My Eternal Curse

My Eternal Curse

By Mara456

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Redefining Allegiances: Part One - Family Values

Fred and George put on their cloaks and headed soundlessly down the steps. They were hoping to sneak out and check on their little sister, without waking the rest of the family. Just when they reached the front door, someone spoke.

"Here, take this with you," Molly said, coming out of nowhere. She handed Fred a large bag. They looked inside, and knew they were busted. "Tell Ginny to send us a letter as soon as she's feeling better, to tell us how she's really doing this time. Also, don't forget to ask Professor Snape for permission before you go to see her. He is her master, and he was good enough to inform us when he didn't have to. I want you two to help him in any way you can. He needs to see that he can count on us for support, whenever he needs it."

"Yes, mum," said George.

"We won't forget," added Fred.

"And we'll make sure to give you the gory details-"

"-when we get back."

"But you probably won't see us till Monday-"

"-so don't wait up."

George saw the slightly flustered look on their mum's face and decided to make a quick exit. Fred and George Disapparated with a faint pop.

*~*~*

"Ron!" Ginny yelled, awakening with a start. She curled up into a ball, feeling small, as she tried to shake off the effects of the dream. She felt Alexis get up and sit next to her. Her friend rested a hand on her shoulder, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Ginny?" Alexis asked. "Do you need me to get you anything?"

"I had a... It doesn't matter," she replied, as she shook her head. "Can you get me a glass of water, please?"

"Sure," Alexis said. Alexis left the room and returned two minutes later with a glass of ice water. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Ginny sat up and drank the cool, soothing water, feeling a little better. She felt Tom drift into a semi-conscious state in the back of her mind.

"I had a dream about the storm, only this time... I heard Ron and Voldemort laughing at me in the background," Ginny confided in her. "How long have I been asleep?"

"It's Saturday morning," Alexis answered. "You slept through yesterday completely."

"Oh, I guess I overdid it Thursday," Ginny said.

"What did you and Professor Snape do on Thursday?" Alexis asked. "He wouldn't tell us anything."

"I'm not ready to talk about it yet," Ginny said, lying back down and turning away.

"Besides, I don't know what to make of it myself," she mentally added. Tom tightened their grip on the locket, which had somehow found its way into their hand while they slept.

"You know what this locket means, don't you?" Tom asked. "It means that my mother had gone to this very school when she was child, and I never even knew."

"What do you know about your mother?" Ginny asked. "How did you recognize her picture?"

"All my life, I have been driven by the need, the desire to know who I am, and where I came from," Tom recounted. "The devious people who cared for me at the orphanage, denied that they possessed any knowledge of my mother or father. I didn't even know that my father didn't want me, until I tracked him down during summer holidays, when I was fifteen. One night, when I was ten, I broke into the orphanage's Hall of Records, trying to discover the truth on my own. Inside my records, was a picture of my mother and father, which she had on her when she died, and a letter..."

Tom paused for a moment to collect himself, before continuing. He'd never trusted anyone enough to tell them this story. Even after all of these years, for reasons he couldn't even fathom, it still hurt, in ways he no longer thought himself capable of. How could the pain be so fresh, when it happened more than fifty years ago? Then it hit him. For him, those years hadn't passed, for him it was still almost yesterday. He felt his princess beginning to worry, and decided to continue before he lost his nerve.

"The letter must have been written before my muggle father dumped her for being a witch," Tom continued. "She wrote about how she defied her family to marry that muggle bastard, and was disowned because of it. Rachel never wrote which old wizarding family she'd belonged to, just its origins. Origins I managed to confirm later, when I found the Chamber of Secrets, along with some of Hogwarts'... other secrets. I never found other clues that she, or her family even existed, beyond myself and my father... until now."

"What happened to your father?" Ginny asked.

"All I know is that he's dead, and that Voldemort probably killed him," Tom said, with an icy tone.

"That's horrible!" Ginny thought.

