Chapter 35 - Mistakes and Bigger Ones
I want you all to know how happy I am to have you following me on this journey. I really appreciate your support. I am extraordinarily happy with every one's comments and support, so I will feed you some more.
Hope you enjoy this. I can't say any more, it will spoil it. There was more at the end of this chapter, but I decided it was too long at 7 pages, so it is now two chapters. I will post again in a couple of days.
Please enjoy, read and review. Keep your eyes open for that bird. Bad things happen when he is around, and who knows when he will turn up????? Apart from me *evil grin*
********************************************************************
Snape returned to his chambers, his body healing, his demeanour improving as it did so, and he contemplated life after Voldemort. The thought of freedom was almost more than he could come to terms with. It had never been something he had considered to be part of his future before this, if he had a future at all.
Weary from the exertion, not fully healed, but no longer willing to comply with Pomfrey's restrictive orders, he fell thankfully into a chair. Jane watched him closely, worried but saying nothing. Moving to his side, she took his hand and stroked his long, elegant fingers to reassure him he wasn't alone.
Waiting until his colour had returned a little, and his breathing had eased, she moved quietly to his desk and picked up an envelope. "This arrived yesterday. I was going to bring it to you, but I decided it could wait until you came back here."
Snape took the envelope. There were no identifiable marks on it, not that that was a surprise. It was probably from some student playing a prank. Opening it, he pulled out the single sheet of parchment and scanned it quickly, the colour draining from his face again.
"Severus?" Jane asked, concerned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he answered quickly, returning the parchment to the envelope. "I guess I am just tired. Where did you find this?" He asked as lightly as he could manage.
"It was on your bed. I straightened the sheets and blankets, so you could just rest when you got here, and it was sitting on the pillow."
Snape nodded. "That is a good idea. I am quite tired. Perhaps I will go and lay down for a while." Snape stood and moved slowly to his bedroom, the envelope clutched tightly in his hand. Closing the door, he moved to the bed. Opening the envelope again, he withdrew the contents and re-read the letter.
"My Dear Severus, I trust you have sufficiently recovered from you birthday celebrations to return to your normal duties. A little black bird has brought it to my attention that you received a new Muggle pet as a gift. How very lucky you are. You should take good care of her; it would be unfortunate if anything were to happen."
The letter wasn't signed, but it didn't need to be. Snape knew who had written it, and the threat was all too clear, at least the Dark Lord didn't write with that irritating sibilant hiss he now spoke with, he thought. The fact that it had been delivered right into the apparent safety of his bedchamber was even more worrying than the contents of the letter itself though. Voldemort knew of Jane's presence - now he understood why he seemed to be followed by a large black bird - it was his old friend the Raven. He had been a fool not to suspect Voldemort of having his own spy in place.
Snape now realised that he would never be free of Voldemort's threats - he wasn't about to let Jane continue to live if he could do something about it, and even simply planting the seeds of worry in the Potions Master's mind would have amused him no end. Voldemort would love to get his hands on her, particularly as he knew of her importance to him. Snape's buoyant mood at his release from the Hospital wing was gone, replaced by a feeling of foreboding. Reaching into the drawer beside his bed he pulled out a chain he hadn't held in almost 20 years.
"Jane, can you please come in here."
Jane opened the door and stepped inside. It was obvious she had been waiting just outside. "Yes? Do you need something?"
"Come over here please."
The girl complied, wondering what was going on. "What is wrong?"
Snape sat up slowly. "Do you remember when I gave your knife back and asked you not to use it?"
"Of course."
"Well, I have decided that my request may leave you vulnerable. I was just wondering if you still carried it?"
"Yes Severus, but I will only use it as a last resort."
Snape nodded. "Well, I think it is time that we tried a different method of protection. So I have a different last resort for you."
Jane looked at him confused. "I don't understand."
"I worry about you when we are not together, but I don't want you to do something foolish, like killing Draco," he added with a smile. "I can't protect you when we are apart, but there may be something that will make you a little safer. I want you to wear this." Snape held his hand out and gave the girl a silver chain.
Jane looked at the chain. It had a small silver disk hanging from it that was in the shape of a compass. "It's very pretty. What is it?"
"It is a locator pendant. I want you to use it if you are ever tempted to use the knife to protect yourself. You must wear it at all times, and if you ever feel threatened, you take the compass in your hand and say 'Invenio Sectus'. It is charmed to return the wearer to the one that gave it to them. In this case, it will return you to me."
"Severus, it won't work, I don't have magic." Jane pointed out.
"I know you don't, but it will work." I hope, he thought to himself. "It is very powerful, very old magic, and doesn't require the wearer to have magical power themselves, only the ability to say the charm."
Jane looked closely at the chain. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever been given, even if it was only a tool. She nodded. "Ok, I will wear it. Would you put it on me please." She handed it back to him and turned around.
With trembling fingers, Snape drew the pendant around the girl's neck and did it up, his fingers brushing the soft skin just below her hairline. He was pleasantly surprised she didn't stiffen at his touch. She would have in the past.
Turning back around, Jane took the compass in her hand. "Thank you Severus, I know it is only a tool, but it is beautiful."
"I am glad you like it. I hope you will not need it, but I will be less worried now that you have it."
Snape had worn that exact same pendant for years. Dumbledore had given it to him when he had first begun to spy for the Order, and the older wizard still held this pendant's mate. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought to give it to Jane earlier. Perhaps he was getting old, or the life of a spy was getting to be too much for him. He sighed - not sure he would be able to continue for much longer. "I need to rest. Do you mind?" He asked apologetically.
Jane shook her head. "No, not at all." She retreated from his room, closing the door quietly behind her and moving to her own room. Snape wasn't the only one who was tired; the last few days of worry had taken their toll on her too.
**********
Jane woke up and stretched, smiling at the thought that Snape was back and getting better, she was finally safe from the torment of life on the streets, and she could now adjust to the strange new feeling of happiness.
Laying there, quietly contemplating her new life, she could hear him moving around in the bathroom they shared. The thought that she had found someone who cared for her and for whom she could care in return made her smile even more. Now all she had to worry about was him being called by Voldemort, and if the Headmaster was true to his word, that wouldn't be for long either. Life was good.
Snape was humming something beautiful, and Jane closed her eyes and enjoyed the sound. She wished he would show his softer side to the students, they might just adjust their attitudes towards him if he did, but she knew he never would. It saddened her that the students disliked him so much, especially when they seemed to enjoy playing nasty pranks on him all the time. She briefly wondered what was in that letter. Probably nothing she guessed, putting it out of her mind.
He had explained, when they had first arrived at Hogwarts, that he was in a precarious position, although he hadn't given her any details of what that actually meant. Now that she knew the truth of his position, she understood his concerns about becoming too close to the students and putting them in danger, and she realised he had the same concerns for her safety as well.
Jane reached down and touched the jewelled compass lying at her throat. It felt warm to her touch, warmer than her skin. She sighed and relaxed, tiredness drawing her back to sleep.
She was about to fall over the edge, when the sound of something shattering on the floor on the other side of the door startled her into alertness. Springing upright, she waited, holding her breath and heart thumping, for another sound to come from the bathroom, but there were none.
Worried, she swung her legs out of bed and padded across the cold stones to the bathroom door. "Severus?" When she received no reply, she knocked and waited. There was no response. "Severus?!" She called, more alarmed, knocking more sharply. There was still no response.
Fearful of what she might find, Jane reached out cautiously and pushed the door open. Looking inside, she gasped in shock.
**********
Snape was berating himself for his clumsiness as he picked up the pieces of broken glass from the floor. He could just as easily have asked the house elves to clean up the mess, but then word would get back to the Headmaster and Nurse that he was still using healing potions on himself. He preferred to keep that information to himself, not wishing to worry Dumbledore or face Pomfrey's wrath. So instead of taking the easy way out, he forced his aching body to bend and clean up the mess.
He didn't hear Jane's calls from her bedroom, the first he knew of her concern was the click of the door opening and her slight gasp. Startled by her sudden appearance, Snape did the first thing that sprang to his mind, his old reactions overriding his desire to remain calm around his guest.
Standing quickly and spinning around, fighting the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm him at the sudden movement, he fixed a steely glare upon the worried and shocked girl. "How dare you barge in on me like that?" He barked without thinking. "Can't I get any privacy even in my own bathroom? Get out!" He yelled, rage boiling over. It was a tirade that would have struck fear into the hearts of his students and it had the same effect on Jane.
