HP and the Nest of Ashes

Running footsteps and many conversations were rambling in the distance as Dumbledore walked to the training grounds outside the castle. They waved at Hermione, who was walking in their direction.
- Good morning, Professor!
- Ah, I am looking for you, Miss Granger. We don't have much time until the next lesson, so, I will hope to be concise enough. I have been concerned about your rather unorthodox use of the Treachery component: it left magical traces, of which I've been warned. Could you, please, enlighten me on this matter, for it might represent a significant danger. 
- I wasn't using this component, Professor. 
- You weren't? Nevertheless, your spell-casting has greatly improved, on which, by the way, I shouldn't fail to congratulate you... 
- Thank you, Professor, I've been practicing _and taking lessons with Professor Snape. 
- There's no doubt that personal efforts, even without tutoring, often give astounding results. I can see, however, some inspiration that has been taken somewhere that I could not quite place, and I would like to know, perhaps, only one thing: whether it is intentional or not. 
- I'm not sure to understand you, Professor... 
- Quite so. Then, I must be on my way, have a nice day! 

When Dumbledore entered the castle through a back door, a dark figure stepped out of the shadows. 
-So? 
-Severus, how did you_?.. 
-Excuse me, it was rather obvious. 
-Yes, I daresay it was. 
-Will you tell me? 
-No. You know already. 
-Which means that you think I was right? 
-I wouldn't jump to conclusions, but there was an element of what I believe to be the truth in your suggestion. 
-And your actions will be...
-None.
-Are you intending to let her _
-I have some assurance that she won't. 
-May I ask what it is? 
-You've just done it, Severus _and _I hate to say that _ I must remain silent as to this point. And, Severus, I should ask you not to interfere for the time being... Do I have your word? 
After a pause, seething, Snape said curtly:
- My word. 

This evening Dumbledore came down to see Snape. They've found them in their study, reading by the dying grey light from the window, which was austere and unprotected by any kind of curtain, only framed by plain black shutters that Snape was closing at night or in too sunny days in order to have a dim artificial lighting inside. 
-I'll be with you in a minute. - said Snape, briefly looking up. 
Meanwhile, Dumbledore approached the window, took a look at piles of books and parchment lying on the windowsill. Then, spoke to Snape's back, slouched over their desk:
-Can I take one of your books over here? 
-Yes. 
-Thank you. 
Perched on the sill, they had flicked through several pages before Snape turned to face them in their chair. 
- Do you have to stand against the light? There's a chair in front of me... 
- I didn't want to disturb. Now, to save you the trouble... - they said, smiling brightly. 

When they have settled down and started to speak, Snape stood up and  began to pace around the room, finally, coming to a halt behind  the Headmaster, they conjured an armchair in front of their guest and sat down to listen. 
In a few minutes Dumbledore paused. Snape reacted:
- I don't see any possible way of doing that. What do you want ME to do? I hope, you understand, that I can't just ask Renee as you asked Hermione. 
- Certainly, I do. Then again, maybe you can manage to weasel  this information out by other means _And I do not imply Legilimency - they added, noticing signs of protest spread over Snape's face. 
- What then? - Snape asked, astonished. 
- Ruse. 

Snape composed themself and nodded, Dumbledore seemed satisfied, they inquired:
- Severus, Would you like to share my company this... a little frosty... afternoon? 
- Sorry, Brian, I feel like a solitary evening tonight. 
- Ah, well, then, I will take a walk.  - said Dumbledore casually, and left the room. 
Snape observed them move across the grounds, then magically turned off the light. 

- What is it_ again? - asked Snape in a bored voice with a touch of exasperation. 
They was giving private lessons to one of the Slitherins. They were working for round half an hour on the Ensnaring Solution with no avail, as their pupil was out of sorts and was constantly breaking down in tears which spoiled several ingredients by dampening them. 
- It, it's nothing, might've cut my finger... 
- Miss Parkinson, you'll tell me right now what is the matter or  you'll never enter this office again. I'm still your Head of House and may be of some help... 
- N-no, you can't help it. It's M-mc_
She chocked very quietly and stopped altogether. 

- Pansy, If you mean McNair, I can interfere.

They started to doubt that she could hear anything through continual sobs, that only  increased in intensity as they pronounced the name. But then she spoke:
- How do you know? 

