Facing Destiny

Facing Destiny

Severus and Draco trained Ginny in very much the same way they had for the meeting on Wednesday. They could not do more for her. Preoccupied with concern for her, Severus had only a minimum of a nod left for Draco, even if the boy was doing much better at Occlumency today than ever before.

Sunday afternoon, the three Apparated again to wherever the Dark Mark would send them. They arrived at a house of light build. The summer residence of a Death Eater, thought Ginny. As she had expected, she saw only silvery schemes of the faces present.

Again Severus and Draco looked around to take in as many details as possible.

Severus went around once and realised that he was able to read all name tags. For Draco many of them would appear empty. Members of the Inner Circle were present as well as a selected group of others. The people were placed similarly to where they had been Wednesday, although several members of the Inner Circle were missing. Maybe he would learn of their whereabouts today.

The house had only one floor. Elves using the servants' entry Apparated and Disapparated repeatedly, bringing food, which indicated that the kitchens were elsewhere. This was not a good sign. Severus had never bothered if elves had the capacity for Side-Along-Apparition, but today he dearly hoped they had not. He did not like the idea of letting Miss Weasley out of sight; he did not like it at all. "If you are sent away, try to give me a sign."

The Dark Lord appeared with a flash of light. Everybody rushed to his or her place and bowed deeply towards the place of honour. With an elegant flourish, he permitted them to sit down.

"Severus, my loyal follower."

Smoothly, Severus greeted his former master. "My Lord, I'm glad to see you well."

"Quite well, indeed. I dare say the same of you, too."

"I have no reason to feel otherwise, my Lord." Liar, he chastised himself, and it isn't kissing the hem of his robe alone that makes you feel nauseous.

:*:*:*:

Ginny was the only captive waiting in the room next door. She would serve the party first with the aid of two elves to get started, then alone. While everyone had to have his or her wishes fulfilled, she was supposed to attend them in the hierarchical order indicated by their physical distance to the Dark Lord.

The high-pitched voice penetrated the wall easily as he said, "My faithful servants, take your seats." Scrapping of heavy chairs on the stone floor erupted and then ebbed. The doors opened.

The assembled Death Eaters were not a patient lot. As last time, Ginny had trouble coping with the speed of the small enslaved creatures. She rushed around as quickly as possible, avoiding gazes and ignoring remarks. Since the room was circular, her initial strategy failed, and she rapidly decided on re-Occluding her mind at each bouquet of flowers and most certainly when entering it.

When the elves had Disapparated, Ginny had to continue her task alone: serving sixty people, Occluding her mind, answering in friendly ways, running to the next thirsty guest, removing plates, bringing fresh ones and replacing knives that had been dropped possibly on purpose. Soon her temples and neck itched from hair that clung to her sweat.

:*:*:*:

Severus observed his young charge as much as he dared. She was working harder this time and had not a second of rest. Did she drink enough to get her through the meal? What are her prospects after tonight? He found he had after all not prepared her well enough, not for this day and certainly not for whatever was to come.

"You have been lucky to catch this charming girl, Severus." The Dark Lord interrupted his musing in a tone of amiable conversation.

"Yes, my Lord," he replied automatically before he considered the words.

"You do find her charming, then?" The Dark Lord's tone was probing.

Severus stiffened for a moment. Where would this discussion lead to? He regrouped and forced himself to consider her appearance from any bystander's view. "Charming? My Lord," he sneered, "I have little experience in this field, but I believe that among the girls back at school, probably few would consider her charming."

"Ah, but she isn't a wallflower, either."

"Indeed not. This shade of red does not exactly go unnoticed." Severus snorted.

His master was not finished yet, a fact that drew attention from their left and right side. "How does life with a servant appeal to you then?"

Swiftly Severus took up the present tense. "She frees us from most of our daily duties in the house, my Lord. I dare say she serves us well."

"Hey, Severus," a rather provocative voice asked from the other side of the Dark Lord, "what about the night time service?"

