Chapter 11: Fourth Year: Summer Holiday

Calli's fears hadn't yet manifested. Her parents remained in Azkaban. Her uncle was overjoyed when he was within the safety of his home. He mocked how easily the Dark Lord was managing to keep his presence a secret while making Potter and Dumbledore look like liars. Cornelius Fudge, he laughed, was useful in his uselessness.

The Daily Prophet ran non-stop coverage on the insanity of Dumbledore and Harry's claims of "He Who Must Not Be Named's" return. Was saintly Potter a liar? Was wise old Dumbledore going round the twist?

Calli was having issues keeping her own frustrations in check. Draco was a constant echo of his father's bragging. He glowed at the thought of a return to a time he seemed to forget was a constant stream of terror for others. Or, much more likely, he wanted to terrorize those he deemed unfit. He wanted to reign over his perceived enemies. He hated how Granger was smarter than he was. He hated how Ron's family was so full of love and happiness even with their poverty. And he especially hated Harry Potter. A boy so inferior to him, that he'd offered friendship and had it rebuffed. And so he carried a steady stream of irritation, and plans for when he would get his own Dark Mark. It was a constant struggle to NOT unleash a torrent of destructive magic on her family and their house.

Instead, she funneled that irritation and frustration into letter writing. Some she sent to her new confidant, and some she hid away from even her own eyes. She told him how her nerves were frayed from the constant flow of adulation about Voldemort's return (although she bowed to his discomfort of the name and used 'Dark Lord'). She shared the fear of her parents' certain release. She wrote, but didn't send, her uncertainty of her place in this world. She shared, but didn't forward, the burning fire in her blood that grew daily. Why, she asked, but didn't attach to an owl to be delivered to her new ally, does this burn increase every time her uncle was called to Voldemort's side? What was wrong with her?

For his part, Severus read every letter she sent him. Carefully he'd weigh his response. He had to assume his post was being read. While the Dark Lord believed him in his return, enjoying having his man close to his arch enemy and access to The Order, there were others in his former family that didn't. So he modulated his advice. To outside eyes he was simply her trusted Head of House, keeping Bellatrix's daughter on the pat they expected of her. He hoped that she found some comfort in the stilted works he sent back.

After her third letter he assumed she did. If not, she would have stopped writing. And so, they corresponded. Her letters shared her worries and fears. His offered what careful advice he could.

During a summons to the Dark Lord's presence, his suspicions were confirmed. His letters were being monitored. As he bowed in submission, he noticed the Dark Lord's eyes were tight. Bracing himself for punishment, he was shocked to find himself questioned. Not about Dumbledore or The Order, but about Calligenia Lestrange.

"Severus," the Dark Lord hissed. "It's come to my attention that one of your students has taken you into her confidence." Glancing at his master, Severus gave a short nod. "Calligenia Lestrange. Tell me about her, Severus."

Severus remained kneeling. "What would you like to know, my Lord?" His curiosity burned. Why would the Dark Lord care?

The cruel eyes above him seemed to glow. "Everything."

Break was coming to a close, and Calli felt hopeful. Her parents were still firmly locked away. While her blood continued to burn, some times hotter than others, she was able to ignore it. And now, as the end of summer full of the boasts of her family, she would head to school and pray that it finally became the refuge she'd hoped for since her first day.

She packed with a rare smile, when a knock sounded on her door, she let it drop. Rarely did anyone visit her bedroom, not even her aunt. Inviting her visitor to enter, she was even more shocked to see her uncle open it. Standing for a moment before crossing the threshold, he seemed to be looking around at a room he'd never visited.

"Calli," he greeted, taking in the decor and his niece in the midst of her packing. "I've come to put your mind at ease." He sat in the wingback chair by her fireplace. He motioned her to come closer, and she gave an internal sigh and complied. "Your parents, our family will be whole soon." She hid a flinch. "You, Draco, and the children of the faithful will be like royalty among our kind. Have no fear, my darling niece, WE will rise."

Fanatical. That was the word that summed up her entire family. Her uncle was a fanatic, and so were his wife and son. Then she realized that he said he was here to put her mind at ease. He knew her fears, but not the underlying causes. How? She'd only shared with Professor Snape and she felt betrayal bloom within her. She wanted to confirm her suspicions, so she looked deeply into her uncle's eyes, as she thanked him for his concern, she sorted through his memories until she found it. She saw HIM opening her letters. The ones she sent and the ones Professor Snape had sent in reply.

Pulling herself away from his mind, she realized she was betrayed, but not by her professor. No she had been betrayed by her own family. After assuring him that her fears were settled, she allowed him an awkward embrace as he finally left her room. Not even her privacy was respected within these walls. She was being watched, but why?