Nonetheless

Nonetheless: Sirena's Induction

The fumes were toxic, she was sure, but they smelled delicious nonetheless.

She watched the house burn , awe apparent on her face, blissfully unaware of the blood trickling from the corner of her lips.

Snape was not quite so dazed and was, rather, concealing his horror at the destruction that had been inflicted upon the London family. They had no name, no face to him, but they were still gone...save the blood on the newly initiated girl's mouth.

"Half-vampire," he heard before they left. "Half-werewolf, too. That Lupin guy's daughter. She'll be a killing machine," the man said gleefully, behind the silver mask of a Death Eater.

He had heard that said of her in the past. It was seen a far less positive light then.

He gazed upon the back his former student, little more than halfway through her school career, though currently homeschooled, after leaving Hogwarts. She would be powerful, no doubt. She would be too powerful, if anything. And she would be the killer he'd always hoped she would avoid becoming.

Her hair cascaded down her back, reaching down to where the robes hugged her noticeably well-rounded hips. He watched her kill the youngest child in the house, draining him of all blood and life. With all the poise and form of the older men that stood, waiting for her to prove herself worthy of their ranks, she stood back up and smiled. She smiled.

Not even Lucius Malfoy smiled his first time.

She'd licked the blood off of her hands and gladly done the same for the smirking men who formed a receiving line, wanting to feel her soft lips and wet mouth pulling at them. Severus almost entertained the thought of a certain unawareness of the sensuality of her gestures, looking at her eyes. The rest of her body would allow her to pass for 20, but her eyes were young. Too young.

Her artful hands spoke volumes about how being one of the inner circle wouldn't be enough for her. Her long stride told all who were looking that she would seek to get ahead of them all and soon. The smirk on her mouth said that she would succeed. Or die trying.

But her eyes...pale, clear blue... They whispered a story that was much more powerful than the rest. Even after only one kill, her young eyes would be tainted by the darkest of emotions. 'Regret will overcome her someday...' thought Severus, as he watched her move down the line to Lucius.

Lucius had no idea what she would become, or else he wouldn't have been so eager to oversee her rights of passage. He had taken an instant liking to the youngest new Death Eater, and one of the only women. She reached him and looked to the stone gray eyes behind the mask for a secret smile of pride in their work. He pushed back the mask smoothly and took her hand. He murmured "Allow me..." before kissing her palms and tracing his way up her middle finger with his tongue. She looked slightly surprised for a moment before she took his other hand and licked it clean. He smirked and tilted her chin up to him and, kissed her cheek before putting his mask back on and allowing her to continue.

Severus was next. And last. "Miss Lupin," he addressed her.

She paused, recognizing his voice. "Professor?"

"Indeed," he said quietly. She took his hand in hers and almost began before he touched her lips with his other hand, the small amount of blood on him moving on to her. "I assure you, Miss Lupin. It is unnecessary."

His stomach turned as the girl took his finger between her lips and bit playfully anyway. She would have been a fourth year before the summer. His fourth year Slytherin, his mind said clearly, as he gently pulled his hand back. "We ought to finish the job first, Miss Lupin. Plenty of time for that later."

She smirked slightly, enough to drive a weaker man to pounce her, he supposed, and spoke. "As you wish, Professor."

Lucius walked over and practically purred his instructions at her. Severus hid his disgust well as she batted her little-girl eyes at the grinning man, the blood from his hands still by her lips.

Malfoy's young seductress was the one to light the house on fire, mumbling a few words to set the whole house alight before Lucius or anyone else could instruct her otherwise. Lucius arched an eyebrow and she replied "You told me to destroy it."

He smiled "Very well, then. I have a few things to take care of and then we will disapparate. I assume you have your portkey to get back?"

She nodded. "I will have the process of Apparition figured out in a short while. I daresay that I have a certain ex-Professor that would be willing to help."

"Ah, yes. I'm sure Severus would like to... spend some time with a student such as yourself," Lucius said, razors hidden just beneath the silk of his voice.

