My Eternal Curse

Chapter Eighteen

Potions and Portents

Severus left Dumbledore's office and headed to the Dungeons for the last class of the day, Slytherin - Gryffindor, double Potions. Those bloody Aurors still haven't found Levine's parents... and, to make matters worse, another Slytherin was summoned. Severus had no doubt in his mind that the next time he saw Sarah Macnair, she would be wearing the Dark Mark. Death Eaters were calling more of their children away to take the Dark Mark every week. How much longer before the majority of Slytherin would be under Voldemort's control? No... I mustn't think about it like that. I won't let that happen.

But already, Slytherin was becoming a house divided by the opposing sides of the war. An outsider would never see it, but the long held alliances that kept Slytherin together were unraveling, and with it, some of his power to control it. He just prayed that open hostilities didn't break out between the students before this was over. If it did, things would get very ugly...

Severus heard the sound of voices coming from his classroom. He would have to take house points away for that. They should know better than to dare make so much noise in his class. Then he heard the subject of their discussion and stopped to listen, just outside of the door.

"....can you believe the way Ginny's acting?" Colin Creevy was asking. "First, she gets a foul, Dark creature for a pet, then she betrays Gryffindor by associating with the Slytherins. I swear, she grows creepier by the minute..."

Miss Weasley touched his shoulder, startling him. Severus turned around for a moment, and signaled for her to remain silent.

"Better be careful, Colin," another Gryffindor warned him. "You don't want Weasley hearing you. She might use a dark curse on you, or something."

"Who knows what she's capable of? She might be able to read your mind..."

"Or just his face," Ix Chel hissed from somewhere behind him. "Transparent fools..."

Severus turned around and couldn't see Ix Chel anywhere in sight. He shot Miss Weasley a questioning look. She mouthed the words 'I'll explain later...'

"I'm afraid to work with her," Colin said. "She's dangerous, and who knows what The Sight's done to her mind?"

Severus decided that he'd heard enough. He stormed into the classroom, with a venomous sneer, glaring at Colin Creevy and a small group of Gryffindors in the front of the classroom. Miss Weasley strode into the classroom just behind him, with an angry and hurt expression on her face. Colin Creevy spun around looking startled, before a familiar terror crept into his expression. When he saw the look on Weasley's face, his terror doubled.

"If you do not wish to remain Weasley's partner, then other arrangements will be made," Severus said cuttingly. He looked around the room. The Slytherins sat in their seats, watching his every move, while most of the Gryffindors were in their seats, waiting to see how many house points he would take away for this. Only Miss Weasley, Colin, and four other Gryffindors stood. He spotted Levine in the front row, and saw an empty seat next to her. Of course, Macnair had been her partner... Both Weasley and Levine needed watching. Who better to keep them out of trouble, than each other? Either of them would come to him the moment something was wrong, and Levine had invited Weasley to sit with her today... "Weasley, take the empty seat next to Levine. She will be your partner from now on." Levine barely managed to hide her smile as Miss Weasley took a seat next to her on the Slytherin side of the class. Severus turned to face Colin. "You and your little cohorts were so loud that you could almost be heard outside the Dungeons, and you're out of your seats. I will not tolerate disarray in my class! Forty points off Gryffindor. As for you, Creevy, you will be serving detention with me for the next two days. Report to my office at 8:00, tonight. Now, take your seats!"

Colin and the four other Gryffindors scrambled to their seats and set up. Severus felt the tension in the room increase, and saw two Gryffindors sneer at Weasley for a moment. He mentally sighed. This was going to be a long class. The disgraceful way Weasley's own house treated her was painfully obvious the entire time.

Severus marveled at the remarkable difference in the Slytherins and Gryffindors behavior, when it came to Weasley. He had to take points away from Gryffindor twice, just for their staring at Miss Weasley like she was something Hagrid found in the Forbidden Forest. After that was done, Severus called them 'inattentive' and reminded them that their potions were in front of them, not at Weasley's table. Weasley did her best to ignore her housemates and concentrated on her potion, while Levine and the other Slytherins treated her with respect. What a difference one week could make... Severus watched Weasley work with Levine on and off through class. He noted Weasley's precision when preparing her ingredients, and watched as she corrected Miss Levine's timing, gently showing the other girl how to add the components together, for the best results. Miss Weasley was a natural teacher, and could make a great master someday, if she continued the way she was going.

