The Mission From
Hell
Chapter 10
"What a
'Welcome Home'"
By: Deep Shadows and
EckoStalker
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Author's Notes: This is the Next to the last chapter... Your going to hate us...PS: Thanks CaptianRose...
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Alexis didn't even
have time to admire the tiled floor before a flash of light blinded
her and her whole body froze in place. She felt a swell of panic rise
in her chest, though knowing that if anything were wrong, she was
helpless to fix it.
But, that wasn't the case as her vision cleared and she looked to see Aaron Billord and Draco Malfoy pacing to and fro in front of her and the also paralyzed Severus, wands in hand. Okaaayy... theatrics much... oh wait... did Erica and Vicky get to them too?
Alexis thought; worry replacing the panic in her chest. Aaron stopped in front of her, looking her in the eyes, then sighed, shaking his head and continuing his pacing. Draco stopped; looking at them both, then also resumed his pacing. It was getting quite annoying.
Finally Draco stopped, sighing hugely. Aaron stopped beside him, and he and Draco looked at each other with knowing. Alexis glared as much as was possible for her, which wasn't much. What are these idiots' problems! They afraid we're gonna go blow up the Ministry or something? That's not till after I unpack!
Draco nodded at Aaron, and looked between Alexis and Severus. He sighed once more, and then a strange smirk came over his face. "We can't bear to keep it in any longer. Severus. Alexis. We have something to share with you."
Aaron stepped up,
smirking also as he added. "Yes. I'm sure you remember when we
assigned you this mission. Well, I'm positive you remember when you
were told you both were going as a couple."
He paused,
looking at Draco, and Alexis had this feeling that everything was
about to go horribly wrong. Draco looked at them, still holding his
wand as he finished.
"I'll make this simple. I and Aaron planned for you two to be a couple on this mission. Originally it was supposed to be a father/daughter relationship, but we felt the need to spice things up. The Ministry had nothing to do with it; it was only our genius plan. And now, we're going to run. Welcome home." He spoke simply, smiled, and then he and Aaron spun on their heels and took off like their butts were on fire.
This was better for them, because Alexis knew that if she hadn't been paralyzed, she would've attacked them right there. Not to say she wasn't going to, no, but leaving her like that gave her time to simmer and let cold logic come into play about how she was going to go about torturing them.
This whole month... everything that has happened... is all basically their fault. EVERYTHING. I can't believe it... Alexis thought, internally trembling with the anger and shock contained in her paralyzed body. And she knew Severus was thinking on her same wavelength.
She wracked her brains for a way out of the jinx, preparing to sprint after them like a madman and tear them limb from limb, when Artimis sauntered into the foyer. She stopped in surprise as she spotted them, and Alexis thought hopefully that she would unjinx them and thus doom her husband and their Head Auror.
Instead, Artimis shook her head and tsked, crossing her arms and going to stand right in front of them, frowning as she scolded. "Look at you two, cursing each other as soon as you walk in the house. Can't even take the time out to let people know you're home or anything..."
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Artimis saw her husband run past her in a flash of fury and she was curious as to why. She was happy, excited even, because Alexis was coming home. Artimis's daughter, Selena, was happier about Severus returning. Artimis shook her head, walking out to the foyer to see if they had arrived yet. To her surprise, Alexis and Severus stood, frozen like, still holding their bags. Artimis realized that they had jinxed each other, and her husband and Aaron had run from the onslaught of rage.
She crossed her arms as stood right in front of the two grown children, shaking her head incessantly as she frowned.
"Look at you two, cursing each other as soon as you walk in the house. Can't even take the time out to let people know you're home or anything. It's not like we care or anything. No, you two walk in, drop cover and then, wham, let's exact our revenge upon each other. Jeessh, it's like two grown Selena's." Artimis stated, beginning to pace in her disappointment.
"Luckily for you, I happened to be walking by. I should just leave you here, let you simmer and think about what you've done, but I am a nice person and I want to know how the mission went. You two really need to sort out your relationship, you two could be friends if you tried you know." Artimis stated as she drew her wand. She inhaled sharply and unjinxed them, waiting for the excuses.
Artimis didn't even know what was happening as they rushed past her, wands drawn, glares covering both their faces as they whirlwinded past her.
