Chapter 13 – Those who scheme
9:01 he was late. But what to expect from progeny of Lucius Malfoy? She smirked and went to the window looking on the silent street infront of her house. Her right elbow ached but strangely she could not made herself look at it and she didn't remember any reason for the numb pain. She once again tore her gaze from the outside. It bored her. Her mind raced with thoughts.
He was dead. Found in Knockturn Alley. Draco was late. How dare he leaving her waiting?
And then she heard the all-too well known POP outside. She opened the door even before the slim figure of her nephew made it to the first step.
„You're late." She sneered at him and nodded with her head to bid him inside.
„Hello aunt Bella." He answered sheepishly and entered the cold and dark interior of the small house. His eyes wandered around the old walls and he noticed no furniture. He was nervous knowing fully well that he was in muggle neighborhood. As much as he hated them he was also curious and now disappointed to find out that his aunt lived in the house not filled with all the strange muggle devices.
„I gather we will be apparating?" he heard her voice from the upstairs and minute later his aunt re-emerged from the stairs in her tattered black dress and with small grey tabby cat.
„Yes. Will be quick. Erm there is no restriction put on you regarding apparition is there?" He asked looking curiously at the cat, which layed sleepy-eye in the arms of his aunt.
„No-one said anything like that. But I warn you. If you split me somewhere along the way I swear I will make you regret that even without my wand." She pointed one finger at him omniously, grabbed his arm and dragged him through the kitchen into the garden outside.
Draco looked around the dark and overgrown garden and his feeling of nervousness accompanied the feeling of disgust as he felt cold and strong fingers around his wrist. He prayed to all gods for safe return and with faint POP they both vanished.
She felt cat claws diving into her skin. The poor animal must have been really distressed by the apparation. They all landed safely outside the Malfoy manor and her legs gave their ground under her and she grabbed the only thing she could. The shoulder of her nephew to remain on her feet.
„Tchtch you should practise more." She scolded him to cover her own weakness and walked briskly towards the huge dark doors, they however remained closed.
„What is the meaning of this?" she asked archely and looked at Draco with scowl at her face.
„Erm I guess they open only to the wizards." He said silently forcing his voice to remain stern and not laughing at his aunt. He noticed small red tinge creeping into her cheeks as he said that.
„You first then." She said coldly hugging Purrsilla closer. The warmth of the animal making her feel secure.
They both entered dimly lit hall and walked into the bright parlor. She rembered the room well. After all she spent there long hours in company of books avoiding her annoying husband.
„Where is Cissa?" She asked looking around and diving into one of the leather chairs.
„I will go get her. Mother is not quite right. She might refuse to go outside her bedroom." He said warily and turned to walk outside the doors.
„While at it, bring me something to drink."
„Water?" he asked with one eyebrow raised.
„Don't be ridiculus Draco." She snapped at him pulling both legs up the chair spreading her dark dress all around.
„Guess that leaves me with firewhiskey then." He answered more to himself and left the room.
„See this room? That is were my sister lives. We might stay here for a while. Do you like it here?" she gently stroked the cat in her lap. Strangely Purrsilla was more and more friendly. She now let her pet her head or back.
„Talking to yourself Bella?" she heard the cold voice behind her and turned her head to look into the dark eyes and smirk on the face.
„Severus. What the hell are you doing here?" She asked while jumping off the chair her body unconciusly taking the possition ready for fight.
„I was invited. After all Lucius Malfoy was my friend." He said lazily sipping from the glass filled with ruby liquid.
„I haven't forgotten your betrayal you half-blood traitorous pig." She sneered while crossing her hands on her chest. She held her ground with chin proudly raised her dark eyes filled with anger and scorn.
„So?" he answered still looking directly at her.
„So what?" her voice raised slightly.
„I rember you being newest addition to our beloved muggle society. So what do you want to do about my betrayal Bella?" he asked now smiling broadly.
„YOU! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME." Her voice changed into a shriek in a blink of an eye and she crossed the small distance which separated them.
„I can say whatever I like to you. After all, there is nothing you can do about it." His smile grew colder and he patted her head while crossing the room to seat himself on the leather couch.
„Don't ever touch me again you filth." She hissed sitting back into her own chair still keeping eyes on him ready to attack.
Their mutual hatered was interupted when Draco entered the room with Narcissa tightly holding his arm and balancing two glasses filled with golden liquid in his other hand.
„Here." He offered one glass to Bella and clutched the other now watching his mother sitting down warily into the armchair next to the fireplace.
Bella grabbed the glass and emptied it with one large sip. She was looking at her sister and she certainly looked awfull. Her always carefuly brushed hair now total mess. She even guessed that her own hair were neatly combed with comparison to her sister's. And she was crying. Yes she could clearly see her swollen red eyes behind her trembling fingers.
She stood up and walked briskly to her.
„Cissa you can't cry when others see you." She hissed into her ear grabbing her hands and forcing them from her face.
„Bella?" Narcissa said with surprise in her voice.
„Yes I am here." She gently hugged her sister and squeezed into the armchair beside her. She pressed one gentle kiss into her hair rocking her almost like a child back and forth.
„Touching." Severus drawled from his seat and was rewarded with cold stare of black eyes.
„Why are you here anyway?" she said her voice dripping with poison.
„I invited him." Draco said slowly his hand still holding untouched glass with firewhiskey. „Someone has to look over the estates I don't know anything about it and he is family friend."
Bella thought it through trying to find something odd about the explanation, found nothing so she returned her gaze back to her sister. She watched her sobbing, tears still falling from her eyes. To her disgust she found that the tears were falling onto her dress.
„You have to hold yourself together Cissa. Remember the strength of Blacks. We are not weak, we do not cry." She pondered on her trying to bring her to her senses. „What would our mother said seeing you like this?"
Suddenly she was pushed aside and cold stare of blue eyes penetrated her reaching almost to her heart.
„Like the hell I care what our mother would say. He's dead. HE WAS MURDERED BELLA!" Narcissa shrieked and grabbed her sister by the wrists. „DON'T YOU EVER LECTURE ME ABOUT WHAT IS ALLOWED AND WHAT NOT. YOU NEVER LOVED ANYONE DID YOU?" she pushed her from herself and ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
„Well that was excentric even for someone of Black origin." Snape said with half smile his eyes glued to Bella.
„Shut up Snivellus." She said walking to Draco. „Tell me what happened to Lucius." She ordered her nephew grabbing his glass and sitting back to hew own chair.
„He was found severely injured in Knockturn Alley. Seemes like someone mugged him. Healers made whatever they could to save him but it was too late." He said it with remarcable coldness and calm. She was proud of his attitude. At least the boy knew what was expected.
„That's all?"
„Well no. Mother said that he was covered with cuts. Someone made him cut his own name to his skin all over his body. They healed his face for the purpose of the burial."
„I see." She licked her lips sipping from the glass and stroking Purrsilla.
Severus noticed the tabby cat. What in the hell was she doing here?
„Alright Draco, I will be staying for a while until your mother is better." She said finaly.
„Yeah purely out of concern for Narcissa." Severus added drily.
„Off course out of concern for my sister!" her voice reaching for heights again.
„Off course." He almost whispered raising from his seat. „Well if you excuse me I will be in the kitchen." And with that words his black billowing figure vanished behind the door.
„What in the world made you invite him Draco." She hissed with look of pure hatered in the direction of that useless boy.
„Well I can't manage all alone." He said defensively eyeing his shoes.
„Look at me when I'm talking with you." She thundered.
He managed to look her into the face carefull not to look into those black eyes.
„I presume the guest room is prepared?" she asked while standing up leaving Purrsilla on the chair. The cat will come to her later.
„Erm…" he stuttered lowering his gaze back to the floor.
„LOOK AT ME WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING WITH ME." She shouted and watched his eyes flick back at her. „Good. Now what's with that erm?"
„Professor Snape will be staying in the guest room." He said his voice trembling slightly.
„You say what?" she closed her head to him almost touching his cheek with hers.
„I wasn't really thinking you would like to stay." He said trying to withdraw from her face.
„I see." She hissed into his ear. „Well then since I am reasonable I will stay here for the night." She waved her hand around the parlor.
„Eh ok." He said warily standing up and looking for anything which might distract him from the unwanted attention of his aunt. „I have to go check on mother." He said finaly reatreating from the room as quickly as he could.
She returned back to the chair and pondered about everything which happened. She felt furious. That Snape bastard more welcome in her sister's house than she is. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't even noticed the cat leaving the room on silent paws heading towards the kitchen.
„Severus." Minerva greeted him silently in the dimly lit kitchen. He didn't faced her his head turned to the window looking into the garden outside.
„So I was right it was you." He said finaly, slowly turning to her. „Why are you here?" he asked with curious flick in his dark eyes.
„I am her caretaker." She said defensively while adjusting her glasses on the tip of her nose.
„I see, so that is the reason why you're laying on her lap. I was under impresion that while in animagus form the wizard or witch in your case has his wits unchanged." He smiled amused and looked at his former coleague with arched eyebrows.
„You are right. Why do you ask?" she said coldly wrapping her hands around her slim body defensively.
„You certainly seemed happy with her stroking your head." He pointed out now almost laughing.
„That is non of your bussiness Severus."
„Don't tell me you started to like her."
She breathed in and out but no words left her mouth. Meanwhile his eyebrows raised even more.
„I see. Well I only hope you know what you are doing."
Her featuress darkened and she leaned against the wall determined not to give up ground for this man. „Anything else?" she asked.
„Our golden trio seems interested in the Vial of Ilwydiat, thought you might be interested. I can only imagine what Bellatrix would do if she were about to find out what was in her possession during the battle."
„Then I hope you won't tell her."
„Certainly not. You see she is crazy enought without any further help." He sneered as his eyes caught flick of resent crossing Minervas face.
„You don't think Lucius Malfoy was murdered by some psychopath do you?"
„No, as a matter of fact I think that he was murdered by someone who now posseses the Vial. Ah and Draco don't know that yet but all the Malfoy estates and finance reserves were transfered to Griffiths Family. I am really looking forwad to tell Draco and Narcissa that they are practicaly homeless." He smiled wickedly.
„I've never heard of Griffiths before."
„I would be surprised if you would. They are old pureblood family from Napa in the northern California."
She gasped. She never expected someone from across the ocean to meddle into the things here.
„You think Lucius knew he was in some kind of danger?"
„I can only guess. But personaly I think that the name craved into his skin wasn't just for fun of it. I think that he actually carved it himself while signing all those transfer papers."
„But that's absolutely horrible." She covered her mouth with one hand watching the dark man infront of herself.
„It is just my presumption Minerva, I can't claim any acusations. But what is more important, we have to get Draco and Narcissa out of here. I don't especially like them but one dead is enough. Maybe they can stay with Bellatrix?" he said it with total pleasure.
„Since they have nothing left I see no other option." She sighed warily pressing her temples with two fingers to subside inceasing pain in her head.
„Good. Now you should really return to you Mistress. She might get lonely." He pointed with smirk and left her alone in the room.
Without a word Minerva turned cat and walked briskly back to the parlour jumping at the couch next to Bella. She had lot on her mind but still she found out lately that she felt secure and calm in her presence and what else she needed to think through all those informations?
A/N As always I would like to hear from you. Soon the battle for the Vial of Ilwydiat will unfold.