Armilla

Chapter 66

"Happy Birthday, Armilla," Mother said warmly, after Snape had activated the ring. We were sitting in Dumbledore's office, peering down at our mother's face. It had taken several attempts again to activate the ring, but this time Snape declined to comment on it to Mother. "Have you had a nice day?"

"Apart from exams, yes," I replied.

Mother turned to her son. "And did you put aside your thoroughly unexcitable and sarcastic side long enough to make sure Armilla had a nice evening, Severus?"

He sneered. "I will have you know that sarcasm is not something one does for the sake of it. It comes as naturally as breathing, and I happen to enjoy it."

Mother scoffed. "Honestly, Severus. You would believe something like that."

Snape looked bored. "Indeed," he said dryly.

"You have yet to answer my question, dear," she went on, the corners of her mouth twitching, as though trying not to smile.

"Ah yes," he drawled, his lip curling. "We were trying to determine the degree of excitement Armilla has endured today. Does a pink cupcake rank high up the scale, Mother?"

Mother blinked. "You gave your sister a pink cupcake?"

"I did," he said, as I held up the cupcake as proof.

"With two candles," I added.

"And for a first attempt," he continued, "I must say that the result wasn't too disappointing...in terms of appearance anyway." He glanced at the cupcake in my hand. "It could very well taste like rubber."

"I doubt it," I said honestly. I pulled a bit off the top and put it in my mouth. It was very good. "Vanilla," I said when I had swallowed. "No rubber."

I held out the cake to him and was surprised when he actually took some. I never thought I would see my brother eating anything with pink icing.

"No, no rubber," he agreed, after swallowing his own piece. "Enjoy it, Armilla. That's the last pink cupcake I'm conjuring."

"Well then, Severus," said Mother, getting over her initial shock. "This is a step forward for you. Buying your sister a diamond, conjuring a pink cupcake...what's next?" She gave him a sly look. "Is marriage on the horizon, Severus?"

His face darkened. "If you keep talking this way, Mother, I will simply stop telling you the things I do for Armilla." So Snape had told Mother in advance about having a match made for Merle's diamond.

Mother looked far from offended. "I am just teasing, Severus. I have resigned myself to the fact that you are to remain a confirmed old bachelor for the rest of your life."

"Well however you want to phrase it, I am relieved you have finally come to this mindset," he said curtly.

Mother smiled as she turned to me. "Just make sure you marry and have children, Armilla," she said. "Then they can have holidays with their Uncle Severus."

Snape shuddered at the name, but gave no comment.

He didn't really have to comment. I knew that he didn't like children. Then again, that could change if they were my children. He would still be just as strict though.

Mother asked about my exams and the gifts from my friends and Matilda. I was delighted to hear that she had heard of Winnie-the-Pooh. I knew that Mother had loved the work of some muggle composers, so admiring muggle writers wasn't all that surprising. It must have been another secret from Father though.

"You really must read it when Armilla is finished," Mother told my brother. "It's so lovely."

"As good as Potions journals?" he asked, looking highly doubtful.

"Better," I said. "But I don't think you would like it."

Mother laughed. "I read you Winnie-the-Pooh when you were a baby, Severus."

He sneered. "Well I doubt that I was impressed at the time."

"And who knew that you would grow up to be Eeyore?" she said, her eyes shining.

I laughed.

Snape looked wary as he looked from me to Mother. "What's an Eeyore?"

"A donkey," I said quietly.

He narrowed his eyes at Mother. "Are you calling me a donkey?"

"Heavens, no, dear," she said. "You merely have the same disposition as that character."

He didn't look convinced.

"Actually, Eeyore has always been my favourite character," I said.

"Mine too," said Mother.

Snape merely let out a deep sigh.

o o o o o o o o o o

We went back to our rooms in the dungeons ten minutes later. I hadn't told Mother about receiving a letter from Merle, and Snape had not mentioned it to her either. I wasn't sure why I hadn't mentioned it. Mother probably would have been delighted to hear that Merle had planned such a thing. But at the moment, it was something too private and special. Even my brother, who liked to know absolutely everything, had not asked to read the letter.

I heard more than one owl hooting as I made my way down the hallway to my bedroom.

"Her Highness must have guests," Snape said wryly, as he sat down at the table to mark homework.

Upon entering my bedroom I found Morag sharing her water tray with a small dark brown owl. The owl had a fat envelope attached to its leg.

"Hello," I said quietly.

It hooted and soared over to me, resting on my outstretched arm. I carried it over to my desk so I could untie the envelope. I didn't recognise this owl.

I performed the necessary spells to make sure nothing unwanted was concealed within the envelope, and then I opened it. Out of it fell a rolled up bit of parchment, and a greeting card.

