White Death

by Frini

Former Hary Potter and the White Death. The past returns to Hogwarts on Harry's fith year. New teacher, holder of many secrets, new students, romance, danger and discoveries. ATTENTION! This fic has the older characters as its focus. 7 books spoilers.

16. Trick

I hold my breath as this life starts to take its toll

I hide behind a smile as this perfect plan unfolds

but oh, God, I feel I´ve been lied to

lost all faith in the things I have achieved

and I

chorus

I´ve woken now to find myself

in the shadows of all I have created

I´m longing to be lost in you

(away from this place I have made)

won´t you take me away from me

crawling through this world as disease flows through my veins

I look into myself, but my own heart has been changed

I can´t go on like this

I loathe all I´ve become

Away from me - Evanescence

Chapter 16

Trick …

Professor Severus Snape never liked the sounds of students in the halls, but given the circumstances, Hogwarts' silence was innerving, and he knew that too much silence during Dark Times could only mean the worst. After performing several tests on the poison that was used on Lupin, Snape came out with absolutely nothing. The wizard who applied the poison was careful enough not to leave any trace behind and it could be anyone, from students to professors. After all, polyjuice potion wasn't something so far fetched as it had once been, and that was exactly what Snape feared. He could feel something was coming their way and, yet the atmosphere seemed calmer than before. It wasn't as heavier as it was when the students were in school and that was something he had to look into more closely when the children got back.

Snape walked passed the gates of the school as he came back from his researches. Several spells were been used now to insure protection for those inside the school, but he still felt as if those weren't going to hold what was coming for them. You can't fight what you don't know, and that was enough to make the potions' master take even more care as he passed the gates, through the spells, and entered the grounds.

He closed the heavy gates and turned to walk toward the castle. Halloween was getting closer and he could only imagine what Moira was going through. He felt it before…and he struggled to forget it. Pure pain running through his veins; images of his father's death in his mind's eye; and the feeling he was about to lose control over his actions. Severus Snape hated his father with all his will, so the images that played before him weren't too hard to ignore, and what really got to him was the sense that he couldn't control his actions. Snape had felt that before and done horrible things at a time that nothing mattered much...but things changed and now Snape found his eyes searching for her as he walked. It had been a while since he had last saw Moira and the feeling that was creeping around his heart didn't please him one bit: longing.

Moira had crept inside of him without his notice. Snape had only longed for two things his whole life: power when he was younger and peace of mind after he had come to terms with his actions. The thought of Moira was always connected with avoidance, but now, after tasting her, after holding her, Snape couldn't help but to ask for more and that was something he considered dangerous. It was dangerous for the time they were at, for who they were and for the thought itself: falling in love was something that was happening as much as he tried to avoid it.

Once again, Snape's dark eyes searched for any sign of Moira but he knew he wouldn't find her. Moira was getting weaker and she wouldn't let anyone see her that way. Like a snake changing its skin, Moira would hide away from the public eye until it was all over. It was a lonely thing to undergo, but Moira had no choice. She was born without this choice, and now it was time to face the biggest test of all. It was time to shed her skin.

Snape walked slowly, feeling the air around him, the silence preceding the storm, when one shout broke his concentration.

"MISS. DUMBLEDORE!" a masculine voice yelled. The sound of the familiar voice was followed by the noise of the gates trying to be opened "Severus…help us in!"

"Moody?" Snape frowned as he turned and walked back toward the gates. Reaching the gates, Snape noticed the presence of another man beside Moody.

"Well?" Moody said impatiently, both his normal and magical eyes staring angrily at Severus.

"Who is he?" Snape asked as his eyes pierced the man's in front of him.

"He's Ethan Leery, Auror" Moody said impatiently "That's Severus Snape. Now, can you open the gates?"

"Since the last attack, stronger barriers have been put up around school grounds" Snape said calmly "It's not anyone who can come through the gates anymore"

"I know and that is why I'm asking for you to OPEN THE GATES!" Moody yelled "You know me! We're not kidding around, Severus!"

"Neither am I. If I'm not mistaken, for a whole year another person took your place" Severus looked at the two men from the top of their hats to the tip of their toes "How can I be sure you are who you say you are?"

"I can" a voice came from behind Snape, making the man turn. Justine was walking toward him, a stern look upon her face "I sent for Ethan…Moira did actually" she looked at Snape, her expression showing her disapproval of his actions.

"And why, pray tell, has she called for them?" Snape said as he watched Justine undo some spells and open the gates.

"That you'll have to ask her" Justine spat and turned to the two guests "I didn't know you would come along Alastor"

Moody and Ethan entered the grounds and, with Justine, started their way up to the castle leaving Snape behind. As he was closing the gates, silently cursing Justine under his breath, he heard a soft popping sound and another figure appeared.

"Wait up" a young man yelled as he ran a bit toward the gates.

Snape frowned as he saw the man approach.

"Tonks sent me ahead" the boy answered before Snape could ask. He lowered his head as if to catch his breath, and avoid Snape's gaze.

Snape didn't look convinced, especially because the boy came to a complete stop before the Hogwarts'gates, as if he feared getting inside.

"Come along then" Justine said impatiently from where she stood, Moody and Ethan already walking ahead of her.

Snape reopened the gates for him, much against his will. The young man stepped in and as soon as the gates were closed, Snape saw his shoulders relax a bit, and instantly disliked the man.

&&&&&&&&&&&&

Harry was bored to death. It had only been a couple of days and he couldn't stand it any longer. The sky was already dark as he opened the cage to let Hedwig out. As soon as she could , his owl flew into the night sky, looking for food and happy to stretch her wings. Harry looked at the white phantom and sighed. He envied that owl. He only wished he could leave the house as well, but he knew that was out of the question until Dumbledore said so. He got a letter from Ron telling him that his dad was just waiting for Dumbledores authorization to go pick him up. The days seemed longer and the nights, endless.

"DINNER!" he heard his cousin scream and the house thunder as he ran down the stairs.

Harry left his room with heavy shoulders as he made his way downstairs. Another dinner with the Dursleys. Another time for them to ignore him completely. Harry looked at the door as he reached the first floor and wished he could just run away like he did on his third year. The year he met his godfather.

Harry's heart grew heavier. A terrible thing happened at Hogwarts...he felt it, he saw the wounded, and he feared that his godfather was stuck in the middle of it. Hermione told him he was going to see Sirius again and Hermione was always right, so Harry held on to that. Slowly, he made his way toward the kitchen and sat down at the table to eat silently, pretending he wasn't there. Dinner ended quickly for his uncle and cousin. They didn't take too long to pile food down, while his aunt had an early dinner so she could serve her family with no worries. Harry's plate remained empty until they had all finished up.

A loud knock on the door made Harry almost jump out of his skin. He looked at his aunt, who seemed to be expecting someone because she went humming out of tune in the direction of the door. As Harry heard the door open, he also heard the humming stop. He didn't hear the door close and his blood froze.

Death Eaters...they found me

Harry couldn't move and cursed for not having his wand on him. Slowly, he turned his head toward his uncle and cousin, but they didn't seem to have noticed anything. Harry heard footsteps approaching. By instinct, his hand gripped a knife and took it to his lap. His emerald green eyes frozen at the door. Slowly, he saw the door to the kitchen open and his aunt walking backwards with a complete look of shock on her face.

"Petunia? What's wrong?" his uncle asked but she didn't answer.

Slowly, his aunt moved backwards until her back met the sink. Harry stared at the door and almost jumped up when a male head, with dark hair, an honest smile and dark eyes poped up behind the kitchen's door.

"There you are!" Sirius said with a smile.

Harry instinctively dropped the knife and ran toward his godfather, hugging him tightly around the chest.

"Hey...what's wrong?" Sirius said as he hugged his godson back, worry over his face.

"Nothing" Harry said still smiling. The relief to see Sirius was just so enormous he couldn't put it into words "What are you doing here?" Harry asked, finally letting go of his godfather.

"I came to take you to the Weasleys" Sirius said "Dumbledore wants you around wizards for Halloween"

"Why?" Harry asked but not really cared for the reason. He just wanted out.

"I'll explain once we get there" Sirius said as he looked around "Merlin, what is wrong with you lot? It is not like you never saw me before, Petunia" Sirius asked.

"You've met?" Harry asked, shock on his voice. From the other side of the kitchen, his uncle had the same expression on his chubby face.

"She went to your parents wedding. Much against her will, but she was there. Weren't you?" but Petunia just couldn't find the strength to nod "But I bet she forgot all about it when my face was all over the news after my escape" Harry's jaw fell as he looked from Sirius to his aunt. His uncle was looking at her in the same surprised way as Dudley. "Go get your trunk, Harry" Sirius said, breaking the silence "Unless you want to stay..."

"No!" Harry said and, in a flash, he went up the stairs.

