Iuga Sortis (Bound By Destiny)

Five

"The Dark Lord wants something; he just won't tell us what."

Dumbledore looked pensive as he listened to Severus's report. "Do you have any inkling what it could be?"

Severus shook his head. "He's been very tight-lipped about it, Headmaster. Only that insufferable Pettigrew has an idea of what's going on."

Dumbledore chuckled slightly. "I'll bet Lucius is tickled pink by that."

Severus offered a wry smile. "That's one way of putting it."

Dumbledore waved a hand at the empty chair before his desk. "Sit, my boy, sit." Severus hesitated a moment before doing just that, taking off his cloak and hanging it on the back of the chair. "Enough talk of heavy matters. How is my Little One? She's been here a week, and I have yet to see her!"

Severus's countenance brightened a little. "I believe she's adapted well, though she's told me something very troubling."

"Oh?"

"She says that Umbridge, and I quote, 'makes her skin crawl.' She doesn't like her very much."

"Atta girl!" one of the portraits said.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Dolores is a plant from the Ministry. Cornelius is looking for a reason to do away with me," the headmaster said with nonchalance.

"Apparently Potter is not helping matters. McGonagall told me Umbridge gave him a week's detention for talking about Voldemort's return during instruction . . . poor woman," he muttered.

"Severus," Dumbledore admonished gently.

"Bygones, Headmaster."

"What else is going on with Nia? Has she been able to make any friends? Did she see Angelina?"

"Yes and yes. She is meeting Angelina tonight in McGonagall's classroom, and, believe it or not, Mr. Malfoy has been quite taken with her."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily. "She is Malika's child, after all. Malika had a way of tearing down walls."

"That she did," Severus said absently, his thoughts drifting to her.

"Bloody Potter," he grumbled, his lean arms resting against the stone railing. "Bloody Black," he said with even more disgust. It was as if fifth year repeated itself, although it wasn't nearly as embarrassing as the first time. They had just completed their N.E.W.T.s and gone down by the lake again, except this time James Potter and Sirius Black thought it would be funny to sic one of Hagrid's creatures on him. Luckily for Severus, he was able to turn the tables on them. He found a charm that would make the giant squid fall in love with them.

Those two won't be taking a dip in the lake anytime soon, he thought, though it brought little comfort.

Suddenly two small, but very strong arms encircled his waist from behind, and the smell of lotus blossoms overtook his senses. He felt the press of lips at his back, and he sighed in contentment, despite the very foul day he'd had.

"Lily told me what happened out there today. Wanna talk about it?" she asked, her voice a balm to his frayed nerves. He moved his hands from his sides to interlock with hers at his stomach. Staring down at their joined hands, he chuckled a bit.

"What?" she laughed.

"Your hands remind me of Chocolate Frogs," he teased.

"Aren't you romantic?"

He laughed deeply as he turned to face her, his hands framing her chocolate cheeks. His black eyes locked with her golden ones. "You know they're my favorite sweets." His voice was a deep rumble.

She pouted. "I thought I was your favorite 'sweet.'"

"Well I don't know about that . . . I may have to test that theory." He captured her mouth with his and heard her moan in response. He deepened the kiss momentarily before slowly breaking it. He pulled away a little. "Malika," he whispered against her lips. Severus watched her lick her lips innocently, and he stifled a groan.

"Did I pass?" she asked huskily.

He grinned. "With flying colors," he assured her. Malika smiled and rested her head against his strong chest. "Speaking of tests, how were your O.W.L.s?"

"Way easy. I almost fell asleep."

"I've always told you this school doesn't challenge your brilliant mind enough!"

Malika pulled back to look in his eyes. "What happened out there today?" she asked again. "How did your N.E.W.T.s go?"

"N.E.W.T.s were fine," he said. He dropped a kiss to the top of her head.

"And after that?"

"Leka," Severus sighed, breaking from the embrace. He turned back to the stone railing and leaned against it, looking out into the courtyard.

Malika stood close to him, looking at his back in worry. "Look, just answer me this--was it worse than what happened your fifth year?"

He shook his head.

"Good. Then they'll still be able to have children." She crossed her arms in front of her.

He smiled then, turning to face her. "You'd fight for me then?" He looked at her with a heated gaze.

"You know us Gryffindors, always ready to fight a worthy battle."

