This one's really long. Even for me. Same disclaimers… Sorry again for any OOC ness, if you really get your feathers ruffled by it.
Not sure if it really fits, but I'm listening to the Dave Matthews/Paul Oakenfold remix of 'When the World Ends' off the Matrix: Reloaded soundtrack. And eX Dream from X: The TV Series, though that's in Japanese. *shrugs*.
Chapter Three: The Bride of Voldemort
Thursday and Friday flew past as Belldani was quickly fitted for a wedding gown, albeit a lavish one. It had puffy lace sleeves that stood straight up and a low cut neckline with green-tinted tellu rolled and edging it. The dress was quite fitted, apparently to hinder her ability to run away, but the bottom flared out and was adorned with a sprinkling of green sequins. Belldani realized, as she lay in bed exhausted from standing in stiletto heels for hours and being poked with pins, that it was Saturday night. A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine as she crept to her secret hiding place and took all the books off the bottom bookshelf. She whispered, "Alohamora!", causing the panel to slide away. There was a small door, against which she pressed her hand. It too slid away, revealing the tiny bottle sitting expectantly on a cushion.
"Hello," she spoke sweetly, withdrawing it from its nest. The door slid shut and the panel fell back into place. A quick swish of her wand and "Repario!" sent the books flying back to their places. Belldani sat down on the edge of her bed, looking at the bottle. She sat for a long time as the sun set and darkness filled the room. There was a fly that buzzed and threw itself against the window, desperately trying to get out. Belldani placed the bottle on the middle of her bed and approached the fly, stunning it. She let it fall to the floor where she pointed her wand at its tiny body and drew up her courage.
"Avada Kedavra!" she winced as the fly jerked, its exoskeleton falling into rigimortum as the green light struck it. Now, if they tested her wand, it would emit that harsh green light… Proof of suicide. Perfect.
Belldani climbed onto her bed, setting her wand down to uncork the Living Death. She took hold of her wand again, in her correct wand hand, and with the other pressed the tiny vial to her lips. Its poison felt like ice shooting through her body, and she had enough time to slip the vial under her pillow before her eyelids fell.
Her mother came to awaken her in the morning, full of false cheerfulness. Instead, as she realized what state the figure on the bed was in, she ran screaming to her husband. They did test her wand, and with Prior Incanteum the green light of the Killing Curse floated from it.
Voldemort was hastily informed. He was naturally outraged but after seeing his dead bride for himself, by now dressed in her wedding gown and laid out properly as befitting the dead, he too believed. Still, he chose to have his Death Eater meeting, his dead bride before him in a glass coffin. With much insistance, the Cirasadas had her body moved to the family crypt, located on their estate. They bowed to his wishes, and had her buried as Belldani Riddle, as if the wedding had indeed taken place.
Severus was informed, duly, of her death - listed in the Daily Prophet. He was mildly shocked to see her listed as beloved fiancée of Tom Riddle, aka You-Know-Who. He was certain that there would be heightened security now around the crypt, and made preparations as the following Saturday evening approached. Much as he disliked it, perhaps some assistance would be in order…
Belldani sucked in air sharply, the cool, musty odor filling her lungs. She attempted to sit up, hitting the glass she was enclosed in. Laying down, now carefully rubbing her sore head, she realized her parents had buried her in her wedding dress. Her hair was what cussioned her head, a mass of curls with a tiara, and her hands were gloved. There was a tap against the lid, and Belldani turned, looking into the eyes of Squeaky the house elf.
Squeaky looked nervous, but waved her hands and the heavy lid of the coffin was raised. Belldani felt strong arms slide her and lift her, however she saw nothing. A tiny bone was placed by another pair of unseen hands where she had laid, and a twinkling of sparkles around it later, the bone was transfigured into a replica of herself; The replica looked quite dead however. Squeaky lowered her arms slowly and the lid of the coffin fell back in place.
Belldani felt herself being lowered to a standing position on the floor and while wobbling slightly, as her mother had seen to having the ridiculous stilettos on her feet, she managed to stand. Her rescuers removed their Invisibility cloaks, and she was surprised to see the one who had held her was her old DADA professor, Lupin, and the other one was none other than Harry Potter.
"What…?"she looked around, sure that Severus was there. As he was not, she narrowed her gaze at the two who were there.
"Harry Potter is not satisfied with defeating the Dark Lord many times over? Now he comes for damsels in distress?" Lupin passed her another invisibility cloak, and Harry put his finger to his lips.
