Chapter 11: Inextinguishable

Wand raised in the air without thought of consequence, Sirius cast the first unforgivable curse that came to his mind, "Avada Kedavra!"

At the last moment, before the rod of energy hit Snape in the back, Adhara lunged forward crying, "No!"

It was too late, the spell hit her in the chest and she crumpled to the ground. Severus, kneeling quickly, caught her before her head hit the marble floor. A green light shown from her eyes and mouth, her soul ascending her body.

"What have I done!" Sirius mumbled, dropping his wand and running across the dance floor nearly knocking over the bewildered students. The hall filled with sickening silence.

Instantly reaching in his robes, Severus pointed his wand at the man who bore the same blue sapphire eyes as his beloved, "You son of a bitch! I'LL KILL YOU!!!" He yelled from the pit of his stomach with seething hate; spittle flying from his lips. Adhara was dead and Sirius would be next.

From almost nowhere, a young woman's voice full of bravado cried, "Crucio!" A beam of white light jumped from Ginny's wand rendering Professor Snape nearly lifeless. Holding his head, he withered to the floor, trembling beneath the wrath of unseen tormenters.

Just as suddenly, Ginny broke contact. Her wand fell to the ground and she began to cry, "Unforgivable! Oh, gods! It's unforgivable!"

Kristen reacted, 'Time turner! One twist!'. ****Pop!**** (One minute earlier)

Wand raised in the air without thought of consequence, he was about to cast the first unforgivable curse that came to his mind when Kristen, appearing from no where, grabbed his arm. Her soft brown eyes plunging him back into reality. Remus on his other side whipped back his right arm from its extended position.

"What in the hell are you doing, Sirius?" In his eyes flashed the wolf.

As if he were suddenly awakened from a horrible nightmare, "Take it away from me Remus." His eyes pleading to his old friend, and no more words need be spoken between them. Remus guided his fingers from the thin ewe stick; he put the wand into his robes. Then Sirius, turning back to where Kristen had been standing, blinked twice. She was strangely gone.

"Kristen?" He said to the empty air.

Remus laid a hand on the man's back, tone curious, "She's still at the table Sirius."

Taking a few steps back, he saw her with a small hourglass clasped tightly in her hands. That's when he began to cry. She had just saved him from killing his sister. His rash decisions and quick anger had almost cost him his beloved sibling. A dagger of guilt and remorse stabbed his heart, "Adhara, how could I?" He mumbled.

Gently weeping into his hands; the armor of his pride shattered. How could he be so irresponsible, so cruel?! He knew from the way their hands touched when they dance, they were in love. Adhara laughed freely in Snape's arms; she was truly happy. He knew he should be happy for her, but his anger hadn't allowed him to do anything but react. Damn his pride! How many lives would it cost? He thought he was past the anger, past the rage, but tonight he had proved he wasn't. The realization was overwhelming. "Kristen," he sank his head into her should as she gently stroked his back.

"Shhh, my love." Her voice silenced the chaos of emotion which stirred violently within him.

Thankfully much of this dramatic moment had gone on without notice from anyone but he and Kristen. Even Adhara and Severus were still locked in their lover's stare as Kristen quietly escorted Sirius out of the hall and to their rooms for emotional comfort.

Ginny appeared at Lupin's side with two cups of punch, her nose wrinkled as she spoke, "Professor Lupin, I think I just had deja-vu."

"Yes, something strange did just happened, but I'm not sure what." Remus felt his heart jump in his throat. Sirius crying? Something very strange had happened.

"Professor Black and Kristen, they left?"

"Yes." He answered nodding to where Adhara and Severus were still gazing lovingly at one another.

"Oh that! Well I think it's beautiful. Why can't two seemingly different people love each other without judgment?"

Remus did not respond because he wasn't sure if he agreed or not. Taking the second cup from her hand, their fingers touched, sending a shiver down his spine. "Ginny," he didn't know why he was asking but he too had an odd feeling, "do you know any of the unforgivable curses?"

