Athena willed the body of her brother to rise from the ground. She sat in the nearest chair. She sat across from the man that she hated the most. She scanned his face for any trace of humanity, a secret hope that her children might not be evil like their father. She thought she found a glimmer of goodness in his eyes, but dismissed it as wishful thinking. To look at the man she hardly believed that he had once been that beautiful young man that had appeared in her nightmares. She caught the reflection of her brother in the mirror above Voldemort's throne like chair. Rodolphus' good looks weren't taken from him entirely while he was in Azkaban. He still had their father's eyes.

"Do you know that I knew Rupert while we both attended Hogwarts?"

"And…" she said sounding bored.

"We were as close to being best-friends as I'd allow. He was the first I asked to join me in my quest to overtake the wizarding world. He would be my most loyal advisor."

"You're lying. He would have…"

"Would have what? Told you? Hardly…! He only left my side because of your mother. He knew as well as I did that she held a special power, your power, the one that allows you to be here with me now."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"I'm getting there you impatient child."

"Whatever, rant and ramble away."

"Well there is an old prophecy that foretold the arrival of a very special child."

"Potter…? That is hardly news to me."

"No. It's much older than that one; would you like to hear it?"

"I guess…"

"Through bloods eyes she will see. The womb of LeStrange holds the key. Ultimate power she will bear. And power will have its heir."

"Okay…" she said not believing a single word.

"Shall I continue my dear?"

"Oh please do."

"Well your mother's bloodline has always had the power of second sight in regards to family only. Once Rupert and Maria met a plan was formed. As my most trusted advisor he was to get Maria pregnant."

"Prophecies aren't set in stone. Why couldn't you have taken another path?"

"Shall I continue angel?"

"Whatever…" she said hating that he had used her father's nickname for her.

"Rupert and Maria began seeing each other after his divorce from Iris had gone through. She had promised her mother to keep the Warner name. So it was to be the child of Maria that was the one spoken of in the prophecy. It would be her daughter that would carry the heir. The plan was that Rupert would impregnate Maria with a girl. He got her pregnant the first night they were together. We waited to find out if the child was to be male or female. Maria had conceived a male. The decision was made to abort the boy. I personally saw to it and oblivated her memories of the pregnancy. Athena we went through this six times before we got the result we were looking for."

"You are a monster!"

"I'm not even close to being done yet. You have sacrificed so much in the name of a father you never truly knew."

"Finish the story!" she demanded.

"Well once you were born, I with difficulty, put Maria under a spell. The spell I put on her was one that put the thought in her mind to force you into the unbreakable vow."

"Why would you do that?"

"To ensure what you were planning on doing with that half-blood Winthrop was impossible."

"How could you be sure I'd remain a virgin until you got to me?"

"Your father saw to that for me. He used an ancient spell that had been in his family for generations. The spell mixed my blood with yours to make certain that I was the first to get to you."

"If this is all true; why did father set me up to be married to Jaymes?"

"Foolishness…"

"So what you are saying is…"

"If you do not marry me, you'll die and so will MY heirs. Do you want them to suffer for your choices, as you have suffered for your fathers?"

"No!"

"Then you will marry me!" Athena sighed and hoped that their marriage like him would be short lived.

"Fine…"

"Good, now that we've cleared that matter up, you must tell that half-blood that the engagement is off!" Athena began to feel as though she were floating. She felt arms shaking her. Her eyes opened and she saw Blaise and Severus Snape standing above her.

"Blaise you asshole!" she said getting used to her own voice.

"Language Miss LeStrange!"

"I'm sorry sir."

"I'm sorry Athena but you were out for quite some time. I had to get help."

"You are forgiven."

"Mister Zabini you are to return to the school at once!"

"Fine sir, thank you."

"Severus, before you order me back as well there is something I must do."

"You aren't going back. I've been told that much already. But I do recommend that whatever you need to do; do it quickly. Now I must leave you. I must discipline Zabini for not getting help before he ran off."

"Thank you so much Severus, for everything."