"Keep yer trap shut if you know what's best for you, Mrs. Riddle," he hissed, and poked Squeaky with his wand. "Lead the way out of here, elf," he nearly snarled as he became invisible once more. Belldani and Lupin followed his lead, and after a few steps Lupin paused, whispering for her to show her feet. She lifted the cloak and her dress, exposing her pale feet in the heels.
"Silencio," he muttered, and motioned for her to continue walking. It apparently was to make her steps silent as she followed close behind the Potter boy and the werewolf. She moved too slowly, because of the gown's restricting fit, and pulled at Lupin's cloak again. He turned kindly.
"What is it?" he whispered softly, and Belldani removed the Invisibility cloak, then attempted to walk again. He made a gesture of understanding and bent, taking two fistfuls of the seam and forcefully ripping them apart, tearing the silk straight up the middle of the dress to about her knees, just enough to walk at his pace.
Squeaky led them out into the fresh air and continued on toward the castle, Belldani being pulled toward the woods in back of her family's home. Her feet were quickly killing her, and part of her longed to chuck one heel at Harry and the other at Lupin for not being Severus. Finally, they were in the lane that ran along the back of the Cirasada property and the two men pulled away their cloaks. Lupin's face suddenly distorted in pain, and he seemed to be stretching, growing taller. His hair was darkening and his face formed into Severus'. Harry was also morphing. He grew into 'Mad-eye' Moody, the real Moody, Belldani assumed. She removed her cloak and stared into Severus' eyes for a long pause.
"All the work I go through, and you just stand there?" he sighed sarcastically. Belldani threw herself at him, hugging him tightly and kissing him as tears ran down her cheeks. Moody looked around and rolled his good eye as the magical one swirled around and scanned the landscape.
"We have to keep moving," he finally said gruffly, gesturing down the lane towards the east where the sky was just beginning to think about lightening. "Tonks left our Portkey down there."
Belldani nodded and started to walk ahead of them. She tripped in the first pit in the lane she came to and fell with a sickening crack. Immediately she bit her lip, knowing that the howl of pain she desperately wanted to emit would not be a good idea.
Severus rushed to her side and removed the offending heels. He transfigured them to beetles for good measure. He then sized up her now broken ankle.
"What do you think Moody?" He gingerly lifted her foot up for inspection.
"Bind it, can't take the time to heal it now, got to keep on the move," Moody barked, marching down the road almost comically on his peg leg.
Belldani watched as Severus tapped her ankle gently, and white bindings flew from the tip to surround the swollen joint.
"You'll have to lean on me," he murmured, and helped her up, supporting the weight from her left side with his arm. They hobbled after Moody for a few meters until Severus got so fed up that he swung her up into his arms and carried her down the lane. Belldani leaned into his neck and held on to him for support. The picture they must make, she thought.
Moody was waiting for them with the Portkey just past the bend in the road, the twisted metal from an old bike wheel at his feet. He held it up to them and Belldani put a hand out and touched a rusty spoke. Severus' hand was just below hers, carefully balancing her light weight as they felt pulled into it.
Belldani nearly fell as Snape stumbled backwards, coming close to dropping her as they appeared in the hall of the Black home.
"All right there Mood?" Belldani saw a girl not much older than herself standing in the doorway of what appeared to be a kitchen. She had pink spiked hair and a Weird Sisters shirt on. Severus strode past the girl, placing Belldani on a chair in the kitchen.
"Molly," he sighed and turned to a plump little woman with flaming red hair, Belldani assumed she must be one of the Weasleys, "Her ankle needs mending." Molly went to a cupboard and got a box of what were most likely Healing potions and set them down on the table beside Belldani.
"Quite a get-up you got there, Missy," she sniffed, eying the once-lavish dress. Belldani thought of how she must look - her tiara was askew and her hair felt awkward, apparently out-of-place, and her dress was torn more from her fall, dirty as well. There were probably grass stains on it from the trek away from the crypt as well.
"No matter," Molly said as she looked at the vials in her kit. She finally selected one with a greenish tint to it. "Drink this up and then we'll get you upstairs to get some rest." She handed it to Belldani, "It'll taste bad, but you mustn't miss a drop."
Belldani looked at the bottle forlornly and sighed. Pinching her nose, she tilted her head back and got all of the awful liquid down. She looked at Molly again and the room seemed to spin a little.
"Am I supposed to be… dizzy?" she asked. Molly nodded absently, handing her a cup of tea.
