A Song for Severus ~ (Not Update, but Edit)

Chapter 7 ~ On Another Path

After rechecking the book of Potions, Volaria carefully added Tannis root to the brew she working on. Luckily, it only required three hours to finish. It was a hair restoring potion. The bald patch in her head was not filling in, and the witch was determined she wouldn’t go bald like her brother.

She was in the lab set aside for her and Voltaire to use. There was another larger lab, but Aunt Bella kept it securely warded. They weren’t allowed in there. But the witch kept this lab well stocked and both Volaria and Voltaire were allowed to utilize it. Voltaire was not into Potions however. He preferred Charms. Volaria realized early that it would be wise to be well rounded and learn as many magical disciplines as possible.

She also realized that it might not be good to let Aunt Bellatrix know what she was learning or how much. At thirteen years of age, Volaria was already an animagus. The library in the stronghold was quite extensive, and Bella updated it with new books every year, particularly the revised texts being used at Hogwarts each year. While skimming through a book of spells and spell types, she had run across the term “Animagus” in her reading. She discovered that an animagus was a witch or wizard that could turn into an animal form. She also discovered there was no spell to effect such a transformation. Curious, she prowled the library until she found “The Big Book of Transformation” which described the process of discovering the animagus form, and the practices that would make that form manifest. Much of it involved hours of meditation and focus, getting in touch with the inner self and establishing without a doubt that one was more than what they appeared to be. In other words, you had to first believe you could change, before you did change.

Because of their inability to suspend their belief, many witches and wizards could not become animagi. But Volaria was a dreamer, and it was easy to imagine herself as something else. She often dreamed of being someplace else to deal with being in the enclave and under the protection of her cruel aunt…this was just a step up.

When Volaria first transformed, it was frightening…if not very impressive. She was no stag, or dog, or lion or anything cool like that. In fact, her animagus form was quite vulnerable and well, weak. The best thing that could be said about it was that it could fly…and even then, not too quickly.

Volaria’s animagus form was a mosquito. A tiny little mosquito. To be fair, she was larger than male mosquitoes because she was female, but she couldn’t even buzz. Still, she could change into something, though she didn’t know what good it could do.

As she lowered the heat on the cauldron, Volaria went over her situation in her mind. What Aunt Bella was doing to them was wrong. She had told Volaria about her father and he sounded absolutely horrible, killing witches and witches simply because they were born from people who had no magic. They were called “muggle-borns” and were the children of muggles, who were like squibs.

Volaria couldn’t understand why she should hate people like that, even though Bellatrix told her they were an abomination against nature. Volaria had read biology books and the theory of evolution, and it seemed common for nature to change creatures in order for them to evolve into something better, more suited to their environment. If nature were creating muggle-borns, there must be a reason for them. They shouldn’t be killed.

Yet Aunt Bella wanted both her and Voltaire to be just like their father. Voltaire was like him. He was cruel and enjoyed killing. He wanted to be a ruler and take over the world and have the power to kill who he wanted. Volaria knew very little about the outside world, but felt a ruler like her father would ruin it. She also knew her Aunt Bella was disappointed in her.

Volaria suspected that she might even kill her, or let Voltaire kill her because she was powerful but didn’t want what they wanted. She was a bright little witch, despite being so sheltered. Living with Bellatrix LeStrange made one focus on self-preservation, no matter the age.

Volaria had another problem. Three years ago, Voltaire began to change. He had been a good looking boy, with dark hair and dark eyes. Then Bella began to give him some kind of potion, an elixir that made him very sick sometimes, and slowly began to physically change him. Volaria suspected it changed him inside too, because he was meaner than ever. First Voltaire's skin became very dry and patchy. He itched all the time and Jordan had to make potions to apply to his skin. Now it was all scaly looking and his hair had all fallen out. He started looking more and more like his father. Even his voice had changed, but not in the normal manner. Instead of becoming lower it became a bit higher. And the worst part was his eyes…they were a dark crimson now, and seemed to be getting redder as time passed.

Now that she was thirteen, Bella tried to get her to start taking the elixir, but Volaria told her she didn’t want to look like Voltaire. He was hideous. This statement started a furious duel between the two half-siblings, which Bellatrix didn’t stop until it was clear Volaria was getting the better of Voltaire.

“You would give up power because of your vanity?” Bella hissed at her. “Power is better than beauty.”

”So why don’t you drink it?” Volaria spat at her before running from the room.

The truth was Bella was too frightened to drink the elixir herself. She didn’t want to chance dying, and besides, no one was as vain as Bella when it came to her looks. She didn’t want to look like Voldemort either. She wanted to rule with her beauty intact.

Since Volaria was being difficult about taking the elixir, at first Bella utilized Voltaire’s ability to goad the witch into action initially. It had worked before.

“You are such a coward,” he said to her as they stood in the kitchen, Volaria hedging about drinking the elixir, “When I was thirteen, I drank the elixir with no problem. Witches are so weak.”

”I am not weak,” Volaria argued, drinking down the diluted elixir in the glass in front of her to prove it, Bella smiling to herself. Nothing like peer pressure.

But Volaria became very sick. It felt as if her insides were twisting around and the blood in her veins was on fire. The young witch screamed intermittently for several hours before the pain went away, Voltaire appearing at the door of her bedroom and telling her to shut up over and over again.

After that, Volaria refused to take the elixir, or to be goaded into taking it. So Bella began to slip it into drinks, adding extra sugar in an attempt to cover the taste. It seemed that heat made the elixir impotent, so it couldn’t be added to Volaria’s food.

