The Way Back Home

WL1031: Here’s chapter 19, folks.



Jade: Yup! Enjoy it! And Review people! We need more comments and opinions!



WL1031: However, flames are not attractive and will not be responded to.



Jade: That’s right… we may have to kick your---Umph!



WL1031: *elbows Jade in the stomach* Hey! Don’t threaten the flamers! They’re not cool but we’re not going to kick anybody’s ass!



Jade: *laughing hysterically* Made you say it! *takes off running*



WL1031: *chases her off stage* I’ll get you yet! Review people!



Disclaimer: I don’t own it. Only the story line and the characters that you don’t recognize are mine. Everything else—the main characters and the Harry Potter Universe—is the fabulous brainchild of J.K. Rowling and her publishing company friends.











The Way Back Home:

Chapter 19: Wishful Thinking from the Snake Pit







Zeporiap had been in the dark room for at least four days—well, that was what she assumed from the number of times that the servants came and dropped a platter of food on the floor. There were no windows in the room, only a door that led oh-so-politely to a full bathroom complete with a shower and a bathtub that was big enough for eight. It was all so nice…for a prison cell. Leaning back on the on the disgustingly comfy bed, Zeporiap stared at the underside of the canopy, watching the enchanted sky move past. Growing tired of the scene, she curled up on her side and tried to sleep. I miss Severus. I miss him so much. Tears fell from her eyes, running down into the pillow and making a small wet spot in the fabric. Bringing her hands under her cheek, she ran her fingers over her engagement ring—it gave her comfort to know that something of him was close to her.



Letting out a sigh, she curled into a ball on top of the bed away from the direction of the door. By the growling in her stomach, she knew that he—Lucius as he was named—would be coming soon to try and coax her into doing what he wanted her to do. Earlier, he had tried to cast a spell that would make her follow his commands, but her body rejected it. Her magical ability had not allowed it, casting a barrier against him or anyone else that came too close. It had frustrated him to no end—he yelled and screamed like a maniac, smashing and breaking things around the room, only to fix it all with a flick of his wand. Zeporiap shuddered at the crazed look that was in his eyes.



Hearing a door open, Zeporiap cringed. The door closed followed by the sound of locks clicking into place. Then, she heard his footsteps echoing closer to the bed. She moved to the other side of the bed, going as far as she could away from him.



“You know why I am here, my dear. If you don’t reveal to me what I want to know about you, I will find a way to force it out of you.” Lucius laughed as he came closer to the bed.



Zeporiap scooted farther back on the bed. And although he could not physically get closer, his presence still made her sick. She was looking into the face of the man who had raped her and all she could feel was disgust as he leered over her.



“¡Consiga lejos de mí!” Zeporiap made it a point to only speak in her native language, just to make it harder for him or anyone else that wanted to talk.



“Ah, my dear, you wound me with your rejection.” Lucius placed a hand on his chest, a hurt look settling over his features—he could have fooled someone with that look if not for the wicked glint lighting his eyes. He signaled over his shoulder and two house elves appeared with food and a set of clothing. Lucius took the set of clothes and laid it out on the bed. “The Master wants to see you tonight. You will dress in these clothes and be presentable. Be ready in one hour.” He looked at her, his eyes sliding over her body. “If you behave, I may let you out of your room tomorrow.”



He turned away from the bed and left the room, closing the door behind him. Zeporiap uncurled from her position at the corner of the bed and jumped off, running into the bathroom. Vomiting into the toilet, she turned on the shower head full-blast. Climbing inside, she didn’t care that it was barely warm. Sitting down on the tiled floor, she cried under the stream of water.



*Severus…I miss you…help me…*



Turning her face upwards, she let her tears mingle with the water flowing down her face, wishing for the thousandth time that she had just left the damn bag in the pub.







Four days. Four fucking days she had been gone and it was driving him to the brink of his patience and sanity.