"Jeessh, not even a 'Hi!', or 'Go to hell!'?... I see where I stand in this family." Artimis stated as she started for the kitchen, grumbling darkly and shaking her head. As she reached the doors though, she heard the panicked yell of her husband and she quickly did a 180, realizing that they might have been paralyzed for a reason. She saw Remus walking out of the Living room and she grabbed him, knowing that she might have needed a little help. She dragged him up the stairs, hearing yelps, yells and the sound of beatings.
What has my darling Draco done now?... Artimis thought sardonically as she rushed up the stairs.
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Alexis took after Aaron and Draco, Severus close at her heels. She shoved her wand in her pocket as she bounded upstairs, wanting to exact her vengence on them physically and see how much they could take before begging for mercy. She let out a roar of fury, screaming. "You can run, but I'm still going to find and kick both your asses!"
She stopped momentarily on the second story landing, eyes wide and wild as she surveyed with predator's eye the surrounding doors and such. She couldn't hear any scuffling, nor could her heightened hearing pick up any heavy panicked breathing, so she knew her prey couldn't be here.
She looked at Severus, who had the same intense look of anger on his face and nodded her head towards the third floor, and he nodded back. Both automatically took off upstairs once again, an unspoken agreement between them.
Alexis saw the fleeing forms in front of her and she threw aside all grace as she growled and lunged at one of the men's feet, making him thud to the ground. A similar thud and yelp beside her told her that Severus had already taken down the other one.
Smirking with grim insanity, she roughly flipped over the man she had tackled, seeing Aaron looking up at her with wide and fearful eyes. She vaugely thought about using her flame powers to singe him to a crisp, but pushed that aside in favor of hearing his whimpers and cries as she beat the hell out of him. Of which she didn't waste any time.
She smirked at him before drawing back a fist and slamming him in the face, sitting on his chest and pinning his arms with her knees without mercy. He wasn't about to go anywhere. She latched one hand tight around his throat, holding him down as she slammed him again in the face, not holding back.
He grimaced and struggled, freeing one arm and grabbing her wrist. She turned and promptly bit his hand, tasting blood as he yelped. She silenced him with another punch in his jaw, then picking up and slamming his head back into the concrete floor under them once or twice. Head Auror or not, he was going to pay what he put her through that month. Every. Little. Event. Period.
She brought her knee up and kneed him in the gut, making him exhale painfully and grimacing before punching him once more, flecks of blood from his bloody nose spraying her hand. A hand fell on her shoulder and she drew back to punch whomever it was, but saw Severus and hesitated.
He was smirking evilly, breathing heavily as he spoke, Draco pinned under him. "Care to switch for a minute or two?"
"I'd be delighted to." Alexis spoke to him, diving off of Aaron and ramming into Draco, who cried out fearfully. Aaron echoed that cry as Severus was unleashed upon him. Draco struggled violently, but Alexis rammed her head into his own, making him fall back with a pained groan. She sat on his stomach as she punched him twice in succession, thinking of an event that could've been prevented that month if it weren't for him for each punch.
Suddenly she felt a body slam into her hers, and she stopped with surprise as her arms were yanked behind her. She then hollered angrily, lashing out violently. "I'm not done! He's not unconcious yet! Just a few more minutes!"
The person dragged her back off of Draco, but not before she got in a solid kick to his side. He doubled over in pain and she smirked at him as she struggled against the person holding her. She was flung to the ground on her stomach, arms pinned behind her as a body sat on her back, stopping all her movement. She still struggled towards Draco and Aaron, their mere presence angering her.
"I slept in the same bed as Severus... I cuddled with Severus... was violated by Severus countless times... all because of a PRANK! They deserve to DIE!" Alexis screamed loudly, but after that had no more breath to yell as the body on top of her crushed her into the ground.
She breathe heavily as she glared, looking beside her to see Severus in pretty much the same predicament, pinned by Remus, who was looking between them incredulously. Looking up slightly, she saw Artimis looking down at her like she had lost it. Well, maybe I finally have... but I don't care as long as I get to beat the snot out of those two! She thought as she calmed somewhat, the pained groans of Aaron and Draco soothing to her ears.
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If Severus had been a calm man, he would have been enraged at what he heard. But Severus, by no means, was a calm man, and in his chest burnt a fury that would counter hellfire. As he felt the magic let him go, he took off after the two culprits of his demise.
