Author's note: this is mostly written from third person instead of first since Chris isn't in this mostly. Just a heads up so you're not confused. Sorry for the delay as I was thinking on how I was going to continue this. I'm still brainstorming, but I have this much planned out in my head, so here it is. I hope you enjoy!
"What is taking them so long?" questioned Alastor Moody as he stood rigid in the corner of the kitchen of Grimauld place. If he still had his actual leg and not a wooden peg, he'd be pacing furiously across the room. His mind was focused on what asset Minerva could be to Lord Voldemort other than her being a powerful witch. 'What else could he possibly want? What did that bastard know about Minerva that we don't?' questions were running through his mind.
Severus sat slouched in a chair in another dark corner. He drummed his fingers on the arm chair of his seat anxiously waiting for further instructions. That's all he did his life, waiting for instructions. Severus hated being ordered around, but that was his job. He did what the others didn't want to do. He did the dirty work of being a spy. It was a dangerous job and then to be told off by some muggle who has no clue of what he had gotten himself into made his blood boil.
'How dare he accuse me of not caring about Minerva? She is the only one here that I can talk to and now the only person I actually considered as close enough as a friend.' thought Severus as he and Minerva were mutual friends despite their differences and house rivalry. He enjoyed fighting with her since she was the only one who could put him in his place, and the only one who was challenge in chess. Minerva was also the only one who liked to defy him and therefore she would talk to him even if he wanted to be left alone.
'Merlin Minerva, what have you gotten yourself into?' Severus questioned silently to himself. He too also wondered what she saw in Chris. He was just another obnoxious arrogant muggle like the muggles from Spinner's End. He didn't think the muggles deserved to die, but that didn't mean he wanted to get friendly with him. On the other hand, he wasn't very friendly towards his own kind either.
Molly and Arthur were getting the children situated back upstairs in the extra spare bedrooms of Grimauld place. It felt empty and weird being back in Grimauld place. Ever since Sirius had passed away, the place has never been the same. Molly never thought she'd miss that irritable sullen man. She used to have to watch over him sometimes like a baby sitter. He was bitter and cruel those times, but she had never expected him to die. It made her fear more for her own children.
"Why are we here?" asked Ginny as she was being put to bed even though she was old enough to go to bed herself, but tonight was different. Molly and Arthur wanted to be with their children and make sure they were all okay.
The news about Minerva being kidnapped had put them all over the edge. Molly looked at Ginny as she faked a smile of reassurance, but Ginny could see right through it her mother.
"Everything is fine. Your father and I just don't want to leave you two by yourselves since we will probably be here all night for the Order meeting." Molly replied.
"Why, what's going on?" Ginny inquired, not feeling tired at all.
"Nothing that concerns you dear, so don't fret. Now go back to sleep and we'll see you in the morning. Good night." Arthur assured her, but Ginny didn't buy it. She knew she wasn't going to get it out of her parents so she decided to play along.
"Alright Mum, Dad, good night." she kissed them both good night and then shut her eyes to pretend that she was going to do to sleep. As soon as she heard the door click, Ginny pulled back the bed sheets and ran to the door. She was careful not to make any noise. Ginny had stayed here long enough to know which one of the floor boards creaked.
She pressed her ear against it, waiting to hear her parents walk down stairs. As soon as she heard the familiar old squeaks of the steps, she knew it was safe to go. Ginny opened her door and snuck into her brother's, Ron, room which was straight across the hall.
The door croaked opened and she peeked in. There was her brother, lying on his side asleep. Ginny rolled her eyes. How could her brother be asleep when there is so much excitement around the room?
"Ron." She whispered as she lightly shook him on the shoulder. He didn't stir. Taking a deep breath and rolling up her night shirt sleeves, she balled her hands into a fist and punched her brother in the arm. Ron jolted up from the sudden pain that ran up his arm. His hand instantly went to massage the sore area while his eyes scanned the room for the cause of the bruise on his arm. His muddy brown eyes then fell on his little sister, Ginny.
"Ginny what the bloody hell is wrong with you?" yelled Ron.
"Shh, you don't want to get caught do you?" Ginny warned him. Her arms crossed over her chest in a daring manner.
When her brother didn't respond, a smug smile braced her lips. "That's what I thought. Now, back to why I woke you up, do you know why we're here?"
"Yeah, because there's an emergency Order meeting and mom and dad don't want us in the house alone."
