Severus left in the middle of a staff meeting when he received an owl marked URGENT in bold letters. He didn't care about the protests that were raised as he fled the staff room urgently, his only thought was to get outside the castle grounds as fast as possible. When he arrived on the steps of Malfoy Manor, Mulciber was already there, standing guard, and nearly had to restrain the man from simply bursting it.
"Unhand me Mulciber, or I swear before God I will curse you into your next life!"
"Calm down!" Mulciber nearly tossed the lithe man back and let out a breath. "She's fine. For now."
"What's going on?"
"I don't know. Bellatrix went apeshit over something and it was enough for the Dark Lord to come. I was summoned for security I suppose" The Deatheater hauled Severus up and let him through the gate but stayed close enough to pull him back should the need arise.
"Where is my wife?" Severus demanded the second he stepped foot in the house. "Veronica?!"
"Severus, please lower your voice!" Narcissa hushed him. "She's upstairs. Bellatrix is guarding her."
"I want to see her." Severus commanded.
"Fine" Narcissa snapped. "Don't yell at me, I didn't do anything."
Severus ignored her and rushed up the stairs until he found the door Bellatrix was stationed in front of.
"Let me through."
"Ooooh, forceful tonight, aren't we?" Bellatrix teased him and allowed him to enter before locking the door behind him.
Veronica was sitting on a bed and looked up at him in fear for a moment until relief washed over her and she threw herself into his arms.
"Oh Severus! Thank God you're here!" She wept.
"What happened?!"
"I don't know." Veronica pulled away. "No one will tell me what's going on. One minute we were having tea and Bellatrix asked me about my mother's family. I said I didn't know them very well, but I knew their name was Gaunt. Then she had me by the throat and she put me in here and I don't know what's going on!"
Severus listened and fell silent. For a moment his mind was blank, processing this information before his grip on her grew painfully tight. "We need to get you out of here."
"Severus, please! If you know anything, tell me what is going on!"
"I will explain later but for now we need to-!"
Severus cut himself off as the bedroom door opened and Bellatrix peered in.
"He's arrived. Come with me."
"Severus." Veronica scrambled back. "Severus for Christ's sake, do something!"
"Just calm down!" Severus bellowed, grabbing her upper arm firmly. "Just calm down, okay? Come on."
Veronica clammed up and allowed herself to be led down the stairs. She pressed herself as close as she could to Severus and gasped when she was the front hall was filled with the Malfoy family and Mulciber. Severus wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulder. "Just keep your eyes down." He whispered and Veronica obeyed.
The meeting room door was ajar slightly and Bellatrix bold snatched Severus back the back of his cloak and pulled him away from the door.
"Only the woman!" She hissed, "You wait out here with the rest of us."
Veronica felt Severus left her go and began to whimper until Bellatrix shoved her towards the door and she crept into the meeting room fearfully.
This was it. She was going to die.
She prayed to God her children would live well without her, and that Severus would go on, but soon her thoughts turned only to her own mortality as she say the outline of a tall figure at the edge of the room by the fire place were a blaze had been lit.
"Child" a voice hissed in her ear, as if the speaker were directly beside her, "You look as if you have seen a ghost."
Veronica could not find her voice to respond and instead the voice chuckled cruelly.
"Come" it beckoned her, "come sit by the fire. We have much to discuss."
Veronica meekly made her way to the fire place and nearly screamed at the sight of a gargantuan python lounging on the floor.
"Do not mind Nagini." The voice urged her, "Sit"
Veronica minded, sitting on the edge of the seat anxiously as she watched the Dark Lord emerge from the shadows and take the seat beside her.
"Hello Veronica."
"H-Hello, sir" She looked down. "My Lord, If I have done anything to offend you, I have no intention and I swear to you I-"
"Oh, stop that sniveling" The Dark Lord scolded her, "Such displays are not befitting someone of your lineage."
"My lineage?"
"You're a Gaunt." He leered. "And here I had thought they'd all died out."
