CHAPTER 9: Golden, Sapphire, Broken Heart

* Still in the Future *

The dark castle shook as if an earthquake ripped through the ground suddenly. The death eaters and slaves alike clutched to whatever they were closest to, hoping this fit would be short. In the main chamber Voldemort lay writhing in agony. His face was gaunt and stretched tightly as he screamed. Any remnants of beauty he had possessed had left him and he had become a walking corpse, stuck in the dark lord's fading figure.

Voldemort screamed aloud with pain, but internally he searched for what was doing this to him. Something was eating at him inside, and he needed to find out what. It struck at various moments, sometimes for hours, sometimes for minutes, but no matter when or how long it always burned with a pain so fierce he always found himself wishing for death, wishing for an end to the torture, wishing for peace. But peace was not to be his. Power, yes, he had unimaginable power, but it was nothing compared to the loneliness he endured, the heartbreak, the endless nights he fell asleep listening to the screams of innocent children and woman. No matter what they said, Voldemort had a heart; it was just so badly broken and beaten that he hid it away. He didn't need anymore pain than he already had.

Suddenly the pain stopped and Voldemort stopped screaming, lying on the ground, breathing hard.

* * * * * * * * *

Lucius Malfoy watched as the lower death eaters marched in with a new load of slaves. One in particular caught his eye. She, though beaten and bloody, held herself high and walked proudly, albeit with a small limp. Her hair was a shiny golden color and her eyes a sparkling blue. He grinned maliciously: tonight would be fun after all.

* * * * * * * * *

"Selina," Severus said, shaking her. "Selina wake up!"

"What's wrong with her?" Hermione whispered tearfully.

"She over-used her powers," Salazar said in a matter-of-fact tone. Hermione gasped. He had come out of the bedroom silently and now kneeled down beside Severus, looking shockingly like him. There was that blazing fire in his eyes, carefully hidden but still powerful. Hermione could see a great intelligence in her future son, far greater than she could ever hope to possess herself. Salazar seemed nothing like the empty shell that he had been an hour ago.

"What's up with you?" Severus asked suspiciously. "For the entire time you looked like the living dead except that one minute back in the, the, the present." Severus was at a loss over what to call Dumbledore. It seemed wrong to call him simply "headmaster" or Dumbledore" now, but Severus wasn't comfortable calling him Albus, and he wasn't sure how the old wizard would take to being call father. Salazar sighed.

"I suppose I out to explain myself," he began, a faintly apologetic and yet amused note in his voice. "But firs let me take Selina to her bed. She won't appreciate waking up on the floor."

"I suppose she sleeps in my room?" Severus remarked quietly, looking at Salazar.

"Well, the closest you could get to it here anyway," Salazar agreed.

"You know, I've never seen your room," Hermione said slowly.

"And you won't, yet," Severus said firmly.

"I'll be back in a few minutes, can you two handle being by yourselves for that amount of time?" Salazar asked, smirking as he gently picked up Selina.

"I think we can handle it," Severus replied, smirking back.

"Good, and," Salazar said with an evil glint in his eyes." Please don't try and conceive us while I'm gone." Hermione blushed furiously and a pale shade of red appeared on Severus's cheeks. Salazar walked into the mysterious bedroom, looking quite happy with himself.

"Um," Hermione said, trying to break the silence that had fallen upon Salazar's departure. "Well this is-"

"Depressing," Severus said flatly. "It's incredibly depressing how they've grown up. It's depressing how they live now. It's depressing to think that once we go back to the present we have one chance and one chance only to stop all this from happening. It's depressing to think what will happen to you…" he trailed off.

"You know what I find most depressing?" Hermione asked him softly. "It's how little time we'll have together if what Selina said comes true." She moved closer to him.

"Hermione," Severus said, looking shocked. She leaned forward and kissed him. At first he didn't respond, completely shocked, but then, slowly, he began to kiss her back, first gently then more passionately. There were so many ways to describe what they were feeling, but the best way is that they felt right together. More whole and happy than either had felt in a long time.

"Enjoying yourselves?" Salazar remarked dryly. Hermione and Severus broke apart.

"Why do you insist on sneaking?" Severus demanded.

"Being quiet is what could save your life," Salazar said ominously. "But enough. Selina was going to fill you in on the situation here, but as she can't now, I will."

"First tell us about yourself," Hermione instructed. "I want to know why you're like how you are now." Salazar smiled at her and nodded.

'I was the leader of the Order, until the incident in the Dark Palace," he began. Unlike most people who recall their past, his eyes did not take on a glazed over, far away sort of look, but remained sharp and focused. He looked from Hermione to Severus in turn, and while Hermione found nothing wrong with her future son, something bothered Severus. Perhaps the potions master was just being paranoid from his years as a spy, but something about Salazar reminded Severus of the dark lord…and he couldn't quiet figure out why.

"But after I was captured…" Salazar trailed off. Gathering his courage, which had somewhat lessened in his state of living dead, Salazar continued, how a bright light in his eyes. "Something in me…was captured, forcefully. My mind was still working, and I was still aware of what was going on around me, but a spell had been placed on me, and a small part of my mind was trapped in nightmares, my memories.

"However, for small moments, like in grandfather's office, I could find my way out. But I could never fully come too because Stacy had yet to be found." Salazar then realized what he had said. "Oh shit. You weren't supposed to hear that."

"Who's Stacy?" Severus asked swiftly, sensing a secret that could end up being very important. Salazar eyed him warily.

"I can't tell you, exactly," he said, shaking his head. "Selina knows, but barely, and not through her own memories mind you. Stacy is very important. In our time you could say she's the equivalent of Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore put together. Voldemort's been waiting a long time to find her."

"Why?" Hermione questioned.

"Because," Salazar answered sadly. "Stacy's the only one who can defeat Voldemort now."

* * * * * * * * *

"Don't touch me," the woman hissed, her blue eyes flashing dangerously, pushing Lucius Malfoy away. He slapped her hard across the face.

"Don't talk to me like that, slave," he spat, grabbing her. "You are here to do what I want, and I want-" A burst of power hit Lucius Malfoy, ramming him into the wall, knocking him unconscious.

"I am no one's play thing," the woman said coldly, her power lowering as her blond hair fell into her eyes. She brushed it back irritably. That little spat with Lucius had cost her more time and energy than she had thought it would. Cursing under her breath, she took out her gold and silver hair tie and tied back her long hair, leaving two pieces loose in front, one on either side of her head. Muttering a spell under her breath she vanished. It was time to explore this castle, every advantage would be needed in the end if Voldemort was to fall.

TBC…

* * * * * * * * *

First I want to say that I didn't mean what I said last chapter: I have every intention of finishing this story and its two sequels. However, I would GREATLY appreciate feedback (reviews), it lets me know what you think, and that people are actually reading my story. It is sort of a waste to write something if no one's going to read it. Anyway, if you have any questions I will answer them for you, and I still want to know who you think Harry should be with. Next Chapter: In this chapter, Stacy was introduced and you started to get a vague idea of who she was, find out more about this mysterious woman and about Salazar. Also, you will be seeing Artemis and Harry again- yep, you're going to finally hear about Artemis's lab and the Potters. Where exactly do they fall into this story: I assure you Artemis is not only the Order's inventor. Perhaps the Weaslys and Malfoys will even make an appearance. And you'll get to hear a tiny bit more of Dumbledore's tale- but this time in the present! - Be posting the next chapter soon, ~ Remo