Late Night Visitors

Silently, Nissa slipped through the darkened Manor House. Having Pansy stay with her for the last week had been more fun than she had expected. It was like having a sister around, instead of just being her and Draco.

Speaking of her cousin, he had been different the last few days. Brooding, quiet... scared even. He had been carefully avoiding the girls whenever possible, and she was damn sure going to put an end to that tonight. She would track him down if it took her all night, and she would make him talk to her once and for all.

Nissa paused on the stairs as she heard the voices coming from Lucius' study. 'So' she mused "Severus Snape was in the house". She crept closer to the door, wondering if they were discussing Amanda. She knew she shouldn't eavesdrop, there would be hell to pay if she was caught, but if it were something about her best friend... she should know.

"The Dark Lord is most displeased with you Lucius"

Nissa froze. That voice certainly didn't belong to Professor Snape.

"It was regrettable, but unavoidable once Sirius Black became involved"

"Be that as it may, you have still failed. You know The Dark Lord does not forgive his followers failures"

"I assure you Rowle, I have already received my punishment. Moreso than you could guess"

"We'll see"

Nissa turned, carefully creeping back down the hallway. What were Death Eaters doing in her home? What was Lucius playing at having them over while she and the others were home on Holiday?

Nissa slowly started back up the grand staircase as quietly as possible. She didn't want anyone to know she was here. Certainly not an unknown amount of Death Eaters.

Suddenly from behind the closed doors she heard a terrible scream. It was a scream of pain, of someone being hurt, and it sounded like Draco. Nissa stopped, her blood turning to ice when she heard the scream again. Turning, Nissa drew her wand and rushed down the stairs. Without thinking, she threw open the doors to Lucius' study, and the sight before her stopped her in her tracks. Draco was laying on the floor, curled in on himself clutching his arm. Nissa rushed to stand over him, her wand pointed directly at the figure standing closest to him. A tall man in a dark, hooded robe; a man with a bone white wand pointed at her. "No Nissa don't!" she heard Lucius cry out behind her. "Get away from him" Nissa demanded sounding braver than she felt at the moment. "I'm warning you. I will curse you".

"LeStrange" the voice that came from the hooded man was low, almost a hiss. "We meet at last." The man pushed back his hood, and she found herself face to face with the Dark Lord himself. "I've been wanting a look at you for so long now" he continued, tilting his head to study her. "So like your mother, you are. It's no wonder they've kept you hidden from me"

Nissa swallowed hard. "What did you do to him?" she whispered not risking to take her eyes off of his. "Draco?" the Dark Lord asked finally looking down at Draco who was now sitting, his left arm still clutched to his body. "Draco has finally reached the age of acceptance, and has received his gift. Tell me my dear, are you ready for yours?" Nissa took an involuntary step back. "You marked him didn't you?" she whispered, her voice sounding incredulous. Draco had never made it a secret that he was expected to join his father among the ranks of the Death Eaters, as she would one day be as well, but Nissa had no idea it would be so soon. Lord Voldemort smiled at her, a sight that she would remember until the day she died, and he held out a hand to her. "Give me your hand Carnissa LeStrange, and I will give you power beyond your wildest dreams."

Nissa swallowed, but she no longer was afraid. "No"

"No?" Voldemort hissed, raising his wand before looking from her to Lucius, "What is the meaning of this?"

"I beg your forgiveness My Lord" Carnissa said quickly, dropping down on one knee before him. "I beg you to allow me to remain unmarked for now". She risked a glance up at him, and saw that he was studying her, unsure of her. "You cannot hide the mark" she said, allowing a small smile to appear on her face, knowing she would look, to him, as her Mother had when she had joined. "I would be of more use to you if my friends continued to trust me. I would be more valuable to you unmarked than by bearing the mark of my loyalty to you"

A terrible silence hung in the room, and Carnissa was afraid, try as she might to block her thoughts, that Voldemort know she was attempting to deceive him. After a moment, a pale hand was lowered down to her. "Rise my child" Voldemort said softly, and Nissa suppressed a shudder as she placed her hand in his and allowed him to draw her once more to her feet.

"You will serve me well" he said, smiling coldly at her.

"Always, My Lord"

The Room of Requirement

Nissa giggled as she and Seamus lay in her bed, once again replicated in the room of requirement. It was the first Saturday since the new term had begun, and they had been cuddled together since early that morning.

"So did he keep you on lockdown all summer again?" Seamus asked playfully.

"He did, mostly. He relented the last two weeks and allowed Pansy to come and stay, but I think that had more to do with Draco asking then me. Those two are together now"

"Ahhh... the Gryffindors were wondering about that" Seamus said, absently running his fingers through her hair.

"Yeah.. they make each other happy, which is nice to see" she said, biting her lip as she bit down on the guilt she was feeling over not telling him what else had happened. But she couldn't exactly tell him that she had come face to face with Lord Voldemort, in her own home nonetheless.

Seamus looked down at her, his eyes carefully searching hers. "What's on your mind lass?" he asked softly. "You know.. whatever it is, you can trust me with it right?"

