Voldemort looked into Athena's grayish blue eyes, and said as genuinely as he could. "Marry me today!"
"Today?" she questioned trying to hide her revulsion for the man in front of her.
"It's either today, or in a week. The sooner we are married the better it will be for MY heirs." He stated in a tone of voice that she could only describe as possessive.
"Give me a week, I need time to get a proper dress, and to get some family together to bear witness." She stated hoping to delay her impending nuptials as long as possible. "Witness to this mockery of a marriage" she thought.
"Fine, in a week we shall be man and wife." She watched as he apparated away with her brothers, leaving her to look at the corpse of her ex-intended. She removed her wand from her pants pocket; looking at the man that had tried to kill her she merely raised her wand and spoke "Incendio!" The corpse lit on fire and was almost totally cremated, her concentration broke from the spell, and the fire went out. She looked at the interruption, "Nadia, while I'm cleaning up this mess that my fiancée created, could you please make sure my food is still warm?"
"Of course mistress!"
"Nadia, the name is Athena, not mistress." She said hoping the elf would remember to call her by name. She looked at the charred flesh of Jaymes and raised her wand once again to finish the task. "Incendio!" The carcass began to blaze once again. It burned till there was nothing left but a burn mark on the marble. She looked at the mark, and smiled grimly. The elf looked at her.
"Miss… Athena, your food is warm, would you like for me to clean that from the floor?"
"No, I want it there to remind me of the evils people can do, lest I forget. Thank you Nadia."
"It's my job Athena."
"Still thank you!" Athena sat down to eat her dinner. She could barely eat after witnessing death, a death that she caused. She vowed to not allow anyone else to die because of a failing in her. She could barely stomach any of the food, but still ate on, the strength of her children depended on it. After the meal was consumed her made her way up to her father's room. Seeing that he was now awake she went in. "Father I need you to do something for me."
"Anything for you angel!"
"Please don't call me that father!" She said seething. Rupert merely sighed and looked to the ground.
"You know don't you?"
"Yes I do!" she said almost shouting. "How could you put my mother, your love through that? For him, of all people?"
"I had no choice, my angel…"
"Whatever, well since you know your crime, then you know MY punishment. I have to marry that monster! You will be there; you will see the torment in my eyes, mom's eyes. I just need to know one thing. Did you ever really love me or mom, or were we pawns?
"Of course I loved you, and Maria. I was working hard to reverse the blood spell, tried to keep you out of his hands."
"You didn't try hard enough, I still ended up raped!"
"I'm sorrier that you could possibly imagine."
"You know, sometimes sorry just isn't enough. I will be wearing the dress mom had picked to marry you in."
"I forbid it!"
"You aren't in any position to forbid me from doing anything!"
"Fine…" Rupert said mournfully.
"One more thing father, why if you knew I was fated to be raped and impregnated by that monster did you not send me elsewhere when he rose again?"
"Pure selfishness, my angel. You were all I had left of Maria."
"Did you at any time stop and mourn my brothers that never had a chance to live?"
"Why do you think I became neutral? My friendship and loyalty to Riddle cost the only woman I had ever loved so much. I wish I had stopped him. If I had attempted to, he'd have killed Maria to torment me for my disloyalty. Then he'd have gone after her then fragile sister Samantha. Maria would have rather taken the brunt then to allow Samantha to suffer the same."
"So mom willingly gave herself over to this disgusting plan?"
"You are so much more like her then I could have hoped. You have risked yourself in an attempt to save me. There wasn't much that Maria wouldn't have done to protect her family." Rupert said comforting his daughter, comfort that earned him a smile. "Now if you are concerned that your inevitable marriage to Riddle is going to corrupt YOUR children, then you know what to do, don't you?"
"Kill him on the wedding night?" she said hopefully.
"No, only Potter can do that. However, you don't exactly have to keep him safe."
"Good point, I'll save myself and my children. I'll not suffer like mom did."
"Still think me a horrible person?"
"Not quite…"
"Good."
"You aren't the man I thought I knew, but you are a genius, I'll give you that much at least."
"Well I was in Slytherin, same as you. Now if I'm correct, the woman once called Andromeda Black is part of an organization to thwart your betrothed. She and I have been corresponding for some time now. She knows what I've done to try to undo the evil I have committed against you and Maria. I was very close to fixing it. Oh well, what's done cannot be undone. She is sympathetic. Her daughter Nymphadora is dating you favorite professor. You know of his problem right?"
