Armilla

Chapter 25

I quickly moved out of the way when I arrived back at the Three Broomsticks to make room for Snape. I actually moved a few metres further away than necessary because he seemed to be in a foul temper.

Snape stepped out of the flames a moment later, brushing off his robes as he swept to the door, nodding at me to follow him.

He did not slow his pace until we were outside in the cool breeze. Instead of heading back to the carriage with the waiting thestrals, he turned and headed in another direction. I scurried along after him, wondering where we were going. He made no comment, but continued to stride past shop after shop until we reached the post office.

We went inside and I noticed that it was deserted except for a young, pimply wizard behind the counter, and many owls. I followed Snape to the counter. The boy's eyes widened in terror when he saw Snape, and I suddenly recognised him as a Hufflepuff who had graduated a few years back.

"P..p..professor Snape," he stammered.

Snape barely paid him any attention.

"I have a package to pick up from Knockturn Alley," he said in a business-like tone.

The boy stared at him, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. I glanced sideways at Snape. His black eyes were unfathomable and he was sneering slightly. What had he ordered from Knockturn Alley?

"Knockturn Alley?" the boy repeated, his voice wavering.

"Indeed, Farrell," Snape said smoothly, narrowing his eyes. "If you think you are competent enough to retrieve it so that I may be on my way, I would be most appreciative."

Farrell scampered off and Snape let out a frustrated sigh, clearly getting more irritated by the second.

Not wanting to be subject to Snape's wrath, I turned and looked back out the window, watching shoppers wander past, clutching bags that held all sorts of things.

A minute later, Farrell returned carrying a parcel wrapped in brown paper. He put it on the counter with a thud and handed Snape a quill to sign for it. Snape quickly scribbled his spiky signature and grabbed the parcel.

Farrell glanced suspiciously at me now, as if suddenly realising I was there. Snape indicated for me to lead the way out. At the door, he turned around suddenly, drawing his wand with his spare hand. He pointed at the form he had just signed and said, "Effaciate!"

Farrell looked down at the form in confusion where the signature had been as Snape raised his wand to him and said sharply, "Obliviate!" Immediately the boy's eyes glazed over and Snape quickly exited the shop, closing the door.

Assuming that I still was not going to receive an explanation for all this, I walked alongside Snape back to the carriage, looking at anything or anyone else besides my brother, who still appeared to be fuming.

Only when we were in the carriage again riding back to Hogwarts did Snape speak.

"I believe Umbridge will be watching us arrive back at the school," he said, unwrapping the brown package. "Therefore, I will show you these now before we can be seen."

He pulled the paper off completely to reveal two thick books. I glanced at the one on top, which read Defence Against the Darkest Magic by D'Arcy Wentworth. I thought Snape would have had plenty Dark Arts books.

"I do not keep books on the Dark Arts at Hogwarts," he said, staring at the book. "Most books from which I was educated in the Dark Arts reside at our father's house. They do not belong to me. There are very few Dark Arts books at our mother's house because she disposed of a large number herself years ago."

Snape picked up the book on top to pass to me, and I looked at the second book, A Dark Arts Survival Guide by Glenda Wickham.

"Because she is so concerned for all wizard kind," Snape said, sneering, "Umbridge banned Flourish and Blotts from supplying their usual range of Defence books, except for the set text for her classes. You might have noticed that most of the Defence section in the library has been relocated to the restricted section. She banned them in Knockturn Alley too, but wizards have ways of concealing banned items."

He glanced down at the second book. "Actually," he said, "these books are quite harmless in comparison to the sort of stock sold at the shop I bought them from."

I opened my book and flipped through it. It was full of descriptions of dark curses, plants and potions and the counter curses for them, with wand movements and pictures that were a bit too gruesome for my liking.

"I want you to spend the next couple of days looking through these books," said Snape, flipping through the book he held. "I am yet to find a text on Occlumency that I find useful-" He paused and glanced sideways at me, "-but no matter. I have a feeling you will prove yourself adept at Occlumency before long."

