A Song for Severus Part 7
Albus, Hermione and Severus listened as Volaria Riddle told them the story of her life under the power and tutelage of Bellatrix LeStrange.
Hermione listened with horror etched on her face as Volaria described the way the witch tried to teach her to be brutal and uncaring about life by killing small animals and house elves.
"I didn't want to do it, to do any of it," Volaria said, "Aunt Bella wasn't pleased with me and focused all her energy on Voltaire. Voltaire would do anything for Aunt Bella. Even kill," the witch said.
Severus studied the young witch closely. She could be a plant by Bella.
An examination by Albus proved the witch had no idea of her parentage other than Voldemort being her father, nor did she know where the stronghold was. She had never been out of it until today. But the way she escaped showed she was resourceful.
Albus studied her for a moment, then looked at Severus who had a scowl on his face.
"What do you think we should do, Severus?" the Headmaster asked him.
"Lock her up," the Potions Master replied as Volaria's eyes widened.
"No! Why?" Hermione said.
"Because she could be a plant…that's why. Sent here to infiltrate us in some manner," the dark wizard said.
"No! No. I ran away. I wasn't sent here. I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to live a normal life..." Volaria said, rising from her chair now and looking around the room wildly. She wouldn't let them lock her away.
"Calm down, Miss Riddle," Albus said soothingly as Hermione glowered at Severus, who had his arms folded, his black eyes dispassionate, "I have no intentions on locking you away, but I do need to divine your purpose. Please approach my Phoenix Fawkes."
Albus gestured toward the beautiful red bird resting on a perch. Fawkes rolled his eyes at the witch, and trilled encouragingly. Volaria walked toward him slowly.
"Oh, he's beautiful," she said softly.
Fawkes bobbed his head several times at the compliment as the witch stopped in front of him. The bird studied her closely, staring into her blue eyes with his golden ones, then let out a squawk and bobbed his head at the Headmaster, who smiled brightly.
"She has no evil intentions, Severus. She is just a young witch seeking sanctuary," the Headmaster said as Severus continued to scowl, "And she shall have it."
Volaria petted Fawkes' crested head.
"Thank you, Fawkes," she said to the Phoenix who trilled a beautiful little song at her that made the witch feel warm and safe. She turned and walked back to her seat and sat down again.
"Bellatrix is going to be livid," Severus said, frowning at Volaria, "She's not stupid. She's going to know that somehow the witch left with me. What am I supposed to tell her?"
"The truth," Albus said, "Albeit a slightly altered one. Tell her that you didn't know who the girl was when you found her in your rooms and she wouldn't tell you, so you brought her to me as you would do any student in our school. Only then did you discover who she was, and it was too late. I had already taken her under my wing."
Severus studied the Headmaster. Perhaps that would work, particularly since Bella had not told him of Volaria's existence. How was he to know the daughter of Voldemort was clinging to his robes in animagus form when he left the stronghold? Besides, the witch might initially be angry, but she had Voltaire to think of. No doubt her focus would be on the boy. According to the story Volaria told them, she was practically a non-entity anyway.
"That might work," the wizard said, still eyeing the Riddle girl. "But what to do with her? It can't become common knowledge that the daughter of Voldemort is at Hogwarts. She will become an immediate target for some and an object of worship by others. Neither which is a feasible option."
Albus tapped his chin for a moment as he studied Volaria.
"She has her mother's features, whoever the poor witch was," Albus said. He had no doubt Bellatrix killed her immediately after Volaria's birth, "I think in this instance we will have to create another identity and background for the witch, much like we would do when hiding marked wizards and witches in the past. She looks very little like Tom, except in facial shape. Instead of Volaria Riddle, how about…Volaria Ruddle?"
Hermione looked at Volaria, who looked very pleased with this idea.
"I like it," she said, smiling.
Who would have thought people could be so kind? She didn't know what to expect when she left the stronghold, but it appeared the fates were on her side. Then her face darkened.
"What if Aunt Bella comes after me?" she asked the Headmaster.
"Bellatrix LeStrange wouldn't dare come to Hogwarts," Hermione assured her, a black look on her face. "If she did, she'd never leave."
Hermione spoke with such venom, that Severus looked at her in surprise. Then he gave a bit of a smirk. It seemed as if someone hadn't gotten over a little tryst that happened decades ago.
This seemed to reassure Volaria.
"We will need to have her sorted first," Albus said, rising and turning to pick the Sorting Hat up off the shelf. It immediately became animated.
"What do we have here?" the hat said, bending its tip toward Volaria, "Ah, a new student. I feel great power. Place me on her head."
Severus stiffened. Great power?
The young witch rose and Albus walked from around his desk and placed the old hat on Volaria's blonde head. The hat sat there a moment.
"Quite powerful. This one has strong magic…and a lust for the acquisition of knowledge, and a desire to prove herself. Very independent…and very intelligent. There is a twinge of darkness, but not too much…directed towards self-preservation rather than conquest. She will protect herself but has a deep respect for life. She has courage, but it is tempered with logic. No hot-headed acts from this witch. She will weigh everything. She would best be placed in Ravenclaw," the hat said firmly.
Albus removed the hat from Volaria's head and replaced it on the shelf.
Severus stared at the witch.
"She will have to be tested to see her level of magical knowledge," he said.
"That's not a problem Severus. Hogwarts' has several evaluation tests for just that purpose. I just need someone to administer them…" the Headmaster began, cutting his twinkling blue eyes at Hermione.
"I'll do it!" Hermione gushed, nearly bouncing in her seat. Volaria smiled at her.
Severus was reminded of Hermione as a student, bouncing in her seat and wildly waving her hand to be called on to answer a question. It was annoying then and annoying now.
"In addition, we will have to come up with documentation for her…a dummied birth certificate to be filed at the Ministry. We really don't want them involved with this however…they are as leaky as a sieve," the Headmaster said darkly, "No doubt Kingsley and Tonks can handle placing the proper paperwork in the proper places."
Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks were both Aurors and loyal members of the Order of the Phoenix. They had done such things before.
"I believe we will have to use the "Orphan" scenario to protect her. I will contact the Headmistress of the Little Flower Orphanage, Brumhilda Huffle. She will take care of everything," Albus said. Brumhilda was also an Order member from way back.
"Her wand will have to be registered," Severus said, looking at the witch.
"But I don't have a wand," Volaria said, looking at the pale wizard, then at Albus and Hermione.
"No wand?" Hermione asked, amazed, "Didn't Bella give you a wand?"
"I never needed one," Volaria said simply.
Severus arched an eyebrow at her.
"Demonstrate a spell for us," the Potions Master said, "Make a quill from the Headmaster's desk fly to you."
Volaria looked at the Headmaster's desk and saw a number of quills resting in a tall cup. She crooked a finger at it, thought "Accio quill" and a quill flew out of the container, landing neatly in her hand.
"Wandless," Hermione breathed, "And non-verbal. Amazing."
Severus thought it a good thing that Volaria had no designs on becoming a despot. Wandless magic would have aided her immensely in that respect. Unfortunately, witches and wizards who could do wandless magic had to be registered with the Ministry just as Animagi were, which Volaria also was.
Severus and Albus looked at each other as the witch walked over and put the quill back in the cup then returned to her seat.
"Kingsley and Tonks," they both said, turning their eyes on Volaria. Legitimizing this young witch would require quite a bit of covert legal manipulation. But it had been done before.
It would be done again.
"Now, where will we keep her until we have everything in place?" Albus asked.
Severus groaned inwardly. He was already having a hard enough time getting sex from Hermione.
"In my rooms," Hermione volunteered, just as the Potions Master knew she would. He scowled but didn't say anything. There was nothing to say.
Bleeding heart Hermione had struck again.
"Where is she?" Bellatrix LeStrange screeched at the cluster of house elves that stood trembling inside the arena. Two elves lay dead on the ground before them, their insides splattered all over the stone floor.
"I want to know where Volaria is!" Bellatrix screamed at the terrified creatures, who clutched each other in fear, their ears flattened.
They were too scared to respond. Bella had killed the two elves because they answered her in the negative.
Bellatrix forced herself to calm. She couldn't kill all of them, or she would have no servants. She had searched all over the compound and there was no sign of the young witch, no signature either. Somehow, she had gotten away. She stared at the elves.
"All right. I need answers now. I will not kill any more of you, but you must share Volaria's secrets with me…I demand it. I am your mistress above any other. Do any of you have an idea how she may have escaped the stronghold? Does it have a weakness I don't know about? Tell me…or you will all be crucio'd," the witch said.
The elves all trembled in fright, then, slowly one brown elf moved out of the crowd, shaking all over, his green eyes turned toward the ground.
"The Miss was an animagus, Mistress," the elf said, its squeaky voice quavering, "I thinks she may have left with the wizard."
Bellatrix's eyes widened. Volaria was an animagus and didn't tell her? Why, the conniving little bitch!
"What kind of creature was she?" the witch asked the elf, trembling with rage.
"A bug, Mistress. A mosquito," it replied.
Bella stood there for a moment, then blasted the house elf to bits in her rage.
"GET OUT! ALL OF YOU!" she screamed at the others.
They all disappeared in an instant.
Breathing heavily, Bellatrix stood in the arena, furious. The witch had escaped her. Bella had underestimated her. Volaria was smarter than she'd ever dreamed. Bella had planned on using Voltaire to dispose of her. She wasn't needed any longer.
