Dark Coil

Dark Coil Chapter Twelve

The Summons

Olivia arrived back at the castle to find Minerva up in arms. Students were filing into the dining hall for breakfast and several witnessed the angry older witch's meeting with her daughter in the massive Great Hall.

"Olivia!" The piercing call entered somewhere around the base of Olivia's skull and vibrated clear down her spine, causing her nerves to jangle. Professor McGonagall swept up to the dirty, ragged woman who was attempting to make her way thorough the press of hungry and curious students to the medical wing.

"Olivia," her mother gasped, looking her daughter up and down, taking in the torn and dirty clothing. "My god, you're bleeding! Where have you been? I have been searching for you all night."

"Mama, could you please keep it down? You are making my head hurt. Worse." Olivia attempted to wave the sputtering witch away. "Go. Go tend to your students. I am heading up to see Poppy. We will talk about this later."

"We most certainly will not talk about this later, my girl!" Minerva screeched. Seeing how they were drawing a crowd, the fuming witch turned on the gaping students. "What are you standing about for? Get into the dining hall at once! Loiterers will cost their houses points. Now go!"

The hall began to clear rapidly following that pronouncement. McGonagall whirled back to Olivia, only to find that the younger woman had moved away and was gingerly making her way up the grand staircase. Snatching up her billowing skirts, the professor ran to catch up.

"Olivia, where have you been? Look at you! You look as if you have survived a battle. Almost. I demand some sort of explanation!" Her breath was coming in gasps. It was difficult at her age to run and yell at the same time.

"If you must know, mama." Olivia sighed but continued her trek. "I have been playing hide-and-seek in the Forbidden Forest with Professor Snape. He took you and Uncle Albus up on the request to educate me. Please don't ask him to do you any more favors. He takes his work quite seriously." They had reached the hospital wing and Olivia struggled to push open the heavy door. Seeing her distress, Minerva slipped an arm around Olivia's waist and assisted her into the room.

Olivia hissed in pain as her mother squeezed her battered ribs. "Please Mama, not so tight."

"Snape did this to you?" Minerva bellowed. "That bloody bastard! I will kill him with my bare hands! He was merely to talk to you, perhaps offer some instruction, guidance. Not this…this brutality!"

"Professor Snape felt his way was more direct."

Madam Pomfrey had scurried over as the door opened and was now assisting Olivia on to a bed. The mediwitch turned to Minerva and asked calmly, "Pull those curtains around the bed, won't you dear? We don't want everyone seeing what is going on here." She then fixed her attention on Olivia, who had eased herself back until she was reclining on a stack of pillows.

Minerva complied with the request, sealing off the area around the bed as Madam Pomfrey set to work.

"Now my dear, let's see what we can do for you." The kindly witch pulled her wand from a deep pocket in her starched white nursing apron. Olivia relaxed as Poppy took over. Her eyes drifted shut as the mediwitch "tisked" and "hmmmed" her way up and down Olivia's body.

"Cracked ribs. Two, I am thinking," Poppy muttered. "These burns have been recently healed. Who healed you, my dear?"

Minerva had leaped forward at the mention of burns. "That Slytherin snake used a fire-bolt curse on you? I will fry his balls and shove them down his throat!" This earned her a sharp look from Madam Pomfrey.

"Minerva, really! You must calm down, or I shall ask you to leave. Now Olivia, who healed these wounds? Were they properly cleaned?" Madam Pomfrey asked her patient gently.

"I did it." Olivia replied. "I blended a cleansing charm with one of healing. I guess I did all right." She laughed shortly, then gasped as her ribs complained. "I haven't had too much practice in the healing arts. But I was running out of options at the time."

"Yes, yes. I see," the little witch murmured. "You did a fine job. I may offer you a position here," she joked. "I have some Skele-Gro that needs brewing for those ribs. Shouldn't be too painful, with just the cracks, you see. Rest now, I will give you something for the pain and then see about your potion. You will have to remain here for the rest of the day and perhaps tomorrow." She turned and bustled away, being careful to pull the curtain to behind her.

Professor McGonagall summoned a chair and positioned it beside the bed. Sitting down, she took one of Olivia's dirty hands, pressing it tightly. "My baby, my poor baby. I will make that monster pay if it…"

"Mama, please drop the revenge plans for right now, will you?" Olivia's voice was tired, but she continued. "I will want to speak with you and Uncle Albus about the whole thing, but not now. Please, just drop it." Olivia's tone offered no room for argument.

"Of course, my darling." Minerva sniffed loudly. "It is just that when I couldn't find you… and then this morning with Lucius Malfoy." She said the name in a manner that suggested the words tasted nasty in her mouth. "He showed up first thing to see the headmaster; well it was not good, let me tell you." She patted Olivia's hand tenderly.

