Disclaimer: Not Jo. Not Wyrd, the personification of fate, either. Weird, though? I prefer the term quirky, myself. :D


Chapter 36- Wyrd

Fortifying himself with another cup of coffee, Severus turned from the coffeepot and headed toward the back of the Staff Lounge. The professors had been called together for a final meeting concerning the Easter Holiday which would begin tomorrow and he wanted to be sure to sit as far away from the Ancient Runes professor as possible. In the weeks following that fateful gathering in the village, Smalley had become his shadow. The buffoon was constantly trying to 'have a chat' about You-Know-Who. The Potions Master had flatly refused to suffer the fool's presence for longer than it took to deny the request and leave the man behind in whatever room, corridor, or lavatory the transparent idiot importuned him in. Slouched in a chair behind the loveseat McGonagall and Sprout were sitting and conversing on, Snape was distracted from irritating thoughts by Pomona's whispered,

"I can't figure out why she's always late, when he's always on time!"

A gleam of amusement lit the Stygian eyes that watched an out-of-breath professor smile an apology for tardiness before making her way toward him. For a moment, the sardonic man was tempted to lean forward and inform the pair that he had an iron will that propelled him out of bed and into the shower after morning…exercise…while Lorelei did not. He said no such thing, of course, but the thought of Minerva snorting tea through her nose in reaction if he did made his mouth curve in restrained mirth.

"Good Morning"

Aware that they were a never-ending source of staff gossip, Severus merely replied impassively while flashing a sideways glance, "Is it?" A wide, white smile beamed. As a rule, he didn't care for people who smiled a lot, but somehow he didn't mind Lorelei smiling at him. Trying unsuccessfully to look like a no-nonsense professional instead of a giddy siren, the woman pressed her lips together and looked straight ahead. Shaking with repressed laughter, she drew a breath and then answered,

"Oh Yes!"

Masculine fingers tightened their grip on the cup handle. If he'd been taking a drink, Snape knew that he would've either choked or snorted coffee upon hearing the phrase usually heard in different circumstances. Unwilling to encourage cheekiness, he pretended that she'd uttered a statement about the weather and declined to make any comment.

Out the corner of his eye, the professor saw an expression cross Lorelei's face that made him wary. A slender finger tapped his thigh and then drew on it. I-heart-U. Humph...such juvenile behavior was obviously a holdover from the anti-aging potion. Pursing his lips in a show of displeasure after he was impertinently poked again, the put upon man surreptitiously scanned the faces around them. No one was looking, so he lifted a digit to her thigh to do something he hadn't done when he was a teenager. He 'wrote', U, 2, and promptly gave all his attention to Dumbledore's speech.

"The list of students remaining at school during the Easter Holiday is quite lengthy this year- commensurate with the amount of papers assigned, I am sure." Waiting for the chuckles of those teachers who drew inordinate pleasure from piling extra work onto students to die down, the white-haired wizard continued, "As this is a holiday, curfew will be extended an hour in the evenings, and Professor Binns has graciously offered to assist Madam Pince in the library, which will remain open until a quarter hour before students are expected back in their Houses. Also, if anyone planning to remain at school wishes to volunteer to help patrol during the evenings, please see Professor Flitwick, McGonagall, Snape, or Sprout."

Dumbledore listened to several complaints and concerns while the rest of the teachers began to stir restively in eagerness to break up the meeting. The last day of school before a holiday was always a difficult one for most educators. Students were too excited about the break to listen attentively. Shaking a long strand of hair away from his face, Severus thought smugly that he never had a problem keeping his pupils' attention. Those who let their concentration stray seldom did it again once he'd gotten through with them. Remembering some of his more inventive disciplinary actions, thin lips tilted upwards.

"I'd like to volunteer…to patrol…with you…Professor Snape." Lorelei said with a smile.

Unfathomable dark eyes met sparkling ones. He gave a nod of magnanimous assent and stood facing the woman, who'd risen to her feet to greet the professor heading their way,

"Tonks! Is Remus spending the break at Hogwarts?"

The DA professor was sporting hair in a greenish yellow shade that reminded Snape of a dying plant. Why the metamorphmagus changed her hair color every day was her own business, but the least she could do was to stop choosing shades that were an affront to nature.

