The Serpent's Teeth:
His Desires

Drastic measures

Haylee

Haylee left Tim and Cathy a note in which she told them that she went to the Ministry of Magic, and that she would come back as soon as possible.
She was already as good as out of the house as someone grabbed at her sleeve.
"Where are you going?" Cathy asked with wide eyes.
"To the Ministry of Magic."
"Why?"
"I have to do something there, but I'll be back soon." Haylee stroked her sister's hair tenderly.
"Do you promise that?"
She knelt down and hugged Cathy.

"Yes, I promise."
"And you're not going away like Alexander?"
Tears momentarily robbed her off her voice.

"I'll never leave you, Catherina."
This was an outright lie, but why should she upset her sister even more?
"Go back to sleep, okay?" She pressed her sister again herself, before she let go of her and the little girl went back to her room.
As Haylee stood up again, she saw Snape.

She nodded to him narrowly and left Spinner's End as fast as her feet could carry her.
****
"Well, Miss Rosier" said the wizard behind the desk.
"I do not quite understand..."
"Mr. Goodwin, my brother isn't a Death Eater," Haylee repeated emphatically.

"My father was one, but my brother..."
"But your brother, Alexander Rosier, was seen in the company of Death Eaters."
"Then your witness must have mistook him with someone else."
"I have no reason to doubt its credibility."
"Might I at least know who slandered my brother?"
"I'm not at liberty to give you that type of information."

Haylee sighed.

"Then what about Simon and Crooch searching my house?"
"The two Aurors are doing their work and that according to law."
"To hell with the law. I could accuse Simon of having ulterior motives for making the procedure go on for longer than necessary. After all, he was the one who killed my father."
"Such accusations are outrageous!"
"But it would be godsend for the Daily Prophet!" She leaned forward slightly.

"I can already see the headline in front of me. Wizarding fam-"
"Nobody's going to believe that."
"I wouldn't be so sure about it if I were you..."

Goodwin seemed to be having an internal battle.
"Simon and Crooch get five more days..."
"Three."
"Four days."
"Three."
Goodwin sighed deeply.
"Agreed, three."
"And my brother ..."
"Is a Death Eater," the older wizard completed the sentence.
"And he will be put on trial."
"But..."
"You won't be able to do anything against the testimonies."
"Just wait." Haylee got up and left the office in rage.

At least she would be rid of Simon soon.

But Alexander ...
Haylees train of thoughts was interrupted as she bumped into someone.
With great difficulty she was able to keep her balance.

"Ah, damn it, don't you have eyes?"
"Please forgive me."
Surprised the witch stared up at the gaunt man wearing half-moon glasses.

"Professor Dumbledore!" She exclaimed.
"Miss Rosier, how nice that you recognize your old Headmaster."
His blue eyes flashed brightly.
"Errm... yes," she replied, a little shamefacedly, because she had snapped at him.
"What are you doing at the Ministry?" Dumbledore asked.
"I'm here because my brother is being held captive." And without thinking about it, she told him everything.

Well, almost everything.

The older wizard nodded.
"I understand your situation."
"The only positive thing that I have achieved so far, is that Simon and Crooch will be gone in three days."
"Do you have somewhere to live until then?"

Haylee hesitated.
"My siblings and I are living ... with ... a friend in Spinner's End."
Dumbledore gave no sign of whether he knew exactly with whom they were living.
He just said, "That's nice. In times like these, we need friends."

"Yes..."
"I'll see what I can do for your brother," he said suddenly.
"What ?!" Haylee called out in disbelief.
"I still remember your brother very well, and by no means consider him a man capable of killing, and torturing people."

Haylee couldn't speak.
"You should come here tomorrow at the same time."
"Thank you," was the only thing she could say.

Back in Spinner's End Cathy and Tim were already looking forward to their sister's return.
Haylee's brother looked questioning up at her.
"Tomorrow I'll know more," she explained and asked if they had eaten something, to which Cathy nodded eagerly.

Tim, however, grimaced.
"What is it?"
"Well, she" - he nodded in the direction of Cathy - "Babbled merrily to herself as usual..."
"And?"
"Eventually he had enough."
"Eventually?"
"After five minutes."
"Oh, Cathy." Haylee skilled lightly.

After her two siblings were busy with a deck of cards Haylee went on the search for Snape.
As she turned a corner, she promptly collided with him.
A soft cry escaped her lips, in shock and pure reflex she clung to Snape.
"I've been looking for you," she said, and took a step back.
"Oh, really?"
Somehow she had the feeling that she had done something wrong, but could not say what it was.
"And why?"