"I-." Veronica swallowed, trying to control the tremor in her voice. "I'm afraid I don't understand what's going on. No one is telling me anything and I am very confused."
"I see." The Dark Lord nodded. "Let me explain then. It is a very long story, but I will try to be concise."
The Dark Wizard eyed the fire and within a second it burned bright enough to fill the whole room with light.
"What do you know of the Gaunt family?"
"I know they are very old." Veronica sighed. "And I know that they disowned my Mother when she was born a Squib."
"Is that all?"
"Is there more?"
The Dark Lord's smile stretched across his skull like face, "Oh my dear girl. There is so much more. Now listen carefully.
Veronica listened in horror and shock as her unknown family history was unfolded before her.
" The Gaunt family is part of what's known as the Sacred 28. 28 families that have kept to pureblood traditions for as long as they have been around. Your grandfather was Morfin Gaunt." The Dark Lord began. "He was thought to be the last Gaunt, I did not realize he had had a child."
Veronica swallowed. "My mother doesn't like to talk about it."
"Well, who would like to discuss being abandoned by their family?" The Dark Lord reasoned. "Anyway, I have not yet explained why your family roots provoked such a reaction from my most loyal."
Veronica nodded.
"You see, my mother's name was Merope Gaunt, who was sister to your grandfather Morfin Gaunt"
Veronica nearly went dizzy with how fast the blood drained from her face. Her vision went blurry and her throat dry as a desert as she found it difficult to keep her balance.
"I-I don't….I mean…what does…"
"You should know, Veronica." The Dark Lord went on, "That I do not wish to kill you. I did not mind killing my father and his family, nor did I concern myself when my uncle was condemned to Azkaban for the crime."
These details just made Veronica feel sick as he continued.
"But in you I see the potential for the birth of the new world I wish to bring about. You have already started this by having a child. And from what I understand you have four other siblings to carry on the legacy. You can bring the honor and glory that was so unfairly lost back to the Gaunt Family."
Veronica listened to him but didn't fully comprehend what was going said. All she could do was blankly nod.
"Of course, with this latest information, I do plan to extend my connections to your family."
Veronica's heart leaped.
Her family.
Her siblings.
Someone had to warn them.
She took a deep breath to compose herself firmly.
"I understand" Veronica nodded gracefully. "at least I think I understand. It's been a very hectic evening."
"You will no doubt come to terms with your position by the morning." The Dark Lord stood, motioning for her to do the same. "I am glad Severus had not been wrong about your disposition. He told me you were an agreeable thing, but I was not so sure."
"I can understand you doubt, My Lord" Veronica offered a sheepish smile. "But my prior actions were not a personal vendetta again yourself. I simply love children."
The Dark Lord led her out of the room and the hall full of Death Eaters quieted as the door opened.
Veronica drew herself up tall and kept her eyes as passive as she could as all eyes turned to her and then the Dark Lord.
"No doubt you are curious as to what has occurred tonight, but all you need to know is that we will be seeing much more of our dear friend from now on." The Dark Lord informed them. "Severus, take this woman home, see that she is well taken care of. We will discuss more in the future."
"Yes, My Lord." Severus grabbed Veronica's hand and watched as she calmly followed him until she was mere inches from him. It as unnerving how black she was, almost as if zombified.
Veronica's dead eyes turned to Narcissa, who watched her anxiously until the woman nodded in her direction. "Thank you once again for the invitation, Narcissa. I hope we may do it again without the disruption."
"Of course." Narcissa breathed. "I will see the two of you out."
The entire scene was tense and uncomfortable until they were outside, and the door closed behind them.
"Veronica" Severus whispered, turned her to face him, "Look at me."
She did so limply, and Severus let out a ragged breath. "What happened in there, what's going on?"
"What's going on?" she smiled painfully. "What's going on is, from now on, every move I make will be under a microscope because my grandfather just so happens to be The Dark Lord's uncle."
Severus sucked in a breath and Veronica nodded. "Uh huh, that's what I said too."
"Are you okay?"
"I think I'm still in shock." Veronica swallowed. "Because at the moment, I don't really feel a thing."
Severus sighed. "Well, Let's just get you home for now. Then we'll talk."
They apparated to the Cabin and Sirius was pacing the floor with Valerian wailing like mad.
"Merlin's Beard, you're alive!" He nearly tackled them as he entered. "You told me just to wait here until midnight, but I was going to go to the Order and…"
Veronica cut him off silently by taking Valerian from his arms and bouncing him gently. "Shhh." She hushed him, "Mummy's here. Mummy's got you."
"Sirius, can I see you in the other room?" Severus motioned and Sirius blinked at the use of his first name.
"Uh, yeah. Sure."
Severus met him in the kitchen and rubbed his face. He instantly reached for the cabinet he knew would have a bottle of red wine in it and began to pour himself a glass.
"Black, do you still want to get some field work in for the order?"
Sirius's heart pounded. "Of course, I do. What's going on?"
"I need you to go to Veronica's family, all of them, and I need you to help relocate them secretly. Just like you did for the Potters." Severus explained, "Wine?"
"Why do they need to be relocated."
"If I tell you, I need you not to freak out."
"Tell me."
Severus spilled the truth with a sip of wine and Sirius suddenly felt like taking him up on his offer.
With his own glass of wine in hand, Sirius swallowed a mouthful with and sigh. "So that's that, huh?"
"That's that."
"You're taking this very well."
Severus shrugged. "I've gone beyond panic at this point." He downed another mouthful and swallowed. "So, can you do it?"
"I'll need to get the Order together to get it done, it may take a few days."
"We may not have a few days."
"We'll do what we can." Sirius insisted. "Is there anything else we need to know?"
"The Dark Lord wants to use Veronica as some kind of Poster Child. The symbol of his new world" Severus sneered. "I'm not sure how it will go, but if he means to make a new world that means he'll be taking steps to take down this one soon enough. I'd be preparing for a fight."
"I'm always ready for a fight." Sirius grumbled, "You know that. That's why I'm here."
Severus nodded, realize this was probably the first time in his life he was in the same room as Black and no venom had been exchanged.
"I have a school to get back to." Severus finished his glass of wine, "I'll discuss this with Dumbledore tonight. There's nothing he can really do, but he should still know."
"Want me to keep on eye on her tonight?"
Severus glanced at Black a moment. "If you would." He glanced down. "give's you something to do besides chase your tail."
Black scoffed and shook his head, "You couldn't go five minutes without a crack, could you?"
"You were getting too comfortable." Severus grumbled and pushed off the counter. "I'm going to go say goodbye to my wife. We'll keep you in the loop."
Sirius muttered under his breath dismissively as he took another drink.
"Veronica?"
"Yeah?"
"How you are doing?"
Veronica glanced up at him with heavy eyelids. "I'm tired."
"You should go to bed."
"We raised a greenhouse today."
"Did you now?" Severus smiled a little, glad that she was thinking of anything but what just happened. "I can't wait to see it."
"You have to go?"
"I do." Severus sat beside her, "I need to tell Dumbledore what happened, not to mention I have students to teach."
Veronica frowned and leaned on him. "I'll miss you in the morning."
"You'll see me soon" He kissed her temple. "Promise."
He left her there and Sirius left the kitchen to look at her a moment.
"Hungry? You haven't eaten since 11"
"No." Veronica shook her head. "No, I'm just tired. I finally got the baby to sleep."
"Maybe call it a night."
She nodded and stood, adjusting the Val's swaddle gently. "Thank you for watching him Sirius."
"It was my pleasure." Sirius smiled. "Now you should get some sleep. You've been through a lot."
Veronica left for bed and Sirius sighed.
What a disaster.
He turned off the kitchen light for the night before eyeing the front door suspiciously. He shifted his form into a black dog and settling himself on the living room couch, ears constantly on the alert.
