Severus Snape quietly made his way down the cobblestone pathway. When the Dark Lord asked his Death Eaters for a hideout, the Malfoys had happily volunteered their manor. Of course, they had to be careful how long they used it for, because the Ministry was on the prowl and the last thing they needed was Alastor Moody raiding the place.

Not that they were losing the war or anything. With the death of several important Order members, many would agree that the Death Eaters were winning. And the new lead the Dark Lord had discovered about the boy born at the end of July had many of his followers optimistic that their master would achieve his goal of immortality. Severus was the only one who wasn't completely happy about the situation.

In fact, at that moment, as he was walking up the pathway, Severus was admittedly in a distinctly foul mood. And the face who greeted him at the door really didn't make matters any better.

"Prewett."

"Snape."

"I'm here to see-"

"He's doing an initiation," Wilma cut him off. Her dark skin was ashy and she looked ready to strangle anyone who challenged her-had been since the death of her husband Fabian Prewett and his brother.

Sure enough, Severus heard a bloodcurdling scream that was most likely from getting the Dark Mark burnt onto the newly joined Death Eater's arm.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"Sandra Arabai," she told him.

Severus grimaced. "McKinnon's not gonna like that if she finds out."

"She's not, but Arabai joined of her will and I'm not getting involved in best friend drama."

He nodded, still wondering why Arabai dared or chose to betray her friend. The two had been inseparable since their fourth year and Marlene McKinnon was a firecracker of a girl. He supposed it was the same reason why all his 'friends' were Death Eaters and Lily wasn't included in the group; he thought she would understand-maybe even join him, but when the time came, he found out that he was totally wrong.

"And I know why you're here," Wilma continued. "He thinks it's her son and you want him to spare her and not the rest of her family. You're a selfish git, you know."

"I thought you weren't getting involved in best friend drama."

"Ah, but she's not your best friend anymore, is she? More like an unrequited love."

He glared at her and got a smirk in response.

"Yeah, I went there."

"Anyway," he said, feeling disgruntled, "if you're so keen to have the rest of them spared, then you're on the wrong side of the war."

"The Dark Lord didn't choose me for my unswerving loyalty," Wilma replied flatly. "He chose me because of my Mortemic powers-even though his name literally means 'flight from death.' And that's not the point; what you're going to do once her husband and child are dead is try to take her on as a partner. And if that's not bloody selfish, I don't know what is."

"Well-"

"Do you even know why people marry each other?" she asked. "Ideally they do it out of love. When James and Harry are dead, Lily's going to be grieving. She's not going to be thinking about marrying anyone. Especially someone who only thinks about himself."

"So you're saying I shouldn't ask him to spare-" Severus growled.

"If you really loved her, you'd be focusing on making her happy!" Wilma cried. "Right now, it just sounds like she's an obsession that you're clearly never gonna fulfill if you keep acting like this!"

"Last time I checked, you weren't the advice column in the Daily Prophet, so-"

"Look," she told him, lowering her voice to a whisper, "if you're gonna ask him to spare anyone, do her and her husband. Don't bother with the child, because that'll take you out of his good books real quick. But just imagine the relieved look on her face when James survives. That should give you butterflies in your stomach, not how beautiful her green eyes are. Although, coming from a bisexual girl, they are pretty sexy."

Severus opened his mouth to argue, but Lucius walked into the entrance hall.

"Hello, Severus," the older man greeted him. Lucius turned to Wilma. "The initiation's over."

She nodded.

"I need to speak to the Dark Lord," said Severus.

"Well, he's not busy." Lucius shrugged. "Go ahead. But I've got a child to take care of, so I can't help you."

As soon as Lucius was out of earshot, Wilma looked at Severus.

"Good luck in there. And remember; make her happy."