Chapter 12

*3rd Person POV, while Emma is unconscious*

"What is the meaning of this Severus?! She was meant to stay conscious!" Voldemort screamed in anger, wrapping his hands around Severus' throat. Severus flinched only a moment then remained calm and collected.

"My lord, I told you she would pass out again, but not as long," Snape almost whispered, making Voldemort squeeze harder, "just a few hours…s-six a-at the v-very most!" Voldemort growled before releasing him. Snape's neck was blazing red and he resisted the urge to rub it.

"You better be sure Severus," he hissed. "I need whatever Intel on the Potter boy! And I want that power!" He yelled.

"It will be done my lord," Severus bowed.

"It better," Voldemort growled before disappearing from the room.

Severus let out a deep sigh then glanced over at Emma's unconscious form. He grimaced at her battered and still bleeding form. He moved closer and continued to stare. Hesitantly, he placed his palm on her belly. Despite the spell she cast on herself, he could still feel the bulge. He flinched and jumped back when he felt movement from her stomach…they were awake.

"You are lucky Pendragon, in more ways than one. I will try my best to keep you and your children safe," he promised.

*End of 3rd Person POV*

"Who is it this time?"

"Is she awake yet?"

"What do ye reckon they want her fer?"

"Didn't she go to school with us Luna?"

My eyes shot open at the sound of her name and I sat up. I saw a few faces surrounding me, but one in particular made me gasp. Despite her hair being wild and her face dirty, her blue eyes remained bright and thriving.

"Hello child of Winter, it is great to see you!" It was Luna and she was alive. I covered my mouth and began to sob as she pulled me into a hug. She rubbed my back and cooed as if I was a child. I felt so relieved to see her alive despite the situation we were in.

"Oh thank the Gods! I'm so glad you're alive!" I said in between sobs. "We all expected the worse!"

"Well you aren't too far off sweetheart…" another voice grumbled.

"Shut it Griphook." A familiar voice snapped. I pulled away and searched the dark for the voice.

"Dean?" I asked, squinting into the dim cellar. I could see teeth flash and a chuckle in response.

"Hey Pendragon, are you here to bust us out?" He asked before hugging me.

"Not exactly, but it's good to know you're alive as well. Ginny has been so worried," I stated. Dean stiffened when I said her name.

"Was she with you?" He asked.

"No, she went through the barrier first; she's probably at Hogwarts by now with Neville," I replied. He nodded, not asking anything else.

"Neville! How is he? Good as well I hope?" Luna asked quickly. I nodded and I could see her smile. "I miss him too; hope he wasn't too worried by my capture…"

"He was more than worried, he-" I stopped, not wanting to mention that he hated me for awhile, "he was really worried for you."

Luna sighed, "then he has yet to find his courage." I gave her a look, but decided not to say anything.

"Ok, now that yer little reunion is done. Tell me Pendragon, what is goin' on the outside? Who all 'ave we lost?" The one called Griphook asked. I took a closer look at him and tried to keep eye contact. Goblins always made me feel uneasy even though I was led to believe they were neutral creatures.

"Well…" I began and recanted what I could since my brain was a bit fuzzy. I told them about the Potterwatch and how muggles have been getting mixed up with our war, about what we did at the Ministry over the Summer, and I told them about Umbridge almost getting hired at Hogwarts again.

"Wait, Snape was willing to take her back? I know she's a fellow evildoer, but Snape hated her as well." Dean stated.

"Snape has barely been around the castle recently and Carrows' thought she would be a good addition to the school," I replied grimly. "But I was able to stop her…"

Dean leaned forward, eager to hear more, "How? What did you do?"

"I killed her. I crushed her windpipe and I do not feel an ounce of guilt," I replied darkly. "McGonagall even awarded me hundred points for doing so, but I don't think she knew she was dead at the time…"

"Wow, someone has gone to the dark side…" Dean mumbled in response.

