The gift

Severus didn't throw a single look at the cat. He suspected the black feline wasn't what it appeared. He suspected it but could do nothing.

He went out in the cold dark night carrying the cage, trying to ignore the fact he had a living creature so close to him. The cat was strangely quiet. Severus was tested by ambivalent feeling. He wanted to free that creature, he was more than sure the feline was a human, but his ration told him it would be stupidity. Much he tried he couldn't find an appropriate excuse. Moreover, he was afraid that Viper had sensed where his loyalty lied and any mistake could be fatal to him. The idea of dying didn't bother him at all, but he had a responsibility towards so many people and he couldn't allow being discovered. Much as he hated his role he had to keep the appearances.

When he finally arrived at Malfoy Mansion, he was shocked to find Voldemort alone, waiting at the big wooden table. For the first time, the cold red eyes that Severus used to fear so much seemed to be troubled by strong emotions. Other than fury He thought he was wrong, but even his voice came less authoritarian than Severus remember.

"Have you brought HER?" Voldemort asked jumping on his feet and meeting Severus midway. Severus showed him the cat.

"I've brought you the cat as you demand, My Lord. I…." Severus kneeled in front of him ready to be punished for his delay, but the Dark Lord didn't seem to pay attention to him.

"Is it really HER?" Voldemort asked in a mixture of surprise, excitement and …fear. "You are late," Voldemort spoke mostly to himself while he was walking around the place, trying to put his thoughts in order "but" he continued "you brought her. I suppose you have good reasons for your delay."

"My Lord, …" Severus had second thoughts about following Viper's advice and giving the Dark Lord her letter. It was too risky. Even if he were successful in lying to Voldemort, he couldn't be sure he wouldn't find the truth from her. She didn't seem capable of keeping a secret.

"Never mind." Voldemort interrupted him, saving the Potion Master from the torment that was torturing him inside. "She's here. Finally here. You will be rewarded, my loyal friend. Now leave." It was clear that he was struggling not to display his emotions. Severus noticed it, but he didn't dare to risk making a bad move.

The Potion Master wondered if he hadn't done something stupid by bringing the cat to that monster. But he left, unwilling to be there when the Dark Lord would torture that woman.

Voldemort opened the cage and the cat languorously got out. She emanated a sweet smell of fresh May flowers that reminded Voldemort of the time she used to join him in the library while they were still students. She didn't seem to be worried or to have any intention of running. She stretched her body lazily and only after that she started to change her form. A few moments later, a woman appeared in the place the cat had used to occupy.

Instead of her long dark pelerine, Amerrose Eissee wore a long sleeves lace dress that covered every inch of her skin from the top of her neck to the top of her feet. The dark lace dress was lined with a beige silk material which hid perfectly the marks on her body, creating the impression of perfect ivory skin. Her face was well concealed by a bit of magic and a few layers of dark veil. The entire attire was complemented by a stylish hat, dark gloves and a pair of high-heels boots.

"It's been a while, Tom." She addressed him. "I've heard you did a lot of stupid things all those years." Her voice was the one he remembered from the school years and it surprised him. He made a few steps towards her. A strange curiosity awoke in his senses. He wanted to see how she looked after so many years. He was also afraid of what he could see under that dark veil. Amberrose turned around and started to inspect the room when he was just a few steps distance from her.

"Nice place." She exclaimed. "Though, I confessed I'm disappointed. Aren't you going to serve me with anything? I bet your noble friends must have good wine. It's been over half a century, Tom." She laughed as she noticed his expression. Why are you so surprised that I expected you to make some preparations for my arrival?"

"I'm the strongest dark wizard…" Voldemort started on an imposing voice, but she stopped him halfway.

"You are my former classmate." She uttered, making all his titles seem so small and unimportant. "To me you are Tom Marvolo Riddle. The lonely boy from the train. Although, I suspect that boy was way better than the man who is standing now in front of me."

"Do not use that name." He thundered. "I changed my name. I couldn't keep my father's filthy name so I'm…"

"Voldemort. Very creative. " She laughed. "But you never lacked creativity. I used to love that at you. As diabolical as your mind was, I was captivated by it. It's nice you decided to learn French. My mother was French, did you know? And…Grindelwald…he used to speak many languages. French including. "

"Grindelwald?"

