Forsaken
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,153
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
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Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,153
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Metting Ms. Callahan
Chapter 20 - Meeting Miss Callahan
Harry stared blankly up at the ceiling above his bed, the morning light blocked from the room by spelled curtains. The nightmares had returned. He’d slept
two, maybe three hours total. At least this time he hadn’t woken anyone else up.
His body ached from the previous day, his muscles still spasming every once in a while from the Cruciatus curse. He didn’t want to get up, partly because of
the way he had exploded at Severus. He reached over and picked up his glasses, sliding them slowly over his face to see his pensieve sitting on his
nightstand. He didn’t know why the littlest things set him off now. He had enjoyed the memory and seeing his parents interact with him and with each
other. But seeing them, Sirius, Remus and Dumbledore all at once like that -
“Harry! Get down here! Now!”
Harry sat up sharply, shivering with dread and apprehension at Severus’s tone. He quickly spun out of the covers and got out of bed, stumbling as his leg
caught in the sheets.
“Damn it!” he hissed, pulling himself free. He grabbed a shirt off the floor and ran from the room. He raced down the stairs and paused briefly behind the
staircase door to slip the shirt over his head.
Severus ran his tongue slowly over his teeth as he heard the catches unlatch on the door. He waited until Harry had sat down on the sofa before tossing
the paper onto the table.
“Care to explain?” he asked silkily. Harry hesitantly picked up the Prophet and briefly glanced over the scathing interview Scrimgeour had given to
the reporter.
“One must wonder if Mr. Potter isn’t waning in his dedication to the Ministry’s goal of ridding the Wizarding world of evil,” read Harry out loud. He rolled his
eyes and tossed the paper back on the table. “Who reads this rubbish anyway?”
“Approximately 5.3 million people, both in this country and abroad,” answered Severus firmly. “However, I could care less about their opinion at the
moment. Answer my question.” Harry sighed.
“I might have been a bit rude to the Minister yesterday,” said Harry reluctantly. “May have threatened a few reporters with an Explosion hex, told
Scrimgeour he couldn’t arrest me after hitting him with a Stinging hex. Oh, and I think I apparated in plain view of about thirty witnesses without a license,
including said Minister.” Severus rubbed his eyes with his fingers.
“Was this before or after you gave your statement to Moody instead of the Head of Magical Law Enforcement?” asked Severus tiredly, glancing at his pocket
watch. Eight-thirty was much too early for a drink.
“Uh,” stalled Harry, frowning slightly. “Before. How did you know -“ Severus pointed sharply at the paper. “Oh.”
“That’s bad, Harry,” said Severus slowly. “This puts Arthur in a bad position, it puts Moody in a -“ he paused for a second, “-well, it puts him in a
worse position. It certainly won’t do a thing for the murderous rage the Dark Lord is in at the moment, which puts me in a bad position. Your
position with the Dark Lord can’t get any worse.”
“Sorry,” said Harry unrepentantly, “but Scrimgeour deserved it. It wasn’t as if he was all polite to me -“
“It doesn’t matter if he’s polite to you!” said Severus, exasperated. “He’s the goddamn Minister of Magic, for crying out loud!” At Harry’s unconvinced
face, he growled softly. He stood up and walked over to his liquor cabinet. He pulled open the hutch doors and took down a glass tumbler. Leaning heavily
on the small counter and scanning the labels on the bottles, he finally chose a bottle of Firewhiskey. He poured the tumbler full and drained it in two gulps as
an owl soared into the room from the kitchen, settling imperiously on top of the paper on the table.
Harry read his name on the envelope attached to its leg and quickly pulled it off. The owl fluffed its wings at him rudely and took off towards the kitchen again.
Severus poured himself another drink and walked back over to his chair. He eyed the dark circles under the boy’s eyes as he sipped slowly on his
whiskey.
“It’s my Hogwarts letter,” said Harry unenthused, gazing at the seal on the back. He handed it to Severus. “I’m not going back.” Severus said nothing and
used his wand to open the envelope. He pulled out the letter and flipped it open. His brow furrowed as he read. He glanced intensely at Harry once he
finished.
“What?” asked Harry quietly, noticing the thoughtful look on his face. Severus handed him the note to read.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Please note that your supply list is enclosed. I look forward to seeing you in the fall. Many of your classmates are returning and I am sure you will be no
exception. The train will leave Platform 9-&-3/4 at precisely 11am on September 1st. You may notify your guardian that there will be an Auror escort on
the Express as well as a squadron posted at the castle for the duration of the school year in order to provide adequate escort for all students returning to
Hogwarts.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress
“What the hell -“ muttered Harry. He looked up at Severus’s blank face. “I don’t want to go back. I will not be stuck at the castle just waiting for him to come
and find me.” Severus sat down in his chair, placing his empty glass on the table. He rested his elbows on the arms and pressed the tips of his fingers
together.
“I’m not going to force you to go back, Harry,” he said softly. “While I may be your guardian of sorts for the time being, you are old enough to make your
own decisions and will be allowed to do so when it comes to things like this. However, I fear there may be more going on here than meets the eye and you
need to be prepared.” Harry snorted in laughter.
“What is she going to do?” said Harry confidently. “She can’t be any worse than Voldemort.”
“She has Moody,” said Severus very seriously. “And I can say with all honesty that the man is slightly unhinged at the moment. I’m assuming you told him
what happened with Wormtail?” Harry nodded hesitantly, realizing some of what Severus was telling him.
“I would not underestimate the two of them. Power -“ said Severus delicately, meeting Harry’s gaze, “-and fear are not good bedfellows, child.” Harry
glanced down at the front page of the Prophet, watching the photograph of the Minister gesticulate violently amid the flashes of cameras.
+HP+
“And this is all the information you can give me?”
“Severus, I swear to God, if you ask me that one more time -“
“I just want to make sure.”
“You’ve made sure about ten times already. I pulled her whole damn file. This is all we had on her. I haven’t heard from her in almost
ten years. Why do you want to find her so badly, anyways?”
“I - I just do. I need to talk to her.”
“If I find out you’ve used me to find your girlfriend, Severus, I will make sure you pay dearly for it.”
“This is strictly Order business. And she is not my girlfriend.”
“Oh, excuse me. Ex-girlfriend. That’s still worth a steak dinner in London and a bottle of scotch. And a box of nice cigars for my desk. On second
thought --”
“Fuck you, Shacklebolt.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go on, lover boy. Go frolic with your dark-haired vixen.”
“I hate you. You know that, right?”
“Love you too, Snape. And you’re welcome. Say hi to her for me.”
+HP+
Severus glanced over the sheets of parchment, flipping back and forth between two in particular - one dated 1984 and stamped by the Syrian Embassy of
Magic, the other dated 1991 from the Delhi office of the Indian Wizarding Republic. He pulled on his cigarette and exhaled in frustration. He didn’t hear Harry
walk into his office and up to the desk.
“What are you doing?” asked Harry, causing the man to jump slightly. Severus rubbed at the ache in his temple.
“I had Kingsley pull some files for me the other day,” said Severus. “I was hoping that an old friend of mine would be able to give us some information about
Ava Callahan and this scepter.”
“And?” prompted Harry excitedly. “What’d you find out?”
“That she’s practically disappeared from the bloody face of the planet!” snarled Severus. He glanced up at Harry’s penitent face and finished off his cigarette.
“I’m mad at her, not you. Finding out someone’s lied to you for years is a bit infuriating.”
“What’s her name?” ventured Harry cautiously. “Your friend?”
“Radha Daniella Callahan,” said Severus smoothly, “the last living blood relative of Rowena Ravenclaw and heiress to a staggering fortune that makes
yours look like pocket change.”
“Bloody hell,” muttered Harry. He picked up a few of the parchments scattered over the desk.
“She was in Ravenclaw, obviously, and in my year at school,” explained Severus. “Her father was killed when she was very young. Rumor was that a
relative had killed him for his money, but that never panned out. Unfortunately for his grieving wife, Darius left everything to Radha. Radha’s mother Ophelia
was furious. She remarried the same year Radha started at Hogwarts to Robert Moran, no relation to the Quidditch star. Bobby had an older son named
Nikolai, who was a curse breaker and archeologist for the bank and for less savory types who paid him more than the goblins did for extremely rare finds.
He would take Radha with him during her summer vacations, teaching her everything he knew. After we graduated, she was tapped for the Auror Corps’
Undercover Unit. She wasn’t supposed to tell anyone what she was doing or where she was, although she broke that rule a few times.”
He opened his middle drawer and pulled out two letters. He opened one of them and pulled out a picture of a woman, her brown eyes just visible through
the dark, wavy hair blowing across her face. The woman gave a shy smile and brushed her hair back with her hand, revealing the entirety of her thin
face.
“She’s pretty,” said Harry quietly. Severus allowed him to take the photo from his hand. “Where was this taken?”
