Chapter 31 – Shadow Games

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"Do you really think it was fair of you to leave your brother in that situation?" Sirius asked as he and Rowan stepped out of Gryffindor Tower and into the moonlight halls of Hogwarts. "You left him in there with two pre-teen females!"

"I'm not worried. Ger knows to behave himself," Rowan shrugged idly.

"Ger is not the one I'm worried about behaving himself," Sirius murmured.

"Ginny has someone else on her mind and Hermione is very practical most of the time." Rowan smiled secretively and casually linked her arm with Sirius as though they were just a normal couple out for a holiday stroll. Sirius winced internally at the gossip that could appear later among the ghosts, and, for once in his life, sincerely hoped Rowan didn't kiss him again. It was quite bad enough she would be spending the entire evening with 'Severus Snape'. "Hermione is still discovering and this is not the sort of research one can do in a book."

"You seem to do well enough," Sirius grinned. "For a bookworm."

"I had an excellent tutor," Rowan winked cheekily at him.

They had almost made it out the door before Dumbledore suddenly exited an abandoned classroom and spotted them. "Ah, there you are!" His eyes twinkled merrily as he watched the pair stroll closer. "Rowan, if I might have a word?"

Rowan frowned in confusion, but nodded and joined Dumbledore as he stepped back into the classroom. Dumbledore closed the door behind firmly behind them, leaving Sirius standing uncomfortably in the corridor.

Sirius tried listening through the thick wood of the door (he was, after all, still Padfoot) and spent several minutes trying to dispel a horrible ringing in his ears. Apparently, Dumbledore had warded the door against eavesdropping as well as shutting it in Sirius's face. Dumbledore, he thought wryly, knew him far too well.

Rowan re-emerged several long minutes later and looked about for him. Sirius unfolded himself from his spot against the opposite wall and joined her.

"Is everything all right, Rowan?" He asked in concern.

"Everything's fine," she assured him casually. "Let's go."

"Are you sure?" Sirius pressed sceptically, having to jog slightly to keep up as she swept off toward the front door. He hated being out of the loop.

"Department business, Sirius." she answered flatly. Sirius immediately let the subject drop. 'Department business' meant 'Department of Mysteries' business. There was a very good reason Rowan nearly always wore white.

~*~

Malfoy Manor stood stark and grey at the very crest of a tall hill. In a perfect position to gaze down at the peasantry, Sirius thought darkly as he assisted Rowan into an ornately carved sleigh pulled by an enormous pair of white stags.

Rowan made a sound of disgust and pushed something to one corner of the sleigh and drawing her fur-lined cloak closer. Sirius frowned as he jumped up beside her. Rowan pointed distastefully at the large mound of fur at their feet. "Wolf pelt," she shuddered slightly as Sirius drew her carefully into his arms. "I . . . don't like wolf fur." She looked up and smiled weakly. "Silly, isn't it? I just keep imagining Remus or some of the others . . ." her voice trailed of as their sleigh lurched forward, gliding swiftly over the snowy road.

Sirius fingered one of the "party favours" in his pocket and steeled himself for the part he was about to play. Sirius had attended hundreds of formal events, but switching over from Renowned Escapee to Wizarding Socialite again wasn't going to be easy. If he was honest with himself, Sirius admitted that the idea of plunging into the serpent's nest terrified him. Death Eaters and Aurors surrounded him on both sides and he'd taken the guise of someone both groups despised: Severus Snape, spy and traitor extraordinaire.

The only way he'd manage to garner more hate from the people in the room would be to come as Sirius Black. Sirius had a very bad feeling about this.

"Out of curiosity, Rowan, how do you intend to find Wormtail once we're in?"

Rowan responded by pulling a slender vial of Veritaserum out of her robes. "Malfoy knows where he is. We'll ask."

~*~

As Sirius reached up to assist Rowan in disembarking their sleigh, Lucius Malfoy swept forward, his pristine white and gold robes billowing about him elegantly and bowed over Rowan's regally extended hand.

"Ah, Miss Myfanwy!" Malfoy oozed. "Welcome to Malfoy Manor," Rowan nodded, a cool smile touching her lips.

"Of course. How could I turn down such an auspicious invitation? And I believe you know Severus Snape, my colleague at Hogwarts and escort for the evening," Rowan gestured to Sirius, who nodded coolly.

Surprise flickered across Malfoy's face momentarily, before it settled back into a benignly arrogant mask. Sirius, however, still caught the subtle glitter of calculation in his pale eyes.

With a few more pleasantries, their host released them both into the festivities beyond. Every inch of the ancient manor fairly gleamed with enchanted light and decorations. Real fairies hovered about like twinkling stars. Enchanted streamers undulated across the ceiling like swimming snakes.

Sirius claimed two slender glasses from a floating tray and offered one to Rowan. "Malfoy's not drinking anything yet," he muttered, hiding it with a feigned sip. "We need another target." Rowan kept her face carefully neutral and scanned over the milling crowd.