Severus blinked several times, quite perturbed at the mental image that resulted of Lucius' remark . "Of course. It's my duty as a pedagogue to enhance the mental capacities all students, Lucius. Mind that I used the word pedagogue and not pedophile?" He said, glancing at Sirena. 'Sirena. That's her name,' he recalled.

"I would hope that you would not refer to our newest sister-in-arms as a child, Severus," he murmured, looking to Sirena and stroking her cheek gently. "Even you should be able to see that she is so much more than that..."

She looked slightly uncomfortable. "We should put up the Mark and go before we get caught here."

"Well-spotted, pet. Are you ready to receive the Mark for yourself?" he asked.

She worked hard not flinch at the word 'pet' and nodded.

*****

Lucius went to cast the incantation and Severus watched Sirena as she moved closer to the fire.

He approached her as the glowing green of the Dark Mark appeared. "It is time, Miss Lupin."

She turned to look at him and nodded, an unidentifiable expression in her eyes that clashed horribly with the small smile on her lips. He looked at the girl, just about to don the black robes and silver mask the first time, and handed her a snake skin from his pocket. "Tap it with your wand and say 'Morsmordre.' It will get you to Voldemort's side, if you're sure that's where you want to be."

"I'm sure," she said, almost too quickly.

"Mhm..." he reached out and wiped away the trickle of blood by her lips with a parental air about him. "You're missed in Slytherin house you know..." he said evenly. He wiped his blood coated thumb on his robe.

"I'll be back," she said, quietly. "My father wanted to keep me away, but it doesn't help me any."

He said nothing. "We'll all be at the gathering when you arrive."

She nodded and brought her wand out, pointing it at the snake skin in her hand. "See you then." She murmured the word "Morsmordre" and disappeared instantly.

He Apparated quickly after her, but arrived around a minute before her. Just enough time to form the circle and grovel before the Dark Lord. Sirena appeared shortly after and did the same.

"Rise, Sirena" he said, his icy tone piercing the ears of all around him. If it bothered her, she didn't make it known. She did as she was told and kept her eyes to the ground in a gesture of submissiveness. It didn't suit her.

The Dark Lord put a finger beneath her chin and tilted her head up so that she had no other choice but to meet his eyes. "My supporters tell me you are not only a half-blood werewolf, but your mother was... inhuman as well?"

"Yes, my lord," she said, smoothly. "My mother was Flayme Silver, eldest of Risika and Alexander." Her icy blue eyes met his red slits undaunted.

Voldemort seemed surprised by this, but strangely pleased. "The Silver bloodline has been known to become passionately involving wizarding politics. If I'm not mistaken, part of the bloodline's power is a small magical taint, so you're not without magic on both sides, correct?"

"My mother had some wandless magical abilities and my father is a full blood wizard, though a werewolf," she said. Severus noted a small trembling in her hands and tried not to be too relieved. "Your mother was killed by Dumbledore himself, was she not?" She nodded tersely. They were few who missed the tension in the air. "Why do you think that happened?" Voldemort said, amused.

Severus flinched slightly and saw Sirena fight an adverse reaction as well. She replied through gritted teeth. "He killed her because he sees vampires as a threat. My mother was no threat to Albus Dumbledore, my lord, but I assure you I will be."

Voldemort traced her cheek with one long, white finger. "Vengeance is a wonderful motivator, Sirena, but I have to question if your heart is truly in our mission. Do think you can handle the steps we will have to take to achieve our goal?"

"I will do anything, my lord."

He smiled again, turning to the others circling them. "Which of you wishes to sponsor this young lady as one of our kind and continue to teach her of our ways?"

Severus, Lucius, and several smirking then stepped forward, much to the chagrin at the few females and robes and masks. "I do, my lord."

Voldemort pulled his hand back from her face and gestured to the men who had moved closer. "It seems you have got quite a following, Sirena. Must be that you showed quite some...promise at the ritual." His tone was slightly doubtful.

Lucius moved to contradict him gracefully. "My lord, if I may, she shows all of the qualities of our most effective assassins. I would cherish the honor of honing her...skills."

