Unfurling of a Rose

Chapter 7

Several hours later, with his hands clutching a ragged Daily Prophet and an old piece of parchment, Snape hurried back to his private office, shut the door, and read over what he had only skimmed before.

Black Dog Convicted

The Ministry of Magic has finally found one of the remaining loyal servants of the Dark Lord, a notorious Black Dog, the rank immediately below a Death Eater within the Dark Lord's inner circle. Accused of incestual rape, Willem Griffin, a member of the prominent Griffin family and a werewolf from early age, has been convicted of the charge and found to be a member of the Dark Lord's society.

He did not deny the charges, but stood up proudly to take credit in what he had done. And according to his account, he had done quite a bit.

"We had no idea," said Catharine Griffin, the convict's sister. "Not until our daughter told us. We did so much for him, even gave him the family name, but instead, he betrayed our trust. And I'd always thought they had just gotten along well." Nathaneal Griffin, an ex-Auror and the convict's brother-in-law declined comment, but judging his uncomfortable face, he was embarrassed and furious that such dark doings had taken place right under an Auror's nose.

The victim, the Griffins' daughter and an alleged Squib, declined comment as well, refusing to reveal herself to our Daily Prophet reporter, but it is said that the incest could have been going on for more than five years at threat to her life with some of the worst curses imaginable.

Then he read the more recent Daily Prophet article that he had written for himself on a spare bit of parchment. Once he had finished, he let out a deep breath.

No wonder Mouse was scared of him.

Once again, he threw the internal Hogwarts Conjuring powder into his fireplace.

"Lupin, come in here now!" Snape bellowed.

Coughing and spluttering ashes out of his mouth, Remus Lupin stepped out of the fireplace.

"What now, Severus? I've told you, deal with her yourself."

Snape thrust the two articles under Lupin's eyes and said, "Read."

Staring at Snape suspiciously, the DADA teacher began to read. As he did, his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.

"S-severus, th-this explains everything. The clothes, not wanting to be seen or touched, not coming to my curse classes, her understanding about my... condition... It all makes sense." Lupin looked up from the parchment. "Is this why we couldn't read the Daily Prophet in the teachers' lounge?"

Snape stared at the fire, brooding.

"She can react dangerously when she feels threatened, and with enough panic, yes, she could have been the cause of that sudden burst of accidental magic. Draco told me that her first sign of magic was about two months ago, and look at date on the article. Maybe four weeks before she showed what she truly was. Maybe, instead of initiating the transition from Muggle to magic, the emotions when she was being... compromised... caused her magic to be stunted and slow."

"But, Severus, what can we do? She doesn't want help, I can tell you that. She may be Mouse, but even a mouse can be fiercely obstinate."

Snape stroked his chin, still staring into the fire. "We can't do much at all, considering she's leaving right now."

Lupin's head snapped up. "What?!"

"I did something that upset her, then told her something that made her conclude that home was more welcoming."

Snape looked up coolly to see Lupin's fist connect with his left cheek.

"You slimy git! You have no sensitivity whatsoever! For someone so subtle, you should have seen that that approach blatantly failed long ago! You saw how she hated to be near you, and yet you make her come to you everyday for pointless tutorial. Dumbledore and I decided to leave you alone and let you do as you saw fit, but it looks like you've gone too far, and for Circe's sake, she's your own bloody Slytherin!"

Snape stared at Lupin for a minute in a most unseemly way before shaking himself free of the stupor into which he was settling.

"Lupin," he murmured silkily, his dignity a bit sprained, "I assure you, she will not leave these grounds. I will have Draco keep her here while you and I sort things out. Then," Severus narrowed his eyes, "you will help her."

"Severus..." Lupin said angrily, "I will not..."

"Only for a short time. Do you remember anything from your days in fencing?"

Lupin looked startled for a second, then replied slowly, "Yes."

"I want you to teach her that particular fine art to every last detail."

"But you'd be a better teacher than myself. After all, you're more skilled at swordplay than I am."

Snape smiled grimly, "Precisely."

"I don't understand what you're trying to do, Severus."

"You don't need to, Lupin, but suffice it to say that I am trying to make her the Slytherin she should be. Fair enough?"

