Hi,

Citation from the original with bold. HP is still not mine and it's okay, I'm happy to play for free.

Reviews are most welcome, especially because from now on we begin really deviate from Canon, pls share your thoughts!

Chapter 27. Christmas at (the) Order

(Part I.)

Severus Snape was displeased. A fact that would never come as news to anyone between the age of eleven and two hundred in wizarding Britain. And this was a rare case of self-deception on their parts, because he wasn't usually as displeased as the day he trudged down to the Hogwarts gates in deep snow, imagining he heard the letter in his pocket rustling with every step he took.

A letter Dumbledore sent to Black.

Bloody mutt. Bloody Dumbledore. Bugger the Season and send it all to hell! How did the old man phrase it? "Here, I explained everything to Sirius, give him this letter. Don't pout, my boy; he is Harry's godfather, after all; he has the right to know. Oh, and while you're at it, I ask you to kindly refrain from killing him while you are his guest." He even had that twinkle in his eye!

Shite, as if he had been the one to advise here! It had always been the other way around! Severus wondered how the Headmaster had mentioned the same to the dog, if at all. Maybe: I sent your play rag over; kindly try not to tear it! Or was it I saved you your dog chew along the years, but remember I'll need him again after the hols? "Kindly refrain from killing him" – Severus muttered the words. Not that the prospect was not in any way tempting…

Of all the freaking possible bullshit! – he turned on his heels as soon as he was out of Hogwarts grounds, and he gave himself a few more moments of silent fuming upon his arrival to the scruffy Grimmauld Place, with bottles and beer cans littering the square around the benches and broken windows staring blindly into the world. Merry Christmas indeed – Severus grumbled and grudgingly recalled the address to climb the stairs to the main door.

The house seemed busy even from the entrance. Doors opened and closed on the higher floors, something crackled in the kitchen, subdued chatter leaked through the walls, and noises of footsteps came from every possible direction – still, no one was aware of the new arrival. Severus just decided to walk down to the kitchen as usual when a dung bomb rolled down the main stairs, followed by a muttered curse word in a feminine voice… and then Ginevra Weasley.

She trotted down the stairs, halted when she saw him and gasped aloud, seemingly frozen in place. Snape lifted an eyebrow.

"Hey, Ginny! Ginny, hurry, mum's not for long–" – her brother, one of the twins, leaned through the rail and saw him too – "Oh, the bloody bat!" – he mumbled, obviously thinking Snape didn't hear – or did he?

When the sound of quick steps ascending from the kitchen diverted Snape's attention, the Weasley-girl disappeared upstairs, and Tonks arose, stumbling on the last step and waking the portrait. That harridan of a Black-woman screeched ear-hurting, and the slip of an Auror grabbed a wing of the curtain before the frame.

"Would you mind?" – she shouted to overcome the hag. Severus didn't imagine that she was talking to him.

Black hastened down the stairs, pushed him aside, and grabbed the other end of the curtain, cursing ungodly and trying to cover his yelling mother.

That was when Severus spotted Beauxbaton standing on the stairs. She must have followed Black, and her lips were moving, but no one could hear her words in the noise. Severus found it so irritating that he cast Langlock on the portrait to listen to what she had to say.

"- mother of yours, instead talk to that rabid house-elf!" – They heard only her final words in the sudden silence.

Black quickly closed the curtain in front of his now silent mother and turned to face Beauxbaton, beaming.

"Thanks, love, that's a gal'!"

"Thank it to Severus; it wasn't me."

Black only shot a disgusted glance towards him and shook his head in disbelief.

"Sure. What do you want here anyway?" – he muttered toward his all-time enemy. If Severus thought he was irritated before…

"If it has somehow escaped your notice, this house has been opened for the Order in these last seven months. Not that it's any business of yours, but I came only on Dumbledore's orders."

"Well, make it quick, Snivellus, its Christmas day, if that means anything to you."

Black was saved from Snape's reply by Molly appearing on the kitchen stairs, obviously already in a state.

"What happened? Is it Arthur? Is everyone all right?"

"He is all right, Molly, everyone's all right, you may calm down," – Tonks quickly reassured her, but the portrait was beginning to stir, and without any further words, Molly herded them down to the kitchen.

Severus felt Sage stepping close behind him on the narrow stairway.

"Hi," – she said with a smile. Dazzling.

"Beauxbaton," – he murmured back. – "No stumbling this time?"

"Why, would you want me weak in the knees?"

