Daddy Dearest Part 7

Severus folded his arms and watched his son walk over from the bedroom door and stand in front of his desk, looking at the floor, presumably so Severus wouldn't see him thinking. The Potions Master knew that whatever the story was, it had to be good.

"I'm waiting," Severus said imperiously.

Mathias sighed. There was nothing for it. He had to tell his father the truth. He looked up at his father.

"Well, dad, it's like this, dad…" he said.

Mathias had taken to calling Severus 'dad' quite a bit when he realized his father didn't mind it when they were alone. He hadn't done it in front of his mother yet. The little wizard hoped addressing the Potions Master as dad this time would prompt Severus to be in a more forgiving, familial state of mind. But Severus was always pretty much one way. Snarky. That never changed.

Mathias began to tell Severus what led up to Sybil performing the ritual…how she targeted Andreas and how Andreas had dolls and used the Old Arts to make the witch stop targeting him unfairly. Then he confessed how he helped out, and was the one who thought of giving her a monthly ritual to do.

"So you were the one who told her to cover herself in dragon dung and cut garlic, then dance around a bonfire on the night of a full moon, chanting both your and Andreas' name?" he asked Mathias scowling fiercely.

"Yes, sir," Mathias said.

Severus stared at him.

"Go to your room, Mathias. Tomorrow I will tell you what your punishment will be," the Potions Master said in a strained voice. "Do not come out for any reason until morning."

Mathias nodded and walked back to his father's room to use the loo and drink some water out of the spigot, then obediently went to bed, relieved his father hadn't whipped him. Severus looked like the type who would beat a child…and actually he was. But there were other ways to punish a child, which were a lot worse than a whipping that would wear off in a couple of hours.

The moment Mathias closed his door, Severus bolted for his bedroom, closed the door and put up a silencing charm. Then he broke down into fits of uncontrollable laughter, the rich sound of it filling his bedroom as he dropped to his bed, holding both his forehead and his stomach, then just plain rolled over into his bed. He had never heard anything so hilarious in all his life. His son and Andreas had pulled off quite a prank. Even the antics of the Weasley twins didn't match this.

He could imagine an inebriated Sybil falling for "the spirit of Mbutu" line. She wasn't a very bright witch, but would do almost anything for recognition of her dubious "gifts." Even harass a twelve-year-old boy about his powers…which Severus found rather despicable.

The Potions Master was no angel when it came to his students. He had a track record of causing at least two students a week to collapse in tears because of his brutally honest comments about their work or his appraisal of their mental capabilities. But he would never covet anything a student possessed, or make his or her life miserable because of it.

Sybil had actually brought this on herself when she used her position of authority to try and force information out of Andreas he was not required to give…and in fact could not give because the boy's powers were inherent. Well, at least the Potions Master understood now why Andreas was in Slytherin house. He was a vindictive little bugger.

Andreas was one of his less dunderheaded students, and did quite well in Potions. The Potions Master couldn't remember a single time he had to chastise or dress the boy down. He knew how to conduct himself suitably in the presence of authority. Sybil had overstepped her bounds as a teacher, and personally Severus thought she got what she deserved.

Those two young wizards were brilliant. And the fact that this happened several months ago and the witch still hadn't figured it out was a testament to the fact how dull-witted Sybil Trelawney truly was. Severus had no intention of telling her she was the victim of a prank by two of his Slytherins. She would misconstrue his interest like she always did, thinking he was concerned for her welfare and carried a secret torch for her.

Severus shuddered as he remembered her nude body. Even without the dragon dung, he would have been repulsed. The Potions Master liked meat on his women. If he shagged Sybil, he would probably do himself irreparable damage on all those sharp bones. He shuddered again.

Let the dragonfly lady find out for herself.

As much as the boys' prank tickled him, Severus knew there had to be some punishment for the act, so he didn't give Mathias the message he approved of what they did, though the gods knew he thought the witch deserved it. Some hard work shoveling shit in the Thestral stables for the rest of the week should give Mathias time to think about his actions.

Severus smirked.

He was sure his son would still think their prank had been worth it.

The wizard sat on the edge of his bed for a moment, then collapsed into helpless laughter again.

Mathias and Andreas were devils. Little Slytherin devils who would probably go far.

The next term started, and Andreas never did pay for his part in the prank on Trelawney. His brother had paid the price for getting caught. And when Sybil's year was up and she didn't receive the powers, she thought she had somehow fallen out of favor with the spirits. She never did figure out it was a prank. If she was angry about the spirits' abandonment, there was nothing she could do. Andreas was beyond her now. He didn't take her advanced course. Mathias never took Divination either.

What he did do, however was raid Hermione's spell library and located quite a few protective and dark spells. He and Andreas practiced them all year until they became quite proficient. They also began practicing dueling, the Room of Requirement providing different scenarios. They were very good, as Gryffindor house found out.

James had ceased targeting Mathias as much as he did after having a heart to heart with his father, but there was still house rivalry that required altercations between Slytherin and Gryffindor. It seemed impossible to sneak attack either Mathias or Andreas. The two wizards seemed to have an uncanny ability to tell when Gryffindors with bad intentions were about. And their hexes were nasty, usually involving extra appendages. The two always worked in tangent as a team. The Gryffindors soon learned it was safer to target other Slytherins.

Jasmine Malfoy continued to hang out with them, and they taught her a few of the lesser spells just to shut her up. But she was proficient with the spells they taught her, and many a Gryffindor found their way to the infirmary with donkey ears, elephant trunks and large fluffy tails. She also continued as the secretary for the Young DKV, though she rarely discussed it with Mathias. He was interested, but he didn't agree with everything she believed.

"We're all descended from muggles, Jasmine. There is no possible way your family line can exist without at least one muggle in it. And Voldemort himself is half-muggle," Mathias would say to her. "And all you purebloods follow him. Now, does that seem right to you?"

Jasmine would doggedly stick to the DKV line of purity, but inwardly she was quite a logical witch and much of what Mathias had to say disturbed her. She asked her father about Voldemort's lineage, and Draco danced around it nicely.

"He is a great wizard and great leader, Jasmine. He had brought us together. His parentage is unfortunate, but he has all the noble qualities of a Pureblood…the only Half-blood that has that distinction. He is showing us a better way, a more righteous way. That is why we follow him. He will help us regain our status and position in the wizarding world, a status and position that has been stolen from us unfairly. We are gaining it back because of him. Remember that and be grateful," the wizard had told her.

Jasmine didn't understand how Voldemort, a half-blood was any different than any other one. He should be considered tainted as the rest of the half-bloods were. She decided it was because he was so powerful that others followed him. Power attracted people and Voldemort knew how to use his. But still, the disparity disturbed her. If Voldemort as a half-blood could be accepted with the full respect of Purebloods, why couldn't others? Why couldn't muggle-borns? If you were going to be one way, be one way about everything.

Jasmine Malfoy was being raised to be a vapid, power-hungry titled vamp. A female predator. A manipulator who would eventually land a very rich husband and follow the Malfoy tradition of being the Lady of an expansive manor. Malfoy women didn't work. They were shallow eye-candy. Beautiful, resourceful, cunning eye-candy.

Jasmine's own mother, Eloise, was deemed too soft and submissive to be a true Malfoy woman. Draco had only married her to bear him children. It was an arranged, loveless marriage. Draco kept her traveling abroad so she didn't influence Jasmine too much. He much preferred his mother to make the proper impressions on his daughter. His wife wasn't very maternal anyway…just material. She loved traveling and was constantly gone. The wizard had a couple of mistresses who had his true affections, if Draco could be said to have true affections.

But Jasmine had a mind, and was quite influenced by Mathias, who saw being an aristocrat who did nothing but lay around having babies, giving servants orders, spending galleons and throwing parties as a waste of a life. He told her that her mind would be totally wasted and she might as well quit Hogwarts now. Graduating would mean nothing if she wasn't going to do anything meaningful with her life.

Mathias' estimation of her future bothered Jasmine. It was assumed she'd be happy with a life like that, not having to lift a finger to do anything. Jasmine couldn't remember the last time Narcissa cast a spell of any type. Her servants even did that for her.

So Jasmine Malfoy was beginning to feel a sense of discontent with a lot of things in her life, present and future. Like every adolescent, she was starting to pull away from the influence of her family and testing her own limits. She still reported everything to her father, but wondered what he did with the information. It seemed so trivial to want to know what students were talking bad about the DKV. They were only students after all

Draco asked a lot of questions about Mathias too, wanting to know if he were showing any special abilities or gifts. Jasmine told him that she thought Mathias and Andreas were probably the toughest wizards in Slytherin, though they weren't bullies. Draco drank this in. But for some reason, she didn't tell him how Mathias talked about the Dark Lord. She didn't want her father to know.

Jasmine really liked Mathias. She had to make him seem acceptable to her father at all costs.

It was in Mathias' fourth year that things began to go awry. Hermione had been passed over for Department Head, the job going instead to Ichabod Creely, the young wizard who had developed the fire transmutation spell.

It had been a real blow to the witch, and was approved by the council…led by Draco of course. Hermione knew she had been passed over because she was a muggle-born, though Ichabod was quite talented. Still he didn't have the knowledge or background she did. To add insult to injury, Hermione had to teach him the ropes.

Mathias and Andreas were growing up and were quite formidable. Other Slytherins tried to join their friendship, Andreas' color no longer an issue because he was deemed so powerful, but the two wizards took on no more friends besides Jasmine. They were joined in purpose after all. A change had come over Mathias too. Now he was as dark and brooding in demeanor as his father and students often parted when he walked through the corridor, Andreas by his side, his dark eyes solemn.

He had not yet manifested the ability to do magic via the Old Arts, though his other gifts had developed fine. He could read auras, sense danger, glimpse another's future and sometimes listen in on the thoughts of others. The young wizard was also an accomplished Occlumens and proficient in Legilimency, though he really didn't need to use that particular art. He had also developed another gift that even Andreas didn't have.

The wizards discovered this gift when they were dueling in the Room of Requirement, and Andreas blasted Mathias' wand out of his hand.

Grinning wickedly and pointing his wand at the wizard, Andreas said, "And now what will you do, brother?"

Mathias stared at him, preparing to be painfully hexed. The wizards didn't pull punches when they dueled and felt they needed to get used to pain so it wouldn't incapacitate them completely if they did get hit with a hex.

Suddenly Mathias felt himself shift and then he was looking at himself. His image looked dazed. He looked down to see a wand in his black hand and waved it a bit. Then he was back looking at Andreas, who dropped his wand.

"I felt you inside me," the wizard said in a low voice. "You took over my body, Mathias! You are a soul traveler. This is a great gift! Very rare. Very powerful."

"Very scary," Mathias said, feeling himself all over.

It took him several weeks to learn to do it consciously, but Mathias was only able to enter Andreas for a second or two before he went back to his body, returning just in time to keep from falling.

"I'm going to have to make sure I'm sitting down or propped up against a wall to use this power," Mathias said.

"You have to find a way to do it longer," Andreas said, his black eyes glittering. "This is very, very good, my brother. A soul traveler can enter a body at will and control it. You might be able to enter Voldemort."

Mathias shuddered at this.

"And do what? Make him kill himself? I would probably die too," Mathias said.

Andreas looked at him strangely.

"As long as I am alive, you will not die Mathias Snape," he said soberly.

Mathias gave him a small smile.

He wasn't sure that was true.

Mathias was very aware he had a despot to kill and this knowledge affected him. Like his mother, he matured quickly, feeling as if the future of the entire wizarding was resting on his shoulders. The young wizard seldom smiled or spoke much, but when he did he had the same silky inflection as his father. He was growing taller too, and let his hair grow long, refusing to let Hermione tell him how to wear it anymore at the end of his third year. It didn't have the lankness of Severus' hair…because Severus didn't take care of his as Mathias did. It was black and silky. The wizard was starting to attract witches as well. But he wasn't interested.

Jasmine was however, and her icy stare sent many witches hurrying away in the opposite direction when they gathered in little groups and made eyes at Mathias as he passed. The three of them were known as "The Dark Trio," a name dubbed them surprisingly by Dumbledore. They reminded him somewhat of Harry, Ron and Hermione in their closeness. But he had no illusions that this group was golden. He knew they were Slytherins through and through. No Gryffindor leanings here.

Mathias threw himself into excelling at whatever he put his hand to. He was a very talented brewer and Severus often let him make elixirs even seventh years weren't allowed to handle. It was because the boy was as meticulous as his father, and like his mother had an almost photographic memory when it came to facts. He rarely made mistakes, his hands as steady and sure as his father's as he chopped and mashed and stirred. Severus would watch him work with pride. Mathias would be an exemplary Potions Master one day, if that was what he chose to pursue. His spell work was equally developed. Neither Severus nor Hermione knew that both Andreas and Mathias could cast Unforgivables.

Mathias came home for the summer at the end of his third year…and Andreas came with him. While Hermione was at work, the boys used her lab…which was shielded from the Ministry due to the nature of her work. She sometimes did experiments with Unforgivables and needed to be able to work without Aurors appearing every time she cast a spell.

Both Mathias and Andreas were able to cast the Killing Curse quickly, because they had a very deep hatred of Voldemort and only needed to think of him for the power to emerge. They had to work on the Crucio curse quite a bit, because you had to want to cause pain and neither wizard was cruel by nature. The wizards had to use nifflers and at first it was difficult to torture and kill them…but there was a higher purpose to what they were doing and they soon were able to handle it without remorse. They were hardened.

Towards the end of his fourth year, Severus called Mathias into his office. The teenager came in and sat down quietly. Severus studied him. Gods, the resemblance was amazing.

"Mathias, you are going to need your Occlumency skills. We have been invited to a gathering being held at Malfoy Manor this weekend. You are to be presented to the Dark Lord and evaluated for suitability," the Potions Master said. "I assume there is no need to tell you how important this is."

Mathias shook his head, his dark eyes glittering.

"No sir. I understand," he said in his soft voice. "Is that all sir?"

Severus nodded.

Mathias stood and left his office, his robes billowing slightly as he did so.

Severus shook his head. The boy was so much like him. He had become so dark and somber. There was a dangerous feel to him.

The Potions Master hoped Mathias could pass the Dark Lord's evaluation.

If he couldn't, most likely neither of them would live to see another term at Hogwarts.

When Severus told Hermione that Mathias was to go before the Dark Lord for an evaluation, she was totally against it.

"You want me to tell the Dark Lord no?" Severus asked her as Hermione glowered at him.

She was sitting up in bed naked, her arms folded across her breasts looking down at the Potions Master who was lying on his back, his arms folded behind his head and looking quite sated.

"Yes!" Hermione replied angrily.

She was mad for two reasons. The first was that he'd accepted the invitation without consulting her, and the second was that Severus had sex with her before he told her about it. The Potions Master knew it was a distinct possibility Hermione wouldn't have been cooperative if he had told her first. So he did what any Slytherin would do. Got his first.

Hermione and Severus had been lovers for over three years now and had fallen into a comfortable understanding, punctuated with huge arguments and incredible make-up sex. Hermione was not a shy, retiring witch and challenged him anytime he acted like a caveman, which was quite often. She would not allow him to tell her what to do.

"I'm not your student anymore," she would say to him, "I am a grown witch and been making my own decisions long before you took over my bed."

Of course, Severus rode Hermione until she left an indentation in the mattress after these little bouts of defiance, but Hermione still stood her ground. Secretly the Potions Master approved very much of her independent nature, as aggravating as it could be at times. She was no doormat. It was only during sex when she would totally submit to him…but then again, he gave her no choice. He hadn't lost any ardor for the witch in the three years he was with her. In fact, it seemed as if the wizard's ardor had grown.

Severus discovered a committed relationship was not a free pass for constant sex. With the other witches, all he had to do was show up…and he'd be happily shagging away within ten minutes. Not so with Hermione. If she wasn't in the mood, she wasn't in the mood. In the beginning, he just tore through her defenses with a few caresses, kisses and dirty words…but she soon wised up and forbid him to even touch her those nights…actually kicking him out of the bed a few times until he got the message. He would sleep uncomfortably on the sofa, Hermione's room tightly warded against him with her signature so he couldn't creep back in the middle of the night.

She'd pay when she finally did let him have her, believe that. Severus was a wonderful lover, but a very vindictive one…and he took great pleasure in driving into Hermione while whispering her recent offenses in the witch's ear, punctuating each one with a good, hard thrust until she was practically incoherent.

"My back still hurts from sleeping on that damn sofa," he'd hiss as she buckled beneath him. Personally, Hermione didn't believe him when he said things like that. No wizard could shag the way he did with an injured back.

The word "Love" had never come up between them in the three years they were together, but Hermione was irrevocably in love with the Professor. When Ron and the rest of her family found out she was involved with the snarky wizard who abandoned her and Mathias, all hell had broken loose. Hermione finally got them all together, including Harry and told them what Severus had done to protect her and Mathias from Voldemort and then gave them all an ultimatum either to accept her decision or get out of her life.

This was received with mixed reactions. Ron and Harry did leave her alone for a few months, but friendship won over and after a while, they accepted the situation, although with rather bad grace. Anytime Severus was in a room with either Harry or Ron, the tension was very high. Severus didn't help the situation a bit. He made sure to touch and purr over Hermione in a very possessive and clearly intimate way when they were about, which had the effect of putting both Harry and Ron in horrible moods. Severus always had fun when they were present much to Hermione's chagrin.

"They don't like the idea of me climbing all over your curvaceous little body," he purred at the witch, who would turn a nice, bright red.