As Harry packed his books and clothes, he came across the book that Hermione believed Professor Craine had given him. He held it tightly against him as he remembered her and found himself hoping she was safe.

"Are you done?!" Sirius asked from downstairs and, wasting no time, Harry went down the stairs to find his godfather.

"One hair out of place, one complaint from him, and I'll go medieval on your arses" he had said before turning to Harry "All set?" his eyes shone.

Harry nodded and moved toward the opened door, following Sirius. Before they left the house, Sirius turned to Harry, wand in hand and whispered a spell that made Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage get so small they almost disappeared. Then, he took both items and put them inside his robes.

Before Harry could ask the reason for shrieking his trunk, they stepped out of the house, and Harry's eyes shone. Sirius' motorcycle was shinning under the street lamps. Sirius got up on the motorbike and, in a flash, Harry was seated behind him.

"What about the bird?" Sirius asked.

"She'll find me" Harry answered, feeling the motorcycle roar its engine to life.

"This is the only time I'm glad your mother isn't around to see us" Sirius whispered.

"Why?" Harry said as his arms circled his godfather's waist, for support.

"Because she would have killed me" Sirius said with a sly smile and, without any delay, off they went into the air.

As Harry saw Privet Drive be transformed into a carpet of lights, he smiled. He didn't envied Hedwig anymore...this was way better.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Everything seemed different. The grounds look bigger, taking longer to get from one side to the other. The weather seemed colder and her clothes seemed heavier. Moira felt her strength be drained out of her body as the hours, no, the minutes passed. There was no way she could hide better than here. In a few hours the castle would be swirling with Aurors, all looking at her like she was some kind of beast that needed locking up...looking at her like a snake on display on a zoo. Moira snorted. She had her sins, but they were far too few to put her in Azkaban or in any type of cage... glass cage, now that she was a registered animagus.

The floor creaked as she walked, looking for that tattered bed in the room. As Moira entered the Shrieking Shack memories came back to her like tidal waves. Every corner had one, looking back at her, taunting her, reminding her of something she couldn't have again. But this time was so different. She wasn't in there to pay company to a friend while he transformed. She was the one undergoing a transformation, and she was all alone.

Moira dragged herself to the bed and lay down as quietly as she could. Her back hurt from trying to avoid the Womping Willow. Not being able to transfigure, she had to improvise and that had hurt like hell. The place had a heavy smell, not of mischief as it once did, but of sadness, of things that once were. The place was still torn apart from Sirius' last visit, when he had doubted her loyalty; when she had told him her secret. Moira closed her eyes, trying not to think about it, but it was inevitable, and memories were pretty much all she had to hold on to until all of this was over. So Dumbledore's daughter relaxed her body on top of the tattered covers and let her brain sink to her younger years, to when foes became friends and friends became family.

Her eyes weren't blinking as she watched him from afar. She was on her way to Charms when she spotted his class coming back from Herbology. The sight of him made her stop and discretely move behind one of the pillars, just to watch him. She had always hidden it very well, for years in fact, and even with the ring hanging on a chain around her neck, Moira couldn't stop caring for that man. She knew she loved Tom, when she was with him it felt as if she belonged, but when this other boy walked pass her, it was like her soul had gone missing. Of course no one could know, no one knew about Tom either, no one knew what Moira did during Hogsmeade weekends, when she vanished beyond the borders, to meet her secret love.

"Why?" a feminine voice came from behind her followed by a hand upon her shoulder.

Moira turned to find Lilly looking at her.

"I beg your pardon?" Moira said, trying to play confused but Lilly saw right through her, she always had.

She was a year older than Moira and when she got to Hogwarts, Lilly and her became friends in a very strange way. Their friendship sprung out of an argument from which neither wanted to be defended. Since then, they didn't need to talk; the glances they exchanged were enough for them to communicate.

"I know you are seeing someone out of school" Lilly said "What I didn't know was that it was him"

"It isn't!" Moira protested, but Lilly had the upper hand in the conversation. Moira's chocolate brown eyes found Lilly's emerald ones. She couldn't lie, not to her "They are not the same person"

"Two boys? Moira, you surprise me" Lilly mocked.

"It is not like that" Moira said "It is nothing like that at all.."

"I'm all ears" she said, blinking.

Moira looked at her, her eyebrows stitched together on a frown.

"How are they different?"

"If I knew I wouldn't be in this situation" Moira snapped back then paused as a group of Ravenclaws passed them "Why does it have to be so hard?" Moira whispered.

"It isn't" Lilly replied "How do you feel about the secret one? Do you love him?"

"I think so" Moira replied.

"There's no 'think so' in love, Moira. You either do or you don't" Lilly said and turned Moira's shoulders, making her look over at where the Slytherins were "What about him? How do you feel about him?"

"Like I can't breathe" she replied not caring that her cheeks blushed as she admitted her feelings. That was the first time she said things like that out loud.

"I think you got your answer" Lilly said as Moira turned to face her.

"What would you do?" Moira asked.

"Follow my heart" she said with a soft smile "Though I still can't believe yours drifted that way" she looked over Moira's shoulder.

"Even knowing it will be broken?" Moira asked, her words older than her eyes.

"I want to regret something I did and not something I didn't do" she replied "Besides, I don't think it is nice to be secretly meeting a boy, Moira. What reason does he have to hide?"

"He's not hiding, it's just..." as the words left her lips, Moira knew she was lying. Tom was hiding. Of course that meeting the parents of your girlfriend who were a Dark witch and Hogwarts' Headmaster wasn't that easy of a deal, but then again, there was her intuition that always seemed to be extra alert whenever she and Tom were left alone. And his eyes… she always made an extra effort to block her mind when they were together. There were always these precautions she had to take before she met him... spells, and locating potions... how come she had never questioned them before?

"I feel so stupid" Moira said as her gaze dropped to the floor.

"You shouldn't. Love blinds us sometimes. Just think about it carefully before you make a decision"

Moira looked up again with the intention to answer Lilly, but what she saw made all color drain from her already ivory face.

"My bet is on Snape" a familiar masculine voice echoed behind Lilly. Moira's worst nightmare came true: James Potter was standing behind them with the most surprised look upon his face. Beside him stood Peter Pettigrew, with his jaw dropped.

"Shut up, Potter" Lilly replied as Moira closed her eyes, trying to wish it all away "This doesn't concern you"

"No way, Evans! Wait until Sirius finds out about this one" he told Peter.

"NO!" Moira yelled, coming between Lilly and James "Potter, if you breathe a word of this to him or anyone..."

"You'll do what? Tell your daddy?" James taunted.

"You bet I will" Moira challenged and lowered her tone of voice so Lilly wouldn't hear her "I'll tell him you are an unregistered animagus"

James became very pale and so did Peter.

"You wouldn't. You would be telling on Sirius too" James said.

"Dare me" Moira said but her eyes showed how worried she was and James saw it.

"I dare you" he said "You wouldn't expose him if your life depended on it... Snape... what a joke. Come on, Peter"

And they left for class. Moira was shaking so hard Lilly thought smoke was going to come out of her ears. But when Lilly looked upon the girl's face it wasn't hate that was there but pure despair. The bell rang announcing the start of class.

"He can't do this" Moira whispered as she walked "He can't do this"

Charms was horrible as was every other class during the day. Moira couldn't concentrate on anything. She spent dinner at the library, hiding from everyone, afraid that the news was already loose. Finally, at night she left for the common room only to find the four of them talking. As she passed the portrait hole, Sirius, James, Remus and Peter paused only to look at her, but no sign of damage, not yet. Remus even smiled at her. He always smiled at her. Moira gave a quick smile back and rushed upstairs to the dorm room, took a shower and changed for bed. It was her word against James' and she could only claim he was insane and imagining things. She knew Lilly would back her up. But then again, the thought of seeing the look of disgust on Snape's face once he found out made her stomach turn.

No luck in trying to sleep, so Moira just laid back, eyes fixed on the ceiling when a loud noise followed by a scream made her jump out of bed. The girls in her dormitory did the same. They opened the door only to find the common room in mayhem.

"HELP!" yelled Peter from under a table.

Moira looked around and the few people that were in the room were taking cover from something. The others who left the dormitories, including her roommates, quickly came back and locked themselves inside. It didn't take long to see why everyone was so scared. Hanging on the chandelier was a Humprey. A demon like poltergeist that was not supposed to be in the Gryffindor common room unless someone put him there. Someone who knew their magic well.

The weird thing is the creature had a wand on it's bony hand, when they are not suppose to have one. Ten times worst than Peeves, the creature aimed at the students, threw furniture on them, and sent spells all over the place..

"LOOK OUT" Lupin screamed and Moira ducked out of a chair's way.

She kept her head down, trying to aim at the creature, but he kept hitting her with spells. The one getting the worst out of it was Peter. Cornered under a window, the boy had little protection.

"Stay down, James" Sirius yelled but James ignored him.

