Mara Angel – Thanks for the explanation! Although now I'm not sure if I was being complimented or insulted… lol. Anyhow. I'm glad you're enjoying!
Shahrezad1 – An animagus? Oh, my dear, you're thinking too much… heh heh heh.
Mademoiselle Morte – As always, you're puffing up my ego nicely. Lol.
Thanks to all who have reviewed! I'm going to try and finish this little tale by Christmas… consider it my holiday gift to you all!
And now… *drumroll* … for a little DRAMA!!!
Chapter 19
Sonora stared as the passage door closed with a quiet but final click, and then heaved a sigh. So much for placating the Potion Master. A guilty feeling began to grow in her belly. Dammit. And to top things off, he'd been summoned by Voldemort.
She shivered in reflex. Oh, Christ, what if he was too distracted by their little spat? What if the test was too close to the front of his mind, and he slipped somehow? She swallowed, trying to battle back her fear. Never mind that he could let something slide about the potion, she could risk loosing him. Over a stupid experiment and a few angry words.
She sat, rather heavily, on the side of the bed. She'd wait, she thought, reaching for the fastening on her robes. She'd wait until he came back, which he would. She refused to believe anything else.
Her lips trembled for a moment before she gained control again. Severus was a strong, canny, wise man. He would be all right.
She repeated that mantra again as she slid beneath the bedcovers. He would be all right.
Breakfast the next morning was a depressing thing for Sonora. Severus had not returned, and she found she had no appetite for the holiday treats the house elves persisted in showering the staff with. She picked at the frosted bun, shaped in the form of a Christmas tree, not able to bring herself to eat it.
She sighed and pushed the treat away. She wasn't in the mood for sweets. Glancing around, she saw that not many were down for breakfast that morning. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were murmuring closely over tea and scones at the far end of the table, but they were the only other staff members present.
Even the students were subdued. At the Gryfindor table, the cluster of Weasleys, Potter and Granger were all surprisingly quiet. As Sonora watched, she saw Ginny Weasley reach over and lay a hand on Harry's arm. The dark haired boy looked over at her with a face Sonora recognized; she'd seen it on Draco and Severus far too many times. It was a face that said something had happened, something the owner of those blank green eyes didn't plan on sharing with anyone.
Sonora wondered what could have happened here at Hogwarts in the last day that could have caused that look in Harry's eyes, and then sighed. It was probably some silly teenaged antic gone awry. Or more likely, something to do with the ever-turbulent love lives of the Hogwarts students.
Her eyes wandered to the two students yawning at the Ravenclaw table, and then to Draco, sitting by his lonesome self at the Slytherin table. His head was down as he stared into a bowl of oatmeal, his hair sliding forward to conceal his expression. His whole body screamed of something wrong, however.
Sonora gave up on the idea of eating. She just wasn't going to be able to stand it, not with Severus still gone and angry at her. Pushing back her chair, she began to limp out of the Great Hall. She'd go prepare some batches of her new potion, with Severus in mind this time. Perhaps he'd accept it as an apology.
As she left the Hall, she felt eyes on the back of her, and puzzled, turned her head. Her eyes met those of Harry Potter, who held her gaze a moment. His own was blank and intently green; hers was puzzled. And then he looked away as Ginny Weasley touched his arm again, and she was left perplexed once more. Sonora sighed and turned back, not noticing the keen gray eyes peering through a tangle of pale blonde hair on the other side of the room.
Severus was exhausted. The Dark Lord had called him last night to participate in a revel, or more accurately to provide potions that would let the rest of the Death Eaters partake in a revel. And so he had spent the entire night brewing foul potions that would let his fellow Death Eaters do unspeakable things to the innocents who had the misfortune to cross their paths.
Severus once again counted his blessings that he had never in his past been interested in such things. When he had been young, he had preferred to keep his liaisons private, not liking the vulnerability and exposure of the revels. Voldemort had approved back then, and Severus suspected that his control in such matters had helped to raise his value to the Dark Lord, both then and now.
