The Only Protectus

by Ophelias Diary

The feud between the Basilica and Snape line continues, will Siana and Severus find their precarious relationship strengthened during the war?

8. Chapter 8

Spoilers: PS/SS, CoS, PoA, GoF, FB, QTTA.. Written between Goblet of Fire and Order of Phoenix.
Genre: Action, Angst
Era: Multiple Eras
Main Character(s): None
Ship(s): None
Summary: Siana Basilica has found the first of many answers, and Severus Snape has returned from his encounter with Voldemort. When Siana finds herself back at Hogwarts to continue looking for answers about her strange abilities, and her even stranger wand, she encounters a Snape entirely different to the one she knew before. The Death Eaters and Voldemort are hunting her, and she herself is experiencing unusual symptoms to the one thing that could possibly help her.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A Trial Run

Oh my head...

What was the last thing that happened? Oh, that's right, I got bitten by a...no. That's not the last thing, Siana? And think, if you had said yes to her request, you could be assuaging some physical needs which you haven't assuaged in a long time. So if Siana wasn't the last thing that happened it would have to be, oh yes, the smart decision I made to drink an antidote when I knew I couldn't ingest them. Very. Very. Smart.

And why are my eyes still closed?

His eyes shot open, surveyed the gleaming hospital wing, took in the worried face of Hagrid who was standing at the foot of the bed, and Madam Pomfrey, who was leaning over him. His eyes narrowed then, lines creased into his forehead, he became ever more aware of his throbbing headache.

'I sincerely hope, Madam Pomfrey, that you did not try to medicate me.' He said cuttingly, his voice a lot smoother than he'd hoped and Madam Pomfrey shook her head, grimacing. She shifted backwards, she knew how volatile he could be, she didn't make a habit of provoking those who managed their anger and hostility badly. She spoke as she started to automatically straighten the sheets on his bed, it was a nervous habit of hers, especially when she had someone like Severus for a patient, however temporarily.

'I well remember from last time Severus. I've given you some water, and that's all.'

He looked from Pomfrey to Hagrid, and saw that he was grasping the end of the bed with his massive hands, crinkling the sheets between them. It surprised Severus that Hagrid would be so worried, then he remembered that Hagrid was in enough trouble as it is, without having a Potions Master die in his hut as well. There was something about the concerned look in the great man's beady eyes that made Severus grimace.

'Kindly wipe that look off your face Hagrid, I'm surprised you're not more pleased about my lack of health.' He sat up, biting back a cry of pain and swallowing down bile at the same time. Well this is just fucking lovely. I can't even take comfort in the knowledge that I can go back to my quarters and take some antidote, because until I make one, there is no antidote. My, I would just love to destroy Frederick, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see his blood staining Hogwarts rather than my own.

'No. No Professor. I'm not like tha'. Are you okay? Should I go to-'

'No one must know of this.' He gasped as the pain lanced through him, eating away at him. 'No one must know of the severity of this.' He commanded again when he got no answer, glaring at both Madam Pomfrey and Hagrid, daring them to disagree.

'Professor Snape, Dumbledore would know what to do.' Hagrid said quietly and Snape inhaled between clenched teeth.

'No chance.' He hissed, standing, ignoring the pain as best as he was able. He stifled the groan in the back of his throat, and it ended up emerging as a choked noise. Hagrid was watching him like a faithful dog, and it just made Severus angrier, he couldn't understand the loyalty. He saw the look pass between Madam Pomfrey and Hagrid, and decided not to comment on it. He knew what they were thinking, they would be wondering if he was rational enough to make that decision, if he was well enough to leave the hospital wing. He also knew that it wasn't up to them, he was a Head of House, he could do whatever he damn well pleased.

He left the hospital wing without another word, doing his best to stalk, when the pain was stiffening up his limbs. One just how much one took for granted a predatory waltz when pain was flashing up one's limbs. He grimaced, his left hand moving to his pocket in the pretence of touching his wand, and rubbing at muscle knots there instead. It had been an interesting day, and not in the least bit pleasurable. I'm getting too old for this job, for life in general. It's funny Severus, you're not even thirty seven yet, and you still consider yourself old by anyone's standards...well...it's what I am isn't it? Old by anyone's standards. Seasoned in evil.

He scowled.

His fingers fanned out again as soon as he entered the cold of the dungeon corridors, his fingertips touched and skimmed along the cold and damp stone. The oozing wetness under his fingers was familiar, the smoothness of the cut stone, grounding. He liked the dungeons, liked that most people only associated the place with Slytherin and potions making. It was his territory. He had owned precious little aside from his dignity throughout his life, and even that had been stripped of him on more than one occasion, in the presence of the Death Eaters. The dungeons of Hogwarts made him feel like he was home again. He was entirely aware of how pathetic that most likely made him, after all, dungeons in themselves were not exactly the most homely of places.

It didn't matter really, he knew, what he thought. He understood his intellectual brilliance, had understood it from a very early age, when Lydia had spent days and days wondering just how he managed to be so smart. He also knew that he was an effective fighter in combat, that he had mastered his wand as well as any other person. Yet he also knew that he was bound to the Death Eaters, and no intellectual brilliance could save him from that decision which he had made with his heart, not his head, so many years ago. After all, his logical self had told him that though it would seem thrilling for a while, it would not truly be what he was looking for. His heart, deadened with grief and twisted with bitterness had ranted and ranted until he found himself sporting a mark on his forearm, and a death count in his head.

He remembered too much of those days. Too much of the web that he was surrounded in, that he manufactured willingly, that others around him developed. He had trapped himself first, and then had been trapped again and again afterwards. Rape had not been the norm, not for him, at least. He was brilliant enough to escape a fate, and Voldemort seemed to have too many other jobs for Severus to do, to worry about him serving as 'entertainment.'