As James moved to get Peter to safety, a heavy armchair was raised in the air. Moira acted fast but not fast enough. She pushed James and Peter out of harms way, but the armchair hit her hard and pinned her to the ground.

"Expelliarmus!" yelled Lupin finally hitting the creature's hand. Its wand flew to his hand. Next thing you know, silence went back to the common room as Lupin sent another spell at the creature, turning it to nothing but dust.

"Oh no... no, no, no" Sirius mumbled as he took Moira's hair out of her face. She was lying face down on the floor, the armchair over her body "Wake up, Moira!" Sirius yelled, but Moira didn't move. Everything slowly faded to black.

Moira could hear a familiar sound but she couldn't make it out. Her head hurt a lot but not as much as her body. She opened her eyes slowly, focusing in the dimly lit room around her. She was lying on her back on one of the beds over at the Hospital Wing. Moira looked around, trying to find the source of the noise. As she turned her head, she found sitting in a chair by her bedside, the Headmaster to the school, sleeping in a very uncomfortable position. The sound was coming from the man's long and crooked nose: Albus Dumbledore was snoring. A small smile took hold of Moira's lips as she saw her father by her bedside, but that smile soon vanished as she tried to move. The wave of pain that shot through her made her yelp.

"She's up" her father said fast as he opened his eyes, pushing his half-moon spectacles up his nose, and turning his blue eyes to his daughter "How are you feeling?" he asked, sleep and worry in his voice and face.

"Like I've been hit by an armchair" Moira said softly. Albus smiled in the same way..

"Remus told us what happened" Moira frowned "It was very brave and very irresponsible of you trying to save James and Peter, Moira" he said before smiling "But very Gryffindor"

"Oh, please" Moira replied "If this is what Gryffindors get I'll take Slytherin any day" she looked at her father. Had James told the school already? "So... what about the Humprey? Who put it there?" Moira asked, trying to keep the thought of her father knowing about her love life from her mind.

"Seventh years Huffle Puffs" her father replied amused "Apparently their loss in Quidditch wasn't so well taken"

"Huffle Puffs? That's new" Moira said before gasping again "When can I leave here?" Moira asked. How could she hide from the school if she was pinned to a Hospital bed?

"You are recovering well, thanks to your... reptile attributions..." he said in a lower tone of voice "Go back to sleep. I have to floo your mother... tell her you are alright"

"Where is she?" Moira asked, making her father look at her from the top of his half moon spectacles "I just fancied a talk with her"

Dumbledore nodded and Moira just knew she had to get better at lying.

"She is in Italy. She should be here for your birthday, though"

"She never misses them" Moira smiled.

"No... she doesn't" Dumbledore replied in the same manner "Now get some rest. Maybe you can floo her tomorrow" he said before kissing her forehead and leaving the room.

There was nothing she could do but wait. She was going to tell her mother about both of them... maybe she could give her some advice. Moira knew she was going to be lectured about meeting a boy in secret, but she had to tell her mother... she missed their talks and only she could help her out with this.

Moira was almost asleep when she heard something that made her eyes snap open. Without moving her face, her eyes searched the whole room, but there was no one there but her. She frowned as the noise she heard sounded again, and this time, she identified it coming from her left side. She turned her head around and in a quick movement, reached into the air, and pulled an invisibility layer to discover James Potter underneath it.

"How did you..." he started, startled.

"You breathe too loud" Moira cut him off "What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" she asked a bit too firmly, sending pain all over her body again.

"Er... well..." James said as his eyes searched her face. It wasn't a very common thing for James Potter to be speechless and that clearly bothered him "Fine... I'll just say it..." he took in a breath "Thank you... for helping me out"

Moira snorted.

"What? I'm apologizing and you're complaining... what is wrong with you?" but before Moira could answer, James raised his hand, asking for silence "Look... I'm trying to say that I am sorry that you got hurt. I thought Remus was going to kill me, and Sirius almost did actually, and Peter kept telling me that I should come over and..."

"Why?" Moira asked.

"Because... because it was my wand that got snatched by the Humfrey" James confessed "I'm sorry"

Moira shrugged. He was about to hurt her so much worse than the creature.

"And I'm not telling anyone about... him" James said with a shudder.

"I don't need your sympathy, Potter" Moira spat.

"I know... Merlin knows I know that, but the thing is that if I tell someone I'll be ruining every chance I have to ever go out with Evans"

Moira's eyebrow got up on her face. That was the James she knew... opportunist... maybe he was the one that should have been placed in Slytherin.

"Just wanted you to know that your secret is safe with me... us... Peter is bound to secrecy as well"

Moira nodded, not letting show how relieved she really was. James smiled awkwardly and turned to leave.

"I still think it's gross, though" James said under his breath.

"Shut up, Potter" Moira replied as James walked toward the exit "Who put you up to this? Apologizing to me? Sirius or Remus?" Moira asked, making James turn to face her.

"They don't know I'm here" he said softly, then his expression changed "And if you tell them..."

"I won't…" Moira said "But it would be nice to tell Lilly. She'll see you're not that big headed as she thinks you are"

James studied her from a far, and Moira could see he was weighting his options. Hands on his pockets, biting his lower lip, hair messed up, James Potter was doing some thorough thinking.

"Would you?" he asked, a hint of a smile upon his face. Moira nodded and the shadow of a smile made its presence known "Oh… here" James said as he made his way toward her again "Peter sent these for you"

"Unicorn tears" Moira said as she opened the package of sweets.

"They are his favorite" James said, taking some from Moira's hand "He never lets any of us have any. I guess it's his way of thanking you" Moira nodded.

"He seems so uneasy" Moira said as she ate the candy "Looking nervous all the time"

"That's only around you" James replied "He's a rat, you're a snake… food chain and all"

"Oh…" Moira said and looked at James "Sirius told you… about me…"

"Yes…" James said simply, meeting her eyes from behind his glasses "We all know… but it's not fun to black mail you since he also told me Dumbledore knows" James said and Moira nodded with a smile "Besides, Sirius wouldn't let me".

Moira looked at James with different eyes. It was clear he was feeling a little down that him and his friends weren't the only ones to be able to become animagi at an early age. Being annoying was his way of defense against her, and she didn't blame him. Moira didn't like the fact that she was kept away from his little group of friends, who seemed really nice. She had grown up with Sirius and she missed spending time with him. Remus was the nicest man she had ever met, but she rarely had the chance to talk to him, since he was always surrounded by the others, and Peter was pretty much keeping his way clear of her, now she knew why. Then there was James: the most popular guy in school, sharing his post with Sirius. James seemed to be nice, but since the first time he had set eyes on Moira, he had been judgmental and that hurt. Now, looking and hearing him without his friends around him, Moira saw that there was more to James Potter than meets the eye. Lilly would be glad to hear it.

"Full moon is in a week" Moira said "I know you guys have a lot of fun, but just be careful" Moira said, her eyes on his "They'll follow you, Potter… make sure they are all safe"

James stood there for a moment, looking at Moira as if it were the very first time he really see her.

"I will" James said and got up, his footsteps echoing in the ward, invisibility cloak in one hand "I was going to ask you to come with us one night, but then you'll think I've soften up, so I'll just have Remus ask you" James said as he moved toward the door.

"Ok" Moira answered "Thank Peter for me and tell him that rats are not on my diet" she said and heard James chuckle as he disappeared under the cloak.

"AH!" Moira gasped as she felt the scar on her back burn stronger than ever before. As it burned, her head started to throb and Moira opened her eyes very wide "Peter" she whispered "He knows… Tom knows…"

Moira rolled out of bed, and moved toward the exit of the Shack, as best as she could. She had to find Snape, she had to tell him about Peter knowing of her affections… she had to tell him to be careful. But the scar burning on her back only made things worse. She could feel Voldemort. He was very happy about something and that hurt like hell.

Moira made her way to the tunnel that took her back to the passageway under the tree, but she was too weak to keep up. Breath was beginning to escape her when the scar burned worse than ever and she fell to the ground, shutting her eyes tight as another memory filled her mind, but this one was not her own.

He unlocked the door as if he had a spare key to the house. Thunder rumbled outside as the tall figure made his way into the living room. He didn't call for anyone nor did he hear anything moving. She was waiting for him by a tall window, a glass of red wine in her hand.

"Care for one, Tom?" Tsarina asked as she sipped from her glass, her eyes watching him from over the rim.

"Elegant" a strong but even voice replied in the dark " I expected nothing less from you" he replied as he walked toward her.

Red eyes gleaming, but still resembling his former self, looking no older than 16. Tsarina smiled.

"Nice choice of looks" she said as she put her glass down on the table beside her, her eyes not leaving his "You were quite handsome, you know" she said "No wonder she cared for you… of course the spell helped too… a lot actually"

Voldemort's lips curled as he heard her remarks. Tsarina didn't move.

