Chapter 7
The flames flickered in the hearth, and they tickled the feathers of the phoenix that sat within them. She cawed gently at the man that was staring at her.
Albus smiled grimly at his familiar but his mind was on other things.
He was getting ever more anxious about the latest Slytherin. Orfeo, for he would only call him as such, was a menace, a disaster waiting to happen. He would betray them. He was never loyal in the first place.
Severus was getting too close to him, defending him against him, the headmaster! It could not continue. He would give Snape his ultimatum. Either he remembered his loyalties to Hogwarts or he left, and Albus knew Snape had nowhere to go.
Albus scratched his chin and picked up his quill and parchment, penning a short note asking for a meeting with his dour Potions Master.
Fawkes let out a shrill cry and vanished amidst the ashes and smoke that was slowly encapsulating Dumbledore's office. Albus coughed and waved his wand to clear the air.
"I swear you do that on purpose Fawkes", he said to the empty room. He sent the note by displacement charms as his familiar had disappeared.
The fireplace erupted in golden flame and Severus threw himself away from it and drew his wand to meet the person about to appear. But no one came. He did not lower his wand. "Reveal yourself!"
There was a slow hiss like that of cold water hitting a hot surface. The phoenix flew at him and landed on his head. He yelled out as his hair became aflame. He summoned water.
"Aguamenti. Aguamenti!" but the jets of water did not dispel the fire that was rapidly devouring him. He fought his way into the bathroom, turning on the taps and sticking his head under to try and stop it but nothing helped. He passed out.
Koli yawned and pulled himself from the bed hastily. He had to go meet with Professor Snape – again. This time, however, it was to trace back Koli's mother to see if it was the same person. Koli was anxious. He might have finally found his true father after all these years.
He summoned his dark robes and began his journey into the dungeons. It was cold, too cold. Filch obviously didn't take much care for the heating down here. He shivered pulling his cloak tighter and scurried down the corridors. He heard the mew of Mrs Norris and didn't stop to find Filch as well. He finally reached the entrance to Snape's rooms and knocked carefully.
Snape could hear drums. They were pounding on the doors, the walls, in his head. He sat up and felt disorientated. He fell backwards. The drumming continued and he felt like shouting out "Shut up". He restrained himself and gently opened his eyes, and shut them. So bright, too bright. He heard the drumming, echoes, the shadows of the castle moving about the daily routines. He could hear the thuds of footfalls, the rasps of uneasy breaths, right outside. Outside? He stared around the room again. It was his bathroom. He held onto the sink and dragged himself up and caught his breath. He shuffled back into his sitting room and opened the door which seemed to be the source of the noise. Koli stepped in eagerly but froze when he saw his professor.
Severus made his way to the settee and practically fell onto it. His eyes remained open, stubbornly fighting exhaustion.
"What the hell happened? Did someone jinx you?"
"Jinx me?"
Severus asked quietly.
"Yeah. You look like crap and your hair is gold. Had to have been a Gryffindor."
"No".
"No?"
"Fire, lots of fire. Burned".
Koli went to the sink and poured a glass of water for the man and helped him sip at it.
"Thanks".
Snape busied himself with his glass as he fought to remember what had happened.
"It was the floo".
"Sorry?"
"The floo, the fireplace. It went … gold. I, I drew my wand and waited but nothing happened. I said something. I said … 'Reveal yourself' and it was fire, gold fire."
"I've never heard of anything with gold fire, well except Phoenixes. It could have been a strange curse someone sent through".
Snape tried to get up but stumbled. Koli quickly helped him.
"Second door. Sleep".
Koli lead him over to the door and saw it was an elegant bed room. He laid the man down carefully and waited to be dismissed but he was already asleep.
Koli summoned an armchair and waited for the man to wake up, hopefully feeling better. He wondered if perhaps he should do something, get Madam Pomfrey or something, anything. He knew that telling Pomfrey meant telling Dumbledore and that was not something he wanted to do.
Koli pondered summoning his Dad. Perhaps he would know what to do… perhaps not.
Severus groaned in his sleep and Koli leapt forward to check he was ok. There was sweat beading on his face and his face had become twisted, contorted with pain.
"Professor? Severus? Wake up. It's ok." Koli tried some basic pain relieving charms he had learnt and for a few moments Severus relaxed, but he was soon writhing again.
"Right, well I guess there's nothing for it." Koli brushed his fingers against his tattoo. It was a silver dragon stood proud on a huge boulder. He pressed his hand to it firmly muttering "Arnost".
He felt a hum of magic rush through him and he closed his eyes.
"Koli?"
"Dad. I need your help".
He quickly explained how Severus had got injured as well as he could. He briefly mentioned that Severus might be his father but didn't push the issue.
Arnost quickly felt the man's forehead and sighed as he felt how hot the man was. He tugged off the man's shirt and summoned water to cool him down. As soon as the water touched him it evaporated.
"What the …?"
Arnost frowned and tried all the cooling spells he knew and none worked.
"Gold… heat… fire… what did he see come out of the fire?"
"He couldn't remember. Just gold fire."
"It's a phoenix. I'm sure of it. Unnatural, magical fire that is immune to water and cooling methods. The phoenix is trying to merge with him and he's obviously not accepting it which is why it is hurting him so much. If we can get him to accept the presence he should get better. Severus. Severus. It's ok. It's a phoenix, light. It doesn't mean you harm, Let it in."
"He's not listening"
"Thank you Koli. You're very observant. Get me some hot water and some candles."
Koli raised an eyebrow but did as he was asked. The water was thrown over the man who writhed even more but his skin did not evaporate the water it remained there on his chest.
"And the candles?"
Arnost raised the naked flame to the man's hand. The fire licked at his fingers but he didn't seem to feel it.
"Good. We're getting somewhere".
"You know that could have gone really wrong".
"I know. Phoenixes are birds of pure light. It's attempting to bond with Severus, I think anyway. I've never seen anything like this. Phoenixes are occasionally found to be a wizard's familiar, but this is different. This runs deeper. I think if we keep splashing him with the hot water it will get him accustomed to warmth and make him more open to the invasion. He does seem to be letting it in now. I assume that the bond will protect him and I think we should bring him in to our community. If he is worthy of something such as the phoenix he is more than worthy for beings such as us."
"He'll be alright?"
"He'll be fine. But where did the phoenix come from? I've only heard of one in England and that belongs to Dumbledore, Fawkes I believe."
The day got old and Arnost and Koli tended to the now sleeping Potions Master with great care. It was late evening when the man awoke. His eyes fluttered open to reveal an ethereal golden hue. His hair had darkened so that it was black with golden highlights. Koli thought it looked strange but much less noticeable than it was before.
Severus looked around his room, confusion was evident in his gaze and he started when he saw Arnost.
Koli quickly rushed forward, introducing his Dad.
"The one from Romania?"
"That would be me"
"Did you know Jadyn?"
"Briefly."
"Do you know how she died?"
Arnost sighed.
"I know how she died. She was ill. She had just discovered she was pregnant when she realised. It was internal, slowly killing her. She was terrified about whether she would manage to give birth to her son. She came across Jozsef, who has become Koli's sort of unofficial father, or an uncle. He swore to protect her still unborn son. She died shortly after the birth. I don't know who she managed to hold on so long. She had a hell of a lot of will power. Jozsef quickly realised that Koli had gotten the same disease. He was barely a week old and he was already dying.
He came to me. I had met him several times and he knew of our clans, being somewhat of a diplomat amongst the tribes in the South. He asked me to turn Koli, just enough to save him. I did. I have become his blood father. He is one of two sons and is in fact the Heir to my people's throne. He is half-kin. He is not immortal. I have agreed to complete the process as he turns 21, not a moment before."
The golden eyes held the dark green ones of Dragomir.
"I have a son".
Severus reached out for the boy who sat forwards and Severus touched his hair, stared into his eyes and smiled. My own son, My Dragomir".
AN: Thanks for reading so far. I do know where this is going. Please review