The Fire Wand

The Fire Wand

Chapter 10; Sibilant Stow

'I can't sleep tonight
Everybody saying everything's alright
Still I can't close my eyes
I'm seeing a tunnel at the end of all these lights..'
Travis - Why Does it Always Rain on Me?

Dumbledore had just left, and Siana sat now in the stone kitchen, drinking a steaming cup of tea. It warmed her throat, and the steam heated her face which was cool in the crisp night. It was a small soothing thing, when there was little comfort to be had. Her thoughts were racing, and the unfamiliarity of her surroundings was disconcerting.

At least I can see the sky. What else is there but the sky? At least Snape has been civil, maybe even more than civil. Maybe he's falling into the category of nice. Ugh. Weird. Maybe I'm just starting to like him more because I haven't been able to share company with anyone else. Ugh. Weird. At least I can see the sky.

Sibilant Stow was a two-story granite building with high ceilings and thin, mullioned windows with an assortment of green snakes imprinted into the glass. It was well designed, and the walls, thick with stone seemed impenetrable, they were almost soundproof. The floors were tiled with slate like the roof above their heads, and were in some sections stained with what looked horribly like blood. Despite the sound architecture and the sinuous beauty - Sibilant Stow was still haunting.

A series of complicated joint magical passwords opened an invisible shield at least ten minutes away from the building. Dumbledore and Snape had moved through it effortlessly - and it was evident that both had high skill in the use of magic. Siana had never seen such a cloaking charm before in her life, it would fool the highest trained wizard or witch, and could not be deactivated by a simple destructive spell.

Wonder what Snape is doing now? Probably practising scowling. God knows he's so good at it. By Artemis, if I was that good at scowling I'd change my career and become a Death Eater. Siana cringed at her thoughts and shook her head slowly as she stared at the rich colour of her tea. I should really go easy, we're going to be living together now. Even if only for a short while. Besides...he's been...well, more than civil.

She placed her half finished tea on the table top and walked casually over to the window, staring through the body of a deep green snake to the twisted trees outside. Home sweet home. She half expected to see Athena fly like a cream beacon from between those dark trees and she winced.

Never again. Athena's gone Siana, there's no blaze of cream coming from there to greet you anymore.

She looked up at the dreary, cloudy sky which hid a lot of the stars and felt depression seep into her. As the fireplaces burned and heated up the Stow, Siana alternately started to chill with the fear of what lay before her. She hadn't had much of a chance to really think about what it meant, for Uncle Frederick to still be alive, for him to show up stating that the Death Eaters wanted her.

Which means he must be a Death Eater. How awful. God, more than awful. Dad couldn't have known, he was an Auror after all. How awful for Dad, I almost feel sorry for him. And Uncle Frederick, how is he still alive? How did he escape? What will happen if he comes here? He never went easy on the curses. He'd love to see me under Dad's Imperius curse again. I've nearly shaken off the effects of it, hah! Like I'll ever clean a mansion again! Eat your heart out Dad, it's been less than a fortnight and I'm shaking you off.

Her hand flew up to her mouth as she stifled a yawn.

'Are you tired?' said a cold voice somewhere behind her and she jumped. She did not turn around however, she was getting very used to Snape's unannounced appearances. Slowly, with as much dignity as she could muster, she faced him.

'Are you?' she said softly and noticed that he looked it. Even as his face still showed an intensity she rarely saw in people anymore, it also showed a tiredness that was consuming. He looks like he sleeps about as well as I do.

'As much as I always am at this time of night. I've checked upstairs, there are two rooms. They connect through one door. I've given you the one closest to the bathroom, and I myself will sleep in the one closest to the hall in case anything goes amiss.'

'It won't though will it? No one's broken into Sibilant Stow before?'

'No. No one has before,' Snape acknowledged, Siana wondered if she imagined the tiniest smug look in his eye.

'You made this place what it is didn't you? You protected it?' Siana said thoughtfully and Snape nodded once as he went over to the table and looked at the tea in her cup. He picked it up, sniffed it, and then set it down near the sink. Siana watched him, not feeling offended that he was cleaning up after her - I wasn't intending on drinking the rest of that anyway - or that he was being polite. I wonder if it's a chore for him too.

