Chapter 8- Of shopping and Death Eaters
Sorry It took forever to update. I had midterms and play tryouts.
Thank you so much to my reviewers! I really appreciate it!
It's the moment we all have been waiting for---the death eater meeting . . .
"Slow down Uncle Sev!" yelled Autumn not a half hour later as the pair made their way through Diagon Alley. Her Uncle didn't just slow down, he stopped, causing the teen the run straight into him. "Ahh" she cried as both toppled down into the street.
"Merlin Autumn", chided Snape as he helped her up, "Watch were you are going." With that her Uncle grabbed her shoulder and maneuvered her into a dark shop, which was surprise, surprise, decked out in silver and green. He walked over to one of the clerks, dragging Autumn with him, and spoke for a minute or two. The clerk turned to the Gryffindor and assessed her for a moment before taking some measurements and pulling different garments off various racks. After some adjustments the lady handed the stack of clothes to the teen.
"Here dear, try these on." With a nod from her uncle, Autumn went into a room to try on the first piece of the new wardrobe. She slipped a dark green cloak over her head and fastened the silver clasp before looking at herself with a critical eye. Green was actually a good color for her she decided while spinning around.
The teens daydreams were cut off by a cough, then her uncle's irritated voice, "Does it really take this long to put a robe on?"
"Sorry" Autumn said as she stepped out so Snape could see.
"Hmm" was the only reply the Gryffindor received, then a command "Turn around."
'Goodness! You would think he was a fashion expert or something.' The teen thought. Just to be difficult she spun around very quickly, planting a 'Snape smirk' on her face. Hearing a female giggle she saw the young clerk grinning at her cheekiness. Her Uncle, however, was not amused.
"Miss Snape, are you trying to be funny, because it isn't working on me. Now turn around slowly." With a sigh, Autumn complied. "That one will do." Came her Uncle's voice "Now try on the next one, and move faster this time, I don't have all day for this."
"Right" said Autumn and ducked back in the room.
Many robes of red, green, black, blue later the pair emerged from the shop, both in testy moods. "Come on, we still have a few more stops."
"Great" the teen mumbled sarcastically "You know Uncle Sev I used to like shopping, but with you it's just exhausting."
"Come on!" snapped Snape "In here."
'Here' turned out to be a potions shop. "Oh peachy!" groaned Autumn and scrunched up her nose. "It smells extremely nasty in here."
"Well then stay out of my way so I can get this done fast." replied her uncle.
"Couldn't I just go over to Quality Quidditch and…"
"No, you may not." The potion master broke in angrily "Just wait a minute, quietly if that's possible for you to do." After 30 minutes of poking around the dusty, old shop, her uncle was finally satisfied and they departed the shop.
"One more stop" said Snape as they walked along.
"Good!" exclaimed Autumn, causing her uncle to smirk.
"This shop, let's go in and get this done fast" he put in and pushed open the door. The teen gasped and gave a small squeal of delight at the sight of many jewels laid out on various counters. (Come on, who wouldn't love this shop?) Her uncle just rolled his eyes and moved over to the nearest table. A small, fat wizard met them.
"Sir, may I be of assistance to you?"
"yes, I need to pick up a few parcels, they should be labeled S Snape." Replied her uncle in a dignified voice.
"Of course, I'll be right back sir."
Once the man returned, Snape grabbed the box and she found herself outside once again.
"We need to get back to Hogwarts. Take this portkey." Snape began while handing her an old bowler hat. Soon Autumn's world was spinning and the two were back in her uncle's quarters.
"I'll have a house elf put everything away, and besides, you need to get back to your dormitory. The Dark Lord will no doubt call a meeting again this week so I will come and get you then."
Autumn nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Snape softened his look at bit. "Everything will be okay."
The teen relaxed a little and managed a smile "Thanks Uncle Sev, today was fun, although exhausting."
He managed a small smile in return and Autumn left the dungeon, heading toward the Gryffindor tower.
The girl had a hard time explaining to her fellow Gryffindors where she had been, but managed to get them to stop asking questions. Harry seemed to be the only one who didn't believe her. There was no time to dwell on this possibility though, because on top of unfinished homework, Autumn was terribly nervous about the coming week.
Monday and Tuesday passed without incident, unless of course you count the Gryffindor's detention with her Uncle. It was during dinner on Wednesday that a note arrived, via owl, for her with the rest of the mail.
Autumn,
My "arm" has been acting up today, which means tonight's the night. Meet me after dinner in the living room.
Your Uncle
Autumn swallowed hard, and her hands started to shake. 'No doubt "arm" really meant his mark.'
"You Okay Autumn?" came Hermione's voice.
"Umm, yea, I'm fine but I have to go you guys. See you later."
The teen was so busy worrying she didn't see the scrutinizing look Harry gave her as she retreated from the Great hall. The Gryffindor made her way to the dungeons and entered to find her uncle emerging from his chambers, wearing a cloak with a hood. Autumn looked at it and noticing her gaze Snape put simply "Death eater outfit." Although this did not necessarily ease her fears, she nodded.
"Go ahead and change, probably green robes tonight, and hurry, the mark is burning stronger. The girl fled to her room and in 5 minutes reemerged in a new robe, to see her Uncle clutching his left arm.
"We have to go now!" he breathed heavily, and steered her quickly and quietly out of the castle. Reaching the edge of the forbidden forest, her uncle pulled his hood up, covering his face, and only leaving his eyes and mouth visible.
"That's just scary Uncle Sev." The teen whispered, trying to put humor in the scariest situation she had ever been in.
"Well, bring it up with the Dark lord," said Snape in a gruff voice, obviously trying to do the same. "Hang on" he continued, and Autumn grabbed the sleeve of his robe as they apparated to the Dark lord's side.
