A/N:

Been a little while since my last update but here you go guys! I do hope you like it. Please for the love of the Goddess Review. I like to know your opinions and how the story sits with you.

Chapter Ten

The Cost of Decisions Made

"Oh this is just to much fun!" Bellatrix cooed, clapping her hands together in a frenzied motion. Smoke filled the air and the flickering of the small fires reflected in her eyes, the dark sheen of her madness clear in the Witch's gaze.

"Please," The voice was rough and cracked, just like the man at Bellatrix's feet. She tilted her head to the side and gazed down and the pudgy little man, covered in blood and what was left of his night clothes. Her lip curled in disgust and the look of manic joy on her face transformed into twisted anger. How dare a piece of Muggle trash address her without being first addressed? Her foot met his ribs in a vicious kick that brought back the look of glee on her face when he curled in pain.

"Silence you pathetic mongrel." Bellatrix snarled. She pointed her wand at him and was satisfied when he pulled in on himself tighter in terror, the tightening of his muscles sent fresh blood oozing out of his wounds. "Good, good. It is about time you recognized your betters." She crouched on her haunches with a bounce and looked into his pale face, covered in blood, ash, and sweat. "All of this is your fault, you know that don't you? You failed the Dark Lord, went against his wishes, and now this is your well deserved reward."

"Didn't anyone ever teach you not to play with your food Bellatrix?" Fenrir growled, his voice a rumble of stones. His smile was bestial even without having shifted into wolf form, the crooked line of his teeth flashing. Her brow furrowed in mild annoyance, but she smiled all the same.

"At least I am not the only one Fenrir, we all know how much fun you have at a meal." Bellatrix quipped in return. The half dozen Death Eaters, including Fenrir, chuckled. Switching from amusement to a sharp look the Witch quieted the others in a moment, leaving only the whimpering of the battered man at her feet. "We all know why we are here, have all the neighbors been rounded up?"

"They are all down in the dining room Bellatrix." Said Crabbe. The Dark Lord had chosen her to lead this punishment mission, and they all showed her the respect that that warranted her. If one so much as dare to question her it would be as if they had defied His will directly, and none of them were brave enough for that. The Witch ground her heel into the hand of the man at her feet, he let out a piteous wail.

"Get up!" She barked. "It's time to go downstairs." She aimed her wand tip at him like the weapon it was and he flinched away from it in fear. He was missing a couple of fingers and a dozen slashes across his bulky pale skin were more than enough to prove how willing she was to wound him. Bellatrix watched with a sneer of distaste as the once powerful government official trembled and shook to his hands and knees, and then to his feet. With the tip of her wand she nudged him in his pudgy back and he shambled out of the large study, currently in disarray and smoldering.

Many of the others simply disapparated, popping themselves downstairs where everyone would be waiting. Fenrir stalked behind Bellatrix and her shambling prisoner, but soon enough she grew tired of the slow pace and simply kicked the whimpering man down the stairs. She let out a squeal of delight as he ricocheted off the plaster walls, knocking whatever hangings remained from their places. She followed with a bounce in her step, and with a flick of her wand the man was hauled up by collar gagging and choking for breath as he was dragged to the dining room.

Inside the well lit room there stood a group of nearly two dozen muggles, all in a sniveling line against one wall. They cringed back from Bellatrix as she entered, all rumpled and dressed in their nightclothes. A woman with straw colored hair let out a sobbing yelp that sounded like 'Daniel' when Bellatrix dropped the big man unceremoniously on the floor. The large dining table had been blasted into kindling and the carpet was smoking, but none of that would matter soon.

"You will be silent unless I tell you otherwise." Bellatrix's voice was cold and calm but the woman immediately fell into stifled sobs. "Now, we all know why we are here," She addressed her fellow death eaters with a wave of her hand. "Daniel has failed us quite significantly." With sharp fingers Bellatrix reached down to grip the quivering man's chin and pull his face upwards, digging into his flesh with bruising force. "Did you think the Dark Lord was not watching? That he would not see you investing against his interests?"

