Knowledge is Power

Chapter 18

Severus carefully approached the bound owl with a shallow bowl in one hand.
"Just have a few swallows of this, and if you are who you claim to be, we can move on to the part where you are more comfortable," he said, forgetting not to speak aloud for the moment.
He gently righted the bird in the air and raised the bowl to the level of Nightshade's face.

//Right now I may hate you a little,// Nightshade shared, round owl eyes giving Severus a baleful glare before he drew in a deep breath and drank from the bowl.
//I don't wanna die, this shit better not kill me. If it does just tell Mag's I hope she's fuckin' happy!//

//Interesting ability. The way you speak in thought allows you to talk with your mouth full without technically being rude,// Severus thought back in spite of himself.

//Almost funny. Just a bit more practice and you'll manage,// the owl snarked back, taking another drink.
//How many more times I gotta drink this nasty shit,// he asked with a shudder.

//One more to be safe and we'll wait a few minutes to make sure,// Severus replied.
//But you can at least have some water for your trouble,// he added quickly before the owl could protest.

Actually if nothing had happened yet, it quite likely wasn't going to and the owl was telling the truth, but Severus had to be certain. Nightshade took another deep drink, shuddering again.
//Water,// he demanded a bit weakly.
//Before I puke. That shit was nasty!//

Severus nodded.
//Thank you for cooperating,// he said then moved to the sink to dump out what remained of the potion of revealing. He filled another shallow bowl with fresh water. As soon as it was presented to him, the owl drank greedily.
//Thanks. Got any deli turkey?//

Severus chuckled.
//That was specific.//

Nightshade bobbed his head in a nod.
//Yep. The super thin sliced stuff is good shit. The best ever, in fact.//

//I'll keep that in mind,// Severus said.
//But no, I don't have any at the moment.//

His wording gave Nightshade hope that there may be some in his future.

Severus moved across the room to his desk chair and sank into it with a sigh. The owl was still an owl, which meant he was telling the truth. For all Severus knew, the bird could've been a transfigured Death Eater or worse...James Potter returned to torment him and laugh in his face for believing in a telepathic owl who actually liked him.

//Yeah he was a right fucker,// Nightshade said, causing Severus to almost start.
He'd have to guard his thoughts more carefully around the bird.

//And where's the fun in that? What would we talk about then,// Nightshade demanded.

Rather than replying, Severus sighed and flicked his wand at the bird, releasing the bindings. The suddenness of this nearly caused the bird to fall into the floor but his large white wings snapped open just in time.

//Fuck and shit,// he swore, flying low across the room to land on Severus's desk.

//Is there a particular reason for you to be in my space? There is an entire room in which you can make yourself comfortable,// Severus complained.

//Because I wanted to be here,// Nightshade replied.
//So how we gonna do this going to Death Eater meetings together thing without drawing unwanted attention?//

//I don't know just yet,// Severus admitted.
//I'll need to think about it.//
As soon as that thought left his mind, however, the solution came to him, though.
//Actually I've got it! I'll use two levels of chameleon charms. One will be for your body, causing it to look like part of my robe, and the other will be for your mind, causing it to appear as part of my own mind rather than a separate individual one that rides on my shoulder.//

//So your robe is gonna look like it has a big ass white blotch on it,// Nightshade asked skeptically.

//No. You'll look like part of the usual black robe, in essence making you unseen It isn't quite as difficult as a disillusionment charm because it just makes you part of me.//

//Okay,// Nightshade agreed readily.
//Now we just need to sort out how I get back and forth between you and Mags without drawing attention to that shit.//

//Must you swear all the time,// Severus asked with a frown of exasperation.
//It's distracting.//

Nightshade paused before replying, tilting his head thoughtfully to the side before straightening and giving a firm nod.
//As it turns out...Yep I must.//

Severus laughed, shaking his head in resignation.
//As for having you go back and forth between myself and Miss WestCraven when necessary, what if we each give you a parchment to carry as if it is mail. If you're going from her to me, you are simply bringing me my mail, and the same for when you're coming from me to her. If it can be arranged in the morning, that would be the most natural, but any time will do because mail, if important, can come any time.//

//Okay but in general don't expect me to really do the mail thing,// Nightshade warned firmly.
//That shit is for tard baby owls. This is just fake mail so I really don't have to fly far but I'm not taking shit to your Mum or your potions supplier, just no.//

Severus shrugged.

//So are we hanging for the evening and I go back to Mags in the morning, or do I go to her now and hang with you tomorrow,// Nightshade asked.
//I thought we should practice the chameleon charm so I should hang with you some in public I think,// he added.

Severus nodded.
//Sounds reasonable. We can...hang tomorrow during classes.//

//Oh goody,// Nightshade thought happily.
//I get to watch you be shitty to people all day. Awesome!//

Severus chuckled.
//I'd not need to be shitty, as you so eloquently put it, if they weren't so bloody thick and annoying.//

//I know. I feel you,// Nightshade assured.

Severus blinked.
//You what? Why?//

//God damn it,// the owl swore.
//Feeling someone means simply to fucking understand them.//

//Actually that isn't simple at all,// Severus complained with a sigh.
//It has no logic to it what so ever! You're obviously intelligent, so why must you speak like a low life street thug?//

Nightshade paused once again to ponder the question, or at least to pretend to ponder the question.
//Because I want to.//

Severus sighed.
//Whatever. Now let's get you back to Miss WestCraven, and I'll see you in the morning.//

//Okay,// Nightshade agreed, and flew to Severus's shoulder.
He opened his claws part way so as not to hurt the man's flesh too much, not for the first time, thinking how unprotected human skin was.

//What does Mag do to protect herself from your claws,// Severus asked with a slight cringe.

//A thick leather shoulder pad and air shields on the tips of my claws,// Nightshade replied and Severus nodded.
That made sense.

Leaving his office, Severus went to the Slytherin common room and sent a student to Mag's dorm to fetch her. When she hurried into the common room, he frowned and thrust her owl at her.

"Your owl was in the hallway, circling the portrait, unable to get inside. Keep a closer watch on it in future, Miss WestCraven."

She nodded quickly.
"Yes, Professor. I'm sorry. I sent him to deliver a letter, and he must have decided not to go to the owlery. He does so hate the other owls."

Severus nodded and turned to go with a sweep of black robes.
//Thank you, Nightshade,// he found himself thinking to the owl.
//And her too. Tell her, please.//

//Sure, Prof,// Nightshade replied as he and Mag left for the dorms. and Severus for his own chambers.

******* For anyone who wishes to know why Nightshade is so much more than other tard baby owls, he and Severus learn the answer in In The Dark, another of our novel length fics uploaded here.