All along the high half of the table, people awaited his answer in utter silence. Far too many stared at Severus directly. Those who had endured him as their teacher and Head of House would never have dared to do so if they were able to see through the concealment spell on the majority of the faces as easily as he did. Its asymmetry was so easy to forget. While they couldn't see his glare, their expectant or provocative sneers were plainly visible for Severus himself. He swallowed down his disgust. "Her performance is satisfying, thank you." Severus placed the hint of a smile on his masked face. Let them think what they pleased.

And so they did. "Have you heard that, guys? Severus gave her an appraisal." – "A Gryffindor works to his satisfaction!" – "Amazing." – "Never happened in his classes, I heard." By now, all other discussion had ceased. Severus felt the eyes of everybody upon him, which he could shake off, and on the girl, which he could not bear. Not for the first time, Severus was disgusted at the level small talk in a male-dominated group could get. Some of them were married, and their wives were even present. Would the women talk similarly among themselves?

The taunting continued. "She must be really good, Severus; will we get a go on her later?"

"I doubt it," he opined in firm voice, trying to terminate the discussion. While his appearance gave nothing away, he fumed inside. Every female captive was reduced to fair game, and some didn't stop even at their fellow Death Eaters' spouses.

The next question came from the other side. "Do you share her with Draco, or do you keep her for yourself?"

Severus tried to ignore the question, but it came up again, and also his master seemed to wait for a reply. "Mr Malfoy has a full training plan for the days, and he is still growing. I pay attention that he eats well during the day and gets to rest at night." Severus got more annoyed with each question but could not have them win any ground. He saw Draco reach down to retrieve whatever it was he had dropped, his face beet-red. The boy took his time before he resurfaced.

Ginny did not have the time to focus on all the questions, but could not miss the general topic. She had hardly looked at the honour places. The Dark Lord's high-pitched voice had penetrated her ear several times, but she was simply too concentrated on not slipping to pay any attention to that.

Draco was amazed at Severus' smooth answers. He could learn a lot more from his mentor than how to block spells. He quickly pulled his head between his shoulders and went back to his cake, Occluding his mind again. Hopefully nobody had stolen into his mind and seen what else it was he had learned. He continued keeping an eye on everyone without offering his eyes to them. It was mainly the group of middle-aged men who contributed to the current conversation. They had already exchanged the coffee for other drinks, wine for some, but whisky and brandy was common, too.

The first young couples, like the Flints, excused themselves. The Dark Lord was generous with expecting wives and, in this case, also with their husbands. Draco noticed that these women were appalled at the discussion and obviously didn't want their husbands to engage in it. Wasn't it even so that many women found themselves utterly unattractive in the second half of pregnancy?

His view went over to his old school acquaintances, Crabbe and Goyle. They were as greedy as ever, although they went for salad and sandwiches these days rather than for cake. Still, a sleeping draught in food would trap them as easily now as it had in second year. How their Head of House had berated them! Not for the first time, though, Draco found that they displayed more body control, did not move as ungracefully and appeared more athletic than a year ago. Goyle eyed some of the girls, although Draco got the impression he wasn't fixed on any of them. Once he was, he'd better stop laughing too loud at discussions like the current one.

When everybody...save Crabbe...had finished their food, they were ordered to stand, and a wave of the Dark Lord's wand replaced the longish table with a set of smaller ones. The assembly was now divided into groups. Draco found himself in the lowest ranks...amongst the young, unmarried and not too well respected.

The older men on the other side of the room frequented the toilets in shorter intervals. Their cheeks and noses were reddish, their eyes dilated. "Hey, you, we are going to run out of wine over here!"

Ginny rushed along with a carafe of red wine when a hand shot up to stop her. "Don't ignore me here, pretty girl." The hand moved up and down her thigh, shifting to the inner side of it. "We should get along very well togeth ... ouch!" A sharp red flash had hit the man, who dropped his hand immediately and turned around.

