Unwanted

Severus apparated to the Dark Lord as far as he could without it seeming wrong. Death Eaters were gathered around Voldemort's throne. They were in the graveyard where he'd been resurrected three years before. Wormtail, the snivelling little sychophant, was bowed beside the dark wizard, his little rat-like nose almost touching the ground. Needing to give himself as much time as he could for Albus, he greeted his brethren with his 'daughter' safely ensconsed in his arm. The dichotomy amazed him: fearsome Death Eaters, men who'd been known to kill on a whim without any thought, were cooing over the 'baby', tickling 'her' chin and making baby noises. He nodded a greeting to each man, slowing his advance on the throne area.

"Your daughter, Severus? Poor dear has your nose. Well, she'll be highly sought as a powerful witch at least." Lucius sneered down at the bundle.

"Maybe you'd like to betroth her to Draco, Malfoy."

"Oh, no, Draco's already spoken for." Lucius smiled evilly and allowed the new father to continue towards their lord.

Voldemort was smiling as he genuflected. Voldemort smiling was never a good sign.

"My lord, I present my daughter, Tristyn Hermione Snape, as a servant to you."

"Yess, indeed, Severus. Bring the child to us. Show her to us."

Severus swallowed in his tight throat and bowed again to the Dark Lord. He dropped the nappy bag by his feet and walked forward slowly, the bundle in his arms feeling all too real to him. He extended his arms, his eyes never meeting Voldemort's.

"Hmmmm...It has the look of that mudblood mother about it, but for the hair and nose." Voldemort's hand wavered an inch over the 'child'. Severus started sweating. He'd been a spy for too many years not to feel when something wasn't going right. Voldemort finally lifted the sleeping bundle, held gingerly in his long spindly fingers. He cocked one eye at Severus then turned to his Death Eaters.

"Look upon this, my brothers! The future of our cause!" He lifted the bundle over his head and flung it to the ground beside Severus!

Although he *knew* that it wasn't Tristyn, he'd had to force himself to believe that the vase was her, and he cried out, dropping to his knees next to it, never hearing the dark lord's 'finite incantatum', revealing the spell he'd used to try and fool his master. He was caught.

He fought against the binding spell on him as he was pushed back to kneel in front of Voldemort.

"You thought to fool me, traitor! I am your lord and master and you would do well to remember that I own you. Bring out the child." Voldemort roared. Severus gasped as Maaki appeared holding a crying Tristyn.

"No! Maaki, what are you doing here?" But he knew he'd been betrayed somehow.

"I's house elf for Master Goyle, Master Severus. I's supposed to bring little miss if you didn't. You should have broughts her." She said sadly as she passed him to hand the baby to her true master. Goyle leered at Severus as he presented Tristyn to their lord.

"Miss Snape, Master. The true daughter of the traitor, Severus Snape."

"Oh, yes, I can feel her power, shifting off of her in waves. She is powerful, yes. Her sacrifice will bind her powers to me and make me that much stronger."

"NO!"

"I hardly think you're in any position to disagree, Severus. You have failed our lord once again." Lucius kicked his former friend in the ribs, dropping Severus to his side, his eyes never leaving his daughter's screaming form.

"My lord, I have ever been your servant. Please, do not harm my child. My life is forfeit for hers." He coughed hoarsely. Voldemort laughed.

"Your life is already forfeit, traitor! As is your daughter's. Had you not proven to be untrustworthy I would have considered allowing you to raise her. She's a filthy mudblood spawn!" He spat on the grovelling spy. Severus closed his eyes, all hope seemingly gone. Albus and Potter were late, and his daughter was going to die.

'Forgive me, Hermione, for doing this before you got a chance to know her. Forgive me, Tristyn, for letting you come into harm's way.' He thought with despair. Wormtail, silver hand carrying a cauldron and a knife, came into his view. "Please, she's an innocent."

"Which means she's perfect, Severus. Thank you for getting the mudblood whore pregnant. At least you had a use, at last." Voldemort sneered, then turned away from his former Spy. Severus ignored the pain of his attackers as he twisted his body to keep an eye on Tristyn. For her, he would cry and beg, to keep her alive.

"Stop, Tom Riddle!" Potter's voice rang from behind a mausoleum. "Leave my goddaughter alone and step away from your men."

Voldemort laughed at the boy-who-lived and looked from one Death Eater to the other.

"My Lord, we cannot apparate! They've put some sort of field up to block us from leaving." Lucius pulled his mask off and faced the advancing Phoenix members, more of them appearing from behind Harry Potter.

Harry had his wand pointed at the Dark Lord. With the distraction of everyone, Severus lurched to his feet, then fell to his knees with a cry of frustration. He started half crawling, barely walking toward Wormtail, who now held his daughter against his chest, furtively looking in every direction. He knew the rat was trying to figure a way to get out of this. Lucius turned toward the spy with a scream of fury and yanked back on Severus' robe, the other man's momentum knocking himself down too. The two men, light and dark, rolled around on the ground as the battle started and raged around them. Blows landed as Severus continued to try and get Tristyn.

"This won't last long, Severus. Stay down here where you belong in the dirt!"

"Fuck off, Malfoy! I should have killed you twelve years ago when I had the chance."

With a roar, Malfoy pushed Severus down on his back, straddling his chest, his wand raised.

"Avada Keda--!" Malfoy never got a chance to finish. A stunner spell hit the Death Eater in the chest, knocking the blonde off of Severus. He scrambled to his knees, grabbed the other man's wand and conjured robes and binding for him. He looked up to find Ronald Weasley standing off to the side, his wand pointing still at Lucius Malfoy.

"My thanks, Mr. Weasley. Where's your rat?" He snarled, looking all over for the animagus holding his precious child.

"There!" Ron pointed toward the Riddle house; Pettigrew was hurrying toward it with his screaming daughter. Both of them started running after.

Ron gained the animagus first, instead of touching Pettigrew and risking the baby, he passed the rat and blocked him. Pettigrew stopped short, cradled the baby against his side and held a knife up to her screaming form.

Pain raced through every muscle in Severus' body as he saw the knife descend toward Tristyn.

"Accio Tristyn!" He gasped, falling to his knees, sightlessly feeling his daughter's body land in his waiting arms. He fell to the side, cradling her tight, calming her as he rolled to see Pettigrew slash Ron Weasley's cheek. The boy cried out, but held his ground as he petrified the rat animagus. Ron stood over his former pet for a moment before advancing on the Snapes.

"Is-is she alright, sir?"

"She's fine. Thank Merli-aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!" Severus almost dropped the baby as his arm seemed to burst into flame. He cried joined the chorus of hsi former brethren behind them in the heat of the battle. Ron grabbed Tristyn as Severus ripped his sleeve up to watch his Dark Mark writhe, twist and turn, burning bright red against his skin. Potter! He'd done it; The Dark Lord Voldemort was dead finally. He was free.

He passed out with a smile on his face. His master was gone and his daughter was safe from his insanity.

A/N~~Whew, sorry about the wait. Real life interferes. Hope the wait was worth it and leave a review! They're like good sex, there's just not enough of it in the world!

Marti