Sirius wasn't quite sure why he had gone along with White on this crazy adventure of his. Sirius didn't particularly mind helping, but nothing justified walking outside in the cold and dark. Was it snowing? It might have also been snowing. Bloody White, dragging him off to trudge through the snow. This wasn't what Sirius had signed up for. Sirius had signed up for fighting the good fight and catching bad guys. Well, he'd also volunteered to help destroy the horcruxes, but Sirius knew this had nothing to do with the horcruxes. After all, dear cousin Cissy knew much better than to involve herself so obviously with something illegal or generally dark.
White had been remarkably tight-lipped about the whole affair, but Sirius had the feeling something had happened. When the younger man had shown up at the door to his office, Sirius could have sworn he had seen someone else. It didn't matter who, but White was hiding something, something that was obviously weighing on him. Then again, only a desperate man would venture into the lion's den just to have a conversation with the snow queen herself.
Sirius couldn't take the silence anymore when they began to walk up the drive to Malfoy Manor. Stopping, he declared, "White, I'm not going any farther until you tell me what the hell is going on." Apparently he sounded serious enough, because White did stop where he was. Feeling the need to explain himself, Sirius continued, "Now, look, I'm going with you regardless, but you look like you've been through hell since the last time I saw you. Something's up, and I'm not going to talk to the Princess of Lies until you lay all your cards on the table. I trust you, White, I really do, but you don't know Narcissa like I do. She can manipulate a situation with the same ease with which most people breathe, and I don't want you to get caught in her web."
In the darkness, Sirius couldn't tell what kind of expression White had on his face, but his tone communicated enough. "I know what I'm doing, Sirius; leave it at that," White replied, sounding too resigned for Sirius's liking. He continued steely, "You're better off not knowing what's going on. It's a matter between Narcissa and I. She sent Lucius away for the night. God only knows why she's calling on me for a weregild negotiation, but—"
"What?" Sirius exclaimed, cutting White off. That was not something to be taken lightly. Weregild? Honestly? If Narcissa was using laws so esoteric to speak with White, then White was hiding one hell of a secret. "What do you mean? Why is she calling on you for that? Unless the Death Eaters have suddenly grown a collective conscience, why would Narcissa demand your presence at a negotiation for monetary compensation for the family of one of their victims?"White's silence on the matter was unnerving, and Sirius was about to flat-out demand what was bothering him until common sense smacked him upside the head with a shovel. There was a very good reason, after all, that Narcissa could be calling on White because of weregild. Sobered and feeling guilty because of how completely insensitive he had been, Sirius hazarded, "They hurt her, didn't they? Your wife?" White did not reply and only resumed walking toward the door to the Manor. Catching up to him Sirius apologized sincerely, "White, I'm sorry, but you should be suspicious of Narcissa's motives. I've never heard of anyone on that side of the war ever invoking that law willingly. Hell, I've never heard of anyone representing the guilty party invoking it, either."
Stopping himself this time, White replied icily, "I bloody know damn well it sounds really bloody suspicious, Sirius, but please shut up." He looked up before sighing and running a hand through his hair. "I know you're trying to be helpful, and I really do appreciate that you've come with me, but please just—Look, I know what I'm doing, all right?" White said, sounding strained and looking defeated. Pleadingly, he continued, "Just trust me, Sirius, please."
Sirius figured that the best course of action was to nod and follow White the rest of the way in silence. He had never been too good at the silent part, but they made it to the door of the Manor in silence. White hesitated before he knocked on the door. Apparently, he did indeed know who he was dealing with.
After a moment, White abruptly turned to face Sirius. "Look, could you at least try to be civil?" he pleaded. Sirius was unsure as to why White would think that he needed to be reminded not to tick off Narcissa. She might have decided to turn informant, after all. Then again, if wishes were horses, then all men would ride. "Please?"
"I'm not going to jeopardize the situation, White," Sirius assured him. He found it strange that White needed the reassurance. Sirius and Narcissa, while they had not always gotten along, had kept up the appearance that they didn't completely despise each other. In fact, even if they had been on the same side, Sirius doubted that his relationship with his cousin would change all that much. "Really. I'm not just saying that to make you feel better," he added.
