Disclaimer: I make no profit from this. Severus Snape and all other characters do not belong to me. Eleanor however, is mine.
Author's Note--I didn't like the beginning and Eleanor's background so I decided to totally change it. I've revamped everything, it is better now, I think.
Chapter 1-The Girl
Severus Snape strode down the dark hallway of Hogwart's. It was the middle of the night and he was in a foul mood.
'Albus better have a damn good reason for waking me up' he thought as he stepped onto the stairwell leading to the Headmaster's office.
When he pushed open the door he was met with the worried eyes of his mentor.
"Thank you for coming so quickly Severus." He said kindly.
"What is it you need Albus?" he asked crossing his arms in front of him.
"Not three hours ago a disturbance was reported in a small farm town in Austria. Locals reported explosions and fires spreading across the countryside."
"And what does that have to do with me?"
"I need you to retrieve the girl who is causing it."
Severus blinked, "The girl? You mean a girl has done all that?"
"Yes, and she's not finished. I've already sent five members of the Order and they haven't been able to stop her. She has incredible power Severus. We need to get to her before the Death Eaters do. If she falls into Tom Riddle's hands she could do great harm to our cause."
Severus sighed; he knew the old man was right, "What do you want me to do with her?"
"Do your best to subdue her and bring her back to the castle. If you are unable to stop her then you know what must be done."
"Albus, I won't kill the girl."
"You would give her the chance to join with our enemies?" Albus boomed at him finally breaking his calm demeanor. "You will do what is necessary. That is an order Severus."
Severus nodded and left the office. He needed to stop by his rooms for supplies before her left.
As Severus made his way to the main gate of Hogwart's he was seething. He was growing tired of being Albus' henchman. He was weary of getting all of the assignments of a questionable nature. Time after time Severus was sent to dispose of threats to the cause. Not to mention spying on the Dark Lord. The faces of the dead haunted him and he found himself hating both Voldemort and Albus for turning him into the monster he had become. But he had no choice; it was either work or die. So Severus chose to work.
When Severus apparated to the town Albus had given him he was met with chaos. Fires raged everywhere he looked. Crops as well as houses were engulfed in flames. Every few seconds he heard loud explosions sounding from all directions. It was madness.
Dodging fireballs Severus searched for the cause; the girl. He found her atop a tall hill that overlooked the town. Severus stood at the bottom of the hill and stared up. What he saw took his breath away.
The girl wasn't really a girl at all; she had to be in her late teens, closer to a woman. Long, glossy black hair that would have fallen past her waist flew around her caught in an invisible wind. Her eyes were a pale amber color and they seemed to glow with her rage. She was beautiful, one of the most beautiful things Severus had ever seen and he was about to take her life away.
Severus began to climb up the hill. He stayed low to the ground hoping she wouldn't notice him. When he was nearly to the top he heard her screaming. The destruction below had drowned out her voice before but now he could hear it clearly.
"You killed them!" she screamed.
Severus looked around for someone she was talking to but saw no one.
"Why? They were innocent!" she yelled to the sky.
Severus had reached the top of the hill and could see the tears flowing down the girls face. For a moment he felt sorry for her. He regretted what he was about to do.
When he raised his wand to bind her power she saw him. She noticed his movement out of the corner of her eye and whipped around to face him.
Without hesitation she pushed her arms toward him. An invisible force hit Severus hard and he flew back onto the ground.
"Who are you?" she demanded as he picked himself up off the ground.
"Who I am matters little. I'm here to stop you." He answered picking up his wand.
"Stop me? Why didn't you stop them?" she yelled.
"Who are you referring to?"
"The people who killed my parents. Why is nobody going after them?" she cried.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about. You are the cause of all of this destruction."
"No! They killed them! I saw them!"
Severus ignored her and raised his wand.
She eyed him warily, "What is that? What are you going to do?" she asked stepping backward.
"What I'm ordered to." He answered through gritted teeth. Severus sent his silent spell flying towards the girl. She screamed as it hit her and she jumped backwards. Severus saw the danger before she did. He ran towards her but it was too late. She lost her footing and fell. The girl tumbled down the hill as Severus watched, unable to stop her. When she reached the bottom everything grew silent. The explosions stopped and the fires began to miraculously put themselves out. The girl did not move. It was over.