The Fire Wand

The Fire Wand

Chapter 5; Crass Encounter

There's a place from where I just arrived
And I escaped the last one alive.
Yeah...Where are you?
You're not with me.
Where are you?
I'm free.'
Vast - The Last One Alive.

~ 3rd Report on Kirk Basilica.

Charges: Inappropriate use of the illegal curses. Use of an illegal curse outside Auror jurisdiction. Torture. Intent to kill outside of Auror jurisdiction.

Convicted: Inappropriate use of the illegal curses. Use of an illegal curse outside of Auror jurisdiction. Intent to kill outside of Auror jurisdiction.

Sentence: Suggest three months in Azkaban.

Personal comment; Judge McKenzie - It would be a shame to send one of our greatest secret Aurors to Azkaban under a life sentence. Three months is sufficient punishment for one so extremely dedicated to wiping out the Death Eaters and Voldemort. I personally worry that even three months will see an increase of Dark Activity.
Despite the nature of the injuries, both mental and physical, inflicted upon one Severus Snape, the fact remains that since his incapacitation, deaths due to poisoning have decreased. Though this cannot be directly linked to Severus Snape, the evidence implicates that he is responsible.
Kirk Basilica has been, and will remain one of the most respected internal Aurors at the Ministry of Magic. ~

Siana closed the book with a snap. She was only a quarter of the way through it and her father had already been mentioned three times. This was the first time however that Siana suddenly felt a twinge of what was it? Guilt? At the thought of some of the things that her father had done.

Mental and physical injuries? Torture? Dad? I feel like, maybe, I'm surprised. But am I surprised? How horrible is it that I'm not surprised this was what Dad did every day? Went out there and let all that anger out of him when he thought he was allowed to.

I don't want to read the rest of this.

She dropped the book onto the table and looked out of her attic window. Her mind was spinning. It was now Friday night, she was going shopping the next day for her wand and other necessities. Outside the stars winked sleepily at her in the night sky. Her skin had goose pimples, she was cold, but she tested herself. Wanted to see how long she could last without going to get a cloak.

The students had been great so far. Most of them anyway. She hadn't had an opportunity to meet Harry Potter and crew yet, but it had only been five days into the job, and she had seen him in the hall twice. Every time she saw him, her eyes looked to see the scar on his forehead that was hidden every time by his messy hair. She knew everyone must look for that scar, that proof of his survival and temporary defeat of Voldemort.

And now Voldemort is back, and Snape's still teaching here. Still. He hasn't gone back to him yet. Why did he give me that book to read? To disgust me? I could disgust myself well enough back home. God only knows I had my Uncle. Good old Frederick.

Siana shivered. She stared at the non-descript black book and swallowed. She was slowly, inexorably reaching towards it and the horrors inside when a noise made her freeze.

What? What was that?

She looked around wildly, reaching automatically for the wand she didn't own. Siana mouthed a swear word anxiously and felt her throat dry as she heard the noise again. It was coming from the other room, her bedroom. She wanted to tell herself that it was probably just a mouse, but she didn't fall for it. Her father had always taught her to suspect the worse. Always. It was safer that way. More frightening, but definitely safer.

Swallowing heavily she moved to one of the side cabinets and picked up an antique candlestick holder with a half melted candle inside of it. When she heard the sound again she suppressed an urge to whimper.

Honestly girl you're probably just scared because of the 'light reading' you've been browsing.

'Who's there!?' She shouted nervously.

The rustling sound became a thump, and then suddenly she heard footsteps, heavy with intent, moving towards her, dragging across the ground. She was frozen by the sound of those footsteps which moved closer and closer. Her arm started to shake, her eyes felt like they were popping out of their skull.

And then before she even saw who it was; she heard the voice.

'It's an old family friend.' Said the voice sarcastically and then she saw him appear. Macnair. Macnair pointing a wand at me!