White, still obviously nervous, nodded distractedly and replied, "Good." Taking a deep breath, he turned to Sirius and asked, "Are you ready?" The question was probably more meant for White himself rather than Sirius, who wished White would knock on the bloody door already. Sirius was more than ready to get the whole affair over with. Regardless of whatever Narcissa was planning, she had an ulterior motive. That was just a fact of life, but Sirius could tell that White was hiding something, too, not that Sirius was going to push it. He had faith that White was on the right side, and most of the younger man's actions meshed with what Sirius expected of him. In fact, the only curve ball had been that White knew about the horcruxes. However, nobody was perfect. With a grin, Sirius replied in the affirmative, and White knocked on the door.
Narcissa answered in the manner she usually did: she sent a house elf. Sirius sent a wry look at White, who appeared determined to ignore him. The elf informed them that they were to follow him. White thanked the elf, and Sirius had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. He really hoped White didn't talk to Hermione about her little pet project. On the other hand, White looked suddenly confused. "Where'd Dobby go?" he asked Sirius quietly so they didn't draw any attention from the portraits, which were all ignoring the two of them.
Deciding to humor him, Sirius replied, "Works at Hogwarts now. He's paid and happy to be free. Harry tricked Lucius into giving Dobby a sock." For some reason, he felt he had to continue, "Apparently the Great Blond Git was having Dobby iron his hands when he did something wrong as a light punishment."
"Lucius always was an ass," White agreed. He paused before he said, "I'm glad to hear about Dobby, though. How on Earth did Potter fool Lucius into setting Dobby free?"
"Harry had destroyed some enchanted book of Voldemort's by impaling it with a basilisk fang, and Lucius had been the one that snuck it into Hogwarts in the first place. He was there at one point with Dobby, and Harry returned the book with a sock in it. Lucius, predictably, to avoid being connected with the book, handed it to Dobby, thereby freeing him," Sirius casually explained.
White looked confused for a moment before he repeated, "Harry destroyed an enchanted book of Voldemort's with a basilisk fang?" Sirius wondered what was so important about it. It was an enchanted book, and there had been a basilisk handy, so there wasn't really anything strange about the situation. Unless, of course, you took into account the fact that a twelve-year-old killed a basilisk in the Hogwarts sub-basement. Okay, so it was weird.
"Yeah. Our old friend the Riddler was possessing the Weasley girl, Ginny, and he'd been having her order around the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets," Sirius clarified, as he obviously hadn't been clear enough the first time. "According to Harry, Ginny'd tried to flush the book down the toilet, but Moaning Myrtle wouldn't hear of it and flooded the WC."
"Moaning Myrtle's creepy. I saw her once in the Quidditch locker rooms, you know," White remembered, probably wishing he hadn't. He continued, "You know, I once heard the basilisk's name was Fluffy. Pity it's dead; that was probably the last of them…"
"Maybe it's better that they are extinct," Sirius murmured. "I mean, something that dangerous? Even if she was overly chatty, I can't believe Riddle would be willing to let her die. Fluffy, I mean. That said, I don't think he was planning on letting Harry leave alive, but…"
Terry nodded in understanding, and they both fell silent. Sirius wasn't sure why he was so trusting of the younger man. It just didn't make sense! Hell, half of what White said sounded like lies, even if the man's intentions were good. Sirius just wished he knew why he trusted White despite that he had been given reason—good reason—not to.
The house elf left them in front of the doors to the parlor and went in to tell Narcissa they had arrived. Sirius vaguely wondered if it was a good idea to let the house elf announce he was there, since he and Narcissa pretended that the other didn't really exist. The thought reminded Sirius it probably hadn't been the best idea for White to ask him to tag along. Well, it had been White's decision.
The house elf then returned and held the door open for them. These stupid formalities had always managed to grate on Sirius's nerves. It would have been just as easy for Narcissa to answer the door herself, but, no, she had to order a house elf answer the door and lead them around. It was just plain ridiculous. White entered the room first, but Sirius decided to hang back a couple of steps. He didn't want to give Narcissa the wrong impression; the only reason he was here was because of White.
