Disclaimer: The usual stuff applies here. The only thing I lay claim is to the character Iris Hecate and the plot that involves her.
A New Beginning
Chapter 12 The Madness of Life
Severus came to several days later having no clue as to where he was. Severus slowly propped himself on his elbows and looked around the room. The room was engulfed in complete darkness.
Severus tried with all his might to recall his last memory. With the onset of an excruciating headache it all came back to him about how he arrived at this tiny one bedroom house.
"Blasted Iris! Blasted everything!" Severus exclaimed as he lay back on the floor.
A short time later Severus stood up and stretched his sore and aching body. As Severus stretched he noticed the door in the corner of the room. Severus slowly walked over to the door and cautiously placed his bony, white hand on the doorknob and turned it. A soft click was made and the door swung open.
Severus, blinking slightly trying to get his eyes to adjust to more darkness, stepped out to take a look around. Severus did not want to venture far from this small little one room house. Severus looked around and could not tell where he was. He was surrounded by nothing but trees. As to how thick and dense the trees where he would have to wait till daylight approached to find out.
"I could be anywhere." Severus sighed hopelessly to himself.
Severus decided to walk around the perimeter of the house to investigate. Once he walked around the corner to the back of the house Severus noticed something odd sticking out of the ground. Severus made his way over to get a better look.
"Please let this work if it is what I think it is!" Severus pleaded as he pushed down on the handle.
Severus pushed a couple of times and to his surprise water came out the other end.
"Water!" Severus exclaimed.
"Thank you Merlin!" He yelled loudly.
Not realizing just how thirsty he was until he saw and heard the flowing water Severus cupped one hand under the spout and pumped water into his and drank it that way.
After he was done he wiped his mouth on his sleeve and decided to head back to the tiny house. Severus slowly walked realizing that every part of his body ached terribly. Severus stepped on the first step and pulled himself up so he was completely on the first step. He stood there for a few moments as he waited for the pain in his knees to subside. He climbed two more steps and was now back inside the very small house.
"I'm getting to old for this." Severus said sarcastically.
Severus leaned up against one of the walls and rubbed his knees for a few minutes. He walked around the bare and cold room looking for anything that could give him some sort of clue as to where he was but came up empty handed.
"The only thing in this house is a fireplace and one little ratty rug in front of it." Severus defeated.
Severus finally realized that he was cold and walked over to the fireplace. He reached for his wand and found it was not there. Severus sighed heavily and gently lowered himself onto the ratty rug in front of the fireplace.
"This is not looking good at all." Severus whispered to himself sarcastically.
"Maybe someone will come looking for me shortly when the realize that I am not at Hogwart's." Severus said as he ran his hands through his greasy black hair.
"Or maybe not." Severus snorted as he ran his right hand across a tender bald area on his head.
"I am here but yet I am at school at this very moment." Severus said with a heavy heart.
"The end is near and I have played my part in my Master's plan. And again I was used by Iris only for her to move closer to power once again." Severus said as he placed his head in his hands and began to worry.
Worrying was something Severus did not do. He wasn't worried about himself because that was not an option. He was well aware of his consequences from the very beginning. Severus was one that was aware of everything that went on around him but this time he did not have any clue as to what was happening outside of his little prison and that is what worried him the most.
Severus is not the type of person who would cry but this time he did. This wasn't one of those convulsing body cries. He just shed a few tears of frustration but still it was an emotion and Severus grew to dislike emotions. He rarely showed any emotion at all. Severus thought any sign of emotions was a sign of weakness. He just couldn't keep his emotion bottled up any longer. He was worn down, tired and emotionally drained by Iris and his whole ordeal with being a spy and working for the Order.
"Hopefully Dumbledore will realize what lies before him and will come looking." Severus said with renewed hope.
&&&&&&
Voldemort paced back and forth in Severus's office. He cursed himself for not staying long enough in the Great Hall to get a glimpse of Dumbledore.
