Life Begins Anew

****This is a rewrite of the last part of this chapter. I read it and thought it was lacking. Go to where Sara and Severus are in the Great Hall. That is where the re-write begins.

Chapter 38 Her Dark Arts Master Returns

Sara stood in front of her class looking towards her students. Their shield spells and hexing had improved to where there was not much else to teach them. “Class, now is the time to learn offensive tactics. This will throw your opponent off and give you an advantage. When one is attacked, a body goes into the defensive mode just to maintain ground with the attacker. You must learn to take them down before they kill you.”

“Will you be teaching us how to kill?” Harry Potter asked.

“No Mr. Potter. Wounding a witch or wizard is more prudent in a battle. It ties up an attacking army’s resources. Unless of course the opposing force does not care about its troops. Regardless, if the wound is bad enough they will die anyway as it would be Fate and not you killing them, saving your soul. Remember what I said about the act of killing damaging a soul? Parchments out! I want you to write down the name of the spells that you can cast and would use in an offensive manner. I will review and you will get your chance to cast them at me with no shield on Monday. Mind you, I will select one from your list. Ones that would not ensure my death as I know a lot of you think it would be convenient if I passed on to the Veil! This will be your test. Can you actually cast a spell that would knowingly harm someone?”

The students excitedly pulled out parchments and began to write. Sara looked to Miss. Granger and noticed that she looked troubled. “You have a question Miss. Granger?”

Hermione had noticed that at the mention of spells to harm, the names and incantations of several spells that she knew she had never read about came to mind, and she knew that she could do them.

“Err…” Stuttered Miss. Granger.

“Just write them down Miss. Granger!” Sara snarled at her. “It is a simple assignment after all!”

The Slytherins laughed.

Mr. Malfoy looked to his partner. “Scared Head Girl?” He sneered at her. “Gryffindors are supposed to be brave! Perhaps it is your dirtied blood that makes you weak? I notice the purebloods do not have a problem with the assignment!”

“Mr. Malfoy! Detention tonight with me! There is no blood status in my class. After all, Miss. Granger has gotten through your shields enough times for you to know that it has no bearing.” Sara coldly told him.

Mr. Malfoy locked eyes with her, not backing down. “Well Professor Snape, we shall see that on Monday. Miss. Granger is weak and would not hurt a fly!”

“A challenge Mr. Malfoy? I love challenges! Obviously you do not remember the lesson about the darkness filling one and the fact that Miss. Granger focused her feelings and intent on you! I’ll hold off your detention. If she is unable to cast her spell, then I shall not enforce it. But if she does, then you will have to perform any task that I ask of you. You are of age young Lord! Care to complete the wager?” She coldly asked.

Merlin! Draco thought. He remembered what his life debt required of him before. He was used and did not like it. He looked across the room and saw all his fellow student’s eyes resting on him. The Slytherins looked to him expectantly. Shit! He was between a rock and a hard place. Then he remembered that Damien Selwyn was going to make him more powerful today than any of the students. He would never have to answer to no one, especially Professor Sara Snape Defense Professor!

“Yes Professor Snape!” He spat back at her. “I’ll take that wager, but no coaching or teaching from you to the Head Girl! I remember that you were formally Slytherin and I would not put it past you!”

“I agree Mr. Malfoy!” Sara replied with an evil glint in her eye.

They both felt the majiks of the wager swirl around them.

“When you are done with your assignment, you may turn them into me and leave. Consider it a gift! And use your time wisely this weekend thinking about intent! After all, it is intent that makes a spell successful! Today is a half day as the Headmaster directed preparations for the Halloween feast for this evening. It would do you well to remember it is Samhain today and not Halloween and remember what Samhain is truly about!”

Soon the classroom emptied, leaving the Head Boy and Head Girl. She noticed that her brother still sat at his seat in the back of the classroom.

Mr. Malfoy turned in his parchment and smirked at her. She tentatively reached into his mind and discovered that the young wizard practiced Occlumency. She could get into his mind, but it would leave him damaged. The wizard was hiding something.

“Very well Mr. Malfoy!” As she took the parchment from him without looking at it. She watched the wizard leave her classroom.

Miss. Granger turned in her two parchments of spells and waited as her defense professor reviewed the list.

“I see your concern Miss. Granger. Do you know why? Sara asked.

Hermione stood in front of the professor and remained silent.

“Professor Snape, could you review Miss. Granger’s parchments for me?” Sara called out.

