22
Snape was simply annoyed and exhausted. Of all the nights, Voldemorte had chosen last night to haul off and have another one of his god forsaken Death Eater's Anonymous meetings. What the hell was wrong with the son of a bitch, anyways? Couldn't he figure out that he had no real friends, that all of the people who support him were only there out of fear, nothing more or less? The only one who came out of devotion was Severus himself, but it was certainly not loyalty to the Dark Lord. Only his devotion to Dumbledore brought him back time after time, when his mark burned him to the core, searing his mind and body. And Voldemorte was onto him, of this he was sure. Snape was counting days, wondering which meeting he wouldn't arrive back from. Dumbledore knew it too, which is why Snape now had to check in with him after every meeting when he returned home. Albus knew a day would come when Severus would not return back to the castle, at least not living. Snape had a trump card, and it was a good one to hold. The only one of the followers which could brew any potion that Voldemorte required, in the shortest time possible. It was a rare talent, so few chose to nurture such things, have the patience or mental fortitude to work with volatile ingredients that were hard to find and harder to keep. And as long as he kept just slightly adjusting the potions that they wanted, it would keep the people they were used on from feeling the full effects, whatever they might be.
He had only just gotten back from speaking with the headmaster when he had seen Malfoy and Caliga, and had not had a wink of sleep. And now it was time for breakfast, and if he did not show, it would be noted by a variety of the Death Eaters's children who attended the school. He just couldn't have that.
"Accio." He called out, and the hideously yellow vial of bubbling liquid flew over to him. He murmured a quick incantation over it, and then downed the mess. His mind instantly clear, intellect sharp and aware, almost over sensitized. A great potion, effective, long-lasting, few side effects in the short term. Chase it down with a cup of black espresso, and it would be as if he'd had 8 hours sleep the night before. Which was good, he'd need al the help he could get today. Looking down at the black dress slacks, shirt, tie and jacket laid out on the bed, Snape sighed loudly. Playing Muggle was his least favorite activity, and clothes, and dealing with a pack of Muggles, hoping he didn't slip up when anyone was watching. So mundane, so slow, such a backwards society. What a pity. He quickly showered, then put on the new clothes underneath his robes. It would be breakfast and then directly to London. He seriously doubted that Miss Caliga was anymore excited about the daytrip than he was.
Nodding curtly at the other Professors, Snape took his seat at the table. Waving his hand over his Earl Grey, he quickly transformed it into a steaming hot Espresso, sans foam.
Foam was for people like Gilderoy Lock Heart, or those Muggle fools that Potter lived with. Pushing his food around on his plate, Snape quickly bolted his coffee and rose to leave.
"A moment, if you would, Severus." Albus had also risen and was speaking to him. Snape merely eyed him, waiting for instructions on how the day was to progress.
"So we have the plan, and you know where this place is located?"
Snape nodded a curt reply.
"It would be best if you could shrink down her medical file and bring it here. Poppy is greatly interested in knowing what is in it. Ask the Doctor whatever you feel is necessary. Remember, you're her uncle, bringing her for her annual checkup. Maybe take her out for a nice ice cream or something afterwards; it will not be an easy day for her either." The Headmaster winked at Severus, and then left, noticing the sharp scowl re received for his efforts.
Looking down at the Slytherin house table, the head of house noted that Cassandra had not eaten any of her breakfast either, and was fiddling with her silverware. She had half-risen when he had left the head Table, and then sat again. Apparently she had felt his eyes upon her now, as she looked up at him. Pale as a ghost, worry etched across her face along with, exhaustion, or was it something else? He may have to place a cosmetic charm upon her, or that Muggle doctor might get suspicious about her condition. There was no need for unnecessary questions or badgering. Snape's dark eyes met Cassandra's, and she immediately acknowledged that it was time to leave, and rose quietly, gathering her book bag with her. They both left the Great Hall from different exits, and met at the front steps of the Castle.
"How are we Traveling, Professor?" she asked quietly.
"Portkey" he answered shortly.
She nodded once, and then proceeded to follow him past Hagrids' little hut towards the Forest.
As the two dark figures walked into the trees, shedding their robes as they went, Draco Malfoy watched silently from the front steps, wondering at the strangeness of the last 48 hours, and at the announcement Dumbledore had just made about the canceling of today's Potions Classes, and that all fifth years were to work on their projects in the library.
