Where the Heart Is

A/N: Well, here is the next chapter. After this, there are only three more chapters left in the story. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!! Pretty please! *begs* I like reviews. I would like to know what you think of the story one way or the other. Pretty please! *puppy dog eyes* Also, slight warning, there are more deaths in this chapter, but there is smut as well!


Chapter Eighteen: Raids


A cold blustery wind ripped through their dark cloaks as they moved through the shadows. In the windows, a couple sat beside the warm fire. The picturesque scene appeared like one of those on a Christmas card with the couple by the fire while the snow blew outside. The scene was fitting for a few days before Christmas, except for the Death Eaters waiting to attack. The signal was executed, and black shadows crossed through the snow. A sudden bang blew the door off the hinges. Screams created a cacophony with the high pitched wind. Bursts of light went through the air from the spells cast.

The chaos was soon over as the people were quickly subdued. Cassandra walked in with Severus by her side. “We’ll take them to the Dark Lord,” she instructed, grabbing the witch by the back of the robes roughly. Severus grabbed their wands from another Death Eater and then took the wizard. Within seconds of the portkey, Severus and she arrived in front of the Dark Lord. “We have some more for you. They did not put up too much of a fight.”

Voldemort stood up and looked at them. A slow smirk played on his lips. “Take Arthur and Molly to the holding room with the others and return to me.”

“Come along now,” she hissed, pushing the witch forward toward the holding room. “Sorry about that, Molly,” she whispered once they were out of sight from Voldemort. “Remember the plan. I’ll try to come back down to check on you later.” The door was opened, revealing several witches and wizards kept in place by spells. The room was getting crowded, and Cassandra truly did hope that this would work.

After a few minutes, Severus and Cassandra returned to the Dark Lord. “What further instructions do you have for us, my Lord?”

“You two have been working hard. Take a little time off in one of our rooms here.” Voldemort then motioned them away.

“Thank you, Tom,” she said, glad to have at least a little bit off. They had been having raids for the past couple of nights straight, and tomorrow night, they were to take the castle. She wanted some alone time with Severus. Grabbing his hand and flashing the Dark Lord a smile, she practically dragged Severus with her to one of the nicer rooms. She pushed him suddenly against the door and kissed him.

A low chuckle rose from Severus’ lips. “Eager? Are we?” He opened the door and pulled her inside, taking her over to the bed and pushing her down onto it. He raised his wand and shut and locked the door.

“Quite,” she said, already getting her outer robes off. They had been so exhausted the last week that they hadn’t had any personal time together. There was too much to get ready for the final battle. Her dark eyes locked with his, and she climbed on the bed, motioning for him to follow her.

Severus took off his own outer robes and walked toward her. He loved how the lush dark red intertwined with the black in the room framed around her. The candle light glimmered and caught a spark in her mischievous eyes. Gods, he loved this woman and would do anything for her. He kicked off his shoes and placed a knee on the end of the bed. He crawled on his hands and knees up to her and captured her lips in a possessive kiss.

She smiled softly against his lips and gave herself to him. Her fingers ran along the buttons of his shirt as she quickly undid them. She sighed softly against his mouth when she finally had them all undone and could touch his chest. Being with him was the only thing keeping her sane these lasw wew weeks. She would have gone positively mad with worry over the plans without him. She pulled the shirt off with his help as he was gathering the ends of her dress and pulling them over her hips. She raised her arms, and they broke the kiss just long enough to get the black dress over her head.

He leaned her back gently against the velvet sheets and slowly began to kiss down her body. His lips covered her neck, her collar bone, her breasts, and her flat stomach. They grazed over slightly the curly black pubic hair as he breathed in her musky scent. He placed a kiss on her inner thigh. He moved further down and took off her shoes and ran his rough hands over her smooth, soft legs. Placing a firm hand on one hip, he parted her legs even more with the other one. He gently nipped her inner thigh and then pressed his lips against her nether lips. She opened wider, fully accepting him. His tongue darted out as he began to lick and suck on her. Closing her eyes, she moaned as one hand grasped onto the headboard and the other into his hair, pushing him even closer. He teased and pleasured her with his tongue and mouth until her legs stiffened and an orgasm washed over her. She cried out softly, arching closer to him and then collapsing against the sheets.

He moved, kissing up her body again, paying special attention to her breasts as his tongue twirled around her hardened nipples. His lips captured hers in a deep kiss. Suddenly, she pushed him over and straddled him, sitting on his stomach. She smirked at his surprise of suddenly finding himself on the bottom as she kissed him. Then, her lips went to place feather-light kisses along his jaw. Running her teeth along his earlobe, she whispered, “You know what?”

“What?” he asked in a husky voice.

She raised her head to look into his eyes. “I lied to you.” She paused, noticing how his brow raised up. A grin grew on her face. “I never got over my obsession with Batman.” She leaned down and kissed him again, running her tongue into his mouth to mate with his.

He smirked and returned the kiss, remembering that one brief conversation they had had in the halls. He suddenly pushed her over, regaining his position on top. “You know what?”

“What?” she asked as she looked at him, spreading her legs wider for him to position himself between them.

“I lied to you too actually.” He lightly pressed the tip of his cock inside of her. With his hot breath against her neck, he continued to speak, “I was following you.” He pushed his full length inside of her and then bit down on her neck.