She tried not to whimper, tried hard. He was looking sinister in his black robes and cloak. His black moustache was waxed, his black hair trimmed. Only his eyes said there was anything untidy about him. Those black eyes that spoke of the messy personality that housed within.

'How did you get in here?' She stammered and Macnair chuckled as he faced her, wand out.
'You're not the only animagus.'
'You're a liar. You can't be an animagus. You would have followed me.'
'My dear. I turn into a simple lizard. I had no chance following a fruit bat into that wild and rainy night. Now however I have you to myself. Prohibeo Feramuto!' He said lazily and Siana had no time to duck and run as the streak of black magic hit her directly in the chest.

She reeled backwards gasping and half shaking her head. He had just used to one spell which prohibited her from being able to change into an animal. Her one defence had been locked inside of her. Though the spell was only temporary, it was powerful for at least another two hours.

Oh god. By Artemis. I can't die. I'm not going to die by your hands! Or Voldemort's!

'You're a coward.' Siana spat and Macnair laughed.
'I don't care. You can't bait me. I'm just the delivery boy at the moment. Now child you're coming with me, I don't want to harm you.'
'How did you get in here?'
'I told you. You think Dumbledore sees everything? He is not all knowing child. Neither, as your father proved so pathetically the last time we met, was he.'

'How will you get me out of here without anyone knowing about it? I'll struggle, I'll fight you all the damned way. I'll fucking scream you to high hell and back.' Siana said shakily and Macnair opened his mouth to reply glibly when she screamed. Loudly.

The scream echoed throughout the room, bounced off the highly polished floorboards, walls and furniture. Siana screamed again, more loudly this time. As loud as possible.

And then she was falling to the floor as Macnair tackled her to the ground. Her head was slammed twice into the hard floors in quick succession. She grunted from the impact and tried to twist away from him. She choked as she felt a wand tip jammed into her throat so viciously that she couldn't breathe. Her chest heaved in her desperation to draw breath and she started to panic as no air would enter her lungs.

No no no no no no. It's not supposed to be this way! Dammit I need to do something!

It was then that she realised, belatedly, that she was still holding the candlestick holder.

I'm so stupid.

She swung it up and over, heard and felt it impact hard into what part of him she could only guess. He roared in pain into her face, and spit sprayed against her cheek. She winced and rolled away, finally getting free.

Siana ran the fireplace which only had a few licking flames in it now. She grabbed some dust from the pot on the mantelpiece gasping. The pot fell and shattered in her haste and glittering dust puffed up into the air thickly. She choked on it as she threw her own handful into the dying flames, praying that the flames wouldn't be extinguished.

As she shouted 'Dumbledore!' Macnair shouted. 'Crucio!'

She didn't even know she was crumpling to the floor.

It was worse than fire. Flaming red licked up from behind her eyelids as pain shot out from her lower back all the way up to her brain. And once it hit her brain it felt like her body exploded in agony. Her body twisted in on itself and then spasmed outwards again. She was screaming now, continuously, she wanted the pain to end. She wanted to die, she didn't care.

And at the point when most wizards called off the cruciatus curse, Macnair let it continue, flaring across her delicate body. The pain rent her so violently she felt that screaming wasn't enough. It wasn't enough.

And then the worst of it was gone. She was slumped limp against the floor, her breathing hoarse, her throat sore and cut from the wand tip, her head aching, her whole body throbbing as her nerves eased. She had forgotten where she was, even how she got there, and concerned herself only with breathing.

'Siana. Siana.' Said an urgent voice. She felt hands underneath her shoulders and she gasped. Struggled momentarily.

He's going to take me to Voldemort!

'I won't go with you!' She shouted hoarsely, her throat strained. The hands underneath her shoulders were removed suddenly and she heard two people talking, as though from a distance. She was still swimming back from the pain, there were tears leaking down her face.

'Siana.' Came the voice again. This time it was gentle, not commanding and she responded. Looking up she saw the face of Albus Dumbledore come into focus.

