~ Chapter 35: Foreshadow ~
Fenix's office…
Fenix was doing a mental calculation as she dried her hair. I had better warn Remus that the full moon is this Wednesday. The Fire Master thought back at her day's work. Things had gone rather well with the classes. However, there was a shadow of doubt when she thought back on the instant Draco Malfoy had stepped over the threshold of the Defense classroom in the morning. The feeling of premonitions weighed heavily on her heart now. She tried taking deep breaths but the more she thought about the Slytherin prefect, the more intense her sense of foreboding became.
: Fenix? : Silver asked worriedly.
"It's nothing, Silv. At least I hope it's nothing," Fenix gave a small sigh and began combing her hair. She was wearing a simple white blouse and a long skirt tonight, suddenly overwhelmed by the need to dress up.
: You saw something in the youngster, didn't you? : Wind hazarded and Fenix winced at her bondmate's observation.
: I… yes… I did see something else, rather than the boy…that was inside the boy. And it fled the moment I used Empathy and my Magick to scare the boy witless. I had wanted a clearer look. : The Fire Master quickly pulled her hair into a tight ponytail and stared mutely at the dark landscape at the window. She stepped forward and flung the window open, smelling the scent of fresh autumn air. She tried to distract herself by listening to the songs of the Trees and the Greater Nymphs, but the feeling was embedded too deeply in her heart.
: Fenix? Are you ready? : Sirius's mindvoice penetrated her awareness.
: Yeah, I am, : she answered, shutting the window close, then turned to the wolves. : Are you coming down with me? Maybe you could check out Draco, if nothing else. :
: We'll do that. : Silver padded outside to her office and waited for her to open the door. Fenix did not bother putting on a cheerful expression because Sirius had already felt her sense of melancholy. She was suddenly hugged by her oathbrother as soon as she opened the door. Fenix chuckled softly and returned his hug.
"What's the occasion, oathsib?" Fenix whispered with her face buried in his chest.
"None whatsoever, sister. Just felt that you needed a bit of cheering up," Sirius kissed her lightly on top of her head. Fenix held him tightly, trying to control the sense of terror that had suddenly gripped her heart.
: Thank you, brother-mine. Shall we go? : Fenix pulled away from his embrace and followed the wolves slowly. Sirius stared at her back, frowning a little with worry. He quickened his steps so that he was walking by her side, winking at the Nearly Headless Nick who was roaming about the castle.
: Wind, is she all right? : Sirius asked the female wolf, trotting down the steps gracefully, tail wagging from side to side.
: I'm not really sure, Sirius. Her sense of Foresight is troubling her deeply, : the wolf said helpfully, finally reaching the Entrance Hall.
Fenix managed to muster a smile when Lee waved at her and headed straight for Harry's group. She sighed gratefully when she saw that an important person had already joined the group. The Hall was not as rowdy as it had been yesterday and was not as crowded. This was to be expected, since she realized that the students might be well exhausted after their lessons and decided to retire to bed early.
"Hello guys," Fenix greeted them informally, and Ginny made space for the Fire Master so she could sit beside Remus.
: Hello lover… : Remus whispered gently.
: Hi… : Fenix gave him a little smile before taking some French fries and filled her plate.
: Still feeling uneasy? : He asked, looking deeply into her eyes. She nodded before she started eating.
: How was Potions? : Fenix asked Harry lightly, who was eating heartily on pasta.
: It wasn't a disaster, : Harry replied, giving her a quizzical look. Fenix smiled crookedly as she sipped on her mango juice. Conversation suddenly erupted earnestly from the table and she looked at them in amusement. None of them were blabbering about how well their Potions lesson well, probably because they might offend the Potions Master, was having dinner with them. Instead, Ron and Harry were talking about Quidditch excitedly.
"Are you still a Seeker?" Fenix questioned and gave a thumbs-up when Harry smiled. Fenix was shortly distracted when she felt claws slowly dug into her back. : Okay, you have got my attention. What's up? : Fenix answered quickly and narrowed her eyes slightly when Wind told her that there was something out of place in the Slytherin Prefect, but could not find the source. The Fire Master swore silently. Harry noticed her slightly gloomy mood, and diverted all the conversation away from her. He felt that she was thinking deeply about something, as she was picking on her dinner rather than eating it. Harry bombarded Sirius with questions about how his classes went to fill in her silence.
: Sev? : Fenix asked softly, and Snape looked at her in curiosity, frozen in between bites. The Potions Master was definitely feeling weird when he realized that the Fire Master had actually given him a nick, and was using it as though second nature.
: What? : Snape asked briskly.
: Keep an eye on Draco. No-- : Fenix quickly stopped Snape from asking questions. : Please. Just watch him. :
Fenix pushed the plate away from her, sustaining herself with a lot of mango juice for the moment. They were all distracted when a flock of post-owls raced over their heads. However, much to the Weasleys' surprise, there was nothing for them. That made Ginny bit her lip with anxiety.
