Anything that's not blatant is a riddle
Please read and review if you can!
Author's penname: Elixa Amethyst
Voices of the Past Part III
Written May 2002 onwards, pre Order of the Phoenix.
All characters and things you recognise, are © JKRowling, no infringement
intended.
All references to "mediwizard" mean healer.
Please read parts I and II first.
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Chapter Nine
A New Outlook
The Chapel door
creaked as I pushed it open. I could see the outline of the lines of pews and
the candles at the front on the altar were lit. I knew little about Muggle or
wizard religion, so I was cautious not to offend anyone by my behaviour the
room. I'd never took Severus to be religious in any way. Perhaps the deaths in
the last year had changed something; this was the place Moody's body had
rested. The room was silent, all apart from the creak of the heavy door. The
figure seated on the second pew back on my left side didn't move, it was
hunched over in a way I suspected was in prayer. I swallowed, tasting unease in
my mouth. There was a certain feeling this room gave that made the hairs on the
back of your neck stand on end. I turned away from the door, treading as quietly
as I could across the stone floor. I could have sworn all the other floors I'd
walked on had been wood. With as little noise as was possible, I tiptoed down to
sit on the right side of the room on the third pew back. Now I could clearly see
the figure was Severus. His elbows rested on the back of the pew before him, and
his head was in his arms, hair obscuring his face from my view. His robes were
hanging almost to his feet, but not quite, the toes of his black shoes were just
visible, polished immaculately. I rarely noticed feet. Finally there was
movement, he sat up, an aquiline nose protruded from the raven black hair, and I
could see the long-fingered hands gripped the back of the pew before him. I
remained silent, just watching.
"You have something to say to me Elixa?" His voice was soft, but commanding.
I watched the candle flames dance on the tops of the floating candles for a
moment before I answered.
"Just why." I answered, blinking away a slight tear. Severus looked round
over his shoulder, his black eyes studying my face as I watched the candles.
"Come here." I got up and went to sit beside him. He placed a hand on my
left shoulder, the side he was sitting on.
"Draco is one of the dark side." I went to speak, turning to look at my
uncle as I did, but he placed a finger to my lips to silence me. "I know this
because I was there when he agreed." I stared at Severus; his dark eyes seemed
tired, and perhaps even sorry for me.
"No…" I breathed. Severus put his arms around me and I fell onto his
shoulder, disbelief written across my face.
"If there was any way I could have prevented it I would. I know how much he
means to you." I gripped his robes, amazed at both the fact Draco was with
Voldermort and that Severus seemed to understand that he'd meant something to
me, and still did.
The afternoon was spent in the common room, in excited anticipation of the
results of the NEWTs and OWLs. The lists would go up soon, but the NEWTs and
OWLs were announced in the great hall at dinner, where a special delivery of
owls arrived. I couldn't believe it had been a year since we'd sat round the
fire after reading the results, over a year since my parent's death, it had
all passed so quickly. The Seventh Year Slytherins all sat around the fire in
the high-backed wooden chairs, legs stretched out and discussing the exams
quietly. My mind kept drifting back to Draco, how I couldn't believe what
he'd done and not told me either.
"Early birds catch the worm don't they say?" Kerry announced suddenly. My
eyes flew up from where they were staring into the fire, and realised everyone
was getting up, ready to go to the great hall slightly earlier to hopefully
speed up the process of announcing the results. I scrambled up out of my chair
and followed everyone out.
"Now we await the
special delivery of the exam results for the fifth and seventh years, I assure
you all that this year the examination results were high, and all the staff are
pleased with your results." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind his glasses.
Kerry looked very nervous as she sat beside me. I placed a hand on her arm to
reassure her.
"You'll do fine." I muttered. She gave a quick smile, and continued to
listen. Dumbledore looked up suddenly and we turned to see a flock of owls swoop
in from the direction of the enchanted ceiling. A large black owl landed on my
arm and handed me my envelope. It flew off within a matter of seconds. There was
the mass noise of tearing paper, and parchments being unfolded. Then followed
groans of disbelief and mainly shouts of joy and smiles. I very nearly dropped
off the bench, I couldn't believe it, not only had I achieved a B for History
of magic, I'd not scored a C anywhere, and also there were very few B's.
Kerry turned round waving her sheet at me, and we quickly swapped. Amazingly
Kerry had scored a B for potions, and the rest of her marks weren't too bad
either. She grabbed hers back, and threw mine at me, eager to show everyone
else.
"Miss Amethyst." I turned round to see Quirrell floating behind me, holding
another letter in his hand.
"Professor Quirrell." I smiled at the ghost. He held out the envelope to me.
"I think you'll be pleased at the outcome, your Uncle Professor Snape,
Professor McGonagall and I provided your references by the way." I looked
curiously at him, and opened the envelope. After the first few paragraphs, I
realised I was being offered a job with the ministry, starting three weeks after
the end of term, with the department of potions. I was speechless; I'd never
expected this to happen.
"Well done." Quirrell left me to continue reading the letter.
"What's that you've got?" Kerry asked. I turned it so we could both
read.
"Blimey!" Kerry exclaimed. "The Ministry wants you to work for
them?" She threw a hug around me, almost knocking me off the bench. "I'm
so happy for you!"
"Woah, okay Kerry, I understand!" I exclaimed, trying to peel her off me so
I could read the rest of the letter.
