Chapter Seventeen

Shattered

By the time they met in Dumbledore's study the next morning, Severus had a few hours of sleep and plenty of time to cool down. Jennifer, however, hadn't found out about what had happened until she awoke that morning and was still furious when they arrived, ignoring Dumbledore's greeting and walking over to Alexandria and Aurelius shaking her head.

"I can't believe the two of you would do something like this! Especially you, Alexandria, after all your pleas to be treated like an adult and to take responsibility. And then to do something so completely childish and foolhardy…"

"What do you expect me to do, Mother? I can't exactly grow out of being a Snape, can I?" Alex said evenly.

"I expect you to use your head instead of getting in over your head!" Jennifer snapped.

"And yet if you were in my position, you probably would have done the exact same thing," Alex retorted.

"I most certainly would not have! At the very least I would have sense to have told your father instead of trying to tackle it on my own!" Jennifer shouted.

"Well, Mother, it would have been the first time!" Alexandria said defiantly. A triumphant satisfaction crossed Alex's face when she noted her mother's reaction to that.

"Jennifer, please! Alexandria, I believe you made your point, do please be good enough to sit down, this study is not a war zone," Albus said firmly, despite the amused expression he had thrown in Alex's direction. Jennifer hadn't missed the twitch across Severus' lip either, glaring at him ferociously until his face resumed its normal expressionless gaze. "Jennifer, as I'm sure Severus told you, the punishment part of this was settled last night. We are here today merely to make sense of what occurred. So please, help yourself to a pastry and try to relax while we wait for Anna. I wonder what's keeping her," he added in a murmur, a worried expression crossing his face if only for an instant. But just before he became tempted to open up his side drawer, Anna arrived, looking quiet tired as she stepped in, smiling wanly at them.

"Sorry. I wanted to make sure Sirius got off to work all right," Anna said.

"He can't manage that on his own?" Severus inquired, but Anna pointedly ignored him and sat down, Jennifer frowning at her expression.

"Thank you for coming," Albus said. "Well! I suppose we'll just cut to the matter at hand, since I've been assured everyone involved has already agreed to take responsibility for their actions," he said mischievously, Alex and Aurelius looking solemnly back at him. "Who would like to start? Alexandria?"

"Yes, Professor," Alexandria nodded. "I suppose it all started when the four of us began on this little, well, quest, for a particular artifact that was rumored by someone we know to be missing and yet somewhere in the castle."

"More detail, if you don't mind?" Severus suggested irritably. He glanced at Jennifer, who shrugged unknowingly.

"I seriously don't think it's to our benefit to try and protect a painting," Aurelius said to his sister. Severus and Albus immediately squinted, glancing at an empty frame. "Professor Dusthorn was the one who started all this when she told Alicia about Hufflepuff's Obol…the Coin of Indecision," Aurelius said, Alex turning to him with a bewildered expression.

"Wait a minute!" Anna said in such an angry tone that everyone gazed at her. "You mean she sent you down there too? I don't believe it! Putting two students in danger like that…"

"Too, what do you mean, too?" Severus frowned.

"I have been talking with her since school began about the fact that one of the first teachers in this school was an Aethermage who disappeared mysteriously," Anna said. "I knew I was getting baited with it, but I admit the more I looked into it, the more curious I got. Then Icarus decided to come out of that locked room of his yesterday as I was finishing up to go home and happened to 'casually' mention that Cuthbert had been a good friend of his and he had last seen him talking with Slytherin. So I decided to investigate only to find these two already in the Chamber."

"How fortunate it was then that Icarus just happened by to tell you this just when Alex and Aurelius were venturing where they weren't supposed to be," Severus said, his eyes flashing. "Quite convenient, don't you think so, Professor?"

"Yes, it seems to me we are short at least two entities this meeting, if not four," Albus said, a flash in his eyes as he gazed over at Dusthorn's empty frame again. "And I shall, rest assured, deal with that later."

"As will I, for I think there are at least four individuals I need to speak with about taking advice from paintings," Severus said dangerously.

"Caprica has a way of enticing people, Severus, and she's hardly a normal painting, if you consider any of the paintings here normal," Anna put in defensively. "There have been times when she's gotten your and Jennifer's interest too, and you know it." Jennifer looked uncomfortable.

