Life Begins Anew

Chapter 57 Preparation for the Trek

“Hallo the tent! I need to speak to Misters Potter, Weasley and Miss. Granger! If you wish to survive, I suggest you meet with me!” Sara commanded.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exited the tent cautiously wands drawn and protective shields about them. They saw their Defense professor standing in her familiar blood red robes, her wand pointed out as well.

“I am glad that you exited in an appropriate defense posture. It is well that you have learned my lessons well.” She motioned them to the opening of the tent she was standing next to. “We must talk, and I cannot afford to be away for long amounts of time.”

She allowed the wizards and witch enter before her, and caste additional silencing and protective charms on the already protected tent.

Ron looked to her in anger. “Who killed my mother?”

She quickly masked her surprise. “And how do you know about that, young wizard?”

Hermione felt the anger and silence fill the room. “Death Eaters.” Hermione quietly replied when it was obvious that Ron would not answer. “They were close to our tent gloating and said that the Order had fallen and that Moody, Tonks, and the Weasley woman were killed. Ron somehow knew it was true.”

Sara looked at the angry student. “Your bond told you that I am sure. I can tell you that of the people killed last night, your mother’s was the quickest and she did not suffer overmuch.”

Harry looked at their professor. “Dumbledore said that you commanded DEATH. Can you find out how she handled her death? I know that it would settle Ron.”

She looked to the wizard in anger that he knew one of her secrets as she silently thought “Legilimens” and went through the young wizard’s memory of the past few days. The Headmaster had come clean before his death trying to ensure his trust in the Snapes. She removed her presence from him and looked at him for a few moments.

“Learn anything important?” Harry asked sarcastically

“Watch your tone Harry Potter! I am one of only two people that can help you right now. My bond to DEATH is not necessarily reciprocal at times.” She growled out. “The walk to the Veil is a private one for DEATH and the witch or wizard alone. I will ask, but I cannot promise that DEATH will answer.”

She looked to the students as she stated. “My Lord DEATH, I have need of you.” She intoned, the students hearing the reverence in her voice.

DEATH appeared. “What do you need of me Little One?”

She pointed to Ron. “This is the son of one you have recently escorted. I think it will help the cause if you could answer him.”

DEATH looked at his bonded coldly. It must be important to her as DEATH knew she would never ask of it. “Very well Little One. Depending on the question, I will answer if I can.”

Sara looked at the red headed wizard. “Ask your question Mr. Weasley.”

Ron asked in a low voice. “Was my mum peaceful, or was she hurt….I mean I want to know how she felt…I am not asking what I want very well.” He stuttered.

Sara held up her hand “Stop. DEATH understands what you need.” Watching as DEATH wrote upon a parchment.

DEATH walked to stand in front of the young wizard, holding the parchment out and it flared into view as Death released it, watching it dropped to the ground.

“That should appease the young wizard Little One. Until we meet again….” DEATH faded from view.

Ron kneeled down and picked up the parchment in trepidation. Reading it, he sobbed in relief as he handed the parchment to Hermione to read.

“The witch known as Molly Weasley did die as peacefully as she could despite her circumstance. Professor Severus Snape proclaimed to her that he was still loyal to the Order and promised to look after you and your friends just before he killed her. She was comforted by that fact as we began the walk to the Veil. Her only worry was about how her family would handle her death.”

Hermione handed the parchment to Harry as tears filled her eyes.

Sara looked to the sobbing wizard. “My brother had no choice. If he refused he would have been killed and would not be of any use to you for the future. You understand that Mr. Weasley? I was surprised that DEATH actually answered you. I hope it brings you peace.”

Ron looked at his professor and nodded. The tactician within him understood about sacrifice to further a cause.

Sara looked to the group coldly. “What are your plans? It was well for you to remain where you were, so close to where you originally ran from the train. If you had moved, you would have surely been killed at and travelled to the Veil by now.”

Harry said. “It was Ron’s suggestion that we stay.”

Sara looked in approval to Mr. Weasley. “Well done! You have been here three days already. Stay another seven. By then, the search will be called off and Voldemort will be confident that you are dead Mr. Potter.”

She conjured up a map and charmed it to reveal their location, and a destination. “You are in the middle of the wilderness, and already cleverly deduced that only of age magic can be performed. Travel at night and sleep during the day. The map will keep you oriented and indicate rest and stop points. Do not ignore them! I have a copy of your map, and when I see that you are close, I will arrange muggle transportation for you to somewhere safe.”

She looked to the Trio, voice cold and hard. “There will probably be a few deaths, as this is an unforgiving trek and will be hard on the younger ones. Prepare yourself for that and do not feel guilty.” She handed the map to Mr. Weasley.

“There are supplies and gear in this tent to help you. Have your fellow students move them to your tent, as idle hands can be dangerous. Use the next seven days to prepare yourselves.” She indicated that the meeting was over. “Mrs. Snape, may I have a word with you?”

Harry and Ron left the tent not remarking on the address of their friend.

“You have questions for me Mrs. Snape? Those of a personal type that you did not want to ask in front of your friends?” The cold witch looked to her.

Hermione looked nervous. “Sara, how is Severus?”

She looked to the young witch. “Hermione, your Bond healed my brother’s soul greatly before you left. But understand, he had to torture and murder, and the darkness came back to him joyfully. I take it that the Bond has sealed itself to both of you?”

Hermione nodded as Sara continued. “That was to be expected. It was to protect yourself from one another. Do not worry Mrs. Snape. It is still there, and once this business is finished, he can be healed again. But understand my brother is now much the same wizard at start of term.”

“Hermione, I would love to stay and chat more, but I really have to go now. Do you have a message to pass on? I will deliver it to him as I need to meet with him to discuss plans.” She asked.

Hermione quickly penned out a letter to parchment and handed it to Sara. She watched as her teacher tucked it into her robes.

“Good Luck Mrs. Snape for you will need it. Until we meet again.”

Hermione ran and hugged the dark witch not noticing her flinch as she pushed Hermione away. “Thank you for everything you have done for us.”

Sara watched as Hermione walked away as she called out. “After this trek you are about to undertake, you will not be as thankful later.”

She Apparated from the forest, her next destination Spinner’s End.

&&&&&&&&

Severus and Draco were working in the small lab at Spinner’s End when they heard a knock at the door.

Draco looked to his Godfather in fear as he heard him growl something unintelligible as he put the potions into stasis.

Severus looked to the young wizard. “Save your fear of discovery Draco. There is only two that can approach my house.”

Nonetheless, he approached the door wand in hand and cracked it open, seeing his sister. Opening it wider, he motioned the witch in and closed the door behind her.

“Greetings Brother.” She stated as she removed her outer robes covered with snow.

“Sara, what brings you to our humble abode? You look like you have been trekking in the wilderness.” He drawled as he removed a small branch from her hair.

“Yes, I have been walking in the wilderness and I found a nation wandering.” She looked to him, wondering if he remembered his lessons of their muggle church from his younger days. Sara was not sure if Draco could handle the information she wished to pass.

Severus arched an eyebrow as he realized the group that she was talking about.

“And a prophet guided them?” He asked.

“You could say that.” She replied as she eyed Draco.

Her brother looked to her. “He must know, in case that we die leaving him alone.”

Sara looked to Draco. “Young snake, are you prepared to protect Harry Potter even to your own death?

“I am, especially if Hermione Granger is involved.” Draco solemnly replied.

“Hermione Snape.” She absently replied as she watched for her brother’s reaction.

Draco looked to his godfather questioningly as he spat out. “Yes, we are married.”

Sara looked to the young Slytherin. “This is a very serious game that we play Draco. It is a balance of life or death, possibly your own. Can you still play this game? If not, leave now!”

“I can play it!” Draco angrily replied.

Sara suddenly pointed her wand and silently incanted “Legilamens!” As she tried to enter his mind, she felt herself thrown back as the young wizard smirked.

“Very well young Draco. Severus, do you have a penseive? It would be easier to show you versus explain it to you.”

Severus removed himself from the living room, bringing out the stone bowl. Sara removed a copy of her memories and placed it in the stone bowl.

“Review!”! She commanded as she watched the wizards review it.

After a while, they both came out of the penseive.

“Draco, leave us! I need to talk to my brother alone.” Draco looked to the siblings as he made his way to his bedroom.

“So, they know my acts!” He snarled at her.

Yes, brother. And very accepting of it with DEATH’s reply. You saw it!” She snarled back.

She conjured up a copy of the map that she had provided to Mr. Weasley. “This is their journey. I have made sure they arrive at a muggle town. What happens next is up to you. Fight the Darkness brother! Your Bonded is involved. That and the life of your unborn daughter!”

Sara continued. “Hermione will bear the next heir to the House of Prince. And what do you think will happen to us all when I bear a male untitled wizard to the Dark Lord?” She ruthlessly entered her brother’s mind and sent a vision of her joining with the Dark Lord.

Severus fell to his knees, watching how the Dark Lord took his sister. “Sara...” He began.

“It is nothing Severus!” Sara coldly told him. “I merely wanted to let you know.”

She handed him the parchment from his Bonded. “This is from Hermione. Her only concern was about you. Your well being, and not of the deaths that you caused!” Sara left his house without a backward glance.

He watched his sister leave as he read the parchment from his Bonded.

My Dearest Severus.

I hope that this parchment finds you well as Sara promised that she would deliver it. I know that you had to do as the Dark Lord commanded. We found that out as Molly travelled to the Veil in peace. Your words to her, despite what you had to do to her gave her peace in her death, my love. I know that with the acts that you have to do will change you. I vowed that I would travel the road with you, and it has not changed. Even if you change and I cannot be with you, know that I am still with you. I know of the darkness within you. I can only hope that my promise will remind you of what we have. And if not and I survive, your daughter will live, and I will make sure she knows her father.

All my Love, Hermione Snape

Severus remained on the floor, feeling the love of Hermione as the darkness fought to take him over.

&&&&&

All the students brought over the boxes of supplies, and noticed boxes addressed to individual witches and wizards. Mr. Donaldson of Slytherin shouted out with glee as he opened up his box and passed out his mother’s special cake. “You will never eat a cake better than this!”

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked to the group as the young Slytherin passed the cake around as the rest of the students took a piece with caution.

They watched as Seamus cautiously tasted the cake and exclaimed. “This is the best cake I have ever tasted!” The rest of the students began to eat as the young Slytherin looked to them in pride. “I told you so!”

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked to one another. This was Professor’s Snape’s way to ease the information that they would tell their fellow students tomorrow. Training would begin in earnest when they woke up.