Where the Heart Is

A/N: Thank you those who have reviewed. I greatly appreciate it. I promise that smut will be coming within the next few chapters.

Chapter Seven: Angel in Hell


A shape became more distinct in the darkened shadows of the hospital wing. He shifted, uncomfortably watching the sleeping young woman. He glanced around, wishing that the headmaster would come and stop him from this task. He even hoped for Madame Pomfrey to come, but no one came. He wondered what he was doing. He hadn\'t told Dumbledore anything about being called. He knew that the older wizard had to know. He knew everything or at least seemed to. He recalled the conversation that he had had with the Dark Lord. He had bowed lowly as usual, creeping up that way.

\"I\'m glad that you could arrive on time for once, Severus.\" the cold voice said, motioning to for the servant in front of him to rise.

\"I came as soon as I could, Master.\" he said, standing slowly and keeping his head bowed in respect.

\"I have a job for you. Complete this and your place amongst us will be greatly improved. I have recently been told that Hogwarts has a young woman there. Cassandra Black. I want you to bring her to me tonight.\" the Dark Lord stated clearly, adding a certain amount of disgust in the word \'Hogwarts.\'

Severus was glad that the Death Eaters wore hoods that covered their face. He wore a look of complete shock and horror at the task. He slowly brought back the indifference, chastising himself for being so surprised when he knew very well that her parents were killed by Death Eaters. \"ill ill be difficult. The students are watched well.\"

Voldemort closed in to Severus. \"I suggest that you do this. I WANT her. She is most valuable to our cause. You WILL get her. Do I have to send Lucius with you?\"

Severus closed his eyes, thinking. He was given the option: to get her or die. Lucius had managed to escape with the rest of the Death Eaters that had been captured from the Ministry. He had a feeling that Lucius had become the Dark Lord\'s right hand wizard for the most part. He definitely did not want Lucius in on this. It was risky at best, but it would be dangerous for the staff, students, and Cassandra herself. \"It will be done, Master.\"

\"I want her tot. t. You may go.\" the Dark Lord said, dismissing him.

Severus had bowed and left.

Now he was standing in this room at the dead of night, planning to take her to the Dark Lord. He had no choice. Well, he had little choice. No one had stopped him. Taking a deep breath, he cast the silencing spell, silencing her where she couldn\'t scream or call out. He removed the blankets from her, and ropes shot out from his wand, binding her legs and hands. He pocketed her wand that was on the nighttable beside the hospital bed. He then took out a piece of cloth to take away her sight as well.

Despite having taken the Dreamless Sleep potion, Cassandra was getting brief visions of being taken to a wizard with piercing red eyes. Her eyes flickered open and then widened as she realized that she couldn\'t move. A dark shape in the room was beginning to blindfold her, and she opened her mouth to scream but no sound would emit from it.

Severus inwardly sighed when she woke up. He finished blindfolding her. \"I suggest you will be good if you want to survive this.\" he hissed into her ear. He picked her up, leaving via a secret passage to outside Hogwarts grounds. He slung her over his shoulder, glad that he gave somewhat gave up some of his humanity years ago and cast a face of complete indifference as he apparated with her to the Death Eater meeting. He landed in front of the Dark Lord, bowing and presenting her at his master\'s feet.

Voldemort smiled. \"Very well. Your loyalty will be rewarded for this prize. Take the ropes off. Leave the blindfold.\"

Severus took the ropes off and stood her on her feet. His head was near her ear, and he whispered, \"I\'m sorry,\" just so she could hear. \"Would you like me to take away the silencing charm, my dark lord?\"

Voldemort looked at his prize. She appeared out of place with her white gown amongst the black of the Death Eaters. \"Yes, take it off as well.\" Severus did as he was instructed. \"Now, my dear, do you have any clue why you are here?\" Voldemort asked her.

Cassandra was shaking slightly from fear. It didn\'t help at all that the one that had taken her had said that he was sorry. She still couldn\'t see, and she didn\'t dare raise her hand to take the blindfold off. She wasn\'t sure if she wanted to see what was before her anyways. Taking a deep breath, she tried to keep her voice from showing her fear. \"You want me to join you because of my gift.\"

Voldemort smiled. \"Quite right, my dear. I want to test you first...to ensure your value. Return her wand to her. And, do keep the blindfold on, my dear.\"

Severus took out her wand from his pocket and placed it in her hand. He wondered why in the world had he brought this angel to hell. He couldn\'t imagine that she could protect herself, especially with the blindfold still on.