"Can we just get back on the subject?" Aurelius snapped with such a strange tone in his voice that everyone stopped to stare at him.

"Yes, Aurelius is quite right, this is not the time for blame. Alexandria, I believe you said that your involvement in this concerned the coin?" Albus said.

"Yes. Have you heard of it?" Alex asked daringly.

"There are quite a number of legends written about it, yes," Albus said, "Although I have never looked for it, for I really have little need for such a thing, being quite decisive myself. But please, continue."

"Well, we were in the library studying and talking about how Hufflepuff might have given it to someone and about needing to more about who and all, when I remembered the skeleton Rose, Mandria and I saw in the chamber and wondered about who it was and why he was still there, so I decided to try and talk to him using a speak to the dead incantation I… well, might have accidentally run across from one of mother's books," she admitted, shrinking a bit when she saw her glare. "I went alone. I didn't want to get anyone else in trouble for going down there. But I guess Aurelius must have seen my intentions and followed me, and I guess it's just as well he did, as things came about. Who knows what would have happened if he hadn't had that key."

"Key? Goodness, he had the key?" Albus said with unmasked surprise, staring at Severus.

"Believe me, I was no less surprised than you were when I saw it," Severus said, frowning at his son. "Apparently, Aurelius failed to mention to me that Malfoy had given it to him. You do realize now, I assume, that it was left there for a reason."

"I expect because the shackles were quite dangerous," Alex said, glancing at Aurelius. "The spirit seemed to be interested in Rel when we spoke to him, and then all the sudden the shackles began to glow and then Rel collapsed."

"I didn't collapse," Aurelius said with irritation. "I was imprisoned in the shackles until Aunt Anna managed to get me out." Albus studied him thoughtfully.

"It was reflexive, I don't know how I did it," Anna murmured. "When I came in, it looked to me as if his soul was in the skeleton along with the man who was first imprisoned. I was afraid he'd get stuck there if I didn't act, and I knew touching the shackles was a bad idea to finish turning it so I forced it open and pulled them out.

"You pulled both of them out?" Albus said, turning his gaze to Anna then. "What happened to the other man?"

"I don't know. He just seemed to dissipate right away, but he seemed benevolent; grateful, and apologetic… those shackles are another story. They're extremely evil," Anna said.

"I agree," Aurelius said with a nod. "Slytherin was using them to drain the Aethermage of his powers so he could use them for himself, and I'd say he used that power at least once before his end, because he left behind an echo of his presence behind." Severus stood up in alarm and gazed at him with a gaze nearly intense as Jennifer's, who had turned deadly pale. Even Albus Dumbledore's face had turned quite dark, deep lines appearing on his forehead.

"Aurelius, was his the only presence you felt when this happened?" Albus asked quietly.

"Well no, although I'm not certain I believe exactly what I saw," Aurelius admitted.

"Was it Voldemort?" Severus asked anxiously.

"No, there was nothing of him there at all, oddly enough. It was a large snake, actually. She protected me from Slytherin somehow… in fact, they got into a fight over me until Anna pulled me out. He called her Brigid, but I don't think that's possible, is it? And why did the snake claim to have spared me to answer for her sparing him?" Aurelius demanded. He looked around to see both his parents and his sister with dropped jaws. But although Dumbledore's eyes were raised in obvious wonder, he behaved less as if he were surprised and more like someone who had seen a fanciful thought proven true before his eyes.

"Extraordinary," he said at last. No one spoke another word for a long time.

"So this is all related to something that happened before you were born?" Stock asked as they walked to lunch, pacing themselves so they had time to talk.

"When Mum was pregnant with me, late on the evening of February first, or second, really, considering how late it was…"

"The night of Imbolc," Stock nodded. "Of course it would be."

