The Necromancer Amulet

Author's Notes: Thanks to both Elysia Snape and DarkLadyofSlytherin for encouragements and excellent beta-reading!

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Chapter Eleven - An Unexpected Message

Secessa's insides were in turmoil as she went down for breakfast the next morning. In the corridor outside the teacher's entrance to the Main Hall, she bumped into Dumbledore, who greeted her with his usual beaming smile.

"Good morning Secessa, I trust yesterday's duelling practice went well?"

"Oh, yes," she stammered, feeling her cheeks redden, "the students did well."

"Good, I will look forward to a continuation of the practices after Christmas."

Smiling nervously back at him as he opened the door leading to the Hall, she nodded, and went straight to her seat at the High table. Snape was already seated, and she tried to look casual as she sat down next to him. He did not acknowledge her presence; his gaze was focused on some students. She had no idea what to do.

Suddenly he muttered, from the corner of his mouth, "We need to talk."

"Yes, I know," she answered quietly.

There was a strange expression in his eyes as he briefly glanced at her, and then sent a dour look up the Headmaster's way. "I am glad you agree. After breakfast?"

She managed to nod, and he very casually sipped at his tea as he opened a copy of the Daily Prophet. Her insides were tense as she forcefully finished her toast with the look of one who had no cares in the world.

Suddenly, there was a sound of wings, and soon the Hall was filled with a large flock of owls that circled around to bring the post to the students. Secessa did not expect any letters, so she was very surprised to see a scruffy-looking, small, grey owl fly up to her unsteadily and land on her shoulder. It stretched out a leg and she retrieved the roll of parchment that was tied to it. The owl hooted tiredly and flew off, obviously with an effort. She broke the seal of the parchment and opened it to find a smaller, red parchment, inside. Unfolding it, she gasped, her insides chilling with fear. There was no message, just a "V" written in black ink, and the red parchment burst into flame within seconds.

The Potions master watched her intently as she rose from her chair hastily, the charred remnants of the letter slipping away from her slightly shaking fingers, and he rose with her. Some students gave them curious looks.

"Outside," he muttered, and nodded to Dumbledore as he led her away from the table and out of the Hall.

"My office will be the closest," he continued, once they were out of sight of the students, and he led her though the corridor and downstairs towards the dungeons. Opening the door to his office, he showed her inside.

The room was shrouded in shadow, and shelves with a variety of rare potion ingredients in glass jars lined the walls. Their dull gleam created an oppressive atmosphere, which was no doubt the intention of the office occupant.

"Sit," he said, and she obeyed meekly as she was still in shock, choosing one of the chairs facing the desk. He opened a cupboard, retrieved a bottle of brandy and a glass, and poured her some. She took the glass with heavy fingers, and the Potions master sat down behind his desk, crossing his arms.

"Our other business can wait for now, don't you think?" he said softly, without his usual sarcasm.

Looking at him warily, she nodded. Was this a trick of his, to gain her confidence?

"You have received a warning." It was a statement.

"Yes."

"From whom?"

She looked at him with defiance for a moment, and then realised that her best way of smoothening over yesterday's events was to be obliging - to an extent. After all, she still had not found enough reasons to trust him.

"From Vladimir," she said shortly.

"One of the escapees of Durmstrang. Would you care to tell me what is going on? The whole truth this time."

She was surprised at the ease with which he had put yesterday's events aside, to focus on the present. He seemed concerned, but wary and sharp, and she realised she saw a side of him that she had only briefly glimpsed before. However, she was not about to get too friendly with him.

"I must go to him. It is a matter of loyalty."

"Really?" His face was set in stone. There was a tap at the door, and Snape looked up. "Enter."

Dumbledore walked in, followed by Professor McGonagall. They both strode up behind Snape's desk, and with two elegant flicks of his wand the Headmaster conjured up two comfortable chintz chairs, absent-mindedly following this with a third flick at the fireplace, where flames erupted. They obviously planned for a long session with her.

"I think," said Dumbledore quietly, after they had sat down, "that we have a right to know why you have received a letter of warning today."

"Yes," answered Secessa, relieved to have him present, but filled with apprehension nevertheless, "you do." She paused. Feeling cornered, she realised that she had no other options but to tell them what they wanted to know.

"The letter is from Vladimir, calling me to Russia," she said, her eyes on the floor. "As to why he has called for me...it is a long story."

"Tell us everything, from the beginning," said Dumbledore calmly. "Take your time."

Secessa sighed again, and then looked at the three of them, resolutely. "The reason that I have withheld some things of my past from you is not from a whim, it is because of a pledge between my two friends and me. By telling you this, I will break my word, but if it will get me quicker to Vladimir, so be it."

"And with Vladimir you mean the librarian from Durmstrang?" McGonagall asked.

'Yes, and he is a close friend of mine, if you remember. He and I and our friend Elena are all in on this together. The...misfortune...all began when I found the travel journals of the old Dark Arts teacher of Durmstrang, Khuditskii, in a hidden space in my office."

They were all listening intently now, and there was nothing she could do but continue. She took a deep breath. "You are all familiar with the Necromancers?" she asked them faintly.

