Chapter 10
We arrived back in Chelsea just before dark. I sent a patronus to Viktor to floo in. He arrived fifteen minutes later. He and Sev conferred for a minute then Viktor hugged me before flooing to the Leaky Cauldron. Twenty minutes later his patronus alerted us that Fletcher was entering the Leaky Cauldron. I went with Sev, who had disillusioned himself. The plan was to make Fletcher believe I was looking for things that might have belonged to my father. That way we could get him to a back table and Sev could plant the suggestions. When we disapparated to the alleyway down from the Leaky Cauldron, Sev followed me into the public room. Viktor was sitting at a table in the darkest corner. He motioned for me to come over. There was a very dirty man sitting with Viktor. I began to explain what I supposedly wanted when Sev imperiused Fletcher. He dictated the details and the suggestions before stupefying Fletcher, removing the Imperius and obliviating him. The three of us got up and walked out. Sev chuckled a bit as we approached the alleyway.
"I did tell him he was to search for anything of Igor's that might be out there. That is what he will remember. Thank you, Viktor, for assisting us."
"I know what was done before….was not by your choice; it was required by your oath to the Headmaster. I know what it is to obey without question. I will not turn my back on you; I will stand your friend no matter what, Severus."
They clasped forearms before we all returned to the flat. Viktor made a big production of going out the front door to bring dinner back for all of us. He reported that there were both Aurors and Death Eaters watching the block. He had stirred things up a bit by telling the Aurors where the Death Eaters were hiding in the shadows. When all of them were gone, he brought dinner inside.
"They are all so foolish. If they knew anything of you, or my cousin, they would know neither of you would endanger the other. They do not yet know of your marriage? It was not recorded? Ah, I see, the old Auror took the records and hid them. This is good. It proves someone was thinking ahead. That way they cannot make Thera out as a hostage bride. I brought fish and chips, with an apple and berry crumble for afters. Garfunkle's was closest. Is there wine or shall we drink mead? If you would, little cousin, when you think of it, send me more of Uncle Igor's brand of firewhiskey. The Stolichnaya is a reminder of better days when we were still a large, happy family."
"You will have it, Viktor. I, too, remember what it was like. We will eventually have to show Severus what a large, Russian family is like. He will be horrified."
We sat down to eat after I made tea for all of us. Viktor and I drank ours from the large crystal mugs with the silver chasings. Sev drank from a regular cup. Viktor and I both drank the tea as we had at home in Russia, very hot with lots of sugar. Sev shuddered when I fixed it like that so I left the sugar out of his.
Looking at these men, who mean so much to me, made me realize that I wanted a child of my own. I knew Sev would not feel comfortable with that idea, but I was determined. I would bring it up for discussion later that night.
About midnight, Viktor made his farewells and flooed off to Spinner's End. Severus had given him permission to use the house as a base for his band of guerrillas.
After cleaning up the dishes and the glasses, Sev turned to me. "I know you have something on your mind, Thera. You tend to get very quiet when there is something on your mind."
"Sev, when this is all over…. when we are sure he has been defeated; I want a child."
"Thera, you know there is a chance we may never have one. My life balances on a razor wire as it is. The injuries I sustained may have damaged me so much that I cannot give you a child. However, if you are sure, once we are free of this war I will do my best to give you that child. Possibly more than one, my love."
He drew me into his embrace before kissing me thoroughly. We talked for a long time that night, making plans for the school year and plotting ways to hide potions at the school. We made love just before dawn. He had to return to the Dark Lord that day, but would return for the nights until school started. He mentioned the Weasley wedding to be held on the first of August. He suggested I get Viktor to take me as his 'date'.
"You will see Hermione and you can gauge how Potter is handling things. It will be a diversion for you. Viktor will be going anyway, just to see Hermione. You might as well go along."
"Do you think our bonding will let us communicate without words, Sev?"
His answer came so softly that I wasn't sure he had spoken at all. He was smiling at me as I heard his voice softly in my mind.
"I felt your sorrow, Thera, your loneliness and heard you crying. I have been able to read you at a distance for months now. If you think about it, you can read me. Try it."
I looked at him sharply. Then I turned my back on him. I stilled my thoughts so I could see if I could find his thoughts with my mind. I felt him chuckle in my mind. He was there, a warm presence waiting, sharing, and warning. I whirled back to face him and watched the pleased smile light up his face. He sent me the thought that it was easy being this close, but we needed to see if it worked at greater distances. I agreed completely. We would test it when he returned to the school.
