Chapter 8: Tales of Tadem Lives
Tales of Tandem Lives
Haven:
It was mid-afternoon when Haven woke to the heavy pattering of rain on the windows of the bedroom. After taking in the sound of nature and holding it's dangerous beauty within her soul, she x-hales tension and climbs from the warmness of the bed. Slipping her bare feet into her old untied army boots, she rubs her face before shuffling towards the window. Propping herself against the sill by her palms, she looks out over Severus's backyard, watching the rain as it cleansed the town. In her travels, her eye's landed on the old wooden Apothecary shed and the view after cleared to that of her own reflection. In thought, she watches her fingers in the window as she moves them along the bright white scar that started from her forehead and ran the opposite side of her face. His potions had healed her quickly, but the time and major infection beforehand, forced a memory of destructive magic, lies and panic.
She had been walking alone that night, down a building lined street when she heard the sound of shoes slip behind her and the pick up of pace after her. She felt the approaching energy as a malicious and evil cloud and she connected to her surrounds to the T. She made a note of everything, every lit window, every street, vehicle and obstacle that could and would slow her down or expose her, she saw.
She slowed her heart with quick meditation into a forced calm and at the last moment she took off to side. Whatever trailed her followed quickly, initiating chase at once. She dipped into the alleys and ran her rout as she had many times before. She rounded corners and slid through little known holes and scaled tall obstructions in ways only practice could accomplish. As she approached a tall chain linked fence she smiled. These became easy for her to scale now in her older years and she climbed and landed on the other side with no problem. Turning around to watch her attacker, she frowned as a familiar arm gesture was made and in a moment, a flash,a blast, shot from the weapon and burned an adult person sized hole through the fence.
Magic, Haven realized with a weight that sunk her heart.
Haven panicked and took off into a run, loosing herself in the maze of back streets; she vaulted barriers and jumped dumpsters before settling on one particular that sat under a fire escape of a six story business building. With a quick leap, she pushed off the dumpster and wrapped her fingers around the third bar and skillfully used the momentum to pull herself up before moving quickly up the ladder.
Once at the roof, she pulled herself over the raised side edge and landed in a crouching position while taking her knife from her back pocket and exposing the blade to the sky. She felt her soul charging as the blade absorbed the energy from the full moon and she felt her bones sparking over her skin and through her veins. She stood quietly, waiting for a hand or head of her chaser to appear into view so that their blood might feed her arms vicious extension. A swooping noise from behind her and a sudden sound of feet hitting gravel spun her around instead.
To her surprise, it was a women who stepped from the shadowed fog. Her hair was tall, messy and black and she was dressed in a flowing black dress with edges that looked like fading smoke as it waved in low blowing wind. Her face was pale and eccentric as was her hair and stride. Haven stepped to the side forcing the two to circle motion.
"I knew, I knew who you were." She cackled.
"Clearly the wrong person."
Haven did not hold fear her heart, instead she felt an angry burning eruption inside her that perked each sense. The women intentions were obvious, and this was no time to think.
The women smiled, opening her circle, "I don't think so, love. "
She did not allow the women to push her back, she would die before let some dumb, crack head take control of the fight. The women seemed slightly impressed with her bravery and slowed her steps.
"Quite a brave little Gryffindor, you are." she narrowed her eyes and stood tall, crossing her arms loosely.
"Quite stupid some people can be, to annoy those that wish not to be annoyed."
Havens retort shown obviously obliviousness to her knowledge of Hogwarts and forced a laugh from the witch, who cackled like lightning as the rain fell like solid hail.
"And you've got a mouth. We'll be best girlfriends you and I. I,-" Her eye's narrowed into viper like slits and her voice turned to a hiss, "- I can already feel it."
The two stood feet away from each other now and the witch made her final assault. Haven felt the oncoming attack and had already lurched forward into a run as the wand was thrust from under crossed arms. Before the spell was cast, Haven caught the arm and twisted at the elbow and wrist, cracking both in one movement and used the broken arm to shove the women to the ground. As Haven controlled the women's movements, she dragged her knife through the women's arm and thigh before a spell from her attacker, flew the two women apart. Right before Haven was forced to fully let go, she saw the flash of the women's right hand fly past her peripherals and felt nothing until her back slammed against the gravel ground.
Haven let herself stumble a few steps away from the fight, crying out as she felt her skin and flesh burn excruciatingly more and more. Forcing herself to focus, Haven turned around to face where the women now knelt on all fours. It seemed she was having a harder time then Haven for her attempts to stand up fully, resulted in heavy stumbling and swears.
"Bellitrix Lestrange! Remember my name you bloody bitch! Bellitrix. Lestrange!" The women screamed holding her rotting arm and limp leg before disappearing completely into a cloud of smoke.