And then, there was the last time he went. He might not trust Frederick, but he certainly likes the mans motives more than he likes mine. True enough, after all. It had not been about making Severus happy this time, after all, the Potions Master was walking on a dangerous blade and Voldemort worked at Severus mercilessly. Here's a fresh victim that you can sink your venomous fangs into...It was true that he had killed since being under the care of Dumbledore. It was also true that he was still having nightmares, waking up from being violently ill, destroying himself with guilt. Hating himself with an anger that surpassed even his anger of the Basilican bloodline.

He hated himself more now, than perhaps ever before. He could not believe that he had let Frederick do to him, what Frederick had done to him. In his nightmares he still relived the experience, almost like being eviscerated from behind. Violent, excruciating, unconscionable. Then there was the blood, which had been everywhere. And then, the worst of it, was Frederick himself, the words that he used, the pleasure that he took, the cheerfulness of his manner. No other Death Eater had that same carefree attitude.

Basilican's must have something genetically wrong with them. His eyes darkened from black to black hole.

He heard the snick of a door and saw another pale Basilica freeze upon seeing him. She looked like a rabbit caught in the lights of a Quidditch stadium. He continued to walk, staring at her.

As he passed Siana a cruel smile curled on his lips.

'My we are looking tired lately...'

'Yes.' Siana said, her voice was vague, not really caring about what she said. Her eyes were trained on him, fear imprinted in the violet depths. He hated her eye colour, every time he looked at her, he was reminded of her history, her heritage. He hated a lot of things about Siana though, it was a vituperative and brutal emotion. The pain still residing in his body did not help.

'You know he'll find you. Voldemort has your dear Uncle basking in the palm of his brilliant hand. And your Uncle just needs to move his hand, to have you resting in the palm of his.'

There was a sharp intake of breath there. That's because you know it's true you conniving bitch. She looked away briefly, and instead of seeing anger fly up into her features she just turned back to him looking like she had been hit by a steamroller. The dim light of the dungeon hall did nothing to improve on her pallid skin and brittle hair.

'If he finds me, then you can be rest assured Professor Snape, that I won't be dragging you down with me.' She muttered, her voice strained with her bitterness. She then looked down the corridor again.

'If you're looking for someone to brutally slaughter, I can always recommend Hagrid.' He growled and Siana blinked at him, shocked, she looked exhausted. Then she seemed to swallow, her hand moved against her stomach and she was moving quickly to the bathrooms. If he didn't know any better, he'd say that she looked very ill.

He turned, as though to follow her, an instinctive habit born of curiosity (though heaven forbid caring) and then he decided that he would probably do to leave her alone now. She was evidently frightened, he had threatened her with death earlier after all, and she didn't seem very coherent. Probably because I stopped her from being able to make the Insidious Potion. Well, that's just going to unmask her as the fraud she is.

Yet even as he hated her, he felt a mild twinge for concern. After all, he had been hounding her mercilessly for days, and the sport was wearing. It wasn't as much fun when his opponent gave mild responses and looked at him like that. He didn't like seeing people beaten, even when they deserved it. He decided that stemmed from his days of being a Death Eater, it had been vanquishing that he had hated the most. Not the tormenting, not the torturing, not the slow breaking down, but breaking itself.

Which of course, makes no sense. Fool.

He made a noise of disgust in the back of his throat and turned again, only to find Dumbledore standing in front of him. He blinked, startled, and then sighed. He shouldn't really be surprised, Dumbledore was known for his quiet and stealthy entrances.

'It's the evening of the third day Dumbledore, I've made my choice.' He said, cutting directly to the chase. Dumbledore looked down the corridor to the bathroom that Siana had just run into, and then looked back at Snape, his eyes were twinkling, even in the dim light.

'And what is that choice?'

'I wish to keep her with me...because...' And then he stopped, and why he stopped was beyond him. He was just about to launch into a vicious tirade about how Hagrid's creatures were life threatening, dangerous. How Svelte could have been killed, how his arm still throbbed from the bite, how the Care of Creatures Teacher was clumsy and careless. He wanted to scream about how useless Hagrid really was, how he should not, under any circumstances, be allowed within ten feet of a classroom ever again. Yet he couldn't say anything, the face of Hagrid, worried, at the foot of his bed kept climbing into his thoughts.

'Because?' Dumbledore tempted and Severus looked beyond the Headmaster.

'Because it's a nuisance to have to walk so far to look after her.' He muttered shortly. When he looked back at Dumbledore, he noticed the Headmaster was nodding mildly, the doubt not exactly on his face, but there, hovering around him.

'You can collect her this evening then. Now, was that Siana I just saw run into the bathroom?'

'Yes.' He said curtly. He'd be damned if he was going to be lectured on something else today.

'Good. I need to discuss something with her. A matter of some urgency. I also need to talk with you. There's going to be a meeting soon, in which you will need to be present.' He said softly, pointedly looking at Severus' forearm. Severus could not hide his blanch, the fear that curdled through him, the change in his breathing. Dumbledore frowned and reached up to touch Severus on the arm, however the flinch, the intake of breath, made him withdraw sadly.

'We'll talk about this later. Right now I need to talk to Siana. If you'll excuse me.' He said, and he calmly walked past the Potions Master. Severus watched him knock on the door and heard the muffled 'go away!' The tone made him cringe, especially when Dumbledore looked from the bathroom door to him, with raised eyebrows. However the Headmaster said nothing and turned back to the door.

