The Muggle

Chapter 7

Holding My Last Breath

The kitchen was silent after Dumbledore's departure. Only the burning fire interrupted the cold silence. Morgan lowered her eyes and tried to find the words to apologize.

"Severus...."

"Dumbledore has asked me to speak with you regarding your... abilities."

"Severus, I'm really...."

"I will talk to you now, so do not interrupt me," he continued through clenched teeth.

"Severus, please."

"Don't you dare speak to me about what you saw!" he spat angrily, rising so abruptly from the chair that it was knocked down with a loud snap. His thin frame was rigid, as he walked towards the fireplace with his arms tightly folded.

"No, you don't understand, I just wanted to apologize for... whatever happened, I didn't do it on purpose -- I would never intrude in anyone's mind."

Especially not yours, she thought.

Snape did not move and continued gazing at the dying flames. "We do not know how magic works on you, or even why you can channel it; therefore it is a force out of control."

"Could you tell me what's inside the cave?"

"As Dumbledore said before: power." He turned from the fire and walked towards another chair. He sat once again, his pale face motionless.

"What about these Manuscripts?"

Snape fixed his cold eyes on her for a few seconds, and then he pulled out his wand, and for a wild moment, she thought he would attack her, but he waived it and said, "Contisesco."

"The Manuscripts are the only written record we have concerning any of the Hogwarts' founders. Other writings have been found, but they are mainly historical in nature, and not actually written by any of them."

"Salazar Slytherin was known for his witty remarks and quick mind. He, as any other genius, is sometimes portrayed as an evil man," Snape smirked. "He wrote about magic, theorized how it has evolved over the years, and also about the Crystal Cave. When he decided to built the Chamber of Secrets he found the natural cave beside it, which made him believe it was Merlin's actual resting place."

"Most of his theories are currently being tested by the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic," he disclosed with a derisive sneer, "but they will never understand them. And I don't expect you to understand them, either. My time is rather occupied, so I shall ask of you, total commitment - and your absolute attention."

Morgan nodded, "Can you give me a small explanation about what magic really means in the Wizarding world?"

Snape narrowed his eyes and searched her face for signs of mockery. Was she really interested or just wasting his time?

"Magic is like any other force of nature, comparable to earthquakes or storms," he began explaining. "Our kind has been born into this world with the capacity to canalize that power. In ancient times, the encounters with such power usually resulted in death, for the raw force of magic would destroy the nervous system in the bodies."

"Later on, magic was canalized in a better way, through the use of objects such as shafts and wands. Very few wizards are capable of powerful wandless magic, because it's a risk to the body. That is the reason why we use wands, to avoid physical damage."

"I see, so that is why you use wands every time you cast a spell, but how do they actually work?" Morgan asked with interest.

"Every wand has a magical core, which is an advantage to wizards. It helps to magnify the power of the spell, and uttering the actual spell also adds force; but there are rare occasions in which a wizard may need to produce magic without a wand."

"I saw Sirius lighting candles without a wand," Morgan mentioned, smiling.

The mention of Black's name made Snape's features darken with anger. "Simple spells like levitating objects, and lighting candles are harmless; but as the spells become more complicated, so does the degree of damage to our bodies. However, there is only one wizard we know of, who is capable of performing very complex spells without the use of any object."

"Merlin...." Morgan whispered.

Snape nodded.

"He summoned enough power to find the Caliburn, and he gave it to the man he believed to be the rightful King of England."

Morgan stayed silent for a few moments, and then brushed her hair off her eyes and smiled. "What you just told me contradicts everything I know about that legend. So if this is all true, then that huge power is inside the cave."

Snape raised an eyebrow with contempt, "You are thinking of the sword, perhaps?"

"Well actually, yes, Remus said it was believed that Merlin had taken the sword with him when he went into the Crystal Cave."

"No."

"What?"

"He did not have the sword with him. Slytherin believed that Merlin had returned the sword to the Isle, but powerless, awaiting to be awakened once again. The power we seek is Merlin's power, his knowledge, his wisdom."

Morgan was still confused. She was not going to retrieve some sort of wonder sword, nor was she going to attain power, but knowledge - writings, books perhaps. But, what about that magical power Dumbledore had mentioned?

Then she remembered her dreams, the sword, the circle of stones and the words that had startled Mrs. Weasley. "There is something that, well, I don't know if it might be...."

