Bill Weasley woke the next morning with his arm draped around a young
shapely woman. Blinking and yawning, he tried to place her name in his
foggy mind. Surely it started with an M. Mary, maybe? No, that's not it.
Why couldn't he remember?
He was betting all that Whiskey he consumed last night had something to do with it.
He groaned as he stumbled into the hallway, deciding to deal with the nameless blonde sleeping naked in his bed after a shower and at least three cups of coffee.
But apparently fate had other plans, because an owl he didn't recognize was sitting at his table in the small kitchen of his small apartment, eating what looked like stale popcorn.
"Damn thing, what do you want?"
The owl simple shifted his tawny eyes to him and flapped a wing. Yawning and grumbling he untied the piece of parchment that was tied to this arrogant birds leg. Deciding to read it on his way to that hot shower, he glared once more at the owl and headed to the bathroom.
A crash that shook the foundation of this little apartment was followed by more vicious curses, this time in a different language.
"Brad?" The slumberous blonde with the full body stumbled bare-skinned into the hallway, and tossed him a sleep smile. "Sumthing wrong, honey?"
He didn't even spare a glance for this sexy girl who couldn't remember his name. Scooping her up in hand arm, grabbing what he hoped were her clothing (he didn't remember owing a blue dress) he dumped her just outside his front door, tossing her clothes behind her. There was a slight pop and then he was gone.
Three minutes later he was back and scrounging for clothes.
~*~
Ten minutes later, Bill was walking up to Hagrid's hut. He wasn't ready to deal with the rest of the Weasley clan. He needed to.remember first. Then he'd deal.
He knocked loudly on the door, and was immediately grabbed in a bone- crunching hug that was almost comical. Chocking and sputtering her patted the half-giant on the back and concentrated on breathing. When Hagrid finally set him back on his feet, Bill wheezed out a great breath of air. And saw the Hagrid was either drunk or crying. Or both.
Breathing closer to normal now, Bill clasped a hand on Hagrid's arm, and asked softly, "What's going on, Hagrid?" Drunk or crying, it was best to speak quietly.
Hagrid wailed and threw himself into a chair. He was crying, then.
"Poor Charlie! Poor Beth!" He sobbed, and hugged Fang around the neck. "She used ter come down to me hut."
Bill couldn't make out the rest of what he was saying. But it was enough to make him remember.
He closed his eyes and let the memories come.
She was tall like Ron, and skinny like Percy. She was blue eyes like Ron and red curly hair like Charlie, but it was darker, like his own. Wild red curls that went everywhere, and a grin like the twin's. She would sit on his lap and sing, just belt out whatever song came to mind. The girl could sing, and she loved to. He used to take her flying, and she would sit between his arms, and wouldn't say a word. She loved to fly.
She was the one who told Peeves the password to the prefect bathroom. No one even knew how found the password, but she did, and told Peeves, while a Slytherin was bathing, one that one made fun of Ron at platform nine and three-quarters. Well, the Slytherin got hers, and Beth got detention. She was quite proud.
So everyone else went of to Hogsmead, and thirteen year old Beth was left alone, to serve her detention for defending her brother.
He remembered pushing his way into the girls' dormitory, where he saw blood.so much blood. It covered the bed sheets, the walls, and the mirrors, staining everything crimson. On the far wall, written in blood, were three words.
She's the first.
He remembered how Charlie had disappeared, how the entire staff searched the grounds for any sign of Elizabeth or for Charles Weasley, who surely had gone after his twin.
Charlie was found the next morning, walking out of the Forbidden Forest. His clothes were torn and blood coated his skin. He didn't talk for nearly two months. And when he did talk, he never acknowledged what happened in the Forbidden Forest.
Beth was never found.
Until now. Bill's fist clenched. She was a prisoner of cold-blooded Death Eaters. It's been eight years. Blood boiled in his veins. Eight years of thinking her dead. She died once. Now we might have to face her death a second time.
He opened his eyes to look about. Hagrid had fallen asleep.
