I own nothing, I thank those who have been reviewing, and since it mostly one really lovely soul – you get a high five ::high five::. The story is winding to a close and I have no sequel or anything like that in the works yet but if there's something you'd like to see, read, or a character you'd like to know more about, just review and let me know. I have a 9-5 in the DC area and hence a lot of time to think whilst in traffic.. I hope you've all been enjoying reading this, it's been fun to write, there are only 2 chapters left and an epilouge. Have a good one! -D
Something in the Way
It occurred to Maylin quickly as she walked the stairs to Dumbledore's office that she had smoked more in the last two hours than she had in the last two years. It was a special habit that she saved only for visiting family and the American tax season. Climbing the spiral stairs for the first time in a long time seemed like a chore. But, alas, she reached the top. The door opened before she even had the chance to utter the password.
Dumbledore sat behind his radiant desk. To his side, Fawkes the Phoenix cooed softly in her sleep. "Good evening, my dear." Dumbledore motioned for her to take any seat. "Thank you, Albus." She stared around the walls, famous portraits carried on quiet conversations, and the books even seemed to jump out of their spines.
Dumbledore put down his quill and looked caringly at woman across from him. "I trust Severus will be arriving shortly?" Maylin shook her head. "No, actually he received a very important calling. He doesn't know when he'll be back." Albus removed his glasses and stepped from behind his desk. He sat on the edge in front of Maylin and look upon her with old loving eyes.
"Maylin, you speak as if he is never coming back."
Maylin's eyes never budged. "That actually seems to be the message as I understood it – Sir." Maylin's face felt heavy, her eyes drawn to the floor.
Albus bent down next to her.
"I don't mean to be intrusive, and this may be out of line, but, just how close is yours and Severus's relationship? As I recall he was always and undyingly fond of you."
Maylin wrapped her fingers behind her neck and stared at the ceiling. She paused and spoke. "If you're talking about sex, which I know you're not, then that would be almost entirely rude were we not your employees. So yes...I think." She paused again "I love him, you know..."
Maylin wouldn't cry. She wanted to fall apart like a baby. She desperately wanted nothing more than to curl up on her couch in her Manhattan apartment, but escapism was no longer an option.
"I was a fool, Albus." She looked straight into the headmaster's moon glasses. "He tried to save me and everything else he loved, and I sent him away. I tore him apart and then I just waltzed back into his life and tried to pretend that nothing had changed. But I was the one who left him. I fucked up. And now he's out there because of something I created, throwing himself into the lions den." Dumbledore touched the woman's shoulder. "Professor Snape did what he did because he loved you."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better? He loved me so I threw him away? I'm a horrible person, Albus, I never stopped once to think about why he did what he did. He never offered an explanation and I always just assumed it was because -" "Because why, dear?" Maylin was weeping. She couldn't help it. "Because of his father. I thought that perhaps underneath it all - his father had won."
Dumbledore wiped the tears from her eyes. "You're not a bad person, Maylin. Your son was dead and it seemed rather cut and dry that your husband abandoned you. You needed time. And since those past events, so has Severus. He's been through Hell and back before. He will return again."
Maylin looked up at Dumbledore. "You promise, Boss?" Dumbledore offered a warm smile. "I will do my best. Now let's dry those eyes before our guests arrive shall we, one of them will require some explaining."
Slumped on the cold dusty floor, Snape has seen better days. Beaded sweat tinted with blood ran down the side of his face. His hair stuck to his skin like glue. He would not talk.
Voldemort stood before him. He looked as if he had returned to full strength but Snape knew this was untrue. Had Voldemort returned to full power the genocide of half-blooded wizards would've already began and ended. He was biding his time looking for the ultimate weapon.
His voice hadn't changed since their first encounter.
"I do apologize Severus for our brutal tactics, but alas, it seems that you can no longer be trusted. I don't want to hurt your darling May; that is what you called her isn't it? But now it seems that I have run out of options. And after all I am in the business of breaking promises, what's one more?"
Snape rose from the floor as best he could. "You can't hurt her, she's too powerful, too well protected, you'll never get to her."
Voldemort smirked haughtily. "I see, and who will save her this time? You? I think not. You see, Maylin has pride. For whatever reason, she loves you. She will come to me."
"Like Hell she will."
"Severus, Severus, you have not only betrayed me but it appears as if you have lost your faith as well."
"What is that supposed to mean." Snape tried turning his head and evaluating the room. It was full of the same shrouded men and women who forced him into this god awful situation to begin with.
"Do you honestly believe that I too would not have spies?"
"I thought I was your spy, you couldn't even give me a chance to clear out my office?"
"Severus, really, as if I would take you back without a second thought? My spy was my second thought, good thing too, hmm? Consider this your two weeks."
"You're very kind," Snape muttered.
"It is rumored that as long as Dumbledore is at Hogwarts then all those within its walls are safe." He paused, his voice ringing in Snape's bloodied ears. "But what if I told you that I had found a way in?"
"I'd say you've lost your mind."
"Hmm, perhaps I have lost my mind, but no matter I have his." Voldemot pointed into the darkness of their surrounders. One stepped forward, he removed his hood.
Even in the dark Snape knew the man.
"Squire, you damnable traitor."
The man once known to his colleagues as 'Professor' squealed an annoying laughter.
"Traitor, eh? The same could be said of you." Squire leaned in closely to Snape. "Spies like us rarely get a break then do we?" Squire stood and faced the room. He extended his arms as if he had just won a large victory.
"There is but one way to penetrate the protections of Hogwarts. All it requires to enter are two Hogwarts professors and a single pass code." The small squeaky man paused. "You, Professor will provide us with that code."
"I'd assume die before helping you anymore."
"You speak as if you have a choice. No, Professor we won't kill you just yet.
However, it doesn't mean we can't mess you up a bit now does it?"
Several followers in robes restrained Snape to the floor. He fought their grasp but was too weak. Another figure swept in from behind the Dark Lord and struck Snape swiftly with his cane. Woozy and drained, Snape looked up at his assailant. Lucius Malfoy.
Voldemort bent only slightly before his captive. "You might remember this," said Voldemort revealing a small translucent vial from his robes. "After all," he continued, "it was one of your first and few creations for me all those years ago."
Snape recognized the vial.
Truth Serum. Shit.
Voldemort moved silent through the room.
"I need that code Severus. I have penetrated the mind of that little rat Potter. He doesn't have what I need. My creatures while able to cross Hogwart's lines were less than effective. So now, I need you. You will bring me your darling May, that is what you call her isn't it? I will find out the information I need and then maybe, I will let you both live."
"Fuck you."
The cane pounded him from the other side. Snape spit blood onto Malfoy's robes. The cane rose again.
"No!" Voldemort interjected. "We do need him alive, for now." He sniffed in hard through his snake slit nose. "Besides, we have quite the journey ahead of us."