The Ties That Bind

The Ties That Bind

Part 1, The First Rise

By Laura ([email protected])

Chapter 4: Pain and Party

Neutral:

Jessica Ziners: Jessica is 11-years old and has just finished her First Year at Hogwarts. Her father is Jeffery Ziners, a businessman in the both the Magic world and Muggle world. Lily is Jessica's best friend in the Muggle world, and now in the magic world. In the Magic world, another close friend of Jessica's, pre-Hogwarts, is James Potter. Jessica's brother is Casey. He is one year younger than her. Jessica's mother was Madeline Montgomery Ziners. Jessica's uncle is Daniel Montgomery. When it's not school, Jessica lives with her father and brother in America (Texas to be precise). They live on what, to Muggle eyes, looks like a ranch, but, to the Magic world, is the American Department of Magic. Jessica is in Slytherin House at Hogwarts.

Casey Ziners: The younger brother of Jessica Ziners, Casey is small for his age. He is one year younger than his older sister, but they are best friends.

Madeline Ziners: Madeline died before my storyline started. She was the mother of Jessica and Casey. Jessica looks a lot like her. Madeline's brother, Daniel Montgomery, was younger than her. Madeline attended Hogwarts and was in Slytherin House. She was best friends with Tom Riddle and Jeffery Ziners from the start. Jeffery and she started dating their Fifth Year. Madeline was an Unspeakable for the Department of Magic in America.

Good:

Marcus Potter: This is James' father. He is one of the top Aurors in England (so important, he even has his own private office). He is married to Brittany Potter, and James is their only child. Marcus was a Gryffindor in school. He is friends with Daniel Montgomery. Currently, Marcus is focusing most of his energy on the case of identifying and apprehending Lord Voldemort and his band of cronies. The rest of his energy is being focused on a self-appointed private case: finding out if Jessica and Casey are being abused by their father, and, if so, removing them from that home.

Brittany Potter: This is James' mother. She is an Auror in England as well, though more low profile than her husband. She is married to Marcus Potter, and James is their only child. She was a Gryffindor as well in school. Though she has other cases, she helps out with the Voldemort case.

Adam Rin: He is the current Minister of Magic. He is also the father of Jeff and Julie Rin, two current students at Hogwarts.

Jeff Rin: He currently attends Hogwarts, Slytherin House. He is four years older than Jessica. He is the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, position of Beater. He is a model student who gets good grades (with no cheating). He isn't your altogether regular Slytherin. He is probably the only Slytherin who doesn't know true identity of Voldemort, but Jeff does know that pretty much everyone in his house does know the identity. But, like every Slytherin, Jeff knows, in that house, if you want to survive, you play by a certain set of rules. Jeff has a fraternal twin sister named Julie. His father is Adam Rin, Minster of Magic.

Julie Rin: Julie is Jeff's fraternal twin. Her father is Adam Rin, Minster of Magic. She is the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team with a position of Beater. A model student, she can hold her own mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Michael Snape: The father of Severus and Salazar Snape and the husband of Rebella. He also is the Head of International Magically Cooperation and, unfortunately, not home a lot. He attended Hogwarts, though he was not in Slytherin House.

Daniel Montgomery: Jessica's uncle. He is the best Auror in America. He also heads up the special division known as the Dark Operators. Daniel is exceptionally tall and broad, though not "round." He attended Hogwarts and was in Slytherin. He was three years younger than Madeline.

Riley Haderson: The second best Auror in America. He is also the second in command of the Dark Operators. He's in his early thirties, with longish darker brown hair, goatee, and intense brown eyes. He wears glasses, but they do not take from "his roguish appeal."

Bad:

Jeffery Ziners: The father of Jessica and Casey, he lives in Texas but works abroad as a financial investor in both the Muggle and Magic world. He frequently takes his children with him. He went to Hogwarts with Tom Riddle and was a Slytherin as well. They were best friends during that time and afterwards. Currently, Jeffery is Riddle's major financial backer and one of his most loyal servants. Jeffery's wife was Madeline Montgomery Ziners.

Tom Riddle: Well, we all should know this guy. Lord Voldemort. In my story, though, he has some other roles as well. He is good friends with Jeffery Ziners. Riddle is also Jessica Ziners' Godfather. Tom Riddle is an Auror in England. He works for Marcus Potter, and his sole case is...you guessed it, "finding out the identity and apprehending Lord Voldemort and his band of cronies." We all know that Riddle is doing the opposite of that, but Marcus and most others don't.

Death Eaters: They are currently establishing the identity we know them as.

Maria Ziners: Jessica's older cousin. Maria currently attends Hogwarts and is in Slytherin House. She has a crush on Jeff Rin. Maria is the only daughter of Jonathon Ziners, the Secretary of Magic in America.

Jonathan Ziners: The Secretary of Magic in America, Jessica's uncle, Jeffery's brother, and Maria's father.

Harriet Mull: A friend of Maria Ziners who has schooling in the States.

Rebella Snape: The mother of Severus and Salazar Snape and the wife of Michael Snape. She is also a Potions Mistress and is in business of selling her potions, though she mainly supplies Lord Voldemort. She is also one of Voldemort's many mistresses.

Salazar Snape: Severus' brother. His parents are Michael and Rebella Snape. He is one year younger than Severus.

Belisma Black: Narcissa Black's mother and Sirius Black's aunt.

Alodie Malfoy: Lucius' mother and Ignatius' wife.

Ignatius Malfoy: Lucius Malfoy's father. He is an assistant to Minister Rin. He is just like the man that Lucius will become. He use to be best friends with Michael Snape. The relationship is maintained for appearances but neither feels the affection quite anymore.

Okay, now let the fun began:

"Casey! Come here!" Jeffery Ziners bellowed from his study.

Casey slowly rose from the kitchen table, a book of defensive spells sitting open in front of him. Jessica sat across from her brother, her potions book open, a partially filled out parchment sitting next to it. She glanced at Casey's book as he stood up.

"Shut your mouth," he said. "I know...how ironic."

"I wasn't going to say that," she whispered quietly. "Want me to go in there with you?"

"After the beating you got for defending me during Christmas break? No way. Let him go after me awhile. He'll get bored with it. He always does."

"Jessica, you, too!" Her father added. "I just talked to Tom!"

"What's that about?" Casey asked as she got up and the two started slowly towards the study.

"I eavesdropped on Tom and Dad and accidentally let something slip to Tom."

Casey cringed. Offenses against their dad, something Casey did quite often and always quite unintentionally, were one thing. Offenses against the great Tom Riddle were a whole other thing.

Both kids walked into their father's study and stood before him, legs spread, hands crossed in front of their stomachs, heads down.

Jeffery Ziners was sitting at his desk, bent over some papers writing. Jeffery, when he was standing, wasn't exactly a tall man, but he wasn't short either. His strength and forbearing did not come in strength of muscles but rather in quickness of mind, and what a mind it was and not just in number and strength of his magical spells. He had been recruited by several businesses after his schooling but had sought to start his own, some odd compelling bringing him to work in both the magical and Muggle world soon after his near immediate success in investing his wife's money in certain businesses and helping them to become more successful than their wildest dreams had told them. He may seem a nobleman by that description, but, rest assured, he wasn't. He did it for his profit and his profit alone.

When Jeffery looked up, Jessica was once again nervous. Jeffery had piercing black eyes, a shade darker than anyone's imagination, a shade Jessica herself had inherited but a shade that only came about when she was at her worst. Jeffery's hair was also black. Neither child had inherited that, but Casey had inherited its natural spiky quality. Jeffery remained seated as he spoke.

"Jessica," Jeffery said an impatient note in his voice, "Tom has told me that he believes that you were eavesdropping on a conversation we had. You know I do not tolerate such things." Jessica looked up at him and gave him an even look as she tried to reach discretely for her wand. "For that, I will punish you."

"With what, Sir?" Jessica asked slowly, expecting to hear 'with the Strickiomus Curse,' a curse that would allow him to whip her as though with a belt or a leather strap but instead with his wand, something that Jeffery used often on his kids.