Lupin sniffed. "It's about time you decided to take that attitude instead of hating her for what she was."

Snape glared at Lupin until the werewolf looked away. "Petulance is not flattering on you, Lupin," Snape growled.

Lupin shrugged sheepishly.

"Now, Lupin, listen closely. In approximately fifteen minutes, I want you to retrieve Mouse from the entrance to the common room. You'll find her there with Draco. Then I want you to take her to the trophy room, and start teaching her the basics. When your day of training has ended, command her never to miss one of your classes again."

"I've already tried convincing her."

"Then try again," said Snape mercilessly. "Use your charm and wiles to convince her. Now go. I'll deal with keeping Miss Griffin at Hogwarts."

~888~

Draco was headed down the dungeon hall, thinking about a nice relaxing evening on one of the Slyth common room's few couches when a great black thing swooped down on him, grabbed him, and swung him into a shadowy corner.

"Hey!" he cried, manhood offended, but then a very familiar voice cut through the air, sneer very evident.

"Don't get any vain ideas, Mr. Malfoy. I just wanted your attention without arousing suspicion from other parties." A thin finger pointed out of the dark and lit upon a pair of first-years babbling about Quidditch.

"Professor Snape?" Draco spluttered.

"Astounding deduction."

Still trying to calm his heart, Draco looked at the vague shadow of his Head angrily. "You didn't have to do it so dramatically. A well-placed detention works wonders."

"Don't anger me, boy," growled Snape, "or you will indeed find yourself in one of my detentions."

Draco sighed, resigned. "What do you want?"

"That's better. I want you to stop Mouse from leaving Hogwarts. At any cost. Stun her if you have to, but do not let her leave. Then, take her out of the common room to the entrance of the Slytherin domain. Professor Lupin will retrieve her. Everything understood? If not, I can find another cat's paw less mundane than yourself." Snape leaned against the wall casually.

"I hate being in someone's debt," Draco muttered mutinously.

"You are free to hate or love, as long as you pay that debt."

"Fine," Draco snarled, "but I'm tired of you using me to get to her. I'm suspicious of your motives, especially after all the things you had me try and the ways to obtain them."

Snape's eyebrow rose in mild surprise.

"If you think for one moment that I am entertaining a single romantic thought for that pathetic excuse for a Slytherin, you are much mistaken. I am merely intently curious, though you have no right to question those motives I have. And for your information, Mister Malfoy, this new plan is for her own good."

Draco perked up at that. "A new plan?"

The Potions Master did not respond, but Draco understood the implications. He asked resignedly, "How should I stop her?"

"Your way."

~888~

Corielle folded tunic after tunic from the chest at the foot of her bed into her trunk. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she hated herself for them. Crying had never been the catharsis for her it usually was with others. It only succeeded in making her feel weak, drained, useless, and self-pitying. And her tears had only inspired more sharp taunts from her uncle and disapproving stares from her grandmother.

"A lady doesn't cry, Corielle," Corielle thought bitterly.

"Going somewhere?"

Corielle whipped around. Draco was standing at the doorway of the dormitory, looking as sly and as honey-sweetened deceptive as a cat ready to pounce. Corielle fisted her eyes.

"What do you want?" she said more unkindly than she would have in other circumstances.

"Are you used to running from your problems?" the silver-haired boy asked.

"You don't know anything about it!" she screamed, smiling evilly in her mind when Draco winced.

But then, much in the manner of his other failed attempts to unveil her, he adopted a rather seductive attitude that made Corielle halt in her tracks.

"Why don't you tell me?" he whispered. "I'll listen."

Corielle was only half asleep when light from the hall outside her bedroom door made a thin golden line down her face. She held Raggedy Ann tighter to her as someone sat on the bed. A large hand ran down her side and began touching her newer developments.

She began whimpering.

At the noise, the man threw his arms around the ten-year-old girl and pressed a wand to her throat.

And the voice of Uncle Willem, her beloved Uncle Willem, hissed in her ear, "You scream, or ever say anything to anyone, and I'll curse you so fast and so much you won't know where your tips are pointing."

And then he began.

"You wouldn't understand!" she screamed again.

"Calm down, Mouse," purred Draco, "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help."

