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Welcome, MarhyCM and Gallant Pervert, I hope you'll enjoy the ride
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The last time I checked HP was still not mine, it's Rowling's, but her sandbox is nicely expandable :) thanks for that!
Chapter 7. Friend or Foe?
The dark and needlessly ornate parlour of the old Black-house with its dusty drapes, thick carpets and the general atmosphere of a grave made the sound of every word harsh and tactless. Not that Salbei Moody seemed to mind it. Sitting with Mad-Eye and Albus Dumbledore, she chatted with the ease of a childhood-since acquaintance. She referred to Hogwarts' Headmaster as "cute dear Albus," and the temperamental Auror most feared to their wit's end with an affectionate "Papa," thus making Severus Snape feel like the audience to a poorly staged surrealist drama.
As soon as they managed to leave the pleasantries behind, "cute dear Albus" offered consolations the Moodys on their recent loss of – as Severus could discern – a close relative. It caused the first refreshing sign of a human reaction to grace the witch's face; her eyes became darker with her Occlumency shields shutting down. Aside from that, she sported the same detached politeness and forced cheer she had showed earlier. Severus was on the verge of excusing himself despite the Headmaster's expressed wish when Salbei's outrageous words called his attention.
"So now that I'm finally settled, we suddenly face this Death Eater situation. I understand that her presence makes Papa uncomfortable, but I thought I would like to keep her. Iris is no much trouble, really, and we are related anyway as our mothers were cousins. We even spent a part of our childhood together! She's older, of course, not that it means much at our present age… What do you think, Albus? Could you persuade Papa to let me keep her? I've gotten the impression that this was the plan in the first place, and she is really not much bother. I'm certain she is disloyal and untrustworthy, so it promises so much fun, I just can't resist!" She shook her shoulders with evident anticipation and beamed like cotton candy, giving Severus chills.
"Sage, my dear, I know you for a long time and welcome your cheer and openness like ever, but I'm afraid our Severus is presently at a loss deciding on your sanity." – Dumbledore smiled back at the witch. – "Perhaps you won't mind favouring him with a tiny bit more detail?"
"Oh, sure, sorry" - Salbei turned to Severus – "I thought it was your game, but whatever you need… What would you like to know?"
Game? Severus turned his head towards Dumbledore. "Headmaster, why did you need my presence here?"
"D'you need it drawn out for you? – Mad-Eye answered before Dumbledore could so much as take a breath – It is time for your shady ways to be properly discussed. Albus may trust you, but I never will, and you dare to send one of your kind to my home? Have you thought you may walk away with that as only a matter of your other everyday dealings? Do you take me to be a fool?"
"I was trusted to punish one of the Dark Lord's distant servants. Her only sin is that she wanted to run away from the fight we are facing. Isn't the Order supposed to protect those who try to defy him?"
"We cannot protect anyone who turns to us… not like this, and you knew it! – Mad-Eye was dismissive – You basked in the chance to rub my nose in my family's sins, but I refuse to cooperate with your scheme! Dubois or Rasicals, they are as good as dead to me, don't you dare to challenge me on the crimes of my wife's side of the family! I did enough to prove myself against them!"
A lesser man would have stared at the Auror with round eyes and admit to a complete loss for words, but Severus did his best to keep abreast. The moment when the Auror's daughter let her eyes fall didn't escape his attention. His only clue was Iris's word that she knew Moody's daughter, which Salbei seemed to confirm. A cousin. How easy it would be if he just knew Moody's wife's maiden name. Alas, he'd never even heard about his marriage. So the woman must have passed away, or maybe they parted ways? Whichever, their daughter taught in Beauxbatons, probably attended there. Iris came from a respectable French family; at least Lennier used to say so… "I didn't presume you should endure anything for another's sin. I presented a chance to serve the cause. Iris will stay in the Dark Lord's circles, there's nothing to do about it, but you may use her to misinform, and thus save her life."
"…or what, would you pin her sentence on me?" – Moody cried, outraged. – "A dirty little Death Eater bastard like you and dare to talk of my family! You use us to your own ends. Don't you think for a second I believe you try to assist here! Sage is a trained Legilimens; she saw what bothers you! I couldn't care less about saving your arse, and you know it, so you try to blackmail me with my past to keep that snake in my home!" –He finally sat back with a huff, but his magical eye was looking straight at Snape, never faltering, not even when he looked at Dumbledore for support.
"If I was ever to blackmail you, I would prepare for it more thoroughly." – Severus replied with all honesty, desperately trying to work out what got the old sweat going and what could his creepy daughter see? Or when? Severus could not for the life of him remember a second when her Legilimency attacked him, but he was too slick to admit to confusion. Instead, he also turned to Dumbledore. "If you send her back empty-handed, I might be appointed to execute her." -He warned.
