Of Death and Fire

encounters


CHAPTER 7: Close Encounters in the Darkness
 Authors notes: I chose to follow the film's chain of events, rather than the book's. It just fits better with my storyline.
 
 
The next morning found Morgaine with a stiff neck and aching bones, as a result to a night of unrefreshing sleep. Slowly she raised herself from the bed, realizing she had slept fully clothed and on top of the covers. She sat at the edge of the bed, trying to collect her thoughts. Looking at her watch, she saw that she had to start moving if she wanted to be in time for breakfast.
She picked up her bag and emptied the contents on the bed. She had few possessions; life at the Guild was practically Spartan. A few changes of plain underwear, a couple of everyday dresses, few worn out T-shirts and a pair of old jeans, all black. She picked out one of the dresses, her basic hygiene supplies and entered the shower. The cool water restored some of her stamina, as well as some of her good mood. She slipped the dress over her head and stood before the mirror, attempting to bring order to the chaos that was her hair.
And then she stood in surprise, staring at her own reflection. All her years in the Guild, she had hardly paid any attention to herself. The mirror was just an instrument to check if her hair and garments were in order; but back here, in Hogwarts, what was once her worse nightmare became an object of true wonder. She raised her hand to her cheek, passed it over her lips and down her neck. No wonder they couldn't recognize me, she thought. I hardly recognize myself. For years, all she could see in the mirror was a skinny teenager with freckled face and dull hair, not acknowledging the changes her body was going through.
She took a few steps back, letting her eyes examine the rest of her body. In her mind echoed the words of her aunt Leonin, the day she had cried in her arms at the banks of the Enchanted Lake. "You'll be beautiful and dangerous as the lightning and the storm", she had said. Morgaine hadn't really heard her then, deep in her sorrow. And yet, Leonin had spoken the truth. She smiled approvingly at her figure, and frowned at the plainness of her dress. Maybe it was time to do some shopping...
She left her chambers and made her way to the Main Hall. The familiar scents of the morning air brought a tide of memories, not all of them pleasant, but she savored each one of them. As she joined the others for breakfast, she was in a very good mood.
She took a seat next to Hagrid, much to Dumbledore's disapproval, who thought that her high rank in the Guild was worthy of a better seat. But even he could not resist her sweet smile, and her desire to choose an old friendship over hierarchy. Hagrid was ecstatic, and the breakfast time passed by quickly, in whispering gossip over the rest of the staff. Snape ignored her completely, but in this morning's blissful atmosphere she couldn't have cared less.
The rest of the day went by fast, starting with the arrival of the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. Seeing Lockheart as the other newcomer, she couldn't help but agree with Snape. This would probably lead to disaster. However, most of the younger female staff members seemed to be fascinated by him while he, in return, seemed fascinated by her. She spent a good deal of time trying to avoid him, much to Hagrid's amusement. She toyed with the idea of unleashing a horde of smelly little demons on him, but then decided to keep the "heavy artillery" for future use. No reason to start the year with the "wrong foot".
Then the entsents started to arrive, and the hallways and Main Hall were filled with the familiar sounds of children's voices. As the memories kept racing through her head, she sat silently during the Sorting Hat ceremony of the first graders. Her excitement was such that hardly a bite came down her throat. She drunk from her cup of white wine occasionally, replying laconically to Hagrid's comments. Much to her amusement, she realized that her presence had stirred quite a few conversations among the students, and a great deal of stares.
~*~
She was on her way to the dungeons, as she heard voices from the stairs below. Two young boys, having arrived late, had just had an unfortunate encounter with Mr. Filch. Two young Gryffindors, by the names of Weasley and Potter. So, this is the famous Harry Potter, she thought to herself, and then frowned seeing that Filch led them to Snape's office.
Feeling a bit like a snitch, she started climbing the stairs to the Headmaster's chambers, when she met both him and McGonagall, obviously aware of the situation. After telling them of what she had heard, she followed them to the dungeon. She could hear Snape's angry voice from the distance.
"If you were Slytherin, you'd be expelled right this minute!"
Much to the boys' relief, Dumbledore's intervention brought an end to the incident. But she could clearly see that for Snape it was not over, not at all. Not to mention that he seemed very annoyed of her presence there. The Headmaster turned to her.
