Life Begins Anew

Chapter 34 Preparation For The Sacrifice

Sara sat down at her desk deep in thought. The last few weeks had gone back to normal. The Dark Lord did not call her as frequently as she had apparently passed some kind of test. Her classes were going splendidly. She remembered the conversation she had with the Headmaster about Bootstray and Slightly. It was really quite amusing to see the look in his eye when she dropped that bomb. She had first told him that they were her Dark Arts apprentices versus assistants. Paybacks for making her stand for twenty minutes in front of her desk. She enjoyed watching him squirm. Then she told him the real reasoning behind her request.

The Headmaster did finally agree, though he made his reservations known about having ex-assassins in his school and insisted on meeting them to interview them before hand. She had made sure to warn them about the lemon drops.

And Bootstray and Slightly definitely put her advanced classes back into place. She had taken her 7th year Gryffindor/Slytherin class out to the Quidditch pitch and introduced them. She then asked them individually to select one assistant to duel and everyone selected Slightly as he looked so harmless. They got trounced. She then told her class not to underestimate their adversary as the weakest looking was usually the most dangerous. It was a lesson in not to underestimate your adversary. Then she stepped up and battled both the wizards, showing how quickly things could change. She was pleased as the class left, both thoughtful and humiliated at the same time. Especially Draco Malfoy, for he was cocky because of his upbringing.

Mr. Malfoy. She thought. Something was going on with that wizard. He seemed distant and that was worrying. And it had nothing to do with the Dark Lord, of that she was sure of.

But he was the least of her concerns right now. She had finally found the charm and potion that would assist Harry Potter in bringing the Dark Lord down by drawing out the bit of darkness from their Mark to her, lessoning the available power that the Dark Lord could draw from. The problem was that two of the ingredients were going to be a bit tricky to gather.

Bootstray and Slightly entered her chambers and sat down, noticing her troubled look.

“Anything I can help you with Sara?” Bootstray asked

“Not unless you are a virgin Boostray, and an unwilling one at that.” Sara sighed as she handed him the bookmarked chapter that discussed the potion she would need.

Bootstray read the chapter and sighed. Prophecies apparently were not easy. And they had it easy up until now. He handed the book to Slightly and asked “Do you know who the contributors are?”

Sara rolled out the prophecy. “Fancy a guess Bootstray?”

He looked at the names. His eyes widened in surprise as he realized that Draco Malfoy was unwilling male virgin and Hermione Granger was the maiden that willingly gave. “Are you sure Sara? They are of age, and surely not virgins! The rumors I have heard about your Head Boy in the short amount of time I’ve been here says that he has had just about every Slytherin 7th year witch!”

Sara chuckled. “And that is what they are Bootstray, just rumors! I discretely verified his status in class today. I am calling in his Life Debt to me tonight. I promise you he will be most unwilling about the whole thing.”

“And what of Miss. Granger?” Slightly asked. “You told us she was bonded to her brother by Vinculum Per Tactus.”

“Yes. I had thought that assigning Severus as one of the serpents in the prophecy was due to the fact that he was in the Inner Circle. Obviously that it is not true. The bond requires the witch to be virgin to complete, not the wizard! So, I trust her to keep her status as she will look to no other wizard but Severus to take her. There lies my dilemma, as even though I am blood, if I take her via a transformation or Polyjuice potion it will not matter that she freely gave her consent. They will both die. I am not sure how long my brother can fight his desire for her. He foolishly believes that if he completes his bond, that her pureness will reveal him to the Dark Lord. A fact to my advantage!”

“A means to an end Sara.” Bootstray softly replied.

“Yes, what are the deaths of a single witch or wizard in the greater scheme of things? The Headmaster would most certainly sacrifice them without a single thought if he felt it would be advantageous to the Light. This is unacceptable! I feel they are needed at the end, so I will not be the cause of their deaths! I will come up with a way. Witch’s First Blood will store for six months if properly contained. I will obtain it soon, and if I fail in the task it will not matter as our lives will be forfeit anyway due to the rules of the Quest.”

“But what we need to do is purify an area for Miss. Granger and her sacrifice, if she chooses to accept it. The book is very specific on what is needed and I like to be prepared.” She led her wizards out of the castle and into the Forbidden Forest.

Soon they came upon a large Oak tree deep in the Forbidden Forest. She silently thought of her old incantations that she used two hundred years ago and a door suddenly appeared and they entered.

“We must clean this up wizards and purify the place.” Sara told them. Soon everything was freshened, and the wizards looked to her. She looked to them as she handed them bowls of sea salt. “Is your desire true wizards in what we must do? This is Wiccan ways and if you are not true of heart, the cleansing ceremony will not work!” She asked them.

They quickly assured her that they were and spread out sea salt on the floor around the bed. They left the bedroom and Sara quickly sealed it with the most stringent of wards. Everything was set.

They stood outside the oak tree. Sara remembered the peace that she had felt when as this was her getaway from Damien Selwyn, Her Dark Arts master two hundred years ago. Those were difficult times.

“Sara, may I take my leave of you?” Slightly asked. “I told Mr. Potter that I would meet with him for further training.”

“By all means Slightly! Please make sure that he is mostly undamaged for class on Monday.” Sara replied.

Bootstray was left alone with Sara. He looked to her as they made their way toward the castle. He stopped her as he wrapped his arms around her. She felt her soul rush with joy at his touch.

“Wizard! You heal my soul and make me weak!” She spat, still not used to the feelings that he stirred within her.

“Yes I do. And you do the same for me.” As he kissed her passionately. He lowered her to the ground and began removing her robes.

“Is Bootstray your true name wizard?” she gasped as his mouth latched on to a nipple. Most assassins gave a false name. True names did not really matter in the scheme of the Guild.

“It is Sara, and the story is quite funny.” He stopped his manipulations and looked to her. He realized this was an important question to her.

He had noticed that she unconsciously unglamoured herself to him, a sign that the cold witch trusted him.

“My mum discovered that my father strayed, so she gave him the boot while she was pregnant with me. So in a fit of vindictiveness, she named me Bootstray, much to my father’s displeasure. Imagine my surprise years later when I found out that I was not my father’s son as she had strayed as well!” He heartily laughed as he traced the scars around her breast.

“But enough about names Sara Snape! I find that I need you, and want you! You complete me witch, and I am sure that I meet your needs as well! Let go sweet witch, as I complete you!”

Bootstray entered her, relishing the velvet touch as she gave herself to him. He began to move as he willingly gave her what she needed, taking from another that which was needed.

In his inner chambers, Severus looked to his Bonded. It felt so right having her naked beside him. Her touch made him feel a fire, flaming his need for her. He felt himself at his end.

He held her in his arms as he gave her another passionate kiss. “Beloved, I have always been a strong wizard, but I feel myself lost in you!” He told her mournfully.

Hermione looked to her wizard and quietly asked. “Is that a bad thing Severus? We know what we need to do.”

She was young. He remembered giving into the feelings of Lily, consequences be damned. And damned him it did as he was bound to the Headmaster.

“Yes our bond demands it, and very soon I will give into the desire as I will lose control. And at that time I will seal your death! Severus looked to her, sadness in his eyes.

“I trust you with my life Beloved. After all, you could have allowed me to fall to Remus when he transformed, but yet you did not. I see flashes along our bond Severus. Not intentionally, mind you. The Headmaster was wrong to invoke the vow upon you!” She gently kissed him.

“I vow you this Severus Snape. I will always be here for you, no matter how difficult the road you travel will be. We will soon be one, and it gives me joy to know I will travel that most difficult road with you. You will never be alone again!” She kissed his cheek.

Severus looked to his bonded in amazement as they fell asleep on his couch. For once he was not worried about the future. He was only focused on the here and now.

AN Sara calls her Life Debts to the Serpents and her Dark Arts master returns.