Hey guys. I'm sorry I was so long in updating, and I get the feeling that this will develop into a very bad habit. But anyway, please read. Any constructive criticism is welcome (preferably by reviews).

~Fether signing off

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all recognizable places, characters, events…etc.

Also, this story is inspired by Kurinoone's fic "The Darkness Within", which I HIGHLY recommend.


The only sound that could be heard in the abandoned warehouse was crazy, maniacal laughter.

"No, please, spare me! Mercy, I beg you!" A formidable figure loomed over a covering one.

"Tell me Rogers, why in the world would I?"

"I swear I never meant to betray Lord Vo-", he broke off as he gasped for air. His attacker had viciously kicked just below the ribs.

"You filthy scumbag! You're not fit to speak the name of my father,"

"I beg your forgiveness Heir. Just please, let me live!"

The Heir looked as if he were pondering what to do with Rogers and appeared to come to a decision. Rogers was rigid with apprehension.

"Nah, I feel like wrecking something. So I guess I'll kill you now, yeah?"

Rogers wilted inwardly, and did his best to fight his sudden urge to look up at the Heir's face. He knew it was stupid to think of such things now, but all of a sudden, he remembered his fellow Death Eater, Myles, telling a group of cronies about what seemed at the time a highly exaggerated myth. He remembered Myles saying how every Death Eater who had the bad luck to see the real eyes of the Heir, and not his fake green eyes was undoubtedly doomed to die.

He clung to this last hope and stubbornly refused to lift his head. But all of a sudden, a firm, cold hand gripped his head, and jerked it up to meet the owner's eyes.

"Any last words Rogers?" the dark haired man sneered. "No? Well that's wonderful." His free hand came up to his ever-present mask that covered the upper half of his face. As his hand passed over his eyes, a change came over them.

"Your eyes! They're-"

"Silencio." As Rogers' mouth moved with nothing coming out, The Heir cast his favorite spell.

"Sectumsempra"

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"Longbottom! Watch your potion!" Snape snapped at the pale, quivering, moon-faced fifth year.

"S-sorry sir,"

"Be careful, and you won't have to be sorry," the Potions Professor replied. That being said, he turned his watchful eye to the rest of his class. At one end of the room, a very harried Hermione Granger was partnered with Goyle. Her face was slowly reddening as Goyle nearly botched the entire potion on multiple occasions. He fought the urge to snicker at her exasperated expression. He held it in to keep up his steely persona. At the other end, Ronald Weasley and Draco Malfoy were getting along tolerably well enough for Snape's short temper that day.

For the past year, the two Gryffindors and Draco and his cronies had got along quite well after the Triwizard Tournament incident last year with Aria. His daughter had an admirer in Draco Malfoy, and her group of best friends were the Gryffindors Hermione, Weasley, Neville, and Ginny. Aria herself was in Ravenclaw House, and rightly so, as she was a genius above all else. It had been a shock for her to have been chosen for the extremely dangerous Triwizard Tournament. Severus couldn't count how many times he had drunken himself into a hazy stupor out of worry and fear for his daughter. Fortunately, most of the student body was willing to help her out, especially the afore-mentioned Slytherins and Gryffindors, as well as her own House members. After that fiasco, Draco had finally got close enough to her, and got up the courage to ask her out. Of course the Gryffindors were indignant, but soon warmed up to the idea when Aria reminded them of how much Draco had helped her during the Tournament.

Although at first Severus had had second thoughts about letting Aria see someone two years older than her, he knew Draco personally, and knew that underneath the cruel façade, the blonde was a very caring and sensitive person. Nonetheless, Severus had made it clear that if Draco did anything, anything at all to hurt Aria, he would not hesitate to make the rest of Draco's life at Hogwarts a living hell.

As Severus looked back up at the clock hanging over the ceiling, he realized with a start that class was over.

"Bottle up your potions, and bring them to my desk. No spilling of potions, or sabotaging others' assignments," At this, he shot a pointed look at Draco, who looked away sheepishly. He sat at his desk and waited for the students to slowly file out of the classroom. As the last student left the dungeons, he sighed with relief and sank back in his chair.

He reached up to a short bottle on the top shelf of his cabinet, and tossed back a shot of smooth bourbon to wash away the stress at the end of a long day. As the alcohol burned its way down his throat, his gaze fell on an old picture. A gorgeous red- haired woman was reclining with her head in his lap. The picture to the left showed an adorable black-haired child giggling and bouncing up and down on his father's knee. As Snape watched, his slightly younger self in the photograph leant down and kissed his forehead. Then, he lifted up the child's hand and waved it at the camera. He shook his head angrily. Dammit Snape, you can't dwell on the past. Remember, Aria still needs a parent figure too much for you to be able to afford to wallow in your misery.

He got up abruptly and checked the clock. The longer hand had nearly reached hour, and he hurried off to the emergency Order meeting that Dumbledore had called only this morning. Only God knows what the old man wants from the Order now, he thought.

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"Are the preparations all ready my lord?" The black haired boy being addressed looked up wearily.

"What is it Lucius?"

"I asked if everything in plan was all set milord"

"Of course the plan's all set. What did you expect of me? Now let me alone. I'm exhausted and I need to rest before we carry out this mission."

"Understood Prince."

"Tell the others to get ready to set out for our destination in three hours time."

"And our destination?"

"Hogwarts, School of Wizarding and Witchcraft."

Lucius grinned evilly. "They'll never know what hit them."