Revenge of a Slytherin

Chapter 16

Pacing around his lab in the dungeons at Hogwarts Severus Snape was restless. He had been unable to settle at home so he had come to Hogwarts to prepare some lesson plans and check his inventory ready for the new school year to start. But coming here had been a mistake. The great hall had reminded him of her, the way she laughed with the other professors, the way she would glance his way and catching his eye she would smile and then glance away to continue her conversation. His study reminded him of the times they had shared coffee, chatting about potions, she was like a child innocent to the world of magic and yet so eager to learn. She would work with him in his lab, helping him gather his ingredients or mixing potions for him, asking questions, wanting to know what each ingredient was, why he used it. 'She is so hungry for knowledge' he mused ' almost as hungry as you are for her?' the voice in his head asked him.

Severus knew he had to see her again; he needed to know if she would be coming back to Hogwarts. Turning on his heel and with a customary swish of his frock coat he marched to Professor Dumbledore's office. Professor Dumbledore was always at Hogwarts he stayed even for the school holidays, as the staircase opened into his office he glanced up from his book 'come on in Severus, I have been expecting you!'

'Headmaster' replied Snape with a slight nod of his head.

'You have something bothering you Severus?' inquired the older wizard.

'I was wondering if there had been any word from Nichol, Professor Reynard'

'There has indeed Severus' replied the headmaster 'I am pleased to say that Professor Reynard has accepted my offer and will be returning to Hogwarts for the next year'. Professor Dumbledore gave a small wry smile as he saw the uptight younger wizard before him trying to hold back a smile.

Turning to leave Professor Snape closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he felt like he had been holding his breath his whole life waiting for this news.

'Severus … '

'Yes Headmaster?'

'I wonder - could you do me a small favour?'

'Certainly if I am able'

Professor Dumbledore held out an envelope 'I have this letter for Professor Reynard, but I fear I have been rather caught up in sending the letters to the students and I appear to have been a little remiss with this one'

Realising what was being asked of him Professor Snape was unsure if he was hearing things.

'The letter is fully addressed and ready to go, I wonder, could you deliver it for me? I would so hate for it to be delayed any further.'

Taking the letter from the headmaster, 'certainly Headmaster, I will deliver this today'.

'Thank you Severus' the headmaster replied, but the younger wizard was already on his way down the steps out of the office.

Standing outside the door of an address in the London area Severus Snape was more nervous than he had ever been in his entire life. 'Why am I here? Why did I even consider this to be a good idea?' He turned and looked away from the door to the road several times, wondering whether to leave or actually knock. 'Pull yourself together you idiot' he chided himself and he knocked on the door. There was no answer, he waited a couple of minutes and then knocked again.

He was unaware of the neighbouring door opening. Nichol's neighbour glanced over the fence she was stunned by stranger standing by Nichol's door. The man was very tall he had long lank black hair and black clothing with some kind of cloak over the top.

With still no answer Severus was getting impatient, not being a muggle he never considered that Nichol might just be out, he was pulling his wand from his sleeve when he heard a voice behind him 'can I help you?' Severus span around and almost scared the old dear from next-door half to death.

The old lady was stunned by this mans sharp features and extremely pale, cold looking complexion.

Quickly pushing his wand back out of sight 'I was looking for Prof … Miss Reynard'.

'Oh she's not here dear, are you an acquaintance of hers?'

Smiling to himself Severus thought what a nosey old baggage this neighbour was, then realising it was probably just a 'muggle way' he smiled at the old lady 'yes we, we work together, she is one of my fellow professors at Hog … school'.

'Oh yes, I know all about Nichol's new job' she grinned.

'Really?' asked Severus, thinking that Nichol obviously could not be trusted to keep Hogwarts secret.

'Oh yes dear, she told me about it being a private school, for very rich and important families, which is why is it a secret to protect the children from kidnap'.

'Yes' said Severus, 'it is a very big secret'. He had to smile as he thought how imaginative Nichol had been explaining her time at Hogwarts to this muggle woman.

'Nichol is not home dear, she was barely home for a day when she left again'.

'Oh, did she say where she was going?'

'I never saw her leave, she left me a note asking me to look after things for her again, she just said she was going on holiday'.

'She never said where to?'

'No, sorry.'

'Hmm, mused Severus, she never mentioned a holiday when I last spoke with her, something is not right here'. He was about to thank the old woman and leave, when he had an idea 'excuse me, but could I take a look at the note Nichol left you? If it is not too much trouble?'

'Oh not at all, why don't you come in and have some tea, I will get the note for you'.

Not really wishing to spend time with this elderly muggle Severus agreed so that he could see the note, he felt that the old woman was harmless but lonely.

Once in the old woman's house she invited him to sit, handed him Nichol's note and went to make the tea. Severus read the note a few times before she came back.

Dear Lottie

I am so sorry to not catch you and ask you this in person, could I ask you a huge favour. I have a chance of a last minute holiday and will be gone for a couple of weeks. I will bring you something lovely back with me.

Thank you

Love Nichol

The note seemed very cold and distant compared to the Nichol he knew, 'listen to yourself Severus' he chided 'you sound like a lovesick fool.

Lottie – as Severus now understood her to be came back with a tea tray, he jumped up to help her. 'From the date on this letter and when school closed it would look like Nichol has been gone for a while now?'

'Oh yes' said Lottie, 'I have had a couple of postcards from her, she is having a wonderful time, travelling the world, seeing all the places she has never seen before, Lottie smiled wistfully 'must be so nice and so exciting, would you like to see them?'

'Unexpected world trip?' Snape mused 'sorry do I want to see?'

'The postcards dear?' Lottie asked.

'Yes please'

Lottie brought him the cards and noticed she had not brought in any biscuits. She went into the kitchen to get some while Severus read the post cards. They were the same as the letter, seemed very cold and not at all like Nichol, just the usual 'having a nice time, weather good'.

Checking that Lottie was still in the kitchen Severus pulled out his wand and waved them over the letter and cards. They all lit up with a green glow 'these are not from Nichol at all, magic has been used here!'

Claiming he had a prior engagement Severus finished his tea and thanked Lottie for the hospitality. Once he left her house he walked down the road, turning into a dark alleyway he pulled out his wand and dissapparated.

When he re-appeared he was standing inside Nichol's house, he wandered around nothing seemed out of order, apart from in the bedroom, the bed was unmade a coffee cup was laying on the floor by the bed with what looked like dried coffee spilled near it. Opening her closets he saw that there was hardly anything in them. He knew from their chats back at Hogwarts that Nichol had packed just about everything she owned into her trunk, she had laughed when she told him. Looking around the room Severus noted 'her trunk is missing too'.

He stood in the centre of the room and waved his wand around him, the room glowed with the same green light as the letter and postcard, indicating that magic had been used here too.

'Nichol is missing and somehow magic is involved?' he mused 'and I bet I can guess where she is … if I am right she needs help' as he dissapparated to head back to Hogwarts a thought he did not wish to acknowledge popped into his mind 'that is if she is still alive …'