Chapter 16
Peace before the Storm?
Maria awoke the next morning in her bed in the Hufflepuff tower, and she wasn't alone. Michael held her in his arms, when he exhaled his hot breath tickled the back of her neck and ear. Not wanting to face the new day she quietly rolled over into his chest and went back to sleep.
Amy slept in Severus' room, she had fallen a sleep on his reclining chair in front of the fireplace. Severus left her there to sleep as he went to prepare for what the morning would bring.
Draco, Kyle and Sirus slept in the hospital wing, while Max had left to spend his night with Liz.
Isabel awoke in the middle of the night to find she had been locked in a bedroom. She wasn't tired or gagged, so she rolled over and went back to sleep.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived at breakfast to find the Roswell gang there. Harry noticed that they all seemed slightly happier. Michael sat at the Gryffindor table next to Fred. Hermione glanced over to the Slytherin table where Draco and Kyle sat. Both seemed more energetic than they have been lately. Kyle was poking Draco in the side, as Draco looked up directly at Hermione. Instead of receiving his usual scowl, he stuck out his tongue. She blinked and quickly looked away.
"Seems like Draco's corrupted Kyle." Ron said.
"Looks like," Harry agreed.
Hermione remained silent.
"I saw that." Kyle said.
"What?" Draco asked surprised.
"Hermione."
Draco opened and closed his mouth like a fish.
"Uh-huh."
"Well, what about you and Isabel."
"We're friends."
Draco looked at him doubtfully.
"I'm not explaining this to you." Kyle put a fork full of eggs into his mouth.
"Why not?" Draco asked taking a bite.
"Not (chewing) appropriate (swallowed) in this environment."
Draco looked around at his fellow housemates, "oh."
Kavar awoke to find that he could not move, he was in a body bind. He grunted as he tried to move. He looked around to see that he was in the basement. He was sitting propped up against the wall. He suddenly heard two moans next to him, Nicolas and Lonnie.
"It appears the tables have turned." Nicolas observed.
"Shut-up!" Lonnie yelled.
"Lonnie, what did you learn from his dreams?"
"Amy was his girlfriend in school."
"So?"
"So, they were close."
"How close?"
She rolled her eyes. "You and Vilandra close."
Kavar began to laugh. After about five minutes he stopped, "so why all this?"
"Because you are with holding information." Voldermort said, descending into the room. "Now how can…" He paused and waved his wand. Kavar was pulled to his feet and moved closer to him. Voldermort stopped him a foot from him. "we be partners, if you are keeping things from me?"
"Well, because I'm not sure you will be trust worthy yourself, when I tell you what I know."
The dark wizard's eyes burned brighter. "I will not act rash, if you promise to stay away from the girl, Isabel."
Kavar narrowed his eyes. "Fine, your girlfriend is back."
"What?" Voldermort sounded shocked.
"Her daughter was a guest here recently."
The room became very quiet. Nicolas and Lonnie glanced at each other.
"Her daughter is Maria?" The wizard asked.
"I'd nod my head if I could." Lonnie said.
Voldermort suddenly disappeared. Kavar fell to the floor like a tossed aside action figure.
"I don't like that." Nicolas said.
"No, this isn't good." Kavar agreed, standing at the floor.
Isabel awoke to see Voldermort glaring down at her. She also discovered that she couldn't move.
"What did I do?" She asked quietly.
"Who is Maria's father?" He asked ignoring the question.
"I don't know, she said he left when she was seven."
"Well, you have the power, find out!"
"What about Maria, what are you going to do?"
"What I have to!"
"If you hurt her…"
"I'll hurt you, if you do not do as I say."
Isabel sighed and closed her eyes. Five minutes in Amy's mind and she knew more than she should. Isabel kept her eyes closed even though she was alone in her mind. She felt like she had just violated Amy. She thought a silent apology as she opened her eyes.
"Well?" He hissed.
Isabel felt defeated, as he waved his wand threateningly.
"Maria's father is Tom Riddle."