"What is it?"

"I've been...well, I've been having these weird dreams ever since I came to this country and ... I don't know their meaning; but I think they might be ... they might have a relation to all of this." She shrugged, unsure how he would take her confidence.

"Describe them."

Morgan did. She described her two recurrent dreams, and as she spoke, Snape stared at her with concentration.

"So you do not remember what you said."

"It wasn't me, I mean yes... but ... I can't explain." She wrung her hands together, "It feels like I am her, but it is so weird."

"There is a way - if you are willing to do it." He glared at her daring her to deny him. "But you have to allow me in."

"In? In where?"

"In your mind girl, where else?" he spat impatiently. "Do you agree?"

"Are you willing to risk me looking into your memories again?"

"Haven't you paid any attention to what I said? You must allow me inside your mind; otherwise the experiment would prove useless."

"Wouldn't it be better if I do it?" Morgan saw his eyes narrowing with bewilderment, but she continued. "What if I try to get inside your head, wouldn't that be easier? I mean, then it won't be an attack and I would also be allowing you inside." She reasoned, smiling.

"That is the most witless remark I've ever heard from a female. It is not at all logical. How are you supposed to channel the magic force if no one is attacking you?" he inquired snidely, as his eyes narrowed further with loathing.

"It's just an experiment, but if you wish, you are welcome to attack me; just brace yourself and place your memories far away from my reach."

After a few seconds of hesitation, Snape remembered the way Dumbledore's wand had lighted; he hadn't had the resource to attack her then, he had only asked her to concentrate.

"Fine, concentrate your thoughts and say, Legilimens."

"All right, are you ready?"

Snape closed his eyes, and sat very still. He nodded.

"Legilimens."

She was inside his head now, and she could see the castle again, and the shimmering lake ahead, as she concentrated now on letting him inside her mind. She tried to picture her dream, and the moment when she raised the sword to the sky.

She felt her world turn upside down.

Snape stood in the middle of a dense forest. The trees surrounding him were very tall; he glanced around looking for Morgan, but instead he saw a woman standing in front of him. She was carrying a small baby. Her body was motionless as if she were listening; her hand moved to cover the baby with her long purple cloak.

She was taller than he. Her long, braided, red hair almost reaching the hem of her robes was resting on her back. Her delicate heart- shaped face was very pale, and her green eyes were full of fear.

This was not a faded memory, it was like entering the pensive; but this wasn't even a memory, this was a dream Snape reasoned, following the woman through the trees.

Whatever it was, Morgan wasn't there. He suddenly heard a noise behind them; she must have heard it, since she raised her head like a startled rabbit and began running.

The trees promptly parted revealing a temple in front of them, built in the Hellenic style, once magnificent, but the years had smoothed the stones and faded the frescoes.

He followed the woman to the courtyard where she paused before an altar opposite a spring. The woman cast a few pinches of incense on the coals.

Snape could feel power coming from her hidden underneath her skin.

A row of young priestesses stood there in greeting. They moved across the courtyard, and he followed them up the steps of the temple, whose Gorgon guardian glared down from the pediment, surrounded by nymphs.

Inside a series of lamps shone softly on the life-sized image of Minerva Sulis, her gilded features gleaming beneath the bronze helm. Despite her material trappings, her expression was calmly reflective.

Where the devil was he? This was not Rome -- it was Britain, but a Britain from the past; when there were still Romans on the island.

There, near a hot pool, a woman dressed in white robes with long, raven- black hair stood in- waiting.

For a time, Snape could not think of anything but his body's reactions. He felt his heart begin to pound, and perspiration formed on his brow. It was as if he were actually standing near a hot pool!

The woman in white robes guided the one carrying the baby to another chamber where a pristine cool pool appeared illuminated by thousands of candles.

"My Lady." The woman with the white robes said bowing deeply, "you honour your servant. Welcome to Aquae Sulis."

"I come to the Goddess' womb," the woman carrying the baby said softly. "You Romans call her Minerva, and those who came before you, Sulis. To me, she is Briga, Lady of this land. I bring my own flesh and blood to return to the source and be spared."

"My Lady, the sword..." The woman in white robes raised a slender finger, pointing at the edge of the pool where a huge blood- stained sword rested.

