Chapter Two-Nephiri's Escape
Severus shuttered as he walked up the sloping lawn, leaning into the wind and snow, along side Lucius Malfoy. It was Christmas Eve, and they had been summoned for a revel. Severus was in a foul mood. It was bad enough to be summoned on Christmas. Severus hated Christmas. He always had. Even when his mother had attempted to make an effort for appearances sake, it was still the worst day of the year in his opinion. Then to top it all off, Lucius had insisted they apparate a mile and a half away from the manor to avoid detection.
"Was it really necessary to apparate nearly two miles away Lucius?" Snape was repositioning his robes in an attempt to keep some of the snow out.
"Do quit sulking Severus. We didn't want to upset the dark lord now did we? You'd think you'd be more appreciative that I put in a good word for you. Do you realize that you have yet to say thank you?" Lucius drawled in his sing song voice.
"I admit that you really are good at all your little potions Severus, but without me, I doubt the Dark Lord would even have known of your existence."
Severus looked at the man next to him like he wanted nothing more than to draw his still beating heart from his chest.
"Yes Lucius, I suppose that would be an excellent way to pass the rest of our little hike together. Tell me: would you prefer I go down on one knee or both?"
"Very amusing Severus. Really, I thought at eighteen you would be over most of this immaturity."
"So sorry to disappoint Lucius."
At that they saw a dark figure running away from the back of the manor. It looked like a short fat person, but nothing could be noted as to the large hooded robe they wore. Then they saw a second figure of the same stature only carrying a large case. Severus' curiosity got the better of him.
"Who do you suppose that is?"
"I wouldn't worry about it. If it is someone fleeing, the master will take care of it. He always does."
Severus recoiled as the memory flooded his mind. He never had liked Regulus Black, but the way he died had been particularly gruesome. No one backed out of the Death Eaters.
"I suppose." Severus said yet again pulling his robes around him more closely, frowning.
"What now Severus?"
"Nothing, lets get going. I doubt the master will appreciate our being late any more than he'd appreciate our being detected by muggles."
With that they were off at a much quicker pace. Lucius excited at the night's possibilities, and Severus weary about the choices he had made. When they finally did reach the house, Belatrix Lestrange and Nott were at the entry way in dark hooded robes and masks.
"Look Lucius, we've designed the new robes and masks. Aren't they grand?" Belatrix literally purred in Lucius' ear.
Slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer he hissed in her ear, "Yes, Mrs. Lestrange. They are quite nice." Then he released her quite forcefully.
Belatrix pouted as she watched the two men put on their new attire. "You just aren't as much fun since you and Narcissa had that brat."
"Yes well, I'm sure your husband will be happy about it, Mrs. Lestrange."
They left the entryway and entered the hall on their way to the Ball Room. It was where tonight's meeting was to be held. They had started very few in number. Now they had quite a following. Some of the most respected and wealthy families. The Blacks, the Malfoys, the Lestranges. All of them called Voldemort master. He had maneuvered his position so that he now had not only his wife's fortune, but that of all his followers. He had enough power that even Albus Dumbledore was concerned enough to have declared war.
Severus could understand Dumbledore's concern. He used to think that his master held all the answers. All his life he had craved knowledge and power. A few months before his graduation, when Lucius offered an introduction, Severus had jumped at the chance. The death eaters were growing in power and number even then. He had wanted nothing more than to be a part of that power. To gain the prestige and acceptance of his peers. He'd wanted respect. Something he had never been given and had never been strong enough to fight and win. But now. Now he knew the truth. Voldemort was a liar. He had no real answers. Just propaganda and a good show. The debauchery and corruption within the ranks was only surmounted by their cruelty. And it only got worse the higher up you went.
Within the inner circle, only the truly retched were admitted. Severus had only been admitted for his skills with poison. Some of the things Severus had made himself would curl the toes of Salazar Slytherin himself. Severus couldn't decide what made him more ill, Lucius and Belatrix antics or the Dark Lord himself. He'd completely changed over the past two years. He now had pale tight skin stretched so across his face as to almost make his nose flat. His eyes had developed a red tint to them. Almost like a rabbit's. And he said he still wasn't done. He planned much more. Severus just didn't know what to do. He hadn't been happy before, but now, tied to this monster and his cronies, he was miserable. Having to endure these revels on a regular basis. All he wanted was to do his work. To brew as he had always loved to do. That life seemed a far dream now.
As they reached the ball room, they were greeted by the other members of the inner circle. They all took their places in a circle around the throne their master would assume upon his arrival. It sat on a dais in the center of the room. The chair upon it was carved out of walnut. The padding was perfect and the fabric the most expensive green velvet. It had been a gift from Lucius and Narcissa. The carving was intricate and the wood was polished to a shine. It was definitely the chair of a master.