"Yes, he is, and I can't wait for us to hit the Broomsticks. Remus has wanted to challenge Snape to darts for ages!"

Throwing a repressive look was futile. Tonks was irrepressible. He smirked, "Lupin can't wait to lose? I remember his game, and it was never impressive."

The women exchanged glances, and unsuccessfully hid smiles at his words. They failed to understand that talk was as important as game, and most likely thought him bragging. After he schooled the others at darts, they would see that he didn't need to brag. Skill spoke for itself. Bidding the amused females 'good day', he strode out of the lounge and into the corridor.

At the bottom of the dungeon stairway, a hand tugged his arm, almost earning the person a hex. Recognizing the bland features of Smalley just in time, Severus lowered his wand.

"You've got to help me!"

Imperiously raising a brow upon hearing the man's hysterical tone, the Potions Master replied, "Why are you in need of aid?"

Swallowing hard, the Runes professor stammered,

"Uh, well…that's a long story…but…let's just say that somebody must have found out something about me and told…You-Know-Who…because I received an OWL with these!"

A small vial filled with a clear liquid was held up with a shaky hand, and then put into a pocket. A small parchment was unfolded to show a grinning skull with the words that looked like writhing snakes underneath- Traitors Die. Impassively, Snape queried, "What do you expect me to do about this?"

"Use your connections! Get word to Vol- you know- that I'm not a traitor, I don't deserve to die!"

"I'll make enquiries." Pulling away from the other man, the lean professor headed for his classroom. He stopped when Smalley whispered,

"No you won't. You…you…looked at me that night…you saw into my mind, didn't you? You…you told them what I planned…"

Without turning, Snape rebutted, "Nonsense. You're hysterical. Calm down."

"I…I'm as good as dead…and you…you'll pay, somehow…somehow…"

The professor moved off, muttering brokenly to himself about consulting the Runes. Shaking his head in disgust over the craven excuse of a man, Severus determined to remain vigilant at all times, just in case.


The March morning was clear and bright. Warm bands of sunlight filtered through the trees to the take the chill out of the mid-morning air. Walking beside Ron and Hermione, Harry looked forward to this doubled class of Care of Magical Creatures. He would get to see Morrigan. They had hooked up in a sort of 'friends with benefits' deal to help each other get over other people and so far, things were ace. They met on a regular basis to talk a little and snog a lot. Coming to a small fenced clearing containing a small cage, the boy saw students crowded together against the fence, craning their necks to try and see what creature they would learn about today. Green eyes scanned the crowd for a girl with long, black hair.

"Hello, Harry."

Turning with a smile, he ran a hand over his untamable black hair and greeted, "Morrigan! I was just looking for you." The girl smiled. She was so easily pleased. He didn't have to compliment her or quote poems or anything, just want to be with her. Of course, he wasn't difficult to get along with either. As long as she kept snogging him, he was a happy guy. Noticing the faces Malfoy, Zabini and Flint were making at each other, Harry asked, "Your friends giving you a hard time about going with me?" She twisted her lips wryly,

"Not really. They think I've gone round the twist because of my ex, and for wanting to stay at school over Holiday. They're humoring me until I come to my senses."

Sunlight glinted off round glasses when the boy chuckled, "My mates are doing the same thing with me. Treating me with kid gloves, not wanting to 'upset me'…at least they care, right?" Leaning against his side, warm and soft, Morrigan giggled,

"Right"

Hagrid came striding out of the woods, holding a couple of dead rabbits in his hand. Opening a small 'door' in the top of the cage, he dropped the carcases inside. An avian-like shriek was heard. The Gryffindors and Slytherins gasped. The half-giant laughed,

"Dinnae fash yerselves over our friend here…he's chust a wee bit hungry."

"What monster are you endangering us with this time?"

Beetle-black eyes narrowed at Malfoy's insolent question. The rest of the Slytherins grumbled their protests and Harry was alarmed to see several Gryffindors look as though they'd like to protest too. The enormous professor held up a hand and received the quiet he'd silently asked for. Gazing at each face, the bearded man stated,

"We be studyin' a Jabberwocky today."

Expressions of incredulity were heard. Hermione raised her hand and pronounced,

"Professor Hagrid, there's no such thing as a Jabberwocky. It's a nonsensical creature from a story by a Muggle named Lewis Carroll."

