She had been at Malfoy Manor for three weeks. Narcissa walked on eggshells around her, always afraid to say the wrong words to the queen. Lucius was always trying to court her favor, perhaps talk her husband into allowing him a wand again. The more that he groveled and catered to her every whim the easier it was to brew her potion in privacy. Draco never looked her in the eyes. A fact that made her resent her newfound royal status even more. Her life however was an easy one. All she had to do was ask for water and at least five people appeared with goblets full of water.

The three weeks she had spent there were watched very closely however. It seemed every time she ventured into certain points of the manor she'd be ushered away. Naturally, not knowing what was behind the door that was a constant in her forbidden areas made her need to know what lay behind it. She could hear distant screams emanating from behind it. She took note that every time screams were heard Pettigrew would rush to quell it. She once attempted an invisibility spell in order to follow him, but she was discovered. After that time her husband was made aware of her wandering. He then put wards up against her in that area. With that in place she still tried to discover just who or what was screaming. Her last attempt ended with her breast burning as her husband's anger at her reached a peak. As punishment, she was tortured by Draco. She knew he didn't want to do it, so she held no anger at him. Nor could she fully blame her husband, she was warned. So after that she stopped trying.

After her adventure into the unknown she began cloistering herself in her room. The only light in her days were the times that she was told that either Severus or Blaise would be visiting the queen and the heirs. Today was a day that Blaise was at the manor. "You have adjusted well to the role of Dark Queen Athena."

"Adjusted? Is that what you call it? I am married to man that the world and most times I want dead. I am scared that any moment he'll figure out what I am. Blaise, only three people know the truth of my injury. If I wasn't scared of the consequences for my children if the truth were known, I'd tell him myself that I am a werewolf. As it is, I was tortured for snooping, imagine what he'd do to me if I was found out!"

"Relax Athena; are you taking the potion your father told you to take? If you miss even one dose…"

"I know Blaise. I am well aware of the urgency to taking the potion!" She said grimly.

"I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry." The door opened and Lucius stood in the doorway.

"Is there a problem my queen?"

"No. There wasn't until you broke my privacy. Is there something you wanted?"

"Fenrir has sent word that he personally captured Potter and a group that was with him. I thought that you'd like to see your husband's greatest triumph."

"Let me say goodbye to my guest, then I'll join you and the others. Now leave!"

"Of course my queen… Good to see you again Blaise."

"You too Lucius." As the words left Blaise's lips, a smile spread across Athena's face. She had seen Lucius humiliated before, but not so brazenly by a teenager.

A sick thought passed through her mind. "How the mighty have fallen." She turned to Blaise and kissed him gently on the cheek.

"What was that for Athena?"

"You'll figure it out. Things are about to get quite messy around here. I need my most loyal friend safe. I need to speak to our friend Draco before all is lost. Now please get yourself to the spot." She kissed his other cheek. He turned to her personal floo line.

"Montgomery Estate…!" She hoped that he'd be safe in America with Sam and Liam. She had asked them the previous week to hide those that were loyal to her. After he left she knew her time was limited. She went straight to the library. Draco spent all his time there lately. She opened the door. He was sitting on the leather sofa. Once he saw her he rose to his feet and looked to the floor.

"My queen..."

"Draco, I need you to do something."

"What's that?"

"As your father probably told you, the snatchers have caught Potter and friends."

"And…"

"And you as the only one with true knowledge of what he looks like will probably be asked to identify him. Ask yourself if you can seal someone's death? I know that the guilt over Dumbledore eats at you. Buy back your soul with a lie. It is the only choice."

"You know what you ask is treason. I could tell your husband of this."

"Would you want my children to suffer life without their mother because you wanted praise?" Before he could answer she left the room hoping that her words had some effect on the man.

She heard voices in the main parlor. "They're here, damn it I told them not to say the name!" Instead of joining the party she simply went to the nursery. She locked herself in with the twins. "Don't worry babies, mommy is here. I always will be." She sat with the slumbering infants hoping that nothing bad would happen once Draco gave his lie.

She closed her eyes and was nearly asleep until the screams began to echo to the nursery. She unlocked the door, and ran downstairs hoping to end the madness, if she could. She got to the final landing before she saw an elf helping everybody escape. She thought she saw the wand maker and a blonde girl she knew to be Luna. The madness in Bellatrix's voice reached its apex as she threw a dagger at the elf.

