Year Two: Asked & Answered

Year Two: Asked & Answered

Before Snape could enjoy the quiet solitude of a summer spent in the dark sanctuary of Spinner's End, he needed to set things straight with Madame Demelza Collins. He knew it was pointless to even try to relax with such a nagging set of questions rolling around his head. Why was he needed? And for what? What was it worth to Demelza and her granddaughter? And Davindra herself; how would he even go about asking all the questions he had regarding her?

After the exchange of several owls, it was arranged that Snape would come to Madame Collins's home. It was a rather hard to find, old manor, which was hidden behind high walls and overgrown flora. It was also Unplottable and wrapped with anti-intruder charms and protection spells. Snape wondered why there was all this need for security when just a harmless old teacher and potion brewer lived there. It added another question to his list.

Unable to Apparate inside the walls, he had to wait outside to be let in like a common servant. He wasn't even taken into the house itself; a large, cold, stone block, but around the back to an immense garden. The warm, bright sun assaulted Snape's eyes, and he hoped that there would be shade to stand under.

Demelza was indeed in a shady corner of the garden, sitting on a low stone wall. She looked not unhappy to see him but not pleased either.

"Severus," she said, with a cool smile, and nodded to a spot next to her on the wall.

"Madame Collins," he spoke in greeting and took his seat.

The woman sighed and looked around the garden with obvious pride. "It's a beautiful place, wouldn't you agree?"

When he didn't answer right away, she turned to give him an impatient look.

A twitch of his eyebrow gave away his annoyance at small talk, but she still waited.

"It's quite nice," he managed through tight lips.

Again the smile of the kind, gentle matron spread across her face. "Now, what is it that you needed to speak with me about, Severus? I'm assuming it's regarding Davi?"

"Yes, you assume correctly. I hate to inform you of this," he began, trying to sound casual, "but the past year's special tutoring of your granddaughter was quite a disappointment."

"Oh?" Demelza raised her eyebrows and, with a critical look, dared him to continue.

"As I had tried to tell you when you came to enlist my help, my year was an especially strenuous one. I'm sure you know all about the Sorcerer's Stone and the events around Harry Potter?"

"Yes," she scoffed. "But what does that have to do with my granddaughter?"

"After having taken valuable time away from some especially important matters to assist Davindra, it's apparent to me that she doesn't quite share your vision for her future. I had a very hard time keeping her focused on her extra studies. That is, when she even chose to be present."

"Severus, why wasn't I alerted to this problem earlier?" she said, as her hand fluttered to the clasp of her cloak, as if truly aghast at the news. "Davi never said a thing about this to me."

"I'm sure she would not," Snape said smoothly as he examined his nails for the effect of utter detachment. "I didn't wish to bother you with what I assumed was a minor matter at the time. But my efforts at control of her were met with resistance. If that is all the thanks I get for the sacrifice of my time, I would just as soon not be bound to continue in this exercise."

Demelza sat open-mouthed for a moment before she gathered herself and pursed her lips into a thin, angry line.

"Davi is quite young," she finally said, regaining her placid composure. "Children can get easily distracted, but she does realize the value of these extra lessons. In fact she told me just days ago how she was looking forward to next year's tutoring."

"Really?" Snape drawled. "I believe that your granddaughter is managing to pull one over on you."

"Severus," she snapped, "be careful of what you accuse."

"I honestly mean no offense," he lied – and she knew it. "But I have serious doubts about your granddaughter's desire for this fame and glory you seem to be seeking for her. It appears that, last year, she actually managed to form a nice little gang of friends, who became far more important than extra time spent hovering over books or a cauldron."

"That's ridiculous. Davi knows those trappings are not of real importance," Demelza scoffed. "She understands the seriousness of her studies."

Snape sighed dramatically and enjoyed the meandering trip through dangerous territory on which he was leading Demelza's patience. He got up to stroll a few feet away and examine a stand of foxglove.

"You can't force this, Madame Collins, if Davindra doesn't want it."

"She cannot be expected to know what she wants," Demelza hissed angrily. "It is only I who can protect and guide Davindra. Not even her parents can know what is expected of a witch in the coming times. It is a job I have been entrusted with and I will not fail in."

Snape turned to give a surprised look to her sudden outburst. "And what times are these that you speak of?" he asked innocently.

Demelza narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't play dim with me, Severus. You know as well as I that the time of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's return is drawing near. You've seen the signs."

"Perhaps." Snape eased back to his spot near the garden wall. "But I have a feeling you know more about it than me. And I'm sure you know more than you would dare let anyone else suspect." He leaned in and raised his eyebrows for effect.

