Darkened Lust

Darkened Lust
Part Twenty-eight

By Ami E. Bowen and Rebecca (Becca) Middleton.

The two women lay down on the bed without bothering to undress and held each other. Neither spoke. It was as if they feared that to articulate their fears would cause them to happen. Sleep was impossible for the moment. They lay wakeful, drawing comfort from each other’s nearness, wondering what was happening to Severus.

~*~*~

Harry and Ron were also awake, talking quietly so as not to disturb Hermione. The young witch had gone without sleep for far too long; they didn’t want to wake her.

“What do you think, mate? Is Snape on our side or not?” Ron asked.

Harry shook his head. “I don’t know what to think anymore. I still despise him. He says he was following Dumbledore’s orders on that tower, but he didn’t hesitate at all. I don’t understand how he could do that.”

“Isn’t that what Dumbledore told you, though, when you went with him that night? To follow his orders whether you liked it or not?”

Harry glared at his friend. “It’s not the same thing, Ron! I didn’t…” Harry trailed off, stricken as a thought occurred to him. “You have a point there. I was the one pouring that potion down Dumbledore’s throat because I promised to follow his orders. It was horrible. I didn’t want to hurt him, but…I gave my word.”

“Maybe Snape did, too.” Ron was silent for a moment, looking at the sleeping form of Hermione. “She likes his…ladies,” he commented.

Harry snorted. “’Mione is too trusting for her own good.”

“You don’t like them?”

“Never said that, did I? Sure, I like them, I guess. I don’t understand them, but I like them.”

“Me too,” Ron said, and they fell silent for a bit.

~*~*~

Becca snapped awake and bolted upright. She couldn’t believe she had slept after all. She looked over and saw Ami still asleep, then checked the clock. It was 9:00 a.m. It had been three hours since Severus had left. She wondered what had woken her, then realized it was the smell of bacon. Curious, she slipped out of bed and went into the kitchen.

Harry was standing at the stove and Ron was sitting at the kitchen table. The redhead gave her a smile and said, “Morning.”

Harry turned for a moment and saw her. “I hope it’s all right that I made breakfast. Ron and I got hungry. I made enough for everyone.”

“It’s fine, Harry. I forgot that you know how to cook.”

“Yeah, I had to learn, living with the Dursleys.”

Becca nodded. “Uh-huh. I hate those assholes,” she said as she sat down.

Harry looked shocked for a moment, then gave her that big, charming grin of his. “Wow. People who have never even met the Dursleys hate them!” He brought a huge plate of bacon and eggs over to the table, and turned back to the counter to begin making toast.

Becca laughed. “I don’t think anyone likes them. They’re so…” She stopped speaking and cocked her head, sensing something, then flew to the front door just as Severus opened it and stepped inside.

“Ami, Ami!” she screamed joyously, causing Hermione to wake and utter a small shriek of surprise. Becca didn’t notice this; she threw herself into Severus’s arms, laughing and crying at once.

She was joined an instant later by Ami, who was as overjoyed as she at seeing Severus back safely. Becca pulled back a bit, looking over him for injuries like those he has sustained the last time, but saw none.

Severus saw what she was doing and laughed, pulling her back to him for a few moments. “I am fine, my pets. Fine.”

“What happened? Why were you summoned?” Ami demanded.

“I will tell you over breakfast. I do smell breakfast, don’t I?” he asked.

“Yes, bacon, eggs, and toast,” Becca answered. “Harry cooked it.”

“I’ll eat it anyway,” Snape said dryly, earning a reproving look from both women that made him laugh again as he led them to the kitchen. They were followed by Hermione, still bleary eyed but too curious to go back to sleep.

Severus ate hugely even though aware that everyone was staring at him as they ate, waiting for information. Finally finished, he pushed back his plate and told them that they all looked like cats at a mousehole.

“The Dark Lord is extremely angry,” he informed them. “He summoned the Death Eaters to tell us that Lucius and Narcissa turned themselves in to the Order Of the Phoenix.”