"No, it's not!" Tom snapped. "Anyway, he deserved whatever he got for abandoning Rachel, my mother, and throwing her and me to the muggle wolves! I'm glad that he's dead! That twisted, muggle, son of a bitch... My mother deserved better than that. Why should he live, when she..."

Tears silently fell down Ginny's face, but they weren't her tears - they were Tom's. She could feel his pain, like an old wound reopening, and desired to take some of the burden from him, but she didn't know how.

"I don't blame Voldemort for killing him," he went on, utterly stricken. "If anything, he did the world a favor. No monster like that one, should be allowed to roam free!"

"But he didn't stop there, did he?" Ginny thought. "And neither did the deaths of the innocent... He's still out there, after us."

"I know," Tom replied. "I know what we might be forced to do, if he pushes us to it. Trust me, the cruel irony of our plight has not been lost on me."

"I'm sorry," she thought.

"Don't feel sorry for me, Ginny," Tom said. "Save it for someone who deserves it."

Ginny rolled over and saw that Alexis was lying on the cot, fast asleep.

"When we were out in the forest, we worked well together, didn't we?" Ginny asked, desperately wanting to change the subject. "I think you might have been right about time-sharing... We seem to work better together, than apart."

"Agreed," Tom answered, feeling the same way. "It looks like the only way we can make full use of our talents, is together. For now, at least, we will both need to share control, just to function... A thought has just occurred to me. When we were lost in the Forbidden Forest, I got the feeling that the forest works as a cohesive unit, and that it would take care of anything it sees as its own. If that's true, then why did it just leave the wolf out there to suffer? Why didn't the forest just give it a mercy killing? Why wait for us to act?"

"I think the forest was testing us," answered Ginny. "Think about how many creatures were watching us, but not attacking. We even saw two vampires on our way out of the forest, but they weren't inclined to act. I think they were there for our protection, as much as the wolf's, they were there to ensure we kept our end of the bargain. Which means the wolf is an emissary."

"That would explain a few things," he concurred. "If you're right, the forest is currently waiting to see if we will continue to keep our word with it." Something on the coffee table caught his eye, and he stood. "We never did open that letter Snape gave us."

Tom carefully walked across the room and sat on the sofa. They picked up the envelope, and opened it. Inside was a key to their new vault, and a bank statement. Ginny saw the amount deposited in her account and openly gaped.

"That can't be right," she gasped. "How could an apprentice earn that much?"

"Good hazard pay?" Tom suggested. "It figures that Snape would pay his apprentices decently. Look at it this way, at least you won't have to worry about being constantly broke anymore."

"Yeah..." Ginny said. "Maybe I should ask master Snape about it later, and make sure this is right."

"Why bother?" he asked. "Is it me, or are you always trying to find something wrong with your life, or yourself?"

"Look around, Tom," she replied. "I don't have to look hard."

"Point taken," Tom conceded.

*~*~*

The wolf stared at the walls of its quiet prison, wondering when it would see the bizarre girl, Virginia, and her child Divinus, again. Looking back on that night, he knew now that the girl and her master were ill off of the old magic, which could mean only one thing. They were new to the gifts, and the burdens that come with them. Tales of the old magic had been passed down through their lines, long after the humans had expunged it from their past. How did these humans uncover the old magic by themselves? The Divinus guard their secrets too closely for it to be the child. Even the most foolhardy of their kind wouldn't show their true nature, lest they risk being wiped out.

He caught a subtle scent on the air, and sniffed. A werewolf was coming. What would another of his kin be doing here? Was it another slave to the humans, like that cowardly mutt, or something else? The werewolf entered the Paddock and then the wolf recognized him as one of the humans who had fought to save him, when he was wounded. There must have been so much blood in the air that night that he missed his kin's similar scent. The werewolf saw that he was awake and cautiously approached.

"Hello kinsmen," the wolf growled. "Are you are a prisoner in this strange place, as I am?"

"You're not a prisoner here," the werewolf replied. "Hagrid would never keep you here against your will. As soon as you are healed, you are free to go. How can we understand each other? Why is your scent so much like mine?"

"Because werewolves and my kind are close cousin-species," he explained. "We are family, by species blood. You have not repressed all of your natural instincts - feel for the ties, and you will know."

The wolf watched as the werewolf's eyes widened with surprise, when he felt the deep connection, between them, for himself.

"My name is Remus," the werewolf said. "Do you have a name?"

"My name is unpronounceable in your tongue," he replied. "Nor do I have a human name. That is an honor I can only bestow on the bizarre one, if the girl is what they hope she is."

"They?" Remus asked. "Who do you mean?"

"Why are you here?" the wolf asked. "Are you trapped serving the humans?"

"No, I am the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor of this school," Remus replied.

"You hold a position of power here?" he asked, surprised. "Do the humans seek you out when they are in need, or trust your judgment?"

"Yes, I suppose," Remus answered. "There are people who don't trust me because of my werewolf nature, but they're less vocal then they used to be. Many children have learned to look passed it, and come to me when they need to."

"The other elders trust you, and your intentions towards the cubs?" the wolf growled.

"For the most part."

"This is a most unusual place."

"Who do you mean by 'the bizarre one'?"

"The others referred to her as Virginia," the wolf answered. "The girl and her master carry the old magic... How are they?"

"Old magic?" Remus asked.

"The magic that was practiced before the humans' dark cycle was set," he explained cryptically.

"I don't understand," said Remus.

"Perhaps, one day you will," the wolf growled. "Ask them. Only they can give you the answers you seek."

He waited for the werewolf to speak, but he remained silent. After a short time, curiosity got the better of the wolf, and he spoke again.

"You've never felt the full glory of your gifts, have you?" he asked.

"Glory?" Remus shook his head, looking away. "No, my werewolf form is a curse, not a gift. I've suffered far too much for it to be anything else."

"Pain is part of the burden, but what you receive from it can more than make up for your suffering," the wolf attested. "Go out into the forest, during the next full moon, and seek sanctuary from the Keepers of the Forest. Don't fight your nature when it comes to take you, and you will know. My people will show what you have been missing since you were given the gift. Think about it... I promise, if you do this, you will not regret it."

"I will...think about it," Remus whispered, his mind obviously elsewhere. "I will visit you again, when I can. Before I go, do you need anything?"

"No," he replied. "Give the girl, Virginia, and her master my thanks for finding me. I know I would not be here without their swift actions."

"I will," Remus said.

The werewolf left him. This Remus would be the prefect way to get word back to the forest about his condition. In the process, they would teach this werewolf the joys that go with his talents, which outweigh the pain. Yes, this Remus could become the prefect emissary from the humans. Only time would reveal if his selection were correct.

*~*~*

George opened the entrance to the Three-Eyed Witch and climbed out, with Fred close behind. Fred closed the entrance, and turned to face his brother.

"Should we go find Snape or check out his story first?" Fred asked.

"Let's go to the common room first," George said. "We can check in with Snape later."

They headed to Gryffindor Tower, surprised that they hadn't seen anyone in this part of the castle, yet. Where was everybody? George silently wondered. Maybe Snape wasn't exaggerating, when he talked about the Tower being uninhabitable... George looked at Fred and knew he was thinking the same. They reached the top of the steps and stopped, feeling strange magic permeating the air itself. George felt his connection to Fred heighten greatly, as it always did when they were in a magically charged atmosphere.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Fred thought to George.

"So do I," George thought back, shaking his head to clear it. "It's been a week... Why would the air still be charged? The energy-"

"-should have dissipated by now. I know, it doesn't make any sense to me either."

"Let's go," George said. They approached the ruined doorway of the common room. Their connection, and the disturbing, strange magic, grew in intensity with each passing step. Vainly trying to shake off the strange magical influence, they stopped just before the threshold, and saw the horrible ruins of what had once been their home.

"Our little sister did this?" Fred exclaimed, trying to take it all in. "Snape wasn't exaggerating. If anything, he was downplaying it for mum and dad!"

"We've seen enough," George said, his skin crawling for some mysterious reason. "Let's get out of here."

