The Moment Of Retribution

***

News came of Xeno Lovegood trying to sell out Potter and his friends in exchange for Luna's return. Damn fool! Alissa thought. She was being sent out every week on raids, but her heart wasn't in it. Muggle killing was not sport for her, as it was for the others. She focused more on working alone and trying to find lost Muggle-borns or blood traitors on the run. She kept hidden but managed to steer some free from where a group of Snatchers might be lying in wait.

The weeks moved slowly as the tension mounted. More and more Death Eaters were getting out of hand. The Malfoys were barely seen anymore. It was as if they were terrified of their own house. Plus, the various times of torture in the dungeons did not help the level of tension that was building.

Alissa was far too busy working on arresting Muggle-borns and blood traitors to see Severus much. She had never felt so far apart from him as she did during these weeks since the Christmas hols. The night they received news of Potter's narrow escape from the Bagshot home was the last time they had together.

More reports of death were trickling in. Rumors of Potter's demise abounded, and the Dark Lord did not want them to be quashed. He wanted hope to be destroyed at every turn. Whether it was real or imaginary didn't matter. And now that the the Quibbler was out of circulation, no one could openly defy the Dark Lord. Alissa knew about Potterwatch, as everyone did, but until those involved could be caught and arrested, nothing could be done.

Finally, the Dark Lord called Alissa in for a meeting at the beginning of March to give her the news she had been waiting for.

"I will be going to visit an infamous Dark Wizard," he said quietly. "The problem is that there is no conceivable way he still has the wand I desire. So, I must be persuasive and press upon his mind the importance of everything he knows about the Elder Wand. You shall not accompany me. I have another task for you, my dear. But it will have to wait until after I return from Nurmengard. Bellatrix and Greyback will be in charge of Headquarters here. Please make sure he understands the importance of our guests in the dungeons remain with us. I would be most displeased if they were all to be gone upon my return. Please make sure Bellatrix understands the message as well. You, my dear, are to go return to Hogwarts. I want you to see Severus and also pay your respects to Dumbledore's grave. I shall contact Severus to let you know of our next move. We must act quickly now. I have been feeling disturbing visions and losses. Potter has been hunting down my most prized possessions. I must have that wand so I can finally crush him and then obtain eternal dominance and power."

Alissa would have been more relieved if he had laughed madly like an insane person. Instead, his high pitched voice grew softer and softer until it was a whisper at the end.

Alissa packed up and Flooed her way inside the Headmaster's Office. She did not know where Severus was, but it was no matter. Eventually, he would be here. She went into the adjoining room, which was his bedroom, and made herself at home. She slipped under the covers and fell into a comforting sleep. It was so relaxing and peaceful. There was nothing to fear here.

***

She must have slept for hours, when she finally opened her eyes and saw Severus watching her sleep from across the room.

"Hello, love."

"I have news from the Dark Lord," he said stiffly.

"Yes?" Alissa asked reluctantly, not really wanting to know the message.

"He was finally able after all this time to penetrate through the walls of Nurmengard. The damn fool was like a skeleton and attempted to lie to the Dark Lord...said he never had it. Then he told the Dark Lord he would never understand about the Hallows!" Severus actually chuckled at the news. "I can't believe he had the bollocks to do that! But of course it cost him his life. The infamous Grindelwald is dead. Unfortunately, the Dark Lord genial mood was short-lived. He was incensed beyond all reason upon his return." He grew silent and morose. Alissa sensed dread.

"What happened?"

"When Dark Lord has returned from Nurmengard Prison, Bellatrix and Greyback were caught unawares. They had failed to keep their charges under control. Potter had been captured along with Granger and Weasley, but miraculously escaped with Ollivander, Miss Lovegood, Mr. Thomas, a former Muggle-born student of mine, and some bloody goblin they were holding captive in the dungeon! However, on a happier note, Pettigrew is dead!" he said dryly as he poured himself a drink and saluted her.

"What is it?" she asked quietly. There was something else he was not saying.

"Remember when I told you all of this was not for free? That you would sometime have to pay the fiddler?" he asked darkly.

"Yes," she answered fearfully.

"The time has arrived. He has now fit all the pieces together. It's time to retrieve the Elder Wand from Dumbledore's grave, and you and I shall be assisting him. He thinks we don't know his plot to desecrate the grave...that he is alone in his plan, but we have been waiting for this moment. As disgusting and as treacherous as it sounds, we must allow him to get the wand. It must be done. Your order is to guard from afar, patrol the edge of the Forest. Many Potter supporters are hiding out there, or in the mountains, like Hagrid. You will go out first, wait, and I shall be with him. You should see us flying down to the Castle's overlook. Watch, and then when you see me walk down to the castle, know that all is well. He will then be joining me at the castle to talk about our next move against the Order. Make sure he safely enters the castle and then come in yourself and meet us in my office. Remember, you and I are not to know about this. Keep your mind blank, like you said you can do well. Be silent and stand off to the side. He will be too excited to even think about asking you anything," Severus reassured her.

"Are you certain?" she asked skeptically as he sat down next to her.

"There is only one good thing about serving a megalomaniac, Alissa. They are notoriously self-absorbed," he said wryly.

"So all this time, you knew that he just wanted me to become familiar with the terrain, so I could be his look-out."

"Precisely. You are one of his henchwomen, after all. Surely you don't mind being used, do you?" he asked with mock surprise.

