Chapter Sixteen: Hare and Hound
He woke early that morning and blinked in them many colored light. It didn't take him but two seconds before he realized whose bed he was in. Evelyn's long, luxurious locks of brown were across his shoulder as he head rested upon his chest. He held her to him loving the feel of her body next to his. After a short time of holding her he felt that he had to move. Anymore of this and he would never leave, Tessa needed him, needed him more than he needed Evelyn. He untangled himself from her and sipped out of the bed.
"Severus." Evelyn said, he turned back to face her. Evelyn was propped up on her hand, her hair and sheets were tussled from their sleep. It was a touchingly intimate moment.
"Going back to your room?" She asked.
"I really can't in these clothes can I?" He said motioning to his grey undershirt and boxers.
"You can use the bathroom first. I'll take care of your clothing." Evelyn said. She got out of bed and joined him. He kissed her good morning, morning breath and all.
"Good morning." He said.
"Mornin'" she replied and kissed him again. He placed his hands on her waist helping her balance on her tip toes as they kissed. Her nightgown was a softness that came from years of washing. It was a soft faded yellow with thin black straps that didn't stay on her shoulders well. There were back hems as well. Every bit a Hufflepuff girl. They separated and he reluctantly entered her bathroom.
"Well, hello!" A voice said as he entered the room. It was her mirror. He didn't understand why Evelyn had her mirror where it could easily laugh at her naked form, but it was Evelyn…
"Hello." He said closing the door and looking around the room. It was a mixture of white and black marble with detailed inlaid patterns of flowers around the floor. Under yet another stained glass window was a large claw footed tub. Opposite was a sink with a long counter top. The talkative mirror hung over it.
"You must be that guy she gets all dolled up for now and again. Severus, isn't it?" The looking glass jabbered on about.
"Yes. Now would you mind closing your, uh, eye-s. I'm gunna take a bath."
"No can –do. Don't have eyes or eyelids." Severus sighed and made a little towel dressing room so that he could not give a show, yet still get into the tub. Once he was in he lowered the barrier between him and the mirror.
"Don't know why you're so shy, I've been around longer than you have, you wouldn't be the first man I've seen naked."
"That may be so. But I don't want to give away the surprise." He replied picking up a yellow rubber ducky and raising an eyebrow. He shook his head and set it back down.
"I figured you two hadn't done nothin' last night. You being dressed and silent all night. Shame." The mirror said. Severus shook his head and reached for Evelyn's shampoo bottle. "I don't think you need any more shampoo in your hair, why don't you rinse what you have. It can tell the shiners from here." What the hell? Severus thought but did as he was told; he didn't want to have to talk to the mirror more than he had to.
"Much better kiddo." The mirror told him. He got out of the tub and dried off, he allowed himself to give it a nice full moon before he transfigured the towels into a bath robe and put his underwear back on.
Evelyn had donned a bathrobe as well and was sitting in the chair by the fire as he exited the bathroom. Across the made bed was what she had made him for clothes. She had transfigured him a pair of jeans, belt, grey turtleneck sweater; she had even remembered that he didn't have shoes or socks.
"You get dressed, I'm gunna take my bath, okay?' She said as she headed to the door holding what she was going to wear. As soon as she shut the door he heard the mirror begin to talk. Severus shook his had and began to change. Everything fit well, not even the shoes needed to be altered in size. She was good. As he adjusted his collar on his turtleneck his fingers brushed against his heart. He hadn't taken her Valentine's gift off since she had given it to him. It was something special, a connection between her and him. Which was of course over kill because technically they lived together, the castle was a home. Fingering it Severus thought. She really does have my heart. She should be able to hold it. He unhooked the clasp and held it in his hand while he waited for her to come out. Dumbledore wanted to get an early start, leave before classes. Evelyn's and Severus' internal clocks were all for that. He watched the hands turn on her clock to read seven twenty. Evelyn joined him, fully dressed and styled moments later. She wore her usual teaching out fit, in green today.
