Narcissa carefully
wrapped each item into the empty box before her, checking them off the list as
she went. “Candies. Chocolate.” She smiled as she looked at the perfectly
wrapped, decadent treats. He does so take after me, at times.
“Broom-cleaning
kit. Draco, how could you forget it?” She was stunned that he’d forgotten to
pack such a vital item. It wasn’t like him to neglect his broom. Not after all
he and his father had been through over it.
“Pansy’s Christmas
present. Son, if you don’t start paying more mind to your fiancé, how can you
ever hope for her loyalty in your marriage?” She scowled. She hadn’t much liked
the arrangement herself. She didn’t trust that little tart any more than she
trusted Harry Potter, but Lucius had been adamant, and it hadn’t seemed worth
the battle. Narcissa preferred to be more particular when it came to arguing
with her husband.
“Potions text. I’m
sure Severus is very upset about that. His star pupil, without his book?” She
shook her head; thinking of what Severus had chastised her son with this time.
Then she caught sight of the next item, “Now why on earth would you want that
ruddy old thing?” She sighed, but tucked it carefully into the bottom of the
box.
When it was at last
packed, she called for one of the house elves to take the package and have it
sent to her son, Draco, away at Hogwarts.
When the little
beast was finally gone, she settled back into her chaise lounge, ready to rest.
Keeping her husband and son together was quite more of a job than she’d
expected. The two men were utterly helpless and would be all but lost without
her, not that either of them would think to admit it, but it was the truth and
Narcissa was a shrewd woman. She knew how to use anything to her own advantage.
The door burst open,
“Mistress! Mistress! News!”
Narcissa sat bolt
upright, seized by a strange sense of fear, “What?”
“The master! He is…
he is… The… The… they have…”
“Tell me, now, elf,
or you shall have no tongue!”
“They have gone for
him! He is to return!”
She was still
filled with fear. But she didn’t want the elf there to intrude upon her
thoughts, “Is there anything else?”
The elf shook its
head, though it was hard to see, since the miserable little creature was
shuddering terribly.
“Then get out.” She
gave a half-hearted thought to throwing something at it, but she had spent far
too much time and money on every item in the manor to waste any of it in such a
ridiculous act. The elf obeyed with all the speed he could muster at any rate.
The news should
have been received well on her part. All of the other wives would be gleeful at
the news, but Narcissa was not like the wives of the other Death Eaters. She
was shrewd enough to know that while her husband was loyal to the Dark Lord and
his cause, the Dark Lord was not.
The cause for
Purebloods was a sham the Dark Lord had used to bring so many into his fold and
Narcissa had recognized it from the start. It hadn’t bothered her then. It had
seemed bold, and dashing, and idealistic then. Her husband’s passion for his
ideals was part of why she adored him. Lucius was a clever man and his ideas
had seemed harmless enough before, but now…
She was sure
Voldemort was stark-raving mad and she was horrified that his lust for power
would take her husband down with him. She was well aware that Dumbledore and
his cohorts would win this war in the end, should it come to that.
Narcissa, being the
true Slytherin she had been bred as, recognized in a heartbeat what that would
do to the Malfoy family name, social standing, wealth, and power: throw it into
a shambles of chaos and leave her in ruination and shame.
Something she had
no intention of allowing. Though she loved her husband dearly, she would not
let his archaic beliefs destroy what they had worked so hard for. She knew
bloody well that it is always better to be on the winning team, ideals be
damned.
And she intended
for the Malfoys to be on the winning side, where they belonged. She had been
unhappy when he’d been imprisoned in Azkaban, to be sure, but she had seen it
as a place to keep him safe from himself. If those bloody radicals he called
comrades were going to bust him out, it would make her job of removing the
tarnish of the Death Eaters from the name Malfoy decidedly more difficult.
She sighed heavily.
She would have to enlist help. She knew whom she needed to turn to, but that
only made it worse. He was not going to be pleased.
-----------------------
Severus,
I hope this
letter finds you well, and that the new school year has begun without any
unpleasantness, though I am sure that is not the case.
I do hope
Draco is behaving himself. As I know you are, where he is concerned. If Lucius
receives one more letter from him, complaining about his dueling lessons, he
will more than likely have something to discuss with you. Or rather, I will,
since my husband is indisposed at this time.