By the end of class, Gryffindor had lost almost a record number of house points. The Gryffindors' only saving grace, was the points Severus awarded Miss Weasley, for the excellent technique she used in creating her potion. Miss Weasley spoke to Levine for a few minutes, while the other students left. Finally, Levine left, leaving him and Miss Weasley alone.

*~*~*

Ginny and Professor Snape entered Snape's Potions lab in silence. Ix Chel slithered out of her hiding place in the seam of Ginny's robes, and took her usual place. Professor Snape watched them both with a calculating expression on his face.

"You've been bringing your familiar with you to class. Why?" Professor Snape inquired.

"I insisted she bring me with her," Ix Chel explained. "I need to understand how far things have fallen in the wizarding world... and young one's sense of control is still too fragile. I don't want her to lose control without a guide. I think you understand the potential disaster that would create."

"I do," Professor Snape nodded, switching to Parseltongue. "Very well, you may bring her with you, Miss Weasley, but make sure you're not caught. I don't want to explain to the Headmaster why you are hiding your pet in your robes."

"Yes... sir," Ginny said slowly, taking a seat. "I've been thinking... about this whole Apprenticeship. I mean... I don't know that much about what it really entails, or why you decided to make your help so... official. At this point, I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to call you. Do I call you 'master,' 'Professor,' or are we on a first name basis?"

Professor Snape took a seat besides her, apparently thinking it over. After a few moments, he spoke.

"Those are all good questions, Miss Weasley," Professor Snape said returning to English. "I suppose I should have explained this more clearly to you, earlier... The reason why I have made my help 'official' is, in part, because of our deal."

"The only reason why you made me your Apprentice is for show?" Ginny asked, beginning to feel downcast.

"That is part of it, but not the main reason," Professor Snape continued. "Believe me when I say, I would not have made you my Apprentice if I didn't believe you were up to the challenge. In fact, I expect you to meet all the requirements of the job, just as I would anyone. The Apprenticeship hides our unique... working relationship, while providing you with a well-deserved opportunity.

"As my Apprentice, you will receive the stipend of any normal assistant out of school, Miss Weasley. You will be working with me on my research projects during your training, as well as running certain errands, and learning all of the skills you will require later. Also, you won't be going home for the summer holiday. You will stay by my side, continuing your education with me throughout most of the summer. However, you will still get some vacation time over the summer, where you can visit with whomever you wish. I know this is a disappointment for you, but that comes with the job. As for formal declaration, form requires that you call me 'master' in public. Fortunately, that doesn't include class. I, personally, do not require anyone to bolster my ego, so you may call me 'Professor' in private. If you agree to this, you will be bound by magical contract, until one of us chooses to terminate it. If you don't agree, then I will let you out of our agreement."

Ginny thought it over. If she said no, then her Apprenticeship would end here and now, and she would lose the chance of a lifetime. If she said yes, she would be seizing an incredible opportunity. One, surprisingly enough, she would be paid for. But the downside was that she wouldn't be going home for the summer... An image of spending the summer with Ron and Percy glaring at her and Ix Chel popped into her mind. Ugh... If she had to choose between spending the summer with two bigoted Light side fanatics, who she had the misfortune to call brothers, or working with Professor Snape, she'd pick Snape.

"I agree to remain your Apprentice, but I've got one question..." Ginny answered. "What about my parents? What if they think I'm too young to take on an Apprenticeship?"

"According to wizarding law, once you reach the age of fifteen, you're old enough to make that choice for yourself," Professor Snape said, holding out his hand. After a brief hesitation, she took it. "Welcome into the fold, Miss Weasley."

"I will do my best to live up to my full potential, sir," Ginny said.

"Good," Professor Snape let go of her hand. "Now, we have work to do."

Ginny and Professor Snape pulled out their notebooks and quills, ready to take notes. Ix Chel slithered onto the table, and turned to face them.

"Will we be learning another Potion today?" Professor Snape asked in Parseltongue.

"No," Ix Chel said. "Today, we'll begin working with one of the most elemental powers required for Gray magic, energy channeling. The power to draw energy from your environment, and use it."