"With a Crucio," he answered absently as he finished up his paperwork. There were only few curses Jessica preferred the Strickiomus to and the Crucio was one of them.

"And what did Casey do, Sir?" Jessica asked even as she gripped her wand tightly, her mind spinning with the words Slowmia Capila...

"He spilled water over my latest finance readings," Jeffery responded, almost dismissively.

"What will be his punishment, Sir?" Jessica asked as casually as she could. She knew by now that Casey had felt this surge of power within her, their link humming with the message run when I say to, but her brother kept his eyes down. She felt every muscle in his body resting before he would spring them into action.

Everything was ready, everything was perfect, and Jessica knew she would be able to say the curse, the hateful words that had to follow Slowmia Capila...

"To deliver your Crucio."

Jessica's surprised eyes shot up to Father's. He was standing now, his eyes and mouth smiling tauntingly at her. In that instant she hid her wand. He had won. Again.

"Jessica," he chuckled. "Things work so very simply in your mind, but that will change. Tom will be a good tutor. He will teach your mind," Jeffery smiled proudly to himself before reaching out his hand. "Hand me your wand, my girl."

She handed over her wand obediently.

He looked at it with a smirk. "Wood with a bit of serpent fang, a bit of eagle's claw, a bit badger's claw, and a bit of lion's teeth. A piece of each of the founders of Hogwarts. Just like your mum's. Ollivander knew you were coming."

No, he didn't, Jessica muttered to herself. Ollivander had made one soon after her own mother bought hers. He probably was in the process of making one for Jessica's offspring when they came about. He would do that after every one of Jessica's kind came through. The eldest of each of her descendants bore this same type of wand. Ollivander made another after each purchase and put in a box in the back, awaiting its next owner, the only wand Ollivander could perfectly predict its owner upon entrance through his door.

"As I said, daughter, you have a very simple mind. Simple revenge on me, your dear father," he seemed appalled at the very idea. "You will soon learn. You hate me now," he set her wand on his desk to look at her with supposedly wiser eyes as he walked around the mahogany wooden structure, "but soon you will understand the rigorness of yours and Casey's training. It serves a higher purpose, a higher master. You will someday thank me when you stand beside the most masterful wizard this world has ever seen." He looked between both of his children.

Casey's fear was now gone in bewilderment at this new sort of punishment. He had never had them punish each other before. As much as Casey couldn't believe that, Casey also couldn't believe that he was having Casey punish Jessica. Jeffery was always telling his son how much his sister had over him in the way of magical power.

"Casey," Jeffery said as he went to lean his bum against the front of his desk and crossing his arms in boredom, "I trust Tom's taught you the Cruciatus Curse."

"N--" Casey paused when Jessica gave him a sharp look. What do you want me to do, Casey asked her through their link, Give you a Crucio? He was surprised at her response.

Yes. It will be better now if you obey rather than later if you didn't.

"Oh, shut both your minds up," Jeffery growled. Both children knew he hated it when they used their link to talk rather than their voices. It reminded both children that they held a power over him that made him nervous. They would have smiled if the situation had not been as serious as it was. "Now, Casey," Jeffery turned a dark look over at his son, "do you or do you not know how to do a Crucio?"

"Ye-yes, Sir," Casey stuttered, nervous when fixed with the glare.

"Okay, then, Jessica," Jeffery looked at her and acted though as this was as casual and commonplace as his tea in the morning. "Stand a bit over there."

Wouldn't want you to miss, now would he? Casey shot his sister a glare. How could she act like this, now of all times? Do it, Casey. I've been okay when he's done it to me before. I will be with you too. But only be half-hearted. Pretend I'm just annoying. Like Maria.

Casey fought the urge to nod in response. As he stared at her when she placed herself in a position, slightly bent forward so as to hopefully take most of the incoming fall on her bum rather than her head, Casey couldn't help but wonder what life might have been like for him had he been another 10-year wizard without the Montgomery in him that he possessed. Maybe the son of Jeffery Ziners but of a different witch rather than his deceased mother. Maybe Father wouldn't be so insistent on a constant demonstration of their power, a power that Jeffery himself felt he wielded.

"Do it, son," Jeffery said. "Do it."

Do it for life, Case. For something beyond Father, because, I promise you one day, I will best him. Do it for the day he will hear Slowmia Capila. Because, I promise you, my brother, he will hear it.

Casey roared the words he longed to turn elsewhere. "Crucio!"

Jessica flew back with a force that made Casey regret this power. When she hit the floor with a thud that made her unconscious, Casey let up on the curse.

"Did I tell you to stop?" Father roared, starting towards him.

"She's unconscious," Casey tried as Jeffery loomed over him.

"She won't be for long," their father growled before straightening up and backing away a step. "Do it. Give it again." When Casey hesitated, he growled, "Or you'll regret it."

"I already do," Casey muttered before starting to rear back but the Strickiomus Curse hit his back, sending Casey to his knees.

"Get up," Jeffery said as though he didn't know what he just did.

Casey got up slowly.

"Get up!" Jeffery growled again.

Casey glared at him, earning himself a Strickiomus across his face. Casey held his bloody cheek until he saw the look Jeffery was giving him. He removed the hand and let the blood pool on his cheek before dripping to his light blue shirt. When Casey didn't move back into position again quickly enough for Jeffery's liking, he earned another Strickiomus across the front of the knees and then a quick one on the back of his knees before another slap across the back while Casey was on all fours.

"Get up or I'll make it worse."

Casey fought the tears of pain and bit back yelps when he earned himself a number of whips across the back for not getting up the exact second commanded. Casey looked through his blurred vision up at the limp Jessica. No, the other option was worse. He would take this. He knew that this would pass. It was the shame of torturing his sister that wouldn't.

But, as his father always did, Jeffery found a way to make the best option look worse.

His wand suddenly pointed at Jessica, Jeffery started, "Ava--"

"Crucio!" Casey yelled at the starting to wake Jessica. He was still on his knees. As he watched his sister shake in pain, his eyes filled with tears.

* * *

"Hello, Tom," Marcus said quietly as he read a recent report about an attack in America. It had happened about 2 days ago. While they were able to minimize relative damage, all the attackers had gotten away. The attack was close enough to the Department of Magic that they had put it on High Alert. It remained in that status.

Marcus was resting a hip against his wife's desk, his eyes glued to the report. Tom would wait. Impatiently, but he would wait. Marcus was annoyed with the man. Tom thought he could run off on his assignments and not report in for weeks at a time. When the bosses couldn't yell at the absent Riddle, his immediate supervisor, Marcus, took the blame. Tom could sure as hell wait for Marcus while he finished the report.

When he was done, he handed it back to his wife. "Send an owl out to Daniel Montgomery. Tell him what I told you about my suspicions about the attack in America."

Brittany nodded and immediately set to work on it. Marcus moved on to his office. He had to pause a minute before the insolent Tom would follow him.

Tom Riddle was a damn fine Auror that had come with some damn fine recommendations. He had attended Hogwarts, Marcus just starting to attend the year after Riddle left. After schooling, Tom went on a "specialized" training course in Albania, and subsequently worked for a number of years outside of England. This was during the time Marcus was working his way up among the English Aurors. Marcus supposed his elevated position over Tom caused some of the animosity between them. Tom was older and more experienced. Of this, Marcus would not argue. The only reason Marcus held the position as Tom's immediate boss was because Minister Rin did not know if he could trust Tom to run around with a supervisor that would be afraid to exert some control on him.

That was another thing, Marcus thought to himself. Many people said that Tom made them nervous, or even scared. Marcus would give them that. Tom just had that quality about him. It was that suspicious quality that gave him that extra edge he had as an Auror. It gave Tom that one thing that made him invaluable in this mission to locate this Lord Voldemort. He could blend in with the type of people Lord Voldemort had in his little band. Tom could fit in with the crowd Lord Voldemort surrounded himself with, and Marcus would make a cautious bet that Tom could even fit in to the point that this Lord Voldemort would one day approach Tom about joining. That was a bet that Marcus prayed he would one day finally win.

