Once again the disclaimer: All in the Harry Potter kingdom belong to J.K. Rowling.
Readers have asked about how 'the charm' is made. There is additional content below to explain how Hermione accomplishes it. Feedback is always appreciated.
Please read and review. Thanks~ Leyna
Chapter 12: Soothing the Spirit
Gratefully the anonymous gifts were a welcome interruption to the most trying days. This morning, Snape narrowly averted disaster in the Slytherin Common Room as Crabbe and Goyle unwisely attempted modifying one of the Weasley's famous firecrackers. The trick explosives obviously did not want to oblige and bear the house colors of Slytherin. Thankfully no one was hurt, however Crabbe and Goyle were painted a sparkling red and gold, as was the ceiling which was easily enough repaired to it's former tasteful elegance. Snape's next gift arrived the same morning, the familiar owl swooping in just as he was sinking wearily into his leather chair. This gift arrived wrapped in the same deep forest green paper, along with the gold wax seal. It bore a rather interesting mark and he decided to research it in the library when he had time. He found no marks, crests, or other symbols resembling the seal. The seal seemed to possess a strange quality about it. Magic could be felt just underneath the surface of the wax. He broke the seal and found a potions ingredient he had needed for the Wolfsbane potion. That fact was known by very few people and one by one he discarded each one of his acquaintances, the only suspects. He thought of no one who would know his most specific wishes.
In fact, many of the gifts had been potions ingredients, and on one occasion an extremely rare alchemy text arrived. He had been thinking about it one day particularly and the next day, the same ordinary brown owl flew in the windows of his office to deliver the package. He had not mentioned it to anyone.
Shortly after solving the elemental magic riddle, Hermione conquered the trick of charming and creating a talisman. The women of her line before had made them. However she found precious few references in her mother's diary on how to create such an object. It was frustrating to say the least when Hermione realized she could not rely on books to help her with this goal. As a part of their journey, each of her ancestors managed to craft one of their own design, some using magic and some needing it not. Hermione finally arrived at the conclusion that the object would be as powerful as she wanted to made it. She remembered her oft quoted mantra, 'think, say, do, be.' Could it be that easy? The young witch relied on her own knowledge to decide what she wanted, what would be important to imbue in the pendant. After her experiences with the power of the creative forces of elemental magic, she decided that should play an important role. She wanted him safe, protected. God, what would happen if he… don't think it. She tried to stay positive, but she felt the thoughts creep up on her frequently about what would happen when she left the school. Yes, something not affected by distance. Something that could warn me… or him if something were to happen. Why always focus on the negative? Couldn't it also provide support, reassurance even? Her mind raced with ideas and she finally decided to come to a stopping point otherwise she'd never finish.
She went to see Hagrid and asked him to help her select a tiny snake for a pet. Snakes were easy enough to find, but she wanted a Silver Sleeper. Descendants of the first of dragonkind, a silver sleeper still had a bit of special magic in them. They were perceptive creatures, with sharply intuitive instincts. Cunning, they used sleep as a clever disguise to fool predators. Babies were small but dangerous, they could engorge themselves quickly to enormous size to defend themselves against any predator, frequently swallowing them whole. Not innocent creatures, but fiercely loyal to their masters. The perfect choice for a Slytherin. She wanted the snake, a living creature to be a willing participant in this. She could have charmed a piece of metal, but she wanted this to be a bit more personal. She couldn't talk to snakes like Harry. The matter of Professor Snape was a private one to be sure, and she wasn't too eager to involve someone, even Harry, on a mission this personal. There was a myth though, a distant reference—that Silver Sleepers possessed telepathic gifts. Snakes were intelligent creatures, but telepathy was a joke even amongst wizardkind. Bonding was one thing, but mind reading? After he own experiences, Hermione figured it wasn't that far fetched after all.
She told Hagrid it was a gift for a friend, and it was true in a sense. The eager half-giant was kind enough about it, after talking to her about his favorite subject of dragons for no less than two hours. She now sat comfortably in her room with the tiny snake, only perhaps as long as her hand and smaller in diameter than a pencil. She gave up trying to make eye contact with it— it's eyes were too small. But she felt it sense something from her, that she wanted something of it. She laid it gently on the desk in front of her, and instead of slithering away, it became entirely still. She sat cross-legged and meditated. Focused on her goal and exactly what she wanted to convey, she spoke low in her mind. 'Earth.'