Bill remembered Charlie's disappearance into the Forbidden Forest the first time. He was only half alive when he came out.
Bill wasn't sure Charlie could survive it again.
~*~
Beth Weasley was having a hell of a night. Come to think of it, she was having a hell of a year-seven bloody years to be exact. But this night topped it all. Of course it's not everyday she was dragged through dirt and grim by a cluster of Death Eaters.
It was an annual deal in the life of Elizabeth Weasley.
It took at least ten grown men to overpower a twenty-two year old wandless witch. She took a sense of twisted pride in that.
The shoved, dragged, and tossed her down the underground coroner. The slaps and beatings all melted into one big thrashing in her mind. Her hands were bound behind her back, her mouth gagged with god knows what. Still she struggled, yelled, and kicked.
Just like always.
Except this time.this time it looked like they were going to win. They never managed to drag her the entire way to Voldermort. She always escaped.
But not this time. The spell had been used on her once to many. She had no energy left.
Another backhand sent her sprawling. The world spun once, threatening to turn black, before it righted itself. She felt something warm and sticky drip from her hair. Blood.
More blood.
It doesn't matter, she told herself. Nothing matters. It may be time for her to die, finally, but she wasn't going to die weak. Not after all this time.
She fought more then ever to get free from her captors, having no real hope. The pain, the distance, the blood, all passed in a blur. Soon she saw a door, with the stench of decay and rotting blood behind it.
Her eyes closed briefly. Always blood.
Then the door open, and she was pushed inside, to her knees. Her breath was ragged, her eyes closed. And her heart bitter.
A voice seemed to float over her wary mind, sick and slimily, making her skin crawl.
"At last.do you know who I am?"
Beth forced her eyes open. She was defeated, she knew. But she wouldn't let him have the satisfaction of seeing her beaten. She would die, and welcome death. But he would never know. She hissed out his name and tossed her hair back.
"Voldermort!"
She had long since embraced his name, refusing to let him see her fear. He gazed upon her now, dirty red curls that fell into wild disarray, her muggle jeans and tank top wet and in shreds, her skin bruised and broken. But he wouldn't see her terror, for she felt none. He wouldn't see her hopeless and lost, for she still had pride when all else has forsaken her.
And he damn well wouldn't see her on her knees, bowing down in front of him.
Despite the pain and the effort, she forced herself to her feet, to stand strait and tall as she faced the bastard in front of her.
Then the shadows shifted and a figure stepped out. Through her haze of pain, her focus cleared, and her eyes went dark with fury.
"You dirty bastard! Out-selling Hogwarts, betraying Dumbledor!! I'll kill you!!"
She lunged and was thrown back. Pain swamped her, but her eyes remained open, staring blankly.
Professor Severus Snape, the Potions master for all of her three years at school, sneered down at her. Her sense of time was muddled, but she knew he was still there, teaching students. Teaching her brothers, her sister. Bill and Charlie would be gone by now. If they were still alive, that is. Ginny, little Ginny, and Ron with his baby blue eyes would be there. The twins, the adorable twins, Fred and George, and Percy would still be sitting in this mans class, while he planned the destruction of the light. This evil man, this spy for the dark lord, this sellout-he was teaching her family.
"You will die tonight, girl. After all this time.what do you say to that?"
Her face flushed, her eyes shot sparks of hate.
"Kiss my ass."
And then all hell broke loose.
~*~
Stupid girl. Stupid, stupid, brainless girl. Disappearing for eight bloody years, putting her family through hell, and then just showing up one day at a Death Eater meeting.
Not that he cared if the Weasley family were going through hell or not, of course. And not that she choose for it to happen this way.
Stupid girl.
Now Severus was spending all his night trying to save her sorry ass. Of course she just had to try to attack him, earning her another vicious blow to the head. Brainless girl. And then, that comment, that bold, kiss my ass comment to the dark lord.well, admittedly, it did have a nice dramatic ring to it.