"The furniture must be very expensive. I would like to drink wine from this crystal glass." She announced as she returned with a glass she'd taken from Narcissa's sets displayed on a big wooden cupboard. "It's been so long since I haven't lived in such a big mansion. "She admitted. "Where is the wine cellar? I guess I have to do it alone." She had already opened the door and was studying the next room. "Have you seen the books?" She cried out of joy. "Tom, bring me the wine here, please. I need years to read all these books."

"Stop it." He commanded. "I haven't brought you here to read or relax."

"I am not here to read. But it was funny to annoy you a bit." She admitted it She took a book anyway. Eventually, she returned to Voldemort. "I was curious if you remember that time." Then she showed him the book she'd taken. " I will bring this back soon." She promised. Voldemort didn't care if she wanted to bring the book back or not. In fact, he seemed to have forgotten he'd asked for her to be brought to him so he could kill her. He was obsessed by her former remark regarding Grindelwald.

"You haven't answered my question." He pointed out.

"You asked a question! Sorry. I wasn't paying attention." She continued to tease him as if he was a child and not the wizard who had tormented Great Britain and killed so many brave men.

"Grindelwald. What did he have to do with you?" He accentuated every word.

"You refuse to satisfy my little fancy. I can't talk about him without a glass of wine. "All the while, she kept exploring the cupboards and the boxes she found inside while giving her best to rub Voldemort the wrong way. "What is this? My, it's so shinny "She exclaimed excitedly as she found a hairpin with a tiny diamond attached to it.

"You're getting on my nerve. Will you stop faffing around?" He was fuming. It had been the last straw.

"Why? You've realized you can't kill me because if you did you would never find about my connexions with Grindelwald, haven't you?" She replayed, still playing around and studying the things she found in the boxes.

"What type of devil are you?" He'd always found it difficult to deal with her, but he'd been a teenager at the time and not a strong wizard used to be respected and feared by everyone. That daredevil had conquered him with her boldness and her wit back then. Now, though, knowing that all the qualities he once had admired at her might be used against him, it made him frustrated and furious.

"The one you fear the most." It was a deep pause as if time had stopped. She went close to him. Slowly. He could hear the shoes hitting the floor, rhythmically, like raindrops on a roof. A strange weakness passed over him. His body get limb and the next thing he remembered he was down on the floor and she was leaning over his face. She blew over his eyes and it felt like sand. "I'm the Devil of Death" She whispered in his ear. "I've given you a gift. Use it well, Tom." The lights went out and before he recovered from that eerie sensation, she was gone.

Severus returned home. He felt exhausted. Completely drained by frustration. He'd never felt the responsibility hang heavier on his shoulders.

He tried the door, but it seemed to be locked.

"Strange." He thought. "I don't remember to have locked it." He studied the surrounding for a while before he took his wand and uttered the magic words. The door still refused to open. He tried another spell and another. The door was locked. "Great. The day couldn't have ended more perfectly." Eventually, he decided to break off the door.

But the door wouldn't get a single scratch. He tried repeatedly without a result.

"What the hell!" He cried. "It's just an ordinary door. The first spell must have turned it into pieces. It looks like it would have been enchanted or something. Though, not even a protection charm wouldn't have been able to maintain it unscathed for so long. It's really strange. Why would someone want to prevent me from entering inside my house? Could it be a joke from Viper?...But she couldn't have been able to cast such a strong spell, could she?"

All those thoughts were crossing his mind and Severus had the slightest idea what to do. He soon exhausted all the spells he knew and was forced to give up. He had nowhere to go. He preferred to sleep at the door than to go to Malfoy Manor and be around the Dark Lord and his cronies. He could go to a hotel, but that wouldn't solve his problem. It would only provide him with a solution for the night.

"Maybe I should go to Viper and ask her what she did to the door." The idea of seeing her again made him uncomfortable. He wished there was another way. "Or maybe I should try to break the windows. "

But the windows proved to be as resilient as the door. Not a single scratch. It was already late and he hadn't found a solution yet.