"Tell me something" she said, staring right into his eyes, not one flicker of fear in hers "Did you really believe you were going to get her to your side?" he didn't answer "You didn't need her, so I'm thinking that your efforts were only an attempt to get back at my husband" she clicked her tongue "So childish, Tom, I mean… really"

"Does it really matter now?" he said with a mocking smile, and Tsarina knew he was hiding something. The damn wizard was a great occlumens! "After I'm through with you, she'll be next on the list" he took one step closer to Tsarina, who didn't move. His eyes, though red, were extremely cold "One by one, your lineage will fall"

"Yes, they will" Tsarina agreed "But not by your hand. To that I swear" the wine glass on the table shattered "A half blood…" she said with disgust "Salazar would have been ashamed of his heir"

Voldemort's lips became even thinner and the first spell hit Tsarina. She deflected it, but its strength sent her across the room to knock her back against the wall and fall to the floor. Red whine dripped from the table to the wooden floor.

"Now it's my turn to ask" Voldemort said as he took his time to get closer to Tsarina "Did you really think I would just send one curse and get it over with?" he pulled her up by her shoulders to face him, blood fell from her forehead "No, no, no… I'll bid my time until you beg me to kill you"

Tsarina simply laughed at him.

"Then you better show me something more than this" she replied and it was her turn to send a spell his way, making him fall backwards, giving room between them "I'm a tough witch to kill, Tom. Let's see if you're up to the challenge"

"No" Moira whispered as she saw everything. Bellow her, the grounds started to shake.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"What's going on?" Chloe asked as she ran into the group of Aurors entering the castle.

"Dearest Chloe" Ethan smiled as he met her and took her hand in his. His eyes met Moody's "Would you come with us?" Ethan asked Chloe as they continued to walk beside Justine toward Dumbledore's office. "Ethan?" Chloe asked amazed "For Merlin's beard, I didn't know you were coming here…."

"I just hoped it would have been for a better reason" Ethan said as he offered his arm for Chloe to take, and she did.

Justine walked in front with Ethan, and now Chloe, on one side and Moody on the other. Behind her, Snape and the younger Auror followed. Snape noticed the boy was avoiding the older Aurors.

"Go on" Snape whispered loud enough for Justine to hear "I have to take care of something"

Justine nodded without turning her head as she led the others to Dumbledore. Snape stopped and as the younger Auror was passing by him. He caught his sleeve, what made the man stop and stare at him. As Snape saw, for the first time, the boy looking at him, he recognized those eyes… and they belonged to someone else. Without letting show the sudden mixture of anger and fear that rose inside of him, Snape pulled the young man down a flight of stairs and into a small room.

As they got into the room, Snape slammed the door shut, sending clouds of dust everywhere. He turned to face the man and found him staring at him, his arms crossed over his chest and a smile upon his face.

"What are you doing here, Maeve?" Snape spat.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Come in" Dumbledore said and saw Ethan Leery, Alastor Mad-Eye Moody, Justine Lorcan and his sister-in-law, Chloe Craine Dumbledore, come into the room "Well… I didn't expect you all here so soon" he said with a sad smile and worry in his eyes.

The group got into the room, Justine closed the door behind her and Dumbledore just knew that something was incredibly wrong. He was feeling danger coming closer to him and his daughter ever since Salazar told him that she wouldn't make it. And now, looking at all of the witches and wizards in his office, he knew that bad news, worse news, were coming his way. But Moira was Tsarina's daughter too, and that meant she was stronger than an average witch, so whatever came their way, he was sure they would be able to fight it.

"You better sit down, Albus" Ethan said as he approached the Headmaster.

"What is this all about?" Justine asked as she sat down next to Chloe "Moira only asked for Ethan to be here for the transfer" she turned to Alastor "What is really going on?".

Moody and Ethan stood in front of Albus Dumbledore and gave them the news without any more delays. Chloe replied that it couldn't be true as she started to sob into Justine's arms. Justine tried to console Chloe when her own eyes couldn't stop crying. Dumbledores knees didn't support his weight and the Headmaster had to be helped down into an armchair. Salazar had been right.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"AH!" Harry yelled as his hand found his forehead.

"What's wrong Harry?" Ron asked.

"Get Sirius…" Harry whispered under his breath, eyes shut tight, than another shot of pain to his forehead made him scream again.

"SIRIUS! IN HERE!" Ron yelled by the door to his room and in a few seconds, Sirius Black was beside him as was the whole Weasley family.

"Harry, Harry… what's wrong" Sirius asked as he tried to take Harry's hands from his face.

"I see her" Harry said as he tried to open but the pain made him shut his eyes tight again "She's in pain and she's all alone"

"Calm down, Harry" Sirius said, taking his godson into his arms. As Arthur and Molly came into the room, Sirius turned to them.

"See who?" Ginny asked and the twins shrugged.

"Oh my…. it started" Molly whispered.

"Something's wrong" Arthur said as his eyes met Sirius'.

"It's too soon" Sirius completed as Harry stirred in his arms.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Funny. You people put barriers up, but we can simply walk through the gates and nothing happens. Then again, I guess students' parents are out of the hook, huh?" she asked but Snape didn't move "Fine… you caught me" the young Auror said, making him frown "It took you long enough, though" she looked at him "Let me guess… my eyes gave me away... again?"

"Moody… how did you slip past Moody?" Snape asked in his low voice.

Maeve's eyes opened wide.

"Magic" she whispered with a laugh. Snape crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at her, still in the Auror's body "Let me try it one more time"

Snape's heart dropped to his stomach. In front of him, the young Auror was no longer a man, but morphed into a beautiful woman dressed in black. Her hair hung down her shoulders, the color of rich chocolate in each strand. Her eyes looked at his as her pouty lips, the lower slightly thicker than the upper, parted. Moira was walking toward him, but still, the look in her eyes was different.

"What about now?" Maeve asked in Moira's voice as her hand slithered around Snape's neck. She even smelled like Moira. Snape didn't move but concentrated on her eyes.

"You can't copy class, Maeve" he spat as he took her arms away from him.

Maeve's eyes hardened and she morphed back to her usual look: shoulder length silver blond hair, dark garments and gray eyes screaming for revenge.

"What do you want?" Snape said bitterly.

"Oh… many, many things, my dear Severus" she said "But right now, I just want to see her face when she gets the news" Snape frowned as his eyes silently questioned her "Too bad I won't be here for that"

"For what?" Snape asked impatiently.

"I can't tell you" she said with a smile "It is a secret".

At that, Snape flung at Maeve, gripping her by her wrists and pulling her closer to him, so they were staring into each other's eyes.

"Don't play with me" Snape hissed between clenched teeth "Don't you dare, play with me"

"I'm not, Severus... you are the one who is trying to fool us all" she said, her cold, gray eyes piercing his "You swear loyalty to the Dark Lord and yet, you covet what's his... that is not nice at all" she smiled.

Snape's grip got firmer before he tossed Maeve away from him. His face was blank of all emotion.

"You are mad" he said calmly "I think you are confusing me with Laois"

Maeve smiled.

"Oh... see... you saw them kiss, didn't you? Although I must say a kiss isn't always just a kiss" she said and saw him frown lightly before his face turned unreadable again "Are you going to tell me you've forgotten?" Maeve asked as she moved toward him "All those times... whispering in my ear..."

"Stop it" he said simply as she circled him.

"What? Suddenly, she comes back and you forget where I live" Maeve said as she stepped in front of him, inches away from him but not touching "I'm not jealous Severus... I'm craving" she whispered into his lips before taking them in hers.

Snape regretted the moment he let her get closer. Everything felt wrong. Every time they had shared a bed came back to him and as much releasing as it had been, now it felt simply wrong. Maeve was a beautiful woman, there was no denying that, but beauty wasn't everything in a woman. Suddenly, Snape felt unable to get away from her. Maeve's curves, her lips fit into him perfectly, and as much as his mind screamed to let go, his body reacted otherwise and he thought he had become a victim of a spell... only he didn't. Maeve felt like that, right like that, because she had morphed once again. Snape opened his eyes and saw Moira in his arms, her arms around him, pulling his body closer to hers.

"I won't tell anyone" Maeve whispered by Snape's ear before kissing his earlobe "Take me, Severus... take her"

Snape froze. It shouldn't happen this way. It won't happen this way.

"Tell me what do you want... what are you really doing here, Maeve?" Snape said, apparently in control of his actions. Maeve, looking, sounding and smelling like Moira was still attached to him.

Maeve chuckled in Moira's voice, and Snape felt shivers go down his spine. She, then, pulled him closer and whispered her answer into his ear. As he heard what made his soul scream, a sharp pain made him curve his body forward. Blood fell freely from the wound on his side, through the handle of an antique looking dagger, to Maeve's alabaster hand. His black eyes met hers, still chocolate brown, like Moira's.

