Chapter 10 – More Attacks
Three attacks in less than a month after students returned from winter holidays.
The Quidditch match was canceled and a staff meeting was called.
Britomartis was worried now. It was no longer random. Students lives were definitely in danger. Were her earth magics comparable to the dark arts in this instance?
And Gilderoy Lockhart's leers toward her during the meeting have been grating on her nerves.
"I have an announcement," Professor Snape stated as he and Britomartis entered the Slytherin common room, their robes settling around them. "Until further notice, due to the recent attacks, all students are to be in their dorms by six o'clock. They will also be escorted to classes by teachers and staff." He looked up around the room, his hands gripping the edges of his robe as he folded his arms. "Any questions?"
Everyone shook their heads quietly, save for one of the lower-class girls. "Will the school be shut down?"
The House Master and Mother looked at each other. "We don't know," Britomartis answered.
"Not if I can help it," Snape said, his voice almost growling.
The restrained ferocity seemed to inspire the Slytherin youth even as - or because - it sent shivers down their spines.
As the students dispersed, Britomartis commented in a low voice, "You know your audience."
"Much of being a Slytherin is projecting the proper front," he commented dryly. "Your forthright honesty always served you in poor stead here."
She giggled. "Your snarling was very ... arousing." She rubbed his arm through his sleeve.
Snape was momentarily paralyzed, then decided to investigate something on the opposite side of the campus as quickly as humanly possible.
She sighed as he left. Courtship was slow ... but should it have to be this slow?
* * *
Things were getting dire.
Rubeus Hagrid had been arrested in connection with the Chamber of Secrets.
Albus Dumbledore had been pulled from his position of Headmaster of the school.
Students could not walk the halls at night.
Snookie-poo had taken ill for some mysterious reason.
And Lucius Malfoy had showed up in Slytherin House late one night, threatening to pull Snape and Vox from their posts if they did not 'straighten up'.
"Straighten up?" Britomartis hissed.
Malfoy poked her in the stomach with the head of his cane. "Watch it, Vox. You were always the troublemaker of Slytherin - honesty, compassion, love. Those are not the qualities of Slytherin."
"So why bring up ancient history?" she retorted. "Do you still fear to hear such things from a Pure Blood?" She spat. "Lucius, you're the same as you've always been - a conniving, weasely, petty, self-righteous, pole- up-your-arse sot who humps his sister!"
Malfoy raised his cane, nostrils flaring and face as white as a sheet. Britomartis crossed her fingers into open lattice-work, her hands radiating golden energy.
Severus Snape stepped between them. "STOP THAT! I will not have wizards battling in my House!"
Malfoy lowered his cane. "I will not waste magic on such a lowly creature as you, Vox."
She darted her tongue out to lick her lips. "Pity. You never had enough balls to even step on cockroaches because you were afraid of them. Perfect irony."
"Stop that, Martis!" Severus demanded, pressing her back.
Malfoy sneered. "Yes, ironic. This time Snips is protecting Spirals, the cowering squire rescuing the ill-mannered damsel in distress."
Britomartis appeared over Severus' shoulder. "Better than a Malfoy in the dress. You still got that little pink number ... LUCY?"
"And what was that rumor of why you had to leave?" Malfoy snarled. "Because you were pregnant with his child?"
"I must ask you to leave," Snape stated coldly.
Lucius Malfoy pulled back, a smug smirk plastered across his fine face. "I might then. But one more thing before I go." He leaned forward, his cane lifting up Britomartis' chin. "Everyone knows Death Eaters killed your lovely little family - ever wonder who those Death Eaters were?"
He grasped Severus Snape's left arm, ripping the sleeve down with his manicured nails and drawing blood.
The Dark Mark stood out against his pale arm, contrasting like ink on a white china plate.
Severus snarled, his hand reaching out to enclose over Lucius' neck. The aristocrat danced out of his reach -
And Snape was slammed through one of the stained glass windows of Slytherin House.
Britomartis, her body outlined in golden light and spiraled with silver energy, screamed the shriek of pain and rage of a vengeful mother. Without effort, she leapt up to the window and chased after Professor Severus Snape.
Lucius Malfoy wiped his hands of Snape's blood with a handkerchief, chuckling to himself, before he left Slytherin House.
