First of all, I'd like to thank all those wonderful people who left feedback for me. Your comments mean the world to me and I always love to hear what my readers think!

Let me also apologize for the very irregular updates. RL's a bitch and I am forced to live without internet connection for most of the time, so I'm just not able to udate unless I've got enough days off to visit my parents.

cookies to all of you who are still reading! hugs

on to the story...

Chapter 6

Severus' hands were tingling with anticipation as they came to rest once more on the items he had assembled before him. He had spelled the furnishing of his living room away after his conversation with Dumbledore and had replaced it with what seemed to be an ancient carpet full of strange colours and symbols. A carpet he had carefully hidden in the chamber of secrets after that damned Potter brat had told the staff the location of the damned thing. He had stored the carpet there in the hope of never using it, but once more the Potter boy had forced him to change his plans. No one had ever called Raven lost, but what if? What if the solution was really that simple? Snape shuddered. If this was really the solution, then he might very well be related to the brat. Maybe there were things even worse than the thought of Voldemort reigning supreme.

The cold of the dungeon seeped uncomfortably into his bare feet as he padded over to the fireplace to get a burning log. Small, orange flames danced over the end of the cracking wood, giving a soft, golden glow to the room. Snape's simple white robe looked almost orange in it. Quietly he knelt down in the middle of the carpet, right in the center what could be identified as an enormous oak tree and a pentacircle interwoven into each other, if one knew where to look. To everyone else they were nothing but a few more swirls of colour in a way too colourful carpet. Wordlessly he placed the two incense bowls on the carpet, one on the foot of the tree and the other right above it, just where the top of the pentacircle was. "Myrrhis odorata," he whispered softly as he lit the bowl at the bottom, "Also known as Myrrh or Sweet Cicely. Calms and broadens the mind. Daemonorops draco," the flames from the burning log in his hands crawled onto the second bowl, "Dragon blood. Even better than Francincense." He inhaled deeply as heavy tendrils of smoke rose around him. Did Lucius know that he had involuntarily named his son after a tree? Severus' lips curled upwards. Probably not. The Malfoys knew more than most pureblood families but even they did not know the whole truth.

His knuckles turned white as he tightened his grip on the log and turned his attention to the last six bowls lined up beside the carpet. With only a moment's hesitation he gripped the first one, lit the wood and straw inside with the fire he had taken from the fireplace, a fire he only extinguished once a year and on a very special day, and placed it on the arm of the pentacircle that pointed eastwards. "Belisama, mother of fire," his voice became low as he slipped into the ancient gaelic his parents had thaught him, "By thy husband's sacred light I beg thee, grant my thy passion, that I may not abandon my purpose." A soft crackling, like the rustling of distant leaves haunted the air as he waited for his prayer to be heard. He threw the log towards the fireplace and reached down again. The water from the second bowl almost splashed onto his trembling hands as he placed it on the pentragramm. "Condatis, masters of the seas," he intoned, hoping that the water Riveroak had brought him would do the trick, "By these blessed waters I beg thee, grant my thy endurance, that I may not lose what I seek." is hands shook even more as he reached for the third bowl. The stone that lay inside it was even mre precious to him. A stone from the very stone of Avalon. "Cernunnos, father of the lands," the bowl with the stone found its place on the next arm of the pentagramm, "By this misty stone I beg thee, grant me thy sleeping might, that I may find the strength I need." He was oblivious to the now thundering rustling in the air as he reached for the fourth bowl, briefly smiling at the feather within it. A featherh, his father had given him for his tenth birthday. "Thagda, master of wather and fire," gingerly he placed the bowl on the carpet, "By this token of a wizard's love I beg thee, grant me thy wisdom and counsel, that I may discern between truth and lay." He paused, looking around the smoke-filled room for a long time before he reached for the last bowl, the bowl containing the moonstone. The only arm of the pentagramm he had not yet placed a bowl on was the one pointing northwards. North, where the sun never shone and the light never changed. There was only one prayer left to say. "Cuda, great mother of all, who dwell in the seven realms, I beg thee, grant me thy protection, that no harm may befall my on my spirit's journey." The flames in the fireplace flickered dangerously as a sudden bout of wind hit the room, cutting a way through the incense fumes and for just a moment Severus saw a human shape. The shadowy figure was gone as soon as the wind vanished. Severus released a breath he did not know he had been holding. Everything was ready. His long, cold hands were shaking in earnest now as he reached for the last bowl, slowly bringing it to hos lips. The heavy aroma of herbs greeted him. He had tried to dull the dragon blood, but he could still sniff it out prfectly. He closed his eyes, swallowing the muted liquid in one go. His eyes flew open again and for a moment he stared straight ahead, totally oblivious of his surroundings. "Raven..." he croaked as his pupils locked themselves to the ceiling above him ever so slowly. Everything was spinning. The protection spells around his rooms muffled the thud that could be heard as he collapsed in the middle of the carpet, his mind already swimming with pictures and voices.

xxxSS/HPxxx

"Lucius..." the cold voice in his mind curled around his thoughts like a boa constrictor ready to strike. "Lucius, my boy... I have something for you."

