Unexpected Desire

Thanks donotmess and sheherazade! It was a fun chapter to write, trying to show that they were attracted to each other... :)
This chapter is purely plot.
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Chapter 7: Every Man is Guilty of All the Good He Didn't Do

The room was silent as Severus Snape walked into 12 Grimmauld Place accompanied by a hooded person. Everyone had eyed the two suspiciously; tonight The Order would finally meet the woman who had caused them and Dumbledore the most trouble they could ever want in a matter of a few short months.

Severus met his fellow members with the same distrustful gaze. He hated the meetings with a passion. Despite his efforts of being a spy for The Order, risking his life every day for the Light, no one trusted him. Not to mention the Weasley’s swarmed Headquarters; they basically made up half of The Order. He released Constance’s hand from his arm.

“If you would all be so kind to greet Constance Roderick, my Guardian,” Snape’s voice cut through the silence, seeming to echo through the house. “And with a little bit more warmth than this.” Constance stepped forward and pulled back the hood, revealing her face.

She took a deep breath, looking at everyone around her, “Hello, pleased to meet you.”

Her delicate features had surprised everyone in Headquarters. Some of the men couldn’t believe that this young lady was protecting Severus Snape; they couldn’t understand how she could bear to be around such a disagreeable man. Her hair rested loosely on her shoulders, some hidden beneath the cloak. Her skin was pale with a slight tinge of pink in her cheeks, due to the cold. Her eyes seemed to jump out at them, wide and bright.

“Now, when you say Guardian, Severus,” Arthur Weasley spoke first from the stunned crowd, “Do you mean…?”

“Yes, Arthur. She popped out of thin air after I said the incantation of the Pygmalea Potion; we were going over a bit of Potions History. I promise you, I had no idea that she,” he stopped to look at Constance, “would appear.” He hardened his gaze on one sole figure after hearing a disbelieving chortle.

“Right, Snivellus. Or perhaps you were just feeling lonely one day…” A tall, bearded man emerged from the group walking towards the newcomers.

“Sirius Black,” Snape hissed. Constance looked between the two worriedly. Her master was pissed. Incredibly-off-his-rocker pissed.

“You actually are trying to make us believe that this little girl is meant to protect you?” He let out a boisterous laugh. “Oh, please. And from what I hear, she is muggle-born? How rich! You, a powerful wizard,” he rolled his eyes, “to be protected by a defenseless muggle. The only thing she is probably fit to do is protect your bed at night. You might as well kill her now and save her the wait.”

Severus took out his wand with lightning speed, pulling the man towards him as he thrust the ebony stick into Sirius’ neck, who had taken his wand out and did the same.

“I will not have you speak ill of someone who has given up her entire life, her dreams, ambitions, for me. I do not deserve her kindness or her forgiveness, as well as she does not deserve your rudeness, your inexplicable behaviour, all because of your distaste for me.” He tightened his grip, taking a deep breath, “You will apologize to the lady, because you know nothing of her situation.”

The tension in the room had increased tenfold. No one has ever seen Severus Snape defend someone so vehemently and with such sincerity. Constance waited impatiently for the two to disengage themselves; otherwise, she would have to intervene. Severus gave her a nasty look that told her to stay in her place. He meant it. Fine, she thought, if he wants this so bad, I’ll let him have it. Although, I will be forced to pick up the pieces, sigh.

Sirius looked back to Severus and Constance, both staring at him expectantly. Obviously, Severus didn’t plan on letting him go until he apologized. Perhaps, he was a bit rash with his remarks... But his pride had won out; he wouldn’t let ‘Snivellus’ Snape tell him what to do. He would apologize, but under his own circumstances.

He shook himself from Snape’s grasp and nodded. He surprised everyone as he yelled, “EXPELLIARMUS!” Severus was thrown across the room and hit the wall, which had woken up his mother’s Portrait. “SHUT UP!” He raised his wand again, which Constance had stepped in front of. Her face bared no expression, no emotion. She no longer looked delicate and frail. He gulped.

“Constance!” Severus roared, “Get out of the way! This is between Sirius and me.” She turned and shot an incensed look at him, causing him to back down from his attempt. Sirius began to feel that there was probably more to this girl than he thought, that perhaps Severus was right.

“Who are you to question the state of my chastity,” her voice dangerously lower than it was before. Sirius felt as if he was being crushed under her gaze. She took a step closer to him, “Who are you to offend my master? To offend me?”

She took another step, “I have already made one mistake tonight and that was not breaking up the two of you, even though Severus subtly told me not to interfere. Now, you’ve caused harm to him and plan to do so again. I’m afraid, I cannot let that happen.” She smiled softly. One of the floorboards squeaked in the other room as the portrait of the Mother muttered obscenities to herself.

