Heart\'s Journal

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Chapter 8: Voldemort is pleased, Oh My.
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The days seemed to fly by slowly despite the flurry of activity. The potions were worked on, Harry and Ron experimented on, much to their chagrin. Tests, classes and the like continued normally. Severus and Lissa continued writing each other in great detail about their lives. The book was quickly being filled as they still had much to discuss. They never were at a loss for new things to talk about.

Severus learned that Lissa had a keen interest in herbs and their uses, brewing and healing through natural means. This began, he found out, from when she was a teenager full of frustrated rage with feelings of alienation, loneliness and wanting strike back at those who had treated her so badly. She had wanted to poison them and make them suffer. So she buried herself in the study of these things that also helped her get past that to the point where she wanted to learn to heal instead.

In turn she learned of his life and past. The things that made him turn out as he did and why he came back to the light. They found out many likes and dislikes growing closer with every entry. There were enough similarities found that they were sure they were made for each other with enough differences to make sure it would always be interesting.

Severus also discussed the progress he was making with Draco. The young man was becoming more and more his own and less Lucius’s pawn. Draco’s work with Severus on the strength-preserving potion and Voldemort’s delivery system was showing the boy’s true talent lay in potions as had Severus’ so long ago. Severus and Draco had even come to an apprentice agreement for Draco’s post Hogwarts career.

All too soon it was October 20th and he felt that familiar burning that would summon him to another meeting. Severus gathered his notes, his hated death-eater robes and the prototype delivery system to demonstrate for Voldemort that evening. Grabbing a handful of floo powder Severus alerted Albus and stalked from the castle to apparate to the meeting location.

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Severus donned his mask grasped one of the vials in his hand and tossed it in the midst of some of the lesser Death-eaters. The vial exploded with a satisfying tinkle of breaking glass and a sickly green mist enveloped the small group of about 20. Nothing happened at first but in another few moments all twenty had slid to the floor unconscious. Smiling behind his mask Severus stalked forward and kneeled before Voldemort.

“Master, I hope my demonstration was pleasing and gave you the effect you were looking for.” Severus said after kissing the hem of the Dark Lord’s robe.

Voldemort sat back watching with a cold smile. \"Yes, indeed Severus. Congratulations but then I expected nothing less from you. You shall be rewarded when I think of a suitable enough reward for this.\" Looking about at the rest of his Death Eaters he motioned for one to come forward. \"Tell me of your accomplishments.\"

The meeting went on similarly as each of those who had been assigned tasks came forward and gave their reports of either success of failure. Predictably some muggles were brought forward for entertainment when Severus felt Lissa slip into his mind searching for what had distressed him so.

** Darling?** Severus thought tentatively.

**Who else love? What disturbs you so?** Her thoughts came with seeming practiced ease.

**I am at a summons. Some muggles were just brought in. You shouldn\'t have to experience this.**

He felt her cut off a part of her emotions and concentrate on him bringing the logical part of her mind to the fore. **Maybe not but if you can then I can. I can feel their imminent deaths from here.**

**Please, Lissa. Don\'t. I don\'t want you to know what I have to do here. What I must do to keep up the appearance of loyalty. Please, love.**

**Your mind screams out to me that you need me. How can I not answer? I can block everything but that. Please don\'t ask it of me my dear sweet one. Please.**

\"SEVERUS!” Voldemort finally yelled from irritation. “Where is your mind that you must ignore me?\"

Severus fell to his knees. \"Forgive me, Master. I was...\"

Voldemort then began a search of Severus\'s mind and found the presence of another. \"Tell me Severus...who is this that I find within your mind and why did you not tell me of her?\"

\"Master, she is to be my wife. Through a spell of protection she and I have a telepathic link. She felt my elation at your pleasure with my successful completion of my task and was just communicating her pride in her fiancée. I did not tell you my lord because she and I have only been seeing one another for a short time.

