Chapter 20

Three become two

Snape was sitting on his bed, reading his Christmas present from Jordan, when suddenly his arm burned. Not now Snape thought as he rose to dress quickly. When he apperated to the new destination, a small house deserted, deep in a thick forest, he knew something was wrong.

"Welcome," said Voldemort in his snake-like tongue. "It has been brought to my attention that one of you may not be truly loyal to me, and I was not sure how to go about testing you. But then it came to me. And this person will be happy to show me that I was misinformed." Snape tensed, but tried to act calm and uncaring. "Bring her here," Voldemort hissed. To Snape's dismay a young woman was being brought, kicking and fighting, out into the center of the circle. His heart imploded when he realized this girl was Jordan. His eyes grew wide behind his mask, and he feared the worst. He also knew that he had no choice but to show his "loyalty".

"I have it on good authority that this girl is very important to one of you. You're task is to execute her." Snape tried to move his legs but they would not budge, but suddenly he realized that Voldemort was not pointing to him, but to someone else.

"But my Lord, she is my sister," Ada cried behind her mask.

"Is there a problem? Do you have more loyalty to her than to me?"

"No my Lord, but-"

"Then what is taking so long? Finish her!"

Jordan had stopped struggling. She looked her sister dead in the eyes and nodded. With a shaking hand Ada raised her wand. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. Jordan closed her eyes. "Avada Kedavra."

A bolt of green light shot out of her wand and into Jordan's chest. She was thrown down on impact. Snape felt his entire body constrict, and the world seemed to spin out of orbit. Ada burst into tears, but then sobered. She turned to Voldermort. "She is finished. You have my loyalty, and now there is no question of it."

"Excellent, I knew my source had to be incorrect. Now, if we could all-"

But suddenly there was movement from the ground, and then stillness. Everyone was shocked, including Ada and Snape, but then Snape suddenly remembered Jordan's rare gift: Protection from Dark Magic. He let out a long sigh and walked over to her, feeling her pulse.

"She is alive, but unconscious."

"Impossible," hissed Voldemort.

"I believe this is the girl Dumbledore was talking about. She has a rare gift against dark magic. I did not believe that it would actually withstand the killing curse." He said casually, pretending like he could not care less.

"And you knew this?" Voldemort shot at Ada.

"No my lord! She never told me!"

"She is telling the truth. Dumbledore recently told me in confidence. He also said that no one else knew of it. I did not believe that this gift was true, but I suppose we have had proof."

"I see."

"However," cut in Snape, "The girl did believe she was delivering a fatal curse to her sister, she definitely proved where her loyalties lay." Voldemort seemed to consider this,

"Well done, my pet. You're luck has tripled today. Not only did you get the chance to prove to me you are true, but you also got to keep your sister. Now doesn't that make you feel good?"

"Yes, thank you my lord, for giving me the opportunity to please you," she said, dropping to one knee.

"So, we are all united, and have had a bit of sport. But what to do with the girl?"

"If you have no objections my Lord," Snape spoke up, "I had to endure her all summer, tempting me with her innocent, delicious body. May I bring her back with me? I will modify her memory of the entire night. After I get to play a little bit that is." Ada flashed him a glare but said nothing. Voldemort laughed.

"Yes Severus, I believe you do deserve a bit of playtime. You may have her. Have fun. As for the rest of you, I believe it is time to call it a night."

Snape made a show of licking his lips and carelessly picking up her body, and apperating back to Hogwarts. Ada was right behind him.

"You aren't really going to do anything to her, are you?" she said accusingly.

"Of course not," Snape shot back. "I think she has gone through enough throughout her life of men and their lust."

"What are you talking about?" she questioned.

"You mean she still hasn't told you?"

"Told me what?"

"About her life! About the horrible things she endured, trying to protect you!"

"Don't pretend like you know what we have gone through," she spat. "And she was not always there to protect me. I bet you don't know-"

"That your Stepfather tried to rape you? Yes, I know. But do you know anything about her? Did you ever ask? Were you ever concerned with anyone other than yourself and your suffering?"

