Hunted

Chapter 23: Through the Eye of the Serpent

Ravena heard a key rattle in the lock. She stirred, stretching her aching and cold limbs, cramped from hours crouched in the dank dungeon. Her eyes blinked to adjust to the light flooding into the darkened chamber through the open door. The hulking form of a hooded and cloaked figure appeared silhouetted in the light. He approached her. A meat hook of a hand seized her shackled arms and dragged her forward out of the cell.

"The Dark Lord wishes to see you," a man's deep voice barked.

Ravena stumbled forward on unsteady legs. Her captor yanked on the chains that bound her wrists, propelling her through a narrow stone passageway lit with torches. Ravena heard voices coming from somewhere down the passage: a snakelike hiss that caused her every hair to stand on end and the unmistakable voice of Severus Snape. Ravena gasped.

The hooded man stopped midway down the passage and opened a door to a chamber. He gave Ravena one last, powerful shove that sent her sprawling to the cold stone floor in the middle of the room. Pain shot through her bruised limbs. She groaned. A mirthless laugh echoed in the stillness of the chamber.

Ravena's head jerked up. She peered through the curtains of tangled ebony hair that now obscured her vision. Her china blue eyes opened wide. No person stood before her. What was the source of that chilling, hideous laugh?

Her head turned. She gasped. A bloodied Severus Snape stooped at her side in a forced kneel. His left eyelid was red and rapidly swelling. Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth, his teeth gritted in anger. His wrists were bound in shackles and chains. The black fabric of his sleeve was torn at the shoulder, a glimpse of pale flesh peeking through the tear. Snape's face flickered with a brief look of surprise, then he eyed her with a wary glare.

Ravena looked away. She scanned the room, taking stock of the ring of hooded Death Eaters that surrounded her and Snape. At the front of the group, two wizards stood apart, unmasked. She eyed the proud, sharp features of Lucius Malfoy with contempt. A small wizard with a pointed nose and watery eyes stood nearby, the man she had seen in the gentleman's lounge. A large black cauldron sat in the middle of the circle, lit underneath by a crimson flame. A glowing amulet hovered over the vapors rising from the kettle. The same gem she had spent her summer acquiring for Malfoy. The Eye of the Serpent!

"Welcome to my rebirthing party," a cold voice hissed.

Ravena's gaze locked on the amulet. Her mouth dropped open in shock. Was it a trick of the torchlight? Or perhaps a distortion caused by the vapors? But the emerald amulet appeared alive, a reptilian eye surveying her every move. And the voice seemed to be coming from the gem, the voice of Voldemort!

"So the prodigal son has returned home at last," Voldemort said. "Welcome Severus. But you cannot be foolish enough to think that I would allow you to live after you betrayed us all to Dumbledore."

Ravena's eyes flew wide in horror. "But Lucius promised me that he would be spared." Her gaze locked on the smirk on Malfoy's face. "We had a bargain."

"And Lucius will not touch him." Voldemort laughed, cruel and heartless. "I wish to deal with Severus myself. His perfidy has caused me too much pain to entrust his punishment to another. He will live just long enough to witness my rebirth, then I shall kill him myself."

Ravena shuddered. She stared daggers at Malfoy. A stream of curses escaped her lips. Malfoy chuckled with delight at her helpless plight.

"Your rebirth?" Snape asked in a hushed whisper that undercut Malfoy's laughter. "How?"

Fear swept over every face. A tense silence blanketed the room. Ravena heard only the crackle of the blaze under the cauldron, the soft rustle of the robes, and the nervous shuffle of feet. The explosion wasn't long in coming.

"The insolent worm dares to address me!" Voldemort roared.

Ravena watched as every Death Eater in the room cringed before Voldemort's fury. Even Snape could not suppress an involuntary shudder in response to the wrath of the Dark Lord. Voldemort laughed.

"But yes, since you ask, I shall enlighten you," Voldemort hissed, his voice now deadly and quiet. "A spell of my own invention. A spell that requires my ashes, the flesh of my enemy, and a certain gem. The Phoenix. With it, I shall be reborn from my own ashes, restored to power. A power even greater than before, since my enemy will be destroyed in its making."

