literature

The Eyes of My Child-Chapter 1

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Severus.

The gargoyle leapt aside as the dark Potions Master, Severus Snape, whispered the password. He rolled his eyes at another sweets name in a long line of passwords. But his slight annoyance quickly grew to outright anger as he climbed the staircase.

The man was so damn trusting. How easy it would be to open the office door at the top of the stairs and cast the killing curse before the old wizard could even wipe that stupid grin off his face. He could finish it right now and go into hiding, never to be seen by the Aurors or Death Eaters again.

Severus stopped at the top of the stairs, his hand resting on the door handle.  He closed his eyes and sighed. He could entertain ideas like that for days and it would never change what he must do, what he was going to do, and the time frame which he was going to do it.

When Severus opened the door, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore looked up from the papers on his desk and smiled at the younger man. But it wasn't the smile Severus was picturing. It was the smile of an old tired man who knew his mortality was catching up with him and yet he still found pleasure in an old friend.

"Headmaster," Severus greeted with a curt nod. He stood waiting to be directed to sit. The Headmaster did, extending his functional hand to the seat on the opposite side of his desk. As he sat, Severus noted that Albus' other hand remained in his lap, its view carefully obstructed by the desk.

"Severus. I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow. Not that I mind." The old man sighed. "Would you care for a sweet?"

Severus took a moment, physically feeling his face heat. His temper was notorious, and now when he was having trouble controlling his emotions he exploded.  "Damn it Albus! I don't want a Sugar Drop, Lemon Drop, or any other drop. Why do you insist on asking me every time I see you?"

Albus smiled patiently at Severus' outburst. "What can I do for you?" he asked, dispensing with the usual small talk and getting to the point.

Severus gripped the arms of the wooden chair and took a deep breath before beginning. "I was visited by Narcissa Malfoy and her sister Bellatrix Lestrange this evening."

"They know of Voldemort's plan," Albus said nodding slowing, his white hair falling slightly in his face. He ignored Severus' flinch at the use of the Dark Lord's name.

"Apparently."  He took another breath and felt a bit calmer.  "Narcissa, like you, fears the Dark Lord is setting Draco up for failure in this task. She came to me to beg him to reconsider. As you and I both know, that will not happen, so she asked me to protect her son. And if he were to fail in his task," he closed his eyes and took a shuttering breath. "That I complete it for him."

There was a moment when neither man said anything. The muted clinking of some trinket could be heard over the soft breathing of the sleeping Phoenix and portraits. Severus opened his eyes and Albus had a very expectant look on his face.
"And did you agree?"

"I made an Unbreakable Vow. Bellatrix cast it herself."

"I am sorry."

"Don't," Severus said not allowing the older man to continue. "This is what you wanted all along. And I am not doing this because of you. I'm doing this because Draco is my Godson and I do care about him." Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. He was going to need a stiff drink and a headache potion before the night was through. "But do not for one moment," he almost growled, pointing at Albus, "believe that I will not be using every means at my disposal to find another way." Severus stood and crossed the office to the door. He stopped, his eyes wide, looking as if he was one twist too tight. "And one other thing. You're giving me the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."

Albus actually laughed. "All right."

Severus nodded curtly, effectively ending the discussion.

"Well, then," Albus said, popping a lemon drop in his mouth eliciting a lip curl from Severus. "I will see you at the opening ceremony."

Severus.

Severus sank down into his favorite leather chair by the fire. He had been milking his glass of wine for the last twenty minutes. He was just another twenty away from perfect euphoria.

The day could not have gone any better.

When he ... intercepted ... Nyphadora's note to Hagrid about Potter at the opening feast, he had planned on breaking the good news about his new position as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor in private but Potter was uncharacteristically quiet. At least vocally. His mind on the other hand was full of hateful thoughts.  Despite his efforts, the boy still couldn't effectively shield his mind.

Severus grinned into his wine glass. But Potter's response during Dumbledore's speech was priceless. Severus actually stored the memory of the boy's face and vocal disapproval in his pensive.  As perverse as that was.  

He could hardly wait for the first Griffindor class. The idea of torturing Potter in front of his friends, during his favorite subject was almost too much.
This was by far the best opening ceremony, ever. Not even Albus could ruin his good mood. Just as the thought formed in Severus' head the fire turned green and Albus' face sprang from the flames.