Athena was in shock and full of her own rage. She flew at Bellatrix. She was screaming a scream that was distinct to werewolves. She stopped her attack only because her brothers removed her from Bellatrix. She ran to her room, tore it apart. She could hear panic in the voices echoing from the parlor. There was a burning on her breast signaling that her husband was angry. All went silent for a minute. Finally she found her hidden potions. She had been very good to keep dosing herself, but today she slipped up. She choked down the vile liquid, promising herself not to miss another dose again. She heard her door slam behind her. "Husband what's all the commotion?" He walked over to her and looked at the vials she was trying to hide. Picking an empty vial up, he smelled it.

"So it's true. You are a werewolf. I should kill you for that. I cannot believe that my wife, my queen, is tainted. Death is way too easy for you my dear."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know full well what you did!"

"I never meant…"

"Save your lies Athena! Leave the manor tonight!"

"Let me get the children, and then happily I shall leave you!"

"You misunderstood me. MY children aren't going anywhere with your filth!"

"You cannot do this to me. I'm their mother!"

"I just did. Leave now, or die. I think I'm being quite reasonable here. Now go!" She ran to her dresser and grabbed her cloak and wand. She ran as fast as she could. She was well passed the gates when she fell to the cold unyielding ground in heavy sobs. She cried for what seemed like hours before finally composing herself.

"Crying isn't going to fix this. I have to go somewhere that is safe. I doubt that my husband has left me the option of going back to father. I need my children. Okay, Athena, where is safe and close by? The Tonk's…" She rose to her feet, and clearly had her destination in mind. She apparated there and walked to the door. Cautiously she knocked on the door. The door opened and she saw her favorite teacher. Filled with relief that at least he was alive and home, she fell into his arms and restarted her sobbing.

"Athena LeStrange? Why are you here? What's wrong?"

"You don't know do you?" she said finally stopping her tears.

"Know what?"

"You weren't told that the Dark Lord had a queen."

"I was made aware, I never believed it though, but I never imagined she would be one of my students."

"Well she is. I need help. I didn't have anywhere else to go, please don't chase me away." A voice was suddenly heard.

"Why should we help the wife of he-who-shall-not-be-named, and a LeStrange at that?"

"Because, I tried to help you before that's why. I am Maria."

"Remus let her in."

"As you wish my dear." Athena entered the sitting room, and with full view of the woman she saw that she was no longer pregnant.

"You had the baby. Is it…"

"A werewolf… No turns out that it's only possible for a full blooded werewolf to be born if both parents are one."

"What did you have?"

"I had a boy, Teddy after my father."

"I am so sorry; I heard that he was dead. I wish I could kill my husband for you all."

"You'd die trying. So what happened that you are here instead of with him?"

"I went to find out where you were for your wife. I forgot that it was a full moon, and got myself scratched by Fenrir."

"That means that…" Remus said grasping the gravity of her situation.

"Yes. That isn't even the worst of it."

"You manifested the traits at the wrong time."

"Exactly… Now I am banished from my family. More importantly I am banished from my children. He ordered me to leave them behind or else die. I should have chosen death." She said somberly.

"A wise friend once told me that parents shouldn't leave their kids unless they have to. You had to live. Werewolf or not, you are still their mother. Do you have a safe place to hide them until all this is over?"

"Yes I do! But he's made it impossible for me to get to them."

"Nothing is impossible. Remind me again, weren't you in Slytherin?"

"Yes I was. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well it has been my experience that Slytherins never give up. You are a werewolf, embrace that. Use your enhanced senses to get your children to safety."

"But how…? He must have them guarded by now. He must have also had wards put up to prevent me from entering the house."

"Not if you act now. He hasn't had time to ward the grounds."

"I'll…"

"Stop it Athena! They are your children. We mothers would do anything to ensure our children's safety."

"You are right. Both of you… Thank you!"

"You are most welcome, now go."

"I will." She left their home with renewed purpose. She knew how to get into the manor undetected. The elves quarters were never guarded.

She apparated to the surrounding forest, she used her enhanced hearing. She heard Travers and Yaxley talking about her disgrace. She was frozen in place until they moved to the opposite side of the grounds. She ran towards the entrance to the house elves housing. With great care and stealth that surprised her, she was inside the manor. She sighed with premature relief. "Easy part is over…" She walked gingerly towards the nursery. She stopped to see that her brothers were guarding the room. "Punishment no doubt." She raised her wand and silently said "Petrificus Totalus." Rodolphus froze first. Rabastan's reaction surprised her. He simply walked towards her silently.

