Fire & Ice: War Games

‘The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.’
Cicero (Marcus Tullius Cicero), Philippicoe (IX, 5)


The smell of the Irish Sea washed over him as the salty breeze caressed his raven hair. Closing his eyes, he could almost escape the bitter reality of the world outside his childhood home. The waves called to him, comforting his aged soul like nothing else could, not even his beloved potions. True to Gryffindor form, Lily Evans had began her crusade of worming into his friendship the day he had returned. Though he never answered her letters, she was seemingly undeterred as they kept arriving.

The peace of the salty breeze was shattered abruptly as his forearm began to burn, the skin beneath the mark crawled and itched as the burning sensation slowly intensified. Wincing, he searched for his wand within the confines of the robe, he gasped as the slender object tumbled from his fingers and onto the ground. Tears sprang to his eyes as he collapsed to knees, grasping for the polished instrument. Gripping the wand in his hand, he apparated through clenched teeth.

For once he was grateful that the burning pain associated with the summoning had brought him to his knees, thus removing the need to willingly bend to the wizard seated before him. Keeping his head bowed, he waited patiently for the wizard to speak. He fought the nausea simmering in his stomach as his body insisted on trembling despite the resolve not to.

“Severus, I am most pleased with the potions you have supplied, but I do believe you capable of those requiring more skill then simple truth serums.” A heavy silence filled the void as the Slytherin tried to contain his curiosity. “Perhaps you have heard of Triton’s Kiss?”

Puzzled, he whispered, “yes my Lord.”

“Speak up when spoken to, curcio!” Severus bite his tongue, tasting the bittersweet copper of his blood, as bolts of pain shot through every fiber of his being. Tears streamed down his face, but Severus fought the instinct to scream as the Dark Lord laughed. White blobs danced across the inside of his eyelids against the endless darkness. Severus’ body twisted as he felt himself ripped, torn from the inside as a wildfire raged through his bones. Releasing the Slytherin, “have you heard of the potion or not?”

Gasping for air as his body twitched, “yes my Lord.” He wheezed between breaths as each one his lungs took flared the fire within.

“Good. Brew it and bring it to me in three days, dismissed.” Flicking his wand, the quivering form of the Slytherin boy disappeared.

After the boy had been dismissed, a death eater stepped from the shadows and knelt at the wizard’s throne. “Yes my Lord.”

“As soon as young Severus has completed the potion, you can retrieve Huffelpuff’s contribution.”

“Forgive my ignorance, Master, but how will Triton’s Kiss aid us?”

“Lucius was good enough to acquire her pensive from the Department of Records. She left us the answer to her clue inside with the rest of her memories.” Handing the Death Eater a small bowl, “study this well.”

The Death Eater nodded as he enlarged the object. Staring into the silvery pool, he felt himself being pulled inside the centuries old pensive. He quickly surveyed his surroundings as elt elt the familiar pull of the memory’s creator.

Moss blanketed stone steps led down the steep slope until they vanished beneath the oceanic waters. The freezing waves crashed against the bottom steps, washing seaweed ashore with in it’s wake. Saturated algae clung to the last two steps as the North Atlantic ocean swallowed them whole. The white foam lingered on the steps as the salt water fled the close quarters of the shoreline.

The turmoil ridden sky rumbled with an ominous warning of the impending storm. The Atlantic waves rolled and rumbled as though it were a slumbering volcano slowly stirring to life. The wooden sailing vessel was tossed upon the roaring waves like a beach ball. The once gentle breeze flared with newfound life as it tore through the simple vessel’s sails. The icy waves crashed into the vessel’s sides, spraying the sailors scrambling on the slippery deck. Firmly beneath the wrath and at the mercy of the gods, planks of wood splintered and were consumed by the salty sea. The adventure-bound crew of the Aegle frantically threw themselves into the freezing water as the last of their vessel was broken by the mighty Atlantic.

Debris cluttered the calming aqua-marine surface of the endless ocean body as its waves scattered broken planks and the vessel’s cargo. Rain poured down on the defenseless earth as lightening waltzed across the heavens above. The storm took on a supernatural front as the Devil’s herd stampeded across the sky amongst the bolts of electricity.

Dolphins surged from the water in a display of watery aerobics unsurpassed by any other before disappearing in a sudden spray of water. Swordfish swam frantically against the underwater current, jellyfish swarmed in a chaotic whirlpool in the storm’s wake. A rainbow of color surged through the darken waters as a parade of fish fought against the raging current.

Emerging from the memory, the Death Eater nodded his head. “I have three days to find this place then.” A lock of greasy gray hair fell across the Death Eater’s face as he spoke, cringing he waited for the punishment to begin. It did not bold well to question his master’s motives and those who were foolish to do so, often met with the worst.

“They say old dogs can’t learn new tricks,” the Dark Lord drawled as the wizard quickly withdrew into the shadows.

A/N

Aegle (Aigle)

Goddess of the splendor of good health.

Devil’s Herd

Storm clouds from Hell.

I know the last few chapters have been kinda shorter then per usual, but I’m in the middle of researching the site of “Huffelpuff’s crystle ball.” There will be one or two chapters in between, but I want to get the information before hand. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to update again.

Please remember to read & review, author thanks you.