Chapter 7: The Surprise
Sarah was tossing clothes into her small black and white damask printed overnight bag when she heard a knock on her bedroom door.
"Come in," she said, opening another drawer.
"Sarah," Snape's face was grave, "I received your message that you wanted to see me," he said as he stood at her door.
She turned towards him, allowing her emotions to be raw for a minute, "Dad, why would he do this?" she asked, incredulously. Her voice caught and tears formed in her eyes. Feeling herself unraveling, she took a deep, soothing breath and managed to wipe the emotions from her face.
Snape sighed. He had taught her to do just that...to wipe away her emotions when she felt herself becoming vulnerable...but still he never truly wanted her to do that with him. He walked over to where she was standing in the middle of room, a pink jumper in her hands.
He removed the jumper, tugging it out of her hands to fold it and then walk over and place it in her bag. "We need to magically expand this if you will be there a few days. And you are right to pack sweaters…his manor will be drafty this time of year, especially since it has remained unused for months." He swiped his wand and then placed the jumper in the bag.
He moved the bag out of the way and sat on her bed and then patted the spot next to him, "Come sit and we will talk, Sarah," he said, his voice steady.
She immediately moved beside him to sit on the bed. "Why did he do this?" she repeated her question.
"I tend to subscribe to Robards' view of the matter…he is trying to goad you from the grave."
"But why would he care?"
Snape paused for a few moments, "I believe his obsession with you ran deeper than we first thought. It's why Bellatrix made it her personal mission to destroy you. She saw the affection there and was threatened by it."
"Why?"
"I know the reasons why you were targeted by him…your blood lines being foremost, wanting to get at Potter through you, but also I think he was drawn to you, personally for whatever reason…you spent so many nights with him...in his company," Snape cleared his throat at the way that sounded, "I think it was because you intrigued him."
"Him willing the manor and his money to me makes it seem like we actually had a relationship."
"I think," Snape said, steadily, "that was his point...to send you a message that though your relationship never reached a physical level, there was still a connection there."
"A connection? she frowned and absently began to chew on her thumb and then she dropped it to her side, "He hated when I did that."
"Ah, yes, nervous habits show your weakness," Snape said, with a nod. "But he isn't here, Sarah Grace. You can be free to be whoever you need or want to be now."
"I know that," Sarah dismissed.
"Do you truly?" Snape turned her head towards him and looked her in the eyes.
"Of course," she said with a nod, "and I think he is making too much over our connection."
"It's okay to admit that he duped you, Sarah Grace," Snape said, gently, "you can admit that to me."
"I hardly think it was that bad," Sarah grunted, "perhaps, I was conflicted at times."
"Of course you were. He was...well, tamer with you...than with others. And he sought to understand you, which I think drew you to him...in moments of weakness...which we all have."
Sarah was silent for a few moments, "Dad, no offense, but I can't really talk about him in this way. Not when I have a job to do. I need you to prepare me for this," Sarah turned towards him, "what do I need to know?"
"They'll be charms for sure," Snape said, "safeguards in place. You'll need to figure out a way to bypass them. Assume nothing."
"Okay," Sarah let out her breath, "this could be challenging."
"Which is why I am so surprised the aurors sent you and Potter to do this mission," Severus raised his eyebrows.
"I have to go…I'm the way in," Sarah said.
"I realize that, but you could have just allowed the others to enter, not done the entire mission on your own," Severus countered.
"I'll be fine, Dad," Sarah responded, trying to sound confident.
"I'm sure," Snape replied, trying to sound confident as well, "but I worry about you, Sarah Grace. I am your father."
She leaned over to kiss his cheek, "I'm sorry this is a christmas away from home."
"We'll celebrate when you return," Snape reassured her, "we'll do it up right…a tree, decorations and everything."
"I'd like that," Sarah said, quietly, "a lot."
He put his arm around her, "and I as well." He made no move to drop his arm and she rested her head, wearily against him. "I would say there are several rooms worth checking. His bedroom, Bellatrix's room, the library, his personal study. Those would probably have the materials you are interested in."
"I really could do without these constant reminders of him," Sarah said, quietly, "the moment I feel like I can move on, he blindsides me again, Dad."
"I know, little girl," Snape said, reaching up to clasp the side of her head with his hand, rubbing it gently, "but you must wrap her head around the fact that he no longer has a hold over you. Remember that when you are there."
"I wish you could come with me," Sarah admitted, "I really do."
"As do I," Snape said, "but you don't need me to. You can do this. Harry will be there."
