Chapter Text
Disclaimer: This is based on the J.K. Rowling's World of Harry Potter. Everything you recognize belongs to her.
Summer 2015
Once a majestic house, full of hope and love, parties, and frivolity, all that had passed by several generations ago. The brick and mortar still stood, but the cracks bled through it. The twisty ivy, that plagued the herringbone pattern, ground into the walls, teasing out bits of brick that crumbled like dust to the ground. The trees had grown too close, and the roots pushed up the decaying foundation. Tendrils of thorns crawled up the windows, scraping at them like a nail on a chalkboard. Nestled deep within a thick, overgrown forest, the dilapidated mansion looms like a foreboding specter of a bygone era. Its once-grand facade, now a decaying relic of opulence, stands in stark contrast to the encroaching wilderness that seeks to reclaim it.
Amidst the decay and overgrown wilderness, a single flickering light would be seen in the fifth window, a faint sign of some life in this barren landscape. A young man stalked across the entrance way, careful to walk around some questionable stains upon the wooden planks. He made his way down to the only door with a faint glow creeping from underneath it.
He knocked hesitantly on the door and opened it cautiously. The only resident was seated in front of a roaring fire. His raspy cough and labored breathing could be heard even from the doorway. Azkaban had not been kind to him. He had managed to survive the first two times, but this last time. The only thing left of the man was a shell. A shell hell-bent on revenge. It seemed to be the only thing keeping him alive.
“Uncle,” the young man knelt down at the elder’s feet. “I got the job. I’ll be there.”
“Excellent?” The old man’s eyes gleamed and he rubbed his withered hands in anticipation.
“Sir,” he asked. “Are you sure you want to wait? This year, I could get one.”
“No!” the old man practically screamed. “Ever since I found out the truth. The truth that that traitor’s been hiding. I want him too. He is just as responsible!”
“Okay, so we’ll wait two years and then get three,” the man tried to compromise but his uncle would not have it.
“No, I want them all. All five,” the man wheezed out.
“Sir, that will take four years!” the younger exclaimed.
“Don’t worry, boy. I’m a patient man and I can hold on. I’ll survive to see the day that those two men suffer as much as I have. I promise.”
RECAP of Even the Best Laid Plans
This story is a sequel to Even the Best Laid Plans. I highly recommend you read that one first since it refers back to it many times; however, if you prefer not or you just need a recap of the first story, read below. Otherwise, move on to chapter 2.
Even the Best Laid Plans starts about the same time as The Order of the Phoenix. Severus Snape is in a perilous position for Voldemort doesn’t trust his spy who has spent the last thirteen years being influenced by his mortal enemy, Albus Dumbledore. He demands that Snape find a way for him to control muggles in mass numbers once he’s ready to reveal himself to the muggle world.
Snape reads an article in a muggle chemistry periodical about the use of Scopolamine. He thinks the ideas of this muggle (or actually nomaj since she is American) have merit and might be exactly what he can use. He’s planning on just stealing her research. Unfortunately, for him, Voldemort orders him to also kidnap the woman, Maerna Danazul.
Snape travels to America. At her home, he doesn’t find her but he does discover a house that pretends it isn’t magical but really is and an elderly woman, who despite being in a wheelchair, is a decisive duelist and doesn’t mind using the Avada Kedavra curse. The older woman dies in the fight, but Snape manages to trace the trail of Maerna Danazul. She appears to be a squib who is currently studying chemistry at Oxford.
From the moment Snape attempts to kidnap her, things don’t seem to go his way. Maerna, although having no magical abilities, obviously knows about the magical world. She stabs him in the neck with a poisonous knife and attempts to break his wand. Snape, however, does get the upper hand and delivers her to Voldemort.
Severus Snape holds her prisoner in a remote cottage, heavily warded. Needless to say their relationship is extremely tense. As he works with her (during his breaks from Hogwarts), he discovers several unusual things. First he is surprised to find out that she already has an extensive understanding of potions and has been using this knowledge to push the boundaries of muggle chemistry exploration. Second, bouts of what could only be described as accidental magic begin popping up. Mearna admits that she remembers a time when she might have done accidental magic but just assumed that had been childhood fantasies. Snape determines that Maerna does have magical abilities that were repressed when she was quite young. Third he discovers that she can’t use a wand. Everytime she attempts to use his wand, it burns her arm.
Although the relationship is tense (like the time she hit his nose with a frying pan), they slowly turn from enemies to friends. Severus, however, is away more often than not, teaching at Hogwarts etc. During this time, Maerna becomes very claustrophobic in the cottage. She begins to push on the wards. As her magical strength grows, she discovers she is able to push past the wards.