What did that mean? Had he looked into my mind somehow without me knowing?

It suddenly hit me. I had been using steel arm imagery to keep my father at arm's length, blocking my emotions at the same time. Snape must looked into my mind, only to be met with the arm that wasn't intended for him; not that I wanted Snape knowing all my emotions.

Not wanting to confirm anything, I said nothing and continued to look at the book.

However, Snape reached out and took it out of my hands, placing it back on top of the other book. He took out his wand again and muttered, "Desguisatus", making the books shrink down into just one chocolate frog card (with a Dark Wizard catcher on it). He held it out to me.

"Keep this in your pocket at all times. To make it turn into the books again, just say, Revelate, and it will change form."

"Alright," I said, taking the card from him.

"Now," said Snape, taking on a business like tone once again. "The writing on the back gives a description of the wizard, but if you press your index finger against the name, the details of our next meeting will appear on the card, along with any messages. There will also be a meeting location on the card. All the locations appearing on the card will be in Hogwarts, of course. You'll know if a message is there if the wizard on the front is waving at you. If he's sleeping, nothing has changed."

Sure enough, the wizard seemed to be snoring. I smiled at it. Very clever and cunning; it hit me that Snape, the Head of Slytherin, was also the son of a Ravenclaw.

Snape leaned back, brushing his hair away from his face. He seemed a little less angry than before, but to me, he never stopped looking stern.

"And what did you think of your dear father?" he said, sneering.

I decided to give an honest opinion.

"I didn't like him," I replied.

He scoffed. "No?"

"No," I said, turning to face him. "But I don't suppose whether I like him or not really matters. I'll just have to learn to live with it."

A hint of surprise flashed for a brief second on Snape's pale face. He looked directly at me and I found myself subconsciously pushing the steel arm into my mind. I didn't know why I did it.

If Snape saw it, he didn't mention it.

"I should keep well away from Draco Malfoy," I said quietly.

Snape's anger seemed to return. "I should think so," he said harshly, looking directly in front of him. "He seems to want you married off quickly." He shook his head in annoyance. "Wizarding court indeed," he said indignantly.

Merle had told me before about being presented at wizarding court. She hadn't really believed in it, but a lot of the old pureblood families still liked to have their children 'presented' to the Minister for Magic at a ball after they turned sixteen or seventeen. Obviously, Snape didn't believe in it either.

"I hope Merle didn't plan on having you presented," said Snape, still sneering at the idea.

"No," I replied. "She didn't believe in that sort of thing."

He nodded. "That's just as well," he said, his anger seeming to settle down again.

"When will I get to see my mother?" I asked suddenly. I hadn't seen her once since I had left the secret wing. Dumbledore and Snape hadn't wanted me to see her until the custody battle had been resolved.

Snape looked thoughtful for a moment, but he didn't seem surprised that I had asked.

"Soon, I should think," he said. "The ring is in Dumbledore's office at the moment. I might be able to bring it to some of your lessons, depending on her state. She will not be happy to know what right Father holds over you. She did leave him to avoid that, after all."

"Doesn't that mean her spirit will have to stay in the ring?" I asked. "I mean, she told me it wouldn't break free until she satisfied with whoever had guardianship."

Snape nodded. "Certainly," he said. "She won't be satisfied and therefore will remain trapped between the living and the dead."

A flood of very mixed feelings washed over me. On the one hand, I was thrilled to have access to my mother, who would be around for longer. But that was also selfish, because underneath she would be suffering because she couldn't rest in peace.

Snape must have seen all the emotion that time and I wasn't quick enough to shield it.

"There is nothing you can do about it," he said, as the carriage came to a halt. "It was her decision, a risky one at that, to have the charm placed on her."

I nodded, getting up to climb out after Snape.

We began walking back to the front door. Snape glanced up at the castle.

"Umbridge's eyes will be peeping out through one of those windows," he muttered. "I suppose a well-aimed eye-stinging hex would make it obvious who the attacker was...pity."