A/N: At long last book six, and this still follows canon with minor changes. Of course, the trio is still joined by the second trio…but as this is canon, we'll see how friendships hold up between Harry and Ebony…and we learn more about Chelly's past…and Luis isn't left out either being a little more in the front than the last book. But I hope you enjoy it either way.
Disclaimer: I only own Chelly, Ebony, and Luis…and randomly Stark when he's mentioned.
HALF BLOOD PRINCE
SUMMER DARKENS
Ebony stretched out on the sofa in her sweats and tank top, sipping on a Cherry Pepsi and eating Cheetos while watching Empire Records on the television in the comfort of her actual house at Spinner's End. That's how she had spent the last three weeks of her summer, with her dad and Chelly doing absolutely nothing. No missions, no watching, no worrying, no papers, no tight ass government officials. Nothing. And it felt great. She just lay around the house with her best friend eating food and watching TV, utterly amazed she had gained little to no weight from it all. Grant it, they had managed to maneuver enough to visit their boyfriends a couple times in the last two weeks, but Oliver had gone on vacation to Greece and George was running the Weasley shop and making large profit from that. Luis and Luna were with her Dad at American Adventureland in Derbyshire for the next few days. Chelly had passed on going, she wasn't big on rollercoaster. Ebony found that ironic seeing as how she could fly a broomstick or a Threstal without a problem but panicked on a rollercoaster.
Chelly currently occupied the lazy boy recliner in her sweats and tank top, her hair up in a messy ponytail as she ate her cheese Ruffles and drank her Cherry Pepsi as the movie ended. "Change the channel."
"You change the channel," Ebony snorted as the credits started playing.
"You do it."
"I don't have the remote."
Ebony felt around the couch coming up with nothing but a missing Cheeto. "Neither do I."
"Get up and change it."
"You're closer to the TV."
"It's your house."
"You're right there."
"I'm the guest."
"I saved your ass from failing potions."
"You have your ring on."
Ebony looked at her hand where her black pearl ring sat on her index finger. "Touché." The diamonds turned red. "Accio remote."
The remote flew from where Chelly sat straight to Ebony who caught it giving Chelly a glare. She shrugged. "I didn't feel it there."
"I'm surprised you can feel anything. That chair is practically molded to you, Ms. Murillo," Snape quipped as he came into the room and handed his daughter a new soda before giving Chelly hers and putting the pizza box down on the table between them. "I almost fear giving you another sugar substance, you won't be able to get out of that chair after much longer. We'll have to pry you loose with a removal spell."
"Ha ha, very funny," she mumbled and yanked the soda from him, amazingly not spilling a drop of it on herself and grabbed a large piece of pizza from the box. She took a bite, peeling off a piece of pepperoni and dropping it into her mouth and grabbing another piece onto her plate.
"Who said I was joking?"
"Can't be a pain in your arse. Eating," she said through a mouthful of greasy pizza as she sat back in her chair balancing her plate on her stomach with her soda tucked next to her.
"What else is new?" he snorted and glanced over at the front door where his "unexpected" guests would soon be dropping by.
"Who are you waiting for?" Ebony asked, her eyes never leaving the television set.
"No one. Why do you ask?" he answered quickly.
"Because that's the third time you've looked over at the door in the last fifteen minutes. It can't be the pizza guy since he's already shown up."
"Obviously," Chelly chewed on the crust of her pizza. "And I'll bet all my money it's not a date."
"Which leaves me to wonder," Ebony flicked her hazel eyes up at him, "who is it?"
"No one," he answered cooly and folded his arms.
She shrugged and took a drink from her soda. "Suit yourself."
She knew better than to press her father anymore than necessary. Last school year had been horrible enough to go through with Umbridge in the seat of power position there and then her and her father's relationship was strained to the brink of breaking, where every second in the same room seemed to make the air thicker and more uncomfortable than the previous minute. She'd questioned where she belonged. If it was with Sirius Black or Snape? If she was truly loved or just a scheme of revenge? If she was truly her mother's daughter, just as evil as she had been? She had been so unsure. And she found she didn't fit with Sirius, she couldn't be what he wanted. Her name didn't fit on the wall of heritage, didn't even exist on it. And she had come to find she was where she belonged all along. She fit in with Severus Snape, with the life she had lived for fifteen years and he had realized the same thing she had. That they were a family and nothing could change that.
