Chapter 17 ? Redemption

I'd like to thank everyone who is keeping up with this story. I appreciate your reviews and your kind words.

I have included at the bottom a lovely drawing that Lady Talon made of Ginny, as she had been perusing through a magazine one day and was thinking of my story when she felt inspired to draw it.

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thanks as always to June for all of her help and suggestions.

Chapter 17 – Redemption

The Dark Lord had ordered Bellatrix to entertain him by torturing Neville, but he was preoccupied by talking to Death Eaters about tonight's successful raid, so he failed to notice that his concubine's torture of the young man was done half-heartedly.

After about twenty minutes, Voldemort caught sight of an attractive woman in the back of the room who was part of the captured group of hostages from the St. Mungo's attack. He waved Bellatrix off, and ordered Neville and the other hostages to be taken to the cellar. As the captives were dragged away, the woman was singled out, tied up, and taken to the Dark Lord's room.

"Occupy yourself for a few hours," said Voldemort to Bella, as he was walking to his room.

Bellatrix could hear the woman hostage screaming as the door was closed. She stood there, looking lost.

Most of the other Death Eaters in the room had shuffled away. The eager new Death Eaters felt they had proven themselves, but were disappointed that the Dark Lord hadn't been more appreciative of their efforts. The older Death Eaters were talking amongst themselves in hushed tones; they knew Voldemort did not always call the same men on raids, but they always wondered if it meant a sign of approval or disapproval. Had they been called on the raid because the Dark Lord was suspicious of their loyalty? They also noticed that Lucius was not part of the group and wondered if he'd lost the Dark Lord's favor ever since the death of his wife.

Rodolphus had been observing his wife from across the ballroom all evening. Instead of joining in conversation with the older Death Eaters, who had been in the Dark Lord's service as long as the Lestranges had been, he now approached his wife.

"Come, Bella." Rodolphus took his wife's hand and looked into her sad eyes. "Lay with me for a while; we have been apart much too long."

Bellatrix nodded and allowed her husband to lead her away. Voldemort would be occupied for most of the evening and she wanted to feel the caresses of her husband once again. They would not speak of the future. It was enough for now that they were together tonight – alive.

The days passed, and it was now midweek. As Lucius and Severus expected, they did not hear from Rodolphus, who would only risk sending an owl if he had information they could not obtain any other way. Neither the Order or the Ministry were able to trace any of the hostages through locator spells, which told Lucius and Severus the hostages were most likely at the Riddle estate.

The Ministry had finally been able to make a list of those suspected to have been taken from St. Mungo's. On that list was Neville Longbottom's name.

Ginny had been called in by one of her old colleagues, to help on a particularly difficult case. She was very happy to now be in the position of working to build her own private practice, and she was consulted by several of her old friends at St. Mungo's. Ginny loved doing what she did and she strived to be the best healer possible. After examining the patient and suggesting a treatment that would help the man on his road to recovery (the book Lucius had given her helped greatly), she took her leave.

She walked down the hallway towards the exit, when her eye caught sight of a notice posted on the bulletin board. It was the names of the missing. She drew a deep breath when she saw Neville's name on the list. Once outside she immediately Apparated to Malfoy Manor.

She ran up the path towards the front door. Just before she reached the door, it opened. Draco and Harry had been in the front sitting room and had seen her running across the grounds.

"Ginny, are you all right?" asked a concerned Draco.

Harry took hold of her hand and led her inside. Tears were streaming down her face, and the two young men wondered what might have upset her so.

"It's horrible!" she cried.

"What is? Ginny, what's happened to you?" asked Harry.

"Neville, he's one of the missing from the attack at St. Mungo's. I saw his name on a hospital bulletin board as I was leaving my consultation," said Ginny, now hysterical.

"Oh, no." Harry looked at Draco.

"Emil," called Draco. Emil popped into the room. "Please, bring Ginny some water and a calming draught."

They took her into the sitting room and sat her on the couch. As Emil came back with her water and draught, Lucius stepped through the Floo. He'd been at the Ministry all morning, as he too – as a Board member and major hospital donor – had been given a list of the missing from St. Mungo's.

"Ginny, love. What's happened?" He approached Ginny, and kneeled down in front of her. He looked at her to make sure she wasn't physically harmed.

"Our friend Neville is one of the missing," said Harry.

Ginny drank the calming draught Emil handed her and then the water.

"I'm sorry," said Lucius. He caressed her hand as the draught served to calm her nerves. Lucius sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Isn't there anything you can do?" asked Draco as he looked at his father.

Lucius shook his head. "Unfortunately, I cannot approach the Riddle home unless I am called. I suspect that is where all of the captured are being held."

