Forgotten Memories, Painful Past
Chapter Eight
The Root of All Evil
Hermione watched Harry with concern as they scribbled down notes in history, "You okay, Harry?"
Taking his green eyes from the parchment long enough to eye Hermione, he nodded. "Better than you'd expect, really. I haven't thought about-" He sighed, "I'm doing better."
Ron was frantically following Hermione's writing as Professor Binn's temporary replacement ranted like a mad-man about the goblin uprising. For once, he missed Binn's slow droll!
From the other side of the classroom, Draco smirked as he enchanted his pen to take notes for him. He had better things on his mind, his father had told him that another teacher at Hogwarts was being inducted in to the Death Eaters tonight. A chill ran up his spine, it was perfect. He'd been in since the summer, and now there'd be another to spy on Dumbledore? That smug smirk was going to remain on his lips for a long while. If only he could figure out which professor it was.
Eva sighed, "I never should've taught you that."
He chuckled, "At least I put it to good use."
"True, true." She smiled at him. "What has you in such a fine mood?"
Draco's grey eyes glittered with malice and pure sadistic pleasure, "There's a meeting tonight."
Eva smirked back at him, "Tell me all about it when you come back?"
He nodded enthusiastically, "Of course. When are you going to join, anyway?"
She bit her lip, "I'm not sure I can. I'll be sent back to Russia when term ends... I can apparate but my family demands quite a deal from me as well.
Draco gave her a skeptically understanding nod, "I'll speak with my father, maybe he can arrange something."
"Terrific," she grinned.
Serviath, on the other hand, did not look so thrilled. He leaned in next to Harry. "What do you suppose their talking about?"
Harry shrugged, "Couldn't say."
He sighed. "I wish I knew, she's really not cut out for Slytherin."
"I wouldn't worry," he finished the notes, "You can talk to her at the meeting on Friday."
Hells, it was almost Friday. Two more days. Serviath rolled up his parchment, he didn't want to wait that long, but he'd have to. "I have to see Professor Sullivan about something. I'll see you both at lunch." He slid out before Mr. Cornwell, the stand in, could notice.
---
Katya was thrilled to have Mr. Cornwell out of her hair for two days. Professor Binns had taken two days of personal time, though she could hardly figure out what a ghost might do with personal time... Beaming brightly, she explained to the second years how to face a boggart. She knew they were a bit young, but she had to get this done with all her students while Mr. Cornwell was absent.
"Now, all of you, the most important thing to understand is that must remember the images you see are not real." She turned to the first student, Erika Reynolds. "What is your biggest fear?"
The second year gripped her wand tightly, "I'm afraid of werewolves, Professor."
She smiled softly, "Lycanthropes? Really?" Her eyes seemed to flicker with amusement. The girl merely nodded. "Now what's something that would make that werewolf completely harmless?"
"If it had no teeth, like my gramps!" A young boy in the back called out.
Erika laughed, but nodded. "If it didn't have any teeth."
Professor Sullivan opened the chest. "Remember, riddikulus."
A werewolf jumped out, snarling and snapping at the gaggle of second years that stared in awe. Erika shrieked, looking desperately at Professor Sullivan as the beast approached her. When her teacher merely shook her head, Erika sighed. After a moment's hesitation, she pointed her wand. "Riddikulus!"
The class applauded as the werewolf whimpered softly, it's lips curling in without his fangs. Raine smiled softly, watching them before sending them each up in turn to attack the boggart.
---
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Jordan." Professor Snape loomed over Lee Jordan with a heavy frown before heading up to the front of the class, a hand gripping his right forearm firmly. "When you are done with your potions, you may store them and leave. I have something I must tend to, my apologies."
Hermione and Harry watched in surprise as Severus walked out. "What's going on?"
Harry frowned, "He's calling him... That's all I can think it to be."
---
Severus growled as he ran in to Katya. She smiled, "Where are you off to when you have a class?"
He raised an eyebrow, "I could ask you the same, Katya."
She smiled, "I'm in a hurry, otherwise I might explain." Fat chance. She hurried off down the hall.
Professor Snape watched her a moment before sighing with exasperation and hurrying towards the Whomping Willow. He very well couldn't sneak down the passageway in his room, right in front of his class, to apparate and thankfully, he'd discovered this passage three years ago. He was indebted to Harry Potter for that one thing. Severus made it through, apparating instantly.
---
Eva was alarmed when she found Professor Sullivan and Professor Snape both missing. She knew where Snape was, but Miss Sullivan? She made straight for Dumbledore's office during lunch. "Headmaster Dumbledore?"
The wise man looked up from some paperwork, "Yes, my dear?"
She sat in a chair before his desk, wringing her hands nervously. "My mum's gone... Along with Professor Snape." She took a breath, "Now, I've talked to Malfoy, so I know where Snape is... But my mum?"
Albus put down his quill, "Miss Marcus, I cannot tell you where Miss Sullivan is. I have a feeling I know, but even if I told you, I could be wrong and would have only caused you worry. Now, I am certain she will not miss another day of class. Hurry down and enjoy lunch. Do not worry about your mother, I'm sure she is in good company."
