But it wasn't. One instant I was standing beside Sirius, surrounded by all our friends and family. The next I was waking up in a deserted-looking shack. It was aged, gloomy, and reeked of decay. I couldn't recall much of what happened. I remember the priest about to ask me the 'I do' question when a group of death eaters appeared. The battle was only clippings in my mind. Sirius and Remus fighting side by side. Harry and the others attempting to keep anyone else from entering. I remember pulling my wand out, casting a protective field around us. Sirius and the rest of the order finished off the ones left behind.

In the end, Sirius turned to me, exhaling deeply. His gaze softening, relaxing for a moment. I made a move to walk towards him when a pair of arms wrapped around my waist. All I remember seeing was the look of horror on his face. Hearing as everyone called my name. Sirius the loudest of all.

Hearing footsteps approaching, I stood up, ready to take on whatever was coming. Pulling my wand out, I growled at seeing Lucius Malfoy walk in. "Why am I not surprised. Isn't kidnapping a bride a little too below you Lucius."

Lucius pulled a face, sitting on one of the seats. "You are not that special Athena."

"Oh, but she is Lucius."

I froze upon hearing that low sickly voice. My heart began beating against my chest. The room in the air had suddenly turned ice cold. The chills felt like glass shards running through my body. I didn't dare and turn. It wasn't that I was afraid of him. It was more fear of what he was going to do. I was in a tough situation. Moving only my eyes, I counted five death eaters in the room, I stood no chance of escaping. I listened as he walked from side to side behind me. I was sure he was contemplating the best way to kill me. But why me?

"When I was told, I was rather disappointed." He spoke. "Even more so when they said it was a girl."

I frowned, itching to turn and look at him. 'What the hell was he talking about?'

"But, you get what you get." He said. "To late to return you and I suppose you would come in handy."

"What?" I couldn't stop myself from wondering. Handy for what?

His laugh sent nightmare chills down my spine. "Oh, my dear child." His hand suddenly landed on the top of my hair. His cold fingers running them through. I was sure I was going to vomit right there. "You should ask your mother."

"My lord." That voice. I knew that voice! Breaking free of my frozen status, I turned around to find Snape standing among the death eaters. 'What the actual fuck?!' What was he doing here? Why was he here? And did he just call him my lord? Snape wouldn't even acknowledge me. His gaze always on Voldemort or the ground, but never on me. "It would be best if the mother were to tell her."

Nodded, moving his hand up and down. "Yes, yes. Bring the mother."

I glanced around confused. Mother? Who's mother? My mother? Were they talking about my mother? My mother was back at the wedding. Sure enough, Draco's mother walked out with my mother. "Mom?" Rushed towards her, I was stopped by Lucius. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his chest. "Let me go!" In a moment of rush, I jabbed my elbow up, hitting him right under his jaw. Being released, I ran to my mother, shoving the woman away from her in the process. "Mom, are you alright?" Checking her over, I found no injuries. "Hey, you okay?"

"I am fine." She refused to look at me.

Following her line of view, I grew even more confused. She was staring straight at Snape. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?" I yelped as I was suddenly pulled away from her. A burst of pain shot up my back, as it hit the ground. "Bloody hell!" Forcing my eyes open, I glared at the man standing over me. Lucius had a bloody lip as he curled them up in a snarl.

He crouched down, inches from my face. "Pull something like that again and I will hurt you much worse." His breath gave me nausea. My stomach threatening to spill my lunch from earlier. "You'd be begging me to stop."

I clenched the lapel of his coat, pulling him closer with a growl. "I will never beg to a pathetic excuse of a man." Shoving him back, Lucius lost his footing and fell on his ass. Before he could retaliate, a loud 'enough' boomed through the shack.

Voldemort chuckled, jabbing a finger in my direction. "She is feisty, I like that. A bit brute, but we can work on that."

"What makes you think I will ever work with you?!" This man truly was insane. Even more, so that I had believed. Rushing back to my mother, I pulled her into my arms. "Where is father? Is he alright?"

"Oh, you mean him?" Voldemort waved his wand, in a bored gesture. To my horror, my father came floating into my room. He was bound and gagged to a chair. I couldn't move, I wanted to help him, but I was stuck. Voldemort circled my father, playing with his messed-up hair. "I have been told of all the bad things this creature has caused you. The beatings. The yelling. How would you like to make him pay for all of that?"