Ginny and Professor Snape took notes as Ix Chel explained the principles behind the process, how to summon energy from their surroundings, and how to drain off excess energy.

"Why would you need to drain off excess energy?" Ginny asked. "Can't you just contain the energy in yourself?"

"No," answered Ix Chel. "If you were to do that, you would damage yourself, or worse yet, explode."

"Ugh, that would be gross," Ginny thought.

"So, it's like muggle electricity," said Tom. "A buildup of energy in a system incapable of handling it, would cause an overload."

Ginny repeated what Tom said.

"Exactly," Ix Chel said. "Which is why the wielding of such powers requires absolute control."

"Charming..." Professor Snape said in a low voice.

"If there are no more questions, let's see if you can put the principles I've explained into action," said Ix Chel.

Professor Snape went first. He stood in the center of the room, as far away from any equipment as possible. Ginny watched as he put his hands together, fingers unclasped, and concentrated. After a minute, Ginny noticed the temperature of the room drop as Professor Snape slowly began to pull his hands apart, electric blue energy began to run from one hand to the other. Snape's expression showed absolute control and concentration, as he formed a ball of energy with his hands as if making a snowball. When he was done, he dropped his left hand to his side, holding up an electric blue ball of pure energy that glowed brightly, with his right. Professor Snape stared at it for several minutes, trying to change the ball's shape with his mind. He managed to turn it into a cube, a pyramid, and a donut before his features started showing signs of strain. Then Professor Snape allowed the energy he was holding to lose shape and disperse, before sitting wearily on his stool again. The temperature in the room quickly returned to normal.

"Very good," Ix Chel appraised. "You work well with the world around you."

"Thank you," Professor Snape replied. "Will working on this level of magic always be this tiring?"

"No," Ix Chel explained. "The first few times you use it are always the most difficult. Once your body has acclimated to a new equilibrium, it will become second nature."

"I guess it's my turn," Ginny said. Ginny went through the same process as Professor Snape, but she had trouble dispersing the energy at the end. When she came out of her self-induced trance, she felt a little dizzy and light headed from some of the extra energy still coursing through her, and had to be helped back to her seat. Ginny noted vaguely that the room was still quite cold.

"What went wrong?" Ginny asked, shaking her head to clear it.

"You pulled too much energy from your surroundings, without the capacity to disperse it all," said Ix Chel. "Don't worry. The effects you're feeling should be temporary. Just try not to pull so hard, until your body has a chance to acclimate."

"Okay," Ginny said. After a few minutes, they went back to note taking.

Severus watched Miss Weasley closely, thinking about the vision she showed him. Why would he believe that she was capable of stopping Voldemort in a few months time? Perhaps, it had something to do with this Gray magic her familiar was teaching them? But the Snape in the vision had been unable to escape Voldemort or the Death Eaters, despite any struggle he'd made. How could things evolve over the next few months to create that situation? Suddenly, he noticed her necklace for the first time. It looked like... But that wasn't possible, was it? He always suspected that one or more of the others still existed. Severus remembered the image of her in the Daily Prophet article. He knew that shield from somewhere... but where?

"Tell me, Miss Weasley, how did you erect that shield in Hogsmeade?" Severus inquired. "Was it instinctive, or was there something else behind it?"

"A little bit of both, I guess," Miss Weasley answered, after a moment. She hesitantly told him about what had happened, and what she knew about the necklace. Severus listened intently, mentally comparing her account with his own, and what he knew.

"Do you know who sent it you, or why?" Severus asked.

"No," Miss Weasley replied. "The note I got was signed from 'a friend,' and said 'Keep the necklace with you always... you will need it. Use it well.'"

"Intriguing..." Severus intoned. "Have you been able to use it again?"

"No," she answered. "I'm sure whatever this necklace is, it was sent to me for a reason... Can you help me figure out what it is, and why it was sent to me?"

Severus considered it for a moment. The girl obviously knew that there was a chance he would try to take it from her once he knew the full truth. Once again, the girl was showing a trust in him uncommon to a Gryffindor.

"I will... give this matter some thought, Miss Weasley," Severus replied. "In the meantime, perhaps there is something in the library that can help you."

