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Title: The Wizard’s Tale: A Continuation
Part 10 contains chapters 41-45
Chapter 41: I Could Have Danced All Night
The rambling three-story mansion was ablaze with light. Garlands and wreaths wound with red ribbon festooned the railings, doors and windows. Snape and Tonks approached massive double doors that swung open for them to enter. The couple stepped into the huge front hall and were greeted by a footman in dark green livery. He bowed low and helped them out of their wraps. Tonks took a moment to look around. The floor was a geometric pattern of black and white marble tiles. Towering marble columns supported the three-story ceiling and a chandelier the size of a two-family house tinkled and swayed in the breeze of the closing front doors. It held over a hundred candles, and probably a thousand crystals that were all sending flashes of color about the echoing hall. A river of marble in the shape of a curving staircase flowed gracefully down from above and pooled on the floor. The banister was wrapped in garlands, as were the tall columns. The doorways were draped in it, the portraits adorned. Sparkling points of light, like captive stars, winked the greenery. The air smelled of winter forest. Tonks took it all in and a number of other details as well -- the locations of the doors, the number of visible servants, the size of the man in livery. Snape gave her a narrow look and was pleased to see keen attention and speculation in her eyes instead of awe.
At the entrance to the ballroom, Snape gave their names to another liveried footman who stepped forward to announce them. Snape held out his hand, now attired in a white glove, palm downward and Tonks rested hers upon it as he escorted her into the room. More than a few heads had turned at their entrance, and the conversation became subdued as the two of them swept into the room. Snape hid a smile when he realized that Tonks’ concentration on other things had totally eliminated her normal klutziness.
The room was large, but not as big as she had thought it might be, given the size of the front entrance. She realized quickly that a screen had been rolled across the room, probably at midpoint, to make it a cozier size for the ‘small’ crowd. There were about 20 couples present at the moment, and an orchestra in the balcony at the end of the hall. The floor was pink marble and the walls covered in gilt framed mirrors, making the room and the crowd seem larger. Chandeliers, hardly smaller than the monstrosity in the front hall, cast a dazzling light.
The men were in formal black, except for Malfoy who was in dark green. The women were like bright jewels cast among the dark robes. Iridescent gowns shimmered in every color of the rainbow and the reflected light from the wealth of gemstones nearly blinded the eyes.
“To pay our respects to the gracious host and hostess...” Snape murmured in her ear as he steered her toward the Malfoys. “Don’t get too close to Narcissa, you’ll get frostbite.”
Tonks stifled a giggle and tried to look like a starry-eyed innocent.
Snape introduced her to Lucius and Narcissa; the former bowed low over her hand.
“Severus.” His eyes never left Tonks. “Why have you never brought your lovely cousin to visit before?”
Snape looked as though he were sucking lemons. “Because I didn’t know she existed until two weeks ago.”
“What a delightful surprise for you.” Lucius was patently undressing Tonks with his eyes.
“I hate surprises.” The desert dry tone of Snape’s voice almost made Tonks laugh, and she ducked her head and lowered her lashes charmingly to cover her smile.
Malfoy released her hand with obvious reluctance. “I must speak with you, Severus. If you ladies will excuse us?” He bowed to the woman and motioned Snape away.
Narcissa’s icy gaze raked Tonks from head to foot and Tonks concentrated on looking sweet.
“We’re so glad you could come.” She sounded anything but. “Severus hardly ever comes to our parties; he must be quite taken with you to want to show you off.” Narcissa signaled a house elf, who presented a tray of delicate champagne flutes to the woman. They each took one, Tonks using the opportunity to suppress all the nasty remarks that had sprung to her mind at Narcissa’s comment.
“It really is amazing...” Narcissa took a sip of the champagne and watched Tonks closely. “That a young lady as lovely as yourself could be related to Severus.”
Feeling a hot flush of anger on her cheeks, Tonks glanced at where Snape was talking to a group of men. He stood with indolent grace, arms folded, his weight resting on one leg. His face was in profile; the sharp lines, the hawk-like nose, the strong chin all framed by the silky midnight black of his hair. Not classically good looking but handsome in a rugged way, and Tonks was at a loss to understand how that ignorant woman next to her could fail to be aware of the raw sexuality that fairly screamed from the man. She firmly squelched her anger and smiled charmingly.
“Severus has been wonderful to me. Especially as I descended on him with almost no warning. It was only last month that I discovered I had a relation in Great Britain, and I couldn’t wait to meet him. It was so kind of him to take the time to introduce me to his friends.” Tonks was afraid she might be laying it on a bit thick, but Narcissa didn’t seem to notice.
“Pardon me.”
Tonks turned to the male voice beside her. “Narcissa, will you introduce me to this lovely lady? Severus seems to have gotten sidetracked.”
Narcissa performed the introductions and the man asked Tonks to dance. She accepted gracefully and dropped her glass on the tray of a passing house elf. Taking her escort’s arm, she followed him onto the dance floor and gave a dazzling smiled to one of the men who had raped her as he took her in his arms to dance.
Snape watched her carefully through narrowed eyes as she floated across the dance floor gathering admiring glances everywhere she turned. After the dance, she walked off the floor with her right hand tucked into the man’s arm and Snape saw her give a flick of her left wrist as that arm hung at her side. She then raised that hand and brought it to clasp her right hand at the man’s elbow. Snape knew she had shaken her wand down her glove and was now pointing it directly into her escort’s ribs. The corner of his mouth twitched as he turned his attention back to Malfoy.
The evening wore on with Tonks displaying a delightful combination of submissiveness and warmth that utterly charmed the men and infuriated the women. Snape had come to stand next to her every dance or two, taking special notice as to how she was holding up emotionally. It was close to the end of the evening. Tonks had danced with almost every man in the place and Snape thought he detected a slightly feverish look to her bright eyes.
