When Veronica finally awoke from her restless sleep, all she could see through the slit high in the wall of her cell was darkness broken by dim starlight. Had she been asleep for a few hours or for a whole day? Casting the Patronus Charm without a wand had completely sapped her strength, so it wouldn't have surprised her if a whole day or more had passed. Thankfully, her Patronus serpent was still there, giving off a comforting silver glow, and keeping the dementors to their side of the cell.
It was time to take stock of her situation, but she was having trouble focusing-not for the pain in her right hand that had settled to a dull throb, but the increasingly uncomfortable pressure in her bladder. She almost laughed when she thought of how inconsiderate it was of her captors not to give her a chamber pot. "Perhaps this is Voldemort's Infamous Bladder Torture?" she joked to her motley companions.
Veronica longingly eyed one corner of the cell near the two dementors, but crossed her legs instead. She tried to set her mind to figuring out why Voldemort was using her to get to Severus, but the call of nature proved stronger. She met the sly black eyes of her Patronus and flushed with embarrassment. It followed her to the corner of the cell next to the dementors, but turned its head away while she took care of business.
After that, she was able to settle back down against the wall in relative comfort. Veronica thought of several possible reasons why Voldemort was holding her here, but only two seemed viable. Had Voldemort asked Severus to kill Dumbledore-the only wizard alive besides Balin who was a credible threat to him? Veronica knew in her heart that Severus would never do such a thing, even for her. Severus loved Dumbledore like a father. The other possibility seemed the most likely, but also the most unsettling: Voldemort wanted Severus to deliver Harry Potter to him in exchange for her. As soon as she allowed herself to think it, she knew it had to be the truth. Oh, gods... please, Severus, please don't... She scrambled to her feet. "I've got to get out of here."
Veronica stood in front of the heavy oak door and gathered up all the energy she could muster. "Reducto!" She expected the energy to come out her mouth as it had when she cast her Patronus, but instead it emerged-painfully-from her wand hand. The door bulged outward, then snapped back into place, sending her flying backward. In her alarm over what Severus might be planning for Harry, she had stupidly overlooked the presence of powerful charms and wards around the door preventing her escape. Before she could consider another way out, Veronica heard the bolt being slid back on the other side, then the door creaked open and Professor Balin entered her cell.
At the sight of her old professor, Veronica cried out and scuttled away from him to the far corner of the cell, her Patronus providing a constant barrier between her and the dementors. The dementors, somehow sensing an escape route despite their blindness, started to glide quickly towards the open door, but Balin stayed them with a word. He then pointed his wand at the door and slammed it shut.
Balin smiled as he approached her slowly, the glowing serpent lighting the wanton excitement in his eyes. The Patronus swung around and hissed at him, but it had no power to drive him away. Veronica's heart sank as her back finally bumped up against the far wall. Between the spells she had cast and her injury, her strength seemed to have left her. She had no energy left to fight him; still, she had to try. Veronica unwrapped her wand hand and pointed it in Balin's direction. "Protectio!" A spark came out of her hand, causing her to wince.
He took another step forward, but was blocked by an invisible barrier. Veronica closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Balin laughed with delight. "Very good, my angel. One of your inventions?"
"Just one of many," Veronica replied shakily, tucking her injured hand close to her body. "I suggest you stay the hell away from me!"
"Or you'll do what, exactly?" Balin asked, not the least bit troubled by her feeble warning. He snapped his fingers and took another step toward her, the invisible barrier suddenly gone.
"I've done a little checking up on you and I must say I am most impressed: former top Dark Arts researcher at the Madragora Institute for Magical Research; groundbreaking experiments in wandless magic-" He regarded her Patronus appreciatively. "Not to mention, a respected author and lecturer. You spent your whole life trying to understand me and my world. If I had a soul, I swear I would be deeply touched." He grinned lecherously. "Instead, I'm just incredibly randy."
Veronica's breath caught in her throat as an involuntary wave of anticipation fluttered in her stomach and traveled downward. No, I don't want this! she thought frantically, as if trying to convince herself. She raised her wand hand again, but Balin seized it, pressing his thumb into the stump that used to be her right forefinger. Veronica screamed in anguish.
Balin grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close. "You see, my dear Veronica, no matter what little tricks you come up with, I'll always be more powerful. You'll never be able to beat me." He kissed her hard on the mouth, wrapping his arms around her even tighter, his fingers digging painfully into her sides.
