Soundtrack: Cranberries – All My Life. AN: Yes it got longer. Also, if I get really bored there may be sideflings from this on Adultfanfiction.net. If you're not old enough to read it, stay away! Wait till you're 18 or whatever. Not like it would be signifigant to the plot anyway.
Disclaimers apply.
Chapter Four: Figuring out where to go from here…
When Belldani awoke next, she was on a cot in a room that was small to begin with, a small table and chair were next to her. Severus was sitting in the chair, his head to the side, and she guessed he was asleep. The light coming in from the window apparently above her head was reddish, sunset maybe. Or dawn? Belldani wasn't completely sure.
Smiling to herself, she stretched out her arms above her head and sat up slowly. She had been changed into a cotton nightgown and Belldani hoped that the dress she had been wearing was burned. Noting that Severus was still asleep, she pulled back the blanket, gingerly lifting her foot. There was no pain shooting up her leg, that was a good sign. Cautiously she rolled the ankle, pointing and flexing slowly. Happy, Belldani laid back down on the cot, wincing as it squeaked from her sudden movement. Severus jolted awake and their eyes met.
"Belldani…" he moved the chair closer to her, "I had no idea Molly was going to give you Veritaserum; I can't believe they did that to you…" His hands were on his knees, and he was looking down.
"I'm still kinda mad about that… But I guess, well… Just bringing in Voldemort's fiancée and asking to mend her ankle could cause a lot of commotion… Where am I anyway?"
"The base of the Order of the Phoenix," he was looked at her. "Downtown London. I was planning to sneak you in quietly, explain things in the morning…" the light was turning to yellow, Belldani wondered exactly how long she'd slept, "We're just lucky you didn't do more than turn your ankle I guess…"
Belldani felt his eyes sweeping in her full length. Her hair was down, the pins no longer jabbing into her skull, and she guessed that there was some curl left to it. Slowly, she put a hand up to his face and leaned forward.
"Thank you for being there for me," Belldani smiled softly and he put his hand over hers.
"Well I told you I would," he smirked, "and I always keep my word to pretty girls."
Belldani laughed and put her arms around his neck. They came together for one of those really romantic kisses that don't need a play-by-play. It ended up that by the time Fred and George were opening the door, Severus' shirt had been unbuttoned and Belldani was sitting in his lap, head tilted back as he nipped at her throat, mewling softly as her fingers tangled in his hair.
George looked at Fred who snapped the door shut again. For a moment they stood there, staring at each other, processing what they had seen. Emitting girlish screams of horror, they ran back down the stairs to the kitchen, hollering to their mother that yes, that girl was awake, before finding their Quidditch bats and smacking themselves over the head with them.
"What on Earth are you doing?" Ginny asked, happening upon the twins beating themselves senseless.
"If you saw what we did-" George paused, "You would be doing this too."
"Oh honestly, what did you see? Ron and Hermione snogging again? It's not really that gross," Ginny defended.
"That would be amusing, worth conjuring up a bucket of water over their heads or something," Fred put down the bat, poking tentatively at the bruise forming on his forehead, "But no, we didn't catch Ickle Ronniekins and his little girlfriend again. Much worse, actually."
"Mum and Dad?" Ginny gasped in the typical air of a teenager.
"Would you believe there could be worse?" George grinned at the multiple Ginnys before his eyes. "That girl that showed up really early this morning?"
"Yes…" Ginny thought hard about this. She wasn't actually there, but she had heard about it from Hermione when she had woken up.
"Such a pretty young thing too," Fred sighed, "We were sent by Mum to see how she was, seeing as Snape wouldn't allow anyone else to watch over her, and Mum was having kittens that there was an injured person in the house and she couldn't hawk over them."
"She never did that for us…" George wondered, "Suppose we were hurt too often to merit the royalty treatment… Well to sum it up, she was… Snape… shirt open… lap… kissing… Oy where'd I put that bat?" George groped around on the ground for it, wacking himself over the head again, before collapsing to the ground.
Ginny ran to Ron's room, where she knew Ron and Hermione were playing chess.
"You'll never guess what I heard!" she gasped, bouncing onto the bed and sending the chess pieces flying.
"Someone had better be dead," Ron fumed, gathering the pieces together, "I was winning, you know!" Hermione shot him a look and leaned towards Ginny.
"What is it?" she asked, curious as to why Ginny was so pale all of a sudden.
"The girl that showed up this morning?" Ginny whispered conspiratorially, "Fred and George saw her snogging with Snape a few minutes ago."
