Sorry for the delay with this chapter.
Enjoy :)
Severus crouched in front of her as she shook with emotion and tears spilled out of her eyes and ran down her cheeks. She couldn't assimilate her emotions, everything seemed too raw and fresh and even though she was safe she didn't feel like it was all over.
"Why are you crying?" Severus asked her in a rough voice, looking strangely out of his depth as he surveyed her with wary eyes.
Serena couldn't stop the heavy sobs heaving to the surface from within her. She could feel the worry in his eyes but couldn't quite get her breath to answer him. She wasn't even sure she had the words.
All she knew was that it was too much.
She couldn't comprehend what was happening to her. She had been safe. She had been shopping for fuck's sake, and in one spell she had been completely bewitched.
"Serena?" Severus' voice was more urgent now and he looked nervous.
When she finally managed to gain some control of her voice she looked up at him through blurry eyes and choked, "You've got a wand haven't you?"
Slowly, Severus pulled out his wand and twirled it delicately between his fingers, looking unsure. Then, very slowly, he pointed it directly in between her eyes and murmured, "Sentimente Assimile."
She watched feeling totally lost as his brows knitted together and he tried to understand and process the feelings that overwhelmed him.
He raised his wand again and repeated the same words, this time his eyes fell shut.
When he opened them, the darkness within glittered with pain and the frown that overshadowed his face only deepened.
"I don't understand," he said softly and Serena could see that it angered him to admit that.
It took her several seconds to muster the ability to speak, although when she spoke her voice trembled just at her hands did.
"I'm sorry," she almost hiccupped. "I don't quite understand myself. I suppose- I suppose I feel relieved- so relieved that he's gone and- and that he will never hurt anybody else. When he took me I was so scared, but in Diagon Alley all I could think of was those innocent people all around him and how he is so ruthless and cruel that he would have killed any one of them in a heartbeat. I just wanted to get him out of there."
She paused and blew her nose on the tissue Severus had conjured for her. He was still kneeling on the floor before her, and he rested a hand on her knee lightly.
"I'm relieved that he is dead," she continued in a steadier voice, "but I feel broken that you were the one who committed the deed… That you were the one who had to sacrifice your soul once again, ripping it once again, hurting yourself once again, and this time just for me…"
She sniffed and looked up into his burning eyes that almost made her start crying again.
"And I suppose I still feel terrified... I have fought all my life against that monster. I thought I was free of him, and then suddenly I was on the floor at his feet again… I thought he was going to kill me."
Severus cleared his throat twice and when he spoke she could tell he was choosing his words carefully.
"The Transmorgrification curse… has long been debated as being an unforgivable… it's an old curse, a dark curse, as I'm sure you are aware. I have never been on the receiving end of it, but when I heard you scream…" Severus let out a breath and his eyes fell shut. "Serena…" his voice shook slightly and his grip on her knee had tightened. "I thought he was going to kill you too… I am so sorry… when he cursed you… I couldn't do anything, I- I had to be sure that he had brought you there without anyone seeing. I had to be sure no one else knew, had to confirm that it hadn't been a plan, but just a lucky bout of opportunism…. I… I will never forgive myself… that sound was-"
"Shh," she hushed him quickly, "don't, please don't punish yourself for that, my love. You couldn't have done anything, you know that. Like you just said, you had no choice, and I'm fine aren't I? It will take a lot more than that to kill me."
Severus shook his head and opened his eyes. She felt like she could have fallen into the black depths of his pupils they were so deep and dark. "You have no idea how close to death you were, Serena. One more curse and your skull would probably have exploded."
"Just in time then," she said lightly.
Severus pressed his lips together tightly and breathed in through his nose.
"What did you do? And how did you find me? It must have barely been a few minutes, and suddenly you were there..."
Severus grimaced and nodded.
