Nimue, for the first time in her young life, finally felt as though she might just be worthy of claiming the Gryffindor virtue of bravery.
When the door next opened, admitting a masked death eater, she walked straight to him, exhibiting no outward signs of fear, "take me to Voldemort."
The masked man cringed slightly at the use of the dark lord's name, "you are in no position to be issuing orders," he hissed at her.
"Take me to him. I wish to negotiate the release of my sister and your other prisoner."
The man laughed.
Nimue balled her small hands into fists and raised her chin. "I'm only going to ask you one more time, and if you refuse to take me to Voldemort then I shall be forced to go on my own."
"Listen girl," the death eater bore down on her, "you better learn your place quickly or I'll teach it to you. I know lots of ways to make a pretty thing such as yourself squeal and plead for mercy. Not that you'll be granted any."
"Nott, the dark lord wishes to see our little guest," Draco appeared at the doorway, his voice silky smooth.
The masked death eater, Nott was his name Nimue mentally noted, grabbed her roughly by the arm and she tried to pull away.
"Leave her alone," Dierna hissed at him, from where she was still tied to the wall.
"Bring the little one," Draco commanded, and knock the other one out again if you need to.
Several of the priestess coughed as the smoke continued to fill the room, only a little bit of it escaping through the opened door. The acrid tasted of it stung their throats and hung heavily in the air as Rheia continued to chant and sway slightly in her trance.
"The thread is woven, carefully spun by the hand of fate, measured out, it will soon be cut. A life will end so that a way of life will survive. This is the will of the goddess."
The gathered priestesses murmured a response and one stepped forward bearing a basket, which she set by Rheia's side. Two serpents lay in it, both bright green in color and quite young.
"Read them," Rheia commanded from her trance.
A priestess, her hair streaked with grey, knelt by the basket and carefully examined the way the snakes moved. "Two lives will be lost tonight and a third hangs in the balance. A debt will be repaid, but at a cost. The serpents do not reveal on who's side the slain will be, only that death is upon us, she travels quickly and strikes.
"Lives will be lost," Rheia said in a low voice, "but it is a price we must be willing to pay."
"Morgan, you must remain here," Minerva insisted.
"No!"
"You are not being given a choice, this is a direct command from the Order. You will not leave this room."
Morgan reached for her cloak, "my husband and daughters are out there. I refuse to sit idly by when they are in danger. I would give my life for them."
Minerva had a feeling it was Morgan's willingness for self-sacrifice that made Severus insist she be kept at the school. "Sirius and Harry went with Severus, I am sure that they will be fine. They will retrieve your daughters and return home."
Morgan gave a slight shake of her head, "you don't understand, I cannot just leave them..."
"I do understand Morgan."
The younger woman stopped in her tracks, "I'm sorry Headmistress, I did not mean that."
"I know you didn't child. But you must listen to me. You must stay here. Think of your children, not just the ones in danger. What happens to them if you go after your husband and both of you are..." Minerva trailed off. "The reason I stayed behind while Aidan ran missions for the Order was our children. As morbid as it sounds, I would rather they lost only one parent than be orphaned overnight." Minerva paused for a moment as she thought about her husband, the man she had lost so many years ago in the first fight against Voldemort, "You must stay here."
"Is it so hopeless?"
"No, there is always hope."
Morgan sighed in defeat, "I don't know what to do with myself, I may go mad if all I have to do is sit here and wait. I feel like I'm abandoning them."
Minerva gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, "I know it's hard. I'll send someone down to keep you company."
As the Headmistress left she quickly sought out Remus. She wanted him to make sure that Mrs. Snape stayed put no matter what. She didn't doubt that her former student, who had no qualms about sneaking out after curfew, would give running straight into the face of certain death a second thought when her family was involved.
Nimue tried to push down the fear that was rising within her. She felt certain that any second now she was going to choke on it.
"Looks like you're going to get your wish little one," Nott gave her a shake, "the dark lord is very anxious to meet you."