Eyes blinking innocently, "What?"

"Oh nothing," he waved a hand wanting to leave behind the cold feeling of doubt. "Do you want to dance? I mean as long as Seamus won't mind that I'm stealing his girl."

Blood rushing to her cheeks, because there was nothing that she wanted more, "I think I can spare one for my favorite professor."

This time it was Remus's turn to blush as she took his hand and lead them to the dance floor.

****

"Yes?" Severus was in shock. His hands still trembling in hers.

"Did you even think I would say no?" A witty smile played her lips. "Come, lets tell my brother and friends."

"Adhara." This is everything he wanted. But was he ready to accept eternal bliss?

"Severus? This was your idea."

"There are things I haven't told you yet."

She placed a finger to his lips, "What ever you have done my love, I forgive you."

Severus felt a heavy pull in his chest. A sad happiness similar to the first morning he awoke with her and found that she was still sleeping soundly in his arms. She had not left him then, and now he knew she never would.

"My angel." Cupping her chin in his long, graceful fingers, he started to whisper, "I love-" when Professor Binns ran through the door screaming, "In the dungeons Snape! She's in the dungeons!" Then twirling around, he collapse in the floor. Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey rushed to his side. Strange, because he was already dead.

Dumbledore stood and with his voice magically enhanced announced, "Prefects, please take your houses back to their towers immediately!"

Then appearing instantly at Snape's side, the head master addressed him in a calm, but weary tone. "Severus, I think we need to go to the dungeons."

"Yes, sir." Turning to Adhara, "Wait here."

"I'm coming with you." She replied stubbornly. He knew that once his lover had applied herself to a challenge, she would not turn back. Damn the Gryffindor in her!

In mere moments Severus, Adhara, Dumbledore and Remus were making their way to the potions classroom. Little did they know, they were being followed.

****

Once inside the classroom, Severus nearly fainted when he saw who sat cross- legged on his desk. Not a day older than when the Dark Lord had sacrificed her, his sister Serina smirked with a Machiavellian smile and unnaturally flashing green eyes.

Remus caught him as he stumbled back, breathlessly mouthing her name, "Serina!"

"May we help you young lady?" Dumbledore stepped forward, eyes twinkling with grandfatherly charm.

"You can wipe that smile off your face old man. You're not the one I came here to see."

"Alright," Albus answered and turned a questioning eye to Severus who obviously recognized the girl. Then suddenly, he saw her resemblance to the potions master; the black hair, hooked nose, and glittering eyes. Judging by her size she wasn't more than twelve years old, but her eyes looked like back ions.

Jumping off the desk, she walked a few paces forward.

"Serina?" Severus whispered her name.

"Yes," her pale lips curving playfully, "and no."

Adhara turned to Severus stricken with confusion and fear, "Your sister?"

The girl eyed Adhara up and down taking in a deep breath as she circled her brother like a hungry animal. "Your new bitch, Sevie? You know, I can smell her on you. I thought you just used to sleep with them, but this one's grown on you."

He pressed his lips together. He wasn't about to be lead into her trap by cunning words. Tracing his jaw line with a slender finger she purred, "You know mother was right, we would have bore powerful children together. Two great families twice born into one line."

Remus couldn't help but wrinkle his nose and say the word, "Incest?"

Without even raising a wand, eyes oscillating with an unholy green light, the thin girl cursed him, "Crucio!" Remus fell to the floor holding his head in hands. Whipping back to the head master, "Don't even think about it! You have no idea who I am!"

Raising her hands at the old wizard, and yelling a second curse; Dumbledore fell with wrists and ankles tightly bound.

"I can't believe you didn't get my note?"

Severus gave her a questioning eye.

"I sent it in our secret code, don't you remember dearest?"

Severus cursed himself as the memory came back to him. He merely had to wave his hand over the paper that Dumbledore showed them yesterday at lunch and say 'to the glory of Salazar'. Then the black squiggles would have danced into legible English. "My memory isn't as good as it use to be Serina."

