A Surprise Visit
October had brought more rain, sometimes a persistent drizzle, sometimes heavy downpours that swelled the river Orrin to a tumultuous torrent. Jeannie the goat hated being cooped up in the shed, but she loathed the rain even more and looked quite miserable. Eventually, Morag had to bring her back to the Hog's Head, where she could enjoy the company of Smokey, Cloudy and Matey, as well as a bigger barn. Travelling to the villages had become quite tedious, as Morag had never learnt to Apparate and was apprehensive about it. "Imagine if I splinch maself, or Apparate on top of someone by accident. Nae thank ye, my besom will do jus' fine." She braved the weather protected by a heavy woollen cloak, while Severus used the Impervius Charm.
The first pumpkin soup of the season was simmering on the stove, and Morag was cooking oat Bannocks on the griddle, ready for dinner. The radio was on and she was singing along Texas' Black Eyed Boy when she heard a knock at the door.
She opened to a black-cloaked woman who strode in, lowered her hood to reveal a mane of frizzy black hair, and sniffed appreciatively. "Oh, my! It smells absolutely delicious, Miss Duncan," she beamed.
"Can you ask him?"
"No way. I don't want to have my head chewed off."
"Are you scared of him?"
"Damn right I'm scared of him, Karam. He used to be a Death Eater. Ask any of the older kids, they'll tell you how fierce he is."
"Well, he's our Defence teacher. He's supposed to tell us about that kind of stuff, and I want to find out more."
"Why don't you ask him yourself, then?"
"You're in his house, Lugus."
"So?"
"He's not as mean to you lot."
"Rubbish. He gave you house points last week, and you're in Gryffindor."
"What's me being in Gryffindor got to do with anything? I got house points because my smokescreen spell was perfect."
"You're the one who brought it up, saying he likes his own house better…"
A shadow suddenly fell over the two students' desk as the teacher leaned over their desk.
"Mister Saddik, Mister Ollerton, I do hope my lesson is not causing you any inconvenience. No doubt your private conversation is much more crucial than remedies against werewolf bites?" Severus scolded.
The boys turned the colour of beetroot, and Lugus slumped his shoulders. The other boy, though, kept his head high and fixed his dark brown gaze on his teacher's.
"I apologize, professor. We were wondering whether a werewolf can be considered as a type of Maledictus."
Severus straightened himself and folded his arms. Blood curses were not part of the first-year curriculum, yet he valued enquiring minds.
"What do you know about Maledictuses, Mister Saddik?"
"They're a type of blood curse, sir. And when someone becomes a werewolf, it's because their blood becomes infected with the curse, from the bite."
"So far, so good. However, there are three major differences between a werewolf and a Maledictus. Do you know what they are?"
"Well, only women carry the Maledictus curse."
"Correct. What are the other differences?"
Karam Saddik chewed his quill. "I don't know, sir."
"The Maledictus curse is cast intentionally, whereas a werewolf bites his victim indiscriminately. The fact that a surviving victim will in turn become a werewolf is purely incidental. The second difference is that once a woman carries the Maledictus curse, she passes it on to her female offspring. Lycanthropy, on the other hand, is not hereditary."
"I have another question, sir," the olive-skinned boy enquired.
"Ask away."
"I've heard of the Wolfsbane Potion, which allows a werewolf to keep human consciousness when he transforms. Is there any potion that can cure a Maledictus, or make it better somehow?"
"Unfortunately, as far as I am aware, there is no cure for a Maledictus, Mister Saddik."
Severus made a mental note to ask his pupil whether he had personal reasons to be interested in the subject, but once the lesson ended, the boy slipped away quietly. Leaving the empty classroom, the wizard made his way up the stone steps, through the corridors and out the main archway. A damp mist was rising from the valley, crawling through the streets of Hogsmeade and leaving moisture on the walls and the cobbles. He quickened his step, longing for the homely warmth of the cottage.
As he pushed the door open, it took him less than a second to register Morag's body floating in mid-air, a look of terror upon her face; barely half a second to grab his wand underneath his robes –
"Accio Severus' wand", a cold voice sneered. It flew to the hand of a tall witch with a dishevelled mane of black hair. Her pale features, once beautifully chiselled, were gaunt and lined, but her wide, obsidian eyes burned with a fiery madness. "Incarcerous." Ropes sprouted out of thin air and bound the wizard.
"Bellatrix. What a pleasant surprise," Severus stated conversationally. Inwardly, he cursed his own imprudence, and resolved to keep the Dark witch talking while he devised a way to escape the bonds. "You were supposedly dead. I see the reports were not quite accurate."
"Why would you be the only one coming back from the dead? That Wesley cunt missed my heart by an inch. I was out for a while, and when I woke up, it was over. My Lord was dead… gone." She gritted her teeth in grief and rage. "I managed to creep out unnoticed. That's the beauty of chaos, you see… you can cloak yourself in it."
"And where have you been all this time, Bellatrix? You could have visited sooner."