Nissa blew out a breath, "Its personal stuff" she said, "With my mum getting out of Azkaban, and the Dark Lord returned to power... Its not safe for me at the Manor anymore" she said, "So I've been spending a lot of time looking for a flat to rent that can be made unplottable"

Seamus leaned down, brushing his lips over her forehead, "Before you spend your savings on a flat, why don't you let me talk to my parents?" he asked her softly, "They have a guest room, and they know how I feel about you"

Nissa looked up at him, tears springing to her eyes, "I couldn't ask that of you Seamus, of them. I'm putting you in danger just by being with you. I can't do that to your family"

"And you think I'm just going to let you go?" he asked her softly, "That I'm going to sit back while you disappear? Not going to happen" he said with a smile, "I'll owl them this evening, and let you know what they say"

"Thank you" Nissa murmured, turning and pressing her face against his neck. "I'd be lost without you"

Poor Draco
Nissa raced back down the now mostly deserted streets of Hogsmeade, her eyes scanning for any sign of her cousin. She had seen what had happened to Katie. She had seen the way she was flung around before she levitated, and she had heard the scream. It wasn't human. And before she had been able to get away, she had overheard Potter declaring that Draco had done it. The worst part of it all? She was scared he was right.

Spotting Draco coming towards her, she stopped to wait for him. "Was it you?" she demanded, looking around. "Did you give Katie that cursed necklace?"

Draco's eyes widened as he quickly looked around to make sure they were alone. "Dammit Niss, I don't want to talk about Katie Bell"

"Well, we're damn well going to talk about her" Nissa said, reaching out when Draco went to storm past her, grabbing him by the ear and twisting it.

"Ow Nissa!" Draco complained as she dragged him into an alleyway.

"What did you do Draco?" Nissa demanded. "Are you stupid?!"

"It wasn't supposed to be Katie" Draco said, tears springing to his eyes. "She wasn't supposed to touch it, she was supposed to give it to someone else"

"Who?"

"I can't tell you Nissa" Draco said, gripping her hands as he pleaded with her. "Please. Don't Ask. I was given a task, as punishment for what happened at the Ministry last year. But..." Draco wiped at his eyes. He never cried. Never. "The Dark Lord expects me to fail I think" he said, "He means to kill us all"

Nissa held tight to Draco as he cried, "We'll figure this out" she whispered, "We'll find a way. I promise"

A Cold Yule
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Seamus murmured, looking over at Nissa with wide eyes, "Isn't this just... asking for trouble?"

"That is why I brought them along" Nissa said, gesturing her head towards where the Auror Tonks stood beside her old Defense teacher, Professor Lupin. "Harry put me in touch with them. I have to get some things from here, and I don't want you far from me"

Seamus swallowed hard as Nissa opened the door, letting Tonks enter before she did, her hand clasped firmly in his while Lupin entered behind them.

"What is the meaning of this?" Lucius asked, unused to seeing people in his home without his invitation, his eyes widening when he spotted Nissa.

"Carnissa? What are you doing?"

"I've come to say good-bye Lucius" she said, "And to get some things from my room. I've brought them" she nodded towards the adults, "To ensure you didn't do anything rash, and that I didn't do anything I'd regret".

"You brought that boy into my home?" he hissed.

"I brought my boyfriend home" she said, "And by you being unable to accept that, further proves that I am not safe here"

Lucius stared at her. "You would treat me this way?" he asked her softly, his voice betraying the hurt his eyes kept hidden, "After all I've done for you?"

"You've given me no choice Lucius. I'm sorry"

Nissa turned, preparing to head up to her room when Lucius' voice stopped her. "May I have a word with … with your boyfriend?" he asked.

Nissa looked over at Seamus, "Its up to you" she whispered, a smile curving her lips when he shrugged. "If you wish" she said, "But Tonks will stay with you"

Lucius nodded, waiting until Nissa and Lupin had disappeared up the stairs before he turned his gaze on the boy before him.

"I'm sorry. I cannot accept this. I cannot accept you with her. Old prejudices, and I'm sorry. But" he held up a hand to stop whatever comment Seamus had been about to make, "If you insist on taking her from me, than I insist you take care of her"

Seamus nodded, turning his head and smiling when Nissa reappeared. "I will" he said softly, his gaze meeting the older man's, "I love her too"

Meeting the Family
"What is the matter Niss?" Seamus eyes twinkled as he looked down at her, "You look nervous"
"I'm fine" Nissa said, swallowing hard.
"Don't tell me you're nervous about meeting my parents?" he teased, leaning over to press a kiss against her temple. "They'll love you"
"If you say so" Nissa said, taking a deep breath as he pushed open the door to his family home, gesturing her inside ahead of him.
Nissa stopped as the smell of a fresh baked pie reached her, and she inhaled deeply, not noticing the woman that had come into the kitchen and now leaned against the doorframe.

"Hi mum" Seamus said happily, startling Nissa as he moved past her to hug the woman, kissing her cheek as he did so.

"Hello darling" the woman replied warmly before her gaze move to Nissa, measuring her.

