Lords and Ladies, Barons and Baronesses, Dunks and Duchesses, and I guess Kings and Queens can join in too, I present to you the next chapter of the Hogwarts Mage which I do NOT own… Thank you.

Chapter Sixteen
Library Poison

Severus flowed directly from the Leaky Cauldron to his private chambers. From there he walked swiftly to the Headmaster's office stopping only to give two Hufflepuff's, detention and a significant deduction of house points.

When he arrived at the stone gargoyle he noticed that the stairs were already open. He didn't bother to knock as he swept into the Headmasters office. "Ah, Severus, do sit down you look exhausted." The Headmaster's back was turned to him as he entered the room. He had a hand on his chin as if deep in thought. "I tried flowing Sarah's bedroom, classroom, the mages' room, and her office, but I can't seem to find her. I have the house elves checking the library and such."

Severus managed to make it over to a chair opposite the Headmaster before he clasped. Taking a rather shaky breath he regained his composure enough to manage a sneer. "Why would you be needing to find her."

The Headmaster smiled, "Well she of course knows that your gone by now and I want her input on your news of Voldemort. I trust you have everything squared away."

"Have you checked her library?" Severus asked tensely ignoring the headmaster's question.

Albus gave him a blank stare.

"She uses it like an office. All her work materials are in there."

The Headmaster smiled at him broadly as if to congratulate him, however Severus was to worn to investigate the matter further.

Albus stepped over to the fireplace, "Professor Merloom's Library!" he shouted into the fire. Severus watched with disgust as he old man got to his knees and stuck his head into the roaring, green fire, inadvertently displayed his purple clad but to Severus.

The tired man heard the Headmaster ask Sarah to join them. After politely saying she couldn't get away she asked them to join her in her study. Severus was very perturbed now. What could be more important than this? Doesn't she know that he would be tired after his ordeal tonight. Severus reluctantly stood from his chair and flowed to the mages room, failing to notice the gleam in the Headmasters eyes that was solely focused on him.

Dumbledore came through almost immediately after almost running into Severus, who hadn't even made it two steps from the fireplace before he had frozen.

Surrounded by a thin cloud of red smoke was Sarah. Her hair was slightly messed, flowing down over her shoulders as she stood over a bubbling cauldron. Suddenly Severus remembered what James had said the first time he had been in the mages' room. Of course I had almost forgotten that you are certified in potions.

How could a mage without potion's magic be certified in potion?.. I shall be sure to ask that at our next lesson… Now, what could this potion be?

Before he could investigate he was being swept over to a chair by Dumbledore. Seconds later Sarah joined them, "It needs five minutes." She said to no one in particular.

Dumbledore nodded. "All right, Severus what is your news."

Severus snapped out of his thought of the simmering potion to answer. "He has agreed to let me go for the side of the light. However I am not to have any sort of contact with his trainees. He said that I would be aloud to kill anyone that endangered are mission for his trainees don't really hold any value to him."

"Awful," said Sarah, quietly.

Severus turned to sneer at her. "I don't see what you find so awful about it. Voldemort is evil and both he and his followers would not hesitate to kill you if you were in wand distance of them." Dumbledore flinched, but Severus paid him no mind. "I don't even see why you want to do this. You are putting you and your friends in danger."

Severus thought for a moment that he had won, that he had finally knocked some sense into her, although, after just a sort pause the mage became livid and glared hauntingly at him. "Then why do you do it then! Don't kid yourself. If you had never said anything to Voldemort you wouldn't have even been included in this."

"Well excuse me for wanting to save this world. Is it so hard to believe that I might want to do the right thing!"

"No. Is it so hard to think that maybe I want to save this world as well? Like it or not Severus, I am just as much a part of this world as you. I have a family and a life here and if anyone's going down after Harry Potter it would be my grandfather…" Hear her voice got quieter till it was no more than a whisper. "You know what I have lost to evil doers before, I not ready to give us on this world yet."

Severus felt the need to make some sort of sarcastic remark, but he stifled himself when he saw Sarah stand. Taking a vial that rested on a near by shelf, she filled it with the potion that had been simmering away in the corner. Taking she wand to the vial she taped the glass.

Cooling it I suppose, but why not just wait for it to cool?

Severus got his answer soon enough. Walking back over to the table Sarah handed the bottle to Severus, "Drink."

"Why-"

"I didn't poison it, now drink."

Talking the bottle he reluctantly pressed it to his lips. Swallowing it in one gulp he gagged. Griping the edge of the table with his free hand for support he began to cough and sputter. "What do you mean you didn't poison it!"

"Oh, don't be such a baby. You for one should know that most potions taste like crap. The women who taught me how to make this also taught me it was okay to hit people who disliked your syrups."

"Sarah?" Dumbledore asked, from safely on the opposite side of the table. "What was the potion you gave Severus?"

