Moonlit Horizons – Chapter 18B

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here we go again… yay I love these diversions…. Not that they hold much to the rest of the story of course… They're just great fun to write.  And I love Snapey fics, so there you go, figure that one out!

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This carries on directly from MH 17, (pretending MH 18 hasn't yet happened, in theory I should have written this directly after 17, but I didnt), after the Edea showdown thing, from the Snape's point of view.

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Draezyc Snape slammed the door to Snape's office in what was a full-blown rage.  "I am going to kill her, I really am." She hissed, clenching her fists.  "Why does she have to be so annoying."

Snape steepled his fingers, staring at the empty fire grate.  "She won't do it again, I promise you."

"Oh she will, but this time I'll get there first.  Death eater slut indeed…  how dare she?" Draezyc threw her wand against the wall, it emitted a brief display of sparks before rolling across the floor.  "Where's Pytheus?"

"Asleep." Snape answered, still not looking away from the grate.  "The house elves saw to that.  Perhaps you might benefit from a few hours yourself?"

"Possibly."  Draezyc looked into a small mirror on the wall.  She grimaced.  "If this bruises… I swear they'll be finding her body for weeks."

"Sore?"

"Just a bit.  Damn she has a vicious slap." Draezyc shrugged herself out of her outer robes.  The thick felt material fell to the floor.  "Right well, I for one, am going to have a long soak in that bath, contemplating violent murder techniques."

Snape nodded, wondering if she was actually going to hex DuCruet into the next century.  He looked briefly at the bottle of whiskey on the desk, but decided against it.  He needed to have a serious talk with a few people before the daylight broke.  Dumbledore had always turned a blind eye where the Marauders and their girlfriends were concerned.  It was time that it ended, before one of them did something dangerously homicidal.  Maybe the person to approach would be the Wolf's friend.  Anna, was her name?  No matter, he needed to get the point across that this was not in any way going to happen again.  Especially as he had sworn an oath on his son's life that he wouldn't participate in any public brawl of any kind with the Marauders.  "I'll castrate Black and nail his remnants to the door of my classroom." He muttered to himself.

Snape stood up, and silently glided out of his office, making his way up to the rooms which were currently occupied by those in question.  The door to Anna's room was open, and she wasn't there.  He frowned, if she was with the wolf there wouldn't be any point in trying to get a coherent word out of either of them.

It had to be Black then.  Straight to the point.  He knocked loudly on the door.

"What?!" Sirius opened the door a crack.  "Don't you think you've done enough?"

"A word, Black.  Now."  Snape gestured to the corridor, and Sirius warily nodded, looking suspiciously at Snape.

"Make this quick, I don't have to waste my time with scum like you." Sirius sneered, "This is about earlier is it?"

"It is." Snape nodded, the look of loathing on his face evident.  "Now listen to me Black, and listen hard, for I don't have a habit of repeating myself for the sake of dunderhead individuals.  You are going to restrain that… woman of yours, is that clear?  I don't want her near my wife, not without a very good reason."

"If your wife stays away from Eds." Sirius countered, his voice low and angry. "You can't blame Edea."

"Oh I think I can." Snape raised an eyebrow, snarling. "You will keep her away, because you know exactly what Draezyc is capable of, and right now I do believe she's in a very homicidal mood."

"Who's fault is that, for marrying some machiavellian witch?" Sirius shrugged.  "I don't know why you bother telling me this, you're nothing, you're less than nothing, I have no idea why Dumbledore trusts you, because I sure as hell don't."

"This has nothing to do with trust." Snape spat.  "You are going to keep that Auror away from my family."

"I'm not going to do anything you order me to, Snape." Sirius growled.  "Just because your pride has taken a bashing, you think you can issue restraining orders left right an centre?  Well welcome to reality Snape.  It's not like that.  I know exactly what she's like thank you very much.  And why should I tell an Auror to lay off Death Eaters, bit anti-thesis isn't it?"

Snape sneered at Sirius, "You make sure she stays away, I won't tell you again."

"damn right, 'cause next time you do, I'll send you flying into next week."

"Tsk Tsk Black, is your temper getting slightly out of control?" Snape smirked. "Nasty temper you have there."

Sirius growled slightly.

"And I'm supposed to take you seriously? Oh come on, you're blonde!" Snape laughed nastily, as Sirius shot him a look and slammed the door in his face.  "Manners elude you." He mumbled, walking back down the corridor, making damn well sure his robes billowed out behind him.