"In due time old man in due time." Voldemort growled.
Voldemort continued to pace becoming more and more enraged with Iris.
"Iris, Iris, Iris what are you going to tell me tonight?" He growled as he recalled their conversation that happened just a few minutes ago.
"I know you are up to something! I told you not to disobey me but you chose to do so other wise and for that you will have to pay!" Voldemort growled as he slammed he fist down on Severus's old wooden desk.
"No time like the present to meet Iris." Voldemort smirked as he noticed time. "But before I leave I need a few provisions."
Voldemort placed Severus's wand inside his robe. "You'll come in handy later." He laughed.
As Voldemort headed out of Severus's office he reached inside one of his robe pockets and took out an old leather pouch. He opened the worn pouch and pulled out a silver flask and took a swig from it and placed it back inside the old leather pouch and promptly placed it back inside his robe pocket.
"Ahhh. Can't have my true self coming out while I am talking with Iris." Voldemort hissed as he closed the door to Severus's office behind him.
&&&&&&
Iris had returned to her office shortly after Severus had stormed off at dinnertime.
"I don't understand him like I use to." Iris sighed. "I don't understand myself either."
Iris headed over to her oversized desk chair and plopped down. She pulled out several sheets of parchment paper, a new quill and a new bottle of ink from the bottom most drawer of her desk.
The top piece of parchment paper was a letter she had started to write a few months back. Iris scanned over it quickly and crumpled it up and threw it to on the floor.
She grabbed a new piece of paper and began to write frantically. Iris wrote at a feverish rate only stopping to refill her quill or to grab a fresh piece of parchment. Once she had completed her letter she rolled it up and tied a purple ribbon around it. Iris pulled out her wand and placed a charm on the roll of parchment. The parchment will only unroll for the person it is meant for. She placed the enchanted parchment in the bottom drawer.
Iris took a deep breath and grabbed a new piece of parchment. She refilled her quill and began to write again at the same feverish rate as before. Like before once she had completed her second letter she rolled it up and placed a gold ribbon around and placed the same charm as before. Before placing it with her first letter she held this one close to her heart and slowly placed it inside the drawer.
Iris sat there for a few minutes strumming her fingers on the top of her desk in deep thought. Once again Iris grabbed for another piece of parchment. This time she didn't write so quickly and urgently. She took her time and thought about each line she wrote. Once Iris was finish she did the same as she did before she rolled up the parchment and place a black ribbon around it. But before Iris placed her charm on her last letter she placed a single kiss on it. Once she placed her charm she tucked away the letter and closed her desk drawer.
Noticing that it was nearly one in the morning she grabbed her cloak and headed to the astronomy tower.
&&&&&&&&
Iris quickened her paced and she got closer to the Astronomy tower. Iris stood at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the tower. She took a deep breath and ascended them slowly. Once she made it to the door she then pushed it open gently and across the way stood Severus leaning up again the low wall staring at the very door Iris had just opened.
"Hi." Iris whispered as she stood standing in the doorway.
"You're wasting my time Iris." Snorted Severus.
Iris lowered her gaze and made her way over to Severus. They stood next to each other in an intense silence. Iris made an attempt to ease the silence between Severus and herself by resting her head on his shoulder. Iris expected Severus to relax a little bit but that was not the case.
"Oh this going to be interesting." Voldemort thought to himself. "I knew they were a couple. Well, a couple until I came along and took that away from him." He sneered. "It looks like some things never change."
"Iris and Severus." Voldemort growled in a low inaudible voice.
"Hmm?" Iris said as she lifted her head off of Severus' shoulder.
"Iris, why did you want to meet me tonight?" He ordered.
"I just wanted to talk Sev." Iris sighed
"Sev? This is just too much." Voldemort laughed to himself. "All this sappy crap is getting me know where."
"Honestly Iris if you don't get to the point already I am going leave because like I said you wasting my time." Severus barked.