"A pain numbing potion mixed with a magical stimulant. It will help to relieve the pain left by the Cruciatus Curse, however since it is a mage potion it cannot reverse the harm of the spell. That's why I put in a magical stimulant. It will help to reinforce his weakened boundaries and help fight of the pain in order to let his body heal the soars."

Both men looked at her rather oddly. Trying to direct attention off herself Sarah turned to Severus. "Speaking of which how did my barriers old up against Voldemort?" Dumbledore had quickly turned to his spy with a worried look.

"Fine," replied Snape. "He said nothing to me that would lead me to believe he know about my powers. He did however find it fitting to talk about how miserable mages are and ask me to describe each of the eleven staying in the castle. Although did failed to ask for the names of the students."

There was no mistaking the horrified look on the Headmaster's face now. Severus turned to face his teacher surprised to find her expression as blank as a new roll of parchment.

"What dose he know Severus." The Headmaster asked him as if he were a student about to be punished.

"As far as I know he is aware of the number of mages hear and that you have a fondness for them, as he put it. He knows that the five who will be joining me on this mission." He ignored Sarah unjustified humph before continuing. "He doesn't seem to know that Sarah is your granddaughter through."

"Sarah you shall let your friends know as soon as possible that Voldemort knows of their presents and make sure they all have some sort of defense." Dumbledore said, the worry still lurking in his eyes. "What did he ask you to tell him, Severus?"

"He asked me to tell him about each of the mages in turn…" Pausing to look at the once again horrified look on the Headmaster's face, Severus thought it best to tell him the rest quickly. "He became very angry with me when I told him I had forgotten some of the names and couldn't remember who had witch power. Sarah he already knew and I gave his the name of Neil and his power in the hopes that he would not question further. That's when he hit me for the second time with the Cruciatus Curse."

Dumbledore relaxed slightly, but Sarah tensioned. Staring at him as if accusing him of something.

Dumbledore massaged his temples as he said goodnight to the two.

Before Sarah and Severus split up to go their separate ways, Sarah stopped him with a hand on his forearm.

"If you have a grudge against one of my friends then take it out on me or talk to them. I don't know what you have against Neil, but you should know that he can protect himself and you didn't do any harm or good in telling Voldemort of him… although next time it could be different."

Severus stared at his teacher with his most penetrating glare. "He was simply the first that came to mind. I have nothing against-"

"Save it Professor, tomorrow's lesson will be devoted to the testing of your wards so I can strengthen any holes that have been created. I will also give you some tools to help to control them so that you can call upon then when in front of your master."

"He is not my-"

"Goodnight, Severus."

Enraged and greatly fatigued, Severus head back to his quarters deep in thought, his last contuse though was to get the instructions for the pain killing potion Sarah had given him.

The next day was devoted to Sarah poking and prodding his brain till he though it would explode. The rest of the week was occupied by Sarah teaching him how to use his magic towards battle. His most advanced accomplishment was being able to throw a scalpel almost to yard without his hands. His teacher also thought him some simple hand-to-hand combat as well as the beginnings of how to use a sword.

Severus was easily frustrated with the combat lessons he could not seem to grasp and defended himself by telling Sarah it was all stupid and unnecessary.

"I have been on mission and assignments such as this for both sides before. I'm telling you this in NOT necessary… It's not even practical."

"You may have your opinions and I will have mine, however I am still your teacher and you will learn this."

Hissing under his breath Severus replied, "Insufferable bitch-"

No sooner had he finish was a sword pointed at him. Its blade laying across his throat, however this wasn't was caused him to sweat and give out an almost unnoticeable shiver. He had faced many of the most dark and powerful wizards with their wand in such a position. It was the fact that the sword itself had been on the other side of the room when he had opened his mouth just a second or two before. It was the expression on the face of the women that now held the icy blade to his throat. Her face held that of pure rage and anguish which Severus had seen in minute portions every time she picked up a her sword.

Lowering the blade she normal emotionless expression came back to her face. "I am entitled to my own options." She said. Just then a knock was heard at the door. Without waiting for a reply the door opened and a strange hooded figureswept into the room.

I have a question for all of you. Who do you think the hooded figure is?

If you get it right I cant give you a million bucks, but I will post it on the top of the next chap! Plus you'll be able to gloat about it all you want.

As for announcements I would like to say that I have a new beta who is currently redoing be second chap is all of its haphazard grammar and spelling mistake glory.

Comments and Thank Yous to:

BlackFire: As always loyal and pushy… just kiddyJ

the musician: Two things… First of all thanks and secondly… Band geeks of the world unite!

Thanks for your comment and as you can see with the beta quote above I really have taken it to heart.

Serpant Lake: It is a real name although I know it's hard to believe and serpent had two E's and no A… or was there meaning behind that? Anyway it made be feel better that you misspelled something too.