"What about Lestrange?" asked Harry. "Can't you owl him?" A few Order members had been informed that Rodolphus was supplying extra information in order to help their cause.

Again Lucius shook his head. "No, I can't risk that owl being intercepted." He rubbed Ginny's back. "I'm going to go have a talk with Severus. He and Albus were alerted by Arthur via Floo from his office. If Severus is called he can also look for your friend."

Ginny and the boys nodded. All they could do was wait.

That very afternoon, the Order had called an impromptu meeting at number twelve, Grimmauld Place. At the same time, Severus – rather, Higgenbottom – was called back to the Riddle home. Severus suggested to Hermione that she wait for him at Grimmauld Place, so she would at least be kept company by her friends. He knew that she was upset about Neville and he didn't want her to be alone.

Albus, Arthur and Lucius would also be at the old Black house. Lucius had been assisting the Headmaster with a small model he was making of the Riddle home. Knowing its vulnerable spots, as well as the grounds surrounding the home, would help the Order when they were ready to attack. They only hoped that Voldemort wouldn't make his own move before then. Lucius suspected that he hadn't been called as much lately due to the fact that Voldemort no longer had Narcissa to flaunt in his face. The extra time however helped him assist the order more.

Severus-as-Higgenbottom walked into the Riddle home and immediately approached the Dark Lord as he sat on his throne.

"Higgenbottom, I need a sleeping draught. What I have been taking is no longer sufficient. Make me something stronger. I need my sleep in the coming days."

Severus bowed and walked to the lab. He suspected more attacks, yet he had an ill feeling in the pit of his stomach that Voldemort meant much more. For a long time he had expected that there would be an attack on Hogwarts, and he knew that time was quickly approaching.

While Severus-as-Higgenbottom worked in the lab, Death Eaters were filling the ballroom. Bellatrix had spent one night with her husband several days prior and she lamented having to leave him to return to Voldemort. After the loss of her sister, she began a downward spiral of deep regret – regret that she'd never told Narcissa how much she'd meant to her, regret for having allowed herself to be seduced by the Dark Lord into this world of hate and prejudice. But most of all, Bella felt regret that she would never be with her husband again. She'd made the best of her night with Rodolphus, even whispering words of love that had never come easy for her in the past.

Bellatrix was tired, and all she wanted now was peace. She was readying herself to join the others in the ballroom, but she needed one more thing. She walked to the fireplace mantle and took hold of the key ring she'd given Voldemort many years ago. She took the key to the Black home and tucked it into her robe pocket, then walked out the door.

The ballroom was brimming with activity. There were three groups of Death Eaters, all having their own victims to torture. Directly in front of Voldemort stood one woman and two men; Neville was one of the men.

Bellatrix stood just to the right of Voldemort. She looked around the room, hoping to spot Rodolphus. She spotted Higgenbottom, Voldemort's new potions maker, standing in the dark corridor that led to the potions lab. Briefly she thought back on Severus and felt another regret; she had always liked Severus even though she thought him a bit off-putting at times. As she continued to scan the room, Bella finally saw Rodolphus. He was at the far end of the room, standing next to Thomas Nott. She waited for him to look her way, and when he did she smiled. He nodded slightly and touched his hand to his chest, a sign that he saw her and that he loved her.

Her attention was taken away as she heard a scream of pain that she recognized. Voldemort had now chosen Neville as his victim.

"Did you ever think you would meet the same fate as your parents?" mocked Voldemort.

Neville felt every single nerve in his body as though it were on fire. He felt the burning of his tears as they fell down the sensitive skin of his cheeks. He lifted his head and looked at the wizard who was the cause of so much pain and despair. Neville would die today, he was sure of it. His parents died three years ago, following the death of his grandmother. At the very least, wherever he wound up, he hoped to be reunited with the parents he had never had an opportunity to really know.

Voldemort cast hex upon hex on the young man, continually alternating between Slicing Hex and Cruciatus Curse, back and forth. So entrenched was he in his torture of the young man, he never realized the woman standing next to him was growing weary of watching the young wizard suffer. Her mind was replaying her own torture of his parents.

"No," whispered Bellatrix, as she shook her head and reached into her pocket. "No, no, no, no! Stop it!" she screamed. Bellatrix rushed Voldemort and shoved him away.

Voldemort lost his balance and fell to the ground, as Death Eaters gasped in shock. No one expected a concubine to show disrespect to the Dark Lord, not if she wanted to live.

Rodolphus saw his wife from across the room and rushed forward.

"Bella, no!" he cried as he made his way through the crowd.

But it was too late. Bellatrix ran to Neville, who hardly believed what he was seeing. She took hold of the key and embraced Neville.