Cassandra\'s fingers wrapped firmly around her wand. She swallowed hard and began to take deep breaths, trying to calm herself and mentally preparing herself for whatever might come her way. She was already picking up images with her gift. She could distinguish the shadows of men, remembering a line from Ajax by Sophocles, fully understanding what Odysseus meant now. \"For I see the true state of all us that live-- We are dim shapes, no more, and weightless shadow.\" she said quietly to herself.

Voldemort closed in a space around her. It was to keep her and any stray spells in. “The rules are this: no killing her or maiming her irreparably.” He then motioned for the first Death Eater to enter the dome.

Cassandra held her wand ready. Being blindfolded was incredibly unfair, but she knew that she had little choice. Through the shadows of men, one came clearer in the darkness, and she knew that this was the one she would be forced to face.
The Death Eater slightly circled around her and raised his wand to cast his first spell.C--\C--\" \"Petrificus Totalus!\" Cassandra said as she cast her spell before the Death Eater could finish his thought. His limbs stiffened, and he fell with a loud thud.

There was a moment of stunned silence. \"Next!\" Voldemort demanded. Macnair stepped forward. He was not going to allow some little girl get the best of him. \"Bring on your best shot, girl,\" he said with a sneer. \"Rictusempra,\" she called out. A fit of laughter rang out as Macnair the Executioner was doubled over, laughing hysterically from the spell. Cassandra was growing bolder. She was using relatively simple spells, but the Death Eaters continued to succumb to them.

One by one, the Death Eaters fell. Voldemort\'s voice was filled with anger toward his Death Eaters, although he was pleased with his little prize. She was brilliant and clearly had a very valuable gift. He then started her out with two of his Death Eaters at a time which proved disastrous. She was dodging them, ending up with them hit with their fellow Death Eaters\' spells. Boy, he had a bright bunch, he thought bitterly. He then pointed to three of them: Malfoy, Snape, and Goyle. He knew two of the three were intelligent.

Severus had hoped that he wouldn\'t have to face her. He didn\'t want to harm her, so he decided to use a simpler, less threatening spell. Cassandra could see the three men with her gift. She held her wand ready. She dived out of the way and cast her spell toward Goyle. Severus and her spell his Goyle as Goyle\'s strayed away and was absorbed by the barrier. Lucius hit his mark though. Cassandra\'s wand fell from her grasp as her body twisted in pain from the Cruciatus Curse. Her screams rose in the air. Then, it was over almost as soon as it had begun.

Voldemort waved his hand and the magical barrier keeping her in the enclosure was lifted. \"Stand up,\" he instructed to the girl as he rose from his seat and walked over to her. \"You may remove the blindfold.\"

Cassandra brought her hand up while her other hand gripped her wand again. She took out the blindfold and blinked as she looked around at her surroundings. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the dim light. She noticed that she was completely out of place in her simple white gown while the men surrounding her wore black robes. Her gaze then fell to Voldemort and his eyes. Gods! She had never seen such eyes that bore directly to her soul. She felt naked in front of him with his intense glare that those red eyes emitted. She started to tremble visibly.

Voldemort chuckled slightly at her fear. He liked it when they were afraid. \"Join us, my dear. Your talents are irreplaceable and you would be most welcome.\" He offered his hand to her.

Cassandra took a step away from him. “Never,” she said, barely managing to keep her voice from shaking. She could never join them. Voldemort’s glare hardened. “You seem to think you have a choice, which you don’t.” He raised his wand. “Crucio!” At the same time, Cassandra cast a spell that would reflect a spell back on the caster. The spells clashed and the high pitched screams of Lord Voldemort rose as he fell down to his knees. “Get. Her. Wand.” became distinguishable from his screams. Cassandra had focused all her energy in keeping the spell on Voldemort. Suddenly, she was knocked roughly on the ground. Her wand slid out of her hand and across the room. She felt the wizard’s heavy body on her as she struggled underneath him.

Voldemort stood up after a few seconds. “Move away from her,” he said coldly and through barely controlled rage. The Death Eater holding her down scurried away, not wanting to face his master’s wrath. He walked slowly and deliberately toward her. “You will pay for your insolence. I’m going to enjoy hearing your screams. Crucio!”

Cassandra backed away from him as he walked toward her. His rage was pulsating from him, but she was not going to give in, knowing exactly what was coming. She clinched her jaw closed just as the curse was cast. Her body twisted and writhed in pain, but she did not scream. Small whimpering sounds emitted from her closed lips as she felt that her limbs were being torn at the sinews. It seemed to last forever as the growing darkness came to her mind. She embraced this darkness and fell into unconscious oblivion.

