#7 ~ The Ghost and Lady Snape

Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR (except Marcus Delaluci). All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
*******************************

Chapter 25 – The Only Thing to Fear…


Severus, Hermione and Marcus followed Peeves through the astral plane. The noise from the mist was increasing. It was at such a pitch now, that Hermione notched an arrow as she walked, holding the tip towards the ground, but ready to fire in an instant. Marcus had formed a round shield to go with his scimitar. It had a dragon emblazoned on it. Severus kept his hand on his sword, his black eyes sliding from one end of the mist to the other. Peeves was also looking about carefully, holding his visor open and scanning his surrounding as they floated. Suddenly, a white mist, less dense then the multi-colored mist of the plane, rose around them. They stopped.

“What is this?” Hermione said, gazing at the glowing mist surrounding them. Severus experimentally stuck his hand in it, then pulled it back.

“It is some kind of energy,” he said, “it gave me a small shock. Not painful though.”

Marcus stuck his hand into the smoky mist, and felt nothing. He smiled.

“I think it is a gift, from a friend,” he said, a small smile on his face, “I believe it will protect us somewhat.”

“What kind of friend do you have that has this kind of power?” Hermione said, touching the mist and pulling back her hand from the buzz of energy she felt, “and how do you know it’s from your friend?”

“Well, I can pass my hand through it and feel nothing. No shock, no energy. She would be focused on me. So you two are getting some residual protection because you are my companions, most likely. Have you ever heard of Obeah?” he asked Hermione.

“Yes,” she breathed, “they use spirits to do their bidding, cursing and blessing others through them.”

“Well, Cassandra is an Obeah,” he said, passing his hand through the mist again.

“I’ve heard of her. A mysterious woman who lives in the islands near Jamaica, West Indies. Very difficult to find,” Severus said, a little impressed. Hermione was too, albeit grudgingly.

“A good friend to have, considering our circumstances,” Severus added.

Marcus simply nodded.

Suddenly, several forms rushed out of the mist towards them. They were hulking brutes, at least eight feet tall, gray and hairless, muscular with large tusk-like protuberances and arms that dragged the ground. They had brutal looking claws at the end of their twisted hands. They loped toward the three, roaring fiercely.

“Shit!” Marcus said, lifting his scimitar and charging to meet them. A bit of mist surrounded him as he ran toward the creatures. Severus was right behind him, the mist scudded along with him also.

Hermione let loose with an arrow, hitting one beast squarely between its eyes. The creature roared, clasping the arrow and spun, then burst into nothingness. She notched another arrow as Severus and Marcus fell on the beasts. Marcus rammed his shield into one creature, driving it back, barely escaping the long claws. He swung his scimitar at the creature’s legs, cutting them off just above the knee. The creature crawled along the ground, howling, but didn’t disappear until Hermione shot it with an arrow. In a puff it was gone. Severus was fighting two of the creatures, swirling, stabbing and dipping, avoiding their swinging claws. Both creatures closed on him at the same time. Hermione screamed, and a white light blazed around the Potions Master. The charging creatures were thrown back, and Severus charged after them, neatly beheading one, then the other as they struggled to rise from the ground. They both vanished.

Marcus was battling with another creature, who grasped the edge of his shield, trying to pull it out of the wizard’s hand. Marcus sliced downward, severing the creature’s arm. The beast turned and ran for the mist, but Marcus, his eyes telescoping, pursued it, leaping on the creature’s back and running the curved blade over its throat. The head flopped back, partially severed from the neck. The creature dropped, but still tried to crawl away. Hermione shot it, and it vanished.
No more creatures charged from the mist, as the two panting wizards returned to Hermione’s side.

Peeves was ducked down behind the witch, and popped up when the battle was over, shaking his gauntleted fist at the colored cloud.

“That’ll teach ya!” he cried holding up his visor with his other hand. All three companions looked at him. The poltergeist shied back a bit.

The forms in the cloud had thinned considerably.

Severus looked at Hermione proudly. “You did well, wife,” he said, smiling at her, “and you still have a full quiver of arrows.”

“Yeah, Lady Snape…you did good. Thanks for polishing off my leftovers,” Marcus said affably, his eyebrows raised with mirth. Hermione scowled at him. Such a half-handed compliment. Well, at least he acknowledged her help.

“You’re welcome,” she said tersely, “though your little cloud of protection didn’t seem to work too well.”

