Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. A/N at end.
Some Scars Never Fade
WendyNat
Chapter 7
~~~~~~~
"Okay, Remus – we'll meet you in Hogsmeade as soon as we finish with the Headmaster," Hermione said, waving at the brown-haired man. Severus gave him a nod in farewell as he left the lab.
Turning to Hermione, Severus gestured her to precede him through the door. "After you, my dear Potions Mistress."
"Why thank you, Potions Master," deliberately lingering over the last word in a sultry voice.
He caught her arm before she could move past him and brought her in close for a deep kiss. "I must admit that I find it quite… appealing… when you refer to me as 'Master,' he murmured against her lips, smiling wickedly. She grinned back and then gave a sigh, pulling away from him reluctantly.
"Hmmm… hold that thought till later. We don't have time right now," she said in a low voice, catching hold of his hand while they walked through the dungeons. "I guess we won't be able to do this-" she said, indicating their clasped hands "-when the students are back."
He raised an eyebrow and looked down at her with his trademark sneer. "And shock the little hooligans with the thought of their feared Potions Master being… intimate… with a woman?"
Hermione chuckled. "Indeed. I don't think Poppy would have enough heart restorative in stock to handle all the cases."
"Unlikely."
When they reached the top of the staircase, they were surprised by the sound of two irate felines. "Crookshanks! No fighting, bad boy!" Hermione cried, grabbing her hissing bundle of fur and holding him tight. Mrs. Norris still stood, hissing and spitting, in the corridor. Crookshanks gave her a disdainful look and, with a twitch of his tail, settled against his owner's chest, purring.
"Territorial dispute, I take it?" Severus said with a sneer. Hermione shrugged, keeping a firm hold on her familiar.
"Probably."
By then, they had reached the Headmaster's office, and he turned to face the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance. "Twinkies," he drawled, scowling. The gargoyle moved aside and they stepped onto the moving staircase. At Hermione questioning glance, he sighed. "Albus has become fond of Muggle sweets over the last couple of months. Muggles think up such inane names." Hermione didn't comment – what could be more inane than to consider something called cockroach clusters an appetizing treat?
"Ah, Hermione, Severus, please sit down!" Albus said from his desk chair, smiling brightly in greeting.
"Thank you, Albus."
"Lemonhead? No? Suit yourselves," the Headmaster said, popping one of the sour concoctions in his mouth. Hermione held back a giggle at the distasteful look on Severus' face. He did so hate sour foods. Who would have thought the evil Potions Professor had such a sweet tooth? Albus continued, "I understand that in my short absence you have not only completed the Manere potion adjustments, but also the analysis of that strange substance Mr. Longbottom and Professor Sprout found on their plants." At their nods of assent, he chuckled. "Perhaps I should go away more often."
"It was only a matter of time, Albus. The substance is not as great of a threat as we had originally feared – the use of puffer-fish eyes in the base renders it useless for a wide-range attack… without using Apparition or portkeys, and with the inadequate shelf life, it would be impossible unless there were multiple brewers in every location," Severus said, sitting back in the squashy armchair. Albus nodded.
"I see. Has Mr. Longbottom been informed?"
Hermione nodded, stroking the ginger cat in her lap. "Yes, Albus. I spoke with him yesterday when I went to see the Minister. He was very relieved, but still concerned that it was developed in the first place. And concerned about…" she was interrupted by a popping sound from the fireplace. Turning, she was shocked to see Remus' head floating in the flames. "Remus!"
"Attack at the Hogsmeade house… Hestia's hurt – bring Poppy!" Remus looked at Albus, and said in a strangled voice, "Hurry!" His face disappeared.
They all leapt to their feet. Albus threw some floo powder into the flames and called Poppy to his office. "Tell her to bring her supplies!" Severus hissed at the Headmaster, who nodded and passed on the message. While they waited, Albus picked up a letter opener, transfiguring it into a long metal bar. He then cast another spell that Hermione recognized as the incantation necessary to create a portkey.
Thoughts raced through Hermione's head, and she found herself becoming more tense every second. Attacked? By who? Why? How hurt is she? Bending over, she picked up Crookshanks and held him close. Finally, Poppy came through the fireplace with her medical bag under one arm and her wand in the other. The four of them grabbed hold of the newly created portkey, and she felt the familiar tug around the area of her navel.
When they reached their destination, she dropped Crookshanks and took off at a run to the front door, Severus close behind her. Wrenching open the door, she heard Remus' strained voice calling to them from the direction of the study. Stopping in the doorway to the study, her blood froze. Severus brushed past her and entered the room, sweeping his gaze meticulously over the wreckage.
