No Good Deed
CHAPTER 9
"Under the surface
Behind the scenes
Something baaaaaaad:
Sorry Bad"
Something Bad – Wicked
"Shall we take a break for dinner?" McGonagall asked in a less accusatory tone.
"If you could have something brought up, I could continue with the story." Gertie said.
"I know you asked me to hold my questions, but I can't help but wonder what ever happened to your sister Cecile?" Minerva asked.
"You will find out in time, but first, there is more to the story." Gertie said.
"Gertie, before you continue, may I speak with you privately?" Severus whispered.
"I will go place our orders, you may have a few minutes to yourselves. I suppose, you won't be going anywhere because I still have your wands." She said as she flooed to the kitchens, leaving Severus and Gertrude alone.
"I will ask you one more time, are you sure about this?" Severus asked.
"And for the last time, yes Severus, she is lightening up a bit, she's stopped tutting every time I speak. Besides, we have no other options." She said looking away from him.
"Are you going to tell her about..." He stopped.
"It will help explain part of why Dumbledore trusted you." She said.
"I suppose, but it is personal." Severus hissed.
"Personal to who, Severus? To you? Please, you weren't the one it happened to, Severus. You weren't the one carrying the baby!" She growled back. Minerva heard this and nearly dropped the food as she came through the floo with three plates of turkey.
"I, well, here's some food." She stuttered unsure of what she just heard.
"Thank you Professor." Gertie said, still not looking at Severus.
"Yes, well, eat up." She said with a faint smile.
"I suppose, you are wondering what happened that summer, well it all began a few days before." Gertie started off.
ooo
"Gertrude, you cannot leave this weekend, you have to stay and help your sister." Gertrude's father spoke harshly.
"Father, you don't understand, this is important! This is my future." Gertie pleaded.
"No, Gertrude, I have to go see some man about some carpets in Morocco, and you know Cecile can't be left alone." He said firmly.
"I told you about this trip at the beginning of the summer! It's not fair!" She cried.
"Life's not fair Gertrude, I thought you would have figured that out by now, being born hideously different." Her father yelled back. Gertrude knew that he had wanted just to say hideous, but held his tongue to some extent.
"Fine, go to bloody Morocco." She hissed and stalked off to her room.
"Gertie." Cecile knocked at her door.
"Go away Cecile." She said still angry.
"Please, let me in." Cecile pleaded.
"It's open." Gertie conceded. Cecile wheeled her way in and made herself comfortable.
"Listen, I have an idea." Cecile said.
"What?" Gertie said annoyed.
"Take me with you." Cecile stated.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want you to be bothered with this, and besides, father would kill me." Gertie said.
"I never get to do anything because I am stuck in this stupid chair! You want to do something for me, then take me!" She whined.
"Cecile, it is far too dangerous." Gertie stated.
"Dangerous? What is dangerous about it, we both are witches, we can handle ourselves." She tried to persuade.
"Look, I am not promising anything, but I will think on it." Gertie finally conceded.
ooo
A week later, with Father Carrow out of the house, Gertrude and Cecile made their way to the train station. The plan had been to take the train down to Paddington, and meet Severus. It was a surprise to Gertrude that Regulus happened to be waiting as well. He had been acting rather strange lately, and seemed to be blindly following Cecile's every move.
Whatever worries Gertie may have felt before the meeting with the great wizard seemed to have melted away once the four of them were on the train.
"Gertie, do you really think he can help me?" Cecile asked as she ate her cucumber sandwich.
"I do not see why not, he is truly a visionary." Gertie said excited.
"Cecile, do you want the rest of my sandwich?" Regulus offered.
"No, thank you Regulus." She replied.
"Gertrude, do you know if the Head boy and girl announcements went out yet?" Severus asked.
"Oh, yeah, Lily wrote me last week and said that she got Head Girl, and her new boyfriend, James bloody Potter got Head Boy." She sneered.
"Dammit, passed over again. The Headmaster obviously has no resepect for Slytherins. We will show all of them." Severus said upset.
"Yes, well let them have their stupid positions, we will be famous." Gertie tried to comfort.
It turned out that the four of them were in for a major culture shock when they arrived at the Malfoy's family home, where the meeting was being held.
It was a castle, not like Hogwarts, but much more elegant. They had items dating back to the Byzantine era, gardens that stretched for miles, and an entrance hall that doubled the Great Hall. Lucius Malfoy and his father were greeting the guests as the entered their family home.
