The Silver Cauldron

Chapter 15 - The Silver Cauldron

My room was quietly empty, just as I'd left it. A friendly chaos of quills, ingredients and the purple legacy of the cauldron escapade stubbornly staining my desk. The cauldron itself stood amongst a matted assortment of papers. The creatures on it seemed even more realistic than usual tonight; hushed, watchful, like a cat prepared to spring. Snape did not notice this.

"Excuse me while I get changed" I said. My robes were in tatters.

"There's no need to. You look fine" he murmured.

"But I want to. This is a special night for me."

The wardrobe door creaked uncertainly as I rummaged through my robes. Snape shifted uneasily.

"Shall I go into another room?"

"No" I replied dully. "There's nothing you have not already seen." I found the robes I was looking for. My dress robes. They were a plain black velvet, so dark that other colours were reflected along the surface like spilt oil. I fastened the waist with a simple belt, it's silver ends shaped like a coiled serpent. This also had come from my mother. I pulled my hair back into a long braid. Snape watched me the whole time.

"You...you look beautiful." I did not smile at him but held out my hand. He took it.

"Professor, what is the thing you desire most in the world?"

"A strange thing to ask. Why do you want to know?"

"Please tell me."

"You of course my darling."

"No! Think carefully. Answer honestly. This is the thing you have wanted ever since you were a child. It is evident in everything you do. Your desire is to control, to command, to have power over others, isn't it?" he looked a little angry.

"So. You think you can judge me. Quite a little Pythia aren't you?"

"Would you ever give that up for love?"

"Why do you ask me this?"

"Would you?"

"I don't want to..." I grabbed hold of his robes.

"Please tell me! Would you?"

"No." I relaxed into him gratefully.

"Thank you. I now know what I need to do."

" I can live without love. A body does not need love to exist. Does it?"

"No" I said quietly. "My mother gave up all her dreams for love. She killed herself because of love". He started.

"I didn't know that. You never told me."

"You never asked. You were only ever interested in my father's genealogy I seem to recall." I replied bitterly.

"Good God Almanay! You never forget do you?"

"Not something that hurt me, no."

I turned away and softly lit the fire at the base of my cauldron. Red - tongued flames illuminated its base. The creatures appeared to dance insanely, gaining momentum, passion and ferocity. Snape stared at me.

"I'm...I'm sorry." I waved his apology away.

"Too little too late. It is in the past. We have only the future to look forward to now don't you think?"

"Our future". I shook my head sadly.

"How would you have my future Severus?" He looked annoyed at my use of his first name but let it slip.

"You would be with me always. Forever. You would belong to me entirely, not just as a mistress. And I would love you." I shuddered.

"But suppose I wanted freedom? To control my own life?"

"I couldn't allow you to have that. You would be corrupted by choice. You don't realise what a...dangerous world it is out there. You cant...trust...anyone." he pressed his lips to my neck and kissed me possessively. I felt my body respond to him, pushing against him. It was incredible how he managed to control me like this, even after...

"No!" I pulled myself sharply back to earth.

"What?" he let go of me abruptly.

"Later. I have something to show you. Look." I gestured to the softly simmering cauldron.

"There's only water in there."

"Correct. Here." I handed him a glass phial of the water. He looked at it with amusement.

"Is this what my personal assistant has been spending all her time doing? Making water?"

"This isn't just water." I carefully filled a glass for myself.

"What is it then? Two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen?"

"Drink it."

"Have you been talking to Trelawney again?"

"Drink!" I lifted the glass to my lips and saw him do the same.

A blue light engulfed us. As if in slow motion I saw Snape gasp, react and drop the glass. The cauldron was glowing; a deep crimson. Taking a deep breath I grabbed his hand and touched the cauldron. A high - pitched wail spun throughout the chamber, like a broken instrument played by an insane child. Them the world went black.

Chapter 16 - Betrayal

Philoma... Philoma... Philoma? I drifted painfully into consciousness. I was lying flat on my back on...were they leaves? I unclenched my hands, and they fell from my fingers; the dull dead crackle of decaying trees. It had worked.

I was in the forest. Tightly - packed trees on either side of me, cutting out all moonlight with their shadows. No wind to rustle these branches. All still. Then I heard him call me again.

"Philoma...Philoma!" I saw his face leaning over me. Looking worried.

"P...Professor?" I sat up slowly. He pulled me to my feet.

"What have you done? Where are we?"

"We are in the heart of the Forbidden Forest. And I'd rather not tell you what I've done."

"You did something with that cauldron of yours didn't you?"

"Yes." he spat on the ground.

"I should never have trusted you. I knew that cauldron was full of dark magic." I smiled sadly.

"Oh, that is not the worst thing I have done I can assure you."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Are you going to get us out of here or not?"

"Oh, we are not going anywhere Professor." He gripped both my shoulders with his hands threateningly, then seemed to change his mind. His voice became soft and purring.

"What is it you want then my beauty? I don't think this is the most...romantic place is it? Wouldn't you prefer to be somewhere a little more...comfortable?" I moved back.

"No. No! Why won't you take me seriously? I told you..." he held me tighter. Much too tight.

"Have you forgotten your little lesson already my dear? I'm surprised. You're usually so intelligent. You are mine, Philoma. You know that. You need me don't you? Even now I can feel you want me. Tell me, who do you belong to?"

"No - one." his lips curled.

"Wrong answer."

"Not to you. Not to you."

"You belong to me."

"No. She belongs to me"

Snape froze. Then slowly he turned to face the speaker. He was standing in the shadow of a great sprawling oak tree. I relished the look of pure fear in Snape's eyes. A feeling he'd often evoked in me. Once too often. The cloaked figure stepped forward and spoke again; a voice that was as high as a broken reed, as cold as an Arctic winter.

"IMPERIO!"

Snape's knees buckled and he fell onto the ground, sprawling in front of his old master.