Sarah sighed heavily, "I should finish packing."
Snape eased her off the bed, "I'll help you."
"Thanks, Dad," Sarah said, as she reached for another shirt, "for everything."
"Anytime, Sarah Grace," Snape said, easily.
Sarah stood at the entrance to Voldemort's manor, her wand in hand. She could feel the magic surrounding the place, the charms crackling and preventing them entrance.
"Now what?" Harry studied the blue light emitted ahead of them. "Robards said there were instructions in the will, but I found them rather cryptic."
"They were," Sarah nodded, "but it did say that I would be permitted entrance."
"What are you going to do?"
"We need to know what we are facing," Sarah said as she took a tentative step forward but a wall of water rushed towards them as she made contact with the charms, "Oh Merlin," Sarah grunted as she and Harry rushed back and the water trickled off.
"Water?" Sarah turned to Harry, incredulously, "he was more into fire, than water."
An envelope popped in front of her and Sarah snatched it out of the air yet she made no move to open it.
"Go on and open it," Harry encouraged and Sarah tore open the envelope and pulled out the parchment.
She quickly scanned it, then groaned and gave it to Harry.
Harry read it aloud,
Dearest One,
If you are reading this, then I have failed. It seems impossible, does it not? That a mere boy could truly be my undoing. But apparently, I miscalculated things. But not this. If you are here, than you became an auror. How did I know that you would become an auror? It's simple. I know you. I understand you. More than any one else does…"
Harry turned towards her, "he's daft."
"Yeah," she agreed, "Snape totally gets me better than him."
Harry paused and frowned, "I'd like to think some of your mates know you better than him as well."
"You do," Sarah reassured him, "Of course you do. I didn't mean it like that. Go on."
To gain entrance, all you have to do is remember what I taught you that one night at Snape Manor. Do not disappoint me now.
LV
Harry crumpled up the parchment. "What do you think he means?"
Sarah gripped her wand more tightly, "I know exactly what he means. You need to back up now, Harry. But when the charm breaks, you need to be ready to come through with me."
"Got it," Harry replied.
He did as she said and she stepped forward to make contact with the charms, but when the wall of water hit, she swiped her wand, wielding her power to match the water with a wall of dark fire, them meeting and swirling into the air…she felt it pushing her back but she stood her ground and the fire was too strong for the water…and then it was over…"Hurry Harry," she said as the fire as well as the water disappeared. Harry stepped across the charms with her.
"So, we best not put that in the report," Harry said.
"I did what I had to do," Sarah countered, "they want this information, don't they?"
"Maybe that was his plan to get you sacked for using dark magic," Harry suggested.
Sarah shrugged, "I don't think so."
They climbed the steps to the door. She reached for the handle, but it was locked.
She turned, "The will didn't mention anything about a key."
"A question for you, dear one," the door began to talk, and it was Voldemort's voice.
"Oh for Merlin's sake," Sarah squeaked when she heard his voice again, her heart hammering. She forced herself to remember that he was dead and this was just a charm.
"When did you say you care about my best interest?"
Her mind was immediately drawn to the conversation they had so long ago. He had asked her that same question and she answered it honestly.
"When it coincides with my own," she said, confidently.
Where were you when you discovered your baby move?
"With you, my Lord," Sarah supplied.
Harry looked over at her, surprised.
"Sorry," Sarah cringed at her address error, "it's a habit…and a bad one at that."
The door clicked open and Sarah walked through with Harry. She turned around and raised her wand, putting up additional charms for safety.
"Those will give us warning if somehow others can get through," she said, taking a breath, looking around.
"You have been here before, yes?"
"I was so scared, Harry, I didn't take in my surroundings well," Sarah told him. "Snape said there is a private study in addition to a library. That might be a good place to look and of course, his bedroom and Bella's room."
"Let's start upstairs then," Harry said and started up the stairs, his wand extended.
Sarah turned around, her wand lit, checking out her surroundings before following him up the massive amounts of stairs onto the landing. She again looked over his shoulder as Harry took tentative steps down the hallway, not sure what he would find. He pushed opened a door, "Guest room," he said. He continued down the hall until he stopped, "I think this is it…that is, I remember seeing this in my dreams."
He went in and turned on the lights. Sarah's eyes adjusted to the light and she stood in the middle of Voldemort's room. A large bed filled the room and rich colors of blue, greens and dark woods filled the room. There was a desk on one side, a closet on the other. A nightstand, a lamp. She walked over to the nightstand and reached for the top book in the stack. It was a potions journal, much like the one Snape subscribed too. She put it down and turned her head to where Harry had gone to the closet, turning on the light and she could see the familiar articles of clothing that she was so used to him wearing.