Nimue swallowed roughly. Before she was anywhere near ready she was roughly thrown into a poorly lit room. She stumbled as her foot caught on the rug and she ended up on the ground.
"Ahhhh... my sweet little visitor. I have been waiting for you."
Nimue looked up cautiously, hoping that the fear she felt was well guarded. "I know what you want with me." Her voice shook slightly as she slowly rose to her feet.
"I know. That is what makes you so valuable," Voldemort did not move from his place in the middle of the room.
It took all of Nimue's courage and self control not to look away. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but this was worse. His pale, almost translucent white skin and large red snake-like eyes were horrifying. And his voice was so cold.
"See for me," he commanded.
"Let my sister and Stefan go first," Nimue countered.
Voldemort laughed, "I think not. You see, I already have what I want. You. There is no reason for me to give into your little demands. Now See for me. Tell me what must be done so that I will be able to achieve the total domination I seek."
Nimue twisted her hands in front of her, "it doesn't work like that."
"You will do as I say, or suffer my displeasure little Snape."
Kalliope was about to sneak in the kitchen door when a pair of hands grabbed her roughly from behind and hauled her into the shadows.
Her first reaction was to struggle against the strong arm wrapped so tightly around her waist and the large hand covering her mouth. Physically she was overpowered, but she didn't play by the books. In one last effort she bit down hard on her captor's hand.
"Dammit! Remind me to warn Remus to watch out for that trick."
"Keep it down Black!" Severus hissed, "Unless you want the entire army of death eaters to join us?"
Kalliope's eyes widened, "Professor? What are you doing here?"
Severus' eyes were hard, "they have my daughters."
Kalliope nodded, it was all the explanation she needed. She turned to Sirius, "my sincere apologies, had I known it was you I would not have reacted so."
"Save the small talk, we have business to attend to."
Kalliope tensed. "He is close by..." she looked at the three men, "now that you are here I leave you to attend to the girls, I have my own business here tonight. There is something I must do."
Nimue's eyes had grown very large, "I'm still learning, I cannot just pull up visions at will. And I have very little control over what exactly I See."
"Then I suggest you learn quickly."
Nimue stood completely still, afraid to even breathe and far to distraught to even attempt a vision.
"Nothing yet? Perhaps this will motivate you. Crucio."
She hadn't realized that pain like this existed. She could never have imagined this, nor would she want to. She could think of nothing but the pain. When the curse was finally lifted she realized she was sprawled on the floor, her hair spread out around her, her breathing ragged.
"Now, See for me.
"I can't," she replied helplessly.
"Then I have no further use for you."
"Please..." Nimue managed to gasp out, but didn't finish. Her heart leapt to her throat as Voldemort reached for his wand and once again aimed it at her. She took one deep breath and looked straight at him, determined to be as brave as possible.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Nimue kept her eyes wide open as the acid green flash of light came towards her, and was beyond feeling when her body crumpled to the ground.
"I would dearly love to see Severus' face when her body is returned to him," the dark lord mused as he walked out of the room. "Perhaps she will be more use to me this way."
Meg clutched Morgan's hand as they sat side by side on the couch. She had brought her children down with her and they had already fallen back asleep.
Charlie was out with the dragons keeping watch and had put his foot down when Meg said she would help guard the school. So she had come down here seeking companionship as she was left with little to do save worry about her husband. Plus, Remus had needed to return to the main level so that he could help keep watch, and he needed someone to relieve him of Morgan-watching duty.
Meg looked at Morgan's face with compassion, and her heart wrung for her. Both of their husbands were willingly placing themselves in danger. But to have one's children at stake too... Meg wasn't sure how the other woman was managing to hold up.
"Misty brings tea for both the mistresses," the little house elf sidled in bearing a large tray, "Misty makes special tea so that they feel better about masters and young mistresses being gone."
"If you put a calming potion in it I don't want it," Morgan snapped.
