A/N: Look, I'm updating! o_O And it's a really long update. x_x Hmm, I don't really have anything in particular to say, except that I know you people are out there. O_O Yes, you know who you are...
So, tell me, how hard is it press that little blue button? Hmm?
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Chapter Seven: Facilis est Descensus Averni (The descent to hell is easy)
Severus still had no idea where it was that Voldemort was, but at the same time had little trouble getting there. He silently cursed the wicked cleverness of the Dark mark that the Dark Lord had burned into his arm so many years ago. Who besides Voldemort himself would have thought of way to both brand his followers and lead them to him whenever he so wished?
It was night when he arrived, but even at the distance he was from it, he could tell Voldemort's camp was full of life. He slowed Aiolus as he neared it, as he had every intention of entering unseen by all but the Dark Lord himself. He couldn't hide from Voldemort; Voldemort could already see him- he'd almost certainly started watching Severus as soon as he'd left Hogwarts' grounds.
But, alas, he wasn't going to slip in unnoticed. Further ahead, he could see someone waiting on the side of the trail he was riding on. As he neared the stranger, he saw it was no stranger at all.
"Surely you have better things to do than wait for me," Severus sneered at him.
"Perhaps, but this is on Voldemort's orders," Dominic told him, ignoring his rudeness. "Not my whim."
"I see," Severus said quietly, as dismounted. Dominic took the reins from his hand, and began leading the horse.
"He wishes to speak with you as soon as you're settled in," Dominic told him mechanically, doing little more than repeating what he had been told. "I'll take Aiolus."
"Thank you," Severus replied stiffly.
Dominic didn't say anything, just nodded and began to lead the horse away. Before the boy was out of earshot, Snape added, "Oh, and before I forget-"he paused, making sure he had Dominic's attention. "I'd like you to keep an eye on the, er, children for me. And I should like you to contact Dumbledore for me."
As soon as he had said that, a pain shot his arm, alerting him to his duties, that he must go to Voldemort's side at once. He swore, grabbing at his arm as he left Aiolus with the boy. Curses, but his arm was positively controlling him now. It wasn't far too where the Dark Lord himself was, just a bit up the path he had been on.
Voldemort had settled himself into a cabin that looked positively ancient to Severus. He was let inside with little trouble, but still escorted to the room Voldemort was in. The Dark lord looked relaxed, though his hand clutched at his wand reflexively when Severus entered.
"Ah... Severus," He spoke slowly. He waved Severus's escort away. "It's- been awhile, hasn't it."
"My Lord, you know I have my teaching duties," Severus said, trying not to sound irritated. "I came as soon as it was feasible."
"Did you really?" Voldemort inquired, sounding more insightful than Severus felt was safe. "Now, I'm not sure I believe that."
"My lord-"
"No, I'm certain that I don't," Voldemort said darkly, cutting him off. "You haven't even had the decency to send any reports my way."
"I simply haven't-" Severus took a deep breath to calm himself, "-Had the time, my Lord."
"I suppose having to deal with that-" Voldemort paused, picking his words carefully, "interesting Goddaughter of yours on top of teaching classes is quite the handful. I wonder," he gave Severus a malicious look before finishing. "How best we might use her?"
"My Lord, she has no handle on the powers that make her what she is," Severus was picking his words as carefully as he could. "I can't see what use she might be to you."
"You forget, Severus, that I always have a way," Voldemort told him, smiling almost gleefully. "With the proper control, her darkness could be tapped, almost-" he paused, "-indefinitely."
"My Lord-" Severus began.
"You will have her brought to me in three moons time, Severus," he continued. "Or you shall face some rather nasty consequences."
"My Lord, I must with no ill intent, ask you what use she could possibly be to you even under those conditions," Severus tried not to gag at the atrocious way he was begging at someone he could barely stand.
