"Snivelly....father wants a word with you."
Severus' older brother smirked - his tone of voice made Severus almost certain that whatever his father wanted, it wasn't good.
Severus slowly descended the stairs of Snape Manor, glancing at the pictures on the wall as he went down, who sneered at him.
"Severus. Tonight a high authority figure will be coming around for dinner...you are to make it."
Severus sighed deeply.
"And...what will you be having?"
In these kind of situations, it would usually be his mother cooking and Severus helping...but his mother was gone.
"Roast. Turkey, brussel sprouts, Yorkshire Puddings and stuffing. No peas or carrots. Now get to it."
Severus sighed and looked at the floor, apparently in a daze. He even allowed his tears to come, not bothering to stop them.
His father sneered again, and raised his wand.
"Crucio."
- - - - - - - -
"Sir! Please, wake up!"
Severus' eyes snapped open - another nightmare. Amelia was standing over him, looking very worried.
"Sir...are you okay? You looked like you had been hit by a Crucio curse or something."
"...I'm fine. Get back to your own room."
Amelia was slightly taken aback by his retort, but procceded to walk over to the door and slam it shut, leaving Severus alone with his thoughts. Severus drank a clear liquid from a vial next to his bed, and turned over, hoping for a dreamless sleep.
- - - - - - - -
"Cleaning!"
Severus woke up almost instantly by a loud rapping on his door - the cleaner had come.
"Uh...hold on a minute!"
Severus rummaged around for his clothes, and quickly pulled them on, and went oer to the door. A middle aged woman with bredragled hair was standing there, with a bucket full of soapy water and a vacuum cleaner.
"Cleanin'. Please allow me to enter your room, Sire, so that I may clean it, "she said boredly, in a heavy scouse accent, as if she had said this a million times already.
Severus looked worried - scattered throughout his temporary room were bottles of potions he had brought from Hogwarts.
"Uh - no, I'll, uh...I'll do it myself, uhm, yes."
The woman gave him a strange look, before leaving, pulling her bucket and hoover along the corridor down to the next room.
"Steven!"
Severus thought someone else was calling for a totally different person, before realising that he was under the false name of Steven for the time being. He turned his head towards the call - Amelia was standing at her door, beckoning Severus to come over. He shut his door, locked it with a spell ("Alomoraho" he said under his breath) and went over to Amelia's room.
"Miss Sim - Rebecca, what is it?"
Amelia looked at his worried expression, giggling, "Why are you so worried? I just wanted to know if you were ready. We're mean't to be looking for any suspicious Death Eater looky characters today, aren't we? We were meant ot leave an hour ago."
Amelia pointed to a digital clock - it said '13:45'.
"There's a thirteenth hour now?"
"No, Steven, it means it one fourty five in the afternoon."
Severus looked angry, "Well why didn't you wake me up, you stupid girl?!"
Amelia stepped back slightly. Severus sighed loudly, "Come on, lets just find this Death Eater meeting you're going on about and get back to Hogwarts. The muggles are catching on to me, I'm sure of it."
- - - - - - - -
"OW!" Severus shouted, right in the middle of a bus journey to somewhere called Sutton Coldfield. He clasped his right hand to his left forearm.
"What? Is it?..."
Muggles on the bus had turned around and given him an odd look, scowling at him.
"The Mark. We're getting close," Severus said under his breath.
"Steven, does it...hurt more when you start getting closer? I mean, is there a pinnacle amount of pain, or something?"
"...Yes. And right now is the pinnacle, I might add," Severus grunted, still holding his forearm.
"I don't believe it. C'mon."
Amelia pulled Severus off the bus, and pointed across the road at a building that had a sign on it front, reading 'Walmley Junior School'.
"That's the junior school I used to attend. You don't think?..."
Severus had already crossed the road and was making to jump over the fence.
"Steven!! What am I?-"
"You stay out here. Those are muggle houses, right? Hide in a backyard or something. I'll go in and see...I'll be a long time. What's the time now?"
Amelia glanced at the sun, then at the shadow of a tree, "About six thirty."
