Love At Your Darkest:
Synopsis: In a world where Voldemort lives, the ones left behind must fight for light at every chance they get. But when Voldemort takes Snape's niece, Sarah Black, into his lair, she must find her own way and resist the temptation to get wrapped up in his darkness. Fourth in a series...features Snape, Voldemort, Narcissa, Draco, Neville and Harry
Previously: This is the fourth story in a series. This story is a parallel story to Finding the Way (which is a story where Voldemort loses as in cannon). The first story in the series is And the Greatest of these is Love followed by Growing Up and Of Darkness and Light. Checkout those stories first, but a brief history: Snape had a sister, who was sorted into Gryffindor and ended up marrying Sirius Black, which estranged the two siblings. Years later upon his sister's death, he took guardianship of and then adopted his niece, Sarah Black. However, the adoption was a secret and people thought Snape took guardianship of her because he had made the unbreakable vow to his sister to do so. Upon Voldemort's return, he took an interest in the best friend of Harry Potter due to her pure-blood status (as a Black and Prince) and her magical ability, putting Sarah in a precarious position. He threatened her loved ones and Sarah married long time friend and former love Draco Malfoy to try to ease the pressure off of her and put her in the position to spy for Harry. After her marriage, Voldemort's interest turned more sinister as he became determined to take her for himself. This story begins at the last part of the battle at Hogwarts. Fred is dead. Snape is recovering from his wounds. Harry is presumed dead. Sarah made her stand publicly against Voldemort and now she is fighting Bellatrix. Thanks all who found this story. Hope you enjoy!
Warning: T rating to start, but due to darker themes it is a stronger T.
Chapter 1: The Curse
About Ten Years Later:
"Where is my mama?" Five year old Cordelia put her thumb in her mouth, sucking it, nervously. "I want my mama, Grandad."
Severus scooped Cordie up in his lap and beckoned seven year old Aten to come to him, "Mama is fine. I promise. Has your granddad ever lied to you?"
"Oh no," Cordie shook her head, "Never."
"But we heard all this noise. And Mama told us to go hide. And we did. We hid really well. I made sure," Aten said.
"You did a wonderful job taking care of your sister, Aten," Severus responded. "I'm proud of you."
Aten beamed under Snape's praise, then his face fell. "Where is Father, Grandad?"
Snape paused and then looked them both in the eyes, "Your father has died."
Cordie started to cry, "Why?"
"Your father did bad things and hurt a lot of people," Sev answered honestly.
"But he loved us," Cordie said. "I know he did!"
"He never said that," Aten mumbled.
"But Mama said he did."
Severus squeezed her tightly, "Your mama has a way of spreading light wherever she goes. He made room in his heart for you two because of your mama...I never thought that was possible, but your mama has always been special. But even though he had that room for you, he still did some really awful things to a lot of people- even years before you were born."
"He could be really scary at times," Cordie said, solemnly.
"He tried to make me do some things to the houseelves, but I couldn't and then he smacked me. Mama got so mad and they had this huge fight and then he hit her and then he made her scream really loud. That wasn't very nice, was it, Granddad?"
"No, it wasn't."
"But then Mama made him scream and started a fire in Father's room. I've never seen Mama that mad before. Then, Father got so angry and Mama sent us to stay with Uncle Draco for the afternoon before Father came for us."
"When was that?"
"You were out of town," Aten explained, "And mama didn't know where to send us."
"Mama came and slept with me that night," Cordie said, "And then Father got all mad at her and came looking for her. I was so scared." Cordelia bit her lip, remembering, "But then the next morning, Father came in my room and rocked me in the chair and read me a story. Why would he do that if he was so bad?"
"Because there is a little bit of dark and light in all of us," Severus said.
"What does that mean?" Aten asked, confused.
"That is a question that you will discover the answer to when you are much older."
"What will happen to us now that Father is dead?" Aten asked. "Where will Mama and Cordie and I go?"
