A chapter for Milla, since she was oh-so-hopeful earlier. :D Enjoy, darling.
Chapter Eight
The child grew under the watchful eye of three adults, each careful not to let on to anyone that their lives weren't as ordinary as others might believe. After Draco's birth, Narcissa moved herself and her son to another bedroom in the manor, leaving Lucius and Snape to be together whenever they wanted. She didn't like it, she didn't agree with it, but she seemed to know there was no use arguing against it. Most of her time was now spent with her baby, coddling him and dragging him around the house on her daily activities, explaining to him about Tom and the rest of the Death Eaters. He wasn't old enough to understand, of course, but that didn't stop Narcissa's daily explanations to her son.
"Tonight, darling, we're having another meeting," Narcissa murmured as she sashayed into the dining room with the four month old on her hip. "You'll be able to see Tom again and he'll explain everything to you."
Snape glanced up at her as she walked past him and sat Draco in a highchair down the table from him. He had begun taking his meals at the Malfoy manor and concocting his potions in the basement laboratory Lucius' father had built years ago. It made things both easier and more difficult at the same time. While he had everything at his fingertips - including Lucius - he now also had to deal with Narcissa twenty four hours a day.
"Potion done?" she asked shortly.
Snape's eyes went to her again and he nodded.
"Good."
He raised an eyebrow at her, but continued eating without saying anything else.
"Do you never speak?"
His black eyes slid to her a third time. "I fail to see the point of speaking with you."
Narcissa's eyes narrowed. "We're both Death Eaters," she said. "Is that not reason enough?"
Snape almost smiled. "We were never friends, Narcissa. Why would we try to become friends now?"
"I am not suggesting that we become . . . friends, as you put it, Severus." She fastened a bib around Draco's neck and motioned for a nearby house-elf to begin feeding her son. "I only meant that perhaps we should put our differences aside for the sake of the Cause."
Snape resisted the biting comment on his tongue about 'the Cause' and simply nodded. "Perhaps."
Narcissa's mouth tightened into a thin line and she glared at him. Snape continued eating, pausing only to reach for his mug. It startled him when Narcissa lunged forward and slapped the mug from his hand. Butterbeer sprayed across the table and the house-elf squeaked before grabbing a cloth and beginning to mop up the mess.
"Don't think for even a second that you've won," she hissed, her face near his. "He is still my husband and he will remain my husband until you're finally out of the picture." A venomous smile crossed her lips. "And trust me, Severus, you will leave this home eventually. I'll die before you take my place in this house."
Snape just stared ahead, keeping his simmering anger in check. He wouldn't bother with her, especially not with the child so close by. He waited until Narcissa had moved away, a smug smile now in place of the poisonous one she'd been wearing only moments before. She thought she would win, did she?
Snape smiled slightly and continued eating his meal. He wondered if Narcissa would be so sure of herself when the time came for Lucius to chose someone to help rule by his side. Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy and Tom Riddle would be kings and Narcissa would be nowhere to be found.
"Severus," Lucius spoke from the doorway and Snape turned slightly to look at him.
"Yes?"
"Tom wants us."
Snape frowned. "Now?"
Lucius nodded. "Yes now. Get up and come with me."
Narcissa leapt up from her chair and grabbed Draco. "What does he need us for?"
Lucius glanced at her, then came further into the room and put his hand on Snape's arm, using it to guide him from the chair.
"Just the two of us," he said softly, then turned and began to lead Snape from the room.
Narcissa glared after the two of them and Snape turned just enough to let her see the slightly self-righteous smile on his own lips. The woman would never win.
* * * *
Excitement buzzed through the manor that night as they prepared for Tom's arrival. The Death Eaters had gathered early that evening after Lucius and Snape had summoned them after speaking with Tom in the late afternoon. He hadn't explained very much to them, only that he had very important news and that someone in their midst would be very fortunate that night. Although Snape thought it was unlikely that someone had found the Potters' Secret Keeper, it wasn't completely impossible.
Narcissa carried Draco into the main room only minutes before Tom was supposed to arrive and settled herself contentedly on the couch beside Lucius. He cast a long glance at her, but remained silent as Snape watched on from his post near the stairs. He'd taken to standing there during meetings long ago and had never taken a seat since, but that night he wished he hadn't given himself such a position. He wanted to be beside Lucius, between the two of them so that Narcissa's shoulder didn't brush against Lucius' like it was whenever she moved.