The card, obviously handmade, featured pictures of balloons on the front that floated around.

I opened the card and immediately a high-pitched rendition of the Happy Birthday song played out of it. I read the message quickly so I could stop the annoying music.

Dear Miss Armilla,

Docky wishes Miss Armilla Many Happy Returns and hopes she enjoys Docky's present. Docky composed it himself.

Docky

I smiled as I closed the card.

"Don't tell me Docky has sent you something," said Snape, standing in the doorway. The noise had obviously reached his ears.

"He has," I replied, unrolling the parchment. It was a music manuscript, with a tune composed by Docky himself.

"He's composed music for me," I told Snape, as I examined the parchment.

"Merlin help us," he muttered, as he came to stand next to me to look at the parchment.

"Do you know what kind of tune it is?" he asked. He shook his head. "I probably don't need to ask."

"Probably not," I agreed. "It's very fast and very repetitive."

"How like him," he sneered.

"I'll have to write back to him and ask for the lyrics," I said, rolling up the parchment.

"You will do no such thing," he said firmly.

Later that night, after I had said goodnight to my brother, I removed the small silver earrings I normally wore and put on my new ones. Well, only one of the diamonds was really new, but to me they were both brand new.

I stood up and went into the bathroom so I could see them in the mirror. They were small, which definitely suited me as I wasn't one for chunky jewellery, and very elegant.

"You're not normally this vain, dear," said the mirror, yawning.

I pulled a face. "I'm looking at the earrings, not me." I must have been standing there a lot longer than I normally did. I generally only looked in the mirror to do my hair in the morning. My old governess Rougier would have been horrified by the absence of what she called a 'beauty routine.'

"You're looking at both," it corrected.

I shrugged. "I'm not vain. I'm allowed to look in the mirror longer on my birthday. I'm sixteen today, so I have to check for wrinkles you see."

It let out a hollow laugh. "Sound logic, dear."

I went back into my bedroom and got into bed, pulling Merle's jewellery box towards me. I opened it quickly, put my old earrings in it and then pulled out the Merle's letter. I didn't want to keep it open; otherwise the music would reach Snape's ears.

I read over the letter twice more, not because I was unsettled or anything. I was perfectly content with my brother. It was just so nice to see Merle's handwriting. As I read over the letter, I could nearly hear her soft voice reading the words to me.

I pray with all my heart that when you read this, your life will be a happy one. I don't know what family you will be placed with, but I hope they grow to love you as much as I have, and be inspired by you to the extent that I have been.

If it came down to my relationship with Snape, then yes, my life was indeed a happy one. When we had discovered that we were related, neither of us had been thrilled. Snape had stormed off and I had endured a period of grief over Merle and my mother and anxiety over my brother, father and Shar.

It had been nearly eight months since that discovery was made, and we had certainly come a long way in my opinion. For one thing, I loved my brother and I knew he loved me too. A long time ago it had seemed like Snape and love couldn't go together in the one sentence.

My life as a whole was not entirely happy though, and nor was my brother's. Snape's reason for anxiety was a lot more significant than mine, seeing as he was the one who had to leave every time he felt his mark burn. My anxiety came from my father. As I read over what Merle said about my family loving me, I started to wonder about my father and love.

Snape had told me recently that Father was capable of love, as he was certain that Father had loved Mother. The way love is shown, or rather, hidden, is up to the person. It made me wonder exactly where I stood with my father. Love was certainly conditional with him. After all, if he had loved my brother once, he definitely didn't now. He always signed his letters, 'Your loving father', but I had always suspected that it was for show.

If my father did love me, I knew it wasn't the sort of love that Merle would have had in mind. My instincts told me that Merle would have been worried about Snape's Death Eater position, but she would not have doubted his love.

When it came down to family though, I really didn't consider my father family. I mean, I called him Father and I had his genes and surname, but he wasn't family where it counted. Even though she had been having a go at me at the time, Rougier had been right when she had stated that Snape was simply another father. George Weasley had once said that Snape and I were a strange little family, which in a way we were, but it worked for the two of us.

o o o o o o o o o o

The rest of the week was taken up with more exams. I had put my best into both of my Defence Against the Dark Arts exams on Thursday, and Snape had been pleased to hear that I had confidently answered everything on the written paper, and had handled the practical with no problems. I was sure that he would have taken it as a personal slight if I hadn't.

On Friday evening I ate dinner in the Great Hall with my friends. Snape had felt his mark burn about half an hour before dinner and had hastened away, telling me to dine in the Great Hall with my friends instead.

Having pushed the worry of my brother's present company out of my mind, I had eaten happily enough with my friends. It was a little difficult not to think of my brother being in the Dark Lord's presence.

