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Chapter 7 What to Do?

Someone had cursed her body into a rigid state and thick chains were wrapped around her torso, wrists and ankles, binding her to the chair.

Eliza heard people talking in the other room. A high pitch feminine voice and a deeper, rugged man's.

Footsteps came towards her and she raised her head, staring the person in the eye.

It was Narcissa.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you, Eliza. I'm so sorry, it was never my intention for you to come here. You are in danger here. It isn't safe!" The older woman whispered, kneeling beside her.

The curly haired witch laughed darkly. "Oh, really? I thought it was all peachy keen. Of course, I am aware that my life is in danger, Narcissa! I know where I am!"

More footsteps came toward them and the blonde backed away.

"Ah, Eliza." A cold voice whispered. "Sweet, sweet Eliza."

She had hoped her whole life that she'd never have to hear that awful voice again. Cold, slithering, bare of any compassion at all. Awful. Heartless. Cruel.

"Why didn't you come see me sooner, my dear?" He inquired, truly curious.

The woman smirked. "You see, I'm a little tied up at the moment."

A cold hand came down across her face, making her wounds sting.

"Let's try that again. Why didn't you come to me sooner?" He asked, his voice getting angry.

In retaliation, she looked up, directly into his red slits for eyes. "I never had the intention to."

He snarled and raised his wand, but held back. He took a step away and breathed in deeply.

Approaching again, he ran long fingers down her marred cheek.

"Such a pity I had to do this to your exquisite face, Elizabeth. You were truly, very pretty." He slithered coldly.

The woman turned her head and bit his hand, drawing blood.

Appalled, he struck her again and sent her chair crashing to the floor. Eliza's head hit the stone floor and her vision grew hazy, she felt herself losing consciousness.

"I should just kill you. You foolish girl."

Just as her eyelids closed heavily over her glassy green orbs, she smiled wickedly and spat; "You wouldn't have the guts to, my Lord."

And then everything was dark.

***
He paced around the circular office nervously.

What to do, what to do?

How could he be so powerless?

His love was in danger, quite possibly at the hands of the Dark Lord that very moment, and he couldn't do anything.

Pathetic.

He knew that if the roles were reversed, she'd come after him right away. What could he do?

He couldn't turn to anyone for help. The Order despised him and the Deatheaters didn't trust him anymore.

How in Merlin's name could he come up with a plan to save his wife from Voldemort's wrath whilst simultaneously running the school and keeping an eye on Harry, Ron and Hermione?

***
Eliza awoke to cold fingers running down the side of her face.

She wasn't going to lie, it stung.

Her eyes fluttered open to see that she was strapped down onto a bed. Her arms and legs were restrained, the rope cut into her damaged flesh.

Sighing, she turned her head and noticed Narcissa above her once again.

She was the one with the cold fingers.

"You were bleeding." The older woman said softly, gentle fingers cleaning the open wounds on the younger's face.

Eliza nodded once curtly, as if silently thanking the Malfoy matron.

"I'm so sorry I was so rude to you in the past." Narcissa started. Eliza frowned, not quite understanding her words.
"I always thought there was something going on between you and my husband. However, I see now that you obviously love Severus very much. I'm so terribly sorry you lost the baby. You would have been a wonderful mother. You're so full of love and kindness. How did you get mixed up with these people?"

The dark haired witch smiled sadly and turned her head away. Did this woman know something more about her situation?

"I hear footsteps. I should get going." With that Mrs. Malfoy made her way from the room quickly and quietly.

A tall, slender man stepped into the room. He was unfamiliar to Eliza at first. The stranger never kept eye contact and hid his face from her.

He took hairs from the pillow she was resting on and placed them in a phial.

It was then she saw his face.

"How's your wife?" She asked gently.

The young man looked away again, his shoulders slumped.

"I see." Spoke the woman. "Did they kidnap you too?"

He merely nodded and promptly headed to the door.

"It was nice seeing you again. I'm sorry we had to meet again this way, Vander. Take care of yourself."

Vander Carson had been the best in potions two years ahead of her grade. He went on to become a Potions' Master, and failed the Ministry's examinations miserably. Vander finally became an apprentice at the apothecary on Diagon Alley. He was Garrett's mentor.

That was why he hid his face.

He knew something that she didn't. She couldn't find out.

***
He'd send the Trio the sword of Gryffindor somehow. Yes, that's it! Dumbledore was a genius! Hide the sword and lure them to it. In the time that he is away from the school, he would get to Malfoy Manor and have Eliza released. They couldn't keep her there forever.

How did he know she was really there? He could ask the portrait to check up on the house, but that would be too obvious. He'd have to go with his instinct.

Severus took a deep breath and closed his eyes briefly.

Then he got to work.

He'd find a way to rescue his wife from the Dark Lord's clutches.