He hated her.
Snape was concentrating so hard on every contact that Lucius and Narcissa made, he didn't hear Tom Apparate into the back room and step into the crowd. He didn't even notice their leader until Tom cleared his throat impatiently and gestured for the crowd to lower their voices.
"Good evening," he began, turning his gaze first to Snape and then to Lucius. "As most of you know already I've called you all here for a special announcement." A smile lit up his handsome face. "I have news that will change the way we work, they way we live."
He stepped into the crowd, then turned back toward the door he come through with his wand outstretched. Another smile passed over his face and with a flick of his wrist an unconscious man floated into the room.
Snape felt his throat tighten in hatred. It was Sirius Black.
"This," Tom said, gesturing to Sirius, "is their Secret Keeper."
Snape's eyes widened and he felt his heart quicken. It had to be a lie, using Sirius was too obvious; he had been James' best friend. There was no way Sirius Black could be the Secret Keeper for James and Lily, it was just too simple.
"He denies it, of course," Tom continued, lowering Sirius' body to the floor and leaving him there. "I expected him to lie. He's brave, but there's only so much torture one body can withstand."
Tom walked back over to where Sirius lay and whispered a quick charm to revive the young man. It took Sirius a moment to understand what had happened, but when he realized where he was and who was standing over him he stood quickly.
"Voldemort," he murmured. "Is that your name? Are you the great and powerful wizard the entire world is talking about?"
A smile twitched on Tom's lips and Snape backed away, horrified. He'd never liked Sirius Black, in fact he still hated the bastard, but he didn't wish the kind of torture that Tom would perform on anyone. With a start, Snape realized he didn't want Sirius to reveal anything to Tom, he didn't want Tom to find out where the Potters were staying. It startled him so much that he nearly sat down heavily on the stairs behind him, but his hand remained on the railing, gripping it tightly and holding him up.
When had he changed his mind so vehemently about the murder of the Potters? Only months ago he had wanted Lily and James both dead, their smoking bodies at his feet as proof that they were gone forever and now . . . now all he wanted was to stop Sirius was opening his mouth and revealing their location. They didn't have to die, Tom could gain power without killing them and he could kill their child when he finally came face to face with him. But to kill him as a child . . . that just wasn't right.
"Sirius Black," Tom said, the smile still on his lips. "The Secret Keeper for Lily and James Potter. How wonderful it is to finally meet you."
Sirius' dark eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
"Don't you want to be introduced to the whole gang?" Tom asked, his grin growing wider. He waved a hand toward Snape and Sirius' gaze followed. "I'm sure you know Severus Snape."
A sneer passed over Sirius' face. "I should have known," he growled. "Couldn't make it anywhere without your boyfriend, could you?" he asked, gesturing at Lucius.
Snape bit his lip and adopted his trademark glare, but remained silent.
"You disgust me," Sirius spat.
Tom snapped his fingers and Sirius' head snapped back forward, his dark eyes still turned to Snape but his body facing Tom once more.
"Where are they?" he asked, getting straight to the point.
"I don't know," Sirius said, his eyes finally leaving Snape's face. "I'm not their Secret Keeper."
Tom arched an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Really."
"Well, then . . . say I entertain this claim of yours," Tom said. "Who is their Secret Keeper?"
"I don't know," Sirius said sharply. "Why would anyone tell me?"
"You're James' best friend," Lucius said. "Why wouldn't they?"
"Because something like this was bound to happen eventually," he said. "They're not stupid, you know. The less I know, the less I can tell if I'm being tortured."
Tom nodded sagely. "That's a very good point. But I think you know much more than you're letting on, so let's just try a little torture and find out."
Snape watched as Tom raised his wand and murmured, "Crucio". Sirius was strong, but he couldn't withstand the curse for long. His knees slammed into the wooden floor and a hoarse cry escaped his lips as he went down, his fists coming to either side of his head. He collapsed on his side, one of his hands striking his temple hard in an attempt to make the pain go away.
Snape watched sadly, knowing there was nothing Sirius could do to make the pain stop. It would only be a matter of time before Tom knew where the Potters were staying and in days they would all be dead.
With a sigh, Snape turned from the scene, trudging slowly and silently up the stairs. He couldn't watch it, couldn't wait around knowing that Tom would be killing a baby because of the things Sirius Black would reveal to him. Snape hoped that Sirius was stronger than he looked because the longer he held the information inside, the longer that child had to live.