"Right...well, here I go."
Severus jumped over the fence and whipped out his wand, which he has hidden in his shirt. He muttered 'Alohomora', and the lock on the door broke off.
- - - - - - - -
"Ahh, Severus, I didn't expect you to attend. Of all places, I had to use a muggle school."
"My Lord. I have gathered useful information on Dumbledore, and I followed my instincts, and the Mark, here. I wish to tell you everything I now know."
Voldemort glanced aorund at the other Death Eaters. There were only three, and Severus didn't recognise any of them.
"Well, then. Do continue."
"Well, Dumbledore is oblivious about the fact that you can now apparate inside the grounds. So, you are free to attack the school."
"I know that, Severus. Tell me, lately, ahve you seen a rather strange creature lately?"
Severus' stomach lurched - he knew instantly he was talking about Amelia.
"Yes. A Chido."
"Ahhh....good. If you see it again, please kill it for me, but don now dispose of the body. Instead, apparate to me, if at all possible, or leave it in a well hidden place and then owl me the location. I do believe thats all?"
"Of course I will, My Lord. When will the next meeting be?"
Voldemort cupped his chin in his hands in thought, "How about the Highlands of Scotland, somewhere around Christmas? That's the first time I saw that wretch of a creature, and theres a chance I will see it again, and then I can finally kill it."
"Of course, My Lord."
Voldemort smirked - he snapped his fingers, and he and his Death Eater trio vanished.
Severus gulped hard, and exited the building.
- - - - - - - -
"So, how'd it go?"
Severus only looked at Amelia, who had been hiding in a bush in a muggle backyard. It was now well into the night.
"...You do know that they're out to kill you?"
"Yeah."
"..And...well, they've put me under orders to kill you on sight."
Amelia looked dumbstruck. She backed away slowly.
"Don't be like that, I'm not going to kill you."
Amelia still looked apprehensive about moving back towards him, but slightly relieved.
"The next meeting is in the Highlands of Scotland, around Christmas. He will transport me there, so around that time, I need you to stay away from me. For your own good."
Amelia nodded slowly.
"...'Rebecca'? Do any muggle buses run at this time?"
"No. The only way we could...well, it's night, so..."
Severus looked annoyed.
"Are you suggesting that you transform into a Chido and I ride you back to Hogwarts?"
Amelia nodded, also looking somewhat annoyed, and somewhat embaressed at the same time.
"We don't have a choice, really. We're out of muggle money."
"What?! But - I thought - you took out about two hundred pounds only yesterday!!"
Amelia sighed loudly, "I was mugged, Sir."
Amelia pulled back her sleeve to reveal a large bruise, and also pointed to her left cheek, which had a large cut across it. All this time she had been sitting in the darkness, and Severus had not noticed.
"What the - why didn't you curse them?!"
"Sir, I can't use magic outside of Hogwarts! On a muggle no less! I'd be expelled!!"
"But - I could've - argh! I give up. Just transform so we can get back to the castle."
- - - - - - - -
Severus had great difficulty trying to get on Amelia's back. She was so tall it seemed like a near impossible task.
"Sir, just stand on my wing! Just - OW!"
"Sorry, hold still, I can't - OW! My leg!"
"Sir, just - argh! OW!"
Severus had pulled on her ear by accident.
"Okay, enough's enough!"
Amelia scooped her wing under Severus' foot and lifted him up onto her back, where her neck and body joined.
"Okay, we need a good run up. See any cars coming your way?"
"No, just hurry upu and fly, I feel uncomfortable."
"Well you'll be happy then, it's a three hour flight."
Amelia started running along the tarmac road, which was ice cold and tinted with frost as the cold weather started to settle in. Severus was forced to wrap his arms around Amelia's neck to get a good grip on her fur, as she started to slip around on the ice.
"Simander! CAR!"
Indeed, there was a red Corsa driving up the road at an alarming speed.
"We're going to be spotted!"
"No we're not! As far as muggles now I'm just a lovable horsey!"