"Come on, don't tell me you don't want to investigate," Fred objected, charging into the common room.

"Fred, don-" George began, heading in after him. Fred stopped at once in the center of the common room. George stood beside his brother, feeling why Fred stopped, and inwardly cringed. The strange magic had suddenly become more oppressive. Without warning, their connection reached a high point. They shared each other's emotions and perceptions as they endured the trial together. Oddly familiar, echoing screams filled their ears. They felt like they had been hit with a bucket of ice water, as a dark, horrifying jumble of images, feelings, and other sensations that weren't their own, assaulted them. They recognized the screams in the tempest as Ginny's. George let out an inarticulate cry at the sheer horror closing in on them, and Fred whimpered, refusing to believe it. Fred grabbed onto George for support as he began shaking like a leaf, overwhelmed by the attack on his senses, and George knew he wasn't too far behind. They had to escape, now! With the last of his mental strength, George fought off the assault enough to drag Fred out of there, before they were both too paralyzed by the nightmare to act. He didn't allow them to stop running until they were far from the common room.

"Ginny did that..." Fred said, still trembling. "Why did Ron do that to her? What did they do to our little sister, to make her create that-that nightmare?"

"I don't know," George said, still striving to catch his breath. "But I think it's time we find someone, and find out."

*~*~*

Severus sat at his desk in his office, eating a light breakfast Montgomery had shoved in front of him at the first opportunity. He stared at his self-proclaimed nursemaid, who was reading one of the newer tomes about the Divinus Animus. He knew that the information Montgomery really wanted wasn't to be had in any book on that species, new or old. It could only be given willingly. Which made the question, when would that man tire of this little game, and finally go to Virginia and Ix Chel for answers? Montgomery looked up from his work, and saw that he had finished eating.

"Do you need anything?" Montgomery asked.

"My mother is dead, Montgomery," Severus grumbled, irritably. "I do not need another one."

"I know you're not happy with me, but I'm doing this for your own good, as that of your apprentice," Montgomery replied. "You will need your strength, if you're going to continue to care for her."

"I would hex you, if I thought it would get rid of you," he sneered.

"Wouldn't help," the other man said. "I would just keep coming back... I have something for you." Montgomery pulled a silver and Slytherin green picture frame out of his robes, and handed it to him. "I caught him snooping around the Dungeons yesterday."

Within the beautiful silver and green picture frame was a wizarding photo of Sirius Black in dog form tied to the banister in the entrance hall wearing a leash with a choke chain, a muzzle, and a large bell around his neck. The dog struggled against his restraints, but only managed to make things worse for himself. He laughed at the ridiculous sight. Black was always slow on the uptake...

"Maybe you are worth keeping around, Montgomery," Severus commented, once he'd regained his composure.

"I thought you would appreciate it," said Montgomery, returning to his book. "I've been reviewing this book all morning, and it hasn't answered even one of my questions."

"The only way you're going to get anywhere, is to meet them," he explained.

"Them?" Montgomery asked.

"Miss Weasley and Ix Chel," Severus answered. "For a Ravenclaw, you are a slow learner."

"Why does everyone keep referring to the girl's pet like it's a person?" Montgomery asked. "I still don't understand how she could take a life-bond with it..."

"Ix Chel is Miss Weasley's familiar - not her pet," Severus informed him. "I suggest you treat them with equal respect, if you plan to get anywhere with either of them."

Before Montgomery could respond, there was a knock at the door. Montgomery got up to answer it, and invited Minerva in. Good, once Remus arrived, they could begin the process of repairing this mess.

*~*~*

Sometime later Minerva and her apprentice entered Miss Weasley's chamber. The girl sat on a large black sofa, reading a Potions tome, with her familiar resting upon on her shoulders. Miss Levine shut the door behind them and the tome flew out of her hands, floating well out of reach. It chattered loudly, obviously startled. Miss Weasley gazed at Minerva for a moment, then shook her head, before turning her attention to the flying book.

