Three Options for Ginny

To Severus Snape the scene looked like a battlefield en miniature. The heroic quartet around Potter had finally noticed that this was not the location of a Horcrux but simply a trap: a trap designed to separate Potter, Granger and the youngest two Weasleys first from their potential comrades and then from each other. This was the Death Eaters' strategy to make the catch their master had demanded: Hermione Granger.

The Death Eaters had achieved their first goal far too easily: the Order members were fighting on the periphery and had little influence on what happened in the little cluster of trees and bushes where the quartet was stuck. Trust them to fall into the trap and to let themselves be isolated from all their supporters!

Aware of the dilemma, the Order now paralysed the outer circle of Death Eaters, fighting for a passage towards the centre.

Severus and Draco were close to the forest, laying traps for those who believed themselves to be their fellows. Furiously, Severus considered his chance to create an escape route for the four. Most of the fighters had left the forest itself and were operating in the open. How on earth were Draco and he to keep up their surreptitious tactics if everybody could see them?

He walked to Blaise Zabini, who lay there, spread-eagled, his left leg mutilated. Severus carefully prodded the ankle and calf. Had the boy been alive, he would have winced or twitched, but there was no reaction. The boy had inherited ambition and beauty from his mother but had lacked her cunning. Eager to prove himself to their master on the one side and Miss Parkinson on the other, he had thrown caution in the wind.

Severus could not stall. He observed the four reckless Gryffindors grouping and regrouping themselves, casting spells in all directions. It was Ron Weasley, the chess player, who finally noticed it. He murmured something that must have been along the lines of "They want to catch one of us. Stay together, you three!" When he separated himself a single step from the others he didn't see any move or increased apprehension in the attackers. Another step. Severus drew his breath until the boy returned. He understood, all right! Only it wasn't him they were after. Weasley then pulled Granger away from his sister just a little bit to leave her by herself. What a risk! He probably considered himself ready to jump to his sister's aid, but he was on the move away from her. It would cost him valuable fractions of a second to turn and accelerate in the opposite direction. Every Muggle his age would know that much about momentum and inertia!

The Death Eaters close by did not alter their tactics in reaction to these new positions. The boy's expression shouted out the conclusion, ready for everyone to steal from him: not Ginny then, either.

The quartet was fighting their way towards the dirt track and Apparition border. Flicking his wrist, Severus threw a deflector to meet Alecto's Cutting Curse aimed at an Order member looming over there. It homed in on her brother Amycus instead, who dropped to the ground in a hiss. It hadn't ebbed when the Weasley girl twisted her wand and a fine sizzle knocked the wind out of Goyle on the other side. For a short time the field was clear and at least the boy who was to save the world could run into the arms of Lupin and Mad Eye.

"Run, Harry," Ginny shouted.

To Severus' satisfaction, Lupin did the same while Mad Eye crouched and summoned the bleeding form of Amycus towards himself, artfully steering him in a loop to knock another Death Eater from his feet. Surely even Potter would have enough sense to take the chance! However, their effort was in vain. With typical Gryffindor loyalty, their pretty hero stayed with his friends The chance was lost. Severus swore silently.

By now Granger had understood what her boyfriend had been aiming at. The cogs of her brain had been working on it for long enough, Severus thought. He drew his breath again when he noticed they couldn't relax yet. Wasn't it clear by now what this was about, whom they wanted? No, Granger couldn't just believe it; she needed evidence; as if everything had to be proved. She headed backwards! Bloody hell! She hadn't moved more than half a yard when the sideline of Death Eaters closed in.

Severus held his breath, but she darted towards the others while they quickly moved in her direction, which meant, however, that they were now further away from the safe road. At least now even the last of them understood, because from then on, they took Hermione into their centre and worked their way away from the trees up to the street. They had to duck spells, jumping hither and thither. In parallel one of them needed to cast wide blocking spells. Foot by foot, they fought their way eastwards. Severus felled a tree so unluckily that it hit two Death Eater women who had aimed at crossing their way. No one could blame him: they had moved just there when all he had wanted was to frighten the glorious four. He smirked under his silvery disguise.

The group swayed left.

Suddenly the elder Crabbe and Goyle sprinted forward from wherever they had been, caught the last of them--the Weasley girl--by her hands and shoulder, pulling and pushing her along towards the trees. Severus could hardly believe his eyes. This action was not at all part of their plans, but without Lucius Malfoy to lead them, these two brainless protein packs weren't too predictable. They risked their lives with unauthorised actions like that.

