Chapter three: "Sacrifice"
Pyretta sat on a stone bench in the garden of her father's estate. It wasn't a very large garden but it housed many different exotic plants and flowers. It was by far her favorite place to be. She spent most of her time in there examining all the strange plants, but today she just focused on a rosebush.
Her thoughts traveled to the man she had met in Hogsmeade a week ago and the kiss they had shared. Her heart raced at the very thought of it all. She never had a man kiss her before, well not unless you counted the time that Lucius Malfoy(who was currently watching her) tried to feel her up! She had never felt this way before, Was it love!?! No, don't be silly! She told herself, For god's sake you don't even know his name! Pyretta sighed, what she wouldn't give just to see him again.
She heard footsteps approaching and turned around, a Death Eater was coming toward her. "What do you want?" She snapped(not really sure of who she was talking to.)
The Death Eater pulled a single red rose from the pocket of his robes.
"What the.."
"You forgot this my lady." Came a familiar voice. He reached up and took off his mask. it was the man she had met in the village. "Oh and in case you didn't catch it, the name is Severus Snape." He took her hand and kissed it softly.
Pyretta gasped, "What are you doing here? You'll be killed if they see you!"
Severus put his finger up to her lips. He lifted up the left sleeve of his robe. There starring at Pyretta like a beacon was a vivid red tattoo of a skull with a snake coming out of it's mouth. Her father's sign, the Dark Mark and it looked freshly burned into his skin.
Her father used this mark to call his followers. Whenever he would touch the mark on a Death Eater's arm all the others would burn and turn black. When this happened, they were to apparate by Voldemort's side. Pyretta had a similar tattoo except hers had a crown above the skull and she never had a choice to receive it.
"So you are a Death Eater now?" She had quickly turned very cold toward him, "You're now one of his brainwashed little cronies, ready to jump off a bridge at his command!"
Severus looked shocked. "If looks could kill."
"I hate my father and his followers!" Pyretta interrupted "I have no problems with muggles and half-bloods. I don't believe in all his nonsense about pure-blood, it's stupid!"
"I don't either."
"You don't what?"
"I don't care if someone is pure-blood or not."
"Oh really! Well you sure have a funny way of showing it!" She motioned to the mark on his arm.
"You think that's the reason I joined!?!" He laughed.
"It's not funny! STOP LAUGHING! Okay then if you don't care, why did you join?"
Severus lowered his voice to barely a whisper, his dark eyes fixed on hers. "You."
"ME.. Why me??"
"Clueless little thing you are." He laughed again "But once I saw you Pyretta I knew and I vowed to do anything to be with you!"
Pyretta was taken back "But I still don't." Severus cut her off by taking her into his arms and kissing her deeply. She felt senseless and lightheaded, she didn't want it to ever stop. Severus lifted his head away, she came to again. Still tight in his embrace, a harsh realization struck her. "My father," she said sadly.
"What about him?"
"He'll never allow this. He doesn't want me to feel love."
Severus smiled at her, "Don't worry, I've taken care of all that." He told her how Malfoy had convinced Voldemort that he was trustworthy and that he would be a good caretaker for Pyretta. "Lucius will be keeping everything quit."
"I don't know Severus, I don't really trust him."
"Do you trust me? Good, then that's all that matters."
Severus was set to guard Pyretta night and day. Pyretta of course, had no objection to this what-so-ever. She had fallen so deeply in love with him but she knew if her father ever found out, he would have Severus killed. He was risking his life for her love. One day, she thought, one day we'll be able to openly show our love for each other. One day we'll be free from my father and we'll live happily ever after just like in the fairy tales!
A great deal of their time they spent together(besides the time they spent kissing and what muggles called making-out), they would talk and dream about escaping her father and make a new live for themselves.
"Be patient Pyra, I know I can't wait either." Severus looked sadly into Pyretta's eyes. "Where ever we try and go now, your father would find us!"
"Severus, I just can't stand it anymore! I love you. this just isn't fair! I WANT TO KILL HIM!" Pyretta yelled.
"Don't say that Pyra! We knew how this was going to be when we got into it. You know perfectly well what will happen to you if you do kill him!"
"I know, I know, I'll become what he has. I just want us to have a life together!"
"We do have a life together already, just not the way we really pictured it."