Ron looked ill.
"Why would anyone in their right mind…?" he gasped, voice cracking.
"Maybe she's not in her right mind," Ginny offered. Hermione looked thoughtful.
"Remember how she was talking about that dream, when your mum gave her the Truth serum, Ron?" she asked finally. Ron nodded. "She was talking about Severus, not Snape… and he interrupted her. Maybe she's his-"
"Hermione how can you suggest such a thing!" Ron fumed, "That's vile and wrong and… and … and wasn't she a 7th year last term?" he finished.
The girls paused.
"I think you may be right," Hermione finally spoke, "But that might be off … It's been less than two weeks since term ended, and she spent a full week laying in a crypt…" Hermione shuddered.
"Hello there," came a voice from behind them. The three teens turned to view the witch of topic. She had gotten dressed, and was wearing a minty green dress with a scoop neck collar, and a silver waistband. The skirt split to show a dark hunter green underskirt that reached to the floor, and the cuffs of her sleeves were the same shade. Belldani had managed to get her hair untangled and tied back loosely, as she always had it.
"Now unless you know anyone else who was dead for the last week," Belldani's voice spoke of caverns of ice, "You'd do best to stop your little gossip. Really, my life has gotten so horrible as it is lately…" she trailed off, closing her eyes. Ron sniggered and turned his back to her.
"I guess snogging with Snape would be horrible," Ron muttered, rolling his eyes, unaware that Severus was now standing next to Belldani, his hand on her lower back protectively.
"I would mind your tongue, Mister Weasley," he spoke softly, making Ron's blood run cold.
"I suppose we should be seeing … Molly was it?" Belldani lifted her eyes to his, ignoring the teenagers on the bed. Severus nodded, and she smiled back at the Gryffindors. With a slight wave, she headed uncertainly down the hallway.
"10 points from Gryffindor for being little gossips," Snape smiled menacingly, "And twenty points for speaking ill of a teacher in his presence, Weasley." Ron was still unable to move as Snape turned and strode down out of the room, his black robes flaring behind him.
Ginny and Hermione just looked at each other. Both shook their heads and looked at Ron who was pale and shaking slightly.
Albus Dumbledore called Belldani into the study as she passed the open door.
"Good… afternoon, Headmaster," she said quietly, "I'm sorry for causing such a commotion around here-" She stopped as Dumbledore waved his hand.
"Think nothing of it, child," he smiled grimly, "Imagine if you had not managed an escape as you had… Where would we be then? You would be worse than dead, the wife of Tom Riddle, Severus would be dead…" He turned his gaze to the window.
"I will not comment on the fact that your escape was coordinated before the end of term with your former Head of House, or on what your relationship with Severus so obviously is," he said with a twinge of sadness. "I'm sure that you are aware of the constant danger he is, the role he plays… I wish you the best of luck, whatever that will bring you." Belldani nodded, sitting at the chair opposite his.
"Do you think it is possible for me to get another wand?" Belldani asked, looking hopeful. "It is next to impossible to get my old one back…"
"Yes, being dead will have some drawbacks, I'm afraid," Dumbledore's age was painfully obvious to Belldani. "You will no longer be tracked by the Ministry, now, so I suppose you could be taught to Apparate… Do you remember what your wand was? I could have Molly get another for you… Or I could teach you to use wandless magic… I'm afraid that you might never be able to secure a job, given your status as deceased." He added.
"What can I do then?" Belldani asked, that being something that had never really occurred to her.
"Would you consider doing work for the Order?" Dumbledore questioned, "I have several jobs that need to be done, requiring stealth and avoiding being seen… Or perhaps you would like to be stationed at Mr. Potter's house? I think that he needs 24 hour wizard supervision beyond the survalliance that we had previously provided."
"Umm…" Belldani was uncertain of what to say. "I'd like my wand back, for starters… 10 inch, unicorn hair, holly…"
"Consider it done," Dumbledore smiled, "Will you need more time to think about my other offer?"
"I had rather hoped… to be able to stay with Severus…" Belldani admitted, looking down and blushing slightly. Surely he thought less of her.
"I supposed that would be the case," Dumbledore sighed, "However, as Severus has had to abandon his family home for security reasons… he did not seem very fond of the idea of watching Mr. Potter either, I'm afraid, but would you consider observing Mr. Weasley?"
"Which one?" Belldani asked immediately, knowing there were too many for her to name. Dumbledore chuckled.