'Would you not even see a doddering old Headmaster? Dear girl, I'm offended. I think they're calling it ageism now.' He broke off as the door opened and Siana's startled face withdrew as Dumbledore walked inside. The door closed with a quiet snick, and Snape was left standing in the corridor, curious and sickened by the thought that he would have to see not only Voldemort again, but also Frederick.

Siana walked stiffly back into the bathroom, sitting on a downturned toilet seat. The Headmaster sat opposite her in the only chair available. Why is he here? Does he know about the Insidious potion? Did Snape just tell him? By Artemis I couldn't handle that. Please don't let it be that. Please don't let it be that...

'Would you do me the immense pleasure of showing me your third Animagus?' He said softly, his voice warm and Siana looked at him in surprise. Sure. I can handle that. I can so handle that. Watch me.

She shifted immediately, easily. The shape came to her with little concentration now. She then changed back. Dumbledore was nodding, the triumph in his eyes clear, the pride was soothing inside her soul. It was rare that a person managed to summon up anything akin to pride within her presence. It was also a fact that she was feeling so shaken by the day's events, most importantly the fact that she had offered Severus her body, and he had refused, and the fact that she now had to get the ingredients of the Insidious herself; that any show of positivity made her feel alive.

'Brilliant. I must say Siana, despite your records at Moreberries as being Squib like in design, there is only flawlessness in your Transfiguration skill. I don't understand how one so gifted at one particular branch at magic, is so ill equipped for other forms.'

'Genetics.' Siana muttered dryly. 'It's a trait of the Basilica to only be good at about say, two or three things. The Archiving talent goes without saying, which usually means we only have one or two things left to excel at. With me, it was Transfiguration. Frederick was weather magic and potions...though he was one of the lucky ones, he got to add torture skill to that list too.' She said, her voice deadened of expression. Dumbledore sighed.

'May I ask you a favour? Would you change again and let me attempt to break your transformation? If I cannot break it, than it is highly unlikely that Voldemort would be able to. It's not a guarantee, but more a possible safeguard.'

'Sure.' Siana said softly. She changed again, slipping into the comfortable form of feline once more. She preferred the Protectus, after all, there was something very appealing about being able to change into something that no longer existed. They had wiped themselves out, without the help of any other creature. A huge fox, with a great sense of smell, greater cunning than she possessed. She decided that tomorrow if she had the time, or the inclination, she'd run around the Forbidden Forest as a Protectus.

It was then that she realised she was getting bombarded with what felt like little pulses of heat, he was trying to break her Animagus, it seemed by overwhelming her with the spell that Frederick used to use. Oh no Dumbledore, Frederick used to do that too...you'll have to pull some pretty funky tricks out of your sleeve to get me to change. She watched with amusement through her discerning cat eyes, as Dumbledore changed tactic again and again. Finally he paused, and she was just about to change back when he blasted her with a spell that Frederick had never used before.

She felt the heat pull sharply at her, and she fought to maintain her shape, she was successful. It was the closest she had ever come to being unseated, since she had mastered holding her shape. He blasted her three more times in quick succession and by then end of it, though she showed no physical change, she was physically labouring to hold onto her shape. When he leaned back, indicating he was done, she gratefully changed back to her human form.

'Woah. Baby. What was that last one you did? That's a newie.' She said breathlessly, clutching at her chest. Dumbledore was looking at her, openly showing his respect now.

'That 'newie' was a last resort, that I doubt even Voldemort would use. You don't seem to be affected by my spells at all, except for now. '

'That last one, say you did it around twenty, thirty times? That would have worked.'

'My dear. No one wants to sit around and keep bombarding you with the same spell twenty or thirty times. Even people like Lucius Malfoy who can be quite pedantic with repetitive spell casting. Well Siana, I must say it is a relief to know that you can hold onto your shape so marvellously. Could I ask you a favour? One which I will endeavour to repay?' He said and Siana's eyes widened.

'Uh. Yeah.' Repay me?

'Will you teach me your method? How to hold onto a shape? I might not have the skill to be able to manage it, just as I may not be able to manage more than one Animagus, but I would like to try. I often have several projects at the same time running, and I would like this one to be a priority.'

'Um.' Siana said softly. She didn't exactly know how she had learnt that technique, but she had definitely learnt it. It had a lot to do with desensitisation, and just, a sense of mentally holding on. Eventually it had just become a defence against anyone who would be wanting to check her real identity. 'I can try. Giving you my theory - which you've probably read most of in Transfiguration Today - to change into a second or third Animagus is easy enough to read, but hard to apply. Very hard. A lot of things can go wrong. I mean, even before I got the cat shape right I accidentally forgot a foot, and before I perfected the fruit bat, I accidentally forgot lungs. That wasn't funny. I don't want to see anyone else make those kinds of mistakes. You're more prone after the first Animagus to endangering your health.'

'I think Siana, the risks would be worth it. Would you teach me?'

'I can try.' She repeated and he nodded, his smile was so broad she couldn't help but smile back a little. She didn't feel like she had done such a great thing, but he seemed to be delighted. She liked it when Dumbledore was happy. I can't believe Dad hated you so completely, I mean aside from the fact that he was semi conservative and you were as far out in the left wing field as one can get. You're so...so much more of a human than so many people I know.

'Now. The serious part of your assignment, for that is what it is. This evening, you will be Apparating from the borders of Hogwarts, to the borders of the Malfoy estate. We have researched all of the known Death Eaters, and it is Lucius who is least likely to physically torment you. I'm sure you know how to act like a stray feline, be untrusting but canny, endearing but reclusive. I need you to be tempting Siana. I know you can manage it.' He said and Siana nodded. Tonight? That was soon, why so soon? Things must be going a lot faster than I thought.

