Chapter 39

Fire And Fragments

Severus was tired. He had already had a long day. A very long day, especially with Umbridge breathing down his neck for more Slytherin's to support her ridiculous Inquisitorial Squad. And Dumbledore, relying on him to help with the search for Ravenclaw's diadem. Apart from all of this, he had to teach, Potter, how to clear his mind and learn the art of Occlumency. Which was definitely above the boy's magical, mental and physical abilities. Severus didn't know how the son of Lily Evans could be so dense. They had been at this for weeks and Severus was tired. He broke through Potter's weak barrier again.

"That's private…" Harry spat at Severus. Severus had just seen a memory from the boy's childhood. The boy looking at his parents, through the mirror of Erised's.

"Not to me. And not to the Dark Lord, if you don't improve."

"Every memory he has access to. He will use against you. You won't last two second if the Dark Lord invades your…mind!" Severus snapped at Harry.

"I'm tired…we've been at this for hours…if I could just rest!" Harry snapped back.

"The Dark Lord…isn't resting!"

Harry sighed shaking his head.

"Perhaps Black is right…you're just like your father…lazy, arrogant…weak!"

"Don't say a word against my father!"

"And I'm not weak!"

"Then prove it…control your emotions. Discipline your mind!"

"Legillimens!" Severus snapped as he browsed through another batch of memories. This time they were a swirl of glimpses from the boy's childhood until now. Severus felt a pang of guilt, when he noticed the Dursley's mistreating the boy.

"Come on, Potter…focus!" He snarled as he finally felt a slight push, but nothing substantial. The last memory, he stumbled upon was Potter kissing Ms. Chang in the room of requirement.

"It's like you wanted me to see that. Trust me Potter, I have no interest!"

"Why can't Dumbledore teach me…or Lyra Marks?!" Potter snarled at him.

"Professor Dumbledore…seems to be caught up in larger matters, Potter. And Lyra Marks…is probably as fickle minded as you! You see not all of us, are gifted with great power, Potter. Most of us have to earn it." Severus spat. Harry grew angrier.

"She'd be better than this…even Voldemort would be better than this!"

Severus clenched his jaw. The cheek on this boy! Sometimes, he really wished he wasn't Lily's son.

"Really…let's see how much you've learnt then…" Severus snarled raising his wand.

However, this time, so did Potter. Both muttered the same spell. It took Snape off-guard.

Harry scanned through a multitude of memories. Of a young Snape being bullied by James and his friends. Of Lily defending him. Of him calling her a mudblood. Of him, telling Harry's mother…he loved her! Lily rejecting him. Visions from the present, also played through in quick succession. Snape defending Harry and his friends from Lupin when he had transformed into a werewolf, of Snape getting tortured by Voldemort for not coughing up information. Snape and Lyra speaking. Snape and Dumbledore looking over jewellery. Snape and Dumbledore scanning through tomes in the restricted section. And then suddenly, a flash of Snape and Lyra laughing, talking, discussing, flirting, and kissing under the mistletoe.

Harry felt a hard shove and he was back in the potion's lab, with a seething Snape in front of him. He had no words. But he tried to put things together. Snape was nasty to him because Harry looked like James, who had tormented Snape through school. But Snape, had loved his mother. That meant, she was the reason why he was helping Harry. The reason why Snape had joined forces with Dumbledore to defend Harry.

The final memory of Snape kissing Lyra, was evidence that he probably had some sort of heart. He was human. Snape, who Harry detested and rightly so, was human! Harry felt himself, feeling extremely ashamed by the fact, that he had thought so poorly of him. Yes, Snape had been his worst nightmare, but he was also his biggest defender! For someone who cared about him, having such a horrible life…made Harry feel extremely sympathetic towards the man.

Severus grabbed the front of Harry's jacket.

"Professor, I…"

"Your lessons are at an end, Potter. Get. OUT."

"Professor…please…" Harry begged.

"You…knew my mother?"

"Get out, Potter!"

"You were in love with her?" Harry cut him off.

"POTTER!" Snarled Severus.

"SNAPE!" Harry snapped back. He had no idea, where this courage came from. But he looked at him, their eyes met and then Snape looked away. His…anger melted away.