"You are a ssspecial one. We have not ssspoken to one of your kind in an age," the snake began.
Hermione was stunned. He knew immediately who she was. Was he a he? "You know my family?"
"Of coursse. Natural companionsss were we, onsse upon a time. How are your peop… I'm terribly sssorry." The snake sensed right away Hermione's history. "What do require of me? It would be my pleasure to assssist you."
"You would do that? I'm not sure I should ask this of you."
"But obviousssly you have brought me here."
Hermione was beginning to feel guilty, such an intelligent creature should not be turned into an object. She couldn't believe she'd ever considered it. "How can I help you?" she backtracked.
"Give me purpossse. Long have we been petsss for wizardss and witchess who know not what to do with uss. For thisss reassson, we often disssappear from our 'ownersss'," he said this with obvious distaste. "I would be proud to sserve alongsside one of the Clisssha again."
Hermione was relieved. "I need to make a talisman."
Later, after a long talk about her family and the stories told among dragons and snakes, the baby silver snake was transfigured into the pendant. It had agreed to drink a few drops of Hermione's blood, absorbing some of the qualities of her family line, offering that protection to the wearer. It shone brightly, revealing along the metal the subtle indentions of each scale. It's eyes became tiny rubies. She was ever so careful as she spoke the incantations under her breath, carving the runes as gently as she could on the belly of the pendant. A pendant was a thing, but she still felt this object carrying the spirit of the animal who had so kindly accepted this responsibility. Lastly she sat, meditating, the coiled snake in her right hand, thinking strongly of him, of Severus Snape. Professor Snape the Potions Master, Severus the spy, her meditation and Occlumency guide. She let her mind drift. Children raised their opinion of teachers and parents to a level that made them less than human. They had never been children, had no lives outside of their jobs, and that just was not true. Albus Dumbledore had once been five years old, playing as his mother's knee. Minerva had sat at a school desk at Hogwarts worried about boys and grades and her NEWTS. Severus the man…he was just a man. And Severus had needs like any other human being. He had dreams, and made mistakes, and needed friends, and had been hurt, and desired love. Desire. Longing. Surely even such a sarcastic and surly man would have need of such a thing as love. She remembered the energy she felt in the greenhouse and the familiar ache erupted from her solar plexus through her fingertips into the pendant. It was completed.
Almost one year from the receipt of the first anonymous box, on a snowy Christmas morning, Severus was feeling particularly low and despondent. The eighth gift arrived on this day, and it was a bit unusual.
Wrapped in deep green silk with a red ribbon, it bore the same gold seal. He had grown fond of the thoughtfulness and help that this stranger had bestowed on him. He had imagined on more than one occasion that maybe it was a woman. She obviously knew a lot about his line of work and felt an odd sense of kinship when he used the gifts she sent. But he chastised himself for allowing such impossible speculations enter his mind. It would only serve to distract him and taunt him with the promise of an intimacy not present. He was a loner. That life was no longer for him.
He opened it carefully, in anticipation. More personal than it's predecessors, it was a smooth, hand-carved puzzle box. He smiled at the workmanship. Solving the brainteaser, he slid back the cherry wood, revealing a silver serpent, coiled in a manner not unlike the snake on the Slytherin crest. The pendant floated on a handsome chain. It was smooth and polished, and when he traced the body with his thumb, he found the metal warm under his fingertips.
He dropped it immediately.
Too many cursed items came in pretty packages.
All of the previous parcels were fine and he had used them well. However as a responsible wizard, he would be cautious and once again ask Professor Flitwick to assist.
"Congratulations, you're the proud owner of a silver necklace." Professor Flitwick said flatly. Dry humor coming from him. Severus's lips pursed as he heard the sarcasm come from someone else's lips.
"That's it? You're certain? No curses, no special charms?"
"Not that I can tell. Oh there's something special about it alright, but as far as I can see, it's not evil, if that's what you're thinking. My foe glasses are still." He chuckled in a high, light tone.
Snape sat in his office at a time ordinarily spent in study, holding the necklace, studying it. What was special about it? Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. It was cool now, and he turned it over and over in his hands.