"Alright, let me rephrase that. Do you know why there's an unexpected Order meeting?"
"No, why?"
"Why, seriously Ron, where's your sense of adventure and curiosity?"
"Gee, I guess I left it at home."
"Fine, you're no help." Ginny threw her hands in the air as a sign of defeat.
Ginny was just heading out the door when Ron stopped her momentarily. "Wait, where are you going?"
"I'm going to find out what's going on." she replied, not turning back. Ron grumbled out of frustration as he got out of bed to make sure Ginny didn't do anything stupid. Normally he wouldn't care what happened to her, but Ginny had got him wondering too.
He came out of his room to find her looking over the banister. Ron could see the wheels turning in her head. Ginny, not noticing her brother, took out the fake ear that Fred and George gave her.
"Hey, hand over a noodle." Ron requested with his hand open for the skin colored ear piece. Ginny smirked as she handed him one and put on in her ear before lowering down the fake ear.
In the kitchen the others waited around the table staying deathly silent, motionless. Alastor and Severus were still resided in their own dismayed dim corner. Severus smiled for the first time to feel the familiar burning sensation on his left forearm. It meant he could get out of the depressing place, and maybe see Minerva.
He pushed himself from his seat as he retrieved the undesired attention from everyone.
"Has he called you Severus?" Remus was the first to ask the question that had been hanging over everyone's head. Never had they cared when he was summoned by the Dark Lord. This was different only because of Minerva, although he tried to remain impassive as no one detected the slight smug smile that had pulled on the corners of his pale lips. His eyes remained as dark black holes, consuming everything around him, but never relinquishing anything.
"Yes, I have been summoned. I shall return with news as soon as I can, and give my regards to the Headmaster." Severus requested before turning on his heel with his dark black robes billowing behind him in the invisible wind.
Severus kept on walking, and stopped momentarily to spot a curious dangling fake ear near the stairwell. Narrowing his eyes, he stormed towards it, clutching it in his hands and tugging harshly. The ear piece that was in Ginny's and Ron's ears had easily escaped and had plummeted to its doom. Severus looked at the juvenile object before shoving it into his robes to deal with it later.
Remembering what he was doing before he had come across the fake ear, he continued out the door and into the dark night. Severus could feel the cool breeze that suddenly swept past him, differing from the narrow disheartening rooms of Grimauld Place. He walked down the stairs calmly before apparating at the spot.
His feet landed firmly in front of the gates of the Malfoy Manor. The black pristine gates had dark magic deeply imbedded in the metal, keeping all unwanted company out. There was a metal snake carved into the arch of the gate entrance. Its eyes were of black obsidian. Severus raised his left forearm to the snake's eyes, revealing his dark mark. The gates groaned as they slowly opened to grant access to the death eater. Severus entered as he walked up the winding path that led to the manor where he was greeted with a group of other death eaters. In the center was Wormtail, looking as if he were giving them instruction.
"Find him, but he must be alive. The Dark Lord wishes to finish him off in front of her." Severus could over hear the squeaky voice of the man. The voice closely resembled a rat, like his true animagus form. He quickly turned when he heard Severus approaching.
"Ah Severus, there you are. What took you so long?"
"The Order." Severus truthfully answered.
"Oh yes, that delightful group." Wormtail said, with sarcasm clearly in his voice. Severus just remained impassive as he waited for the sorry excuse of a man to tell him what he needed to do, which wasn't his highlight of the day, but what could he do about it? Wormtail examined Severus's appearance with a close eye like he was trying to detect any sort of betrayal.
When he didn't find any, not that that was surprising, he nodded as he went to relay the message he had to Severus. "The Dark Lord wishes to see you in the throne room. You know where that is." said Wormtail dismissively as if Severus were below him which was highly untrue as they were both fully aware of. Wormtail was merely just another house elf to Lord Voldemort as Severus was actually part of the inner ring, viewed as an actual asset.
Severus just glared down at Wormtail. Wormtail simply backed away as he was trying not to show his fear, but it was visible in his puny eyes. Severus smirked as he had attained the desired reaction. He narrowed his eyes to strengthen the glare before he turned on his heel and quickly made his way up to the throne room where he was expected by Lord Voldemort.