"That, Severus, would take more time to explain than I have for you," Voldemort told him simply. "All you need to know at this time is that she very important to me. More, I shall perhaps tell you when the time draws nigh to, shall we say, a "meeting" of the worlds."
"I do not understand, my Lord," Severus answered quietly. "But I shall no longer question you. I take my leave."
"You are wise to withdraw," Voldemort said approvingly. "Those have in the past made the mistake of pressing further have never lived to tell of it."
Severus did not reply, and his escorts led him out. Outside, a rumpled looking Dominic was waiting for him once more.
"You again?"
"Don't act so surprised," the boy said flatly. "I sent your owl."
"Good. So what do you want with me now?" Severus asked grumpily.
"Look, if you don't want to know where you're to sleep, then I'll bugger off," Dominic snapped. "But don't go taking your bad business with him out on me."
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Lucinda was, naturally, the first one to learn that Professor Snape was missing. It had been a Thursday, the night he had left, and when she had missed her Godfather at breakfast the next day, she had gone done to his office to see why he had not shone up. She found an empty office, hastily locked (he hadn't even put any sort of magical guarding on it).
She hurried to Dumbledore's office as soon as she took note of the condition of Snape's office. She burst into Dumbledore's office without a thought of knocking. He looked up from a paper on his desk. "Yes Miss Black?"
"Professor Snape is gone!"
"Ah, yes so he is," Dumbledore said quietly, not a bit of surprise in his voice. "You see, sometimes there are things we must do, whether it is within our preferences to do so."
She gave Dumbledore a blank look. "What does that mean?"
"That means, Miss Black, that I will be teaching Potions until your godfather can return. Now run along to breakfast."
She continued to stare at him blankly. Dumbledore stood up, walked around his desk, and took it into his own hands to physically escort her out. Numbly, Lucinda somehow found her way to the great hall. As she walked in, she watched an owl fly straight at Draco, and bounce off of his chest into his breakfast.
Constance was giggling at the spectacle when Lucinda sat down next to her. Draco scowled at both and threw the owl at them in the hopes it might brain one or both of them. Constance caught it easily, tearing the letter from it beak before throwing it at a group of first years some way down the table.
"Well now," she muttered, reading it. "'S from Dominic. Amazingly, it isn't for me. It's addressed to you, Draco."
She tossed the letter to Draco, who just stared at her. Upon reading it, it was clear why Dominic had chosen to contact Draco rather than the girls.
"What's it say?" Lucinda asked eagerly. "Eh? Eh?"
"Bugger off," he told her crossly. "When were you given the right to read my mail?"
"We always share with you," she said, pouting.
"Look, its not your business, got it?" Draco said in a huff. Standing up, he added, "See you in potions."
He stormed out of the entrance hall, desperately wishing he didn't have to go to potions that day. After much pacing around the halls, and much mumbling to himself, Draco grudgingly dragged himself into his potions classroom. Expecting to be empty, as he was a full twenty minutes early, he was more than a little startled to find Dumbledore moving around the dungeon busily, whistling to himself.
He scowled. Dumbledore heard his bag hit his table as he threw it down before settling himself on his stool.
"Ah, young Mister Malfoy, what brings you to class so early," Dumbledore asked, hardly looking up from what he was doing.
"I, uh," Draco began, not entirely sure how to approach the headmaster. Then, a bit more arrogant than was probably appropriate, he added, "What's it to you?"
"Oh, I was simply curious, as I know your reputation for being late most of the time to your classes, and barely on time the rest," Dumbledore told him effortlessly. "I will let the bad mood slide this once, as anyone in your present position is not likely to be in the best of moods," he added.
"You know?" Draco asked, incredulously. "I thought only Snape-"
"What those under me know, I know," Dumbledore told him, turning to look him in the eye. "Mister Malfoy, do not, under any circumstances, underestimate me." Looking away, he added, "I had hoped that you might be able to open your mind where Lucius had been unable to. It seems I may have been wrong, at least partially."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked, offended.
