I Do Not Own Harry Potter.
Thanks to all those who have reviewed! I'm trying to post the chapters as quickly as possible, so you don't get left on a cliff (I hate cliffies).
jon3776: I'm glad you like it. I can see what you mean when it comes to Severus, but I'm an over-analytical person and I like to think about why a person is the way they are. I just figured Snape acted like he had a stick up his butt because he never got any (hee hee). While I agree with your way of thinking concerning his students (future high school teacher), I would also have to say that some of the things that Dumbledore does are kind of idiotic as well. Maybe not as bad, or anywhere near as bad, as what Severus does, but he's got some issues. (Just my opinion)
csferosha: I think my email was enough of an essay, and considering I just wrote three in an in-class final, I will just say thanks for reviewing.
mrs. radcliffe: First, I must say: I LOVE THE NAME!! Isn't that just cute?! Unfortunately, Dan R. is too young for me (I'm 23), but there's no law saying I can't look, right? :o) I'm glad that you've enjoyed the story. There are about five chapters left, so don't think I'm leaving you hanging. This story is not near being closed. The sequel will be up, hopefully, by the end of the summer. Keep reading!
This Time Imperfect: HA!!!!!! I just love your comments. They always make me think about what I wrote. :o) I hope you don't think that Dumbledore is completely evil. I was trying to get across that feeling that Rowling often gives you about him; you know, like he's trying to give you a clue about what you can do to get out of trouble. Not that what you think of him is wrong; it would be cool if your predictions turn out to be right. whispering Just don't tell jon3776. :o) I'm glad you like the Latin (wink, wink), but unfortunately, no teasers for the sequel. It's top secret and if I told you I would have to kill you. ;o)
Eva had dinner in her room. She lay on her back watching her enchanted ceiling full of ravens flying in different formations. She had exactly sixteen birds on her ceiling, one for every year of life. She had sent Moby, one of the house elves to fetch some more strawberries from the kitchen. All the elves had been delighted to see her, and she them. Eva was not like the children of other pureblood families, she treated her house elves like she would any other person. They were Magical creatures, after all.
Eva flipped onto her stomach and popped another grape into her mouth. She had really missed being in her own room. Her feather bed was just as soft as she remembered it to be. She still had her Muggle appliances all around the room. In fact, you would be hard pressed to decide whether a Muggle or witch lived in the room. She'd had the house elves decorate it like the rooms she saw on the telley. She had watched the DVD that Neville gave her for Christmas and she'd added her Hogwarts paraphernalia to her walls.
Moby arrived with the plate of strawberries and a small bowl of whipped cream. He was followed by the rest of the elves, who were carrying a large book above them. Moby placed the two bowls on her bedside table and the book was placed in front of her.
"Master Nocturino left orders for Moby to give this to Mistress Eva on her sixteenth birthday. Moby did not know where Mistress was and so he will give present now." The elf bowed low and his pointed nose touched the ground.
"Grandfather left this for me, before he died?" asked Eva.
"Yes, Mistress. He left specific orders that Moby give this to Mistress on her birthday. Moby is ashamed at his failure to follow orders. Moby will accept his punishment."
"Oh, Moby, I'm not going to punish you for something you could not help. I'm sure you would have sent it to me if you would have known where I was."
"Mistress is kind and forgiving."
Eva smiled at the house elves and began to untie the string that held the brown cloth over the book. She pushed aside the cloth and gasped at the cover of the book. It was her grandfather's spell book. This had been in her family for centuries. It contained almost every spell known to wizard kind, mostly Dark spells, and some that were thought to be long lost. She caressed the cover and tried to lift it open. It would not move. She sat looking at it and an idea came to mind. She closed her eyes and put one hand on the cover. "Manifesti Conscientia." The book opened at her command and she saw an envelope lying inside.
"What's this?" she asked Moby.
"Moby does not know, Mistress. Master Nocturino did not tell Moby anything about the gift."
"Thank you, Moby. You may all go now." She waited until the last elf was gone before tearing into the letter. She was amazed at what she read.