Narcissa was lounging in a chair next to the fireplace, reading some romance novel, as she was apt to do. Without looking up, she said in a disinterested tone, "Sirius, I didn't expect that you would actually come." Knowing she wouldn't get an answer, Narcissa looked up and smiled at White. "I apologize, but you know Sirius," she explained. Setting her book down, she gestured at the couch across from the fireplace. "Please, sit," she said.
White took a seat, but Sirius decided to be a pain and lean against the wall behind the couch. Narcissa, for her part, completely ignored him, but White shot him an exasperated look. Sirius took a page from Narcissa's book and pretended not to notice. White then said politely, "Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy, for extending this invitation to me, but I do not understand why you found it necessary to do so."
So White was going to do this the long, boring, drawn-out way. Joy. Sirius kept his expression bored and slightly disdainful. It was what was to be expected. If he knew her, Narcissa expected nothing less from him. He was technically head of the Black family, after all. Oddly enough, Narcissa dropped the affected pureblood act. She frowned in concern and started sincerely, "Mr. White, I know about what happened last night." Sirius found it odd that White stiffened at her words, but he wasn't exactly sure what she was talking about. Narcissa continued, "I find it… loathsome that the company—" If that wasn't a euphemism for the Death Eaters, Sirius didn't know what was. Besides, she didn't need to hide what she was saying in front of Sirius. It wasn't like he was an Auror anymore. "—would take the action that it did. I wish to apologize for the part that my family had in it. You and Lucius may not get along, as they say, but I think we both know where the fault truly lies—don't give me that look, Sirius. You're acting like a petulant child—Therefore, I would like to open negotiations with the House of White before this escalates into vendetta."
From Sirius's vantage point, White may have looked completely stoic for the majority of Narcissa's little speech, but he had relaxed marginally when she had started to talk politics. Sirius should have suspected that Narcissa had been thinking along those lines from the start, though. She wasn't speaking on behalf of the Malfoys; she was speaking on behalf of the Blacks. The White family and the Black family had not exactly been on good terms since some argument back during James I's reign that ended with the Whites immigrating to what was at that time the Colonies and never coming back. Understandably, Narcissa viewed anything that could be construed as fuel for a feud (like, say, Bellatrix wantonly killing or trying to kill people) as a threat to the family that had to be defused. And people wondered why Sirius had run away…
White nodded curtly and replied, "I understand. However, I married into the family and have practically no rank, so I don't think anything I say would necessarily be upheld by the head of the family. Aside from that, I doubt that you need to worry about vendetta." White's expression turned dark as he continued grimly, "As far as I care, House Lestrange is completely disconnected from the Black family." Sirius almost felt an infinitesimally small amount of pity for Bellatrix but thought better of it. That woman was in need of a hefty dose of karmic justice.
"I see," Narcissa remarked, pensive. Sirius wasn't quite sure how to interpret that. She should have known that were Sirius actually concerned about the whole political aspect of being the head of the family, he would have washed his hands of Bellatrix the moment he was exonerated. However, not everyone willingly made an enemy of Bellatrix. "Well, then if you feel that way, then I'd just like to say I condemn what my sister has done to you and your family," Narcissa continued earnestly. "She hasn't been herself for a very long time, and I feel I don't even know her anymore."
Sirius scoffed. "And when was that from, Cissy? Oh, say, when you graduated?" he demanded acidly, finally breaking into the conversation. "We both know the moment she joined the Death Eaters, she started going mad. It's what dark magic does to us."
Narcissa glared at Sirius and replied in a similar tone, "Well, Sirius, seeing as you didn't bother to speak to any of us once you'd gone off to live with the Potters, I didn't expect you to understand what happened. However, you are right in that her erratic behavior started around that time, but you shouldn't speak of what you do not know."
Incensed, Sirius demanded, "Why should I listen to you, Cissy? You still consider that madwoman family, for God's sake! What about Andy? Would you go on a limb like this for her or her daughter?" He only waited a beat before continuing, "I didn't bloody think so!"
Apparently, he had angered Narcissa enough for her to stand up in rage and shout at him, "Don't you presume to think I wouldn't do the same for Andromeda! She may have married that Mudblood Tonks, but she's still family! And, believe it or not, I'd do the same for you!"