But apparently he was going to try.

"Severus!" Albus' voice was uncomfortably jovial, even for Severus' good mood. "I'm glad you are still awake."

Severus ignored the fact that Albus knew very well Severus was never asleep at this hour.

"What can I do for you?" he drawled, attempting boredom.

"May I have a word with you in my office?"

Severus sighed, not even trying to hide his disappointment at a ruined evening.

"I will expect you within ten minutes," Albus said, not leaving any room for argument. The yellow flame of the now dying fire ate the green as the Headmaster's head disappeared.

Severus breathed into his wine glass, watching the patterns it made in the liquid. With one swift movement, he downed the remaining wine and abandoned the glass on the arm of the chair.

The passageway between Severus' chambers and Albus' office was damp and cold, and Severus was thankful he was still wearing his teaching robes. It warmed considerably as he neared the end of the passage way, leading a few meters from the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

The false wall slid quietly closed and Severus heard the tell tale grind of stone on stone ahead of him. He slid easily into the shadows, the darkness engulfing him.
The stone gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's entrance leaped aside and the Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall emerged from the staircase. She was fully dressed in her teaching robes as well, which unlike him, was an oddity at this hour. She stopped momentarily, listening. Despite the obvious fatigue that controlled her features, there was a concern. A very maternal concern.

Probably worried about one of her precious Gryfindoor cubs.  Severus curled his lip in disgust at the thought.  He cared for those in his house, but it would never be like her.  Perhaps it was because she was a woman.  Although, he was unsure what drove Filius to his fits of protectiveness.

She sighed, determining that no one was there and hurried down the hall toward Gryffindor tower.

A moment later the tall gray haired wizard immerged from his office and looked straight at Severus, as if the darkness wasn't even there.

"Severus," he said calmly. The younger wizard wasn't surprised that the Headmaster knew he was there. He stepped out of the shadows into the dimly lit corridor.

"Headmaster," he greeted.

"Join me, young man," he stepped aside and gestured toward the spiral staircase.
Once they were both seated in his office, Albus began. "I am stuck here this evening and there was some information acquired by Kingsley that someone of importance may be in danger. I was hoping you would be willing to relocate her."

Severus sat motionless for a moment. He had already made his rounds, not finding any troublemakers on the first day of term. It was the first year in almost a decade the Weasley twins had not caused any ruckus. A small thrill ran through him at the realization that he would no longer have to deal with those two.  At least not at Hogwarts.

Severus shook his head bringing himself back to the matter at hand. "Where?"

"She is currently in Birmingham, just south of Handsworth Wood."

"All right."

Albus was silent for a moment. Severus assumed it was because he agreed so quickly. "All right, you'll do it?" he clarified.

Severus ignored Albus' response and simply nodded. "Where am I taking her?" he said emphasizing the ambiguous pronoun.

"I have a safe house outside Helmsdale. When you go to collect her, there are wards. Most you'll recognize and two that will require some special attention. When you get her to the cottage, she will need help placing new wards." He paused. "Thank you, Severus."

Severus nodded.

Severus.

The night was warmer than it usually was in September, enough so, Severus cast a cooling charm on his robes once he apperated in the middle of Montague Road. The line of houses were built together with the same floor plans, windows, roofs and two small chimneys. The only thing that differentiated each small home were the plants hung by the owners.

It was late enough there were no lights seen in any of the windows. The air still hung heavy, thanks to the Dementors. Even the Muggles could feel it by now, although they had no reason for the feeling.

Severus slipped between two of the houses, and knew instantly he was at the right place. The first four wards were disarmed easily enough, having just recently been taught them by Dumbledore himself. He smiled at the fifth ward. It was one of his own. Apparently he managed to teach the old man something every now and then. He also recognized Minerva and Kingsley's signatures. The last two wards he did not recognize and he assumed them to be the woman's he was relocating. They were also easily disarmed, although, they wouldn't have been had Albus not told him what to be expecting.

As the last ward fell, the entry way of another home, squished between the two houses on either side became visible. He slipped in through the front door quietly. He re-warded the door and found the woman's bedroom past the living room and kitchen, down a short hallway.