As they drew closer to the car Severus was starting to wonder why she hadn't gotten out of the way. It then became apparent, as she jumped onto the car bonnet and took off, getting a good leap at the sky, spreading her elegent orange-red wings and forcing them down with such might that she was propelled another five metres into the air.
"So whats did the muggle think happened then?! A horse just trampeled their bonnet and took off?!"
"Uh, pretty much!!"
Amelia forced her body weight higher, into the clouds, where they would be concealed from any muggles that were still awake at the late hour of eleven thirty.
"Wanna go higher?"
Amelia had put her head parallel with the body, pointed out in front so Severus had a good view of where they were going.
"Huh?"
"I said, Wanna go higher?"
"And why would I want to go higher?"
Amelia lifted her head up and went slightly slower.
"Sir, have you ever been so high, that you're above the clouds? That you can see for miles? And have you ever been that high at night? Let me tell you, its one of the most beautiful things a human or a wizard can see."
"No, I hav-eeeeeeeeeeeeeen't!"
As soon as Severus had started to answer, Amelia had spread her wings out so far that she was caught in a massive updraft of wind, and they were thrown high into the air. Amelia kept a good balance, while Severus had initially shut his eyes.
"Look..."
- - - - - - - -
It was exactly as Amelia had described it - they were above the clouds, the tops of the fluffy white substance was illuminated by the moon's glow. For as far as Severus could see into the sky, there were only stars.
"Good Lord..." Severus said breathlessly. It was only then he realised that the air had begun to wear a bit thin.
"Oh, Sir, I forgot, the air is thin here....we should go down."
"No, stay."
"But-"
"We will stay up here. I can manage...I need to take it all in. This might be the only time I will get a sight like this."
Amelia lowered her neck again, so that Severus could see the night in all its beauty.
- - - - - - - -
Awww, how cute. I liked writing this chapter, even if it does feel like I have a severe case of writers block.
Oh, and FYI - Sutton Coldfields a real place. I know that because I live there. Also, the acotrs who play Fred and George in the movies live there. Later days, next chapter comeing soon! Oh, and please...I NEED REVIEWS.
Severus' older brother smirked - his tone of voice made Severus almost certain that whatever his father wanted, it wasn't good.
Severus slowly descended the stairs of Snape Manor, glancing at the pictures on the wall as he went down, who sneered at him.
"Severus. Tonight a high authority figure will be coming around for dinner...you are to make it."
Severus sighed deeply.
"And...what will you be having?"
In these kind of situations, it would usually be his mother cooking and Severus helping...but his mother was gone.
"Roast. Turkey, brussel sprouts, Yorkshire Puddings and stuffing. No peas or carrots. Now get to it."
Severus sighed and looked at the floor, apparently in a daze. He even allowed his tears to come, not bothering to stop them.
His father sneered again, and raised his wand.
"Crucio."
- - - - - - - -
"Sir! Please, wake up!"
Severus' eyes snapped open - another nightmare. Amelia was standing over him, looking very worried.
"Sir...are you okay? You looked like you had been hit by a Crucio curse or something."
"...I'm fine. Get back to your own room."
Amelia was slightly taken aback by his retort, but procceded to walk over to the door and slam it shut, leaving Severus alone with his thoughts. Severus drank a clear liquid from a vial next to his bed, and turned over, hoping for a dreamless sleep.
- - - - - - - -
"Cleaning!"
Severus woke up almost instantly by a loud rapping on his door - the cleaner had come.
"Uh...hold on a minute!"
Severus rummaged around for his clothes, and quickly pulled them on, and went oer to the door. A middle aged woman with bredragled hair was standing there, with a bucket full of soapy water and a vacuum cleaner.
"Cleanin'. Please allow me to enter your room, Sire, so that I may clean it, "she said boredly, in a heavy scouse accent, as if she had said this a million times already.
Severus looked worried - scattered throughout his temporary room were bottles of potions he had brought from Hogwarts.
"Uh - no, I'll, uh...I'll do it myself, uhm, yes."
The woman gave him a strange look, before leaving, pulling her bucket and hoover along the corridor down to the next room.
