In some unknown place, Severina and Bill were tossed inside small, dark room. The door was locked behind them, and their wands had been taken. Looking around, they saw that a few candles were sporadically placed and lit. The décor was drab, and very old. Everything was covered in a dust. No one had been in the room in some time, it seemed. Bill shrugged as he finished looking around. "Well, could be worse."

Severina sat down on the one small bed and looked at the floor. "Yeah, problem is, it will be."

"What? Think they'll go get Percy and lock him in here with us?" He smiled at her, trying to lighten the mood.

She looked up at him with a small frown. "Your family is not the one he wants."

Bill shook his head. "Never mind, bad joke." He started to pace.

She smiled a half smile. "I'm glad you're here with me. I don't know that I could have done this alone. Thank you."

"Your welcome. Couldn't let anything happen to you before you tell me where that piercing is."

She smirked. "One track mind. Do you want to know that bad?"

"Well, I'd really like to be out of here, but since I'm stuck with you, I gotta keep your spirits up somehow, don't I?"

"That doesn't answer my question, though."

"I like to explore. I'm sure I'll find it sooner or later, since I'm a treasure hunter and all." He smiled at her.

"Are you really?" She scooted toward the head of the bed. "I think you know a lot more about me than I do about you."

"I like to be mysterious. Keeps the women coming back for more."

"Well, I may not get the chance to come back for more." She smiled emptily.

"Yes, you will. I won't let anything happen to you."

She leaned back against the wall behind her. Her head fell back. "I'm not sure there is anything either of us can do."

"I have faith in your father and Harry… That boy can work miracles."

She nodded. "Come sit down. No use pacing yourself to death." She slid over and made as much room as she could for him.

He rubbed his hands together playfully. "You really want me in bed, don't you?"

She chuckled lightly despite the situation. "Yeah." He moved to sit beside her, putting an arm around her and pulling her to that her head rested on his shoulder. They were silent for a short time. "I'm kind of scared," she finally admitted.

"So am I. So am I… just gotta keep the faith."

"Faith in what?" She asked defeated.

"That everything will turn out fine, and that any minute Harry and your dad will come charging in and save us."

"You, a Weasley, have faith in Potion Master Snape, the Head of Slytherin House?"

"I have faith in any man who could have created such an intelligent being."

"Is that so?" She hid her smile at his lame reasoning. He was being honest but it sounded cheesy.

"Yes."

She snuggled closer to him. The atmosphere and room were both cold. "So, how long before something happens, I wonder."

"Well, I usually don't seduce the girl until the forth or fifth date."

She smack his stomach, hard. "You know what I meant."

"Ow! I was just trying to keep your mind off it, and too soon I imagine.

She nodded. Again, she snuggled closer. "Maybe I should contact Harry again."

"Maybe you should try and get some rest first, for an hour or so, then try. The connection could be stronger for the rest." She nodded and wrapped her arms around him, trying to gather more warmth as she tried to rest. He tightened his own hold on her and watched over her as she slipped into a light sleep.

Harry was pacing around Dumbledore's office as Poppy arrived to look over Snape. Remus' watchful eyes followed her every move. Minerva sat with Dumbledore, Molly, and Arthur. The Weasleys had just arrived as well. Harry had tried to reach Severina, but he had stopped when he felt she was asleep. Arthur was trying to calm his wife, with little success. "What was he doing with her in the first place? I have nothing against her, but he was suppose to be at work?"

"They went out… They just wanted to have some fun," Harry told her.

"He had a few days off after bringing me an item I requested," Albus spoke up.

Molly did not looked pleased. "Well, they certainly didn't find fun, did they?"

"Now, calm down, dear. No one knew this was going to happen," Arthur soothed.

"Calm down! Our oldest is in the clutches of You-Know-Who! I can't calm down!"

Remus scowled at Molly. "You act as if it's Vena's fault. It isn't. He asked her. I was there," Harry glared at her as well. He loved the woman dearly, but Severina was his sister.

"Asked her! Why would a Weasley want a Slytherin?" She was a little out of it with worry. She did not quite register what she was saying, implying.

"She is more than just a Slytherin!" Remus growled at her.

"That is my daughter you are talking about! Why would she want anything to do with a Weasley?" Severus glared hotly at Molly.

"Everyone, calm down! This is getting us no where, and it doesn't matter why they were together, only that they are in the clutches or our enemy." Minerva had stood and was giving them her best glare and stern voice.

"Minerva is right. This does not remedy our situation." Albus looked at them, blue eyes sharp with displeasure.

Harry decided he should try to contact Severina again. "Vena?"

He felt a slight stirring, and then heard a groggy, "Harry?"

"Can you help us now? Do you know where you are?"

"I don't know. They stuck us in a room. It's cold here."

"Can you tell me what the place looks like? Is Bill okay? What do you smell, hear?"

"Small room, dark, cold. Couple candles. Bill's fine. I smell musty water, dirt, and something else I don't recognize. I can't hear anything."

"Can you tell me what the smell is close to… burnt wood or maybe sour sweet? Is it strong or light?"

"Kind of strong at times but mostly light. Almost… like a sweet smell but there is something else to it."

"Flower sweet?"

"No. I can ask Bill."

"Okay, then do so." Harry stopped to wait impatiently.

"Bill?"

He had not known she was awake. "You're awake."

"Yeah, Harry woke me. What can you smell?"

"Incense."

"Bill says incense, Harry."

"Well, that's a big flippin' help." He thought a moment. "Okay, what kind?"