They did this... they made us do that... For some sick prank...Severus thought as he followed Alexis up the stairs. When he got his hands on those two, they would have wished that their mothers had never been born to bear them. They stopped on the second story landing and Severus looked around, ready to pounce upon and kill Aaron and Draco. Not finding them he looked to Alexis, who made it know to him that they were not there. There was a silent agreement, consumated by sharp nods and a scrambling up the next set of stairs. Severus saw Aaron and Draco running toward Hailey's room and he thought to draw his wand, but he didn't want to kill them, he wanted to torture them.
Severus watched Alexis leap on Aaron and he took the intiative and pounced on his godson, Draco. He flipped him over on his back, seeing the fear in Draco eyes as he bashed him in the face.
"Draco, you know better, you should have known better, you will not get away from this." Severus hissed as he proceeded to wail upon Draco, letting out that frustration on the man before him. Then he realized that this was only one of the culprits. He looked over at Alexis, holding Draco by the throat, to keep him still as he tapped Alexis on the shoulder. She drew back to punch whomever it was, but saw Severus and hesitated.
Smirking in evil satisfaction of revenge, panting near like an animal, he asked her.
"Care to switch for a minute or two?" He questioned, seeing the wheels of revenge turning in her head as they were moving in his.
"I'd be delighted to." Alexis she replied to him, diving off of Aaron and ramming into Draco, who cried out fearfully.
Severus in turn went after Aaron, deciding that this 'Head Auror' needed to be taught a lesson in respect. He bashed Aaron in the face, driving his knee into the man's abs. This was for all the pain and suffering, emotional, mentally and physically over the last month. He was moving to hit Aaron once again when he was forcefully yanked off the near crying man. Severus found his arms behind his back and his face growing accustomed to the stone floor of the ballroom. There was a knee in his back and he could see Alexis next to him, fighting Artimis back as she yelled, kicking Draco.
"I'm not done! He's not unconcious yet! Just a few more minutes!"
Severus watched as Alexis was flung to the ground like him, but Alexis was not going down without at least a verbal fight as she struggled to attack her prey. Severus gave up struggling against what he assumed was Remus, who was the only one who could and would hold him down with this much force.
"I slept in the same bed as Severus... I cuddled with Severus... was violated by Severus countless times... all because of a PRANK! They deserve to DIE!" Alexis screamed loudly fighting Artimis and Severus felt the knee in his back dig a little deeper. Severus lay there, trying to think of how he could inflict more damage to Aaron and Draco. Severus could see Artimis and Remus exchanging wary glances and then they both looked down at him and Alexis. Severus could hear Aaron and Draco trying to painfully get up and get away and Severus had had enough. He glared at them with all the hate he could possess. He began to struggle and buck against Remus, who had unwittingly loosened his grip. Severus snatched his arm away from Remus and rolled over, landing with his back on Remus as Alexis and Artimis watched him in amazement. Severus drew his wand and glared, yelling loudly.
"Lepidae!"
Suddenly Aaron and Draco were on the floor again, writhing in pain as the white hot blades of his spell lashed through their nerves. He had only a moment to live in his glory as Remus got his bearings and toppled him back over, yanking his wand from his hand and throwing it away from him as his arms were yanked back behind him and he was pressed into the floor.
Artimis, who had to keep control of Alexis, spoke first.
"Remus, you take Severus downstairs, put him in his room. Then come up here and get Alexis, put her in her room. Then you and I will have a long talk with my husband and Aaron, then Severus and Alexis." Artimis stated and Remus groaned, lifting Severus up to his feet. Severus braced himself, glaring at the fallen men as he was marched downstairs. Remus let him go when his got to the landing, and Severus shook himself in indignace as he walked into his room. Severus sat on his couch, his suitcase having been brought up.
"Those two bastards got what they deserved." He hissed as he slumped in his couch, not thinking to revel in the privacy of his own space before it was rudely intruded upon again.
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Artimis looked at Aaron and Draco, both of them lying sprawled on the floor of the ballroom, Hailey having gone to fetch some potions for them. Remus came upstairs, looking haggard and worried after dropping Alexis off in his room. Artimis was as confused as he was.
"Ok, both of you are going to explain what just happened." Artimis stated, taking the 'angry wife' pose as she glared at her husband. Draco groaned as he looked at Aaron, hoping for Aaron to get him out of this.
