The Contract

Hidden Chamber

Dumbledore paced his office. Dozens of books lay scattered all around. After he had ordered Severus to hide Lily within one of the deepest rooms in the dungeons, he had wanted to speak more to the woman who had announced herself as being Merlin. However, the moment he'd turned to speak with her, she'd vanished.

He'd rushed to the library and scavenged for any and all books he could recall mentioned King Arthur or Merlin. Since, before the school was built, every young witch and wizard had been taught the history of the great and powerful sorcerer Merlin. The friendship between Merlin and King Arthur was legendary. Nothing he could remember or read mentioned Merlin having been a woman.

The knock at his door cut through Dumbledore's thoughts. "Come in!"

Severus stepped inside. He closed the door behind him. "I have helped Lily settle. Made sure the room is not visible to anyone even by accident."

"Good. I've sent a message to the members of the Order," he says as he picks up another book. "Your companion disappeared when you left."

Severus shook his head, "I know not where that woman could possibly be."

"Yet, from what Lily told me, that woman rescued her and her child because you requested it."

Severus coughs. His hands go behind his back. And he looks at Dumbledore without averting his eyes, "Dumbledore, I know very little of her. She appeared out of nowhere. Said she could save Lily...I made some sort of contract with her."

"Contract?"

"The specifics of it were not completely clear to me. But, put in simple words, I am bound to her."

"Severus, what you've done is dangerous. She could be working for Voldemort and tricking you."

"She isn't working for him!" He exclaimed. He realizes that he'd raised his voice. Takes a deep calming breath. "The place I found her in...it was nothing like I'd seen before. There were chains wrapped all around her body."

"A prisoner?" Dumbledore asked.

"She did mention that the barrier was there to keep others from taking her from where she was."

Dumbledore furrowed his brows. Then sighs, "It's best that you and her stay away for a couple of days. Lily will be moved-"

"Where to?"

"I can't tell you that. Sirius is still out and about. Can't take chances."

His hands closed into fists, "You'd made me a promise to keep her safe. Had I not been there, Lily would be dead! You cannot keep her whereabouts from me."

"Severus-"

"Albus...please."

Dumbledore shook his head, "Do as I've said. Go and keep yourself out of sight."

Snape gave him one long anger filled look before he turned on his heel and left. The door slammed behind him. He hurried down the spiral stone staircase. He waits for the statue to move and steps out. Yet, his foot lands on grass rather than the stone of the usual hallway.

Once again, he is in the strange place where he first met the woman. However, no longer does it look like the dead-cold forest he saw. No, there's life. Not much but there is life. The grass is a light shade of green. He can see the snow melting here and there. The large dead trees have begun to sprout leaves. The bark changing from a dull gray to a soft brown. The air felt lighter and less frigid. There was a large stream running now where there had been none. The sky, the sky still remained the same. Dark.

He could also see the woman about ten feet from where he stood. A brilliant golden aura emanating from her. His cloak, which she still wore, moved with the unseen wind that surrounded her.