A/N- I'm so sorry it is taking me so long to post chapters. I still don't have internet at my house and real life keeps sticking its nose in my business! I haven't been able to write anything in about a month…haven't had the time! But I am determined to update all my fics and start some that I have had planned for a while. Okay, so, ch. 5!
Chapter 5- Immortality Ended
Le-Annette paced her classroom's floor. How could she have allowed him to leave? She knew she could've subdued him. What had stopped her?
The fact that he is a grown man and should not be told or made to do what he does not wish to do, she thought, stopping near the door of the room. I have to tell Dumbledore.
With this decided, she walked swiftly from the classroom and up a couple of flights of stairs to the gargoyle in front of the Headmaster's office.
"Muggle Milky Way!" she said, as the stone creature came to life and leapt aside. She stepped onto the revolving staircase and arrived at the office door. Before she could knock; however, the door opened.
Dumbledore sat in his high-backed chair, his hands clasped and rested on the desk before him. It seemed as though he had been waiting for her arrival. He gestured, without a spoken word, to the chair in front of the desk. Le-Annette entered and sat.
"What's wrong, Le-Annette?" he asked, smiling slightly at her.
"It's Severus…and me. I think I've done something terrible."
"What?"
"I went to Voldemort last evening. I went to confirm a vision Zion had had."
"I see..."
"I…I told him about Severus, you know, being a spy."
Le-Annette looked down at her feet. It suddenly dawned on her how human the emotions that she was feeling were. It had been a long time since she felt such a way as she did now.
Dumbledore seemed to be contemplating something much more than what she had just told him. When Le-Annette dare to look at him again, he replied, "How did Severus react to this?"
Le-Annette straightened in her chair, and solemnly said, "He answered the Mark."
Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. He now seemed worried.
"Headmaster, I'm--"
He held up a hand to silence her.
"Do not apologize, Le-Annette. You did what you felt was right. And Severus leaving was not your fault. It was his choice. Now, if you please, perhaps you should return to your classroom. We both must have a lot to think about."
Le-Annette nodded, but before she could stand, the door behind her burst open. Severus, breathing and perspiring heavily, half-stepped, half-ran in. Dumbledore stood quickly.
"Severus? What's wrong? What's happened?" he asked.
Le-Annette stood--thanking the good Lord that Severus was alive--and let him fall into her chair. He looked as though he needed the seat more than she did.
"Headmaster…Le-Annette," he croaked, "I must tell you…"
"Take your time, Severus," Dumbledore said, eyeing his Potions Master as he sank back down into his high-backed chair.
After he caught his breath, Severus began again. He gave a quick look up to Le-Annette and said, "I trust Le-Annette told you of what she did."
"Yes."
Le-Annette moved herself into a dark corner as the guilt of these words stung her.
"I became enraged. I couldn't believe that she could've done that…blown all my hard work in one fell swoop!"
"I know, Severus. Le-Annette told me you answered the Mark…what happened after that?" Dumbledore said, patiently.
But Severus didn't seem to hear him. It was apparently important that Dumbledore understand his feelings at the very moment Le-Annette had told him of her dark deed.
"I became too prideful and arrogant. My ego got the best of me, Headmaster. I know that I should've stayed here. I knew that when she told me. But I just couldn't let her ruin my hard work," he continued.
Le-Annette turned her face downward in shame. It was funny how simple words could be so painful.
"I walked, with my head held high, all the way to the outskirts of Hogsmeade. But the Dark Lord and his servants were waiting for me. He called me a traitor to his ranks. He said that I was an unfit servant to anyone. He called Bellatrix Lestrange forward, and she began to torture me under the Cruciatus curse. I don't know how long she tortured me. But when she finally stopped, Voldemort declared that my punishment was to be completed. He raised his wand to perform Avada Kedavra, but all of a sudden, he was knocked backwards…off his feet."
Le-Annette looked back up at Severus. He was staring vaguely off into space as he relived these moments of terror. For a split second, he eyes rested on her in an apologetic way. She didn't understand this. Why would he want to apologize to her?
"When you feel ready, Severus," Dumbledore said gently.
He nodded and continued. "It was Zion."
Le-Annette sighed and smiled. Zion had saved the day.
"Don't be relieved yet, Le-Annette. Please," Severus said. Again she stared confusedly at him. He continued, "He beat off the rest of the Deaths Eaters before Voldemort had even gotten back to his feet. However…Voldemort was angrier than I have ever seen him. He pointed his wand at Zion and shouted the Killing curse at him."
"You can't kill what's already dead," Le-Annette said confidently.
"But you can destroy it," Dumbledore said, his eyes dimming.
"The spell hit Zion square in the chest. It through the vampire back a few paces. A tiny hole, where the spell had hit, had formed. Voldemort shouted the spell again and again and again. Until you could see Zion's un-beating heart in his chest. He shouted at me to run. I did so. As I did, Voldemort shouted the spell three more times. On the third time, Zion's body hit the ground."
"No…" Le-Annette whispered, pushing herself further into the corner.
"It decayed away…He's gone," Severus finished.
"No!" Le-Annette screamed.
Severus pulled himself to his feet. Now that his story was over, he no longer seemed to have that dreamy, far off feeling to him. He was the old Severus again.
"Le-Annette, I'm sorry," he said.
"No! No!" she screamed. "You…This….This is all your damned fault!"
"Le-Annette, you are older and wiser than the others in this room. You know that that is not true," Dumbledore said.
Severus, for the first time ever, seemed to be hurt by this accusation. Le-Annette did not care for his feelings or Dumbledore's words. All she cared for was her grief.
"You and your foolish pride got Zion killed, Severus! I hate you!" she screamed once more.
Without another word, she ran from the room--normally paced; she had not the stamina for her preternatural speed at the moment--crying her grief away.
End Notes: So, whatcha think? I want to hear your thoughts on this. Please R & R! Thanks!