There was no one else to rein them in either, since the leader of the day, Amycus, was out cold. Alecto, his sister, was in no condition to take over from shock. Family bonds, Severus noted. They incapacitate even ruthless fighters.

Protect the children, Severus, Albus had repeatedly reminded him, but how to do so now? From where he stood, it was impossible. He headed towards them.

It was Potter who cast a strong, well-focused Cutting Spell that neatly separated Goyle's left hand from his body. He howled in pain, let go of Ginny Weasley and collapsed. With a last effort, Goyle shouted towards Severus, "Take her!"

Draco knew that at least for the moment, Severus had to play along. He saw his mentor seize the girl's shoulder with the aim of pulling her away from Crabbe. Another Death Eater Draco didn't recognise jumped forward shouting, "I'm coming over, Severus!" He never reached his goal, though, because Neville Longbottom emerged from within the bushes, Stunning and Binding the third man with the silver face. From the other direction came a curse, hitting Draco's foot before his block was in place. He stumbled and swore. Severus doubled back to him, dragging Ginny harshly along. Crabbe's grip on the girl had been tighter than his footing, so he fell and pulled her arm downwards. She shrieked in pain as her arm dislocated. Granger's forceful Tickling Spell made Crabbe open his grip on the girl and her brother's Leg Locker immobilised the figure on the ground. Suddenly free on one side, Ginny almost crashed into Severus and stabilised herself by grabbing his arm with her second hand.

Severus pulled both youths close to himself and cast his cylindrical Deflection Dome around the three of them. Crabbe's defeated voice sounded over the suddenly silent field. "A pure-blood for you, Snape. You owe me!"

Severus ushered them on towards the northern border of the Apparition barrier. Lacking any other idea how to keep advancing Death Eaters at bay, Severus Apparated with Ginny a few times. Ignoring his foot, Draco followed. They were safe as they reached the edge of the river close to Spinner's End. Safe for the moment.

Without further ado, Severus and Draco silenced their prey and frog-marched her through the abandoned railings past rows of dilapidated brick houses and pushed her rather sharply inside one of them.

:*:*:*:

Once inside, Draco immediately loosened his grip on Ginny but stayed close at her side. Suspicious that someone might be in the house, Severus peeked into the kitchen, the bathroom and a bedroom, dragging her along so that she hissed. Satisfied, he flicked his wand and closed all curtains. "Miss Weasley, calm down. You are not in immediate danger. Draco, check if someone followed us."

Draco nodded and went back to the entrance. Ginny, panting quickly from more than the run was being drawn around. Her professor turned to face her so that she looked up at him. His eyes bored into hers without a word. She took a careful breath around her pain. She knew she had to listen and absorb his every word now. He was not known to repeat himself. "Miss Weasley," he began. When he saw she was listening, he explained, "You are in my house. Draco Malfoy lives here as well. Nobody else is here and no one can enter without our knowledge."

He paused to let his words sink in. Ginny looked into his face. This was Severus Snape, for five years the most dreaded of all her professors, today believed by most to be a traitor. She had not seen him for half a year. He had tanned a little but was thinner than she remembered, his cheeks sunken in, his dark eyes appearing even larger and fiercer in their deep sockets. The ever-billowing robes and the frock coat he wore at school had always covered his features. Today, though, he wore Muggle-like clothes under his Death Eater robe. They clung to his sweaty form. His body was extremely thin, unhealthily so.

When Ginny didn't react to his speech other than looking at him, he continued with a sigh, "We cannot let you go. Two Death Eaters have recognised me." She felt unable to speak and only nodded weakly. What else was there? At least he directed full sentences at her, not bellowed commands.

Sharply, he added, "Don't try to leave!"

He quickly scanned her from head to heels. "The shoulder? Other injuries?" With careful movements, she indicated "yes" and "not really."

Wordlessly, Severus beckoned her through the door to her left and made her sit down on the bed, the only suitable furniture the room provided. She did so, her eyes not leaving his face. "This will hurt," was all she heard before he rapidly tilted her arm back into place. As her shriek filled the house, her Professor did not comment other than putting his hand on her other arm.

When Draco returned, reporting the coast was clear, Severus made to go for some potions, but Ginny cried out in panic, "Don't go!" and took hold of his arm although the quick movement caused a stab of pain through her body. She winced. He looked at her hands clenching the sweaty cloth and she let go immediately. "I'm sorry, sir."