When he came to the tall dark wood double doors, he took a deep breath before opening the doors and stepping in. The room was covered in intricate priceless tapestries to keep the darkness in and the coldness out. The tall fireplace contained a blazing fire that sent heat waves through the room, yet Severus would always feel cold. There was no warmth in the room. Other priceless artifacts were hung around the room or set upon a pedestal. From the hanging from the ceiling was a large chandelier, dripping with clear crystals.
The room also furnished a long table at which the Dark Lord sat at the head with Minerva at his right side. He was in his usual dark loose fitting robes as she fashioned olive green robes that held no shape. It just flowed and pooled around her resting form. Her hair was down instead of pulled back into a bun and her glasses missing.
She kept her head down as her eyes studied her folded hands on her lap. On the other hand, Lord Voldemort looked happier than he ever was before. Severus could feel the magic radiating off of the Dark Lord. It was strong. It was stronger than ever before. There was only one explanation, a powerful preformed bond.
"Ah Severus, I was wondering when you were going to show up." The Dark Lord's voice boomed through the room a little too jovially than normal. Minerva's head shot up to look at the figure in dark robes that stood before his master. Her green eyes narrowed at him, flickering dangerously. Severus gave one look in her direction where he could see the colorful bruises than ran up her neck and jaw. He wondered what other wounds she had.
"You summoned me my Lord?" Severus inquired, trying not to look at Minerva.
"Yes, do you have the potion I requested for?"
"Severus nodded as he reached into his pockets to retrieve the vile the Dark Lord wanted. He didn't know what the potion was, but from the ingredients he could tell it had to do with creating a barrier over someone's magical core. It weakens their magic. He wondered why Lord Voldemort would want the potion. He placed the vile in front of Lord Voldemort.
Voldemort's red slit eyes inspected the electrifying blue substance with mirth written all over his face. He nodded as he set it in front of Minerva.
"Drink my love." He ordered her. She looked at him loathingly while Lord Voldemort was unaffected by it. Severus tried to hide his shock. He never addressed anyone by 'my love'. He couldn't love as Dumbledore said so himself. She wouldn't touch it. She didn't even move.
"Drink it, or I will have to pour it down your throat for you. Better yet, I could have Severus force it past you lips for me."
She still didn't move as she kept her green furious eyes on Lord Voldemort. He was getting impatient as each second ticked by. Severus could feel her power start to rise. The first dose must have been wearing off.
She was becoming just as powerful as Lord Voldemort, and Lord Voldemort could feel it too. He grabbed the vial and uncapped it as he grabbed her jaw. She pulled away from him, her magic coursing through her fingertips. She sent the Dark Lord flying across the room, the vial flying from his hands.
Severus didn't know what to do. He had never felt so much magic in one room before. The Dark Lord quickly regained his balance. Soon, things around the room started to explode. Nothing was sacred anymore in the room as various small pieces from the once priceless artifacts and vases now scattered the floor.
As anger started to boil in both Lord Voldemort and Minerva, the ground beneath them started to tremble. The sound of shatter glass could be heard throughout the mansion. Even the windows couldn't stay in one piece under the wrath. The next thing you could hear was the cracking of the cold marble floor. Severus was afraid that the whole foundation of the structure would be the next to collapse under the amount of magic.
Thunder suddenly rolled from outside as gusts of wind came hurtling inside the room, distinguishing the fire. The only light in the room were the random flashes of lightening from outside. Minerva couldn't see what was in front of her with the same of everyone else in the room. She had lost sight of Severus. She hoped he was alright, but right now she had to find a way out. Severus would be fine. Feeling her way around, she tried to find her way out.
The broken shards of glass crunched beneath her feet. That was when the thought had come to her. She could end everything right now. She could kill the Dark Lord, and therefor Chris would be safe. She wouldn't let him die because of her.
Minerva bent down, her hands feeling the jagged edges of the glass that littered the ground. She tried to find one sharp enough to do the job. She searched frantically, knowing Lord Voldemort could appear beside her at any moment from the racket she was making. She would let out a small cry when one of her fingers would get caught from one of the shards. Her hands started to feel sticky and warm as the familiar feeling of blood now coated them.
Her hand then finally came across a piece that would suffice. It was the size of a water goblet. Her hand waved over it, transfiguring the piece into a blade. She quickly took it, but before she would raise it to her neck, someone grabbed her wrist, forcing the blade in her blood stained hand to fall. The sound of it clatter to the ground caused her breath to be caught in her throat. Her heart beat louder within her body, causing her to be deaf to anything else around her.