"Thank you, Professor," said Weasley. They fell silent. After Miss Weasley and Ix Chel left, Severus thought about their conversation. The power Miss Weasley demonstrated in Hogsmeade had to be the work of the Necklace of Tutela. So, at least one of the others still existed... He knew that only one of the books in the Restricted Section would be able to give her the answers she was after, but she would never find it without knowing what to look for. Could the girl be The Guardian? She seemed to have all the right qualities, but there was no way to be sure without testing it. To do that, he would have to tell her...

Severus pulled out his own necklace, which he wore around his neck, hidden beneath his robes. It had a single, large, flawless, green stone seamlessly suspended from an equally flawless silver chain. Severus stared at it closely. He had started wearing it again, after Miss Weasley showed him the vision. At this point, you never know when a little extra power would come in handy... Severus thought about the response he felt yesterday from his necklace. If what the girl said was true, then the necklace had to have been reacting to someone else, but who? Who else could possess one, much less have the power use it? Only time would tell if any of the others were still out there. Right now, he had to weigh his options carefully, before he decided whether or not to confide in the girl.

*~*~*

Remus with Sirius in Animagus form walked passed the entrance to the Dungeons, just in time to see Miss Weasley leaving. Miss Weasley stopped abruptly and turned to face them, with a tense, suspicious look on her face. She gave them an odd, almost knowing look, and stared at Sirius pointedly. Ix Chel hissed uneasily. Miss Weasley opened her mouth as if to speak, but thought better of it. Suddenly her expression became what could only be seen as otherworldly. Then she shook her head and walked off. Remus and Sirius stared after her for a few moments.

What had the girl seen when she looked at them? And that look she gave Sirius... Could she suspect his true nature? To his knowledge, there was no way to sense an Animagus, but they had been wrong about things like that before... He had a feeling that he should keep an eye on her over the next few days to make sure.

*~*~*

Ginny and Ix Chel headed up the steps to the Owlery, with a letter to Ginny's parents in her hand. She had gone up to the Gryffindor common room to write it, right after her session with Professor Snape. After several tries she came up with the perfect way to tell them about the last few days, and her Apprenticeship with Snape. Ginny wondered if they would approve of her decision. Snape wasn't exactly well liked among the Gryffindors, but right now, neither was she ... She hoped that the tension between her and her housemates would ease soon.

"With luck, the Death Eaters will attack the school or something, and they'll forget all about me," Ginny thought. She shook her head. "Merlin, I can't believe I just thought that..."

"Neither can I," Tom said. "I think you've been around me for far too long..."

"Five years, and counting," Ginny cut in.

"I'm so glad to see you can still count after all those mind numbing Divination classes," Tom teased.

Ginny entered the Owlery, and found where Hedwig was perched. She explained to Hedwig that Harry was allowing Ginny to borrow her for this message. Hedwig held out her leg, and let Ginny tie the letter to her parents onto it. Then Hedwig took flight, and left the Owlery. Ginny turned around and saw Ron standing near the entrance to the Owlery, watching her.

"Tread carefully, my little princess," Tom cautioned. "I don't trust this..."

"You missed Quidditch practice this afternoon," Ron said, in a barely civil tone of voice.

"You never told me about it," Ginny replied.

"You never asked," Ron said.

Ginny walked up to him, studying his every move. Ron's expression and body language became hostile the moment he saw Ix Chel, but he didn't say anything. Now was as good time as any to tell him.

"I'm quitting the team," Ginny informed him. "I have... more important things that need my attention right now."

"Your precious visions?" Ron accused. "Is that why you got rid of Trelawney? So you could take her place?"

"If he thinks that's true he's even crazier than he looks, and that's saying something," Tom said.

"I didn't hurt her intentionally," Ginny replied. "I just drew the cards-"

"That's like saying that stabbing someone didn't kill them, it was the knife's fault," Ron said cuttingly. "Trust me, when you stab someone it's the attacker's fault, not the victim's."

"I'm your sister!" Ginny cried, her eyes filling with tears. "How could you treat me like this? How could you be so cruel? I haven't done anything to-"

"I heard from the others that you joined with that filthy thing!" Ron spat. "You'll never be rid of it now. I tried to warn you Ginny, but you wouldn't listen! Now that monster will never let you go... The first and second years now have some crazy notion that it's cute! Well, I'm not fooled by its tricks, and neither are the rest of us."

