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Chapter 6 Bad. This is Very Bad.

Nothing could prepare Eliza and Severus for what happened that day.

First, three meddlesome students had made their way into the Headmaster's office and nearly managed to get their hands on the sword of Gryffindor.

Second, the Ministry declared that all Muggleborns must report there for trial, under the Misuse of Magic.

Third, a rather distraught Poppy Pomfrey ran into his office and told him there had been an outbreak of Dragon Pox within the school.

Fourth, they received an angry letter from Mr. And Mrs. Blackburn. They were to pull their daughter out of school, because it had become too dangerous.

Fifth, they heard through the grapevine that Lucius Malfoy had been admitted to St. Mungoe's and that Juliet had called off the wedding.

Sixth, Mae sent her twin a letter. She had returned home to her flat in Muggle London after Finnian had incessantly called her Eliza.

Seventh, news of the Golden Trio had reached them. They were now in the Forest of Dean, which was a very bad thing. They had apparently tried to infiltrate the Ministry and were almost caught. Deatheaters had followed them back to Grimmauld Place.

Exhausted by the onslaught of unfortunate happenings, they never thought that it could possibly get worse.

And then it did.

The fireplace glowed a vibrant green and a tall, lean figure stepped into the room.

"Professors Snape," a nervous voice called out.

The two Potion Masters turned around when called and jumped at the sight of the new minister stepping into the round office.

"Minister, how unnexpected." Severus drawled coolly.

The other Deatheater nodded and turned to the woman.

"Mrs. Snape, we sent out a notice for all Muggleborns to report to the Ministry to go on trial for the misuse of magic, yet you did not report once. Why is that?" He asked.

Eliza's eyes widened. "That would be because I am not Muggleborn."

The wiry man placed a shaky hand into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a piece of folded parchment.

His pale fingers extended to hand it to the woman who had started to struggle with her breathing.

She took the paper and looked at her husband. He nodded, urging her to read what was written.

Unfolding it, she was surprised when it was a copy of her birth record. Strangely, it was the first time she'd ever seen it.

Elizabeth Daria Barron
January 16, 1961
Female
5.7 lbs
19.5 inches
Born to: Anastasia Beatrice Barron
March 4, 1944
Female
Muggleborn

"This simply states that my mother was Muggleborn. Not me." She said, anger slowly bubbling in the pit of her stomach. What were they trying to do?

The Minister nodded curtly. "Yes, but we do not have any record of you father and therefore can only assume that you come from Muggle blood. You must come in for questioning." He said.

Severus' eyes widened in shock. "What on Earth for?"

Offended, it took everything she had to not blast the man all the way to Mars.

"For the misuse of magic. Muggleborns cannot be wizards. It is unrealistic. Half-Bloods are already a stain on the portrait painted by our ancestors." Pinus said, his squeaky voice rising an octave at the sight of their stormy expressions.

Eliza took a step toward the man. "I am the only qualified female Potions' Master in our world. Are you telling me that I cannot do magic? That it is impossible that I am incapable of withholding such power?"

The older man took a step back.

"Look at my face." She took a step closer again. "These burns and gouges. They're hideous, aren't they?" She asked.

The Minister looked at the floor.

"LOOK AT ME!" Eliza yelled. How dare some cowardly Deatheater tell her she wasn't worthy of magic.

Rolling up the long sleeves of her robes and dress, she showed him her snow white arms, tarnished with burnt skin and deep red marks. Wounds that hadn't yet healed. Her left arm bore a dark, ugly skull and serpent that withered and slithered.

"Look at me." She repeated, more calmly. Though, this time her voice held a dangerous note. "These wounds were caused by Dark magic. All of them. Magic took away my unborn child! Magic took away my memories of the man I love! I have the ability to manipulate feelings and read minds with ease, without being a qualified Legilimens!"

Snape approached and wrapped a tentative hand around her upper arm. She was going to throw a fit, he felt it in his gut. This was the calm before the storm.

Slowly, he pulled her away from the man. When she was close enough, he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her firmly against his side.

"Calm down." He whispered. This was not a time to panic. Especially now. With one word, Pinus could send her to the Dark Lord.

They all knew it.

The guest righted himself and stared down at the woman. She was considerably shorter than he.

"Headmaster, I'm afraid your wife must come in for questioning. We will arrange a trial if necessary after that. If she remains cooperative, she may live. If not, it's the Dementor's Kiss for her."

The Minister grabbed her roughly by her wrist and yanked the woman from her husband's grasp.

Attempting to fight back, she felt stabbing pain when strong fingers pulled at her dark curls.

A small cry escaped her lips and Severus leaped at the man.

"Not so fast, Snape. If you do one thing out of turn, I'll send her straight to him no questions asked. Understood?"

The man in black nodded slowly. He was completely powerless. He couldn't do anything.

"Severus, my love, take care of the school. I'll be alright." Eliza managed as the other man shoved her into the fireplace. "If I don't return, be brave for me. I love you."

Before the love of her life could reply, green flames danced before her eyes and she heard Pinus shout "Malfoy Manor".

A distant voice cried out in agony as the two Snapes realized they'd been tricked into a nasty plan. They should've known better.

How couldn't they have foreseen this?