Watching the depravity that was going on around him, Severus felt sick. Dirty. Even though he was not participating, the mixture of pleasure and pain was enough to make him feel that the evil of these things was clinging to him like a skin of oil, slimy and impure. Dear Merlin, and he had to go back and face Sonora with this lingering on him.
He pushed the thought away. Perhaps it wouldn't even matter. She had turned from him earlier and he still didn't know what it had meant.
And now, he had finally been given his dismissal for the day, with the curt directive to retrieve a new batch of potion ingredients from Knockturn Alley that had been procured for his use in the Dark Lord's service.
With a weary sigh, Severus apparated away, a moment before Lucius Malfoy strode into the room, clutching a piece of paper and looking triumphant.
Sonora carefully ladled a portion of the potion from the large cauldron into a smaller one.
"Nox," she murmured, and the room plunged into darkness. Feeling delicately with her fingers, she found the catch on the lid and flipped open the wooden box, extracting three leaves of Heart's Blood.
Her hands worked steadily even as her mind wandered. It was so close to Christmas, to a day when everyone in the castle should be happy and carefree, and yet it was as if a pall hung over the school this morning.
She stirred with the first leaf, murmuring "Severus Snape," as she did. Perhaps it was just her own mood skewing things. She repeated her actions with the second leaf. After all, she was not in a very happy place at the moment. She hated being at odds with people, and given that she was in love with Severus, knowing things were not smooth between them made it all the more painful.
She stirred with the third leaf. Gods, she hoped he would get to use this potion, at least. She couldn't think of anyone she'd rather have protection from the curse. "Severus Snape," she said for a third time, this time the love and worry in her seeping into her voice. The potion turned several shades, and then flashed brightly before turning that clear crystal color.
Sonora sighed and stared at the liquid for a moment, before tightening her lips and summoning a bottle. Careful not to loose a drop, she poured the contents of the small cauldron inside and cast an Unbreakable charm before stoppering it.
Pointing her wand again, she watched as in silence the bottle labeled itself. Crucio-Fix Potion, it read. Severus Snape.
She set the bottle off to one side, out of the way, and began to clean her workspace, only to halt at the sound of footsteps in the stone hallway outside. Curious as to who would be seeking her out in the dungeons while it was still fairly early, she turned just in time to see the door open.
A tall, elegantly dressed blonde man stepped through the door. Far off, down the hall, she heard a voice calling, "Father?"
Sonora gave the man a puzzled smile. "Hello, can I help you?" she asked as he came into the room.
The man gave her a cold smile as he reached where she stood. "Oh, yes, Sonora Stone, you can," he said in a voice that sent fearful chills down her spine.
"What…?" she asked, bewildered and more than a little alarmed as he reached out and wrapped his fingers around her wrist. "Excuse me, I don't know who you are, but I don't think you…" she started as she began to tug at her wrist, not liking how forward the man was.
The voice outside called again, closer and this time recognizable. "Father?" Draco, Sonora realized. And that would make this man…
The blonde man gave an icy laugh. "No? You will. Lucius Malfoy, at your service," he said. Sonora paled and jerked at her wrist, reaching for her wand where it lay on her desk. "Oh, no," he said, that evil smile still about his face. "I'm afraid you won't be needing that."
"Let go of me," she said, beginning to panic as she began to struggle.
"I think not," he purred. "Your presence has been requested." As he spoke, he reached into a pocket and pulled out a small watch. His fingers tightened about her wrist, making her wince. "Time to go," he said softly, and she felt the frightening tug at her navel. A portkey, was her last clear thought.
Severus staggered through the passage into his cold, dark bedchamber, absolutely exhausted. He hadn't slept in far too long. His errand to Knockturn Alley had not gone smoothly, as he had been forced to be far too enthusiastic for his liking in order to wrest his ingredients from the crooked dealer.
He dropped his cloak on the foot of his bed with a weary sigh. How he'd love to lie down and sleep, just sleep. But he had to report to Dumbledore first.
He stepped through the door to his office and emerged into the classroom to see to his surprise a panicked-looking Draco rummaging through the room.
