The Necromancer Amulet

Author's Notes: Thanks to Elysia Snape for encouragements and excellent beta-reading! Also thanks to jords for further pointers.

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Chapter Seven - Halloween

A week later, it was Halloween, and Secessa did not particularly look forward to the event, as she imagined the tradition to be slightly tasteless at best. She also had not come to terms with her fears yet, and felt anguished at the thought of sitting next to Snape for a lengthy dinner. However, she decided to face the world proudly, and put on a strict dark grey dress, making herself an image of Nordic starch. "Not to worry, dear, you look fine," said her mirror sleepily, as she stood facing it, white-faced and determined.

Leaving her quarters to walk down the stairs, she flicked her wand and her hair shaped itself into a bun, tied with a sober black band. Dressing soberly and staying sober is all there is to it, she thought as she forced her face to smile absently, trying to get rid of the tense knot inside her chest at the same time. Everything will be fine.

Her hopes for a calm evening were crushed immediately as the entered the first floor, where a Filibuster Fireworks display was swirling against the walls. She ducked as a jet of light almost hit her head, and then whipped out her wand, cursing in Russian. She battled furiously with it for a while before she found an appropriate immobilising spell, and walked angrily down the corridor from whence it came.

As she entered the Front Hall, she found Severus Snape holding a fourth-year by the ear. Her stomach clenched, and she grabbed the rail as she looked down upon the scene.

"Detention, Gnarlewood," he barked, "and if I apprehend you again you will be scrubbing the Potions classroom floor for a week!'

"Little pest," he muttered under his breath as the culprit ran into the Main Hall.

Secessa followed the boy with her gaze, walked down the stairs, and got her first view of the Main Hall in its Halloween glory. Ugly, giant pumpkin heads, some floating and some standing on the tables, were lighting up the hall, and torches on the walls set an eerie but warm light to the scene as live bats fluttered up and down from the ceiling in flocks.

On a positive note, there are no costumes, she thought with slight relief (she had heard of such parties), and watched the scene with both awe and exasperation, as more children ran past her and towards the tables, where most already were seated.

"Flitwick never wastes an opportunity to engage us all in his sentimental fantasies," said a quiet voice in her ear that made her jump. Snape had silently moved up behind her without her noticing. Silent like Vladimir, she thought, suddenly longing desperately for her friend. "In view of the Christmas decorations, this is positively modest," Snape continued, his voice carrying a tiny hint of derision. "Shall we?"

He inclined his head towards the door. She met his silent, slightly challenging gaze, but was unable to hold it for long and moved quietly passed him, trying to stay calm. His presence was tangible to her as their robes touched, and she suppressed a shudder.

As they entered the hall, Snape immediately strolled up to some Gryffindor first-years and confiscated some objects from them with a smirk. Secessa watched the incident from the corner of her eye, and saw Snape contentedly stow away some very innocent-looking sweet-bags inside his robes. She bit her lip crossly and hurried up the hall, putting some distance between them.

At the top of the Gryffindor table, several of her NEWT class students were sitting, and she was quite surprised when she saw Neville Longbottom staring at the man behind her with a frightened expression. Clearly, the Potions master had the ability to put the fear of Merlin into his students, but she was annoyed that her own NEWT pupils did not show more courage. She walked up to Longbottom in long strides.

"Mr Longbottom, what on earth is the matter?" she hissed, glaring at him, but he just gulped, his Adam's apple moving furiously. "Speak up!"

Snape paused as he was about to stride past them, smirking evilly, his black eyes glittering. "In trouble again, Longbottom. Why am I not surprised?" he said softly, before continuing towards the High Table. Neville followed his sweeping walk with fearful eyes.

Secessa took her student by the arm. "A word, if you please, Mr Longbottom."

Her anger building, she took him aside, still frowning sternly at him. He looked as if he was about to start crying. Secessa took a deep breath and managed to soften a little, as it would not do to upset students in front of the entire staff.

She tried to make her voice kind, and almost succeeded. "You're a good student, Mr Longbottom, and you work hard, but I expect my NEWT students to be able to look fear in the eye without flinching. However threatening Professor Snape's sweet-pilfering may seem," (Longbottom started) "he is nothing compared to a hydra, or a banshee. I cannot accept this behaviour from you, as it sets a bad example for the other students, is this understood?"

He nodded diffidently.

"Good boy. Now Professor Snape is certainly not the most fearful beast in the world, so I suggest you meet his gaze with a bit more stigma. You are a Gryffindor, after all. Whatever punishments he gives to you, the worst is the one you give yourself by acting this way, as it will affect your performance in class."

The boy just stared at her. Then he nodded again. Smiling tensely, she managed to give him a mock severe look. "Now return to your table and think about this during dinner!"

And with that, she left him and walked angrily up towards the teachers' tables, where Severus Snape was sitting looking at her, a thin smile still playing on his lips. Realising that her whole out-lash at poor Neville also had been an out-lash at herself, she sat down on her chair with a sigh. I am thirty-six years old and I fear a man who steals sweets from children! I should hex him here and now!

"One of my greatest enjoyments of late is not having to teach that infernal Longbottom," he said. "And I am certain that your concern for him is not worth the bother."