Veronica felt tears spring from her eyes as she tried to release herself from his grasp. How could I have ever wanted this? How could I have missed him when I had Severus? As Balin placed deep, excruciating bites on her neck, she stopped struggling and put her hands on his shoulders. "There's one more trick I know," she whispered in his ear.
"What's that, my angel?"
She brought up her knee as hard as she could into his groin. Balin backed away from her, doubled over in agony. "Learned that in a Muggle self-defense course for women. Never touch me again, you son of a bitch!" Before he could recover, Veronica ran to the door, but of course it was locked.
"CRUCIO!"
Veronica collapsed to the floor, but tried not to fight the curse, thereby lessening its effects slightly. After a few moments, the blinding pain stopped. She turned over onto her back and saw Balin limping toward her. Then she saw ropes shooting from the end of his wand.
"I don't mind doing this the hard way," he told her with a cruel smirk. "In fact, I rather like it the hard way."
She tried to rise, but the ropes entangled her arms and legs and threw her spread-eagled onto the cold stone floor. Then, Veronica heard the door being flung open.
"Rupert!" Voldemort boomed with rage. "I told you that you can have her only after I have the boy!"
The ropes binding Veronica's limbs were instantly released. She jumped to her feet and ran to the far corner of the cell, her Patronus surrounding her protectively. Oh, gods, I was right! Voldemort is after Harry!
Balin shot Veronica a look of anger and frustration, then made for the door.
"Disobey me one more time, Rupert..." Voldemort left his threat unspoken. The Dark Lord then glanced at Veronica's serpent Patronus, then turned back to Balin. "Take the dementors and lock them up in the next cell, then tell Wormtail to get our guest something to eat and drink. I understand you're a vegetarian, Veronica, is that correct?"
Veronica nodded and lowered her head in despair. She almost told him not to bother, since she was not the least bit hungry, but she knew that she needed all of her strength for the ordeal that was sure to come. As soon as Balin led the dementors out, her Patronus disappeared. Despite Voldemort's odd concern for her dietary preferences, she was sure he had the dementors moved in order to eliminate her only source of comfort.
Alone and terrified, Veronica prayed that Severus would do the right thing by not delivering Harry to Voldemort. She also hoped that her death would be a quick one.
*
"RONALD WEASLEY, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU-NO FIGHTING! I DON'T CARE WHAT THAT BOY SAID, YOUR FATHER AND I DIDN'T RAISE YOU TO ACT LIKE A LITTLE SAVAGE! JUST ONE MORE TOE OUT OF LINE, YOUNG MAN, AND WE'LL HAVE YOU OUT OF THAT SCHOOL SO FAST IT'LL MAKE YOU DIZZY..."
The Howler that had interrupted everyone's breakfast, finally finished screaming at Ron, then burst into flame. Ron had expected it and had taken precautions by nicking some cotton balls from the hospital wing, stuffing them in his ears. The rest of the Great Hall had to make do with their fingers.
Harry noticed that there was another letter in a plain white envelope, also from Mrs. Weasley. "Have a look at that one, Ron."
"WHAT?" Ron yelled.
With a sigh and a shake of her head, Hermione leaned over the table and pulled the cotton out of Ron's ears.
"Thanks, Hermione." Ron looked down and finally noticed the envelope. "What do you know, another letter." He opened it and read it out loud. "'Dear Ron, your father and I do not want you to worry about what that horrid Draco Malfoy said. We're fine and will continue to be fine, so no more fighting! The world is a violent enough place without you adding to it. A friend sent us a very useful spell yesterday that will protect the Burrow quite nicely-just in case. Love, Mum and Dad. PS: No more fighting!!'" Ron shoved the letter in his robe pocket. "Who do you suppose this friend was?"
"Professor McGonagall?" Hermione offered. "Or maybe Dumbledore? What do you think Harry?"
Harry had stopped listening. He felt someone watching him and turned around, just before Professor Snape looked away. Snape had that familiar look of loathing on his face Harry had almost become accustomed to over the last five years, but there was something else in his expression that Harry couldn't quite identify. Whatever it was, it made him feel very uneasy.
*
While Severus waited for Voldemort's call, he found it impossible to concentrate on his work. At least two or three times an hour, he pulled the Dead or Alive Charm from his pocket to make certain it still glowed pink, but this small tie to Veronica was not enough to ease the pain in his heart. A few days ago, he wouldn't have thought it possible to miss someone this much. He refused to even think of how he would manage to go on if he failed to rescue her. It just wasn't an option. He would get her back or die trying. Thankfully, the staff-including Dumbledore-stayed out of his way, easily sensing that his mood was more foul than it ever had been before; his students quickly recovered from any feelings of pity they had felt for him and wisely began using the Anti-Bully Charm again before Potions class.