"He wants it, but he shall not have it. Moravik, I give you my daughter. Please, care for her, and tell her how much her father and I loved her."

"But Lady, you shan't go alone to face that dark soul!" said the other woman urgently.

"No...." she whispered, "but it is the Goddess who wields the tools, and I also am in Her hand...."

"We should wait, Areth would help..."

"The Dark Clan has served us since the beginning of time, but you are no match for such evil. I know you will take care of my daughter, and this has to be done. If I do not return, you know what to do."

The dark-haired woman blinked tears away, "I will wait for you, my Lady, and if by dusk you have not returned, I will take the girl to the Isle."

"Pray for me, Moravik, will you not? The Goddess will look after us, and if it is her wish for me not to return, then you shall be the next in line. Accept you destiny, and guide the priestesses rightly."

The redhead kissed the other woman on the forehead, and with one last kiss for the baby, she took the huge sword from the floor and exited the temple. Snape quickly followed.

At the doorway, she turned and raised her hand towards the entrance.

"Zi Kingir Kia Kanpa."

The air near the entrance shimmered, and it felt charged with static. Snape stared at her. That woman had performed an ancient Sumerian spell to protect the temple. She had to be very powerful to have applied such a complicated spell without using a wand or a shaft.

As she walked ahead of him pulling the huge sword behind her, Snape started to lose her. The images faded and he opened his eyes to find himself sitting in the kitchen, again.

"Did you see it?" Morgan asked, rubbing her eyes.

"I shall escort you to your chambers."

"Did you see it?" she insisted, "the forest, the circle...."

"Yes."

"What does it mean?"

"It is an ancient language, I will have to talk to Dumbledore," he lied. He would not inform Dumbledore, but keep a close eye on that woman and ask her to tell him every single dream, nightmare, or vision she had.

Whatever Morgan had dreamt, it had been very different from what he'd seen. But that was not all that disturbed him; what he saw... felt ...was so real, it was too much coming from a Squib, even one with the ability to channel magic.

"I can go alone, don't bother to --"

"I was requested by Dumbledore to accompany you to your chambers, now move!" he snarled, rising from his chair.

Snape escorted her outside, where the hall was completely dark. The shadows along the stairs made the house-elves' heads look menacing; Morgan fixed her eyes on Snape's back, his black robes swirling behind him like dark shadows.

When they reached the second landing, she heard a growling noise. The long corridor was darker than ever, and she saw Snape's back stiffen, and his pale hand hold out his wand like it was a sword. Morgan quickly moved to his side. He moved forward slowly. There was that noise again.

Morgan grabbed his arm, and she felt the muscles in his arm tense under her hands. Snape turned his face towards her about to tell her off when a huge shadow materialized from the dark in front of them. Snape raised his wand, but Morgan placed her other hand over his.

"It is Remus' dog!"

Snape narrowed his eyes as the dog approached them bearing its teeth.

"Well, what have we here - a dog." Snape said, in his most waspish tone.

Morgan gaped in fear and almost threw her arms around Snape as the huge black dog transformed into none other than Sirius Black.

"Well, what have we here - a snake," Sirius said tersely, grinning at Snape with contempt.

They stared at each other for a few seconds, and then slowly Sirius turned towards her and raised his hand.

"You are too lovely to be seen with a snake."

Morgan froze, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Snape's arm. She did not trust her voice so she remained silent.

Snape's pale lips worked into an evil sneer. "I'm afraid she wouldn't consider your company Black, a dog is nothing but a filthy animal."

"And I suppose you are much better company," Sirius spat angrily.

"Much better than you, I daresay."

"Go back to hell, you damned bastard!" Sirius pulled out his wand so quickly that Morgan nearly didn't see him do it.

Snape's face tightened with an ugly smirk. "Do try Black, I have been waiting to have you in front of my wand."

"Oh, but you forget you are in front of mine... shall we clean your mouth again? Or your hair, perhaps?"

"Touch me, and that hand won't exist after I'm done with you."

"Threatening me, Snivellus?"

"Absolutely." He made no attempt to conceal his smirk. "The Marauders are gone; Lupin is useless, Peter betrayed you, and Potter is dead. I'm afraid you lack of accomplices to back you up."

"Don't you dare taint his name with your filthy mouth!" Sirius screamed viciously, making Snape's smirk wider.