Iris looked over at Severus with a raised eyebrow. "Ok?" Iris said confused.
"Well." Iris paused trying to pull her words together.
"Well, what?" Severus said growing more impatient at each passing second.
"Would you please let me finish without any interruptions!" Iris snapped as she moved away from Severus.
Severus sighed in aggravation as he waited for Iris to continue.
"I just wanted to tell you that the house elves will be getting a special gift later on tonight and I just wanted to remind you not to eat any of the pastries that might show up tomorrow night." Iris huffed.
"Is that all Iris?" Severus asked impatiently.
"Yes. But...I...Sev..." Iris started.
"But what Iris?" Severus interrupted.
"I want to talk about us Sev." Iris sighed as her body shank against the cold stone wall.
"Us?" Severus snorted. "You can't be serious. Are you?"
"Well, yes I am." She sniffed.
"Well, that talk is not going to happen since there is no us and that there will never be an us." Severus said as he left the Astronomy tower.
&&&&&&&&&&&
Voldemort reached the end of the tower stairs when he heard the soft thud of the Astronomy tower door shutting behind him. Checking behind him and down the corridor he suddenly heard the faint chiming of a nearby clock.
Ding Ding
"My hour is up." Voldemort hissed.
Voldemort looked down at his hands and noticed that the smooth, pale skin of Severus' hand was now turning back to his very own leathery, blotchy red skin.
Voldemort rushed into the main hall of Hogwarts' as he slowly began to transform from Severus back to himself.
"Severus what is the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?" Professor McGongall called out after him as she her nightly rounds.
Voldemort stopped at Hogwarts' main doors and looked back and gave Professor McGongall an evil smile.
"Severus?" Professor McGongall called out again with concern in her voice.
Voldemort pulled open the heavy doors and ran into the dark night. He ran down towards the main gates. He stopped right before leaving Hogwarts' grounds and turned back and looked at the dark castle and let out a bone- chilling laugh. One he walked outside the main gates of Hogwarts' he disapparated.
&&&&&&&&&
Iris sighed as Severus left her alone in the Astronomy tower.
"What a mad little world I live." Iris snorted as she pushed herself up off the wall.
"No time like the present." Iris said as she straightened her robes and made her way out of the Astronomy tower.
Iris took the stair two at a time until she made it back to one of the main corridors. She quickly and quietly made it back to her classroom. Even though she didn't teach at this present time, which was now up to Professor Lupin, it was still her room and her materials.
She made her way over to large glass encased cabinet. Iris pulled over a chair to the far end of the cabinet the one closest to her office door. She crawled onto the chair and started rooting on the very top shelf.
Iris grabbed her wand from her robe pocket. "I can't see all the way back there. Lumos."
"Ahh. There it is." Iris said as she pulled a rather large tin from the back of the cabinet.
"In small doses it will cause light drowsiness but in large doses it will knock a troll out for at least twelve hours." She added quietly as she tucked it away inside her robes. "So the average person will be asleep until well into the next day. So it should do the trick."
Iris left her classroom and headed down to the kitchen. She reached the portrait of the bowl of fruit and tickled the pear. The picture swung open and Iris made her way into the kitchen. Barely in there for a minute and Iris was already bombarded with house elves.
"Professor! Professor!" Chimed all the little house elves. "What can we do for you Professor?" Squeaked a little voice down by Iris's knees.
One of the house elves brought over a tiny stool for Iris to sit down. Iris sat down and retrieved the tin from her robe pocket and placed it on her lap.
"I was cleaning out my cabinets in my office and came across this large tin of peppermint leaves." Iris forced herself to sound happy. With a fake smile in place she continued. "I was hoping that you all could use these for some Christmas baking or make some peppermint tea."
Iris opened the tin up and the house elves peered in. "Smells very good Professor!"
"Good! I hope you can use it soon." Iris smiled.
"You brought us something good Professor, would like something." Squeaked a bright-eyed house elf.