"Damn it!" the witch seethed, storming from the arena.
Volaria had to be with Severus, and the wizard had no way to contact her or bring the girl back. Volaria knew too much, she could ruin everything if she told the wrong people about Voltaire before he claimed the throne. This didn't give her much time.
She should have killed Volaria when she first showed her weakness. Now she was a problem.
A big problem.
Bella needed to reach Severus. She didn't dare send a message to Hogwarts. She walked through the arena into the stronghold proper and toward Jordan's quarters, her eyes flashing.
She threw open his door. The wizard was giving Voltaire a bit of water, the boy resting on a cot. Two house elves stood trembling in the corner, still traumatized from the witch's reaction to Volaria escaping. Jordan looked up at the witch and the look on her face made his blood run cold.
Bella stalked over to the cot and looked down on Voltaire.
"How is he?" she asked
"In great pain. I've given him some pain potion, but periodically he goes into small seizures," Jordan replied, his brown eyes a bit glazed as he looked at the witch. She was angry…and when she was angry, she found ways to release that anger. Painful, humiliating ways.
"Is he in any mortal danger?" Bella asked the wizard.
Jordan wanted to lie and say yes so he would have to stay with the young wizard, but the truth was Voltaire wasn't in any immediate danger.
"No," the wizard replied with a sigh.
Bella looked at Jordan, then the house elves.
"Attend Voltaire," she said to them imperiously, "Jordan, you come with me."
"Yes, Mistress," he said resignedly as the house elves looked at him sympathetically. They knew what the Mistress put him through when she was angry.
Bella strode from the wizard's rooms and toward her playroom, Jordan following meekly behind.
He hoped she wouldn't use the clamps.
Eloise Hedgeberry sat at the candy counter reading a book called "Legendary Creatures: Myth and Reality. Of course she was on the chapter about werewolves.
Killing werewolves that is.
According to the book, silver would kill a werewolf. Unfortunately, Eloise found she couldn't handle silver…quite by accident. Like most people, her utensil drawer was filled with mismatched forks, knives and spoons. She reached in for a fork one night and picked up a silver one and burned her hand badly. Boils formed and burst and it was extremely painful, continuing to burn long after she had dropped the fork. About an hour later, however, her hand was fully healed. Experimentally she tried using rubber gloves but still was burned, though not as badly as the first time. Silver wasn't a good idea.
Then there was destroying the heart or brain, but she would have to cut the heart out and burn it, otherwise it would heal. The same thing for the brain, but it was simpler. Smashing a werewolf in the head with great force would stop a werewolf just like any other creature, then the head would have to be cut off and destroyed.
Eloise believed she could easily cut Fenrir's head off. She hated him just that much for what he had done to her. But he was huge. How could she do it? Perhaps she could catch him off guard the next full moon. It would have to be after she transformed back, maybe when he was sleeping she could slip out of his grasp, find a large stone in the cave and bash his head in with it. Still, that would leave the problem of cutting his head off. Plus, how would she get back to London?
A woman approached the counter with a box of chocolate. Eloise took care of her quickly, her nostrils flared as she smelled cats on the woman. She growled a little, the woman looking at her startled as Eloise handed her change. The customer quickly exited the store.
Eloise hadn't even noticed she growled.
She went back to the book and read a bit more. It also said a werewolf could be killed by something that damaged the brain or heart irrevocably, such as hanging, where the body is deprived of oxygen for a long period of time. It couldn't heal without oxygen. If she managed to hang Fenrir and left him swinging for a couple of hours, that would take care of him but good. But damn, how could she manage that? He certainly wasn't going to stand under a tree and let her put a noose around his thick neck. Eloise sighed.
She knew her only chance to kill Fenrir depended on her embracing her werewolf form, so she could be cognizant of her activities and able to think clearly. From the scratches she'd left on his face, she was very powerful in her werewolf form. Maybe she could kill him when transformed…rip his heart out and consume it. It seemed fitting.
While riding the tube home, Eloise caught a scent that made her hair stand up. It was a faint scent…but familiar…in a bad way. But she was compelled to investigate it.
She stood up and began to make her way through the train, moving toward the front of the car, sniffing, a growl low in her throat. The scent grew stronger and rage began to grow inside her. She stopped about ten feet away from an older man reading a newspaper. She stared at him.
The man must have felt her. He looked up suddenly and met her eyes. He looked to be in his early fifties, clean-cut and in a suit. He had gray eyes, salt and pepper hair and his nose was a bit crooked as if it had been broken a couple of times. He stared at her a moment, then frowned and looked back down at his newspaper.
Eloise continued to stare at him, the other passengers noticing and looking at her oddly.
Eloise continued to stare at the man, who grew uncomfortable and rose, getting off at the next stop. She was tempted to follow him, but didn't know why she disliked him so much. She didn't like his smell, that was for certain. It did something unpleasant to her.
But then again, she had felt that way about several people she had come in contact with, not liking their odor for one reason or another, but this was the first time she felt like confronting someone because of the way they smelled. As the door closed, the man looked back at her, still frowning. Eloise craned her head to continue watching him as the train pulled away.
That night, Eloise tossed and turned in her bed as an old nightmare returned to her. She was walking up a dimly lit hallway, age twenty again, letting herself into her first flat. She had just got the door opened when she was pushed roughly inside and the door slammed behind her. A man with a bandana tied around the lower half of his face pounced on her, punching her in the mouth when she screamed.
"Shut up, slut!" he hissed at her, "Or I swear to God I'll kill you!"
He pushed Eloise into her living room and told her to sit down on the sofa and not to move. He then began to rummage through the flat. Eloise thought about bolting for the door, but if she didn't make it, she'd be dead…she knew it. So she sat there, scared to move, listening as the masked man rambled through her things.
Presently he came back, his eyes full of anger.
"You don't have shit here," he seethed at her.
"I…I don't make much money. I can barely afford this place…" she began.
"Did I ask you for your fucking life story?" he snarled at her.
Eloise didn't say anything else.
The man stood there, then his eyes washed over her slowly.
"You're a pretty little bird," he said, licking his lips, "This doesn't have to be a total waste."
Eloise screamed in her sleep as she relived the brutal rape and beating she went through on her living room couch.
But in the dream, she kept seeing his eyes.
Gray eyes…gray eyes and a crooked nose…
Suddenly Eloise leapt up out of her sleep, her eyes becoming black-veined as she snarled viciously. She knew who the man was on the train now.
Her rapist. She subconsciously remembered his scent.
She had to find him…find him and punish him.
"There she is Wooten, just like I said," Fredrick said, his eyes narrowed as he looked in the record shop window. "Pretty bird isn't she? Muggle-born."
Wooten squinted at Malina, who was counting down her register. It was just after dusk and she was closing up shop. She was dressed in a black sweater and black stretch jeans, her wand sticking out her back pocket.
"She's got a wand," Wooten said, "Looks like she might be trouble, Fredrick."
"So she's got a wand? There's two of us and one of her. Don't be a pussy, Wooten. I swear, ever since that chit kicked you in the balls it's like you've lost them completely," Fredrick complained.
"I've got balls," Wooten said angrily.
"Well prove it. Let's get her," Fredrick said.
Both Death Eaters looked up and down the street. Shops closed early here and there was no one about. They walked toward the shop, Fredrick leading the way.
Malina looked up at the door opened. Shit, she'd forgotten to put up the "closed" sign. Since it wasn't quite eight, she still had to serve customers if they came in. She frowned a little, hoping the two men that entered wouldn't find what they were looking for or she'd have to do her count all over again. She sighed, then put on her 'clerk' smile.
"Can I help you sirs?" she asked the two men.
Fredrick gave her a disarming smile.
"Yes, I'm looking for a copy of 'You've Charmed Me' by the Broken Wizards.
Malina's eyebrows rose.
"That's quite an oldie," she said, walking around the counter, "Follow me. I'll help you look."
Fredrick glanced back at Wooten, who appeared to be perusing a couple of music magazines and nodded at the door. Wooten turned the closed sign around and pulled the blind down, then followed.
Malina stopped in front of the oldies section and began to leaf through the titles.
"I don't know if we have it…if we don't I can order it for you from the catalogue," Malina said, her fingers shifting the albums.
Fredrick eyed her wand.
"That will be fine," he said as Wooten walked up. They looked at each other.
"Ah…we do have a co…" Malina started to say when suddenly a hand was clapped over her mouth and her wand pulled out of her pocket. A strong arm wrapped around her, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Got her!" Fredrick said as Malina screamed behind his hand and tried to bite him, kicking her legs frantically. She pushed off the floor and knocked him back into the shelf of albums, but he held on to her, albums scattering everywhere
"Shit, hold her Fredrick!" Wooten urged as Malina kicked and struggled. Wooten pulled out his wand and stunned her. She slumped in Fredrick's arms, the wizard panting.
"I'm not going through what we did with that other bitch," Wooten said through gritted teeth, "Now let's go."
Fredrick tossed the unconscious Malina over his shoulder and both wizards disillusioned themselves.
"Damn, you sure know how to pick them, Fredrick," Wooten complained as they exited the shop, leaving the door open. They disapparated just as Draco rounded the corner. He was going to bring Malina to the Manor tonight. The witch had put him off almost a solid week.
"Familiarity breeds contempt," she told the wizard, "I'm not going to sleep with you every night just because you're available Draco."