"Sorry, Severus" Maeve said without any trace of emotion on her face "Got to soften you up. But I guess she already took care of that"

Just as she pulled the dagger out of him, making him drop to the floor, the grounds started to shake.

"Just in time. Good girl" Maeve said as she pulled out her wand and placed a guarding spell on the dagger, not letting the blood get out of it, then she placed it inside her robes. With a wave of her hand, glass broke around her and old things pilled on the dusty shelves of the basement fell all over the place, including a sharp piece of glass that flew directly to Snape's wound. The Potions Master grunted and saw Maeve fade to black in front of him.

"It was good, Severus... pity it had to end this way" Maeve said coldly as she stepped over him, assumed the form of the Auror and left the room.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Justine?" Tonks called from the outside of the gates "Justine, what's wrong?"

The older Auror opened the gates in a hurry. Her hands worked fast, undoing locks, taking down some spells, but her eyes showed much more. Justine's colorful eyes were lost in thought as she tried not to burst into despair. It just couldn't be true. They had won a war before and they were going to win it again… but how could they do that without… Justine opened the gates, refusing to think about it much longer. Without saying a word, she stepped back and let the dozens of Aurors inside Hogwarts grounds, but Tonks knew better.

"In the Great Hall" was all Justine had to say to move them. Tonks stayed behind.

"What happened?" she asked as her friend and superior closed the gates.

"So much I don't even know where to begin" Justine said "What's the name of that Auror you sent ahead? I can't find him and…"

"What?" Tonks frowned "I didn't send anyone ahead"

Justine froze as her eyes found Tonks'. Just as she the last ward was put up, the ground started to shake. The Aurors going up to the castle took out their wands. It was a violent tremor, but the witches and wizards managed to remain standing. It lasted only a few seconds and then Tonks' eyes fell on Justine's. She was looking at the gates, at the Aurors. There were so many… anyone could have gone through and… she was so stupid!

"We have to find her" Justine whispered as she ran toward the castle, Tonks behind her.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"REMUS!" Abby screamed from the bed "REMUS!" she yelled as she held her head between her hands, eyes shut tightly.

Lupin came running from the bathroom as he heard her cry. Pants on, shirt half opened, wet hair and no shoes, Lupin got on the bed and held Abby against him.

"I'm here, I'm here" he said as he held her. Fear washed over him as he tried to calm her down.

"No" Abby mumbled as she rocked back and forth, her eyes shut "It can't be true..." and she gasped.

"Abby, what is it?" Remus panicked.

Another gasp and a splutter of blood on white sheets. Abby's nose was bleeding.

"Find Moira... find her NOW" she yelled.

"I'm not leaving you alone..."

"There's no time!" she yelled. Her eyes found his "Go" she whispered and that was enough for Remus run out the door. As soon as he left the room, the grounds started to shake.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Moira was crawling toward the exit but the pain was too strong. Her eyes would open but as the visions came back, she would shut them tight and wish for them to stop, but they only became clearer. Parts of the tunnel fell upon her as the ground shook, covering her with dust and earth. Then suddenly, everything went very still. Moira, who was gripping down her head in her hands, froze in place as she felt the ground still beneath her. Slowly, the young witch looked up, making sure it was safe to move, only to be found wrong.

As Moira turned her body on the floor, so that she was facing up, she saw what made her heart stop: two red eyes were looking straight at her. The figure of Tom Riddle as he would be like today, with slits for nostrils and red snake like eyes was slowly walking toward her.

"No... you can't be here" she whispered as she instinctively started to drag her body toward the exit.

But Voldemort continued to advance upon her, slowly, enjoying the fear he was causing. The tunnel seemed longer and Moira couldn't find the strength to pull herself up and run. Her head hurt again as another vision came to mind. Her mother was running up the stairs followed closely by Voldemort. Moira turned to look at her pursuer but only found the body of her dead mother on the floor.

"NO!" she yelled. The body changed and it was Snape, cold and bleeding now "THIS ISN'T REAL!" she screamed as the form shifted again and, one by one, all the people she cared about appeared dead in front of her: her father, Abigail, Remus, Sirius, Harry, and every single member of her family; one after the other. The figure shifted again but didn't show a dead relative or friend, but herself. Moira was looking at a mirror image of herself, but with red, snake like eyes. Her figure wasn't dead, but looking straight at her. In one hand, she held a wand and the other was stained with blood. As the figure advanced, Moira was frozen, unable to move away.

"Riddikulus" yelled a voice behind her and her figure turned into nothing more than a piece of lint on the floor before it vanished into thin air. Lupin kneeled beside Moira and as his hand touched her shoulder, she turned to him fast.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" she yelled when she saw him.

"Moira... Moira, it's me" Lupin said as he held her by her upper arms, forcing her to stop moving and look into his eyes "It's me" he whispered as he saw her face wet from sweat and tears she didn't feel fall "It's alright now" he said as he held her, feeling her arms go around his neck and clenching to him like a child to a parent after been awaken from a nightmare.

"I saw her and... I... I killed them all" she trembled.

"Shhhh..." Lupin said as he stood up, pulling her up with him "Let's get you out of here"

Lupin led the way out of the willow and into the castle, supporting Moira as he went. Using several secret passages he knew around the grounds, he hurried his steps and managed to get Moira to her room without being seen. He sat her down in an armchair and moved to the fireplace. He picked up a handful of powder that was on a box on the mantelpiece, threw it on the crate and called for Abby.

It took her a few seconds before Abby's head appeared on Moira's fireplace. She didn't look well at all. Before Lupin could ask what was wrong, Abby shook her head.

"Stay with her" she said softly "I saw something else..."

In a flash, as if awaken from a trance, Moira snapped her head around meeting Abby's glance.

"What did you see?" Moira asked in a shaky voice, but Abby didn't answer. Moira's eyes went very wide on her face "Please, tell me they are all alright"

"We are all fine... don't worry about us..." Abby said, her big blue eyes not blinking.

"Who?" Moira asked but Abby's eyes gave her the answer. Moira didn't need to use magic to communicate with her cousin: he eyes said it all. Moira's hand traveled to her mouth and her body started to spasm as she sobbed.

Lupin couldn't do anything but hold her against him and look at Abby for the answer.

"I'm going to get help and try to find him" Abby said quietly "Stay with her, Remus"

"Find who, Abby?" Lupin asked.

"Severus" she replied and Lupin held Moira tighter, feeling her trying to stop her tears but unable to do so.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"So?" Lucius asked as he sat comfortably on the inside of the antique looking car.

"All done" Maeve said in her soft voice "Can you believe the barriers don't work against us? They have absolutely no idea who they are dealing with" she snorted "Parents can be very dangerous"

Lucius grinned. His cold eyes looked at the back seat where the Auror was still unconscious.

"Obliviate" he said as he pointed his wand at the man "Let's take him back. He won't know what hit him"

Maeve nodded and an evil smile broke upon her face.

"No... he won't"

"Did he see you? The real you?" Lucius asked.

"Yes, but he won't remember it" Maeve said, not sounding so happy about it.

"For Merlin's sake, Maeve, you were supposed to hurt him, to get the spell on the way, not to kill the man" Lucius asked between clenched teeth.

"Oh, I didn't" Maeve said, her own gray eyes meeting her brother's "But by the time the spell works, if I know him like I think I do, he'll be hoping I had"

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"How am I going to tell her?" Albus Dumbledore asked more to himself than to the mass of people around him. His shoulders weren't squared with his posture anymore, but forward, as if they couldn't handle the weight upon them. His blue eyes were sad beyond belief behind his half moon spectacles and his voice, usually energetic, was hoarse.

All around him were Aurors making almost impossible to see the teachers' chairs beside the Headmaster's in the Great Hall. There were at least twenty wizards and witches around him, plus the teachers: all now knowing of the terrible news Ethan Leery and Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody had brought to Hogwarts.

"There must be some way around this" he said as his blue eyes found Ethan's.

"If there were, I'd be the first to tell you, my friend" Ethan replied softly "I'm afraid there is nothing we can do"

Chloe was in Aberforth's arms, still crying. She jumped up when Justine picked one of the chairs up and threw it against a wall, reducing it to small pieces. Moody looked at her, but Albus shook his head.

"I forbade her to use magic... I thought the spells were coming off wrong because of the proximity of Halloween and you know what she said?" Justine asked, clearly holding back tears "She said that that was a great opportunity for him" she ended with disgust "And she was right".

"This war will end before it even starts" one Auror said quietly.

"What about Harry Potter?" Tonks asked "He defeated him once..."

"He's not enough" Moody said, making the breath around the room be held by its occupants "Moira is many times stronger than the boy, but the prophecy..." he looked at Dumbledore "Harry won once, when Dumbledore was still around. I'm afraid that if this... if what we fear comes to pass, we won't be so lucky"

"What are you saying, Alastor?" Justine asked, anger and fear upon her face.