"It means, that I have seen you rejected bits of what your father taught to you," Dumbledore replied. "But you have a very long road ahead of you. You are far from overcoming what he intended you to do."
"Who said I was trying to overcome his legacy? I intend to honor my name, professor," Draco said quietly. "I have no intention of helping you, as I know that is what you want."
"Ah, but you misunderstand me once again, child," Dumbledore turned to look at Draco once more. He continued, a twinkle of sorts passing over his eyes, "However, I am certain that if I told you what it is I am hoping you will try to do just the opposite."
Before Draco could think of a snide remark to counter the old man with, there was a loud clatter outside the dungeon doors, followed by several banging noises. Dumbledore swished towards the door, evidently more concerned with the noise than with Draco.
A few minutes later, a ruffled looking Lucinda came trotting into the dungeon, followed by Hermione Granger, Harry Potter with Dumbledore trailing behind.
"See? I told you she was just perfectly horrible!" He heard Hermione exclaim, as the two Gryffindors took their seats.
Draco was a bit surprised to see Harry; Potter wasn't supposed to be in his potions class. Actually, from what Draco knew, Harry had been pulled out of all of his classes; he was instead taking them privately due to what were described as "personal matters". Draco rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Are you curious, Mister Malfoy, as to why Harry is joining us today?" Dumbledore had resumed his position near Draco. Draco nearly fell out of chair; Dumbledore had been so quiet he hadn't noticed him.
"I- ah- yes," was all he could manage to get out.
Dumbledore smiled an odd sort smile, but all he said was, "I'm afraid you'll have to wait to get an answer to that."
Draco scowled, but was relieved when Dumbledore glided away. He was not alone for long, however; Lucinda plopped herself down on the stool next to his.
"What do you want?"
"Well, it seems my partner has been co-opted," she said brightly. "So you'll have to do, hm?"
"I- What?!" Draco looked at her in shock.
She giggled. He scowled again, and said nothing. The rest of the class filed in, trying their best not to send odd looks towards the disgruntled pair; Draco found himself wishing he had chosen to sit in the back of the room, as he was not looking
forward to twenty pairs of eyeballs digging their way into the back of his skull.
Of course, as soon as the class noticed who was teaching them, they soon forgot about the spectacle they had seemingly witnessed atop the dungeon's staircase.
"Class," Dumbledore began, cheerfully. "I must regretfully inform you that as sure I am that you are dreadfully fond of your Potions master-" he paused, taking in the contorted faces of those trying not to laugh. "-I am going to be taking his place while he is away."
Hermione's hand shot up.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Where's Professor Snape gone to?" She asked, sounding altogether too happy about his missing status.
"I deeply apologize, Miss Granger, but I cannot tell you," he replied, speaking not just to her, but to the class as a whole. "Moving along, then. Did professor Snape say anything about what he was planning for your next assignment?"
Hermione's hand shot up again. At that moment, Draco desperately wanted to smack her. Dumbledore looked to her, as if to give her the go ahead.
"I believe he said we were going to start working on healing potions," she said. "I think he said the first would be Wound Cleaning."
"Hmm, well," Dumbledore smiled. "That sounds about right, for a N.E.W.T. class. Let us begin."
After some digging in Snape's desk, Dumbledore extracted the roll of parchment that listed the ingredients for the potion, and wrote them on the board. The class set to work, students scurrying here or there looking for ingredients, while others got out their cauldrons.
Draco was beginning to think he might not run into any problems during that class, as he added the second to last of his ingredients. As he was lazily stirring the cauldron, Lucinda's boredom got the better of her and she lit a small flame under his cauldron from her wand.
"What are you doing?!" Draco shrieked at her. Pointing to the directions on the boards, he continued, "Where do you see 'simmer on low flame' in those directions?"
"I don't," she said, shrugging. "Does it matter?"
"Does it-" he stopped himself, realizing that she knew exactly what she had done. He extinguished the flame, and was preparing to dispose of the ruined potion when something truly weird happened.
