Of Death and Fire

hell and back


Author's notes: This chapter is moving time forwards, from CoS through PoA, a book I didn't like as much, to the beginning of GoF. It has referenses of sex again, but not until the end of the chapter. Once more it's dark, fluff free and I'd really appreciate your thoughts. Enjoy!
 
 
CHAPTER 22: Through Hell and back
 
Morgaine left Hogwarts and time somehow seemed to accelerate for Snape, Dumbledore and Potter. Before they could realize it, the Headmaster had been removed from his current state. Harry ventured in the hidden places beneath the castle and faced his old enemy in a new face. Morgaine's amulet guarded him from the deadly basilisk stare long enough for Fawks to blind the monster. And then Dumbledore was reinstated and the school year was over. And still no sign of Morgaine.
When they were all assembled in the Main Hall in the beginning of Harry's third year, Morgaine seat was still vacant. Dumbledore announced the arrival of a substitute teacher for Introduction to Necromancy until Morgaine's business with the Guild had been completed. A new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher had been appointed, and a prisoner had escaped from Azkaban, presumably heading toward Hogwarts. In a few words, it was a typical school year.
Days turned to weeks, weeks to months and it was soon winter. There was no sign of Morgaine; no news from her and Snape was beside himself. He would go on for weeks without sleep and when he finally succumbed in a restless slumber he would find himself in agonizing nightmares of fire. Having Remus Lupin around wasn't a big help either, and the incident with the Boggart had added to his weary state. He had been very close in loosing the last bits of his clear thinking, especially as winter turned to spring and it had been a year since he had last seen her.
Then he finally snapped. Seeing his old schoolmates enraged him, and he followed them in the secret passage under the Whooping Willow, having lost his ability of reasonable thinking. He only wanted to make others hurt, as he was hurting inside. Fortunately, the outcome of the confrontation was in favor of the innocent, but it left Snape with additional bitterness.
With Pettigrew at large, free to meet his old master, Dumbledore knew he had to act fast and not loose Snape from his side.
~*~
A week before the end of the school year, Snape was summoned to the Headmaster's office. He was expecting this call, knowing that Dumbledore might want to patronize him over his behaviour toward Black and Lupin. As always, he would shut the sound out and let the Headmaster's words enter his left ear and exit from the right without leaving a trace behind. But this time he started giving serious consideration on asking him about Morgaine. Of all the people, he would know.
But how to address the subject? How to justify his concern? "You see, Albus, your elfish relative and I had been fucking our brains out a year ago, but now she's gone after she screwed Malfoy and I did my best to humiliate her, and then she left and I didn't even say goodbye". He shook his head in rejection. There should be another way around it... But the solution to this problem presented itself on entering the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore was not alone. Aurion Whitebone was with him.
"Oh, here you are, Severus", said Dumbledore in his usual cheerful manner. "Please join us. I presume you've already met my old friend Aurion".
Snape sat down at a seat across Dumbledore, nodding at the necromancer. Oh, yes, Albus, I know Whitebone well. Better than I'd wished I did. But you do know that, don't you?
"Severus, Aurion has shared with me some upsetting news I thought you should hear", said the Headmaster, his tone no longer cheerful. Snape's heart lost a beat. She was dead?
The Head Necromancer sat back in his chair, crossing his long, pale fingers on his chest. He fixed his demon eyes on Snape and with a deep, entrancing voice he begun his tale.
"Morgaine Greenleaf left Hogwarts about a year ago to go through the final task of the Order, the Ninth Gate. This involves the banishing of a powerful entity, one few have achieved before. Up to this point, I believe you're both familiar with the facts". Aurion looked at the two men, knowing he had their full attention. "What you don't know, and very few mortals do outside the Guild is the nature of the creature in question". He paused, lost in some painful memory.
"It is an ancient creature, from the time when the world was young and the Old Gods were still walking on fiery pathways. It was a servant of the Dark Ones, but not evil. Good and Evil does not apply in these ancient beings, not as we understand it. But as Earth cooled down its kin took refuge closer to the core of the planet, surfacing occasionally in order to feed. Because with the coming of humanity, they found a rare delicacy in the range of human emotions. They feed off human souls".
The necromancer paused again, so his audience could grasp the full meaning of his words. Drawing a deep breath, he continued.
"This creature is similar to the Dementor. In fact, this is what spawned the Dementors. But these creatures are not mindless leaches, just feeding off others' souls. They are intelligent, manipulative and patient. They can guide foolish servants in unspeakable acts so that they can feed off the outcome. Which is always bloody and painful. And during the last war, they were allied with the Dark Lord, seeing in him a unique opportunity of a feast".
Snape was speechless. And so was Dumbledore, hearing for the first time the full details of the story. And his worst fears came to life, knowing that there wasn't a chance of overcoming the coming war without the help of the Guild. Without Morgaine's help.
"A scout of the Guild detected one of the creatures in the depths of a maze of volcanic caves under a Mediterranean island", continued Whitebone. "Being the first in line for the task, Morgaine was summoned right away. I had never doubted her ability to banish the creature. Had I known she had a death wish, I'd spare her the torture", he said in an icy voice, glancing nastily toward Snape. He tried to keep his face steady, as the necromancer continued.
