Ohayo! I'm so happy to see you all here. You are enjoying this story, I hope. Sorry if Sev seems OOC but I think that if he had unconditional acceptance, when it comes to his emotions he might well do this. Well at the end of all of this please, please, please review. I will give double chocolate chip cookies to all who respond. ^^ And if you flame then I will have no choice, but to laugh at you. Ok on with the fic!
Revelations chapter 5
Saturday came, without a hint of the troubles that were soon to plague it. Kit awoke with a slight twinge, a hint to the Monday past. She decided to see Poppy for a quick check up, a little worried that there was still residual effects of her Healing. She skipped into the room, not noticing that a bed was hidden behind a screen, and didn't see Harry and Ron on a bed at the other end of the ward.
"Poppy? Can ya take a quick peek at me?" she called cheekily. "I'm a little sore." Poppy came over with a smile and began to check the Canadian witch. After a little bit, she pulled back and smiled.
"Well except for the bruising still on your back, you are in fine form, for someone who took so many injuries that Severus had."
A strangled cry came from behind the curtain and Severus Snape stood there with an angry, shock-filled look.
"WHAT!!!!" He roared. Kit looked at him, paled and with a muffled squeak, darted from the room. But not before he saw the tears and fear in her eyes. Poppy rounded on him to scold, and saw his disbelief and thought over what she'd said. Calling herself three types of an idiot, she nearly missed what he asked.
"Please, tell me I heard wrong? Kit didn't expand so much energy, to take on my injuries from You-Know-Who after my unmasking. Please!" His voice shook, and his face was pale as he clung to the screen. Poppy sighed and shook her head.
"I'm sorry Severus. You weren't supposed to find out."
"How much? How much of my.."
"She took fully three quarters of your injuries. Including the…" a cough told him what he hadn't wanted to hear. "She said you were worth it."
Tears began to fall and his voice hitched as he gasped for breath. "How could she do that? WHY would she do that? I'm not..."
"If you say you aren't worth her sacrifice, so help me Merlin, I will hex you!" Poppy snapped. "That girl loves you and right now, she believes you hate her! Go to her Severus. She needs you." His face closed and swiftly he wiped his face dry. With a firm nod, he swept out of the infirmary. Poppy sighed then saw the two Gryffindors in the back and coloured, as she quickly ejected them from her ward. The two boys walked down to breakfast talking quietly about what they'd heard, and Ron said slowly
"I was wrong about him. I don't like him, but I guess Kit had the right idea when she said he was braver than we'd ever know."
It was the turning point of his mindset.
Kit raced into the dorm room she shared with the other Gryffindor girls in her year and dove under her bed before she began to sob. Stryfe crept over the floor to her and mewed gently, licking her tears away and purring, trying to bring comfort to her.
"Oh Stryfe! What am I gonna do? He'll hate me!" she gasped between her cries. Stryfe didn't answer her, just kept purring until she fell into a light doze. She jerked awake when the door opened, and a baritone voice called out gently,
"Kit?"
Silence answered Severus and then he saw the kitten looking at him and looking at the bed it was perched on. He sighed then swiftly, reached under the bed and hauled the little minx out. Kit began to babble apologies and promises not to say anything in between her tears. Severus said not one word, but sat down on the bed and sat her on his lap and hugged her tightly. The hug startled her into silence and it was quiet for a little bit.
"You foolish, foolish girl. What makes you think I'm angry with you? You saved my life, did you not?"
"Y…yes."
"You saved my sanity, by being there for me. You gave me joy and someone to talk to when Albus couldn't, you never turned your back on me and you helped me put the pain behind by treating me the same way you always did." He kissed her then, long slow and deep. "I won't lie and say I am not upset that you sacrificed your health for mine, but your mother said you loved me, and Poppy agrees. No one has ever loved me before. I was always a means to an end for people, including my parents. I could never hate you, Kitiara. Never. Indeed, the feelings I have are completely opposite."
"I love you. I truly do. And," her eyes glittered with determination, " I may be too young but soon I will be over the age of consent, and then I plan to show you how much I love you."
"Thank you for the warning." He said dryly. "I look forward to your attempt. Now, I believe breakfast is almost over and as a growing young woman, you need to go and eat"
"I will, and Sev?" she smiled softly, "thanks."
"Don't get sentimental on me, I wouldn't know what to do!" The potions professor snarked. "Now come on. I don' think you had any breakfast, and we need to get food into your system before you faint."
