(11)The Dark Force Forshadowed
Lupin awoke & slowly sat up on the bed. He was sore all over from his time under Crucio a few minutes earlier. He found himself staring into the eyes of a cat that was sitting on the bed post, watching over him. "Hello, Minerva!" Lupin muttered.
The cat jumped down to the floor & the second her paws hit the carpet, Professor Mcgonagal appeared before him. She gazed at him a moment & then sat down beside him. "Albus left me to watch over you until you woke up," she began.
"He just wants to make sure I go downstairs instead of back to Severus!" Lupin snarled.
"That too!" Mcgonagal smiled & then looked sternly at him. "He's not to pleased with you using black magic!"
"I know!" said Lupin. "Let's get this over with!" He stood up but swayed slightly. "Whoa! I moved to fast!"
"Lean on me!" said Mcgonagall as she helped Lupin to stand straight. The two of them headed downstairs.
Snape woke up to find Merida lying beside him. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you!" said Merida. "You've been out for almost 20 minuts!"
Snape let out a long low sigh. "The Crucio of Remus is strong!" He tried to relax the soreness throughout him. He raised a hand to Merida's neck & fondled the necklace, wondering if he should just yank it off & throw it out the window!
Merida pushed him away. "Oh, father!" she groaned. "You're not going to forbid me to wear this just becaues Lupin gave it to me, are you?"
Snape tried desperately not to bare his fangs. "Oh, I might!" he warned.
"It's just his Christmas present for me!" Merida defended. "So long as I'm happy, why should you bother?"
"Remus was going to give that.....thing to your mother when we were students at Hogwarts!" Snape snapped. "I can't believe he kept it all these years only to give it to you!"
"Was Lupin & mom having an affair?" Merida dared to ask.
"No!" Snape said. "Shouldn't you be waltzing the night away with Potter?"
Merida sat up, giggling! "I suppose I should," she started. "but I don't know how!"
Snape groaned. "Get off! Come on now! Move!" He pushed Merida off the bed & got up himself. Why do I put myself in these situataions?! Snape asked himself darkly. He glanced at Merida. "I'll show you the waltz!"
"YOU?!?!" Merida burst out laughing! "You know how to dance?!"
"What's so funny about that?!" Snape pulled Merida into position.
"It's just not you!" Merida snickered.
"You can be frightfuly trying at times!" Snape snapped as he moved her around. "If you must know, I had to learn so I could have a dance with your mother at some party! Tom & Lucious taught me!"
Merida stopped laughing. "As in Riddle & Malfoy?" Snape stopped the dance. "The Dark Lord taught you this? You said his name!"
"So did you, just now!" Snape defended. "Fine, but let's not speak of this again!" He let Merida go & headed for the door. "You seem to have it right by now! Go find Potter!"
Downstairs, almost everyone was in the Parlour where the Christmas tree stood, reflecting in the mirrors lining the walls. Ginny sat by herself, on the side looking sullen. "What's wrong?" Ron's voice brought her back.
"It's incomplete!" Ginny sighed. "I want Percy to be with us! But I guess Mom is just like Lupin & Snape! Stubborn beyond reasoning!"
"No, it isn't that!" Ron said as he pulled Ginny up by her hand. "Come with me & I'll tell you!" Ron led Ginny away from everyone & out into the hall. "Percy can never be with us again!" he started.
"Why?" Ginny asked. "Is he dead or something?"
"Or something!" Ron repeated. "Ginny, Percy is---well he has---Percy is a Death Eater!"
"What?"
"Snape exposed him when he had accused Merida of attempted murder," Ron went on. "Dumbledore sent Percy to Azkaban & now........."
"It's not true! " Ginny dropped Ron's hand. "It can't be!"
"Ginny----!" Ron began.
"NO!! I won't believe you!" Ginny ran upstairs.
"I'm sure he can't wait to dance with you!" Snape was saying.
"Move over!" Merida yelped. Snape flattened himself against the wall on one side while Merida stepped up against the other wall. Ginny ran past between them, sobbing her heart out. She didn't even notice them! "Wonder what that's about?" Merida asked as she started to step back into the hall but threw herself back again as Ron came charging through.
"Ginny!" Ron yelped. "Ginny please!"
"Stay away from me, Ron!" Ginny sobbed. "I can't beleive you'd say that about Percy!"
Snape & Merida glanced at each other. "Uh-oh!"