"I'm saying Moira better be stronger than we think she is"

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Abigail ran. Every door she passed, she opened, looking for signs of Snape, but found nothing. The vision was clear but not the place he was at. Moira was with him in her vision, something couldn't possibly be right, since Remus had found her. Abby remembered the vision she had had of Snape trying to kill Moira. It would be the first one not to come true and she didn't know how she felt about that, since the one she had just had was of something exactly opposite. If it came to happen, that meant Snape had to recover, but her cousin would be in danger. If it didn't happen, it meant that the present was even worst for both of them.

Abigail passed one door that led to a kind of storage room and stopped as she saw a silvery form leave through it. She turned around to see the Bloody Baron looking at her from mid air. He simply nodded and she opened the door.

"I'll seek help" was all the ghost from the Slytherin House told her.

Inside, the smell of humidity was very strong. Abby walked carefully, wand in hand as she saw the debris from the quake around the room. It didn't take long for her to find Snape lying on the floor, a pool of blood under him and a piece of glass deep into his flesh.

Without being able to say anything, Abby kneeled down beside him, supporting his head with her hands.

"Please, don't die on me, Severus..." she pleaded while she focused on all the healing spells she could remember.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Moira had run out of tears. Lupin held her against him until he felt her body stop moving, until she was too tired to keep crying. He was seated on the floor, his back against her four poster bed and Moira in his arms, her head resting just beneath his chin. He wanted to ask, wanted to know what had happened, what had she seen that had frightened her enough not to be able to fight a Boggart, but he was scared. He had never seen Moira like this, in tears like this, despaired like this, and, for the first time, he feared she wasn't going to pull herself together.

"A sickle for your thoughts" Remus whispered as his fingers ran through Moira's hair.

For a moment, Moira didn't move and Lupin imagined she was either ready to lie to him or controlling herself not to break down again. She then sat up, her back against him.

"How do you do it?" she asked simply, her voice was hoarse but firm. Lupin felt his heart sink. He knew exactly what she meant without her having to complete the question.

"I just..." Moira started but fell silent. She then turned to Lupin; her big almond shaped eyes that held the richest brown in them were still red from crying and it broke his heart to see her like that "I can feel it taking over, Remus... Darkness... and sometimes I think I like it" she said before her voice cracked and she had to close her eyes to keep control. She opened them again to find his staring at her "This isn't like anything I've felt before"

"I've heard that it takes a while to adjust" he spoke softly, as if explaining something to a student. Moira fell silent and looked away from him, and Lupin just knew her thoughts were far away from that room "You only need time, Moira. You'll be fine... trust me"

"It is all a mystery, isn't it?" Moira asked, her eyes lost "We teach others to defend themselves against the Dark Arts and there's nothing either of us can do to stop it" she turned to him "I've always been there for you, Remus, but I never understood what really went on during full moons before now"

"What happened today, Moira?" Lupin asked, his hand finding hers. They both stayed silent for moments until her voice, soft but hoarse, spoke again.

"I couldn't breathe" she said as she squeeze Lupin's hand and sighed "It hurt so much... it still does. It started with a memory and..." she said before she had to fall silent again. Moira closed her eyes and, for a moment, Lupin thought she was going to faint, but she simply sighed as silent tears left her eyes. She let her head hang down.

"Peter knows" she said simply and when she didn't hear Lupin ask anything, Moira looked up at him. His eyes were asking it for him, under a frown "When we were younger, Peter found out about my... affections" Moira said before taking a deep breath, letting her well kept secret find a new bearer.

"Severus?" he asked. Moira didn't even blink "Was... he was the one you were in love with when..." Lupin asked and Moira nodded, biting down her lower lip "He still is the one, isn't he?" he asked tenderly even though deep down he had always known.

And Moira nodded again, as her hands traveled to her face. Lupin embraced her once more, as she tried to contain her tears.

"I made a target out of him" she said between sobs "I never meant to..."

"We are all targets, love... and that is not your fault" Lupin said, his arms going around her tight.

"I don't want to hurt anyone, Remus... please... don't let me hurt anyone else" she pleaded.

"You didn't, Moira. That wasn't your fault..." Lupin started but was interrupted by Moira, who was now facing him, her hands firmly around his arms.

"Yes, it was and I know it will happen again..." her eyes were open wide, fixed in his "I saw things, Remus... terrible things..."

"Moira, that was a Boggart" Lupin reassured her "That was just a Boggart, love..."

"Promise me... promise me, you'll stop me"

"I can't promise that, Moira..." Lupin said as his hand cupped her face "Just as you couldn't promise me you would put me down if one of my transformations got out of hand"

"Please" she begged "I can't... I..." but Moira couldn't complete the sentence. She got up and ran to the bathroom, banging the door closed behind her. Lupin heard her feel sick inside and moved toward the door. His heart felt empty as he saw what happened to him happen to somebody else.

Lupin took a few steps backwards and sat on her bed, his eyes fixed on the light coming from under the door, waiting for a sign of her. She was a Dark creature as much as he was, they had both made peace with that a long time ago, but they still struggled to control the darkness that ran in their veins. Every month, of every year, Remus had to let the wolf take control and that still frightened him; now more than before. Moira dealt with that every single second of every single day... and it was only getting worse.

Lupin sighed as he waited, and felt a bit of relief when he heard the water running in the sink. When he was invited to rejoin the Hogwarts staff, Lupin knew it would mean getting in and out of trouble, but, when he found out that Moira was coming back, then Sirius got free, and Abigail joined them, he thought things would be easier, better... he was wrong. It was like the first war all over again.

"Remus? What are you doing here?" Sirius asked from the fireplace. Green flames framed his head as he looked at Lupin. Harry's voice was asking what was wrong in the background.

"We got into trouble" Lupin replied as he walked around Moira's bed and toward the fireplace. He stopped when he saw Sirius staring at him: he was still half dressed and with no shoes on "Not that kind of trouble, Sirius" he said and kneeled down in front of the fireplace.

"Oh... but is everything ok? Where's Moira? Harry here saw something and we wanted to make sure she's alright" he said, not telling the entire truth to his friend.

Lupin explained, but left out the part that Moira had confided in him. He told Sirius about the quake, about how Moira was devastated about Snape getting hurt in the process. Sirius was going to make some stupid remark about Snape, but Lupin's eyes told him otherwise.

"Something else happened to her that she's not telling. She is scared of her shadow, Padfoot. I never saw her like this before"

"That's because she never felt like this before" Sirius replied, his eyes at the bathroom's door; the place was now silent "Everyone is alright, Harry" Sirius said out loud, shutting up Harry's questions. He looked at Lupin.

"How are you handling everything?" Lupin asked and Sirius knew he was worried. Half of his life spent in Azkaban and the past two years running from the authorities could make a man lose his sense of right and wrong, but not Sirius Black.

"Fine" Sirius said with a cool smile "I'm where I was supposed to have been, Moony" his black eyes shone with pride. He was taking care of his godson, and that, as hard a task as it could be, made everything he's been through worth it.

"Watch over Fithi, Moony" he said, remembering Moira's animagus nickname.

"I will... take care of Harry"

"Will do" he said "Anything else happens, let me know" Lupin nodded and Sirius' head disappeared in the flames.

Lupin stood up, pointed his wand to himself, performed a cleaning spell and conjured some shoes and the rest of his clothing. For a brief moment Lupin let the promise of better days take over him. The silence in the room was broken by a noise coming from the bathroom. Lupin's senses heightened as he felt the tremor before it actually hit. It wasn't as strong as the first one, and he doubted the others had felt it, but he had and that was enough for him to run to the door.

Before he could reach it, Moira opened it and, without stopping to say a word to him, she stormed out of the room, being followed by Remus.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Oh my... what ... how..." Poppy asked as she kneeled down beside Snape and Abby.

"I don't know, but he needs help, Poppy... he's slipping away" Abby said urgently.

Two Aurors were beside Poppy. One of them, an older one, immediately kneeled down next to Abby and Snape while the other examined the room.

"This was caused by the tremor" one of them said to Abby. His dark eyes already accusing her cousin without saying a word.

Abby narrowed her eyes at the man.

"You either make yourself useful or I'll put an end to your suffering" she hissed.

"And I'll help" Poppy said, her chin held up high.

They didn't need to be told twice. Abby saw one of them take from the inside of their robes a small bottle and throw it on the floor. The bottle cracked and a purple smoke appeared in mid air.

"Saint Mungo's. What is your emergency?" a pleasant voice was heard coming from the smoke.

"We need a vehicle at Hogwarts. Auror priority" one of the Aurors spoke, his eyes on Abby.

"Right away" the voice said before the smoke vanished.

"Find someone who can open the gates" the older Auror instructed the other one, who left in the direction of the Great Hall.

It didn't take long for the bells coming from the medical unit to be heard all over the castle. Two healers came into the room and stopped as they saw Abby half-holding Snape in her arms. They kneeled down, trying to take some layers of clothing from Snape to take a better look at the wound. As they did, Abby's eyes were found by one of the healers.

"He's too weak... It will take a miracle to…"

"Than start working on it" Abby said dryly.

In a few moments, Snape was placed in a gurney, and led into the vehicle.

"I'm going with him" Poppy said "Tell your uncle what happened"

Paler than usual, icy cold skin, Snape had fallen into unconsciousness and Abby feared he would never wake up.

"Please, Merlin… save him…" Abby whispered as she saw the ancient looking car vanish into a big purple puff "Save us all"

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Low whispering filled the Great Hall as the Aurors and teachers passed pieces of parchments around, trying to figure out a way out of this situation, but Albus knew there was no way around it. A firm grip upon his shoulder made him turn around and find his brother's eyes looking at his own.

"She'll pull through this" he said faintly and Albus simply nodded.

"Sir, I think it is best to quarantine Miss Dumbledore and…" an Auror suggested to Dumbledore but was interrupted by Justine's fist to his jaw.

"LORCAN!" Moody yelled from the door, two Aurors beside him. The Auror hit by Justine moved away from her, his hand over his bloody nose.

"She isn't contagious for Merlin's sake!!" Justine exclaimed and let herself loose from Moody's grip. "Sorry" she whispered as her eyes met Dumbledore's.

"I have to agree… it is best to contain her" Moody said and saw Justine look at him with murderous eyes "It is best if Albus doesn't witness the transfer"

"I know your intentions are the best there are, Alastor, but there is nothing you can say or do that will take me away from my daughter" Dumbledore said in a tired but determined voice.

"I'm glad to see I'm not the only one here with the mind in the right place" Justine said, ignoring Moody's reprimanding look "She'll need all the support she can get in order to get through this... if you want to keep your head upon your body, you better shut your pie hole" Justine said to the Auror with the bloody nose before he could argue with her.

"I'm sorry" Ethan said softly, but loud enough to everyone to hear "But, for her safety and our own, I do believe that is the best choice to keep her away from others" Ethan looked at Albus and his eyes traveled to Chloe "Moira won't be in total control of her actions, of her powers... she's going to go through enough and I don't think guilt has to be added to this"

As Albus was getting ready to argue, the two heavy doors of the Great Hall were pushed open making a loud noise echo inside. Moira came into the room in a stride, her black dress flowing around her like shadows. Lupin followed behind her but stopped as he entered the room.

When the Aurors saw Moira enter, wands were at the ready, and a group of them circled Albus, as if protecting him of some menace. Lupin saw that but apparently Moira didn't, or she didn't care, for she didn't stop until she reached the middle of the room. Albus Dumbledore rose from his seat, making the Aurors point their wands at Moira. She ignored them completely, but Lupin didn't. It was as if everything happened in slow motion.

He ran toward her as one Auror pointed his wand at Moira. He saw Justine run toward the man, but she didn't reach him in time. Lupin took out his wand and yelled a protection spell seconds before the purple light that left the Auror's wand hit Moira squarely on the chest. Her body arched forward as it was tossed backward and landed with force on the stone floor.

"STOP IT" Chloe yelled as she tried to run toward Moira, but Moody held her next to him.

"NO!" Lupin yelled as he ran toward her. She didn't move. He took the back of her head in his hand. "Oh, Merlin... no" he whispered as every single healing spell he could remember reached his lips.

Silence held the Great Hall before screams of protest came from the teachers. The Aurors weren't letting them close to Moira. Albus tried to move, but Aberforth caught his arm.

"Wait" he whispered to his brother "Let's prove them wrong... let her come around on her own"

"Damn it! It is one thing to say it and another to do!" the Auror with the broken nose yelled at the one who had attacked Moira "Did you even finished your training?"

"You said to contain her" the other replied "It was just a stunning spell".

"She is getting weaker as we speak, you moron!" Tonks said, making the group look startled at her. She never used language toward anyone "And she's not even armed!"

Justine's eyes were fixed on Moira.

"If she doesn't wake up…" she turned to the Auror "You'll be joining her" Justine turned to Chloe, who was still trying to get past Moody's grip "She'll come around Mrs. Dumbledore… I'm sure you know that" Justine said loud enough only for her to hear.

Chloe stopped moving as her eyes found Justine's. Moody also turned to look at the Auror, who took steps closer to them.

"She is not evil" Chloe said in a tremble whisper "Don't do to her what was done to her mother"

"They won't" Aberforth said firmly as he saw his brother's face looking forward, hoping to see Moira move.

"Is there something else, Lorcan?" Moody asked, his magical eye searching Justine's face.

"I wish there wasn't" she said before telling him about a possible intruder in the castle.

"Come on, love… please" Lupin whispered to Moira, who was getting paler by the second.

"That's enough" Albus said as he got his arm free from his brother's, but as he started to move toward Moira, the sight of Abigail by the door made him stop. The front of her blue dress was tainted with red.

Slowly at first, Abby came into the room, but as her eyes met Lupin's and moved toward the body of her cousin on the floor, she ran and knelt beside them.

"Miss… it's not safe" one Auror said but Abby ignored her.

"Moira… Moira… what happened?" she asked, looking for the answer inside Lupin's eyes.

"She was stunned" he said simply, his eyes moving to the blood stains on her dress. He sensed the smell of it and knew at once it didn't belong to Abby... so it had to belong to Snape.

"What are you, for Merlin's sake?" Abby barked at the Aurors "Aurors or Death Eaters?"

There was quite a commotion when she said that, but before they could get into an argument, Moira's eyes opened and she stirred in Lupin's arms.

"Moira?" Abby asked, her blue eyes looking for her cousin's.

"What… oh" she said and closed her eyes, feeling her head hurt "Pull me up" she asked in barely more than a whisper "Just pull me up"

Lupin exchanged glances with Abby and they both pulled Moira up from the floor. She had to hold on to them to find balance and blinked a few times before her eyes focused in the room. Her chest hurt from the spell and it was hard to breathe. Moira recognized most of the faces around her and they were all looking at her in very different ways. Some teachers held a smile on their faces and an expression of relief, as did her aunt and uncle and Justine. She blinked as her eyes met Ethan's and, although his face looked relieved to see her up and on her feet, his brow showed he was worried. So did Moody's, who was talking in a hushed voice to Justine. Moira didn't like that.

The majority of the Aurors, Moira did not know. They were looking at her with a mixture of fear and wonder. And than there was her father. Moira's gaze met his for a moment but she didn't like how that made her feel, how angry that made her feel, so she turned away.

"That was quite a spell… who cast it?" Moira asked as if she was talking to a student. Her hand on her chest, her voice hoarse but firm, and her eyes searching the room.

"I did" the Auror said, his face held high, not afraid to face his fate.

"Come closer" the Auror didn't move and Moira's deep brown eyes found his hazel ones "You had the courage to hex me, didn't you? So show me why you passed your Auror tests and come - closer" she said firmly.

The Auror moved between the ones present with his face held high. Justine's eyes followed him and although she knew Moira was going to do something that she wasn't supposed to, she couldn't find the strength to care. The Auror left the protected circle and made his way toward the trio. He knew the blond witch was a Seer and that the wizard was a werewolf, he had seen her before at the Ministry, and the man had a file at the Werewolf Registry, but Moira was new to him. He only knew her by reputation and always thought they gave her way too much credit. She was only a woman after all, but now, looking at her eyes following his every movement, he knew he had been wrong. Although her hair and dress were covered in dirt, her posture was of a confidant queen and her eyes… her eyes were of a predator observing its prey. She didn't have her wand on her, but that didn't make him feel any more confident.

"Never faced a Dark witch before have you?" she asked, her eyes not blinking.

"Moira…" Lupin murmured.

"No" she said to Lupin, but her eyes were on the Auror "That's the right term, Remus. I mean, that is why you are all here isn't it?" she addressed the crowd before she looked back to the Auror "Why did you hex me?"

"The orders were to contain you, Miss" the Auror said.

"There were no such orders…" Justine started but Moira's glance toward her made her think twice before continuing.

"I expect all of you in this room will be keen to do the same when the situation asks for it" Moira said firmly, her eyes fixed on the Auror's "You did good" she said before turning her back at him. The Auror bowed awkwardly and moved away toward his place.

"He did good?" Chloe started but Moira didn't turn to face her.

Her eyes traveled from the blood on the front of Abby's dress to her eyes. The witch blinked slowly and nodded. Moira closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Moira" Chloe called as she shook her away clear of Moody and moved closer to where the three wizards were standing.

