The scratch of quill to parchment. The click of boots pacing the floor. The soft sliding whish of pages being turned. These were the only sounds heard in the room from three most unlike men. One would be hard pressed to find more unlikely cohorts in intrigue. Filius Flitwick leisurely read his book too experienced to worry overmuch until there was just cause to do so. Argus Filch paced the floor mentally rehearsing all the spells he had practiced during every spare minute he'd had the last few weeks. Severus Snape, well, he did not pace nor read. He graded papers and updated his lesson plans for Eve Delacour's use. She had turned out to be a very good teacher. There was marked improvement on test scores and potion practicals from the lower classes. He finished her evaluation and signed his name with a flourish. As he finished his signature, his mark began to burn. His breath came out in a prolonged hiss. Voldemort must be really anxious for the pain to be so sharp. He could feel the burning almost to his shoulder blades.
Flitwick and Filch saw his reaction. Filch rang a small brass bell sitting on top of the mantel. This bell's compatriots in all the teacher and staff quarters also rang. By prearrangement, all who heard the ringing knew that the summons had come. Those who were slated for gate duty would meet in the front hall and start for the gates. The others would gather in the Great Hall. Flitwick checked the extra wand in his shoulder holster and motioned Filch to come be transformed.
Flitwick transformed himself and Filch into moths. They flew into a small crystal flask. Snape then stoppered the flask with a cork that had a hole in the middle large enough to escape out of if needed but small enough to keep the contents from accidentally slipping out while in transit. In this way, carried on Snape's person but separate from his body, Filch and Flitwick would be able to apparate with Snape in complete safety and anonymity.
Snape put on his heavy Death Eater robes, shrunk the mask to fit in his pocket and levitated the jugs of paste. He left his quarters heading for the gates as a fast clip. Perspiration beaded down his forehead as he half ran and half trotted to the gates. The mark wasn't burning anymore. Instead it ached dully making his arm feel ten times heavier than normal. This heaviness concerned him. It's never felt heavy before. Something's wrong. He stopped and breathed deeply relaxing his body settling his mind to calm and focus only on the present. Don't panic now. I'll have Poppy do a check later. It's probably nothing. Snape strode through the gates of Hogwarts pulling his hood over his features before apparating. A group of his colleagues were not far behind him. They settled by the gates for what they hoped would be a short vigil.
Snape appeared in a field of hay lying fallow. Nearby he could see the outline of a small farmhouse. He looked around uneasily. He saw no one else. He was alone. In the midst of adjusting his robes and putting his mask on, he unstoppered the vial. Hearing the whisper soft fluttering of wings, he knew Flitwick and Filch had made it through intact. He opened one side of his robe to allow the moths to find hiding places within. To his left, he could hear someone noisily making their way to him. With some relief, Snape recognized Peter Pettigrew's distinctive wheezing.
"Snape, our lord instructed me to come get you," Pettigrew said. "Follow me."
"Where is this place?" Snape asked. "Looks quite peaceful."
"Very. We're in Dorset. The nearest town is Axebridge,"
"Ah, one of these days I should plan a visit to Glastonbury. The views from Mendip Hills is supposed to be breathtaking." Snape commented trying to give Filch and Flitwick as much offhand information as possible. "Has the gathering been cancelled? I don't see anyone."
"No, the others will be coming later. Our lord wanted to speak with you before the ceremony." Wormtail explained. "Tonight will be memorable."
"Indeed," Snape subdued his innate paranoia. He breathed deeply relaxing himself as much as possible freezing his face to a mask of watchful calm.
They had come to the door of the farmhouse and Wormtail gestured him in. The room was dimly lit by tall torches on each point of the pentagram. The air reeked of sulphur, fresh blood and smoke. As Snape came in, he saw that Voldemort stood in the middle of the pentagram dressed in sumptuous crimson and silver robes. Lucius stood close by the work table. He gave Snape a quick once over then returned his attention to Voldemort.
