Cat and Mouse

By Ya Nefer Ma'at

Chapter 2

Fennen was pacing the confines of her room at the Leaky Cauldron, cursing her meeting with Lucius Malfoy.

Lucius completely unnerved her. She had very little experience with men in general, and none at all with men of Malfoy's ilk, who looked at her as if he would like to consume her. With the memory of the specter so fresh on her mind, Lucius' behaviour left her tongue-tied and helpless. She was appalled at how easily he had coerced her into having dinner with him.

Fennen sat on the sill of her open window, looking out over the streets of London, wondering if she should leave the Leaky Cauldron and spend the night in one of London's elegant Muggle hotels. Surely the Muggle hating Malfoy wouldn't think to look for her there…? It couldn't be that hard to sneak out without Malfoy noticing, and she could easily settle her tab with Tom by owl.

Before she could make up her mind, a flash of movement caught her attention. An owl was approaching, its broad wings silently beating the still air. Fennen moved aside to let the beautiful bird land. It extended its leg to her, offering her a small parcel. Distracted, Fennen opened the note, reading it with increasing excitement:

My Lovely Slytherin,

Please accept this trinket as a token of my regard. I love you and think of you constantly. I am impatient for our wedding, when you will be mine.

All my love.

Fennen opened the package to discover a beautiful bracelet, woven from intricately tooled strands of red gold. Seemingly randomly placed gems twinkled at her. Fennen grinned as she put the bracelet on, admiring how it suited her velvet skin. She sat at the window again, reading the letter repeatedly, wishing that her Potions Master could be there with her. He would make short work of Malfoy.

"Damn!" Fennen looked at the time, discovering that Tom would be knocking at her door in only a quarter of an hour. Resigned, she quickly changed into a richly embroidered and bejeweled red silk Baladi dress and shook her thick hair back over her determined shoulders. Surely Malfoy would be unable to harm her in the safety of the Leaky Cauldron, under Tom's eyes, private room or not. Steeling herself to be dignified and distant in the cold fire of Lucius' interest, Fennen calmly called "Coming." when a soft knock sounded.

Malfoy, not Tom, awaited her. She drew up with a gasp, immediately losing her tenuous balance at the look on his face. He smiled down at her, pleased with the effect he had on her. "All better now?" he purred, looking her over slowly. Once he met her big eyes again, he was amused to see that she was too frightened to blush at his intense regard. "You look lovely, Miss Al Amar." he said lightly, noting that his compliment unnerved her even more.

"Shall we?" Malfoy offered his arm to her, forcing her to approach him. She would have merely placed her hand on the top of his arm, but he calmly drew her close to his side. He led her down through the common room and along a side passageway to a closed door beyond which she could hear laughter. Who was dining with him, she wondered. Before she could ask, he'd opened the door and drawn her inside. She stiffened and unconsciously clutched Malfoy's arm when she saw who one of Malfoy's guests was.

Black eyes met hers with the same intense stillness, then the moment was gone as Snape nodded coldly. "Miss Al Amar."

"Professor Snape." she bowed her head, trying to hide her blushing face.

Lucius smiled, looking from one to the other, his eyes marking her embarrassment and Snape's stiffness. "I thought that you would enjoy having your professor join us, Miss Al Amar." Turning to Snape, he continued. "And that you would enjoy yourself as well, my friend. I thought that Miss Al Amar might help us rekindle some… old memories."

Snape looked sharply at Malfoy. "Old memories…?" he probed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Malfoy nodded, smiling more cruelly. His expression frightened Fennen. He turned his attention back to her, introducing the other occupants of the room. She looked uncertainly at Avery, MacNair, Crabbe and Goyle, large men with expressions as cruel as Malfoy's. Surely these men had been accused of being Voldemort's followers, together with Malfoy? She couldn't quite recall. She jumped when Malfoy casually released her trapped hand to drop his arm across her shoulders and steer her toward a chair. She had little choice but to submit to the pressure of Malfoy's hand, forcing her to sit.

Snape ignored Fennen, sitting opposite her when Lucius took the seat at the head of the table and waved the others to join them. Dishes appeared, as did wine and ale. Lucius jovially poured red wine into Fennen's glass. "So, Miss Al Amar." he said, very comfortable in his role as host, "I understand that this will be your last semester at Hogwarts. What are your plans once you graduate?"

Fennen fiddled with the food on her plate. "I-I intend to return home, Sir." she whispered.

"Yes? Your family lives in Qatar, doesn't it?"

"Near Doha." Fennen nodded slowly, willing herself to meet his pale gaze, quickly shying away from the expression on his face.

Lucius indicated Fennen's left hand, where the light was catching her shining ring. "Our young guest is engaged, though she has yet to tell me to whom." he remarked. "Is that where the wedding will be?"

Fennen hid her hands in her lap, anxiously twisting the ring as she stole a glance at Snape. His face was completely closed, his gaze sharp. "That is the wish of my father." she managed at length.

