Snape's POV

That night I treated her like a goddess. I was so glad to have her home safe and in my bed. I kissed every inch of her body and stopped, surprised, when I reached her left ankle.

"Is that…a tattoo?" I inquired.

"A belladonna lily," she said with a devilish grin.

"Ah. Beautiful but deadly. …Where have you been these last few weeks?"

"If you're nice, maybe I will tell you," she said, still grinning.

Not long after her return home, Olivia officially opened her shop in Diagon Alley. She spent most of her time there, though she didn't get much business. She began to take in strays off the street, treating them for fleas and ticks, getting them healthy, then trying to find them homes.

One evening when Olivia was still at work, I was summoned to Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix had been injured on some mission- she had a deep gash on her shoulder.

"The Dark Lord said you have contacts who are Healers," Narcissa said to me. "You helped Dolohov last month-"

"I don't need his help, Cissy!" Bellatrix hissed.

"Let it go, Bella. This injury is beyond me and he can help."

I waited patiently while the sisters argued it out. In the end, Bellatrix agreed to go with me. I grabbed her arm and we Disapparated.

We appeared in Diagon Alley, behind Olivia's clinic. Bellatrix wrenched her arm away from me, huffing. I rolled my eyes and knocked on the back door. I could hear music playing inside.

"That you, Severus?" she called and opened the door. Her green eyes got wide when she saw I wasn't alone. With a wave of her wand, she turned off the radio.

"Come in, come in," she urged.

The backroom was mostly storage- boxes and cabinets of stuff. She sat Bellatrix down at a small table to inspect her wound. Immediately two cats jumped up on the table, meowing for attention. Bellatrix hissed at them and they jumped back down. Immediately, another cat began to twist itself around her feet.

"Ugh, what is this place?" Bellatrix said, kicking at the cat.

"Stop that," Olivia said, scowling. "This is an animal clinic."

"Ridiculous," scoffed Bellatrix.

"I'm going to need you to remove your shirt so I can see the full extend of your wound," Olivia said. "Severus, why don't you take the cats up front and wait?"

I inclined my head, called to the cats, and went up front.

Olivia's POV

Bellatrix let out little hisses the entire time I tended to her wound.

"There's no chance of a toxin or poison being in the wound, is there?" I asked her, after she refused to tell me what had caused the injury.

She shook her head no.

"…Who are you, anyway?" she sniffed. "Not one of us?"

"Not exactly, no. I'm Severus' cousin. He's been training me…on the Dark Lord's orders."

"Cousin, eh? Sure you're nota bit more than that?" she asked with a malicious grin.

"Don't be ridiculous," I snorted.

"So you're going to be one of us, then? Think you've got what it takes?"

"Of course I do. I'm a Slytherin. Pureblood. …My mother was killed because of something a Muggle did."

"You don't look like much."

"I'm stronger than I look. I almost killed Lucius Malfoy in a duel."

"If you ask me, it doesn't take much to beat my sister's husband."

"Oh, so you're Narcissa's sister?" I asked. She ignored the question.

"You've got a bit of a soft spot for animals, haven't you?" she said tauntingly.

"I like animals," I said stiffly. "I don't like people."

"And yet, they tell me you're a Healer?"

"I'm a veterinarian. I invent potions for animals. I did an Internship and St. Mungo's and that gave me experience in the Healing department, though it was hardly my idea…"

"Hmph."

"There, you're finished," I said. Her wound was healed, leaving only a faint pink scar.

When she had her shirt back on, I called Snape back into the room.

"Good as new, Bella?" he asked with a slight sneer.

"Mm. I'll be seeing you," she said, looking at me. Then, without so much as a thank you, she Disapparated.

I sat in her vacated chair. The cats had followed Snape back into the room. A young tabby female jumped into my lap.

"Are you alright?" Snape asked me.

"Fine," I said with a shrug.

"Charming woman, isn't she?" he asked sardonically, smiling a little.

"I get the impression she doesn't like you."

"She doubts my loyalties," he replied.

"Well," I said. "Maybe she is smarter than she looks."

It was a few days later that I was at work, tending to a stray tom cat whose leg had been caught in a rat trap, when Snape came into the clinic.

"We must go," he said upon entering the shop.

"Where?" I asked absently as I finished bandaging the cat's leg.

"The Dark Lord,' he said and I looked up to see he was pale-faced. "He has asked to see you."

"Shit," I said, releasing the cat's paw.

"Yeah. Let's go, it's best not to keep Him waiting."

"I need to change," I said, looking down at my torn jeans and Muggle t-shirt.

"Right. Yes. Home, then, come," he said.

I waved my wand quickly, locking the doors to the shop, then took Snape's arm.

We Apparated directly into my room at Spinner's End and I began to undress. Snape went through my wardrobe and found the silky black dress I had worn to the Yule Ball. I had grown a little since then, but a quick charm made the robes expand to fit me.

"Excellent," Snape said, helping me get dressed.

He grabbed my brush from the nightstand while I straightened my dress. He brushed my hair, then looked me over and kissed my forehead.