"Where was that lovely sentiment when I was shipped off to Azkaban, hm? Or when Bella threatened 'Dora? Or when Mum…" Sirius trailed off for a tense moment before continuing, "What about when everyone believed I killed Reg? Huh? You could have bloody said something! You knew as well as I did that Bella was the one who tortured and murdered him. She deserves to rot in hell, Narcissa!"
Sirius did not register White leaving the room, and neither did Narcissa, who shot back, "No, Sirius, she needs help. She's ill, I agree with you on that, but you remember what she was like once. As to the rest, I'm only two years older than you! What was I supposed to do? You and Andy chose your side of the war, Bellatrix drew a line in the sand, and Reggie… He shouldn't have gotten involved, but if you hadn't gone and done what you did, he wouldn't have had to!"
"Are you saying that if I hadn't run away Regulus wouldn't have died?" Sirius demanded, almost shouting. She had no right—no bloody right.
"No, I'm saying that if you hadn't joined the Aurors, Bellatrix wouldn't have forced him to become a Death Eater!" Narcissa exclaimed, immediately wishing she could take back what she had said. She looked off to the side to regain her cool. Despite that he was furious with her, Sirius had to admit he had never seen Narcissa lose her temper like this. Of the three sisters, she had always been the quiet, dispassionate one.
However, Sirius had been rendered speechless. Yes, he had figured Bellatrix had done that as revenge, but to have Narcissa come out and tell him that it was true was something completely different. He looked down at the ground, also trying to regain his bearings. There was no way that he was going to let Narcissa know anything she had said affected him whatsoever. She couldn't know that he still felt this guilty, even after fifteen years. He took a deep breath and looked up, only to realize that White was gone. Sirius was about to say something when Narcissa admitted, "Sirius, I shouldn't have said that. It was uncalled for. All of us knew you would have never knowingly put Regulus in danger. I am sorry. I really am."
"It doesn't matter," Sirius murmured, waving it off. He did not want to talk about this. In a stronger voice, he informed her, "White's gone. I'm not surprised. Didn't expect that he'd want to stay and listen to us." Narcissa looked concerned when she noticed he was right, so Sirius continued, as his way of apologizing, "Narcissa, he doesn't seem the vengeful type. Even if he is, I doubt he'd take it out on our family. The only person White seems to blame is Bellatrix, who I assume was the one that almost killed his wife?"
Narcissa sighed. "Yes," she confessed, "I tried to talk her out of it, but she was intent on making a statement." Very seriously, Narcissa continued, "She has an unhealthy fixation with him, Sirius. He needs to be subtler. Bellatrix knows he is not loyal to the Cause, and we both know she will do whatever it takes to determine why and how."
The pieces of the puzzle finally clicked together. "You invited him here under the excuse of apologizing to warn him," Sirius realized. "Look, Narcissa, he knows what he's doing is dangerous. You shouldn't have to put yourself in danger like this. If Lucius found out—"
"If Lucius found out, do you really think that he would turn me in?" Narcissa interjected. She shook her head and corrected him, "Cousin, I made sure he was out because I do not want to put him in jeopardy with the Dark Lord. The Ministry is much more forgiving than he is." Neither said anything for a moment, but Narcissa suddenly said, "I hoped Mr. White had asked you to accompany him, and I do intend to honor what I wrote in the letter. Speaking of which, you need to check the basement. There is a Sevenfold Ward on the third door to the left. I assume you remember how to break the spell. I will go find Mr. White. Meet with us back here afterward."
Knowing that this was not the sort of gift-horse one looked in the mouth, Sirius nodded and replied curtly, "Fine." He left through the door he had used to enter the room and made a beeline for the basement stairs. Sirius only wished he didn't know the layout of the house well enough to find where Narcissa was referring to on his own, but he had suffered through many a long, boring dinner with the Malfoy family when he was a child. At least his father had held a similar opinion of Abraxas Malfoy as Sirius did of Lucius. (Oddly enough, his father had used the same vocabulary to make his opinions on the matter known.)
Once in the basement, which felt like more of a dungeon, he located the door and undid the warding. Sirius could only hope that Narcissa was being up-front with him. If she was setting him up for some stupid Death Eater capture-the-blood-traitor scheme, he was never going to forgive her. Granted, he didn't expect that she would do something like that, but he did not put it past Lucius. It was unlikely that the Death Eaters would use such a high-powered ward for a trap, though. Deciding yet again to hell with it, Sirius unlocked and opened the door.