Ignoring their gasps and murmurs of surprise, he went on. “Apparently the Dark Lord’s plans for Draco finally put an end to Lucius’s loyalty. In a choice between his son’s life and allegiance to the Dark Lord, Lucius chose his son, and You Know Who is furious. He wants all the Malfoys dead for their treachery.”

“What about Bellatrix?” Ami asked.

Snape snorted. “Ah, Bellatrix. She swore she would bring him her sister’s head herself,” he said.

“That bitch,” both women said.

“Indeed,” Severus agreed. “However, there is something more important. I have been thinking, especially since Potter here showed up.”

“About what?” Harry demanded, looking not angry, but ready to be angry.

“About horcruxes. I am almost certain that I know what one of the remaining horcruxes is and where it is to be found.” He looked at Harry with a curiously apologetic expression. “I believe he made a horcrux after killing your father, but before killing your mother, and I believe it is…” he hesitated.

“Is what?” Harry yelled. “What do you think it is?”

“I think, Harry, that it is your mother’s wedding ring,” looking away from the stunned expression on the young wizard’s face.

“And where is my mother’s ring?” Harry asked quietly.

Severus looked back at him, and the sympathy on his face frightened Harry more than Snape’s rage ever had. “She was buried with it,” he answered.

Harry's face drained of it's colour at Snape's words and gripped the counter he was leaning against. "W-what are you saying?" he asked, not yet ready to believe...

"I think you know exactly what I'm saying, Mr. Potter," Snape said, still barely more than a whisper, "I'm sorry, but..."

"Harry," Hermione said, still looking tired, but after Severus removed a small glass bottle from his robes and handed it over to her with instructions to drink, she regained a good deal of her vitality. "Voldemort will be after that...that Horcrux, too."

"Yeah, Harry," Ron said, after shoving another peice of bacon into his mouth, chewing and swallowing, "Do you want that monster to be messin' around with your Mum's...?"

"NO!" Harry shouted, remembering a scene in a graveyard during the Tri-Wizard tournament and the disturbed places of rest. He didn't want Voldemort anywhere near his mother! He said as much aloud to his compainions.

"Then...then we have no choice, Harry," Ami said, and Becca nodded, seated next to her at the table, "We have to get to that Horcrux before..."

"...Voldemort," Becca finished and Hermione said to Harry; "If you can't do it, we'll understand, Harry. You can stay here, can't he?" she turned towards Becca, who nodded softly. But before she could say anything else, Harry cut her off, "No. I'm not going to stay behind. I'm coming with you."

"But..." Hermione began, clearly worried for her friend and the kind of impact digging one's parent up from the earth would have on a person, "Harry..."

"I'm coming with you." Harry said, and set his chin that determinded look that was so familar to his friends. Ron glanced over at Hermione, who shrugged as if to say; 'Like we expected anything else?'

"Here," Snape said, suddenly, and began handing everyone bottles similar to the one that he'd given Hermione, "Drink. All of you. They're revitalization potions. My own creation, of course. I know that none of you," he glanced at Becca and Ami as something akin to a smirk danced across his features for half a second before altering back into a serious expression, "have gotten nearly enough sleep as of late. Of course nothing can subsitute real sleep, but for now, it will have to do."

Becca downed the small green bottle's contents and gave a tiny shudder. The taste was something to be desired. Ami followed suit, as did the rest of them. It began with a tingling sensation and warmth throughout their bodies.

Ami smiled as her head was suddenly cleared of the fuzz that was making her yawn all the time and blinked over at Becca, whose brows were raised into her hairline. "Wow." she said, and shook her head, "Feels like...like..."

"...I'm not tired anymore," Ami finished and Becca nodded, that was exactly the way she felt as well. Snape crossed his arms over his chest and surveyed the people around him, "Well, I'm glad to see I've not lost my touch."

"Yeah, this is all great," Harry said, after adjusting to the potion's properties himself, "But, we have important things to do. Or did you all forget about my mother's wedding ring and how we're going to get to it before Voldemort?"

To Be Continued...