The shocking revelation stung Ravena. So that's why Malfoy wanted her mother's diamond. That jewel did have power, incredible power. But how did Malfoy get his filthy hands on that trinket? Who had stolen it from her chambers?

"The Phoenix!" Ravena gasped. "How did you get that? Bilius Gnash?"

"Gnash? That bumbling fool," Voldemort said. "Yes, it is true that my loyal Bella enlisted the services of Mr. Gnash. And, in truth, he was of some assistance, but he is no longer of use to me. He has been disposed of." A cold and mirthless laugh rang throughout the chamber. "The gem was obtained by my most faithful spy at Hogwarts, Wormtail. He shall be honored when my power is restored."

The small wizard's nose twitched, reminiscent of a rat. A nervous smile flickered on his mouth. The diminutive wizard prostrated himself before the cauldron.

"Thank you, Master," he said, in a squeaky voice. "You are most kind and generous."

Ravena could not take her eyes from Wormtail. There was something familiar about his manner. She gasped, remembering the man that she had seen in her office just moments before she was knocked unconscious. This Wormtail had taken the diamond and helped Mr. Gnash to escape.

"And you, my dear Professor Hawkins, have been of invaluable service," Voldemort continued. "Unwittingly, I admit. If you had not removed the diamond to your Hogwarts quarters, Wormtail would not have found it. And Lucius has informed me of your part in obtaining the Eye of the Serpent. I am most grateful."

Snape's head whipped around to face Ravena. He cast her a withering glare, his mouth drawn into a thin, white line in anger. Ravena looked away in shame, then she glared into the serpent's eye.

"You are not welcome," Ravena snapped. Her face registered a mixture of loathing and humiliation. "I did not ask to be part of this. I would have done none of it, had I known."

Voldemort cackled, a mocking laugh. "But nonetheless you have played a part. And you have yet one more part to play. I have chosen you for the greatest honor of all. You shall be the vessel of my rebirth."

For a moment, Ravena's mouth hung agape in stunned silence. What could he mean? What hideous perversion of magic was this? Was she the enemy whose flesh was required? Was she destined to give birth to this monster? She shook her head, horrified. Whatever he intended, she would not acquiesce.

"Noooooo!" Ravena's shackled hands tore at her hair. "I will not!"

She sprang to her feet and bolted toward the door, pelting her body against the colossal form of the Death Eater in her path. Wands whipped from under robes and trained on her chest. A flash of red light flooded her vision, blinding her. The spells hit. Her body slammed back down on the stone floor, the breath knocked from her lungs. Pain racked her limbs.

"Kill me, please," she whimpered, gasping for air. "Let me die. I want to die."

"Enough," Voldemort hissed. "You shall have your wish. But not before you have fulfilled your mission."

Ravena writhed on the stone floor. She buried her head in her arms, sobbing in helpless horror. The cold chains dug into her cheeks. But physical discomfort meant nothing compared to the mental anguish of her fate. If only she still had her dagger.

Her ears heard the rattle of chains over her sobs. She felt a gentle hand on her back. The touch that should have brought comfort caused her only stinging guilt. In spite of all her efforts to spare Severus, ultimately he would be killed. She could only blame herself for his death.

"And now, it is time to summon the guest of honor," Voldemort hissed. "Get her up."

The two largest Death Eaters stomped forward. Ravena felt their hands on her shoulders, yanking her to her feet. She let her body go limp and heavy in defiance, a dead weight. She would not cooperate. Let them take her life.

"Wormtail, are you certain that Potter is still seeing visions?" Voldemort asked.

The small wizard's head nodded in vigorous agreement.

"Then go," Voldemort instructed. "Contact a certain house-elf at Hogwarts, a former servant of the Malfoys. Send him to Potter with news of a diabolical plot on the life of his Dark Arts professor. We will add a vision for good measure. Noble Potter will not be able to resist coming to her rescue."