"Do not touch her, Avery," came the sharp voice of Severus Snape. Most of the assembled looked over to him in astonishment and appraisal.

The Dark Lord regarded him apprehensively. "Protective, Severus?" He did not need to speak the word: Severus felt his presence in his mind all the same. "Attached, maybe?"

Damn, this should not have happened, Severus berated himself. "My Lord, she is to serve us." He conjured an innocent picture of the girl cleaning the floor. "I'm not known to run after children," he snarled.

The Dark Lord chuckled. "Indeed, this would be a new development for you."

The party continued, and thankfully the topic of Miss Weasley was dropped once again. Severus did not hear what the missing Death Eaters were doing. The Dark Lord had only answered that they were 'on duty' in a tone that did not encourage further questions.

Eventually he stood to face them all. All groups hastily finished their conversation and paid him their attention. "There is a full moon in exactly two weeks. Fenrir has informed me he could use a strong woman for... ah... his men before their Transformation. If Miss Weasley is still with us in a week...that is, if Mr Potter fails to retrieve his love..." he clarified, "Fenrir may have her." A murmur went through the room. With disgust, Draco noticed the disappointment in Gregory Goyle's face.

Addressing Ginny, his voice taking a velvety, coaxing tone, their master continued, "What do you think, Miss Weasley? Does a life in the forest...with plenty of fresh air...appeal to you? No? Don't worry. It would not be for long, but I certainly want to give you the opportunity for an adventure." His voice was so soft in its mock sympathy that it caused a shiver down Draco's spine.

Ginny's eyes had gone wide, and she was pressing her back to the wall, hands shaking. Draco saw how Severus tried to look into her eyes, if only she would turn to him. Thankfully, her sudden lack of control was gone quickly. She concentrated on a point on the floor and knew better than to answer.

"Or maybe not," the Dark Lord continued. "In this case, we have another option for you. Our Muggle rabble-rousers are planning a major activity around the same time. They are always very agitated afterwards and eager to carouse. I'm sure they will have a use for you. Think about it, Miss Weasley. We'll meet you on Friday morning to hear your decision and give you our best wishes for the future." With these words, she was dismissed, and many resumed their discussions around the table.

Draco's brain was racing, and he nearly snapped at his neighbour. He recollected the whole evening, scanned through the discussion again. There must be a way... he thought desperately.

The room emptied slowly. Severus came over. "We should go." With gritted teeth, he continued, "She is permitted to leave with us, and she is more than ready to do so." He jerked his head to where Ginny leaned into a corner, not daring to look anywhere. She had almost been fainting at these prospects.

"You go then. I wanted to talk to," he paused, "Goyle and Parkinson still. I won't be long. She is better off with only one of us, anyhow." Severus silently agreed and prepared for their departure.

:*:*:*:

They sat in the little house and did not know what to talk about.

Ginny had not eaten since lunch, but she could not touch any food now either. Not even tea made it down her throat. She alternately paced the room in agitation and sat down in despair.

Severus had no idea how to help her. So far they had always had the hope a mystical path would open up before them. Time was running short, and there wasn't anything they could do. The secret door had not opened.

A distraction? It had worked right after she had been captured, but now? "Would you want to talk?"

"I don't know."

This is not a no, he thought. "What was hardest for you to tolerate today?"

She took her time and said, "His speech today was worse than the torture last time."

"How so?"

"It was his voice...when he mocked me. Adventure! He suddenly reminded me of Tom Riddle. I did not get that impression on Wednesday."

"Was this why you nearly lost control?" She nodded, close to tears, and Severus felt obliged to add, "I see. I had not realised it until now. I'm glad the Dark Lord did not notice it either."

"A close shave, then."

"Yes. He might have used Legilimency on you if he had. I tried to catch your eyes to signal you." Severus stopped talking, although he would have liked to point out a few more things. She was in no state to accept them, and he knew that she should do the talking, not him.

"I was paralysed, I guess," Ginny said. She sat down and unconsciously worked her tired feet.