"The Weasleys' third-eldest son, Percy, has, well, distanced himself from the family this past year, but now I'm sure he's up to reconciling with them…"
"He needs watching over?" Belldani raised an eyebrow.
"Percy works as Fudge's Junior Assistant, and I feel that the Dark Lord will try to use him to get to Fudge as well as his family, two forces that are fighting against him at once. You would need your cloak of course…"
"You think Voldemort will do with someone else what he tried to do with me?" Belldani sighed.
"I'm afraid so," Dumbledore's eyes lost their twinkle, "I wouldn't put it above him… Will you do it?"
Belldani pondered this.
"Considering my alternatives are going stir-crazy here or watching Potter… I suppose." She could not believe she was doing this. True she disliked the Death Eaters, but she never really saw herself working for Dumbledore either.
"Wonderful!" Dumbledore clapped his hands excitedly, and started pulling objects from thin air. The first he handed her - It was a charm in the shape of a cat.
"This is a phasing stone," he explained, "Hold it and it allows you to pass through anything - such as a wall or door that you cannot unlock. It is not well known. Unfortunately you will become light-headed and quite ill fast after using this." Belldani felt a twinge of sarcasm rising in her. He next handed her a clear potion in a glass vial.
"This is a very unique potion," he explained, "It will last quite a while… never timed it out myself, but I would guess about three hours… It has no name, as it is something Severus invented…" This perked Belldani's interest.
"What is it?" she asked, leaning forward.
"The Ghost potion is the best name I have for it," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "It gives one the properties of a ghost - transparent, able to pass through anything, and is quite spooky to see. This is for the occasion, which I hope you will never face. If you are in danger of being seen by a Death Eater or your family - they will think they are seeing an actual ghost. Quite clever, eh?"
"Yes…" Belldani hoped she'd never have to use that potion… Though part of her thought it might be fun to go to her old house and scare the bijeebus out of her parents…
"Finally…" Dumbledore drew from thin air again, this time a box from Ollivander's.
"Is that a…" Belldani didn't want to finish her thought, it would be too wonderful.
"I have my ways, you see," Dumbledore smiled much like Fred or George, and handed her the box. She opened it with trembling hands, finding an exact replica of her wand within.
"As you might find out, it's been enchanted with an undetectable charm - Ollivander owed me a favor. Now you can use your magic without the Ministry even realizing there is a wand in use."
"How did you…?" Belldani examined it, and looked at him curiously.
"I knew you didn't have your wand with you, corpses aren't buried with them, and when you appeared here I took the liberty of writing to Ollivander's for a replica of what you had bought. He keeps meticulous records." Dumbledore explained calmly, as if it were no matter.
"Thank you!" Belldani gave him a hug, giving the old man quite a shock.
"You're most welcome my dear," he smiled and sighed, motioning above her head for someone to come in.
"Belldani," Severus purred in her ear, making her jump.
"Sev!" she squeaked, "Don't do that!" she turned to face him.
"Dumbledore got me another wand," she breathed, holding it carefully in front of her.
"Call me Albus," Dumbledore said in passing, on his way out of the room. "I think Molly might have lunch ready soon, shall we bring you some?"
"Yes," Severus answered for them, and he stepped closer to Belldani.
"So you've accepted to be part of the Order?" he asked curiously. "What job are you doing for Albus then?"
"I'm going to watch over Percy Weasley," she said with an air of disappointment. Severus chuckled.
"You wouldn't babysit Potter either?" he asked, taking the wand from her hands and placing it on the coffee table.
"No, I have to have some pride left, don't I?" she murmured, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, placing a chaste kiss on his lips.
"Can't have much left if you're kissing an old man…" Snape chuckled, kissing her much more passionately.
"You're not old! And I don't think you have a Lolita complex…" Belldani protested, making him start.
"Who said I have a Lolita complex?" he asked sharply. Belldani squeaked.
"V-Voldemort…" she put her head on his shoulder, "Right before he used Imperio to make me kiss him…"
Severus had to admit, she was quite brave, if she tried to beat the Dark Lord with a pillow. She had started to cry and he rubbed the back of her head softly.
"Do you want me to use a Memory charm on you?" he asked quietly. She started in his arms.
"You would do that?" she spoke, barely audible. He shook his head.
"Albus would have to, I don't want to risk taking too much from you…" he admitted.
"Sev," Belldani whispered softly after a few moments of silence, "Can you just hold me?" she squeezed her eyes shut as her arms clung to him. For that moment, she was lost at sea and he was the lifeboat that was keeping her afloat.