Draco averted his gaze. "I can fetch what we need," he offered. "Would that be all right?" Acknowledging her nod, he listed, "Bruises, wrenched tendons, scratches. Any big open wounds, broken bones?"

While the girl shook her head, Severus proposed a Dreamless Sleep potion. Draco observed how her eyes widened in fear and after rapid consideration he said, "I don't think Miss Weasley wants to sleep right now. She might prefer to see what is going on." He hesitated slightly, before adding, "Then she sees that we're not harming her." He turned to her, his voice devoid of the drawl she expected from him. "Miss Weasley, you must understand that we have to continue our work and we must prepare the house for you to stay over night. We cannot guard you the whole day." With a smirk, he added, "There isn't a deep dungeon we could lock you in either." Instinctively Ginny jerked back from him at the idea and looked up to her teacher. She heard Draco declare, "Yes, well. I think I know what we can do," and saw him leave.

Severus huffed and then bent his knees to get down to her height and looked at her again. This was very different from his normal stance, when his gaze pinned Ginny into her chair from above, far above when she was a first-years. With a deep, soothing voice she had never heard from him, he assured her that there was no danger waiting for her in this house. The dungeon had been meant to be a joke, though admittedly not a good one. She seemed to have calmed down a bit when Draco came back.

After taking off her shoes, she needed help with her torn jacket. The remainder of her t-shirt underneath was hanging loosely. She turned away from them to gingerly pull it over her head, but it wouldn't work with the pain in her shoulder. So she lay down on the bed, her back up and her face towards her former professor. "Just... tear it off, sir. It is useless anyway."

When her professor gingerly widened the tear enough to carefully apply the ointments, Ginny twitched a few times, but the pain eased rapidly and his warm hand on her body felt soothing and reassuring, as did the prickling of the ointment. Severus reached over her shoulders as far as he found safe. He checked her arms next, moving them and considering and treating all the bruises there. "We could not show any mercy while some of the others might be watching." Ginny closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. This was no doubt the closest to an apology she had ever heard from this man!

Draco opened a small phial. He applied a smoking purple liquid on the cuts on her calves. She instinctively pulled back when it stung but then recognised it from the hospital wing. Working himself up to no further than her knees, Draco addressed her in a matter-of-fact tone. "When your wounds are healed and you've overcome the shock you will feel stronger. You might want to explore your possibilities but we cannot risk you leaving and we cannot guard you. Thus we need to calm you." He waited for her nod and then used a lighter, conversational tone all new to Ginny and continued. "I see you don't want to sleep right now. I think we can use a Reflex-Lax instead. I've learnt it recently. N.E.W.T.s stuff. Severus made me do a self test; it isn't too bad. It keeps your brain working rather normally but the commands to your body are delayed. You can not run away, cut yourself or throw anything, but you can hear and see what we are doing. You can walk around, but slowly. Mind your balance. You can speak, but again, it will be slow. It holds for six hours, which should give you an idea what is going on here. You'd be back to normal for dinner when we have finished working as well. How does that sound?"

"Impressive, Draco. Miss Weasley? Any of our other options will either hurt or leave you unconscious--or both."

Not turning more than her torn shirt allowed, she asked, "What if they come and fetch me, sir?"

"Unlikely. You were not whom the Dark Lord wanted. I am in a position of trust." When she did not show any reaction, he added, "We have an antidote for the Reflex-Lax. I will keep one dose nearby and we'll deposit another at the entrance door. It works within seconds."

"Nice to hear! You could have offered it to me, you know," Draco remarked with a rise of his eyebrow. "I will fetch a shirt for Miss Weasley."

Ginny rotated her shoulder with relief. It felt much better, but more needed to be done. She covered her front with Draco's sweatshirt and went past her guards to the bathroom. They'd not watch her use the toilet! The room was small, old and chilly but it was clean. She washed herself as best she could, applied more bruise ointment to her front and put on Draco's shirt before she opened the door. The men stood a foot away from the entrance, the elder offering the phial. She took the potion. What other options did she have?

The shirt appeared a bit too warm, but Draco had told her that the potion could make her feel a little cold, which it did, although her anxiety might have contributed its share of the shivering that took hold of her every now and then.

They returned to the sitting room. Apprehensively and yet strangely slowly, Ginny looked around. Books were the first things that held her eyes. One shelf held thin books in all colours, but the others were filled with lots of old, large, black or dark brown tomes covering the walls from floor to ceiling. All the walls and even the door to the bedroom were covered with books. There was no way of knowing if the bookshelves hid anything or who or what might be behind other covered passages--or how those passages opened.

