"Minerva, dear... you are making no sense. Who's gone?"
Mcgonagall looked up and met Sheyliegh's eyes. She looked at her as if just realizing that she was there. "Your uncle..." Her voice trailed off, and she went back into her glazed look.
Severus looked over at Sheyliegh who had a mixed look of horror and confusion upon her face. "Minnie, do you know where he is?"
Snapping back to reality, she handed him a peace of parchment that had been laying on the desk in front of her.
When he was finished Snape let the letter fall to the floor while he fell back into a chair. Putting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands he worked to control his breathing.
Slowly Sheyliegh walked to where the letter lay. She picked it up and read it silently.
To whom it concerns, I hope you have said your good-byes to your dear Headmaster. By the time you get this, he'll already be dead. Don't bother coming to look for him.
There was no signature at the bottom of the note. Instead there was a symbol that Sheyliegh and the rest of the Wizarding world knew only too well- a skull with a snake coming out from it where the tongue should be. Sheyliegh dropped the letter just as Severus had done.
Snape drug his eyes up to look at Sheyliegh. Horror and fright were written all over her expression. He got up and walked up to her placing his arms around her waist he embraced her. Just as her knees gave out.
They both sank to the floor and sat there.
Sheyliegh had broken into tears. All Severus could do was embrace her and give her a shoulder to cry on. He tried to be strong- tried to pull himself together. No matter how hard he tried though, he couldn't stop it from coming. He felt the hot tears in the brim of his eyes. The man that had once been like a father to him... was gone.
***
He had been moved to a smaller room which resembled a cell. Albus looked up at the tiny window near the ceiling.
The sound of the door opening echoed in the small, empty room.
"Peter?" Before him stood Voldemort's loyal servant, Peter Pettigrew. (Known to many, simply as Wormtail.)
"Surprised to see me, Albus?"
"As a matter of fact, I had already been informed of your continued existence. I have hear of how you faked your own death, and how you framed Sirius!" He spat the last few words in disgust.
Peter ignored him though. Instead, he bent over and dropped a tray full of food before Albus.
"If he's going to kill me, why is he supplying me with food?"
But Peter did not reply. Instead he turned and walked out of the room.
***
"Severus, do you really think he's... dead?" She looked at him through her puffy eyes.
They were down in Severus' living quarters.
"To tell you the truth, Shey... I don't know."
They sat on the couch facing the fire as they had done on numerous occasions. They embraced one another as they cuddled close in front of the fire trying to keep warm on the cold winter night. Trying to hold their own worst fears at bay while each tried to offer comfort to the other. Silence surrounded them until Sheyliegh released a small, nearly hysterical, chuckle.
"You know what? It's funny. Albus is my uncle. He took you in as a son. But I've never heard what really happened between the two of you. All I've ever heard were the rumors."
Severus sighed and shifted slightly. Just enough to face Sheyliegh, and still keep his arms around her. "Let me guess...you want to know, now, right?"
Sheyliegh nodded and looked down at the floor.
Taking a deep breath, Severus began his story. "OK. When I was ten and my dad died, it was awful at home. My brother tried to take charge and be the man of the house. It was really hard. My mother was not working, so my brother had to bring home the Galleons." He sighed deeply remembering the frustrations and fears from that time. "The problem was, he was only 18. He had just left Hogwarts. My mother was in a terrible state, always crying, or just not all there- you know what I mean."
He wasn't really asking her anything, Sheyleigh understood and remained silent.
"She would sit on her bed, just staring into space. Or talk to our dead father like he was there answering her. I just couldn't take it anymore. I felt bad for not helping to support the family, or even just pay my own way. I thought that I could support myself so my brother and mum would have one less worry." The twisted logic of a child. He recognized it now for what it was, for what it had been. But so many things had been set in motion with that one decision. "So I decided one night, it was a of couple years after my fathers death, that I would leave. and, I left. I ran from home. I was only 13 at the time and I had no clue what I was going to do. My brother reported me missing the next morning. The ministry officials were out looking for me. But the first person to get to me was Albus-" something stuck in his throat, a pain he could not express, a memorie of a debt he could never repay. "He had heard about my running away. And he some how found me.said it felt like it was his responsibility to look out for me. We had become somewhat close at Hogwarts. He told me that he would be willing to take me in if I would let him. I was a complete mess at the time. I had eaten almost nothing for a week. My clothes were all mucked up. So I agreed. He took me back here, to the castle. Got me cleaned up and fed. After that we sat down and talked. He said that he would agree to taking me in permanently, if my mum agreed to it. She did, and I spent the rest of my childhood in this castle. Pretty simple, huh?"