"Och, Aye, tha's right lass…that Carroll was a right scunner slanderin' lil' Jiminy that way." Opening the lid of the heavy iron cage, the half-giant reached in and said while he fished around for the creature, "Kin you say any o' that poem that Muggle wrote, 'Mione?"

"Of course" the bright girl assured. Parkinson and Bullstrode repeated her words in sing-song mockery. Ignoring them, the bushy-headed girl flipped back her exuberant hair and cited,

Beware the Jabberwock my son

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch

Pulling out what looked like a miniature winged serpent with the claws of a raptor, Hagrid beamed at the furiously wriggling little monster and gushed,

"Lil' Jiminy here wouldnae harm a soul. That Muggle musthae bin right snookered to say such things-'Eyes of Flame', my ar…Aunt Fanny. Now ifn it twere a Jubjub bird, or a Fruminous Bandersnatch…they's the ones that whiffle and burble." He took a step forward. His students took steps back. The man with a love of creatures great and scary educated, "Jabberwockys just mind their business in the borogroves and mimsy troves in th' middle o' the Forbidden Forest…" Offering the serpent whose claws attempted to try and rend any object it neared to a tall, blond, and sneering Slytherin, Hagrid looked hurt when a curly-haired girl stepped in front of her friend and protested,

"Haven't you harmed Draco enough? First it was that Hippogriff, and now this…thing…that frankly I'd say 'Oh fabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' if somebody slayed it… "

"Brillig, Blaise, twas brillig…"

Malfoy's snorting caused the minature monster to give a piercing cry of anger and slash out with its talons. A thin red line appeared on Zabini's upraised palm. When the cut began to drip blood, Flint and Malfoy along with Crabbe and Goyle took their friend off to the infirmary, threatening to have their parents OWL the Minister of Magic. Harry looked down at the girl by his side and asked, "Do you want to go with them?" MacDuff shook her head, amused,

"No, she'll be fine, it was just a scratch, and they'll probably go have ice cream in the kitchen after Pomfrey's put a healing ungent on it. I'd rather see that creature up close."

Raising his hand and voice, Harry asked, "Hagrid, can Morrigan and I come in and look at the Jabberwocky?" A pleased grin flashed white against the black beard.

"Aye, jus' lift the gate latch there and let yerselves in!"

The two entered the corral and gazed curiously at what everyone had thought was a mythical creature. Excitedly, the girl suggested,

"Talk to it in parseltongue, Harry…see if it understands you!"

Unthinkingly, a sibilant language rolled off his tongue, although the boy 'heard' in English his question, and the answer to 'What's your name?'

"Mome Rath…but I will answer to Jiminy for the one who feeds me…"

The half-giant's boom of delighted laughter at the answer drowned out Morrigan's soft giggle. Feeling proud instead of ashamed for once at his skill acquired from Voldemort, Harry grinned. The smile froze on his face when his friend and teacher asked after class,

"Wait a bittie, Harry lad…I be wonderin'…since you be stayin' over Holiday an' all…would ye be willin' to feed Jiminy fer me while I visit Maxime fer a week?"

"I'll help you…I like the little monster."

Agreeing to feed the Jabberwocky with MacDuff's help, Harry looked at Morrigan when Hagrid told them he'd keep 'lil' Jiminy' inside his hut whilst he was away. The boy's smile widened when the girl blushed.


Ron had encircled Hermione protectively the moment Hagrid had dragged this latest monster out of the cage. His arm remained around her shoulders throughout the entire class period. The freckle faced boy pretended it was a safety issue, but he knew that he really just wanted an excuse to cuddle. After the lesson full of words that made no sense about a blood-thirsty creature that wasn't supposed to exist, 'Mione looked up at him and smiled,

It seems very pretty, but it's rather hard to understand. Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas- only I don't exactly know what they are!

He nodded, "Yeah, that's just how I feel. Fancy you not understanding that stuff either!" His girlfriend was giving him that look again. The one that made him glad she thought he was 'sweet, strong, and sexy' since he sure wasn't anywhere near as smart…

"That was a quote from Alice in Wonderland, Ronald. You know…the one where the girl goes down the rabbit hole?"