Upon examining the back, the base of the tail and head held runes. At the head was a shape which he identified as "Pertho" a water sign, with the meaning 'secret' or 'chance'. At the tail, 'Uruz', an earth element which translated to 'strength'. At the midpoint, the largest and faintest rune: 'Algiz'— protection. Their meanings were too cryptic, and the purposes of runes were too varied in use to be solved like a puzzle. The rune translated to "protection" was the most obvious clue. Though faint, it appeared this the most likely use for the object—Safety.
He looked again at the box which he had abandoned without examination while requesting his colleague's advice. To his surprise, it was the first gift sent with a note, which had been wedged in the bottom of the container.
He carefully unfolded the parchment, carefully penned in a beautiful hand:
Too many puzzles, so many games
Too few answers, no days the same.
Renew your purpose by action
Repay your debts by grace,
Resow your love by passion,
Repair your spirit by faith.
I hope this finds you well and safe this fine day."
The once bitter, angry, and poorly understood spy was transformed into a fragile, broken, teary eyed man. He was deeply moved. Holding the pendant in one hand and the letter in the other, Snape reread it several times and prayed for the first time in several years. Grace, Passion, Faith. He prayed for those things he found himself a stranger to. His frustrations in teaching Harry to take his responsibilities more seriously had left him with less hope, and yet the boy was important. Grace, passion, faith? Those convictions required a hope he did not possess today, and yet, after receiving such a kindness he felt lighter and comforted. A hour later he sat in the same place, in front of the fire, holding a cup of tea and the silver gift. He felt it warm to hot and subside. It was not unpleasant but he felt…concerned, on his guard, a pricking at the back of his mind. A few moments later, the mark burned on his forearm. He was being summoned. He regarded the object and slipped it around his neck as he left to renew his purpose and repay his debt.
Voldemort had cursed him that night for a reason he couldn't recall. The Dark Lord employed the Cruciatus curse on his followers often to remind them only of his power to dominate them. The serpent warmed his chest beneath his robes as a reminder of survival and he felt no failure. This suffering is temporary. He felt strangely better after leaving the meeting than most times when 'Crucio' had been inflicted upon him. He felt good by no means, but even Poppy had noticed an improvement. He had slept better and awoke less stiffly.
Protection. Strength.
A least he had returned with valuable information about a Death Eater attack on a prominent Auror's family. The same evening he snuck out to discuss it with Tonks and they coordinated a battle plan. He drank the Polyjuice potion to disguise himself as he often had, to exact his own revenge and protect the Muggleborn family from a group far out of control. Now he could get Malfoy. If he even showed up for the dirty work.
Severus, disguised at another Auror, shouted well placed curses and hexes left and right. He was there. Severus attempted to disguise his signature wand waving as he lunged at him.
"Stupefy!" But he was thinking of an Unforgivable. He deserved no less. Malfoy was thrown into a nearby tree and on his knees. He got up in a stupor and Severus ran at him smacking him hard across the face with back of his hand knocking the Death Eater mask almost off his face, threatening to expose him. The sharp ring he wore dug into Lucius' neck drawing blood.
He smiled to himself as Lucius retreated and disapparated. The poison-tipped spike would make him sick for weeks, and he would wretch in pain at home, as he would avoid modern medicine and opt for home remedies to protect him from public scrutiny. His home physician was inept. The suffering would be long. And the toxin was too common to be traced to Severus.
Tonks screamed at the masquerading Auror, drawing him back into the more organized effort. She had never seen him in such a rage. He used all of his wrath in the attack, resulting in the arrest of two Death Eaters, unfortunately lower members. The Ministry would use them to potentially rat out other, also low members, but ones less likely known. The injured had to make a stop at St. Mungo's before making their way to a holding cell, while they await trial that would inevitably lead to a life sentence in Azkaban prison.
For the first time in months Severus Snape retired to bed, feeling he had accomplished something that spying silently could not satisfy.
Author's Notes: I located information on runes online as did I research a small amount on Latin translation. If any of you are buffs—recommendations are welcome. There is some excellent speculation on what sign Hermione and Snape are, but I saved it for the last chapter of Author's notes because I though it would give too much away. The descriptions alone are so dead on they're hilarious.Many thanks to readers!
Mare of Earth- Wow. Intriguing plot, overall good story so far. I find the mystery of Hermione's family to be enticing, and can't wait to find out what is with the pendant and the seal. :) Update soon please.—Thank you for your review! As you requested, more on the seal and pendant. ~ Leyna