Chapter Six
Narcissa Malfoy glanced at the clock in her study for the third time that evening and let out another annoyed sigh. The hand on the clock that read 'Lucius' was still pointed to 'Home', but she hadn't been able to find him in any of the rooms on the upper floors of their house and she was beginning to get very frustrated. The were supposed to be hosting a dinner party that night, Tom was going to be there and he had told Narcissa that he wanted everything to be perfect. Apparently, their Dark Lord had a very important announcement to make that night and she wasn't going to miss it regardless of what her husband did.
"Probably off snogging Severus somewhere," she muttered angrily, then sat heavily on the couch in her study. Her entire body ached from carrying around the weight of her pregnancy and she was just about ready to force a wizard doctor into magically inducing birth if the little bastard inside of her didn't come out soon. Months earlier she had been ecstatic about the child, but now her body and mind were beginning to rebel. She wanted to be rid of the burden.
Being pregnant wasn't exactly Narcissa's idea of a good time, especially not after she had pledged her loyalty to a Dark Lord who was about to start a war. She might be pregnant, but she wanted to be a part of that war, whether or not her darling husband liked it.
"Tom is going to be here within the hour and he's still nowhere to be found," she hissed to herself, standing up again and beginning to pace the room. Pacing relieved the tension in her body, it made her feel as if she was doing something when, in fact, she was still doing absolutely nothing.
"Master Lucius is in the upper towers, ma'am," a small voice said from the doorway.
Narcissa turned to see her house-elf Marly cowering nearby. The tiny elf was dirty and her robe was tattered and worn. Narcissa hadn't taken proper care of her since coming to live in the Malfoy Manor.
"Where?" she asked, ignoring the inner nagging about Marly's thin demeanor. The elf could eat when she wanted.
"Upper towers," Marly repeated, her voice soft and frightened. "Marly saw Master Lucius take Master Severus up-" her eyes grew wide and she slapped both of her thin hands over her mouth. "Marly promised not to tell!" she wailed suddenly, then ran from the room and down the stairs.
Narcissa's eyes narrowed as she watched the house-elf go. So Lucius had taken Snape up the towers for a mid-afternoon shag, she had been right about it all along. He had abandoned not only his pregnant wife, but the Cause as well. Nothing mattered to him anymore, nothing mattered but Snape. Her hands twitched angrily as she thought about this, her mind made it's decision within seconds. She would go find them and they would both pay for their betrayal. She would find them and made them see the error of their ways. Lucius and Snape wouldn't get away with abandoning their duties for each other.
Narcissa Malfoy would make sure of it. She grabbed her wand off a near by table, then stalked angrily from the room and toward the upper towers.
* * * *
Snape stretched his arms over his head and stared at the tower ceiling. Far above him in the rafters he could see a bird's nest, pieces of grass and straw were spilling over on either side and the entire nest looked about ready to topple to the ground. In a rare moment of happiness, Snape allowed his mind to wander, wondering when the bird's nest had been made and what had been going on in the Malfoy Manor at that point in time. Had Lucius been just a child when the birds had found a way into the north tower of his home? Had he even been born yet, or had his father still been a baby?
"What are you thinking about?" Lucius asked.
Snape glanced over at him. "I don't know, really."
A smile danced on the corner's of Lucius' mouth. "Severus Snape doesn't know what he's thinking? That is the most surprising thing I have ever heard you say."
Snape snorted and turned away, his black eyes following the rafters in search of any other timeless creations. There was nothing else in his line of sight, just bare, empty rafters that revealed nothing about the people who had lived in this house.
"Has your family always lived here?" Snape asked.
Lucius grunted. "Of course."
"Has there always been a bedroom in this tower?"
This time Lucius chuckled into his pillow. "Always."
"For occasions such as this?"
Another laugh came from the young blonde. "I doubt my father ever imagined there would be two men making use of the secret bedrooms, but yes, for occasions . . . similar to this."
Snape allowed himself to relax into a smile.
"Why all these questions?" Lucius asked, turning toward Snape and propping himself up on one elbow.
Snape sighed deeply. "Would you be upset if I were to admit that this feels strange?"
"Why would this feel strange?"
"Because we're been apart for so long and yet we're attempting to pick up right where we left off."
Lucius arched an eyebrow. "We haven't been apart for that long, Severus. Less than a year, really."
"Yes, well, you're also married now and expecting a child."
Lucius sighed. "It complicates things, I'll admit, but Narcissa never needs to know."
Snape closed his eyes. "And I remain in the darkness of the shadows."