He returned to the Dark lord just before sundown. The meeting did not last long; it was merely to keep abreast of what the other Death Eaters were doing. The Dark Lord made a suggestion to Sev, however. He wanted to meet me, Sev's nubile young bride. Sev was concerned that I not show my independent nature to the Dark Lord. I agreed to act the besotted little egotist Sev had painted me. The abrupt bark of laughter from my husband's mind caused me to smile as well. The charade was set for two days later. Sev was teaching me which of the Dark Lord's followers were the most dangerous. He dismissed Lucius, Narcissa and Draco as negligible. He said the Lestranges, all three of them, were among the most unpredictable. Rowle, Travers, Avery and Mulciber were to be avoided but were not particularly intelligent. He said that the Dark Lord was wooing the Werewolves, led by Fenrir Greyback. Greyback had embraced the ideology, but was not made a full-fledged Death Eater. In Sev's opinion, Bellatrix Lestrange was the most deadly of the Death Eaters. Her rabid enthusiasm had made her into the Dark Lord's pet. Her unfulfilled sexual desires concerning the Dark Lord had very nearly unhinged her. She was unreasonably jealous of anyone the Dark Lord valued or favoured. She would use any means of discrediting anything or anyone she felt stood between her and her beloved Dark Lord. He admitted that she hated him for his trusted position at the right hand of the Dark Lord.
I promised him I would be very careful. I would make my own assessment of the Death Eaters to see if it differed from Sev's point of view. I asked him to help me decide what to wear for my presentation. We chose one of my most exotic outfits. A green, silver and peacock coloured silk cheongsam, cut very tight to the body and very, very sheer. The skirt was slit up to the thigh on each side. The dragon design moved on the fabric magically. The silver stiletto heels would provide the finishing touch. I would put my hair up, leaving only one long curl to drape over my shoulder. He beamed at me that my choice would be perfect. I knew that the only one of his followers I might have a problem with would be Bellatrix. I did not understand yet the reasons she hated my husband.
The next day I went to Diagon alley after checking on the House at Spinner's End. I talked to Viktor who agreed to take me to the Weasley wedding. In Diagon Alley, I went to talk to the Weasley twins. They mentioned the wedding, and then asked if I had been invited. I replied that Viktor was going to take me to the wedding as Fleur had invited him. They informed me that the suggestion I had made to them about the Venomous Tentacula and Wartcap mixture that I had wanted to use on Umbridge had finally evolved into an actual product. They had added the sap of the Mimbulus Mimbletonia to make the mixture even more disastrous when thrown onto someone. They had developed it as a Death Eater deterrent. They said that, since I had given them the original formula, I would start getting royalties from the sales very soon. I laughed and told them to invest that money into a fund for the families of those who were sure to die or be injured in the coming battles. They agreed with that, then teased me about Viktor. Fred asked if I had a particular interest in foreign Quidditch players, or would I like to go to dinner with him sometime? I explained that Viktor was my cousin and very protective of me since the death of my father.
"You do know who my father was, don't you? Igor Karkaroff, headmaster of Durmstrang. I trained at Durmstrang. I got my NEWT scores the other day. I beat out everyone taking the test this year. The examiners remarked that no one had ever scored that high except Professor Snape. I bested his scores by 18 points.
George and Fred looked at each other and swore, "Bloody effing hell! No wonder the greasy git kept such a watch on you. You were his pet, his prize pupil. What do you make of him killing Dumbledore?"
I weighed what I was going to say carefully. "I knew nothing, seriously. I know he had been under considerable strain what with the Malfoy brat being such an idiot. I was in his office helping him grade papers when Professor Flitwick came running in announcing that there were Death Eaters in the Castle. He fainted at my feet before Professor Snape rushed out. Luna and Hermione came in to take care of Flitwick when I rushed out after Professor Snape. I made it to the front hall in time to throw a few hexes at the Death Eaters as they fled. I gave Madam Pomfrey some of my special Murtlap and Aloe Salve for your brother's injuries. Did it help?"
"Fleur said it worked a treat. Pomfrey told Mum that Bill's injuries were much less noticeable thanks to that salve. Too bad Snape hadn't formulated a potion to heal those kinds of injuries before he scarpered. "
"Fred, George, who do you think helped me improve that salve? Professor Snape created many healing potions and remedies in his years at Hogwarts. I need to go; I have to visit my mother at St. Mungo's. I will probably see you both at the wedding."
George added a comment that surprised me. "If you hear anything of Snape, you probably need to let Moody know. He was asking after you."
"Thanks, George. I will owl him."
When I got to St. Mungo's I sent an owl to Moody at Grimmauld Place. He replied that he would meet me at the Leaky Cauldron in an hour.
When I arrived after seeing Mother, he was sitting with his back to the wall at the one table that had a view of the street and the entry to Diagon Alley. I sat down and ordered tea.
"Well, young Madam, what do you hear from that husband of yours?"
"Nothing, Alastor. You should know that, my cousin says you have Aurors watching the flat."
"There is too much that is havey-cavey about the whole business, missy. Dumbledore trusted him implicitly right up until the end. And you were in the thick of it, too. You know more than you're telling. Maybe that is a good thing. Tell him that the Ministry has been infiltrated and I've moved most of the Aurors north to meet up with that cousin of yours to protect the students. I know your cousin is using Snape's house. The Aurors are being hunted because they won't knuckle under to Riddle and his minions. Tell your husband that your marriage papers are safe. I know how Dumbledore's mind worked. There are more layers to this whole thing than anyone can know. Albus had a plan for everyone, Snape included. I will wait and see. You get along home, young madam. I know you are in this up to your eyebrows. But I'll reserve judgment until I have more facts."
He had surprised me. I had always thought that Moody hated Sev. Now, he had confused me. No matter, I must go home and tell Sev what I had learned.
He was reading some of the letters my father had left. As soon as he saw how upset I was, he put them away. When I told him about my meetings with the Weasley twins and Moody, he became concerned.
"Moody has always been dead set against me. Why would he change? Could it be that his reunion with Minerva has softened him? It does not matter. So, Fred and George both fancy you, do they? I hope you told them you are not interested."
"Better than that, Sev, I told them Viktor was very protective of his cousin. They are too grateful that the Murtlap salve helped to heal their brother to bother me. You can count on Viktor to deflate any pretensions anyone has. He is very protective."
"Thera, he warned me off just after you came to the school. He reminded me that I was a contemporary of your father's and you were not for the likes of me. Lot of good it did, eh?"
"He has always been very protective of me. I am surprised that he did that though. You showed no signs of being interested in me that early. He probably did it so you would warn off the students. Viktor thinks like that. Moody surprised me today. He suspects that there is much more to Dumbledore's death than what everyone else thinks. He sent you a message. He said our marriage papers are safe. Why is that so important? "
"Because those papers entitle you to defend me before the Wizengamot, if we live through this. He does know something, but he may just be trying to get inside your head."
"Sev, why do you think the Dark Lord wants to see me? Am I likely to be a danger to you? Could he be testing your loyalty?"
"I do not know, Thera. He keeps his own counsel. We must be on guard for any eventuality. You must give the performance of your life. Be cool and aloof, ignoring everyone except the Dark Lord and me. Defer to me if you are unsure. Bellatrix may try to get in your face, ignore her. Or perhaps, a show of wandless non-verbal magic to catch her off guard. You will dislike her instantly. Show it, but very subtly, turn your back to her, act as if she was a servant. You know how to do it; you have done it to the Slytherins time out of mind. Become the princess your father taught you to be, but act as if I, not the Dark Lord, am your king. It should confuse them. We may yet bring this off, love."
He was acting as if nothing was bothering him but I knew, deep down, the guilt at Dumbledore's death ate at his peace. I was proved right that night when he began thrashing and muttering. I quietly made tea and brought it to the bedroom. His eyes told me the agonies he was suffering. He began to tell me what had happened that night on the Astronomy Tower. In fits and starts, he finally rid himself of the poison of what he had been required to do.