-I'm not a Legilimens for nothing, and am able to detect a fat lie when it is not even trying to hide, as to details of your case: they were pulsating too close to the surface of your disturbed consciousness, and _I, regrettably, could not help but read them. Did you know that sometimes you can invite people into your mind unwillingly, if you do not control your emotions? 
- No, I didn't... 
- Now. Did you hear what I said to you? 
- Yes. 
- Do you agree? 
- No. 
- Is it your final word? 
- Yes, it is. 
- Then, I won't. Can you tell me why? 
- I have to deal with it by myself. I, I want to be able to. 
- I see. Pansy, know that if the matter will be out of control, you can always turn to me, or Professor Dumbledore. You may ask any questions, however personal they might be, and I will try to answer them. 

Pansy couldn't restrain herself and fired away:
- She avoids me, speaks only when she wants to, never lets me in, makes me feel like I am unworthy of her and... And then, asks me to do stuff - everything. 

- She doesn't love you. 

- But she is the only person I'm close to...
 
- Don't be afraid to be alone. You need to figure things out about yourself, she needs too. You won't be able to do it together now, as, I perceive, there's no communication in place. 

- How would you know? You seem to live the opposite_

- I've been in an abusive relationship too. When I was about your age, in fact. I was seeking validation, a purpose. The only way to get it appeared to be in couple and in Death Eater's activities. This person left me anyway. Then, I've lost a friend... It made me reconsider many things. For one, I'd discovered that I am not attracted to people in romantic or sexual way, for another, that I don't have to be how others expect me, or, I'd rather say, my kind, to be. 
- You mean... You're not a man? 
- I feel like the dichotomy is arbitrary.
- How do you know that you are a woman, then? 
- I don't, I've told you. I'm neither. 
- Sorry... 
- Don't be, I wasn't sufficiently clear. 
- . 
- Tell me: Potions, do you really like it? 
- I think so... 
- Will it make you feel better if we continue this lesson? Or would you rather be doing something else? 
- I see what you want to say. I think, I was just good at it. And those lessons and praises made me feel important. But deep down I've never found the activity of studying Potions really fulfilling, as fulfilling as flying, for example... But I am not even a fair flyer... And it's not a real thing to do, I mean, it isn't serious... 
- You never heard of people making a living of flying? 
- I did, but_ I 'm not like them. 
- How so? 
- They are good at it, they have talent, that's why they are flying. And I'm not good enough. And they've practiced since they were little, it's too late for me. 
- Not all of them have. By the way, you can do many activities that involve flying, not only the sports version, or create something entirely new on your own. 
- But I don't know if I could, it feels like I have nothing to offer... 
- Because you haven't tried yet. Come to my practice cession with Hermione. You don't have to know now, you'll figure things out by knowing yourself better. 
- Really? I've heard it's top secret for some mission! 
- Rumors. Consider Saturday morning, first class of the day, or Tuesday, the fourth. 
- Hermione is really great, though... I don't want to slow her down. 
- We are just starting. I assure you, she is as close to zero level as a magician could be. Her skills belong to an entirely different branch of magic.  
- Would Professor Dumbledore allow me in your cession if I'm from a different House? From *Slitherin*? 
- For the record: the Headmaster has no prejudice about your assigned House, besides, I'm in charge of my own practice and schedule.
- I understand. Thank you, Professor! Do I have to finish this potion now? 
- You don't. 

_______
-... and they did in all the mudbloods in the area during the raid! 
- Awesome! Yeh?
- Yeh!
- Nice! - responded several voices around one of the Slitherin tables. Draco was stuffing his mouth with food without paying heed, his eyes on the book sprang open in his lap.
- Hey, Draco! 
- What?! - he answered irritably.
- You dropped your cucumber slugs on me, mate! - said Carson amazed. 
- Yeh, well, you want me to apologize for that or what? 
- Oh, no, no... I didn't mean it that way. 
- You'd better. 
Zabini looked at Draco across the table, finishing his pie.
After the meal, Draco sped up without a word. Zabini caught up with him in the corridor.
- What is it you're reading? Ooooh, it is Dark Arts stuff! Cool! 
- What else could it be?
- I don't know... Recipes? - Blaise said earnestly.
- Pfff, are you kidding? It was a rhetoric question.
- Can I read it too, when you will have finished?
- Nope. It... it won't interest you.
- Well the title sounds sort of promising. Is it from the restricted section? How did you lay your hands on that? - Draco ignored him. - Ah, isn't it the one you stole from Dumbledworf? 
- Yes, yes, that's the one. 

