The Fire Wand

The Fire Wand

Chapter 6; The Fire Wand

'And you can take what's mine
Add to the weight of time
With cold eyes
And a furrowed brow.'
George - Spawn

She met him outside Hogwarts five minutes early. He was there waiting, and she resisted the urge to ask him how long he had been standing there. Snape had stared at the now black bruise on her neck and opened his mouth to say something, then closed it just as quickly. He had Apparated them both into Diagon Alley within a matter of moments, and now they walked purposefully towards Ollivanders. He clearly wanted to get her shopping out of the way first, and had an expression on his face of one of immense boredom, dread and patience.

I bet he expects someone who spends forever shopping. Boy is he going to be surprised. I hate shopping almost as much as he seems to. Was that someone looking at me funny? She stared into an alleyway suspiciously. She had been jumpy and alert since the night before, and being around so many strangers filled her with unease.

They walked into Ollivanders, Snape standing near the door, as though eager to leave again. Ollivander had walked out, looking old, but sparkling with as much power as the wands around him. Siana remembered seeing him once a long time ago, when Nathan her brother had come to get his wand. She had been frightened of him then, and was still a little apprehensive now.

'You've come for your wand. About time.' Ollivander said softly as he gestured for her to walk forwards into the middle of the sparsely furnished shop. 'It's always a pleasure giving someone their very first wand.' He said and Siana's eyes widened.

'Pardon me? I had a wand before.'

'It was never yours though was it? Not tailored to your needs. Lets see now, let me see.' He said holding up his tape measure and then walking away and picking up what looked like a new box off the table. 'I just got this in yesterday, I think it's been waiting for you. It is filled with a new substance which I've never tried before, but comes from an extremely trustworthy source who has supplied me with many materials before.' He said casually as he gently withdrew the wand.

Siana blanched. 'Uh, did you say a new substance? Why can't I just have my old wand type back?'
'It never really suited you. As I recall it was your Grandfather's, if it hadn't been for him giving you his wand, I daresay you wouldn't have one. Now isn't it interesting that you've managed to survive with something so poorly suited to your personality.'

'Why do I have to be the one to test the new substance?' She said plaintively. Ollivander looked at her shrewdly, he then handed her the dark red wand.

'Give it a wave and it probably won't even be the right one. It's probably just me wanting to try out a new product.'

'And probably wasting your time, considering her magical talent.' Siana heard Snape mutter so softly that she almost didn't hear what he said. Mr. Ollivander pretended he hadn't heard. Siana tried to do the same be she noticed her wand hand had started shaking.

Right. She thought. Here goes.

Siana waved the wand and felt a bolt of heat rush down her arm like lightning. The bolt seemed to pass like liquid through the wand and showered out in the blaze of white and violet stars. Siana stared in amazement at the sparks of energy which floated gently and slowly like feathers to the ground and didn't fade, but stayed - sparkling.

'Bravo. Very nicely done.' Ollivander said, beaming widely. Severus Snape merely stared at her, and she felt his black eyes boring into her. She wrenched her gaze away from him, and the stars, only now just starting to fade. She looked at Ollivander who seemed to be barely suppressing a look of ecstasy.

'The wand picks the owner. I must say; you're more suited to that particular wand than most are to their own.' He carefully took the still warm wand from her hand and took it over to his small desk. 'You'd better not break this one.' He warned.

'I didn't break it, it got broken.'

'Yes. Timing, timing.' He muttered absently as he placed it in a long thin box and put it, humming, in a brown paper bag.

'You never told me what the new substance is.' Siana said, avoiding the still staring gaze of Severus Snape who stood unmoved from the entrance of the store all this time.

Ollivander looked at the package thoughtfully as he handed it to her. 'Phoenix tail feather...'
'But that's not new.'
'...and the fang of a Basilisk.'