"Morgaine, please escort these two young Gryffindors to their tower, making sure they won't get into additional trouble", he asked.
As she turned to leave, he felt Snape's poisonous stare burning her back. Oh, boy, she thought. I can smell trouble.
~*~
The walk to the boys' dormitories was an uneventful and rather pleasant one. The ice was soon broken, and they asked her all kind of questions regarding her presence at the school. Quite amused, she replied politely to most of them, trying to keep a certain distance at the same time.
After she dropped them off, she walked back to her own room, longing for a night of rest. Her encounter with the two boys had left a warmth inside her. It was very refreshing to talk to other human beings for once, lively, frisky boys, instead of undead spirits and wrinkled old Summoners. Savoring that unique feeling, she left her guard down, failing to notice a presence close to her.
~*~
A black figure jumped out of the shadows, grabbed her shoulders and pinned her against the cold wall.
"Who do you think you are?" he heard and angry voice hiss in her ear.
It took all of Morgaine's control to keep her sheltering spirits from tearing him to pieces. Angry at herself for letting her guard down, dazed by the sudden attack and fighting hard to still her ghosts, she tried to identify her stalker. Well, she thought, what a surprise. Professor Snape himself.
"Who do you think you are, you little snitch?" he demanded again. He was standing so close to her she could smell his scent, a faint mixture of sweat, brandy and exotic potions' ingredients. For a minute, the necromancer faded and the teenage girl with trembling knees surfaced again. Taking her silence as fear, he continued bullying her.
"It seems you've missed the point, Ms Greenleaf. Never again undermine my authority! Never again cross my path, or-"
Feeling the anger flooding her veins, she mentally kicked her teenage self back in her hole, shook his hands of her and met his gaze.
"Or what, Professor Snape?" she cut his phrase. "And what do you think I am? Still a school girl you can intimidate?" She steadied herself and looked him right in his eyes. "I'm a necromancer, and a verod ood one, in case you don't know. And", she added with a vicious smile, "I'm never really alone, you know".
He suddenly took notice of the shadows dancing around them, and backed up a step. Still not willing to give up, he warned in a low voice.
"Your tricks don't scare me, witch. I'm not a novice either. And you'd better not cross my path again."
Before she could speak another word, he turned and vanished into the dark corridor. Morgaine stood there, her heart racing in her chest, her hands shaking. She let herself lean against the wall, still fighting to keep her spiritsbay.bay. She inhaled slowly, taking control of her rapid heartbeat. Alone in the darkness, she attempted an evaluation of the incident.
First of all, she should have not let her guard down. By now she should be aware that there's no such think as safety. Her companion spirits were a bit of a trouble, too. Among wizards and witches of no related experience, not to mention children, it would lead to disaster. As for her own response, she thought she handled it rather well. But she refused to admit that, as he stood so close to her, all she really wanted was to kiss him.
~*~
Passing her chambers, she moved deeper into the dungeon, entering the Crypt. She stood for a while among the dusted sarcophagi, savoring the felling of being home. Then she took a silver dagger out of her right sleeve. Hardy a competent weapon, but perfect for her purpose. She drove the blade on her palm, watching as the warm blood sprung from the wound. She threw the crimson drops around her, summoning her dead.
The shadows around her took shape, drawn to the fresh blood.
"We're heree, misstresss.... Command uss as you willll"...
"What news have you got for me, my pets?' she asked in a loving voice.
"Dangerrr... withinnn theseee wallsss... Deaddd, and yet livinggg"...
"Bewaree of thee great Serpent, Mistessss... It wantsss to kill"...
Alarmed, she asked: "Any more you can tell me on this?"
"We daree not, mosst loved onee"...
"But wee ssee thisss: A man"...
"Twoo men, one enemyyy"....
"They lussst for youuu.... Give the to usss, our Ladyyy... Let usss feed on their flesssh and bonesss, feasst off their sssemen and drink their blooddd"...
"Enough!" she demanded. "You will do as you are told! From this moment on, you will no longer live within my aura. You'll remain in this crypt, unless I summon you". Feeling their despair, she added in a tender voice: "Fear not, my pets. I'll be visit you often, to speak and to feed you".
Sealing her promise, she cut both her wrists with her dagger. As the spirits hungrily devoured her blood, she threw back her face, with a smile of unspoken bliss.