The Witching Hour

Chapter 11- Confrontation and Aftermath

Lucius scanned the Daily Prophet nearly every morning for a week in hopes of seeing the traitor’s death within its pages. After so many days had passed, he came to two logical conclusions: Weasley had not had an opportunity to act as of yet, or he had failed in his simple task. If it was the former, he would find a way to light a fire under the boy’s bum to move him to action. However, if it was the latter, then he would simply have to eliminate the traitor himself. He could not help but to hope that the Weasel lacked opportunity to attack Snape, because he really did not want to get his hands dirty. All of his life, he had made sure that he could not be linked to the crimes he had committed, in his opinion, that was just the smart way to do it. Most of the time, he had simply erased his magical signature from the scene, but with murder, you could not exactly do that, unless you did it the muggle way. Being the pureblood that he was, he did not want to use any methods that muggles would use. He had a wand and could do enough damage with it without having to resort to using other resources. Even though he hated having to be the one to kill Snape, he would do it on principle. Severus helped to limit his lifestyle, so he would be the one to lose his life altogether. Plus, his death would have a bonus to it, not only would he be robbing him of happiness, but of the Granger girl’s as well. Life was too good sometimes.

Growing anxious, Lucius prepared to cure his curiosity in the small matter he had assigned Weasley. He needed to find out what his next plan of action would be. Normally, he would have gone to Hogwarts to see for himself, but seeing as he was a former Death Eater who never bothered to denounce the Dark Lord after he fell a final time, he did not think that his presence would be welcome there. Of course, that was the delusion he chose to believe, but in truth, Minerva McGonagall would never allow him entrance, and if she did, it would only be long enough for her to hex him, and then she would kick him out on his fair arse. This time, instead of going straight to the source, he would have to pay the Weasel another visit, which he did not look forward to doing. Just walking in that hovel of what he called a flat would make him burn his robes straightaway when he got back to the manor. He refused to walk about with that stench on him; thinking about it gave him the collywobbles, and made him visibly twitch.

---

In the week after what Ron now called “The incident”, he had tried to remain low-keyed, and avoided work as well as his family like the plague. He knew too many questions would arise if he could not do any magic, and right now, he did not feel like answering to anyone. In the span of one foolish night, he had managed to lose everything. He and his parents relationship was strained, Harry refused to speak to him, he no longer had his position at the Ministry doing a job he loved (at least he did not think that he did. Even if he did not lose his job, he would no longer be able to perform the daily duties assigned with it. Hell, if he went back, all he would be able to do is paperwork.), and to top it all off, he not only tried to commit murder, but he had lost his magic. He felt certain that his girlfriend and mother of his child, Lavender Brown, would no longer want him once she found out what he had done. Whilst it was true that she did not like Severus Snape, and would not mourn him were he to die, she certainly would not want to be with a man capable of the kind of violence he tried to enact. If he had been the person he was a week ago, he would have thought this whole situation was unfair, but since the incident, he did not think it was unfair. Sure, it was a bad situation, but he was the cause of it, he was the one to mess it all up, so he deserved this.

Ron wanted to hope that this was as bad as it was going to get, but he thought that it was far from over. He had conspired with Lucius Malfoy, and oddly enough, the man had kept his distance and remained silent this week. Either the man was busy, or he was giving him time to act, whatever the reason, he was not anxious to find out. Once Malfoy found out that he failed, there would be hell to pay.

---

Pacing his flat with his hands folded behind his back, Ron was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he barely heard the tapping on his door. He did not register it at first, but as it became more persistent, he snapped out of his reverie and answered the door. Standing just outside the frame was none other than Lucius Malfoy with a bored look on his face, and was clutching his famous snake-headed cane.

“Well it’s about damn time that you answered the door. What were you doing, wanking off in the loo?” Lucius sneered down at the redhead.

“No, I was... occupied and you interrupted.”

“Oh, I am sorry for interrupting you, you do appear to be so busy. Weasley, are you just going to stare at me, or do you intend on keeping me standing in your filthy hall?” He said sarcastically.

“I don’t have time for your banter Malfoy, so just say what you are going to say and remove your presence from my home.”

Striding past Ron, Lucius invited himself in and stood in what appeared to be a parlour of sorts. It took him off guard to see that it was tastefully decorated in deep, rich woods, along with expensive looking furniture, which would not have been out of place in his own home. Either the boy had excellent transfiguration skills, or he pulled down quite a salary in order to afford this. Feeling more relaxed, he took a seat and began to address Ron again.