He shook his head, "Does she find treasure? Have a sword fight? Solve a mystery? Then I never read it." Bending down, he breathed into her ear, "Having you press against me 'seems to fill my head with ideas' and I know exactly what they are!"

A pink blush made Hermione's skin glow. Her eyes glowed too- with an invitation he couldn't wait to take her up on. Using the pretext of patrolling the corridors to ensure all students went to lunch and didn't sneak off to a secluded niche behind a statue in order to snog like Prefects, he pulled his partner over to the statue of Simon the Salacious.

"Why this statue, Ron?"

Thoughts becoming scattered, he blinked, "'Cause I'm feeling salacious?"

His lips brushed hers. The kiss was long and deep. She broke the sweet contact to murmur huskily,

"How do you feel salacious? What does it mean to you? Tell me!"

Breathing the answer into her ear, the tall boy smiled as he whispered, "Erotic" She let her head loll back, so he kissed her neck in between synonyms. "Exciting too…and…hot…lascivious…libidinous…licentious…lustful…sensual…and steamy…" He almost laughed at turning his girlfriend on by using words, but Ron could feel her heart pound, and her hands clutch his shoulders, and her soft, ragged breaths, and suddenly, he was glad that he'd started reading the vocabulary builders in the planner she'd given him. Smiling hotly- his favorite synonym- blue eyes blazed when he asked, "Did you notice…I alphabetized them… just for you…?"

"Oh gods…Ron!"

Her mouth was exciting and who cared what other adjective as long as she loved him. The teen returned the sensuous pressure and re-educated himself about the contours of her mouth, showing a real aptitude and love of learning.

On the way to the Great Hall to grab a bite of lunch in the time left before the next class, the couple halted when Ron saw Harry and Morrigan slip behind the statue of Daniel the Daft. His face scrunching unhappily, he pondered, "What do we even know about that MacDuff? Who's her father? A Death Eater? Is she a…a…Mata Hari, trying to seduce Harry to The Dark Lord?"

Hands on her hips, Hermione said impatiently,

"Honestly…do you really think that…well…it would be a brilliantly evil plan…and Harry is…vulnerable…right now…and…what should we do?"

Clasping her hands in his, the boy's voice rang with conviction, "I think we should add another project to our Easter Holiday load. Finding out if Morrigan MacDuff is a spy for you-know-who… We might have to break into school records, maybe get Fred and George to send more Polyjuice, so we can get into Slytherin House…and become spies ourselves…for Harry's sake." Ron felt a rising excitement at the thought of all the kissing he could get in during this adventure of theirs. He saw the feeling mirrored in 'Mione's beautiful eyes. They continued on their way to the Hall, holding hands. Squeezing her fingers gently before letting go to open the door, the boy grinned in anticipation. He could hardly wait to start snogging…he meant spying.


Pushing around a bite of Shepherd's Pie on his plate, Colin was not looking forward to Easter Holiday. He glanced over at the Slytherin table and met Blaise's eyes. She smiled at him and waggled her fingers before responding to something Draco had just said. The blond who acted like being called a love god actually made him a god caught him staring and smirked knowingly before looking away and playfully tugging one of his mate's short curls. Malfoy was such a bastard. He grudgingly admired that. The friends were going to Spain and secretly taking Boot, Weasley, Lovegood and Roberts with them. Creevey almost wished they'd get found out so they couldn't go, but he wasn't that much of a sour grape. He just wanted to go too.

"Colin, Colin, are you excited about going home?"

Evan's earnest face reminded the boy exactly why he was going home to London instead of to a beach house on the Costa de la Luz over Holiday. He had to babysit his little brother. Brilliant. He got to rub lotion over his brother's skinny back in place of Zabini's honey-gold, photogenic skin. The pictures that he could've taken… Shifting irritably, he replied to the pest hanging over his shoulder, "Yeah, thrilled." After the nuisance ran off to finish packing, he heard his mate snicker,

"You sound it."

Ginny was pressing her lips together to hide a smile. She should shut her eyes too- he could see the laughter in them. He joked with only a hint of bitterness,

"Hey, you get to go swim in the ocean off Spain while I'm stuck in London with a community pool full spotty-faced Muggles with baby-fat and braces."

While his friend laughed her arse off, Hermione looked over and offered,

"You could always stay at school and study with us. We're swimming in the lake in the afternoons…once we perform warming charms."

