Chapter 14

Verus

Emerald green flames erupted in the fireplace and from them Albus Dumbledore unfolded himself. He at first did not speak to either of them but went to the perch and told the bird to fetch someone called Severus Snape. He also talked to the painting of Phineas Nigelus telling him to announce visitors.

While Charon was supervising Dumbledore's every move, her sister found a put-outer on a table and began playing with it, lighting a candle by blowing in it and then putting out the candle with the put-outer.

'You are Spica Catherine Grey and Charon Lillian Moore.' He finally spoke to them in a tired voice. The girls had different names because their mother had wished to have one of them carry on her family name since she had no brothers. She had married only after giving birth to Spica.

Dumbledore looked carefully from one girl to the other. They also were looking him straight in the eyes. Unlike another student of their age that had been in this office, not a long time ago after the lost of someone very dear, as their parents must have been, they did not look in any way disgruntled, they were calm. He could almost call it serene, like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

'I wish I could say I know how you feel, but I don't. You, unlike the rest of us, cannot feel pain.' He took seat behind the desk. After a moment he spoke again. 'I do not know if your reaction is caused by the shock. I do not know if this is weakness or strength.'

'Shock' muttered Charon under her breath. What he had just said was ridiculous. How could she be shocked when something she knew was going to happen did? 'It is a curse, as we all seem to know.' Spoke Charon. She had never in her life wished more that she wasn't a Grey. That she was one of the dammed Grey women. She knew all too well their story. 'We can't feel emotions...not like the rest of you. If we do, and when we do, we lose our powers. That's what the curse says.'

'We are not here to talk about an ancient curse that has led to the misfortune of many from your family, but about a more recent misfortune. I believe you all understand the consequences of this recent turn of events.'

'What are you talking about, Headmaster.' It was strange that Spica wasn't saying a thing all this time, but Charon had to get to the bottom of all of this one way or another. She had her suspicions, she had seen many things in her mind, but just like Legilimency, it was hard to put all the pieces of the puzzle in the right order. More often than not she could not do it. Prophecies were not just in the form of pretty little riddles. Usually she would see it all in a dream, with lots of details. And she had seen lots of things that were to be and yet she could not understand. The past and the future kept jumbling.

The door suddenly opened and a tall black-clad figure appeared in the room. It was a man who looked straight to the head master, not even acknowledging the presence of the two girls. It wasn't so much the presence of the man that made an impact over Charon but the man's clothing. She had seen those robes so many times in her dreams. Men cloaked in them plagued her nightmares. She immediately knew what he was and she could not understand for the life of it what he was doing here. After all it was obvious to everybody what he was.

Mors mordre. She did not realize she had spoken this words until both men's eyes were locked to her. The old wizard had a kind of understanding, and something edging to despair. The other man's was blank upon first glance. This did not keep her from seeing the surprise, intrigue, and if she was not exaggerating, perhaps guilt, in them. But all this did not impress her as much as the odd familiarity she felt towards those obsidian eyes. She knew immediately she had seen them before somewhere...sometime. And then it hit her.

Verus it was the second time she had spoken out loud what she was thinking, without actually meaning to. And just like before it scared the goblins out of the two wizards. The shocked became even more evident than the firs one on the younger dark wizard. His face had gone paler although it was already pale. He looked into her eyes that somehow reminded him of her. But she was dead, had died less than an hour before.

'This is Severus Snape...' the headmaster eyed his robes with a reproachful look; Severus could have at least changed from his death eaters clothes. 'Our potions master.'

Charon snorted at this while Spica asked in a vexed tone. 'And what does he have in common with us? Other than the fact than he is one of the people that participated in the murder of my parents?'

When turning to see who had spoken Severus received an even greater shock, it was as if the ground had fled from under his feet. He looked paler than death. For a moment Cherry thought he was going to faint right there on the spot, yet he was a lot stronger than that.

'I'm afraid it all connects my dear. As I was saying before Severus interrupted us, the events of tonight will have many implications in your future life.' Dumbledore said quietly.

'How?' They both asked in unison.

'My dears, as you know, both your parents have died, leaving you orphans.' The looks on the girls faces told him it they did not appreciate the superior tone of his words. He continued in an even tone. 'You are both not of age yet.'

At this, Spica burst out 'All the paper work involving our transfer has been done so I don't see the problem.'

'I was not talking merely of the transfer, but in general. You both need a guardian until you are of age.'

'You're joking right? How could I need a guardian when in a few months I'll be of age?' she hated the idea of someone interfering in her life.

'I know my dear but these are the rules.' He made a pregnant pause and then in a quiet voice continued.' I know of the existence of two aunts can take on the role of guardian for Charon and as for you...'

'As for me what?' she interrupted, not letting the headmaster finish his statement. 'What is your game, old man? Who could be my guardian?' She asked, a smirk on her face.

The dark haired man narrowed his eyes, while Dumbledore did not seem to acknowledge the girls rebuke and continued. 'As for you, Miss Spica Catherine Grey, and I might add, Snape there is no need for a guardian as your father is very much alive.'