"Silly lass," an unmistakable voice of the Sylph they all knew spoke up. A pile of letters suddenly appeared out of midair, surprising Neville completely. "And this is for you, Fire Master." An envelope floated toward Fenix and she smiled.
"Is this from my sis?" Fenix asked the voice in the air.
"It is."
Fenix raised an eyebrow at Arenii and she reached out to grab hold of the letter. Sirius and Remus had gotten several envelopes, presumably from their friends in the workforce. Hermione had gotten a very thick envelope from her parents and gave an excited squeal when a handful of photographs fell out of the envelope onto her lap. Ginny and Ron were very much relieved that their family was all right and Ron struggled not to laugh as they read the letter that was written by Mrs. Weasley.
"What are those?" Fenix pointed with her chin at the pile of Muggle photographs on the table.
"They're the photos that we had taken back at The Burrow," Hermione replied with a smile, as she showed Neville the photographs.
"I had forgotten about them," Fenix answered as she looked down to read her letter. "Was he with us?" She questioned Hermione mischievously, as she scanned her sister's letter.
"He was… there were several snapshots of him that you had taken for me, you know." Hermione giggled, as she examined each photo carefully, her giggling becoming more hysterical after each photo.
"Then, I think you had better smuggle those to me first. He might feel scandalized, if he sees them," Fenix said, smiling as Giselle confirmed that she was well on her way to her fourth month of pregnancy and that Mineif had seen to their handfasting. Hermione gave her some of the photographs, giving a very fierce look at Remus who was innocently reaching out for it. Fenix absently took the photos and read her letter's last paragraph. It was much more serious and she frowned slightly when Aldren wrote to her saying that there was a major influx of Dementors and Death Eaters on an island, and that the group parted the next day of the congregation, and had gone in several different directions. She stared intensely at the letter before passing it to her oathbrother. She focused her attention on the photographs and chuckled. The first photograph was of Snape, combing his hair when he thought no one was in the living room.
There was another snapshot of Snape. He was scowling fiercely at the camera, and Fenix remembered that it had been she who took it. She laughed soundlessly and quickly handed the photographs of Snape back to Hermione, and laughed again. A photo image of Snape lingered in her mind; it was a photograph after Harry had told the Potions Master what the device was and Fenix was cursed with a series of the most colorful language that she was ever subjected to.
: Why are you laughing so hard? : Remus asked curiously as he handed her the rest of Hermione's photos.
: Nothing, lover… : Fenix wiped her tearful eyes and examined the rest of the photos. She gave an exclamation of surprise when she saw the photographs of her on the Ice Dagger, chasing after Sirius merrily. "Hermione, did you record this part on the digi-cam?" Hermione gave a nod and the Fire Master whistled. "No wonder the image of the photo is good," she commented.
Snape stopped eating. The Potions Master was looking at Hermione and Fenix with suspicious eyes. There was an unsettling feeling in his stomach when bushy-haired Hermione started giggling maniacally again. Snap shots…photographs… Dear Lord! Snape stared at Hermione in horror as he realized what the girl was holding.
"Oh dear…" Fenix gave a nervous smile at the stunned Potions Master, sitting very rigidly in his seat.
"Damn you!" Snape hissed angrily at the Fire Master and Fenix flinched as she Felt the Potions Master's annoyance. Everyone was looking at Snape in amazement, but he ignored their attention. "You will hand those over to me, Miss Granger." Snape commanded.
"You're joking," Hermione said flatly, calmly keeping Snape's photographs back into the envelope.
"Twenty points f--" Snape fumed but stopped when Hermione passed the envelope to Fenix, who took it. : You will give them to me. : Snape demanded, his mindvoice coloring black as his anger passed through the link.
: After all the time I had spent sneaking up on you to get them? I think not. : Fenix said impassively and abruptly wished the people on the table a goodnight. Fenix paused for a moment to stare at Malfoy thoughtfully before she left the Hall, with the wolves sauntering lazily after her. Snape stared at her in amazement and leaned back, trying to decide what to do.
"Are you just going to sit there and let her have her way?" Sirius gave Snape a patronizing look.
"Shut up." Snape threw his napkin on the table and marched off after Fenix. Sirius winked at Harry, who was watching the entire incident with a bemused smile. Remus however, was frowning at the entrance of the door.
"Don't get yourself worked up, Moony. Snape's not under the bachelor category anymore," Sirius whispered.
"What makes you say that?"
"That mark Fenix gave him had bonded them together. Just like me and her." Sirius reassured his friend and continued eating his dinner.
