A/N~ Well Folks, this is the last chapter in this little Halloween fic. Hope you all enjoyed this, I know I had a blast writing it.
Severus paced the small sitting room of his mother's house wanting to wring the neck of the Auror questioning his wife. If being in that neighborhood on this day wasn't enough, he had to be the Auror the Ministry sent to question them.
"You didn't see anyone paying attention to Erin that shouldn't have? Anyone who looked out of place?" Auror Potter asked Demetri.
"For the love of Salazar, Mr. Potter, the whole park was full of Muggles dressed in costumes. They all looked out of place," Severus answered for his wife.
Harry glanced at his old Potions professor. " I know this is hard, sir, but even the smallest detail can help us find your daughter." He turned back to Demetri. "Is there anyone who would want to harm you or your daughter?"
Severus barked out a harsh laugh. "You do know who we are, Potter? Half the Wizarding world hate me and the other half would harm the child solely for her last name."
"Severus, stop it," Eileen scolded as she brought in a tray with tea and placing it on the table. "This is hard enough without you acting like a complete arse." She handed Demetri a cup of tea laced with a mild Calming Draught before turning her attention to Harry. "We told the Muggle authorities all of this already, Mr. Potter. Surely you have ways to work together on this?"
"We do, ma'am. It's just procedure to ask the questions again in case you remember something you didn't the first time."
Demetri took a sip of her tea before placing the cup on the table in front of her. "I wasn't really paying attention to Erin or the other people around us." She began to play with the buttons on her robes, a nervous habit she acquired from childhood. "I was too busy picking a stupid fight to keep an eye on her." She placed her face in her hands and began crying again.
Harry, looking like a lost first-year again, cleared his throat nervously. Women crying always made him uncomfortable. " Please, Mrs. Snape, don't cry. This isn't your fault." He went to place a hand on Demetri's knee to comfort her, but thought better of it when Severus growled and took a step towards him.
"Mr. Potter, we have answered your questions." Severus came to stand behind Demetri's chair. "Maybe you should reconvene with your men and the Muggle officers and continue your search."
Harry rose to his feet. "If we get any lead or information, I will contact you at once." He reached into his pocket and withdrew an old coin and placed it on the table. "The coin is charmed to send and receive messages. If you hear anything or Erin comes back on her own, just tap the coin, speak your message, and tap it once more." Nodding to the professor and his wife, Harry walked out of the room and out the front door.
"Mother, why don't you take Demetri to the guest room and have her lie down for a while?" Severus suggested.
Demetri shook her head and lowered her hands from her face. "No, I don't want to lie down, not while our daughter is out there somewhere." Fresh tears began to spill down her cheeks. "She must be so scared…"
Severus stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his wife. "She will be fine, Demetri. She is a Malfoy. She will stay strong." He rested his chin on the top of her head and hoped his words were true.
"I thought you hated Malfoys?" she asked between sobs.
"There are only two Malfoys I do not care for, Demetri, and neither of them are female." He sat in her vacant chair, pulling her on his lap. "Narcissa was right. We are both hard headed individuals who speak without thinking when our hackles are raised in a fight."
"I knew you were hard headed the day you woke up in my ward, Severus. It was one of the things that attracted me to you."
Severus snorted. "Here I was thinking it was my devilish good looks that drew you in."
"That was another thing you had going for you." Demetri snuggled closer to him, her eyes closed.
"I tried everything I could to get you to leave me alone. You were like a cat with a new toy." He tightened his arms around her.
"I know. The more you fought the more persistent I became. I knew you'd give in eventually."
Severus snorted and began running his fingers through her hair. "I didn't mean what I said earlier. I was hurt because you lied to me and I wanted to hurt you back."
She sighed as his fingers massaged her scalp. "I'm sorry I lied and dragged Erin into this. I just wanted her to have one normal Halloween." Demetri sobbed again and wiped away the tears from her cheeks.
"I know, Demeri. I sat at the Apothecary and thought what I was doing to Erin. My issue with today isn't a cross she should have to bear. My demons should be my own. It's why I came home early. I was going to give her the candy I bought, then take her out trick or treating."
"I'm so sorry I went behind you back, Severus. This wouldn't have happened if I had just kept Erin home."
"You don't know that, Demetri. This could have happened any day to anyone. Please stop blaming yourself."
Demetri nodded against his chest. "As long as you don't blame yourself for this happening, Severus." She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "I know you will blame yourself for this, like you blame yourself for Lily."
Severus flinched slightly at the mention of Lily's name. "The two are not comparable, Demetri."
"Yes they are, Severus. You blame yourself for everything and then bottle it in until it eats away at you. Then you will lash out at the first person who makes you mad."
"Are you a mind healer now? I will not be paying for this hour of emotional rehashing."
She sighed. "Then comes the sarcasm. It's a defense mechanism, Severus, and will not work on me."
He knew she was right. He just didn't know how to stop his old habits. Habits that had helped him through the years of being a Death Eater and later a professor. He looked down at her and noticed she had closed her eyes again. "Am I forgiven then?"
Demetri nodded again, her eyes still closed. "As long as you forgive me for my harsh words. I swear to Merlin and anyone who is willing to listen that I don't wish I left you to die at Spinner's End."
"I know. I forgive you, Demetri." He placed a kiss on her forehead, and she smiled slightly. Severus stood and carried her to the guest room, her breathing evening out as she fell asleep even before her head hit the pillow. Pulling the covers over her and turning out the lights, Severus headed back out to the sitting room.
Pouring a glass of Firewhiskey, Severus took a sip before sitting back in a chair by the fireplace. As he took another sip, the coin on the table vibrated and Severus picked it up, turning it over in his hand. The following words appeared around the edge of the coin as he stared at it.
Professor, we know who took man who was running the maze said a man claiming to be Erin's uncle took her from the park. Severus swore and dropped his glass of Firewhiskey.
Hearing the glass shatter, Demetri came out of the guest bedroom to check on Severus.
"What's wrong? What's happened?"
Severus looked at his wife, his face paler than the white shirt he wore. "Lucius has our daughter."
To be continued...
A/N: EVIL CLIFFY! Mahahaha! So, want to know what happens to Erin? Keep an eye out for the Sequel to this story coming shortly.
Prompt/Challenge info:
Sev and an oc (your own or borrowed if you never made one or create one if you like) are in an established relationship. An argument ensues based on an unresolved issue (feelings for Lily, lack of proposal, whatever) it's up to you what they fight over. It causes them to almost break up (one side or the other thinking this). Angst is what we are shooting for,and romance. Try to make it as angsty as you can without over doing it. As this will be our Halloween challenge as well, feel free to add in that as an element.