Severus held them tighter, "Mama will stay here. You and Cordelia will have to go away from here."
"Away?" Cordelia's eyes grew wide. "I don't want to go away."
"Why?" Aten asked, seriously.
"Well, because your father did bad things to people, those people think that you and Cordie might do bad things to people too," Severus answered.
"I won't!" Cordie exclaimed, "Never!"
"I won't either," Aten replied.
Severus looked sorrowful, "I know, but this is the only way otherwise those people might try to hurt you too. And I can't have anyone hurting you two."
"What will you do?"
"I'll take my wand and make it so you don't remember anything...nothing about your father...nothing about each other."
"Not even Mama?" Aten asked, worried.
"Not even Mama," Severus affirmed. "And you must be so brave and strong."
"Will it hurt?" Cordie asked.
"No, love, I promise."
"I want to see Mama," Aten said.
Severus's eyes teared. "Mama can't come right now. But she has a message for you."
"What is it?" Cordie asked.
Severus began to repeat the words Lily Potter said so many moons ago, "Aten and Cordelia, you are so loved. Mama loves you. Granddad loves you. Be safe. Be strong."
"But how can I be so strong?" Cordie asked, her lip trembling, "I just want my mama."
Severus gripped the child's face in his hands and looked into the depth of her eyes- she looked so much like Sarah, acted so much like Sarah...both of the children did, "I know because no matter if you can remember it or not, you have so much of your mama inside of you. And she is the strongest, bravest person I know," He took a breath and pulled out his wand, "Are you ready?"
Aten took Cordelia's hand. "We are ready, Grandad."
And with a swipe of Severus's wand, their memories erased forever, replaced by a new set of manufactured memories.
"Is it done?"
"It is done," Severus said.
"And Sarah's memory?"
"After I talk to her, I will erase her memory of the children as well. What about the inner circle?"
"Lupin is working on that now. Hermione is helping."
"Good," Severus nodded. "You will take the children and return, yes?"
"I will," he nodded. "But before I do, I need to know something."
"What is that?"
"Did she love him?"
Severus's face turned pained, "Does it matter?"
"No," he replied quickly, "Either way we go forward with our plan, but I'd still like to know."
Severus thought for a few minutes, "It wasn't love. However, they found...a mutual..." he searched for the words, "understanding. I do believe there was some care on her part. They found...a rhythm of sorts."
"She took his mark."
"He left her no choice, but that is a story she can tell."
"And on his part? Was there some care?"
"I do believe so, but not enough to change him."
He nodded, "Thank you."
"Thank you," Severus paused, "Do be careful with the children. They are more their mother's than they will ever be his, which is we must hide them and erase their memories from all who knew them."
"It was fortunate that their father kept them hidden from the world, save his inner circle."
"He was possessive of them as well was Sarah," Severus looked into his eyes, "And whatever others may think, I have not seen throughout the years any miniscule amount of the inherent evil that he possessed."
He nodded and then left him to go into the room.
He was greeted by two tiny children who both looked remarkably like Sarah. "Hello there."
"Hi!" the little girl bounced up to him, "Is today we get to meet our forever family? I so always wanted a mother and father to love."
"Me too," the little boy nodded, seriously, "I don't want to be an orphan...not for one more minute."
"Well, then you are in luck," the man said, smiling at them, "I'm taking you there now. And you'll love your new mama and daddy."
The little girl held up her arms, "will you carry me?" she asked.
He scooped her up, "Of course."
He held out his hand for the boy.
"What is your name?" he asked him, curiously.
"My name is Harry," the man replied, "Harry Potter."
About Ten Years Earlier, Hogwarts:
Sarah Black Malfoy saw Bellatrix Lestrange coming for her, with fierceness and determination. She defied her master publicly, tried to make a fool out of him and Bella was out for blood.
Her blood.
"Sarah!" Hermione squealed, seeing Bella's wrath. Ginny ran to her side as well as they reached the Great Hall.
