Angelica's Sorrow

A/N - I think I\'d better keep my trap shut at this point, other than to say thank you for the reviews. You\'ll see why.


CHAPTER FOURTEEN


The flags at the Quiddich field were almost, not quite, horizontal. The castle was near full strength and wind was free with its breath. The mood in the school had lightened considerably as well. Perhaps a thunderstorm could be allowed tonight. At least a small one.

Severus was again by the lake. Yesterday had proven to be quite fruitful, but they were still waiting on Narcissa\'s return. It would have been funny in a way if it hadn\'t been so serious. All their weeks of preparation reduced to a five minute search using his family wand. He found the day and time in question and pulled the memory easily. It had been an amazing sight to see the strands swirl and part in response to his commands.

He returned the remaining strands to Draco a short time later, simply reversing the emptying spell. Since the memories hadn\'t been altered, his body readily accepted them. Albus began examining the strand for the spell Voldemort used. \'Cerebrum Contortio Circino Conlabefio Ardor.\' A Mobius Strip of the mind. Amazing really. Severus wondered how many poor muggles wound up in institutions, used by Voldemort in practice to perfect the spell. He had certainly kept it to himself, never breathed a word at meetings.

Albus further concluded the spell could only be broken by someone the victim loved, the \'Conlabefio Ardor\' part of the spell, which was why they were waiting for Narcissa to return. She would be the one to attempt a counter spell. As fond as Severus was of the boy, he sincerely doubted Draco loved him in return. Crafty bit of planning on Voldemort\'s part. Even if someone discovered the spell, what were the chances anyone was left alive that the victim loved? Whole families had fallen that day.

Dumbledore was sure to have a lot of questions about the wand and why Severus chose to use it only when forced. It had been perfectly tuned to the Snape bloodline, using an almost forgotten procedure. Forgotten to all but the owners of the few wands left in existence. He felt the resonance when it was engaged directly, not just as a tool to move the strands to the small pensieve. The song woven between the user and the wand was almost addictive. Severus felt a small measure of satisfaction that it hadn\'t responded as well to his father. If it had, he never would have given it up, let alone pass it to Severus. His father had probably concluded the lineage had strayed too far from the original and no longer in tune. It was fortunate Severus had never informed him differently.

Fawkes circled over his head twice before he realized the Headmaster was summoning him. Snape turned to enter the castle wondering if Narcissa had returned. His future course could be determined by the news she brought with her.

\'If Lucius is indeed out of the picture, I will begin an earnest courtship. Narcissa is a beautiful woman, who doesn\'t mind spending time in my questionable company. If she is finally free of Lucius, there will be many wizards trying to woo her for the money she would bring. It won\'t hurt their ambitions that she is also most enjoyable to look upon. If I can persuade her to accept, we could have a pleasant life. Nothing earthshaking, but pleasant. I tire of being alone.\'


Dumbledore was at his desk reading a letter when Severus joined him in his office. He handed it to Snape as he sat down.

\"The Ministry has advised Narcissa will be unavailable for at least two more days. I\'m afraid we\'ll have to wait a little longer. We don\'t dare raise the hopes of the other three families until we know for sure.\"

\"Send an owl to The Burrow and ask Miss Weasley to come.\"

\"Why should we contact her and not Arthur?\"

\"Because Mr. Malfoy isn\'t in love with Arthur. He\'s in love with Miss Weasley.\"

Enlightenment dawned on Dumbledore\'s face. \"You obtained this knowledge from his memories?\"

\"Yes, it was just one thrilling moment after another.\"

\"A thought has occurred to me.\" Albus hesitated for a moment.

He hated to broach this subject, but it couldn\'t be helped.

\"Miss Granger\'s parents are muggles. We need to find someone she loves to break the spell on her.\"

Severus rose and tossed the letter on the desk.

\"I\'m sure you\'ll find Mr. Potter adequate to the task. If there\'s nothing further, there are some things I need to take care of in the pensieve room.\"

\"I don\'t believe anything was left after Mr. Malfoy was returned to the hospital ward.\"

Snape\'s eyes glittered dangerously. \"I wish to thank Angelica properly for her assistance. Since she will only speak when I am alone, I haven\'t had the opportunity. I should also advise you, she extracted two promises from me in exchange for knowledge of the diary. I must visit her frequently, so I would appreciate your leaving the floor connection to your office.\"

Severus didn\'t want to reveal the third promise, so he had reduced the number to two. Let Albus pry the second from him and he might be satisfied.