A window and door opened towards a garden or yard. There was the bathroom door and the kitchen door close to a dining table.

Few threadbare, mismatched pieces of furniture filled the little room. The fireplace looked uncomfortably small for Flooing. It reminded Ginny of the description she had heard about the barred fireplaces at the Dursleys' or the Grangers'. Was this a Muggle house? She proceeded towards the only armchair, sat down and slowly drew her knees up and under the wide sweater to warm her legs.

"Severus, do you happen to have a pair of warm socks for her?"

When her former professor made to leave for his bedroom, Ginny became agitated. Although her movements were paralysed, both men saw how the notion filled her with panic. "Miss Weasley?" Severus asked with a frown and sat down on the sofa opposite to her. She relaxed visibly.

"Shall I fetch them, Severus? Which ones do you want me to bring?" Then Draco was providing her with a pair of thick woollen socks that he shrunk to fit. How did they both manage to walk and speak this rapidly? Oh, yes: the potion... She rushed to finish the thought to observe the men.

Draco must have fetched parchment and quill as well because the men went straight to work. They reviewed the battle in the morning with the aid of a sketch of the area they had drawn on a piece of parchment, discussing which side had taken which strategy and how successful they had been. "At this moment the tall Order member close to the fields here," her professor said, and the minute figure waved, "called back his three colleagues. I'm not sure what he wanted to achieve, but the Death Eaters around Mulciber got a clear path towards the target group. The target group was you four, Miss Weasley," he added, turning to Ginny, who was following the discussion in silence. She understood well enough what was being discussed but didn't manage to participate. Whenever she had formulated a coherent thought short enough to throw in, they had already proceeded to a new topic. However, this time Severus paused, giving her room, "Do you happen to know why they did that?"

"Sseee whoo iisss inn chaarge," she answered slowly.

Draco picked up her thought, "Of course! That makes sense. Two of these four are new and the hierarchy is often changing. I have always wondered, how they can identify individual Death Eaters at all." He moved uneasily in his place, Ginny noted with satisfaction. She would not explain it to him.

To Ginny's surprise, the two of them seemed to have taken ample time to observe and had intervened only little, and if so then they had acted in rather peculiar ways. Well, she knew, or had hoped, that Professor Snape would not harm the Order members, but what about Draco Malfoy? He was the one who for a whole year had planned to kill Headmaster Dumbledore. Not to speak of what he had done and said in all the years she had known him.

They came to the point where Ron had separated himself from the group. They analysed it exactly as it had been; he had figured out the goal and then offered himself as prey and was not taken. Neither was Ginny. "But when Granger stood separated, Avery and Flint senior acted rapidly. She was lucky to make it back in." Both young people nodded at their former teacher's remark, although Ginny thought that Malfoy's head might fall off with his speed. Snape continued riding on the fact that foolish Potter had not taken his chance. Ginny preferred not to look at either of her guards. She had thought the same.

When they came to her capture, Severus looked up at Ginny. "Your retreat was planned abysmally, if at all. Potter should never have swung so much to the left, leaving you within reach of Crabbe and Goyle. Even if they worked against instructions and had luck on their side, they did succeed and here we are! I could not let you escape. Pulling you away from Crabbe was risky enough. Miss Granger reacted adequately, and so did your brother, surprising as it was."

"Adequately? Come on, Severus. The Nerve Teaser was the stroke of a genius. He lost his grip and his balance with one curse. And Longbottom's Stunner was good," Draco added. "By that time, many Death Eaters had already fallen. We lost the commander and possibly his sister, didn't we?"

"So it seems. The second officer and the commanders of the flanks are currently reporting to our master," Severus said in contemplation. He had to thank the fates that it had not been him today. Draco shuddered. They left it to the girl to deduce whatever she wanted, but Severus observed that she probably got their meaning just right.

:*:*:*:

The screech of an owl interrupted the silence. It dropped a letter and left without a second glance at the assembled group. The Dark Lord informed them that he expected all three of them to attend a gathering on Tuesday night. A selection of Death Eaters would have dinner, where Ginny was to serve them. Severus was to interrogate her thoroughly beforehand and present his findings. After dinner their master would verify his findings. Draco flinched. Severus regarded the letter for a long time, his face unreadable.