She gasped and then cried out as her body arched toward him. Alth bot both of them wanted this to last, neither one could stand the slow, steady rhythm. He pounded into her, thrusting deep, hard, and fast. Her hands went to his buttocks, and her nails dug into the flesh, pulling him deeper. He cried out her name as his orgasm hit him. She followed right after. “Severus!!” She milked the last of his hot seed from him as he collapsed on top of her, trying to catch his breath.

“You two put on quite a show there,” a cold, hard voice stated from the doorway.

Severus turned quickly and looked at the blonde-haired wizard. “How long have you been standing there, Lucius?” He performed a cleansing spell on them both as he still stayed in front of Cassandra.

“Long enough to catch the climax of the show,” he drawled. “We have another raid to go to. The others are already there, and the Dark Lord wanted the two of you to make an appearance.”

She looked to Severus, wondering where this raid was. It was not one of the scheduled ones, and it worried her greatly. He caught her worried look and summoned their clothes from the floor, so they could get dressed. He noticed that Lucius was eying Cassandra’s body as she put on the dress, and he glared at him in a way to tell him to ‘back off.’ They fastened their cloaks. “Where are we heading?” Severus asked Lucius.

“The Longbottoms,” Lucius stated and turned around, apparating there.

Severus and Cassandra exc exchanged worried looks and apparated right after Lucius. It was dark and cold as they stood at the open door. A stench of death and destruction struck her nose, causing her to gag suddenly and almost vomit. “Oh, gods,” she groaned softly as she tried to control the urge to get sick.

He placed his hand on the small of her back. “Let’s see what happened.” She nodded, and they both entered. Their eyes slowly adjusted to the dim lights, and it was the worse destruction that she had ever seen. Furniture was turned over. Some of it was broken or smashed into unrecognizable pieces. She stepped over what was probably a chair and almost slipped on something wet. He caught her before she fell. “What the…?” She then noticed that it was a spot of blood, and she hurriedly leaned against him and shut her eyes. “We have to go on,” he told her in a soft whisper, and she slowly nodded. They continued to the kitchen when Lucius stopped them.

“We lost two of them. Three are injured severely and are being taken care of. Grandma didn’t have a chance to put up a fight. The boy took on the rest before he met his end.” Lucius smirked and went on.

They entered the kitchen and spotted the two dead Death Eaters first. She turned her head to have one thrust into her face. “Bloody good time!” the Death Eater said, laughing as he was holding Neville’s bleeding head by the hair.

“Get that thing away,” Severus sha sharply as he ushered Cassandra through the kitchen to outside again. She took a few steps and collapsed on her hands and knees, getting sick in the snow. He knelt down beside of her, gently rubbing her back. He caught himself blinking back tears. He never would have expected that the boy could have taken on so many. He was proud of him, knowing that he died valiantly. Such a typical Gryffindor. “He was my worst student,” he said rather fondly of Neville Longbottom. True, he was the thorn in his side when it came to Potions, but he wasn’t all THAT bad. He definitely didn’t deserve this. He couldn’t help but think that Nick wouldn’t be happy that someone else could join the headless hunt, and he still couldn’t.

She finally stopped throwing up and leaned against him as she cried. “Poor Neville,” she said softly. She raised her eyes and looked at him. “We need to get back to Tom. I want to find out why he sent them here,” she said rather firmly as she stood up, shaking slightly. He nodded as they disapparated from here.

Voldemort saw that they were back. “Enjoy the raid?”

“Oh, yes,” she said, her voice thick with sarcasm. “Why was I not informed of this raid earlier? He was of no threat.”

He stood up, coming in front of her. “Do you dare question my motives?” His eyes blazed. “He was a threat, and he had to be destroyed.” He remembered the prophecy that he had discovered all those years before, and although he figured still that it was about Potter, he wanted to eliminate the only other possibility. “You may be my favorite, child, but don’t anger me.”

She crossed her arms almost defiantly. “Is there anything else that you have been keeping from me?”

“You forget who the master here is,” he hissed, raising his wand before she could even react. “Crucio.” She screamed out and fell to the ground, unable to get her wand out in time to block the spell. Fortunately, he did not hold her to it for long. He forced her to stand back up. “I don’t want to harm you, child, but you must learn your place. Perhaps I have been too lenient where you are concerned.” He touched her cheek. “You are like a daughter to me, Cassandra. I trust you more than any other. Please don’t be so cross. I have my reasons, and that is all you need to know.” He leaned forward and gave her a fatherly kiss on the forehead. “Understood?”

Her anger slowly came under control again, and she nodded. “Yes, Sir,” she said softly as she bowed her head. He was so infuriating, and she still wasn’t sure if he trusted her enough to complete her plan. She hated being so uncertain. So many lives were hanging in the balance, and the slightest thing could tighten the noose around them all.

“Good girl. Go. Get some rest, you two. We have to discuss the final plans tomorrow, and we will storm the castle tomorrow night,” he instructed to them.

They nodded and bowed to him. She took Severus’ hand as they walked to their room. She was lost in thought, trying to figure out if she could be wrong about what she saw. It had to work. Otherwise, they would never be rid of Lord Voldemort.


A/N: PLEASE REVIEW!!!