "I should have gotten you all out of this hole years ago, and quite frankly I'll be quite happy to lose my job. I'm tired of teaching, and if they don't want me to teach because I'm - I'm a street rat, then fine." He lowered his voice. "Blast it, I need you to help me take care of Erin."
Mariah hesitated, started to speak, and then blew out a huge sigh in exasperation. "All right." She went to the doorway. "Christopher!" she called.
The little blonde boy ran up to his mother. "Mommy?" he asked.
"We're going to Hogwarts."