I want you all to know how happy I am to have you following me on this journey. I really appreciate your support. I am extraordinarily happy with every one's comments and support, so I will feed you some more.
Hope you enjoy this. I can't say any more, it will spoil it. There was more at the end of this chapter, but I decided it was too long at 7 pages, so it is now two chapters. I will post again in a couple of days.
Please enjoy, read and review. Keep your eyes open for that bird. Bad things happen when he is around, and who knows when he will turn up????? Apart from me *evil grin*
********************************************************************
Snape returned to his chambers, his body healing, his demeanour improving as it did so, and he contemplated life after Voldemort. The thought of freedom was almost more than he could come to terms with. It had never been something he had considered to be part of his future before this, if he had a future at all.
Weary from the exertion, not fully healed, but no longer willing to comply with Pomfrey's restrictive orders, he fell thankfully into a chair. Jane watched him closely, worried but saying nothing. Moving to his side, she took his hand and stroked his long, elegant fingers to reassure him he wasn't alone.
Waiting until his colour had returned a little, and his breathing had eased, she moved quietly to his desk and picked up an envelope. "This arrived yesterday. I was going to bring it to you, but I decided it could wait until you came back here."
Snape took the envelope. There were no identifiable marks on it, not that that was a surprise. It was probably from some student playing a prank. Opening it, he pulled out the single sheet of parchment and scanned it quickly, the colour draining from his face again.
"Severus?" Jane asked, concerned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he answered quickly, returning the parchment to the envelope. "I guess I am just tired. Where did you find this?" He asked as lightly as he could manage.
"It was on your bed. I straightened the sheets and blankets, so you could just rest when you got here, and it was sitting on the pillow."
Snape nodded. "That is a good idea. I am quite tired. Perhaps I will go and lay down for a while." Snape stood and moved slowly to his bedroom, the envelope clutched tightly in his hand. Closing the door, he moved to the bed. Opening the envelope again, he withdrew the contents and re-read the letter.
"My Dear Severus, I trust you have sufficiently recovered from you birthday celebrations to return to your normal duties. A little black bird has brought it to my attention that you received a new Muggle pet as a gift. How very lucky you are. You should take good care of her; it would be unfortunate if anything were to happen."
The letter wasn't signed, but it didn't need to be. Snape knew who had written it, and the threat was all too clear, at least the Dark Lord didn't write with that irritating sibilant hiss he now spoke with, he thought. The fact that it had been delivered right into the apparent safety of his bedchamber was even more worrying than the contents of the letter itself though. Voldemort knew of Jane's presence - now he understood why he seemed to be followed by a large black bird - it was his old friend the Raven. He had been a fool not to suspect Voldemort of having his own spy in place.
Snape now realised that he would never be free of Voldemort's threats - he wasn't about to let Jane continue to live if he could do something about it, and even simply planting the seeds of worry in the Potions Master's mind would have amused him no end. Voldemort would love to get his hands on her, particularly as he knew of her importance to him. Snape's buoyant mood at his release from the Hospital wing was gone, replaced by a feeling of foreboding. Reaching into the drawer beside his bed he pulled out a chain he hadn't held in almost 20 years.
"Jane, can you please come in here."
Jane opened the door and stepped inside. It was obvious she had been waiting just outside. "Yes? Do you need something?"
"Come over here please."
The girl complied, wondering what was going on. "What is wrong?"
Snape sat up slowly. "Do you remember when I gave your knife back and asked you not to use it?"
"Of course."
"Well, I have decided that my request may leave you vulnerable. I was just wondering if you still carried it?"
"Yes Severus, but I will only use it as a last resort."
Snape nodded. "Well, I think it is time that we tried a different method of protection. So I have a different last resort for you."
Jane looked at him confused. "I don't understand."
"I worry about you when we are not together, but I don't want you to do something foolish, like killing Draco," he added with a smile. "I can't protect you when we are apart, but there may be something that will make you a little safer. I want you to wear this." Snape held his hand out and gave the girl a silver chain.
Jane looked at the chain. It had a small silver disk hanging from it that was in the shape of a compass. "It's very pretty. What is it?"
