Author's Note:

Reviews and Comments: To Seriously Sam: Ron definitely knows Hermione's favourite spots. I always felt like Ron has great observation skills whether he realizes it or not. It's part of why he's so good at strategy. To alix33: Happy you always love the food descriptions lol. To scrappy8: Thanks. To Nightwing2013: I am enjoying writing Pansy more than I expected. To Ehsomaria: Thanks! I like the fluff. To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: Thanks. I like writing the Weasley brothers interactions. To Steelcode: Baking Gardening LOL. To speedsONEandONLY: Ha, Ron did just need a little snack before his school work LOL. Yes, Harry keeps the map with him. To WinkingSkeever: Thanks. To Nuno Neves: Hinny needed some time to themselves. And thank you, I also think the Ron/Percy bond is underrated. We'll see Draco and Zabini again, but not yet. To Wolf's scream: Voldemort does use Legilimency, yes, but there is still some things he needs more information from him on.

To ANewRanger: Aw, thanks! Theo definitely deserves all the praise! To Dianne: It was fun to switch the priorities line. Thanks for reading! To tim2604: Neville is definitely bringing back Hannah's self-confidence a little at a time, but it won't be easy. To Chintan: Thank you! As to the Animagus, yes and no. To Saz J: A cold shower? Just you wait! To thebiggestmyran: There will be no Harry/Daphne. To darkhk: Glad to hear it. To libs614: Thank you and we'll see where Pansy/Goyle's storyline goes. To Nyx: Thank you for saying this story should be canon! Ha, that story is amazing! Glad the fruit basket can give you a laugh in a real life situation as well. To pix25: I agree, Neville and Hannah are super cute together. To Smiley: Wow! Thank you for sticking with it and leaving me such a lovely review! To Krazyasibe: Thank you! To Rusty-malla Hayek: Won't be happening yet, but eventually. To Sloopyqueen4: Thanks, I'm enjoying writing Pansy and we'll see more Draco and Blaise soon. To Lady Scribat: Thank you! And there will be some more Remus/Harry coming up.

To GryffindorHealer: They did enjoy their sunlit day! To briana_t: Ron is a naughty boy and they both loved it! I feel like Goyle is totally supportive of her. To AQuickRead91: You think Pansy will outsmart the dark lord? We shall see. Neville and Hannah are getting along quite well, aren't they? To unlikelygalaxy: Thank you! And of course Theo calls them Hinny! To Cat: Thank you and well, we'll see Remus' reaction here. To Firebyrdjro87: It was Sorcha, not Zee. The song was Chì Mi Na Mòrbheanna. To Bosma18: Thanks for following for so long! To PurpleLotus: Love the hearts, but miss your thoughts! To Hang_OnA_Moment: Thanks for catching back up! Harry is slowly getting more powerful, yes, but he's not there yet. He's still only sixteen. And yes, thank God Crouch isn't privy to making Horcruxes as I agree, he would be even worse off.

My posting schedule: Weekly.

Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.

As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!

CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-ONE:

Remus put his bag in his office, closing the door behind him. He took two steps towards his desk when he felt the communication mirror vibrate in his pocket. When he pulled it out and saw Harry's face, he arched an eyebrow. "Hello, my missing student."

"Er, sorry," Harry said sheepishly. "I sorta fell asleep."

He looked up when Tonks came out of the fireplace. "Sorta fell asleep, eh?"

"Yeah," he said, his fingers running through his hair in a very James' like manner. "Ginny and I were out by the lake and we just fell asleep, Uncle Rem. Did I miss something important?"

"Everything I teach is important," Remus said, making Tonks roll her eyes in the background.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Rem," Harry said.

"I'll have to take house points off," Remus told him. "I can't have you skiving off whenever you feel like it."

"You skived off," Harry said. "You and Tonks both didn't go into work a few months ago."

"That was different and… fine, I won't take away any house points," Remus conceded. "But do as I say, not as I do."

Harry grinned. "Uncle Sirius used to say that. Have you become a bad influence then?"

Remus' golden eyes twinkled. "Brat. Listen, if I catch you skiving again, you'll not only have detention, but be grounded when you come home for the summer."

Harry grinned. "Deal. Will you tell me what I missed in class?"

"I'm sure Hermione will update you," Remus said. "No more missing class. Understood? Your education is important."

"Yes, Uncle Moony," Harry said, making Remus' lips curve.

"You okay otherwise?"

Harry nodded. "Yes. I just needed a little downtime and I guess I let myself get too relaxed."

"If you needed a moment to yourself, there's no shame in that and if you napped, you obviously needed the sleep."

"Yeah," he admitted. "Maybe. Any news about Fingal's Cave?"

"Nothing new, no," Remus said. "Go get dinner. I expect to see you in Defence Club in two hours."

When he put the mirror back in his pocket, he looked up at his wife. "Everything okay?"

Tonks moved over to kiss him, snuggling into his arms. "I just needed you."

Remus frowned, wrapping his arms tighter around his wife. "I'm here, Nymphadora."

Tonks pushed her face into his chest, staying there in his arms and not speaking. It made Remus a little worried, but her heart rate was normal and he didn't sense anything worrisome. She cuddled there for almost five minutes before she tilted her head back to look up at him.

"I do have some more news on Fingal's Cave."

Remus' eyebrow rose. He took her hand and led her over to his office chair, cradling her in his lap. "What happened? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she told him, linking her arms around his neck as he shifted her sideways to sit more comfortably. "I was in the office all day."

He nodded, his eyes on hers. "What did you find out?"

"I found the old case file for those missing witches. It was May of 1967."

Remus' hands tightened on where he was holding her legs. "Same year that Voldemort asked Dumbledore for a job."

Tonks nodded. "Tavish was right. There were two eighteen-year-old witches by the name of Williamina Walsh and Kelly Heart in Tobermory. They were best friends and former Hogwarts students. According to DMLE records and Alastor Moody, who worked the case, the two of them went out together on the ninth of May and never came home. A local barman claimed that he'd seen them talking to two men who were showing an interest in taking a night time tour of Fingal's Cave and looking for locals willing to help them out. The barman claimed the men were willing to pay fifty Galleons for a tour."

Remus closed his eyes. "Death Eaters?"

Tonks' fingers played with the short hairs at the nape of his neck. "They were flirting, dancing, laughing, and when the offer came up to go for the tour, they seemed interested. The barman claims they left his pub around eleven that night. The Knight Bus took them to Iona at midnight. A fisherman claims he saw two men leave the Isle of Staffa in the early dawn hours of the tenth of May."

"And the wolf connection?"

"The barman claims one of them was a werewolf named Fenrir Greyback," Tonks said.

Remus swallowed. "Of course it would be him."

"Moody told me that he and his partner at the time spoke to Archie Campbell, Tavish's father, when the girls went missing. Campbell said that the packs at the time were having trouble with a dark haired wolf named Bael."

Remus' jaw tensed. "So, Bael's been playing with Greyback for twenty years?"

Tonks kept her eyes on him. "Bael and Greyback are the two men who Campbell believes were seen leaving the Isle of Staffa. Heart showed up two weeks later, half starved and mad, claiming that dark magic had done things to her mind. Moody said it took St Mungo's four days just to get her to communicate and what she said didn't make much sense. She went on about seeing things, blood, and death. They had to have a Mind Healer use Legilimency on her and it showed Heart torturing and killing her best friend."

Remus frowned. "That doesn't sound right."