Corielle began running, but Draco shouted from behind her, "Petrificus Totalus!" and she fell in a heap at his feet.

"Painfully easy," Draco muttered under his breath as he Levitated her to the entrance of the Slytherin common room.

~888~

Lupin moaned when he saw her, stiff as a board on Draco's knees.

"Really, Draco, was that necessary?"

Draco shrugged indifferently. "It worked, didn't it? And I've had too much experience with her to not suppress her all the way."

Lupin sighed, thinking something along the lines of I thought Slytherins were supposed to be subtle, and took Corielle into his arms.

"What do you want with her?" Draco inquired, suddenly curious himself.

"I need to teach her something," Lupin said. "And that's all I need to say on the subject."

He swiftly carried her out of Draco's sight and up two flights of stairs. He refrained from looking at the poor, abused girl in his arms because he knew he would see angry accusations in her still mobile eyes.

Finally, he reached an empty Charms classroom. He set her down and performed the countercurse, which would return her power of movement only to find himself being clawed, kicked, and punched by Corielle Griffin, who had found enough of her wits to realize that Lupin was behind part of this kidnapping, and obviously didn't appreciate the fact very much.

Aghast and slightly abashed, he grabbed her arms and, against his better judgment, pressed her against the wall with his whole body. Being a werewolf allowed him certain strengths, and Corielle could not move at all, though not for lack of trying; she did everything but spit. Tears were streaming down her face in frustration, and Lupin knew it was because of the memories of similar positions with a less desirable man.

"I brought you here," Lupin said, louder than normal to be heard over her shrieks, "to teach you how to fence."

The proclamation was so unexpected that Corielle stopped in mid-screech, and Lupin was able to step back slightly so he would not be completely touching her.

"I know- it seems a strange request that I want you to learn, but I think it would do you good."

Corielle just stared at him, but she had calmed down considerably, and Lupin could quietly admire her determination not to be taken advantage of again regardless of what she had to do to ensure her safety. He let her go and moved away.

"You know," Corielle said slowly, "don't you?"

Lupin nodded, not elaborating.

Corielle collapsed to the floor and burst into the tears she had held back since Draco had Petrified her. Lupin knelt down before her, took her in his arms, and let her cry. She buried her head into his shoulder.

They sat on the dusty floor in that position for minutes.

Corielle lifted her head and laughed mercilessly. "He was a werewolf."

"I know."

"He was my uncle."

"I know."

"He's free."

Lupin lowered his head. "I know."

Her teeth clenched. "I want to rip him limb from limb, for what he denied me. I couldn't do any magic, and he made me think I never would, and he had that wand with him all the time and I couldn't do one bloody thing!"

"I know."

"Professor Snape says I'm not a good Slytherin."

"You are a Slytherin nonetheless. How can you not be a good one?"

She snorted. "I cannot even stand up to him. I can't stand anyone being close to me, I'm afraid of my own shadow..."

Lupin interrupted, "...all very normal reactions to your unusual predicament. But I want to help you."

"That's what Draco said," Corielle whispered cautiously.

Lupin smiled at the memory of a younger Draco's angelic face confessing to crimes and said, "He may be more on your side than you know. He has a... different method than most."

"What? Seduction?"

"Well, yes," Lupin said, chuckling, "in a way. It's his most effective way of manipulating, and it's the only one he knows. Of course, it doesn't help that he's had women kiss his feet before."

Corielle nodded. "He is rather attractive, isn't he?"

"Is he?" Lupin asked slyly.

Corielle's eyes narrowed in mock savageness. "Watch yourself, Professor, or I'll give you another scratch to match that one by your eye, though it might be a little closer to the target."

Lupin winced. "Spoken like a true Slytherin."

"Really," Corielle said, her eyes lighting up.

Lupin looked at her sideways. "I don't know whether to encourage this or not, but let's get started."

With a simple Summoning spell, two foils flew into his hands. He threw one at Corielle, who caught it easily.

"Now, first I'll tell you some history like a good teacher, then, I'll teach you a few basic moves..."

~888888~

All in all a sentimental chapter, but one that needs to be, I think. As far as what Corielle went through, while I use the situation of incestual rape, I do not treat it lightly. It is not cheerful. That is why this story is rated R.