Lost Orchids
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything Harry Potter; however I own the plot and OFCs Evelyn and Amara.
Status: Written in progress
Rated: M for mature for future graphic lemons, violence, minor/major rape or just implied rape. If you don't like it, don't read it, and stick to reading works rated T.
Summary: Why was the Potions Master bitter all these years? Years ago he murdered a child's parents, members of the Order, so what happens when years later the child is tossed into his lap as his Potions Apprentice?
Chapter 1: Bloodshed at Spinner's End
Evelyn Orchis, a clever Ravenclaw, the Dark Lord's only bride and greatest victim, was under his spell for more than half her life without any recognition of what wrong has been bestowed upon her. She didn't know what to expect from the charming Head Boy thirty years ago, and one day he crossed her path with an intention, 'Want her. Use her.' Little she knew, she was marked for life.
Saturday, October 15th 1981
In northern England, in a rundown industrial city, our story begins. There was a dreary looking house on Spinner's End, on the very corner where the cobblestone road meets the mill. It was an old brick house, very unkempt like all the others on the block.
This was the hiding place of Evelyn Orchis for the past four years, accompanied by her loving husband and her young daughter.
"Mum," called the voice of the small girl. She climbed out of her bed and left her room. Walking pass the darkened musty hall, she timidly peeked through the doorway to a small room, a clean room with walls painted a pale violet.
The sitting room was cramped with fine furniture clustered around a coffee table. On the shelves were a collection of leather-bound books. There was an armchair in the corner by a small roaring fire, and lounging there was a kind, silvery long-haired young woman with a black crescent moon marked upon her forehead. She was a slender woman and wore a black Alice band and a loose fitting peasant top and a matching skirt in earthy autumn tones. This was her mother, Evelyn.
Evelyn stood up and picked up a pink candle off the mantle and lit it. A homely scent of wild flowers filled the air.
"Mum," called the little girl. Evelyn looked over her shoulder at her little princess. With starry sapphire eyes, she saw her daughter enter the room dragging her plushy Cornish pixie in one hand and a book in the other by her side. She had shiny raven black hair that fell to her waist, and wore a pale violet night gown with matching fluffy slippers, and on her fair face, her child bore the same marking as she does.
Placing her book on the coffee table and rubbing her sleepy eyes, the tiny child yawned, "Is Daddy coming home tonight?"
Evelyn smiled and sat down on the armchair placing her little princess on her lap.
"Sweet pea, don't worry. I just spoke to Uncle Albus earlier and he said he will arrive home any minute now. Why don't you go back to bed, honey?"
"I can't sleep now!" said the raven-haired girl with her bright dark eyes, as if it was so obvious.
"Why not, sweet pea?"
"He promised he'd read to me"
"What book?"
"This one. I'll show it to you." Evelyn's little sweet pea hopped off her lap and grabbed her book from the coffee table. With two hands she raised it up high above her head, and it read The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection.
Her mother smirked, typical, that's just so like him.
"He- He says we live in dark times and he'll teach me everything he knows. Mommy, is Daddy smarter than you?"
Evelyn laughed thinking back on her Hogwarts days.
"Did Daddy ever tell you that I taught him everything he knew when he went to school?" The tiny girl shook her head.
"Is this Hoggywarts?"
"Yes, sweetie, it is."
"So you're smarter than him?"
"Well, we're both smart. I'm not sure who's smarter, but I know we both appreciate wisdom. When I went to Hogwarts, I was sorted into Ravenclaw House, and when your father went to Hogwarts, he was sorted into Slytherin, so we're a little different. I loved learning for the sake of learning, and your father, well, he learned so he can have the power to do what he wants in life. He has ambition. It's a Slytherin trait. Also, he can just do certain things I just can't."
"So what did you teach him?"
"Just some things that's good to know before school. I shared some advice from my past experiences."
Evelyn told a few tales and stories. Her young flower hung on to every word until the clock struck twelve. Evelyn was getting worried; her beloved was never this late before.
"Come on, sweetie. Let's go to bed. Daddy will be home in the morning. Let's get some sleep."
After tolerating much of her daughter's questions "where's daddy and why?" and so on, Evelyn manage to tickle her and carry her over her shoulder.
While walking through the hall, the girl observed her mother's appearance and played with her hair.
"Mommy, you're so pretty."
"Thank you, sweet pea."
"Will I be pretty when I grow up?"
"Yes, it's in our blood"
"Really?"
"Yup, but I'll tell you another time, is that okay?" Evelyn said, tucking her into bed.
"But, how come I don't look like you?"
"Yes, you do," she pointed with her gentle hands, '"you have my skin, see, and my straight hair, my nose, and my eyelashes. Right here, see my moon mark? This is the mark of Orchis. You have it too. You are mine, although you do look very much like your father."
Evelyn and her daughter kissed each other goodnight, and as the young child fell into sweet slumber, Evelyn stood by the bedroom window. She sighed. Where are you?