"Well, anyhow, they were attacked by Harpies that night in the Dark Forest, and Mum somehow ended up in the middle of it. Keki, the herd leader, came to protect her, and that's when it happened, I guess. A phantasmal snake like the one I saw last night protected her and they saw the image of a woman. Mum always thought it was Keki's powers alone that called her, for Keki had been a sort of temporary Sentinel of Wild Magic, although I'm not sure I understand exactly how that happened. So even though they told me about my wand and why it was important, that night never really came up. Apparently my connections to the forest are a lot deeper than my parents thought. Dumbledore though, he seemed to know that…and to be perfectly honest I've known it all along as well," Aurelius murmured. Stock merely gazed at him intently, waiting for him to continue. "Well, like my relationship with Pali, for example. I'm positive it's stronger than my mother's bond with Keki, and their friendship lasted even after Mum got married. And it's definitely stronger than my siblings relationship with theirs. Alex has already lost her connection with Esta, and from the way Andrew's acting, he wouldn't think twice about losing his either. Even my baby sister gets that weird wistful look on her face, but me… I can't do it. I can't bear the thought of losing Pali because of some girl, he's much more important to me than that, and honestly, I don't see how they can do so without even a second thought. It's not worth it."

"I know exactly what you mean, Rel. I feel exactly the same way about being parted from my money," Stock said, earning a dirty look from Aurelius. "Girls are expensive, you know." Aurelius gave Stock a playful shove towards the door of the Great Hall, forceful enough that Stock went tripping forward as they went in.

"You won't even know if you have money again until after the lawsuit," Aurelius scowled at him. "And I hope you're not going to be as much of an ass about it as you were."

"No, I've more than learned my lesson on that, Aurelius," Stock said as they stepped to take their places. "And you're right, I was a real ass when you met me."

"Und vut are you now, den, just da hole?" Eigil said from a few places down, his mates sniggering at that.

"Silence, Hauk, I'm hardly in the mood to deal with your attitudes today," Aurelius said, gazing coolly at him.

"Dat may be, but I t'ink you owe your house an explanation to vhy de glass is fifty points less dan it vas yesterday, Prefect, because I hear dat you might be da one responsible, considering you are scheduled for detention vith Tonks dis veekend," Eigil said.

"Yes, it was over a personal family matter," Aurelius said evenly. "Nothing but a minor setback, I assure you, and one that'll easily be remedied. I'm sure we'll be back on track by holidays."

"You mean you vill be back on track! Ve are not going to bust our asses getting points you lost! Fix it yourself!" Eigil snarled.

"I plan to," Aurelius said coolly, "but may I remind you not to raise your voice to a Prefect."

"I have no respect for a Prefect who puts anything above his house," Eigil said. "Ve vill not make up for your short comings," he said viciously. Sitting beside Eigil, Heph suddenly decided it would be better to scoot down a bit.

"As a Prefect," Aurelius said, apparently ignoring his intentional slur, "my duty to my house is already secondary; the first being to aid in the safety of this school. And yes, I admit family comes before that, because the pure fact of the matter, Hauk, is that we are here but seven years of our lives. Family is forever. Yes, I will do everything I can for this house…with limitations. I won't sacrifice my family. I won't sacrifice my friends. And I won't sacrifice my self-respect… nor do I expect anyone here to do so either," he added, Heph looking uncomfortable. "You have no respect for me, fine, but I have no respect for anyone who doesn't have the sense or the guts to stand up for themselves. Now, if you have any further insults, I suggest you keep them with your mates. Madame Brittle did make a point to make us promise we would be civil to one another this year, and I am not going to be the one to break it." It was a warning, and Eigil knew it. Aurelius, for his part, didn't miss the look of defiant hatred when he and Stock sat down and turned their attentions to lunch.

Despite the glares and sneers, Slytherin house remained somewhat civil for the rest of the week, and before Aurelius knew it he found himself handing his Hogsmeade list to Andrew and rather glumly walking to the Transfiguration room to see what Professor Tonks had in store for detention. He was ruefully unsurprised to find himself looking into a box with a mini potion lab and other breakable equipment.

"I haven't 'quite' finished all my unpacking, so I was hoping since I have you for the day you'd dust it all and set it up for me," she said with a smile, and then winked at him. "Surely someone going into Dark Curses Research would know the basics of setting up some test equipment for me."

"Professor, I'm a Snape. I've been setting up labs since I was three," Aurelius said dryly. She merely laughed good naturedly, heading over to her desk.