"So, how exactly am I to address you at the Doctor's office, Professor?" Asked Cassandra, who was already exhausted from the morning's activities. They had gone by Portkey to Diagon Alley, where the Potions Master had done some shopping at the apothecary while Cassandra went to look at the dress robes in the shop next door, and then gone through the Leaky Cauldron into London. It was noisy, crowded and dirty… she had forgotten about the business and chaos of life with trams, cars, buses and business. This was a life that she did not miss, and she wanted to be a part of it as little as possible. The serenity of the castle with its long cobbled corridors and silent ghosts were more her style. The sooner this was over with the better. The only reason that they were going was so that they could steal her medical record for Madame Pomfrey, and she did not cherish seeing her old family doctor, nor the questions he was sure to have, since she hadn't seen him for over a year and a half. It felt as if everyone was constantly asking her how she was doing….. She grew tired of lies and cheerful answers. An honest answer never got her anything but a dirty look, or worse, pity. She began to think back to last night with Draco… It had been so wonderful, feeling secure and whole…. She was deciding exactly what lie to feed him tonight, her presence would be missed in the castle, and she would have to come up with a good excuse…he would also know that Snape was gone too, and link it together. Hhhmm… Lost in her thoughts, she wasn't paying attention, and noticed that Professor Snape had gone on ahead of her with the crowd across the busy intersection.
"Come along, we're going to be late!" He called out to her impatiently from across the road. Coming back to reality, Cassandra bolted across the road to where he was, not wanting to anger him, and knowing full well that neither of them wanted to be here. Not looking where she was going, she ran over to where he was, oblivious to the fact that the lights had changed color, and traffic was now speeding the other direction. All she heard was the squealing of tires and the blaring blast of the buses horn as she was knocked to the ground by a black blur. Picking herself up off the asphalt, she was shocked to see that the man who had rushed and tackled her was laying in an unmoving heap about 15 feet away, in a rapidly growing pool of blood. Dazed, she ran over to him, kneeling down over his still form. A crowd was gathering, and people were already talking into their hands, she assumed using telephones, asking for an ambulance.
"Professor Snape!! Professor, Can you hear me?" Huddling over him, she got no reply, and quickly found her wand in the sleeve of her jacket, into the secret pocket which was sewn into all her clothes.
"Enervate!" she whispered, franticly trying to remember any of the healing charms they had learned at the beginning of the year. As a large man in a tweed jacket pulled her back to feel for a pulse on the downed Potions Master, she whispered "Reparo Cranium", flicked her wrist, and then fainted with the smell of blood in her nose, heart pounding in her chest, and sirens blaring in the background.
Snape was simply annoyed and exhausted. Of all the nights, Voldemorte had chosen last night to haul off and have another one of his god forsaken Death Eater's Anonymous meetings. What the hell was wrong with the son of a bitch, anyways? Couldn't he figure out that he had no real friends, that all of the people who support him were only there out of fear, nothing more or less? The only one who came out of devotion was Severus himself, but it was certainly not loyalty to the Dark Lord. Only his devotion to Dumbledore brought him back time after time, when his mark burned him to the core, searing his mind and body. And Voldemorte was onto him, of this he was sure. Snape was counting days, wondering which meeting he wouldn't arrive back from. Dumbledore knew it too, which is why Snape now had to check in with him after every meeting when he returned home. Albus knew a day would come when Severus would not return back to the castle, at least not living. Snape had a trump card, and it was a good one to hold. The only one of the followers which could brew any potion that Voldemorte required, in the shortest time possible. It was a rare talent, so few chose to nurture such things, have the patience or mental fortitude to work with volatile ingredients that were hard to find and harder to keep. And as long as he kept just slightly adjusting the potions that they wanted, it would keep the people they were used on from feeling the full effects, whatever they might be.
He had only just gotten back from speaking with the headmaster when he had seen Malfoy and Caliga, and had not had a wink of sleep. And now it was time for breakfast, and if he did not show, it would be noted by a variety of the Death Eaters's children who attended the school. He just couldn't have that.
"Accio." He called out, and the hideously yellow vial of bubbling liquid flew over to him. He murmured a quick incantation over it, and then downed the mess. His mind instantly clear, intellect sharp and aware, almost over sensitized. A great potion, effective, long-lasting, few side effects in the short term. Chase it down with a cup of black espresso, and it would be as if he'd had 8 hours sleep the night before. Which was good, he'd need al the help he could get today. Looking down at the black dress slacks, shirt, tie and jacket laid out on the bed, Snape sighed loudly. Playing Muggle was his least favorite activity, and clothes, and dealing with a pack of Muggles, hoping he didn't slip up when anyone was watching. So mundane, so slow, such a backwards society. What a pity. He quickly showered, then put on the new clothes underneath his robes. It would be breakfast and then directly to London. He seriously doubted that Miss Caliga was anymore excited about the daytrip than he was.