Zabini had hard time to keep up. They've already reached one of the common rooms. They peeked in, it was empty. 
- So, what you'll be up to? I'm about to tackle this herbology homework. 
- Great. 
Once in, Draco settled at a table by the window, immediately opening his book that he carried in hands all the while. One could think he resented the brief time spent without it in the corridors. Zabini shrugged his shoulders and conjured his kit a few tables away. 

In this chapter were described several ways to dominate non magical or magical person's will: by potion, incantation or a curse. The curse part appeared to Draco to be the most interesting one. It included Flying and Embodiment. Flying, it said, was far superior to Substantial Transformations as the magician was able to choose not only destination but also trajectory and enjoy the fullness of human senses at the same time, moving in a form of a sentient shadow. On the margin in clearly readable but somehow chaotic small letters was an addition by the previous owner:
Be aware - mingles with human nature by transforming an animal into an inanimate thing. Better take a Living draught before each performance to prevent nervous system diseases. 
From the word "superior" an arrow pointed to the scripture on the margin: "Cheap rhetorical shot. Depends on the goal."
Draco frowned: he didn't pause for a second while reading this and swallowed the statement. Criticize a school book, how dares his predecessor do such a thing! It would've never occured to him, especially as it was his favorite subject. The tip, however, looked quite useful. 

Malfoy was doing his homework in an empty dorm, something was constantly fidgeting behind the curtain. In an hour he felt irritated out of his skull and when a mouse ran out he shot a spell of Dark Destruction that he used on Carson's mug for a lough with tremendous success, this time for some reason it didn't work, at all. He pointed his wand at the flowerpot on the windowsill and it annihilated instantly letting water splash down   and flowers fall limply in the running paddle. 
Back to the mouse - nothing. Strange... The book explicitly said that it worked on everything, even on humans. Draco drew out his book and skimmed to a certain page. There it was, an addition by Amber that enhanced the spell... Wait there's something else in the brackets: "(Block for humans)". 
- What for ?! Fantastic! Of course it's not gonna work on mice now, it's all animal kingdom! 

________

Snape was looking straight up into Dumbledore's eyes, their hand wandering through their long soft hair with large sturdy ringlets, silver on one side and dark gold on the other. They felt the warmth of their dry smooth fingers move from their stomach to the neck through the middle of the sternum with even soothing pressure. This contact delightfully contrasted with a coolness of the air creeping on their skin. Dumbledore smiled, coming up all the way to Snape's face, and slightly opened their mouth by gently pushing their pointed chin. Their hand enveloping latter's throat, they leaned forward, and felt Snape gasp soundlessly as they placed  one endless soft wet kiss between their parted lips. After what seemed to be a very long time they broke apart, instantly re-establishing eye contact, as if anxious not to lose each other's personal presence. Dumbledore  proceeded to caress Snape's nether lip, which made Snape quiver slightly with a wave of pleasure. Dumbledore was aware of their partner's every shuddering breath  - nasal, long and carefully controlled, nonetheless. At this point, the other suddenly let their hands glide off Dumbledore's shoulders, sinking their fingers into their muscles along the way, then, seized  their hand and slowly pushed Dumbledore away, so that both of them were on their side.  
- Please, don't pin me down again, turns out I can't stand it. 
- Sorry. I won't. 
Dumbledore ever so slowly turned on their back,  pulling Snape with them, the other  hovered for a few seconds, nailing other's gaze with their black sharp eyes and, once assured, pressed gently the top of their head down into the pillow the better to expose latter's mouth. A moment after that, Dumbledore felt, what it seemed, all muscles of the front of their neck being squeezed, pushed and pressed almost painfully and their partner's tongue go nearly as far as to their throat; their shoulder length black soft hair swept over their face. Dumbledore grasped Snape  by the shoulders, around the trapezius, not caring much about amount  of force they were putting into it, feeling wonderfully off guard.
They've found pleasure in each other's company, having no mutual romantic or sexual feelings, just sensual attraction coupled with admiration, similarity of their bodies and playful ways of expressing themselves. It would be impossible to tell who was profiting more by this setting, as both've found equal delight and pride in giving or taking pleasure, and, more possibly, were doing both at the same time.   

