Chapter 14: Sage Meets Karkaroff and Makes an Impression

I used the lyrics from Chevelle "Send the Pain Below" not my lyrics!

Sage stared at the orange glow around the flickering candle. The wax fell from it slowly in translucent drips. His breathing was slow and measured. He sat on the bed in his room, his eyes open and fixed forward onto the candle burning on his dresser. His arms were folded comfortably, drapsing into his lap.

Why does it all seem so fake? He thought. All this just doesn't feel real. Like I have been transposed into an alter dimension. I'm sitting on this bed. I can feel it, but it just isn't. Does it even matter anymore? Bugger! What the hell is wrong with me? All right, now, I have to get passed this. This is just, just ridiculous. I'm acting like a child. Why am I even thinking about this? He questioned. Because I can't sleep!

A loud sigh escaped his mouth as he pushed himself back against his pillows, which were propped up against the wall.

This is all not going to be here. What happens when it is all gone…Something akin to a sigh but sounding more like a whimper escaped his lips. He closed his eyes. When I'm gone. It's so little time. It could go by in, in a blink of an eye. Time can go so fast. So fast. Only a few years.

Uncrossing his arms, he wrung his hands together.

This really is enough. How do I make it stop. I just have to get my mind off it. Do something. I can just…just play my guitar until I am so tired I just pass out.

The guitar felt oddly heavy in his hands, slick and cold. He whispered a silencing charm and played a few chords softly. The sound was smooth and comforting. He listened to the reverberations of the music. His mind seemed to melt as his fingers caressed the frets if the guitar and glided gently along its neck. Just a Severus's hands moved with a fluid ease when he was making potions, so did Sage's hands move as he played.

Words seemed to come out from him freely, like they were not really coming from him. There was no hesitation as he allowed the music to express how he felt. It was his outlet, his only outlet. He could not be weak to the music.

"I liked,
Having hurt,
So send the pain below,
Where I need it.

You used to beg me,
To take,
Care of things,
And smile at the thoughts,
Of me failing.

But long before,
Having hurt,
I'll send the pain below.

Much like suffocating,

You used to run me away,
All while laughing,
Then cry about that fact,
Til my returns.

I can't feel my chest,
Anymore,
Drop down,
Cause I am, gone
I can't feel my chest
Drop down!

I liked,
Having hurt,
So send the pain below."

He sang it over and over again, ingraining it into his mind so that he would not forget the words that found their way into his mouth at this moment.

Severus stalked around his rooms like a caged panther, growling with ferocity. He swirled around his glass of scotch, his finger wrapped tightly around the glass, fighting the desire to throw the glass into the fire.

Karkaroff! He said as if it were the most vile name.

The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were arriving the next day. He had not felt so irritated in quite some time. The name 'Karkaroff' just got under his skin like a disease. That feeble man had betrayed all sides, he had betrayed everything. He had always been a rather impotent Death Eater, but Severus had never expected him to be so weak. For being of a bloodline with a strong Dark Arts tradition, the man had no virtue, no power. Somehow, Severus was unsure how, the man had become Headmaster of Durmstrang.

Ha! A School with a reputation like Durmstrang with the most loathed ex-Death Eater among many circles. Those who had stayed loyal to the Dark Lord are sure to exalt in the eventual torture of that Karkaroff.

Severus was sure it would happen. Karkaroff was not intelligent enough to play his game, not intelligent enough to preserve himself. Karkaroff was not sly and cunning. He would not survive the eventual return of Voldemort.

The tall. Lean professor smirked with knowledge. He turned and stared at the fire. His mind reveled in what might eventually happen to the man. He would love to take part in it since the man had tried to turn him in. He pushed the cuffs of his white linen shirt up. Karkaroff could have caused Severus to go back to Azkaban if Dumbledore had not already spoken for him.

He scowled, his smile faded. Memories of what the prison was like floated back to him. His smile returned when he thought of having Karkaroff sent there.

The hall fell silent as Harry walked up the aisle to the front of the Great Hall. Sage frowned and looked at the stunned faces of Ron and Hermione. Surely they would have known if Harry had put his name in.

Sage shook his head negatively. How could Harry have put his name in, he wondered. It was fairly well an impossibility as far as Sage was concerned. His eyes once again went to the front of the hall. Severus had on his most severe and deadly sneer.

Some of the professors were now heading for the door where the champions were waiting. Even Dumbledore looked stern.

The professors stared at Harry, especially Madame Maxime and Professor Karkaroff. The questioning had not been going well. Within a second everybody turned to the door as it opened abruptly, and hit the wall with a semi-dramatic tug.

Sage strode in as the champions and professors eyed him. The foreign professors looked increasingly irritated about the intrusions of Hogwarts. Sage came to a stop next to Severus, and gave him a look only the two of them could interpret. The young Snape did not take any notice to the other odd and disapproving looks coming from everyone except Dumbledore and Ludo Bagman.

"What iz zis!" Madame Maxime exclaimed thickly, "The 'ZIRD 'ogwarts Champion?"

Fleur nodded furiously, holding Madame Maxime's arm.

Sage, who had been staring at Karkaroff, threw her a rather nasty glare. He raised his eyebrow and turned back towards Karkaroff as the man cleared his throat obnoxiously before speaking.

"Honestly, Dumbledore, do you allow your students such free rein?" He shook his head reproachfully and with disbelief.