'I bet you would,' thought Severus. 'Lecherous bastard.' "My lord, may I? The girl was under my care while at school. It would arouse far fewer suspicions as she was to be tutored by her former head of house." He paused and looked at Sirena. "I'm also of the belief, and draw this opinion from experience, as I know her far better than anyone here, that the young lady has powers far beyond those of a simple assassin. She does modestly well at potions, in addition to her skills with a wand. As she is part-vampire, she could have Apparition mastered in weeks. Sending her to be a simple mudblood silencer would be a waste." He crossed his arms. "She has said she has plans to re-enter school. I can act as a guide and supplement for her education. Her father would not object."

"But she's part wolf! What else would you have her do when she was so obviously made to kill? Allow me to show her, my lord," McNair said, winking at Sirena, who felt slightly ill at the man's gaze. "Perhaps she could show us more of her... Primal side?"

Sirena got a disgusted look on her face which, thankfully, Voldemort seconded. "That is quite enough, McNair. I admit, both Severus and Lucius have interesting points. I would be more inclined to take Severus do to the issue of secrecy, however, Snape, I don't believe you've quite made up for your last falter in judgment..."

Lucius smirked. "My lord, you can certainly trust that I will be able to take care of her every need...and whim..."

Voldemort nodded. "I have no doubt, Lucius, however too many visits may become suspicious, and if what Severus says is true, she may be useful as a charm breaker."

"What if Severus is lying to us, my lord? We can't afford to lose such a powerful ally..." Lucius insisted silkily, receiving a glare from Severus.

"That is why you will be checking up on her at her 'tutoring sessions', Lucius," he looked at Severus. "You will teach her the curses and the formalities. Leave the killing and the other bits to Lucius, who will be checking on you both twice a month." He looked at Sirena, who quickly turned her gaze back to his eyes. "Sirena, do swear to follow these men in the steps to becoming a true follower of Salazar Slytherin and his mission to eradicate the world of filth?" He took her left arm in his hand. His grip hurt as he crushed her bones together.

"I do, my lord," she winced slightly, her first sign of weakness.

He caught it. "Does that hurt, Sirena?" he said, gripping her arm tighter.

She winced again and Severus drew in a breath of concern. "Not if it pleases you, my lord."

"And if my aim is to hurt you?" he twisted her arm, still clutching it.

"You achieve it, my lord," she said calmly.

"Not nearly enough, if you can say that comfortably," he murmured, releasing her arm. She fought the urge to nurse at it gingerly and looked directly into Voldemort's eyes. His face twisted and stretched into an utterly horrible smile. "Crucio," he whispered, pointing his wand at her effortlessly.

It took a minute to hit her fully. She instantly looked away to keep them from seeing the pain and fear in her face. While she attempted strength, the searing, burning pain brought her to her knees almost instantly. Her breathing quickened and she clutched and clawed at her throat and chest, gasping for air, as she held back her cries.

Severus' eyes were wide. 'Oh, Lupin, just cry. Scream. Make a noise of some sort...it'll make him stop. Don't be so proud...' he thought, looking at her and attempting his usual expression of disdain. He found it difficult.

Her body convulsed involuntarily. She twitched violently several times before hitting the ground. Voldemort's eyes narrowed further as he saw her writhe and clutch at the grass. She panted slightly and her back arched up off the ground. Voldemort seemed unrelenting until a single heart-wrenching cry made its way past her lips.

His wand jerked upwards and the curse subsided. Sirena instantly slumped forward on her hands and knees. Her chest heaved as she breathed and no one spoke a word. Her hands had been balled up into fists. Trembling, she turned them over and opened her palms. The dark liquid trickling out of the upturned hands shone in the moonlight. Small lines of blood appeared at the exposed skin on her face, neck, and chest where she'd clawed herself. Most of the scratches mended themselves quickly, while a few remained. Her hands remained bleeding and she licked one off gingerly, revealing four crescent-shaped cuts from her nails. Leaving the other hand to bleed, she slowly rose to her feet.

"You succeed once again, my lord."

For a brief moment and, Severus was sure he'd curse her again. He winced, noting her unwavering voice coming from blood stained lips. He tensed, waiting to hear the word fall again.