"And who is your intended?" Lucius probed, clinically assessing her discomfort.

"I am promised to the son of one of my father's colleagues, Sir." she replied in a rush, stealing another glance at Snape. He looked bored. "No one you would know, I'm sure."

"Indeed. I thought it might be one of your fellow Slytherins." He chuckled as colour flared to her cheeks and she gave him a stricken look. "Or is that who you wish you could marry? Forbidden love. How… charming." Lucius toasted her, laughter making his words a taunt.

Turning to Snape, he continued, "You recall your calf love, do you not, Severus? How sweet and how painful it was." Malfoy looked more broadly over the table. "Do you all recall the times we had, courtesy of our Lord, exploring the extent of our powers over women?"

'Our Lord?' Fennen thought. Perhaps the rumours about these men being Death Eaters were true!

Feeling faint, Fennen looked imploringly at Snape. He was glaring at Malfoy, his black eyes sparkling like diamonds. She had never seen such anger in his expression. The other men were laughing with Malfoy, their expressions as cruel as his.

Malfoy playfully tapped Snape's arm with his cane. "You never embraced those opportunities as we did, did you, Severus?" Casually indicating Fennen, Malfoy continued, "I thought that this delectable girl might entice you to let yourself go, at long last. After all, that mudblood you were obsessed with is long gone."

"Lucius, are you seriously suggesting that I would…" Snape paused, glancing at Fennen, "interact with a student with anything but proper decorum?"

"Severus!" Lucius chided. "You've been under Dumbledore's thumb for too long. That is why I thought tonight should include you. Sweet little Fennen here is a perfect excuse to resume our little revels." He shared hungry looks with his fellow Death Eaters. "I'm sure that you haven't forgotten where your loyalties lie…" he concluded, staring coldly at Snape.

Fennen's chair scraped loudly as she tried to flee. Malfoy moved with the speed of a striking snake, seizing her dress and pulling her hard against the table, her cry lost in the laughter from the Death Eaters. Simultaneously, Snape sprang to his feet, wand drawn.

Malfoy turned slowly to Snape, his face dangerous. Fennen whimpered, her eyes huge, staring up at Snape. She barely had time to cringe when Snape hissed "Imperio!", slashing his wand toward her. "Be still." he snapped. Her expression obediently slid into doe-eyed contentment.

Malfoy calmly released Fennen, who stood like a statue. He looked coldly up at Snape. "For a minute there, old friend, I thought you might try to defy me."

Snape tore his gaze from Fennen, rounding on Malfoy. "Are you mad? Dumbledore will search for her if she doesn't return to Hogwarts! How dare you put me in danger this way! Dumbledore is all that stands between me and Azkaban. Or have you forgotten that? Furthermore, my cover at Hogwarts is still unquestioned! Surely that is devotion to the Dark Lord, not foolishly abandoning the post he set for me, all for your pathetic lust for this girl!"

Malfoy stood slowly, his silver-capped cane held ready. Both men's faces were like steel. "Don't cross me, Severus." Malfoy snarled softly. "I am your senior; I have always been. Show proper gratitude for the opportunity I'm providing. Soon, the bracelet I gave Miss Al Amar will become a port-key to my hunting lodge, and we can make use of her without fear of interruption."

Malfoy frowned when Snape glanced sharply at Fennen, alarm flashing over his face. Malfoy studied him, continuing icily, "Let's find out where your loyalties do lie, Severus. You will escort Miss Al Amar back to her room, making sure that you're seen doing so, and then rejoin us here. Later, we will all retire to my estate and make full use of our charming guest." Lucius stroked Fennen's face with a deceptively gentle touch, his fingers lingering on her frozen red lips, his gaze hot on her. Turning back to meet Snape's blazing look of fury, Malfoy narrowed his eyes and bit out in a low, dangerous voice, "Is…that…clear?"

Snape kept their intense eye contact, his face becoming inscrutable. At length, he dropped his gaze, pocketed his wand, and moved around the table. He barked, "Come!" to Fennen, barely waiting for her before he stalked from the room. He swept with her through the common room and toward the stairs.

Once in her room, he whipped his wand back out. Murmuring rapidly under his breath, he focused his wand on her bracelet, unlocking it from her wrist and tossing it aside. Barely daring to look at her, he quickly kissed her unresponsive lips, whispering, "Trust me, Fen. I won't let anyone hurt you. Wait here."

Turning on his heel, he left her sitting, static in the Imperius Spell. He reluctantly rejoined the dinner party, keeping his face closed as Malfoy continued to bait him. It was torture for him as he waited for dinner to end, while the Death Eaters got drunker and more graphic by the minute in their reminiscences of the Dark Lord's gifts of women for them, and in their anticipation of using Fennen as cruelly as their imaginations would allow.

At last, Malfoy stood, nodding for the others to follow. The drink hadn't seemed to affect him at all. "Let's be seen leaving the pub. Apparate to the gates of my estate. I will meet you there." He led them out to the common room, pleasantly settling his tab with Tom before turning to his guests. He thanked them all and said goodnight before apparating with a sharp crack. Snape nodded to the others, then they all apparated as well.