“Are you all right?” He passed her a glass of water that she drained gratefully.
“I could use some air.”
He offered his arm. She gathered her skirt and followed him up the shallow steps to the front hall. It was much cooler here, and deserted but for the footman by the door. They moved into the library where a window had been left cracked open, admitting the cold winter breeze. The window faced the side of the house and the only light in the room was a dim lamp on a desk.
Tonks crossed to the window while a sigh of relief, inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.
“I wanted this, and had plenty of offers, mind you, but none that I felt inclined to accept.”
Snape chuckled; a rich warm sound that sent a shiver down her back.
“How are you doing? Unless I’ve miscounted, you’ve cursed all but one, haven’t you?”
“That was my thought. And Mr. Shy hasn’t asked me to dance.”
“It’s Goyle. Probably can’t, though that didn’t stop Crabbe.”
Tonks shuddered. “Great, sweaty hands pawing at me.” She suddenly closed her eyes and leaned on Snape. His hand came up and stroked her arm.
“We can leave any time.”
She straightened up, shaking her head. “No. I’m going to get every one of those bastards.”
Snape ran a finger down her cheek and smiled. “Then let’s get to it so we can get out of this place.”
They were headed out of the darkened room when Tonks laid a hand on his arm.
“Where the hell did the footmen come from? Wizards don’t have footmen.”
Snape snorted. “Malfoy charms the house elves to look like footmen for his parties.”
Tonks shook her head at the pretentiousness as they crossed the hall.
Entering the ballroom, Snape leaned close to Tonks’ ear.
“You want help cornering Goyle?” She could swear that there was an actual twinkle in Snape’s eye and she nodded in appreciation. He tucked her hand in his arm and sauntered into the crowd. Before long, he had maneuvered them to a place at the edge of the dance floor and had positioned Tonks next to Goyle’s back as the thick man chatted with a group of other men. Tonks casually crossed her left arm across her body and tucked her hand between them.
“Careful of your aim!” He growled under his breath.
She cast her spell and then gave Snape a beautiful smile.
“Done!”
****************************
Chapter 42: In Demand
*Note: As for this chapter, I plead temporary insanity. While I was writing it, I went to watch the weather on TV and there was Patrick Swayze in ‘Dirty Dancing.’ I had never seen it but figured I should watch in the interest of research. That inspired me to watch (over and over) the VCD of Mr. Rickman dancing his way around a gas station. This chapter resulted.
Just then, an elderly relative of Malfoy’s appeared and asked Tonks for a dance. She accepted gracefully and stepped out on the dance floor, her success at cursing all the Death Eaters adding a renewed lightness to her step and radiance to her smile.
Snape leaned against the wall to watch. He had not asked anyone to dance, nor had anyone asked him, but he truly enjoyed watching Tonks. Her longs legs gave her a floating grace, and Kat had taught her well. A natural, she had mastered most of the dances and more importantly, she had mastered the art of following a lead. Not that many of the men were good dancers. Malfoy was probably the best of the lot and he was only moderately good. Her current partner was barely passable at the tango that surged into the air from the orchestra in the gallery. Snape sighed at the waste of Tonks’ talent and the stirring music.
One of the many well-kept secrets about Severus Snape was that he loved to dance. He loved it almost as much as he loved sex. Taught by the same ladies that had taught him the art of loving, he had spent many hours being their practice boy in both disciplines. As an adult, he used to sneak off once or twice a year, usually to the Continent somewhere, to indulge himself in a night-long orgy of dancing, but in the last few years, since Voldemort’s return to power, he hadn’t had the chance. Now, as the seductive strains of his favorite dance filled the air, he found it hard to stand still and watch a beautiful and talented dancer in the arms of a hopeless clod. After fighting with himself for a few short seconds, he decided that it really wouldn’t matter that much in the scheme of things if he were found out, and pushing off from the wall he pulled on his gloves and swooped down on the hapless Tonks and her bumbling partner.
“Excuse me. May I cut in?” Without waiting for a reply, he took Tonks into his arms and looked her in the eyes.
Surprised, but sensing Snape was going to be as good at this as he was at everything else, she stiffened up her frame and waited for the beat.
Within a few steps, Tonks knew she was in the arms of a master. Never taking her eyes from his she followed his lead effortlessly and they moved together as though they had practiced for hours.
She was light and graceful. Giving him the stiff frame he needed to guide her, she seemed intuitive to his moves, yielding to the lightest touch, supple and sinuous in his arms.
They floated across the floor, her deep blue gown seeming to swirl and move with a life of its own. As Tonks looked into his eyes, she could feel a reserve, a holding back of something inside. As he pulled her back against his chest she leaned close.
“Come on, Snape,” she hissed in his ear. “Turn it on!”
A fire burned behind the blackness of his pupils, and he became a different man before her eyes. The formal facade dropped and the sensuous animal emerged. He instantly became the predator and she the prey. He stripped off the confining coat and flung it away, giving his shoulders more room. He stalked her, tempted her, spun, lifted and dropped her almost to the floor. A growled word or two warned her of imminent lifts and she moved instinctively with him, the beat of the music flowing through them and making them one with it.
The dance floor cleared, people pressing back against the walls to give them all the room they wanted. He never took his eyes off hers and there was nothing in the world but the dance. His long legs, clothed snuggly in the thin black trousers and the knee-high black boots moved them around the floor with fluid grace. Tonks, perfectly matched in stride and reach, perfectly contrasted in color, made a stunning partner for him. When he pulled her back to his chest and ran his hands sensuously down her ribs to cradle her hips she closed her eyes in sensual pleasure.