Draco looked her over a bit lustfully.
"I find nothing about you contemptible in the least, Malina," he purred at her.
"I'm still not coming over," she snapped.
So, he was regulated to escorting her home and not coming in. If he did enter, she might as well be at his Manor. They'd end up in bed. Malina was very susceptible to Draco's seduction techniques, which ranged from him pouting to actually man-handling her, though normally he was somewhere in the middle with his approach.
Draco heard the sound of apparition and hurried to the store. There were no apparition points near the shop, so it had to be an illegal disappearance. His belly tightened as he saw the door to the shop opened and the blind drawn with the closed sign visible. He entered the store and saw that Malina had the closing book lying on the counter and a quill beside it. This didn't bode well. Malina always finished her paperwork and wouldn't have left the book out.
"Malina?" Draco called, pulling out his wand and walking behind the counter to look at the floor. No, she wasn't there. He opened the door to the back office slowly, his wand at the ready. No, she wasn't there either.
Draco closed the door and began to walk through the store, looking for her…a cold fear rising inside of him. When he came to the aisle with the scattered, crushed albums, he knew the worst had happened.
Someone had taken Malina.
Draco pulled out a piece of parchment and looked at it.
"Track!" he hissed.
A map formed on the parchment. It was a landscape and Pumbleberry's Manor was clearly marked with Malina's footsteps heading straight for it. Suddenly, she disappeared from the map. Whoever had her had taken her through the secret entrance which was strongly warded.
"Shit!" Draco cursed, racing from the shop, leaving the door open and disapparating the moment he touched ground outside. He had to get to Malina and save her.
Malina began to rouse as Fredrick carried her down the long stairwell, followed by Wooten. They hit the landing and started walking quickly down the corridor towards the main room. Wooten saw Malina's eyes flutter.
"She's waking up," he said warningly.
"She hasn't got a wand," Fredrick said, "Don't worry about it. Once we get her to the revel we'll take care of her good."
Malina heard him. Revel? Oh gods, no!
Malina began to struggle and Fredrick threw her off his shoulder to the stone floor, hard. The witch lay there dazed as the wizard knelt, drawing his face close to hers.
"Now listen, witch…we don't want any trouble out of you or we'll kill you right now," he said to Malina, his eyes hard.
Malina didn't say anything, and Fredrick hauled her to her feet, then twisted her arm painfully behind her back. Malina let out a little cry.
"Walk!" he said, pushing Malina forward roughly.
Wooten followed them, glad to see Fredrick was handling this witch better than he did the last woman they kidnapped.
Fredrick walked down the corridor and the witch could hear laughter and screams as they approached an archway from which bright light issued. Fredrick guided her through the opening and Malina's eyes went wide at the sight that met her eyes.
People, some in masks and all in various stages of undress walked about freely, eating and conversating. There were tables laden with food and drink and a number of sofas. But what caught her eye were the beds on one side of the room. There had to be at least thirty of them and more than half were filled with people having sex, and not good sex…brutal sex, the women screaming and being beaten while penetrated. Some were bound and handcuffed, others were being whipped. She could smell blood.
In the middle of the room surrounded by chairs was a huge bed, and a mass of naked bodies wriggling, pumped and squirmed all over it, while others sat in the chairs watching, wanking off or both.
Fredrick grinned at the horror on Malina's face.
"Welcome to the party," he purred in her ear, then pushed her forward.
Pumbleberry waddled up to greet them, looking Malina over.
"Urm…I see that you've brought your own entertainment," Pumbleberry said, "Nice, but…urm…a bit too old for me."
"Not for me," Wooten said, walking around Fredrick and running his hand over Malina's breasts. The witch screamed at the intimate contact. Wooten hesitated. He had felt something hard under her t-shirt.
"What's this?" he said, reaching down her shirt and pulling up Draco's ring attached to her necklace. He studied it and gave a low whistle.
"What's a blue-collar witch like you doing with something like this?" he asked her before yanking the necklace off her neck and putting it and the ring into his robes pocket, "Well, you're not going to need it after tonight. You won't be going anywhere except to the Afterlife…and like they say, you can't take it with you. Hold her, Fredrick. Let's see what she's got."
Fredrick grabbed Malina's wrists and held her arms up as she struggled. She kicked Wooten and he punched her hard in the nose. Blood leaked from it.
"I got bloody kicked in the jewels last time," he snarled at her, "You do it and I'll break your fucking neck. Now cooperate or it's going to be worse for you."
Her face pulsing, Malina despairingly went limp. She was going to be raped and killed. She closed her eyes as she felt Wooten tugging her t-shirt out of her pants and pulling it up over her face, his thick fingers grasping her bra-clad breast and squeezing it so hard she whimpered. Then her shirt was pulled over her head roughly, Fredrick removing it as Wooten pulled up her bra. She let out a scream as she felt his mouth close over a nipple and his hand groped at her bum.
"Oh yeah. A screamer," Fredrick said, pressing his erection against her for a moment, "Come on Wooten, let's get a bed."
Wooten grabbed Malina's legs and the two wizards made their way over to the bed area, weaving through the bouncing mattresses, screaming victims and thrusting bodies to a bed that had been used. There was a blood stain on it.
"This'll do," Fredrick hissed and the two wizards dropped Malina on it. She immediately tried to scramble off but they were too quick for her.
"Like a rabbit, this one," Wooten said as he grabbed her ankle. Malina kicked at him ineffectually. Fredrick slapped her.
"We told you about kicking," he said, starting to unbutton his robes as Wooten grabbed her other ankle. "I'm going to teach you one hell of a lesson, witch."
Wooten licked his lips as Fredrick shrugged off his robes, revealing tented tidy-whities.
"Nooooo!" Malina screamed as Fredrick began unfastening her jeans.
Suddenly, Fredrick was hit by wand blast and went flying, landing on an occupied bed several feet away, interrupting a vigorous raping.
"What the…" Wooten said, turning only to be hit in the jaw with a powerful blow. He fell, pulling Malina around on the bed since he still had a hold on her legs.
"Now, now! Urm…what's going on here?" Pumbleberry huffed, hurrying up in time to see Draco wrap his robes around the trembling Malina.
"These animals stole what is mine," Draco snarled, moving Malina behind him as Wooten got up off the floor and Fredrick walked back shakily. Draco's gray eyes were murderous as he looked at the two wizards.
"What do you mean 'yours?'" Wooten said angrily, rubbing his jaw. He would have hexed Draco if he didn't have a wand trained on him. "We got her from the record shop."
Malina, still shaken blinked at the back of Draco's head. He knew these men?
"I mean mine. She wears my ring. She is my property," Draco seethed. He turned to Malina and partially opened his robes. The necklace and ring weren't there.
"Where's the ring?" he asked her, his eyes so hard she nearly couldn't recognize him.
"He took it," Malina replied, pointing at Wooten, who thrust his jaw out.
"I didn't take nothing," he hissed.
Draco stared at him a moment, then handed Malina his wand.
"Use it if you have to," he said, then turned back to Wooten.
"Give me my ring," he said.
"Sure," Wooten said, reaching into his pocket, intending on pulling out his wand and blasting the blonde wizard.
"Accio wand!" Malina shouted suddenly, Wooten's wand flying into her outstretched hand. The startled wizard looked at her. Draco's wand worked for her. That meant they probably were as close as the wizard claimed. Lovers could often use each others' wands.
"Just wanted to keep you honest," the witch said, an ugly look on her face. She hoped Draco beat the shit out of both of them.
"The ring, Wooten," Draco said once more.
He looked so much like Lucius when angry that Wooten paled a moment. Lucius had been a brutal fighter, the kind of wizard who took great pleasure in breaking bones. How much like the father was the son? He decided he didn't want to find out. He reached in his pocket and produced the ring. Draco snatched it out of his hand, then punched him in the jaw again, breaking it this time.
Wooten fell, and this time he didn't get up.
"Hey!" Fredrick shouted at Draco, still in his underwear, "You had no call to do that! He gave you the ring."
"He also touched my witch," Draco seethed, "If I had come here and found you two raping her…both of you would have died, believe me!"
"Now, now, Draco," Pumbleberry said, "Urm…what's this about you having…urm…a witch? I thought you didn't…urm…indulge? Because of your…urm…malady."
All around them people were listening with interest.
"Haven't you heard of condoms?" Draco said, "I have needs too. But I don't indulge here because condoms break and half of you would get this STD if that happened. But…if you are willing to take the chance…I can start participating. As it stands only one witch can be infected, and it doesn't make much difference."
Malina looked at Draco shocked. An STD? What in the world was he talking about?
"Urm…no…no Draco, we appreciate you protecting us. Take your witch and go then," Pumbleberry said, twirling the end of his waxed mustache.
Draco's gray eyes dropped to Wooten.
"Tell that bastard any time he feels as if he wants satisfaction, I'll be glad to oblige him," Draco hissed. Then he took his wand from Malina and quickly escorted the witch from the room, the crowd around them parting.
"So, Draco's keeping a muggle-born for his mistress?" a witch whispered to another, who shrugged.
"Ass is ass," she said, "Better a muggle-born taking a chance on getting an STD than a true witch. Come on…there's a couple of muggle men chained to the far wall."
The two witches made a beeline to the poor men being poked and prodded by a gang of masked Death Eaters. One let out a piercing cry.
"Draco, how did you find me?" Malina asked the wizard as he dragged her through the corridor.