Snape felt Nagini circle him ocassionally touching him with its tail while its forked tongue darted out sniffing making sure of his identity. Satisfied, Nagini seemed to nod at Voldemort before retreating to its sleep nest by the fireplace. Snape put his jars down on the floor in front of him.
"Good evening, Severus," This was accompanied by a grotesque facsimile of a smile on the dark lord's face. "There are matters that I need to discuss with you before our gathering."
Snape stepped closer just to the edge of the pentagram fighting the urge to flee. As Snape had predicted, Demos was reacting to the heavy aura of the occult in the room, especially the pentagram. Snape ruthlessly barred Demos from leaving his body explaining that Demos had to resist or they would be found out. Outwardly calm, Snape said, "Yes, of course. What matters do you wish to discuss?"
For the first time in a very long time the doors of the Great Hall were locked from the inside. The Hall was ablaze with light. The house tables were not present. Ghosts flitted in and out taking and receiving instructions. The enchanted ceiling did not show the night sky. Instead it showed the scene just outside of Hogwarts gates. Hagrid paced from one end of the hall to the other and back again. Pince was experimenting with enchanting a crossbow. Trelawney, in the meantime, was intently studying Pince's notes on the new transport system. Pomfrey and Sprout sipped coffee while conversing quietly.
"I just don't understand it, Cera. I've probably tested a liter of Severus' blood and I haven't misread the results. His blood has changed ... is still changing in fact." Pomfrey said with obvious frustration.
"Side effects from the demon summonings?" asked Sprout.
"No, can't be. I first noticed the change happening late last year before he ever started his summonings. I suspect that the blood change is the reason for his increased lethargy. I know he's taking more Pepper Up potion to combat it. As it is, I give him weekly booster spells for his immune system."
"Prolonged use of Pepper Up has some serious side effects like hypertension and nervousness," Sprout mentioned. "Didn't you say that he had another attack a few nights ago?"
"The worse one so far. I've pleaded with him to stop taking the potion. Albus has even given Demos strict orders to watch Severus' vital signs at all times." Pomfrey shook her head. "One of these days, his heart is just going to stop and there won't be anyone around to help. If the hypertension wasn't bad enough, his stigmatas seem to react to the Pepper Up. They're now appearing on his back, his chest, his arms."
"I thought his stigmatas would be easing now that he wasn't summoning so much,"
"They should be. All the reference materials say so. But his appears on and off like benign melanoma tumors especially on his arms. Severus tells me they're not painful just aesthetically unpleasing. When he has an attack caused by over dosage of the Pepper Up, the lesions and boils expand and secrete acid. There must be something we've missed."
Sprout was lost in thought but phrases kept echoing through her mind "... on his arms.", "It's biological." " - grafted skin." ,"... his arms." Sprout suddenly knew with absolute horror what was wrong with Snape. Rejection in human beings was often a side effect masking what was really happening. Too busy treating the symptoms that one overlooks the real cause. Biology and nature will always win out. "Poppy, meet me in the infirmary. I need to get something from the Room of Counsel ! Hagrid! Open those doors, now!"
Snape found himself in the unenviable position of being hedged in with Voldemort and Lucius in front and Wormtail behind. Actually, he was more worried about Wormtail than the other two. Due to his cowardliness, Wormtail preferred to stab people in the back. Demos, keep an eye on Wormtail. Should he ever try anything and my back is turned. Take over.
He saw a moth weave in and out of the books lying atop the worktable hovering just behind Malfoy. The other moth was nowhere to be seen. Snape faced Voldemort and waited.
"I would like to go over the ceremony as each of you will play a part," said Voldemort. "Severus was tasked with finding a way to revivify the old mark to make it a symbol worthy of my second ascension. Let us now see what he has made."
"I will need a volunteer," Snape lifted the jars and put both on top of the worktable. He shook one gently before opening the stopper. He took a small brush out of one of the pockets of his robes.
"Do Lucius first," Voldemort commanded.
"I think the maker should be the first test subject," Lucius said.
