Chapter 2

Severus arrived at Hogwarts under cover of darkness, via Hogsmeade and the forbidden forest. He had been given his route in the acknowledgment to his acceptance, this one signed by Charis Nigellus, which gave him a sense of security. The ceremony was ancient and sacred; even the Dark Lord would have to obey its laws, which meant that Dumbledore could not use it to kill him even if he wanted. He had met the great aunt of Narcissa's on several occasions socially and she had congratulated him herself when he became a Master. He was assured of his safety and his acceptance to the role he would be playing.

He would meet with Dumbledore and Madame Nigellus in the dungeons, alone. He had not expected to see the other participants, they were meant to remain anonymous with all focus being on their roles.

Or so he believed. Severus had studied the ancient ceremonies and rituals as an elective since he was a first-year; as with curses, no other students could claim to know as much as he did. Except one, perhaps. The modern wizarding world retained links to the old world and old magic but most of it was conflated with Dark Magic and shunned in practice. To know the ceremonies, one would have to be a part of them and it was a great honor to be chosen. There were only a few witches and wizards who would perform the roles of the elements, they rotated as the season and their own nature dictated. But only the very strongest and most powerful were chosen and Severus was now one of them. Most wizards and witches did not believe the ceremonies were still taking place, others believed the ceremonies were held by cultists. But others, like Severus, believed they welcomed the seasons and could affect everything from the climate, rainfall, the harvest, and the fertility of plants, animals, and beings.

Severus felt a thrill as he opened the door to Hogwarts and descended the stair towards the dungeons, but he knew better than to get his hopes up and prepared himself for disappointment.

Dumbledore and Madame Nigellus were sat facing each other at the far end of a long table in a room lit by thousands of candles, he had never even known of the room's existence, before tonight. They were silently looking at each other and only slowly turned away from each other to look at him as he approached them, on Madame's side of the table. Dumbledore's face was emotionless. "Severus."

Severus only nodded at him in reply, he brought Madame's hand to his mouth in greeting. "Good evening, Severus."

"Good evening."

He sat beside her. Dumbledore poured wine into three goblets and he toasted Eostre and they drank. Madame toasted Severus' selection and they drank. Severus toasted the elders and the participants who had gone before and they drank.

Dumbledore looked him in the eye. Severus felt no legilimency but occluded him anyways. "The equinox is Wednesday this year, the 23rd of the month. We will begin with the ceremony and if you would like to stay, there will be a meal the night after, here in this room, past and present participants..."

"I won't eat with you." Severus interrupted. "It isn't part of the ceremony, so I won't be a part of the meal. I give my word that I will perform my role with all my dedication but nothing else."

"You are invited nonetheless."

Damn that old man. Snape skin burned hot with a sudden and wild rage and he stamped on the fires that consumed his heart. How dare he? He'd had the chair pulled out from under him too many times at that old man's table, metaphorically speaking; how dare he invite him to anything? The goddess had selected him but Dumbledore would doubtless have preferred one of his precious Gryffindors.

But he has no control over this.

That thought calmed Severus and he felt his rage slipping away.

"I have reviewed some of your old assignments here, the scholarship you performed as a student. I didn't know the depth of your interest in the old..."

Severus's expression was growing more baleful with every word out of Dumbledore's mouth.

His temper had caught fire again. Of course you didn't know, you stupid bloody old man, you were too busy punishing me and celebrating those sociopathic Marauders.

"I have confidence you know what to do. I will leave now and you can ask Charis any questions you might have. Good night, I will see you again soon."

Dumbledore stood. "Congratulations for your achievement, the youngest Potions Master in generations and the first new British Master in over 50 years. It is a very great thing you have accomplished." With that, he quit the room. This recognition from his former headmaster diminished Severus' pride somehow.

Madame turned to him with narrowed eyes. "Refusing to share a meal with a man in the ancients' time was a declaration of war, Severus, or didn't Eileen teach you that? Contemporary politics must not be permitted to sully the ceremonies, what happens now has happened before and will happen again. It is meaningless unless it effects lasting change and sharing a meal will not change anything."

"I know that Madame, but he didn't expect me to eat with him. Inviting me to share the meal… he doesn't want me there but he maintains the moral," Severus drew out the word, "high ground."

Madame shook her head in frustration with his immaturity, she would indulge Eostre's favourite by dropping the subject although she was curious why the young, normally aloof man had such strong feelings about the Headmaster.

"You have been selected as representative of Air, purity of spirit, you will approach the circle from the east. You cannot apparate directly to the location of the ceremony. Eostre will raise your awareness, so to speak, of when and where to apparate." The older woman smiled and reached across and patted Severus' forearm where the dark mark lay dormant. "But it won't burn, I expect you will rather enjoy the sensation."

Severus gave a short laugh, slightly taken aback when he realized what she was saying and at the much, much older woman's playful flirtation, and she laughed with him.

"Enjoy the walk to the circle, take your time. Don't bring anything," Severus started to interrupt but she waved him off, "You will find everything you need on the walk. Use your power and trust your instincts."

She stood up and Severus took her arm and walked her out of the room and towards the doors, but she pulled away. "I'm going to have a drink with Albus before I leave. Good night, young man. And don't forget, Eostre chose you, and that is a very great thing."

Air. Purity of spirit. Praise her, but had Eostre lost her mind, too?

And all of this talk of great things. Yes, he knew he had made a great achievement, he had a natural ability and he dedicated himself to becoming the best at it and managed to do so younger than anyone else in ages. He was very good at what he did but he wasn't yet great.

Later that evening after bathing, he stood in front of the foggy mirror and looked at the left forearm Madame had patted earlier. He knew how the dark mark worked but to think that Eostre used the same magic… It wasn't dark, it was ancient magic and beautiful in its way.