"Yes my lord?" Lucius quickly thought back, shielding his mind against any outside penetration, "How can I serve you today?"

Cold laughter echoed through his mind. "Only today, my pet? I think I might have to remind you..."

"No, my lord," Lucius locked the door to his study with a swift flick of his wand, "I am undisturbed now. What are your orders?" He held his breath, hoping that he had not dared to much.

"Your son will have to prove his worth."

"My lord?" Lucius quickly hid his shock, "I fear Draco is not yet ready to live up to your expectations and..."

"Crucius..." Lucius screamed as his nerves suddenly seemed on fire, "If he is not yet ready, then you have failed both me and your heritage."

"Yes my lord," Lucius gagged, "What do you want him to do?"

"The Potter spawn has been having very ineresting dreams lately. Set your son to find out what they mean."

"Yes my lord, as you wish," Lucius sagged back in his chair as Voldemort's presence left his mind. His body still tingled with remembered pain and tears were burning in his eyes. Inhaling deeply he forced himself to calm down. His hands were still shaking slightly as he finally reached for a quil and parchment. He had a letter to write.

xxxSS/HPxxx

"I told you!" Harry almost bounced with agitation, "He still serves Voldemort and now he's deconnected his floo to mask his escape!"

"Harry," Dumbledore sighed deeply, shaking his head as he motioned to the chair on the other side of his desk, "Sit back down. I trust Severus and he would never run from us. I am sure he has a very valid reason for deconnecting himself from the floo network."

"And what reason could that be? He's hiding something! I've seen him talk to a raven twice! He knows the solution to the prophecy!"

"Harry," Dumbledore pushed a jar fo lemon drops over to the agitated boy, "You cannot know if he was really talking to that bird, and it might have been an animagus -"

"No!" Harry's eyes narrowed dangerously as he pushed the jar of yellowish sweets away, "I know what I heard and saw. He was talking to that bird in some stange language and it is the right raven. I dreamt of her! Morrigan told me that Snape is keeping things from us!"

"Professor Snape," Dumbledore sighed again, "And I am sure he has his reasons for whatever he does."

"Yes, and the reason is Voldemort!" Harry jumped up again, "How can you be so blind when it comes to that greasy git? He's working against us! Why can't you see that?"

"Because there is nothing to see, Harry," Dumbledore's voice was still quiet and patient, aggravating Harry only further, "Severus is firmly on our side and has been for almost as long as you are alive."

"You are wrong." Harry crossed his arms in front of his chest, "And I will prove it."

"Very well," Dumbledore popped a lemon drop into his mouth, "Will you let the matter rest if I promise to talk to Severus about this?"

Reluctantly Harry nodded.

xxxSS/HPxxx

"Alohamora!" Dumbledore frowned. The door remained firmly shut. What had Severus done to it? His hands slid over the cool stone of the dungeon walls, finally settling on a barely visible snake. "Tiramisu," he whisperer quietly towards it as the snake moved under his searching fingers.

"Sssssssorry," the snake whispered back, "I don't open for that password."

Dumstruck Dumbledore stared at the stone grey animal. How could it not? His password overruled all others, that was the reason for these secret entrances to all quarters. To give him access whenever he needed. "I am the only with the power to change the password," he tried reasoning with the snake, "And I said Tiramisu, now open." He commanded.

"The passsssword hasss been changed," the snake hissed, "I do not open to that ssstupid mugglefood any longer."

"Who changed the password?" Dumbledore right hands was toying with his wand. He was mentally going through all opening spells he knew.

"I am not at liberty to tell you," the snake moved a bit and curled around a potruding stone, "You will have to take the usual entrance, just like all others who do not know the password."

Fuming Dumbledore marched towards the corridor and towards the Slytherin common room. He could only hope that Severus was inclined to open. But who had the power to change the passwords he had installed throughout the castle? He would ask the ghosts and the portraits later. A smile briefly played across his lips. At least he still had their support. It was always good to have a few extra ears and eyes.

xxxSS/HPxxx

His hands stopped just a few inches above the supposed stone wall under his fingers. Severus had hidden the wooden door to his quarters under an illusion charm, but even though the charm was still in place something felt off. He felt no resistance. Frowning he pushed against the door. Dumbledore gulped as the knot of tension in his stomach tightened. Severus always had the highest securtiy wards and spells up and this was nothing like his paranoid potions master. His robes swished ominiously over the floor as he ventured slowly further into the rooms. He could sense a strange form of magic singing through the air. A kind of magic he was unfamiliar with. He froze in front of the living room door, his blue eyes widened almost comically as he stared at the obstacles in his way. He knew the chairs, the rugs and the table, that were blocking his path, only too well. They were all a part of Severus' living room. Usually.