Before Sirius could utter a word, she had grabbed his wrist with her left hand and pulled him towards her. She grabbed his neck with her right and violently kicked his legs out from under him. Holding his wand hand out, she placed her knee beside his elbow. She leaned over his face, which was turning a purplish-pink due to the blood rushing to his head, not having anywhere else to go. The other members were afraid to intervene; Sirius did deserve it after all.

“I could break your arm with just the nudge of my knee or break your neck with the flick of my wrist,” Constance hissed. “You will stay away from Severus and if you don’t… I swear, you won’t be limping away, you’ll be carried away.” With that said she pushed him away and rose to her feet. Sirius coughed brutally as he struggled to take in gasps of air.

Severus looked at her with a mixture of amusement and amazement; she certainly did not display that in her training. She actually silenced the obnoxious Sirius Black, not to mention literally kick the man down from his high horse. He was saddened that she did it out of duty, but she graced him with a smile that made him hope otherwise. He felt something tug at his heart, he wasn’t sure what.

As she helped him to his feet, she whispered into his ear, “You do deserve it.”

“--the forbidden fruit
of forgiveness--”

He looked at her in confusion and then she asked him, “Should we tell them… about me?”

“Oh,” Severus glanced back at the bewildered crowd surrounding them along with a pitiful looking Sirius. “Yes, I’m sure that The Order would benefit knowing we had someone as powerful as you on our side.”

“Powerful?” Kingsley Shacklebolt questioned, his voice rising over the quiet murmurs of the members. He, along with others, was still skeptical of Constance despite her rather impressive performance. “It appears that this young woman here has a remarkable amount of strength and agility, due to her place as Guardian, I’m sure. But, how will The Light benefit by recruiting her?”

Severus stared at him and sighed, “Tonks.”

“Wotcher!”

“Remus.”

“Yes?”

“Moody.”

He grunted.

“And Sirius,” Severus drawled. Sirius scowled at him. “If you would please perform the Cruciatus curse on Constance.”

The members broke out into a fit of hysterics after hearing the demand. The people Severus called upon were appalled, to think he wanted them to cast an Unforgivable on such a frail, but fiery young lady. They were certain she would die, by having so many cast the curse on her. Everyone was put off that Constance looked so calm. Did the young thing even know what it was?

“SILENCE!” Albus Dumbledore walked in late (he always late) to the meeting. The protests died down to perfect silence, even the Portrait had stopped her shrieks. “I see you’ve all met Constance. What was all the commotion about, Severus?”

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the comings on of a headache, “I asked for Tonks, Remus, Moody, and Sirius to perform the Cruciatus Curse on Miss Roderick. But they refuse to do so.”

“Constance, do you approve of the four stated to perform the Cruciatus Curse on you?” She nodded. “She is willing and you have my consent. Go on.” His raised his hand to the protests. “I said, ‘Go on’. You need to see it in order to believe it. Oh, before you start. Be sure to mean the curse as well.”

Severus stepped away from Constance as Remus, Tonks, Moody, and Sirius reluctantly stepped forward. They immediately felt suffocated; everyone in the room felt suffocated, but shrugged it off as discomfort. Moody looked at his neighbors, nodding his head curtly, he tapped his wand three times.

After the third tap, the four yelled together, “CRUCIO!”

Strangled gasps echoed throughout 12 Grimmauld Place as the four wizards and witch fell to their knees, breathing raggedly. Constance looked at them in concern and being the victim of their spell, ironically asked, “Are you all right?” Severus chuckled to himself.

“How? How did you-?” Moody growled between breaths.

“I possess Null Magic,” she stated looking into the confused eyes of The Order, “I am able to dispel magic, naturally. But, I can also choose who can cast magic and who may not.” She looked at Severus, the only one she let her guard down around.

Sirius had crawled over to her and took her hand. She bent down to him and stared at him in confusion. “I’m sorry,” he sputtered. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know you were… such a powerful witch. Forgive me, please. Severus was right, I didn’t know.” She nodded dumbly, unsure of what to say, surprised to see the man kneeling before her. She wasn’t the only one. Sirius admitted he was wrong and that Severus was right, for the first time in his life.

The other members rushed to Constance’s side and introduced themselves to her and apologized for the rather cold greeting. She was overwhelmed at first, but soon relaxed when Molly Weasley presented dinner to them all. She smiled softly and listened to the pleasant conversation occasionally joined in if it was directed to her. She often glanced at Snape, who was staring intently at his food, heavy in thought.

“Enough with the pleasantries, Thank you, Molly. Wonderful dinner,” Albus announced, followed by other praise for Molly. “Severus, we need to talk about what to do with you and Constance.” Severus curtly nodded to him.