Hestia…Her friend was lying on the floor, Remus kneeling beside her. Her dark hair was shiny with blood, and her face… blood was seeping from her nose, her forehead… an ugly bruise was appearing on one arm where her sleeve had been ripped. Remus looked at Hermione, eyes haunted. "She won't wake up."
"We'll see about that," Madam Pomfrey said, bustling into the room and setting her bag down. "Move aside, people. You can stay close, in case I need an extra pair of hands," she said, indicating Remus with her final statement. The others moved out of the mediwitch's way while she worked on her patient. Hermione leaned against the doorjamb, carefully avoiding the ruined wall, and unconsciously held her breath. She gave Severus a small, tense smile when he moved closer to her, and she leaned against him gratefully.
"She'll be fine," he whispered in her ear. She didn't respond. Madam Pomfrey's face seemed apprehensive, in her opinion. After what seemed like an eternity, she heard a long groan from Hestia and sagged with relief. After administering a couple of potions, the mediwitch stood up and conjured a stretcher.
"She'll be fine, I think. No lasting harm, but she'll be in my hospital wing for a couple of days."
"What has been done to her, Poppy?" Albus asked, his voice grave. The mediwitch looked at him and shook her head.
"Pigra Pectus. Heart slowing curse. More damaging than normal because of her physical wounds, which is why she was unconscious. I countered the curse, healed her broken skull, and cast a blood-boosting spell… I have some more work to do when we get back to the hospital wing, but she's stable for now." Giving the Headmaster a meaningful glare, she said, "I also gave her some pain potion and a mild sleeping draught. She's not likely to wake again for a couple of hours."
"Poppy, perhaps she should be awake for a while so we can ask-" Albus began.
Madam Pomfrey interrupted him, waving a finger under his nose. "That is precisely why I did it, Albus. She doesn't need to be interrogated by the likes of you right now. You deal with running your school, Headmaster, and I'll deal with my patients. You can question her later." With a snap, she closed her bag and turned to Remus, putting a hand on his shoulder. "She'll be fine, lad. Don't you fret. It's a good thing you came by when you did – that curse is nasty stuff if it has a chance to set in." Remus nodded, his face still ashen. At the mediwitch's urging, he grabbed hold of the portkey with her and the three of them disappeared.
"Who?" Hermione turned her head to look at Severus. "Why would someone do this? What were they after?"
He shook his head. "We'll have to see what Hestia can tell us when she awakens."
Dumbledore agreed, and then said, "Perhaps we should take advantage of this time and see what we can discover here." Severus looked at him and gave a curt nod. "Hermione, can you summon the Aurors?" She nodded and went to the fireplace, where the fire Remus had set was still crackling.
Moving closer to Severus, Albus asked in a low voice, "Do you recognize anyone's hand in this, Severus?" The dark-haired man's gaze continued to sweep the room, stopping at certain points to study an area in more detail. Finally he sighed, shaking his head.
"No. That particular curse was used by a number of Voldemort's followers, and doubtless by some others with nefarious schemes of their own. The physical injuries… Malfoy Senior and Macnair in particular were always fond of doing things the… 'old fashioned way'… their victims usually displayed a lot of blood-" his voice left him for a moment, then he took a breath and continued, "-but those two been dead for years."
Albus nodded. "I thought as much, but I had to ask." Severus simply nodded and continued his perusal of the room. They were interrupted by an exclamation from Hermione.
"Look what Crookshanks found!"
Severus' head snapped around and looked at the object she was pointing at on the floor. Moving closer, he knelt down next to the ginger cat who was now sitting back with a smug look.
It was a knife. Wickedly serrated, its pale blade glinted in the light from the fireplace. The handle was black with ivory inlay… in some sort of design. As he leaned closer, he sucked in his breath and unconsciously grasped his right arm. The design on the handle… it couldn't be… he closed his eyes, sinking into memory.
~*~*~*~*~
~Six years previous~"In recognition of my most loyal servants, take these. Put them to good use, in my name – do not be loath to sully their shining blades with the filthy blood of Muggles and Mudbloods, the steel will never dull, the blades never rust. They were forged in my presence, and it is my will that they be used to further our cause. They symbolize your unfading loyalty to the cause, you who are my Inner Circle," Lord Voldemort's hissing voice proclaimed.
One by one, the Death Eaters of the Inner Circle stood before their master and knelt, kissing the hem of his black robe with reverence. One by one, the Death Eaters of the Inner Circle were presented with the symbol of their master's recognition. And one by one, they rolled up their right sleeves and held the blade to their arm, cutting a fine line in the flesh, as was custom. "My flesh be first, my flesh be last. All blood be spilt in your name, My Lord. My loyalty unwavering, my loyalty undying, until victory is achieved."