'What?' Siana almost erupted. What in blazes? 'You gave me a wand with the fang of a poisonous, vicious creature inside of it?'
'Seems rather apt.' Snape remarked very quietly from near the door once more and Siana positively glared at him before turning back to Ollivander who was looking stern.

'And at eleven galleons for the two together I hardly perceive a need for complaint. The wand clearly has a bond with you. Clearly. Anyway, I have been personally guaranteed that this wand will enhance your many magical gifts.' He said, there was a mischievous glimmer in his eye as he spoke. Siana was reminded of her apprehension.

'Many magical gifts, indeed.' Siana muttered derisively as she stormed out of the shop a few moments later - eleven Galleons short - and extremely bad tempered. Snape followed at a careful distance, looking mildly amused. 'By Artemis, I'll bet they're out of bloody black material at Malkin's too.' She spat.

Fortunately they weren't out of black material. Siana was quickly measured and purchased six new robes. Four black and plain, one dark violet and one pale lilac set of dress robes. She also purchased a black cloak with an embroidered trimming of lilac symbols. She smiled indulgently as she fingered the fabric, the purples would bring out the violet of her eyes.

They walked out of the robe shop some twenty minutes later.
'Anyone would think you hated clothes shopping.' Snape said dryly.
'I don't like to waste time. And let me say you're putting up with this nicely. What's tying you over? Picturing me lip locking with the Dementors?" Siana said sweetly.

'Be careful how you speak to me Professor Basilica.'
Snape warned softly and Siana snorted in scorn.

However nothing more was said as Snape walked quietly into Flourish and Blotts. The owner of the store looked at him, mildly frightened, but did not disturb them. Siana examined the new books curiously, and paused to study a new title that she hadn't seen there before.

'Come.' Snape called and Siana sighed.
'Woof, woof.' She said as she obediently followed him. She saw the row of assorted quills we was looking at. Peacock, eagle, rooster, swan. Siana studied them all, mesmerised. She loved high quality quills, the more expensive, the better. A glistening black caught her eye and she turned and saw a gleaming, iridescent black feather. She looked at Snape appraisingly.

'Professor Snape, I think this one would suit you.' She said softly and Snape glared at her for interrupting, then scowled at the raven quills. To avoid being rejected she walked a few steps away and chose some streamlined Wedgetail eagle quills for herself.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Snape take two of the raven quills she had pointed out to him. She fought to suppress a smile.

'Excuse me? Siana Basilica?'

Siana would have recognised that drawling voice anywhere. She'd had the misfortune of meeting him once before when her Dad had taken him in for questioning. His voice would forever remain imprinted upon her mind.

'Good morning Lucius.' She said coldly.
'I doubt it.' Lucius said with a twisted smile. 'I doubt it is a very good morning for you Miss Basilica.'

If he says my last name like that one more time I swear I'm going to mercilessly test my new wand out on him. Preferably by beating him to death with it. I don't understand how someone can make one word sound like such an insult. Behind her she felt Snape's presence, pepper, sandalwood and today bergamot currents rising from him. He was like a sentinel behind her. She wondered then, if he was smiling at Lucius, sharing a genuine evil moment.

She didn't get a chance to turn around and check his face. Lucius was talking again. 'Where's little Camille? Oh that's right...' His voice dripped mock astonishment. 'She's dead. And didn't she used to simply idolise you?'

Siana's hand clenched fiercely, her nails digging hard into her palms. Lucius removed his pale eyes to look secretively around the shop.

'I believe...' he whispered, his frosty gaze finding hers once more. 'I believe that she was due to play a fairy, the lead, in a ballet concert coming up. Dear me, looks like an understudy is heading for the bright lights of fame due to the, er, tragic circumstances that affected upon the leading lady.'

Siana felt Snape shift behind her and felt oddly protected, not cornered by two Death Eaters as she had been feeling before. However the protection she felt was dwarfed by the magnitude of rage and dread that was rushing through her. 'Did you have a hand in those tragic circumstances?'
'Me?' Lucius said innocently. Snape coughed delicately.
'You were always good at playing the naïve fool Malfoy.'

