Title: Eyes of the Chosen
Author: Emcee
Summary: Harry talks to Sakura about what he and his friends can do. Snape receives a visitor.
Author's Note: Thank-you to my muses, Rae and Fre and my beta and Pablo. This story is AU to "Order of the Phoenix". It is the sequel to Labyrinth of Illusion.

Disclaimer: "Harry Potter" and the characters, places and things related to it do not belong to me. They are from the brilliant mind of JK Rowling. They belong to her and her publishers. I am not making any profit from this fan fiction.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Identity Crisis

Blissfully, the next few days passed without incident. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco all went to class. They ignored each other, pretending they had not met in the room behind the Great Hall.

Harry and Ron finally got to go to Quidditch practice, much to the relief of the rest of the team.

The evenings were split between homework and research on the harvest of human eyes for dark rituals. So far nothing had been turned up.

The adults had no better luck. Book after book turned up the same results: No one had any clue what Voldemort was trying to do.

Tensions were beginning to grow, until Friday morning when Sirius was jolted awake by a heavy weight hitting his chest.

"Gah!" He rubbed his eyes, pushing the offending object off his chest.

Remus was standing above him. He was still in his red and gold striped pyjama pants. Sirius was surprised to see Remus' bare chest, which was covered in scars.

"You couldn't even bother getting dressed before coming to see me?" Sirius pushed his hair out of his face. "People might get the wrong idea about us."

"Read it." Remus gestured to the thing he had thrown at Sirius. It was the Daily Prophet. "It's worse."

Sirius unrolled the newspaper. In bold calligraphy, the main headline read: Wizard found dead in Diagon Alley.

Raking his fingers through his hair, Sirius read on.

Jareth McMichael, 43, owner of The Divination Den in Diagon Alley, was found dead early this morning. Strangely enough, no magic was employed in the murder.

While the full details have not been released, the Ministry of Magic reports that McMichael was found at approximately three in the morning. He died from loss of blood from wounds in his head and stomach. No suspects have been apprehended.

"This is an unprecedented attack on a respected member of the magical community," Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Law Enforcement told the Prophet this morning. "Because of the nature of the murder, we are going under the assumption Mr. McMichael's was killed for a dark ritual. We extend our condolences to Mr. McMichael's family. We also promise to bring the culprit to justice."

Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, was quick to comment on the murder, "I would like to assure the public this terrible crime was committed by a lone psychotic. Despite rumours that have been going around, this is not the work of a dark organization."

Sirius tossed aside the paper. "Damn fool. He's going to ignore Voldemort until he stomps into his office. So the Ministry knows what's going on and Voldemort has another set of eyes."

"We also know it's not a vendetta against the Romany. Jareth McMichael was one of us, even went to Hogwarts." Remus sat on the edge of Sirius' bed. "His Seer powers came out while he was in school here."

Sirius groaned. "And he was the same year as Lucius Malfoy."

"Lends more credence to the 'Lucius Malfoy is running this show' theory." Remus shook his head. "Are we sure he isn't a 'lone psychotic', as Fudge stated so poetically? Are we sure he's acting for Voldemort?"

Sirius nodded. "Malfoy may be insane and evil, but I don't think he would do any of this if he wasn't specifically serving Voldemort. He's nothing but a lapdog."

"You're right. Anyway, I'm going to go to London, check out the scene. See if I can find anything." Remus got up. "You going to come with or stay here and research?"

"I'll research. Dumbledore doesn't want me out. But I feel as if we're chasing our tails."

"Something you would know all about," Remus replied, giving a small smile.

"Like you don't?" Sirius snarked back. He rubbed his forehead. "We've looked through almost every book in the Restricted Section, plus all of Machka's books. Where are we supposed to look?"

"I'm not sure," Remus replied. "Just keep on researching. I'll go check out the scene, Sakura has to stay here to teach. Any word from your girl?"

Sirius scowled. "Firstly, Machka ceased being my girl years ago. Secondly... No."

"Maybe you should check in on her today. See if anything else has turned up."

The fifth-year Gryffindors stared expectantly up at the Professor's desk. It was currently empty. Class had started five minutes ago. Where was Miss Tsukino?

Hermione leaned over to Harry's desk, placing a copy of the Daily Prophet down. "Did you read about Jareth McMichaels, Harry?"

"Not right now, Hermione," Harry hissed back, scanning the article. "After class."

Miss Tsukino entered, her head down. She wrung her hands together, sitting. She looked up, giving a tight, forced smile. "I'm glad to see you all in class." She glanced to Harry, Hermione and Ron. "Um, today we're just going to review our notes from last semester, make sure we're fresh on everything. Go to it, folks."

Harry shared an uneasy look with Ron. He glanced over at Hermione, but she already going over her own notes.

His stomach knotted. He hadn't taken great notes last term, with all of the confusion in his head. Oh well. He would fake it until the end of class.

He read the article Hermione had given him. He felt the bile rise in his throat as he read about the murder. Well, Fudge knew about the Death Eaters plan now, but he was took thick to realise it meant something.

He stared down at his desk, running a hand through his unruly hair, waiting for class to end.

Once the bell hand run, Miss Tsukino stood. "Harry, may I speak to you for a moment?"

Harry grabbed his bag and went to the front of the class. He stared down at his feet. Once the other students had gone off, Miss Tsukino placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Is everything all right, Harry?"

"I don't have very good notes. I wasn't in the right state for learning last term. I'll borrow Hermione's notes later." He scuffed his shoes on the floor.

