Chapter Twenty-Four: Dawn Light Reflected

Chapter Twenty-Four: Dawn Light Reflected

Monday, 9 November – Saturday, 14 November 1998

"So next Saturday, there will be a public presentation ceremony in the Great Hall," the Headmistress said, "and then a smaller dedication in the dungeons after lunch. Any staff who would like to attend the dedication may, but be aware that the space is limited. We will have special public viewing hours for the students later on Saturday after the dedication, although since they are all in residence, they can visit it whenever they wish." She looked over at Severus. "Professor Snape has made it clear to the students in his House that that area of the dungeons is to be . . . an area for all students at all times outside of curfew, not only for Slytherin."

"A harassment-free zone?" Pomona asked, eliciting a few chuckles from some of the other staff at the meeting.

"I would not have put it that way," Minerva said coolly.

"It was not the most felicitous expression," Albus interjected. He smiled genially at Pomona. "I am sure that Pomona only wished to compliment Severus on the strides he has made with his House, and that you, my dear, have made with the school, in reducing any inter-House friction. And, of course, to remark upon the excellent cooperation amongst the Heads of House in resolving conflicts between students in different Houses."

Pomona opened her mouth, but Filius put his hand on her arm, and she closed it.

"Exactly!" the little wizard said. "We can be very happy that we are moving together into the future! A harmonious future!"

Severus coughed, covering what would otherwise have sounded like a snort of derision. Which, in fact, would have been a snort of derision. But he liked Flitwick, and Flitwick did like harmony. He tended to encourage harmony, as well. And given that, in Severus's experience, the opposite of harmony was chaos, and Severus did not like chaos, he did not wish to deride Flitwick's sentiments.

"As I was saying," Minerva continued, "the students may visit the portrait on Saturday after the dedication, and on Sunday, there will be a few hours in the afternoon when members of the public can view the portrait. The prefects will be recruited to escort any guests to the dungeons and back to the front doors so that we don't have random people wandering about the castle. Professor Hagrid and Mr Rath will see to it that the guests are let onto the grounds and into the castle, and Mr Shunpike will be on hand down in the dungeons to keep an eye on things, as well. Any other staff who would like to volunteer to . . . welcome our guests, may do so."

"When is the portrait arriving?" Vector asked. "And may we see her, er, it beforehand?"

"The portrait will arrive on Friday night. Renwick Douglas has tested the animation charms and pronounced the portrait ready, but he has put it back to sleep until it is here at Hogwarts. He plans to activate the portrait on Saturday during the presentation ceremony. That is his usual procedure for public portraits. So although you may certainly see the portrait prior to the ceremony, it will be asleep and not interactive."

After a few more details of the Sunday viewing were discussed...primarily the roles of the prefects and their supervision...Severus was relieved to have Minerva adjourn the meeting.

"Severus, a word if I may?" Minerva said as he gathered up his parchments and prepared to leave.

"Of course, Headmistress," Severus replied with a nod, sitting back down.

"Not here, though. My office?"

"Certainly."

"Meet me there in fifteen minutes, then. I just want to catch Professor Sprout before she reaches her rooms. I have a special role for Mr Bain and Miss Donovan, and I need her to send Bain to me tomorrow morning before his first class. I've already spoken to Miss Donovan when she came to see me on another matter."

Twenty minutes later, Severus was becoming bored with waiting when Minerva came in, out of breath.

"So sorry, Severus. We got talking, and suddenly I realised what the time was! Thank you for waiting."

"Of course."

"I was wondering about the order of the speakers. I had thought to speak first, but just to introduce the speakers and thank everyone for coming. Could you give the first speech? She was in your House..."

"And murdered by members of that same House. I think not, Minerva. I will say a few words at the end, if you wish, but no speech."

"Please, Severus."

He shook his head.

"I do not want to appeal to anything other than your House loyalty, but you do know why she was where she was when she took her last breath."