"Moody believes the memory was implanted. She was there, but she didn't do it. She was just forced to watch. The last thing she remembered was Walsh's body being strung upside down over a pedestal and blood coming out. The memory also showed Greyback biting Walsh. She was covered in werewolf bites and scratches all over her body; it was how the blood dripped out. They found Walsh's body torn up, signs of torture about a week later. It washed up on shore and some Muggle tourists stumbled across it."

"And they assumed wolves."

Tonks nodded. "And they were right too. It looked like a wild animal attack at first glance. Muggles claimed that she'd been attacked by a mountain lion or a pack of wolves. The WCU investigated and Campbell pushed back, claiming it wasn't his pack and none of his people. Rumours started circulating that werewolves were making blood sacrifices in the cave as a means of ending the curse upon them. Something about a way to stop them from transforming as if it could be done by some dark magic ritual. They never were able to apprehend Greyback or Bael or definitively identify them. Campbell said that another source claimed there were two more wizards there, on the edge of Heart's memory. But she never saw their faces, just Arabesque death masks."

"Death Eaters," Remus repeated. "So, he was there."

"Or at least his followers," Tonks supplied. "Do you think that he was planning on hiding the diadem there then?"

"Yes," Remus told her. "I think he expected to get the job at Hogwarts and be able to go back but when Dumbledore refused him… other things kept his attention and he assumed that he would go back for the diadem at a later time."

Tonks' fingers continued to play with the short hairs at the nape of his neck. "What they did to Walsh, Remus… it was beyond horrible. The photos and the descriptions of what they found in Heart's mind. Both girls were tortured, mentally and physically. It makes sense that Heart would have committed suicide. I don't know how she could have lived with those memories. Kids made stories up about the cave holding demons. People were scared."

"And they had reason to be," Remus agreed. "But now we know, he was there, but why? Why that place?"

"In March of that same year, the Daily Prophet printed an article about missing Jacobite gold. A wizard had claimed he'd found hints of the treasure's whereabouts on the Isle of Staffa. He claimed that the giants were protecting it and that Fingal's Cave was more than just a mystery. The paper printed a photo of the gold he'd found, a small chest full of gold coins and jewels," Tonks explained.

Remus looked pensive. "Something so simple to have caught his attention? He would have a need for wealth."

Tonks nodded. "Everything he has is from his followers. If he learned there might be a hint of truth to a great treasure hidden in the cave, it could have spurred an interest in him checking it out. Not to mention by exploring that cave it would help him learn some of the secrets of the giants."

"Dumbledore said the giants started working for Voldemort around the beginning of '68 so the timing would add up," he responded.

"I think it's enough proof to say that he was there," Tonks said.

"You're right and I think that you're right about the treasure as well. If Voldemort found something, it could be the first real time he considered it his own wealth, a place he could keep his treasures. He closed his Gringotts account before he disappeared from Borgin and Burkes. Any possessions he would have, he would need a place to store it. I think the cave is a real possibility, especially if he learned some of its secrets."

Tonks nuzzled into his neck. "The stuff he's done has spanned decades, Remus. How are we ever going to find out everything? How are we ever going to stop him?"

Remus cupped her cheek, lifting her face to kiss her. "We will stop him. This war will end."

She snuggled back into his chest. "Sometimes the days just seem longer than others."

Remus kissed the top of her head. "Do you want me to cancel Defence Club tonight? We can go home, relax in a nice hot bath, open a bottle of wine, eat some brownies?"

"Mmm, that sounds magnificent," Tonks said. "But you can't cancel on them just because I'm feeling drained."

"Okay. How about you go to my rooms here and have a lovely nap on that warm sofa of mine and when Defence Club is over, we'll go home and have that bath?"

Tonks kissed him. "I can get behind that one. Is there food involved?"

His lips curved. "Yes. Come on. I'll have the house elves bring us some dinner in my rooms."

Tonks stood up, taking his hand in hers when he stood next to her. "I'm going to talk to Moody tomorrow. He's meeting me for lunch and a pint at the pub across from the Ministry. I'm going to clarify the old case with him and then we'll tell Dumbledore and the rest of the Order."

Remus put his arm around her waist as they headed towards the door to his office. "That sounds like a solid plan. Who is going to lunch with you?"

"Moody. I'm meeting him there." At his arched brow, she sighed. "I'll take Higgins."

"Thank you," he said, kissing the top of her head.

"You know, I haven't received any new threats or gifts in almost a month now."

"I know," Remus told her. "And that worries me as well. Take Higgins."

He would feel better if her partner was there, at least until Moody arrived. He didn't want to admit to his wife how much it worried him that the threats and gifts had stopped just as much as they had begun. Greyback never backed off from prey once he set his eyes on them.

And Remus would rather let Greyback kill him than let him touch his wife.

~ ASC ~

Snape was trying to work with Horace Slughorn to the best of his abilities, but the man's jolly attitude and his constant need to have personal conversations with everyone about others was starting to grate his cheese. He knew that Slughorn wanted to work with him. He knew that Slughorn was bored and missed teaching.

And the worst part, he knew that Slughorn was a damn good teacher.

Snape had learned a lot from the man. He'd discovered his natural flare for potions around third year and then when he'd discovered Potter's book, he'd devoured it in interest. As much of a conceited, arrogant knob that James Potter was, Snape had to admit, his father was a Potions genius. Snape had learned so much from Fleamont's edits and he'd used the edits to branch off into his own ideas and his own potions. Getting his Potions license was one of the proudest days of his life.

But watching Slughorn try to fit into his teaching style was frustrating to say the least. They were nothing alike. Slughorn was patient, took his time to make sure each student understood the basics. Snape knew that he should offer this, but if a student had the talent, it showed. If they didn't, he figured they weren't going to learn it. The last thing he wanted to do was waste time with someone over it.

Teaching wasn't something he enjoyed, yet watching Slughorn take over for him, still annoyed him. But it annoyed him more that he still couldn't find the right opportunity to put the man under the Imperius Curse. No, that was a lie, he admitted. He had plenty of opportunities as of late, but he was stalling and he knew it.

He wanted to know why the Dark Lord needed his old professor under the influence. It didn't make sense to him and as much as Snape wanted to follow the Dark Lord's wishes, he despised doing something that he didn't truly understand. But it needed to happen and it had to happen soon because the Dark Lord was starting to lose his patience with him.

Snape tapped his fingers on his desk as he stared down at the papers he was supposed to be grading with zero interest in doing so. He rubbed his forehead as a headache was beginning to form there just as he heard movement in the doorway. Dumbledore stood there in bright blue robes covered in gold stars and Snape tried not to shake his head. Sometimes he had no idea where the man found these robes, but they always seemed to be more outrageous than the ones before.

"Albus," he said, standing up.

Dumbledore held out his hand to stop him. "No need to stand, Severus. I just wanted a few moments of your time."

Snape's eyebrow rose when the door to his office shut behind him. "Of course."

"You still haven't gone ahead with the plan."

It wasn't a question.

"I still don't fully understand the plan," Snape said, carefully. "It's not wise to move on it just yet."

"Horace has always been one of the greatest Potioneers I've met, but you are equally as talented, Severus. What does Horace have that you do not?"

Snape shook his head as Dumbledore sat in the seat across from him. "I don't know, that's why I haven't moved on with the plan. The Dark Lord just insists that it's vital that he speak with him."

Dumbledore frowned, looking at Snape over his half-moon spectacles in that way he had. Snape knew that Dumbledore was a supreme Legilimens and yet the man never attempted to invade his mind and still made him feel like he saw right through him at the same time. It was a skill he admired more than he was willing to admit.