"Just leave, Potter." Severus sighed. He did not wish to face him. Severus did not want to bring out his vulnerabilities when it came to the boy.

"Please…sir…I need your help…I'm sorry…I'm sorry for my transgression…but…you do realise that there are so many people who talk to me about my father. I, have no one to tell me about my mum…and she's the reason, I am still alive! I know nothing about her. My aunt, never talks about her…I don't know any of her friends…I don't know my own mother! Please…" Harry begged. Snape staggard but refused to meet his eyes. The boy's words pierced Severus deeply, their impact a painful reminder that no one had shared the truth about his own mother. Severus couldn't help but view this omission as a profound and disrespectful betrayal of Lily's memory. And he felt responsible for it as well.

"Please…sir…please!"

"You…you have your mother's eyes…" Severus muttered softly.

"Yes…yes! I knew your mother. And yes, I fell in love with her, Potter. She was kind, and fierce, and funny, and extremely intelligent. And she was loyal to me…even when I didn't deserve it. We met when we were children. And she won my heart in seconds."

"In my youth, I have made many mistakes. In my ambition, to learn more…I ignored a lot of things…but the biggest mistake, I made…was saying that word to your mother, Potter. I lost my way, after I lost her friendship. But my love for her brought me back on track. That night, when Lily, died…protecting you…I swore that I'd go out of my way to fulfil what she died doing, Potter! So that, I could redeem my ways. So that perhaps, she'd forgive me, somehow…somewhere..." Snape said softly, his dark hair shrouded his face.

Harry had nothing to say. He wasn't expecting Snape to say any of those things. He didn't know if it was a moment of weakness, or vulnerability, but Harry had a burst of respect for his professor.

"You are the chosen one, Potter. If you like it or not. That choice was made for you, years ago. It is what you do now, that will dictate your future. And the future of every witch and wizard, in England."

"I understand…sir." Harry said quietly.

"Thank you…for telling me. Thank you!" He added looking at Snape.

Harry however, had another question.

"Call me bold, sir. But…do you still love my mother…or is…is there someone else?" Harry asked, remembering the kiss he had witnessed in Snape's mind.

"You're right…perhaps, we both need a break. We shall reconvene over the weekend. Now, go get some sleep." Severus said turning around and walking over to his desk, gripping its edges, until Potter left silently.

In Severus's silence, Harry seemed to have got his answer. Before he exited the room; he spoke softly but firmly.

"Everyone deserves to be loved, sir."

Severus stood still at the table for a while. Potter was never supposed to find out about any of this. He didn't need to add to the boy's problems. But something, had pricked Severus when he had mentioned that no one had ever told him about his mother. And it had all come spewing out. How dare no one tell this boy about his mother. He cursed himself, he felt guilty for shoving the boy aside and manifesting this trench between them. In a struggle to protect himself, he had damaged what he should have strengthened from the beginning. He had sworn to be this boy's last line of defence, and yet, he had pushed him away, and unkindly so!

Severus couldn't deny, the perceptiveness of the boy though. He had caught onto the fact, that there was perhaps more to him and Lyra than a stupid kiss under the mistletoe. What he said in the end, truly irked him. Everyone deserved to be loved. That wasn't true in his case, though. Severus, did not think he deserved to be loved. He had constantly searched for it and craved it. From his peers. From his parents. From Lily. From Lyra. But none of them, had ever loved him back. Perhaps, he was truly undeserving of it.

Severus cleared his mind. He needed to start bottling away memories he didn't want Potter to see, if he was to continue to tutor him.

Lyra had been in America for weeks, just trying to get Tessra to meet with her. But the current change in the tides, on the Werewolf Defence Policies, were keeping Tessra busy. However, Tessra had demanded that Lyra stay at the 27 Coven House. Instead with her family, and learn how to channel her elemental magic better. Tessra and a few members had discovered, that elemental magic, could somehow be a manner in which a Horcrux could be destroyed.