"Steven!"
Severus thought someone else was calling for a totally different person, before realising that he was under the false name of Steven for the time being. He turned his head towards the call - Amelia was standing at her door, beckoning Severus to come over. He shut his door, locked it with a spell ("Alomoraho" he said under his breath) and went over to Amelia's room.
"Miss Sim - Rebecca, what is it?"
Amelia looked at his worried expression, giggling, "Why are you so worried? I just wanted to know if you were ready. We're mean't to be looking for any suspicious Death Eater looky characters today, aren't we? We were meant ot leave an hour ago."
Amelia pointed to a digital clock - it said '13:45'.
"There's a thirteenth hour now?"
"No, Steven, it means it one fourty five in the afternoon."
Severus looked angry, "Well why didn't you wake me up, you stupid girl?!"
Amelia stepped back slightly. Severus sighed loudly, "Come on, lets just find this Death Eater meeting you're going on about and get back to Hogwarts. The muggles are catching on to me, I'm sure of it."
- - - - - - - -
"OW!" Severus shouted, right in the middle of a bus journey to somewhere called Sutton Coldfield. He clasped his right hand to his left forearm.
"What? Is it?..."
Muggles on the bus had turned around and given him an odd look, scowling at him.
"The Mark. We're getting close," Severus said under his breath.
"Steven, does it...hurt more when you start getting closer? I mean, is there a pinnacle amount of pain, or something?"
"...Yes. And right now is the pinnacle, I might add," Severus grunted, still holding his forearm.
"I don't believe it. C'mon."
Amelia pulled Severus off the bus, and pointed across the road at a building that had a sign on it front, reading 'Walmley Junior School'.
"That's the junior school I used to attend. You don't think?..."
Severus had already crossed the road and was making to jump over the fence.
"Steven!! What am I?-"
"You stay out here. Those are muggle houses, right? Hide in a backyard or something. I'll go in and see...I'll be a long time. What's the time now?"
Amelia glanced at the sun, then at the shadow of a tree, "About six thirty."
"Right...well, here I go."
Severus jumped over the fence and whipped out his wand, which he has hidden in his shirt. He muttered 'Alohomora', and the lock on the door broke off.
- - - - - - - -
"Ahh, Severus, I didn't expect you to attend. Of all places, I had to use a muggle school."
"My Lord. I have gathered useful information on Dumbledore, and I followed my instincts, and the Mark, here. I wish to tell you everything I now know."
Voldemort glanced aorund at the other Death Eaters. There were only three, and Severus didn't recognise any of them.
"Well, then. Do continue."
"Well, Dumbledore is oblivious about the fact that you can now apparate inside the grounds. So, you are free to attack the school."
"I know that, Severus. Tell me, lately, ahve you seen a rather strange creature lately?"
Severus' stomach lurched - he knew instantly he was talking about Amelia.
"Yes. A Chido."
"Ahhh....good. If you see it again, please kill it for me, but don now dispose of the body. Instead, apparate to me, if at all possible, or leave it in a well hidden place and then owl me the location. I do believe thats all?"
"Of course I will, My Lord. When will the next meeting be?"
Voldemort cupped his chin in his hands in thought, "How about the Highlands of Scotland, somewhere around Christmas? That's the first time I saw that wretch of a creature, and theres a chance I will see it again, and then I can finally kill it."
"Of course, My Lord."
Voldemort smirked - he snapped his fingers, and he and his Death Eater trio vanished.
Severus gulped hard, and exited the building.
- - - - - - - -
"So, how'd it go?"
Severus only looked at Amelia, who had been hiding in a bush in a muggle backyard. It was now well into the night.
"...You do know that they're out to kill you?"
"Yeah."
"..And...well, they've put me under orders to kill you on sight."
Amelia looked dumbstruck. She backed away slowly.
"Don't be like that, I'm not going to kill you."
Amelia still looked apprehensive about moving back towards him, but slightly relieved.
"The next meeting is in the Highlands of Scotland, around Christmas. He will transport me there, so around that time, I need you to stay away from me. For your own good."