"Hello Severus, so glad you decided to come, people like us have to stick together." Lucius smiled. Severus was unsure what to think of this, knowing in truth that he was just a Half-Blood who lived in the poorest neighborhood in London.
"Gertrude." Lucius acknowledged.
"Lucius." She nodded back.
"I see your sister has decided to join us as well?" He half asked.
"Yes, Lucius, is that a problem." Cecile answered back.
"No, I just did not realize that the Dark Lord would be interested in any of your talents." He stated back.
"Ease off, Lucius." Regulus stated.
"Very well, enjoy your visit." He said slyly.
The four walked around the massive estate for an hour or so, before they gathered in the Malfoy's dinning room.
"Hello, and welcome, I hope that you will all find your stay at the Malfoy's manner pleasant, and why don't we give a hand to them for lending us the use of their wonderful estate." Tom stated while offering applause.
"You were all brought here for your talents. The best the wizarding world has to offer. Some excel in ancient charms and curses, others, potions, and some inherent talents you were born with. Greyback here is a werewolf. Forrester a metamorphosis, Carrow is a natural at mind control.
We are the best of the best. Muggles have forced us into hiding, to the point of being ashamed of the talents that we all possess. We are the stronger race, why must we hide in fear. It is them who should be hidden, it is them who should be monitored. We cannot continue to live under the radar.
The Ministry of Magic, is nothing but a joke. Everyday new rules and regulations are issued telling us how to keep hidden. We cannot even walk the streets with our wands drawn. We are forced to where muggle clothing when we go out, for fear of being discovered. Well I say no more! No more!"
"No more! No More!" The crowd shouted back. For the first time, Gertie felt like she truly fit in. People did not look at her like she was some kind of plague, but they honored her for her talents. Severus was also beaming, realizing that he was finally receiving the respect that he so desperately yearned for. Finally a place where they could call home.
ooo
"You must have realized his motives? Why would you submit yourselves to that?" Minerva interrupted.
"We were seventeen, how were we to know?" Severus sneered.
"You make it sound like it was perfect, why would you ever change your minds?" Minerva asked accusatorially.
"From history, you may have noticed that things sometimes take a turn for the worst. Dictatorship always has its certain pitfalls, total control tends to cause friction." Gertrude stated.
"So, when did things start to become bad, as you say?" She asked sipping her tea.
"I suppose things took a turn for the worst four years later, late that summer. Voldermort, as he now was known, had asked us to take a mark, to prove our loyalty. We reluctantly agreed, because he had not yet delivered on what he had promised us, but would very shortly." Gertrude said.
"What did he promise?" Minerva asked again.
"He promised to help me find a cure to my ailment, and my sister's paralysis. He promised Severus that he would allow him to study the ancient art of the Grimmerie."
"The book of Merlin?" Minerva almost gasped.
"Yes, well these of course all turned out to be lies. He twisted us to submit to his bidding." Severus stated.
ooo
"Severus, I don't think I can do this anymore." Gertie said as they walked the mile from the apparation point to their destination.
"It's not like I enjoy being used either Gertie, but we mustn't speak ill, or else." Severus whispered.
"What will he ask us to do next? Kill?" She questioned.
"Quiet! You'll get us killed, that's for sure." He hissed back.
"Here, I think it is that building, "St. Dympna's Orphanage" Severus read out loud.
The two quickly set to work, casting fire charms to the run down building. Voldermort had wanted it burned down to the ground, and had sent the two of them to complete the task.
"The place is abandoned, right?" Gertie asked the flames spread. Severus shrugged his shoulders, unsure. It looked abandoned, but perhaps it was just in poor shape.
"Severus?" Gertie said more urgently.
"I don't know Gertie, all right!" Severus yelled, ashamed of what he was doing.
"Did you here something?" Gertie asked as they stood a few meters away.
"Help!" A faint cry from a window fell on their ears.
"Oh gods, Severus, there's a child!" Gertie said, tears threatening to fall. Gertie could not take it and went towards the building.
"Gertie! Wait where are you going?" Severus asked as she jerked away from him and ran towards the burning building.
"I've got to save her!" She cried.
Gertie raced up the stairwell, which had already began to fill with smoke. As she reached the top landing, she felt incredibly nauseous and dizzy, but yet she pushed forward, crying out to the girl in the building.
"Over here." The little girl cried.
"Come to me, I cannot come to you, I am to big and the floor is weakening." Gertie instructed.
"I'm afraid." She cried back.
