(9)So It Begins

"Where am I?" Merida looked around as she held Mrs. Norris close.

"Miss Snape?" came a young man's voice. "You're early! The Master is away on business right now! No matter, I can hold you until he returns."

"Marcus Flint?!" Merida gasped. "No wonder you were in such a hurry to leave the Slythering Team!"

"Quite right, Miss Snape!" Marcus pulled Mrs. Norris from Merida's arms.

"Don't harm my cat!" Merida threatened. "Yes, I recognize this place now!" She glanced around at the Riddle Mansion.

"Harm her? HARM Norris Filch? Never!" Marcus placed the old cat on the floor & she turned into the old lady that had attacked Merida over Hallowe'en!

"You're an Animage?" Merida yelped. "No wonder you eluded everyone! Who would have suspected an old cat!"

"Very good, dear child!" Norris laughed. "When my attempt at destroying you & Harry Potter at the Quidditch game failed, the Master put a Portkey charm on me to bring you here next time you touched me! As an animal, I can easily pass through that protection shield around the forest! Now, Marcus! Is the Master on business?"

"Oh, yes!" said Marcus. "He should return soon!"

"Good!" Norris said. "My husband, Argus, will be free at last!"

"No wonder he was always protective of you!" Merida muttered.

"Your father thought he was holding me as ransom for your safety!" Norris laughed as she left the room.

Merida turned to Marcus Flint. "Your Head Boy will not be pleased with this!"

"I've lost faith in your father when I found out Snape married a mudblood Ravenclaw!" Flint sneered. "I've found a new Master!"

"He's your father too!" Merida yelped. "By the ties of Slythering! You betrayed us all! Serving Voldomort? How dare you?"

"How dare you disrespect the Master by saying his name?" Flint yelled.

"I can say Voldomort's disgracing name whenever I want!" Merida defended.

"Disgracing name?!?!" Flint threw Merida to the floor. "It's high time you learned a little respect, young lady!"

The door to the Potions Class opened & in walked.....

"Get out of my office, Remus Lupin!" Snape ordered, back to his irate (& irritating!) self.

"Good morning to you, too!" Lupin laughed a mocking laugh. "I'm here on order to watch over your class. Albus needs to see you right away!"

"Damn dog!" Snape muttered. "Fine, but don't mess up my desk!"

Lupin smiled to Neville as he passed & marched up to Snape's desk. He picked up the ink jar from the right side & moved it over to the left. Snape exhaled sharply through gritted teeth! "Can you blame me?" Lupin asked. "After all, I am left-handed! Oh, & by the way, I'm not a dog right now, or did you fail to check the mooncharts?"

Snape left his desk & marched past Lupin to the door with out saying a word to him. He stopped for a moment, near Merida's desk. "20 points from Gryfindor, because Miss Snape is late for class. Since it is more than half over, she might as well not bother to show up!"

Lupin bared his fangs in a wince. "Umm---that's why Albus wants to see you. It's about Merida!"

Snape yanked his cape stiffly around himself & left "Now what did she do?" he muttered as he stepped onto the twirling staircase leading up to Dumbledore's office! As he entered, he saw Firenze lying on the couch with his hooves neatly tucked under him & his long mane & tail falling gracefully to the floor. The Centaur gazed at Snape as he entered, with his big soft eyes. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, looking worried about something.

"Sit down, Severus!" Dumbledore said. "Firenze has found something of importance that may aid us in catching our intruder!"

"We Centuars know when a stranger enters our forest," Firenze began. "For the past few weeks, I've been following some catprints that I had found in the snow. I am aware of Crookshanks & Mrs. Norris, of course, but these catprints one day changed to human prints! I believe one of the castle cats is actually an Animage! Perhaps an unregistered one!"

Dumbledore glanced at Snape. "Merida is missing," he finally said. "& so is Mrs. Norris!"

Snape buried his face in his hands for a moment. But before he could say anything, a Horned Owl appeared in the window. Dumbledore untied the letter & sent the Owl to the school Owlry. "It's from Grimmauld by Allastor Moody!" Dumbledore said as he read it. "Get all the students inside this instant!" he suddenly ordered. "Azkban has fallen & the Dementors are gone! Allastor saw someone in the shadows & is following him. He believes it to be Voldomort!"

Snape lifted his eyes to Dumbledore. "What? Azkaban is fallen?"

"Yes, Severus!" Dumbledore stared down at the letter. "All Death Eaters have disappeared as well!"

