Two Natures of the Beast

TNOTB3 3- In Which There is a Bit of Family Tree, and a Whole Lotta Glamoury

Once they slid down into the tunnel with the witch's hump firmly closed behind them, Snape heard Aurora softly murmur "*Lumos*". He did the same, casting a light across the ground to match hers, illuminating their surroundings. The tunnel was narrow and bare, and quite frankly a bit eerie in the decidedly dim lighting. After moving several steps in heavy silence, the seriousness of the task looming ahead of them weighing on both the professors' minds, Snape had to break the tension. He cleared his throat to force some conversation.

"So, Professor Jackson, what are we doing once we get to Hogsmeade?" Snape had a pretty good idea, but he wanted to hear her plan for confirmation, as well as simply getting her talking. The scant light painted her face in chiaroscuro tones, and the young professor looked tense and drawn now that the Divinium spell had worn off. He purposefully kept his voice lightly challenging, so he wouldn't infect her with his own nervousness.

"The same thing the Death Eater who took Ron did as soon as they were off Hogwart's grounds- Apparating to where the Death Eaters are gathering. I've still not got my license, but considering the situation, I don't suppose the authorities will mind. And I think, considering the situation, it would be all right if you called me Aurora." Her voice was sharp, responding to the gauntlet Snape had thrown down. Her pace quickened, and he knew she was annoyed.

"Very well, *Aurora*, and may I ask where the Death Eaters are gathering?" he responded testily, in kind, as he walked next to her. Almost as an afterthought, he added, "You may call me Severus."

"Oh, at Lucius Malfoy's house," she replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Snape was immensely grateful that she had not mentioned the name Malfoy in front of Harry, or else nothing short of Petrifaction would have kept the hotheaded boy at Hogwarts.

"Figures," Snape muttered. The elder Malfoy always seemed to be in the thick of all things Death Eater, even back in Voldemort's heyday. At the thought of the leader among the Dark Lord's willing lackeys, Snape's lips twisted into a disgusted sneer.

"It's fine," Aurora said with an odd, tight, humorless smile. "I've always wanted to meet my uncle."

Snape stopped dead in his tracks, completely dumbfounded. It was one hell of a detail for Dumbledore to leave out. As far as he was concerned, it compromised Aurora as a Dark Arts teacher. No matter that the Malfoys had never been proven in a court as Dark wizards, it was common knowledge that they always had a finger in all nefarious pies. If this girl was one of them... Shaking his head, he hurried through the twisting passage to catch up with Aurora.

"Excuse me?" he spat out, unable to hide his anger. "Did you just, oh so casually, say that Lucius Malfoy is your uncle?"

Aurora met his glare and said, "Yes, that's what I said." Seeing that Snape was not going to let her drop the matter that easily, she sighed and continued, allowing a small note of defiance to enter her voice, "My mother is his only sister. Their father disowned her when she married my dad. Not only was he an American and a half-blood, but, God forbid, he was an Auror as well. I've never even met any of my British relations, until I came to Hogwarts and met Draco. So it's no big deal, really."

Snape snorted in obvious disagreement with that statement.

"Look," Aurora snapped, "My father hates my mother's family. He hates their attitudes, their prejudices, and most of all, their behavior. He didn't even want me to take this position, because he was concerned about Lucius Malfoy's influence here. I convinced him, however, that bringing me in to contact with this side of my family might prove advantageous." She shot Snape a sideways glance, wondering if he had picked up her meaning.

"I see..." said Snape, and truly he did. Feeling a tad foolish for his earlier assumptions, a feeling that did not sit well with him, Snape followed the most logical path now. "So talent and background aside, you're here for Draco, to see-"

"-if he can be guided away from Voldemort's circle. He's young, and he's intelligent, and Dumbledore thinks he can be turned. So do I."

Snape arched an eyebrow at this bald statement, but forbore to say anything. He knew silence on his end would encourage explanation from her. Sure enough, Aurora felt pushed to respond.

"He's very competitive, and I'm not denying that I've noticed a vicious streak when he duels in class, but... there's something more there. Something thoughtful, when he thinks nobody is listening." Aurora saw Snape's disbelieving look. "I've been trained to notice those small things," she insisted. "Draco is intelligent, ambitious, loyal, *and* he's a leader in his House. *You* didn't make him a prefect for nothing, and he's top in his class. He's like the Slytherin equivalent of Hermione Granger." Snape had looked pleased up to that point, but his expression grew insulted at this comparison. Hastily, Aurora changed the subject, unable to stop rolling her eyes as she did so. "Speaking of my 'talent', how did you know that I could perform the Truthseeking spell? Not many mages bother to learn it."

"Dumbledore mentioned it," he muttered distractedly. Snape was, quite frankly, a bit put out. Why hadn't he been told about her tie to the Malfoys? Again, doubt niggled at Snape's core. Dumbledore didn't trust him, he thought numbly. He fed him dribs and drabs of information, never allowing him fully into the loop. It had caused problems before, but Dumbledore still felt the need to hold back from him. His innards churned in hurt fury. He climbed the stone steps without noticing them.