"The schedule leaves you this evening plus three days to prepare yourself. The Dark Lord will not rely on my report. On the contrary, even if I am in a favourable position right now, he will use the opportunity to see how seriously I have questioned you," Severus noted. "What do you know about Occlumency or Legilimency, Miss Weasley?"

It took Ginny lengthy seconds to inform them, but she lifted her chin and did so with pride. "Moody helped us. I'm far better than any of them, even Harry."

Severus' face sported his trademark sneer. Since she seemed to wait for an answer he finally settled on "That is a relief."

Given the girl's condition, they would have to postpone this discussion until the next day, Saturday, November 22nd. Instead, Severus pointed his wand over Ginny's head at the wall of books behind the armchair. Ginny heard a bang and by the time she had twitched, calmed and turned around, a shelf-clad door stood open where she had not seen anything irregular before. "We will show you the rooms upstairs," Severus said and beckoned the young woman to proceed to the door. He showed a remarkable patience as she slowly made her way to the stairs and up. By now, she was more used to the concept of herself being the slow one here, not the others rushing. She balanced every step carefully, dreading the thought of tumbling and being picked up by either of the men.

Once she was upstairs, she looked around.

There were two small rooms close to the landing, already in the roof, allowing standing upright only under the ridge. They had dormer windows, though. The right one, equipped with a narrow bed, a table with books and stationery, a wooden chair and a small cupboard, was Draco's room. In the other room the bed was covered with files and glass phials, tins and cardboard boxes, each neatly labelled. More documents, printed on paper or handwritten on parchment, were piled on the desk while large rolls of parchment had found a place in an umbrella stand.

The opposite side of the house was used for storage. A tiny bathroom completed the floor.

"Even if I could clean it up, I could not give you this room here, because I cannot leave you to yourself. You would be tempted to use what you believe an occasion to escape. It would be your death. Secondly," he paused, "this would be hard to explain if we get visitors. The trip up here was only meant to show you that there is nothing hidden and there will be no use in trying your luck up here. The door will not open for you."

Slowly the girl nodded. Did she actually look relieved?

:*:*:*:

Back in the sitting room, Ginny was exhausted and headed for the armchair. When she noticed that Severus continued to the kitchen, however, she followed him. "Nothing to see in here, Miss Weasley," he said but allowed her in all the same.

Indeed, there were only two cupboards, a stove, a sink and a few shelves. The kitchens at The Burrow and number twelve, Grimmauld Place as well as every other kitchen Ginny had seen usually had a shelf with spices close to the stove or fireplace. Also a container for ladles, stirring utensils, pot holders and the like were usually at hand. She didn't see anything like that here. This kitchen was not in regular use. It was of Muggle origin with little alterations.

Severus opened a half-empty cupboard holding teabags, instant coffee, a packet of pasta and three tins Ginny could not identify. All were from Muggle shops. He fetched four teabags, brought a whole kettle full of water to boil with flicks of his wand and prepared a pot of tea. He handed Ginny three chipped mugs while he levitated the tea and a plate with half a cake back to the sitting room. With her delayed reaction, Ginny didn't want to risk a burnt lip and asked for a cooling spell on her tea. It was still good enough against her shivers, but the crumbly cake had a stale taste.

:*:*:*:

They paid the potions lab an even shorter visit. Seeing her unsteady moves with only socks on the steep concrete stairs, Severus held onto one arm at her elbow. "It will wear off completely," he reassured her almost nicely and stopped half way down. Then he straightened and continued sharply, "We have work to complete. You stay upstairs and out of trouble." He supported her with a hand in the small of her back on her slow way back upstairs.

While the two men brewed, Ginny lay on the sofa, thinking of her family and friends, brooding and worrying. She had no patience for the books she had been offered. In three days she would meet the man whom she had already known and feared five years ago in his state as a boy of sixteen years. This time, he would have a whole army on his side and hold her life in his hands with no chance to escape.

Lord Voldemort was not known to keep prisoners for longer periods. Where would he do so? He tormented them to get all the information they held and then he killed them. Some, especially women, had to endure an existence as slaves for a while. Maybe that was what Professor Snape was planning for her? The way he treated her, she decided, she could go with this solution. Rather than die from torture, certainly! Did she have to appear horrified at the notion of this? Probably. In front of the Dark Lord, she would have to look injured and desolate. Better still she had to be injured. Desolate she would be.

Of course, she would be forced to tell a lot of what she knew. How could she do that without really telling the monster that had once been Tom Riddle anything important? She must not reveal anything--or at least not too much. They would have to work out a plan. If she proved unable... she shuddered.

