I know this one's really short, sorry!

Chapter Eight

Elaine and Severus stood outside a home in a muggle neighborhood, dressed in death eater cloaks. This was her first task for the dark lord, to retrieve the person living inside and bring him to the dark lord that evening. She had no idea who it was, although she was sure Severus knew. He always had more information than her, being higher up in the dark lord's graces. She hadn't even dared to ask.

"Now," Severus whispered, as a light flicked on downstairs. He took the first step, and then he was running, bursting through the door, wand upheld. The man whirled around, his own wand tight in his grip.

"I won't go lightly!" He roared, sending a stunning spell in Elaine's direction. She ducked, letting the spell hit the wall. "Stupify! Stupify!" Each curse missed. Another spell shot out his wand, this last curse struck her cheek and she cried out in shock.

Neither she nor Severus had sent out a spell, and now Severus lifted his wand. "We are here to talk," He stated, his voice muffled by the mask. "We are not here to harm you, Horace." Elaine risked a glance to Severus. Who was Horace? The name sounded vaguely familiar.

"Nonsense!" Horace cried, sending another stunner in their direction. Severus deflected it with a wave of his wand. "I won't go to him, I tell you! I would rather die!"

"We're here to bring you to Dumbledore," Severus informed him, as Elaine pressed her palm to her cheek, which was bleeding fiercely.

"Liar! Reducto!" Severus lunged to the side as the spell made a bookshelf behind him blow up.

"I've had it," Severus hissed, sending a stunner straight at the pot bellied man. He collapsed to the floor, and Severus walked up to his body, kicking aside debris as he went. He let out a sigh, staring at the man's still form. "Elaine, clean up here and meet me back at Order headquarters." Elaine simply nodded as Severus took Horace's still form and dissaparated. She healed her face, made quick work of the clean up, and satisfied with her work, apparated to the doorstep of Order headquarters.

She hadn't been but once; only long enough for Severus to show her the place so she'd be able to go if needed. But now she opened the door and was immediately greeted by Molly Weasley, wand held up. "How did you and I meet for the first time?" the redhead demanded.

"I brought Harry to your home," Elaine responded, her own wand held up. "What did we discuss during our second meeting?"

"Arthur being attacked last year," Molly told her, and both women lowered their wands. Molly jerked her head toward one of the doors. "Severus is waiting for you in there. Dumbledore's upstairs with Horace, he'll meet the two of you shortly."

Elaine entered the room she'd been instructed to, noting it was the kitchen. A long table took over the back wall, where Severus was seated, his death eater cloak missing. Elaine slipped her own off, dropping it on the bench and sitting down next to him. He slid a cup over to her and she took it, smelling the tea inside. "Who is Horace?" she finally asked. "He just seemed to be an old man, what use does the dark lord have with him?"

"Horace Slughorn was the Hogwarts potion master before myself," Severus explained to her. "He taught for fifty years. He even taught the dark lord himself."

"Wow," Elaine commented. "I couldn't imagine teaching for that long." They sat in silence, sipping their drinks. "Severus-" Someone cleared their throat by the door, causing Elaine to jump, and she turned to see Dumbledore standing there, a satisfied smile on his face. "Headmaster."

"Elaine, Severus, thank you so very much." He came to sit by them. "Horace has agreed to remain here until further notice, and therefore, away from the threat of Voldemort." Dumbledore let out a small sigh, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. "When are the two of you expected back?"

"In an hour," Elaine croaked, nerves causing her voice to catch in her throat. Her first mission, and as far as the dark lord would be concerned, she'd failed.

"And you have a plan?" Severus nodded, rising from his seat and putting his cup in the sink. He leaned his weight on it, facing them. "What is it?"

"I'll tell you after," Severus informed him. He looked at Elaine, then back to the headmaster. "We're heading upstairs to get our memories straight, then we'll be heading out early. Is there anything you need from me before we go?" Elaine could feel her heart pounding as Dumbledore shook his head, and Severus looked back at her. He jerked his head to the door and Elaine followed him out, leaving her cup sitting on the table.

Elaine and Severus stood in front of the dark lord, heads bowed as he paced in front of them. Elaine could sense his anger; it turned the very room cold. They were the only ones in the Malfoy library; the dark lord had requested their presence and their presence only. But now Elaine felt her stomach twisting as he continued to pace.

"Tell me," he said finally, turning to face them, his grip on his wand turning his fingers red. "Why." His last word was a hiss, and Elaine resisted a shudder. When neither Elaine or Severus answered, his eyes flashed. "I asked for one thing. Horace Slughorn, in my presence. That wasn't much to ask, was it?"

"No my lord," Severus murmured. "Things were not as we expected. The professor wasn't even at that location any more. We believe he was removed earlier this morning by Dumbledore and his band they call the Order of the Phoenix."

"I'm aware of what the Order of the Phoenix is, Severus," The dark lord sneered. "The only one who knew of this plan was you, however. Explain to me how Dumbledore's so called Order found out we were moving him tonight."

"I don't know, my Lord," Severus stated, tilting his head down. "Perhaps they felt it was time to bring him in their folds? We could have just been unlucky."

The dark lord began pacing again, stopping to stare at Elaine. She felt pressure in her head and she let him in, showing him false memory after false memory, the most prominent being Severus and her arriving at Slughorn's hideaway, only to find it dark and empty. He pulled out with a hiss, and walked in front of Severus. They stood there, the two men - if you considered the dark lord a man - staring, until suddenly the dark lord pointed his wand straight at the potions master.

"Crucio!" He hissed, and Severus dropped to the floor, crying out in pain. Elaine refrained from releasing a gasp as the dark lord held the spell for a good moment before letting it go. "You disappoint me more and more everyday, Severus. You two may go."

Once outside Severus' rooms, she turned to him. "Will you be alright?" He nodded, turning to the door and opening it. "Severus."

"What, Elaine?" He turned back to her, his voice tired. "I've been through the cruciatus curse before, and for longer, as well. I'll live." And he went in, slamming the door behind him, leaving Elaine standing on the other side.

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