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Heart of Darkness and Light	By : Lynne Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 2396 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter 5

Ariah soared through the night sky, following the trail of energy from Severus’ apparation. She’d been to many of the Revels, witnessing them from the branches of a tree, from a windowsill, from a rooftop. Each Revel was harder for her to witness. With each Revel, Severus was in more danger from Voldemort and his followers. His days as a spy were clearly numbered, and what hurt her heart more was that Severus knew it, too. Yet he continued to place his life on the line. She understood. That Dark Mark was a direct link to Voldemort and while he wore the Mark, Severus was at his bidding. Ariah had the power to break that link, to remove the Mark, but she was not permitted to do so. She was not permitted to interfere to that degree. Like it or not, to spy, and in doing so risk his life time and time again, was Severus’ decision. And it was not a decision he would reverse. She circled over the clearing in a forest somewhere north of Hogwarts. The Revel was beginning. She watched as Severus appeared and was immediately grabbed by two stocky men in Death Eater Garb. Ariah touched down silently in the branches of a tree, her glittering blue eyes trained on the man she loved.

‘Ah, Severus,’ sneered a voice, a voice Ariah loathed, ‘nice of you to join us. I trust we didn’t interrupt anything?’

‘As if I had a choice but to join you. And yes, you did interrupt, Lucius. I was collecting night blooming botanicals for some potions.’

‘Pity the pretty flowers will have to wait.’

‘Yes, it is a pity,’ retorted Severus, ‘considering that some of the botanicals were for a potion I was brewing at the request of the Dark Lord, and those botanicals are stronger when picked at a full moon. I guess it will have to wait another 28 days.’

Lucius Malfoy stepped out of the shadows and glared at Severus. He took a step closer to him and raised his wand. Ariah felt her raven body tense. Severus stared Lucius down, daring him with his eyes to make another move. Yet both Ariah and Severus knew that Lucius most certainly would.

‘Enough!’ hissed a voice from the darkness, ‘Put down your wand Malfoy. There will be time enough for that later.’

‘Yes, My Lord,’ said Lucius, sheathing his dark wand and glaring at Severus.

‘So, Severus,’ stated the voice that belonged to Lord Voldemort, ‘what have you to tell us? What, pray tell is the Order of the Phoenix up to?’

‘They’ve kept me out of the loop lately,’ replied Severus ‘can’t imagine why they don’t trust me.’

‘You’re lying.’

‘The last time they told me anything of importance was last week, when they put extra guards on the Ministry of Magic. Of course, Fudge knows nothing about it. I understand they met two days ago. I was not invited.’

‘Malfoy, see if you can jog his memory,’ sniffed Voldemort.

Lucius unsheathed his wand, and with a malicious grin pointed it at Severus.

‘Crucio!’

Severus attempted to dodge the curse, but was grabbed again by the two stocky thugs. The Cruciatus curse hit him straight on. Severus slumped to the ground, writhing in agony. Ariah wanted to look away, but held her steady raven’s gaze on him, willing her strength to him. Lucius stood over Severus grinning.

‘So, this meeting you didn’t attend…what was discussed there?’

‘Told you—wasn’t—there,’ gasped Severus as waves of intense pain wracked his body.

Lucius leveled a kick to the midsection with his booted foot; Severus could feel his lower ribs crack. Lucius squatted over Severus, pulling out a silver knife. He dragged it lightly across Severus’ cheek.

‘What was discussed?’ he asked again, pushing the knife in harder.

‘I. Wasn’t. There.’

Lucius dragged the knife over Severus’ face, leaving a trail of glistening blood in its wake. He moved the knife down to Severus’ chest and sliced open his robes, then his shirt. He continued his knife play over Severus’ twitching body, carving patterns in blood on his pale skin.

‘Too bad. Had you been there, you could have saved yourself a great deal of pain.’

Lucius again leveled his wand at Severus and hit him with another Cruciatus. He laughed and looked over at the darkness where Voldemort hid.

‘Can we play, my Lord? This scum won’t tell us anything.’

‘Play, my children,’ was the response, ‘but leave something for me.’