"So it begins!" Firenze murmured a prediction & being a typical Centaur!

"Perhaps so!" Dumbledore agreed. "But we must---!" He was interrupted by a yelp from Snape as he grasped his Death Mark. "Severus, what's wrong?"

"My Mark!" Snape gasped. "It's burning! Searing! The call of the Dark Lord affects all who are scarred by the Mark wether we are loyal or not! Albus, let me answer!"

Dumbledore glared at Snape in utter shock! "You wish to betray us?!"

"No!" Snape yelped as the pain in his Mark increased in urgency for an answer to the Dark Lord's call. "Never! But, Merida may be there! I may be able to rescue her! Let me answer the Lord's calling!"

"Forgive me, Severus!" Dumbledore said in an understanding tone. "I didn't think of it like that! Yes, answer him but please, be careful!"

"I will!" Snape said as he began to fade & teleport to the Dark Lord's Mansion.

"Yes, that's good!" Voldomort looked over his followers. "Those who remain alive among us have finally returned, save for two! One, of course, is Severus Snape! I will deal with his treachery later! But where is my newest follower, Marcus Flint?"

"Mrs. Norris said he was inside," said Percy. "Apparently, he has a surprise waiting for you?"

"Oh? I like surprises!" said Voldomort. "I will return shortly!" He entered the Riddle Mansion & passed Marcus, who was on his way out.

"She's in the guest room!" Marcus said.

"She?" Voldomort gazed at Marcus for a moment. "Miss Snape? Wonderful! Well done Master Flint!" Voldomort entered the guest room & saw Merida lying on the floor. She kept her eyes off the Dark Lord. "Well now, my pet!" Voldomort glared at her. "We meet at last, officially!"

Merida moved only her eyes to glare up at Voldomort in defiance. "I thoroughly enjoyed being your Phoenix & telling the Order all about you!"

"Yes," Voldomort sat down on a chair in front of her. "It was fun while it lasted!" He smiled an almost loving smile at Merida. "So much like your father! Just like him!" the Dark Lord mused to himself. "Pity to kill so strong a household! He was the best Death Eater I ever had!"

"Have you forgotten," Merida decided to remind Voldomort. "that he was a spy?"

"Aww, poor man!" Voldomort fiened sympathy. "Still living that old lie?"

"What do you mean?" Merida asked.

"Very well," Voldomort sighed. "I shall tell you before I kill you! You have the right to know! Severus was no spy! He was worse than a spy!" the Dark Lord began. "He was a double agent! In it for himself! He used the excuse of being a Death Eater to destroy those he didn't like! It was his suggestion to invite the Potters to join me, knowing they would refuse & ultimately die! He schemed with Peter to frame Sirius Black, hoping to actually kill Sirius though that happened at a later time then was planned. There were many who died at the merciless wand of Severus Snape, mostly through the Cruccio Curse! But he failed once in obeying my orders for destroying Albus Dumbledore! That's how I caught Severus!" Voldomort paused for a moment. "I found out he was double-crossing me but still, with such a cunning, evil mind like that, he was a great Death Eater! His only folly was underestimating the greatest Sorcerer in the world!"

"My father is a greater Sorcerer than you'll ever be!" Merida jumped up off the floor. "I can't believe you'd lie about him like that! Father is no murderer!"

"I'm afraid so, my beloved Phoenix!" Voldomort stood up. "A Dark Sorcerer through & through but," he became slightly agitated. "he was nowhere near as strong as me! He never will be! I am Lord Voldomort! My powers are beyond your imagination!" he glared at Merida. "It's no lie! Your father is murderer, worthy of capital punishment by the standards of justice! It's a shame he left me for when I told him he was caught, I also had to order the death of the Snape family, except Severus, as punishment for going against me. In a poor attempt to prove himself worthy to me & save anyone with the name of Snape, he used the Dementor Sphere to destroy a meeting by the Order Of The Phoenix; however, no one remembered to tell him that Rachelle would be there as well. When he saw your mother dead & realised it was his fault, Severus gave up & left me completely!"

"No, it's not true!" Merida was desperate to hit Voldomort with something. Anything!

"Yes, Miss Snape!" Voldomort said. "Your own father killed your mother!"

"Oh, you lie!" Merida tried not to cry in rage.

"Believe what you will, Miss Snape!" Voldomort said. "It is time now to meet your dear mudblood mother! Avada Kedav---!"

"Cruccio!" Snape appeared out of nowhere & struck the Dark Lord to the ground with the curse of torture. "Don't call my wife mudblooded!" Snape muttered as he pulled Merida away.