"I can't fight her on my own," she gasped, running. "She's going to kill me!"
"We'll help."
Bellatrix was on a mission, determined, manic almost in her frenzy- her fury to get at her.
One of her spells almost knocked her off balanced. Even with Hermione and Ginny focusing on deflecting, Sarah couldn't cast spells to disable her. She saw Voldemort fighting with her professors, but he had an eye on her. She could feel it. He always had his eye on her.
Bellatrix cast a stunning spell that hit Ginny and then Hermione so it was just the two of them.
"That's better, little one. Let's see what you can do on your own without your friends to help you."
They engaged in battle- casting, deflecting, the rate of their spells was exhausting. She took another breath, trying to keep up with Bellatrix, when a spell hit her hard in her belly, knocking the wind out of her.
It seemed as if the whole battle paused at her scream of her horror. Bellatrix was laughing- the same laughter she had when she killed Sirius. The same laughter she had when she killed Fred.
The cramps in her stomach intensified.
Bellatrix had cursed her unborn child.
Her son. Draco's son.
It was horrific, her worst nightmare to lose Draco's child...her sweet, innocent son who had now become the latest causality of this war...of the darkness...of the mania of this woman.
She could feel her strength draining. Bellatrix continued laughing as Sarah struggled to maintain her control of her wand and stay upright.
And in that split moment, Sarah had a peace. She knew her course. For all her talk earlier, she knew what she had to do...she knew it deep down in her soul.
"You have to mean it, Sarah. Go on."
She stood there with one hand on her belly, the other tightly on her wand. And this time instead of hearing Snape's voice guiding her, she heard his voice...Voldemort's voice coaching her, instructing her, becoming her teacher.
"Wield your power. And it will come like that"
All those times of him whispering in her ear, teaching her...those times that she pretended to block out his words, they were now coming back full force.
"You have to mean it Sarah. Go on."
And she did mean it. She meant it with her whole heart. She was finishing this now- finishing Bellatrix's reign of terror. So many lives destroyed by her hands, it was time for Bellatrix's life to end. Now.
"Wield your power. And it will come like that"
And with a fierceness and determination that rivaled the most talented wizards, she pointed her wand at Bellatrix, "Avada Kedavra"
"No!" Voldemort yelled and tried to cast a spell to deflect, but he was too late. Never expecting her to try to kill her, Bellatrix was caught off guard and fell to a heap on the floor at her feet, the life gone from her.
Voldemort's scream of rage terrified her, yet she barely had time to process it before she fell onto a onto the floor in pain—not from a curse Voldemort cast, but Bellatrix's curse was still doing its work within her...and the dark magic she performed drained the last bit of energy she had left.
And with the battle still raging around her, her world became dark.
She woke up a few minutes later, to the chaos of the battle raging all around. The pain in her belly was excruciating. She reached down to put her hand over it and she could feel the sticky warmth seeping through her clothes. She was bleeding...alot. She groaned and shifted, her head turning to watch what was happening.
Voldemort, in a fury, stunned her professors and barked orders at the rest of his death eaters to get the situation under control.
From across the room, as weary as she was, she trembled at his anger. She had never quite seen him that angry before- and never directed at her. Even when he was angry when he found her aiding Harry in Godric's Hallow, he had calmed down quickly and never lost his composure. Snape had told her to never underestimate that side of him, that the side he showed to her was different and she should tread carefully and strategically. He was right.
"Sarah!" Draco's scream was heart-wrenching. She saw him coming for her, but at the last moment, Lucius forcibly gripped him and pulled him away. Away from her...out of the path of Voldemort's wrath.
"What did you do?" Voldemort swept over to her and bent down. His anger was white-hot, dangerous.
"She deserved it...and more," she groaned as her hand reached to support her belly, the pain intensifying with every moment.
He remained silent...the silence disconcerting, more so that whatever he had to say.