Amelia nodded slowly.
"...'Rebecca'? Do any muggle buses run at this time?"
"No. The only way we could...well, it's night, so..."
Severus looked annoyed.
"Are you suggesting that you transform into a Chido and I ride you back to Hogwarts?"
Amelia nodded, also looking somewhat annoyed, and somewhat embaressed at the same time.
"We don't have a choice, really. We're out of muggle money."
"What?! But - I thought - you took out about two hundred pounds only yesterday!!"
Amelia sighed loudly, "I was mugged, Sir."
Amelia pulled back her sleeve to reveal a large bruise, and also pointed to her left cheek, which had a large cut across it. All this time she had been sitting in the darkness, and Severus had not noticed.
"What the - why didn't you curse them?!"
"Sir, I can't use magic outside of Hogwarts! On a muggle no less! I'd be expelled!!"
"But - I could've - argh! I give up. Just transform so we can get back to the castle."
- - - - - - - -
Severus had great difficulty trying to get on Amelia's back. She was so tall it seemed like a near impossible task.
"Sir, just stand on my wing! Just - OW!"
"Sorry, hold still, I can't - OW! My leg!"
"Sir, just - argh! OW!"
Severus had pulled on her ear by accident.
"Okay, enough's enough!"
Amelia scooped her wing under Severus' foot and lifted him up onto her back, where her neck and body joined.
"Okay, we need a good run up. See any cars coming your way?"
"No, just hurry upu and fly, I feel uncomfortable."
"Well you'll be happy then, it's a three hour flight."
Amelia started running along the tarmac road, which was ice cold and tinted with frost as the cold weather started to settle in. Severus was forced to wrap his arms around Amelia's neck to get a good grip on her fur, as she started to slip around on the ice.
"Simander! CAR!"
Indeed, there was a red Corsa driving up the road at an alarming speed.
"We're going to be spotted!"
"No we're not! As far as muggles now I'm just a lovable horsey!"
As they drew closer to the car Severus was starting to wonder why she hadn't gotten out of the way. It then became apparent, as she jumped onto the car bonnet and took off, getting a good leap at the sky, spreading her elegent orange-red wings and forcing them down with such might that she was propelled another five metres into the air.
"So whats did the muggle think happened then?! A horse just trampeled their bonnet and took off?!"
"Uh, pretty much!!"
Amelia forced her body weight higher, into the clouds, where they would be concealed from any muggles that were still awake at the late hour of eleven thirty.
"Wanna go higher?"
Amelia had put her head parallel with the body, pointed out in front so Severus had a good view of where they were going.
"Huh?"
"I said, Wanna go higher?"
"And why would I want to go higher?"
Amelia lifted her head up and went slightly slower.
"Sir, have you ever been so high, that you're above the clouds? That you can see for miles? And have you ever been that high at night? Let me tell you, its one of the most beautiful things a human or a wizard can see."
"No, I hav-eeeeeeeeeeeeeen't!"
As soon as Severus had started to answer, Amelia had spread her wings out so far that she was caught in a massive updraft of wind, and they were thrown high into the air. Amelia kept a good balance, while Severus had initially shut his eyes.
"Look..."
- - - - - - - -
It was exactly as Amelia had described it - they were above the clouds, the tops of the fluffy white substance was illuminated by the moon's glow. For as far as Severus could see into the sky, there were only stars.
"Good Lord..." Severus said breathlessly. It was only then he realised that the air had begun to wear a bit thin.
"Oh, Sir, I forgot, the air is thin here....we should go down."
"No, stay."
"But-"
"We will stay up here. I can manage...I need to take it all in. This might be the only time I will get a sight like this."
Amelia lowered her neck again, so that Severus could see the night in all its beauty.
- - - - - - - -
Awww, how cute. I liked writing this chapter, even if it does feel like I have a severe case of writers block.
Oh, and FYI - Sutton Coldfields a real place. I know that because I live there. Also, the acotrs who play Fred and George in the movies live there. Later days, next chapter comeing soon! Oh, and please...I NEED REVIEWS.