So, every day, Lyra spent hours of her time perfecting it. The first few days, the gift that Severus had given her had come in handy as the fire was unmanageable. It had grown unstable after Christmas. She worried that if she couldn't get her emotions in order, she was setting herself, to getting burned rather brutally. She sought solace with Demetrius to help her with her endeavour. He, unfortunately, was the master of an element that directly conflicted with hers. Besides, as time passed, Demetrius was growing weaker and weaker. There was only so much he could teach her on the basics of controlling elemental magic. For an more advanced level, she was on her own. After all, she was the first master of fire in decades, within the 27 Coven. It seemed even her predecessors, had preferred to use their element sparingly, calling fire the most unyielding of them all.

The 27 Conclave House, was designed specifically to house the 27, The Firsts, had built this great mansion, eons ago so that if ever a member of the 27 needed a place for themselves and their family, they could feel free to live, learn, and continue to grow there. The Mansion wasn't an ordinary estate. It hosted 27 cottages. Each big enough, to hold a family of seven each. The grounds also held the 27s exhaustive library, that they called, The Caves— A repository of everything ever printed in the world. Apart from the cottages on the grounds. There were apartments in the main building for visitors, helpers and elves as well. The main building, also boasted of multiple spaces, like the conclave room, a grand parlour, a kitchen, a vast and fully stocked potions laboratory, a duellists' wing, an astronomy tower, meeting rooms, dining rooms, an office cum study for each of the members. And since, the 27 revered elemental magic, each element had a section that was designed specifically for the masters to practice in.

After spending a lot of time in the Fire room. Which Lyra, had to clean up herself, seeing no one had used it in decades. She moved to the Caves to explore. It was something she had done, ever since she was a young recruit. Spend hours in the Caves. If Lyra, was on the grounds she would be found loafing off in the library. Much to the annoyance of the many other members, who were there looking for serious solutions. Lyra remembered just how she used to annoy all those people, by interrupting their flow and asking them questions, they would find redundant. But had to answer, as Tessra had tasked them to 'help' the new recruit find her footing. Lyra was glad that they hadn't needed to recruit anyone new, as that task of helping them "find their footing", would now fall on her. However, with Demetrius' quickly deteriorating condition, that might as well be sooner than she'd like. Lyra wondered who this new recruit, who would replace Demetrius be? Would they be younger than her? They had to be equally skilled…if not better…surely?

Lyra sat down on one of the long tables in the library, as the white noise from the magical waterfalls in the back soothed her headache. Maybe, that's why Lyra spent so much time in the library. It was the best place to come and fall asleep, with limited interruption.

Lyra relaxed and rested her head on her hands as she drifted off. Hoping, it would be dreamless. But she was never so lucky. Thoughts swarmed her mind constantly, thoughts of him. Thoughts of them. In her dreams, they were together. In her dreams, he loved her back.

Her drooling wonder land was sharply intruded upon, by the many portraits in the library. They had been gossiping about her, ever since she sat down. Their whispers had now grown loud enough, to wake her up.

"Isn't she the youngest one?"

"And seems like the laziest one…"

"How dare she desecrate the great Caves with her snores!"

"If it were one of my members, I'd make sure they'd get a solid whipping…they don't make leaders like us anymore!"

"—Tessra Jones, is very soft, with her people…"

"People…please…Tessra is a good successor!"

"Oh please, Cyrus! You were too soft too! Letting Tessra Jones and her crew, run amok just like this!"

"If you are all done judging me, basis no concern for my health and safety, may I ask you a question?" Lyra said yawning as she walked over to the wall of portraits. Most of whom, glared at her for her insolence.

"I am here to work on my elemental mastery. However, none of the other six masters have fire as their element. That means, I have no one experienced enough, to guide me. Unless, one of you…great leaders…have any direction to offer?" Lyra asked, not expecting them to help. They usually did, but if they didn't like you, like in this case, you were on your own. Although, Tessra's predecessor Cyrus was a very kind man, and had always treated her gently.

"Fire? Seems about right for you! Seeing you're such a misfit!" Said one turning her nose up.

Lyra grit her teeth, but didn't retort. Hoping, someone would give her some guidance.

"Some of us, have experience with fire. But none of us, were ever very pleased with it."

"Why not?"

"Fire is a volatile element, my dear. As the burns on your hands, will tell you, it is not a very kind one. It does not bend to you, simply because you demand it to."