When it was his time, Severus stepped forward and carefully cleared his mind, erecting the necessary barriers against his true thoughts. In close proximity, the Dark Lord's powers of Legilimency were profound – he could afford no mistakes. As he mindlessly intoned the customary phrases, he flooded his mind with thoughts of loyalty, of desire for victory… it worked, once again. The Dark Lord smiled down on him, and he rose and rejoined the circle, the knife clutched in his hand. Looking down, he wiped it clean on his robes, noting as he did so the intricate detailing of the ivory inlay – serpents twining around the handle in an elegant dance.
"Such deadly beauty, is it not, Severus?" a woman's voice asked from his right side. Turning slightly, he saw the cold eyes of Narcissa Malfoy staring at him. She had risen swiftly to the Inner Circle after taking the Dark Mark the year before. He had, in truth, been surprised at how quickly she had risen in the ranks despite the fact that Lucius managed to keep her apart from the more dangerous missions. He supposed Lucius' bloodlust was rigorous enough to take up the slack, as it were. Of course, his wife had never shied away from bloodletting – far from it. Slowly, he nodded in response.
The ritual had been completed, and they filed back into Malfoy Manor for the rest of the festivities, removing their masks and pushing the hoods back. Severus bowed slightly and gestured Narcissa to precede him, and she smiled at him, her hair shining and cold eyes sparkling. He shook his head slightly.
Such deadly beauty, indeed.
~*~*~*~*~
"Severus?" A hand on his shoulder roused him from his reminiscing, startling him. He looked up into warm brown eyes, and cleared his throat.
"I… recognize the blade."
Albus stepped closer. "You do, my boy? Whose is it?"
Severus shook his head and stood. "I misspoke, Headmaster. What I meant was – I recognize where the blade came from. The current owner, I do not know. But… that blade… it was a gift from Voldemort to the members of the Inner Circle."
Hermione gasped, but Albus' face remained unchanged. "I see." The older wizard sighed. "That may help us narrow the field a bit."
Severus shook his head once again, frowning. "Not necessarily, Headmaster. Most members of the Inner Circle are either in Azkaban or dead. Their property went to their heirs, or their kin, or in some cases the Ministry auctioned off the estates. This knife could have been used by anyone."
"What knife?" a deep voice said from behind them. Turning, Albus smiled at the sight of the tall Auror standing in the doorway.
"Ah, Kingsley – so glad you came," the Headmaster said.
"How is she?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked, frowning at the scene in the study. The blood on the floor was still wet, reflecting the light of the fire.
"Madam Pomfrey said she'll be fine," Hermione said, cradling the cat. "Remus went with them back to Hogwarts."
The Auror nodded and asked, "Was she able to tell you anything?"
Hermione shook her head, and Albus answered, "No – Poppy thought it best if she slept for a couple of hours to regain her strength before I… what was it that she said? Oh yes, interrogated her." Kingsley gave a snort of amusement. "You can accompany us to Hogwarts when you're done here. There's no need to have her tell the same story multiple times."
A crash from the front room startled them all until a familiar voice called out, "It's me! How's Hestia? Is she all right?" Tonks appeared in the doorway, rubbing her left knee.
"She'll be fine, Tonks. After we check out the scene, we'll be going to Hogwarts to speak with her," Kingsley said in a soothing voice.
Tonks sagged against the doorway. "Thank Merlin. When I heard there was an attack here, I came straightaway. We talked earlier and she told me she was coming here before lunch to pick up my chess book."
"This one?" Severus asked, bending over and plucking the book from the floor next to the overturned table. Tonks nodded, and he handed it to her.
"Thanks."
Kingsley cleared his throat. "Well, now that that's settled…" He looked at Albus pointedly. "There was a discussion of a knife when I walked in."
Albus nodded to Severus, and the black-haired man explained what he knew of the knife's origins. Kingsley and Tonks looked thoughtful, and then they both split up to look through the house. An hour later, they reconvened in the kitchen where the other three were drinking tea.
"The study appears to be the only room that was ransacked. From the look of things, the attacker or attackers were searching for a book or some sort of notes, possibly… what was kept here?"
"Nothing of consequence. Some general notes surrounding the lycanthropy cure, information about the werewolves that have been cured… most of the important notes and books are kept at Hogwarts," Severus said. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"No valuables?" Severus gave the other man a withering glare, and Kingsley laughed. "I had to ask, Snape, relax. I know you're too smart to store your grandmother's jewelry here." Hermione chuckled at the look on Severus' face.
"Well, I believe we've given enough time for Miss Jones to have awoken. Shall we?" Albus said. They all stood and with a wave of their wands, Apparated to the front gates of Hogwarts.
* * * * * *
Hestia woke slowly, consciousness returning as each layer of sleep peeled away. Without opening her eyes, she winced at the pain in her head. "Gah. Bastard."