With the last beat of the music, he spun her into his chest, his arms straight ahead at shoulder height, his hands closed in fists. Her arms wrapped around him and without realizing what she was doing, she grasped his bum and pulled him firmly against her. He did not wrap his arms around her but instead, as the music faded, dropped them slowly to his sides. She released him reluctantly and saw the light go out of his eyes and the curtain drop back down over his soul. She almost cried out for the loss of him, but he took her arm and led her off the floor before she could gather her thoughts.
The room was stunned into silence but the orchestra quickly started up another dance, and people slowly drifted back to the floor. Snape retrieved his coat from a footman and shrugged into it. With each button he fastened, Tonks could feel him pulling further away. She was staring at him with a raw, pleading look when he glanced over her shoulder.
“Damn!”
She turned and couldn’t repress a smile. A fair number of the very women who had been snubbing him all evening were now heading for Snape with a singleness of purpose that was positively frightening.
“Severus! You’ve been holding out on us. Why didn’t you tell us you could dance?!” Narcissa was positively simpering.
“Ah, Narcissa. It’s been delightful, but I’m afraid we must go.” Snape looked around for Malfoy. “Lucius!” He extended his hand. “Most kind of you to invite us.” He shook Malfoy’s hand, bowed stiffly over Narcissa’s limply offered fingers and almost before Malfoy was done gushing over Tonks, he was leading her away.
The footman produced their cloaks and Snape helped Tonks on with hers. He took her arm and hustled her out the door where they shivered in the first shock of the cold winter air.
At the foot of the steps, Tonks resisted.
“Whoa, Snape. Give me a sec, would ya?”
“What is it?” His face was pinched with the cold.
She laid a hand on his chest.
“You pulled me out of there so fast; just give me a minute.” She grinned sheepishly. “I feel almost as though I got laid on that dance floor. Damn you’re good!”
Snape snorted. “Well, I apologize for dragging you out like that but I think those women meant me bodily harm.”
She nodded. “I know what they meant; and it would have harmed you all right.”
Shaking his head, Snape wrapped an arm around her and Apparated them back to the clearing outside the Hogwarts gates.
Tonks’ face suddenly went sober. “I got them all. Every one of them.” She was shivering.
Snape followed the change of subject with ease. Laying a hand against her cheek he gave her a ghost of a smile.
“You did well.”
Tonks went on as though he hadn’t spoken. “I did. I got ‘em.” She was staring off over his shoulder at the dark forest and was starting to shake uncontrollably. “Every single one of the bastards and they will never be able to do that to anyone again.”
Snape took her by her upper arms and looked at her closely. “Tonks?”
She folded against him, sobs flooding out of her. He lifted her easily and headed for the school with her alternately clinging to his neck and pounding him with her fists.
As soon as he entered his rooms, Lillith was on her feet, fear in her eyes.
Snape shook his head. “It’s finally caught up with her. She needs to cry it out.”
Lillith removed his cloak for him and with Tonks still in his arms he sank down on the couch. Without her attention on her looks, Tonks had morphed back to her real self and her clothes were loose and threatening to slide off her. Lillith transfigured her clothes back to normal while Snape continued to hold her. Tonks curled up in his lap with her fists clutching his shirt and her face buried in his chest and sobbed as though she would never stop. He pulled her close, stroking her hair and murmuring to her. Lillith wrapped a blanket around Tonks’ heaving shoulders, and then sat in a chair biting her knuckles while Snape rocked and soothed the girl through her terror and grief.
After what seemed an eternity, her sobs slowed to deep shuddering breaths. Lillith got up and went to put on tea. Snape pressed a handkerchief into Tonks’ hands.
Tonks wiped her face, blew her nose and tried to straighten the crumpled fabric of his shirt.
“I’m sorry.” It came out thickly accompanied by a hiccup.
“Hush.” He lifted her chin and studied her face. “Better?”
She nodded and when Lillith touched her arm she gratefully accepted the steaming mug of tea. After a steadying swallow, she suddenly realized she was still sitting on Snape’s lap and hurriedly moved to sit next to him. He smiled over her head at Lillith, who smiled back, the stress melting from her face.
After Tonks had drunk half her tea, Lillith stood and extended her hand to her niece.
“Come on, Hon’. Let’s get you a hot shower.”
Tonks followed her obediently into the bathroom and a moment later, Lillith returned.
“Dori doesn’t want to stay here tonight. She asked if you would call Kat to come get her.”
Snape nodded and when Lillith returned to be with Tonks, he threw a handful of floo powder into the fire and summoned Kat.
The young man Apparated to the school, and worriedly demanded details. Tonks had told him she was going to the party at the behest of the Ministry but had not shared her personal reasons for wanting to go. Snape refused details telling Kat only that she had had a very draining evening and that she was emotionally fragile.
“Don’t press her. She’ll confide in you when and if she wishes.”
Kat stiffened a bit at Snape’s dictatorial tone.
“So, I’m just the messenger boy, here to do your bidding without question?”
“Don’t be an ass!” Snape handed him a snifter of brandy. “It is not my place to tell you anything. She will talk to you if she trusts you and judging from the fact that she wanted you here, she probably does.” He took a swallow of his own drink. “And if she does trust you, you had better live up to it.”
“Is that a threat?”
Snape watched the young man closely.
“Tonks has had some very difficult times. She just spent the last hour crying her soul out.” He set his glass down on the mantel. “This is not about us, it is about her. Do not add to her distress.”
Kat gave him a long look and nodded curtly.
The men were sipping brandy in silence when Tonks came out of the bedroom clad in jeans and Lillith’s oversized jumper over her own T-shirt. Her hair was still long, but it was its natural color -- a rich brown. She was still subdued, her face showing strain and fatigue.
One look at her and Kat forgot is irritation with Snape. He helped her into her jacket and stood behind her as she turned to Snape.
“I’m sorry I fell apart.” Her voice was soft. She held out her hand to Snape. “Thank you for taking me.”