"No, but thank you very much for the offer but I must be going now." Iris said standing up.
"Professor, what things would you make with these peppermint leaves?" Asked the house elf who grabbed the tin from Iris's hands.
"My mother would always make peppermint brownies for Christmas Eve night for us kids and peppermint tea for the grownups. But the grownups would always sneak some of the brownies away from us kids when we were younger." Iris said winking at the elf that had asked her the question.
Two of the house elves grabbed Iris's hands and lead her to the door.
"Thank you Professor! We will make special things for the school tomorrow night." Squeaked a house elf as the portrait closed behind Iris.
Iris turned and started back to her office. Before she made it five feet from the kitchen she grabbed her left forearm in pain. She continued to walk as the pain subsided. Iris made it to the main hall. Instead of heading up the staircase that led to her office she made her way to the outside grounds of Hogwarts'. Iris made her way down the winding path and stepped outside the main gates. With a loud pop Iris had disapparated.
&&&&&&&&&
Iris apparated just outside the Death Eaters usual meeting place. To the ordinary witch, wizard or muggle it was just a plain old forest but to the Death Eaters it was much more. It was hidden well by many concealment charms and anyone who did not belong within the trees were turned away a forgetful charm.
Iris made her way through the dense trees and finally made it to the clearing. Iris could make out some of the Death Eaters. She could see Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. The flickering light of the small fire made in the middle of the clearing made it difficult to see the others. Everyone else was dressed in the black robes and masks except for Iris. She tried looking for Severus but could not find him in the sea of blackness.
Iris heard soft mummers of where the Dark Lord could be. Iris did take this into consideration because he was usually already at the meetings.
"Welcome back my loyal subjects." Voldemort hissed as he stood in the darkness.
Everyone turned his or her heads looking for where the voice was coming from. Suddenly everyone spun their heads around quickly when the sound of breaking leaves and tiny limbs came from in front of them. Out came the melting body of Severus Snape.
"How dare you call us your loyal subjects?" Growled Lucius Malfoy.
"You are my loyal subjects." Voldemort growled and he raised his gaze to meet Malfoy's.
Malfoy's mouth dropped when he saw two red slits glowing back at him. "I am sorry Master I did not know."
"Know one did." Voldemort laughed evilly.
Iris looked on in a state of confusion not fully comprehending what was going on right in front of her eyes.
"I even fooled my best Death Eater." Voldemort hissed as he made his way over to Iris.
"Yes, you did my Lord." Iris laughed trying to sound more impressed than scared.
"I just learned that my faithful servant has been keeping information from me." Voldemort growled.
"Have I my Lord?" Iris's voiced quivered.
"I would say that keeping your relationship between Severus or Sev as you like to call him and yourself from me as quite interesting." Voldemort hissed.
"You know of us my Lord. We are both Death Eaters. Of course this is some kind of relationship between us." Iris rattled on.
"You stupid little girl. Who do you think you are fooling? Voldemort said as he grabbed a hand full of her hair and forced her to her knees.
Iris fell to her knees and closed her eyes tight.
"What else have you been keeping from me and your fellow Death Eaters?" Voldemort ordered.
"Nothing my Lord." Iris whispered.
"I don't quiet believe that my dear." Voldemort said with and evilly sweet voice. "Let's see if this changes your mind." Voldemort said as he fingered his wand.
"CRUCIO!" Voldemort growled.
Iris howled in pain. Voldemort raised his wand hanging Iris above the rest of the Death Eaters. Everyone laughed as Iris jerked violently in the air.
"Had enough? Are you willing to talk now?" Voldemort growled as he pulled his wand away causing Iris to fall to the ground in a loud thud.
"Speak!" Voldemort ordered.
Iris pulled herself up slowly. "I have nothing to tell you my Lord. I swear!" Iris choked out.
"You want to place this game you stupid girl? Then we will. CRUCIO!" Voldemort growled once again.