Snape found Lucius' bedroom without even looking and pushed open the heavy wooden door. He stumbled into the dark room, hands reaching out blindly for the bed posts. All he wanted was to sleep, to collapse onto the silk sheets and let his unconscious mind take over. He didn't want to have to deal with the millions of thoughts that were rushing through his head. He was a Death Eater, he was supposed to want Tom to rule and to kill all those who opposed him. He wasn't supposed to feel sorry for the faceless child who was about to be ruthlessly murdered, or the people he had hated during school.
A pained scream pierced the dark of Lucius' bedroom and Snape cringed. He wasn't supposed to feel sorry for Sirius Black, of all people. He curled up on the bed, tucking a pillow under his chin and staring blankly out the window. He didn't want to think anymore.
Less than an hour later Lucius appeared in the doorway, his frame silhouetted in the light that poured in from the hall.
"Severus," he murmured, entering the room and walking over to the bed. "Why did you leave?"
Snape's eyes fluttered from the window to land on Lucius' face. "I couldn't watch anymore."
Lucius sunk down onto the bed and pressed his cool hand against Snape's forehead. "It's so hard for you," he stared.
Snape nodded and sighed. "We have to leave."
Lucius frowned. "What do you mean?"
"We have to hide," Snape said, hating the words as they spilled from his mouth. "I can't be a Death Eater anymore, but you have to come with me. We'll take Draco and we'll find somewhere else to live, some where he can't touch us."
Lucius blinked, then took his hand away from Snape and glanced away. "I can't leave."
"He'll end up getting you killed," Snape said sharply.
"I'll rule alongside him."
Snape sat up in the bed and shook his head. "He'll kill you, Lucius. I see it in his eyes, he'll kill us all before he lets anyone rule alongside him."
"You're wrong, Severus."
"Just think about it," Snape said. "Think about it for a few days."
Lucius' jaw tightened, but he said nothing as he began to undress. A heavy silence fell over the room as he slipped under the sheets and pulled the comforter around his shoulders. Snape lay in the bed beside him, listening as Lucius slowly dropped off to sleep.
He stood up and finally undressed, sliding in to lay beside his lover and listen to him breath. Snape could still hear Sirius' scream on the air and knew that no sleep would come to him that night.
End Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
The child grew under the watchful eye of three adults, each careful not to let on to anyone that their lives weren't as ordinary as others might believe. After Draco's birth, Narcissa moved herself and her son to another bedroom in the manor, leaving Lucius and Snape to be together whenever they wanted. She didn't like it, she didn't agree with it, but she seemed to know there was no use arguing against it. Most of her time was now spent with her baby, coddling him and dragging him around the house on her daily activities, explaining to him about Tom and the rest of the Death Eaters. He wasn't old enough to understand, of course, but that didn't stop Narcissa's daily explanations to her son.
"Tonight, darling, we're having another meeting," Narcissa murmured as she sashayed into the dining room with the four month old on her hip. "You'll be able to see Tom again and he'll explain everything to you."
Snape glanced up at her as she walked past him and sat Draco in a highchair down the table from him. He had begun taking his meals at the Malfoy manor and concocting his potions in the basement laboratory Lucius' father had built years ago. It made things both easier and more difficult at the same time. While he had everything at his fingertips - including Lucius - he now also had to deal with Narcissa twenty four hours a day.
"Potion done?" she asked shortly.
Snape's eyes went to her again and he nodded.
"Good."
He raised an eyebrow at her, but continued eating without saying anything else.
"Do you never speak?"
His black eyes slid to her a third time. "I fail to see the point of speaking with you."
Narcissa's eyes narrowed. "We're both Death Eaters," she said. "Is that not reason enough?"
Snape almost smiled. "We were never friends, Narcissa. Why would we try to become friends now?"
"I am not suggesting that we become . . . friends, as you put it, Severus." She fastened a bib around Draco's neck and motioned for a nearby house-elf to begin feeding her son. "I only meant that perhaps we should put our differences aside for the sake of the Cause."
Snape resisted the biting comment on his tongue about 'the Cause' and simply nodded. "Perhaps."
Narcissa's mouth tightened into a thin line and she glared at him. Snape continued eating, pausing only to reach for his mug. It startled him when Narcissa lunged forward and slapped the mug from his hand. Butterbeer sprayed across the table and the house-elf squeaked before grabbing a cloth and beginning to mop up the mess.