Or should she devise a plan to escape before the hearing? Snape had already told her that she would be caught within minutes. If he caught her himself, he'd show his worst side towards her. And if somebody else caught her, her prospects would only get worse. Ask him to help her escape? No, he had made it clear that she could rule that out immediately. She would have to face torture and most likely death, and she would not plead and pledge... or at least she would try not to.

Best not to think of it.

Think of nothing, Ginny Weasley.

:*:*:*:

They found the girl in a restless slumber. She tossed her head left and right, her hands moving agitatedly, her mouth open in soundless cries. She had some new bruises on her side from the table that kept her from rolling off the sofa. Severus rushed over and spoke to the girl in a voice more soothing than he had trusted himself able to muster. He sat down at her knees and let his hand rest on her back, which calmed her slightly. He summoned a warm wet towel from the bathroom to wash her face.

Suddenly, she jerked away from the touch and her words became comprehensible. "No, Tom, no! Don't make me do this. Please, no!" Waking up slowly, she shortly clenched her teacher's hand but retreated quickly. "Oh. I'm sorry sir."

"It is all right. We left you here for too long."

The potion-induced relaxation was nearly gone, her movements were more coherent and her responses came fairly quickly again. She sat up to lean against the armrest and drew her feet close. Her professor had sat down and looked at her. Encouraged by the simple fact that he wasn't berating her, she spoke. "I was thinking of the Tom Riddle from the diary. He has been haunting my dreams regularly for years. The end of the Triwizard Tournament refreshed my just fading memory."

Severus was nonplussed. "I have not thought of the events in the Chamber of Secrets for a while. I failed to recognise that you must have a very unusual connection to the Dark Lord."

"Sir, do you happen to know how much he knows about this?" Overcoming her dislike for the boy she added, "or maybe Malfoy knows?"

Severus did not know and Draco, who was laying the table for dinner, shook his head. Investigating a fork whose prongs pointed in different directions, Draco mused without looking at them, "My father told him proudly about smuggling a diary into school and that Potter had nearly failed to rescue a girl that had been in the Chamber of Secrets. However, I'm not sure if he revealed who that girl was or if the Dark Lord paid enough attention to the name to connect it with you, Miss Weasley." Draco stopped and stared at the wall before he continued. "He was outraged at the loss of the diary. He performed the punishment in secret, which is a rare thing for him. Father was more than physically hurt, I recall."

Ginny and Snape exchanged a short look at this statement. They were both aware of why that was, and they also knew that it was best if no Malfoy ever learnt of the true significance of the diary.

Not having had any lunch, they took their simple meal of fried potatoes, ham and a tomato each in silence.

With trained motions and spells, the men Transfigured the sofa into a bed for Ginny. It was the way Draco had spent his nights in the first month with his mentor. Back then, Severus couldn't let him out of sight for the same reasons he wanted to keep an eye on Ginny now. Severus alone knew a second reason: Pettigrew had occupied the first floor at that time, too.

Wordlessly, Draco went to his room and returned with a wide t-shirt and a pair of fairly long boxer shorts. They both blushed when he put the garments on her bed. Soon, he retired for the night.

:*:*:*:

In bed, Severus had a hard time mulling over the possibilities they had--or did not have. In a rush of anger, he wondered why it was always him that ended up in these situations.

Checking on the accident-prone Longbottom boy was something Severus had volunteered for, considering his parents' fate. Observing the Longbottoms, Severus had learnt a lot about non-Slytherin purebloods.

He had also watched over the Potter brat a few times, had given him a magical hand to speed him up when his monstrous cousin had pursued him, or when his aunt's petty taunts had become too dangerous. The stubborn and nosy boy had needed it even more once he had been at Hogwarts and again it had been Severus Snape to supervise him. Upon Albus' urge he had done it surreptitiously so as to not damage his delicate ego--as if that ego of his wouldn't have benefited from some reprimands! Severus had agreed, for he knew all too well that the boy was his key to freedom and he had a debt to pay. Did he also have to like it?

Then Dumbledore had made him brew Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin and endure his presence at meals and staff meetings. A year later, he had been supposed to arrange himself with Black, a request Severus had thwarted, although the death of the man wasn't in his plans and certainly was not helpful for the Order.

Yet another blow had been Dumbledore's request that he volunteer to shelter Pettigrew here. The wizard debt, the bond, so Albus had argued, obligated Wormtail to the boy, who had saved his life in the Shrieking Shack. Eventually, their relationship might come in handy for the oh-so-glorious boy.