:*:*:*:

Draco crossed over to Pansy Parkinson and Ariana Atcluft, a seventh-year Slytherin...or rather one who should have passed her N.E.W.T.s eight months ago. Both young women were dressed in very female, revealing, if not provocative, attire. They were looking over to the bachelors in their early twenties, but to their dismay, Crabbe and Goyle were about to join them as well as Malfoy.

Draco was painfully reminded that he had lost his status as a prime person to know. His position in Slytherin House had been ensured by his family's clever manoeuvres between the Dark Lord and the Ministry. When his father had showed his choices openly in the Department of Mysteries and had landed himself in Azkaban, he had completely destroyed the latter. Yet, Parkinson had worshipped him even then.

His own failure during the last school year...maybe his last ever year at a school...had completely alienated him with his peers. Today, Draco Malfoy was more or less persona non grata, not someone whose friendship they sought. He wasn't wedding material, which was what these girls were after. As expected, his welcome was frosty, very frosty indeed. "Malfoy, eaten well today? Better get back to your babysitter and get a full night's rest," Pansy said before she turned away. Ariana had not even spared a glance at him.

At some point in the last months, he had wondered that maybe he should not have been that arrogant towards Pansy. Had she ever seen him or only his money and position? As it was, he would never know.

Should he not have treated Crabbe and Goyle just as badly as he had? He was not expected to seek a relationship of equals with them. Their families ranked low among the Death Eaters, and they would never make it to the strategic positions close to or inside the Inner Circle. Instead, the two were now under a tough regime, including much physical training, which was even conducted by Muggles. However, Draco had to admit that he had relished the power he had exercised over them. He had purposefully copied his father.

Tonight, Draco was not seeking recognition. All he wanted was to position himself so that he could observe the Dark Lord out of the corner of his eye. He needed time to think and preferred not being talked to. The two girls were likely to fulfil his wish.

Their master finished a talk with the host of the day. He made to leave, didn't he? No, luckily someone had an issue to discuss with him, Draco noticed with relief. As he was getting distracted by the discussions with the other four youths around him ("Poor Belinda, she was so happy." ... "Party at Flint's, are you going?" ... "...rough training with Macnair last night..." ... "...gorgeous wedding dress..."), he slowly proceeded towards the exit of the room, rehearsing his speech.

:*:*:*:

Severus' brains did not provide him with anything adequate to say. Even the trick of imagining Albus Dumbledore's words did not help tonight. He decided to consider her physical needs. The acid smell of her cold sweat stung in his nose. While at times he was disgusted by his own body juices, he could not bring himself to send her to the bathroom or cast a cleansing spell, as he always did on himself as soon as the house was safe. She was a nervous wreck. Valerian tincture? No! She had also been running for hours; therefore her feet must be hurting, and she would be parched. Water? Orange juice? Better, but not good enough. Something warm that would address her nerves as well! "Would you care for a cup of tea now?"

"I don't know, maybe. Thank you though." She moved uneasily on the sofa and continued talking. "His voice was such a shock the moment I heard it. I'm over that now. I am not over his words, my prospects." With that she stood and paced the room again.

Severus made tea and brought it over to the small table. Remembering that she had not eaten, he provided milk, honey, sugar and lemon snitches. A nourishing draught would be in order, but she might recognise that too easily.

To occupy himself, he Transfigured the sofa into the bed. The spell was rote now. Four more times. He felt dizzy. The sofa would never look the same anymore. Not with the new design, but not with the old throw either. He clenched his eyes closed, but pictures of the young girl were haunting him: Ginevra Weasley's body dishonoured, mutilated and forgotten, either deep inside a forest or somewhere on Muggle asphalt. He had to rush to the bathroom to empty his stomach.

:*:*:*:

The last group of members of the Inner Circle made their goodbyes to the host and the Dark Lord. Draco inched closer to their master when these were out of earshot. With his best boy voice, he approached him and bowed. "My Lord?"