"Never mind that. How did you let yourself be taken?" he hissed at her, furious.
"They surprised me," Malina said, "I didn't expect to be abducted, Draco. Neither of them had "potential kidnapper" etched in their foreheads."
"I don't care. You're going to learn how to protect yourself," he declared, pulling her up the stairwell.
"I can protect myself," Malina argued, "They just surprised me."
Draco stopped on the stairs, grabbed both of Malina's shoulders and shook her brutally.
"Did you see what was going on in there? Women were dying, Malina! Any one of them could have been you! I want you to know what to do next time you are 'surprised." I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you, Malina," he said, his voice quavering.
Suddenly Draco pulled her into him, holding her so tightly, Malina could hardly breathe.
"Draco…Draco, I can't breathe," she gasped in the wizard's arms.
Draco released her, his eyes full of emotion.
"Come on, I'm taking you to the Manor," he said, pulling her up the stairs. They walked across the landscape until they were beyond the anti-apparition ward, then disapparated.
Draco brought Malina to the Manor as he said, and had the house elves draw her up a bath, then undressed her and helped her in. He didn't feel lust as he watched her step down into the tub, only concern. The wizard washed her back for her and helped her rinse, dried her, then brought her a silk nightgown in Slytherin green for her to wear.
Malina couldn't eat anything, and Draco didn't have much of an appetite either…his belly still ached from the fear he felt when he realized Malina had been taken for revel fodder. If he had just been a minute later…
Draco let out a long breath to calm himself. It hadn't come to that, thank the gods.
When they climbed into bed, Draco made no move to touch Malina. She'd been touched enough tonight. She didn't mention that. She didn't talk about what happened at all except to ask him about the STD he was supposed to have.
"It has to do with my work for the Order," he said shortly.
Malina said nothing else about it. She figured it was a lie the wizard told to keep from taking part in the horrible activities. The witch shuddered as she remembered the terrible scene that met her eyes when she entered the revel. Draco felt her tremble and wrapped both his arms around her, pulling her close.
"I'm sorry you had to experience that, Malina," he said softly.
Malina was quiet for a moment.
"And all those other women?" she asked him.
"Dead," Draco said, the word like bile in his mouth, "All dead, you can be sure."
"You've watched women being murdered, Draco?" Malina asked him, her heart feeling cold now. She felt him nod.
"Too many women, too many times, Malina. Sometimes I feel as if I'm dying myself…inside. The worst part is, I can do nothing other than what I'm doing now if I want to save them," Draco said, "I can only watch and listen."
"What are you listening for, Draco?" she asked him softly.
"An answer, Malina," he replied, pain in his voice, "An answer for it all. Hopefully, there will be one soon."
Draco fell silent, but Malina could feel him quaking just a little. Now she understood why he cried out in his sleep sometimes, or woke looking as if he didn't know where he was, or desperately made love to her when he returned from wherever it was he went. It was what he was forced to see…and allow. It was horrible.
"You'll find the answer, Draco," she said softly, "You'll find a way to save them."
Draco blinked up at the ceiling. Snape was the one he had to count on for now. He had no idea how his meeting went with Bella. He'd have to stop by the school and talk to Albus.
"I can only hope, Malina," he said, tightening his hold on the witch and closing his eyes. His hand drifted up to her necklace, then down to the ring. He grasped the warm, hard piece gratefully.
It had saved Malina's life.
As Hermione transfigured the sofa into a bed, Volaria enjoyed a nice hot bath. Hermione had a number of scented spigots around her tub, and after testing each of them, Volaria chose the rose-scented one. She soaked in the tub luxuriously.
Severus stood in Hermione's study, scowling, his arms folded across his chest, watching as Hermione made up the bed by hand. She looked over at the Potions Master
"Really Severus…do you have to look so sour?" she asked him.
"Yes, I do," Severus said, "I find this girl staying with you quite an intrusion. We know nothing about her. She may hex you in your sleep."
Hermione put her hands on her hips.
"Severus, Fawkes gave Volaria the 'all clear.' She's just a young witch who needs help," Hermione said to him.
"A young witch who can do wandless, non-verbal magic and who has been raised by Bellatrix LeStrange. If she decides to turn on you, Hermione, you'll never see it coming. I still say she should be locked away," the Potions Master said, "And what about our 'quality time?' I barely get a chance to be alone with you as it is."
"Severus, stop being a selfish prat," Hermione said, returning to making up the bed, "Your wand won't fall off if it doesn't take a dip for a few nights."
"A few nights?" Severus said incredulously, "You mean a few weeks. You're so wrapped up in your project to save a wizard probably not worth saving, you give me no time. The only reason you deigned to give me a tumble yesterday is because you thought I was walking into the jaws of death."
Hermione turned on him, her face black. Severus got a very bad feeling.
"A tumble? Was that what last night was to you, Severus?" she asked him, her voice getting higher.
Oh shit. Time for some quick damage control. Severus looked around to see what Hermione would grab first to throw at him. She was quite close to a heavy book on the coffee table.
"No…no. It was more than that Hermione…I was just…just…" Severus began.
"Just trying to make me feel guilty that I'm more dedicated to my work than kicking my heels up into the air for you," Hermione finished for him, her eyes narrowed, "That's really mature, Severus."
Severus just looked at her.
"And plus, there's the matter of you drugging me today so I'd sleep through your meeting with Bella," Hermione said, frowning.
"That was for your own good. You would have worried yourself sick waiting to see if I made it back," the wizard said.
"That's no excuse, Severus. You know what? Right now, these thighs are on lockdown. No nookie for the Potions Master until he learns how to treat me like an adult and not a child," Hermione said, crossing her arms.
"What?" Severus said, scowling blackly.
"You heard me. No sex until further notice," Hermione said firmly, her jaw thrust out determinedly.
Severus stared at Hermione. This was…was blackmail. Extortion. And completely unreasonable.
Severus was about to start a very heated argument when Volaria walked out of Hermione's bedroom, dressed in one of her flannel gowns and smelling of roses. Severus' nose wrinkled immediately at the scent.
He hated anything to do with roses.
"That bath was wonderful," Volaria said, "Thank you, Hermione."
"You're very welcome, Volaria," Hermione replied, "I've made up a bed for you, and I will keep the fireplace lit so you aren't in complete darkness.
"You don't walk in your sleep do you? Or cast accidental spells while you dream?" Severus asked the young witch, who looked at him as if he were insane.
"Of course I don't, Severus," she replied.
The Potions Master stiffened at her use of his given name. Hermione covered her mouth with her hand and quickly stepped between them.
"Um, Volaria. Professor Snape is much older than you are and to use his given name in such a familiar way is…is bad etiquette and considered a lack of proper respect. Please address him as Professor Snape and only Professor Snape," she said, looking over her shoulder at Severus, who looked ready to hex the girl.
"Or Sir," Snape growled at her.
Volaria looked taken aback.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that I didn't hear anyone else address him by a title," she said apologetically.
"All adults should be addressed this way," Hermione said.
Volaria looked at her.
"Do you want me to call you Miss Granger?" she asked Hermione.
"Only when we are around others in public. In my rooms you can call me Hermione," the witch said, smiling at her.
Severus still scowled. Now that Volaria was here, he couldn't take Hermione to task about her decision to cut him off.
"We need to talk, Hermione. Privately," he said, narrowing his eyes at Volaria. The little cockblocker.
"Not tonight, Severus," Hermione replied, pulling back the covers invitingly for Volaria, who sat down on the edge of the bed and bounced experimentally, "Now it's time to say good night."
Severus' dark eyes rested on her momentarily, and Hermione shuddered inside at the way he was looking at her. It was his "wait until I get you under me again" look.
"Fine," the wizard snapped bad-naturedly, "Good night then."
He whirled and walked toward the door.
"Goodnight, Professor Snape," Volaria sang after him.
The wizard hesitated for a moment, then pulled open the door and stormed out with a billow of robes, slamming the door behind him.
Volaria looked at Hermione, who stared at the door Severus exited through.
"He doesn't like me very much, does he?" Volaria said to Hermione.
"He doesn't like anyone very much, Volaria. It's just his nature. He's actually a very good wizard," Hermione said. "He's just a bit anti-social. He's been through a lot."
"I know he has. My father used to torture him. I saw it in a pensieve Bella gave to Voltaire to study. She wants Voltaire to torture him too," Volaria said. "When he becomes the new Dark Lord."
Hermione stared at her a moment, then sat down on the bed.
"Volaria…can you tell me a little about your brother? What he was like before he began to drink the elixir?" Hermione asked her.
Volaria nodded.
"Voltaire was always mean. He liked to hurt things from when he was very little. We fought all the time. He was jealous of me because I could do wandless magic and he couldn't, and he called me names all the time. He never once acted like a brother. He's always seemed to hate me. Aunt Bella spoils him, and rewards him when he does terrible things, like kill house elves or hexes Jordan for fun," Volaria said.
"Jordan? Who's Jordan?" Hermione asked.
"Jordan lives with us. He's a healer. He doesn't want to be there, but Bella makes him stay. She's mean to him. Beats him. But she needs him to take care of us. I think that's the only reason he isn't dead. She has him chained in his room for most of the day, but lets him out in the arena with the house elves watching him. He doesn't have a wand handy…she gives it to him only when he has to do healing work and she keeps her wand on him the entire time. She doesn't trust him," the young witch said. "She doesn't let me talk to him either. She said he'd do dirty things to me, but I don't believe her."