"When I got there, Draco had disarmed him. Potter was nowhere to be seen but I sensed he was there, nonetheless. Greyback and the Carrows were taunting Draco. Albus was injured, somehow. The moment I appeared, he called to me. I looked at him and in the few seconds our eyes locked, he reminded me of my promise. Then he absolved me, Thera. He knew Draco had failed and that the others would like nothing better than to torture him. The last thought he sent me was that he loved me as the son he never had. I knew from the look in his eyes how much pain he was suffering. I was so filled with anger that the time had come I sent the curse too forcefully and sent his body over the wall. Then I grabbed Draco and ran. Potter appeared suddenly behind me and chased me through the building. He called me a coward, Thera. I was in as much pain as he was but the prat could not know it. I had to be the focus of his hatred. I am quite sure that he will kill me when this is over. Nevertheless, my instructions from Albus are specific. I have information to impart to Potter before he fights the Dark Lord. They are chasing horcruxes. It is the only possibility. Years ago, before his fall, the Dark Lord bragged that he had gone further than anyone before along the road to immortality. I had read all the Dark Magic texts, too. I knew instantly what he was hinting at. Albus and I had talked about the diary Potter destroyed his second year being a horcrux. The ring that cursed Albus must have been the second one. Knowing the Dark Lord's obsession with the founders of Hogwarts, he probably hunted for items belonging to them to use as horcruxes. He boasted that he had found Hufflepuff's cup, Ravenclaw's diadem and Slytherin's locket. Albus said something about noticing if or when the Dark Lord keeps Nagini close to him. That would mean he has made her into another horcrux. In addition, we discussed the possibility that Potter himself is a horcrux. It would explain why the boy has such a link to the Dark Lord. That makes seven. A magical number, but if the Dark Lord is unaware that the boy is an inadvertent horcrux he may want to make another. However, there is a light at the end of this particular tunnel. When the Dark Lord regenerated, Pettigrew used some of Potter's blood. Do you know what that did, Thera?"
"It made the Dark Lord into a sort of horcrux for Harry. Do you think the Dark Lord realizes it?"
"No, love, he doesn't. He thinks himself invincible. He is wrong, of course. There are too many good people against him. I feel better about this, now. Talking it out has helped. I can deal with the guilt now. It was eating at me, slowly. I have never had to kill before. Not like that. I have done awful things but never murder. I am usually the one who has to administer Veritaserum, potions, or legilimise someone. I have used the Cruciatus on others before. Bellatrix thinks I am too fastidious. Too prissy, she calls it. She cannot know how I loathe inflicting pain. "
"I am not so nice in my thinking, Sev. I can kill if need be. I will kill to defend what is mine. I will kill to keep you alive. Now, go back to sleep. We have much to do later before we go to the presentation. I want you to wear one of the kosovorotka shirts. The very dark green one will match my dress. I want us to appear as if we are Russian royalty. The Karkaroffs were the magical advisors to the Tsars. I am the last Karkaroff, I bow to no one." As he lay back down, I kissed him.
Morning brought a message from St. Mungo's that my mother wanted to see me. I disapparated to the alleyway close to the hospital. The Healers had said she was lucid and wanted to talk to me. When I got in to see her she clutched at my hands.
"The Dark Lord was there, Thera. He said that your marriage had not saved your father from the fate that he merited. He killed your father, Thera. They made me watch." She burst into tears as she finished speaking. The Healer in charge gave her a potion to drink which sent her into sleep. He drew me aside and said it was progress finally; that she could begin to heal now that she had faced the truth at last. I suddenly did not know how I was going to face the Dark Lord that evening.
I walked back to Chelsea to clear my thoughts. Somewhere close to Sloane Square, I realised I was being followed. I ducked into an off licence shop to buy the Stolichnaya for Viktor. As I left the shop I saw who was following me. It was then I remembered Sev had mentioned that Lupin and Tonks had married recently. Remus Lupin realized I had seen him so he caught up with me.
"Thera, how are you?"
"Why are you following me, Remus? Shouldn't you be home with your bride?"
"No, she is at work. I wanted to let you know that you have most of the Order confused. You are still making the Wolfsbane Potion for me and your cousin is helping to protect Hogwarts. Yet you are married to Snape. What side are you on, Thera?"
"I serve the side of honour and duty. The same side you serve, Remus. What was done was done to bring the Dark Lord out of deep cover. For Harry to fight him and win, the Dark Lord must be in ascendance. It was a plan not of our making. I will fight on the side of the Light. I swore that as a member of the Order. But, know this; I will protect my husband from each and every one of you, both Dark and Light. I will do my best to undermine Armageddon. Do you understand, Remus Lupin?"
"You do love him. Is he aware of your loyalties? Has he been back to you?"
"He has always known my loyalty. He knows exactly where I stand. If I have to have this stupid conversation once more, I will hex someone. I will keep sending information to the Order, but not about Severus."
"I beg your pardon, Madam Snape. How is your mother?"
"She remembers it all. The Healers called me over there today. She will begin to heal now. Thank you for asking. Congratulations on your wedding, Remus. I… no, we wish you happy. Now go away and let me get back to my lonely flat. Will I see you at the Weasley wedding? Viktor is taking me. He thinks to cheer me up."
"Dora and I will be there. Tell him I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Take care, Thera."
He walked off into the crowd coming out of the tube station. I turned to continue on my way home. There was much to tell Sev about Lupin.