Reminded of drinking, Sirius's hand strayed to the small flask secreted in his sleeve. He'd swallowed another dose during their brief sleigh ride, leaving only one more, spare dose and just under two hours to complete their mission.

"Rowan Myfanwy!" A cultured male voice asked with surprise. Rowan turned slightly at her name and the voice came even closer. "Why it is! Back in England after so long!"

Rowan broke away from Sirius to greet the newcomer with a radiant smile. "Niles! I didn't know you'd be here! This is Professor Severus Snape, a colleague of mine at Hogwarts," she introduced, gesturing Sirius closer. Sirius stepped much closer, biting back a growl and wishing heartily that Rowan wasn't quite so nice to full idiots.

Severus Snape, of course, wouldn't remember Niles Davenport; he'd never had much to do with any of the Ravenclaws, even the shadier ones. Sirius Black, however, remembered him in all his bleached and pasty glory. He also remembered how Davenport had, at one time, considered himself a better match for the young heiress of the Myfanwy clan than the wild Sirius Black.

"Pleasure," Davenport nodded briefly, barely glancing at the other man before turning his full attention back to Rowan and reaching out to appropriate her free hand. Sirius bristled. "I'm so glad to see you back in civilisation and out of the wilds!" Davenport continued. "Dear Merlin, that must have been dreadful!"

"Japan and the United States is hardly 'uncivilised', Niles!" Rowan laughed. "They have wands and broomsticks just like we do here!"

"Yet the Americans actually fancy Quodpot (of all things) and zoom about on those awful mechanical contraptions," Davenport shook his head in amazement. "And the Orient? You always were quite the adventurous one, Rowan! You seem to truly enjoy your jaunts among the savages!"

Rowan said nothing and took another sip of her drink. Davenport took this as acceptance of his opinion and smiled in triumph. He apparently thought he was getting somewhere with the enigmatic witch and moved in for the kill. "Now that you're home, why don't you join me for a weekend at my house in Cornwall, Rowan? It's not as fine as CaerMyrddin, of course, but I think you'd find it enjoyable."

That wouldn't do at all! Sirius cursed not having his own body and face - the rumour mill would be abuzz with this by morning - and wrapped a proprietary arm around his mate's waist before she could answer. "Classes will keep us both quite busy until the end of the term, Davenport. The students take a great deal of supervision. I'm sure you understand." On the other hand, Sirius thought, Snape's face was pretty good for intimidating sneers. "Now, Rowan, we have business to attend to elsewhere. I'm sure Niles," Sirius all but spat the name, "understands."

"That wasn't very elegant you know," Rowan observed quietly as Sirius led them to the other side of the massive ballroom, leaving a rather shocked looking wizard behind.

"How in Merlin's name do you stand that enormous git of a person?" Sirius demanded in an undertone as he stalked out onto a deserted balcony curtained off for privacy from the main ballroom. Rowan cast a quick Silencing charm and walked over to perch on the marble railing.

"You're jealous of Niles?" she asked, gentle amusement tingeing her voice.

"I didn't like the way he was looking at you," Sirius bit out tightly. Rowan frowned at him

"We are friends and nothing more!" she sighed in frustration. "Can't I speak with him without you hovering like a vulture?"

"He has more than friendship on his mind!" Sirius growled severely. "That is why I 'hover like a vulture', as you so quaintly put it!"

"Then you can put your hovering to use and stalk Narcissa while I do a bit of constructive espionage." Rowan produced the slender vial from her robes and slipped it into his hand. "Lucius tells Narcissa everything and she rules this house as surely as he does. She probably knows exactly where our friend lurks."

She threaded her fingers with his briefly. "Just ignore Niles, Sirius, I know he's a bit pompous, but he's harmless."

"I still don't like him," Sirius grumbled, still feeling territorial, but somewhat appeased by the kiss.

"I don't expect you to," she smiled. Then she sobered and became businesslike again. "Twenty minutes, beloved. I suggest cornering Narcissa and bringing her a fresh drink."

Sirius nodded in understanding. "I'll find you when I'm finished. Be careful, Rowan. Stay safe."

"I'm always careful," Rowan chided before sweeping back into the main ballroom and disappearing, a slender wraith of crimson and gold.

~*~

Sirius' cold glare swept the ballroom. Lucius Malfoy was nowhere in sight. He stopped scanning the room when his eyes lit on Narcissa escaping into a curtained off alcove. He stalked back into the throng several moments later striving to look every inch the arrogant and self-important git that was Potions Master Severus Snape.

Several well-timed glares deterred anyone else approaching for idle conversation. If only they knew, Sirius thought with an internal, slightly bitter smile. If they knew who really glared at them from behind Snape's face, they'd do more than shrink away. They'd flee in terror. Or curse him where he stood.

Sirius appropriated two fresh glasses and pushed his way through the crowd.

He finally reached Narcissa, surprisingly alone, in a candle-lit drawing room. Her lips lifted in a small, predatory smile as he entered and the slight tingle of a Silencing ward whispered across his skin. A thrill of worry rippled through Sirius. "Severus!" Narcissa swept forward and took his hands. "Your work went well. The master is pleased."

