Life Begins Anew

AN I know that at the end of the last chapter I said we would go to the Fete and reward, but I needed to put this in before. The Headmaster would have certainly been curious as to why Sara was called. Plus this sets up everything for the Dark Lords plans. After all this is being written unbeta’d! If anyone wants to volunteer let me know!

Chapter 38 The Headmistress Revealed

Sara once again sat herself at the Great Hall, watching the progress of decorating for the Halloween Feast. She closely observed the Head Boy and Girl. It seemed that they were working well together. Mr. Malfoy seemed intent on helping Miss. Granger and did not spew forth the blood slurs that he usually did.

Draco and Hermione silently observed the proceedings. “Miss. Granger.” Draco formally asked. “May I have a word with you?”

Hermione looked to the wizard with distrust in her eyes. “And why should I Draco? From what I understand, you wished me a most violent death!”

“Yes Hermione! I did wish that. And I am not about to hide the fact that I despised you! But my Godfather’s sister healed me. If only you could do Legilimens, I could show you!” He told her.

Hermione looked coldly to the Head Boy as she discretely pointed her wand to him and intoned “Legilmens!” as the Bond pushed the knowledge to her.

Draco allowed his mind to be completely opened to her. She saw his upbringing and the grudging respect he found for her as she bested him. She also saw the severe beatings that were given to him by his father for his failure of besting her. She observed his forced taking of the Mark after his father failed the Dark Lord in the Department of Mystery. And of Draco approaching the Headmaster about the Mark. Then the sly manipulations of Damain Selwyn.

Hermione pulled from Draco’s mind. “You are bonded to my Godfather!” Draco whispered to her.

“Yes Draco, I am.” Hermione replied. There was no point in hiding it as the wizard knew it.

She looked to the blonde haired wizard. “And what do you require of me Draco?”

“Like my Godfather, I must play a role as well. I wish for us to become friends, when not in view of my fellow Slytherins. All I want at the end of day is my own life. That is why I agreed to Damain Selwyn! He offered me something that I felt that I could not obtain on my own. And it is still unattainable!” Draco miserably replied.

“For now, Draco Malfoy but as soon as all this is over, than you can have your own life. Hopefully everyone can.” She quietly replied.

Both the students looked up and noticed that the potions professor had returned to the Great Hall and was sitting down next to his sister. He looked up and noticed Hermione talking to his Godson.

***Hermione? Is my Godson bothering you? Even the Gods will not be able to help him if he is! **** Severus sent along their bond.

He felt the light tinkle of her response. ****No Beloved. There is no more darkness within him at all. Sara must have removed everything. He is asking to be friends, and I have agreed. And I verified the bond that we share as he asked me of it. ****

****Make sure he holds this information closer than he did of my relationship with the Defense professor. I have not forgotten, and tell him that my sister has not heard the rumors yet. **** He replied back along the bond.

He could see Hermione talk to him and they both looked up towards the Head table.

They saw the dark wizard lightly tapping the table, sparks emitting from his wand as he grinned evilly down to them.

Sara looked to her brother. “Well, how did your meeting go?” She asked.

“He was very happy with the news sister. I expect he will test you on it at the fete.” Severus absently replied still looking down at his Godson.

Sara remained silent. If that was the case, then she would have to get the castle’s buy in. It was likely that the Dark Lord would assign one of the Inner Circle to apparate with her, and she was sure that the castle would not like that, and would even go as far as notifying the Headmaster as that is what it’s duty to the school would dictate.

The doors to the Great Hall opened and everyone turned to see the Headmaster walk down the aisle. “Students! What a grand job you all have done. I am sure that everyone will enjoy them tonight at the festivities. Run along and enjoy your afternoon off as I am sure you will need to get prepared for the Feast!” Albus chuckled as he watched them scatter off. He especially watched the First Year Slytherins. There did not seem to be any ill effects of whatever had happened to them.

Albus had arrived back to the castle, feeling a rush of danger that the castle was feeding him involving the Head Boy, the Head Girl, and the First Year Slytherins. All of a sudden it stopped and the castle informed him that the Headmistress had taken care of it and whatever punishments were required was already taken care of. He went to Minerva’s chambers to inquire about it and she was not aware of any problems. He made his rounds through the rest of the staff and they were also ignorant of anything serious taking place in the castle. He only had two names left and it did not really surprise him that it involved the surname “Snape”

Albus waited and made sure the hall was completely empty of students and joined his professors at the Head Table. “Severus! I hear there were some issues with your House and the Head Boy and Girl. None of the staff seemed to know about it including the Deputy Headmistress. Care to enlighten me?” Albus asked of the wizard.

“I was sitting here reading a book when my sister urgently asked me where my baby snakes and Head Boy and Girl were. You would have to ask her how she came to know of the very serious situation that we found ourselves in a few minutes later.” He sat back to observe Albus and his sister. This should be interesting.