Olivias' eyes snapped open. "Malfoy is here?" she gasped. "Why?" Though she had her suspicions.

"You know very well why, young lady! What were you thinking, stripping the boy of his robes and making him run back to Slytherin House?" Professor McGonagall's lips were pursed into such a tight knot, Olivia doubted she could have driven a nail through them.

"He made a nasty pass at me. I just wanted to remind him to keep his hands to himself. He was very busy doing that the last I saw of him. To tell the truth, there isn't much of him to hide!"

Minerva attempted to conceal a snort of laughter behind her hands. "Olivia! I'm shocked. That was very bad of you, you know!" She was still chuckling when Madam Pomfrey pushed the curtain aside, entering with a steaming goblet.

"This one will help you rest!" she said cheerfully. "Minerva, she will be asleep in a bit. You might as well go put out fires elsewhere." She gave Professor McGonagall a sharp glance. The other witch nodded and bent to kiss Olivia's brow.

"Rest darling. We will talk later. It will be fine, Olivia."

As Minerva turned to leave, Olivia clutched her hand.

"Mama, promise me you will leave Snape alone. I will deal with him." Her voice was firm.

"But Olivia, after what he has done…"

"No. You will leave him to me." It was an order, calmly given. Olivia pushed gently at Minerva's will with her own. The elder witch felt the pressure, her eyes going wide. Her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped.

"Can it be? Have you…?" She broke off as Olivia glanced meaningfully at Poppy.

"Oh, don't mind me!" The mediwitch said briskly. "I just work here."

"We will talk later, Mama. And leave Professor Snape to me"

Minerva nodded.

"While you rest I will get you all cleaned up, then fetch that Skele-Gro," Madam Pomfrey promised. "Drink up."

Olivia gulped the brew and was asleep before the gentle mediwitch drew the curtain closed.

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"Ah, Severus," Dumbledore smiled as his potions instructor entered the study. "Thank you for joining us on such short notice." The gray-haired wizard waved Snape toward a comfortable chair. "Mr. Malfoy has been informing me of an incident involving one of your students. Are you familiar with the situation?" As the lean younger wizard took his seat, Dumbledore handed over a steaming cup. Snape inhaled the bracing aroma, coffee. Strong and black. He took a scalding sip before answering.

"I believe you are referring to the situation with Miss McGonagall, the new Wizard Law instructor? If so, then yes, I am aware of this incident." His black eyes were drawn to Lucius Malfoy sitting in the chair to his right. Malfoy was still a handsome specimen, his hair just now beginning to be flecked with gray, his eyes a clear startling blue. He carried with him an air of cruel calculation.

"I will be wanting to speak with this Miss McGonagall also, Albus." Lucius commented coldly.

"Of course," Dumbledore replied. "But I have been informed that Miss McGonagall has met with an unfortunate accident and is presently in the hospital wing. Is that not right, Severus?" The canny wizard peered at Snape, one gray brow raised in question.

Sipping his coffee, allowing himself time to formulate an answer, Snape chastised himself for once again thinking that Dumbledore was unaware of the happenings at the school.

"Correct, Headmaster. Madam Pomfrey came to me just now requesting that I brew some Skele-Gro potion for Miss McGonagall. I was told she has several cracked ribs." If this information caused the dark professor any discomfort, he did not display it to the other men in the room.

"Seems trouble follows the chit everywhere," Malfoy grunted. "I want to know why she felt it necessary to force Draco to dash back to his house nude. What sort of instructors are you hiring now, Dumbledore? She sounds like a total incompetent to me."

Snape ground his teeth, fighting the urge to confront Malfoy with the truth about his offspring.

"Miss McGonagall is totally competent when it comes to instructing her class. She has a doctorate in Wizard/Muggle law and has worked with the Ministry for several years as a diplomatic liaison dealing with legal issues arising between Muggles and those of the wizard community. She is firm and fair." Dumbledore broke off his description of Olivia's skills and turned to Professor Snape. "Severus, since you say you are familiar with the details of this incident, I ask that you now tell us what occurred." He smiled fondly at the younger wizard.

"Miss McGonagall came to me yesterday to report that Draco Malfoy had made a rather rude attempt upon her person. According to Miss McGonagall, Draco grabbed her from behind, laying his hands upon her…." Here he stopped and took another bracing sip of coffee. "Upon her butt, I believe those were her exact words. Your son, Lucius, then went on to tell Miss McGonagall in very lewd terms what he would like to do to her. When Miss McGonagall advised him that if he didn't remove his hand from her person, he was going to find that appendage inserted, ahem… up his own butt, Draco pulled out his wand and threatened her." Here Snape paused, letting the information settle into the minds of Lucius and Dumbledore.

"Why didn't the stupid little bitch bring the incident to the headmaster?" Lucius Malfoy growled hotly.