He had searched all over Hogsmeade, almost tearing the place apart—and people—when she didn’t come back to the castle. He felt the rage building up inside him now, clawing its way to that exit he kept locked up tight. Throwing his glass against the wall, he watched—somewhat pleased—as it shattered against the stone wall. Getting up from his chair, he swirled his robes around his shoulders and left his room. Stalking down the hallways, students scrambled out of his way, scattering like roaches at the intensely evil look on his face. Reaching the great doors in the main hallway, he stepped outside into the waning sunlight.



Severus walked around the lake, trying to burn off the excess energy and rage that was building up in his body. He could not stay in his rooms—their rooms—because she was not there with him. The space was not the same without her sharing it with him and it pissed him off every time that he stepped inside. He could feel her presence there; smell her; like she was in every little thing in the room, from the robe that he wore when they lounged around to the quill that he wrote with when he graded papers. It was all driving him insane—he knew that he had a certain bit of madness to him, but without her it was only pushing him further to the edge. If he didn’t find her soon, his darkness would dominate.



Sitting down on his customary perch, he turned his head towards the lake. The squid was lapping across the lake, its great tentacles slapping the surface of the water. He closed his eyes as the cool wind blew across his face. It is almost exactly like the day that she came…



Turning his face towards the sky, he listened to the wind blowing around him. It seemed to be picking up in speed, causing his hair to whip around him. He let out a deep breath as the cool air rushed past him. Stepping down from the rock, he turned and placed his hands against the ridged surface. Severus felt the rage building up inside him, needing to be released. The wind was at a high point now, almost screaming in intensity as it moved across the top of the lake and school grounds. Snapping his eyes open, Severus looked out across the lake. The squid had already taken cover, hiding from the violently slashing waves on the roof of its home.



*Severus…I miss you…help me…*



For four days he had been hearing her sweet voice in his mind, calling to him in desperation. When he would respond to her, he would only feel emptiness, nothing. He knew that she was afraid because he could feel it. It was making him angry that he could not find exactly where she was; that her feeling of being isolated from everything was causing her depravity.



*I will find you even if I have to tear apart the world to have you back.*



She did not respond.



Severus let out scream of rage into the howling wind. Pounding his fists into the rock, it shattered under his hands with the force of his magic. He didn’t care about the black glow surrounding his body, nor did he seem to notice that someone was watching as he expressed his rage. Finally eased at having destroyed a bit of scenery along the bank of the lake, he turned and walked slowly back to the castle. His magic radiated in the air around him, forming a halo of black energy that fluoresced against the early night sky.







Looking down from his office, Albus watched as Severus had destroyed the rock he had previously been sitting on. He saw how the winds had picked up to almost gale-force levels and completely bypassed the dark man standing in the brunt of it. Albus also saw the mutilated results of the release of anger and frustration left by Severus—he was amazed that his emotions allowed him to do that much. He was even more surprised at the amount of restraint that the Potions Master shown due to the relatively hidden, but forceful dark magic that he had inside of him—he could have turned completely dark, loosing the last bits of conscious that he had left in his soul; the conscious that Zeporiap helped to flourish.



Turning his eyes from the bank of the lake, he looked on as Severus came closer to the castle and out of his view. As soon as the great doors shut, the winds stopped. The choppy surface of the lake became still and the squid poked out a tentative tentacle onto the top of the water. A few moments later, it began to propel itself across the lake once more as if nothing had happened.



Sighing with concern, Albus made his way over to his desk. Fawkes, perched on his stoop, sang out a beautiful mournful note as he watched his master pace towards his chair. He ruffled his flame colored feathers and then hopped down onto the edge of the desk as the older man sat down. He leaned forward as Albus ran his fingers through his feathers.



“I know, my friend.” He sighed in concern. “If we do not retrieve Miss Luz soon, Severus could go too far. He is barely holding on as it is. We must find her soon for the sake of his soul.”



Fawkes sang out again as a few tears slid down his beak onto Albus’ hand. “I hope that it is sooner than later, my friend. Hopefully, it will be much sooner.”







Outside, the ground began to heal itself, giving off a platinum glow as it returned to its previous state.