"Has Jordan always been there?" Hermione asked her.
"Yes, all my life. He took care of me when I was very little…then Aunt Bella took over," she said with a little shudder. "She made me do things…horrible things to animals. One day I refused to do it and she was very disappointed and said I was weak. But I'm not weak. I just don't like to kill things. I can't give life back. It's…it's precious," the witch said, her eyes filling with tears.
"Yes, it is very precious, Volaria," Hermione agreed, her heart going out to the young witch. It must have been terrible for the girl to grow up with Bellatrix…to be forced to hurt and kill things, and be browbeaten for not liking it.
"How about your education? How did you learn?" she asked the girl.
"Well, Aunt Bella had pensieves of when she went to school and gave them to us. Plus we have a huge library. I learned that way. I read a lot and studied things on my own since there wasn't much to do. That's how I learned to become an animagus. I was kind of disappointed…being just a mosquito…but it came in handy," she said with a little smile.
"Yes it did," Hermione agreed, smiling back at the witch, "It was a brilliant way to escape. Did you plan it?"
"No," Volaria replied, shaking her head, "At first I just wanted to see what they were doing to Voltaire. It was horrible…blood everywhere," she said shuddering, "Then I was going to fly back to my rooms when I decided to stay on the Professor and leave with him. It was my only chance. Aunt Bella was going to let Voltaire kill me when he got better, I'm sure of it. She doesn't need me anymore."
She looked at Hermione, her lip trembling.
"I didn't want to die," she whispered, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.
Hermione moved closer to the girl, embracing her as she sobbed.
"Don't worry, Volaria. You're safe now," she said.
"Not if Voltaire becomes the next Voldemort. He's going to want to kill me because I'm his sister and have the same blood. He and Bella believe my father was a king. But he was just a murderer…a horrible murderer," she gasped.
Hermione sat there silently for several minutes, stroking Volaria's hair until the witch stopped crying, then she sat back and looked at Volaria soberly.
"Volaria, do you think that if we managed to turn Voltaire normal again, that he could learn to be…well…normal?" Hermione asked her.
Volaria looked at her and slowly shook her head.
"Voltaire is evil through and through. He'd be that way even without taking the elixir. He likes killing and wants to control everything and everybody. He wants Aunt Bella to be his queen. Even if he didn't have the extra powers, he would still be that way," Volaria said.
"All right. Thank you Volaria. Now, get under the covers. You've had quite a day. I want you to get some rest," Hermione said.
Volaria slipped under the covers and looked up at Hermione.
"Thank you for helping me, Hermione," she said softly.
"You're welcome, Volaria. Now, go to sleep," Hermione said, smoothing her hair.
Volaria yawned, suddenly feeling exhausted.
"Good night," she said sleepily, snuggling into the pillow.
"Good night," Hermione said, pulling her wand and lowering the flame in the floo.
Quietly she exited the study and walked into the bedroom, sitting down on the bed deep in thought.
Volaria didn't believe her brother could be rehabilitated. Still, reversing the effects of the elixir would at least make him manageable. She would still work on it. There might be some hope for the boy despite his sister's assessment of him.
She could only hope.
In a foul mood, Severus poured himself a firewhiskey and plopped down in his chair. Volaria had ruined everything. Albus and Hermione were just too easy to trust, always believing the best about others until they were proven wrong. Severus was not that gullible. Yes, Fawkes had given the okay, but that was for her intentions at the moment. She was Tom Riddle's daughter…a wooly bloodline at best. The witch could be capable of anything in the future.
He took a sip of his firewhiskey, scowling into the flames of the fireplace. As good a man as Severus Snape was, he had one fault…once someone wronged him that wrong transferred to anything associated with that person. Case in point, Harry Potter. Severus hated him on sight because he was James Potter's son. He still didn't care for Harry.
He was going through the same thing with Volaria, placing the sins of the father on the daughter. It was unfair, but that was how it was. He didn't believe she should be embraced, but put someplace and watched closely. Someplace other than his lover's rooms. Plus, if she told anyone else about Voltaire and Bella, it could ruin everything. The girl should at least be put away until all this madness was over and the threat defused.
But no. Albus wanted to put her in classes and treat her like every other student. But she wasn't a normal student. She was the flesh and blood of Lord Voldemort, the most evil magical despot that ever lived. How could the Headmaster be so thick? Hermione, he understood. That bleeding heart of hers knew no bounds. Intelligence didn't necessarily mean smarts. She'd be treating the young witch like another project in no time. But Albus…considering all he'd been through over the years, he should know better.
Severus sighed as he finished his drink.
No. Albus was a Gryffindor, not a Slytherin. Another bleeding heart.
Well, he would be on guard if no one else was. He planned to watch that little witch like a hawk. He'd find out if she really was what she claimed to be…someone seeking sanctuary. If she wasn't, he didn't care how young she was…she'd be taken care of. Fawkes might be a good judge of character, but nothing was perfect. In this case, Severus wasn't willing to take the word of a bird, even if it was an intelligent phoenix. With wandless magic and the ability to cast non-verbal spells, Volaria had the ability to be a true danger. No one knew how much of Bella's twistedness had rubbed off on the girl. She was the picture of innocence. Severus wondered what was under the paint.
The Potions Master loosened the collar of his robes then stood up and walked over to his liquor cabinet to fix another drink. As he poured, he thought about Bella. She'd probably killed a few house elves by now in her rage. That poor soul Jordan might not be in that good a shape either. He would have to tell Albus about him and have a search performed to see if anyone named Jordan fitting his description had mysteriously disappeared in the last twenty years.
He sat back down again.
Hermione had cut him off. He frowned. He had been cut off for the past few weeks anyway. But now it was "official." What was he going to do about that? He couldn't go to her rooms and seduce/ravish her, thanks to the unwanted presence of Volaria, and that did nothing to endear the young witch to the Potions Master either.
It seemed he would have to beat Hermione at her own game. Make her miss him. It would be difficult with the witch preoccupied as she was by her project and now Volaria.
Hm.
Maybe it was time for him to become active again. The Death Eaters should be about ready to start the competition and Draco could probably use some help gathering the details. Hermione had enough elixir to work with.
Yes. It sounded like a plan and certainly would get Hermione's attention.
The next day Malina showed up at work to find that she'd been fired. The owner wasn't there but Clarissa happily informed her she no longer had a job.
"You left the shop door open and the money in the register," Clarissa said, "We're lucky we weren't cleaned out. Mr. Morrison said the only excuse for such a thing was if you were abducted, which obviously you weren't. What happened? Why did you leave the store like that?"
Malina looked at Clarissa. She couldn't tell her what happened because of the nature of Draco's work. She would be forced to report the abduction to the Ministry Aurors, and then Draco would become involved. He might even be arrested because of his association because he wouldn't be able to reveal he worked for the Order.
Only a few witches and wizards were actually being abducted by Death Eaters. Most of the revel victims were muggles and the muggle police were handling those disappearances. Muggle-borns were taken too…but since their parents were muggles, they were forced to turn to the muggle police as well when they came up missing if the Aurors couldn't find them. To tell a detective their child was a wizard or witch that lived in a magical world was a sure way to be considered stark raving nutters.
"I had an important emergency," Malina lied, "It came up suddenly and I just…rushed away."
Clarissa looked at her suspiciously.
"What kind of emergency?" she asked the witch, not believing her.
"A personal emergency," Malina said shortly.
Clarissa stared at her, then went into the register and counted out a few galleons and knuts. She took out a parchment and quill from the drawer, sliding them toward Malina.
"Sign this. It's a statement saying you received your final pay," the blonde witch said.
Malina signed the parchment and Clarissa gave her the money.
"Have a good life," she said snidely as Malina left the shop.
Malina walked down the street, her brow furrowed. Shit. Now her income had been cut. She did all right at the studio when she had work, but right now, she didn't have any. She'd have to find another job. She walked to the nearest public apparition point, picking up a Daily Prophet along the way.
She'd check the want ads.
Hermione did not show up at breakfast the next morning. Severus knew she was having breakfast in her rooms with Volaria. He wondered if she would now neglect her original project because of the young witch.
He finished his breakfast and headed back to his rooms. As he approached, he saw Hermione leaving her rooms dressed in her lab coat. So, she was going to keep working. He noticed she started up the hall without warding her door.
"Hermione," he called, stopping in front of her door.
Hermione scowled at him. She was still angry about yesterday.
"Yes, Severus?" she snapped, walking back as the wizard studied her door.
"Where is Miss Riddle?" he asked her, frowning.
"Why, in my rooms," Hermione replied. "She's reading, and I taught her how to use the floo to order her lunch. She'll be fine."
"It's not her being fine that I am concerned about. Did you take any precautions before you left the witch in there?" he asked her.
"No. What kind of precautions?" Hermione asked.
Severus turned the knob to her rooms and opened the door. He frowned at Hermione for a moment then entered. He found Volaria sitting in an armchair in the study reading a book about Transfiguration.
"Hello Professor Snape," she said smiling at him.
Severus didn't answer but walked up to the floo, pulled out his wand and muttered a spell, Volaria watching him. Severus added his signature to it so it would be next to impossible for someone else to remove.
Hermione walked up to him, scowling.
"What did you do?" she asked him, her hands on her hips.