"I'm sorry, please forgive me!" she cried. As she said the word that would activate the Portkey in her hand, Voldemort stood behind her, enraged.

"Avada Kedavra!" he said, just as both Bellatrix and Neville disappeared.

Rodolphus stopped dead in his tracks, his body paralyzed, his eyes looking on in disbelief. How could she Apparate from within the Dark Lord's wards?

In a fury Voldemort turned his wand on Rodolphus, taking out his frustration on the man whose wife had just been the cause of his embarrassing fall.

The group looked on, as once again one of their own was targeted by their master. Rodolphus' body twisted as the Dark Lord held the Cruciatus Curse on his Death Eater longer than he ever had in the past.

~*~*~*~

At number twelve, Grimmauld Place, Hermione, Ginny, Tonks and Molly were in the kitchen, busying themselves with dinner. The rest of the Order members, including Lucius, Arthur and Albus, were in the living room looking at the small model Albus was creating of the Riddle home. Minerva had stayed behind at Hogwarts to handle any emergencies, especially if Severus returned wounded.

Ginny and Hermione decided to bring in some pumpkin juice to the group, when a loud thump was heard outside the front door.

"What was that?" asked Ron as he looked towards the door. They all approached, and heard crying.

Cautiously Lucius opened the door and saw a young man cradling the body of his sister-in-law.

"Bella!" yelled Lucius, as he ran out the door, followed by the rest of the group. Lucius bent down and looked at the still open eyes of Bellatrix.

Neville cried as he looked at the face of his tormentor and savior. She'd taken his parents away from him when he was a child. Her laughter fueled nightmares he'd never stopped having. Many a time Neville wondered what would happen if he ever had the chance to meet her head-on. He'd missed his chance during the fight at the Department of Mysteries, but still he wondered. When he was kidnapped from St. Mungo's and he saw her again, he thought his life was finally over. She tortured him with the same curse she had used on his parents, but this time there was no laughter.

Tonight, Bellatrix Lestrange had held him and begged him to forgive her, before she gave her life to save him. And for that, he was grateful.

"Voldemort killed her," sobbed Neville. "She'd just asked me to forgive her, then she...she brought me here." Neville looked at the others who were now standing behind Lucius. "All she said was...'home' and we were here."

Lucius placed his hand over her eyes and closed them.

"Oh, Bella." He wiped his own tear from his eye. "How late you came to realize the meaning of compassion."

~*~*~*~

When he drew his wand back from hexing Rodolphus, Voldemort looked around the room. "I will not tolerate this kind of behavior! Let this be a lesson to you all. Get out of here, all of you! I am sick to death of looking at you all!" he shouted, then looked down at Rodolphus, "Next time I won't be so charitable. First your brother, and now your wife. I am not pleased Rodolphus." Voldemort spun on his heels and went to his room.

From across the room, the frail, and timid-looking Higgenbottom approached Rodolphus. As he walked past some of the older Death Eaters, he heard them whispering amongst themselves as they hurried out of the room. While he could not make out exactly what they were saying, Severus knew that there was now even more dissension among the ranks.

He leaned down and lightly touched Rodolphus on the shoulder.

"Relax, sir, it's only me." Severus-as-Higgenbottom waved his wand over Rodolphus and whispered a spell which would give the man only slight relief. "Come, I can make you a potion to help you with the tremors."

The other Death Eaters barely noticed as the two men walked out of the ballroom. Many were too busy now wondering just what kind of a man they were following. They could not leave the house fast enough.

In the potions lab, Severus-as-Higgenbottom Transfigured the wood stool into a more comfortable chair and then helped Rodolphus sit down.

Severus turned his back to Rodolphus, who was now having strong muscle spasms. He tried to ignore the sobbing coming from his former comrade, but he knew the pain that the man was going through must have been beyond what he himself could imagine or wanted to imagine.

"I'm sorry about your wife," said Severus as he worked.

Rodolphus willed himself to relax, hoping that his nerves and muscles would return to normal. He looked at the potions maker. He'd personally kidnapped Samuel Higgenbottom, held him under the Imperius Curse, made the man shave his own head, and them removed his memories of many years. Just before he dropped him off at the gates of a Muggle hospital, Rodolphus carefully peeled off the top layer of skin on Higgenbottom's left arm that held the Dark Mark. Five years ago, Rodolphus might have simply killed the man, but he'd just seen his brother Rabastan burned alive by Voldemort. That and many other atrocities had changed Rodolphus, and he could no longer bring himself to kill someone for no reason.

Rodolphus took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around himself.

"Who are you?" he asked.

Severus slowed his work, then turned his head slightly.