Haylee awkwardly ran a hand through her hair.
"Well, I'm sure that you'll be happy to hear that you'll be rid of us in three days."
"How do you know that I'd be happy about that?"

She had always thought herself to be pretty quick-witted, but right now she just couldn't come up with an answer.
"I... uh... am going to go eat something."
God damn it, why did she say that?

"Are you coming?"
"Why?"
"According to Cathy you didn't really eat much."
"That is hardly any of your concern."
"It will be on me," she tried again.
"Oh, if that is so." Snape's voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Well then don't come." And she was gone.

Angry at herself and the world Haylee sat down in one of the back rows.

Damn Snape!
She had been nothing but nice and friendly, and he snapped at her. Haylee just couldn't understand him.

"Miss, your tea."
Haylee thanked the woman.

Somewhat more relaxed, Haylee returned to Spinner's End.

"Only three more days," she thought out loud.
And one of them was indeed almost over ...
As she wanted to go up the stairs, Haylee bumped into Snape once again.
"This seems to be our new hobby," Haylee said slightly laughing.
Snape didn't respond to her comment, instead just stared at her and said; "The Dark Lord wants to see you."
"See me?", She asked without thinking which earned her an unidentifiable look from Snape.
"Well, hell have to content himself with just seeing you."
Haylee gave Snape a slap that left an unsightly redness on his cheek.

"Where is he?"
She could see that he didn't want to respond, but it was The Dark Lord...
"In the library."

Without even hesitating a second or think about it she almost ran to the door of the designated room with windswept hair.

She could only think about one thing: he was no longer useful to her.

What would his death mean now?
Especially when Alexander was in Azkaban?

She opened the door.
And as he stood before her, all in black as usual and looked at her with a not so could look, the words that had just been placed on her tongue, had disappeared and Haylee could do nothing more besides stare at him.

Behind here the door slammed shut.

"My Lord?"

It seemed to her as if he had only notice her now.
His expression was hard and serious.

"You spoke with Dumbledore today?"
"And if it were so?" Came the cheeky answer.
"That's my business."
"Treason is also my business."
"Why treason? Dumbledore bumped into me."
"The conversation was about your brother I suppose."

And when he had said this, Haylee was all too keenly aware that Alexander was in Azkaban because of him.
She had not realized that he had come closer until he was already grabbing her by the shoulders and pressed her against the closed door.
"Don't get any stupid ideas. I'm warning you, Haylee."
It sounded strange, as he uttered her name.
"What kind of stupid ideas?"
"Do not play dumb. That is probably one of the few things that you can not do." The Dark Lord pushed the material of her left shoulder down and ran his fingers on her pale skin.
"I can't play dubm?"
"And stop with the counter-questions," he whispered, pushing the fabric down a little further.
Haylee could feel her heart beat in her neck.

"This house is probably the wrong place for that sort of thing," she said, as long as she could still disagree.
To her astonishment, he listened to her and stepped back.

For a moment Haylee believed to see something like an inner struggle on his face.
But barely a second later, his face had become void of any emotion.
"Here," he said, throwing a small object which she deftly caught with one hand.
It was a black ring... Bella's ring!

"Wha ..."

"What do you think?"
He would call her whenever he wanted.

Like a whore.

Haylee frowned in disgust.
Her lips trembled.
She threw the ring at his feet.

Now it was his turn to be surprised.
"I'm not Bellatrix." Haylee waited for a huge tantrum, but nothing happened.
The ring floated back into The Dark Lord's hand before he apparated wordlessly.
Sighing Haylee fell onto the next seat.
Somehow everything went wrong today.
That was not normal ...
She could forget her plan now.

But what was she going to do from now on?

She could only hope that Dumbledore managed to do something.
A strange thought urged her on...

No, that would be nonsense.

And dangerous if it didn't work out.
Haylee laughed bitterly.

Her first plan was also dangerous.

So why not?
It was worth it to at least consider it...
But could she really do that?

Her thoughts, wandered over to Snape.
There was no other way.

She had already started,s o she might as well finish it.
After all, hope was the last to die, and Haylee was sure that she would succeed this time...

__________________________

AN:

So, here's yet another chapter.
I somehow threw everything together in this chapter, but let it be said; don't think that you knew how this is going to end.

Much love
Jamz