"None…of the elements do…but they are definitely more amiable than fire."

"There have been many masters of fire. But most preferred their wands, over their rings. We suggest, you do the same. What could you possibly, need to master fire for anyway? Lighting your cigarettes and filling these halls with that wretched stench?"

"I don't exactly have a choice!"

"Your destiny is intertwined with your element? How…peculiar?" Cyrus asked looking at her.

"In a manner of speaking. It is not only my destiny at stake here." Lyra replied nodding.

The portraits now looked at her uncertainly, as if she had placed a true conundrum in front of them. They seemed to wish to guide her, but something held them back.

"There…was one…of us, a long time ago, who truly mastered fire…" Cyrus began.

"Cyrus! You can't…we are not to mention her name!"

"Our purpose is to guide her…ladies and gentlemen…and I am fulfilling that. It is Lyra's choice, whether to pursue it or not." Cyrus stated, cutting the rest short.

"Madam Florence the furious. She was one of the firsts."

"I've…never heard of a Florence. And one of the firsts? There's no one like that, Cyrus!"

"Oh, but there was! You see…before this was the 27 Coven…it was actually the 28 Coven." Cyrus replied wisely. Lyra's jaw dropped. How had she never heard of this before? No one had ever spoken to her of it.

"You're not supposed to talk about her, Cyrus! Only leaders are privy to this information!" Snarled an angry portrait. Cyrus chose to ignore him.

"We are the 27 Coven, now. Because in a fury, against not being made the head of the coven. She burned down the Coven House and many members with it. The other Firsts fought together, against her powers and mastery to disband her membership and stripped her off her wand and ring. Sadly, fire was what got her killed. She was caught by muggles. Who burned her at the stake. The only one, to be impeached from the Coven before. Making us, the 27 Coven for the years to come. I believe, there is still a portrait of her there...in the fire room. However, she doesn't speak to anyone. Since, the fire room has been closed for decades. I don't know, if she'll still be there. If she is...tell her, Cyrus sent you. And be careful Lyra. Florence is a temperamental witch; you need to be straight forward. Otherwise, she won't help you." Cyrus said warningly.

"Why would she care if you sent me, Cyrus? She seems like a unaccepting witch."

"She is indeed. But, she will care if an old pupil sent you. You see Lyra, I too was once lost when it came to the element of fire." Cyrus replied raising his hand. Lyra eyed the ring of fire on the portrait's fingers. He was the previous ring bearer of the element.

"Why can't you teach me?" Lyra wondered.

"Somethings are better learnt from masters, I may have worn the ring, but my true element would forever be wind." Cyrus replied.

"Thank you, Cyrus." Lyra bowed her head and went on her way.

"You shouldn't have told her that, Cyrus! Florence isn't someone, we consider one of us. What if she extracts her revenge on the coven through this child!"

"I have a feeling, Ms. Marks, isn't the child, we once knew anymore. She is a master of fire, and I see the potential in her. A potential I saw in Tessra Jones. And as for Florence, you don't know her at all…the stories we were told…were only partly true."

"You can't be serious, Cyrus! She's just a child! She can't possibly be a replacement for Tessra!"

"Perhaps…not today. But soon."

After dinner, Lyra still had no communication come in from Tessra. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She decided to explore the option that, Cyrus, had placed in front of her. She walked into the fire room and twisted her ring. It glowed to life, as it usually did. She waved hand as each torch, came to life as she passed it. She didn't know where Florence's portrait was, but she knew if she worked her magic poorly, Florence, who was a master of fire, would certainly have something to say about her skills. And she was right. Lyra heard a disgruntled 'hmph!' come from the back of the room.

"...be better off not having any masters of fire, than people who don't know how to use basic magic!"

Lyra followed the disgruntled noise, to a corner at the extreme back where there was broken trash. She cleared a few things and picked up the large discarded portrait. She came face to face with a gorgeous woman, her midnight afro complemented her beautiful features.

Lyra took the portrait and walked with it towards the centre of the room, as the painting continued to complain.

"Who are you? Put me down this instant. You are an impertinent child…who let you into his room?!"