"Don't think for even a second that you've won," she hissed, her face near his. "He is still my husband and he will remain my husband until you're finally out of the picture." A venomous smile crossed her lips. "And trust me, Severus, you will leave this home eventually. I'll die before you take my place in this house."
Snape just stared ahead, keeping his simmering anger in check. He wouldn't bother with her, especially not with the child so close by. He waited until Narcissa had moved away, a smug smile now in place of the poisonous one she'd been wearing only moments before. She thought she would win, did she?
Snape smiled slightly and continued eating his meal. He wondered if Narcissa would be so sure of herself when the time came for Lucius to chose someone to help rule by his side. Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy and Tom Riddle would be kings and Narcissa would be nowhere to be found.
"Severus," Lucius spoke from the doorway and Snape turned slightly to look at him.
"Yes?"
"Tom wants us."
Snape frowned. "Now?"
Lucius nodded. "Yes now. Get up and come with me."
Narcissa leapt up from her chair and grabbed Draco. "What does he need us for?"
Lucius glanced at her, then came further into the room and put his hand on Snape's arm, using it to guide him from the chair.
"Just the two of us," he said softly, then turned and began to lead Snape from the room.
Narcissa glared after the two of them and Snape turned just enough to let her see the slightly self-righteous smile on his own lips. The woman would never win.
* * * *
Excitement buzzed through the manor that night as they prepared for Tom's arrival. The Death Eaters had gathered early that evening after Lucius and Snape had summoned them after speaking with Tom in the late afternoon. He hadn't explained very much to them, only that he had very important news and that someone in their midst would be very fortunate that night. Although Snape thought it was unlikely that someone had found the Potters' Secret Keeper, it wasn't completely impossible.
Narcissa carried Draco into the main room only minutes before Tom was supposed to arrive and settled herself contentedly on the couch beside Lucius. He cast a long glance at her, but remained silent as Snape watched on from his post near the stairs. He'd taken to standing there during meetings long ago and had never taken a seat since, but that night he wished he hadn't given himself such a position. He wanted to be beside Lucius, between the two of them so that Narcissa's shoulder didn't brush against Lucius' like it was whenever she moved.
He hated her.
Snape was concentrating so hard on every contact that Lucius and Narcissa made, he didn't hear Tom Apparate into the back room and step into the crowd. He didn't even notice their leader until Tom cleared his throat impatiently and gestured for the crowd to lower their voices.
"Good evening," he began, turning his gaze first to Snape and then to Lucius. "As most of you know already I've called you all here for a special announcement." A smile lit up his handsome face. "I have news that will change the way we work, they way we live."
He stepped into the crowd, then turned back toward the door he come through with his wand outstretched. Another smile passed over his face and with a flick of his wrist an unconscious man floated into the room.
Snape felt his throat tighten in hatred. It was Sirius Black.
"This," Tom said, gesturing to Sirius, "is their Secret Keeper."
Snape's eyes widened and he felt his heart quicken. It had to be a lie, using Sirius was too obvious; he had been James' best friend. There was no way Sirius Black could be the Secret Keeper for James and Lily, it was just too simple.
"He denies it, of course," Tom continued, lowering Sirius' body to the floor and leaving him there. "I expected him to lie. He's brave, but there's only so much torture one body can withstand."
Tom walked back over to where Sirius lay and whispered a quick charm to revive the young man. It took Sirius a moment to understand what had happened, but when he realized where he was and who was standing over him he stood quickly.
"Voldemort," he murmured. "Is that your name? Are you the great and powerful wizard the entire world is talking about?"
A smile twitched on Tom's lips and Snape backed away, horrified. He'd never liked Sirius Black, in fact he still hated the bastard, but he didn't wish the kind of torture that Tom would perform on anyone. With a start, Snape realized he didn't want Sirius to reveal anything to Tom, he didn't want Tom to find out where the Potters were staying. It startled him so much that he nearly sat down heavily on the stairs behind him, but his hand remained on the railing, gripping it tightly and holding him up.
When had he changed his mind so vehemently about the murder of the Potters? Only months ago he had wanted Lily and James both dead, their smoking bodies at his feet as proof that they were gone forever and now . . . now all he wanted was to stop Sirius was opening his mouth and revealing their location. They didn't have to die, Tom could gain power without killing them and he could kill their child when he finally came face to face with him. But to kill him as a child . . . that just wasn't right.