It was her mother's letter to her father. Dated six months before Eva was born. This must have been the letter Grandfather intercepted and caused all the confusion. She only read a few lines; she did not think it fair to her mother if she read a letter intended for her father. It was like reading someone's diary.
She flipped through the book and looked at many of the spells she recognized. Grandfather had taught her out of this book for the last year and a half of her training. It was the most intense training in the Dark Arts that he had put her through. She found some rather interesting spells, as well as some that she knew had to be illegal. She finally got to the back and found another letter. This one was addressed to her and written in her grandfather's handwriting.
My Darling Eva,
On this, your sixteenth birthday, I wish you all the love, joy and freedom that this world has to offer you. I hope that what you are about to learn will not deter you from your present path, nor that it would make you think ill of me.
My dear Eva, I have been lying to you for the last sixteen years. I thought that I would be able to continue with my deception, but things have begun to happen that will not allow my continued silence.
Sixteen years ago, I was afraid of losing my daughter to someone I believed to be a bad person. Your father, it turns out, was helping in the war against You-Know-Who. I am a wealthy man, but it was your parents' true love that gave me my greatest treasure and blessing -you, my beloved Granddaughter. I am truly sorry for making you miss out on the love that your father may have been able to give you. I pushed your mother away from me and forced her into a decision that she would never have made if I had not pushed her to accept a marriage to someone she did not love. I know now that I was wrong, and I can only hope that she will forgive me.
When you turned fourteen, I received a visit from some former acquaintances. These men came on business on behalf of their employer. I will not sugar coat this for you, because I know that you can handle the information that I am about to give you. These men were Death Eaters and they had come to negotiate the terms for your marriage to their Dark Lord. I refused them, of course, I would never let you be pulled into that world when all you have known is this house and Malfoy Manor.
They were not deterred. They continued to come and make demands that I agree or else I would pay dearly. You must understand something about this, Eva. They only insisted because last time the Dark Lord rose to power, I had agreed with his views on the purity of the wizarding race. I had even contributed some money to their 'cause.' I thought that money would be all they wanted, but I was wrong. They were very insistent on your marriage to their Lord.
You must also know that there was another offer for your hand not too long before this. Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, had been pursuing you for quite some time. In fact, I believe your mother told me that he had approached her the day you received your acceptance letter from Hogwarts and Durmstrang. I cannot say that I blame them, though, you are the most wonderful and talented witch on the face of this world and no one in their right mind would think about marrying any one but you after they met you.
My Darling Granddaughter, I am so sorry for the position that I have put you in. If I had made my stance clear the first time around, this may not have happened. I know what will happen next time they come, and I only hope that you will forgive me for what I have done in the past and look at me with some respect for not having given you away to a fiend. I would not wish anything so horrible upon anyone in this world.
Know that I love you more than anything in the world. You are my sunshine and the reason that I keep on living. I must entreat you to do something for me, Eva. Do not marry him. Whatever you do, darling, do not let yourself be trapped. Neither should you marry Draco. He will only bring you closer to You-Know-Who. Please keep yourself safe; I'm not sure how long I will be able to make sure of it. I have been training you all the more fiercely these last two years, because I knew this day would come. This book that I am giving you has been in the Nocturino family for many centuries, it contains spells, potions and rituals that have been thought to be lost for many generations. I want you to learn them so that I might be assured that should anything happen, you will be able to defend yourself. With all the love in my heart,
Your Grandfather,
Aurelius S. M. G. Nocturino
Eva let the letter fall from her hand and sat looking into space. Her grandfather knew he was going to die, which meant her grandmother knew she was going to die. He had probably written the letter a few days before the incident and left the instructions then. Eva could not explain the sense of peace that arose from reading the letter; she had the closure she had needed for so long. She did not resent her grandfather for what he had done. He said quite plainly that he now knew that what he did was wrong and it caused more pain than it relieved.
She needed to see the graves; needed to pay the respects she owed to this man for his tutelage and his constant love. She rang the little bell by her bed and stood to grab her cape. The door opened and in came one of the house elves.
"Binky, I need for you to show me where my grandparents are buried. And if you could find some flowers for me as well."