"Mr. Malfoy!" he snapped, not in the mood to wait around for explanations. Dammit, he just wanted bed. Bed, and then Sonora. If she would still have him. "What the devil do you think you're doing?"
The boy whirled about, a flash of fear and then relief in his face. "Please, sir," he said, sounding choked. "I didn't mean… I never thought…"
Severus wasn't going to waste his patience. "Spit it out now, Mr. Malfoy, or get out," he growled. He needed to see Dumbledore before he fell asleep on his feet.
Draco swallowed. "Sir… Professor Stone."
Severus felt something inside him still. "What about her?" he asked.
Draco shoved a hand through his hair, violently. It was shaking. "She's… gone, sir, I think. My father…"
"Yes?" Severus snapped, feeling the fear coiling inside him. He strode quickly to loom over the pale teen. "Dammit, boy, what's happened?"
Draco swallowed again. "I think my father took her."
Severus stared at the boy and felt the earth rock under his feet. Another voice came softly from the doorway. "I fear it is more than that, Severus," came Dumbledore's voice.
Severus whipped about to see the headmaster standing in the doorway. "Headmaster?" he managed.
Dumbledore came into the room, his eyes fixed on Draco. "Mr. Potter came to me this morning. He'd had a dream, one he didn't understand but that concerned him enough to seek my advice," he said, still looking at the pale Slytherin. "Mr. Malfoy," the Headmaster said, looking as stern as he'd ever known the man. "What do you know?"
Draco was shaking. "I… My father had sent me an owl, asking about things," the teenager said. "And… I was angry with Professor Stone, and I mentioned I was working with her on a project." He looked quickly at Severus. "I didn't say anything, sir, I swear! Just that I was helping." The boy swallowed again. "I… I thought he'd be pleased."
"Go on," Severus managed to whisper. Dear god, his worst fears were coming true.
"I… I mentioned that you and she… that you and Professor Stone…" the boy looked miserable. "I'd overheard you, sir, after I'd left one day." Severus struggled to quell the nausea that was rising inside him. "And… I saw him today. I… I thought he might have come to see me." The boy turned pleading eyes back to Dumbledore. "I swear, sir, I thought he'd come to see me. For the holidays."
Dumbledore gazed steadily at the boy for a long moment while Severus reached blindly for his desk chair. All his worst nightmares… He sank into it, knees weak. Finally Dumbledore spoke. "I believe you, Draco," the old man said quietly.
There was a moment of silence before Draco sagged a bit. "Thank you," he said almost inaudibly, head dropping.
Dumbledore turned to face Severus. "We have little time to loose, Severus," he said quietly. "I need you to pull yourself together. For Sonora's sake."
Severus brought shaking hands up and rubbed them over his face. "He has her," he said, the fear still snaking through him.
"Yes," said the Headmaster gravely. "And we must get her back."
Severus rubbed his hands over his face once more, before forcing himself to take a steady breath. Sonora was in danger. She needed him. "What should we do?" he asked.
Dumbledore sighed. "I fear we do not have many choices," he said. His eyes were steady. "You must go and get her from him, Severus. More depends on her than you know."
Severus looked steadily at the old man, who looked both sad and strong at the same time. "He'll know," he said quietly.
Dumbledore nodded. "He will. And yet I don't think you will be unwilling to risk the consequences."
"For her?" Severus gave a bitter laugh. He would risk anything and everything. He'd sworn it on his very soul, or what was left of it.
He'd all but forgotten Draco was standing there, listening, until the boy suddenly spoke. "Let me help," he said. Severus turned his head to glare at the cause, even though it was indirect and unintentional, of his living nightmare. Pale gray eyes met his. "Please… I owe her this," the boy said. "Sir."
Severus stared at the young man in front of him. He'd finally attained that, he realized dimly. Draco had grown more in the last ten minutes than in the past five years. And in his eyes, he saw something familiar; a deep, frightening amount a fear for Sonora.
Slowly he nodded. "You will help."