Chapter 17

Mors Mordre

Once the girls had left his office. The headmaster turned to look at his colleague. Severus Snape was in a state of shock. There were few things that could surprise this man, but this would be one of them. This man who always careful to keep his emotions under control and never seemed to care about anybody was profoundly shaken by the news the Headmaster had delivered.

Dumbledore knew that Juno Grey had been one of the few people to become truly close to Severus. She probably knew the man better than the headmaster had managed to in all this years. The woman had come out of nowhere. She had been a bit older than her daughters when she decided to join the Order.

One of the most talented witches he had ever passes across, Albus remembered. Her abilities in wandless magic were outstanding and her ability to control her mind and that of others was something he had never come across since. Yet, just like her youngest daughter had pointed out, she was doomed not to be able to fall in love. A curse made by one of her ancestors, a witch that had been betrayed by her fiancé.

'Now, Severus, I don't need want to hear what happened, this time I want to see it.' He told Snape, shaking his head to clear his thoughts, wishing to remain on task.

The potions master looked at him oddly. The headmaster usually wished to hear a not too-detailed account of the meetings. Things that might be significant, or, if any important plans of the Order had somehow ended up in Voldemort's scaly hands. However, he complied with the headmaster's wish. He reluctantly placed the shreds of memory and placed them in the bowl that Albus had place on the desk in front of them.

The headmaster stirred a little the silvery liquid and the images of the night were replayed in the vapour liquid. This time he could see the whole thing a more clearly. He could also pay attention to things he had not noticed.

At the meeting Severus had been careful to stay in the back, trying to not participate at anything. It was odd to see this woman again, in a strangely similar circumstances with their first encounter. She had come to show the Dark Lord that he was powerless in the face of her pure magic. And she had proved her point. Now, on the other hand, it was the opposite. In a morbid way he was curious of the outcome.

The first time she had feared nothing and no one; this time she was weak. She was not afraid for herself. Nothing could harm her. She was afraid for the ones she cared for. The moment her husband hit the floor lifeless, Snape knew she had given up. She had told him on countless times that she was powerful as long as she felt nothing for no one. That had been the reason their relationship had never been more than physical. They thought alike and she had taught him much about how to control his mind, and that of others.

That must also be the reason why she left so suddenly, Severus realized. He wasn't sure if she knew at the time of her pregnancy but he knew that wouldn't have stopped her. Probably she knew. It made perfect sense, come to think of it. She had left so that she could protect the unborn child; it was a time of war after all and the child was a great weakness.

As he watched her hit the floor after the killing curse had been cast, he knew the only reason why she was dying was because she wanted to. She wanted to be closer with her husband... for eternity. In that moment Severus was jealous. However, the feeling was short lived.

The headmaster had been carefully studying the memory. He was feeling a bit disappointed. He had built up his hopes about this. It could have been a wonderful opportunity to find out some of Voldemort's plans. He had supposed that the dark lord would have revealed some of his plans to someone that was soon going to die. However, it seemed that the little incident with Harry had thought him a lesson. And this woman had, after all, lived on after several occasions being hit with the killing curse. It was a little known fact, but Harry Potter wasn't the only one to have been hit with a killing curse and lived to tell the tale.

'Severus, is this all that happened?' Albus asked, sounding a bit exasperated 'There's nothing else the Tom did or said?' he knew it was impossible not to see everything when looking in a penseive. This was, after all, the reason he used one, however, he could not help feeling frustrated.

'Nothing.' Severus replied evenly. 'The sole purpose of the gathering was to kill her. And it worked. It was true Albus...'

'Yes, so it seems.' the twinkle in the old man's eyes disappeared. He looked one more time in the bowl. The image of Juno's face was slowly spinning. Those blue eyes looked so deep one could drown in them.

He than changed his tone, recovering his good humour. 'What impression has her daughter, I mean your daughter, had on you?'

Just like the man, Severus snorted, to bring up a subject he was dreading to think of. He remained silent, carefully avoiding Dumbledore's eyes.

'Severus, she is a very powerful witch, just like her mother. Both girls have powers we do not even know of, though I don't think they are as strong as their mother.' Dumbledore looked at Snape through his half moon glasses. The man was still avoiding his gaze. 'Maybe if they were to combine their powers.' He added in an after thought.

Snape nodded curtly. "Is that all, Professor?" he asked a trifle bitterly.

"For now. Oh, and I expect you to be at the meeting tonight." Dumbledore replied and escorted his guest to his office door. Once Snape had gone Dumbledore sighed as he went back to his desk. He sent a message to those waiting at the house of Black that he would arrive soon and then left the office.