"To my relief, she succeeded. It was bloody and painful and she could barely walk after the deed. But somehow she came of her trial purged, as if she was seeking cleansing through fire. Rebirth, like your phoenix, Albus", he smiled bitterly. "But this was not the end. Unknowingly, we had walked into a trap. There wasn't just one of the creatures, but three, willing to sacrifice themselves to achieve their goal. As Morgaine limped away from the battle ground, two more emerged and assaulted her".
Snape's face had lost its color. Dunbledore was as pale, and even Fawkes was caught in the tale, not missing a word from Aurion's lips. The necromancer seemed to have lost his touch with reality, reliving the painful events.
"Before any of us could react, they had grasped Morgaine. I threw back one of them, and after a hard fight I banished it back to the Abyss. But none of the others present there had any similar experience. Many fell by the creature, and by the time I could turn and face the fight, the third had sunk its teeth in Morgaine's neck. If you think that the Dementor's kiss is hell, then multiply this by a thousandfold". He stopped, trying to steady his voice, as the recalling of these events had taken its toll. "And then, the unthinkable happened. Morgaine broke off its kiss, crying 'I won't die twice'. And then she kissed it back".
Snape looked horrified and Dumbledore was as stunned.
"Never", said Whitebone is a grim voice, "never, has this been done before. But Morgaine did it, embracing Death and Fire, absorbing a part of the creature inside her. But it broke off, probably as surprised as the rest of us, and fled. I was too shocked to run after it, especially on seeing Morgaine collapsing. And this isn't the end of it. The worst was yet to come".
"Aurion, what could possibly be worse?" asked Dumbledon a n a trembling voice.
"In the weeks to come, Morgaine was in a coma, as her body and spirit was adjusting to the new state. She had brief periods of lucidity, during which we found she had maintained a psychic bond to the creature, although it eventually broke completely away. And during one of her lucid moments, she told us it had met Voldemort, sharing some of the knowledge it had acquired from her head". Aurion paused momentarily, and then he spoke in a ceremonial voicBoneBone of the Father, Flesh of the Servant, Blood of the Enemy. Voldemort has the means of returning to life now". He paused again, and then he continued in a grave voice. "And to make things worse, Morgaine is different now. Although she'll be fully recovered by the end of the summer, she now is partially a creature of Death and Fire".
Silence fell othe the room. No one dared speak, or even breath, as it seemed. It was Dumbledore who broke the silence.
"What do you propose, Aurion?"
"My best guess is that she should return to Hogwarts, as if nothing had happened. No need to tip the enemy that we know. Moreover, Severus can use his past connections to find out how much of this has been known to the other side, when the time comes". His eyes were sad, but his voice steady. "Morgaine isn't yet lost, Albus. If one thing can walk through Death and Fire, this is love. I have done my part; it's up to you now".
He was looking at Dumbledore, but his voice was addressing Snape.
~*~
Whitebone and Snape left the Headmaster's office, and the Potions Master walked toward his dungeon, trying to collect his thoughts and feelings. But a voice behind him held him back.
"Severus, one last word if you please". He turned and met Whitebone's direct gaze.
"I know you hate me, and not unjustified, considering the fact that I voted for your incarceration to Azkaban, despite Albus' assurance of your loyalty. I still don't trust you, but I will accept Dumbledore's judgement on this". His voice was firm, but his eyes burned with fire. "But there is one thing you should know. During her feverish delirium, Morgaine cried a name. Your name". As the memory was clearly painful, he avoided Snape's eyes. "I thought you should know", he added in a low voice and walked away.
But as he left artsarts, several thoughts passed through his mind, memories of the events he had not shared with them. He had spent almost every night in the past year at her side, guarding her, nursing her back to life. He had witnessed her torment, as she would cry out Severus name, asking to be forgiven. He could not know the cause of her pain; but he could feel her agony. Until one night he reached his limit. He tried to cool her feverish face, gently caressing her cheek with his hand. And then she kissed his palm, whispering "Severus, I've missed you." She was mistaking him for another. He tried to pull away, but she clasped his hand desperately, pleading: "don't leave me alone again!" And she pulled him beside her, pressing her burning lips on his mouth.
Then Aurion lost control. He took another man's place in her bed, kissing and touching her, concealing his identity from her feverish mind. He hid his face in her breasts, savored the taste of her throbbing flesh, exploding in an orgasm like none he had experienced before. As she turned and slept peacefully at last in his arms, he knew he had condemned himself.
He had broken every vow he had ever made. His loyalty to Dumbledore, for taking advantage of his beloved relative. He had betrayed Morgaine's trust, for letting her believe he was another. He had betrayed her brother, for Alexander had trusted him with her care during her illness. He had broken every Guild rule, to protect those unable to protect themselves. And he had broken his vow of celibacy to his Gods, who demand full obedience of their Chief representative on the mortal realm. But seeing her calm face resting on his shoulder, he knew he'd do it all over.
Aurion Whitebone knew his time was short. But he would take his secret to his grave. Unfortunately, he of all people knew too well that the grave is rarely quiet.
 
******************************************************************************************************
Liked it? Then please let me know!
I'm a bit stuck right now. I have a vague idea of how to proceed, but I'm open to suggestions. Preferably through the review form...