Laugher rang through the dense forest as Iris began to yell in pain as her body jerked violently on the forest floor.
A New Beginning
Chapter 12 The Madness of Life
Severus came to several days later having no clue as to where he was. Severus slowly propped himself on his elbows and looked around the room. The room was engulfed in complete darkness.
Severus tried with all his might to recall his last memory. With the onset of an excruciating headache it all came back to him about how he arrived at this tiny one bedroom house.
"Blasted Iris! Blasted everything!" Severus exclaimed as he lay back on the floor.
A short time later Severus stood up and stretched his sore and aching body. As Severus stretched he noticed the door in the corner of the room. Severus slowly walked over to the door and cautiously placed his bony, white hand on the doorknob and turned it. A soft click was made and the door swung open.
Severus, blinking slightly trying to get his eyes to adjust to more darkness, stepped out to take a look around. Severus did not want to venture far from this small little one room house. Severus looked around and could not tell where he was. He was surrounded by nothing but trees. As to how thick and dense the trees where he would have to wait till daylight approached to find out.
"I could be anywhere." Severus sighed hopelessly to himself.
Severus decided to walk around the perimeter of the house to investigate. Once he walked around the corner to the back of the house Severus noticed something odd sticking out of the ground. Severus made his way over to get a better look.
"Please let this work if it is what I think it is!" Severus pleaded as he pushed down on the handle.
Severus pushed a couple of times and to his surprise water came out the other end.
"Water!" Severus exclaimed.
"Thank you Merlin!" He yelled loudly.
Not realizing just how thirsty he was until he saw and heard the flowing water Severus cupped one hand under the spout and pumped water into his and drank it that way.
After he was done he wiped his mouth on his sleeve and decided to head back to the tiny house. Severus slowly walked realizing that every part of his body ached terribly. Severus stepped on the first step and pulled himself up so he was completely on the first step. He stood there for a few moments as he waited for the pain in his knees to subside. He climbed two more steps and was now back inside the very small house.
"I'm getting to old for this." Severus said sarcastically.
Severus leaned up against one of the walls and rubbed his knees for a few minutes. He walked around the bare and cold room looking for anything that could give him some sort of clue as to where he was but came up empty handed.
"The only thing in this house is a fireplace and one little ratty rug in front of it." Severus defeated.
Severus finally realized that he was cold and walked over to the fireplace. He reached for his wand and found it was not there. Severus sighed heavily and gently lowered himself onto the ratty rug in front of the fireplace.
"This is not looking good at all." Severus whispered to himself sarcastically.
"Maybe someone will come looking for me shortly when the realize that I am not at Hogwart's." Severus said as he ran his hands through his greasy black hair.
"Or maybe not." Severus snorted as he ran his right hand across a tender bald area on his head.
"I am here but yet I am at school at this very moment." Severus said with a heavy heart.
"The end is near and I have played my part in my Master's plan. And again I was used by Iris only for her to move closer to power once again." Severus said as he placed his head in his hands and began to worry.
Worrying was something Severus did not do. He wasn't worried about himself because that was not an option. He was well aware of his consequences from the very beginning. Severus was one that was aware of everything that went on around him but this time he did not have any clue as to what was happening outside of his little prison and that is what worried him the most.
Severus is not the type of person who would cry but this time he did. This wasn't one of those convulsing body cries. He just shed a few tears of frustration but still it was an emotion and Severus grew to dislike emotions. He rarely showed any emotion at all. Severus thought any sign of emotions was a sign of weakness. He just couldn't keep his emotion bottled up any longer. He was worn down, tired and emotionally drained by Iris and his whole ordeal with being a spy and working for the Order.
"Hopefully Dumbledore will realize what lies before him and will come looking." Severus said with renewed hope.
&&&&&&
Voldemort paced back and forth in Severus's office. He cursed himself for not staying long enough in the Great Hall to get a glimpse of Dumbledore.
"In due time old man in due time." Voldemort growled.
