Life Begins Anew

Chapter 29 The Dark Lord Calls

Sara waited patiently at her desk for her 7th Year Defense class to arrive. After a while she glanced at her time piece. It was ten minutes past the allotted time.

She stood up and headed to her chambers.

Hades looked over to her from his perch in the corner. “Looks like your students are a no show Mistress.”

“That it does Hades.” Sara replied thoughtfully. “They know I do not tolerate tardiness and punish harshly. But yet they are not here. I know that they are up to something, and it definitely has a Slytherin feel to it. But the entire class? They’ve banded together for a cause. I would have never thought they could do it!”

“Are you going to hunt them down Mistress?” Hades asked as he flew to her outstretched arm.

“No Hades! They are really clever. If what I think is true, my brother is going to find himself with an unplanned detention. Imagine the humiliation my brother would feel realizing that students would rather attend his detention rather than mine!”

Sara chuckled. “Oh, not to mention thumbing their nose at me. See why I say that this has a Slytherin feel? They probably appealed to the Gryffindor sense of justice to get them into the plan. Priceless! I am sure that I will hear of this in the morning Staff meeting.”

Sara carried Hades to her chambers. “It seems we have a free evening for the school week. Remarkable as this has not occurred yet since I started teaching. I need to find a particular potion, one that I vaguely remember along with the related charm. I am starting to feel my age Hades!”

“Don’t be daft, Mistress!” Hades laughed. “You are only 27 after all!”

“Bird!” She growled. “You know what I mean!”

Hades chuckled and watched his Mistress pulled out a tome and start to read it

Meanwhile the potions professor let his unplanned students know exactly how he felt. He ranted and raved as half the students prepare the most disgusting potions ingredients he had waiting to be processed. The other half was brewing medicinal potions, as this was Quidditch season after all.

Severus sat at his desk as he watched his witch prepare the last batch of Skele-Grow that was assigned to her. Merlin! When had she become his witch? He decided to reach out to her, using their bond.

***Miss. Granger, I have a question for you. ***

Hermione looked up to him in surprise then continued to complete her work. She was amazed that her wizard could silently communicate. Merlin, when had he become her wizard?

***You can ask, but we all vowed Secrecy! I probably won’t be able to answer the question as to why we are here in detention. ***

Severus sent along the bond. ***Typical of Gryffindor! ***

Hermione sent back with a light thought. ***No professor, it was actually a requirement from your beloved snakes! ***

***Do you have a scheduled patrol tonight, Head Girl? *** Severus asked.

***Yes, I do. And this detention puts me behind. *** Hermione replied back along the bond.

Professor Snape suddenly snarled out. “I dearly hope you are finished as if you are not you will be back with me next week!” He stood up and walked to every student’s station spouting that their work was barely acceptable.

“Clean it all up! Students making medicinal brews take them to Madame Pomphrey now!” The students scrambled to comply.

“Those preparing ingredients label them and place them in the storeroom now and get out of my sight!” Professor Snape snarled.

“Miss. Granger, give your potions to Mr. Weasley. You are ignoring your Head Girl duties as you were scheduled for patrol tonight! An issue I might take up with the Headmaster!” He sneered at her as he sent along the bond. ***I have a part to play. One of many Beloved. ***

Professor Snape watched with satisfaction as all of the students jumped to comply. He pointed to the Head Girl. “Miss. Granger you will stay behind and tell me why this class is here tonight!” He shouted at her

He heard the entire class snigger. After all, everyone made a vow of secrecy. There was no way that their potions professor would find out the truth.

He heard the sniggers and responded “Merlin help you if I discover the truth! All of you out now!” He shouted. “Still here? You should have left a minute ago!”

Soon, the classroom left leaving Hermione and Professor Snape.

“Miss. Granger! I will walk with you on your patrol tonight.” He walked to the door and silently indicated that she should exit before him.

They walked her designated patrol in silence and soon found themselves outside Gryffindor tower. He resisted the need to touch her. “Miss. Granger, come to my classroom tomorrow after dinner. We have much to discuss.”