"Shall we take this outside?"

"Wait!" Morgan protested.

"Fine, let us finish this once and for all!"

"Wait, damn it!" Morgan moved in front of them and placed a hand on Sirius, "You are supposed to be working on the same side. What the hell is wrong with you two!"

"Stay out of this Morgan...."

"Sirius --"

"Remove yourself from my presence!" Snape snarled savagely at her.

"Severus, you said you would escort me to my chambers, and I demand you come with me."

"MORGAN!"

She ignored Sirius and fixed her eyes on Snape. "I want you to come with me."

There was a flicker in his dark eyes, but just as soon as she saw it, it was gone. "Are you offering something you won't be able to deliver, girl?" he asked her tersely.

"I offer nothing; I am merely requesting you do what you were told to do."

Sirius stared at her as if she were insane. Snape smirked again and turned on his heel, his cloak brushing the threadbare carpet as he went down the stairs.

"Sodding man...." Morgan whispered sourly.

"Morgan, you should never do that again, do not interfere when...."

"This was the most shameful behaviour I have ever seen in grown men! You are supposed to be working on the same side! Why are you always frowning and glaring at each other? I positively do not understand the two of you ... and to top it all, you lied to me!"

"Morgan...."

"I really don't wish to hear about it tonight. We'll discuss your shameful behaviour tomorrow. Good night, Sirius."

She left him standing in the dark corridor, and closed the door behind her. She quickly undressed and shivered at the thought of having Snape in the room with her.

The man was impossible! Every single attempt that she had made to warm up a friendship had been driven away by an iron fist.

And the fiend had behaved in the most outrageous manner... offering, he said ... like she would actually offer something to him!

Damn him!