"Evelyn, I know that you're anxious about my going on this trip. And I want you to wear this until I get back, because I can't be here to calm you." He said holding up the necklace. "I give you my heart, although you've already stolen it. Be gentle." He stepped behind her and hooked the clasp.
"Oh, Severus." She whispered before reaching to her neck, under her collar and pulling something out. "You can take me with you. You can take my hope." She said handing him her engraved pendent. They looked at each other as he put it on and after it was safely tucked under his shirt, beside his heart. They kissed.
"Be careful out there. But bring her home." Evelyn said, Severus took her hand and together they exited her chambers.
"I want you to see me and the rest off." He told her, he hadn't dropped her hand although they were both walking down the hall in plain sight for anyone who wanted to look. But neither one really cared.
Dumbledore, Minerva, Neville, and Bethany were standing in front of the Three Broomsticks, the spot they had decided to apperate from when Severus and Evelyn arrived. Dumbledore was wearing a pair of kakis and a button up blue shirt under a long coat. Bethany was wearing a pair of jeans and a tee shirt with some muggle cartoon character on it, Captain Caveman, it read, over it she wore a leather jacket and a pair of sunglasses. With her hair tied back she looked like some Londoner. Neville was in his uniform, minus the cloak and badge.
"Glad to see you Severus. Are we all set?" Dumbledore asked. Severus, Neville and Bethany nodded. Albus gave his wife a kiss and Severus gave Evelyn one and Bethany pretended to be interested in something in the other direction. Neville tried to hide the gagging sounds he was making. When the two happily involved me broke apart all six waved.
"Be careful." Minerva and Evelyn told them all before wishing them luck. With three pops the teachers were gone. Neville left a few minutes later by protkey. Soon Minerva and Evelyn were left to get to their classes alone.
The Hogwarts three arrived in the Berlin apperation center moments after leaving Hogsmead. It was almost nine, when Neville arrived at the portkey dock a bit shaken but strong. The four grabbed a bit to eat, needing food before they could go again. This time they would go directly to the address on the card Ezra had given Tessa. They arrived at the place. 6963 Schlecht Street, Kleine Stadt, Germany moments later. The manor house was set back a bit from the road; everything about the place gave Severus and his friends the creeps. Spanish moss and ivies crept all over the trees that lined the neglected drive. The house itself was very much a gothic one, similar to Hogwarts in style it held none of the hominess that Hogwarts did. As they approached the door, Severus half expected some misshapen, weak, and wispy voiced man to greet them at the door.
"Oh!" Bethany breathed as she tripped over something, Severus instinctively caught her and all four looked down at what she had stumbled over. It was a pair of light grey pump heels. They were in a position that suggested that they were thrown off while running; one of the heels was broken. They were small, no mistaking, they were Tessa's. Neville bent down immediately and picked one up, holding it close like a security blanket.
"Her shoes are leading away from the house that means she ran." Dumbledore said.
"She could be gone or she could've gotten recaptured." Bethany said." I'll check the house to see if she's in there, someone should look around the grounds."
"I'll look around out side." Severus said.
"I'll go with Bethany." Dumbledore said he didn't feel comfortable letting the young woman go around a house like that alone. Ezra was no longer a student he felt fatherly affection for.
"I'll go with professor Snape." Neville said. In his quest for Tessa everything, even his fear of the dark haired potions master was blotted out from his mind. The party split up and Neville and Severus followed in the direction of Tessa's Cinderella shoes. Severus was on edge focusing with every fiber of his being to find another trace of Tessa. Neville watched his professor who was clutching the broken shoe in his willowy fist. Perhaps they did have some common ground. Neville knew that it would be best to search with a man that's love for the girl was in some way close to his. However remote it was still there, palpable. They walked for a bit before Neville spotted something. Caught on a branch of a nasty looking thorn bush was a large piece of white. Neville and Severus both could not contain themselves and ran for the fabric. It was hooked on the thorns and slightly bloody causing both man and boy to blanch. Severus fingered the piece and found it to be silk, expensive.
