“Just to a short meeting, sweetheart, your father and I will be back shortly.”
“Can I stay up until you come back?”
“No,” Morgan said, softly but firmly to avoid any more arguments as she finished tucking the blankets in around Olivia. “But Misty will be right here with you,” she nodded at the House Elf, who had set herself up in the corner and was darning socks by the light of one low candle.
“I don’t like it when you leave at night,” Olivia said.
“I don’t like leaving you either, but it won’t be for long. And the first thing I’m going to do when I come back is come in here to check on you.”
“Promise?”
“I promise,” Morgan hugged Olivia tightly, watching out of the corner of her eye as Severus made sure the night-light by the bed was burning brightly. She repressed a shudder that seemed to come from her very soul. Every time she left her children she feared it would be the last.
“Morgan, we are going to be late,” Severus hurried her along.
“I’m coming,” Morgan sighed as she hugged Olivia once more, made sure she was snug under the covers, and glanced over at Misty for a bit of reassurance.
Olivia snuggled under the covers and reached under her pillow for the shell that the pretty lady had given her. She clutched it tightly in her fist and smiled to herself as she fell asleep. They lady had promised to come and see her again. The man had too, and he said he would bring her a present next time.
“Are you sure this won’t take long Severus?” Morgan asked worriedly as they headed deep into the dungeons.
“If it takes too long you can leave early. But she will be fine with Misty watching over her.”
“But what if…”
“I would trust Misty with my life, and my life isn’t worth saving, no harm will come to Olivia.”
“I know… I’m just nervous about this meeting,” she confessed as they reached the tapestry that guarded the entrance to Order headquarters. “There’s just something so… disconcerting… about demons, even ones that are on our side.” Her mind flittered through all she could remember learning about the Etruscan creatures in History of Magic, she wasn’t coming up with much.
“Are you starting to grow xenophobic on me?”
“Not hardly, just my maternal instincts flaring up.”
“I know that my brothers and sisters have joined the dark one, but I mean you no harm domina.”
Morgan stared up, unflinchingly, into the face of the demon. Despite his blue skin and tufts of bright orange hair he had a kind face, tired and worn, but kind. “I meant no disrespect, but my tendency to worry has increased exponentially with the number of children that I have.”
His wings ruffled slightly as he settled himself onto a stool and motioned Morgan to take a seat next to him, “no doubt you have heard much many things of a negative nature about my brothers and sisters from your Ministry, but Calchus is not one of those who has joined the dark one.”
“Have the Lasas joined the Dark Lord as a means of fulfilling the roll that we have created for them?” Severus asked as he stood behind Morgan, reassuring her by placing his hands on her shoulders.
“I cannot explain, or atone, for the acts of my brothers and sisters,” Calchus replied, “they have changed. We were once revered as guides and messengers, I have stuck to our original role, they have deviated. I do not know why. The glass shows me what will happen, not the minds of my companions.”
“You are a seer then?” Morgan asked, warming slightly to the aged demon.
“I am. And I will have a word with you after the meeting, some advice for you to pass on to your daughter, advice that only a fellow seer can give.”
Morgan opened her mouth to ask how he knew about Nimue, wasn’t given the chance as Minerva stepped to the center of the room to address the gathered members of the Order.
“I apologize for the lack of notice given for this meeting tonight, but it appears that this will become much more common. Our situation becomes more precarious as each day passes, even if it is not openly noticeable. That is part of the reason why I was so eager to accept Calchus’ offer to help us,” she nodded at the demon who shuffled forward.
“I shall do what I can, but know that I do not wish to see my brothers and sisters annihilated by your cause.”
“We can’t promise to spare those that are fighting against us,” Charlie said evenly, “is there any chance that they may be persuaded to join us instead?”
Calchus did not look up as he pulled a green glass disk from the leather case at his waist, “I do not believe so, Vanth is angry, she has a desire for vengeance for a wrong that was done, she sees this as her chance for retribution.”
“Can you contact her? Perhaps persuade her that we can help her…” Charlie was thinking quickly, “if you are still speaking with her…”
“I no longer have contact with her.”
“But if you know what it is that she wants, perhaps we can convince her that…”
“She would not speak with me.”