It had not been enough with this unwanted guest: Dumbledore had forced him to care for the most spoiled Malfoy in history. Admittedly, this had proven a good choice, but why was it taken from Severus to make his own decisions? You've made one and you've regretted it a thousand times, a small voice in his mind answered.

Besides helping Draco, saving him from falling into the abyss that Severus had needed years to climb out from, Dumbledore had beseeched Severus to take care of any brat in the Order who might fall into the hands of the Dark Lord's followers. And here was Ginevra Weasley. His task again.

But this time even Dumbledore would have to admit that Miss Weasley's future was not in Severus' hands. For the sake of the whole, they could not risk blowing his cover only to save a Weasley.

Saving people the Dark Lord wished dead was highly dangerous. When Severus had been ordered to kill a pair of Muggle-born wizard boys to prove his loyalty, he had brought one to Augusta Longbottom instead. This had been a risky venture although at the time no one had suspected anything. The case of Miss Weasley was far more complex. His house was undoubtedly under observation. She would not get far; they would not get far. On Tuesday night, her presence was expected.

He could only see to it that her three days here would be comfortable, and maybe, if he knew in advance what she had to expect, he could do something...

No, not even this was wise. First, he would have to assess her ability in Occlumency. Tomorrow. He would have three days to teach her, force her and possibly steal her memory. Mental rape. He could not even allow her three comfortable last days. And in less than a week, the shrieks of another victim would haunt his dreams. A victim that was more than a face to him: his pupil, a girl that he had to torment before their master would finish her off. He ran his hand through his hair. Why did it never stop? Why did he always have to load guilt upon himself to serve the cause?

Analyse, Severus; it is what you do best. He had known her for five years. She was strong, stronger than most of her peers. Did a sixteen-year-old have to be so strong? People say that defending your position as a younger child in a family makes you strong. Maybe this was part of it; he would not know. Miss Weasley had been forced to develop inner strength after her first year at Hogwarts when she had had to fight the memory of Tom Riddle.

Of the many Slytherins he had taught, Severus did not know many as strong as Miss Weasley. A childhood in a pure-blood Death Eater household was no doubt demanding. Ginevra Weasley, however, had experienced Tom Riddle directly. Being so close to the Boy-Who-Lived had shaped her as well.

Draco had grown strong in the last year or so. Spoiled rich child that he was, he had not had the need before that. His arrogance had carried him through his years at Hogwarts.

And Severus himself? He had not been strong. Not really, not inwardly. He had become used to aggression at home until he had grown a dragon hide against insults, attacks and humiliation at school. However, in the core he had remained vulnerable all too long until his heart had dried out. Shrunken and deformed, it had finally hardened like a Shrivelfig.

His reverie was interrupted by tiny suppressed sobs. Quietly he stood and went over to the half-open door. "Lumos!"

He inched over to the bed in the corner. Tresses of red hair spread over the pillow. The shape of her body was outlined under the light cover. It shivered in rhythm with the sobs. What was he supposed to do? It was pointless to offer empty words as if to console her. 'All will be well' didn't hold in the face of death, and it wasn't like him to say such nonsense in any situation.

He stooped over her, reached out an awkward hand to touch her shoulder and, when it didn't help, started stroking her back. She turned and pushed wet tangles of hair out of her face. She moved her body to the side, inviting him to sit down. "I feel so hopeless, sir."

His mouth went dry. This was just how he felt right now and that wasn't the thing she needed to hear. What would Albus have said in a similar situation? He certainly would be calm and reassuring. How did one do this? "We must not lose hope, especially when it appears to be the last thing we have. There can always be hidden doors, secret passages that allow us to detour."

"It doesn't look like it this time, sir."

"That is the idea of secret passages, Miss Weasley. One only sees them at the last moment." Impressive; he had found Albus' tone.

She relaxed a bit. "What are we going to do tomorrow?"

Yes, Miss Weasley, think of something concrete. "I will go through your memory and your Occlumency skills. Make a plan." He paused. Depending on her abilities, she might reveal even this discussion. He could appear friendly as long as he could argue he was luring her. For details, however, he had to rely on her imagination. "You could make up your mind, if you agree to permanently lose some information."

"What is permanent if I have only three days?!" She looked up into his eyes.

Severus made every effort not to reveal how desperate he felt. "We cannot know how long it might be. You were very close to Mr Potter, were you not? This can make you more valuable to the Dark Lord than he believes today. If he gets an idea of..." Feeling uneasy he stalled. His fingers moved slightly against his thumb. "Your feelings... for each other, he might want to lure Mr Potter to you."