"Wow. The rumors that I hear were so- different. It was such a wonderful thing that my uncle did for you. What about your father? Do you remember him at all?"
"Well... I've always remembered him. It's kind of hard to forget a person like that." There was a definite tension in his voice. He hoped that Sheyliegh had not caught it.
"Well? What was he like? I bet he was a great man." Her eyes, once again, were wide with curiosity. It was clear that, for the moment, she had forgotten all about her missing uncle and was wrapped up in Severus' story.
He couldn't look into her eyes. Instead he tried to think of some way to get out of this one. "Umm.I think that I should probably go check on Minnie. You know, make sure she's all right and everything." He stood up and hurried for the door.
"Oh, Severus, I'll come with-" but he was already out the door. So she gave up. It was getting late anyways. She made slowly her way across the hall, and retired for the night.
Severus walked down the hall at a hurried pace. He couldn't believe how rude he had been. He truly felt aweful about it. But there was no way that he would have been able to answer that question. It was something that he definitely needed to keep to himself. He made himself a mental note, to apologize to Sheyliegh in the morning.
He tapped on the door to Minerva's living quarters. A soft shuffling within could just be heard, and then the door was opened.
"Severus! Please do come in!" Minerva opened the door wider stepping aside to let him pass.
He could tell that she was taking this just as hard as he and Sheyliegh, if not worse. Her eyes, like Sheyliegh's, were red and puffy from tears. Her hair was not up in her usual tight bun, instead it hung in a sea of neglected brown waves that reached to her waist.
"I was just coming to check up on you and see how you were doing," he pushed his own thoughts to the back and tried to offer as much comfort as possible.
"Oh, I'm doing- how are you and Sheyliegh handling all this?"
"Well it was a bit of a nasty shock for her at first, but I think that she's going to be OK. As for me, I think I'll be OK too, just as soon as the shock wears off. Minnie, are you sure you're alright?" He could tell that she was not alright. Fresh tears were brimming her bright green eyes. When she didn't answer he stepped forward and hugged her gently.
"I'm so sorry," Minerva sniffed. "I'm really taking this badly. I just..."
"Shh, let me make you some tea." Severus bustled around the kitchen area making some tea, hoping it would help. He returned to the sitting room and handed her the cup. "Minnie, there's nothing that we can do. As you said yourself, he's gone. We're just going to have to learn to accept that- "
"He's not dead," she interrupted. "I know for a fact that he's still alive."
Severus reached out and touched her shoulder while she stared into the fire.
"We have to go after him."
He was surprised, and concerned, clearly she was delirious. "Minnie," he cautiously spoke, "you are in no state to teach tomorrow. How about I take over Transfigurations for you, and you take the day off? Shey can cover my potions classes."
She turned to look at him with a gleam of anger in her eyes. "Didn't you hear me? We have to go after him! He's still alive!" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of folded parchment. "I was just about to come and show you this when you knocked."
She handed him the parchment. On it was a scribbled, very short, note.
Min.
Send help. Locked in castle. Death Eaters. Voldemort. In dungeon.
Top of Centaur Mtn.
A.D.
Severus looked at her in disbelief. Albus was alive!
***
Severus told Minerva that he would be right back. He broke out in a run leaving the room with the piece of parchment clutched in his hand. He headed straight for Sheyliegh's door.
He arrived there out of breath, but that didn't matter. He banged on the door loudly and it creaked open a moment later.
"Severus, what-"
He pushed his way into the room and closed the door. He then turned to look at Sheyliegh. She was dressed in her bedclothes, and had clearly been close to sleep.
Sleep didn't matter. "He's alive, Shey! Look!" He handed her the piece of parchment.
She looked up at him, her eyes full of hope. Running straight over to her wardrobe Shey randomly pulled out clothes. They were distinctly Muggle in fasion, like the ones she had worn when she had gone to see her mother. "Turn around Severus! It'll only take me a minute to get dressed. Go on now."
He turned around to face the wall, but did not stop talking. "Minnie said that that note just arrived. If we hurry we might be able to rescue him before it's too late." He turned around and was greeted by a fully dressed Sheyliegh. "Come on! Grab your wand and let's go get Minnie."
They hustled out of the room. Sheyliegh nearly had to jog to keep up with Severus' long, rapid, paces. When they reached Minerva's door she was standing outside ready and clearly waiting for them."I got us replacements for our classes tomorrow. Sir Nearly Headless Nick will take over transfigurations for me and The Bloody Baron will take over your potions class Seveerus. You two ready?"