Voldemort continued to pace becoming more and more enraged with Iris.
"Iris, Iris, Iris what are you going to tell me tonight?" He growled as he recalled their conversation that happened just a few minutes ago.
"I know you are up to something! I told you not to disobey me but you chose to do so other wise and for that you will have to pay!" Voldemort growled as he slammed he fist down on Severus's old wooden desk.
"No time like the present to meet Iris." Voldemort smirked as he noticed time. "But before I leave I need a few provisions."
Voldemort placed Severus's wand inside his robe. "You'll come in handy later." He laughed.
As Voldemort headed out of Severus's office he reached inside one of his robe pockets and took out an old leather pouch. He opened the worn pouch and pulled out a silver flask and took a swig from it and placed it back inside the old leather pouch and promptly placed it back inside his robe pocket.
"Ahhh. Can't have my true self coming out while I am talking with Iris." Voldemort hissed as he closed the door to Severus's office behind him.
&&&&&&
Iris had returned to her office shortly after Severus had stormed off at dinnertime.
"I don't understand him like I use to." Iris sighed. "I don't understand myself either."
Iris headed over to her oversized desk chair and plopped down. She pulled out several sheets of parchment paper, a new quill and a new bottle of ink from the bottom most drawer of her desk.
The top piece of parchment paper was a letter she had started to write a few months back. Iris scanned over it quickly and crumpled it up and threw it to on the floor.
She grabbed a new piece of paper and began to write frantically. Iris wrote at a feverish rate only stopping to refill her quill or to grab a fresh piece of parchment. Once she had completed her letter she rolled it up and tied a purple ribbon around it. Iris pulled out her wand and placed a charm on the roll of parchment. The parchment will only unroll for the person it is meant for. She placed the enchanted parchment in the bottom drawer.
Iris took a deep breath and grabbed a new piece of parchment. She refilled her quill and began to write again at the same feverish rate as before. Like before once she had completed her second letter she rolled it up and placed a gold ribbon around and placed the same charm as before. Before placing it with her first letter she held this one close to her heart and slowly placed it inside the drawer.
Iris sat there for a few minutes strumming her fingers on the top of her desk in deep thought. Once again Iris grabbed for another piece of parchment. This time she didn't write so quickly and urgently. She took her time and thought about each line she wrote. Once Iris was finish she did the same as she did before she rolled up the parchment and place a black ribbon around it. But before Iris placed her charm on her last letter she placed a single kiss on it. Once she placed her charm she tucked away the letter and closed her desk drawer.
Noticing that it was nearly one in the morning she grabbed her cloak and headed to the astronomy tower.
&&&&&&&&
Iris quickened her paced and she got closer to the Astronomy tower. Iris stood at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the tower. She took a deep breath and ascended them slowly. Once she made it to the door she then pushed it open gently and across the way stood Severus leaning up again the low wall staring at the very door Iris had just opened.
"Hi." Iris whispered as she stood standing in the doorway.
"You're wasting my time Iris." Snorted Severus.
Iris lowered her gaze and made her way over to Severus. They stood next to each other in an intense silence. Iris made an attempt to ease the silence between Severus and herself by resting her head on his shoulder. Iris expected Severus to relax a little bit but that was not the case.
"Oh this going to be interesting." Voldemort thought to himself. "I knew they were a couple. Well, a couple until I came along and took that away from him." He sneered. "It looks like some things never change."
"Iris and Severus." Voldemort growled in a low inaudible voice.
"Hmm?" Iris said as she lifted her head off of Severus' shoulder.
"Iris, why did you want to meet me tonight?" He ordered.
"I just wanted to talk Sev." Iris sighed
"Sev? This is just too much." Voldemort laughed to himself. "All this sappy crap is getting me know where."
"Honestly Iris if you don't get to the point already I am going leave because like I said you wasting my time." Severus barked.
Iris looked over at Severus with a raised eyebrow. "Ok?" Iris said confused.