He shook his head. "Can't- Dad lives for holidays. He gets lonely rattling around the place by himself while we're at school." Another glance across the aisle revealed that Zabini was leaning out and blowing a kiss to Boot. The guy 'caught' it and pressed it against his heart. How bloody romantic. Disgusted with himself and the whole situation, Colin stood and said he had to finish packing.

Mindy was waiting in the Entry.

"Hey Creevey"

She looked very pretty. He smiled, "Come with me." She allowed herself to be led into an empty classroom. Shutting the door, he pushed her against it and kissed her roughly. The girl gave as good as she got. Using the grip her fingers had in his hair to pry their lips apart, she asked fiercely,

"Who are you kissing, Colin?"

He smiled sweetly, knowing it drove her crazy that he could look so innocent and yet be a little devil, "I'm snogging you, Mindy MacDougal."

"Don't forget it."

He could feel the smile on her lips before they seized his again. The girl really knew how to snog. Once frustration eased and her kisses made him mellow, the Gryffindor asked, "Will you be in London over Holiday?" The Ravenclaw nodded. He said off-handedly, "If you get bored, you could always hang with me and my ickle brother. Ever been to a Muggle community pool?" Mindy laughed.

"Yes, I'll be in London, and no I haven't been to a Muggle pool. But don't think you're doing me a favor. I'm only coming if you want me to. Do you want me to come over?"

He didn't want to be alone and bored while everyone else was coupled up and having the time of their lives. He also wanted to see what Mindy looked like in a bikini. Maybe he could take a few photographs. Who knew- she might just be photogenic. Colin smiled wickedly, "Yes, I…want you…to come over."

"Then it's a date."

That seemed weird, but cool. He nodded and bent to kiss her again.


Contentedly lining her quills at the top of her parchment in preparation to take notes, Bindy Brocklehurst's face glowed with a quiet happiness. Neville's grandmother had given him permission to floo over during the break to her parents' restaurant in London. He was going to help her plant spring flowers outside the entrance. Usually, they had a professional do it, but she'd told her mum and dad how great Neville was and they'd agreed to let their daughter and 'her little boyfriend' do the small landscaping job instead.

The couple was also going to do a bit of sleuthing together over the break. The mystery of the gum wrappers in Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom's room at St. Mungo's sounded fishy to her. She'd gladly play the part of sweet young thing asking nice big men questions if it helped Neville and his parents. The boy was so strong, visiting his folks and never becoming bitter about their condition. She had to blink back tears just thinking about how wonderful he was.

"Good Afternoon, class…"

Professor Smalley, the Ancient Runes teacher, didn't look…right. Concerned hazel eyes met curious pale blue and askance aquamarine. 'Lindy' looked mildly interested in discovering the reason for the man's slovenly appearance, and Mindy seemed mildly disgusted by his unfastened teaching robes showing a loosened tie, and a un-tucked, food stained dress shirt. Cindy was staring at the teacher. Sandy hair was sticking up wildly like he'd been running his fingers through it. Most worrying of all, the man smelled like firewhiskey.

Standing before his self-affirmation mirror, the professor began to laugh, and the sound was every bit as barmy as his image. Students looked uneasily at each other. Apprehensive faces hoped that Smalley wasn't going to crack and start hexing. Or worse…every school had a legend told in the dark around Common Room fireplaces about that teacher at Beauxbatons or Durmstrang or Sunnydales that lost it one day and used Unforgivable Curses on his students. One girl whispered to a friend a thought that had probably flitted through several minds,

"You don't think he's a…nutty professor…do you?"

At the front of the class, Smalley had finished covering his mirror with a white cloth. Taking another white length of fabric and placing it onto the floor with a snapping sound that made the teens jump, the man asked with creepy cheerfulness,

"Can anyone tell me what kind of Rune casting requires a white cloth?"

Raising her hand, Bindy answered, "The Roman Method, sir. Tacitus described it in 'Germania'."

"Excellent, Ms. Brocklehurst. Fifty points to Ravenclaw. How many runes are used in this divination?"

A boy in the back piped up,

"Three, sir?"