Harry motioned to the lavatory and Sarah turned on the light of the large lavatory, checking to make sure nobody was there. His toothpaste was still sitting on the counter where he had left it last.
And standing there in Voldemort's room, the same room she knew that if Harry had lost, she would have been forced to submit to Voldemort as a lover, she was suddenly confronted by his humanity. And that feeling was overwhelming.
"Sarah," Harry came up beside her, "What is it?"
"I…I need a minute," she said, quietly. "It's cold in here. I'm going to see if I can find a thermostat in the hallway. The ministry said the utilities never were disconnected, yes?"
Harry nodded.
"Okay, then, I'll be back."
She went into the hallway and clicked the door closed. She shined her wand down the hallway before she heard the the tell tale crack of apparition. Her wand immediately came forward as she prepared for the worst, but it was only a house elf.
"Are you mistress Sarah?" the house elf asked.
"I'm Sarah," Sarah tried to keep her voice calm, but still it shook from the surprise the house elf gave her, "What's your name?"
"Tom," the house elf responded, solemnly.
"Tom?!" Sarah squeaked, aghast, "no way."
"Yes, master thought his muggle name suited the lowest of us creatures, so he named me Tom, that's because I'm head of the house elves here."
"Alright," Sarah said, shaking her head slowly in disbelief. "What are the others named?"
"There's Albus and Andromeda but that one Mistress Bellatrix named…" his eyes grew wide at the name of Bellatrix.
"Did he name them after members of the Order?" Sarah asked, quietly.
"Yes," Tom nodded, solemnly, "because they are the lowest of all the wizards."
"I see," Sarah said in a clipped voice. "Any named after me?"
Tom shook his head, swiftly, "No, of course not, mistress. Master often spoke of your great beauty and your skill."
"My great beauty?" Sarah asked, her voice shaky.
"Yes, ma'am, but never in front of Mistress Bellatrix, no, the master was not foolish," Tom replied.
"Is everyone of you alright?" Sarah asked, kindly. "It's been months on your own."
Tom nodded, "We can take care of ourselves, but now that you are here, we are supposed to take care of you."
"That's not necessary," Sarah said, quickly.
"But it is, Mistress. Master would have insisted," Tom said.
"Okay, Tom," Sarah said, knowing how futile it would be to argue with a house elf over their duties, "Would you help me figure out where the thermostat is. It's chilly in here."
"If we knew you were coming, we would have prepared," Tom said, reaching to slap himself, but Sarah held up her hand.
"It was my fault,I should have alerted you," Sarah said.
Tom walked down a few steps and flipped up the thermostat, "I can tell Minerva to start fires in the rooms. Would you like to stay in Mistress Bella's room?"
"No," Sarah shook her head, "The guest room is fine."
"I will tell them, but Master insisted if you ever came here, that I was to show you this… Come with me, Mistress."
Sarah turned around to look back at where Harry had stood at the doorway, hearing this conversation. "Tom, this is my friend, Harry."
"Ah, Master also said if he was dead, you would bring him here," Tom did not look pleased, "No matter. He can come too."
Sarah stepped down the stairs, following the house-elf and almost tripped, but Tom reached out his hand to steady her, "Watch your step, Mistress."
"Um, thank you, Tom," She paused, glancing at Harry, "Tom, how did the master treat you?"
"As good as can be expected considering what we were," Tom answered, his voice short.
"Was he cruel?" Sarah asked, quietly.
"At times, but at times he was kind. He always healed," Tom said, "Don't you know?"
She nodded, "I know," she said, simply.
"Here first," Tom pushed open a room adjacent to the library. He flicked on the light and Sarah's eyes adjusted again.
She inhaled sharply, "What is this?"
"It was to be his gift to you when he took you as his mistress. Said you would need it."
Sarah looked around the small room, outfitted with counter space and burners, cauldrons, and other supplies neatly organized. "It's a potions lab," she said, quietly.
Harry stepped up to put his arm around her waist, "he's getting into your head again,Sarah," he said, his voice firm, "He doesn't have power over you. Not anymore."
Sarah felt like she had been punched in her stomach, "Tom," she turned to the house-elf, "can you get me some water? please?"
"Right away, mistress," he popped away.
Sarah turned to Harry, "Why…if he was so evil…and we know that he was…why would he bother with this…for me?"
"Sarah," Harry's face was pained, "it was only to manipulate you."
