Disclaimer: Not mine
The Uninvited
Chapter 14
Friday morning had not yet found the sky when Severus Snape walked toward the Forbidden Forest. He wore his Death Eater robes, and carried his mask. He hoped, if discovered, to swing any duel to his favour by the momentary hesitation that his robes may afford him. The Muggle adage that 'clothes maketh the man' was truer in this world than in theirs.
As he walked he began building his walls, around not just his mind, but also his heart. Death Eaters had no room for emotions, feelings of any sort, love, friendship even hate and anger got in the way of fighting. Voldemort did not understand this, letting his anger and hatred control and weaken him in a duel, taking his eye off the target and leaving himself vulnerable.
He had just entered the forest, intent on leaving from the small clearing as was his habit when he saw the witch step into the path. He did not stop but continued to walk toward her, pushing her to the ground as he passed.
"Severus, you must listen." she said getting up and running after him, grabbing hold of his arm. "The wards are unbreakable; you don't understand how strong they are."
"Leave witch," he growled, shaking off her hand. "Wards can be broken."
"They are blood wards, I tell you," she continued to his back. "Even if you can find the house, even if you can get though them, the house has different wards, not to warn, but to kill, please Severus listen."
He turned to her, his face dark with fury, his eyes flat and black. Saying nothing to her, he just turned and apparated away.
She quickly pointed her wand to where he had been , while incanting a short spell. Raising her left arm she wandlessly cast a silencing spell around her body and at the same time began to apparate, gasping in pain as her wand pulled her into Severus's wake. She was apparated to co-ordinates, without foreknowledge of the where, using his magical residue to track and travel at the same time, being squeezed into the unused space of the vortex created by him.
She arrived only a second later, falling in a heap, and sucking air into her empty lungs. He pulled her up and raised a hand to slap her, but let it fall as he studied her face. Using his thumb to wipe the tears he rubbed the wetness to his index finger and bringing her tear to his nose he smelled the blood he was unsure of in the darkness.
"Fool," he hissed. "You could have been killed."
"Over there quick," she whispered pointing to a dark, low bush that would offer them shelter.
Together they sprinted to the place she had indicated, hid under the lifeless branches of prickly wood and looked around to see the familiar purpling of sky. The signal that dawn would be upon them. He pointed to a distant flash of light. She nodded, yes this was right. Haley's Lighthouse blinked in the distance.
Then he grabbed her, making her look behind them. The shadow of Azkaban rose in the sky. Dementors hovered in circles at the highest towers. She stared in horror, having never seen the surrounding from this vantage she was unsure, and felt a cold hand sweep across her heart. Severus's fingers dug into her arms so tightly she could feel his nails though the cloth of her robes.
"Go back," he hissed in her ear, and shoved her away.
She remained on her feet, squatting down until she was almost sitting on her heels, as if ready to flee, but looked at him steadily and shook her head.
"Where is it?" she said.
"Near," he mouthed, and held his finger to his lips.
He had needed to be here at dawn, when the sun came flat across the sea and struck the back of the house. The house may be disillusioned, but the shadow could not be, it would show dark on the land.
He settled in to wait. If he was correct 30 minutes would pass before he could see the destination. They watched the ground, barren of grass, looking for foot prints that could lead the way or a path on the hardened soil.
He turned to her and again hissed at her to leave; she shook her head, refusing to meet his eyes. Reaching to yank her arm and force her to listen he stopped as her hand rose, and a slender finger pointed to a boulder ahead of them, between them and the sea.
The boulder was half dark, half light, as if a line was drawn though the middle, the shadow of the house was visible. He rose, still to only a crouch, and began skirting around to the east side of the space in front of them.
Suddenly, he was on the ground withering in pain, wrestling to keep his silence. Abigail grabbed his arms and pulled him back. She sat and waited until his pain passed, then silently went ahead of him and dropped to her knees.
He struggled to sit up as he saw her pull her wand and open her wrist, letting blood pool to the ground and mix with the earth. She said an almost silent incantation under her breath refusing to acknowledge his angry hisses. Letting her wrist bleed for a full minute, she then took up her wand and stopped the blood from flowing. Severus crawled over to her and angrily pushed her back, away from the blood.
She turned to him, looked him in the eyes and coldly reached out, dipping her fingers in the blood and earth, she raised them to his mouth and smeared her blood across his lips. Then reaching down to where the blood and earth ran together, she pressed her hand to it, grabbed his hands and clasped them in her own.
