Disclaimer: All characters and everything related to Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.
Recap: Harry has had a vision of Voldemort and what he is up to. He sees Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy discussing a young girl, her powers, and the kidnapping of her. The girl seems very important to Voldemort, but Harry doesn't know why. He has told Ron and Hermione of the vision. In the United States, a young witch has been kidnapped, and has promised to repay her kidnapper.
Chapter 2 A Failed Father
"My Lord." He echoed his father's words as he knelt before the Dark Lord. Inside he was a trembling kid, but years of perfecting his Malfoy mask helped him to keep a calm façade on the outside. His grey eyes only portrayed the cold iciness that was expected of him. His head bowed, he waited for what was to come.
" You believe your son is ready, Lucuis? " The Dark Lord hissed at his father, his tone laced with doubt. He sat on his throne in the middle of the dark room, only lighted by a few candles, and filled with death eaters. His red eyes, set in a face so pale and snake-like, narrowed on the father and son kneeling before him. " I can sense the fear and doubt in your … son." The last word was spit out with an undertone of disgust. The younger Malfoy inwardly cringed, and knew he would barely survive the night, if he survived at all. The elder Malfoy chanced half a glance at his son, eyes narrowed in both anger and disgust. He turned back to his master, bowing his head in shame of his son.
" My Lord, I apologize for this….disappointment. I do not understand what I have done wrong with the child. He said he is ready My Lord. He has never so much as hinted that he did not believe in your cause or want to follow you. He is loyal to you My Lord." Lucius attempted to placate the Dark Lord, but to no avail.
"Lies!" The Dark Lord spat , and this time there was no mistaking the violent anger in his tone. His eyes still narrowed in anger, his thin lips twisted to what one could only describe as a smile. The effect of this act was disturbing, and one could almost taste the anticipation rolling off the Dark Lord as he pulled his wand out, red eyes full of fury flitting from the father to the unfaithful son, whose head was still bowed.
" Look at me." It came as a whisper, a whisper promising pain. It took all Draco's effort to pull up his head in and continue to look proud and dignified, though he felt as low and pathetic as the grime on the floor. He forced himself to meet those cold crimson eyes, and as he did, the reality of what was to happen became clear. As the Dark Lord shifted his eyes quickly to his father and back, Draco realized he would be suffering not for his "unfaithfulness" , but for his father's failures. As the Dark Lord's eyes settled once again on him, and his wand was pointed at him, Draco was resigned to the fact that the fury about to be unleashed on him was to remind his father that even as the Dark Lord's right hand man, he was not safe from harm should he fail in anything. More that he would be punished even more cruelly . He was being used as a lesson to his father, and an example to the other death eaters. Their children would suffer the wrath of the Dark Lord should they fail at anything.
" Crucio!" The curse was hissed, and Draco instantly crumpled completely to the ground in unimaginable pain. It was as if his entire body was on fire and being stabbed with knives at the same time. He desperately tried to hold back the screams wanting to escape him, but as the intensity of the pain seemed to double, they burst from his mouth. His eyes were clamped shut, and his face contorted with the pain that he knew he would die from. The only thought he could think through the pain was that it would be over soon, but he knew there was little hope.
Lucius Malfoy was never one accused of love. He was the picture of coldness and pride. He knew he would pay for his failures. He had been relieved to get off with a few crucios. But he should have known that, as the Dark Lord's main death eater, he would pay well beyond what he thought. So, as he kneeled beside his only son, trying desperately to block out the sound of his tormented screams, he attempted to accept the fact that his son, his heir, would not live through the night. And if he did, he would certainly live the rest of his life in St. Mungos. And despite what others thought of him, it was all he could do to not throw himself in front of his son if only so he would have to chance to let him see he was not the cruel man so many believed him to be. If only so his son could know that he truly cared for him. His son let out a high pitched, piercing scream, and Lucius felt his cold heart break into pieces. He forced himself to hold his head high, though the tears threatening to break from his eyes were making it a tough battle. He glanced at his son and was horrified to see his body convulsing and twisting in ways he knew the human body should not. He shifted his eyes to the Dark Lord, to find the red eyes staring straight into his. The cold smirk on his masters face was all the confirmation he needed to know that his son would pay with his life. For the first time in his life, Lucius felt undeniably broken. He silently prayed to whatever God there was that his sons' life might somehow be spared just as another piercing scream punctured his thoughts.
Severus Snape looked on as his godson was made an example of. He tried desperately to think of a way to save his life, or at the very least give him a break from the pain, without losing his own life in the process. As his mind reeled, searching for something, anything, no plans came forth. As the horrifying screams reached his ears and he saw his life- long friend close his eyes against the tears threatening to burst forth, he too closed his eye against the sight of one of the only people who held a place in his cold heart continued to writhe and scream in pain and agony on the floor. As Draco continued to let out screams that would haunt his ears and thoughts forever, Severus Snape prayed that his godson would not suffer for too much longer.