"Which we cannot let happen." – The Headmaster nodded, but Moody sprang again incited.
"You just don't threaten us with her fate. I well know you may croak before her!"
Salbei trained her eyes on Severus' features all the while, and now a faint rise of his brow made her interject: "Papa, I'm not sure if he knows what the Dark Lord said to Iris; I think he might have already left by then." Mad-Eye waved her off, but she persistently watched Snape. "Did you know she needs to spy on you?"
Severus only knew if this was a bait he won't rise for it. "Does she?"
"She believes so. The Dark Lord heard her out about your deal, and she needs to look after your dealings too, while erm… attending to my father."
"It is reasonable to use her ordeal to strengthen Severus' position." – Dumbledore believed. – "As for Alastor doesn't seem to like this turn of events, would you, dearest, look after the matter?" – He addressed Sage – "I am sure our Severus will fill you in with our state of affairs and guide you about the information we would wish your cousin to share."
Running mentally through the indications, Severus jerked his head. "Are we absolutely certain this is the best course of action, Headmaster? I could meet her and misinform her without assistance. She only needs a cover to stay away from the Dark Lord, at least temporarily…"
"Would you plant memories too about how she got to that information? Because if it happened to escape your notice, I am a chatty girl, I will supply her involuntarily and enforce your cover in the process if you just tell me what you want her to say…"
"Supposing I trust you with my life, I am sure you could do that. The question is, why would I be such an idiot?" – Snape asked back, eyes narrowed.
In the sudden crescendo of explanations from the two older wizards, somehow Severus only heard the witch's silent "Oh!" before her eyes changed colour. They turned from deep dark chocolate to something akin milk and cocoa, nearly dust or powder-colour, and entirely without any kind of shields. "Well, I guess you'll have to read me. I can think of no other way to earn your trust in such a short time."
Stating that Severus was taken aback would not even begin to describe his bafflement. A willing offer of access to an intruder was more than a novelty for someone understanding mind magic. Unless the witch wanted to play him. "What good would it do if I only saw what you prepared to show me?"
Her grimace was unfamiliar. What could it mean? Anger? Annoyance? – He was still trying to figure when she nodded with a sigh. "All right, see for yourself then." Her eyes were defiant but still lacked shields. Severus searched them with disbelief and hardly noticed how much he marvelled on their colour. He decided it was light chocolate milk, and it suited her sight, for it was warm and comforting even in her displeasure. What made the witch offer something this precious to a stranger was beyond him, but Severus Snape was curious and cunning enough to grab the opportunity.
Those pools of chocolate enveloped him as he submerged in a foreign mind he had never experienced the like before. Where he had rooms, well-organized shelves and boxes, she had a garden with an extensive maze, mostly on flower. A lingering humming voice could be heard, some melody of a song stuck between the leaves and a distinct scent… earth and herbs… on a rainy day. It reminded him… NO! Severus instantly pulled back from her mind, not risking to give away any of his thoughts in the close contact, and the witch winced with the pain of the sudden pull. He had no time for his guilt.
On his second attempt, he felt her impatience before he saw the maze. "Get on with it!" – The tension in her mind seemed to order. Severus took stock of the maze. It was not actually all on flower. Some parts flourished; one of those segments had the loudest of the humming, the other was abuzz with abstract theories, and there were more. He left that side behind. Whatever he needed to see most likely was in the damaged area.
A part of the maze wore frostbites, there were spots seemingly rotten, and a sizable sector consumed in what looked like recent fire. Severus began with the fire damage, and as soon as he got close, he felt as if a bucket of ice cold water splashed in his face. "Sorry"- he heard the witch's voice answering his yelp, and he purposefully approached the same area again—fresh pain. Severus saw a wizard in his mid-thirties, dallying in various positions with muggle women and the agony of heartache intensified as he pushed his way deeper. He slipped aside the images of harassed muggles, and others came. The same wizard with a bouquet of flowers, obviously courting; a nasty laugh from neighbours and a younger woman, probably a witch, hanging her head in tears. Waves of shame, anger, regret and pain… endless pain. A cottage on fire with the wizard watching the flames… anger, blind rage and black hatred, so forceful, Severus' guts churned. He quickly turned away, secretly amazed by her willingness to share.