"Draco Malfoy, you are going to tell me why Alexis AND Severus did this, or else, you might want to be calling your mother to see if you can sleep in your old room, because you won't be sleeping with me." Artimis stated in confused anger. She wanted an answer now; she wanted to know what Alexis had meant.
"Hunny, it was just a good natured prank. Nothing serious, Alexis just took it overboard, that's all." Draco groaned and Artimis crossed her arms at him.
"What and Severus was defending her honor?" Remus asked with increduality. Artimis knew that Draco had now done two wrongs. One he did something to Alexis and two he just lied to her, either way he was sleeping on the couch tonight.
"Draco, you lie to me one more time and you won't have to worry about Alexis killing you. What was this 'good natured' prank you did?" Artimis asked and Aaron looked at Draco warily.
"Ok, you all don't know the details of their mission for a reason. You Artimis would have smelt foul play. We sent them to America, that much was known, but as far as the ministry is concerned they went as father and daughter, but I and Draco did a bit of tampering. They went as a couple instead, as in they were dating. That's all." Aaron spilled painfully and Artimis's breath caught in her throat.
"You did what! In good natured humor?" Artimis asked in anger and Draco winced in fear of the onslaught of Artimis's anger, but Remus' anger was not expected.
"You did what to MY DAUGHTER! I don't blame her. Or Sev for that matter. I would have kicked your asses too. Come on Artimis, lets go check on Alexis and Sev, heaven knows the ordeals that this mission made them face." Remus barked, glaring at Draco with anger. Artimis was astonished that Draco would do such a thing and even more so that Aaron would go along with it.
"You Draco, couch, You Aaron, I'm telling Hailey." Artimis snarled as she followed Remus down the stairs, feeling sorry for Alexis and Severus and then recalling her odd visit from Vicky and Erica.
"No..." Artimis whispered as she dwelled on what she was told.
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Draco looked at Aaron as Artimis and Remus retreated down the stairs. He smirked as he reached in his pocket, pulling out a black video cassette.
"Hey Aaron, lookie what I still have..." Draco wheezed and Aaron looked at him, his blackened eye growing wide.
"Oh, I love you man. The broken nose was now well worth it. Let's call a family meeting... Before she tells Hailey what we did..."
"Oh yeah, that's what, five minutes? Let's trying and make it down stairs by then." Draco mused as they fought to get to their feet, smirking at how evil they could be.
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Alexis kicked and growled the whole way down the stairs, slung over Remus' shoulder. She didn't stop until he marched into his room, plopped her on the bed and backed out, shaking his head as he watched her with astonishment. Alexis, breathing heavily, narrowed her eyes at him until he vanished around the corner of the wide alcove in front of his room. Once gone, she growled with frustration, springing off the bed and kicking the nearest thing, his dresser, and chipping off a large piece from the corner.
"I'm going to kill them! I don't care how long it takes, they will pay!" Alexis screamed, fists clenched. No one answered, so she growled again and punched the door ignoring the sharp pains in her fist now as she paced the length of the small room, taking deep breaths. A prank... they thought this was just a harmless little prank... did they even THINK of what could've happened! Alexis thought, and then shook her head roughly.
"Be cool... this just gives them time to dwell and fright over their upcoming deaths... and lets me catch my breath... cool and collected, that's the way to go..." She grumbled to herself, then stopped and faced the open door.
"Okay. I think I'm ready to kill them now..." She told herself, grinning evilly as she started to run out the door to find the two targeted men of her anger's desire. But as she ran to the exit of the alcove, she was rammed with a solid force and was jolted slightly, stumbling backwards and staring at the now shimmering transparent force feild in front of her.
"What the hell... would he really...?" Alexis told herself, walking up to the wall and touching it. Another unpleasant jolt raced up her arm, and she drew back with a hiss.
"The dork!" Alexis hollered angrily. He put up his bloody ward for me! Oh, if he only knew... Alexis thought furiously to herself as she paced the length of the force field, feeling for the entire world like a caged animal.
Across the hall, directly in front of Remus' room, a door opened slightly, and Alexis stopped pacing to look at it curiously. Severus' head stuck out of it for a moment, looking around, and then he opened it further. He stopped though upon seeing Alexis across the hall from him.
Alexis crossed her
arms, glaring as she hissed. "What, he put you behind a ward as
well?"
Severus shook his head, replying. "No. Apparently
they think I'm my own ward. More than I can say for you."
Alexis rolled her eyes, asking. "Well, are you?"
