The Heart of Night

Heart of the Night

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Discussion

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2 Moons, 8 Nights

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As they walked through the castle, Melena settled to walk beside Severus. Alan had slipped his hand into his Beta's hand, and was now looking at the female werewolf curiously.

"You both smell of deep sadness," said Melena quietly. "May I inquire what has caused that?"

For a moment, the dark-haired man stiffened. Then he said slowly, "I've just recently lost a dear friend. And, through his death, I was betrayed, by the same woman who injured my Alpha."

The woman nodded solemnly. Then she glanced at Alan. "And what about you, dear cub?"

The boy bit his lip. "My parents died," he said quietly. "In a car crash." With a sigh, he added, "I would have wanted to at least tell them goodbye before I die."

"Before you die?" Now, Melena frowned. "Why such gloomy words, cub? You're still young, or are you not? No one your age should ever be worried about the end of their life!"

"Well, you see, Gentle Auburn Rain, Lycanthropy is not the only curse I'm carrying," the boy told her levelly. "I am also burdened with a vicious disease that will eventually rob me of my life. Although no one is telling me, I'm sure that our Beta can confirm to you that I won't live for another year." Looking up at the tall man on his side, his eyes serious and a bit saddened, "Isn't that right?" he asked.

Severus sighed deeply. "Sadly, it is indeed so," he said very quietly. "Though if I have any say in it, you will not die, Tiny Ginger Cub. I most certainly will not allow you to die." He ruffled the boy's red hair, bringing out an annoyed huff from the boy and a small smile from Melena.

Just then, a young man with a hair as red as Alan's came out of a side corridor. "Snape! Just who I was looking for," he said cheerfully. "Look, it's about this seventh-year Hufflepuff, Amanda Minns. You remember her, don't you? Brilliant in Potions, that one. So, anyway, she said she'd like to brew the Vialantine Liquid as her project work. Should I allow that, or would you be too offended?" Although his tone was cheerful, there was a hint of grave seriousness in his scent. There were things that one should not make fun of, and this man certainly knew that this was one of those.

"Amanda Minns? Yes, I do remember her," Severus replied. "She truly is brilliant -- the only Hufflepuff I'd ever consider capable of brewing that potion. However, she's too dumb to try to offend anyone on purpose. That can be allowed, but only if you keep watch on her all times as she works on it, and collect away every drop every time she stops working. I don't want any accidents here. Is that clear?"

"Crystal, Snape." The young man made a mock-bow, then hurried away.

Melena raised her eyebrows. "And what, pray tell, was that about?" she asked. "And what exactly is the Vialantine Liquid? I was never that good in Potions."

Severus shrugged. "That was Fred Weasley, the Potions Assistant, and my substitute for the full moons and whenever silver equipment is required," he said. "And Vialantine Liquid... Well, it's one of the most complex potions allowed to be brewed by students, and the most restricted one. Usually anyone brewing it will be under close watch at all times, as it is very explosive, but now, there are even more reasons for that -- the reasons being Remus, Alan, and I. You see, to normal humans, Vialantine Liquid only causes something of a headache if the fumes are inhaled, and they may be sick if they drink it. However, the fumes alone might kill a werewolf, and if one of us swallowed a drop of it, he would be literally burned from the inside out. It has not yet been a hundred years since the Ministry last used it for werewolf executions."

"Oh." Melena felt a bit sick. "I do hope your colleague keeps a close eye on that girl, then."

"Oh, rest assured, he will," the dark-haired man replied dryly. "As annoying as he is, he is a Gryffindor, and one of the best kind -- or the worst kind, whatever. He may pull pranks and fool around, but he would never allow a drop of that potion to get somewhere it's not supposed to be, that I do know. I don't think I'll even have to remind him to destroy all of it as soon as he's graded her project."

"A Gryffindor? They're the brave and pure at heart, right?" asked the female werewolf then. "I've never attended Hogwarts myself, I got my education elsewhere, but Logan has told me a lot about it. What were the other three Houses, again?" She frowned a bit in her attempt to remember.

"Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff," Severus supplied helpfully. "Slytherin is for the cunning and ambitious -- and the evil, they say, although there are evil people in every House, as I should well know. I'm a Slytherin myself. Ravenclaw is for the intelligent who have a thirst for knowledge, and Hufflepuff is for the trustworthy and hardworking. Alan here is a Hufflepuff, and Remus is a Gryffindor as well."

"So your pack is only lacking a Ravenclaw." Melena smiled slightly. "Where are we going, by the way?"

"To Alpha's quarters," Alan told her. "We can talk there in peace." He smirked in a way that made him resemble Severus rather too much. "Nobody'll dare to come near!" he announced.

"And what a joy that is indeed to us," Severus said dryly. Then he seemed to think of something. "Melena," he said, "I happened to promise the cub that your dear lifemate would tell him some stories about werewolves. Do you think that could be possible in any way?"

Now, it was Melena's turn to smirk. "You'll have to hex Logan to keep him from telling the boy every story he knows," she chuckled. "He just loves the sound of his own voice, it seems." Then, however, a fond smile spread onto her face. "And that's a part of what makes him so adorable," she said affectionately.