They both fell silent and Lucius rolled back onto his back. He knew it was unfair to ask Snape to keep their relationship a secret, but he wouldn't think of any other way. He loved Snape, there was no denying that they had a long and complicated history, but Lucius had ruined any chance they would have together by marrying Narcissa.
"Tom is coming tonight," Lucius said.
A deep shudder ran through Snape's body.
"I know he frightens you," Lucius said, turning back once more. "He frightens us all with his power, but you know it's for the best. When he's ruler we'll all be treated like kings."
Snape nodded. "Of course."
"Perhaps we should get dressed and prepare for the party tonight," Lucius suggested, throwing the covers off the bed and standing up. "Tom told me that he has an announcement to make."
"About what?" Snape asked, as he shrugged his shoulders into his shirt and began to button it.
"I would suppose it's about the Potters," Lucius said casually.
Snape blinked, but said nothing and continued to dress. The Potters had been with Lucius and Snape at Hogwarts and now they were fierce fighters against the Dark Lord. They had put their lives on the line time and again and Tom wanted them wiped out before they could do any more damage. He wanted Lily and James murdered before Lily could give birth to the child she was carrying, the child that Tom feared would be brought up to kill him.
"Do you suppose he's found where they're hiding?" Snape asked. He had never liked James in all the time they were at Hogwarts and he had liked Lily even less. To be rid of them both, and whatever sickening child they would have, would be a blessing.
Lucius shook his head. "I don't think so." He turned toward Snape. "I think Lily gave birth."
Snape fumbled with his belt buckle at these words. "No."
Lucius nodded. "The little monster has to be destroyed before he grows big enough to know about Tom and the Death Eaters. Lily and James are going to make sure he hates us as much as they do and that is a very dangerous hatred."
Snape stared at the other man blankly and shook his head. It couldn't be true. Their child was the one thing Tom had spoken of with the slightest tremble in his voice. Their Dark Lord was afraid of nothing but that tiny child and that had to mean something. The baby would be very powerful.
"Severus," Lucius said, stepping around the bed and reaching toward him. "It'll be fine. Tom will find the child and we'll have him killed before he can do anything. He's still just a baby and it will be a long time before he'll be old enough to fight back."
Snape nodded. "Of course."
Lucius smiled and reached for Snape's shirt buttons. He finished buttoning the white shirt for him, then reached to the foot of the bed and tossed Snape his coat. As Snape pushed the thick black buttons through the button holes, Lucius leaned forward and kissed him softly.
"Tom won't let a child destroy him," he promised, his fingers pressing lightly into Snape's sides. "I swear it to you."
Snape nodded and leaned forward for another kiss.
It was then that Narcissa burst through the door, wand in hand.
"I knew it," she hissed, staring at them both. "I knew something wasn't right. My husband the womanizer couldn't even be enticed to my bed."
Snape kept his mouth shut, knowing anything he said could set her off.
"Narcissa," Lucius began, but she pointed her wand at him and advanced quickly.
"Don't you say a word," she growled. "Not a god damn word. You can't lie, I saw it. I saw you kiss him and I saw you enjoy it. You're in love with him, aren't you?"
Lucius said nothing and Snape held his breath.
"Admit it," she screamed, poking her wand hard into Lucius' chest. "You're in love with Severus Snape. You always have been."
They stared at each other, husband and wife lost a battle that Snape had caused by loving someone that he couldn't have. Grey eyes pierced into cold blue orbs, their gazes locked on one another, both waiting for the answer they knew had to come. Snape knew Lucius would lie to her, he would tell Narcissa that their relationship meant nothing to either of them. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the pain.
"Yes," Lucius said finally.
Snape's black eyes snapped open and he stared, completely speechless.
"I've been in love with Severus for a very long time, Narcissa."
"But you married me," she said, the anger and strength suddenly gone from her voice.
"I needed to," Lucius told her. "I'm sorry."
"You were supposed to lie," she breathed.
Lucius glanced at Snape. "I tried once already, before graduation I lied to myself."
Snape looked away quickly, feeling as if he were intruding on this very private moment.
Narcissa opened her mouth to say something, but she drew in a deep gasp and pressed her hand against her stomach. "He's coming," she breathed, grabbing Lucius' hand.
Lucius' eyes went to Snape. "Can you deal with the meeting?"
Snape nodded. "Of course."
"Good," Lucius said, then reached down and picked up his wife. In seconds he was gone from the tower and Snape sighed. The next time he saw Lucius he would have a child and in that moment, Snape was sure he was about to be brushed aside for the second time in their relationship.