The night before he was due to betray everything he had worked and fought for by trading Potter for Veronica, Severus wandered the castle for hours, avoiding the one place he wanted to go, but finally, sometime after midnight, he let himself into Veronica's room.
The fire had obviously not been lit since her disappearance, because the room was bitterly cold. He lit it with his wand and sat down on the sofa, self-consciously trying to recall the last time they were cuddling here together. He rose, wandered over to the mantle and picked up a photograph of Veronica and her father. It must have been taken at Christmas, for she was waving her Nimbus Two Thousand Two and smiling happily.
An illicit idea suddenly occurred to him. The Shadow Lover Spell was a mild bit of Dark Magic Severus knew he shouldn't attempt, but it was something that could possibly provide him with a few moments' comfort. He removed the photograph from its frame and cut it in half using a Severing Charm. He put the half with her father and the frame back on the mantle, holding onto Veronica's half. He took a few tentative steps towards her wardrobe, then become bolder. He opened the door, reached for the maroon robe he had purchased for her in Diagon Alley and laid it out on the bed, placing the photograph of her on top of it. His desperation overcoming any feelings of guilt, he went to her bathroom and pulled a few strands of hair from her hairbrush and added it to the photograph and robe.
Severus pointed his wand at the pile. "Amorus Umbra!" The hair sizzled and burned, the photograph became three-dimensional and snaked itself inside the neck hole of the robe. A moment later, the robe began to take on the contours of Veronica's body, then Veronica's head popped through the neck hole, her beloved face framed by wild brown curls.
Shadow Veronica beamed at him lovingly, bolted to her feet and threw her arms around him. Severus held her more tightly than he would have the real Veronica, gratefully taking in the clean smell of her hair. The aching in his heart left him for a few seconds as he lost himself in the feel of her body against his. When he withdrew, the Shadow stroked his cheek. "Oh, my poor darling. You're tense."
He snorted with amusement at that vast understatement. "Really?" he remarked sarcastically. "How can you tell?"
"Well, that vein next to your temple that looks like it's about to burst out of your head gave me a clue," she replied matter-of-factly. Before he could object, she took his arm and made him sit down on the bed. She climbed up and knelt behind him, then started to massage his shoulders.
The Shadow was less a replica of the object of affection and more a product of the desires of the caster, which explained the fact that her massage felt absolutely smashing. This is wrong. He groaned with satisfaction when the Shadow worked out a particularly painful knot in his shoulder. Terribly, terribly wrong.
She peaked her head around and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Well, it won't hurt to let the little thing enjoy herself for a few minutes...She finished his massage, then hugged him close from behind and started running her hands across his chest. When she began to unbutton his robe, Severus snapped out of his fog. He grabbed the Shadow's hand and pulled her around to a sitting position next to him.
"I'm going to rescue you," he announced.
Shadow Veronica brushed back a lock of his hair from his face. "Of course you are, my love."
For the first time, Severus allowed himself to consider the consequences of his plan. "Naturally, we won't be able to return to Hogwarts," he said distractedly.
Shadow Veronica placed a few soft kisses on his lips. "I don't mind, as long as we're together."
"We'll be fugitives-from Voldemort as well as the Ministry of Magic."
"Oh Severus, it will be so romantic," she replied, throwing her arms around his neck.
"And of course," Severus said with a strange uneasiness, "Harry Potter will most assuredly die."
"Who cares?" the Shadow replied brightly. "You don't like him anyway."
Severus abruptly tired of the Shadow's vacuous presence. He pushed her away from him and waved his wand. Instantly, the Shadow disappeared, the empty robe and slightly singed photograph floated back onto the bed.
Severus swallowed hard. Veronica will never forgive me for sacrificing Potter. He pulled out the pink Dead or Alive Charm and set his jaw. I can live with that.
*
It had been two days since Professor Stanley's disappearance and Potions class was tenser than Harry ever remembered it. Only the Anti-Bully Charm prevented Snape from screaming at the entire class; even the Slytherins had used Stanley's charm today. While they worked on a particularly pungent Stinking Cankerwort Potion, Harry noticed Hermione watching Snape, who was holding what looked like a small crystal in his hand.
"Do you know what he's holding?" she whispered. Harry and Ron shook their heads. "It's a Dead or Alive Charm. As long as it's pink, she's still alive."