"Well, good! Because I got a ton of work to do, old cases… consultations… I hope you don't mind paperwork, Aurelius, because the truth of the matter is you'll spend a hundred hours doing it for every one you spend out 'playing the game,' as we call it…" she went on as Aurelius began inspecting inside the contents. "Moody used to call it the 'Mouse and Cat' game… when the mice get even," Tonks added distantly. "Every now and again, a bunch of us would get together for a few drinks despite the fact that only half of us drank… by the way, you want some tea?" she said, pulling out a tray with a wooden tea kettle and some cups, turning a couple over when Aurelius nodded. "So anyhow, he would often argue that if cats and mice had magic that the mouse would win…cats have a hunger and an instinct to kill but by nature would always be a predator, while the mouse, no longer helpless against the cat's speed and size, has a great cunning and an instinct for survival; and if it turned and fought, the cat wouldn't know how to protect itself. Something along those lines, anyhow. How I miss him… Audi too, the old dear. But in many ways, Moody was sort of like our ring leader and morale officer, all rolled into one. Now it's like there's…nobody," she said distantly, than shrugged it off. "Well, come get your cup. I hope you don't mind wooden cups, I find them safer. I was so lucky to have had this thing fall on my head last year when Thomas and I were in Toby's shop!" she laughed. Aurelius smirked silently at that, but decided for Toby's sake not to comment about it. Instead he thought about the rest of what she had been saying.

"Just why did you become an Auror, anyhow?" Aurelius asked.

"There's always a why, isn't there?" she parried, sipping her tea and not looking at him directly. "Ask me again once you're out of school and passed your test. But for now, best back to work, I really could use that equipment set up. You really ought to consider yourself lucky. I think your sister got stuck running tests with Dr. Sagittari on the lake."

"On the lake?" Aurelius frowned.

"All the flooding caused all sorts of debris and pollution to get in the water. The Kraken have come down with something," Tonks shrugged. Aurelius paused from the tubes he was cleaning and gazed at her again.

"What about the castle's water supply?"

"Oh, don't worry about that, the castle has an extensive filter system, so no harm to us. I think. Well, if you start growing extra limbs or anything, let Dumbledore know," Tonks advised, but Aurelius wasn't too impressed with her sense of humor. As he turned back to his work and began setting pieces on a table she had set up far out of her normal walking path, there was a flutter at the window, followed by the querulous hoot of an owl. "Now what does he want?" Tonks said with exasperation, nearly dropping the official-looking envelope out the window. Somehow, however, she managed to get a hold of it again, pausing to take a breath before opening in and began cussing up a storm using words Aurelius would never have expected to hear from her.

"I can't believe it! I just can't believe it! How come that big-eared long-nosed walking stick can't find the Tower without someone holding his hand, but if you don't want him to find something out he stumbles onto it as surely as I find my big toe! Damn him all to…" Tonks paused in mid-flail, suddenly remembering Aurelius, who was staring at her with the same shocked expression that she was giving him. "Um…excuse me, Aurelius, but I need to step out and speak to Dumbledore for a few moments. Um… would you mind going ahead and staying and finishing all that up for me? Now, I'm sure I can trust you, future Auror and all that… so… just make sure you keep it all the glass away from anything one can bump in to, all right? Ta-ta, then," she said and stumbled out the door.

Aurelius stared after her, wondering if all the blonde jokes he had ever heard should actually have applied to pink haired women instead. But something he had seen in her face bothered him; and the more time he spent thinking about it as he set up the equipment, the more bothered he was by it. Deftly he worked as fast as he could to get his chore done so he could head out to see how Alex was coming along.

It had been several days since he had had time to go out as far as the lake, although he had noticed it seemed high from the windows as he passed through the corridors to class. But it was when he got close that he realized just how much damage the strange whether had been doing. The permanent parts of the docks had long been swallowed by the swelling water, and only the floating part remained. Even part of the steps had disappeared, leaving an eerie visage indeed of descending down into the water. Spying Alex and the centaur doctor at the edge of the docks, apparently feeding groping tentacles clinging to the edges, Aurelius began to walk towards them. But he was soon distracted by the sound of other voices and noticed Jamie, Joanie, and a familiar girl ghost standing in ankle-high water at the back of the boatshed and went over to investigate.

"It's just a puddle of water, it can't actually hurt you, you're already dead," Joanie reasoned impatiently. "Please be reasonable and come in the castle."

"No," said a glum, hollow young voice from inside the shed.

"It's only until the weather changes, silly boy, and we can spend much more time together!" Moaning Myrtle said. "Just float over to the shore, it really isn't far. I'll hold your hand if you like."

"I'm not crossing the water," Noah said stubbornly.

"You know there's supposed to be more rain tonight," Aurelius said as he came closer, the two first years looking at him thoughtfully. "The flood is going to get worse rather than better, so whatever water you have in there is going to get worse. It'll likely knock it off the foundation, even." There was a long silence, but it was followed by loud sobbing.

"Aurelius is right, as harsh as it sounded," Jamie said, throwing him a dirty look. "You really must come out of there."

"I c..can't! I just can't!" the ghost sobbed pitifully.

"Poor Noah! Whatever are we going to do?" moaned Myrtle.

"You might have to wait until Pyther's awake," Aurelius shrugged.

"But he's only awake at night and it rains at night," Joanie argued. "I doubt he'll want to come out in that."

"All right," Aurelius sighed. "I need to go talk to my sister. See what you can do with him in the meantime, and I'll come help you get him out in a moment."

Alex waved to him from where she sat apparently playing with one of the Krakens, which didn't seem to mind the attention. Sagittari nodded solemnly at him, turning and clopping carefully off the bobbing dock as Alex gathered up the baskets they had brought and followed behind him.

"Hullo! You're done early," Alex said.

"There was some sort of emergency and Tonks had to speak to Dumbledore, but I stayed and got my work done. Doctor, do you think it'd be all right if I bottled Noah up long enough to move him to the castle? The girls can't get him to budge," Aurelius explained.

"Don't you think it'll be a bit traumatic for him?"

"Alex, he's a ghost. It doesn't get any more traumatic than that," Aurelius said dryly. "Besides, he's better off being moved than stuck in that shed with the waters still rising."

"Very well, Aurelius. Alexandria, perhaps you had better go lend him a hand since I do not believe those first years have learned any Apparition charms yet, but try to be in the barn in half an hour to finish your detention by cleaning it. Aurelius, perhaps since you finished early, you would be willing to lend her a hand so that you'll both be done by dinner," Sagittari said, his serious Centaur demeanor adding weight to his suggestion.

"Fine," Aurelius sighed, and Alex quickly joined him as he began to walk back towards the shed.

"You should have known better than to come out here. Sagittari was bound to find something for you to do if he thought you got off easy," Alexandria said.

"I know, but there was something I wanted to talk to you about having to do with Tonks leaving," Aurelius said. "See, I saw something in her face before I left that really bothered me. You remember the old story about how Uncle Sirius was put in Azkaban? How several people died in that attack? And Pettigrew was supposed to have been destroyed?"

"Right," Alex said.

"Well, what spell among the death curses is particularly known for its destructive power, and just happens to have come back up again in the papers?" Aurelius said.

"Comet Strike," Alex murmured, but then shook her head. "But Pettigrew is long dead. Mum killed him…"

"Alex, look, I don't want to accuse Sirius of anything, considering it came out he was fighting in self defense and all that," Aurelius said. "But it would have been part of procedure for them to first check Sirius' wand to find out what he cast. If Pettigrew did cast that spell, he wasn't the only one… Sirius cast it too."

"Aurelius, you don't think that in any way means our Uncle had anything to do with what happened a few weeks ago, do you?" Alex asked in a low voice, stopping him a few yards away from the shed.

"I think what you should really be wondering is what it is that the Ministry thinks," Aurelius answered seriously back. "Especially considering the fact the whole school witnessed him acting erratically a month ago."

"But that was Ciardoth's doing, wasn't it?" Alex asked anxiously. "And that attack! I bet if he was involved in any way, I bet it was her doing too!"

"I can't say that hasn't crossed my mind," Aurelius admitted. "But right now I'm more worried about what Uncle Sirius would do if anyone tried to ever arrest him again."

"Aurelius!" The two of them glanced over to see Joanie looking over at them with a hand on one hip and an exasperated look on her face. "He's still not coming out!"

"No problem," Aurelius said, nodding to Alex. "You get the shed door open, and I'll get the bottle ready."

"What are you going to do?" Myrtle demanded.

"It's all right, it won't hurt him. I think," Joanie assured her.

"Anything we can do?" Jamie volunteered.

"Just watch and let us know if he bolts out on his own," Aurelius said, pulling a fluted bottle out of his cloak while the shed shuttered from the force of Alex's spell.