I headed back down to the dungeons after dinner. Malfoy met me at the stairs leading down to the dungeons in the Entrance Hall. He was leaning against the wall with his arms folded against his chest, looking as if he hadn't a care in the world.

I said a quick hello to him, as it was my annoying pureblood duty to do so, and I was even more irritated when he began to walk with me. Straightaway I guessed that he had quickly left the Great Hall when he saw me leaving, hoping that I would be going down to the dungeons. His cronies were nowhere in sight.

"How have your exams been?" he said politely.

"Fine," I replied. "And yours?"

"No troubles," he said airily.

I wanted to laugh and point out that I knew about him losing concentration and smashing a wine glass in one of his practical exams. But that would be betraying my brother's trust, not to mention that it would not go down well with Father.

"Holidays are coming up soon," he went on, as we made our way along the deserted dungeon corridor. I was wondering whether I should turn and go back towards the Entrance Hall where there were more people about, but I knew there would be no good excuse for doing that. Besides, Malfoy would probably insist on accompanying me or waiting for me.

"I know," I replied. Sod off you little toad.

"Hopefully I will be able to see you over the holidays."

Hopefully not. "Well that is up to my brother and my father."

"Perhaps not."

"Excuse me?" His smug expression greatly unsettled me.

"Perhaps not," he repeated, very clearly.

"What do you mean?" I asked, playing the nonchalant attitude the whole time.

"Fathers like to think they have control, don't they?"

What was going on? "To a certain extent they do," I pointed out. At least, my father certainly did, and I knew Lucius Malfoy did.

"I disagree."

I stopped. "You have control over your father then?"

He stopped too and turned around, a couple of steps in front of me. He raised an eyebrow. "You're missing my point, Armilla. I am merely pointing out that only those with ultimate control can really tell you what to do."

Now I was feeling very uncomfortable. If he had been bluffing the last time I spoke to him, he really didn't seem to be now. Something was going on.

"What's been happening?" I asked quietly.

He smirked. "Things are changing for the better, Armilla. When they do, those who are worthy will take their rightful positions. We're starting a new era."

"Can you be specific?" I said dryly, feeling impatient now.

He regarded me for a moment with that same smug expression. "It's not your place to know," he said finally. He turned and walked away.

"I disagree," I said, just loud enough for him to catch my words.

He stopped and turned on the spot.

"I think it is my place to know," I said, meeting his gaze.

He gave me a scornful look. "Don't be so arrogant as to presume that's your decision." With that, he turned and swaggered away without a backwards glance.

I stared after him, feeling sick. Malfoy was generally over polite to me, saying anything to impress me. Now, it seemed as if he felt that he didn't have to, but he honestly believed that he was going to win anyway.

He had to know something. He wouldn't be making such an effort in exercising power over me if he didn't know something.

Lucius Malfoy was obviously feeding his son information. If Father knew anything, he hadn't sent warning. But maybe Father didn't know. Maybe my brother didn't know.

"Admiring the dungeon walls?" said a deep voice from behind me.

Startled, I turned to see Snape walking towards me. He had just come from a meeting with the Dark Lord. Maybe he did know something.

"Uh...no...not really," I said, distractedly.

He came to a stop next to me, frowning slightly as he looked at me.

Before I could say anything, he spoke first.

"I have no wish to speak out here. Come."

He headed off in the direction of our quarters and I followed close behind, lost in thought as Malfoy's words replayed in my mind.

Once we were inside, he gestured for me to sit down on the sofa, whilst he took off his travelling cloak.

"Is it urgent?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I don't think so."

"What is it about?"

"Malfoy," I said flatly.

His face darkened. "Again? This is getting ridiculous."

"I know," I said quietly.

He sighed. "I want you to tell me about it when I'm not rushed for time. Can you spare me a few minutes so I can contact Dumbledore?"

"Of course," I replied. I knew he had to contact Dumbledore to inform him of whatever had transpired during his meeting with the Dark Lord. Malfoy could wait.

"Make us some tea," he said, walking towards the hallway. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

He disappeared into the lab and I heard no sound from behind the closed door. No doubt Dumbledore and my brother had a high security charm in place to protect their means of communication.

I conjured up some tea, and sat waiting for Snape to emerge.

I wondered if Snape had the means to find out what was going on with Malfoy. I had asked him once before why he couldn't just slide in and out of another Death Eater's mind via Occlumency to find things out. He had simply replied that it wasn't that simple and I had been left to ponder this.

Snape kept his word and came back into the sitting room after only a few minutes. I concluded (surprising myself with a note of optimism) that he hadn't had too stressful a time in front of the Dark Lord.