"Ahhh!" She answered knowingly, then giggled like a child, "But Ms. Black here did help you remember the night Our Lord took me into his sanctuary, correct?"

"But you're dead. She's dead!" Adhara blurted out before thinking, drawing Serina to circle around her; drawing her attention away from Severus for the moment.

'This might be my only chance,' he thought slipping the vile of Aconitine from his robes and tracing the thin film against his lips and teeth before slipping it back unnoticed.

"Oooohh!" Serina circled the older woman like a wild dog who had found its pray. Her mouth salivating as she spoke, "The whore speaks!" Then without provocation the girl backhanded Adhara so violently across the face, she felt to the floor next to Remus. A scarlet drop of blood dripped onto her alabaster breast matching the satin of her dress. "You bitch, he's mine!"

'Now, Severus!' He urged himself to move to Serina's side and run his hand up her back, and then bending to her ear, he whisper hotly. "Serina," his voice deep and velvety, "my pet, don't be jealous, mother promised you'd return. A man must bide his time with someone." The lies poured from his mouth. Serina turned around quickly, flipping her long raven hair over her shoulder; Adhara forgotten on the floor.

"So you did know I would come back? She's nothing to you?"

"Oh she was something, Serina." He raised a hand to her unnaturally cold cheek, "She was convenient."

In the background he could hear Adhara crying. 'Thank the gods, this might actually work!' He told himself.

"You know, I'm ready for you. That's why he sent me back. I'm stronger than ever," she sounded so innocent when she spoke, resting her head on her brother's shoulder. "When our child is born, he will be Him incarnate!"

Now Severus was really confused. His dead sister was trying to seduce him to recreate who? "Lord Voldemort, but he's already regained human form?"

"No silly, Salazar Slythrin. His essence fills my body and our child will be pure. Truly pure!" Her dark eyes glittering with delight.

Pure evil. He mocked her excitement, "You mean Our Lord found a way to extract his essence after all!"

"Yes!" Her hand entangled in his dark, greasy locks, "And the essence is within me, and He will be born from me! Isn't is wonderful Sevie, our child will someday rule the world!" Tears brimmed on black lashes, as she spoke the words again with childish wonderment, "Our child!"

"Then let's create him here, now!" He breathed heavily upon her white cheek.

Wildly giggling at his lusty command, she answered, "And then we'll kill them all, my love. Oh what fun!!!"

This was his chance. He tilted her head up and closing his eyes tightly, he kissed her. Forcibly opening her mouth, drawing out her tongue and guiding her to lick his lips passionately in return, "Ohhh!!!" she cried. Her small body moaned in his arms, and he thought he might vomit at that moment, so he quickly released her.

She smiled innocently back at him; lips swollen from the brutal force of his mouth upon hers. She looked enraptured, and then horror stricken. Raising a small hand to her lips, she hurtfully asked, "Poison?"

"What ever do you mean, sister?" His heart pounded in his chest. He was immune to such trifling amounts of poison, their mother had seen to that, but she was not. From her first day in the family crib, her mother predicted that little Serina would bare their savior and was caudled beyond tolerance. In seconds, he knew the poison would kill her, or what ever it was that stood before him pretending to be his sister. For the first time in his life, he appreciated his greasy hair and yellowed teeth.

"You traitor! You've killed me! You've killed our child!" She raised her hand, and as he reached from his wand, he knew it was too late. She was going to kill him. "Ava-"

"Avara Kedvera!" Green light rushed out of Serina's mouth and eyes before her lifeless body sunk to the ground. Severus was stunned to find it was Serina and not himself that was hit; yet even more shocked when he saw Ginny Weasley standing in the corner of the room shaking, arm out stretched, eyes terrified.

Remus, still on hands and knees looked up, sweat glistening on his tortured face. "Ginny!" he hoarsely moaned. The girl rushed to his side crying.