"A union of dark wizards in the 14th century that was destroyed by a joined effort of the European ministries. There were some Muggle killings I believe, that lead to their discovery," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "but of their workings, I know little since all the evidence was destroyed. It was deemed to evil to stay within wizarding knowledge."

Secessa nodded. "It was a Ministry raid on their Headquarters in former Tcheckoslovakia that became the downfall of their movement. However, there was one survivor."

Both Snape's and McGonagall's eyes narrowed at her words. Dumbledore did not change his expression, still listening intently.

"The old Dark Arts teacher of Durmstrang under whom I trained," she continued "was obsessed with the idea of bringing the art of Necromancy back into the wizarding community. There were rumours of the re-emergence of the knowledge amongst Eastern European wizards, which, as you know, led to the banning of Necromancy in the 1950's in many countries. But, this also led to a small pilgrimage of dark wizards to Tcheckoslovakia, and my tutor Khuditskii was one of them. He did not tell me of his journeys, but it was evident that he had gained some knowledge of the arts. However, he had problems invoking the power."

"One day, Khuditskii grew so desperate that he had me assisting him in his efforts, and then, suddenly, the magic worked. We sacrificed a rat, invoked a green flame, and called the rat's spirit back from the dead. Then we forced the spirit back into the body, and it could move of its own accord, albeit dead. The rat went mad of course, we had to destroy it."

Secessa paused. McGonagall seemed appalled and Snape looked at her with a mix of deep interest and distaste. Dumbledore wore a thoughtful frown.

"You see, the skill of Necromancy, as so many other arts, is partly determined by heritage, or if you will, blood. It seems that I carry the predisposition for this magic. You might even call me a Necromancer, if you wish." She paused, to wait for their reactions. The room was silent.

"However, working the arts of Necromancy horrified me," she continued. "I found the potential uses repugnant, in most cases. And so, although I was terrified of him discovering me, I pretended to Khuditskii that my magic was weak, and he could never get very far in his endeavours."

Dumbledore nodded gravely.

"You were deceiving him right before his very eyes. A dangerous game, he was a powerful wizard." She smiled briefly, grateful that he had not condemned her instantly.

"Luckily, I did not have to keep up the charade for long. Khudiskii was old, the magic was straining for him, and he soon died, just a few months after we had started the trials. It was when I took over his office that I found the hidden storage space situated above the tunnel that I used making my escape from Durmstrang. His travel journals were hidden in that room, and I read them."

Secessa paused for a short while; Snape's office was stuffy, and she felt trapped. McGonagall shifted position in her chair. "And?"

"Professor Khuditskii had indeed found the only survivor of the Necromancer cult. A pile of priesthood robes, in a cave far up in the mountains, preserved by the cold. No one bothered to look there since it was assumed everyone was killed at the attack. And from a crevice in the rock above the robes he retrieved an amulet and some old, scorched books of Necromancy Lore."

Dumbledore frowned again. "History says the High Priest of the Necromancers wore some sort of amulet, but both him, and the amulet, were reduced to ash in the battle."

Secessa shook her head. "The one who wears the amulet cannot die, unless he chooses to. The writings concerning the amulet were very clear: the amulet works as a shield and a catalyst of power. The man, who probably indeed was the High Priest, had burned up freely from within, for the cause, he claimed. He meant for the amulet to grow stronger and for the arts to survive, so he instilled his power, and his knowledge, to be taken up by the next bearer. Luckily, Khuditskii could not awaken the amulet since he lacked the predisposition."

"But you did, " Snape stated.

Secessa nodded.

"I handled it very carefully, of course, when I found it, but I decided it had to be buried out of sight, under a powerful seal. And so, I asked Vladimir and Elena to help me seal the amulet away in a hiding place up in the Ural Mountains. We went to a cave that I had found there, and sealed the amulet into the stone itself, with the power of three wands. Unfortunately, on the way there, the amulet awoke in my hand. And I was cursed, or more appropriately, marked as a receiver."

She carefully brought out her right hand, showing the white, jagged wheel on her palm - the contours of the amulet. McGonagall gasped and bent over to study it. Dumbledore leaned closer too, but Snape, having already seen it, leaned back in his chair and watched her face carefully instead. She kept his gaze for a while and then looked down on her hand.

"My dreams have not been my own since. I have to set up strong wards every night so that my mind is not invaded. The amulet calls for me."

"What happens in those dreams?" The soft question from Snape brought her eyes back to him again.

"I am being taught the old incantations and runes, and my mind is being forced into...obedience. Although I have only been subjected to the dreams a couple of times, the curse-scar seems already able to invoke my magic without my own consent."

He nodded, as if having confirmed something to himself. "Like yesterday, with the spider."

So he had noticed. Dumbledore and McGonagall just looked at her thoughtfully, both seemingly well informed. Then Dumbledore spoke again.

"And the warning?"

"Vladimir has been sought out by Death Eaters, and has managed to get away. My guess is that the Death Eaters found the journals and connected the absence of the amulet with our escape."