"Sirius Black," Tom said, the smile still on his lips. "The Secret Keeper for Lily and James Potter. How wonderful it is to finally meet you."
Sirius' dark eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
"Don't you want to be introduced to the whole gang?" Tom asked, his grin growing wider. He waved a hand toward Snape and Sirius' gaze followed. "I'm sure you know Severus Snape."
A sneer passed over Sirius' face. "I should have known," he growled. "Couldn't make it anywhere without your boyfriend, could you?" he asked, gesturing at Lucius.
Snape bit his lip and adopted his trademark glare, but remained silent.
"You disgust me," Sirius spat.
Tom snapped his fingers and Sirius' head snapped back forward, his dark eyes still turned to Snape but his body facing Tom once more.
"Where are they?" he asked, getting straight to the point.
"I don't know," Sirius said, his eyes finally leaving Snape's face. "I'm not their Secret Keeper."
Tom arched an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Really."
"Well, then . . . say I entertain this claim of yours," Tom said. "Who is their Secret Keeper?"
"I don't know," Sirius said sharply. "Why would anyone tell me?"
"You're James' best friend," Lucius said. "Why wouldn't they?"
"Because something like this was bound to happen eventually," he said. "They're not stupid, you know. The less I know, the less I can tell if I'm being tortured."
Tom nodded sagely. "That's a very good point. But I think you know much more than you're letting on, so let's just try a little torture and find out."
Snape watched as Tom raised his wand and murmured, "Crucio". Sirius was strong, but he couldn't withstand the curse for long. His knees slammed into the wooden floor and a hoarse cry escaped his lips as he went down, his fists coming to either side of his head. He collapsed on his side, one of his hands striking his temple hard in an attempt to make the pain go away.
Snape watched sadly, knowing there was nothing Sirius could do to make the pain stop. It would only be a matter of time before Tom knew where the Potters were staying and in days they would all be dead.
With a sigh, Snape turned from the scene, trudging slowly and silently up the stairs. He couldn't watch it, couldn't wait around knowing that Tom would be killing a baby because of the things Sirius Black would reveal to him. Snape hoped that Sirius was stronger than he looked because the longer he held the information inside, the longer that child had to live.
Snape found Lucius' bedroom without even looking and pushed open the heavy wooden door. He stumbled into the dark room, hands reaching out blindly for the bed posts. All he wanted was to sleep, to collapse onto the silk sheets and let his unconscious mind take over. He didn't want to have to deal with the millions of thoughts that were rushing through his head. He was a Death Eater, he was supposed to want Tom to rule and to kill all those who opposed him. He wasn't supposed to feel sorry for the faceless child who was about to be ruthlessly murdered, or the people he had hated during school.
A pained scream pierced the dark of Lucius' bedroom and Snape cringed. He wasn't supposed to feel sorry for Sirius Black, of all people. He curled up on the bed, tucking a pillow under his chin and staring blankly out the window. He didn't want to think anymore.
Less than an hour later Lucius appeared in the doorway, his frame silhouetted in the light that poured in from the hall.
"Severus," he murmured, entering the room and walking over to the bed. "Why did you leave?"
Snape's eyes fluttered from the window to land on Lucius' face. "I couldn't watch anymore."
Lucius sunk down onto the bed and pressed his cool hand against Snape's forehead. "It's so hard for you," he stared.
Snape nodded and sighed. "We have to leave."
Lucius frowned. "What do you mean?"
"We have to hide," Snape said, hating the words as they spilled from his mouth. "I can't be a Death Eater anymore, but you have to come with me. We'll take Draco and we'll find somewhere else to live, some where he can't touch us."
Lucius blinked, then took his hand away from Snape and glanced away. "I can't leave."
"He'll end up getting you killed," Snape said sharply.
"I'll rule alongside him."
Snape sat up in the bed and shook his head. "He'll kill you, Lucius. I see it in his eyes, he'll kill us all before he lets anyone rule alongside him."
"You're wrong, Severus."
"Just think about it," Snape said. "Think about it for a few days."
Lucius' jaw tightened, but he said nothing as he began to undress. A heavy silence fell over the room as he slipped under the sheets and pulled the comforter around his shoulders. Snape lay in the bed beside him, listening as Lucius slowly dropped off to sleep.
He stood up and finally undressed, sliding in to lay beside his lover and listen to him breath. Snape could still hear Sirius' scream on the air and knew that no sleep would come to him that night.
End Chapter Eight