Upon entering his office, Marcus moved behind his desk and sat before telling Tom to shut the door.

"Okay, what do you have for me this time?" Marcus asked, impatient himself.

"A damn shadow," Tom replied irritable. "You sent me after a damn shadow. Mitchell Hideson has been dead for 2 months."

"Dead?" When Tom nodded, Marcus slammed a hand on his desk and stood up to start furious pacing behind it. "Cause of death?"

"Fire. I only found his ashes. Gary Rum over at Hogwarts did some tests on them. They were most likely Mitchell."

"Our only lead to Voldemort..." Marcus shook his head angrily. "Our only talker, dead. He had to have been found out...but how?"

Tom took a long minute, staring into space as he thought hard. Finally, he announced, "We have a leak. What else? Everyone knew we were excited about something with this case. Someone here is a Voldemort follower and wanted to do his master a service."

Marcus had stopped to look at Tom while he talked. He grew angrier by the second, his annoyance with Tom's lateness quickly passing. "Damit," Marcus growled. "You're probably right. From now, nothing. We act frustrated with this case all the time. I will think of a way to bring this spy out. For now, we just act frustrated."

Tom nodded. "Yes, good thinking. In the interim, I will go peruse the pubs for information."

"Yes, yes, you do that," Marcus said as a note distracted him on his desk. Just as Tom was about to leave, Marcus looked back up at him. "You showed up in London last week but didn't report to me then, why?"

Tom hesitated for a second before smiling. "I'm sincerely sorry about that. A friend asked me to pick up his daughter from the train station and escort her back to America. I did so, then became unavoidably detained for much longer than I would have liked." Marcus nodded and bid him bye. When Tom left, Marcus sat back down on his seat to read the note someone had left on his desk.

Marcus,

All you need is a witness to the injury to start an investigation. It won't matter that it's in another country. According to Family Decree Number 112, the country for the schooling can be considered a good authority in situations such as this.

I'm warning you though. You can start an investigation, but that won't move the children out of the home. It'll take a decree signed by both the Secretary of Magic in America and the Minister of Magic here. Adam Rin won't present much of a problem, but American Secretary of Magic John Ziners might.

Cheers,

Eric

Marcus put down the note with a sigh. One more hoop.

But, rest assured.

He would jump through it.

* * *

It was a month into their isolation. Casey sat in the far corner of his room. On the other side of the wall his head was leaning against where he knew Jessica's head sat on the other side. Their father always thought he was smarter than they were, but they had learned long ago from a barely remembered mother, what others don't know can hurt them.

Jessica and Casey's ability to talk to each other in their minds was limited to only when they were in the same room...or so Jeffery thought. If they were connected by objects, they could still talk. For insistence, if they touched the same wall, though in different rooms, they could talk.

Their uncle didn't wholeheartedly agree with their father's rigorous punishments, these weeks on end in their rooms, but after hearing the detailed made-up (but believable) stories of Jeffery's horribly temperamental children, their uncle had to bite his tongue. The only thing that gave him wonder about these punishments, Casey would guess, was that they weren't that horribly temperamental elsewhere.

Maybe it is better at Hogwarts.

Casey didn't respond to his sister's sudden comment. There were footsteps outside their rooms. Casey threw himself towards his bed to lie on his stomach, feigning sleep. He supposed he had something of a dream room, the best clothes money could buy, two large bookshelves filled with the best books money could buy, a large, nice desk, a four-poster bed with the most comfortable linen. But Casey didn't like his room. Most of his time spent here was either sleeping or recovering. Or grabbing new books (he did actually read the books his father bought; one day soon Jeffery would regret that he had bought the books for Casey, Casey hoped).

"They're grounded, Marcus. I would prefer that they not be shown any mercy at this point." It was their father.

"What did they do?" Marcus Potter asked.

"They were practicing the killing curse on some smaller animals. When I walked up on them, they were discussing certain people they would like to try it on."

Casey fought a sardonic smirk. He could just hear Jessica now. 'Got one right, the old man did!'

Casey waited for the two to move on, but Potter seemed to be hesitating.

"Have you talked to them about it?"

"Marcus, I appreciate your concern, but they are my children and I will handle them the best way possible. After all, as their parent, I believe I know them best."

Marcus hesitated for such a long time that Casey thought that they maybe left without him hearing their footfalls, but when the Auror spoke again, Casey knew that they remained outside his door.

"Okay," Marcus said quietly. There was another moment before he started walking again.

Casey remained on his bed, his eyes wide open. What was that about?

* * *

"Hello, Daniel," Marcus greeted entering the small used-to-be meeting room. It was the Offices of the Dark Operators now, and Marcus had to smile at the utter mess. The room held 6 desks, all right in a neat little row. Currently, Daniel Montgomery sat at the desk at the back. Being the head of the Dark Operators, he had the pick of the desks, and he had chosen the least vulnerable one. It was more out of habit than fear of his own team.

The Dark Operators were an especially high-trained band of Aurors that not only used every method of apprehension in the magical world but every one in the Muggle world as well. All of them were highly trained in a Muggle fighting method - something Marcus believed was called Karate - and they used certain types of Muggle weapons. (One used a weapon Marcus found completely amusing. He thought it was called something like Nun-chuckles...or was it None-Chucks...or Chuck-Nuns?)

"One second," Daniel said. The room was empty of the team members currently. Daniel currently worked alone, his big body hunched over his desk even though he was sitting. He seemed to be writing something. Finally, he set his quill down and looked up at Marcus with a grim smile. "What brings you this way? I got your owl. Not sure what I think about it yet, but I sincerely hope you're wrong."

"It actually is about the owl. But, first I had a visit with your brother-in-law."

"Why did you visit Jeffery? I try to avoid him myself."

Marcus gave a grim smile. "Well, actually, I was going to visit your niece and nephew, but they seem to be grounded."

Daniel nodded and looked back at the paper he had been writing on. "Yeah, they were doing some things they shouldn't have been. I'm not always in agreement with Jeffery's punishments, but I understand them. You see," Daniel stopped pizty-diddling with his desk and his eyes moved up to give Marcus a serious look. "Jessica and Casey are very powerful, and Jeffery wants to make sure they control their power. This is something my parents had to do with Madeline and myself."

Daniel was dancing around the topic of their power Marcus knew. It was because Daniel didn't know that Marcus knew about this power of theirs. But that was a secret better left unsaid.

Unfortunately, Marcus didn't get what he wanted out of Daniel though. He wanted to know if Daniel knew or had suspicions of any of these "punishments" getting out of hand. However, Marcus sincerely doubted that Daniel knew anything. Otherwise, Marcus was sure he would have stopped it by now. But Marcus had been an Auror too long. Everyone was guilty of something. You just had to find out what.

"Anyway," Marcus started out again, but this time a little uncomfortably. "I had some tea with your brother-in-law, and now I am down to see you. Where are the rest of your Dark Operators?"

"Getting drunk I suspect," Daniel said with a serious face as he picked up a memo, causing Marcus to grin.

"What is there to celebrate now?"

"Nothing. They've been under a lot of stress lately with everything. The attack two weeks ago was the first to break through our neat little web of spying."

"How is that young man...Alan Greenwidth?"

"He's out of it. Probably won't ever be normal again," Daniel answered almost dismissively. That was the way you had to be, Marcus knew, otherwise you would be getting drunk more often.

Finally, Daniel turned back to Marcus, a smirk playing with his big mouth. "Riley told me that you guys are luckier than us because you have a name."

Marcus laughed. "Yeah...a fake one."

Daniel chuckled and nodded. "That's what I told him too."

The older Auror took a deep breath before looking at Marcus. "I'm going to tell you something, Marcus, that doesn't leave this room. Not to Minister Rin. Not to Amelia Black. Absolutely not to that slithering snake Malfoy. Not even to your second man, Riddle. Or even your wife. The only people that know this are my squad and Andorra Dumbledore."

Marcus nodded. "You have my word."