He made a small sound of impatience. “Falling apart after you get the job done is perfectly acceptable.” He tilted her chin up so she looked into his eyes. “You did the entire wizarding world an enormous service tonight.” He lifted her hand, turning her knuckles upward. “And you danced...” he brushed his lips over the back of her hand, “like a fantasy.”
Tonks bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears again. She groped behind her and Kat caught her hand. The two left quietly, Kat’s arm protectively around Tonks waist.
Lillith sighed and turned to Snape.
“Can I get you more tea?” His tone was gentle.
“You can get me some brandy.”
He chuckled and, after pouring her some, they settled on the couch.
“She said she got them all.” Lillith sipped the amber liquid and started to settle back against the sofa but when Snape raised his arm, she nestled against him instead.
“She did.” He sipped his drink. “Did you teach her that curse?”
“Mmm.”
He shifted in spite of himself, and she laughed.
“Not to worry, my love.”
He sighed.
“She said you danced a tango with her.”
“Mmm.”
“She said you were totally different.” She sipped her drink and went on when he didn’t answer. “I enjoy dancing.”
“Do you?” He looked pleased.
“Perhaps we can sneak off for an illicit weekend of fun sometime.” She cast him a sideways look. “Although I’m not sure I’m up for what she experienced.”
Snape raised an eyebrow. “What did she say?”
“She said it couldn’t have been a more intimate and sexual experience if you had stripped her naked and made love to her right on the dance floor.”
A rather smug smile spread over his face. “I do enjoy the tango.”
Lillith set her drink on the coffee table, rose, and extended her hand to Snape. He set his own drink down and stood, wrapping his arms around Lillith and kissing her lingeringly.
“If you’re not too tired from your stimulating simulation with my niece, how about the real thing with me?” She untied the ruffle at his throat and started slowly slipping the shirt buttons loose from their holes.
He lifted her and headed for the bedroom.
“I think I’m up to it,” he smiled in her hair and with a flick of a finger, extinguished the lights.
*********************
Chapter 43: Who Are You?
As Snape was leaving the dining hall the next day after dinner, a house elf approached him with a message. Kat was waiting for him in the Room of Requirement. He was surprised, as they had agreed not to meet that day, but he went along directly.
On entering the room he found it to be quite small, just two easy chairs by a fire and a sideboard with a decanter and two glasses. Kat stood by one of the chairs wearing old blue jeans and a denim shirt. His cloak hung on a peg by the door.
Snape hesitated for a beat just inside the door, then slowly approached the younger man, who was facing him with tension evident in every line of his body.
Neither spoke as they stood eye to eye. Kat was the first to give in.
“Tonks told me what you’ve done.”
Snape didn’t so much as blink.
“Everything you’ve done.”
Snape raised a sardonic eyebrow.
“You’ve used her.”
“She was not forced.” Snape’s voice was even, devoid of emotion.
Kat jerked but contained himself. “You are older, stronger... culpable.”
Snape shrugged and, appearing to relax a bit, spread his feet and shoved his hands in his trouser pockets.
A hint of a smile twisted the corner of Kat’s mouth. “Well, at least I now know where you’re carrying your wand today.”
“You pay attention.” Snape had a half dozen places about his person where he concealed his wand. He moved it frequently and never in a set pattern. At the moment, it was in the front pocket of his trousers.
“You’re a good teacher.” Kat’s voice was sarcastic. He turned his back and headed for the sideboard, leaning against it when he turned back to Snape.
“She said everything that’s ever happened between the two of you since school, happened with her full consent and even instigation.” He poured a glass of cognac and held up the decanter toward Snape. Snape shook his head minutely and Kat set the decanter back down but didn’t pick up his glass.
Snape waited, silent and still, only his eyes betraying the keen attention with which he watched Kat.
“I want to know how you feel about her.” Kat picked up his glass but didn’t drink.
Snape smirked.
“I would think that would be obvious, though I fail to see how it’s any of your business.”
Kat set the glass back down and dropped his hand to his side. Snape knew that he frequently carried his wand in a pocket on the outside seam of his trousers.
“I want to know what kind of man my father is.” Kat’s voice was strained but steady.
Snape snorted. “I would think that would also be obvious.” He turned on his heel and headed for the door. As his hand closed over the latch, a bolt of light sizzled over his shoulder and thumped into the door. Snape turned slowly.
“You think that wise, boy?”
Kat stood with his wand hand at his side. “I want to hear it from you.”
“Why? Do you expect me to believe for a moment that you will simply accept whatever I say?” He sneered at the younger man. “Neither of us are that foolish.”
“Tonks would give her life for you. Would you do the same for her?”
Snape gave a short bark of laughter that was totally devoid of humor.
“Ah, yes,” he sneered. “Gryffindor heroics.”
“So you don’t return the feeling?”
“Slytherins don’t believe in dying at all, if it’s avoidable.”
“Not even for a friend?”
“Especially not for a friend.” Kat flinched at Snape’s tone. “What good would that do?” Snape advanced back into the room. “Slytherins are far more practical; far more likely to kill for a friend than die for one.”
Kat drew himself up a bit. “So, would you kill for Tonks?”
Snape took a step closer to Kat and leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.
“I’m a Death Eater, boy. I have tortured, raped and murdered men, women and children and you’re questioning my ethics and my honor?”
“I know some of the things you’ve done as a Death Eater. I also know that they aren’t the total of the man that you are.”
Snape never took his eyes off Kat’s as a small, smug smile twisted his lips.
“You’re jealous. Tonks is willing to put herself in my hands for whatever purpose I choose, but she won’t let you in her bed.” He laughed, and a look of derision twisted his face. “This is all because you’re jealous!”