"You forget the Headmaster," Snape whispered. His eyes narrowed in a calculating look.

"Silence him," Voldemort screamed.

Sparks flew from a wand. The spell hit, rendering Snape mute. But his dark eyes flashed cold and menacing under his furrowed brow.

"Your doddering old champion is not at Hogwarts tonight." Voldemort cackled. "He is occupied in a special session of the Wizengamot trying to save the werewolf. Before the night is through, the werewolf will be locked away, Potter will be dead, and Dumbledore will be removed from Hogwarts in disgrace. There will be no one left to stand in my way." His voice rose to an ear-splitting crescendo. "And I will rise from my ashes to rule with a power beyond my wildest dreams. The greatest wizard the world will ever know! And these, my faithful, will rule with me."

Every Death Eater in the room dropped to their knees. "All Hail the Dark Lord!"

"Lucius, the Cruciatus Curse," Voldemort commanded.

"With pleasure," Malfoy replied, a malicious grin tugging on the corners of his mouth.

Ravena heard Malfoy's footsteps cross the stone pavers toward her. She turned her head away, refusing to meet his stare. Her gaze flicked to Snape's ashen face. Two Death Eaters grabbed him and held him back. She watched his mouth move in silent protest, imagining the curses that fell from his lips.

Malfoy's left hand reached for her. Ravena squirmed against the grasp of her captors to avoid the repugnant touch, but could not. Malfoy's fingers brushed across her cheek, settling behind her right ear. He grabbed hold of a handful of the thick ebony tresses, yanked her head toward him, and planted a hard, probing kiss on her lips. He chuckled. Ravena jerked her head away and spat in his face. Loathing had replaced fear.

Malfoy's cold gray eyes raked over her with malice and rage. His teeth clenched. He pulled her close, placed the tip of his wand against her breast, and uttered the forbidden curse.

* * * * * * * *

Ravena blinked in the darkness of the dungeon cell. She could just make out the form of Snape chained to the wall a short distance away. His dark hair and robes blended seamlessly into the shadows to such a degree that only his pasty face was visible in the gloom. But she could hear his rasping breaths, hissing curses in the dark. Ravena remained silent, consumed by guilt.

"So why did you do it?" he snapped. "Whatever possessed you to fetch that emerald for Lucius in the first place?"

"If you really must know," Ravena replied, "I did it for you."

"For me?" Snape eyebrows shot up.

"Yes, I needed Lucius to talk to my mother," Ravena explained. "He's the only one she'd listen to. She worshipped him. I needed to convince her to leave you alone. Not to hex you. Lucius agreed on the condition that I bring him the Eye of the Serpent."

"But surely you must have suspected something." Snape sneered. "That the stone had powers."

"Of course I did." Ravena's blue eyes flashed with indignation. "I'm not stupid. I did some research, but all that I could discover was that it had once belonged to Salazar Slytherin. I could find nothing else." She dropped her head into her shackled hands. The chains on her wrists rattled.

"And you made this fool's bargain to protect me from your mother's hexes?" Snape scoffed.

Ravena looked up to stare at Snape. She could see the look of derision on his face.

"Yes, I had to," Ravena said. "She would have murdered you otherwise."

"Kill me? That is preposterous." Snape jerked his head, looking away from Ravena. "I will not listen to these fabrications."

Ravena jumped to her feet. She surged toward him, straining as far as her chains would allow. Passion flashed in those brilliant azure eyes.

"Severus, it is the truth and you will listen," Ravena huffed. "You cannot run away in this cell. You will hear the truth. If my mother would not spare me whom she loved, what makes you think that she would spare you whom she despised?"

Snape's head whipped around to face her, the whites of his eyes visible in the gloom. "Your mother hexed you?"

"Yes, when I reached adolescence." Ravena explained. "When it became clear to her that I was becoming a beauty. She claimed it was for my own protection, of course. To save me from cads and other unworthy suitors who would only pursue me for my money or looks." She sat back down on the cold stone floor. "When I was fifteen, she locked me in a tower in the forest."

"A tower?" Snape cocked an eyebrow.