"They had inside information in this last attack. They knew we knew where they were going to attack, so they attacked somewhere else."

"It could have been a coincidence," Marcus pointed out.

"Just listen," Daniel said quietly, his eyes never leaving Marcus's. "The afternoon before the attack I did something I don't normally do. I told Secretary Ziners, his two assistants Grens and Lemore, and Zeckaroy, our Head of International Magical Cooperation, about the attack. It was a meeting, and they wanted an update. I was stupid. I told them where it was that we were going to be hiding out and waiting." Marcus waited silently when Daniel paused. He was amused when the corner of the older man's mouth went up. "But I am paranoid old freak...kind of like Alastor Moody, you know. So, on the night of the attack, I decided to shake things up a bit. I called in another Auror to replace Riley Haderson's position on the watch, and then had Riley walk the roads that night. I don't know why I chose that, but I just felt that it might come of use."

Marcus gave a quiet chuckle. "And it did yield something I imagine."

Daniel nodded, but he wasn't smiling now. "Riley saw two of our suspects exit a local tavern. He followed them. They were yammering it up. And, you know what they were laughing about, Marcus?" Daniel didn't wait for an answer. "They were laughing at me and my big mouth. They were saying that that was my stupidity, and I would realize it that night when the attack was at a different place."

Marcus didn't respond when Daniel stopped, causing him to nod at Marcus. "We've got a leak. And it's high up."

Marcus still took a good minute to respond. "We've got a leak too," he finally said.

Daniel raised his eyebrows at that.

"Two rampages of attacks," Marcus said. "Two unknowns. We've followed Voldemort to the States. Now, we each have a leak. We've got to look at the possibility I mentioned in the owl, Daniel. We have to look at the possibility that our terrors are one and the same person."

"Then that means," Riley said by way of making his presence known, "that we have to join forces."

Daniel glared at him. Marcus looked at Riley in startlement before smirking in Daniel's direction. "Surprising two veteraned Aurors? He's good."

Riley ignored them as he walked further into the room. "Why aren't you drunk?" Daniel asked.

"Because they were getting drunk, and I didn't want them to be vulnerable to attack. After what happened two weeks ago, we've probably made a lot of the wrong people pissed off.

"But, back to subject. We join forces. But we don't tell anyone. Neither leak will know."

"You're missing one vital key matter, Riley," Daniel said.

"I know, I know. The possibility that the leak could be a Dark Operator." Suddenly Riley stopped. He looked down then back at the two other Aurors. "What if an alliance doesn't leave this room?"

"It wouldn't be much different than now," Marcus said. "But now that we know we're on the same track maybe that would be best."

"But we don't even know if our terror is your terror," Daniel pointed out.

"So?" Marcus shrugged. "We just coordinate our efforts from now on. Keep in mind the possibility that these two could related even if they are not one and the same."

Daniel looked back at Riley. "What do you say, Haderson?"

"I say a yes. Anything to get you to give me half a merit."

Daniel glared at Riley as the boy smiled.

* * *

Severus followed his mother through the house, the distinct taste of dread creeping up the back of his throat. When he tried to swallow, his throat felt like it was closing.

He did not understand why he seemed never to get use to this feeling. He had been feeling it on a regular basis since he was two years old and his mother got this "perfect" idea of how to test the effects of her potions. But every time she called his name, "Severus, dear! Come to my lab!" Severus would fight the panic and fear.

His nerves had been a bundle all summer. Calling him home from school early had been a new thing for her. And the potion had been one of the worst he had ever tested for her. His wounds were barely healed, and now she wanted him to try another potion.

Presently Severus walked obediently behind his mother to the lab. She had called him to test this new potion last night, but then Father showed up unexpectedly. He did not know that Rebella tested her potions out on their son, and she would rather that he not find out. Severus remembered once 2 years ago when he threatened to tell Father. She warned him that if he planned to carry through with that threat, he would only find his father's dead body. Severus never spoke of telling his father again.

"It's a new form of Cruth," she informed him cheerily. This statement had Severus's eyes shooting to his mother's back as she led him down the stairs to the lab. The last version of Cruth, the one he had tested upon arrival home for summer, had made a Crucio seem like a light slap. The potion itself was to be a combination of a Truth Serum and a Crucio, a way to deliver both the truth and pain in one fell swoop. The problem with the last potion was that Severus had been in too much pain to utter a coherent word.

His mother pushed open the door to the basement lab. Severus had long ago made a deal with himself that if he ever made it through life long enough to own this house, he would shatter this place to pieces and then seal it forevermore. He would not obliterate it to oblivion however. As much as he hated his mother, she was still a part of who he was. She was still a part of his heritage. And this was where she did her best work. Severus would respect that.

"Okay, Severus, sit over there." She pointed to the chair that was, in Severus's mind, a place that matched no other. It was hell in its purest form. It was pain in all its glory. It was unhappiness, sadness; it was ache in all the ways it hurt. The chair itself was older...wooden and chipped. Severus himself had caused many of those chips when thrashing about in pain from many of the potions he received while sitting in the chair. The chair also had straps, two on each of the two front legs, one for the ankle, the other for the knee. There were two on each arm, one for the wrist and the other for the elbow. Lastly, there was the one Severus despised the most - one large strap near the top of the chair, sitting there just waiting to hold his neck in place.

Severus sat slowly because there was nothing else he could do.

Rebella glanced at him. "Get your legs and neck while I ready this."

Severus slowly reached down. He strapped each ankle with the care he put into everything he did. It was a slow process, but it was the way he was. He could feel the leather of the strap, the metal of the buckle - he noticed that the metal was starting to rust. He also noticed that he could squeeze one more hole over than usual. When he reached over to the other, he pressed his fingers around his ankle and realized that his ankle felt bonier. Severus strapped that ankle similarly before leaning back to get his knees. He thought the knees were the next worse than the neck. The Strapping of the Knees was the beginning of the solidification of your imprisonment in this chair. It was the start of not being able to move. But, with the knees, there were still a way to move without hurting yourself too bad.

Severus reached up to get the one around the neck. His mother had cut this one especially for Severus. She had realized that he would not strap that one tight, so she cut it to make sure the strap would just start to cut off his ability to breathe without actually killing him. It wasn't enough that she downgraded Severus and tested potions on him. No, she had to go one step further to remind him that she held the power.

"Okay," Rebella said, turning. She had a small vial in her hands and wasn't even bothering to look up at Severus. She knew he would obey her. He always did. She threw a spell at the rest of the straps, and they tied themselves. The one with the power, Severus thought again to himself. He had tried for many years to become smarter than her, and, in a way, he once thought he had. But she still was stronger than he was. Severus thought about his father again.

Rebella smirked at him. "Too bad you are too much like your father," she said, making him remember that she had the ability "read" his mind. "If you weren't so much like him, and more like me, Master would be more likely to accept you to his inner circle." She started to hum and smiled as the potion started to turn a different color. The sudden changing of color reminded him of Jessica and her eyes, causing him to have to work at biting back a smile. He needed to keep his neutral, impassive face.

"But you surprised me with that brilliant idea of yours. Becoming friends with Jessica Ziners. That was beyond clever, Severus," she squealed as she started towards him with the potion. Severus heard her words, but all he saw was the liquid in the vial.

"The Dark Lord has high expectations for her and her brother. They are very powerful, you see. Very, very powerful, Master says. They will help him to make the world see what you and I already know, Severus. Everyone will one day know that Lord Voldemort is the most powerful wizard, even more powerful than that dimwit Dumbledore. One day, Severus...one day..."

She pressed the potion to his lips and forced his head to tip a little, nearly causing him to gag. But Severus knew the consequences of gagging so he worked fervently at swallowing the potion with a relaxed throat even as his eyes burned with tears. It smarted the whole way down his windpipe, causing his eyes to water even more. Severus could feel it make the whole journey into his system...he could feel the stinging throughout his whole body...he was just waiting for what he knew would come...