"It's true Ginny!" Merida said.
Ginny stared at her. "Percy is a Death Eater?" she asked. "B--But he can still come back!"
"No, he can't!" Merida answered.
"Your own father is a Death Eater!" Ginny defended. Snape let out a low growl. "He came back! Percy can to!"
"Professor Snape isnt loyal!" Ron said. "Percy is---Ginny? Ginny come back!" Ginny had disappeared around the corner & fled to her room. Ron began to start after her but collided with Mcgonagal & Lupin.
"I take it you told her?" Lupin asked. Ron groaned a yes & ran after Ginny.
Snape groaned. "I don't want to see him now!" he said to Merida. "Let's get downstairs! NOW what are you laughing at?"
"You growled!" Merida gasped for air! "You actually growled! You spend to much time around Lupin! I can't beleive you growled!" Merida was overcome with giggles. "You should do that more often! That was hysterical!"
"Glad you at least find me amusing!" Snape didn't know wether to laugh with her or growl again!
"Care for a dance with me?" Merida asked.
"Not yet!" said Snape. "I have to see Albus first! Just save the last dance for me!" Snape continued to the living room as Merida headed for Harry. "Ohhhh, Albus!" Snape groaned. "What do I do now?"
"I'll just have to find ways to keep you & Remus separate!" Dumbledore said. "I need all members of the Order alive! The Dark Lord is gathering his power!"
"There aren't that many of us to summon," said Snape. "He already has all his loyal followers with him & the Dementors! I'm surprised he hasn't attacked before now!"
"I fear we must face more than just Death Eaters & Dementors this time!" said Dumbledore. "You're as telepathic as I am. Can you not sense the evil that is begining to rise over the land?"
"It's to quiet to be of the Dark Lord!" said Snape.
"The calm before the storm!" Dumbledore said. "I've already sent word to friends all over the land! In France Secondary, Camoelot High, Snowfort in the Swiss Alps & others as well! I am waiting for their reply. We, also, must gather our forces together while there is still time."
"Is this the year of Darkness?" Snape asked. "I remember when I was with him. He promised us great fortune after a year of Darkness. Has it finally come?"
"I'm afraid so, Severus!" Dumbledore answered. "I hope Harry is ready for it!" Snape scoffed at that! "Hush, Severus!" Dumbledore ordered sternly. "You know as well as I that Harry is mentioned in the Prophecy! It is Harry that must destroy the Dark Lord!"
"But how?" Snape scoffed again. "Their wands are brothers & cancel out each other's magic!"
"He will find a way!" Dumbledore said.
"Not while he's gloating over my daughter!" Snape muttered. Dumbledore only laughed softly at him! "Why her? She's to good for Harry Potter!"
"If you have your way, she'll be to good for anyone!" Dumbledore stated matter-of-factly.
"What about those you've called?" Snape was desparate to change the subject.
"As I've said, I'm waiting on their reply now!" answered Dumbledore. "It's best to communicate now. Later would be unwise! We can't accept any risks of interception this time; not like last year!" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean by that?" Snape asked.
"When you sent me that owl, telling us Lucious & Bellatrix had been sent to the Dursleys!" Dumbledore reminded him.
"I never did that!" Snape defended. "I was surprised you sent us one asking us to save the Dursleys?"
"I sent no such letter, Severus!" Dumbledore declared. They gazed at each other a moment.
"Merida! Get in here!" Snape ordered as he noticed her & Harry passing by. "Was it you who told us about the Dursleys last year?!"
"Yes, by Mystique!" Merida said.
"Just how long have you been with the Dark Lord?" Snape snapped.
"Almost all year!" Merida yelped. "Look on the bright side, you found Petunia!"
"OUT!!!" Snape pointed to the door! Merida fled to the safty of Harry's side! "I'm never going to be seen with a woman again!" Snape muttered to Dumbledore.
"How unfortunate!" Dumbledore teased. "Werwolves have great stamina, I've heard some say!"
"I dislike the way in which this conversation is turning!" Snape snapped. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm ruined! Oh, get out, Remus!" Snape ordered as Lupin stepped in.
"YOU leave!" Lupin ordered back. "I'm here to see Albus!"
"Fine!" Snape marched for the door. "I want to escape the conversation anyway so I will leave!"
"Full moon in three nights!" Lupin warned. "Be ready for it!" He turned to Dumbledore. "What are you laughing at?"