He hesitated for a moment, inhaling deeply as a strange, alluring scent caught his attention but then swiftly banished the furniture and stormed into the room. He stopped dead in his tracks, almost choking on his coughs. Smoke filled every last corner of the room, hanging in the air licke a thick, woolen blanket. He moved again as he saw a human shape lying in the middle of the room.

"Renovare aeri!" He coughed again as fresh air finally reached his lungs. Banishing the smoke had been a more than just good idea. "Severus!" He rushed to the limp figure on the carpet, roughly shaking the other's shoulder. "What happened in here? Wake up!"

"Merlin, not you," Severus whispered as he slowly opened his eyes, "What are you doing here?"

"Trying to find out what trouble you are getting yourself into now," Dumbledore smiled, letting go of Severus. "What happened here?"

"I was just trying to find an answer." Snape sighed. Hair obscured his face as he rubbed his aching temples.

"And this is your way of asking questions?" Dumbledore gestured at the burnt out bowls of incense, "What were you doing?"

"Divination." Snape said curtly, "Not that it should be of any interest to you as long as I do it in my own free time." He glared irritatedly at the headmaster. "Stop choking Albus. Divination is not that strange."

"It is if you are the one doing it," Dumbledore managed to control his breathing again, "I didn't know you were a seer. Why didn't you just ask Sybil?"

"That double-eyed excuse of a seer would rather hang herself from that abominable tower of hers than use a divination method that actually works."

"Severus."

Snape ignored Dumbledore's glare. "She's as shallow as her clothes are colourful. It's a wonder she managed to get even one prophecy right. If it is right," he added as an afterthought.

"Severus!" Dumbledore's gaze was hard enough to cut glass, "What did yo drink and what kind of ritual did you perform?"

"I don't see why you should care," Severus mumbled to himself as he climbed awkwardly to his feet, "You won't believe me anyway."

"What. Did. You. Drink." Dumbledore forced his fists to unclench. Threatening Severus into talking had never worked. Even as a child the potions master had been too stubborn to reveal any information he was not willing to give.

"Nothing."

"Severus!" Dumbledore was losing his patience, "Do you really want me to ban you from teaching until Poppy has established that whatever you drank won't leave any damage?" He flinched as a thin but nevertheless impressive mass of irate potions master suddenly towered over him. Damn. The students were wrong. Severus was not scary because of his black robes but in spite of them. Somehow the man was far more terrifying in white.

"Are you threatening me with Poppy?" Severus snarled, his magic dancing angrily around him in small blue flames.

"No," Dumbledore forced himself not to take a step backwards, "I am merely giving you a reason to talk to me."

Severus snarled again. "Really? Is that what it's called these days?"

"Severus, please," Dumbledore suddenly softened visibly, the ice in his eyes melting instantly, "I am merely worried about you."

"Fine." Snape turned on the spot, marching off into his kitchen, "It was a draught consisting mainly of wormwood, dragon blood and opiate," he announced, "And now I'm thirsty."

"See?" Dumbledore followed him into the cluttered kitchen, "That wasn't so - what?"

"A draught of wormwood, dargon blood and opiate," Severus repeated calmly, searching the cupboards for his favourite tea. Where in Merlin's name was the Lapsang Souchong?

"You drank what?" Albus was already reaching for his elbow, "We've got to get you to Poppy at once! You're probably still hallucinating and -"

"I am not hallucinating, Albus," Severus effectively freed himself and started crumbling some leaves into a bowl, "My mind is perfectly clear and I would like to cook my tea without you literally hovering at my elbow."

"Sorry," Dumbledore backed up, "Are you quite sure you won't need Poppy's attention?"

"Quite," the water kettle floated towards the stove, whistling happily in anticipation of being used again. "Damned thing," Severus mumbled to himself. "Albus." He turned again, "Since I don't have to teach today and I still have some visions to sort through, could you please consider leaving my private quarters? I would appreciate some privacy."

"Of course," Dumbledore gulped, smiled uncertainly, "Just call me if you need anything."

"Naturally." Severus did not smile back. "If you would leave now."

Only when the door had finally closed behind the headmaster did he allow himself to let go of the breath he had been holding.