"It was a complete fake," Miss Tsukino admitted, sitting on the edge of her desk. "I have no idea what to teach." She laughed. "I'm no Professor. I have no right pretending to be."

Harry looked up. "Dumbledore wouldn't have hired you if he didn't think you could do it."

Miss Tsukino laughed, shaking her head. "The Headmaster has very few options left for the position. I'm sure next year he'll have a nearsighted troll teaching the class."

"You're not going to stay on?" Harry furrowed his brow.

This elicited another laugh from Miss Tsukino. "Not if I can help it. And with the track record, I might not even have a choice."

Harry touched Miss Tsukino's hand, giving her a warm smile. "Just... Be yourself, Miss Tsukino. You've been an Auror for years. If anyone can teach us something about the Defence Against the Dark Arts, it's an Auror."

Miss Tsukino smiled weakly. She nodded. "I'll keep that in mind, Harry."

Harry ran his hand through his hair again. "Umm... Miss Tsukino, do you think you could give Hermione, Ron and I permission to look in the Restricted Section?"

Miss Tsukino raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why do you, Hermione and Ron need to look in the Restricted Section?"

"You read the Daily Prophet this morning, didn't you?" Harry didn't see any reason to make anything up.

Nodding, Miss Tsukino drew to full height, which really wasn't very intimidating. "I did. But you don't need to go into the Restricted Section. We're on top of this, Harry. Besides, we've already gone through there. The answer's going to be a little more esoteric than what we'll find in the library. We're looking through Machka's records right now."

Harry furrowed his brow again, considering this. He scowled.

"You three aren't going to give up are you?"

Harry shook his head. "I wanted to. But I don't have much choice, do I?"

Miss Tsukino pursed her lips. "Well... I think you should reach out to Draco."

Harry scoffed. "You expect me to reach out to Malfoy? He hates me. And the feeling is mutual."

"And I hate Professor Snape." Miss Tsukino replied. "I still have to work with him. Draco could be an asset. He has access to his father that no one else does."

"I don't trust him," Harry replied flatly.

"That's the point of the exercise, isn't it?" Miss Tsukino smiled. "It's not that bad."

"Have you spent more than five minutes with Draco?" Harry sighed deeply. "This is going to be hell."

"May I help you?" Severus paused in the doorway. His fingers wrapped around his wand, pulling it from his robes. He pointed it at the intruder's back. It was a woman.

Turning, Machka smiled at Severus. "Hello, Gazda." She set down the jar of amber liquid she held, leaning against his desk, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked far too casual, far too comfortable. "I didn't have a chance to speak to you at the meeting."

"How fortunate for me." Snape's lip curled in a snarl. He put his wand away. It was still in his reach. If she got too annoying, it would be easy enough to hex her. "It's Severus now."

Machka laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Of course! The great Severus Snape, head of Slytherin, Potions Master..." She narrowed her gaze on him. "How many people know the truth about you?"

Severus glared back at her. As hard it was for him to admit it, their glare was the same: fathomless, cold and black.   "Far too many for my liking."

Machka placed her hands on her hips, appearing all business now. She had stripped her casual demeanour. Obviously she had just put it on to annoy him. "I want to speak with you about the murders."

Severus shook his head. "I have nothing to say to you. Everything I know, I've told to the Headmaster." He leaned in close. His face still bore faint scratches and bruises. "And in case you didn't hear, the Dark Lord has discovered my loyalties."

"When was the last time you spoke to your mother, Gazda?" Machka ignored Severus' dark tone. She moved closer, almost meeting him nose to nose.

"My mother and I do not move in the same circles." His hand darted out, tightening around Machka's forearm. His fingernails dug in. "And my name is Severus."

"Your name is Gazda," Machka hissed, "Severus Snape is a disguise you put on. You deny what you are. Pretend to be a pureblood..."

"I am pureblood," Snape snarled, his fingernails dug in further. Maybe he could draw blood, scare her away.

"A Romany will never be considered pureblood by the Merlins. You know that. Even with that so-called noble blood running through your veins, you're still unclean. You cling to the bloodline that abandoned you!" Machka's lips curled in a cruel smile. "We accepted you as one of our own. Your father never paid you that courtesy. That's why you're Snape instead of--"

Snape slapped his hand over Machka's mouth. She would not speak that name, not in his presence. She did not deserve to utter it. "He had his reasons."

Machka pulled his hand from her mouth. "He was ashamed of you." Machka laughed bitterly. "He didn't want you. He had an heir already. Why would he care for a halfblood Gypsy bastard?"

"For someone with such pride in her heritage," Severus' voice was cold. "You picked an odd mate."

"I did not abandon my people to marry," Machka replied airily. Her casual smile had returned. "He became one of us, accepted my ways."

"And then left you to raise two children by yourself." Severus laughed, letting Machka go, pushing her away. His icy tone was laced with a sense of pleasure. "And what a brilliant job you've did. One simpering, cowardly wretch and the other an attempted murderer at twelve! Even her father wasn't that insane."

The slap across Severus' cheek echoed through the dungeon. He winced, the stinging pain shooting through him. Machka growled, "don't you dare speak about my children like that, Gazda."

"Get out of my office," Severus snarled. "Now."

"I need to know where you mother is-- speak to her. She might know what's going on." Machka grabbed Severus' arm. "People are dying."

"People always die." Severus pried Machka's fingers off him. "Speaking with my mother will not change that. You have her records."

Machka shook her head, walking to the door. "You haven't changed at all, Gazda. You've always been a pathetic rat, hiding who you truly are. Thinking you're better than me, just because you went to Hogwarts."

Review this Chapter

Go onto Chapter Fourteen