However, this
letter is not chiefly concerning Draco. I am afraid I must ask you for help,
Severus. I am sure you are well aware of my family’s current situation.
I need your
assistance, though I hate to ask for it. You were never very generous and I
know you will be upset with me when you finish this letter, but time is short
and I have no other options.
I have no
doubt that you know my situation well. But what may surprise you is that I hold
none of Lucius’ illusions about yours. I am well aware of your true loyalties.
I have been aware of them for many years, Severus. They are the very reason I
turn to you now.
I do not care
who is right or wrong in this war, I only care about who will win. Though
Lucius is still passionate about what he calls “the cause,” I am not. I do not
care one whit about muggles, blood purity and the like. I am merely concerned
about my family. If Lucius continues as he surely will, I fear Draco and I
shall suffer greatly. I have no intention of allowing it and I am sure you are
the one person I can turn to.
Do not worry that this
letter may be intercepted. First off, I am Narcissa Malfoy and above suspicion
amongst the Death Eaters. My bloodline and my marriage, as well as my
disposition, assure me of that. And secondly, should anyone attempt to deter
this animal from his course, the idiot will not live long enough to regret it.
Draco is much like his father, but I will
not have him sacrificed to the Dark Lord. I have far greater plans for my son,
though they may seem mundane to some.
I love my husband. That much you know.
Desperately. I would do anything for him.
But I am as much a Slytherin as you are, and I see the folly of
what Voldemort proposes to do. So long as Dumbledore stands against him, he
will most certainly fail.
Ambition is
our strength and failure our greatest fear.
If Voldemort
is destined to fail, then I shall throw my family’s lot and mine in with those
who oppose him. I am quite certain you are the only wizard capable of aiding
me.
I do not wish
to stoop to such things as blackmail, Severus. It is not to my taste, nor does
it compliment my style. But in this case, I am not above it.
Severus
Snape had known the moment that bloody Malfoy beast had flown into his office
it would mean trouble.
When he
had seen the scrawling and feminine hand he instantly recognized, he knew it
was worse than he suspected.
When he
had finished the letter, he was fuming.
How
dare she? And how the bloody hell had she
figured it out, but not Lucius? And why hadn’t she run to him with the news at
the first sign of my treason? What in all the nine circles of hell could she
want from me? What does she expect me to do? He sighed heavily, I
suppose I shall have to visit the manor and see what she has in mind. Malfoys.
He sneered bitterly.
-----------------------
“Severus,
I’m pleased that you came so quickly.” She was as haughty as she had always
been with him. She showed him into her parlor and directed him towards a seat.
Severus
took it without question for he was too caught up in examining her.
He
admired her cold, elegant beauty with the objective scrutiny that only one who
does not possess such beauty can. His eyes followed every curve of her body,
and instantly recognized that beneath her graceful and frozen exterior, there
was fear.
It was
obvious in the tensed muscles and the slightly marred skin beneath her eyes.
She had not been sleeping much, or she had spent quite some time in tears. He
suspected it was the former and not the latter. From what he had come to know
of this woman, he was certain she was not the type to shed tears, no matter the
circumstances. He found a sense of approval rise within him. Lucius
underestimated his wife’s strength, resolve, and ingenuity. Amongst other
things.
“Yes,
but one could hardly expect a different reaction to your news.” He didn’t
bother to hide the ire in his voice.
She
took her seat directly across from him in a large, high-backed chair filled
with pillows. It gave the distinct impression that she was enthroned. Severus
did not miss the implication of it.
“You
are angry, Severus. You shouldn’t be. I am not so docile as most think me.
Neither am I a fool. The others believe your deception because they want to. And
because you give them enough proof of your loyalty. But I noticed long ago a
change in you, Severus. However, I have never been one to involve myself in
others’ politics. Not until it puts my son and myself directly in harm’s way.
“I have
no doubt of your loyalty to the Order. I am surprised by it, but I do not doubt
its strength. And I realized long ago that Voldemort was a power-mad lunatic.
Hardly the type of man one should pledge undying loyalty to. Certainly not when
there is a greater wizard in the world. Yes, I mean your precious Dumbledore.