He waved his wand over her and she prepared herself for the curse...for the torture...for death...but none came.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lupin try to fend off Nott, enough to try to get himself to her, but she knew he couldn't as Pettigrew joined stepped to help fight him. Ginny and Hermione were both standing still nearby, their mouths open in horror. Lucius had dragged Draco away and she didn't know where he took him. She wanted Draco so badly at this moment...to say goodbye. To say she was sorry for everything that had happened.
Everything was happening so quickly, but when her eyes met her friends she knew what she had to do. Hermione seemed frozen in her spot, but she had to leave...she had to leave now while the death eaters were still distracted...while Voldemort was dealing with her.
With Harry dead and Voldemort about to solidify his control, Hermione's life, because of her muggle born status, was very much in danger. She couldn't lose her other friends as well.
"Hermione!" Sarah gasped loudly. "Remember."
Her eyes showed recognition. They had discussed the worst- all four of them that spring day at Shell Cottage. If Harry died...if Voldemort won, they made a plan for their future. The moment was here...the worst had happened...and more was yet to come.
"Do not speak to the mudblood filth." Voldemort's wand smacked her leg hard, the swat stinging. She struggled to turn away from him, but his hand was suddenly on her hip, keeping her fixed in her position.
She barely saw Mrs. Weasley and Ron approach them, suspecting his wrath was about to explode at her with a vengeance. Narcissa Malfoy came up beside her friends, still leaving a safe distance between her and the Dark Lord. She muttered words to Molly and with one last look, Molly urged her friends away, leaving her completely vulnerable to the Dark Lord. No one was going to intervene. No one would save her.
"Oh Merlin. Just finish it already," she whispered. Fred's death. Harry's death. The baby. It was all too much to bear. "I want it done"
"Oh no. I don't think so." Voldemort shook his head, his hand rocking her hip. Then, in a sudden shift of movement, she felt his arms underneath her and then around her as he lifted her up in his arms.
"I'm bleeding."
"I know," he said, "quite a lot in fact."
"Just put me down," she heaved as she saw the rather sizable puddle he picked her up from. She didn't know how she could survive all that blood loss. "Put me down" her voice was panicked as another wave of pain hit.
"Silence!" he barked at her, "you have lost the right to speak to me."
She twisted in his arms.
"Be still."
She twisted more.
"I will ensure your cooperation by other means if you cannot follow my simple instructions to silence and still yourself."
"My wand."
"Of course." He raised his hand and her wand flew up into his hand. He shifted her to pocket her wand, "We wouldn't want this to get lost in the chaos, not when I have such great plans with this."
He carried her across the Great Hall, the swarms of Order members and Death Eaters separating to let him by. Her head felt so heavy and she struggled to hold it up, it becoming a nearly impossible task. She felt like she was going to faint again when his arm shifted so he put his hand on her head, moving her towards him and pinning her head firmly against him.
"Narcissa," he snapped at her as he swept by."Go get Severus. I assume you know where he is. Tell him I want to see him now...in the infirmary."
"What are you doing with her?" Narcissa asked.
"Trying to undo with Bellatrix did. I need Severus's skill. And yours."
"We should call the mediwitches," Narcissa said, "Send her to Saint Mungos."
"No, she will be dealt with here. Go!" he barked as he carried her past the onlookers.
"My Lord" Yaxley came up beside him, "The body...he is missing."
At that announcement, Sarah struggled to lift her head again, but his hand tightened its pressure against her head, signaling that she should remain still.
"What do you mean?" Voldemort asked.
"Potter's body is missing."
"He's dead. If they want to bury him, that's fine. We are civilized, Yaxley. I'm not going to allow his body to be decimated. Question the onlookers."
"Yes, my Lord." he bowed as the Dark Lord entered the infirmary with her.
She was horrified by the thought. "What did they do to him?"
"That's none of your concern." He eased her onto the nearest bed.
"The baby" she fought the pain.
"Hush," he grunted, "the baby is dead. I'm trying to save you now."
"Let me die."