As they started to quiet, a loud pop was heard throughout the room and all fell silent and to their knees, head bowed. The Master had entered.
Tom Riddle Jr. looked out on to his faithful and grinned. It was good to see all his Death Eaters around him. Nephiri had been most put out that he'd call a meeting on Christmas Eve. It was a time for Family she said. She just didn't understand that these people were his children, and so by extension hers as well. They could never replace his little girl in his heart, but they were his support. His power. They needed petting every once in a while. And tonight, he had quite a gift planned for them all. Little did he know they would ever get to see his magnanimousness.
He stepped from the dais and circled in front of all of them. Stopping to speak to some. He asked after Narcissa and the baby as he passed Lucius stating his wife would be missed but it was her duty to rear the next generation of Death Eaters. He complimented Belatrix on the new robes. They were now truly befitting their station in society. He even commented on Severus' last potion. The wolfsbane might become very lucrative if the werewolves could be convinced of their cause.
Just as he was about to lead into his speech and then their gifts, the door was flung open and the Nanny who took care of his daughter came running in.
"She's gone sir! Both of them. I can't find them anywhere. I've searched the house and can't find them with the locator spell." She rasped desperately as she ran to him.
"What so you mean GONE!" Tom's voice bellowed throughout the room.
"Just that sir. I went in to check on little Aeris and leave her gifts for her and she was gone. Some of her drawers were out and missing some things. I went to tell Ms. Nephiri and she was gone to. I tried to use the locator charm and it produces no result. What do we do sir?"
She'd never get an answer. With a wave of his wand the woman was dead and Tom was bellowing at his followers to find them. For a moment, Severus thought to tell him about the figures he'd seen leaving, then he saw Lucius looking straight at him with a "Don't you dare" look on his face. So they all scattered outside throwing charms and looking for Lord Voldemort's lost daughter.
It was late, but not really late. Nephiri crept down the hall, that idiot Peter behind her. She had to go, and tonight. It had been her husbands speech about how those maniacs that follow him were his family and so hers as well and that she should make more of an effort to know them that had finally made her realize her husband would never let go of his aspirations of world domination and destruction. She had hoped that having a child would end all that. It almost had. For the few minutes that Tom had come and spent with her holding little Aeris in his arms and thanking her for her, she thought that she'd done it. He was going to let go of his control issues and just love them. She'd been wrong. He hadn't held Aeris for more than a few minutes before he handed her to the nanny and proceeded to beat Nephiri within an inch of her life. That's not to say he wasn't a good father. He had always been so careful not to let anything negative even within the vicinity of his daughter. He even wore a kind of glamour around her so she wouldn't be frightened by his real face. That in itself should have told her something. If he was too ashamed to show his innocent daughter what he was truly like, he knew he was bad. But that had also given her hope. Maybe, if he knew how Aeris would react if she found out, and Nephiri was sure she would, he'd stop before it got so bad he feared his own daughter's rejection. But now, she realized just how faulty her logic had been. Tom would never change. He was to hell bent on power. She just didn't know how to get it across to him that he already possessed all the power any man can hope to attain. The love and adoration of his children. And Aeris did adore him. She lit up every time he entered the room. She even went to him when she was hurt, saying clearly, "Daddy will make it better." That was going to make tonight hard. How was she going to get her child to go with her without drugging her? She could reach her father in her mind. It had always been a kind of game with the two. They'd started out sending each other images and then see if the other got it. They graduated eventually to holding conversations. It took a lot of practice though. They knew each other's minds like their own. There were just places Aeris wasn't allowed to go in her Daddy's mind just like in her Daddy's house. She didn't have time to convince the child, she just had to hope Aeris would listen and obey her.
She silently crept down the hall, motioning for peter to follow her. Her husband would be busy preparing the revel for tonight to be to much bother, but the nanny. They reached Aeris' room undetected. She motioned for Peter to pack some of Aeris' things and went to awaken her child. Aeris woke up groggily and looked at her mother with the biggest smile Nephiri had seen.
"Merry Christmas Mommy!" she beamed at her mother. "Did Santa Come?"
"Not yet Darling. Mommy needs you to be quiet now. We have to leave Aeris. Now come quick." Nephiri opened the voluminous robe she was wearing to pick Aeris up.
"Is Daddy coming? Where is he?"
"He's not coming Baby. We have to leave him. I know you don't underst…"
"Yes I do Mommy." Aeris lowered her head and allowed her mother to pick her up and cover her under the robe.
"What do mean Darling?" This was making Nephiri really nervous. She had no telepathy skills. She couldn't tell if she was calling her father right at this moment.
"I went were Daddy told me not to. I saw how he hits you Mommy. I also saw his friends. Mommy they're mean."
"I know Darling, it's alright were going away. We'll be happy after a while Baby I promise." Nephiri hugged her daughter to her tightly and motioned for Peter to stop packing.