The Dark Lord had tempted this man to his purposes with promises of wealth and power, all lies of coarse. He was a powerful CEO, part of one of the muggle's "shadow governments", his job was simple. He was to make investments, and push laws that would lead to the Dark Lord's goal, but he had been having second thoughts about his position. Careful observation, and less than clever planning on the muggle's part, had revealed that he had been planning to flee like a coward. To add to his misdeeds the pathetic fool had attempted to convince his fellow muggle conspirators to actively work against the Dark Lord's wishes.

"Please," The man wheezed, huddled over. "Please none of them had any idea what I was doing, I am so sorry please, I beg for forgiveness." His voice was thready and weak. His eyes flitted to his wife and teenage son where they pressed against the wall. The Death Eaters erupted in laughter; there would be no forgiveness.

"We already knew you were a fool, but now you are a coward as well." Bellatrix laughed savagely. She kicked the sniveling man over. "An example must be made, but lucky day for you I have a choice for you to make." She motioned to Crabbe, who tossed a shining kitchen knife across the space. She snatched the thing from the air easily enough, and offered it handle first to the pathetic man. With shaking fingers and sweaty palms he took the weapon from her, the gleam of rebellion in his eyes died quickly enough. One of the Death Eaters still wearing their mask pulled a trembling muggle from the wall, the young blond woman let loose a shriek of fear. She struggled like a fish in a net, no match for her burly captor. She was tossed roughly to the ground and with a casual spell a shimmering bubble of magic surrounded the two. "Kill her, or we will kill everyone, and we will start with your pathetic family. It will not be quick."

There was cheers and hooting laughter from the others while the muggles wailed in dismay. The blond woman attempted to run but found herself pressed against the shield, it only made them laugh harder. The heavyset man was still, staring at the blade as if it were a snake that had slithered into his hands and at any moment it might strike. While it would be amusing to watch Bellatrix had little patience and pointed her wand at the man's wife.

"Crucio." Bellatrix said gleefully, her wand emitting a flash of light. The whimpering woman collapsed to the ground with a shriek that seemed to go on and on. The panic was in Daniel's face now, his eyes stretched wide, but she let the woman writhe a few moments longer to ensure that the message was clear. Only once she was sure there would be no question did she let the spell fall away to leave the woman weeping upon the floor.

The Death Eaters cheered as he gripped the knife in his one good and and lunged for the fool girl, who screamed and banged against the shield in a feeble attempt at escape. She cried and pleaded as he muttered apologies and pinned her to the floor with his bulk. He wept pathetically, much to the delight and horror of the audience, but eventually he pressed the knife in to its hilt and ended her pitiful cries once and for all. Bellatrix applauded and lowered the barrier with a crow of delight. The muggled tossed the blade away from him as if it burned and scrambled off the woman he had killed.

"Please," He groveled. "I…I have done as you have asked, please let them go." His voice shook nearly as much as his body did, but Bellatrix was smiling widely. "You said if I…I did this you would let them go."

"I never said any such thing, but don't worry, we will save your family for last." The room was alive with movement again, with the brilliant glare of spells and the peeling laughter of the Death Eaters. The night rang with Voldemort's judgment, delivered by his loyal followers.

* ~~o0o~~ *

Weeks had passed within Hogwarts, and with each passing day Aislinn's joy and boredom grew. Lucius' lack of visits were broken by his regular letters and that brightened her days. Freya had begun to find her own rhythm in the great seething system that was the school of witchcraft and wizardry, Draco had become her guardian with the fierceness his namesake warranted. However, the longer she sat on her hands the harder it became to face herself in the mirror.

Aislinn was convinced that there were eyes in the school, watching and waiting like spiders preparing to strike. The need for vengeance pounded in her blood like great war drums, and to sit idly by made her feel like a coward. Sitting cross legged before her hearth she placed her hands on her knees, palms up, and forced herself to take a deep breath. Three deep breaths, to cleanse the heat from her chest and to banish the clouds from her mind, and she felt centered once more.

With still hands she reached forward and picked up the folded parchment envelope from the carpet. Carefully she opened one side and tipped the contents into her hand, a scrap of parchment and a circle pendant of gold with the figure of a frothing cauldron embossed on one side. The note on the parchment was in the neat and familiar hand of Mitzy and read:

Dear Mistress,

I have gathered the pendant as you requested, I do hope it has found you in a timely manner. The Master has been laid to rest in the field he so loved, and the flowers grow wild from the soil there already. If it pleases you Mistress I have begun to reinforce the wards on the estates, I await further orders Mistress.

