Author's note: All characters in this story (other than my own OC creations) are the property of JKR. I am just borrowing her wonderful world. Also, please note that this is another long chapter, although it is shorter than the last one. NOTE: Rape scene warning. Updated 02/04/12
Chapter 10 – We Meet Again
Noon arrived quickly, and with a certain amount of apprehension, Andrea left Hogwarts with Minerva and Pomona. As they walked along the path, a large group of students began to form in a grand procession behind her. The day had dawned clear and warm with a gentle breeze, unusual for October, and the weather made everything seem light and filled with promise.
Pomona walked alongside Andrea and steadied her occasionally as they walked down the steep path, the bride looking like a dazzling piece of white confection. The unusual style of Andrea's gown had attracted everyone's attention, the uniquely stunning look dazzling the eyes. Expertly transfigured, the set of elegant white robes were adorned with trimmings of American beaver and mink. Minerva had outdone herself, matching the dress perfectly with the stunning wrap Andrea had received as a gift from her friends. Flowing off the bride's shoulders, the impressive alabaster cloak displayed appliqués of lace on linen with thin bands of silver beads covering the back in a sun and moon pattern. A second design of forest and lakes was sewn intricately along the bottom. Wearing no veil or hat, Andrea had woven sapphire crystals and white flowers into her long, wavy hair, the thick strands cascading down her back like a golden fountain. Pomona had never seen a more beautiful bride.
It was difficult to walk with such a heavy cloak, and the weight of it made Andrea slow down along the path allowing the mass of followers to increase exponentially behind her. By the time she neared the village, there were well over a hundred spectators in attendance, mostly students, eagerly looking forward to the afternoon ahead. It was a few minutes past one when she finally arrived in Hogsmeade. Andrea could see Dumbledore waiting patiently by the gate to escort her to the stage.
At first Andrea smiled up at the headmaster, happy and thankful that her friend would be taking the place of her deceased father. But the smile quickly faded. She was not at all prepared for the scene that awaited her. The entire garden and every tier of seats in the small amphitheater were completely full. Where had all the people come from? The size of the crowd was ten times larger than she expected. Apprehensively, Andrea scanned the crowd trying to find Severus. But as her eyes moved to the stage, her heart rose like Venus in the morning sky. Her love stood pillar straight, his feet planted firmly on the ground. Severus was alone on the stage except for the officiating minister. Looking decidedly uncomfortable, the groom's face wore an impatient scowl. That is, until his eyes fell upon his bride. Immediately, his expression transformed.
Minerva leaned over to Dumbledore and spoke in his ear, "Albus, I've never seen Severus smile like that before."
"Yes, it is a rare sight," he agreed with a chuckle. "I expect he will do a lot of that today."
Dumbledore silently offered Andrea his arm, and they began to walk down the garden path toward the stage. The entire assembly stood up as the bride glided down the steps to join Severus, the crowd moving about slightly as they tried to get a better view. Off to one side, a magical group of instruments played a soft melody of flutes and bells, the sound mixing sweetly with the songs of the birds and the wind in the trees.
The audience fell silent and strained to hear as the couple quietly took their vows. The muffled pledges floated across the crowd as ethereal as smoke, and Dumbledore wondered if Severus had cast a silencing charm to give them privacy. The minister's bonding spell was, however, quite visible to the crowd beyond, and as the golden curls of magic surrounded the two, a cheer was heard amongst the spectators.
The rings came next, and as Severus placed the silver band on Andrea's finger, the engagement ring clasped the plain band with two miniature snakeheads. Then, as Andrea reciprocated to put the ring on Severus's finger, his band transformed in a similar manner – the metal forming the same snakehead pattern, this time clasping a beaming sun. Both rings had been engraved with a simple phrase: One love – one life.
It wasn't long before the minister made an announcement. "I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Snape."
The newlyweds held hands and bowed together as the entire assembly erupted in applause. The couple managed a discrete kiss before walking off the stage and on to the celebration at Hogwarts. The moment of commitment had passed by quickly, and without a hitch. Perhaps, Andrea thought, it was a good omen. Casting her earlier doubts aside, she concentrated on what she hoped was the start of a blissful and happy marriage.
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By the time Andrea and Severus reached the Hogwarts gates, the wedding procession had grown by a hundredfold. In addition to the students, the Hogsmeade residents had followed along, eager for a night of free food and dance. There were close to five hundred enthusiastic guests, the line of well-wishers stretching all the way back to the train station.
Where had they all come from? Andrea wondered. It was all so overwhelming. Although she had never been happier in her life, Andrea felt an unexplainable foreboding creep across her mind like a dark and unwanted shadow. Perhaps it was just the pressures of the day or the fear of the unknown, but no matter how hard she tried to dismiss it, the sensation remained. I'm being silly, she thought, and instead tried to concentrate on the amazing man she had just wed. It wasn't hard. Just feeling him next to her caused her heart to burn with love and desire, the feeling easily overpowering her fears.
As they walked along, hand in hand, Andrea felt Severus's fingers crushing hers almost violently in his emotional turbulence. His natural distaste for frivolity combined with his inherent revulsion of public display would have typically pulled him into the angriest of moods. Today, however, in front of all these spectators, he knew he had to conceal his displeasure. Drawing from the strength that was so much a part of his personality, he realized that the community celebration was a small price to pay for a lifetime of happiness. Having made the decision to accept the hand he had been dealt, Severus forged ahead. He knew how to act.
The celebration commenced, beginning with an outdoor banquet of outstanding proportions. The creativity of the elves surprised everyone. Utilizing the best skills of the tiny chefs, they laid out the most beautiful of wedding feasts, including a magnificent cake rising from a shimmering silver platter. The confection was carved in the shape of Hogwarts castle, complete with turrets and small flags representing the four houses of the school. As a tribute to Severus, the largest represented Slytherin. To Severus however, it was just one more ridiculous item he tried to ignore.
A few hours later the feast had finally come to en end, and the participants guided indoors to the Great Hall where a lively dance had just begun. This was the moment Andrea was dreading. She had no idea how to dance, and as she glanced at Severus's scowl, she knew they were in trouble. The band was eagerly expecting them to lead the first dance, and the room of guests looked expectantly at the couple. Fearfully, Andrea stared back at the audience and then at Severus. What was she going to do?
Andrea needn't have worried. With a gentlemanly bow, Severus took her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. As she soon discovered, Severus could dance rather well as long as they stayed with a simple rhythm. The blast of a dozen flashbulbs blinded them momentarily as photographers from The Daily Prophet crowded forward. As more couples joined them on the dance floor, however, the journalists had trouble following as the bride and groom weaved between the other guests.
"I didn't know you could dance," Andrea remarked.
"I learned here at Hogwarts when I was a boy. It was not a … pleasant experience."
"I suppose not." Andrea grinned up at him.
"My head-of-house was rather enthusiastic," he commented grimly. "Although I am glad to have had the opportunity, or I'd have missed out on this chance to waltz with you."
"Kiss me, Severus," she teased.
"What? Now? I hardly think—"
"Come on," Andrea grinned. "They're all looking."