"Don't... aunt Chloe... just don't" Moira cut her off and finally turned to her "I think I ought to be contained before I hurt someone else" Moira said firmly and before anyone could protest she pointed her long finger to Abby's dress "That is Severus Snape's blood" she said firmly and gasps were her reply "And for that not to happen again, I suggest you do something about it"

"Moira" this time was her father who spoke "This wasn't your fault..."

"You don't get to speak" Moira hissed as her eyes shot a murderous look toward him. She had been broken in Lupin's arms, apparently in control when talking about Snape, but now Moira was standing on her own and only anger ruled her "You don't have the right to say anything to me" she said, her eyes not blinking "You don't know... you'll never know or understand what it's like to be something like me. You don't have a drop of darkness in you"

"That's not true" Dumbledore tried to argue.

"Do you think that darkness is just being able to hurt someone, to throw unforgivables at them? Because it's not. You made a choice, father, a choice I could never have. You saw to that"

"What is she saying, Albus?" Chloe asked.

"You know, don't you, aunt Chloe, that a Dark witch or wizard sees the last moments of the generation preceding theirs? You saw my grandmother die but you didn't feel her feelings, see things through her eyes like my mother did, did you?" Moira asked and Chloe found herself shaking her head "So you have no idea what I saw"

"Moira... you have to understand that are greater things at risk..." Ethan started but Moira cut him off.

"The prophecy again, isn't it? I know all about it because I live by the shadow of it. I know what it says but I am not bringing down my father, not even if right now I really wish it"

"MOIRA" Aberforth exclaimed but the Hall couldn't do anything except hold it's breath.

"You knew she was going to let herself get caught by Voldemort" Moira said, her eyes flashing dangerously at her father "You knew it and yet you did nothing to protect her"

"That was her choice, and you know why" Dumbledore replied.

"Yes... I do... but you could have prevented it. Only you could face him, father, and yet you let her be killed... so I could get stronger... that was your idea of love? Of protection? How could you have been so blind?" Albus just stared at her, in silence "We could have run away, hidden until the other prophecy came to pass, that very same night"

"It was her choice as much as mine, Moira. If I could take it back... "

"DON'T SAY YOU'RE SORRY!" Moira yelled, making the Aurors grip their wands tighter "I am tired of your damn pity! I want you to know what you've done to your own daughter!" Moira said as she started to move closer to Dumbledore, her voice rising "Your idea of protection is now tearing me apart! And what I'm feeling, father, can't be love! Love doesn't make me lose control and hurt someone I care about!" Moira paused, her eyes fixed on her father's "I - SAW - HER - DIE!"

Chloe had her hand to her mouth and Lupin felt, rather than saw, Abby sit down on one of the benches by him. Moira was standing in front of the Headmasters chair, her eyes held flames never before seen by Dumbledore, her face blushed from anger and her breathing coming in soft gasps.

"I saw her die through her own eyes" she said between clenched teeth "Voldemort strangled her, father, just like he did to me a few weeks ago… and that is your idea of love…" Moira stepped down "All these Aurors won't protect you from me once the transfer is over. I can feel it... running hot in my veins and there's nothing I can do to stop it" her voice was deadly low as she turned to look at him again "And the irony of all this is that, even after everything you've put me through, I wouldn't think twice to sacrifice my life to you"

That hit Albus worse than any unforgivable curse. With the knowledge he had, with everything she was telling him, Albus Dumbledore never felt so powerless his entire life. Moira wasn't shouting anymore. The room fell silent. Abby and Lupin were thunderstruck as were everyone else in the room and, yet, something inside their hearts agreed with Moira.

"I refuse to be turned into a murderer" she said softly, tiredness in her voice "Just lock me up somewhere until this nightmare is over, because, after it is, I'll grant you your wish, father" she said, her brown eyes cold "I'll leave Hogwarts once and for all" she said as she started for the door.

Silence still filled the Great Hall only to be cut by the sound of Moira's heels on the stone floor. She was reaching Lupin and Abigail when what her father said made her stop.

"You're dying, Moira" his voice echoed in the room. He didn't yell it, but what he said was enough to echo in the room louder than thunder. Moira stopped but didn't turn to face him.

At first, she thought it was another lie, something made up to protect her, to try and explain how weak she was feeling; but when Moira heard Abby whisper "no", her knees felt weak. At that precise moment, Moira knew it was true. The gasp caught in her cousin's throat, the pain in her father's voice, and she knew that there was no way out of this one.

"Everything had been planned since the beginning" Ethan said in his hoarse voice as he walked toward Moira, who still had her back turned to the Hall "Every single attack in Hogwarts since your arrival had only one purpose and that was to unbalance the magic around you"

"What?" Moira spat as she turned to face Ethan.

"That is why the Mordred came along, that is why Voldemort tried to take Harry Potter into White Death and then attacked you, that is why Abby was possessed and Remus was poisoned. Every single spell and bit of magic used in these situations had the only purpose to weaken you" Ethan said calmly "A transfer of power is painful for the body and for the soul, Moira, but you could undergo it fine if it weren't for all of this"

"Why?" Moira said simply as she turned to face the crowd "Why go through all this trouble?"

"Because there was no way of reaching you at Hogwarts other than this. He took his time to get you weak enough so you don't survive the transfer. I'm sorry that I only found out about the unbalance this morning"

Moira looked from Ethan to her father.

"I'm not dying by that half-blood's hands" she said coldly, but the edge in her voice showed her true feelings "Although, from where I'm standing, he'd be doing you all a favor" she said.

"No, he's not" Ethan said softly "He's making the prophecy against your father come true"

Moira's face got very pale, very quickly.

"There's nothing he can do that will make me hurt my father, do you understand?" Moira said firmly, her heart beating extremely fast against her chest.

"By killing you, he'll be killing me" Albus said, his voice hoarse and his eyes fixed on his daughter's "You are everything to me, child, even if you don't believe it"

Moira took a step backward and would have fallen to the floor, weren't for Abby and Lupin, who helped her down to one of the benches.

"This can't be happening" Moira said more to herself than to the others in the room. Abby and Lupin each sat on either side of her, trying to hold on to their own emotions, but finding very difficult to do so.

"No, it can't!" Chloe said "There just has to be some way around this"

"There's no way around Dark magic, Chloe... not like this" Moody answered.

"Is there a chance I..." Moira started but stopped. She just couldn't complete the sentence.

"You would have more chances were you not a pure blood" Ethan said as he reached her "The magic in you is too strong, too pure" his hands found hers and their eyes met "I'm so sorry"

"Then I have a chance?" Moira asked, her eyes desperately looking for any sigh of hope in her godfather's eyes.

"One in a million" Ethan replied, his heart breaking all over again.

"That is why this whole crazy idea about containing you, Moira" Moody said.

"What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't feel" Moira said, her eyes closed "Can the transfer happen outside of Hogwarts?"

"No" it was the first thing McGongall said since the whole argument had started "The magic around the school, the barriers, they help to keep you alive. Outside... you..."

"I won't last until Halloween" Moira completed and nodded. The bastard had everything planned for when they met again, every single detail and she didn't see it coming. Damn him to hell! She is a Craine woman and that was enough for her to make her fight him again, and again, until her last breath escaped her "Well... I agree then..." she shot as she got up "The plan remains the same. Lock me up, seal the walls. I think a silencing spell is in order too"

Moira looked around the room; it was very different from when she had entered it. Every teacher, every Auror had a sad look upon their faces and Moira hated that.

"When I get out of that room, because I will, you better be ready for war" her eyes met her fathers "I said I wouldn't kill you and I'm keeping my word" she turned and walked toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Ethan asked.

"Set some things in order" Moira said as she reached the door and turned to the occupants of the Great Hall "I have one chance and I'm taking it. Just in case that fails, my ex will have eternity to regret ever meeting me"

And she left the Hall. Lupin and Abigail stood there, looking at the open doors as if Moira was still standing there. Albus looked twice as old as he really was and his eyes stung from holding back tears. Chloe was standing next to her husband who held her tightly around the shoulders. They were all just too much in shock to argue or even cry.

"So? What are you waiting for? You heard the woman" Justine said as she looked at Moody "Let's hit the bastard with everything we can!"

"You can bet on that" Flitwick said and Sprout was nodding by him.

"Search every inch of this castle and grounds and bring me everything you can find related to this so called ancient evil" Moody instructed the Aurors.

"Do you think this possible intruder had something to do with this?" Justine asked Moody.

"Maybe, but I bet my wand that he already left" Moody said, both of his eyes on Justine "But I'll find him… don't worry about that"

"I'd like to ask you to find out also what happened to Severus" Dumbledore said firmly.

"Sir, it was the tremor... it was an accident" one of the Aurors who helped Snape replied.

"There are no accidents at Hogwarts" Moody said "We'll investigate, Albus" and it was enough to set things in motion.

One by one, the staff and guests divided themselves into groups, trying to help as best as they could. There wasn't much hope to go around, but enough to fight for.