“I shall get straight to the point, have you taken care of our little problem yet?”

“Oh, er... that...”

“No need to stumble Weasley, a simple yes or no will suffice.”

“I have not taken care of it.” Ron spat out.

“Is it because you have not had the time, or is it because you lack the proper skill set required?” Upon noting the horrified look on Ron’s face, he received his answer. “Aww... look at you. You pathetic excuse for a wizard, you failed didn’t you? I should have known better that to assist you!”

“I am in no mood to deal with your snide remarks, Malfoy, so I suggest you take it elsewhere.”

“Is ickle Ronniekins mad? What are you going to do, hex me? Oh, that’s right, you can’t!”

“Wait, how do you know that I can’t?”

“Do give me some credit Weasel! I knew that if you failed to perform that curse what would happen to you, why do you think I gave that book to you? Surely you did not think that I merely wished Severus, the traitor, dead? I was hoping to get some revenge on you as well, and it looks as though I succeeded. My years of planning worked.”

“What did I ever do to you? And you planned this?”

“You have done plenty, Weasley. You and your whole family has done so much over the years, I just thought that I would take you out as you were the simplest target. You never did learn the lesson your little sister did, which made you even more foolish, and you call yourself an Auror!

As for planning, of course I planned it, how could I not? I saw that you married that mudblood, and I let you have some good years together, but you drifted apart because you were not enough for her. When I saw that, I delved into your mind and began to sew seeds of doubt, and I practically led Miss Brown to you. Now of course, you were the one to act upon the urges that I planted within you, only because you were weak. Then your lovely wife began to suspect your extra-marital activities. Now the look on her face at first was wonderful to witness, but I grew disappointed when she decided not to break over you. I felt sure that she would, especially since you set the rumour mill a turning.

“Once you had divorced, I had to set my plans aside to see how things would play out, but when Severus appeared in her life and became important to her, I saw an opportunity, and continued to wait, for I knew that you would become jealous and take matters into your own hands. And you did! When I happened across you last week with my master’s favourite book, I saw the opportunity to take all of you down, and the Minister. It was a moment of rare felicity, or it would have been if you had not of bungled it, you talentless hack! Now I have to be the one to get blood on my hands, or so to speak. If only I could find a way to make you suffer further, but alas, nothing worse can happen to you.”

“Why did you wait a decade if you wanted to see us all pay? Why not do it while the wounds were still fresh, Malfoy, after all, that seems more like your style; strike a person while they’re down.”

“That is precisely why, the wounds of the wizarding world were still gaping, and if something such as this would have happened, I would have been the first suspected. There would have been no fair trial for me, I would have just been carted off to Azkaban without a second thought.”

“As entertaining as this little conversation has been, I have other things to do, now if you would please leave, Malfoy. I do not feel like having your presence disgrace my home any longer. I may have been a bad person for behaving in the manner that I did, but at least I know when to quit. We are both responsible for making me a squib, but at least I am no longer a sorry excuse for a wizard, that title belongs to you. Now get out!”

After Lucius’ rant, he left angrier than he had been in ages. Whilst he had managed to take down a Weasley, the Minister and the traitor still lived, and he was not about to let the latter continue doing so. By this time tomorrow night, Severus Snape would be with his former masters.

---

Severus Snape was beginning to unwind from yet another stressful week with his students as well as what had happened with Kingsley, Ron, and himself. Now that it was the end of another week in his life, he wanted nothing more than curl up with Hermione, and go pick potions ingredients in the forest. Even though he was no longer teaching the art, it did not mean that he had cut it out of his life completely. Besides, focusing on the plants and absorbing the moonlight would serve to calm him, and he needed to de-stress. Maybe this time Hermione would like to come with him; it had been a while since they harvested together.

Hermione knew that Severus had a difficult week and how he had come to ultimately save his and Kingsley’s lives from Ron, and what had happened to her former husband and best friend in the process. She never knew that Ron had been capable of such malevolence that he would actually try to kill someone that was not threatening. He had never shown her a violent side growing up, and even when they were married, she had not seen it then, he always liked avoiding that kind of thing. Since she knew that about him, she contemplated on what made him change, and if there was someone else involved. Severus had told her that he suspected outside influence in Ron’s behaviour, but he would not elaborate. Maybe it was just a theory of his, and he did not want to be wrong if it turned out that Ron was simply acting of his own accord.