"Now then," he said, sitting down next to me and taking his teacup. "What happened?"

"I met Malfoy on my way down here," I began, trying to push the image of Malfoy's smug expression from my mind without resorting to Occluding. "Actually, it seemed like he was waiting for me."

Snape frowned. "How so?"

"He was leaning against the wall at the top of the dungeon stairs, looking as if it was something he does all the time. It wasn't until I walked down the stairs that he decided to come too so he could talk to me."

"And where were Crabbe and Goyle?"

"Probably eating their sixth course in the Great Hall," I said snidely.

The corners of Snape's mouth twitched for brief moment, but when he spoke, his voice was hard. "Had you already greeted him when he began to follow you?"

I nodded. "Yes, I had, and then he just started to follow me. I didn't know whether to go back to the Entrance Hall with a flimsy excuse or keep walking."

"Risky either way," he said quietly, putting his cup down. "So what did he have to say to you this time?"

"He asked me how my exams were going, and then he mentioned that he was hoping to see me over the holidays."

Snape scowled. "Not if I can help it," he said darkly.

"Father might allow it," I pointed out.

He shook his head. "Father seems reluctant to talk about Lucius Malfoy at the moment. Something must have happened between them." He looked completely indifferent as he continued. "At any rate, I doubt Father will be amenable to visits from Draco anytime soon."

"Well that's just it," I said. "That's where things got a bit strange. I said that it was up to you and Father as to whether I would see him or not, and then he started going on about fathers thinking they have control."

"He's a self-righteous little fool, Armilla," he scoffed.

"No," I insisted, "trust me, something is going on. I told him that fathers do have control, and he told me that I was missing the point. He said that only those with ultimate control can really tell you what to do." I curled my hands into fists in an effort to stop them shaking. "What am I supposed to think from that?"

Snape just stared at me, his expression still dark. Before he could offer an answer I went on.

"I asked Malfoy what was happening. He said that things are changing for the better, and when they do, those who are worthy will take their rightful positions. He called it a new era."

Snape's eyes flashed. "Was he more specific than that?"

If I wasn't so worried, I would have laughed at the fact that I had asked the same question of Malfoy.

"He told me it wasn't my place to know any more than that," I said resentfully.

His eyes glinted dangerously at this. Obviously, he knew no more about this than I did, and Malfoy wasn't about to tell.

"I told him that I disagreed," I continued. "I told him it was my place to know."

"And what was the reply you received?" he asked quietly, his eyes narrowed.

I squeezed my hands into even tighter fists. "He told not so be so arrogant as to presume that it was my decision."

With a furious look, Snape suddenly stood up and started pacing, his black robes billowing behind him as he walked.

"I was hoping you might have had an idea as to what it's about," I said quietly. "But I suppose not."

He shook his head. "I knew nothing of this," he snapped, though I knew his anger wasn't directed at me.

"Father then?"

"Oh, I will be having a chat with Father very shortly," he said curtly.

"What if Father doesn't know anything about it?"

"Then I suppose I will have to approach Lucius and question him on the matter."

We were silent for a moment. I watched as Snape walked over to the table and back again.

"If Draco Malfoy is reluctant to say anything, how will you get information from his father?" I asked.

Snape sighed. "I might not get any information from him. Lucius is also very close to the Dark Lord. If I am too insistent on a matter or resort to unorthodox methods of obtaining information then Lucius will find a means to cause trouble for me."

I frowned. "I thought Lucius thinks that the two of you are friends."

"When it's convenient, yes," he said, sneering. "It's about connections, Armilla, as you well know. If I push Lucius too far then it may well compromise my position as the Order's Spy."

"But doesn't the Dark Lord value you just as much?" I asked.

Snape paused in front of the coffee table, pursing his lips as he looked at me. "You are moving onto dangerous ground, Armilla."

"I know," I said quickly. "I wasn't trying to get-"

"Forget it," he said abruptly, holding up a hand in indication to stop. His patience was very thin. "Lucius also has his uses to the Dark Lord, Armilla. Let's just leave it at that."

I nodded. "Alright. So you're going to speak to Father first then?"

He nodded as he sat down next to me again. "As soon as possible."

Having nothing else to say, I picked up my cup of tea. Snape seemed content to glare at the space in front of him.

Finally, having defeated the air with his glaring, he broke his gaze and turned to me. "Five subjects down," he said, "four to go."

"Two of the worst are in front of me," I replied. I wasn't looking forward to Astronomy or History of Magic. Admittedly, it wasn't that I had trouble understanding History of Magic, rather it was just that there was so much to remember and my brain really didn't care. I struggled more with Astronomy, which worried me considering that my father was passionate about Astronomy.

