Coming Back to You
SeverusxLily
Rated T
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling
Coming Back to You
Chapter 11: The Dark Lord's Summon
It was April, and springtime was among the witches and wizards of Wizarding Britain. Even the Muggles were enjoying the change in weather. And for Lily, it couldn't have been a happier time.
The Longbottoms had been released from St. Mungo's almost a month ago and were doing well. Everyone was happy to see them cured and with their son again, but no one more than Frank's mother who would burst into happy tears everytime she saw them. She had even shown up at Spinner's End to thank Severus and kissed his cheeks in gratitude. However the nice moment turned rather embarrassing when she smack Severus on his arse and told him that he had better make a decent bride out of Lily and for them to "grind it out" while they were still young. She had had laughed at their mortified expressions, her laughter making Harry giggle in his mother's arms before she left.
Severus' success had been printed in The Daily Prophet, making everyone congratulate him whenever he went to Diagon Alley for ingredients from the Apothecary. His success of his reviving of the Longbottoms however, was also heard by a few Death Eaters, Death Eaters by the names of Walden Macnair, Gregor Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe Sr., and those three immediately went to share the news with Lord Voldemort at the Riddle House.
"Do you mean to tell me that those blood-traitor Longbottoms have been healed? And by one of my Inner Circle, Severus no less?" Voldemort hissed. When Macnair, Goyle, and Crabbe Sr. all nodded in confirmation, the Dark Lord turned to glare into the fireplace burning next to him.
Why would Severus do this? Why would he reverse the effects of his Death Eater's work? Did he not realize that those blood-traitors had a son that could have brought his downfall? Wanting answers he summoned his second-in-command Lucius Malfoy, waiting a bit impatiently for his arrival.
A minute later the blond man walked into the room that Voldemort was sitting in and knelt down before him, head bent as he said, "My lord."
"Lucius, thank you for coming. You may rise," Voldemort said. Once Lucius was back on his feet, Voldemort said, "I assume that you have heard of Severus' achievement with those blood-traitors."
"Yes, my lord," Lucius responded.
Voldemort nodded thoughtfully before saying, "I need to know why he has done it. Bring Severus to me, Lucius. Bring him to me, and once he tells me his reason for healing the Longbottoms, I want you to gather Death Eaters and lead a raid on the Longbottom house hold. I want those blood-traitors brought here and chained in my dungeon room. Torture them again, show them no mercy, and afterwards I will kill them myself once they begin to beg for death."
Lucius nodded and asked, "And of the boy, Neville Longbottom?"
"Kill him," Voldemort answered simply. The Dark Lord looked into the fire in the fireplace before saying, "You are dismissed, Lucius."
The blond man bowed and left the room, nodding to other Death Eaters as he passed them in the hallways. Once he had completely exited the Riddle House, Lucius dropped his stoic expression and let one of disquietness replace it before he Apparated to Spinner's End.
Lily and Alice laughed and talked as they watched their sons play with their stuffed animals. Harry absolutely adored the black bunny Severus gave him, and Neville was enjoying his stuffed toad that Frank had gotten him. Frank and Alice were not working currently as the Aurors that they were because even though their minds were healed, they were not ready to go back out into the field; Alastar "Mad-Eye" Moody still had their positions for them whenever they were ready, though. Frank, wanting to provide for his family, took up an office position for the time being, leaving Alice to be a stay at home mother with Neville for a while. Alice didn't mind, as it allowed her to catch up on lost time with her son.
"I can't believe that I had been so blind to my feelings back then, Alice. Severus had always been there for me and I him. And in his moment of humiliation he called me something he didn't mean and I cast him aside. I know it was a long time ago and that Severus and I are together and happy now, but I still have dreams from that point on from when were at Hogwarts. Is it because I'm still feeling guilty, Alice?" Lily said, waiting for her best friend's reply and opinion.
