Chapter 26

"Headmaster," the man back from the dead greeted formally.

"Algor, right on time." Replied Dumbledore, his eyes weretwinkling but at the same time were grave and concerned.

The room was silent as the Order looked at the man who had been in Voldemort's inner circle, the man who had been one of the most ruthless Death Eaters during the first war. And now he's supposedly gone away from all that? Harry thought, not trusting the man an inch. However, he then remembered Splikvin's boggart, and couldn't help but wonder how the two Snapes felt; it had to be worse than what he was.

Snape was sitting stiff-backed in his chair, his jaw clenched and his face an impassable mask. However, his eyes burned with anger and the tiniest fleck of fear, revealing his feelings towards his father. Harry had never dreamed he'd see Severus Snape afraid of someone, even during the attack on Hogwarts, where Snape had been revealed as a spy, the potions master hadn't so much as blinked when face to face with Voldemort.

Splikvin was not so blank. She was glaring at Algor Snape with more hatred than Harry had ever seen on someone's face, but it belied the fear that shone in her eyes. She was completely rigid, as if debating whether to fight or flee her father, the one who had banished her and threatened to kill Severus.

"Algor, may I introduce you to the Order of the Phoenix?" Dumbledore motioned to the others sitting in the room and began to say the members' names, last only. Snape Sr. greeted each person with a nod, his eyes betraying nothing. When they met Harry's, Tallon fought the urge not to shudder; they seemed empty, like bottomless pits that had seen many horrors—they belonged to a dead man.

However, Dumbledore managed to skip Snape and Splikvin, and Algor didn't seem to notice. Harry, on the other hand, felt the shadows in the room stretch, hiding the two from sight at the moment.

'Smuck?' he called silently, 'Is it you doing that?'

'Aye,' replied the sprite, 'Harm shall befall the man should Selena speak with him. Best to avoid her temper or she shall start punching walls and I will be left to deal with her anger.' Though the 'punching walls' part confused him slightly, Harry said no more.

Dumbledore continued, "As I said, Algor is perfectly capable of being trusted, though he must remain hidden from the Ministry—too many questions would follow the news of his return to the living world." The Order members nodded in agreement, though some were more reluctant than others. "Please, Algor, have a seat."

The man sat with a nod, in an armchair not far from Splikvin's. He kept his blank gaze on Dumbledore though, and did not see his daughter, who had her jaw clenched and her eyes closed, obviously fighting an inner argument; Harry wondered if anyone else could see her and Snape. "What has occurred recently is that we have gained the alliance of the Vampire clan Feletone and several attacks on muggles." At this, Algor's eyes flashed somewhat with what looked like angst; perhaps he was remembering his days as a Death Eater. "Other than that, we are waiting for Voldemort to make his next move."

The meeting went on from there, though the calm was forced rather than by mutual agreement. Several members reported on what they had seen or heard recently, and there was a bit of practicing on patroni.

When it ended, many of the Order members went home, though a few remained to talk to the others. Splikvin herself immediately began to leave the room, heading for the nearest, doorway. Unfortunately, Algor chose to leave with Dumbledore at that same moment. The elder Snape lightly brushed against Splikvin, "Apologies," he murmured. Splikvin nodded and made to continue through. However, Algor did a double-take. "Helen?" he said, and caught Splikvin's arm, confusion written all over his face.

Splikvin turned to face him, her expression blank as she jerked her arm from his hold. "No." she answered coldly, and turned around to go through a different doorway. Algor wasn't easily shaken though, and he followed her. "I do not believe we were introduced," he said, walking up to her. Sensing trouble, Harry stood up, and noticed that several of his friends did the same; Snape and Remus did too.

"And we don't need to be," Splikvin growled.

Algor lightly grasped her arm again and made her face him. His eyes were searching her face, and Harry noticed that Splikvin's arm was shaking slightly. "Let her go," Snape ordered, stepping out of the shadows.

Algor looked at him, mild surprise showing through his eyes as he recognized his son. "Severus?" The potions master nodded stiffly, wand at his side. Algor then looked back at Splikvin, "Selena?" he whispered.

"Yes," she replied and jerked her arm away once more then continued to leave.

"We need to talk," her father said firmly, stepping in her way. His voice was firm, one used to being obeyed; it made the hairs on the back of Harry's neck stand up.

Splikvin's hands trembled slightly, "No, we don't." she replied. "Now get out of my way."

Algor looked surprised at her refusal. "You need to understand." He said, reaching out to grasp her arm again.

Splikvin automatically smacked his hand aside and stepped backwards. "Don't touch me again," she said, voice low and deadly. Harry noticed that she wouldn't meet her father's eyes.

He stepped back as well, "I must explain."

Splikvin's aura began to spark slightly, "For what?" she snapped.

"Everything."

She sneered at him, "Too late for that old man. What's done is done, and you will never be able to change it."

Algor's face hardened, "Hear me out."

"Why should I?" she demanded; Harry could feel Smuck growing agitated as the shadows leapt throughout the room.

Dumbledore intervened before the situation could get worse, "Selena, Algor, perhaps this should be discussed in another room."

"Nothing needs to be discussed," she growled, and turned to walk away. Snape stopped her near the other doorway, and he spoke quietly so no one else could hear him, though from his position, Harry heard them clearly.

"Selena, nothing is going to happen, no one will get hurt."