The surprise on the Dark Lord's face softened his reptilian features for a short moment, before his face turned as ice-cold as ever. "Malfoy? What would be your request?" his voice prompted, and he mock-bowed.

Cold sweat ran over Draco's back. This did not bode well. "My Lord, I'm in no position to request or even ask for a favour for myself."

"Indeed, you are far from that. Yet, you are accosting me," the Dark Lord stated. He gestured to the antechamber where the food had been prepared. They entered the room that now lay abandoned. The tall man pointed his wand over Draco's head and, with two flicks of his wand, sealed the door silently and cast a Privacy Spell. Nobody could enter; nobody could hear them. Draco swallowed hard.

"Crucio!"

The pain was bearable compared to Draco's earlier experiences with this curse. He kept his composure, didn't waver, set up a devoted look. The pain stopped eventually. "What was this for, Malfoy?"

"I deserved it for speaking out of turn, my Lord."

"You did."

"Thank you, my Lord." He bowed deep. It was expected to be grateful for whatever the Dark Lord gave a person.

"Now let me hear why you felt this need to violate protocol."

"My Lord, I believe I might have an answer to one of your questions."

"I do not recall asking you anything, Malfoy! Crucio!" This time, Draco had more difficulties standing still. His arms were shaking, and his knees almost gave way, but that would not do. He had to stand through it. When the pain ceased, he was confronted with the same question again. "What was it for this time, Malfoy?"

"My audacity to believe I would have an answer, my Lord?"

"Something like that, yes. Do you still believe you have higher wisdoms you need to share?"

Draco needed to make his point clear, at least indicate the direction, give a key word, before his nerves and the curses failed his voice and concentration. "My Lord, while I don't deserve it, I am closer to Severus Snape than anyone else. Thus..."

Their master looked up sharply. "Severus? This could prove interesting. I'll give you..." he conjured an hourglass "...three minutes. Begin!"

Draco bowed in a gesture of thanks. Averting his eyes, speaking to a point on the Dark Lord's chest, he started. "My Lord, when Severus Snape and I returned to you after... after I failed with my mission, you wanted to reward him, but he could not name a favour he would ask you for. You wanted us all to think about it. I believe I have found a reward that would indeed please him while it does not thwart any of your plans. Actually, it could promote your long-term plans in... interesting ways." He looked up.

His little speech caught the Dark Lord's attention. "Go ahead."

"My Lord, Severus Snape is a lonely man. In the years he has maintained his position as a spy under Dumbledore, he has sacrificed his life for the cause. He could not make full use of his remarkable magical talents, neither pursue a career as a Potions master nor develop his skills in the Dark Arts. In his little private time, he could not possibly have approached a woman of his liking while pretending to worship the... late Headmaster."

The Dark Lord showed no reaction.

"Apart from this, his birth limits his options below what he deserves." They both knew that most pure-blood families in the Inner Circle had vows against what they consider staining their blood with a half-blood. Draco, too, had that restriction upon himself. Only the oldest male Malfoy alive would be able to moderate it. "He might have accepted his predicaments, but over the years, they have made him bitter."

Draco took a deep breath. With the next sentence, he would either sentence himself to death or... The Dark Lord's expression moved from mildly interested to neutral. Of course, he had not heard anything new so far, but the hourglass lay forgotten, which was a positive sign. "Now, I believe Severus is a little... impressed by Ginevra Weasley, a pure-blood who is not in the position to refuse whatever you assign to her. I would not say attracted to her, but he is certainly not indifferent."

The Dark Lord's face still revealed nothing, but his voice had an unmistakable edge when he asked, "Do you propose, Mr Malfoy, that I should pair off Severus Snape and this Weasley girl? Leave her alive?"

"Alive, yes, but out of her family's reach. She would be forced into matrimony with a man whom they've been considering a mean, heartless bat of the dungeons. Now he is also a traitor and a murderer. The thought would leave her family and Potter devastated. Such proceedings would cause as much uproar in the Order as her immediate death."