"I felt our connection, as you have before… I knew something was wrong, I knew immediately you were in danger, and my ring confirmed it. It burned and told me your life was at risk. I knew you were with the Weasleys, so I sent Arthur a patronus immediately-"
"That was risky," she interrupted. "What if someone else had been there and recognised the form? No one else could hear your voice but-"
"There are only three people that know the form of my patronus," he said quietly. "It was a risk I had to take."
She said nothing, but remembered Arthur shouting her from the other end of Diagon Alley.
"Okay, and then?"
"And then," he cleared his throat, "I had the pull, the feeling, telling me where to apparate to… Except that I didn't need to. You were being held in the dungeon of Malfoy Manor, the new headquarters of the Dark Lord… and I was already there."
"Sorry?"
"I had been summoned an hour earlier. I was already there… that is how I found you so easily and so quickly…"
Serena's mouth dropped open. "Oh."
"Hmm. And now, you should go to bed," he said quietly, getting to his feet.
"Wait," she said quickly, even though her bones were desperate for sleep too. "You haven't answered my question… What happened? Afterwards?"
Severus turned to the wardrobe and made a big deal of choosing her pyjamas. "I apparated back. Only Death Eaters with the mark can apparate in and out of the dungeons of the Manor. A security breach, in my opinion, but rather useful for us in this case… I… cleaned the cell and rid it of magical signature… then I apparated us both away and…" he hesitated and turned around to look her in the eyes. "Your Father is dead, Serena."
Serena nodded, feeling suddenly very calm. "I'm sorry, Severus. I'm sorry it had to be you, but I'm glad it's done… he was too dangerous…"
Severus had a pained expression on his face and she understood straight away what it was. "Forget the pyjamas," she said quietly. "Just come here?"
Severus grimaced and made his way slowly to sit down on the bed next to her. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it tightly, the feelings that now flowed through her body now confirmed what she had deduced.
"Severus," she said softly ,looking him straight in the eyes. "You killed him because you had to, because he would have hurt and killed others if you didn't. You killed him because he was torturing me to death. I am grateful for what you have done, as horrible as it was, really. But if it makes you feel better I will say the words, even though I don't need to at all… I forgive you. I forgive you for killing my Father. I forgive you and I love you even more for doing it. Do you understand?"
Severus half shrugged half nodded and she thought it was good enough for that night.
"Right, get me out of these fucking jeans, give me my potions and come and sleep with me, please?"
He nodded and leaned across to kiss her lightly on the forehead. "As you wish."
…
"STOP!"
Serena jerked awake, the cold floor and the harsh laugh slipping away as she regained consciousness and reassured herself that it was just a dream.
The pain in her entire body was intense and crippling and her mind felt muddled and twisted, but Severus was already at her bedside, tipping potions into her mouth and casting diagnostic charms with his wand.
"You must rest," he murmured.
"I'm fine, they said I'd be fine in a week."
"They said you should have stayed in the hospital for another week," Severus said firmly, and Serena wondered who he had been talking to and when. "And for good reason. Your body has suffered greatly, no matter how gifted the Healers at St. Mungo's are."
"And I will rest," she said quietly. "I just need to piss and take a shower, if you'll allow me."
"Let the potions take effect, and I will help you in five minutes."
She nodded and lay back against her pillows as the pain slowly receded.
"And where's my wand?"
Severus pulled it out from beneath his cloak and handed it to her, then he seemed to hesitate, before reaching his hand back inside.
She took the silver blade from him and looked at her knife closely, studying the engravings. "Hmm, well, I didn't get stabbed this time."
"Not funny," he said through gritted teeth.
As promised, Severus helped her shower and dress in loose clothes, but when he tried to guide her back to the bed she shrugged him off. "No, no, if I have to rest I'd much rather rest on a chair in the kitchen, I'll go insane if I have to stay cooped up in this bloody bedroom."
"Serena, you need to keep your body as-"
"Sev, I'm bloody fine. Stop fussing, it doesn't suit you. Now help me downstairs."