They were both indeed ready to head out and do what ever would be necessary to save their friend.
They left the castle and made their way to the dark Forbidden Forest. The only light came from the nearly full moon up above.
"That reminds me," Severus mused under his breath. "I need to get Remus' potion made up. He'll be wanting it a few nights from now."
They tramped through the snow and brush of the forest, trying their best to watch out for any creatures. Finally they reached the clearing on the other side, and the ending of the Hogwarts grounds. All three disaperated at once. When they apperated they were standing outside of a castle located on the top of a mountain.
"This is where Albus is?"
"Sheyleigh, shh. we don't want to be heard," Minerva whispered out of the side of her mouth.
Severus gathered all the bravery that he had ever had, and took one step closer to the door. He walked right up to it and tried to open the door. To his great surprise, the door opened without any trouble at all. Severus glanced back at the girls. "Well, shall we proceed?"
Minerva and Sheyliegh walked up and stood, three abrest, next to Severus. They looked at each other and then took a step into the dark room.
***
Walking with their wands out in front of them (just in case) they looked around the strange room. "Wow. This place is creepy," Sheyliegh whispered.
"Talk about needing a house elf," Severus commented dryly.
"Umm... Severus, where did Minnie go to?" Sheyleighy tried to keep here voice down.
He spun about, only to find that Sheyliegh was standing by herself. "I thought she was with you." Fear rose the hairs on the back of his neck.
"I thought she was with you- Oh no, Sev, look!"
Severus walked over to where she was standing. The was a little trap door on the floor, it was open. "You think.she fell down there?"
"Minnie! Can you here me?!" Sheyliegh went down on one knee and was hollering down into the hole.
"Shey! Severus! I'm down here!" They could just make out Minerva's voice.
"Come on. Let's go." Severus tucked his wand in his belt loop and hopped down in the hole. He land in a pile of straw. "Well that was convenient," he said sarcastically, while looking Minerva over, she seemed unhurt.
A moment later Sheyliegh came flying down the hole and landed on the straw.
Their wands at the ready, they made their way around a blind corner. Their knees suddenly gave out, and they tumbled to the ground, unconscious.
"Mua-ha-ha," a low-pitched, weird sounding, evil laugh came from somewhere in the shadows. The unknown attacker stepped forward, into the little square of light that the trap door provided. It was none other than....
***
Mcgonagall looked up and met Sheyliegh's eyes. She looked at her as if just realizing that she was there. "Your uncle..." Her voice trailed off, and she went back into her glazed look.
Severus looked over at Sheyliegh who had a mixed look of horror and confusion upon her face. "Minnie, do you know where he is?"
Snapping back to reality, she handed him a peace of parchment that had been laying on the desk in front of her.
When he was finished Snape let the letter fall to the floor while he fell back into a chair. Putting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands he worked to control his breathing.
Slowly Sheyliegh walked to where the letter lay. She picked it up and read it silently.
To whom it concerns, I hope you have said your good-byes to your dear Headmaster. By the time you get this, he'll already be dead. Don't bother coming to look for him.
There was no signature at the bottom of the note. Instead there was a symbol that Sheyliegh and the rest of the Wizarding world knew only too well- a skull with a snake coming out from it where the tongue should be. Sheyliegh dropped the letter just as Severus had done.
Snape drug his eyes up to look at Sheyliegh. Horror and fright were written all over her expression. He got up and walked up to her placing his arms around her waist he embraced her. Just as her knees gave out.
They both sank to the floor and sat there.
Sheyliegh had broken into tears. All Severus could do was embrace her and give her a shoulder to cry on. He tried to be strong- tried to pull himself together. No matter how hard he tried though, he couldn't stop it from coming. He felt the hot tears in the brim of his eyes. The man that had once been like a father to him... was gone.
***
He had been moved to a smaller room which resembled a cell. Albus looked up at the tiny window near the ceiling.
The sound of the door opening echoed in the small, empty room.
"Peter?" Before him stood Voldemort's loyal servant, Peter Pettigrew. (Known to many, simply as Wormtail.)
"Surprised to see me, Albus?"
"As a matter of fact, I had already been informed of your continued existence. I have hear of how you faked your own death, and how you framed Sirius!" He spat the last few words in disgust.
Peter ignored him though. Instead, he bent over and dropped a tray full of food before Albus.
"If he's going to kill me, why is he supplying me with food?"
But Peter did not reply. Instead he turned and walked out of the room.
***
"Severus, do you really think he's... dead?" She looked at him through her puffy eyes.
They were down in Severus' living quarters.