His master scratched his chin as he considered this. "Possibly more, considering her continuous suffering. If I submit them to the same rules as the others, she could never flee and return to them." He had lifted his head and gazed unseeingly out of the window. Turning swiftly to Draco, he asked, "What of these long-term advantages?"

"Children, my Lord. The hereditary factors of Severus Snape should not be lost. Poor as her family is, she is a pure-blood. She can ennoble whatever his genetic make-up is supposed to lack from the pure-blood point of view." Considering his master's own status, Draco carefully crafted his words to hint that he did not fully approve of such an attitude. He was nevertheless bound to heed the traditions, as his master knew well.

"Me, for one, I would allow their common children marry into the Malfoy family. Being three-quarters wizard and showing no Mudblood travesty in their line, they stand chances to wed noble Slytherin offspring, even where Severus Snape does not." Draco paused for effect. "And, of course, those who might end up in Gryffindor house can be your first foot into this domain."

A "Hmm" accompanied a short deliberation before the cold reptilian man asked, "What makes you believe that she could indeed be an adequate wife for him, be ready to mother his children?"

"Several aspects, my Lord. Firstly, she stays alive. She might worship him already for that." Draco smirked. "For as long as she is needed." He felt colour rise up his neck at the betrayal and fidgeted. He swallowed hard.

"Secondly," he rushed on, stilling his hands in an innocent move, "she is from a simple family. She did not shrink back from the looks of his house as most of us would... did. Yes, myself included. She does not recoil from the hard work of a big, elf-less household since it is all she knows. Thirdly, she has the genes and the attitude to multiply. Six brothers, my Lord. Her mother, a Prewett, had two brothers...only two because their mother was killed young. Pregnant with her fourth child, I might add. Similarly on the Weasley side."

"This covers the mother and housewife aspects. What about the... wife?"

"You've seen Severus today, my Lord."

"It was true then?" This time the doubt was on their master's face as well as in his voice.

Draco's expression hardened. "Severus Snape..." Draco plunged in to get this over with. "It possibly can become true." When their master demanded proof, Draco had to be careful. Slytherin or not, he was not to peep or sneak on his mentor, and he said as much. "Severus would never reveal anything. I could give you two pictures though. If you would..." He Occluded his mind with all force he could muster. When he felt the familiar sensation of Legilimency, he presented the scenes he had selected.

First he showed his master the crammed potions lab at Spinner's End.

Severus, his brows wrinkled, grinding two beaks of a marsh harrier. Somewhere a door creaks open and Ginny's voice announces, "Dinner is ready in ten minutes or whenever it suits you." Severus' grim expression lightens up, the furrows in his face smoothen and his eyes show a tiny sparkle. He exhales deeply, his shoulders relax.

For the next scene Draco said, "The following happened when we returned from the training."

Wiping sweat out of their faces, Draco and Severus enter the house. Ginny approaches and places a rug on the floor, directing them to deposit their murky trainers there...not anywhere else. Severus hesitates just a moment, his anger rising, before he swallows, arches his eyebrow and complies.

Her voice follows him on his way to the bathroom. "There is a basket for your clothes in the corner." He turns as she is wrinkling her nose just a bit, and he regards her a long time, not showing any reaction. "I moved the towels to the left, so you can reach them from within the bath before you drip water on the floor." Severus murmurs something incomprehensible as he closes the bathroom door.

Draco looked at his master again, pretending he did not notice the tiny itch in his eyes, the sign that their connection still existed.

"Most interesting, Malfoy," the Dark Lord confirmed, "She is not... revolted by him, then?"

"I haven't seen signs of it, no. My guess is a schoolgirl crush. Or maybe it's only the sheer relief she ended up with someone she believes she knows. Naturally she asked us for advice for last Wednesday, and she took every bit in from him eagerly. While Severus' search through her mind wasn't anything enjoyable for either side, he showed an unexpected tolerance. He might have worked himself into her good books."

