Disclaimer:
It's JKR's world, I just play in it.
While it's less than relevant in this chapter, special thanks to Simone Magus and Elionwyr for the many chats we've had about Severus' voice and the impulse to write.
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"Albus, tell me what I'm walking into," Allosia said, hurrying along side the old but spry wizard to his rooms.
"Draco has been very generous to both you and Severus, in his way. He is making me, us, the Ministry an offer. I don't understand why, and I desperately want to trust him, but I also need to know, not only if I should, but if he's a risk to Severus."
"And if he is?"
Dumbledore stopped then. "You and Severus are like children to me, and Severus is also very good at what he does. This does not stop me, in the face of the possibilities Draco may present, from being grateful I am no more pragmatic a man than I am."
"You're afraid you'll have to choose who to save."
"No. I will not make that choice. But if the choice exists, we must know, lest someone else attempt to make that choice."
"The Ministry."
"Or your husband."
Allosia was about to be outraged, but then realized it was not Draco, Dumbledore was worried about in that equation. Allosia nodded slowly, chewed at the corner of her lip, and then looked up at the wizard, all business again. "You'll want to watch."
Dumbledore nodded.
"You know how I do things?" she asked.
"I know," he said, and she decided not to analyze the solemnity in his voice.
"What's his attitude towards this?"
"He's agreed to it, but I've also bound him to the chair."
Allosia looked quizzical.
"I believe last time you saw him he was involved in an assault on you. I thought it best."
Allosia swallowed, nodded, how could she forget, and yet, she almost had.
"And you have the veritaserum?"
"Yes,"
"Give it to me. I want to administer it, and it's important that he see me as the authority in the room."
Dumbledore reached in his robes and passed her the vial with far less solemnity than the first time he had done such a thing. Their eyes locked then, remembering.
"Right then," she said, as they stopped outside the door to his room.
Dumbledore swung the door open then and entered the room, holding the door for her, and then closing it softly behind. He retreated to a corner, as Allosia faced Draco.
She paused and looked at him. Studied his face and what she could get of his body language through the binding.
"Thank you for bringing my husband back," she said, tightly. It would be inappropriate not to acknowledge the act.
He nodded, clearly surprised by this gesture.
"Interesting circumstances, these," she said, slowly pacing towards him. "You're always so helpful, but always after everything is so awful." She crouched down in front of him suddenly. "I don't understand you." She stood again, making it clear she didn't want an answer, at least, not at that moment.
She administered the veritaserum more roughly than she had with Snape; instead of cradling his head, she held his nose, making Draco both seem and feel more reluctant about the discussion than he was.
As they waited, she made full display of impatience, even turning to Dumbledore and saying "I should be with Severus," quite pointedly. He understood that it was only partially an act.
"It cannot be helped, Allosia. Such opportunities come when they do."
Allosia had turned from him then and sneered at Draco. "No, you knew exactly how poor your timing was, didn't you?" she asked.
He shrugged, and smiled.
Allosia narrowed her eyes. "Why are you enjoying this?"
"I've always liked you," he said.
"Explain."
"What's to explain? Surely, even with your choice of a spouse, you know what desire is."
Well, at least he's made it clear how he's going to play this, she thought. "Why are you offering to inform on the Death Eaters to us?" she asked.
"I am not in a position of advantage serving them. Perhaps, I am by disserving them," he said.
"Explain."
"What's to explain? I was promised power and glory, I got blood and servitude. I hardly need an ugly tattoo and regular doses of the Cruciatus to find that, don't you think?"
Allosia shrugged then. Smiled out of half her mouth.
"Doesn't this put you at even more risk?"
"No. The war needs to end. Doesn't matter who wins, but no one is safe until it is over."
"You want to play both sides?" she said slyly.
"Don't you?" he asked.
She raised her eyebrows but let it pass. "Why do you think you have anything to offer we can't get from other sources?" she asked.
"Severus, you mean?"
"Other sources. Answer."
"I'm Lucius Malfoy's son."
"I'm aware. Now explain yourself."
"The son of Voldemort's right hand man," his pitch rose, his tone became singsong as he tried to be dramatic through the drug. "I overhear all sorts of things. I stumble into all sorts of things." He paused then. "Like you."
"What else?" Her voice was deep, wry, sounded almost comically like her husband's, but this was not the time for anyone to be amused.
"Politics with-in the Death Eaters. Who's safe, who isn't," he made a face at her then. Trust me, and I'll let you know if your husband is safe, was what he was telling her. And it made Allosia angry.
"What else?" she said, not rising to the bait.
"I can tell you secrets," and then a sensual smile from him.
This probably wasn't going to be useful, but he had her attention. This was a line of attack from him, and it would, with any luck, provide some insight.
"What type of secrets?" she asked, upping the sexuality in her voice, taking a step closer to him.
"Ohhh," he said lazily, "about Severus. About all the strange pleasures he indulges when he's away from you."
Remain calm. This is going to get ugly. "Really? Like what?" she said, taking another step closer and reaching out to him, running a finger lightly down his neck.
Draco shivered. "I'm sorry, I forgot to count the number of women I've watched him fuck." He stared at her then, face frozen in a smile.
He's good, she thought to herself. Allosia will deal with this later. Not me, not now, not the interrogator. "Is it ever, interesting?" she asked. Severus, forgive me.
Short laugh then from Draco. "He likes to strangle them. Have them all to himself. In his own hands. No foolish wand waving and all that." Smirk again.
Allosia took the final step forward, so that she was standing between Draco's legs. She ran a hand through his hair, as she kept her posture, straight, imperious and disinterested. "Don't you think," she began, "I already know this?" she asked as she settled her hands loosely at his throat. "Don't you think," she continued, "that I adore when Severus, does this to me?" She tightened her hands on his throat then, pressing at the front of it, and enjoyed watching his face go nervous, his body stiffen, and his arousal become apparent.
She let go suddenly, turned away. "Tell me something I don't know."
"I watched your wedding."
Slight intake of breath there from her, "Why?"
"Because I was curious."
"What did you think?" she asked, quizzical, still not turning to face him.
"You're so in love," he said incredulously.
"We are," she said simply. "despite what you tried to do here today," she said, turning to face him, pleased to see that he had turned back into the little boy that had once been her student. "Now tell me, what makes you worth anything, and what is your price?"
Draco had named names then, divulged plans. Most of it was information they already had from Snape, but the confirmation was valuable and showed that his loyalty was not currently suspect. That was something. That was a lot. Some of the new information seemed mildly interesting. And, oddly, his demands were small, which to Allosia's mind meant his motives were still unclear. No matter, it was not her problem, not directly anyway.
She turned to Dumbledore. "You can handle it from here I take it?" she asked.
He nodded, and made as if to ask her something.
She waved him off. Not now. Not here. And left the room as quickly as she could.
"I need a shower," she announced as she opened the door, still wound from the interrogation, with Draco's words beginning to sink into her smaller, domestic mind.
She looked to the bed then. Adrimori sat cross-legged on it, reading, while Severus continued to sleep, mouth open, and mostly far too still. Opposite, Durefhan sat in a chair, staring at the ceiling.
"Hermione's with Gabriel," he said, softly.
Allosia nodded, and went to the bathroom and turned the shower on as hot as she could stand, setting the exact temperature with her wand. She didn't start crying until she stepped into the water to scrub as much of her skin off as she could.
How dare Draco. How dare he.