He turned his head so quickly to look at her, he almost stumbled himself, but as a reward, he could behold her blush for a second before she turned her head away. Severus fervently hoped the sudden rush of blood through his whole system didn't show on his face too, but the witch's colour also gave an unknown surge of pride. How many women had ever turned pink for him?

Thankfully, the prospect to face the mutt in the kitchen was almost as grounding as seeing the Dark Lord, and he just stepped in behind them. Severus put in a concentrated effort to sound polite.

"As I said, I am here on the Headmaster's orders. He sent me to talk to Potter. Where is he?"

"You don't think I would tell you and let you badger him alone?"

"I don't think that's any of your business. As I said twice,–"

"I am his godfather. If it concerns Harry, it concerns me, I–"

"Don't flatter yourself, mutt,–"

At this point, the argument lost its point as three eager Gryffindors bolted down the kitchen stairs. The torturous trio didn't look left or right, just rushed where they wished to – headfirst, only stopped short when they saw the adults. Granger awkwardly lifted a patchwork quilt in her hands as if she wanted to cover their presence with it.

"Oh," – the girl cried out, and Severus suppressed a remark on her eloquence along the lines of the contrast between her past flood of words at school, so the presently middle-Weasley on duty at Hogwarts could speak up.

"Mum, Fred said, there's only you down here! We just…" – Granger stepped on Ron's toes, and the boy shut his gob, but not for long enough. "I mean, it's okay you're here, just–"

Granger pushed him aside.

"Sorry, Mrs. Weasley, we just wanted to give this to Kreacher for Christmas, but we can come back later." – she proved her sensibility to some extent.

Molly and Black spoke at the same time:

"This is very thoughtful of you dear, I hope you didn't think of giving him clothes, though…."

"That git isn't worth your effort. You must know that!"

Molly couldn't take it. "Sirius, you should stop this nonsense about that elf. I give you he's unpleasant, but Dumbledore told you repeatedly–"

"My house elf is nobody's business, just like my discussions with Dumbledore.

Their rising quarrel would have been amusing if Severus didn't find himself suddenly preoccupied with the thought of giving Christmas presents to a house elf. Was that a common thing or just the girl's infamous foolery about creature abolition? Hell, with Chubby, he had never had such a problem in his life!

He yanked his thoughts back to the present only to meet Potter's suspicious gaze. The boy resisted his friends' every attempt to drag him away from the scene. Severus knew this gaze. The brat was up to something and probably wondered if he was in his way.

"Enough, Sirius! No one questions your authority in your home. Just let the kids do it; it was a nice thought. I bet Dumbledore would agree!" – Molly proved with her tone just how much the dog lacked any kind of authority in "his home."

Severus bit his face so as not to chuckle, but his features still betrayed his sardonic amusement. Black honoured it with a growl and barely held himself back.

"Go on, dear, just be quick about it!" – Molly turned to Granger. "Harry, Professor Snape is here to talk to you."

"MOLLY!" – Black roared.

"What?"

"To me?" Weasley and Potter cried out in unison while Granger uncertainly remained silent. Severus would have rolled his eyes, but the Snape persona was stronger and way more adept at handling the situation, so he glared the brat down instead.

"Yes, Mr. Potter, but not in such a crowd."

"I don't give my consent to this!" – Black had to interject just when the dunderheaded boy's curiosity seemed to triumph over his wariness. "Harry, you don't need to do anything you don't want to."

"Of course, he has to! He's a schoolboy, for goodness' sake!" – Both men turned their eyes on Beauxbaton with surprise. "Even I have to do a bunch of things I don't want to! Sirius, what's got into you? You heard that Albus sent him; now let him work!"

Severus couldn't stop a devilish smirk.

"You heard the lady, Black, go let me work! Potter," – he signalled the boy towards the door, momentarily losing interest if the dog eyed him strangely calculating or not, but neither counted on Molly.

"Whatever it is, Dumbledore also allowed Harry to come with us visiting Arthur, and Remus can be here any moment. I'd rather not be late."

For Severus's most intense surprise, Potter stepped to Molly.

"Mrs. Weasley, if Professor Dumbledore sent me a message, I would want to hear it. I promise I won't lag behind…" – he peeked up at Snape.

He shook his head. "I assure you, Potter, I have better things to do with my time than to entertain you," – he only realized when he said it how fervently he hoped for certain better things since he found Beauxbaton also in the house. Fortunately, he could be sure everyone would mistake his self-reproaching grimace for distaste.

