Chapter 13. Summoned
Now that Harry knew about Narcissa, Severus didn't feel the need to hide his association with her anymore in front of Harry. Every so often, Harry would catch her popping in and out at the edge of the wards, always with a rather serious expression on her face. Perhaps being headmistress was more tiring than she anticipated.
They didn't talk much. Harry, for obvious reasons, didn't entirely trust her. She might have gained Severus' trust, but how did they know she wasn't just reporting everything back to Voldemort who was just watching and waiting? And, more to the point, Harry was jealous.
Narcissa Malfoy was everything Harry was not. Beautiful, tall, blonde, a woman of impeccable breeding and taste. Even her voice was cultured and controlled. Harry couldn't help but feel inadequate in comparison. Severus had said he didn't date women…but that didn't mean he didn't like them or that he would like men or that he would even like Harry. Even if Harry caught Severus' possessive streak flaring up once in a while, he wasn't even sure if that was from him or the Aegis. Even moments of tenderness, where Severus would allow Harry to crawl into bed with him after a particularly bad nightmare needn't be romantic in nature.
"Tea?" Harry asked Severus, poking his head into the office space where the two were holding court. It was clear Harry was not invited to these meetings because of the strong silencing charms over the room.
"Ah, tea would be nice," Severus had replied. "Two cups."
"Two…right." Harry flushed under Narcissa's perceptive gaze. He wasn't a bloody house-elf. It was just so routine to make Severus tea, that was all.
"He's taken quite a liking to you," Narcissa remarked when Harry was gone from the room.
"He rarely sees anyone else but me," Severus snapped.
"Save for Draco, and last I heard, Harry wasn't serving him tea."
A sneaking suspicion grasped Severus' heart then. "Have you been talking to the headmaster?"
"Severus," Narcissa laughed. "One doesn't need a barmy old portrait to tell me what I see before my own eyes. You may have promised the headmaster to keep his chastity intact, but Dumbledore is dead. He can't haunt you."
"Can't he?"
She ignored him. "He would hardly be unwilling," Narcissa continued. "You know he glares at me when he thinks you aren't watching. He positively radiates envy."
"Does he?" Severus tried to sound detached. He was worried a little note of hope had snuck in there at the end.
Harry chose that moment to pop back in, handing Severus his tea carefully so that their fingers touched, and plunking Narcissa's down in front of her. Narcissa's eyes were alight with laughter. Harry fled, ashamed at his own reaction. Narcissa could see right through him.
"Perhaps," Severus said, staring at the spot Harry had just left.
Narcissa took a delicate sip of her tea. "I mean, after all, he isn't a complete innocent. Why Lucius said—"
The rage that suddenly filled Severus' eyes gave her pause. She swallowed.
"I think it would be best if you left," Severus said coldly, standing up. "I find myself rather busy at the moment and Draco isn't going anywhere anytime soon. You can plan his extraction for another day."
Narcissa put down her tea. "I misspoke. I only meant to inform you that Lucius had reported the boy having nightmares while in his care. That boy has lived through too much to be completely fragile. I was encouraging you to take a chance. He isn't made of glass, Severus." She stood stiffly. "I haven't talked to Lucius very much since then. I was…unaware…"
Severus sighed and sat back down. They needed each other and she knew it. "I am sorry I snapped at you, Narcissa." Apologies were not his forte. "I find myself rather…protective these days."
Narcissa cautiously settled back down into her seat as well.
"It is not a sin to love, Severus."
And in his agitated state, Severus almost believed her. He opened his mouth, maybe to protest half-heartedly, but instead what came out was a pained groan. His hand slapped over the dark mark.
Narcissa switched to business mode in a second. "I'll clean up around here and return to the castle. I'll let Mr. Potter know you're gone." She gathered the evidence of their deception and proceeded to cast the required layers of spells to keep them concealed.
Severus nodded once, curtly, and then he was gone.
Narcissa was just exited the room when she ran into Harry who was coming down the stairs. He eyed her warily as she slowed to approach him.
"Severus has been summoned." She watched as the color drained from Potter's face. Harry gave her a single nod and his esteem rose in her eyes. "Take care of him, Mr. Potter…"
-o-o-o-
Voldemort's face was classically handsome, Draco had decided. Very symmetrical. After absorbing the horcrux in the locket, even more so. It was just his red eyes that were uncanny, and the dark magic that swirled around him like a smog.