Suddenly, it hit. It felt as though electric shocks were going through him, starting in the brain, but pushing through as though they were knives. Severus was vaguely aware of his head banging from side to side. And there was a piercing scream, but Severus couldn't tell from where. It felt like his head had cracked open. Suddenly, Severus became acutely aware of some blood on his head.

"Severus," he heard this female voice. "Severus." Severus screamed.

"Severus," the voice said one final time. "Who is Jessica Ziners?"

"A friend!" He screamed again in pain. He was fuzzily aware of a voice in the back of his head calling him an idiot for answering. But he didn't see any other choice.

"Why did you make friends with her?"

"I didn't! She made friends with me!"

The female voice was quiet for so long than Severus almost forgot about her in the haze of pain.

"Have you told anyone about our connection to Lord Voldemort?"

"NO!!" Severus became aware of getting off balance, as though he were falling. Suddenly though he was righted.

"I don't think so," the voice said. "One last question for now. Who is your Lord and Master?"

"Lord Voldemort!!!"

* * *

"He's a bastard."

Jessica slid down next to Casey. They had been released just an hour before from their 6-week grounding. Both were stiff, sore, sun-deprived, and unhappy. Presently, they were sitting behind one of the Auror Training Houses and going through a miniature father-bashing session.

"And we can safely say he's a son of a bitch," Jessica said seriously.

Casey gave a sardonic chuckle to that. "And we can safely say that." Both remembered their deceased grandma quite well.

"Look what I found here!"

Neither kid moved. They weren't about to spend any valuable energy on looking at their cousin.

Maria was still squealing when Harriet Mull came around the corner. Harriet giggled. "It's the vampires. They can't stand the sunlight."

Both Casey's eyes and Jessica's glanced at the edge of the shadow the barn was casting over them. Can we get any stupider? Jessica asked Casey through their link.

Dad was Casey's simple answer.

"Father said that you were in this time for eavesdropping on Lord Voldemort," Maria said with a smirk.

"Yep," Jessica said. The siblings had yet to look at their cousin.

Harriet gasped. "Why did you do that?"

Jessica finally turned, but it was the other way to look at Casey. She smiled. He smiled back. Then they reached up to clasp their hands together.

"Oh, they're going to start that freaky thing again!" Harriet yelled.

The siblings' illusion of fun was soon shattered when around the corner came their uncle, John Ziners, the Secretary of Magic. John was a tall man with an already full head of gray hair. Jessica knew where he had gotten that full head of gray hair, and though he had worked mighty hard for it, it wasn't his age that gave it to him.

"Maria," John said, surprising all present. "Don't. Not the time. He's near. He wants every one of us to be--" Suddenly, John realized that he was about to say something very revealing around his niece and nephew--something that would give them a power. He was about to say Lord Voldemort wanted everyone to be nice to Jessica and Casey, and if they knew this, they had free rein over John, Maria, and everyone else, even if only for a little bit. And John couldn't have that; he couldn't have that at all. He just grabbed Maria and Harriet and pulled them away.

Jessica and Casey gave each other a curious look.

What do you think of that? Jessica asked.

Casey thought over it before saying, I don't know, but it's got to be something important.

* * *

"Master, let me do more," Molby pleaded. "Or at least clean it."

Severus looked away from his reflection in the window. The house elf was giving him a beseeching look.

"No, Molby," Severus said softly. "I just needed it to stop bleeding. She will get suspicious otherwise. I do not have my wand, so that leaves a house elf. I believe that she may already be suspicious of you as well. I do not want her to hurt you."

"I always be here for you, Master, no matter what she do to me," Molby said quickly.

"I'm not worried about myself, Molby. I am afraid of what she will do to you. There are advantages to keeping me alive and looking relatively well, though she can get away with the pain. I know the types of pain she can cause, Molby, and I know that she thoroughly enjoys it. She likes causing pain. Now, imagine that, Molby, with someone that she doesn't need to keep in relatively good shape."

Molby looked thoughtful at this. "You right, Master," she finally said. "As always."

Severus glanced back at his reflection in the window and touched the wound near the back side of his head, right next to his ear. "I'm not always right, Molby. Not always."

* * *

Jessica and Casey assumed their submissive position. Their father stood behind them however, and this time it was Tom Marvolo Riddle that laughed silently at the children as he stood confidently in front of them. They were in one of the many sitting rooms at the Malfoy mansion. Save their father and Riddle, the kids were alone.

"Jessica and Casey, today is a very important day," Riddle said, and they could hear the smile in his voice. "Today is the day I unveil you."

When neither child reacted, Riddle didn't berate them. He just turned to their father, "Jeffery, let me have a moment alone with them."

They heard their father walk out. They didn't even know Riddle moved until he lifted Jessica's chin with his thumb and forefinger. When Jessica looked up, she realized he had bent over so that his face was only an inch from her face, his dark eyes staring directly into hers.

"Jessica, dear," Tom said, pausing a moment before giving her a calm smile. "There is no need to be scared...or angry," he added after another pause. He then used his other hand to lightly stroke her hair. Even though she wanted to jerk away in disgust, she didn't. "This is a great opportunity for you and your brother. I know it's a heavy burden you both carry. I want to help you. I want to take some of that burden from you..."

Jessica just smiled at him as her eyes darkened even more. "You're slimy, and you sicken me."

She stumbled backward when he backhanded her. Before Casey could even move, she was screaming in his head, Don't move! She could see his back give a slight spasm as though his plans had been to do just so, but he obeyed her.

Jessica went back into her submissive position. There were times when she couldn't handle it, times when she couldn't speak the crap everyone wanted to hear, times when she dealt honestly with her Godfather - the incident seconds ago having been one of them - but she knew there was a line she never must cross. Jessica didn't want to be on this side, but as far as she could see, there was only one person she would trust fully in this world to handle her father and godfather right, and that was the 10-year old standing next to her. When she was younger, before her mom died, she had entertained thoughts of going to see Uncle Danny about what was occurring with Dad and Tom, but that had stopped when her father showed her how slow a death could be...

Jessica had already killed her mother with just a foolish notion. She would not be that stupid again.

When Tom didn't say anything for a long time, Jessica looked up to find him staring at her. Jessica couldn't get over the feeling that he knew what she was thinking.

But she left that thought for now because this talk Tom was having with them was far from over.

* * *

Severus followed slowly behind his mother and Salazar. There were times he was somewhat glad he met Jessica, and there were times he wasn't.

These were one of those times he wasn't.

After hearing about his acquaintance with the girl, his mother decided to bring him to one of the Dark Lord's gatherings at Ignatius Malfoy's home. She had brought him to one before but decided not to again when he was called weird and broody.

"Rebella!" Belisma Black yelled. More liked yelped, Severus thought with an unseen smile. The mother of Narcissa, she was as beautiful as her name denoted her to be, a river goddess. Why sleep with Rebella Snape, Severus wondered to himself, if you could have this one? On second thought, the Dark Lord probably did have this one as well.

"You won't believe this," Belisma whispered conspiratorially, seemingly unconscious of the fact that Severus and Salazar were there. "Jeffery Ziners brought his children. The Dark Lord wants to demonstrate their power." Belisma was breathing excitedly.

Severus was still disgusted with Jessica. His mother had told him that Jessica and Casey possessed this mysterious power. They were only too happy to stand at the Dark Lord's side, Rebella had said, and help him go after the only wizard that stood in the Dark Lord's way of greatness: Albus Dumbledore.

Severus wanted to be happy for the Dark Lord, but he couldn't muster it. He didn't know why, but he couldn't. All he knew was that he didn't want to see Jessica. He thought Jessica was going to be different from all the rest of them...but she wasn't. She was just like the rest, wanting to please the Dark Lord...wanting to follow him. And even though Severus had plans to join Lord Voldemort if he could, for some reason he didn't want Jessica to. There was something different about her...something good...something wicked but something different and better than following Voldemort. Severus didn't know why he thought that. He just knew that every time he looked in her eyes, he saw someone different...he saw someone other than the person she portrayed, than the Slytherin she was...but he must have been wrong.