Her body was forced back against the ground. She could feel a sharp pain run through her back as her skin had pierced and punctured. She let a gasp pass her lips, forcing her lips to part long enough to feel the curved rim of the vile pressed against her bottom lip. Three drops had been slipped inside her. She could feel each drop tingle her tongue and down her throat. The potion seemed to take immediate effect as she felt weak. The raging storm outside ceased. The fire had been relit in the fireplace. Everyone could see again.
Her wrists and hands were cut and bleeding. She was breathing heavily from the burning sensation she felt on her back. The pain was excruciating to the point it felt numb. Despite how she was feeling, she was still able to glare at the person above her. Those dark eyes loomed over her, for once holding emotion. Was it concern?
Severus dared to look into her green eyes. He had seen them holding an ounce of hope, but was now diminished. Her face etched pain, but her eyes read vehemence. 'What has he done to her?' he thought silently to himself.
He had stopped her from killing herself in order to kill Lord Voldemort. Instead he poured a potion down her throat. He had betrayed her was her first thought. After everything they've been through, he betrayed her!
"Severus." Was all she could say through her gritted teeth. He swiftly moved off of her. Lord Voldemort had been standing near them, red eyes filled with amusement. With one wave of his hand, the room was restored to its pristine condition it was before. It was as if nothing had happened. The shards from the various windows and priceless artifacts flew across the room to rebuild themselves. A piercing cry could be heard from Minerva as the pieces stuck in her back had been viciously ripped from her tired wounded body. The whole manor shook as the large ridges on the marble floor were pushed back together and the chandelier that had fallen from the ceiling was hanging back to its shinning glory.
Severus continued to look at Minerva who was too weak to get up. He hoped she was alright. He then felt a sudden agonizing pain progress through his own body. His whole nervous system felt like it was burning from the inside of his body as it was going under the worst cruciatus curse he ever felt. When he was released, he was heaving heavily for air he feared he could not find.
"Severus, do not fear for her. Do not pity her. What you did was right, but if you show a sign of remorse, then I could do far worse than death." The Dark Lord warned. "You are dismissed Severus."
Staggering to his feet, Severus left the room as he had to quickly inform the Order of what he had discovered. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored them. He clenched his jaw to keep from crying out himself. Severus made it down the path as fast as he could to get far enough to apparate back to Grimauld Place.
Lord Voldemort stood over Minerva, looking down at her with condescending eyes. He intently watched her bleeding form, inhaling the scent of fresh blood. Seeing her broken body aroused him. To cause pain to her thrilled him. He swept up her crumpled body from the floor into his arms, savoring the sounds of her failed attempts to hold back her cries.
He carried her back to the bedroom where he laid her on the bed. Her clothes uncomfortably clung to her. Lord Voldemort bent low so his menacing face was beside hers.
"Don't ever try that again." He told her coldly.
"What else do you want from me?" her teeth still gritted as she was breathing heavily still. It pained her just to inhale and exhale.
"Why I would want what any husband would want, love, family."
"I can't give you that."
"Minerva, I haven't seen you bleed so much as the day you lost that bastard child."
Minerva whirled her head around to look at his scarlet eyes. "You…you…"
"You shouldn't mumble Minerva as it is not becoming of you."
Minerva wanted to scream. She wanted to kill him, to make him feel the pain he had put her through. She would never be with Chris because of him. She would never get to raise the child that was Chris's. Instead she'd be forced to raise his through hell and back. She'd be forced to never leave his side. 'What did I do to deserve this? What did my unborn child do to deserve this, and lastly what did Chris do to deserve this?'
-/-/-
Author's note: This is done in first person again and from Chris's point of view like always.
I continued to look into Albus's blue eyes. I was waiting to hear of what Minerva had been kept from knowing. What was it that made her an asset to the Dark Lord other than her powers?
"What is it Headmaster, what does Minerva not know? What is it that no one knows except you and Voldemort?"
Albus looked at me questioning if he should tell me or not. I didn't understand why magical people always hesitate to answer. They always did, and it aggravated me.
"What is it?" I asked seething with fury. I have had enough of this!
"There wouldn't be by any chance that Minerva would be with child?" Albus inquired. I looked at him incredulously. She could be in complete agony right now, but yet he was here asking me if she was pregnant. Was he a complete buffoon, or did he already see though us?