Suddenly winds blew hard and the trees banged against the window panes. Startled, Evelyn stepped back and just when she was about to turn away, her eyes caught sight of what she knew shouldn't be. In the midst of the dark storm clouds lay Voldemort's Dark Mark. Death Eaters will be here soon, if not already. They are coming for her. HE was coming for her.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" said her child awoken by the loud commotion.
"Sweetie, get out of bed, now! It's bad!" the young mother panicked pulling the girl out of bed, ushering her to safety.
"Do you remember what we practiced just in case this happens?"
"Head for the Spinner and wait?"
"Yes, honey. Now go!"
They parted. Evelyn slipped into the dark hallway with her wand armed and ready. She stepped through the threshold into the sitting room. The flames from both the candle and the fireplace flickered out simultaneously .The room was engulfed by darkness and in the blink of an eye, only the lightning strikes brighten the room.
Evelyn's heart raced. She aimed her wand towards the front door. But, before she could even muster up a spell to buy her some time to bring true damage to her intruders, the door blasted into pieces, and Evelyn is thrown across the room and into a wall.
Voldemort enters, his minions trailing behind him underneath their pointy hoods and skull masks.
He looked at her with his red snake eyes. A painful feeling twisted inside her, it's the Cruciatus curse. He circled her limp body amused. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. He mocked her in disappointment.
"Did you really think you can escape me?"
Tears swelled in her eyes.
"Now, now Evie, don't look at me like that." The Dark Lord kneeled beside her. "It's so good to see you. Remember you did love me once?"
"Love? Is that what you called it? Obsession in bottle is more accurate."
His fierce red eyes gazed upon his other half, watching his bride cower away. He gave a shrill laugh. So pathetic, he thought. He kneeled. She scowled at him. Even when angered, she was just as beautiful since the day he first noticed her. How have the last thirty years have been, he pondered. Biting her lip, his long slender fingers stroked her from her silky silver head. She spat in his face. He wiped his face then slapped her. Instinctively, she tried to attack him, but he was too strong.
"See here, Death Eaters. Never let a woman, especially a woman so weak, to get in your way. Only good for one thing, and she couldn't even do that right.
You are MINE, till death-do-us-part. What do you have to say for yourself? "
"What did you expect me to do? Fuck your little prick while I let you wreck havoc on everybody? After all that you did? What you still do? You stole my life, Voldemort. I won't let you steal my daughter's!"
"Hear that, Lucius? You'll have your daughter-in-law after all. She's four years old am I correct?"
"Cut the crap, Voldemort, and just kill me. Please."
"Oh, believe me, that was my intention, but suddenly I realize you have something I want.
After all these years, did you not think I would find out who you are, the way you think?" he hissed. "You did something, a charm, an enchantment. I know it! She is my daughter now, Evelyn. Tell me where she is and I shall spare you."
"Your daughter? If she is yours, then what is her name?"
"Amara! Amara!" A young pale man called from the windmill. "Where are you?"
With his hair slicked back and tied, his black robes flapped through the harsh winds.
"Amara!" The man yelled for his daughter, but she was no where to be found.
He knew he had to return home.
Young Amara did as she was told, and she headed towards the bookcase in her bedroom. She whispered the password and the bottom shelves parted into a tiny passageway. Once inside, the secret door closed behind her and her surroundings tilted forward. Before she knew it, she was on a wild slide that led her to the outside.
She rolled onto the grass, but unfortunately she lay merely inches away from a small group of her would-be abductors wearing scary skull masks and long pointed hoods. The young girl shut her eyes hoping they did not recognize her obvious presence.
In ranks, the Death Eaters marched in her direction, strode across her even, and the child was neither harmed nor founded.
She was safe, but why? Amara was shocked as the black men's feet surely trampled her, but oddly enough they went right through her like phantoms.
Foolishly, Amara stood up and followed the evil crowd, curiosity getting the best of her. She listened in on their hushed whispers.
"Severus, are you ready?" asked Lucius.
"Of course, Lucius. For the Dark Lord, I shall be."
"Prove it. Make no mistake this time. You let her live. The Dark Lord believes it was accident, but this time, he won't be as merciful."
"You won't speak? Fine!" Voldemort rasped. "Death Eaters search the place, I want my heir found. Search for portraits, bookcases, trapdoors; we're not leaving until this house is in ruins.
As for you, my bride, CRUCIO! "
As the Death Eaters begun ransacking the witch's home, Amara clutched onto the broken entranceway, staring into her mother's blue eyes. Evelyn was the only one aware of the child's presence. She wished her princess wasn't here to see this.
Evelyn tossed and turned violently enduring the searing hot pain twisting at her insides. The daughter wanted to cry out for her mother, but Amara had no words. Tearfully, the little girl whimpered.
The young pale man returned to the house to find everything was too late. Standing outside from a great distance, he witnessed the Death Eaters enter his home. At that moment he fell to his knees with his head in his hands wishing he'd die there and then. This was his fault. If only he'd stay to protect his family.
"Don't be silly, love. Dumbledore says you'll have to be there, so you'll be there. The Order is expecting it, and you wouldn't want to disappoint Dumbledore now would you? You swore to him," Evelyn assured him.
They stood in the kitchen. Evelyn's back was turned from her husband as she prepared dinner on the kitchen counter.