"I warded the floo so she could speak through it, but not use it," Severus said, leveling his black eyes on Volaria, "I will also be warding the door so she can't leave your rooms. We can't afford to have her wandering around the castle."
Volaria looked up at him, her blue eyes wide.
"You're locking me in?" she asked him.
"Yes, I am. Hermione should have done it before she left you alone here unsupervised. Fortunately, I am not as trusting as she is, Miss Riddle," Severus said darkly.
"Severus, Volaria would have stayed here," Hermione said to him.
"There's no guarantee of that. Witches her age become bored quite easily. She may be tempted to explore her surroundings. We can't afford that. She is currently an unknown…she needs to stay that way," the wizard said firmly. "Besides, I don't trust her."
"But Severus," Hermione began, "you don't know…"
"Precisely. I don't know what she's capable of and I don't want to be surprised," Severus replied.
Hermione's face turned black.
"Now you just wait a minute, Severus Snape," she started.
Volaria stared at Severus for a moment, then said, "No, Hermione. I don't blame him really. A lot of people would feel the same way about me if they knew who I really was. I just showed up here. No one knows about me really. Considering my background, I don't blame the Professor for being careful. I understand, Professor. It's all right."
Severus stared at the witch, then turned and looked at Hermione.
"Definitely Ravenclaw material," he said, "She understands and accepts the situation Hermione. I suggest you do the same while she is in your care. Precautions must be taken."
Hermione looked at Volaria.
"You really don't mind, Volaria?" she asked the young witch.
"No. Aunt Bella often locked me in when teaching Voltaire things she didn't want me to see. I'm used to it actually. As long as I'm not put in a cell or manacles…I can handle it," the witch replied.
Severus didn't think a cell or magic-dampening manacles was too far off the mark, but didn't say anything.
"All right. I'll come back at lunchtime to check on you," Hermione said to the witch.
Volaria nodded and returned to reading her book. Severus exited the rooms, followed by Hermione. He pointed his wand at her door. Hermione stopped him.
"I'll ward it," she said, pulling her own wand and placing a ward on the door.
"Add your signature," Severus growled at her, "She might be able to break wards."
"Really Severus…you act like she's a criminal intent on our destruction," Hermione complained as she added her signature to the ward.
"She's descended from one of the worst criminals that ever plagued the wizarding world. That is enough to warrant keeping an eye on her," he replied, "I expect you to be vigilant Hermione…particularly since I will be gone for a few days. Exactly how long I'm not sure."
Hermione stared at him.
"Where are you going?" she asked, suddenly feeling cold inside.
Severus looked up and down the corridor, then cast a silencing spell around them
"I am going to deliver the elixir to Rosier and try to find out any details I can about the competition. Most likely I will be invited to stay a few days," Severus said to her, studying her face.
Ah, there it was. Worry and concern.
"But Severus…" Hermione began, protesting, "So soon?"
"I have been out of circulation more than a month, Hermione. I need to get back into the loop and find out what is happening with the Death Eaters first hand," he said quietly.
Hermione's face fell. Severus smirked just a bit.
"Why the long face, witch? It was your intention to give me a wide berth for an undetermined length of time. My absence will facilitate that, will it not?" the wizard asked her silkily.
Hermione looked at him. It was one thing to have Severus here and cut off, where she could see the effects and feel her power over him. It was another thing to have him gone and in a dangerous situation that he might not come back from.
"It's…it's different Severus. I'd know you were here and safe," Hermione said, her eyes glistening now.
"Oh, so that makes your enforced estrangement easier to bear, knowing that I would be in my rooms alone…without you…possibly pining?" Severus replied, arching an eyebrow at her, "I imagine it ruins your sense of…control…power…to have me spend my time immersed in other activities."
Hermione stared up at him.
"Severus…you aren't doing this because I said I wouldn't sleep with you, are you?" she asked him.
Severus studied her.
"It may have something to do with my decision, Hermione. The truth is, I'm not needed here. You have your project and the young witch to supervise. You have no time for me, and if you did have time, by your own admission you wouldn't spend it intimately with me in any case. I don't believe in self-torture, Hermione. I refuse to sit in my rooms night after night, twiddling my thumbs or wanking off because you haven't decided to "let me in" yet. I understand you are trying to 'teach me a lesson' by making yourself unavailable. But I am not the kind of man to sit and wait idly by for another person to make a decision concerning me. You have my heart witch, but I will not be controlled by my desire for you…or punished by that desire. I have work to do and plan to do it rather than hover about you like a shadow begging for your forgiveness. I did what I did to protect you. I will not apologize for it. And I will not let you dangle your charms before me and not be able to touch you. I will return, and maybe then…maybe then you will be more understanding," the wizard said to her.
Then he checked the corridor again, and seeing no one, leaned and kissed Hermione gently on the lips. His dark eyes met hers soberly.
"I must go now and meet with Rosier. I will see you when I see you, witch," the Potions Master said.
Severus removed the silencing spell and walked with robes billowing to his office and let himself in, glancing at her once more, then disappearing, closing the door behind him.
Hermione remained standing in the corridor trying to come to terms with what just happened. Had she driven Severus back into his dangerous lifestyle by arbitrarily cutting him off?
She scowled slightly as she walked down the hall and through the hidden doorway that led to the subdungeons.
True, she had made her decision without attempting to talk to him first. But he had treated her like a child, not taking what she wanted into consideration. Was turnabout fair play in this case? It seemed not. She was guilty of the same offense as he was, acting without giving Severus a chance to explain his side, or to come to some kind of agreement. She had wanted to punish the wizard. When it came to their sex life, Hermione was the one in control. Yes, the wizard did act like a caveman at times, scooping her up and finding the nearest bed, but if she truly wanted to stop him…she could.
Was it possible she was becoming too familiar with the Potions Master? They had been together for two years, and the wizard had changed quite a bit for her to try and keep her happy. Did she take him for granted now? Had she pushed him away because she felt she had the control in the relationship? Severus was not a wizard to be controlled. Any kindness or thoughtfulness he acted with was because it was in him to conduct himself in such a way. Any unthoughtfulness was usually because he thought he knew best. He was older than she was and possibly wiser though it was hard to admit sometimes, particularly since he was so relationship-challenged. Severus was still learning her. Hermione needed to realize she was still learning him as well. She didn't know the wizard as well as she believed she did.
Today, Severus had shown her he was not a man to be led by his nose…or his tool. He'd all but told her that when he returned…the status of their relationship would be up to her. He'd also said he wouldn't allow himself to be punished by his desire for her.
It was never Hermione's intention to make him feel that way.
The witch walked down the long stairwell and was almost at the bottom when she stopped, turned and began running back up the stairs. She couldn't let him leave like this. She needed to tell him at least she'd be willing to talk, to come to some kind of understanding before he left so he'd know what he felt did matter to her.
Hermione pushed through the doorway and ran out into the corridor, almost colliding with several Slytherins on the way back to their house after breakfast. She then ran to his office and entered, then pulled the torches in the proper sequence to open the wall to his study. It seemed to take forever to slide aside. She caught the sound of apparition and let out a wail.
"Noooo, oh Severus! No!" she cried, running to the bedroom. But she was too late.
Severus was gone.
Hermione's amber eyes shifted back and forth, going over their conversation.
"Rosier. He said he was going to see Rosier. It's day. Most likely he will be at his shop," she said to herself.
She hurriedly left Severus' rooms, exited his office and walked to her own rooms. She unwarded the door and let herself in. Volaria was in the same armchair, her face buried in the Transfiguration book. She was as studious as Hermione was in her younger days and didn't even notice Hermione until she walked past her.
"You weren't gone long," Volaria said, putting down the book and walking into Hermione's bedroom behind the witch. She watched as Hermione removed her lab coat and put on her robes, then a traveling cloak.
"Are you going someplace?" Volaria asked her curiously.
"Yes, I have to leave the grounds. It's very important…but I should be back shortly," Hermione said, tucking her wand into her robes pocket, "Now if I don't make it back in time for lunch, go ahead and order what you like from the kitchens. You do remember how to do that, right?"
Volaria nodded.
"Good. Now you will be warded in, but the house elves can wink in and out and will have no problems bringing your food to you. Are you going to be all right?" Hermione asked her.
"Yes," Volaria said.
"Good. I'll see you when I get back," Hermione said hurriedly, walking past Volaria and out the door.
Volaria heard Hermione casting the ward on the door. The young witch sighed then sat back down, picked up the book and started reading from where she left off.
Hermione moved quickly through the castle and out on to the grounds, walking double-time. Hagrid gave her a friendly shout as he saw her walking toward the main gate. He had a large burlap sack flung over his huge shoulder and it was wriggling wildly. The gods only knew what kind of creature he had got hold of this time.
Hermione let herself through the gate, warded it back and quickly disapparated.
She hoped she could catch the wizard in time.
Draco showed up at the Music Symposium at twelve o'clock with a very greasy bag of fish and chips only to find that Malina had been fired.
"But that's no reason for you to stop dropping by," Clarissa said cheekily to the scowling wizard. "We have quite the selection here."
Clarissa drew in a breath that made her chest balloon a bit. Draco eyed her display, completely unimpressed.
"Did she say where she was going?" Draco asked Clarissa, ignoring her pass at him.
"No, she just took her money and left," Clarissa replied, scowling a little at the wizard's apparent thickness. Didn't he know when a witch was coming on to him?