"So I'm a battle, am I now?" He grinned, sliding one hand around her waist. Her eyes widened slightly at the contact, and she gulped. His grin grew broader.

"Sure," she breathed, her heart racing.

"Have you won me yet?" His other had gone to her waist. All Malika could do was shrug. "What was that?"

"I don't know. Have I?" she asked in a small voice, afraid of what his answer would be.

He kissed her forehead tenderly. "Yes, my Queen," he whispered, translating her Swahili name. "You have most certainly won me and my heart."

"Severus."

The name broke into his thoughts, and he blinked, feeling a cool, calloused hand at his cheeks. He didn't even know he'd been crying. "Headmaster," he said brokenly, the tears coming in earnest then. Severus wrapped his arms around Dumbledore's middle and cried into his abdomen--the stoic and aloof Potions Master gone. Three years of grief came out then, and the headmaster whispered words of comfort.

"I know you miss her," Dumbledore said gently. "I remember when I lost my beloved Asenath; I thought my world ended. But I remembered my daughter and realized that Asenath would never be gone, for she was a part of Eliza." He felt Severus shake his head.

"It's different for you. Eliza was your daughter, proof of the love you shared with her mother. I have no such proof! How I can look upon Nia, knowing she is not mine?"

Dumbledore pulled away, crouched down and cradled Severus's face in his hands; his blue eyes locking with black ones. "Blood is only a small, albeit physical, part of what makes a family. Look at Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley. They are not of blood relation, but the bond they have makes them as close as brothers. Molly and her family have adopted Harry as one of their own. Harry believes them to be his family, and they his. No lack of blood relation will ever tell them otherwise."

Severus nodded, understanding Dumbledore's point. "She's mine."

Dumbledore nodded, placing a paternal kiss upon Severus's head. "She's yours--by law and by love. Don't ever forget that."

~~~~~~

Peter Pettigrew writhed in pain before him, having just received a bout of the Cruciatus Curse. "My lord . . . I beg of you . . . please . . ."

He did not relent. "It is for your own good, Wormtail. You'll be stronger for it."

The smaller man groaned and rolled around in a tight ball. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the curse was lifted. Pettigrew's body shook with the after effects of it.

"How do you feel?"

"Like shit, my lord," Pettigrew answered honestly.

Voldemort cackled, the sound abrasive to Pettigrew's ears. "You're improving," he said, ironically but honestly. "Pretty soon it won't even faze you. You're doing splendidly."

"Thank you, my lord. I'm glad to hear it." Pettigrew managed to get in a sitting position, holding his abdomen and his arms close to him in an almost protective measure.

"Do not worry, Wormtail. I will not inflict you with it again. We have to pace it."

"Of course, my lord."

Voldemort smiled a lipless smile, and Pettigrew had to control a shudder. Voldemort was truly an ugly . . . being; his quest for power and immortality creating the snake-like monster that arose almost three months ago.

"My allies are building up excellently, Wormtail," the Dark Lord announced, his high, squeaky voice full of glee. He sat on a stone "throne" in front of the cowering man.

Pettigrew nodded his congratulations. "That is wonderful news, my lord."

"The giants have all but agreed, and the Dementors will surely leave their posts at Azkaban. Soon I will be reunited with my loyal followers, who will be rewarded handsomely," Voldemort vowed.

"As they should be, my lord."

Voldemort suddenly looked frustrated. "As soon as I get my hands on that prophecy, I'll have all I need to exterminate that pesky Potter."

"I am at your disposal, my lord. Let me retrieve the prophecy. I can enter in my Animagus form undetected," Pettigrew suggested.

Voldemort cackled again. "And just how will a rat carry it in and out, hmm?"

Pettigrew's face fell at that, realizing he had not fully thought out the logistics of such a plan. "I--I don't know, my lord."

Voldemort's red eyes flashed in annoyance. "You fool! Even if we followed your brilliant plan, it wouldn't work. You are supposed to be dead!" Voldemort sighed tiredly, lulling his head in his hand. "Neither of us can go. Someone else will have to do it."

"I was only trying to help," the lackey mumbled.

Voldemort waved his comment away. "No matter. We will find a way to get it, Wormtail," Voldemort promised. "For the sooner we know my fate, the sooner we know yours."