Severus looked to think for a moment, and then shrugged. "No, not really."
Alexis sighed with frustration, getting annoyed by his stalling. "Well then can you get me the hell out of this!"
Severus looked to think a bit more, then spoke. "Would, but Remus changed the password again."
Alexis growled with anger, turning and kicking the chair seated near the opening, breaking a leg off. She stomped back into Remus' room, pacing the perimeter of that, looking for any sign of a way to escape, though knowing it was hopeless.
After a few minutes, she heard a murmur, and she looked up, seeing Remus enter the alcove once again, having lowered the ward.
My chance! Aaron and Draco's deaths must come soon lest I lose but a fraction of my rage! Even that can prevent me from giving them the full extent of their punishment! Alexis thought almost desperately, lunging for Remus with a growl to attempt to wrest the wand from his grip.
His eyes widened with surprise and he scrambled back out of the alcove, Alexis close on his heels in a righteous fury. But once again she was jolted as Remus threw up the wards, looking at her with astonishment.
Alexis growled some curses at him, beginning to pace the length of it as Remus stood on the opposite side of the wall, shaking his head.
"Alexis, are you alright?" He asked, worry lacing his voice.
"Oh, I'll be fine... as soon as you LET ME OUT!" Alexis hollered, glaring at her adopted father. Remus shook his head, speaking again.
"So you can kill those two? I can't do that. Are you sure you're okay?" Remus continued relentlessly, annoying Alexis.
"Oh, just fucking peachy." Alexis growled.
"You just tried to attack me. Me. What did they make you and Severus do?" He spoke sternly.
Alexis laughed sharply. What they made us do? Oh yes, me tell you... me tell anyone for that matter... like I want to everyone to know... ha...
"Make him do? Oh, enough to secure their deaths..." Alexis growled, and Remus narrowed his eyes.
"Him? Okay, what did Severus do?" Remus asked warily.
Alexis shook her head,
smiling grimly. "Really, I don't think you want to know... I
would rather never speak of it again, if you don't mind." Alexis
spoke, glaring at him slightly. "Now, will you please let
me out?"
Remus looked at her warily, and then shook his head,
turning at walking towards Severus' room. Alexis growled with
frustration, stomping back into Remus' room to find something else
to take her anger out on.
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Severus heard Alexis storming about across the hall and he peaked out, making sure there wasn't a wand directed at him. Seeing the coast was clear he looked to see Alexis pacing like a caged animal.
He stopped as he saw her and she crossed her arms, glaring as she hissed at him.
"What, he put you behind a ward as well?" Alexis asked him and he realized that she was behind the were-wolf's own ward.
"No. Apparently they think I'm my own ward. More than I can say for you." Severus replied as he shook his head, not quite amused as he was underestimated.
Alexis rolled her eyes at him, asking. "Well, are you?"
Severus took a moment to think on that. Was he his own ward, or was he simply bidding his time to kill them in their sleep. He decided that on the later.
"No, not really." He told her and she sighed in frustration.
"Well then can you get me the hell out of this!" She demanded and he questioned if that was a good idea, even if he could let her out. Which he couldn't because he had heard Remus change the password, though he didn't know what it was now.
"Would, but Remus changed the password again." He replied, which sent Alexis on a rampage as she broke a chair and stormed back into the room. Severus saw Remus coming and he closed his door, going back inside to his solitude. He knew that it would not be long, not long indeed, before Alexis, either in her rage or her tears, spoke of what had happened. Severus knew he was a walking dead man, but he'd like to prolong that title of life for as long as he could. He walked into his bathroom, closing and locking the door, cursing the fact that his wand lay on the floor in the ballroom.
Severus heard his door open and he braced, listening to see how many had entered.
"SEVERUS?" Remus' voice could be heard yelling and Severus sighed, placing his forehead against the mirror.
"What do you want Remus?" Severus asked and Remus was heard leaning up against the door.
"What happened? What did you do to Alexis, or what did she do to you?" Remus asked and Severus growled, his breath fogging up the mirror.
"I'd rather not think or talk about it. Go away and leave me be Remus, if you know what's best for you." Severus barked a threat at the werewolf, testing his ground, knowing he was on tender ground.
"Severus, you are going to tell me why my daughter is acting the way she is, and you are going to do it now. Or esle." Remus snarled on the other side of the door and Severus was glad there was a solid door between them.
