Life Begins Anew

Sara took her seat at the end of the table next to Hagrid as the punishment to Gryffindor began, narrowing her eyes at the punishment of Miss. Weasley. She noticed the look and action of her fellow Death Eater and entered his mind, seeing the plans he had for the young witch. She would have to talk to the Headmaster about this and catch up on the last three days as she had been away in the Dark Lord’s service.

She was impressed that Neville did not allow the humiliation of being publicly undressed. Merlin, the hate and anger the boy had for her brother. Slipping into his mind she saw that the darkness had been able to take hold of the boy. He was at the same state that her brother had been in at the start of his seventh year. Sara knew the boy’s history of being picked on by most of the students, including her brother, as instead of truly teaching the boy his mistakes in Potions, he cut the boy down in front of his peers after every cauldron explosion. Mr. Longbottom was ripe for a takeover by the darkness. And the darkness had been allowed into the school when the Carrows joined the staff. She ate her meal, turning over her thoughts on the two Gryffindors as she watched her brother exit the hall without eating.

Severus sat at his desk waiting for his staff to arrive. He did not have to wait long as he told the Gargoyle to let them in.

The professors entered and went to the tea caddy to make a cup and then sat into the chairs that were placed in front of the Headmasters desk, Alecto and Amycus looking expectant as the rest of the staff did not look to Snape.

“Complaints?” Severus asked the group.

Minerva looked to the Headmaster, anger flashing in her eyes. “I do Headmaster, and it concerns the Dark Arts class. Students have arrived at my class with the after effects of the Cruciatus curse Headmaster. I have had to send them to the Infirmary and it puts my curriculum behind.”

“Alecto, you were supposed to follow Professor Snape’s outline, and I know that curse is not to be covered until the end of the month.” The Headmaster growled out.

“Bah Headmaster!” Alecto sneered. “Professor Snape’s outline is trash. It is time that the students were taught how things truly are in life and not the trollop that she calls a class!” Standing up to the Headmaster and not noticing that Sara was onto her in a flash, pushing her onto the ground with her wand pointed at her neck with one hand as her other hand slowly began to squeeze the thin witch’s neck.

The rest of the staff jumped out of their seats amazed at the speed and action of the Dark Arts master, watching as the witch struggled to breathe.

“Alecto, I do not care for your views of how I teach my class. And I never allow anyone to criticize me in front of fellow staff members. This is your last action in your pathetic life witch. You can explain it to the Veil when you get there.” She coldly told the witch as the struggles lessened.

Sara noticed that DEATH stood in the room patiently waiting the outcome.

Severus leapt over his desk and grabbed his sister, unable to pull her away from the weakly moving witch. He pointed his wand and uttered a spell to break his sister’s arm as she howled out in pain, releasing the witch.

Sara stood up and joined the professors as they looked at the body, watching the Headmaster check for a pulse and pounded on the witch’s chest. They watched as Alecto took in a ragged breath.

“Madame Pomfrey, pick up Professor Carrow and hold my hand.” Severus snarled out. “All of you stay here until I get back to finish this fiasco of a staff meeting.” Apparating the healer and Alecto to the Infirmary.

DEATH watched in mirth. Sara certainly had not changed. “Little One, I am glad to see that your skills have not gone to waste.”

Her fellow professors looked to her in confusion as she spoke out. “As if Lord. See me later as we need to talk.” Watching DEATH fade away.

Turning her back to the group, Sara walked over to the desk and took a bottle of fire whiskey with her good hand and filled up a large glass with the amber liquid. She tossed back the drink in one gulp and slammed the glass down causing it to crack. Whirling, she faced Amycus with her wand pointed to him. “Do you share the same views as your sister Professor Carrow?” She coldly asked him.

Amycus looked into her cold obsidian eyes as he held up his hands. “I assure you that I do not have anything to say as I teach Muggle Studies.” Backtracking as he looked up to her in anger.

Suddenly the Headmaster appeared in the room. “Professor Snape put away your wand.” Sitting at his desk. “Minerva, I believe your complaint has been addressed adequately as Professor Snape is back.” Looking to the older witch and waiting for a reply.

She shook her head in agreement. “Very well, any other complaints other than the Post?”

The group shook their heads as the Headmaster continued the staff meeting. After thirty minutes the Headmaster released the staff. “Sara, Amycus stay behind.” The Headmaster coldly commanded.