Nodding curtly at the other Professors, Snape took his seat at the table. Waving his hand over his Earl Grey, he quickly transformed it into a steaming hot Espresso, sans foam.
Foam was for people like Gilderoy Lock Heart, or those Muggle fools that Potter lived with. Pushing his food around on his plate, Snape quickly bolted his coffee and rose to leave.
"A moment, if you would, Severus." Albus had also risen and was speaking to him. Snape merely eyed him, waiting for instructions on how the day was to progress.
"So we have the plan, and you know where this place is located?"
Snape nodded a curt reply.
"It would be best if you could shrink down her medical file and bring it here. Poppy is greatly interested in knowing what is in it. Ask the Doctor whatever you feel is necessary. Remember, you're her uncle, bringing her for her annual checkup. Maybe take her out for a nice ice cream or something afterwards; it will not be an easy day for her either." The Headmaster winked at Severus, and then left, noticing the sharp scowl re received for his efforts.
Looking down at the Slytherin house table, the head of house noted that Cassandra had not eaten any of her breakfast either, and was fiddling with her silverware. She had half-risen when he had left the head Table, and then sat again. Apparently she had felt his eyes upon her now, as she looked up at him. Pale as a ghost, worry etched across her face along with, exhaustion, or was it something else? He may have to place a cosmetic charm upon her, or that Muggle doctor might get suspicious about her condition. There was no need for unnecessary questions or badgering. Snape's dark eyes met Cassandra's, and she immediately acknowledged that it was time to leave, and rose quietly, gathering her book bag with her. They both left the Great Hall from different exits, and met at the front steps of the Castle.
"How are we Traveling, Professor?" she asked quietly.
"Portkey" he answered shortly.
She nodded once, and then proceeded to follow him past Hagrids' little hut towards the Forest.
As the two dark figures walked into the trees, shedding their robes as they went, Draco Malfoy watched silently from the front steps, wondering at the strangeness of the last 48 hours, and at the announcement Dumbledore had just made about the canceling of today's Potions Classes, and that all fifth years were to work on their projects in the library.
"So, how exactly am I to address you at the Doctor's office, Professor?" Asked Cassandra, who was already exhausted from the morning's activities. They had gone by Portkey to Diagon Alley, where the Potions Master had done some shopping at the apothecary while Cassandra went to look at the dress robes in the shop next door, and then gone through the Leaky Cauldron into London. It was noisy, crowded and dirty… she had forgotten about the business and chaos of life with trams, cars, buses and business. This was a life that she did not miss, and she wanted to be a part of it as little as possible. The serenity of the castle with its long cobbled corridors and silent ghosts were more her style. The sooner this was over with the better. The only reason that they were going was so that they could steal her medical record for Madame Pomfrey, and she did not cherish seeing her old family doctor, nor the questions he was sure to have, since she hadn't seen him for over a year and a half. It felt as if everyone was constantly asking her how she was doing….. She grew tired of lies and cheerful answers. An honest answer never got her anything but a dirty look, or worse, pity. She began to think back to last night with Draco… It had been so wonderful, feeling secure and whole…. She was deciding exactly what lie to feed him tonight, her presence would be missed in the castle, and she would have to come up with a good excuse…he would also know that Snape was gone too, and link it together. Hhhmm… Lost in her thoughts, she wasn't paying attention, and noticed that Professor Snape had gone on ahead of her with the crowd across the busy intersection.
"Come along, we're going to be late!" He called out to her impatiently from across the road. Coming back to reality, Cassandra bolted across the road to where he was, not wanting to anger him, and knowing full well that neither of them wanted to be here. Not looking where she was going, she ran over to where he was, oblivious to the fact that the lights had changed color, and traffic was now speeding the other direction. All she heard was the squealing of tires and the blaring blast of the buses horn as she was knocked to the ground by a black blur. Picking herself up off the asphalt, she was shocked to see that the man who had rushed and tackled her was laying in an unmoving heap about 15 feet away, in a rapidly growing pool of blood. Dazed, she ran over to him, kneeling down over his still form. A crowd was gathering, and people were already talking into their hands, she assumed using telephones, asking for an ambulance.
"Professor Snape!! Professor, Can you hear me?" Huddling over him, she got no reply, and quickly found her wand in the sleeve of her jacket, into the secret pocket which was sewn into all her clothes.
"Enervate!" she whispered, franticly trying to remember any of the healing charms they had learned at the beginning of the year. As a large man in a tweed jacket pulled her back to feel for a pulse on the downed Potions Master, she whispered "Reparo Cranium", flicked her wrist, and then fainted with the smell of blood in her nose, heart pounding in her chest, and sirens blaring in the background.