A woman with crazy-looking hair held a knife in front of me. "What?" He surely didn't mean I kill my father. "No."

"He deserves it, does he not?" Grabbing a handful of his hair, he forced my father's head back. "He sold you to the highest bidder."

Shoving the knife away from me, I walked backward. "I am not going to kill my own father!"

"Oh, child." Voldemort laughed sickly. "You wouldn't be killing your father."

"My lord." Snape stepped up, a look of concern painted on him. "Please."

Voldemort grunted, but gave in. "Very well. My dear, would you do the honors."

My mother pulled out of my arms, taking my hand in hers. "Athena, I need you to listen to me. Listen, don't talk. It will be the only you get out of this alive."

"Wh-"

"Just listen!"

She yelled. She never yelled at me. "Mom?"

"That man." She held a finger up towards my father. Tears streaming down her face. "That man is not your father." She was quick to place a hand over my mouth, shoving my words back down. "Listen, please. Your father is Severus Snape."

My eyes fell on the man hiding behind the others. Turning back to my mother, I had a lot of questions. A lot to say, but as I opened my mouth to speak, nothing came out. Glancing at my fath-did I still call him father? His eyes were wide in shock. I wasn't sure if the tears were of fear or sadness. This couldn't be true. "You can't be serious mom. My father is Theodore Gaunt, not that man!"

"Ah, but he is." Voldemort grinned. "But you two can talk that out later. Right now, we have other more important things."

I wasn't paying any attention to his words. My head was a mess. It was as if someone had shaken it all up and left me to rearrange everything. Snape was my father? Did that mean my brother wasn't really my brother? How long were they going to keep this hidden from me? Were they ever going to tell me? Before I could dive deeper into my own thoughts, two set of hands grabbed ahold of me and pulled me into a chair. "Hey! Wh-What is this!" Another pair of hands grabbed onto my shoulders, pushing down, as I was held in place. "Let go! Let me go!" No matter how hard I fought, I was outnumbered and out of strength.

Voldemort stalked towards me, waving his wand around. "Many years ago, I lost faith in your father. I believed he had been turned over. Forgotten who he was loyal to." I flinched at the coldness creeping into my body, as he grabbed ahold of my arm. "But, he found a way of making this right. A way of showing me his unconditional loyalty. He offered me his child. A strong witch, that will only get stronger with time."

My eyes flickered from him to Snape. "What are you talking about?"

"My lord, please." Snape begged, yet he would not look at me. "Don't."

The wizard clenched his jaw. Turning around ever so slowly to glare at Snape. "Was I wrong in believing in your loyalty?"

"No."

"Was I wrong in understanding you have given that child up to me?"

He paused, sneaking a glance my way. "N-no my lord."

"Then I am in the correct that she is to bare my mark. As one of my many followers." He stood close to Snape, moving around like a snake.

"Yes, my lord."

"Good." Patting Snape on the cheek, he turned his attention back at me. "Now where were we? Ah yes."

I felt the panic rising as he got closer. My heart drumming against my chest. "Stay the fuck away from me!" Kicking my legs out, I yelled as he forced them down with his wand. "You dare mark me and I will rip your fucken heart out!" Suddenly he stopped. 'Did that actually work?' He turned towards Snape.

"Severus, why don't you do the honors?" He held his hand out as an invitation.

I didn't know what Snape was thinking or feeling. The man's face was giving nothing away. He broke from the ranks and slowly approached. I could hear my mother begging him not to. Yelling 'Severus, please! That's your daughter!' I can see my father struggling to break from his chair, yelling who knows what from his gagged mouth. Isn't life funny sometimes? The man I feared the most was fighting to help me. And the one I trusted with my life was about to betray me. I looked up to find him towering over me, again his eyes giving nothing away. He reached into his robe and pulled out his wand. I thrashed against my holds, fighting to break loose somehow. His hand latched onto my wrist holding it out. My captures held it still as he aimed his wand and began chanting.