"Ah, Severus, you brought a guest" came a cold hissing voice that sent shivers up the Gryffindor's spine.
With one last reassuring squeeze of her hand, her uncle moved forward and bowed before the pale, snakelike man saying "My lord."
But Lord Voldemort's eyes were not on Snape, they were on her, and Autumn found herself also bowing slightly, echoing her Uncle "My Lord."
"I see you taught her well Severus. Come forward my dear." Hissed Voldemort. She froze in fear a second, but was promptly put back into action be a slight poke in her back. Trying to hold hr head high, Autumn moved closer to the "throne" where the dark lord sat.
"Are you willing to serve me in my ranks Autumn Snape?" he asked, his cold eyes boring into her head.
"Yes my Lord" spoke the Gryffindor, needing all her courage not to break down right there.
"It will be done then, serve me well and you will be rewarded, cross me, and you will wish you had never been born. Step forward and receive the mark Autumn Snape."
An alarm suddenly went off in her head. 'Didn't my uncle say NOT to take the mark tonight?'
As if reading her thoughts, Snape spoke. "My Lord, I want nothing more then for my niece to receive your mark, but I believe that if she will be spying on Potter for us she cannot have this connection with you at the present time."
Voldemort's nostrils flared in anger, but he looked thoughtful. "Perhaps you are right Severus, your niece will take the mark after Christmas then." Here, Autumn heard her Uncle let out a small breath. The Dark Lord wasn't finished yet though. "But for questioning me- Crucio!"
The teen barely stifled a gasp as Snape fell onto his knees and shook in pain. As he gathered himself back up the Dark Lord turned to Autumn once again. "Find Potter's weakness and gain his trust. I don't care how, just make sure he trusts you. If you succeed I might have another, and greater use for you in the future.
When Voldemort said that last bit, the Gryffindor saw him look her up and down, while her Uncle tensed beside her. 'What could he mean by "other uses?"' she shuddered to think really.
"You and your niece may go Severus, but before you do I need to give you a reminder about keeping secrets from me- Crucio!"
Again Snape fell to the ground and Lord Voldemort turned his back on the pair and left the room, followed by a flock of death eaters. Autumn ran to her uncle's side and helped him stand up. Using their combined strengths, the two managed to apparate back to Hogwarts before her Uncle collapsed.
"Autumn, go into my office and find a small blue bottle labeled 'Crucio-healing.'"
The shaken teen ran off in search of the said bottle and returned a minute later. "Here uncle Sev" she said, holding it out for him. The potion was an instant help, and soon Snape was standing up, looking at Autumn in concern.
"Are you alright? I'm sorry you had to see that." Began her uncle apologetically.
"I'm Ok I guess. Are they always like that?" replied the slightly shaken Gryffindor.
"Truthfully Autumn, he can be much worse. Maybe I should give up spying, you can't…"
"No Uncle Severus! The Dark Lord would want revenge, and nothing can get in his way once he decides to." Snape just continued to look upset as he sank down into an armchair.
"I really should get back to the Gryffindor tower" said Autumn "Not like that will avoid questions from those three."
Her uncle sighed "yes, go ahead, and hurry, it's almost hours." With one last long look at the man, the teen turned on her heels, and hurried back to the tower.
It seemed empty but just as the Gryffindor let out a sigh of relief, Harry's head appeared from the couch in front of the fire, his face looking upset to say the least.
"Ok Autumn, where have you been disappearing too? It's obviously not good the way you're sneaking around, making excuses!" snarled Harry, catching the teen off guard.
"Umm" Autumn started to say.
"Where Snape?!" yelled the Gryffindor, taking a menacing step toward her. The teen was suddenly angry. 'How dare he just jump on me like that. Probably just because I'm a Snape or something!'
"It's none of your damn business Potter! Where do you get off accusing people anyway? Goodnight!" and with that Autumn went up to bed, leaving a fuming Harry behind her.
Things did not improve the next morning. Breakfast consisted of Autumn and Harry throwing glares at each other, while Hermione and Ron looked on uneasily. Finally the redhead spoke up "Ok, what's going on with you two?"
"Why don't you ask Snape over there where she's been the past few nights!"
"Harry…" began Hermione warningly, as students near them turned to stare, but he cut her off.
"God Hermione! She's been sneaking around, lying to us!" Many faces were now turned towards the argument and Autumn felt her blood boil.
"Shut up you great prat! You have no idea, none at all!" To make sure he got the message, the enraged Gryffindor picked up an orange form the platter in front of her, and chucked it at the boy's head before walking furiously out of the Great hall.
She ran all the way out to the lake, where she stood, anger welling up inside her. "Stupid, bloody, prat" cried the teen, kicking a tree with each word, "what a bigheaded, accusing bas…"
"Do you really want to finish that sentence Miss Snape?" asked a silky voice behind her. Autumn slowly turned to meet the angry face of her Uncle.
"Autumn Snape, do you realize that as soon as Draco Malfoy saw that little demonstration of yours, that he left the table and headed towards his common room?"
The Gryffindor frowned. "But why would he…" her eyes suddenly widened in realization "Shit! Voldemort…my job…oh!"
"Indeed Autumn, and 5 points from Gryffindor for language."
"What am I going to do? I have to do something before Malfoy sends…that's it!…Draco!" Coming up with an idea, the teen rushed past her startled uncle and tore up to the owlery- she just hoped she wasn't too late.
What will Autumn do? Here's an excerpt from the next chapter (which I'm having a hard time writing by the way, so bare with me please!)
"I just need more time. I'll have him wrapped around my finger don't worry."
"But I do worry Snape. See, if you fail, then I do in a sense, fail as well. However, I would be willing to give you some extra time." Said Draco in a slithering voice as he stepped towards her.
"If…" prompted Autumn, knowing that wasn't all.