Both Dumbledore and Snape bristled at the slur upon Olivia, but as Snape made to respond, the elder wizard waved him back.

"Lucius, I can understand and even appreciate your concern for the embarrassment Draco has endured, but I must insist that you keep a civil tongue when discussing Miss McGonagall."

Malfoy snorted but made no reply.

"As to why Miss McGonagall took the matter to Professor Snape, it is obvious. He is, after all, head of Slytherin House and responsible for the behavior of his students. Is that not correct, Professor?"

"Indeed, Headmaster. Miss McGonagall came to me straightway to me to report the incident and turned over Mr. Malfoy's wand." Saying this, Snape reached into his robes and removing the wand, handed it to Lucius.

The elder Malfoy gaped at the slender object in his hand. The color in his face went from his usual golden to a violent shade of purple. He opened and closed his mouth several times before he was finally able to speak.

"The imbecile gave her his wand?" he bellowed. "In the name of Merlin, why would he do something so utterly stupid?"

Because he is so utterly stupid, Snape thought to himself. "He gave it to her because she demanded it of him. It is obvious to me that Draco realized the gravity of his error and wisely concluded that capitulation was called for."

Mr. Malfoy settled back into the cushions of his chair, tapping the wand against his pursed lips. He directed his next question to Snape.

"If the boy had surrendered his wand, then what reason was there for the public humiliation, hmmm? Does your dear little Miss McGonagall have a thing for ridiculing her students?"

That's a fine question to ask me, the master of the sarcastic retort, Snape sighed to himself.

"The removal of the wand was punishment for the threat. The nude race to Slytherin House was his lesson in--how did she put it?--keeping his hands to himself. From all reports, Draco was doing just that as he made his way through the castle." Snape hid his smile behind the brim of his coffee cup.

Dumbledore chuckled outright.

"How do we know that this witch is not lying about the advance?" Lucius asked, but his tone implied he believed differently.

Dumbledore answered this time. "Lucius, what reason would Miss McGonagall have to concoct such a story? She has been here but a few weeks and from my own observation, she has bonded well with the students. Her classes are calm and organized. The information she is imparting will have lasting effect on the pupils when they leave Hogwarts. Why, she is even working with Professor Snape here in reviving our Dueling Club. Is that not correct, Severus?"

"Indeed. From all accounts, Miss McGonagall has been conducting herself in a manner befitting a member of this institution. I have no complaints about her conduct with students or staff." Liar! You sat in this chair just a few days ago complaining about her lack of clothing and its effect on the male population of the school. Not to mention the effect it was having on you. Snape slanted a glance toward the headmaster and caught the knowing twinkle in the blue eyes.

"I still want to meet with this young paragon of yours, Dumbledore," Malfoy insisted. "I am interested in getting to know a witch capable of persuading a wizard, even one as weak as my son, to hand over his wand."

Dumbledore sighed. "As I said before, Lucius. Miss McGonagall has met with an accident that has her presently in the hospital wing. What can you tell us about that situation, Severus?" Dumbledore arched a white brow in the direction of his potions instructor.

Snape collected himself. "Miss McGonagall and I worked on some spells and counter-spells after dismissing the students from the Dueling Club. We had agreed before-hand that we would not hold anything back. We wanted to be as realistic as possible under the circumstances. Miss McGonagall gave an excellent accounting of her abilities, but alas, during our final duel, she suffered a fall." Snape refused to meet the eyes of the crafty headmaster and focused on his rapidly cooling coffee.

"Ah, such a striving for perfection!" Dumbledore crowed. "Lucius, you couldn't ask for better instructors for young Draco than our Professors Snape and McGonagall."

"Yes." Malfoy stated flatly. "I will be holding a fete honoring my lovely Narcissa in a few weeks. I believe I shall invite this new law professor of yours to attend. She should have much to add to the evening, don't you agree?" He looked at both men before him, his eyes cold and cunning, but there was something else there as well and it chilled the blood in Snape's veins. "I shall look forward to getting to know her." He pushed himself from the chair.

"Now, Headmaster. I thank you for your time, and yours too, Professor. I would like to see my son now. I have a few words of wisdom to impart before I take my leave."

"Certainly, Lucius. I will have him brought directly," the headmaster replied. Dumbledore turned to Snape, who had risen from his chair. "Severus, I believe you have a potion to brew. I wouldn't want Poppy to come looking for you and find you here chatting with the fellows." Dumbledore chuckled, but Snape caught the undertone in his voice.

"Yes, Headmaster. Lucius." Snape sketched a brief bow and left the room.

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In the dungeon, Snape poured the finished Skele-Gro potion into a goblet. He would carry it to the hospital wing himself. Snape had been wondering about Olivia's condition throughout the morning. He knew that her classes for the day had been canceled and that the rumors for the cancellation were as numerous as the tongues that were carrying them.