The pain that ran through me that moment was, unlike anything I have ever experienced. As the mark began to appear, I felt a cold shiver run up my arm and spread throughout my body. Followed by a poison-like feeling. I grabbed onto anything I could and squeezed hard. I didn't want this! I didn't want the mark! "Stop! Please!" I couldn't take it anymore, I felt as if my head was about to explode. My blood was running like a volcano in my veins. "Stop!"

Snape paused for a moment, looking down at me. Shaking whatever he was thinking out of his mind, he went back to what he was doing. To his surprise, the mark wasn't even halfway done. Originally the mark wasn't supposed to hurt this much. But, if rejected it can be a lot of pain. "Stop fighting it. It will be faster and painless."

I don't know why, but I laughed. Maybe it was the fact that he still spoke to me as if he gave a shit. Or that he thought I would actually listen to him. Relaxing my arm, I looked down at the mark. The thing was not even halfway done! You couldn't even make out what it was. Looking around, I spotted my mother on the ground crying her eyes out. My father was wide eyes glaring at Snape. Yet the only I wanted here with me was Sirius. I needed him.

"Finish it, Severus." Voldemort snapped. "Or I will."

"Yes, my lord." Once again he began chanting. His wand-making fast work at completing the mark. He ignored my yells and thrashing, hell-bent on finishing. "Don't fight it."

"Go to he-ahh!" My jaw was locked from the wave of pain. And just like that, he stopped and stepped away.

Voldemort appeared in front of me, examining it. I was tired. I had no strength to move, not even to push him away. I didn't even feel the coldness his grip was sure to cause me. My eyelids were fighting to close themselves. I wanted to just give in, let the sweet peaceful darkness take me away from here. At that moment I focused on Sirius. Right now he would have been my husband. I would have been married. Now, none of that would become true. I belong to him now. I was just another of his lackeys. Rolling my head to the side, my eyes fell on the ring. The blood ring. A warm feeling spread through my chest, as I ran my thumb across it. 'I'm sorry Sirius.'

Snape frowned at seeing the little movement I was giving. Grabbing my face, he rolled my face to the right. "Athena?" He got no response. "Athena." Gently tapping my cheek, he placed his hand on my neck and forehead. "She's running a fever. Athena!"

Voldemort snorted. "Well, it appears she isn't as strong as you said she was."

"Athena!" My mother yelled, scrambling to reach me. "Get away from her!" She shoved Snape back, cupping my face in her hands. She pulled me into a tight hug, whispering in my ear. "My sweet Athena, fight it. Do not let it take over you. Fight it with all you have." Pulling back she placed a single kiss on my forehead. "You are stronger than you may think. I love you my darling."

Why did this feel like a goodbye? Before I could muster the strength to speak, a bright light broke into the old shack. Multiple bright lights actually. Many slammed into the death eaters. Three landed, surrounding me. The hands holding me down were quickly removed. I was finally able to move. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Voldemort, Lucius and Snape disappearing. 'Cowards.' I could hear the commotion from the fight going on around me. My body was numb, it was as if all its energy was going to fighting the evil invading my insides.

A warm gentle hand cupped my cheek. Rolling my head to face the left, I nearly broke down. "Athena?" Sirius ran his thumb across my cheek. "Hey, can you hear me?" I gave him a stiff nod. "I am going to pick you up okay?" Hooking an arm behind my knees and one behind my back, he held me up against his chest. Freezing at whimpers he heard. "What's wrong love? Athena?"

Lupus appeared before them, placing his hand over my forehead. "She is burning up. Take her to Wesley's home. I will be there shortly."

Without having to be told twice, he did as told. "I have you, darling. You're fine."

I had regained most of my consciousness, by the time we landed in front of the house. Pulling my face away from his neck, I looked around. It seemed no one was home. Then the light turned on. 'Stand corrected.'

Molly came out running, gasping at the sight of me. "Athena! What happened?" Mr. Wesley and Ginny hot on her heels.

"I don't know." Sirius pushed past them, carrying me up the stairs. Placing me on one of the beds, he proceeded to remove everything, but my undergarment. "She is burning up. We need to cool her off."

Molly was quick to kick Sirius out of the room. She needed to change my clothes and, well, we weren't married. I helped her the most I could, but my arm wasn't having any of it. I felt her grab my arm before she let out a loud gasp. "W-oh child." Her fingers hovered over the mark, not daring to touch it. "Why?"