"Lycanthropy…"
"Yes, well Andy is concerned that he'll soon be putting himself in danger. I need you to know this to help defeat Riddle."
"How will this possibly help me?"
"Maria told me before she died that a werewolf would be a key to help you. Her gift to see through the eyes of blood was advanced enough to give her precognition. So I need to trust it. Need to trust her…"
"If mom said it, I must follow her."
"First there is something I need to know, I know that Rabastan taught you legilimency. How good is your occlumency?"
"Not that good, why?"
"You need to hone it in order to protect yourself. Once you are married, your mind will be more open. You need to practice. And who better to teach you than the man that taught Riddle?"
"That was you?"
"Yes. You actually thought that a half-blood raised by muggles could learn that without help?"
"Good point father."
"Now we haven't much time. You really need to pay attention, or else your children will born into a world that they shouldn't."
"I told him one week. I have the dress, and I believe that either you or Rabastan are able to seal our bond. Do you think you can do that for me?"
"I cannot."
"Can't or won't?"
"Both. Magic won't allow a person to seal a bond that doesn't believe in the bond. Rabastan will have to do it."
"I'll tell him."
"Good we must rest, you more than myself. The next week will be grueling to say the least."
"Thank you for being upfront with me, also for attempting to remedy the situation. I guess if there isn't a choice here, I'll have to work with these cards in my deck."
"Sleep well angel."
"You as well father."
It had been an exhausting week. The wedding was to take place in less than three hours. Her mind was prepared enough according to her father. The only family she could manage to find for the ceremony was her brothers and Bellatrix. Voldemort had wanted the Death Eaters to attend his wedding; she had made it known that she wouldn't allow their wedding to be more of a spectacle than it already was. To that end to appease him she had allowed Bellatrix to be designated as her handmaid. Something that Athena hated greatly.
Athena looked into her mirror. The dress was a simple one. Full length, square neck, three-quarter sleeves that flared into sheer lace decorated with golden stars. If she squinted hard enough, she could almost see her mother standing there. With one final look at her own reflection, she turned to face Bellatrix. "I'm ready."
"This is such an honor! To think it is my family that has this highest honor." Bellatrix exclaimed, tearful with pride.
"An honor indeed Bella…" Athena said hoping that her lessons shrouded her loathing of this day.
The two women descended the stairs of LeStrange Court, Athena felt as though Bella was leading her into the underworld. She saw standing at the fireplace in their green and silver sitting room, three men. Her soon to be husband, next to him her brother Rodolphus, and standing in the front was Rabastan. Rabastan stood wand in hand. She felt a sudden urge to run. An urge that she had to kill… She placed her hand on her abdomen and thought, "All for you, all for you." and smiled. Bellatrix walked happily in front of her as her father stood beside her. Giving his daughter a look of torment before the ceremony began.
The ceremony was the most basic ritual she could find. All she had to do was concentrate on the love she felt for her unborn children. All Voldemort had to do was concentrate on was protecting his heirs. A bonding for the child's sake was easily found. She could only watch as Rabastan asked the only question needed to seal the bond. "Will you protect the source of this bonding as best as you can?"
Voldemort turned from Rabastan and looked into Athena's eyes, she saw the glimmer again as he said with almost imperceptive emotion. "Yes, I will."
She mimicked his actions and words. Rabastan raised his wand and spoke, "If magic decrees it so then let these two people be bonded." Athena and Voldemort were soon surrounded by a brilliant blue aura. After it dissipated she looked down at her hand. A simple silver ring was upon her finger. The same ring was on her now husbands finger, signaling a successful bonding. The fanatical voice of Bellatrix was the first thing Athena heard.
"All hail The Dark Lord, and his Queen!" Bellatrix said gleefully as she kneeled in front of the couple. Rodolphus, Rabastan and reluctantly her father joined Bellatrix. Athena thought to herself; "This has its perks." Then Voldemort finally spoke.
"My dear to finalize our bond we must consummate it." Athena looked down into her father's tear filled eyes and knew that there was no other choice. "You three go spread the news through the ranks that I have chosen a queen." At that the three LeStrange's apparated, which left her father still kneeling before the dark royalty.
"Father, please not you, never you. Rise..." Rupert rose from the ground and dusted himself off. He hugged his daughter.
"Athena, I shall give you privacy, I will go to America to tell Sam and Liam the news, and to get gifts for both of you. Congratulations old friend." with an approving nod from Voldemort, Rupert apparated with a crack. Athena turned from the spot that her father had just vacated, and looked into her husband/monster/rapist's eyes. She knew that death awaited her if she didn't complete the bonding.