"Me? Faint? Never happen." Kit groused, even as she let him pull her through the corridors to the Hall. They passed students, who stared in disbelief and whispered in consternation to each other at the obvious affection the two displayed. Severus sneered as he glared around, while Kit just blushed lightly. He gave her a gentle shove into the Hall with the command to eat, before sweeping to his dungeon to rest and think.
Kit walked over to her seat, with a small smile on her face and found Stryfe sitting there and looking smug. She chuckled as she swept her cat into her arms and scolded him lightly for giving her away. Then thanked him for doing so. As she started to eat, she realized that many of her House were staring at her, various degrees of awe and consternation on their faces.
"What?"
"Uhm, Kit, we…that is, Ron and I, were in the infirmary this morning. We heard everything." Harry said softly. Kit looked at him then sighed and put down her fork.
"You have questions I assume. Please let me finish eating before you ask them ok? I do want to talk to you though, but that meeting will wait. After breakfast, I have someone who asked me for help, to talk to." She picked up her fork again and ate swiftly before sitting back and began to feed her kitten with the bacon and sliced ham on her plate. "Ok. Ask away."
"Snape was a spy?" Seamus asked softly. Kit nodded a sad look on her face.
"He was found out, and nearly dead when he came back to Hogwarts." She looked up at the head table, and smiled wickedly.
"Umm, what did you do? We heard him yell, and he looked really pale.." Harry asked. Kit looked at him for a while, a blank face hiding her thoughts. She seemed to see something in his face because she nodded and answered. "What I did was something my teachers in Healing Magick, taught me, but it was only to be used as a last and desperate resort. I was desperate to keep him from dying, and it was the only thing left to try. It takes a lot of training and understanding and empathy to perform the magick."
"You say magic differently. What type is it?" Hermione asked curiously.
"There are four types of what we call magic in the world. Wandless magic, like what Dumbledore or an animagus uses. Wand magic, which is what you can do. Nature Magick, which muggles can perform after a great deal of preparation, ritual and determination, and is deeply rooted in the patronage of the Gods and the Earth. I was taught it by a Miko priestess, and a Shaman. Then there's Soul magick. This last is partially what I use in healing. And it is very dangerous. What I did, could have killed me if I wasn't strong enough or if I were careless. But, he's worth it."
"Do you, like, love him?" Parvati asked nosily. Kit raised an eyebrow at her.
"Why do you think I risked my life? There is something about him that calls to me, and mother thinks it could be my fathers' blood coming out.." she shook her head and glanced at the teachers table. Dumbledore nodded and stood, holding up his hands for quiet. "As you all know, Voldemort is back and we must be ready for any attacks he may throw at us. To that end, our transfer student, Kitiara StarSworn, has offered to teach a different type of magick. Ms. StarSworn?"
"Thank you Headmaster." Kit stood and bowed in respect before walking to the front of the hall. She looked at the students there and took a deep breath. "I am not accustomed to talking to large crowds, but I'll make this as short and concise as I can. I have been offered a position in the Dark Farts' army." The hall gasped in shock, she held up her hands and smirked " I'm sorry but I have better things to do with my time and powers than to cater to a hypocritical megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur. Now that is out of the way, I am trained in many different types of magick, and I am willing to teach those of you who wish to protect yourselves, and your families. These classes are open to all years, and all strengths. However, if I don't feel you mean to use the power I teach for good, I'll ask you to leave.
The classes are thrice weekly at seven p.m., Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. I will also have a special class on Sundays, from six am to noon, for those who I think have a need for Battle Magick. This class, I'll issue invitations to. In my classes, there is no rank, no house, no age and no divisions of blood. I will teach a purple sea monkey, if it has the desire and need for the training, but I will ask you to leave if you are ill-mannered and disrespectful. I suggest you wear loose clothes and ones you don't mind getting destroyed if there is an accident. That's all." She bowed to them and began to walk out when Dumbledore laughed.
"Kit? You forgot to say where." The girl blushed and chuckled
"Whoops. Hmmm, ok, the thrice weekly ones we'll meet in here, and those special Sunday ones, which start next week by the way, we'll meet at Hagrids' hut. Now, I'm off." And she skipped out the doors.
Ten minutes later, Draco followed.
Draco hurried after the Canadian witch, he really wanted to talk to her now. She'd just put herself on the Dark Lords' hit list, openly. The girl was crazy!
"Hey! Kit, wait a sec." He called to the rapidly walking girl. She turned and smiled.
"Draco just the boy I was looking for." She smirked as he came close. She grabbed his arm and yanked him into an unused classroom. Closing the door, she invited him to sit down and she leaned against the wall. Waving her hand, a silvery dome of light encased them. "There. Now we won't be overheard. So many rats about." Amber eyes looked thoughtfully into silver blue ones, and then smiled. "You wanted to talk. Tell me what you know."
"The Dark Lord, is furious at your actions. So's my fa...Lucius. However, he-who-must-not-be-named was also impressed. He wants you in his ranks, and I've been ordered on pain of torture, to get you to turn to the Dark. Using any means necessary."
"I see. And what do you want?"
"I want to be free of the path my ..Lucius wants me to take. He's not the father I knew, or thought I knew. He's colder and more cruel. He killed mother. Oh not he himself, but… I know it was him behind it." He bowed his head as he spoke of his mother, eyes shut in pain. "I am not Light, by any means.."
"Oh hush, Drake. Your Ministry are fools. There is no such thing as Dark or Light magic, just in the way it is used. A simple tickle charm if applied and never taken off can be just as much torture as the Crucio. And Avada Kedavra can bring a merciful death to someone who is in great pain, and won't get better. I am not Light, as the British Ministry would classify it. But I am not evil. I make my choices and what I do is done for the aid of those I care for. Does this sound like you?"
"Yes, it does. How come you're not in Slytherin?"
"Well, I think it's because I tend to act before I think at times of stress, and the fact that I've actively put myself on Moldyfart's death list might have something to do with that." She chuckled. "But enough about me. What are you willing to do to be free? Are you willing to die for it? Are you willing to turn your back on it? Are you willing to be shunned, disowned and actively hated for your freedom? Think carefully before you answer me. Your answer will dictate what I can do for you." He nodded and sat back, eyes half closed as he thought. While he did that, Kitiara created a ball of light and concentrated on changing the colours, and making it change shape. It was one of the first exercises her teachers taught her to help collect her thoughts. When Draco stirred, ten minutes later, she dismissed the light and looked at him.
"I'd do anything. I want to be free."
"Then the next step is for us to go to Dumbledore, or Snape. One or the other, and then the other. The two of them will be best placed to aid you further. Know this, I am selecting you for the special classes on Sunday. Severus, Harry, Mione Ron and Neville are also going to be in there. Try to influence your Housemates, Draco. Their deaths would be a waste of potential. I trust you to look for those who would work with us." She waved her hand and the bubble came down. "Shall we go now? Or would you prefer to wait later?" Draco took a deep breath and stood
"Let's do this now, before I lose my courage." She smiled and walked out of the room followed closely by the pale boy. Their path was unhindered by the curious and they made their way to the gargoyle that guarded the office of Dumbledore. Kit sighed and began to recite.
"Kit Kats…mars bars…jawbreakers…lemon drops…tamarind balls…ginger snaps…chocolate frogs…oh henrys…aeros…pocky.." the gargoyle leapt aside. Kit snickered and sang "and another one bites the dust."
"What do you mean?"
"Pocky is my addiction, I introduced the stuff to Dumbledore…and as you can see, I think he likes them." She snickered at the confused look on the Slytherin boys' face. "Don't worry bout it." She raised her hand to knock but Dumbledore calls out first.
"Come in, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. StarSworn."
"That man knows way too much." Kit mutters as she opens the door. She waved Draco in and closed the door before turning to the Ancient Wizard.
"Mr. Malfoy, I am surprised to see you here; and with Ms. StarSworn as well. Please sit down. Lemon drop? No? Well then what can I do for you two?"
"Go on Draco." Kit sat back to watch and listen.
"I, my father, he wants me to join the Dark Lord. I don't want to. I know that there are quite a few in my house who don't want to join, but are being pressured by our families. If we join the Light, what will you do for us? Because if you aren't going to do anything to protect us, we may as well go into hiding from now."
"I see. And what do you want from me, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Don't. Don't call me by my fa..Lucius' name. I will not be associated with him in any way ever again." He took a deep breath and shook his head, "Sorry. I want to know that we can be protected. A place to live without fear. Freedom from our families, and perhaps when the war is over, what monies we can reclaim from our homes."
"Well, Draco, let's talk about that…"
Kitiara smiled as she listened to the bargaining between the two wizards. Things will work out, Goddess willing she thought.