"Rather!" she said sarcastically. "After all I've had to do, if this is paying the fiddler, well, I think he got the wrong end of the deal. I don't care about his Elder Wand obsession. It is no match for love," she declared, taking his hand in hers and holding it gently in her lap.

Alissa closed her eyes wearily. Then they flew open in panic. "But Potter...he's not ready! He still hasn't gotten to all the Horcruxes! We would have known by now! This can't be happening! What are we going to do, Severus?"

"What we must. You have to keep in mind that the Horcruxes are Potter's business and the Hallows are ours. But first things first. The punishments must be meted out," he said grimly.

***

It was not a blessed day to be at the Malfoy Manor. When the Dark Lord returned from Nurmengard and found out his prisoners had all escaped, his wrath was terrifying. All the inhabitants were under orders to stay house bound, especially now that Potter and his two friends had Bella's and Draco's wand. The word was sent out that Potter may try to use Bella's wand. Another piece of the puzzle fell into Severus and Alissa's lap: the location of another Horcrux. The Dark Lord had not meant for it to slip out, but he did and it drove Alissa crazy wondering if Potter knew about the Horcrux resting in Gringott's Bank.

***

The Dark Lord wanted all his closest followers to be present for the punishment of the Malfoys, Bellatrix, and Greyback. Alissa stood numbly as Bellatrix screamed under the effects of the Cruciatus. It did not bother her one iota to watch either Bellatrix or Geryback suffer. What did bother her was Draco's punishment. How long would this poor boy be used because his father was an inept Death Eater? Lucius' punishment was to watch his wife and son being tortured.

She looked into the sad eyes of the younger Malfoy. It was apparent that if he could, he would leave this house of hate and never return. After the moment of retribution had passed, and they all were dismissed, Alissa and Severus talked about Draco and his years at Hogwarts.

"I don't feel as sorry for him as you do, Alissa, but I can see how you can feel so strongly about how ill-treated he is," Severus started.

"You see, from the very first day he came to Hogwarts, he was so very smug and proud to be in Slytherin house...not that it's wrong to have house pride...it's just that Draco fancied himself some kind of Slytherin Lord. He reigned over his little court of followers and taunted Potter and his friends at every turn. He was so proud when he took the Dark Mark!" Severus spat derisively. "He was so puffed up with hubris that he actually believed the Dark Lord wanted him to succeed. That the Dark Lord had given him a chance to prove himself and redeem his father in the Dark Lord's eyes. He actually believed that it was a legitimate task: to kill Dumbledore, the most powerful Wizard of our age."

"So, no, Alissa, I find it very hard to feel sorry for the boy. I tried for a year to help him, to aid him, but he accused me of wanting to 'steal his glory.'" At this, Severus laughed bitterly.

"Draco could have been so much more, then?" Alissa prompted.

Severus looked at her with sad eyes that were so full of disappointment that she wanted to cry. "He had the skill and the ability and the money to do...to become anything! Anything! And this is what he traded it all in for!" He tore the sleeve of his left arm up to show his Mark. Anger radiated from him. He was trembling with it.

"What is it?" she asked softly.

"Waste. I hate waste. That's all his family has done: waste everything! I came from nothing, had nothing, but these people had the world at their feet, and now look at us. All in the same hell. That was why I was so concerned for you. You had this yearning, this calling towards the dark arts that I didn't want you falling into. I remember you coming into my office that first time. You were so excited I was going to start training you. When you left, all I could think of was 'Will she be just another one I'll have to kill?' I was so furious when you left for Durmstrang. I thought it was suicide: a silly girl's pout because she lost her toy..."

He stopped talking abruptly. "I apologize, that was unfair."

Alissa stopped walking. It had hurt to hear that, but it was what was in his heart. It was what he really felt at the time.

"I was devastated, Severus. I could not bear it. It took all my energies to stay focused and stoic so you wouldn't know how much you had hurt me," she admitted.

"I shall never understand, why me, of all men?"

"Why her of all women?"

Severus looked away from her. Alissa could still see his jaw clench and his breathing became a bit ragged.

"I watched her for so long; I didn't know how to even approach her! She was so fearless. I was so young...she was the most wonderful sight. She was beautiful," he whispered lovingly.

Alissa took the opportunity to face him. She walked over to him and looked up into his sad face. He looked down at her, her perfect smile, her thick black hair playing in the breeze around her pale face. Then, as she spoke, she took his hands in hers.

"I was young, he was so fearless. I watched him for so long; I didn't know how to approach him. He was the most wonderful sight. When I watched him duel, he was beautiful."

"Well, at least you aren't going to lie and say I was 'handsome,'" he replied sharply.

"I think you are uncomfortable with someone feeling for you what you felt for her. It's easier when you are the adorer and not the object. You can control things if you are the aggressor, perhaps?" she questioned.

He stiffened and pulled away from her. "In my experience, it has been quite the opposite! When you are the one who loves the most, you are at the mercies of the one you love!" he said angrily.

"Yes, I agree," said Alissa. "That can be of one way of seeing things. But you have now been 'through the looking glass' as it were. You have had the fortune to see things from both sides. Now you tell me, Severus, which is more difficult? Being the lover or being the loved?"

"I do not wish to continue this conversation," he said abruptly. Then he turned on his heel and walked away from her.

A/N: Oh, no! Severus is in a snit! Well, up next, the race to the end. Final punishments are meted out and time apart for Severus and Alissa before the final battle. Thanks again to my beta, MadBrilliant, and to those who review!