"It was for the greater good, we couldn't allow her to terrorize us again," Luna stated, coming to my defense. I smiled in thanks.

"Has anybody else been down here?" I asked, noticing it was just the five of us counting another body passed out a few feet away. Dean looked a little uneasy by my question.

"Do you remember the muggle studies teacher at Hogwarts?" I shook my head no. "Well, she was here when we first arrived…but then she was taken and never brought back…" he paused to swallow, his Adam's apple quivering as he did so, "she screamed for awhile so I know it wasn't quick for her." I gulped feeling just as uneasy by his words.

"There was also an elf that has been popping in from time to time, bringing us bread and water, just enough to get us by," Luna stated happily.

"Why didn't you let him take you away then?" I asked confused.

"Because there is a tracker on each of us my dear and therefore, we cannot leave just yet," A voice said from the corner. I looked over to see a ragged old man rising and cracking a few of his bones. His hair was long, gray, and matted. His skin was waxy and his cheeks were sunken in, but much like Luna, his eyes were alive.

"I know you…" I whispered, staring intently at his face.

He smiled, "I do hope so Miss Pendragon…I kept your mother's wand safe until you returned back home. Lovely wand…10 ½ inches of maple wood and infused with a phoenix feather, one of three that I ever had, but not necessarily from the same phoenix mind you," he winked. I smiled, remembering him telling me the same story and how it chose my mother as soon as she walked in his shop. "Do you still have it my dear?"

I shook my head, "no, I left it behind at Hogwarts…you know that I don't need it as much as the average witch or wizard." I replied and he nodded. His eyes twinkled before speaking up again.

"Despite your great power my dear, there will be a time that you will truly need it…it's an extension of you and can help control what builds within you, remember that." I nodded, unsure of his words.

"Power? You have power to get us out child?!" Griphook growled. I shook my head and opened my mouth to answer, but stopped. There was loud stomping coming from above then the sound of a door opening. We all gasped and shuffled away from the other.

Ollivander went back into his fetal position in the corner while Griphook towards the back in the shadows. Dean, Luna, and I moved to the side just as a few figures made their appearance at the foot of the stairs. I positioned myself in front of them, trying to shield them from whatever horror they were here to create.

"Ah, glad to see you are awake; the Dark Lord has been waiting," a deep voice said. I couldn't see his face, but I did see him nod to the two others beside him. "Get her." He ordered. I slid away as they dived for me.

"No!" I screamed as I kicked. One of them groaned and then I fell back as the other slapped me hard. My vision blurred and I felt my cheek swelling. I tried to find Luna and Dean, hoping they weren't in the way. Where'd they go?

"Let her be!" A voice yelled. I could see a dark blurry blob jump onto another blob and then a brighter blob move in.

"Oh no…" I mumbled. I attempted to get up only to feel pressure on my shoulders bring me back down.

"Enough!" A new voice yelled…a voice that belonged to Severus Snape. "Let the girl go or you will die first." My vision was clearing now and I was able to take in the mess around the cellar.

Severus was at the foot of the stairs, wand pointed in my direction…no, at the person holding me still. Each of the three men that came down here moments ago held someone captive. Luna had a black eye and busted lip while Dean had a large gash across his forehead that was steadily dripping down his face. Griphook was floating in the air a few feet away from me which meant that Ollivander held me; he was shaking behind me.

"Let me go…I don't want your blood on my hands," Reluctantly, he removed himself from me and I shakily rose from the floor. The one who had Griphook suspended in the air tossed him to the side then performed a body lock jinx on me. I was floating now and being led out of the cellar.

I ended up bumping against the ceiling and the walls as the one Deatheater took no care in guiding me out of the cellar. Harsh light from a chandelier over head blinded me a moment as we exited. I couldn't get a good look around me from my angle, but I could see we were in a foyer judging by a set of stairs nearby.

"Where are you leading her?" I heard Snape ask. One of the men scoffed at his question.