"All right then, all right, Harry," – He heard Black's voice which the mutt must have intended to sound commanding. "Now, get it over with, Snivellus, and let us enjoy Christmas!"

Severus stared at him blankly for a second and forced his fists to unclench before he talked. He would have probably said something very different if Sage didn't walk through the kitchen between them, covering out the dog for some moments from his sight, but as it was…

"Potter, you are to come with me to the living room and hear what I have to say in some privacy."

"You are not to give orders in my house, Snivellus," – Black said airily as they stepped away.

Severus replied back to him at once. "So are not you, as it is clear to see."

What would have been a tiff was cut short by a squealing gasp from somewhere under the cupboard.

"I can't believe it!" – Granger's voice sounded as if she was in distress.

The Weasley-kid stood closest, watching her feet peeping out of a cabinet. Now he was quick to climb in next to her.

All heard his moan of disgust, then…

"Bloody hell! Isn't that that Lestrange-woman?!"

Severus looked at Black with renewed alertness, and at least he seemed agitated too. They both moved across the kitchen, but Beauxbaton was closer to the cupboard.

"Move over, Mr. Weasley, let me see it!" – her tone was slightly less strict than McGonagall's, Severus had never seen this side of her, but young Mr. Weasley was quick to oblige.

The kids quickly got out of the cabinet under the cupboard, Granger obviously already left that quilt for the elf, and before anyone could say a word, Beauxbaton was on all fours to crawl into the small room. Severus felt the need to clear his throat before he choked on his breath that caught and quickly averted his eyes – only to see Black shamelessly ogling the witch with his tongue absently caught between his teeth showing in a wide grin.

"For Merlin's sake, dog, stick it in ice!" – Severus growled more with disgust than with outrage.

Black had the audacity to grin only wider. "If you can't recognize a perfect bubble butt, I'm sure yours is already stuck there," – he replied with a shake of his head.

"At least I behave, not waving my tail around like a happy little pup!"

Black somehow managed to unglue his eyes and look at him, although with a curious expression.

"You don't say…" – he grinned again. "If you dream of a bird like that, you'll be gutted for sure. Now, sod off, chav, and let me help her!" – he uttered with his yapp-like laugh, shoving Snape by the shoulder, and already got down to climb after the witch, when Beauxbaton's voice came from the house elf's hole.

"Oh, my! Severus, you've got to see this!"

Not giving a flying thought about the others' bewilderment around them, Severus passed by Black with a long stride and crawled his way under the cupboard. If he kicked the dog in the hand in the process, that must have been no more than an accident because he was way too engrossed in his momentary triumph to even notice it.

The elf's cabinet was dirty and smelled like a junkyard, and the opening was way too narrow for any measure of comfort. The witch's closeness didn't help his focus, and Severus lost himself to the sensation of Beauxbaton's shoulder and arm pressing into his for a second. When she spoke, her voice sounded rustier than usual.

"Look in the corner!"

Severus's gaze slid through the patchwork kilt on the rugs the elf must have used for sleep and tried to identify all the artifacts laying around, remanences of a previous dark era just like the portrait in the entrance. Here lay the tokens of the elf's true loyalty among broken framed pictures of those members of the family he must have deemed worthy; in the middle of this makeshift altar, Bellatrix Lestrange. Beauxbaton shot him a significant glance, and Severus nodded with barely contained disgust.

He already saw enough to send the kids away and make Black clean this up when he finally noticed a small pile of rugs in the corner Sage indicated. The patchwork quilt must have shoved one of those rugs aside because now a golden chain peeked out from under them, holding a locket with a snake carved in a green field.

"How the hell did that get here?" – he asked in a subdued voice hoping in vain he couldn't be heard from the outside.

"Regulus?" – Beauxbaton offered.

Severus turned to her, surprised.

"D'you know about him?"

"Sirius is chatty," – she whispered.

"Because he fancies you," – Severus couldn't help warning her, but Sage pulled a shoulder with a challenging smile.

"And?"

It was hard to discern why she found his discontented grumble amusing, and Black kicking his feet outside was also more than annoying.

"Hey, Snivelly, what were you saying of my dear little brother?"

Severus pulled himself out of the elf's hole and waited for Sage to stand up beside him. She held the locket by the chain.

"Your heritage is fascinating" – he told Black with open disdain.

"Oh, was that envy? I'm sure someone like you would adore this dirt!"

"I never had a need for your pathetic ancestry, you–"

"Guys, would you mind destroying the Horcrux first?" – Sage cut in while she passed between them and put the locket onto the table.

"The WHAT?"

Black's horrified exclaim made it obvious he knew the word. Severus saw even the hair stood up on his arm – the first thing he could understand about him, he had to admit with a grimace.

"You cannot be sure it is, Beauxbaton" – he warned her, not wishing to deal with the mutt yet.

Sage nodded.

"True," – she admitted. "But it feels wrong somehow… as wrong as…."

"What is a Horcrux?" – Potter interrupted before Severus could warn the witch not to tell too much. No one gave heed to his question.

Sage eyed Severus expectantly. "Would you…"

He was not comfortable showing off his skills to an audience. "Black, get away with the kids!"

"Oh, no, not that!" – Black violently shook his head. "This is my house, my elf, my business." He glanced at Sage. "What makes you think it is a Horcrux?"

"What is a Horcrux?" – Potter tried to meddle again.

"Sirius, it's quite a long story. I honestly think we should examine it in a more… erm… safe environment," – Sage said with a significant look, and Black finally got the point.

"All right, everybody out!" – he turned to the kids and Molly, but Potter stomped his foot and held his place.

"What is a Horcrux?" – he demanded.

Severus lost his fragile patience. "Black, tell your godson to move his precious little ass to somewhere safe if that's even possible in this infernal house!"

"You watch your language, Snivellus, or I will watch it for you!" – Sirius promptly turned on him, but he was outnumbered.

"Don't you think this time he was right in the essentials?" – Sage asked him, not much short of yelling.

"In essentials" – Sirius repeated grudgingly. "Harry, you all three go up to your rooms NOW. I don't kid here. Molly, please go with them; Arthur will understand."

"Of course, but–"

"If Remus arrives, I'll send him up to you."

Molly nodded and herded out the reluctant youth of the kitchen.

"You go too," – Severus told Black.

"In your dreams."

Severus contemplated Apparating back to Hogwarts to examine their finding in peace. However, as he tried to touch the locket, he felt a strange warmness that pulled at him and repulsed him simultaneously, causing his guts to wrench and a strange, heightened awareness. Something was definitely off.

"It's probably cursed too, have a care!" – Sage warned him, watching his every move. It was hard to disappoint her, and although Severus had his doubts about Black watching, he was repulsed by the idea of Apparating with such an artifact.

"We shall see," – he grumbled and calmed himself enough to let his magic fill the room and touch the locket in his stead, eliciting a disharmonic buzz he last time experienced when they examined the ring.

"Whoa, stop that already!" – Sirius cried out behind him. "What kind of black magic are you thinking to perform here?"

Severus could not care less about his opinion. He focused with all his might, but the locket stayed closed.

"The darkness is inside; it's not me" - he told Black as an explanation, then turned to Sage. "It very well may be a Horcrux. The likeness is overbearing."

"Shall we call Albus?"

"Yeah!" – Sirius enthusiastically chimed in, but Severus shook his head.

"He shouldn't enter the house while Potter's around, and I strongly discourage you of Apparating with this in your pocket. Actually, anywhere near you. It feels as it wanted to communica–"

"Now you stop right there! Why the hell would it bother him to come to Harry? And what is this thing? What are you trying to do wandless? Sagie, you cannot let this git confuse you. If you suspect you found something dark in there, he's the last one we should trust!"

"I'm tempted to let you have your go with it, but I have standing orders to spare your unworthy life. This is indeed a Horcrux, and I care not if you bark around, just don't try and get in the way!" – Severus sneered.

"How dare you talk like this in my house? Who gave you the right to give out orders here, that's–"

"The headmaster," – Severus lost patience again, and he produced that annoying letter from his robe's pocket. He couldn't avoid handing it over any longer even if he hated not knowing what was exactly said in it. "Here, go and read it! I'm here on his command to perform a rather distasteful, albeit inevitable task. Nothing for you to care about as usual, so just lay back to your place!"

While Black eagerly grabbed and straightened the parchment to read, Severus turned back to Sage. She observed them both with calculating eyes but didn't say a word.

"I doubt it would react any better if we attempted to lift the curse than the last one…" – Severus tentatively began, and the witch's gaze shifted back to her usual polite openness.

"Shall I go acquire the sword then?"

Her practicality eased his mood as always.

"I doubt we could use it," – Severus only elaborated, seeing her confusion. "That belonged to Gryffindor. You are a foreigner, I am a Slytherin, and I hardly think this one is worthy even by the sword's standards, so unless you know a worthy Gryffindor…" – he uttered the last dichotomy rolling his eyes, thankfully the witch was quick to speak, and she didn't pick on the issue.

"All right, we need something that kills faster, and damages more severely than magical healing can counter," – she summarized.

"Fiendfyre!" – Black let his hands drop with the parchment, obviously already finishing the letter.

Severus shrugged. "It's your house, mutt," - he said with faked nonchalance.

"What about that venom that soaked the sword?" – Sage hurried to suggest before Black could reply.

"I wonder where we acquire basilisk venom" – Severus mused – "as it seems we might even just have to look into the back garden."

Sage smiled at the joke; Black did not. A small win amidst a lost battle.

"Not even my mother was that insane!"

"Oh, I'm sure there must be some basilisk hatchlings in the elf's hole if we have a good long look around" – the witch teased the dog, and for Severus' intense annoyance, he snickered at her jape.

In the momentary pause, Severus and the witch arrived at the same conclusion simultaneously.

"The Chamber!" – They cried out in unison.

Black put down the letter and eyed them, on alert.

"The Chamber of Secrets? Now should be the time when you tell me what that has to do with Harry?"

"Nothing directly" – Severus answered because it seemed easier to humour him. "I will go and fetch–"

"You don't go anywhere" – Black stepped up against him. "Not after casting those ungodly spells of yours on that thing!"

"Sirius, you cannot mean–"

"You don't know him, Sagie. This git would just waltz in here under the guise of delivering orders, then take us all out with a massive curse on such a thing. I know that buzzing noise. I haven't heard that for about twenty-five years, but I know it, and there's no way in hell he'd get away with whatever he'd been doing without his wand."

Severus stared at him with disbelief. "You've lost even that tiny spark of sense that used to waggle inside you before Azkaban. You should have stayed there guarded for your own good!"

"Oh, I'm sure you wish I stayed!"

Seeing Black's hand reaching for his robe's pocket, Severus' fingers found the handle of his own wand. Sage chimed in.

"That's easy; I should go then. Where shall I look for it?" – she stepped between them as if by chance and forced Severus' gaze to meet hers. "D'you care to pull back?" – she innocently asked, trying to shield Black from his still roaming magic and covering him out of his field of view at the same time.

Severus obeyed with a minimal rolling his eyes.

"Pull back what? So does she also know you cannot be trusted? I knew she wasn't a fool!" – Black misunderstood the short exchange he overheard, and this time he managed to make the blood run up to Severus' head. He sidestepped the witch and absently pulled his wand to stun the dog, if only for some peace's sake, and Sirius mimicked the motion.

"Or… maybe I'd better not?" – Sage lamented aloud – "Kids, what's your issue? I honestly don't dare leave you two alone."

"No need to worry, Sagie, just old schoolmates discussing life and so…."

"I have nothing to discuss with you."

Their gazes never left each other, watching for the other's next move with patient alertness.

"All right," – Severus heard the witch's voice became disturbingly cold, but he didn't have the freedom to look at her or calm her at the moment. At least he thought that before she continued: "I don't care what got into you two, but if you don't put those wands away this instant, I will put this chain around my neck and Apparate to Hogwarts. Someone will tell me where to find that chamber. Your elf, Chubby, for example…."

From the corner of his eye, Severus saw her lifting the locket.

"Beauxbaton, don't!" – he pleaded.

"I have no patience for your histrionics, guys, we either do this together, or I will do it alone."

Severus stepped aside from Black's wand's way with a mumbled curse and lowered his wand, knowing Sage too well to doubt her resolve.

"It's your turn," – the witch looked at Black now. "Lower your wand, or I swear I'll be the one to curse you!"

"Relax, Sagie" – Sirius winked with a half-grin, "it's no big deal at all."

Severus saw her grimace, and it eased him a bit when she went on:

"Now, that you gentlemen are ready to focus, we need a–"

"Chubby!" – Severus suddenly exclaimed.

"Beg your pardon?"

"You've just said you would rely on his help. If I summoned the–"

"Bring in the death eater megalomania!" – Black cried out with a snort – "Those house elves belong to Hogwarts!"

"You should have let me stun him," – Severus hissed to Sage, but the witch only pulled a shoulder.

"Your face didn't foretell a stunner," – she mumbled, then added more loudly: "It's worth a chance. He keeps bragging about his loyalty."

"Chubby!" – Severus cried out, this time with intent, but nothing seemed to happen.

"See? Loyal to Hogwarts!" – Sirius looked around with triumph for about a second before a house elf appeared on the table in front of them with a loud pop, happily dancing from one leg to another.

"Master Professor summoned Chubby outside Hogwarts!" – he gabbled – "Master Professor finally trusts Chubby! Chubby will do ANYTHING to serve!"

"Merlin, this is unreal" – Sirius rubbed his face in disbelief. "Elf, have you lost your sense of honour betraying the house you serve?!"

The elf's ball-like eyes bulged with horror and anger. It was so curious a look they didn't notice him stopping his usual dancing.

"Master Professor tells Chubby what to do. Chubby is a good elf. Can even curse that man unrecognizable."

Severus' lips ran to a contented smile. "You are indeed a good elf, Chubby, but as much as it is tempting to let you have your way, if I have to wait, then so will you." He heard Sage chuckle behind him and his triumph felt complete. "Now, you may regret your enthusiasm offering anything, for I'll have you retrieve something for me again."

The elf's visible shock betrayed how clearly he remembered his last similar task, but he nodded. Severus went on describing a basilisk fang, telling everything he learned about the Chamber of Secrets three years before.

"Chubby will not disappoint" – the house-elf waved his ears with confidence and disappeared with a loud pop.

"And now?" – Sirius asked.

"Now we wait." Severus seated himself by the table and tried to hide his chuckle when he heard familiar words from Beauxbaton:

"I'm sure you're familiar with the concept."

"I'll tell Molly to take the kids to Arthur then. Remus has surely arrived" – Sirius decided after hesitating a moment. "It seems this will take a while."

Severus was only too glad to watch him leave the room. When they were left alone, Sage sat beside him. He took it as a small reward for his efforts of the day.

"When I stopped you" – the witch hesitantly began – "I didn't want to make you vulnerable. I cannot imagine what makes this a situation between you two, but I need to manage it…" - she stopped to assess his feelings and only went on when she saw on his face neither hurt nor anger. "You could help me here, you know. What makes you both such jerks to each other? Sirius is a funny chap when you're not around, and I haven't seen you that short-tempered either."

As she leaned forward to watch him, she put her hand on the table. Severus absently reached for her long fingers and caressed them before he knew what he was doing.

"A very funny chap" – he grumbled but couldn't be angry with her. Not with her. "Well, I'm not much into his kind of fun."

Sage's hand turned on the table, showing her palm and catching the tip of his fingers before he could retreat.

"What has he done?"

Her voice was so soft Severus felt tempted to throw all caution and previous considerations to the wind. He closed his eyes for a second to remind himself he couldn't, but he could entwine his fingers with hers; he could feel the heat of her palm on his.

"What he calls discussions were rather exchanging hexes and curses. What he calls schoolmates was more like enemies in the seventh depth of hell."

Sage's fingers clutched and unclutched around his, finally; they moved slowly, gently upwards along the length of his fingers, still holding them loosely, caressing the skin inside between each of his fingers. It was improbably good. Maddening in its grace, innocence and prurience.

"It must have been bad if you both still remember…" – she pushed him on with his tale.

"He and those friends of his ran wild about the whole school. Never checked, never called to account, not truly. Your funny chap nearly got me killed, sending me to face a werewolf, and I was reprimanded for looking for trouble."

Her hand suddenly stopped in his. "What?"

Severus almost regretted telling the truth, and his fingers slowly tried to entice hers to carry on with their delicious moves.

"He would have killed me had his "greatest friend" not chickened out of the prank." He caressed and tickled each and every one of her fingers, finally rubbing circles at their bases, one after another. "The Headmaster thought I should be grateful. He still believes that, I suspect. They'd got detention, I had to promise I won't tell on them, not even the werewolf, my best friend thought I'd lost my marbles, and it all got hushed up for good" – he listed while she seemed to ease back to their game. He carried on with his tale. "I even kept my promise till not long ago."

"Why?"

Her question was so sudden and strange, Severus' fingers froze to place for a second. Sage's palm eagerly turned to cover his, and the tips of her fingers delicately fondled the heel of his palm and his wrist bone. He struggled to think about an answer; this wasn't something he ever contemplated.

"I'm not even sure… it never occurred to me. I promised I won't tell on them, so I didn't."

"They should have got expelled. Why would someone do anything like that?"