"Some fool idea she took from a Muggle children's book," Ravena continued. "Since I was underage and it was summer, I was not allowed to use magic and could not escape." She waved her hand, causing the chains to rattle again. "And then there was that nasty bit with the Chastity Charm."

"Enough of this nonsense," Snape snarled. He writhed against the manacles that pinned his arms against the cold stone walls.

"It is not nonsense." Ravena insisted, glaring at him. "Look, I admit that I've not lived an innocent life. But every man that I've ever truly had feelings for, my mother has murdered."

"Murdered?" An audible huff of air echoed in the chamber, a mocking scoff.

"There was Michael, my first true love," Ravena said, ignoring his rebuff. "Mother caught us together in the garden. She flew into a violent rage. She and I exchanged words. That night, Michael disappeared. No trace of him was ever found. I contacted his parents, relatives, friends, but found nothing. He had disappeared into thin air."

"Perhaps there is another more logical explanation for his disappearance," Snape sneered. "Perhaps he had had enough of you, Ravena."

"Severus, I know my mother," Ravena spat. "Believe me, she killed him."

"So I suppose you're going to tell me another fanciful tale about a disappearing suitor?"

"Yes." Ravena nodded her head. "After that incident, I ran away from home. Got a job abroad, where old Mum couldn't find me. Eventually, I fell in love again. This time with a young Italian poet. We were engaged to be married when he fell ill and died. Mysterious illness. Cause unknown."

"Oh, come now." Snape guffawed, that sneer still perched on his lips. "And you believe your mother was responsible for that?"

"Well, there were others." Ravena faced him with look of wide-eyed sincerity. "One drowned in a freak accident. Another was poisoned. Finally, I realized that I could not run any longer, so I came home. I got a job at Hogwarts, resigning myself to a celibate life devoid of romance." She sighed. "It was either that or marry Fredrick Sharp, my mother's hand-picked groom. The pompous twit." Her nose wrinkled with disgust at the thought of her vain suitor. Then she glanced over at Snape, her expression softening. "And then I met you. That sumptuous tango. I never saw it coming."

"And your mother hexed me," Snape griped.

"That was merely a warning." Ravena arched an eyebrow.

In thought, Ravena traveled back to that society ball a year ago. She remembered the dance with Severus in which he had stolen her heart. She could still picture the look of hatred and suspicion on her mother's face, when she had introduced the Potions Master to her parents. And she remembered that evening in the infirmary, the knife that Severus held in his hand, the look of hardened steel in his eyes, and the grimace of pain on his face when he plunged the cold blade into his own flesh to remove her mother's curse. She shuddered at the memory.

"And you really believe that your mother would attempt to kill me?" Snape asked. "Why?"

Ravena now gazed into Snape's eyes, meeting his incredulous stare. "Because...I...I loved you and mother knew it," she replied, finally confessing the words that she had longed to tell him.

Snape's eyes flew open wide. His mouth fell agape. He stared back in stunned silence for a moment. Then his dark eyes narrowed. The mouth snapped shut, a look of mistrust written on his face.

"And I suppose that you show your affection by betraying those you love," he snapped. "The way you informed on your cousin and revealed to Lucius that I am a spy."

"I cannot deny that I betrayed Angela's trust," Ravena replied, looking away in shame. "I hope that some day, she will find it in her heart to forgive me." Her head whipped around to face Snape, an earnest expression on her face. "But I never revealed your secret to anyone. Malfoy already knew. He threatened to kill you if I did not cooperate with him. I struck a deal to save your life. Or so I thought." Her fist slammed against the prison wall, the chains clanging against the stones. "But he tricked me, the filthy liar."

Snape studied her face, his dark eyes boring into her flesh. "But if you did not divulge my secret, then who?"

Ravena remained silent, deep in thought. Then her head jerked up. Her eyes brightened.

"Perhaps it was that Wormtail," she conjectured. "I saw him in my office the day that Gnash escaped."

"Wormtail?" Snape hissed. His face contorted in a look of loathing. "Pettigrew? The Animagus?"