Stupid girl.
And of course, fate would choose just that point in time for thirty or so Auror's to appear with random pops. The air was soon filled with sparks as curses and hexes were shot from wands to wands. Snape was forced to use the battle as a diversion to look for the mindless twit of a girl. Where on earth was she?
With the rest of his fellow Death Eaters desperately trying to fight back the Auror's, Severus crept along the ground looking for a mere pesk of a girl before his comrades found her first.
He found her, huddled behind a large boulder, shivering and trembling. "Damnit."
Her eyes flew open, took a moment to clear, then shot daggers at him. "Go to hell, you--!!"
He clamped a hand to her mouth to quite her and cursed when she bite him. Shaking her hard, he whispered furiously, "Damnit girl, you're right I am a spy, but a spy for Dumbledor. Understand?"
She didn't look at all convinced; in fact by the way she was shouting curses at him, he'd hazard a guess and say she didn't believe him.
Stupid girl.
"I've got to get you out of here, before you're killed and my cover is blown.understand?" She calmed down slightly, but still moved away from him in distrust. He let out a sigh, and then said mockingly, "You have a family waiting for you at Hogwarts.come with me, or stay here; it's you choice."
A moment passed as she stared into his eyes. Such blue eyes.
Then she turned and shoved her bound wrists at him. "Get these off."
Severus rolled his eyes to the heavens and exclaimed, "Honestly woman! We'll worry about those later." He grabbed her arm, but she jerked away from him.
"I am not going with you bound and helpless. Get these off." Beth ordered.
"Stupid girl! I can't! Those can only be opened by Voldermort himself, or by spilling his blood! Now come on!!"
But she only smiled; a dangerously calm smile. "Spilling his blood, eh.." Then suddenly she was in the middle of the fight, calling out to Voldermort, "Oi, Snake-eyes!" He turned with a snarl and she hurled herself at him, teeth bared. His animal like scream of pain tore through the night dark sky, and she was thrown back; flying through the air like a limp rag doll.
Cursing all the way, Severus ran to her, wrapped an arm around her ankle and reached for the Portkey in his pocket.
He was betting all that Whiskey he consumed last night had something to do with it.
He groaned as he stumbled into the hallway, deciding to deal with the nameless blonde sleeping naked in his bed after a shower and at least three cups of coffee.
But apparently fate had other plans, because an owl he didn't recognize was sitting at his table in the small kitchen of his small apartment, eating what looked like stale popcorn.
"Damn thing, what do you want?"
The owl simple shifted his tawny eyes to him and flapped a wing. Yawning and grumbling he untied the piece of parchment that was tied to this arrogant birds leg. Deciding to read it on his way to that hot shower, he glared once more at the owl and headed to the bathroom.
A crash that shook the foundation of this little apartment was followed by more vicious curses, this time in a different language.
"Brad?" The slumberous blonde with the full body stumbled bare-skinned into the hallway, and tossed him a sleep smile. "Sumthing wrong, honey?"
He didn't even spare a glance for this sexy girl who couldn't remember his name. Scooping her up in hand arm, grabbing what he hoped were her clothing (he didn't remember owing a blue dress) he dumped her just outside his front door, tossing her clothes behind her. There was a slight pop and then he was gone.
Three minutes later he was back and scrounging for clothes.
~*~
Ten minutes later, Bill was walking up to Hagrid's hut. He wasn't ready to deal with the rest of the Weasley clan. He needed to.remember first. Then he'd deal.
He knocked loudly on the door, and was immediately grabbed in a bone- crunching hug that was almost comical. Chocking and sputtering her patted the half-giant on the back and concentrated on breathing. When Hagrid finally set him back on his feet, Bill wheezed out a great breath of air. And saw the Hagrid was either drunk or crying. Or both.
Breathing closer to normal now, Bill clasped a hand on Hagrid's arm, and asked softly, "What's going on, Hagrid?" Drunk or crying, it was best to speak quietly.