Kat’s wand hand twitched and before he could blink Snape’s wand was up and pointed at his throat. When he made no other move, Snape let his hand drop to his side though he remained holding his wand.
“Is that what you think?” Kat’s voice was tight.
Without a word, Snape turned and headed for the door. This time it was Kat’s voice that stopped him with his hand on the latch.
“Father!” The word dripped disdain.
Snape turned once again and waited.
“I will know what kind of a man you really are no matter how hard you try to keep it from me.”
Snape studied him for a long moment before yanking the door open.
“You already know, boy.”
The following Tuesday, Kat did not seek out Snape after his lessons with Professor Flitwick. He did turn up on Sunday with Tonks for their lesson; his manner closed, his attitude watchful. When Snape tried to provoke him during a sparring match, he refused to be rattled.
“What is with those two?” Tonks muttered to Lillith as they took a break. “I thought they might be starting to be friends. A little.”
They watched the men circling each other, the air around them crackling with magical energy.
Lillith shook her head and poured them water.
“I told Kat about everything that’s ever happened between Snape and myself.” Tonks gave an apologetic smile to her aunt. “He didn’t say much. Do you think he spoke to Snape?”
“He was here last Sunday, and they spoke briefly. Severus didn’t say what it was about.”
Tonks sighed. “I really like Kat, Aunt Lilly. He’s got all of Snape’s good points and more.” She gave her aunt a rueful smile. “He’s much easier to be around.”
Lillith smiled. “No one will ever accuse Severus of being an easy man, that’s true.”
“I liked Kat the moment I met him. Trusted him, too. I think that’s because he really is like his father in a lot of ways.” Tonks set her empty glass on the table. “They don’t come much better, do they?”
“No.” Lillith’s answer was soft but vehement as she smiled and straightened up. “Shall we get back to work before the Taskmaster notices we’re goofing off?”
At the end of the afternoon, as the men were gathering their coats by the door, Snape turned to Kat.
“Will you be showing up Tuesday after your class?” His face and voice were totally devoid of expression.
“Do you wish it?” Kat’s tone was equally flat.
Snape folded his frock coat over his arm.
“I have numerous ways to use my time. I prefer to plan.” They stood eyeing each other like wary dogs.
“Then you may plan on my being in your office as soon as Professor Flitwick excuses me.”
Snape gave a curt nod and they filed out of the room, going their separate ways.
Back in their rooms, Lillith put her arms around Snape’s waist and rested her head on his shoulder. His hands came up and gently stroked her back and her hair.
“What’s this about?” He brushed his lips over her cheek.
She lifted her face and smiled up at him.
“I just love you, that’s all.” She kissed him lightly.
His arms tightened around her. “Enough to wash my back?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Do we have time before supper?”
He headed for the bedroom with his arm around her. “The house elves will feed us it we’re too late.”
“Well then...” She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.
********************
Chapter 44: A Warning
The following Tuesday afternoon saw Snape in the four hour potions lab with the 7th year students. He was correcting essays on the potion they were to brew the following week. The essays for today’s work had been corrected and gone over until he was reasonably sure they could create the potion without killing themselves, or him. Some of the ingredients for today’s lesson were highly volatile.
“Mr. Andrews.” He muttered without looking up. “Cut that on the diagonal, not straight.”
The student with the knife, who was about to start cutting wormwood stalks, looked up, his face going pale. “Yes, sir.” It was a whisper.
“Five points for not paying attention.” Snape went on correcting the essays.
The student nodded and gulped. Cutting the stalks incorrectly would have resulted in the final potion being not only useless but toxic as well.
Snape’s wand lay on the desk beside the parchment he was correcting; ready in case he needed to intervene should something go suddenly and spectacularly wrong. There was no sound in the room but the scratching of his quill and the muffled thud of knives on cutting boards. Suddenly, Snape froze, his eyes on his wand. It had moved ever so slightly. He picked it up and ran a hand over the wood before rolling it between his palms. It seemed perfectly normal. He was about to set it back down when realization washed over him in an icy wave.
Lillith had gone into Hogsmeade after lunch.
He bolted for the classroom door throwing an abrupt, “Keep working!” over his shoulder as he yanked open the door and stepped into the hall.
“Bunks!” The house elf arrived instantaneously with a small pop.
“Has Lillith returned?”
“I’m not sure, sir. I’ll check.” The elf was gone.
A few seconds later, she was back. “No, sir. She has not come back from Hogsmeade yet.” The elf was wringing her hands, fear in her large blue eyes. Whether it was fear for Lillith or fear of the murderous look on Snape’s face, it was hard to tell.
“Tell Dumbledore. Ask him to come here right away.” The elf disappeared and Snape returned to the classroom to stalk among the students. Sensing something was wrong, they kept their heads down.
A soft rap on the door and Snape was once again out in the hall. Tonks was there beside Dumbledore, her fear plain in her face.
“Why the alarm?” It was the Headmaster’s quiet voice. “Is she late?”
Snape shook his head. “My wand. It jumped slightly on the desk, then went still.” His hands clenched and he looked back at the classroom. “I need to go find her.”
“I’ll go.” Tonks spoke up.
“No! I have to.” Snape was turning his wand over and over in his hand.
Dumbledore raised his hand. “Severus. Was there any other sign from your wand? Was it just the one alarm?”
“It was just the one twitch, and it went still.” He was fairly vibrating with tension. “Headmaster, I must go at once.”
“Snape, let me.” Tonks voice was firm. “If she’s been grabbed, it will no doubt be an attempt to flush you out. If you go, you’ll blow your cover. I’m her niece, it would be normal for me to ask after her. Besides,” she forestalled his objections, “this sort of thing is my job, and I am good at it.”
“Severus, Tonks is making sense, and you need to stay with your students at least until we know if there is a problem.”