"No, you shall be saved and then dealt with accordingly...you impulsive, foolish girl" he pulled up her shirt to see her belly, his hands on her bump briefly, before he swiped his wand again over her abdomen, "Don't lose consciousness again...not until after your father arrives."
"Is that a choice?" she fought the urge to scream against the pain—like twisting knives in her stomach.
"Yes" he adjusted her skirt up.
"Oh Merlin, just stop," she groaned at the awareness of what he was doing and where he was looking at next as she felt her knickers slide off of her. "Use a charm. Any charm." she tried so stabilize the panic in her voice, but her words came out as a high pitched squeak, showing her absolute distress at these turn of events.
"I do not take orders from you nor do I take suggestions from you. And since I have just killed your savior and won the war, it is also no longer your choice if or how I choose to help you. Now stay still and let me see what Bellatrix did to you." he told her, pushing her legs apart. She sniffled, but blessedly managed not to start to cry, and as a reward for her control over her emotions, his severity softened just a bit, "Think of something else if you think that will help."
"Like how all my friends are probably dying right now? NO thank you!" she grimaced, "Can't you use a charm?"
"I did use a charm," He told her, "The diagnostic charm rendered results that I am afraid are quiet impossible."
"I don't understand," she gasped, "How can charms be wrong? And what does that mean? "
"It means you should be quiet now and be thankful that I am much smarter than you, much more skilled than you and that I have decided to help you at all."
She grunted. "I can't just block this out."
"If" He looked up at her, severely, "you are truly as adept as you said at the techniques of occlumency, you should be able to clear your mind sufficiently enough to block out what I am doing now. And I suggest you do that now if you continue to refuse to act maturely. Furthermore, I do believe that if you are mature enough to make such a grandiose gesture of defiance then you should be mature enough to handle the consequences of said defiance. Now clear your mind and be quiet. I won't give you the satisfaction of killing you, but I will kill those you love if you do not manage to get yourself under control."
Knowing his words rang true, she forced herself to clear her mind and stop protesting.
He finished checking her over, murmuring incantations to staunch the blood flow.
"There was a lot of blood back there." The pain was intensifying with every given minute and she had to know what was going on.
"It wasn't all blood. Your water broke while you were unconscious for those few minutes," he said, matter-of-factually.
"Is all that blood normal?" she questioned, unable to help herself. He had told her not to talk to him, but since they were alone, away from the others, he was quite tolerant of her speaking as long as she wasn't defying him or begging for him to kill her.
"No."
"Oh Merlin" she clutched at the sheets underneath her, "What did she to do me?"
"I'm not quite sure. I have never heard of her curse before," he said, quietly. He reached for another sheet from a nearby bed, draping it over her exposed legs. It was an act of kindness she didn't expect from him- not now.
"Shouldn't you know?" she asked, panicked. "You know everything!"
"As pleased as that makes me to hear that, my answer remains the same. I don't know."
"What do you think?"
"I think we need to wait for your father."
"Why is that?"
"Because if I tell you what I think is going on, you will end up in hysterics and I will lose my patience. I'm already angry with you as it is."
She sighed, trying not to scream out again. "How angry are you exactly?"
"Are you asking me to quantify my anger?"
"Just between 1 and 10, how angry are you?"
For the first time since she defied him, she saw amusement from him again. "How angry do you think I am?"
She grimaced against the pain, "Seven."
He raised an eyebrow, "Really? Is that what you think?"
"You don't seem as angry with me as I thought you would be."
"I don't?" he mused, "Hum."
"Well, you don't quite...I mean I was sure you were going to curse me or kill me and then you..."
"Twelve," he interrupted her babble.
She squeaked, "But you aren't acting like a twelve."
"Because" he titled her head at her, "I, unlike you, know how to control my emotions."
Her heart pounded, the pain intensified and she squirmed against it.
He reached out to put a finger on her face, tracing her cheekbone, "You, my little one, are in a substantial amount of trouble. But no worries, we'll get your act of rebellion sorted later. I look forward to it. You have proved to be quite a challenge. But the more I break you, the more it will make you mine in the long run. "
"I had to kill her."
"Let's not discuss that now." his tone changed significantly and he dropped his hand.
Another moment of relief from the pain, "Shouldn't you be taking care of things out there?" she opted to change the subject.
"And let you die? I don't think so" he retorted, "The rebellion is under control. I think what Bellatrix did to you has your classmates frightened. The resistance is over, I believe. Really, do you think a few teenagers and a few members of the Order are any match for my Death Eaters?"
She sniffed, "So many of my school mates..." her voice broke.
"Do not cry," he growled at her, "not now."
She shifted as more pain overtook her. "I'm trying, but I did lost two of my best friends."
"Two?" he asked lightly. "Oh yes, you did mention Fred Weasley in your list of people you were fighting for. Your former love..."
Her lip trembled at the thought of poor Fred who in his last act of heroism cast a spell to save her life.
"Do. Not. Cry."
"This is too much."
"Then occlude your mind and clear your emotions. As I mentioned before, it should be quite easy for you. You have apparently had sufficient practice."
The door clanged open.
"My Lord" Severus rasped as Narcissa and he entered the infirmary.
Voldemort paused and turned his head towards him, his eyes lit with fury. "I'm assuming you won't have any objections if I order you to help save your daughter's life?"
"There is an explanation," Severus said.
"And I'm eager to torture that out of you, Severus, but not now."
"No, don't hurt him," Sarah heaved, the pain getting intense again.
"Just hush," Snape snapped. "That is not your concern"
"He is supposed to be dead anyway," Voldemort retorted.
"I saved him." she twisted her body again and Severus took a step towards her, but stopped at the severe look Voldemort was giving him.
"Quite brilliantly I am sure," Voldemort replied from her side. "It worked out in the end, I suppose, without Severus dying."
"That's just great for you," Sarah replied, sarcastically, her temper sparking at the thought of how Voldemort casually decided to kill her father...the person she no doubt loved the most in this world. "And convenient."
"Temper" His hand was instantly on her shoulder, grasping it firmly. "You are in a precarious position here, Sarah. You defied me publicly. You are fortunate I'm showing you mercy now."
"Fortunate?"
"Yes, extremely so."
A spark of fury in his eyes told her to tread carefully, but she was in pain and hurt and they lost. Harry was dead. Her child was dead. She simply did not care about self-preservation at a time like this.
"I don't want your mercy!" she shot back. "I'm not going to be grateful to you for saving me when all you want to do is force me to your bed to carry your blasted evil children."
He shook her, "Be quiet or I promise you, I'll take your disobedience out on your father."
"Do not touch him!"
"And on your husband."
"Stop it!"
"And on your friends" he squeezed her shoulder, "You are in no condition and certainly not in the position to challenge me." he said.
He did have a point. She was lying on the hospital bed, practically exposed to everyone. Her temper abated slightly and Snape sensing that, chose to intervene,
"Sarah," Snape's voice was low, "you need to be quiet now lest you will make an already troubling situation worse for both of us."
"Your father is right. You need to quiet now. You are using all your strength on your hysteria," Voldemort said, his voice low, but commanding her obedience. She became distracted by the pain which was starting to crescendo to unfathomable heights.
"I feel like I should," she gasped, "push."
"No!" Voldemort said, sternly, "Fight against the urge, Sarah." he gripped her forearm. "Fight it now."
"I can't!"
"You are the most determined witch of your age. Use that determination to your advantage now."
"What is it?" Severus stepped over to her, quickly.
"She isn't dilated much and I don't think she will," Voldemort said, "I think that is part of the curse."
"Oh Merlin," Sarah grunted, "that's not good, is it?"
"No, Sarah," Voldemort said, quietly, "it is quite bad."