Draco and the Dark Lord agreed that there was no reason for Severus to have administered a mind altering spell or to have drugged or charmed her to his favours. Severus was not the type to force himself on a woman. Also in the future, he would be appalled at something as primitive as a love potion to bind her to him. "I dare say it would not satisfy him," Draco added with a feeling that for once was genuine.

The Dark Lord started pacing the little room. After two rounds, he could not restrict his long strides to the confining place any more. He dropped the wards, and they both returned to the main room that lay now deserted. Draco released a breath he had not noticed he was holding.

After pacing three times across the large room, his master addressed Draco again. His eyes cold as ever, he had a most calculating expression in his face. "Up to now I can see how Severus, myself and the Weasley girl could profit from your proposal. Tell me, Malfoy, why would you go out of your way and suggest this? What is your personal interest in the matter?"

Slytherins that they were, purely altruistic motivations wouldn't count. Everyone always pursued his own interest. Draco forced himself into a smile while his brains were working on full power. He would have to present something convincing quickly. "Even years after the war, young Death Eaters with potential are essential in stabilising our success. It stabilises me, too...especially if... you permit me to make it known that I have proposed their union." He paused. "Then, my Lord, I would prefer a daughter of mine become a Snape to losing her to a... Goyle."

"For the present..." he plastered the hint of a grin on his face "...I might not be too welcome in the wedding preparation or the honeymoon, my Lord. I was hoping I could return to Malfoy Manor more often, if not permanently. Escape cutting onions or dish washing at the very least. Comforting my mother, taking care of our affairs when I'm not in your service, my Lord."

"What will be Severus' reaction if I send Miss Weasley to the werewolves, Mr Malfoy?"

A tricky one, but if Draco had prepared himself for anything, it was this question. "He teaches me not to attach myself to any woman. He certainly does not allow himself to be head over heels in love...to be infatuated with anyone, forgetting everything around him. He is impressed, maybe captivated by her, and this can be exploited. Or dropped," Draco added with a shrug of indifference that felt like the worst betrayal.

"He lets her run free in the house?"

"She cannot leave the ground floor. She has no wand either. She commutes freely from sitting room to kitchen, bathroom and his bedroom, though. She is supposed to cook, wash and clean, my Lord. I've occasionally seen her with a book on medicinal potions, taking notes." The remark was well selected. Binding Severus Snape to a dimwit would not do.

"Remind me, Malfoy, what do we know about the characters and intellect of the Weasleys?"

"She and her brothers are Gryffindors, like her parents. I know that there have been Slytherins on the Prewett side and that the other houses are mixed in as well. Two of her brothers were remarkably successful at Hogwarts, Bill, the eldest, gaining an apprenticeship and employment at Gringotts, and Percy, the only one who has left the clan."

"Old Crouch's doormat?" Their master's voice had taken a dangerous tone.

Cold sweat covered Draco's back when he continued. "Yes, my Lord. All the others show a lot more... ah... character. One was a famous Quidditch Seeker and is now an intrepid Dragon Keeper. Her twin brothers, two years ahead of me, never made their N.E.W.T.s. They fought for months against Umbridge and left school with a most dramatic exit. Today they run their own business and are very creative."

"Against dear Dolores? Understandable from the point of view of a Gryffindor, I suppose. What about the young lady herself?"

Draco regrouped. His little mistake in mentioning Percy Weasley had been dangerous enough. Slowly he began, carefully avoiding sounding like a salesman. "Severus treats her well enough for a Gryffindor, so she cannot be daft or an irritation to him. She trained Defence with Potter and his trio in their club. From what we saw the last months, she is level with us, which means more than one year ahead of her age in Defence. Then she is a very talented flyer, a clever Quidditch Chaser and passable Seeker. She has a temper, a stubbornness, I might say, which she will need with Severus. He even seems to enjoy it, especially when the result is a wonderful dinner." Had this gone well enough? "Yet, she is modest and knows when to be silent, too. Severus very clearly appreciates her demeanour." Yes, that was worth mentioning.