"Hello " Nissa said immediately, a smile on her face. "Thank you for allowing me into your home"

smiled as she crossed the room, surprising Nissa when she pulled her into a hug. "Welcome to the family dear" she said softly, before releasing the girl and calling for her husband to join them.

Nissa shifted a bit as the man entered, she could see where Seamus got a lot of his looks from. "Hello" she said, almost shyly.

"Merlin boy" His dad said, slapping his son playfully on the shoulder, "You didn't tell us how pretty she was" he said, before he crossed the room, and hugged Nissa tightly as well. "You will be safe here" he murmured softly.

"I hope so" Nissa replied, desperately wishing she hadn't brought something evil down upon these people.

Dumbledore's What?
Nissa stared at Seamus, "Dumbledore's Army?" she repeated, her eyes searching his for any sign that he was teasing her. "What on Earth is that?"

"Well.. it started last year as I way for us to learn proper Defense, since that old toad certainly wasn't going to teach us anything, but now Harry's asked us to patrol the castle"

"What for?"

"I don't know" Seamus admitted, "He says Dumbledore is leaving on an important mission tonight, and that he, I mean to say Harry, has a bad feeling something is going to happen here"

Nissa shook her head, "I don't like the idea of you being involved in this?" she admitted. "I don't like not knowing that you're safe"

Seamus shot her a quick grin, "I'll be fine lass" he said, pulling her flush against him before he kissed her softly. "I have you to come back to"
"You had better" Nissa said softly, hugging him tightly as Harry's bad feeling descended into her as well.

Astronomy Tower

"Nissa!" Pansy said, running into the common room at full speed, "There Death Eaters in the Castle!"
"Death Eaters?" Nissa said, "But that is impossible. Death Eaters can't get into Hogwarts"
"Well they are here" her friend said, her eyes wide with fear.

Nissa didn't wait to see if Pansy was playing some kind of sick joke on her or not. She grabbed her wand, and rushed from the dungeons just in time to see her Mother dancing along the tables of the Great Hall, breaking everything in sight, and Draco being rushed out of the Castle by Professor Snape.

"Draco!" Nissa called out, starting to rush towards him.
"Run Nissa!" Draco cried, "Get away from here"

Nissa nodded, trusting her cousin, and she turned now heading towards the front door, her cousin at her side, her Mother behind her.

"What happened Draco?"
"Don't worry about it"
"Tell Me"

They broke free of the castle, and started down the steps when the Dark Mark cast over the castle stopped Nissa in her tracks.

"Who?" Nissa asked, fear tightening her belly.
"Come daughter" Bellatrix crooned, reaching out for her.
"No" Nissa took a step backwards. "WHO WAS IT?"

Bellatrix rolled her eyes, "Dumbledore" she said, "Now come, the others will be here soon"

"Professor Dumbledore?" Professor Dumbledore? How was that possible? "No" Nissa said, shaking her head as her Mother took a step closer to her. "No" Turning on her heel, Nissa raced back into the castle. There had to be a mistake. Dumbledore couldn't be dead. And where was Seamus? Wasn't he and the other members of the old Dumbledore's Army supposed to be patrolling the corridors? Was he hurt?

Nissa didn't stop running until she found him, throwing herself into his arms as the tears flowed freely down her face. "He's dead" she cried, burying her face into his chest, "Professor Dumbledore is dead!"

Everything Changes
Nissa knocked on the door to Seamus' bedroom. It was well past midnight and everyone else was fast asleep. But the nightmares surrounding what could have happened on the night Dumbeldore was killed still plagued her. She was thankful that she had been taken in by his family, she couldn't imagine what her life what be like if she were still locked away inside Malfoy Manor. She shivered as she thought of Draco, and the horrors he must be facing. She hated herself for leaving him alone, when she promised him she wouldn't. But there was too much at risk.

"What's wrong Nissa?" Seamus asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he opened the door.

"I couldn't sleep" she admitted softly, "I kept having those dreams again. I'm sorry for waking you"

Seamus smiled, as he rubbed her arm before taking her hand and pulling her towards his bed. "Lay with me awhile" he whispered comfortingly, climbing into his bed and tugging her down until she joined him. Nissa rested her head against his chest so that she could hear the steady and comforting beat of his heart while his arms came around her. Protecting her.

"Everything is going to change now isn't it?" she murmured.

"I'm afraid so" Seamus was quiet for a moment, "You're in danger now too" he said softly. "Pure-blood or not, you've turned your back on them. Snubbed your nose at them again and again. You've put yourself in danger because of me. And because I loved you, I was selfish enough to allow it".

Nissa pulled her head back just far enough that she could see him, the moonlight streaming through the window just enough to allow her to see him.

"I always was in danger" Nissa said, "I would have been expected to join this summer, I just barely escaped last summer. I don't care if I've lost the life I used to know, this is the life I want. You're what I want"

"I'll protect you Nissa, whatever it takes"

"I know you will" she said softly, kissing his cheek before resting her head back on his chest. After a moment, his breathing became regular and she knew he had fallen asleep again. "I'll protect you too" she murmured, "Whatever it takes"