"I don't want to talk about it mum." My mouth felt like a sandbox at the moment. "Can I get some water?" She quickly left the room, mumbling who knows what. I sat up in the bed, resting my back again the headboard. Looking down at my arm, I took it in for the first time. This little thing caused so much damage. And to make it worse, it was ugly. Hearing the door open, Molly walked in with Sirius and Remus. "Thank you. Both of you."

Remus chuckled, patting Sirius on the shoulder. "It was all pad-foot here. Him and your ring."

"What do you mean?"

Sirius sat on the side of the bed, grabbing my hand. "When you touched the ring, I felt you. I knew where you were. I also felt what you were feeling."

"What happened?" Remus asked. "Why did they take you? Harry was an easier target."

"They took her to mark her." Molly snapped, not able to contain her anger anymore. "She is carrying his mark."

Sirius looked from her to me, before reaching for my arm and confirming her statement. "I don't understand. Why would they want you?"

I bit my lower lip, fighting the tears wanting to fall. "My mum and-" It suddenly came rushing back to me. "My parents! My mother and father were there! Where are they?! Are they safe?!"

"Your mother is fine." Sirius pushed me back down on the bed. "She is with Tonks right now."

"And my father?" As I looked around, I got sad looks. My eyes falling on Sirius, he looked away. "Sirius, where is my father?"

"He didn't make it Athena," Remus whispered. "We tried everything we could, but we were too late."

Sirius pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly, as I cried into his chest. "Funny how even though he was the worst, it still hurts. He wasn't even my father." I laughed out, wiping the tears off. "The man that raised me my entire life, sold me off, and showed me nothing, wasn't even my father. Yet he tried to save me today. He showed he actually cared, maybe that's why it hurts."

Molly frowned. "Not your father?"

"Nope." Again I couldn't help but chuckle. "My real father is ten times worse than Theodore. To show he is truly loyal to Voldemort, he offered me as a lackey. That's why I was marked. I now belong to him."

"Bloody hell you do." Sirius sat closer, cupping my face in both hands. "You belong to no one, but yourself. That mark means nothing. We will get rid of it, but you will have to fight with it. He will not take you away from m-us."

Just as I was about to pull him into a kiss, the door was busted open. The next thing I knew, I was pushed down on the bed, by Hermione, Ron, and Harry. Each yelling over the other. Fighting to get me in their arms. I didn't care about anything else at that moment. I didn't care about the mark. Ron pulling my hair. I just cared about the now. I was with the people I loved. This was what was important.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked.

"Did they hurt you?" Hermione was quick to jump in.

I didn't know what to answer. I was scared to tell them. I didn't want them to see me as a traitor. Someone that could no longer be trusted. I grabbed the sheet, discreetly covering my arm. I didn't want to lose the only family I had. "I-uh-I am fine. No harm done, just the scare."

"Did you see him?" Harry asked. No need to clarify who 'he' was.

Sirius nudged Remus, gesturing to the teenagers. Remus nodded, moving to stand between me and the others. "Alright, you can ask questions later. Right now, Athena needs to rest."

Hermione ran under his arm, giving me another hug. "Sneak you some candy later."

"I'll hold you to that."

Molly lingered at the door, glaring at Sirius. "Black."

Sirius rolled his eyes, giving her a 'bloody hell' kind of look. "I doubt she is in any mood or condition to do anything, but sleep Molly. Frankly, so am I."

"I will be back to check in on you Athena."

"Yes, mum." I had to laugh at the murdering look she gave him.

"She is never going to like me." Sirius mumbled.

"No, no she will not." Laying back down on the bed, I turned to look at Sirius. He stood at the side of the bed, hands in his pocket. "Lay with me?"

Removing his coat and shirt, leaving only his undershirt, he laid beside me. Pulling me into his arms, I laid my head on his chest. My arm wrapped around his abdomen. The warmth waving off him, fighting the coldness I felt inside. This, this was my safe haven. "Stay with me? Until I fall asleep."

"I will be here long after you fall asleep." Holding me tighter, he kissed the top of my head. "We will get through this Athena. Together."

The sound of his beating heart, gently lullabying me to sleep. In his arms, in ones nothing bad will happen to me. "I know."