"You can only do what you can," he said.

"Father doesn't think that way," I said quietly.

"Well, if things go my way," he said, leaning back, "you'll be with me in July and with Father in August. That way, you'll have already received your OWLs when you go to him. We would have already written to him to inform him of whatever results you receive."

I shuddered. "That gives him time to think about what hex he'll use."

He raised an eyebrow. "You've already decided what marks you're getting, have you?" He shook his head. "Father's generally impulsive, Armilla. The serious hexes you have received from him have come about through spontaneous action."

That was true. The first time, when I had received a hex through a letter, Father would have only just found out that I was rude to Malfoy. He had also acted on impulse when he had hexed me on my last night at Snape Manor because I had just been rude to Rougier.

"All the same, I bet he does plan things occasionally though," I murmured.

Snape inclined his head. "When he feels particularly passionate about something, yes. I doubt that includes OWL marks."

I looked at him closely, searching for a sign that he might just be saying that to comfort me. It only took me a second to remember that Snape wouldn't just be saying things to comfort me if it involved moving further away from the truth.

o o o o o o o o o o

I stayed in our quarters in the dungeons all day on Saturday, studying for the exams I had coming up the following week. I had Potions on Monday, an exam-free day on Tuesday, Astronomy and Arithmancy on Wednesday, and History of Magic to finish off on Thursday.

Snape had left shortly after breakfast to go and see Father about Malfoy's conversation with me. He had been a little on edge at breakfast, which was understandable considering that he was going to Snape Manor.

He returned just before lunch. If he had seemed a little tetchy at breakfast time, he was well and truly ill-tempered now.

He closed the front door with a little more force than necessary, and when I went out into the sitting room to meet him, his eyes were glinting dangerously, and his expression was nothing short of mutinous.

I always found being as quiet as I could was best during these situations. If I said too much, he would snap at me. Instead, all I would need to say were a couple of words, and then hopefully he would carry on most the conversation by himself.

"That bad?" I said quietly, as he sat down in an armchair.

"There's something wrong with the old fool," he said scathingly, his expression most unpleasant. "He wouldn't give me a single satisfactory answer. I related the whole conversation with Malfoy to him, and instead of saying that he knew what it was about or acting surprised, he did neither."

"What did he say?"

"He asked why you were out talking to a boy in the corridor when you should have been in your room studying!"

A boy? To Father, Draco Malfoy had always had a name; he had never been a random boy.

Snape was obviously thinking along the same lines. "That led me to believe that he did know, but wasn't about to tell me anything. Of course, that led to an argument and I accused him of keeping important information from me. Then he had the nerve to accuse me of keeping information about you from him!"

I sat down on the sofa. "What sort of information?"

"Nothing in particular," he said, looking exasperated. "He just used it as an excuse. He went on again about how boring your letters are and has concluded that the lack of interesting content means that we are concealing everything else."

This was partly true. I generally told Father very little about myself.

"I asked him if there was something going on with Lucius Malfoy," he continued, his eyes narrowing, "and he said that he had no desire whatsoever to speak about Lucius."

I frowned. "But that points to-"

"Yes," he said abruptly. "He must have quarrelled with Lucius. Over what exactly I don't know. It could have something to do with the Dark Lord."

I said nothing. I knew it wasn't my place to ask for more information when it came to the Dark Lord.

He sighed. "Father's position in the Dark Lord's eyes is not what it once was," he went on quietly. "Perhaps Lucius has been given responsibilities that Father might once have had."

Again, I remained silent. I was surprised that Snape had said as much. I doubted that Snape knew the responsibilities of all the other Death Eaters. Not that I knew much about You-Know-Who, but I couldn't imagine an evil wizard handing out the same information to everyone.

"Perhaps that is why Father is not so keen to have Draco for you anymore," he said, looking a little calmer. "He might have changed his mind after a personal row with Lucius."

"Would that explain why Draco was talking about fathers not having control?" I asked. "Was he just meaning that his father only does the bidding of the Dark Lord?"

"Possibly," he answered, staring at the space in front of him. "There are too many possibilities."

"So where to from here?" I said softly.

Again, he sighed. Though he would never admit it, he looked exhausted to me.

"Lucius," he said quietly. "I doubt he will tell me anything, but I shall try just the same."

"And if nothing comes from that?"

"Then Father and I will have to have a serious talk about social engagements this summer. I don't like the idea of the Malfoys visiting whilst you are at Father's." He scowled. "In fact, after the incident at Father's dinner party, I have no wish for you to be near any of Father's friends or their children."

I nodded. I couldn't have agreed more. Marcus Flint had been very drunk that night. If it hadn't happened then Morag wouldn't have been poisoned.

