Visions of Deception

Chapter Forty-Four:

Liliann entered Severus' quarters and stepped over the mess in the living room. She entered his bedchamber and found her bottomless bag. Throwing it onto the bed she began to gather all of her things. She threw everything into the bag uncaring of how it landed. After a few minutes she zipped up the bag and looked around to be sure she had gotten everything. Just as she was about to walk out of the room she remembered that her father's necklace was still in the potions cupboard. She retrieved it, placing it around her neck. Satisfied that she had collected all of her belongings she walked out of the room just as Severus was entering. He stood in the doorway.

"Get out of my way," she demanded. He moved without a sound and she walked past him.

"Liliann," he began.

"What?" she snapped whirling around to look at him. "You want to throw another insult at me before I leave? I'm tired of fighting with you. Have a nice day Professor," she said coldly turning to leave.

"Don't go," he said finding his voice.

"Why shouldn't I go?" she asked. "You don't love me, I am just a disappointment here to occupy your time until something better came along."

"That's not true," he said. "I do love you,"

"Sure you do." She said. She managed to reach the doorway before anything else was said.

"Lily please," he said

"Do not refer to me so informally sir," she said, "you will refer to me as Professor or Miss Nightshade, is that quite clear?"

He nodded numbly and with that she was gone. He sank to the floor unable to cry or scream. He was completely numb and unsure of what to do next.

* * * * *

Remus and Sirius left the infirmary shortly after Liliann had ushering the students back to the Gryffindor commons room. They then returned to Remus' living quarters to discuss the problem at hand.

"Tomorrow's a full moon," Remus reminded Sirius.

"I know. I plan on locking you in here until you're fully changed. Have you been taking the potion?" Sirius asked.

"Yes," Remus said. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know," Sirius said shaking his head and wrapping his arms around Remus. "I just don't know."

The two stood there, arms wrapped around each other until they were too tired to stand any longer. They walked over to the bed and lay together, unable to sleep. The sun set and rose once more. Only when the feast was about to start did they rise, Sirius decided to go to the feast hoping to find Liliann. He locked Remus' door with a special charm and ran to the Great hall. He was frightened to discover that she had not been seen since the incident in the infirmary.

Dashing back to Remus' quarters he was greeted by a full-grown wolf that had fear in his eyes.

"I think we need to go find Snape," Sirius said and Remus walked toward the door in agreement.

* * * * *

Chapter Forty-Five:

Severus sat on the floor and watched the sun set and rise realizing that Halloween had come. How was he to protect her now? Time passed swiftly and soon the Halloween feast had started and still Severus Snape sat on the floor of his quarters. He did not move until he heard a knock on the door. When he did not answer the door swung open and Sirius ran in with Remus in full wolf form on his heels.

"Where's Lily?" Sirius demanded.

* * * * *

Liliann returned to her quarters and threw the bag onto the sofa. She felt there was no use unpacking it; she was going to die soon. Less work for whomever had to clean out her room. She stood on her balcony all night, watching the sun set and rise again, realizing that it was Halloween day. When the feast started she went into the bathroom and took a shower. Violet meowed in protest as she dressed but Liliann paid no attention. Dressed in her favorite robes of green she wrote a short letter saying good-bye, lay her wand upon her dresser and set out for the Shrieking shack. Violet ran in the opposite direction as if she hoped to find help.

* * * * *

Liliann replayed the scene the vision had shown her over in her mind and found the Womping Willow tree with little difficulty. She was unsure of how to make it move. Just as she was about to turn around the tree moved to reveal a passageway. Liliann walked down it without fear. She heard sounds behind her, as if a small animal was following her. She turned and looked around.

"Peter?" she called out. The sound of small feet stopped. "Peter, if that's you, show yourself." She called out. She heard another noise and was unsure of what it was. The shadow of a man appeared and Peter Petigrew stepped out of that shadow.

"Aryana," he said coldly. He walked over to her and wrapped his arm around hers. "Shall we?" he asked mockingly, a cruel smiled spreading across his face.

"As you wish," was all Liliann had to say. She and Peter walked arm and arm to the Shrieking shack.

* * * * *

Violet meowed helplessly. She was a confused little kitten whose master was in trouble and she could find no one. The poor kitten sat in the middle of the entrance hall and began to cry. She walked in small circles unsure of what she was to do. Remembering the long set of steps that Liliann had carried her down she found her way to the dungeon. She sat at the wall sure that it opened and meowed loudly.