It had only grown stronger after the Ministry battle three months ago where she had lost her biological father, Sirius Black, to Bellatrix, her demented second cousin. She had killed him right in front of her and Harry and there was nothing either of them had been able to do. The only thing Ebony had been able to do was a Cruciatus Curse on her that had been interrupted by Lord Voldermort himself and she found herself frozen in his presence, unable to even speak. But she couldn't without giving herself away as Death Royalty or as Black's actual daughter whereas everyone else assumed she was Snape's by blood as well. And so the battle had ensued and now all knew Voldermort was back and Harry wasn't a liar, though it had cost them all a price with Black's death, especially Harry. Even though it brought Snape and Ebony closer, even brought Snape and Chelly closer though they hardly acted like it with the amount of bickering she had to listen to from the two of them. But she saw it. She saw the smiles they had after each jab and banter. They were a dysfunctional family in the sense they could argue and go at each other but when it mattered, when the sky darkened and there seemed like there would be no tomorrow they were there. Every time. She hoped that never changed.
Ebony yawned and shook her head. She was finding it suddenly hard to stay awake. Glancing at her watch she saw it was only ten o'clock. She usually didn't get tired til around two or three in the morning, if not later. She rubbed at her eyes with one hand, but it didn't help her blurring vision or the sudden wave of sleepiness that came over her.
"Are you all right, Ebony?" she heard her father ask as she rubbed at her eyes again.
"Yeah," she yawned, unable to help it. "I'm…I'm just tired."
"Me too," Chelly said from her seat where she had sat up, placing her bag of chips and empty soda can on the floor. "It's early though."
"I know…its odd," Ebony said and found her mind becoming foggy as well.
"Maybe you're coming down with something," she felt her dad's hand on her face to check her temperature.
"I don't feel sick just tired," she reassured him.
"Could be all the junk food you two have been eating over the last few days," he explained. "Maybe you both should go to bed. It'd be the best thing for you to just sleep it off."
"Good idea," Chelly mumbled and stood up from her chair only to fall back down into it. It felt like her legs wouldn't move, she couldn't even feel them. It felt like the room was spinning around her. She blinked a few times. "On second thought…I think I'll nap here." She curled up in the recliner chair and rubbed at her eyes with her scarred hand, a punishment from the devil in pink, the words of each rule still clear on the back of her hands.
Ebony felt her head hit the pillow on the couch before she even realized she was unable to sit up any longer. She felt her father run his fingers through her hair. "Get some rest, you'll feel better in the morning." He stood up and pulled a blanket over her now sleeping form before grabbing another for Chelly.
"I should go to my room," she mumbled and pushed the blanket off.
Snape pulled the blanket back over Chelly. "Don't be stupid, Ms, Murillo. At least not any more than usual." Chelly reached out and her hand came into contact with his arm. A vision flashed through her but her mind was too foggy to pick up on it. She mumbled at him and heard a knock on the front door, then she heard nothing else.
SPINNERS END
With a heavy sigh Snape switched off the television and checked once more on Chelly and Ebony. They were both completely out of it, deep in sleep, Chelly snoring slightly as she turned over in the lounge chair, pulling her blanket tighter over her. The potion had taken effect just as he hoped. They would sleep soundly until morning. Plenty of time for the meeting he knew was about to come. It was the only way to keep the two girls safe and in the dark. It was better this way, they wouldn't know a thing of what happened.
There was a knock on the front door and Snape casually moved to the door to open it. "Narcissa," he said sounding shocked though he wasn't. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Severus," the blonde woman said in a strained manner, eyes blood shot. She wasn't her usual confident and beautiful self. Her demeanor seemed shot and crumbled as she stared at him pleadingly, hair hanging unkempt in her face. "May I speak to you? It's urgent."
"Of course," he opened the door enough for her and her still hooded sister Bellatrix to enter with Wormtail not far behind. "Have a seat in the den, I'm afraid my daughter and her friend are sleeping in the living room."
He saw Bellatrix's head turn to the living room and fix on the couch where Ebony was sound asleep, completely unaware of the danger right in her home. Snape saw the woman's dark look. "They are sound asleep, they can't hear us."
"All the better," Bellatrix hissed and took a step towards the living room, set on revenge for the Cruciatus Curse the dark haired girl had set on her. Snape stopped her, grabbing her arm firmly. "She did what she had to do for the Dark Lord. Her cover cannot be blown," he released her arm, moving her back to the den. "Besides, he did use it on her as well."
"Little brat deserved it," Bellatrix hissed. Snape felt his anger flare but held his tongue not able to give himself up either.
"Wormtail," Snape said sternly to the stout man who flinched at his name being called. He had come and gone in Snape's house as well, a servant as such from Voldermort. He must have been on his way over when Narcissa and Bellatrix happened to show up. Stupid move seeing as how his daughter and Chelly were home. "Go get us some drinks, then go sit in the basement on your cot til I'm ready to deal with you."
"I am not your servant," he said though his voice wavered.
"Really?" Snape raised his eyebrows. "I was under the impression that the Dark Lord sent you to assist me."