"Of course, Mistress." The house elf disappeared with a small pop and Eva shrugged into the cape. She gathered her hair into the hood and pulled it over her head. Pulling on a pair of gloves she headed out the door.
She was not surprised when all the house elves accompanied her to the burial site. Aurelius had not been an overly kind master, but he was not cruel and he never punished unjustly. The house elves had managed to find some rather nice roses and lilies to put on the two graves.
Eva knelt in-between the head stones and wiped aside the snow that covered them. It was getting darker and she would not be able to stay much longer. She looked at the inscriptions and decided she would have to add some more to it. Professor Dumbledore had only seen to it that their names and dates were put on the stones: Aurelius Socratinus Marcus Gregorio Nocturino 1850-2004 and Alathea Elizabeth Casteliana Marie Nocturino 1855-2004. Eva smiled; her grandmother would hate that everyone could now figure out her age.
The sky was darkening and Eva looked up. She saw something skim over the top of the trees at the edge of the forest. It was definitely not a bird; it looked too big for that. She knew that there were no threstals in their forest and that only left a person on a broomstick. But who would be flying into her forest? She stood and squinted through the trees, there was no way she would be able to make out a person, but if someone was in there, they were going to need a fire and that she would be able to see.
She stood looking into the forest for a while. One of the house elves tugged on her cape and she looked down. "It is getting quite cold, Mistress should return to the castle."
"Of course, Nagie." She turned to follow, but her sight was attracted to the forest again. She saw the figure distinctly this time. It was definitely a person on a broom. She turned to the house elves. "Quickly, into the house." She lifted her skirts and her cape and ran as fast as her shoes and the snow would allow her.
She knew that whoever was in the forest was not a friend. If they were, they would not be in there. Dumbledore would have sent people to the house to guard the gate and the air, but not to stay in the forest. There was only one group of people who would think to do that: Death Eaters.
She quickly slammed the door of the Manor and went to the corner where the coat closet was located. There was a speaker there which ran on magic and connected to the guardhouse. She returned to the parlor with no more information than she'd had when she first entered the house. The guard had not seen anyone around the grounds and had definitely not allowed anyone entrance.
Eva paced the floor and tried to think of a way that these people could have possibly entered the grounds. The only thing she could think of was that Dumbledore had not put a high ward on the airspace around the Manor. Not many people would just fly into a house; most would take a carriage or fly to the gate, but never to the house itself.
"Binky! Moby! Nagie! Noni! Minky!" Eva waited for her house elves to enter the parlor. She did not know just how much they knew about the goings-on of the last few months. If there was anyone who would be able to give her more information, it would be them.
They all entered and stood in front of her, by order of age and bowed low.
"How much do you know about what has been going on here since my departure?" she asked. Eva kept the edge from her voice, it would not do to scare them, they would only forget what information they needed to recall.
The house elves looked to Binky, as the oldest, and then looked down. Binky stepped forward and began her tale.
Professor Dumbledore had come the day after the Masters had died and arranged for the removal of the bodies and the burial. Mistress Saveage had also returned and helped Dumbledore pack a trunk for her, which the house elves were told to send at a later date. Mistress Saveage gave the order that no one was to enter the house without the permission of Professor Dumbledore. They were introduced to several Order members, including Remus Lupin, and told that these people had unconditional access to the Manor. They had been coming almost every day and Binky assured her that they had made sure the Nocturino reputation for hospitality was upheld. The wizards had stopped coming just last week. They had only stopped by once to make sure that the house elves were all right.
"There's got to be something I'm missing here," she said to herself. "Was there any mention of the wards that they placed on the house? Any mention of altering the ones already present?" Binky and the other house elves shook their heads.
"I did hear one of them, Mistress," said Noni.
"What did they say?"
"One of them said that Mistress' room was not to be altered. Then they went and did something to the fireplace in the East Parlor."
Eva stood quickly and raced across to the East wing of the house. She reached the fireplace and threw some Floo Powder in it. "Dumbledore's office!" she shouted. If there was something that they would do to this fireplace, it would be to connect it to Hogwarts. Hogwarts was an island in the Floo Network, you could only move throughout the castle and not in between different places.