Stepping out of the bathroom in a large dark green towel, Zeporiap sat down on the bed. She held still as the house elf combed her hair into an elaborate twist on the top of her head. Watching through a mirror on the opposite wall as the elf did her fancy work, Zeporiap questioned the small creature.



“What is your name?” she asked quietly in English.



“My name is Binky, miss.” The small creature looked nervous as if it didn’t want to get caught talking with her.



“It’s alright Binky. You will not get into trouble for talking to me. He will not know of this.” Binky relaxed, however; she did so only slightly.



“Miss is to see He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named this evening. You will have to wear the clothes that my master set out for you.” Binky placed two diamond encrusted chopsticks into Zeporiap’s curls. “Hurry Miss and be ready before he comes.” Now, Binky had hopped down onto the floor in front of Zeporiap. She was wringing her hands, looking nervously at the door. “Please get dressed Miss or Binky will be punished!”



Sighing, Zeporiap got oiled down and dressed faster than she ever had in her life, quickly flipping on the top and skirt while Binky fastened the clasps. Zeporiap held out her foot while Binky quickly snapped her fingers, changing the nail polish on her toes from a pale blue to a pale green to match the dress, and then snapped her fingers again to do up the buckles on the high-heeled shoes. They finished with only seconds to spare before a knock sounded on the door.



Zeporiap looked at Binky, who had tears in her big green eyes. Reaching up, Binky patted Zeporiap on the hand. “Please, be safe Miss. Please.” She disappeared with a snap of her fingers and a crack.



Turning at the sound of the door opening, Zeporiap moved back as far as she could. She watched as Lucius came into the room, his robes swirling around him dramatically. He came as close as he could to her without being hurt by her magic. His eyes gleamed in the dim light and Zeporiap didn’t like it at all. She turned her eyes towards the far wall on the right, not wanting to see the lust and desire on his face.



Hot tears slid down her cheeks as she wished to be anywhere but here.







Lucius stepped into the room that his beautiful captive occupied. He watched as she moved back to the wall, trying to get as far as she could from him. That only caused him to smile, but then that turned into a near moan as he slid his eyes down her body. The outfit he had chosen for her was perfect. The pale green fabric of the top fitted tightly to her breastsosinosing with a mandarin-style neckline. It stopped a few inches under her breasts, leaving all of that lovely brown skin open to his heated gaze. The skirt of the ensemble started just below that deliciously glittering piercing, clinging to her hips and sweeping down to the floor into a small train. A long split started high on the inside of her left thigh, showing him her thighs as she moved back from him. The straps of her shoes went around her slim ankles—he wanted to have her wrap her legs around him with the shoes on as he pounded into her. Her feet gracing the sexy shoes made him want to lick her toes—that was something that he didn’t even do for his wife or his mistress. He shivered deliciously at the thought.



Licking his lips, he moved closer. He could smell the scent of some exotic flowers drifting towards him and he was this close from risking getting magically hurt to rip the dress off and fuck her against the wall. Shaking his head, he let out a sigh. I will find a way to do that later, he thought.



“Usted ha venido cerca bastante. Deseo que podría matarle.” Lucius waved his wand in the air and they both watched as her words floated in mid-air. Then, they changed into English and floated into Lucius’ ears. He smiled.



“Oh, my dear… once I get around your little shield we will have plenty of time for foreplay.” He beckoned forward with his hands. “Come, it is time to see my master. He has been waiting to meet you all this time.” Zeporiap moved around him without a word and walked in front of him. She put her shoulders back and head up, stepping out of the room. Lucius followed behind her, watching her body as she walked. Damn… he thought.



Reaching the top of a long stairway, Zeporiap frowned. She had been sure that she was downstairs because her room had no windows. Placing her hands on the banister, she leaned forward slightly and listened. She could hear the sounds of people laughing and moving about, seeming as if they had not a care in the world. It disgusted her that they behaved like that, not caring that they were indifferent to those around them. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Lucius approach and motion towards the stairs. He led her down the stairs and into the arched doorway of a ballroom. He left her standing at the door as he walked through the waltzing crowd to his master. Kneeling down, he kissed the hem of his robes, before standing.