"Please mistress..." Misty looked up beseechingly, "you'll be feeling much better if mistress drinks tea."
"No." Morgan took a long time examining her hands, which lay idly in her lap. She wasn't used to sitting by and feeling so helpless. She wanted to do something, anything.
Suddenly she sprang up from the couch, "I can't take this anymore! I'm going after them." She strode purposely towards the door.
Meg sat stunned for a moment before she bolted after Morgan, not quite sure what she would do to make the determined woman stay put.
"No! Mistress cannot leave!" Misty positioned herself in front of the door.
"Let me by Misty," Morgan commanded, fully expecting to be obeyed.
"No, Master Snape is more my master than you is my mistress and he says keep mistress Snape safe, and I do what he says. Mistress is not leaving."
Morgan's mouth fell open in disbelief. It took her a full minute to overcome the shock of Misty's refusal to move, "you have to let me go, Severus and my daughters are in danger, they need me."
"And Master Snape is saying he needs you more, he is saying that you stay here and Misty listen to her master. He was being nice to me when Tiberius was beating me, I owes him a debt and loyalty and I keeps them."
Morgan moved another step forward, so distraught that she was ready to throw the small house elf out of the way if need be.
"You cannot leave, I uses special house elf magic, no one leaves or enters until I is saying so!" Misty crossed her arms over her chest.
Morgan sank to the floor, tears flowing liberally as Meg tried to comfort her.
"We meet again young Malfoy."
"Do I know you?" Draco asked as he turned an appraising eye on Kalliope. He found that he liked what he saw.
She leveled him with an icy stare, "I will remember you until I die and on into the afterlife. You haunt my past and my future. You killed my daughter."
"Ah yes, the priestess... I remember now... my father had quite the time with you..."
She bared her teeth as she approached him, "the Goddess protects her own. You took my daughter's life and now I will take yours."
"Go ahead and try," Draco gave her a self-satisfied grin, confidant that he would be triumphant.
She continued to advance, a ball of orange flames appearing in her hand.
Draco had the decency to look stunned, and a bit scared.
Kalliope paused mid step and grimaced in a moment of pain, her face clearly registering her shock, "someone I was close to has just died, a sister to me under the Goddess..." she raised her eyes to Draco her fury rising, "now it is your turn."
"I'm not afraid of you, you filthy bitch," but Draco didn't sound as confidant as he hoped.
"Don't worry, where I plan on sending you there will be plenty for you to fear."
Rheia's spirit had hovered close over Nimue as the dark lord threatened her. She had vowed to save her way of life no matter what the cost. And now she was ready to pay the price.
As the dark lord raised his wand a final time to perform the killing curse she wrapped her spirit tightly around the girl, forming a shield invisible to the eyes of men. She was not going to let this girl die.
The curse struck, but Rheia's spirit was not able to absorb all of it, leaving Nimue in a very perilous situation.
In the temple of the Goddess a great cry rang out as the priestesses raised their voices together in a song of death. Rheia's spirit had not withstood the killing curse and had been sent on to the realm of the dead, her lifeless body had crumpled to the floor, blood spilling out, staining the white floor, from where her head had hit a stone.
The high priestess was dead.
"What do you mean by saying that she is alive?"
"My lord...I...I..." Macnair stumbled over his words, "I went to move her body and sh-she was still breathing." It crossed his mind to ask the dark lord if he had perhaps made a mistake with the curse, but thought better of it.
"She must be dead, I performed the killing curse myself," the dark lord sounded anything but pleased as he remembered the last person to escape when he tried to kill them.
"Perhaps my lord should check himself, I could be mistaken..." Macnair made a tentative suggestion.
"Of course, I will check for myself." And if the girl wasn't dead when he got there, he would make sure she soon was.
Draco eyed the ball of orange flames warily as it floated towards him, "are you planning on burning me alive?" his voice still carried a malicious bite, although it was somewhat more subdued than usual.
"No, you are not deserving of death by fire."
"You can't kill me."
"I can and I will."
