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Comments
kidarock: Thanks so much for your review! I'm glad you look forward to my updates (even though it takes longer because of the end of the school year). I look forward to your reviews!
MaxwellHouse: I know that many people would think that more would happen between Albus and Minerva if they shared a bed, but I think that, as mature adults, they would take things slow. Especially Minerva; being the stern Head of Gryffindor, she wouldn't want to rush into anything.
duj: Plaster would be a good idea, but I doubt it would work. There's probably too much Dark magic in the portrait. It's worth a try, though. Let me write that one down...
MoroTheWolfGod: I think that Sirius and Severus might just kill each other if they were brothers. Cuz hey, they're probably distant cousins right now (all the purebloods are related to each other)...
Morgana-Alex: I guess a sibling rivalry would make Sirius' and Severus' grudges more explainable. But that won't happen here...
Alesia G: Where am I going? I can't tell you...I think. You'll just have to wait and find out!
Rosaleen: Probably not a lovely concept for Sirius and Severus, though. Thanks for your review!
Hey everyone! Sorry it took so long for me to update; lots to do for the end of the school year! Hope you all enjoy this!
saiyanwizardgurl
Chapter 21: Hatred and Yet Another Calling
Severus Snape sat up quickly as a sharp pain ran up his left arm. Cursing softly, he looked around and tried to figure out where he was. He glanced at the gaunt figure of Sirius Black lying on the couch across from him. Of course, he thought, Grimmauld Place.
The Potions Master sprang to his feet, nearly tripping over the blanket that had fallen off him. Racing to the door, he pulled it open and ran straight into Albus Dumbledore. Snape stumbled backwards, but the headmaster reached out and pulled him back on balance. "Severus! Is there something wrong?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes full of concern.
"I'm being called," he mumbled, not meeting the headmaster's gaze.
"I see," said Dumbledore. He pulled the Potions Master into a tight embrace. "Be careful, Severus."
"I will," said Snape, stiffly.
"Minerva and I will meet you in your rooms when you return."
The Potions Master tentatively returned the hug. "Thank you."
He quickly pulled out of the hug. Dumbledore watched as Snape raced down the hall and nearly crashed into Minerva McGonagall. "Severus!" she exclaimed at the Potions Master's retreating figure. Her calls were quickly drowned by Mrs. Black's shrieks.
"HOW DARE YOU THUNDER DOWN HERE IN THIS MOST NOBLE HOUSE, YOU SORRY EXCUSE FOR – "
"Shut up!" shouted Snape from the first floor, slamming the door behind him.
"Where is he going?" asked McGonagall.
"He's being summoned," whispered the headmaster.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING, YOU – "
"Shut up!" screamed Black, racing past the two and down the stairs. "Don't you ever get tired of acting like the hag you are?"
Dumbledore and McGonagall heard nothing for a moment. "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT, YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF – "
"Just shut up! I'm sick of your crap!"
"WHY YOU – " They heard something shatter. Mrs. Black's screams stopped. The headmaster and the Transfigurations teacher went downstairs to find the Animagus sitting in the middle of the hall floor, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. Shards of glass were strewn on the floor below the portrait, and Mrs. Black's curtain was once again over her painting.
"Sirius?" said McGonagall. "Are you all right?"
"Sirius!" cried Remus Lupin, rushing down the stairs. "What happened? I was feeding Buckbeak, and I heard something crash – "
"I hate her," said Black, quietly, glaring at the black curtain.
The hall fell silent. "I know, Sirius," said Lupin, hoisting his friend up. "I know."
"Well, Remus, Sirius, Minerva and I must me heading back to Hogwarts," said Dumbledore. "I shall be by again on Monday."
"Very well," said the werewolf. "I'll see you two later." The Animagus was still scowling at the black curtain. McGonagall and the headmaster left Grimmauld Place, closing the door silently behind them. As Number 12 sank back into secrecy, the witch and wizard strode off to find a safe place to Disapparate.
…………………
Snape stood in the circle of Death Eaters, hoping that the meeting would be quick. He was still rather tired, and he hoped that he could go to bed soon after he returned to Hogwarts. His hopes shattered when Voldemort walked into the room.
"Which one of you did it!"
"Did what, my Lord?" asked Lucius Malfoy.
"Which one of you let her escape!"
"Let who escape?" asked Nott.
"Narau Terath! The Unspeakable that was captured yesterday! Was it you, Macnair?" he asked, casting the Cruciatus Curse on the unsuspecting Death Eater.
"No!" screamed Macnair, writhing and twisting on the floor. "My Lord, I did not even know that she was kidnapped!"
"No, I suppose you did not," fumed Voldemort. "But you did, Avery! Tell me where she went! Crucio!" Avery's only response was his shrieks of pain. "Answer me!"
"I…do…not know!"
"Liar! Tell me where she went!"
"I swear, my Lord, I do not know where she is! I only brought her here!"
Voldemort waved off the curse, but soon set his wand on Crabbe. "You fool! Weren't you assigned to guard her?"
"No, my Lord!" sputtered Crabbe, who's head was banging against a shelf. "It wasn't me!"
"That's right! It was you!" he screamed, setting a curse on Goyle. "I always get you two idiots mixed up! Where did she go! Why did she escape!"
"I don't know, my Lord! You called me to go on a mission – "
"And you did not even think to have someone else take your place?"
"I did, my Lord! I did!"
"Oh, really?" said Voldemort, narrowing his eyes. "Who?"
The Dark Lord never found out who it was. At that moment, Goyle slipped into unconsciousness. "Insolent fool," he muttered, kicking the unconscious Death Eater in the stomach. "I see we'll just have to find out without your help. Was it you, Bellatrix!" he shouted, setting the Cruciatus Curse on her.
"No, my Lord!" she screamed, twitching at his feet. "I was off in London to get – "
"Oh, that's right," he said, bitterly. "What about you Lucius?" he shouted, rounding on Malfoy.
"It wasn't I, my Lord!" he said before Voldemort hit him with a curse. "I was with you the entire time!"
"Then which one of you was it?" he hissed, scanning the circle of remaining Death Eaters. His eyes fell on the Potions Master. "Severus," he whispered, menacingly. He strode over to Snape quickly, grabbed him around the neck and wrist, and slammed him into the wall. "Was it you?"
"No, my Lord," gasped the Potions Master, struggling for air. "I was working on the next batch of the Caponis Concoction."
"Really, now?" he whispered, suspicious of Snape. "How is it coming, then?"
"At the rate it's brewing, I will have it done before the date you requested."
"Excellent," he hissed, throwing the Potions Master across the room. Voldemort scanned the circle one more time, his eyes falling on a trembling Death Eater. "It was you, wasn't it, Barter!" he shouted at the newly appointed Death Eater.
Barter continued to tremble before faintly whimpering, "Y-yes, my Lord."
Voldemort glared menacingly at the shaking Death Eater. "The rest of you may go. Barter and I have some talking to do." The Dark Lord waved his wand, sending chords snaking up Barter's body. Voldemort dragged him into a connecting room, which was soon filled with Barter's screams and shrieks.
"You all right, Severus?" asked Malfoy, giving the Potions Master a hand up.
"Yes," said Snape, nodding sharply. He felt quite the contrary, however. His head was throbbing from where it had hit the wall, and he could feel a few bruises blossoming on his wrist, neck, and shoulder.
"I'll see you next week. Until then," said Malfoy, going over to help Crabbe and Goyle.
The Potions Master had to step around the twitching Death Eaters to get out of the room. He quickly rushed down the stairs and out of the house. It was raining again. "Just wonderful," he muttered, setting out into the downpour to the edge of the property.
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