Snape took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. “All right.” He turned to Tonks. “Well, go!”
With a nod, she spun and left at a run.
“I’ll send a message as soon as she reports back.” Dumbledore urged the professor toward his classroom with a slight gesture.
Without a word, Snape flung himself back into the laboratory, tension radiating from him in waves. The students snuck a few questioning looks at each other before concentrating on their work as though their lives depended on it. After seven years they still had a very healthy respect for the Potions Master’s temper.
An hour had passed; it was twenty minutes until the end of class and the students were cleaning up. Snape had taken a total of sixty more house points from various students for reasons as minor as one of the Ravenclaw girls sneezing. They were hurrying to get out of what had been one of the longest classes of their lives when, with a knock, a house elf opened the door a few inches and slipped into the room. Snape was at the door in an instant.
“Miss Tonks is back and waiting in the Headmaster’s office,” the frightened elf whispered.
“Finish cleaning up before leaving.” Snape growled at the class. “If anything is out of place when I return, it will be another twenty points off each house.” He eyed the grinning Slytherin students. “Slytherin, as well.”
His long legs moved him through the hallways at a pace that had his robes streaming behind him in their most bat-like fashion. Students scurried out of his way and breathed a sigh of relief when he passed without deducting points. The gargoyle saw him coming and sprang out of the way, and Snape took the moving stairs three at a time.
Bursting through the door of Dumbledore’s office he drew up short as he spotted Kat with Tonks and the Headmaster.
“Well?” He demanded a report from Tonks.
“I traced her movements in Hogsmeade. It appears as though two men grabbed her as she was walking from Madam Puddifoot’s, and dragged her into the alley behind Scrivenshaft’s. There were signs of a brief struggle, then they must have Apparated.” Tonks pulled a glove from her pocket. “This is Aunt Lilly’s. She may have dropped it as a sign.”
Snape closed his eyes, and took a long slow breath.
“I doubt that she’s hurt. The wand would have warned me. It probably reacted to her fear when she was grabbed.” He opened his eyes and looked at Dumbledore. “Do you have a map of the country?”
The Headmaster raised his hand and summoned a parchment from a shelf. He unrolled it on the desk, and Snape pulled his wand from his sleeve.
“It guided me to her before, but she was much closer.” He set the wand on the edge of the map. It didn’t move.
“May I?” It was Kat’s soft voice. “I think I can increase the wand’s ability to find her.”
Snape eyed him for a moment, then waved his hand over the wand. “Just don’t try to touch it.”
Kat withdrew his own wand and, after thinking a moment, passed it over Snape’s wand while murmuring a charm. The heavy black wand quivered, then pivoted and slid across the map, the tip coming to rest in England, south and west of where they were. Snape leaned over the map.
“Malfoy!”
“All right.” It was Tonks talking to Snape. “You know Malfoy. What will he do? Will he try and get information from Aunt Lilly? Will he try blackmail? Or will he wait and see what you do?”
“I think,” Snape pocketed his wand. “That he will question her; try to find out from her what kind of a tie there is between us. Waiting isn’t his strong suit, so if he gets nothing from her, and I don’t show up in a day, I think he’ll take it out on Lillith.”
“My guess is he won’t be expecting to hear anything from you for another hour or so. He has to give you time to notice that she’s gone. How afraid of you is he?”
Snape’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Would he risk hurting her if he thinks you two are close?”
Snape frowned. “I don’t think so, but I don’t think I should waste any time.”
Tonks put a hand on his arm. “You can’t be the one to do this.”
He jerked his arm away from her, but she went on before he could speak. “Aunt Lilly won’t tell him anything. If you show up, you’ll tip your hand. Let me go get her.”
“Absolutely not!”
“Damn it, Snape! Think!” She glared at him. “Trust me.” It came out more of an order than a plea.
“I’ll be going as well.” Kat was watching Snape closely.
Snape scowled at the wall, thinking.
“Can you draw me a map of the house? I’ve seen some of it. Do you know where he’ll be keeping her?” Tonks was thinking as well.
Snape shook his head. “I’ve haven’t seen much more of it than you have.”
“Dobby!” The Headmaster’s voice was quiet but the house elf appeared instantly. He wore mismatched socks and several hats stacked one on top of the other, balanced precariously on his head. His clothes were a riot of color and nothing matched. He bowed low to the Headmaster and the others, catching his hats as they fell.
“How may Dobby serve the Headmaster?”
Dumbledore filled Dobby in on Lillith’s abduction, and asked if he knew where Malfoy was likely to be keeping her. Dobby whimpered in fear for Lillith and passed his hand over a piece of parchment, causing a map of the house to appear. He pointed out the room where Lillith was likely to be held, and where she might be if not there. He described the household routine, and where everyone was likely to be in the evening at what times. Kat asked him if he knew what charms and wards protected the house and what Malfoy was likely to use to ward the door to Lillith’s room. Dobby provided all the information they asked for, and anything else he could think of that would help.
“Dobby,” Snape crouched down so he was on a level with the elf, “how loyal are the house elves? What will they do if they think there’s an intruder?”
“They are bound by service to the family, Professor Snape, Sir, but they can be quite blind if they choose to be.”
“Can you communicate with them? Will you ask them to help?”
Dobby wrung his hands. “Not all of the house elves approve of Dobby, Sir. Of his wanting to be free. They see it as abandoning my duty. But they don’t like the family, sir. I thinks some of them might help as far as making sure they are somewhere else when you go in. They can’t disobey, or go against their contracts, but they can not notice many things. I will ask them.”
Snape gave Dobby one of his rare smiles. “Good. Thank you, Dobby.”
The little elf’s eyes shone with pleasure.
“We’d best get going. Dobby, can you go straight to the house elves from here?”
Dobby nodded to Snape.