* * * * *

Chapter Forty-Six:

Severus looked up at Sirius numbly. "I don't know where she is," he said.

Sirius felt helpless. Would she go to the Shrieking shack alone? He looked to Remus who had tilted his head to one side as if he heard something. He did hear something. He raced toward the door and Sirius and Severus were right behind him. When they reached the dungeons they found Violet crying helplessly.

"I'm going to Liliann's quarters," Severus declared scooping the small cat from the floor and running at break neck speeds toward Liliann's quarters.

When they entered Severus ran directly to her bedchamber. He noticed her bag on the bed and the wand on the dresser. He walked over to the dresser to find the letter she had written.

Remus, Sirius, and Severus,

If you are reading this I am either on my way to death or already dead. As I'm sure you've guessed I went to the Shrieking Shack alone to face Peter alone. I have lost everything and feel I have nothing left to lose. If you are reading this and I am in fact dead, please give Violet back to Severus. He can decide what happens to her. Tell the students good-bye for me and tell Harry that I'm sorry I couldn't do more to help him. I am sorry that I put everyone through so much. Remus, Sirius, I love you two like brothers and I am glad you found each other, you both deserve to be happy and loved. Obviously I don't deserve that. Tell Severus that I love him, despite the things we went through in our short time together. I don't know what to tell you to do with my things, I have no family left. Hermione may have my books, I'm sure that she will enjoy them. The chess set can be given to Ron; I have noticed that he enjoys playing. Remus and Sirius are in charge of being sure that these things are carried out and they are also responsible for the removal of my things. Had I had more time, I would have packed up the room for you. I am sorry I have caused you so much extra work and sleepless nights. I never meant to cause this much trouble.

Liliann

The letter was smeared as if she had been crying when she wrote it. Severus crumbled into a small pile of sobs on the floor, the letter falling at his feet.

"We're too late," Severus sobbed. Violet walked over to him and crawled into his lap, meowing.

"No we're not, get up," Sirius said to Severus. "We're going to the Shrieking Shack, I'm not going to let him kill her,"

With that Sirius, Severus, and Remus rushed out the door of Liliann's quarters and toward the Shrieking Shaking hoping that time was on their side.

* * * * *

Chapter Forty-Seven:

Peter led Liliann down the passageway and into the Shrieking Shack. He sat her in a chair and turned his back to her.

"Are you this anxious to die?" he asked her mockingly. She said nothing. He turned to look at her, his eyes blazing with hate. "Are you!" he bellowed.

"Yes," she said quietly. "Strike Peter. Kill me."

He blinked and stepped back. "What are you up to?" he asked. "And where is Severus?"

"I don't know where Snape is and I don't care. You've come to kill me now do it," she said. "I am up to nothing. I am simply tired of running from you. If you are going to kill me it will be tonight, here, and now."

He looked in her eyes and realized that she was in fact serious. His temper flared. How dare she do this? He stalked over to her, picked her up from the chair and threw her into the wall. She hit it hard, her head bouncing off the wall and she fell to the ground. She lay there, waiting for him to strike her. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, wishing for death. He picked her up by her hair and threw her onto the nearby bed.

"Why do you want death so badly now?" he demanded baffled by her behavior.

"I have wanted death for a long time Peter. My invitation is open to anyone." She simply stated. He raised his wand prepared to strike her and stopped.

"You lack the courage of your conviction sir," she said. She stood and removed her robes to reveal a long sleeved white dress. "Do it," she instructed.

Peter looked at her filled with confusion. He was there to kill her but he wanted her to fight. To beg for her life. Instead she was inviting death with open arms. He decided that it didn't matter how she died as long as she did so. He raised his wand and looked at her smiling.

"As you wish Aryana," he said. "Crucio," he uttered.

Liliann collapsed to the ground and screamed in pain. She hadn't expected it to hurt this terribly but it didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered. She was going to die and everyone would go back to their normal lives. She wouldn't be around to cause any more trouble. She heard Peter cackle gleefully as she screamed. He struck her twice more and she stopped fighting the pain. When the third strike began to subside she closed her eyes and rolled over onto her back. She opened her eyes to find Peter standing over her, his face twisted in an evil grin.

Just as he was about to strike her for the fourth time he heard a noise.

"Damn," he said looking toward the door. He realized that the Calvary would be entering any moment and then his chances of killing her would be ruined. "I hate to cut this short," he said taunting her, "but you're friends are coming to rescue you. We can't have that happen now can we?" he asked mockingly. He pointed his wand at her chest directly above the compass her father had given her.