The four of them were quiet for a while. Finally, Minerva McGonagall said,

"Well, this certainly sheds a light on things."

Secessa looked up at her. "Meaning?" McGonagall glanced at Dumbledore.

"This must be the explanation for the low Death Eater activity around Hogwarts," Dumbledore continued calmly. "They are focussing on something else. This amulet you talk about would give Voldemort great power, wouldn't it?"

Secessa nodded. "I will have to retrieve it. And I will have to get both of my friends out of Russia, too." It was the only solution; she had realised this as soon as she received the letter.

The three of them stared at her. Finally Snape spoke. "Well, that is very brave of you Professor Laburova, but you realise that going to Durmstrang right now would be utterly stupid."

Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged glances. Minerva cleared her throat, looking at her worriedly.

"Maybe when the time is right, and with some company..."

Secessa looked back at her sternly. "This is my mess, and I will deal with it as I see proper. And as to waiting for the right opportunity - there is a good chance that the Death Eaters will find out where the amulet is hidden, my friends are out there with their lives in peril right now, and you ask me to do nothing? I am sorry, but this is not how I function."

Dumbledore looked at her thoughtfully. "Maybe if you waited a day or two, then I could find someone to go with you..."

She shook her head. "I will have to Apparate, to save time. No one else would know where to go but me. Besides, even if someone would be able to follow, that person would still have to cross the tundra with me in the freezing cold. It would slow me down, and I would have another life to worry about on top of the others."

There was a long pause. Dumbledore finally sighed. "You'll have to be very, very careful, of course."

"Certainly. I always am."

"And do not get into any duels unless you absolutely have to."

Do they think I'm out of my mind?

"Contrary to popular belief, I am neither hasty nor stupid," she growled. Snape's facial expression told her that he most certainly thought otherwise.

"At least leave tonight, in the cover of darkness," the Headmaster continued.

Secessa inclined her head. "Is there anyone who could take care of my classes tomorrow, in case anything should happen?"

Dumbledore turned around to the Potions master. Snape looked at them surly.

"I would be delighted, of course," he snarled.

Dumbledore smiled. "Thank you, Severus. The matter is settled then." Then he turned to Secessa again. "I shall ask Hagrid to take you to an apparition-spot in the Forbidden Forest. Seek him out tonight, after dark." He suddenly looked very sad. "If there was anything more we could do for you, we would, but under the circumstances..."

She nodded. He and McGonagall rose and made for the door, and Secessa was about to follow them when Snape addressed her.

"May I have a minute, Professor Laburova?"

"Yes, of course," she said with trepidation.

They waited for the office door to close. The Potions master looked at her with an unreadable face.

"About yesterday."

"Yes?"

"We were both...tired, after a long day."

She stared at him. Am I really hearing this? Almost an apology, from Snape?

"And when one is tired, one does things that are not...properly considered." He paused again, obviously waiting for some response, but she was too stunned to give him one.

"Do you see where I'm aiming at, or do I need to explain myself further?" He suddenly looked very irritated.

She shook her head. "I understand."

His eyes met hers for a fraction of a second and then he looked down again, busying himself with some parchment. She rose, wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible. He did not look up as she exited his office.

*

She went to Hagrid's hut later that night, clad in her old Muggle outfit underneath her warm Durmstrang cloak, carrying a small bundle of essentials. I leave dressed as I arrive, she thought as she knocked on his door. Hagrid opened, unkempt as usual, carrying a lantern, a crossbow and a quiver of arrows, having obviously been waiting for her.

"All righ' then?" he said to her, and she nodded. He called his dog with a "Come on, Fang!" and the huge dog leaped up and followed them out of the door. Secessa was thankful for their company, which made her trip into the forest a bit safer. However interesting the beasts in there might be, she had no plans of running into anything before she had even left Hogwarts.

"Goin' back ter Durmstrang then, I hear," Hagrid said, as they walked down a path covered in moss and tree-roots.

"Yes," she answered grimly, "I have some old business to take care of."

"Well, I hope yeh'll arrive back in one piece. No accountin' fer how that place's turned out, with the Death Eaters there an' all."

She nodded, and there seemed to be little more to say.

A good fifteen minutes later they arrived at a clearing.

"The castle's anti-apparition wards 'ave bin taken away from this clearin'," Hagrid said, "just be sure yeh arrive back at the same spot, alrigh'?"

She nodded. Then she remembered something.

"There is a possibility, albeit small, that I might need some medical attention when I get back."

Hagrid nodded.

"I'll sort tha' out fer yeh. Shall someone meet yeh out here?"

"That would probably be best. I'll be back in a couple of hours, I should think. I'll send up some sparks if I'm injured." She hadn't planned on staying in Russia longer than necessary, with all those Death Eaters breathing down her neck.

He nodded and turned to leave.

"Hagrid..." He turned to look at her. "Thanks for taking me," she said, feeling some pleasantries were appropriate.

He beamed. "No need ter thank me. I told Dumbledore it'd be a pleasure, an' it was."

She smiled curtly, gave him a nod, and Disapparated.

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Author notes: Thanks for reading and please review. All comments are welcome!