\"A wife Severus? Finally?” His irritation was gone completely now. “How wonderful! When can we expect to see her?\"

\"She will be joining me on Samhain, Master.\"

Lucius stepped forward. \"Congratulations old friend. Marriage after such a short time? Quite a surprise indeed.\"

Severus sneered behind his mask, “Quite, Lucius.\" **Darling I am going to mention your poisons research. It will help, believe me.** \"My Lord my fiancée has made a thorough study of the poisonous nature of many plants. Poisons that can be distilled with out magic thereby undetectable by magical means.\"

\"Really? Is that how you met? I cannot seem to touch her mind. It is too far away and very slippery. Bring her to us when she arrives Severus. I am very interested in meeting her. We\'ll have your wedding here of course...among friends.\"

**He\'s not very skilled you know. I am sorry I have caused you undo worry. Please forgive me.**

He felt her sorrow at having cause him worry and anxious to make amends for her error.

**Don\'t worry about it, love.**

**I worry because you do.** She fed him strength and poured her love into him. Her strength flowed through him like liquid warmth or brandy on a cold night.

\"Of \'course, Master. Thank you. Melissa and I would be proud to have you preside over our nuptials. Will you give us this honor Master?\" **Darling. I’m sorry but I hope you a good actress.**

**I can be whatever you need me to be, beloved.**

**I can hear some of the outside conversation like echoes. Hmm....You actually plan on marrying me? Is a Death Eater wedding legal or is it only legal to them? I guess a better question considering your world is... Is it binding?**

**Darling, yes it will be legal and binding, more binding than I can explain now. Albus can marry us first but I believe that we will be summoned the moment you are with me. This is not just a ruse, darling... I do want you to be my wife.**

**The moment I get there? Damn I had wanted to have some time with you alone before anything like this.** When she heard his words...that he wanted her as his wife...her heart flipped. He felt such joy, love and elation shoot through him in waves! **I...I love you, Severus!**

**I love you as well, Lissa. I\'m sorry, Darling.**

Voldemort looked at Severus with widening eyes. \"What is it Severus? You\'re positively... glowing! Literally.\"

**Sorry for what? You have done nothing wrong.**

\"Master, it is just my fiancée’s love and pride. Thank you Master you have made her very happy.\" Severus lied smoothly.

**For not being able to give you the time you wanted, Darling. Sorry that I am forcing into my dangerous life.**

He heard laughter in his mind. **You did nothing. Was it not I who brought this all about? The fault is mine and I will deal with the consequences, as I must. The sooner they are dealt with the sooner it is done. We will make it through this and we will be stronger for it, beloved.** He felt her determination as steely as his own in her tone.

“Master, if you excuse me, my fiancée is quite impatient. She wants to get started on plans for the wedding.” Severus asked.

\"You may tell her that those plans have been taken over by us and she need not worry herself any further. Tell me Severus. Where is she from and what is her lineage?\"

\"My Lord, she lives in America as of this moment but her family is connected to the ancient house of Finney of Scotland through the line of MacBeth.\"

\"Ah...many a good wizard and witch came from those lines. An excellent match. Then this meeting ends on a good note. Go home all and do as needs to be done and for Merlin\'s sake! Put those muggles out of my misery!\" Voldemort again smiled at Severus and disappeared into the darkness. Soon people began to leave but Lucius stayed a moment to speak with him.

\"Again, congratulations! Tonight seems to have been your night for successes and triumphs! Have you even seen this girl yet? How old is she? And most importantly...do you plan to share?\"

\"Lucius, if you make a suggestion like that again I will rip your throat out.\" Severus ground out between clenched teeth before turning away and stalking from the room.

Lucius looked a bit frightened for a moment before masking it with a mask of a mocking smile and contempt before apparating home himself.

**Love... please calm down.** This was said gently in his mind.

**He will never get his hands on you I swear it.** Severus felt her calming him by the strength of her will.

**I know, love but I must rest soon. I am sorry that I have not your strength. This is tiring for me. I look forward to being in your arms eleven days hence.**

**You should not have stayed so long. You know I would have told you everything in the journal. Rest now you will need all your strength when we pull you through.**

**I know. Please don\'t be upset with me. You needed me for a time though. Severus, it wasn\'t about knowing what went on....Once the connection was made and we started talking.....I was reluctant to leave the sound of your voice as well. I was greedy. Please forgive me.** Her tone was sad as she faded from his mind yet, he knew the connection was still there and much stronger now than before.