Albus looked to Sara and she sighed. “Headmaster, the reason why the Deputy and your staff were ignorant of anything wrong happening was because there already was a true Headmistress at the castle. So it went to the one that had full rights and commands of it on a permanent basis and not a temporary one.”

“You!” Albus asked shocked. “How…..”

She lifted the invisibility charm from her right hand, revealing the same ring that the Headmaster wore. Hers was the original that was passed down throughout the centuries as his was a duplicate that the castle was forced to create after her disappearance.

“You remember my full name Albus? Sara Peverell Prince Snape.” She asked in a neutral tone.

Realization showed in Albus’ eyes as he processed her name. “Sara Peverell… You are the missing Headmistress of Hogwart’s from two hundred years ago?!” He exclaimed.

Severus watched them both curiously. He knew much of the History of Hogwarts but had never run across that tidbit.

“Both of you come with me to my office so we can discuss what happened today.” Albus asked of them.

They both stood and followed the Headmaster to his office. Albus went and filled up three large glasses of firewhiskey and handed them both a glass and drank down a good portion of his own. The drink helped him steady his nerves. He walked over pulled his penseive out, placing it to one side of his desk.

He indicated that they both take a seat as he accio’d the Missing Headmistress portrait from above the entrance to his office and placed it on his desk so Severus and Sara could examine it.

“It has been many, many years since I have thought of the Missing Headmistress! When I first became Headmaster of this school I would spend many evenings looking at this portrait pondering about whatever happened to her. Oh, when she disappeared it truly was a scandal as the position was not decided by a Board of Governor’s but was decided by the castle itself. And it was a position that ended only in death or when the witch or wizard that was selected stepped down. After all, how could she just abandon her position? It was after that that the Board of Governors was created. They would make a list of candidates, but it is the castle that still made the decision as to who would become Headmaster or Headmistress. I believe that it is still mentioned, only in passing in “Hogwart’s: A History” even now. But for many years it was a main topic in that esteemed tome.”

Albus looked to Sara. “Why did you abandon your post Headmistress?”

Sara saw both wizards waiting for her answer. “The reasons are revealed in the events that you asked about earlier Headmaster.” She drank down her glass of spirits and pulled out the memories of the day and placed them in the penseive. They lowered their faces and were pulled into to Sara’s memory.

After a while they came out and Albus looked to her to her with concern. “The school is very lucky that you are a Headmistress Sara. Minerva would not have known what to do, and even if she did she would not have been able to pull your Master’s essence from Mr. Malfoy. How fare you Sara?” He asked of his Defense professor.

“You undoubtedly noticed my state upon arriving to this school Headmaster. After all, as a Dark Arts master, my soul is tarnished. I have more darkness within me than before I arrived. It is contained.” She sneered to him.

The Headmaster looked to his spy. “And what did you tell Lord Voldemort Severus? I understand why Sara sent you to him.” He asked.

“I merely told him that the castle shares an affinity to her and can control the wards within the castle. I must admit that he was momentarily upset with the destruction of Damian Selwyn. He sees the advantage of a Death Eater being able to influence the castle after all. We both know that he wants to take over Hogwarts as well as the Ministry.” Severus replied

Sara stood up. “You know that I have outside business to attend to. Headmaster, There is two hours until I meet with Lord Malfoy. As I have no other duties to this castle, I wish to be released for the weekend.” She asked the Headmaster coldly.

“By all means please take care of your duties Headmistress! “Albus coldly answered her.

“Albus, you know my duties are not involved with protecting the school at this time.” Sara coldly told him. “If you are willing to take the Unbreakable Vow….?”

“No Sara, I still find that I cannot.” Albus told her. “Go Headmistress. I only hope you remember your vows!”

“I am a slave to many vows Headmaster! Be assured I will not forget my duties to the school. I only ask that you will not be present in your office from nine PM onward, as I will have to prove my loyalty.” She coldly told him. She left the Headmaster's office quickly.

Severus looked to her sister as she exited the office.

“Albus, all the reasons I stated before, and plus she is a Headmistress of Hogwarts! I encourage you to rethink your plans!” Severus encouraged the Headmaster as he left the office, robes billowing as he left.

Severus sat down at his desk and reflected as he came to a realization. His bonded had not pursued the fact of his sister abducting them from the grounds the day they consummated their bond, which was unlike her.

****Hermione, how long have you known that my sister was the Missing Headmistress of Hogwart’s? ****

Hermione immediately sent back ***Since the day of our bonding Beloved. After Bootstray escorted me to the castle, I had a chat with the Sorting Hat. I held back the knowledge as it would cause too much of an uproar. I take it that the Headmaster now knows. I thought that he would after everything that has happened?****

****Yes witch, he now knows. *** Severus sent along the bond.

AN Next Chapter is the Fete.