Severus's face had paled and Sarah almost panicked at the look he was giving her. It was unguarded, raw, and she knew that if it must be horrendously bad if Snape chose not to guard his emotions in Voldemort's presence.
"Dad" She met his eyes.
Her body began to convulse uncontrollably as she twisted against the pain, screaming. She reached out for Sev, but Voldemort moved to hold her down against the bed with both of his hands.
"I want her womb saved." Voldemort held her down, pinning her on the bed as she thrashed. "Put her to sleep and let's work. I'm not sure exactly what Bellatrix did, but there is considerable damage and more done if she pushes."
"No!" she screamed as she fought against him, trying to get to Sev, panicked and knowing he was the only one who could keep her calm and soothe her fear. But still he remained fixed in his spot, his arms crossed. He wasn't going to move towards her without the Dark Lord's permission.
"Maybe Bella could help. If she did this, she should fix it," Snape said, darkly.
"She killed her," Narcissa finally spoke up, quietly.
"Who killed Bellatrix?" Snape turned towards her in shock.
"Sarah did," Voldemort retorted, "are you surprised?"
"Yes," Snape said, slowly. "And no."
"I'm not surprised. Not at all." he fought against her, "now fix this, before I decided to finish what I started and kill you all. We are all adept at healing magic. Between the three of us, we can heal her."
"End it. Dad, please!" she begged, the pain unbearable- it felt worse than the cruciatus and that was saying something for sure. She wanted him so badly at that moment- his comfort, his arms around her to strengthen her, but she saw the exchange of a look that passed between Voldemort and her dad. He had finally given his verdict and they all knew what it meant. He was not to touch her now- not to offer her any comfort...healing, yes, comfort no.
"Sarah," Snape's tone was weary, "I was almost killed once tonight. I would die to save your life gladly, but I'm not going to forfeit my life so you can die. I won't do it."
"Listen to your father." Voldemort leaned down to whisper in her ear, his breath hot against her neck, "And listen to me carefully. Get this into your stubborn, pretty head of yours. If you die, I will kill your him and your husband, along with the mudblood and the blood traitor-everyone you love. I'll kill them in a more horrific way than you can ever imagine, so you fight to live now, do you hear me?" he leaned up, "put her to sleep now, Severus," he ordered, firmly.
Snape murmured and Sarah felt the magic invading her body, putting her into a restless sleep.
Snape's face was pale and taunt as he picked up the child in one hand and wrapped him in blanket.
"Severus," Voldemort snapped, "Leave him. I need you here. There is more to be done."
It felt wrong to so cavalierly lay aside his grandson without a moment of mourning.
"Sev" Narcissa didn't have to say anymore before he quickly followed orders. He hardened his heart. He was in enough trouble as it was.
"She needs blood replenishers and plenty of them," Snape said.
"I don't think," Narcissa's voice was low, "I'm not sure that will help save what the Dark Lord wants to save."
Voldemort lowered his wand, dropping it to the bed, "Narcissa is right," he said, "but there is another way."
"My Lord," Snape's mouth grew grim. "if you are talking about what I think you are, she'll think her womb is cursed."
"I don't care what she thinks," Voldemort said.
"Everyone else will think that too," Narcissa said, quietly, "that any children borne will be destined to be..."
Voldemort laughed, "Evil?" he rolled his eyes, "That's nonsense."
"Of course it is," Narcissa said, quickly, "but to use dark magic to recreate her reproductive system is risky."
"And it has only been done," Severus cleared his throat, "to restore virginity, not this."
"Then it is a good thing I am the most powerful wizard of all time, Severus," Voldemort said, "and that I studied well all these years about the workings of magic and the human body, because I will succeed in doing this. I will have her as my mistress and she will bear my children" He grunted, "And you would do well to help me figure this out."
"Yes, my Lord." Severus bowed his head.
"Narcissa?"
"Of course, my Lord," she said, smoothly, "Where do we begin?"
A/N: And so it begins...please review...and follow...and make sure to check out the parallel story, Finding the Way.