Draco reached for his wand, but it was knocked out of his hand by an invisible force.
"Foolish wizard," Kalliope spat, "your wand is useless to you." She directed the flames she had conjured so that they bound Draco's arms to his side and bound his feet together. "You have nowhere to go now."
"You can't do this."
"I can do this. Just be lucky that I am not capable of the heinous acts you seem to enjoy."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I only plan to take your life, you took my daughter's. There is not a day that goes by that I do not ache for her, that I do not wish to hold her just once more. She would have been a priestess in her own right by now. You cannot understand the way it tears at my heart to know that I will never show her the sacred way, I will never see her participate in the ceremonial marriage, drink from the cup of the goddess, bear a torch in the mysteries. You have robbed me of the greatest gift I ever gave the goddess."
Kalliope slowly approached Draco, "that is something that I cannot forgive, nor does the Goddess."
"All I have to do is shout for help," Draco threatened, "you'll lose your own life."
"Shout all you want, they won't save you," she reached down to her waist and brought up a bronze knife. "Killing you will not erase all the hurts you have caused, but it will prevent you from causing any more."
"You won't kill me."
"I'll do what the Goddess would have me do, and I will do what is necessary to protect my husband and the daughter he gives me," her left hand dropped to her still flat stomach, "I will not give you the chance to harm this one." Without a second thought she drew her blade across his neck and spilled his blood.
"Nimue," Harry spoke the girl's name softly as he gently shook her shoulder, "please wake up," he begged. But there was no response. He checked her breathing again, it was very shallow, but she was still there for which he was very thankful.
He was now cursing the fact that they had split up to search for the girl's. Right now he knew the best thing to do would be to return Nimue to Hogwarts immediately, but he couldn't leave without finding Sirius or Severus first.
"Harry Potter, I must say this is a delight I had not expected."
"Voldemort..." Harry hissed the name under his breath but stayed crouched on the ground next to Nimue for a minute more giving himself a chance to compose his features. He knew that keeping his back turned to the dark lord might not be the best idea but he needed the time to think. "What did you do to her?" he asked as he finally stood to face the man that still haunted his dreams.
Harry watched in fascination as Voldemort's face twisted with anger at the question, he hadn't been expecting that.
"Is it as I told you my lord? Did she survive the killing curse?" Macnair asked as he rushed into the room, coming up short when he noticed Harry's presence.
"She survived the killing curse?" Harry's mouth twisted in grim amusement, "first me and then her... not your best curse is it?"
Voldemort raised his wand, "I will not fail this time Potter."
"If you hadn't done it I would have."
Kalliope turned around to see Eva behind her holding a shard of glass in her hand, she heaved a sigh of relief at being startled by friend, not foe.
"He wanted me for his new toy..."
Kalliope nodded slowly, "that does not surprise me."
The two women stood over Draco's body for what seemed to be an eternity. Eva finally broke the silence, "I think we should leave, I'm not sure if I can stand to look at his body much longer..." she turned away, "I suppose congratulations are in order, ja?"
Kalliope looked confused for a moment before dropping her hand to her stomach, "yes... but please don't say anything about it when we get back, Remus doesn't know yet."
Eva nodded, as her gaze took in the grey walls, as though she was just remembering where they were, "we should go back to the school, it is not safe here."
"I'm relieved to hear someone talking some sense finally, I'd begun to think that everyone had lost their minds."
"Eric!"
"Keep your voice down girl," Eric quickly hushed Eva as he beckoned the two women to join him, "you're the first that I've found in the mirrors, and I want you to go back with me right now." He led them several steps down the hallway to a large and grimy mirror, "both of you go straight through now," he practically shoved Kalliope through and gave Eva his hand as she stepped up to the mirror, "I have a grandson who will be especially pleased that I brought you back in one piece girl."
Authoress' note:
Amanda - thank you!
Alicia - thank you for the wonderful review, and rest assured, everyone will love Snape by the time I'm through with this!