Knowledge is Power

Chapter 29

"You know, Mr. Longbottom, I don't think you tried hard enough on this potion," Severus said, fixing the Gryffindor fifth year with a disdainful glare.
"If you had, I think you could've mucked it up just a bit more. As it stands now it's only ruined. Had you striven a little harder, it could've perhaps exploded or set something on fire."

Nightshade made that coughing noise low in his throat that sounded nearly like a laugh. Severus was torn between an amused smirk and a cringe. The smirk because he did so enjoy being appreciated and a cringe because the little prats had thought that was his stomach the last time Nightshade was unable to contain his amusement. If the owl didn't have to be a secret from Voldemort, he could simply remain visible and no one would think his laughter was Severus's stomach. Though the situation was admittedly annoying, Severus knew that people had laughed at him for far worse during his own days as a student at Hogwarts.

As the fifth year potions class filed out of the room, Severus waited impatiently. He had a free period coming up next and longed for the silence that would entail. This was the last week of classes before the Christmas break and Severus couldn't help feeling pensive as though something was going to happen. It could come from Voldemort's corner or from some interaction with the order. These days Severus disliked dealing with both almost equally. The order only won his favor marginally because probably none of its members planned to kill him even if they wanted him dead.

If he could avoid the order during the holidays, at least he'd not have to see Sirius bloody Black. The very thought of the git curdled his very soul. It made him positively ill with rage that so many people actually LIKED Black too! He who had openly admitted to tormenting Severus simply because he existed was so well liked and Severus would never be able to understand why.

Filius once said that Severus's open fascination with the dark arts had gotten to Sirius because of how he felt about his own family, but that wasn't Severus's fault or his problem either. A fact with which Filius agreed. Severus was interested in the dark arts as a means of personal power and protection. His grandfather Prince's treatment made him feel he needed such and Sirius and his git friends only cemented that line of reasoning at Hogwarts.

//Well I actually hope we see him over the holidays, because if we do I am going to fuck with his head so hard he'll fucking beg to live in St. Mungos,// Nightshade thought darkly.
Once again the owl had been in his bloody mind reading his train of thoughts like a book. Severus gave an inner sigh of near resignation.
//Hey, in my defense, Prof, they were loud thoughts!//

It was an annoying mix of gratifying and uncomfortable to be defended in such a vigorous way by the owl. It reminded Severus painfully of a time when he had friends who gave a shit. Likewise it reminded him of how they'd decided to turn their friendship off like a bloody light. Mag was their daughter and Nightshade was, in the end, her owl. It wasn't fair to assume she'd do the same thing, but she may and then he'd have to feel about it which he very much didn't want to do. He was a rock...an island, just like that old song he related to so well, and it was safer and easier that way.

//Shit, Prof! Magi and I ain't goin' no where, because we like you. There aren't that many cool people in the world for fuck's sake.//
A small breeze stirred Severus's hair as Nightshade ruffled his feathers for punctuation.
//I remember when we hung out for the first time and you made me drink that nasty ass potion to make sure I was a real owl. Part of you worried I was James Fucking Potter somehow transfigured and waiting to laugh at you for being stupid enough to think someone wanted to be your friend.//

//Yes. It would've sucked as you would say, if he were somehow still alive and in hiding as an owl,// Severus thought back.
//Just the sort of thing that could bloody happen to me.//
//That's cool, but it's a bit insulting to worry we'd feel that way ever is all,// Nightshade thought.
//Mags doesn't have the same reasoning her parents did on the subject at all, and I may be her owl but I do what the fuck I want. Thought you'd figured that out by now.//

Severus sighed.
//I'm sorry. It isn't about you, it's about me...But I was wrong and I am still sorry.//
Nightshade made that rough sound in the back of his throat again, rocking back and forth on Severus's shoulder in his open amusement.
//Fuck I'll take it! If for no other reason than that you've probably never apologized before. Makes me feel all special and shit.//
//Good,// Severus replied, managing not to smile.

//Earlier you mentioned being with me over the holidays. Won't Mag want you with her?//
//Lizard Brain hasn't called another meeting. Mag and I were thinking I should hang with you for Christmas in case he decides to play Santa or some shit I'd be there to...you know do what I was supposed to do the first time with picking the brains of the Death Eaters for anything useful.//

Severus frowned.
//I don't think he's planning to play Santa. If you worry that he'd dress up and go into some mall to kill Muggles, it isn't something he's likely to consider doing though it would make a brilliant horror movie,// Severus admitted.
Nightshade gave his coughing laugh, shaking his head.
//I just meant if he called a meeting around Christmas, but that image is fucking awesome, Prof!//

The week passed swiftly. Mag, like most of the other students, was going home for Christmas. She stopped at Severus's office first, presenting him with a wrapped package. He felt oddly uncomfortable that he hadn't gotten her a gift.
"I...You didn't have to get me anything. I wasn't expecting..."
"I wanted you to have this...It's very important," Mag said, large green eyes dancing with excitement.
"I'd really like for you to open it now so I can explain it to you," she said."I could've included a note, I suppose, but I just wanted to see your reaction to it," she admitted, ducking her head as she felt a blush covering her cheeks.

The package was long and had weight to it. Severus eagerly tore off the wrapping, suddenly filled with curiosity. When the paper fell away, he drew in a breath at the sight of the wand it had covered. Half of it was formed of black obsidian and the other half clear quartz crystal. The two six sided stones were joined in the middle by a band of silver that held a large oval red garnet.
"Oh Gods," he practically groaned, clutching the wand.
"It feels...amazing..."
His eyes closed as the energy of the wand flowed through his hands and into his awareness.
"I think it loves me."
He knew how ridiculous that sounded, but the idea of letting go of the wand gave him mild anxiety. It felt like part of him and any interest in his old wooden wand was gone.

When he opened his eyes Mag was beaming.
"I'm so happy you like it! I designed that just for you. The clear quartz amplifies and cleanses and the black obsidian is grounding and protective. Your magic will be stronger and your spells will be more grounded so will always cast true as well as being harder to dodge. The obsidian will also help to protect you from harmful magic, making harmful spells easy for you to deflect. The garnet protects your aura, gives you motivation and strengthens your intuition. The quartz works wonderfully to amplify magic, and when you asked about my pendant I was so excited to share that with you, but I didn't want to ruin your Christmas present so I had to sort of skirt around it," she added apologetically.

"I don't know what to say...Thank you so much, Magritte."
"Mag...I hate Magritte, but you're so welcome. I'll rest easier in my mind knowing you have an edge."
Severus frowned in thought.
"I think I'll cast an illusion on this so it will look like my old wooden wand. We don't want anyone knowing that you've come up with stronger wands. At least not until Voldemort is dead because he and his certainly don't need any extra help."

Mag nodded, smiling.
"Good idea. I knew you'd come up with something. I thought of making you a pendant like mine, because it's easier to pretend it's just jewelry and not a wand, but a larger one just felt right so I had to go with it."
"Well I'm glad you did because I love it," Severus said.
"Good. I'm sure it loves you too, because it was literally made for you," Mag replied.
He wondered if this was how other dark wizards felt about the Elder wand. This one seemed to call to him, to hum in his hands, to belong to him and him alone. It's presence felt sentient.

"I can't thank you enough," he said, the words as odd on his tongue as the apology to Nightshade had been earlier in the week.
"The fact that you like my work so much is thanks enough," Mag said with a laugh.
"Merry Christmas, Severus," she said, and threw her slender arms around him in a fast hug before dashing from the room.