It never came. Voldemort's lips turned up into the same horrible smile and he laughed. "This child has no fear," he laughed more, nearing hysterics. "None at all." He smirked at her. "Have you experienced that curse before?"

"Yes, my lord," she said, calmly.

"You are ready to bear the mark. Severus, Lucius, if you are to be her mentors, you need to step forward and prepare her for the ceremony."

"Yes, my lord."

Lucius cupped her cheek in his hand and pulled out a handkerchief of black silk. With a small smile, he wiped the blood from her face. She smiled weakly as he took her still-bleeding hand and wiped it off tenderly. It continued to bleed. He took the other hand in his and was surprised to note it had stopped. "Do you know why that one stopped, pet?"

She made a small sound of assent and pulled the bleeding hand back. She lapped at the wounds gingerly and they stopped almost instantly. Lucius took it from her again and examined it, slightly amazed. He kissed the back of her left-handed and turned her to face Severus. "She's cleansed...well...almost, that is." he smirked maliciously. "As her other mentor, I thought I'd let you..."

"I noticed," Severus snapped shortly, taking a handkerchief from his own pocket. He placed a hand on Sirena shoulder and avoided her eyes as he wiped the remaining trickles of blood from her forehead and chest, stopping briefly to admire the silver star pendant that dangled from her neck. Magic emanated from it. "You may want to take that off. No matter how stubborn you were to Cruciatus, this is going to hurt. You are going to buckle."

She grasped at the charm. "I can't. Besides...we'll see how much I buckle."

"Mhm..."

"She's ready, my lord," Lucius said, taking Sirena's arm in his.

Voldemort nodded. "You know the routine, Lucius. Hold her down for the oath, then we'll mark her."

"Severus?" Lucius asked.

"Lie down," Severus said to Sirena. "I'll take the left."

Sirena obliged hesitantly. Lucius placed a hand gently on her thigh, feeling her tense. "Relax, pet..." he kissed her cheek before using his leg to hold down hers and his upper body to pin her right arm. Severus used his arms to grasp her at the wrist and shoulder, in order to leave the inside of her left arm exposed. She looked at him, showing a slight bit of nervousness that he realized she was trying to push down. He used his knee to hold her lower half to the ground. "No turning back now, Miss Lupin," he murmured, looking at her eyes.

"Wouldn't dream of it," she said quietly, smiling a bit.

"Of course not. The girl obviously knows which is the winning side," Lucius said, the hand he had on her shoulder straying slightly. "And which will be more fun. After her marking, for instance... Would you accompany me, Sirena?"

"I..."

Snape gritted his teeth. "Lucius, surely you haven't forgotten that she's a student and needs to answer to her father for class in the morning? It would be in her best interests to return home tonight. If Miss Lupin requires an escort to get up the hill to her portkey I will accompany her gladly."

Lucius smirked. "Ah... it seems I have a bit of competition for your affections, my pet."

A scowl appeared on Severus' face. "That's another thing. I have no doubt that the girl will be stronger than you someday, Lucius. You have no place treating her like your pet."

"Ah, but she'd be a beautiful pet, wouldn't she, Severus? It seems to me you'd like to show her the chains in your dungeons, hmm? Are you enjoying holding her down? Would you rather she struggled?" he taunted. Sirena tensed and Lucius relinquished one of his grips on her to stroke her side gently. "Yes, I suppose only you would be sick enough to hurt a beautiful creature such as her..."

"That's enough Lucius, Severus...give the girl the oath. I'm sure your brothers and sisters would appreciate getting home sometime before morning and she should return to her house before anyone notices her absence."

"Yes, my lord."

"Miss Sirena Lupin, do you swear to honor and abide by the Death Eaters code of conduct? To mask yourself, so as not to be taken into custody? To complete all your assigned tasks with care not to expose yourself or any member of your brethren?"

Severus continued "Do you swear to take pride in an assignment well-completed and to show your unwavering loyalty by displaying the Dark Mark wherever you may work?"