"I don't know how much longer we can hold this out Sev! I think he might be catching on, my father has already noticed that my behavior has changed and the fact that I haven't complained once about you caring for me, he's bound to suspect something soon if he hasn't already." She looked up at Severus, he looked as though a light had just came on in his head.
"Pyra," (This was his new pet name for her.) "have you ever heard of a wizard named Dumbledore, Albus Dumbledore?"
"It sounds familiar. wait. oh yeah, my mother used to talk about him, fondly. If I remember correctly he was her transfiguration teacher. why?"
"He's been working against your father for some now. Surely Voldemort told you about this?"
"You know he tells me nothing!"
"Dumbledore is the headmaster at Hogwarts. I know him, he's a very powerful wizard, they say he's the only one your father is afraid of. He might be able to help us. it's worth a try. We'll go to see him tomorrow in the evening, I believe your father has something planned, he'll never know we were gone."
Severus took Pyretta into his arms and put her head to his chest. "Don't worry my love," he said in a silky whisper "it will all turn out, you'll see."
The next evening came slowly but surely and just as Severus had said Voldemort and his Death Eaters were out causing more terror.
"Everyone has gone." Severus just came back into Pyretta's room looking extremely pale. "I double checked everywhere, not one twit to be found!"
"Whatever my father has planned it must be major."
"Well lets worry about that later my love, we are working in a bit of a time frame you know."
They rushed of the grounds of the estate and dissappareted. Pyretta and Severus now found themselves a little ways outside of Hogsmeade, standing in front of large gate. Beyond the gate Pyretta could see what appeared to be a large and magnificent castle.
"Is this."
"Hogwarts, yes."
"My mother used to talk about it so much. She was so happy here."
"Darling, I love you but now is not exactly a great time to go strolling down memory lane." Severus muttered trying to figure out how to get in the locked gate. "Damn thing! Alohamora. just dandy. oh open up for god's sake!" He shook the gate bars.
They heard a loud barking coming toward them. A large boarhound came up to the gate, growling at them. Behind the dog came a larger, scruffy man caring a crossbow. "BACK FANG!" The large man boomed, "Who goes thar?"
"It's me Hagrid, Severus."
"Severus Snape? Blimey, haven't seen yer since yer graduated! Hang on a minute." He pulled out a large set of keys. He unlocked the gate and opened it for them.
Hagrid looked at Severus then to the woman standing next to him. His eyes widen as if he just saw a ghost. His mouth opened but nothing came out, finally he managed to find his voice. "Serenity. can it be???"
"Sorry, no. I'm Serenity's daughter Pyretta, did you know my mother?"
Hagrid slowly nodded his head trying to fight back tears.
"Hagrid, we need to see headmaster Dumbledore right away. It's a matter of great importance!" Severus pressed on.
"Right, follow me."
He lead them across the grounds to the main entrance of the school. Once inside, Pyretta marveled, trying to take everything in. Her mother used to go on forever about it. It was more wonderful then she had even imagined. The pictures would whisper to each other as they passed and Pyretta could swear that a staircase would move when they got off. She looked over at Severus who was still very pale, she was about to ask him if he was alright when a loud crackling laugh came out of nowhere.
A funny looking ghost appeared in front of them. He flipped over and hung upside down in mid-air. "Why if it isn't Slimy Slytherin Snape!" The ghost said in an annoying voice. "Still haven't learned to wash your hair yet I see?!?"
Severus barred his teeth looking quite murderous.
"Go on now Peeves, get out O' here 'fore I report yer to Dumbledore!" Hagrid boomed.
Peeves got very angry, blew a loud, wet raspberry at them and zoomed down the hall swearing loudly.
They started down a long corridor. Pyretta started to feel a bit jealous, she couldn't help it she had wanted to attend here ever since she was very little but her father wouldn't allow her. He felt it was to infested with mud-blood trash.
Hagrid suddenly stopped in front of a large stone gargoyle. "Can't never remember the ruddy password." He mumbled "hang on. got it now!" he cleared his throat "Jelly Slugs!"
The gargoyle sprang to life and moved to reveal a door. Hagrid ducked low to enter, Severus and Pyretta followed. They went up an escalator-like spiral staircase. Pyretta started to feel a bit queasy as it went higher, circling up and around. Severus looked as if he were about to vomit and poor Hagrid turned green and had his hand covering his mouth.