**Darling, I know that. You just worry me so. You are still recovering from the influenza and you need your strength. Rest now.. I have to report to Albus the successes tonight and our new situation.** Severus walked up the path to the doors of Hogwarts and silently entered. He walked briskly to Albus\'sice ice where the gargoyle immediately slid to the side allowing Severus to quickly take the stairs up to the Headmaster\'s office.

Albus watched him come summoning tea as Severus sat down. His friend seemed bit distant and distracted.

\"Was this evening that bad Severus? I see no obvious injuries. What happened?\"

\"Albus everything went wonderfully. Voldemort is quite pleased with me at the moment. My demonstration gave the desired effect rendering 20 unconscious before anyone could do anything.\" Severus \'s smile grew tight. \"He is also quite pleased that I am finally taking a wife.\" Severus sat back and waited for the storm to hit.

\"How did he find out, Severus? I know you would never intentionally tell him and your prowess in Occlumency is too high for him to have simply have slipped in and seen.\" Albus said all this quietly and wearily.

\"Lissa was in my mind already. It made it near impossible to hide her presence in my mind. Ever since the protection spell there has been a telepathic link between us. She and I were \'talking\' and Voldemort wanted to know what had me distracted. He probed my mind before I could do more than hide the feelings and memories that shouldn\'t be in the mind of one of his faithful.\"

Albus sighed. \"She really have known better Severus still, what\'s done...is done. They\'ll want to bind her to you then? My research here with Granger is almost done. The spell will require three adults total. The power of three. Ideally it should be of three different ages but I hesitate to use a student as we have no teachers that are of the age that is recommended.\"

\"Voldemort is to preside over the ceremony himself. We will have to prepare her as much as possible over the next 11 days. Power of three...” Severus thought for a moment. “That would be yourself, me, and one other of sufficient power. Who did you have in mind?\" Severus asked.

\"He must have been very pleased with you. I was thinking Minerva. Did you have another suggestion? Someone else you would prefer? Poppy maybe?\"

\"It should probably be Minerva. As much as I love Poppy I don\'t think she has enough raw power for a spell of this magnitude. I won\'t take any chances. On another note; I led Voldemort to believe, when he asked, that Lissa is pureblood. It seems that she can trace her ancestors to MacBeth.\" Severus explained.

\"And if he asks for a demonstration? So much in eleven days. I hope she is ready for this. I had hoped not to involve her in this conflict. A rather futile hope, I might add. I suppose I should have known better. Is she strong enough for this Severus? Put aside your love for her and tell me objectively. Is she strong enough?\"

Severus thought for a moment before answering. \"She has a strength of will so strong that I believe that she could do anything. Lucius made a lewd comment to me about the possibility of sharing her and I almost murdered him right there. She calmed me from my rage through our link. I don\'t know how she did it but she did it. Also, during the meeting somehow she was feeding me her own energy, so much so that I glowed. Voldemort even remarked upon it. If we can get Ollivander here when she arrives and get her a wand I think she should be able to learn some charms very quickly. I also explained that she has studied the properties of poisons distilled naturally without magic. So her own lack of magic use is explained.\"

\"It will probably do for now at any rate. We\'ll have to make up a story doubtless. Using as much of her real life facts as possible would be best I think.\' Albus sighed again. \"Fed you energy. Hmm? Perhaps in a few days you allow me to write to her myself an entry or two. I have an idea. Rest well Severus. I am glad that things went much better than they have in a while.\"

\"As am I, Albus. It is about time isn’t it? Good night.\" Severus said with a rarely seen genuine smile.

Severus took a handful of floo powder taking the easy way back to his rooms rather than the long walk back to the dungeons. He wanted nothing more at that moment than to curl up with the journal and fall asleep as close to her as he could. Ten more days he thought as she slid into bed... Ten more days until she would be in his arms.