She tried to push aside that confrontation, she put on her long nightgown, and slipped under the heavy covers trying to sleep, but as sleep dawned on her, she saw the golden outlines of a vision coming to her closed eyelids.

~~~~~~~~~ **** ~~~~~~~~~~

She was dragging the huge blood-stained sword behind her; it was costing her dearly to protect it from the hands of the Dark One.

How could she have been so blind? All those years she never noticed how Morgause had tried to turned the boy against his father, and how dearly she craved power.

The prophesy was mostly to blame - but how can you change what is written in the stars?

There is no way to change it.

She had explained that to him just a few days back, when he was still himself and not this dark being. His questions still haunted her.

Fate has more than one arrow. The gods wait behind clouds.

Now she was changing that arrow, directing it towards herself. All she had was to live life as it came. Die when death comes.

It was neither pleasant, nor welcome; her daughter would be raised in the temple as she was supposed to have been, but she would not see her again, at least not in this world.

That brought anger to her. The gods were cruel. Surely after placing the man she loved in an eternal prison, she should have realized that.

She supposed it was all right to know it was time; it was better an arrow by daylight than a knife at night.

The sword was becoming unbearable; she knew he was behind her. A black raven flew past. The Dark One was near. Death was near.

Relief.

She could not believe that was what she felt. She should be hanging onto her anger, she should feel betrayed; she had lost everything she held dear to her; Myrddin, her daughter. What else would the Goddess ask of her?

The answer came soon enough. A large clearing was ahead and she decided she was too exhausted to continue fighting him. It was time, but she would not let Morgause go unpunished.

She continued walking until she reached the centre. The moonlight shone upon her, as she lifted her face to the sky and stared at the round, white moon. A cloud passed over its face, making her shudder.

Taking a deep breath, she raised the sword to the heavens for the last time. "Powers of the Night, I call you by no mean magic but by the ancient laws of Necessity, to fall upon the murderer. May no day seem bright to her, no fire warm to her, no love true to her, until she has atoned for her crime!"

She turned swiftly, pointing the bloody sword towards the temple of Aquae Sulis. "Powers of the Sea, womb from which we are all born, mighty ocean on whose currents we are carried, may all courses she may choose go awry! Rise up to engulf the murderer, O Sea, and drown her in your dark tides!"

She knelt and buried her fingers in the loose soil.

"Powers of Earth, to whom I now release my blood, may the evil that approaches find no peace upon your surface! May he doubt every step he takes, and may he be betrayed by every man on whom he depends, until the chasm yawns beneath him and HE FALLS FOREVER TO DARKNESS!"

"I am the Lady and I give the curse of the isle. So I have spoken, and so it shall be!"

She could feel the power leaving the sword, the curse spreading to be fulfilled.

There was only one thing left: "Briga, take me, spare me from this cruel death...."

The wait was not long. Fire spread through her veins; the Goddess had come to rescue her. She will only release her at the last moment, she realised, because going through the veil was something she must do on her own.

A tall, thin man walked into the clearing. He was clad in black robes, and a raven was perched on his shoulder. He wore an unnatural, evil sneer on his pale face. "Do not run from me, my Lady."

"I am not running," was the calm answer, and at the sound of her voice, the raven took flight.

"I do not wish to hurt you. Release Caliburn to me."

He was standing a few feet from her, and his clear eyes shone with sinister contempt; he did not know he was facing a Goddess instead of a weak, mortal woman.

"You shall not have it."

He shook his head bemused at her foolish courage. "Are you so eager to join Myrddin, my Lady?" The man raised his hand, a long white wand pointed to her heart. "Release the sword! It is futile to oppose me. You cannot defeat me."

"You shall not have it."

"I'll cut your heart and feed it to Morrigan if you don't give it to me!" he screamed viciously. "The king is dead, and now I rule."

"The Scared King cannot die, you foolish mortal."

"He died a few moments ago. I am his only heir - give the sword to me."

"You will never have it, you shall perish tonight."

"Death cannot touch me," he answered with contempt.

"You are nothing but a corpse used by the Dark One!"

"NO! I AM THE MOST POWERFUL WIZARD IN THE WORLD!"

"And I am the Crone," she said harshly, "The ancient one, the Lady of Wisdom. I have seen everything, endured everything, given everything ... I am Death."

The man paled and took a few unsteady steps backwards.

The Crone smiled, "Morrigan has only used you to her advantag., She craved a bloody battle, and that is what you gave her. She is now gone, and you are at my mercy."

The man raised his hand and screamed. "CRUCIO!"

The light flashed through the sword, shattering the blade and plunging the pieces into her body with full force. The Crone raised her head oblivious to the blood and smiled.

The man wore a horrified look on his handsome face, and he almost ran towards her. "What have you done to it?"

"I fulfilled a promise, and now...die."

"NO! THE MAN IS DEAD, I AM LORD VOLDEMORTIST AND I CAN OUTBEST YOU!"

With one swift move, The Crone raised her hand and a wicked sneer curled her lips. "Return to my cauldron."

Too late, the evil soul knew it was at its end. A fluid engulfed the man, turning slowly red hot as liquid metal, and swiftly covered him, and then it formed a huge, black cauldron.

It was over.

A sudden movement made The Crone raise her mortal eyes; a man clad with blue robes stared from the other side of the clearing. The Merlin was free once more.

The young soul inside of her stirred and her cold lips whispered, "Myrddin...."

The Crone sneered. It was done, it was safe, and as the Goddess left, the woman fell to the blood-tainted soil. The man knelt beside her, catching her before she fell to the ground. His tender arms held her carefully.

"I wish I had come before." he said, his dark eyes gleaming with tears as he regarded her broken body. "I cannot save you, my love...."

She nodded. His healing powers were no longer his; but then, how was it that he was free?

"She is safe." Her voice faint, she moved her head slightly. "It is no use. Let it be. I'm comfortable enough."

"No pain now?"

She noticed his strong voice trembling. "No, it's ... cold though ..."

She felt him move closer to her, she could see his beloved face wet with tears. How she hated to have him watch her die! If she had only known, she would have been more patient.

"The temple ... the Goddess...." her words were scarcely recognizable; her breath was coming now in bubbling gasps.

He lifted her and held her against him, disregarding the shards of the sword sunken into her young body.

"I love you ... and no other. We shall see each other again..."

She slipped into that unconsciousness that death brings, her spirit finally free from the prison of humanity. She knew her past, her present, her future, and no worries filled her now -- only a mild preoccupation: Will she ever see him again....

**********************************************

Hold on to me love

You know I can't stay long

All I wanted to say was I love you and I'm not afraid

Can you hear me?

Can you feel me in your arms?

Holding my last breath

Safe inside myself

Are all my thoughts of you

Sweet rapture light

It ends here tonight...

B.Moddy/A.Lee/D.Hodges.

*********************************************