After a while they reached another door(It was a good thing too, because all three looked as if they were about to blow at any moment). Hagrid knocked, "Come in." came a warm voice from inside. The door opened by itself. Pyretta entered last, it was a grand circular room.
Pictures of old witches and wizards hung on the wall, snoozing. There were all kinds of different devices whizzing and whirling all over the room. A handsome red and gold phoenix sat on a perch by the door pruning itself. Pyretta was so busy admiring the room that she didn't hear Severus and Dumbledore talking.
"And who is your lady friend Severus?" Dumbledore asked finally catching Pyretta's attention. She turned around to face him and looked into his eyes, they were warm and friendly. "So we meet at last, how do you do Pyretta?"
Pyretta was stunned that he knew her, "How do you know my name?!? Sorry. what I meant is, uh."
Dumbledore chuckled. "It's quite alright my dear. You look so much like Serenity. except you have your father's eyes, the kind of eyes that command power and respect. Your mother and I kept in touch until she died. She informed me that you would be coming to live with your father, Lord Voldemort. I deeply expressed my concern for you but she assured me that you are a strong and unbreakable character, needless to say I've been most anxious to meet you."
Pyretta felt strangely comfortable around him, it was liking talking to an old friend. Her mother always talked about him in the highest regard, Pyretta instantly saw why.
"Please have a seat." He said as he motioned to two chairs in front of his desk. "Can I get you both tea?"
"No, thank you headmaster. We haven't much time and we have much to discuss."
"Alright then Severus," Dumbledore took a seat behind the desk "Please, go on."
Severus launched into the whole story on how he and Pyretta met and how Lucius Malfoy had convinced him to join so he could be with her and how they had to keep their love a secret.
Dumbledore listen intently to his story his eyes twinkled when the met Pyretta's. When Severus finished, he took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly. "Well Severus, I must commend you on your nobility. You must have a great love for each other."
"I love him with all that I am!" Pyretta blurted out the she turned slightly pink.
"You see our problem then Headmaster," Severus put his hand on Pyretta's "We want to have a life together, we desperately need your help."
Dumbledore sat back in his chair, fidgeting with his long white beard as he thought. After a short while he spoke again. "If I'm to help you, I'll be first be needing your help." He said calmly.
"Anything, anything at all, we'd be forever in your debt!"
"I just ask for your help not for you to be in my debt Pyretta." Dumbledore smiled at her then his face turned quite serious. "It won't be at all easy, but I need you both to collect information for me, sort of spies if you will. Severus, I trust the other Death Eaters believe you worthy enough to give you vital information, do they not?"
Severus nodded.
"And you Pyretta, being Lord Voldemort's daughter, are you able to get information directly from him?"
She shook her head, "He never tells me to much, although I do know some things. like all the names of the Death Eaters. He and I alone know all of them."
"It's a good start. Do you think if you play it up a little, make him truly believe that you are for his cause, do you think he would be willing to give you more information?"
Pyretta shrugged "I could try."
"Wonderful! I must however impress upon you two how difficult this will be. Are you willing the risks involved?"
"Whatever it takes Headmaster." Severus squeezed Pyretta's hand tightly.
"Very well, I hope to hear from you soon. It was a great pleasure finally meeting you Pyretta. Thank goodness you have your mother in you, I know she'd be very proud of you. She was an amazing and loving person and I counted myself lucky to have known her."
Hagrid sniffed loudly, tears streamed down his hairy face. "Sorry 'bout gettin' all broken up 'bout that!" He blew his nose in a handkerchief the size of a large T-shirt, "knew yer mum an' all! She were in Gryffindor too, two years 'o head 'o me but couldn't never meet ta sweeter person."
"There, there Hagrid." Dumbledore got up and patted him on his back. "It was nice seeing you again Severus, do take care. Oh Pyretta, before you leave I have a quick question. In the matter of the names of your father's followers, have you heard of anyone such as Remus Lupin?"
Snape barred his teeth, Pyretta shook her head.
"Sirius Black?"
Snape now clenched his fist tightly in anger. Pyretta gave him a puzzled look then turned back to Dumbledore and again shook her head.
"Peter Pettigrew?"
Snape looked completely digusted now.
"No, sorry I haven't heard of any such names." Pyretta looked strangely over at Severus, Dumbledore gave a small chuckle.
"Please my dear, if you happen to come across any of them will you come to me immediately?"