"I shall have to make it clear to Father that I don't want you leaving the house with a governess or anyone else other than him," he went on. "We were lucky last time that we were able to have Nymphadora Tonks monitor Rougier."

"Did you talk to him about when I will stay with him over the summer?" I asked.

He nodded. "It took a fair amount of coaxing, but I managed to convince him that it would be more advantageous for him to see you in August."

"Advantageous?" I repeated, looking suspiciously at him.

"Indeed. You'll be tired in July from your exams and so will be in no condition to learn all the pureblood traditions or whatever else he has in mind. He came to see that you'll be more attentive in August."

"Thankyou...I think," I said. I just couldn't wait to get back into memorising utter nonsense from outdated books.

"Best I could do, unfortunately," he replied.

"I wonder if Father has hired a new governess yet," I said. I was not looking forward to meeting whoever it was.

"I asked him," Snape said shortly, his eyes narrowing. "He said that he hadn't, and he didn't know why I was so concerned anyway, as it had nothing to do with me."

I shook my head. My father was such a lovely old dear. "I hope he doesn't find anyone."

"You might see more of Father if there's no governess," he pointed out.

I nodded glumly. "Doomed either way."

o o o o o o o o o o

My Potions exams on Monday went by with so problems at all. In all honesty, if I had never found out that I was related to Snape, I would have never been so confident in a Potions exam. But I had spent too much time in the Potions lab with my brother, due to study and also leisurely.

Though he had never said so, I knew it would not bode well for Snape if I didn't receive an Outstanding in Potions. Given that he only took the top students into NEWT Potions, there was certainly pressure to do well. I didn't like favouritism, but I knew he would accept me into NEWT Potions anyway no matter what my mark was. I wouldn't have a choice.

I was still worried about the conversation with Malfoy. Snape had spoken to Lucius Malfoy on Sunday, and had come back almost as annoyed as he had been the day before.

Lucius Malfoy had not been helpful at all. Apparently he had not looked too impressed when Snape had told him what Draco had said to me. He had responded with something along the lines of "Draco gets strange ideas in his head at times" and had said that he would speak to his son about it. Snape had also asked him if anything was going on with Father, but Lucius had remained tight-lipped other than to say that he hadn't spoken to him much lately.

Like he had said on Saturday, my brother said he would meet with Father again and discuss the people I would come into contact with over the summer. We had spent an hour on Sunday afternoon duelling. Snape had used the excuse that I had to constantly practice using my mental shield whilst duelling, but I believed he drew solace from non-threat duelling.

On Wednesday night, Snape and I went to see Mother. We went just after nine o'clock, after Snape had told me to take a break from studying for my Astronomy practical exam, which started at eleven pm. I was already exhausted. I had already sat for my theory Astronomy exam that morning, as well as Arithmancy in the afternoon. I just couldn't wait to go to bed. It was a lovely feeling that it was all going to be over the next day after History of Magic.

It took Snape five attempts this time to activate the ring. Neither of us said anything about it. It was another worry to add to the list.

"Nearly over, dear?" asked Mother, when her face had finally come into view.

"Yes, just two more. I have Astronomy tonight," I replied, looking closely at her.

She still looked just the same as she did when I had first seen her. The same clear blue eyes and long brown hair, a fair bit lighter than mine. If she had been living then she would have looked about fifteen years older than she did in the ring. Snape had told me that Mother would have been fifty-six now if she was alive. However, her face in the ring retained the age she was upon her death.

"As long as you're confident," she said. A second later her face vanished.

I hastily leaned forward and tried to activate the ring again.

Nothing happened.

Far from being discouraged, as Snape and I were used to this now, I tried again. And again. And again.

"I wish Mother had had more time to do find out more about this ring," Snape grumbled, moving my hand away so he could have a turn.

He managed to activate it once more on his second attempt.

"Maybe it's become sensitive to magical strength," I said quietly, as Mother's face slowly came into view. "Mine mustn't be strong enough to take effect."

"I don't know," he said, frowning down at the ring.

"And what do you have planned for after the exams?" Mother asked, unaware that she had just faded from the ring again.

"Mother, you just faded again," Snape interrupted softly. "It's taking longer and longer to bring you back."

Mother looked up at her son, a serene look on her face. "I'm sorry, Severus," she said. "I know I didn't research every property of the ring, but I know I'm not going anywhere yet."

Snape said nothing more on the subject. Instead he just looked expectantly at me.

"Well?" said Mother, looking at me.

"I don't know yet," I replied. "I haven't really thought about it. I don't really want to do much."

"Just sit by the lake everyday with your friends," she recommended.

"Not everyday," said Snape, shaking his head. "Nothing comes from being idle."

