The apple-cake

Severus opened the door mechanically. There was no enthusiasm or hurry in his moves as nothing special waited for him home. When he was young he used to dream about the day when he would have enough money to turn that old hut into a nice house. Now, he got it. He had new books. Expensive furniture. He got enough food to eat and enough money to buy all the dishes he'd desired when he was a child. But he wasn't happy. He even learned he didn't like sweets and he'd spend his entire childhood wishing he would be able, one day, to taste some of those delicious cakes other children used to have. The irony.

He opened the door slowly only to find Viper sitting relaxed in his favourite armchair, a book in her hand and a glass of red wine next to her. She had been engulfed in her lecture when he entered and she didn't seem to notice him.

Viper had changed her red dress for a loose long-sleeved baked-apple-coloured dress. Eventually, she put the book in her lap and her eyes searched for his face. His face was like the sea before the storm, motionless and quiet only to become so unpredictable moments later. If she were aware of the storm behind the tranquility of his features, she didn't seem intimidated. Instead, she smiled brightly as her eyes met his.

"You've forgotten about the cat." She reminded him. He looked at her, confused. Thousands of thoughts crossed his mind, all at once, and he found it almost impossible to focus. Much he tried, he couldn't understand what she was talking about. But she was very patient. She leaned her body forward, closer to him and setting her elbows on the wooden table, she watched him with her face on her dainty hands. Then he'd finally remembered. She noticed the change in his face and lifted her head from her hands "You don't have idea how difficult it is to run wearing this," Viper declared and as she felt it necessary to be more specific she raised her leg and showed him her golden stiletto shoes that matched the colour of her belt. Her high-heels weren't definitely made for running.

"How dis you manage to find me?" He uttered visibly annoyed by her presence. He'd come home hoping to find a place he wouldn't have to wear his mask anymore and she ruined everything. It made him furious. If he'd ever felt sad that nothing special waited for him home, now he regretted the moment that thought had crossed his mind. Her confidence and sharp mind discouraged him. Were he to decide to fight or to run, there was no way he could get unscathed from a confrontation with her. On top of everything, she was Voldemort's pet.

"I asked an old friend. It took a while, but he found it, eventually. He had it written down somewhere in his agenda. It wasn't a big deal." She answered as if it would have been the simplest task on Earth." By the way, you have such a good wine." She studied it for while watching the red waves she created inside the glass by shaking it gently. Then she took a sip from the red liquid and allow herself to enjoy the moment. Her long lashes fell and covered for a short moment the two eyes that sparkled like two flames.

„You shouldn't have wasted your time. Why didn't you take the cat to the Dark Lord by yourself? "

"And lose the opportunity to see you again? Nope" On her rosy lips danced a seducing smile. "Are you married?" She asked bluntly.

"No."

"Engaged?" she insisted.

"No"

"In love?"

"No" Her game was getting too annoying, but he was a master at keeping his fury in check.

"My friend confirmed to me you love someone. I didn't need him to tell me, though, as I've known it from the start. She must have been very special."

"Let's go and end with that cat."

He was fuming. He wondered why he hadn't told her to mind her own business. Instead, he'd answered her questions. The last answer was a lie, of course, but his fear of the Dark Lord getting any rumor about it and connecting the dots forced him to come with it. He should have sent her to hell before. Avoiding that particular question would have only confirmed it.

"Scared?" Viper challenged him as she noticed his attempt to change the subject.

"Why should I be scared?"

She was so close to finding out his deepest secret, maybe to expose him to the Dark Lord. Of course, he was scared. But he would never say it aloud.

"That I can read beyond your words. You don't want me to know about her. No one knows about her, does it? Pity." She took another sip from the wine. He felt his heart beat faster and faster. He hoped his face wouldn't betray him. Not even the Dark Lord had ever managed to read his mind so well.

"I can't go yet." She'd opened an old wound, but she didn't intend to make it wider. She would let it bleed so slowly that he would be able to survive while it would be painful enough to remind him the wound exists. So, it was time to change the topic. " I haven't finished the wine. Plus, I've noticed some delicious cakes in a cozy sweetshop very close to your house. I want to try some. I've even chosen a dress the colour of caramel. And I bought those amber-orange blossom earrings for this occasion. Aren't they lovely?"

"They are. Sadly." He muttered indifferently.

"Fine, Let's go." She announced suddenly as she jumped on her feet. She arranged her dress a bit, tightened her belt a little more in order to underline her slim waist, finished her glass of wine and in less than a moment, she was already at the door. "Now, you are the one who is being late. Come on. I can't stop thinking about those cakes. If they close the sweets shop before we have gotten there you're going to regret meeting me." Viper threatened him.

How do you expect me to go when I don't know your address. I can't disapparate to an unknown location." He hissed.

"We just met and you already want my address! Don't you think it's a bit rude of you? You should chill up. I'm not that type of girl."

"I have no intention of…"He stopped before he added: " You're definitely crazy." He hated her confidence. He'd always been bright and hardworking, but dealing with such situations had never been his cup of tea. His conversation's topics had always been quite professional, first about school then about Potions or about the tasks the Dark Lord and then Dumbledore gave him. He hated small conversations. This had always been a waste of time for him.

"You don't like jokes, do you? Well, Severus. You don't need my address for now. We're not going home, after all, and the sweetshop is a few streets next to your house."

"The sweetshop? We're going to find that cat and bring it to the Dark Lord. He isn't going to be happy if we keep him waiting." He warned Viper.

"I won't be HAPPY if the sweetshop closed BEFORE we get there. Those cakes are more IMPORTANT than the Dark Lord's happiness. So move your ass. " She ordered. "NOW."