Hermione watched him as he turned and walked away lost to his own thoughts and concerns.

Severus returned to his chambers deep in thought. Gryffindor and Slytherin banding together? It was unheard of! The gall of them preferring detention with him. Maybe this was his sister’s mention of retaliation of his acts upon her.

He went to his bath chambers and took a long shower, lost in thought. Yes this whole episode reeked of his sister’s involvement. He would be sure to make his displeasure known at Staff meeting tomorrow morning.

He slipped inside the bedcovers naked, as he never wore sleepwear. He tentatively felt along his bond to his beloved. He felt her joy at being whole once again. He fell peacefully asleep for the first time in years, his dark soul sharing her elation.

Back in the head girl’s room, Hermione settled into her bed. She felt the feeling of content along her bond as she suddenly realized that her wizard was thankful for her soul’s recovery. Gahhh! There it was again! Her wizard. She felt the rightness of that fact and fell peacefully asleep as well.

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The teaching staff was assembled for their normal Friday morning meeting before breakfast waiting for the potions master as he never showed up early. There were a few grumbles as Severus banged open the door exactly on time, his anger apparent.

“Headmaster! I wish to lodge a complaint against a fellow professor!” He shouted out.

His fellow professors groaned. It was really too early in the morning to experience the potion master’s wrath.

“And who is the professor Severus?” The Headmaster asked, realizing there was only one colleague that drove Severus to such anger.

“Professor Snape!” He spat out the name, whirling and pointing at her.

“Headmaster!” Sara started. “I am sure I do not know what Professor Snape is talking about.”

“As if, Professor!” He sneered as he thrust the detention parchment Mr. Filch had given him to the Headmaster.

Albus glanced at the parchment. “So it seems you gave detention to your entire 7th year Slytherin/Gryffindor class. What’s the problem?” The Headmaster asked.

“Look closer at that parchment Headmaster!” Severus sat down in his usual chair waiting for the Headmaster’s answer.

Albus looked closely at the parchment. He noticed the subtle differences in the handwriting and looked up to the defense professor. “Care to explain Sara?”

“Well Headmaster, I did assign detention to my entire class. As it was so many I wrote Mr. Filch and told the students to report to him. I cannot be bothered to write so many as one note would take care of it all. I waited in my classroom until 7:30 pm and none showed. As Mr. Filch was in charge of making sure students arrived to a detention and no one showed, I was sure they were attending detention somewhere even if it was not my own. I was satisfied not to pursue it.” Sara replied silkily.

“So, you are stating the snakes and lions planned this!” Severus sneered at his sister. “You know that House rivalry between the two makes that impossible!”

“Yes Professor that is exactly what I am saying. It is curious you must admit that they were willing to attend detention with you versus me. Perhaps your detentions are lacking? I can give you pointers.” Sara replied to her brother.

Severus heard the soft laughter of his colleagues and grew angrier.

“Headmaster…” Severus started.

“Easy Severus!” the Headmaster replied. “Sara, I must ask that when you assign mass detentions, that you sign it Professor Sara Snape versus Professor S. Snape. It will save a lot of confusion when it involves Mr. Filch.”

“Of course, Headmaster!” Sara immediately replied. “I will do so from this moment forward.”

Her colleagues noticed that Sara was not sorry at all.

“Well now that is settled, let us get to business.” The Headmaster started the meeting.

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Sara skipped breakfast as she wanted her class to worry about her disappearance. After all she always attended breakfast.

Sara sat at her desk as she noticed her 7th year Slytherin/Gryffindor class enter her classroom and quietly sat down. She noticed the alternating glances of the students between herself and her brother. They had noticed her lack of appearance at breakfast making the students fret about their fate.

Sara stood up and walked around her classroom with a cold smile on her face.

“You have just proven to me that I am the “Dark Witch” of Hogwarts! You have formed the “Shadow Group” that I was telling you about, banding together to “defeat me”. This warrants a change in seating. Well done class! I am not going to punish you, though I cannot promise that the potions professor will not.” She nodded her head toward her brother.