'Everything is moving quickly, because Voldemort is mobilising his forces.' Dumbledore said, as though agreeing with her silent thought, proving it to be true. 'It seems that with Frederick and Wormtail at his side, his confidence in his own abilities to wreak havoc have been fully reinstated. He is going to start holding weekly meetings with the Death Eaters once more, and last time, a lot of the deaths in the wizarding and muggle world coincided with the commencement of these meetings.'

'You will be attending these meetings, if you can. Any information you gain is valuable. I hope to make things safer for Severus with this method, as you are a lot less likely to be as severely mistreated as he has been.' Dumbledore sighed and then looked down at his own feet. Siana's eyes narrowed shrewdly. Why old man, I do believe that is a look of guilt.

'How bad was it when he came back last time? I mean, I heard he was...bleeding a lot. That...I'm sorry. I still think you should have let me go.' She whispered and Dumbledore looked at her, assessing her, then he shook his head quickly.

'No. Siana. No guilt. He was very ill, and still is quite sick. I'm not even sure myself exactly what happened, for he won't disclose it. He, as he so often does, merely gave me the information I had asked for, and then retired to his quarters. How are you getting along with him?'

He threatened me with death, refused my body, called me a whore, hates me...

'Fine.' Siana said, forcing cheer into her voice. Dumbledore evidently didn't believe her, but continued to speak.

'You will need to be extraordinarily careful around Draco Malfoy, I don't think you've met him yet. He's the only son of Lucius. He is at the Malfoy estate this weekend, his father wanted him for a family matter. I hazard that it most likely has something to do with being a Deat7h Eater. You must exercise great caution with the son, try not to be alone around him. His father will not deign to hurt you, Lucius, if I remember, has a penchant for the serpent and the feline. He might test you, but that will come in the form of seeing if you can be a familiar. He'll try and get you to participate in a spell. I recommend you cooperate, regardless of the type of spell it is, and confirm his thoughts. We need him to trust you. We need him to want to trust you enough, that he'll take you to the meetings of the Death Eaters on the off chance that you'll be able to help him with one of his curses.' Dumbledore said, his tone grave.

Siana nodded. Of course, I'm terrified, and Lucius Malfoy scares the living shit out of me, because he was one of the few that got along with Frederick, but I'll do it. It's why I'm here, anything to help. Anything. I mean, I'm useless at the moment otherwise. God. The Insidious is going to run out soon, and I need to find some way to protect myself. I'm so scared.

'I'll do it. You know I'll do it Dumbledore. I don't want to let anyone down. The whole reason I increased my Transfiguration study was so that I could help out.'

'Well. That's a very comforting thing to hear. If only there were more as loyal as you.'

'Loyalty. Basilica. Comes with the territory.' Siana said, shrugging. She smiled to herself. Loyalty is a strange thing. I think I like it. 'I saw uh, Padfoot and Moony.' Siana said, using their nicknames as they were most familiar. After all, Dumbledore had just mentioned the name Wormtail hadn't he?

'Excellent. I take it you were well received.'

'I think the well receiving was mutual. I didn't realise how much I missed them until I saw them, you know? It's weird. I forget how close we grew to each other when we were growing up. I don't think I'd be very well adjusted, if I hadn't known my animal pals. In fact I think I'd be like Dad. I'm not greatly adjusted as it is, but it could be much worse.' Dumbledore nodded and then shrugged.

'Speculation is only good when you are looking at speculatory theory. I personally am more in favour of living in the present.' His face turned serious again. 'If you are cornered by Draco. Leave. ' Dumbledore said. 'Draco will just think you're a frightened animal running away, but it will make you safe. I doubt you'll be cornered though. Just as I doubt Lucius will dislike you. Even at Hogwarts he was most devoted to any feline thing.'

Well that's a comfort. Sort of. Okay. So it's not really a comfort. Still. I can do this. Just tell yourself you can do it.

'I have the utmost of faith in you Siana.' Dumbledore said, cutting across her anxious thoughts. 'After all, you have withstood incredible adversity, you have proven your loyalty, and you are a resourceful girl. You might not have the same sorts of latent talents as other people, but you have survived your childhood, you have the efficiency and cunning of the predator whom you can change into.' He said softly and Siana swallowed. There was a pause and for a moment she just took the words in, the meaning of them. No one made a habit of pointing out her strengths. It's because I don't exactly have many.

'Dumbledore?' Siana whispered softly, looking into the beautiful crystalline blue eyes of the headmaster.

'Yes?'

'I'm really, really glad that I was able to meet you...because Dad described you as a nut-bar. Pretty much. And you might be a bit on the non-conservative side, but you're a really, well.' She paused searching for the right words. 'You're a really exquisite human being. I am honoured to know you. It's...well...really, quite beyond privilege.' By Artemis Siana, you've truly mastered how to sound like an idiot.

To her great surprise Dumbledore smiled a broad smile, and two tinges of pink appeared on his cheeks. A second later he started to chortle.

'My dear Siana.' He chuckled, placing an affectionate hand on her bent knee. 'How can I possibly form an adequate reply, when all I can do is tell you that I thoroughly reciprocate? Siana it seems we both have the same degree of respect for one another.' He withdrew his hand and shook his head, still laughing quietly to himself, he seemed both immensely pleased and somewhat politely embarrassed. 'Well...I shouldn't stay much longer, I only came down to give you the brief. I'll come back in a few hours time for the Apparition.' He said with a broad smile, and then quietly left the bathroom.

Siana stayed there for another twenty minutes, just pondering all that he had said.