After everyone was called to the table and sat in their places, including Jeffery Ziners, Ignatius called for silence. Presently, Severus sat in the middle of the table, his mother on one side and Salazar on the other. Across him sat the Crabbes. There were various families up and down the table, not the least of which was seated near the head of the table. Ignatius Malfoy sat to one side, Lucius next to him. Across Ignatius sat Jeffery Ziners, a man Severus had only met once before. The businessman had dismissed him quickly in order to request something from his mother. Presently, the man was smirking up at Ignatius as the man called order. The seat at the head of the table and the two seats flanking it were empty. And then suddenly the door behind the table burst open and in walked a grinning Tom Marvolo Riddle, Jr. Behind him, a sick looking Jessica followed. She had been holding her cheek but when she entered the room, she removed the hand and gave the crowd a determined look. A young boy followed Jessica. Upon first look, Severus thought the boy looked ready to do battle with anyone who dared, but then he bent his head with a look from his father. But, unless Severus was seeing things, he thought that the boy was inspecting everyone still over the tops of his glasses.

Everyone in the room stood up. Severus nearly forgot to follow but did so quickly enough that no one noticed. Tom smiled at everyone and guided the two children to sit in the empty seats beside the head of the table. Jessica took the one next to Ignatius and the boy the one next to Jeffery, but neither sat right away, looking at Tom for their instructions to do so.

"Good day to everyone," Tom said loudly, still smiling and everyone along with him. There were three weak smiles at the table but no one seemed to notice. "And today is a happy day. I will now unveil my two weapons," Tom smiled at the two children. Jessica was the only one to meet his eyes, and Severus wished he could see what her eyes looked like at that time. Whatever they looked like, it seemed to give Tom a slight pause, one he recovered quickly from, but one that caused him to keep an extra sense on Jessica.

"At this time, I would like the eldest weapon and most powerful to give a demonstration. Before she does, I would like everyone to know that while these children's powers are strong, their powers are unpredictable at times, and they have a problem controlling them. Do not be alarmed; I have control over the children and their power." For some reason, Severus had to wonder if this was a warning or an attempt to keep him the superior power in the eyes of his followers. This thought surprised Severus, as he didn't ever remember out rightly questioning the Dark Lord before.

"Everyone, sit," Tom commanded. Everyone but Tom and Jessica sat. She barely reached Tom's elbow but for some reason, Severus had doubts that this made either doubt themselves or the other.

"Now, most of you know that 11-year olds cannot do a Cruciatus Curse. Jessica will now demonstrate that this is not true." There was a long pause and most expected it was born out of nerves in performing in front of people and/or for the Dark Lord. But Severus guessed it was for another reason and his keen observation proved him right. Tom was holding his wand, something not unusual for the Dark Lord, but the wand was pointed, almost absent-mindedly, at Casey. Jeffery Ziners had chosen that exact instant to put a firm hand on Casey's shoulder, as though in a fatherly gesture judging from Jeffery's smile, but Casey's body had given a slight tensing a moment before, tensing that seemed to grow a little when his father put a staying hand on his shoulder. It was a unique thought that popped into Severus's head at that moment, one that he really hadn't considered before. They were outright willing to defy the Dark Lord. At 11 and 10 years old, they had decided not to follow in their family footsteps and into the Dark Lord's collection of followers. The next thought that Severus had was the first since the train station before Christmas break to be reminiscent of his age: You could do that?

"On who, Sir?" Jessica's voice was low and calculating. She never once looked from that hand on Casey's shoulder.

Tom backed away. "Anyone you wish," he said, then added, "Except me of course." Everyone at the table gave a nervous chuckle. Jessica, before turning to the table, looked at the Dark Lord, and though he had only known her such a short time, Severus would bet his inheritance that the look she threw him was 'You said that just in time.'

Jessica looked the table up and down the rows several times, but her gaze paused on Severus only just once. It was more of an acknowledgement of his presence than a prospective victim glance. Suddenly, her gaze shot to her brother's. There was a pause where Jeffery's hand squeezed tight enough to make Casey wince in pain. But Jessica seemed to have gotten what she needed. She turned to look at...

Lucius Malfoy. She backed a step away and said, "Unless you want some fun, Mr. Malfoy, get away from your son." It was a comment that earned a fast moving Ignatius but a scream from Lucius' mum. Lucius, on the other hand, looked like he didn't believe that this was happening to him of all people.

"Crucio!" She yelled. It was a word that not only shot the worse pain from Hell into Lucius's small body but also shot him back into the Goyles then Snapes, sending some members of the first family flying from their chairs (which was no easy feat) but the second family just really close, an almost equally bad predicament. When Severus was next looking at Jessica, without the obstacle of the Goyles, he could see her clearly and what he saw frightened him. There was an 11-year old girl, her eyes blacker than the night, leaned over, hands steady, wand aimed straight at Lucius Malfoy, who was sprawled on the floor, shaking in pain, while Lord Voldemort stood eating a biscuit, watching.

Severus looked at Casey, and, instead of watching in awe or in smiles like everyone else, his head was bent, his eyes closed tightly. Suddenly, Lucius's tortured screams stopped. Severus looked back at Jessica to see her head bent, her eyes closed as well, but she seemed as though she were in pain.

"Excellent," the Dark Lord said as though he just watched a student recite the correct way to make a Polyjuice Potion. He walked back up to the table and started to speak before he glared at Lucius on the ground. "Get up, dear boy. It's not like she killed you." As Ignatius worked with his son, Severus looked at Jessica. She was already back up at the table, standing erect, head high as though she were waiting for her next orders like a good soldier. Severus actually found himself being disgusted with her.

When Lucius was up again, he started limping back to his seat, but Tom held up a hand to halt them. Without looking at them, he said, "Go trade seats with the Snapes, all of you," he spoke to Ignatius, Lucius, and Alodie. They looked at the Dark Lord in startlement. Tom glared at them and they quickly did as bid. Rebella took this invitation with much enthusiasm, Salazar with a dignified smirk, but Severus took it with a slow pace. Upon reaching the seats on Jessica's side, Rebella paused a second before rushing around to take Alodie Malfoy's empty spot that placed herself next to the widowed Jeffery Ziners. When Severus lagged, Salazar went to sit next to Jessica, but the Dark Lord's voice halted him.

"No, not you. Severus," Voldemort smiled sinisterly at him. "Sit next to Jessica. I'm told you are friends."

Severus slowly sat and as he did so, he noticed Jessica looking at him. If looks could kill...

"Salazar told Mum that he saw us together," he said under his breath. That took the glare off...somewhat. She still seemed to be stiff towards him.

After dinner got started, Lord Voldemort smiled at Jessica. "That was a fine demonstration, my girl."

She started to respond but stopped when she noticed that her father was giving her a look. It was then that Severus noticed that both Tom Riddle and Jeffery Ziners had their wands sitting next to their dinner plates. Jeffery had laid a hand on his when Jessica had looked at him. "Thanks," Jessica answered meekly.

They weren't willing weapons, Severus suddenly realized when he took a drink of pumpkin juice, but they were controlled ones.

So this is the Severus Snape you've been talking about?

Jessica glanced up to see Casey smirking at her.

Try not to act like we're talking, she growled back at him.

Casey became interested in his food again. Why haven't we seen him at one of these gatherings before?

His mother doesn't like him. Prefers the brother is my guess.

Looks like it, Casey responded before taking a sip of his pumpkin juice.

"Jessica," Rebella said, turning the conversation to her to Jessica's annoyance. Normally, the conversation stuck to Muggle bashing, gossip, killing Dumbledore, or taking over the world - topics she stayed out of if she valued her health. She had yet to master direct lying to Riddle, and in responses to these topics during these gatherings, she lied, and it angered Riddle. He thought she should really possess these feelings (like any normal wizard or witch, he would say). "How are you liking Hogwarts?" Rebella asked.

Jessica bit her tongue at the automatic placating response to Riddle. He told her that she still had yet to master making the responses look real. And this was a time when she had to recuperate her strength. She had barely gotten over Dad's punishment only to get a beating just before supper from someone much stronger than Dad.