"Pardon me?"
"Remus?" her eyes flew open to see his face bent over hers.
"None other." With a shaking hand, he smoothed the hair around her face. "Love, you gave me quite a fright…"
"I gave myself quite a fright," she said dryly, leaning into his caress. "Did you see the bastard?" Remus shook his head. "Damn."
"I would ask what happened, but Madam Pomfrey has threatened a part of my anatomy that I'm rather fond of – you're only to be questioned once, when Albus and the Aurors arrive," he said, stroking her cheek.
"Which part?" Hestia asked. Flushing slightly, he told her, and she smirked. "I'm rather fond of that part, too."
Remus laughed and gave her a kiss. "I sincerely hope so." He sat back when, from the corner of his eye, he saw Albus and the others appear in the doorway. "I believe they're here."
"My interrogation committee?" Remus nodded, and she sighed and laid her head back for a moment. "I'll need something to drink. And I'm guessing that all I'm allowed is water, right?"
"Sadly, yes," Remus said, handing her the glass. She gave a great sigh and took a long sip before handing it back to him.
Tonks reached the bedside first. "Woman – you gotta stop causing trouble!" she said, engulfing Hestia in a fierce hug. At Hestia's muffled "Ow!" she pulled back with an apology.
"I'm fine, but my head is still a bit tender. Bastard tore a good chunk of hair out – even after healing that still smarts. Now what kind of sense does that make?"
"I think the broken skull is probably hurting more than your hair being pulled out, Miss Jones," Madam Pomfrey said, closing the door to the infirmary. Looking at the Aurors and Albus, she frowned. "Make it quick! The woman still needs to rest!"
"Oh, it's all right, Madam Pomfrey. You did a fabulous job putting me back together," Hestia said, smiling weakly.
"Be that as it may, Poppy is right. Let's get through this as quickly as possible," Albus said, gesturing Kingsley forward.
Hestia looked impressed. "Hey – I rate the head of the Aurors? Wow. I'm moving up in the world."
Kingsley laughed, deep and clear. "Sorry to tell you, I was on duty today. I would've come if it had been anyone. My people are spread a little thin right now," he said.
"Can't let me have my little fantasy day in the spotlight, can you, Kingsley?" Hestia said, chuckling. Remus just shook his head, relieved that she felt well enough to engage in the friendly banter. "Begin the grilling, Shacklebolt."
"How about we begin by you telling us what happened?"
Hestia nodded, and told them the details of what had occurred. Kingsley and Tonks both took notes, muttering at times under their breath. She could make out a few of the mumbled words: "Slytherin stance, hmm? Interesting," "Knife, yes, we found that," and "Flask? Hmmm. I wonder…"
When she finished speaking, the room was silent, everyone deep in thought. Finally Kingsley shook his head and moved closer to Hestia. "Was this the knife?" he asked, holding up the serrated blade. She nodded. "And you have no description, other than that he was large?"
She shook her head. "Well, his breath smelled, if that helps. He wore a mask the whole time – kind of strange, really."
"Breath smelled?" Severus spoke from the corner where he was standing. Hestia looked at him curiously and nodded. "Like what?"
Hestia frowned. "I'm… I'm not sure. Now that I think of it… I should have smelled the Firewhiskey on his breath, or whatever was in that flask… but it definitely wasn't an alcohol smell. It was foul, but not alcohol… it was familiar somehow…" Her frown deepened in thought.
"A moment, please," Severus said, grabbing the can of floo powder from the mantle and floo'ing to his chambers. They all looked at each other in bewilderment until Severus returned a few minutes later carrying a box filled with flasks.
Walking to Hestia's hospital bed, he held each flask up for her to smell. Hermione's brow smoothed – she knew what he was up to. The man could have been taking a strengthening potion, or an enlarging potion, or…
"Polyjuice! That's it!" Hestia exclaimed after sniffing the third flask.
"Polyjuice," Kingsley said, looking at Severus. "Brilliant."
"Polyjuice," Hermione echoed. Hestia shot her a glance. A thought was forming in her mind, and it wasn't good. Not good at all.
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A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review – it makes me happy and giddy and makes me write more and faster :)
Pigra Pectus – Rough translation: slow heart (if it's wrong, blame the online Latin/English dictionary and my complete ignorance of Latin)
Lizzie – Thanks! Yes, it was evil… glad you liked it ;)
Waiting() – Thanks for the review – I'm glad you like the way I describe emotions, I try not to go too soap opera on my readers ;).
Electryone – Sorry to hear that your internet was down – I would go into withdrawal I think ;). Thanks for the review – I'm trying to be as realistic as I can with the Viktor/Tonks thing, I'm glad you liked that scene!