"To tell you the truth, Shey... I don't know."
They sat on the couch facing the fire as they had done on numerous occasions. They embraced one another as they cuddled close in front of the fire trying to keep warm on the cold winter night. Trying to hold their own worst fears at bay while each tried to offer comfort to the other. Silence surrounded them until Sheyliegh released a small, nearly hysterical, chuckle.
"You know what? It's funny. Albus is my uncle. He took you in as a son. But I've never heard what really happened between the two of you. All I've ever heard were the rumors."
Severus sighed and shifted slightly. Just enough to face Sheyliegh, and still keep his arms around her. "Let me guess...you want to know, now, right?"
Sheyliegh nodded and looked down at the floor.
Taking a deep breath, Severus began his story. "OK. When I was ten and my dad died, it was awful at home. My brother tried to take charge and be the man of the house. It was really hard. My mother was not working, so my brother had to bring home the Galleons." He sighed deeply remembering the frustrations and fears from that time. "The problem was, he was only 18. He had just left Hogwarts. My mother was in a terrible state, always crying, or just not all there- you know what I mean."
He wasn't really asking her anything, Sheyleigh understood and remained silent.
"She would sit on her bed, just staring into space. Or talk to our dead father like he was there answering her. I just couldn't take it anymore. I felt bad for not helping to support the family, or even just pay my own way. I thought that I could support myself so my brother and mum would have one less worry." The twisted logic of a child. He recognized it now for what it was, for what it had been. But so many things had been set in motion with that one decision. "So I decided one night, it was a of couple years after my fathers death, that I would leave. and, I left. I ran from home. I was only 13 at the time and I had no clue what I was going to do. My brother reported me missing the next morning. The ministry officials were out looking for me. But the first person to get to me was Albus-" something stuck in his throat, a pain he could not express, a memorie of a debt he could never repay. "He had heard about my running away. And he some how found me.said it felt like it was his responsibility to look out for me. We had become somewhat close at Hogwarts. He told me that he would be willing to take me in if I would let him. I was a complete mess at the time. I had eaten almost nothing for a week. My clothes were all mucked up. So I agreed. He took me back here, to the castle. Got me cleaned up and fed. After that we sat down and talked. He said that he would agree to taking me in permanently, if my mum agreed to it. She did, and I spent the rest of my childhood in this castle. Pretty simple, huh?"
"Wow. The rumors that I hear were so- different. It was such a wonderful thing that my uncle did for you. What about your father? Do you remember him at all?"
"Well... I've always remembered him. It's kind of hard to forget a person like that." There was a definite tension in his voice. He hoped that Sheyliegh had not caught it.
"Well? What was he like? I bet he was a great man." Her eyes, once again, were wide with curiosity. It was clear that, for the moment, she had forgotten all about her missing uncle and was wrapped up in Severus' story.
He couldn't look into her eyes. Instead he tried to think of some way to get out of this one. "Umm.I think that I should probably go check on Minnie. You know, make sure she's all right and everything." He stood up and hurried for the door.
"Oh, Severus, I'll come with-" but he was already out the door. So she gave up. It was getting late anyways. She made slowly her way across the hall, and retired for the night.
Severus walked down the hall at a hurried pace. He couldn't believe how rude he had been. He truly felt aweful about it. But there was no way that he would have been able to answer that question. It was something that he definitely needed to keep to himself. He made himself a mental note, to apologize to Sheyliegh in the morning.
He tapped on the door to Minerva's living quarters. A soft shuffling within could just be heard, and then the door was opened.
"Severus! Please do come in!" Minerva opened the door wider stepping aside to let him pass.
He could tell that she was taking this just as hard as he and Sheyliegh, if not worse. Her eyes, like Sheyliegh's, were red and puffy from tears. Her hair was not up in her usual tight bun, instead it hung in a sea of neglected brown waves that reached to her waist.
"I was just coming to check up on you and see how you were doing," he pushed his own thoughts to the back and tried to offer as much comfort as possible.
"Oh, I'm doing- how are you and Sheyliegh handling all this?"
"Well it was a bit of a nasty shock for her at first, but I think that she's going to be OK. As for me, I think I'll be OK too, just as soon as the shock wears off. Minnie, are you sure you're alright?" He could tell that she was not alright. Fresh tears were brimming her bright green eyes. When she didn't answer he stepped forward and hugged her gently.
"I'm so sorry," Minerva sniffed. "I'm really taking this badly. I just..."
