Chapter 26

I quickly moved out of the way when I arrived back at the Three Broomsticks to make room for Snape. I actually moved a few metres further away than necessary because he seemed to be in a foul temper.

Snape stepped out of the flames a moment later, a scowl still visible on his face. He repeated the same spell as before to rid his robes of ash and then did the same for me. Not saying a word, he nodded at me to follow him and swept towards the door.

He did not slow his pace until we were outside in the biting wind. I walked alongside him back to the carriage, looking at anything or anyone else besides my brother, who still appeared to be fuming.

Only when we were in the carriage again riding back to Hogwarts did Snape speak.

"I believe Umbridge will be watching us arrive back at the school," he said, reaching into his robes. "Therefore, I will show you these now before we can be seen." He pulled out a couple of knuts.

I looked curiously at him when he placed the coins in my hand. He took out his wand and cast a spell in rapid Latin.

"I've just charmed them to recognise your touch," he explained. "Therefore no one else, me aside, may see them for what they really are."

At my puzzled stare, he took one of the knuts from me and pointed his wand at it. "Revelare."

The knut transformed into a dark green, leatherbound book. I glanced at the one on top, Defence Against the Darkest Magic by D'Arcy Wentworth. I thought Snape would have had plenty Dark Arts books.

"I do not keep books on the Dark Arts at Hogwarts," he said, passing the book to me. "Most books from which I was educated in the Dark Arts reside at our father's house. They do not belong to me. There are very few Dark Arts books at our mother's house because she disposed of a large number herself years ago."

He nodded at the knut in my other hand. "That's another book."

I placed the first book in my lap and took out my wand. Imitating the wand movement I had just seen my brother perform, I cast the revelation spell on the knut in my hand. A moment later, I was holding another book, A Dark Arts Survival Guide by Glenda Wickham. My heart sank towards my stomach as I thought about why Snape was showing me these books. The idea of spending time alone with my father and his Death Eater friends made me push the steel arm back to the forefront of my mind.

"Because she is so concerned for all wizardkind," Snape said, sneering, "Umbridge banned Flourish and Blotts from supplying their usual range of Defence books, except for the set text for her classes. Most of the Defence section in the library has been relocated to the Restricted Section. She's tried banning them in Knockturn Alley too, but merchants have ways of concealing banned items."

He glanced down at the second book. "Actually," he said, "these books are quite harmless in comparison to the sort of stock sold at the shop I bought them from."

I opened the book and flipped through it. It was full of descriptions of dark curses, plants and potions, and the counter curses for them, with pictures that were a bit too gruesome for my liking.

Snape picked up the first book from my lap. "I want you to spend the next couple of days looking through these books," he said, flipping through it. "I am yet to find a text on Occlumency that I find useful-" he paused and glanced sideways at me, "but no matter. I have a feeling you will prove yourself adept at Occlumency fairly quickly."

What did that mean? Had he looked into my mind somehow without me knowing?

I had been using steel arm imagery to keep my father at arm's length, blocking my emotions at the same time. Had Snape attempted to look into my mind, only to be met with the arm that wasn't intended for him?

Not wanting to confirm anything, I said nothing and continued to look at the book.

Snape raised his wand again and performed a complicated movement. "Dissimulare," he said, making the book shrink down into a knut once more. He turned to me and nodded at the book I was holding.

I raised my wand, feeling thankful that Charms was my best subject, and repeated the spell.

Nodding in approval, Snape handed me the other knut. "Keep them in your pocket for now. You may be assured that they won't be visible to others, but find a suitable place in your dormitory to keep them. Be vigilant about the presence of others when you decide to read them."

"Alright," I said, placing the knuts in a pocket in my robes.

Snape reached into his robes again and then handed me a chocolate frog card. Whatever I had expected him to give me, it certainly wasn't this. Obviously, knowing who my brother was, there had to be more to it. He performed the same spell as before in rapid Latin, meaning that the card would recognise my touch.

I looked down at the elderly, sleeping wizard on the card and then turned it over to scan the description. It was Benedict Benito, one of the early Heads of Ravenclaw.

"Now," said Snape, taking on a business like tone once again. "The writing on the back gives a description of the wizard, but if you press your index finger against the name, the details of your next lesson with me will appear on the card, along with any messages. There will also be a meeting location on the card. You'll know if a message is there if the wizard on the front is waving at you. If he's sleeping, nothing has changed."