Maerna tries to run away, but discovers that it is God’s will she stays and helps Severus. This is a turning point for Mearna who stops trying to fight Severus but works with him. She is also now able to take long walks away from the cottage.
During one particular moonlight stroll, she hears howling. She runs back towards the cottage, but the werewolves are upon her before she can reach the wards. Just as they are about to attack, a lone werewolf jumps between her and the pack, giving her the time to disappear back into the wards.
The lone wolf is severely injured by the pack. Guilt ridden, Maerna drags it back through the wards just as the sun rises. The werewolf is, of course, everyone’s favorite wolf: Remus Lupin.
Remus and Maerna strike up a friendship. Maerna explains that her “husband” is a traveling cauldron salesman who isn’t around too much. Remus is not happy that an almost squib is left defenseless in a remote cottage but accepts her situation. He often comes over for dinner and helps her brew potions. She takes delight in learning to make wolfsbane for him. Sometimes, he brings his eerily intelligent dog, Padfoot, over for a walk. When Sirius dies at the end of Book 5, it is Maerna that puts Remus back together.
Both Voldemort and Dumbledore are fascinated that Maerna can’t use wands but have no explanation. She seems able to hold wands. They only burn her when she tries to use them. The exception is Dumbledore’s wand. Even holding it over her open palm causes severe blisters up her arm. Despite this, Severus begins to teach her some wandless magic. Both Dumbledore and Voldemort admit that she would be a formidable witch if she could hold a wand.
Over the summer between Book 5 and 6, several important things happen. First Voldemort agrees to let them travel to Central America to harvest Borrachero leaves that are used to make Scopolamine. While there, they do some research that suggests someone purposely put a dark curse on Maerna to bind her magical abilities. You also began to see Severus develop some feelings for Maerna (although he would never admit it) and trust her. Although he hasn’t told her exactly what, she knows he has been required to make a terrible promise that is psychologically exhausting him. She does allow him to use legilimency to help her recover memories of her childhood. During these sessions, they discover that she did do accidental magic as a child. They also discover a memory locked away of her grandmother performing dark magic on her as a young child which suppressed her powers. Maerna is distraught that the grandmother, who raised her, would do such a thing. Neither one understands why the woman did it, but Severus is sure she had a good reason. He also theorizes that her powers began to come back once her grandmother had passed away.
By this time, Severus feels that Maerna has proven that she won’t run away. He allows her access to the floo and money to go shopping in Diagon Alley. While reading history books in Flourish and Botts, Maerna has an idea about helping muggleborns. Given his persecution of them during the First Wizarding World, it seems logical that Voldemort would begin it again. She approaches Dumbledore about the possibility of helping muggleborns escape the UK when needed. He likes the plan but first wants her to learn Occlumency, concerned that if these ideas are discovered by Death Eaters, it could compromise Severus’s position.
She learns the skill as well as accompanying Dumbledore on a futile trip to search for Horcruxes in the Americas. During this trip, Dumbledore meets Uncle Brent, Maerna’s muggleborn uncle who is an Auror for MACUSA. Maerna stays a while to visit her uncle.
In spring of Book 6, Maerna and Remus began organizing in preparation that muggleborns are forced to flee. They enlist several other people but all use code names in order to protect in case one is taken prisoner. Once they start helping muggleborns escape, they name themselves the Conductors.
During this time, Maerna has met with Voldemort several times as she updates him on the progress of their potion to control muggles. Often these meetings include torture, but despite her cheek, he never kills her, a fact Maerna shows that God is watching over her. Severus admits that she has great faith but is skeptical of her explanations.
In late April/early May Voldemort summons her. She was spotted in Hogsmeade consorting with THE werewolf, a known member of the Order of the Phoenix. Voldemort demands that she take an oath of allegiance to him to which she refuses, so he forces Snape to torture he. Voldemort only allows him to stop when he thinks she is dead. After the Dark Lord leaves, Severus drops to the floor in anguish, cradling her body.
Narcissa Malfoy watches the scene and realizes the depth of Snape’s sorrow. She beckons him to bring the almost lifeless body back to the Manor where she produces a book on blood bonds. She explains that this particular ritual isn’t steeped in dark arts but rather in love and it might work, if he truly loves her. Severus agrees to try the ceremony with Narcissa completing the chanting and him offering his blood (life force) to Maerna. There is no sign of success until, in the middle of the ceremony, Severus begins to pray. He has been watching Maerna pray and usually scoffs at her actions, but in his desperation he begs God to make her survive. Almost immediately afterward, she begins to breathe.
Maerna recovers from the ordeal in Severus’s chambers at Hogwarts. During this time, they grow even closer although they are not intimate. Due to the blood bond, a thin gold (metaphorical) rope is magically attaching them. With strength and practice it allows Maerna and Severus to always know where the other is.