"Wash it down, miss," she said, not looking Belldani in the eye, "I'm always handing out the mending potions, so many boys you know…" Belldani looked at the cup suspiciously and glanced around. Severus was being talked to by another, much shorter and dumpier man who was gesturing wildly and covertly as he watched Belldani. Internally she sighed again and sipped the tea. Earl Grey, perhaps? Molly was watching her avidly.
"So how was it that you were engaged to You-Know-Who?" she was asked. Belldani felt her mouth opening and the words "My parents arranged it, really," come out; She felt no control of her mouth at all though.
They used Veritaserum on me. She thought angrily. Did they not trust her?
"Yes, you see it's a bit of a custom, among the highbrow pureblood families, daughters tend to get married off as soon as possible, having no real value to her parents. I mean, why take care of someone who's only going to continue someone else's bloodline more than absolutely necessary?" she laughed, like it was some big joke. Oh God, what was she going to say? Belldani began to immediately loath them - all of them. Why wasn't Severus doing anything? Was he in on this plot as well?
"The day I came home from Hogwarts my mother and father said they had a special guest waiting for dinner… and then after they went through this little song and dance about how I was so lucky that a gentleman of this caliber had asked for my hand, he turned around and I think I fainted then. Who wouldn't, when they realize that they're seated for dinner in front of the Dark Lord? I remember dreaming, right before I woke up in my room… then mother, father, and You-Know-Who were all standing around my bed, waiting for me to wake up I guess. They were laughing how I must have been so surprised, to be receiving such an honor. And then He… He told my parents to leave the room, to have a word with me alone. He asked me to call him Tom… and thanking me for dreaming, he had seen it and then he-"
"What was this dream?" a balding red-headed man, apparently Mr. Weasley, interrupted. Out of the corner of her eye Belldani noticed Severus moving towards her; he must have just realized what was going on.
Please protect me, she thought.
"I was walking down a long hallway, it was really dark and all I knew was that Severus was in trouble. I kept screaming for him, and running, it was such a long hallway. Finally at the end there was a giant door, but I had my wand with me so I got it unlocked. Inside this room was Severus. He was sprawled out on this dais like he was dead," Belldani saw Severus pushing Arthur away," I ran to him and-"
"I think that's more than necessary, Belldani," Severus said in his silky voice that made one think of velvet covered steel. "Did Voldemort say anything to you? Do anything to you?"
"yes," Belldani answered, in her mind thanking him for stopping her from telling the roomful of people. There seemed to be more and there was light coming in. It must be morning now, she thought. "He thanked me for giving him a pawn to use against you, Severus. He told me that he was going to make sure you were at the wedding, and that he would make you watch as he…" Belldani stumbled, the Veritaserum had to be loosening its effect by now. "He wanted to - to rape me in front of you, before he killed you. And I said he would never, and he smiled so evilly and said that there were ways, he had his Impervius curse didn't he? And then after I threw a pillow at him-" Someone was chuckling. Apparently most didn't ever think of beating the Dark Lord with a pillow, "He used it on me to-"
"To?" Albus Dumbledore was moving into the room, parting the group as if he were Moses in the Red Sea. Belldani realized Severus was next to her, so close…
"To kiss me," Belldani finally said, "And then he dissaparated." Belldani saw Molly Weasley looking at her as if she were a lost chick and Molly a mother hen.
"You procured the Draught of Living Death then, to fake your suicide?" Dumbledore continued, adding, "It was said the Killing Curse was the last spell on your wand."
"I did," Belldani prayed for the Veritaserum to be gone already. She still didn't have complete control of her mouth and she feared exposing Severus - not that she was ashamed, but she feared for his safety still. "Severus gave it to me, and before I took it I killed a fly that was in my room, to make sure that it would appear as if I had killed myself." Belldani finished and then there was a flash of light before her eyes and what seemed like a stone wall was lifted; She had control of herself again. She felt overwhelmed with emotion.
"What exactly is your relationship with Sna-" Mr. Weasley began, but Belldani jumped up out of the chair, free from her bonds, as it were.
"Did you not trust me? Any of you? Why would someone fake their own death? Who would in their right mind actually want to marry that evil fiend?" She winced, her ankle wasn't completely healed yet. The faces around her were moving, the room was silent despite the number of people in it. Many red-heads were presant. She was starting to sink back into the chair, then there was an arm around her waist. Without looking, Belldani knew it was Severus who was helping her up. She made a mental note to thank him, and then allowed the wave of sleep to overcome her, leaning into his side and resting her forehead on his shoulder.
"Oh Sev…" she muttered, before completely collapsing into his arms.