"Oh, Professor! I'm sorry!" Remus took the sobbing girl into his arms.

Severus quickly unbound Dumbledore and picked up Adhara who had collapsed against him crying, "Oh Severus, this is too much!"

A strange hissing sound came from the lifeless body of the floor, and then a sudden explosion of magical green fire and black smoke. When the air cleared there was nothing but ashes, and a slimy green goop near where the heart of the girl might have been.

"My, my." Dumbledore knelt down and prodded the goop with his wand. A thick mucus strand attached itself to the stick, but it appeared lifeless. Pushing up his half moon glasses, "I guess we finally found it Severus. Do you have a bottle."

"Yes," Snape's mouth was so dry he could barely speak.

Lupin approached, kneeling by the Headmaster. "You mean this is it? This is the essence of Salazar Slythrin?"

"Not quiet what you expected Remus?"

He left out an amazed huff, "No, sir!"

"And Serina? How could she still be alive?" Adhara questioned, as she wrapped her arms tighter around Severus.

"Oh, I don't think she was. Living people don't turn into ash from poison or from the unforgivable curses. Their bodies always remain behind." Dumbledore's blue eyes turned from Severus to Ginny, who still stood trembling. "No one was killed here tonight, only an essence was stopped from being reborn, so no one needs to know about this incident, Ms.Weasley."

"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have used it! I know the consequence regardless!" She shivered again.

Albus managed a small laugh as he put a comforting arm around the girl. "You did the right thing here tonight, and I'm quite amazed that a pupil so young could pull off one of the most powerful curses without being hurt herself. But I think Remus," he turned to the other professor, "we need talk about the material your teaching Ginny in her dueling lessons."

"Yes, sir," he nodded humbly knowing he had certainly never taught her any unforgivable curses.

"Tomorrow then. Tonight I believe we have something to celebrate!" Albus turned to Severus and Adhara wearing his silly, endearing smile, "I believe you two have an announcement to make; something that involves jumping the broom?"

They nodded simultaneously, both gleaming like children that had been caught in the cookie jar. As they entwined their fingers in mutual support Severus spoke first, "Adhara, I love you."

She laughed and answered, "You know I'd usually follow those words with a kiss, but not tonight."

The small party laughed and headed to the great hall for feasting and celebration; after Severus had a thorough teeth brushing of course.

**** One Year Later: The Wedding

"Whoever thought I'd be getting married on Valentine's day? How horribly.romantic." He managed to say the 'R' word without spitting.

Dumbledore turned Snape around to face the mirror, "Now stop fidgeting, Severus," he chided, "and let's have a look."

It was the same black suit that Snape wore everyday. The procession of buttons up the front, the same overly starched white collar and black silken cravat, but today there was a flower in his lapel. A small sprig of jasmine. The headmaster dusted his shoulders off, then stepped back to surmise their work.

"I'd say, Severus, you look like a man who's about to become a husband. Congratulations!" He placed a fatherly hand on the man's shoulder. "Now let's get downstairs."

As they began to descend the grand mahogany staircase of the Snape family home, Severus stopped and turned to the elderly wizard who was prodding him along. "Headmaster, my I be frank with you?"

"Why yes, what's on your mind? Cold feet, egh?"

"No, sir." Why did this man always make him feel like he was a school boy again. "I want to thank you for agreeing to be my best man. I know most men have a friend or a father to stand up for them but since.Well, you know sir," his eyes down cast. "For a man of your integrity to stand for me; it's a great honor. Thank you."

Blue eyes twinkling, "I wouldn't stand besides you today Severus if I didn't have complete faith in you. You're a good man and love is a precious gift."

Thin lips curving upward, he smiled as he thought of his bride-to-be and answered, "She has made me a better man."