• * *
Three attacks in less than a month after students returned from winter holidays.
The Quidditch match was canceled and a staff meeting was called.
Britomartis was worried now. It was no longer random. Students lives were definitely in danger. Were her earth magics comparable to the dark arts in this instance?
And Gilderoy Lockhart's leers toward her during the meeting have been grating on her nerves.
"I have an announcement," Professor Snape stated as he and Britomartis entered the Slytherin common room, their robes settling around them. "Until further notice, due to the recent attacks, all students are to be in their dorms by six o'clock. They will also be escorted to classes by teachers and staff." He looked up around the room, his hands gripping the edges of his robe as he folded his arms. "Any questions?"
Everyone shook their heads quietly, save for one of the lower-class girls. "Will the school be shut down?"
The House Master and Mother looked at each other. "We don't know," Britomartis answered.
"Not if I can help it," Snape said, his voice almost growling.
The restrained ferocity seemed to inspire the Slytherin youth even as - or because - it sent shivers down their spines.
As the students dispersed, Britomartis commented in a low voice, "You know your audience."
"Much of being a Slytherin is projecting the proper front," he commented dryly. "Your forthright honesty always served you in poor stead here."
She giggled. "Your snarling was very ... arousing." She rubbed his arm through his sleeve.
Snape was momentarily paralyzed, then decided to investigate something on the opposite side of the campus as quickly as humanly possible.
She sighed as he left. Courtship was slow ... but should it have to be this slow?
* * *
Things were getting dire.
Rubeus Hagrid had been arrested in connection with the Chamber of Secrets.
Albus Dumbledore had been pulled from his position of Headmaster of the school.
Students could not walk the halls at night.
Snookie-poo had taken ill for some mysterious reason.
And Lucius Malfoy had showed up in Slytherin House late one night, threatening to pull Snape and Vox from their posts if they did not 'straighten up'.
"Straighten up?" Britomartis hissed.
Malfoy poked her in the stomach with the head of his cane. "Watch it, Vox. You were always the troublemaker of Slytherin - honesty, compassion, love. Those are not the qualities of Slytherin."
"So why bring up ancient history?" she retorted. "Do you still fear to hear such things from a Pure Blood?" She spat. "Lucius, you're the same as you've always been - a conniving, weasely, petty, self-righteous, pole- up-your-arse sot who humps his sister!"
Malfoy raised his cane, nostrils flaring and face as white as a sheet. Britomartis crossed her fingers into open lattice-work, her hands radiating golden energy.
Severus Snape stepped between them. "STOP THAT! I will not have wizards battling in my House!"
Malfoy lowered his cane. "I will not waste magic on such a lowly creature as you, Vox."
She darted her tongue out to lick her lips. "Pity. You never had enough balls to even step on cockroaches because you were afraid of them. Perfect irony."
"Stop that, Martis!" Severus demanded, pressing her back.
Malfoy sneered. "Yes, ironic. This time Snips is protecting Spirals, the cowering squire rescuing the ill-mannered damsel in distress."
Britomartis appeared over Severus' shoulder. "Better than a Malfoy in the dress. You still got that little pink number ... LUCY?"
"And what was that rumor of why you had to leave?" Malfoy snarled. "Because you were pregnant with his child?"
"I must ask you to leave," Snape stated coldly.
Lucius Malfoy pulled back, a smug smirk plastered across his fine face. "I might then. But one more thing before I go." He leaned forward, his cane lifting up Britomartis' chin. "Everyone knows Death Eaters killed your lovely little family - ever wonder who those Death Eaters were?"
He grasped Severus Snape's left arm, ripping the sleeve down with his manicured nails and drawing blood.
The Dark Mark stood out against his pale arm, contrasting like ink on a white china plate.
Severus snarled, his hand reaching out to enclose over Lucius' neck. The aristocrat danced out of his reach -
And Snape was slammed through one of the stained glass windows of Slytherin House.
Britomartis, her body outlined in golden light and spiraled with silver energy, screamed the shriek of pain and rage of a vengeful mother. Without effort, she leapt up to the window and chased after Professor Severus Snape.
Lucius Malfoy wiped his hands of Snape's blood with a handkerchief, chuckling to himself, before he left Slytherin House.
• * *