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October 21,
Dearest Melissa,

We really must discuss a few things and I have to explain exactly what you will be getting into. You must be able to make the choice now because once we are in front of Voldemort it will be too late to change your mind. Darling, I know how you feel for me but you still must be sure you can keep up appearances for long periods of time because it could be years before the final battle, years that you will be bound as the wife of a death-eater. Death-eater wives are subservient to their husbands, they speak when they are spoken to especially when attending a meeting which, thank Merlin, is not often.

A death-eater wedding is a blood binding ceremony. First, my bond to Voldemort will be repledged and my Mark will be consecrated with his blood. Next while Voldemort recites a binging charm over us I will cut my hand with a ceremonial knife and you will be expected to suck on the wound for a moment, then I will do the same to you. I don’t want to cause you pain but I will have to cut your palm and drink a bit of your blood as well. Then we will press the wounds together letting our blood mingle, from there it will be a traditional hand-fasting ritual and at the end we will sign the contract that will be filed with the Ministry.

If you cannot do any of this I need to know now. My love we will find another way if necessary.

Ollivander will come to the castle to fit you for a wand and you will have to learn some impressive but simple charm very quickly. Albus and I believe that you have raw magical talent. We must very quickly turn that rawness into the raw talent of a pureblood witch that has been raised as a muggle. We will also need a story to cover your absence from the wizarding world.

The head of the Finney Family is young, his father died recently leaving him with the reigns of a powerful family. I will convince him to lead credence to our story, if threats don’t work it will be the Imperious curse, as there really isn’t any other choice. Your parents died while in the US with out identification you grew up in a muggle foster home, never realizing your true heritage, until your cousin stumbled across you and restored you to your rightful family. He contacted me, a friend of the family to help tutor his cousin, helping you to take your rightful place as a pureblood witch. During our sessions we fell madly in love... Sappy I know, love but as evil as Voldemort is he loves a good romance.

Please Darling, think carefully before you reply. What ever you decide know that I do love you.

Severus

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My Dear One,

Do you think that I expected less? I suspected. I have studied what passes for magic here and it comes as no surprise what is expected at the ceremony. If they suggested we exchange our hearts (literally) I would. I have played so many roles that one more will not make a difference. I learned as a child to become what others wanted me to be so they would tolerate me around them a little longer and the trips to the bathrooms for beatings became less and less.

I will obey you during those meetings but do not expect me to always be so submissive. *winks* Willingly would I wear your collar and be chained to your bed. *smiles* Still am I a wild thing though and like to be tamed. I will behave when you need though.

A wand? For me?? I am not magical! I\'ve always desired it and wanted to be but...alas, I am not. I will try and do what I can though because I know this is important to you and for your continued good health.

As for my studies in poisons...let me search through my notes and books again. Can I bring them? I need to refresh my memory. I know of some nasty concoctions of both natural poisons as well as muggle chemistry poisons. Bio-engineered viruses are also a favorite but out of my league. Good thing he knows nothing of that! Eww... *shudders* What some of those viruses can do! I must hurry and pack. Marriage by Albus or Voldemort... Damn. LOL So long as you are sure you want to marry \'me\' my love.

Lissa

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October 21,
Darling,
Can you hear my sigh of relief? If you desire a collar and chains that can be arranged my dear, and taming you will be my pleasure.

Lissa trust Albus and I we have discussed the possibility at length and it is entirely possible that you do have magical ability, if we are wrong none of Ollivander’s wands will react to you. We will deal with that stumbling block if we come to it.

Yes, study your notes over the next few days. Darling as much as I hate to restrict you in any way we will only be able to make one trip so you can only take what you can carry and I am afraid that limits you to one bag.

Yes that is the choice Albus or Voldemort… of course I want to marry you.

With all my heart,
Severus

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Dearest Love,

Forgive me for taking so long to write back...I have been gone tying up loose ends. Saying good-bye to people and packing up things. I believe that one or two may think I intend to commit suicide. I\'m not sure. Books, clothing and anything I intend to take is packed and ready to go. I am soooo ready! I have packed a lot of books and this bag is going to be very heavy but....I am also very good at packing! LOL Six days!

Love,
Lissa

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