Love and Power

{11} To Save A Life

"My friends!" Voldemort happily greeted the other Death Eaters. I stood by him in the front of a large table where the others sat.

I knew his father was a Death Eater... but Draco...?

Yeah, he's here. Sitting between his father and mother at the table. He won't even look at me.

"Miss Anastasia Snape has learned of her correct lineage!" Voldemort's voice rang through the large room. "Now, she must be informed of the plan we had to set aside due to her mother's tragic murder."

That's when he looked up. He looked up into my eyes. His silver ones suddenly filled with shock. And hurt.

My heart ached for him but I clenched my jaw. Remembering who he went to after me.

"Miss Anastasia," Voldemort turned to me. "Your mother's task was destroyed by Severus murdering her. As we mourned her tragic loss, it is reassuring to know that she had a daughter. You. who will complete her task. To provide me with a constant supply of your precious immortalizing unicorn blood so I can carry out my plans to kill Albus Dumbledor."

My face paled. I'm going to be used as an eternal life reservoir. So he can't be killed by anyone as he kills the Headmaster.

Interrupting me from my thoughts, he spoke again.

"Miss Anastasia, will you accept this task willingly like the loyal servant you were sworn in to be? Or will you require threat and punishment?"

"You- you want to make me sick so you can live forever?"

The Death Eaters all laughed. All except for Draco and his mother.

"When you became a part of my beloved army, you gave yourself to me as my servant. To obey my every command without hesitation or failure," He grinned maliciously. "I don't want to have to punish you, Miss Snape."

"No," I shook my head, fear striking my body and giving me confidence to go with survival instinct. "I-I could die. Y-you can't do this. I didn't sign up for this! I was forced!"

"Malfoy!!" Voldemort yelled over me. Lucius stood but Voldemort shook his head, then pointed a pale, skinny finger to Draco. "Not you, Lucius. Your son."

Draco paled and stood, his walk slow as he approached. He stood beside me, in front of Voldemort. Who smiled at him, then pulled him to his side in front of me and held his wand to Draco's neck.

Draco whimpered softly and looked into my eyes desperately. As if I could do anything to save him in that situation.

"Does this persuade you?" Voldemort asked coldly. "You love him don't you? I see it in your eyes."

There were a few seconds that I sat to think. A life of sickness, and torture, or the only man I've ever loved's life? After he hurt me- would I do this for him? Would I give my life for him?

"Don't do it, Ana!" Draco suddenly yelled. Voldemort growled.

"Crucio!!" Voldemort cursed, causing Draco to fall to the ground, screaming and yelling in pain. Begging. Begging for it all to stop.

"Okay!!" I sobbed. "Okay!! Stop hurting him!! Please!!"

"Smart girl!" Voldemort grinned and removed the curse from Draco. He was left groaning in pain on the floor. His face pressed to the cold black tile. I dropped to my knees next to him. Voldemort continued talking with his followers about the plans.

"Y-you can't do it," Draco whimpered weakly. "Y-you can't... y-you'll be so sick... you- you'll be tied to him forever. Wh-why'd you s-save me?"

"Because I love you," I bent down and kissed his cheek. "I love you so much. I couldn't see you in pain."

"You- you fool," He suddenly snarled. "You s-signed up for- for a life of t-torture at the expense of- of my life. You- you won't ever be- be able to see me."

"But you'll be safe," I sniffled. "You'll be safe. And okay. That- that's enough for me."

--

The Death Eaters were forced to leave and go about their business. They had to wrestle Draco out of the room. Because he knows. He knows what comes next for me. My first extraction. Blood extraction. To make Voldemort immortal.

"Now, fortunately for you, I don't need much of your blood, since I am mixing it into a potion," He took my forearm into his cold hands. It was then I realized just how reptilian and snakelike he is. "But for this first extraction, I will be taking more than enough, for a potent potion."

I winced as he sliced into my arm rather deeply. I watched as my silver blood dribbled down my arm and into a vial that Bellatrix held to my skin. They watched as the somewhat shiny substance filled the vial.

I felt weak. Like I was going to be sick. My whole body's strength supply draining with the blood I was so willingly giving to them. I knew it would take a long while to work up more strength again. I felt faint.

"Bella, take the girl to her cell," Voldemort snatched the vial from her and shoved me onto her. I took one wobbly step but my knees gave out and I fell onto the cold floor. I heard Bellatrix scoff.

"Weak," She snarled. "You're just like your mother. Pathetic."

She used a spell to levitate me in the air after her as she walked me down to the dungeons, dropped me on the cold concrete floor, locked the cell door, and left. I didn't have enough strength in my body to cry. But tears left my eyes.

A few dripped onto my arm since I was curled up in fetal position. I watched as the scar from the blade sealed up. Leaving nothing but a faint, grey trail of dried blood down my arm. I felt like throwing up. But my body physically didn't have the strength for that.

I saw a mat in the back corner of the cell. I bit my lip hard and forced myself to crawl across the cell to it. I flopped down onto the itchy mat and closed my eyes. My heartbeat slowed, as did my breathing, and I passed out.

I wasn't sure how long I was unconscious. But I woke to strong, warm arms lifting me up from the floor. It was then I felt the aches and sores. I shivered aggressively and very faintly whimpered, burying my face into the chest of whoever this was.

I didn't care who. I felt warmth. And safety. I needed that. So I did all that I could to move closer to it.

"She's not strong enough to apparate," A feminine voice whispered. "I saw her when they took her blood. She looked so drained."

"Snape ordered us to secure her at the safe house," The man who was holding me replied.

"How do we get her there without being caught? We were lucky to get in here in the first place."

"Remus," Another feminine voice spoke. "The floo network?"

"Narcissa, do you have a facility here?"

"We do, but it's very old and hasn't been used in years. I'm not sure it works."

"It's worth a try."

I was being walked somewhere. Still in that same pair of arms. Still that safe feeling. I managed to open my eyes. I didn't have the strength to look at who was holding me.

But I saw Narcissa Malfoy walk next to the man and I, a look of worry on her face as we swiftly walked through the hallways. She looked down at me from the side and seemed to softly gasp.

"Remus, hurry," She urged the man holding me. "It's that door there. She's woken. Please, hurry."

"Thank you, Narcissa."

The man stepped into a large fireplace, grabbed a handful of floo powder, and threw it at his feet with a firm but quiet yell. "Twelve Grimmauld Place."