This Saturday, at the crack of dawn, Snape was slowly pacing up and down  the training grounds outside the castle. Everything was plunged in the mist, and distant corners of the pitch were completely obscured. Out of one of those a figure of a person in white training cloths advanced with brisk steps, their racing broom became visible no less than ten steps apart from her teacher, who moved their own *Sweeper08*, covered in fragile patterns of frost, from one hand to another. 
A Sundial spell flicked through the air, lingering on Snape's palm for an instant. 
- Am I late, Professor? - asked Hermione. 
- No, Miss Granger, we are waiting for someone else. 
- Oh.

They stood in the middle of the ring of morning fog for a while, the first lesson of the day wasn't yet started. Hermione began to scrub surreptitiously some polishing powder off the handle of her device, as she accorded as little time as possible to such, according to her, prosaic activities. She didn't finish, however, because at this moment another student run up to them. Pansy Parkinson, with a small Slitherin badge pinned to her equally white uniform. 
- Parkinson!? - cried Hermione in shock. 
- Everybody is here. Let us start immediately. I'll dispense with introductions: you already know each other. 

First, they mounted their brooms and proceeded to dodge several spells that hang in midair, sometimes shadowed by the mist. 
In no time Hermione felt her broom behave unsteadily, and was almost thrown on the ground, hanging only on one knee. But just when Snape's steadying spell was at the point of reaching her, she found herself being caught by the wrist by Pansy:
- Let me help you on...
- Thanks. And... sorry, I didn't mean_
- Miss Parkinson, this was fast, keep on the track! - said Snape, sounding slightly impressed - Hermione, try this protective spell you showed the other day, it might help at first. 

" Amber Né_e ", " Amber Né_e "... - no information in yet another register. Draco was becoming more and more exasperated. 
Who ever the previous owner could be?.. "Probably, a nickname" - Malfoy thought - "there's a French word in it — an adjective..." 
- Maybe it's simply Dumbledwarf's? - Zabini pointed out. 
- No, this book is at least fifty years old and the ink is forty. By the way, there's a name on the cover, look. 
- Mmmm, my aunt's name is Amber. And she isn't magical. Such a vulgar name if you ask me. 
- A person who read this book is definitely magical, though. 
- Yeah... 

It was night time. Around two in the morning. Dumbledore's study was glimmering with magical multi-colored lights that floated through the air. Dumbledore sat on the arm of a couch, reading. Snape stood by the mantelpiece, sipping some drink from the goblet, their face illuminated by the flickering fire from below. 
Dumbledore turned a page:
-I can't see it yet. 
- Then, keep reading_ 
- Here it is! "... magic is a mere tool that pushes boundaries of tangible physics..." *Tangible*... 
- It means, one that can be perceived by human senses, unlike quantum particles, for example. 
- Yes, I know... But it sounds more like mechanics. 
- No, no, it surpasses the obvious, using the micro level; read it. 
- I see. 

Dumbledore got up and approached the chimney. Resting their elbow on the mantelpiece, they rubbed their eyes, making a goblet appear out of thin air and taking a gulp. 
- Where did you get this book, anyway? - they asked. 
- Renee. 
- Ingenious! But how? - they said in amazement. 
- Ruse. 

Getting the mocking reference to his own advice, Dumbledore smiled. 

- Can I taste yours? - Snape waved at other's cup. 
- If you wish. 
They took their goblet. 

- So, what are you going to do? 
- Well, I don't see any problem with Hermione using this approach. 
- I am speaking about her taking a leaf out of Renee's book. 
- What's wrong with that? She is able to make her own choices. 
Snape sounded sceptical :
- In case it slipped your mind, an ancient kind of magic was used in my new Mark. This one, as it seems. I don't need to remind you that my suspicions fell on Zabini... You have no evidence of her double agency_
- Indeed. However, there's some... tendency. 
- What tendency? - asked Snape more calmly, prepared to listen, almost holding their breath.
- Simply, why choose Hermione at all? 
- Don't ask me to fathom her mind! She USES people, this, at least, has many precedents. - they said cooly, with concern.
- What does she need Hermione, or this magic for? 
 Snape've found Dumbledore's insistent questioning excruciatingly annoying, even though they were obviously  just trying to think out loud:
- What do you make of it ? - they ended up saying, when Dumbledore's composure finished by cooling them down.
- Unorthodox ways suggest rebellion. 
Snape jerked up their eyebrow and put down their goblet with a flinch of disgust. 
- Not to me. She is a formidable foe, I wouldn't play her game in the hope that she might be on our side. - they said calmly.
 Dumbledore took in Snape's long persuasive look with everpresent underlying calculation in it's shape.
- Then, we may differ on that.
- Am I completely off track? you don't find any of it relevant?
- No, you know the situation much more than I do, this is why your participation is so valuable.
Snape looked at Dumbledore wide-eyed. 