"He had toothpaste on his lavatory counter. He had tissues next to his bed. He had potions journals that he was reading. And he made me this…" Sarah's voice was strained, "I was conflicted about him with the way he was treating me."
"He abused you, Sarah," Harry's voice rose, "he tried to kill Snape. He killed me for all purposes."
"I know," Sarah coughed, "I know, okay? I do know. But there were times, Harry, when that note…what he said in the note was true. He did understand me. And he was so bloody brilliant."
"Look," Harry gripped her arm, "Listen to me. So what if he made you this potions lab? He still would have forced you to have sex with him. He would have raped you time and time again until you had his bloody child, Sarah."
"I know that," Sarah sniffled. "And every portion me hated that thought. It's just so much easier to think of him as this evil incarnate instead of…well, human...and when I started to see his...humanity is when I got so confused."
Harry opened his mouth again, but Tom appeared with a glass of water, which Sarah gratefully took and drank slowly.
"Thank you," Sarah said.
"Are you ready, Mistress Sarah?" Tom asked.
"For what?"
"Master has another surprise for you," Tom said, ushering her out of the room, Harry following behind. Tom pushed opened the door to Voldemort's study, where a fire roared in the fireplace.
"Do you like it?"
Sarah squealed, jumping in surprise. "Oh for Merlin's sake, seriously?" she gasped, "What the hell?"
"Now, now, as an auror I would expect you to be more steady on your feet," Voldemort looked out at her from his portrait, disapprovingly, "But I do suppose they will take anyone these days."
Sarah didn't respond, only stand there stiffly, her wand in her hand. Harry's stood behind her, his mouth agape.
"Tom informs me it is Christmas. Do you like your surprise, Sarah Grace?" Voldemort continued. "I couldn't leave this world…you especially…not entirely…not without leaving my imprint."
Sarah swallowed hard, "You already left your imprint! You didn't have to do this!" she gestured around, "Snape didn't mention anything about a portrait."
"Now, dearest, you know how these portraits work. Snape wouldn't have known that I had it commissioned…on a whim…when I returned," he looked at him with destain, "a wise maneuver consider this one was destroying my horcruxes. I also created magic…rare magic that would insert my memory into here upon my death, so I would be able to speak to you intimately, my dear."
She ignored that last part, "So this was a contingency plan?"
"Of sorts," Voldemort nodded, "I still must have my influence on you."
"Well, I have news for you," Sarah said, angrily, "I have come on a mission…to gather enough evidence to hunt down the rest of your followers. All of this is over! Done!"
"You need me," Voldemort said, his voice even.
"I don't need you," Sarah said, vehemently.
"I have information. You need my mind," Voldemort said. "I preserved my mind for you."
"The ministry can take you, then because I don't need you," Sarah retorted. "I will never come back here after I'm done."
"You won't give me to the ministry," Voldemort said, his voice low.
"Yes, we will," Harry finally found his voice.
"No, Potter, you will not," Voldemort responded, "because then I tell the ministry what this little one is capable of…the missions she went on…the house elves she tortured at my command…and how night after night, she would willingly sit with me. She quite craved my company. It would destroy her reputation that I'm sure she has now…how does the wizarding community view her? a victim? a hero perhaps?"
"She didn't go on missions…not willingly."
Voldemort shrugged, "I just have to plant doubt. I already know how this has played out…they keep questioning her, don't they, Potter? They already think she and I had an inappropriate relationship, though she denies it. I just have to plant enough doubt, insinuation, and she is in Azkaban."
Sarah cleared her throat, "He's staying here, Harry," she said, adamantly.
"Sarah," Harry was incredulous.
"I'm not giving him the satisfaction or the attention that he so craves from beyond the grave," Sarah said, "and he does know things that can be dangerous not just for me, but for Snape and Draco. Moreover, it doesn't matter because I will never come here again, so I am afraid you are in for lonely days."
Sarah strolled over to Voldemort's desk and sat down. She began to sort through the papers.
Harry looked at her, questioning, but she looked up to meet her eyes, "Can you search the library? I'll sort through things here."
"I'm not sure I should leave you alone with him," Harry said, frowning at the portrait.
Sarah waved her hand at him, dismissively. "He's harmless. What can he do?"
Harry gave her a long look, but then left them alone. Sarah pulled open the middle desk drawer.
"If you could tell me what you are looking for, then perhaps, I could help you," Voldemort said.
"I don't need your help," she retorted, "And I don't quite know what I'm looking for."
