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Marlene sauntered as she carried the heavy cauldron of beef stew, carefully spooning out portions into the Death Eater's bowls. The men were shouting boisterously over each other while their wives eyed Marlene and the other muggleborns; eagerly waiting to screech out a curse in case a drop of stew was dropped onto the pure white tablecloth. They chattered quietly, bragging about how their husbands spoiled them, gossip, and many passive aggressive compliments. To Marlene, this was her only entertainment. It was quite ridiculous how friendly their voices were, but every word was dripping with venom.
"I do say, love, that is a marvelous necklace! Sapphires?"
"Oh yes, do you like it?"
"It matches your eyes, dear." Narcissa Malfoy, the elite socialite of all the wives, had a jealous gleam in her grey eyes. She did not like being shadowed. "I must say, it does remind me of the emerald necklace my dear husband gifted me, real emeralds."
Marlene stopped listening. Narcissa and the other women glared at her as she passed. Secretly, Marlene knew all about that necklace. It was Narcissa's most prized possession, next to her doting husband. Marlene saw it the night she had to draw a bath for Narcissa. The emerald necklace was draped on the vanity, next to an assortment of expensive perfumes, jewelry, and silks; also gifts from her husband. Lily was still missing, and Marlene was unsettled. Lily was clever, so there was a high chance she was still alive. Was she wounded? Was she being held captive? What if she was slaughtered like Mary? She ladled out a spoonful for the next Death Eater. Him. "Snape." She muttered coldly.
"McKinnon."
Marlene noticed a single red hair on the back of Snape's robes. Of course. He had to be the one who did something to Lily. It infuriated her to picture Lily being raped and beaten by the creep. She gripped the ladle so tightly, she felt the wood crack beneath her fist. "You wouldn't happen to know where Lily is, would you?" She was barely audible over the sound of clanking dinnerware, open-mouthed chewing, and shouting. "She was supposed to report for laundry duty this morning."
Severus didn't blink. "Why don't you mind your own business, McKinnon before you go missing."
She narrowed her eyes. "If I find out you hurt her, I will fucking kill you, you slimy piece of shit!"
"I'm sorry, are you threatening me?" He slightly raised his voice, getting the attention of a few Death Eaters around him. A few Death Eaters stopped eating and stared at Marlene and Snape. She held her breath; Marlene realized her knees were shaking, not from the weight of the cauldron full of beef stew. Severus continued quietly. "Lily is alive and perfectly fine, if you're that desperate to know. If you attempt to pry, I will personally see to it that it's the last thing you do. Do I make myself clear?"
Marlene swallowed. She roughly scooped stew into his bowl, purposefully splashing broth on his robes, and moved down the table. Lily would have to be forced out if Snape wouldn't let her go on her own. Marlene created a scheme. It wouldn't be easy, and it was incredibly dangerous, but Lily would not die like poor Mary. She believed that together, Marlene and Lily could find a way to escape.