Author's Note: I know this story isn't to a LOT of people's tastes, but I was asked by several people to actually post it, rather than letting it languish in my Google Drive. Hopefully some of you like it as well. This chapter doesn't have any Dramione, but the next chapter will have plenty of adorable childhood cuteness though.

Lord Voldemort was not an expert in sympathy, but he knew how to affect it and use it, so he patted the head of the Death Eater in front of him comfortingly, if patronisingly. "There, there Cressida." He said in a silky voice. "I am not angry with you. My Death Eaters are encouraged to have children and raise the next generation to the Cause. You've seen the Mulcibers and the Averys, among others. Why are you so upset?"

Cressida shook her head, knees shaking. "I know what he asked for, My Lord. I know where his heart lies. I...I can't. He will marry me, but his heart would be with her. I won't play second fiddle to a mudblood in my own marriage bed. He calls for her in his sleep after bedding me, My Lord." The Death Eater looked up at him with filling whiskey-coloured eyes. "Send me away, My Lord, I beg you. Give me some mission far away and I will do it eagerly."

Voldemort considered this carefully. "If I give you a mission, you may hate it, my dear. Be very careful that you really want to be hidden away. Are you certain?"

Cressida, face tear-streaked, nodded pitifully. "I am certain, My Lord."

Voldemort nodded. This was never an assignment the witch would take unless she was desperate, but she was. His followers were loyal, but some requests would turn even the loyal away. "I will have you concealed in the muggle world." He said solidly. "When we win, I will retrieve you and send you elsewhere, but if anything should happen that I should have to regain my strength you will remain in deep cover. You will raise the baby so that when it goes to Hogwarts, it will gain the trust of those better-than-thou Order members, and she will present herself as a muggleborn."

"My Lord…" Cressida said, worriedly.

Voldemort cut the witch off. "This is your option, Cressida. You can stay here with Severus or I can hide you, but if I hide you, this is what you will do."

Cressida worried her lip, but nodded. "I will do as you ask, My Lord."

Voldemort nodded. "Narcissa, Lucius and Aurora will be your handlers, Aurora is not officially a Death Eater, but she is a friend of yours and Narcissa and already acts like a Witch's Auxiliary for us. I don't want any of the other men to know of this plan and Bella…"

Cressida snorted at the mention of the Black sister. "She'd kill me for a traitor."

Lord Voldemort nodded, not ignorant of how Bellatrix felt about other female Death Eaters. Alecto was ignored because Bella knew, as did the Dark Lord, that Alecto had no interest in men. Cressida on the other hand, was a pretty Parisian pureblood witch from Beauxbatons with an impressive pedigree and powerful magic. She was a rival in Bella's mind. "In time, when the child needs friends with whom it will not have to hide, I'm sure there will be young Malfoys and a Crouch or two to keep it company, as long as it minds that when Hogwarts comes, it must play its' part."

"Yes, My Lord." Cressida said, calmer now that a plan was in place. "I will serve you well."

"Be sure, Cressida. You will meet me tomorrow and make your decision then. Make peace tonight and make your final choice." Voldemort warned.

Cressida Dagworth-Granger had hidden her romantic nature most of her life. It was easy enough while hiding away in books and behind cauldrons at Beauxbatons. She had never sought out attention or companionship...until a wannabe potions master had shown up on her family's doorstep in France. She loved him to desperation and he...liked her as something, even if his heart belonged to another. It had been enough, even if it hurt; at least she was with him, but ever since she had discovered her pregnancy, she knew she couldn't torture her child just because she was apparently an emotional masochist.

Lying in bed in her flat that night beside him as he read, she rolled over on her side and traced her fingers over his bare chest. There were things she wanted to say, words that got stopped up in her throat. "I was helping Aurora plan her wedding today." She said instead. "She wants me to be a bridesmaid."

Severus made a sound of feigned interest. "Along with Dorothea and Anastasia, I assume."

"I'm not sure, but probably." Cressida agreed. "Would you go with me? To the wedding, I mean."

"I'm really not interested in bearing witness to Barty's romantic drivel, Cress." Severus said, flicking a page.

"Of course." Cressida said, waving her hand. "Forget I've said anything." She kissed his cheek. "Goodnight, Severus."

"Goodnight, Cress." Severus said, almost dismissively.

Cressida feigned sleep for the rest of the night, trying to convince herself that just because he didn't want to go to a wedding with her didn't mean anything. By three in the morning she had almost convinced herself, until she heard him talk in his sleep, like he sometimes did. He never called for her, and she wondered, cynically, if precious Lily had asked him to a wedding if he would have gone.

