Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Nope, not me.
A/N: Yay for reviews!
Oh, that golden apple story! Sorry, momentary brain lapse there! I do know that story, I was just… momentarily stupid!
There are only five or six chapters left… so be ready for the end…
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It was, Helena reflected, the most delightful feeling in the world.
"It's beautiful," she said softly, as she looked up at the stars.
Bill nuzzled her neck. "Not as beautiful as you."
She turned in his embrace, faced him. She knew she did not have to speak, just smile gently. His hands were straying, and she closed her eyes, revelling in the sensation. Then she felt his lips on hers and she knew she was lost.
When at length he drew back, she saw everything she had ever desired offered to her openly in his eyes. "Your kiss is fire," she told him softly.
"Then burn," he answered, trailing kisses up her neck, her jaw line, her face. "Burn."
"Sorry to break up your little snog session, but I have rather important business to discuss."
Helena and Bill broke apart. Helena felt disoriented, and it took her a moment to place the voice.
It seemed, however, that Bill was in full possession of his wits. "What are you doing here, Snape?"
Under normal circumstances, Helena knew that Severus would have made some kind of sardonic remark, bullying, intimidating. Such was the mask he showed the world.
But there was no mask now, and Helena knew it.
She tugged at Bill's hand. "Bill… I think that, perhaps… it is important."
"It is," Severus replied sombrely, "and, Weasley, it does not concern you."
Bill's eyes narrowed. "I think that'll be for me to decide."
"No," Helena said suddenly, surprising even herself. "No, Bill. Go."
"Helena…"
"No," Helena said, more firmly this time. "If it does concern you, then I'll tell you. I promise."
"Are you sure?"
Helena smiled. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him, gently, on the lips. "I'm sure," she answered. "Now, go."
Bill nodded. He took the jar of Floo powder off the mantelpiece and threw some into the fire. "Gryffindor common room!" he said clearly, and he was gone.
Severus immediately began to pace and Helena realised that something was very, very wrong. It brought back memories of the night that he had told her she was carrying his child - a night she had much rather forget.
"Sit down, Severus," she offered.
He shook his head. "No. I - my mind - I cannot sit."
There was an awkward pause for a few moments. Helena wondered whether she ought to say something, but she did not get the chance.
"How much do you know about my position in the Order of the Phoenix?" Severus asked.
Helena smiled weakly. "I must confess… I did not even know you were a member."
Severus peered out the window, as if trying to see if anyone were out there. Then he took his wand and cast Silencing charms on all four walls, the ceiling, and the floor. "I am a member," he said hoarsely. "Officially, I am Severus Snape, Lieutenant of the Order of the Phoenix. But officially, I am another thing as well… I am Severus Snape, Death Eater."
Strangely, Helena did not feel afraid. "You are a spy," she said. She could not imagine Severus being a Death Eater without a reason.
He looked at her with cold, bleak eyes. "At the beginning I was not," he told her frankly. "But now… yes, I am a spy."
A hand of ice clenched itself around Helena's heart. "Did you know…"
"- about the attacks at Telae Domus? Before they happened?"
Helena nodded.
"No," he said shortly. "I did not know." He stopped, dropped to his knees in front of her. "Believe me, Helena, if I had known, I would have done all in my power to stop them. You must believe that."
"But this is what this is about, isn't it?" She was not in Telae Domus, but Helena was nothing if not perceptive.
"Yes," Severus replied simply.
"Tell me. I must know."
Severus took a deep breath. It is horrible, then, Helena thought, and was surprised when she did not feel more nauseous about it.
Severus rolled up his left sleeve. "Do you recognise this?"
"It is the Dark Mark."
"When the Dark Lord touches one Death Eater's mark, all other Death Eaters must Disapparate and Apparate by his side," Severus said. "He summoned us tonight… and…"
"And?" Helena prompted. A snake of fear was beginning to uncoil in her belly.
Severus closed his eyes and she saw him shudder. "Helena," he said brokenly, "I don't know how I can tell you this. I am not qualified to break things delicately to anyone."
"What happened, Severus?" Helena demanded.
His eyes met hers, and all she saw was despair. "He has Aralinda," he whispered. "He has her… and he says he will kill her if… He told me to offer you an exchange. Her life for yours… and the secrets you bear."
*
When he was gone, Helena buried her head in her hands.