"Whatever you've already packed is going to have to be enough. Let's get going."
And with that they were off. Nephiri had no idea were she was going, but she had to get out of the grounds before the Nanny found Aeris missing. If she followed instructions they had about ½ an hour. They'd have to hurry. Thank God for Peter. She knew the little twit was a coward, but he cared enough for her, that he was doing the only brave thing he'd ever done. He'd helped her plan this little escape. He'd told her what was planned and when the opportune moment would be to "make her break". She didn't know what was going to become of him or even her husband, but she didn't plan on ever finding out. She and her daughter were going as far away as possible. The other side of the world if need be.
"That isn't a bad idea!" she thought to herself. "America. He'd never think to look there. I'll just need to make one stop."
They exited out of the back and went at a run across the lawn, snow crunching beneath her feet, Peter at her heals. He started to lag behind after a while. Once they were safely concealed by the trees she lightened and shrunk the case and put it in her pocket.
"Thank you Peter. This is as far as you come with us. I can't risk anything more." She reached across and hugged the squat little man affectionately. Aeris even poked her little head out to say goodbye.
"I understand Nephiri. I hope I have done the right thing. Here little one. This is for you. I know it's about a month and a half early, but as I won't be seeing you, Happy eighth birthday love." And he handed her a little package with a little pink bow. He'd grown to love this child almost as much as he loved her mother. He'd always loved Nephiri Mourning. It had almost killed him the day she married Tom Riddle. He'd loved since he was a first year and she'd visited Hogwarts on an exchange program. They'd all been smitten with her. Even Remus who normally kept to himself noticed her dark hair and eyes. All the Beauxbatons girls had been beautiful, but Nephiri shone brighter than any of them.
"Thank you Peter." Aeris accepted the gift after a confirming nod from her mother. It was promptly stashed in her nightgown for safe keeping.
Peter smiled at the child and then turned sad eyes to her mother.
"Take care of yourself Nephiri. I'm afraid for you."
"Don't worry about me Peter: See to yourself."
And then she was gone: Peter was left alone in cold snow of the forest surrounding the manor. He turned and apparated away, hoping his part in tonight's little adventure would never be found out. And yet, he wondered what Sirius would say. Would he be pleased he finally had some backbone or furious he'd helped Voldemort's wife escape?
Nephiri appeared with a pop just outside Hogwarts castle. She was hoping she'd be quick enough that Albus wouldn't notice their presence. She had to get Aeris' necklace charmed and them both out of here before someone noticed. She set Aeris down and unlatched her locket. As she prepared for the charm she started explaining…
"Aeris, I'm charming your locket. It's going to be able to transport you back here if you ever need help and Mommy isn't there. See that castle?"
"Yes Mommy."
"Good, now if you ever have to use this, I want you to run as fast as you can to that castle. Ask for Uncle Albus. He'll help you. He'll be the only one who can if Mommy is gone. OK?"
"Mommy I'm scared, and my feet are cold."
Nephiri looked down and couldn't believe her carelessness. She'd put her beautiful child down in the snow barefoot. At this, she broke and the tears began to spill.
"Don't cry Mommy, it's alright. I'm fine. My feet aren't that cold."
Nephiri scooped up her daughter and held her close.
"Oh, my beautiful girl. You've been so brave tonight. Mommy loves you; you know that, right? I'd do anything to keep you safe."
"I know Mommy." Aeris hugged her mother back just as tight. She was only seven and didn't understand everything that was happening. All she knew was that her Mommy was upset and needed hugs.
"Nephiri? Nephiri Mourning? Or should I say Riddle?" Remus Lupin asked from the gates.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Nephiri demanded.
Remus stepped into the light of the half moon and stayed a safe distance. This was Voldemort's wife after all.
"My name is Remus Lupin. What may I ask is Lord Voldemort's wife doing outside Hogwarts?"
"None of your business, thank you. I'll just be going now."
And with another pop, she was gone. Leaving another man confused and asking a lot of questions.
Remus heard the heavy running footsteps of Sirius behind him and turned to meet a very suspicious look he meet with one of his own. Was Sirius meeting her here? If so, why the hell did she bring her daughter?
"Who were you talking to, Remus?" Sirius asked in a purposefully gruff tone. "It looked like Nephiri Riddle."
"It WAS Nephiri Riddle, Sirius. I think we should tell Dumbledore about this: NOW." Remus replied.
"I couldn't agree more, Remus. I couldn't agree more."
AN: I'd first like to thank my betta; Little Tigger, for her help. Your review and support are so appreciated! Her story is such a page turner, or mouse clicker, or scroller, er whatever. Check it out. Then you can worship her as much as I do. I'm very happy to be placed on a favorites list too! Yeah me! I'd love a review. Good, bad, ANYTHING! Next chapter we see Aeris all grown up. Please, please, please…write those reviews!
Kathryn