Lucius directed a look past Siana at Severus which was both sharp and disgusted. 'And I don't know why I ever recommended you as anything more than a simple Potions teacher. I never thought I'd see the day when a Snape, a Death Eater no less, would be pandering to a Basilica. Dear oh dear me, Dumbledore really must have your wrapped around his little finger. You've proved before that you no longer stand with us, but now you've proved you no longer care for integrity.'

Snape smiled unpleasantly.
'You'll do well to hold your tongue Malfoy. I'm one of the few who has influence over your son's future, and as Head of Slytherin...'
'Don't you dare be threatening me Severus. I hardly think you're in the position to be doling out threats like you do concoctions. You know that the Dark Lord is looking for you as much as he is her.' He looked at Siana in disgust. 'You're fooling yourself if you think you're safe child. Oh now now, don't look at me like that, I don't have anything to do with what's happened to the Basilicas. But I'm just letting you know, you're a fool if you lull yourself into a safe sense of security.'

'What does Voldemort want with me?'
'Careful now, you say his name, he might hear you.' Lucius whispered conspiratorially and then he gazed luxuriantly out the open window. Damn him, he's enjoying every moment of this. 'He'll hear you eventually anyway, hopefully it'll be while you're screaming. You know, I do wish I could have been there to see the look on your face when your family was ripped away from you. And that library, it burnt to the ground? I do wish I could have seen the centuries of Archives of the Witches and Wizards razed to the ground.'

Siana had her wand out as soon as he had mentioned the words Archives, and he continued brazenly, staring at her new wand. The shop keeper was already hurrying over, a look of worry on his face.
'Now now. Please.' He said fearfully.
'Try me Malfoy. You want to duel? I don't even need a second. I've got enough hatred going that I could kill you without blinking.'

Malfoy smiled and shook his head.
'Tut tut, well it's been somewhat of a pleasure. I must leave you now, I have business at Gringotts. By the way;' He said as he stared at the black bruise on her neck. 'That's a lovely mark. You should carry them around more often. Though I believe you did when your father was still alive.' He said softly, before sweeping out of the store.

Siana seethed with anger as Snape took both their products to the counter to pay for them. Perhaps he knows I'm about to kill someone, because he hasn't said anything. Oh, damn, that's probably because I still have my wand out. She thought and pocketed it. Her fingers traced over her bruise self consciously and the rage threatened to bubble out of her.

Before she knew what has happening, she was being forcefully steered out of Flourish and Blotts.

'I'll kill him!' Siana raged, reaching for her wand again. Several people walking down the Alley turned to stare at her.
Snape took patient hold of her wand and pushed it down to her side again. 'Spoken like you're father. He'd be proud of this moment. Come along, I need to go to the Diagon Apothecary and Zirs Apothecary in Knockturn Alley, and we really haven't got all day. I'll need to inform Dumbledore.'

Siana pocketed her wand a second time, felt it warm against her hand. She wanted to use it, to see if it would enhance her talents. Maybe she'd be able to do a charm properly for once, instead of destroying something as was apt to happen.

'You shouldn't let his remarks affect you like that.' Snape said sternly as he walked up the cobbled street towards the apothecary. Siana cleared her throat loudly.
'That is so rich coming from you.'
'If you're referring to my occasionally harsh statements then you should keep in mind that you're as much a suspect in this whole situation as you believe me to be. Voldemort wants you, evidently alive, you've either got something of his that he wants, or he wants to kill you personally. I can imagine why he'd want to kill you personally, considering all the grief the Basilicas have caused.'