Severus found it a small miracle that the witch could still blush after all he'd done to her. There was no part of Hermione that the wizard didn't know and partake of intimately, though anal sex had been quite an ordeal for the witch. Severus was huge and it took quite a while for her to get used to him. But he didn't do it often…he liked to feel her orgasm directly. It was usually when he was in 'total domination' mode that he would possess her that way and over time she learned to enjoy it.

Severus was also extremely jealous of Hermione, though he tried to hide it. Once he had visited and found Hermione with a male co-worker chatting over coffee in the kitchen, and he made the wizard so uncomfortable with his scowling that he left. Then he shagged Hermione right on the kitchen table the moment the front door closed, breaking the plates and coffee cups by slinging them to the floor. He did have the grace to repair them afterwards as Hermione shuddered deliciously from her multiple orgasms, still sprawled on the table. Yes, being the lover of Severus Snape was something else. Something she loved.

Severus looked up at Hermione.

"Telling the Dark Lord no is like saying, please Avada Kedavra me, my Lord," Severus replied. "You don't say no to an evaluation, Hermione. Remember, he made an allowance for Mathias…and you. We have to remain in his good graces."

Hermione scowled down at him.

"What if Mathias doesn't pass his evaluation? What then, Severus? He hates the Dark Lord," she said. The witch was very frightened for her son, though she tried to put on a brave face.

"He will pass. He is as good an Occlumens as I am," Severus said.

"But what if he doesn't?" Hermione asked her lover.

Severus' eyes went hard.

"Then he will be marked for death," he replied, "Just as he would have been if Voldemort found out about him years ago. In that event, I would hide him, and you where you could not be found."

Hermione's eyes narrowed.

""But…if you did that, what would happen to you, Severus?" she asked the wizard, her heart going cold.

"I would die fighting," Severus replied quietly. He wouldn't let Voldemort torture him to death.

Tears filled Hermione's eyes. She didn't want Severus to die for them.

"I don't want that, Severus. Couldn't you come with us?" Hermione asked.

Severus shook his head.

"I have the mark, Hermione. Voldemort would cause me constant pain until I surfaced. You wouldn't want to witness that," he replied. "And I don't want to go through it."

Hermione stared down at him, her heart aching. Gods, Mathias just had to pass the evaluation. He just had to. The thought of being on the run and Severus dead was just too horrible.

"I have a will that will instantly transfer all I have to you and Mathias," the wizard said in a low voice, "My residuals, my accounts, all my worldly goods. And an insurance policy that should take care of you for the rest of your life. It pays double if I am murdered."

Hermione's eyes filled with tears at this. She had no idea Severus had set things up to provide for both her and Mathias if he died. But she didn't want any of it. She just wanted him. She lay down, placing her head on the Potions Master's chest and listened to his strong heartbeat. She never wanted it stilled. He meant so much to her. She felt his arm encircle her.

"No one lives forever, Hermione," he said softly, looking up at the ceiling.

"But I want you to live as long as possible, Severus. I'd be lost without you," she replied, her fingertips tracing his scars as tears fell from her eyes.

Severus felt his heart tighten as Hermione's warm tears splashed on his chest. The witch had never said she loved him, but he knew she did. He saw it in her eyes every time she surrendered to him.

"Don't cry for me, witch," he said, "I've been living on borrowed time for many, many years. I've come to terms with the fact that I will probably die at Voldemort's hands. My one comfort is I can die with a less heavy heart now that I've known you. All I ask is that you and Mathias survive. That is all I want in the world, witch…you and my son to survive me."

Hermione sobbed now, crying as if her heart were breaking. And it was. Severus caressed her hair.

"Don't cry, Hermione," he said to her gently, "It will work out just the way it should in the end."

Jasmine Malfoy was a wreck. The Dark Lord was about to arrive and the banquet wasn't set up yet. She screamed at the cowering house elves to get a move on, then went to check the striped tent where Voldemort would be receiving people. She pulled back the flap and looked around approvingly. Although the tent seemed to be only ten feet by ten feet around from the outside, it was very spacious inside.

A throne had been placed on a dais and lush carpeting lined the floor. There was a sofa, several comfortable armchairs and velvet wall coverings. A small table held fresh fruit juices, liquors and appetizers, golden pitchers and goblets.

Jasmine looked very pretty in her Slytherin green dress robes, her hair swept up in a bun. She didn't want to overdo it. She was to be formally introduced to Voldemort today and evaluated. She was very excited to get to see him face to face for the first time.

The small party was being held in the rose orchard. Beautiful roses abounded in marvelous and rare colors. The air was fragrant with them. Small, round tables were scattered about and tables laden with food and drink arranged strategically. Voldemort's tent was set at some distance from the mingling area to afford privacy and safety for illustrious leader. There was heavy security consisting of Deatheaters from the inner circle. But they were in dress robes and unmasked.

Guests were arriving. Boyle and his father barreled in, heading straight for the banquet table. A few older Slytherins and their parents arrived also. Council members and Ministry officials were also in attendance. Jasmine greeted each graciously and told them where the facilities were located and to help themselves to food and drink. If they needed anything, they were to ask the house elves, who would accommodate them.

Severus and Mathias arrived, both in dress robes. The Potions Master immediately scowled at finding himself surrounded by roses. He hated everything about roses...the way they looked and particularly the way they smelled. Mathias was running his finger around his collar. He wasn't used to dressing up and the unfamiliar tightness of the high collar around his neck was uncomfortable. His black eyes swept over the opulent settings, looking up at the Manor. Yes, Jasmine's family was loaded all right. No wonder the witch was so spoiled.

Severus walked up to Draco, Mathias striding after him.

"Why, hello Professor. So good of you to come," Draco said, shaking Severus' hand. His ice-blue eyes turned on to Mathias. The boy was pale, dark-eyed and somber, just like his father, though much better looking. He had his mother's features.

"And you must be Mathias. I am Lord Draco Malfoy. Pleased to make your acquaintance," Draco said extending his hand.

Mathias took it and shook it firmly.

"My Lord," he responded by way of greeting.

He was going to be saying "My Lord" quite often today. It irked him however. He had no Lords. But he promised to be on his best behavior, which meant biting his tongue. Mathias was just as direct as his father, and his directness was often mistaken for rudeness.

"A firm grip," Draco commented approvingly.

A lot could be told from a handshake. The boy had confidence. Draco was aware he was quite accomplished magically, thanks to Jasmine who built Mathias up every chance she got. Draco in turn, gave this information to Voldemort, who was very interested in the boy's development. The Dark Lord had a vested interest in the boy, particularly since he had made a few concessions in order to acquire him into his ranks, concessions such as allowing Severus to indulge his mudblood mother for almost four years now. It rankled the Dark Lord because he could sense Severus' satisfaction with the arrangement.

Occasionally, Voldemort would torture him and try to find out if he loved Hermione. If he did, it would be an instant death sentence for them both. But Severus never confessed to it, so Voldemort would let him return to her. He still did not approve, and as soon as Mathias was inducted into his ranks, Voldemort planned to punish both Severus and Hermione, if not outright kill them. He intended to evaluate Mathias Snape thoroughly. If the boy were not up to par, he would send his deatheaters to kill him. The despot would kill his parents himself for failing to raise him suitably. A lot was riding on Mathias.

Jasmine caught sight of Mathias and hurried over to him. She looked him up and down. His hair was loose and well brushed, falling over his shoulders, and his dress robes were immaculate. He looked very handsome. Mathias' dark eyes washed over her as well.

"I thought you'd be in an evening gown," he said silkily.

Jasmine snorted at him.

"In the day, Mathias? Really. You have no fashion sense," she declared.

"I don't need it. I always dress in black," he replied, quirking an eyebrow at her..

Jasmine looked around at the guests with satisfaction.

"There are a lot of important people here. Officials and Council members," she said.

Mathias shrugged. He could care less how important they were. But there was something he wanted to know.

"Are they all DKV members?" he asked.

"Most of them, yes," Jasmine answered.

Suddenly a voice called out, "He comes. Pay your respects to the Great Lord Voldemort!"

A lot of murmuring broke out as people gathered together. Several wizards with their wands out exited the Manor in a tight group, Voldemort walking in the center of them, protected on every side. Everyone bowed as the group passed them, straining to get a look at Voldemort, who smiled and waved. He was glamoured to look as he would if he had not taken all the elixirs that transformed him into a snake-like visage. He was tall, dark-haired and dark-eyed. Quite a handsome man actually. The witches in attendance swooned, with the exception of Jasmine, who looked at him curiously.

Mathias studied him, then shifted to aura view. He started. Voldemort's auras were all black. Every single one of them, and not only that…Voldemort looked nothing at all like the man he appeared to be. He was thin, hairless, noseless and lipless. He was covered in scales and had red eyes. Mathias stared at the wizard. If people knew he looked like this, Mathias doubted they would follow him at all. He wasn't human. He might have been once, but not now. Mathias shifted back to normal sight, frowning slightly.

Severus, who was standing next to him, looked down and saw the frown.

"What's wrong son?" he inquired.

"Nothing," Mathias replied.

Severus said nothing more. Mathias was a teenager and teenagers were sulky at best.

The group moved inside the tent and the guests began to mill about, talking about how handsome the Dark Lord was.

It didn't take long for the evaluations to start. Voldemort was uncomfortable outside the security of his secret fortress. He planned to make this quick and get back. He had to meet with a few DKV members as well, to praise them for their work for the organization. He hated it, but Draco assured him it was the best way to get continued support. Draco had been correct so far.

A short, squat deatheater walked out of the tent and announced, "Lord Draco Malfoy and Lady Jasmine Malfoy, the Great Lord will see you now."

Draco caught Jasmine by the arm and walked her toward the tent. Mathias watched them enter, his dark eyes somber as the flap closed behind them.

Draco and Jasmine entered the tent and stood before the throne. A chubby, rather rat-faced wizard stood to the right of it. Peter Pettigrew. Draco bowed and Jasmine curtsied. Voldemort nodded at them, his dark eyes resting on Jasmine.

"My Lord, allow me to introduce my daughter, Lady Jasmine Narcissa Malfoy," Draco said.

Voldemort looked at her thoughtfully.

"Hello, Lady Malfoy," he said. Jasmine thought his voice was oddly high-pitched.

"Hello, my Lord," Jasmine replied, curtsying again.

Voldemort was silent for a moment, then said, "Leave us, Draco."

Draco bowed and exited the tent.

Lord Voldemort rose from the throne and walked up to Jasmine, studying her face, then walked around her, looking her over as if inspecting a dragon for purchase. He stopped in front of her.

"How old are you, Jasmine?" he asked her, "You don't mind me calling you Jasmine, do you?"

"No, my Lord," she answered. Jasmine carefully held her eyes to the floor as her father instructed. "I just turned fifteen, my Lord."

"Ah, fifteen. So young. You may look at me," he said. Jasmine raised her eyes.

"You have your grandmother's eyes," Voldemort commented, "Quite lovely."

"Thank you, my Lord," Jasmine said, feeling vaguely uncomfortable.

"I hear you are the secretary for the Young DKV club at Hogwarts and have been for nearly four years. That is quite commendable. Your dedication is appreciated and acknowledged, witch. Do you plan to take the Mark?" the wizard asked her, his eyes sweeping over her again.

"Yes, my Lord," Jasmine said.

Voldemort reached up and caressed her cheek slowly. Jasmine fought back a shudder. His fingertips were cold. Very cold.

"Excellent," the wizard said. "Since you have already shown your commitment by your works, Jasmine, I find you suitable. You may go. Send your father in when you leave," the wizard said.

Jasmine curtsied again.

"Yes my Lord. Thank you, my Lord," she said, waiting for Voldemort to return to his throne, then backing out of the tent. You were never to turn your back on the Dark Lord.

Draco hurried up to her.

"That was a very short interview. What did he say?" he asked his daughter.

"That because of my work for the Young DVK, he found me suitable. But he asked to see you," she replied.

Jasmine was still creeped by the wizard's touch. She felt like she wanted to wash her face.

"You did well, Jasmine. I'm proud of you," Draco said, kissing her forehead then hurrying back to Voldemort's tent.

He entered the tent and bowed to the Dark Lord.

"You asked for me, my Lord?" Draco asked him.

"Yes, Draco. Your daughter is quite lovely. She will become one of my consorts when she turns eighteen," the wizard said, "She will be given some authority while she serves me in this capacity. You will bring her to me on the night of her eighteenth birthday for deflowering. She must be untouched, Draco. If she is not a virgin I will not accept her, and be very angry. You know how I am when I am angry, Draco," he said coldly.

"Yes, my Lord," Draco responded, trembling a little.

Even though he served the Dark Lord well, Draco had received a taste of his wrath over the years. It had been terrible. He did not want to invite it again. Jasmine was a Malfoy. She would have to deal with the situation. It was an honor to be the consort of the Dark Lord. And he had been merciful in saying he would wait until Jasmine was eighteen. Voldemort was known to take witches as young as fourteen if he desired them. Draco suspected that the Dark Lord was waiting because of his position. Although he was a despot, Voldemort appreciated the work Draco did, so gave his daughter time to grow up. If she weren't mature by eighteen…the Dark Lord would definitely mature her quickly.

"Very well, Draco. You will be rewarded as well when she comes of age," the wizard said. "You may go and inform her she has the honor of being chosen by me."

"Thank you my Lord. I am sure she will be thrilled," Draco replied.

"Whether she is thrilled or not, Draco…she had been chosen. Make sure to tell her she must keep herself for me," Voldemort said, dropping his glamour for a moment. Draco trembled at the sight of him and dropped to one knee.

"Yes, my Lord," he said.

Voldemort replaced his glamour.

"Now go, Draco," the wizard said, flicking his hand toward the blonde wizard.

Draco backed out of the tent.

Mathias asked Jasmine how the interview went.

"Oh, he found me suitable immediately," Jasmine said shifting her eyes a bit.

Mathias noticed this, and shifted to aura view. He saw both her mental and emotional auras showed clear signs of being disturbed. Draco had gone to Jasmine immediately and told her the Dark Lord had chosen her to be his consort when she turned eighteen. The witch knew she couldn't protest the decision. She was going to have to let the wizard shag her when she came of age. Of course, there would be great benefits to being the wizard's consort…but Jasmine was no longer sure she wanted that kind of power. Mathias frowned at her.

"Something is wrong. What happened, Jasmine?" Mathias asked her.

Jasmine shook her head.

"I…I can't tell you, Mathias," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "I have to go and see about the elves."

Jasmine hurried off.

Mathias watched her go, his eyes narrowed. Something definitely was wrong here. He was going to find out what it was.

Peter Pettigrew walked out of the tent.

"Professor Severus Snape and Master Mathias Snape, the Great Lord will see you now," he announced.

Severus and Mathias approached the tent.

"Remember all I told you," Severus whispered to him.

Mathias nodded, his eyes squarely set on the tent opening, his heart pounding. He was finally going to meet the wizard he hated most in the world.

The wizard he planned to kill.

Mathias dropped his occlumency walls as they both entered the tent, Severus immediately lowering his eyes to the floor. Mathias stared at Voldemort, who looked back at him, scowling slightly. When Voldemort did not address them, Severus looked up slightly and saw his son meeting the Dark Lord's gaze evenly. He elbowed him.

Mathias sullenly dropped his eyes to the floor.

"Most impertinent," Voldemort thought as his eyes swept over the boy, "But I can feel his power. And his darkness. His willfulness can be handled with a few Crucios."

"Ah, the impertinence of teenagers, eh Severus?" Voldemort said to the Potions Master.

"Yes my Lord. My apologies. My son forgets himself," Severus said, his voice rather irritated. Mathias shifted his eyes toward his father then back at the floor. "Please allow me to introduce my son, Mathias John Snape."

"You may look at me, boy," Voldemort said.

Mathias raised his head and stared at the Dark Lord. Voldemort probed his mind. He saw no hatred there, but he did see Mathias dueling with rather advanced spells for a fourth year. Hell, they would be advanced for a seventh year. Many of the spells were dark and the boy appeared to be battling a black wizard. He noted they didn't actually hit each other with the darker spells, but shot over each other's head. The black wizard was equally as skilled. A pity he was inferior.

"You are quite skilled at spell casting, Mathias," Voldemort stated, his eyes narrowed.

Mathias didn't reply. Severus felt his stomach clutch. Mathias wasn't being cooperative at all.

"Damn it boy, talk!" the Potions Master thought desperately.

Suddenly Mathias said, "Yes, my Lord."

Voldemort smiled.

"Ah, so he speaks," the wizard said looking at the boy. He was the spitting image of his father in everything but his facial features. "Leave us, Severus."

Severus bowed.

"Yes, my Lord," the Potions Master replied, giving Mathias a severe "I will kill you myself if you fuck this up," look before he backed out of the tent.

Mathias got the message.

Voldemort looked at Peter.

"You may leave too, Peter," he said to the wizard.

"Yes, my Lord," Peter said, walking out of the tent. He was the only one permitted to turn his back to the Dark Lord.

Voldemort looked at Mathias steadily for a moment.

"So Mathias Snape, what do you think of me?" the Dark Lord asked him.

"I don't know you sir. I don't know what to think of you," Mathias replied evenly.

Voldemort nodded.

"An honest answer," he replied. He pulled out his wand and pointed it in the center of the room. A large stone appeared.

"Can you destroy that, Mathias?" he asked the young wizard.

Mathias looked at him. Voldemort sighed.

"I am not a teacher from Hogwarts or an Auror, Mathias. The rules don't apply here. Show me what you can do, boy," the wizard said evenly, "if you want me to give you a positive evaluation."

Mathias pulled out his wand and blasted the stone to powder. Outside, everyone stopped talking as they heard the blast, wondering what was going on. Severus' heart was pounding. What was happening in there?

Voldemort's eyebrows rose.