"I can see that," he hissed.
As they swirled around, Andrea tilted her face up and closed her eyes expectantly. She felt Severus's movements slow and then stop. Holding her pose, she waited. The entire hall stood transfixed as they watched the couple expectantly. Time seemed to stand still. Then, just as Andrea was about to open her eyes to see what was happening, Severus crushed her to his chest and kissed her. It was a kiss of passion, his lips greedily opening to consume her with lust - raw and wickedly violent. Andrea was appropriately shocked by his sudden change of heart, but the audience loved it. More photos were taken, and the bystanders cheered appropriately.
"You, my little Miss America are a devil," Severus whispered in Andrea's ear as they began to swirl around the floor. "So, have we fulfilled our obligations? Can we make our way out and be done with this silly mockery?"
"Oh, no you don't. I want to dance, Severus. I want to dance with you – all night long," she answered gleefully, her eyes glowing with love.
"Well, perhaps. In the spirit of compromise, I shall allow you one more opportunity to make me look like a fool," he smirked, and drew her close. "But I'll be taking payment later."
Andrea giggled and her soft laughter floated across the room to the pair of men standing against the wall. Dumbledore was busy entertaining his guests. The temporary removal of the anti-Apparition spell had allowed many of the high-ranking Ministry officials to attend easily and on such short notice. Never before had such a thing been done, but Dumbledore had been applauded for his courteous efforts, the time saving gesture welcomed as a generous accommodation to their busy schedules.
"Cornelius, I assure you. Our newlyweds are absolutely safe," the headmaster explained, patting the Minister for Magic lightly on the shoulder. "The reaction you witnessed in Hogsmeade last spring is completely under control."
"I'll have to take your word for it, I suppose, but don't think I've forgotten. That whole incident left a bad taste in my mouth. If anything should happen—"
"Nothing will happen," Dumbledore assured Fudge. "Andrea and Severus are protected with the spell they discovered, and no harm will come to the magical world."
Before the Minister for Magic could respond, there appeared before them a horrifying sight. In a flash of black smoke, several cloaked and masked figures Apparated like thunder onto the dance floor. The unexpected disruption caused a unified gasp to erupt from the guests. One figure, taller than the rest, had his wand drawn, and he quickly moved behind the newlyweds before either one could react. The wizard lifted his wand, and in a powerful bolt of white magic, he blasted Andrea away from Severus. In seconds another masked intruder had her bound tightly with magical ropes in obvious preparation for escape.
Aurors descended into the fray and began to fire hexes into the group, but the intruders were prepared. They formed a tight circle around their quarries and easily blocked the counter attack. With a blinding flash of anger, Severus pulled his wand and fired off a curse to his left and another behind him before quickly stunning two of the men from behind, but it was too late to help Andrea. In a diversion of black smoke, the tall masked figure violently grabbed Andrea's shoulder and disappeared from the dance floor.
By now, a dozen other assailants had Apparated into the hall. The remaining Aurors spaced themselves protectively in front of the guests and continued to block the battery of curses that continued to rain down on the dance floor. Dumbledore, too, stepped forward. Deftly, he cast a protective charm over the minister before turning to fight, but the masked raiders were ready. In rapid succession, a group of intruders began to launch several bouts of dark spells. The coordinated offensive pushed the headmaster back, each one weakening the shield. It held, but the diversion prevented Dumbledore from assisting Snape.
Five of the dark wizards surrounded Severus like a pack of angry centaurs. Where were they all coming from? Severus couldn't possibly hold them off by himself. The masked criminals were well trained and attacked together offering no chance for Snape to escape, but the Potions master would not be tamed so easily. Spinning in a circle, Severus set up a shield charm to his rear before firing off two quick stunners. The attackers barely had time to dodge out of the way. With a low growl Snape flung out his arm to hex them again, but before he could cast a third spell, the intruders had launched another round of curses, this time in unison. The combined blast easily knocked Severus off his feet, and he fell hard against the stone floor. With a twitch of his wand, the masked attacker proceeded to bind Severus with the same conjured ropes that had been used on Andrea. In a blink of an eye, the raider and his captive were gone. His masked companions quickly followed.
Now that the invaders were no longer a threat, the entire hall filled with angry cries of outrage. Most of the adults had finally drawn their wands, but it was too late. The kidnappers were long gone.
"Senorous!" Dumbledore placed his wand by his throat and announced, "Attention everyone." The noise from the crowd exploded wildly. "Please, do not panic. Everyone stay calm. The criminals appear to be gone, but I am sorry to say, I have to end the celebration. Professors and prefects, please escort the students back to their dormitories. Everyone else – you must leave the school grounds immediately."
Amidst the murmurs, someone in the crowd shouted, "Where's Professor Snape?" and "What happened to Professor Smith?" ignoring the fact that there were now two Professor Snapes.
"Unfortunately, they appear to have been taken." The crowd gasped as Dumbledore informed everyone of the news. "Again, let me assure you, everything is under control. There will be an immediate investigation. But you must go home. Please, everyone, leave the hall."
Slowly the crowd dispersed while the minister fumed his disapproval. Clearly he was worried.
"Who were those people? Could they possibly be Death Eaters? Why did they take the Snapes?" Anxiously, the minister began to ask a flood of questions. "I knew Snape was going to get us in trouble."
"Now Cornelius," Dumbledore answered, "Let's not panic. Severus has done nothing wrong." As the minister's Aurors assembled around the fallen attackers, Dumbledore and Fudge were told that the two stunned figures were known criminals with possible ties to the old Death Eater ranks. This was certainly not good news.
"Do you think they know about the Snapes' condition?" Fudge asked nervously.
"Most likely," Dumbledore replied. "It was well publicized during the Hogsmeade accident last spring."
"By the gods, Albus, do you know what you're saying?"
"I do," the headmaster answered solemnly. "And it does not bode well. They knew exactly what they were doing. But I have to ask you, Cornelius. Where were your Aurors? You promised protection, yet I saw them arrive only after Andrea had already been kidnapped."
"Don't be ridiculous. My Aurors were doing exactly what they were told. They had specific orders to protect the guests."
"And not the bride and groom?" Dumbledore asked in astonishment, his usual calm stretched to its limits.
"Don't pin this on me. You were the one to insist on lifting the wards and the anti-Apparition spells," Fudge accused, a slight touch of hysteria creeping into his voice. "I told you they'd be trouble. We never should have let Professor Smith back into the country. And now I'm thinking this bloody affair may have been Snape's idea all along. As a former Death Eater, his sympathies—"
"Ridiculous! You know as well as I do that he was cleared of that over ten years ago," Dumbledore responded tiredly. "He is no more a Death Eater than I am. And I have told you more than once; I completely trust Severus."
"Well, you might be right," Fudge agreed reluctantly, his argument losing steam under the intensity of Dumbledore's gaze. "But I still think Professor Snape is—"
"No, you are wrong Cornelius. You saw Severus attack the Death Eaters. Why would he do that if he was in league with them? It would not make sense. Besides, Severus loves Andrea to the point of obsession. He would rather die than risk her life. We will just have to wait and see what their next move will be."