'Have you ever had a familiar?' Siana said suddenly, thinking about Athena. Snape moved over to the window she had been staring out of and looked up at the clouds also.

'A cat once, a long time ago now. Coal, though I'd often call her Soot. Beautiful thing, with black fur and brilliant green eyes. Not a Kneazle or anything, just a simple black cat, with a horrendous attitude. She was never my own though we certainly were close. I don't usually make a habit of getting close to animals, a lot of their bodily parts are required in my potions after all. It does not do to befriend that which you intend on slaughtering later.'

'No wonder you aren't a Death Eater anymore.'

Snape turned to her then, his eyes catching the light strangely, reflecting it. He looked grim but searching. Siana found his expression - like so many of them - hard to define. He is indefinable. You'd never know what was going on inside that mind of his. Ever.

'So you've discerned that I'm not a Death Eater?'

'Maybe I trust you. Wouldn't that be a miracle?' Siana said lightly, sidestepping the direct question and turning her back on him, forcing another yawn. 'I really am tired at any rate. I'm going up to bed. I'll see you in the morning!' she called brightly and walked quickly up the large stairs, not turning back to see if he was still watching.

Siana knew after she had said it, that she did trust him. He had carefully and subtly checked her welfare for days now, during the incident with Athena he had offered comfort in the form of detachment. He had Stunned Uncle Frederick, he really was like a protective sentinel. She was frightened of her Uncle, but not of Snape. The threats he had issued her with seemed useless now, almost like a formality.

Her mind drifted back and paused at what Dumbledore had said, about protecting him. He doesn't seem to need it. He's not a victim. He's a strong person. I guess. As strong as any embittered person could be. God I am tired, hey wow.

She had reached Snape's room, and saw the sheets and doona neatly made up - black pillows at the head of the bed, and a wooden board at the foot. The room was sparsely and tastefully furnished with mostly stone and crude wooden furniture. Next to his bed was simple wooden cabinet with a small black box on top of it. Siana was tempted to find out if that was where he kept his personal potions, but decided she probably shouldn't nose around.

So instead she moved through the heavy wooden door into her room. Her own room was similar to Snape's the only difference being the sheets were a dark grey, not black. Her bags and equipment lay at the foot of her bed, they had been transported there by Snape or Dumbledore. That was nice of them. Considering I'll be trapped here, at least I can see the outside sky.

She took a look at the adjoining bathroom and smiled softly. That really was nice of him. I think I'm going to have a shower. I hope the water's hot, my spells involving temperature are really crap, I'd hate to have to ask Snape to warm it up for me...

* * * * *

She could hear her heart beating, but that was all. It beat all around her, and echoed off walls she couldn't see. She was paralysed with shock, and the horror associated with knowing what was coming next, and waiting for it.

He'd start to hum softly, very quietly. A tuneless hum with a disjointed rhythm that plucked at her nerves and ate away at her senses. The tune would move around her, accompanied by the sound of soft and seemingly harmless footsteps. And then another hum would start, only this one had a tune, a jaunty tune that spoke of happy days and cheerful adventures.

That tune, combined with the tuneless hum, made Siana shake uncontrollably. They're both here. What are they doing here? She thought anxiously. I thought it was only Dad. I swore it would only be Dad. However the cheerful hum belonged to Frederick, who as per usual, was around for the thrill. Nothing excited him more than watching someone be overpowered.

'Dad. Can't you just do this alone? You don't need him here. He doesn't help.'

'Shut up,' came a harsh voice. It was impersonal and angry, angry that she - a Basilican girl - had dared to speak. Frederick's cheerful tune hadn't faltered, if anything, it became more cheerful.

'Dad! I'll tell Mum this time, you know how much she-'

And then she was grunting as something was swung hard into the side of her head. A fist. If it wasn't for the fact she couldn't see, she would have sworn that there were stars in front of her head.

'First wave,' her Dad announced clinically and Siana stifled a whimper. I'm stronger than you, I've put up with it for this long, I can put up with you forever if I have to.