"I won't do it, Evelyn," her husband said firmly, "I love you. I love Amara. I'm not going to let myself lose you. Not again."
As loving as his words were, she had to remind him of all the terror she went through trying to survive the life of being the Dark Lord's only concubine. Recalling those memories made her blood boil all over. The chopping of the vegetables became louder. A hard chop against the cutting board punctuated her every point.
"I've faced Voldemort! Did you forget that?—chop—He wanted me to carry his heir—chop! chop!--so he fucked me with abandon until I was black—chop! and blue—chop!. Do you know what that feels like? To be tossed about like a rag doll knowing you can't give him what he wants? Maybe you do, or will eventually. I've been to the meetings. I know the 'crucio' inside and out, especially when he figured that the key to conception laid in MY heart.
"My mind was lost to love potions. It was worse than that 'imperio'—to feel like you're in love with someone you hate and not know why. I was his prisoner, his prisoner, long before your time. I can't keep running away like this. Not forever-"
"Why not?" asked her beloved. She slammed the knife down and turned to him, anger radiating from her body as she leaned against the counter.
"For Merlin's sake, why are you acting so selfish?"
"Don't call me selfish!" he spat. "You and Amara are the only reason why I wake up everyday and live this wretched life!"
"Who or what are you calling wretched?" Evelyn challenged. He stepped towards her and cupped her face in his hands.
"I'm wretched," he confessed, his gaze locked on her blue eyes. "You are why I live. Don't you understand?"
She gave him a brief kiss, and hugged him close. His arms wrapped around her protectively as if wanting to never let her go.
"You know I do, more than anyone," she told him.
"Then why are you so willing to sacrifice your happiness after having very little before?"
"Because I found you. Because I was given a chance to know you, and I've fallen for you, truly, madly, deeply. Because you are my husband now, the father of my child and I trust you'll do right. That heart beneath your breast does not belong to demon."
"If you say so, Eve." They loosened their embrace and Evelyn returned to her dinner preparations.
"Now that we're on the same page, keep in mind that this is a war, and you're not the only one losing love ones. Remember Dearborn? Fenwick and what's left of him? Molly Prewett's brothers fought off five and died so young. Don't you remember the Longbottoms? Your Slytherin friends drove them mad! Did you forget I've felt that feeling? Do you have any idea what's that going to do to that poor babe of theirs?"
"So why must we take the risk?"
"Because I more than anyone wants this war to end. I'm sorry."
He lifted his head up and spotted standing by the edge of the front door, his daughter in pale violet. There was still hope.
"Snape!" hollered the Dark Lord, feeling very pleased. A Death Eater came forth and stood by his side. "Her life is yours to take. Make her suffer, brother. Kill her!"
"Yes, my Lord," Snape replied at his master's command.
Amara couldn't believe her eyes. The man who was to destroy her mother, she trusted him. He meant family. She turned away from the soon to be gruesome sight only to stare into the face of her father, whom she long awaited. He tried to take her hand and take her back to Hogwarts, but she would not let him. She instead glared accusingly. He was too late. He couldn't protect his family. Amara held his face forcing him to watch. The father held Amara in his arms pulling her close to his heart. They shed their tears and when it was done she let go of his grasp, and ran for the portkey at the mill. Her father followed.
Snape circled the familiar woman lying before him. The Death Eaters stopped their search and grew silent as they watched. Evelyn and the young Death Eater stared into each others eyes, silently crying, as they shared this moment as it was like four years before. Four years before, she was taken by Voldemort. Four years before, her daughter was born. Four years before, Snape risked his life and secretly saved her.
She nodded her head, signaling him to go ahead, and he returns the nod slightly, sure that this is what she wants. He closed his eyes remembering the only one who ever truly cared for him; he does not want to do this. He opened his eyes and raises his wand. Aiming it at her chest, his mind muttered Sectumsempra.
Evelyn trashed at every cut and gash. Seemingly, the pain never stops, and Severus felt it too. He let his wand rest and Evelyn lay feebly in her crimson puddle on the floor.
"Well done, Severus," said the Dark Lord. "And when we find her daughter, if she struggles, expect to do the same. Like mother like daughter." The evil bastard laughed at that and turned to his minions. He then sent the search outside and all of town. They apparated, the Dark Lord gave his final word to Severus, "Discard her!" and he disappeared.
At that, Severus rushed by the woman's side. She's faintly breathing still. He holds her hand and pulls off his mask. "Evelyn, I'm sorry."
She looked up at him one last time, with her last loving smile, and touched his face.
"Don't be-"
A/N: I swear I've been writing this story for a long time. I believe I originally came up with the idea of it since the release of Order of the Phoenix. I was a 14 years old then and undisciplined, but now it's 5 years later, I'm in college and an English major, and I think I might actually be able to pull this story off in a decent canon matter. To those who like my story so far. Thank you. I'll try my best to keep updating.
P.S. I still haven't gotten around to reading Deathly Hallows yet, and I get a lot of the dates and events from the HP Lexicon site, so if facts are off about certain characters, sorry, like say deaths without my justification, sorry. Just so you know.