"She's hurt. Good God!" Neville cried looking at the bit of blood standing out crimson against the white of the textile. He held the cloth in his hands fiercely like it was the throat of the man that was causing his beloved strife. Severus looked around the ground was damp, most likely a rain had been last night. There were no foot prints per say, but there was mud splattered about and rocks upturned. Several of them had the shin of blood upon their surfaces. Severus set a brisk pace following the disruption of the area. Neville followed on his heels, not letting the fabric or the shoe go. Several, but not many meters away half buried in mud and a rhododendron bush was what appeared to be the rest of the white fabric that they had found earlier. It was a very full skirt of white silk with several bulky petticoats under it. There was eyelet and lace on the skirt and it reminded Severus very much of a wedding gown. The picture in the card haunted his mind and he picked up his pace.
"Shouldn't we get the others?" Neville asked hurrying to catch up with him.
"Do you want to go back and get them?" Severus asked the boy.
"No."
"Alrighty then." Severus said closing the matter. Though with a flick of his wand he sent a long trail of ribbon out to close to where they had began. The pair continued on their way, following the discrepancies in the underfoot and bits of torn fabric. The wood they were traveling through was light on trees, probably because of the grand house so near by that would need a fully stocked wood shed. The trees soon ended and a fence met them. There was a bit of stocking hanging from it, twirling in the light wind. Across the fence there was a small yard and a house visible in the distance. In one hand supported jump Severus cleared the wooden barrier. Neville followed him, although with out the grace that Severus had used. But both were now over the boundary marker and walking hurriedly across the lawn towards the house.
The house was smaller than the manor that they had departed from but it was better kept. Not that it was saying much to compare. There were red blinds closed in the windows and quite hideous gilded things on the lawn and porch. Severus knocked on the door, he and Neville waited with bated breath for a response. The door swung open and revealed a tall, voluptuous black woman with a thick afro and a corset. Severus felt a strong urge to cover Neville's eyes come over him. He resisted.
"Hello." Severus said making damn sure that he made eye contact.
"Hello to you too." The woman replied in heavily accented English.
"We're looking for a young woman…" he began, but was cut off.
"We have all you'll ever want. Two or just one?" The woman said. Severus felt heat on the back of his neck. He was actually conversing with a red-light woman of the night. Wait 'til Evie hears. Maybe she shouldn't… Severus thought. Her pendent was beside his heart making him feel sure.
"Honey!" The black woman called. Before he could correct the woman another appeared. She had long honey colored hair, the sake of her name.
"Right this way." Honey said ushering them up a flight of stairs. The entire interior of the place was red silk, black velvet, and gilding. It was a brothel.
"Miss. Miss." Severus said to her, getting her to stop in the hall. "We aren't looking for, uh, that…" He said flushing. "We're looking for a young woman, girl really, she's missing." The honey haired woman looked them up and down thoroughly.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"I'm Severus Snape." The young woman went pale under her make up. "And this is Neville Longbottom." Honey liked her lips and motioned for them to follow her.
"She's been calling for you, Neville." Honey said stopping in front of the last door of the hall on the left. "She's not a pretty sight."
"I don't care. Please, you gotta let me see her." Neville beseeched of Honey. She nodded and opened the door to the small silken room. Tessa Melee lay atop a mountain of cushions. She was wearing a large dirty shirt and many bandages. So many in fact she looked more like a mummy than a girl. Severus walked forward and took her hand. Neville followed and did the same.
"Tessa. Tessa." Severus said. She stirred and opened her eyes slowly.
"Professor!" Tessa cried as soon as she focused. She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He was more than happy to return the affection.
"I've never been so happy to see you in my whole life!" She exclaimed.
"The feeling is likewise Tessa. The feeling is likewise." Severus replied releasing his blonde student. The girl turned her head and let out another cry.