"Are you crazy? You don't have any idea how dangerous he is when…"

"You don't have any idea how DANGEROUS I am if I don't eat sweets." Viper declared. "You aren't afraid of me, are you? I know. I'm too pretty to look scary. Let's go!" She had already opened the door and she was waiting for him.

Severus watched annoyed as Viper nibbled from an apple pie. She'd convinced him to go with her. He had no choice, but to follow her as she had refused to give him the address. And he'd tried his best to convince her, but his threats didn't seem to work against her. She wasn't afraid of him and she did not care if the Dark Lord would be furious. Instead, she threatened him not to give him the cat and let him deal with the Dark Lord if he were to keep refusing to go with her. Eventually, he saw no other way but to wait for her to finish the cake.

Her carefree attitude was getting on his nerves. She had no intention to hurry and it was getting harder and harder for him to sit down and wait. He'd already imagined the Dark Lord's fury and he was convinced Viper wanted him to get killed or at least tortured.

The place was cozy and Viper's eyes sparkled in front of so many sweets. The waitress was a kind lady who gave her best to smile and cheer up her customers even if her smile didn't seem to meet her eyes. However, Severus gave little importance to such details. Other people's problems were theirs to solve and not his business. Yet he couldn't help noticing that when Viper had asked for the apple pie the waitress' eyes got full of tears.

"Are you sure you don't want a bite?" Viper asked as he kept refusing to have her buy him a cake.

"No." He fumed. "And you are not going to have another one," Severus commanded her as he noticed the way Viper was gazing at a chocolate muffin.

"You'll have that muffin because I want to try it." She announced cheerfully.

"I don't like cakes." She really knew how to rub him the wrong way.

"But…"

"And this is a Muggle sweetshop, the Dark Lord…"

"He doesn't like sweets. I would have bought a cake for him otherwise." She joked. "Fine, I wouldn't have." She admitted. "But I would buy one for you. Because I like you." His expression reminded her of a wet cat and she burst into laughter. "You look like my cat after she fell from the top of the roof into a rain pool. It took him hours to be able to face me again. Relax, Severus It's not like he's going to make a dissection on me in order to see what I ate, is he? Do not tell me you haven't known he's a hypocrite. Where do you think he took the food during the summer vacation while he was a student?"

"If you want to die, it's your problem. But I'm not going to risk my head for you."

"What difference does it make if I want to die or not? No one chooses when to come in this world and neither when to leave. What I can decide upon is how I use the time I've got from the moment of my entrance to my departure. You can't assure me tomorrow I'll be here. So, why not eat the cake now?"

"Maybe, but your actions may take you closer to your doom." He didn't know why he was trying to justify himself. He'd never needed to use so many words to deal with an insufferable brat.

"Really? What's more dangerous in being killed by a sorcerer than being bitten by the poisonous spider which built its cobweb just above your head? You knew it was there, but it was too dangerous to take a ladder and get rid of it. What if you break your neck trying to get rid of it?"

"You could have run away rather than waiting for the spider to bite you, you lazy brat."

"And leave the house you've worked your entire life to buy because of a spider? "

He'd thought he had the upper hand as he wondered why anyone would sleep with a dangerous spider above their head. He would have definitely tried to get rid of the creature, but he had never cared about risks. And honesty, what were the chances to fall from a ladder and break your neck. You need to be very clumsy. Yet, he was more than certain that Viper would have an accident if she were to try to eliminate the creature. So, he said what seemed obvious and it was the most stupid idea ever.

"You can use magic to get rid of the spider." He tried to correct his errors. "Why do you need to climb on a ladder anyway?" He retorted angrily. He was at the end of his tether and he'd hardly ever lost his temper.

"You have a point. What if you didn't know it was there?"

"You're crazy! Why are we speaking about spiders? What I meant is that you are assuming unnecessary risks. You should learn to keep your mouth shut if you want to live longer. And, considering we are speaking about the Dark Lord, it's better not to allow something like that ever crossing your mind again."

"Are you going to report me to him?" Viper challenged him after a while. "I don't think so. If you wanted to, you wouldn't have warned me, would you? I'll leave that muffin for tomorrow. You are too grumpy and I lost my appetite." She took a colourful napkin from her bag and put it on the table. "Now, we can go."

"What's that?" He pointed towards the napkin.

"We should leave something behind. I don't think money is what she needs right now."

"And she needs a napkin!" He exclaimed.

"Do you think I should have left her a pack of napkins?" He really wanted to find that cat and end once and forever with it. If he were to survive that day, he was sure nothing would ever be able to kill him.

In front of the sweatshop, an old lady was selling flowers. The roses were gorgeous. He was sure she would ask for one of them. Instead, Viper stopped in front of some white lilies, their perfume still fresh in the air.

Severus felt an uncomfortable tension pressing his chest. Her eyes met his and he tried his best to put back his mask. He really hoped it was a coincidence. No one knew about Lily. Whoever her friend was, Severus was sure they suspected the wrong person.

"He didn't tell me who she was…" Viper spoke after she'd bought one of those lilies. "The only thing I know about her is that he'd visited her long ago."

"Her? Who are you speaking about?"

"The lilies remind you of her...the girl you loved...love. Isn't it?"

"I've told you there's no such girl." He muttered annoyed.

"If you say so."

Voldemort was starting to get nervous. It had been so many years he hadn't seen her. So many he had never thought what he would do to her if he ever were to meet her again.

She was his enemy and so Avada Kedavra was the most obvious answer. Yet he couldn't help feeling furious because she'd chosen to go against him rather than support him. She would have been a valuable ally. Though, much as he tried to figure out a way which would satisfy him, there didn't seem to be something like that….

The big clock was ticking, getting on his nerves. And there was no news from Severus.