"What kind?" She asked Bill.

"Sandalwood, maybe a little lavender in there, too."

"Sandalwood and lavender."

"Can he hear anything?"

"Can you hear anything?"

Bill closed his eyes and concentrated. "Humming… wind… mice."

"Harry, wind, humming, and mice…" The door opened and two Death Eaters walked. The pointed their wands at Bill as a third entered and pulled Severina from him. She fought against him. "Let me go!"

"Vena, no!" Harry yelled out, drawing the attention of the others.

"Don't struggle or we will have to hurt your friend." She went limp. They pulled her from the room, closing and sealing the door behind them. Bill pounded on the door and yelled till his voice gave out. Nothing he could do would help her, however.

The Death Eaters carted Severina to a large room covered in drapes and cloths of black. She was thrown to the floor at Voldemort's feet. "Well, I see I have finally caught the stray lamb."

Harry could hear all the Dark Lord. His link with Severina had not been severed. "What do you want with me?" Severina hissed at him.

Harry looked around the room at all the eyes on him. "She's with him now." Snape dropped his head forward as Remus rubbed his shoulder. The others looked scared and worried.

"Your father needs taught a lesson, as do you. I am not defied!" He slapped her across the face, scratching her in the process. "For now, nothing major. I'll let a couple of my loyal followers take care of questioning you." He stood and left the room. The three men than had brought her to their master, smiled at her evilly as they tied her to the wall.

Severina stilled herself, she knew she was in for something awful. They started with her arms, using small knives to make shallow cuts that bled heavily. Then, the started with at her lower back. They asked questions she did not know the answers to, and they beat her as well. She could feel one or two of her ribs break as a fist landed hard into her side. Another throw busted her lip, made her bite her tongue. She felt her shoulder dislocate against the pull of her bindings. Finally, they ended the bought with Crucio. She screamed as the pain ripped through her body. Her body jerked and convulsed until they ended it.

The one that had pulled her from the room, picked her up and carried her back. Bill's head jerked up as the door opened and Severina was dropped roughly to the floor. The Death Eater left and sealed the door once more. Bill ran to her side. "Oh, Severina." He picked her up gently and placed her on the bed. She tried to mumble something but was not able to make the words. "Shhhhh. Just rest, don't speak. Just lay still." He smoothed back her hair and kissed her forehead.

Harry had felt everything they did to her. He lay unconscious on the floor of Dumbledore's office. Remus knelt beside him. "What happened to him?"

"The stones," Snape answered simply.

"I'm afraid Lily made the stones connect them beyond mental consciousness," Albus surmised.

"They will pay for touching her." Snape glared at Harry's form. He was not mad at the boy, but at those that had caused Harry's state.

Remus looked up at Severus, moving so Poppy could see to Harry. "That they will." He thought a moment. "They still do not know who her mother is?"

"No, she only took her last name after she went into hiding."

"We need to get this boy to the infirmary," Poppy informed them.

Remus sighed. "If he finds out…" He eyes held the pain the thought gave him. He turned, picking Harry up gently.

"It may save her life," Arthur spoke up.

"How?" Minerva demanded.

"What is the one thing he wants most of all in this world besides to rule it?" Arthur eyed the female professor.

"Harry," Molly said in understanding.

"If they find out she's his half-sister, don't you think they would use her for bait?" Arthur continued. "Can't do that if she's dead."

"What good does that do us? He won't let us go with Harry!" Minerva pointed out.

"No, but we may be able to follow," Albus agreed as he thought. "If he is willing, that is."

"He'll see through that! I want to save her as much as everyone, but at the risk of Harry!" Minerva put her hands on her hips.

"It's his choice, not ours." Snape did not look happy about any of it.

Molly did not like the idea either. "I have to agree. I need to see my children." She looked at Minerva. The teacher nodded and lead her to Gryffindor Tower.

"Everyone should get what rest they can…" Arthur started.

"I agree," Albus cut in. "Severus, you most of all."

"How am I suppose to do that when my daughter is injured somewhere?"

"Bill will see to her," Albus reasoned. "There is hardly anyone better to be there."

"Well, that makes me feel so much better then," Severus drawled sarcastically.

"Go see to Harry then get some rest." Dumbledore was not backing down.

"Yes, Sir." Snape turned and left the office like a billowing black cloud.

"We need to find a tracking spell that can't be blocked or detected," Arthur continued on the plan.

"Yes, but who can we get that has that kind of… We need Percy and Hermione for this." Albus thought about all the possibilities. More people looking would help greatly.

"Surely you of all people would be better at finding something this important. Percy and Hermione are extremely intelligent but they are still children."

"Percy is not still a child, and Hermione keeps up with the modern spells better than I do. I will look myself, but I have many pressing things I have to see to each day. They have more time."

"To put such an important task in the hands of such young people. To put the added stress on them…"

"Arthur, we can't let this disrupt the school. That's part of what he wants. Trust me, they can do it."

"I… I just worry about Harry. I know it was my idea, but…"

"I worry, too, but we must have faith in Harry and Severina as well as Bill."

"We… Molly and I…. We consider Harry… We love him like one of our own."

Albus nodded. "I know."

"I'll let Hermione know what need done." Arthur stood to leave.

"Do not worry. We will get everyone out of this alive."

"Like we did Sirius?" Arthur asked.

Dumbledore looked down. "We will not lose them that way."

"I hope not." Arthur left Albus alone to think, going to see his children.