Severus walked to his sister and took the parchments from her hand and reviewed them. Merlin! Most of them listed he created while in service to the Dark Lord! And no one except the Inner Circle knew of them!

“It is your bond! You both subconsciously pull what is required from one another!” Sara replied back. “Now that you have completed your bond you share each ones knowledge and power! Severus is a powerful wizard, and you Miss. Granger are a powerful witch yourself though like a new born! The both of you united in power is a force to be reckoned with! Your bond calls forth what is needed, even from a distance.”

Sara continued. “Well, most of these will assuredly cause my death, so I will select the most appropriate one. Do not worry of the knowledge Miss Granger. You will only use it if the bond requires it of you.”

Hermione looked to her bonded as he grabbed her hand. He had nothing to hide in the presence of his sister.

“You both need to read the book I gave you Severus, in depth. It explains everything. And teach her Occlumency, just in case.” She told them.

Sara watched them both depart the classroom, reflecting on the special bond that they shared. The Wizarding world was lucky that their intents were not to impose their will.

&&&&&&&&&

The Headmaster called a quick staff meeting before lunch to determine the duties of the staff for the day’s events.

“Professors McGonagall, Vector, Flitwick and Sinistra will have chaperon duties tonight.” He announced. “Professors Snape and Snape will watch over the first years, prefects, and the Head Boy and Girl in decorating the Great Hall after lunch this afternoon.”

Professor Flitwick looked at Severus. “Sorry Severus! I know how much you look forward to the occasion of taking points from students when occasions such as this arrive.” The short wizard told him.

Severus chuckled darkly. “I have the whole weekend to make up for it Filius!”

Filius chuckled as the Headmaster dismissed the group.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Sara sat down next to her brother and started to eat the Sheppard’s Pie that appeared in front of her.

“Severus, I am surprised that we are not chaperoning tonight.” She told him.

“I’m not Sara. Here in about five minutes the Malfoy house owl will arrive with an invitation to a fete at Malfoy Manor for only those of the Inner Circle. I will arrive, get my customary beating from our lord for not having any information of importance, have a fine meal, and then commence with three or four hours of muggle torture before being allowed to leave.”

“Sounds like you have it all down.” Sara drily replied.

“Just wait.” He replied as he finished his lunch and sat back with a smirk.

Soon enough a tawny owl arrived landing on a clear spot on the table with two letters held in its beak. Severus removed the letters and handed the owl a bit of toast. The owl flew off with the bit of toast in its beak.

Severus read the letter that was addressed to him. He picked up the second letter and handed it to his sister. “It seems you are holding a fete tonight Lady Prince.”

She looked at him strangely as she took the offered letter from him and opened it up and began to read.

Sara growled out. “How in Merlin does he expect me to prepare for a fete in nine hours time?” She began to curse the Dark Lord under her breath as Severus barked a genuine laugh, clearly enjoying his sister’s misfortune.

The whole hall became silent as they identified the laugh coming from the potions professor. Severus glared down at the student tables until the students bent down to their food to avoid his glare.

“I’ll see you at 2 pm brother!” She angrily whispered to him. She stood up and walked to the staff entrance and departed slamming the door shut behind her, the loud slam sounding out in the Great Hall.

Draco watched the defense professor’s departure. As he would not have to worry about her after today, he decided on revealing her relationship to the potions professor. His classroom vow to her would not allow him to, but he owed nothing to his Godfather. He looked over to Gregory Goyle and whispered “Our own Head of Slytherin is related to Professor Sara Snape. They are brother and sister. Ensure this is passed along to every house, especially Gryffindor.” He saw the surprised and questioning look on his friend’s face. “It is true Gregory. My Godfather told me a few months ago.” Draco inwardly patted himself on the back, pleased that he found a way around the hated witch’s vow.

Within ten minutes, every student at Hogwarts had heard the rumor. Severus glared at the Gryffindor table, noticing the excited chattering of the students and pointed looks of the students staring at him.

Hermione sent along her bond. ****Beloved, your secret of Sara being related to you has been found out. That is what all the students are talking about! ****

Hermione looked up and saw the barely concealed anger of her Bonded. **** Other than the staff and the Inner Circle, it is only you and one other that knows this. Draco Malfoy! It must have been him. ****

He stood up and walked over to his house table and bent down and whispered into Draco’s ear. “I will deal with you tomorrow Godson! I will be meeting with your father tonight as you well know. Maybe I will see what his opinion is regarding this matter!”