The Malfoy Estate was beautiful in a grim, overbearing and frightening way. It was a castle made of dark grey granite. It had evidently been built during a time of war, because it was blockish, like a fortress. Not much like the artistic structure that was Hogwarts castle. Two of the four towers had fallen into disrepair, and were crumbled monoliths against the night sky. She took in the sight of the forbidding place briefly before changing herself into a cat, and slowly, fearfully, walking directly towards the castle.

There were overgrown vines close to the main entrance of the fortress, they smelled of roses, and Siana looked at them in her feline shape, saw no flowers on the twisted, thorny bushes. Apprehension filled her, it didn't matter if roses weren't really in season, the sight frightened her anyway. She purposely leapt nimbly up the steps. She couldn't hear anything, no voices. She supposed the Malfoy family was sitting down to dinner, or something.

She could not exactly push her way through the main doors and so she followed around on the landing, which seemed to curve all the way around the fortress. She found herself looking at the black spiders and mice curiously. It gave her a little bit of hope to know that other creatures survived here. The mice did not run away from her, they sensed, as animals only can, that she did not mean them harm. Though they smelt tantalising, and Siana couldn't help but relish the scent.

The black cat leapt up on a window sill that had been lit from the inside, and she looked at the room. There was no one in there, it seemed to be some sort of study, filled with books and a heavy desk. She moved in, sleekly, her form rippling with every movement. She was a cat both inside and out, the only thing that could betray her form, were her human thoughts. She sniffed at the room carefully, she could smell a large male scent. That would have to be Lucius Malfoy. Purring slightly to herself she followed the scent out into a hallway which ran down the centre with a green and silver carpet. The pattern was serpentine.

What is it with families decorating according to their heritage? The Basilican Castle had representations of basilisks absolutely everywhere. Malfoys have the serpent. I don't necessarily think it's all that much to be proud of.

She followed the scent upstairs where she started to pick up another scent. Food. I knew it, they're having dinner. She meandered her way through the corridors, following her nose, until she heard the beginnings of voices. She was about to launch herself into the kitchen, looking for all the world like a stray, when she felt a rush of wind overhead and heard a clapping noise.

She sunk to her belly and looked up, hissing in shock. A great eagle owl was perching on a cabinet to her right, looking down at her balefully, its eyes glittering as though it was just about to leap on its prey. Siana hissed again as the great owl spread his dappled wings and started to swoop her again. She reared up on her hind legs as he came down and went for him with the claws of her left paw. She missed, and so did he.

Yeah just try it buster. I'm not an ordinary cat.

'Father!' Called a voice and Siana looked around in time to see a boy, who could only be Draco Malfoy. Tall, thin, with a pointed face that bespoke arrogance and a glitter to his pale eyes that unpleasantly echoed the glitter in the eyes of the eagle owl. Siana swallowed as a cat and affected a purr, moving towards the boy, trying to look as endearing as possible. Behind the blonde haired boy emerged the silver haired father, who was looking severely irritated at having been interrupted.

Siana looked at them both and then meowed, a cute, high pitched meow. Take me in? Go on, you know you want to. I'm a cute cat. See how cute?

'A cat?' Lucius said thoughtfully. 'A kneazle?' He took out his wand and trained it on her. Siana for a moment thought it would be immensely funny if he just killed her outright. What a waste of training. Then she decided a second later that it wouldn't be funny. It was strange the way fear was affecting her. 'Kneazle's don't come to the Malfoy residence unless they've been sent by someone to spy. Tell me cat, have you been sent to spy?'

Well yeah, but I'll be damned before I act like a kneazle. Siana thought, how can you mistake me for a kneazle anyway? It's not like I have a lion's tail or speckled fur or anything. By Artemis, get your facts straight, at least accuse me of being an Animagus first so we can get all of that out of the way.

'Not a kneazle.' Lucius said softly. 'If not a kneazle? What else are you? Would you let me pick you up?' Draco was watching, his eyes bright and eager. Lucius however was moving forwards slowly, his hands outstretched. Siana watched in amazement as she made the pretence of flinching away from him. Like any stray who had been mistreated in the past. Siana could hardly believe that it was so true that a Death Eater would have such a soft spot for cats. However Lucius did not look half as malevolent as his son currently did. She was well aware that Lucius should he have his suspicions would kill her, probably painfully, in a second.

As she felt strong hands wrap around her torso she shuddered a little. It was a strange sensation. She could never get used to being handled this way, it was disconcerting. She never normally let herself be touched, certainly not around her ribs and stomach. Here she was letting herself be cradled in the arms of a Death Eater. A Death Eater who was examining every inch of her with curious eyes.

'She's a black cat then.'

'Father, if you couldn't notice that when you first saw it, then I suggest you wear on your reading glasses all the time.' Draco remarked in a bored voice and Lucius' eyes flashed.

'Finish your dinner Draco, your Mother is waiting for you.' He snapped and Draco, instead of talking back to his Father, moved quickly into the kitchen. Lucius then looked deep into Siana's eyes, searching them. Siana felt the weightlessness of being carried so effortlessly by another and realised that he was tracing the path back into his study.

He closed a heavy door behind him and set Siana on the table, trailing a forefinger from the tip of her nose to her tail tip as he did so. Siana trembled, that was kind of nice, and it made her feel guilty that she appreciated the gesture. She meowed again and Lucius looked at her.

'Well aren't you a beautiful thing. Animagus perhaps?' He whispered softly and then pointed his wand at her. Siana looked at it calmly, showing no fear, after all, she did have nothing to fear. She had unprecedented defences against what he was about to do. When she did feel the warm splashes against her body she pretended to act frightened, like a cat would when it felt sensations that it couldn't explain, but she held onto her form with ease. Lucius eventually stopped and eased a finger under her skin, scratching out a slow and seductive rhythm. Siana started to purr.

