Iuga Sortis (Bound By Destiny)

Eleven

"I don't know if this is a good idea, Sev . . ."

"Why not? She's your daughter."

Dumbledore sensed this could get ugly fast. "Caleb, Severus, now is not the time to discuss such matters as these. The Floo Network is being watched by the Ministry as it is," Dumbledore warned them.

Severus glared into the fire at Caleb's head but said nothing.

"I'll talk to Elle and see what she says," Caleb finally relented.

"You do that. Angelina and Nia have grown close, and just because you feel guilty doesn't mean they shouldn't spend some uninterrupted time together," Snape said acidly.

Caleb frowned. "I'm surprised you're all for this. A man in your position wouldn't be so . . . accommodating," he sneered.

Severus's eyes flashed angrily. "And a man in yours would know to handle his responsibility!"

"That is enough!" Dumbledore bellowed.

Both men jumped. The Headmaster rarely raised his voice; when he did, there was no argument.

"Goodnight, Headmaster. Tell Molly my thoughts are with her and the rest of the Weasley clan," Caleb said curtly and disconnected from the Network without a word to the other man. There was a moment of silence between the two gentlemen.

"That went well," Severus said sarcastically.

Dumbledore rolled his eyes and reclined against the back of his chair. "You shouldn't bait him like that, Severus. Things haven't been so easy for him, either."

Severus snorted. "Right, he didn't have to hear someone falsely call him Daddy everyday for the past twelve years. I have no sympathy for the bloke."

Dumbledore looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry you had to carry this burden with you, Severus, but we all did. It was for the best."

"Sooner or later, the truth will come out," Severus predicted.

"Yes, but there's a time and a place for everything. It cannot be forced. You know that."

Severus sensed a shift in the headmaster's thoughts. "Are we still talking about Nia, or are we on Potter now?"

The older man suddenly looked every bit of his 154 years.

"I couldn't even meet his eyes, Severus, and it broke my heart," the Headmaster murmured with regret.

"Do you--"

There was a knock on the door, followed by Minerva McGonagall walking into the office.

"Any news on Arthur's welfare?" Dumbledore asked.

"He's stable and expected to make a full recovery. If Harry hadn't realized what was happening . . ." she trailed off, letting the rest of the thought hang.

"Do you think the Dark Lord is using Potter?" Severus continued with his original question.

Dumbledore shook his head. "It's a bit more complicated than that," he clarified. "I think Voldemort now knows there has been some connection between him and Harry, and he'll exploit it."

"You mean because of Arthur's quick rescue," McGonagall deduced.

Dumbledore nodded. "Now he'll realize he can tap into Harry's thoughts and feelings just like Harry's been doing all this time. I don't think I could bear it if I saw Voldemort peering out of Lily's eyes," Dumbledore said quietly.

McGonagall patted his hand. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that, Albus. Potter is a strong one. He even threw off the Imperius Curse last year!"

Dumbledore sighed. "Yes, and he even threw off Voldemort's as well, but Voldemort is stronger now than he was during the summer. Harry's mind shields will need extra strengthening. I would train him, but I don't know if I could do it . . ."

"Severus could do it," McGonagall offered.

Severus groaned. "He'll be none too pleased by this, Minerva. He, as Nia says it, 'hates my guts.'"

Dumbledore smiled a bit at that assessment, then immediately sobered.

"That may be, Severus, but he hates Voldemort more," McGonagall clarified. "He'll go with you, albeit reluctantly."

"Goody."

"Is there anything else you require of me tonight, Albus?" she asked as she stood.

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, but you can tell those close to the Weasleys about their father's condition tomorrow. I think they'll know something's amiss when they don't come downstairs in the morning."

"Yes, Headmaster," McGonagall said and took her leave.

Dumbledore waited until the door closed before speaking again. "Speaking of going with you, Caleb has a point."

"And what point would that be?"

"About Nia spending time with the Johnsons. One would think you'd want her to spend the holidays with you."

Severus shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "You know I have . . . duties to attend to."

"Yes, but can't you spare even a few days? I know she'd love to spend some quality time with you."

Severus evaded the question. "Why doesn't Jamilah want Nia back in the States? One would think she has missed Nia all this time. They haven't been apart for this long since Nia's birth."

"My granddaughter has her reasons as to why Nia should not come home just yet," Dumbledore said.

Severus controlled the urge to roll his eyes. "Which are?"

"The primary reason . . . the first of Malika's letters."

Severus looked perplexed. "What does this letter have to do with anything?"

"This letter has everything to do with her being at the Johnsons' this holiday."

Severus's eyes widened in understanding. "Time and place," he whispered, realizing Dumbledore's implication.