Without another word Draco exited the shop, Clarissa looking after him. He left the greasy bag he carried on the counter. Clarissa peeked into it. Ooh, fish and chips. Still hot.
She settled down on the stool behind the counter and began to eat the food right out of the bag, considering Malina and the wizard who had just left, more than likely in search of her.
Clarissa always thought Malina was rather odd, with all the black mugglish clothes she wore, and lack of proper robes for the most part. Even her lipstick was black most of the time, and she had a…a…tattoo. She didn't seem suitable for someone like Draco Malfoy. Not in the least.
Naturally nosey, Clarissa had been curious to know if Malina was dating Draco…he was aristocracy after all and a pureblood. Clarissa was a bit of a bigot concerning muggle-borns, though she didn't openly disparage them. She asked the dark witch about it but Malina said he was just her part-time employer, and he only came by to tell her when she was needed to do backup at the studio.
Clarissa didn't believe the lie. He could send a toady to tell her something like that. Plus the way Draco would look at Malina sometimes suggested his interest was more than work-related. Well, it could be that he was just interested in the muggle-born as a plaything. Aristocrats often slummed, keeping woman that were unsuitable to their social status on the side. It was easier for Clarissa to accept that was the way of it between Malina and Draco than their having an actual relationship. Hell, she wouldn't mind being Draco Malfoy's plaything. There were bound to be perks. Jewelry, dinners, things of that nature. She wouldn't mind that at all.
Clarissa sighed. It wasn't going to happen. She had hinted at the wizard her willingness to engage him more than once, but he didn't bite. There was no accounting for taste.
The moment Draco left the shop, he pulled out the tracking parchment.
"Track," he said to it.
A map appeared. It was a park, Shropshire Gardens. Malina's footsteps were stationary. She must be sitting someplace. Draco walked to the closest public apparition point. He wanted to talk to the witch and find out what she was going to do.
Draco was so concerned about Malina he failed to realize she was going to want to know how he found her.
Hermione was so intent on catching up to Severus, she didn't bother apparating to a public point, but appeared very close to Rosier's shop. Unfortunately, an Auror happened to be passing and caught her apparating in a non-designated area.
The wizard pulled out his ticket pad, and took down her information, his blue eyes focused on her attentively as she gave her name, address and place of employ. Aurors were trained to notice subtle reactions that indicated untruths. He pulled off the piece of parchment and handed it to Hermione. She read his name. Justice Forall.
Her mouth quirked.
Justice noticed it and scowled a bit.
"You know, apparating the way you did could have seriously injured someone. There's a reason we have public apparition points," he chided her. "Now, you can either pay the ten galleon fine, or appear in court to challenge it. It's up to you, Miss…"
He looked at his pad again.
"Granger," he concluded, narrowing his eyes.
If she did challenge it, he'd be in court to say he witnessed the illegal apparition first hand, which would result in an even larger fine if she were found guilty.
"I understand," Hermione said, her mouth still quirked at the ridiculous name, "I'll pay the fine."
"See that you do," Justice said bad-naturedly, hating his American father's sense of patriotism once again. He stalked off, Hermione looking after him, smiling despite her ticket.
"Justice Forall. Oh gods, that's funny," she said to herself as she walked toward Rosier's shop, shaking her head, "Americans."
She walked up to the shop door, took a deep breath, opened it and walked in. There was no one behind the counter. Suddenly a door behind the counter opened and Rosier walked in.
"Good morning. May I help you?" he asked Hermione, his eyes washing over her. She didn't look rich. One had to be rich to shop here.
Hermione blinked up at him, her eyes shifting to the slightly cracked door behind him.
"I'd like to look at a charm, for my bracelet," she said.
Severus, who had just given Rosier the elixir, stiffened as he heard Hermione's voice. What was the witch doing here? Was she mad? If Rosier got a look at that bracelet…
"Do you have the bracelet with you?" he asked.
"No. I don't…but I know what I want. A golden lion, snarling," Hermione said.
A golden lion?
"Possibly, if you describe the bracelet to me, I'd have a better idea of what I will be working with," he said a bit suspiciously now. Did the bracelet have silver snakes as well?
Severus glided to the door, pulled it open a bit and scowled at Hermione, shaking his head.
"It's gold link with lions all around it…about seven of them. I just want to add another one," she said.
Rosier relaxed. It wasn't the same bracelet he'd given Snape. Severus disappeared back into the office.
"Well, Miss…a charm would have to be specially designed. We don't keep them in a box," he said a bit disdainfully, "In order to have one designed you would have to leave a non-refundable deposit of five hundred galleons."
Hermione looked at him incredulously.
"Five hundred galleons?" she repeated with a squeak.
"Yes. Then I will design a charm for you. After a satisfactory design is completed, the other five hundred is to be paid upon delivery," he said to her, looking bored. The witch couldn't afford this…she was wasting her time.
"Might I suggest Heggly Jeweler's down the road? His prices are modest compared to mine, though as far as quality, you get what you pay for," he said.
"Er…yes. Maybe I will try them. Thank you," Hermione said, glancing at the open door for a quick moment. Hopefully Severus would come out and meet her outside. "Have a good morning."
She exited the shop, walked down the street a ways then waited on the corner, hoping the wizard would come. He didn't look too pleased to see her.
Severus wasn't. He more than likely could have found a way to explain Hermione having the bracelet. He could have told Rosier she was his slave, and he found ways to feed his libido other than intercourse. Oh, she would have loved that. But then, most likely Rosier would expect him to bind and whip women at the revel. Well, in any case the witch hadn't blown his cover, thank the gods. Why was she here?
Rosier stalked back into the office, scowling.
"The moment I saw that mudblood I knew she was in the wrong shop," he said, frowning. "Really, I wish I didn't have to serve them. They leave a bad taste in my mouth."
For some reason, pureblood witches and wizards could identify muggle-born wizards and witches almost immediately, though there was no discernable difference or sign hovering over their heads that said "Born of Muggles." This ability was first brought to Hermione's attention by Draco Malfoy at the Quidditch World Cup back in their fourth year. He told Hermione that the Death Eaters would know she was a muggle-born and target her if they saw her.
Severus didn't say anything, though inwardly he was scowling. That was his witch Rosier was insulting. One would think he'd be desensitized to such comments since he'd heard them all of his life, but it rankled him anyway.
"Now, Severus, we've decide that no Unforgivables will be allowed to be used during the competition. Firstly, because there is no defense against the Killing curse and the quickest would be declared the winner when it could be luck and not skill. We want battles after all," Rosier said.
"We have a total of twenty-six competitors, nineteen wizards and seven witches. They will be taking an oath to lock themselves into the competition, so no one can bow out at the last minute. The initial pairing off will be done at random, thirteen contestants drawing names from a hat, and having two days to prepare to meet with their opponent. We have decided to have the competition at Pumblebrook's manor. The revel room will be rearranged to be suitable. There will be no revels during the competition since we want everyone focused," Rosier said, "When we have a winner, you will administer the elixir."
"When will the first competition begin?" Severus asked the wizard.
"In two weeks," Rosier said, "Eight o'clock, Friday evening. The drawing will be Wednesday night. The survivors will be assigned their next opponents and meet with them the following week. The survivors of that meeting will meet again the following week. The final competition will be the week after. A winner will be chosen and a week later you will administer the elixir."
Severus nodded.
Rosier gave him a smile.
"There is to be a revel at my manor tonight…plenty of food and special entertainment," the wizard said, swelling a bit, "I've acquired a pair of muggle lions, and have been starving them. Muggles are on the main menu. I haven't decided whether or not I will give them weapons yet. In either case, I'd be delighted if you would stay a few days, Severus. You haven't been about in a while and I know you have an assistant at Hogwarts."
"I'd be delighted to stay, Rosier. I could use a break," Severus replied.
"Excellent. Now, would you like a bit of wine or a firewhiskey?" Rosier offered.
"No. Too early for me, Rosier. I do need to take care of a bit of business before tonight however," the wizard said, rising.
Rosier stood too and shook Severus' hand firmly, then picked up the bottle of elixir on his desk.
"Thank you Severus. I am sure whoever becomes the Dark Lord will place you in a position of power because of your help," the jeweler said.
"I look forward to that," Severus lied. "I will be at your manor around seven."
"Until then," Rosier said, walking Severus through the door and watching him leave the shop. He looked at the bottle in his hand. So much power beneath the stopper. And the possibility of death as well. A braver wizard might have been tempted to drink the elixir himself, the hell with the competition. But Rosier wasn't that brave.
He walked back into his office, opened a panel in the wall and placed the bottle inside, closing the panel back and warding it securely.
It wouldn't be long now.
Severus strode down the sidewalk and saw Hermione immediately. She turned toward him but he acted as if he didn't see her.
"Meet me in the back room at the Hogs Head Inn in fifteen minutes," he hissed as he strode by her to the public apparition point and disapparated.
Hermione hovered about for another ten minutes before she too disapparated.
Aberforth Dumbledore was cleaning a glass with a disgusting bar rag behind the bar when the door opened and a disillusion person entered. Not surprised by this, the brother of Albus Dumbledore watched the shimmer approach him. Three galleons appeared on the bar.
"I need the use of your back room," Severus said. "I am expecting a guest."
"Go ahead," Aberforth replied, taking the coins and depositing them in his robes pocket.