Harry was relieved to see that it was indeed pink, but when he thought about what was likely happening to Professor Stanley, any relief he felt was replaced with anger and a very sick feeling in his stomach.
"Poor Professor Snape," Hermione continued, "they seemed so happy. He must be absolutely heartbroken."
While Hermione was talking softly, Snape rose from his desk and marched over to the trio. "Miss Granger, you'd be surprised how well your grating voice carries in this dungeon. I suggest you keep your infantile opinions to yourself if you don't want double the amount of homework for you and your classmates." He bared his now white, but still uneven teeth in a snarl. "Ten points from Gryffindor."
Snape had guessed correctly that Hermione was the only one who had not used the Anti-Bully Charm before class, so was fair game for harassment. She blinked repeatedly and lowered her head.
Harry felt a sudden, inexplicable desire to say what he was thinking out loud. "She was defending you."
Snape's lips curled in an unpleasant smile as he fixed Harry with that same oddly menacing look that had made him feel so uneasy at breakfast yesterday. "For that outburst, Potter-detention. I have rat brains that need pickling after class."
Snape strode back to his desk and settled in his chair, a strange expression of calm now on his face. Ron nudged Harry in the ribs. "Why did you say that for?"
Harry shrugged, as perplexed as Ron. "I dunno."
*
Severus rubbed his left forearm absentmindedly as he watched the boy extract rat brains and put them into jars. Voldemort had sent the call half an hour ago, but Severus had to wait until at least dusk if he hoped to get Potter-who would soon be unconscious-past the Aurors and the Apparition barrier.
While Severus plotted how he would stun and kidnap the boy, he found himself thinking about how he had saved Potter from being thrown from his broom during the boy's first year at Hogwarts. Potter thought it was because his father, James, had saved Severus' life years ago. That was only part of the reason. His duty as one of the Order of the Phoenix included protecting the boy with his life. Potter was the Heir of Gryffindor; he was the one who would ultimately vanquish Voldemort when he became a full-fledged wizard. The boy's premature death would virtually assure Voldemort's conquest of the wizarding world, but Severus didn't care. For the first time in his life, a dear, sweet, wonderful woman loved him. He doubted that he deserved to be happy, but he knew that Veronica most certainly didn't deserve to die by Voldemort's evil hand.
He gazed at the singed photograph of Veronica he had taken from her room and was once again forced to consider what her reaction would be when she realized what he had done to save her. Not only would she never forgive him, Severus feared he would lose her love as well. From the moment Veronica started teaching at Hogwarts, she had made it clear to him that the welfare of her students came first-the most obvious example being her infernal Anti-Bully Charm.
Severus could live with her not forgiving him, he could even live with the possibility that she would cease to love him, but he found himself wondering if his love for her went beyond his selfish desire to have her alive at any cost. Was he somehow dishonoring Veronica by sacrificing Harry for her? His love for her suddenly demanded that he prove it in the most unbearable way. Severus had to make the choice he knew in his heart she would want him to make. "Potter," he choked.
The boy turned from the rat brains and looked at him quizzically. "Yes, Professor?"
Severus felt his heart break firmly in two. "Get out."
"But-"
His face twisted with grief, Severus sprang up, and with one swipe of his arm sent parchments, quills and candles flying off his desk and onto the floor. "GET OUT!"
*
Harry ripped off his gloves, grabbed his books and ran from the dungeon. He had seen Snape lose his temper many times during his five years at Hogwarts, but never like this. It frightened him as much as anything that had happened in the last few weeks.
As soon as he reached the stairs leading out of the dungeon, Harry stopped and pondered what Snape's disturbing behavior could mean. Certainly it was natural for him to be upset about Professor Stanley, but Harry suspected it was more than that. Since yesterday, Snape had been looking at him in the most disconcerting manner-it made him feel almost like... prey.
Harry dropped his books and sat down on the steps in shock as the realization hit him that he had just narrowly escaped being kidnapped. That's why Voldemort had taken Professor Stanley-to get to him. And Snape let me go!
He gathered his belongings, knowing that he should be grateful for Snape's change of heart, but stopped halfway up the stairs. Though Harry certainly had no intention of giving himself up to Voldemort, perhaps there was something he could do to help Snape get Professor Stanley back. It probably wasn't the wisest thing to do, but he knew that it was definitely the right thing to do. As he marched slowly back to the dungeon, he thought of something he'd read in a Muggle book once: 'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread'.
"I guess that makes me a great big fool," Harry said to no one in particular.
***