Severus Snape apparated at the closest point to Hogwarts that it was possible to apparate. He staggered slightly: the evening had not been a pleasant one. But he could not rest yet. At least the Mark had stopped tingling. The summoning pain he could handle, but the way the thing tingled when near its master was irritating in the extreme.
He began to walk up to the castle. He had to talk to Dumbledore.
Kaira finished the book she was reading (a romance featuring a manly male Auror and a timid witch who worked as a receptionist for the Ministry – it was terrible, but it distracted her from potions, defence against the dark arts, her classes and Professor Severus Snape). She shut the book and replaced it on her shelf. She wondered where it had come from, as it was certainly not hers! Her trashy romances all had false covers and warning signs on the inside to protect both herself and anyone thinking the book looked interesting. Perhaps her room was automatically providing the kind of book she had needed.
She got up and wandered around her room. Passing the window, she noticed a weary-looking black clad figure walking up to the castle.
Snape knocked softly on the Headmaster's door.
"Come in, Severus," he heard. He pushed open the door only to be met by Fawkes sitting just inside it, staring at him intently. He nodded slightly at the bird and went on inside the office. "Are you well, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well enough, thank you Headmaster," he replied. "He was not of bad temper tonight. He has had news that has cheered him up and plans set in motion."
Dumbledore looked at him over the top of his half-moon spectacles and sighed.
"Tell me, Severus,"
"The news that cheered him is that Bristow's daughter is here. He believes, wrongly, that she may be... persuaded to his way of thinking. He plans to take her."
"You believe she would not serve him?"
"Never. When I recognised him in her, she reacted angrily. She hates his memory and accounts him a traitor. She would never follow in his footsteps. But that is not the worst of it."
"Go on," said Dumbledore, wearily.
"He plans to attack a series of families, muggleborns or others he does not... approve... of. I only managed to glean the names of six families." He gave him the names. "Nor do I know the dates of the attacks." Snape sighed. "Lucius has been given the task of co-ordinating the attacks. He does not trust me in that regard – he thinks I am weak and do not like the killing of those who do not directly oppose him. I hope to get more information if he summons me again before the attacks are carried out, but do not count on it."
"Thank you, Severus." Dumbledore pulled at his beard. "I shall have the Order do what we can to protect them. I shall keep each under watch for the first signs of trouble."
"I think... knowing Lucius... that he will go after the Knox family first. He bears a slight grudge."
"I will do my best, Severus. Go and rest, now."
Kaira waited outside the Snape's rooms for him to return. After a while (in which she almost managed to fall asleep), he did come. He looked paler than usual and very tired.
"Severus? Are you alright?" she called.
"What are you doing here?" he snarled.
"I saw you come back. You looked... a little unwell. I thought I would make sure you were alright and if there was anything I could do."
"As you can see, I am fine. Your assistance shall not be required." He let himself into his rooms and shut the door virtually in her face. It had been dark inside and she had seen nothing of the interior. Kaira sighed. She had expected this. What she was not expecting was for the door to open again.
"Be careful," he told her in little more than a whisper, before shutting the door again.
Kaira stood there for a moment, startled. Was he threatening her, or warning her? His voice had been soft and not full of the usual menace it contained. Perhaps he was warning her.
She walked back up to her rooms, but was so deep in thought that somehow she ended up by the Headmaster's office.
"Ah, Kaira," he called. "What a nice surprise. Come and keep a sleepless old man company."
She walked into the office.
"Hello, Fawkes," she greeted the phoenix. "Hello, Albus,"
"You couldn't sleep, Kaira?"
"No," she sighed.
"Perhaps some hot chocolate?"
"That would be nice,"
"Did you go for a walk to try to clear your head?"
"No. I saw Professor Snape coming back up to the castle and wanted to see if he was alright. He told me to be careful. What did he mean?"
"Who knows what Severus means, a lot of the time," Dumbledore twinkled at her. She raised one eyebrow. His smile faded. "I should really get Severus to tell you himself, but he was so tired that I thought it best that he sleep. He has just returned, as I am sure you are aware, from a meeting with Voldemort." Kaira nodded. "He discovered several disturbing things. One of them concerns you. He is aware of your father and believes that you might be swayed to serving him." Kaira choked.
"Headmaster, I would never...!"
"I know that, my dear, and Severus knows that. But Voldemort does not. And once he has taken you it will be too late. So you must be careful. We will watch over you, Severus and I. I will ask Minerva to help as well, if she can. But you must help us and be extremely careful. Do not leave the castle alone, or with a single person. Not even Severus or myself. Keep a sharp eye out. Trust no-one."
"You sound like Alastor Moody. Constant vigilance!"
"That would be an appropriate sentiment," Dumbledore smiled again. "Now, I suggest that your hot chocolate may have helped you to feel more drowsy, so go back to your rooms and try to get some sleep."
"You tell me to try to sleep, after you tell me that the Dark Lord wants to kidnap me?"
"That's right, Kaira. Sleep well."
Kaira walked back to her rooms in a slight daze. What do you do when you learn that the Dark Lord himself is trying to kidnap you and will then kill you? Fortunately, Dumbledore had put a dreamless sleep potion in her chocolate, so the minute she got into bed she was almost instantly in the land of Nod.