I should probably make the wolf some of his potion, Dumbledore was less than pleased about me not making it before, but honestly I don't see why I have to do this for him out of the goodness of my heart.  He never liked me anyway, and most definitely never offered to help me when I was down, so why on earth should I be forced to help him?  Doesn't he think I have enough on my plate?  Forcing myself back into the ring of malevolent Death Eaters to help Dumbledore's cause… Constantly putting up with the loyalty tests Voldemort is constantly placing me to bear… Cruciatus curse can be blocked out after a few tries, but with Avery on the team, he comes up with a whole range of new curses to inflict.  And yet… Draezyc was let back in so simply, a few sessions worth of grovelling and she was over with, back in his good books.  But then again, she's quite convincing… almost too convincing sometimes.  She wouldn't be here with me if she thought any differently, but the thing is…  It vexes me.  She'd have no trouble killing a few more muggles, I have no qualms in saying that.  But I killed eight in number and felt sick for weeks afterwards, I was fine watching people kill, but when it came to me taking my wand and uttering some painfully slow curse to kill the victim… it would haunt me for nights after.  Their faces… laughing at me. Something I'm not likely to admit to anybody in a hurry.  Of course I perfected the art of remaining stoic throughout.  Never let your face slip, it was where all the other traitorous Death Eaters got found out, they never checked their expressions, and Draezyc has a curious affinity for knowing who's lying and who isn't.  it's a trait that hasn't gone unnoticed by Voldemort either, why else would he welcome her back with open arms… she's useful.  However, I'm beginning to wonder about that since she was attacked, and they never did find Alastor Moody either… That'll teach him for chasing my wife through shrubbery. 

He walked straight through the Bloody Baron, not caring about the icy chill, and opened the door to his office.  He walked to the back of the room, and pushed open the door to his chambers, making sure the office door was locked with its usual array of hexes and charms.  Of someone tried to break in, they'd be getting a nasty shock… and everyone would know about it.  The screaming hex was particularly effective the last time some infidel tried to break in… Snape smirked, throwing his thick outer robes over the chair. 

"And why are you grinning like some mad idiot?"  Draezyc looked up from some potion she was stirring in the cauldron in the hearth.

Snape raised an eyebrow.  "Nothing that concerns you in the slightest."  He peered over her shoulder. "Wolfsbane?"

"Correct." Draezyc nodded,  "And you have a problem?"

"No, just interesting to see you do something for the wolf." Snape raised an eyebrow as the potion bubbled yellow.  "Did you add the fluxweed?"

Draezyc rolled her eyes… "No, of course I didn't… I'm not stupid you twit." 

"What has brought about this sudden merciful attitude to him then?"

"Aw, you jealous?" Draezyc poured the contents into another cauldron and turned off the fire with a waive of her wand.  "Because you know... werewolves are so damn sexy…"

Snape narrowed his eyes.  "I think not."  He tsked briefly before taking out a quill and sitting down on his desk.  He conjured a bottle of emerald green ink before taking a piece of parchment and writing a short note in his flowing script, and folding it across, giving it to the raven sitting on the corner of the desk.  "Go Quirinius."  The bird took flight, and disappeared up the fireplace flue. 

"Who were you writing to?"

Snape didn't answer, but walked towards the bathroom and shut the door firmly behind him.

"Fine, be like that." Draezyc muttered, throwing her robe in the general direction of one of the chairs and pulling down the sleeves of her black nightshirt.  She momentarily fingered the black mark on her left arm, bu then shook her head glumly, walking over to the four poster bed, complete with black sheets and a silver quilt.  Oh so Slytherin…  Can't believe I'm sleeping in the same bed as my old potions master once did all those years ago, Professor Villadyan… Pure Death Eater.  Surprised Dumbledore never noticed… Well I suppose you can't know everything.  He recruited us into the ranks, mostly.  I think Malfoy got there of his own actions, but then again, that was obvious.  Lucius was such a little snobby pervert in school.  Even I agree with the Gryffindors on that.  You could never trust him, always had to be semi conscious in your sleep, just in case he slipped into the dormitory.  But then he realised that if he wanted an heir to look like him, he'd need a mate that looked like him.  Thus you have Narcissa Zytinski.  She wasn't evil per se, just more snobbish than most, and very very snooty about the whole pureness of blood thing.  Bet they don't know that Phaerren blood is the purest you can get.  Descended from the first ever wizard herself… The primitive, they call her.  All magic descends from her.  But in its purest form it is in that of animal magic, thus you get Phaerrens.  She even created the Soul Syphon, although in that timeframe it was called the soul shroud, woven into the finest of cloth.  Draezyc pulled the quilt up over her shoulders, cursing the chill that hung in the air of the dungeons.  How can someone live in this… dank… crypt?  If I didn't know better I'd say that Sev had been caught on the wrong side of a vampire, but he's not… Odd that, someone would voluntarily live in such a place, he told me it was dark and cold, he didn't tell me it was depressively dark and cold.

Draezyc was asleep when Severus climbed into bed, a few minutes later, his hair impressively clean for once.  He had no doubts that by morning, it would be just as greasy and lank as usual.  It always was.  Not that he really cared, if he had wanted it clean and shiny, he'd have used a few potions, or charmed it perhaps, but appearance was irrelevant.  Or at least, his appearance suited his purpose for now.  And as long as it continued to do so, he had no problems about it.

"Drae?"  He murmured, wrapping his arm over her shivering body.  "Cold?" he laughed.  "I did warn you, but you insist on wearing these skimpy… things…"

"Not skimpy… you have a weird idea of skimpy."  Draezyc muttered, rolling over into Severus.  "You're positively over dressed."

"I advised you to wear something warm, but you persist in wearing this…" he fingered a silk hem.

"It's silk Sev." Draezyc yawned.  "It's nice, its soft, I can sleep in it."   

"You're not sleeping now."

"Because you woke me up, you daft idiot." Draezyc moaned, snuggling up to his warm chest.  "And just for that, you're going to be my source of warmth till I can charm this place a bit more heat."

"I have no problems with that." Severus shrugged, "You know we must leave early tomorrow, if we are to get out of the anti-apparition wards for dawn."

"yeah, I know." Draezyc softly kissed his neck.  "So shut up, and let me sleep or I'll be all moody tomorrow morning and bite your head off."

Severus was tempted to point out that she was always moody, but had little faith in his survival instinct, so refrained.

~*~

"Sumpsevius." Snape nodded at a straight backed figure who was idly shooting a few hexes at a captured muggle man.

"Ah, Snape.  Fancy a game of muggle baiting?" Edmus Sumpservius was one of Voldemort's most trusted Death Eaters.  A protégé of Lucius Malfoy, he had a taste for the rich plush lifestyle, and meeting in a broken, rotting shack was not to his approval in the slightest."

"Any news on which idiot found it funny to try to decapitate me a few days ago?" Draezyc eyed the muggle suspiciously, and shot a blinding hex his way, if he had to suffer, at least he wouldn't be able to see his captor's face.

"Oh that!" Sumpervius laughed. "That was me.  I couldn't resist! You made a good chase, and I would have had to give up had you not tripped… but it was too tempting."

"Did no one ever inform you about the respect I command in this circle?" Draezyc hissed, eyes narrow and lips pursed.

"I yield a great part of that too, Snape.  Pity you can't decide which way to go with it."

"Excuse you?"

"Oh come on, you've got that idiot Black and his Auror right in your grasp and you just let them go along with it? You're passing up such a good opportunity."

"You're young and sadly, you're also very reckless." Severus Snape towered over Edmus.  "I have the unfortunate news to tell you that you won't go very far with such an outlook.  You're very likely to find yourself with an unhealthy lack of pulse if you continue."

"It's called watching and waiting.  You watch, and find out where the weakest point of the victim lies, then you progress slowly as to not attract attention. And then…" Draezyc slapped her hands together inches from his face. "You crush them like a flea beneath your shoe.  Tactics."

"tactics Scmactics, I'd go for an all out brawl anyday."

"Thus will be your downfall." Snape shook his head.  "The news?"

"Ah yes, our Lord wished you to know that I have come up with a plan for the escaped Phaerren prisoner." Edmus grinned evilly.  Twirling his wand idly in his hands.  "We know the location of the Soul Syphon.  Unfortunately, we cannot reach it without her.  She is in love, lucky bastard." Edmus muttered.

Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Oh that, yeah, I saw her, she's a pretty young thing isn't she… I personally wouldn't mind a…"

"GET ON WITH IT YOU TWIT." Severus thundered. "We didn't come here for a resume of your promiscuity."

"Yeah well anyway," Sumpservius carried on as if Snape hadn't just breathed fire down his neck… "She's in love with that wimp of a werewolf, you know… Lupin or something… anyway, we can capture that idiot… and of course, she'll come running won't she?  Kill two birds with one stone so to speak.  Quite literally.  Well, after she gets us the stone."

"Very nice." Draezyc applauded politely.  "And when does this take place?"

"Tomorrow, I have it on good references that the wolf is planning on taking her for a day out, we just need to track the wolf, and grab him."

"You've forgotten something…" Snape drummed his fingers against the wall.

"The wolf has friends, that's your… variable… you take him, they'll be after you like a shot."

"We've made provisions for that, and from what I know, Black and his Auror will most likely spend the day in bed, being happy." Edmus rubbed his hands together in glee. "I get to watch over the Phaerren once we capture her, I have first dibs."

"I am just quivering with pure envy." Draezyc rolled her eyes sarcastically.  "Nice to see such enthusiasm."

"We have to leave, any longer absence and that muggle loving fool of an employer of mine would start to be suspicious." Snape said slowly, making sure Edmus got the hint, they wanted to stay no longer.

"Of course, don't want you getting killed now do we."

Snape smirked, it would be too ironic if he suddenly whipped out his wand and sliced Edmus into little pieces… It would have to wait.  First Priority was getting the news to Dumbledore, before the sun got high enough in the sky to classify it as "tomorrow"

"Come Draezyc, we must endeavour to get back before Dumbledore suspects…"  Snape took his wife's hand and they both apparated out of the small shack. 

Edmus shrugged and swiftly Avada Kedavra'd the muggle. " Oh Well, you were fun while you lasted, mate."

TBC