Iuga Sortis (Bound By Destiny)

Twenty One

He was tired, so very, very tired.

"And it's only just begun . . ."

He sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling the duvet fully over the sleeping child. He knew everything. He knew about Potter and company going to the Department of Mysteries; he knew about the battle that ensued between six teenagers and twelve Death Eaters. He knew about the Order joining the ranks, about Black . . .

"Severus!"

He left the bed and went into the sitting area. McGonagall was there with her walking cane and looked peaky. Dumbledore looked exhausted.

"How is she?" Dumbledore asked at once.

"Sleeping, finally. She was up all night . . ."

"I sent Kingsley to find the body. I gave him the Portkey to your workroom. He should arrive here soon," Dumbledore said.

"Nia said we only have a limited time before he'll be lost behind the veil. The window of opportunity is but so big."

"And the potion?"

"It's brewing as we speak."

"Did Nia--"

"No, I did. She's not strong enough. But I had to follow the directions she uttered exactly. One misstep and the potion would be useless," Snape said.

"But-but, where did you find these ingredients? Surely they couldn't all be in England!"

"Very true, Minerva. During my . . . hiatus, I was in Egypt, and I found the necessary ingredients for such a potion."

"I'm not even going to ask," she mumbled.

Dumbledore smiled softly. "Good, because I wouldn't be able to tell you."

Snape immediately perked up. "I take it you found the scrolls, then?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Now more than ever are they important. I just finished the difficult task of telling Potter about the prophecy, and I fear telling Nia about hers will be even more difficult. Potter was one thing, but Nia . . . Nia is my flesh and blood."

Snape looked sad, and Dumbledore immediately felt regret. "Oh my, Severus my boy . . ."

"She's my daughter. I know." Snape's voice was hollow, but he was glad he kept the thickness out of it.

"These children shouldn't have to deal with all of this! They can't even have a childhood!" McGonagall said, her voice quavering with sadness and frustration.

"These events have been set into motion even before I was born. Fate chose them, and I personally think She chose well," Dumbledore said.

"And it cost their mothers in the process," Snape said bitterly.

"It takes sacrifices, Severus. You know that," Dumbledore said, looking at him over his half-moon glasses.

Severus scowled, and his right hand went unchecked to his left wrist. "Sacrifices indeed."

Dumbledore had no words.

Suddenly they heard a ruckus in Severus's workroom. Snape stood immediately and walked quickly into it. Dumbledore and McGonagall followed at a slower pace.

"Where do I put him? He's getting heavy," Kingsley said, his deep voice hoarse from exertion.

"Lay him on that table over there," Snape said, pointing to it. Kingsley turned with some effort before finally placing the body on the table. Dumbledore and McGonagall hovered at the door as they waited for instructions from Severus.

"Minerva, transfigure the table into a chaise lounge."

McGonagall nodded shortly and did as instructed. The table changed, and the body upon it reclined to fit the shape.

"Headmaster, undress him totally."

"Will you be okay, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked Minerva and patted her hand gently. McGonagall nodded, and Dumbledore left her side to complete his task. McGonagall walked gingerly to Severus.

"Is the potion ready?"

"Yes. Could you help me bottle it?"

They worked silently yet efficiently. "Be careful not to let any of it drop. We must salvage all we can from the cauldron."

"Are we sure it will work?" she asked as they finished transferring the potion from the cauldron to the flasks.

"Every time Nia has dreamed, it has come true. If she dreamed the potion will work, it will work."

"I trust your judgment, Severus. And Nia's as well." McGonagall said firmly. Severus nodded and took his flask towards the prone body. The wound from the curse was still fresh, the blood coagulated upon his skin in the straightest of lines in the center of his chest.

"Bellatrix got him good--really good," Kingsley said with a hint of sadness.

"Hopefully not good enough," Severus muttered. He dipped his index and middle fingers in the flask and pulled them out. The translucent potion clung to his fingers like wax.

"What exactly are you doing? Don't you think it's a little too late to use a healing potion on him?" Kingsley asked suspiciously. Severus just looked at him quickly before putting the potion on the wound. The wound glowed red, then green, then yellow before fading to its normal color.

"Is that all?" Dumbledore asked.

"No; but that's a good sign. That's what happened in her dream."

"What is next, then?"

"We rub this all over his body, since he obviously can't drink it."

Kingsley, Dumbledore and Severus rubbed the concoction over the body completely. The potion had to touch every part of it in order to work. When they were done, Severus summoned a blanket and dipped it in the remaining potion in the cauldron. The blanket absorbed the brew, and it glowed, letting them know it was locked within the threads. He carefully draped the coverlet entirely over the body.

"We must leave now."

They left the room. Severus extinguished all the candles, leaving the room pitch black. Upon closing the door, Dumbledore put a charm on it, effectively sealing it from all intruders.