"Here we are, Severus," Aurora cut into his thoughts. "Give me a boost, will you?"

Indeed, they had reached the end of the passage. Snape nearly bumped into Aurora, who was lifting up the trapdoor. Steadying himself, Snape then boosted Aurora through the trapdoor into Honeydukes. They emerged into the musty cellar and carefully made their way around the crates and boxes littering the floor. After another flight of stairs, this time wooden, the professors found themselves on the main floor of Honeydukes. Thankfully, the incredible sweets shop was closed for the night. Dusting off his hands and glancing around, Snape asked, "Now what?"

Annoyed as he was to be deferring to the younger woman, Aurora seemed to have a plan of action. While she no longer radiated the self-assurance she had revived with, she had not faltered or shown fear since she had awoken in his arms. He felt a grudging respect for her. She was made of sterner stuff than he would have imagined.

"Now, we Apparate," she answered. She looked at him expectantly.

Snape sneered. Perhaps her plan wasn't as clever as he'd been about to give her credit for. "Of course; why didn't I think of that?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "You think we can just Apparate into Malfoy Manor, ask nicely for Weasley, and Apparate out?"

"Of course not! I'm not daft!" she exclaimed, affronted. She thrust her chin out, matching Snap glare for glare- no mean feat when she was a good foot shorter than him. "We'll Apparate a quarter mile- sorry, kilometer- or so away. Then...then we'll just walk over. If they can use Glamours, so can we. Hopefully, we can just mingle in, grab Ron and get out."

"Do you really think it will be accomplished that easily?" Snape asked doubtfully, slightly more impressed but still unwilling to completely trust her. She *was* daft if she thought anything to do with Death Eaters would be accomplished so simply.

"No, I don't," she replied. "But I may have an idea. Now, will you guide me to Malfoy's? You *do* know the way?" Her voice grew imperious, annoyed with his continual questioning of her.

"Yes, but even if I didn't, I'd find them," Snape remarked bitterly. Not understanding what possessed him, he shoved up the sleeve of his robes. He thrust his forearm out, thinking to shock her. The ugly mark seemed branded on his skin, glowing red. "I can feel Him calling to me."

She looked intently at him, and slowly he realized that she wasn't revolted or horrified or even surprised. Inscrutably, she told him, "Well, that gives us a certain advantage, doesn't it?"

He smiled coldly as understanding hit him. "We'll know when He's coming."

"Exactly. And Severus," she faltered, not sure how to put her feelings into words without seeming patronizing, "it's always seemed to me that the converted are always more faithful than those who have always been there."

Snape fell something warm and unwanted suffuse his being. He didn't need or ask for her understanding. His eyes narrowed. "Aurora..." He looked at her questioningly.

She laughed, an incongruous sound in the empty shop. "Dumbledore!" Then she slipped her soft, small hand into his cool, large one, and together they Apparated into the night.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Apparating really was an odd business; you felt neither here nor there for a few oh-so-brief moments, then, all of a sudden your feet were firmly planted elsewhere. Aurora felt the ground hit her feet as she and Snape completed their short journey. The world was solid again, and she blinked slowly at the starry sky above the rooftops as she got her bearings. Off in the distance she could see the outline of a large stone building that must be her uncle's manor home. Soft yellow light glowed in several of its windows, and wisps of smoke unfurled from its chimneys. The enormous house looked cold and forbidding, and Aurora wondered what awaited them inside.

Glancing sideways at the man beside her, Aurora saw that Snape looked grim and determined. His mouth was firmly set, and his eyes stared ahead at his former comrade's home. It had been a long time since he had stood so close to it, yet as he looked at it he could remember even the smallest of details so clearly, from the wall sconces lining the large hall to the row of portraits of Malfoy ancestors hanging in the library. He felt the past fifteen years melting away, and he had to remind himself to stay firmly rooted in the here and now.

Briskly, he muttered to Aurora, "OK, let's get this Glamour business out of the way."

Bemused, she faced him. "I didn't think. We need to know who to Glamour as. We don't want to show up as someone who's already there. Besides, I don't know what anybody looks like. We'll have to wait for two Death Eaters to approach the house. Unless you think they'll be arriving in masks?"

"No, you're right, they won't. There would be no need, at a private meeting of the inner circle such as this." Snape frowned, more than a little exasperated with the woman beside him. "We should hide nearer the house, though. We'll have to sneak up on somebody."

Quietly, they moved up the street and positioned themselves behind a conveniently located hedge. After several minutes with no passers-by, Aurora was starting to lose hope, silently cursing herself for being so stupid and not planning ahead. Then Snape tugged gently on her sleeve, silently motioning toward two bulky shapes making their way to the house. Aurora withdrew her wand and, deciding to take a leaf out of Hermione's book, whispered, "*Petrificus totalus*." Snape did the same.