There was no answer to her calling out the Professor's name. He must not have been in the office. She tried again, this time shouting "East Tower common room!" she hoped she'd gotten the name right. The fire died down and then flew back up again, someone was there. She had only hoped that her friends would go to her room to look for clues as to her whereabouts. "Harry!" called Eva.
It was not Harry's head that appeared in the flames, it was Draco's. "What the fuck did you think you were doing?!" he shouted at her.
Eva chuckled at his anger. "There is really no time to argue with you right now. Are you the only one there?"
"No, I've got your Gryffindor friends here, too, including your beloved. How did you get connected to Hogwarts?"
"Apparently, Dumbledore did some revamping of Grandfather's wards. He's connected this fireplace with Hogwarts. My room is untouched, though, so I had to use this one."
"Are you alright, Rave?" he asked in concern.
"I'm fine, Drake. The flight was rather pleasant, if a little hurried. The house elves have been taking good care of me." Eva distinctly heard a female voice in the background say, 'She's got house elves!' Eva smiled and knew it was Hermione. Eva had refused to join her house elf liberation group, but applauded her sense of justice. "Tell Hermione that my house elves have not been beaten today and that she should not worry about them."
Draco's head disappeared from the fire and she could hear him laughing at Hermione's indignant, cries of disbelief at having a friend who owned house elves. He was still laughing when his head appeared in the grate again. "She's so funny when she's riled up."
"You mean she's cute," said Eva.
Draco's laughing face turned serious. "Don't put words in my mouth," he said.
"Alright, alright. Listen, Drake, this was not a social call. I need some help."
"What's wrong? What happened?" His head was joined by another: Harry's.
"What's wrong, Eva?" he asked, his concern more than apparent in his voice.
"I need you lot to go to Dumbledore and tell him that there are Death Eaters in the forest."
"What?!" they both said at the same time.
"Don't ask questions. I really need you to go now. I think they might just be waiting until morning to make a move. Have him send as many people as he can. They've done enough damage in this house already. I will not give them the opportunity to do any more."
Harry's head disappeared long enough for him to give someone the order to summon Dumbledore. It reappeared and the concern was still etched on his brow.
"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked again.
Eva sat down in front of the fire. "To be honest, I am a little scared. I've never really been alone in this house before. It's a bit strange to be home alone, but I feel so great, too. Is that strange?"
"Of course not, Rave. You've missed your home and you're glad to be back. I'm sure if it weren't for those guys, you would be having a ball and running around in your knickers," said Draco.
"Draco Malfoy!" cried Eva. She was not so much embarrassed by what he'd said, than by whom he'd said it in front of.
"Oh please. I'm sure he's fantasized about you in your knickers, I know I have."
"Okay, this conversation is getting to be a bit strange. I think I will go and see what they're up to. I'll talk to you all later."
"Alright, don't get your knickers in a twist," said Draco with a smirk. He could see Harry's embarrassed face next to him.
"Before you go I want you to know that I'm going to leave this fireplace open for you lot. I don't know why, but I have the feeling that you might need it."
The two heads in front of her nodded and then were gone. She stood and reached for the Floo powder again. She had one more call to make. She stuck her head into the fire and said, "Malfoy Manor, Master Bedchamber." She hated the feeling of only flooing her head somewhere, she was always dizzy when she got to where she wanted to go. She looked around and saw her Aunt Nary sitting at her vanity brushing her long blonde hair.
"Aunt Nary!" she called.
The woman turned and dropped her brush at the sight of Eva's head in her fire. "Eva! Where are you?"
"I'm at the Manor. I wanted to ask you if you would mind coming over and staying the night with me. I don't know where Mum is and I really don't want to spend the night here by myself."
"Of course, I'll be over in a minute. Just let me get my coat and I'll Apparate in a jiffy." Narcissa rose on her knees to get her coat.
"No! Wait!" cried Eva before she could leave the front of the fire. "Don't Apparate. Just come through Floo."
