Dis: I own nothing. Madame J.K.R. does. I'm just having fun!
In a flash they were in a graveyard and Severus was bowing down kissing a cloak. Morrigan glided off to the side to watch her bonded. He kissed the cloak and waited until Tom spoke for him to rise.
His voice was like nails down a chalkboard to her and what he said next took all reasoning from her mind.
"Ah Severus. Ever my faithful one. You who will be at my side when I kill Dumbledore and Harry Potter. You who over the years have given me great joy as I watched you become an efficient and merciless killer. I am proud of you."
Snape responded softly, "Thank you Master. I am ever grateful for your praise and strive to do ever more for your honor." The words came forth easily but it was much harder to force the bile that rose with them back down his throat.
Morrigan noticed that some of the other Death Eaters were glaring at Snape and wondered what exactly was going on. She heard his words but he let her see into his heart for the first time since she had returned and she saw nothing but disgust and a wish to be free of this monster.
"Tell me Severus. If I asked you anything would you tell me the truth." Voldemort softly asked.
"If it is in my power, my Lord of course I would tell you the truth."
"Well then Severus, why is it that you have never told me of the Celtic Priestess Morrigan Badb?"
Morrigan froze. But Snape didn't flinch. Nor did he turn his eyes to Malfoy. But Morrigan did. And she saw that he was just as surprised as Severus when Voldemort asked him.
"I do not understand Master" Snape stated.
"Yes of course you do. But let me see if I can remind you. Crucio."
Snape twisted on the ground in pain. He thrashed from side to side but did not cry out. Every bit of his coherent thought was screaming at Morrigan to stay hidden and not to reveal herself. She almost didn't listen but realized that if she didn't listen then Severus would surely die.
When Voldemort released him, Severus got to his knees and replied again, "Master I do not know."
At first Voldemort looked as if he didn't believe him. So he looked into Severus eyes. Morrigan knew he was preforming Legilimency. But then he smiled again. "No, I don't believe you do my faithful one but I had to be sure. I will explain myself to you now. Wormtail! Bring my faithful one some water."
Voldemort settled back in a chair that he conjured up. " I have had a very interesting meeting today. It was with a man who claims to be one quarter or one-eighth Celtic Priest. Matters not to me what he is but what does matter are his words. He is a bounty hunter looking for a Pureblood Celtic Priestess named Morrigan Badb. She is a direct decedent of Morrigan, Goddess of Destruction and Creation and Neit, God of Battle. Apparently she used to stay at Hogwarts during the summers after the Celtic Wars of Supremacy. Now she is very much a wanted woman. The bounty for her head is quite unimaginable. Not that I care about this bounty hunter or the reward. What I do care about is how to get this woman to become bonded with me. If I had even a single breath of her power I could end this war is a matter of minutes. This hunter believes that she is near because of residual power that he can apparently feel. He believes that she may be staying in this area because of rumors that he heard from members of the Great Circle or what's left of it. The rumor is that she loved a wizard here many years ago and that she may be with him."
"That is why I asked you if you knew her my faithful one. I figured that you might know her or might know of her since Hogwarts was your home when you were orphaned. But I know that you would never lie to me again. So now I must turn to the one other that might know of her. Crucio."
Voldemort didn't even turn his head but from the circle of Death Eaters, Snape saw Lucius fall down to the ground thrashing in pain just as he had. No matter what had happened in the past Snape felt for the man on the ground. The Cruciatus curse was meant to inflict utmost pain and pity was most appropriate.
Morrigan watched in horror as Lucius twisted in pain. But as Severus had, he held his tongue for fear of showing weakness or betrayal. Finally after what seemed like hours, Voldemort released him.
Lucius got to his knees and bowed down to the monster sitting in front of him.
"Master, believe me I would have told you of this woman if it was in my ability. But it is not."
Snape was confused. Why didn't Lucius just tell the Dark Lord? And why did he say if it was in his ability? Was it not in his ability or had Morrigan done something to prevent it? Or. . Did he love her so much he would not betray her even to his Lord? Snape's stomach twisted at the thought. To have Malfoy love her was an insult but to think that he loved her enough to suffer for her was even worse.