Severus let out an explosion of breath. "You do not want to appeal to my sense of guilt, but you're willing to do it if you have to, that's what you're saying."

"I simply believe that it would be most appropriate and fitting, particularly as the plaque names you as the first donor. And it would be good for you and for the school if you did."

"I don't know . . ." He always gave in to Minerva; he didn't know why he bothered protesting, he thought with only a little resentment. Then he looked up at her, a glint in his eye. "I will if I can be the first to speak to the portrait. Alone and before the ceremony."

"Renwick is going to activate the charms at the presentation ceremony."

"I don't give a . . . a fig what Renwick has planned. He can put her back to sleep again if he wants. Or she can just pretend, like all of these portraits are doing right now," he replied, gesturing towards the multitude of portraits of previous headmistresses and headmasters. "I want to speak with her."

"Aurora isn't in the portrait," Minerva said gently.

"No, I know that, but you said the charms had been well-done, as well, almost, as they would have been if she had been alive when it was painted. It may not satisfy me, but I want to speak with it. It is going to be hanging just feet away from the Potions classroom and I will have to see it every day. I want to speak with it first. I need to be prepared."

Minerva nodded. "I will speak with Renwick about it, then."

"Good! And I will make your speech, as you wish."

"There's one other thing you can do for me, Severus. If you're planning on going into the Forbidden Forest to . . . to gather potions ingredients again in the next few days, find the centaurs. See if you can speak to Firenze. Let him know about the presentation and dedication. If you don't plan to go, please instruct Hagrid to find them and pass on the message."

"Firenze? I know he was on staff with her, but it is doubtful that he would be interested in attending such an event. He hasn't attended any of the others, none that I remember, anyway."

"This is different. He and Aurora were close. He even allowed Albus to extract some of his memories of her and borrow them for Renwick to use. They were . . . close."

"Close. As in . . . close?" Severus felt a sense of distaste creep over him.

"They were very good friends. They cared for each other very much and spent a lot of time together. Only Renwick viewed the memories that Firenze loaned us, so I do not know what they were, but I believe they were . . . of a tender nature."

Severus swallowed uncomfortably and averted his gaze. "I will find him, then, when next I am in the Forest, and tell him. I suppose I've heard stranger things."

"Thank you, Severus."

He nodded.

"From what I saw, Severus, it was a very sweet relationship, so I hope you don't say anything to Firenze about it."

"Right." To each his own, Severus thought. Or her own. Or its own.

Two days later, Wednesday evening, it was cold but fine, and after dinner, Severus headed out of the castle and into the dark. He was not wandering the Forbidden Forest in search of potions ingredients, as Minerva had supposed, but for another private purpose; however, as long as he was going into the Forest, he would do the opposite of his usual practice: rather than avoiding any area that showed signs that centaurs had been there recently, he would seek them out and follow them in hopes of finding some part of the herd. And put on a brave face and hope that any who he found were in a good mood and well-disposed to speak to him.

Using a lantern rather than just relying on a Lumos, Severus chose one of the easier paths to find and follow in the dark. He heard cracks and snicks and rustles at irregular intervals, and he would stop, stand still, and listen, but the noise would not repeat, and he would hear only the light breeze whispering through the tree branches. Finally, after he had the sense that he was being watched and followed, he stopped.

Feeling a bit foolish, speaking aloud alone in the dark wood, he said, "I have come to speak with Firenze. I have news from the Headmistress of Hogwarts."

He stood and waited, then walked back the way he came, stopping at intervals and repeating, "I have come to speak with Firenze. I have news from the Headmistress of Hogwarts."

Surely there was someone better suited to this task than he, he thought after he had stopped for a fourth time. Hagrid, or perhaps Albus, or even Rath, who spent a lot of time in the Forest and seemed more comfortable there than anywhere else.

Determined that this would be the final time he would repeat his announcement, even though his sense that he was being followed and watched had only increased, Severus stopped and began again.

"I have come to speak with Firenze. I have news..."

There was a crack of a twig breaking underfoot, then the clear tramp of heavy hooves coming toward him, the footfalls only slightly deadened by the dead leaves and fallen pine needles that carpeted so much of the forest floor in that area.

Severus stood and waited. A moment later, the centaur most familiar to him, Firenze himself, stepped toward him, seeming to glow, though there was no moonlight in that place. Severus bowed stiffly and Firenze inclined his head.

"Professor Snape. I am told you seek me. I expected you again in the Forest tonight, but did not anticipate that you would wish to speak to any but the dead."

Severus ignored his statement. "I have come from Headmistress McGonagall. You are aware that there was a portrait commissioned of Professor Sinistra. It will arrive in the castle on Friday, the day after tomorrow, and on Saturday at eleven o'clock...approximately three hours past sunrise...it will be unveiled and presented to the public. There will be speeches at that time. After lunch, there will be a more private dedication of the portrait when it is hung in the dungeons near Slytherin House. The Headmistress wishes to invite you to attend either or both. On Sunday afternoon, the castle will be open to the public for any others to view the portrait."

"Walk with me, Professor," Firenze said, leading him through the Forest in a direct line back to the Hogwarts grounds. Severus followed, and when they reached a path wide enough, he stepped up to walk beside the centaur.

They reached the edge of the Forest, but Firenze continued to walk with him towards the castle.

"The tranquillity that you seek you will not find in the Forest, friend Professor," Firenze said solemnly, "nor will I find dawn light inside your stone walls. However, just as you will again seek your peace in the Forest, so too do I wish to view the portrait. But, I think, not at the wizards' ceremonies." He stopped and turned his head, looking down into Severus's eyes. "I will come and you shall allow me to view the portrait in private, if this meets the Headmistress's approval. Meet me at the edge of the Forest where we just came out, tomorrow, an hour past full darkness. During your dinner hour, it is. Tell me the Headmistress's decision. Perhaps there will be a glimmer of the dawn light reflected there in your dungeon. But just as you hope to find some echo of peace in the Forest where it does not lie, I should like to see the dawn light once more if I can, even if only in a reflected shimmer. Moonlight on water whispers of the sun."

Severus nodded, but before he was able to respond any further, Firenze had turned and broken into a canter. Strange creatures, centaurs. Severus was not entirely comfortable around them, not even Firenze, and he found their conversation nonsensical at times, bewildering at others. Severus did not like to be bewildered.

It was still early, so he decided to see Minerva immediately and, slinging his cape over one shoulder, went directly to the gargoyle. "Táin Bo."

Minerva had progressed to classic Celtic legends and myths for her passwords, which Severus found far preferable to Aesop's fables, even if he occasionally found them almost unpronounceable. It had taken him several tries before he had the emphasis in "Morrígan" down to the gargoyle's satisfaction. He placed the blame on the Headmistress's accent. He hoped that she moved on to find a new inspiration for her passwords soon.

When the door didn't open to him automatically, Severus knocked once. The door opened, and Severus stepped in to find Minerva in a meeting with Flitwick.

"Hello, Severus. We'll be a few more minutes. If you'd like to wait outside, or return later?" Minerva asked.

"I shall wait, although if I may use the library, I would prefer that."

"Of course, help yourself," Minerva replied.

Severus was deeply engrossed in a book on spell design, reading the chapter on the difference between a spell's purpose and the caster's intent and how to use both when creating a new spell, when the door opened.

"Thank you for waiting, Severus."

"Of course." He closed the book somewhat reluctantly and rose to reshelve it. He could return at another time and continue reading it, bring parchment and quill and take notes.

"Interesting book?" Minerva asked as he stepped out of the library to join her.

"Quite."

Severus sat down in the chair opposite Minerva's desk.

"Tea?"

"No, thank you. I wanted to report to you that I spoke with Firenze this evening."

"Oh, good! What did he say?"

"Essentially, he does not wish to attend any of the ceremonies. He would, however, like a . . . a private viewing, if you agree."

"Of course. That's not a problem at all. Just arrange a time with him to meet you and you can bring him down to see it. If you would be so kind," Minerva added.

"Yes. I anticipate he will wish to do so after curfew when there are no others around."

"Simply arrange it with him however best suits you both. Thank you for talking to him, Severus."

He nodded. "I will tell him tomorrow, then. He wishes to meet me at about six."

"That's fine. And how are you? How are you feeling?"

"I am well. I have had no sign of any relapse, and Madam Pomfrey gave me what she called a 'once over' on Saturday. She found no problems."

"Good. And your life in general? Feeling more settled?"

"It is fine. Nothing remarkable."

"Any worries, concerns, anything I can help you with?"

Severus shook his head. "No, Headmistress. Thank you."

"I thought that after the dedication, I would have the staff up to the suite for sherry and mince pies, any who care to come."

He nodded. "That sounds appropriate."

"I hope you will join us."

"Perhaps." No, he thought not.

"Thank you again for speaking with Firenze."

"Of course." Severus stood. "Good night, Headmistress."

"Good night, Severus. See you tomorrow at breakfast."

Renwick Douglas, a tall, long-legged wizard with a bristly red beard, stepped into the Headmistress's sitting room and nodded to Snape. "She is ready for you, Professor Snape. She is alert and oriented. As oriented as may be expected this early in her awakening. That improves rapidly with time."

"Does it, she, it . . . does the portrait know who will be speaking to her?" Severus asked.

"I told her," Douglas said with a nod.

Severus stood.

"Go on, then, Severus," Minerva said encouragingly.

Severus stepped into the study and closed the door behind him. The portrait was on an easel, facing away from the door. Severus could feel a tightness growing in his chest, and his pulse seemed to race. He swallowed and tried to draw some saliva into his dry mouth.

He let out a long, slow breath, and then he stepped around and faced the portrait. He stared. There was a good reason that Renwick Douglas was the foremost wizarding portrait artist, famed for both his artistry and his Charms mastery. Even simply as a painting, it was remarkable, and when Sinistra tilted her head and turned her gaze toward him, Severus would not have been surprised if she had stood and stepped out of the frame.

The portrait of Sinistra smiled when she saw him. "Professor Snape! My first visitor. You are still at Hogwarts and Head of Slytherin?"

Severus nodded. "Yes."

"And how are the students? Who in the fifth-year class went on to NEWTs level Astronomy this year?"

"Most of them, I think. I would have to check the enrolment lists," Severus replied.

"And who is teaching Astronomy this year?"

"David Manning. He was in Ravenclaw."

"Yes, I remember him. We had the same Astronomy master. Of course, he was an apprentice many years before Aurora was. He was married, wasn't he?" the portrait asked. "And they had a daughter . . . what was her name . . ."

"Yes, he is married. His wife Laura works here, too. She's the librarian." Whatever Severus had expected, it was not this mundane conversation.

"So, you wanted to see me first, before anyone else, according to Renwick," Sinistra's portrait said. "Did you want to know something? I do not remember everything of Aurora's life, but if I can help you, I will."

It was odd to hear the portrait speak of the real Sinistra in that way. He blinked. "Yes . . . I wanted to say . . . I am sorry that you . . . that you had to take care of Slytherin so often in my absence, and I am sorry that you had to take care of them on that last day."

"I was always happy to care for the Slytherins, Professor Snape. And it wasn't your fault that there were a few bad apples in the barrel. They didn't spoil the rest of them."

"Do you . . . do you remember your death?"

"Aurora's death? Yes, I remember it. Such a surprise. I should have expected something of the sort, but I didn't. Yes, it was a surprise."

"I am sorry. I wish I could trade places with you. It isn't fair that you died and I lived. I knew I was going to die, but then . . . I didn't."