"I disagree," said Mother. "You get rest and relaxation."

"No, you get anxiety because you think about the things you should be doing," he said.

Mother stared at him. "Are we talking about you or Armilla, Severus? Are you tired, dear?" She looked sympathetically at him.

"No," he scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me, Severus. It's not good manners."

Before he could retort, Mother's face vanished again.

"Allow me," he said, leaning forward to attempt to activate the ring again. I hadn't bothered moving to do it myself this time. I had given up hope that it would recognise my magic.

It took three goes for Mother's face to come back.

"Welcome back," said Snape dryly, once her face had become clear.

"I went again, did I?" she asked. Without waiting for an answer, she continued to speak.

"Have you arranged for Armilla to stay with your father during the summer?" she asked Snape.

"A month in August," he answered.

"Too long," she said, looking annoyed.

He raised an eyebrow. "It's not bad considering we have joint custody, Mother."

"I don't care," she huffed.

"Well then, let's change the subject," he said, suddenly looking impatient.

"Fine. Let's quiz Armilla on her Astronomy, Severus."

o o o o o o o o o o

By the time I joined my friends later that night for the exam, I was as ready as I could possibly be. I was not going to say that I was confident, as Astronomy was not a favourite subject of mine, but I had studied all I could.

Snape and I had stayed with Mother for another half hour. Her face had faded another three times, but as Snape and I had made our way back to the dungeons, neither of us had chosen to speak about it.

"Good night for stargazing," said Terry, nodding up at the sky.

"Doesn't make it any more enjoyable," I muttered.

"I'm going to be so happy this time tomorrow," sighed Lisa.

"I won't be feeling anything this time tomorrow," said Terry. "I'll be sleeping, blissfully unaware of all around me."

"Are you coming back to Ravenclaw Tower tomorrow night, Mill?" Lisa asked. "We've missed having you up there."

I nodded. I wasn't going to miss out on the end of exam celebrations in the common room. Snape had already said that I could spend Thursday night in Ravenclaw Tower.

Professor Marchbanks called for quiet, and we all began setting up our telescopes. When we were all ready, we were told we could begin, and we started to fill in the star-charts we had been given.

It was very boring in my opinion, filling in the chart. I was extremely tired, but I managed to keep myself alert as I concentrated on my chart...

o o o o o o o o o o

It was after two in the morning when I made my way down to the dungeons, my heart still thumping after what I had just witnessed.

I let myself into our quarters. I nearly jumped when I saw a shadow emerge in the corridor as I moved through the sitting room. I had been expecting Snape to be in bed at this time.

"I put an alert on the charms protecting the entrance," he explained, lighting his wand as we stood together in the corridor. He was wearing a black dressing gown and had dark grey socks on. "I wanted to know when you returned. Was the exam alright?"

"I did all I could," I said, wishing my heart would stop thumping, "considering what happened. Hagrid's gone, and Professor McGonagall was injured."

"What?" Snape's eyes widened in shock. "What happened?"

"Some people came out of the castle and tried to stun Hagrid, but it wouldn't work," I said hastily. "A man named Dawlish was one of them. He yelled at Hagrid to be reasonable. Hagrid's dog was stunned, and Hagrid threw the man who did it. Then Professor McGonagall came out, yelling at them to leave Hagrid alone, and the people turned on her and shot Stunners at her instead. She was thrown off her feet."

"No doubt," said Snape, his face pale. His dark eyes were glittering.

"Hagrid started screaming that they were cowards and knocked a couple of them out, and then we heard Umbridge down there, screaming at the others to get him."

"Of course," he said, his lip curling. "Dolores Umbridge would have to be responsible for causing such a scene."

"Then Hagrid escaped with Fang," I finished.

"McGonagall must be in the hospital wing then," he said. He shook his head wearily. "I'm going to go up to the hospital wing. I want you to go straight to bed."

"Alright," I said, as he turned and went back into his bedroom, presumably to change.

I went into my own bedroom and got changed. As I got into bed, the whole thing replayed in my head. Seeing the people turn on Professor McGonagall like that was just eerie, especially because it had happened at Hogwarts. If it was possible, my hatred for Umbridge increased even more. I supposed that McGonagall would not be well enough to do anything anytime soon.

That left my brother as the only Order member keeping an eye on Hogwarts...

o o o o o o o o o o

I slept in until nine o'clock. When I went out to the sitting room, I noticed that Snape had left breakfast on the table for me, along with a note saying that he would be back to have lunch with me before my History of Magic exam that afternoon.

I studied for the rest of the morning with a bit of a strange feeling. I couldn't accurately describe the feeling. I supposed it was a mixture of anxiety for the state of Hogwarts, now that Umbridge was openly supporting the attack of her staff members, as well as a little bit of excitement that exams were finishing that afternoon.