"Well, I might have an idea concerning Horace, but first I've heard rumours of there being rumblings among the giants and not the literal kind."

Snape nodded. "Some of them are unhappy with the lack of results that the Dark Lord has been showing them. A few of the giants have aligned themselves with the Ministry in protest."

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "Mitchell Hoffman is quite the negotiator and his ability to speak Jötunn helps. Very few people have taught themselves that language. The two giants he did make an alliance with consider him a friend."

"The Dark Lord has promised the giants freedom, but he hasn't given them anything to prove that he can provide them with that freedom. Hoffman has helped the few giants who did come over to the Ministry. With his assistance, he helped them make a home somewhere with better access to food and shelter."

"Yes. That's part of what the giants want. When they were forced high up into the mountains, they lost their villages and their homes. The Ministry is willing to help build them a village in mountainous regions and to improve their livelihood as much as possible," Dumbledore explained. "They've been very responsive to it. Hoffman thinks that the Gurg might even be considering coming in for peace talks."

Snape's eyebrow rose. "Peace talks? This is the first that I'm hearing of it. The last I heard, the giants were still very much following the Dark Lord, even with the unrest they were feeling."

"It's only a rumour," Dumbledore said. "Hoffman has spoken to me about it. If they do decide to let us speak, he wants me to come with him. The best way to approach a peace offering is to offer a gift to show that we mean business and the two of us presenting the gift together would be a good show of faith."

"The giants are looking to make peace?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes. They've decided that they will at least listen to us. Hoffman is the agent they are dealing with from the Department of the Reconstruction and Cooperation with Magical Creatures and since I am Chief Mugwump of the Wizengamot and speak a little Jötunn myself, Hoffman thought my presence could be beneficial. Does Voldemort know that they're considering jumping ship?"

Snape's expression gave nothing away. "I'm not privy to all of his thoughts and ideas, Albus. What I am currently in charge of is letting him get to Horace."

Dumbledore looked pensive a moment. "I think I have an idea for that. What if Horace comes with me and Hoffman?"

Snape stared at him. "I'm not sure what exactly that will do to help me get him under the Imperius Curse?"

"It won't, but it might finally help me figure out why Voldemort wants Horace so badly to begin with. The man hasn't divulged anything about why Death Eaters were attacking him or why Voldemort wants information from him."

"He has information. I don't know what kind. But the Dark Lord says he needs to speak with him."

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "Horace was his head of house once upon a time, but I don't know what he would know that you wouldn't when it comes to Potions. No, I've suspected there's something that Horace has been hiding from me in terms of Voldemort for some time. It was too strange that Death Eaters were after him out of the blue. He's always been one to stay in the shadows. Tom did get along with him though. They were close once and Horace always had him around at his parties and get togethers and then he seemed to shy away from him. I always wondered if something had happened there… they had a falling out, perhaps?"

There was nothing that annoyed Snape more than when Dumbledore talked in riddles. He had no idea what asking Slughorn to attend the talk with the giants would even accomplish. "Okay, what does that have to do with the talk with the giants?"

"We both know if this talk goes through, there will be more than just giants present for it."

Snape knew that was true, but he still wasn't sure he understood.

The knock on the door made him turn and he wasn't surprised to see Slughorn come in.

"Ah, Severus! Good! I was hoping to talk with you about our seventh years."

"I'm afraid that will have to wait, Horace," Dumbledore said. "There's something that I'd like to speak with you about."

"Oh?" Slughorn asked, looking slightly startled to see Dumbledore in the room.

"There's talk of having peace talks with the giants and if it does happen, I would love to have you in attendance with me."

"Me?" Slughorn squeaked. "What would I do?"

"Horace, there's no one better at brewing perfect healing potions and if we're going to make a true alliance with them, promising them potions when they need to be healed or to get help in some way is a strong show of that support. If you were there with me I think we'd have an excellent chance at showing the Gurg that we are looking to make peace and to convince them to ally themselves with us, any extra support we can show them can only be in our favour."

Slughorn looked apprehensive. "Albus, I appreciate the faith you have in me, but I don't really think that I'm equipped to do something like that."

"No," Dumbledore said. "You're right. I don't know what I was thinking. Someone as important as you can hardly find the time to assist the Ministry with such an important task."

"Well, important might be saying too much," Slughorn said, chuckling.

"No, no!" Dumbledore insisted, waving Slughorn off. "A man of your stature can't be bothered to help with something like this. No, the Ministry knows how important you are and they knew that I was going to ask you. I warned them that you were too important, even as a retired professor, to be bothered about this. It's just that so many of your friends are high up in the Ministry and your reputation precedes you."

"The Ministry... Well, I suppose I do know a few people here and there. I taught Scrimgeour, you know, and almost all the Aurors they have working there. I do know a thing or two about potions, but helping with the giants, Severus might be a better choice."

"Yes," Dumbledore agreed. "You're absolutely right. They wanted you, of course, but naturally I told them not to bother even after they said something about an Order of Merlin if we're successful, but of course I understand why you would say no."

Slughorn's eyes widened. "An Order of... well, maybe I could offer my assistance, Dumbledore, after all, if the Ministry of Magic is insisting on my help it would be rude to turn them down, right?"

"Quite rude," Snape agreed, trying not to let his lips curve. Dumbledore really could flatter anyone, the old codger was a genius at manipulation.

"Oh, no," Dumbledore said. "I could never impose on you after you've already declined."

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing, Albus!"

Dumbledore's expression changed to surprise. "What am I doing, Horace? I'm only telling you what the Ministry told me."

Slughorn shook his finger. "Fine! I will go over my best potions and make a chest of them, but I'm only going to one meeting. Just one! I'm doing it as a favour to my old students and nothing more!"

"Horace, that would be wonderful. Thank you!" Dumbledore said. "You'll let me know as soon as you have something ready?"

Slughorn scoffed at him and turned to leave, muttering under his breath. "The Ministry asked for me personally, what a load of codswallop! But an Order of Merlin… and maybe I could charm some ingredients out of the Gurg? People would pay a pretty penny for some giant ingredients…"

Dumbledore smiled at Snape as the door closed behind Slughorn. "I'll keep you updated on how the potential talks go. In the meantime, try to find out what kind of information Slughorn has."

Snape scowled when Dumbledore left, feeling like he understood even less now than he did when he started. But the one thing that he did know was that watching Dumbledore work was always entertaining. He looked down at the letter on his desk, eyes on the writing and sighed.

There was still one thing he had to do before he could deal with Slughorn and it was time for him to stop putting it off.

~ ASC ~

Crouch watched Yaxley, Goyle, Crabbe, Belby, and Selwyn head inside of Selwyn Manor. He glanced around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary as they headed into the house. Once the door closed behind them, Selwyn dutifully checked to make sure that all of the wards were in place before he turned to them.

"It looks good. I'll have one of the elves prepare us some dinner and we can talk about our game plan."

Crouch licked his bottom lip. "Our game plan is to find the ingredients the Dark Lord needs. The apothecary in Zadar is one of the only ones in Europe who carries it."

"And we will," Selwyn said. "Doesn't mean we can't take a minute and have some fun to ourselves. We're all expecting fathers, we should get to have some fun. To celebrate our good swimmers."

Marcus Belby rolled his eyes. "I guess. The appointment with the owner of the shop isn't until tomorrow morning anyway. What did you have in mind?"