He instantly regretted doing so as he was tackled by a strangely familiar, freakishly tall blonde woman.
Terry White was not a happy camper. He was sitting on the floor in a side-hall off the parlor with his back against the wall. He had left the parlor during the fight that had been brewing between Sirius and Narcissa. Their shouting match had been put off for a decade too many in his book. He just wished that their arguments didn't inevitably go back to the exact same thing, over and over again. Regulus had always hated it when his brother and cousin fought, and Terry really wished he didn't know why. If that was what two of them arguing was like, Terry did not want to know what would happen if anyone tried to get Andromeda and Bellatrix in a room with them.
Whatever the case, Narcissa did seem to be genuinely apologetic for Bellatrix's actions. Terry felt his blood boil when he thought about Lestrange. She was the cause for so much pain, and he would have gladly killed her at that moment. He knew he wouldn't have been able to exact his revenge in the real world. Bellatrix was well aware of her effect on him, and he wouldn't be able to get so much as one curse in edgewise before she tortured him for even daring to think about killing her. His reaction was pathetic. He knew that Voldemort had given the order, but Bellatrix had been the one to do all that to Vesta. Terry should have been there. He should have been! He should have checked in on her more often, then maybe he could have…
Terry sighed and knocked his head against the wall. Looking up at the ceiling, he wondered if Sirius and Narcissa had stopped fighting yet. He didn't hear any yelling anymore, but that meant absolutely nothing. Terry knew that some of the worst things were said in hushed tones, so maybe he should wait some more. Worst came to worst, Narcissa or Sirius would come look for him. Probably Narcissa. She was the host, after all. Terry hadn't been too surprised that she had only wanted to talk about politics. In fact, he was relieved. He had been terrified that she had used the letter as an excuse to talk to him again and tell him she recognized him.
It had taken him a long while, but he was near convinced that she knew. Her actions so far had done little to assuage his fears, but she did seem honest about her intentions. That day, at the restaurant, Narcissa had asked him questions too specific and pointed to be innocent conversation. For instance, when he admitted that he had taken his wife's name. She had started out asking about the kids' schooling and directed the questions towards his own origins. Narcissa always had been bright, and he should have expected her to figure it out. The final nail in the coffin had been when she started teasing him about Quidditch. He should have realized. Narcissa would have never been that informal with a complete stranger.
Of course, the two people he had wanted to keep in the dark the most remained thankfully oblivious. The first was Bellatrix. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time until she realized who he truly was. She knew he wasn't Terrence Wales, and from his behavior, it wasn't that much of a cognitive leap to his real identity. The next time he saw her, she probably would realize. She was an intelligent woman, like her sister, but Terry could tell that Azkaban had taken its toll on her. He figured that she was worse off than Sirius because she had done such terrible things. He wasn't even considering what she had done to him, but what she had done to her victims in general was simply horrifying. Terry remembered hearing that the Prewetts had fallen in battle, and he had been happy that they'd gone out that way.
The second person who Terry had hoped to keep in the dark was his brother. He would have been lying if he had said he wasn't disappointed that his brother hadn't recognized him, but Terry had been trying to fool him. He had run into his brother very early on after he came back. They had simply passed in the street. Terry had turned back, unsure as to whether he had hallucinated or not, but his brother hadn't even taken notice of him at all. He had later met with him in a much more confrontational setting, but not once did his brother even have the slightest idea it was him. The slightest idea. He wasn't even trying. With Bellatrix, he felt like he was caught with a bloody nose in a shark-tank, but with his brother he didn't even have to try. Fuck, Artemesia, of all people, had recognized him instantly, and his bloody brother couldn't even tell he was lying! His brother!
Terry heard footsteps in the corridor and looked up to see Narcissa approaching. "There you are," she said with a smile. "I regret that you had to bear witness to that little argument between my cousin and I. We have had some trouble agreeing in the past."
Slowly standing, Terry replied, "It's fine, ma'am. I apologize for my disappearing act, but I figured you or Mr. Black might not have wanted me to be present for the disagreement. I understand that in the old families, one tends to keep arguments like that behind closed doors."