"yes I will."
"Thank you, be safe both of you. Hagrid, if you will please show them out."
Pyretta and Severus made it back to the estate a bit later then they expected but they were relieved that it still appeared to be deserted.
"Can you believe our luck?" Severus' face began to have a bit of color again. "I thought for certain we would not make it back in time!"
"Fate is smiling down on us Sev. She can have a wicked way about her sometimes but I truly believe that she is on our side now."
"That's very well and all but more importantly, do you think we have time?"
"Time for what my love?"
"Lets see, what do those muggles call it again. oh yes. making-out?" For the first time that night, his face broke into a true smile.
"We'd have to be quick about it."
"So what are we waiting for?!?" he chased her up the stairs and down the long, dark hall.
They stopped in front of her closed door. He took her into his arms and looked deeply into her beautiful chocolate brown eyes. "I love you Pyra." He whispered. His hand lightly caressed her cheek, he drew her face closer to his and kissed her lips gently. "Shall we proceed?" he opened the door, the room was pitch black. Severus took out his wand as they walked in and shut the door behind him. He waved his wand and muttered "Illuminatia." A dozen candles lit by themselves and the sight they now had caused their hearts to jump in their throats.
There standing in front of them in regal robes of black, silver and green was their worst nightmare. Lord Voldemort. His mad red eyes flashed murderously at them, an evil grin played upon his face, his wand pointed right at them.
"Well, well, well!" he began in a cruel hiss "and just where did you both venture tonight?"
Pyretta panicked "Father I swear, its not how it looks. it's, it's."
Voldemort pointed his wand at Pyretta then pointed it to the wall. Pyretta was picked up and thrown by an unseen force. She hit the wall hard then fell to the ground, moaning in pain. Voldemort now had his wand pointed at Severus.
"Explain!"
"Master, my lord, forgive me!" Severus' voice was quivering out of both fear and anger. He glanced over at Pyretta who was trying to get to her feet. "Please my lord, do not be angry with Pyretta. It was my idea, I thought since it was a warm night out that we'd go for a walk get some fresh air."
"And did the thought ever occur to you, you idiot boy, that you could've been seen?!?"
"Please forgive me master, I didn't think! I'm truly sorry, it will never happen again!"
"You're right, it won't happen again! CRUCIO!" he yelled.
Severus fell to the floor howling in pain and twitching uncontrollably.
"STOP IT FATHER! I SAID STOP! PLEASE FATHER STOP!" Pyretta was not to her feet but still very disorientated, her cries were drowned out by Severus' agonizing screams. She threw herself upon Severus, Voldemort stopped, his wild mad eyes fixed on them, his teeth barred. She held Severus tightly as he was breathing very hard and fast, tears streaming down face, a bit of blood was coming from his mouth.
Pyretta looked at her father, her face full of fury. She wanted to kill him, more now then she had wanted to in her life.
"So it's true?!?" Voldemort's voice was full of malice, "you have affections for one another! Let me see, how shall I deal with this? I think another lesson is in order!" he once again pointed his wand at Severus, "CRUCIO!"
Severus again began to scream and twitch in pain. Pyretta didn't know what to do, she knew it would be foolish to try and fight her father. Even though she was an ancient, almost being the age of seventeen, her powers were still not in full. She was not as powerful as her father.
She remembered a fable her mother told her about the oak tree and the pine tree. ( There was once an old oak tree and a pine tree caught in the middle of a hurricane. As the storms winds blew trying to knock the two trees over, the oak tree stood stiff and defiant, not willing to bend the slightest. But the pine bent and swayed with the wind. In the end, the oak was knocked down by the storm but the pine, even though it looked really weathered, was still standing.)
Be like the pine tree! She told herself as she held Severus, It will be over soon, hold on my love. She said to herself.
At last Lord Voldemort let up. "Never disobey me again or else you will suffer a fate much worse! Make no mistake about it Snape, you will parish if you even so much as look at my daughter again, do you understand?"
Severus couldn't move, he was barely breathing.
"ANSWER ME! IMPERIO!" He roared.
Severus lifted his head up and nodded "yes, my master." He said in a harsh whisper and his face hit the ground.
Voldemort exited the room. Three other Death Eaters enter. Two of them picked up Severus and dragged him out, the other remained in the room to guard Pyretta. She got up, went over to her bed, laid down and cried herself to sleep.
