Chapter 26: Riptide
Lily held her eyes tightly as she was whisked away into a place she was sure she wouldn't be leaving that night. She clutched her child as close as she could to her chest. If she had any luck her son would still be alive after this, though she wasn't certain that even Snape's child would be spared. Lily opened her eyes after a moment when she felt herself being pulled forward.
Lily wasn't surprised by what she was facing. She tried not to show the fear that was creeping its way out. She had seen Voldemort before so that was no surprise. She had just never been thrown against him by herself. Snape pushed her forward and Lily stood quietly. She was sure Voldemort was getting ready to kill her when he chuckled and stood up pointing his wand at her.
"So the rumors are true," he said his voice making it all the more real. She stood very still trying to focus on her child who was currently sleeping in her arms. "May I offer my congratulations; though I believe Snape you may have been tricked."
Voldemort's gaze shift went from Lily to Snape. Snape smirked and replied, "I didn't believe it either my Lord, but I'm sure we'll get to that won't we."
"I have questions for you Ms. Kacufrakus, and if you don't answer I can promise you won't like the consequences," Voldemort said keeping his wand pointed at her. Lily finally was able to look around and she saw that there were many death eaters there and she wasn't alone. That made her feel all the more alone of course, because there was no one in this room who could or would help her. She would have to hold up the best she could and hope that she didn't give away too much before he finally killed her.
Snape came up from behind Lily and grabbed Brian away from her. She didn't feel safe leaving the child with Snape, but she assumed it would be better than having him right now. She didn't want the baby to be tortured while she got tortured.
"Honestly Ms. Kacufrakus, I am not going to trust a word out of your mouth, so of course I will be forced to look through your memories manually to get what I want. Perhaps a round of Veritasserum as well later, but for now," Voldemort said chuckling. "This should suffice."
Lily swallowed. She had NEVER practiced occlumencery. She knew that every secret would be out now and there was nothing she could do.
Voldemort did indeed cast the spell on her and she was forced to live through her memories knowing he was watching. They started out innocently enough, it was hard to watch her and her brother being shipped to her grandmother's at such a young age. She began tearing upon seeing a much healthier alive Elaine who had not quite been gripped with full blown Alzheimer's and was just in her forgetful stage. Sam looked so alive, so happy, and she relived another memory of getting her Hogwarts letter, knowing now that it wouldn't fulfill the promises she made to her brother. The tears flowed freely now and she was whisked away through her first year. She just hoped she could show him what he wanted to see without divulging too much. She of course couldn't think it because he was now linked into her mind. As her second year approached then came awkward preteen issues which she was sort of grateful for. No crying to be had at those memories, but they did not seem to make Voldemort uncomfortable.
Lily felt heat against her sternum where the locket was laying against her skin. She wondered if this was the protection that she needed, the protection to keep her memories from being used against her and the ones she loved. She imagined the pictures she put in her locket. They were of her child and of her friends. She focused on that, glad that she hadn't wasted any time making use of the locket that was willed to her.
She let go and the stream of consciousness seemed to throw random things out. The next memory was her dancing with Harry at the Yule Ball. The memory was more solid than the wisps she had seen before.
"You have two left feet you know that," Lily whispered to him.
Harry shrugged and grunted. Lily rolled her eyes, "Very mature."
The song ended and the two separated.
Harry and Ron ditched the two girls who sat at the table. "Viktor went to get us some punch."
Lily smiled at her friend but it was forced.
"Getting close to that time eh?" Alyce asked.
Lily cocked and eyebrow.
"Friends don't date for a reason, it makes things too weird," Alyce said.
Lily nodded. "Honestly I feel like a booty call half the time," Lily said. "Without the obvious implications of intercourse."
The memory faded and another cropped up, and Lily was relieved to see it was another awkward fourth year one. As she began to see it solidify she chuckled inwardly knowing this was possibly one of the most awkward.
Fourteen year old Harry and Lily were snogging by the lake. The kiss was broken and Lily finally sighed and said, "Do you think it's ever going to go further than this?"
Harry gave her a confused look and then the lightbulb in his head seemed to go off. "I don't know, I don't know when to make the first move."
"It's been two years. I'm not a slut Harry, but I'm not a prude either,"
"Ok, well farther then," he said trying to gather his courage. He kissed her harder thrusting his tongue into her mouth and Lily gasped, more out of surprise than lust, as he awkwardly grabbed a breast. She opened her eyes and shook her head.
"This isn't going to work. There just isn't any spark," Lily said.
