Under Obsidian Heavens

(Disclaimer here)

Um… again… nothing to say.

Chapter Three

Dumbledore listened to the other Painting with interest. He had come in the middle of the night, claiming that he was Mary's father and Severus's grandfather and Headmaster Snape's father-in-law. The other late headmaster's were shouting protests until the more current one came from his personal chambers with a shirtless boy in tow.

"Now they my great-grandparent's home, Snap, the house elf is tending to them. Please believe me, I attended Hogwarts but I am a Squib. The only thing I have is my word." He pleaded. Severus lifted Sev up onto his side. The man, claiming himself as Andrew Devon, looked at them with wide eyes. "And you must be Severus."

Neither Severus knew whom he was talking about but both nodded. Andrew smiled. "Forgive me, I was talking to the Boy… but my goodness, his older sisters were not fibbing when they told me that he looked like you, sir. Is it true he had a patch of gold hair on his neck?"

Severus looked momentarily confused but nodded when the boy turned his head and lifted his long hair from his neck. It was deep golden and thin.

"Amazing…"

"So my daughters are where?" Snape demanded.

"In Harrying of the North. The Devon Manor on Viking Hill to be exact." Andrew said. Severus made a move towards the fireplace but Dumbledore stopped him.

"Only the boy."

Severus whirled around, almost dropping his son. "Why? I have never seen my daughters!"

"Severus, if the Dark Lord suddenly thinks you distracted, it would be very difficult to be in this office without the Carrows or any other Death Eater constantly bothering you. Send the boy, he would undoubtedly be safer there by a very long shot." Dumbledore said calmly, a hint of regret lacing his voice.

Severus put his son on the ground and strode back into his personal chambers. He strode out with his son's traveling cloak and shirt and helped him put them on.

"Where are your shoes?" He asked, not even bothering to hide his heartache. Sev thought a moment before hurrying up to the chest and pulling his shoes out. He put them on then joined his father at the fireplace. His dad bent and kissed the top of his head and pulled him close. "Severus, whatever happens, know that I love you, dearly. And that I will always be with you and your sisters. I'll find a way to come and find you before the end, I promise."

"Will you find Mom?"

Snape hesitated then nodded, his heart aching. "I promise. Now step in."

Sev obeyed and watched as his dad looked up at Andrew.

"Be there and meet him." He said, emotion running wild in his voice. He took a handful of green powder and gave Sev a sorrowful smile before saying, "Devon Manor, Harrying of the North." He threw the powder in and just as the green flames disappeared, his left arm, where the Dark Mark lay, began to sting. He looked at Dumbledore. "He's calling me. I shall return."

.

Mary looked herself in the mirror a final time. Her hair was washed and combed, her wounds headed, save a bit of blue by her lips, and she was dressed in deep green. Narcissa smiled at her, forcing back her own uneasiness for her sake.

"Are you ready, Ballari?"

"Yes." She took her mother's arm and let her lead her out into the hallway. Mary silently listened to Narcissa's mangled thoughts.

What is she doing? Who is Devon? What happened between her and Severus? Does she know what may happen if the Dark Lord does not find her good enough? Does Draco know? Narcissa went on and on in questions that no one could really answer. And soon, Mary was led to the large banquet hall. Two Death Eaters smirked at them an opened the door.

Whatever conversation there was, stopped as soon as the door opened. Many faces, most Mary could not recognize, looked at her as Narcissa led her to in front of a large, throne-like chair with a pale, bald man sitting in it. Mary nearly froze with fear when he looked her over with his large, red eyes. This was the Dark Lord. This was the man responsible for her blindness all through school. Beside him, Mary did not notice, Snape stood still with a forced blank expression on his face.

"May I present, my lost daughter, Ballari Trixi Malfoy." Narcissa bowed low in front of the man. Mary followed.

"Rise, Ballari Trixi. Tell me, who are you named after?"

"My aunt, Bellatrix." To Severus, she sounded more confident than she looked. Her face was pale and slightly bruised from the beating the Death Eaters lay on her and her dark hair was pulled back in a very tight braid and her robe was still too big for her figure. "My name mean, quiet one."

Voldemort smiled. He had been given her wand and now spun it in his hands. "What make is your wand?"

"Ivy and a combination of basilisk skin and Shuckle heartstring." She said, not daring to look at the wand.

There was a soft murmur in the Death Eaters. "They are curious with your dueling skills." Voldemort said softly. "But I am more curious with your wand. Who gave it to you?"

"None of Ollivander's wands agreed with me, so I was taken to a man who lived in the Orients so he could make me a wand. I was told to bring several woods; Ivy was one of them, and suggestions of cores. He made many wands with the woods, save the Ivy, but none bonded. He had tried using the Basilisk skin and Shuckle heartstring in the different woods but when he combined them with the Ivy, the wand bonded."

"Does it obey you?"

"It does, my Lord."

"Will it obey me, willingly?"

"No one can guess, my Lord."

There was a heavy silence. Then Voldemort, with a grim smile, stood and waved the wand. "Crucio!"

Mary fell to the floor. Severus had to use all of his will power and then some to stay in place. After several seconds of watching the girl, writhe in silence, Voldemort released her and stepped from his throne. A ghost of disappointment on his face.

"Stand." He said simply. Mary struggled to her feet; she didn't move to fix her hair but rather gave a small bow to him. He was very impressed. "You live up to your name, Ballari. But you wand has not obeyed me. It was very reluctant. No snake would defy me, which brings the question of a Shuckle. I am not familiar with the creature or term. Would you explain?"

"Yes, my lord. It is a ground, dwelling creature in the turtle family. It is often seen in wands that are devoted to healing and defense. Your unfamiliarity with the creature was greater than mine or my family's."

"Yes… yes…" He gave her the wand. "How well do you fight?"

"Well, your Lordship."

A smile began to spread on his face. "Who was the most recent that you dueled?"

A grieved expression was forced onto her face. "Forgive me, my lord, I fought unwillingly back at your servants without knowing their intention to return me here." She bowed deeply. She stood straight when he put a hand on her shoulder. He studied her for a moment before looking at the Death Eaters. He paused his search momentarily on Lucius but moved on. Soon his eyes fell on Thorfinn Rowle. He waved him over.

"My lord?" He asked.

"Duel her. Until she gives or you fail."

Not going to happen. He thought as Voldemort stepped carefully back to his throne.

"Be sure they don't kill each other, Severus." He said as he sat.

Mary could not help but look at Severus. She hadn't noticed him until now and he looked as though he was going be very sick. But his voice came smoothly to her mind as she walked into place and readied herself. Helga Hufflepuff was known to read the minds of those she dueled with ease. Rowle is a more of brute strength kind of dueler. He should be easy to win over.

Any spells he is weak against?

Those that throw him across the room. Be silent in your casting. He is quick to counter.

"Begin." Came the whispered command.

Rowle screamed out, "Incendio!" A shot of hot fire twirled at Mary.

She rolled easily out of the way and waved her wand. A bright blue stream of light lit up the room and the faces of the Death Eaters. At first, everyone thought she missed when the spell wove around Rowle. He smirked just before the spell turned back and slammed into his back. There was a sickening snap as his back broke. She strode up to him, unstopped by anyone and healed him before throwing him against the ceiling, wordlessly.

He yelled out in pain as each of his ribs broke.

"Enough." Voldemort whispered. She gently set him back down on the ground and kneeled.

"You have not proven much." He said.

Severus could have jumped with the sudden look of mischief in his wife's eyes. She pointed her wand at the moaning Rowle and a bright red light grabbed his wand and twisted in the air as she bent the spell around the room. Wands that were in pockets, holsters or hands were ripped from their owners and when she had completed a single round around the room, she set the wands neatly at Voldemort's feet. He raised his eyebrow and looked at Severus for a moment before facing forward again.

"You say that your wand has healing powers. Heal Thorfinn." He demanded softly, not really looking back at her.

She muttered, "Sanopleneos."

Rowle's crushed ribs pushed back out one by one as each mended. He howled in pain but soon he was sitting up, looking fearfully at Mary and Voldemort.

"Forgive me if I have gone too far or not far enough. If it be your wish, I will duel another." She said with a bow.

He thought a moment. "Severus… I am sure you can bring out the best in her."

"Yes, my Lord." He removed his cloak and strode up to Mary, blank faced, as Rowle scampered to the sidelines. I don't want to hurt you, Mary. I haven't seen you in so long.

Does he know of the children? Mary's face looked a slight bit nervous as they did the proper introductions and walked into position.

I do not know. He raised his wand.

Who is going to win, Severus?

Let's see how we do first.

"Begin."

Almost immediately, the room was set ablaze with spells. The duelers often reached impasses but found ways to bend around them. All the while, they muttered apologies to each other with each cast spell. They twisted and almost danced around and around until Severus thought,

Impasse. Now. "Expelliarmus!"

"Desino Pugnacitus!"

The spells met in an explosion that shook the Malfoy Manor to the very foundation. The glinting golden dis-arming spell blended and melted with the brilliant silver spell in a great heat. Voldemort stood.

"Enough." He said with a proud smile on his face. Mary broke the spell off at the same time as Snape and both bowed. Voldemort beckoned them to him. "Give me your wand." He held his hand out to Mary. She put her wand, unwillingly into his hand, careful not to put the emotion of reluctance in her eyes. "I have found you worthy to join us, Ballari. However, your six year disappearance to America leave much in question."

"If it is your will, shall I explain my actions?" Mary gave another bow.

"You may."

"I was in America seeking shelter from a man by the name of Andrews. He had tried accosting me several times while in school and after our school years. I was under the Apprenticeship of your servant, Severus Snape, when I fled to America, finally weary of Andrews petty attempts to rectify his mockery."

"Rumor was that there were three children with you."

"It was an illusion against attackers."

"And the American Aurors?"

"I gained the trust of the American Ministry of Magic and a Witch by the name of Pardonly. I had claimed to them that I was running to America for protection; forgive me, from you, should you rise to power. They believed me and thus sent protection against your servants. They did not know that they were being fooled."

"And your plea?"

"To join you in your conquest for the new world order. It will be my vow to serve you and your servants in all ways." Her bow deepened. "I would give up all for your new world and for you, my lord."

Voldemort nodded and turned to Severus. "Does she pass your regulations?"

"My regulations are those you set for all to strive for. If she is competent to your high standards, then she is fit for the tasks that you may give her." Snape said rather stiffly with a small nod.

"Very well. Rise. Welcome to my family, Ballari. Present your arm."

She did so, all the while listening to Severus' panicking thoughts. No, Mary. Please don't. Not like me.

Before an overwhelming pain took her, her thoughts whispered back,

Where is Severus? Where is my son?

Severus watched in blank horror as a skull began to mar his wife's quivering right arm. A snake began to slither from the tip of her middle finger and into the eye of the skull. It dropped out of the jaw in an intricate knot and stopped moving. Mary's face had small beads of sweat dotting it and she looked very ill. She swayed and tried to keep her feet as best she could but crumbled to the ground.

"Do you regret now?"

"With pain, comes war. With war, comes sacrifice. With sacrifice, comes hope. With hope, comes a new world. No, I do not regret my choice." Mary said as solidly as she could.

"Severus, take her back to Hogwarts and see that she is made useful there. I expect many things from you, Ballari. And should you fail, Crucio!"

A mind-numbing pain, like thousands upon thousands of hot knives, raged in Mary's body for several moments before it was gone. Her wand was dropped unceremoniously in front of her as Voldemort disbanded his knights with a casual wave. Severus, with a forced sneer, pulled her up and grabbed her wand. He led her to the Malfoy fireplace where a familiar blond stood with wide eyes.

"Draco?"

"Ballari? Wh-why did you come back? Where did you go?"

"If you heard nothing, she was in America." Snape said wearily. All he wanted was to get her back into the safety of his chambers for a very long night. "If you will excuse us."

He took a handful of green powder and escorted Mary in. "My office!" Green fire took them.

Before the green flames faded, Severus had pulled Mary into an embrace. The world seemed to have stopped spinning and the late Headmasters smiled at them. Save a few who were sleeping. Before too long, Severus kissed her gently on her neck. He kissed trails from her ear to her shoulder.

"Where is Severus?" She said pulling away.

For a moment, Severus looked torn but smiled encouragingly. "He's at Viking Hill. Along with his sisters. I met your father. He was a painting but I met him nonetheless. Was Viking Hill really the place you were born?"

She frowned. "I don't know. All I know is that I became blind shortly after my mother tried to run from Voldemort's advances. I don't know what happened to my father."

He nodded. "Do you wish to join them?"

"Severus!" She looked suddenly very terrified. Her eyes widened and her breathing became suddenly very erratic. It was a trance. She fell to the floor as she held her head, heaving in pain. Soon she lay still, flat on her back and staring wide-eyed and in horror up at the ceiling.

"The first snow was settling down on the forest floor. What were once three was now two and those who remain wandered missing the third, secretly. Privately. They are searching for many things yet all the same. A burden of sorrow is theirs until its eventual destruction. A boy who had lived is doomed to die before the end. All that once was good is faded. The heart has crumbled with years and soon, there will be nothing left, save a way be found to escape." She muttered in a low whisper. Severus had called Poppy to his office and had listened to her with a growing fear. He leapt at the door when a knock came.

"Yes, Headmaster?" Pomfrey looked fearfully at him but then it turned into concern when he saw his frantic expression.

"Step inside." He offered.

She stepped in and saw Mary sprawled out on the floor, muttering something under breath.

"When did she-"

"Hush. You are the only person to know of her return. Not even Minerva knows. Just you and me. Where are the Carrows?"

"They are reaping havoc in the Astronomy tower. Why is Mary here? I thought she had left?"

"She was gone but the Death Eaters found her and nearly the children. Poppy, she, to save her life and mine, she became a Death Eater. I will be the first to say, she will not fight you or anyone of the Order. Is that understood?"

"Yes."

"Any questions?"

"Does she still love you?"

He sighed. "I think that she needs a full night's sleep before that could be decided. Now go, please."

Poppy barely made down the stairs when the Carrows, pulling between them another unfortunate student, marched up to the Headmaster's office. She waited until the door slammed before she huffed indignantly back to the Hospital wing and its many occupants.