Severus began, “As you all know, it appears that I am falling out of the Dark Lord’s favor. Seeing how I have not been called to the Revels, it must mean he has lost some trust within me.” Constance perked up, she didn’t know he had. What does this mean? “I have not been able to provide him adequate information against Albus or Potter. I imagine he may try to kill me at some point in the near future.” Constance looked appalled, he never mentioned this to her.

“And now Constance has been thrust into this.”

Remus interjected, “Surely, she won’t be targeted? And she is hardly helpless, from what we saw of her tonight.”

“The Dark Lord has been trying to get me to make him something, something that would make him more powerful,” Severus stated.

George Weasley threw up his arms, “And? What does this have to do with Constance?” He gave her a wink, which Snape caught before placing a menacing scowl on his face. She rolled her eyes.

“If he ever got his hands on Constance, Mr. Weasley, he would have all he needed,” his former Potions Professor spat out in a disgusted tone. “Do you understand her position now?” Then it began to dawn on everyone just how deep the War has changed, except a certain wide-eyed young lady.

“What?” Constance squeaked out. “What position am I in?”

Severus let out a deep sigh, “Constance, you are obviously powerful. You can dispel magic and you’re extremely strong. But the Dark Lord is much more cunning than you and will always find a way around such obstacles. If he ever captures you, the War is over. All he needs is your blood to perform ancient magic, a gruesome ritual, Valens ac Vita Furtim. If he should add your power to his, he would be invincible.”

“Goddamn wizards and your goddamn ancient magic,” muttered Constance under her breath. “How would one perform said ritual?”

“On you? He would drain you of your blood. First, he would hang you upside down, slit the length of your arms open and drink the blood that trickled from your wounds, before leaving you to fill a vat, big enough for him to bathe in.” Constance shook her head in disbelief.

“After he has completely bathed in your blood, every last drop, the transfer of your power and life-force, to him is complete. He is born anew; a force that cannot be stopped. That is why Constance you are so important to this War. He must never find out about the witch with Null Magic.”

“All right, what do we do? I mean, am I the only confused one here?” Constance looked to her neighbors. “I’m sorry if I sound a bit ignorant, but you want to use me if and when we fight, but you also want to keep me hidden, in a way, from the world. Pretend that I am your Potions Apprentice and nothing more.” She became more anxious, “What am I supposed to do if you get in trouble, Severus? Sit back and let it happen? No, I will be forced to assist you, because I am bound to serve and watch over you. You know this.”

“I know it well, Constance. I just wish it weren’t so.” Severus’ face was completely blank except for the exhaustion etched into his features, his voice was full of anguish. He was so tired of it all. The pain, the torment he went through every day… And now a young girl, whom he cared for, but would never admit, has been thrown down the same path.

The two stared at each other. No one made a sound. Tonight turned out to be a very surprising night of many firsts. Now, it spiraled down to a maelstrom of melancholy. Severus could be killed at any moment the Dark Lord wishes and this young witch could die a slow, painful death granting the Dark Lord an inconceivable mount of power if he should seize her. These possibilities lingered in the minds of everyone present at the meeting as they watched the Guardian and Master expectantly.

“You don’t mean that,” Constance softly put. “And I will not hide, Severus Snape. I am not saying I will foolishly expose myself, but you can’t make me do that, just like you can’t force me to relinquish my responsibility to you. I plan on fighting for the Light, defending you until the end, and defeating this Son of a Bitch. End of discussion.”

Albus spoke first, silencing his Potions Master, “She is right, Severus. Your life is in danger, hers as well. But it would do no good if you hid her away, making you vulnerable. And I would trust her intuition.”

“But what of the Revels?” Severus retorted hotly. “What happens when I do get called by the Dark Lord? How can she protect me then? She can’t, without exposing herself to him.”

“That is why, Severus, you will need to give him some important information, in order to ensure you step back into his good graces.”

“Pray tell Albus! What could I say to the Dark Lord?”

“Simple. Tell him about ‘null magic’.”

Severus’ face paled with fury, hissing through clenched teeth, “Have you listened to a word I’ve said?”

“I have and this is the best way to distract him. First, he is to have his Death Eaters, probably you in this case, research everything about it. Secondly, he will begin the search for a possible candidate, one that we will create. At some point or time, he may abandon the idea or not. You know how he is; he never stops at pursuing anything that might make him more powerful.

Albus sighed wearily, “We just need time to prepare everyone for the upcoming fight, especially Harry. And having Constance on our side increases our chances by a huge amount.” His gaze hardened on Severus, “We need time. Desperately. Can you give us that, Severus? Can you?”

Severus waved his hand in defeat, “Yes.”

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A/N:
Latin words:
valens power
ac and
vita life
furtim steal

together I hope they would make "steal life and power" :)

part of the poem "Forbidden Fruit" by Michael Lally in there.
title is a quote said by Voltaire.

This was a pretty serious chapter to write. Hope it was thrilling :)