"It is a locator pendant. I want you to use it if you are ever tempted to use the knife to protect yourself. You must wear it at all times, and if you ever feel threatened, you take the compass in your hand and say 'Invenio Sectus'. It is charmed to return the wearer to the one that gave it to them. In this case, it will return you to me."
"Severus, it won't work, I don't have magic." Jane pointed out.
"I know you don't, but it will work." I hope, he thought to himself. "It is very powerful, very old magic, and doesn't require the wearer to have magical power themselves, only the ability to say the charm."
Jane looked closely at the chain. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever been given, even if it was only a tool. She nodded. "Ok, I will wear it. Would you put it on me please." She handed it back to him and turned around.
With trembling fingers, Snape drew the pendant around the girl's neck and did it up, his fingers brushing the soft skin just below her hairline. He was pleasantly surprised she didn't stiffen at his touch. She would have in the past.
Turning back around, Jane took the compass in her hand. "Thank you Severus, I know it is only a tool, but it is beautiful."
"I am glad you like it. I hope you will not need it, but I will be less worried now that you have it."
Snape had worn that exact same pendant for years. Dumbledore had given it to him when he had first begun to spy for the Order, and the older wizard still held this pendant's mate. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought to give it to Jane earlier. Perhaps he was getting old, or the life of a spy was getting to be too much for him. He sighed - not sure he would be able to continue for much longer. "I need to rest. Do you mind?" He asked apologetically.
Jane shook her head. "No, not at all." She retreated from his room, closing the door quietly behind her and moving to her own room. Snape wasn't the only one who was tired; the last few days of worry had taken their toll on her too.
**********
Jane woke up and stretched, smiling at the thought that Snape was back and getting better, she was finally safe from the torment of life on the streets, and she could now adjust to the strange new feeling of happiness.
Laying there, quietly contemplating her new life, she could hear him moving around in the bathroom they shared. The thought that she had found someone who cared for her and for whom she could care in return made her smile even more. Now all she had to worry about was him being called by Voldemort, and if the Headmaster was true to his word, that wouldn't be for long either. Life was good.
Snape was humming something beautiful, and Jane closed her eyes and enjoyed the sound. She wished he would show his softer side to the students, they might just adjust their attitudes towards him if he did, but she knew he never would. It saddened her that the students disliked him so much, especially when they seemed to enjoy playing nasty pranks on him all the time. She briefly wondered what was in that letter. Probably nothing she guessed, putting it out of her mind.
He had explained, when they had first arrived at Hogwarts, that he was in a precarious position, although he hadn't given her any details of what that actually meant. Now that she knew the truth of his position, she understood his concerns about becoming too close to the students and putting them in danger, and she realised he had the same concerns for her safety as well.
Jane reached down and touched the jewelled compass lying at her throat. It felt warm to her touch, warmer than her skin. She sighed and relaxed, tiredness drawing her back to sleep.
She was about to fall over the edge, when the sound of something shattering on the floor on the other side of the door startled her into alertness. Springing upright, she waited, holding her breath and heart thumping, for another sound to come from the bathroom, but there were none.
Worried, she swung her legs out of bed and padded across the cold stones to the bathroom door. "Severus?" When she received no reply, she knocked and waited. There was no response. "Severus?!" She called, more alarmed, knocking more sharply. There was still no response.
Fearful of what she might find, Jane reached out cautiously and pushed the door open. Looking inside, she gasped in shock.
**********
Snape was berating himself for his clumsiness as he picked up the pieces of broken glass from the floor. He could just as easily have asked the house elves to clean up the mess, but then word would get back to the Headmaster and Nurse that he was still using healing potions on himself. He preferred to keep that information to himself, not wishing to worry Dumbledore or face Pomfrey's wrath. So instead of taking the easy way out, he forced his aching body to bend and clean up the mess.
He didn't hear Jane's calls from her bedroom, the first he knew of her concern was the click of the door opening and her slight gasp. Startled by her sudden appearance, Snape did the first thing that sprang to his mind, his old reactions overriding his desire to remain calm around his guest.
Standing quickly and spinning around, fighting the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm him at the sudden movement, he fixed a steely glare upon the worried and shocked girl. "How dare you barge in on me like that?" He barked without thinking. "Can't I get any privacy even in my own bathroom? Get out!" He yelled, rage boiling over. It was a tirade that would have struck fear into the hearts of his students and it had the same effect on Jane.