The two Death Eaters dropped to the ground like sacks of stones. Aurora and Snape rushed to the road and dragged the heavy, stiffened bodies behind the hedge as swiftly as they could. Aurora squinted in the dark, trying to see who she was to impersonate. She was studying the Death Eater's features when Snape laughed ironically. He whispered to Aurora, "It's Samuel Crabbe and Lester Goyle. At least it will be a simple matter to imitate them- just grunt and agree with everything that Lucius says."

"Right," she said, standing erect. It was disconcerting to know that these were two of her students' parents. She wondered how she would be able to look and Gregory and Vincent the same way in class again. With a heavy sigh, she moved her wand in front of her body in a circular motion, as if drawing Crabbe's image onto her. "*Imitati glamour*."

Snape looked at her, but he now saw Crabbe's hulking frame. It was startling, since Crabbe was easily twice Aurora's size. Quickly he copied her actions with Goyle's body. "Did it work?" he asked anxiously, unable to see any difference in himself as he looked down.

Aurora/Crabbe nodded, unable to suppress a snicker in spite of the seriousness of their mission. "Let's go." She started in the direction of the manor. Pausing, she saw Crabbe and Goyle's frightened eyes rolling wildly in their otherwise motionless heads. Taking pity, she quickly administered memory and sleeping charms. Then, beckoning to Snape, she walked resolutely toward her uncle's house.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

Up close, the manor looked even more imposing. A flight of stone steps led up to a large oak door, which was flanked by two marble gargoyles. Without the slightest hesitation Snape ascended the stairs and knocked on the immense wooden door. It swung open seemingly of its own accord, admitting Aurora and Snape in their excellent disguises. Once they were in the entryway, the door shut itself behind them with a solid thud. Snape glanced around; everything was essentially the same as it had been when he was last there. He drew a deep breath, chiding himself for his apprehension. His knowledge could only help them; he had nothing to feel guilty for. He led Aurora down the main hall to Lucius Malfoy's drawing room, where he knew the Death Eaters would be holding their wicked meeting, trying desperately to fight off the memories threatening to assail him.

*Lord Voldemort can offer you power! The respect you've always craved!*

*Lucius, he kills innocents!*

*Mudbloods! Muggles! The lowest of low!*

*Lucius...*

"Goyle! Erm, GOYLE!" Aurora's changed voice snapped him out of his reverie.

"Oh, er, Aur- I mean, Crabbe, yes?"

"You looked like you were a million miles away. But Malfoy and his lot are two meters away!"

"Sorry, sorry." Her reprimand irritated him. Briskly, he became all business once again. We should see if we can locate young Weasley. There are a few places he could be hidden; Malfoy Manor has many pockets not easily seen. We have to determine which one contains our quarry." Snape's eyes, hidden beneath the image of Goyle's muddy brown ones, scanned the room, landing on Lucius' aristocratic form. "There's Malfoy. Let me do the talking, OK?" Aurora nodded. "Right then. Let's have at it."

Snape and Aurora casually made their way across the room to where Lucius Malfoy was standing, Snape greeting those he recognized along the way. Upon their approach, Lucius made eye contact and smiled. Aurora heaved a sigh of relief. Their Glamours were doing the trick. Her most immediate worries allayed, she began to closely study her uncle. He looks like Odessa, she thought, unreasonably surprised. Like her younger sister, Lucius had perfectly complected pale, pearly skin. He shared her intelligent, lively blue eyes, and her crowning glory, that thick blonde hair, although his was slicked down stick-straight without a hair out of place, while Odessa had wonderful curls that ran rampant atop her head. He stood with the same effortless grace, and held his head at the same haughty angle. She had to struggle to remember that he did not share the same loving personality and innate goodness that made Odessa beautiful on the inside as well. His handsome exterior hid a flawed, hateful personality that did not match his outer beauty. She must make sure that she didn't confuse a resemblance with recognition.

"Crabbe, Goyle, quite a turnout, don't you think?" he drawled. "The Parkinsons are here; so are the Bulstrodes and the Browns."

Gods, he speaks like it's some kind of party, Snape thought, disgusted. "Yeah, Lucius, loads of fine mages here, " he agreed. Taking a gamble, he said, "So, where'd you stash the carrot-top?"

Lucius looked at him strangely. Uh oh. "I know you two are dunderheads, but I thought your memories were intact! You two 'stashed' him, as you so quaintly put it! Or did you forget that minor detail?"

Snape thought quickly. "Well, I thought maybe you moved him someplace safer," he explained in an insolent, defensive tone.

Lucius looked at him like he had lost his mind. "There is no place safer than that particular spot in the basement! Idiot." Shooting Snape and Aurora a disgusted look, he swept away to speak with his wife, Narcissa, who was deep in conversation with two women Snape recognized as Violetta Brown and Samantha Flint.

Urgently, Aurora whispered, "Do you know what he's talking about?"

Snape swallowed and nodded slightly. "I believe so. There's a secret room in the basement, just under this room. He used to keep his most illegal Dark Arts materials there. Probably still does."

"Great," said Aurora. "Now we just have to figure out how to get Ron out." She looked very pleased with him.

Easier said than done, Snape thought, but kept his opinion to himself.