Once Lyra placed the portrait on an empty peg in the centre, where she assumed it had been in its former glory, she lifted her hand to her heart and bowed respectfully. Florence finally, stopped complaining. However, she continued to glower.

"Florence Phukuntsi; the mistress of flames?" Lyra asked carefully. Florence raised her head and looked Lyra up and down.

"Yes."

"My name is Lyra Marks. I am a master of fire as well." Lyra said smiling at Florence.

"—A master of fire? Show me your ring…" Florence demanded as Lyra held up her hand. Florence scoffed, but she seemed to be convinced.

"There hasn't been one in decades…one like us? Has there?" Florence asked pointedly. Lyra shook her head.

"And what do you want from me, Lyra Marks?"

"Your help, Mistress Florence."

"My help? No one, helped me. When those ignorant muggles burned me at the stake. What plagues you so…that you cannot help yourself?"

Lyra considered Florence, the woman was demanding and blunt. She didn't know, if this was going to be worth her time. However, she remembered what Cyrus had said. Besides, it wasn't as if Lyra had anything to lose. Lyra began, telling Florence the long tale about the past and present. Florence asked her about her two death defying trials with fire. Again, Lyra answered truthfully. Florence considered Lyra's position.

"Since, you have been so honest with me. I shall help you. I shall guide you, in mastering your element. But, you must remember, fire is not an easy element to master." Florence began.

"You see, to channel elemental magic, you don't just need a ring, or a wand. Each element is associated with a part of you. Your feet are a representation of earth. Which is why, masters of earth, are so stuck in one place, they need to be grounded. Your lungs represent wind. Which is why, masters of wind, breathe so deeply as they channel their element. Water is as difficult an element to master as fire. It is represented by blood, which is why masters of water are so fluid in their motions. And fire, is the trickiest of them all, it is represented by your heart, which is what makes it the most dangerous of them all."

"Why?" Lyra asked listening to the woman's knowledgeable words.

"Because, as humans, we let our emotions run amok. We wear our hearts on our sleeves, waiting for them to be stabbed. Not caring for the part that channels your element, makes it unpredictable. Makes it unyielding. Makes it difficult to master."

"And I can tell…you are one of those, who doesn't do well with emotions."

"How do I master the element? Tell me, I'll do anything."

"You're getting sentimental! A clear sign, you are not ready!"

Lyra clenched her jaw in anger. She didn't have time to 'get ready'.

"Don't…don't do that! Never do that!" Florence tsked irately as she threw Lyra a disapproving look.

"Do what?"

"Bottle it up. Emotions are meant to be felt. All of them, anger, pain, fear, happiness, sadness, love. You deny your heart. You deny your soul. You deny your fire!"

"Fire is a proud and powerful element. But most masters, use it stupidly. They have no control over it. Over their emotions. Over their hearts. So, they call it difficult, and they embarrass themselves by turning into glorified lamp posts!" Spat Florence. A blush crossed Lyra's face. She was one of those stupid masters.

"What about movements? Each element is related to a movement…like masters of water use those...fluid moves…"

"Fire has no movements. Fire needs no movements. Because fire, is you. The heart controls, your entire existence. It controls every movement you make. Without the heart. You cannot move. Fire does not need movement. It needs a vessel! Your hands, your legs, your body, every inch of you, can be engulfed in flames. Can produce fire…if you wish it!"

Lyra flinched at the thought of setting herself on fire. Just producing fireballs and dancing flames was painful enough.

"You fear your power?" Florence questioned. Lyra nodded gently.

"I have bottled too much, for too many years. And when it combusts…it's an inferno. I don't know, how to control it. All the anger and pain and suffering…I'm afraid once I lose control…I will not be the same."

"Do you know, who you are?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you certain of yourself? Are you content, being the person that you are?"

"Yes. I suppose so…I…I don't know."

"Do you believe in yourself? Do you believe, you are true to yourself?"

"No."

"To accept fire. Is to first accept yourself. It is to truly accept every part of you! The Good. The Bad. And the Worst."

