A.N. hey this is the third chapter! Thanks to Alice19thgirl who I think has reviewed all of my stories. Your kind words keep me sane XD any way I'm having a lot of fun with this one (What about the others? XD) sorry the last chapter wasn't all the fun, but you did get to hear about Sevy bathing witch was so fun to picture when I wrote it (God I have a dirty mind XD) any way on to the chapter (Which is the whole reason your here right? not to hear me rambling Doges various sharp objects Crap... all right lets get to it then Ehehehe) Oh and by the way there is a tribute to 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' in this chapter I commend you if you spot it XD I just like the movie Tim Burton is pretty cool
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Severus shifted, he had been awake for a while now but he had found no reason to move so he had just lain there, staring at the ceiling and thinking. With his move the covers pulled on something and he sat up, the fire was lit so the room was not dark but there was also a candle on the table glowing quite happily
"What in the..." he muttered sitting up his eyes fell on an envelope on the table as well as several books and a newspaper swinging his legs over he used the bed to support him self as far as he could then he carefully made his way over to the table keeping his balance steady so he didn't fall. His legs shook violently and he toppled forward Catching himself on the chair he pulled him self to sit on it letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd drawn.
He went for the envelope first his name written in a curled hand writing, he almost laughed, who else would be there to mistake it for theirs? He flipped the envelope over and pulled out the letter
Dear Severus
I'm sorry, but I'm going to be away for a few days. Things are getting messy and I'm forced to leave you in the care of Matchi till I return. She has strict orders from me not to bother you unless you call for her and she will also be bringing you the newspaper as I'm sure you are wondering about the happenings in the wizerding world. As for the situation that calls me away you'll read about it on the front page, but what you won't learn is the fact I'm certain this is my fault. I have left you several books to read as well as some paper and a quill if you feel like writing. I'm not sure what you do in your spare time.
I Will return as soon as I can I have no idea how I can change the happening or weather I can do anything to make it up to the families of those who lost people because of my actions. You might be dieing of boredom when and if I get back I give you permission to go to the room with a book engraved on it or the room with a rose engraved on it those rooms lead to a library (If you hadn't guessed) and a green house. Matchi will aide you in walking to these places if you find you wish to investigate them today
I can't stall any longer I must go now. Matchi has her orders if I am not herd from in three days she is to take you to the order with another letter from me… which I also have to write before I leave. Now I'm just writing this letter to avoid going… I'm sorry why did I write that? Who knows?
Maya
Severus read the letter over three times before casting it aside quickly to grab the newspaper the meaning of her words sinking in. The head line was bold and a picture of a ministry woman hiding her face from the camera took up one third of the page
Terror for the Animagi!
Several deaths were reported to the ministry last night all of the witches and wizards were registered animagi. The reason behind these violent attacks on animagi is unclear but according to a ministry official who refused to give her name "All the deaths occurred around 5 pm and 7 am last night there were no unique qualities to the attacks and because of this finding the reason for the attacks is becoming increasingly difficult. Usually when mass murder occurs, a pattern or motive is found rather quickly unfortunately the only driving force we have been able to come up with is the idea of wiping out all animagi who will not join He who must not be named. At this time it is advisable that all registered and unregistered animagi go into hiding for their own safety." The ministry official went on to say that …
He folded the paper he couldn't read anymore… she knew something he didn't how could this possibly be her fault? He knew she was Animagi he had figured that the large cat had not been a dream but had been Maya finding him in the abbey
"How could they have figured it out?" he muttered thoughtfully he looked at a pile of parchment, a quill and an ink well that sat on the table hidden before by the books
"Some thing to pass the time? I brew potions when I have free time you silly woman… I guess for just this once I'll leave it and read…" he muttered grabbing the books he carefully made his way back over to the bed his legs were slightly stronger now and were no longer screaming in protest at his movement he smiled settling in to crimson sheets quite content to just sit there and read.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black hair fluttered softly with her movements, black robes catching the wind billowed out behind her as she moved quickly along the road. This place had once been a humble farming community but after a nasty attack on it by dementors during the summer. The few people who were left abandoned the place in hopes that a more crowded area would some how be safer then being alone.
"I must fix this… my actions were with out thought, I have caused so many problems…" she muttered under her breath.
"This is my punishment for saving him... no good deed goes unpunished as they say… I should have considered what might happen if I took him from the Abbey…" Though she had not been the one holding the wand and though she had not known the repercussions of her actions she still knew this mess was her fault and she would not stop till it was fixed. Her golden eyes staring far down the road at a dark figure she assumed to be her contact.
