Hey Lovelies, so do me a favor, go back and reread Chapter 1. I added quite a bit to it since it first went up and you are going to need some of the information that it provides for the rest of this story. I had a few people tell me that they wanted me to keep going, so here is the next Chapter, wherein we meet the Lady Voldemort...
Chapter 2 – Lady Voldemort
As soon as she had cleared the wards protecting The Burrow Minerva had disappeared with a small pop. Moments later she found herself standing on the gravel path leading towards the gates of Malfoy Manor. She transfigured a leaf into a shimmering, hooded, cloak, the color of a cloudless, midnight, sky.
Stowing her wand away in the holster hidden up her left sleeve she wrapped the cloak around herself and pulled the hood over her curls. She made her way calmly towards the gates of the Manor. She did not know how exactly she would be received and she was putting it off as long as possible.
A small pop alerted her to the presence of another behind her. She spun quickly, keeping her hood up and drawing her wand on the other cloaked figure. She recognized the posture of the man beneath the cloak and she relaxed a tiny amount. Without lowering her hood she turned and continued on her way to the Manor.
Severus called out to her just as she reached the gates. "Minerva?" There was no mistaking the way that she walked, with the grace and stealth of a feline, even in her human form. She didn't answer him, but she paused at the gate and waited for him to catch up. "Minerva?" He turned to look at her when he reached her side. "What on earth are you doing here?"
She didn't look at him, choosing to let her hood hide her features as she answered. "The same thing you are. I've come to speak with him." She raised her left hand and the moonlight that caught on the diamonds resting there, thoroughly distracting Severus for a moment. When he looked back ahead of him he was surprised to see that the gates had vanished entirely.
She had replaced her wand up her sleeve and lowered her hand before she stepped forward up the path. A few steps further on she turned over her shoulder, her face still obscured by the hood. "Aren't you coming Severus?"
Shaking his head at what was happening right before his eyes he followed her up the tree lined drive towards the grand Manor. He couldn't help but chuckle at the disgusted noise she made when one of Lucius's pure white peacocks cut her off. "Not a fan of peacocks?"
"I can turn into a cat Severus, how do you think I feel about birds?" She shot over her shoulder at him. She moved quickly enough that he was having trouble keeping up with her as she sidestepped yet another of the snowy birds on her way to the wide front steps.
She paused in front of the solid, mahogany doors, this was it, she was finally going back to him. "Is there a problem?" His conceited tone didn't make her any less anxious.
"No." She raised her fist and rapped three times on the heavy door.
"It should have opened?" He looked at the door curiously, "Why didn't it open?" He was pondering the situation when the door swung wide, no one stood on the other side. Minerva took a deep breath and then, head held high, stepped through the doorway, Severus right on her heels.
She didn't drop her hood even when the door had swung shut behind them. They hear footsteps approaching from overhead and Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy appeared along the balcony railing. Lucius nodded a stiff greeting to Severus and Narcissa tried to hide her shock at seeing the woman standing next to him. The blonde floated gracefully down the stairs, kissed Severus's cheek on his way past her and stopped respectfully in front of the older woman. Much to her husband's surprise she bowed to the hooded figure.
"May I call an elf to take your cloak, My Lady?"
"That would be lovely Lady Malfoy." With two hands she reached up and flipped her hood back, causing Lucius to become even more surprised.
"McGonagall?" She took her cloak off and handed it to the elf that Narcissa had summoned. Doing her best to ignore the Lord Malfoy she turned again to his wife.
"It's lovely to see you again my dear." She leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, causing an outright sputtering from Lucius.
"What is going on here?" Both women continued to ignore him and Narcissa offered to escort the older woman upstairs.
"He's just called a meeting, Severus was the last to arrive, though I'm sure that you will upset the delicate balance of things here ever so slightly."
"Only slightly?" She raised an eyebrow at the blonde, glad to see that having her husband as a member of her household hadn't diminished the younger woman's humor.
"No, I'm sure it will cause an uproar." She turned to look over her shoulder at her husband who was still staring at their retreating figures as they walked down the hall away from him. "You saw Lucius's reaction to you. Though I'm not sure if that was surprise that you just willingly waltzed through our front door or that you are wearing such a dress?"
"I rather like this dress…" Minerva looked down at her black garment with appreciation, "It's been cooped up in my wardrobe for far too long."
"It's exquisite, I have a feeling he will take notice. You know that for as much as Bella throws herself at him he won't have anyone but you right?"
Minerva touched Narcissa's arm gently, "I know. That doesn't mean I won't be putting your sister in her place."
"Of course My Lady." She gave a shallow nod of her head in respect to the older woman. "Would you like me to announce you?"
"Please." She smiled and allowed the blonde to pass in front of her and open the door to the drawing room just as Lucius came up beside her. He grabbed her arm and she turned to look at him. "I suggest that you unhand me Lord Malfoy, before you don't have any hands left." She whispered to the man.
They heard Narcissa's voice clearly through the open door. "My Lord, I am sorry to interrupt, but you have a guest."
"Show them in Lady Malfoy." The door opened wider to reveal the two people having a whispered argument in the hall. When Voldemort saw who was standing beside the Lord Malfoy he stood quickly from his seat. "Release her at once Lucius!"
Immediately the Death Eater let go of Minerva and turned to his master, "My Lord,"
"No excuses will be necessary Lucius." Minerva cut him off, but her eyes were locked on the man at the other end of the room. "You really need more obedient followers Tom, it seems Lord Malfoy needs a lesson in listening."
"Well I believe you were always the teacher Minnie, that was supposed to be your job." His voice gave nothing away, but there were some shocked gasps at the way that the two interacted so comfortably with one another. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to by leading the Light against me?"
She smiled and took a step into the room, "Do you wish me to leave?"
"No." His answer was quick and sharp. Collecting himself he started again. "No. I wish you to stay. For as long as you will stay. M'lady." Then he did something that his followers had never seen him do before. He bowed to her.
She glided across the room towards him. Past all of his Death Eaters that were staring at her with open mouths, past Severus, who was still trying to figure out how he had never known about the obvious familiarity between the two, past the glistening snake that she paused to brush her hand over on her way by. When she finally reached him he stood back up and smiled at her.
Taking her hand in his he brought her knuckles to his lips and the entire room caught sight of the glittering diamonds that rested there. "M'lady, you never answered me, what are you doing here?"
"I finally chose to come back." She looked up at him, and though he had changed so much the man that she had married was still hidden within, and she alone could still see him. "I chose to come home."
He smiled down at her as she allowed Nagini to slide up and around her shoulders, before slipping onto his own, effectively pulling the two of them closer together. "Then by all means, welcome home. Lady Voldemort."
Shall I go on...?