Oh yeah, oh yeah. I'm cute.

'I wonder...' He murmured as he picked her up again and cradled her in the crook of his forearm. He pointed his wand at an object in the distance and commanded;

'Incendio!'

Siana felt an odd rush move through her body, not unpleasant, not entirely uncomfortable. More just a warm rush of sensation. An orange warmth seemed to blur in front of her vision and then she realised, as her vision cleared, what she had just done. Of course, the familiar. I'm a familiar. The pot plant that Lucius had directed his spell at, was smouldering quietly, sending up white curls of smoke. Lucius was chuckling delightedly.

'Well it seems you are a boon in disguise. Especially with plans that are coming up, I could use a little extra help. Hey? Hmmm?' He said and then suddenly froze as he heard a knock on the door.

'What is it Draco?' He said sharply and the door opened, the blonde boy looked around curiously, when his eyes settled on the black cat he grinned, a gleaming grin. It was malicious, and Siana butted her head against Lucius' arm affectionately. Please don't give me to him. Please. Dumbledore has been right about you Malfoys so far.

'Have you decided to give it a name?' The boy's tone was so petulant that Siana felt like slapping him, she also hated being called an 'it'. Frederick had made a habit of it, even when she wasn't in animal form. 'Get that thing in here. Tell it that dinner is ready. It needs to clean up the dishes.' She quelled the dark growl that curdled in her throat just in time. Lucius however chuckled to himself. It was another dangerous noise.

'I was thinking Crucio!'

What? What! Siana suddenly stiffened as white knives stabbed behind her eyes and she realised what had just happened, the warm rush had returned, only now it was making her uncomfortable, prickling along her skin, and Draco...Draco was screaming on the floor. Being tortured by his own Father, no prelude to the pain, nothing, and Siana was being drained, participating in an illegal, Unforgivable curse. No no no. She tried to withdraw her energy, the discomfort starting to burn inside of her, she worried for a second that she might lose her shape and then suddenly the sensation let up, stopped. She was panting.

Lucius yawned, as though what he had done was nothing, Draco was gasping on the floor, looking at his Father with outrage. Lucius said nothing, only stroked Siana self indulgently. Siana felt sick to her stomach and swallowed down two heaves of bile. Her heart suddenly went out to the boy that Dumbledore had warned her against.

Draco hoisted himself up, and then he laughed to himself, slightly. He looked hurt, tired, but something about the situation amused him.

'It's not a very good name Father.' He drawled and Siana found herself thinking about the relationship between Father and son with a measure of shock.

'No you're right.' Lucius was saying, his voice rumbled through Siana's entire body. She heard every nuance, the depth of his smooth voice from her position tucked into the corner of his arm. Quietly, sealing her disguise, she turned her head to lick Lucius affectionately on the hand. His hand stilled and he looked down at her, peered at her with his assessing eyes. They were filled with approval.

'Why we are a dark creature aren't we? You're a beautiful creature. What should I call you? Cassia? Sweet tempered but spicy. You made that so much easier, I wonder if you'd like to become a Death Eater hmmm? It's a shame animals can't be made into Death Eaters.'

'But I can Father.' Draco said softly and Lucius suddenly smiled.

'Yes. I will have cause to be proud of you after all. Now if you'll excuse me Draco, I have some things to do.' Draco left quietly and Siana watched him go, thoughtful. She didn't really care much for the name she had been given. Cassia, substitute for cinnamon. Still, much better than the actual name cinnamon. Ha. Ha. That could really suck. Oh...that's nice. She reclined, catlike, as he scratched at the spot where he cheek met her ear. It seemed that she had all the feline nerves, and they were responding exuberantly. A deep purr rippled out of her throat and added to the pleasure, vibrating along the nerve endings in her neck.

She lost track of how much time she spent, being stroked by a very careful Lucius Malfoy. She was almost asleep, her eyes half closed, her purrs lulling her, her claws needing deep into his thigh, spasmodically, Lucius didn't seem to care. She turned her head into his seeking fingers and occasionally paused to lick the salt and dried sweat off his fingertips. Siana was torn between lust, pleasure and guilt. After all, she had never been touched throughout her childhood, not like this. Not in such a simple, affectionate way. Her father hit her, her Uncle did whatever he could do whilst still managing to keep her alive, her brother Nathan did not hug, her mother hated to be touched, and therefore did not touch. Snape had been the first, to touch her, kiss her...

Even James, Remus, Sirius and Peter had not been permitted to hug her. She only did it now, because she decided that was the acceptable thing to do. She didn't like to be touched, and now...now in the hands of a vicious Death Eater, she was finding herself emotionally and physically stimulated in ways she had never been before.

Her purr deepened.

'Well little Cassia, well. You are very, very pleasant. Not a kneazle, not an Animagus, an effective familiar.' He picked her up with one hand and deposited her on the desk. Siana felt disoriented, her skin was hypersensitive, and she missed the rhythmic touch. She stopped herself from swaying towards him, vaguely remembered that she had to go back to Hogwarts, that she couldn't stay in the form of cat for too long, she was enjoying it too much.

She meowed softly and then sauntered to the window, stopping, looking behind her, asking for permission.

'You'd like to wander? Or perhaps relieve yourself?' Siana meowed again and Lucius waved towards the window. 'I'd like for you to return little Cassia, but go out and catch some of the rats that plague this place.' He grinned at her and then turned, dismissing her, taking a book from the bookshelf behind his desk. Well that was too easy. Siana thought as she lightly sprang from the window sill, thrilling at her internal suspension system.