Pyretta sat on a stone bench in the garden of her father's estate. It wasn't a very large garden but it housed many different exotic plants and flowers. It was by far her favorite place to be. She spent most of her time in there examining all the strange plants, but today she just focused on a rosebush.
Her thoughts traveled to the man she had met in Hogsmeade a week ago and the kiss they had shared. Her heart raced at the very thought of it all. She never had a man kiss her before, well not unless you counted the time that Lucius Malfoy(who was currently watching her) tried to feel her up! She had never felt this way before, Was it love!?! No, don't be silly! She told herself, For god's sake you don't even know his name! Pyretta sighed, what she wouldn't give just to see him again.
She heard footsteps approaching and turned around, a Death Eater was coming toward her. "What do you want?" She snapped(not really sure of who she was talking to.)
The Death Eater pulled a single red rose from the pocket of his robes.
"What the.."
"You forgot this my lady." Came a familiar voice. He reached up and took off his mask. it was the man she had met in the village. "Oh and in case you didn't catch it, the name is Severus Snape." He took her hand and kissed it softly.
Pyretta gasped, "What are you doing here? You'll be killed if they see you!"
Severus put his finger up to her lips. He lifted up the left sleeve of his robe. There starring at Pyretta like a beacon was a vivid red tattoo of a skull with a snake coming out of it's mouth. Her father's sign, the Dark Mark and it looked freshly burned into his skin.
Her father used this mark to call his followers. Whenever he would touch the mark on a Death Eater's arm all the others would burn and turn black. When this happened, they were to apparate by Voldemort's side. Pyretta had a similar tattoo except hers had a crown above the skull and she never had a choice to receive it.
"So you are a Death Eater now?" She had quickly turned very cold toward him, "You're now one of his brainwashed little cronies, ready to jump off a bridge at his command!"
Severus looked shocked. "If looks could kill."
"I hate my father and his followers!" Pyretta interrupted "I have no problems with muggles and half-bloods. I don't believe in all his nonsense about pure-blood, it's stupid!"
"I don't either."
"You don't what?"
"I don't care if someone is pure-blood or not."
"Oh really! Well you sure have a funny way of showing it!" She motioned to the mark on his arm.
"You think that's the reason I joined!?!" He laughed.
"It's not funny! STOP LAUGHING! Okay then if you don't care, why did you join?"
Severus lowered his voice to barely a whisper, his dark eyes fixed on hers. "You."
"ME.. Why me??"
"Clueless little thing you are." He laughed again "But once I saw you Pyretta I knew and I vowed to do anything to be with you!"
Pyretta was taken back "But I still don't." Severus cut her off by taking her into his arms and kissing her deeply. She felt senseless and lightheaded, she didn't want it to ever stop. Severus lifted his head away, she came to again. Still tight in his embrace, a harsh realization struck her. "My father," she said sadly.
"What about him?"
"He'll never allow this. He doesn't want me to feel love."
Severus smiled at her, "Don't worry, I've taken care of all that." He told her how Malfoy had convinced Voldemort that he was trustworthy and that he would be a good caretaker for Pyretta. "Lucius will be keeping everything quit."
"I don't know Severus, I don't really trust him."
"Do you trust me? Good, then that's all that matters."
Severus was set to guard Pyretta night and day. Pyretta of course, had no objection to this what-so-ever. She had fallen so deeply in love with him but she knew if her father ever found out, he would have Severus killed. He was risking his life for her love. One day, she thought, one day we'll be able to openly show our love for each other. One day we'll be free from my father and we'll live happily ever after just like in the fairy tales!
A great deal of their time they spent together(besides the time they spent kissing and what muggles called making-out), they would talk and dream about escaping her father and make a new live for themselves.
"Be patient Pyra, I know I can't wait either." Severus looked sadly into Pyretta's eyes. "Where ever we try and go now, your father would find us!"
"Severus, I just can't stand it anymore! I love you. this just isn't fair! I WANT TO KILL HIM!" Pyretta yelled.
"Don't say that Pyra! We knew how this was going to be when we got into it. You know perfectly well what will happen to you if you do kill him!"
"I know, I know, I'll become what he has. I just want us to have a life together!"
"We do have a life together already, just not the way we really pictured it."