"Such power in one so young. How old are you now, boy?" he asked him.

"Fifteen, my Lord," Mathias replied.

"Impressive," the Dark Lord said thoughtfully. He pulled out his wand and created a much larger stone.

"Destroy that one," the wizard instructed.

Mathias obliged him, blasting the stone so powerfully that dust showered them both. Voldemort scourgified himself, then Mathias. The entire tent shuddered as if it would fall and the guests were all staring at it. Jasmine looked extremely worried. She turned to her father.

"What's going on in there?" she asked him, concerned for Mathias.

"Hopefully the Dark Lord is just testing Severus' son," Draco replied, "And not killing him."

Jasmine paled as she looked at the tent, praying Mathias was all right.

As the dust settled Voldemort said, "Show me some dark magic, boy. I know you do it."

"I need something to focus on," Mathias said, "Something made of wood."

Voldemort created a stump for him. Mathias looked at it then raised his wand and muttered a spell. A stream of magma issued from his wand tip, landing on the stump and reducing it to ash instantly.

"Now, that's a nasty little spell," the Dark Lord said with approval. He eyed Mathias.

"Can you cast Unforgivables?" he asked the young wizard.

If he could, that meant not only did he break the law, but was clever enough to have learned to use the spells without getting caught by the Ministry.

"Yes," Mathias responded.

Now Voldemort was very impressed. How could one so young cast a Killing curse? He would have to have strong intent, murderous intent for that. And the Crucio required cruelty to work…the Imperio a very strong desire to control. Murderous intent…cruelty, a strong desire for control? Mathias Snape was shaping up to be quite a prize indeed.

"Peter!" the Dark Lord called.

Peter Pettigrew instantly appeared.

"Yes, my Lord?" he asked.

"Bring me an animal," he said, "Anything you can find."

"Yes, my Lord," he said, disappearing.

After a while Peter came back with a little white poodle with a pink bow. Jasmine watched him walk by with her mother's dog. Eloise had a thing for muggle animals. Normally the dog would be traveling with her, but was left behind this time.

"What are you doing? That's Sweet Sweet. She belongs to my mother!" Jasmine demanded. Sweet Sweet was a pampered little thing, but a very sweet dog.

"The Dark Lord needs it," Peter replied, not stopping.

"Needs it for what? Bring her back!" Jasmine said, starting to follow him.

Draco stopped her.

"Stop it, Jasmine. If the Dark Lord wants Sweet Sweet, he can have her. He can have anything he asks for," the wizard said.

"But what is he going to do to her?" Jasmine asked.

Draco knew most likely the dog would die.

"I'll get your mother another dog," he said.

Jasmine's eyes went wide.

"But father," she protested.

Draco spun on her.

"I said I would get your mother another dog, Jasmine! Stop questioning me and go see about the guests! Now!" Draco yelled at her.

Jasmine stared at her father as everyone looked at them. He had yelled at her. And in public. Her eyes started to glisten and she took one more look at the tent before running inside the Manor.

Peter brought Sweet Sweet into the tent. Mathias looked at the pretty white poodle and his heart sank. Peter sat the dog down in front of Voldemort. Sweet Sweet wagged her tail when she looked at Mathias, then growled at the Dark Lord.

"Do the Imperious curse," the Dark Lord said. "Make her walk on her hind legs and do somersaults."

Mathias looked at the cute little dog.

"Couldn't we use a niffler? This dog belongs to someone, my Lord," Mathias said.

"No, we will use this animal," Voldemort replied in a show of power.

The Dark Lord made a large gesture with his wand.

"This tent is protected. The Unforgivables will not be detected by the Ministry," the Dark Lord said. "Now, the Imperious."

Mathias cast the spell, and the startled dog stood up on her hind legs and started to walk around. It was easy to see the poor creature was terrified. Then she did several somersaults, yelping with fear. Mathias was about to release her.

"No…she will run. Now do the Crucio spell," the wizard directed.

Mathias scowled at the wizard, but remembered his father warning him to do whatever the Dark Lord asked.

With hatred in his heart, Mathias cast the spell on Sweet Sweet.

"Crucio!" he said, and the dog began screaming and shuddering. He held it on her for a few seconds then let her go. But Sweet Sweet was too small to handle such a curse, and she fell over, trembling and seizuring horribly. Mathias could hear the poor dog's bones cracking. Without Voldemort's urging he pointed his wand at her.

"Avada Kedavra!" he cried, his black eyes glistening as the dread green light enveloped the shuddering dog's small body.

Sweet Sweet fell still, released from her pain. Mathias turned his black eyes on Voldemort, hiding the hatred seething inside of him. There was no reason to kill someone's pet. A niffler would have been fetched for the wizard immediately.

"Are you satisfied, my Lord?" he asked him.

Voldemort looked at him speculatively.

"Yes. Yes I am, Mathias Snape. You are extremely powerful for a fifteen-year-old wizard. Despite your mudblood mother…"

Here Mathias fought to keep from bristling. Voldemort calling his mother a mudblood was grounds for hexing…in his case, murder. For a moment, the boy thought about casting the Killing curse on him. But if it failed all hell would break loose. He needed Andreas. They had a pact that they would face him together. Andreas made him promise not to do anything stupid.

"…you seem to have quite a developed magical signature," the Dark Lord finished.

"My mother is a very powerful witch. She is a Spells Mistress," Mathias said to him, trying to defend Hermione without coming across as being belligerent.

"I am aware of your mother's ability. Still she is tainted, as are you. But in your case, Mathias, you can have quite a bright future ahead of you as one of my Inner Circle deatheaters. You will be greatly respected and feared, and when I take over the wizarding world, you will be given a position of authority. I find you suitable, Mathias Snape. You may go. Send your father in."

Mathias turned his back on Voldemort and walked out.

Voldemort scowled. The boy was going to be difficult, but worth the work. Voldemort wanted him, and would have him.

Severus walked in and bowed low.

"Yes, my Lord?" he stated.

"You may look at me, Severus," the Dark Lord said. The Potions Master straightened.

"I believe sparing your son was wise on my part. He is extremely powerful. Were you aware he can cast Unforgivables?" the Dark Lord asked him.

Severus' eyes fell on the dead poodle.

"No, I wasn't my Lord," he said darkly.

Voldemort chuckled.

"Now, now, Severus. Don't be angry at the boy. He has great power which will only grow more powerful when he reaches manhood. He is also quite cunning to have learned those spells without being discovered. Not many fifteen-year-olds have enough darkness in them to cast Unforgivables. You should be proud. I want him for my inner circle. He will become one of my personal bodyguards. But he is in great need of direction. He does not follow protocol well. He looked at me directly when he arrived, he turned his back to me when he exited, and questioned me when the animal was brought in for the demonstration. Next time I see the boy, I want him suitably deferential. If you don't teach him, Severus…I will."

"Yes, my Lord," Severus replied, relieved Mathias hadn't been crucio'd.

"Very well, Severus. You may go," the Dark Lord said dismissing him.

"Yes, my Lord," Severus said backing out of the tent and heaving a sigh of relief. Mathias was waiting for him, and the wizard's face turned black.

Severus strode past him.

"Come on," he hissed.

"Shit," Mathias thought, hurrying after his father. Every eye was on the boy as he passed. What had he and the Dark Lord been doing? Normally every interview was a rather quiet affair. Without knowing it, Mathias Snape became a matter of interest for many curious witches and wizards. Many would have their eye on him.

Mathias caught up with his father as they headed out of Malfoy Manor to a spot where they could apparate.

"You didn't listen to me, Mathias. You could have been crucio'd or worse. I taught you the proper protocol for dealing with the Dark Lord," he seethed at the boy.

"But dad, I got in there and it all went right out my head," Mathias lied. He'd wanted to challenge the wizard.

"Well, the next time you meet him, you'd better plug up all your orifices, Mathias…because if you do not show him the proper respect, you will be tortured," the dark wizard replied.

They walked through the large gate and past security. Severus stopped and put his arm around Mathias' shoulder.

"When you and I get back to Hogwarts, we're going to have a long talk about your spell work. You are going to tell me every single spell you know, Mathias. Every one. If I think you are holding out, I will not hesitate to give you my own special brew of Veritaserum. Do you understand me?" Severus asked him.

"Yes sir," Mathias said sullenly.

Well, he would have to give up the spells. But at least his use of the Old Arts could be kept a secret.

Together, father and son disapparated.

Severus and Mathias appeared in Severus' bedroom. The Potions Master silently strode into the study, followed by his son and pointed to the armchair in front of the fireplace, which was unlit.

"Sit down," he said imperiously.

Mathias pulled at his collar.

"Dad, can't I go and take these robes off first? They're killing me," Mathias complained.

"Your robes killing you are the least of your problems, boy. Unfasten the damn collar and sit down now!" Severus roared at him, his face twisted in anger.

Mathias quickly dropped in the chair and unfastened his collar and the next fastener. Severus pulled open his desktop drawer and took out parchment, then picked up a quill and inkbottle, carried them over to where Mathias was sitting and set them down on the small table between the two chairs.

"Start writing," he said to the boy.

Mathias looked up at him, then shifted the armchair around so he was facing the small table. He picked up the quill, dipped it in the ink and started writing. Severus walked over to his liquor cabinet and fixed himself a large firewhiskey, then returned to the other armchair and sat down, watching his son write.

Mathias had really taken a chance with Voldemort. The Potions Master suspected the boy had been disrespectful on purpose. He figured the Dark Lord withheld himself simply because he truly wanted Mathias in his inner circle. What a perfect position that would be for an assassination. Severus never qualified for inner circle security because he worked at Hogwarts and could not put in the time required. If he had been Voldemort's bodyguard, he might have found a way to kill him long ago.

The wizard took a sip of his firewhiskey and grimaced slightly as the welcome fire of it burned his throat, then looked at his son speculatively as he wrote line after line. Mathias had very neat handwriting, like his mother. Severus wrote dragonscratch for the most part unless he was placing notes on the board for his class. As a Potions Master creating new elixirs, he made his own notes purposely hard to read so his processes would be difficult to steal.

Mathias wrote two neat columns of spells. Just as Severus thought he had finished, Mathias flipped the parchment over and continued writing. Severus' eyebrows rose. He had to have listed over one hundred spells on the parchment already.

Finally, Mathias finished and handed the parchment to his father. Severus read it over and paled at some of the spells. His eyes shifted to his son and back to the parchment. Most of the spells were decidedly offensive. The boy knew enough dark spells to hold an army at bay. Severus put the parchment down.

"Mathias…my gods," he began in a rather choked voice, "You can really do all of these spells? Or do you just have a basic knowledge of them?"

Mathias looked at him.

"I can do every one," he replied.

"There are over two hundred spells listed here. When did you start learning these?" his father inquired.

"My first year. Andreas helped me," Mathias said.

Severus' eyebrows rose.

"So Andreas can cast these spells as well?" Severus asked him.

"Yes sir. He is very talented," Mathias replied rather proudly.

Severus sat there silently for a moment. It occurred to him that his teenage son might be able to outduel him. With a repertoire of spells like this, he could probably outduel most adult wizards. Then, there were the Unforgivables. It had been quite a shock to learn Mathias was capable of casting them.

"How did you manage to learn to cast Unforgivables without detection?" Severus asked him curiously. That was quite an accomplishment.

"I used mum's lab," the boy replied.

Of course. Hermione's lab was shielded so she wouldn't attract Aurors when she worked.

Severus studied his son for a couple of minutes, saying nothing. Mathias shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Finally, Severus spoke.

"Mathias, why do you feel the need to learn so many spells?" he asked him.

Mathias shrugged.

"I guess I just like collecting spells. I probably got it from mum," the boy lied.

Severus looked at him, then stood up abruptly. He started to leave the room.

"Dad, where are you going?" Mathias asked him.

Severus turned to him, his nostrils flared.

"To get the veritaserum," he replied.

Mathias sprang from the chair.

"No…don't do that, Dad. I'll tell you the truth…I swear," the boy pleaded.

Severus stared at him a moment then slowly walked back to the armchair and sat down. Relieved, Mathias returned to his seat.

"Now tell me," Severus said. "Everything."

And Mathias did just that, excluding his soul journey and use of the Old Arts. He wanted to keep that a secret still. But he told enough of it in such a convincing way that Severus believed him. The Potions Master already knew Andreas had powerful divination ability, and paled when Mathias related the mass murder scene at the Ministry and in the streets and homes. Also the death of Andreas' people, and lastly, he shared his own vision of the grisly scene he witnessed of both Severus and Hermione being killed by the Dark Lord. Finally he told his father about the pact that he and Andreas made to kill Voldemort when they came of age.

Severus stared at his son in amazement.

"How long has it been since you witnessed these visions, Mathias?" Severus asked him.

"It was in my first year," Mathias said.

Severus scowled.

"You kept this a secret from us for almost four years?" Severus said, his face in a snarl now.

"I didn't see what telling anyone about it would do. I was only eleven, Dad and a first year. Either you wouldn't have believed me, or would have been worried for all this time. I worried enough for everyone. But I started learning spells because the future can be changed. I plan to change it. Andreas and I are going to find a way to kill Voldemort before I take the Mark," Mathias said. "Once I renounce you and mum, that is when he kills you both. I can't do that. I won't do that," the boy declared adamantly.

Severus' snarl faded away as he looked at his son. What a courageous, resourceful boy he was. Then he thought of something.

"Does Jasmine know of your plans?" Severus asked him.

Mathias gave his father a look as if he were stark, raving nutters.

"So she could blab it to her dad? No. But we did teach her a couple of spells and how to duel a bit. But nothing major. Just to make her feel a part of it. Plus it was fun hexing her," Mathias said, smirking a bit. "She'd be furious and chase us around shooting spells at us. It was great."

Severus couldn't help smirking a bit. It seemed there was still some youthful exuberance in his son, though one couldn't tell by looking at the boy. Well, this explained his abrupt change of demeanor. He had the wizarding world on his shoulders too. And the boy had kept it to himself for years.

Severus made a decision.

"Mathias, you, Andreas and I are going to go to Dumbledore, and Andreas is going to show him his vision. Is there a time frame for this that you know of?" Severus asked his son.

"I think it happens after I turn eighteen," Mathias said.

Severus nodded.

"Well, we are going to take this to Dumbledore and Andreas will share his vision with both of us. If this is a possibility, the Order needs to prepare for it…have a contingency plan of some type. As for your goal of killing Voldemort, you are aligned with me now. You, Andreas and I will start training immediately. You both need to know how to duel with a deatheater and how to fight one. I will also familiarize you with the Dark Lord's stronghold, though I don't see how Andreas will be able to enter it, being that he is black. Though he is talented and would be an excellent addition to the Dark Lord's ranks, because of racism, he is excluded from consideration," Severus said.

"He'll get in," Mathias said, "I don't know how right now, but we have three years to figure it out."

Severus nodded.

"We can't tell mum about this," Mathias said to his father.

"No, we can't," Severus agreed. "She'd kill us before the Dark Lord would."

Mathias nodded. His mother would forbid it. Or attempt to. Hermione would know she couldn't stop them, but her knowing what they planned would make for a lot of unnecessary tension in the household. It was better and kinder she didn't know their plans. Contemplating the loss of both her lover and her son would be too much for the witch.

Mathias studied his father.

"So you aren't angry at me, Dad?" he asked the Potions Master.

Severus looked at him steadily.

"Being angry at you, Mathias would not change the situation. You already know the spells. I would have preferred that you came to me early on, but then again…you are a Slytherin, and Slytherins are known for keeping important information secret until they can utilize it. I also was quite closed-mouthed at your age. As for your desire to kill Voldemort, I understand it, as I do your desire not to serve him. Yet, as his bodyguard you would have a better opportunity to kill him, but I fear if we wait that long, the vision will come to pass and thousands will die. We want to avoid that."

"And I want to avoid you and mum being killed," Mathias thought to himself.

True, the death of thousands was a terrible thought, but Mathias was rather selfish in his thinking. It was the possible death of his parents that was foremost in his mind as a reason to kill Voldemort.

"All right, Mathias, you may return to Slytherin house and inform Andreas of our plans. Do you think he will take it well?" Severus asked him.

"He'll deal with it. Andreas is cool that way," Mathias responded. "He'll probably like the idea of dueling with you and learning how to fight deatheaters."

"Good," Severus said as he watched Mathias rise.

"I'll see you later, Dad," the boy said, giving his father a rare smile.

"Goodbye son," Severus replied.

Mathias walked to the study wall and pulled the torch, opening the private entrance and exiting.

Severus pulled out his wand and lit a fire in the fireplace, staring into the flames. He had no idea what a treasure he tried to make Hermione rid herself of fifteen years ago. He was glad the witch had her own convictions and kept Mathias. Outside of Hermione herself, he was a source of great pride for the Potions Master. Imagine, holding all that in for almost four years and preparing himself to do battle with the most evil wizard in existence. And he had shown no fear of Voldemort today. He was already challenging the wizard. Severus would have to rein him in. Though occlumency might hide his thoughts, it did not hide his actions. Voldemort would not be so controlled next time. But the next time Mathias would be in his presence would be three years from now.

That was plenty of time for change.

Jasmine returned to Hogwarts that evening. Although it was the weekend, she decided to leave the Manor. She was angry with her father and upset about the day's events. Lord Voldemort was not the pillar of hope that everyone imagined him to be…not in her estimation. Any wizard who would put a claim on a witch's virginity simply because he had the power to do so, had no morals. And a wizard who would kill someone's pet without any consideration was someone without a heart.

She walked into the common room to see a group of Slytherin girls gathered around a pretty, redheaded seventh year, Carla Moonswood. They were chattering animatedly. Jasmine drew closer to hear what was going on.