"Wormtail is Peter Pettigrew?" Ravena's eyebrows shot up. Her cerulean eyes flew open wide. "The one who escaped from Azkaban? He is an animagus?"

"Yes, a rat."

Ravena gasped. "The rat with the glistening paw."

"You have seen this rat before?" Snape's eyes narrowed in a cunning glare.

"Yes, in my very chambers," Ravena spat. "All year that rat, that revolting little man, has been skulking about my private quarters. Little wonder that he knew about the diamond." Her fists clenched. She slammed them against the stone wall. "Ohhhh! If I ever get my hands on that rodent, I will exterminate him."

"He's been hiding in your chambers." Snape's voice grew menacing and dangerous. "Watching you undress."

"Don't remind me." Ravena's hands tore at her hair. "That creepy Peeping Tom."

"I will kill him," Snape whispered, through clenched teeth. "Leave him to me."

Ravena's head whipped around to face Snape. She saw the look of cold, calculating fury on his face.

"Then we shall kill him together," she whispered in a deadly, contemptuous tone.

"First, we have to find a way to get out of here," Snape said, calm and business-like. "Can't you just turn yourself into a cat and escape the manacles?"

"No, believe me, I've already tried," Ravena insisted. She twisted her wrists in the shackles, trying to wriggle herself loose. "The manacles are enchanted to prevent transfiguration. We'll have to think of something else. Do you have anything in your pockets that may be of use? A knife? A hairpin?"

"What would I be doing with a hairpin?" Snape scoffed. "And besides, I can't reach my pockets with my hands chained to the wall."

Snape writhed against the shackles that bound him. Ravena heard the chain clank against the stone. She rose to her feet.

"You can't. But perhaps I can. They've allowed me more freedom of movement." Ravena chuckled. "Perhaps they think me less dangerous."

She stepped toward Snape, straining against the chains that bound her. Her hand reached for him, but could not quite touch him. Now she leaned so far forward that the chains bore her full weight, but even that was not enough. She dropped to the floor with an exasperated huff.

"It's no use." Ravena sighed. "We'll have to think of something else. We need a plan. Perhaps we could outwit one of the guards. That big Death Eater, he doesn't look too bright."

"Yes, Crabbe," Snape whispered, a calculating smirk working on the corners of his lips. "We could lure him in here. Ravena, do you think you could handle a little seduction?"

"I've already tried that," she huffed, frowning. "Not on him, but on others. Macnair's idea of showing a girl a good time is to describe the procedure for skinning a cat in all its gory detail."

Snape's eyebrows shot up. "Did he know you are an Animagus?"

"He must have." She grimaced at the unpleasant memory. "He offered to demonstrate on me...just before I fainted. And then there was-" She broke off. Her hand convulsed against the shackles and pulled her blouse close against her neck. She shot Snape a dark look. "Anyway, it didn't work. Don't ask!" she snapped. "Any other ideas?"

"Of course, I have other ideas," Snape hissed. "We could slip a sleeping toxic into his gillywater and summon the keys with our wands." Snape cast her a sarcastic glare and sneered. "But, unfortunately, I find myself chained to a dungeon wall with neither wand nor laboratory at my disposal. So I suggest that you put those feminine wiles of yours to work and get us out of here."

Ravena sighed. "I supposed it wouldn't hurt to try again." Then her head whipped around to face Snape. "But if Pettigrew comes in here, all bets are off. I don't want that metal hand anywhere near me." She arched a thin brow. "And if they send Rabastan, you'll have to do the seducing. He doesn't fancy women."

* * * * * * * *

The huge Death Eater lumbered into the dungeon cell. His cold gaze raked over Ravena's curvaceous form, shackled at wrist and ankles. Then his eyes flicked to Snape's body concealed in the shadows and chained spread-eagle to the rough stone wall.

"What do you want?" he barked.

Chains rattled. His head whipped around to face Ravena. She sauntered toward him as far as her bonds would allow with her most seductive, hip-swaying stroll. She tossed her head, giving those ebony tresses a shake. She held out a delicate hand, palm up, and cast him a beseeching look.