They did not have to wait long. An immense barn owl swooped down out of nowhere to soar across the long hall. Despite its size, it flapped its wings and hovered above the table in front of them before delicately releasing a small scroll of parchment. The note was addressed to the Minister for Magic:
Attention Minister:
We who remain true to the Dark Lord demand your obedience as we take the first steps toward Wizarding rule and domination of the Muggle world. We are now in control of the hostages and are not afraid to use them. The incident in Hogsmeade last spring convinced us of the power these two possess, and now that we have them in our control, that power to destroy is ours.
Commencing immediately, you and your ministry will begin a strategic offence into the Muggle world. Muggles will have no choice but to become our servants. All key sectors of Muggle government and infrastructure must be compromised. To quell resistance, you will terminate the Muggle populace as required and perform educational demonstrations to prove our superiority. We will give you exactly three days to prepare. Any delay in fulfilling our demands will result in swift and fatal retribution.
To make sure you understand the seriousness of our demands, we've arranged for a demonstration of our own. It will begin at noon on Monday in the Ministry office in London. Do not try to stop us.
Loyal followers of the Dark Lord
Fudge paled and swayed on his feet. He looked to be sick.
"What is it?" Dumbledore demanded.
"We're doomed," Fudge whimpered. With shaking hand, he passed the note to Dumbledore as if it were on fire.
After reading the message, the headmaster's shoulders sagged. He couldn't help but agree with the minister's prediction. "It is what we feared."
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The room was dark and cold with dusty, old furniture and ancient fixtures unchanged from over a century of time. Off to one side stood a regal looking bed next to a dresser with a large, ornate mirror, the glass hanging awkwardly at an angle on the dirt streaked wall. Covering most of the old floorboards, a tattered carpet obscured the dry creaky planks, drawing the eyes instead to several ugly stains on its surface. The dark brown patches were extensive and had somehow managed to blot out the once colorful oriental design. The lighting, too, did nothing to brighten the décor. Only a meager amount of sunlight escaped from the single window to fall dimly onto the spot where Severus now stood. Staring out the opening toward the Owlery in the back of the house he contemplated his situation.
Almost twelve hours had passed since he'd been brought into this room, yet no one had explained the purpose of his abduction. Only a single masked guard had visited earlier that Sunday morning to provide a small chunk of stale bread and some slabs of greasy meat. And so, he waited.
The window was an obvious choice for escape, but when opened, it would only allow for a few inches of access. Severus had tried vainly to break the glass panes with a small chair that stood now broken next to the bed, but the glass had not shattered. Perhaps it had been strengthened by a clever spell. He knew he was lucky to have even opened the window. Apparition was also impossible, even though it was clear that the guards were not being blocked from this tool. If only I had my wand, he thought, then something could be done to get clear of this prison.
Sadly, he stared out at the lawns beyond, their well-trimmed appearance unusual compared to the shabbiness of the house's interior. Thinking back to the events of the previous night – his wedding night – Severus grimaced at the memory. After the Death Eaters transported him into the old bedroom, he'd been set free of the magic ropes, and then simply tossed on the floor, his wand long gone.
By simple deduction, Severus realized that the house where he was currently being held prisoner was most likely the Riddle Mansion. He knew it well from his years of service to the Dark Lord and suspected that perhaps a group of Death Eaters was using the facility for their headquarters in Voldemort's absence. Most likely deserted for many years the manor house had found some new evil purpose.
Severus's thoughts drifted as he gazed out at the gloomy landscape, thinking about his new wife. He'd last seen her as the Death Eaters stole her away from him on the dance floor just moments before he, too, was taken. But where was she now? Was she safe? Was she even alive? Severus knew the chances were good that Andrea was close by and most likely unharmed. It seemed obvious to him that the Death Eaters were holding them both in anticipation of using their reaction for some, as yet, unknown agenda, but all he could do at this point was be patient and wait for answers.
Toward afternoon, a Death Eater appeared in Severus's room. Cloaked and masked, he'd done his best to carefully conceal his identity, but Severus guessed by his height and the tone of his voice that he was an old acquaintance. He recalled the man to be a powerful and dangerous wizard and distant cousin of one of his students.
"You must be patient, Snape." The stranger laughed. "Perhaps tomorrow you'll find the answers to your tedious questions."
Severus's face remained expressionless except for a carefully controlled disinterest that he let drizzle out with his words. "And what, may I ask, have you done with my wife?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Severus tried his best to obtain eye contact in hopes of lifting some clues from the surface of the man's mind, but the mask was making it extremely difficult. Narrowing his eyes, Snape shrugged noncommittally as he tried to buy time.
"I must admit, I am curious. Are you intending some sort of rebellion?" Severus asked smoothly. "An act of war, perhaps? Because if you are … you should consider the obvious." The intruder simply stared back in silence, but he seemed to be listening. "I would think it would be advantageous for your endeavor if the weapon of choice was to be on your side. Your ally, as it were. If you'd simply explain to me what you're doing, I would be more than happy to assist." Snape paused before adding, "I am on your side, you know. I've … maintained my … loyalties." Outwardly, Snape offered a bland smile, but inside he was holding his breath.
The masked figure remained unmoved, and Severus began again, his brow furrowed as if in deep thought. "I, too, have thought about the possibilities. It is a tempting situation. But without the Dark Lord's guidance, a weapon such as ours could be very dangerous."
The Death Eater straightened and moved his head only a fraction, but it was enough. Despite the mask, Severus finally made eye contact. For a brief instant he was able to see into the uppermost layer of the visitor's mind.
"Siegfried," Severus announced. "Siegfried Goyle. It has been a long time, hasn't it?" In response to Snape's statement, the Death Eater's hand twitched, his finger stroking the hidden wand protected in the folds of his robe. Snape had him, the man's reaction easily confirming his suspicions. Hoping for more, Severus's eyes became long, dark tunnels as he continued to stare into the Death Eater's eyes. Under the intensity of Snape's gaze, the stranger began to wilt like a limp piece of lettuce as a flicker of fear crossed the man's soul. Slowly, the figure removed the mask, and as he did so, Severus's mouth twitched slightly as he fought back a show of satisfaction.
"We're still on the same side, Siegfried," Snape continued on with his silken voice. "We have the same goals. I can help you."
"I don't trust you anymore, Snape. You've been Dumbledore's puppet for too long. You should have been helping us."
Phrasing his words cautiously, the Potions master responded, "I've been, as you say, Dumbledore's puppet, because that's just where the Dark Lord wanted me to be, spying on his enemy. Come now, this is a great opportunity. I know what this weapon can do and the best way to use it! I can help you control it."
Siegfried's eyes narrowed, the distrust plainly etched on the man's features.
Relentlessly, Severus continued, "Perhaps if you shared with me where you're keeping my wife—"
"Not a chance, Snape," Siegfried interrupted and looked away in disgust. "I told you I don't trust you."