Narcissa considered the scared face in her bedroom fire. "What are you not telling me?"
"There are Death Eaters outside the Manor, in the forest. I saw them this evening and I don't know when they're going to come to the house."
Narcissa stood and went to her dresser. She grabbed her wand and went straight towards the fire, not even packing a bag of clothing for herself. "Eva, move away from the fire."
She waited until the teen was out of the fire and then grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from a vase next to the fire. "Nocturino Manor," she said and in a whirl of green flame, she was gone.
Neville skidded to a halt outside of the phoenix gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office. He looked around, hoping to find a professor who would be able to let him in. He was in luck to have the Headmaster and Professor Snape approach from the direction of the Staff Room.
"Professor Dumbledore," called Neville. He ran towards the older wizard. "Eva's at the Manor. She just flooed her room in the East Tower. She needs help. There are Death Eaters in the forest of the Manor." Neville hoped that his short chopped sentences were intelligible enough for the wizard before him to understand.
Severus looked at Longbottom throughout his little speech and then ran to the East Tower staircase. He took them two at a time and burst through the door. He found Draco and the ever-present gang of Gryffindors sitting in front of the fireplace. Potter and Malfoy had their heads together and seemed to be poring over the piece of parchment in front of them as if it contained the answers to their N.E.W.T.s.
"When did she Floo?" he asked without a preamble.
Hermione grabbed the parchment and sat on it. An obvious indication that whatever it contained could not be good. "She just left about ten minutes ago," she told the professor.
Severus glared at the know-it-all Gryffindor and then turned his attention to Draco. "Did you speak with her?"
"Yes, sir," he answered.
"Is she well?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did she say how many Death Eaters there were?"
"No, sir."
Severus considered going to the forest and trying to convince them that it would be wise to go about this in another fashion. Hopefully, that would buy them enough time to get Eva out of the country and somewhere safe. The Death Eaters did not yet know that Eva was his daughter, they would just assume that he was doing this out of his loyalty to the Dark Lord.
"If I may ask a question, Professor Snape?" said Draco.
Severus turned to the young man.
"Do the Death Eaters know that Eva is your daughter?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Just because if you plan on going to get her out of the Manor, they will suspect your intentions. Why would you help the Dark Lord's future bride to escape him?"
"Why would I?"
Draco looked at the professor in the eye. For once in his career at Hogwarts, the look held no trace of evil or deceit. "Because you are really helping the Order of the Phoenix. Your job is to keep her out of the Dark Lord's hands."
"And your job, Mr. Malfoy?" asked Severus, without any trace of emotion.
"My job is to make sure that nothing happens to Eva. My father may have had ulterior motives for giving me that order, but I do not plan on following his footsteps. I believe that everyone should make their own decisions."
The other students in the room watched the exchange with a bit of awe in their expressions. Harry thought it was rather bold of Draco to talk to Snape like that, it sure was something he would never have been able to do. Hermione was trying to dislodge the thought out of her mind that Draco looked really good as he stood facing Snape. Ron was just staring at them and wondering when they were actually going to do something about Eva's situation.
Severus finally broke eye contact and left the room. He had some planning to do and he would not be able to get it done with these students in the same room. He practically flew down the stairs and almost ran into Professor Dumbledore on the last landing. "Forgive me, Albus. I should be watching where I'm going."
"Not to worry, Severus. I do have news, however, and I'm glad that we bumped into each other. I have alerted members of the Order of the situation and many of them are apparating to the Manor as we speak."
"How many will there be?"
"At least a dozen. More if I can get a hold of some of the off-duty Aurors from the Ministry."
"What would you like me to do, Albus?"
The Headmaster looked at Severus sadly over the rims of his glasses. "I'm afraid that there is nothing you can do, Severus. We cannot allow your position as our spy to be jeopardized. I would like you to stay here and make sure that our students do not take to flights of fancy during the night."
Severus knew that Albus wanted him to keep an eye on the students that were currently residing in the East Tower. He would have to play the baby-sitter while his daughter waited to be rescued by the remaining members of the Order.