Sage crossed his arms at the same time as Severus and narrowed his eyes at the ex-Death Eater.

Karkaroff's eyes were full of ice as he continued, "Such behavior would never be tolerated at Dumstrang."

Sage's glare turned as piercing as a well sharpened dagger and his lip began to curl with anger. If he did not hold it back, he would have snarled.

Karkaroff, unceasy under the glares of both of the Snapes, opened his mouth to talk, but strangely nothing came out. Shock filled his eyes and then comprehension.

Sage's lip curl quickly turned into a satisfied smirk. His eyes took that otherworldly look they sometimes got. Severus, quick to action, flipped his hand out from under his other arm and hit Sage lightly on the shoulder.

"Discretion," he said drawing the word out.

After a few seconds, Sage's face relaxed and he looked up at Severus.

"He has no appreciation for what you are," Severus finished. Sage nodded.

Karkaroff was irate when his speech came flooding back to him, "A relative of yours, Severus. Surely, you would not tolerate this. Perhaps you are not the man you once were," He hissed, laced with hidden meaning.

Dumbledore stepped in before Severus had a chance to snap the man's neck.

"Yes, my dear Karkaroff," Dumbledore said calmly, looking over his spectacles. "Sage is Severus's nephew. I believe, professor, that our young Magi was a little put out by your comment. I'm sure that you understand, Igor, that he is still learning to control his powers and it was unintentional."

Karkaroff scowled.

Sage smirked again at the way Dumbledore was trying to dispel the situation. Sage had done that to Karkaroff on purpose, of course, and was perfectly in control. The headmaster had to know that. He glanced up to Severus. His smirk intensified as he noticed the smug look on his uncle's face.

Karkaroff glared at Sage with fire. "Ha! Dumbledore, he did that on purpose. Didn't you," He hissed at Sage.

Sage's lips curled slightly in amusement.

"Perhaps," Sage said, drawing out the word, then he continuing in a way that made his 'perhaps' ambiguous, "If everyone was not so quick to jump to conclusions…" He glared at the foreigners, "…I would have asked permission to give some important information." His eyes gently fell to Dumbledore. "Sir, I just wished to say that Harry did not put his name in the goblet. Not unless he did so this morning in front of everyone."

Karkaroff took a step forward, "Are we to believe him. I hardly believe him to be omniscient."

"I agree, professor," Madame Maxime put in.

Sage went to take a step forward, but Severus placed his hand on Sage's chest from his place next to him. It was a gesture to warm Sage to show more restrain. Sage frowned but did so. Instead of stalking forward he said, "It hardly takes omniscience to notice whether or not someone leaves the door to your common room in the middle of the night when you are sitting right there."

Severus stifled a snort, but Sage caught it. He felt encouraged.

"And what were you doing up last night? It was probably you that put Potter's name in." Karkaroff asked as if he were interrogating someone.

Sage did not even flinch, "Insomnia, after my visions, hardly a crime. As to the latter, what reason do I have to get Harry hurt, he is my cousin?"

Karkaroff smiled evilly. He thought he had finally hit upon something.

"Worried all night that the Goblet wouldn't pick your name?"

Sage let out a huff of entertained air. "I did not even put my name in the Goblet."

Karkaroff leaned in, "Afraid?" He asked insidiously.

"No, I'll just be sixteen in two weeks. It's against the rules. And although I likely would have pulled that stunt for myself, I thought it unwise. Afterall, it is a tournament and not an exhibition, yes? I would not trouble myself over such things as this tournament. I have no desire to take part in such…games."

Fleur, Krum, and Cedric were obviously offended by this statement. It was, clearly, a big deal to them.

Karkaroff growled at him.

Sage smirked and raised his eyebrow as if to ask, Admit defeat, yet? The smile that grew from his smirk was very satisfied, as Karkaroff did nothing to answer his look other than look at Krum, look at Dumbledore, and fume.

The young Snape suddenly let his anger fade as if it had never been there and looked at the headmaster.

"Sorry for the interruption, sir, but now that you know Harry did not put his name in, everyone can start thinking about who did."

"Such insolence," could be heard under Karkaroff's breath.

Dumbledore looked over his spectacles at the man.

"Mr. Snape has my confidence, Igor. As his skills and visions as a Magi make him particularly useful in certain situations."

Please leave me a note in a review if you're enjoying the story! Sage loves to hear from you all!

Author's notes.

Carpathia – if you are still out there, your email that you gave me is not working. I don't know if you miss-typed it so if you leave me another review, leave it for me again and I will try to get emails to you again.

I am glad that everyone is liking the story. I'm thinking you are all right to think that this story is going to turn out being better than the previous one. Thank you all very much for your reviews and your support. They really help me identify what things you all like, what you want more of, how you see the characters, and whether or not I am keeping you interested. Not to mention that they help me write faster.

I am graduating from college on Sunday. Whoop Whoop. More time for writing!

I am walking down the aisle in my robes, errr gown, right… And! Ha, my robes, gown, is Slytherin Green! And it also has this kind of iridescent black in it too, so when I move it changes colors. Snape would approve. I think I would catch his eye in that, sans mortar board cap of course, who looks good in those? My friends dared me to put a Slytherin patch on my chest. I was like, "Umm, I'm not THAT big of a Harry Potter nut!"