She looked at him, recognised him, and then looked around. Macnair lay stunned on the floor, Snape was standing over him - wand out. His face had an odd expression on it that could have meant anything. Dust was still settling onto the floor all around them.

'You got my call.' She managed with a very faint smile and then attempted to stand. Her ankle however buckled underneath her and the jolting motion as she hit the ground again made her head burst with pain. She raised a careful hand to the back of her head and frowned.

I'm bleeding. Crap.

Dumbledore too had noticed that when she pulled her hand away from the back of her head, it was stained with blood. He too frowned.

'I think it is time for a visit to the hospital wing again.'
'Heaven forbid she's got concussion a second time.' Snape remarked wryly from where he stood and Siana looked at him. She said nothing, resisted the temptation to pretend she had concussion and tell him how much she hated him. But she was tired, and weak, and Snape looked like he had just rescued her from the pain by knocking Macnair out.

Not possible.

'I don't have concussion. I'm alright. I just need to have a long shower. A very long shower.' She coughed throatily and at the concerned look in Dumbledore's eye added; 'and some tea. And tomorrow I definitely need to get a wand from Diagon Alley. I need to protect this attic. By Artemis I didn't think he'd come back for me so soon.'
'Voldemort seems to want you fairly urgently. Are you sure you can't think of why he would want you?'

'If I knew, do you think I'd be sitting here doing nothing about it? I'm not known for sitting still and doing nothing.' Siana said as she allowed herself to be helped up by a man that seemed much frailer than she, but was stronger than most.

'What did Macnair say?' Snape said softly and Siana looked at him a second time. Absently her gaze drifted to the book on the table, the last time she had seen him - he had given her that book. When she looked back at Snape she saw he too was gazing at the book, a thoughtful look on his face.

'Basically he said he was just a delivery boy. And he's an animagus...a lizard he said. I don't remember seeing him in the registry.' She said softly and Dumbledore nodded.
'I'll send Macnair back to the Ministry post-haste. They have enough to charge him with over there now that he's renounced his position and blatantly re-joined with Voldemort. In the meantime, I'll not permit you to go anywhere outside of Hogwarts without an escort.'

'What? I'm perfectly capable of defending my...' Siana trailed off as she realised how useless it was to say that, after she had just proven that she could not defend herself. 'An escort?' She repeated faintly.
'If Voldemort thinks he can use your for whatever reason. Be it because you're a pure-blood or because you're a Basilica I don't know, but the longer we delay his reaching you, the more chance we have of delaying his plans, and hopefully delaying his plans will be detrimental to any more damage.'

'I'll escort her.' Snape said and Siana scoffed as she took in his indifferent expression.
'What? You'll what? I don't think so. I think you're getting escort confused with murder.' She snarled and Dumbledore sighed. He had the expression of an extraordinarily tolerant man.
'Every time I forget you're a Basilica I'm reminded how very headstrong you are. Severus are you sure? You're not exactly the most likely candidate I'd select for escorting Professor Basilica.'

Snape shrugged. 'I need to get some quills and potions supplies from both apothecaries, and I was going in tomorrow anyway. Trust me when I say I'm not doing this out of concern for her.'

Dumbledore looked at him for a long hard moment, as though assessing the situation. Snape looked calmly back, as though daring Dumbledore to find something flawed in the plan.
'Very well. You'll escort her. You're not to let her out of your sight, and you're to report back to me if you see anything or anyone suspicious.'

'Hey hey hey.' Siana said, starting to feel a little ignored. I can take not being consulted from Dad, I can take it from Uncle Frederick, I can even take it from Mum, but I'm sure as hell not taking it from a Death Eater and a man who my Dad didn't like. 'Hey wait a minute. Did you hear me say yes? Listen really hard, cast your memories back guys, did you hear it? Hell no.'

'Siana, kindly remove yourself from your innate stubbornness and realise that you need an escort. Professor Snape has kindly offered to have you go along with him, and I understand that though both may not get along, he doesn't intend to harm you.'

Siana stared at them both angrily, and then down at the still form of Macnair on the floor.
'Right. That's what he said, about five minutes before I found myself cursed on the floor. So forgive me for being a little sceptical of Snape's offer of kindness. ' She looked at Snape defiantly. Go on, prove you're still dark. I know you want to, I know you're just itching to take me back to Voldemort yourself, get all the credit for it.

Snape however sighed through his flared nostrils and conjured ropes to bind Macnair still.
'Do you want to take Macnair with you? Or shall I?'
'I'll take him with me.' Dumbledore said and then straightened his night cap. He looked thoughtful again, though Siana supposed he was often thoughtful. Dumbledore gazed at Snape and a silent understanding seemed to pass between them. Then he looked at Siana.

Siana blinked once and then returned the gaze. She wasn't going to quelled by the all-powerful Dumbledore. She wasn't going to be quelled by anyone! Not anymore. Dad can't test me anymore, no more hypnosis, I don't have to listen to anyone ever again. Although...that's pretty childish. Hmmm...still, I am within my rights to refuse assistance...but I want to survive. Dammit!

'Siana I think you should just accept the fact that Snape will act as an escort tomorrow for your visit to Diagon Alley. I understand that being a Basilica, with innately headstrong attitudes, prevents you from seeing certain truths. But if you will not trust Snape's judgement, or my own, then trust yours. It will show you who you can depend on, and who you clearly can't...you just have to give it time.' He said softly as he pointed his wand at Macnair, who lifted a few feet off the ground, and then started directing him towards the trapdoor.

'Good evening.' He said as he climbed down the stone steps and Siana was left, standing awkwardly, with Snape in her room.
'Oh I wouldn't dream of staying here, heaven forfend I sully your precious space.'
Snape said as he caught her expression. He pocketed his wand and looked again at the book. 'You've been reading.'

'I'm not reading anymore. It's disgusting.'
'You had to live with him, don't see how words could be more traumatising than what you most likely experienced.' Snape said lightly and Siana fought the urge to bite off her own tongue and spit it at him.
'Since I have no choice but to be escorted by you tomorrow. What time are we meeting?'
'Ten. Outside the great hall. We'll walk to the boundary of Hogwarts from there and then Apparate out. That is, of course, assuming one knows how to Apparate.'

'Trust me. One knows. I just don't happen to have the necessary wand to pull it off. Why do you think I'm going to Diagon Alley anyway? The twenty percent off markdowns?' She said acidly. She felt private satisfaction at the way he looked at her then. Yeah, I can give it just as good as you can. You forget who I spent most of my life around.

'I'll see you at ten.' He said curtly and Siana shrugged indifferently.

'Whatever.'

He looked at her for a moment, his eyes black with malice. Then without another word he stalked towards the trapdoor and climbed gracefully down it. Siana watched until the stone steps vanished out of sight behind him and closed the trapdoor.

She stared around her apartment nervously and then rushed to close all the windows. Her body ached from the curse that had been placed against her, and her hair was matted with blood. Once she was sure all the windows had been well locked, she went into her bathroom and started to strip. Her head ached, and her throat - she saw as she looked in the mirror - was already stained with the discolouration of bruising.

Great. Just great, it looks like I've got a hickey. She touched the bruise thoughtfully, winced as the pain circled around her neck and shook her head slowly. Which just exacerbated the ache. Tired, sore and still trying to shake off the residue of fear she examined her wan form in the mirror.

I look like Mum, the way Mum always did after she'd had a night out with Dad. Siana thought and then looked away as the tears rushed to her eyes. It was the small reminders that had been tipping her over the edge all day.

Sighing heavily she removed her undergarments and walked into the soothing heat of the water spray. Just get through tonight...and recover from Macnair...and get through shopping tomorrow, and you'll be fine. She told herself. Even so, she considered the fact that she might considering a little too much from her fatigued body and mind.