Narcissa shrugged and acknowledged, "That is true. However, the arguements between Sirius and I are of a more personal nature than discussions of class politics, but I thank you for your discretion." She seemed to be content with dancing around her real goal, even if it meant admit faults like that. Terry did not like what her behavior implied. "Shall we return to the parlor?" she asked him.
"Of course," Terry replied after a moment, hoping he hadn't acquiesced too quickly. If he had, she would likely become suspicious. As they walked back, Terry decided to return to their previous topic of conversation. He began, "So, Mrs. Malfoy—"
"Call me Narcissa," she insisted.
"Narcissa, then," Terry repeated, correcting himself. If she was willing to drop formality, in a discussion that was supposed to be of the utmost formality, then she knew. She had to. Trying to put it out of mind, he resumed, "I am aware that you wish to offer weregild, but this is the twentieth century. I do not require any compensation. Furthermore, I understand why your sister may have been driven to commit the acts she did." Terry could not keep the steel out of his voice as he said that last sentence, but he continued, "I may despise her for it, but I do not hold a grudge against anyone else for her sins. We are on the same side, after all."
Narcissa studied him for a moment as they reentered the parlor and reseated themselves. She shook her head and said, "Yes, we are, aren't we?" Terry wasn't sure whether or not to believe her. She hadn't said it with much conviction, after all. Narcissa continued, "I find it encouraging you are willing to forgo compensation, but I feel that you may prefer to take my offer. You see, Mr. White, I have often thought that this war, while based off principles in which I have believed since childhood, is unjust. I will admit that one of the reasons I changed my mind was that the Death Eaters started to go after the blood-traitors. However, the conflict is destroying wizarding society. So many good, pureblood families have been destroyed, and many lines are in danger of disappearing forever. The Black name is as good as doomed: I can't imagine Sirius surviving the war. Even if he does, what woman would take him?" Narcissa paused, assumedly for effect, but she reflected, "Well, I suppose there might be one or two, but I sincerely doubt he would be interested in the first that comes to mind."
Terry was starting to wonder what in all nine circles of hell Narcissa was getting at. She had never been this confusing in the past. He figured that she was starting to get to the point, though, because she had just admitted she had thoughts of high treason against Voldemort. Well, when Narcissa was decided on a matter, there was no swaying her. "Mrs. Malfoy, I am uncertain as to what you are trying to say. I mean, Sirius does currently has a snowball's chance in hell of passing on the family name, for various reasons, but if I'm not mistaken, you mean to say that you wish to aid those who would see Voldemort defeated?"
Straightening, Narcissa answered, "In not so many words, yes. Both Lucius and I want out. I know now that is just a wish, and neither of us can afford to risk taking a job such as yours. We are in too deep, and we have too many worries. I am sure you understand my meaning. My sister, as you know, holds nothing sacred. Once, blood was everything, but events have changed Bella. I am not sure anymore if Sirius's decision to run away indeed was the final straw, but that does not change the fact that I do not wish to stand by and do nothing."
Terry wasn't sure of what to say. He did understand that Narcissa was scared and she didn't want anything to happen to Draco (why Sirius called the kid the Amazing Bouncing Ferret was beyond Terry, but he wasn't going to question it). However, she wanted to switch sides seemingly without unduly angering Voldemort. "I'm sorry, but what exactly do you mean to do? I'm sure the Order would welcome any information, and I would vouch for you, but you must have something to offer," Terry asked.
"I am aware. It is why I asked you here," Narcissa clarified. With a thin smile, she continued, "Mr. White, I needed to at least set up a reasonable exmotive for my actions. I knew you would bring a second, and it truthfully did not matter whom, just a witness to my initial explanation. I have told you my true intentions, so it is only right that I explain." She collected herself before she began, "You see, Mr. White, about fifteen years ago, one of your people was murdered and her body buried. However, she wasn't, but not for lack of trying on the part of the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord. Believe you me, they tried. An ancient ward activated at the last moment and saved her life. I never quite understood nor cared to. Sirius, no doubt, will be able to make more sense of her reasoning. I generally need an interpreter. The bottom line, however, is that Lucius and I have been… watching one of yours for quite some time."