There was a chuckle from the floor above them and they both looked up to see Remus carrying Lavinia down. "Haven't lost your stubbornness I see," he smiled at her.
Severus muttered something that sounded insulting under his breath and Serena smiled reproachfully at Remus.
"Oh tell him to stop fussing, Remus, I can sit and rest in the kitchen."
Remus raised his eyebrows as he came to a halt beside them and adjusted Lavinia, who was babbling away happily in his arms. "I have to say I quite agree with Severus. You should still be in the hospital, you need your bed."
She glared at him as Severus smirked. "Yes, well luckily for me, neither of you decide. I'm going downstairs."
"I suppose we could transform the armchair in the corner, make it a bit more comfortable, add a foot stool maybe?" Remus suggested, eyeing Severus' stony expression. "There is a small meeting this morning, everyone needs to know what happened of course."
"Exactly," Serena said, looking for Severus' reaction.
He scowled. "Very well, but only this morning, this afternoon you really should try and sleep."
She accepted the compromise and used Severus' arm and her stabilising stick to make her way slowly down the stairs.
Samuel and Max were eating breakfast and Serena was surprised to see Albus talking to Mad-Eye Moody at the table.
"Serena!" he got to his feet immediately and came to clasp her hand tightly. She could feel the darkness flowing through his body now, stemming from his hand and spreading, surely, beneath his robes. It was strange to feel such negative emotions from him. "I am so relieved you are well, Severus has told me everything, but we were so relieved he managed to save you. Come and sit down, my dear. Your injuries were quite terrible, I believe."
Severus had already transfigured the armchair into a bigger chair with a more reclined back. A matching footstool now sat next to it.
She winced as she bent her knees to sit back into it and was grateful when Severus lifted her legs one at a time onto the stool.
"Stay," he said to her firmly, glaring at her, whilst he went to sort out breakfast.
Remus snorted and raised his eyebrows as Severus stalked off the fridge. "This must be the first time I'm going to see Snape cooking."
"I don't think toast and apple juice is cooking," she countered, "and you'd be surprised to know that Severus is a wonderful cook. Now let me see my God Daughter, hey beautiful! Gosh you are looking so smart today, Daddy did a good job dressing you!" She squeezed her little purple boots and stroked her dark blue dungarees. "What are your plans today?"
"Meeting this morning, and then this afternoon we're heading to the muggle library up the road there with Samuel and Max. They've got a soft play area and loads of books for the kids."
"Cool," she smiled. They watched as Tonks, Mundungus and the Weasleys came in to the kitchen, and as the group approached Serena, Remus left them to it.
She reassured them all that she was fine and thanked them for their concern, but was grateful when Severus' sudden presence made them all scatter and move to the table.
Severus pressed the plate of toast and glass of juice into her hand, scowling.
"Thank you," she said softly.
He grunted and straightened up, pulling his black cloak around him tightly and letting his face become completely impassive and unreadable.
She nibbled on her toast to keep Severus happy and drank her juice whilst the others arrived.
When everyone was assembled in the kitchen, Albus sat down at his usual place and began the meeting.
Once more, Serena found herself at the centre of many people's interests, and the target of their curious regards. Severus was leaning against the wall next to her chair, looking positively bored, although she knew it was all a charade. She could feel the tension radiating off his body even at a distance.
"Obviously, we are all extremely relieved to see Serena here and well today," Albus said warmly, smiling at her. "And I would like to thank everyone for their reactivity yesterday. The emergency plans we had practised clearly worked, the available Order members were assembled in less than fifteen minutes."
"You called an emergency meeting?" Serena interrupted, startled.
"Of course we did," Molly said in a high voice, "Arthur saw you walking off with that Death Eater, Severus sent him a patronus, we alerted Albus immediately and he sent out the call. Alastor was briefing the rescue teams when, well, when you both came back," she finished rather abruptly, looking at Severus and then quickly looking away again as though she was scared to make eye contact.