Smiling in a way that showed brushing/flossing mints hadn't been utilized in at least a day or two, Smalley chortled,

"That was a trick question. All the runes are cast, but only three are chosen to be read! Twenty points to Ravenclaw for being a jolly good sport." Withdrawing a bag from the pocket of his robes, the man shook the cloth, "In this bag are runes I carved fresh out of apple wood during lunch. Just one of my hidden talents, children…and like other things, it is hidden no longer!" Taking a deep breath, he queried, "What does apple wood represent?"

Mindy's hand rose into the air,

"Choice, sir."

"Ten points to Ravenclaw, because sometimes, students, you don't have a choice. Sometimes, people…bad people…make choices for you…that take your choices away…for the rest of your miserable excuse for a life."

Bindy felt her jaw drop. If the professor had whipped out his wand, she and everyone else in class would be screaming and bolting for the door. Staring off for long, tense, moments, Smalley eventually got a hold of himself and said with manic brightness,

"Take note, class, of the white cloth on the floor. Taking all the runes in my hands, I scatter them upon the fabric, invoking the aid of Odin with heartfelt desperation. Without looking at the runes, I pick three at random…like so…" Rubbing the runes in his palms he explained, "I could look at them as a group or use the Norn method. Anyone remember who the Norns are?"

Luna volunteered calmly,

"They're the three sisters who live near the first root of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. The sisters tend the tree with water drawn from the well of Wyrd. Also, they spin the fates of gods and men."

Nodding and continuing to nod several more times in a disturbing manner, the teacher praised,

"Yes, Ms. Lovegood, seventy five points to Ravenclaw. The threads of fate are like a web. Tug on one thread and it affects everything else, changes the pattern of a man's fate. Very dangerous, tugging on those threads without considering the consequences…men's lives have been ruined class…by one ill-considered tug." Shaking the runes like dice again, Smalley told a girl on the front row that looked ready to cry, "We'll do the Norn method- one rune for my past, one rune for my present, and one for my fate if current events remain unchanged. So pick a rune, any rune, my dear."

The girl held up a rune. The professor laughed mirthlessly,

"Looks like a letter 'p' doesn't it? Puriaz, means Giant. The obstacle rune…could mean several things, but I prefer…a bad situation in my recent past needs to be cleared out so that my destiny can unfold." Moving on to another student, he asked the boy to pick a rune and then mused, "It's nice when they look like letters, isn't it. This letter R is for Raioo, meaning journey and dealing with my present. Also associated with those Norns and their sticky threads of fate… My life path is intersecting with others and will affect them, change them, give them a life lesson…yes, it will indeed." Calmed for the moment, the professor held up the last rune carved with what looked like a block letter 'n' that was lopsided and became speechless. He pointed to Bindy. She said hesitantly,

"That rune is Uruz, meaning aurochs, the wild oxen…the rune represents awareness of death and our own…mortality. Boys who killed aurochs entered manhood and were considered initiated into the first mystery of life…The knowledge that the source of life is death." The class became so quiet; the professor's ragged breathing seemed loud and ominous. A strange smile played over the man's face. He nodded while repeating,

"The source of life is death. Very, very true…thank you class, you've been most…helpful today. Class dismissed. Oh, yes…the report I assigned for Easter Holiday…consider it cancelled. Farewell."

The 'Indies' remained talking quietly once the professor and other students had left. Luna shook her long blonde hair,

"I don't like what just happened. Something's not right with Professor Smalley. I'm going to tell Professor Flitwick. He'll do something or…maybe get Dumbledore to talk to him; make sure he doesn't…hurt anybody."

Bindy tugged her friend's arm, "I'll go with you."


That night, Lorelei's eyes began to close in weariness. She'd been re-reading Pride and Prejudice and waiting up for Severus. He'd had to go out on some mysterious business, and didn't know when he'd return. She'd taken a shower, dressed in his black silk robe, and curled up on his sofa with her fluffy black throw and a good book. Hours passed, and Eliza Bennett and Mr. Darcy had just declared their affection for each other, but she was too tired to enjoy the words properly.

Feeling like the heroine's father, Mr. Bennett, the woman hid her book under a pillow on the sofa and grumbled that Dumbledore 'timed his (orders) ill'. She used her wand to lower the enchanted torch lighting to a dim glow. Taking a magicked candle with her into the bedroom, she jotted a note for her lover to wake her no matter how late he came in. She'd just rest her eyes while lying on top of the duvet.