"I don't know how much longer we can hold this out Sev! I think he might be catching on, my father has already noticed that my behavior has changed and the fact that I haven't complained once about you caring for me, he's bound to suspect something soon if he hasn't already." She looked up at Severus, he looked as though a light had just came on in his head.
"Pyra," (This was his new pet name for her.) "have you ever heard of a wizard named Dumbledore, Albus Dumbledore?"
"It sounds familiar. wait. oh yeah, my mother used to talk about him, fondly. If I remember correctly he was her transfiguration teacher. why?"
"He's been working against your father for some now. Surely Voldemort told you about this?"
"You know he tells me nothing!"
"Dumbledore is the headmaster at Hogwarts. I know him, he's a very powerful wizard, they say he's the only one your father is afraid of. He might be able to help us. it's worth a try. We'll go to see him tomorrow in the evening, I believe your father has something planned, he'll never know we were gone."
Severus took Pyretta into his arms and put her head to his chest. "Don't worry my love," he said in a silky whisper "it will all turn out, you'll see."
The next evening came slowly but surely and just as Severus had said Voldemort and his Death Eaters were out causing more terror.
"Everyone has gone." Severus just came back into Pyretta's room looking extremely pale. "I double checked everywhere, not one twit to be found!"
"Whatever my father has planned it must be major."
"Well lets worry about that later my love, we are working in a bit of a time frame you know."
They rushed of the grounds of the estate and dissappareted. Pyretta and Severus now found themselves a little ways outside of Hogsmeade, standing in front of large gate. Beyond the gate Pyretta could see what appeared to be a large and magnificent castle.
"Is this."
"Hogwarts, yes."
"My mother used to talk about it so much. She was so happy here."
"Darling, I love you but now is not exactly a great time to go strolling down memory lane." Severus muttered trying to figure out how to get in the locked gate. "Damn thing! Alohamora. just dandy. oh open up for god's sake!" He shook the gate bars.
They heard a loud barking coming toward them. A large boarhound came up to the gate, growling at them. Behind the dog came a larger, scruffy man caring a crossbow. "BACK FANG!" The large man boomed, "Who goes thar?"
"It's me Hagrid, Severus."
"Severus Snape? Blimey, haven't seen yer since yer graduated! Hang on a minute." He pulled out a large set of keys. He unlocked the gate and opened it for them.
Hagrid looked at Severus then to the woman standing next to him. His eyes widen as if he just saw a ghost. His mouth opened but nothing came out, finally he managed to find his voice. "Serenity. can it be???"
"Sorry, no. I'm Serenity's daughter Pyretta, did you know my mother?"
Hagrid slowly nodded his head trying to fight back tears.
"Hagrid, we need to see headmaster Dumbledore right away. It's a matter of great importance!" Severus pressed on.
"Right, follow me."
He lead them across the grounds to the main entrance of the school. Once inside, Pyretta marveled, trying to take everything in. Her mother used to go on forever about it. It was more wonderful then she had even imagined. The pictures would whisper to each other as they passed and Pyretta could swear that a staircase would move when they got off. She looked over at Severus who was still very pale, she was about to ask him if he was alright when a loud crackling laugh came out of nowhere.
A funny looking ghost appeared in front of them. He flipped over and hung upside down in mid-air. "Why if it isn't Slimy Slytherin Snape!" The ghost said in an annoying voice. "Still haven't learned to wash your hair yet I see?!?"
Severus barred his teeth looking quite murderous.
"Go on now Peeves, get out O' here 'fore I report yer to Dumbledore!" Hagrid boomed.
Peeves got very angry, blew a loud, wet raspberry at them and zoomed down the hall swearing loudly.
They started down a long corridor. Pyretta started to feel a bit jealous, she couldn't help it she had wanted to attend here ever since she was very little but her father wouldn't allow her. He felt it was to infested with mud-blood trash.
Hagrid suddenly stopped in front of a large stone gargoyle. "Can't never remember the ruddy password." He mumbled "hang on. got it now!" he cleared his throat "Jelly Slugs!"
The gargoyle sprang to life and moved to reveal a door. Hagrid ducked low to enter, Severus and Pyretta followed. They went up an escalator-like spiral staircase. Pyretta started to feel a bit queasy as it went higher, circling up and around. Severus looked as if he were about to vomit and poor Hagrid turned green and had his hand covering his mouth.