Voldermort sat very still. Afraid to startle him, she too remained still. They both sat there, when the door burst open and Lucius flew in.
"Master, he is going to join us." Lucius announced holding up a letter. Suddenly he was flung across the room and slammed into the opposite wall.
"Lucius, time isn't the time." The wizard growled.
"But master…"
"Lucius, my daughter is pregnant with one of those aliens' child."
Lucius froze, his faced dropped. Isabel felt her body become numb; she hadn't realized that Tom Riddle was Voldermort. She felt around and realized that she still had her wand tucked in her pant leg in her sock. She stole a glance at the two wizards and closed her eyes.
Severus was eating breakfast, when his vision clouded and all he saw was white. He saw images of the dark mark, Lucius, and Voldermort. Isabel suddenly appeared in front of him. "Professor, you have to warn Amy. Voldermort knows that Maria's his daughter and that she's pregnant." Isabel looked away and then back at him. "Don't worry about me, Voldermort has me locked away from Kavar, protect Amy and Maria." She faded away, as Severus' vision cleared. He looked around no one had noticed anything. He looked down at his plate no longer hungry, and then he saw the flock of owls delivering mail. He watched as Lucius' owl dropped a letter into Kyle's hands. A ragged owl crashed landed onto Fred Weasley's plate. A familiar dark feathered barn owl dropped a letter into his own hands. Severus recognized the signature lettering immediately. He tore open the envelope and flipped open the letter. He glanced through the familiar writing, it was from Voldermort himself. It was the ingredients to remove the dark mark, but why? Severus rose to his feet and stepped over to the headmaster. Before he could speak, Dumbledore rose to his feet.
"Draco Malfoy, Kyle Valenti, my office now." The headmaster requested. The hall filled with jeers and curious looks as the two Slytherins bolted from the hall. Dumbledore turned to the potions professor, and spoke in a low whisper. "She came to me, too. Bring Amy, Maria, and Michael with you."
Isabel opened her eyes to see Lucius and Voldermort looking at her.
"Who are you talking to?" Voldermort asked.
"My brother, I wanted him to know that I am alright."
Voldermort disappeared and then reappeared with Nicolas. "Tell me who she was talking to." The dark lord ordered.
Nicolas grabbed her forehead. She cried out, only seconds passed before he let go. "She contacted Dumbledore and Snape."
Voldermort smiled, "contact Snape again, and tell him my letter is real. I want his mark removed, he no longer deserves it."
Isabel closed her eyes.
The dark lord turned to Lucius. "Your son is set to receive the dark mark. Make this his test: to see that Snape removes it and if not I want Draco to kill him."
Lucius smiled, "yes, master."
"If you son fails, kill him." Voldermort left the room taking Nicolas with him.
Maria, Michael, Kyle, Draco, Amy, Severus, Remus, and Dumbledore assembled in Dumbledore's office. Severus told them what Isabel said.
"Christmas break begins in a few weeks." Dumbledore announced. "I have already asked that Remus and Sirus stay."
"We will." Remus replied.
"I will as well." Snape added.
"I have already posted the list for who will be staying and so far the only names are Harry Potter and Hermione Granger."
"I guess everyone wants their children home safely for the holiday." Sirus said as the headmaster paused for a breath.
Dumbledore nodded his head in agreement. "I want all who are staying to spend the break in the Hufflepuff tower. That tower is the closest one to the great hall."
"We have a new problem." Snape announced.
"He figured it out?" Amy asked with worry.
"He has and he wants me to remove the dark mark."
"So you will not know when they assemble." Draco guessed.
Snape nodded his head. Suddenly he cried out.
"Wait," Michael said. "It's Isabel."
After five minutes of absolute silence, Snape gasped. All eyes where on him. "We have a bigger problem. Draco, your father…"
**What a better way to bug for reviews than leave off with a cliff-hanger. For those who have asked, no I am not abandoning this fics. I never abandon my stories. I just have a bad case of writers block & struggled just to get this chapter out. But with school starting next week, well I might get some ideas, cause god forbid I actually think about class in class.