"Yes, Severus. The time and place is near."

~~~~~~~

"That bitch."

Thanatos guffawed at his comment. "Are we referring to the same bitch that evaded your 'bull' advances with a knife attached to her tail?"

Set glared at the other god, not in the mood for his taunts. They were in Thanatos's lair, where red flames licking about as the damned souls wailed in misery. They only added to the cacophony that was Thanatos's voice.

"Shut your mouth, Thanatos. I do not have time for your idle speech. I have a bitch to train."

"I fear, Set, she is unbreakable, at the very least, by you. Apedemak does not seem to have as much trouble . . ."

"I hate that bastard more than Osiris," Set muttered.

"What do you plan to do? Nail him in a coffin, as well?"

Set growled and threw an urn against the cavern wall, finding little joy as it shattered loudly. "Isis will just find and revive him as she did with Osiris."

"Why don't you kill her? She'd make a lovely paramour . . ."

Set whirled around. "She will not be yours, Thanatos. She will never be yours."

Thanatos arched an eyebrow. "Funny, I was going to say the same for you."

Set's head transformed into a jackal, and his previously white skin turned red to match his head as he took on his battle mode. Thanatos rolled his eyes, unimpressed by Set's theatrics.

"Do not provoke me, Thanatos. You may be my master, but I will be far more powerful than you'll ever be!"

"But you are not right now!" Thanatos reminded him. "I am teaching you the ways of the great Typhon, you imbecile. Very few are as privileged as you."

"The 'great' Typhon now lies under a rock spitting fire through a tiny hole at the top. I believe humans call it volcano . . ."

"You try my patience, Set."

"As you try mine. Maybe one of us will succeed yet."

"It is not too late for me to eject you from here and leave you at the mercy of your newly-resurrected brother," Thanatos threatened.

Set barked with laughter. "Osiris's mercy? Don't you mean Isis's mercy? We all know she's the real ruler of the Upper World."

"Not for long."

Set snorted and rolled his eyes. "She is the most powerful creature in the universe--she even tricked Ra into revealing his real name to her."

"Do you doubt me? Do you doubt yourself? She is but a woman."

"She is a woman with power--a very dangerous being, Thanatos."

"She is also a woman with two men in her heart. A woman in love is reckless."

"She will not leave our brother, of that I am certain."

"That is exactly what I desire. Osiris is as good as dead, even if your Isismanaged to save him from me. Thoth had a hand in that, I am certain, but he will not help again. Oh no, Apedemak is the key. To get to Isis, we need to get to Apedemak."

"It will never work," Set predicted.

Thanatos hurled a ball of fire at the jackal-headed god. Set crashed into a wall from the force of the attack. "Listen, you fool, and listen to me well! I don't care about Isis. I don't care about Osiris. But they control the Upper World, the world that should belong to me. You deal with your family as you see fit. Burn them, maim them, rape them--whatever--so long as I rule there. Apedemak is the key. Why do you think I sent you up there to convince him to fight against Osiris? He is the best warrior in the Upper World!"

Set returned to his human form. "What am I? Chopped liver?"

"A waste of my time."

"I am stronger than my brother. I should've had the throne!"

"That's why you are with me, Set. I will secure the throne for you. But that can only be done with Apedemak out of the way."

"But Isis--"

"FORGET ABOUT ISIS!" Thanatos roared, his eyes blazing.

Set held his stance, not to be bullied. "Thanatos, we cannot forget about Isis. You think Apedemak is the key, but he's just as enraptured by Isis as Osiris is. You want the throne, you have to get Isis."

"Have you listened to a word I've said? With Osiris dead and Apedemak out of the way, Isis will fall at our feet. You will have your bitch, and I will have the throne with you by my side."

Set was about to answer when a missive entered.

"My lords, Osiris has attacked our troops in Thebes. He now controls it, by Ra's command."

Thanatos screeched, hurling fireballs erratically through the lair. The missive left hurriedly, and Set dodged them, letting the other vent out his frustration. "Get Osiris! He must die. Now! And make it so he cannot return to the land of the living!" he hissed.

"What of Isis?" Set asked.

"Isis is really of no consequence. She hides behind Ra and her loves. With Osiris gone, and Apedemak soon to follow, there will be no reason for Isis to be. She will die, just like the rest of her pathetic family, and I will rule . . . I WILL RULE!"

Set left the deranged god with a scowl.

Pathetic, are we? he thought as he crossed the portal to the Upper World. Your underestimation of us will be your downfall, Thanatos, and it will secure my conquest.

Set grinned evilly. Only a matter of time, Isis, before you will be mine.