"I made for the hills. I needed recover my strength, heal my wounds… It would have been quicker if that foolish grass-man creature hadn't taken the child I was planning to use to replenish my magic", she mused. "But enough of the niceties. Do you know why I am here, Severus?"
"Why don't you enlighten me", the dark-haired man replied.
"You see, I considered going after the Potter boy first. But after all, he was our enemy… he only did what was expected of him, what he was destined to do. And I thought of someone who has done much worse: pretending to be one of us, only to stab us all in the back. I am here to punish a traitor, Severus. Have you got any idea who that might be?" Her eyes glowed like hot coals now.
"I suppose you mean me." He cast a quick glance at Morag. Tears were running down her face and her body was trembling.
"Yes, Severus, you. Traitor to the Dark Lord – traitor to all of us. Did you really think you could escape our vengeance? I never trusted you, and you proved me right. But now, the time has come to make you – PAY!" With that, she raised her wand and sent a spell that slammed the young healer against the wall and knocked the breath out of her.
"Your grudge is with me, Bellatrix", Severus stated, his voice low and cool. "Let the woman go."
The witch threw her head back and laughed maniacally.
"Oh, Severus… of course I know countless ways to hurt you physically. But I do not want to go that easy on you. I want to torment your soul in ways that will make you crawl at my feet and beg for mercy. And what better way to do that than by hurting the woman you love?"
"She means nothing to me, Bellatrix." Again, his voice was cool, collected, his face unreadable.
"The rumours I've heard tell a different story, Severus," she snarled. "But then, if she truly means nothing to you, you will not mind this, will you – Crucio!"
Morag's scream curled Severus' blood. Yet, his face remained impassive as he stared at the pale witch, trying to ascertain how he could take back control. Still watching Morag from the corner of his eye, he noticed a looked of pained concentration mingled with the obvious agony.
"This is just the beginning, Severus," Bellatrix said, licking her lips with obvious pleasure. "There as so many ways I could play with her. What was that little spell you invented again? The one that slashes deep wounds into human flesh? I could carve patterns on that pretty face of hers… I could slice her belly open and rip out your unborn child from her – for I assume the child is yours?"
Severus blanched. "Child?" he gasped, before trying to fight his emotions back, to raise a façade of callousness, but too late. Bellatrix's chilling laughter filled the room once more as she danced on the spot.
"You did not know!" she squealed, delighted. "She begged me to spare her because of the child, but she had not yet told you… Oh, this is going to be so entertaining – Sectum – "
Before she could complete the spell, however, Bellatrix was hit square in the chest by a huge, glowing, dirty grey ball. She collapsed on the floor, screaming, as long tendrils wound themselves from the ball around her torso and head, and she dropped the wands.
Both the biding spell and the Cruciatus curse ceased as the witch casting them was disarmed. In two long steps Severus was looming over her and snatched both wands. Then, he cast his Patronus, whispering, "Get help from the Castle," before turning to Morag as the silver doe disappeared through the open door. The young healer was on all fours, retching heavily. He scooped her up, laid her on the sofa and ran his hands a few inches over her body, searching for any damage. She was visibly shaken by the Cruciatus curse, but otherwise unharmed, and he allowed himself a sigh of relief. A muffled snapping sound made him whip his head around: the Dark witch had Disapparated, leaving a pool of grey sludge behind. "Merlin's bollocks!" he growled.
Grabbing the earthen jug, he gently poured water in Morag's mouth.
"How are you feeling?"
"A'm guid," she panted.
"Did you throw your own pain back at her? I didn't know that was even possible," he enquired.
"I didnae ken for sure aither. T'worked, though," she breathed.
Severus stroked her face. He was amazed at her resourcefulness, her quick thinking, and her proficiency in magic. "You brave, strong witch."
Just then, the door burst open and Minerva, Poppy and Horace strode in.
"Morag, dear, you look ghastly!" Minerva exclaimed, breathless, as her gaze fell on the clammy-faced witch lying on the sofa. "What happened?"
"She was attacked by Bellatrix Lestrange," Severus growled. "She put the Cruciatus curse on her and was about to do even worse."
"Bellatrix Lestrange?" Horace exclaimed. "But she was killed during the battle…"
"Clearly, she wasn't," Severus snapped. "And now the deranged whore managed to Disapparate. What a bloody fool I am, I should have killed her outright – "
"Language, Severus," Minerva scowled before turning to Morag. "We will take care of you dear lass. Poppy, let's take her to the hospital wing at once!"
"A'm all right, Minerva, I'll live," the red-haired witch groaned. "I jist need tae rest up a bit. I dinnae need anyone fashing o'er me."
Glossary
Aither – either
A'm – I'm
arenae/cannae/couldnae/daesna/didnae/dinnae/isnae/shouldnae/willnae/wouldnae – aren't/can't/couldn't/doesn't/didn't/don't/isn't/shouldn't/won't/wouldn't
a besom – a witch's broom
fash – trouble, fuss
guid – good
jist – just
ken – know
lass – girl
o'er – over
tae – to