“Czechoslovakia,” he answered. “Just outside Prague. The last letter I got from her she sent from India, right before I left for Albania about six years ago.”
Harry handed the photo back to him.
“So how are we going to find her?” asked Harry worriedly. “It sounds like if she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be.” Severus smirked at him.
“We find Nikolai,” he said simply.
+HP+
The two of them strolled down a darkening street in Dublin. Harry slipped his hands into his trouser pockets, sweating slightly in the black suit Severus had
given him.
“You sure you know where you’re going?” he muttered as Severus stopped at an intersection. Severus cut his eyes at him.
“Not really,” he said quietly. “I know the address but it’s been a while since I was last in Dublin.” He glanced to his right. “This way.” He strode quickly down
the street, pulling his hat down a little lower as he passed through a small crowd of people waiting outside a pub. Harry jogged slightly behind him and
unbuttoned his jacket. He pulled on his tie to loosen it and unbuttoned his shirt a little as he followed Severus down a smaller, quieter street.
“Here,” said Severus softly. He stepped up to a dingy wooden door and rapped the knocker three times. Suddenly, the door opened and a pair of hands
grabbed the lapels of Severus’s jacket, yanking him inside. Harry quickly stuck his foot in between the door and the frame and forced his way in.
Severus struggled against a set of wiry arms that was pinning him firmly to the floor. He flipped his assailant over and forced his knee against their stomach.
He grabbed at the thin hands and pressed them to the floor. Harry quickly lit his wand and pointed it over Severus’s shoulder, showing them the furious face
of a brown-eyed woman, her face framed by wavy blonde hair. Severus sneered at the golden tresses. He hated it when she used those spells. It meant
she had been on assignment.
“Get your hands off me!” she hissed, struggling against him. “I swear to God, I’m going to kill you!”
“Well, that’s not much incentive for me to let go, now is it?” hissed Severus through his clenched teeth. Harry rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. This was
going to be fun.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, her body going limp as she stared in shock at Harry. Severus released his grip slightly. Radha immediately flipped him over
and stabbed her wand into his throat, deftly pinning his right arm firmly to the floor.
“Damn it, woman!” growled Severus angrily.
“Mr. Potter,” said Radha smugly, keeping her eyes on Severus’s furious face. “You do know who this man is, correct?”
“He’s a recent acquaintance, yes,” answered Harry cheekily. He couldn’t put his finger on why, but he didn’t like this woman. Radha pressed her wand
harder into Severus’s throat, choking him slightly.
“If you could refrain from killing him,” said Harry sternly, “that would be fantastic. We came to talk to you about -“
“Your father would be appalled,” said Radha viciously. “This man tortured him and his friends for the entire school to see.”
“And they bloody well deserved it at times.” said Harry sharply, his temper flaring. She spun her head around, looking at him with wide eyes. Severus took
advantage of her distraction and pushed her off him.
“Radha, please,” said Severus, holding his hands out in front of him.
“You just can’t leave well enough alone, can you?” she said bitterly.
“I didn’t have a choice,” said Severus quietly. “You know I didn’t. We had rumors from Albania. He sent me to check --”
“What do you want, Severus?” she asked tersely. She crossed her arms and waved out Harry’s wand with a careless flick of her hand. “It’d better be
important. I was in the middle of something.”
“In the dark?” asked Severus, scowling.
“It is important,” interrupted Harry. “We were wondering if you were related to an Ava Callahan.” Radha looked at him warily.
“Who?” she asked lightly. “Never heard of her.” Severus stepped towards her and took her hands in his.
“Don’t lie to me,” he whispered. Radha sneered and slapped him across the face.
“Get the hell out of here,” she hissed, “before I call the Aurors on your both your asses. There’s a hell of a reward on your head, my handsome snake in
the grass.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” growled Severus, tightening his grip on her other wrist. “You’re all talk, love. You know it, and I know it.” She narrowed her eyes and
grinned evilly, bringing her face just inches from his.
“Try me,” she said seductively, “if you dare.”
“If the two of you are done verbally copulating,” said Harry snidely, “we’re kind of in a rush here. Ava Callahan - you know her or not?” He watched
impatiently as they just stared at each other, not realizing a heated argument was taking place.
Tell me the truth, Radha.
I’m not telling you a damn thing. You’re one of them. Why aren’t you out with your wonderful friends, chopping some poor soul into tiny pieces?
They aren’t my friends, Daniella, and you know it. Just listen to me, please. Ava had a scepter - Ravenclaw’s scepter.
Radha’s eyes filled with tears as she shook her head.
