Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter along with Scholastic and whoever else.  I only own my characters so DON'T SUE!!!

Six Feet and Falling

by Saerry Snape

Chapter 19 :: November 29, 1995 :: Somewhere in an Undisclosed Location

"Your Shifter, My Lord!"

"Very good, Lucius.  Very good indeed."

"Thank you, My Lord."

"How did you get her?  I heard that Dumbledore has – precautions."

"Precautions a child with any knowledge of the Dark Arts could get through, My Lord.  My son also helped me."

"Very good.  You shall certainly be rewarded for this, Lucius.  It is much better than when you returned without this child."

"Yes, My Lord."

"Lucius?"

"Yes, My Lord?"

"Did I permit you leave?"

"No, My Lord."

"Crucio!"

Sheyne jerked awake to the sound of screams echoing in her ears.  The sound was loudly magnified as the panther's ears were meant to pick up the sounds of animals moving in the brush.  She writhed, yowling out in a silent voice until it stopped.

"Very interesting.  You may leave, Lucius."

"Thank you, My Lord."

Sheyne took deep, shaky breath as she realized where she must be.  Her fear was confirmed as a nimble-fingered hand brushed over the muzzle of her panther form and she opened her eyes to see a man in a black robe crouched beside her.  His eyes were burning red with a slit pupil and his voice was enough to drive anyone to drink.  But his face was the scariest – and that was the face of a skull.

As she struggled to get away from him, he threw back his head and laughed, his pale hand running over her head.  She snapped at him, very disappointed when she missed.

"Ah, my beautiful Shifter.  Feisty.  Like your mother."

Sheyne growled, the sound not to be heard because of the silencing spell cast upon her by Malfoy.

"Yes, your mother.  A beautiful woman she was.  Gifted with the Sight and almost one of my loyal followers.  Unlike that father of yours…"

Sheyne thought she stopped breathing for a moment.  He knew of her father's real loyalties!

Voldemort laughed again, stroking her ears.

"Yes, my dear, I know of your father's loyalties.  Why do you think I had my dear Lucius kill your mother – as much as her death grieved me – and kidnap you?"

Malfoy! spat Sheyne bitterly in her mind.  He would pay dearly for her mother's death!

"So, we shall just sit here and wait until Severus and your darling half-brother come to rescue you."

Oh God, thought Sheyne when those words had settled on her mind and Voldemort had seated himself in a stone throne carved with snakes.

He knows.