After a while they reached another door(It was a good thing too, because all three looked as if they were about to blow at any moment). Hagrid knocked, "Come in." came a warm voice from inside. The door opened by itself. Pyretta entered last, it was a grand circular room.
Pictures of old witches and wizards hung on the wall, snoozing. There were all kinds of different devices whizzing and whirling all over the room. A handsome red and gold phoenix sat on a perch by the door pruning itself. Pyretta was so busy admiring the room that she didn't hear Severus and Dumbledore talking.
"And who is your lady friend Severus?" Dumbledore asked finally catching Pyretta's attention. She turned around to face him and looked into his eyes, they were warm and friendly. "So we meet at last, how do you do Pyretta?"
Pyretta was stunned that he knew her, "How do you know my name?!? Sorry. what I meant is, uh."
Dumbledore chuckled. "It's quite alright my dear. You look so much like Serenity. except you have your father's eyes, the kind of eyes that command power and respect. Your mother and I kept in touch until she died. She informed me that you would be coming to live with your father, Lord Voldemort. I deeply expressed my concern for you but she assured me that you are a strong and unbreakable character, needless to say I've been most anxious to meet you."
Pyretta felt strangely comfortable around him, it was liking talking to an old friend. Her mother always talked about him in the highest regard, Pyretta instantly saw why.
"Please have a seat." He said as he motioned to two chairs in front of his desk. "Can I get you both tea?"
"No, thank you headmaster. We haven't much time and we have much to discuss."
"Alright then Severus," Dumbledore took a seat behind the desk "Please, go on."
Severus launched into the whole story on how he and Pyretta met and how Lucius Malfoy had convinced him to join so he could be with her and how they had to keep their love a secret.
Dumbledore listen intently to his story his eyes twinkled when the met Pyretta's. When Severus finished, he took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly. "Well Severus, I must commend you on your nobility. You must have a great love for each other."
"I love him with all that I am!" Pyretta blurted out the she turned slightly pink.
"You see our problem then Headmaster," Severus put his hand on Pyretta's "We want to have a life together, we desperately need your help."
Dumbledore sat back in his chair, fidgeting with his long white beard as he thought. After a short while he spoke again. "If I'm to help you, I'll be first be needing your help." He said calmly.
"Anything, anything at all, we'd be forever in your debt!"
"I just ask for your help not for you to be in my debt Pyretta." Dumbledore smiled at her then his face turned quite serious. "It won't be at all easy, but I need you both to collect information for me, sort of spies if you will. Severus, I trust the other Death Eaters believe you worthy enough to give you vital information, do they not?"
Severus nodded.
"And you Pyretta, being Lord Voldemort's daughter, are you able to get information directly from him?"
She shook her head, "He never tells me to much, although I do know some things. like all the names of the Death Eaters. He and I alone know all of them."
"It's a good start. Do you think if you play it up a little, make him truly believe that you are for his cause, do you think he would be willing to give you more information?"
Pyretta shrugged "I could try."
"Wonderful! I must however impress upon you two how difficult this will be. Are you willing the risks involved?"
"Whatever it takes Headmaster." Severus squeezed Pyretta's hand tightly.
"Very well, I hope to hear from you soon. It was a great pleasure finally meeting you Pyretta. Thank goodness you have your mother in you, I know she'd be very proud of you. She was an amazing and loving person and I counted myself lucky to have known her."
Hagrid sniffed loudly, tears streamed down his hairy face. "Sorry 'bout gettin' all broken up 'bout that!" He blew his nose in a handkerchief the size of a large T-shirt, "knew yer mum an' all! She were in Gryffindor too, two years 'o head 'o me but couldn't never meet ta sweeter person."
"There, there Hagrid." Dumbledore got up and patted him on his back. "It was nice seeing you again Severus, do take care. Oh Pyretta, before you leave I have a quick question. In the matter of the names of your father's followers, have you heard of anyone such as Remus Lupin?"
Snape barred his teeth, Pyretta shook her head.
"Sirius Black?"
Snape now clenched his fist tightly in anger. Pyretta gave him a puzzled look then turned back to Dumbledore and again shook her head.
"Peter Pettigrew?"
Snape looked completely digusted now.
"No, sorry I haven't heard of any such names." Pyretta looked strangely over at Severus, Dumbledore gave a small chuckle.
"Please my dear, if you happen to come across any of them will you come to me immediately?"
"yes I will."