An icy mask seemed to fall over the woman's face. "What are you implying? That I am in league with the Dark Lord and plan to put my granddaughter at his side to rule all of the magical world together?" She let out a hollow laugh. "On the contrary, I plan to protect my granddaughter from all that could harm her, from any side, using the best weapon I know: knowledge. It's not fame and glory I'm seeking, as you mistakenly pointed out. It's security."

"That's very touching, Madame Collins," Snape commented casually. "But frankly, I'm far more interested in what this all has to do with me. Why pursue me so doggedly to be Davindra's counselor when you seem to have already mapped out her academic career as well as her life? You said it yourself that it was your sole responsibility. Why insist that I be a part of it? After all, I am just a lowly, half-blood Potions teacher."

"You can scrap the false humility, Severus," she sneered back at him. Then, with a lightning quickness she reached out and grabbed his forearm, her nails digging into his now quiet Dark Mark.

"This," she spat out like a snake, "is what makes you the most qualified for this job, my dear man."

Her sudden move and surprisingly strong grip startled him, and Snape felt a sudden panicky desire to get loose of her talons. Wrenching his arm free of her, he moved out of reach and kept his limbs carefully tucked behind his back.

"It's too bad you are not more up to date on your information, Madame," he snarled. "For if you were, you'd know that my connections with the Dark Lord ended when I turned spy against him. The Ministry has it on record if you have any doubts."

Demelza's eyes twinkled with a wicked mischief. "Yes, that's what I've heard. Double spy. Or maybe triple, or quadruple spy, even? That's just the thing, though, Severus. Despite all the praise and backing of Albus Dumbledore, no one is really sure on which side of the fence you are."

"How dare you insin – "

"Oh, leave it, Severus," she said irritably. "It's far less important to me which side you stand on. What makes you valuable to me is that you know both sides. You've been in both places, you've seen everything. Therefore, you can prepare my granddaughter for whatever may come."

Her eyes were sparkling with the unveiling of her grand plan.

Snape crossed his arms and gave her a hard look from under his snarled brow. "Not even willing to choose a side for the sake of your own granddaughter. They have a word for that, Madame Collins."

"Oh, you want to call me a coward?" She let out a dry laugh. "Honestly, isn't that the cauldron calling the kettle black? Tell me, what was it exactly that made you decide to become a turncoat while in Azkaban? Was it the constant feeling of hopelessness and despair? Was it the fear of the Dementor's Kiss? Or were you just too scared?"

She ended with the same calm, coy smile Davindra often turned on him. The smile of smug confidence, of perfidious knowledge.

Snape shot icy daggers at the woman with his unwavering stare. The anger inside boiled too quickly for him to control, and before he even realized it, he stood before Demelza with his wand pointed inches from her nose.

"Old woman, be very careful of how you tread with me. I know twenty different ways to make you disappear from this earth, and I learned less than a quarter of them from you." The voice was steady and cold, but Snape's insides nearly vibrated with rage, fear and excitement.

Her gaze never flickered, and her amused expression never dimmed. "That's reassuring to know. Now teach them all to Davindra."

"I shall do nothing for you nor for your exasperating, arrogant, trollop of a granddaughter."

Snape spun to leave, but before he got more than two steps, she spoke.

"I have something that might interest you."

"I doubt it!" he snapped and attempted to move on. "Bog mist would hardly do the trick this time."

"There is a book of spells that I confiscated during my tenure at Hogwarts. I think you should see it before you decide to turn your back on me for good."

He stopped but didn't turn. "I have hundreds of books of spells."

"Compiled by Tom Riddle and found in the possession of James Potter?"

The book had been taken from James by Demelza as being contraband during his last year at Hogwarts, she explained. Many of the spells inside were considered forbidden for students to practice; some, criminal for anyone to attempt. Some were ancient spells long believed lost; some were never known to exist at all and perhaps created by the young Lord Voldemort himself. Demelza said that she never could get a clear answer as to where the book had came from, or how James ended up with it, or if he had attempted anything from it. She had not reported the infraction to Dumbledore because she believed the book might have been of use to her later, and if anyone else knew of it, she would have to give it over to the Ministry. She had held on to it all this time knowing its usefulness was to be determined.

"It's yours, Severus, if you agree to agree to help me – to help Davindra," she said, holding the book in front of him. "I'll take care of her attitude and concentration on the tasks at hand; you are in charge of her instruction in all things dark and light."

Snape stared at her long and hard, his eyes only daring to dart to the book in her hand. It was ragged and water-stained, with a mildewed leather cover.

He held out his hand, and Demelza snapped the book away from him. "Well?" she asked.

"I'm not about to promise myself for a book of blank parchment or a witch's recipe guide," he said through clenched teeth.

Giving him an appraising look, she relinquished the book to him. Quickly he flipped through the pages and examined the scrawled writing. Memoria Inflecto, a memory distorting curse. Venenum Viscus, the poisoned heart curse. Necto Aduro Nota, a branding spell that sounded suspiciously close to what inflicted a Dark Mark. And, 'Hmmm... a Horcrux spell.'

"Interesting," Snape drawled. "Though not standard, everyday spells, they are not entirely unheard of."

Continuing to flip through, he saw that several pages had pieces missing, and many pages were gone all together. He held up the book at the missing pages and gave Demelza a questioning look.

"The rest and best parts have been hidden." She smiled while he glared. "You can have it all, if you help me."

"Where is the rest?" he asked.

Demelza shook her head slowly, her smile continuing. "Do we have a deal?"

Curiosity and a hunger for knowledge that perhaps no one but the Dark Lord and one dead Potter might have made him twitch with anticipation. It was also possible that what was written here was exactly what the Dark Lord was using to make his return. But could Snape tolerate Davindra for another year just for this? Perhaps, if he could only manage to gain more control over her.

"I'll do what I can to assist your granddaughter," he finally said, though he instantly second guessed his decision. "Now, where is the rest?"

"Hidden at Hogwarts." She looked smug and satisfied.

Snape let out a harsh, controlled breath and clenched his jaw to keep from screaming at the woman. "Where?"

"Most are in the catacombs below your classroom. Some are in the restricted section of the library." She tilted her chin up and gazed at him with amused, pale eyes. "Check under ancient spells."

"The catacomb store rooms? That place is packed to the ceiling with useless junk and you expect me to rifle through it all looking for a few scraps of paper? And there are millions of volumes in that library!" he bellowed.

"It may take some work, Severus, but I believe there is a stockpile of very powerful magic right at your finger tips," she concluded.

He felt had. If he had all the time in the world, he would be able to find almost anything at Hogwarts. But the castle was endless and held a thousand years of accumulated rubbish. Time was not always what he had a multitude of.

Snape took another look at the book in his hand. 'Horcruxes,' he thought, 'and the Dark Lord is coming back.'

"Alright," he snapped. "But there is one condition if I am to spend an extended amount of time with your granddaughter," Snape said leaning in toward Demelza. He did not wish to be misunderstood. "She is not to try any of her ridiculous, girlish love spells or seductions on me. I can only imagine where she learned such asinine hobbies."

Demelza gave him a curious look, but a smile danced across her lips. "What do you mean specifically?"

"You know what I mean. She must have picked up some of your talents for casting romantic incantations."

Still, Demelza looked doubtful. Snape rolled his eyes at having to drag up the embarrassing memory of Davindra sneaking into his chamber while he slept. But he recanted it with as few words as possible, and as quickly as he could. The woman stood with her arms crossed and a cynical look that soon spread into a smile, then into a bright, full laugh.

"I don't see what is so funny about your granddaughter breaking at least ten Hogwarts rules just to pursue a hopeless crush," Snape said tersely, feeling the humiliation settle in his stomach and churn uncomfortably.

"I can assure you I have not taught Davindra a single love potion or match making charm," she said. "I've offered repeatedly, but she has no interest. However, I do know what the problem is, Severus. Lillyth Sparrow, Davi's other grandmother, is part Veela. I've begun seeing more and more of it in Davi as she matures. And you know about Veelas, do you not?"

Her expression showed that she was enjoying this bit of information a great deal. Suddenly Snape had the feeling that he had turned a vulnerable hand that he couldn't take from the table. He did know of Veelas, the bird-like nymphs who could be both vicious and mesmerizing. The news didn't surprise him, and it suddenly made everything else he had questioned about Davindra make sense.

"Either way, I don't appreciate her attempting to throw her wiles upon me. It's highly inappropriate. And to even suggest that I could have any issue with a student..." Snape found it hard to finish the thought.

"Now, now," Demelza soothed. "It's not actually her fault. You see, she doesn't really know how to control it. It's like saying you can extract the Muggle part of you, and use it as you see fit, then tuck it away and go back to being a wizard when you are tired of it."

The reference to his half-blood roots caused a reflexive snarl to curl his lip.

"Veelas, in their more human form, don't have to try to seduce a man," she continued. "A man becomes seduced simply by being in their presence. They merely stand aside, and the man most susceptible to them literally falls at their feet. Now, if they are to put any effort into their charms..." Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she let the statement hang unfinished in the air. "And of course you know what happens when you make them angry."

"I am not susceptible," Snape spat out in resentment, "to a thirteen-year-old child, Veela or not!"

Demelza shrugged her shoulders with a confident smile. "I'll talk to her, Severus. Would that make you feel better?"

"Not much," he muttered, "but it's a start."

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Latin Spell Names:

Memoria Inflecto – memory, warp or change

Venenum Viscus – poison, heart

Necto Aduro Nota – to bind, (aduro/adustum) burn, mark