Annalee and Bellatrix landed just outside the gates of Malfoy Manor. They walked swiftly, entering the dining hall where all of the Dark Lord's followers sat around the oval table. Bellatrix swiftly strode to her customary place on the Dark Lord's left hand side. As she followed her sister, Annalee made sure that her occulemency shields were up. When she helped Dumbledore all those years ago, he taught her to close her mind, ensuring that no one, not even her sister, would ever know what she'd done. As she took her seat beside Bella, she locked eyes with the one person other than Dumbledore who knew her secret. She knew his secret, and told him her's in return.
"It's been too long Severus," Annalee said, her voice and face devoid of all emotion.
"Indeed," he drawled, his tone matching hers. "After the meeting, we will have to get reacquainted."
She smirked. "How do you know you haven't been replaced?"
The others laughed crudely.
Severus smirked slightly as he asked, "How do you know that you have not been replaced?"
Annalee, with a matching smirk, replied, "If I had, you wouldn't have been so eager to get reacquainted."
Before Severus could reply, Voldemort made his appearance. As the meeting went on, Annalee's attention wandered. She noticed that Rudolphus was missing. Maybe the bastard took my advice after all, Annalee mused. She also couldn't stop thinking of Severus. She missed him. They had grown close after Dumbledore freed her from Azkaban in exchange for information about the Horcruxes. She thought it was noble, how he was looking after Lily Evans's son, even though he loathed James Potter. They had grown close over the years, but since he was appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts, they hadn't had much time to talk. Letters weren't safe, because they could be intercepted, and he had little time to spare to visit. Now that Bella was staying with her, there really was no place for them to go to talk.
She tuned back into the meeting as Voldemort mentioned Bella.
"Darling Bellatrix has informed me of Rudolphus's treachery, and he has been dealt with accordingly. He had only remained in our ranks to see how far this disgusting treachery spread before he was killed without mercy. Bellatrix is loyal to me, and we have decided to marry, to help her forget the traitorous scum she was previously with. She is expecting my heir."
Whispers flew up and down the length of the table. Severus was the only one who seemed unconcerned, although he looked at Annalee questioningly. Later, her eyes said. He nodded once in reply.
The meeting was over shortly after. Narcissa came over as soon as Voldemort disappeared, hugging Annalee tightly.
"It's so good to have you join us Anna," she gushed. "If you hadn't then you would have missed the birth of your niece or nephew. You've already missed much of Draco's life," she added reproachfully.
Yes, and a spoiled brat you have raised him to be, Annalee thought with distaste. She noticed Severus standing by the door, waiting for her.
"If you'll excuse me Narcissa, I have to go. Bella, you'll be alright?"
Bellatrix nodded. "I'll be here talking to Cissy for a while Anna. I'll be back later."
Annalee nodded easily as she hugged her sister goodbye. "If I'm not back yet and you need anything, just tell Ezzy."
She walked over to Severus, taking the hand he held out for her. She smiled slightly as he kissed her hand lightly.
"My house is no good," she whispered. "Bella is staying with me. I doubt you're quarters are any better, with the Carrows lurking around."
"Indeed, my quarters at Hogwarts are not ideal. However," he said as he opened the gates, "I have somewhere else in mind."
His grip on her hand tightened as they turned on heel, Disapperating to Spinner's End.
"Where are we?" Annalee asked, looking at the slightly dreary room she landed in.
She dropped Severus's hand as she approached the bookshelves that lined the walls, running a finger lightly across the spines.
"My childhood home at Spinner's end. When my parents died, it was left to me. It's where I spend my time outside of Hogwarts."
"When you're not nearly getting yourself killed spying for Dumbledore anyway."
His face tightened at her words. Annalee stopped browsing and returned to his side, wrapping her arms around his waist and burrowing her face in his chest. He hugged her closer, bending his head to bury his face in her hair.
"I'm sorry," Annalee murmured, "I didn't mean to mention Dumbledore. I know you miss him."
"I do," he replied, his voice slightly muffled by her hair. "I never should have killed him. He trusted me, he was like a father to me, and I killed him."
Annalee pulled her head back, forcing him to look at her. "You did what he told you to do. He begged you Severus. He was dying, and he didn't want to die in vain."
He nodded, though his eyes were still sad. She knew he'd feel guilty about his actions for the rest of his life. It was one of the things they had in common.
She moved her arms from his waist up to his face, pulling him down for a kiss. He acquiesced readily, kissing her fiercely, making her smile. The pain in her chest melted away as she lost herself in the kiss. She'd missed this. They broke apart a few minutes later, slightly breathless. Annalee leaned in for another kiss, but Severus put a finger to her lips. She looked up, puzzled.
"I want you Annalee, I do, but I want to know why you were at the Manor. Are you a Death Eater now? I thought you had the sense to stay away!"
Her temper flared as he asked that last question. "I guess you overestimated my intelligence," Annalee replied scathingly.
She pushed him away, and turned to leave, wanting to hide the tears in her eyes. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her back into his arms. When he saw her tear-filled eyes, he softened.
"I'm sorry Anna. I did not mean that. I was just so angry that you put yourself in danger. I lost one woman I loved, and I cannot lose another."
Annalee's anger evaporated. She lightly kissed him, saying, "I'm sorry too Sev. I should have told you before the meeting."
"Why did you join Anna? You don't honestly believe that pureblood mania, do you?"
"Of course not Sev," Annalee replied, sadness in her voice as she said, "I really had no other choice. Bella's pregnant, with the Dark Lord's child. Rudolphus wasn't a traitor, but he was in the way of the Dark Lord claiming the child as his own. He doesn't care about my sister, but the idea of an heir appealed to him. I needed to protect Bella, so I became a Death Eater. I've been talking to some of the Order of the Phoenix. They've come up with a plan for after the war, for if I survive."
"At least you seem to have thought everything through Anna," Severus said, a little relieved.
She smiled as he kissed her again, more urgently than last time.
"Bella's not expecting me home for several hours..." Annalee said with a slightly seductive smile.
Severus said nothing, recapturing her lips with his own once more before leading her to his bedroom.