End Chapter Six
Narcissa Malfoy glanced at the clock in her study for the third time that evening and let out another annoyed sigh. The hand on the clock that read 'Lucius' was still pointed to 'Home', but she hadn't been able to find him in any of the rooms on the upper floors of their house and she was beginning to get very frustrated. The were supposed to be hosting a dinner party that night, Tom was going to be there and he had told Narcissa that he wanted everything to be perfect. Apparently, their Dark Lord had a very important announcement to make that night and she wasn't going to miss it regardless of what her husband did.
"Probably off snogging Severus somewhere," she muttered angrily, then sat heavily on the couch in her study. Her entire body ached from carrying around the weight of her pregnancy and she was just about ready to force a wizard doctor into magically inducing birth if the little bastard inside of her didn't come out soon. Months earlier she had been ecstatic about the child, but now her body and mind were beginning to rebel. She wanted to be rid of the burden.
Being pregnant wasn't exactly Narcissa's idea of a good time, especially not after she had pledged her loyalty to a Dark Lord who was about to start a war. She might be pregnant, but she wanted to be a part of that war, whether or not her darling husband liked it.
"Tom is going to be here within the hour and he's still nowhere to be found," she hissed to herself, standing up again and beginning to pace the room. Pacing relieved the tension in her body, it made her feel as if she was doing something when, in fact, she was still doing absolutely nothing.
"Master Lucius is in the upper towers, ma'am," a small voice said from the doorway.
Narcissa turned to see her house-elf Marly cowering nearby. The tiny elf was dirty and her robe was tattered and worn. Narcissa hadn't taken proper care of her since coming to live in the Malfoy Manor.
"Where?" she asked, ignoring the inner nagging about Marly's thin demeanor. The elf could eat when she wanted.
"Upper towers," Marly repeated, her voice soft and frightened. "Marly saw Master Lucius take Master Severus up-" her eyes grew wide and she slapped both of her thin hands over her mouth. "Marly promised not to tell!" she wailed suddenly, then ran from the room and down the stairs.
Narcissa's eyes narrowed as she watched the house-elf go. So Lucius had taken Snape up the towers for a mid-afternoon shag, she had been right about it all along. He had abandoned not only his pregnant wife, but the Cause as well. Nothing mattered to him anymore, nothing mattered but Snape. Her hands twitched angrily as she thought about this, her mind made it's decision within seconds. She would go find them and they would both pay for their betrayal. She would find them and made them see the error of their ways. Lucius and Snape wouldn't get away with abandoning their duties for each other.
Narcissa Malfoy would make sure of it. She grabbed her wand off a near by table, then stalked angrily from the room and toward the upper towers.
* * * *
Snape stretched his arms over his head and stared at the tower ceiling. Far above him in the rafters he could see a bird's nest, pieces of grass and straw were spilling over on either side and the entire nest looked about ready to topple to the ground. In a rare moment of happiness, Snape allowed his mind to wander, wondering when the bird's nest had been made and what had been going on in the Malfoy Manor at that point in time. Had Lucius been just a child when the birds had found a way into the north tower of his home? Had he even been born yet, or had his father still been a baby?
"What are you thinking about?" Lucius asked.
Snape glanced over at him. "I don't know, really."
A smile danced on the corner's of Lucius' mouth. "Severus Snape doesn't know what he's thinking? That is the most surprising thing I have ever heard you say."
Snape snorted and turned away, his black eyes following the rafters in search of any other timeless creations. There was nothing else in his line of sight, just bare, empty rafters that revealed nothing about the people who had lived in this house.
"Has your family always lived here?" Snape asked.
Lucius grunted. "Of course."
"Has there always been a bedroom in this tower?"
This time Lucius chuckled into his pillow. "Always."
"For occasions such as this?"
Another laugh came from the young blonde. "I doubt my father ever imagined there would be two men making use of the secret bedrooms, but yes, for occasions . . . similar to this."
Snape allowed himself to relax into a smile.
"Why all these questions?" Lucius asked, turning toward Snape and propping himself up on one elbow.
Snape sighed deeply. "Would you be upset if I were to admit that this feels strange?"
"Why would this feel strange?"
"Because we're been apart for so long and yet we're attempting to pick up right where we left off."
Lucius arched an eyebrow. "We haven't been apart for that long, Severus. Less than a year, really."
"Yes, well, you're also married now and expecting a child."
Lucius sighed. "It complicates things, I'll admit, but Narcissa never needs to know."
Snape closed his eyes. "And I remain in the darkness of the shadows."