“She is here, my lord.” He said. “She is ready to grace your presence with her beauty.” Voldemort grinned evilly, his eyes lighting with excitement. He motioned for the room to be silenced.



“Silence the music.” He hissed. “Then allow her to come forward.”



Standing back, Lucius moved to the right side of Voldemort’s ornate chair. He nodded to his master and pointed his wand at the musicians to cease their music. The crowd quieted turning to the front of the room. Voldemort smiled and raised his hand.



“Now, my Death Eaters we have a special guest this evening. She has great power that will aid us in our cause. Allow her to come forward.” He raised his wand and beckoned the guest forward. The crowd turned towards the door and watched. She hesitated for a moment and then moved forward, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.







Zeporiap wished that she could have turned and run at that moment. She hated how the outfit Lucius picked out for her left her feeling exposed—not even the belly-dancing costume she wore left her this exposed. She hated how she had to step into a room of vipers, wanting to just go back to the room and away from the leering faces and lust-filled eyes. Why do they always have to look at me like that?



Sighing to herself, Zeporiap tried to steel her emotions and not show any fear—at least on the outside. Inside, she was absolutely terrified of facing the evil that she could feel around the room. She wanted to escape from the disgusting feeling crawling up her spine, but she knew that she couldn’t—not far anyway.



The crowd waited expectantly for her to come forward—Zeporiap wanted to throw up. Curling her hands into fists behind her back, she released them to lie flat against her outer thighs. Letting out a breath, she moved forward. The room was absolutely silent as she walked; the only thing that she could hear were her heels clicking and the fabric of the skirt as it slid against the floor. Turning her head neither left nor right, she focused on a far point at the back of the hall. The crowd, a sea of leering faces, parted as she walked standing to either side of the room. She stopped near the front of the room, a few feet back from the raised dais. Looking at the man seated in an ornate chair, she almost shuddered…almost…but she held herself in place, resisting the involuntary action. Sitting there was a being with a human body, but with pale scaly skin and snake-like features. It was creepy as hell and Zeporiap fought the impulse to run screaming—she’d run in heels before and this would be no problem. Still, she stood before the man, his evil presence exuding down to Zeporiap, making her want to take a hot, scalding bath; anything to not have to look into those red eyes glinting with madness.



“Well, my dear. It is so very nice to meet you, Zeporiap.” His voice slithered around the room, sliding into Zeporiap’s ears.



“No es agradable satisfacarle, Señor.” Zeporiap said quietly.



Voldemort laughed. “Come, come my dear, I know that you can speak our language. Now, when I speak to you, I want a reply in English.”



Zeporiap only looked at him as a response.



“Good. Now, I am so glad that you have made it all this way to grace me with your presence. Are you having a nice stay in the room you were provided?”



“No, I am not, Señor. Nor, am I going to ask how you know my name. I want to go home.” Zeporiap said tersely.



The audience gasped in shock. No one ever openly defied the Dark Lord with out receiving punishment.



Voldemort only laughed, his eyes glinting in glee.



“Well, my dear, it seems that you have a sharp tongue hidden behind those beautiful lips. However, you will not be going home any time soon. Your home is now with me.” The smile on his face was disgusting.



“If that is the case, Señor, I will go back to my room. I do not feel up to stayfor for the party.” Voldemort’s laughter rang out behind her.



Zeporiap turned around, intending to make her way out of the room. She made a few steps before a woman’s voice screeched into the awed silence.



“YOU FUCKING BITCH! YOU WILL LEARN YOUR PLACE!”



Zeporiap turned to see a pale, dark-haired woman rushing at her with her wand raised. The intense look of fury on her face darkened her features into an ugly mask. The woman was coming full-force, the murderous look in her eyes shining brightly. She was ready to take aim, intending to use Zeporiap as her target.