"You do not truly wish to trade places with Aurora, I do hope not," the portrait said with a shake of her head. "I had a marvellous life, a full life. Not a very long one, perhaps, but Aurora Sinistra loved the life she had, and the memories I have are good ones. Some sadness, of course . . . there must be sadness, Renwick said. And so I have some of her sadness, too. Sadness for those poor boys who killed her. Sadness that my parents lived to see both their children die before them. And now . . . now I find myself feeling a new sadness," she said looking thoughtful. "I am very sad that you wish you had died, Professor. I know Aurora better than almost anyone, and I know she would not want you to feel that way. She was fond of you, you know. Thought you had a good sense of humour . . . though she was sad as she saw it dying over the last few years. But she liked you."

"Did she really . . ." He took in a deep breath. "I should go. I do not know whether Douglas will, um, deactivate you or not in the meantime, but you . . . you will wish to be fresh for the ceremony tomorrow morning."

Sinistra smiled. "I do not believe I will tire. Although it could be pleasant to sleep, I believe."

Severus nodded. "Thank you, Professor. I am glad we spoke."

"Please, you may call me Aurora, if you are comfortable with that."

"Indeed. Good night, Aurora."

Severus unrolled his parchment and looked at it again. He had read it a hundred times in the last two days, it seemed, and changed something on almost every reading. He wished he had known her better. Minerva had said to speak from the heart. If he knew where to find his heart, he might have an easier time doing that. As it was, he had done his best to write something that would honour Sinistra without bringing dishonour to their House or embarrassment to the Headmistress. And although to show his own heart might not be possible for him, he had tried to show some humility that might, in its display, exalt the Slytherin who had died serving his House. It was a short speech, but people hated long speeches, anyway.

He looked up when he heard his name. He had tuned out everyone else who was waiting with him in the antechamber to the Great Hall.

"It is time to go out to the Hall," Minerva said. "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be, I suppose," Severus replied.

On the raised dais a few minutes later, Minerva had introduced him as Head of Slytherin House, and he stood and stepped over to the podium. He had considered using a Sonorous Charm, but had decided against it. If everyone were quiet...which they had better be, considering the occasion...he would be easily heard even in the back of the Hall.

"Today we honour Professor Aurora Lucia Sinistra, who brought honour to Hogwarts and to Slytherin House. Her care and concern for all Hogwarts students surpassed that required by mere duty, and her last minutes on earth were spent bringing some of those students, students in her own House of Slytherin, to a place of safety.

"As a teacher, Professor Sinistra understood the beauty of her discipline and tried to convey that beauty to her students. It is a testament to her success that almost all students who sat their OWLs in Astronomy went on to the NEWT-level class; they had not only achieved a sufficiently high mark in the class, but they had developed an appreciation for her subject.

"As a colleague, Professor Sinistra was always willing to do whatever was required of her and more. She often assisted me with Slytherin House matters, and always with an understated but clear enthusiasm. There were times when I felt as though it was I who was doing her the favour in asking her to help.

"She was loyal to Hogwarts, to the students, to the Headmaster, and then later to the Headmistress. Whatever the threat, whether from within or without, her loyalty and service were unwavering.

"I regret that although I served with her for so many years, and even our time as students here at Hogwarts overlapped, I nonetheless knew her so little on a personal level. But despite standing aloof as was required of me in my position, I know that Aurora Sinistra was a warm-hearted witch, and an open-hearted one, as well. She took each person as she found them, and she accepted them. She was a sharp-witted woman, and generous. She carried humour with her as an easy grace, yet understood the value of discipline.

"If this portrait of Aurora Sinistra reflects any part of the person that she was when she walked among us, then may we be reminded of the values of loyalty, service, generosity, kindness, and humour. And however much I might have yet to learn of the values she exemplified, I hope I am able and fit to that task, and that if she were here to see, she would . . . find me adequate."