"Lick," she whispered into his ear.
"Fool!" He hissed at her but let his tongue travel his lips, tasting her blood and was added to the wards.
Then, resuming the crouch, and now knowing that the wards could be crossed they ran together to find an opening in the back. She had shown him a door to the outside off the kitchen when they had been in the room of requirement, she sought it now.
Severus found the door first, and pulling her to the ground he told her to stay, to wait for him, and not to enter. She took her wand in her right hand, and holding a handful of hair with her left, cut it off and handed it to him.
"Leave it in her stead. The earth will know she is gone. You must leave something of the blood or you will not get out," she warned.
"The cell, the ground in the cell is charmed?"
"Yes, you fool," she hissed. "It is warded the same as the grounds. It's how I knew to do that. Don't touch anything but her. Don't lose as much as one of your own hairs. Do you hear me?"
He looked down and found a stick. He then squatted, took the stick and plunged it into the ground. He looked to the sky, and then drew a mark in the dirt.
"When its shadow gets here," he said, pointing to the mark, "all is lost, leave."
Abigail paused, wanting to talk, but nodded her head instead. She reached to her eye brow, and removed the charm, then leaning forward found his pocket and put the talisman in. Severus locked his eyes to hers and stayed for a moment trying to clear his thoughts, then turned and entered her hell.
The sun had travelled half way up the sky as she waited. She watched the shadow rise to the mark in the dirt as she worried her lip, desperately looking to the location where the door should be. She sat with her legs crossed and lifted her face to the sky, raising her arms, palms out, trying to channel her thoughts as her mother had shown her, to find him in her mind and to know what he was doing.
She could smell her mother, she could hear the rustle of the fabric of his robes, she could see his long elegant fingers reaching and packing up what was left of her. She saw her hair falling into the corner. She saw him bow his head and offer a prayer to whatever old gods there were left, and she knew he was returning to her.
Still sitting with her eyes closed and watching him in the vision of her mind, she watched as the darkness lightened to the day of the kitchen. Frowning when he turned inward, deeper into the house, she saw the stairs and halls, she smelt stale smoke and whiskey, she saw him raise his wand, and then a flash of light, and the old man fell. Gasping, she opened her eyes as she rose to her feet at the same time preparing to leave. She hesitated and then squatted down to wait again, her eyes large and her breaths coming short and hard.
That was how he found her as he stepped back outside and sought clean air. He stood for a second, an eternity in that place before pulling her up to follow their path back. He clutched a small bag, made of black fabric, now smeared with the dirt of the dungeon.
He ran quickly with Abigail right behind him. As his feet touched the ground outside of the wards he reached back, still running, her straining forward for his hand, and suddenly as their fingers touched he stopped allowing her to collide into him, his arms crushing her to him as they apparated back.
They landed on their feet in the Forbidden Forest. She gasped at the suddenness, as he raged at her, pushing her to the ground and pointing his wand at her chest.
"You fucking bint!" he stormed. "What was that? What do you think you were doing out there?"
"Don't yell at me," she screamed back at him, standing up, "You needed to get through the wards"
"I did not need the black arts and a blood ritual to do it," he spat.
"I know nothing of that, I just know of the wards." she spat back, "I tried to tell you, you wouldn't listen."
"You could have been killed," his voice was low and unsteady.
"I would not have cared, I only cared about…" she stopped, and turned to the castle.
"Witch, do not walk away from me."
She turned to him putting her hands on her hips, angrily waiting for him.
"You will learn to do as you are told while a guest of this school," he threatened. "You will not practice dark arts in this place. I do not know how much knowledge you have, but if I suspect that you are doing anything such as I just witnessed, I will snap your wand myself."
"You dare to give me a lecture on morals?" She laughed nastily. "You? The consummate Death Eater? You who just used the killing curse?"
"And you? Voldemort's bitch?"
Her hand came up and struck him flat across the face before either knew it was happening. She looked at him in horror, her hand coming to her mouth.
"Severus," she breathed. "Oh by Gods Severus, I didn't mean..."
He had turned away and was striding to the castle, leaving her watching him in despair.
Albus was waiting on the main steps when Severus returned. He saw the potions' master stride across the lawn and knew from the wizard's gait that Severus was not hurt physically, but anger rolled off him so darkly that it was palpable. Albus waited until Severus handed him the bag he carried.