The change in subject had effectively erased any sense of confidence that Severus had built with the Death Eater over the last few minutes, but the conversation had not gone to waste. Severus had seen the memory in the man's eyes. Without a wand, Snape was powerless to dive past anything but Goyle's surface memory, but he'd gotten lucky. Severus now knew Andrea was somewhere in the mansion. A vision of a room, very similar to the one he now occupied, filled Goyle's mind. By the clarity of the vision, Andrea seemed to be unharmed, at least for now.
With each new revelation Severus's confidence grew. "You know the Dark Lord trusted me. If he were here today, he'd still trust me. I haven't changed." The Death Eater shook his head and actually took a step back as Snape pressed on. "I can help you."
"Shut up, Snape," Siegfried spat back. Unable to control himself, the man clenched his fists. He was literally shaking with irritation, knowing he was being manipulated.
"Listen to me," Severus demanded with a soft intensity, unwilling to let up the pressure. "You need to understand what you're dealing with. You'll never pull this off without my help. You're wasting time, Siegfried. Don't be a fool."
Struggling to remain in control, Goyle fought back with the one weapon he knew would work. "Not true, Snape," he said, his expression triumphant. "If we needed help from you, all we'd have to do is threaten to hurt your wife, and you'd do anything we say."
The statement hit its mark. There appeared a minute reaction in Snape's gaze that gave away his thoughts. The slip in control had been slight, but the error was costly.
"Just as I thought," Siegfried began to gloat. "We don't need your cooperation or your supposed help. We'll control all the Muggles and Mudbloods before we're through, and you, Snape will be our ticket to success."
Recovering quickly, Severus retrieved yet another vision from Siegfried's mind as he continued to monitor the Death Eater's thoughts. Floating up like levitated feathers, a dozen faces appeared. Some of the images were quite familiar, but others were younger, looking like new recruits, but one face surprised him. It was someone he knew well, but Severus had been unaware of the man's connection with this evil group. Russell Plover, the wand shop owner, seemed to have gotten himself some interesting friends. Smiling inwardly, Snape began to think. This new information was going to be very useful indeed.
Could Russell have been a Death Eater spy, Severus wondered, when he was in Hogsmeade the previous year? How much had he shared with the others about the phenomenon? Did he know about the Philosopher's Stone? Severus had always suspected Russell of something, but now all of it seemed to come together. And Russell's involvement might mean the wizard had already been a Death Eater when the accident in Hogsmeade occurred in the spring perhaps laying the groundwork for the kidnapping plans ahead. This was not welcome news, and Severus knew that if Russell was anywhere near Andrea, she was in danger.
Severus had to control himself; there was so much at stake, and the most important thing at the moment was to get Siegfried to believe Snape was still in league with the Death Eaters. Well, he thought, there's no time like the present.
"I really don't care about Andrea," Severus remarked callously. "I only married her for convenience. Marriage was an easy way to keep her bound to me. Keeping tabs on her also keeps track of how we … interact. I can control the phenomenon while we wait for the Dark Lord to rise again." Severus stopped short and eyed Goyle suspiciously. It had just occurred to him that Goyle had not yet shared the reason for his visit. Perhaps now the man would reveal his agenda. "Why are you here Siegfried? What else do you need to know?"
Seeming a bit confused by Snape's question, Goyle tried to recover his composure. "You're right Snape. I did come in here for a reason, but it's not what you think. I simply wanted to tell you that your time is up. Your little homemade curing spell has expired, and now that it has, you need to get ready. You have work to do for us tomorrow. With or without your cooperation, we'll make news tomorrow." With a threatening thrust of his chin the man turned and strutted confidently out of the room.
After Goyle left, Severus slumped down on the bed, as he was suddenly overcome with weariness. How did Siegfried know the details of their cure? Surely Russell hadn't been privy to that information. Someone at the ministry must have loose lips. Or, he thought, could it have been one of the students? Two weeks had passed from the time Andrea had returned and their marriage and subsequent kidnapping. A trio of faces leapt to mind, and it wasn't a pleasant thought. The leak had most likely sprung from his own house. Eleven-year-old Draco Malfoy and his minions Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe were the most likely candidates. Any one of them could have passed the information along, but how had they known the details?
Frowning, Snape sighed as the hopelessness of the situation flowed over him like a smothering layer of mud. Rubbing the tips of the fingers against his temple he tried to think, knowing he had to discover a way out of this, and he needed to do it soon.
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In the next room, only a few feet away, Andrea had also been busy thinking. In similar fashion to Severus, she'd been dumped there and told to wait. But unlike her husband, she had no experience to draw from in dealing with dangerous situations such as this. Feeling helpless, she sat forlornly on the bed with her arms crossed as she fought back tears of anger and frustration. What had she gotten herself into? And where was her new husband?
She knew about the Death Eaters from stories Severus had shared with her, but were these kidnappers part of that group? And if so, could Severus somehow help her? Had there been enough clues to lead him in the right direction?
As she contemplated her bleak situation, Andrea decided it was time to make herself useful. Curious, she made a thorough search of her room, finding a few items that tempted her with possibilities. Next to her bed there stood an old wooden chair with slender back slats. Perhaps, if she was very careful, she could break one of these out and fashion it into a crude wand. Her own wand had been snatched as soon as she'd arrived, and any replacement wand, no matter how crude, would be a godsend. She knew it would be difficult to add a core, but she knew she had to try. The wood itself, she reasoned, should be able to conduct at least a small amount of magic – enough power to make even an unconventional core useful.
Despite the fact that she had none of her tools, she slowly began to fashion the piece using an old bedspring to carve and break the wood into shape. Then she got lucky. Along the side, her skilled and practiced hands discovered a small ridge wide enough to add a core conductor. It was tricky, but after a few hours of work, she had laboriously created an almost finished product. Now all she needed was a viable core.
After wracking her brain for ideas, Andrea spied an old pail standing empty in the corner of the room. At one time, it may have been used for cleaning, but it was obvious to her that it had not been used in a very long time. Upon further inspection, her eyes lit up with hope as she found a fine layer of pixie dust clinging to the bottom of the pail. In no time she'd harvested the magic infused material and fashioned what she hoped was a working wand.
Now it was time for a test. Taking a deep breath, Andrea attempted to levitate the pail. Miraculously, it moved. It hadn't moved far, but it did slide a fraction as she attempted to push it across the floor. The response was extremely weak and a little shaky, but certainly better than nothing. After another hour's worth of adjustments, the wand allowed her to lift the pail a few feet off the ground.
If she could only find some parchment to write on, she thought, the wand might allow her to get a note to one of the owls in the Owlery and into Dumbledore's hands. It would be an incredible long shot, but she was optimistic. Of course, her creation might have other uses, too. Smiling to herself, she began to plan her escape, knowing that a wand – any wand – was crucial for success.
A loud rapping sound pulled Andrea rudely back from her musings, the sharp knock causing her to jump in surprise. A cloaked figure wearing a silver mask entered the room. The new visitor was of medium height and seemed a little unsure of what to do. Leaning his back against the closed door, the figure put his finger to his lips as if to say 'be quiet' before taking off the mask.
