Chapter 7: Second Year: Summer Break

Calli hadn't been wrong about her family's reaction to the end of her second year at Hogwarts. Her uncle, usually able to stay calm and cool under pressure or at least in public, raved like a madman. She was startled by his ravings. They were simply based on anger at being thwarted. No, there was a lingering fear. The journal, she saw looking into his eyes, a simple leather bound book with no distinguishing characteristics had unleashed the horrors at Hogwarts. And it had, she saw, belonged to his Master. An attempt to resurrect him through a random inanimate object. This sparked her insatiable need for knowledge.

She ordered books when she found nothing in the library to satisfy her curiosity. Dark books that she hoped held the answers about how a plain book could bring back Voldemort from where ever he was hiding.

Not a portkey. He had no problems coming into Hogwarts via Quirrell. As she dismissed ideas from each book in turn, she noticed her aunt and uncle were so preoccupied that they hadn't noticed her influx of books. As for Draco, he was so self absorbed that he never paid attention. The last book she'd ordered arrived two weeks before she was due back at school. In it, she found the answer. In gruesome detail, she learned about Horcruxes.

What could defeat death for a wizard? Horcrux. A splitting of one's soul by the act of murder to transport that piece into an object magically prepared to house it. Dear Merlin. Was there no limit to the evil her parents' mentor would commit? This wizard, Voldemort, was evil incarnate. Did she burn in her bed, her veins screaming in pain, because her family's devotion even in a body that didn't agree called out for him? Did the lightest version of himself make the burn worse? And why did it happen near Harry?

Shuddering, she gathered all the dark books she'd ordered and hid them in the one place no one would look-the family library. As she shelved them, she hoped that her third year would be quiet. Quieter than her uncle's home. Quieter than second year. Just quiet.

Everywhere Severus looked, Sirius Black's sneering face mocked him. Just like during his disappointing school years. Except now, instead of being the golden boy surrounded by admirers and his three cohorts, he was a wanted wizard. A large part of him hoped to be the one to catch the sneering, better than everyone bully and hand him straight into the Dementors' arms.

Then, as though Black's mocking face wasn't enough of a horrible reminder of his schoolyard days, Dumbledore informed him that Remus Lupin would be teaching his coveted position of Defense Against the Dark Arts. How ironic, the subject would be taught by an actual dark beast. Adding more insult to his injuries, he was also informed that he'd be expected to prepare Wolfsbane potion each month for Lupin. And he had to agree. Otherwise the whole school could be in danger.

Groaning he looked around his wretched house. His father's house, located on Spinners' End. No comfort lived within the walls. And now the school that was the closest thing he had to a real home would once again be home to his bully. Nightmares abound.

So much for a quiet year.