Serena sensed something strange in her tone of voice, but Albus had continued and was now asking her to tell her version of the story.
She tried to sit up a little straighter and looked decidedly at Albus, ignoring the others.
"I was in Diagon Alley, accompanying the Weasleys and Hagrid with the children. I was at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and then next minute he's poking his wand in my back and threatening to blow everyone up if I didn't do what he said. He disarmed me, cast the imperius curse and made me walk to the apparition point." Her voice was cold and clinical and she couldn't stop the images of a court room and a prisoner, as her mind made the link to when she had testified against Crouch. She shivered. "I was apparated directly into a cell. No idea where, no windows, just a door leading to some sort of corridor. And then, luckily, Severus found me and got me out of there."
She didn't want to talk about being tortured. She didn't want to explain how Severus had found her. Or that he knew where she had been held. And she didn't want them to know that he had killed her Father.
Unfortunately, Albus and the Order didn't agree.
"So, Severus, if you could debrief," Albus said, looking at him with piercing eyes.
Severus gave a curt nod. "I knew Serena was in danger and contacted Arthur, but she had already been taken… Luckily, I had been summoned earlier that afternoon, and was able to intercept Lake and Serena before anyone else became aware of the situation. I apparated her out of there and went back to… tie up loose ends…"
Moody snorted. "Spit it out."
"How did you know she was in danger?" Arthur asked curiously.
"But where was she being held?" Tonks asked, frowning.
Severus surveyed the three of them and blinked. "That is all I am willing to say on the subject."
The whole group erupted into protests, looking between Albus and Severus with furious expressions on their faces.
"Knowing where she was could significantly help the Order-"
"We know that there are certain things Severus is secret-bound not to tell us," Albus said calmly. "He shares everything he can, but we must not risk his position."
"Well surely he can tell us how he knew you were in danger," Tonks said directly to Serena.
"It's got nothing to do with anyone of you," she said quietly. "I can assure you that it is of no consequence or use to the Order. It is private and will remain so."
Tonks glared at her, but Moody cleared his throat and looked at Severus unwaveringly.
"Did you kill him?"
There was a long silence, and then Severus inclined his head, his eyes on Moody.
"Good," Moody said roughly. "One less Death Eater running about."
Serena couldn't block out the looks of shock they sent Severus as they learnt that he had killed someone the previous day.
"Of course he killed him," Serena said sharply. "He was torturing me. Severus didn't have a choice. It was me or him."
It wasn't exactly the whole truth, but it certainly made Severus sound more like a hero than a murderer.
"Well thank God he did," Remus said quietly, showing his support subtly.
Serena gave him a small smile and luckily, Albus began talking about their rescue plan and security in Diagon Alley.
The meeting only lasted another half an hour, and when most of the people got up to leave, Serena sat up too.
"Let's go upstairs," she muttered quietly, turning to Severus, but when she looked at him he was tense and rigid and she recognised the tell-tale signs immediately. She looked him straight in the eye and pushed her thoughts towards him.
You're being summoned?
Yes, he replied in her mind.
Do you think He knows?" she asked, suddenly panicked. What if the Dark Lord knew what had happened? What if he knew Serena had been there and that Severus had apparated her away? Or suspected Severus of killing a Death Eater?
No, of course not, he replied firmly. He's too insignificant to be missed so quickly.
She thought about that for a moment, wondering whether he was being brave to protect her, and then nodded. Go, be safe.
Severus straightened up and pulled his black cloak tighter around his body.
"Get some sleep," he said quietly, before following the others out of the room to the front door.
Serena watched him leave, feeling slightly dizzy. Was Severus going to be punished for saving her? Even though the Dark Lord may never know exactly what went on and why, he was still the most powerful wizard alive. Surely, surely, he must know something was amiss. He would hear whispers or read it in minds. He must have spies everywhere, had someone seen them leaving Diagon Alley together? Had another Death Eater seen him apparate with her into the cells of Malfoy Manor? Had another seen or heard Severus disappear from whatever meeting was being held?