“Are you certain that…”
“We were lovers, we parted on less than friendly terms, she lays part of the blame for what she seeks vengeance for at my feet. Do not ask me to speak with her. It will not happen.” He crouched done on the floor, almost looking more aviary than human as he ruffled his wings and set the green disk in front of him on the rough dungeon floors. He chanted over it quietly, so that the Order members caught only bits and pieces of his spell, “videri… vindicta… justus…daemonis…”
“They are closing in on their prey, they are close, he is injured, bleeding…”
“Will he survive?” Severus asked urgently, he could feel Eric watching him as they waited for Calchus to respond.
“It is hard to tell, his injuries are very grave, it all rests on how quickly he is found and can be treated.”
“Who is it?” Charlie asked. He looked between Eric and Severus, he knew that they knew who it was.
But Calchus had already moved on, “horror, unspeakable horror, it will not easily be stopped… kill the queen bee and the hive will continue to exist.”
The room exploded into noise as the meaning of what Calchus said was thrown into heated debate. Amidst the confusion Morgan stepped forward and knelt by the demon’s side, “are you alright?” she noticed that he was trembling slightly.
“I am fine, it is just at my age looking into the glass is a bit more of an exertion than it once was.” Nevertheless, he accepted Morgan’s offered hand as he rose from his crouched position on the ground and sank once again onto the low stool he had first occupied. “Your little seeress, you would probably not recognize her if you saw her now.”
“Have you seen her? Is she alright?” Morgan asked urgently, her hand went to the charm around her neck, it burned with its gentle heat almost constantly, she feared that her daughter was in danger.
“I have seen her in the glass, and once in person, disguised as a devotee come to make a sacrifice, do not worry,” he quickly reassured Morgan, seeing her look of horror that crossed her face as she heard him say that he had reached the temple using a disguise, “the head priestess knew I was there, but she was the only one who knew me for who I was.”
“But she is alright? She is not in any danger?”
“We are all in danger, but she is safe for now. And fast becoming a woman. She has the grace and poise of the priestess born. I will continue to look in on her whenever possible.”
“Thank you,” Morgan clutched his gnarled hands as she pressed him for news of Remus, oblivious to the raised voices around them.
“I think they are done trying to interpret my words,” Calchus said as the voices faded out. He had told Morgan what he knew of Remus’ position at the temple, “and I believe someone is waiting for you.”
Morgan glanced over her shoulder and smiled slightly at the sight of Severus engaged in a conversation with Neville Longbottom as poor cover for the way he was watching her. “I cannot tell you how much the news you have brought me of my daughter means, I appreciate it more than I can tell.”
“It is my pleasure domina.”
She rose to join Severus, “can you tell me what your words meant? You sat here all this time while they debated, but you never contributed…”
Calchus leaned forward, gesturing Morgan to come closer so that he could whisper in her ear, “the problem with demons is that we love riddles, I leave it to the wise to figure out what my words meant, and I shall enjoy watching you try to puzzle it out. Your husband is growing agitated, domina, return to him now.”
Morgan gave Calchus’ hand one last squeeze before making her way to Severus’ side. She tried to hide her smile as he instantly came up with some excuse for leaving that dealt with the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff that would take place the next day. She saw it for what it was: empty.
“What were you so intent on discussing with the demon?” Severus asked as he wrapped an arm around Morgan’s shoulders.
“Nimue, he’s been keeping an eye on her. And Remus, he had lots to tell me about Remus…”
Severus rolled his eyes, “of course you felt it necessary to ask about that abomination.”
“Just because he’s a werewolf…”
“My dear, his status as a non-human doesn’t concern me in the least, it’s the way he constantly had his eyes and hands on you that make me abhor him.”
“I’m surprised your skin hasn’t turned green yet considering how jealous you always are.”
“You’re lucky I haven’t cut your tongue out yet considering how impertinent it is.”
Morgan smiled distractedly at her husband’s dry humor as they reached their rooms and she all but ran to check on Olivia. Her pulse slowed considerably as she brushed a few dark curls off of the girl’s face and listened to her even breaths. “Are you coming to bed?” she turned to Severus who had followed her to Olivia’s room.