"My dear I wish I could spare you this, but I cannot. We must, if MY children are to be allowed to live."
"I can't wait." She stated with the best fake cheer she could muster.
They entered her room. He poured her a glass of Snape's finest brewed calming draught. He handed her the glass, and for the first time actually sounded human as he spoke. "I know that this isn't what either of us wants to do. I am not without mercy. Drink that and you'll not know what is happening. You'll think you are elsewhere."
"Thank you, but if it's the same to you I'd rather not. I intend to be with you. I knew that this was coming; I wasn't fully in control when you knocked me up. But I intend to be fully in control and aware this time around!" They undressed and she lay nervously on the bed. Shaking with panic over the flashbacks of her rape, she pulled herself out from that feeling. He was so gentle with her. Had he been her first in some other capacity than he actually was, this is what she would have wanted. They made love for over an hour, both needing to reach climax in order to fully seal the bond, after which they both fell asleep.
She dreamed of her children. They told her their names, Kali Maria for the girl, and Grant Marvolo for the boy. She awoke to the familiar albeit distant voice of Severus Snape. His was soon joined by Draco Malfoy's. She felt the other side of the bed and her husband was gone. She rose from the bed and put her long dark hair into a quick ponytail. She grabbed her brand new maroon dressing gown, tied the belt as she slowly and quietly left her room. She ran as quietly as she could to the source of the voices. She reached her father's study, seeing that the door was open a crack, she listened to the conversation.
"Well done Severus!" Her husband stated with very little emotion.
"Thank you my lord. It was an honor." Snape said in a tone eerily similar to the one she had used on Bellatrix the previous day.
"Now that it's done, nothing is standing in my way. Now that the almighty Albus Dumbledore is dead I am the most powerful wizard in the world!" Athena held her hands in front of her gaping mouth. Tears began to fill her eyes as she ran to find her father.
"You know what to do, don't you angel?"
"Yes, now is the time!"
"No!"
"Why wait?"
"You need to give birth first my angel. You need all of your magic, and right now it's being used by my grandchildren."
"Right as always, well most of the time."
The summer went by almost effortlessly. Her husband was away most of the time, which allowed her time to plan with her father. She began writing to Andromeda in secret. One day she received a letter that told her that Death Eaters had tried to kill Harry Potter. , that night saw the death of Mad Eye Moody, and the almost death of Nymphadora, Andromeda's pregnant daughter. Her hatred of Bellatrix doubled that day. She heard from Blaise her only friend that she was allowed, that St. Mungos along with the Ministry were under the control of the Death Eaters.
She went into labor the day the letter from Andromeda arrived. She cried out in pain, cried out for Voldemort. He arrived within seconds. "They are coming." She cried out to her husband before he grabbed her. She felt immense pain. Before she could realize what was happening she was in a hospital bed in St. Mungos. She asked to be put under for the births. She was granted that much.
She was asleep for what felt like weeks. She was awoken to the news that her children had been born. Kali was first by five minutes. She named them, and asked to see them. The mediwitch ignored her request. She yelled "My husband us outside that door, does he have to compel you to do you job?" The healer as if suddenly realizing who her patient was profusely apologized.
"Your grace, I'll go get the twins right away, please don't tell him, I'm new."
"Forgiven, now go get my kids!" She waited for less than five minutes and was finally holding her newborn children. "Hello I'm your mother and I love you very much!"
"They look so much like you." A voice said from the doorway.
"Rodolphus, what are you doing here?"
"Long story… My lord told me that you were in labor. I had to see my niece and nephew.
"Roddy…" she said affectionately to him handing him one of the children.
"Who is this?"
"That is Grant Marvolo LeStrange, and this little girl is Kali Maria LeStrange."
"Grant, Maria's name for you had you been a boy, and Kali, the Hindu goddess?"
"You know me well."
"You get to know someone when they've been in your mind and body."
"You knew?"
"Always… Now rest mom…"
"Rodent…."
"I love you Athena, my queen." She simply yawned and fell asleep vowing to get her plans underway once she was allowed to leave. Her daughter lay still in her arms sleeping against her chest. Rodolphus placed Grant on the other side, smiling at his sister.
"I know everything my queen, my sister, the only woman I have ever loved, I will help you protect the next generation of magic. I promise you that." Rodolphus thought as he looked back at the sleeping figures on the bed.