"I agree, however, at this time I cannot be the test subject." Snape was consciously keeping his responses to the fewest most ambiguous words possible. Less chance of my truthful tongue being led astray by errant thoughts.
Lucius did not miss the quick look exchanged by Snape and Voldemort. "Why not?"
"Mine is different. It cannot be rebranded or changed or removed," said Snape.
"How convenient and - "
Voldemort interrupted him with, "Enough prattling, Lucius. Submit yourself and watch carefully."
Lucius pulled up his robe sleeve watching intently as Snape brushed a thin even coating over the faded black mark. Remembering the pain of his first branding, Lucius' entire body tensed.
Snape pulled out his wand and intoned, "Mutatio Alius Advoco."
Right after he said the spell, Snape chanced a look at Voldemort. He saw Voldemort's head snap back and they locked eyes. There was something new in Voldemort's gaze a combination of glee and surprise. The paste began to glow and heat. Instead of the expected pain, Lucius felt a pleasant warmth accompanied by some tingling. Before his eyes, the paste dissolved revealing a fresh, darker mark.
Snape took his time inspecting the new mark. "There. That will no longer burn when summoned, at least initially. It will glow instead. However, if the summons is not obeyed within six hours the it will burn much more painfully than before. It will not stop burning even after one obeys the summons until our lord deactivates the burning. There is an unfortunate side effect that I must inform you of. I had to use a base of eucalyptus oil and aloe. I'm afraid that you will always smell very slightly of eucalyptus menthol. However, you should be able to disguise that with cologne."
Voldemort advanced within the Pentagram standing very close to Lucius. Like Lucius, he bent down and examined the mark carefully running a finger around the snake's head. A trail of color followed his finger and Voldemort looked approvingly at Snape. Voldemort breathed in deeply and some color came to his pallid face. He nodded at Snape and said "Very good, Severus. I see that it truly builds upon my first original creation. It is everything I wanted."
"It will do all that you specified," Snape answered the unspoken question earnestly. By Voldemort's careful wording, he got the impression that no one but themselves would be privy to the other abilities of the new mark. In truth, it would do all that Voldemort had wanted it to do. However, it would also have the time-released itch clause as defined by Professor Sprout. Since that was not in Voldemort's original requirements. Snape was not obligated to tell Voldemort anything else unless asked very specifically about every feature of the potion As for the menthol, Sprout had cackled that it was a built in homing device which the Defense team would happily exploit. Snape had no doubt that Sprout would get creative with it.
Snape peered closely at Lucius to see if he was experiencing any difficulty. Lucius was flexing his arm and admiring the way his new mark reflected the torch light. Snape strongly suspected that Voldemort was even now slowly leeching some energy from Lucius without Lucius being aware of it. Voldemort was walking further and further away from Lucius and his fist was continually opening and closing. Voldemort seemed to have lost his habitual stoop and now stood straight. His stride was no longer the shuffling gait of an invalid but the sure even tread of a healthy man.
Satisfied with Snape's handiwork, Voldemort ordered that Wormtail be next. Voldemort transformed Pettigrew's silver arm back to normal while Snape repeated the procedure. Afterwards, the silver arm was returned resting on top of a new Dark Mark. During this second procedure, Voldemort sat in his chair still and observant. His breathing, Snape noticed, had started to sound less raspy as if more air was filling his lungs now.
Wormtail suddenly crumpled to the ground. Snape was immmediately by his side. "I'm sorry, my lord," Wormtail snivelled. "Must be all the excitement. I felt lightheaded for a minute there."
"That's quite all right, Wormtail." Said Voldemort his breathing becoming raspy again. "Rest now. I would not want you to miss any of the festivities. Severus, can either Lucius and Wormtail apply the salve on their own?"
"Yes, I made it to be portable and can be applied by anyone who has your direct permission to create a new mark or change an old one. The same spell Mutatio Alius Advoco is used in both instances." Snape answered helpfully. "To ease the burning simply utter Annulo Carbonis."