"What did we just do?" Kingsley asked, once everyone was seated again.

Severus and Dumbledore exchanged glances. McGonagall was dazed.

"I think we've just played God," she said lowly.

"Thoth, more precisely," Dumbledore said almost amusedly.

"And Isis," Severus added.

"I'm sorry. I do not follow . . ."

"Ancient magic, Kingsley, ancient magic," Dumbledore said.

Kingsley frowned. "There's not enough magic in the world that can bring people back from the dead!"

"Are you familiar with the story of Isis and Osiris?" Severus asked.

"Yes."

"Same concept, different players."

"Are you saying you're Isis now?" Kingsley chuckled.

"Same concept, different players."

"But you don't even like Black. Why in the world would you want to save your worst enemy's life?"

Snape snorted. "If I was saving my 'worst enemy's' life, I'd have given the potion to Pettigrew."

Kingsley raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Sirius is important to the Order. He must be saved," Dumbledore interjected.

"Because of Harry," Kingsley guessed.

Dumbledore nodded.

"How will we know if the potion worked?" McGonagall asked finally.

"He is to remain as he is for a fortnight. Then and only then will we know. We must not breathe a word of this to anyone. Not even Potter. Better they all think he's dead anyway. Makes the mission slightly easier," Severus warned.

"Hmm, I think it's best if you use an Obliviate charm on me, Dumbledore. I don't want to claim any knowledge of what just happened," Kingsley said.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. The less I know about this the better."

Dumbledore nodded imperceptibly. "Minerva, if you could."

"Certainly, Albus. I need to go back to the Tower as it is." Kingsley escorted McGonagall out of the quarters, and the flask cabinet slid into place with a hiss. Snape was about to say something when Dumbledore put up a hand to silence him.

"I do not need to hear your slander against Harry. Bad enough I had to hear him rant about you only hours ago."

"I promise you, Headmaster, that boy is only going to hate me more. He'll think I killed his precious Padfoot," Snape sneered.

"Should've known you'd find a way to express your dislike anyway."

"Who am I to disappoint? I've done enough of that already."

Dumbledore looked pointedly at the younger man but decided to let the comment slide. "How did you know Nia was having a dream?"

"Pansy Parkinson."

"Really. I didn't think they liked each other."

"They don't, but she's a prefect; she had to, in a sense. Nia's roommates alerted Miss Parkinson to Nia's distress, and she came and got me. I knew I had to get her out of the room, so I carried her here."

"She told you the dream afterwards?"

"Not exactly. I used my Pensieve to see the dreams. Headmaster, as much as I hate to admit it, Potter is an excellent wizard."

"Yes he is. Much like his father, no?"

Severus could not dampen the urge to roll his eyes. "Are you deliberately trying to bait me, Headmaster?"

"Of course not, dear boy." His twinkling eyes belied his words.

Severus exhaled slowly and heavily. "I think this is the first test to see if Asenath's prediction was true."

The mirth left Dumbledore's eyes as quickly as it had come. "I think you are right, Severus. If this potion works, it would all but confirm what we've thought since her birth."

There was silence for a moment.

"She didn't know what she was doing, Headmaster. She slept through the entire process."

"What do you mean, 'slept through'?"

"She did the potion in her sleep. She was in some sort of trance . . ."

"Really?"

"Yes. In fact, I don't even think she'll remember what she did--about Sirius anyway . . ."

"Good. Better she doesn't."

"And the scrolls?"

"They are with Jamilah. It is too dangerous for them to be in England, or in Europe for that matter."

"What of Nia? Will she go back to the States during holiday?"

"Yes. Especially if the potion works. Better for the blame to go to me than to Nia."

"Blame?"

"Yes, blame. I think Voldemort knows of her now. When he entered Harry, he saw his thoughts, his memories. Voldemort's knowledge of her will make her a target."

"He knows of this? Of the reincarnated gods?"

"If he didn't, he'll know now."

"That is not good, Headmaster . . ."

"No, it's not. I think he's Set."

Severus shook his head. "I don't think so. She was never a target. If The Dark Lord knew of her, he would've vanquished her before the Potters . . ."

"Who do you suppose?"

"Pettigrew. It has to be him; there's no other person."

"Nott? Avery?"

Severus snorted. "Hardly them. Though Avery is certainly perverted enough, he doesn't have the mental capacity."

"But Peter . . ."

"Why else would he try to get to Malika after The Dark Lord's fall?"

Dumbledore was silent for a moment, deep in thought. "Could it be possible Set used to be in Voldemort?"

"I don't know. I think the scrolls would answer the question better than I."

"I hope so."

"Will Nia read the scrolls?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "Not yet. Not until Sirius returns from behind the veil."