Lucius cut him off. "Do you swear to bind yourself to your brethren as you are now physically bound to the Earth? Do understand that a breach in loyalty is punishable by any means deemed necessary?" he looked at Severus with malicious anticipation for him to finish the oath.

"Do understand that you shall be one of us forever, once you have joined us, and that your undying soul will forever bear the seal of your time with us? Above all, do you swear to wear the mark of Lord Voldemort with pride? To pay respect to our common Lord and to be strong in your position, no matter how discreet you may have to be by daylight? To proudly wear the mark until your last breath and beyond?" Severus said, looking at her face, almost wanting her to turn back, even knowing it would mean her death. He remembered the first time he met her -- a beautiful child, though touched by the dark from the beginning. He looked away from her, fighting tears at the revelation that he would rather see a talented young girl die at his hands than watch her drown in the darkness that she had already begun to drink in.

It seemed like forever before she answered, but it was actually only a few seconds, in which all who were around waited with baited breath. Severus relaxed a slight bit with the knowledge that she was at least considering what she was getting into.

Finally, she nodded. "I do."

Voldemort walked over, smiling dangerously again, his wand drawn. "Are you holding her securely, you two?" Both nodded.

"Yes, my lord."

"Right, then," he said, locking eyes with Sirena, who looked absurdly calm . Voldemort walked around behind her and sunk to his knees. The tip of his wand touched the tender alabaster skin on the inside of her left arm. Sirena closed her eyes. Voldemort's voice whispered an incantation that she couldn't make out. It grew louder and louder, but she still couldn't understand it. Opening her eyes to glance around, she noticed that no one else seemed to either.

'Parseltongue,' she thought, in realization.

It was worse than the Cruciatus, as it grew louder. Her fangs dug violently into her lip in a vain attempt to forget the pain, but it was futile. She closed her eyes again wondered how long it would last. A few tears trickled from her eyes. She felt a breeze over her arm and let out a small noise. It felt like it was burning.

Several murmurs echoed around her and she opened her eyes. Seeing green light coming from her left side, she turned her head slightly. Her arm was burning. Green flames shone from behind Severus and from the back of Voldemort. She let out a soft groan and ran her tongue over her bleeding lip...

...only to bite down again. Voldemort's voice rose, enunciating certain words, and falling down to speak some more. Sirena felt the pendant around her neck grow heavier and panicked slightly. 'My powers... it's being bound to my powers...' she thought, frantically. The pendant grew hot and she whimpered again. The searing heat moved through her. She had to get away.

Severus felt her left side start to squirm first. "Get ready...it'll happen soon," he said to Lucius, who nodded. Voldemort was nearly screaming with the hissing noise.

Sirena cried out, tears now pouring down her face. She felt the fire moving, centering itself around her heart and entwining itself with her innate magic...but it didn't stop there. Green light cooled around her heart and more still burned up, past her heart and encircled her necklace. She pleaded, sobbing in agony as the hot metal pressed into her flesh.

Distantly, she heard Severus yell out "NOW!" before everything stopped.

As her entire body bucked upwards, Severus and Lucius pushed all their weight on her downwards. Green light encompassed her before, suddenly, a bright red beam shot from the star hanging around her neck. The fire that had pooled at the necklace shattered like glass, sent flying in all directions.

And then it was silent. Not a single noise could be heard for almost a full minute until Sirena's ragged breaths became audible.

"You are all dismissed, " Voldemort said, eyeing Sirena, "except, of course, the three in front of me." The circle dropped their knees, thanked their lord, and disappeared.

Severus and Lucius had long since moved off of Sirena and allowed her to attempt to sit up, shakily. Lucius moved behind her under the ruse of supporting her from behind, but the movements of his hands suggested otherwise. Voldemort cleared his throat and he stopped, though Sirena still leaned into him for support. "Sirena, were you aware of the red light emanating from your necklace at the end of the procedure?"

"Yes, my lord," she said, slightly hoarse.

"That necklace is the center of your vampiric power, isn't not?"

"It is, my lord. All the members of my mother's family have them, as far as I know."

