A/N Please note this chapter has a bit of bad language. Not much but I just thought I'd make you aware of it.
Chapter 4 The Sacrifice
Esrelda gazed up at the sky seaming to be lost in thought. "So, Aunt Esrelda how did you end up stuck in the form of a Unicorn under the black lake," asked Harry with a curious expression on his face? Hearing so much of Severus's life had awakened so many questions. His aunt looked into his eyes and smiled.
"Well if you truly must know I suppose I will tell you," she said with a sigh.
*Flash Back*
For a few years Severus worked as an apprentice in a potions shop. He had stayed so busy that He didn't get the chance to see Esrelda in person. They sent messages with their owls almost on a weekly basis. Their relationship began to blossom and grow into what James Potter thought was absolutely a disgusting affair. However no matter how hard James tried to break the two apart their relationship just got stronger. The courting went on until Severus had completed his apprenticeship, which took two years.
When the wedding was to take place James sat on the other side of the royal chapel and gave Severus dirty looks. He had promised his sister that he would not hex or jinx her soon to be husband. By this time James had married Lilly Evans, who was the mother of their newborn child whom they named Harry James Potter. Severus Stood at the end of the isle with Lucius Malfoy serving as his best man. He didn't have many friends or other family to attend his wedding. The orchestra began to play and when Severus tried to turn around to see his beautiful bride Lucius forced him to turn back toward the front. "You're not supposed to see her until she is at your side," Lucius whispered in Severus's ear.
Esrelda seemed to glide up the isle in her long flowing gown. When she reached the dais where Severus Stood with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy standing in as best man and maid of honor, she reached for Severus's hand. He turned than to gaze lovingly at the beauty that stood by his side. "I've never seen such a wonderous wedding robe," he whispered softly into her ear. "I've waited for this day for a long time," he said with a smile as the Minister of Magic stepped forward to preform the wedding.
They turned to face one another and grasped each other's left wrists with their wands in hand. Esrelda smiled sweetly at Severus. Than the Minister began the incantation for the unbreakable vows. "Do you Severus Tobias Snape promise to love, honor, and protect your wife and queen for as long as you shall live," asked the Minister of Magic?
"I so promise," said Severus as he gazed into Esrelda's grey eyes.
"Do you your Majesty promise to love, honor, and cherish this wizard until the day you die," asked The Minister?
"I so promise," said Esrelda with a smile on her face.
The Minister of Magic stepped back and put his wand away. "Is there anyone present, who objects to the union of this witch and her chosen wizard," he asked the crowd. James thought about objecting for a slight moment, and then changed his mind after his sisters threatening voice popped into his head warning him not to do so. "Well then since there are no objections to this union I now pronounce you Husband and wife. You may kiss your bride Mr. Snape," declared The Minister of Magic happily.
James gagged as he saw Severus pull his elder sister into his arms and kiss her passionately. The reception was held in the back yard of the Potter manner where James and Lilly lived. James figured that it would be more fitting for the small wedding party to meet there instead of at the sprawling castle where He and his sister had grown up. As the party was getting started and the guests had started to enjoy themselves Severus and Esrelda slipped out into the woods behind the potter manner to be alone. They walked away in silence for a while until Esrelda stopped cold in her tracks, her eyes opened in utter terror. Severus moved closer to his wife and tried to get her to speak to him. "Esrelda, my love what's wrong," he asked as he looked into her terrified grey eyes?
She looked around and ordered him to take out his wand. "We are not alone Severus. We are surrounded by dark wizards," she said as she drew her wand. Severus removed his wand from his sleeve and cast the lumos charm. As light flooded the woods where they stood. They were as she said surrounded by dark wizards. The only thing that shocked him was the fact that his only true friend Lucius Malfoy was also there standing behind the dark wizard known to the wizarding world as Lord Voldemort.
Voldemort walked closer to queen Esrelda and her husband. "Happy wedding day your majesty," he said silkily as he bowed.
"What do you want Voldemort," asked Esrelda coolly.
"I do wish you had considered my marriage proposal my lady," said Voldemort as he encircled the two newlyweds.
"You are a dark wizard who wishes nothing more than to have control of my powers," announced Esrelda calmly." I wouldn't marry you if you were the last wizard on the planet, "she said with a disgusted look on her face.
Voldemort turned to face her with his wand in hand. "You will not join me in world domination than," he asked as he stepped a little closer to her?
"Never," hissed Esrelda as she stood there defiantly.
"Well then if you will not join me by choice than I have no choice," he said as he pointed his wand at her and cast the imperious curse. Severus attempted to block the attack on his wife and was restrained by two death eaters.
