OpheliaBlack - I think Snape is just making sure he has all the facts and therefore the upper hand before he reacts and ranting at Hermione is not likely to get him the knowledge he needs.
Kotamae - I'm glad you're finding it interesting :)
Heading back to the clearing, Snape mused on the reasons why Bellatrix would be there in the first place, immediately discounting Granger as an unlucky coincidence. It was outside the wards, yet not far from Hogwarts and if the Dark Lord wanted something done, surely he would ask him? If it was not on the Dark Lord's behalf, then what else could bring her here?
Starting from the edge of the clearing he moved methodically for several minutes until a thought came to him and veering off to the right he walked some 100 paces deeper into the forest. It had been an unlikely idea, though apparently a true one, since he could see that the ground had been disturbed quite recently. Walking carefully so as to not disturb the undergrowth any further, he took stock of what was missing and then wondered why Bellatrix would have need of his potions ingredients. Admittedly, some of them were hard to come by, especially now but the death eater was known for her skill with a wand, not a cauldron and what would she need that she could not get at an apothecary? Reaching the far corner of his small garden his eyes caught sight of one last intrusion, now why would she have need of those?
Walking back to the school he found Lucius waiting for him outside his rooms "you should have sent an owl, I would not have gone out", he said, hoping that Granger had been smart enough to avoid him.
"No matter, I had to come anyway, Board of Governors meeting" Lucius replied, "apparently your Muggle Studies teacher has sent in her letter of resignation. The Headmistress did not appreciate my suggestion that the school just stops teaching it".
Severus did not reply but offered him a firewhiskey. Lucius accepted and sat down, "You do not have to get back to the manor?" Snape asked.
"I should" Malfoy acknowledged, as he was still not back in the Dark Lord's good graces "but He does not know how long these meetings last and Cissy is entertaining Bellatrix, frankly, I would rather have the peace. I envy you Severus, you cannot know what it is like to put up with in-laws".
Snape did not take offence, though it pained him, it was not, after all, the first time Lucius had been so unconsciously thoughtless in his comments. "How is your Sister-in-Law?" he asked, sarcasm dripping from his tongue, although this time he was genuinely curious.
"Mad as a hatter" Lucius replied, "mind you I think Rod is starting to realise, they've obviously had a fight".
"How do you mean?"
"I was woken yesterday morning to find Bellatrix looming over the bed, demanding Cissy help her. She had a festering curse on her wand arm that was so bad she couldn't use it. Cissy said it must have been there for hours and asked who had done it and why she hadn't come earlier. Bellatrix refused to say. Well stands to reason doesn't it, must have been Rod".
Snape, knowing where the death eater had been on Saturday night, thought it didn't stand to reason at all but kept his own council, "and what does he say?" he asked.
"Maintains they were both at home alone all evening, I didn't say anything about her arm obviously and he'd hardly say if he'd cursed his wife, but then why say they were both at home and why do it in that obnoxious nudge, nudge, wink, wink way he has too? He's been married to her for twenty five years, he may have been in Azkaban for most of them but still, you'd think he'd get over it, even if he is part French".
"Bellatrix's charms are obviously an acquired taste" Snape replied, wondering too at Rodolphus' behaviour.
"Bellatrix is an acquired taste" Lucius replied, "and not one I wish anywhere near my bedroom at seven thirty in the morning, while I'm in bed with her sister".
Severus refrained from pointing out that Bellatrix would not have been there, had he not been with her sister and merely asked, "and did Narcissa cure it?"
"She did" he smiled and Snape was conscious again of the pain of being alone, Narcissa Black may not have been his ideal woman but she was perfect for his friend.
They talked on for some time and it was not until after Lucius had left, that Snape had the leisure to sit and reflect on all he had seen and heard, in the last couple of days. He sighed, if Potter was to have any chance of succeeding, he would need Granger by his side but protecting the girl, appeared for the moment, to mean protecting Bellatrix as well, at least until he knew why Rodolphus seemed to be covering up her actions. Protecting the death eater though, put the girl in more danger. Having seen enough in her mind, to know that she was by far the best prepared of the three, he reached a decision and wrote a note to the headmistress, finishing it just as his arm began to burn.
He called a house elf and asked her to deliver the note immediately, walked outside the castle, beyond the wards and then waited as long as possible before apparating, not wishing to be accosted before he had told his story to the Dark Lord.
Fortunately, the man who thought himself his master, accepted his account and discounted Krum as a romantic fool. In different times he would not have got off so lightly, but Potter was more important now and plans had to be put in place. While he believed Severus as to when he would be moved, he had decided to put patrols in the skies just in case. "Avery you will be with Crabbe, Nott and Travers; Rodolphus with Bellatrix, Rabastan and Jugson; Severus with Lucius, Antonin, Amycus and Alecto; Yaxley with Mulciber, Rookwood, Selwyn and Walden. Rotate your patrols and stay above the clouds, should they move Potter early, one of you is to contact me. If they do not, on Saturday I want you all in the air but I do not wish them to know of us, until they are well outside the wards".
"My Lord, I would like to take Flint with me, he has been showing much promise in the dark arts and I would like him to get the experience".
"As you wish Avery, make sure he knows that Potter is to be left to me".
Snape cursed the Dark Lord's bout of insecurity, "My Lord, with only one boy and a few aurors, to have so many in the air is…"
"You question me Severus?"
"No My Lord" Snape replied, "but…"
"Enough" Voldemort said, cutting him off again. Snape, knowing that more would only result in both pain and suspicion, gave Potter up to fate and hoped that his plan worked, despite the increased odds against it. Feeling eyes on him, he looked along the table until he reached Bellatrix, his own eyes narrowing and his head tilting slightly in question, she scowled and looked away.
#~~~#
McGonagall it turned out had been just as bad as everyone else, why would no-one believe that she and Viktor were just friends! Admittedly, it was partially her fault for weaving the story in the first place but if she'd told them Bellatrix had saved her, there would be none of this ridiculous cooing and hinting at love matches going on. Honestly, why was it so difficult for them all to grasp the concept? Spending time with the one person who knew the truth, had actually been a relief by contrast.
This was definitely a good thing, as she had been spending most of the last few days with Professor Snape and they were not, as the Headmistress thought since getting his note, practising potions for her NEWT's.
"Why don't you try thinking like a Slytherin, for once" he said as he held out a hand to help her up from the floor of the potions classroom. "Possibly because I'm not one" she grumbled. She seemed, she thought, to have been spending a lot of time down there.
"But Bellatrix is" he replied, "and like it or not, you have more than a few traits yourself. Can you see Potter or Weasley thinking to put a Protean Charm on the necklace, knowing it would distract Moody?"
"No Sir" she replied, pulling away and firing a string of hexes at him, two of which landed as he found himself leg-locked on the floor, boils appearing over his face.
"Your speed is much better" he said, "but remember Miss Granger, you must use every advantage and show no mercy, Bellatrix doesn't play fair, she plays to win and that could be extremely unpleasant for you". Firing from his current position he set her legs dancing, freed himself and standing said "petrificus totalis". Hermione came to an instant stop as he delivered his last thought on the subject, "especially as she plays with unforgivables. Tomorrow?" he asked freeing her.
"I can't" she replied, "It's Friday, I promised Ginny and Ron I'd go to Diagon Alley with them, they're going a bit stir crazy with all Mrs Weasley's preparations for the wedding. Is Saturday morning ok?" She asked, "or do you have plans for the weekend?" Then coloured as she realised how stupid that sounded, given who she was talking to.
He rolled his eyes, thought for a moment and said, "Saturday morning will be fine Miss Granger. As always, should anything come up, I'll let the Headmistress know". Keeping the rest of his thoughts on the subject to himself, he found he was unusually in agreement with Moody, war was coming and the sooner everyone realised it, the better.
