The Cryptic Delphian
By the Hippy Gypsy
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns it all. I just fuck with it.
On that note, I would like to state that my language is going to get rather intense and…well, bad hereafter this chapter. Let's just say that Tonks and Severus don't have good communication skills, and they need to wash their mouths out with soap. I'm keeping it at PG-13 for the moment, but if you feel I should change the rating to R, just let me know and I will do just that. There may be a situation coming up in the plot where I have to change it anyways, but we shall see when I get there. Anyways, feedback is always appreciated! Thanks!
Chapter 5: An Encounter in London
Severus left Tonks to ponder her thoughts until they would meet again, preferably much later in the day, after he had slept a good share and she was out of her first initial state of shock. He appeared in the deep, darkened streets of central London in the wee hours of the a.m., knowing he had one more meeting before he could return to the comforts of his own manor. He would meet Minerva in the alleyway, the one near the bridge, and relay the events of his meeting with Tonks.
He stood in one of the dark alleyways, the ones he knew as well as the markings of his Death Eater tattoo. Nothing surprised or phased him in its crevices. Severus simply waited patiently for Minerva to show. He paced the spot, letting himself blend in the dark, with only his pale skin being a tell-tale sign of his presence.
Someone…or something…had noticed, however.
In a quick instant, Severus heard the slightest of movements, and he was dead sure they were not his own. He stopped in place and whipped around, but with his naked eye, he noticed nothing out of the ordinary in the night. "Minerva?" he called out deeply, misgiving in his voice.
He had no time for reaction as he was blindly hit from the left side of his face and knocked to the ground.
He had barely hit the floor of the alley when he leapt back to his feet and balled his fists, readying himself for the fight that was sure to ensue. Above him, he heard footsteps and a multitude of scratching, as if whatever had knocked him over could walk on walls.
"Show yourself!" he bellowed to the sky.
Whatever it was gave a great hiss above in reply. He only had enough time to think what the hell before the thing leapt from the wall, knocked him over again, and this time, pinned him to the ground.
More hissing filled the air, the breath of the shadow overtaking him, but before it struck him, going in for the kill, Severus managed to free his one arm from the thing's grip. He had his wand out in with a great sweep and shouted, "Lumos maximus!"
The end of the wand burst into light, illuminating the last visage Severus thought he'd ever see in the rest of his lifetime.
Lucius Malfoy.
He seemed transformed from the last time he had seen him. Lucius had been bloody and broken, on the brink of death, in the final battle of dark versus light. And Severus had left him to crawl away and bleed to death in peace.
At least he thought.
Lucius was not as he seemed now. His blond hair was wild and nearly turned white, as had his eyes. Great wrinkles of time had taken their toll on his eyes, but his most unnatural feature became prominent as he shot back away from Severus, covering his eyes from the wands light. Great fangs of teeth protruded from his mouth in another great hiss. Severus could tell what this meant. He recognized all of the signs, but he refused to believe it.
As Lucius backed away, Severus held his wand out in defiance, but slowly, the light of the wand lowered. He rose to his feet in great caution. As he did, Lucius relaxed and flung his arms down and hissed, "Traitorrrr…"
Severus merely shook his head in disbelief. "Holy fuck," he breathed.
In one swift move, Lucius leapt against the wall of the alley and forced Severus to the ground again, this time taking his wand with him. It was knocked across the floor of the dirty alleyway and out of Severus' reach. He was up again in a moment, but remembering his other weapons, he gropped from under the back of his cloak, and pulled out one of Tonks' silver guns. Lucius came to a great halt in front of the opposite wall of the alley and he watched as Severus took careful aim with the pistol, surprise in his eyes. Even though he was not a Muggle, Severus certainly knew how to shoot.
He pulled the trigger…and nothing happened, Tonks' charm holding the guns in their inoperable state.
He tried again, but when no shot rang out, he mumbled, "Fuck…"
Lucius, eyes were wide with anticipation, quickly changed characteristics and a great grin broke over his face, knowing Severus was unarmed. But instead of attacking again, he leapt in the air behind him.
The tip of the pistol Severus was holding followed Lucius as he quickly and agilely climbed the wall to the top, and disappeared over the edge. He did not show himself at all.
"No fucking way," Severus moaned to himself the whole time.
Once he knew there was nothing else to be had by the situation, he scrambled for his wand, then apparated in Hogsmeade, sprinting for Hogwarts, hoping against hope he would catch Minerva before she left to meet up with him. There were certainly new developments to the situation.
Notes from the Hippy Gypsy: Yes, I know this chapter is short, but I thought of it and I knew I had to include it. But Lucius joins the cast in my twisted tale of horror, suspense, and drama! Bwahahaha! But read on! Catch you all later!