Bright, violet eyes snapped open and instantly she knew she was not at home. All at once everything came rushing back . She sat up, and quickly took in her surroundings. She was in a room, laying on top of a large four-poster bed covered with a dark green duvet. The posts at the corners of the bed were made of a black wood, with snakes coiling around them all the way to very top where their heads became the tips of the posts. The carpet looked soft and was also a matching green. There were no windows in the room, but opposite her was a door, and on the left side wall was a tall bookcase filled with books. Next to the bed on the right hand side was a black, wooden night stand with a glowing candle on top giving off light to the room. After taking in her surroundings and assuring herself she was alone, she immediately checked for her wand in her sleeve. Finding it there, she released a breathe of reassurance and rolled her eyes at the idiocy of her "kidnapper". She let her magic stretch out, closing her eyes to concentrate. She could sense that there where others here. And she could sense through her magic the disgustingly dark auras clustered together somewhere close outside the room. As she opened her eyes and made to get off the bed, she heard a horrifying scream. She stopped for a moment, but as the screams continued , she snapped into action. Not wanting to let all her secrets out at once, she pulled her wand out and let her magic raise a shield that she knew nothing could penetrate. She crossed over to the door, and opened it knowing no one was on the other side. Rolling her eyes again at the idiocy of these people, she looked around quickly and found herself in a narrow hallway.
It was dark and cold, and smelled of fear and mildew. As the screams continued, her eyes took on a look of furious determination. Her shoulders rolled back slightly, and her head tipped slightly higher. Her entire body taking on the proud stature her blood demanded. She started down the hallway, letting her magic guide her towards the painful , hopeless and despairing feelings she was sensing. After passing the first three doors , she came to a stop outside a door towards the end of the hallway . Her aura pulsing and the air around her crackling with magic from the rage she felt inside from hearing the horrible screams coming from inside, her magic blasted against the door. It flung from its hinges toward the inside of the room and hit a few people standing on the other side. The screams stopped abruptly and she entered the room, eyes fierce and fearless as curses screamed towards her from wands pointed in her direction connected to wizards standing all over the room. Eyes all over the room looked at her disbelievingly as their curses seems to be absorbed into the very air surrounding her and fizzle out.
She glared back at them, eyes of violet, blazing fires, as she made her way further into the room. She walked past them all with a calm and proud fierceness that no façade could ever do justice and no pureblood could ever challenge. Her fearlessness was staggering, and combined with her aura , she commanded attention. As she moved towards the figures in the middle of the room, her senses picked up the angry and critical emotions around the room, but none dared to stop her or curse her again. As she drew nearer her goal, she sensed wonderment and awe laced with fear coming off one of the people near her. She did not turn towards the source, instead coming to a stop right behind the body crumpled, crying and gasping for air. She kneeled down on one knee and gently rolled the person over, more disgusted than surprised when she saw the unmistakable face of a boy she had seen before. She knew he was not much older than herself, only a year. However, even though she could recognize him, he looked a lot different than normal. He was ragged and he was deathly pale; his skin taking on a green tinge. His eyes still closed tight as he was still in pain and his breathing harsh and ragged. She did not once take her eyes off his face, as she was able to sense that no one had moved since she had walked into the room. The man kneeling next to the boy made to touch his hair, and she spoke for the first time.
"Do. Not. Touch. Him. "
Each word reached his ears separately in a low, almost whisper. And while the tone was soft, there was an undertone of such fierceness that his hand paused in mid-air. He looked towards the young girl, so small yet so powerful, and as his grey eyes, swimming with the guilt of what he had just witnessed, met the violent purple ones flashing with anger, he felt even more ashamed.
" You have done enough damage." It was lowly murmured, but held much conviction and the unspoken threat of what would happen if he dared touch his son now, after all he had let him be put through, hung all around him. His hand dropped to his side, and his eyes to the face of his only son. As he watched the young girl place one hand gently on top his sons' head, the other on his chest , Lucius Malfoy realized that he had failed the biggest mission he had ever been given. And indeed, he would pay for it.
Severus Snape was not one to ever be openly amazed. But the young girl had, for all intents and purposes, stunned him. And everyone else in the room. As he took his eyes away from the girl who was now putting her hands on his godson, he felt a change in the magic.
' She must be healing him! He's alive then!'
Was the first thought that went through his mind. His dark eyes roamed around the room, and they came to a halt on the Dark Lords. Still on his throne, he looked both furious and shocked. Very understandably . Severus had been around the Dark Lord to know well enough that he did not take well to being outdone or under-minded. And this young girl seemed to have done both. But looking at the Dark Lord again, he noticed that he too seemed to be just as captivated by her as his followers. Severus turned his gaze back towards his godson, who was slowly stirring. His breathing had calmed down enormously, and his face was no longer contorted in pain. The girl grasped his hand and spoke to him, in a clear voice that rang throughout the room. It was sweet and gentle , caring and soft. The words shocking the death eaters further still.
" Open your eyes. There is nothing to fear. No one can hurt you now."
Severus watched as his godson's eyes shot open and looked straight into the eyes of his savior.
" Avada Kadavra!" His eyes widened in horror as he watched the green curse, hissed in a malicious voice shaking with fury, shoot towards his godson in retaliation of the words spoken so gently and truthfully just moments before.