The Pretty Poison
Fireflash landed on the lawn in front of the hospital, giving Arista a concerned look.
"You sure they're here, kid? Because Colin told me they were going to track Nightshade to her lair, not visit his wife."
"That's what the prophecy said, and all I can do is follow it. If she's not here already, she will be." Arista said firmly. "What room is Jenna in, do you know?"
"Uh, 414. What difference does that make?"
"Because spiders always return to their prey," Arista answered. "Nightshade won't like the fact that Jenna's still alive. I think she'll come back to finish her off."
The dragon eyed her consideringly. "Yeah, I can see that sly witch doing that. Best get going, kid. Find your father before the witch does, then stay the hell out of their way when the fighting starts."
"Will do, Flash!" Arista waved, then bolted into the hospital. She raced past the information desk, ignoring the shouts of the receptionist on duty. "Hey kid, come back here! You can't just run around in here like that. This is a hospital, not a playground. Hey! You can't go up there without a visitor's pass!"
"Sorry! It's an emergency!" Arista yelled over her shoulder, hitting the blue door marked 2nd Floor with her shoulder. It crashed open and she bounded up the stairs, whispering a charm that gave her the speed of a gazelle.
* * * * * *
Severus Snape had never felt such pain in all of his life. Not all the beatings of his childhood could compare to it. He felt as if he were being torn apart inch by inch, then dropped into a vat of acid. He could barely see for the tears that filled his eyes, his whole world was a red and black blur. His teeth were clenched so tight it was a miracle they did not break to pieces. Yet he would not give her the satisfaction of hearing him scream. The witch would never make him beg. Voldemort had never done so, and he was not about to give into a third-rate conjurer whose one claim to fame was killing children and Dark Hunters.
He blinked the tears from his eyes and glared at her defiantly, fighting the agony coursing through him with every bit of willpower he possessed. You can make me kneel to you, hag of hell, but you'll never see me beg! Never! I'll die first.
Her laughter, low and sweet, echoed in his ears. "Had enough, Potions Master? Will you call me Mistress now, you naughty boy? Or shall I give you another lesson in manners?"
All at once she gestured, and the excruciating pain was gone. But he did not dare open his mouth, for fear he would start sobbing in relief, and so he contented himself with giving her his most potent glare, the one that could freeze students in their tracks from fifty feet away.
He was on his knees before Jenna's bed, they had returned to the hospital because that was where the tracking spell Colin had cast led them. Both of them had concluded that Nightshade must have doubled back to finish off Jenna before she went into hiding again. Neither of them had suspected it was a trap.
Stupid! We were so stupid! His mind raged. We walked right into her snare, like flies into a spider web. Nightshade stood before him, a pleased smile playing about her lips, which were painted a bright red. They stood out against her porcelain skin like rubies against the snow. She was beautiful, tall and slender, wrapped all in gray silk, her hair was a brilliant black, save for an icy white lock on her left side. Braided on either side of her hair were long white finger bones, the bones of all the victims she had killed, she'd informed him. "My trophies. Aren't they pretty?" she'd laughed, shaking her head so the bones rattled. "Shall I add your finger to them, sweet Severus? Oh yes, I know of you, Potions Master! Your name was the last word
Amelia Amarotti ever spoke. She died calling for you, her beloved, to save her. With her last breath she begged you to come . . .only you never did!"
She laughed again, a high wild sound, chillingly beautiful in its madness. "Shall I send you to join her then? You can be together in death as you never could in life."
He'd spat at her then, resulting in her losing her temper and using the Cruciatus Curse on him. The first time. This time was the second.
They'd been so certain that this time they would capture her, and Colin had been so concerned about Jenna, that they hadn't bothered to check for traps before entering the injured magician's hospital room. Colin had been a little ahead of him, guided by the tracking spell, but the moment both of them had crossed the threshold, they'd triggered the magical booby trap she'd set.
The explosion had been soundless, but powerful enough to send them both flying across the room. Colin had hit the wall and been knocked out, as far as Severus could determine. The explosion had hurt him, but not badly enough to knock him unconscious, only stun him somewhat and knock his wand from his hand.
That had been all the opening Nightshade had needed. She had stepped out from the shadows behind the door where she'd been hiding, waiting for them to appear, and snatched his wand up in one lightning quick move.
"Silly English wizard," she'd sneered, taking his chin in one long-nailed hand and forcing him to look at her. "So easy to disarm you. No wand, no magic. Not the case with me. My magic is in here," and she'd wiggled an index finger, smirking.
"You planned this," he hissed, trying to shake the cobwebs from his brain.
"Naturally. You didn't think I'd be stupid enough to leave my hair lying about like that, did you? I may be pretty, but I'm not as dumb as I look." She smiled then, a cold vicious smile. "I am the Pretty Poison, and all who see me must die."
He'd tried to meet her eyes with his own, because if he could get into her mind, he might have a chance, but she refused to meet his gaze, her blue eyes glanced away. Then she'd cast the Cruciatus Curse and all he could focus on was enduring the awful pain.
The only thought that comforted him was that at least Arista was safe at Hogwarts, where Nightshade could not reach her. His only regrets were that he would never see her grow up, that she would be alone as he had been alone, and that his last words to her in this world had been spoken in anger.
"Have you nothing to say then?" Nightshade cooed. "No last words before I send you to join your precious Amelia?"
Severus bared his teeth in a defiant grin.
Nightshade lifted her hand, pointed at him.
The door burst open and something slammed into the tall witch, sending her flying.
"Get off of him, you hag from hell!"
He looked up . . .and saw Arista standing before him, glaring daggers at Nightshade, who was coming up off the floor spitting teeth, the words to that killing spell still on her lips.
"Arista! No!" he howled.
She did not look at him, though his cry made her shudder. "Mom! Help me, Mom!" she whispered, calling with all the force of her empathic gift, summoning the mother she had never known to protect her only child.
"Avada—"
"Silencio!"
Nightshade's curse was cut off abruptly, and she whirled to face this new threat, one hand going to her throat. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
For there in the doorway was Amelia Amarotti.
The petite Dark Hunter was outlined in a soft nimbus of blue light, but she was unmistakably there. "Surprise, Nightshade!" Amelia snarled, her eyes gleaming with the fires of battle. "You thought I was gone for good, didn't you?"
Nightshade's throat worked, her hand tracing a counter-charm. "I-impossible! I killed you!" she rasped.
"True. But nothing is impossible with magic. I made a bargain with God. He agreed
that I could come back to protect my child one last time . . .and to kick your ass while I'm at it."
"Avada Kedavra!" Nightshade spat, pointing at Amelia.
Green light shot from her fingertip . . .and was turned aside.
"That won't work on me any more, Livia. The usual rules don't apply to one who has one foot in the spirit realm." Amelia declared. Then she sprang at the other woman, slamming her in the jaw with a lightning quick roundhouse.
"That was for hurting my husband!"
Her other hand flashed forward, nailing the gasping Nightshade in the stomach. "And that was for scaring my daughter."
Nightshade was doubled over, wheezing, unable to breathe. Snape's wand fell from her grasp and rolled beneath the bed.
Amelia grabbed her by the collar, hauling her upright and flinging her across the room. She hit the opposite wall with a bone jarring thud.
"And that's for Colin and Jenna."
Nightshade made a mewling sound, one hand stretched out in a pleading gesture.
Amelia gazed at her coldly. "I will give you the same mercy you gave me. None." She lifted a hand, making a flinging gesture. "Draco Inferio!"
There was a flash of brilliant bluish-gold heat and Nightshade was gone. All that remained of her was fine black ash, which scattered in the wind Amelia summoned. "Debt paid, Nightshade."
"Mom?" Arista whispered, her voice quivering. "Is that really you?"
"It's me, baby." Amelia turned and smiled at her daughter, coming to place her hands on Arista's shoulders. "I don't have long, and there's something I need to show you. Something that will help you heal the Longbottoms, that only an empath can teach you." She bent and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Remember." The blue light surrounded them for a moment. The next instant it was gone.
Arista hugged her for a long moment. "I love you, Mom."
"I know. I love you too." Then she turned to look at Severus, who had managed to climb to his feet and was now leaning against the wall.
"Severus." In that one word was all of the love in her heart.
"Amelia." His voice was the same as hers.
For an instant they stared at each other, disbelief and joy mingled in their eyes.
Then he held out his arms and she ran into them. "I never got to say goodbye," she whispered. "But now I can." Then she kissed him, and in her kiss was all the warmth and love she bore him, magic that healed and renewed, sweeping through him in a dizzying rush.
Then she drew away. "I can't stay. But I'll be waiting, Sev. You're the very best thing ever. Remember me." She pressed something into his hand.
Then she was gone in a soft halo of blue light.
Severus looked down. In his hand was a gold wedding band. He smiled through his tears. Amelia had understood the deepest wish of his heart. But then, she always had.
He slipped the gold band on his finger. It fit perfectly.
Then he turned to his daughter. "Arista Eileen Snape, what did you think you were doing?"
"Saving your life."
Laughing, he caught her in a hug that swept her off her feet.
A/N--So what did you think of this? Did you like my little surprise? She kept her promise to Sev after all. Next up Arista sets out to prove that nothing is impossible with magic by healing Neville's parents! Thanks to all my reviewers:)