"It's okay, I will help you, come!" She said much more urgently as the fire spread.
The little girl slowly inched her way closer to where Gertie could grab her, but a ceiling beam threatened to fall, and Gertie reluctantly used her magic and forced the girl into her arms. This required a great deal of power, as she was without her wand.
As the girl came into her arms, she began to flail, seeing Gertie clearly for the first time.
"No, no you're a witch! Put me down!" The girl said frightened.
"Please, just hold still." Gertie said extremely tired and out of breath. She managed to hold onto the struggling child as she made it out of the building, however nearly collapsed as she reached Severus.
"Gertie!" Severus said worried.
"She was the only one, at least I think." Gertie coughed out.
"What were you doing in there little girl?" Severus hissed, scaring her, that she started to cry again.
"Severus, you're frightening her." She said softly as she laid on her back trying to recover.
"Why were you in there?" Severus asked a little less harsh.
"I ain't got no home. I was cold, sir." She whimpered.
"Very well. Be on your way." He stated more gently, and with that the girl took off like a shot.
As Severus stroked Gertrude's head, he though 'Stupid Gryffindor bravery.'
"We should be going, before someone else sees us." Severus said a few moments later, eyes darting around.
"All right." Gertie conceded as she tried to prop herself up, but not before she felt another dizzy spell. Severus supported her back as he saw her falling.
"All right?" Severus asked, somewhat concerned.
"Yes, fine, just a bit dizzy's all." She stated.
"Do you want me to carry you?" Severus offered.
"Don't be ridiculous." She said as she now stood up.
Severus and Gertie hadn't made it more than six meters before she felt dizzy again, and Severus lifted her off her feet. The next then she knew, she was laying on Severus's couch at his family home.
"Here drink this." Severus said handing her a cup of tea.
"Thanks." She replied softly.
"What's wrong? Did something happen in the building? Why are you so dizzy?" Severus began questioning.
"I don't know, it wasn't just tonight, I have been dizzy and nauseous all week, but not as bad this." She replied.
"All week? Why didn't you tell me?" Severus replied urgently.
"Because, Severus in case you hadn't noticed we are in way over our heads, and I didn't want you to worry about me, I can take care of myself." She said in reply.
"You obviously can't, if you won't tell me when you are feeling ill. How do I even know if you love me?" Severus said looking away from her.
"Severus, you know I love you, don't be daft. Besides you're the one who still hasn't asked as me." She said smiling a little.
"Asked you what?" Severus replied densely.
"I am not going to spell it out for you Severus, it is obvious that you aren't ready for whatever reason." Gertie said now getting a little more frustrated.
"Ready for what? What the hell are you muttering about?" Severus said.
"Oh for Merlin's sake, Severus we have been dating for almost 5 years now, and well." She stopped and turned her back.
"Look, like you said, we are in over our heads, if it wasn't for your skills at Occulmency and my sharp wit, I fear we could have been subjected to far worse than burning down an abandoned orphanage." He said.
"Oh gods I am such a fool." Gertie said, as she was lost in her own thoughts, not hearing what Severus had just said.
"What? What's the matter?" Severus said as Gertie fell back down on the couch.
"Severus I'm late." She said looking him in the eye.
"Late? Late for what?" Severus said still confused, 'women' he thought.
"Not for what Severus, I am late, as in my period!" She stated more strongly.
"You're pregnant?" Severus said shocked.
"I don't know, I would have to take the potion." She said.
"Oh gods." Severus said going blanch.
"I'll be back." She replied swallowing slowly.
"Yes, I wait here then." Severus said still unnerved over the whole situation. 'What if she is pregnant? Will the Dark Lord allow it? Will she be killed? Could he protect them both? Would the child love him?' The Dark Lord had killed others before, and Severus did not doubt that after everything he had strung Gertrude through, all the bloody hoops he made her jump through that this might just be the worst thing. Severus started shaking.
A few minutes later Gertie came back downstairs. Unable to read her face, Severus became anxious.
"Well?" Severus hissed.
"I'm pregnant." She said. As she reached the last syllable she couldn't help but start crying. She was so scared. Scared that Severus would leave her, scared that the Dark Lord would take her child, scared of the future.
Severus did the only thing he could, and comforted her, just as she comforted him after one of Potter's pranks.
"Everything will be all right. I will protect you." Severus said kissing her forehead not believing his own words. Slowly Gertie's body relaxed into his and they embraced, even if it was just for that moment.