Be Well,

Mitzy

Aislinn smiled, the house elf had always been very forward thinking and she appreciated it now more than ever. She tucked the papers in her pocket and unfolded herself into a standing position, the pendant dangling from her fingers. She went down the short hall to her room and stood before the floor length mirror. In one smooth movement she looped the long string around her neck and let the pendant fall against her chest.

Immediately her image rippled and changed, the long burgundy waves transforming into short jet black curls around a decidedly male face. Her green eyes were now blue and stern, her height shrinking by at least six inches in a stocky new frame. She was still wearing her female robes, the excess length of which she could not even feel though it must have been there. Aislinn turned and twisted, not a single distortion showed on the mirror, though she did not expect there to be. The pendant, still visible on her chest, altered perception in every way. Even if someone were to brush against a feminine curve or run their fingers through her long hair the pendant would change the viewer's experience to fit the illusion.

With a deep breath she turned from the mirror, and for the first time in what seemed like ages, moved towards the front door to her rooms. She was out of the portrait so quickly that only the faintest protest from its occupant as she moved down the hall. Severus should be on a free period at the moment, and was just as likely to be in his rooms as anywhere else. There was to be a Quidditch match soon and she desperately wanted to attend, to see the joy on Freya's face, even if at a distance, at her first viewing of a match. However Snape was an overly logical man and could find any number of flaws when presented with one, but if she simply showed up as a stranger he could not doubt the effectiveness of her disguise.

The hall was empty and she rapped smartly against the panel of false wall and waited. It took only a few short minutes for the illusion of wall to melt away and the painting to swing open, revealing a rather stern looking potions master. He eyed her with more than a healthy dose of suspicion, though she couldn't blame him.

"Who are you and what are you doing at my chambers?" Snape's long fingers were already wrapped around his wand, waiting for any need to strike.

"Perhaps we could speak inside, I feel it would be…unwise to reveal my reasons in such a public venue" Aislinn replied, her voice surprisingly deep to her own ears. Unsurprisingly he did not invite her in, he was never one to expose his private places to strangers, instead he stepped out into the hallway in a swirl of dark robes. Fingers still curled defensively around his wand Severus motioned her down the hall ahead of him.

"There will be a laboratory, four doors on your left. Be advised, any foolishness on your part will be met with rather unpleasant consequences." His voice was the cold hiss of silk on steel, a promise of something a bit more than unpleasant. His quiet steps ghosted behind her as she made to follow his directions, Aislinn would have bet anything his wand tip was trained on her back. Once she had reached the door he had indicated she opened it and stepped inside, however the clatter of running footsteps around the corner caused Severus to come up short. He looked back the way they had come, and though Aislinn could see nothing through the door the slight crease of surprise on Snape's face was telling.

"Severus quickly," It was Siruis' voice, hushed and urgent. "there has been another attack, the Dark Mark was found…" His voice cut off suddenly with a withering look from Severus. Sirius' face peered around the door, his eyebrows drawing down severely the moment he took note of her. His eyes seemed to be resting on her chest, and she had to remind herself of the height difference that he was seeing. Her blood ran cold at the mention of the Dark Mark, and all she could think of was the laughing face of Voldemort.

"As you can see I have something to attend to at this moment, I will be along shortly." If it were not for the seriousness of the situation Aislinn would have chuckled at the ice in his voice. The Gryffindor said nothing, instead he nodded so Snape and shot Aislinn a hostilely suspicious glare before turning and going back the way he had come. He waited a moment and entered the room, closing the door before placing a silencing charm on it to keep curious ears from listening. "Now; who are you?" He demanded.

"Well," Aislinn said lightly. She grabbed the pendant and pulled it over her head in a swift motion, the illusion dropped away instantly. "about that." The Slytherin's head face went stony still, but the tilt of one eyebrow was close enough to a gasp of surprise from another man. "I wanted to ask if I could perhaps move about the grounds more freely with this guise. That hardly matters now I think, what news of an attack have I missed?"