"Russell!" Andrea gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm a spy for the Ministry." He looked around suspiciously, his gaze lingering near the door. "Please keep your voice down! I'm trying to help you."
"You're pretending to be a Death Eater?" she asked in astonishment. Although her onetime friend seemed truly sincere, Andrea was too shocked at his sudden appearance to even think about trusting him.
"Yes, of course!" he frowned sensing her doubt. "Look, I know this seems crazy – me being here and all, but it's true. I'm an Auror doing under cover work for the ministry. Which is why you can't say anything that might jeopardize my cover."
"I won't," Andrea assured him. She still wasn't sure she believed Russell, but she thought it would be easier to play along.
Russell had definitely come for a reason, and since the jack was now partially out of the box, he decided it was time to state his intentions. There wasn't much time. Determinedly, he stepped closer and gently placed his hand on Andrea's cheek. "You know I still care for you," he murmured with a sad smile.
"Don't," Andrea replied tersely before turning her head away.
At the sound of her rejection Plover's arm froze and then slowly dropped to his side.
Russell's reaction made Andrea feel sad. He had been her friend. There was no denying it, and she didn't want to hurt his feelings. Trying to understand, Andrea took hold of his hand and looked him in the eyes. "Can you get me out of here?"
"No, I'm sorry. You know I'd do anything to help you, but they've been watching my every move. But I had to come see you." Russell began to nervously stroke Andrea's hand with his thumb. "You'll just have to be patient until I can think of a way to get you out. In the meantime, I'll protect you as best as I can."
"Can you tell me why I'm here?" Andrea looked him in the eyes as she asked the question, trying to see if he was telling the truth.
"I'm sure you already guessed. They want to use you and you're bat of a husband to create some sort of controlled destructive force." Andrea's face immediately darkened with barely concealed rage. How dare they take advantage of them like that? It was crazy. Her stomach twisted into a tight knot as she began to realize how many people were about to get hurt – maybe even die.
Russell saw the look of anger and angst that spread across Andrea's features and immediately misread her. "God, I'm sorry. Here I am calling your new husband a bat. I didn't mean it like that … I just … Hey, I'm sorry for what I did to you in Hogsmeade. I didn't mean to push you. I was drunk and … and … it just happened."
Shaking her head Andrea hardly heard Russell's apology. Her mind was busy adding up all the facts until finally she made the connection. "You mean Severus is here, too?"
Russell sensed her excitement and as the reality of her feelings for Snape began sink in, he frowned, the bitterness creeping back into his words. "Don't worry. They know what a sneaky piece of work he is. He's under constant watch. They don't trust him an inch."
"Russell, where is he?" she asked anxiously, knowing she was pressing her luck.
"I told you. The information is off limits. Besides, it's too risky." Andrea's face fell for a moment as Russell tried to think of what else to say. "I'm sorry, really I am, but I just can't. But … can I get you anything? Some soap? A brush and comb? Just say the word."
She smiled sweetly up at Russell, more from pity than anything else, but he smiled back at her as if she had given him a gift.
"The soap and brush would be nice. But maybe you could get me a quill and some parchment?"
"I don't know about the writing things, but I'll try. I promise." Russell hesitated and flicked his eyes nervously at the door. "I'd better go before they find out I snuck in here."
"Wait," she said as she put her hand on his arm, "before you go, can you tell me, at least, exactly what the Death Eaters are planning? Maybe I can help."
"Really?" he inquired, but he didn't even wait for an answer as he realized it would be too dangerous. "On second thought, you'd better just stay out of this and don't cause trouble. But you should know that they're planning to start a war if they can. They're trying to get control of the Muggle government. I'm not sure how, but they want to force the Ministry of Magic into doing their dirty work for them. The Death Eater ranks and their supporters are depleted, and without You-Know-Who out there actively recruiting, they haven't got the numbers they need. This phenomenon, or whatever you call it, is supposed to be their ticket to success. I'm trying to gather as much information for the Ministry as I can, but it's frustrating. I can't do anything to stop it."
Gratefully, she took both his hands in hers and managed a brave smile. "It's okay. I know you'll do your best."
"You know I will," he replied, his heart a bit fuller as he felt her touch. "I'm sorry, but I have to go." Quickly, he opened the door a crack and snuck out.
After he'd gone, Andrea tried the door again, but it was already locked. He must have been on sentry duty guarding her door, and she hoped he'd come back. Each time the door to her cell was opened, she knew she had a chance for escape.
But what could she do now? She had the wand, but was it strong enough to open the latch? Well, it was worth a try. As quietly as she could, she began to cast some spells. First she attempted some typical anti-jinxes, and when those failed, she tried to blast open the door. Unfortunately, the wand was making some very peculiar noises, and nothing she tried would open the latch. The guards must have some very complicated locks in place, she thought. Perhaps they were charms that only blocked her, as it appeared her captors were having no trouble coming and going from the room. Disappointed, she went back to working with her wand.
A few hours later, Andrea tried the window again and, to her surprise, she was able to open it just enough to get some air, but she worried if the opening would be wide enough to get a letter through to one of the owls below. She'd seen the Owlery in the backyard and thought maybe she could pull one to the sill. Scanning the long perches, Andrea's eyes grew wide as she spied an owl that looked awfully familiar. It was Russell's owl! She knew it well from the days they'd traded messages about the wand business. Yes, his name was Oliver, she remembered, but her plan would have to wait as it was starting to get dark.
Downstairs directly below Andrea's room, an evil presence entered the house. The odd looking professor with a bulging turban had been informed of the Snapes arrival, and he'd listened raptly to the tale of their capture with extreme interest.
Ever since the Hogsmeade incident, Quirinus Quirrell and his demon parasite had been searching carefully for a handful of loyal contacts. Although essential, taking the time to chose and evaluate any remaining Death Eaters had been a cautious and time-consuming task. Not many of his followers were still alive or had survived the ministry's clean-up campaign. Of the few individuals that the Dark Lord still trusted, Quirrell had managed in the course of a few months to bring six of them together. From there, the recruitment had begun. The opportunity to tap into what some were calling the most powerful weapon in the history of the wizarding world was too great for Voldemort to pass up. Acquisition of the Philosopher's Stone was only a part of his devious plan.
After the Dark Lord announced through Quirrell that he wanted to see the hostages, the Dark Arts professor draped himself carefully in a long, black traveling cloak. Intimidation was a key tool, and the hooded disguise worked to cover both host and master. With the help of a few concealment charms, Quirrell and the true nature of his guest were well hidden from view.
The reason for secrecy, other than instilling fear, was to keep Quirrell's identity secret from the outside world. Voldemort was weak and protecting Quirrell's position at Hogwarts was essential in gaining access to the Philosopher's Stone. And since Voldemort did not yet trust Snape, the evil despot needed to be extra cautious. This night's planned activities however, would be a perfect opportunity to test the loyalty of his old servant. Was his favorite spy's commitment still strong enough to allow trust? Or was Snape now an enemy in need of extermination? The Dark Lord was looking forward to finding the answer.
