Chapter Twenty Five

They got caught. That was the mantra running through Elaine's head as she and Severus were led, by wandpoint, through Malfoy Manor by Lucius and Bellatrix. Thank Merlin Rowan was safely away in the States with Chester and the rest of the Davies family. He would live through this, she was sure. She and Severus, and the baby she carried inside her, however, had very little chance once the Dark Lord discovered what they had done.

The Carrows had been nearby when Phineas had come flying in to tell them that Harry and his friends were in the Forest of Dean, and Severus had immediately taken off to get the sword to them. Unfortunately, the Carrows had followed, planning to capture the trio. Severus had fought them off, killing Alecto. Amycus had escaped and gone straight to Bellatrix, who had met Severus upon his arrival to the castle.

Severus had already been hit by the cruciatus multiple times, and as such, was limping through the building. He'd stumbled, once, and had caught Elaine's arm before falling. This had earned him a kick, which he had fallen after. Lucius pulled her away, and she was unable to help as Bellatrix kicked him again, and again. She'd ended up turning her head, hoping this would stop it, but no; another cruciatus had followed. The tears burned her eyes but she refused to let them fall, refused to let Bellatrix or Lucius to see her weakness.

"Take her to the cellar," Bellatrix hissed at Lucius, using a quick spell to conjure ropes around Severus. "I will call our master to deal with him." Lucius agreed, taking hold of Elaine's arm once more and dragging her down below. She let out a scream, fighting and kicking the entire time, but to no avail; the cellar door was opened, she was pushed in, and it locked behind her.

"No! Lucius please!" She screamed after him, but the older blonde man continued to walk away without a look back. "Lucius! Please!"

"Professor Davies?" The voice made her jump, and she whirled in the dim light to place the voice. Luna Lovegood sat in the corner of the room, her long blonde hair tangled in almost a knot beneath her shoulders. Other than being dirty and looking exhausted, she looked fine. "What are you doing here?"

"Professor Snape and I-" She began to explain, but then she saw the other person in the room. Garrick Ollivander, who had been missing for over a year. The man looked no more than a skeleton, his eyes sunken in, skin nearly yellow. "Have you been here this entire time?"

"Yes," the old man croaked, moving to sit up. Elaine shook her head quickly.

"No, sit down. Don't get up." A scream came from upstairs, and Elaine felt tears burn her eyes. She went to the cellar door again, banging on it. "Let me out!" She screamed through it, but there was no response other than a hoarse cry coming from upstairs. "No! Leave him alone! Severus!"

"Professor Snape is here too?" Luna questioned, her grey eyes filled with concern as another cry came from above them. Elaine didn't respond, her eyes fixed on the cellar door, willing it to open. Lucius had snatched her wand away from her, but if her will was strong enough - But the door stayed shut, and Elaine cursed at it, hitting it with her palm in anger. "Professor? Are you okay?"

"Yes Luna, I'm fine," she said, sinking onto the ground, keeping her eyes on the door. One hand absently found her abdomen, and she rested it there. Her little one would never have a chance, and upstairs, his father was being tortured. She let her head fall on her knees, attempting to calm herself down as she felt her breathing take a hitch. She lost track of time as she concentrated on her heart rate. The slamming cellar door brought her out of the stupor and she jerked her head up in time to see Lucius toss Severus's limp form onto the ground.

"He's alive," Lucius stated, eyeing her. "For now. The dark lord has decided to keep the two of you around, despite your.. Betrayal." His gaze lingered on Severus, and Elaine wondered what was going through his mind as he watched his once best friend lay still on the cold floor. His eyes flickered back up to Elaine's, and she could see the pain he withheld. "Enjoy." And then he was gone, the door slamming behind him. Elaine rushed to Severus, kneeling by his side.

"Hey," she whispered, feeling for his wrist. His pulse was weaker then it should be, and she let out a soft sigh, running her hands through her hair. She used the hairband on her wrist and tied her hair up to keep it out of her face. "Sev, please wake up." He let out a small groan, his eyes twitching behind their lids. "Severus." His eyes fully opened, and he attempted a smile. "Take it easy, okay?"

"I'm sorry," he managed to say, trying to sit up. She pushed him back down, trying to get him to settle. She was aware of the two pairs of eyes watching them, but she ignored it.

"Sorry for what?" Elaine asked him.

"For this." He looked around the small cellar, and heaved a sigh. "I got you locked up in here." He squeezed his eyes shut. "Damn. It hurts."

"How many times?"

"Five. Not counting the ones before." he hissed. "Help me up." She did so, and he leaned against the wall, out of breath. "He did them himself."

"Who?" Elaine questioned, then realized. "Him?" Severus nodded. "Merlin." She gripped his hand. "He... he didn't want to speak with me?" Severus shook his head and went to speak, but-

"Professors," Luna interrupted. "Do - what's going on out there? Can you tell me?" All the times Luna had been in her class, she'd always been serene, out of focus, but now she looked at her sharply, with fear. "I don't even know how long I've been in here."

Elaine and Severus exchanged a glance. "Harry's still alive," Elaine said finally. "That's - that's all I know. You - it's only been a week."

"A week," Luna said softly, sinking into herself.

"We'll get you out, Luna," Elaine reassured her, but the blonde looked doubtful. Elaine and Severus exchanged another look, and his eyes drifted down to her stomach, a silent question in them. "I'm fine," Elaine promised him. Although the entire school knew about her pregnancy, she hoped word hadn't gotten to the death eaters beyond Narcissa. It only endangered her more. Luna was a sharp teenager, and although she seemed to have noticed their quiet interaction, she said nothing.

"There is no way out." Ollivander's voice was cracked, broken, and Elaine felt her own hope break at the sound of it. "If there were, I would have escaped by now."

"We'll figure it out," Severus said firmly, but the look in his eyes said he thought otherwise.