"It's these chains," she pleaded. "Look how they dig into my wrist. I'm bleeding. Do you think you could loosen them for me? Just a little?" She arched a thin eyebrow. "I could make it worth your while."

The Death Eater considered her for a brief moment. Then he approached, grabbed her slender wrist in his rough hand, and inspected the chains. Ravena walked her fingers up his sleeve and rested her hand on his bicep.

"Ooooh!" she purred. "Such big muscles. I'll bet any girl would feel really safe with such strong arms around her."

A snort of derision rang in the chamber from the corner where Snape was confined. Ravena's head whipped around to see his dark eyes staring at her, glistening in the torchlight. She cast Snape a warning glare, then turned back to the Death Eater. Ravena ran her fingers up his chest, searching for the telltale lines of a wand hidden in a breast pocket. She could feel none.

"Don't mind him," Ravena whispered. "He's just jealous."

"Yeah," the Death Eater uttered in a deep guttural growl. "Shut up over there." He turned back to Ravena, a slow smile spreading over his dim-witted face.

"You're Vincent Crabbe's father, aren't you?" Ravena lowered her chin, cast a demure glance up at the Death Eater's face, and fluttered her eyelashes. "I can see the family resemblance. It's no surprise where he gets his good looks."

Crabbe's grin broadened at the compliment. He now put his arms around Ravena and pulled her into his embrace. Ravena allowed her body to sink into his chest. One arm worked its way around his torso. Her fingers felt for the wooden rod that she hoped would be tucked in back in his belt. Where had he stashed that wand?

Out of the corner of her eye, Ravena watched Snape. His arms convulsed against the manacles. The rattle of metal against stone echoed in the chamber. His eyes widened. Ravena gave a little shrug and cast Snape a quizzical stare. His head jerked. He mouthed the words in silence: "Robe pocket."

Ravena slid her left hand from the Death Eater's back, skimmed her touch around to the outside of his robes, ran it down his thigh, and inside his right pocket. Bingo! Her fingers brushed against the wand.

However, Crabbe had designs of his own. She felt a groping hand clamp on her buttocks. A sharp intake of breath drew over her lips followed by a squeal of surprise. Then his muscular bicep pinned her arm against his side, the wand almost within reach of her fingertips.

Ravena stifled her revulsion and closed her mind to his amorous advances, trying to ignore the odious touch of those groping fingers crawling across her skin. She had to reach that wand in his right pocket. If she could shift her shoulder or move her arm a smidgeon, she might be able to grab it.

Her ears heard the rattle of Snape's chains against the dungeon wall. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his body writhe against the constraints that held him fast. She could hear him hissing curses in the dark. She pressed her left shoulder into Crabbe's barrel chest and squirmed against the powerful embrace, straining to reach her goal. Her fingertip brushed against the smooth wooden handle of the Death Eater's wand.

In the next instant, the door to the chamber burst wide open. Flashes of red light lit the dungeon cell. Ravena felt the jolt of hexes against the Death Eater's body. He shuddered. In the next instant, Crabbe keeled over on top of her, unconscious.

Residual flares of red obscured Ravena's vision, but she could just make out three shadowy forms silhouetted in the doorway. Her body sank to the floor, unable to support the dead weight of the Death Eater draped over her frame.

"Would someone get this lumbering oaf off of me please," Ravena gasped in a strangled voice, heaving against the massive form.

A young woman's voice whispered an incantation. The body of the Death Eater levitated off the ground just long enough for Ravena to wriggle free of it. She grabbed Crabbe's wand from his pocket, concealed the purloined prize behind her back, and scooted over on the floor. Who were these people? She squinted into the darkness, trying to make out the faces of the newcomers.

"Potter?" Snape said, astonishment evident in his tone. "Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, I presume?"

The three teens jumped with surprise. Their heads whipped around to face Snape in the shadows, looks of alarm on their faces. Three wands pointed at Snape's chest. Ravena's eyes widened.