Sirius nodded his head solemnly. "I've not seen Wormtail yet. We wouldn't want Rowan to grow disinterested?"

Narcissa smiled a cold smile as she took a glass from Sirius. "That part of the plan is well in hand. We're only waiting for the second part to be successful."

Sirius paused as a cold shiver went down his body. "And which part is that?"

Narcissa's pale eyes narrowed speculatively. "Come now Severus," She emphasised the name mockingly. "We must keep our secrecy."

Narcissa took the proffered glass and then lifted it in the direction of Davenport. "You looked positively livid at Davenport's overtures."

Sirius shrugged in a Snape-ish manner. "It wouldn't do to have our prey distracted."

"Of course not." Narcissa nodded her head in a cool manner. "But you had the look of a man in love. Did you once fancy her for yourself?" She picked a piece of lint off Sirius' robe. "It's been rumoured that the Potions Master of Hogwarts doesn't even have emotions beyond spite and jealousy. He's certainly not territorial or protective of his charges. How disappointing. To waste the only emotion you'll ever feel on a Gryffindor.

"It's beneath you Severus." She lifted the glass to her lips. "Or should I say, Sirius?"

Sirius stilled and lifted a carefully surprised eyebrow. There was no way Narcissa could know who he was, which meant she was guessing, hoping he would slip up. Sirius mustered a withering glare. "Do not insult me, Narcissa," he snarled, snatching his hand out of her grip at the insult. "Why would I have any use for that imbecilic Gryffindor?"

Narcissa smiled dangerously and circled him. "What use indeed," she purred. Sirius had the feeling she wasn't answering his question.

"It's a pity," Narcissa continued. "That Black went to Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit. Knowing that Rowan thought he was a traitor. I suppose Black fancied himself in love with her. The pain must've been excruciating."

Sirius' face tightened visibly. To deny Narcissa would mean revealing his true identity, betraying his love. Yet to pretend otherwise, it would be worse then his years in Azkaban. "Black deserved all he got. His reprehensible nature showed even back at Hogwarts."

"Reprehensible, yes, but also a rebel. To turn him to our side would be a great advantage. We are the same. It would take but a little shove to send you stumbling out of the light."

"I don't think he would ever turn." It was the one statement that Sirius has said the whole evening that he and Snape could both agree with wholeheartedly. He backed away from Narcissa, not liking her closeness.

"Perhaps he might consider it when we are successful in capturing Rowan. Black fancies himself in love with the little she-demon." Narcissa snorted delicately.

Sirius raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. "And you don't think he is?"

"There is no such thing as love," she snapped derisively. "There is only power. Emotions are merely a tool or a weakness."

Her eyes narrowed. "You don't understand me of course. You're too caught up in your emotions. But consider this Sirius. Justice is an illusion under the Ministry. Even with a full pardon you'll never be forgiven. You're already accepted as a follower of darkness. A normal life is impossible," Narcissa leaned closer, her lips beside his ear. "So live an exalted one," she whispered seductively. "Be one with us."

"I'm not Black." Sirius yelled vehemently. "Nor do I care to be related to anything closely related to that man. He is only a-"

A muffled curse cut off Sirius' retort.

Narcissa smiled as she finally took a drink from her glass. "Well then, I suppose you won't want to have anything to do with the Myfanwy's questioning then? Given how she's sullied herself by being Black's lover . . ."

~*~

"My, my, but you're making a nuisance of yourself," a cold voice drawled. "And losing your touch." Rowan started and spun to find Lucius Malfoy standing behind her, a delighted sneer twisting his lips. Rowan glanced about quickly, checking the hall for any others and swore at herself silently. She'd let herself be distracted and now, Malfoy had her trapped.

She'd been systematically strewing 'surprises' throughout the dining area and now was searching deserted areas of the mansion for any sign of Pettigrew or Sirius. Sirius hadn't found her and the deadline had come and gone. Now, she was starting to worry. No Dementors pricked the edge of sharp senses, and no screaming had yet erupted, so she was fairly sure that the Ministry, at least, didn't know that Sirius Black lurked among them.

She bit off a growl as Malfoy suddenly strode forward and attempted to wrench her quickly drawn wand from her fingers and retaliated by lashing out at his face. Malfoy snarled as her blow snapped his face to one side and leaped back. "Petrificus Totalus!" Malfoy yelled, binding her firmly. Rowan noticed with satisfaction that he was bleeding from a sharp gash her nails had left across his cheek.

"Oh yes, quite amusing," Malfoy snarled, stalking closer and dabbing gingerly at the oozing wound. "Grow up, girl! I'd see you die screaming now if the Dark Lord didn't want you for a plaything."

Rowan shot Malfoy a venomous look. He replied with a slightly mocking smile and a lazily raised wand. "However, since the presence of you and your hellion of a mate is ordered and you are such a notable pair . . . Imperio."

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