"Come quickly!" Moody ran to Merida as fast as his wooden leg wood allow & cast a Portkey charm onto her necklace. "You're not finished your Apparation Level yet so use that! Let's go! Severus!" Moody punched Snape softly on the arm to bring him back to attention! "You can't kill him, only Harry & Neville! Now move!"

Snape lowered his wand. "I'm coming!" He apparated with Moody to the Hogwarts Gates as Merida was whisked away to the Gryfindor common room by the Portkey charm. Snape & Moody entered Dumbledore's office as soon as they arrived.

"All Death Eaters & Dementors are at the Riddle Mansion!" Moody began. "He's gathering his powers together!"

Dumbledore sighed. "We must raise Protecto around the castle to deflect the Dementors but it's only a matter of time before they break through. Christmas Holidays begin in a week. No student will be allowed to remain. We will send them all home once we make sure the Hogwarts Express rails are secure! I hope they can return after New Years! For now, each student will have an escort! I don't want anyone left alone!"

"Yes, sir!" Moody left to set the aurors to the task.

Dumbledore held Snape back. "You used black magic on Tom?" He glanced to Snape's long black wand that he was still holding.

"Yes, sir!" Snape said. "He was half way through the Avada Death Curse on Merida. Once a Dark Wizard, myself, Cruccio was foremost on my mind!"

"Don't disappoint me, Severus!" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Please restrain yourself from the power of evil. It is not good to return evil for evil!"

"I know, sir!" Snape gaze shifted to the floor as a long moment of silence passed.

"Especially now that the time of Darkness is upon us, we need all the Light we can!" Dumbledore added, suddenly breaking the awkward stillness. "Off you go, now!" He smiled softly & went to his desk as Snape left. Dumbledore became serious again, thinking. He was worried about Snape. Was he the future evil that must be stopped? Dumbledore pushed the thought away as soon as it surfaced. "I'm letting Harry's Prophecy get to me!" he scolded himself. "Severus, would not defect!" Dumbledore pulled out the old Prophecy anyway, in spite of himself but RL & SS were still shifting. Dumbledore smiled to himself, reassured, as he put it away. He still didn't know what it all meant. Then another thought hit him. What about Marcus Flint? "OK, that's it, Albus!" Dumbledore got up from his desk. "You're letting your mind wander! Time for bed!"

The last day of school, finally arrived. The students rushed through each class as fast as their teachers would allow, Snape being the usual stubborn exception & pulled a horrendous stunt on the students by announcing a Double Potions!

"You must be kidding, father!" Merida laughed in surprised. "Merlin's sake! It's Christmastime!"

"Not until this day is over!" Snape fumed. "Now back to your desk! All of you!" Snape glared around the classroom. Everyone was stuck with him for another hour! Finally, they finished their extra assignments & got up to leave. "Merida, a moment, if you will!" Snape ordered.

"Don't tell me!" Merida said in a sarcastic voice. "TRIPLE Potions for me just because you want to be hard on me!"

"Perhaps," Snape teased evilly. "but I really wanted to ask you something. I've been sensing something rather Dark from you. What happened with the Dark Lord?"

"Oh, nothing!" Merida sighed. "Voldo---;" Snape glared sternly at her. "The Dark Lord...whatever...just told a lot of lies about you!"

"Nice.....recovery!" Snape hyperventilated through gritted teeth!

"You can stop hyperventilating!" Merida laughed. "I didn't say his name after all!"

Snape crossed-rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Merlin, give me strength before this woman drives me to insanity!" He glanced back to Merida, who was suppressing her giggles with great force! "I, for one, have yet to hear the Dark Lord lie!" Snape ignored her snickering. "What did he tell you?"

"A lot!" Merida tried to end the conversation there.

Snape gazed awkwardly at Merida & for the first time, actually pulled her close to him! "Tell me telepathically!" He cast the charm of Oclumency.

After a few moments, Merida slid off him to the floor. "It's not true though, right?" she asked. "I didn't believe it at all!" She began to leave.

"It is true!" Snape said slowly just as Merida reached the door.

Merida stood still for a moment, then turned around & marched back to Snape's desk. "What?" Snape kept his eyes lowered to the desk. Merida forced him to look at her, holding his face in her hands. "No it isn't!"

"Yes, it is!" Snape said. "I'm a Dark Wizard! But a retired one, I guess you could say! When I saw Rachelle dead, I......!"