The Dark Lord mused, pacing again, his face unreadable. After minutes of deliberation, he spoke. "Miss Weasley is not an ideal mother for my new generation of Death Eaters. She is very young, too. Yet, the fact that she, as a pure-blood with a pride for her ancestry, managed to warm up Severus Snape at all, qualifies her beyond my wildest hopes. She is the best we could find for Severus. He has put on a pound or two already. Furthermore, I grant her that she certainly complements what Severus lacks in the knowledge about the family life a child or a husband seem to benefit from. I would not know myself, but did not the oh-so-great Albus always say I don't understand love? If anyone should, then it is she." He looked into his servant's eyes, who rapidly let the scene of small talk about the Weasley bedtime ceremony float through his mind, with Severus' puzzled but intrigued look.

The Dark Lord shook his head but then looked up. "Indeed. So be it: I will interrogate Severus tomorrow. If he truly wants her, can see her as the mother of his children as well as his life companion as we always demand," he made a pause to emphasise the point, "then Miss Weasley has a third option."

Draco nodded and was about to bow when he hesitated shortly. "My Lord, Severus has a complicated potions project ongoing that was carefully timed around today's dinner. Ingredients have to be added regularly all day. I'm not familiar with the brew. I understood some were rare species."

"Tuesday for lunch then, if this is easier to arrange." Silently Draco bowed to the decision.

With the words, "It is late, Malfoy. I remember that Severus wants you to get a full night's sleep," he was dismissed and hurried out. The night breeze passed through his robes and dried his sweat, freezing him to the bone. Was it because the tension was finally released? The aftermath of the Cruciatus? Draco did not care; he was cold, tired and soaked and only wanted home.

:*:*:*:

When she sat down on the bed yet another time, she looked more defeated than ever. She fell back and closed her eyes.

Severus saw with relief that she had found sleep, although it was a restless one. She was shivering with agitation and maybe cold. After washing her face and neck and covering her with a light blanket, he added logs to the fire. He warmed the tea, but there was nothing more he could do. He watched her wrap the blanket tightly as if it gave her moral support. What made him react so strongly to the idea of her death? In the two weeks she had been here, their communication or interaction had had nothing artificial. She had fit in and taken the role assigned, filled it with life and... Yes, she had made a difference.

Before long, she cried out and was wide-awake again. She folded and unfolded her arms, casting the blanket aside; she clasped and unclasped her hands. Her view was unfocussed, her whole body tense. Taking the offered tea, she shortly stopped fidgeting, but the few sips she took did not have much effect.

Severus felt lost. He did not know what to do, how to offer even the slightest bit of comfort. If he touched her, would she flinch back? If he did not touch her, would she believe him cold? She would be right then, would she not? Yet, to this young woman he wanted to give comfort, warmth. How does one do this? he wondered. Assuming he knew the theory, could he actually do it? Severus sat down beside her, one hand taking hers. "Ginevra, do not lose yourself in despair."

She turned to meet his gaze and held it for a while. Holding out her tea for her, he said, "You have been strong. I am amazed how strong. You came in here with a lot of power already, and you have accomplished so much in these few days."

She huffed weakly and regarded her hands fidgeting in her lap. "And what has it helped? Nothing at all. I'm to be sold as a whore and won't live to see next Sunday. I know this is a war and sacrifices have to be made, but if it has to be me, why can it not be in a battle and be over quickly?"

"You should not be sacrificed at all!" Severus exclaimed a little too hard. "No, Ginevra." He moved his hand up to lift her chin. Softly he continued, "Whatever I must do..."

Ginny started, saying, "You must not risk..." when Draco entered with an unreadable expression on his face.

:*:*:*:

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I wish to thank my faithful betas, Sirsevchick, Pennfana, Lumière and Soul Bound for their valuable contributions as well as for their patience with my non-native English.

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