"Neville!" Tears filled both pairs of eyes as they embraced. The pair remained embraced for a long time whispering nonsensical words of love and sorrow. Severus stood and looked out of the window. In the distance, but not far was the manor where Tessa had been held. Albus and Bethany were still searching it. If Honey hadn't been there he would've retrieved them, but using magic in front of muggles was forbidden.
"Do what you must professor. Things are not all they seem." Honey said looking like she barely plucked up the courage to look at him.
"I don't follow you." Severus said.
"My name by birth is Elisabeth Jane Zabini. I am squib, but I have heard of you, and I do know what you do." Honey, or rather Elisabeth said. She looked to be shaking.
"Is that why you shake since you heard my name?" He asked.
"I've hard all about you from many." Elisabeth said not looking at him.
"Things are not all they seem." Severus told her before disapperating to the manor.
Albus and Bethany had searched the basement and the main floor thoroughly. They had only found a few rats and a wine cellar. They started up the creaking stairs.
"This is just too creepy." Bethany said. Albus was hard pressed to disagree with her. Once up stairs they split up. Bethany took the doors on the left and Albus searched behind the doors on the right. The first few rooms were without occupants, animal or human, the only things they were home to were thread barren and dusty pieces of furniture.
"Beth!" Albus called. He was standing on the thresh hold of a room looking into it with great intent. Bethany hurried to join him and both surveyed the sight in front of them. It was a room boasting a large swan bed and wax manikin, the face was identical to Tessa's and the proportions also appeared to be that way.
"Oh my god." Albus said deadpanned - ly looking around the room in amazement. The pair could only imagine what the pile of her school uniform was doing in that condition. Before they could investigate they heard Severus's voice.
"Albus! Miss – AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" They ran to where they heard the very effeminate scream of Severus. It came from behind the last door at the end of the hall. With a little force the door swung open to revile Severus clutching his chest, eyes wide looking at the bed that dominated the room. Atop the slightly moldy sheets was an even moldier couple. Both man and wife were dead, and by the looks of them they had been so for a while.
"'Oly shit." Bethany said sticking her nose down her shirt.
"What kind of fucked up place is this?" Severus asked after a few deep breaths that took the green out of his cheeks. "Neville and I have found her." Severus then informed the other members of the party.
"Thank God." Albus said trying to look anywhere but the bed of the dead.
"A little ways up the road, about a mile I think. Second floor last on the left." Severus said. The two others nodded and all three left, quite thankfully.
Elisabeth was quite glad to see the three teachers. She had had about all she could take of the happy young couple. A person not so in love was a welcome sight, any person, even the supposedly hawkish Professor Snape.
"God I'm glad you're here." Honey told the three as they appeared with a pop. "My teeth are about to rot and fall out of my head." She nodded over at the couple still embracing. All four rolled their eyes and then indulged in a short laugh. The mood soon turned serious though.
"Has she told you anything?" Albus asked.
"No, not really, I only just found her this morning. She's sicker than she appears; it rained quite heavily last night." Elisabeth said. She then added as an afterthought. "The rain, I fell is a bit of a blessing, that man she's be screaming in her sleep about has yet to make an appearance." Albus and the rested nodded gravely. Albus and Bethany greeted the two youth warmly giving large hugs to Tessa and even larger smiles to Neville.
"How do you plan to move her?" Elisabeth asked of no one in particular.
"I'm well enough to portkey!" Tessa informed the room. She was getting tired of being in Germany. Even if it meant that Honey and she could be friends she didn't think she could stay another day.
"We'll see about that Miss Melee." Severus said.
"Miss Melee is it now? Tessa wasn't so bad was it professor?" Tessa quipped jokingly, trying to prove that she was quite well.
"Her tongue seams to be in working order." Severus said dryly, but there was an unmistakable twinkle in his eye. He thanked god that Tessa had kept her humor through this whole ordeal. The room fell into laughs and for a time did a bit of banter about their characters and own wryness. It wasn't long however before the mood was broken.