"You look beautiful. We must go. Are you prepared?" he asked.

I nodded, unable to speak.

"We could…we don't have to… We could flee," he said softly.

"No. No, we must," I said to him. "…I can do it."

He embraced me, kissing me again.

"My brave, brave beautiful girl," he murmured. "I love you so. …Let us go."

He stepped away from me, but took my hand and held it tightly.

"To Malfoy Manor," he said to me. I nodded and together we Disapparated.

We appeared outside of the gates through which I passed, still holding Snape's hand tightly. My heart was pounding madly as we walked to the front door and Snape knocked.

The door was opened a moment later, though this time not by Narcissa Malfoy. It was opened by a greasy-haired sniveling little man with a strange silver hand.

"Ah, Severus," said the man. "…And who is this?"

The man was looking at me now. He licked his lips, his beady eyes moving over my body and he lifted his silvery hand as if to touch me.

"Leave her alone, Wormtail. Step aside!"

The man scurried away at Snape's words and Snape led me inside.

We entered the drawing room where thirteen or so other people were seated at a long table. At the head of the table, in all of his terrible greatness, sat the Dark Lord. A large snake lay coiled by his feet- Nagini, the python whose venom I carried an antidote for around my neck.

To the right of the Dark Lord sat Bellatrix, who smirked at me. Beside her sat Narcissa, then Draco, who was studying me curiously. I recognized a few of the others as Death Eaters I had healed before.

"Welcome, Olivia," said the Dark Lord and I focused my attention on him. "We meet at last. You have already become acquainted with many of my followers. You have rendered us a great service these past few months. It seems only fitting that you should become one of us."

Several of the Death Eaters hissed their approval.

"And yet… Severus also tells me that Dumbledore has recruited you for the Order. You have done work for them in the past. How am I to know where your loyalties truly lie?"

"You know who raised me, sir," I said, without looking at Snape. "Who has trained me, behind Dumbledore's back. The things I do for the Order, I do because Dumbledore trusts Severus…and so he thinks he can trust me. But he is mistaken. …I will do whatever you ask of me, my Lord."

"Indeed? I think, perhaps, I will speak with you alone, Olivia."

He looked around the table and they all stood to leave, one by one. Snape looked at me. His face betrayed no emotion, but his eyes told me to be strong.

"Shut the door behind them, Olivia," the Dark Lord said.

I obeyed. My heart still pounding like mad, I closed the door behind Snape and turend to face the Dark Lord.

Snape's POV

We waited outside in Lucius' study while the Dark Lord talked to Olivia. I was on pins and needles, but tried not to show it. The others were asking me about Olivia, about her history. I told them she was a typical Slytherin, brilliant at everything. I told them about Ellen's death and Olivia coming to stay with me. I exaggerated her hatred of Muggles. I told them about her exemplary Potions skills and how she had comet to be my apprentice her second year.

"So, you're spending a lot of time with her, eh, Severus? Pretty little thing like that?" Nott said, grinning.

I knew his implications and didn't honor him with a response, though I felt a very strong urge to hex him.

"So she's free, then? Wouldn't mind going on an assignment with her, if you know what I mean," he continued.

That was more than I could stand. With one swift movement, I pinned him to the wall my wand at his throat. The others cackled- they loved a good fight, no matter who it was.

"She is not free, understand?" I growled. "And if you touch her-…I will curse you to the point you'll never have the hope of fathering children."

The door to the drawing room opened and the Dark Lord called us back inside. I released Nott and he slumped to the floor. He scrambled to his feet as I walked back into the drawing room. Olivia sat to the left of the Dark Lord. Nagini was on the table and Olivia was stroking the snake's scaly head, something no Death Eater dared do. The Dark Lord appeared pleased. He motioned for me to sit to His right, across from Olivia. She smiled at me quickly, just enough to reassure me that she was okay.

The Dark Lord did not speak until everyone was seated.

"I have given young Olivia an assignment. One she must complete on her own, without assistance from anyone, even you, Severus. Understand?"

"Of course, my lord," I said.

"Now, all that remains…is for Olivia to be branded as one of us," He said and stood. The rest of us took our cue from Him and stood as well. We moved to form a circle around Olivia and Him. The Dark Lord appraised her silently a moment, then turned to look at me.

"Severus…will you do the honors?" He said.

"my…my lord?" I stammered. He motioned me into the center of the circle.

"You do it, Severus," He said and stepped back so that he became a part of the circle.

Olivia and I stood there, facing each other.

"Your arm," I said quietly, pulling out my wand.

She extended her left arm, palm up. She looked up at me, her emerald eyes trusting. I wanted to tell her I was sorry, but couldn't. I tried to convey the message with my eyes, to warn her. Then I looked away from her face and pressed the tip of my wand to the thin, pale skin of her forearm. I cleared my throat and whispered the spell. She let out a shriek that tore my heart into shreds. I grit my teeth and forced myself to continue as all around us, Death Eaters shrieked and cackled and the Dark Lord stood there looking utterly satisfied.