Chapter 55: Lucius Malfoy's Disappointment.
Severus hurried along the cobbled side street towards the Hogshead Inn, which was at its far end. This street was almost deserted, for most of the students were in the high street, by the more colourful shops there. Only one old warlock with a pronounced limp, and a heavy, hooded, cloak was making his way laboriously towards the Hogshead, his walking stick clipping the cobbles with a sharp clicking noise.
Severus stole along silently in his wake, hoping he wouldn't turn round and see him. But the old, stooped wizard clicked his way steadily towards the door of the Hogshead, opened it, and disappeared inside.
Severus went up to the bay windows of the inn. He hesitated a moment, not wanting to be caught looking in, but the thick glass panes were so grimy he could barely make out anything in the gloomy, candlelit interior, so he assumed it would be almost as difficult to see anybody on the outside.
He moved to the edge of the bay window, where his shadow would be half-hidden by the rough stone wall of the inn, and surreptitiously cleaned a small area of the thick glass pane with his cloak, so that he could peek inside. He was debating whether to risk going in, when what he saw stopped him dead.
Hunched over a wooden table closest to the window he was looking through, was a group of three wizards, one of whom was dressed in a Hogwarts cloak, for the silver-blond long hair that contrasted so sharply with the black cloak was unmistakeably Lucius Malfoy's. The other two, Severus suspected, were none other than Selwyn and Rodolphus.
He drew back behind the wall hurriedly, unwilling to be caught spying upon what the three wizards probably thought was a very private table, having chosen one furthest away from the bar.
He risked another quick look through the grimy panes, and saw his suspicions confirmed when Lucius moved slightly backwards in his seat to reveal the sharp features of the wizard sitting in front of him. Selwyn's hard, angular face was unmistakeable, even though distorted by the dirty, thick glass of the window.
None of them seemed to have noticed him lurking there, for they seemed to be very absorbed in their conversation. The bar was almost deserted. Apart from the young wizards and the old, lame warlock, Severus could see on a table in the distance, two rather fat middle-aged witches in shabby robes, and a thin old wizard in a muggle suit over which he wore a brown travelling cloak. Only the barman, a tall, thin, man with a long, grey beard, was looking curiously in his direction. Or was he looking at the three young wizards?
Severus was about to steal away before the barman got too curious, when something attracted his attention. Selwyn had glanced around towards the bar as though to make sure that neither the barman, not anyone else, could see, then he beckoned Lucius closer, as though what he had to say was a secret.
However, instead of speaking, Selwyn placed his left arm on the table and started to roll up his sleeve.
Curious, Severus had to resist pressing his face against the glass.
Lucius, leaning forward eagerly, with his back to the window, obscured his vision, but he did manage to catch a glimpse of something red-raw and dark against the pallor of Selwyn's inner forearm.
He could not imagine what it was, but it certainly made a big impression on Lucius, who almost fell back in his seat in surprise. Severus saw Selwyn's features twist into a smug, triumphant smile at the effect he had produced. His companion, Rodolphus, nodded and smiled in approval, then turned round to make sure that the barman's attention was still focused elsewhere, as Selwyn rolled down his sleeve.
Severus realised that he had probably witnessed something they were quite unwilling to disclose. He drew back once more behind the shadow of the wall. It would most certainly not do to have them catch him out now. However, the sky had become overcast, and in the dim light of the small side street, he was not noticed. What could Selwynn have marked on his arm that was so amazing? A duelling scar, perhaps? He risked another look.
Malfoy was speaking rather heatedly now. He was gesticulating and talking rather loudly, for Severus could even hear snatches of words.
'..am ready. You can tell him - ! '
Rodolphus made a shushing movement with his hand, looking behind him at the bar area anxiously for possible eavesdroppers. But Selwyn's icy-blue eyes were looking intently at Lucius, a rather calculating half-smile still on his face.
Lucius dropped his voice at once, but Severus could still see that he was agitated. This surprised him, for the Lucius Malfoy he knew was always cool, calm, and collected. Haughty and overbearing, even. The note of anxious pleading in his voice was one he had never heard before.
Whatever Lucius was ready for, he wanted very, very much!
However, Selwyn, seeming to have come to a decision, shook his head. Rodolphus, perhaps aware that this negative answer would not be greatly appreciated, had placed a placating hand on Lucius's arm, and had started to speak soothingly, as though to mitigate the blow.
Raising a hand to stop Rodolphus's flow of words, Selwyn shook his head once more with an air of finality, and a few curt words that made Severus wish he could lip-read.
Lucius's back was towards Severus, so he could not judge his reaction to this. However, it appeared that he was not taking it lightly, for he shook off Rodolphus's arm, and, forgetting to lower his voice again:
'…will see him myself! I will convince him! I don't need you to…' Lucius was saying, but Selwyn half-rose from the table, leaning forward to confront Lucius threateningly. At that moment, to his horror, Selwyn's icy-blue eyes looked directly past Lucius at the window – directly at him!
In the split second it took for Selwyn to realise that somebody was behind the window, Severus had already whirled round and started pelting down the street towards the distant High street.
He had reacted so quickly, he was almost absolutely sure that Selwyn had not recognised him, but he wasn't waiting to find out!
He heard the inn door slamming in the distance behind him, and suddenly, a flash of red light sheered past him, hitting the wall. Shards of bricks and mortar rained down on him, and as he took out his wand and glanced back, he stumbled and almost lost his footing.
At that moment there was a flash of white light, and a shout of 'Petrificus totalis!' from somewhere just ahead of him, and in the distance, Severus saw Selwynn keel over, rigid as a board.
Regaining his feet, Severus hurried onwards to see who his saviour was, and, out of a dark recess between two houses came a student muffled in a Hogwarts cloak. He found himself looking into a pair of furious, green eyes peeking out from the folds of a large scarf.
'Lily, how-?'
'Never mind! Let's get out of here!'
He didn't need to be told twice. They ran pell-mell towards the relative safety of the High street, which was still crowded with students, despite the light rain that was now beginning to fall.
'What on earth possessed you to go back there?' Lily hissed at him angrily as they slowed to a fast walk down the street, doing their best to weave their way through the thickest of the crowds.
She had taken off her scarf and stuffed it inside her pocket, panting slightly from the run.
'I just wanted to see what they were up to. Why did you follow me, anyway?' he said, petulantly.
'I didn't follow you! Mary was saying that some really shady characters frequent the Hogshead, and somehow, I had a pretty good idea that you wanted to follow those two wizards. Turns out I was right, wasn't I?'
He gave her a scathing, burning, look which she returned with interest.
'Its no use scowling at me, Severus Snape! Those two are up to no good, and if they're part of Lord Voldemort's army, what can you do about it? No one will believe a thirteen-year-old wizard, so what are you risking being obliviated, or worse, for?'
'Who said, I want to disclose anything I may, or may not, have seen in there?' he snapped.
Lily stopped, and blinked.
'What did you see, then?' she asked, curious in spite of herself.
'Nothing.' he said evasively. He didn't want to drag Lucius Malfoy's name into it for now. 'I couldn't hear anything much.'
'D'you think they recognised you?'
He shook his head. 'It all happened very quickly. And only Selwyn made it out of the Inn by the time we reached High street. You took care of him though. I didn't know you could throw such a good hex!'
He looked sideways at her, remembering that after all, she had saved him from having his memory wiped clean, or worse. She reluctantly smiled at his praise.
'With duelling on the syllabus for second term, I thought I'd better pick up some hints from you.' she said 'By the way, how did you know it was me under the scarf? I borrowed it from Mary so's not to be recognised near that Inn'
Severus stole a look at her. He would have recognised her green eyes anywhere. He remained silent for a moment, and then shrugged.
'C'mon, let's hurry up!' he said, ignoring her question.
They reached the last houses on the outskirts of Hogsmeade without further mishaps. Given what had happened, they thought it prudent to make their way back to Hogwarts amidst the first groups of returning students. Severus saw Lily give one last, regretful, look towards the thatched, picture-postcard houses of Hogsmeade they had left behind them, as they walked towards the distant gates of Hogwarts through the drizzling rain.
He was glad she'd had the presence of mind to cover her hair and face- he didn't care about himself, but it would not do to have Selwynn recognise Lily – she wouldn't be able to come to Hogsmeade safely again. He was fairly sure that he hadn't been recognised either, but was curious to see if Lucius Malfoy would behave any differently towards him from now on. If Selwynn had recognised him, Lucius would probably be given the task of confronting him!
It was later that evening that Severus had the opportunity to put his theory to the test, for while he was reading by the fireside in the Slytherin common room, Lucius Malfoy came in, his cloak damp and glistening with rain. He had probably just returned from Hogsmeade.
With a curt command, he made a small first-year jump out of the chair closest to the fire, flung himself in it, and sat staring fixedly at the bright flames, a frown on his face. He was sitting only a few feet across from Severus who observed him closely.
However, he might as well have not existed, for Lucius did not even look up once, at him or anyone else.
Severus was sure that if he had been recognised, or even suspected, Lucius would definitely have tried to make eye contact. The hours ticked by until the common room was almost empty. Lucius did not move from his seat, and only when Narcissa Black rose to leave did his eyes flicker momentarily in her direction.
It was past midnight when Severus left the common room. He had purposely let everyone else leave until he remained alone with Lucius. Warily, he had bidden him goodnight, but the tall Head boy had not even answered him, let alone tried to obliterate his memory.
Relieved not to have been found out, Severus left Lucius Malfoy to his own gloomy thoughts, and headed for the dormitory.
Over the next few days Severus tried to observe Lucius more closely, but he did not glean much from his observations – Lucius was as calmly haughty as ever, - perhaps a bit surlier than usual in his treatment of anyone who bothered him, but other than that, Severus could see no outward change to indicate that he had been deeply disappointed.
Severus thought often about what the haughty Head boy wanted from Selwynn. He had an idea that it had been a petition to join the Dark Lord's secret army of Deatheaters. After all, Lucius Malfoy was of age, or almost of age – and from what Rosier had told him, well-connected to the Lestranges and other reputedly well- known activists for Lord Voldemort's cause.
He was curious to know what could have shaken Malfoy's usual aplomb. After all, Lucius had everything – a rich influential family, lineage, and his father held a respected position in wizarding hierchy. In short, he had everything that he, Severus, did not have. So what could he have wanted so much that he was reduced to begging for it?
Probably it was something that money could not buy. Perhaps not even lineage. Now that was an interesting thought.
Severus remembered what he had once overheard Selwynn tell Rodolphus, when they had first run across them in Knockturn Alley two summers ago. He had been telling him that the Dark Lord 'only takes the best,' and had been urging him to tell his brother and Malfoy to make themselves worthy.
Well, it certainly seemed that Lucius was still not up to the Dark Lord's standards yet.
Severus could not help wondering what it took to gain this mysterious Lord's approval. If he was as great a wizard as his growing reputation would have him be, than perhaps he valued magical skill and knowledge far more than money, or even purity of blood. A very interesting thought.
He decided he had to ask Rabastan. He was always on about what his brother was doing on behalf of the Dark Lord, although always stopping short of openly admitting any close connection. But judging by several inadvertent comments, and what he had seen at the Hogshead, his gangly brother Rodolphus formed part of Lord Voldemort's followers probably as much as Selwynn did.