Ginny's eyes had left his; she was staring ahead, unfocussed. "We are friends, nothing more. There was more at some point, but we noticed quickly that it did not work out." In an afterthought she added, "More exactly, I did."

Severus raised an eyebrow in surprise. He continued, "Maybe your relationship has not reached the Inner Circle or the Dark Lord yet. Or perhaps your separation has reached him. Do you have a scene where Mr Potter is... close to someone else? Else, there is a risk that he wants to get at Mr Potter through you."

"No! He must not! We all entered this fight voluntarily and we knew the risks."

Severus snorted and his sympathy for the young woman faded away. Those little Gryffindor brats were playing the heroes. "And how exactly did you come to that conclusion, Miss Weasley?"

Even with her back on the mattress she managed to pull back from his harsh words. "We have talked about this, sir. We have sworn to keep our secrets."

Disdain in his voice, he repeated, "Sworn. Solemnly, I assume." He saw the brats in his mind, scented candlelight and fancy flourishes to create red and golden ribbons. Ribbons of empty beauty.

She tried for a sneer. "We didn't use an Unbreakable Vow, no." Seeing how he stiffened, she hesitated. "We did not put ourselves under a magical binding like that. My Dad has warned us so many times. It is cruel, even if done with consideration."

Severus let out a breath. It was, and he should know. Yet he had felt he needed one from Draco and he was not proud of it. His voice betrayed his disgust when he asked, "Then how did you swear, four Gryffindors honest and brave?"

Ginny, who had only heard of one Unbreakable Vow, wasn't sure how to interpret the tone. Did he mock her? Most likely. Yet what else than an honest answer could she provide? "We felt we needed something. Sir. Maybe it was childish, alright."

At least she can admit that, Severus thought.

"We felt we needed something special, sir--to remind us."

Here it comes, Severus thought, booze for the spirit; then some wand tapping on their hearts. They had no idea what it was like.

"We allowed us two days to prepare ourselves individually. Then we swore."

Severus had to admit that two days of silent consideration impressed him, as did the fact that she admitted freely it might not help. Suspicion was better than overconfidence.

"I... cannot speak for them. Or for my family, but..." She finished the sentence with determination. "I expect them not to risk it all in silly rescue attempts that are bound to fail."

Severus huffed. How unrealistic can she be?

"Once I'm... dead... " She swallowed but continued firmly, "Harry has no need to come and risk it all."

He suppressed a shudder, forced his voice neutral, and answered, "Your point is valid. Only as long as you are alive can you be the bait to get at Mr Potter. Do you trust him and your family not to try anything so foolish?"

Ginny took her time to debate the question before she answered. There were so many people to consider. "It was our agreement, and it is also true within the Order. But family bonds are the strongest, I can imagine. Mum is a wreck of nerves, I'm sure." Her look went distant and her voice nearly broke, "I cannot say if they wouldn't disobey the Headmistress."

"I suppose you are right." This was why he didn't want to ever bind himself. However, life had not asked him. Not with Albus and not with Draco.

Ginny's eyes returned to his. "We also intended not to tell anything to... him... or to any Death Eater. But Sir, I'm not sure I can keep up this part under torture. Then there is always Veritaserum."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "With whom exactly are you discussing this right now?"

"But sir, you're a member of the Order! You're not like them!"

"Hmm, let's assume you are right." He stood, caught his right hand with the left behind his back and, pacing now, he continued in teaching mode, "The Dark Lord does not approve of Truth Potions. He always uses Legilimency. And pain; a method as old as mankind. Often the threat thereof suffices."

"Sir, I think I need to know what he looks like, before I see him."

Taken by surprise, Severus stopped and lost much of his businesslike posture. "Merlin's beard," he said staring at an imaginary point. "No one wants to look at him, if they can avoid it."

"I know. Harry has tried to describe him. But, you see, I know the face of Tom Riddle at sixteen and I must not confuse them, sir. I suppose there are no photos. Can you somehow show me? Could I use Legilimency on you? Just for that, of course," she added rapidly when he glared at her. She reminded herself again to be extra polite and address him correctly as if back at Hogwarts. "Please, sir."

"I will... think about it." He conjured a glass of water with a light lemon taste and handed it over. "Sleep now, Miss Weasley. We have plans to pursue tomorrow."

:*:*:*: