When Talbott got his hands on the Daily Prophet and brought it back to Talia, she could not believe the news on the front page. To be fair, none of them could. Staring back at them was an article of the new headmaster from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – Severus Snape.
A new Dark arts professor was also assigned as was the case every year, a name they both recognized, a Death Eater.
"I need to go see Severus." Talia spoke as she set the paper down.
Looking at her, the words failed him initially, before they came out stronger than ever "Are you serious? Who knows how many Death Eaters are at Hogwarts this very moment. It's far too dangerous."
Her eyes still remained glued to the paper, the picture of Severus looking back at her, Talia wanting nothing apart from one thing, answers "I did before, I can do it again Tal, I have ways. This isn't right, something is so off and I can't put my finger on it."
Placing his hands on her shoulders, she finally looked at him "I understand, you care for him, he raised you but what if he did actually betray everyone and turned into one of them?"
There was a moment of hesitation, she had considered it before, of course she had, it was a must as to not be disappointed just in case. It was a scenario that needed to be mapped out. But it still did not feel complete, even if that was actually the case "He said it was planned, he's hiding something. Severus wouldn't, trust me he wouldn't. You know him as a professor, I know him as more. Believe in me. Trust my judgement."
It was a lot to ask from her, she had not been walking a straight line as of late, but at the end of the day, Talbott knew well enough that if he did deny her, she would still do what she wanted. So he agreed as long as she let him join her. Talia accepted as long as he promised her to keep a low profile, transform in his Animagus form and went to speak directly to McGonagall. And he agreed. Of course he did.
They mapped out a plan, no more than an hour inside the castle, both making their way towards their respective locations.
Infiltrating the headmaster's office, Talia cast her lights, guiding them to his desk, Snape watching them for a moment before he followed their trail, reaching a location from which the portraits could not see them. Her fire did not subside upon seeing him, instead intensifying as she slowly uttered "Explain it to me." Her other hand drowning them in silence under a spell.
She walked closer to him, Snape not taking out his wand to attack her "Tell me how it was all planned, tell me why, teach me how one plans death because I sure as Hell can't even fathom the very idea. Let me in."
"You should not be here, this is far too dangerous for both of us."
Talia lowered her gaze to his feet, slowly lifting them a few moment later "You've always been under this veil of danger, how is this any different? I can't die, not unless you damage my heart, I can kill them with a touch, I can rid this school of Death Eaters and burn it to the ground if need be. So give me a reason to continue believing there is still good out there. Because I have been denied access to it."
"You do realize that if I utter a single word, you are sworn to secrecy." His dark eyes analyzed her every move, Talia nodding once. Extending his hand out for her to take, Talia's brows lifted.
"What are you doing?"
"Forcing you to keep your end of the promise."
Distrust, from the very beginning to the end, or was it something more? Looking at him, Talia shook her head, refusing to take his hand "No one forces me to do anything. But I can force you." Flames engulfed her hands, however Snape did not appear impressed as he lowered his own "Did you plan this?"
Closing his eyes, he let out a deep sigh, Talia rolling her eyes at his display, fire dying out. They both stared each other down, more in a bored manner than anything, Snape nodding his head slowly.
"Not entirely alone, me and Dumbledore planed it." He told her about the Horcruxes, the effect it had on Dumbledore when he tried to destroy one of them. How Draco Malfoy was supposed to be the one to kill him and how his own mother visited him, the Unbreakable Vow being performed in order to ensure the task was carried out. Talia listened to him, registering every part of information he was willing to provide.
Turning away from him, she took a seat on a random stack of books, rubbing her forehead as everything settled in "I have to say, Narcissa is a far better mother than most I met or know about."
"She cares about her son more than she cares for her own safety, that is certain. Go Talia, it's far too dangerous to be here, let alone this country."
Mimicking his previous sigh, she smirked at him "Go? Where? I have people taking care of things for me on the other side. I also have my tasks here. By the way did you know Josephine is dead?"
Snape only nodded, further adding "Constantine informed me."
She knew her father was more than likely not affected at all by the death of his wife. Not like she expected it in the slightest, however she wished in a sense there was some sort of remorse, some sort of pain, even if it was buried deep within his cold heart "Tell me about them, when they were young. Am I similar to them?"
Coming closer, Snape also took a seat on a chest "You are far more like him than her. Constantine was assigned to Slytherin back in days. A very conservative boy, did not talk much, but his eyes told stories, a lot of them, as if he understood everything that happened around him and more. As the years progressed, he became confident, in his abilities and his legacy. There was no hesitation in him, he embraced it fully, talked about how he would be the one to forge a…"
Cocking a brow, she uttered the word "Monster?"
"A beast he called it." However Snape's voice wavered when he spoke the word "He was certain he was born to create the perfect elixir for immortality." Lowering her head, she chuckled, low, menacing "You find that funny?"
Looking back up, she shook her head "Yes and no. It's not perfect. He got lucky because I was saved and even now if he were to perform the ritual and take my heart there's no guarantee because it was never tested. It wasn't his destiny." Offering him a sad smile, she asked about Josephine.
Cocking his brows, he chose to answer her instead of asking more questions that he was certain would go unanswered "She transferred to Hogwarts for only a year so they could get to know each other. The marriage was already planned, for a long time. It made them both bitter, they despised each other from the very start. He hated how she was older, how she spoke in French when she did not like something he said, how she looked at him, like she saw the end of her life in his eyes. But when years passed and enough words were implanted inside her mind, she saw in him salvation."
"That still doesn't tell me too much about her." Lifting her fingers, she fished from her pocket a small flask, getting up to give it to him "Try this, it's the good stuff not that awful liquid you had." Normally she never saw him drink, or if he did it was just a few sips before dinner, a glass of wine at most, however he opened the lid and took a big gulp, nodding his head in approval before he extended it back to her "Keep it, all yours."
Taking another sip, he witnessed Talia pacing around, hands itching to reach inside her pocket again in order to smoke "He was smart, still is, very much so like yourself. She loved books, would use them in order to escape the world around her. She was elegant and he was cold, but his presence turned heads. They demanded respect and received it with a simple look and not just because of their names, but because of how much they knew and how they acted." Shaking his head as if to dissipate the fog clouding his mind, he almost smiled "Maybe I misjudged and you are more like your mother. A rebel, going against what people wanted from her. Beautiful, you do resemble her more. She was quick to come up with a comeback, sharp and people did not like a woman to be like that, but she did it anyway."
Lifting her hand, she told him it was enough, she did not learn anything new, none that would be of any use to her at least.
"Is Winger still around?"
"Far closer than you think." She spoke, Snape looking around as if he expected for Talbott to emerge from the shadows "Not that close."
"Do you still trust him?"
She contemplated her answer, far more than what should have been considered normal "Let's say I'm trying to learn to trust again."
He liked that answer, it was what he taught her, something she had from him. While Talia of course on an unconscious level held similar traits to her parents, this mistrust, the fact that she was careful when putting her trust in someone new was a good thing to have in the future, something learned from him. Life was not fair to many, her and him included, however even despite his teachings her soul still shined bright in certain moments.
It was the base reason why he wanted her to leave, to not be near the people that were connected to her parents, even if that mean he himself not seeing her anymore at all. He wanted to believe she would mellow down, settle, find a way for herself away from the violence and life threatening situations.
To find love and for love to find her back.
"I have to reluctantly admit I am surprised he stuck around for so long. When I initially heard Winger was the one you chose, I figured he would run away like a scared little boy once he learned your history."
Chuckling, Talia shook her head "Chose? It's like you're saying that me and him are stuck forever. You do know there were other prospects." Trying to maintain a straight face she continued "Like Felix Rosier." Snape rolled his eyes upon hearing his name "Or Charlie Weasley." A groan leaving Snape's mouth "Pretty certain Dumbledore was trying to set me up with wait what did he call him? Someone like me."
"What are you on about now?"
Smirking, she crossed her hands over her chest "Apparently Dumbledore had an ace up his sleeve, he was talking about recruiting to our side the only one who saw me" her voice dropped slightly "come back during the battle at the Ministry."
Snape slowly got up "Who saw you?"
"Does it matter?" however the look he provided her made Talia give in "Akira Crane."
Coming face to face with her, he grabbed her by the arm yanking her "You will not approach him, that man is no man, but a monster. Even Voldemort himself could not control him and only had him handle the grimmest of killings." Talia pulled her hand away, brows knitting together "Promise me, you will not even speak to him."
"Well I don't think I can since I'm pretty sure he's dead after helping us escape."
Snape's face went pale "Oh child, you have no idea what you're facing. Trust no one, especially one that betrays, regardless of the reason."
Scoffing, she shook her head in disgust "Then where are you? Somewhere in the middle? Why are you throwing your entire life away?"
"You know why."
Her face contorted in anger "For love?"
"Always. And I pray you will never have to understand my words." Hearing a shriek outside, Talia snapped back to reality, eyes searching around for a clock. Turning back at Snape, her eyes widened as she came face to face with his wand "I cannot have you remember our discussion tonight."
"Then why tell me anything father? Consider this me being little and you thinking I couldn't understand your words."
His hesitation was enough, Talia closing her eyes as she sighed, hiding behind closed lids as fire emerged from her hands, slithering towards him, climbing up his robe. The spell refused to produce as he felt the burn, Talia running through the office, jumping over the ledge as she concealed herself under a spell, stopping her descent towards the ground with her other hand, spell being cast, Talbott waiting for her, circling the area, both making their escape in the dead of the night.