"He's early." She muttered darkly surly that was a sign something was amiss… considering the man and his tendency to be late for anything important (Including his own wedding Though his bride was not to upset when he walked through the door ten minuets late mumbling about a bad spell.) she had assumed she would have been waiting at the meeting place for a good half hour before he arrived.
"You're late Solensen." The voice that spoke was rushed and slightly panicked he was in the open and he didn't like it
"White its nice to see you to. Just because I arrived after you doesn't make me late you are early." She muttered waving a hand to brush away such unimportant small talk.
"How did they get the list? Why are we meeting here? What happened to Anna? Where have you been? How long must me and Sally hide?" his questions were asked so fast that Maya was sure he had practiced in front of a mirror or something to pull it off with out even a hint of a smile that seemed to plague everything he did.
"I don't know how they got the list I don't work for them. We are meeting here because it is quiet safe and away from prying eyes and ears no one would bother looking for us here if there's even anyone looking for us at all. From what I have learned Anna was among those killed last nig-" she was cut off by a swift punch to her jaw
"HOW CAN YOU SPEEK OF ANNA'S DEATH WITH A STRAIT FACE!" White demanded looming over her his eyes seeming to flash with rage, his face, normally a calm passive thing with kind expressions and softly built features, contorted in anger. Maya straitened the blow had shocked her completely her pale fingers bushed the area and she winced, there would be a bruise she was certain.
"I speak of Anna's death calmly and with a strait face because she would not have wanted me to lose my strength and break down at her loss. We all made the promise that if one of use died during the war the rest of us would wait till after the fighting to mourn!" she said her voice slowly rising she didn't appreciate being struck for keeping a promise
"That promise was made seventeen years ago! Before You know who fell from power!" White said his anger rising again
"Yes but that didn't end the war did it? Just postponed it a little!" Maya shot back with equal rage
"We can not be fighting like this now I came to ask for your help!" she yelled, the man before her visibly faltered. Maya Solensen, the women who never asked for help and who always did things on her own, was asking for help?
"I messed up Jack… I couldn't do it… I saved him instead… they figured out that it was an animagus… I don't know how! You and sally are in danger… because of this Anna is dead because of my foolishness." Maya was babbling like an idiot using his first name admitting to having done something wrong, what was wrong with the woman? What was she talking about?
"Maya calm down and tell me what happened." She shook her head black hair falling across her face making pale skin seem paler almost sickly
"I can't say too much but I saved a man's life… My intent was to kill him because he had done something… but I ended up saving his life instead and now the death eaters are going after animagi! Only three days after I rescued him! I found him in my other form! There must have been something there… some sort of give that told them it was an animagus who took him away…" she said Jack reached and pulled his friend into a careful embrace
"Maya, you saved a man's life from You know who? What were you thinking?" he asked softly Maya shook her head
"I'm not sure but when I saw him laying there beaten and broken I had to help him he reminded me so much of…" Maya stopped
"He reminded you of your self." Jack finished she pulled away
"Of what I once was… that's all… Jack you need to be with Sally I shouldn't have asked for you to come and help me and I'm sorry." She said the man stepped forward
"Maya what can you do anyway? Even with my help we can't just take on a bunch of death eaters and stop them from killing the Animagi." He said she nodded
"Yes I know but… I have to do something this is my fault." She muttered Jack shook his head this time
"The world is not your responsibility… How many Times did Anna and Sally have to tell you that?" he said with a chuckle his rage forgotten
"More time then I can count." Maya replied with a small smile
"I can't help it I want to use this strength I have to aide people… Sixteen years of… of just watching… I can't keep watching I have to help." She said stopping herself before she said Harry's name, Jack had known she was doing a favor for Dumbledore and he had also known that it would likely take many years. Jack, his wife Sally, and Anna had no idea exactly what she was doing, and those were still her orders, no one could know of Harry's secret watcher except for those who needed to know.