"It rejected being bound to the spell" he said, arching an eyebrow.

"It rejects all normal wizarding spells as well, my lord. They had to charm the silver against lycanthropy as it was being crafted so that it wouldn't expell that magic as well," she explained.

"Well, Sirena, if that light proves to be any indicator of your loyalty, I think you are well aware of the type of death that awaits you."

"Yes, my lord."

"Not that I think that that would happen with you. Especially with your mentors, who I hope, will be making sure you enjoy yourself on this special occasion?" he said, looking to each of them.

Before Severus could speak, Lucius stroked her cheek and smiled. "Of course, my lord. It would be a shame to waste such a wonderful opportunity to celebrate such an occasion..."

Voldemort nodded. "Indeed it would, Lucius, but I want you make sure that, if you enjoy yourself, which you undoubtedly will, she enjoys it doubly," he said, glancing at Sirena. "Understood?"

"Of course..." he grinned.

Severus looked highly uncomfortable at that moment. Lucius noticed right away, as he rubbed Sirena shoulder. She seemed too relieved to be done with the spells to care either way and went slack in his arms, but Severus was all tensed up. "I'm sure Severus would be glad to celebrate too, right?"

"Enthralled," he said, glaring at Lucius.

"Remember that she's young still, you two. And be good to her. Sirena may not be up to much tonight. Severus, can I be sure that you'll see her to her portkey when you are all finished?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Very well then..."

Then he was gone.

Lucius purred and did something or other to Sirena's neck, the specifics of which were thankfully hidden from Severus in the dark. Sirena whimpered slightly and arched her back, tilting her head to one side.

Severus cleared his throat. "Lucius, I did agree to see your son's contemporary back to her portkey which, I believe, departs at 3:30 this morning. An hour from now. If you to plan to do anything, might I suggest the shack to the left over here? It's heated, at least, and certainly more...private."

"Oh, but where's the fun in that, Severus? You don't honestly plan to follow instructions, do you? I could just take her back to the manor for the rest of the night. I'll tell Narcissa that we had an initiation that ran late and then I could bring her home in the morning. She'd certainly be more comfortable, right pet?"

"My father wakes up at five, Lucius. I think he's right on this one," she said, sounding slightly regretful.

"Don't you want to play?" he asked, twirling her hair in his fingers.

She smiled slightly. "Of course I want to play. I just think it would be bad idea to blow our cover on my first night."

Severs nodded in agreement. 'Smart girl...' "She's right."

"Fine then," Lucius said, standing and helping Sirena to her feet. "Shall we?"

She nodded and joined him in the deceptively rickety-looking shack, which was actually a full-fledged bedroom. "For after Death Eater gatherings," Lucius explained.

Sirena nodded again and sat on the bed, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"Ah, that's a good girl...relax..."

Severus sighed and and paced around like a caged panther in frustration. Noises rang out loudly from the small building, and Sirena's voice was as clear as a bell.

"Oh god...Lucius...oh, Lucius..."

Severus muttered curses, looking at his watch. Still half an hour to go. A half hour of...

"Please..." she whimpered.

'Oh, sod all...' he thought, frustrated. 'Better we got to the portkey early and I wait with her for awhile than ...' he paused. 'Better me than him... that almost sounds like I want his situation to be mine...' Stopping and moving towards the door, he shook his head. 'Of course I'd like to be in his situation. If I was there, no one would have laid a finger on her.'

He banged on the door to the shack, before he could think otherwise, pulling the door open to find Sirena nearly naked and Lucius nearly fully clothed, his hands covering most of the girl's modesty. Severus crossed his arms. "I hate to interrupt this party, but it's time to go."

"I'll be dressed and out in a moment," Sirena eeked out from under Lucius' cover.

Severus nodded curtly and stepped out. A few minutes later, the door opened again. "We'll find a day when I have no one to come home to. Then we'll play..." she purred, kissing Lucius gently.

Lucius stroked her disheveled hair affectionately. "Until then, pet. I'm going to Apparate from here," he said, looking at Severus. "Take good care of her Snape," he paused before adding "I know I did."