"C'mon now Severus, you are the Dark Lord's pet, you should know where we are taking her," deep voice stated.

"If I knew that Goyle, I wouldn't have asked now would I?" Goyle, I've heard that name before.

"She is to be taken to the main hall where the rest of the Deatheaters are assembled," he stated as a matter of fact. "The Dark Lord thought to put on a show." He and the others snickered.

After what Dean said about the muggle studies' teacher, I was worried that the same fate awaited me. I began to panic at his words and twisted in the air and tried to meet Severus' eye. He gave no passing glance as he allowed them to lead me away and he walked the other way.

Scream after scream echoed around the room as each Deatheater smiled or laughed at my misery. What felt like hours may have only been minutes, I wasn't sure anymore. Voldemort had been asking the same questions continuously and seemed to increase the force behind each curse he uttered. I no longer felt movement from my belly and was scared that my child was lost and for once, I truly wanted to be as well.

My eyesight was foggy as I took in my surroundings. I was still suspended in the air a few feet above a long wooden table that sat before a grand fireplace. Each chair was filled with many faces, some I knew and others I didn't. Even Draco was there, just watching. Like Severus, he didn't intervene, but his eyes betrayed him. He didn't look right at me at first, but the one time I caught him, he looked away and faced the fire.

"Oh please Master, let us have a go!" Bellatrix squealed and then a few others joined in. He silenced them all at once and released his curse that sent shocks throughout my body. I took a deep breath and let out a wheeze feeling a strain on my ribcage. Then with a snap of his fingers, I was no longer in the air and was slammed into the table, hard. I winced and groaned, trying to keep as still as possible sending a silent prayer that nothing else was too badly damaged.

"I will break you girl," Voldemort sneered. "It won't be long before you beg for death,"

I coughed, feeling blood trickle from my mouth, "then you have a long way to go Riddle," I rasped out. The last thing I heard was a growl from Voldemort before he cursed me once more allowing me to black out.

It was a sunny day and the air was crisp, fresh. In the distance, waves crashed against the rocks and seagulls squawked away. I was itchy all over, but my eyes were clenched shut; I could feel the sun beating against my face and I just felt safer keeping my eyes closed. I took a deep breath as I spread my arms around me and felt grass graze against my skin.

"Momma! Hide and seek is over!"

"C'mon momma! Ollie Ollie oxen free!"

I sat up quickly with eyes wide open, searching, gasping as I did so. I knew this place. It had been years since I'd been there, only one time in my life since their deaths. This was where their home was, my parents' home. I stood up quickly, surprised that I kept my balance and looked around; even though I wondered how I got here, I was even more curious as whom the voices belonged to.

No sooner had I stood up, I was knocked back down. The grass cushioned my fall as I attempted to catch my breath. Shaking the hair from my eyes, I looked down at what knocked me over and felt the air leave my lungs all over again. What looked like a mini carbon copy of Harry hugged one leg while a female replica hugged the other.

"We tricked you momma!" The boy giggled while the girl nodded her head in agreement. "You left your spot!"

"Yeah! So we win again!" The girl cheered. A few tears fell as I gazed at the two faces. I touched them both, choking up as I did so. Both kids frowned in response.

"B-but we can play again!"

"Please momma, d-don't cry!"

I sniffled then wiped my eyes before pulling them both into a tight hug, "momma cries cause she's happy you both won," I cried. They laughed and hugged me back, making fresh tears flow down my cheeks. Looking behind the horizon, I noticed a figure standing and watching. Standing up with the kids at my side, I moved towards the figure.

Choosing to run and skip around the other, I continue to walk forward as they stayed to the side. Once a few feet away, I gasped, realizing who was in front of me. The person in front of me however just looked dazed and confused, just looking around as I did a few moments ago.

"Harry," I gasped again, "is this real?" I asked. Harry snapped his head to look at me, as if seeing me for the first time.

"Emma…I'm not sure what this is…" he drifted off, looking at the kids playing off to the side. "It was my turn to sleep, but I kept watch and must've dozed off…then I was on a beach and they appeared to me, saying that we had to find momma…" he paused, looking at me once more. "Emma, who are they?"

I brought a hand to my stomach and looked at them again, hoping he'd take the hint. His eyes widened in shock and he moved fast towards me. I reached out to him as well just as everything around us began to disintegrate. The world around us melted away and our playing kids disappeared with it, as was Harry's form.

"No! Harry! Stop! Come back to me please!"

My eyes flew open and I sat up only to have an arm circle my waist and a hand clamp down on my mouth. I squirmed and attempted to bite the hand, but I was quickly shushed. I breathed harshly through my nose, recognizing the voice that held me. Once calm, he removed his from my mouth yet kept a vice like grip around me.

"Draco?" I questioned. He pulled away only to turn me around. Draco looked bad compared to when I was being tortured earlier. Purple bruising was under his eyes and graced his cheeks. His lip was split and judging by his neck, someone attempted to strangle him.

"I'm here on Severus' orders to get you out of here," he said simply. I cocked my head to the side, confused. He rolled his eyes and grabbed my hand, pulling me forward. "He has a distraction set up for us to get you out! He's restored you to the best of his ability and administered a potion to revive your powers," he huffed out as we moved down the dark corridors.

Planting my feet firmly, I ceased movement. He turned and gave me an annoyed look, almost looking like his old self. "Why? Why would either of you help me?" I demanded.

He sighed then looked me square in the eye, emotion strong in his gaze, "because he promised Dumbledore that he would keep you safe," he replied. There was no lie in his eyes and I nodded slowly. He gave me the faintest of smiles, but it was wiped away in a flash. The sound of running from above alerted us and I saw fear in his eyes.

Grabbing my hand, he pulled me behind him as we rushed to the end of the corridor. An old wooden door awaited us and using his wand, Draco opened it and pushed me out. Using reserve adrenaline, I ran a few feet ahead into the open. It was dark out, the moon high in the sky glittered with thousands of stars. The air was somewhat cold and refreshing. I looked behind me to see Draco lingering at the door, not moving a muscle.

"Go now or this will all be for not! Go Emma, go!" I shook my head as he raised his wand…not at me, but at the door.

"Draco, just come with me! We can both escape!" I pleaded.

"I can't," he said sadly, then looked behind him. Horrorstricken, he faced me one last time, "I will see you again, be safe", and then he closed the door.

"No!" I screamed. I heard yelling and spell casting from behind the door. With a heavy heart, I turned and continued to run. There was a forest some yards away and I figured if I could hide in the forest, I could apparate from within…if my powers were fully restored.

From behind me however, I faintly heard the sound of splintering wood then various curses being cast. I pumped my legs as hard as possible as all types of sparks and flashes flew around me. Just a few more feet, I can do this. I was near the outskirts when nearby blast to a tree erupted and sent me hurling into the air.

I landed hard on my back, the wind knocked out of me. My ears were ringing as the Deatheaters approached. I groaned and accepted defeat…they were close…I failed Draco and Severus…I failed myself, Albus, everyone…I failed my children. I allowed my eyes to close as they neared, just waiting.

But then, the unexpected happened. A bird like sound erupted around us and I flicked my eyes open. It was a phoenix! And not just any phoenix…it was Albus' phoenix flying towards me; I smiled. The Deatheaters shouted around me as the phoenix circled them, setting a large fire around me before landing lightly on my stomach. I held my breath as a strong warmth enveloped me, taking over.

Blinking once, I looked around, eyes adjusting to the dim lighting. I was lying on a cool wood floor in a large circular room. The sun was peaking slowly through the large bay window on my right and staircase was near my left. I lifted a hand, lightly brushing a chair nearby, to stroke Fawkes who was still perched on top of me. Fawkes closed his eyes and moved closer to my palm as I continued my movements.

"Thank you so very much."