Hagrid wailed and threw himself into a chair. He was crying, then.
"Poor Charlie! Poor Beth!" He sobbed, and hugged Fang around the neck. "She used ter come down to me hut."
Bill couldn't make out the rest of what he was saying. But it was enough to make him remember.
He closed his eyes and let the memories come.
She was tall like Ron, and skinny like Percy. She was blue eyes like Ron and red curly hair like Charlie, but it was darker, like his own. Wild red curls that went everywhere, and a grin like the twin's. She would sit on his lap and sing, just belt out whatever song came to mind. The girl could sing, and she loved to. He used to take her flying, and she would sit between his arms, and wouldn't say a word. She loved to fly.
She was the one who told Peeves the password to the prefect bathroom. No one even knew how found the password, but she did, and told Peeves, while a Slytherin was bathing, one that one made fun of Ron at platform nine and three-quarters. Well, the Slytherin got hers, and Beth got detention. She was quite proud.
So everyone else went of to Hogsmead, and thirteen year old Beth was left alone, to serve her detention for defending her brother.
He remembered pushing his way into the girls' dormitory, where he saw blood.so much blood. It covered the bed sheets, the walls, and the mirrors, staining everything crimson. On the far wall, written in blood, were three words.
She's the first.
He remembered how Charlie had disappeared, how the entire staff searched the grounds for any sign of Elizabeth or for Charles Weasley, who surely had gone after his twin.
Charlie was found the next morning, walking out of the Forbidden Forest. His clothes were torn and blood coated his skin. He didn't talk for nearly two months. And when he did talk, he never acknowledged what happened in the Forbidden Forest.
Beth was never found.
Until now. Bill's fist clenched. She was a prisoner of cold-blooded Death Eaters. It's been eight years. Blood boiled in his veins. Eight years of thinking her dead. She died once. Now we might have to face her death a second time.
He opened his eyes to look about. Hagrid had fallen asleep.
Bill remembered Charlie's disappearance into the Forbidden Forest the first time. He was only half alive when he came out.
Bill wasn't sure Charlie could survive it again.
~*~
Beth Weasley was having a hell of a night. Come to think of it, she was having a hell of a year-seven bloody years to be exact. But this night topped it all. Of course it's not everyday she was dragged through dirt and grim by a cluster of Death Eaters.
It was an annual deal in the life of Elizabeth Weasley.
It took at least ten grown men to overpower a twenty-two year old wandless witch. She took a sense of twisted pride in that.
The shoved, dragged, and tossed her down the underground coroner. The slaps and beatings all melted into one big thrashing in her mind. Her hands were bound behind her back, her mouth gagged with god knows what. Still she struggled, yelled, and kicked.
Just like always.
Except this time.this time it looked like they were going to win. They never managed to drag her the entire way to Voldermort. She always escaped.
But not this time. The spell had been used on her once to many. She had no energy left.
Another backhand sent her sprawling. The world spun once, threatening to turn black, before it righted itself. She felt something warm and sticky drip from her hair. Blood.
More blood.
It doesn't matter, she told herself. Nothing matters. It may be time for her to die, finally, but she wasn't going to die weak. Not after all this time.
She fought more then ever to get free from her captors, having no real hope. The pain, the distance, the blood, all passed in a blur. Soon she saw a door, with the stench of decay and rotting blood behind it.
Her eyes closed briefly. Always blood.
Then the door open, and she was pushed inside, to her knees. Her breath was ragged, her eyes closed. And her heart bitter.
A voice seemed to float over her wary mind, sick and slimily, making her skin crawl.
"At last.do you know who I am?"
Beth forced her eyes open. She was defeated, she knew. But she wouldn't let him have the satisfaction of seeing her beaten. She would die, and welcome death. But he would never know. She hissed out his name and tossed her hair back.
"Voldermort!"
She had long since embraced his name, refusing to let him see her fear. He gazed upon her now, dirty red curls that fell into wild disarray, her muggle jeans and tank top wet and in shreds, her skin bruised and broken. But he wouldn't see her terror, for she felt none. He wouldn't see her hopeless and lost, for she still had pride when all else has forsaken her.