"To assist you – yes. Not to serve you drinks and hide in the basement."
"I was unaware you wanted dangerous assignments. I'm sure the Dark Lord can accommodate to that. I can speak with him-."
"I can talk to him myself!" he interrupted.
Snape pursued his lips. "And I'm sure I can speak to my daughter about your presence in our home. I doubt she or her friend will take too kindly to you, no matter who's side you are on. Be a shame for you to die by her hand, though I'm positive the Dark Lord would not mind it at all."
Wormtail seemed to have paled and his beady eyes swiveled to the den where the girls slept. "I-I'll go get you those drinks." He disappeared and came back with the glass bottle and three clear glasses. He set them on the table and without a word hurried to the door to the basement stairs. Once the door shut, Snape waved his wand at it, putting a Silencing Charm up so he could not hear what they were saying.
Narcissa jumped right to it. "Severus, I know I shouldn't be here, but you are the only one who can help me. I've been told to say nothing-."
"Then you should hold your tongue!" Bellatrix snarled. "Particularly in front of present company."
"And what do you mean by that?" Snape asked sardonically.
"That I don't trust you," she sneered across the table.
"Why is that?" he asked casually.
"A hundred reasons," she shouted, slamming her glass on the table and pacing back and forth. "Where were you when the Dark Lord fell? What have you been doing all these years? Why did you stop the Dark Lord from getting the Sorcerer's Stone? Why did you not return? Why do you not fully devote that brat of yours to the Dark side when her mother clearly was one of us? Why do you let her have such mud blood friends? Where were you a few weeks ago during the Prophecy retrieval? I saw the brat but not you. And why, Snape, is Potter still alive when you and that daughter of yours have had him at your mercy for years?" The color was high on her cheeks as she breathed rapidly.
Snape smiled to her shock. "Before I answer you because oh yes, I will answer I want you to take this back to all those whispering behind, not only my back, but that of my daughter and her devoted friend as well. Do you think the Dark Lord had not asked me these questions? And do you think if I had not answered to his satisfactory that I'd be sitting here or she'd be sleeping there," he gestured to the den. "You ask where I was when the Dark Lord fell. I was where he ordered me to be, at Hogwarts, taking care of my daughter and making sure she was to become the best she could be while spying on Albus Dumbledore. You ask why I stopped the Sorcerer's Stone. Quirrell was greedy and unworthy. As for Ebony, she is devoted more than you can or ever will know and so is her friend. Their job is to keep an eye on Potter and his worthless friends. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, Bellatrix. As far as the Ministry fight, my orders were to stay behind while Ebony proceeded forward to…help the Order of the Phoenix…or so they'd think. If Lucius hadn't blundered -."
"Don't you dare blame my husband!" Narcissa hissed just as angrily. "Not when your daughter is to blame for that."
"He'd have been caught nonetheless," Snape shrugged. "Ebony had no other choice but to go along with her orders no matter what. And as far as dangers go, Bellatrix, you had to face what, ten teenagers?"
"They were joined by half of the Order of the Phoenix."
"I guess you're right, not to mention Ebony and Chelly have pretty powerful magic in them as far as I know, I can see the threat," he said tauntingly.
"You're avoiding my last question. Harry Potter. You and your daughter both could have killed him a hundred times yet he lives. Why?"
"If I, or Ebony, murdered Harry Potter the Dark Lord could not have used his blood to regenerate, making him invincible. And I'd have been a fool to kill him or let him be killed when Dumbledore thinks I'm working for him. Now, Narcissa, you came for my help."
"Yes," she lifted her blue eyes up to him. "I think you are the only one who can help…the Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it…he wishes it to be secret."
"It happens I know of the plan involving Draco," Snape said and stood moving to look out the window at the night sky.
"Severus…my son…my only son," she had tears falling down her face.
"Draco should be honored," Bellatrix said. "The Dark Lord is granting him an honor, unlike other's children," she sent a glare towards Snape who ignored it. "Draco seems to be taking it well."
Narcissa cried harder. "That's because he's only sixteen. He has no idea what's in store. Why, Severus? Why my son? Why not your daughter or her friend? They're stronger. Ebony knows more magic. It's dangerous. This is vengeance for Lucius's mistake.
Snape looked away, back out the window saying a silent prayer of thanks that it was not his daughter this was bestowed upon. That she was safe, for the most part. At least as safe as she could be though he wasn't sure how much longer that would be until that line she walked on cracked and she was found out to be a spy for the Order all along. Her Death Royalty would have to be revealed to keep her safe at all…and then…he didn't want to think of it.
"If Draco succeeds it'll be the highest honor," Snape said.
"But he won't!" she wailed. "I beg you Severus…you and Lucius are old friends…and Draco is smitten with Ebony as it is…she's like family to us. You are the Dark Lord's favorite and most trusted…will you speak to him…"
"He will not be persuaded."
"You could do it," she said hopefully and moved to him, clutching at his robes. "You could do it instead of Draco. You would succeed."
He caught hold of her wrists and removed her clutching hands and speaking slowly. "He intends me to do it in the end, I think. But he's determined Draco should try first. "
"In other words it doesn't matter if Draco is killed," she sobbed and wretched away from him. "My son…my only son…"
"You should be honored," Bellatrix repeated.
Narcissa screamed in despair and fell to her knees. Snape sighed and helped her up, moving her back to the chair and filling her glass with more wine. "Drink this."
"He's my only child," she drained the glass is a gulp. "I can't lose him…you must know what it feels like Severus, you are a father, you love your daughter don't you?"
"More than anything," he said truthfully.
"And you'd do anything to protect her?"
He glanced at Ebony, her hair was partially covering her face, one arm hanging off the couch, the black pearl ring twinkling from the light of the lamp. "Yes, I'd die to save her."
"Then you understand why I'm asking you to help me. I cannot do this by myself or I would. I need help."
Snape thought it over. How he'd feel in her position. How he did feel when Sirius was alive, when he thought he'd lose her to him…when he had thought her hurt so many times before. He remembered how his heart had sunk when he found her collapsed in the hallway after the Baslisk attack. And how scared he was when she was missing after Sirius broke into the castle. Or how afraid he'd been when he found out she was what Harry had to retrieve from the bottom of the lake. Not to mention her going into the Ministry just a month ago and coming back completely beat up. He knew how it felt to live in that fear, to love someone so much it scared you half the time. "It might be possible…for me to help Draco."
Narcissa's face lit up. "Oh Severus – you would help him? Would you look after him, see he comes to no harm?"
"I can try."
She stood from the chair and grabbed his hand. "If you are there to protect him…Severus, will you swear it? Will you make the Unbreakable Vow?"
"The Unbreakable Vow?" he repeated. There was no other way around it now. "Yes, Narcissa. I shall make the Unbreakable Vow. Maybe your sister would like to be bonder."
Bellatrix's eyes widened for a moment til she stood with her wand out and placed the tip of her wand on their linked hands.
"Will you Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes?" Narcissa asked.
"I will," Snape said and a thin string of flame shot from the wand and wound its way around their hands.
"And will you, to the best of your abilities, protect him from harm?"
"I will," a second string wrapped around their hands.
"And, should it prove necessary, will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?"
Snape hesitated for a moment.
Narcissa licked her lips. "And, as a binding contract, if you fail to live to this Unbreakable Vow, it will not be your life you forfeit but that of your daughter, Ebony."
Snape gasped. He hadn't seen that coming. "Ebony's life?"
"Yes, that way I can guarantee you will see this through because it is not your life that will be taken if you break this but hers," she said. At her words another string shot from Bellatrix's wand and Snape turned his head to follow it and watched the spell circle around his sleeping daughter. She was unaware of the danger that circled her but he saw it, those red cracking lines shimmering above her in a death cloud.
"You love her Severus, I trust you won't let any harm come to her. You said so yourself. Now, will you swear to carry out Draco's deed if he cannot do it?"
"I will," he said, his eyes never leaving Ebony. He had no choice…she had pinned him into a corner. Yes, he wanted to live and would do it, but to put it on his daughter's life, knowing he'd die for her was truly a Malfoy thing to do. He had to give her credit for being that smart. Another line shot from the wand and circled around their hands before disappearing. The lines around Ebony settled over her and she turned in her sleep as if sensing the vow that had been placed on her very life.
"It's done," Narcissa let go of his hands and grabbed her coat. "Thank you Severus. I'm sure you'll help him…I can guarantee it with so much at stake…thank you."
He nodded unable to speak, still staring at his daughter. He heard the door shut as they left and only then moved to his daughter's side, falling to his knees next to the couch and placing his hand on her head, running his fingers through her hair as if he would be able to remove the vow from her, she sighed in her sleep, burrowing deeper into her pillow. He only wanted to protect her in life, keep her safe from everything as best as he could…and now he had put her in the greatest of dangers. He had done it himself. He had put a vow on her life to do the most horrible of deeds…and if he didn't do it, she'd lose her life…if he didn't kill Dumbledore at the given time, Ebony would die in his place…and he wouldn't let that happen, he'd live to both the Vows he had made that year.
For the first time in sixteen years, Snape leaned his head against the arm of the couch, his fingers still running through his daughter's hair, and let his tears fall.
Dun dun dun…dramatic conclusion…new chapter soon