"Lily, it was years ago that the incident happened; you need to let it go. I can understand you feeling guilty about casting Severus aside and dating his mortal enemy, even having the gall to marry him and have his child. But Severus has forgiven you and that should be the only thing that matters. He may never stop hating James and probably may even still hold some sort of resentment towards you for choosing James over him, but he's put it behind him. Especially now that you two are serious; you two are sleeping together after all, and co-parenting Harry. And from what you've told me, Severus is twice the man and father that James ever was, and Harry adores him. You need to just accept that the past is the past and stop regretting what happened," Alice replied patiently.
"But Alice-
"No Lily, just listen. If things hadn't occurred the way that they have, then you and Severus wouldn't be together now, and Frank and I would still be in St. Mungo's not in our right minds and never having the chance to raise and love Neville. You've willingly and unconditionally love Severus, and your love for him has opened his heart. So much so that he went out of his way to heal us so that you would be happy. You make that man better than he would ever see himself. Never doubt what I say to you, especially about this. That man loves you and would sacrifice himself to keep you and Harry safe, no questions asked."
Lily smiled and thanked Alice, hugging her as her worries eased. They pulled away when the sound of someone Apparating was heard outside the house. Seconds later the front door burst open and Lucius rushed inside, slamming the door behind him. His grey eyes landed on his best friend's lover and he quickly walked around the couch to stand in front of her and Alice. Taking a breath he asked, "Lily, where is Severus? This is important."
Alice stood up and said, "Maybe I should leave."
"No, this concerns you too, Mrs. Longbottom," Lucius said, gently pushing her back down to sit. Light tapping on his leg caused him to look down and he couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face as he gazed upon Harry's smiling face. Harry stood up and reached a hand up, his hand making a grabbing motion as he squealed, "Lu!"
Lucius bent down and picked up both Harry and Neville, holding them both close as he stood back up. Just as he did Severus came down the stairs from his bedroom where he had been reading. Realizing he had another guest in his house, he said 'hello' to him. It was then he took notice of his best friend's anxious expression.
"What is it, Lucius?" Severus asked, suddenly alarmed though his expression remained stoic.
"Severus, the Dark Lord has requested that I bring you to him. He wants to know why you have cured the Longbottoms. He also demanded that I lead a raid to their home and capture them, as well as kill young Neville," Lucius explained.
A horrified gasp left Lily's mouth while Alice covered her mouth with her hands, her blue eyes wide. She quickly stood and gently took her son from the blond man, holding him close and letting him play with her white hair.
Lily stood and rushed to Severus' side, saying, "Sev, we have to do something."
The dark haired man nodded and seemed to be in thought. Nodding he said, "Alright, I know what I will say to him for an explanation. As for the Longbottoms, it's not safe for them here anymore as long as the Dark Lord is still making demands for blood from "blood-traitors". They need to leave England, immediately."
"And where are we to go, may I ask?" Alice asked.
"My ancestral home in Ireland," Severus answered easily.
"Sev, you don't mean…" Lily started, trailing off when her lover nodded.
Lucius frowned in confusion for a while before realization dawned on him. Ignoring Harry pulling on his long hair, he said, "Prince Manor."
Alice looked at all three of them before asking, "I'm sorry, but what is Prince Manor?"
Lily smiled and said, "Prince Manor is Sev's family home. It's located in Ireland, specifically in the Ulster Province of the County Down. The manor is on land that they call Cóis Dara. It is protected by ancient wards and no one but those with Prince blood can enter. And Sev just so happens to be a descendent from his late mother, Eileen Prince."
Severus grinned fondly, impressed that Lily remembered all of those details that his mother so long ago told her. He looked at Lily, thinking that with the Dark Lord becoming suspicious of his actions now, it wasn't safe for Lily and Harry at Spinner's End anymore. He needed them to also go to Prince Manor for their safety; he'd be damned if he allowed them to be harmed.
With a flick of his wand, he summoned all of Lily and Harry's belongings, having them come flying before him before he shrunk them and placed them in a small pouch he pulled from his cloak.
Lily looked confused at Severus' actions, wondering why he was packing hers and Harry's things. Taking the pouch of their shrunken belongings, she asked, "Sev, what are you doing?"
"Lily, you need to go with Alice and Neville to the manor. It's no longer safe for you here. The Dark Lord is already questioning my actions just solely based on the fact that I healed your friends. I cannot risk you being found here if he sends spies to watch me," Severus said, holding Lily close and kissing her forehead. "I will take you there, but I do not know when I will return. Just know that I will."
The red haired woman nodded though she felt like crying. She took her son from Lucius and followed Severus to his backyard, Alice and Neville close behind. The mother's held their children close to them as they each grabbed one of the Potions Master's hands, Side-Apparating with him.
Several seconds later, three pairs of feet landed on soft green grass, feeling a light breeze blow through their hair and over their faces. Lily opened her eyes and gasped in wonder as she gazed up at the most magnificent building she had ever seen. She looked over and saw Alice also staring at the overly large house in amazement.
"I have already gotten you through the wards, and you have my permission to enter the manor. Now I need to leave; the Dark Lord is waiting," Severus said letting go of their hands. He was about to turn and Apparate back to England when the call of his name from Lily stopped him.
Turning to face her, he felt his heart clench as he at the distressed expression on Lily's face. Stepping back towards her he wrapped his arms around both her and Harry, holding them close and kissing them both on their heads. Pulling away he said, "I will return as soon as I can, Lily-flower."
"Be careful, Sev," Lily said softly. Harry felt the change in the emotional atmosphere and as a result, he began to cry. He was reaching for his daddy and calling for him, but Lily and Severus both knew that time was of the essence for the man. Severus bidded them 'farewell' before Apparating away.
Lily sighed sadly before turning to face Alice and Neville, saying, "Let's go inside now and get settled. It's all we can do for now."
Severus and Lucius walked into Riddle House and to where Lord Voldemort was torturing a Death Eater for a mess up. They waited for him to finish his torturing before getting his attention. Voldemort looked at them and thanked Lucius before telling Severus to follow him.
The two of them walked down the corridor before entering a room, which turned out to be an office. Once the door was shut behind Severus, Voldemort said, "It is good to see you again, Severus."
"Likewise, my lord," Severus replied respectively.
"I have also heard of your accomplishment with healing those blood-traitor Longbottoms. Do you mind telling me as to why you have done so?"
"The old man asked me to, my lord. Ever since you disposed of that bastard Potter, he has wanted some of his best Aurors back for the Order. As a spy, I did what was requested of me."
Voldemort nodded in understanding, knowing that that meddling old man would get suspicious of his best spy if he had refused. Walking past the dark haired man he said, "Understood. Just be sure to still remain unsuspected within the Order."
Severus nodded and said, "Of course, my lord."
"And one more thing, Severus," the Dark Lord said before subjecting Severus to the Cruciatus Curse. He watched the man writhe in pain on the floor before cutting the curse off, satisfied with his torturing before saying, "Even if you were just following orders, I will torture you for the week while you also carry out my demands, starting first thing tomorrow morning." And with that, he left the office.
When the Dark Lord left the office, Severus groaned and panted in pain, grasping his chest to try and ease his racing heart. After he got his heartbeat under control, he slowly stood and stumbled out of the office, intent on leaving Riddle House and getting back home. Lucius met him halfway down the corridor, helping out of the house and Apparating them back to Spinner's End.
Upon entering the house, Lucius said, "I heard what the Dark Lord said. Do you want me to tell Lily?"
"No, don't tell her; it will only cause her to worry. Listen, when I start to feel better, I need you to go with me to Gringotts so I can retrieve the Prince Family Portkey from the vault it is in. Frank Longbottom will need it to get past the wards surround Prince Manor," Severus explained as his best friend helped him to lie down on his couch. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a Pain Reliever Potion, drinking it down in one gulp.
Severus sighed as his tensed muscles sunk into his couch. He heard Lucius settle into his armchair with one of his books, keeping him company while also keeping quiet. Like himself, Lucius had also been subjected to the Cruciuatus Curse and knew the best way to deal with the after affects were with a Pain Reliever Potion and sleep. He really needed to work on an antidote for just being tortured in general by the curse. The one he had made for the Longbottoms was specifically for repair of the mind.
As he settled down to take a nap, his final thought before falling asleep was that Lily and Harry were safe for the time being.