**********
Fenix was smiling to herself in her bedroom with Snape's photographs laid out on the bed. At least now I have something to distract me… She mused as she stared at the photographs. Would I dream about the future again tonight? Someone knocked on her office door and she smiled wickedly when Krill informed her that it was Snape, clearly intending to get his photographs back. She heard the office door opened and clicked softly as it closed. Fenix quickly took some of her favorites and tucked it under her pillow, waiting calmly for Snape to open her bedroom door.
Snape confidently opened it and stepped into the bedroom, his eyes flashing dangerously at her. Fenix had to smile at his boldness. "Well, you're brave enough to come into the bedroom. Of course it wouldn't occur to you that I might be properly dressed for bed?"
Snape snorted. "If you had been improperly dressed, I'm pretty sure that your bedroom door would be locked." He pointed out and advanced towards the bed, his eyes taking note of the photographs that had been neatly arranged on the bed. The wolves took the opportunity to get out of the bedroom and Krill pushed the door close. With a flick of Snape's wand, all the photographs rose up in the air and shuffled itself neatly. The stack of photographs gently landed on Snape's palm and he began to scrutinize every photograph carefully. His beaked nose dented a little as he frowned.
"Where are the others?" Snape demanded coldly.
"I'm keeping them. You either take those and let me have the remaining photos. Or we could fight and you'll end up giving me all of them," Fenix said rather stubbornly. "I swear that I would cheat."
Snape gave her a chilly smile and muttered, "Accio photos!" The photographs that had been hidden were quickly zipping through the air but stopped several inches short when Fenix cast a shield to prevent their escape or Snape reaching them.
**********
The two best friends paused over Fenix's bedroom and exchanged a glance when they clearly heard Snape's harsh voice muttering curses and jinxes and heard some of the spells impacted on something.
"Well Padfoot. It seems like the kids are enjoying themselves." Moony stared at the office door.
"Yeah, you're right Moony. But they ought to finish whatever they are doing soon, before the other teachers get too curious and decide to investigate." Padfoot agreed and they went on walking to their own quarters.
**********
"Don't be selfish, Severus," Fenix persuaded the unrelenting Potions Master. However, Snape had no intentions of giving up the fight and she gave up, feigning a disappointed sigh as she watched the remaining photographs zoomed off toward him. He gave a crooked smile at the defeated woman.
Fenix got up from the bed, giving a look of total disappointment at him. Then flippantly said to him as she opened a drawer. "I don't really need those for souvenirs anyway. The real stuff is much better," she gave a very sly smile at Snape and gave an exclamation when she held out a clear sketch of Snape playing Reversi with Harry back at Sirius's house. "I have tons of these…" she flaunted the sketch at an unbelieving Potions Master.
Snape suddenly sat on the bed in exhaustion. "Devilish little girl…" He grated and Fenix gave a silvery laugh, sounding so much like the Sylphs. She kept the sketch back into the drawer and smiled fondly at the Potions Master.
"You better go and get some sleep, Severus," Fenix said as she stood before him.
"You really are a cheat," Snape shook his head in disbelief.
"I'm about ready to collapse right now," Fenix bit her lip and crawled onto her bed in exhaustion. The wolves reentered the room, both leaping up and curled around Fenix. Snape gave a long sigh and smiled faintly at the small woman.
: Then you ought to have a good rest. And I'll see you in the morn. : Snape replied and looked quizzically at her as she crawled forward. He looked at the top of her head in surprise as the woman gave him a hug. The wolves were looking enigmatically at the Potions Master and waited for Severus to make his move. The simple feeling of comfort that Fenix gave him amazed Snape. He moved his arms to embrace her uncertainly, wincing at his own awkward movements. The Potions master closed his eyes and rested his cheek on her head.
**********
A sleeping Fire Master…
Fenix found herself in a very dark corridor. Even in her dreams, she was aware that it was a damp area, and smelled a bit moldy. There was a certain feeling of the dream that made her pay attention to the details of the area carefully. Her gift of Foresight was manifesting again. She heard murmurs of voices and she wandered along the corridor carefully, trying to pinpoint the source of the voices.
"You will do …my son…soon…must die…leave…cr…" The voices spoke in broken sentences and Fenix felt frustration gnawing on her consciousness. Then she was in the middle of a very crowded passageway. The students were milling about her, going about their business probably to their classroom. Somewhere further up the crowd she saw Draco Malfoy walking stiffly toward her. Her vision abruptly faded and she sat up on the bed, body drenched heavily in sweat.
Damnation! Fenix got out of bed, leaving the sleeping wolves and got out to her office. She softly closed the bedroom door behind her and created a dim mage-light. She looked at the clock and fumed when it showed six-fifteen in the morning. The vision was too damn vague! So what is it? And I don't get the connection of the vision in that area that I think was the dungeon to the one with the students! Damn it! Fenix stopped pacing and controlled her temper quickly. I have to tell Remus about this and ask him what he thinks is happening. One thing is for sure though. Draco Malfoy is involved somehow…Fenix sighed and made her way to her bathroom to wash.
**********