\"What is the other?\"

\"She - wishes to meet Miss Granger when she is healed.\"

\"Ah, I see. Go, give her my sincere appreciation as well. Severus, we will see you for dinner tonight, correct?\"

\"Yes, Headmaster.\" He threw in the powder and stepped through the flames.

The room looked even more massive than before. Must be the contrast of it being virtually empty after the activity of the last few weeks. All that was left in the room was the pensieve, desk and chair. His footsteps echoed much as Poppy\'s had.

\"Angelica! Are you here?\"

\"Of course I\'m here, silly man. Where do you think I could go?\"

He barked a laugh, \"I must admit, it was a stupid question. Don\'t tell anyone, I\'d never live it down.\"

\"Since I only talk with you, that shouldn\'t be a worry.\"

\"I returned to let you know how much we all appreciate your help. Without you, we never would have found the memory so quickly.\"

\"You are welcome. Have they been cured?\"

\"No, we are waiting to apply the counter spell to Mr. Malfoy before we raise the hopes of the other families. We may have an answer yet today.\"

Severus crossed to the chair and made himself comfortable. \"Tell me something of your life, Angelica. Prior to Salazar of course, I know far too much after his involvement.\"

\"Are you sure? It\'s not very exciting, would probably bore you to tears.\"

\"Ah, you forget. I don\'t cry. Please, I\'m - very interested.\"

\"Very well. I was about thirteen years of age when I met Winston for the first time. I wish I could say it was love at first sight, but it took a few more meetings for me to see his better qualities.\"

\"I\'m glad. I personally don\'t believe in love at first sight, lust at first sight perhaps.\"

Their conversation continued far into the afternoon. Angelica was proving to be a very entertaining companion. Her life had not been exciting, as she had predicted, but it sounded as if it was satisfying. She in turn gained knowledge of his own life. More of it than he admitted to anyone, perhaps it was the fact she talked only with him and Severus realized it would go no further.

Snape strode into the Great Hall for dinner as ordered. The usual faces seemed to be in attendance. As he took his seat at the round table used during the summer, Minerva looked up.

\"Severus, I\'m so glad to see you out of that room. Perhaps you\'ll be able to get some rest, you look exhausted.\"

\"Thank you, Minerva for such a kind compliment on my appearance. If Poppy didn\'t snore so loudly I might have been better able to sleep.\"

\"What - how dare you! I don\'t snore!\" Poppy was quite indignant.

\"Really! You are quite sure, are you? I suppose it could have been Mr. Malfoy, but I was positive when I passed it was coming from your cot and not his. How many times have you been awake to hear for yourself?\" Severus pretended considering the possibility he was wrong.

\"No one has ever - I mean - never mind.\" Her face turned a bright red as she suddenly took a great interest in her dinner. The others around the table started chuckling.

Professor Sprout leaned close and whispered, \"Good one, Severus. Hope I never get on your list.\"

\"What makes you think you\'re not?\" he replied, eyebrow lifting.

\"Oh!\"

\"Exactly.\"


Shortly after dinner, Ginny Weasley arrived at Hogwarts and was lead to Dumbledore\'s office so the situation could be explained. Severus was waiting in the hospital wing by Draco\'s bedside. Poppy had taken the opportunity to put her god awful noisy shoes back on and was taking deliberate pleasure in walking to and fro, just to annoy him.

Albus entered with Miss Weasley beside him, her face a study of worry. She was awfully young to have this responsibility thrust upon her, but with Narcissa absent she was the next best choice.

Severus rose at their approach. \"Are you comfortable with the wrist movement that will be required, Miss Weasley?\"

\"I think so, Professor Snape.\"

\"It would be wise to be sure.\"

He was damned if he would let her youth be an excuse for failure.

\"I have gone over the movement with her several times, Severus. She is ready,\" Albus warned.

\"I bow to your expertise, Headmaster.\"

Snape moved to the end of the bed as Ginny took her position beside Draco.

He watched as her wand arm rose and began the counter clockwise movement that resembled a figure eight.

\"Dissolvo Cerbrum Contortio Circino.\"

To her credit there was no hesitation in either voice or hand.

There appeared to be no immediate change in Draco\'s condition, but Severus told himself to be patient. Wasn\'t that part of what Dumbledore always preached? The first sign was a small moan from the throat of the boy and the eyes finally moved of their own accord. Draco\'s tongue briefly appeared to moisten dry lips. The relief and joy flooding Severus\' veins was like a good brandy, intoxicating.

A/N - a further explanation of a Mobius Strip will be forthcoming in the next chapter.