The throne room in Riddle Manor was mostly empty today. Only Lucius and Severus were in attendance, which could only mean one thing: Harry.
"Welcome, Severus," Voldemort smiled, seemingly very pleased. "Lucius tells me that the boy is progressing nicely."
Severus chanced his first glance at the blond who didn't seem to possess an ounce of shame, damn him. He wondered, just how good were Harry's acting skills, because as far as he knew, Harry was completely uneducated in the realm of sexual pleasures. It wasn't like he had indulged himself and played with the boy…Perhaps the boy had lied to the Dark Lord and had shagged the Weasley chit after all, or perhaps Granger in the tent while dear Ronald had abandoned them…
"Of course, my lord. It is well into July, after all. I will keep my word and have him ready for you by Yule."
"A fitting present," Voldemort chuckled. His laugh was rich and warm, almost human.
"Yes, I was quite impressed," Lucius said, as if he couldn't help himself, knowing Severus wanted to skin him alive. "Perhaps our lord would enjoy a demonstration?"
Severus' blood ran cold. He stepped forward. "My lord, I would ask you to give me more time. The boy has fallen badly ill and I suspect it is from the trial potion I slipped into his tea." He would never slip an unknown potion in another solution, because then he wouldn't know if the effects were due to the potion itself or an unexpected reaction, but Voldemort didn't know that.
"Ill or not, he's a slave," Lucius said. "Use him." There was a slight movement from beside the throne, and Severus could just make out that Draco had flinched back from his father's harsh words, understanding that they also applied to him, even if that wasn't the intention.
Voldemort reached down a hand to stroke Draco's hair and neck. With Nagini gone, it was almost like he needed something to touch while holding court. It wasn't like any of the other Death Eaters would willingly hold his hand, barring Bellatrix, of course.
"Lucius, are you the potions master in this room?"
Lucius looked like he'd been slapped and backtracked quickly. "No, my lord, I didn't mean to presume—!"
"Crucio!" Voldemort held the curse for a minute, watching with satisfaction as the proud man writhed on the floor.
"Severus, I trust your judgement in these matters. Harry has become increasingly precious to me. There is nothing I want more in this world that to have him bound to me completely, to have us join our family. Isn't that right, Draco?"
"Yes, my lord," came Draco's voice. He sounded earnest, but years of being the boy's teacher had taught Severus that Draco was simply acting. It was the yes Draco often used on Pansy to stop her from nagging him.
"So you see, Lucius, that if Severus says the boy needs time to recover, then I shall give it. I am a merciful lord."
Severus and Lucius both bowed their heads. This new Voldemort was sometimes harder to predict than the old one.
"But I am surprised that I have not been informed of the boy's state of health before now," Voldemort continued, with a dangerous edge to his voice.
"I had thought my potions would be enough, my lord. He has only been sick for the past few days."
"That is no excuse! I will be sending a Healer to figure out what must be done. I will not lose Harry due to your incompetence!"
"Thank you, my lord." Severus nearly sighed in relief and was ready to hear his dismissal. But luck was hardly ever in his favor.
"Lucius, leave us."
Voldemort looked down at Draco then, as if contemplating something. It was clear that the Dark Lord was obsessed, deranged, desperate even, to have Harry sitting beside Draco at the foot of his throne. No, on a throne of his own, his equal…When he next looked up, ruby eyes glinting, he fixed Severus with a deadly glare. The assault was fast and powerful, mercilessly ripping through the outer layer of Severus' occlumency shields. Voldemort was only intent upon one thing. He needed to know if Harry was safe. If the illness was serious.
When Voldemort abruptly pulled back, Severus was on his knees, panting. Severus had accompanied the Dark Lord through his mind, unable to block him out, but successfully able to flank him and redirect any memories that the Dark Lord was not hell bent on seeing. He was almost surprised when the Dark Lord only sought information of the boy's supposed illness. He landed in a memory of Friday, when Harry was making dinner unclothed, thank Merlin, with Draco sitting silently at the dining room table. It was touching, in an odd sort of way that Voldemort cared.
The truth of Harry's perfect health hung in the air between them. Severus braced himself. He was dead. He was dead. He was going to die. Hopefully Narcissa would receive the plans and move Harry before it was too late…
"A terrible illness," Voldemort finally spoke, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Severus hardly dared to breathe. "I will send my best Healer as promised….But know this, Severus. If Harry should fall ill again, should anything befall him, between now and when I shall claim him as my equal, I shall not be so merciful. Crucio!"