"What are you doing out of your rooms; anyone could have seen." His words were sharp. Finally he tucked away his wand and looked her in the face, his mouth a serious line.

"That was the point. You know me, and are one of the most suspicious people I have ever met. If there was a flaw in my disguise you would have seen it." She countered, the anger at the idea of Voldemort made her snap irritably. Aislinn took a deep breath and centered herself once more, anger would do no good here. "But that isn't important, what haven't you been telling me?" He sighed and relented, his body softening visibly.

"There have been attacks, which I am sure you have gathered from that blathering Gryffindor." Snape said the words grudgingly, as if every one was a lost battle. "They have been small so far, households lost, Witches and Wizards gone missing. He," The man still did not like using the man's name, and steadfastly refused to call him the Dark Lord unless entirely necessary. "has began increasing his activities. With your escape he grows more paranoid, he has been dividing tasks by small teams and no one knows the entirety of his plans." Closing his eyes he rubbed the bridge of his nose slowly.

"You didn't tell me because you thought I would get upset and irrational." Aislinn knew it to be true, and worse she knew it was a warranted reason. In just that moment she would have loved to wrap her hands around his pale scrawny neck, or set him on fire.

"Yes. You have good reason but there has been much careful planning, and we must be sure to destroy everything Voldemort has built." Severus said carefully. "There is the prophecy to take into account as well." He muttered almost to himself. He seemed about to continue but instead met her eyes. "I meant no disrespect to you Lady Blackwater, there are simply far to many factors to consider in this matter." The formal address told her that he was withdrawing himself from her, and as much as she hated to hear it Aislinn drew herself straight.

"I understand you do not want me to jeopardize what you have done, and I can assure you I will not simply dive into the fray." Aislinn assured him calmly. It would be foolish to attack with a hot temper, and she told herself that the dangerous position of spy that Severus occupied had only a little to do with her caution. The image of Voldemort discovering the Slytherin's treachery sent a breath of ice down Aislinn's spine, and she shoved the thought aside with a sense of dread. "Will you just keep me informed? I have as much right to know as anyone." Severus' face went still in a way that told her how carefully he was considering his options.

"We will discuss this later tonight, but I must go speak to the Headmaster about this latest attack." He said slowly. "Please wear your disguise and come to my rooms tonight while the students are in the Great Hall, I will have dinner brought in. For now, please return to your rooms, I know it is dull but I do have some potions that need to be rebottled being sent there." Aislinn nodded, it wasn't a promise but a discussion was more than enough for now.

"Alright Severus." Aislinn said with a smile. She lifted up the pendant to put it back into place, but before sliding it over her head she looked him in the eye. "Thank you." She dropped the amulet into place and knew that he saw the sudden transformation. She did not give him time to say goodbye as she hustled past him and out into the hall.

* ~~o0o~~ *

Severus strode down the halls and mentally cursed Dumbledore, he had a potions class beginning in three quarters of an hour and now he would have to walk all the way back to the dungeons. He had broken up two couples snogging in the hallways on his way to the Headmaster's office and just thinking about it twisted his lips in a sneer. Rounding the corner Severus drew up short; leaning against wall near the gargoyle was Sirius.

"Well that didn't take you very long Snape." The Gryffindor said smoothly. As always he was moody and far more curious than he had any right to be. They may be on better terms, now that he had a relationship with Lucius, but their past would always loom above them.

"Yes, I do like to keep my conversations to the point." With his none to subtle hint delivered Severus moved to step around him to the gargoyle. Sirius moved to block him, looking stern.

"Who was that you were talking to? I certainly don't remember seeing him before, and new faces at Hogwarts are very notable." As always his tone bordered on demand, but Severus ignored it. He was always quick on his feet, he never would have survived as a double agent otherwise, so he thought it best to stick to the truth.

"Not that it is any of your concern but he is a visiting potions master, I wished to consult his research. Now if you are quite finished, there is an urgent matter at hand, and I have a class to direct very soon." Severus put all the frosty bite in his voice he could muster, the no nonsense tone that sent students scurrying and put adult Wizards on alert. Sirius did not look to convinced but he was surprised enough by receiving an answer that Snape was able to step around him and give the password to the Headmaster's office.