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As dusk turned into night, a lone figure swept into Andrea's room. Covered head to toe in a heavy black cloak, the mysterious form appeared invisible except for a pair of red glowing eyes. Surprised by the suddenness of his entrance and the unsettling appearance of her intruder, the Wand mistress jumped off the bed to face the eerie stranger. Smoothing her hand along the side of her thigh, she fingered the makeshift wand she'd managed to hide in a pocket of her dress. Although the wand gave her courage and allowed Andrea to stare back in a defiant challenge, it was mainly a bluff. Her entire body was shaking, and as she tried to calm herself, she prayed that the beast concealed under the cloak would just go away. But it did not. The look in the creature's eyes instantly frightened his prey and radiated out from the cloaked figure with an unprecedented aura of malevolence. As the intense terror rose like caustic bile in her throat, Andrea found herself backing against the wall, unconscious of the movements of her legs.
"Who are you?" she asked in a low whisper.
There was no answer from the menacing figure. Instead, the mysterious wizard moved the hood of his cloak back a few inches to reveal Voldemort's ugly shrunken face. The image was horrible, and the twisted body under the cloak looked as if it were walking backwards. Unable to stop herself, Andrea emitted a horrified scream.
Severus literally jumped off the bed in his room next door. "Andrea? ANDREA?" he called out in a booming voice. Although a small seed of hope had lifted his heart, he was also mildly aware that he shouldn't be able to hear the screams. A well-placed silencing charm would have easily shielded the sound from his ears, but he ignored the warnings from his usually logical mind and instead fell prey to his emotions.
"YES!" Andrea answered, screaming as loud as she could. "SEVERUS! I'm here, Severus!"
"Yell all you want, my dear," the Dark Lord answered with an oddly horse chuckle. "He can't help you, he won't help you. I am Lord Voldemort, and Severus is one of my followers. In fact, I have a surprise for you. I'm going to bring him here, so he can enjoy our performance."
As Andrea's heart began to race, the blood rushed to her head, the pressure causing a magnified pounding to slam against her eardrums. What was this monster saying? He won't help you? What did that mean?
Quirrell turned back toward the door to allow Voldemort to call for Russell's assistance.
With a rather muffled crack, Plover entered the room. "Yes, my Lord?" he asked. Although carefully masked, his thoughts were saddened by what he knew was going to happen next.
"Snape," Voldemort ordered, "Bring him here."
It had been many years since the Dark Lord had Snape in his employ, and testing his servant would add a nice touch to Voldemort's bigger plan of ensuring his immortality. Knowing the depth of his servant's loyalties was crucial during this half-life existence. He intended to survive at all costs, certainly to live long after his host Quirrell, had perished. Acquiring the Philosopher's Stone would accomplish that need, but the Dark Lord was cautious. What if the plan failed?
Most men had a similar dream, he knew. They wanted their bloodline to continue, and having offspring allowed even the most common wizard to pass their genes off to a new generation. However, Voldemort was no common wizard. He had a much grander scheme for his offspring than simply giving them life. Soul bits needed bodies and using one's own flesh in the form of a son or daughter would provide the perfect vessel for his possession. For months the thoughts had whirled around his restless mind like Fiendfyre in a parchment factory. The first step, he knew would be to find a suitable mate.
Revealed by Malfoy's careful research, Andrea's pure-blood pedigree had attracted the Dark Lord as an admirably superior choice. Surely, with the added strength of her bloodline, his heir would thrive with fresh, new magical power that he could take for his own. But the need to physically mate with the witch would be tricky. His corporeal body was too weak to perform the actual deed, yet he needed his own sperm to fertilize the egg. In the most hideous of dark experiments, Voldemort decided to use Quirrell's body to perform the physical act, but it would be the Dark Lord's sperm that would penetrate the woman's body.
Without another word, Russell Apparated out, and almost instantly Apparated back into the room. With his hand on Snape's shoulder, Plover proceeded to bind his prisoner's body tight with magic ropes. As he performed his task, Russell's expression was one of hate.
Severus never noticed Russell. As soon as he laid his eyes on Voldemort, Snape felt a tidal wave of horror wash over him. Although the identity of the figure was well hidden under the cloak, Snape knew this was his old master. He could sense the evil bastard like moldy Limburger cheese. With his mind reeling, Severus froze as a combination of adrenaline and panic seared his brain. The wild flood of emotions shot through his core and multiplied like an angry swarm of wasps until they threatened to explode uncontrolled from his body.
This was new. Severus had never felt anything this strongly before. As he looked at Andrea's frightened form from across the room he felt both panic and a screaming desire to protect her. If he'd retained any doubts that he truly loved Andrea – more than anything before in his life – those straggling threads of doubt were now gone. The threat standing before him had instantly banished them. But what was he going to do?
A reckless Gryffindor he was not. Severus knew the dangers of rushing blindly forward, but if he waited to think and plan, would the result be just as dangerous? Could Andrea survive the delay? Cursing his own weakness he forced himself to think. Cunning and deception were his strengths, and he knew if he was ever to save Andrea, he had to wait for the right opportunity.
Luckily, the old habits were still there. The survival skills and mind control Severus had acquired from years of service to the Dark Lord were at the ready, allowing Snape to instantly throw up his Occlumency walls. He slammed them into place, and as he did, his face smoothed out into an even, curious expression. Although far from easy, Snape pulled himself together and forced himself to play the role. Both their lives literally depended on it.
One indisputable fact was that the Dark Lord needed them both alive. Together they made the weapon of their phenomenon possible. With one of the hostages dead, their usefulness would be gone. Keeping that well hidden thought in the front of his brain helped Severus to concentrate and conjured within him a slim wisp of hope. He didn't want to think about the consequences of allowing the event to occur. He already had enough to worry about.
"Master, you are alive!" Severus announced managing to sound relatively impressed.
"Yes, Severus. How observant," the Dark Lord sneered. "I am very much alive as you can see."
"My lord," Snape responded calmly and tilted his head in acknowledgement. "I am … happy to see you're back in charge."
"I'm sure you are, Severus, my loyal son," Voldemort agreed with more than a hint of sarcasm. "Was this a great surprise to you?" The penetrating red eyes searched the black orbs looking for lies as the dark wizard waited for an answer.
"I do not deny that I wondered about the delay in your return, Master," Snape replied cautiously. "But I am, as always, your loyal servant." Severus braced himself. Surely the Cruciatus curse was only seconds away. But he was wrong. Something much worse lay ahead.
"We'll see just how loyal you really are, Severus."
Andrea couldn't believe her ears. Although she'd been just as surprised as Severus to see the Dark Lord in person, she never sensed the depth of the danger. Instead, she stared at her new husband, the shock of his words throwing her off balance. What was Severus playing at? She knew he could be cunningly devious if he wanted to, and she held her breath as he spoke. This had to be a sham, she thought. Severus must be trying to bluff Voldemort. God, she hoped it would work, prayed it would work.
The Dark Lord began to play with Snape like a cat with a vole. "Severus, have you been enjoying yourself with Dumbledore these past ten years? Have you been spying for me as you promised?"
"Yes, my lord," Snape answered automatically.
