DISCLAIMER: Less I repeat myself…Rowling is the master… she owns it all….
Severus Snape caught a glimpse at Cordelia from afar as she sat in the grass admiring the Forbidden Forest. Although he was too far away to make out the detail of her face, he knew the moment he saw her long black hair dancing upon the breeze that the figure before him was Cordelia. He felt his swaggering pace pick up as he did not want her to catch his staring, especially when she rose to her feet and turned to walk toward the castle.
He paused to hide behind a nearby tree to ensure his invisibility.
Cordelia had planned to sleep the entire day as a result of her ongoing tasks. She entered her quarters in an exhausted slump and quickly set out to wash and preen. As she rinsed her dirt-filled locks, she stared at the age lines forming on her once perfect face. She sighed at the wasted years she had spent in Lord Voldemort's service. Her thoughts wondered, as they often did during these moments, to what her life would have been like if she just had forgotten Severus Snape altogether. She had never again trusted a man with her heart. Cordelia felt the betrayal every moment she looked into the deep ebony eyes of Severus Snape.
She brooded during the remainder of her pampering, cursing herself for acting stupid out of love and even more stupid to go to Dumbledore afterward only for him to convince her to remain in the Dark Lord's good favor. Yes, the Dark Lord was very giving to her in his affections through her financial stability and her immunity from him; yet, no other member in the group ever knew the sacrifices she made to live. As her years waned on, during these moments she spent staring in her bathroom mirror, she would sometimes wonder if it was just be better to end it all entirely. However, the stubborn character that was Cordelia never yielded to anyone, let alone herself.
Later that day, she had enjoyed what was somewhat of a cap nap, when she once again felt the burning sensation on her arm. Her reminder that her master wanted her.
Flashback. . . .
Cordelia stormed out of Lord Voldemort's secret lair and apprated to Hogwarts' Grounds. Knowing full well that Professor Dumbledore was preparing for his classes, Cordelia hoped to seek refuge and advice from him for her current situation.
As she entered the gates of the school, and overwhelming feeling of embarrassment passed through her. She knew that she has sold her soul to the devil by joining the Death Eaters, and felt like a foolish young girl for allowing herself to enter into the entire situation blindly.
Luckily for Cordelia, she only needed to walk through the gates to find a jolly Albus Dumbledore humming to himself as he walked toward the Great Hall.
"Professor," she breathed as he turned his smiling face toward her. His grin erased as he stared at her arm in disbelief.
"I need your help," she cried as Dumbledore waved for her to follow him to his office.
Professor Dumbledore ushered a crying Cordelia into his office with lightening speed. She sat down and began to tell her story when he interrupted.
"Cordelia, I was afraid this was going to happen."
"What?"
"When I heard news of Severus joining the Dark Lord, I hoped you would never find out."
"Why would Severus joining the Dark Lord mean anything to me?" she questioned wondering if Professor Dumbledore has found out about her affair.
Dumbledore smiled and offered her a lollipop. "My dear, you will find that I know more than the average wizard. Now that you are in this mess, we simply need to find a way to use it for good. I know deep down Cordelia that you have no loyalty to Lord Voldemort."
Cordelia looked upon Professor Dumbledore's face in disbelief. She could not believe that he knew her entire story without so much as a word.
"Now, my dear. I am aware of what you have gone through this night, but I have to assure you that, you cannot simply walk away from this situation. I am going to tell you a little story about a boy named Tom Riddle and the ideas I have to stop him."