“The fact that we have to get off of the school grounds before we Apparate will give you a few minutes. Will it be enough?”
Dobby nodded again, and with a snap of his fingers, disappeared.
Snape, Tonks and Kat headed for the front doors; Bunks intercepting them with Snape’s heavy cloak. He spared her a brief nod, and pulled the black wool around his shoulders. It was cold outside. The wind whipped over the frozen ground, and tried to push them off their path. The winter sun was already setting as they hurried to the Apparation point. Once in the clearing, Tonks linked her arm with Kat’s as he didn’t know where they were going, and they disappeared.
They reappeared just inside the trees outside the Malfoy Mansion. The plan was that they would wait for Dobby before Tonks and Kat went in. They were discussing the best way to do that when Kat held up a hand.
“Wait a minute. Dobby said the protection wards were keyed to recognize certain people. Do they recognize you?” He turned to Snape.
“Yes, but I thought I wasn’t to go.” He tone was sarcastic.
Kat ignored the tone and turned toward the mansion. He held his wand before him and closed his eyes in concentration. After a moment, he released the breath he was holding and smiled.
“All right, the charm works on a combination of recognition of outward appearance and on a very loose check of actual identity. Whoever cast it isn’t all that good at charms.”
Snape snorted and drew his cloak tighter around himself. It was warmer here than at the school, and they were protected from the wind, but it was still cold.
“Will a stranger be passed if they are with someone who is recognized?” Kat was ignoring Snape’s bad mood.
“Yes.”
“And does the door open for them, or does a house elf have to be there?”
“It will open. An elf usually appears within seconds, though.”
“Then I think,” a grin spread over Kat’s face, “that Tonks and I can just walk up to the front door.”
“How so?” Snape was getting impatient.
“Because,” Kat’s look was rueful, “I don’t believe the charm is sophisticated enough to be able to differentiate one Snape from another.”
Snape opened his mouth to speak just as Dobby appeared beside them with a small pop.
“Dobby talked to his friends, sir. Mistress Lillith is in the room next to the wine cellar, the Lady of the House is up in her boudoir, and the Master is in the Library on the other side of the house. Dobby and his friends started a small fire in the kitchen to occupy all the house elves. Go now. Hurry!”
Kat pulled his hood forward over his face and Tonks did the same as soon as she had transfigured her Muggle jacket to a cloak. She had also morphed her appearance into something quite different from her usual looks, but something ordinary and unremarkable.
Side by side, they walked up the path to the front doors, and Snape held his breath as, in the light shining from the tall narrow windows on either side of the doors, he saw Tonks reach for the handle. In a moment the two had disappeared inside, and Snape let out his breath.
“Does some sort of alarm go off when the door is opened?” He asked Dobby.
“Only when it’s working, sir.” The little elf looked up at him with a smile.
Snape noticed the elf was shivering. In spite of the stack of hats he was wearing, he had no jacket. Feeling rather self conscious, Snape held the front of his cloak open and allowed Dobby to duck inside. The little creature leaned against his shins and pulled the cloak closed, leaving just his nose sticking out.
Snape grimaced. “Dobby, if you ever tell anyone...”
“Oh no, sir.” The elf’s voice was muffled. “Dobby keeps lots of secrets, sir.”
Dusk was fast becoming night, and the overcast sky muffled the landscape. The wind rattled the frozen branches of the trees with a sound like bare bones knocking together. It took all of Snape’s training and will power to stand still and silent against the trunk of a tree, and wait.
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Chapter 45: In the Enemy Camp
Tonks and Kat slipped in the front door, and bolted for the door under the stairs. This led into a long corridor that divided the house in two. The third door to the left was the one Dobby said went down to the cellars. It opened to Kat’s murmured charm, and after lighting their wands, they tiptoed down the wide, shallow stone steps.
The first door on the right was the wine cellar. It was heavy oak, bound with elaborate iron hinges and scroll work. Next to it was a smaller door, also oak, also fitted with heavy iron hinges but lacking the fancy work of the wine cellar. There was light coming from under the door, but when they pressed their ears to the crack, they heard nothing.
The thud of the door at the top of the stairs, and the sudden lighting of the torches along the stone passages sent them scuttling for hiding. Tonks tried the door across from the one with the light, and it opened to her command. It proved to be concealing another stairway. Dark and narrow, it twisted down into total darkness. The walls were damp, and the smell of decay assailed their nostrils.
They pulled the door shut, and huddled on the top step. Kat drew a square on the door with his wand and whispered a few words. The wood of the door shimmered, and seemed to dissolve, leaving a window of vision that rippled like old glass. Even though it was a one-way window, they stepped to the sides and flattened against the wall.
Malfoy came down the steps with an air of satisfaction radiating from his smug face. He was dressed in evening wear of burgundy and dark blue brocade, and he was swinging his walking stick. He pulled his wand from the walking stick, and released the wards on the door to the room where Lillith was being held. The door swung shut behind him, and after erasing the window, Tonks and Kat crept across the hall. Kat drew another window in the door to Lillith’s chamber, and Tonks drew what looked like bits of flesh colored string from her pocket. She handed one to Kat and dropping one end of hers on the floor she stuck the other end in her ear. Kat followed her example, and the extendable ears slithered their way under the door.
The room was perhaps 12x15 feet. The floor and walls were bare stone, but it was reasonably warm and dry. The only furnishing were a table and a chair. Malfoy was pacing about looking important. Lillith stood near the center of the room, arms at her sides, head up and watchful.
“You’re the man who came to my house a few years ago with the injured man, are you not?” Her voice was calm and steady.
Malfoy turned. “I’m flattered you remember.” He waved his wand over the table, and a bottle of wine and two glasses appeared. “Lucius Malfoy.” He poured a glass and offered it to Lillith.