Bellatrix had watched as Lucius came in to speak to their master. She stood to the left side of the dais, but could not hear the bulk of their conversation over the noise of the crowd and music. Leaning forward, she heard Lucius being told to silence the music so that the guest could be allowed passage. Seeing the crowd part, Bellatrix saw a woman in a pale green dress moving slowly towards the front of the room.



Bellatrix took an instant dislike to her. She now knew that she was to woman that her master was referring to when she spoke to him that night: her replacement. I will kill her. Bellatrix thought, curling her fingers around her wand. She itched to raise her wand and strike her down, but she pushed that feeling back. Watching the conversation between her master and the woman, she gasped along with the rest when she verbally defied her master not once, but twice! Then the bitch had the absolute gall to turn her back and walk away without being dismissed.



Bellatrix felt her blood boiling at the actions of the woman. Her anger rose to the surface—she would show that bitch where heace ace in this game was.



“YOU FUCKING BITCH! YOU WILL LEARN YOUR PLACE!” She screeched.



Bellatrix launched off of the dais, intended to hex the rude bitch to her knees. The woman turned and faced her as she got closer. Bellatrix raised her wand, intending to blast the woman for her impertinence.







Zeporiap stepped back as the woman came closer and closer. She was tired from the lack of sleep, worried about what could happen to her, and y aty at being taken away from her friends and fiancée. Now, some crazy woman was calling her a bitch and running at her looking to kill.



A black rage built up inside Zeporiap and she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself. The last thing that she needed was to have a break down—she was close because her nerves were stretched to the moment of shattering. Zeporiap turned around and started walking, not caring that a crazy woman was bearing down on her. She would have been fine if the woman had not started in on her with the irritating demands.



“Don’t turn your back on me bitch! You will kneel to our master or I will break your legs at the knees!” The woman’s voice bellowed into Zeporiap’s ears.



After everything that happened, for some reason, this took the cake. The rage that Zeporiap tried to keep in control, spilled forth as she turned to face the angry woman. The airund und her body glittered in a platinum color as the inhuman light bled into her eyes. At that moment, she didn’t give a flying damn about anything. All she wanted was to be rid of this place, especially the woman charging at her. Right now, this woman was preventing her from doing that with her silly games. And if the bitch wanted to play, she would get played.



“I will do nothing of the sort, bitch. I am tired of you and everyone else.” Zeporiap’s voice became loudechoechoing around the room. “If you want to play Queen of the Mountain, we will play—just be prepared to lose.”







Lucius turned to look at his master. He was inwardly shocked to see Bellatrix fly off of the dais to confront his guest, Zeporiap, for her defiance. He watched as his beautiful house guest turned and began walking towards the exit of the ballroom. Scanning the room, he saw the many people staring at her as she walked away, looking like a queen. Turning his eyes back to his master, he saw the look of excitement on his face as he watched to two women before him. He was actually leaning forward in his seat, enjoying himself immensely.



Shaking his head, Lucius watched as Bellatrix began to threaten Zeporiap, raising her wand to cast an Unforgivable. That was all fine and good because he was going to interject with a curse of his own. Raising his wand, he was just about to cast the Cruciatus when the Dark Lord, grabbed his wrist. He looked up at him with a smile.



“Hold your wand. Let us watch to see how this plays out.” He hissed. Lucius nodded, bringing his arm down.



Bellatrix screamed a threat at Zeporiap, but she kept her back to her would be opponent. Lucius watched as Bellatrix raised her wand, coming closer to the retreating woman. This is interesting… he thought.



Strangely, the air in the room began to be charged with magic. Lucius’ eyes widened as he saw a platinum glow surrounding Zeporiap. She turned around, her eyes glowing just as they had on the night that he met her—right before she had escaped. Her smooth voice echoed into the room.



“I will do nothing of the sort, bitch. I am tired of you and everyone else. If you want to play Queen of the Mountain, we will play—just be prepared to lose.”