"Very, very good. Lucius, Wormtail, I now designate you as my two deputies. In my name, you may apply the salve to the rest of the Death Eaters tonight and you shall have the power to ease the burning. However, only I will be applying new marks from now on." The new deputies bowed low and stood straight coveting in their heart of hearts this new honor. "I am summoning the others now. Please go outside inform them of what they need to know about the new mark and make them ready."
Lucius followed Wormtail out but not before giving a backward glance full of suspicion at the tableau he was leaving behind - Snape sitting on the work table stool arms crossed posture relaxed conversing with Voldemort in tones too low to be discernible. There was something else going on and Snape was right in the middle of it. There were far too many unanswered questions where Snape was concerned - far too many for his liking.
The liquid in the test tube changed from deep red to a sparkling sky blue. Blue meant a positive result. This was the third time that Sprout did the test wishing every time for a red but getting blue every time. "Well, Poppy how's your test doing?"
Poppy Pomfrey bent over two large pieces of parchment each one as big as a tabletop scrutinizing each one. There were quills dancing over each parchment dropping different color ink - red, blue, green, orange - as they went along up and down and left and right. The quills had been doing this for well over a half hour now.and a discernible image was appearing on both parchments. To a trained eye it bore a distinct similarity to a twisted helix with various color sequences appearing the rungs of the helix. The untrained eye would only see that there were identical patterns repeating over and over on each parchment.
"It is corroborating your results, Cera." Said Pomfrey. "Even now, the patterns and sequences are near identical. We need to tell Albus."
"Immediately. We can't chance Voldemort finding out by accident. One touch will be all it takes. It will practically scream at him." Sprout summoned the Friar and instructed him to get Dumbledore.
As the others left, Voldemort clapped his hands and the first twisted but genuine smile lit his face. Snape was reminded of a little boy presented with a much longed for surprise gift. "Severus, this is beyond my expectations. I felt the energy as soon as the Dark Mark was changed. With the slightest of effort I was able to link to Lucius and Wormtail. You have given me what hundreds of books and incantations could not - the chance to improve upon this physical form. How many followers do you expect I will need to fully transform this husk I am imprisoned in?"
Snape rubbed his chin. "I thought that the original ceremony using Tom Riddle's body would have given you a fully robust body. It did not?"
"No, that accursed runt's interference so soon after the ritual left me with what I have - a body that gave me form but it is sickly, barely sustaining me. I have bursts of energy but again nothing sustainable. However, tonight, I bled off some energy from Lucius. As you saw, as little as was that draw, I could feel my physical body responding and getting better."
"Well, to sustain and eventually permanently change your body to full health, which I assume is the goal, you would need a steady and strong draw of energy for a period of time that I cannot calculate at this time," said Snape. "I should also inform you that I did not have time to investigate the effects of distance on the drawing of energy."
"That is all right, Severus, I will run some tests on my own. Purebloods, a stock of purebloods, is what I need. Wormtail could not take my draw for very long, weak blooded mongrel that he is," commented Voldemort. "He has some muggle blood from some long ago ancestor. No, I need the purest and oldest bloodlines. They would have the most power and strenght. Much like your own bloodlines, Severus. Your family is apparently even older than Lucius'. Lucius has been telling me of his recent research. It is unfortunate I cannot draw from you."
"Most unfortunate," murmured Snape. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a moth perched on the seatback of Voldemort's chair. Gutsy moth, whoever it was. "What research is Lucius doing? Perhaps, my help would prove valuable."
"No, I would not waste your time and talents with it. It is trivial by comparison to your own tasks. Lucius was investigating some old archives at the Ministry. He found references to an ancestor of yours, a Benedictine monk, Seldahl Snape, who was also a Hogwarts teacher and Head of Slyherin house just before the advent of the muggle Renaissance period. I did not realize you were following in a family tradition."