Haven's view waved as the city around her dropped to silence and the sky spun above her. She took a few steps before collapsing against a brick wall her eyes closing as she felt her cheek make contact to the cold concrete ground.
From her place in front of the window, Haven blinked away the memory and pushed off the sill. She turned to face the bedroom door in hopes Severus had unlocked it. To her surprise,when the handle was spun, the door pulled open allowing her into the silent hallway. She left the room with her door cracked open and traveled down the the hallway and stairs. She wearing baggy sweat pants and an over sized shirt and traveled the house feeling for any sign of Severus. When she reached the bottom stair, a coldness forced her back two more. No fire had been started, no candles were lit and the house sat dead and cold against the poring rain. She looked around the empty space before turning around and moving back up the stairs.
Just as quietly as before, she would scratch her head and yawn as she shuffled down the hall to the man's bedroom. Haven gave the door a stiff knock and waited listening for anything inside. She waited and with no sound or warning, the door cracked open and the tired looking Severus stepped forward and occupied the blackened space by leaning on the threshold and cocking an insulting eyebrow at her. He wore a black wife beater with an open long sleeve, button up over it that covered his shoulders and arms. His eye's were still slightly bloodshot and his posture showed an out of character weakness as his shoulder leaned heavy on the threshold.
"The afternoon has been good to you, I see." Haven stated quietly, looking over the man's disheveled appearance.
"What do you want?" His bite was back, along with his anger, he straightened up to his shadow casting height, cracking knuckles with his thumb.
"You've been in your room all day?" she asked trying to see around him to no avail.
"Yes."
Haven assessed the situation before asking her next question, "Are you alright?"
He gave an irritated sigh and stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him, his back against the wood in a smooth motion that hid his hangover well.
"I don't think I've ever dealt with a hangover for more then two minutes in my entire life." His sigh was that of emotionless defeat.
"What?" Haven laughed.
"True." A slight perk to his to his otherwise stoned, tired voice. "there are potions one can create and take before or after drinking that will rid hangover's and undesired affects." Snape's voice was listless and tired.
"What happened this time?"
"I gave my last one to, Malfoy."
"Rough." Haven nodded, "Well anyway, I was wondering.. It's still raining..."
"And, you want to stay until it stops?" He crossed his arms and looked at her, regaining his vulture like exterior.
She hated the effect he had on her, the feeling of being small and weak and she knew he could feel it even now. He was the only one in her life who still made her feel like a child. It was a specific anger that she forced herself to swallow.
"Yes." She said boldly and he gave a snide smirk.
"Then I think it's fair, you do something for me."
Haven paled. Here it was. After all these years he was finally using the card on her and with no fight in her, she hooked her thumb to her pants waist before his expression turned to disgust..
"Not that.." He found himself distracted, "I never want that as a price, never offer it again to me... I want you to accompany me, and respectfully meet some people who want to meet you."
"People who? Where?" She asked dropping her hand.
"People I know and places I've been. You wouldn't remember their names anyway."
Haven looked at the framed picture on the wall next to him, a wooded lining in a grey field, before glancing back, "Magic people?"
"Yes, Haven... Magic people.." He tolerated her.
"Like me?"
"Similar, to you."
Haven waited a moment and ran the agreement through her head, "Throw in the door being unlocked more often, and we got a deal."
"Don't push it.." He growled.
"Than why was the door unlocked today?"
"Simplicity. I didn't want to bother with you or anything outside of my room today. But, here I am." He went to crack his knuckles again but with no avail. "I can assure you it wasn't out of trust, just my lack of desire to let you into a house you're already in. "
He was testy and harsh, but again so was everyone in his position. She let the comment slip by and gave him a head nod and a grin.
" Deal. Thank you, Severus."
"You're pushing it again."
Her eyes narrowed on his, before twisting around and walking away. With a flick of his wand the downstairs lit up and hot fire roared in the living room. He turned back into his room and closed the door behind him.
**Flash back**
Severus
Albus leaned over the table and looked straight at his young potions master, "Severus Snape-" He started sternly but fatherly, watching the continuous threats crossing across the mans eyes. "You came to me years ago promising me-"
"Fine." His voice was short and his voice was lined with controlled anger.
"Thank you." Albus said before dismissing the man from the meeting early.
...
Severus ran the meeting through his mind again as he stood alone on the train platform of Spinners End. Albus has requested for Haven's presence and he was left with no other option than to say yes. The war had become risky since the Dark Lord had made his first appearance and the Order was demanding Severus to prove his claim of switching sides. He was stuck in the middle, a place where he hated to be the most.
His hearing perked to a small set of foot steps of a non-magical entity, walking up to the station which confused him slightly. Spinners End was a mostly muggle town, with low headed witches and wizards placed sparsely around. Much like Hogwarts camouflage, the platform looked like a dead train rail station at the end of an abandoned dirt path. Whatever muggle just showed up was going to forcibly stall the train. His lip twitched irritably and turned around to tell the person off when he met eyes with a darkly grinning Haven, who had stopped as he turned.