"Huh. Didn't budge it," Alex said.

"Probably threw a bunch of the stuff in the shed against the door, try again," Aurelius suggested as he double-checked the stopper.

"It'd be an awful lot easier if you'd just come out!" Myrtle pleaded as another bang hit the door.

"Yes, come on out, Noah," Alex said with exasperation leaning against the door.

"Never mind, I've got another idea," Aurelius said, taking out his broom. "Keep him distracted, Alex."

"What are you up to?" Noah asked suspiciously, ignoring the banging against the door when Aurelius landed on the roof. Using his wand, Aurelius drilled a small hole in the roof and got from his pocket a small metal device that resembled a spigot from a garden hose.

It wasn't long after Aurelius put it in the hole and turned it on that Noah came barreling out of the shed in a wail, floating as far away from the shed and the swollen lake as fast as he could, Myrtle quickly chasing after him.

"Oh, hurray! That definitely got him out!" Joanie said with satisfaction as another shudder and banging sound went through the building.

"Hey, Alex, cut it out, I got him out already," Aurelius complained.

"Huh? Wasn't me, it was something over the lake," Alex said, gazing at him puzzledly as she came over to stand on the shore with the girls.

"Yeah, right, I felt the shed move, it was you," Aurelius said as he floated back down.

"No it wasn't, you just imagined it," Alex said impatiently. "The sound came from out there."

"Maybe the shaking has to do with that funny bubbling in the water," Jamie suggested. Curiously, the others gazed over at the center of the lake where it did seem to be bubbling fiercely.

"It's not bubbling," Aurelius realized as the steam rose over the lake. "It's boiling!"

"Rel! Your bracelet!" Alex shrieked and pointed and he raised his arm to see it was glowing.

"It's Ciardoth!" Aurelius barked in response just as a dragon burst out of the water. "Run!"

"I'll distract her!" Joanie said, whipping out her wand, but immediately found herself being roughly picked off her feet by the waist by Aurelius and forced on his broom.

"No, you fool! You've got seven years to take over the school, don't blow it with bravado!" Aurelius said, glancing back to make sure Alex was all right before he sent a bolt of magic at the school bell and remounted his broom, flying towards the door. Alex had followed his lead and grabbed Jamie's arm, the two of them taking up the stairs after them. After hopping off his broom at the entrance and shoving Joanie towards it, Aurelius quickly flipped back the button on his ring.

"Stop pulling! I can walk, thank you!" Jamie complained as Alex dragged her up the stairs. But Alex was too busy struggling with Jamie to notice that Ciardoth was flying straight for them. Barking out a warning, Aurelius dashed back down to them as Alex and Jamie dove, yanking off the shield and getting it over the three of them mere seconds before a stream of fire went over them. Heat drafted up from both sides, but Alex pulled Jamie closer in.

"Ah! What a remarkably irritating device," Ciardoth snarled as she landed at the bottom of the stairs. "You will turn it over to me, or I will make this promise; for every person you attempt to guard with it, I will take one."

"Your threats are empty, Ciardoth! Don't you think I know you'd destroy us anyhow if you could?" Aurelius said defiantly.

"We don't negotiate with terrorists," Jamie agreed fiercely. Alex put a hand over her mouth.

"Then I suppose the only answer to that is death," Ciardoth said, a crackle of lightning snapping off behind her as she suddenly smashed her tail at the castle itself, causing a large chunk of rubble to fall within inches of them. "If I cannot harm you directly, I shall destroy all that is around you!"

"Ciardoth!" Called out a powerful voice behind the dragon. Aurelius peered out, completely surprised at first to see his father standing there before he realized exactly what he was actually seeing. "Stand away from those students!"

"He got here fast," Alex murmured, also sounding surprised.

"Only it's not him," Aurelius murmured back. "Look at his robes." Alex risked a quick glance at the traditional Hogwarts robes but had to duck quickly back again as Ciardoth whirled around to face her new assailant, her monstrous dragon tail swiping dangerously close to them as she did so.

"What are you doing here?" Ciardoth boomed. "You are not supposed to be here!"

"Perhaps you simply don't remember," the Snape figure said as he raised his wand. "Obliviate!" As the dragon stumbled back, the figure maintained eye contact. "You came here to test one of your memories, and now realize that your defeat is inevitable and there is nothing you can do to stop me, for the memory of my death is a lie," he intoned.