Draco’s fellow Slytherins noticed the pale look on Draco’s face as their Head of House walked away from the table and exited the hall.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Sara angrily entered her quarters causing Bootstray and Slightly to jump up from their lunch with wands drawn. They never ate meals at the Great Hall as they knew their presence at the school made the Headmaster uncomfortable.

“Gods witch!” Bootstray exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around her. “What has caused you to be so angry?”

“Lord Voldemort has kindly just informed me that I am holding a fete for his Inner Circle at nine p.m. tonight.” She spat out.

She broke away from Boostray. “I have no idea what he expects.” She sat down and closed her eyes and thought while the two wizards silently observed her, feeling her turmoil across their bond.

She opened them and called out “Sassy!”

Her house elf appeared and squeaked out “Lady Prince what service may I perform for you?” The elf asked as she grabbed her hand and kissed it.

“Sassy, I sent away all of the other house elves except for you. Do you know whatever became of them?” Sara asked.

“Miss! They could not go anywhere as they are bonded to the House of Prince and you are still alive. They are in residence in a wing of the Manor that you do not use!” Sassy exclaimed as she went to the wall and started to forcefully bang her head against the wall.

“Stop it Sassy!” Sara commanded. “Thank them for the dedication to the House of Prince as I need their services! I am to have a Fete at nine p.m. this evening.”

Sassy danced expectantly.

“I’m sorry Sassy; it will probably not be like the ones that you remember. Warn your fellow elves accordingly and send my apologies. I would not ask you of it normally. Also, Lord Malfoy needs access to my Manor.” She softly told her.

Sassy’s ears flattened as she waited for her Mistress instruction.

“Hades I hate to call you for entertainment and messenger duty. First I need you to deliver a reply to Lord Malfoy. Then I need you to talk to DEATH and get an idea of what has happened before and instruct the house elves. Do you think you can do this, faithful one?”

Hades said nothing and transformed himself into a jet black raven with red eyes. “Will this form do Mistress?” He asked her.

“You look very scary Hades! It’s perfect.” She sat down and penned a reply that she would not be able to leave the school until 6 p.m. and asked if he could meet her at that time to ensure everything was proper for their lord.

She watched as Hades took the letter and faded from sight. She turned to her two wizards.

“I am not sure why the Dark Lord has chosen me to hold this. It is probably another test of my faithfulness. Regardless of the reasons, you will need to find alternate quarters until I can tell you when you can return back to Prince Manor.

“That will be no problem for me Sara as I already have my weekend planned with a young witch with exceptional skill in the bedroom. The kind of skills that I enjoy.” Slightly told her.

“Too much information wizard and I will not even hazard a guess on what those skills are!” Sara lightly replied.

“May I take leave of this school Sara, as there are no other classes today? It would be good to get a head start on the weekend.” Slightly asked her inflecting on the word “head”.

“You truly are depraved Slightly. By all means go. Who am I to get in the way of, err, whatever it is.” She replied.

Slightly mockingly bowed to her and left her chambers.

Bootstray pulled her up out of her chair. “Well Sara now that all of the urgent business has been taken care of, how much free time do you have until your next duty?” He asked of her.

She pulled out her time piece. “One hour Bootstray. I have to be at the Great Hall to babysit with my brother.” She told him.

“Well Sara. I believe I have the answer to forgetting all this stress that you are feeling witch!” Bootstray took her into his arms and began pulling her into her bed chambers. “While one hour is generally not enough, I feel that I can come through in that short amount of time.” He huskily whispered to her as her removed her robes.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Sara arrived at the Great hall and took her place next to her brother, noticing that he was reading the Daily Prophet. “You are one minute late sister!” Severus told her as he put down the paper.

“So take points!” She hissed at him.

“So Bootstray delayed you?” He asked of her. He chuckled softly as he noticed her blush.

“Do not worry sister. I hope that you still arranged things for this evening?” He asked.

“Yes, as much as I can with not being available. I have Hades and the house elves working on it. I am to meet with Lucius at six pm to make sure all is in order. I’m sure it will go well. Do you have any idea why the Dark Lord required this of me?” She asked her brother.

Severus thought for a moment. Should he tell her? No, her reaction would be what the Dark Lord would look for.

“No idea.” He absently replied as he picked up a book and began to read it.

Sara suddenly felt the castle’s distress. She looked down and noticed that the Head Boy and Head Girl were missing along with the entire first year Slytherins.

“Severus, where are your baby snakes, and most importantly where is your Head Boy?” She asked him urgently.