Severus followed the group out and locked the door as Amycus protested. “Why Snape? I’ve not done anything!”

“Yet.” Snape replied cryptically. “I suggest you finish that bottle. You will stay here until I return.” Pressing his Mark and Apparated away.

“Does your arm hurt much?” Amycus eyed the badly broken arm of Sara.

“Immensely Amycus, but it is going to be nowhere near the pain we will suffer when my brother gets back.” She barked out a laugh at the look of surprise on the wizard’s face. “Severus cannot punish a fellow Death Eater, only the Dark Lord can. He has surely gone to report the events of tonight and you know as well as I do that we are in the shit right now.”

Fuck! Amycus thought to himself. Had the snake been reading his thoughts? He grabbed the bottle of fire whiskey and began to drink, not bothering to use a glass as he heard the barking laugh of Sara Snape sound out in the room.

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

The muggle students were making good time, especially as they got passed the last night of trekking in the snow.

Harry watched as the students built shelters out of the brush and settled in for the day as the medics checked them over before retiring themselves. They had doubled the distance doing twenty miles a night. He pushed them hard as he realized the longer they were in the forest, the more danger they would be in. Once they got to civilization and to wherever the Snape’s safe house was, they could eventually scatter and become lost in the Muggle world.

Harry motioned to Hermione, Ron, Bootstray and Slightly to follow him as he walked away from the main group.

He sat down and leaned against a tree. “What are Sara’s plans for us when we get to town Mr. Bootstray?”

“It’s just Bootstray Harry. Sara is responsible for the trek out of the wilderness. It is Professor Snape’s responsibility after that.” He replied

Hermione spoke out suddenly. “Severus told me that I would be in Sanctuary but still be in danger.”

Ron looked to her. “You saw Snape! When?” The red headed wizard demanded of her.

“Ummm…” Hermione started.

Harry held up his hand. “It doesn’t matter. Sanctuary you say? When I hear that word spoken, I think of churches.”

Hermione looked to Harry in surprise as it clicked. “We will be going to the church that I was married in. Remember the head priest there is a squib Harry.”

“What’s a church?” Ron asked, glaring at the group as they laughed as Slightly explained the concept.

“Muggles are strange.” He growled out as he left the group to get some sleep.

“You know of my Bond to Severus.” Looking to the two assassins. “It closed on me last night and that usually means he is in the presence of Voldemort. I know you are connected to Sara. What does your connection tell you?”

Slightly looked to Bootstray and sighed as he began to tell her of the events of last night.

&&&&&&

Severus Apparated back into his office with Alecto in tow. He pointed his wand to Amycus and Sara, dressing them into the proper robes and mask of Death Eaters. Amycus gasped out as he saw Sara in the robes of one of the Inner Circle. “Grab my arm!” Severus commanded as he pressed his Mark to take them into the presence of the Dark Lord.

They appeared in front of Lord Voldemort and immediately fell to the floor bowing as respectfully as they could.

“Rise Severus.” The Dark Lord commanded. Severus rose and stood next to the Dark Lord.

“Only three days, and already trouble.” Voldemort looked to his followers. “Rise Alecto and look to me.” The witch screamed out in pain as the Dark Lord looked through her mind.

He commanded the same of the other two and went back to his throne deep in thought as he called the Inner Circle to him. He was secretly pleased at the actions of Sara, for she was similar to him in many ways. That was why he chose her to bear his heir. Still, she passed propriety when she tried to kill a fellow Death Eater on her own.

“Wormtail!” Voldemort called out as he rose from his throne. “Get the whip from my weapons chamber.” Wormtail immediately left the room to fulfill the request as Voldemort chuckled as the witches and wizard before him began to shake in fear, for they knew what that whip could do.

Wormtail brought the whip in and reverently handed it to his master and left to stand beside the rest of the Inner Circle.

“So Alecto! I told you and your brother to obey Severus as he was in charge. Now the professors in Hogwarts see a rebellion of his fellow Death Eaters towards him.” Alecto began to protest as Voldemort held up his hand. “All the professors know whom you owe allegiance to. I placed you there to subtly remind them it is useless to rebel, and yet you did. Now the professors will remember that and possibly gather to attack the Headmaster, thwarting my plans for the school.” He angrily snapped the whip red eyes flashing as he held his hand up and stripping the witches and wizard of their clothes.