Severus considered. “Well, Marcus was holding his own. It could be the mist will only protect him when he is in danger of being truly harmed. It won’t do his job for him.”

Marcus grunted. “Sounds like the type of protection I’d have. I don’t have that little sex-generated shield you two have,” he said.

“That’s LOVE generated,” Hermione corrected him, an edge to her voice.

Marcus shrugged, “Whatever. It really helped Snape out. Those beasties were out to get him.”

Hermione looked at her husband, who was examining his blade.

“Not a nick in it,” he said, whirling it about and depositing it neatly into its scabbard, “That was quite exhilarating.”

“You would think battling blood-thirsty astral monsters exhilarating Severus,” Hermione scolded, slipping her bow over her shoulder.

“Yes,: he admitted, “but only if I win.” He looked at Peeves.

“Let’s go Peeves, onward,” he said.

The poltergeist took the lead again, a little emboldened, now that he saw the three could handle themselves. He floated with his chest poked out, which looked a little odd because he was in full armor.

Suddenly, two forms appeared on the plane itself, not from the techni-colored cloud.

“Not again,” groaned Hermione, taking out her bow.

Marcus was staring at the two forms, wordlessly.

They drew closer. Hermione could make out a tall blonde-haired man, and a short dark-haired woman. They wore solemn expressions and walked toward Marcus, who stood stock still, blinking at them. Severus and Hermione looked at him curiously. Hermione notched an arrow, but Severus placed his hand on hers, making her lower it.

Marcus walked toward the couple.

“Mum. Dad,” he said. His voice quivered.

The couple stopped several feet away from him. The woman scowled at him blackly.

“You have shamed us. You aren’t fit to be called our son, you filthy murderer,” she said cruelly.

Marcus visibly deflated. His sword and shield dropped from his hands with a clatter. He slumped dejectedly.

Hermione looked at Severus. “It’s his worst fear,” she said, “Gods, how horrible.”

Marcus’ father looked at him with hatred in his blue eyes.

“You’re an animal. That’s what you are. A disgrace to the family name. It’s better if you never breed. Let your evil stop here,” the man said, then he spit on the ground before the wizard.

Marcus fell to his knees, a glazed look on his face.

In the room of requirement, Albus noticed Marcus’ body going gray and rushed over to him.

“Oh my boy, what is happening to you?” the Headmaster said, placing his hand on Marcus’ brow. He was burning up. Albus placed a cooling spell on him, then placed one finger between his eyes and shared some of his light. On the astral plane, it had no effect. Marcus was still on his knees, his head bowed, unable to move.

“We’re losing him, Severus!” Hermione cried, running over to Marcus and shaking him.

“Get up you dumb lummox! This isn’t real! Those aren’t your parents!” she yelled at him, rocking him hard by his shoulder. Marcus didn’t respond.

“Get up, Marcus!” she yelled again. The wizard didn’t move. Hermione hauled off and slapped him as hard as she could. He didn’t react, and she felt no satisfaction at hitting him. She turned to Severus.

“What can we do? We have to break this!” she cried to her husband, “We need him!”

Severus considered. He walked over to the couple and drew his sword. He swung it at the couple with a force that should have cut them both in half, but it just passed through. Their bodies separated for a moment, then flowed back together.

“Our love can’t help him,” Severus said somberly, turning to look at the bowed wizard and shaking his head.

Hermione looked around the plane, desperate. She cupped her hands around her mouth.

“Someone help us! Please! Someone! Anyone! We are in need of help! We’re here to battle Alistar, and one of our companions needs help!” she cried into the void. The creatures in the cloud went totally silent.

“Please!” she continued, “If there are any helpful spirits here, we need your help! Please!”

*********************************
Cassandra felt Marcus’ spirit weakening.

“No, dragon man!” she whispered, flinging her spirit outward into the darkness, using Fiona’s gift. She saw Marcus on his knees before two people, his head bowed, unmoving. She materialized between him and them.

“Who the hell is that?” Hermione asked Severus as the beautiful, naked black woman stood with her hands on her hips, facing Marcus’ fears, scowling fiercely.

“She is, I believe, Marcus’ friend. The Obeah woman,” Severus answered, his black eyes glittering.

“She’s beautiful,” Hermione breathed.

“And let’s hope, powerful,” Severus replied.

********************************
A/N: Cassandra to the rescue! We hope. Please review.