Unwanted

"We've heard the most interesting news, Severus. Your mudblood bride got away from you. Explain yourself." Voldemort leaned back in his throne of bones and waited for his servant's explanation. Severus nodded and stepped back from his master.

"My lord, the girl regained her memories of the night her parents died and I forced her when she went into early labor with my child. The girl child lived, but the mudblood entered a fugue state. While I was at home settling my child, her dam woke, overcame Potter and absconded with his wand, fleeing into Muggle London. She apparated off the isles and they believe she is abroad."

"She stole Harry Potter's wand?" Voldemort seemed on the verge of laughter, not something Severus wanted to see. The Dark Lord's mirth was like a normal person's dementia.

"He was reading to her and he fell asleep. If she'd been one of your chosen, the mudblood would have been the most powerful witch of her age."

"Yesssss. I sensed her power when she was in my presence. And your daughter. Do you feel anything with her?"

"Tristyn is, as I suspected when I first learned of the mudblood's pregnancy, a very very powerful little witch. A very powerful future follower for my lord."
Voldemort nodded and stroked his chin. "Wonderful. Wonderful. And no one knows where the mudblood is."

"You know the Aurors, Lord. They couldn't find their arses if they were kissing them in front of a mirror." The few Death Eaters surrounding Voldemort laughed in nervous titters.

"Good, yes. You will bring your daughter to the next meeting, Severus. I wish to mark her as one of mine. You may return to your child. Train her in the old ways, Severus Snape, teach her who her lord is."

"Of course, my lord. Thank you, Lord. With your leave." Severus backed away and apparated instantly.

He appeared in front of the Grimmauld House headquarters. Slamming back the door, the handle bounced off the wall behind it, waking Mrs. Black's portrait.
"Blood traitors! Filth, mudblood filth!"

"Shut up, Mrs. Black before I go get my paint stripping potion!" Severus seethed, pointing his wand at her. Narrowing her eyes, she closed her mouth, but he could tell she wanted to continue her diatribe. Albus, Harry, and Molly Weasley came out of the kitchen.

"I was just summoned. He heard about Hermione's disappearance, and Tristyn's birth."

"What's happening, Severus. You're normally not this upset after a revel."

"It wasn't a revel." Severus gripped his wand tight, closing his eyes in agony. "He wants me to present Tristyn to him next time I'm called. He plans on marking her!"

"Relax, Severus!" Albus led the group into the kitchen where Molly always had coffee and water for tea ready.

"I can't let him do it, Albus."

"You won't. Harry and Ron found the last horcrux, or I should say, the location of the last horcrux, the day before Hermione went into labor. Everything happened so fast that no one told you. We're ready for the final confrontation."

Severus looked up at his mentor, his closest friend for the last seventeen years. He took three deep breaths as Molly pushed a tea cup in front of him, steam rising and curling around his face. "Damn it!"

I won't let him mark my daughter, Albus! I don't care if I'm the only spy in his ranks. You can go bugger yourself if you think I'll let him harm Tristyn. She's stronger than Hermione and myself combined. He felt her magic on me."

"We won't let it happen. We're ready to confront Tom." Albus pressed one hand on the younger man's shoulder and squeezed briefly. Severus took a deep breath, remembering the people surrounding him and resumed his usual sneer.

"I should not have come here."

"We needed to know about his plans for Tristyn, Severus. 'Twas a good idea to come." Molly, the ever optimistic mother that she was, fussed over the new father. "And of course we won't let anything happen to the little one. Albus will think of something to keep her safe."

"Thank you." It sounded forced, but heartfelt. The day had just not gone well for him; he'd brought Tristyn home from the hospital, discovered his wife had disappeared not only from said hospital but from the damn country, and now the Dark Lord wanted to mark his daughter as a future Death Eater. He just shouldn't have gotten out of bed. 'Yes, like the last twenty years of mornings.' He snorted internally and sipped his tea.

"Now, here's what we're going to do." Albus, a twinkle in his eye again, started to lay out the plan to Severus and Harry. Molly had returned upstairs, to give them privacy.

A/N~~Hermione's gone for a few chapters. Coming up....a Summoning Severus really wants to ignore, a betrayal, and a battle.

Thanks again for the wonderful reviews, keep em coming LOL...hopefully I can stay three chapters ahead of uploads so I can get this done right....we're about halfway through the story I think...It depends on how Hermione and Severus feel when or if they discover each other again. Hope everyone had a great halloween, I know i'm on a sugar rush hehe....See ya in a couple of days..

Marti!