But Ciardoth's slitted eyes became narrow in response and suddenly roared with fury at the attempt to rewrite her memories.

"How dare you! I will destroy you!" Ciardoth shrieked in fury and let out another burst of flame, quickly blocked with a lightning fast shielding spell.

But the sheer power of the blow was enough to force her opponent to take a few steps back and the figure then stumbled, falling to the ground and dispelling the shield. As the students cried out in alarm, a brilliant red bird crossed their vision as it soared to the rescue, arriving just as Ciardoth let out a second wave.

Fawkes burst into flames, but its own fire was stronger and somehow more brilliant, a fiery shield that gave the figure time to scramble back. But Ciardoth didn't care, her attention focusing in on the Phoenix.

"You think sacrifice can truly thwart me?" she snarled at the bird. "It will be for nothing, for the continuity ends here!"

"Continuity shall never end, Ciardoth!"

Aurelius looked back in surprise as Joanie stepped out of the doorway to let Dumbledore through, a subtle gesture with his hand enough to instruct Aurelius to move the others back as the Headmaster stepped down in front them.

"Your efforts to stop it will come to naught!" Albus said.

"Are you still here? I thought I got rid of you already," Ciardoth growled with annoyance. "No matter. Your words are meaningless to me, old mortal, for you too will meet your fate at my hand."

"That may be," Dumbledore said evenly, "but this school will not. You do not possess the power to do so, else you would have already done so. All of the destruction you may cause cannot destroy the spirit." The dragon chuckled at that; a loud bestial chuckle that somehow still reminded Aurelius of her high-pitched maniacal laughter.

"The mortal spirit destroys itself! Your entire existence depends upon the knowledge that when you die others will be born to take your place! Well, allow me to disillusion you!" Ciardoth said, the dragon rising on its haunches.

As she raised her claws, lightning burst out of the sky, striking the floundering Phoenix chick who had been working his way towards Dumbledore. Once again, Fawkes burst into flames, and Ciardoth let out a blast of a glowing blue elemental wind that froze the flames themselves in a strange icy state. But even as Dumbledore raced to aid his familiar, Ciardoth let out a roar and smashed the ice into pieces, the shards spreading out in every direction like shattered glass.

A momentary silence overtook them all as shock and horror overwhelmed them… it grew so quiet that no one missed the Headmaster when he softly called out his familiar's name.

"The cycle of life is broken! Your world will soon follow its fate!" Ciardoth said triumphantly, laughing in pure maliciousness as she took to the air.

Perhaps that was why she hadn't noticed the trembling of the ground in that moment. Aurelius had, and instantly knew the cause after having experienced something similar from his own brother and looked over at Dumbledore with an open jaw as the Headmaster raised his wand.

"Regretten Totallus!" the Headmaster intoned, his face dark as the spell hit the dragon which suddenly held her head with her claws as if in intense pain, crying out so loudly that it echoed in all directions until finally in a strange, wrenching movement, Ciardoth disappeared in a flash.

Severus and Jennifer, who had arrived just in time to see the finish, raced over from the outer grounds, quickly checking on the fake Snape who had suddenly gotten smaller and whose hair had turned to an unmistakable pink. But they stopped short when they saw Tonks was crying, as were the four students who had stepped back down the stairs and watched with open grief as the Headmaster knelt on one knee before where Fawkes had made his last stand and very carefully began to pick up the ice shards, muttering a soft spell to keep them from melting any further than they already had. It only took a word from Tonks before Jennifer, too, was sobbing, and Severus stood horror stricken as the Headmaster's shaking hand carefully placed each piece into his robes. The was a strange look on the Headmaster's face he had never seen before…. frail; almost vulnerable. It was an expression that he immediately wanted to forget, although he knew he never would. Finally Dumbledore stood, and Jennifer took a few timid steps forward as he looked over at them through almost unseeing eyes.

"Albus?" Jennifer said quietly, but was truly unsure of what to say.

"I think…I think I want some time alone," Albus said at last. He then cast his eyes at the ground as he walked slowly and carefully towards the castle, looking at no one as he stepped inside and down the corridor towards his study.

As the four students and three Professors paused to exchange uncertain glances among each other, the dark clouds above opened up and it began to rain.