Sirius followed him up the spiraling stairs in a suspicious silence, his gaze cold pin pricks on Snape's back. He ignored the other man and gave only a peremptory knock on he door before striding inside to find the Headmaster at his desk.

"You sent for me." Severus drawled as the both of them came to a stop in front of the desk. The white haired old man looked up, eyes serious and glittering behind the glasses. He was not in one of his signature nurturing moods, instead it was the hard face of a man few knew, and Severus was far to familiar with.

"Yes, but I am aware of your class schedule so I shall make this brief." The older man handed over a parchment envelope. Snape took the envelope and pulled the pictures within; they were not a pretty picture. With his face held sternly still he flipped through the pictures of two dozen people, likely muggles by their attire, all dead. They were obviously family groups, Bellatrix and Fenrir had left their signature all over the corpses the left behind. One man in particular, with blood all over his hands, had the Dark Mark carved into his chest and by the looks of it his tongue had been removed. The message was as clear to Severus as it would be to anyone else working with Voldemort's people The man was a traitor, and anyone else would quickly find themselves in the same state if they so much as thought of disobeying orders.

"He is sending a message." Snape said unnecessarily. He passed the photos to SIrius, he knew nothing of the operation and the sight of dead children did not sit well in his mind. Hot anger bubbled somewhere deep within him, beneath the thick layer of ice that was his outward persona.

"The question, Severus, is what possible reason he would have to send a message with Muggles. He despises them, the exterminates them, he does not use them." Dumbledore said sharply. Beside Snape Sirius was growling under his breath as he skimmed the photos, the Gryffindor did not have the constitution that he had cultivated.

"He's killed whole families! Even he would back away from such large operations, they draw far to much attention." Sirius snarled. He stuffed the photos back into the envelope and slapped the package back onto the desktop. His emotions were written clearly across his face.

"The residents of this home, as I am sure you are aware, were the main targets, and that makes me think that they were in league with Voldemort." Severus managed to hold in the hiss of pain as his Dark Mark burned against his skin. He hated it when the man used the name, which always resulted in the Mark's activation. "The other families are from the surrounding homes, all of which were destroyed." Dumbledore pulled out three photos from the set, the man with the Dark Mark in his chest along with a blond woman and a young man. That was the family that had been targeted, and the ones who carried the message, the others were simply destroyed to drive the message home.

"Lucius said that the cleanup of the area was handled by the ministry, but they are also keeping it out of the Prophet." Sirius cut in with a serious voice. They knew that Lucius was the one overseeing the Death Eaters with the Ministry, but with Voldemort's growing paranoia there was no telling if he had groups working with secret orders and what ends they were working towards.

"Yes, I have Lucius looking into the identity of the man and his recent activity." Dumbledore announced as he put away the disturbing pictures. "As for you Severus I want you looking into Voldemort's efforts to find Aislinn and his motivation behind keeping her in the first place. You are one of his most trusted followers and you may be able to get more information out of him." Tenting his fingers Dumbledore turned his gaze to the Gryffindor man. "Sirius I would like you to look into security in the school, Voldemort will most certainly be attempting to place his own people within our walls and we can not allow that to happen. As soon as you finish your classes SIrius I would like to you create a plan of action, but do try to have a lovely day." The tone was obviously a dismissal and Sirius nodded his understanding. Severus, however, was very carefully managing the stinging pain in his arm. Dumbledore knew what saying the name caused and it was times like this that Snape thought he used the name out of sheer spite.

"I will look into it tonight." Sirius said as a goodbye. He turned and left the office, casting a glance back at Severus that let him know their previous conversation would not be forgotten. A few silent moments followed the other man's exit before Dumbledore began again.

"I have heard rumors about the Blackwater line, it is likely that Voldemort has heard the same. Please use caution in this, he is growing more violent and suspicious" The Headmaster said sternly. "Now, you have students awaiting you and quite a walk ahead, I will keep you no longer."

Without a word of farewell Snape turned with a snap of his robes and stalked out of the old man's office.

* ~~o0o~~ *

A/N:

Alright, I tried to give you guys a little more in this chapter. Please let me know what you think. Read and Review my great fans.