Voldemort ignored his response and, instead, stepped over to where Andrea stood cowering against the wall. "I see you have excellent taste in women. What an wonderful idea, saving her for me." The Dark Lord chuckled evilly and reached up to slide the back of Quirrell's hand against Andrea's cheek.
Control, he thought. I must maintain control. Severus was near the breaking point as he tried with all his might to keep his temper. His Occlumency skills were being pushed to their very limits. Any moment he thought the walls would buckle into oblivion, yet he continued an outwardly calm stare at Voldemort. Snape knew he had to keep the Dark Lord from penetrating Andrea's mind. It was imperative to keep him away from her, but what could he do? Severus was very near panic himself, yet he could not let Voldemort see the pain.
"Thank you, Master," Severus answered in a steady voice. "You are correct, my Lord. She is the perfect mate as her pure-blood ancestry clearly illustrates. I admit, she is … a tempting specimen, but you must have no doubt. I wanted you to have her, my lord. Keeping her as my wife until your return was simply convenient." As he said the words, he forced a small, indulgent smile to his lips, hoping with all his heart that Andrea somehow understood what he was doing.
And Andrea was trying her best to trust him. This was the first true test of her love for him, and as she listened, her determination grew. She needed to believe, because if Severus really was deceiving her, she knew her life was over.
Voldemort smiled as he played his deadly hand. "Well, that's so good of you Severus, because I'm going to rape your wife."
This time it was Andrea that nearly choked in terror. The panic rose in her throat like acidic vomit, threatening to consume her.
Snape simply raised an eyebrow, but somehow he found the strength to remain silent. Inside, he was furious. Only the fact that his walls were already in place, and his expression carefully swept clean was he able to hold himself together. The only sign of his pain was a slight widening of his eyes and brief catch in his breath.
"Watch Severus." Chuckling again, the Dark Lord turned back toward his prey, his red eyes growing wide in anticipation. "I hope you enjoy this little display of affection. You might even learn something."
The word 'NO' almost escaped Severus's lips. He had to literally bite his tongue till it bled in order to force himself to stay quiet. Although Snape's heart was pounding in fury, his face remained as stony as a statue, revealing not a shred of emotion. He had to stay in control. So far he'd been successful, but he couldn't take much more. What could he do to stop this?
Still hidden under the cloak's hood, Quirrell lifted his wand and adjusted the material so that he was now facing forward, his face obscured in darkness. It was now his turn to perform. Obediently, the professor followed Voldemort's directions. Quirrell swirled the wand at Andrea, the action levitating her up and tying her to the bed. Too late, she realized, she had missed an opportunity to use her wand. In her fear, she had sealed her own fate.
Snape realized it was now or never. His mind scrambled wildly for the right words, the right phrases to convince Voldemort to leave Andrea alone. "Master," Severus began, trying to get the Dark Lord's attention. "Are you sure you are well enough? Shouldn't you wait a until you are stronger?"
"I am perfectly fine, Severus," the Dark Lord replied, his voice now muffled by the cloak's hood. "And I have work to do."
As Snape watched, Quirrell stretched Andrea's arms and legs and magically pinned her to the bed. Then, as he removed his pants Andrea started to whimper as the reality of the circumstances became clear: she was going to be raped.
"No, no," she pleaded, "Please don't. Severus help me!"
"Severus has nothing to do with this, my dear. Ah, I see you are still in your wedding clothes. How delightful! You will be my bride tonight."
Severus was beyond furious at his inability to stop the heinous act, but how could he help her? He had no wand and his limited skills with uncontrolled magic would probably do more harm than good, although at this stage, his body was close to rebellion. He felt his nerves splitting into a thousand pinpricks as the magic tried to find a means of escape. If this didn't stop soon, he knew something would happen. Control be damned!
Quirrell jumped on the bed and reached under Andrea's dress to rip off her panties.
"No!" she cried. "Stay away from me, you fucking bastard!" She began to scream. The air was filled with her horrible, blood-curdling screeches of terror.
"Ah, my sweet – my bride," Voldemort laughed, the screams adding to his pleasure. "You are a wild little thing. But the time has come. I will take you now."
"Oh God, help me," she pleaded her voice dropping to a mere whisper.
At the last possible moment, Severus had an idea. Intently, he began to stare at his wife and felt his magic tingle to life. He knew it would do nothing however, unless she looked back. He had to get eye contact.
"Andrea." Her name came out of his mouth without thinking, and he cringed hoping the Dark Lord hadn't heard him. With the start of the physical invasion, Andrea had closed her eyes, but Severus could see that her face was contorted in revulsion.
Andrea, Severus pleaded silently. Look-at-me.
Her eyes flickered open briefly, and as hard as she tried to suppress it, a tear welled up. Luckily, Voldemort's attention was elsewhere as she locked her gaze with Severus. It was now only a matter of time before the reaction would start.
Severus hated himself for bringing this on her. Why hadn't he left her alone? Why did he have to get her involved in his hateful life? This was entirely his fault. He would never forgive himself.
Voldemort in Quirrell's body began his task. With obvious pleasure, he commenced the rape.
"Stop it, you bloody bastard! You're hurting me!" Andrea couldn't help herself from screaming at the horrid ghoul. The force of the attack made her turn her head as she glared at the figure, the host and parasite both indistinct and shadowed under the hooded cloak. With Quirrell and Voldemort hiding under the draped fabric, she no longer saw either of their faces.
Please – Andrea – look at me!Snape thought.
As if pulled by invisible strings, Andrea moved her eyes miraculously back to Snape's. In a flash of understanding, she realized what Severus was thinking. A surge of hope flickered in her soul as she remembered that the reaction they'd shared could be caused by eye contact, not just physical touch. Could they make it happen here?
"Yes!" Snape said under his breath as their eyes met again.
Andrea's lip was quivering with pain and fear, but as they gazed at each other, their love surged like a swelling tide, allowing the newborn sliver of hope to glow upon her heart. But as the Dark Lord continued to attack her body, the pain made her gasp, taking the slim ray of hope with it.
With a final grunt, Quirrell finished his task. It had taken only a few minutes, not nearly enough time to produce the results of the reaction Snape was looking for, but he was glad that at least his wife's torture was over. Trying not to lose focus, he continued to look into Andrea's eyes.
"Ah, success!" When the Dark Lord looked up and saw Andrea staring intensely at Snape, he became immediately suspicious. Angrily, he demanded, "Look at me, woman."
Obediently, she turned back to Voldemort.
Severus almost exploded in frustration. If they were going to make this work, they needed to hold eye contact longer than a few moments. Silently he pleaded with her, don't look at him; do not look in his eyes. Then, Severus had an idea. Maybe the way to force Voldemort's gaze away from Andrea was to cause a distraction.
"Master, did you enjoy it?" Snape asked. "Was she as you expected?"
The Dark Lord ignored him. Andrea glanced back at Severus, causing Voldemort to fume with fury. In a hideous rage, he replied, "Look at me, you bitch."
She flicked her eyes back to Voldemort for just a few seconds. Then, like a tennis ball soaring back over the net, she looked toward Severus again.
