Samaria Kirby is mine. Everything else belongs to the amazing Rowling.

Chapter 15

Slowly, but surely, Samaria's bruises healed. She drank some potion to speed up the process but for some reason, it didn't help. The Dark Lord didn't call on either Severus or herself for the next few weeks. Samaria began to worry. What if, because of what she did, they had fallen out of favor so much that he wouldn't call at all? They couldn't be spies unless they were around.

Sirius grew very restless in his hiding space. He wasn't aloud out when Elena was around because she was learning to talk so well. He mostly sat in his room and read. Severus constantly complained about Sirius borrowing his books, but Samaria ignored him.

After the third week of not hearing a word from either the Malfoy's or the Dark Lord, Samaria began to contemplate what she could do to get herself and her husband back in favor with him. The options made her shudder, but she would do what she had to.

One night, after she put Elena to bed, Samaria sat next to Severus on the couch and asked him, "Why do you think the Dark Lord hasn't called either one of us yet?"

"The same reason I thought last week and the week before, I don't know," he replied without looking up from his book.

"You don't have to get smart with me."

"I wasn't. I was stating a fact."

Samaria swallowed; she had to be careful how she phrased this, "I think he's probably still upset at me." When he didn't respond she continued, "You know, I could… maybe, see if I could get him to not be so angry at us."

"There is only one way you could do that," he said, still not looking up from his book.

"I know," she took a deep breath. "But, I could do it and…" Severus slammed his book shut and looked at her with his piercing gaze.

"Are you insane?"

"No, I just…"

"You just what? You want to sleep with him?" he demanded.

"NO! I just want to help. I feel like it's my fault. We're not doing any good just sitting here and…"

He cut her off again, "No, we're not doing any good, but I've already put mine and my wife's life in his hands. I refuse to give him anything else! You will not, for ANY reason give in to him. Understand?"

Samaria sat staring at her lap. She nodded.

"How could you even think that?" he asked.

"I just…" tears started down her face, "I just kept thinking of all the sacrifices you've made over the years to get to where you are with him and I messed it all up just because I wouldn't make one of my own."

Severus' face softened and he took her in his arms, "Listen, I don't care about that. I wouldn't want you to go through that for anything, especially me. Don't worry about it. It'll work out and if not, we'll work it out."The next day Severus was summoned to appear before the Dark Lord. Samaria sat anxiously, waiting for him to come home. After about an hour and a half, he finally appeared into the living room.

"The Dark Lord has sent me on a mission," he stated gravely. "But he wants you to take Elena to Narcissa and come see him."

Giving her a look that told her to be careful, he Disapperated. After gathering Elena and her things she quickly left for the Malfoy's.

Narcissa met her at the door and took the baby, "The usual room." It worried Samaria that she didn't really look her in the eye.

Samaria went down the hall and knocked on the door.

"Enter," came the silky, yet creepy voice.

She walked in and found the Dark Lord sitting in his usual chair. The drapes were drawn as usual, giving the room an eerie look.

"Come here, Samaria."

She walked till she was almost touching his feet and knelt before him.

"I was very angry with you, Samaria," he said.

"Yes, Master."

"But I am no longer." She looked up at him quizzically. "Wormtail will be moving in with you this summer. He will…. help… you around your home."

Samaria nodded, confused.

"He is currently on a mission with your husband." He leaned down until his face was only inches from hers. "I grow tired of you resistance. Your daughter will not leave this mansion until you give in to me."

Samaria's eyes grew.

The villain smiled. "And, if after an appropriate length of time, you still refuse, I will kill Severus."

~*SW*~

Samaria sat wide eyed on her couch, staring into space. She replayed her visit with the Dark Lord over and over in her head.

Samaria gasped involuntarily. The Dark Lord smiled a predatory smile.

"I think you'll come around to my way of thinking soon enough," he said. "I'll allow you to go home and think it over. Oh, and I don't have to tell you not to inform Severus of this…. arrangement. If you do, you all will die."