The class was in shock. They thought that they would be punished. She never let the tiniest of infractions go by. They looked up to her warily still expecting the worst.

“Here are the new seating assignments…..” She paired Slytherin and Gryffindor together based on skill.

“Now the true training begins.” Their defense professor stated pleased. She began her class.

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Hermione attended the rest of her classes for the rest of the day dreading the meeting with Professor Snape. She knew that they were going to discuss the bond between them and she was dreading the meeting.

She knocked at the door and heard Professor Snape’s reply of “Enter!”

Hermione entered and noticed that Professor Snape was standing at the classroom entrance to his inner chambers. He opened the door. “Miss. Granger, if you please?” Moving aside to indicate that she should enter.

They entered the chambers and Severus indicated that she should sit at one of the chairs positioned in front of the fire. Hermione noticed that his chambers were comfortable yet sparse. She noticed many book cases filled with books.

“Miss. Granger read this before asking any questions about the bond that we share.” Severus softly asked her as he handed her the book.

Hermione opened the book to where the bookmark was placed and began to read. “Vinculum Per Tactus”. She noticed that it was an extremely old tome.

After a while, Hermione looked up to her potions professor standing beside the fireplace. “We are bonded for life?”

Severus walked over to her and knelt before her. “We are. And if we do not allow the bond to complete you know that it will result in both our deaths.”

“This cannot be!” She shrilled out.

“Take my hand Hermione!” Severus softly asked as he held out his hand.

She hesitatingly placed her hand in his and felt the unmistakable pull of her soul to his.

He leaned forward and pressed her hand to his forehead. “Do you feel that Hermione? The feeling of completeness? There is no mistake about it. When I touch you, I feel complete. If I am away from you, the bond makes me long for your touch.”

“What are we going to do?” She whispered. “If the Dark Lord finds out, your life is surely forfeit! I mean I am a muggle-born!”

Severus pulled her up from the chair and led her to his couch. “Sit with me and let me explain a few things.”

“I am a not a nice wizard Hermione and you know that first hand. I am not above using violence to achieve my goals and I will use anyone. I am set in my ways and doubt that I would ever change. I have committed brutal acts and have never regretted doing them and enjoyed doing them.” He picked her hands out of her lap and held them.

“You remember the lecture on Dark wizards and witches. Sara was talking about me being beaten by those you love. I refused to open myself to anyone except the Dark Lord, and he enticed me with power. And I fell for it.”

“But last night I had the best sleep in years as I felt your bond soothe me and give me peace. It brings my battered soul joy to feel your soul. You give me hope.” He sighed. “I am sorry for you Hermione, but you are going to have a burden to share and it may very well break you at the end. If only this had happened after the Dark Lord was defeated we would not be in any danger.”

His voice changed to one of drawing attention to his words. “You know of my duplicity Beloved. I get called by the Dark Lord, and sometimes I am commanded to do things that I do not wish. You may feel and see things along your bond that I can do nothing about.”

Severus reached into his robes and pulled out a few vials of Dreamless Sleep. “If you feel anything that disturbs you, take this and it will put you to sleep, hopefully causing the bond to go inactive and give you peace of mind. We are going into uncharted grounds Hermione. I am not sure what will work as this bond is so rare that there scant information on it”

Hermione looked nervously up to her professor. “And when should we complete this bond Professor Snape? I can’t deny that I have the same feelings as you have. I admit that I am nervous, as you are very intimidating.”

“Are you afraid of me Hermione” He asked evenly. “Feel what the bond tells you. It connects souls. You should sense that I would easily die to protect you!” Severus looked to her. “We must hold off as long as we can before completing the Bond. It mixes our magic and it is supposed to make us stronger. The Dark Lord would surely notice the pureness from me. I think that we will be able to delay it by simple touch for now.”

Severus wrapped one arm around her shoulder and held hand with the other. They sat quietly next to each other lost to their own thoughts.

Suddenly Severus jumped up, startling Hermione as he grabbed his left arm.

“Beloved! I am being summoned.”

He walked to his wardrobe and pulled out the robes of a Death Eater and put them on. He then grabbed the heavy leather gloves and placed them on as well.