"Relax, no one here is going to hurt us, come down here," Miss Weasley commanded. The book dropped suddenly, landing in her hands. "That's better. Now don't do that again, understand?" The book nodded. "Good."

"Is that book from the Restricted Section?" Minerva asked.

"No, of course not," Miss Weasley replied. "Don't worry about Hex, it's harmless."

"Hex?" she asked. "You named the book?"

"It beats calling it 'book' constantly," Miss Weasley shrugged.

Minerva nodded, wondering where the girl had gotten it. If the tome were truly dangerous, Severus wouldn't have let her keep it. She decided to inquire further about the strange tome later. She sat across from Miss Weasley on the edge of the bed, while her apprentice stood by the door, observing them with an almost guarded air. After a short interval she left them alone together. Part of Minerva had dreaded this conversation ever since she had heard the real reason Miss Weasley was afraid of her. Well, there was no time like the present, especially in light of what Severus had asked of her and Remus this morning. Minerva took a deep breath and forced herself to begin.

"I'm sorry I attempted to visit you, long before you were ready," she apologized, heavy-heartedly. "Please believe me when I say that I never meant for any of this to happen. I regret that it has come to this. I regret that I was not there to assist you, when you needed me most. I hope one day that you can forgive me."

Minerva met Virginia's strangely unfocused gaze, for the first time since she had entered, and found herself unable to look away. There was something in the girl's eyes, something about the way the girl appeared to look through her that was oddly hypnotizing, and impossibly, dreadfully familiar as well. In that moment, she realized that those weren't the eyes of an adolescent any longer, those were the eyes of one forced to mature far too quickly. No one so young should have eyes that old.

Just for an instant, Minerva could feel the young woman in her mind, searching for some form of reassurance. Suddenly Miss Weasley looked away, and refused to meet her gaze again. She quickly shook off the strange state that had come over her, while trying to ward off an unexpected wave of severe nausea. What was that?

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Miss Weasley answered, some unidentifiable emotion filling her voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to invade your privacy like that... I still don't have much control over my gifts... I'm so sorry..."

Minerva forced herself to hold back a grimace, as she realized what Miss Weasley had just done. She saw the look on the young woman's face, and knew that it was an accident. Miss Weasley probably had no idea that she could delve so far. If this were any indication, Montgomery definitely needed to begin working with Miss Weasley, as soon as possible.

"I understand, Miss Weasley," Minerva sighed. "What did you see?"

"Dumbledore's kept you out of the loop for years, and you've only just found out," Miss Weasley replied. "You are determined to do whatever's necessary to make things right... You're a much better person than you think. I trust you."

"And that's all you saw?" she asked.

"More or less," Miss Weasley replied. "Just that, and... who you are."

Minerva wasn't sure what to make of Miss Weasley's answer, but every fiber of her being told her that the younger woman wasn't lying.

"If and when you need anything, remember that my door is still open to you, Miss Weasley," Minerva reminded her. "No matter what happens..."

"I will," Miss Weasley said, smiling slightly.

She stood.

"There is a pressing matter I must attend to," said Minerva. "I must go. We should chat again, sometime."

"I would like that," the young woman replied.

Severus was right, Minerva thought as she left Miss Weasley's chamber. We need to know for sure...

*~*~*

Albus sat with Hagrid in the first row of the teacher's box at the Quidditch pitch, just before the Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff match began. He looked around the box and noticed that Severus, Minerva, Filius, Remus, and Zach were missing. While Severus and Zach missing the match wasn't suspicious, the absence of the rest was. Severus was up to something, but what? Why would Severus require his most trusted allies, with the exception of Hagrid? Unless Hagrid was here for another reason...

"Where do you suppose the other Professors are?" he asked Hagrid casually. "It's not like so many to miss the first match of the season."

"Helping Miss Weasley with something, I guess," Hagrid answered. "Don't worry, it's nothing that concerns you at the moment."

"Do you know what's happening?" Albus persisted quietly. "What is your role in all of this?"