He was tossing his black robes over his shoulders when a familiar tingle started to build on the inside of his left arm.

"No!" He hissed. Rolling up his sleeve, Snape watched as the Dark Mark on his arm brightened from gray to black then to a violent red. The pain increased with the color shift until his arm was throbbing in agony.

Summoned.

Called to Voldemort's side.

It was a call he could not refuse.

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"Olivia."

Someone was calling her from the dark comfort of the sleeping potion. Olivia pushed the voice away and attempted to drift back into that black world of rest-filled oblivion.

"Olivia!" This time the command was stronger and now there were hands shaking her, forcing her to respond.

She opened her eyes. Her vision was foggy from the potion. She could just make out a dark shape hovering over her. She raised a hand to her face, attempting to wipe away the webs of sleep in her eyes.

When she looked again, her sight was clearer and she could identify the one before her.

"Oh gods! I am dead and this is Hell!" Olivia moaned.

Snape laughed softly. "I doubt that you are destined for that place, Olivia. I am glad you are happy to see me." He had moved around to her head and slipped an arm under her shoulders. "Here, sit up and drink. Poppy has given me permission to administer the Skele-Gro potion."

Olivia allowed him to position her pillows and lean her gently back into their comfort. Green eyes met black as he handed her the goblet. "It is vile, I assure you. But by tomorrow you will be mended." Olivia was taken back by the gentleness in his tone, his light teasing manner.

She glared at the potions master suspiciously and sniffed the contents of the goblet. Her nose stung and the vapor made her eyes water.

"You're right. This is vile. How can I be sure it is a healing draught and not some fast-acting poison?" She had meant to tease, but her words brought a flash of, something, pain, maybe, to his face.

"Olivia, I have no desire to see you suffer."

He received a rude snort for this, but continued.

"You have every right to suspect me, but I assure you, the potion is meant for your healing." He looked down at the bed sheets, his fingers idly picking at the folded fabric.

"I am sorry, Sev…Professor. I was teasing. I will drink it like a good girl. See?"

And she tipped the cup and forced herself to gulp down the entire contents. It burned a trail into her stomach where it began to spread fingers of heat through the rest of her body. Olivia handed the empty goblet back to Snape.

He continued to stand quietly for a moment. Olivia wondered what was going through his mind. He supplied the answer.

"I must leave Hogwarts for a time," he told her simply.

"Why? Is it because of what happened in the forest?"

"No." He paused, considering his next words. "Then again, perhaps it is." He saw her frown and continued.

"I have been summoned." This was said flatly, his eyes fixed on hers.

"Summoned? I don't understand."

"The Dark Mark. It burns. I have been summoned to Voldemort's side." The wizard placed a hand on the burning ache that was his left arm.

Olivia lurched upward and grabbed Snape by the lapels of his black robes. "No! No! You can't go! Tell Uncle Albus. He--" But Snape cut her off.

"I have spoken to Albus," he told her softly as he pried her desperate fingers from his body. "He knows and approves of my going." Olivia shook her head and tried to speak, but Snape placed a finger on her lips. "Olivia, we need to know what his plans are. It is the task I accepted when Albus took me in. I welcome this opportunity to repay that debt. The information I gain may prove invaluable to our side in the coming war." He removed his finger from her mouth, but continued to cling to her hand. She returned the pressure.

"How long will you be gone?" Olivia whispered through the knot of fear that clutched her throat. She wanted to cry, to hold him to her, this man who had done her so much harm, but whom she could not hate. She wanted to keep him here with her, safe.

He shrugged. "I cannot say. A few hours? A day? More? I have a request to make. I know I have no right to ask…"

"Ask me." She demanded softly.

"It's Cat."

Olivia nodded.

"I don't know when, or if, I shall come back. I have never had someone who depended upon me for his survival. Would you take him and care for him until my return?" His words were a simple request for help, but his eyes were pleading for something more.

Olivia smiled and brushed a tear from her cheek. " I think Cat depends upon you for more than survival, Severus." She felt him increase the pressure on her hand as she spoke his name. "I will take Cat and both of us will be here waiting for you to come home."

Man and woman studied each other closely. The moment stretched out. Then Snape nodded briefly.

"Thank you, Olivia." He laid her hand down upon the sheet and turned to leave.

Before he could pass through the curtain, Olivia's voice stopped him.

"You must come back to us, Severus. We have much to discuss, you and I. Please, please take care."

He looked over his shoulder. She was sitting up in the bed, one hand wrapped around her ribs. Her eyes were pleading with him.

"I will be careful. When I return, you and I will talk. Good-bye."

And he was gone.

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I know, not a lot going on in this chapter, but the next one will be a whopper! I promise.

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