Eva watched him a moment, as if hoping that he'd say something more. "Thank you, Headmaster." Standing, she sighed. Serviath would want to see what she found out, or lack there of, really. Eva decided to meet him in the library nonetheless, maybe McGonagall had told him something.
---
For the fifth night this month, the DA met in the room of requirement. Harry grinned. "It's good to see you all again. In light of the absence of two of our best teachers, we've deduced that something big is happening. We want to make sure we're prepared."
Dean Thomas looked up, "When will they be back?"
Serviath stood up, "I spoke with McGonagall and she said she wasn't sure. Headmaster Dumbledore said the same thing, but Eva's heard some terrible news from Slytherins. She said one Slytherin mentioned a Death Eater gathering tonight. She said there officially accepting five new members."
Several gasps, whispers and gulps were heard among the group. Hermione stood, "I got a book from the restricted section, with Professor Sullivan's permission. It's got some new spells I think we should all try." She pulled out an immensely thick tome and smiled. "There are some I've never even heard of. Stronger spells, defensive spells and even counter-curses."
The whispers grew louder, several students eagerly drew their wands. Harry nodded, "Let's get started."
---
Severus watched the woman's mask closely, trying to figure out who Lucius was introducing. Her hair was hidden under the mask, and her eyes weren't visible. Sighing, he decided to wait for a name. His mind wandered back to his classes, he would have to be back in time for his first class tomorrow and the sun was already rising.
"I accept," the soft voice had a firm intonation as the woman nodded and bowed before the Dark Lord. Keeping his stoic appearance, Severus sighed inwardly. That made thirty-one. A terrible knot was brewing in his stomach.
"Now, Severus," the Dark Lord bellowed. "Tell us what you have found about the goings on at Hogwarts."
Stepping forward, he bowed to his 'master.' His eyes were on the ground in what most would assume was respect, but he knew to be repulsion. The disgusting man before him was nothing to be respected, admired or followed. Damn him. He stood, "A new ministry official has been sent to monitor the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. I have also been keeping a close eye over the Professor, making sure most of her lessons are on fickle and unimportant things. Albus has not called a staff meeting, or made a single announcement of any sort. The other Professors are on high alert, but as far as I can tell, they are clueless. Some still do not believe you have returned, falling for the Ministry's cover-up."
The Dark Lord looked pleased at this news, "Thank you, Severus. Your loyalty is invaluable to me, I am pleased to hear of your findings and look forward to another report shortly."
Lucius began his babble on how he'd kept the Ministry wrapped around his finger while the incident this past summer started to blow over. Severus's mind wandered, struggling to figure out who the new member was. Professor Binns had taken two personal days, perhaps he was speaking with Malfoy? What would Voldemort want with a ghost? Besides, the inductee was female. With a resigned frown, he decided to wait. When she made her first kill, her name would be announced. That's how it always was. So he would wait, and a muggle or mudblood would die for his incompetence. What was one mudblood compared to all the ones he'd killed in the past to get this far? One life was something to care about when he'd killed so many without so much as a second thought?
---
Severus's heart was heavy when he laid down in his bed that evening. His mind swam with thoughts, mostly thoughts of what a terrible person he'd been. He wondered if it was even worth trying to repent. He'd been cold, cruel and heartless. Is that how he wanted people to remember him? Watching the Dark Lord kill a traitorous Death Eater today had been a bit of a wake up call. What if he died next? Would it all be in vain? His armed burned, but it wasn't the Mark this time... It was the scar. All the way up his left arm, a huge scar. People wondered why he was always so thoroughly robed... Wasn't it evident?
Closing his eyes, he decided to retire himself to sleep. "Severus?" Hells, what was she doing in here? How'd she get in? He pulled his bed curtain away. Shit, she was a mess.
Katya fell to her knees on the floor, her hands covering her face. "I'm so sorry..."
He knelt beside her, ignoring the fact that he was wearing only his boxers. "Sorry for what?"
"I am sorry I left you. I'm sorry I didn't stay, I'm sorry I never did anything about your parents..." She was sobbing, and it was obvious she hadn't eaten in a while. His first instinct had been to say something cruel, something cold and something to hurt her, to make her leave him alone. Then he say Avery's eyes as the Dark Lord murmured those infamous words. No, he would not be like that. He was not like that monster, that sick creature.
"Katya," he pulledthe woman up against him as she sobbed. It felt odd, but familiar nonetheless. He sighed, "It is all right. That is in the past." She was still weeping about this? He closed his eyes, did he cause every one around him such pain?
She looked up at him, "Severus... They're yours..." Her lips trembled in an attempt to hold back tears as realization dawned on the Potions Master. They're yours... They were his... He wrapped his arms around her tighter, trying to get her to calm down as he digested the information. Hells, they were his.
Finite.
Okay, it's like bloody six am here, I just pulled an all-nighter to get this done since no one reviewed the last chapter. Maybe someone will review this one? Please? Anyway, thanks for reading.