Unfortunately to Voldemort's shock the curse had no effect on his intended target. "What is this? It would appear I have no control over you.," he growled angrily. Esrelda laughed at Voldemort's obvious distress.
"You are a fool Voldemort. Do you really think I would be considered the most powerful witch in the wizarding world if the unforgivable curses had any effect on me? I am not easily defeated Voldemort. You will have to try much harder than that if you wish to cause me harm," said Esrelda in a calm tone.
Voldemort stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Humm! You say the unforgivable curses have no effect on you physically, my queen. That may be true. I may not be able to harm you physically but I can cause you great mental and emotional pain by causing pain to the one you love," he said as he pointed his wand at Severus. Severus could feel a drop of sweat hanging from the bottom of his chin. As Voldemort cast the Cruciatus Curse, he heard his wife scream out
"Expecto Patronam." His insides seemed like they were literally on fire. He screamed in pain as Voldemort laughed wickedly.
All of a sudden his pain stopped, and he could hear his wife's voice calling his name. "Severus get up! I will not allow him to harm you," she said. He opened his eyes and was shocked to see that standing between Voldemort and himself was a beautiful unicorn with long flowing main and tail. The unicorn was taking the full blast of the Cruciatus Curse in his place. He searched wildly for his wife not quite realizing that it was she who was standing between him and the now infuriated Voldemort.
"How is this possible," screeched Voldemort at the top of his lungs as he jumped up and down in rage. "Damn you Queen Esrelda! Do you really think you can protect your mate that way," he demanded? The unicorn's horn which looked like the elder wand started to glow as the unicorn lowered her head to attack. All of a sudden there was a green flash behind the unicorn. She herd Severus behind her struggling against the two death eaters who had yet again gotten ahold of him. She looked back to see a third death eater pointing his wand at Severus's throat.
"I would think about this very carefully if I were you my lady," cooed Voldemort softly. "You know while the killing curse may not work on you, I am quite certain that it will work on your husband,: Voldemort said as he narrowed his red eyes at the unicorn.
"Esrelda! Don't give in to that dark bastard," screamed Severus. The unicorn's eyes were large and her sleek muscles quivered.
"Surrender your powers to me Queen Esrelda, or your beloved husband will die tonight," said Voldemort as he walked up to Severus with an evil smile spreading across his face.
"NO! YOU MUST NOT GIVE IN TO HIM,? screamed Severus with tears rolling down his cheek? Severus herd Esrelda's voice in his head.
"Forgive me my love. This is the only way," came the voice as the unicorn dropped her head and turned to face Voldemort.
"So I take it you have chosen to surrender your powers to me," asked Voldemort softly? Than Voldemort herd Queen Esrelda's voice in his head.
"Yes I will surrender my powers, but you must promise me you will release him," she said as she bobbed her head in Severus's direction. Voldemort bowed to the unicorn and said, "You have my word my lady as long as I have your powers, your husband will not be harmed."
He motioned to Lucius Malfoy, who walked forward slowly carrying a strange looking amulet in his shaking hands. "Place the amulet around her neck Malfoy," ordered the Dark Lord. Lucius walked up to the unicorn and whispered in her ear as he reached around her neck to secure the clasp of the amulet.
"Forgive me my queen. If I refuse him, he will kill my family. The amulet can only be removed by a blood relative," he whispered as he stepped away from the unicorn. Once the Amulet was around her neck she stood there for a moment and glared at the Dark Lord.
"I will keep my promise your majesty, though you may find that you will have to stay in your present form. The amulet around your neck not only stops you from transforming back into your human form, but it also will give me constant access to your amazing powers. Oh, and by the way Mr. Snape I may consider turning her back into a human if you agree to join my death eaters," said Voldemort with a sly expression on his face.
On hearing this; the Unicorn reared onto her hind legs, neighing shrilly. She charged the Dark Lord and his death eaters, who all scattered in fear. Voldemort flew to the safety of a thick tree branch laughing. She then turned her hindquarters towards the two death eaters who were still holding Severus and kicked out with both hind legs, hitting both of them in the heads killing them instantly. Then she turned on the one holding his wand at Severus's throat, who was now frozen with fear. She kicked out at him with her front hooves and knocked the wand out of his hand, breaking his wrist in the process.
Severus ran to the unicorn's side and jumped onto her back. "Hold on as tightly as you can Severus," came her voice. Severus dug his hands deeply into her main, and held on for dear life. She reared and took off faster than anyone knew was possible. Severus could hardly see or breathe as the unicorn moved faster and faster. The landscape rushed by in a dark and blurry jumble of country side, trees, and cityscapes. When Severus thought he'd not be able to hang on or stay consciousness the landscape began to slow and take familiar form.