"Because they hated me. I can be very uncomfortable, you know," – Severus added with a sardonic smile. His thumb played now with her nails, drawing their shapes, rubbing their smooth surface as if he wanted to commit all into memory.

Sage chuckled. "You certainly can. That's no reason, though, to feed you to a werewolf … a vicious curse maybe, sometimes… What?" – she halted when Severus froze. Her fingertips were quick to turn and catch his, giving back the playful petting just the edges of his digits. "I was just kidding…."

Severus surrendered to her gentle touch again. "Well, they were not."

It took only a small squeeze of her hand to make him grab onto her and contract his fingers around her palm.

"He told me about his friends but never mentioned you."

"Now he will say and do everything to make you believe what he does."

It pained him so much to say the words. It was curious she still didn't abandon his hand, and Severus's fingertips slipped gratefully up and down on the back of her palm.

"And what is that?"

"That I…" – Severus took a breath worth half a sigh. He couldn't tell if that was because of their words or the sensations blossoming at the tips of his fingers and burning through now his entire body. "That I deserved it" – he finished in a whisper with the air rushing out of his lungs.

Sage's hand slid into his from the tips of her fingers through his palm, digit sliding on digits, palm sliding on palm until her thumb clutched and squeezed his in a strange handshake. Then, of all possible noises, she chuckled! "I dare him to try that!"

He wanted to look into her eyes for the first time since they began this peculiar game, and Severus realized he did not dare. He closed all her fingers into his palm.

"What did Albus want with the boy?" – Sage turned the page on their earlier subject. The answer was so outlandish he almost giggled.

"He wants me to teach him occlumency."

Her nails stopped their mimicking ice-skating through the back of his palm.

"You?" – she tittered.

"D'you think I cannot tell him what he needs to know?" – he challenged.

"I think he will not hear you, but good luck with that!"

Her well-wishing felt oddly good even with her sarcasm. Severus watched their hands playing on the table, like separate entities without the devastating connection to their subjects of choice or the reality. His digits smoothly stroked through her palm, boldly reaching her wrist. They were free to do so, unlike he was. He couldn't act upon his feelings, but somehow his fingertips could. These were only hands on a table, after all.

But why did it all cut his breath short then? Why did her touch feel as if she caressed him through and through?

He reached the base of her palm again and found that small silky hollow on her wrist with his thumb. He rubbed it gently in narrowing circles. Did she sigh? Her fingers clutched on the heel of his palm and firmly stroked it up to his pinky finger and down back again. When she reached up to the edge of his palm the third time, she stroked his finger gently, hugging it with her warm palm, then rubbed all the way down, tenderly squeezing, and it all sent a surge of desire down his spine. His already heightened sensuality and waking passion sprang to attention as if she clutched–

Chubby returned with glee and triumph, and with a pop so loud it repressed Severus's loud gasp for air. Both were startled, and Sage pulled her hand to her chest. Severus only dared to risk a quick covert look in her direction. Her cheeks were reddened, and her blush spread down her neck and under her robe. The vision of her fondling her wrist between her rapidly rising and falling breasts didn't help a bit to calm himself. His hand also felt on fire to the point that he didn't dare to put it down on his robe. There was not an inch on his body that wasn't burning up with her lingering touch.

"It was all like Master Professor described it! Chubby was careful and touched not the fangs."

Severus grabbed the basilisk fang without a second thought and pushed himself from the table to walk an aimless round along the kitchen. Locket, locket, locket. Horcrux. That is a Horcrux, you miserable fool. You have a basilisk fang in your hand, so gather your senses before someone gets hurt! – he had to repeat it only twice. Now be quick about it, and let's clean your head!

As soon as he finished giving himself the mental pep-talk, Severus lifted the fang and jabbed it on the locket with all his might…. only the last moment made him hold back his force, and the fang slid off its aim when he saw a shade of red, that wasn't similar to anything else…

As a face emerged from the locket, Severus pulled back his hand with a fright. Almond-shaped, beautiful green eyes opened to see him, rounded shoulders, a well-known form… Severus watched, horrified and with adoration, the witch now hovering above the table. And her only expression was disdain.

"Snivellus! Do you call yourself a man? You traded me! You sold me! How dare you try to live that down? You deserve no forgiveness; you don't even have the right to seek it! You never had! –"

By the first word, Severus already faltered, even though he knew this was not real. He tried to fight the words, but with every sentence, it became harder. The phantom spoke too quickly and with too much hatred for his unpractised self-esteem to have a chance. When she began on her hatred showing in her son's eyes on intention and told he should have never had the audacity to dream about carrying on with his life, he knew she said nothing that wasn't true.