Still disillusioned, Severus walked to the back room, opened the door and entered. There were only one or two patrons in the inn, and no one paid attention to the door opening and closing. It was best to mind your own business at the Hogs Head.
Severus entered the room which was furnished with a table, two chairs, an armchair, a dresser, a bathroom and a beaten up twin sized bed. Aberforth kept clean sheets on it however. The back room often doubled as a meeting place for lovers. It was here that Albus interviewed Sybil Trelawney and first saw the Prophecy. It was also here that Severus overheard the first half of the Prophecy and reported it to Voldemort.
He regretted his decision from that day to this. His information resulted in the death of Lily Potter. Severus had been horrified to learn about her death and it was the one time Lord Voldemort tried to apologize to the dark wizard. He tried to give Lily a choice because he knew Severus had feelings for her. But the witch wouldn't give up her son, so the Dark Lord killed her. Severus' anger and guilt about Lily's death was the true turning point of his allegiance. He never forgave the Dark Lord for killing her and became bent upon his destruction. This was another reason he hated to even see Harry. Every time he came near him, it was as if he were looking into Lily's eyes. It was a constant reminder to the Potions Master how he had caused his mother's death. If Severus Snape had ever loved anyone other than Hermione Granger, it was Lily Potter, despite her choice of James Potter. Severus had never approached her. His was a quiet, obsessive love.
But that part of his life was dry bones and dust now. He had avenged Lily as best he could, and life was for the living. Hermione had his heart now, as aggravating as she was, and it was Hermione he waited for now, sitting down at the table, his dark eyes focused on the door expectantly. What the hell had she been thinking?
Malina was sitting on a park bench, reading the want ad and circling possibilities with the tip of her wand. Suddenly she had the feeling she wasn't alone. She leapt up and spun, pulling her wand and pointing it directly between Draco's gray eyes, which crossed.
Malina sighed and lowered her wand.
"Draco, I hate when you sneak up on me," she said, bending to pick up the scattered Prophet then sitting down on the bench again, Draco walking around it to join her. He sat down. Malina got the paper back in proper order then looked up at him, her eyes narrowed.
"Draco, are you having me followed or something? If you are, I don't appreciate it. It's creepy," she said to him.
"No, I'm not having you followed," he said, "If I were, those goons would have never taken you last night."
Malina thought about that. He was right. If Draco had someone watching her, most likely they would have protected her from Wooten and Fredrick. But something was going on.
"How did you find me here? The truth, Draco…or I swear I will disappear," she said evenly.
Draco fought back a smirk. As long as she wore that ring she wouldn't be disappearing anyplace he couldn't find her…if it wasn't warded that is. He glanced down at the paper in her hands, reading what she had circled.
"Wanted: Waitress. Apply at Hog Head Inn. Report to Aberforth Dumbledore. Wear Something Short."
"What?" Draco spluttered as Malina looked at him with cool eyes, "A waitress at the Hogs Head? Malina…you can't be serious. You'd leave that place with handprints all over your bum and thighs every single night!"
He pulled the paper out of her hands, scowling as he read a few of the other jobs she had circled.
"Stock Girl Wanted. Cedric's Sex Emporium. Must not be allergic to Latex."
"Leech Collector. No experience necessary. Must be in excellent health, love water and have good blood flow."
Other ads were circled, all equally as horrible.
"Malina, are you insane? You can't work in any of these places!" Draco seethed, his face contorted. "A stock girl at a sex shop? Collecting leeches with your bare legs in a swamp? And ESCORT??? Malina, you will be doing more than escorting wizards, believe me. You don't make three hundred galleons a night clutching a wizard's arm!"
Draco had on occasion used the "A Witch in Time Escort Service" and knew what he was talking about. The witches were beautiful but extremely accommodating.
"Draco, I just circled them. It didn't mean I was actually going to try and get a job with any of them. They were just possibles," she said.
Draco tore the want ad section into little itty-bitty pieces.
"Now they're impossibles," he said to the witch.
Malina shook her head.
"Draco, I have to get a job. I don't do enough backup singing to pay for my flat," she said.
"I'll pay for it. I'm rich, remember?" he said, "Hell, I'll pay for anything you need Malina. You don't have to work."
Malina eyed him.
"Oh…so I could be your 'kept' woman, eh Draco? You could just 'drop by' any time for a quickie, and I'd be obligated to service you," she said disparagingly.
Draco frowned at her.
"Malina, you know me better than that," he said, hurt, "I'm only trying to offer you a solution."
Malina sighed. She knew Draco was just trying to be helpful. In his world, galleons were the answer to everything. But not in hers. Working and being self-sufficient was important to Malina, and made her feel secure and not in anyone's debt.
Malina was an artist. Instead of attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she attended a school for the Performing Arts. Learning magical spells was part of the curriculum, but the focus was on the arts rather than academics. There had to be some artists in the world after all. But not everyone was meant to be a star. Not everyone had the temperament for it.
Yet, Malina could be a star if she wanted to, but the witch was socially introverted, the polar opposite of her lover. She liked peace and spending time alone with herself, writing. She could be a songwriter as well, if she didn't take everything she wrote so personally, unwilling to hand her work over to others to change and…well…abuse.
She also rebelled against what was considered common conventions in the wizarding world or even the muggle world. It was not unusual for a rich pureblood to cover his or her lover's bills…in fact much of the time it was expected. A rich wizard keeping one or more mistresses was acceptable in fact. But Malina was more than a mistress to Draco. She was the only witch he was involved with. Before her, he went through witches like water. He really did just want to help her.
To Malina, it would mean he controlled her and would actually make her dependent on him. The witch didn't want to have to depend on anyone in that manner. She did have another option though. She hadn't told Draco about it, because she hadn't really considered doing it, until now. Maybe she should give it some thought.
"Draco," she said softly, "I'm sorry. I know you're only trying to be helpful. But I need to feel I'm making my own way through the world, not being supported by someone else."
"But I'm here to support you Malina, in all ways. You're in a rough place right now. I just want to be here for you," the wizard said earnestly, his gray eyes sincere.
The witch gave him a soft smile.
"You're always here for me Draco," she replied, "But it's important to me that I make it on my own. A lot of artists are like that."
"Most successful artists I know have patrons," Draco said, "People who put up money so they are free to pursue their art. Malina, you have a marvelous voice. You could be as big as 'Dirty Magic,'" he told her. "I'd gladly be your patron."
Malina took his hand and looked at him soberly.
"It's funny you mentioned 'Dirty Magic' Draco," she said softly, "Miles came to me a couple of weeks ago and asked me to go on tour with them and be their opening act. I said no, because I was working and relatively stable. It would pay well…"
"For how long?" Draco asked her, a cold feeling in his belly.
"Sixteen weeks. Four months," she replied her dark eyes resting on his face, "I think…I think I should go. The pay is very good and I'll have a few galleons in my pockets when I come back. Plus, I am a singer, Draco. I spent most of my life studying my art and I've been doing very little with it."
"Sixteen weeks," Draco repeated, "That sounds like forever, Malina."
He wasn't going to discourage her, though he really didn't want the witch to leave him for that long.
"It's not, Draco. It really isn't," she said.
Draco scowled.
"With my luck, you'll probably fall in love with the drummer or something," he groused.
"Ewww! Are you crazy? Have you seen the drummer? No. No one has…because he's covered in hair!" Malina said, her nose wrinkling.
"Well, the lead singer then," Draco said jealously.
"Who? Miles? No chance of that happening Draco…I've known him for years. We went to school together. He's not my type," she said to the wizard.
"I wasn't your type either," Draco said glumly.
"Draco, I'm not interested in anyone other than you. You should know that by now," she said to the wizard softly, "I'll still feel that way when I come back."
Draco frowned, thinking about all the wild parties musicians engaged in. All the alcohol and wizarding drugs passed around. Someone could slip Malina something.
"I'm not trying to discourage you Malina, but if you go…I'll miss you," he said, meaning it. Malina was the most real person in his life.
Yes, he had associates, but no one like her. It was more than being sexually involved with the witch, he connected with her. They could talk about more than the usual social fluff he was subjected to. They could talk about life, or not even speak at all, finding comfort and companionship just being with each other. He would miss that. It grounded him.
"I'll miss you too, Draco," she said softly, "I'll take a magic mirror with me so we can talk while I'm traveling from gig to gig. Would that help?"
Draco nodded. Yes, being able to stay in contact with her would help. He felt lonely already. Very lonely. Suddenly, he wanted to bring Malina to the Manor and spend as much time as he could with her until she left.
"Malina…if you go, would you stay with me at the Manor until you actually leave? You're going to move out of your flat I imagine. I could keep your things in storage for you," he said to her, "Plus it would give us time…I want to memorize every part of you before you leave me."
Malina stared at him for several moments. She could see the sadness in his eyes and appreciated him not trying to stop her from touring. She would miss him too.
"I guess I could do that, Draco," she said. "They aren't leaving for a week."
Draco took her hands in his and kissed the back of each gently.
"Thank you, Malina," he said to her, his eyes grateful. He stood up, pulling her to her feet, his eyes washing over her, already in memory mode.
"Draco?" Malina said softly.
"Yes, Malina?" he responded, just as softly.
"I'm not moving one damn inch until you tell me how the hell you keep finding me!" she snapped, snatching her hands away from him and placing them on her hips.
"Shit," Draco thought, preparing himself for her wrath.
A/N: Thanks for reading.