Snape disapparated in Fennen's bedroom at the Leaky Couldron. Fennen sat as he had left her, her face serene. Snape snarled: Malfoy was standing over her. He dropped a hand possessively on Fennen's shoulder as he met Snape's sparking glare.

"Tsk, tsk, my old friend…" Malfoy chided softly, his voice belying the fury in his face. "You disappoint me. Did you think to keep her for yourself, or is this some misguided chivalry that being with Dumbledore has engendered?"

Snape had his wand out in a flash, raised to duel. "Move away from her!" he ordered, "Now! "

Malfoy visibly controlled his anger, slowly unsheathing his own wand. He made no movement away from Fennen. "You forget yourself, Sev. I thought I taught you better than this, in our tenure at Hogwarts and with the Dark Lord. No woman, however sweet, is worth descent among men."

Snape snapped his dark gaze away from Malfoy, looking deeply into Fennen's black eyes. Eyes as dark and expressive as his own, eyes so different from Lily Evan's bright green ones. Eyes he adored. Snape exhaled sharply, lowering his wand.

Malfoy assumed an expression of triumph. "Now, let us join our brothers." he purred.

"No." Snape spoke calmly, meeting Malfoy's pale gaze.

"No?" Malfoy tilted his head, searching Snape's composed features. "Now what? More of Dumbledore's drivel? I'm growing bored with this." he threatened.

Snape lunged forward, pushing Malfoy back with all his strength, taking Lucius by surprise with his use of brute force. Malfoy recovered his balance with a snarl, wand raised and a curse on his lips, then drew up with a sharp exhalation as Severus gently took Fennen into his arms, eyes steadfast on Lucius throughout.

"No, because this girl you intend to defile is my bride! I wouldn't admit that in front of the others, but I don't hesitate to tell you privately, old friend." His tone was cold as he said 'old friend'. "We are to be married as soon as she graduates."

Malfoy let out an incredulous shout of laughter. "What? No…"

Snape held his pale gaze calmly.

"Really?" Malfoy whistled, looking at the girl Snape held so possessively. "Well, well, this is… good news. My old friend, marrying at last, and to such a pure blooded bride! The Dark Lord would have been pleased." Ignoring the flash of impatience that his mention of Voldemort evoked in Snape, Malfoy continued, "This changes everything. She is of course not to be harmed, if she is yours. My apologies, old friend." Malfoy bowed courteously, sheathing his wand and stepping back. "Shall we instead meet at my estate to celebrate your upcoming nuptials?"

"All in good time, Lucius. Our engagement is secret: as her professor, I am not allowed to look at her, much less touch her, after all. Any celebrations, like our marriage, will have to wait."

"Forbidden love, indeed." Malfoy smiled, looking at Fennen's passive figure. "As you wish, Severus. May I suggest then, that we merely reconvene to enjoy ourselves, and finish the night. I will expect you once you've said your fond farewells to your bride." He smirked at the pair. "You have my permission to apparate to my hunting lodge. Don't spend too much time saying goodbye to your 'little Slytherin', hum?" With that, Malfoy nodded and apparated.

Snape sagged with relief, his head coming down by Fennen's. He gestured to her, murmuring "Imperia!" She sprang back to life, throwing herself against his chest and sobbing hysterically. He soothed her with purring words of love and apology, rocking her and kissing her hair.

Once she quieted enough to look up at him, he kissed her deeply, his face as pained as hers. "Everything is fine; the danger is past, my darling Fen." he murmured, drawing her to sit beside him on the bed, hugging her tightly. "Malfoy will no longer threaten you, nor will any of his cronies. I promise you, love. I promise. You're safe." He pulled her up to meet his dark eyes, seeing both horror and fatigue in her face. "Do you trust me, Fen?"

"I trust you, Sev."

"Good. I am going to take you to my home. You can spend the night there, safe and hidden from everyone. I will bring you back here tomorrow, so that you can gather your things and return to Hogwarts as planned."

"Will you stay with me, tonight?" Fennen pleaded, stroking his face.

Snape hesitated, his expression clearly showing his need for her, then shook his head decisively. "I cannot, my little Slytherin. We must become professor and student again. I will settle you at Spinner's End, but then leave you for the night. You'll be fine there."

Fennen bowed her head, her eyes luminous with tears. She nodded.

"Good girl. Hold on to me as we apparate."

With a crack, they appeared in Snape's house. He started fires in the drawing room and bedroom fireplaces, then showed Fennen the kitchen. Once he'd pushed a strong cup of tea into her hands, he stroked her face and stood back. "Time for me to go. Have faith in me and do not worry. You are safe here, I promise you, Fen." Snape smiled suddenly, his face transformed. "Make yourself at home- after all, this will be our home, and soon! I will come back for you in the dawn. Sweet dreams, my love." He paused, then quickly kissed her, and was gone.