Selwyn grinned. "I was going to share Kata. The woman gives the best blow jobs."

Crouch's eyes narrowed. "You brought her with you? Did the Dark Lord authorize that?"

"Bart, learn to live a little! Kata is my whore and I will take her where I want to." He turned to the room and gestured to the stairs. "This is my home. Selena, Kata, and I all moved in here weeks ago. It's just that when I travel, I bring the whore with me. Go on up and find yourselves a place to stay for the night."

Yaxley moved to the cabinet to pour himself a drink. "And what of Selena, Wood?"

Selwyn shrugged. "She's around, but she won't disturb us."

Crouch looked doubtful.

Yaxley raised an eyebrow. "Let him have his whore, Bart. We're here to find the ingredients the Dark Lord needs. Snape is going to need more than he possesses to brew this potion for Dragomir."

"I heard that he wants Slughorn to brew it."

Yaxley nodded, bringing the glass of amber liquid to his lips. "Possibly. That's for later. Old Sluggy has a bit to answer for."

"What does he have to answer for?" Crouch asked, eagerly.

Selwyn helped himself to some of the whiskey as he spoke. "Sluggy was the Dark Lord's head of house. The way my father tells it, he knows things about the Dark Lord's powers; about his immortality."

Crouch's eyes flared. "He's special! His immortality is because he is our lord and master and we're not to question it! He would be angry if he found out that we were!"

"Bart, slow down!" Yaxley hissed. "We're not questioning it! We know what kind of power he has. We're just saying that Slughorn might know some of his secrets in gaining that power."

"You think that he taught it to him?"

Selwyn snorted. "Slughorn? Are you kidding? The man's a brilliant Potioneer, but he's not even close to the Dark Lord in brilliance or intelligence!"

Crouch looked relieved by that statement. "And what about you, Woodrow? Bringing that woman back here!"

Selwyn smiled. "Between me and Thaddeus she was moved around so much she doesn't even know where she is let alone what day it is. Bringing her back to Croatia is fine. Plus, I need a little release."

"Your young wife not providing that?" Yaxley mocked.

"Selena's good enough for me to knock up. She fights back, which I find rather exhilarating, but Kata enjoys me now. She's lost her fight."

Yaxley snorted, holding up his glass in salute. "You would do good to make nice to your new wives, all of you. They will surprise you in their usefulness. I don't know what I would do without Quella."

Crouch rolled his eyes. "My wives are whiny bitches. Once they give me my sons, the Dark Lord says that I can do what I like with them."

"Reconsider that, Bart," Yaxley said. "They may be whiny, but I'm telling you, they are more useful to you alive than dead. Young Goyle has learned that."

"Goyle would walk over hot coals for his bitch and I don't understand why. He's helping her open a shop in a time like this?" Selwyn exclaimed, shaking his head.

"He is," Yaxley said. "She wants to run a witch's clothing shop, he is giving her that opportunity which helps bring in money and will give the Dark Lord part of the profits. Do you two think that the new world will just be about sex and violence? The economy has to work for us to live. Having shops run by purebloods is a good start. Not to mention that letting her put up a shop keeps his wife out of his hair. He's smarter than he looks."

"That's not saying much," Selwyn said.

"But it's something," Yaxley insisted. "What are the rest of you doing with your wives? You've fucked them. You've planted your seed and now you just expect them to twiddle their thumbs until the babies come out? They're whiny bitches because you haven't given them a life. Show them that you appreciate them. Buy them a pretty dress or a new trinket; let them decorate a house or read a damn book... ask them what they want."

"I don't care what they want," Crouch said. "Hestia is beautiful and Millicent has great tits and an ugly face."

"There's more to them," Yaxley repeated. "Your life will become a lot simpler if you figure that out. Look at Bellatrix! Do you think that she would be where she is today if Rodolphus had treated her the way that you treat your wives?"

"Bellatrix is different," Crouch insisted. "She a force in herself."

"You don't know who isn't until you give them a chance. I'd start by returning their wands."

"No!" Crouch exclaimed. "One of those bitches would turn it on me!"

"Probably," Yaxley admitted. "But they're still young, they can't kill you. You have to give a little to get a little. That's all I'm saying. "

Selwyn looked intrigued, but Crouch looked outraged.

"Rab and I agreed to let our wives live together. I moved Millicent and Hestia into the Lestrange Manor in Paris so that they have Ophelia for company. The house elf keeps an eye on them and under Rabastan's orders keeps the house locked up," Crouch said. "We spend money on jewels and clothes for them. They have enough."

Yaxley finished his drink. "Think about doing more. Narcissa Malfoy was a great asset to Lucius. Her brains are part of a lot of his choices and decisions."

Crouch snorted. "That's why I killed the bitch! She thought she was too good for us! I wish I could have seen Lucius' face when he found out what I did to his little wife."

"Wives are more than property," Yaxley continued. "Or a broodmare. Think about that." That's all I'm saying."

Selwyen raised his glass. "Selena is the granddaughter of a Macnair, she might be more useful than I've given her credit for, I suppose."

Yaxley poured himself another drink. "Like I said, you might be surprised. I'm going upstairs to find a bed. After breakfast tomorrow we'll head out to the apothecary and see what we can find. Let Belby take the lead. He has potential and I'd like to see where he goes with it. He is a Ravenclaw after all."

He met Goyle on the top of the landing, leaning over the balcony and looking down at where they had been drinking.

"Did I say anything interesting?"

Goyle shrugged. "Some. Do you really think that I'm letting her open a shop to keep her busy?"

Yaxley stared at him for a long moment before he spoke. "I had an arranged marriage with my wife many years ago. I wouldn't have chosen her. Now, I cant imagine my life without her. I love her. You are in love with Pansy. You try to hide it. You try to just keep your head down and do as the Dark Lord asks, but really you just want to do things to make her happy."

"I don't want to hurt people," he admitted.

Yaxley placed a hand on his shoulder. "Most of us don't, Goyle. Keep your head up tomorrow and look intimidating. Things will work out for itself."

Goyle nodded.

"As to Kata, I'd stay far away from her if I were you. She's not as broken as Selwyn believes."

Goyle frowned at that as he watched Yaxley head into a room, closing the door behind him. He didn't think that he was ready to sleep so he headed downstairs and went out into the garden to take in some fresh air. By the time he came back in, Selwyn was raping a very pregnant Kata in the living room. He shielded his gaze and hurried past, wondering what it was that Yaxley had meant.

He got his answer an hour later when there was a knock on his bedroom door. He found the beautiful blonde standing there in an open silk robe and nothing else. Despite her growing seventh month belly, she was still breathtaking.

"Vood says I come suck? Yes?"

Goyle's face flushed. "Er, no. No thank you."

She looked relieved before she caught herself. She said something in Croatian that he didn't understand.

"You speak the language," he said, surprised.

Kata looked up at him. "I vas born here."

Greg nodded. He wasn't sure how long he stared at her but when she spoke next it startled him.

"Luka has given up on me."

"Who?"

"My husband," she said, tears in her eyes.

Greg wasn't sure how to answer that.

Her sad eyes met his. "If your voman vas taken vhile pregnant vith your child, then the child killed and your voman raped so often that she had to do vhatever they liked just to survive, causing her to become pregnant vith another man's child, vould you still vant her? Sometimes I vonder vhy I even bother to fight."

Greg swallowed. The thought of someone doing that to Pansy was unthinkable. But she would still be Pansy. He thought about what she said and he nodded. "Yes. I would still want her."

Kata closed her robe and covered herself. "Then you're one of a kind."

When the door closed behind her, he frowned and wondered how long ago it had been since this woman had been taken.

He got his answer the next morning. Her photo was hanging in a shop window on their way to the apothecary with a reward of ten thousand Galleons. He didn't understand the words, but he recognized the name underneath: Luka Novak. Kata had said his name last night.

Greg wasn't sure when he had consciously made the decision, but after being an imposing figure in the apothecary long enough that the man got them the ingredients they needed and sent them off to find the one they didn't have, he was already moving. He said that he wanted to buy a trinket for his wife and they left him alone. He waited for them to leave before he took the poster inside and asked the man what it said.

The poster claimed the Auror Luka Novak had been looking for his missing, pregnant wife for over two years. He was offering a ten thousand Galleon award for any witch or wizard who returned her to him. Greg thanked the man and headed back into the market. He wandered around the shops, not understanding what anyone was saying as he thought about the woman's words the night before; the fear that her husband had given up on her. He suddenly felt an urge to tell her that he hadn't, that he was still looking for her even after all this time.

He found the pear-shaped emerald necklace while he was thinking and he knew that Pansy would love it. He bought it and kept walking, still thinking about the poster. He wondered what he would do if someone took Pansy from him. Of course, he was going to let her go. He would divorce her after the baby was born, after all of this was… Greg was going to let her have the life she wanted. He would make sure that she was taken care of first and foremost, that she had her dream. He knew that she didn't want him like that and she deserved the chance to find the man of her dreams. He was going to help her get that.

But if someone took her, held her hostage the way Kata was… he would never give up on her. Not until she was found, no matter what.

When he returned to Selwyn Manor, he showed Yaxley the necklace. The man slapped him on the back and told him that it was nice to see he knew the necessities of keeping his wife happy.

The next morning, the five of them met with the man from the black market, looking for the last ingredients. He was asking an astronomical amount of money for it. Yaxley tried to talk him down, but he was insistent. It was too rare and he couldn't let it go for anything less.

Greg grabbed the man by the throat, pinning him up with one hand against the wall so that his legs dangled above the ground. Crouch looked gleeful as he pointed his wand at the man's gut.

"The Dark Lord doesn't like blackmail," he hissed. "How badly do you like to breathe, dearie?"

The man gasped for breath and when Greg let go, he collapsed to the ground. He scrambled to his feet, reaching for his wand but Selwyn disarmed him just as Crabbe stepped forward, arms crossed in a menacing pose. Ten minutes later, they left with the last ingredient they needed.

Selwyn called Kata to him the moment they stepped into the manor, squeezing her arse in his hand and telling her that he was going to make her feel real good. Greg watched him take the woman upstairs, the poster still on his mind, and he wondered what Luka Novak would do if he ever found out that his wife was still alive.

~ ASC ~

Harry held Ginny's hand in his as they walked around the Quidditch pitch. He had just sent the rest of his team to the showers after a long Saturday morning practice. His team had done brilliantly and it meant that in two weeks they would play Ravenclaw for the Cup.

Ginny let go of his hand, skipping off in front of him and making his eyes move down to her perfect arse in the drawstring pants she wore. The Gryffindor sports bra tank revealed her navel and he mentally ticked off four more freckles at the base of her back.

Ginny turned around, her eyes glinting mischievously when she caught him staring at her arse. "See something you like, Captain?"

Harry deliberately kept his gaze on her bum as he answered. "Oh, definitely something I like."

She grinned and ran across the pitch, flipping into a cartwheel. "If you catch me, you can touch me."

Harry's eyes flashed before he was off. She ran across the pitch, zigzagging left and right, taunting him as he laughed. Every time he gained on her, she changed directions, making him stumble in his haste, her high ponytail bouncing behind her. Harry found himself laughing as they ran around and around. She made to run backwards, eyes dancing as she did so, but she caught her foot on the Quaffle Harry had yet to put away and started to topple backwards. Harry caught her just before she fell and they tumbled to the ground together.

"You okay?" he asked, his eyes full of concern as he landed on his bum and she fell on top of him.

"Yes. It was my fault, thinking that I could run backwards like some badass."

Harry's lips curved. "You are a badass." His hands moved down to cup her arse and she raised an eyebrow. "I did catch you," he said.

"I didn't mean that you were to literally catch me as I fell," she said.

"Yeah, but you know I always will."

Ginny's eyes softened. "Harry." She cupped his cheek in her hand and leaned in to kiss him.

Harry ran his hands up her back, sighing as she moved her body more over his. "I love you."

Ginny's blazing brown gaze met his before she lowered her lips. He held her close as they kissed, relishing in her long kisses and soft touches. They were only snogging a few moments before Harry pulled back, his eyes on hers.

"You know, we should do something."

Ginny sat up, her hands on his chest. "I thought we were doing something."

"I meant something, not just snogging."

Her hands slid up to his shoulders as he sat up next to her. "Do you not want to snog me?" At his look, she grinned. "What do you want to do? Go for a fly? Race around the pitch again?"

"I don't know exactly. I just feel like I haven't done anything special for you lately."

"Harry, I don't need you to do special things for me," she said. "Just being with you is enough."

He bit his lip. "Yeah, but boyfriends are supposed to do things for their girlfriends. Other than Hogsmeade trips, we haven't exactly had any real dates lately. We just hang out and snog or nap or get up to more interesting things."

"Well, we both know that Quidditch makes you a randy bugger," Ginny teased, nipping at his lips.

"I think that you have me confused with yourself. Who always accosts who after practice, Gin?"

Ginny's expression was completely innocent. "I have no idea what you're implying."

He grinned and kissed her. "How would you like to spend the afternoon, Ginny?"

Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck and began to plant open-mouthed kisses along his throat. "Snogging you senseless is a great start for me. We can always see where it leads."

He moaned as she sucked on the pulse in his throat. "Snogging is enough for you?"

Ginny's eyes met his as she answered. "No, Harry. You are more than enough for me. Anything else is just the extra sprinkles on top."

The slow smile that spread across his face, made her smile back at him. He was more than happy to spend his afternoon snogging her. Sometimes he still couldn't believe he was so lucky to have her in his life. Sometimes he still couldn't believe that she had chosen him. Her chocolate eyes were teasing as she smiled so he pinned her to the warm grass of the pitch and covered her body with his. Her arms came around him, hands roaming along his back as he moved one hand to her hip and the other cupping a breast as his lips met hers.

Harry knew there was nowhere else he wanted to be than with his lips on hers enjoying the sunlit day.

~ ASC ~

Greg, Yaxley, Selwyn, Crabbe, Belby, and Crouch spent three more days in Croatia. Selwyn declared that they had to finish organizing the ingredients and store them properly for portkey transport. Since one of the ingredients was the horn of an ice dragon, Greg thought that probably made sense.

"Does it have to stay cold?" Crabbe asked, his eyes on the horn that sat on the table.

Greg frowned, not sure. "It is cold."

"Yeah, but do we have to put a cooling charm on it to keep it that way?"

"No, stupid!" Belby declared, rolling his eyes. "The horn doesn't need to stay cold. What kind of moronic question is that? Are you part troll?"

Crabbe frowned, scratching his chin. "How am I supposed to know? Ice dragons are practically extinct!"

"That's a big word, Vince, sure you know what it means?" Belby said, sharply.

Crabbe made a rude hand gesture at the former Ravenclaw and plopped down into the chair. "We have the horn, we have those root things, and the general velvet ones."