“I do
not trust him any more than I do Voldemort. And though I despise muggles and
may wish it were not true, Voldemort is destined to lose this war. With
Dumbledore against him, there is no other possible outcome. I may detest the
people he fights for, Severus, but I am not stupid enough to think Dumbledore
will fail.
“I
intend to be on the winning side of this war. And what’s more, I intend for the
Malfoy name to come out smelling of roses in the end.”
He had
winced every time she had mentioned his former master’s name, but refused to
admit it to her. “But that should hardly be a problem for you, with Lucius in
Azkaban.”
“Yes,
of course. If that were the case, I would not have written to you. Severus, I
must tell you something. I miss my husband’s presence more than you know,” she
paused then, her perfect beauty marred only by a desperate longing, but she
pushed it aside and continued, “But I wish with all my heart that he might have
stayed safely in Azkaban until this unfortunate war is finished. However, I
have received word that there is a plan to free him, as well as anyone else
loyal to the Dark Lord.
“And
they will succeed, Severus. If that is to be the case, I will need your help to
keep him away from Voldemort, or at the very least, away from Draco. Severus, I
need you to protect my son from his father.
“It
will take all I have to keep Lucius out of trouble and away from the Death
Eaters and the Dark Lord. It will take all I have to keep him safe from himself.
I can spare nothing. But Draco must stay safe and unmarked. That is why I need
you, Severus. You are the only one in any position to help me. No one else
would willingly believe me, and I will not have him turned into a useless and
broken follower. My plans for my son do not include such scandal.”
Her
candor moved him in a way he had not expected. She was a more powerful force
than even she realized. Her convictions were so strong and so pure and so
innately Slytherin, that he knew he hadn’t the ability to refuse her. But some
doubts still lingered in his mind, “How exactly am I supposed to keep Lucius
Malfoy from contacting his son? Especially when that son is so obsessed with
Lucius Malfoy and gaining his approval?”
“Severus,
I don’t know. All I know is that you are his only hope. If Draco follows in his
father’s footsteps, I will have no hope. My husband is a handful all his own,
but one I can handle, when it becomes necessary. It is not only Lucius you must
protect him from. You must keep him safe.
“Do
what must be done, but do not allow him to take risks. Do not allow him to
wander into the Dark Lord’s waiting arms.
“I
should never forgive you, Snape, if my son came to ruin while in your care. I
named you his godfather for a reason.” Her voice had become very soft and
Severus nearly missed her last words.
“I see,
Narcissa. Draco will not fall while I watch him. But I cannot help you if you
continue to tie my hands where his discipline is concerned. He needs
discipline. He is too spoilt and he needs to learn that life is not always so
easy. If you continue to refuse my requests, I can do nothing. This task you
set me will require me to be harsher with him than you normally allow.” He
paused, seeing the fear and anger rising in her eyes, “Narcissa, please. You
misunderstand me. I will not harm him. He is safe with me.” He closed his eyes,
forcing his voice to remain steady; “I love him as my own.”
She
studied the man sitting before her for a long moment before answering. “I am
aware of that, Severus. And it does little to comfort me.”
He
stared at her incredulously. He felt loathing rise within him.
Before
he could speak, she held up a hand, “You misunderstand me, Severus. It is that
love that could betray him. I will not allow that. Do what you must. But always
remember to be harsher with yourself than with him. He does not possess the
knowledge you do, nor does he have my confidence as I am giving you now. I am
leaving it in your hands, and I give you my consent to do what is necessary,
but there is still a worry hanging over my heart. You have loved him from the
beginning and I have thus forced you to keep your distance because of it.”
There
was silence.
He slid
back into the luxurious, ominous, leather-upholstered, and decidedly
uncomfortable chair, showing his grudging acquisition to her words with the
movement.
She
watched him carefully for a long moment, with a distinctly calculating
countenance before speaking again.
“There
is one more thing,” she said with the firmest tone he’d heard from her yet, “I
may need your help with Lucius as well. He trusts you, and often listens to
your counsel more than any other. I may need you to guide him. I have come to
discover that my husband’s ear is most attuned to your voice alone.”
He
refused to comment, not trusting his voice, or his shaking hand, so he merely
nodded. There was a dangerous tone that colored her comment, and it was one he
did not like.