He gasped in shock as the unicorn came to a sudden stop. He sat on her back for a while until his head stopped spinning. Then he slid off of her back and looked around to see where she had taken them. "Esrelda why are we at Hogwarts? Why did you surrender to the Dark Lord," he yelled at the top of his lungs. The unicorn's ears sagged to the side, then she lowered her head to the ground, turned and slowly walked away from him. He herd her soft voice barely above a whisper somewhere in his mind.
"Sniff sniff, Severus I know I could have beaten them all, but the thought of losing you was more than I could stand. Forgive me Severus. I love you too much to lose you now," she said as she slowly began to walk away from him.
Severus watched as she slowly walked toward the castle. "Esrelda, wait," he called out as he ran after her. She stopped, but didn't turn or look up at him. Severus sunk down to his knees in front of the unicorn and wiped the tears from her eyes before wrapping his arms around her head. "Don't cry Esrelda," he whispered as he kissed her soft nose. "I was wrong to yell at you. If I had half your power it would have been the other way around," he said as he got to his feet and brushed her long forelock out of her grey eyes.
He stood back up and looked at the amulet around her neck. "Esrelda I'm going to get this cursed amulet off of you," he said as he reached out to touch the amulet. Esrelda tried to warn him of the danger but before she could get a word out he was sent flying through the air to land against the trunk of a tree. Esrelda raised her head and pricked her ears as she listened to see if Severus was still breathing. She walked over to him and nuzzled his face until he woke back up. Severus moaned as he looked up into Esrelda's flared and quivering nostrils.
"Esrelda, I never thought I'd ever see up your nose," he said with a soft laugh. She flattened her ears and tossed her head defiantly.
"If you didn't want to see my bogies than I advise you not to attempt that again. We are going to need Professor Dumbledore's help Severus. The Dark Lord will be searching for my wand. We have to keep it from him at all cost," she said.
Severus got off of the ground and they walked to the castle together. Once they reached the front doors of the castle Esrelda stopped and nudged Severus up the steps with her nose. "I'm afraid that I won't fit inside Dumbledore's office. You go and find him, and I'll wait out here for the two of you to return," said Esrelda's voice in his head.
"I won't be long Esrelda. I'm certain Professor Dumbledore will be able to help you," he said as he turned and ran into the castle. Severus ran inside and into the closest flue that he could find, grabbed a handful of flue powder, and transported himself directly to headmaster Dumbledore's office.
Albus Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk reading when Severus came through his flue. "Severus unless I am mistaken this is your wedding night. Should you not be in the arms of your lovely new wife," asked the old wizard with a knowing twinkle in his blue eyes?
"Headmaster, please come quickly. We were attacked by the Dark Lord and he cursed Esrelda with a magical amulet that I can't remove from her neck. She said that you have to take her wand so it will be safe from Voldemort," said Severus in a rush as he attempted to pull Albus out of his seat. The headmaster arose from his seat and looked deeply into Severus's eyes. He saw how Esrelda had sacrificed herself to protect the wizard who was now her husband.
"Your wife is very brave. Let us go and I will see what she wishes me to do for her," said Albus as he followed Severus into the floo. They both used the flue to get back down to the ground floor and went to meet with Esrelda who was still standing outside. Dumbledore approached the unicorn and walked around her to get a better look at the amulet around her neck. "I am afraid there's nothing I can do to remove the amulet, your majesty. The only thing I can do is protect you and your wand," said Albus thoughtfully. Esrelda lowered her head so that her horn rested in the headmaster's hands.
"As you may know, my sister-in-law has had her child. I have seen the future before I made my choice. Promise me you'll do everything in your power to protect Severus and my nephew," came the voice of Esrelda Snape in the headmasters mind. Dumbledore grasped her horn with both hands and whispered, "I promise you, my queen I will protect them." Then there was a flash of light as he gently and slowly pulled the horn away. Severus fainted as he witnessed his wife turn into stone.
Professor Dumbledore used the wingardium Leviosa charm to levitate the now frozen queen into the center of the black lake. He then went to the lake and dunked his head beneath the cool dark water. The queen of the mermaids came to him and spoke to him. "Why Headmaster Dumbledore, have you placed the horse Statue into the center of my domain," asked the mermaid queen?
"The horse is in actuality The Golden Phoenix. She needs our protection from the Dark Lord. Would you and your citizens please keep her safe until the day comes when her wand is returned to her, "asked Headmaster Dumbledore? The mermaid queen agreed, and he took his head out of the lake and cast a drying charm on himself.
*End Flash Back*
"I'm afraid that that is all I can tell you about how this started. You see it was a sacrifice of love, Harry," said his aunt as she smiled at her husband.
A/N I hope that you have enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Chapter 5 Unavoidable Fate is up next.