"Were you and Sally able to find a place to hide?" she asked Jack nodded
"Sally thought we should go to her parents and pose as family pets but some how that seemed to obvious so we vetoed the plan and went for finding a small apartment in London, we're protected by so many charms it's almost funny." Maya smiled
"Yah but you would laugh about anything if I remember correctly, back at school when ever I got in trouble you were always the one sitting next to me laughing your butt off and yelling how awesome that was." She said Jack nodded thoughtfully
"Yes we were quit the noisy teens weren't we? I think I blew the whole student body away when I proposed to Sally and not you." He said Maya rolled her eyes
"I think they thought it was beneficial to your health that you like Sally more then me." She said
"I did come out here to discuss fighting death eaters and trying to stop this rampage… how did we get off topic?" she asked crossing her arms Jack shrugged
"When you started acting like a dog that just got kicked…" he said Maya frowned and punched his arm
"I'd hit your face but Sally would blast me to kingdom come." She said with a smirk Jack smiled probably silently thanking Sally's violent fondness for his kind face.
"You should go home I'll handle this I'm sorry I bothered you." She said turning away her robes flying out with a flourish
"What is it with you and billowy cloths?" Jack asked Maya looked back
"Makes me feel like I'm flying… and that freedom, my friend, is worth imagining." She said waving her wand the wards that had been put up to protect them crumbled
"You need to work on your wards there still weak." She said with one last look back at him she spun on the spot and apperated with a pop
"Maya You always have to have the last word…" Jack said with a smile apperating away to his anxious wife.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Severus was restless, sitting and reading could only occupy his mind for so long he was bored. Sitting in a windowless room with no idea of the time and, maybe, a little hungry was beginning to bug him thoroughly
"Matchi!" he called out in a harsh tone a loud crack and Matchi was standing before him today and a long dark blue toga that seemed to match sparkling sapphire eyes that looked at him in earnest
"Yes Mistress's friend? You have called Matchi, Matchi wish's to do any thing to make Mistress's friend more comfortable." She said her voice and oddly sweet squeak
"Yes well I'm rather hungry and this room is grating on my nerves. In her letter Maya mentioned a garden." He said Matchi's eyes shone at the opportunity to aide her mistress's guest
"Oh yes a lovely green house Garden that mistress thought may help your health! A way for you to get out in the open, with out being in the open!" Matchi said with a giggle and a smile
"Would Mistress's guest like to have lunch in the green house garden?" she asked Severus nodded
"Yes that sounds nice…" he muttered anything to get out of this stuffy dark room. He moved the books over and swung his legs over the edge Matchi ran over and snapped her fingers one of the chairs lifted from the floor and floated over Severus looked at it with a frown
"Mistress said to aide you in walking to where you wished to go." She said the man sighed
"Yes I assume she did but you floating me in a chair is hardly me walking is it?" he demanded his voice harsh and sharp. The chair dropped to the floor quickly and Matchi with drew, her pointed ear seemed to droop and the happy twinkle in her eye vanished in an instant
"Please forgive Matchi she meant no harm…" the elf said looking on the verge of tears Maya obviously was overly kind to the elf Severus groaned in annoyance
"I understand There is nothing to forgive." He said and Matchi nodded slowly
"If you could just walk with me and catch me in case I lose my balance." Severus offered her eyes lit up at once
"Yes of course Mistress's Guest!" she said with a smile walking back over he stepped carefully over to the door and after a while the odd twosome had made there way much farther down the hall then the odd waterfall bath room and to a door that Maya had described in the letter. Matchi brushed the door lightly and it opened slowly revealing an amazing green house the glass so deeply fogged it was like a cloudy day He was surrounded by so many plants he couldn't help but smile. So many potion ingredients such an amazing place he felt rather privileged to see
"This is amazing…" he breathed walking inside something moved to his left and he looked over just in time to see several birds with ruby and emerald colored plumage fly off from the sudden disturbance in the organic haven.
Matchi led Severus a little deeper in to the green house, he could hear so many birds singing he could see butterflies and even a few bee's had he not know he was in a green house he would swear he was outside. They eventually came to a glass table and a few garden chairs Severus was surprised to find the books from before sitting on the table
"I thought that Mistress's guest may like to read in here after eating." Matchi explained and he nodded settling in to a seat he smiled actually quite relaxed. Matchi vanished and Severus closed his eyes just letting the smell of the plants fill him and the sounds pull at his ears. Another crack and he opened one eye to look at the house elf that now held what looked like a rather well cooked meal of chunky beef, and vegetable stew with buttered bread and rose tea oddly enough, but he didn't complain.
After the meal Matchi bowed and took the plate vanishing from his side he grabbed one of the books and started reading his thoughts about everything dangerous and violent vanishing from him he smiled quite happy in this strange house with it strange owner and strange house elf.