When lunchtime finally came, my brain had started screaming at me to stop going over the goblin riots of the eighteenth century.

"Had enough?" asked my brother, as he entered the room, heading straight for the table.

"More than enough," I said, putting my notes aside. I joined him at the table where lunch had just magically appeared, sent by the house elves.

"How is Professor McGonagall?" I asked, after we had started to eat.

"She was in a critical condition last night," he answered. "She had received four Stunning Spells to the chest, so it's no wonder she was in a bad way. She was transferred to St Mungo's this morning."

"Do you think she'll be alright?" I asked. For some reason, I was suddenly reminded that her sister, Emiliana, had been a close friend of Mother's. Not that any of that was relevant, but it just popped into my head...

He nodded. "She's not young, but she's strong."

"You're the only Order member left here," I told him.

He grimaced. "Let's hope the school year ends peacefully then."

"I'm not optimistic," I said wryly, "at least not while Umbridge is here."

"Personally, I'm praying she meets a sticky end," he muttered, picking up a piece of bread.

After we had finished lunch, Snape quickly went over my History of Magic notes with me before he got ready to teach.

"Good luck then," he said, as he made his way to the door. "Make sure you have your chocolate frog card on you so you can let me know from Ravenclaw Tower how you went."

"I always carry it," I said. "I'll probably come down here this afternoon first anyway." I didn't want to just go straight up to Ravenclaw Tower after the exam. I had been living with Snape all this time while he had been helping me study. The least I could do was to come down and tell him how it went.

He nodded as he opened the door. "See you later then."

"You will," I replied.

o o o o o o o o o o

Not long before my exam was due to begin, I left our quarters and walked along the cold corridor. There were a few Slytherins about, also making their way up to the Great Hall for the exam.

As I came around a corner, I nearly bumped into Draco Malfoy, who was standing in the middle of the corridor talking to...Lucius Malfoy.

Draco turned around at the sound of footsteps, and Lucius looked over his son's head to peer at me through slightly narrowed eyes. Draco and I moved out of the middle of the corridor to let the other students pass. Two of them nodded at Lucius, and he nodded curtly back.

"Ah, Armilla," he said, reaching out to shake my hand. "So lovely to see you. I was just asking Draco here whether he had spoken to you today."

Draco nodded at me. "Armilla."

"Draco," I said, also nodding.

"All ready for the exam, Armilla?" Lucius asked, clasping his hands behind his back and regarding me with an expression I supposed he thought was fondness.

"Yes, sir," I said politely.

"Excellent," he said. "Yes, I came myself this afternoon to wish Draco luck, and to take tea with the Headmistress. I must say it is excellent to have a former ministry member in the position of Headmistress here."

"Yes, sir," I said again, though I didn't agree at all.

"Where are all the other Slytherins, Draco?" asked Lucius, looking around.

"Either in class, Father, or already up in the Entrance Hall or Great Hall," he answered. He wasn't so arrogant in his father's presence.

"Oh," Lucius said shortly. "The exam doesn't start for another fifteen minutes. Would you have time to see if Dolores is up in her office, Draco? We're supposed to go to Hogsmeade, and I would rather meet her in the Entrance Hall."

"Yes, Father," said Draco obediently, and he turned and headed in the direction of the Entrance Hall, and was soon out of sight.

Not wanting to be left alone in the presence of Lucius Malfoy, I started to walk in the same direction.

Before I had taken two steps, I felt a hand grab mine and something small and cold was pressed between my hand and the hand of Lucius.

I felt a tug behind my navel and in an instant my feet had left the ground. I could feel a gush of wind and all I could see was a whirl of colour.

My feet slammed to the ground so hard that I fell. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucius land hard as well, but he did not fall.

"Expelliarmus!" he said sharply, and I felt my wand come from out of my robes and it zoomed in his direction.

My heart felt like it was going to explode. This was a dream. This had to be a dream...

I was sitting on shabby grey carpet in a dimly lit room. I looked ahead of me on the floor to see highly polished high-heeled shoes, nearly covered by dark purple robes. Slowly looking up, I met the gaze of a person I had no desire to see. The governess. Zita Rougier.

Rougier was looking down at me with a self satisfied smile.

"Ah, my favourite young charge," she whispered.

Lucius pocketed my wand, as well as the small silver portkey that had just delivered us here. He unnecessarily brushed himself off and reached down to pull me up.

"Ladies don't sit about on the floor," he said quietly, not letting go of my hand. He looked at Rougier.

"Zita," he said, nodding at her. "All is well I trust?"

She nodded. "Yes, Aurelius."