In a few moments they stood before a roaring fire with a small party of close friends and family in attendance. Adhara, in a dark blue gown of crushed velvet stood besides Kristen holding a bouquet of white jasmine and winter roses. Further back stood Sirius, who for the most part, had settled his differences with Snape over a bottle of single malt whiskey and mutual apologies. Besides him was Remus, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and a few friends from Adhara's London days. At the last moment Arabella and Marabella Figg entered with apologies which made Remus's breathing fast and unsteady. McGonagall and Flitwick made up Snape's side which almost made Sirius feel sorry for him. Sirius's wedding to Kristen had been a wild affair compared to this quiet pagan ceremony.

Finally after many prayers, a candle lighting, exchanging of bread and a tying of the figurative "wedding knot" over the couple's hands, the elderly Priestess gave the benediction. "May the God and Goddess bless you and keep you to the end of your days." Then everyone in the room, knelt slightly and answered, "Blessed be".

"Severus Snape and Adhara Black, what is His and Hers in truth, can not be undone." The priestess unknotted their hands as Kristen and Dumbledore stepped forward with an old broom, obviously a family heirloom, and held it inches from the floor. "One, two, three!" The couple jumped the broom and everyone in the small party burst out in cheers and followed to a joyous reception.

Dumbledore looked on with hope as Severus, a former servant to the Dark Lord shared champagne with his new bride and laughed heartily with new friends and family. In these dark times of His return, happy celebrations were few and far between.

McGonagall interrupted his thoughts by shoving a piece of chocolate wedding cake in his hand, "Albus, be happy for one day. Have a piece of cake." Dumbledore smiled and took the cake with a heavy sigh as he thought about the approaching future.

From the opposite side of the room Ginny Weasley watched Remus Lupin as he wearily relaxed in a wingback chair. She studied his roman nose, strong jaw line, and well muscled shoulders. Pale eyes the electric gray of a summer thunderstorm churned with past memories and dark secrets. Did he get those same shivers when he touched her hands or traced her body in dueling maneuvers? Had the black and white of their relationship blurred gray to him as well?

As the reception dwindled down, Sirius and Kristen advanced to say their goodbyes to the couple.

"Adhara, you are absolutely glowing," Sirius hugged his sister with warm sincerity of feeling. "You're happy?"

"More than I've ever been," Adhara returned with rosy cheeks and wine scented breath.

"And I'm happy for you. Please know that you and Severus are welcome in our house anytime and if you ever need anything." His eyes widened as Kristen tugged at his sleeve. "What?"

"Umm.Sirius, we're the last ones here. They probably want to alone." She whispered in his ear.

"Aghh, right!" Kissing his sister quickly, he turned to his old enemy. "Severus." He took the man's hand in a firm but brief shake. "Congratulations. One bit of advise from a newly married man to another; jewelry and forgiveness go hand in hand."

Laughing deeply as he eyed Kristen's diamond necklace. "I'll remember that. Thank you."

As the newly married couple escorted the Blacks to the door, Kristen turned and asked, "See you both at our place for Easter?"

"Wouldn't miss it." Adhara chirped. Finally Mr. and Mrs. Severus Snape were alone.

***** The door shut and Severus instantly took his wife in a long and passionate kiss.

"I want to say it now," her heart pounded.

Severus arched a dark brow. "Say what?" He was in the mood for less talking and more action of the carnal sort. He pushed her body against the door and nibbled her ear.

"The words." He stepped back and with eyes unblinking, she looked deep into the black windows of his soul and saw a strong flame burning within him; a reflection of her own love. "I love you."

"And I shall say them back every time, Adhara. I will be your permanent echo." His black tangled locks brushed against her cheek.

Breathless, with eyelids fluttering she replied, "Tell me, Severus. Tell me everything and tell me one thing."

"Love," the word trembled on his lips like pious ecstasy. "Everything and one thing. I love you."

THE END ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- That's the end of this one. What do you think? Could Sevie ever really fall in love? At least he does in my fantasies!;) Please check out my sequel "Celestial Nights" (had a name change). Thank you for reading! ~lyra