"Its fine, Ma'am." Not a lie at least.

"How are you getting along with Dumbledore? Your father told me the Dark Lord's plan of getting you close enough to Dumbledore so the dimwit will have hesitation to kill you when he finds out who you're true master is," Rebella finished off, batting her eyelashes at Riddle.

Jessica's eyes made brief contact with Casey's.

Dad's sleeping with her now?? Casey asked. That's just gross!

I just can't believe he's using us as the line to impress some whore to bed.

It seems that these idiots get turned on by anything Voldemort.

It's the power thing, I think. Even as Jessica responded to Casey, she glanced at Severus. He's eyes were on his plate, but he had stopped a second. She was pretty sure he had caught onto the implication of what was said.

"I'm getting along with Dumbledore fine. I need to work on the relationship to get him to trust me though."

Snape, Casey said suddenly, slowly. Snape.

Oh, God, please, no. Don't let him remember, Jessica prayed silently.

Suddenly Casey's eyes flashed as he glanced at her. He looked away quickly, but she realized he knew...

Michael Snape. Severus, he's the oldest, isn't he??

Jessica thought it better not to answer.

1...2...3...and you're 4.

Even in her head, she could hear the worry of Casey's voice. Technically, I'm 5, she responded with a seemingly bored voice.

Ah, shut up, Casey growled. He's 4, he's 4. I know. Jessica...

I know, Casey. I know.

Four a year, a line, a wall before the Lord of Darkness and be wary of the fall.

I do not like that damn line, so do not speak it again.

But we can't ignore it, Jessica.

Jessica didn't respond and only spared her little brother the briefest of glances during the rest of the meal.

* * *

After supper, the parents all went to one room to hold a meeting of the Bloody Idiots, as Jessica called them. They were formally called the...what was it? Jessica turned to her brother.

"What's he calling them now?" She nodded towards the room that held the parents.

"Death Eaters."

This gave Jessica pause. After staring at her brother in surprise for a minute, she said, "Death Eaters. Creepy but strangely appropriate."

Casey nodded.

The kids were in another room, milling about, bragging about parents and such. Casey and Jessica got an unintended reprieve. After today's demonstration, she was officially dubbed as 'freak.' Not to her face, however. No one would dare harm a hair on her head after seeing the Dark Lord's "affection" for her. Casey had to follow suit in her "freakishness" by association only. Jessica smiled to herself when she thought about how "freakish" he would be considered if they knew that Casey had worked hard enough to be nearly equal to her in power.

One unfortunate side effect of this new disease, top of the many side effects that she assumed she would regret later, was the fact that her "friend" was scorned too. Severus didn't remain near the siblings however. He was in one corner reading. Casey and Jessica stood down the wall from him. The rest of the kids occupied the other half of the room.

Jessica bit back a smile as Crabbe and Goyle walked up to her, followed by Narcissa Black.

Crabbe went to hold out a hand to Jessica. She didn't take it. He pulled back awkwardly. "Good job, mate." He tried to give her a friendly slug on the shoulder. With quick reflexes, she caught his hand but gently let go of it. "Don't touch me," she said quietly.

Crabbe bowed his head a little and backed away a step.

Goyle came forward. "Good job from me too," he said without holding a hand up or giving her a slug. He backed away to step next to Crabbe. Narcissa came up to her and started to speak but stopped and glared at Crabbe and Goyle. They ran away under the force of it. Narcissa turned that glare on Jessica. Jessica didn't even blink an eyelash.

Narcissa spoke quietly and harshly, "I know what you're about, Jessica Ziners, and killing Lucius won't get you there."

"No, it won't," Jessica said calmly. "But tell him not to push his luck. I might find killing him fun."

Narcissa didn't seem to think that that was that funny.

"But what's this about knowing what I'm about?" Jessica asked when Narcissa didn't retreat.

"You want to be the only one the Dark Lord needs, and you'll kill the lot of us to get there."

"So tread lightly, Narcissa."

That got her jaw to drop. Jessica smiled. Narcissa seemed not to be sure whether Jessica was joking or serious, so she decided it was a good time to retreat.

When Jessica turned to Casey, his eyes were to a point beyond her. She turned to see that Severus has abandoned his book and was approaching. And it was no hello when he came up.

"Who are you?"
"Jessica."

Severus frowned at her.

"And this is the brother I told you about, Casey." She pointed to Casey. For all intents and purposes, he looked as serious as she did that this was the answer that Severus was seeking.

"You know what I am asking, so answer me."

Jessica and Casey looked at each other. We can tell him to a certain point was Casey's response to her unspoken question.

But, as far as we know, he's following Riddle.

So? Riddle knows who we are.

But Riddle also knows we don't go blabbing it around. He'll know that I like Severus enough to trust him. That's makes Severus a tool.

He already knows you and Severus are friends. It's too late for him. He might as well know what he's in for, Casey pointed out.

But he can't know everything.

Right, Casey added unnecessarily.

Jessica looked around the room. Even though they were alone on this side, she still decided that they weren't alone enough. "Let's go walk around the grounds. I don't know them particularly well--"

"I do," Severus said, and the three started off.

If Jessica had looked back, she would have taken notice Lucius Malfoy watched her maliciously. There was only one thought on his mind as he followed the three with his eyes.

One day, she will pay.

And one day she would.

Dearly.

* * *

"Jeff!" Adam Rin yelled. "Julie!"

Both kids came jogging down the stairs from their rooms.

"Yeah, Dad?" They echoed but Adam engulfed each one in a hug. The kids laughed

"Sorry I had to go on the trip. How was the Fifth Year, my Prefect children?"

Adam guided his children to the sofa while he took a nearby recliner.

"It was a headache," Julie complained.

"Not as much as mine," Jeff said. "Malfoy thought he ruled the house!"

Adam sighed. "A lot like his father I suspect."

"That wasn't the worse part for Jeff," Julie laughed at her brother, and he rolled his eyes.

"What?" Adam asked with an amused smile.

"Maria Ziners was his Prefect counterpart," Julie grinned evilly. "She has the hots for him, you know?"

Adam chuckled as his son tried to bury his face in his hands. "I hate that girl!" When both of them laughed at his expense, he turned to Julie, "I didn't tell you the worse of it. She invited me to her dad's house this summer."

"John Ziners, the Secretary of Magic in America?" Julie asked with a smirk when she managed to stifle some giggles. "You should have gone!" She went into hysterical laughter now.

"No, no, no!" To their grinning father, Jeff said, "You do know what they say about John Ziners in the Slytherin House, right?"

Adam's grin disappeared at his son's serious note. "No, I don't."

"That he knows Voldemort, and he's letting him run loose in America. He wants him to succeed in his run for power."

"Gossip, Jeff! Most everything said about Voldemort is just gossip," she said as she slugged him with a pillow.

Jeff grabbed the pillow before it hit him. "Everything outside the Slytherin House. There are things said in there that would shock even you." And then he attacked her with tickling.

Neither noticed the look on their father's face.

* * *

When they were a distance from the house and wandering the lit paths, Jessica began.

"We will tell you who we are," Jessica said quietly, "but first we have to know where you stand."
"With what?" Severus asked. It was him, then Jessica, and lastly Casey walking as a threesome down the paths. Jessica thought Severus was kind of cute like this: hands behind his back, intense look on his face. As they passed under a lamp, Jessica noticed something though. His hair looked a little different...no, just part of his hair. It was right behind his ear...under the next lamp she saw what it was. Part of his hair was lightly matted with barely noticeable, about a week's old dried blood. Upon the next light, she saw that part of his ear looked damaged and poorly healed by magic.

She realized then that she had lingered on her answer too long because Severus stopped and suddenly clamped a hand over the injury. Both she and Casey stopped along with him. "I was...attacked...by a.......gnome," Severus said awkwardly.

