Let me start off by saying I am SO SORRY for leaving this fic for so long! It was a combo finals/holidays/travelling/parties/starting back at work. And then I was gone for so long that I felt the need to reread the whole fic before picking it up again. But good news! I am now officially a University graduate and I don't plan to do anything this semester besides working and writing. :D
Also, I really want to thank you guys for your reviews and support! You really keep me on the right track and keep this fic a priority (even though sometimes it may seem like it's not). So a special thank you to Levans, Claudilla, Folkvangr, .Snape, Belle2611, McPastey, Hannoie, charlotte, Mother of Tears, Twilizzle, juliaaa, heatherm2234, oldfox, Mel, RhodaBush, Anngeellll, woodshark, brighteyes2889, FatalStarshine, bluefirefly5, Doctor12Holmes, , articcat621, hnwhitlock2000, Angelwells, and lunarose87! You guys are the best and I cannot tell you how much I love and need you!
Also, this is just something funny I found while Googling my fics to make sure they hadn't fallen victim to the latest story thief. Thought it was funny. :P petpetparkDOTjellyneoDOTnetSLASHgoSLASHjobsSLASHclash_of_the_conjurers/
And finally, here is Chapter 43! It is short, but I wanted to go ahead and give you something while I work on the rest. I hope you enjoy it! And if you do, Please Review!
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The daunting silhouette of the castle stood out prominently against the eerie glow of twilit sky as she approached the iron gates. They were locked. And so, with a swish a whispered missive swept off on a silver swan to the Keeper of the Keys. She resigned herself to wait. But in the frozen silence of the night, the still weight of solitude drifted over her like snow. And for once secure in her own privacy, she allowed herself to breathe deep this secret liberation.
The towers of the school were a warm and welcome sight for a woman so long deprived of the comfort that is home. This had been her home. Many many years ago, she had come to know its walls and halls. Years and years ago, this place had been her solace.
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black was never famous for its wealth of affection. As a girl, she had been afraid to leave home, having no reason to believe that the world beyond could be any better. Her older sisters had only ever told her of the terrors of the castle and the forest, hoping perhaps to frighten her. It had taken some time, after her Sorting, for her to acclimate herself to the new environment, and the relative freedom that came with it.
It was this freedom that called to her weary soul like a well of fresh water to one dying of thirst. It pulled her to the gate where flawless fingers intertwined with soiled and rusted iron. For a moment she could imagine that the past twenty years were only a horrible dream. And she was back at Hogwarts once again.
"Oo's there?" called a voice and she withdrew with a gasp as a lantern bobbed into view. There was no welcome in the big oaf's eyes when he caught sight of her beyond. "Wha' 're you doin' 'ere?" he asked, sounding more than a little hostile. She turned up her nose, instinctively. Who was he to speak to her in such a way?
"It was my understanding that parents and relatives of students had a right to visit the school," she replied coolly.
"We've 'ad ter tighten ther sercurity 'round 'ere. 'Specially after wha' happened on Halloween."
"I understand that, but I need to speak with Severus Snape. Surely you are not suggesting that I pose a threat?"
"Well… er… that is…"
"I am only one concerned mother."
"I'm under strict orders not ter let anybody through."
"Well I am certain that the Board of Governors would be quite interested to know that parents are being forcibly barred from visiting their children."
"Now wai' jus' a minute…"
"I already have been waiting quite a while, now. And the night is only growing colder. Let me through to the castle and I will forgive this insolent behavior."
"Alrigh', alrigh'. Seein' as there's only one o' you, I s'pose it'll be alright'."
The hinges squealed like a dungeon door and a light wind fell like freedom across her face. It is safe here.
The dungeons were nearly as cold as the grounds, but she had no desire to hurry back to the warmth of her own house. The damp chill here was infinitely more comfortable than the evil dwelling there. And as she stood before his office door, she questioned once again the wisdom of this decision. And once again she told herself that it must be done. And it is time.
"Come in," his voice called out in answer to her knocking. She complied, brushing all doubts to the back of her mind where he could not see them.
He was bent over his desk, marking a bit of parchment that must have been an essay, and she waited for him to finish. When, finally, he glanced up at his visitor, she smiled at the surprise evident in those inky, black eyes. "Severus," she purred, delighted to have caught him off guard. It was not hard to imagine which other visitor he may have been expecting at this hour.
"Narcissa," he answered in a scowl, offering her the chair before his desk. She had made him uncomfortable. Perfect. "What are you doing here?" he asked her. Well, well. Straight and to the point. It was unlike Severus Snape to be so direct. She bit back a laugh. For once, she had the upper hand.
"I see I've caught you at your wit's end, Severus," she teased.
"It has been a trying day."
"No doubt," she agreed. Draco had written her after his Occlumency lesson that afternoon, and his story had been… intriguing. For a long moment, she met Severus's calculating stare. Her visit made him nervous. It was her pleasure to draw it out. "I must say," she continued when the silence grew lengthy, "I would expect a man spying for two opposing masterminds to hide his secrets rather better than you have." Ah, yes, that remark had the desired effect. He hid the fear well, but it was apparent nonetheless. "As it happens, you have not. And with very little effort, I have found yours out."
Severus was still as a cornered cat; she knew better than to underestimate him. "Your husband knows me better than anyone else in the world. What secrets I may have from you could easily be learned from him."
Narcissa narrowed her eyes. A perfectly calculated response: exactly what she should expect from this master spy; the Head of Slytherin House. She would need to step lightly. This was a dangerous game. "I have been watching you, Severus," she began again, ignoring his attempt to dissuade her. "You have been careless."
At this the professor sighed with apparent tedium "Narcissa," he began in a condescending tone, "these are troubling times. It is easy to become suspicious. It seems your isolation from your family has given credence to your wild imagination…"
"I have not been isolated from them," she interrupted. "Au contraire, I have been in constant communication with my son. It is he who has given credence to these… imaginings… of mine."
"I see, and of what exactly do you mean to accuse me?" His voice was almost playful in its nonchalance, but Narcissa knew better. This was a man who had secrets to hide. Revealing them now would have disastrous consequences. Unveiling the truth could tip the scale for the outcome of the war.
She couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him.
"It seems you have grown over-fond of this Granger girl." She smirked as he stiffened almost imperceptively. "I would go so far as to say that you may love her."
"Ridiculous." But his tone was far too angry.
"You are far too jealous over her and certainly too openly affectionate toward her. It seems you danced with her in front of all of your students at the Masquerade Ball and soon slipped away to be with her alone."
"She belongs to me, Narcissa. I know that it is hard for you to understand, as a woman, but the girl is nothing more than an object that, yes, brings me pleasure. I will admit that I have found enjoyment with her company as well as her body and that having an escort was an unfamiliar pleasure for me, but that is the limit of my involvement with the girl. To assume that I could love her…"
"But enjoying her company, for a man like you with so few close acquaintances, is really only a few steps away from sincere affection. You are far too intelligent to allow the synthetic and trivial boundaries between you to prevent a deeper attachment. If you were anyone else, I would accept the excuse that she is a mudblood." She watched his reaction to the word and was gratified by the tiniest hint of a tightening in his jaw. "But you have fallen for someone like her before, haven't you, Severus?"
"I was much younger and far more naïve when I betrayed my brothers for Lily Potter. I am not the sort of man to make the same mistake twice."
"No," she intoned in a victorious voice, "No, I quite agree. That you are not." Check mate. "In fact, I believe that you always regretted the mistakes you made with that Evans girl. I believe you never forgave yourself for that. I think that you have every reason to seek out that which you lost in your first love with Hermione Granger. In fact, I understand she is completely besotted with you. To listen to Draco, it seems she may even love you."
There was a long pause. It was clear that Severus did not know how to respond to her accusations. Finally, his eyes slanted and he approached the argument from a different angle. "Are you trying to persuade me to abandon the Cause, Narcissa?"
At that, she had to laugh. He certainly had a knack for manipulating an argument. "Not at all, Severus, I assure you," she confessed in such a way that took him completely aback. "In fact, I am not suggesting that you have abandoned your Cause, or that you plan to. But now that I have expressed my reasons for believing that you will not pursue the dark lord's interests, let me explain how I already knew that you were unfaithful to him before the girl even came into your life."
There was a heavy moment of silence before Severus spoke. "Those are dangerous accusations, Narcissa," he breathed. But he wisely waited to hear her evidence before attempting to contradict her.
"I have known for certain ever since the day you came to visit me, telling me of Draco's accidental slip of tongue." She expected a smirk, but none came. This was a man who knew not to tease his captor. "You explained to me that the Potter boy and his friends had been told a crafty lie to cover up the truth of your involvement with the Granger girl. You told them that Albus Dumbledore was aware of the situation and that you were using it to feed the dark lord lies. But I soon realized that that could not be true. Draco tells me much of what happens at Hogwarts. I know that Potter spends a great deal of time alone with the Headmaster. I know that the Gryffindors hate and mistrust you. It is not likely, therefore, that they would believe your word and not question the Headmaster about it." She let that sink in a moment. "Thus, the only plausible explanation is that your supposed lie to the children is actually the truth. Albus Dumbledore knows of your connection to the girl. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you were acting under his orders. You see, Severus, I have discovered your secret. I know now, without a doubt, which side you truly are spying for."
For a long minute, neither said a word. Her old friend seemed to be debating with himself, presumably about whether or not to continue arguing with her or concede defeat. But she knew that too much lay at stake for him to give in without a fight. And with that realization, the first tingle of fear slipped down her spine. Surely he was not the sort of man to react rashly.
"I suppose you wish to blackmail me," he murmured in a hesitant tone, clearly stalling for time.
"No, Severus. That's not it at all."
"Then what is it?" He was growing impatient with her, and Narcissa could feel the dangerous energy of his magic filling the room. It put her on edge.
"I-" she began, but the confession was terrifying. She had never imagined it would be so difficult to make. "That is…" She gulped around a tight knot that had formed in her throat. Her future and her family rested on her conviction. She had to be perfectly certain. And taking a deep breath, she knew that she was. And she took that leap. "I want to help."
...*~*J*~*…
Sorry it's such a short Chapter, but I promise to Update soon!
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