Despite all of this, Severus refuses to kiss Maerna. He knows he loves her but is also unsure of her reaction when he must fulfill his unbreakable vow. He refuses to pull her in any deeper until that happens (a bit too late, Sev.)
She is still at Hogwarts when he must kill Dumbledore. Maerna, feeling confused and betrayed, flees back to the cottage. Voldemort is feeling very victorious after Dumbledore’s death. He grants Snape anything he wants. Severus admits that Maerna is still alive and requests that her life be placed in his own hands. Voldemort is furious and Severus thinks he has pushed too far but suddenly the Dark Lord relents and “gives” Maerna to Severus. Later Maerna would predict it was God influencing Voldemort to allow that. Severus is unsure but admits he’s not sure what else would convince Voldemort to not kill her after her absolute refusal to make an oath to him.
Soon after killing Dumbledore, Severus appears with Draco in tow. Maerna is furious with him until she reflects back on conversations she’s had with Severus and Dumbledore. She puts the pieces together and finally understands the pressure he has been under. She promises to support him no matter what and they share their first kiss.
The summer between the 6th and 7th book is both challenging but intimate. As a couple, their love and trust deepens. Severus, however, is forced to do Death Eater activities that are emotionally scarring him. Maerna’s work with the Conductors increases. Within the conductors, she calls herself Meg Darcy and wears an extensive glamor during her work. Severus realizes she is doing something the Dark Lord wouldn’t like so he doesn’t question her hidden activities.
Maerna does attend Remus and Tonk’s wedding and meets the golden trio at the Weasleys just before Bill’s wedding. She gives them a coin (similar to the DA’s) and reminds Hermione that if they are in dire need, to please contact her.
Voldemort takes over the Ministry and begins his crackdown on muggleborns. Maerna Danazul is pulled in by the Muggleborn Registration Committee because she is an unknown. Severus accompanies her to Courtroom 10, with the proper paperwork to show that she is an American pureblood witch. The Toad is rather annoyed that she must let Maerna go.
The Conductors have been preparing for months, with vats of polyjuice, fake IDs, hidden portkeys and muggle train tickets. As the Muggleborns become more persecuted, the Conductors convince more of them to flee. The name Meg Darcy becomes (in)famous. Her glamoured self even has its own wanted poster at the ministry (albeit not nearly as big as Undesirable #1.) In one particular attempt to move the family out of the country, Maerna, who has limited wandless power, is left stranded with an unconscious Muggleborn, her wand and the Ministry closing in. With nothing left to lose, Maerna grabs the wand attempting to apparate herself and the woman out of danger. To her surprise it works. Even more surprising is that the wand doesn’t burn her arm.
Soon after, Severus takes Maerna for her first wand. They sneak food and a warm blanket down to Ollivander who is being kept in Malfoy’s dungeon. He notices the magical connection between the two of them. He also asks them to bring him cedar and unicorn hair and he’ll make Maerna her first wand.
The Conductors have become a serious thorn in the Ministry’s side so the government becomes more and more aggressive trying to find them. A group of Death Eaters attacks their hideout. Only Severus’s timely patronus allows them to destroy any evidence and disappear before being caught. This close call makes Maerna reevaluate her priorities, particularly the possibility of exposing Severus. She decides to leave the Conductors in the capable hands of Remus and dedicates full time to helping Severus.
Maerna goes to live at the castle where Severus is already Headmaster. There she finds Neville Longbottom strung up after being tortured by the Carrows. She strikes a deal with him. With Neville as her liaison and the elves her couriers, Maerna secretly begins experimenting to create a post cruciatus curse pain potion and eventually a pre-pain potion to take before detentions.
While working with Neville, she has a strong sense of deja vu. Using a pensieve, she traces it back to a conversation she had with her uncle when she visited him leading her to realize he knows why her grandmother bound her abilities. Her uncle admits to knowing why and gives her a memory of her baptism. During her baptism, a seer made a prophecy.
On this day on which children are named
Claimed by one who changes lives forever
Owning the wand is the reason for death
But venom will stop the heart
She must make the antidote
But only accepting pure love will allow a choice
To pass the veil or not
Her grandmother had interpreted it that owning a wand would lead to Maerna’s destruction so she would keep Maerna from owning a wand. She did this two ways 1.) binding her powers 2.) creating a spell that made a wand burn her if she tried to use it. Severus thinks the venom might be from Nagini so they begin to create an antidote to her venom.
She’s also still working on Voldemort’s potion to control muggles. Despite their attempts at delay, they show the Dark Lord a successful product. Then they must procrastinate as much as possible in creating a dispersal system.