"Yes! Lord Voldemort wants me as his consort. Me! Can you imagine? The most powerful wizard in the world wants me. And he is soooo handsome. I turn eighteen next week," Carla gushed. "I know it's going to be wonderful."

Jasmine's eyebrows went up as she heard this. She pushed through the crowd of witches.

"You want to be the Dark Lord's consort?" she asked Carla, amazed.

Carla looked at Jasmine as if she were a fool.

"Of course I want to be his consort. That will raise my status considerably," she replied. "And I will have my choice of wizards afterwards, when he releases me, because I will always have the Dark Lord's favor, and most wizards covet that. That gives me a lot of power, Jasmine. A lot of power."

"But what about choice? Doesn't choice matter?" Jasmine asked her. "What if you didn't want to shag him? You'd still have to."

Carla smirked at her.

"But I don't have that problem, Jasmine. I do want to shag him. Why should I give it away to some young wizard for nothing, when I can give myself to the Dark Lord and get something out of it? Gods," the witch said, scowling at the witch, "All I have to do is make sure I don't shag anyone in the next week and I'm in the clear. Voldemort won't touch me if I'm not a virgin. So I have to break up with Georgie. He's going to be broken-hearted…but how can he compete with the Dark Lord?"

The other witches murmured agreement, and they all started talking again. Jasmine stared at Carla as she told everyone she would give them details when she came back. They all tittered with excitement. Jasmine shook her head and exited the common room, walking slowly up the stairs.

Carla thought being a consort to Voldemort was a wonderful opportunity. Jasmine shuddered as she remembered how cold his touch was. As if he were dead or something. And her father went along with it. But then again, Malfoy men always considered the women of their family to be tools they could use to manipulate others. And the women were trained to be that way. Her own grandmother was slowly molding her into that kind of witch. One whose entire life would be manipulation, breeding, ordering house elves around and throwing useless parties. Suddenly a life of privilege seemed as if it would be a life of luxurious incarceration.

Jasmine Malfoy was starting to see life as it really was, and she found she didn't like what she was seeing. She had always believed her father worked with Voldemort, but today she saw he was nothing more than a servant, and a frightened servant at that. But disobedience was not a Malfoy woman's trait. They were obedient, if cunning, finding ways around the orders they were given by the men but still coming out on top.

The witch entered her room, warded her door and removed her robes. She fell on the bed, her eyes filling with tears. Her whole world was falling apart and she saw that she was nothing but a pawn to her father. He had said he would be rewarded greatly when she became Voldemort's consort. He was nothing more than a pimp. He was prostituting her in exchange for the Dark Lord's favor and she had no choice in the matter. She couldn't run away. Her father would find her. Besides, she had no place to go.

Jasmine flipped over to her back and looked up at the ceiling, tears streaming from her eyes. Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be the Dark Lord's consort. He might let her go early if she made a bad showing. She sniffed and wiped her tears away.

She was lucky. Carla Moonswood was going to be with him next week and promised to tell everyone what it was like. She could find out how the wizard was…then she'd have three years to figure out what to do.

One thing was for sure, however. She wouldn't target Mathias like her father wanted any longer. Actually, she was quite uncomfortable reporting on his actions anyway, though she made sure they were all positive. She never let her father know the young wizard didn't agree with the DKV line. Jasmine scowled. After seeing how Voldemort was, she wasn't sure the DKV knew what he really was about. It seemed as if they all were being misled about him.

Jasmine suddenly realized why the parties her father threw were so selective. It wasn't because only the best of wizarding society were given the privilege to meet with the wizard, but to keep the truth about the Dark Lord's cruel, lascivious ways from the public eye. She doubted the DKV knew about his bevy of consorts. She and Mathias as well as the other students were evaluated only because they were the children of inner circle members. Most joined the DKV through the organization and were not handpicked, so didn't meet him personally. All they knew about him was what they were told or what they'd read.

Jasmine stared at the ceiling. If the DKV was so wrong about their leader, then they could be wrong about their attitudes toward muggle-borns and half-bloods. Mathias was a half-blood, but a powerful wizard, and highly intelligent. He acted better than most purebloods. And Andreas, although he was black, had very good qualities and was a loyal friend to Mathias. He was also smart and gifted in magic. He was no different than anyone else in actuality. His color didn't seem to make a real difference at all. Jasmine found that her dislike of the wizard was more because of his closeness to Mathias than his skin color or character. She was jealous, plain and simple.

Now the witch rolled to her side, thinking again of becoming Voldemort's consort. She always knew that she was meant to use sex as a weapon, and thought that her first sexual experience would be one based on personal gain, rather than passion, but nothing like this. Gods, what a mess she was in.

She wouldn't let anyone know she had been chosen to be Voldemort's consort. True, it would elevate her status in Slytherin house, but she didn't want to share the information. She had a feeling Mathias wouldn't think it was such an honor. She knew he wouldn't. She cared what he thought about her, and knew he wouldn't respect her if he knew she intended on following through with Voldemort's plans for her, choice or no choice. Though Jasmine wanted to talk to someone about her situation, she didn't know whom she could talk to without it getting back to Voldemort.

This was just the kind of information the DKV looked for. Someone speaking against the Dark Lord. The witch was sure it would be hushed up from the general membership, but would get to Voldemort somehow. That would be very bad and bring shame to her father…not that she cared right now. Jasmine realized she couldn't count on his support concerning this. Her grandmother would be no help either. She probably would be thrilled Jasmine was chosen. Voldemort was powerful, and Narcissa appreciated power.

Jasmine sighed and closed her eyes. Her head was starting to hurt.

She tried to sleep, but sleep just wouldn't come.

When Mathias informed Andreas that the thestral was out of the stable, the wizard didn't seem surprised or upset at all. Mathias eyed him, his nostrils flared.

"You KNEW this would happen, Andreas," he said accusingly.

Andreas smirked at him.

"I wasn't sure it would happen, Mathias…but I thought it might. It is a good thing to be aligned with your father. He is very powerful and brave," the wizard said.

"But why didn't you tell me?" Mathias demanded as Andreas took two pumpkin pasties out of his sweets stash and offered him one.

Mathias took it, still scowling at his brother as he calmly opened his pastie and took a bite.

"If I told you, it might have changed everything," Andreas replied.

Mathias' frown slowly disappeared. Andreas was right. If he had known he was going to have to tell his father everything, he would have been a wreck, and things could have turned out much differently.

"Is there anything else you're holding back that I should know, Andreas?" Mathias asked him, opening his own pumpkin pastie.

Andreas chewed, swallowed and looked at him.

"That you should know? No," the wizard replied obliquely, "Now tell me about your meeting with the Dark Lord."

"Gods, I wanted to kill him," Mathias breathed, his black eyes glinting.

Andreas nodded.

"Of course you did. I am glad you didn't try. It would have ruined everything," Andreas said.

Mathias recounted everything to Andreas, including the all black auras and Voldemort's true appearance. The wizard shook his head as Mathias told him of his disrespect.

"You are lucky he didn't kill you. The Dark Lord hates to be disrespected," Andreas said in a low voice. "It was very foolish, brother."

"It might have been foolish, but it felt good, Andreas," Mathias replied, "but I can't do it again."

"The next time you meet Voldemort, you will be doing worse things than turning your back on him," Andreas said. "He will not see you until you are about to graduate. And that is when we will strike. Before you take the mark."

"How will we get you into the fortress, Andreas?" Mathias asked him.

The wizard looked at him.

"I believe your father will be able to help us there. Possibly your mother too," Andreas replied.

Mathias looked at him horrified.

"My mum? My mum can know nothing about this, Andreas. Trust me, she will ruin everything."

Andreas gave him a knowing little smirk.

"We'll see, Mathias," he replied, "We'll see."

Dumbledore took Andreas' vision very seriously and immediately set about developing a contingency plan with the top members of the Order in the case of mass violence. A large recruitment drive was about to begin. The Order needed more members. They would have to monitor large events, though Albus believed the timeline would fall near Mathias' graduation. Neither Severus, Andreas nor Mathias let the Headmaster know about their plan to try and take Voldemort down before anything happened. Albus was still stuck on the Prophecy about Harry killing the despot. The boys did not tell Severus about the false Prophecy either, because then they would have to tell him about the Dark Soul of the World, and their journeys to meet it. It was just too complicated.

Severus drew up a practice schedule that was to start at the beginning of the week after next. The Potions Master reminded them of the importance of secrecy concerning their training. He needn't have bothered. Neither Andreas nor Mathias would ever say a word about it.

Jasmine waited anxiously in the common room for Carla Moonswood to return from her night with Voldemort. She was supposed to return the following evening, and it was now after seven and she still hadn't returned.

For the first time in her life, Jasmine had a problem getting rid of Mathias. The young wizard noticed that Jasmine had become rather somber like himself over the passing days. She was not her usual bossy, self-assured self. The witch had improved over the years, yet still had claws which she occasionally pulled out and raked at him with, but she hadn't been the same since meeting with Voldemort.

Mathias tried everything, including not speaking to her, to make her tell him what happened. The young wizard had been rather shocked that Jasmine didn't seem to care he wasn't talking to her. Not too much rattled Mathias, but this did. He knew Jasmine liked him very much. He could see it in her emotional aura, which would grow quite pink whenever he approached. But now, there was next to no pinkness when she saw him. It was as if all feeling for him had died. He also noticed her motivational aura, which had always been a deep, ambitious green had also lightened considerably, as if she had no ambition at all. Something was very wrong with Jasmine. And she wouldn't reveal what it was.

He and Andreas invited her to come dueling with them in an effort to get her spirits up, prepared to take a few hexes from her, but for the first time, Jasmine refused to go. Mathias doggedly tried to make her change her mind, then wanted to know what was more important than dueling? They had taken exams and all that was left was free time.

"I'm waiting for Carla Moonswood," Jasmine finally told him.

Mathias frowned at her.

"Don't tell me you are part of that group who wants to know about what happened with Voldemort, Jasmine," he said, his black eyes searching her face.

"I'm curious," Jasmine said lamely.

"Well, I'm not. Voldemort is a pervert, I don't care what honor you witches think shagging him will bring. It doesn't seem like much of an honor to me," Mathias said darkly. "More like he's taking advantage of his power to get at all of you. How any witch in her right mind would want that, I don't understand."

Jasmine just stared at him for a moment.

"I'm waiting for Carla," she said.

"Fine then. Wait for her," Mathias said angrily.

He turned and walked over to Andreas, who was looking at Jasmine thoughtfully.

"She's changing," Andreas said to Mathias as they began to leave the common room.

"Yes," Mathias hissed, "Into a bloody idiot. I can't believe she'd get caught up in this, Andreas."

Andreas didn't say anything as they exited Slytherin house.

It wasn't his place.

Most of the witches had retired and it was going on ten o'clock. Mathias and Andreas had returned and gone up to their rooms. Only Jasmine and two other witches remained waiting for Carla in the common room.

"Maybe he liked her so much, he kept her for another night," one witch, Ethel Stone said. She was a seventh year, black-haired, gray-eyed with a pimply face.

"Wouldn't that be something?" the other witch, Sharon Grenadine gushed.

Jasmine didn't think it wonderful at all. She was a bit worried.

Suddenly someone entered the common room. It was Carla, and she didn't look too good. There was a grayish pallor to her skin and her eyes looked haunted. The two witches ran up to her.

"Carla! You're back. Tell us all the juicy details," they said, smiling at her. It was clear they were too thick to see the witch's condition.

Carla looked at them.

"I can't. I'm not allowed to tell anyone what happened. I'll get in trouble if the Dark Lord found out. He's very…private," the witch said.

The two witches exclaimed in disappointment.

"Nothing?" Sharon asked.

"Nothing," Carla said. "I'm tired and want to shower and go to bed."

Jasmine watched her walk up the stairs, and followed her.

"Carla?" Jasmine called to the witch as she stopped in front of her private room, preparing to let herself in. She looked at Jasmine.

"I can't say anything, Jasmine," she said, unwarding her door.

Jasmine looked at her desperately.

"But, but Carla, I need to know what happened. He chose me to be his consort too. When I turn eighteen," Jasmine said.

Carla stared at her.

"You've been chosen too?" she asked, her eyes filling with tears.

Jasmine nodded.

Carla hesitated then gestured for her to come. Jasmine followed the witch into her room. She noticed Carla appeared to be moving quite slowly. She sat down in a wooden chair against the wall and watched as the witch began to undress.

"I wish I had let Georgie shag me now, Jasmine," she said to Jasmine as she unfastened her robes. "If I had, Voldemort would have never touched me. He might have punished me but it would have been better than doing what I did."

She let her robes fall, and Jasmine gasped.

Carla was naked beneath her robes. She was a very curvaceous witch, and normally her pale skin was flawless. But not now.

Jasmine brought her hand to her mouth, horrified.

"Oh my gods, Carla," she whispered.

"He did this to me," the witch said.

Carla's body had long scratches, bite marks and bruises all over her body. Her thighs were badly bruised.

"He said pain brought pleasure," Carla said in a hollow voice as she looked down at her body. She turned around and her back was covered in scratches too, and her buttocks black and blue.

"He beat me with a belt…then shagged me…everywhere, Jasmine. Any part of my body that had a hole, he penetrated. And he looks nothing like he did at the party. He looks…he looks like a monster in real life. Thin and scaly with red eyes."

Jasmine shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself.

"And his cock…my gods, Jasmine…it moves by itself. Like a snake. I could feel it wriggling in my mouth. It tried to choke me," she said, "Jasmine…don't do it. Shag somebody before you turn eighteen. Run away. Something. He's horrible, worse than any nightmare you can imagine."

Carla shrugged on a housecoat and tied it around her, wincing.

"I can't believe people follow him, Jasmine. He is a monster. He looks and acts like one. He likes to torture and hurt people. I know because he did it to me. Don't become his consort. It might be status, but it isn't worth it. I dread going back to him," Carla said sinking on the bed and bursting into tears.

Jasmine stared at the witch, then walked over and tried to comfort her…but there was little she could do. She left Carla sobbing on her bed and returned to her own room as if in a living nightmare.

The very next day, Jasmine quit her position of secretary for the Young DKV club, citing she had other priorities. Her quitting was at first met with sadness, then anger, then threats.

"You know too much about us to quit, Jasmine," Franklin Urnston said, his blue eyes flashing at her.

"Too much about what? You follow the standard DKV line. That's no secret," the witch replied.

"You don't invest four years then just walk away," he seethed at her, starting to walk toward her.

Jasmine whipped out her wand and pointed it right between the wizard's eyes.

"You don't tell me what I can walk away from. I'm not a slave to the DKV. I'm free to do what I want, Franklin. Don't fucking threaten me, or you'll end up with an ass where your head should be," she said, backing out of the Room of Requirement and hurrying back to Slytherin house.

Franklin watched her go with narrowed eyes.

This wasn't over.

"You did what?" Mathias said in disbelief as they sat together at breakfast the next morning. He had been loading up his plate with bacon when Jasmine broke the news. Now his meat-filled hand hovered unmoving above his plate.

Andreas looked on. He didn't seem surprised at Jasmine's news.

"I quit the Young DKV club," Jasmine repeated non-chalantly, biting into her toast and jam.

Mathias stared at her, finally dropping his bacon on his plate.

"You've been a member of the DKV since your first year. You were always bragging about your position as secretary. Now you've quit? Why?" Mathias asked her.

"Just moving on. It was tedious taking all those notes meeting after meeting," she said.

Mathias frowned at her.

"You could have always just resigned the seat, Jasmine. You didn't have to quit…you know that. What's really going on?" Mathias demanded.

"I just wanted to quit, Mathias," she seethed at him. "Stop reading more into it than what it is!"

She bit a piece of bacon viciously.

"Jasmine, you haven't been yourself since meeting Voldemort," Mathias hissed at her. "I want to know what's going on, witch. Tell me."

"That's private and has nothing to do with you, Mathias Snape," she said, rising from the table and leaving the Great Hall in a huff.

Mathias looked after her.

"Gods, she's so aggravating," Mathias said.

Andreas didn't answer him. He was watching several Slytherins looking after Jasmine. They whispered to each other then rose and followed her.

Andreas hastily wiped his mouth with his napkin.

"I have to go, my brother," he said to Mathias, who was still eating.

"All right," Mathias said, "I'll see you in the common room. We can get in some dueling time."

Andreas nodded and exited the Great Hall.

He stood outside a moment, looking around, then walked quickly down the dungeon corridor. He heard a blast and began to run.

He saw the group of Slytherins firing hexes down the corridor. He slowed and saw that Jasmine was pressed into a niche, firing back at them. One of the students sported a huge pair of donkey ears.

Andreas made a great swooping motion over his head with his wand then pointed it at the attacking students.

"Petrificus Totalus!" he shouted, adding his signature to the spell.

Immediately every single student froze in place. He had cast the petrification spell en masse, hexing all of them at once. It was an adaptation Hermione had developed for her personal arsenal. Mathias had stolen it and taught Andreas.

Jasmine had heard Andreas' voice, then all the hexing stopped. She remained pressed into the niche, her chest heaving. Andreas walked through the frozen students. All of their eyes followed him as he approached the niche.

"Jasmine, you can come out now," he called to her. "They can't hex you now."

Jasmine peeked around the corner and saw all the students frozen in place. She stepped out and looked at them.

"How did you do that?" she asked Andreas, who twirled his wand before sticking it into his pocket.

"Just a little spell I know," he replied.

"I heard you cast the spell. It was a normal 'Petrificus Totalus,'" she said rather accusingly.

"With a bit of a twist," he said, smiling at her. "Are you all right? Did they get you?"