"What's wrong with you?" Ginny asked incredulously.

"I should be asking you the same thing," Ron replied.

Ginny backed away from her brother slowly, then turned and left.

"Merlin, what's gotten into him?" Ginny thought.

"I've seen that look before," Ix Chel said, uneasily. "It's the same look fanatics get before they strike..."

"We should keep an eye on him," Tom agreed, slightly worried. "He's up to something."

"Don't worry," Ginny thought. "I won't let anything happen to you, to either of you..."

*~*~*

Alexis decided to wait for Ginny in the entrance hall, but when she got there, she wasn't alone. That Ravenclaw boy she'd seen with Ginny often was waiting there as well. Alexis approached him, determined to get to know him a little better. They talked for awhile during their wait for Ginny. A few minutes later, Ginny and her familiar came down the stairs, and walked over to greet them.

"Hi guys," Ginny said. "Been waiting long?"

"Hello, Ginny," said Alexis.

"Not at all," Mark replied. They headed to the Great Hall slowly. "I'm tired of seeing you so miserable at the Gryffindor table. Come sit with me at the Ravenclaw table tonight. The younger Ravenclaws were impressed by Ix Chel's performance earlier, and they're dying to hear more."

"What did you tell them?" Ginny asked her familiar. Ix Chel hissed something, causing Ginny to smile, before returning her attention to them. "Sure... Want to sit with us tonight, Alexis?"

"Alright," Alexis replied. They walked into the Great Hall and Mark led them to the Ravenclaw table. Alexis sat to Ginny's right, while Mark sat to Ginny's left. Ix Chel slithered onto the table. After a few moments, The-Boy-Who-Lived entered the Great Hall with Granger. Alexis noticed Mark tense slightly, as Potter and Granger headed over to the Ravenclaw table. Mark faked a smile, and quickly hid his discomfort. Why would Mark be so uncomfortable with them?

"Hi, Ginny," Harry said. "I hope Hedwig didn't give you too much trouble."

"Not really," Ginny replied. "In fact, she was more than happy to deliver my letter."

"Don't forget, we have a study session after dinner," Granger reminded her.

"I won't," Ginny assured her.

They said their good-byes and left. Alexis noticed the tension in Mark ease. Ginny spent most of dinner eating and translating for Ix Chel. The Ravenclaws seemed completely relaxed with Ginny and her pet, hanging on Ginny's every translation. Alexis wondered how the snake knew so much. From what Alexis had seen from Ix Chel, snakes were anything but normal pets.

Alexis observed the other tables. The Hufflepuffs didn't seem quite so afraid of Ginny anymore, while the Slytherins seemed slightly more accepting of Ginny now. However, most of the Gryffindors still looked at Ginny fearfully, or like she was something they scraped off their shoe. How could her own housemates treat her like that? Especially, when all she's done is try to hold up their pathetic house name... Ginny was definitely the exception to an otherwise very sickening rule. How the girl could have been sorted into such a backward house was beyond her... After dinner Ginny pulled Alexis aside, and dragged her into an empty classroom to talk.

"I didn't want to mention it in front of the Ravenclaws tonight..." Ginny said, sitting on one of the desks. "I've been trying to keep this a secret until things calm down a bit. Yesterday Professor Snape made me his Apprentice."

"Wow, that's wonderful," Alexis exclaimed, her respect for Ginny going up several notches. "I suspected that something was going on between you two. Snape's been practically letting you get away with murder for the last week or so."

"But he's been strict with me-" Ginny started.

"But not like he would with a Gryffindor," Alexis pointed out. "Think about it. He didn't take any house points away from you for being the last one to show up today. In fact, Snape defended you when Colin got caught talking behind your back. He even gave house points to Gryffindor for your work. When has he ever given Gryffindor points? I'd go so far as to say, he is almost treating you like a Slytherin."

"I see what you mean," Ginny agreed, hopping off the desk. "I've got get back to Gryffindor tower. Hermione gets snippy when I'm late for our study sessions."

"Would you mind sitting with me at the Slytherin table for breakfast tomorrow?" Alexis asked. "I promise that the Slytherins will continue to treat you with the respect you deserve."

"Okay," Ginny said as they left the classroom together. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Alexis replied. They went their separate ways.