"What are you talking about?" she asked with wide eyes.

"She is not going to be happy about this when she finds out, but I think it is about time you saw what your sister has taken for you." He pushed his hand onto her forehead and began to release Jordan's memories into Ada's mind. At first she shook from the force, but when he released his hand, she was still shaking.

"I never knew, she never told me." She whispered, tears falling down her face. She feel to her knees and began to weep uncontrollably.

"Pull yourself together. We need to get her to the hospital wing. I don't understand why she is still unconscious."

"She is bleeding," Ada said after she had composed herself.

"What? Where?"

"Down her legs."

"Hurry up!" he said panicking.

They arrived at the hospital wing in record time, and Snape laid Jordan gently on the bed. "Stay here with her. I am going to get Madam Pomfrey, and then Professor Dumbledore."

"Professor?" she asked timidly.

"What?" he nearly shouted, as his patience was getting thin.

"I don't know how you came into possession of those memories, but thank you." She said with eyes downcast. "And I am so sorry. I know you were right. If it hadn't been for you, who knows what my sister's fate would have been." Snape softened slightly at her words.

"Just try to be there for her now. I will return shortly."

He ran into Poppy as she was entering the room, wondering what all the commotion was about. Snape told her that Jordan needed medical attention and he heard her mutter, "now what did she get herself into" as he headed to find Dumbledore. He didn't get very far, because the headmaster found him along the way.

"Severus, what is going on?" he asked, without the usual calm in his voice. Snape gave him the details of what happened, and the old man shook his head.

"I don't know what to say. Perhaps I should have tried to have more control over the girl, but she did keep her end of the bargain."

"Excuse me?" Snape said in disbelief.

"Ada was told that she was on her own, and she did the only thing that would save herself, and everything we have worked for. Would you not have had to do the same thing in her position?" Snape thought about this and remembered how terrified he was when he thought it was his task, and how he knew he must go through with it if it was.

"Well she still used poor judgment by getting into this situation in the first place."

"I think we should see how Miss Jordan is, don't you Severus?" Snape nodded his approval and they headed towards the hospital wing. They were met by Poppy herself, bustling towards the medicine cabinet. After sorting through some bottles, she turned to the two men.

"Oh Albus, I need to go to the supply room and get some blood replenishing potion. The poor girl has miscarried." She said hurrying out the door.

Snape felt his knees go out from under him. She had been pregnant, and she didn't tell me. And now my child is lost. Dumbledore leaned over, put a hand on his shoulder, and looked into his face. Snape's usual coldness had melted away and he wore a look of absolute suffering.

"Severus," he said quietly, " I am so sorry."

"I never knew," he said quietly. "How could this happen? I thought she couldn't be hurt."

"She can't. But the curse hit the- Severus are you sure the child was yours?"

"Yes. Sir, I know it was wrong. I know I can no longer teach, but I just want you to know, I don't regret it for a second." He said staring straight at him.

Dumbledore chuckled softly, as much that was allowed for a situation like this. "Severus, Love is never wrong. And I don't want you to regret falling in love. That girl needs you as much as you need her, and with the war raging on, I think we can bend the rules just this once. Who knows how much time any of us have on this earth?"

"Thank you professor," Snape said, rising of the floor.

"I am truly sorry for your loss Severus." Snape nodded.

"Maybe she did not want a child. Perhaps that is why she didn't tell me."

"Or she feared your reaction."

That was true. He really was not ready to be a father right now. It was difficult enough to protect himself and Jordan. But it was still his child, the one he would never know. He stood in silent reflection and slowly let the grief go. He replaced it with calm and determination. He was determined to do everything in his power to help end this war, so others did not have to endure the suffering that he knew so well.