'That wasn't me, that was my Dad, and anyway how can I be a suspect in this? People usually don't suspect the victim.'
'You don't play the pretty victim very well.' Snape said softly and Siana detected a note of what, doubt? 'You're a Basilica, it speaks for itself. You haven't been exposed to the outside world enough to know that your father is considered both an enemy of Death Eaters and enemies of Voldemort alike. Your father had many enemies, and earnt your family the name and reputation it has now. That reputation extends over the whole family. Your casual remarks about killing someone can be easily taken seriously given your family history.'

'You think I'd kill him?' Siana said incredulously as they walked into the apothecary. Snape nodded in greeting to the store owner before continuing to talk.
'You might think that you wouldn't, but it would just take one very impulsive moment for you to end a life and I believe that you would. Yes. I believe that you have.'

Huh?

'What? Have? Who have I killed Snape? Huh? Tell me. Who the fuck have I killed?!' She said, raising her voice angrily and Snape scowled as he turned on her.
'Don't you dare play innocent with me.' He hissed. 'I was there!'

'You what? You're talking about as much sense as my dog Mercury did when he found a bone.'
'You play naïve and stupid almost too well. One would believe that it was a part of your innate nature. Only I know the truth, and a few others. You wonder why Voldemort wants to kill you? Take a walk down memory lane you stupid, insolent brat.'

'Take a walk down memory lane yourself you overgrown bat!' Siana snarled and Snape visibly looked shocked. 'Oh now it's your turn to play dumb. That's nice. How many people have you helped to poison Snape. How many poisons did you develop that caused people to die in the most painful, prolonged way possible? Dad used to tell me all about your sick experiments, all about them.'

'You're Dad of course, being an entirely accurate source of information.' He snarled, but Siana had noticed that his skin had gone several shades pale of ivory. Bingo! You great monster! I've got you now.

'He might not have been entirely accurate, but even if he embellished one eighth of what he told me about you, it's still enough to leave me disgusted.' She turned to stalk off in anger and froze when Snape grabbed her arm, preventing her from going. ' Get your hand off me.' She ground out and then turned to face him again. 'I forgot, sorry, I have to hang around my parole officer.'

Snape merely raised an eyebrow at that comment and afterwards nothing more was said. He picked up some common ingredients from around the store and then, with several bags of product moved to the counter, where he procured a list and handed it to the shop owner. The shop owner looked at the list thoughtfully, whistled at one of the items, shrugged, and then moved away through a small rickety door at the back of the shop.

Siana waited, leaning against the counter, her back to Snape. She was staring out of the door.

How could he think I've killed someone? Aside from the very rare visit outside when I went to the Ministry or to Diagon or Knockturn...and once Hogsmeade - I've never been anywhere. I don't even know how to perform the killing curse. Why would I kill anyone? That's just a guise, I bet it's just him trying to trick me. But he seems to really believe I've killed someone. It didn't seem like just a trick. ARGH!

The shopkeeper return with some bags, one of which clinked with the sound of vials and glass containers.
'You're racking up a bill today Mr. Snape.' Said the shopkeeper cheerfully and Snape grunted in reply as he handed out a fair amount of galleons to purchase his materials. Siana noticed out of the corner of her eye - he handed out more than fifty. What in blazes did he buy? I hope he can't afford to purchase stuff like this all the time, Dad never told me he was rolling in the money, and Dad normally cares about stuff like that too.

'Always a pleasure doing business with you Sir.' The shopkeeper called as Snape strode out of the store, Siana following curiously behind. Her internal conflict was stifled at the thought that he carried such a large amount of money with him without having to go to Gringotts first. Did he not even use Gringotts? Why that's ridiculous.

She followed Snape more fearfully now down a small alleyway. While he walked briskly ahead Siana looked into nooks and crannies, and into dusty small shop windows, imagining she could see all sorts of things. She thought she saw a wand pointed at her, Macnair's face, a few times she thought she saw her father. She was frightened, irrational and jumpy. Not to mention the fact that she was accompanied by someone who she didn't trust, and who clearly didn't trust her.