As she walked away from the castle, she heard a crunch in the gravel path behind her. She turned quickly, but not quickly enough and found herself picked up by the scruff of her neck, paralysed. The grip was painful and she made a small grunting mew in the back of her throat at it. She was looking into two clear eyes. Draco. She hissed, loudly.

'Oh that's good. You keep doing that.' He said and shook Siana abruptly, his fingers curving deeply into her neck, the skin was already starting to bruise, and it was already sore from when Severus had decided to jab her with his wand earlier. She felt as though her back was snapping. The pain startled her for a moment and then she realised that she was being taken somewhere. She jolted with each of his steps and realised that he was taking her somewhere behind the castle, the path lit with magically lit lamps. He was humming to himself, it reminded her sickeningly of Frederick.

She hated everything about this place. Hated the fact that she was in the hands of Draco, and the warnings of Dumbledore kept echoing through her head. She hated the fact that she felt sorry for the blonde haired boy who looked like some sort of twisted angel, who experienced Unforgivable Curses simply because his Father decided that he wanted to test out a whim. She hated the fact that her body was sore, and she was starting to yearn for her human form, or at the very least, the form of a Protectus. She hated that she loved the touch of Lucius, she hated that she knew why.

She yowled this time. Hoping Lucius would hear, would demand Draco to let her go. Instead she felt a flick of pain against her throat and her yowl died on a whimper. Draco had just flicked her throat with all the force his forefinger could. She whimpered again, frightened, but obediently stayed put. Just let me down. Please just let me down. And I'll run faster than anyone's ever seen me run since the days of Macnair.

Draco didn't set her down, he kept walking until he was a fare distance from the castle, walking to a small dilapidated hen house. Siana could smell hen, it was a delicious smell, but one that frightened her because everything now, in the grasp of Draco Malfoy, became frightening. Draco himself was saying nothing, doing nothing, she could hear his breathing, it was excited, she could feel the sweat in his palms dampening her coat. She hated it.

He opened the creaky door into the henhouse, and walked inside a wire coop, big enough for his height. There were feathers everywhere, from the birds, and other things too, shapes, formless, lifeless. Siana swallowed hard when she swore she saw a cat tail, a skewered mouse. Her mind cast back to a book she had read, a Muggle book, that had been kept in the Archives because her brother had been fascinated by Muggle books. A character, Peter Wiggin, she closed her eyes, blocking out the sights that reminded her of what could happen.

He kept hold of her as he walked past the chickens sleeping in their compartments. Siana looked at them, the flashes of red, brown, gold, green.

She froze.

Green?

Oh by holy Artemis a Green Rooster! What is this? Cruel fate? I get to see part of what could save me before I'm tortured to death? Draco was sitting down, gently lowering her, and Siana, so mesmerised by the chicken didn't see what she was being lowered into. She felt a scrape, and blinding pain, and jerked backwards.

He had deliberately lowered her onto a nest of coiled barbed wire. She yowled in fright as the rusty stuff scratched her back leg badly, blood from a cut on her face was already running into her perceptive eyes. No no! She twisted violently and scraped herself again, it took her a few seconds of scratching herself on the painful sharp wire before she realised that she wouldn't be hurt if she stayed still. She froze. Draco chuckled.

'Good girl. You learned a lot faster than the last one did.'

Siana whimpered in the back of her throat, it came out as a strange cat noise. It still conveyed the same amount of horror. All she could see around her was barbed wire, spikes of it pushing out towards her, dangerously close. If she threw herself forward, she'd skewer her eyes, if she threw herself backwards, she'd slash her legs open.

Blood dripped from her back paw to the ground slowly. Siana whimpered again and then cried out, it came out as a scared meow. Oh God, Oh God, Oh God. I'm going to die here. I'm going to die here. I'm going to die here. I'm going to...

She was being lifted out of the wire. Draco was setting her legs onto the ground and Siana wasted no time in wrenching her body free. With one great spinal muscle spasm she leapt free, her body moving into the air with the force of the twist. She hissed as she landed, all her fur prickling up along her skin. Her eyes narrowed at Draco, her claws unsheathed and Draco, for once, was looking mildly frightened instead of mildly amused. His hand went into his pocket, she assumed for a wand, and she hissed again. At the same time, a thought intruded upon her, a flash.

Green Rooster.

She turned and stalked towards the hens. Purposeful. Perhaps if she didn't act like she was going to run away...

Her leg burned, her head ached, she was tired.

'Cat! Oh...you want the chickens.' Draco said, his voice going from sharp and frightening to curious and pleased. 'If you can catch one, I'll let you play with it for a while.' He purred and Siana blinked. I just want a feather, please let me get a feather. Please let there be a feather. Then I'm going. I'm going. This isn't worth the risk, it really isn't worth the risk but what else will I do? What else?

Instead of actually going for the rooster she pawed around at the clumps of feathers beneath their individual roosting areas. As soon as she found a glint of green she uncovered it. Definitely a green rooster feather, nothing beat that brilliant violent green. She lay down on it, pretending to be casually relaxing, and underneath her the feather slowly transfigured into black fur, adding to her body quietly - attaching it just as her robes and wand were - so that when she stood again, no one would be any the wiser.

Draco was walking towards her when she stood again, and his wand was pointed out.

Siana could smell him, he wasn't frightened anymore, he was wildly confident. He probably expected her to run away, and Siana was very tempted. However it was the wrong thing to do, he had prepared for it. She needed to do the opposite. Gritting her teeth in her mouth, letting the bristles of fur on her tongue scrape against her palate, she moved sleekly towards him. She forced her tail to rise straight up, she ground a purr out of her stiff throat.