"There's my wife in there ya gotta let me see her!" A voice could be heard calling from the door. The six people in the upstairs room froze as they listened. Tessa let out a small scream that she quickly stifled. She recognized the voice.
"It's him." She whispered. Neville pulled her protectively to his chest and held her close as he gnashed his teeth in rage. Bethany and Severus immediately went to the door. Albus quickly turned to Honey and the couple.
"She needs to get out of here. I trust that you know this place Miss?" Honey answered in the affirmative. "And I trust that you will protect her Neville?" Neville replied that he would. Albus had recognized the prostitute from their first interaction. She was a Zabini. She would be use to magic. "This is what I want you to do. I will get you outside, and then you will follow Elisabeth," She looked shocked that he knew her name but said nothing; he was after all the famous Albus Dumbledore. "Hide yourselves well and don't come out until we alert you to do so. If push comes to shove I want you two," Albus pointed to Tessa and Neville, "To apperate. I don't care what the ministry says, this is important. Elisabeth will stay put even if you do leave." Everyone nodded grimly. With a few waves of his wand and some well chosen Latin phrases Elisabeth found herself plus her two younger charges on the ground behind the bordello.
"This way." She called quietly. Neville refused to let Tessa stand on her own two feet and despite her objections he scooped her up and followed their guide. Elisabeth led them to a tiny disused shed on the back of the property away from the house. She ushered them inside and closed the door tight. After finding the switch and turning on the lights she helped settled themselves and waited.
The scuffle downstairs was short; it ended with the sound of Ezra and the word "Impedimenta". The three people remaining in the last room on the left all prepared themselves for battle. They listened with heightened senses as footfall came up the stairs. Doors opened and closed with slams and chilling calls were made.
"Tessa my love where are you." "Tessa, my beloved I do enjoy this game, but please come out where ever you are." And so on. Severus gnashed his teeth and prayed to a higher power to grant himself control so that he would not kill the boy like he deeply wanted to. The air was thick with anticipation as the voice and footfall drew closer and closer. Finally after an agonizing amount of time their door was the one to be opened.
Ezra Paul Kriechen was not an attractive young man. While tall he was gangly, even a cannibal would refuse to eat him even if starving. The cannibal would probably explain this by saying he would be too stringy and had enough grease to give you an instant hart attack. There were un - popped white heads all over his face and neck, a few of them so full of whatever filled a zit that they were leaking. The teachers would normally feel sorry for him if the circumstances were different. However circumstances were not and Severus could feel Bethany Marcus, Defense against the Dark arts teacher recoil at the sight of the boy.
"Professors! What prey, are you doing here?" he asked. The young man had always been dumber than a post; they had the scores to prove it. And of course now he searches the most likely place to hide last and wonders why three teachers were there wishing him ill.
What transpired in the next fifteen minutes would be a blur to all in the party that bore witness to it. One moment the group was confronting the slimy seventh year student as he was proclaiming his undying affection for Tessa and her return of the sentiments. The teachers endeavored to put the young man straight, but he would not have it. They tried to make light of the fact that he would most likely be thrown into prison for kidnapping and locked up for the rest of his livable life. Severus had restrained himself from cursing the creepy sonofabitch but was as vitriol as he could be in his address to the young man. Then all of a sudden the boy realized what was going to happen to him. After a few poor and miss shot curses from him and several well placed and thought out hexes from the teachers the boy had turned his wand upon himself committing suicide. With a final cry of Tessa's name in admiration he died.
Severus was the one to escort the students home they decided as the three teachers appeared near the shed moments later. They had gotten rid of the body and were more than ready to return home. With a heavy hand Severus knocked on the shed. Elisabeth opened the door, behind her they could see Neville with wand at the ready incase he needed to protect the women he was with. The group entered solemnly. Tessa took one look at them and said with a straight cheerless face.
"He is dead isn't he?"
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