"Someone who should not be here," he said, only this time, Severus used his own voice.

Rodolphus now took hold of the arms of the chair, and pushed himself up. With great difficulty he walked to the table, and looked at Higgenbottom.

"Severus?" he asked in wonder, scarcely believing what he'd just heard.

"Sit down, Rodolphus. This will take a few minutes to brew. I will tell you everything after it is finished and you have drunk it." There was no need for Severus to fear that Rodolphus would turn him in to the Dark Lord. While Severus was helping Rodolphus into the potions lab, he'd discreetly used Legilimency on him. Rodolphus was no longer loyal to Voldemort.

Severus finished the potion and gave it to Rodolphus who drank it down immediately. He instantly felt relief. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. His face twisted with the emotions he felt.

"How is it that you are here, Severus?" he asked as he opened his red tear-rimmed eyes. "Lucius was to have killed you."

"Obviously, he did not," said Severus.

"Were you ever loyal to the Dark Lord?" asked Rodolphus, now wondering how long Severus had been playing his game of espionage.

"I was once." Severus leaned against the table and crossed his arms. He looked at the clock on the mantle. He had another half-hour before he would need to either leave or take more Polyjuice. He then looked back at Rodolphus and continued talking.

"You know that after I graduated from Hogwarts, I became a Death Eater. I believed in the...organization at the time. I also thought it was a way for me to move myself up in life."

"What made you turn from this?" asked Rodolphus.

It was now Severus' turn to rekindle bad memories and regrets.

"During my years at Hogwarts, I had very few friends. Lucius had left after my first year, and after that I was mostly alone. But, I soon became friendly with Lily Evans, a Muggle-born. She and I were paired in Potions class. I found her to be an intelligent young woman, and she was kind to me. I'd had very little kindness shown to me before and when she befriended me, it was nice. We were friends for several years, until she became involved with James Potter." Severus bowed his head, remembering the day he'd severed his relationship with Lily.

~*~*~*~

They stood across from each other. Both their faces were riddled with emotions.

"I was trying to help you!" yelled Lily, "How could you have called me a Mudblood. That's the most horrible thing anyone has ever said to me. I thought you were my friend, Severus."

"I'm supposed to believe you're my friend after you betrayed me the way you did?" returned Severus.

Lily looked at him in confusion. "How did I betray you? I've never told anyone any of the things you've told me."

Severus shook his head. "You know how much I hate James Potter and those idiots he hangs around with. Their life's purpose is to make me miserable at every turn. You know they hate me and yet I saw you with Potter last week!"

"Oh, Severus, he's just a friend. You can't possibly think he is anything more than that." Lily defended herself, but to no avail.

"No, Lily, there is more. I know there is." Severus looked at her sadly. "I've seen it in your mind. I know how you feel about him, even if you can't bring yourself to admit it yet."

"Severus..." Lily approached him, and tried to touch him, but he backed away.

"No, don't. Please, just leave me alone, Lily. I can't look at you, I...I can't be around you if that's what you want." Severus turned his back on his friend, heartbroken that he'd lost another person in his life who meant anything to him, and worse, he'd lost her to his worst enemy.

~*~*~*~

"After that day, I became more involved with the Dark Lord's movement. After I graduated I took the Mark. It was not long afterwards that I heard of the Dark Lord's plan to kill her family. I tried to save her, but I was too late. She was dead by the time I learned Voldemort had gone to her house. It was then that my loyalties changed. I became a member of the Order of the Phoenix and I have been a spy ever since. Lucius, he's only recently turned. He saved my life, and he is now working along with the rest of us to bring him down, Rodolphus."

Rodolphus rubbed his face tiredly.

"My brother is gone. My Bella is gone. I have nothing more in this world that means anything to me, Severus. I am glad I will not live beyond this war."

Severus shook his head. "Why do you believe that? There is no reason for you to give up now. If anything you must fight." Severus leaned down and placed his hand on Rodolphus' shoulder.

"Your wife was not a weak woman, and she proved that this evening. She would not have wanted you to just give up hope."

Rodolphus stood and walked to the fireplace.

"Hope? What hope is there for me, Severus? If I don't die on the battlefield I will be taken to Azkaban for my crimes. And well-deserved that sentence would be." He turned and looked into the fire. "I should not be allowed to live. But I will tell you this, I may not come out of this war with my life, but neither will he."

Severus smiled and walked towards Rodolphus.

"Then you are with us?"

Rodolphus nodded. "Yes, I am with you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I've been wanting to write the Bella/Neville scene for a while. I thought it would be interesting to have her be the one to save him.

I hope you enjoyed this.

Here is the lovely drawing Lady Talon made: