Jump time:

I sat sideways on a black love seat in the corner, as Snape read the daily profit. To say I was bored would be a huge understatement. I didn't want to speak with him and he himself didn't look like he wanted to talk. Reaching for the book laying on the side table, I glanced over it. "The giver." I have never heard of this book. Opening to the first chapter, I read on.

About an hour of so, Snape stood up and left the room. I paid no attention, finishing up the eighth chapter. A knock on the door had me coming back to reality. Shutting the book with annoyance, I open the door to find Bellatrix and Draco's mom.

Raising a brow, I waiting for an explanation. "Yes?"

"Move it brat." Bellatrix snapped, pushing the door. Not that, that even worked.

"Has no one ever showed you any manners?" I scoffed. "You are to ask for permission before entering a room. But then again I shouldn't expect that much from someone like you."

"I don't ask."

"Well, if you want to come in here, I suggest you start asking...nicely." I snarked back.

"Please, I need to speak with Severus." Cissy whispered.

Before I could antagonize Bellatrix even more, Snape appeared suddenly pulling me away from the door and allowed them in. "Way to ruin the fun." Grabbing the book once more, I dropped into the chair. "Not that you may care, but I need to leave soon. Train leaves in three hours." Not that he has bothered to say why the fuck I was even here. "And I need to pass for my things."

"Your things will be on the train by the time you get there." Snape replied. "Besides, this concerns you."

Bellatrix scoffed. "Why would this concern her?"

"The dark lord has many plans for her." Snape replied in the calmest of tones. "Should Draco fail, she will complete the task."

I refused to look up from my book. I knew what he was speaking off. But I refuse to even acknowledge what was asked of me. Voldemort saw Draco and me as his perfect little plan. Pawns to use in the removing of the king from the chessboard.

Bellatrix suddenly laughed. "That brat! He truly believes that brat will do what will be asked of Draco?!"

I clenched my fist, forcing my temper to calm. "Severus, I do not see what I need to be here for? Clearly, this is about Draco. Not me. I will wait outside." Before I could make it out the door, Snape pulled me back into my seat. "Bella, I know it is hard to comprehend that you've been replaced." The witch sneered. "Athena you are to stay here until we are done. Understood."

"Yes sir." Taking a seat once more, my mind wandered back to a few nights ago.

Flashback:

Walking back into my room, I showered and changed into my night clothes. Aaron had worked me double and harder than usual. In fact, he was all work tonight. No banter. No easygoing. I had to psychically put a stop to him before he actually took things too far. Glancing at myself in the mirror, I sighed at the bruise on my hip. Fortunately, Aaron always avoided my abdomen. For that I was thankful.

"Athena?" Aaron knocked softly on my door. "Can I come in?"

"One second." Pulling my shirt down, I gave him the green light.

Aaron walked into the room, closing the door behind him. "How's the child?"

I was frozen on the spot. "C-child? What child?"

"You really wish to play that game with me?" Aaron scoffed. "You train with Eva, who happens to be a master at positions, spells, and how to detect them. She told me of the Concealment spell." He walked over to me, opening the top drawer to my dresser, and pulled out the vial. "Only used to hide the signs of pregnancy, but the symptoms are still there. We've noticed the sickness and rise in appetite."

I exhaled in a huff. No point in hiding it any longer. "Yes, I am with child."

"How far along?"

"About four months, about to be five in a few days." I moved over to my bed, wrapping my arms over my stomach. "I am not going to allow anyone to harm him. So don't even think about suggesting I give him up."

Aaron flinched at the accusation. "First, I would never ask of that. That child has no blame on any other this. But you have at month 5 months left before it is here." He took a seat on the edge of my bed. "We need to work something out. I might be able to find a way to excuse your absence when the time comes, but you can not come back with the child."

"You want me to abandon it?!" I growled, tightening my hold. "I rather die than do something like that."

"Will you let me finish, before jumping to conclusions!" Aaron snapped. "Find him a temporary home. Somewhere you know he will be safe. Eva and I will do everything there is to help you, but Athena, should the dark lord learn about this your child will be in danger."

"So, you are telling me to have someone else raise my child?" I couldn't phantom the idea of someone but me and Sirius raising our baby. "Sirius will-"

"Be at war." Eva walked in at that moment. "Sirius Black is a powerful wizard. The order will not allow him to be preoccupied with something else. They can't afford to lose him."