Merida waited for him to finish that sentence, but he didn't. She held him firmly. "No, father! You're not a murderer!"

"Merida, it's a life I regret & don't wish to talk about anymore than I have to! But, yes, I am!" Snape eyed her closely. "Was, actually! Merida? Merida wait a minute!" But Merida didn't wait! She fled the room & ran for Gryfindor Tower.

"Oh, Ron!" Merida fell into his arms & burst into tears. "I know how you feel about being related to a Death Eater! Snape was no spy!"

Not knowing what to do, Ron held Merida close & glanced around for Harry who was just coming down the stairs. "Harry, get over here!" Ron whispered hoarsely.

"What's going on?" Harry sat down beside Merida & Ron. Merida managed to pull away from Ron & told him & Harry everything. "I knew it!" Harry said when she was finished. "I knew there was something Hagrid didn't mention! I could see he was trying to avoid saying much about that Sphere! He must have known what really happened!" The three of them sat in silence for a few minutes. "Come on! We'll be late for our last class!" Harry suddenly remembered.

They're final class was with Professor Sprout. The students were tending to a set of Sparkler Poinsettias, who's petals let off sparks of color when ever someone came near! They had to repot them one last time & then the plants would be ready for Christmas. After the repotting was finished, everyone hurried off to the warmth of the castle.

Merida stayed behind. "Professor, are you staying here?"

"Oh, for a few minutes!" Sprout laughed her bubbly laugh. "Why, dear?"

"I haven't seen Salem in a while!" Merida glanced to the Threstral barn that also held her unicorn.

"Sure, go ahead!" Sprout said. "I'll get you in a few minutes!"

Merida pushed open the big doors & entered the barn. In one corner, she could see hay disappearing. Rarely did the horses of the dead eat hay, preferring instead, to scavenge like vultures, off carcasses left in the forest. Threstrals could come & go as they pleased to the barn. Merida ducked as one large wing swept passed her head when one Threstral decided that now would be a most appropriate time to flex it! She sighed, half-wishing to see them if only to save her head but Merida knew the price to see Threstrals. One had to lay eyes on the death of a person to be able to see them. Salem poked his black face over the stall that was set up for him. Merida moved in beside him & began brushing him down. She wanted to keep her mind off things & was half way through finishing Salem's mane when a voice brought her back to reality.

"Merida, you're not supposed to be outside alone!" Snape said.

"I'm not! Professor Sprout is with me!" Merida pointed to the greenhouse & then returned her attention to Salem's mane. Snape was the last thing she wanted right now!

"No she......IS!" Snape waved awkwardly to Sprout & then turned back to Merida.

"What do you want now?" Merida snapped.

"I know you are upset but----!"

"You got that right!" Merida interrupted.

"BUT you're not the only one!" Snape managed to finish his sentence. Merida glared at him then proceeded to finish Salem's mane. "There's something else you didn't tell me?" Snape went on after a moment.

Merida shook her head & actually laughed a bit. "Darn telepathy doesn't miss much, does it?"

"Well, you block me well," Snape said. "Potter should learn from you! But what exactly happened?"

"Nothing!" Merida snapped as she glanced at the hay while a few sharp whinnies could be heard. "I suppose you can see them?!" Merida added sarcastically.

"Yes, actually!" Snape sighed. "The first one I ever saw was Orion. Threstrals are named for the stars. That's him there," Snape pointed Orion out. " & his so----sorry! You can't see them, can you?---his son, Polaris is with him! Most unusual to see them together!"

"What's so unusual about that?" Merida half-retorted.

"They're both stallions. Territorial!" Snape glared at Merida. "You are avoiding my question?"

Merida winced. "Don't do this, please!" she begged. "It's not something I want to talk of right now!" She kept her eyes firmly on a knot in Salem's mane that arrogantly refused to come out!

"I know you've been visiting Pomfrey almost everyday this week!" Snape tried a different approach. "What is that about?"

Merida took a long time in answering. She fought with the tangle in the mane, finally turned her wand's tip into a blade & ultimately cut it off! "Marcus Flint is a Death Eater now!" she finally said.

"Yes, I know!" Snape muttered. "Even though he was Slythering, I knew he wouldn't amount to much!"

"Apparently, I arrived at Riddle mansion early," Merida went on.

"The Dark Lord was away on business, come to think of it, probably Azkaban! Marcus was talking against you for marrying a muggle-born! We got into a fight & he decided to teach me a lesson in respect!" Merida held Salem's head close to hers & kept her eyes off Snape. Salem tossed his mane up & some of it landed forward, ensnared on his long golden horn! Merida sighed & started straightening it all out again.