'Imperio!' he commanded and Siana, headstrong and willful, felt her mind become cloaked in the blissful sensation that had assailed her body so many times she became disoriented with it. Her thoughts fought to freedom, fought the blissful feeling, they didn't want to be controlled. For she knew, with the little seed of dread inside of her, that being controlled defeated her. Despite the bliss, it was a still a terrible thing.

She broke free with a gasp and her Dad grunted, there was a scratch of quill on parchment, the whistle of Frederick's tune.

'Second wave.'

'Dad no!' Siana shouted as he cursed her again, and once more the feeling of bliss flooded her. Used enough times...she would become exhausted, and succumb. Only now he was past the Imperio curse, and just used it for the next stage.

The next stage came in the form of a cup pressed against her lips. The cup she tried to fight but couldn't, because at that moment Frederick would curse her again and the blissful feeling swamped all her other thoughts. The fluid in that cup would inexorably crawl down her throat, and Siana, too controlled to even voluntarily swallow, would wait for it to reach her stomach.

There it spread, infusing her with an odd lassitude, invading everything. It was so intrusive that some small part of Siana started to scream with fright. Before the second time the potion was administered...she always screamed. Screamed loud and long.

She couldn't seem to stop screaming.

'No!' she cried out sharply as she jerked awake, cold sweat drying on her forehead. Her eyes snapped open and she hoarsely whined at the shape of someone dark standing over her in a dark room. 'No please no!' Dad no!' she thought anxiously and scrambled backwards.

'You're having one of your infamous nightmares again.' The voice cut into her jumbled thoughts and she hung onto it.

'...Snape?' she said jerkily and then winced as one of the torches in the wall bracket flared. The light cut into her eyes just as his voice had cut into her thoughts. 'I'm sorry. Did I wake you? I'm sorry if I woke you. I didn't mean to,' Siana said anxiously, her fists clenching the sheet in her tense state. She could still feel sweat running down her back, it had matted her nightgown to her shoulder blades.

'What was it about?' he said softly, coming over to the edge of the bed and just watching her thoughtfully. She noticed that he was still dressed and felt some relief that she hadn't woken him. His face seemed to flicker in the candle light and he looked stern and concerned? Siana frowned.

'Dad,' she said simply and Snape's right eye twitched. He looked away for a few seconds, took a deep breath and then looked at her again.

'Your Dad, your father...made you scream like that?' he said doubtfully and Siana blushed.

'Oh dear. I was screaming? It's not usually that bad. I guess because I've been more frightened than usual...'

'You've avoided my question,' Snape said and he sat down on her bed, making her body move a centimetre towards his own lithe form. He was looking at her, his gaze was uncompromising. He always wants things to be his way.

'Yes. He did. Okay?'

There was silence as Snape just looked at her like he was testing her. Siana was starting to feel sleepy again, sleepy and clammy.

'What did he do? Take away your star spangled pony?' Snape finally said and Siana, without thinking, raised her hand. She had no idea what she was doing, she only knew that she wanted to inflict damage. However he caught her arm as it was above her head, with reflexes impossibly fast. He held her still with a strong and sinewy grip, as she tried to move her hand away. It was useless.

'Is that a no? Or is that outrage that I've guessed?'

'Get out. Every time I think you're halfway decent you go and say something hateful. What do you want?'

'What did he do?'

'Nothing!' Siana shrieked, not wanting to reveal anything to him in such a vulnerable position.

'I might be out of line, but no one has nightmares like that for no reason.'

'Like I'm going to tell you! It's my first night in a strange place and already you're acting like a menace! I don't want to hate you Snape but you're not making it easy for me to feel otherwise!' she shouted and Snape abruptly let her go. 'You don't need to know what he did to me okay? It's old news now, it can't happen anymore.'

'He assaulted you? Sexually?' Snape said and Siana glared him. What is his problem?

'No. Dad would never do something like that. Soil himself with female Basilican blood. Not likely. No. I just, if you really really want to know? He pioneered new methods of the Imperio curse, and I was his pioneering subject. You know he invented the Imperio potion don't you?' Siana said and Snape's face went blank, and then his eyes suddenly widened.

'He drugged you?'

'Well...I wouldn't put it..'

'He. Drugged. You?' Snape bit out, and Siana could see tension flowing through him.

'Well yes. I mean haven't you done it before? Besides...'

'There's no besides. He drugged you. Your father drugged you with an illegal potion,' Snape said abruptly and Siana frowned.

'Does it matter?'

'It's probably why you reject potions in the first place. The Imperio potion has a highly reactive ingredient that stays in the bloodstream. It's dangerous and fatal. He knew that, he knew of it's fatal nature. In high concentrations it kills.' Snape was now looking at her, as though he expected her to drop dead. 'No wonder you have such a jumpy personality. I can't imagine you took that potion willingly. How did he get you to take it?'

'He'd Imperio me, usually a couple of times or so. Then he'd use the potion. Under the effect of the potion he trained me with signals. After that...I became a servant. I was young when it all started. About ten,' Siana said softly and Snape swore and leaned in closer towards her, his eyes searching. He then licked his lips slowly and frowned.

'I may have misjudged you,' he said finally. Siana looked at him, incredulous and then suddenly snorted with laughter.

'You may have misjudged me? You're getting this from a nightmare? You might be clever by anyone's standards, but god you're a fool when you put your mind to it!' She laughed helplessly, finally shaking away the remnants of her nightmare.

Snape got off the bed, the expression on his face clearly said that he'd had enough.

'You wonder why I loathe the Basilican bloodline,' he said shortly, and Siana abruptly stopped laughing. 'I detest people who abuse dangerous potions. They give true potions masters a bad name, and your father pioneered most of the dangerous potions and illegal substances that the Death Eaters got their hands on.'

'He developed those potions to fight the Death Eaters.'

'Well it didn't work remarkably well did it?' he said pointedly and then yawned quietly behind his mouth. 'I'm going to retire to bed now. If you need anything, hesitate before you call,' he muttered and Siana's eyes narrowed.

'Sweet dreams,' she said and Snape shot her a frosty look as he left the room.

He engages, pulls away, engages, pulls away! Ugh! I feel like a yoyo. She watched him go and then cleared her throat as she settled back in bed again. Outside she could hear the thuds of the wind heartily attacking the walls. A storm was coming, she'd known this from before. However Siana, unlike most, loved storms and settled back in bed feeling comforted by the gusty wind throwing itself around outside.

* * * * *

'No! NO! ' Someone was screaming and Siana was upright and out of bed before she'd even realised she was awake.

'Snape?' she called, frightened. A chill of air that had entered Sibilant Stow chilled her bare legs. The sounds were muffled through the wall, but came sailing through the open door. He was in danger! Anxiously she withdrew her wand and tiptoed anxiously forward. What if my Uncle's here? What if he's got the curse on Snape again? What am I going to do? I'm no match for my Uncle. Artemis help me!

She moved through the open door and in the dim darkness saw Snape struggling in bed, struggling with an unseen enemy. Not a nightmare? A nightmare? Gees it looks bad. Breathing heavily, frightened she moved towards Snape's side and saw his face twisted into a rictus of pain.

'Snape!' she hissed anxiously, putting her wand away as she did so. Snape please wake up. Please.

Snape suddenly barked something in another language, Siana recognised it as a spell - but one she'd never heard before. There was a pause then, as he was lost in his dream, muttering under his breath. And then his whole body stiffened like a board and a forced, curdled scream came belting out of his throat.

'Oh God.' She placed her hands on both of his shoulders and started to shake him. 'Snape! Snape you have to wake up! Please! You're having a nightmare! Snape!' she called, fearfully and then whimpered in shock when it felt like two steel bands had wrapped around her upper arms. She looked down in time to see his hands had gripped her arms so tightly sharp pain lanced through them. She looked back at Snape's face and saw his expression, an expression of sheer rage and desperation.

And then she was flying through the air, her fall only broken by the solid, unyielding stone wall. Her back crashed against it, and she grunted, then crumpled to the floor. The impact dazed her, put her in a different place, she hadn't felt like this since Macnair, and since her Father.

'Siana!' a voice said hoarsely and Siana shook her head as she struggled upright.

'Sorry Dad,' she muttered automatically, the words which she was so used to saying flying out of her throat before she could do anything to stop them. Without looking back up, cowering, she started to move back into her own room. Just stay calm and he won't hit you again.

'Siana! Look at me,' came the harsh voice again, it was shaky with shock and a mild amount of anguish. When Siana did look up, she was surprised.

'Snape? Oh I'm sorry. I'm sorry you were having a nightmare. I don't think I'll grab your shoulders in future,' she said frightened, scared at the fierce look on his face. 'Are you alright?' she added in concern and saw Snape's expression fall to one of despair.

'Sit here,' he said as he steered her to his bed and sat her down on it. He also got on the bed and looked at her hard. 'Look at me. I don't want you drifting off and thinking I'm your father, you insult me enough as it is. Are you alright?' he said wearily, his voice still strained from the dream and Siana shrugged, then winced.

'Well. Sore. Think that'll bruise. What were you dreaming about?'

'Does it matter?'

'Well I don't know, I could get the Inquisition onto you, like you did to me before, and force an answer out of you,' Siana said mischievously and Snape sighed. 'Professor Snape...' she added and he held his hand up.

'Wait.' His eyes were shining darkly in the black, he hadn't lit any lamps, and the only light came from one of the hall torches which shone into his room. She could smell him now, clearly, sandalwood, pepper...today something else...vaguely she realised it was his sweat from the dream. Then she realised, more clearly, that she wasn't repelled by the smell of him. What in god's name is this? You're like addicted to the scent of him. Silly. His hair was more unruly than usual, his eyes bored into hers. 'Wait. Your father pioneered curses on you, am I correct?'

'Yes,' Siana whispered, wondering where this was going. Trying not to breathe too deeply and smell too much of him at once, for fear of being overwhelmed. 'Then you wouldn't remember. You were probably drugged at the time,' Snape said half to himself, and she heard a noise of exasperation rumble in the back of his throat. 'Dammit.

'I don't understand.'

'He made fools of us all.'

'Professor Snape, tell me what you were dreaming about.'

'My days as a Death Eater supplied me with enough worthy material for a lifetime of nightmares. You don't need to know the details of that specific one,' Snape said softly and Siana shifted uncomfortably. He was staring at her so directly, it was disconcerting. What is he thinking?

'What are you thinking?' she said pointedly and Snape smiled softly. It was the first time she had ever seen him smile genuinely and she noticed the way it seemed to warm her in places she hadn't been warm. I'm just hanging onto any affection I can get, God, what would Dad say if he knew I was hanging onto affection from a Snape? Severus Snape no less? His smile was innately wicked in nature, dangerously charismatic.

Siana was taken aback. What's changed here? This isn't right. Or maybe...maybe he's just, maybe he trusts me enough. Maybe it's not as bad as I think it is...it probably isn't. Siana breathe deep, relax, no don't, you're smelling him again. Argh!

'Do you always say what's on your mind?' he said slowly and Siana laughed a little. Nervously.

'Pretty much.'

'I'm not used to that,' he said seriously then, the smile fading off his face. 'I'm used to treachery and deceit, even from the famous, brave, Gryffindors. It doesn't matter where one turns, you learn to expect it from every corner. I always assumed no one else would understand that,' he said, looking at her.

'Dumbledore was one of the first since my days as Death Eater, who proved that he wouldn't betray me. Betrayal is a funny thing Siana, are you familiar with it?'

Siana swallowed and didn't know where to start. How do I tell him about Dad and Frederick? About all the promises broken? How everything eventually led to some kind of betrayal.

'I suppose you are,' he said then and frowned. Where is this going? He's actually being nice to me. Nicer to me than I expect he is to just about everyone else. Why? Because he threw me against a wall?

'I don't want you to feel sorry for me,' Siana bit out, wondering if this was what the conversation was alluding to. Snape snorted, the look of scorn on his face evident. 'Trust me when I inform you, this isn't pity.'

Siana jumped when his hand, long fingered and graceful, curled around her upper arm once more. Only this time it wasn't a crushing steel band, but a gentle and firm movement. Deliberate in its nature. I'm breathless. Why am I breathless? Breathe. He's just got his hand on you, breathe. No, don't breathe...I'm lost and I'm not even...dammit. She told herself, and as he started to lean forward she felt a thrill of fear and excitement rush through her.

This isn't happening. This would never happen.

Millimetres away from her lips he paused. He was warm, exuding warmth that she hadn't thought him capable of, and the smell of sandalwood and pepper filled her nostrils so that she was dizzy with his scent. Her chest felt constricted, her mind reeled from the unexpected and exhilarating turn the evening was taking.

'This,' he said again, very softly, his voice purring over her lips. 'Has nothing to do with pity.' And then with infinite control, he closed the gap between them.

His lips were warm as they pressed against hers. Pressed, but nothing more. She didn't get the sense he was asking permission, but rather taking it as slow as he felt like. His other hand came up to her other shoulder as he deepened the kiss, moving his lips tenderly, possessively over hers. Her head was spinning, and Siana wondered if he could see the flush that was rising up her chest. By the Gods he knows what he's doing. She thought then as her breath slowly left her, and she was drugged on a need for air, and on the intense feelings he was sparking within her.

When he finally pulled away, slowly and carefully, Siana gasped. Her hands flew to her lips uncertainly. They were tender, warm. She licked them uncertainly and tasted him on them.

'That was...unexpected,' Siana said shakily, nervously and searched his face. Aside from looking smug, a little frustrated and extremely possessive...Siana saw nothing of bitterness on his face. He looked at her darkly and then grimaced a little.

'The unexpected is an advocate of passion. How are you feeling?'

'Good. You?'

'Better,' he said, hiding a smile. 'However I do suggest that this isn't continued here.'

I'm surprised you want to continue at all. By Artemis how I do. We've got a bed, total seclusion. No one else knows we're here...

'Why?' Siana said softly and Snape then chuckled, his arms stroking down her arms and then back up again, luxuriously. Siana, upset that it should be all one sided placed one of her hands on his wrist and moved it up towards his own shoulder.

'Because,' he murmured. 'We're in a strange place, in strange circumstances. I don't know about your rationality, but I know mine is a little put off.'

'Careful. That could be an insult in disguise,' Siana whispered and Snape grinned wickedly, leaning forward to kiss her again, thoroughly this time. Siana was clinging to him when he moved away, annoyed that she couldn't retaliate as efficiently. I will find a way. She thought.

'It's not an insult in disguise. It's -' He broke off when one of her hands moved from his shoulder down his chest, over his robes. 'Distract me any further and I'll abandon rationality completely.' He said and she stilled, smiling. A ha, got you there didn't I?

'I understand what you're saying Snape, about rationality.'

'Severus. I recommend a first name basis at this juncture.'

'Alright. Severus. I understand what you're saying.'

'Good. So you'll understand my reluctance when I say we should probably get some sleep, and see what happens tomorrow?'

'Yeah, good call. Uh, I'll just go shall I?' she said awkwardly and Snape sighed.

'You can stay here. Your virtue will be protected, I'm not a monster,' he said softly and Siana smiled.

'It has been a strange night, I think I almost believe you. I'm going to change though.'

'Pardon?'

'I'm going to change, transform. I sleep more restfully as a protectus. For some reason they just don't seem to have nightmares. You don't mind?'

'You're not going to moult all over the bed are you?' he said with patient look and Siana laughed.

'Only to annoy you. Otherwise no.' She placed her hands at her neck comfortably, and looked at Snape one last time through the eyes of a human.

'Good night Severus.'

'Sleep well,' he said softly and Siana changed quickly then.

Quietly she moved down to the foot of his bed, finding the most comfortable spot. With an almost inaudible whine of contentment she curled up and covered her cold nose with her warm tail.

Her mind drifted peacefully, for the first time in weeks, as she moved easily into sleep.