They both fell silent and Lucius rolled back onto his back. He knew it was unfair to ask Snape to keep their relationship a secret, but he wouldn't think of any other way. He loved Snape, there was no denying that they had a long and complicated history, but Lucius had ruined any chance they would have together by marrying Narcissa.
"Tom is coming tonight," Lucius said.
A deep shudder ran through Snape's body.
"I know he frightens you," Lucius said, turning back once more. "He frightens us all with his power, but you know it's for the best. When he's ruler we'll all be treated like kings."
Snape nodded. "Of course."
"Perhaps we should get dressed and prepare for the party tonight," Lucius suggested, throwing the covers off the bed and standing up. "Tom told me that he has an announcement to make."
"About what?" Snape asked, as he shrugged his shoulders into his shirt and began to button it.
"I would suppose it's about the Potters," Lucius said casually.
Snape blinked, but said nothing and continued to dress. The Potters had been with Lucius and Snape at Hogwarts and now they were fierce fighters against the Dark Lord. They had put their lives on the line time and again and Tom wanted them wiped out before they could do any more damage. He wanted Lily and James murdered before Lily could give birth to the child she was carrying, the child that Tom feared would be brought up to kill him.
"Do you suppose he's found where they're hiding?" Snape asked. He had never liked James in all the time they were at Hogwarts and he had liked Lily even less. To be rid of them both, and whatever sickening child they would have, would be a blessing.
Lucius shook his head. "I don't think so." He turned toward Snape. "I think Lily gave birth."
Snape fumbled with his belt buckle at these words. "No."
Lucius nodded. "The little monster has to be destroyed before he grows big enough to know about Tom and the Death Eaters. Lily and James are going to make sure he hates us as much as they do and that is a very dangerous hatred."
Snape stared at the other man blankly and shook his head. It couldn't be true. Their child was the one thing Tom had spoken of with the slightest tremble in his voice. Their Dark Lord was afraid of nothing but that tiny child and that had to mean something. The baby would be very powerful.
"Severus," Lucius said, stepping around the bed and reaching toward him. "It'll be fine. Tom will find the child and we'll have him killed before he can do anything. He's still just a baby and it will be a long time before he'll be old enough to fight back."
Snape nodded. "Of course."
Lucius smiled and reached for Snape's shirt buttons. He finished buttoning the white shirt for him, then reached to the foot of the bed and tossed Snape his coat. As Snape pushed the thick black buttons through the button holes, Lucius leaned forward and kissed him softly.
"Tom won't let a child destroy him," he promised, his fingers pressing lightly into Snape's sides. "I swear it to you."
Snape nodded and leaned forward for another kiss.
It was then that Narcissa burst through the door, wand in hand.
"I knew it," she hissed, staring at them both. "I knew something wasn't right. My husband the womanizer couldn't even be enticed to my bed."
Snape kept his mouth shut, knowing anything he said could set her off.
"Narcissa," Lucius began, but she pointed her wand at him and advanced quickly.
"Don't you say a word," she growled. "Not a god damn word. You can't lie, I saw it. I saw you kiss him and I saw you enjoy it. You're in love with him, aren't you?"
Lucius said nothing and Snape held his breath.
"Admit it," she screamed, poking her wand hard into Lucius' chest. "You're in love with Severus Snape. You always have been."
They stared at each other, husband and wife lost a battle that Snape had caused by loving someone that he couldn't have. Grey eyes pierced into cold blue orbs, their gazes locked on one another, both waiting for the answer they knew had to come. Snape knew Lucius would lie to her, he would tell Narcissa that their relationship meant nothing to either of them. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the pain.
"Yes," Lucius said finally.
Snape's black eyes snapped open and he stared, completely speechless.
"I've been in love with Severus for a very long time, Narcissa."
"But you married me," she said, the anger and strength suddenly gone from her voice.
"I needed to," Lucius told her. "I'm sorry."
"You were supposed to lie," she breathed.
Lucius glanced at Snape. "I tried once already, before graduation I lied to myself."
Snape looked away quickly, feeling as if he were intruding on this very private moment.
Narcissa opened her mouth to say something, but she drew in a deep gasp and pressed her hand against her stomach. "He's coming," she breathed, grabbing Lucius' hand.
Lucius' eyes went to Snape. "Can you deal with the meeting?"
Snape nodded. "Of course."
"Good," Lucius said, then reached down and picked up his wife. In seconds he was gone from the tower and Snape sighed. The next time he saw Lucius he would have a child and in that moment, Snape was sure he was about to be brushed aside for the second time in their relationship.
End Chapter Six