Severus merely rolled his eyes towards the ceiling, and Alan giggled.

*

When the night fell over the school, it found the five werewolves still in the sitting room of Remus's quarters. Alan was now asleep in Severus's lap, his tiny body curled up in the slender man's arms. The usually so stern Potions Master was gently petting his hair, listening to the others talk.

Then, Logan turned towards them. "You have fought for the cub, Fierce Dark Flame," he said. "I can smell it on you and the cub that is now as good as yours. May I inquire what led to the fight?"

Severus gave him a calm glance. "A Slytherin was burning his arm with a silver needle," he said levelly. "I snapped his neck. Rather understandably, nobody's dared to threaten Alan ever since."

Now, Logan's eyebrows rose high. "Well, I certainly do understand now why there's such a firm bond between the two of you," he said. "Less than that has many a time been enough to overcome a bond between a cub and its mother of blood. If the cub's true parents have truly deceased, then it's a heavy burden that has been laid upon your shoulders, Fierce Dark Flame."

"It won't be long, though," Severus said quietly. "Soon he will die." He sighed deep, then leant forward to place a light kiss on the child's forehead. It looked so casual and natural despite being completely uncharacteristic of him that the others could just stare in surprise.

Then, Logan sighed. "Alas, I am afraid that will indeed happen," he said quietly. "Of what I know, the disease he has is indeed an incurable one. Only Master Wolf would have the might to undo that, and his gift of life is beyond our reach and possibility."

Now, however, Severus looked genuinely interested. "Master Wolf?" he echoed curiously. "Who, or what exactly is that? Some old werewolf legend, perhaps?"

"Truly, that he is." Logan gave him a small smile. "The legend says that he is our father, just like Mistress Moon is our mother. He has the power over the life or death of each and every one of our kind, but his gift of life or the endless night is just as bittersweet as the blessing and burden given by mighty Mistress Moon to her servants." At their questioning glances, he continued, "While Mistress Moon only claims our body for one night in every cycle of hers, Master Wolf claims the soul of anyone who asks for his help for all eternity. They tell that his realm is full of wandering souls that can never live again nor die, forever doomed to wander around for Master Wolf's amusement. In the ancient times there were doorways to enter his realm, but now those have been destroyed." The older Alpha shook his head. "It's just a myth, anyway; it is not one of the hidden truths that have only been saved in the old wives' tales."

The others just nodded slowly, all deep in thought.

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2 Moons, 10 Nights

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"Could you perhaps explain something to me?"

Logan looked up, seeing Severus looking at him. "Of course," he said. "What is it?"

"Well..." The younger werewolf ran a hand through his hair, then said, "I've been wondering for a while just why the Ministry actually allows us werewolves to protect our packs. I mean, that's about the only sensible part of their werewolf laws. Why are they wiser in that one aspect, and so stupid in the others?"

"Well, that truly has some reasons," the old Alpha said, smiling a bit. "The legend says that once a werewolf protected his pack member, and was, unfairly, of course, accused of murder. So, when the Aurors then attempted to capture him, another member of his pack killed one of them to defend him. It wasn't until the servants of the Ministry had most of the pack arrested and half of their number had been destroyed that they finally realized that the werewolves couldn't do anything but protect their pack against the unjustified attack. Even those who had moments ago been horrified at the other werewolves' aggressiveness would prepare to attack and fight to the death, if need be, as soon as they tried to arrest one of them. So, to avoid this unfortunate chain reaction taking place ever again, they just set a new law that allows us to protect our own with no more consequence than if we were protecting ourselves. Fewer losses that way, you see."

Severus raised an eyebrow in dry amusement. "It figures that the Ministry can't understand even such a clear concept, without a few people being killed and others unreasonably arrested," he said.

"Truly." Logan considered for a moment, then said, "Would you mind if I asked you a question?"

"Of course I wouldn't mind," replied the young Beta. "Ask away, although I do not promise to answer."

"Fair enough." The grey-haired man smiled briefly. "It is obvious even to my olde eye that we are not needed here anymore, as you seemingly have no problems with caring for your precious cub. However, before we leave, I'd like to know... what exactly are your feelings for the young Alpha of your pack?"

Now, Severus stiffened. "What exactly do you mean?" he asked with a forcefully calm tone.

"I'd think I made myself rather clear," replied Logan, raising an eyebrow at his reaction. "Is he a friend of yours? A loved one, perhaps? Or just an Alpha to you, and nothing more? What a pity that would be."

"He is my friend to some extent," said the Potions Master curtly. "And that is all you need to know."

The old and wise Alpha, however, just smiled gently at him. "You try to deny it, yet you know it is true," he said. "You reek of attraction every time you allow your eyes to lie upon our dear Little Golden Moon. If you do not love him, then how would you explain that? Is it that robe of his that holds your heart in its hands of cloth, or perhaps you have set your eyes on his shoes?"

At first, Severus just stared at him. Then he snapped, "I refrain from answering such a ridiculous question."

"And yet your silence is an answer all in itself." Chuckling to himself, Logan left.