Okay everyone, I am planning on making this story lengthy and epic so there will be many events following each other. Sometimes several different events will occur in each chapter and you won't hear about them again until there comes a point where they will intertwine. Although of course I think you know what the primary focus is, things take time! So please be patient and enjoy the journey regardless of how twisted the paths may become! Thanks for the encouragement, especially to my latest reviewer who seemed to want to remain anonymous ;)
CHAPTER 6
The Lunar Discovery
Laenaya hadn't spoken to Snape in several days and was getting more and more comfortable at Hogwarts with every passing night. She had met all of her students by now and was delighted to discover that, besides a few amusing misfits, none would pose her any major problems and that all had seemed to respect her so far.
She said goodbye to her first year class, who were currently leaving the dungeons and greeted the incoming fifth year class.
The lessons helped to take her mind off her past and Lucius Malfoy, and so she felt at peace.
The only thing to cause her any real sorrow these days was the fact that the weather was becoming increasingly colder, which she despised, and that the rays of the sun could no longer be seen properly through the enchanted ceiling, nor through any windows in the castle.
She loved thunderstorms but the foreshadowing snows and already occurring icy winds were things that she would have destroyed had she had the power. Besides being unusually early for such cold, as September had not yet waned, it frustrated her that she could no longer catch as many glimpses of the sun as she would have liked. Since she arrived at Hogwarts and had the chance to see the sun under the enchanted ceiling, her nostalgia had grown.
Her conversations with Minerva and Remus were a pleasure to her though, and they cheered her up extensively. They were the reason for which she forced herself to awaken with the miserably weak sun every morning for breakfast. She also enjoyed conversations with the other teachers who would occasionally join in, with the sole exception of Snape of course. It no longer even bothered her that he would eavesdrop in every conversation, whether it be about the weather, the students or even more trivial things such as hobbies and music or feather preference.
After classes ended, and Laenaya managed to impede her mind from returning to her memories, she decided to distract herself by going through the ingredients Snape had in his storage room by the office, which was now also hers. She decided to tidy up and sort the ones that she had brought with her, with the newly arrived ones from home, along with his.
His organisation was meticulous. Not only was everything sorted alphabetically but also by category and danger levels.
This was made all the more impressive by the fact that he had countless potions already made, probably as many potions as there were ingredients; of course all sorted just as perfectly.
Some of them Laenaya recognised as common and easy to make, while others were rare and dangerous. Some of them she did not recognise at all and could only guess their purpose.
At first she wondered whether she should ask Snape for permission to sort her belongings with his but quickly decided against it. The next time she approached him, he would probably first verbally cut her into pieces and then after a good long session of mental torture, throw her out into the sun to burn.
So instead she decided to invert her labels to make them easily recognisable. His were white with black writing and so she'd make hers black with white writing.
She made her way back to her room where most of the newly arrived ingredients where still stored in boxes and luggage bags. Beginning with the more student-friendly ingredients, she began carrying the packages over to the storage room and piling them carefully.
She was just bringing in her third box when she found a student sitting at a desk, with blonde waist-length hair; when she caught a glimpse of it after opening the door she got a brief shock, thinking it might be Lucius. The student was playing with her necklace, which reminded Laenaya of a particular branch of voodoo that was practiced where she was from.
She took a moment to search through the library in her mind and find a name to match the student to.
"Ah Luna, is everything all right?"
"I couldn't say," the young girl replied mysteriously. "The Universe has many secrets."
"Indeed." Laenaya muttered with a smile, she liked this funny young girl.
After a few moments of quiet in which Laenaya stared at the student, puzzled by her silence, Luna finally opened her mouth.
"Professor, I have a question." She asked somewhat shyly, although with a good measure of confidence.
"Of course Luna, ask away." The Vampire replied, relieved that the girl wasn't just going to sit there.
Luna took a deep breath and after careful consideration she turned her head
"Why are there invisible Wrackspurts always crowding around you? I'd like to find out more about them." her big silver-blue eyes stared right into Laenayas.
"I'm afraid I don't understand." Laenaya answered, even more puzzled than before.
"Well," The girl paused dramatically and Laenaya wondered whether it was truly just for the effect or because the girl was getting distracted because she had seen spirits or something of the sort.
"Every time I have classes with you Professor" she continued, "I feel the same way that I do when Wrackspurts are around, and it feels like a countless many are swarming around you but I can't see them. I asked Hermione, she knows a lot too, but she didn't take me seriously." Luna shrugged her shoulders and turned her head to stare far off into the distance again.
Laenaya leaned on her desk and tried to understand what the young girl could possibly mean. After a while, she had an epiphany.
"Ah!" exclaimed Laenaya, surprised at the young girls possible affinity. "Does it give you headaches?" she asked, perhaps a bit too gleefully.
"Why yes. At the back and the front of my head simultaneously " Said Luna, sounding like she was singing. Everything she said sounded like a song.
"Sorry about that Luna." Laenaya apologised, "but I believe it's not Wrackspurts."
"What could it possibly be?" Luna asked the cauldron next to the desk.
Laenaya stretched out her hand and Luna thought she could see a tiny pitch-black ball of what seemed to be magical energy growing in her teachers' palm.
"If it's what I think it is, then it's Dark Energy. I'm surprised you can sense it." Her vampiric teacher answered cheerfully.
"Like the Dark Arts?" Lunas head instantly turned back towards her teacher, but she did not seem at all frightened. After all, she had participated in the war.
"Oh no not at all." Laenaya laughed "At least not necessarily. It's just different from what we know. We call it Dark, not because it is evil or dark, but because we do not know much about it." Laenaya took out a lollipop and after unwrapping it; she put it in her mouth and sat on her desk.
"Have you ever heard of Umbrakinesis Luna?"
"The ability to control darkness?" Luna stated simply.
"That's right. The common theory is that these "shadow particles", whatever that may be, exist; and it seems that Umbrakinetics are able to control them." She paused to see if the girl was following, but Luna gave no indication of even paying attention. "Everyone knows about photons, light particles; even the Muggles know of them. Well you see, we have come to believe that every photon has a counterpart." Luna now nodded, showing that she was indeed following.
"The thing is though, we just don't quite understand what the counterpart is. We think it's there but there's no way of grabbing it, except for the Umbrakinetics, but to them it's just shadows" Laenaya crossed her legs.
'But how can you be sensing it?' Laenayas mind was formulating a theory.
"I see." Luna crossed her arms on the table, she seemed tired.
"Let's experiment!" The teacher said cheerfully.
She suppressed her aura, so that it would have been barely noticeable, even for someone as fine-tuned as Luna.
The young girl turned her head in accordance to Laenayas suppression, quite extraordinarily. The more the teacher suppressed, the more the girls eyes indicated that she was returning to their dimension.
"Better?" The ex-general asked.
"Why yes, almost gone!" Luna got up energetically; the slight frown gone from her face.
"Remarkable!" Laenaya exclaimed. Luna was smiling now.
"This which you are sensing is a somewhat involuntary version of my ability. Like the ability to speak Parseltongue, or to foresee the future, it is always there. In this case it's in my aura."
She walked over to the girl, trying to determine whether she could sense any Dark Energy around her.
"Hmm…interesting." She couldn't sense anything.
"Theoretically, any wizard can sense magic and is therefore able to sense Dark Energy. However, as with Parselmouths and Seers, the Dark Energy that Umbrakinetics possess and emit is something indirect; you can tell that they're different, but you can't quite put your finger on it." Laenaya explained. This is why it was so strange that the Potions Mistress was giving Luna headaches.
"Luna, may I see your hands?" The Vampire asked, she was forming an exciting idea in her mind but she couldn't sense any Dark Energy around the girl, she'd have to dig deeper.
Luna happily stretched out her hands, which seemed to be decorated in various eccentric rings.
Laenaya took them and closed her eyes, still nothing…
"Miss Darkstrom, would you mind telling me what you are doing? Have you found a victim already?" Snape's quiet but menacing voice echoed in the empty classroom.
Seeing them there that way had instantly reminded him of that horror incident in Malfoy Manor, all those years ago.
"Oh hello Professor" Laenaya said innocently, letting go of Lunas hands. "Luna and I were simply experimenting."
"With blood flavours Miss Darkstrom? The students are not gifts." He said angrily.
Laenaya turned to face him completely, all the joy gone from her face.
Luna, not understanding what was going on simply stated happily "Professor Darkstrom was explaining something quite interesting to me Professor Snape."
"Miss Lovegood, unless it is your hearts desire to aid in his quest to keep the various trophies of this school immaculately clean, I suggest you return to your house now. " He said with authority and Luna instantly obeyed, fluttering away slowly, like a butterfly with feet, but before she was out of the room Snape decided to punish her further.
"And that's ten points from Ravenclaw for imprudence."
Laenaya wanted to counter his point deduction by adding points to Ravenclaw defiantly, but she suddenly realised that Snape was sending the young student away to protect her, and that he was taking points to discourage her from putting herself in danger.
For just a moment, a tiny second, as much as Laenaya would hate to admit it, she felt a fleeting, teeny tiny admiration for him.
Luna didn't let his punishment get to her and so she simply continued her butterfly dance steps out and away from the dungeons.
Snape closed the door behind her.
"So what is it that you were explaining to the girl Miss Darkstrom? How you suck blood from defenceless young students? I believe I am not mistaken in saying that young girls seem to be your preference." His eyes were glinting with spite.
"Professor Snape, you're going too far now." Laenaya was doing her best to be patient; his words were no longer provoking but merely saddening. "The girl was demonstrating an affinity with Umbrakinesis and I was simply attempting to find some Dark Energy in her."
Snape made a sound that was like an angry chuckle "Again, I think you should apply to Potters gang Miss Darkstrom, and this time for the ability to come up with excuses." He crossed his arms "How likely are we to find an Umbrakinetic? More importantly, why is it that you think yourself more qualified to identify it than the other teachers at Hogwarts? Do you really believe we would not have noticed something like this for so long? She has never showed any signs that any unusual powers were forming in her."
"You know that these kinds of skills are not uncommon amongst my kind Professor. Also, you know very well how difficult it is to identify such powers! It is a well-known fact that Harry Potter himself did not realise that he was a Parselmouth until after others informed him of the fact! He did not even know such a thing exists!" Laenaya paused. "Even Tom Riddle…" she added darkly.
Snape did not even shudder at the mention of his old masters name, but he was most certainly not happy about it; he chose to ignore it. "I was never aware that Miss Lovegood showed any indication of being a vampire." He semi-snapped sarcastically.
"Oh please, you know exactly what I mean! She was able to sense the energy I was emitting and, as you know that, when this happens, it most likely means that she herself has the very same trait."
Snape sighed but Laenaya decided to continue, "It is difficult for Umbrakinetics to notice their talents. How can a parselmouth speak Parseltongue if there are no snakes around? Umbrakinetics can't control Dark Energy if they can't find it, let alone know it exists." She paused once more, awaiting his reaction; but he said nothing.
"If Luna has this talent, I could train her!" Laenayas face lit up with enthusiasm. In contrast, Snapes expression screamed scepticism.
"I could ask Dumbledore." She continued and noting his growing annoyance she added, "Look, if you distrust me that much Professor, please join us. Let me try to train her and you could keep me in check. You could also give your much valued opinion."
After what seemed like an eternity of thought, Snape leaned against a pupils desk. His face seemed to have changed. Was she really being serious? Why would she genuinely be so interested in a student?
For just a moment, a tiny second, as much as he would hate to admit it, he felt like he could trust and believe her. A fleeting emotion however, which he suppressed almost immediately.
His sour expression returned, though this time it seemed less spiteful than before. "I see that you have been snooping around my ingredients closet." He commented looking at the boxes that were piled next to the desk.
"I knew you wouldn't like it. But I teach here now too and since I need some space to p-"
"Come Miss Darkstrom, let us speak to the Headmaster." He said this not kindly, but still it was probably the gentlest tone that he could muster.
Laenaya could not believe it, he didn't reprimand or insult her at all, even though she had defiled his closet. Waiting for him to burst out in anger, she made her way, at his side, to Professor Dumbledores office.
"And so Professor, when I saw that her headache had ameliorated at the same time at which I dimmed my emission, I was sure that she must have the same gift."
Laenaya took another crimson sweet from Dumbledores bowl.
"Miss Darkstrom believes she can train the girl." Snape added with forced animosity.
"I think it's an excellent idea Professor Darkstrom." Dumbledore remarked, putting emphasis on 'Professor', while eying Snape in a somewhat fatherly fashion.
"However," he began, taking another Fizzing Whizbee "I would keep an open mind, one can never know if the treasure being pursued, is the wrong one."
Snape smiled triumphantly and Laenaya, puzzled, made to ask what he meant but he continued before she could.
"Perhaps the Room of Requirement would be the most suitable training ground. I give Luna permission to train whenever she likes." He paused, "if that is what she wants."
"Headmaster, if I may, I believe it would be wise to have someone supervise these sessions, and I volunteer to do so." Snape said dryly.
"Yes, yes of course Severus." Dumbledore smiled wisely at Laenaya and she sensed that he knew exactly how much Snape mistrusted her.
"So," Laenaya said in an attempt to break the strange atmosphere in which so many words were spoken with simple silence. "Perhaps we'd better ask Luna what she makes of all of this; it is about her after all."
Snape made a face as if to say 'If we must. Not that children should have any rights anyway.'
Luna, as was to be expected, rejoiced in hearing that she would receive private training in order to determine whether she had any talents that had been previously unknown to her and if she did, what they were.
After discussing the details, they had agreed upon meeting twice a week at the Room of Requirement. Laenaya was to suppress her aura enough so as not to give Luna headaches, and Severus was to give Luna more theoretical information on Dark Energy in her Defence against the Dark Arts classes; although he only agreed to do so after he was reassured that he would only be required to do so if Luna would work faster than her classmates and took the time to learn while the others practiced. If necessary, she was to catch up alone.
After having paid a visit to Luna, Snape and Laenaya walked back to the Dungeons, discussing the possible new discovery.
Laenaya was absolutely certain that it was Umbrakinesis. Snape, on the other hand, was absolutely certain that no special powers would be found in Luna at all; he was convinced that it was simply her eccentricity which attracted Laenaya and led her to believe that the girl was special in some way.
"Why would she be having headaches if not for Umbrakinesis? As I said before, she could only sense the Dark Energy if it was around, so when I came she sensed it!" Laenaya wasn't sure why she was trying so hard to convince her serious colleague. She sounded and felt like she was explaining to a student why one and one made two.
"Perhaps, the girl was sensing something else in you." Snape said, in a tone that was suddenly so cold that it took Laenaya by surprise. They had been talking normally all afternoon and now, completely unexpectedly, he seemed to be back with his old animosity.
"Oh now this starts again? I thought we were on normal terms." She said half sadly, half darkly.
Snape smirked, "Are you not immortal Miss Darkstrom?"
"Well, I think so…" Snape rolled his eyes at her vagueness and she quickly tried to save herself by adding, "There has never been any account of a vampire dying of age, so I assume that yes, I am immortal. Although I would think that, I could only say for sure if I would meet the first vampire there ever was and accompany him to the end of time." She was getting carried away by the philosophical aspect of her answer.
"Be that as it may," Snape could barely contain his wicked mirth, "my point was that, for an immortal being, patience does not seem to be your strong point."
Laenaya frowned with embarrassment.
"Simply because I have allowed you to possibly waste my time today, it does not mean that we are, in any way, friends."
Laenaya frowned even more deeply, she could not deny the truth in his words. It was only today that he had even bothered to talk to her at all, and here she was assuming that she could speak to him and philosophise with him as she would with Remus Lupin.
'Men!' she thought, her mind instantly shifting to Lucius Malfoy.
"I apologise for having wasted your time then." She spoke quietly. "I shall retreat to ruining your storage room." She began to move away from him when she remembered something.
"Oh yes," she breathed looking at the walls around her, "Fifteen points to Miss Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw House, for taking initiative." She said this loudly and clearly to make sure that the castle had registered the new points and to make sure that Snape had heard.