"It was all that was left Albus, I am truly sorry there was not more." He bowed formally. "The oath is fulfilled."
Then to Albus' frown, he walked past the wizard to the dungeons to finish the bottle of fire whiskey that sat by his bed.
A movement caught Albus' eyes as he happened to see Abigail walk to the east side of the castle to use the secret entrance to the dungeons. He now saw what had angered Severus. Knowledge that Abigail had disregarded his orders , did not sit well with the headmaster either. He shook his head, and carried the precious package back to his office.
After Abigail had showered and donned a day dress and robes, she went to see the headmaster. She could at last bury her mother, and she needed to move quickly while the sun was still up.
It was not quite noon as she made her way to the tower, all the things to be done rushing through her mind. She cursed herself for not taking care of all the arrangements ahead of time. She just had not dared to believe this day would ever come. She walked up the stairs to the Headmaster's office, only to find Albus waiting for her at the top. He smiled at her and taking her arm, led her to the sofa.
"My dear, I believe we have arrangements to make, but before we turn to these matters we must discuss your resent actions." He peered over his glasses at her.
"Sir, I only…"
"Perhaps, what I should have said, is that first you must listen," he said dropping his friendly uncle persona.
"I told you, as did Professor Snape, that you were not to accompany him. Yet, you chose to do this anyway. You must do as you are told. We will no longer ask this of you, we will demand it. We are fighting a war my dear, a war that may put you in the forefront. If anything happens to you, if the Dark Lord even learns of your presence here, many lives will be put in danger."
"Now," he smiled, once more the kind Uncle and Headmaster. "Minerva is, as we speak, seeking the customary gown for you to wear. Your father has been told that the ceremony must be this evening, and has made plans to be free of work by dinner time. Not knowing what else you demand we are at you disposal."
"I think first I need to find a place," she said hesitantly. Her head still lowered from his reprimand.
"What does this place need that Hogwarts does not offer?" he asked smiling.
"It must hold a family dedication. It must be tied to the family with blood," she answered seeing his frown.
"Dedicated Ground is not a common ritual these days, my child," Albus said quietly.
"More Dark Arts?" Came a silky voice from the door way.
"Just because there is blood involved does not mean it is dark," she spat angrily at Severus.
"She is correct in that my boy, the Ministry long ago decreed that blood and dark was joined but it has not always been true." Albus answered Severus but looked at Abigail.
"What else do you need?" he asked somewhat less kind.
"I need only what can be found in an open field, large enough to hold a ceremony," she sighed, "Listen, if this is a problem I will take her and do the best I can. You need not concern yourself."
"She is the wife of one of my distant family, that makes you one of my own my dear," Albus smiled at her. "Now, what else does she need?"
"I need a mother's love to bury her. It is assumed that the oldest daughter buries the mother, the wife the husband, the mother her son, but my mother was young, and I don't have children. I can't complete the rites myself." She looked up to Albus. "I was hoping to talk to Molly Weasley. She is a mother. Severus said she was that the first night I met her."
"Indeed she is, I will have Severus floo her and ask her to join in our discussion," he said seeing Severus already heading toward the floo.
"Why don't we take a moment and order up some tea, then we will discuss how we must prepare your mother."
The three sat quietly until the elf had set tea and biscuits on the table. Albus served himself, seeming to enjoy the activity and then turned his attention to Abigail.
"Now my dear, what needs to be done?"
"She needs to be cleaned and wrapped in a white shroud. She needs to have a silver chain." She reached to her neck unclasping the charm, and handing it to Albus. "She needs her talisman with her," she said, tears running down her face.
"She is to have her hands folded across her chest with the chain holding them together and the charm held in her wand hand, she was left handed." She closed her eyes against what she remembered of the condition of her mother's body.
"But," she said almost in a whisper, her head bent down, "I don't think, we … that we…"
She looked to Severus who shook his head then turned to the Headmaster.
"I will do what I can, as much as I can."
He took the bag containing the remains, tucking them into the crook of his arm and made his way to his lab. There he untied the bag, taking out the bones one at a time, laying them on the counter. Then he took up a cloth and cleaned them, oiled and perfumed them in stages, as was the olden way.