She looked angrily at the floor. "You don't know that Sev…"

"I do. Let's just hear what he has to say, and get it over with. You don't need to say anything to him; you don't have to even look at him. What is the point in ignoring something you can use later?"

She grimaced. "You can't just pretend like nothing happened Severus," Splikvin said bitterly, "You can't ignore the past, people will use it against you. What's the point in giving them more to use?"

"This is not one of those times Selena," Snape replied firmly, "Do you think I enjoy this situation any more than you do? I endured him after you left, you can do the same for a few minutes."

Splikvin flinched. "Fine."

The three Snapes left with Dumbledore, leaving several confused yet anxious Order members behind in the meeting room. "What do you think is going to happen?" Harry asked Padfoot and Moony.

"I'm not sure," Remus replied, "I don't even know why they hate him so much."

Sirius snorted. "I can understand it, if he was anything like my dear old mum." Harry scratched his head, wondering if Algor had been the same or, most likely, worse.

"Can't you ask the elements what's going on in there?" Ron asked Harry, glancing at the door the four had left through.

"I could, but I won't." Harry replied firmly, "Privacy is a person's right; as Head Boy, you should remember that."

Ron blushed, "Oh yeah, sorry." The Weasley sighed, "I don't even know why Dumbledore made me Head Boy; you'd make a better one."

"I don't want to be it," Harry said, "And an unwilling person is no better than someone who can't do it at all."

Sirius chuckled, "Which wise man are you, Tallon?" he joked; Harry smiled slightly.

"Not you, that's for sure" he retorted jokingly, and dodged the chess piece his godfather threw at him. The knight squealed its protest, but was ignored at Harry tackled his godfather in werewolf form. Sirius transformed into a dog and they began to wrestle, Remus soon joined in, along with Ron; the tension in the room eased as some of the Order members began to laugh, though a couple rolled their eyes.

Eventually the dog-pile (literally) ceased, and the wizards returned to normal form, panting slightly and flushed, but laughing. They cooled off, and then the door burst open. Splikvin stalked out, shaking with fury. Uh-oh, Harry thought, feeling the room heat up; it was a good thing she was not an elemental, though at this moment Harry wondered if that were true.

Her aura was flaring in colors of poisonous green, black, silver, ice blue,and blood red as she paced, hands shoved into the pockets of her robe. Her face was stony, but cold waves of fury pressed down on everyone in the room. Even the Weasley twins, who'd justentered, were somber: she was not to be messed with at the moment.

Milliseconds later, Algor Snape came out, with a protesting Dumbledore trailing behind. "Algor-" he began in a slightly warning voice.

The elder Snape ignored him, walking over to Splikvin. "Why won't you just accept it?" he demanded angrily.

She glared at him, her aura dimming slightly. "How can I accept something thatis impossible to believe?"Splikvin demanded."Never forgive, never forget; remember?" she sneered, "I suppose I learned my lessons a bit too well."

"Lessons can be unlearned," he growled, eyes flashing as his hands clenched into white-knuckled fists.

Splikvin punched her father, sending him crashing across the room. Remus automatically grabbed her from behind. "But years can't be given back!" she hissed at her father. "There's no damn way my years of banishment can be undone!"

Algor wiped his bleeding nose on the back of his hand as he glared back up at Splikvin. "I did what I needed to in order to protect you!" he hissed back.

If it hadn't been for Remus, Splikvin probably would have punched him again as he got up. Harry saw that Snape clearly wanted to do the same, but remained unmoving in the doorway.

"You have an odd definition of protection," Splikvin snarled. "Normally protectingsomeonedoesn't include harmingthem!" Algor glared at her and stalked out of the room. Once Dumbledore followed him out and shut the door, Remus let Splikvin go.

"Calm down Selena," he said soothingly, forcing her to sit down. Harry was amazed that Moony wasn't unnerved in the slightest, everyone else was.

"How the hell am I supposed to be calm?" she snapped.

"Thus speaks the infamous Snape temper," Remussighed amusedly.

"By deep breathing," Sirius answered her cheerfully, though his tone wasn't as light as usual when he joked about something. Splikvin began to swear under her breath in Parsletongue, causing Harry's eyes to widen in surprise at her colorful language. But that didn't help; she got up and began to pace again, her aura still visible. "Selena," Snape said irately, "If I can be calm, so can you."

"Does it look like that?" she retorted, eyes still sparking with anger.

He rolled his eyes and walked over to her.

"Severus…" she growled, aura sparking further as he reached out with a hand, "Don't you even damn think about it."

"Already have," he replied and swiftly grabbed her wrist. Before she could so much as blink, Snape gently pressed on the center of her left palm with his thumb. Splikvin's eyes rolled back and her aura went out like a light; Snape caught her as she fell.

"What'd you do?" Sirius asked, eyes wide.

"Pressure point," Snape replied bluntly, and set his twin on one of the couches. "Make sure she doesn't wake up with him in here; that shouldn't be for another three hours and ten minutes." Harry noticed Smuck crawl out from Splikvin's shadow and settle on her shoulder, eyes meeting Harry's as Snape left.

'If only I had known how to do that years ago,' the sprite sighed, 'It would have made calming her so much easier.'

Harry had to smile at that.

Coming Up:

Durmstrang

Family Past

Then:

Planning

Fight