"There is nothing I'll be able to say that will change your mind, is there?"
"Nothing at all. I am terribly sorry about this Severus. Rest assured, that I will bring her back to you, safe and sound."
"Please see that you do." With a curt nod he turned and headed down the remaining stairs.
Severus should have returned to the room in the East Tower and examined the parchment that was once again in the midst of the group of students before the fireplace.
"This is the layout of the Manor. There are a lot of ways to get lost, so we have to stick together. If we get in through the East Parlor, which is where she was when we talked, we have to go out the door and to the right. At the main staircase we go to the second floor and to the left. Her room is the last one at the end of the hall. You should know that your wands are not going to work when you get in her room. It's warded to work that way." Draco folded up the paper and tucked it in his pocket.
"Are you sure this will work?" asked Hermione.
"I'm positive. She's not going to leave the Manor if Dumbledore goes. Our only chance is if we get there before he does and bring her back ourselves."
"Do you have any idea how many school rules we're breaking?" asked Hermione.
"This from the girl who made Polyjuice Potion in our second year?" teased Draco.
"You knew about that?" asked Harry.
"I kind of figured it all out later. I was rather impressed with your lot's thinking. Pure Slytherin, that idea was."
"I'm not sure if that's a compliment," said Hermione.
"It is, trust me, you would make Eva proud."
Draco and Hermione smiled at each other for a moment and then looked around rather nervously. Draco cleared his throat and then called the marching orders.
"One problem," said Ron.
"What's that?" asked Draco.
"No powder," replied Harry.
"Damn it!" cried Draco.
Harry remembered the pot of powder in classroom eleven that he and Eva had used to get to Dumbledore's office when she'd disappeared into the forest. "I know where we can get some."
He ran out of the room and dashed through the corridors until he got to the classroom. He didn't have the key, so he had to charm the door open. He grabbed the whole pot and raced back upstairs, trying to let nothing fall out of the vessel in his hands.
"Okay, every one ready?" asked Draco. He saw all the heads nod. "I'll go first and make sure we're at the right place. If we're not then I'll Floo right back."
He walked into the fire and called out "Nocturino Manor." He managed to keep his footing upon landing in the grate and stepped out, brushing his robes to get rid of the soot that covered them. He hadn't been at Nocturino Manor for nearly two years and he felt like he was coming home. He turned and was just in time to catch Neville as he spilled out of the fireplace.
"That was one of the longer Floo rides I've taken," said the Gryffindor.
"Well, we're about eight hours from Hogwarts," replied Draco. He pointed to the door and reminded him of the directions to Eva's room. Neville left and soon Draco was catching Ron and giving him the same directions. Harry was next, but he kept his footing and didn't need the directions. Neither boy made any more acknowledgement than a slight nod of the head.
Hermione had waited until the end to Floo. She wanted to make sure that the coast was clear and that if any one was to come she would be there to call attention away from them. She was pretty sure that they would be okay when she stepped into the grate and heard the door open. She called out her destination and the last thing she saw was billowing black robes coming towards the fire.
Severus tried to catch whoever it had been that just flew through the grate. He had seen bushy hair and suspected it was Granger. He saw the small pot of Floo Powder by the fire and knew where they'd gone. Cursing under his breath at his predicament he had little to do except wait and pray that they didn't make things worse for Eva.
Hermione reached the other side and fell right into Draco's arms. She peeked through the tangle of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes and smiled at him. "Sorry," she said.
Draco smiled back. The thought of her looking like this in the morning, passed through his mind and he just stopped himself from brushing her hair away from her face. He cleared his throat and helped her to stand on her own two feet. "I'll go with you to her room."
Okay, Latin translations:
Manifesti: to reveal or manifest (just in case you couldn't tell)
Conscientia: is a shared knowledge. Since this book has been in the family for centuries, I thought the knowledge would be shared and not singular.
I will post the chapters that lead to the newly written chapter and then I'll have to wait for my beta-reader. She's usually really fast about things like this (and it's a short chapter), but I'm not sure how long it will take. Just think of it as an opportunity to review the story. :o) Mattie :o)