"It's all right," Ravena soothed. "He's imprisoned too. Quick. Set us free. We'll explain later."

Ravena's hand pulled the wand from behind her back. She dissolved the shackles that bound her ankles and wrists, while Harry freed Snape. Her hands smoothed her rumpled clothing back into place. She massaged her sore wrists, bruised and chafed raw from days in the manacles.

"You took your sweet time with Crabbe." Snape approached with an angry scowl on his face. "One would think that you were beginning to enjoy it."

"Really, Severus," Ravena huffed, rolling her eyes. "And I suppose you would enjoy having Crabbe grope your backside."

Ron snorted. Snape's head snapped around to cast the young man a withering glare made even more menacing by his swollen, blackened eye. Ron averted his gaze and stared down at his shoes. His face reddened.

"Here, you take it, Severus." Ravena thrust Crabbe's wand toward Snape. "I'd rather not keep anything that belonged to that repulsive lout."

Snape took the wand and tucked in inside his breast pocket. Ravena turned toward her rescuers.

"And I owe you all thanks," Ravena said, with a slight smile. She cast a wary glance over their shoulders into the hallway beyond. Her head motioned toward the door. "And now you should get out of here. The sooner, the better."

"Potter, you shouldn't have come," Snape scolded, his lips thin and white. "You have once again endangered your life and those of your friends with your misdirected heroism."

"Harry, I'm afraid that Professor Snape is right," Ravena said, with a firm look. "However noble your intentions, this is a trap. You-Know-Who wanted to lure you here. It is all part of his plan to kill you in order to restore his body and power." Her hands shooed the students toward the door. "So go on now, all of you."

"And are you coming too?" Harry asked, sincerity etched in those brilliant green eyes.

"No," Ravena replied.

Snape's head whipped around. His eyebrows shot up.

"Well, don't look so surprised, Severus." Ravena's blue eyes flashed with determination. "I have to find that diamond and destroy it. It's the least I can do to absolve my part in this mess."

"You mean the Phoenix?" Hermione asked, her eyes staring at Ravena from under the bushy brown mound of hair.

"How do you know about that?" Ravena gaped at the young woman with wonder.

"We don't have time for explanations," Snape spat. He swept toward the door with an impatient stride. "If we're going to find that diamond, we need to get moving."

"We?" Ravena spun around to face Snape, her thin eyebrows raised.

"Yes, I am coming with you this time, Ravena." Snape's black eyes bored into hers, resolute and commanding.

"And I'm coming too," Harry insisted.

"No, Potter," Snape spat, through clenched teeth. "As your teacher, I forbid it."

"Voldemort wants to kill me." Harry straightened, faced Snape, and cast him a recalcitrant look. Those brilliant eyes flashed with defiance. "This is my fight too."

"Well, then." Snape sneered. The corners of his mouth twitched with suppressed fury. "If you insist."

"Enough." Ravena thrust her body between them both. She cast them a pleading look. "It is decided. We shall all go then."

"So where do we find the Phoenix?" Hermione asked, her wide eyes flicking from Harry to Snape.

"Draco once mentioned that the Malfoy's have a secret chamber under their drawing room," Ron volunteered.

Snape's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "And how would you know that, Mr. Weasley?"

"We're wasting time," Ravena huffed. "All the basement chambers are connected by a long tunnel that runs the length of the mansion. By my calculations, we're under the kitchens. So the drawing room would be in that direction." A slender finger pointed up the hallway.

"What do we do about him?" Ron's toe nudged the unconscious Death Eater at their feet.

"Leave him to me," Snape hissed. A malicious glint flickered in his dark eyes.

Snape whipped out the wand from the folds of his robes. He levitated the body into the air like puppeteer controlling the strings of a life-size marionette. Then he mercilessly slammed the body against the rough stone walls. Shackles clamped around the Death Eater's thick wrists and ankles where Snape's body had hung a short time ago. With another wave of the wand, a gag appeared to muffle the Death Eater's groans. A self-satisfied smirk formed on Snape's lips. Then he turned and motioned toward the door with a commanding wave of his arm.