"Avada Kadavra," he said. The spell flew from his wand, struck Liliann, but rather than kill her it bounced back and hit Peter, throwing him across the room. Liliann took a deep and painful breath and fell into unconsciousness.

* * * * *

Chapter Forty-Eight:

Sirius, Severus, and Remus reached the womping willow tree just in time to hear Liliann's screams. Risking being pulverized by the tree Sirius ran to it, pushing on the knot and revealing the passageway. Remus darted between the two of them, running as fast as he could. The screams stopped and the group thought that they were too late. When they entered the Shrieking Shack they found Liliann on the ground, her lips almost blue, her skin white as marble and across the room was Peter. He too was lying on the ground, unmoving.

Severus ran to Liliann and tried to find her pulse. His hands were trembling and his vision was blurry from the tears welling up in his eyes. Meanwhile Remus and Sirius went over to Peter's unmoving body. They rolled him over and realized that he was dead.

"She killed him," Sirius said in shock. Severus had not heard him. He was cradling Liliann in his arms sobbing.

"I'm so sorry," he sobbed rocking her back and forth. "I didn't mean what I said, oh god what have I done?" he asked. "I did not want this to happen. I wanted to come find you and make things right. I didn't want to lose you," he continued. Remus and Sirius went over to him and attempted to lay her back onto the ground. Severus would not let them. He continued to rock her back and forth, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Is she breathing?" Sirius asked. Severus looked at him as if he had no idea what he was talking about.

He too checked for a pulse but could not find one. "I thought we would get here in time," he said numbly.

"Liliann, oh God Liliann," Severus sobbed. "I love you and I am so sorry," he said. "Please don't go," he said. "You said he wouldn't kill her," Severus said numbly.

"I thought we would get to her in time," Sirius said again, tears falling from his eyes. "I loved her as much as you did. He must have hit her with the Cruciatus Curse at least twice, she put up a hell of a fight, " Sirius said trying to think of something to say.

"You'd be surprised what you can live through," a small voice croaked.

* * * * *

Chapter Forty-Nine:

Liliann was in terrible pain and closed her eyes. She had to get up but she didn't know if her legs would work. When she closed her eyes she fell into unconsciousness. Part of her wanted to let death take her, she was so close. She felt someone cradling her seemingly lifeless body, she heard familiar voices, and she felt tears falling on her face. She had to decide if she wanted to live or die now. She heard Severus say he loved her and she heard the guilt in Sirius' voice. No, she did not want death. She had to go back. Her dying like this would create nothing but grief. She had to be strong and come back to fight Peter and others like him.

She began to open her eyes just as Sirius was trying to find the silver lining on the storm cloud. He was praising her bravery. She had to say something.

"You'd be surprised what you can live through," she croaked. Severus looked down at her and did not know how to react. She was alive. He hugged her tightly and she squealed in pain.

"Ow, hurt, hug's bad," she gasped. Severus leaned down and kissed her on the lips as gently as he could.

"Liliann, I love you, I'm so sorry about..." he began.

"Shhh," she said. "We can talk later, just get me to the infirmary now," she said wincing in pain.

Sirius nodded and conjured up a stretcher. They placed her on it gently and raced to the infirmary.

* * * * *

When they reached the infirmary Sirius looked to Remus.

"Go find Dumbledore," he said and Remus scampered off.

Madam Pomfrey looked at Liliann in dismay. She waved her wand in a vain attempt to alleviate the pain.

"I don't know what to do for her," Madam Pomfrey said. Severus looked over at Liliann feeling helpless. He wanted to help her, to do something. Sirius was overly frustrated with the situation and looked from Madam Pomfrey to Severus.

"Don't you have a potion for this?" he demanded.

"A potion!" Severus said feeling as if his brain had been switched back on. He dashed from the infirmary and down to the dungeons. He went through dozens of books before he found what he was looking for. He worked feverishly, hoping that the potion he was brewing would help her.

* * * * *

Chapter Fifty:

Sirius paced back and forth in the infirmary. Severus had run off over five hours ago and still had not returned. Remus was back with Dumbledore in tow and was curled up at the foot of Liliann's bed. Dumbledore was alarmed when he noticed Liliann's condition and Sirius told him what had happened.

"Why was I not informed of this before today?" he demanded.