"Then it is to set your fears free. If you accept, who you are, you will always return to yourself. Circumstances may make us bend from time to time. Even mould us. But we always come back to our beginnings…"

Lyra froze as Florence said those words. They sounded so familiar to what the Book of Destiny had written for her.

Your destiny lies at your beginning—for at the start is where you will find the answers you seek.

"Learn to accept yourself." Said Florence curtly.

"It's not so easy…" Lyra muttered.

"No one said, it would be easy." Florence replied with a smirk.

"Now. Show me, what you're made of." Florence ordered as Lyra tried channelling her emotions.

They spent hours trying to get Lyra to perfect her skills. Florence taught her techniques, to control her magic. But she also kept pointing out that, without Lyra, truly accepting herself, fire would never work under her command.

Lyra snapped her fingers as the flames danced in her hands. She focused as they grew, a sudden fear overtook her, the fear of being burnt.

"Feel the fire. Feel it in your heart. You are the master of the flame…it is not YOUR master!" Florence yelled, as Lyra freed herself from the fear. Flames engulfed her entire body as she stood there, marvelling at the magic she had produced.

Florence then, taught her many things. She taught her how to control every particle, every atom in every fire.

"Your dedication, towards this has pleased me. Never have I met another, so keen on the element of fire." Florence said most pleased by her new pupil.

"Thank you, Mistress Florence. I wouldn't have been able to do this, without you!" Lyra said gratefully. Florence bowed her head in appreciation.

"There is one more thing…but I don't know, if you can help me with it?" Lyra said treading lightly.

"Ask away my child…if I know the answer…I shall provide."

"What if I need to use fire to…"

"To harm?" Florence completed Lyra's sentence. Lyra nodded.

"The fire works as per your will…you can do as you please. It is your actions that make you dark, my child…not your element."

"I know…but, it's more complicated than that."

"What do you mean?"

"I need to somehow find a way, to burn through another's body without harming him."

"Without harming him? Lyra…the fire will only protect you. If set on others, it behaves the way it's supposed to. It burns everything in its path."

"Yes, but I have to find a way to burn just a fragment of…of someone's soul…"

"That...is indeed a dark task." Florence said quietly.

"Florence, I know you don't wish to relive your memories…"

"No…I do not…"

"But the fire, that you set upon the coven, burning down the house, killing all those members, it was dark magic?"

"It was indeed. But I had mastered another element as well, Lyra. I was up for the position of leader. However, when I was scorned for my gender…by my own coven. I could not hold onto my darkness…it polluted my mind."

"You lost control…and you were up for heading the coven! What possible hope could be there for me!"

"Dark magic is not easy to control. You need to truly believe in what you are doing. When it is mixed with an element…it is seldom easy, to return from such madness." Said Florence regretfully.

"Elemental magic is volatile as is…mixing it with dark magic…would mean…losing yourself." Florence stated gravely. The two women shared a concerned silence.

"If…if you couldn't return…how…how am I supposed to?"

"I need to help that boy…"

"Lyra, I used my powers…for…for wrong. I broke, what the coven stood for…magic for good. Something I stood by, something I believed in. In that process, I lost my mind…my ability to think straight. To…to feel. What I did, was break away from everything, I just taught you. But that doesn't mean, we are all built like that. All of us, have a little bit of dark mixed with the light, Lyra. It is a balance. Life isn't made of good and bad. It is a mixture of both, that we all possess. Each person has control over both. It is how and when you choose to use them, that defines who you are."

"Fire is just like that. Use it for good and it can be the purest element to be found. Use it for evil, and it could be the most powerful destroyer. However, if you truly learn how to balance them, you will not only master your element. You will also master yourself. Don't let the hauntings of your past, cloud your untainted future. The task you have, in front of you, may sound impossible. But it will feel that way, only if you let it. It is your destiny to decide what takes control over you. It is your choice." Florence stated knowledgably.

Although, what she said made sense in theory, now that Lyra had mastered the technique. In practice, it was still a frightening prospect.

"Accept yourself…"

"…And only then, will you be able to see what fire is truly capable of."

Lyra pondered on Florence's last words to her.

With a final goodbye. Lyra left the room to go find Tessra.

AN/- Hope you had fun reading this chapter! Do share your thoughts :)