“They killed her for nothing. Daddy had it --” They all jumped at the sound of keys turning in the lock. Radha grabbed Severus’s hand and Harry’s arm,
dragging them through a spacious living room and into a small breakfast nook.
“Shut up and don’t move,” she whispered, pulling them behind a wall and pressing her hands against their mouths. Severus could feel her tremble as they
heard footsteps thud heavily down the hall.
“Did you hear something?” asked a deep male voice. There was a loud, indignant scoff.
“Really, Moran,” said another voice. “If you can’t provide a little security, I might as well leave now.” Harry glanced at Severus’s narrowed eyes, both of
them recognizing the oily voice.
“I’m the one needing some security here, Malfoy,” said Nikolai Moran. “If your boss can’t deliver some kind of proof that he will keep his end of the
bargain, then I don’t see any reason for me to waste my time looking for his little talisman.”
“Indeed,” said Lucius silkily. “However, do keep in mind that my boss does not suffer fools. If you want your sister’s inheritance, you will do as you’re told.”
There was a very pregnant pause.
“Don’t you threaten me,” growled Nikolai softly. “I’ve got nothing to lose by not accepting this job.”
“Is that so?” murmured Lucius dangerously. “I’ll make sure your darling Mikayla knows how expendable she is. There are plenty of my colleagues who are
experiencing a - a bit of a dry spell. She would help us wet our palates quite nicely.”
“You bastard!” hissed Nikolai hatefully. “If you lay one hand on her, I’ll -“
“You’ll what?” asked Lucius casually. There was a rustle of fabric. “You see? You, my good sir, are in way over your head. So don’t stand there and
lecture me on your objections to my boss’s way of doing business. You will find it for us. And if I have to entertain your girlfriend in order to
give you the proper motivation, I assure you that I am up to the challenge.”
Lucius chuckled smugly as he walked calmly from the room, his boots echoing on the wood floor. There were a few minutes of tense silence. The light in the
living room went out, followed by shuffling footsteps that thudded heavily on the stairs.
“Shit,” whispered Radha, resting her head against Severus’s chest. She stood up and pulled them both off the floor. “Time to go, gentlemen.”
“I’d say so,” muttered Harry as they quickly made for the door.
“Wait!” hissed Radha, pulling back on Severus’s arm.
“Daniella!” hissed Severus quietly.
“Forty-five seconds,” she whispered. “Wait for me on the corner of Murdock and Crescent.” Severus groaned softly and pushed Harry out of the door. He
jogged down to the corner and over to the next intersection.
“What the hell was that about?” asked Harry. Severus ran a hand through his hair, looking back towards the house, and sighed wearily. Ignoring Harry’s
question, he watched as Radha sprinted towards them. She stopped in the shadows and glanced over her shoulder.
“Sorry to cut our little reunion short,” she said swiftly, “but I have to get out of Ireland.” Severus grabbed her arm, preventing her from apparating
away.
“I’m not done talking to you yet,” said Severus silkily.
“Severus,” she said fiercely. “I’m fine. I don’t need you to play shining knight here. Or dark knight, as the case may be.”
“I hate to remind you of this,” snarled Severus, “but your brother would like nothing more than to see you six feet underground, not to mention he’s
conspiring with a member of the Dark Lord’s Inner Circle in order to achieve just such a purpose.”
“Duly noted,” hissed Radha, struggling against his tight grip, “and I am not going to tell you again to get your fucking hands off of me.”
“Well,” said Harry in a falsely bright tone. “Thank you both for a lovely evening. I hope we can do it again sometime.” He glared at Severus and whipped
the hood of his cloak over his head. “I’m going home.”
“Harry,” said Severus sternly. Harry shook his head and turned on his heel, disappearing with a barely audible pop. Severus clenched his jaw and threw
Radha’s arm away from him.
“Go,” he spat furiously. “Run away like you’ve always done. Oh, Kingsley says hi, by the way. He misses you.” They stood there silently, glaring daggers
at each other.
“I hate you,” she whispered, tears shimmering in her eyes. “I - hate you.” Severus smirked, his chest constricting painfully.
“Join the club,” he said shakily. “I hear it’s rather large now.” A single tear escaped his long eyelashes and ran down his face. “Goodbye, Radha.” He
quickly leaned forward and kissed her cheek before he could think about it. He froze, staring into her shocked eyes.
“Habit,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” she said softly. He stepped away from her and silently disapparated. Radha stood still for a few moments, swallowing forcefully past the huge lump
in her throat and her guilty conscience. Finally, she too disapparated.