Sirena looked unfazed and Lucius blew her a kiss before he Disapparated. "Shall we, then?" Severus said after a few moments.

"Yeah," she replied, quietly. He offered his arm and she took it hesitantly, but noted that he was extremely gentle when he noticed which arm he had taken.

"Would you rather switch? I'm sure that arm is quite sensitive right about now."

"Yes, it is..." she said distantly, before pausing again. "Switching would probably be...um...good."

He did so as they continued walking. It didn't take long for him to notice her avoiding his eyes all costs. "Miss Lupin, I apologize if I...embarrassed you earlier. I know it must have been..."

She looked up. "Not at all...well, I mean...yes it was, but you don't have to apologize for anything," she said. She paused and then looked at him. "I could actually thank you for... um...getting me out of there."

He arched an eyebrow, remembering how she looked underneath his one of his many foes.

"I know it didn't look or... um...sound like it or anything. I mean...you probably think...no, nevermind. I don't wanna know what you must think of me after seeing that..." she mumbled.

"Lucius Malfoy has his methods, Miss Lupin. What I saw in that room made me think no less of anyone, as I can hardly think less of Lucius then I already do."

"He wouldn't have done it if I hadn't encouraged him," she said, pulling her arm back from him. She crossed both arms uncomfortably. "I was just...I wanted an in with you all. I figured...and then I...well, I realized I didn't want him to touch me," she mumbled. "I hated having his hands all over me. It was like...it was dirty. I felt so vulnerable. It was worse than anything Voldemort used to torture me with... worse than his curses. And I let it happen..." she paused. "Look at me, babbling on about nothing. I'm sorry. Merlin, just... hex me or something when I go on like that."

"No, it's quite alright. I'd rather you amble on about this than listen to the bunch of incompetent fools in my classroom," he said, only partially truthful. 'I'd rather listen to them. It doesn't hurt as much to see what they're doing...'

"How are things in your classroom? I miss it..." she said.

He shrugged. "Ah, you're not missing much. My fourth years had only just learned a simple sleeping potion before our Lord rose again. They're doing very little more over break. Dumbledore insists, you know..." he said. She tensed at Dumbledore's name and he paused. 'I'll have to tell him about her...'

"My father was attempting to get me to make Wolfsbane. A bit foolish when he can't even do it, really..." she said, rolling her eyes.

He paused. "That works well. It gives me more reason to tutor you. Strong alibi," he remarked. "Wolfsbane seems a bit...ambitious for fourteen-year-old, however. I'm curious as to how you would get about handling the silver in the potion, too."

"I hadn't gotten that far yet," she said, blushing slightly. "I will soon, I just...well, I exploded a cauldron right before I was supposed to do it, the first time I tried."

They made into the top of the hill. "Well, we all have to make a few big mistakes to get where we're going. Yours is all too common, I'm sure," he said, vaguely.

"My portkey is a necklace," she said after a moment silence. "It's on the hill somewhere."

They split and searched for it, and, not for the first time, Severus was glad to the taken Sirena out of the shack when he had. He found the necklace but, as he was handing it to her, he felt the familiar tug about his bellybutton and cursed. Seeing her with him in the blur of color, he let out a sigh of relief that she had at least caught her portkey.

A minute later, they found themselves in her bedroom. He raised an eyebrow. "Accurate..."

"I helped Lucius make them," she explained. "I hadn't intended on anyone showing up. This place is a mess..." she said, blushing slightly. "Do you...erm...want tea?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm fine. If it's no big deal, I'll just Apparate from here to Hogsmeade and walk home...to the castle, I mean," he said. She nodded, climbing to bed with all her clothes on. He hesitated before speaking again. "Be sure to be careful tomorrow. Do you...would you mind if I looked at your arm a moment?"

She sat up and pushed back the loose sleeve of her black robe, wincing as the fabric brushed the tender flesh.

Severus took her wrist gently and observed the ugly black symbol blemishing her porcelain white skin. An angry red burned at the very edge and was hot to the touch, as Severus' cool fingers brushed over it. She winced again. "Keep it covered well," he murmured. "In your case, it might be beneficial to bandage it. Your body appears to be the one of the many that doesn't like being marked up, if you can excuse the pun."