"It seems the disposition to teaching and a solitary existence are hereditary, then," Snape postured. He made a note to find a way to actually recheck the Ministry archives. He would need to elicit the Ollivanders for help in some judicious editing. How did Seldahl find his way into history and what was written down as his accomplishments? According to the hidden histories, Seldahl was the first to fully expand the Hogwarts dungeons and permanently hide the Founders chambers and the Room of Counsel. All his activities were supposedly expunged by the next generation. Perhaps, a trip to the family home and a long chat with his parents was in the offing. He made a note to eat more before his visit. His mother always said that he was too thin and threatened to hold him hostage until he had filled out a bit. Suddenly, an image of a cream and silver envelope came to mind. He'd forgotten to respond to his mother's latest letter. He calculated the time. Less than two weeks had come to pass so he could reasonably plead overwork for not responding sooner. He would send off a response tomorrow. His thoughts returned to what Voldemort was saying.
" - but the plans are almost complete. By midsummer, our first offensive will be apparent. But first, we will need to fill the ranks. Will there be a class available for tapping, Severus?"
"The latest seventh years have very few strong purebloods. Certainly none are physically mature to be of any use to you as a renewable energy source. I believe that you would be better served by fully grown adults over the age of twenty-two. At that age and maturity, their bodies can better regenerate the lost energy during a sleep cycle."
"Yes, that is sense. As always you are the voice of practicality. There are enough adult Death Eaters to fill my needs for now. I will wait and see how my body responds." Voldemor rose and began to pace. "However, I already have a ready supply of the strongest of pure bloods. Why didn't I think of it before?"
Keeping his alarm at bay, Snape ventured out, "What did you not think about before?"
"My most dedicated Death Eaters, Severus, who also are the purest of the pure," Voldemort pinned him back with cold calculating eyes. "The Lestranges would be ideal. And, Malfoy's wife is descended from the Rosier line, is she not? She will also be ideal and quite accessible."
"The Lestranges are in Azkaban, definitely not accessible," Snape sounded casual and offhand. And my testimony put them there.
"For now, yes, but I will need them very soon. Malfoy's wife has resisted fully joining us but I know that Lucius will be very persuasive. As for Askaban, it is not as impregnable as the Ministry and the rest of the wizarding world believes it to be. But, do not worry yourself over minor details, Severus. I have another task for you."
"I live to serve you," Snape sat up straighter and made a small bow.
"There is an ancient spell that I have found. It is called the Valde Commendus or great commitment," Voldemort stopped pacing and stood facing Snape. "I am sure that you know of it."
"Something of it. It enhances a person's commitment to any cause or person that the individual deems as worthy of that loyalty. It requires a great deal of power and skill to cast and its effect is transistory, depending wholly on the individual's strenght of will and faith. Once that faith is gone or doubted, even once, the spell loses its hold."
"Yes, a very powerful spell for while the person is under this spell, nothing not even death will alter his loyalty," Voldemort continued. "I want you to research this further. I want you to create a new spell that would make the spell permanent and irrevocable despite the person's will and faith. I believe the Valde Commendus will fit in very well with Imperius, Cruciatus and Avada Kedavra. I will need it before midsummer."
"I am already working on the demon summoning elements of Consula Econtra," Snape said. "That alone -"
"I had originally thought to gain the energy I need from an enslaved demon. But this new mark already fulfills my immediate needs. Given time and enough Death Eaters I will have regenerated my body completely. I can afford to be patient," said Voldemort. "I need this new Unforgivable more. I charge you with creating it within the next seven months."
Snape was speechless and could only bow in acquiescence of this new charge. Wormtail ducked his head in to say that all was present and all was ready. Snape walked out holding the door open for Voldemort and Nagini. He left the door slightly ajar so the moths could escape undetected. The crowd was shrouded in an air of solemnity as they stood unmoving while their leader ascended the raised dais to address them.