"Oh Lucius. I hope you are not lying to me. But let us see just to be sure. Legilimens."
Both Snape and Morrigan recognized what Voldemort was about to do and at the same time they had made a connection to Lucius. Once inside, betweenthem, they quickly built up barriers that protected Lucius, Snape, Morrigan and Draco. The barriers to Lucius most sacred memories were so thick that Snape doubted he could have broken thru had he had days to do it. Snape took control of the walls as Morrigan searched thru Lucius' memories and sent harmless ones to the surface. Ones that had nothing to do any of them. She sent some memories of school that did not include her. Memories of women that Lucius had known in his life. It did surprise her that he had never taken another lover after her and barely acknowledged Narcissa. But she made sure that anything Voldemort saw had nothing to do with her. The oath she had bound him with prevented him from thinking about her, speaking about her but it would not protect the memories if Voldemort destroyed Lucius mind while looking deeply enough for them.
Voldemort spent a few minutes searching Lucius mind but as he was unable to find anything he gave up. Lucius did not look over to Snape but he tilted his head slightly to thank Snape. His eyes did wander a little looking for Morrigan so she glided over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. She wasn't even sure why she did it. She didn't really like this man but she saw now what it was to be a follower of Voldemort and she felt pity that Lucius could not walk away.
Lucius felt the hand and closed his eyes remembering. But the Dark Lord was not finished.
"Well how are we going to find out about this Priestess. Severus my faithful one I want you to do all in your power to get information from Dumbledore. I will make this woman mine. Lucius, you use your contacts in the Ministry to find her. She must be somewhere here. Do not fail me either of you or you both know the consequences. And it will not be just the Cruciatus next time. I will have this Priestess. I WILL HAVE YOU MORRIGAN BADB! And now my faithful one and my ambitious one I think you need a reminder as to what will befall you should you disappoint me again."
As Voldemort raised his wand to attack Severus and Lucius again, Morrigan decided that enough was enough. She let go of Lucius shoulder and appeared in front of Voldemort and calmly took his wand from his out stretched hand. All the while praying that neither Severus nor Lucius open their mouths. Of course she needn't have worried. They were both too skilled in deception for that.
"Well, well, well. Hello Tom Riddle. Do you not know, you shouldn't ever call a Celtic Priestess unless you want her to show up. Bear in mind I do not appreciate being summoned by the likes of you."
Before he could stop himself, Voldemort took a step back. The woman standing before him was beyond anything he could have imagined her to be. Even Lucius and Snape were taken back. Morrigan had appeared in her true Celtic Priestess form. She was entirely unrecognizable and magnificent. Her hair was pitch black. Her eyes blazed with red fire and flames actually burned where her pupils should have been. She had on a Muggle style black leather one piece suit that covered her neck to feet but left little to the imagination. Her cloak was blood red as were the knee high boots on her feet. There seemed to be lightening all around her and she was lit up with each pulse. Neither of her two lovers had ever seen her like this. And Voldemort was looking a little startled and much to her disgust, aroused. Her power raged all around them and the Death Eaters turned obviously trying not to run away. Something their Master would not forgive.
"What is it you want Tom Riddle?" she asked him. Pleasantly surprised that he was still a little afraid. She could sense that Snape and Lucius were pleased as well to see their Master cower before someone for once.
Voldemort stood a little straighter and regained the step he had taken back. He looked her up and down before answering. "My name is Lord Voldemort. You will address me as such Priestess. And I summoned you because it is in your best interests to listen to my advice. There is a bounty hunter looking for you who will stop at nothing to capture you. I do not want to see that fate befall you so I offer you a choice. Bond with me. Share your power with me. Watch as I defeat Harry Potter and I will protect you from this hunter." He stood head held high in the air waiting for her response.
Morrigan couldn't help it. She laughed. Right in his face. Not just a little giggle but an all out laugh. She sensed him get angry and take a step toward her. Her laughter stopped and she whipped her hand into the air. Voldemort was caught in a whirlwind that appeared from nowhere and raised him several feet in the air. He looked shocked but made not a sound.
From the corner of his eye Snape saw several Death Eaters move toward Morrigan in outrage. But she simply looked at them and they were thrown back several hundred feet and did not get up. He grinned inwardly at that. Trust Morrigan to show off.
Lucius was grinning inside as well though he knew he shouldn't. There was his Lord being held prisoner and Death Eaters being thrown around. But he couldn't help it. He loved this woman and watching her display even a part of her power was nothing short of incredible. That's when he noticed Bellatrix Lestrange moving to Morrigan's blind side. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't shout out a warning or he risked being killed. His only hope was to get Snape's attention. From where he lay on the ground he whispered "Neit". Snape's reaction was an enraged glare until he saw Lucius motioning with his eyes to Bella.
Once he saw Bella moving toward Morrigan, Snape sent a warning thru the bond. Morrigan felt it and just as Bella was about to hit her with Avada Kedavra, Morrigan turned and the air seemed to grab Bella by the throat.
"My, my. You must be Bellatrix Lestrange. I have wanted to meet you face to face for some time now. Tom Riddle's most devoted follower. Also, most mentally unstable I hear. Guess those years in Azkaban got to you. I hate to insult you but I must say that your looks haven't gotten any better since you were released. Still, have that ugly hollowed look to you and sunken eyes. Strange to see that your ass has tripled in size though. Oh well, who's to say what old age does to a person."
Lucius almost bit thru his tongue to keeping from laughing. He watched as Bella's face filled with rage and embarrassment. He knew that his sister-in-law was very vain about her looks especially since her escape from Azkaban. And to hear Morrigan put her down was hilarious. He chanced a look at Snape and saw him fighting it as well.
"Now Tom. You call off your minions and we can talk civilly or I can rip this cemetery apart and leave you with nothing but bodies and blood." Morrigan threatened.
Voldemort wisely chose the former, and she released him. Before releasing Bella she walked over to her. Using a voice that only she could hear, Morrigan left her with a little warning. "Do not ever attack me from behind again. If you want to fight me, I will take you on face to face. In fact nothing would please me more then to duel with you. But should you make the mistake of trying to curse me from behind again I will erase you from this world. I will obliterate your very existence to the point of no one remembering that you were even born." Then Morrigan turned her back on the one woman who had Voldemort's trust. Effectively showing her that she did not respect her nor consider her much of a threat.
"Now Tom. What is it you want again? Oh yes. Well, about that. I do not think so. You see I am a Pureblood Celtic Priestess. You are an Unremarkable Mudblood Wizard. You want to rid the world of Mudbloods and Muggles. Which is a little hypocritical by the way. And I am rather found of some of them. I believe in goodness and light. You love evil and darkness. I am powerful beyond your imagination. Your Crucio could not make me twitch. And finally you think you are going to win this war and I know that Harry Potter will kill you."
(A/N Morrigan is using slander for the muggleborns just to put herself in Tom's mindset. She doesn't actually think this way.)
She tilted her head and looked at him to see what his reaction was. She knew that there might be consequences for insulting him like this. He would retaliate in the only way he knew how and that was with cruelty to his followers and Muggles. But she would take the risk and hope for the best.
Voldemort took this better then she thought. He simply bowed his head and sighed, "All right Priestess. If that is how you feel. I know you are beyond my reach. It was folly to call you. But bare in mind that I do not like to be insulted. I ask to take your leave now as I have other matters to attend to."
He didn't wait for her to respond. He just Disapperated from where he stood. Morrigan shook her head. He left his followers to her mercy. When would any of them see him for what he was? She looked around at those left and said "Take the ones I injured. They are healed. Leave my sight before I change my mind about not getting involved."
The others did not wait to be told again and quickly Disapperated like their master. She however held a shield over Lucius and Severus. Once she was sure the others were gone she walked over to them. Taking each of their hands in hers she closed her eyes and when she opened them again they were in one of her family's castles in Ireland.
"What the Hell are we doing here?" was mixed with "Why the Hell did you bring him along?" in very loud voices.
Morrigan simply sat and looked at the two men as her features changed back to normal. "Well boys it's like this. I need to heal you both. And I couldn't do it there in case someone returned. But more importantly. . . I now owe both of you a Life Debt and that really bothers me."