He dressed the bones as one would dress a body, laying them upon a clean white piece of homespun linen. He identified two finger bones that he laid upon the medallion. Then, wrapping the chain around the three small items, he rested them upon the top of the remains. Closing the linen around the total, he hoped it was enough. Lifting the small fragile bundle he carried it up to the Headmaster's office for its final journey.
Molly was just stepping out of the floo when Severus entered the office. He crossed over to the Headmaster's desk and set the linen wrapped bundle down. Abigail was still, and watched his passing quietly.
Molly could tell what he carried by the wrapping, the traditional knot in the linen, and the white cord draped over it. She looked to Albus, and seeing him nod, went to sit next to Abigail.
"Molly we have a favour to ask of you, we are in need of a resting place for Ainslie, we are in hopes of your assistance in finding such a place." Albus asked.
"Now Headmaster, it would be my honour," she smiled, "you know better than to even ask me. Now, my dear, what is it you need?"
Molly frowned when she heard the requirements of the land needed.
"I just don't know," she pondered the question. "The Burrow has been in Weasley hands for generations, at least eight, but if it was ever blood-dedicated, I would not know. Arthur may remember hearing something. We could floo the Ministry and ask him."
Once again Severus went to the floo and contacted Arthur. He explained the problem. Arthur immediately came though to join the group that was assembled in the office.
"I am sorry Severus," he said brushing of his clothes, "but I cannot afford for this to be overheard at the Ministry."
He walked over smiling at this wife, leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Now, that I have seen my lovely wife," he laughed as Molly playfully slapped at his hand, "I can tell you, that yes, the Burrow is blood-dedicated."
"Now Severus," he added quickly, "it was at a time before deeds, and Ministries and law books. It was at a time when a trip to the Far East would take years, not a blink of the eye. Wizards and witches would come home, or their children would come and needed a place to live. The land may have lain fallow for years, but it was always a home to those of blood who chose to make it so."
"My dear wife," Arthur chided Molly, "I once told you that whatever happened in this life, the land would always remember. Did I not?"
"Oh my," she reddened, "I guess I did know that, but thought that was a dark thing... "
'Not a dark thing my gal," he smiled. "A protective thing, a protection for the family."
"Anyway Albus, I must get back, something is going on that I need to go over with you before the next Order meeting, but I need to look into it further, so please excuse me before I am missed." He touched his right hand to his brow in a mock salute, Muggle style, and stepped into the floo, throwing down some powder and was gone.
"Now, dear," she turned to Abigail, "What else do you need?"
"I need you to help me. I do not have children and a mother..."
"My dear, I have heard of the old ways. It would honour me to carry her in for you."
"Thank you Molly, I had no-one else to ask."
"Of course I will do it my dear, and is it proper to serve refreshments afterwards?" Molly asked.
"I am sure she would love it Molly," Severus snorted.
"Severus," Albus darkened, "That would be lovely my dear."
"We need to bury her at sunset, is that a problem?" Abigail asked looking at the clock.
"No dear, not at all. I will connect the Burrow to Severus' floo and you may leave from there after you change into you gown. Minerva and I will meet your father there, and make sure that your mother is transferred." she smiled. "Shall we say, at 8:00 pm? Sunset is at 8:36 this evening."
They agreed to the time and finalized the arrangements. Severus and Abigail rose to return to the dungeons as Albus escorted Molly to the floo. The pair walked in silence, his arms held stiffly at his side, and hers clasped behind her back. They'd descended to the bottom of the spiral before either one of them spoke.
"I was wrong," she said simply.
"Yes, you were," he returned.
"You acted like a horse's arse."
"Yes, I did,' he returned.
"I apologize."
"Accepted."
"Well?" she said after several moments had passed. "Are you going to apologize?"
"NO," he shouted at her.
She stopped in the middle of the corridor and looked at him.
"Why not?" she asked in all innocence.
He stopped, turned back and looked at her in wonder.
"How can you stand there and ask me that?" he sneered. "You used a dark tracking spell, you followed me after I had forbid it, and you did not return when you were told. Let's add in the fact that you broke wards using your blood."
He towered over her now in a rage. "You added your blood to the ward. You are now the Reyes heir. Do you really not know what you have done witch?" he said grabbing her by the shoulders. "Do you really think the Dark Lord will not know? Do you think that adding Haley blood to Reyes will go unnoticed?"
Letting go of her, he walked the rest of his way to his chambers, leaving her alone once more in the halls.