“I will be there shortly,” he jerked his head towards the door, indicating that Misty could leave as well. Certain that his wife was gone he settled himself on the edge of Olivia’s bed, “weren’t you supposed to be asleep quite awhile ago?”
Olivia squeezed her eyes shut tighter.
“Come on, out with it young lady, why aren’t you asleep?”
Olivia pouted as she sat up amongst her cocoon of blankets, “how could you tell I wasn’t really asleep?”
“I know everything, that is how.”
“Do you really no everything?”
“You are avoiding my question.”
Olivia reached under her pillow and pulled something out that she held tightly in her fist. “I wanted to show you, but I wasn’t supposed to stay awake, but I didn’t want to go to sleep until I showed you because its really really really really really important.”
“This sounds serious,” Severus said in a monotone, not giving any hint as to how amusing he found Olivia’s flair for the dramatic and how she managed to give off such a grave manner when she was all of seven, and a very small seven at that. Her expression was better suited to a guest at a funeral. “What is it that you have to show me?”
Olivia held out her hand as she uncurled her fingers, cupping them slightly to cradle what she was holding.
Severus picked up the white object and examined it closely.
“See, I told you it was important.”
“And where exactly did this come from?”
Olivia barred her teeth, wrinkling up her nose. She couldn’t resist poking her tongue through the gap right in the middle of her mouth.
“What are you going to do with it?” Severus asked as he handed the baby-tooth back to Olivia.
“I don’t know. What can I do with it?”
“Well,” Severus did some very quick thinking, “teeth are very useful in potion making.”
“Really?” Olivia looked doubtful.
“Of course, I pay a small fortune for teeth at the apothecary every year. I’m sure we can come to an understanding,” he withdrew a silver sickle from his pocket.
Olivia eyed the coin, her eyes betraying how much she wanted it, before quickly shaking her head no.
Severus withdrew another sickle and shook the two in his hand so that they clinked together.
Olivia shook her head again and held up three fingers.
Severus repressed an amused smirk as he withdrew a third coin and handed them over in exchange for Olivia’s first lost tooth. “You are a shrewd business woman little miss.”
“What does shrewd mean? Is that like when you called Mum a shrew last night?”
Severus did smirk at that, “in this case ‘shrewd’ means that you are a very good business woman, I thought I was going to get that tooth for only two sickles.”
“So what does shrew mean?”
Severus schooled his features as he tucked his newly acquired tooth into his pocket for safe-keeping, “when I use it in reference to your mother…” he remembered the way Morgan had stood there, hands on her hips, looking up at him saucily as she railed about him moving her shoes, which he had done so he wouldn’t trip over them with the way they were strewn across the room, “it is a term of endearment.”
“Are you sure? Mum wasn’t too happy when you called her that…”
“Enough, you are supposed to be asleep. You have stayed awake far too long already, no more procrastinating.”
Olivia sighed, “fine…” she reached for Tristan, drawing him close to her chest as Severus pulled the covers back up around her shoulders. “Will you tell me a story before I go to sleep?”
“No.”
“A short one?”
“Olivia, if I have to tell you one more time…”
Olivia quickly shut her eyes and made no more protest. Satisfied that she was actually going to sleep now Severus went in search of his own bed, fervently hoping that it’s other occupant would still be wide awake. He wasn’t disappointed, “Are you sure you do not want to leave?”
Morgan set her book aside, “as much as I love Nimue, and no matter how badly I want to see her, my place is here with you.”
Severus remained silent as he neatly folded his robes and laid them aside. He felt incredibly selfish for wanting Morgan to remain at Hogwarts. But Kalliope’s offer to have her and Olivia come to Greece where the situation was probably much safer… Was it fair to have her stay at his side if it only put her in danger?
“It is my decision Sev,” Morgan gently reminded him.
“I know, I just feel as though I should do something to change your mind.”
“Are you sure you want to send me away?” Morgan asked as she leaned against her husband, trailing her fingertips down his chest.
“No,” he acquiesced as he kissed her firmly on the mouth before working his way down her throat, “but I want to keep you safe.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