Just before Christmas, Maerna and Severus visit Nagini in Godric’s Hollow for a sample of venom under the guise of creating strong poisons for the Dark Lord’s work.
Throughout the winter, Maerna spends her time working on three projects: her antipain potion for the students, the antidote for Nagini’s venom, and the project for Voldemort. She also accompanies Severus to drop off the sword in the Forest Dean. During this time, Severus finalizes a theory about multiple horcruxes.
In February, she feels the coin from Hermione burn. She (as Meg Darcy) meets with the trio to find that Harry has a terrible case of muggle pneumonia. (No doubt to living in a tent all winter.) She tries to help them but realizes he’s too sick for her lack of expertise, so she kidnaps Madame Pomphrey to help. The healer healed him. Then Hermione obliviated her before she returned her Hogwarts and the trio continue on their hunt.
After Voldemort visited Hogwarts, Maerna and Severus followed the path to see the destroyed tomb. Severus notices the missing wand and begins to formulate a theory connecting Albus’s wand and the prophecy although he doesn’t confide it into Maerna. Fawkes shows up, sees the broken tomb and begins to cry. Maerna is able to collect the Phoenix tears, the final ingredient she needs for the antivenom.
When the final battle draws near, both Remus and Severus make her promise that she will not fight, citing she has only owned a wand for about eight months and would be more of a hindrance than help. Reluctantly she agrees. After Severus is forced to flee, Dumbledore’s portrait admits that Severus has a different interpretation of the prophecy than Maerna does and suggests that she sticks close to him.
Maerna leaves Hogwarts, the last one through the tunnel before Mrs. Longbottom closes it. She begins to search for Severus on the edges of the battlefield and discovers him just as Lucius comes up informing him that he is wanted by the Dark Lord. On the way to the Shrieking Shack, Maerna promises to stay out of trouble, a promise she promptly ignores. As Severus is walking up to the Shack, Maerna puts on an invisibility cloak that Severus had given her for Christmas. She pushed past him just as he opened the door, so he can do nothing about it without Voldemort’s knowledge.
As Voldemort and Severus talk, Maerna begins to think about the prophecy. She puts the pieces together and realizes that Severus interpreted the prophecy to be about himself, not her. Unfortunately, she figures this out seconds before Nagini attacks.
As soon as Potter disappears with the memories, Maerna starts to treat Severus with the antidote and blood replenishing potion. Exhausting everything she knows to help, she begins to pray.
While Maerna is trying to heal him, Severus has an after-death experience. He meets the angel, Raphael, who explains that the prophecy was actually about both of them. Line 1 and 2 were about both of them, lines 3 and 4 about him and line 5 about her. Lines 6 and 7 were a choice for Severus if he accepted pure love (God’s love.) Severus accepts and dedicates his life to God. Then he chooses to return to Earth to help Harry finish what was started.
He finally stirs about daybreak to Maerna’s joy. Still too weak to move, he sends her to find out the results of the battle. To her amazement, she discovers that Voldemort is dead and Harry is still alive. She talks to Neville in the Great Hall, but admits that she won’t be around much longer. He had heard about Snape’s death and assumed that she’s leaving because he died. As she leaves the Great Hall, she sees the bodies of Remus and Tonks. Devastated, she makes it to the gates of Hogwarts before she collapses.
Eventually a townsperson takes her to the Three Broomsticks, gives her food and she makes her way back to Severus with the news. No one is watching the floo now and he still has Headmaster privileges, so they floo to the Headmaster’s office. There Dumbledore’s portrait helps fill in the gaps about the Horcruxes. Severus then tenders his resignation from anything having to do with Hogwarts. He admits that he and Maerna burned the Shrieking Shack so it looks like his body burned with it. He and Maerna disappear from Hogwarts hoping never to return.
The epilogue takes place fourteen years later. Harry, Ginny and Hermione are at a Wizarding Technology conference in New York. Through the crowds, Hermione spots a woman whom she suspects is Meg Darcy. When confronted, Maerna, at first, denies it but then relents. Harry gives her a picture of Teddy. The trio tried to get information from her, for the Ministry gave Meg Darcy an Order of Merlin, Second Class for all the Muggleborns she helped smuggle out of Great Britain, but no one knew her real identity. Maerna admits that there were only three people that knew her real identity: Remus Lupin, Albus Dumbledore and a third, whom she won’t name, but admits she married. She then asks them not to try to find her. She’s happy where she is and she disappears into the crowd.
In the last scene, she’s arrived back at her and Severus’s (Stephen’s) house in Mexico. You see a glimpse of their world where they continue to work on potions and have twin boys: Albus Brent and Remus Severus Prince.