Draco lowered his wand.

'Masochistic.' Was all he muttered as she slowly walked towards him, holding his gaze. The open door was between his legs. She pretended that her leg wasn't all that sore, that the blood in her eye wasn't irritating her. As he lowered himself to pick her up, her muscles bunched all along her body. With energetic cat propulsion she launched herself forward.

She was sprinting, leaping in bounds out of the hen coop, away from Draco, letting the cover of the night sky and the shadows on the ground hide her black figure. Draco didn't try and curse her, didn't do anything, but she knew that when she came back to the Malfoy Estate, he would pull out all of the stops to get her to himself again. She was devious, she had escaped him, and like Frederick, Malfoy would not forgive her easily for that escape.

Forget it! It doesn't matter now! She gasped in the back of her throat, hissed softly, dragged her back leg as she ran as fast as she could to the boundaries of the Estate. Hogwarts. She thought. Hogwarts. Home.

Siana walked back into the grounds of Hogwarts wearily, no one was waiting for her, she had specifically said that she could handle things herself. So now, bleeding and bruised, she found herself wishing for someone to tell her that she was doing the right thing. Instead all she could see heading towards her, was a black silhouette under the black sky. Not Voldemort, no. Not anyone other than one Severus Snape, cradling a tiny, fragile fox in his hands, as though it was the most precious creature in the world.

He stopped when he reached her, and Siana stopped walking, she had been moving so slowly that it had felt like she was going backwards in any case. She had no energy left to move. She just wanted to sleep, for as long as she possibly could. However she couldn't seem to stop herself from wanting to see him, she couldn't forget what she felt for him. It wasn't love, it was just the affection that one felt, for the first person they had ever really viewed as a friend. It struck her as ironic, that Severus was that first person. Friend.

'Siana you're bleeding.' Severus said stupidly and Siana blinked, her hand rose up to her cheek. When it came away there was a smear of blood on her fingertips, vaguely she remembered that Draco had cut at her with something. What was it again? Wire. That was it, a wire. She was distracted from her own injuries however by the animal that Severus was holding.

'That's rather true isn't it? Why do you have a fox?' She said, looking at the tiny, thin creature. And how on earth have you managed to survive little vulpine? You're scrawny as hell.

'This is Svelte. You would do well to leave her alone.' He said curtly and Siana's eyes caught his, it was a sharp gaze. She was assessing him, looking at his expression there.

'I wonder if you have the same sadistic streak as young Master Malfoy.' She said cuttingly and noticed his expression change then, from surprise, to guilt, and then to dawning concern. Concern? No, that can't be it Siana, don't be stupid.

'And how would you know about the sadistic streak of Master Malfoy? Did you happen to instil it into him? I can't imagine it would be hard, the Basilican line seems to have a habit of doing it.'

Oh for the sake of Hephaestus I am not going to put up with this.

'You know what Severus? You can just Fuck. Off. ' Siana bit out and then turned, stalking away, seething. She heard the footsteps coming up behind her and as she felt his presence behind her she turned around and her foot lashed out viciously, kicking him in the shin. It probably hurt her more than it hurt him, despite the look of pain on his face, because of the leg wound Malfoy had given her. Svelte seemed unharmed, as Severus was still holding her steadily, despite the fact that he was now wincing.

'What? What are you going to do now?' Siana exclaimed angrily. 'Taunt me? Tell me what kind of a monster that I am? Tell me that I'm not half as bad as young Master Malfoy because I'm about ten times worse! Is that it? What do you want to say Severus? What the fuck do you want to tell me?' She paused for one second, but his expression remained surprised, and Siana was too enraged to pause for much longer. 'I wasn't kidding Severus, you can fuck off. You're a merciless bastard and the emotion I feel for you at the moment is nothing short of hatred. This isn't some stupid family thing, this is between you, and between me. And if I ever, ever catching you hurting that fox, I am going to hurt you so badly you are going to have no idea what's happening to you. After all I did kill your dear sister Lydia didn't I? Be rest assured that I can kill you.'

Where the hell did that come from? Lets see if you can take what you dish out. After all, no one gets away with taunting Camille unpunished. Guilt twisted inside of her and the pain seemed to wash over her like an unexpected shower. It steamed and misted, couldn't be ignored. She winced. What am I turning into?

Severus must have seen the pain on her face, for the own rage on his dissipated very slightly.

'Siana...' he said softly and she scowled at him, something snapped inside of her.

'Miss Basilica. Isn't it? Good evening.' She said finally and quickly walked back to Hogwarts. The castle seemed to blur around her, and as she slammed the door to her rooms and started to strip down, the anguish took a firm foothold inside her gut. She couldn't be bothered going to report to Dumbledore now, she doubted that he expected it. After all, she was seeing him the next morning wasn't she? Her heart seemed to sink, it doesn't matter does it? I just do what I'm told. And when I'm not doing that, I'm abusing people, threatening them. I'm just like my Uncle.

She clambered into bed and convulsively pulled the blankets around her. She sniffed against her pillow and tried not to think about the events of the evening which had so scared her. She ached from the little torments of Draco, and her heart ached from the situation she found herself in, her mind ached at the thought that she had to start making the Insidious potion for herself, she had to find a Boggart and New Zealand Mandragora. At least she had the Green Rooster feather.

The pain twisted and twisted inside of her until it finally managed to leak out of her eyes a little.

Siana fell asleep in tears that night, the first time she could ever remember doing so since being free of the Basilican home she had lived in.