A small fluffy thing with wings popped out of his cauldron. His eyes got big and he nearly fell off his stool. Lucinda, however, seemed delighted. Pushing Draco out of the way, she stepped directly in front of the cauldron, where, to Draco's horror, she spoke to it.
"ξǔįđ ήǔής?"
He blinked. Before he could ask her what was going on, the thing responded.
"Ђǔής ţǔ ςǻΰĕţ ήή łįĕţ," it said, speaking –at least, Draco assumed it was speaking- in the same bizarre tongue that Lucinda had.
"ξǔđ Ђς įį ΰǔłţ?," Lucinda asked, shaking her head and looking thoroughly disgruntled. She took a swing at it with her left hand. It dodged and spoke again.
"ήĕς ςįωĕ ƒǻß ĕţ πήįǻ."
She took another swing at it, but it vanished back into the cauldron before her fist connected.
"What," Draco began. "Was that?"
"That," Lucinda said, calming down. "Was a servant of my Grandfather's."
"Your Grandfather's-?"
"The Incubus."
Draco stared at her, obviously not comprehending what she was trying to get across. She rolled her eyes, took a deep breath, and began elaborating.
"Well, what do you want to know?"
"Gee, I don't know-" he said, angrily. "Let's start with "what the hell was that?!""
"Well, geez, you don't have to get all upset," she said frowning. "His name is Mookie. My Grandfather said he was a 'Pilovicus'. 'Pilovicus minor'."
"Minor?"
"Yeah. I suppose that might mean there's a major? Well, anyways," she continued, as Draco stared at her, his eyes enlarged in fear. "He just came to give me a message."
"I gathered that," Draco said, in annoyance. "But I don't very well know what he was telling you, do I?"
"Ooh, yeah, I guess you don't speak Demon," she said, nonchalantly.
"Demon?" He asked dispassionately. Then, comprehending, he continued, "Demon? Just what the hell-?"
"Well, I if my Grandfather is a demon, he would speak their tongue, wouldn't?" She asked, clearly not amused. "And would you talk quieter?"
"Why should I?" He hissed. He turned his head away from her, and defeatedly asked, "Well, what did he want?"
"Oh, I think my Grandfather wants me to stay away from you," she said simply, shrugging. Cocking her head to the side, she added, "or maybe he was talking about Voldemort?"
Draco stared at her, exasperated. His mood quickly changed when he noticed a shadow spilling over them from behind accompanied by a soft rapping noise. Draco turned to see Dumbledore standing behind them, his foot tapping against the floor rather violently.
"Miss Black, now is not the time nor the place for 'visits' from your relatives." He said, blue eyes twinkling.
"Oh but I'm not related to Mookie. He's just a messenger." She said dismissively.
Dumbledore sighed, extending a long finger to the bridge of his spectacles, pushing them up his nose. "What am I do to with you child?"
Lucinda blinked up at him, "I don't know. Uncle Sev doesn't seem to know either."
Dumbledore sighed again, his hand returning to somewhere in his robes. "Class was dismissed, and as you can see, the rest of the class left some time ago. You may leave, if you like."
"Okay." Lucinda nodded, now noticing how empty the room had become. "I think that I'll head back to the common room and write my grandfather a letter."
"That would be wise Miss Black. And Draco?" Dumbledore said, turning to where Draco had been.
Draco, however, was closing in on the door; he at once felt his hopes crushed and himself trapped once more with Lucinda.
"Yes?" Draco squeaked.
"I would advise you to forget this ever happened."
"That could be rather difficult," Draco said coolly. Although he personally agreed with Dumbledore- what was the world coming to? Sending a dirty look at the two, he then trudged out of the room. Lucinda scurried after him without giving Dumbledore a backward glance.
Dumbledore paused to look into the cauldron; even he couldn't quite grasp what events were about to unfold.