The rotten part of the maze. A younger, saner Mad-Eye quarrelling with a witch… Mad-Eye shutting a door with force, Mad-Eye explaining himself in a fruitery… Severus dug deeper. A burial. Two young girls holding each other while Mad-Eye argued with an elderly witch. A manor house, a teenage witch watching Mad-Eye destroying a potion-lab, while the girl was trembling in fear. Mad-Eye Moody and fear everywhere. The witch was terrified of her father, but not only of him. Elder witches arguing with Mad-Eye… The same witches hexing Mad-Eye… Another burial, this time, Sage was alone by the grave. Mad-Eye violently cursing and sending hexes to left and right, destroying a room. Rage, fear and… Strange. Remorse?
Severus skipped the family-drama and turned to the frostbitten section. A woman hit with a Stupefy, collapsing by what seemed like an alley-wall… A school's corridor, a bunch of young girls hanging mid-air by their robes. Three girls in Beauxbatons uniform in hysterics while various jinxes and hexes spoiled their arms and faces. Adults doing dark magic which seemed like blood-magic in an alcove at a party… The same faces while sending up the dark mark, a muggle car on fire… Lennier boasting in a vulgar tone to respectful audience, a younger version of Nott clapping his hands… Finally, he was on track! A shockingly young-looking Iris sitting on a beach, playing with pebbles. Iris showing off a new robe to teen witches and boasting endless… Iris making out with Lennier in a churchyard. Iris brewing with one of the elder witches he saw previously. Last night past midnight. Iris Apparated in a small street of London, cautiously looking around before marching to a narrow door, knocking and asking for help. Sage watched the scene from the second-floor window, hurried down the stairs and convinced her father to leave her alone with the already stupefied witch. Severus thought he should have known that Mad-Eye cursed first and asked later; obviously, the witch also hoped for the contrary.
Severus watched Sage casting Ennervate, then hugging the tempest with seemingly genuine affection. The witches put a kettle on and promptly began lamenting the Auror's sins, although, to his greatest surprise, the talk soon turned on him! He listened through a conversation, astonished to hear Iris moaning about his coldness of heart, thoroughly encouraged, while drinking up the tea with brandy… She also complained about her husband and the Dark Lord's return, and several old acquaintances who jumped on the opportunity as soon as Malfoy and Nott contacted them. Not Iris; at least she seemed genuinely against the new rule, although her reasoning was far from noble. The fear was evident in the older witch's eyes when Sage persuaded her to have a rest. She caressed her cousin's golden locks until Iris fell asleep, then with her enormously long fingers tenderly lifted her lashes and cast a silent Legilimens.
Sage tiptoed around memories she was uninterested in and slowed down when finally a scene caught her eye. Lennier dragged Iris through forsaken streets at night until they reached a seaport. Their quarrelling was outrageous, and Lennier's threats were grave. Both lurkers felt Iris's horror and the moment she decided she feared her husband more than a dark wizard somewhere abroad. Meanwhile, two wizards embarked from a ship, a short fight, and Iris cursed Grimaye. Lennier was finally content, he kissed his wife and both port-keyed to Little Hangleton.
Iris was alone in the foreign village while her husband reported to the Dark Lord, and she decided to flee. By the time Lennier returned for her, she had acted on purpose. Lennier left to find Macnair somewhere in the Northeast, and she was all sweet obedience before she turned on her heels - only to run into Pettigrew. The rat caught her arm in the last minute and Side-Alonged with her to the outskirts of London. He shortly debated whether he might profit more from a heated night or present a traitor to the Dark Lord. Finally, for Iris's intense terror, he chose the latter. The Dark Lord was furious; Sage skipped through the memories of the next few days, mostly spent alternating between agony and panic, the aggressive intrusions on Iris's mind repeated until the witch couldn't produce a coherent thought. Only then, the Dark Lord seemed to find what he was looking for. The witch could not remember what it was. Her half-conscious body was thrown away, and she spent the next couple of days locked in a room, only seeing the ugly little man who tended to her, and every time she saw him, she was terrified it would all start anew.
When Pettigrew escorted her down the stairs, Iris's worst fears seemed to come true, only this time she soon recognized a familiar face. Snape! The withdrawn young boy with that broken heart… she needed him! It won't be that hard! Iris could see he recognized her, but then all got confused. The Snape-boy changed, all chilly manners and business just like Lennier! Why did all the boys grow this dull? But then Snape said she was his! There was hope; he must be only shy! He's always been sheepish… that's good.
Iris planned all afternoon. After a short debate with herself, she decided to use the last of the lust-potion she carried in her ring. This was too important an opportunity to miss out! When she finally heard his steps approaching, Iris applied the potion carefully on her lips. The smallest kiss will be enough to get him to whine with desire, and then she will convince him to let her escape. Maybe take him… for a while, it will be fun until Lenny returns! She laughed before he entered the room.