"Professor Montgomery asked me to make sure you relax, and have a good time, 'cause you've been under too much pressure lately," said Hagrid. "Now, don't ask me anymore questions! There's nothing I can tell you anyway."

So Zach wanted Hagrid to watch out for him, while keeping him away from whatever they were planning. It hurt to think that, after all these years, they couldn't trust him, but, after everything Albus had done, he couldn't blame them. He had made a grievous error, and it would take time re-earn their trust, if that were still possible. At least, Sirius still had faith in him, and would continue to follow Albus no matter what.

*~*~*

Severus sat grading papers in his office, while they waited for Remus and Minerva to return. His nursemaid had strongly objected to the idea of him working, until he threatened to pass the time by disemboweling Montgomery with a muggle spoon instead. He heard Montgomery groan, looked up, and saw the man still pouring through that Divinus text he'd gotten from the library. A short time later Remus and Minerva returned.

"Did you get it?" he asked, feeling uncharacteristically anxious.

"I'm sorry, Severus," Minerva said.

"We tried to break into Albus' office, but it looks like he's put up new wards to stop any unauthorized entry," Remus reported.

"We must obtain The Sorting Hat for Virginia!" Severus said, raising his voice slightly. "Without it-"

Fred and George Weasley burst into the room, startling everyone.

"Let us help-" Fred offered.

"-we'll get the hat for you," George continued.

"Amateurs will never be able to get past Dumbledore's defenses."

"Leave it to the professionals."

"What the hell are you two doing here?" Severus demanded. "Traditionally, when one graduates one leaves the school, preferably never to return."

"We came to visit our little sister-" replied Fred.

"-and to offer our assistance, Professor Snape," added George.

These two were always trouble... But what if he could use that to his advantage?

"Remus, Minerva, Montgomery - leave us," he said, coming to a decision. "I need to have a word with them, privately."

Remus, Minerva, and to his surprise, even Montgomery followed his order without question.

"Whoa..." Fred said, as they watched Minerva close the door behind the others. "Is it me, or have things changed a lot since we left?"

"How bad are things for Ginny, Professor?" George asked.

"Bad enough," Severus replied.

"What can we do to help?" Fred asked.

"Are you sure you can obtain The Sorting Hat?" he asked.

"It shouldn't be too difficult," George replied.

"How did you get into the school?" Severus asked.

"We have our ways," Fred answered.

"You seem to have a lot of problems on your hands, Professor," said George. "Security being one of them. If your security is anything like when we went here, you need serious help."

"That's where we come in," Fred continued. "We've been working on a number of... special projects, and wouldn't mind adding this to the top of the list. We'd be more than happy to help you plug any dangerous leaks in your system-"

"-as well as supply you with... unique armaments. We can even give you a demonstration today, if you'd like."

"Since when do shopkeepers moonlight as thieves and arms-dealers?" Severus inquired, surprised by their proposal.

"We like to think of it as broadening our horizons," Fred replied. "Our joke shop in Hogsmeade is our calling..."

"But we will lose everything we've built if You-Know-Who wins," George said. "We can't let that happen. Too much depends on Hogwarts, and its ability to defend itself. Just as our sister depends on you..."

"Please allow us to assist you, Professor Snape," Fred pleaded. "We won't fail Ginny or you."

He considered the idea carefully. If properly motivated, the Weasley twins could become formidable allies. Ugh, he was going to be working with more Weasleys... How did he get roped into this mess? There were days he missed being able to rely only on himself.

"Very well, you may assist us whenever necessary, but only so long as you follow my orders to the letter," Severus agreed. "Also, Dumbledore is not to know of our arrangement. I don't want to risk any kind of misstep. Keep in mind, if I discover that either of you has broken your word in any fashion then our partnership is over, understood?"

"Agreed," the twins said in unison.

"How did I end up involved with half of the Weasley clan?" he asked himself aloud, without realizing it.

"Just lucky, I guess," Fred shrugged.

Severus put his head in his hands, wondering where his life had gone so horribly wrong.

"Why me?" Severus quietly groaned.

Thankfully, the twins remained silent.