"Remus, how about you leave me alone or I hex you, I'm in the mood to give someone a good hexing and you are coming close to the recipient." Severus replied angrily, walking over to the bathtub. He sat on the edge, doing his best to not think of anything, especially his impending death.
"Do you really want to hex me? How much do you value your life? Tomorrow is the full moon, don't fuck with me. What happened?" Remus demanded and Severus shook his head, deciding to hold back the smartass comment that had come to mind.
Just then he heard Fred's voice echo through the room, over the intercom system that was rarely used, except for means of annoying Artimis.
"Family meeting in the lounge. Everybody." The words spoke and Severus jumped at the out provided to him. He opened the door, moving past the falling Remus quickly.
"We have a family meeting..." He replied as he moved down those stairs faster than he had ever taken them before, reaching the lounge in excellent time. He summoned his wand to him and it met him there.
Though that was bad news for Aaron and Draco.
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Artimis walked down the stairs, feeling upset and worried.
What had really happened on the mission?... Should I have believed Vicky and Erica and done something... Is what they thought was happening true?... Artimis thought guiltily as she marched to the lounge. Draco and Aaron had set up the singular television in the house and were working on the VCR.
"What are you two up to now?" Artimis asked, still angry with her husband and her former boss.
"Just a movie." Aaron replied and Artimis didn't have time to pry further as her daughter Selena bounced in, singing 'Twinkle Little Star' as she carried a large stuffed wolf, a present from her Aunt Alexis.
"Mummy, a movie! Yay, will Balto be in it again?" Selena asked and Artimis shook her head, scooping her daughter up in her arms.
"I don't know hunny." She replied as she kissed the raven haired child's forehead. Artimis walked over to the couch and sat down, positioning Selena on her lap.
"Popcorn mummy!" Selena pleaded and Artimis sighed, summoning a bowl of popcorn from a house elf, Max. The popcorn was brought to them as the rest of the family entered, Severus standing as far away from Remus as possible. Draco rubbed his hands together in an evil fashion and Artimis knew something was up.
The television turned on and Artimis saw Alexis and Severus in an apartment, making breakfast. Artimis suddenly knew that this was a video of their mission. Now she could find out what really happened. Artimis wrapped her arms around her daughter's waist, leaning forward as she watched the film. Selena was to busy trying to make a popcorn string with some of Artimis's hair to care what was on the TV.
For the first twenty minutes, nothing interesting happened, except that Alexis and Severus were sleeping in the same bed and were cuddling. That was odd, but Artimis would have done the same thing if she had been there with no heater. Selena had managed to make a popcorn 'dinosaur' and was now rampaging through the popcorn village on Artimis's lap. Remus had sat down next to her and he had a village of popcorn on his lap too. Artimis turned to see Ron walk in the door.
"Hey, what're you guys doing?" He asked, smirking as he saw Selena playing.
"Watching Sev and Alexis's mission, nothing good happening so far. Severus just left for a solo mission to see the target. Oh look he's back." Artimis spoke as she went back to watching the servailance films. She watched as Severus shakily joined Alexis as the table, drinking wine, and then moving on to Alexis's liqour.
Artimis watched in shock as Severus kissed Alexis, covering Selena's eyes as she watched them go from chairs to the floor and not looking like either of them were caring.
"Oh my lord!" Artimis stated and just as Severus was beginning to undress Alexis, Vicky and Erica popped into view and Vicky screamed. Artimis couldn't believe her eyes. They had been right.
Artimis uncovered Selena's eyes as everything went back to a semblance of normalcy in the apartment, Severus and Alexis having made a truce to forget it ever happened. Artimis watched the rest of the mission in shock, almost laughing and choking on her popcorn as she watched Severus 'propose' to Alexis. It was also amusing to watch them both heal each other, but Artimis was in shock. The only way for her to get over that kind of shock was to laugh and look at it objectively. So that's what she did.
The film ended and she got up, dumping a lapful of popcorn on the floor as Selena went to Remus. Remus took her out of the room, promising candy and Artimis looked to see Ron. She had forgotten that he had walked in the room. She had known Ron for years, and not once had he scared her, but right now, she was terrified by the look on his face. She quickly scurried out of the room, heading to the kitchen to help with Selena, deciding that her two cents was best not spent and that she owed Erica and Vicky an explanation and an apology.