Lady Arachne, she thought, oh lady, what am I to do?
Aralinda's face swam into her mind. Golden Aralinda, with the river-water laughter and the eyes like new spring. Aralinda, priestess of the Second Circle, but on the way up.
And the one secret that Severus had not uncovered at Telae Domus.
Aralinda Seraphim, her sister.
She still remember the day Aralinda had been born. She had been six years old, clinging to her father's hand as they went into St. Mungo's. "Is Mummy all right, Daddy?" she had asked.
He had smiled - his gentle, bear-like smile that still haunted her dreams, even though he had been dead for so long. "She's just fine, my little hellion," he had told her, hoisting her up and putting her on his shoulders. "And now… you have a new little sister. Aralinda."
"Aralinda," she had repeated. "That's a pretty name."
"For a pretty little girl." Her father had opened the door. "And here she is."
"So rare," the High Priestess had said at the temple, "for the younger sister to follow the elder into the Arachniae. But we are glad she did, for she is talented like you, Helena."
But now… the Arachniae were gone, and only Helena remained.
Helena and Aralinda.
Aralinda, broken beyond recognition in the hands of Death Eaters. The only thing that could save her were the secrets of life and death, secrets only Helena possessed. But to give them up…
"Which is more important?" she asked herself aloud. "My sister… or my world?"
"Helena."
She looked up. She had not heard anyone enter, but Regina Lupin was standing in front of her, offering her a handkerchief. She took it gratefully. "Thankyou."
"You are welcome," Regina replied. Uninvited, she sat beside Helena. There was no need for invitation among the sisters of Arachne, they who knew the lore of wights.
For a moment, there was silence. Then Regina spoke again. "We are both in a bad way, are we not?"
Helena looked at her, confused. "I - I don't understand."
Regina's eyes met hers and Helena realised, for an instant, just how alike they were. "I too," Regina sighed, "have suffered great loss. My daughter… my Psyche… the girl I thought lost… I have found her, and she does not want me." She laid a hand on Helena's arm. "And you have lost your sister, and you do not know how to cope with it."
Helena looked at her in unbridled shock. "How do you know that?"
Regina smiled gently. "We are both priestesses, my dear. Those whom Arachne has laid her hand on share a consciousness above their own. The part of us all that is eldritch."
Helena felt very stupid. "Of course…"
"Grief blinds the mind, dear," Regina said softly. "But remember… while there is grief in your life, there is joy also. You have your Bill. You have your child. And while the Arachniae may be gone… together, we can rebuild them."
"You will help me? You will come with me to find the seelie wights?"
"Of course." Regina took her hand. "But it is you who wear the white, Helena. That I will not take from you."
"But -"
"No," Regina said firmly. "The white is yours. But I will aid you, in every way I can, High Priestess."
There was silence between them for a moment, then Helena spoke. "Congratulations on your wedding, Regina."
Regina smiled, an open smile. "Thankyou. And to you also."
"Do you - do you love him?"
Regina closed her eyes, as if savouring something. "Very much."
"You must know… I am sure you do… Severus Snape has been in love with you for many years now."
"I know," Regina answered. "But… you must know this also, Helena. Severus… he was dear to me, but… he never knew me. He knew a part of me, true, but… the woman he loved, the Regina he loved… it was not me. There was goodness in him that recognised the goodness in me… and I was kind to him. Not many people have ever been kind to Severus. But now…" she sighed. "He has made the same mistake again, and I am afraid for him."
Helena did not have to ask what Regina meant. She knew.
*
She had known, from the beginning, what she had to do.
To be a daughter of Arachne is to be altruistic, even if you must sacrifice all that you love.
She knelt on the balcony, the stars above her. Somewhere, out there, the same stars shone on Aralinda. And she prayed for her sister's soul.
"Farewell, beautiful Aralinda, loving sister.
"You gave me love and joy
"And I will remember it forever.
"Farewell, beautiful Aralinda, Flower of Telae Domus.
"The light of your life died like a candle in the wind,
"But my love for you will not die in my heart.
"Farewell, beautiful Aralinda, fair priestess.
"Now fly into the West on golden wings,
"And may your soul rest in eternal bliss."
Slowly, Helena stood. "Goodbye, Aralinda," she said softly as she finished the eldritch blessing. "May your passage be swift and easy."
She closed the door behind her as she went inside.
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