Severus put his book down and looked to the students decorating and noticed the absences.

He called out to the Slyhterin seventh year prefect. “Miss. Greengrass a word if you please!”

Miss. Greengrass approached him. “Where are the Head Boy and Girl Miss. Greengrass? And especially the first year Slytherins?” Her head of house asked her.

“Professor Snape. Mr. Malfoy called a meeting just before and assured us that everyone would arrive shortly.” The prefect replied to her Head of House.

Sara spoke to the prefect. “Professor Snape and I need to be away for a while. I trust that you can oversee this until our return?” She demanded of the student.

“Of course Professor Snape. All will be well!” She stuttered.

Sara stood up and dragged her brother out of the Great Hall using the staff entrance.

She kept hold of her brother and immediately apparated to the entrance to Slytherin.

Severus noticed that the entry to his house had disappeared.

“Baron, what is going on here? Where is the Headmaster?” She demanded of the ghost.

“He is away Headmistress!” The ghost replied. “I did not know who else to contact!” There is something dark happening! It will result in the deaths of all my first years of that I am sure! You must save them!” The ghost urged her.

Sara felt the vows of a Headmistress kick in. She grabbed her brother and apparated them into the Slytherin common room.

They saw all the first years unmoving. Sara walked over to one and released the spell from the student.

“What is going on here, young Slytherin?” She asked of the student.

“Draco Malfoy! He called a meeting and immediately froze us and dragged the Head Girl into his chambers!” He told her his fear apparent. The student pointed to a ruby pendent on the floor. “He took that off of her before they entered his room!”

Severus walked over and picked it up, worry apparent.

Sara immediately released the spell holding the other students. “You will go to your floor until your Head of House directs you to return.” She watched as the students hustled up to their rooms.

“No time!” She spat at his brother as she approached the door to Draco’s chambers. “If anything exits this door, you must kill Severus! Do you understand this?” She asked him.

“Yes Sara. But I need to know…” Severus replied as he pulled out his wand

“No time brother!” She hissed back

Sara walked up to the portrait guarding the Head Boy’s entrance pulling out her wand.

“Despite what you have been ordered portrait, I am Sara Peverell, Headmistress of this school and I demand entrance! And stay open and do not close behind me!” She told the portrait. That way Severus could hear and see what was going on inside the room.

“Headmistress?" Severus asked of her.

She ignored her brother’s remark as she entered the room.

“Damien Selwyn!” She exclaimed as she noticed flow of magic from the portrait to the Head Boy. She immediately cast a dark spell, preventing more of her Dark Arts Master feeding his essence to the young wizard. She was just in time as the image on the portrait was very faint.

“I thought that I killed you two hundred years ago, Master!” Sara snarled. “I buried your body where it could never be discovered!"

"I see you still have spirit Apprentice!" Damien replied. ""That was always the one thing that drew me to you. Always prim and proper Headmistress. But I knew of your darkness and hidden desires and used them to my benefit. Besides every Dark Arts Master has a back up plan in case they die. Do you Sara Peverell?" Damien huskily asked her.

"And who says that you used me." Sara answered back coldly. "I easily used you. I saw the "detentions" that you gave to select students and started to note the darkness slowly taking over the school. As a Headmistress I had a duty to the school to get you away, so I walked away from my post and lured you away from the school as well. And yes, I do have a back up plan for when I die."

Damien looked over his former apprentice. "I must admit Sara you have not aged since I had your hot lithe body under me, with you begging." He spoke as he looked over her body. "It was after I gave you your Mastership and gave you the Mark of a Dark Arts Master. It was rather unfair of you to plunge that dagger deep into my heart at such an inoportune moment. You could have at least let me come before you murdered me." The portrait dryly told her.

"Damien, it was you who taught me to take advantage of any situation that would fulfil a plan. After all, I was well taught."

"Yes Sara, you were the best apprentice I ever had. Most of the previous apprentices I killed as they did not have a true appreciation of the Darkness. And you came to me, with a darkness within your soul already deeply seated in place. And such a willing apprentice you were. So, how many apprentices have you had Master Peverell?

"None Master Selwyn. For two hundred years there has been a decline in the number of wizards and witches practicing the Arts. Do you want to know why?" Sara sweetly asked the portrait.

Damien eyed her warily as he remembered that tone of voice from her. He started to slowly move toward the edge of his portrait.

Sara noticed the movement and silently intoned the spell that would keep him confined to the portrait that he was in. She laughed as she watched her Master dive to the side to escape his Apprentice. He picked himself up and glared at Sara.