She shook her head. “Why did you have your two thugs kidnap me, and bring me here?”
Malfoy twitched slightly. “I’ll ask the questions!” Then he smiled and relaxed, taking a sip of wine.
“How well do you know Professor Snape?”
“Severus?” Lillith feigned surprise.
“Well enough to be on a first name basis, I gather.”
Lillith gave a small ladylike snort. “I’m on a first name basis with all the faculty. Including the Headmaster.”
“Are you friends?” He studied her as he sipped his wine.
“With the Headmaster?” Her eyes were innocent.
Malfoy squinted at her. “With Snape, you idiot woman!”
“Do you know Severus?” Her tone was sarcastic. “Because if you do, you’ll know the answer to that question.”
Malfoy set the glass of wine gently on the table and folded his arms. Throwing his head back, he glowered at Lillith.
“You carry his brand.” It came out as an accusation.
“His what?!” Lillith appeared dumbfounded. “Oh.” She turned her left hand up and looked at the scar. “You mean this?” She held the hand out for Malfoy to see.
“I was bringing supplies to the potions classroom from the greenhouse. I wanted to put them down on the work bench, and Severus’ wand was there. I made the mistake of picking it up to move it.” She made a face. “He has a rather powerful protective charm on it. He also has his initials inlaid in silver on the handle.” She gave a rueful glance at her palm before dropping her hand to her side.
“You’re lying!” It exploded out of Malfoy, and he raised his hand as if to backhand her.
Before Tonks could react, Lillith drew her wand and Malfoy’s body lifted and slammed against the wall. Another quick charm, and his wand flew out of his hand. Lillith stepped to where the wand had fallen, and kicked it into the corner of the room. Malfoy started to scramble to his feet but Lillith pointed her wand at him and he froze.
“They took your wand!” Malfoy was sputtering.
“They took the student’s wand I had in my pocket to send to Olivander for repair.”
She advanced on the supine man. “As kidnappers go, they aren’t very efficient.”
Tonks chortled quietly, and leaned next to Kat’s ear.
“I taught her that! To carry a dummy wand when she went out.” He gave her a ghost of a grin in return.
“And you, Mr. Malfoy, are not a nice man.” Lillith raised her wand. “Itchicus-Petrificus Totalus!”
Malfoy went rigid and Lillith stepped over his legs to get to the door. Kat waved the window away while Tonks balled up the extendable ears and shoved them in her pocket. They barely got out of the way before Lillith opened the door slowly, and peeked out.
She gave a small squeak of surprise when she saw the two younger people outside the door. Tonks grabbed her hand and headed for the stairs. They were just at the first step when they heard the latch of the door rattle. A muffled voice rose in irritation.
“Where the bloody hell is Malfoy? He was supposed to meet us.”
“Probably just downstairs ‘entertaining’ his guest.” The coarse laugh was clearly audible. “Can’t you even open the door? He gave you the password, for Merlin’s sake.”
“Come on!” Tonks whispered, and headed for the door that they had hidden behind before. “Mind the steps,” she hissed as she dove into the entrance and flattened herself against the wall. Lillith and Kat followed; he secured the door before they turned and hurried down the dark stairs. The walls became damper feeling as if coated with algae under their hands. The stones of the steps became slippery, the air closer, and more rank.
Tonks gave a grunt and she found the bottom of the steps in the dark. With a whisper she lit her wand and they looked about them. A tunnel with an arched ceiling led away into the darkness. There were puddles of water on the floor, and long tentacles of slime hung from the stone just over their heads.
“I remember this on the map but didn’t notice where it led.” Kat was close enough behind Tonks for his breath to stir the hair at her neck.
“The stable, I believe.” Tonks was already on her way.
There was a crash behind them; the sound of splintering wood as the door at the top of the steps gave way.
“Shit!” Tonks whispered and broke into a stumbling run over the cracked and uneven floor of the tunnel. Their way had many twists and bends, allowing Tonks to hold her dimly illuminated wand close to the floor, providing them with a bit of sight without alerting their pursuers. They ran for what seemed forever, losing all sense of direction in the underground hall.
Tonks pulled up short, and the others almost collided with her. Ahead, disappearing in the gloom, was a narrow flight of stairs leading upward. They listened and could hear the halting steps and ragged breath of their pursuer in the distance.
Lillith cocked her head. “Only one.”
Kat nodded. “The other went around; probably waiting.”
Tonks shook her head. “I don’t think he could beat us.” She started up the stairs. “Come on.”
The door at the top of the steps was not in as good shape as the one in the house. Kat drew a window and they peered into the gloom on the other side. It appeared to be an old unused tack room; dry and rotting harness hung on hooks on the wall. Dusty cobwebs covered everything.
“I don’t think he’s here yet.” Tonks reached for the door but Kat dropped a hand on her wrist.
“Let me get the door. Get down and back.” They crouched against the door, casting nervous glances back down the tunnel, where the approaching footsteps echoed ever closer.
“When I give the signal, roll through the door. It will feel a bit uncomfortable, but it won’t hurt you.” He pointed his wand at the door, and whispered a spell. The door wavered as though they were looking at it through a fall of water and Kat whispered, “Now!”
He rolled to one side and Tonks to the other. Lillith hesitated then came straight into the room. It was empty.
They rose, brushing spider webs and grime from their clothes, and Kat resealed the door. They crept out of the tackroom and took stock. There was a long hallway with empty stalls on either side, and a wood floor underfoot. Except for the usual rustling one would expect to hear in an old barn, it was quiet.
Tonks took the lead again, and they hugged the wall, heading toward the end of the barn at a trot. They were almost to the big double door when, with a protesting squawk, it swung open a few inches. They ducked into an empty stall and waited.
A large man slipped into the barn, fading into the shadows.
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To be continued in Part 11