"Finally, before signing out this evening, I have news on the whereabouts of Fabiana Prewett. For those of you who don't know, she was abducted by Death Eaters last year during the incident at Hogwarts. I have it from a new informant inside the wolf pack of Fenrir Greyback, where Fabiana was last known to be that Greyback brought her to another location to be kept until such a time he could collect her. He does not have any information as to where she has been taken or when Greyback intended to collect her, but he also reports that Fabiana has not been seen among the wolves since being handed over to other parties unknown. If anyone has any information on the exact whereabouts of Fabiana Prewett, or has any suspicion that someone you know has information, don't hesitate to contact us here on the WWN. That's all for tonight. Potter Watch is out."
The world was still looking for her. They all believed she was alive. That was a good sign. Perhaps someone would come across her before it was too late. Snape was being more than gracious, but she understood he still had a face to keep. Letting her go was out of the question. Although, Ana had to admit, this was a much more comfortable way to be captured. Snape had taken her to the room of requirement, where upon opening, she had found a squashy queen bed with fresh linens and all the luxuries of a hotel, however it was of a darker palette; an eclectic collection of Turkish rugs and heavy drapes and chairs upholstered in hues of burgundy, forest green and navy blue.
The one thing that didn't please her was the continued use of chains. The Malfoy manor had been terrible, but they never chained her to the wall. Snape had explained that it was necessary. The first night she had spent back in the castle there was a long several hours of explanation. Not about Snape's action the previous year, obviously. Outside Dumbledore and Snape himself, Ana was the only person who knew the plan. No, the explanation of actions came from what would happen next:
"I wish I could just let you go, but that can't happen. The Malfoy's will put up a fuss over my taking you out of there, and Voldemort will want to inspect you. I know you never learned Occlumency, but do your best to keep him from infiltrating your mind. Although I doubt it's your mind he is truly interested in." He waved Ana over to where the bed was and presented the chain. "I hate having to do this, but he will ask questions. I can explain the comfortable surroundings in a way that will flatter him but there is nothing I can do about the captivity."
Ana sat heavily and moved her rapidly growing hair, causing a sad smile in Snape as he raised his free hand and pulled her hand away from her tresses. "Not the neck. The ankle will suffice." He knelt before her and began to fasten it. "There's enough room to reach the bathroom and the book shelves to your heart's content."
Something in his face had been disgusted when she had offered her nape so freely to the confinement of a chain. So much so that the shadow of the look remained in small traces across his face. Ana had tapped his shoulder then, aware that Snape had been making a study of sign language so as to communicate with her last year during the school terms. 'What did you mean when you said he won't be interested in my mind?'
Snape did not answer. But he did look away and there was a slight rise of color in his cheeks. After a few moments, he turned his bashful expression back to her. "Your mother was a good woman, Fabiana. A remarkable person with good morals. But before she was anything like that, she was just like Bellatrix. She followed Voldemort freely, killed for him without hesitation. It was your father who turned her around. He spared her life and in return she turned spy for the aurors, for us. But when she became pregnant with you, she quit. Unfortunately, during her time as an Eater she attracted quite a bit of male attention. Greyback was one, which is why he kidnapped you. The other, regretfully, was Voldemort himself.
"Nothing could have been done about checking into St. Mungos when you were born. You were early and needed the attention of healers. Originally your were to be born at home and you and your mother would be in hiding until the war ended. Someone in the hospital, a spy, passed the information along and Voldemort, as punishment for going behind his back with Greyback, for leaving his side, and for becoming an active force against him and spying on him, offering personal information, stole her from her room after your birth. We though he killed her. No one knew she had been quietly captured by the authorities for her crimes against wizard-folk; your father never revealed her identity to anyone. Though it wouldn't have mattered if he had. In fact she had been confounded before Voldemort let her go so she didn't know her name either. The connection was never made, not until you went digging a few years back."
Ana remembered that night well. Snape had paused, as though he was loathe to tell the rest of the story, connect it to her question. But Ana had been in that position before. Now that she had heard the whole story she understood. Greyback wanted her because it was like having her mother back. Likely Voldemort would desire the same. Fortunately, every time Voldemort spoke with Snape it seemed he was pleased to know Ana was there, and looked after properly, but was too busy conquering the world to come and claim his new prize. For the moment, his main focus was an even bigger fish: Harry. However Snape did mention that if his frustration grew any more from not being able to find him, Voldemort might make a visit just to let off steam…on her.
It was a no win situation. Either Harry would be found, killed, and Voldemort would decide to celebrate, or the frustration on not finding Harry would mount and he would eventually decide to release strain. Either way, it was very likely Voldemort would be making a visit to the room of requirement in the near future, if Snape's warning could be trusted, as she suspected it could be. Yes, it would happen. Unless Harry could not only remain hidden, but finish what they started, and soon.
Ana shivered and she reached to turn off the radio. The thought of him touching her body made her skin crawl. But as she had before, and would have to again, Ana refused to even think about it. Instead she let her mind wander through memories and time, pausing on those scenes in which she was free, happy, and loved. She recalled as she fell asleep that night going after Harry more than a year before and finding him in his rooms, half undressed, and kissing him without fear. Would she ever feel that again? After nine months not seeing him, talking with him, laughing with him…touching him-
Her thoughts were interrupted by a violent shiver. Her clothes, which had been replaced with fresh muggle ones upon arrival at Hogwarts, were already loose on her. What had fit upon her arrival three months ago were now hanging. Ana was always cold, always tired, and always hungry. Snape always apologized for the terrible rations but it seemed food was hard to come by for everyone nowadays, even Voldemort's own organizations. The shivers subsided, for the time being. She hugged her bony body and closed her tired eyes. Huh, she thought. Perhaps the question was not could she ever feel all those wonderful things again, but would she? These days, Ana was beginning to feel as though her time was running out.