A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or its likeness. But Willow and her likeness and anything else that came from my crazy mind does :P Enjoy.
The song excerpt at the beginning is from "Mordred's Lullaby" by Heather Dale.
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A/N: This story has been about 2 years in the making for me. The OC, Willow Windkeeper, has been in the back of my mind since I read my first Potter book. She has always been there, hiding in the shadows. Her story just made sense to me. Why couldn't Voldemort have a child? And if he did, which side would she pick? So I decided to write her story as I would see it; her triumphs and her tragedies, twisted together, made her who she is and will determine what she will be.
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Hush child,
the Darkness will rise
from the Deep and
carry down
into sleep…
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He was late.
Of all the nights for him to be behind, it had to be this one. He hurried his steps, making his way through the immaculate garden of the manor. He hoped the Dark Lord would be in a forgiving mood tonight, because he had no news to tell him. He still had not discovered who the prophecy had been about and was no closer to the answer. He reached the door and knocked briskly, waiting for someone to come. The door creaked open and a small house elf peered up at him, his orb-like eyes peering in the darkness.
"Ma-Master Snape," he squeaked, his head bobbing in welcome, "The Dark Lord is waiting for y-you in the Parlor, sir."
Snape stepped inside, steeling himself.
"Thank you, Dobby." He muttered as he headed for the main room. The Manor was unusually quiet tonight which made him uneasy the usual sounds of the day
were gone; no sounds of the children, no echoing voices of Narcissa's social callers. He opened the large, oak door to the parlor and stepped inside. Every face turned to him, a mix of relief and disappointment welcoming him.
"Ah, it seems you have finally joined us, Severus. I hope we are not intruding upon a previous engagement you had?" the Dark Lord announced in a silky voice.
Severus felt his resolve waver and strengthened it again.
"No, my Lord. You come before any obligation in my life."
He bowed to his knee in front of the Dark Lord, opening his mind to him. He felt him probe, and waited. When his presence was gone, he slowly lifted his head and tried to decipher the expression on the Dark Lord's face. Voldemort sat there silently for a moment, his face like stone.
"You have failed again, Severus. Failed to find the one that would try to hinder my plans." He stood, causing Snape to stiffen slightly. "But not all is lost. One of my followers has informed me of a two children. Their parents have tried to fight against me and have denied me allegiance three times. I have taken their
backgrounds into account and have determined which one would most likely attempt to defeat me."
There was an intake of breath throughout the room.
"I believe it to be the son of Lily and James Potter."
Snape felt his stomach sink. Not Lily. Please, not his Lily.
He turned his face to the Dark Lord's.
"But, My Lord, how can you be sure? I mean no disrespect, but shouldn't we investigate this a little more -?"
An icy glare from Voldemort stopped him.
"Do you not believe that I am capable of doing this, Severus?" he whispered.
He felt his mind being probed again and this time showed the Dark Lord his reason for his outburst. He waited for him to call it out, to state his findings among his fellow Death Eaters, but it never came. As he gazed up at his master, Voldemort had a slight sneer.
"We will discuss this later, Severus."
He turned with a swirl of his cloak, sitting back down in the high seat at the head of the room.
"I have other business to attend to at the moment, which is of the utmost importance."
He waved an elegant hand towards the side door and two house elves came in, leading a very furious looking red haired woman. She had a bundle of green blankets in her arms. Severus felt his breath hitch. He had wondered if the Dark Lord would do this, and it seems he was right.
"My daughter is a six months old today, and I believe I have waited long enough." He said silkily, staring at the woman holding the bundle. "We will not have any outbursts this time, will we Rowena." He stated.
She clutched the child to her, a fierce look on her face.
"You'll not touch her." she threatened.
With a flick of his hand, two Death Eaters had risen and grabbed her. He glided towards them, taking the child from her arms. She struggled against her captors, using all her energy to fight against them.
Severus knew she was weak. Since the birth of the child, the Dark Lord had not been as forgiving of her, keeping her in a weakened state meant it would be easier for him to get the child. He watched as Rowena struggled, her once beautiful face sallow and distorted in fury.
"She'll not be one of your slaves, Tom! Do you not feel anything for her?! She is of your flesh! How can you do this to her?!" she screamed, buckling against her captors arms.
The Dark Lord gazed at her, his gray eyes full of cold fury.
"I can because she is mine! This is one of the greatest gifts I can give to her!" he shifted the bundle in his arms and drew his wand, pointing it at the red heads chest.
"How dare you question what is best for my daughter." He said in a hushed voice, but the threat in it was just as prominent. "Know this, Rowena Windkeeper. When my child no longer needs you for her care, you will not be useful to me any longer. Your presence is only required now to nourish her. But when the time comes, I will personally dispose of you."
His voice was like ice, sending visible shivers through every person in the room. He turned away, heading for the center of the chamber. He looked to Severus, a cold sneer on his face.
"I require you no longer, Severus. Be seated with the others."
He stood, joining Lucius on one of the settees. Avery and Rodolphus had brought a table into the center of the room, bowing as they backed away from their master before taking their seats again. He lay the child down, removing the blanket off of her tiny body.
Severus had only seen her once, on the day she was born. He was called to assist after the birth, giving Rowena blood replenishing potions and tonics for pain. At the time, the child had been a pink mass of flesh that cried continually, ensuring him a migraine by the night's end. His curiosity got the better of him now, and he lifted his head slightly to see her.
She was lying quite still upon the wood, her large, grey eyes focused on the Dark Lord. She had hair now; thick, black tufts of it that stuck out in odd points. She babbled softly, still focused on the man in front of her. There was a clamor behind them, and as he turned toward the noise, Rowena rushed past, having broken loose from her holders.
Before she made it to the child, however, she screamed in pain. Snape's head snapped over to the source of her agony; Bella was standing, with her wand pointed at the woman, a maniacal look on her face. Without even turning, or raising his voice, the Dark Lord spoke.
"That is enough, Bella."
She dropped her arm, releasing Rowena from the curse. She fell to the ground, whimpering in agony, and the two that held her before came forward and pulled her up, dragging her back.
The Dark Lord continued to stare at the child before him. He reached out, grabbing her left arm roughly, making her cry out and thrash around. He retrieved his wand and tried to get a hold on her, but was unable to. Every time he pointed his wand on her arm, she would kick and move about. Growing frustrated he released her, turning to them all.
"Bella! Come here and hold her!" he commanded.
She ran forward, a look of hunger on her face. Snape knew she hated the child. She would be more than willing to cause her any pain. She grabbed the child's shoulders, holding her small body down, and slid her hand forward to grab the tiny left arm and hold it still. The child began to wail as Bella pushed hard into her flesh.
"Cover her mouth, Bella!" The Dark Lord bellowed, causing them all to jump.
She released the child's right shoulder and clasped her hand across its mouth, pinching it shut. With one of her arms free, she lifted a tiny hand to Bella's large one, and dug her nails in, wanting to be released.
Bella shrieked, and on instinct, grabbed her wand and slashed.
The Dark Lord froze. Severus watched as dark, red blood began to
ooze from the child's neck, and she began to wail.
"What have you done?" he demanded, grabbing Bella by her hair.
"I'm sorry Master! It was an accide -!" he threw her away from the table, sending her crashing into the wall.
"Severus."
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Heal her."
He worked quickly, staunching the blood flow and adding essence of dittany to the wound. "She will have a scar, my Lord." He whispered, meeting the Dark
Lord's gaze. He turned, with an icy glare, in the direction of Bella.
"I will deal with your punishment later." He said softly, eyeing her for a minute before turning back to his task.
"Severus, hold her."
He held the girl, taking care to mind her wound. He watched as the Dark Lord lowered his wand, pointing at the tiny arm.
He worked slowly, the child's cries smothered out by Severus's hand. Finally, with the smell of burnt flesh still stinging the air, he stepped back, revealing the Dark Mark upon her arm.
Severus removed his hands and the Dark Lord picked her up, turning to his followers.
"She is now truly mine." He told them over her cries.
As he said the words, though, Severus couldn't help feel a sinking sensation in his stomach. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling that this child would never truly belong to the Dark Lord.
If only he had known how right he was...
OOOO: Fixed at last :) been aiming to get to it, but haven't had the time. Hope it's a bit better now!