Once again Volaria became very sick, and this time a large patch of her blond hair fell out. That was it. The witch refused to drink anything other than plain water now. Bella was almost at her broom’s end. Voltaire mentioning he might have to kill his sister sounded like a perfect solution. If Volaria would not complete the transformation, she was of no use to Bella, and expendable.

The brew complete, Volaria turned off the flame under the cauldron with a flick of her finger. She didn’t own a wand. She didn’t need one. With a wave of her hand she cooled the elixir, then picked up a mirror and held it so she could see her bald patch.

“There you are,” she breathed, looking at the exposed skin.

Using the back of a spoon, Volaria applied the thick potion in a gob on the patch. She felt some tingling, then hair suddenly sprouted from the spot quickly, filling it in nicely. The only problem was it was snow white.

Volaria scowled for a moment, then shrugged. It was hair at least.

She studied herself. Actually, it looked kind of cool.

She quickly cleaned up the lab area, putting everything in its proper place then exited the lab, heading for the library, then the Room of Requirement. She was teaching herself more powerful defensive spells.

Volaria had looked in on one of Voltaire’s charms lessons, which Bella held in the arena. She watched as Voltaire blasted several large chunks of granite into dust in quick succession almost effortlessly. Bella praised, embraced and kissed him in delight as Voltaire grinned stupidly at her attentions.

Volaria had a feeling that she might need those defensive spells soon.

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Severus sat in Devon Rosier’s office, his eyes wide with incredulity.

“You want me to what?” he asked Devon.

“To recreate the elixir that transformed Tom Riddle into Voldemort. We have decided to create a new Dark Lord to unify and lead us. It is time to rise to power again, Severus,” Rosier said.

Severus stared at the wizard, his mind working quickly. If he were to agree to do this, it would most likely force Bellatrix to surface, and even to expose the child she had in an attempt to place him on the throne before another was chosen. With the boy out in the open, Albus and the Order would be free to move in and capture the remaining Death Eaters and charge them with attempting to overthrow the wizarding government.

He would finally be free.

Severus’ black eyes rested on Devon.

“I believe you are right, Devon. We are too scattered and are accomplishing nothing. It is time for us to act. I will create the elixir. It will take some time, however,” Severus said, “But I must warn you, it could be fatal to whoever takes it if his constitution is not strong enough.”

Devon nodded.

“We have time. The new Dark Lord will be chosen through duels to the death and the top two contenders will fight to overcome each other, rather than kill each other. The winner will take the elixir, the loser kept as backup, in case the first should die. If both die, then we will start the process over again,” Rosier replied.

Severus doubted anyone would come forward a second time, especially to fight to the death and win only to possibly be killed by the elixir. Anyway, by that time, Bellatrix most likely will have come forward with the boy. Severus wondered how powerful he was. The wizard’s mind began to percolate again…he might be able to take advantage of Bellatrix’s rage and see the boy before anyone else. Find out how far along he was in regards to power.

“Very well, Devon. I will get to work on it as soon as feasible,” Severus said, “However…”

”However?” Devon said frowning. He had suspected the Potions Master would want something in exchange for his services.

“I need a trinket,” Severus said, not meaning a trinket at all.

“A trinket?” Devon repeated.

“Yes. A necklace, ring, something…for a witch,” Severus replied.

Devon looked surprised. Severus Snape wanting jewelry for a witch? He thought the wizard was impotent. Hm. Maybe that's why he needed a trinket.

“Well, I could give you a nice deal on…” Devon began.

Severus shook his head.

“No. You will give me what I want, Devon. You are asking much of me. It is a small price to pay to regain power,” Severus said.

Devon scowled.

“But your position will be assured in the new regime, Severus. As Potions Master to the new Dark Lord, you will have much respect and power among the ranks,” Devon said.

“I will also be utilized as a spy again, Devon. Which also means I may find myself in the position of being ‘punished’ again,” the wizard said darkly. “If I am risking being striped again, then I want something substantial to warrant it.”

Devon looked at Severus evenly. He remembered the Dark Lord’s brutal tortures on his person. It was a miracle the wizard even survived. What the Potions Master was asking for wasn’t unreasonable, and would hardly make a dent in Devon’s holdings. He was extremely rich.

“Very well,” he said rising. “Let me take you to my private showroom. You may choose whatever ‘trinket’ you like.”

Severus nodded, then rose, following Devon through a heavily warded door. They entered a room full of glass display cases, full of finely crafted jewelry.

“Feel free to browse. Every one of these pieces is one of a kind,” Devon said proudly.

The Potions Master slowly perused the offerings. He stopped in front of a case that held a small platinum charm bracelet. Tiny diamonds were set in the bracelet and there were two types of charms attached, each different and finely crafted.

“What’s the story behind this piece?” Severus asked Devon who walked up and gave a wan smile.

“That charm bracelet was crafted for the unlikely situation that a Slytherin and a Gryffindor would find themselves involved,” he replied.

The charms were serpents and lions. Some serpents were coiled with fangs showing, others in a state of repose, mouths closed and staring with glittering emerald eyes. They were all made of silver, while the lions were made of gold, some snarling and claws extended, others sitting majestically, glaring outward, their eyes made of diamond.

Severus considered it.

“Let me take a look at that one,” he said.

This little gift ought to smooth things over with Hermione quite nicely.

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A/N: Whoo…I’m fried. No notes on this one other to say that Evan Rosier has been changed to Devon Rosier, because I can't (well not this time) bring back the dead. lol. Thanks for reading.