"Shh, let me make you some tea." Severus bustled around the kitchen area making some tea, hoping it would help. He returned to the sitting room and handed her the cup. "Minnie, there's nothing that we can do. As you said yourself, he's gone. We're just going to have to learn to accept that- "
"He's not dead," she interrupted. "I know for a fact that he's still alive."
Severus reached out and touched her shoulder while she stared into the fire.
"We have to go after him."
He was surprised, and concerned, clearly she was delirious. "Minnie," he cautiously spoke, "you are in no state to teach tomorrow. How about I take over Transfigurations for you, and you take the day off? Shey can cover my potions classes."
She turned to look at him with a gleam of anger in her eyes. "Didn't you hear me? We have to go after him! He's still alive!" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of folded parchment. "I was just about to come and show you this when you knocked."
She handed him the parchment. On it was a scribbled, very short, note.
Min.
Send help. Locked in castle. Death Eaters. Voldemort. In dungeon.
Top of Centaur Mtn.
A.D.
Severus looked at her in disbelief. Albus was alive!
***
Severus told Minerva that he would be right back. He broke out in a run leaving the room with the piece of parchment clutched in his hand. He headed straight for Sheyliegh's door.
He arrived there out of breath, but that didn't matter. He banged on the door loudly and it creaked open a moment later.
"Severus, what-"
He pushed his way into the room and closed the door. He then turned to look at Sheyliegh. She was dressed in her bedclothes, and had clearly been close to sleep.
Sleep didn't matter. "He's alive, Shey! Look!" He handed her the piece of parchment.
She looked up at him, her eyes full of hope. Running straight over to her wardrobe Shey randomly pulled out clothes. They were distinctly Muggle in fasion, like the ones she had worn when she had gone to see her mother. "Turn around Severus! It'll only take me a minute to get dressed. Go on now."
He turned around to face the wall, but did not stop talking. "Minnie said that that note just arrived. If we hurry we might be able to rescue him before it's too late." He turned around and was greeted by a fully dressed Sheyliegh. "Come on! Grab your wand and let's go get Minnie."
They hustled out of the room. Sheyliegh nearly had to jog to keep up with Severus' long, rapid, paces. When they reached Minerva's door she was standing outside ready and clearly waiting for them."I got us replacements for our classes tomorrow. Sir Nearly Headless Nick will take over transfigurations for me and The Bloody Baron will take over your potions class Seveerus. You two ready?"
They were both indeed ready to head out and do what ever would be necessary to save their friend.
They left the castle and made their way to the dark Forbidden Forest. The only light came from the nearly full moon up above.
"That reminds me," Severus mused under his breath. "I need to get Remus' potion made up. He'll be wanting it a few nights from now."
They tramped through the snow and brush of the forest, trying their best to watch out for any creatures. Finally they reached the clearing on the other side, and the ending of the Hogwarts grounds. All three disaperated at once. When they apperated they were standing outside of a castle located on the top of a mountain.
"This is where Albus is?"
"Sheyleigh, shh. we don't want to be heard," Minerva whispered out of the side of her mouth.
Severus gathered all the bravery that he had ever had, and took one step closer to the door. He walked right up to it and tried to open the door. To his great surprise, the door opened without any trouble at all. Severus glanced back at the girls. "Well, shall we proceed?"
Minerva and Sheyliegh walked up and stood, three abrest, next to Severus. They looked at each other and then took a step into the dark room.
***
Walking with their wands out in front of them (just in case) they looked around the strange room. "Wow. This place is creepy," Sheyliegh whispered.
"Talk about needing a house elf," Severus commented dryly.
"Umm... Severus, where did Minnie go to?" Sheyleighy tried to keep here voice down.
He spun about, only to find that Sheyliegh was standing by herself. "I thought she was with you." Fear rose the hairs on the back of his neck.
"I thought she was with you- Oh no, Sev, look!"
Severus walked over to where she was standing. The was a little trap door on the floor, it was open. "You think.she fell down there?"
"Minnie! Can you here me?!" Sheyliegh went down on one knee and was hollering down into the hole.
"Shey! Severus! I'm down here!" They could just make out Minerva's voice.
"Come on. Let's go." Severus tucked his wand in his belt loop and hopped down in the hole. He land in a pile of straw. "Well that was convenient," he said sarcastically, while looking Minerva over, she seemed unhurt.
A moment later Sheyliegh came flying down the hole and landed on the straw.
Their wands at the ready, they made their way around a blind corner. Their knees suddenly gave out, and they tumbled to the ground, unconscious.
"Mua-ha-ha," a low-pitched, weird sounding, evil laugh came from somewhere in the shadows. The unknown attacker stepped forward, into the little square of light that the trap door provided. It was none other than....
***