"He used Cruccio on you?" Snape asked.

"No," Merida cast around for words. "Let's just say, my first encounter with a man was..........less than pleasant!"

Snape took a moment to let that sink in! He gazed at Orion & Polaris as they fought ridiculously over some hay when there was plenty of hay all around them. "Merida, you should have told me right away!" Snape finally managed to find his voice.

"That would be a pleasant chat!" Merida snapped. ""Hello, father! Thanks for rescuing me, oh & by the way, I might be pregnant so prepare yourself!""

"W--What?!"

"Don't worry," Merida went on. "Pomfrey doesn't think so, after all! No, I haven't told Harry yet, but I will soon enough!"

"Good!" Snape breathed a sigh of relief! "I'm too young to be a gran....!" Snape stopped in mid-word. He actually laughed at himself for feeling so awkward! "I'm having enough trouble trying to be a father!" That was the wrong thing to say!

"Sorry for being a big disappointment to you!" Merida glowered as she brushed out Salem's mane, again.

"I was referring to myself!" Snape hissed through gritted teeth! "I know I haven't been exactly the perfect father! I--you--disappointment?! Not at all! Quite the opposite!"

"Prove it?!" Merida dared.

"Merida!" Snape yelped as he cast around for something to say! Once again, he was put on the spot by Merida's rather annoying habit of asking difficult questions! "You can talk to dolphins, just like your mother! You look just like her!" Snape tried to think. There were plenty of things he liked about his daughter but now that he needed them, he couldn't think of a single one! "You're good at Potions!" Snape finally said. "Even better than me, perhaps!" If THAT doesn't save me from the wrath of Merida Hepburn Snape, nothing will!!

"That must have been hard for you to say!" Merida smiled seductively.

"Yes, it was!" Snape cast his gaze to the Threstrals for a moment. "Shall we return to the castle?"

"Alright!" Merida said. "& what do you mean "too young"? Aren't you over 50?" she teased.

"You think like a muggle in terms of age!" Snape gritted his teeth. "For a wizard, we are still young at even 70 years!"

"So you're still a child!" Merida laughed.

"Silence!" Snape ordered. "Before I drain the Gryfindor Hourglass of ALL its points!" Merida fell behind Snape to hide her smiles & suppressed giggles! Snape rolled his eyes. Just ignore her! Just get to that castle!

The last day of school came to a close. The castle was blanketed with snow outside & full of Christmas trees & pixie lights inside. Most students were all ready packed to go home for the holidays & were now filing into the Great Hall for the end-of-fall term Christmas feast. Harry headed in the same direction. He was to meet Ron & Neville at Gryfindor Table. He rounded the corner to go down the main corridor to the Great Hall & collided with, "Draco Malfoy!" Harry picked himself up.

"Evening, Potter!" Draco glared back.

"Haven't seen you around much?" Harry snapped. Ever since Draco had said he was part Veela, he had been avoiding Harry whenever he could. The two of them now eyed each other closely as Snape marched passed, trying to ignore them.

"Harry remember the Veela-ism!" Merida reminded him.

"Trying! Not working!" Harry winced.

"Evening to you, too, Miss Snape!" Draco added slyly.

"Thanks Malfoy!" Merida stated flatly. "But I'm part Veela myself, remember!"

"I see you still like to cause trouble!" Harry glared at Draco.

"What do you mean?" Draco snapped.

"You still pick fights & I've heard you say mudblood at times!" Harry pointed out. "That automatically includes your Head Boy's daughter!"

"Only when in front of others!" Draco said. "It's what they expect! I still haven't told anyone else the real reason I get ornery! Veela males are a complicated type!"

"You can say that again!" Merida said.

"If you'll always do what you're expected, you'll have no life of your own!" Harry declared. "What if your father "expects" you to become a Death Eater? Would you accept?"

Draco glowered! "No, I wouldn't! Never! Why I----OH! You know what? Let's end this right now! Crabbe! Goyle!" Harry pulled out his wand, anticipating a fight. "I have to tell you something first!" Draco said when his two friends showed up. "After which, we can tell the whole castle!" Draco actually smiled sheepishly as Harry put his wand away. He watched Harry & Merida leave & then turned back to his friends.

"About time he grew up!" Merida muttered.

"I hope so!" Harry took Merida's hand & led her into the Great Hall.