"Severus seems to dislike certain conversations!" Dumbledore told him.
"Yes I could see how that would be amusing," Lupin started. "but it isn't my fault if he leaves Petunia! & if he dares to blame me again, why I'll....." Lupin didn't know how to finish the sentence.
Snape entered the kitchen & paced around. He hadn't thought of that before; but of course, it was better to stay away from Harry's aunt & everyone else now! "I must tell her something but not about lycanthropy!" Snape told himself aloud. He felt his Death Mark prickle a bit. "Thank you Master!" Snape sighed with releif. "I'll use this Mark as an excuse!"
After writing a warning for Petunia, about the Dark Lord getting stronger & his connection to him, Snape hunted down an owl. There were several around Grimmauld & one flew in & perched on a chair near the table. Snape tied the letter to the owl's leg & opened the window for it. The owl flexed it self, getting ready to take off as Snape began to leave. Then a thought hit him!
"MERIDAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Snape's fingertips closed around the tail feathers & pulled!
The owl dug her talons into the windowsill & spread the wings wide in a desperate attempt to fly away into the snowy night but Snape yanked hard! "Whooo!" The owl disappeared back inside with a flurry of feathers & looked helplessly into Snape's eyes!
"Oh, don't look at me like that!" Snape forced the owl onto the counter & slammed the window shut! "Go on now! CHANGE! I know it's you!"
"Fine, you caught me!" Merida appeared, sitting on the counter & grinned sheepishly. "THIS time!"
Snape deflated! "You drive me crazy at times, Merida! You know that, don't you? & what do you mean THIS time?"
"Oh, nothing!" Merida smiled seductively. Snape cast his eyes to the ceiling for a moment! "You & Petunia write each other all the time!"
Snape glared into Merida's eyes. "& just......" Snape caught his breath, because for some reason, he felt like laughing! "How many of my letters do you read?!" He tried the sternest voice he could think of it!
"Most of them!" Merdia admitted, smiling "& hers too!"
"& her....why you!!" Snape groaned. He stepped up to Merida who was still sitting on the counter & held her firmly so she couldn't escape! "Give me that letter or you'll wish you had!" Merida cast him a sly look & lifted up her dress slightly to untie the letter. "I resent telling you about being Veela!" Snape gritted his fangs for a split second but Merida didn't notice! "You're just trying to weasle you way out of trouble! Well let me assure you, it won't work! So there! Now hand it over!"
"Mind your manners, father!" Merida teased, holding the letter out of reach. "Please?"
Snape laughed in disbelief! "Alright! Please give me that letter!"
"That's better!" Merida handed it to him!
"I don't believe you!" Snape snapped. "You're so like your mother! I thought I had learned to counter Veelism by now!" Snape began to look for a "normal" owl.
"You forget that I'm supposed to be in trouble for something?" Merida laughed.
Snape rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Unbelievable!" he whispered to himself. "Don't you have a Potter to be with?"
"I hoping for another chance at being your owl!" said Merida.
"Come here!" Snape pulled Merida close to him for a moment. "Not likely!"
"Oh, well, maybe next time!" Merida sighed.
"Merida, this owl-business has to stop!" Snape looked sternly down at her. "If the Dark Lord ever catches you, he'll destroy you!" Snape lost his stiffness for a moment. "You're all I have left! I don't want to lose you too! Now promise me this! No more owling for anyone?"
"Yes, father!" Merida promised.
"Learn to use Mystique wisely or I'll take it from you! Understand?"
"Yes, father!" Merida glared at the floor. She knew he was serious.
"Good!" Snape held Merida close for a moment.
"Uh-oh!" Ron whispered to Harry. They had just passed the entrance to the kitchen.
"What?" Harry whispered back.
"You'd better turn that girl into a Potter & soon!" Ron answered.
"Why?"
"Well, look!" Ron pointed into the kitchen. "Those two are finally bonding! Now we'll have two Snapes to worry about!"
"Very funny, Ron!" Harry marched off. "Very funny! But Professor Snape would have my head if I asked her to marry me!"
"Not if I don't get Snape's head first!" Ron teased.
"Oh, I'd love to have his head!" Lupin smiled evilly as he passed by. Harry & Ron laughed at him. "Shouldn't you two be in bed? It's past 2 in the morning! We're going back to Hogwarts in a few hours!"
"Heading there now, sir!" said Harry.
"Goodnight, sir!" Ron bounded up the stairs.