Jasmine shook her head.

"No…I was near the niche when I heard Franklin's voice as he tried to hex me. I dove into it before he could complete the incantation," she said, looking up at Andreas.

She owed the wizard one.

Andreas looked her over carefully to make sure she wasn't hit.

"Come. Let me escort you to Slytherin house," he said, offering Jasmine his arm.

The witch hesitated for a moment. Andreas looked at her soberly and jerked his arm. Jasmine took it. He smiled at her and nodded.

"I think, Jasmine, that you will soon be worth an entire herd of cows," he commented as he walked her towards the Slytherin common room.

Jasmine looked at him, feeling slightly outraged, though she didn't know why. Still, she didn't remove her arm from his. She felt quite safe.

"What?" she asked him, "Cows? What are you talking about, Andreas?"

Andreas tightened his hold on her arm.

"It is a private joke. I will tell you about it one day when you don't have your wand with you," he replied, smirking.

Jasmine scowled at him slightly. Then she said, "Thank you, Andreas."

The black wizard quirked an eyebrow at her.

"For what?" he asked.

"For helping me," she replied.

"It's what friends do, Jasmine. I couldn't let them harm you. You are a little sister. I will always protect you, now that you have your own mind," he said quietly.

"My own mind? What are you talking about, Andreas?" Jasmine asked.

"You have woken up, Jasmine. You are not an evil witch, though others would like to make you one. You are pushy and aggravating, but not evil," he said.

Jasmine tried to pull her arm out of his but Andreas held on tight, grinning at her.

"It is a compliment, believe me, Jasmine. Both Mathias and I like you pushy and aggravating," he said. "You wouldn't be Jasmine otherwise."

Jasmine ceased struggling and walked beside Andreas.

"But what do you mean, I have my own mind," she asked him.

"I mean," Andreas said, "That you are realizing things aren't what they seem in your pureblood world. You are beginning to think logically and reasonably. You are going through a difficult time," he said softly.

Jasmine looked up at the dark wizard, her ice-blue eyes meeting his black ones.

"Yes…yes I am, Andreas," she admitted. "A very difficult time."

Andreas looked down at her.

"You can tell me about it if you like," Andreas said to the witch. "I would tell no one. Not even Mathias. I am good that way."

Jasmine looked at him. It was true. She had never heard Andreas talk about anyone's personal business. He was very quiet for the most part unless with Mathias, who was also quite closed mouth.

"Really?" she asked him.

Andreas nodded.

"Sometimes, Jasmine…it is the most unlikely person who will be there for you when you need him. In your case, I am that unlikely person," the wizard replied.

Jasmine looked up at him, and suddenly her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm so sorry, Andreas…about how I've treated you…" she began.

Andreas shushed her.

"That Jasmine is no more. She was false. This is the true Jasmine on my arm…and this Jasmine is my sister. You aren't black-eyed, but that doesn't matter. I will be here for you as long as I am able to lift a wand," he said to her.

Jasmine blinked back her tears. He had forgiven her for being so horrible. Without a single angry word…without making her humble herself. How good a friend was Andreas Mbutu? How good a friend had he always been?

They entered the Slytherin common room arm in arm. The other students all stopped what they were doing and stared at them. Jasmine Malfoy on Andreas Mbutu's arm? They couldn't believe it. They all knew she hung out with Mathias and Andreas, but knew it was only because of Mathias that she was even in Andreas' presence. At least, that was what they thought up to now.

Jasmine looked around the common room.

"What are you all looking at?" she demanded imperiously.

Everyone quickly went back to what they were doing, sneaking glances at the two friends.

"Would you like to talk about what it is troubling you, Jasmine?" Andreas asked her, his dark eyes looking at her intently.

Jasmine thought about it. Andreas knew all about unfairness. He lived through it every day.

"Yes I would, Andreas," she replied.

"My room or yours?" he asked her.

Jasmine thought about it. It was time for a leap of faith.

"Yours," she responded.

Everyone in the common room watched as Jasmine and Andreas ascended the stairs that led to the boys' dormitory. The rumor mill was going to be grinding at high speed today. It was obvious Andreas was taking Jasmine to his private domicile.

Andreas walked Jasmine to his room, unwarded it and opened the door. Jasmine walked in and gasped at all the beautiful tribal art and décor.

"This room is amazing, Andreas," she said, studying the statues and masks. His room smelled wonderful as well, spicy and exotic. "I never imagined you lived like this."

"It is a bit cultural," he replied, smiling at her and offering her a chair. "But it's home. Please sit down, Jasmine."

Jasmine sat down and Andreas took the other chair.

They looked at each other.

"Now Jasmine, tell Dr. Mbutu all about it," he said.

Jasmine gave him a puzzled look.

"Doctor?" she asked him, "What's a doctor?"

"Never mind," Andreas said. He had forgotten Jasmine was very sheltered when it came to things muggle. "It was a small joke. A very small one. You can start talking whenever you feel like it."

And Jasmine did.

Andreas and Jasmine talked for over an hour before Mathias knocked on the door. Andreas opened it, and the wizard strode in.

"Andreas, a bunch of Slytherins are frozen in the corridor. I know it was you. What happened?" he asked. Then his eyes fell on Jasmine, who gave him a little wave.

"Jasmine? What are you doing here?" Mathias asked, very surprised.

"Andreas and I were reaching an understanding," she replied, smiling at the black wizard, who smiled back at her.

"And did you reach one?" Mathias asked her.

Jasmine looked at Andreas soberly.

"I believe we have," Jasmine replied softly.

"Good. It took you long enough," Mathias said snarkily, "Come on, Andreas. Let's go practice dueling."

Jasmine's face fell. Mathias looked at her.

"And you too, Jasmine. All those petrified Slytherins were Young DKV members. It's not hard to tell what happened. You need to learn more powerful defensive and offensive spells to make them leave you alone. Let's go," he said, turning and striding out of the room.

Andreas stood up, as did Jasmine. They smiled at each other and followed him.

The "Dark Trio" was truly a trio now.

The gods help anyone that tried to get between them.

Severus stopped stock still in his tracks as he saw a group of students standing immobile in the dungeons corridor. He was just returning from breakfast. The Potions Master scowled, strode through the petrified students and studied them. One student had a gigantic set of donkey ears on his head. The Potions Master fought back a smirk.

The students' eyes shifted back and forth wildly. They had been frozen in place and by their positions and the way their wands were held, they all had been dueling. But dueling whom? Severus counted them. There were nine students, all frozen. No single spell caster could do that…unless.

Severus arched an eyebrow. This looked like Hermione's adapted Petrificus spell. That's the only spell he knew of that could freeze several individuals at once. And if it were Hermione's spell…that could only mean one of two people cast it. Mathias or Andreas.

Severus pulled out his wand to release the closest Slytherin. But the spell wouldn't release her. Severus frowned. There was a signature on the spell…now he was absolutely sure either Mathias or Andreas was behind this.

The Potions Master heard voices and looked up the corridor to see Andreas, Jasmine and Mathias walking towards him, engaged in conversation. He ducked back into the niche Jasmine had been hiding in to see what they would do when they arrived at the students. They walked past the Potions Master, and right through the crowd of stuck Slytherins without paying them any mind. Severus stepped out of the niche.

"Excuse me," he called politely.

All three of the trio stopped and turned. They immediately went pale when they saw the Potions Master. "Please come back here. All three of you."

Severus' polite tone did not match the way he looked at the trio as they returned, passing through the Young DKV members and stopping in front of the Potions Master. He glowered down at them.

"All right. Which of you two are responsible for this?" he asked, pointedly looking at Andreas, then Mathias.

"I am sir," Andreas responded.

"Remove the spell, Mr. Mbutu," Severus said evenly.

Andreas turned to the students, whirled his wand over his head the opposite way and remove the spell. The DKV members could move again.

"That black bastard hexed us when our backs were turned!" Franklin said, pointing his wand at Andreas. Mathias and Jasmine quickly pulled out their wands and leaped to Andreas' side.

"You take that back, you bigot!" Mathias said in a dangerous voice.

"Yeah," Jasmine added, her eyes like ice as she stared at her former comrade.

"Fuck both of you, you darkie-lovers!" Franklin spat back at Mathias and Jasmine.

Severus raised his eyebrows. Didn't anybody notice he was here?

Apparently not.

"Everyone put their wands away this instant!" he roared, startling all the students who hurriedly complied. They glared at each other hatefully however.

"You are all in the same house, yet fighting as if you were standing against Gryffindors. Now I want to know what happened here," Severus said in a quiet yet authoritative voice.

Everyone stood around sullenly, not speaking. Slytherins weren't tattlers. Severus scowled at them.

"I see. Maybe I should help you along with the story then," the Professor said silkily. "Now, Andreas attacked all of you when your backs were turned, correct?"

All of the DKV members nodded. Franklin had already said this much.

"But yet, all of your wands were out in hexing positions facing front. Who were you attacking?" Severus asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

Again they didn't answer. Severus turned to Mathias.

"Were they attacking you?" he asked his son.

"No sir," Mathias said, his eyes shifting helplessly toward Jasmine.

Severus looked at the witch, and then at Andreas.

"Since I doubt Mr. Mbutu would interfere on behalf of someone who was not his friend, I assume you were the one under attack, Miss Malfoy," Severus said to Jasmine, who dropped her head.

"Yes sir," she said.

"Why were they attacking you, Miss Malfoy?" Severus asked her.

Jasmine looked at the Professor, then at Franklin.

"I think you should ask Franklin, Professor. I heard him casting a hex behind me and dove into the niche before he could hit me with it," she said, her eyes glittering at the accused wizard.

Severus looked at Franklin, who bowed his head and wouldn't say anything. The rest of the DKV members avoided the Potions Master's eyes.

"Well, Mr. Urnston. Is this true?" Severus asked. "Did you attempt to hex Miss Malfoy when her back was turned and then all of you continued to try to attack her when she ran into the niche? Why would you do this to a housemate?"

Franklin stubbornly did not say a word. The DKV taught that when a member was caught doing wrong, to say nothing and to never admit guilt.

"It's because she quit the young DKV, dad…I mean Professor," Mathias said as Severus frowned at him. He was always supposed to address his father formally in front of others to avoid outright charges of favoritism and nepotism. Charges that were actually quite true.

Severus looked at Jasmine with both eyebrows arched.

"You quit the Young DKV, Miss Malfoy?" Severus asked her.

"Yes sir. I decided…it wasn't for me," she said quietly.

"I see. And your ex-club members didn't take this well," he said, frowning at Franklin and the others.

Jasmine shrugged. She wasn't going to say anything against the Young DKV publicly.

Severus looked at Franklin and the other DKV members severely.

"Mr. Urnston and the rest of you, it is wrong to try and force others to participate in any organization against their will, no matter how beneficial it is. If Miss Malfoy has decided to leave your club, then you must accept it. She has a right to make her own choices without harassment. Ten points from Slytherin for each of you. I've no need to tell you how much the ninety-point loss will be appreciated by your housemates at this late date. You have lost Slytherin the House Cup through your actions. And you will each serve one night's detention with Hagrid cleaning the thestral stables without magic."

Severus eyed Franklin.

"Mr. Urnston, you have a right to your beliefs. But you have no right to degrade and abuse others with them publicly. Five points from Slytherin for your slurs concerning Mr. Mbutu and another five points for your use of vulgar language in my presence," he said evenly.

"What? Only five points for what he said about Andreas?" Jasmine seethed.

Severus scowled at her.

"Do you presume to tell me how to do my job, Miss Malfoy? Twenty points from Slytherin," Severus said darkly.

Jasmine turned red and was about to complain when both Andreas and Mathias elbowed her sharply. She bit her lip as she scowled at the Potions Master. Franklin and the others looked at her with satisfaction. She had lost more points than the rest of them, excluding Franklin who had the same amount as she did.

"You all may go," the Potion Master said, striding to his office and letting himself in.

The Slytherins all headed in their prospective directions, Franklin and his group heading for Slytherin house and the trio heading for the Room of Requirement. Franklin purposely shouldered Jasmine hard as he passed her. Andreas grabbed Mathias before he tackled the boy. They already were in enough trouble.

"You'll hear about your betrayal, you bitch," he hissed at her. "The Dark Lord will hear about it too, believe me. And your father."

"Tell who you want," Jasmine said, rubbing her shoulder. "I don't care anymore. This is my life."

Franklin gave an ugly little laugh and strode away with the rest of the Young DKV. Mathias walked up to her.

"Are you all right, Jasmine? I'm going to get him for that shoulder thing," the wizard seethed, looking after the group.

Jasmine looked at him and sighed.

"Don't bother, Mathias. No need to pull you into this. I've got to deal with the backlash myself. I'll be all right," she said.

Andreas looked at Jasmine, but said nothing. He hoped her courage would hold up.

"Let's go to the ROR. I need to let off some steam," Jasmine said, walking up the corridor. Mathias and Andreas looked at each other. This meant they would have to serve as the witch's hexing targets and let her hit them a few times to make her feel better.

Ah well, they were trying to toughen up anyway.

The next day, Jasmine was summoned to Dumbledore's office. When she arrived, Professor Dumbledore welcomed her.

"Ah, Miss Malfoy…so nice to see you my dear. Your father is here to see you," the Headmaster said.

Draco rose from the large armchair in front of Albus' desk. He looked at his daughter with a dark expression. Jasmine swallowed.

"Hello father," she said in a small voice.

"Headmaster, could my daughter and I have a few moments alone?" Draco asked Albus without taking his eyes off Jasmine.

"Why certainly, Draco. I was going to the kitchens to raid their sherbet stores. They served an excellent lemon sherbert yesterday at supper. I wanted to see if they had any leftovers. I should be back in half an hour or so," the Headmaster said good-naturedly, heading for the office door. He smiled at Jasmine as he passed, then exited.

Once outside, the Headmaster's smile faded. He was aware that Jasmine had quit the DKV because her name disappeared off the magical roster he kept of the various clubs at Hogwarts. He was happy to see it gone. Obviously, Draco was here to chastise her. He hoped the witch stuck to her guns. He walked down the spiral staircase and into Hogwarts proper.

"What is this I hear about you quitting the DKV and being intimate with black wizards?" Draco hissed at her.

Jasmine blinked her eyes at him.

"I haven't been intimate with anyone, father," she replied shocked.

"You were seen going into a black wizard's room arm and arm with him. Alone," Draco said.

"That was just Andreas. We went to his room to talk," she replied.

Draco scowled.

"To talk? What in the hell could you have to talk to him about, Jasmine? You have nothing in common with him. You are nobility, and he…he's just a jungle bunny," Draco replied. "Totally beneath you. You degrade yourself just by associating with him. No decent wizard will want you."

Jasmine looked at her father and realized just how horrible he sounded. He didn't know anything about Andreas and immediately classified him as someone inferior just because of his background.

"Andreas is a pureblood like we are," Jasmine argued.

"He's a black pureblood. Completely different from us. I don't want you hanging around him," Draco said. "That's my final word on this. And you WILL join the DKV again."

"I won't," Jasmine declared meeting her father's eyes. "I won't join anything that has to do with Voldemort."

Draco eyes widened and he looked about Dumbledore's office as if the walls had ears. They did. The portraits were all listening.

"Get out of here, all of you," Draco cried to the portraits, "before I hit you with a turpentine spell!"

The portraits beat a hasty retreat. Empty chairs and parlors abounded as they vacated their paintings. Draco grabbed his daughter hard by the shoulders, his handsome face contorted in fear and disbelief.

"Jasmine are you trying to get us both killed?" Draco hissed at her. "Don't you ever say anything like that again, witch! We will lose everything. Everything. Including our lives," the wizard said, shaking her hard.

"Father, I saw what he did to another consort. She was bitten, scratched and beaten all over her body. She said Voldemort wasn't even human and did horrible things to her. I don't want to be his consort, father," Jasmine gasped at him, "I don't want to be involved in anything that wants to make a wizard like that the leader of the wizarding world. I don't believe anything they say about him or the DKV anymore."

Draco slapped the witch, hard, knocking her to the floor. Jasmine was stunned, and brought her hand up to her face, staring at her father. He had never struck her before.

"When you turn eighteen…you WILL go to the Dark Lord. He is a man like any other man, Jasmine and you are a Malfoy. Your role was going to be influencing wizards to our advantage. And that is what you will do, daughter, or I swear I will pull you out of Hogwarts and send you away to someplace worse than Azkaban. I mean it, Jasmine. You are my daughter and you are to obey me."

He looked down on the witch. Her cheek was bruising.

"Maybe I've done too much for you," he said, "Maybe I should let you feel what it is to be a pauper. Maybe then you'll appreciate me better if I take it away for a while. Yes, that's it. This summer is going to be much different for you than any other summer, Jasmine. Two wandless months working on our island plantation will make you more appreciative of the luxurious life you have," Draco said in a low voice.

He grasped her chin and raised her from the floor painfully, bringing his face close to hers, his gray eyes as hard as diamonds.

"By the time I'm finished with you, Lady Jasmine Narcissa Malfoy, you will be a properly obedient witch and willing to do what I say…exactly as you are supposed to do. There is a price that comes with privilege. You have a role to play…and you WILL play it. Do you understand me?"

Jasmine looked up at the stranger who used to be her father.

"Yes sir," she whispered.

Draco tossed her back, stood up and straightened his robes.

"I expect you home this Friday. You will leave for the island Saturday morning by one-way port key," he said to her, exiting Dumbledore's office.

Jasmine pulled herself up into the armchair and sat there a moment, rubbing her aching cheek. She had stopped carrying a compact, so she couldn't look to see the damage her father had caused. He had never, ever struck her before. She was stunned, but could see he was terrified at what she had said. Gods, what was she going to do now?

She sat quietly in the armchair for a moment…and then the tears came.

Jasmine went to Poppy before Dumbledore returned, with a story of stumbling and hitting her cheek. Poppy had no reason to disbelieve the witch. She hadn't gotten the news about Jasmine defection from the Young DKV. Actually, Poppy hadn't been to many DVK meetings for a while. She didn't like being ostracized, and the DKV hadn't come after her when she stopped showing up at meetings. She was a non-entity in the organization after all. But whether she attended the meetings or not…she still had the mark. She could still be controlled if Voldemort invoked it. Poppy was not as much a non-entity as she or the others thought. The Dark Lord was aware of her. She worked at Hogwarts after all. Any DKV member that had access to Dumbledore was important.

"That was quite a nasty bruise, Jasmine. You have fair skin, you have to be careful," Poppy said as she helped her off the cot.

"Thank you Madame Pomfrey," Jasmine said, and she exited the infirmary.

She met up with Mathias and Andreas and spent the rest of the day with them, listening to their plans for the summer. Apparently they were going to spend some time together over the vacation.

"What are you going to do this summer, Jasmine? Lie around the Manor and give house elves orders?" Mathias asked her, his eyes mirthful. Jasmine hated when he teased her about being luxuriously lazy.

"Probably," the witch said, her eyes dark.

Andreas studied her, his face sober.

"Your summer will do you good, Jasmine. You will learn things," he said to her. "Things you may never have known otherwise. You will learn about people."

Mathias laughed. He didn't have the gift as strongly as Andreas. He could only get glimpses of someone's future at odd times. Andreas could access larger pieces if he concentrated, though not everything.

"I can imagine what kind of people. Butlers, servants, chauffeurs, manicurists, chefs," Mathias said, smirking, "The list goes on and on."

Jasmine gave him a sad little smile.

"You've got me pegged, Mathias," she said to him, then headed for her rooms.

"You'll be all right, little sister," Andreas said under his breath as he watched her leave.

She never did tell Mathias what her father had planned for her that summer.

Severus made arrangements with Andreas' parents for him to stay the summer at Hogwarts, supposedly for private and free brewing lessons. His father, a prestigious solicitor and his mother, who had her own very successful Healing practice, were ecstatic to let Andreas stay under the care of his Head of House and learn potions. They felt it would give him an advantage. Severus' skills were well known throughout the wizarding world and they gave their permission gladly. Andreas and Mathias shared the extra room in Severus' quarters, the décor neatly divided between luxury and starkness.

Monday night, Severus led the boys across the grounds of Hogwarts to the main gates. He wouldn't tell them where they were going. Both Mathias and Andreas were very excited. The Potions Master let them out, warded the gates back, placed an arm around each young wizard's shoulder and disapparated.

They appeared on a rather rundown street in muggle London, where the houses were in various states of disrepair. Severus began walking and the boys followed, looking about them curiously. Severus stopped and faced two rather beaten up houses. It looked as if no one was home in either of them.

"Why are we stopping here?" Mathias asked him.

In response, Severus muttered something. Suddenly, a third rundown house appeared, pushing the others aside as it expanded horizontally. The windows were grimy and the house unkempt. Both Mathias' and Andreas' eyebrows rose as the house forced itself between the others. Didn't anyone notice this when it happened? But then again, this was a muggle neighborhood. Muggles hardly noticed anything.

"Come on," Severus said walking up to the black painted door and pushing it open, followed closely by the young wizards. They entered and were immediately greeted by a bright female voice.

"Hey there, Professor! Good to see you!"

Nymphadora Tonks walked up to them, smiling broadly. The Auror didn't seem to age and looked to be as young as ever. She was dressed in sweats, trainers and a white wife beater that showed off her sinewy, muscular but still feminine arms. Her hair was spiked and colored green and purple. She had hazel eyes and a cute, pixieish face. There was an air of mischievousness about her.

"Hello Tonks," Severus said, giving her a slight smile. He gestured to the boys.

"Allow me to introduce you to my son, Mathias and his friend Andreas Mbutu," he said.

"Hello boys," Tonks said, grinning at them. "I'm Nymphadora Tonks, but you can call me Tonks. Actually, you'd better call me Tonks."

Her hazel eyes went hard for a moment. She wasn't kidding. She hated being called Nymphadora. She had given out a couple of black eyes to wizards for using her given name. The witch claimed her mother must have hated her from the womb to give her such a hideous name.

Tonks looked at Mathias speculatively.

Gods, Severus…he's the spitting image of you…except he hasn't got that great honker of a nose."

Mathias expected his father to say something rather nasty to the witch, but the Professor just shook his head.

"No he hasn't, Tonks. He's got Hermione's nose," the wizard replied.

She nodded, then peered at Andreas.

"Mbutu, eh? Your mum wouldn't be Sharika Mbutu, the Healer would she?" Tonks asked him.

"Yes. Sharika Mbutu is my mother," Andreas confirmed.

Tonks beamed at him.

"Your mum's a miracle worker. Every time I twist something she fixes me right up, better than any healing potion. I love her," Tonks said, still smiling. "Now come on into the kitchen and have a pumpkin juice before you get started. Got to keep you hydrated. Fighting deatheaters is a nasty business," she said as she headed for the kitchen. Severus gestured for the startled boys to follow her.

Andreas and Mathias looked at each other. Fighting deatheaters? They were going to be fighting deatheaters?

They entered the kitchen and Tonks already had the juice out, pouring it into large glasses on the counter.

"Sit down, take a load off," she said.

There was a rather large, rectangular kitchen table with three chairs on each side and one on each end. Severus took the seat at the far end and the boys sat next to each other on the right side of the table. Tonks brought their juice over and sat down at the other end of the table. She watched them drink, her eyes flicking to Severus. He nodded slightly.

"So, you boys want to kill Voldemort, eh?" Tonks asked them as they drank their juice. Both boys spluttered then looked accusingly at Severus.

Tonks laughed.

"Aw, don't worry that I know. I'm going to be one of your trainers. Killing Voldemort is the prime objective around here. Everyone wants to knock him off. We just can't get to him. We're hoping you two can," Tonks said soberly.

So Tonks was going to train them. Both boys looked her over skeptically. They were about the same size as she was, and she was a witch. How good could she be?

Tonks saw them sizing her up.

"Don't let my size fool you. I'll kick both your little asses," she said to them evenly.

Severus smirked. He knew the boys had the mistaken idea that all wizards were physically stronger than witches. Most might be, but when fighting…strength wasn't everything. Skill and speed had much to do with being a formidable fighter. Tonks was one of the best fighters the Order had.

Mathias wanted to say, "I'd like to see you try," but held his tongue. Still, Tonks looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"You want to have a go at me, don't you Mathias?" she asked him directly.

"I'd like to see how well you fight, yes," the wizard replied.

"All right. You'll be the first to kiss the mat then," the witch said, giving him a rather nasty grin.

Severus looked down at his pumpkin juice and shook his head. His son was in for quite a humbling first session, he was sure. The boys didn't know they were to stay at Order Headquarters for the week. He would pick them up on the weekend and bring them to Hermione's. The only negative aspect of having the two boys was he couldn't visit Hermione during the week without them. She'd get suspicious.

"Is physical combat all we will do?" Andreas asked.

Tonks looked at Andreas, then at Severus, smirking.

"No, there will be quite a bit of silly wand-waving," she replied, taking a jibe at Severus' first year speech he did every year.

Both boys grinned and looked at the Professor, who had his arms folded, smirking at Tonks. Again, he said nothing.

Mathias realized that his father respected this witch very much. Severus never respected anyone without reason. He'd better pay attention to Miss Nymphadora Tonks.

"Where's Kingsley?" Severus asked her.

"Oh, working late at the Ministry. They are interrogating someone," Tonks replied.

"Who is Kingsley?" Mathias asked.

Tonks eyes went rather hot for a moment.

"Kingsley is my other half. He will be responsible for your 'conditioning.' In other words he will be toughening you two up. He'll make you strong, lean and mean, though you two seem lean enough already. How old are you?"

"Sixteen," Andreas said.

"Almost sixteen," Mathias replied.

Tonks smiled at Mathias.

"You can't wait to grow up, can you?" she asked him.

"I have things to do," Mathias replied soberly.

"We have things to do," Andreas added, his eyes also sober.

Tonks studied the boys, rather surprised by the determination in their eyes. She saw they were finished with their juice.

"All right," she said, rising from the table, "Let's do it then."

Tonks led them to a doorway. She opened it and walked down a flight of stairs. Mathias, Andreas and Severus followed them, the Potions Master smirking. They entered a kind of lobby. There was an office on one side with a large window. A few chairs were scattered about, and there were doors on the opposite wall. A large bare wall was directly in front of them.

Tonks turned to the boys and looked at them speculatively.

"This is where members of the Order learn their fighting techniques. We have an outfitting room, a workout room, a training room and a rather specialized Room of Requirement for fighting scenarios of all types. You'll be taking a peek in there later on. "Now, give me your wands. I have to put them up."

Mathias and Andreas handed Tonks their wands. She took them into her office and locked them in her top drawer, warding it securely. She came back out and walked over to the first door on the far wall.

Now, into the outfitting room, both of you," Tonks said to the young wizards, winking at Severus. "Coming Professor?"

Severus looked rather amused.

"No, Tonks. I think this experience will be more effective without the boys being able to fall back on me for support," the wizard said smirking at her as she pulled the door open. Andreas and Mathias walked in, Tonks following closely behind.

There were lockers, long benches and showers in the outfitting room, and a door leading to a storage closet. They turned and looked at Tonks.

"Strip," she said.

"What?" both boys said together.

"Get naked. I need to outfit you. I have to get a good look at you both to see what you need," she said, grinning.

"But…but you're a witch!" Mathias sputtered, looking worried.

He didn't have his wand so couldn't disillusion the serpent-shaped scars on his chest he received from his journey to the Dark Soul of the World's domain. Andreas only had claw marks. Tonks would probably just think it was something ethnic on his part.

"Nice of you to notice. I'm also your trainer. Don't worry boys, I've seen more tools than I can count, all shapes and sizes. I've ceased to be impressed. Now strip down," she said, walking to the closet door, opening it and entering.

Mathias looked at Andreas desperately. The black wizard was busily opening his robes

"I don't have my wand, Andreas. She's going to see my serpent scar. She might say something to my father," Mathias hissed at him.

Andreas stopped undressing for a moment.

"Yes. That could be a problem," he replied, smirking at Mathias, who scowled at him.

"It's not funny, Andreas. I don't want to tell Dad about my journey," he said.

"All right. Calm down, brother. I will fix it so she doesn't see your serpent," he said.

Andreas' powers had strengthened. He no longer needed dolls to focus his energy on a person. He stood still for a moment, then concentrated. He looked at Mathias.

"She will not see your scars. Only smooth, soft, pale skin," he said, smiling at Mathias.

"What do you mean soft? I'm not soft!" Mathias said to him, his nostrils flaring.

Andreas chuckled and continued taking off his clothes. Both boys wore only boxers, socks and trainers under their robes.

"I've never been naked in front of a witch before," Mathias said, unbuttoning his robes. He felt very apprehensive about a witch looking at his "goods." Since James' comment about him being abnormal, he was sensitive about the size of his penis.

Andreas pulled off his robe and laid it on the bench. He sat down and removed his socks and trainers. Then he stood up and pulled down his green silk boxers. Mathias looked at him and felt better immediately. Andreas was also rather "abnormal". The black wizard grinned at him.

"My mother says I am very blessed," he smirked at Mathias.

Mathias removed his own clothes. Andreas looked him over.

"You have also been very blessed, brother," the wizard said.

Mathias looked down at his tool.

"I guess so," he replied. Both boys stood side by side waiting for Tonks to return. Mathias felt more confident now that he knew Andreas was big too.

Tonks walked out of the storeroom, her arms full of clothing. On top of the sweats and wife beaters, she carried specialized trainers, socks, two jock straps and two athletic cups. She set them down on the bench and looked at the two naked wizards. They were both well built for their age. Mathias was going to be lean and sinewy with broader shoulders than his father. Andreas was going to be broad chested. He already had quite muscular arms. Both boys had strong torsos and abdominal muscles. It was easy to see they either worked out or were very physical. Tonks' eyes dropped to their loins. She didn't show any reaction other than to pick up the cups she had.

"Well, these certainly won't fit," she said, walking back into the storeroom.

Mathias and Andreas looked at each other, grinning.

Tonks never did notice Mathias' serpent, and the wife beater was thick enough to hide the image. They followed her back out into the lobby, where Severus waited. He looked over the boys. They both wore white wife beaters and blue sweats, signifying they were beginners. They also wore headgear, mouthpieces, elbow and kneepads, and heavy five-fingered fighting gloves, heavily padded on top

"Any problems, Tonks?" he asked the witch.

"Other than having to find cups big enough for these two studs, everything was fine," she said. "They're both hung like hippogriffs."

Severus arched an eyebrow at the boys.

"She called us studs," Mathias whispered to Andreas, his voice distorted by the mouthpiece. "What's a stud?"

Andreas shrugged. They'd ask Severus later.

Tonks studied them. She wore padded gloves and knee and elbow pads. Nothing else. This was her favorite part of starting training. The ass-kicking, humbling part. Severus' son had a lot of confidence. Tonks could also sense he was a bit of a chauvinist, and didn't believe witches could really fight. He thought he could beat her.

This was going to be fun.

They entered the training room. The walls and floors were heavily padded with matting, and there were long benches at one end of the room. It looked like a place were psychos could be kept for their own protection. Severus followed them in and took a seat on one of the benches, unfastening the top of his robes to get comfortable. This promised to be quite interesting.

Tonks looked at Mathias and Andreas.

"All right, what do you know?" she asked.

Mathias took out his mouthpiece.

"Well, I was trained by Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley when I was very young. I work out every day with Andreas. I taught him what I know. He's just as good as I am," Mathias said rather proudly.

Tonks nodded mentally noting Mathias considered himself a "good" fighter.

"So you know Auror moves. Basic or Advanced?" she asked the wizard.

"Advanced," Mathias said rather evenly.

Tonks didn't even blink. She looked at Andreas.

"Andreas, you go sit down next to the Professor until it's your turn," she said.

Andreas obediently walked over and sat down next to the Professor.

Tonks looked at Mathias.

"This is just an evaluation to find out how skilled you are," she said, "Now, when we start, I want you to go on the offensive and try to take me down. Don't be afraid to do full contact, because that will be what I'll be doing. If I hit you, Mathias…you are going to feel it," she said.

"If you hit me," Mathias repeated, putting his mouthpiece back in.

Tonks grinned at him. Oh, this was going to be fun.

Severus let out a little groan when he heard Mathias' reply. Tonks loved cocky new students.

Tonks backed up from him and took a defensive stance.

"Come and get some, Mathias Snape," she said, grinning unpleasantly.

Mathias wasted no time. Silently he charged Tonks and executed a series of full contact kicks and blows…only to find she wasn't there. Suddenly, the wizard's legs were swept out from under him from behind, and he fell hard to the mat on his back

Dazed, Mathias looked up at a smiling Tonks.

"Nice delivery. Too bad no one was there to receive the package," she said, "Kicks and blows mean nothing if you can't keep up with your opponent. Get up and show me something else."

Mathias got back up. Damn, the witch was fast.

Both Andreas' and Severus' dark eyes rested on the two opponents.

"Mathias is going to get his butt kicked," Andreas observed, his mouthpiece in his glove, "Me too."

Severus nodded.

"Yep," he said shortly as he watched his son take another stance.

The boy was skilled enough to beat other students, but far from being able to take on a truly skilled fighter. But he and Andreas had three years to work on their skills.

Mathias stared at Tonks, then feinted to the right, aiming a blow at her head. Tonks slipped it and spun, kicking Mathias in the side of the head powerfully. His headgear absorbed much of the blow, but down he went, this time seeing stars. He was getting his ass kicked by a witch.

He lay there in the fetal position for about two minutes, then rose to his feet, a scowl on his face. He hadn't managed to touch her yet. This time when they took their stances, Mathias charged her, wrapping his arms around her waist, his head cushioned in her breasts. But there was nothing remotely sexual about it as Tonks went down and tumbled, rolling Mathias over using the wizard's own force, pinning him to the mat on his back and punching him in both sides of his head several times before springing off of him.

"That could have been your face, but I didn't want something so pretty bruising," Tonks said teasingly. Severus shook his head as Mathias unsteadily got up and charged Tonks again. This time she stopped him with a powerful knee to the solar plexus, and Mathias fell to his knees, doubled over and vomited.

"Ewww," Tonks said, wrinkling her nose. "Now that's just nasty."

Mathias wiped his mouth and stood up shakily. He took another defensive stance, his eyes wet. Tonks shook her head.

"Nope. You're done Mathias. You need a lot of work, wouldn't you say?" Tonks asked him.

Mathias looked at the witch. She had hit him so hard he threw up. He couldn't remember ever being hit so hard.

"Yes," he said sullenly.

Tonks nodded approvingly.

"You're a smart one. Most young wizards come in here and say my kicking their asses was a fluke, and go through several sessions of me knocking their blocks off until they finally admit they need more training. Better to admit you need help…ya know?"

Mathias nodded.

"Severus, can you get that?" Tonks called over to the Potions Master and pointing to the vomit.

Severus whipped out his wand and did a long distance scourgify.

Tonks patted Mathias on his shoulder.

"You know, you're not half bad…you just need focus and a bit of help. You can't improve if you don't fight better fighters than you. That's the only way you'll get better," she said comfortingly. Then she mushed Mathias in the face, making his head snap back. He looked at her angrily, but didn't attempt to retaliate.

Tonks nodded again in approval.

"You're pissed but you're thinking. You didn't go for me. That a sign of someone who's going to be a good fighter. Now go sit down next to your Dad, and send Andreas to me," she directed.

Mathias stalked over to the bench and sat down.

"She wants you, Andreas," he said sullenly.

Andreas sighed, stood up, put his mouthpiece in and walked toward Tonks as if going to the gallows. He knew he wasn't going to fare much better than Mathias. And he was right.

Andreas had a problem going after Tonks because she was a witch. He was raised not to strike witches. They were the weaker sex after all. This pissed Tonks off to no end.

"So, you think witches are soft, eh?" she said, unleashing a series of kicks and blows on the boy, knocking him around until he fell, curled and dazed on the mats, panting and aching all over. He didn't have a problem trying to beat the hell out of Tonks after that…though like Mathias, he couldn't touch her and got his ass royally kicked.

She pretty much told Andreas what she told Mathias, and tripped him so he fell face first to the mats as he started to walk away. Andreas flipped over and looked at the witch, his eyes narrowed. But like Mathias, he didn't try to retaliate.

Tonks sent the boys back to the outfitting room, telling them to shower then dress again. The boys walked silently from the room, humbled.

They weren't the fighters they believed they were.

But they would be.

Severus walked up to Tonks.

"So what do you think?" he asked her.

Tonks looked thoughtful.

"They have better moves than most of the newbies I get in here. Better than I did when I came here. I was the clumsiest Auror in the Ministry. If it hadn't been for my being a metamorphmagus, they would have given me the boot. But those boys are determined, Severus. I think they will be absolutely deadly in a couple of years. I suggest extensive weapons training as well. Maybe Mathias has your talent with a short sword."

The wizard nodded.

"I'm giving them over to you and Kingsley, Tonks. Mold them and make them the best they can be. I would like my son to live," he said soberly, his black eyes glinting, "And Andreas too. He is a fine young wizard."

Tonks looked at the Potions Master, rather surprised. This was the most emotional statement she had ever heard from him.

"Don't worry, Professor. I'll try to keep him around long enough so he can give you lots of grandchildren," she replied.

Severus' eyebrows rose. He had never even thought about grandchildren.

"Thank you, Tonks," he said as they both headed for the exit.

Tonks looked up at him.

"So tell me, Professor…did Mathias get that monster of a joystick from you or was that a gift from his mum's side?" she asked him curiously.

Severus shook his head.

One never knew what madness would come out of the Auror's mouth.

"Tonks, you really need to bone up on your etiquette," Severus said to her, "You have no sense of propriety at all."

"Propriety? Etiquette? What's that?" she grinned up at him.

Severus sighed. Tonks was a handful. He didn't know how Kingsley dealt with the wild-natured witch. But obviously the Auror was good at it. The couple had been together for years. The Potions Master sat down in one of the lobby chairs as Tonks walked into her office. He looked at the closed door to the outfitting room.

He hoped the boys would hurry. He was looking forward to the next test.

Mathias and Andreas exited the outfitting room to find Severus and Tonks talking in low tones. Both witch and wizard looked up when the door closed. Severus had a small mirror in his hand.

Both boys had showered and dressed, Mathias' hair quite damp and flat to his head. Tonks walked up to them and handed the wizards their wands.

"Here you go," she said, looking them over again.

Mathias instantly applied a light drying spell to his hair, leaving it slightly damp. Over drying made a mess of it. Both boys looked at Tonks expectantly. She rubbed her hands together.

"All right, now that you two know you are not invincible, its time for you to do a run-through of the Room of Requirement. Have you ever used one before?" she asked them.

Both boys nodded. They practically lived in the ROR at Hogwarts.

Tonks walked over to the blank wall and made several motions with her hand. A seam appeared, then expanded horizontally to form a door.

"This is the Order's Room of Requirement. It's much more advanced than the ROR at Hogwarts," she said with a grim little smile. This room can be set to specific levels of challenge. You two will be set to Advanced Beginner. The room will test your magical and physical skill levels. The Professor and I have decided on a specific scenario. At the end of the room you find yourself in, there will be a glowing blue gem on a pedestal. You have to retrieve that gem and exit the room intact," she said evenly, her hazel eyes shifting from one wizard to the other.

Severus watched as Tonks gave the boys their instructions. They were going to get quite a surprise when they entered that room. Tonks wasn't telling them the whole story.

"Wait right here," Tonks said, walking toward the ROR door, "I have to set up the room for you."

Tonks opened the door, and both boys tried to see what was inside but she closed it quickly behind her.

Mathias looked at his father.

"What's in there, Dad?" he asked Severus.

"You'll see," Severus replied obliquely.

The ROR was a completely empty all-white room. Tonks stood in the center.

"Level one point five. Scenario: Fortress. Golems…" Tonks hesitated, looking thoughtful, "Seven. Deatheaters: Defensive/Offensive mode. Physical level: two. Magical level: one. Aggression: five. Damage level one. Reactive. Voice engaged."

Tonks then went for the coup de grace

"Golem: One prefab Dark Lord. Offensive mode. Physical level: one. Magical level: five. Aggression: ten. Damage level: two. Reactive. Voice: Engaged. Scenario begins with prefab throne visual."

Tonks smiled. That ought to get their hearts pumping.

"Entry: Corridor, locked door, indirect view," she said. "Weapons: staff two. Deflectives: five: chairs. Blue prize. End scenario with plus two damage. End scenario blue prize to exit."

Satisfied she had set the room properly, the Auror exited.

Mathias and Andreas looked at the spiky haired witch anxiously when she emerged and closed the door. They both started to approach the ROR, wanting to see what was in there. Tonks held up her hand.

"You've got to wait a bit. The room is setting up," Tonks said. "My, you both are anxious to get whipped, aren't you?"

Both Andreas and Mathias scowled slightly, unable to defend themselves in lieu of Tonks kicking both their asses so easily. They didn't respond.

Tonks chuckled and Severus arched an eyebrow at the boys.

"Will we have to get around obstacles?" Andreas asked her, thinking the room would be providing difficult terrains, magical puzzles or something similar.

"Obstacles? Oh, yeah. There will be obstacles all right," Tonks replied, a rather evil grin on her face. She knew the boys had never encountered golems in the ROR at Hogwarts. It didn't generate them.

Golems were temporary human constructs that served a specific physical purpose then faded away when that purpose was fulfilled. They had rudimentary thought processes and could be programmed with specific behaviors. They could also duplicate actual human beings in features and actions.

Golems were also automatically generated by the ROR in populated settings such as a reproduction of Hogsmeade, and automatically assigned roles. In the case of sneak attacks, any golem could be an enemy, and have varied levels of fighting skill depending on the skills of the person in training. Magical attacks could be simulated, and pain could be felt from the psuedo-hexes thrown by the constructs.

The ROR also stored information on the trainees as they battled their way through, saving it for the next scenario to generate more challenging golems or work on strengthening weaknesses. The ROR was quite an effective training aid.

Severus looked into the mirror he held.

"The ROR is ready, Tonks," he said to the witch. The Potions Master and Tonks would be able to monitor the boys' progress through the mirror.

"Right-o," Tonks said, looking at the boys. "Go on in, and do your best."

Mathias and Andreas looked at each other, then started for the door. Andreas pulled it open and they both looked in warily. All they saw was a corridor with a door at the end.

"Don't just stand there, go in!" Tonks urged.

Mathias and Andreas entered the corridor, leaving the door open in case they needed to beat a hasty retreat. Tonks slammed it closed as Severus chuckled.

Tonks walked over to him scowling and sat down, looking into the mirror, which showed the boys looking back with startled looks on their faces.

"Someone always tries to leave the door open," Tonks snorted.

Severus smirked, moving the mirror slightly so Tonks could see better.

Well, now he'd see what the boys could do.

Mathias and Andreas stood before the closed door.

"What do you think is in there, Andreas?" he asked.

Andreas concentrated.

"I can't see anything. Probably because the ROR is actually illusion," the wizard replied.

"Yeah, but an illusion that we can touch, taste and smell," he said.

Andreas scowled slightly.

"How bad can it be? We will probably have to climb over mountains or swim, or something like that to reach the blue gem. We can do that," the wizard said.

Mathias nodded.

"Let's go in though, but open it slowly. The door might trigger something," he said.

Andreas gripped the knob and turned it slowly, his wand at the ready. Mathias was right behind him. They pushed the door open quietly and peered inside.

"Wow," Mathias breathed.

The corridor opened on to a huge circular stone room. Flickering torches lined the walls, and a number of doors were cut into the stone. The floor was bare, but there were dark stains everywhere. Several high-backed armchairs were scattered about, and there were two long poles lying on the floor as if dropped there. In the center of the room was a throne, turned slightly. Directly in front of the throne about twenty feet away was a pedestal, and on that pedestal rested a glowing blue gem.

"This is a throne room," Andreas said, looking about carefully.

"I don't see any obstacles, Andreas. It looks like a straight shot from here to the blue gem," the wizard said.

Andreas studied the room.

"It can't be that easy, Mathias, there has to be something guarding that stone, or some magical protections…I think this is supposed to be Voldemort's throne room," Andreas said, "He's the only one I could imagine with a throne."

Mathias' eyebrows rose. So this was what Voldemort's throne room looked like.

"There's blood everywhere," the wizard said, his dark eyes falling on the stains.

"Creepy," Andreas agreed, "But come on, we have to try and get that gem. Let's stick to the wall, wands out."

Mathias nodded and both boys slipped out of the corridor and pressed themselves against the wall.

"Now what?" Mathias asked, "Should we try to sneak up on the throne?"

Andreas looked at the throne hard. He thought he saw some kind of movement.

"I think someone is sitting there," he hissed at Mathias. Both boys hunkered down a bit.

"We need to see who it is. If someone is there, we have to get him out of the way to get the gem," Mathias said.

"All right. Slowly then brother," Andreas whispered, sidling along the wall, trying to keep to the flickering shadows so their movements would be hidden. The two boys crept around until they could see who was on the throne.

"Voldemort!" Mathias hissed, "That's him, Andreas…that's how he looked when I saw past his glamour."

Yes, it was Voldemort, or a Voldemort golem, perfectly reproduced from the thin body, to the scaly skin, red eyes, ear and nose slits and lipless mouth. He was dressed in an elaborate gold robe and didn't move, looking straight ahead, apparently at the sparkling blue gem.

"Maybe it's a statue. He's not moving," Andreas said.

"No, you saw something move before. Maybe he's someone dressed up to look like Voldemort," Mathias whispered.

"No, I would have felt another human presence. This is something else entirely. I get nothing from it," Andreas said. "No life force. Shift to aura view and see what I mean."

Mathias did so, and there was a colorless shimmer around the wizard sitting in the chair, but it was a glow associated with inanimate objects.

"No, its not alive," Mathias said, his brow furrowed, "But still, something's up, Andreas."

Severus and Tonks watched as the boys tried to decide what they were seeing and what to do about it. The mirror didn't have sound however, so they couldn't tell what the boys were talking about.

"They're cautious. That's good," Tonks said, "A lot of newbies just rush in without taking in their surroundings."

Severus nodded, but didn't say anything. The image of his son in Voldemort's throne room was unnerving, even though it was only a construct. He leaned forward, watching the young wizards intently.

"We can't just stay here," Mathias said, looking at the tall armchair in front of them. "That chair is big enough for both of us to hide behind. Let's move closer…we can check him out better. I'll go first."

Andreas nodded and watched as Mathias bent low and ran silently for the armchair. He ducked behind it and peeked out at the wizard sitting on the throne. He still hadn't moved. He waved at Andreas to come join him.

Andreas looked furtively at the wizard in the throne. Something was wrong here. The wizard pushed off the wall and ran for the chair, but stumbled on the way. Suddenly, Voldemort looked in his direction.

"Who is in my throne room!" the wizard cried in a high-pitched voice, rising and looking toward the armchair.

"Oh shit!" Mathias hissed.

"My deatheaters! Come! There are intruders!" the wizard commanded.

Suddenly, there were several flashes of light and seven deatheaters appeared, wands in hand. They were fully robed and wearing half-skull masks. One appeared directly behind Mathias and Andreas.

"I see them my Lord!" the deatheater cried, rushing forward and shooting what appeared to be a stunner at the boys. A cry went up from the other deatheaters.

"Scramble!" Mathias shouted at Andreas as they leaped out of the way of the blast.

Mathias fired back at the deatheater hitting him. He fell. Andreas ran to another armchair, barely slipping several powerful blasts. He fired over the back of the armchair and hit another deatheater, who also fell.

Mathias was running around the throne room trying to avoid the attacking deatheaters. One dove for him, and Mathias managed to stop, the deatheater flying by him and hitting the wall hard. He slid down the wall, stunned.

Mathias looked to see Andreas struggling with another deatheater, who had his arm wrapped around the black wizard's throat, choking him as another approached, smiling, his wand drawn.

"No!" Mathias cried, running toward his brother. Andreas managed to bend and flip the wizard over his back as Mathias slammed into the other deatheater with all his weight, knocking him away

Mathias desperately cast a binding spell on the fallen deatheater, tying him up securely as Andreas viciously began kicking the deatheater who had choked him in the head. Another deatheater ran forward and fired a blast at the distracted wizard, hitting Andreas squarely in the chest. The boy flew several feet through the air and landed hard on his back. He didn't move.

"Andreas!" Mathias screamed, then ducked and weaved as the remaining three deatheaters fired at him.

He ran in a zigzag pattern, firing blasts over his shoulder as he dove for another armchair. He couldn't get to Andreas, but managed to hold the deatheaters off, exchanging blasts with them as he dragged the armchair back, trying to get his back against the wall. He didn't see Voldemort approaching from the side until it was too late.

"Avada Kedavra!" the scaly wizard cried, pointing his wand at Mathias and bathing him in simulated green light.

Suddenly, everything froze, then disappeared, the room becoming empty and white. Andreas lay on the floor, propped up on his elbows and looking around dazedly. He groaned.

Mathias looked around the room, then walked over to Andreas, caught him by the hand and helped him to his feet. He then retrieved his wand, which was several feet away.

"I guess we lost," Andreas said, accepting his wand from Mathias, then brushing off his robes.

"Yes. You were down and Voldemort killed me," Mathias said, "But we didn't do too bad, Andreas. They were grown wizards after all. We got four of them."

"Yes," Andreas said, "but nowhere near the blue gem. We didn't even try to go for it, we were so busy fighting. One of us should have tried to get it."

Mathias scowled.

"It's hard to go for something when everyone in the room is trying to kill you," he said.

"Yes, but we still should have tried. We had a goal and got side-tracked," Andreas said. "Next time we need a plan."

Mathias nodded. Next time they would be more focused.

"We should have kept our eyes on Voldemort too. It was like I forgot about him totally," the pale wizard said, looking around the room again. "But you have to admit, this ROR leaves ours in the dust. That was cool."

The door opened and Tonks stuck her head in.

"Come on, you two. The evaluation's over," she said.

Mathias and Andreas exited the room, walking past Tonks, who looked at them thoughtfully.

Severus walked up to Mathias and gripped both his shoulders.

"Are you all right?" he asked his son, his face paler than usual.

It had shaken Severus horribly when he saw the golem-Voldemort cast the simulated Killing curse on his son. He knew it wasn't real, but gods…it felt like it for just a moment. Mathias could be taken from him.

"I'm fine, Dad," he said.

Severus looked over at Andreas.

"How are you, Andreas. That was quite a blast you took," he said to the wizard.

Andreas give him a small smile.

"I am fine too, sir," he said shortly, "just a little sore."

Severus nodded. Andreas was a tough young wizard.

Tonks walked up to them.

"All right. Andreas got hit, and Mathias got killed. You didn't do too badly for your first time out. At sixteen years old with no actual formal training, you managed to take down four deatheaters at level five aggression. But you didn't keep your eyes on Voldemort, nor did you go for the gem, which was your main goal. You must always focus on your goal, regardless of what obstacles are before you. There were several instances when you were running around in there Mathias, when you could have grabbed the gem. But you ran right by it. If you had grabbed the gem and ran for the exit, you would have won. Also, you were distracted by Andreas. That's not good. You can't protect him and yourself in battle. You need to realize that. It's every man for himself for the most part. The best way to save your comrades is to complete your goal. Remember that."

Mathias nodded.

"And you, Andreas…you let anger take you over. You were hit by that blast because you were punishing the wizard who choked you. You should have disabled him and continued toward your goal. You cannot let personal feelings control you in such a situation. You have to be focused. Take him out and keep moving. If you don't…you'll end up dead. Understand me?"

Andreas nodded. But the wizard had pissed him off and it had been very satisfying kicking him in the head. Up to the point he got blasted, that is. Tonks was right. He could have just as easily been killed.

"I understand, Tonks," he replied.

"And neither of you made use of the staffs when things got physical. You should always be on the lookout for things that can help you fight. Even if it's a book or a bucket. Anything. You both stepped over the staffs several times," she said, shaking her head.

The boys both dropped their heads. They had been stupid.

Tonks eyes softened.

"But look, you did all right, see? No one wins the first battle…but you boys were close. You just made mistakes, and my job is to fix those mistakes so you won't make them again," Tonks said comfortingly.

"Can we try again?" Mathias asked.

Andreas nodded enthusiastically.

"No, not tonight. In a few days maybe…after Kingsley and I have had a few sessions with you," she said to the boys.

"Sessions? What? We'll be coming back tomorrow?" Mathias asked, looking at his father.

