Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask. JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers.
Summary: It is the height of the 1st War and Severus Snape is determined to survive it and carve out his own destiny with the one person who trusts him unreservedly. Alternate Universe.
Supernatural/Drama/Angst/Spiritual/Romance/Horror
This story is rated R/M. It is very intense and for mature readers only.
A Love Before Time (REPOST!)
Chapter 002: Something Wicked This Way Comes
'NOOOOOOO! PLEEEEAAASSSEEEEEE HEEEEEELLLLLLPPPP MMMMMMEEEEEEE!' Rowan screamed and tossed violently from side to side.
'Rowan! Rowan!'
Snape grabbed onto her. It was all he could do to not jerk his hands away. Rowan was so hot it was as if she were on fire. Her face was bright red and tears streamed down her face. She was sweating profusely and her nightgown was soaked through.
'It's hot! It's so hot! Please NO – I don't want to die! Severus! Severus please!'
She was coughing now, choking. Her hands went up to her throat as her eyes opened wide. Though they were open she could not see.
'Rowan! It's Severus! I'm here, I'm here!'
'Severus pppllleeeeaaaaasssssseeeeee!' she whimpered as her hands reached out wildly and then were snatched back with a high pitched scream. It was as if she were in extreme agony.
'Wake up, love; come on – everything will be alright. You just have to wake up…..' Snape whispered softly as he cradled the woman he loved in his arms. Rowan was only a few weeks away from her due date and it seemed that her night terrors grew worse as the big day drew ever closer.
He began to rock her back and forth whispering softly in her ear. Rowan began to calm down. After a moment or two she closed her eyes and sank limply into the young Potions Master's caresses.
He reached over and grabbed his wand from the nightstand after removing her nightgown. He executed a cooling healing charm and to his immense relief his girlfriend responded. He could only be grateful that he was home when this happened.
After what felt like an eternity, the Headmaster was finally relocating them in another week's time. Given his other concerns with James and Lily Potter it was thought to be a more manageable situation if Rowan was near them in a village called Godric's Hollow. They were under the protection of the Fidelus, and the Secret-Keeper for the Order who was entrusted with their care would perform the same function for Rowan.
Snape had already been pressed back into service for the Dark Lord and was now in the innermost circle alongside Lucius Malfoy. On the one hand he was fortunate that he no longer had to toil under the oppressive conditions of Voldemort's laboratories. He wasn't spending more than a few hours at a time at the Dark Lord's side. His formidable intelligence and gifts with logic were quite useful. On the other hand, his Occlumency skills were being pushed to their limits. Snape would not allow himself to worry that one day this most essential of skills unknown to the Death Eaters would let down the woman he loved and their unborn child. It couldn't – it was as simple as that.
The young Potions Master was playing hard and fast with misinformation which he fed to his cohorts anonymously without them realising where it really came from. He was merely the messenger who prepared the reports for the Dark Lord, and as such was not culpable for their grave errors in intelligence gathering.
He needn't have worried about his abilities with Occlumency not passing muster.
Someone else would betray their situation.
…xXxXxXx…
'Rowan….isn't dead?' Remus Lupin whispered hoarsely a week later. 'After all this…she isn't dead…'
He'd finally returned from the farthest reaches of the Outer Hebrides in the North Sea where he'd met with the Alpha leadership of the some of the fiercest of the werewolf colonies in the British Isles. He had only thrown himself in so deep with his duties for the Order because he needed to exorcise the considerable demons of his failed relationship with the only girl whom he'd ever dared love. He'd been gone for almost three months. Though it had been almost seven years since they were together he still was not over her.
Dumbledore looked at his former student and valued member of The Order of the Phoenix with a slight frown Lupin did not see.
'Rowan? I take it you have more than just a passing familiarity with Miss Morgause, Remus?' he said evenly. The Headmaster was not pleased that once again he had been very ignorant of what had gone on beneath his crooked nose.
The young werewolf nodded his head slowly as he stood gazing out a window. The lake glistened in the moonlight and there was only the gentlest of breezes as the giant squid waved its tentacles about playfully. It was the perfect British summer night; just as it had been all those years ago when he and Rowan had made love for the first time. It might as well have been a lifetime ago – so many things had changed for them both since then.
Rowan deserved more than he could ever give her, he had thought at the time. He had broken things off with her suddenly without much of an explanation not long after each lost their virginity to the other. Lupin had panicked – Rowan had had no idea about his affliction and he couldn't summon his considerable Gryffindor bravery to tell her. He should have told her from the beginning, but his feelings for her and desperate need to be liked got the better of him.
'We…were close…very close…for a time…as students,' Lupin said quietly. He ran a shaky hand through his light brown hair and tried not to give into the heartache that had been just below the surface. 'I last saw her just before she disappeared – I should have done more for her.'
Dumbledore decided not to press the issue.
'Miss Morgause is about to give birth…the end of July.'
Lupin snapped his head around sharply.
'Rowan is pregnant? With everything going on? Who? Who is the father?'
'That is not important. What concerns us is her due date – the end of July,' the Headmaster replied looking at the young werewolf over his half-moon spectacles.
Now was not the time to open that particular can of worms.
'No!'
BAM!
Before Lupin could say another word the door to the Headmaster's office flew open and Sirius Black raced into the expansive room.
'All set,' he said breathlessly. 'I will swing by tomorrow night and…'
He stopped short at the sight of the young werewolf who looked at him with no trace of emotion.
'Lupin,' he said curtly.
'Sirius,' Lupin replied evenly.
For the life of him, the young werewolf couldn't understand why Sirius' demeanour towards him had changed over the six months or so. It was almost as if they were total strangers. There was an atmosphere between them that made no sense. Sirius was reckless and had always seemed to take pleasure in making Lupin feel like something was wrong with him because he was the least arrogant and most sensible of the Marauders. But Lupin had yet to have his first time of ever behaving that way towards the young man he'd idolised along with James Potter when they were at school together. Things were the worst that they had ever been between them.
Sirius Black, still the most Devil-May-Care of all the Marauders, eyeballed his old friend silently for only the briefest of moments before returning his attention to the matter at hand.
'Everything is arranged, Professor. There is another cottage on the other side of the Hollow ready and waiting…just outside the village…'
'Very good, Sirius. I will entrust Miss Morgause's care to you – I have been summoned by the Wizengamot and it looks like it will be a long day…'
'Professor – what is going on? Am I to understand that you are moving Rowan to Godric's Hollow…?' Lupin asked incredulously.
Of all the people in the world to trust Rowan's life with, he was not confident that it should be with Sirius. And to relocate her to the Hollow – something about that didn't seem quite right to him and he said so.
Black did not fail to hide his suspicion. He rounded on his old friend and stood nose to nose.
'Just what are you playing at, eh Moony? You know; it's funny how everything seems to happen when you conveniently aren't here – and right after the strategy meetings. Are we supposed to trust her with you – is that it? Just like we were supposed to trust you with the Boneses!'
The young werewolf stayed silent. Sirius wasn't interested in very much he had to say these days. It seemed the longer the war went on the worse it got.
'Yeah – right. Keep your gob shut – as usual…' Black hissed.
'Jonathan Bones took matters into his own hands, Sirius,' Professor Dumbledore said sternly. 'It was a grave mistake to confront suspected Death Eaters – and in the Hogs Head of all places! Remus cannot be blamed for another man's foolish actions. He did the best he could under the circumstances!'
Black sniffed.
The Headmaster could say what he liked until the cows came home; but as far as he was concerned Lupin had turned traitor and they were stupid to not sort him out – properly. He didn't have to say it; the Headmaster knew exactly what he was thinking.
'I would trust Remus Lupin with my life,' he said evenly.
There was no twinkle in his eyes or smile on his lips.
Black scowled.
'Relocate Miss Morgause under the cover of darkness, Sirius. By the time she is settled I should have returned from the Ministry,' said the Headmaster.
'And after…?'
'One step at a time.'
Black's temper was on the verge of getting the best of him. Dumbledore was likely to entrust the care of Rowan Morgause to the werewolf.
'That will be all Sirius.'
Black turned on his heels and steamed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
'Professor – Lily and James – I understand your concerns, but I am quite capable of being their Secret-Keeper and Rowan's.'
Professor Dumbledore liked his former student and cared a lot about him. Remus Lupin had become a good friend to him particularly in the years since he'd left school. But his affliction was dangerous and they couldn't take the risk especially because of his transformations every month. The Headmaster chose his words carefully.
'Remus – I have no doubt that you are very capable. You are one of the most sensible, reasonable, gifted people I know. If anyone is particularly well-suited for the task it most definitely is you. But…'
'But you can't take the chance because of my affliction. Keeping the Secret is one thing – my situation is another. One has nothing to do with the other Albus. You know that.'
'Remus, we just can't take the chance that at a time when you are most needed and relied upon your affliction will incapacitate you. '
'We are talking about keeping the Secret; so what if I have a few days a month where I am away from all of this?'
'I'm sorry. The Potters and Miss Morgause are our top priority along with the Longbottoms. I do not mean to hurt you – but things must be as they are. Too much is at risk now – especially in light of this latest prophecy from Miss Morgause. I must do what I think best for the greater good of us all.'
Lupin swallowed.
'OK,' he said in a quiet voice that was almost a whisper. 'I just wanted to do what I know is right by my friends.'
But it did hurt him to his core that no one seemed to trust him with anything; and just because he was a werewolf.
…xXxXxXx…
Rowan fidgeted as she quickly packed hers and Severus' bags. He had been summoned by the Dark Lord only a few hours before Sirius Black arrived on her doorstep with Madam Pomfrey. She charmed everything including books and art supplies to minute sizes and put them in a large carrying case.
She was quiet and did not speak unless it was to answer questions. She and Snape had had their first real argument since becoming a couple and it did not sit well with her that they had parted in anger. She hadn't meant to upset him or make him cross – but she had to tell him the truth. She had no control over what was happening or what was to come. Snape wasn't having any of it – she had gone too far with her madness and he wanted it to stop, he'd yelled at her before storming out.
Once downstairs she took a last look around the little cottage that had been the only real home she'd ever known.
It was not easy to leave it, knowing that by doing so she was going to her death.
…xXxXxXx…
'Sooooo…what brings you here, Pettigrew?' drawled Lucius Malfoy with a sneer two weeks later as he walked into his study at The Manor. He'd just killed one of his house-elves for allowing the visitor in without consulting him first. He then gave several others a bloody good hiding to serve as an example.
'Information…that would be most useful to Lord Voldemort!'
'And that would have what to do with me?'
Malfoy was no fool. Under no circumstance was he to admit to this simpleton that he was not only a Death Eater, but was in the Inner Circle of Voldemort's trusted servants.
'I…I…know that you have his ear…I know that you have connections to the top.'
The silvery-blonde-haired aristocratic wizard eyeballed his visitor with more than a hint of disdain. What was the wizarding world coming to when the best that the Dark Lord could do was to recruit imbecilic vermin like this?
'So…what is this information such that you are so careless in putting it forward?'
'That is for his ears only,' said the little rat-faced man taking more of a risk than the situation was worth.
Malfoy idly stroked the serpent head of his walking stick as if in deep concentration.
'You forget yourself Pettigrew. However, I must assume that this information is extremely valuable and reliable in order for you to be so reckless with that fabled Gryffindor bravery you are supposed to be in possession of!'
'His Lordship will want to hear what I have to say!'
'There is this teeny, tiny, little thing called protocol, Pettigrew. Surely you have heard of it?'
The little rat-faced man rocked from side-to-side as he stood knitting his hands nervously in front of Malfoy's large Mahogany desk.
'CRUCIO!' Malfoy bellowed.
Pettigrew hit the floor hard and rocked from side-to-side his mouth drawn in a silent scream.
'I will not ask you again, Pettigrew!'
It suddenly occurred to Malfoy that he had better release the spell so that the information could at least be given before he killed the idiot.
'It…It's the Potters…they are under protection by the Order!' Pettigrew sputtered as he desperately tried to breathe. 'They have been relocated!'
Malfoy barely had time to grin like a Chesire Cat when the little rat-faced man spoke up again.
'…and Rowan Morgause...they have found her and are putting her under protection as well!'
'Well, well, well! You most certainly have far exceeded any expectations I had of you – ahh Wormtail…'
Before Wormtail had a chance to fully recover, Malfoy aimed his wand at the fireplace. There was an eruption of black flames and then out stepped the Dark Lord himself.
'What do you have for me, Malfoy?' Voldemort hissed darkly. 'No doubt it is of the highest imperative for me to be summoned to you!'
'Tell his Lordship, Wormtail – tell him everything you have just told me or I swear your next breath will be your last you snivelling gobshyte!'
The rat-faced young man told all that he knew – which really wasn't much, but it was enough to put him in the seeming good graces of Lord Voldemort. Before he had a chance to think about it he was branded with the Dark Mark – the peculiar brand of a magical tattoo that bound all of Voldemort's servants to him as long as he had life.
'B…but…' Pettigrew sputtered as he looked at it in horror.
He hadn't meant to get involved so deep. He had only wanted to get back at James Potter and Sirius Black for how he'd been treated by them for far too long. If he could make a little something for himself on the side in the way of a grace-and-favour arrangement even at the cost of their deaths then so be it. But he had never thought of anything like this.
'Am I to understand that I do not have your loyalty and commitment – Wormtail is it?' hissed the Dark Lord. 'Did you foolishly believe that you would be free to come and go as you chose? Did you honestly think that you could pick and choose your level of commitment? Nooo – I rather suppose you did not think, did you Wormtail!'
'Gryffindors were never known for cunning or brains – our friend Peter Pettigrew here is living proof of that, my Lord. One should always know what one is letting oneself in for Pettigrew. You need to learn how to crawl before you can walk,' Malfoy drawled with a hint of a smirk. 'I expect regular reports from you going forward for our Lord. And woe betides you should you fail him!'
'You are privy to information from the Order. I expect that your reports will be nothing less than reliable! I want to know exactly where they are!' Voldemort hissed dangerously. 'Is that clear, Pettigrew!'
'C…crystal…your excellency!'
Voldemort turned to his Second-In-Command.
'Well done, Malfoy. I knew you would not let me down.'
'By your command, Sir,' came the answer with a slight bow.
Malfoy would only do just enough to curry favour with the Dark Lord without being a complete sycophant.
…xXxXxXx…
'So…Sev-ver-rus…a return to civilisation from Wales?' Malfoy sneered several hours later.
Like many English, he had no time or patience with the principality or its denizens. Under different circumstances he and Severus Snape would have never crossed paths. He never missed the opportunity to belittle his greasy-haired comrade in some way about this and any other perceived faults.
Snape was no Dunderhead.
He kept his cool and paid attention to what was unsaid as much as what was.
'It is a roof over my head, Lucius; one I am fortunate I don't have to pay for as meagre as it is,' he replied evenly. 'We cannot all be so privileged as you are.'
The blonde laughed as he looked over the pale, dour-faced man standing in front of his desk.
'No – you most certainly can't be can you, eh Severus?'
'So it would seem,' the young Potions Master replied crisply as he handed over a package. 'Here are the last of the potions you requested.'
'Very good. I applaud your efficiency. It's dreadful that they take three months to achieve potency, but the end result will be well worth it…'
Snape knew better than to ask what they would be used for. Malfoy would only report his questioning to the Dark Lord.
'By your command,' he said with a slight nod.
He would only do just enough to stay on Malfoy's "good side" without being a complete sycophant as many of the others were.
'The Dark Lord has noted your prompt and loyal service, Severus. As a reward, you may go – but remember…should you be summoned…leave whatever whore it is that you have to pay for some ahh – attention. Though God knows you need it!'
'I will Disapparate immediately to his side as always, Lucius.'
'Excellent – so glad to see at least one of the rank-and-file has some common sense,' Malfoy laughed.
Snape forced himself to laugh with him though inside he was raging with anger.
'I will tell the Dark Lord I was wrong about you – you are one of the most reliable and loyal of his servants.' Malfoy said with an almost regal air.
'You are too kind,' Snape replied with a slight bow.
'Quite…' Malfoy said as he rang a bell.
A young woman was brought in by his henchman, Cornelius Crabbe and Garfield Goyle. Snape guessed her to be not more than 16 years old and of Romany Gipsy stock.
'I would ask you to stay for a drink, Severus, but I have more urgent needs to attend to,' Malfoy said darkly with a dismissing wave of his hand.
Snape nodded and exited The Manor as quickly as he dared. Malfoy would never lower himself to socialise with the likes of him. The young Potions Master couldn't get out of Wiltshire fast enough. He would not allow himself to feel anything for the young woman that Malfoy and his goons were no doubt ravishing at this very moment. He could only fleetingly hope her death would be quick. Her last hours on this earth would be nothing less than horrifying.
He returned his attention to the matter at hand. There was only one woman he needed to concern himself with and he was keen to make up for the angry way in which they'd parted.
Rowan was being moved near the border between England and Wales not far from his boyhood home in Snowdonia.
It would make the ruse about his living arrangements much easier to carry out.
Or so he thought.