"Well." Iris paused trying to pull her words together.
"Well, what?" Severus said growing more impatient at each passing second.
"Would you please let me finish without any interruptions!" Iris snapped as she moved away from Severus.
Severus sighed in aggravation as he waited for Iris to continue.
"I just wanted to tell you that the house elves will be getting a special gift later on tonight and I just wanted to remind you not to eat any of the pastries that might show up tomorrow night." Iris huffed.
"Is that all Iris?" Severus asked impatiently.
"Yes. But...I...Sev..." Iris started.
"But what Iris?" Severus interrupted.
"I want to talk about us Sev." Iris sighed as her body shank against the cold stone wall.
"Us?" Severus snorted. "You can't be serious. Are you?"
"Well, yes I am." She sniffed.
"Well, that talk is not going to happen since there is no us and that there will never be an us." Severus said as he left the Astronomy tower.
&&&&&&&&&&&
Voldemort reached the end of the tower stairs when he heard the soft thud of the Astronomy tower door shutting behind him. Checking behind him and down the corridor he suddenly heard the faint chiming of a nearby clock.
Ding Ding
"My hour is up." Voldemort hissed.
Voldemort looked down at his hands and noticed that the smooth, pale skin of Severus' hand was now turning back to his very own leathery, blotchy red skin.
Voldemort rushed into the main hall of Hogwarts' as he slowly began to transform from Severus back to himself.
"Severus what is the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?" Professor McGongall called out after him as she her nightly rounds.
Voldemort stopped at Hogwarts' main doors and looked back and gave Professor McGongall an evil smile.
"Severus?" Professor McGongall called out again with concern in her voice.
Voldemort pulled open the heavy doors and ran into the dark night. He ran down towards the main gates. He stopped right before leaving Hogwarts' grounds and turned back and looked at the dark castle and let out a bone- chilling laugh. One he walked outside the main gates of Hogwarts' he disapparated.
&&&&&&&&&
Iris sighed as Severus left her alone in the Astronomy tower.
"What a mad little world I live." Iris snorted as she pushed herself up off the wall.
"No time like the present." Iris said as she straightened her robes and made her way out of the Astronomy tower.
Iris took the stair two at a time until she made it back to one of the main corridors. She quickly and quietly made it back to her classroom. Even though she didn't teach at this present time, which was now up to Professor Lupin, it was still her room and her materials.
She made her way over to large glass encased cabinet. Iris pulled over a chair to the far end of the cabinet the one closest to her office door. She crawled onto the chair and started rooting on the very top shelf.
Iris grabbed her wand from her robe pocket. "I can't see all the way back there. Lumos."
"Ahh. There it is." Iris said as she pulled a rather large tin from the back of the cabinet.
"In small doses it will cause light drowsiness but in large doses it will knock a troll out for at least twelve hours." She added quietly as she tucked it away inside her robes. "So the average person will be asleep until well into the next day. So it should do the trick."
Iris left her classroom and headed down to the kitchen. She reached the portrait of the bowl of fruit and tickled the pear. The picture swung open and Iris made her way into the kitchen. Barely in there for a minute and Iris was already bombarded with house elves.
"Professor! Professor!" Chimed all the little house elves. "What can we do for you Professor?" Squeaked a little voice down by Iris's knees.
One of the house elves brought over a tiny stool for Iris to sit down. Iris sat down and retrieved the tin from her robe pocket and placed it on her lap.
"I was cleaning out my cabinets in my office and came across this large tin of peppermint leaves." Iris forced herself to sound happy. With a fake smile in place she continued. "I was hoping that you all could use these for some Christmas baking or make some peppermint tea."
Iris opened the tin up and the house elves peered in. "Smells very good Professor!"
"Good! I hope you can use it soon." Iris smiled.
"You brought us something good Professor, would like something." Squeaked a bright-eyed house elf.
"No, but thank you very much for the offer but I must be going now." Iris said standing up.