Severus stood facing the wardrobe, mentally preparing himself for the Dark Lord. He pictured lock boxes and placed the parts of his mind that would show his unfaithfulness if revealed. There was a new box that had appeared, one that was a brilliant red with gold trim that was open. He mentally closed it and realized that the box contained his bond. So, the bond protects itself. He was relieved as he would not have to worry about Hermione’s well being.

He reached up to grab his mask as he sensed Hermione walking up behind him. He felt her wrap her arms around him as she softly whispered. “Be careful Beloved.” He held her hand with one of his as the other clutched his mask. He allowed himself a moment to enjoy their closeness then pulled away to face her.

“Hermione go to your room. If you feel anything along the bond that distresses you, then immediately take the Dreamless Draught. Promise me this for both our sakes!” His tone strong.

“I promise Professor.” Hermione softly replied watched him go to a wall and tapping stones with his wand revealing a passageway.

He started to step through and turned to her, nodding toward his chamber door.

Hermione watched the passage disappear and went to leave. She picked up the book that the professor had given her to read and exited his chambers, making her way back to her room.

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Sara was finishing the last part of her detention with four 5th year students when she felt the pain emanating from her Mark and forced herself not to grab it.

Sara looked to her students. “I hope you have learned something this evening. Come Monday I will test you most thoroughly! Get out of my sight!” She hissed.

The students quickly exited, happy to be free of her presence.

Sara waited until her classroom door closed, warded it and ran into her chambers.

“Hades, I am being summoned!”

“I know Mistress! What do you need of me?” Hades asked

She went to her wardrobe and hurriedly put on the accouterments of a Death Eater.

She grabbed her spare wand and handed to Hades for show. She looked over his transformed figure. “Acceptable Hades. Please do my rounds tonight. Remember I never take points and assign the offenders detention to me.”

“And why are you still here Mistress?” He coldly sneered, imitating her voice.

“Very well done Hades!” She walked to a wall and tapped the stones with her wand and immediately disappeared into the revealed passageway.

Hades walked over to a mirror and examined himself. This evening should be very interesting.

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Sara immediately bowed in front of the Dark Lord, kissing the hems of his robes. She noticed the Inner Circle standing on both sides of the Dark Lord’s throne.

“You are late!” Lord Voldemort coldly stated. “I am not a wizard that does not like to wait on anyone. Crucio!”

Sara immediately groaned out in pain, every part of her body on fire. She felt the spell immediately release.

“As this is you first calling Sister, I find myself to be lenient to you. Do not be late again or it will be much worse for you.” She felt the Dark Lord enter her mind, seeing the detention that she was in when the summons occurred.

“Many thanks My Lord for your generosity.” Sara humbly replied.

“Stand back to the Outer Circle Sister!” Lord Voldemort coldly ordered.

Sara quickly got up and did as she ordered.

The Dark Lord walked down from his throne as he addressed his Outer Circle. “You have been selected because you have shown yourself resourceful in the skills of extended torture. Each of you will have a particular target. Tonight we target those most unworthy. The parents of those muggle-born that attend Hogwarts, disgracing those hallowed halls!” There were loud cheers from the Outer Circle and the Dark Lord felt anticipation from the group.

Lord Voldemort continued. “A member of my Inner Circle will go with you, but they will be the guard. You will be in charge of the torture. I want it to last a few hours, and I want to make sure the muggle police realize that fact. Do not put my symbol above the houses, but leave a strong magical presence around the house so that the Aurors that will investigate will surely know that it was from us. Imagine how the Ministry will feel! Not being able to protect their “citizens” But yet they can protect a few unworthy muggle primary students!” He coldly chuckled as he went back to his throne and sat down, pairing the Outer Circle to the Inner Circle.

Sara noticed she was alone with a single member of the Inner Circle.

“Sister, you have the most important target of all!” Lord Voldemort stated as his Knight joined Sara. “Knight make sure this mission is a complete success.”

Sara felt the Knight grabbed her waist as they apparated away.

Sara found herself in a tidy backyard. She looked to the Knight, but he merely pointed indicating that she should start.