Harry looked relieved. "I haven't been feeling it either!"
"Well, I guess we go back to being friends amicably then," Lily said.
"Yeah, whatever you said without the dictionary terms thrown in," Harry said.
The two left the lake and the memory faded out.
Another memory filled its place of Harry asking about Cho Chang who had kissed him at a Dumbledore's army meeting.
"Lily can I ask you a question," Harry asked her.
"Yeah, I guess so. What's the question?" she said sitting down on the couch in the common room with him.
"I kissed Cho tonight," Harry said nervously.
"That sounds like more of a statement than a question," Lily said obviously uncomfortable as to where this conversation was going.
Harry seemed not to notice and said, "I was getting to that part. Anyway, I just wanted to ask you, in the time that we were dating was I a bad kisser."
Lily popped her lips together awkwardly. "Wow… I umm wasn't expecting that. I… am not sure I don't exactly have a lot of experience myself…." Lily said unsure of what to say.
Harry looked mortified. "I just, I don't know how to practice for that sort of thing."
Lily raised an eyebrow seeing where this conversation was going, "NO way!" she said scooting away from him. "You aren't practicing on me; we broke up because kissing you was like… I don't know, kissing a sibling. I am not going to be your booty call just because you think you are a bad kisser!"
Harry looked hurt, and the two stepped away from one another awkwardly.
Another memory filled the place where that one had ended awkwardly. She was sure Voldemort remembered this memory it was one that he had created. Harry was gripping his forehead and Lily went to his aid asking what was wrong. Alyce and Ron filed in behind her. This was when Harry had told her that they had Sirius.
"Harry," Lily said chasing after him as he began to get ready to depart. "What if this is a trap. He can use your mind Harry!"
"Lily, I have to do this, so if you aren't going to help get the hell out of my way," he said.
"Harry please don't do this, you are only going to regret it. At least let someone go in and check to make sure Sirius isn't home," Lily pleaded.
"No, by then it could be too late." Harry said.
"Please, listen to me!" Lily said.
The next memory popped up to fill its place. It was the end of fifth year again. Sirius had just been killed and Voldemort had fled the ministry. Harry was shaking on the ground and Lily, Ron, and Alyce ran over to him. Lily picked him up in her arms and shook him gently hoping to awaken him.
"Sirius," he croaked looking as if he were going to cry.
Lily held his upper body in her arms and rocked him. Ron looked tearful as did Alyce, but they kept their distance. They appeared apprehensive to approach him. Lily looked up toward them and motioned with her head for them to come over.
Dumbledore helped her get Harry on his feet and Lily let the two of them go. Alyce and Ron stayed back with her and she asked them if they needed anything. They both shook their heads and Lily left to go into another room. In that room she cried loudly glad to be away from the others, glad that she could be alone to do this. She could never let this out with everyone around, all the pity in their eyes. No, she kept those things to herself and she always would. She wiped her eyes and returned to her friends.
That memory faded into a few more snipets which appeared to just be squabbles between them and Lily giving advice for how he would eventually face Voldemort. She even volunteered to practice with him, minus the unforgiveable spells of course.
The last memory Voldemort seemed to be probing for. It was of the first night she and Severus were together. She felt so surreal watching it from her new vantage point. She could see the passion alight in both of their eyes as he took her on the dungeon floor. She watched her own face contort in slight pain as she assumed her hymen was being torn. Her body had been through more than that in the past twenty four hours. She had birthed a full term infant who she was now sure was resting in his father's arms. This was the last memory before Voldemort severed connection.
He did not show emotions on his snake like face but said, "Well Severus it appears the child is yours after all, and I must say her memory of it is quite graphic." A grin appeared on his snake like face.
"It appears that you and Potter were quite close," he said smirking. She could see Severus tense behind her from her peripheral vision.
"He is my best friend," she said quietly.
"Indeed he is, and what a shame that you can't help him with his dueling anymore and of course being his voice of reason whether he wants to listen to you or not. I do so hope to have you on our side, you are quite skilled. Perhaps you could kill the other two of your friends."
"Never," she said her voice full of spite.
"I don't think you are in a position to make demands Ms. Kacufrakus," he said to her.
"I won't hurt anyone for you," she said.
"Wrong answer," Voldemort said casting the Cruciatis curse on her.