She pulled out a stack of papers and began to sort through them, frowning.
"Mrs. Malfoy," Voldemort's voice was low, "You look perturbed."
"This is all nonsense," she admitted.
"It is charmed to be so," Voldemort countered.
"I'm sure the aurors can sort through your charms later," Sarah retorted.
"Or I could tell you," he offered.
She planted her hands on his desk and turned around. "And why would you do that? You have lost the war, but I assume you still believe in the cause…or at least your mind does."
"I want to help you," Voldemort said.
"Just stop," she held up her hand, "you are not a part of my life anymore. You don't have an influence."
"Mrs. Malfoy," he growled at her.
"I'm not Mrs. Malfoy anymore," Sarah shot back, "so stop calling me that."
He raised an eyebrow, "I see this is a sensitive topic. Would you like to talk?"
"Not really."
"Then," Voldemort folded his hands, "let me guess. Let's see. You lost the Malfoy heir and Lucius and Narcissa pressured Draco into divorcing you…and since Draco doesn't have a spine, he did so…is that close?"
She grunted, "yeah, pretty much, I guess."
"He's never been good enough for you," Voldemort retorted, adamantly, "I never did understand what you saw in him. You need a man, Sarah, not a boy."
"I'm over it," she said, dismissively.
"Are you truly?" Voldemort narrowed his eyes. "Are you over me too?"
She paused and then looked into the portrait's eyes, "I was until you decided to make me your heir. Why would you do that?"
"I told you I would have the last word," Voldemort said.
"I need to go find Harry," she said, with a grunt.
"Too much for you…too soon," Voldemort said, knowingly.
"No," she countered, her eyes heated.
"Perhaps, you need some rest. It is getting late. You can sleep in my bed if you'd like," he said, "it's where you always belonged."
"I'm sending Harry in to deal with you,"she said, exasperated, her hand on her hip.
"How is he going to deal with me?" Voldemort laughed.
"I don't know if you remember this but Harry and I have lots of practice with annoying, combative portraits…my grandmother Black for instance?"
He laughed, "I'll see you soon, dear one."
She walked away without another word.
"Everything is encrypted," Harry said the next morning at breakfast. The house elves had made them a delicious breakfast or eggs, bacon and toast. Tom seemed truly pleased that the house was bustling again…even if it was just Harry and herself.
"The ministry can sort it out. Our assignment was simply to gather the relevant files. We still have so much more to do," she sighed.
"Still, if he is willing to tell us…"
"He may only be a portrait, but he can still harm us. He knows too much. The ministry doesn't have all of Snape's secrets, Harry. I need Snape."
"Okay," Harry said, slowly, "So we don't tell them about the portrait?"
"Exactly," Sarah nodded, "there are charms all over the manor to keep intruders out. And frankly, I can charm his portrait so I can only access it, which I won't do…ever again."
"You seem upset by this," Harry said, quietly. "being here…it's upending you."
"if we had lost, I would have been here far more," Sarah said, tapping her fingers on the table, absently, "It's that knowledge and also, he emotionally and mentally, well, there are issues…"
"What kind of issues?" Harry asked, quietly, wiping his mouth with a napkin and placing it aside.
"I told you at Shell Cottage…he was getting to me," Sarah responded, "and I will have to live with that knowledge for the rest of my life."
"I don't follow," Harry said, confused.
"As much as I tried to deny him, I let him in…emotionally. And he knows that…this is what this is all about," she said, quietly.
Harry reached over to take her hand, "He manipulated you, Sarah, for that to happen."
"Yes, I do know that, but still I allowed it to happen," She said, "we can't give the ministry the portrait…he's right even the implication of a deeper relationship between me and him would be enough to ruin my life."
"So we stay nothing," Harry said, quietly.
"We say nothing," Sarah confirmed. But they both wondered if this was truly the best choice for them. They were quiet for a few minutes, "I'm sorry if this puts you in a bad position," she offered.
He waved her off, "You made a lot of sacrifices for me throughout the years. I can make this one for you."
She nodded her acceptance. "Happy Christmas by the way."
He squeezed her hand, "Happy Christmas, Paddy."
She finished her orange juice, swallowing the rest in a gulp, "Let's go, Harry. The sooner we can sort through all these things, the sooner I can get home to Snape and have a real Christmas. The less time spent here the better in my opinion."
"You go on," Harry said, "I'll finish my coffee and then join you. We'll come up with a strategy for our hunt."
"Great," she smiled at him and left the room. But after she left, Harry sat there for a while, deep in thought, worried about his friend.