"Degenia velebitica," Yaxley said. "We need the seeds from the flower. Goyle, be delicate when you remove them. Store each ingredient in its own box. We go back to Ireland tomorrow and I don't want anything touching another ingredient. Understood?"

Greg nodded and worked on removing the seeds.

Selwyn stretched his arm up over his head before he reached down to cup himself. "Who should I give this big gift, too? My wife or my mistress?"

"I couldn't care less whether you give your 'big' gift to Selena or Kata. Selena spends her time locked in this manor and you brought your whore here. Go play with one of them and let us get some work done," Yaxley said, eyeing Selwyn.

"I'll share," he offered.

Yaxley only stared at him. "We have work to do. Go."

Selwyn scurried off, calling for Kata and Greg frowned. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about that poster he had seen yesterday afternoon. The poster that offered a large reward just for information. The Auror who so desperately just wanted news of whether or not his wife was still alive. He kept thinking about it as he took the seeds out of the flowers, carefully packing the flowers and petrifying them in their current state in case the Dark Lord needed the rest of the plant. When he finished, he told Yaxley he was going to go for a walk and Yaxley waved him off.

He spent an hour walking around the village and he wasn't even aware that he'd done more than think about it until he was standing in an empty home nearby and using the Floo. A quick message at the Bulgarian Ministry had Novak stepping out into the home in mere moments. Greg stared at him a moment before he quickly explained where Kata was. The big, burly man began to cry, begging him to take him to her. Greg shook his head and told him that he would bring her him to the woods that night. Novak continued to sob as he agreed to the plan.

As Greg headed back to Selwyn Manor he wondered what exactly it was that he was doing. If Selwyn found out that he had helped her escape, there would be hell to pay. But he thought again of what the woman had said, of how her husband wouldn't want her now, and how she didn't know why she was still fighting. If if had been Pansy, he would make her promise to never give up.

After dinner, Yaxley, Belby, and Crouch went out to a gambling hall. Greg declined the invitation to the gambling hall and told them that he would rather go to bed. Crabbe asked to go, but Crouch refused him, claiming they needed him to guard the manor. Selwyn went to bed with Kata.

Greg waited for everyone to leave before he tried to formulate a plan. It was after eleven, when he finally heard Selwyn snoring. He tiptoed into the room where Selwyn was and found Kata naked in the bed next to him. She raised an eyebrow at him and he made a come hither gesture. The woman grabbed her silk robe and followed him into the hall. Greg tugged her into his bedroom, passing her one of his shirts and a pair of drawstring pants. She gave him a strange look, but put them on. They dwarfed her and she was forced to roll up the sweats at the waist and her ankles.

"Vhy are you making me dress like this?" she whispered. "Don't you vant me naked?"

Greg placed his finger over his lips in a shushing gesture before he took her hand and slowly led her down the stairs. Crabbe was stuffing his face with biscuits as he sat by the front door, a naughty magazine levitating in front of him. His wand on the floor next to him with his other hand down the front of his trousers. He didn't even look when the stair creaked.

Greg took her through the back and through the garden. The moment they reached the Apparition point, he pulled her to him and they appeared a moment later in the woods behind the manor.

"Vhere are you taking me?"

Greg didn't answer her. He just urged her to keep walking. The Selwyn manor was hidden from their view now.

Greg put a hand on her shoulder. "Luka is waiting."

Kata's eyes widened. "Vhat?"

"Kata?" a voice said in the distance.

Kata froze, one hand on her large stomach. "Luka?"

Then the burly man was running. He scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing and kissed her passionately, speaking in rapid Croatian. Greg stuffed his hands in his pockets and smiled.

Luka came forward, still carrying his wife, a bag of Galleons in his hands. "Take it, my friend."

"It's okay. No one can know. I don't need it."

"Take it. Buy your voman something to make her smile."

Then Luka put his arm around Kata, both of them crying as they headed out into the woods. Greg Apparated back into the wards and snuck back into the Manor. Crabbe was still stuffing his face as he seemed to be working himself up to another wank to the naughty magazine so, he headed back upstairs and into his room. He hid the gold in his cloak with the necklace that he'd bought Pansy that afternoon and wondered what would happen if they found out what he had done.

The rage on Selwyn's face the next morning was almost comical. Greg felt guilty letting Vince take the blame, but the idiot really had been the worst guard. Yaxley calmed him down by telling him that he still had a wife who was also having his child and that he had to let Kata go.

The paper proclaiming that Luka Novak had been reunited with his wife was enough to make Selwyn rage even more. Voldemort told him to get over it when they returned to England.

"She lost her use years ago, Woodrow. If you and Thaddeus had gotten rid of her after we used her child, this never would have happened. But you insisted on keeping her like a pet whore. You brought her back to her home country and you thought that she wouldn't try to escape? Your incompetence is upsetting." Voldemort declared.

He waved his wand and Selwyn fell to the ground, screaming as the torture curse ripped through him.

When Greg made it home that night, he found Pansy sleeping in the middle of their bed, one pillow in her arms and one between her legs. He sat on the edge of the bed, gently running his fingers down her arm, eyes on the swell of her stomach.

"Greg?" she murmured, dark lashes fluttering open. "You're back."

He nodded and handed her the bag of coin and the small red velvet box. She opened the box first, eyes widening at the elegant white gold chain with an emerald pear pendant surrounded by diamonds dangling from it.

"It's beautiful," she whispered. "What's the occasion?"

"It made me think of you," he said. His big fingers fumbled to put it on her, but when he finished he sighed, touching the pendant. "The money is for your shop."

Pansy frowned as she opened the velvet bag and her eyes widened. "Greg… there has to be ten thousand Galleons in here! Where did you get this?"

He hesitated. "Pansy, you know that no matter what I will protect you, right? If something happens and I'm not here... you can't give up. Even after the baby comes and we get divorced, I'll still always protect you."

She frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Promise me that you won't give up."

She looked like she wanted to argue but something in his expression must have changed her mind because instead she put the money on the nightstand and urged him to lie down with her. Once his arms were nestled around her, she spoke.

"I know that you'll protect me and our son. No matter what. I would never give up on that."

He inhaled the expensive shampoo she wore and closed his eyes. If anyone found out that he had been the one to free Kata, they would come for him. He had to make sure that no matter what happened, Pansy would be all right.

She was the only thing in his life that mattered.

~ ASC ~

Snape arrived at Avery Castle, ignoring the wolves who were outside keeping guard. His black cloak billowed out behind him as he stepped through into the throne room.

"Ah, Severus," Voldemort said, his arms rising in greeting. "Have you news for me?"

"Yes, my Lord," Snape said, bowing before him. "Dumbledore has convinced Slughorn to attend a meeting with the Gurg alongside him."

Voldemort's eyebrow rose. "A meeting with the Gurg? So, the old man is wiser than I give him credit for. When?"

"I don't know yet, my Lord. They are still working out the details," Snape informed him. "Are we losing the giants? Is that why you want them to meet?"

Voldemort's lips curved. "The giants know that I am their one true ally. I simply told them it would be wise to hear the Ministry out before making any final decisions."

Snape kept his expression perfectly blank. He wasn't sure he fully understood the Dark Lord's motives on that and it worried him. "I will present Slughorn to you after the meeting, my Lord."

Voldemort nodded. "Good. I need him to brew a very special potion for me, Severus."

"You don't think that I could brew it, my Lord?"

"Oh, I have no doubt that you could, but it takes a few days to be done properly and I have need of you elsewhere." At Snape's curt nod, he continued. "You'll be working on another potion after. We've brought a few new vampires over to our side from the VCE, it won't take much to turn more of them. Our army is only growing stronger every day."

"The attack went well?"

"Yes," Voldemort said. "Caleb and Montague did well there. We have a spy inside and Yaxley and Bart did very well in Croatia, despite losing Kata Novak. Woodrow was punished for that failure."

"Yes, my Lord."

Voldemort's red eyes gleamed. "I need you to head to Paris. Bart's wives have been moved there upon Rabastan's request. It seems that his wife is lonely and wanted some company. The three young women are staying there and need some new potion supplies to keep the babes healthy. Head over there and make sure they are appropriately supplied."

Snape nodded and left when he was dismissed. He took the unauthorized portkey handed to him and arrived a moment later in the Lestrange Manor, a large chateau on the edge of the city, overlooking the Seine River. The house elf that greeted him immediately led him into the parlour. He waited only a moment before Ophelia Rowle Lestrange entered the room.

She was dressed in a beautiful gown, decked out in jewels, as if she was getting ready to go to a ball. The almost five month pregnancy bump was barely noticeable in the folds of her dress. Her bottom lip was puffy and swollen and he could see that despite the makeup she wore, she had a black eye.

"Mistress Lestrange."

"Professor Snape," she said, moving into the room. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"I've come with your new potions. Did I interrupt you going out?"

Ophelia smiled, making her lip crack. "No, not at all. My husband likes me to dress nicely."

Snape nodded. He opened his chest, taking out the vials as he spoke. "I understand the two Mrs Crouches are here as well?"

"Yes," Ophelia said. "They will be down momentarily."

He heard movement behind him and when he turned, he saw Hestia and Millicent. Hestia was wearing a beautiful ball gown as well, but Millicent was wearing a bright blue silk blouse and black trousers.

"This is a lovely home," Snape said, not knowing what to say to these three young women.

Millicent scoffed. "A lovely prison, you mean?"

Snape stared at her. "It seems the three of you are together with an opportunity to have nice things."

"Does it look like we care about bloody nice things?" Millicent spat. "You just missed O's husband and let me tell you, she didn't get that fat lip from falling nor did Hestia break her arm by falling down the stairs."

"Millie! Stop it!" Ophelia exclaimed.

"Why? Your husband took off again with our husband! The two of them are as thick as thieves!"

Ophelia looked mildly horrified.

"Don't you want to know how she hurt her lip?" Millicent demanded.

"Millie!"

Millicent ignored her. "She put on a red dress and Rabastan told her that only whores wore red and slapped her across the face! His ring tore her lip."

"He apologized!" Ophelia exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Professor, it was my fault! I made him angry. He really didn't mean it. I — I know better."

"You know better?" Millicent exclaimed. "How can you just stand there and let him hit you? He used a stinging hex on your hands the other day because you didn't do what he asked of you! This morning he turned the blueberries in your porridge into glass and made you eat it! Ophelia, take a bloody look at yourself! This isn't us!"

Ophelia's bottom lip trembled. "I apologize for Millicent's outburst, Professor. She hasn't been sleeping and doesn't know what she's saying."

Millicent glared at her. "I know exactly what I'm saying. Professor, please, you have to get us out of here! It isn't safe for us here! You said that we would be safe now that we're pregnant, but we're not! He still forces Hestia and I to orally please him and Rabastan. They make us touch each other while they watch. Bart sodomized Ophelia last night because Rabastan told him that he could. They still rape us. Professor, please!"

Tears rolled down her cheeks and Snape let out a slow breath. "Let me have a look at that arm, Mistress Crouch."

"Hestia," she said, tears in her eyes as she cradled her left arm. "Please, Professor, please don't call me by that monster's name."

Snape didn't answer. He carefully examined her arm, mending it with his wand before he handed out the potions. "These potions will help keep you strong and the babies strong."

Ophelia accepted them and then left the room, claiming that she needed to get ready for when Rabastan came home. The moment she left, Snape put a privacy charm on the room.

"You two have to trust me."

"Ophelia thinks Rabastan loves her," Hestia whispered. "He's convinced her she deserves it. He tells her that she's beautiful and that he loves her and he spoils her. Then when he gets mad, he just… she thinks that she deserves it. The pain. Everything. She cries when he leaves her."

Snape pursed his lips. "Ophelia is… a challenge, but you two aren't."

Millicent sat up straighter, her eyes gleaming. "You'll get us out? You'll really help us?"

Snape's dark eyes met hers as she grabbed his hand. "I'm working on it. Watch Ophelia. You might not be able to trust her."

He removed the privacy charm and stood up just as Crouch and Lestrange came into the room.

"Snape! What a surprise!" Crouch exclaimed. "Did you come to play?"

"No, I came to make sure your wives are supplied with their pregnancy potions. They look like they're moving along well."

Crouch grabbed Hestia, putting his arm around her shoulders. "They are, aren't they? Carrying our strapping sons. Jealous?"

Snape didn't answer. He closed his potions chest and tucked it under his arm. "If either of you need any more potions or experience anymore nausea, let me know."

Rabastan had his hand on Millicent's arse as he spoke. "Where's Ophelia?"

"She went upstairs to make herself beautiful for you," Hestia whispered.

Rabastan smiled. "She's such a good wife. I'll have to reward her later. Snape, why don't you stay? Bart and I have taught our wives to do all sorts of naughty things. We'll share."

"I appreciate the offer," Snape said. "But I do have to return to Hogwarts."

"Perhaps another time then," Rabastan said, his hand slipping into Millicent's trousers to squeeze her behind. "Millie, darling, show me those tits of yours. I want to come all over them while your husband watches."

Millicent paled and Snape closed his eyes as he stepped out of the room. But all he saw behind his closed lids were the wide, terrified, and hopeful eyes of the young women he had just left behind.

~ ASC ~

Ted looked up when the charm signalled that someone had passed through the wards. He put the paper down, his eyes on his wife. "Are we expecting someone?"

Andromeda shook her head, putting her own book down. "No."

Ted grabbed his wand and stood up, tossing the paper down on the coffee table. "Stay here."

When she made to protest, he shot her a look and she sat back down. Ted moved to the front to glance out the window before he frowned.

"It's Snape."

"What?" Andromeda asked, jumping to her feet again. "Why on earth would Snape come here?"

"I know as much as you, Dromeda," Ted said before he opened the front door and headed down the walkway to meet him. "Snape, this is certainly an unexpected surprise."

Snape's expression gave nothing away as he spoke. "I would like to talk to you and your wife."

Ted crossed his arms in front of his chest, eyes on the dark ones before him. Snape looked just as surly and unpleasant as usual, but he knew how important he was to the Order. The question was: Why would he come to them? Ted knew that anything he and Andromeda could contribute in comparison to Snape working on the inside as a spy was mere peanuts. Not to mention that Snape hadn't spoken to them since they'd dropped the bombshell of helping Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini go into hiding before the new year. Ted waved his wand to lower the wards so that Snape could pass, his brow still furrowed.

"Come in. We'll talk inside."

Andromeda met them at the door, her wand in her hand. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, Dromeda. Snape apparently needs to speak with us."

He caught the surprise in his wife's eyes before she masked it. "Of course. I'll throw together some sandwiches."

"That's not necessary," Snape said as he followed her into the house.

"I insist," Andromeda told him, hurrying through the living room and into the kitchen. "It's about tea time anyway."

Ted gestured to the living room. "Please, have a seat. I'll get us a drink. Tea?"

Snape's dark gaze met his. "I'd prefer something stronger if you have it."

"Of course. Be right back."

Ted moved through the swinging door to the kitchen and wrapped his arms around his wife's waist from behind, his lips pressed to her ear.

"This is weird, right?"

"Yes!" she hissed under her breath. "We haven't seen nor spoken to him since he stormed out of the Order meeting like a petulant child months ago! I know that Dumbledore says that he'a vital to the operation, but I don't know if I truly trust him!"

Ted held her close. "Andromeda, is that your own judgement or is that reserved from Sirius' judgement?"

Andromeda's eyes softened. "They never liked each other."

"No," Ted agreed. "But, they both agreed to trust each other and we have to do the same."

Andromeda twitched her wand to continue to spread garlic spread on the baguettes before she added thick slices of the leftover ham she'd made the night before and fresh mozzarella cheese. "Fine, but I don't have to like him."

Ted kissed her cheek, chuckling. "I'm going to get us all glasses of Firewhiskey. I feel like this is an occasion for a big drink."

Andromeda turned to look at her husband. "Do you trust him, Edward?"

Ted took the glasses from the cupboard before his eyes met hers. "I trust Dumbledore. That's enough for me."

Andromeda nodded, her eyes softening. "That's enough for me too. I'll be right out."

Ted gave her a reassuring smile before he carried the three glasses into the living room and placed them on the table. Snape was sitting in the armchair near the fireplace, tapping his fingers on the arms of the chair. His dark eyes followed Ted as he moved to pick up the tumblr on the fireplace mantle. "So, Severus, what brings you by?"

Snape watched Ted pour Firewhiskey into the three glasses before he spoke. "It's not a social call. There's no need to make small talk."

"I like chit-chat," Ted said. "It tells a lot about a person."

"I don't," Snape retorted.

Ted's lips curved as he passed Snape the glass. "Like I said, it says a lot about a person."

Snape scowled into the glass before he took a sip. "I need to speak with you and your wife. I want to know more about how the two of you removed the Dark Mark from Zabini and Malfoy."

Andromeda came into the living room then with the tray full of mini sandwiches and biscuits, placing them on the living room table.

"How we removed the Mark?" Ted repeated.

Snape nodded. "Yes."

Andromeda sat on the love seat, her hand gripping her husband's when he sat next to her. "It wasn't easy."

"I gathered that," Snape said, dryly. "I never imagined it was possible. I've watched people die trying to do it. One Death Eater in the first war severed his own arm only to watch the Mark crawl up onto his shoulder. I thought it was impossible."

Ted helped himself to a sandwich before he spoke. "Why now? We told you this months ago and you rather vehemently denied it being possible."

Snape pursed his lips. "Situations change."

Andromeda stared at him. "You mean things have gotten worse?"

Snape sipped his Firewhiskey, his eyes on the liquid in his glass. "I'm the Head of Slytherin House. That might not mean much to some people, but I take that title very seriously. I'm not particularly fond of teaching and I do it only because it's part of the deal I made with Dumbledore many years ago when I first became his spy. Teaching students who have no desire to learn is… frustrating. But being the Head of House is different. These students depend on me and... I remember what it's like to not have someone around to help you when you need it."

"Are you trying to tell us that you care about them?" Andromeda exclaimed. "You who gave them the potions so that they could be raped without complaint?"

"As a spy I am forced to make decisions that I might not agree with, but in all fairness, the fertility potion was a blessing for them. Now that they're pregnant, those girls are safer than they were. The Dark Lord doesn't want any harm to come to the children."

Andromeda scoffed. "Making excuses for your actions doesn't make them excusable!"

Ted frowned. "Actually, Dromeda, I unfortunately see the sick logic in that."

Snape sighed. "Look, we all make choices that we're not proud of. I've made more than most, but I refuse to sit back and not do something when I have the chance. I tried to help Draco. I tried to get him to give the task over to me, to stop him from making a colossal mistake and hurting a friend who he considers a brother. He was too afraid for the safety of his parents, too worried about Nott to let me help him. Zabini... that boy's always been more clever than his own good. I underestimated him. I lumped him in with his mother and he turned out to be a surprise, but it was a surprise that kept Nott safe. I've watched those boys worry and fret over the Dark Lord and the directions that their families were pulling them in. The only thing that I could give them was my advice and to let them know that I was on their side."

"Were you?" Andromeda whispered.

Snape's eyes narrowed, lifting his sleeve to show the Mark on his forearm. "I never wanted this for them."

Ted's eyes fell on the gleaming tattoo that Snape had exposed at his words. "You tried to stop them from taking it."

"I did," Snape admitted. "I was lucky with Nott. I helped give him the ammunition he needed to get out from under his father's thumb and it didn't alarm the Dark Lord because he understood that I was being the boy's Head of House. I was doing my job by keeping him safe from his father."

"One good deed doesn't outweigh the many," Andromeda said, darkly.

"No," Snape replied. "It doesn't. But I'm hoping that with your help we can get a few more good deeds, as you call them, underway."

Ted's eyebrow rose. "How?"

Snape helped himself to a sandwich at Andromeda's urging before he answered. "Now that the newly married couples are all expecting, the Dark Lord has moved them out of the main base of operations, for the most part. His orders were for the pregnant ones to be left untouched and safe so that they can deliver healthy children when it's time. Relatively untouched, their husbands are still using them as they like of course, but the men are being used on missions and not around as much. About a month after the marriages, they were all given the Dark Mark."

"Were they given a choice?" Ted asked.

Snape nodded. "They were and they chose it. The Dark Lord painted a picture of his world and how he envisions it. A world where those pure of blood are treated as kings and queens and where those who follow him in this belief will be given riches beyond their wildest dreams. He can be very charming and persuasive. He's charismatic and he has a way with words that sway you into believing him. They all signed up quite willingly. The ones who were maybe a little hesitant, fell in line as they didn't see much of a choice in the matter given their current situations. But as I said, he's now using them as part of his missions. Sending them out to cause mayhem and destruction and let me tell you, some of them do not have that penchant for evil."

"For example?"

"Pritchard and Baddock," Snape continued. "The two of them can barely shave. They've impregnated their wives and now the Dark Lord has them training to create Inferi. He wants an army of the dead. Rabastan Lestrange taught them how to perform the killing curse followed by the necromancy resurrection curse and they've been going hunting. Baddock was instructed to kill an old witch who gave him hot cocoa and when he failed, Crouch tortured him. Pritchard killed her after seeing how Baddock's failure was received. They're being trained to kill and when they fail, they're tortured for that failure."

Andromeda exchanged a look with Ted. "And you think that if they can escape the Dark Mark, they would?"

Snape nodded. "I think some of them would, yes. They won't all be saved, I know that, but even if one of them was given the opportunity… I think they would choose it."

Ted's brow furrowed. "So, you want to know how to remove it?"

"No," Snape said. "I want to know if you know how to remove it. The less I know the better for all of us. If I take this chance, we'll have no more than a four hour window to do it. The Dark Lord has to believe they died or it will have failed."

Andromeda's eyes widened. "You want to get them out one by one?"

Snape nodded. "It won't be all at once. Salazar knows, it won't be as many as I'd like, but yes. I want to get some of them out. Some of the pregnant women, too, though that will be more of a challenge. The question is: Will you do it?"

Ted gripped his wife's fingers tightly in his own. "Yes."