When morning came she made crepes and smiled as if everything were completely normal. She smiled and floated about as always, but stopped as the time was winding down and when Severus started toward the fireplace, she kissed him with everything she could muster: all her passion, love, hope, fear and jealousy all wound into one kiss. She broke the kiss only when she needed air. "Goodbye. I love you, Severus."

Severus was only slightly startled by the kiss goodbye. Cressida normally kissed him goodbye, and told him she loved him, but there was something different about it today. "I know." He replied, as he usually did, and disappeared into the flames.

Cressida stared into the fireplace for a moment, before putting her hand to her stomach, and giving a slight nod. She could survive it, but the baby didn't deserve this, didn't deserve to be compared to a dream baby with red hair or green eyes. She emptied her flat, packing only essentials and sending the rest to her father's storage unit with a spell.

It was time to go.

Severus wasn't surprised when he stopped by Cressida's a few days later to find it locked and warded - they hadn't agreed to meet and she had a life of her own. However, when the next Death Eater meeting came and there was no sign of the brunette, he was concerned.

He cornered Narcissa after following Lucius back to the Manor as he usually did. "Narcissa." he said, politely as always.

Narcissa was not surprised, she could see the strain in Severus even as he hid it from everyone else. "Severus," she said with a bright smile. "Is there something I can get you?"

"No, thank you, Narcissa." Severus said, giving her the closest thing most people saw to a smile on his face. "I was wondering if you had seen Cressida? She wasn't at the meeting tonight."

Narcissa's pert little mouth dropped into a frown. "I'm afraid Cressida is on a mission for the Dark Lord. I have no idea when or if she'll return."

Severus was shocked, and despite himself, his surprise showed. "It's dangerous, then?"

Narcissa frowned. "The Dark Lord does not ask us to do things which are easy or simple, Severus." She smiled at her husband's best friend. "I'm sure if she knows you love her, she'll make it a point to come back no matter what she faces."

"Indeed." Severus said, face going blank. "Thank you, Narcissa."

The London townhouse was nice enough, and once installed Cressida Dagworth-Granger straightened her hair and took on the identity of Dr. Celia Granger, a thing called a 'dentist' in this world, a tooth-healer. It was nondescript enough for no-one to suspect anything, and she settled into her new life deciding to focus on the only things that mattered now: her baby and her mission.

She would endure.

On September eighteenth, more than a few months after Cressida had disappeared, something very strange happened in the midst of a Death Eater meeting that was being held at Malfoy Manor. Aurora Sinistra, unmarked fiancee of Barty Crouch Junior, burst into the room. "Cissa!" She said gasping, obviously from wherever she was breathing hard. "We need as many blood-replenishers and as much dittany as you can get your hands on now."

Narcissa was instantly on her feet. "What's happening?" She demanded, even as she called for an elf. "Dobby, dittany and blood replenishers!"

"It's Cress." Aurora said, in a rush. "She's bleeding out. The healer's running out of potions and we can't take her to St. Mungo's."

Narcissa gasped in surprise, even as the elf appeared with a bag that was clinking from vials. "We has no dittany, Mistress."

"Severus…" Voldemort said from his place at the head of his table. "I assume you have some in your stores."

Severus, paler than normal, nodded. "I do, My Lord."

"Fetch it, quickly." Voldemort said, with some annoyance, as if he had expected the Potions' Master to leave without a dismissal.

With a brief nod, the Potions master disappeared, and Narcissa handed off the bag of potions to Aurora. "Go back. I'll bring the dittany when Severus returns."

Aurora didn't question, grabbing the bag and running for the Floo. Narcissa watched her go, and attempted her best well-bred apologies, even as her forehead creased in worry. "I am sorry for the interruption, My Lord."

Voldemort waved off the apology. "The mission comes first, Narcissa." Chatter had picked up on what sort of mission Cressida could possibly be on, even as Severus arrived with a beaker of dittany.

Narcissa took hold of it, but Severus didn't let go. "I want to go with you."

"No." The Dark Lord said firmly. "You are to stay here until Aurora and Narcissa return. Should Cressida die, then you may go with them, and then you will take on some of her mission."

Narcissa waited until Severus's fingers released the beaker and she Disapparated straight through the wards of the Manor.

Aurora ran a hand through her braids as she shook her head, looking at the baby now laying quietly in Narcissa's arms. "I want children eventually, but I think it'll be a few years before Barty and I try."

