I don't own anything.
Severus clutched Auror Moody's response to his chest as he left the Great Hall. He had done his best to stay away from everyone, not that it was that hard. No one really wanted to be around him. He'd taken to writing his grandparents every day just, so he could get owls from them, it made him feel less lonely.
The only one he ever saw was Pandora and it was always in the room. When he had other friends, he had planned to introduce her to them, but now he didn't want her to be an outcast too. He still didn't know what he had done wrong. The only hint he got was from Petunia telling him to trust her. He did…with his life. It was just lonely.
After he got back to his dormitory, he opened to letter.
Dear Mr. Snape,
I was quite shocked to hear from you. About the subject you wrote about. It must be discussed in person. I will be at Hogwarts in a week's time. Until then, be vigilant.
Auror Moody
Severus read it a couple times, it was short and to the point. The man didn't seem to want to put anything incriminating on parchment.
Going back down to the common room he went to work his project. Sadly, he was unable to find out what Laughlin had been doing over summer…at least yet.
He rolled his eyes when he saw Natalia and Petunia coming his way. He wasn't in the mood for Natalia today, instead of letting her say whatever she wanted, he headed back to his dorm.
She grinned when the boy ran away. There was a thrill to the chase but right now she needed to get rid of Petunia for a little while.
"Would you mind if I backed out of studying today? I just remembered, I wanted to see Rosilda Collins before she goes back to Gryffindor."
"Of course," Petunia said before walking to one of the bookcases.
It was almost too easy, she didn't even have to make her leave. Coming back to Hogwarts had been a pleasure.
Whistling as she walked out of the castle, she didn't bother to look around. She knew he would be following her, she found his conscious and changed his path. Now he would be going down to the groundskeeper's cabin.
She continued onto the Whomping Willow. It hadn't been there in her time at Hogwarts. Not surprisingly, she found out that it had been planted for her stalker. It was absolutely delicious when she found out Dumbledore let a werewolf come to learn at Hogwarts. And now said boy used the Whomping Willow to get to the Shrieking Shack for the full moon. But she was beginning to think the boy was smarter than the dumb animal she took him for.
It had been a great source to get in and out of Hogwarts, and to release the girl. It was going to be a full moon tonight, meaning the boy would be in the shack. She couldn't risk him finding the girl.
Natalia Digby, the real Natalia lay still one the cold floor. Bellatrix didn't know who was taking care of her while she played innocent school girl, nor did she care. Her mission had been to get the Snape boy isolated, make him easily influenced on their side.
Getting his friends to turn their backs on him had been a little difficult, the Potter boy and her dear cousin Sirius needed a little mind control charm. The Quirrell boy she had to completely use the Imperius Curse on. The Evan's girl, she had been quite easy. The first mind nudge to drop the boy, and she did. It was wonderful. She hadn't been brave enough to try with the Shacklebolt boy, he was almost a full-grown wizard and very suspicious. The Prewitt boy was easy, all she had to do there was tell him that Severus laughed at him behind his back, no magic involved. The boy had been crushed, it filled her with glee. She hadn't had this much fun since she was a young girl herself.
She brought the sleeping girl out of her charmed state. Bellatrix put her back under the Imperius, so she didn't have to worry about what the girl would do.
While it was risky having her return to the school, Bellatrix had no choice. Dumbledore with his ever-watchful eyes. It was time for her to leave and let the girl finish what she started. She had bigger work to do for the dark lord. It was a great compliment for the dark lord to give her such an important job. Some of his followers questioned it because of her age, but he had faith in her. And she wasn't about to let him down.
That night Severus was surprised to find Petunia in his room.
"What are you doing here? I thought girls weren't allowed in here?"
"Don't be silly, what would we be doing, really. Anyway, I need to talk to you," she said, shaking her head.
It was the first time she had sounded like herself since the start of the school year.
"Why, you haven't wanted to talk to me before?" he asked, still upset.
"I couldn't, she was always around. She had a way to get into my head, I couldn't risk it." Her face was drawn up and pinched.
"Who?"
"Natalia."
"She's still here, I saw her in the common room a moment ago."
"I don't know that girl is but she's not the same girl that's been here."
"What are you talking about? Of course, it is."
"No, didn't you feel it?"
"Feel what?"
"Every time Natalia was around, it felt like someone was in your head."
"I've never felt anything like that, I felt weird with her around but that's it."
"Since the day I met her on the boat, I felt it. Then there's the color around her."
"Color?"
"You know the color around her," she said, shrugging her thin shoulders.
"I've never seen a color around her. What are you talking about?"
"Everyone has a color around them. Don't you see them? Maybe you don't notice anymore because you were born with magic."
Severus looked at her with wide eyes. "No, I've never seen colors. I think what you're seeing are auras. My grandmother told me that it's a trait that hasn't been seen in over a hundred years. Sure, someone will say they can but not really. What's mine look like?" he asked excitedly.
Petunia blushed at having such a rare trait. "Usually, it's bright yellow, as are most Ravenclaws. Sometimes they change, I think depending on their mood on the outer layers. But the bright yellow always remains at center."
"Wow, this is really neat Petunia. How long have you been able to see colors?"
"Since the day I got my magic."
"But why didn't you tell me?" he asked a little hurt.
"I thought everyone could see them. I didn't what to look like an imbecile."
"It's brilliant, really."
"Want to hear something odd?"
"Sure."
"I can't usually see pets' colors or auras. But I always see Gregor's. His is always pure white. I wonder what that means. I wonder what all the colors mean."
"We can ask the Divination professor," Severus suggested.
"I don't think so, I've heard he's not very good at it."