"My followers, welcome! Remember this night all of you. This night marks my true ascension to absolute supremacy and your elevation, each of you, to stand by my side. After tonight, we will be one step closer to that ideal held most dear by my ancestor Salazar Slytherin - that only the fittest, strongest and most adept survive. We will remake our world, you and I, strenghening our strenghts and eliminating our weaknesses. The very weaknesses that make their insidious way into our society, our lives and our blood. I see before me those strenghts of heart, mind and faith which will overcome those who challenge our position and our resolve. " Voldemort's voice rang firm and true in the cold night air. "Tonight, you all will reaffirm your commitment to our cause. Tonight, we become one clan, one arm, one voice and we will be the stronger for it, that I promise you. My deputies will go among you to help you in your reaffirmation. Everyone, be patient until all have undergone the ritual."
Voldemort signalled for Lucius and Wormtail, carrying one jug each, to being applying the new mark to each and every Death Eater. Voldemort sat back heavily in his chair on the dais. The short speech had drained him. Snape watched him carefully as each new mark was applied. Voldemort had his eyes closed tightly but a hint of a small smile played at the corners of his mouth. Snape knew that Voldemort was testing each Death Eater as their brands were changed identifying those that could serve as long term energy sources like a vampire identifying unsuspecting potential victims. Snape stood by himself to the left of the dais watching if anyone needed his assistance. The moths had secreted themselves inside his robes once again. After thirty minutes all the new marks were applied.
Voldemort practically sprang out of his chair as the last Death Eater finished the ritual. "The clan is now complete. I know that many of you have made sacrifices to be here tonight. I assure you that your sacrifices will be rewarded tenfold. Now go back to your homes or stay and partake of some of the planned entertainment. Know that your dedication will not be forgotten."
Wormtail and Lucius made their way to the dais and sat on either side of their dark lord with Nagini curled up at Voldemort's feet. Snape stayed for an obligatory fifteen minutes enough to see the first act of entertainment - dancing veelas. He then made his excuses to Voldemort.
"You deserve more credit than I have given you this night, Severus," Voldemort said.
"I live to serve, you know that I need no praise, false or otherwise," That statement got a sharp look from Malfoy.
"Such compliments would mean nothing to you. One day I will find a reward suitably great and magnificent for you. Your service ise an example to all."
Malfoy interrupted Voldemort's effusive praise. "Severus, I still would like to know why you did not need branding. How is yours different from ours?"
"Very well, if nothing else will satisfy you, Lucius. Reveal yours as I will reveal mine and you will see," Severus bared his left forearm and placed it beside Lucius' arm. Malfoy visibly recoiled. Severus' scar was not colored evenly throughout. Some parts were darker and some parts were lighter. But the anomalies in color depth added to the mark's overall intensity. The lines jagged seemingly drawn by an untrained hand. The snake's head looked ready to strike out. A few ugly lesions appeared on the outside of the mark. On the other hand, Lucius' mark was perfection of line and color but it lacked the rawness and vitality of Snape's. "Mine was one of the early trials of the Dark Mark. It has certain impurities that has made it was it is. As you see I suffer from side effects like lesions and boils."
"We seem to have had the better end of things, Severus," Wormtail piped up.
"Yes, your new marks are far more aestheically pleasing and less painful," Snape drew back his hand and covered his mark.
"I must apologize, Severus. I was merely curious," said a chastened Malfoy.
"Quite all right. Now, it is late and I am very tired. If you will excuse me, my lord," said Snape.
"By all means, Severus. You are not looking well at all." Said Voldemort noting the lines of exhaustion on Snape's face. "I will not be summoning you for a while. Go and take care of yourself."
Snape turned and walked off into the darkness behind the dais. Unseen, he retrieved another vial and stoppered it up again once the moths were inside. He then apparated back to Hogwarts.
As soon as he had apparated he ran for the gates unstoppering the vial along the way. The gates closed immediately as all three entered. McGonagall transformed Flitwick and Filch back to their usual selves. All three collapsed on the grass panting. The adrenalin rush dissipated quickly leaving behind an exhaustion they could feel in the marrow of their bones. Trelawney cast a Circle of Anomi.
"Six months is all I have. We must be ready," Filius said between breaths. "Must be ready."