I smiled at it. Very clever…and cunning. It hit me that Snape, the Head of Slytherin, was also the son of a Ravenclaw.

"Keep it in your pocket all all times," he instructed. "I have placed enough security charms on it to ensure it won't be detected or fall into the wrong hands."

I nodded, placing the card in my pocket.

Snape leaned back, brushing his hair away from his face. He seemed a little less angry than before, thankfully. "And what did you think of our dear father?" he said, sneering.

I decided to give an honest opinion. "I didn't like him."

He scoffed. "No?"

"No," I said, turning to face him. "But I don't suppose whether I like him or not really matters. I'll just have to learn to live with it. It's my fault, after all."

A hint of surprise flashed for a brief second on Snape's face. He looked closely at me and I found myself subconsciously pushing the steel arm into my mind.

If he noticed what I was doing, he didn't mention it.

"I should keep well away from Draco Malfoy," I said quietly.

Snape shook his head in disdain as he looked out the window. "I should think so," he said shortly. He looked back at me. "Pay no heed to what Father says about finding a match."

I frowned. "It's a little hard not to."

Snape fixed me with a stern look. "I am your guardian too, Armilla. Father cannot agree to anything without my permission."

I gave a slight nod, pushing back my feelings on the issue.

We sat in silence for a few moments, watching as Hogwarts came back into view.

"Will I be able to talk to Mother soon?" I asked. I hadn't seen her once since I had left the Secret Wing. Dumbledore and Snape hadn't wanted me to see her until the custody battle had been resolved.

Snape looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yes," he said. "The ring is in Dumbledore's office at the moment, which is the most secure place for it. You will need to be very careful what you say to Mother about meeting Father today, as I do not wish to cause her undue pain. She will not be happy to know what right Father holds over you. She did leave him to avoid that, after all."

"Doesn't that mean her spirit will have to stay in the ring?" I asked. "She told me it wouldn't break free until she's content with the outcome."

Snape nodded. "It does," he said. "She won't be satisfied and therefore will remain trapped between the living and the dead."

A flood of mixed feelings washed over me. On the one hand, I was thrilled to have access to my mother, who would be around to talk to for longer. But that was also selfish, because underneath she would be suffering because she couldn't rest in peace.

Snape must have seen all the emotion within me that time and I wasn't quick enough to shield it.

"There is nothing you can do about it," he said, as the carriage came to a halt. "It was Mother's decision, a risky one at that, to have the charm placed on her."

I nodded, trying to school my features once more.

Snape didn't move to get out; he looked seriously at me instead. "I don't want to hear you say again that what happened is your fault," he said sternly. "You seemed to imply a moment ago that you deserve to suffer any ill treatment from Father due to your curiosity in the Secret Wing and the subsequent discovery."

I said nothing. I looked back at my brother, the all too familiar guilt rising inside me.

"You know that I was displeased the day I found you with Mother's ring," Snape went on, his black eyes fixed on mine, "but that was due to your decision to go exploring, disregarding the rules put in place for your safety."

I looked down at my hands, feeling uncomfortable. Snape had been so angry that day.

"Armilla," my brother said quietly.

I raised my eyes to meet his and saw that his face showed the faintest hint of concern. A second later, it was gone and his face looked stern once again.

"If you had not come across Mother's ring, she may have been left in that state for the unforeseeable future. I am sure neither of us wish for that." He raised an eyebrow, looking expectantly at me.

"No," I whispered.

"Then cease any guilty feelings you have about the discovery," Snape said curtly. "It is not necessary."

"I...thought you would resent me," I said softly, trying to push my nerves away. It took every ounce of courage I had to admit that to him.

Snape's frowned deepened. He considered me for a moment before speaking. "I do not resent you," he said finally. "You were a significant surprise. It's an adjustment for us both, but I hold no resentment towards you. Mother went to extreme lengths to ensure your protection, after all."

I felt a tiny bit better. Snape didn't strike me as the sort of wizard who'd humour me to make me feel better.

"Come," he said, opening the carriage door.

I climbed out behind him and we walked in silence back to the castle. As we neared the front steps, Snape glanced up.

"Umbridge's eyes will be peeping out through one of those windows," he murmured. "I suppose a well-aimed eye-stinging hex would make it obvious who the attacker was…pity."