Chapter 36 - "Where Your Loyalties Lie"

The weather remained cold as the snows of winter began to slowly melt. Only a hint of warmth was present in the air, the frost still clinging to the windowpane. It wouldn't be long until the snowdrops blossomed and life began anew, while at he same time the life they created was slowly growing in Selebi's womb.

Severus sat on the edge of the bed, watching as the dark witch slept peacefully beside him. Her hair fanned out around her face, flying across the pillow in disarray, one arm outstretched beneath her. He wondered what the child would look like and if it would share a mixture of their personality traits. Perhaps it would be more like her, another childish imp with a love of mischief and cookies. He decided right then and there that he would not raise a spoiled brat, for although he loved Selebi he wasn't interested in having two children to look after.

He thought more about what their child would be like, and couldn't help but be reminded of his own childhood. He remembered how the children teased him and made fun of his greasy hair and large nose. There was a good chance their child would inherit his more prominent facial features. And if that was the case, he or she would probably be teased and harassed just like Severus was. However things were different now. This child, if it was lucky, would have a father who worked at the school and would try his best to keep history from repeating itself.

Another thought entered his mind. What if the child was a girl, and was just as thin and pale as Selebi? Combine that with the oily hair and oversized nose and you had a recipe for disaster. But no matter what the child looked like he would do his best to look after it. He knew he couldn't shelter the child from everything in this world, but he could at least try to soften the blow.

Meanwhile, in another part of the castle, Novox was busy scribbling in his diary. The hour was late, his hand flying across the page as candles winked at him from out of the darkness, one by one coming alive as if they had a life all their own. But it was his madness that brought them to life, his own internal flame causing them to combust as drops of blood spattered the pages of his diary.

Like his mother before him, the child had gone insane, his fingertips burnt and blackened from holding them in the fire, only for a moment, but long enough that he could leave smudges on the parchment with blackened fingerprints and streaks of blood from where the flesh was burned off his hands.

If he was fire then Severus' child was ice, with pale skin and hair as black as the midnight skies above. Novox licked the blood off his fingers, giggling and grinning like some crazed animal.

His eyes red like crimson flames, Novox watched as the drops of blood formed patterns on the parchment. He stuck his hand into the fire, the candle flames licking at his blackened fingertips, and streaked the page with red and black. 'These will be my words, my legacy long after I'm gone', he thought, staring at the stark white canvas upon which his blood had spilled.

"It won't be long now, Draco," he hissed, turning slowly and glancing over his shoulder.

The blond teen was slumped over in an overstuffed armchair, his head down with a trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth. He'd made the mistake of coming back to see if Novox was still hiding in the Room of Requirement, and after being hexed and hurled halfway across the room, Novox released him from the grips of the Cruciatus Curse and allowed him to collapse in the corner.

"It won't be long," he said, his eyes glinting in the candlelight. "And you are going to help me." He looked down at the bloody pages of his book, his lips forming a straight line as he cocked his head to the side, admiring his work. "We're a team, Draco. A fellowship." His lips parted in a sadistic grin, and he laughed. "You should be grateful. It's not everyday someone has the opportunity to work with the second most powerful wizard in existence."

Draco curled his lip in disgust. Novox was far from the second most powerful wizard. He wasn't a powerful anything. The only reason he got away with anything was because of who his father was. Mess with Novox and you mess with Voldemort. Novox him behind his father's cloak. Without him he was helpless. And if anyone were to defeat Voldemort, Novox would fall in an instant without his father and his band of Death Eaters there to guard him.

"Do I have a choice?" Draco spat with content, his hair falling into his face as he lifted his chin off his chest.

"No." Novox fingered his quill thoughtfully, taking a moment to examine the notes that were buried beneath the black smudges and streaks of blood. "You need me, Draco. Seeing as how you're incapable of dealing with the problem on your own."

"The only problem I have is you," said Draco, leering at the boy from beneath his silvery blond hair. Blood spurted from his cheek as Novox slashed his face open with a cutting hex.

Draco was tired of dealing with this horrid boy. He knew he was strong enough to overcome the bastard offspring of Lord Voldemort, the trouble was dealing with the boy's father afterwards. Not that that stopped him from smarting off every now and then. If he was unable to fight back without suffering the consequences, the least he could do was voice his displeasure with the situation, and hope he didn't get his tongue cut out in the process.

But Draco wasn't a Slytherin for nothing. He had his reasons for coming back here, reasons that went beyond looking in on Voldemort's son. He was cunning, and in most cases he could think his way out of a bad situation without resorting to magic. And in a case like this, magic would be of little use to him.

"How do you know I didn't come back here to join forces with you?" spat Draco, flecks of blood flying from his lips.

"You lie," Novox hissed. "I know you too well, Draco. You're a coward, a weakling who is incapable of accomplishing anything without Snape carrying you every step of the way."

Draco couldn't help but laugh, his pale face splitting in a wide grin. "Look who's talking! Have you ever tried doing anything without your daddy holding your hand and telling you how it's done?"

Another slash across his face, the blood now trickling down the front of his shirt.

"I'm not cursed!" Draco exclaimed. "And you'd be a fool to turn down my offer." His body tensed, his eyes closing as he waited for the hex that never came. Draco opened his eyes, and saw Novox staring at him from across the room. "I'm here to join you. And here you are throwing hexes at me like some infant trying to cast his first spell."

"How do I know you didn't find a cure for your condition like Shape did? He probably used a potion, or some other method which would remove the curse."

"How do you know Snape isn't loyal to our cause?" Draco shot back. "You're paranoid, on top of everything else that's wrong with you. But I guess that's what you get for having my aunt as your mother." He sounded rather annoyed, like this was a waste of time. He didn't want to do this. He didn't even want to be here. But after months of planning and watching his efforts fail to come to fruition, he decided that Novox was his only hope.

The dark child was on him in an instant, crossing the room and holding his wand against Draco's neck. There was silence, their eyes locked in a stare as blood continued to ooze down Draco's neck and soak into the collar of his shirt.

Novox considered him for a moment, thinking things over carefully before making his decision. He knew he was unlikely to reach Selebi on his own, and with Severus watching over his pregnant girlfriend like a hawk, it would be impossible for him to get close to her. But what struck him as odd was Draco's sudden change of heart. What could have happened to make him change his mind? Perhaps the curse was enough to scare Draco into returning to the dark side. But that didn't mean he trusted this pampered pureblood. He'd work with him if he had to, but he was wary of Draco's unusual behavior.

He lowered his wand, slipping the length of oak into his pocket. "We need a plan, one that will lure Snape out into the open so I can steal his witch. And if we time this just right, we can finish Dumbledore in the process." He moved away from the chair Draco was sitting in, his silver cloak swishing about his heels as he spun around and walked towards the diary on the floor.

"What sort of plan do you have in mind?" asked Draco.

Novox held up the diary, causing Draco to recoil in horror at the sight of the bloodstained pages. "Lucky for you I already have something in mind. I just need someone to make it work."