"I'll be seeing you around Miss LeStrange." He went to her fireplace and threw in the fine powder and mumbled something that Athena didn't here. She knew what she had to do, but the rumbling in her stomach that was once easily muted by a cigarette, could not be ignored. She stopped at her father's room to check on the man that she now wished weren't her father. She sat at his bedside for a moment, holding onto his hand she allowed one tear to fall from her cheek to his hand. She silently asked him "How could you…" She left before he could awaken. She had managed to make it all the way to the kitchen and began preparing her favorite meal. She heard a crack behind her; instinctually she reached for her wand. She turned around and was met with two eyes like pools of dark chocolate.

"Mistress shouldn't be cooking. Nadia will cook for you."

"Great we now have a house elf if only mother could see me now." She thought to herself. "Hello Nadia. My name is Athena, not mistress. How long have you been at this house?"

"…About a month mistress Athena."

"Does father pay you?"

"No!" Nadia said quickly.

"Do you wish to be paid?"

"No, I'm not Dobby."

"Okay…" Athena said resigned to the fact that the elf wanted to serve her. "I'll have barbecue chicken and white rice, please."

"Right away mistress Athena…" After her meal began cooking she heard a door close.

"Who else is here Nadia?"

"Master LeStrange and Master Winthrop…"

"Jaymes Winthrop?"

"Yes, I don't like him. He isn't very nice." Athena called out in the darkening hallways.

"Jaymes, could you come here please?" Jaymes entered the kitchen.

"Athena, what are you doing here?"

"Father was attacked. Didn't you hear it?"

"No I've been in America all week finalizing our wedding details."

"So soon…?"

"The sooner the better; unless you'd like to look pregnant in the spread I've just gotten for The American Prophet." Athena sighed and gathered her courage, the same bravery that allowed her to speak up to Voldemort.

"Jaymes, the wedding is off!"

"No. It. Is. Not!"

"Yes it is. I'm sorry I am going to marry another man."

"The father of those things inside of you…? You cannot be serious about that."

"I am very serious. The wedding is off!" Jaymes locked eyes with Athena as Nadia left the room. He raised his wand.

"I've been waiting a long time for this! Your brother cost me my sister, now it's his turn to feel the agony!"

"What are you talking about, she killed herself. My brother had no part in that!"

"Jennifer died because of the shame that Rabastan brought her. Now here you are; a shame on your entire family with your bastards. Now he'll get to mourn three times what I did!" His wand flew back and Jaymes shot hexes and curses at Athena. "You'll die, but first you'll suffer! Go ahead call out for your precious fiancée maybe your love can sense that death is coming for you." Athena reached into her soul; her magic was quickly depleting itself protecting the children. She mustered all her remaining magic and called out;

"Voldemort...!" She began to cry wanting only to have her children.

"Please, Jaymes let me have my children; all I want is to have my babies." Jaymes just looked at her coldly and said;

"Bitch, I have no mercy for you." He was in the throws of another cruciatus curse; he was so distracted that he didn't hear the sounds of apparition. Standing behind him were Voldemort, Rodolphus, and Rabastan. Upon seeing this Athena smiled and started to laugh. "You think this is funny bitch?" Rabastan crept up to Jaymes and simply tapped him on his shoulder.

"May I cut it?" There was a look of shock and rage that swept across Jaymes' face as he saw the three men standing there.

"Rabastan, don't kill him that honor is MINE!"

"Yes my lord." A sudden look of realization crept across Jaymes' nearly flawless face.

"You tried to that which is mine. For that you will die. AVADA KEDAVRA!" A shot of green energy hit him and he fell to the floor; his last look, one of pure menace and horror still frozen on his face.

"Are you alright Athena?" Rabastan asked tenderly.

"Check MY heirs Rabastan!"

"Yes my lord." Rabastan waved his wand over his sister's abdomen. "They are alive my lord."

"Now my dear do you see the peril you are in being away from my protection?"

"Yes, I do."

"You are to finish your instruction with Rodolphus and Bellatrix is that understood?"

"Perfectly…"

"Now if I'm correct then Hogwarts is about to become an immensely more precarious place. There is only one solution for your assured protection."

"What is that pray tell?"