"Gods, man! You canna do it. Not another Unforgivable." Filch was pale and perspiration dripped down his face.
"We must get Severus to the infirmary right away," said Albus. "Filius and Argus, give me your reports there."
"I'm all right, Albus," said Snape struggling to his feet. "It was a celebration tonight not ... not something else."
"No, Severus, you are not all right. Most definitely not all right if Sprout's theory proves correct," said Ollivander.
"Let's get him to the infirmary then. The sooner he can give a sperm sample the sooner we'll all know." Sinistra said pragmatically. With that she cast a quick "mobilicorpus" and swept Snape off his feet.
"What !? What sperm sample !?" Snape spluttered as he was levitated to the infirmary despite protestions that he was quite ambulatory. His colleague's collectively grim visages did not inspire calm. In fact, by the time they got him to the infirmary, he was fed up with their cryptic answers to his near frantic questioning.
Some time later in the privacy of his quarters after his escorts had left securing a promise to talk about it in the morning, Severus sent Demos off to do his nightly rounds. Then he himself sank to his knees and cried long and hard mourning the stupidity and hubris of his youth.
Sprout had analyzed a leftover remnant of Salazar Slytherin's tissue from the Room of Counsel's own archives and artifacts. She and Pomfrey had mapped and identified his own gene patterns from the sperm sample against those of the remnant tissue. There were many identical gene sequences. His genetic makeup was changing absorbing elements of Salazar and Tom Riddle's genes due to the nature of the mark itself and the incantations he had used to imprint it on his arm. Pomfrey strongly suspected that the added energy of Demos and his dark spellcasting of late had also contributed. He didn't know, his thoughts raged. How could I have known? How could I let this happen?
There was more research to do and more decisions to make than ever before. Pomfrey and Sprout had a battery of tests planned. Dumbledore was determined to find something to stop the mutation. There were only two choices - stop the change completely or let it run its course but to what end result, no one knew or was willing to hazard a guess. Would he become a near brother to Voldemort and therefore a threat to his leadership? Or would he supercede Voldemort by having no muggle blood whatsoever and carrying more truer genetics - a new starting point for the line of Salazar Slytherin? In that role, he would be an even greater threat and not just to Voldemort.
After escorting Snape to his quarters, Dumbledore and Ollivander went on to the headmaster's office to meet with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick. Flitwick's report of the meeting coupled with Snape's new situation was disturbing on many levels. These four had much to discuss.
"This is a stroke of unexpected fortune. We have a potential hostage or at least a point of leverage." Minerva McGonagall sipped her tea.
"Minerva, how can you think that?" Mr. Ollivander looked aghast at the very thought.
"Far too easily. I do not want to but there it is. Plain and irrefutable. And I did not say that it was good fortune."
"Severus is not some ... some animal to be tested upon then used for bait, Minerva." Ollivander protested.
"Oh, Flavius, do you not realize that the words pawn, bargaining chip and animal are all synonymous." McGonagall spared a sharp glance at Dumbledore before continuing. "We are all players in this game to be played, to be used, to be discarded. Think you upon that. Were you not the one to say that war justifies any means?"
"Yes, in my more stiff-necked, younger days, yes! I did believe so." Mr. Ollivander pointed out with passion and conviction lending strenght to his voice. "But it did not change the world. We did not change the world for the better. There are still the Grindelwalds and Voldemorts lying about -"
"Only because we, who knew better, failed to do that which was necessary. We failed ourselves, our children and our very future," Dumbledore interrupted from his chair where he sat grave and thoughtful. "We should all follow the example that Severus serves. He does what he must and so should we."
"No, Severus does what he does for redemption and atonement not vengeance which is what you three seem to be of one mind on." Ollivander said with some disgust.
"You were not there listening to Voldemort explaining his plans, lulling his followers to an almost mindless devotion," Flitwick's voice shook with emotion. His mind still reeled from all he had witnessed this horrible night. "He must be stopped at any cost. He will trample over the drained bodies of his followers, be it hill or mountain. He will not feel. He will not care, as long as it leads to his supremacy."
"And in the end after the dust clears from the battefield, we will be little better than him." Ollivander reasoned. "Is this what we are reduced to?"
"Flavius, as you said, we three are of one mind on this. We have sworn to protect and preserve Hogwarts and our students at any cost. We cannot change that but your conscience drives you in the opposite direction," Dumbledore said with arms outstretched. "You do not share our opinion. So I give you a choice. You may leave the field now in honor. There will be no further mention of this incident, you will no longer be required to participate and I will devise some block against your partner bond. Or you may continue on with us. What will it be?"
"That is unfair, Albus," Ollivander stood and addressed the three aiming his words to hit hard and wound deeply. "My family, Severus' family, the Longbottoms and the Bones' have been protecting Hogwarts longer than any of you three have been alive. Generations of service to an ideal crafted by four men against whom you, Albus, pale into insignificance! We of the Tradition have stood by, ready to help, ready to defend time after time after time. Who are you to tell me what I think or to question my resolve!?"
"A divided house will not stand for very long. As for who I am, Flavius, I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry." Dumbledore said his next words slowly and deliberately. "I have been given a charge which I failed once before. I will not fail again. I will sacrifice my life and whatever else it takes to not fail again."
Ollivander looked straight into Dumbledore's now stormy eyes. "If I am driven by the dictates of my conscience, so be it. I prefer that than being driven by my fears as you obviously are."
"It is an honest fear that we all share," McGonagall put in. "To not be able to do something and let that madman run amok again is -"
"Taking his side, as always," Ollivander's smile was bitter and his eyes cold. "Fear is more blinding than hate or love or anger. It blinds you to alternatives to this contemplation of armageddon."
"There is no other choice. You must see that, Flavius," Flitwick said trying to defuse the tension.
"No other alternative than turning Voldemort into a martyr for that is what he will become unless you eradicate every single person who believes even a smidgen of his rhetoric. Genocide on a smaller scale but genocide nonetheless." .
"It seems that your choice is made after all," said Dumbledore resignation heavy in his voice.
"Is it, now? Do not ever presume to speak my mind for me, Albus. I choose to stay, if only to prick at your conscience." Ollivander looked at Minerva. "Like you, Albus, I failed someone once before. I will not do so again. A selfish reason, I know, but it is my reason and I think a far better one than yours."
The next day at breakfast, Dumbledore announced that Professor Snape would be taking a short leave of absence. Eve Delacour would continue to teach her classes while the other professors would share Snape's other classes between them. He gave no reason for Snape's sudden absence. The Slytherin table was abuzz with theories. The Gryffindor table with two marked exceptions were pretty much celebrating.
Professor Vector had told Neville and Hermione the truth behind Snape's absence earlier that morning. For the next week, Snape would be isolated in one of the side chambers of the Room of Counsel while Sprout, Pomfrey and Dumbledore subjected him to every test imaginable. Pomfrey had warned Vector not to expect any help from Snape for the next week. No one, no one outside of the herself, Sprout or Dumbledore would have any direct access to Snape. Flitwick himself was devising some extra security around the dungeon entrance. Vector assigned Hermione and Neville to deliberately spread as many plausible rumors and reasons as they could to mislead the student body hiding the real reason for Snape's absence. It was going to be a long week for everyone.
Right after breakfast, Draco Malfoy did what any dutiful son would do, he sent a note to his father about Snape's sudden leave of absence. He added a postscript to his mother thanking her for the treats she had sent previously and that he was looking forward to escorting her to the theater when he was home for the upcoming Christmas holidays.
On a side note, Bill Weasley arrived that morning for a short visit and was welcomed heartily by the staff and his surprised siblings. Trelawney looked at her list while her Divination class was taking their exam. She checked off Bill Weasley's assigned quarters but that still left three guests to arrange lodgings for - Arabella Figg, Alastor Moody and Nicholas Flamell.