"Professor, what things would you make with these peppermint leaves?" Asked the house elf who grabbed the tin from Iris's hands.
"My mother would always make peppermint brownies for Christmas Eve night for us kids and peppermint tea for the grownups. But the grownups would always sneak some of the brownies away from us kids when we were younger." Iris said winking at the elf that had asked her the question.
Two of the house elves grabbed Iris's hands and lead her to the door.
"Thank you Professor! We will make special things for the school tomorrow night." Squeaked a house elf as the portrait closed behind Iris.
Iris turned and started back to her office. Before she made it five feet from the kitchen she grabbed her left forearm in pain. She continued to walk as the pain subsided. Iris made it to the main hall. Instead of heading up the staircase that led to her office she made her way to the outside grounds of Hogwarts'. Iris made her way down the winding path and stepped outside the main gates. With a loud pop Iris had disapparated.
&&&&&&&&&
Iris apparated just outside the Death Eaters usual meeting place. To the ordinary witch, wizard or muggle it was just a plain old forest but to the Death Eaters it was much more. It was hidden well by many concealment charms and anyone who did not belong within the trees were turned away a forgetful charm.
Iris made her way through the dense trees and finally made it to the clearing. Iris could make out some of the Death Eaters. She could see Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. The flickering light of the small fire made in the middle of the clearing made it difficult to see the others. Everyone else was dressed in the black robes and masks except for Iris. She tried looking for Severus but could not find him in the sea of blackness.
Iris heard soft mummers of where the Dark Lord could be. Iris did take this into consideration because he was usually already at the meetings.
"Welcome back my loyal subjects." Voldemort hissed as he stood in the darkness.
Everyone turned his or her heads looking for where the voice was coming from. Suddenly everyone spun their heads around quickly when the sound of breaking leaves and tiny limbs came from in front of them. Out came the melting body of Severus Snape.
"How dare you call us your loyal subjects?" Growled Lucius Malfoy.
"You are my loyal subjects." Voldemort growled and he raised his gaze to meet Malfoy's.
Malfoy's mouth dropped when he saw two red slits glowing back at him. "I am sorry Master I did not know."
"Know one did." Voldemort laughed evilly.
Iris looked on in a state of confusion not fully comprehending what was going on right in front of her eyes.
"I even fooled my best Death Eater." Voldemort hissed as he made his way over to Iris.
"Yes, you did my Lord." Iris laughed trying to sound more impressed than scared.
"I just learned that my faithful servant has been keeping information from me." Voldemort growled.
"Have I my Lord?" Iris's voiced quivered.
"I would say that keeping your relationship between Severus or Sev as you like to call him and yourself from me as quite interesting." Voldemort hissed.
"You know of us my Lord. We are both Death Eaters. Of course this is some kind of relationship between us." Iris rattled on.
"You stupid little girl. Who do you think you are fooling? Voldemort said as he grabbed a hand full of her hair and forced her to her knees.
Iris fell to her knees and closed her eyes tight.
"What else have you been keeping from me and your fellow Death Eaters?" Voldemort ordered.
"Nothing my Lord." Iris whispered.
"I don't quiet believe that my dear." Voldemort said with and evilly sweet voice. "Let's see if this changes your mind." Voldemort said as he fingered his wand.
"CRUCIO!" Voldemort growled.
Iris howled in pain. Voldemort raised his wand hanging Iris above the rest of the Death Eaters. Everyone laughed as Iris jerked violently in the air.
"Had enough? Are you willing to talk now?" Voldemort growled as he pulled his wand away causing Iris to fall to the ground in a loud thud.
"Speak!" Voldemort ordered.
Iris pulled herself up slowly. "I have nothing to tell you my Lord. I swear!" Iris choked out.
"You want to place this game you stupid girl? Then we will. CRUCIO!" Voldemort growled once again.
Laugher rang through the dense forest as Iris began to yell in pain as her body jerked violently on the forest floor.