Ariah watched with steely resolve as the Death Eaters present began to torture her lover, kicking, punching, and hexing him until he was no more than a quivering mass of flesh and tattered robes.

‘ENOUGH!’ stated Voldemort after a time, ‘Severus, I expect that lifeforce enhancing potion by the next meeting. And I expect you to actually ATTEND an Order of the Phoenix meeting. I need to know their plans. Now, get out of my sight. The rest of you—the remainder of your entertainment is on its way. Lovely mudbloods for you to sate yourselves on.’

Ignored by the group, Severus crawled away from the clearing into the woods. Ariah knew he wasn’t strong enough to apparate, nor could she provide assistance until she knew that he would live without her help. She was weary of these ‘rules’. The man she loved was probably dying and she could do nothing to assist unless he asked her. And even if he asked, there were limits. Ariah flew to him and landed on the ground next to his head. She transformed in a moment into her human form and gently stroked his face, not caring about the blood that was on her hands, only that it came from him. She bent over to kiss his split lips and a tear landed on his cheek. He looked up into her radiant face.

‘Ariah—’

‘Shhh, my love. I’m here. What can I do for you?’

‘Home,’ he gasped, as another spasm of pain wracked his body.

Ariah smiled at him. Home she could do once he asked. She gathered him in her arms and with a thought they were gone from the clearing, no one the wiser.

Ariah and Severus reappeared in his chambers. She laid him on the bed and removed his clothing, assessing the damage to his body. His face was a mess of blood and bruising, his torso a netwof sof slashes from the razor sharp knife that Lucius Malfoy used. He was shivering and twitching, spasm after spasm of curse coursing through his body. He needed something to dull the pain. Ariah bit her lip and without another thought passed her hands over his body. The spasms subsided slightly. There, she thought, I did nothing to save him, I only made him more comfortable. Convinced that he would be all right for a moment, she walked to his hearth and called for Albus Dumbledore.

‘Yes, my dear?’ said Albus, ‘Is it—’

‘It’s Severus, Albus, he’s been…damaged.’

With a puff of smoke and soot, Albus stepped through the hearth and rushed over to Severus. He assayed the damage to his body. From the look in his eyes, Ariah knew it wasn’t good.

‘Will he—’

‘He will not die, my dear. I must get him to Poppy though.’

With a strength Ariah had no idea he possessed, Albus picked up Severus and risked floo travel to the infirmary. When they had gone, Ariah sat down on the floor and gathered his bloody cloak to her. She felt tears pour from her eyes and sobs convulsed her body. With all her power, she couldn’t save him. What good was being a goddess if you couldn’t save and protect the ones you love? He would live’this time. But what of next time? What if they go one step further and use the worst of the Unforgivables on him? What if they kill him? Ariah wasn’t prepared to live without him.

She stood up, draping his cloak over her shoulders, and disappeared from the room, reappearing near the clearing where they had tortured Severus. She looked with distaste at the blood that was spilled on the earth. She looked up at her moon, angered that they harmed Severus by the light that she provided. She stalked into the clearing, draped in the bloody tattered cloak, and raised her arms to the sky. Dark clouds covered the moon’s light. The wind whipped up, eddies of air releasing the binds on the Muggle women tied to the trees. A rumble of thunder was heard in the dark sky and a flash of lightning illuminated the angry goddess. From the gasps she heard around her, she knew they were aware of her presence. She allowed the moonglow within her to do its magic and stood before them, strong and terrible, blood streaking her face and arms with a silvery cast. HIS blood. The blood of the man she loved and would avenge. She looked around.

‘Malfoy?’ she spat, ‘Where is Malfoy?’

‘Gone,’ whispered one of the Death Eaters, fear in his voice, ‘left with the Dark Lord.’

‘Well then, you’ll have to suffice, won’t you?’ said Ariah, raising her arms and drawing forth her anger, releasing it via the elements. When she was done, the Muggles had escaped into the forest, and 13 Death Eaters cowered in a heap, ‘you’re lucky I don’t kill you. But please, give this message to Malfoy and Voldemort ‘ I’m watching. And they will pay.’

With a flash of silver, she was gone.
- 4
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- 6
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Heart of Darkness and Light