He cocked his eyebrow and silently turned back to the tracks as the rumbling of a train approached. He said nothing nor looked at her again and they got on the train through separate doorways and sat far apart. They did not address each other, but when the train pulled into a muggle London station, Severus rose and got off, a movement quickly followed by Haven. She followed him through the crowds, using her street skills to hang back allowing people between them, while still keeping eyes on him.
Well, him and a few pockets, she grinned to herself as her hand pulled out of a women purse, taking her wallet and slipping it into her inner jacket pocket.
He turned sharply down an empty ally and Haven was quick to follow him until he stopped and turned around. With no one between them they stood in silence looking at each other for a moment before Haven moved closer and stretched out her open hand towards him. He eyes went to her hand then moved up, narrowing against her eye's. He stepped closer and grasped her wrist tightly instead, and apparated them both from the spot.
Their travel ended when whey landed on a sidewalk facing a row of connected houses. He let her go immediately and pulled out his wand before casting a spell into the air. Her eye's widened as the houses began to separate and a new column emerged without notice to anyone around.
"You've gotten quite advanced in hiding your magic to senses," He noted solemnly, his first words quiet as they watched the house appear from between two homes.
"Taught by the best," she complimented simply, giving a grin.
Severus waited a moment, watching the gate fly up in front of the house before looking down at Haven.
"You look like a muggle.." He grumbled, looking up the street as a noise echoed from the distance.
She shifted her posture slightly offended, "Whats wrong with that?"
"You should dress with the society you relate to the most. Avoid questions and attention."
"I'm not in your society." Her voice was blunt and stone, making him look at her curiously as she continued to stare ahead of her with her features holding blank and unemotional.
"How do you figure?" He asked.
"I live on London streets. I steal these people's money and sleep in their in their alleys, I search their dumpsters and I break into their homes and steal their stuff. Besides knowing magic, besides knowing you, I leave no shadow in your society besides that within your flat."
"Fair enough."
Severus began across the empty street and Haven followed obediently, rising the hood and zippering her sweater. He walked up the steps and opened the door with no knock and briskly walked inside and Haven paused momentarily as he faded into the dark hallway. Pushing herself through the threshold, she picked her speed and followed him until she was behind him again. He was standing with his toes at the line of the light protruding from the active room on the other side of the wall. He seemed uncomfortable, as if he was prepping himself to step into view, a hesitation she didn't remember ever seeing before. He shook his head slightly, and turned to face her.
"Stay here."
His body straightened up fully and his features set to a dark and angry appearance and he turned heel and stepped into view and leaned on the threshold.
Haven:
"Severus!" A familiar women's voice rang and he gave a silent nod and crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Did you-" The witches voice was silenced as Severus stepped into the room bringing the conversation to be lost in whispers.
Haven waited irritably as the conversation went on without her and eventually she looked around the musty, gross and dusty entry way.
"Well, hello there." A mans light voice said quietly behind her, twisting Haven around. He was fatherly looking man, with red hair and a jolly smile but she would only wall to the man who stood against the darkness of the hall behind him. Haven stayed silent and just glared angrily for an awkward moment.
"Did you come here with, Severus?" The man tired.
She thought nothing and said nothing.
"It's okay, I know him. My name is Arthur Weasley." He extended his hand, placing his fatherly smile wider.
Her heavy silence and internal anger dropped the smile slowly from the mans a face as well as the hand that no longer held in the space between them and he looked up as a sweeping sound was heard from behind. Haven knew it was Snape and used the knowledge to keep her attention on the unfamiliar man until a sharp jab in her side made her flinch.
"Hello Arthur," Severus's voice was dark and haunting, "I see you don't need introductions."
"Actually Severus, we haven't been introduced."
Snape looked disapprovingly down at Haven, who still stood with her back to him and refused to meet his glare,
"Haven, Arthur. Arthur, this is, Haven."
"Nice to finally meet you Haven, Severus has told me so much about you."
What would be seen as a normal polite thing to say, sent shivers down her spine and a growl of the the mans name from within Severus's throat. The man saw his wrong and silenced himself before walking past them into the open living room.
"Come here," Severus instructed and Haven stepped into sight, placing herself next to the vulture and looked out into the room of mismatched faces that she placed with shadowed voices. There were multiple people, all who stared at her silently and Severus was quick to pick up her ongoing silence.
"Haven, this is Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Molly Weasley, Tonks, Mad Eye Moody, and Kingsley Shacklebolt. You already know Minerva, Albus and Arthur." Severus gestured to each individual who gave their own independent hello's, before continuing,
"Everyone, this is Haven."
yay for past chapter explanations! Hope you enjoyed. please remember I love R&R's