She walked over to the sliding glass door, pointing her wand and whispering “Alohamohhra.” unlocking the door. She silently entered and allowed herself a moment to adjust to the low lighting of the obviously muggle living room.

She walked about memorizing the room layout as this is where her torture would be committed. She removed her mask as she saw the bottles of whiskey and she poured herself a large glass and drank it down. She put her mask back on.

She noticed family pictures and took one down and looked at it.

“Fuck me!” She softly stated. “Important target indeed! I am most worthy of the Dark Lord’s trust in me.”

Sara said this for the benefit of the Knight. She did not know who it was and was resigned to the fact that she had to follow through on the mission. There would be no respite for the Granger family.

She conjured up a set of sharp knives from a couple of books and placed them on a table. She walked to the TV and pulled it down with a large crash.

Sara walked to the steps leading up to the second story of the house and waited. Soon she noticed two forms creeping down the stairs holding what looked like golf clubs.

“”Petrifitus Totalis.” She coldly intoned her wand shooting out a red light, hitting both of the forms. They tumbled down the stairs and ended at her feet, bodies frozen.

Sara looked down and noticed a middle aged man and woman looking back at her with fear in their eyes.

She grabbed the heels of the man and woman and dragged them into the living room. “I am here at the Dark Lord’s invite! He is most displeased with your daughter’s attendance at Hogwarts and you are tasked to pay for that as you spawned her!”

She reached for the conjured knife and showed it to the Grangers. “You will pay with your blood and your life! I hope you have your affairs in order.” She coldly laughed.

“Sara, I hope that you will find a couple of animals to transfigure and wait for my return!” Severus coldly stated.

Sara rose up, startled at hearing the voice of her brother.

She saw her brother pointing his wand at her as he coldly stated “Avada Kedevra” and Sara knew no more.

Severus quickly removed his mask and pointed his wand at the Grangers. “Finite Incantum!”

He quickly helped them up and asked if they were okay.

“I am with the Order! You must gather only that which is most important to you and we must leave! Go!” Severus commanded the couple.

Mr. Granger looked at the still body of their tormentor. “Is she dead?” He asked

“For now Mr. Granger.” Severus cryptically replied.

Mr. Granger motioned for his wife to go with him upstairs. Within a few minutes they were back downstairs with a single suitcase and a backpack each. Severus handed Mr. Granger the picture that Sara was previously holding.

“Our daughter warned us that we may be in danger one day, and made us prepare for it” Mrs. Granger said obviously still frightened.

“You daughter is an incredibly bright witch. You should be proud of Hermione.” Severus replied noticing the couple relax at the mention of their daughter’s name. He grabbed their hands and apparrated away.

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Sara came to as she heard the crack of apparition, fuming. All her brother had to do was to let her know he was the Knight and she would not have frightened Hermione’s parents so badly. Damn the wizard! After all, she gave him the information from MacNair and allowed him to act. Why could he not trust her?

She apparated out of the house to visit the local RSPCA for a couple of large dogs.

Soon she was back at the house and transfigured the large dogs into the likeness of the Grangers and bound them. After all, she needed living creatures to leave the bloody evidence that was required of her.

“Reducto! Reducto!” Sara shouted, destroying the contents of the lower level of the Grangers house.

Sara poured herself a drink and sat down to await her brother as she noticed that DEATH appeared before her.

“How do you fare little one?” DEATH asked feeling the anger and hate along her bond.

“DEATH, does your bond still recognize me as a Master Assassin?” Sara asked.

“It does.” DEATH replied knowing where this conversation was going.

Sara told DEATH of her plans. DEATH protested.

“Sara, this places the young witch in mortal danger!”

“It must be done DEATH! I cannot have my brother killing me at his whim It places a power to him and he must realize the consequences! I must take that power back!” Sara angrily replied.

“As you command Master Assassin!” DEATH coldly replied, hating her command.

She heard the loud crack of apparition as her brother appeared in the middle of the living room.

Severus sat down and indicated that she should begin.

Sara began the torture, thankful that it was animals versus the Grangers.