I suddenly remembered who I was talking with. "Why are you helping me like this? Your orders were to train me. You should be running to Voldemort and spilling all of this to him."

Aaron shared a look with Eva. "Like you, we gave up ourselves for someone else. Many of us are not here because we want or follow his beliefs. We are here for survival. I am a master at war and fighting. Eva is a master at spells and potions. We are all here for a reason."

I didn't want to probe anymore. "I have five months to figure this out, four the least. Let me think about this through."

Eva nodded. "Very well, by the way. He is asking for you."

By he, she meant the nose less snake. "Alright." Giving them each a quick kiss on the cheek I took of in search of Voldemort and his posey. I was actually surprised by the lack of visuals I had of him. He wasn't watching me every second of the day and he rarely spoke to me. He preferably spoke to others and had them tell me what he said. He was aware of what was going on, of that I was sure. The last guy I had an issue with, ended up dead with rebar penetrating his chest. Stopping at the entrance to the dining room or his conference table as he called it, I noticed everyone turning to stare at me. Voldemort sat at the end of the table, with Lucius on his left and Bellatrix on his right. Snape and cissy sat across from each other. The others were random death eaters I didn't know. Nagini was curled up by the corner, her head raising at hearing me come in.

'Hello, child.'

'Nagini. Know what this is about?'

'I do.'

'But you won't tell me?'

'You will be told in time.'

What help that was. "You asked for me?"

"I did." Voldemort grinned. "Sit."

Seeing the only empty chair by Lucius, I cringed. "I rather stand."

Voldemort glanced at the chair and back with a slight frown. "Bellatrix move to the other seat."

Had I not been worried about all of this, I would have laughed at the look she pulled. She looked ready to throw a tantrum. "I prefer to stand."

"Sire, she is a common witch." Bellatrix scoffed. "She doesn't deserve the right to even look at you."

"Not that I would even want to." I mumbled. Bellatrix lunged at me, narrowly missing my face. "What the fuck is wrong with you?! Besides being a psychotic bitch!"

"How dare you speak of our lord like that!" She screeched. "You should have your tongue ripped out."

"Try it porcupine!" I moved out of the way, just as she aimed her wand towards me. "Age getting to you already?"

"Stay still you little sniffling rat." Bellatrix waved her wand, flashing a bolt of red lightning towards me.

"Enough!"

"Athena!"

Both Voldemort and Snape yelled.

We both stopped mid-attack, glaring at each other. "Try that again and I will gladly send you back to the hell hole you escaped from." I snarled, shoving her away.

Voldemort stopped her before she could retaliate. "That is enough! Leave, all of you. Out!" He grabbed ahold of my arm, stopping me from following the others. "Stay."

Bellatrix stomped out of the room, pushing whatever got in her way to the floor. "Real fucken mature." I scoffed.

Voldemort turned to me, his eyes locked onto me. Usually, I would get this sickening feeling whenever he glanced my way, but this time they held 'fondness'? At least that's what I saw. He made his way over to the table, gesturing I sit beside him. Not wanting to argue with him, I pulled the chair out and sat down.

"I have been pleased with your progress." He said. "You have grown much quicker than expected."

I knitted my brows together, not sure what that meant. "T-thank you?"

"I am to make my next move real soon." He continued. "You will be a big part of it, should Draco fail."

"Fail?" He leaned in closer, whispering it in my ear. At that moment I felt my heart stop and drop to my stomach.

"The only ones who know of this are my trusted followers and now you." He said. "Should this plan fail and word gets out, I will assume it was you and death will surely follow."

"Y-yes, sir." Biting my lower lip in an attempt to stop anything stupid from flowing out, I ran out of the room. Running out of the manor, Running out of the manor, I stopped on the porch inhaling the cold morning air. It felt as if ice were stabbing her insides. 'Was he serious? Of all those truly loyal to him, he chose me and Draco. He knew the only reason as to why I was here. And Draco was only following in his father's footsteps. He truly believed this was what he was destined to do.

"I take it, it wasn't anything good?" Aaron appeared behind me, handing me my jacket.

I shook my head. "No."

Placing an arm around my shoulder, he awkwardly pulled me into his side. "Hard trials are to come. Just hang in there. They get easier as time goes by." He paused. "Well, more like you get numb to the emotions. Either way, there will be a day this was child's play."

"I just want to go back home." I mumbled.

Aaron sighed. "I know the feeling."

End of flashback: