AN. I make no monies and Harry Potter is JK Rowling. I merely borrow and keep my day job.

Chapter 18 Voldemort's Plan and Wooing

Severus remained frozen, body leaned on the wall when Voldemort appeared in smart robes and stood in front of him.

"Enjoy your day Severus. I have the Ministry to run and today as an epic day for us as the French Ministry finally caved in with convincing words and a few villages burned to the ground. I'll see you soon."

Severus watched the evil wizard leave and allowed a few minutes to pass before he sent his thought to his wife.

The connection went unanswered and he worried for a moment before reasoning that he was sure he would feel her death so she must be alive. It was early in the morning and he would give himself a few hours. It helped that where Voldemort placed him he could see the clock, knowing the man did it on purpose. Psychological it was, as the room was devoid of anything interesting except the clock. It would drive a normal person crazy, bound and not able to move and the only thing was the tick tock and the minute movement of the hands on the clock. Good thing he was not a normal man.

He fell into his mind, thinking about his ife as the clock continued to tick.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Back at the abandoned warehouse Hermione stirred in her potion induced sleep. Try as she might, she could not rouse herself to respond.

Sebeastion was the first to wake and went to check on Slightly, finding the wizard awake and sitting up on the cot looking at his limb. "You've done a good job healing this."

"You know we practiced a few times in the past." Sebastion murmured out. "If you're up to it we can go to the kitchen and grab a bite to eat."

Slightly moved out of the bed. "How is everyone handling what happened?"

"Everyone was still in shock last night. That was the most horrible thing I have ever seen. It surpassed all of the other times in the past and some of those were bad."

Slightly chuckled. "As an Assassin you tend to focus on the fact the target is dead no matter the means and admit that I was horrified as well."

Slightly followed the tall, younger wizard down the hall and went in the room that sebastion indicated and suddenly found himself wrapped up in the arms of a wtich.

Hermione hugged the pocked faced man and kissed his cheek before breathing out. "Thank Gods you're alive slightly. With Severus captured and you gone I…"

Slightly patted Hermione's back before pulling away. "I'm not but we are in dire straights and I can't think on an empty stomach. I see Harry is awake and we need to eat before we discuss anything."

Sebastion chuckled. "Everyone stay here. I'll cook up breakfast and bring it to you." Leaving through a door on the left and soon the smell of bacon and eggs came wafting through the opened door of the kitchen.

Suddenly a clink was heard and Harry pounced on the jar that rolled toward the Assassin and picked it up.

Dwight spoke up. "Take the jar into the kitchen so Sebastion can watch over it. It's best for Slightly."

They watched him leave and soon he came back with platters of egss, bacon, beans, tomatoes and toast.

Sebastion filled his plate. "We need a hearty meal after what happened yesterday."

Harry wasted no time in filling his plate and Hermione watched him scarf it down, remembering the times Ron did that in the past when they were in school.

Soon the platters of food was empty and Hermione sighed out contentedly. She did not realize her hunger until the food was before here and forced herself to eat at a leisurely pace.

Sebastion was the first to notice that she suddenly closed her eyes. "Mum?"

After a few minutes Hermione snapped her eyes open. "The Bond I share with Severus. He risked communicating with me as Voldemort has left to seal some deal with the French Ministry of Magic. He tells me he is at a Muggle apartment in London and he can see Big Ben off to the left of the window in the room he is at and Erin is in a room heavily warded with the strongest of curses and wards."

She turned to his son. "Your father suggests that you use your American contacts and bring at least two curse breakers along with some wizards skilled in combating the Dark Arts to help us. He commanded me to lay low and wait for more information and he is safe."

Harry spoke. "He can see Big Ben. That narrows it down."

Hermione glared at her friend while Sebastion stood up. "You will protect them while I am away?"

Dwight floated out of the corner. "Do what you have to do and urge the Yanks time is of the essence."

Sebastion moved to his mum and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll be back as soon as I can"

HGSSHGSSHGSS

It was hard to keep track of time and Severus was hungry and thirsty. It must be over a day since Voldemort left them.

He focused on his Bond sensing the brilliant mind of his wife thinking of a plan and analyzed it before tossing it away and thought of another. One of them caught his intrest. That one involved using Slightly's Marked hand to lure Donovan to them.

His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Voldemort was suddenly in front of him. "Took a little longer than I expected. You must be very thirsty by now." Laughing at him.

Damn, immediately thinking of his thirst.

Voldemort unfroze the upper part of Severus's body and held a phial of water out. "You will drink this. I will not have you die until I decide." Watching his once faithful lieutenant open his mouth."

That done, Voldemort froze him back. "Time to start wooing Erin and take my rightful place after eradicating the Muggles and make Earth ours, exclusive to those truly deserving of Magic."

Severus waited to hear a creak of a door and heard it slam shut, waiting for a while to make sure Voldemort was preoccupied with Erin.

"Hermione" He thought out across the Bond.

"Severus?"

"Listen carefully. The plan you thought of using the hand to lure Donovan to you so you can capture him. You must do that now."

"Sebastion left for the US. We need to wait."

"Slightly is more than enough to handle Donovan, even with one hand. Do it and bring him back to the Safe House. Once there, he will be hidden from Voldemort as long as Justice remains there."

"Are you safe? What of Erin?"

"I am under Petrificus Totalus leaning on a wall. Voldemort went to talk to Erin and it will take him a few days of sweet words to open up to the possibility of him as she is angry at Donovan. Let me know when you are back at the Safe House with Donovan."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione snapped her eyes open. She found Slightly kneeling down in front of where she sat.

"You okay?"

"I received a message from Severus. We must lure Donovan with your hand and trap him. Severus says you're up to it."

Slightly chuckled. "Aye I am Hermione. We will have the advantage as we expect him. What are we to do after we get him?"

"Bring him back here where Voldemort cannot call him and wait for instructions."

Slightly nodded. "Grab the hand and think of a place. We will lay in ambush and subdue him as soon as he arrives."

Hermione rushed to where the jar sat and grabbed it. She pulled Slightly to her. "Trust me?"

"After everything we have been through, your death at my hand so many times, it is safe to say that I do." Slightly spoke softly. "Let's get it done then."

Justice watched the pair leave. "It should all be over shortly, for better or worse."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Erin watched Voldemort walk into her room. "I know what you need wizard. You need my acceptance to consummate and rape will not do for what you seek!" Erin snarled out.

Voldemort smoothed out his robes. "He came to me many years ago tired of the watching, and tired that you used him as a plaything. Donovan asked you to be with him and you denied him time and time again."

Erin was caught out. "He wouldn't have understood. I was timeless and he is mortal. It would have killed me to watch him grow old and died. I accepted him and changed for him!" Jumping away when she sensed Voldemort beside her.

Voldemort chuckled. "It was too late when you made yourself Mortal to keep him. He was well placed in my service when you decided to allow yourself to become weak. He has always been mine." Voldemort whispered into her ear. "I give you a choice sweet Erin. I will let you leave and not pursue if you can disable me. I'll even give you a wand to help you." Pulling a wand out of his robes and tossed it down at her feet before moving to the door to block it.

Erin bent down and picked up the wand and pointed it to the hateful man. "You'll regret this!" She snarled out thinking "Reducto!"

Voldemort laughed when he caught her surprised look when the spell failed. I felt the intent and if you were Magical I would be tossed through the door. You are completely Mortal now. A Muggle as you have no magic at all. But you have a chance to embrace Magic again by marrying me and when we consummate our marriage, the Magiks of your father will flow back to you. Embrace me so you can embrace Magic once again."

Erin stood still, wand still held out and watched the hated wizard turn his back to her. "The Majiks pull at you, one that held both the Majiks of Dark and Light. Your mother has abandoned you but your father is here to accept you when we are married. You've not needed to use you magic in a long time and have forgotten the power lost when you tied yourself to Donovan. Think upon it and with me you can embrace it once again."

She watched him leave and sat on the bed, finding a plate of food and a goblet of water sitting on the stand next to her bed. Her stomach rumbled and she turned her back on it.

Erin watched a parchment appear and floated down and landed on her lap and picked it up.

Sweet, beautiful Erin,

The food is not poisoned or laced with Magic to compel you to me. Partake and think of what you realize is missing.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Slightly fell down at the place where they arrived, the stink of death assailing his nostrils and gagged for a moment. "Place the jar in the middle of the clearing. Donovan will find it despite being in the jar. Come! we do not have much time to prepare."

Hermione did as the Assassin commanded and crouched next to him at the edge of the clearing and pulled her wand out.

Minutes later Donovan appeared, looking around before focusing his attention on the jar.

Slightly pointed his wand out and Hermione watched the wizard slump down.

Slightly moved from there hiding place and held his stump out after picking up Donovan. "Come to me and take us back. Leave the hand as it will call to Voldemort and distract him."

Hermione rushed over and wrapped her arms around the two wizards and thought of destination, turning her heel and Apparated away.

Justice watched the group suddenly appear in the room as Harry jumped up in surprise at the arrival.

Slightly dumped Donovan on the floor, pulling Hermione to him and joined Harry. "Be ready to take him down if he threatens us!" Slightly hissed out.

They watched as Donovan came to his senses before falling to the floor, sobbing. "My Gods! What have I done?"

Hermione looked to Justice in shock.

"The Imperious curse has been removed and he remembers everything." Justice murmured.

Hermione pulled away from Slightly and rushed to strapping wizard sobbing in the middle of the room and knelt down, placing her hand on his racking shoulder.

"Donovan!" Hermione shouted to him.

Donovan looked to her. "You should kill me after everything I have done." Donovan sobbed out.

"Do you love her?" Hermione spoke evenly.

"I love her with all that I am" He sobbed back.

"Then help us defeat him." Hermione whispered.

Justice watched everything. "Harry, the Sword of Gryfindor is in the potions lab. You can find it in the third drawer of the left cornor. Slightly go with him. You know what is needed.

Slightly nodded and followed Harry out of the room.

Justice floatedto Donovan. "You know what is required?"

Donovan remained on the floor. His sobs subsided realizing he could help his love. "The only way to be free of the Mark is to sever the forearm on which the Mark resides. The implement used must be imbedded with Basilik venom to counter the Dark Magic. Anything for her."

Slightly can back with a bag, Harry following behind him carrying the sword.

Hermione helped Donovan up. "Let's go to the kitchen."

Donovan sat at the counter watching Slightly empty the contents of the bag out. "Don't worry Mate. I've done this to you at least fifty times." Picking up a phial and handed it to him. "A strong pain potion. Side effects are hullicinations for 24 hours. Severus and I perfected it in the many pasts. After we sever the forearm, we'll tie you down and let you ride out the side effects. They will no be pleasant as the Dark Majiks try to remain."

"Get it over with Slightly." Donovan growled out and drank down the potion, immediately feeling numb.

Slightly tied a tourniquet tightly on the arms. "Harry, do the honor. Hermione, as soon as the arm is severed apply the paste."

Hermione picked up the jar of paste. "Let's do it."

Slightly held down Donovan's left arm, leaning his body weight onto it to make up for his lost hand.

Harry swung the sword down, watching the arm slice away and began to wirthe madly.

Hermione immediately scooped a generus portion of green paste and applied it, watching the flesh seal around the wound.

Harry laid the sword on the counter, using his wand to place the wizard on the bed Hermione created, ropes tying the Donovan firmly to the bed.

Justice motioned to Hermione and Harry. "It's best we leave him alone. Slightly remembers."

"Aye, I do and you as well." Slightly murmured and led Harry and Hermionie out of the room.

Justice remained to watch over the sleeping wizard. If he thought he saw Hell before, what was in store was worse.

HGSSGSSHGSS

"Severus, Donovan was under Voldemort's spell. We've taken care of it and in 24 hours we will question him after he recovers."

"Keep me informed sweet witch. I am safe for now. Erin is resisting, but her mind is open to Voldemort. She is considering his words."