Lily was racked with pain, but somehow was not as phased as she had expected. She admitted that it was worse than the pain she had endured giving birth to her child, but after that pain the pain she was having didn't seem as strong as it would have had she not. She writhed in pain but willed herself not to scream, not to give him the satisfaction. Instead she let out a gurgled moan as she held down vomit that was attempting to make its way up. After what seemed like hours he finally stopped.
"Tough little Gryfinndor," he said willing himself to cast another spell. "I suppose as you are not used to me if you aren't going to help then you are dead weight to be dealt with."
Lily held her breath knowing that the killing curse was next and glad that her son was no longer in her arms though she wished she could have kissed him goodbye. She closed her eyes knowing it would be over soon, but was surprised when she reopened them and saw Severus standing in front of her.
"Lord, let me break her," Severus said. "My child will need his mother, to nurse and care for him and you can force Potter to relive the memories I give you. In six weeks time she will healed from birthing my child. I will take her then, and again until I break her."
Voldemort closed his eyes imagining the memory he had taken from Lily. The memory was deliciously sensual and he enjoyed her pain as she was being mercilessly fucked on a cold dungeon floor. "I expect you to keep your word Snape." Voldemort said coldly. "I will send the girl and child with you to live at Hogwarts, but I expect those memories promptly."
Severus nodded and grabbed Lily's arm. He placed the baby in her arms and they apparated back to Spinner's end.
Severus grabbed the baby from her seeing the strange look in her eyes. He knew she wouldn't hurt the baby but he knew she would try to run off with him and that was just as bad. He had to protect this child, and unfortunately the child's barely legal mother.
Severus placed the baby in the crib in the nursery and cast a spell protecting the house, but also keeping Lily from leaving.
"You should have let him kill me," Lily said pacing.
"What and leave our child without a mother. Grow up Lily," Severus said with spite in his voice.
"Grow up!" Lily exploded at him. "You have no fucking idea Severus Snape. Don't you dare pretend like you understand what my life has been like! You fucking prick." Lily shouted at him.
He did feel a little bad about that one, but he had a right to be mad at her. He silenced her with, "You seduced me and you didn't think to bring a condom?"
"Seduced you?" Lily said with rage in her eyes.
"Yes Lily, seduced me. Or would you rather I call you Rachel?"
Lily paled. "Didn't think I knew about that?" Severus said to her.
A cry came from the other room and Lily departed to feed their son. She noted that there was a rocking chair in the nursery and she rocked her son to sleep as she fed him. Severus watched from the doorway feeling his breath grab in his throat. This was his family now, Lily and Brian. He couldn't imagine a better mother for his son, and the picture in his head of Lily raising half a dozen kids popped back into his head.
Meanwhile, while Lily endured her time with Voldemort, Harry, Ron, and Alyce still sat in the dusty diner trying to decide what to do. Two other people joined them in the diner, choosing the booth behind them. Alyce looked over uncomfortably, as her back was to the diner door, and tried to assess whether they were a threat. Before she had time to react, the men stood and pulled out their wands. She picked up hers just as quickly and shouted, "Stupefy!" knocking one of them to the ground and then she pulled Ron under the table as they narrowly missed a spell cast by the other man.
After several minutes and several exploded tables later, the other man was also down. Alyce assessed the surroundings and noted that the waitress that had served them had accidentally be stunned as well.
"I'm going to do a memory charm on them," Alyce said. "You two work on cleaning this place up so it doesn't look off when the three of them wake up."
The two boys nodded and did as they were told. When the place was cleaned and all three stunned persons had had their memories wiped, Alyce cleared her throat and said, "How the hell did they find us so quickly?"
"Maybe they still have a trace on Harry," Ron said uncomfortably.
The two looked over at Harry who looked away from them. It was evident from his face that he did not want to think that he was the reason that they were being followed. "The trace disappears at seventeen," he said quietly hoping that they would believe him.
"The ministry has fallen," Alyce said. "It's hard to say."
"How could a death eater have gotten close enough to put the trace back on him?" Ron asked.
"It doesn't matter," Harry said angrily. "We need a place to hide, we need to go Grimmauld Place."
"Harry," Alyce said semi-sternly. "We can't go back there, Dumbledore is dead and Snape knows where it is."
"The Order said they had put protective spells on the place," Ron said trying to stick up for his friend.
"Either way if we are going to get hoards of Death Eaters coming after me because I am still traceable, then it's as safe a place as any."
Alyce could find no way to argue. "Ok," she said calmly.
The three left the diner as the other three who were stunned began to come to. By the time the two men and the waitress were standing, Harry, Ron, and Alyce had disappeared into the night.