Disclaimers: See Chapters 1 and 2 for full disclaimers

Thank you, as always…

Wyall Jared… Oh, yes. Severus is still around. Trust me.

Evenstar Elanor… I don't know if he'd call her eyes mesmerizing at this point, but there's still something attractive about Meredith, at least physically, but Severus knows her true nature so he wouldn't do more than look. As for Meredith and Lucius… you want more? Maybe.

Angoliel… Best last-day-of-finals gift ever? As always, I am flattered you enjoy my work so much.

Mercury Gray… Interesting? LOL. I say that a lot and my friend always says, "there's that word again."

Chapter 21: Beyond Reason

It had been several weeks since Severus had been taken away, several weeks of long nights lying awake for both Serena and Severus. Serena had been driving herself relentlessly. Any moments during the day that she had free were spent looking for details on the Ministry's case against Severus. Information was hard to come by; most times Serena ran into a stone wall.

She'd met with Jeremy several times and he wasn't having much luck either. He was even having trouble getting a date set for the trial. That worried Serena; she didn't like the idea of Severus in Azkaban one bit. The longer he was there, the more opportunity that foul place had to eat away at him. Glancing at the calendar, Serena frowned. It was December already.

Serena pulled her thick hair back into a ponytail and picked up her tea cup. She held the warm porcelain in her hand and breathed deeply. There were hints of peppermint in the aroma. She'd always found the scent soothing and she needed soothing right now. Most of the morning she'd spent at the Ministry trying to get information from Fudge and Umbridge. They'd tried to force her to deal with that wretched Parsons woman and Serena had flatly refused.

She hadn't found out much, but what she had learned, puzzled her. In the past, trials for anyone even suspected of being involved in the Death Eaters was tried by their peers and the trials were mostly shrouded in secrecy. Severus trial was going to be very public – almost like a Muggle trial. Umbridge had said it was to make sure everyone could see how hard the Ministry was cracking down on Death Eaters and other disreputable and unsavory characters.

The knot in Serena's stomach was growing tighter by the minute. Umbridge had said that there wouldn't be any need really for a defense since the witness was so compelling, and Severus' barrister hadn't provided any rebuttal witnesses. Serena couldn't understand why Jeremy wouldn't have anyone. If there were no way to rebut their testimony, it would only take a matter of hours to convict Severus.

"Bastards," she muttered to herself. "They're setting him up and they're going to railroad him and bollocks to anything resembling justice…"

Elsewhere in the wizarding world, members of the Order of the Phoenix were coming to the same conclusion. None of them could defend Severus without revealing the Order. They all knew when they joined that they could be in this situation. They all knew that each of them could be sacrificed to preserve the order. What disturbed them more was the Death Eaters had become very quiet. Dumbledore and the others thought that some sort of plot was being hatched, but so far, no one could discover what. Tonks, in particular, was working herself into lather, torn between hunting out the real Death Eaters and doing what she could to support Serena.

As she walked, Serena wondered more about Jeremy's lack of witnesses and resolved to contact him as soon as she got home. She finally looked up, realizing that she wasn't paying attention to where she was going, and suddenly saw Narcissa Malfoy gliding through the crowd. Narcissa looked pinched and tight, as if something was nagging at her thoughts. Increasing her stride, Serena caught up with Narcissa just before she turned down Nockturn Alley.

"Narcissa Malfoy," she said.

Narcissa turned around quickly. Her eyes widened but she stood her ground. "Serena Castleton-Black, or should I call you Serena Snape?" There was a venomous emphasis on the last name. Serena ignored her.

"Your husband and I exchanged words the other day."

"Oh, really? I am not privy to every single stop Lucius makes during his day."

"He insinuated that something vile might happen to my husband while he's in Azkaban."

"Well, it is a prison, and accidents do happen sometimes."

"Well," said Serena, mimicking Narcissa ever so slightly. "I will not be quite as coy as your husband was. If anything happens to Severus, if he's harmed in any way, I will hold you responsible. You and your husband…"

Narcissa glared at her. "We would never be party to something like that although no one would really miss the name Snape if it disappeared." Lucius would never allow something so crass to be connected to the Malfoy family name, but he would be lauded by the Death Eaters. "Don't you threaten me you little guttersnipe."

"Wouldn't miss the name Snape?" Serena was finished with this little game. Anxious and frightened for Severus, she passed the point of reason and reached into a really dark place within herself. "Wouldn't miss the name Snape? Really? I'll tell you again, Narcissa. If any thing happens to Severus, I'll hold Lucius personally responsible. It would be a shame to see the Malfoy family name end with this generation."

End? With this generation? "What on earth are you blithering about…?"

Serena waited with a rather cold smile on her face. She gently fingered the edge of her cloak. It was her school cloak with the Hogwart's crest and motto embroidered on it. As Serena's fingers glanced over the gold stitching, Narcissa suddenly understood. Draco! Serena had access to her son nearly every single day.

"He's my son…" hissed Narcissa.

"And Severus is my husband."

"You wouldn't dare."

Serena leaned in so close, her nose was only inches away from Narcissa. "Push me any further, Mrs. Malfoy, and you will see exactly what I'm capable of… and why the Sorting Hat nearly put me in Slytherin when I was at Hogwart's."

Well, thus closes another chapter in Panther. Please let me know what you think. Like many sequels, I like this but I don't think it is as good as the original. Remember, I'm always open to suggestions or ideas for where the story might go… I may not use your idea directly, but you never know what it might inspire!