She released the silencing spell four hours later and allowed the screams to ring out across the room. She saw the blue lights flashing in from the outside as the muggle police pulled up, responding from the neighbor’s frantic calls.

She walked over to the wall where her brother stood and disillusioned herself and watched the muggle investigation unfold.

After a few hours, the muggle police finished the initial investigations and sealed the house.

Sara felt her brother nudge her and she said the incantation to remove the disillusionment spell. He felt her brother grab her arm as they apparrated away.

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She noticed that they had arrived in an alley and quickly transfigured her robes into muggle clothing. Sara reduced her Death Eater mask and placed it into her pocket.

Sara noticed her brother walking away from her and quickly followed. After a few minutes of walking she found them in a breakfast café. They both sat and Severus ordered them both a meal of beans on toast along with a couple of sausages.

Sara looked up to him questioningly.

“And now we wait for the required proof before we report back to our Lord.” Severus smugly replied.

“You enjoy this power you hold above me brother?” Sara asked anger in her voice.

The server placed their order in front of him and he began to eat. “Of course sister!” He replied.

“You know, all you had to do was to let me know your were the Knight! I would not have had to frighten your Bonded’s parents so!” Sara hissed. “After all, I let you act on the information from MacNair!”

“I am not quite sure where your loyalties stand sister.” Her brother replied. “After all you have not been very forthcoming!”

“Yes, that comes from being tortured and murdered when I tried!” Sara spat back.

Severus noted that the morning addition of the muggle newspaper had arrived. He pushed a couple of one pound coins to her. “Get two newspapers sister!” He sneered at her.

Sara angrily grabbed up the coins and walked up to the counter to purchase them. She came back and threw one down in front of him and sat down to read.

“Dentist Couple Brutally Tortured and Murdered!” The first page of the of the headlines screamed.

“Well sister, it seems you have made the headlines! Congratulations!” Severus rose up indicating that they should leave.

Sara followed her brother back to the alley that they arrived at. They transfigured their clothing back to the robes of a Death Eater and placed their mask upon them. She felt her brother grab her and they apparated away to the Dark Lord’s presence.

They both appeared in the Dark Lord’s presence and immediately bowed and kissed his robes.

“Well Knight!” Lord Voldemort coldly stated. “Where is your proof?” He noticed the bloodied robes of his Knight’s sister.

Severus arose and handed Lord Voldemort the muggle newspaper and felt him enter his mind.

Lord Voldemort shifted through Severus memories of his sister’s torture to the Grangers and the muggle investigation. He was pleased at Sara’s exhilaration while completing his requirements.

“Well done my servants! Go back to Hogwarts before you are missed!” Lord Voldemort replied obviously pleased with the siblings result.

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Severus immediately left his sister and made his way up to the Headmaster’s office. He hoped that he was able to save a few of the muggle born’s parents with his delayed warning.

“Headmaster, how did we fare?” He asked.

“Not so well Severus.” The Headmaster sadly replied. “The Grangers were the only ones that were saved.”

Albus noticed the potions master’s stricken face. “You did the best you could Severus. You had no time.”

Albus gently asked him. “Who was the Outer Circle member that you were assigned to?”

“My sister.” Severus replied.

“That is impossible Severus! I talked to her during her rounds last night!” Albus stated.

Severus shrugged. “She is a Dark Arts master. Who knows what she can accomplish? I took her down and obliviated her. She has no memory of me exchanging the Grangers for two transfigured large dogs.” He smoothly lied.

“Severus, go and rest. I will see you at dinner.” Albus pointed toward the floo.

Albus noticed his potion master sigh as he tossed the floo powder into the fire and tiredly intoned “Professor Snape’s quarters!”

Severus exited his floo and stood up suddenly noticing the presence of his sister.

“Avada Kedevra!”

Severus saw a green light and died instantly.

A/N

Vinculum Per Tactus = Bonded By Touch

RSPCA = Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals

Sara obviously has plans to take her brother’s knowledge of her not being able to die. What of Hermione’s fate?

If anyone offended by the dogs it was meant to be!