Friends,

I apologize greatly for my slow updates as of late. Work and school have been taking over my life recently. Don't worry – the show goes on! I will do my best to get these chapters up for you all. This chapter is a bit short but I hope to be updates more frequently soon. Some exciting things are in store!

Love,

SweetSlytherinPrincess

Locomotive

Chapter XX

Athena Tantibus was not a woman that appreciated meddling. By no means did she consider herself strict or unbecoming, she simply had no tolerance for any sort of foul play. For most of her life she had traveled the world studying the used of herbs, roots, and various possible ingredients to potions – reporting her findings to the ministry and often publishing her work under various pen names. She was a gifted witch – barely yet reaching thirty but more accomplished than colleagues twice her age that had been in the potion-making career for much longer than she.

When the war had come underway, Tantibus had slunk out of the way of the press and avoided the ministry at all costs. She had been suspicious of the goings on there – and wanted no part of it. When she got word that her old professor and loosely-defined friend had died, her heart sunk. While reluctant to accept her new position as potions professor, she felt it her duty to Severus, and chose to accept.

It had been years since she had even laid eyes on the school. But she recalled it quickly, and felt at home. It was a bit of an odd feeling, standing in the place her old professor had stood. And an even stranger feeling to be lecturing to students sitting in the places she used to sit. None the less, Athena was a professional, and did her job well.

She awoke before the sun, as usual. Standing before her mirror, she slipped out of her night clothes and into her robes. Black. Her sleeves were long and tight, a cascade of intricate buttons going down the front of her corset – the skirt lined with a deep green. Quickly she added a bit of smoke to her eyes and a deep wine stain to her lips. Then ran her hands through her mussed dark curls and pulled them to the side around her shoulder, tying them in place with a dark ribbon. She sighed, grabbed her wand, and made her way out into the corridors. She was always up this early, but on this day there was more reason to be awake than just habit.

She walked with purpose, swiftly and silently weaving through the dungeons – knowing exactly where she was headed. Soon she rounded a corner and her eyes fell upon exactly who she had come to meet.

"Leona." Her voice was warm and low as she eyed the petite blonde standing in the corner. Leona Stellamordis was the opposite of Athena in many ways. While Athena stood tall, Leona was much like a fairy. Athena's dark, warm complexion contrasted with Leona's cool pale features. Even beyond looks however, Athena had a mysterious air about her while she was truly soft and sweet on the inside. Stellamordis however had a softness to her that hid the ruthless and sadistic nature within.

"Ah, Professor Tantibus." Icy eyes flickered. At this moment the blonde had not taken the time to put her long hair up in her typical intricate braids. This morning her hair hung loose, nearly reaching the floor.

"Why have you summoned me?" There was a harshness to Athena's tone, and she held her ground at a safe distance.

"Oh, don't be that way." The blonde's voice was like venom. "Forget the past, dearie. We are colleagues now." She moved forward and rested a delicate hand on Tantibus' cheek – who reflexively backed away.

"No games." She hissed.

"Tsk tsk. You've lost all sense of adventure and fun now that you have stone walls trapping you." Leona gave a wicked grin and smoothed her robes that were a pale blue – nearly white. It held her small frame in the right places but had long loose sleeves and a heavy skirt.

"If you have nothing to say, I am dismissing myself." Athena spoke as she watched the Defense against the Dark Arts professor sway to imaginary music and giggle at her own wit.

"Oh please, you will appreciate my news." She grinned over her shoulder at Athena and fluttered her eyelashes. "It has to do with an old friend of ours."

"Don't flatter yourself. We have no mutual friends."

"Well, perhaps more of an enemy to you." She rolled her eyes.

"Who?" Athena was growing impatient and her voice dripped with annoyance.

"A certain Malfoy." Her voice was giddy and excited.

"Draco?" Athena's eyes grew wide and then narrowed with suspicion. Athena had never had much of a liking for the boy, but he had tried so hard to denounce his past. It just didn't fit. Leona scoffed at this, and twirled her hair girlishly as she leaned against the stone wall.

"Of course not." She smiled devilishly.

"Then…. Who? And what sort of news?"

"Dangerous news."

"I said no games!" Athena shouted angrily and pulled her wand against the woman before her, who reacted quickly and matched her stance.

"Oh please Tantibus! You've drawn your wand against a defense professor!" She laughed happily as Athena lowered her wand slowly with a low growl.

"I did not meet you here to be toyed with. You know I detest the sight of a snake like you." As Athena spoke, Leona rolled her eyes and rose her hands in the air.

"I promise I'm on my best behavior. I've repented and seen the light." She laughed teasingly and closed the space between them once more.

"It's Lucious." She whispered into Athena's ear, and her breath caught in her throat.

"What do you mean? He is in Azkaban…" Athena's voice switched from anger to worry and surprise - mixed with a sudden nervousness.

"Perhaps not for long…."

"But… how?"

"It seems as though he has vengeance and revenge on his mind…."

"He can't escape! It's impossible! "

"It has been done before." Stellamordis ran a hand through her fantastically long hair and sighed.

"How do you know this?" Athena asked, her eyes narrowing once again.

"I have friends in high places." She mused.

"You mean low places?" Athena scoffed and turned to leave, fear washing over her. She was unsure whether she could trust the blonde… her history not exactly spotless. But if this was true, what would happen? Who else had word? And of those who might have an idea, why would they tell Stellamordis? And why would Stellamordis then tell her? Athena's suspicion of the blonde increased by the second.

What could he be after if he were to get free? She couldn't understand much point in going after Potter. Revenge maybe, but there wasn't much else to gain. She wracked her brain… perhaps any involved in the war were subject to his wrath? But it just didn't make any sense.

And then suddenly she froze, halfway down the hall. A realization washed over as she turned to look at the woman still some distance away from her.

"It's because of Draco, isn't it?" Athena's voice dripped with fear and realization. Leona let out a shill, cackling laugh.

"That's the rumor, anyway." She grinned. Athena grimaced and her fists clenched.

"A rumor it will stay!" She retorted.

"So you think."

"I swear I will kill you if you have any part in this. Mark my words you filthy wretch!" Athena turned on her heel and made her departure as Stellamordis nearly laughed herself to death.