"Master, after I murdered you I went to your castle and removed every book on the Dark Arts. Then I destroyed your castle and purified the place so the darkness could not come back there to wait on some unsuspecting person. And for the last two hundred years, I have pulled any book even remotely associated with the Dark Arts, obliviating the owners as need. Of course, I cannot control word of mouth, so what knowledge is passed down by certain families that are known for associating with the Dark Arts. I am the last Dark Arts Master in existance, and when I die, the knowledge dies with me." She sat down and looked up at the portrait with a smug smile.

"How did you get into the castle Sara. I realize that you were a Headmistress, but I had not heard of your return."

"Think upon it Master, and I am sure you will figure it out."

"Professor Snape!" Sara called out. "Please come on through."

She watched as her brother entered the chamber his wand pointed to the portrait. "Brother, I would like you to meet my Dark Arts Master, Damien Selwyn."

Damien looked to his former apprentice with shock. "You are Professor Sara Snape, the witch that the Malfoy wizard complained about?!"

"Yes, that would be me Master!" She chuckled.

"I must admit that I wanted to meet with that professor. Your taking of his virginity was what finally drove him to agree to my plans."

"I'm sure you did not mention that once your essence was within his body, that you would destroy his soul. Then you would take the essence of the those first years, as the innocence would strengthen you even more.

"I might have neglected in mentioning that to the young wizard Sara. Join me Sara! If what you say is true, we can rule the Wizarding world! You are a dark powerful wich and deserve a dark powerful wizard, and you know that I am that Sara Peverell!"

"MMM..." Sara absent mindedly replied as she thought. "The Dark wizards and witches of the world have come from Drumstrang or Hogwarts. I bet you have portraits in both! You are sly Master!"

Damien bowed to her. "Yes for the last two hundred years I have been giving council, but not to create Dark wizards, but to find one that would release me from this portrait. Draco Malfoy was the first that I could convince."

"I understand Malfoy, and the First Years. But what use would the Head Girl be to you?" She asked of Damien.

“Draco Malfoy has serious issues with her Sara! I was going to rape her and kill her slowly as the young wizard wished it most reverently.” Her Dark Arts Master chuckled. “After all, it has been a while since I participated in a good session of rape and murder! Besides I figured I owed it to the wizard as I took over his body and soul. It would have been a payment for his sacrifice.”

Sara heard her brother growl out in anger at Damien's words.

"Care to do the honors brother? She asked Severus.

"With pleasure sister!" He angrily replied as he destroyed the portrait, enjoying the screams emitting from it.

Sara walked over to Draco and knelt down as he stirred. “Wizard! You chose poorly in your trust. Damien was going to take you over and kill your soul, and he would have lived once again! In your body!” She told him.

Draco looked to her pained, fighting the darkness within his body.

Sara looked to the young wizard and sighed. Though misguided, he did align himself with the light. She knew he truly hated the beliefs of Lord Voldemort.

“Severus, is your Bonded well?” She asked of her brother.

“It seems no harm has been done.” He replied as he held her closely, her sobs sounding out.

“You must immediately go to Lord Voldemort and reveal the fact that the castle has an affinity for me. There will be letters sent very soon as all this happened outside my classroom, and my vow is null in this case. Some of your young snakes will be sending owls to our associates! The Dark Lord will be definitely interested in my ability to apparate within the castle!” She told her brother.

Sara grabbed Draco Malfoy’s hand and pulled the darkness from within him. She looked darkly to the wizard. “You are free young Lord! Count yourself lucky, as I have been under Damien Selwyn before!”

Gods! Almost the entire essence of her master! Whatever healing her soul had made immediately went away.

"Head Boy and Head Girl, you are well enough to make it to the Great Hall. Head Girl, you will go upstairs and gather the first year snakes and ensure that they will attend." Sara coldly told them.

The two wizards and witch looked to her, noticing a more pronounced darkness upon her.

"Go brother and do as I requested or it could become quite painful for us." Sara coldly demanded.

He nodded as he quickly exited the room, pressing upon his Mark.

Severus made it out of the Castle grounds and immediately apparated to the Dark Lord's presence and immediately bowed.

"My Lord, I have news that may help your plans!" Severus excitedly told his master.

"Rise Severus! Your excitement intrigues me." The Dark Lord indicated that Severus should approach him.

He began to tell him as he noticed the Dark Lords excitement.

AN Next is the Fete and Sara's unexpected reward.