A rustling noise woke her sometime in the night. Sitting up, she called, "Severus?" Lorelei stared in shock when Stuart Smalley stepped into the doorway, wand tip glowing. He smiled,

"No, it's not Snape, my dear. It's just me…a thread of fate that's about to be snipped, a man who's learned that destiny must be allowed to unfold…and that man is mortal and the source of life is death."

"How did you get in, and what are you talking about Stuart?" She kept her voice low, soothing. He hadn't threatened her, so the Voice wouldn't work and her wand was out of reach. Maybe she could talk him out of whatever he'd come here to do. He smiled like a naughty boy who was pleased with himself. It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

"I threatened your guardian portrait with mineral spirits. Tristan couldn't bear the thought of Isolde…running away from him. He blurted that password quite speedily. I'm here, because Snape tugged my thread of fate, collapsing the web of my life, and I wanted to return the favor." Scratching his head, the unkempt man frowned, "I was going to change my situation by altering the path of the professor's life…permanently…but I…lack the courage to go through with it." Removing a vial of liquid, he smiled crookedly, "I'll be taking this instead."

Presuming the liquid to be poison, she pleaded, "Please don't…that's not the answer."

"Isn't it?" Staring off for a moment, Smalley gave a short, defeated laugh, "What do you suggest I do instead? Throw myself on You-Know-Who's mercy?"

"What are you talking about?"

The man gave her a pitying look.

"Doesn't tell you much, does he?" Trying to stall, she shook her head. The unshaven face grimaced, "Snape's smart enough to know that a lady like you wouldn't chose The Dark Lord's minion for a lover."

Not about to confide Severus' double role, Lorelei asked softly, "Why are you afraid, Stuart?"

The man who'd been leaning against the doorjamb slid down until he rested his head against raised knees. He started to cry,

"I…I just wanted to be famous. I thought that if I got information about V…Volde…you-know…that people would read my interview and…and Snape ruined it all!" Uncorking the vial, he whispered despairingly, "There's nowhere I can run to escape…they'll find me…" Ignoring her frantic pleas, Smalley drank the liquid and rasped, "Tell him…my death is on his conscience…if he has one."

She rushed to his side, but it was too late. In shock, Lorelei stepped into the lounge and called out, "Slinky…!" The house elf appeared. She said numbly, "Go tell the Headmaster that Professor Smalley is dead…in Severus' chambers." Immediately, the elf scurried back to the fireplace and vanished. Looking down at Stuart's body, the woman started shaking. She'd danced with this man, listened to his innocuous ramblings, and now he was gone. A voice cleared, alerting her to the presence of the wizard who'd just flooed into the room. Lorelei wondered vaguely if using the castle network, bespelled as a rule for elves alone, was a Headmaster perk. The blue eyes behind half moon glasses looked grave,

"What has happened, my dear?"

Her mind whirled. If Albus didn't know, then Severus must not have told him about Smalley…or reported that he'd informed You-Know-Who of Stuart's intentions to sell information to The Intruder. She wouldn't either. Sticking to the truth, without meeting the wizard's eyes, she said faintly, "He…threatened the guardian with mineral spirits…barged into the bedroom…ranted about fate…and killed himself."

"Smalley committed suicide?"

Never had she been so glad to see Severus. Moving into his arms, the woman told her lover what had happened. The story had strategic blanks that Stygian eyes told her he'd had no problem filling in. Slinky returned and magicked the body out of the room. The Potions Master looked toward Dumbledore, stating curtly,

"Lorelei has been through a great trauma. Remaining at Hogwarts is ill advised."

She clung tighter to her lover, "Don't ask me to leave you."

He ran a soothing hand over her hair.

"I won't…we'll go together."

The old wizard looked as surprised as she felt.

"You may certainly take leave if you desire." Dumbledore asked the question that was burning in her mind, "Where shall you go?"

A corner of Severus' mouth turned up. He answered with the name of the place that she hadn't known she longed to be until he spoke it,

"Hoy"


A/N: Felt so heartless, letting Stuart self-destruct, but it had to be done- had to get Snape and Lorelei to Hoy to set up Chapter 40's Happy Ending! Of course there'll be a couple of twists on the way:D