_____

The common room was empty, everybody was probably getting ready for sleep. Malfoy stood up posing the book at an angle so that an illustration on the right page was visible and imitated a movement - first step for a flying spell. He knew, of course, that he couldn't practice such a dark magic in the Castle, but it never hurts to learn a proper technique without spells, like Professor Snape once told them in Potions. It was a pity Dumbledore chucked him out of the DA, by precaution, no doubt. Of course, Snape is playing their part very good, and the Headmaster must trust them, but still, Snape is, obviously, very good at Dark stuff. Draco swooshed his hands from the topmost position to the sides with a bow and a little jump without incantation and even felt a floating sensation in the stomach, though, it probably might've been due to the fact that he skipped dinner this day, captivated by his reading. He sat on a bench again and turned the page. While the preceding chapter about flying was heavily commented by the previous owner, this one - the actual curse part - where the sapient shadow takes over a body appeared to be pretty much ignored. Draco was surprised, but associated it with the skill of Amber, who probably didn't need any additional explanation for this part. Draco read with interest, taking in technical details. When he turned the last page of the chapter, however, he was pleased to see another note. By the end of it, though, he couldn't have been in worse spirits.
The writing described how to protect yourself from the curse, AND how to protect those who don't master magic! 
- What?! - Draco whispered. 

It made no sense at all. The author of those notes was definitely a Dark magician, otherwise, they would've been satisfied with a standard Defence Against the Dark Arts book. 

He exhaled slowly and skimmed through the volume: it was, indeed, systematic, notes were missing in precise places explaining how to use Dark Magic against others. Every now and then a cutting critique was made about too bold a presumption or an elusive description of some nefarious aspect of a spell. Amber was able to detect a slight incoherence in the narrative, an assumption or a   straightforward lie, take down the argument and extract valuable information out of it, leaving the rest. This approach definitely impressed Draco, but it felt quite painful, because with the narrative the  author was deconstructing everything he took for granted and never bothered to question. At first, Malfoy attempted to debate with the author, but soon discovered that he had very little to nothing to say in defense of abuse and mistreatment. There were, of course, dogmas that ran in his family for generations, but they didn't sound convincing at all, having no backup, no foundation. There were times in his early days, Draco now remembered, when he couldn't understand certain things and having been offered an explanation felt meekly satisfied without asking questions but unable to apply the theory in any case that differed ever so slightly from the initial one.
___

At the same time Hermione was carefully rasing the wall of the Astronomy tower. Somewhere a twig creaked, she turned her head and stared into the night. Nothing. As she decided to take Astronomy tower underground path to the main castle, Hermione sneaked into the lightless first floor making no noise. And then she walked right into a flesh and blood figure that tinkled slightly and made a scandalized sound. Hermione thought she recognized Trelawney's far-off smoky voice. 
-P-Professor Trelawney? - she asked tentatively. 
- Oh, no, no, it is not... I mean, I am not... Who's there? 
- Hermione Granger. 
- Oh, my dear! Lovely to see you... in a way. I mean... it is toooo dark to see anything, but my Inner Eye_
- Yes, I know. - she interrupted, trying not to appear impatient as she had nothing against Divination, having no faith in its principles herself, but was a little pressed at the moment. - 
Sorry, Professor, may I ask you not to mention our meeting tonight, please? 
- But of course! To be honest, my dear, I was going to ask you the same. 
- I won't tell anyone. 
- Neither will I. 
____

Snape stood alone in their study. In a complete darkness shone the silver light from intricate patterns on a brass mirror that were connecting and spreading as Snape cast a spell, muttering under their breath. Finally, scenes and figures started to appear in front of them: a drawing of a spell, a contorted hand, a wand, a rattling snake, and then out of those flickering images a face of Dumbledore floated on the forefront and overshadowed other pictures, expanding quickly. Snape bored into its eyes until it disappeared. 
- Brian is an extremely powerful wizard, what do they see what I don't? 
They started to mutter again, watching different signs form and dissolve over and over.