They curled in bed together, each lost in their own thoughts when Severus broke the silence.

“Hermione, my love, would you like to go into the forest with me to harvest some ingredients? It has been awhile since we have made a little trek out there, and I fancy a walk in the moonlight with you.”

Hermione leaned in to softly kiss his lips and replied in the affirmative just as he emitted a low approving moan.

“Good, let’s go. Oh, and don’t forget your wand, love. Just because you are with me does not guarantee that you will be absolutely safe.”

“Very true, dear. I will take mine as long as you take yours. I know you despise ‘foolish wand waving’ but it may end up saving your lovely arse out in the forest.”

---

They proceeded to travel the length of the dungeons until they met the door that took them to the outside. Once they were in the cold night air, he swatted her bum playfully, then placed her hand in his. They walked to the forest in companionable silence, then they began to work. Every now and again, Severus would take a moment to see what she had or to wipe the sweat from his brow. They continued on this way for a couple of hours, when he said that he needed to take a wee, and would be back as quickly as he could.

He moved just to the side of the clearing to do his business, and immediately after he finished taking care of his needs, he heard a ruffling in the bushes. If he had been another man that had not spied for most of his life, he would have attributed the noise to the wind, but he was not. He knew that there was someone or something there, and that it meant him ill. He decided to remain silent, but kept his hand on his wand. His ears picked up the muffled footsteps behind him, which meant that it was either a vampire or a human, chances are, it was a human lurking about in the forest. Suddenly, the air behind him was a little thicker and he knew that whoever it was, was very close. Turning around slowly, he made to face his attacker, and standing just a few feet away, was Lucius Malfoy, with his wand drawn and an evil sneer upon his face.

“Ah, we meet again, old friend,” said Severus calmly, knowing it would not do to rile the man. Lucius was very dangerous when he was angry as he well knew. It was not as though he was scared of him, because he wasn’t. He could honestly out duel the man day or night, but he was concerned for Hermione. Why had he ever asked her to join him tonight?

“Indeed we do. I came to finish a bit of business, Severus.”

“So I see. I assume you are referring to that little scuffle with that idiot boy, Weasley? He was really no match for me, Lucius. If you are to ever send someone after me again, you should try to use someone with a little more sense, it may prove to be more of a challenge. As we all know I love a challenge. Oh, I also wanted to tell you that it was a brilliant touch you giving the boy with dung for brains, a book that belonged to the Dark Lord. It seems rather familiar, don’t you think? Oh, that’s right, you have done it before! Clearly, you need better tactics.”

“I will not be sending anyone else after you, this time I have come to finish you once and for all! You are done for and are going to join your former masters. Do remember to give them my love. Now say goodbye! Avada...”

Just then, Hermione waltzed up behind Malfoy and with a silent flash of orange from her wand, the man disappeared.

“Thank... where did he go, Hermione?”

“Look down, love.”

Taking Hermione’s cue, he looked to the ground and saw a thick, beautifully coloured, docile snake. Severus had never seen anything like it, it was truly remarkable. To look upon this snake would cause anyone to be in awe of it. The creature had thick bands of a golden colour, whilst the others were cream, and it had black rimmed, silvery grey eyes. The snake looked magical.

“You... you turned him into a snake? But how?”

“Of course I turned him into a snake! I could not let him kill my fiancé, or harm anyone else. That man was menace, and he deserved to be taken down a few notches.”

“That is amazing. Can we keep him or is he too dangerous and poisonous?”

“There is no more danger coming from him because I removed his magic, as for poisonous, he will not be harmful to humans. He could try to bite you, but nothing would happen. You see, the moment he tries to harm anyone, his fangs will retract and any venom he has will be pushed into his own system, which will make him sick. Oh, I should tell you, I left him sensate, and he can understand you, but he can’t do anything to you. I figured it would not besmirch our souls and would be a fitting punishment for old Lucius here.”

Pulling her close, Severus enveloped Hermione into his arms and kissed her passionately, bringing forth all the love he felt for her at that moment. He may not have had the right words to tell her what he was thinking, but his kiss definitely could. They both picked up the snake, and walked back to the castle.

“How about we keep him and call him Lucy?”

“He would hate that name, Severus, so it is perfect. However, I know of someone who would be much better at taking care of Lucy.”
“Who do you have in mind?”

“Kingsley!”

A/N: I continue to thank everyone that keeps reading, and those that are reviewing. You are the ones that keeps me writing!