Severus watched himself entering the room, and he felt simultaneously Iris's anticipation and Sage's discomfort as the witch kissed his memory-self. He watched himself thrusting Iris back on her pillows, and in her eyes, he was a cold and disappointing man. At the same time, he saw himself through Sage's mind as a secretive and powerful wizard, and while they viewed that poison-induced passion, his embarrassment was so intense he was sure it leaked through the close connection.
Finally, they got through those scenes that proved his version about the reasons behind Iris's sudden appearance against Mad-Eye's accusations, and he could sense Sage's disapproval and shame. She also tried to offer consolation - a perplexing idea. He was not used to such notions, but a breath of rainy scent and herbs caressed his consciousness, and actually, he found it soothing.
Thankfully Iris's memory already led them on with the witch's evening, and the memory of the Dark Lord's presence reminded them effectively to the aim of this "journey" through minds. Naturally, the Dark Lord saw it all too, and he called upon Iris to prove her worth. She was only too eager to agree to everything. Silly Sage Moody was in London; she knew about that. It will be child's play to entrap her father; she could even present the witch, not that Sage has any use, but better her than Iris… The Dark Lord was still not satisfied. He wanted more; he wanted her to spy. He talked about something called the Order of Phoenix and his feeling something untoward about Snape – whatever! Iris was in. She promised anything and more in the hope of spending as much time in London as she could. She would report on the Auror, the Order and all steps that Snape took just let her out of this hell!
Sage pulled back from Iris's mind and watched her sleeping cousin thoughtfully for long minutes. Severus carefully pulled back from Sage's mind, but their eyes stayed locked for a seemingly endless moment. Severus didn't know if he trusted the witch, but sure as hell, she wasn't a stranger anymore.
"So?" – Dumbledore's voice lead them back to the present and a noticeably furious Alastor Moody. "Did you manage to convince him, my dear Sage?"
Seeing the question also reflected in her eyes, Severus answered in her stead. "She did. I will assist her, although finding the reason behind the Dark Lord's sudden suspicions would also be advantageous. Maybe Iris will give us a hand in that."
"Maybe." Dumbledore conceded while Sage nodded. "However I find it very likely, you already know the answer, my boy. Can't you guess?"
The twinkle in the old wizard's eye gave away more than his words. If one of the best legillimens could sense something, surely the other could also. "The shift in my magic." – He whispered, and the Headmaster nodded his agreement.
"Sorry, I can't understand." – Sage looked between them until Dumbledore replied.
"Our Severus entertained himself by heavy philosophical explorations, with… unforeseen consequences."
"Why, and I thought the life of a double agent is challenging enough without the adventures of the intellectual seeker!" – She joked, but Severus's expression only became more sour. Alastor burst out with malice.
"Intellectual my arse, you can't be so ignorant as to misunderstand when they talk about black magic! And here's the Death Eater you wanted to help! Whom you opened your mind to!"
"Papa, I…"
"Don't hush me! I might not do mind magic, but my mother raised no fool, unlike yours, I have to add. Have you at least bother to find out his true alliance?"
"He was in my mind, papa, it doesn't work that way…" –Sage began shyly, but Dumbledore cut in.
"Alastor, I told you repeatedly..."
"I know, I know, that's what you've parroted in these last fifteen years, Albus," – Mad-Eye exclaimed impatiently. – "On what evidence, I ask? A Death Eater is a Death Eater, no matter what he says or does, and now you want me to let one in my home!"
"She's already there." The witch pointed out. "You always wanted me to serve your cause, now I take part in…"
"My cause?" – Now Mad-Eye was in a rage. "My Cause? You spent way too much time with that pervert aunt of yours if you fail to identify with the cause!"
"Aunt Polla is no Death Eater!" – Sage raised her voice to meet his, but her father has never been one to persuade if he believed in his right.
"She's as good as if she was. Doing dark magic! In my family! I should have brought you here before they corrupted your soul beyond repair!"
Sage recoiled, and Severus could not help but remember the rotten parts of the maze. Only Dumbledore could find words to soothe his friend.
"A reasonable concern, Alastor, but Sage is here now. She joined you and joined us. What other proof would you need from your only daughter?" The Auror seemed to run out of answers. "Good. Now let her perform an irreplaceable service to the Order as she already promised to do."
"It will take time."- The witch quietly said, only to make the headmaster smile contentedly.
"Then I suggest you take upon my offer and consider teaching at Hogwarts. That will give all of us ample time to work out the best solution… for everything."
"Thank you, Albus, I'm sure it will be fun."- The witch accepted with a sardonic smile, and Severus grudgingly recognized her peculiar attempt at humour.