*~*~*

Ginny, Ix Chel, Harry, and Hermione sat alone in the Gryffindor common room, studying and doing homework. After an hour, Ginny and Harry decided to take a break.

"Why'd you pick the story of Gryffindor's grandmother for class today?" Ginny asked Ix Chel.

"Because it was one he needed to hear," Ix Chel said, nodding to Harry. Ginny shot Harry a questioning look, and Harry explained what Ix Chel had told him earlier.

"How could I be a Seer?" Harry asked. "Don't Seers just see the future?"

"The Sight comes in many different forms," Ix Chel said.

"According to Ix Chel, Hagrid's talent with 'the anomalous ones' makes him a Seer," Ginny added.

"What do you mean by 'the anomalous ones'?" Hermione asked, looking up from her work for a minute.

"The anomalous ones are creatures who are seen by the wizarding world, at large, as monsters," Ix Chel explained, with Ginny translating.

"Oh," Hermione said.

"That certainly explains a few things..." Harry muttered.

"What is The Sight?" Hermione inquired.

"The Sight is the innate talent to see, experience, and manipulate other ways of being," Ix Chel explained, with Ginny translating for her. "It takes many forms and expressions but, in the end, they all lead down the same road."

"I see," Hermione said. "So, you're saying that people have simply forgotten all this stuff?"

"Yes," Ix Chel said.

"No wonder Divination has devolved into a joke," Tom said. "They've forgotten what the word means..."

"Why did you need to borrow Hedwig this afternoon?" Hermione asked Ginny.

"I've got something to tell you both," Ginny said uneasily, afraid of what their reactions might be. "I've been trying to keep it a secret until the others have had a chance to adjust to Ix Chel... Professor Snape has made me his Apprentice."

Harry's mouth dropped open in shock, while Hermione looked completely taken off guard.

"Why is it that every time you tell someone about this, they look at you like you just informed them that you are snogging the Dark Lord?" Tom asked. "If these are your real friends, why is the fact that you're capable such a shock to them?"

Hermione recovered her wits first, and practically beamed at Ginny.

"That is such a great honor!" Hermione said. "Your parents are going to be so proud."

"Why would you want to Apprenticeship with someone like Snape?" Harry asked, snapping out of his shock-induced stupor. "He's the most hated teacher in the school."

"Apprenticeships aren't popularity contests, Harry," Hermione explained. "It's the capability of the Mentor that counts, not his personality. I'm so happy for you, Ginny. Professor Snape is one of the top three Potions masters in the world. He's been said to be the best Potions master to come out of Hogwarts in a century. For him to recruit you while you're in still in school... He must think very highly of you! Professor Snape hasn't taken on an Apprentice in years, because the last two burnt out."

"Burned out?" Ginny asked. "So they couldn't handle the pressure?"

"No," Hermione said. "Their cauldron blew up, immolating them. According to Professor Snape, they made a mistake when they were working on an experimental mixture, without consulting him first. The medi-wizards managed to put them back together, more or less, but they were never the same. Professor Snape has turned down every request ever since."

"That's a great confidence booster," Tom said. "There's a good chance we'll be incinerated on the job, and that's assuming we don't blow up first. Personally, I don't think being a smear on the ceiling is my ideal career."

"When you could be such a great motivational speaker," Ginny thought sarcastically. "Where would we be without your guidance and wisdom?"

"Considering your track records, knee-deep in trouble," Tom replied.

Ginny mentally laughed.

"Why are you laughing?" Tom asked.

"Tom Riddle, future Voldemort in the making, is my voice of reason," Ginny thought. "How ironic... Now I know I'm messed up."

"If you two are done..." Ix Chel thought, nodding to Harry and Hermione who were beginning to look worried.

"Don't worry about me," Ginny said quickly. "I can handle Snape."

"But can Snape handle you?" Tom asked.

"Do me a favor, Tom," Ginny thought. "Shut up."

"Are you sure?" Harry asked.

"Positive," Ginny said.

"If I can handle living with the Dark lord in my head, how much harder could Snape be?" Ginny mentally added. Tom wisely chose not to comment. They spent the rest of their study session without incident, none of them seeing Ron eavesdropping from just inside the stairwell to the boy's dormitories.

___________

TBC