"Thank you, be safe both of you. Hagrid, if you will please show them out."
Pyretta and Severus made it back to the estate a bit later then they expected but they were relieved that it still appeared to be deserted.
"Can you believe our luck?" Severus' face began to have a bit of color again. "I thought for certain we would not make it back in time!"
"Fate is smiling down on us Sev. She can have a wicked way about her sometimes but I truly believe that she is on our side now."
"That's very well and all but more importantly, do you think we have time?"
"Time for what my love?"
"Lets see, what do those muggles call it again. oh yes. making-out?" For the first time that night, his face broke into a true smile.
"We'd have to be quick about it."
"So what are we waiting for?!?" he chased her up the stairs and down the long, dark hall.
They stopped in front of her closed door. He took her into his arms and looked deeply into her beautiful chocolate brown eyes. "I love you Pyra." He whispered. His hand lightly caressed her cheek, he drew her face closer to his and kissed her lips gently. "Shall we proceed?" he opened the door, the room was pitch black. Severus took out his wand as they walked in and shut the door behind him. He waved his wand and muttered "Illuminatia." A dozen candles lit by themselves and the sight they now had caused their hearts to jump in their throats.
There standing in front of them in regal robes of black, silver and green was their worst nightmare. Lord Voldemort. His mad red eyes flashed murderously at them, an evil grin played upon his face, his wand pointed right at them.
"Well, well, well!" he began in a cruel hiss "and just where did you both venture tonight?"
Pyretta panicked "Father I swear, its not how it looks. it's, it's."
Voldemort pointed his wand at Pyretta then pointed it to the wall. Pyretta was picked up and thrown by an unseen force. She hit the wall hard then fell to the ground, moaning in pain. Voldemort now had his wand pointed at Severus.
"Explain!"
"Master, my lord, forgive me!" Severus' voice was quivering out of both fear and anger. He glanced over at Pyretta who was trying to get to her feet. "Please my lord, do not be angry with Pyretta. It was my idea, I thought since it was a warm night out that we'd go for a walk get some fresh air."
"And did the thought ever occur to you, you idiot boy, that you could've been seen?!?"
"Please forgive me master, I didn't think! I'm truly sorry, it will never happen again!"
"You're right, it won't happen again! CRUCIO!" he yelled.
Severus fell to the floor howling in pain and twitching uncontrollably.
"STOP IT FATHER! I SAID STOP! PLEASE FATHER STOP!" Pyretta was not to her feet but still very disorientated, her cries were drowned out by Severus' agonizing screams. She threw herself upon Severus, Voldemort stopped, his wild mad eyes fixed on them, his teeth barred. She held Severus tightly as he was breathing very hard and fast, tears streaming down face, a bit of blood was coming from his mouth.
Pyretta looked at her father, her face full of fury. She wanted to kill him, more now then she had wanted to in her life.
"So it's true?!?" Voldemort's voice was full of malice, "you have affections for one another! Let me see, how shall I deal with this? I think another lesson is in order!" he once again pointed his wand at Severus, "CRUCIO!"
Severus again began to scream and twitch in pain. Pyretta didn't know what to do, she knew it would be foolish to try and fight her father. Even though she was an ancient, almost being the age of seventeen, her powers were still not in full. She was not as powerful as her father.
She remembered a fable her mother told her about the oak tree and the pine tree. ( There was once an old oak tree and a pine tree caught in the middle of a hurricane. As the storms winds blew trying to knock the two trees over, the oak tree stood stiff and defiant, not willing to bend the slightest. But the pine bent and swayed with the wind. In the end, the oak was knocked down by the storm but the pine, even though it looked really weathered, was still standing.)
Be like the pine tree! She told herself as she held Severus, It will be over soon, hold on my love. She said to herself.
At last Lord Voldemort let up. "Never disobey me again or else you will suffer a fate much worse! Make no mistake about it Snape, you will parish if you even so much as look at my daughter again, do you understand?"
Severus couldn't move, he was barely breathing.
"ANSWER ME! IMPERIO!" He roared.
Severus lifted his head up and nodded "yes, my master." He said in a harsh whisper and his face hit the ground.
Voldemort exited the room. Three other Death Eaters enter. Two of them picked up Severus and dragged him out, the other remained in the room to guard Pyretta. She got up, went over to her bed, laid down and cried herself to sleep.