"We thought we could handle it," Sirius said helplessly. "Everything happened so quickly,"

"I see," Dumbledore said. "I suppose I should cancel classes for Monday," he said a sad look on his face. "I'm afraid she may in fact die,"

Dumbledore silently left the infirmary. He returned to his office and sat behind his desk deep in thought. How would he explain the death of a Professor to his students without creating panic? He didn't want to think about it. He was displeased that he had not been informed of the situation. Suddenly feeling very tired Dumbledore dozed off behind his desk hoping to wake to good news.

* * * * *

Severus finally finished the potion when Sirius came storming into the dungeons.

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded.

"I just finished a potion that I think will help her," he said handing Sirius a bottle. "It was very hard to make," he picked up two more bottles and walked toward the stairs. He turned and looked at Sirius. "Please, tell me she's still alive," he begged.

"Barely, Dumbledore doesn't think she is going to make it," Sirius said gravely.

Severus shook his head. "She'll live," he declared and with that he darted up the stairs and toward the infirmary with Sirius on his heels. On the way to the infirmary Severus made a small detour to Liliann's quarters to retrieve Violet. The kitten greeted him by jumping on his leg and meowing as if she too wanted answers. Severus plucked her from the floor and ran to the infirmary.

Severus came to a halt beside Liliann's bed. He laid Violet on the pillow above her head. The kitten did not make a sound; she just curled up beside Liliann's head. Liliann was lying there and it looked as if breathing caused her pain. He walked over to her and took the cap off of the bottle of potion.

"Can you sit up?" he asked her. She attempted to but could barely move her arms. Severus lifted her and a wave of memories came flooding back to him. He remember the first time he had held her this way, to help cure her headache, and how he had not wanted to let her go. This time he would not. Her head fell back, her mouth opened, and he poured a generous amount of the potion into her mouth, gently raising her head so that she would not choke. She grimaced and forced herself to swallow the potion. He placed the bottle on the bedside table and held her close.

"I'm sorry Liliann," he said. "I never should have snapped at you the way I did. I don't deserve you." He continued to hold her. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Within a few moments she was asleep and he laid her back onto the bed.

"How long do we have to wait? To see if this miracle potion of yours works?" Sirius asked him.

"A few hours," Severus said.

Having said that Severus, Sirius, and Remus settled down in the infirmary awaiting the results of the potion. Because they were all exhausted everyone including Violet fell asleep.

* * * * *

Chapter Fifty-One:

The sun shone into the infirmary and onto Liliann's face. She pulled the blankets up over her face and rolled over almost rolling over Violet in the process. The kitten nuzzled close to Liliann who pushed her to the side. Realizing that she had moved without pain she sat up in bed and looked around. Remus and Sirius had pushed two of the beds together and were sound asleep. She looked to the floor beside her bed to find Severus asleep.

"The potion worked," she whispered to herself. She picked Violet up and rubbed her nose against the kitten's. Laying Violet back onto the pillow she turned to the right side of the bed and slowly got out of bed. She was a bit unstable at first but was walking fine by the time she made it to the window. She looked outside to find Hagrid walking toward the castle and she smiled. She walked over to where Severus slept and sat on the floor beside him. Running her fingers through his hair she felt nothing but love for him.

"Severus," she said more to herself than him. "I hope we can fix everything. I hope you still love me as much as I love you," she said. She looked away from him now, unaware that he had awakened. "I didn't mean to keep anything from you," she continued. "I just didn't think it was an important detail, I didn't mean to make you feel that I didn't trust you."

"It's okay," he said startling her. She looked at him and smiled. "I love you Liliann," he said. He sat up and she kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and they were content to sit on the floor together. Sirius sat up and looked across the room spotting the two of them and gave out a happy yell.

"It worked!" he shouted. Remus woke with a start and smiled gleefully when he saw Liliann on the floor with Severus. Both Remus and Sirius jumped out of bed and ran over to them. Before Severus could protest they had wrapped the two of them in a hug. They all sat on the floor now, happy that things had turned out so well. Meowing, Violet joined the group on the floor curling up in Liliann lap purring contently. Liliann sat between those she considered family, patting her kitten gently and sighed contently.

Dumbledore looked in on this display and decided not to bother them.

Liliann looked around her and smiled. She felt as if she had been given a new family. Remus and Sirius were like brothers to her and Severus loved her. She felt free at last. She didn't have to run or hide anymore. She didn't have to wonder if anyone recognized her. She could go to sleep at night without fear. She had survived Peter and she could now concentrate on her new life.

Looking from Severus to Sirius and then to Remus she said, "I love you, all of you," they hugged her once more and Liliann smiled. Free at last. She thought to herself.

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