"No." I answered, trying to hold back my anger.
"Hmm, well we should get back to the Order to sort out a plan." Albus dismissed the subject. I was baffled.
"Wait, what is the thing Minerva doesn't know?"
"Chris," Albus stood up to put a reassuring hand on my shoulder, "it will play out in time sure enough like all things do."
What was that supposed to mean? Minerva always did say he was quite cryptic at times. Lord, was he annoying at times. He might have been the great Albus Dumbledore, but he was also a pain to be around when you wanted to know something. Albus took a hand full of floo powder and threw it into the fire, causing the flames to turn a bright emerald green. They reminded me of her eyes. Would I ever get to see them again?
"I'm sure Minerva has told you how to use the floo system." Albus reckoned. I nodded as I stepped in saying Grimauld Place. The spinning sensation occurred once more, but stopped once my feet came in contact with fireplace in Grimauld's kitchen. I stepped out to see everyone crowded around the kitchen except for Alastor who was in the corner looking grim. His magical blue eye scanned my body thoroughly. Minerva always wondered to what extent that eye could see. I searched around the room only to find one person missing, Severus.
"Where's Severus?" I asked and the whole room remained silent.
Albus walked in shortly after, dusting off his robes with a clean sweep of his wand. He looked around the room to see all the somber expression. I saw that he was trying to smile to encourage everyone else, but it wasn't working. They knew something was wrong as so did I.
"Was Severus summoned?" Albus more stated then questioned. They all nodded in unison. Suddenly a gust of wind had blown the window open causing a large bang to quake in the never ending silence. Molly rushed over towards the window to shut it close.
"It's quite a storm out there." observed Alastor, "Do you think Minerva or the Dark Lord would have anything to do with it?"
"If my predictions are right, then yes it would have to do with them." Albus answered while the rest looked at him bewildered. The front door could be heard slammed open. I was the first to move as I ran down the hall to see who it was.
There in the hallway, stood a disheveled soaking wet Severus. He swayed while standing. I wondered what had happened to him. I went to help him, but as soon as he saw it was me, he brushed me off.
"Get off, I'll be fine." He said through his clenched jaw. I could see he was in immense pain, but that didn't concern me right now.
"Did you see Minerva?"
He didn't answer me as he kept on moving slowly, but surely into the kitchen where the others were. Molly rushed to pull a seat out for him and he took it gratefully, collapsing into it.
"What happened?" Molly asked as you could hear the anxiety in her voice. I was wondering the same thing as well, but of course Severus wouldn't answer me. I wondered what his problem was. Maybe it was me he didn't like. I was sure he despised me, but I wondered why.
"The…the Dark Lord…he has her." He said in between breaths. He was breathing heavily as if he couldn't regain his breath.
"Go on Severus." encourage Albus which everyone eagerly waiting to hear what Severus had to say. That was a first.
"He created…created-"
"Oh spit it out already!" I interjected. Severus turned to glare at me. His dark eyes showed how much he despised me.
"Please Chris, do not interrupt Severus." requested Albus and I tried to remained calm and collective.
Severus took a deep breath before he finished. "He's created a bond."
"Oh bloody hell! That's just great." exploded Alastor. "Now how are we going to fight him? He'd be more powerful than all of us put together.
"That may be true Alastor, but too much power can make a person blind." Albus offered some words of wisdom as if he was some fortune cookie.
"Also, they're searching for him." Severus motioned towards me. What was wrong with him? He couldn't even say my name. If they wanted me, they could have me at this point. At least I would be by Minerva. Then it struck me. A broad smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Everyone stared at me skeptically except for Severus and Alastor.
"Is there something you're not telling us again Mr. O'Brian?" Severus questioned with a tone of mockery in his monotone voice.
"I think I know how to get her back."
Severus snorted as he looked at me incredulously. "And what is this wonderful plan of yours?"
"I'll let them take me to her."
TBC…
Author's note: So what did you think? I'm curious. As to the next chapter, I hope it's written soon since school is less than two weeks. I also can't pull anymore all-nighters since my mental clock has to get back into order. I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter and if so, leave me a review. If not, then tell me why. Oh, has anyone else Min's bio on Pottormore? Feel free to message me about your opinion on her life. I'd love to know as I've got my own. Well good afternoon and best wishes! Thanks for all the lovely reviews as I love them all.