Xxxxxxxxx

Jordan awoke the next morning and stretched, only to be rewarded with a sharp pain in her abdomen. She remembered up until Ada had told her she was sorry, and the rest of the night was a blank. She was not afraid to be hit by the curse, but she had forgotten about the baby. When Ada, who had been sleeping next to her, awoke and told her about the miscarriage, she began to cry. It was the second time her sister had seen her cry, and it was an uncomfortable sight.

"Jordan, why didn't you tell me that you were pregnant?" Then she added hurriedly, "I am not mad, I just want to know."

"I didn't tell anyone," she told her sadly.

"Who was the father?"

"That I can not tell you, so please don't ask."

"It is professor Snape, isn't it?"

"What would make you think that?" she asked in disbelief.

"It took me a long time, but I finally have realized that you two are together. And I would wager it has been for a while, am I wrong?"

"No, but I am begging you, please don't tell anyone. It would ruin both of us, and he needs to tread softly right now."

"I wont tell a soul." Then she added with a smirk, "you two are perfect for each other, both bossy and mean." Jordan let herself laugh. "Jordan, I am so sorry. I can not even imagine what you must think of me. I had been so selfish to think I could take on the world, I didn't stop to consider the consequences."

"Ada, I am proud of you. You admitted your mistake, and when faced with a very difficult decision, you did what was necessary to save yourself, and everyone else who is tied into this fight. Even if I had not survived, it was still the right thing to do."

"Jordan, why do you keep so many secrets from me?" she asked suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't tell me you were pregnant, you didn't tell me about Snape, you didn't tell me about the really cool cant be killed thing-" Jordan smiled-" and also, you didn't tell me about Joe." Jordan's eyes went wide.

"Who told you?"

"I did," Snape said as he closed the door.

"Why?" she asked, with an upset look.

"Because the timing was right, and she needed to know." Jordan did not have the energy to argue, but merely shrugged.

"I am sorry for that too" Ada added.

"Whatever for? It wasn't your fault" her sister replied.

"I know, but I was so wrapped up in myself, you had to deal with it all on your own."

"Well it made me stronger in the long run," she said, rolling her eyes. Then she noticed something in Snape's arms. "Severus, what is that?"

"Someone wanted to come and see you," he replied, letting go of velvet. Jordan smiled and began to stroke her cat.

"Thank you. And thank you for saving me- again." She said coyly, but then her smile faded. "Severus, there is something I have to tell you."

"I think I already know what you are about to tell me," he said sadly.

"Are you upset?"

"I was upset when I heard the child was lost. Dumbledore had to talk me through it."

"Dumbledore knows? Oh that sucks. What will happen now?"

"Nothing. He gave his condolences, and told me to take care of you. Which is exactly what I plan on doing."

"Weird," Ada contributed. "I thought for sure the two of you would be chucked out."

"Oh, by the way, Ada knows."

"I figured as much."

"And its disgusting" she chimed in mockingly, which made her companions smile. "But I guess you two are just meant to be."

"But," Snape started "Do not-"

"Tell anyone, I got it."

"So what are we telling people the reason is that I am in the hospital?" Jordan asked.

"You had a nervous breakdown from your N.E.W.T.s," chimed in Ada.

"Sounds plausible." Snape said, winking at Jordan.

"Fine," she agreed, rolling her eyes.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

A few uneventful weeks went by for Jordan and her sister. Harry had finally secured the memory he needed, and was closer to learning Voldemort's secret. Ada had given up on Harrt, much to Jordan's relief, and started pouring into her schoolwork. Jordan, who had always been a bookworm, was doing just the opposite. She spent more time in Snape's quarters than in the library, and that was how she liked it. She knew time was running out, and her life as she new it was slowly coming to end, and turmoil and chaos where creeping into her future.

(A/N: There are going to be more chapters than I had originally thought because I decided not to make a sequal, but just give you the full story. I will update very often. I have already written four chapters in two days, but don't expect that to be the norm. School and work keep getting in the way. I should have another chapter up in a day or two. Please Review. It will make my day. Really it will. I just want to know if I should continue.)