Down the musty, dank street they went. Siana felt that Snape seemed to fit into this eerie place. She had never liked Knockturn Alley. She had to resist the urge to press herself into the corners of shadows to hide, and she had to stop herself from asking Snape if she could just Apparate back to Hogwarts now.

Into Zirs Apothecary, a tiny, dingy place lit by a few black candles. The store smelt like old blood, decay, rotten herbs and other things that Siana squirmed at. Don't even want to know how they harvest most of their materials. I'm not thinking about it. I'm not! Dammit.

Snape didn't even bother to go the walls this time. He went straight to the obese shopkeeper who had wide, bugging eyes and a perpetual sneer. Snape muttered something quickly to the shopkeeper who nodded, and then Snape bought out yet another list.

This shopkeeper perused the list, and though he didn't whistle, his thin and sweaty eyebrows seemed to disappear right up into his fat, greasy brow.

'What are you planning with this lot then?' He puffed as he bent underneath the counter and appeared with a big, black box with some gold sigils on them. Snape looked from the shopkeeper to Siana, and then back to the shopkeeper again. The shopkeeper nodded knowingly and Siana rolled her eyes.

'Oh please. Like I care.' She said disdainfully, hiding her interest. She moved away to examine some dessicated spiders in a barrel towards the back of the shop. As she moved away, Snape and the shopkeeper started a quiet and hushed conversation. Why wouldn't they want me listening? What is he planning? How much money is he going to spend in here?

She kept her eyes wide open, making full use of her peripheral vision. She saw Snape hand over a small bag of Galleons. She couldn't see the amount inside. The shopkeeper nodded as though everything was in order, and then disappeared through a black door towards the side of the shop. Snape waited by the counter, peering into the black box...Siana moved to one of the shelves and looked at a strange bundle of herbs sitting there.

Literally sitting there. It was like a mandrake, only it looked, well, evil. It's eyes were bleeding, and it's hands were tipped with claws. Fangs ran all the way down to its chin. Siana's mouth fell open in horror as she read the macabre description. New Zealand mandragora - type: Venemous. One bite of the live plant will destroy any man, a teaspoonful in any Effluria potion will fell ten. She gasped and reached out her finger to prod it when the eyes of the creature flew open.

Next thing she knew it was launching itself onto it's leafy legs and angrily moving towards her. Oh God!

Siana had her new wand out and pointed.

'Congelo!' She shouted fearfully and saw the bolt of violet move from her wand to the creature. She expected the wand to freeze or harden the plant. But what happened instead was beyond her expectations.

The plant screamed angrily and then suddenly burst into white flames. It writhed on the ground, shrieking painfully and then suddenly the screaming stopped and she was left standing, her wand pointed at a plant that was still burning - emitting a faint, sickly looking green smoke.

She inhaled it once, choked on it and then felt a sharp pain in her stomach.

'Do you have any idea how hard the New Zealand mandragora is to locate?' The shopkeeper announced angrily as he barged his way up to her. He waved his hands around like a windmill and Siana backed nervously away, her feet treading on the ashes of the plant - releasing another puff of smoke.

This time she accidentally took a deep breath of it and she saw stars. The smoke, I'll bet anything it's toxic. I need to get some fresh air. What on earth is wrong with my wand??? I need to get a refund more.

She staggered out blindly towards the fresh air and light, ignoring the shopkeeper's protests. She leant against the outside window and gasped breaths of air, holding her hands to her chest as pain lanced through them. It's probably not toxic, probably just the smoke aggravating an already sore throat. God, why did my spell cause it to catch fire? I mean I know I'm bad at magic, but that bad? It was supposed to freeze the damned thing, not burn it!

Snape came out of the shop a few moments later, holding some new black parcels and scowling at her.

'You owe me a huge favour. It was not worth what I just paid to settle Zir down.' Snape bit out and stood, waiting for her reply. Siana however was still having troubles trying to clear her mind. The pain kept lancing through her chest, down her arms. Her left arm especially was feeling particularly numb from pain. She gasped a deep breath and then her breath froze in her throat. I don't want to breathe anymore, it's too painful. She stopped breathing and tried to slowly inhale, and was arrested by the immediate pain.

Stars flashed in front of her eyes.

She didn't even realise she was sliding down the window until she felt an arm around her waist like a steel bar, holding her up. She didn't have the presence of mind to struggle, and fought instead to keep breathing. The pain was engulfing, not as bad as the cruciatus curse, but bad enough for her to forget where she was.

And then she felt her mouth being forced open, and powder being sprinkled onto it. Automatically she tried to cough it out, frightened, and her mouth was jammed shut, the powder was extremely bitter. It was held shut until she involuntarily swallowed, and almost immediately the pain was alleviated.

Gasping now after the simple shock of the experience she opened dazed eyes to find Snape, unbearably close to her, his arm around her waist - holding her upright. She staggered away.

What if he's just tried to kill me? What if he wasn't protecting me all this time? What if he's...

'Has the pain dissipated?' He asked clinically and Siana thought for a moment. Has it? Yes. I can think. Why has the pain gone? What did he give me?
'What did you give me?' She asked suspiciously and Snape picked up some of his shopping bags again.
'I see that it has. What possessed you to attack a plant? Or perhaps should I not ask that question. It was probably obvious to you at the time.'

'It tried to attack me.'
'So why didn't you simply try to transfigure it into something else? That is I believe your gift is it not?' He said now, heading towards the exit of Knockturn Alley.

Siana was confused. 'Yes I guess it is.'
'And what happened? You said one thing...the wand did something else?' 'You heard me say the spell, you saw what happened.'
Snape said nothing for a moment and then said;
'Try to do something with it now. Try the congelus spell once more. On that plant right there.' He said, pointing to a twisted weed growing out of a crack in the pavement.

Siana pulled out her wand and said; 'congelo!' Somewhat nervously. Once more the violet light shot out of her wand, only this time, the plant turned into stone. A wave of her wand caused it to change back.

'I think Dumbledore should probably be informed of that too. You seem to have a wand almost as temperamental as you are.'

'Funny. How much do I owe you?' Siana said as she stared at her wand. It looks normal enough.
'I don't need Basilican money.'

'Don't be stupid. It's not like I'm giving it to you for charity, I'm giving it to you because you covered my ass. I don't want to be in your debt.'
'I think I like you being in my dept.' Snape said silkily and Siana frowned.
'Great. Can we go back to Ollivanders? I want to get a refund.' She griped and started to double back towards Diagon Alley.

'I don't think that's such a brilliant idea. Ollivander would be most reluctant to change the wand when it did clearly strike it off with you. Besides, I should really be getting back to Dumbledore to advise him of the most recent events.'

Siana stopped, sighed. She had everything she'd come for anyway, and Snape was doing an awfully good job of holding all those bags without complaining. She turned back to him and noticed his tired and tolerant expression. Tolerant, probably just my imagination. He probably can't wait to start trying out some more new and revolutionary potions. And I don't get why he's being so nice to me dammit, when he thinks I've killed someone! I knew it was a trick!

'Do you want me to Apparate us both out?' She said, bringing out her wand and Snape permitted himself a smile. He actually looks really nice when he smiles. What? Did I just think that? No! He's evil! He doesn't look nice at all!

'All things considered. I think I'm better off using my own wand for now, and as much as I'd like to see something go wrong with yours at this moment, we can't afford to waste much more time. So I think I'll Apparate the both of us out.'

'Fine.' Snapped Siana, grabbing some of his bags to make the job easier for him. He looked at her in mild surprise and then shrugged.

Before she knew it, she was whooshing back towards the Hogwart's entrance with her shopping bags rustling loudly in her ears.