The phone rang just a Bill was about to return to his workroom; he picked up the receiver. 'Bill Williams', he said. There was a click on the other en... till a familiar voice came through. 'Bill it is Albert I was wondering if you would drop in and visit a new member that recently signed up. I could telephone, but a visit from a committee member would, I think be more appreciated as the woman is a bit shy and I don't think she is too well educated, what you would say 'a bit slow'. I would like. .. owe you an explanation. I mean, since you're awake. I'm sure youprobably have a good idea of what's going on. You were always so much...smarter than me. Than I'll ever be."I looked anywhere I could. There were numerous candles and I was on aplastic sheet of some kind. There were rocks placed around my body. Ihad felt one brush against my leg a second ago."Rocks, candles, dead cat, cracked open human skull, me and you. This isa pagan ritual sacrifice. Well, you and I both know the word. But she didn't miss a beat."Professor, your understanding of my situation is almost perfectly correct - you summarized it very well, except that I am sure the Headmaster would not have been so rude as to suggest that I am a bastard." But Snape, aside from being vicious, was ill-mannered, and would not leave the topic."Then why don't you tell us all what ancient wizarding family you are from? Or if you are muggle-born, tell us who your parents are?" Gladly," she replied. "But given that I. " I could have a vodka and Seven-Up." Good."She followed Laura into the kitchen. The pattern was just too much for Laura, who began trembling and had to take several deep breaths. The kitchen, this same kitchen, was where Rina had cut her hand on a wine glass, and Laura had sucked the warm, flowing blood, and they had ended up... entangled and moaning on Laura's bed.Her head whirled at the thought, and her blood hammered. But she kept control of herself, with difficulty. She made them both.