But the Dark Lord was getting even angrier. "I said look at me. You are my mate, and you will look at me as we create my son."
Andrea opened her eyes, and stared wide-eyed back at Voldemort.
Snape was beside himself. This was no ordinary struggle. Instead, it felt like some sort of evil contest. Who had more control over Andrea?
Now, the Dark Lord had the upper hand and looked into her mind, immediately seeing two things. One gave him a violent surge of triumph and the other blasted him to the heart.
"You whore!" He accused, the words hurled toward her in a wicked growl. "You've had sex with him, haven't you?"
"Yes, I had sex with him." Proudly, she spat out the words. "Why not? I love him, you freak."
Yes, dear gods, she does love me, Severus thought, wishing he could say it out loud.
"You're nothing but a filthy, little bitch! A Filthy, lying whore." Quirrell stayed in position while Voldemort cursed from underneath the cloak.
This new revelation was not welcome news to the Dark Lord. It had always been part of his plan that the couple be kidnapped before their wedding night. The timing was critical to ensure the purity of his virgin bride. Voldemort wanted to be the first to enter her. She was an untouched, fertile field in which to lay his seed. But he'd gotten it all wrong. Strangely, his conception of morals was reminiscent of the years of his youth, frozen in the time of the 1940s. Never had he realized that the 1990s carried a far different outlook of sexual relations, but he was beginning to learn.
The anger at having overlooked such a simple thing drove Voldemort to act. As the Dark Lord's puppet, Quirrell slapped Andrea, the agony unbearable for Severus as he looked on. Frantically, Snape tried to refocus. There must be some way to get Voldemort's attention.
"Master," he called out. "I was only preparing her for you. You can be assured that I only used her once or twice. You wouldn't have wanted her if she weren't worthy. I had to make sure – for you – Master."
"You have a grand imagination, Severus," Voldemort sneered. "You expect me to believe that? I think not."
"But, Master, look at me. You know I'm telling you the truth." Severus's skill at Occlumency was still managing to block his true thoughts from Voldemort, but the Dark Lord hadn't finished with Andrea yet. Ignoring Snape, he continued to look down at his prey.
"Ah, my dear, I also see that you took a potion: a fertility potion."
"NO!" Andrea blurted in a shocked voice. "What are you saying? A fertility potion? That's impossible. I never—"
"Ah, Severus didn't tell you? Well, we are having lots of fun now aren't we? Didn't he tell you he wanted a bunch of babies? Lots of babies from his pure-blood whore?"
Sensing disaster, Severus quickly tried to interject. "The potion was for you, Master."
"Severus?" Andrea said in sudden disbelief, her faith in him slowly draining away like a small crack in a dam, and it was breaking Severus's heart.
Bravely, with all his strength, Snape tried to ignore her and concentrate on Voldemort.
"Severus," the Dark Lord laughed maliciously. "Now, you are lying to me. There were two bottles of potion, and you drank one yourself. How do you explain that?"
Snape could not. He was caught. "I did not know you were alive, Master. I would never have taken it if I knew of your plans. You must believe me." Severus was desperate now. He had to maintain his cover, or he would never be able to get Andrea out of this.
Voldemort looked suspiciously at Snape. After penetrating with his Legilimency skills as far as he could, the Dark Lord could see that Severus did not appear to be lying with his second statement. Finally convinced of Snape's loyalty, he answered, "Yes, I do believe you. You had no way of knowing my intentions. The temptation to lay one's seed into this pure-blood hole would tempt anyone. But you have lied to me, and you will be punished. Knowing hw much you enjoyed tonight's display, perhaps we'll do this again tomorrow!" Like a hyena, Voldemort cackled wickedly at his little joke.
As soon as the Dark Lord looked away, Severus once again tried to get Andrea's attention, but she was now staring at the wall.
Still hidden under the flowing black robes, Quirrell finally got up off the bed and walked toward Snape. "Did you enjoy the entertainment, Severus?" Voldemort teased. "You were always such a good watcher." Snickering, he continued, "I know I enjoyed it." With an impatient gesture, the Dark Lord motioned toward Plover. "Take him back," he barked.
Russell had been standing quietly in the background absorbing everything he'd seen. Disgusted by what Severus said, he knew it was wicked proof that Snape truly was a loyal Death Eater. Russell would never forget the horrible scene he had just witnessed. Even more determined than before, Russell knew he had to help Andrea. Swearing to himself, he realized that he would do anything to help her leave Snape. The priority now, however, was to get her away from the You-Know-who's clutches. Then, perhaps in time, Russell thought, she might grow to love him instead. He could only hope.
Grabbing Severus roughly by the shoulder, the two disappeared.
Quirrell and the Dark Lord turned back to Andrea, and with a flick of the wand, he removed her bonds. Voldemort's cruel smile followed as he anticipated his next words.
"And you, my dear, should know that fertility potions take a day or two to start working. So, you're little sex fest with your fiancé would not have produced a thing, but it is perfect timing for you and me. Now, I must leave you. Don't worry, my bride, I will see you again tomorrow." Voldemort's evil laughter shot through Andrea like a knife. Finally Quirrell adjusted the hood, and both host and his evil parasite quickly left the room.
After they'd gone, the bedroom fell silent. Pulling herself into a tight ball, Andrea cringed on the bed. After the past hour of horror, she felt as if she'd been emotionally run over by the Hogwarts train. With trembling lips, she started to cry, the tears running free and hot down her cheek as her mind spiraled out of control.
Was it true, what the Dark Lord said? Did Severus marry her only because she was a pure-blood? Was he only trying to better his own bloodline? Suddenly, her world was filling up with doubt, the curse growing decidedly evil and dark.
Back in his room, Severus took out his anger on the furniture, hurling it across the room. Once again, he tried to break the window, but it wouldn't crack.
"Quiet in there," the door sentry ordered in a bored tone.
Regaining control, Severus moved back and stood by the window, despising himself for acting so stupidly. He should have sensed that Voldemort was still alive, but how could he have known for sure? He cursed himself for not realizing it. Lucius must have known. The Malfoys must have been part of this scheme all along. Why, Severus asked himself, had he been so blind?
There was one last regret. He should have been completely honest with Andrea and told her about his role as a spy for Dumbledore. If he had, she might still trust him now; instead, she most likely hated him. And then there was the potion. Why had he done it? Why couldn't he have left things alone? He was wrong to trick her like that, and because it came out at the worst possible moment, it most likely would lead to him losing her. Yes, it was his fault. Why had he been so stupid? If he'd just convinced her to stay in America and not come back – told her he didn't love her – then none of this would have happened, and Voldemort would not have the weapon he needed. Any deaths that resulted because of his foolish misjudgments would be on Severus's conscience.
The cards were certainly not in his favor and yet … he must do something. He needed to discover a solution. Concentrating his keen mind, he lay down on the bed but could not sleep. At least the long night would give him time to think.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Again, my faithful beta Fainting Fancies has done an awesome job. Also thanks to my loyal reviewers: Wendy Waddles, KellieGreen, animalwriter and bookivore.