An Unlikely Ally

jsmi0808

Story Summary:
Set as an Alternative version of the Half-Blood Prince, what if Snape had not been granted the DADA position? A darkfic, it follows the stories of Severus Snape and the mysterious new DADA teacher, Professor Baserette, revealed as the mistress of Lord Voldemort.

Chapter 01

Posted:
12/11/2005
Hits:
403


A soft breeze drifted the clouds that hung over Hogwarts Castle, the serene scene giving little indication of the march towards war that took place behind its solid walls. A lone figure stood in the precipice under one of the craggy awnings of the cold grey stone castle. Clothed in a long black robe, and hidden amongst the shadows, a small flicker of light flashed, revealing a thin, pale hand.

"That's an awful Muggle habit," stated a distinctive male voice over the figure's shoulder.

"So are snooping, too many sweets, and hair grease," retorted the dark-robbed figure, a light soprano laugh flowing out from behind the deep-set hood. The thin, spindly hand drew a stubby cigarette back up to under the hood, a curl of smoke spreading out into the autumn air. "That doesn't stop some here," the female-voiced figure continued after a pause.

"What do we owe your return to, Miss Baserette," continued Severus Snape as he stepped into the light, a contemplative glance towards the cloaked female in front of him. He scanned her over with his eyes, attempting to see what was visible from the dark covering of her black velvet robe. His searching careful and calculating as he writhed his cold eyes about her form.

"I think we know well enough, Severus. It is brewing, the Second War. Albus has asked me to enlighten the children of the more interesting natures that might be at his disposal." The figure hissed slightly as she finished her sentence, her voice trailing off after a moment, and the remnants of the cigarette falling from her porcelain fingers. After a moment, a small, black velvet shoe of old-fashioned Muggle style ground it into the cobbles of the walkway. The squashed stub sat a moment before disappearing with a loud 'pop.' The figure tilted her cloaked head back to Snape, the rustle of fabrics filling the air she a she moved.

"You believe it best to return to your old place in this?" Snape inquired, in an insinuating drawl.

"Ah Severus, so brave. One of few with the ambition to still speak to me so, but then being the trolley between the light and the darkness must leave you with a strengthened fear system. Do they still whisper, the little mages? Do they wonder if the Boy killed the Mistress with the Master?"

The female tilted back her head, a fit of breathy and seductive laughter peeling out from her concealed body. Snape glanced at her, a smooth black brow rising into a look of mock and curiosity, his lips pursing. He shuddered slightly as the figure tilted her head back up to him.

"Do I believe it best? You speak of places. Do you still remain the most loyal? My place is always where it was, where I felt it best at the moment. I have promised nothing to either side in this War that will truly lead one or the other to a victory, only the path to one. In the end, my neutrality may be broken, but that comes in good time. But, who else needs less an explanation of that than..."

A sharp hiss wheezed out from the concealed figure, a low and feral growl before finishing off the sentence with "You." Snape and the figure lock gazes a moment, before she turns her head.

"No, Severus, dear, the best thing would have been for the darling Riddle to stay in his orphanage and become a banker, or a doctor....not a necromancer bent on the destruction of those things he despises, because he cannot have them. I, like all other things to him, have always served one goal - to glorify him and lead to his greatness. All his little minions believe differently, but I no have delusions, I pacify him, and he would likely kill me, if he could discover a way. But, until that moment, we shall once again become strange bedfellows, no doubt. Unless you finally replaced me in that department as well." The female cackled mirthfully, her robes swishing about.

Snape's back went rigid, drawing himself up to his full height as he sneered at the female, a deep-grimace set on his face as his hand twitched to his pocket a moment.

Continuing on, seemingly ignoring Snape's reaction, the female hissed out as she finished her speech. "Or, perhaps more importantly that that useless lothario Lockhart hadn't passed on that pointless and ridiculous book of his, full of folk tales, rumors, and nonsense. Such a shame, really, when I learned he'd finally done in his own mind in. And the women of the Wizarding world still mourn, no doubt. Ah, well, perhaps our fierce friend Tom can be their poster-boy soon." The figure placed her hand to her chest, sighing melodramatically and trailing off into a trilling laugh.

"Have no reverence at all, do you?" inquired Snape, keeping his plodded distance between he and the woman in front of him. A hand moved out from his robe, running over his floppy black hair a moment, and finding its place back at his side, an annoyed smirk crossing his face.

"A rose by any other name, Severus. And I shall not be one who adds to his one man propaganda campaign by instilling fear and shakes from the highest levels of Wizardom by mere the mention of his name. I have not feared such as him that have come before, nor will I the next should I exist then. They each believe they are unique, inspiring, deserving admiration and fear. That is no habit of a Dark Wizard, but of mortal men. Gregori, the last Dark Lord, if such thing is a dynasty, he was the same. Wizard or Muggle alike, men in the search of great power are cruel. And in the end, that is their undoing. They believe men will be too afraid to question them. Fear is nothing more than refusing to see the solution to a problem, or the blatant truth that lies in front of you. Desperation and the desire to survive make the path clear for the saviors."

A pregnant pause fills the space, before the figure continued carefully, "Tom seeks the road to immortality...." She stopped to laugh haughtily into the crisp morning air, her high but soothing trill floating through the empty hall. "He would find himself disappointed that it grows tiresome at best, unbearable at worst in quite a short time, especially with such a shallow outlook on life; I believe he only needs a reminder of that. I am that reminder."

"And the rest of your kind, who will they join," inquired Snape, with calm curiosity.

"The rest of my....kind, as you put it delicately Severus, it would seem have already chosen. Unless my sources are wrong, he has Inferi does he not? Ah, but your face gives you away. You

did not know, did you? Of course not, it is summer, not many excuses without Albus' permission to sneak on the skull and go to some necromancer's black mass are there? I would fear for yourself, Severus, I'm not sure who's worse, them or Fenrir and his brood."

"You will learn I am a child of dusk and dawn, Severus, but neither of morning or twilight. I belong everywhere and yet nowhere. I am trusted neither by Muggle or Wizard, and yet on occasion needed by both. I have long stopped caring what the rest of my kindred believe. I retained what they lack a conscience, a soul, and they dislike and deplore me for it. I'll leave them to their painless hell, for in the dark days to come; we'll likely find those two things might be the most needed."

A long, dead silence filled the conversation, only the rustle of leaves on nearby trees taking up the void.

"Quirrel, he died for his efforts didn't he," inquired the well-covered female, for the first time her eyes became visible as she stepped slightly from her perch, her pupils shining in the shadow under her hood. A sharp blue color, they would likely frighten the unsuspecting Muggle, appearing like the flat calm of an endless sea, revealing little to no emotion.

Snape grew steadily more uncomfortable as the woman's roving eyes worked over him, his normally cool and smooth demeanor slowly seeping away. He shifted his weight back and forth.

"Yes..." Snape replied simply, dropping his gaze away from the glancing woman.

"Hmm was he still convinced I was going to find him? Hmm and smell like a mutton roast?" A light floating laugh drew out from the woman's cloaked form. She quirked an eyebrow underneath her hood at Snape, pursing her lips as she studied him carefully.

"I'm no Death Eater, Severus do I make you so nervous? I don't bite..." The robed woman laughed loudly, her voice echoing off the stone walls, before concluding with, "often." Pitching into another fit of laughter, the woman winked at Severus seductively, raking her tongue slowly over a pair of pearlescent fangs now largely obvious against her lips, and disappeared into the castle in a rustle of fabric.

Prologue - A Summer Encounter