She smiled weakly and nodded. "That figures..." she murmured, running her other hand through her hair in an almost shy way, before pulling the covers up.

"Do you still require the special treatment you had at school?" he said, teasing her bit as he released her arm.

"Eh, I don't mind being tucked in every once in awhile, if that's what you mean," she admitted, before pausing. "I'm a lot stronger than I was in third year, professor. The kid gloves can come off a bit, you know..." she said, slightly defensive

"Lupin, you have demonstrated more than enough strength tonight," he admonished. "Don't try now. Chances are you will feel quite ill by morning, if you don't already. Perhaps you can coax your father into giving you a sick day?"

She nodded. "That would be good." There was an awkward pause before they both realized the slightly inappropriate nature of their situation; a male teacher kneeling at the side of a female student's bed -- at her house.

He stood and straightened himself out, clearing his throat. "Well...I should be leaving."

"Thanks for the advice," she mumbled quietly. "I needed that. And your company..."

"Ah, you'll be singing a different tune after a few months of dealing with me, Miss Lupin," he said, and an attempt to sound strict, though it ended up sounding much more like a joke.

She didn't notice. She made an incoherent noise and slumped down. Severus paused and smiled slightly, seeing that she'd fallen to sleep. He adjusted the pillows so they supported her head and pulled the covers up tight about her chin. In doing this, he made the one vital mistake of the night and inhaled.

Even though her lips were still a bloodstained shade of red, even though he'd seen her heartlessly create destruction that night, even though she bore the mark of a murderer...

She smelled like vanilla. And honey. And strawberries.

'Damn her,' he thought, sighing. 'The girl should wreak of sin and she's just...'

He moved himself away from her, resisting the slightly paternal urge to kiss her forehead and Apparated into Hogsmeade, starting his trip back to the castle as the clouds at the bottom of the horizon began slowly to lighten, as the sun began its battle up the sky. Severus wearily trudged on.

The clouds at the bottom and partially of into the middle of the sky had become a rather ironic shade of blood red as Severus came upon the castle. The smell of her lingered in his nose, as his hand fell upon the door and he made a swift run to Dumbledore's office.

The old man sat in his desk in a night-cap and striped pajamas. "How was it?"

"Brutal," he murmured.

"Who was the inductee?" Albus asked, arching an eyebrow.

Severs opened his mouth, ready to say her name, hands trembling. A vampire and a Death Eater, she would be killed without a doubt. He inhaled again, only being able to smell her and traces of the fire she'd left behind as it burned the house.

"Someone I didn't know. A man," he said, looking directly into Dumbledore's eyes, blue and shining...

And Dumbledore nodded. "How strong was he?"

"Nothing spectacular. He buckled after a few seconds of Cruciatus. Voldemort basically said to hell with it, because he needed a few more zombies to do his bidding, and marked him," he lied, tiredly.

"What kept you so long?"

Severus sighed. "Muggle girl..." he shuddered slightly for effect.

Albus nodded understandingly. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. You should probably go get some sleep, Severus," he said, patting his shoulder.

Severus was thankful, not really having the energy to tell an elaborate story. He stumbled artlessly down the hall. It wasn't until he reached his bed that he realized he'd just told a bold-faced lie to the most powerful man alive.

'For what?' he thought, sighing. 'For her? I just lied to Albus Dumbledore for a vampire-werewolf murderess?'

'Vampires killed his wife...' he thought pinching the bridge of his nose. 'I told him I wouldn't have anything to do with killing her before, but...' He growled aloud in frustration. 'I can't believe I'm trying to rationalize this...'

'...but where would you be it someone had ratted on you before you woke up?' a small voice asked. The small bit of nervousness on her face...the moments of fear...

'It doesn't have to be rational...you did the right thing...' the small voice murmured.

"Yes, I did," he agreed aloud, crawling into bed.

The girl was toxic, he was sure, but he knew he would rather lie a million times than see her hurt, nonetheless.