And he damn well wouldn't see her on her knees, bowing down in front of him.
Despite the pain and the effort, she forced herself to her feet, to stand strait and tall as she faced the bastard in front of her.
Then the shadows shifted and a figure stepped out. Through her haze of pain, her focus cleared, and her eyes went dark with fury.
"You dirty bastard! Out-selling Hogwarts, betraying Dumbledor!! I'll kill you!!"
She lunged and was thrown back. Pain swamped her, but her eyes remained open, staring blankly.
Professor Severus Snape, the Potions master for all of her three years at school, sneered down at her. Her sense of time was muddled, but she knew he was still there, teaching students. Teaching her brothers, her sister. Bill and Charlie would be gone by now. If they were still alive, that is. Ginny, little Ginny, and Ron with his baby blue eyes would be there. The twins, the adorable twins, Fred and George, and Percy would still be sitting in this mans class, while he planned the destruction of the light. This evil man, this spy for the dark lord, this sellout-he was teaching her family.
"You will die tonight, girl. After all this time.what do you say to that?"
Her face flushed, her eyes shot sparks of hate.
"Kiss my ass."
And then all hell broke loose.
~*~
Stupid girl. Stupid, stupid, brainless girl. Disappearing for eight bloody years, putting her family through hell, and then just showing up one day at a Death Eater meeting.
Not that he cared if the Weasley family were going through hell or not, of course. And not that she choose for it to happen this way.
Stupid girl.
Now Severus was spending all his night trying to save her sorry ass. Of course she just had to try to attack him, earning her another vicious blow to the head. Brainless girl. And then, that comment, that bold, kiss my ass comment to the dark lord.well, admittedly, it did have a nice dramatic ring to it.
Stupid girl.
And of course, fate would choose just that point in time for thirty or so Auror's to appear with random pops. The air was soon filled with sparks as curses and hexes were shot from wands to wands. Snape was forced to use the battle as a diversion to look for the mindless twit of a girl. Where on earth was she?
With the rest of his fellow Death Eaters desperately trying to fight back the Auror's, Severus crept along the ground looking for a mere pesk of a girl before his comrades found her first.
He found her, huddled behind a large boulder, shivering and trembling. "Damnit."
Her eyes flew open, took a moment to clear, then shot daggers at him. "Go to hell, you--!!"
He clamped a hand to her mouth to quite her and cursed when she bite him. Shaking her hard, he whispered furiously, "Damnit girl, you're right I am a spy, but a spy for Dumbledor. Understand?"
She didn't look at all convinced; in fact by the way she was shouting curses at him, he'd hazard a guess and say she didn't believe him.
Stupid girl.
"I've got to get you out of here, before you're killed and my cover is blown.understand?" She calmed down slightly, but still moved away from him in distrust. He let out a sigh, and then said mockingly, "You have a family waiting for you at Hogwarts.come with me, or stay here; it's you choice."
A moment passed as she stared into his eyes. Such blue eyes.
Then she turned and shoved her bound wrists at him. "Get these off."
Severus rolled his eyes to the heavens and exclaimed, "Honestly woman! We'll worry about those later." He grabbed her arm, but she jerked away from him.
"I am not going with you bound and helpless. Get these off." Beth ordered.
"Stupid girl! I can't! Those can only be opened by Voldermort himself, or by spilling his blood! Now come on!!"
But she only smiled; a dangerously calm smile. "Spilling his blood, eh.." Then suddenly she was in the middle of the fight, calling out to Voldermort, "Oi, Snake-eyes!" He turned with a snarl and she hurled herself at him, teeth bared. His animal like scream of pain tore through the night dark sky, and she was thrown back; flying through the air like a limp rag doll.
Cursing all the way, Severus ran to her, wrapped an arm around her ankle and reached for the Portkey in his pocket.
