The Silver Cauldron

What would it be like to be a classroom assistant at Hogwarts? One with a dark past? One makes even he who believes love is a frivolity want her? One that will even betray her lover? Severus Snape gets more than classroom help out of his assistant.

The Great Hall - a place where friends and enemies could be made...

What would it be like to be a classroom assistant at Hogwarts? One with a dark past? One that can make even someone who believes love is a frivolity desire her? One who is prepared to betray everyone, even her lover, to achieve her ambitions? Professor Snape gets more than classroom help out of his new assistant.

What would it be like to be a classroom assistant at Hogwarts? One with a dark past? One who makes even someone who believes love is a frivolity desire her? One who will betray everyone,. even her lover, to achieve her ambitions? Severus Snape gets more than classroom help out of his assistant.

'Your deepest desire will become your worst nightmare." Professor Trelawney's predictions are never right. Or are they? Miss Almanay receives a rather disturbing prediction. One that perhaps should be taken more seriously than how she and Snape treat it.

Crows are a symbol of black magic. They are traditionally known for carrying the souls of the dead to the underworld. But sometimes they can be very, very useful...

Neville finally gets a potion right, but the outcome is far worse than Miss Almanay ever dreamt it would be.

Darkness gathers and dreams weave their cruel way across Miss Almanay's mind. The night is a time of reflection. Fear. The past. Knowing what she has to get up and face in the morning.

"Many matters the Gods bring to suprising ends. The things we thought would happen do not happen." - Euripides 'Medea'.

Moaning myrtle tells Philoma something she'd rather not have known.

'Love will destroy your soul'. Trelawney's vague prediction may just be right...

When fortunes turn foul... old morals are reversed as Philoma has to make a decision she'd rather not make.

"Total control". Moody said quietly, as the spider began to roll over and over. "I could make it jump out of the window, throw itself down one of your throats..." (Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire).

It is time. Philoma must make the decision she has dreaded. The key to her and Snape's future is held in the balance. And there's no turning back.

The deepest desire of her heart is finally fulfilled.

"I will not allow love to exist amongst my Death Eaters except love for me". Philoma has to fight between her ambitions and emotions. The price could be Snape's life.

What would it be like to be a teacher at Hogwarts? One with a dark past? One who can make even he who believes love is a frivolity love her? Snape gets more than classroom help out of his assistant.

What would it be like to be a potions assistant at Hogwarts? One with a dark past? One that can make even he who believes love is frivolous want her? One who is prepared to betray even her lover for the sake of ambition? Severus Snape gets more than classroom help from his assistant.

How would you feel if you had to tell Snape that you were going to have his child, a child comceived under the Imperio Curse? And how would he react? Philoma has to do the impossible.

Where do people that have been pushed over the edge go to? Somewhere where 'old values will be reversed'. Philoma proves that the ancient witches' rule of 'three to the power of three' is true when she finally pushes Snape over the edge.

Always remember that still waters run deep. The wizarding world of is not as nice as it appears - once you go against it Butterbeer becomes a deadly poison.

Azkaban is every wizard's nightmare. No-one can hear you scream.

Phoenix tears are said to cure all ills. But how can you mend a broken spirit?

Silver roses

The final chapter of 'The Silver Cauldron' and my notes on the creation process. Philoma discovers the true doorway to immortality.