Terry should have been surprised, but he really hadn't expected anything less. Of course Narcissa would have a back-up plan that would indebt her family to both sides of the war and thereby secure their safety (or at least immunity) no matter what the outcome. He did hope that she was earnest about switching sides. She was smart, and she knew the sort of leader Voldemort was tended to cause more problems than they supposedly solved. "So you're using weregild as an excuse to let this woman go?" Terry repeated, mostly for his own benefit. "As a token of good faith? I understand that you believe this action would establish your loyalties without question, but if that's all you have to offer, then I don't know if a deal could be made. That said, I'm just a spy, Narcissa. I don't hold any real negotiating power. For God's sake, my colleagues mostly treat me like I'm a waste of air."
Narcissa raised an eyebrow and with a smile said, "Somehow, I have the feeling you might have more sway than you think, Mr. White." Still on the topic at hand, Narcissa continued, "As to what my intentions are, yes, I do mean to free her as a token of good will, but, no, this is not the only thing I intend to do. Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee that we will fight for the Order or the Ministry, but I can assure you I, in the least, will not be helping Voldemort. If the chance arises, I will help you, but only then."
"So you want to cover all your bases, then," Terry stated. "I can understand that, Mrs. Malfoy. If you or Mr. Malfoy came through with any information or dfought on our side, then I suppose you would be granted a degree of immunity. Well, Mr. Malfoy would. I assume you have remained neutral and therefore never joined the Death Eaters, if only because the tattoo is incredibly gauche."
Rolling her eyes, Narcissa replied theatrically, "Yes, I did it for fashion. You caught me." She laughed lightly and mused, "I should have expected you to essay a such theory. I can only imagine you've regretted the Mark at least in part for that reason, too. I was not the only vain one, even if you did remember your conscience far more quickly."
"I beg your pardon?" Terry said, stunned she had decided to call his bluff and hoping that he looked suitably confused. Maybe she would drop the subject if he denied her theory enough? Terry glanced over at the door, wondering where Sirius had gone. He knew that were the other man to return, Narcissa would have dropped the topic instantly, but he seriously doubted events were going to go his way.
"I've been waiting for you to tell me on your own, you know," Narcissa admitted, not conceding to his wishes. (Had she ever?) Looking concerned again, she said earnestly, "I really am sorry to hear about what happened to your wife. Whatever you might have done to infuriate the Dark Lord so, she did not deserve it. What Bellatrix did is dishonorable, and I still wonder why Sirius hasn't officially cut ties between her and the family."
Terry was surprised she had not addressed him by his real name and ended the charade. Maybe she was trying to mend broken bridges by not calling him out on his lie unless he was willing to admit it. 'Course, if he stopped lying to himself, he would admit that he didn't want to lie anymore, least of all to… He had a right to be suspicious, though, no matter what Narcissa said. "She's half-blood, you know," he said distantly. "My wife, I mean. Vesta. And I don't care. I don't know when I stopped believing, but for Merlin's sake, Cissy, did going to school with witches like Lily Evans do nothing? She was the best of her class, bar none. It just didn't make sense, what Mum said, in light of that. You know?" He was speaking haltingly, and his breathing was shaky again. Terry knew the stress and the pain and the exhaustion were catching up with him. He knew he hadn't recovered from anything, not those beatings or what he was trying his damnedest not to think about. He knew what he was going to admit was probably tantamount to suicide, but if Narcissa really meant what she had said, then it was worth it.
"It doesn't matter," Narcissa reassured him, moving to sit next to him on the couch. "As long as she makes you happy, that's enough. Really," she said soothingly, placing her hand on his shoulder. Terry had folded in on himself and couldn't stop from shaking. Narcissa continued in a soft voice, "She'll be fine, you'll see. St. Mungo's is the best in the world, remember?" Terry nodded almost imperceptibly. Well, on the bright side, if Narcissa was willing to let him have a nervous breakdown in her house, she was unlikely to turn him in. Noticing he was barely hanging on, she pulled him into a proper hug, and he let himself go. (Oh, God, he had missed her so much. So bloody much!) As he cried, she murmured, "Shh, Regulus, it'll be all right. It'll be all right, Reggie, you'll see…"
Coming Soon: More of the blonde woman and dinner at the Leaky Cauldron.