"Well, at least there's no one worse than Professor Gooding at Divination."
"Don't say that, that means the next one will be just dreadful."
They both laughed. Severus took a breath. "So, Natalia isn't Natalia?"
"I don't know. I just know this girl doesn't have the old one's aura."
"What did the old one look like?"
"Red in the center but a murky grey or black on the outside."
"I bet there's a book in the library."
"Yes, I think so too."
Severus looked at her nervously, suddenly. "Does this mean you're my friend again?"
"I've always been your friend. She didn't do what she was trying with my mind. When she tried the first day I felt it. Instead of fighting it, I went with it. Sometimes I could feel her there, but she wasn't doing anything. I don't know what it was but if looking around was any indicator, she wanted us all to abandon you. I don't know how to fix that. I think the other Natalia still has them in her clutches."
Severus remember his letter. "Oh, Auror Moody is coming next week. We can ask him about it."
Petunia smiled widely. "Perfect. Now let's go to the library, I haven't been at all since I got back. I've been having major withdraws."
For the first time since he came back, he felt more like himself. He didn't know what was going on but at least he had Petunia back.
By the time Severus was called to Dumbledore's office the next week, he was feeling better than ever. Sure, Rin and the others were still giving him the cold-shoulder but Petunia and Pandora made up for it. With Pandora's permission he started bringing Petunia too the room. It supplied her with several books about auras, she was in heaven.
Natalia seemed to be just running on compulsion. She didn't talk like she had, nor make friends. It was just like a walking talking zombie.
Severus held back a giggle as he left the common room as Petunia gave him thumbs up. She really was an odd girl. Once he was at the gargoyle he realized he didn't know the password.
"Pumpkin Pasties," a deep voice said.
Severus jumped and turned. "Auror Moody?"
He felt a little sick to his stomach looking at the man. Moody had a new scar but most of all and upsetting was the eyepatch he had over his left eye.
As if reading his mind. "Don't worry about it, boy. I won."
Severus followed him silently as they ascended to Dumbledore's office. It surprised him that Dumbledore wasn't there.
"I thought we could use some privacy," Moody said, glaring at the portraits, who all seemed to leave their frames hurriedly.
It was impressive to see portraits scared of a living being, but if they were scared of anyone it would be Moody. The man radiated power and skill.
Meekly, he sat down in the chair across from Dumbledore's desk.
"So, tell me, boy. What'd you need from me?"
"Well, you see, sir…umm…Auror Moody."
"I don't have all day boy. Spit it out."
"I think someone is trying to hurt me. But I'm not sure how or why."
A gleam flashed in the auror's one eye. "Tell me everything."
So, Severus did, starting at the very beginning. He knew the man knew about the Amissus Stone. He remembered that last school year. Moody listened intently to everything Severus told him. After he was finished the older man was quiet. After a while it started to worry him.
"Auror Moody?"
"I'll tell you what I think but I need you to trust me."
"Of course."
"Don't say that boy. Never blindly trust anyone, not in this time of 'unease'. Be it friend or foe, always question and listen to your instincts."
"Alright."
"This girl, I'll have to get your head of house to introduce me. After what you said about your little friends, I suspect there are dark arts at work here. But you don't worry about that. That'll be on me. What I need you to do is tell no one about the Amissus Stone."
Severus didn't know what it had to do with anything. "Why?"
"Because, with as many squibs and muggles with trace amounts of magic. With that stone, he can create an army of uncontrolled wizards."
"Who can?"
The look in Moody's eye looked like he was debating if not he should tell Severus. Finally, he made his decision. "He has a few names but lately he's been calling himself Lord Voldemort."
"Who is he?"
"Just a dark wizard with a lot of time on his hands. Him, it's not your job to worry about him, it's mine."
Severus looked down at his hands then back up at Moody. "Is he the one who…" he said gesturing at Moody's new scar and eye-patch."
"No, this is a gift from some of his followers. Remember that, without people following him, he's just an angry man with a superiority complex."
Severus nodded, not that he knew what a superiority complex was, but he could guess.
"Alright, you go on back to your house. Send your little friends Petunia, Quirinus and Gideon up to the hospital wing. I want Poppy to examine them, make sure no one left something. I'm also going to send for Mr. Black and Mr. Potter."
"Left something?"
"I think Ms. Evans is right. Someone was messing with her mind, but no matter how talented, no first year is capable. That means I need to look into it. Go on now, but watch your step."
"What about me?"
"I already checked when you came in. Your mind has been untouched by magic."
Nodding, he left. Moody seemed darker than he had the year before. It made him worry that what Moody was facing outside of Hogwarts was far worse than he led him to believe.
The next day Natalia was gone. Professor Flitwick told them that she was ill and wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts. He overheard Flitwick telling McGonagall that when she was better she would be going to Beauxbatons for schooling. Sadly, Moody left not long after Petunia and Gideon came back from the hospital wing, so he couldn't ask him. The teachers on the other hand thought they were all babies and couldn't handle any truth.
Petunia said they told her that someone had very lightly invaded her mind, but that was as she suspected. Rin was a completely different story, he had to be taken to St. Mungo's, but they said he would be back in a few days. James and Sirius were back to normal, so it did seem they're minds were messed with too. It still hurt though. Gideon was still standoffish but finally told Severus why he was. Natalia or whoever it was, had told him that Severus and the others laughed at him behind his back. Severus had told him several times since that it wasn't true. He just hoped with time Gideon accepted the truth. If not than the rest of their school days would be awkward.
The one thing that bothered him the most. Who was pretending to be Natalia? And how?