She touched part of his hair. "You must have bled pretty bad," she said quietly. "You didn't clean your hair properly." She gave him a lopsided smile. Then that smile left as quickly as it came. Her and Severus were looking each other in the eye and there was something there...a picture of Rebella Snape and Salazar flashed through Jessica's mind. "Or she didn't let you out of the room to clean it," Jessica concluded quietly. Severus's eyes went from panic to fear as she continued to look at him. Her fingers brushed against his hand and it was enough contact to make his hand give a slow escape. Her fingers brushed his ear gently as she looked at it closely. "But I wonder how this was healed. Dad usually takes our wands away." When she looked back at Severus, he was still looking at her, that deer caught in the headlights look in his eyes, his fear immobilizing him. "You have a friend in the house maybe," she guessed in a whisper. "We do too, but Father won't let him near us in our rooms. But we do our best to heal ourselves...with our other magic." The last was finished off in a whisper, but it was enough to break the spell. Severus wrenched her hand away from his ear.

"And to the point. What is this other magic?" Severus asked angrily.

Jessica looked away, almost shocked at herself. What was she doing? Why was she doing...whatever she was doing? She looked at her brother. He was quietly standing off to the side but one look at his face, and she knew he had been an avider watcher...and noticed the red of embarrassment in her cheeks. Thankfully, he wasn't smiling.

Jessica started down the path again, the two boys taking a second before joining her. "First," Jessica said finally, "do you follow Voldemort? Do you want to become one of his?"

Severus took a minute to answer before he gave a quiet, "Yes."

"Why?" Jessica turned on him, a little surprised even though she had suspected as much and, for some reason, a little hurt at his admission. They stopped on the path again.

This response seemed to get Severus's goat. "Why?" He repeated a little loud. He quieted his voice for his angry response. "What choice do I have?"

What choice do we have? Casey suddenly asked her.

She turned on him in surprise of the question. He almost looked just as surprised that he had asked the question.

He shrugged. "If you think about it, we really don't."

She turned back to Severus, whose anger was a little put out by the bewildering scene she knew he saw before himself.

"Severus, you have a choice."

"No, I don't. I can't make it anywhere else. I'll be lucky if the Dark Lord even accepts me."

"He'll accept anyone with knees to fall to before him," Casey said bitterly.

Jessica didn't even nod at the statement. "You can't make it anywhere else?" She asked a little loudly. "This from the boy who is done with homework by 8, and then rechecks it for the next hour before going to the library with a pass from Rum to read books in the restricted section for his own amusement."

"When am I going to get it through your head, Ziners? Stop following me around at school!"

"Shhhhhhh!" Casey suddenly said.

"I don't follow you around," Jessica said defensively, but to Casey's bliss, quietly.

"Then how do you know what I'm doing all the time? First, it was helping Professor Rum, then this."

"I wander at night," she said quietly.

"And during the day. Unfortunately, that's to wander in my vicinity." Severus knew he said the wrong thing because Jessica did the unthinkable. Her lower lip jutted out and tears swelled in her eyes.

Severus looked helplessly at Casey. He held up his hands. "You did it, not me."

"Ah, come on, Ziners," Severus said in his best soothing voice but refused to a lay a hand on her. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"But you meant what you said," she said in a whimper.

Oh, dear. Severus reached up an awkward hand and patted her on the shoulder. "No, I didn't," he lied. Well, he thought gloomily. That was a lie too. He had started thinking of it as fortunate that she walked in his vicinity. At least he had a friend. A friend. One friend. Oh, that's pathetic, Severus thought to himself.

He was brought out of his thoughts by Jessica's whimper. She suddenly pressed against him in a hug. Oh, no. This was not good. She was touching him. Touching him A LOT.

As she started to blubber on his shoulder, he awkwardly put his arms around her. "Sorry, so sorry," he said quietly into her ear. After she gathered herself, she pulled out of his arms then wiped her nose with her robe sleeve.

"Oh, now that's gross," Severus grumbled and fumbled in one of his inside pockets and found his handkerchief. It was the one his dad had given him just before Severus left for Hogwarts. He handed it to Jessica. "Use something meant for the purpose."

And of course, she had to wipe her nose on it and blow nice, hard, and long. Severus was afraid to take it back, but did so with a pinch of his fingers. He almost pulled his wand out to clean it but afraid of the tears again, he stuffed it awkwardly into his pocket.

"Now, that we have that done with," Severus said as they started down the path once again, "And now that you know that I plan to join the Dark Lord, what is this...special magic power you possess?"

* * *

"Marcus!"

"Dad, the Minister wants to talk to you!" James yelled from his spot on the sofa. He had a spells book open and had been reading until the head popped up in the fireplace.

Marcus jogged down the stairs. "James, out."

James gave an exaggerated sigh but left.

Marcus knelt in front of the fireplace. "Yes, Minister Rin?"

"I've just had my son say something rather...interesting to me about Voldemort."

This took Marcus aback. "Really?"

"Yes. Jeff told me about something that is being said in the Slytherin House at Hogwarts. Secretary Ziners is knowingly letting Voldemort run around in the States to recruit people for his movement."

The weight of that statement needn't be said. No one knew about Marcus's knowledge of the States other than Michael Snape, Amelia Black, Tom Riddle, himself, and Minister Rin.

"Could have just been coincidental information," Marcus said.

"I don't think so. Jeff seemed to believe this very much, and he's a skeptic just like you. You know what this means?"

Marcus nodded.

He actually knew that it meant two things, but he wouldn't mention the other to Minister Rin.

The first of which: It was looking more and more each day that the American Department of Magic was corrupt. Of course, Minister Rin didn't know about Daniel's damning evidence either.

The second of which was the one that Minister Rin didn't realize at all: The key to identifying Voldemort lied in a select group of Hogwarts students that never talked to those they didn't trust.

Marcus needed to pay Hogwarts another visit. But, this time, he needed to talk to Professor Gary Rum.

* * *

"You know the story of the four Hogwarts founders, right?" Severus nodded. "Four of the greatest wizards...blah, blah, blah, and then Salazar leaves and blah, blah, blah. You know the drill. Well..."

"There's a part that wasn't written in Hogwarts: a History," Casey cut in, as though he didn't want to be forgotten.

Severus glanced at him before looking back at Jessica, who was nodding. "Yes, there was. There was a fifth witch. She wasn't as strong as the other four and not as interested in education as she was in being an Auror, but she was a good friend of the four founders. When the split up came and Salazar left in a huff, she was there. And she was also there when Godric had this idea. See, he was worried that Salazar might try something...get Hogwarts back or something, take over the minds of the young or take over the magic world or something. So, Godric decided a measure was needed. He and Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff decided to protect their school from Salazar Slytherin and any of his descendants. What they ended up actually doing was protecting the school from each other and each others' descendants."

"What did they do?" Severus asked quietly when Jessica paused.

Jessica had been looking ahead, but here she became silent, looked at her feet, gave Severus a long glance then looked ahead as they turned another corner. Finally, she continued, "They made a potion. It was a potion to protect the school and themselves. They spent years making this potion, consulting experts from everywhere. They put pieces of themselves into it. They even went as far as getting pieces from Salazar, including his blood. He never knew anything was up until it was far too late. And then came the part of their fifth friend. They realized in making this potion, in order to enact it, they needed a fourth body, a fourth strength, one that could represent the fourth member, which would in that long gone experience would have been Slytherin. It had to be someone with intelligence, courage, loyalty, and most of all, determination. It also had to be someone they could trust. And this fifth person was someone that they could trust.

"The potion they ended up brewing...it ended up being that they would need to drink it then it had to be enacted with a curse. That would be the school's protection. And then they realized that the founders needed to be protected as well. Gryffindor, as much as he didn't like Slytherin, said that it was only right that Salazar have protection also."

When Jessica gave an extremely lengthy pause, Severus prompted her. "What did they come up with?"

"As far as protecting themselves, they didn't need to come up with anything. You see, they went ahead to take a drink of the school protecting potion to test it out before they worked on protecting themselves. As they were attempting to cast the spell on Hogwarts to see if it worked, something was happening a hundred miles away, something that would make the potion work a lot stronger than it was at first meant to."

To be continued...