A few people screamed as the mirrored walls of the ballroom began to shatter. The champagne flutes that were held in the hands of the occupants in the room smashed, leaving broken glass all over the floor. Suddenly, Bellatrix screamed trying to stop her approach at the glowing woman before her. She tried to turn and run, but she was unable to get away fast enough.



“Why are you running, bitch? I thought that you wanted to play and spend some girl time together.” Zeporiap’s voice had turned cold, not caring that the woman before her was frightened. Lucius could tell that she just didn’t give a fuck.



Lifting her hand, Zeporiap blasted Bellatrix with a pure shot of magic. Bellatrix screamed in agony and fell to the floor, writhing and convulsing. Stepping towards her shaking body, Zeporiap looked down at her before giving a vicious kick to her side.



“Does anyone else want some? Because I’ve more than enough to go around!” Zeporiap’s glowing eyes scanned the room, daring anyone else to except the challenge.



Then, as quickly as it all occurred, it ended. Zeporiap turned and walked down the long stretch of the room, not caring about anybody. The air arounr shr shimmered, causing people to back up. Thewingwing in her eyes gave them second thoughts about trying to grab her to keep her from leaving.





As soon as she left the room, utter silence fell upon the occupants. Nobody was saying anything, not even Bellatrix as she lay on the floor. Barty Crouch Jr., who had been standing to the side of the dais, didn’t know what to say and was completely shocked at what he had just seen; he’d never been witness to that kind of magic and was startled to know that one person could possess it. The girl didn’t even use a wand! Turning to look at Lucius, he saw a similar expression on his face. He looked like he didn’t know what to say or what to do with himself. They both looked to their master and saw a pleased look on his face.



“Bellatrix, my dear… didn’t I tell you that I would be displeased if a cat fight broke out? Don’t worry; I’m sure that you have received enough punishment… for now.” He stood up and clapped his hand. “Well, everyone tonight’s entertainment was pleasing. Now, go home and be prepared for the next revel.” The crowd jumped into action, filing out of the room, whispering softly about what they had just seen.



He turned and stepped from the room, Lucius and Barty Crouch Jr. following him.



An extraordinarily pleased smile settled onto Voldemort’s face as he thought about how to get the woman’s powers for himself. He was sure that it would be a pleasurable acquiring.







Inside her room, Zeporiap was met by Binky. She immediately gushed over seeing her safe back into her room, quickly helping the tired woman get undressed and into the shower. Zeporiap gracefully thanked the small creature and was soon ready for bed.



Pulling the sheets up around her shoulders, Binky left the room with a tearful plea for her to have a good night’s rest and a loud crack.



Zeporiap didn’t cry until she burrowed herself deep underneath the covers. Her body shook as she cried out her frustration and fear into her pillows.



She did not sleep for a long time that night.







Sitting up in his bed, Harry put on his glasses. He had another dream and could not believe at what he had seen. A sense of foreboding settled over him, making him feel sick.



Zeporiap was in danger.





Downstairs, Severus woke up breathing harshly. He wasn’t sure if what he saw was a dream or not, but it was frightening. He saw it all through Zeporiap’s eyes—being angry was the least descriptive word to label what he was feeling at the moment.



He now knew where Zeporiap was because he recognized the place where she had faced down Bellatrix Lestrange.



She was at Malfoy Manor and he was going to get her tonight. The game was on and he was going to win.

Ev
Everybody else could fuck off.









_,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_._,’^’,_.





WL1031: Oh wow… that was amazing!



Jade: I know…*in awe* I can’t believe how she totally blasted Bellatrix like that.



WL1031: I know… that was pretty cool.



Jade: It was good. Hey review people! And look out for chapter 20 soon!



WL1031: It will probably be up by Monday or so!









Translations:



¡Consiga lejos de mí!: Get away from me!



Usted ha venido cerca bastante: You have come close enough.



Deseo que podría matarle.: I wish that I could kill you.



No es agradable satisfacarle: It is not nice to meet you.



Señor: Mister or sir (interchangeable)