Serena watched as several other Order members left, giving her an encouraging smile or a polite wave.
She didn't need to be an Occlumens to see suspicion in their eyes. Something had changed in the last couple of months since Sirius' death. There was something about Serena's story that they just didn't like, and they were too narrowminded and selfish to understand why Severus couldn't give them anymore information. Of course he knew where all the prisoners were being held, and many, hidden in other locations, had been freed because of his knowledge, but the Order would never know how much he sacrificed… Severus didn't want them to, and she was pretty sure that they didn't want to know either.
She winced as her bones ached and reminded her quite suddenly of what she had been through. She needed to get back to her room before the pain became too much, physically and mentally.
She heaved one leg to the floor and then the other and reached for her stick. In a heartbeat, Samuel was by her side, offering his arm. She gave him a half-grateful, half-reproachful look. "Thanks," she said quietly, taking it and letting him pull her gently to her feet. Her knee joints ground uncomfortably and she took a few moments to steady herself.
"I'm fine from here," she insisted, not wanting to appear like an invalid in front of the others. "Really, I came down perfectly fine this morning, I promise to call you if I need help."
Samuel looked unhappy but nodded all the same and let go of her arm. "Okay. I'll come up and check in on you in an hour or two, okay?"
"Okay," she conceded. She walked as naturally as she could to the door and started climbing the handful of stairs that led to the hallway. Once she had made it to the top she had to rest, and she leaned against the wall heavily, listening to the conversation in the kitchen below. She didn't think much of it until she heard her name and her ears pricked up uncomfortably.
"You can't say that about Serena, it's not fair," Remus said softly, as Molly Weasley and Tonks tutted.
"Well you can't say it's not suspicious," Molly said briskly. "We have been trying to locate Ollivander to no avail, and suddenly, Serena goes missing and Snape has her back here in less than half an hour!"
"The place is secret kept," Moody's voice came roughly, "It's normal he can't give us any information about the whereabouts of it… but what I want to know is why hasn't he rescued Ollivander and Fortescue in the same way that he rescued her?"
"If he even rescued 'er." Serena was surprised to hear Mundungus Fletcher's voice.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Samuel's deep voice said warningly.
"Well, bit strange 'innit?" he continued, "I mean, she just walks off with a known Death Ea'er in Diagon Alley, 'n turns out to be 'er Daddy? Could 'ave bin a trick. Make Snape look like an 'ero?"
"This is ridiculous," Remus said calmly, "and unfair. You cannot possibly be accusing them of lying, you should all know better, and especially you Alastor. What you both went through at the hands of Crouch still haunts her nightmares. How dare you accuse her of making this up."
"Well Snape is definitely hiding something," Molly said confidently.
"Molly dear," she heard Arthur Weasley's calm voice. "Dumbledore trusts Snape, he always has-"
"Dumbledore has been known to make mistakes."
"And what about Serena?" Samuel said in his deep voice. "You can't honestly be saying that she is not on our side. That's just ridiculous!"
It was Molly that replied stiffly. "People will do anything for love. If that's even what it is."
There was a silence, but Serena didn't want to hear anymore. She knew who her real friends were.
She swallowed back bile as her cheeks burned hot red and quietly, she edged her way towards the main staircase and began heaving her body up the stairs one at a time. It took almost five minutes to get to the second floor, and when she finally locked and warded her bedroom and collapsed down onto the bed, she had a bitter taste of regret in her mouth.
This was the beginning of the end, she thought bitterly. Friends were turning against them, and in light of everything that was to come, perhaps they should let them. Perhaps moments like this would make everything more credible when the time came for Severus to turn against them all. With those dark thoughts floating through her mind forest, Serena drifted into an uneasy sleep.