"Really?" Narcissa asked, swaying slightly. "I can't wait to have children. Lucius and I have been trying for a few months." She hummed slightly. "Would you like a friend, Hermione darling?"

Aurora watched her friend, curious about something she had never really dared to ask before, and even as she asked, her voice was hesitant. "Do you love Lucius?"

Narcissa wasn't offended by the question, and smiled. "Lucius and I love each other in our own ways." She said, easily. "We knew we'd be together as we were growing up, so we never looked for love anywhere else, never wanted to. It's not a storybook romance full of poetry and late-night heart-to-hearts like you and Barty, or the bittersweet love of Cressida for Severus, or even the infatuation Severus has for Lily, but I can't imagine being with anyone else."

"Better than Bellatrix and Rod." Aurora noted, shaking her head.

Narcissa sighed at the mention of her sister. "Bella did her duty, but it wasn't a good match." She admitted. "This will probably the closest I'll get to being an aunt." She leaned her blonde head down to the newborn. "You are a darling little thing."

Severus paced the floor of Lucius's study. Everyone else had gone home from the meeting long ago, but Severus remained, needing to hear what had happened, both because of the Dark Lord's orders, and the fact that he couldn't get the idea of Cressida bleeding to death out of his mind. He knew being a Death Eater was dangerous, but Cressida was skilled and not one to fall easily.

The thought that the last thing he would have ever said to her was that 'I know,' haunted him. He should have said more, he should have at least said...he couldn't even think it.

There was a pop of apparition, and an exhausted looking Narcissa appeared, with a disheveled Aurora. "Lucius," she said, voice wrung out. "I need to take you to modify the healer's memories. Cress said some things that can't be remembered while she was screaming."

"Cressida doesn't scream from pain." Severus said despite himself. He had seen that woman take the Cruciatus at the wand of the Dark Lord and not give in to screaming.

"Well, she did tonight." Aurora snapped at him.

"Aurora." Narcissa scolded. "That's not necessary."

"Is she alright?" Severus asked, voice rougher than normal.

"She's recovering." Narcissa answered, giving him a wan smile. "She'll be fine once she has some time to heal."

"No thanks to you." Aurora muttered.

"Aurora, Severus gave us the dittany." Narcissa reminded the young woman sharply.

Aurora looked sullen. "I'm sorry, but I just listened to her cry for him for hours, so I'm not feeling particularly charitable." She argued. "Cress would have never agreed to go on this mission if he wasn't an arse who calls for Lily-sodding-Potter while sleeping in Cress's bed."

Narcissa put a hand to her temple. "Enough, Aurora. Take Lucius to take care of the healer. I'll stay here with Severus." At least one of them could keep a civil tongue in their head.

Aurora, grumbling, left with Lucius, reminding Narcissa just how young the woman was. Narcissa's attention was on the Potions' master though, as he was pale and shaking. She doubted he even noticed. "Sit, Severus." Narcissa ordered. "You look like you're going to faint."

Severus sat down, mostly because his knees felt weak. "She'll really be okay?"

Narcissa sighed slightly. "She's going to be fine. It might take a few days, but she'll be back to normal soon enough."

"When will she be back?" Severus asked, a little selfishly. he wanted to see her for himself, he wanted to apologise and to hold her again. Tell her that she meant something to him, even if he wasn't sure what. She was something good in his life and he had had so little good.

Narcissa didn't quite know how to answer that. "When the war is over." She said finally. "The Dark Lord has her in deep cover. She's to stay there until it's done and the dark is in power, or he mobilises her."

Severus's eyes widened in surprise at that. "Why?" He demanded, even as Aurora's words dug into his skull. "Why would she go like this?"

Narcissa put a well-manicured hand to her head. "Severus…" She said slowly. "Cressida isn't a fool. Aurora may not have put it well, but...when you say Lily's name in your sleep, or refuse to go out in public with her, or only say 'I know,' when she says she loves you...it hurts her, Severus. She loves you desperately. She was in a...position...to carry out this mission and when the Dark Lord asked her if she would take it...she said yes the next day."

Severus felt a flare of guilt in his stomach, realising why she had asked him to take her to the wedding...and he hadn't even bothered to look up from his book. It was the same with the kiss he had replayed in his mind since the first Death Eater meeting Cressida had missed. She was trying to make him give her a reason to say no without risking the Dark Lord's ire by revealing the mission and he...had failed. He'd just have to live with that. He just hoped she was out of danger and maybe happy. She certainly deserved it more than he did.