"You should have died instead of me! You betrayed me! You should rot in the deepest hell. I am not the only one to send you there! You killer! You lecher! Do you think I don't know how you are betraying even my memory? You lustful lowlife! You repulse me! Even now you–"

– with a sudden shriek, the phantom dissipated and in its place stood Chubby, the house-elf, panting, with a broken basilisk fang hanging in his hand. The locket lay at his feet, also broken, with a strange liquid covering the table around it. Elf and master stared into each other's eyes for a long moment, mutely understanding the elf's magic and determination breaking the medal as much as the fang, before Black's voice filled the kitchen.

"What the sodding bloody hell?!" – he shouted from the kitchen's door.

Severus tried to turn his gaze upon him, but he stopped short when Sage's eyes came to view. The witch stared at him with wide-eyed bewilderment, mouth agape, and he wished if he could hide.

He wished to just disappear, to vanish, but he couldn't even hide his shaking hands. If at least he had anything to say, but he was trying for a coherent thought in vain, even breathing was a challenge. Finally, the witch gathered her senses.

"It was only a protection charm, nothing more" – she asserted. "You know it as well as I do. It was built probably on one's greatest fears."

"I don't know, Sagie," - Black chimed in – "she seemed to catch the point perfectly, didn't she, Snivellus?"

He turned his head slowly to face him and freezing cold washed through his bones. Severus knew only too well what he would have done now without Héloïse's training, and he was not ashamed for his wish to kill. However, that month was behind him, and Black's words curiously reinforced what he found out about his judgement. These were his thoughts, not Lily's. If this phantom resembled someone, it was his father, just like Black. With enormous restrain, he didn't reach for his wand, but he wasn't into discussing his most inner thoughts with the dog either!

"I came to talk to Potter," – he managed to spat out on an even if rusty tone. "The headmaster wants him to learn and learn he will."

Sirius stared at him with disbelief before his fist smashed into Severus's hated face with a force that sent him bleeding to the floor.

"You are not even human, you git! Is that everything you have to say?!" – he shouted and was ready to follow him down to beat him.

Half-blinded by his broken nose and blood, Severus searched for his wand when he felt a wind of magic fly above him, filling the room, and he heard his enemy yelp. Black was nailed on the wall by an invisible force when he managed to focus, and the house elf stood tall with impossible rage marring his features.

"You do not attack Master Snape!" – Chubby shouted in a fury, and Black struggled against his magic to no avail.

"Get that off of me!" – he shouted.

"I see no reason." Severus slowly stood and wiped the blood from his face. "Chubby is a good elf, indeed, if you failed to notice."

The more Black swore at him, the more his head collided with the wall. This time he didn't regret watching someone's torture.

"That's enough! Chubby let him go!" – Sage cried out for the second time when they finally heard her, and the elf's grip wavered, but Black stayed pinned on the wall.

"Severus, please! This is insane!"

"Is it now?" – he absently turned to her, but oddly enough, the witch was not watching the dog with her eyes pleading. Instead, she watched him as if she was anxious or worried for his sake. It made no sense at all.

"Believe me! I walked through that line, and I know you did too. There's nothing worth there, was it? Stop this, please!"

Severus stood there with his chest heaving for seconds before he ordered the elf to stop with a reluctant nod. Sage approached him with her wand visible all the time only when Black hit the floor. She moved slowly as if she approached a wild predator – he secretly acknowledged she was probably right to do so – and she cast an Episkey on his nose.

Sirius slowly gathered himself. "I saw you cast black magic on that thing. I always knew you couldn't be reformed. Now you stole a house elf from Hogwarts. Dumbledore should be made aware. How dark someone has to be to break such a bond? And now," – he went on menacingly softly – "you lure this girl into your dealings! Do you want to drag her down with you? I shudder to think what you would have done if Lily–"

Severus pulled his wand without a thought and slashed the air in his direction, making the dog gag and choke, only releasing his spell when a new voice mixed with Sage's scream.

"Now that's a jolly scene I expected for Christmas! What the devil has gotten into you all?" – Tonks exclaimed from the kitchen door.

When he saw Sage shooting an annoyed look at him before she crumbled next to the dog, Severus just turned and left them all. He felt severely wounded himself, just not bleeding any more. He couldn't care less how they proceeded, and he'd heard enough for the day.