"What took you so long? I had hoped that you would get here sooner." He hugged his sister.

"Rabbit, thank you..."

"You really didn't need to petrify Rodolphus. We were guarding them until you could come and get them. He thinks this is a punishment. Now be quick, they are already ready. Don't tell me where you are going. That way even under his harshest truth serums we won't be able to sell you out. Now go!" Athena ran to Kali and Grant. They giggled at their mother.

"Mommy wouldn't allow you to be alone for long."

"We don't have time for this. The wards go up at midnight. You have five minutes to get out of here. That fireplace is floo connected. Rodolphus made it untraceable."

"I love you." She raised her wand and said loudly "Stupify!" She placed Grant in his harness and held Kali in her arms. As she threw the powder into the fireplace she had hope. Her hope was that after petrifying Rodolphus and stunning Rabastan that her husband would leave them alone. "Montgomery Estate…" In a swirl of green she felt all tension leaving her body. Hopeful that her children would be safe in America, she left the flames.

"Athena?"

"Blaise why are you still here?"

"I had a feeling that I should stick around. I guess I was right. What happened? Did Draco lie?"

"Honestly, I don't care about that. He knows everything."

"Oh well shit, I guess we are now in hiding. Shouldn't your father be here too?"

"I think Rodent and Rabbit will protect him. They aren't on my husband's side anymore, I don't think. They helped me escape with the twins. So where are Aunt Sam and Uncle Liam?"

"Your cousin Reese needed them."

"We are alone?"

"Totally… Now let's get these guys to their room." He led her to the nursery he had set up just in case, once the twins were fed and settled Blaise led Athena to Reese's room. "We can stay in here." She hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Blaise how can I ever thank you?"

"For what, oh for helping you defy your husband the almighty Dark Lord Vol…"

"Don't say his name!"

"Well anyhow it was fun." She smiled at him.

"I'll show you fun." She kissed him passionately. He broke the kiss.

"Are you sure that this is what you want? After all you have been through I won't take advantage of you."

"More than anything, I have loved you since fourth year."

"Fifth year for me…"

"Blaise you never said anything."

"I was going to once but something happened." Instead of taking advantage of her vulnerability he merely held her. They lay down together, still in their clothes and slept. It was the first night of peace she had known since before she received that letter from Bellatrix. For a moment in time she actually convinced herself she was someone else, someone happy.

She and Blaise lived that way for a week and a half. He even helped her through her first painful transformation. She was so content. She and her children were safe, far away from the worry and panic at home. She had only once been induced into her brothers body, she saw him tortured for allowing the twins to escape. But since Rodolphus had no clue where they were her husband allowed him to live. She was drifting off into the peaceful sleep that she had grown to love. Blaise still kept his virtue and merely held his love. She sprang from the bed screaming in pain holding onto her breast. She tried to glance into the mind of Rabastan for a clue what was happening. Not pleased with the answer she got. She grimly said. "It has begun. I need to go."

"Why?"

"I have got to get my brothers out. They have done so much for me and the twins. I owe them that much at least."

"I understand. I'll remain with Kali and Grant until you return."

"Thank you my love. You know…"

"What?"

"Never mind… I've got to go." She rose from the bed and walked to the closet. She dressed herself for the battle. Black jeans, black tank top, Blaise's hooded sweatshirt, and sneakers. After dressing she went into the nursery. Blaise was already there, leaning over Grant's crib. She picked up her daughter and hugged her as though she'd never see her again. Blaise was now holding Grant in his arms. She walked to him, Kali still in her arms. Leaning down she kissed Grant. "Blaise, please don't leave them for even a moment. If I fail then they'll be the last LeStrange's aside from father. Please."

"Athena LeStrange. I know you are concerned. They are safe with me. I love them as if they were my own."

"I wish that were true."

"Go save their uncles. I will be here for you when you return. I promise."

"I love you Blaise."

"I know." She raised her wand and with a clear vision of Hogsmeade she was gone in a crack. She knew that the village was the best way to enter the battle. She entered the Hog's Head after seeing swarms of children funneling out.

"Aberforth... Let me through."

"Of age?" he asked oblivious to her identity.

"I am. Now please let me through." She stepped through the portrait where all the students were escaping from. She entered the once familiar room; instead of her fireplace she saw a war room. She looked into the not so familiar face of Neville Longbottom.

"No Slytherins!"

"We don't have time for this! I am on your side!"

"Fine…" She left the room and entered the chaos. She hoped she would find her brothers in time.