“Severus, Wormtail hold Alecto.” He commanded as he watched the wizards grab Alecto’s arms and held her still as the rest of the Inner Circle looked on. Voldemort flicked the whip and began his punishment. Alecto passed out ten minutes into the punishment as the Dark Lord continued to strike her with the whip.

Voldemort finished the punishment and looked to Sara. “No one in my ranks kills a fellow Death Eater, not even one with the privileges of the Inner Circle. It is only I that can command that. And she was dead until your brother revived her.” He glared at her.

“I understand My Lord and am sorry to disappoint you.” Sara humbly replied. “But it is within my nature to kill those who oppose or question me My Lord. I will strive not kill my fellow Death Eaters and come to you in the future if there is a disagreement.”

Severus and Wormtail held her, exposing Sara’s back to him. “Turn her around. I need to make a statement to her fellow professors.” He snapped the whip and began her punishment, striking her face and breast, making sure that he did not go near where his heir was growing inside her body. She lasted twenty minutes until she passed out sagging as the wizards held her up as the Dark Lord continued his punishment.

Voldemort threw down the whip. “Severus, take her to the castle and heal her. You will make sure that the wounds on her face are not healed as I want to make a statement to her fellow professors.”

As you will My Lord.” Severus humbly replied as he picked up his sister.

“These two will join you later. Their classes are cancelled tomorrow.” As he held his hand up sending the Cruciatus curse to Amycus.

Severus walked out of the hall carrying his naked sister, listening to the screams of Amycus Carrow. Soon he was far enough away so that he could Apparate back to Hogwarts.

He quickly conjured up a bed in the middle of his office and placed her upon it, hearing the portraits gasp out as the glamour left her body revealing the old scars amongst the new injuries. Her whole body was covered in thick scars that were obviously old and not healed with magic.

Severus attended to her, rubbing healing paste on her breast and neck watching the wounds fade to an angry red scar. He took a wet cloth and wiped the blood from her face.

He looked down at her naked form. Merlin! There was not one part of her body that was free of a scar. And he thought his scars were bad.

Severus pointed his wand to her and whispered “Reinervate!” Watching as his sister came to. He then forced a Pepper Up potion down her throat and stood back to watch her.

Sara stirred and sat up noticing that her glamour was gone and that she was naked in front of her brother. “And now you see the true me and what my Bond to DEATH entailed during my training.” She snarled out as she stood up to face him nakedness be damned. “Now maybe you can understand why I want to die.”

Severus handed her a robe and watched as she put it on. “Sara, I was commanded by the Dark Lord not to heal your face. You must appear just as you are. It is supposed to be a lesson to your fellow professors.”

“You have my wand?” She angrily asked as she held out her hand. He gave it to her as he watched the old scars fade away, keeping only the recent injuries to her face.

Severus looked to her as he handed her a large helping of fire whiskey hoping to appease her.

Sara looked to her brother as she sat down in a chair and sipped. “You know of the danger to Miss. Weasley?”

Severus sighed as he sat down at his desk. “I do, and I told the Dark Lord. He was not happy at the revelation.”

Sara drank deeply from her glass. “And what of Neville Longbottom?”

Severus looked deep in thought. “Yes, Mr. Longbottom. He seems to have grown a spine and he will lead a rebellion against me.”

“Severus, with Alecto teaching my class and her ways, she has surely tortured Mr. Longbottom, touching him. There is Darkness within him. I sensed it as he was punished. He is as much as you were in your Seventh Year.”

“You healed Hermione.” He shot back to her.

“Yes, but there is a feeling of oppressiveness in the school now. He is at a state to be healed, but there is no love in his House now, as no one trusts one another. There is no way I can heal him without the true force of Love.”

Severus looked to his sister. “He is going to lead a rebellion against me soon. I know it as he has gathered the remnants of Dumbledore’s Army.”

They heard a knock at the Headmaster’s door. Severus flicked it open, revealing Luna Lovegood.

He motioned her inside and waited for her to speak.

“Headmaster, the Darkness has taken over Neville and you must help him.” She told him in a dreamy voice.

“What makes you think that I can help him Miss. Lovegood?”

“Because you are on our side.” She replied as she took a seat and looked to the wizard and witch expectantly.