"No, you will be staying until Friday. Actually, the whole of your summer, excluding weekends will be spent here at Order Headquarters. And during school you will be here on many weekends from Friday night until Sunday night as well as some weekdays. I will bring you and retrieve you both. You are going to be trained up, boys. By the time you graduate, you will both be forces to be reckoned with," the Potions Master said. "But, you will have to keep your marks up to par."

Mathias and Andreas looked at each other, smiling broadly.

If they had their way, they'd be assassins.

Tonks met Severus' eyes soberly. She would have to work them hard to get them ready to meet Voldemort's forces. The deatheaters of the inner circle were much more fierce than the golems in the ROR at level five. Much more fierce.

The young wizards really would have to become skilled as assassins to survive them.

It would be her job to make sure they did.

By the end of summer, both Mathias and Andreas had improved greatly in their fighting ability. Now they were thinking fighters instead of skilled brawlers. Neither was a match for Tonks or anywhere near it yet, but the improvement was marked.

Kingsley had worked them unmercifully, strengthening their bodies with exercise and workouts. They each had a grueling morning regime they were expected to do every day, and they did so, their lean bodies becoming hard, but not bulky. They returned to Slytherin house and the other students noticed the difference in them. They were closer than ever and outside of classes, if you saw Mathias, you saw Andreas by his side.

Students from Gryffindor quickly discovered that the boys were faster and meaner than ever, quick to hex and escape every ambush with amazing speed, leaving at least three of the offending attackers infirmary-bound every time.

Jasmine Malfoy returned to Slytherin house rather subdued. Her fair skin was much darker, as if it had a crust. She was also much more toned. But what was most noticeable was her laid back attitude. She did not take her role as Alpha female of the witches when she returned, but was retiring and silent for the most part. She also rejoined the DKV, but as an ordinary member and not in the role of secretary. They welcomed her back with open arms. She attended the meetings regularly, though she rarely participated in any discussions and didn't engage in any extra-curricular activities, such as recruitment or targeted harassment of muggle-borns.

Mathias and Andreas noticed the change in her immediately.

"Jasmine, are you all right?" Mathias asked her one day as they walked to breakfast.

Jasmine nodded.

"I'm fine, Mathias," she replied quietly.

Andreas simply studied her with a small smile on his face, but said nothing.

"You seem different," Mathias said.

"I am," Jasmine said, "Everyone changes, Mathias. I had to grow up this summer. You and Andreas seem different too. More mature."

"That's because we are in disciplined training now," Mathias said, "My father thought learning the Martial Arts would help us be better wizards. So we are studying it now."

Jasmine looked interested.

"Both of you? Really?" she asked him.

Mathias and Andreas nodded. Mathias hadn't told Jasmine the truth as to why they were in training, but managed to let her know they were so she wasn't left out of the loop.

"Do you think I could learn with you?" Jasmine asked Mathias.

Uh oh.

Mathias shook his head quickly.

"No, we have a very private, exclusive teacher. There is a two-student limit," Mathias lied. Jasmine looked at him.

"What's his name?" she asked.

"Can't tell you. Private and exclusive, remember?" Mathias said smugly.

Jasmine scowled at him.

"Perhaps we can show her some moves, Mathias," Andreas said, his black eyes resting on the witch. Jasmine brightened.

Now Mathias scowled at Andreas.

"What?" he said incredulously.

"I said we could teach her to fight. She could work out with us every morning," Andreas said. "We can teach her what we know."

Mathias harrumphed.

"No way. She couldn't possibly make it through one of our workouts. It would be a waste of time," he said as if Jasmine wasn't there. Suddenly he was hit hard in the shoulder. Really hard.

"I can do any workout you can do," Jasmine declared to the pale wizard, who smirked at her as he rubbed his shoulder.

"You think so?" he asked her rather silkily, arching an eyebrow at the witch.

"I've toughened up over the summer," she said evenly. "And I need some kind of outlet, Mathias. Something physical. Please give me a chance."

Mathias looked from Jasmine to Andreas. His brother was smiling encouragingly. He looked back at Jasmine, a doubtful look on his pale face.

"If you worked out and trained with us, it would mean we would get to kick your ass, Jasmine. Really kick it," Mathias said, "That's the only way you would learn anything. You'd have bruises and things. I know you don't want that."

"I don't care about bruises…and you will only kick my ass until I learn how to kick yours," she retorted, her ice-blue eyes narrowing.

Andreas smiled broadly at her courage.

Mathias frowned at her.

"You don't care about bruises? Jasmine, you got a pimple on your nose last year that was hardly even noticeable, and you wouldn't leave your room for two days," Mathias said.

"That was the old Jasmine," the witch replied, frowning. "I'm different now. Looks aren't everything."

Mathias gasped and clutched his heart as if her statement gave him an attack.

"Jasmine Malfoy is saying looks don't matter? Next thing you know she'll be saying muggles are people too," the wizard said sarcastically.

Jasmine looked at him coolly as they entered the Great Hall.

"They are," she said simply, but with conviction. "Some are very good people."

Mathias stopped in awe as the witch continued walking into the Great Hall. Andreas stopped too, smiling at the wizard.

"Did you hear that?" Mathias said shocked. Jasmine had always looked down on muggles as if they were another breed of animal all together.

Andreas nodded.

"It seems Jasmine learned a lot over the summer," the wizard said, looking after the witch. "I think we will find out there are many things different about Lady Jasmine Malfoy. We should train her."

Mathias looked at Andreas.

"All right. She can workout with us tomorrow morning. If she can keep up with us for a week, we'll start teaching her some moves," the wizard said.

Hmm. Having the right to kick Jasmine's ass all over Hogwarts rather appealed to Mathias. Tonks had effectively wiped away the "witches are the weaker sex" line. A female could break a wizard's face just as good as another wizard if she knew what she was doing.

Andreas nodded.

"Good. I think it will be a wise move," the wizard replied.

The two wizards entered the Great Hall. Mathias looked for Jasmine and saw her seated with the DKV members. She looked at him evenly as he scowled at her.

"She's joined them again," he hissed at Andreas. "I knew she didn't mean what she said about muggles. She's still a bigot."

Andreas sat down next to him.

"What you see isn't always the way things are, my brother. Most likely her father made her rejoin them. Her body is there…but not her heart, Mathias," Andreas said. "Look at her aura."

Mathias shifted his view and saw that Jasmine's aura was full of deception as she sat with the others. She wasn't with them. Not really.

"She's fooling them," he said, his dark eyes resting on her. "She is no DKV member."

"No," Andreas said, pulling plates toward him. "She's not. She is not a bigot either. Not anymore. Her father saw to that, though he doesn't know it."

Mathias looked at him.

"What are you talking about, Andreas?" the pale wizard asked.

"I saw what happened between her and her father. She did not want to serve Voldemort and to punish her, he sent her to an island to work as a muggle for the summer," the wizard said.

Mathias blinked at Andreas then looked back over at Jasmine, who was quietly eating as the DKV members chattered around her.

"Jasmine? Working? With her hands?" he said under his breath.

Andreas nodded as he bit into a healthy slice of jam-covered toast. He chewed, then swallowed.

"Yes, and harvesting is hard work. She probably is strong enough to get through our workout," the wizard said.

Mathias looked thoughtful. Jasmine hadn't said anything about having to work all summer. That must have been quite an ordeal for her.

It had been.

Jasmine arrived by port key to the island with nothing more than the clothes on her back. Draco had confiscated her wand and wasted no time sending her off.

"I'm sure you will have a change of heart after a few weeks of hard work," her father told her, a sneer on his face. "Someone will meet you. Just wait where you arrive." He gave her a bit of coconut shell.

Jasmine took the shell and looked at her father dispassionately. She had no words for him.

"Portis," she said.

Draco watched as his daughter disappeared. When she was gone, he sighed. He had to do it…he had to get Jasmine back on the right track. He'd rather have her unhappy than dead. It wasn't easy serving the Dark Lord, but that was the position they were in. Draco remembered balking when it was his turn, and how his father Lucius had literally beaten him into compliance in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. Then, when he was among the ranks, Draco saw for himself what happened to those who denied the Dark Lord. It was horrible. He didn't want that kind of sticky end for himself or his family and immediately set out to make himself indispensable to the Dark Lord…but the truth was, no one was indispensable.

Draco knew his daughter probably hated him right now, but he had to do what he had to do to protect her, even if that protection was painful.

Jasmine's first sensation was one of being engulfed in heat and humidity. She was standing on a seashore facing a jungle. Her father said someone would meet her. The witch looked up and down the shore and saw no one. She was dressed in muggle clothing, a t-shirt and jeans. The island was pretty enough, the sky blue, clouds white and birds wheeling in the distance, crying out to the sea.

"Jasmine!" an accented voice cried out from within the bush. The witch felt for her wand, then remembered she didn't have one.

"I'm here!" she called back.

A man with a shirt tied around his head walked out of the jungle. He was a muggle, very brown-skinned, with dark eyes and bad teeth. He was chewing something. A long, sword-like weapon was knotted to his side, and he looked her over, frowning slightly.

He shook his head.

"I ask for another worker and they send me you? Madre de Deus, they should have sent me a child rather than you," he griped as he looked at her fair skin.

"Let me see your hands," he demanded.

Jasmine held out her hands. The man swore.

"You've never worked a day in your life," he said to her accusingly.

Jasmine really hadn't. She didn't respond.

The man looked at her for a moment.

"Well, you're here now, and I need you. You'll just have to toughen up. My name is Juan and I am the overseer here. I give the orders, you do the work. Understand?" he said to her.

Jasmine nodded.

He looked at the witch again with undisguised disgust.

"All right, follow me," he said, walking back into the jungle.

Jasmine did so.

They walked for about twenty minutes and came to a clearing. There were two long buildings, and another smaller building. Fires were going and people walking about, some carrying sacks on their backs, others carrying wood and some others tending fires. They were men and women, almost all of them barefoot and their clothing coarse. The women were all in skirts and the men in pants or cut offs that stopped mid-shin. Everyone seemed to have something on their heads, wrapped shirts, bandanas or floppy hats. Everyone was brown or black skinned and Jasmine heard a language she was unfamiliar with being shouted across the camp. That's where she was, the camp.

Juan started walking toward the smaller building. Jasmine felt curious eyes on her as she followed him. Juan pushed open the screen door and walked inside, letting the door slam back. Jasmine pushed the door open. Inside were several rickety chairs and a counter.

"Sit down," Juan said, walking into the back.

Jasmine sat down and looked around the dirty little room. Dust was everywhere and lizards clung to the wall. They were tiny, brown and bright green in color. Juan reappeared with a bundle.

"Two changes of clothes, underwear, soft shoes, bed sheets and blanket," he said, setting the bag on the counter. Take them and go to the barracks on the right. That's the women's barracks and where you will live while you work here. Ask for Maria," Juan said, eyeing the witch. "She will get you settled in and tell you your duties."

Jasmine rose, walked over to the counter and gathered the bundle together, Juan's dark eyes resting on her, his head shaking slightly. Why would they send a girl like this? She knew nothing of hard work. She would spend the first week crying, he was sure. But crying or not…she would work. Even the children here worked.

Jasmine thanked Juan and exited the office, walking toward the barracks on the right as instructed. It was very long, made of logs and had a door at either end. She entered and saw that it was full of twin-sized bunk beds and women of all ages and sizes. Clothing was strung up everywhere and small children, some naked, ran up and down the center aisle, the women chattering at them as they laughed. A small, brown-skinned woman sat on the first bed, sewing together a torn shirt seam. She looked up at Jasmine with quick black eyes that swept over her. She looked to be about fifty years old, and her skin was weathered. She said something to Jasmine in that strange language.

"Maria," Jasmine said to the woman. "I need to find Maria."

The woman looked at her, then suddenly cried out, "Maria! Maria!" and said something unintelligible.

A heavy-set brown-skinned woman walked up the barracks. She had a polka dot pink bandana tied around her head, wore a skirt and a light tunic. The woman was big breasted, but didn't wear a bra. She stopped in front of Jasmine, put her hands on her hips, looked her over and said something to the woman sitting on the bed. The woman chuckled, shaking her head as she drew the long thread up then stuck the needle back through the fabric. The woman's dark eyes rested on Jasmine.

"What is someone like you doing someplace like this?" she asked Jasmine. "You aren't a worker. You have never worked. Why do they always do this to me?" she complained, turning. "Follow me."

The woman strode up the barracks and Jasmine followed her. She stopped at a bunk bed. There were two chests on either side of the bed. Maria pointed to the chest on the right side of the bed.

"That is where you will keep your things. It doesn't lock but we don't steal here," she said to the witch. Then the woman pointed to the top bunk. "You are young enough to climb, that is your bed."

Jasmine looked at the bed. It was small and lumpy. Sleeping on it was going to be uncomfortable. She hoped she didn't roll out of it. It was a little drop to the hard, earthen floor.

"We have three meals a day. You will eat breakfast here, carry lunch with you and have supper when we return from the fields. Normally the men and women eat together outside for supper. It is the biggest meal of the day. We rise early and come home late. On Sundays we rest and worship. All other days we work…hard. We must get the harvest in before the rains come eight weeks from now. If we do not get it all we only receive half-pay. They try and cheat us every year…so you must work hard. We all depend upon each other here. The money has to last us until the next harvest," Maria said eyeing her.

This young woman looked as if she had never been poor or knew the value of money. She was white and soft. Maria shook her head. She would find it hard here.

"What is your name?" Maria asked the witch.

"Jasmine," Jasmine replied.

"Jasmine, why did you take on this kind of work? You are not a worker," Maria said to her curiously.

"I didn't take it on. My father sent me here to teach me a lesson," Jasmine replied, setting her bundle on the floor and opening it.

"A lesson?" Maria asked, her eyebrow arched.

"Yes. I was disobedient. He felt working the summer would straighten me out," Jasmine said as she pulled out two sets of clothing, two coarse light skirts and two tunic-like shirts. She put them in the chest. Two pairs of large white cotton knickers were removed next.

Maria looked at the girl as she put her things away. So she was sent here for punishment. It was quite a punishment. If her father meant to humble her, she would certainly be humbled. Life was simple here. For Maria and the other women, it was life as usual. For Jasmine, it would probably be hell.

"What is he punishing you for?" Maria asked her, her voice softer now.

Jasmine looked at the muggle woman. She wasn't sure if she should tell her the truth or not. Then she shrugged. Maria studied the blonde witch.

"You will find, Jasmine…that women understand each other and comfort each other. Things are going to be hard for you the first few days. Your body is going to suffer from the heat, the sun and the work. The constant bending will make you ache and the constant picking will make your fingers bleed. You are going to need help and kindness from all of us. Being honest makes it easier to make friends here," she said evenly.

Jasmine looked at the woman.

"I'm here because I do not want to follow an evil leader who my father works for," Jasmine said. "He is cruel and wants to rule our world…and…and…"

Here Jasmine faltered. The only ones who knew she was to be a consort for Voldemort was Draco and Carla, the witch who was brutalized by the Dark Lord. Her eyes filled with tears.

"…when I turn eighteen, I have to go to him."

Maria looked at the witch sympathetically. She knew what that meant. In her culture, young girls were often betrothed to old men who were well off. Sometimes those men were very cruel.

"So he hopes to make you follow this man and marry him," Maria said.

Jasmine shook her head.

"No, not marry…just go to him when he wants me," Jasmine said.

Maria's eyes widened.

"What? You are not to marry him? Why would a father permit such a thing?" Maria gasped.

"Because the Dark Lord is powerful," Jasmine replied, sitting down on the edge of the lower bed, hoping whoever slept there wouldn't mind. "He is the most powerful wizard in our world."

Maria knew about the wizarding world, though she had never been to England. As a supervisory employee of one of the Malfoy's holdings, she was privy to this information. She had to be, because of the way they collected the harvest, by port key.

"You are a witch, then?" Maria asked her.

"Yes, but I can't do magic. I have no wand," Jasmine replied, trying to fight back her tears.

Maria's heart went out to Jasmine. She sat down on the bed beside her.

"It is hard when your family forces you to do what you do not wish to do. All you can to is listen to them until you can find your own way…always look for your own way, Jasmine. For now, make up your bed and get some sleep. It is Sunday, the one day we rest. I will wake you for supper."

Maria patted the witch on her shoulder and rose. She looked down on Jasmine kindly.

"We will help you adjust," the woman promised her, "We are all sisters here. We all know what it is to be controlled by men."

Maria's comment made Jasmine think of Andreas. He called her "little sister." Were all people of color so accepting?

"Thank you," Jasmine said, wiping her eyes as Maria departed.

Jasmine pulled a rather dingy sheet out of the bundle and went about making up her bed. When she was finished, she put the bundle itself in the chest and was about to climb up into the bed when she heard a giggle. She looked and saw a little brown-skinned girl with her hair up in ribbons, wearing nothing but a pair of too-large panties looking at her. She was cute. Jasmine gave her a small smile.

"Hello," she said to the child, who smiled back at her. The little girl said something indecipherable, then pointed to her hair.

Jasmine blinked at her, not understanding. The little girl tapped her head then plucked out a strand of her hair and offered it to Jasmine, pointing at the witch's hair. Then Jasmine understood. She wanted a strand of her hair, probably because it was blonde. Jasmine plucked a strand out of her head, took the black hair from the child and gave her the blonde strand. The little girl let out a cry of delight and ran away with her prize. Jasmine watched her go, and tucked the strand into her jean pocket. Again, she was about to climb into bed when she heard several more giggles.

Jasmine turned to see about ten children of varying ages, all holding out strands of hair to her and smiling brightly.

Oh good gods.

The witch started plucking.

A/N: That's the end of "Daddy Dearest Part 7" Thanks for reading. More to come.