Her breathing was heavy but even. She never moved as he slipped into her bedroom. The moon filtered through the sheer curtains and lit the room just enough to make out her figure.

She was lying on her side, the heavy comforter pushed down to her waist, but her left leg was left uncovered. Despite the heat, her skin was littered with gooseflesh.  His gaze shifted from her calf to her face. Her dark hair spread out like a halo above her head, standing out as a sharp relief on the white pillow.

She was younger than he was expecting. Younger than himself by at least three to five years. He wasn't sure why, but he had assumed she would be closer to Minerva's age.  Despite the surprise at her age, there was something about her profile that struck him as familiar. He couldn't place it. He was sure he'd never met this girl, and yet something about her reminded him of someone.

He waited until he was directly over her before he acted. In one fluid movement he covered her mouth with his hand and braced his forearm across her chest, effectively restraining her.

Her eyes flew open and she strained against his hold. He could see the fear as it drown in her eyes.

"Albus Dumbledore sent me." He could see her processing, weighing the probability of this man over her being a friend or foe. "We don't have much time." He closed the distance between them so he was just centimeters from her face. "I'm going to let you go, don't scream."

He pulled his hands from her body just a few inches and she remained still. He took a step back and knelt on the side of her bed, putting his face level with hers.  

"We have five minutes. Pack as many of your personal belongings as you can. And change into something warmer. Do you understand?" She nodded. "Move," he demanded standing.

She scrambled out of the bed, only tangling in the sheet for a moment before she unceremoniously dumped herself out on her feet. Once she regained her balance, she shuffled to the wardrobe. She didn't seem to mind that she was only wearing a tank top and black knickers.

She pulled out two totes and threw them on the bed. He realized too late that he was staring at her legs and a smile tugged at her lips and she pulled on a pair of gray sweat pants.

"The room across the hall," she spoke for the first time, barely above a whisper. "I need everything." She tossed him one of the totes. Without another glace, she disappeared in her wardrobe with the remaining tote.

For a moment he looked at the bag in his hands, first trying to place the slight variances in her accent, then warring with himself over actually helping the girl pack. He finally decided that she was not one of his students. This girl and he could very well be equals and helping would speed up the process.

He left the girl and crossed the hall. He pushed the door open and the hall light that she had just switched on to enter the loo flooded the room. Instantly he was reminded of Kinsley Shackbolt's office at the Ministry.

The walls were covered with floor plans, schematics, potions' directions and photos. Most he recognized, order members, Aurors, even Death Eaters. A rectangle table was pushed against the far wall. It was half covered with potions' ingredients, from the looks of it ingredients procured for antidotes and healing draughts, and the other half of the table was covered with weapons, both magical and Muggle. This girl was planning a war. No wonder Albus wanted her safe.

He opened the bag and set it in the middle of the floor. With a quick wave of his wand and incantation spoken, the room's contents were stripped from the walls, the papers rolling then packing themselves in the seemingly bottomless case.

It only took three and a half minutes and everything in the small flat was packed in the two suitcases now sitting on the floor by the back door. The girl was still dressed in Muggle attire, but had traded the sweat pants for black jeans, tank top for a crimson sweater. She wrapped a scarf around her neck before shrugging into a wool coat that fell down past her knees. She quickly wrapped her hair in a loose knot and covered it with a knit hat.

"What do I call you?" she asked her back to him as she picked up the bags.

"Severus," he said simply.

She whispered something in Latin and the bags shrank down to the size of playing cards. She dropped them into her pocket. "Aurelia."

Severus stepped out onto the eave and turned to Aurelia.  He took her arms and pulled her into his body.  "Aurelia," he repeated and disapperated.
Anyone who is reading this knows very well no monies are made form the stealing of others' characters. It keeps me sane to play in someone else's universe for a while. Many thanks to JKR for her wonderful imagination.

Severus Snape/OC
Lucius Malfoy/OC (trust me he's in here. actually he is in 2/3 of the story, just not in the first third)

... other pairings to come, but I'm not going to ruin it.
© 2011 - 2024 halfbubbleoff
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Servina's avatar
nicely done mate :)