Voldemort only released her from the curse once he knew that she was unconscious. “Severus, get her out of my sight. I want her to have time to reconsider. I will call on her again.” he said, dismissing Severus and Cassandra until he chose to call.

Severus had pocketed her wand when it flew out of her hand. He wore a mask of indifference as she was under the Cruciatus Curse, although inwardly he was cringing at the torture he was witnessing. He walked over to her unconscious form and picked her up as roughly as he dared and slung her over his shoulder. He apparated with her to the grounds just outside of Hogwarts. As soon as they got inside Hogwarts grounds, he gently laid her down on the cold grass and checked her vital signs. Her breathing was irregular and her pulse was weak. He picked her limp frame up and quietly and carefully took her to his quarters. He entered through the dungeons via a secret passage and placed her on his couch. He then went into his private stores and got the strongest pain-relieving potion he had, remembering how many times he had to use them. He went back into the living room and sat down on the edge of the couch beside of her. “Ennervate,” he said as he then put his wand away. “Drink this,” he said as he pressed the potion to her lips.

Cassandra slowly woke from the darkness of her mind. Her eyes fluttered opened, and she saw a dark shape hovering over her. Pain ripped through her body as she tried to move. She drank down the potion that was at her lips, not caring at the moment if it was poison or not. Warmth moved through her body, dulling the pain considerably. She looked at the hooded-figure and with a swift movement, she unmasked him. Gasping in surprise, she stuttered out, “P-professor?” She was completely shocked that Professor Snape was a Death Eater. “I’m telling Professor Dumbledore.” she exclaimed as she moved to get off the couch and make a run for it.

Severus couldn’t let her run off without explaining. He moved, catching her by the waist. They lost their balance and fell to the ground. She struggled desperately in his grasp. Her hand made connection with his face. Severus’ anger flared, and he forcibly grabbed both of her wrists and pressed them to the floor as he settled his body on top of hers. His face was inches away from hers. “Listen,” he hissed lowly. “Let me explain. I am a Death Eater, BUT I am a spy for Dumbledore and the Order. I will instruct Dumbledore as to what happened. YOU though need to keep this quiet. It will be dangerous and deadly if you don’t keep this a secret. Do you understand me?”

Cassandra moved underneath him until she realized that she could not get away. She lay there, feeling his hot breath lightly brush against her face and neck. She was breathing heavily as she listened to his explanation. “I understand.” She squirmed underneath him slightly as she found herself getting uncomfortable under his intense gaze. Her eyes met his, and she found herself being sucked into their depths. She blinked and tore her eyes away from him. “Get off of me.”

Severus glared at her until he began to realize her movements underneath him. He swallowed hard as his eyes raked across her rising and falling chest. He shifted as the growing bulge in his pants was becoming quite uncomfortable. He saw a fire in her eyes as he gazed into them. It would be so easy, his dark side told him. She was there already underneath him and not going anywhere until he decided to let her up. He could feel her breath lightly move his black hair that had fallen slightly in front of his face. He blinked and looked at her as her words broke though his suddenly lust-filled mind. Roughly, he stood up, pulling her up with him and casting her to the couch. “Stay there.” he said through clinched teeth as he went into his storage room. He shut the door behind him and breathed deeply as he clutched the edges of the shelf. He didn’t know what had come over him. One second he was helping her, and the next second, he was on top of her, thinking thoughts that he should not be thinking about when it concerns a students, especially one as troublesome as Cassandra Black. “No,” he said quietly as he tried to get rid of the image of pushing that white nightgown up to her waist and ripping the underwear from her as she squirmed underneath him. After a few moments, he calmed down and regained his composure. He grabbed the dreamless sleep potion and went to the other room. “Drink this,” he said, throwing the bottle at her while not looking at her.

Cassandra sat on the couch from where she had landed on it from his manhandling and didn’t move. She was confused about all that had transpired. As a reflex, she caught the potion he tossed to her and drank it, realizing the now familiar bitter taste of the Dreamless Sleep.

Once she had drunk the potion, Severus went over to her. He had to get her out of his quarters and to the Hospital Wing. He picked her up, slightly surprised when she didn’t protest and carried her up the stairs. By the time he got her to her bed in the Hospital Wing, she was already asleep. He pulled the blankets around her as he controlled the urges he had before. He turned and was about to leave when he looked at her again, remembering the Dark Lord’s words that he would want her again. No, the Dark Lord was not going to get her. He silently vowed to himself that he was not going to send the angel to hell again.


A/N: Now that you have read, please take a moment to review.