Severus stepped back and took his seat, looking into the middle distance and seeing nothing of the Hall. As he had read his speech, he had remembered how in that last day during the extraordinary curfew, Sinistra had helped monitor meals in the Slytherin common room, and how he had tried to convey his thanks, so inadequately, and she had smiled at him warmly. He did not remember speaking to her again after that. At least his last words to her were those of thanks, he thought.

Albus spoke next, speaking of her fondly, relating anecdotes from her time as student and teacher, leaving the audience chuckling, and then Renwick Douglas spoke. He had known Sinistra himself, though not well, and he spoke of the honour it had been to try to capture her likeness on canvass and to capture some part of her personality and memories. One of the greatest challenges, he said, had been dealing with the many memories that people had donated, more than twice what he had ever used before when creating a posthumous portrait, fifty-two in total, from family, friends, colleagues, and students. He said that he hoped that his effort had brought Sinistra's memory to life for future generations of Hogwarts students.

Douglas waved his wand, and the portrait, on its easel and beneath a heavy drapery, glowed dramatically, then the cloth folded back and over the top of the easel, revealing the portrait. Aurora Sinistra sat straighter in her chair and looked out over the Great Hall filled with students and visitors. She smiled and waved once, then she looked up at Renwick and nodded. Severus could see that she said something to him, but he couldn't hear what it was.

Douglas turned back to the audience. "She thanks you for coming today, and she invites you to visit her and speak with her personally if you wish. I believe that the Headmistress has made provision for students and public to visit the portrait, and that she will discuss those details in her closing remarks."

The ceremony came to a close with Minerva's final remarks, and everyone was asked to vacate the Great Hall so that the house-elves could prepare it for lunch. Guests began to leave the castle and grounds under the watchful eyes of Hagrid, Rath, Shunpike, Sprout, Carter, and a few prefects. Students milled around, finding places to hang about whilst waiting for lunch...and, Severus suspected, getting up to no good, but he felt too enervated to go out and bark at any of them, and he didn't think that taking points would give him any pleasure that day. Instead, he retired to the antechamber where a few other staff members also were, and where the newly unveiled portrait was now waiting to be brought down to the dungeons for its dedication.

Severus was glad that the dedication was going to be short, with Minerva the only speaker, and his only role to affix the plaque on the wall next to the portrait. Somehow, it seemed that the day had already been a long one. He was glad, too, that he was meeting Firenze late Sunday night, rather than that night. Sunday curfew was earlier than Saturday curfew, so he could bring Firenze into the castle an hour earlier than if he were to do so that night. Curfew would find him in his own quarters that night, he thought, and an early night to bed.

"I saw the reflection of the dawn in the moonlight on water," Firenze said, his deep voice melodious but sad, "and was left pondering the deeps and the shallows."

Severus merely nodded and waved his wand to create a ramp on the stairs leading from the dungeons. The two climbed the flight up to the ground floor and when Severus unbarred the main doors, Firenze bowed to him.

"Good night, Professor Snape," he said. "Thank you for your assistance."

"Of course. Good night, Firenze. Walk safely your path." Albus had suggested that as an appropriate parting phrase.

Firenze smiled. "And you, Professor. You, newborn foal that you are, you will find your path confusing, but it will lead you forward if you allow it to. Do not permit yourself to step into the mire or to turn back along the path that brought you here, or you will find your way more hazardous." Firenze reached out with his left hand and touched Severus's forehead lightly. "I see . . . a blossoming spring for you. Walk safely your path, Professor."

Firenze turned and left, disappearing through the light mist and into the Forest.

NEXT

Chapter Twenty-Five: Preoccupation

Saturday, 21 November 1998

Flitwick's series of duelling demonstrations begins, and Severus tries to cope with a new preoccupation.

Characters: Severus Snape, Filius Flitwick, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall

Author's Note: If you'd like to see the summaries for the last few chapters of Part Two, drop by my WordPress blog or my lj (mmadfan.wordpress.com or mmadfan.livejournal.com).