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Ron walked up to the Manor with a light hearted spring in his step, eager to be home for his darling Alexis was due back from her mission. He had missed her dearly, and had been antsy all day at work, but now he could finally see her. He waltzed into the house, smiling widely as he dropped his folders of work and gave his cloak to the house elf that had appeared.
He started towards the stairs, looking for Alexis, but paused upon hearing a commotion in the Lounge. He walked in curiously, seeing most of the Manor occupants seated near and around a television set that had brought in, Severus he saw disappearing into a back corner of the room.
He smirked at Selena making popcorn creations in his mother's lap, then asked curiously as he walked around to look at the TV.
"Hey, what're you guys doing?"
Artimis, eyes still glued to the television, replied. "Watching Sev and Alexis's mission, nothing good happening so far. Severus just left for a solo mission to see the target. Oh look he's back." And she was once again immersed in the video.
They actually managed to record their mission? Funny, Alexis isn't in here... Ron thought as he stood, watching the film with mild interest. The scene he had walked in upon was casual enough, Alexis sitting at a table, drinking actually, and Severus joining her with his own bottle of wine.
Simple enough, but something was out of place. Ron watched with narrowing eyes as they became increasingly drunk, then he stiffened and his breath stopped as he watched on the device as Severus pretty much took advantage of his wife before his very eyes.
He was on the verge of a furious explosion by the time Severus had gotten Alexis on the floor, but that ebbed slightly at the appearence of Erica and Vicky in the scene, blessedly interrupting the event. And from there on, it steadily worsened.
Ron was content to leave it at that little event and pass Severus off with a harsh warning, but this was going too far. He stood stock still, eyes wide and glued to the television as the film played through the length of a staged proposal, and the kiss that followed, then numerous occasions where Severus was in a way too close to be comfortable proximity to his wife.
But he could let those slides, since he was apparently healing the extensive injuries she had aquired. But that was the only thing he was going to let him slide by on. In Ron's eyes and account, Alexis had not played a single card in all the positions he had seen her and Severus in, all having been instigated by the damned Potion's master himself. This was all that he needed to see.
The film of the mission eventually rolled out, but Ron's eyes remained glued to the blank screen in shock, fists clenched as his face tinged red with boiling anger. The room quickly emptied around him, but he was sure of the person who had remained behind in a dark corner of the room. Never had Ron been so angry as he was now, and it took every ounce of the self control he possessed in his body to remain standing and not whipping about in a fury on this man who had violated his wife.
Dimly, Ron saw Severus move from his corner of the room, thinking that he was going to ease around him and slink off to safety. Ha, fat chance.
Ron finally burst, spinning around and grabbing the man by the throat and effortlessly slamming him into the nearest wall. Severus didn't say a word, merely grimacing as Ron tightened his grip and lifted him up slightly, making him stand on his tiptoes.
Ron, taking quick shallow breaths in his barely contained rage, stepped to within two inches from Severus' face, who was staring at Ron with slightly widened, yet resigned eyes.
Ron took a moment to
push back his anger enough to hiss at him in a voice dripping with
deadly promise, staring hard at him. "If you ever, EVER, touch
my wife, look at my wife, hell, come within ten feet of my wife
without my sayso or presence, I will tear you limb from limb and feed
you piece by piece to the dogs. Do you understand?"
Severus
stared at him in silence for a minute, which was too long for Ron. He
tightened his grip on the man's throat some more, pushing him hard
against the wall, willing Severus to give him enough incentive to
kill him right there.
Severus winced, breathing coming a bit more labored as he whispered out. "Understood."
"Good. Now get out of my sight." Ron growled dangerously, pulling Severus from the wall and practically throwing him against the stone floor. Severus remained silent, grimacing as he rose to his knees, and Ron walked calmly past him towards the stairs, intent upon finding his wife and seeing how badly scarred she was.
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Severus relived the events of the past month in an hour and a half's time. He was astonished that Artimis could just look at it so calmly. When Ron had walked in, he hid in the shadows, knowing that his fate had just been sealed. He watched Ron as he grew steadily tenser, his knuckles getting steadily whiter and he knew that he had very little time to do anything. He watched as the room cleared, seeing Remus carry off his beloved neice and Severus regretted not getting to tell her properly goodbye. Artimis was the last to leave and then Severus stood there in the same room as Ron, seeing that the red haired man was trying to calm his anger. Severus figured he could try to slip out undetected and he moved to get around Ron.
Suddenly, without any warning at all, Ron reached out and grabbed his throat and slammed him back against the wall. Severus grimaced as Ron lifted him by his throat, making him stand on his tiptoes as Severus felt the air being cut off from him. Ron was panting almost as he seemed to fight his rage and Severus knew that he was about to taste the famed Weasley wrath. Ron was now in his face, no more than two inches from his face, staring into his eyes with burning anger. Severus had resigned himself to his fate; he knew he deserved what ever Ron was dishing out.
They stood there a moment, the air being so thick with tension that it could have been cut with a spoon. Ron continued to stare at Severus, finally speaking in a voice that held a promise of pain.
"If you ever, EVER, touch my wife, look at my wife, hell, come within ten feet of my wife without my sayso or presence, I will tear you limb from limb and feed you piece by piece to the dogs. Do you understand?" Ron hissed a warning and Severus didn't know if answering would worsen or better his situation, but he had learned that most of the time, silent agreement was best. But Severus had forgotten that he was dealing with Ronald Weasley, who liked to be answered and who liked to know.
The red haired man tightened his grip on his throat, pushing him into the wall, threatening Severus with his eyes. Ron wanted a reason, a form pf resistance, something to make him kill Severus, but Severus knew better than to give it to him. Severus winced, his breathing coming a bit more labored as he whispered out in reply.
"Understood." He whispered and Ron seemed satisfied.
"Good. Now get out of my sight." Ron growled at him dangerously, yanking Severus from the wall and throwing him to the floor. Severus took it silently, getting to his knees shakily as he watched Ron stalk out of the room in anger.
Severus wondered if Alexis was going to get the same treatment, but he knew better than to think Ron would ever lay a hand on his dear Alexis. Severus rubbed his throat as he headed to the dining room, knowing that it would just be safe to sit in there with Selena and wait for dinner.
Dinner came and Severus sat in his seat next to Remus, silent as he avoided everyone's gaze. Aaron and Draco had obviously taken a beating from Ron as well, seeing as they couldn't look at him and he kept giving them warning glares. Ron was on the other side of Remus and Severus hated thinking that one enraged man was keeping him from a deathly angered man. Come to think of it, they were both deadly. One was a werewolf and the other a Weasley. Severus ate in silence and the only noise was Selena drumming out the tune for 'Spiderman'. After dinner, Severus quickly and silently retired to his room. Showering and crawling into his bed he laid down, savoring the room and then lack of another presence.
"Now, I can finally get some sleep." He thought as he laid his head back on his soft pillow, staring at the ceiling. And he stared at the ceiling for the next four hours. Upset and frustrated, he got up and began pacing, wrapping his bathrobe around himself as he lit the fire up again.
"Bloody hell, why can't I sleep?..." He spoke aloud and the reason came to him as he looked at his empty bed.
"Damn it, I know what the reason is... And no one is around to hear me admit this... I can't sleep without Alexis... Damn it... One bloody month and your whole sleep habit changes... How am I going to solve this... I'm sure Ron would not appreciate me going to him and asking 'hey can I borrow your wife, because I can't fall asleep unless she is in the bed'... Yeah, real smart..." Severus thought aloud, as he paced his room.
He went over all the avenues of why he would not have been able to sleep without her. He came to two conclusions; one was the human warmth that she provided and that would have been countered by the warmth of the room, so it was most likely not that, and secondly, it could be her scent, which seemed more logical.
"Damnation... How am I going to pull that off either... I don't exactly have essence of Alexis lying around to solve that..." He thought as he pondered on it, coming to a conclusion.
"I pray she is not up there." He thought as he stalked up to her tower that shared with Ron, hoping that neither of them were up there but having an elaborate back-up plan of false apologies for both Ron and Alexis. He opened the door, finding the room blissfully empty. Shaking his head at what he was about to do he marched over to her bed, grabbing her dragon pillow, the only pillow she had taken with her on their mission and the only one that he was sure it was hers. Taking the pillow he looked around the room and dashed back to his room. He closed and locked the doors, feeling sneaky and terrible.
He turned off his lights and lay back in his bed, curling up with Alexis's pillow that smelt like her.
"That's better." He thought as he almost immediately passed out.
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Go on and read the last Chapter, evil laughter
Toodles,
The Misfits