Samaria looked and looked for a loop hole to get out of this. She could tell Severus. How could the Dark Lord ever find out? But if he did, then she, her husband and her child were dead. Also, telling him wouldn't change the fact that she had to go back eventually, and visit the monster with her answer.

She needed someone to talk to badly. Her eyes wandered to the secret door. She went upstairs to talk to the only person she really could, Sirius.

After explaining everything to him, he sat there looking at her as if she'd just told him she had to go find her dinner in the sewage.

"You have to do what with who?" he asked.

Samaria just nodded sadly.

"I don't know what to tell you, Samaria. I really don't"

Tears started rolling down Samaria's face, "I don't know what to do. I'm willing to make scarifies, yes, but not telling Severus…. I'll feel like I'm betraying him."

Sirius nodded, understanding, but not knowing what to say.

"Oh, you'll have to move downstairs to the basement. We keep it locked with charms and spells. It'll be less comfortable, but you'll be safer from Wormtail."

He just nodded again, not really concerned with his lodgings at the moment.

He reached over and hugged Samaria, "It'll be okay. Do what you have to do, however repulsing it may be. Severus will understand."

Samaria just shook her head and cried into Sirius' shoulder.

Later that day, after Samaria had gotten Sirius moved downstairs, Severus returned. He didn't have Wormtail with him and that confused Samaria. Her husband sat on the couch and sighed, "Wormtail will be moving in with us tomorrow."

She nodded, "The Dark Lord told me. He can have the secret room. I moved the… things up there down to the basement." Since she had to start be more cautious in what she said, may as well start now.

Severus turned to look at her, "What did the Dark Lord want with you?"

"He, uh, just wanted to inform me of some things and has a special mission for me. I have been forbidden to speak of it at all." She looked at her husband, hoping he'd buy that. He looked into her eyes and she quickly shielded her thoughts. She could see the frustration in his face as he narrowed his eyes, but he said nothing.

"Elena stayed the night at the Malfoy's. Narcissa missed her so bad and Elena loves her so. I told her she could keep her a night or two."

Severus eyed Samaria again, "Is the Dark Lord still there?"

"Yes, but Narcissa will keep Elena away from him." Please stop asking questions, she pleaded silently.

Severus still thought this strange but said nothing.

"How did your mission go?" she asked, desperately trying to change the subject.

He shook his head, "I wish I could tell you, but the less you know about this, the better."

This made Samaria feel slighted but she pushed those feelings aside. What she was hiding from him was undoubtedly worse.

~*SW*~

The next day Samaria took a deep breath and knocked on the door of Malfoy Manor. The door opened, but no one was there to greet her. Resolved with her decision, she walked down the hall, straight to the Dark Lord's room. After only one knock, it too swung open. She stepped in to find the Dark Lord sitting in his throne like chair as usual.

"Come forward, Samaria," he ordered. She did as she was told and bowed.

"Have you reached a decision then?" he asked, but the look on his snake-like face said he already knew the answer.

"Yes, my master."

"And what is it?"

"I'll refuse you no longer," Samaria barely got out. She wanted to throw up but kept her mind on her baby's life. She couldn't think of Severus now.

"I knew you'd see reason," he gloated and reached his hand down to caress her face. She had to use every bit of resolve in her not to flinch or jerk back.

"You'll find it quite enjoyable, I think," he continued as his hand went from her face to her hair.

Samaria only nodded, not knowing what else to do or say.

"Come," he said as he took her hand and led her into another room.

That night when Samaria finally got home, she found Severus sitting on the couch. He looked up from whatever he was reading and studied her.

"What's wrong?" he asked immediately.

"I'm just tired," she said, as she quickly handed him Elena, who giggled and babbled as her daddy took her. "I'm going to take a shower and lie down. Severus just nodded, but looked at her strangely.

As soon as Samaria stepped into the shower, the tears began. She slid down and sat with her arms wrapped around her legs. The sobs wracked her whole body until she was afraid she'd hyperventilate. Trying to calm herself, she didn't need to pass out and have Severus find her, she took slow, deep breaths. She was strong, she could handle this. Stepping out of the shower and drying off, she put on some sleeping clothes and went to bed.

The Dark Lord ran his hands over her cheeks, down her neck and onto her shoulders. Samaria tried to suppress a shudder, but it came involuntarily. He merely smirked and turned her around. She could feel the fastenings of her robes being undone and she had to root her feet to the floor to keep her from running. Her robes fell to the floor and he turned her around. The Dark Lord looked her up and down and smiled, "This will be delightful…"

Samaria woke with a start. She couldn't sleep. This was the third time that night she'd been awaken by that same dream, or rather a replay of the previous day. At least this dream didn't go as far as the others had.

She got up and walked to the kitchen. Looking at the ancient grandfather clock as she passed through the living room, she noticed it was almost 4 o'clock. Sighing at the early hour, Samaria sat some water on the stove to boil for coffee. Sitting at the table, she put her head in her hands. She had no clue whether her evil master expected this to be a habitual thing or a onetime scenario. She fervently hoped for the latter.

Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't hear Severus come into the room. Samaria jumped when he put his hands on her shoulders.

"Sorry," he said as he took the chair beside her, gathering her hands into his. "What's wrong?"

"Nightmares," she mumbled and didn't look at him.

"Your mission?" he inquired and she just nodded.

He sighed, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Actually, I'd rather just forget it ever happened."

He nodded his understanding but continued to look curiously at her. Finally, she looked up at him.

"It was that bad?" he asked, even though he couldn't get into her mind he could see the guilt in her eyes.

She nodded again as tears began to roll down her face. He pulled her out of her chair and onto his lap. "It's okay."

She just nodded again and he let her cry.

~*SW*~

Later that day, Samaria felt a familiar burn on her left arm. Glancing over at Severus, who sat across the table from her eating lunch, she got up."The Dark Lord calls," she said with a sigh.

Severus got up and gathered her in his arms, remembering the turmoil she was in earlier that morning.

"You're strong," he said. "You can do this."

She nodded and left.

When Samaria entered Malfoy Manner she found Narcissa crying hysterically in the front room. She ran to her.

"Narcissa! What is it?" she asked.

"The… the.. Dark Lord wants…" she broke into sobs again.

"Samaria, I did not summon you to comfort Narcissa. COME." The voice down the hall was like silk and steel at the same time.

Samaria rose and went to the Dark Lord's side.

"Samaria, Draco will become one of us soon." Little did the evil wizard know, she already knew of this but said nothing. "I want you to take him and make sure he's sufficient to complete the task I will give him once he receives the Mark."

"After, Master?"

"Yes, I've decided to go ahead and give him his Mark and let him prove himself afterwards. He'll have his entire life to do that." The Dark Lord smirked.

Samaria nodded, though disgusted, "And his mission will be?"

"Only a select few will know of it. Seeing as your husband knows and you will be assisting, I will go ahead and tell you. He will kill Dumbledore."

Samaria stood in shock, eyes wide. Kill Dumbledore? Draco? "Master, surely…."

"Surely my orders will be carried out and not questioned." He lifted his head higher and looked down at her. She merely nodded.

So this is what sent Narcissa into hysterics. Her only son was being sent to kill the most powerful wizard in the world. Even the Dark Lord feared him and he was sending a child to kill him.

The Dark Lord's eyes drifted up and down Samaria's body, "Did you enjoy yourself last night?""My Lord," she only bowed in response.

"Good," he answered, taking her response as a yes. "We may repeat it sometime." She froze in fear for a moment. "But now, leave. Take Draco and make sure he is sufficient in his spell casting."

Samaria bowed and hurried out before he changed his mind about letting her go.

As she hurried down the hall she stopped at Draco's room and knocked.

"Draco…"

He jerked open the door. His face and eyes were red as if he'd been crying.

"Yes."

"We need to talk," she said and he reluctantly stepped aside to let her in.

She sat on his bed and explained what the Dark Lord asked her to do.

Draco only nodded as he sat beside her, starring at his shoes.

"So, you know what I have to do?" he asked.

"Yes, I do."

He nodded, "Don't tell Mother. She'll only try to get you to talk the Dark Lord out of it. She's already begged Aunt Bella."

"I won't tell her… How are you, Draco? Are you up to this?" she asked.

He straightened and looked her straight in the eye, "I can do this. I will succeed." He said this with more confidence than was in his eyes.

Samaria nodded and pulled his close into a hug. That seemed to put him over the edge because he clung to her and cried. She just held him, not knowing what to say.

"Ms. Kirby… what if I fail? He'll kill Mother," he cried.

This surprised her. Draco wasn't as selfish as he let on. He wasn't worried about dying, only failing and his mother suffering. She just held him tighter and let him cry.

After calming Draco down and working on the killing curse for a few hours, Samaria returned home, promising to return another day. Severus already had Elena in bed and was in bed himself, reading. He looked up when she walked in.

"So the Dark Lord told you?" he asked.

"Yes… how did you…?""He said he would tell you. I found out yesterday but must wait until tomorrow to inform Dumbledore. He's been gone recently." And Samaria could tell by the look in Severus' eyes he would say no more. He and Dumbledore had a special relationship and he didn't confide everything about it to her.

"You know the Dark Lord really doesn't think Draco will succeed," she told him as she changed into her night gown.

"I know," he replied. "The only reason he has you teaching him is so that he'll have a better chance at it. If he fails, the Dark Lord has his revenge on the Malfoy family and if he succeeds, his arch is enemy dead. He wins either way."

Samaria nodded and climbed into bed with him, "You don't seem too worried about it."

"I'm not. Dumbledore will have a way out of it. He always does," with that he put his book aside and reached over to rap his arms around his wife. He started kissing her neck and Samaria jumped back.

"I, um, I can't Severus," she stuttered.

He looked at her strangely. "Why?" he asked.

"I just can't. My mind is on too much stuff, what with this Draco thing and the things the Dark Lord has had me do…" she stopped and looked down.

Severus continued to eye her. This wasn't like her at all. Sex was an outlet for her in many ways. She never said no.

"There's more to it," he tried to look into her mind but she already had it blocked.

"No, that's all," she insisted but he continued to stare at her and she squirmed under his look.

"Samaria, talk to me," he pleaded.

"… I can't…" she whispered.

He put an arm around her shoulders, "Yes, you can, love."

She sighed and shook her head.

"The Dark Lord will never know," he persisted.

Still she shook her head, but he wasn't giving up.

"Samaria, tell me please. I need to know what's troubling you."

She looked in his eyes and her barrier broke. In an instant, he saw the Dark Lord threaten his life. He saw him threaten Elena's life. He saw what she had to do to save them and how she felt. After the memory passed, he sat there shocked. Samaria broke down in tears. Severus just gathered her into his arms.

"Shhh…" he said. "It'll be alright." He was seething, but he couldn't let her see that. She did what she thought she had to do. He couldn't fault her for that, no matter how much it hurt him. She sobbed for almost an hour and Severus just held her and tried to sooth her.

When she finally could talk, she said, "I know you must hate me."

"No, Samaria. I do not hate you. I hate him so much I could go rip his head off." She looked at him alarmed, "But I will not. I won't let him know that I know. You did what you had to do and I saw what a sacrifice it was for you."

He pulled her closer and hugged her, "I love you."

"I love you, Severus. I'm so sorry."

"You've nothing to be sorry about," with that he kissed her and showed her how he didn't blame her. How he still loved her. How everything would, one day, be okay.

Thanks for reading! Please review and let me know what you think :)