Secessa was not sure what she was more annoyed at: herself, Longbottom or Severus Snape.

"I can manage my students without your help, thank you!" she replied with a snarl. He raised an eyebrow, and looked mildly offended.

The Potions professor was still in an annoyingly good mood as food appeared on the tables. She did not dare to guess what had made his day - but hopefully it was just something involving the punishment of Gryffindors, and not anything concerning deaths or mutilations. Why the Headmaster would have him teach youngsters was completely beyond her.

Scanning the plates and pots, Secessa morosely tried her best to find food that did not seem to include sugar or pumpkin paste, and in the end managed to find a shepherd's pie underneath a tray of fruits. Snape waited for her to have a piece, and then unceremoniously scraped the rest onto his own plate. She gave him a sour look, and he raised an innocent eyebrow a second time, which made her seethe even more. Well, I suppose I'll just have wine then, she thought to herself, and fuming with anger at the gloating man she poured herself a glass.

She was happy that Snape did not seem to notice her inner turmoil, and listened to Flitwick and Sinistra discussing Quidditch for a while, ignoring him. The wine was good, and she sipped at it, trying to calm down. Eventually, however, Flitwick's attention was taken away by some bats going rampage, and she was left without company to the left as he abruptly left the table to chase them with his wand. Very unwilling to talk to Snape again, she tried to seem absorbed in thought.

Her peace did not last for long, as Snape seemed determined to speak with her and casually offered her some dessert.

"I hear that you have a different tradition at Durmstrang," he said smoothly as she accepted a very small piece of cake. "Something called...the Night of the Dead?"

She stared at him. How did he know? Then she realised he would probably have known Karkaroff, before he was killed.

"Yes. It is a more solemn tradition than this, though. Not as entertaining, I suppose."

She tried to look away, as if she had nothing more to say. But he was undeterred.

"Some sort of...procession, I understand?"

She considered him more sharply this time. Where was he getting at? Had his Death Eater friends asked him to question her about her involvement in the Dark Celebrations?

"Yes, the teachers, ghosts and seventh-years hold it," she said carefully. "The Headmaster leads the procession, of course, carrying a green flame torch. More ceremonial than anything." She tried to sound as if she had hardly participated, but found it hard to concentrate as her head was simmering slightly. Now why did he have to bring this up, she thought desperately.

"The symbol of the Necromancers," muttered Snape, "How fitting. I assume it was a charm."

She almost bit her tongue. The wine had clearly gone to her head and made her too talkative. She was hiding enough secrets to arouse the interest of a hundred such as Snape, and she had no idea how to improve her relationship with him the way Dumbledore had asked of her. However, she did not want to be caught lying - the Potions master might be well informed about Durmstrang traditions, and simply pretending not to be in order to gain her confidence.

"No, it was real, but very small of course," she muttered. Snape seemed amused, but she was not sure whether he was surprised or not.

"You are mistaken, Necromancy is a forgotten art and practised in secret, if at all."

She paused. Just in case he was skilled at Legilimency, she had to tell the truth. "One of the teachers conjured it," she said casually.

Snape turned towards her slowly and looked at her intently. His attentiveness showed that he had heard nothing of this before. Maybe he had not been that close to Karkaroff, after all? Or perhaps the Death Eaters did not know each other that well?

"Necromancy has been banned since the 14th century." His dark eyes seemed to penetrate her. "Surely you do not mean to tell me it is being taught at Durmstrang?"

"Of course not. It is an extremely hazardous art."

"So, who was the perpetrator?"

She could not make herself meet his eyes. "Khuditskii, the old Dark Arts teacher. He was fascinated by the art and spent many months in Eastern Europe, pursuing it. He died before he learnt to control it properly." But I did, she thought, trying to stop her insides from quivering.

Snape leaned back a little, looking suspicious.

"So...why didn't anyone continue his work? Surely, there would have been several teachers who were interested?"

Trying to look indifferent, she carefully guided her words into a truthful sentence as she looked at him. "Oh, he was very secretive. Hid all his journals and that. He wanted all the power to himself I suppose."

The Potions master nodded slowly. Secessa sighed inwardly, knowing that she had not lied, and that she had gotten herself out of a bundle. What if he found out about the knowledge she carried? If he was a Death Eater he would bring her to be questioned by the Dark Lord, and if he wasn't she would be banned in an instant from all Wizarding Society. Well, all of the society that mattered to her, anyway. The mere thought of her troubles almost brought tears to her eyes, which was very unusual, and she realised that she had had far too much wine.

Eventually, Professor Flitwick started speaking to her and she was more than happy to get away from professor Snape's attention. Flitwick was smiling as he spoke of charms that controlled small mammals, and she was happy to move into a safer subject.

A little while later, the Potions master rose from his chair, and Secessa managed to nod politely at him as he gathered his robes. As his eyes met hers, she thought she saw a hint of suspicion in them. So I have not managed to convince him, then. He left the table without a word, and she left shortly after him; she was no longer in the mood for festive activities. So many secrets, she thought gloomily to herself as she re-entered her chambers a while later, when will this charade end?

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Author notes: There are more chapters waiting to be read! Thanks for reading and please review!