Hermione sat and thought about her conversations with Samuel. 'He had said that his dad hadn't let him leave the castle, but the headmaster just said that he went to a bunch of different schools. I wonder what else that boy is lying about? Harry said he remembers the woman but doesn't remember the curse that brought her down. Snape threatened with military but the headmaster said America.' Hermione sat down and began what she was good at, research.
Four old friends met each other for lunch. Two light, two dark. They sat together in a crowded smokey restaurant and received many appreciative glances.
"Well Severus, how goes the hunt?"
"It is going fine Lucious, how is your new job working out Draco?"
"I always enjoyed bossing people around, now I get to do it all day long. How is Samuel liking his new school?"
"Oh it's great, I might stay at this one." He smiled to him self.
"Do I hear a prospect?" Lucious eyed Snape cooly.
"Let's just say that there is a dark horse in the running. " Snape took a sip of his iced coffee. 'Cold and bitter just like me.' Snape smirked. 'I wonder what she thinks about me?'
"What's gotten your interest brother?"
"Just contemplating coffee ... and other stuff."
"I must know who this person is that she has caught your fancy so." Snape gave him a look that said 'no more.' "Fine can you at least tell me something about her?"
"All you need to know is that she fits the criteria almost perfectly."
"Almost? What is she missing, I hope it is not a crucial element?"
"Not crucial in my book, maybe in yours, you prejudice old coot." Snape knew that Lucious would get his meaning and Lucious's jaw dropped. His voice fell to a whisper.
"She's not pure blood? Are you mad? You are a Snape! You would never do this if your parents were still alive.' Lucious was beginning to get angry. Snape cut him off before he began his tirade.
"She's brilliant, beautiful and single. I know her well, she will be perfect, pureblood or not. You know wizards evolved out of the same primordial ooze as muggles. Go far enough back and you will find a muggle in everyone's history. She is just the beginning of a knew line of pureblood's, late to the evolutionary ball."
"Don't wax intellectual on the subject Severus. You know as well as I what pure blood means. However if you think this is the girl, then I will not question you any further. Just be sure you have the cause in mind and not ... something else. I trust your judgement, brother, that's not going to change now." Lucious had a slightly remorseful look on his face and Snape knew he was thinking about the war.
Lucious sat in his study listening to the conversation in the next room through a few well placed eaves-dropping charms. His two favorite ladies, if you could call his sister that, were in the next room. Narcissa in all of her feminine glory, pinky raised holding her tea cup, pink chiffon seemed to float around her. Flowers were everywhere and the scent of gardenias were heavy in the air. His sister sat across from her, Lucinda Malfoy, well now it was Snape, a blonde female version of her husband. Dressed in all black, drinking black coffee, hot, like her temper. She was sitting on the edge of a chaise lounge. She was leaning over, elbows on her knees, legs spread the way muggle men sit. Her coffee was in her hands clutched in the space between her knees. She was talking quietly about the upcoming attacks on various people, Narcissa was nodding politely, but actually more concerned that the crazy woman was going to get coffee on her ballet pink carpet.
Lucious loved his wife but she cared none for the world outside her home. Draco and Lucious were her life. She doted and mooned over them, her only goal to make them happy. Draco never raised his voice to his mother else pay the penalty from his father, Lucious lavished her with attention and expensive gifts. She was his diamond, and he treated her as such, kept locked away in an impenetrable fortress, away from prying eyes and anything ... dirty. The only deatheater allowed to come into his home with his precious wife was Severus. His friend since before Hogwarts. He was older than Severus, much the same way as Draco and Samuel. The Malfoys and Snapes had been friends for hundreds of years. When Severus and Lucinda had been born with in a month of each other, the families took it as a sign. Luckily Severus had never minded. He had been infatuated with her since they were babies, and she with him. There was never a better match, until he turned.
That was what the conversation had turned to in the next room.
"Narcissa, can you believe that there is a spy amongst the ranks, you haven't heard Lucious mention anything about it have you?" 'So that's her angle, thinks she's going to get second hand information.' "It's not him is it?" Lucious was outraged, he would never betray the dark lord, no that was his best friends job. He was so angry at Severus. He couldn't believe that he would do it, but he couldn't tell on him. Severus had saved his life many times, and a couple from Voldemort himself.
"No dear, you know your brother would never do that, he has been in the lords service longer than you. He is Voldemorts most trusted advisor. Lucious, Severus and you." He could hear Narcissa take a sip of her tea. Severus could not tell Lucinda that he had turned, she would tell and not think twice about it, even with little Samuel. He was currently with Severus doing father son things. Lucinda was growling.
"I can't believe he left us to go work for that old fool. I know he is spying but it seems like he could have at least stayed with us."
"He is the head of Slytherin house, you should be very proud. He will be training all the children to follow in lord Voldemorts work." The conversation changed gears and went the way Narcissa wanted it to go. Lucious stopped listening. 'As long as she doesn't know, he's safe. The things I do for a friend.'
It was the day of the big battle. Voldemort had found a way to breach the wards around the castle and the deatheaters were going to apparate onto the grounds directly in front of the doors and attack. Lucious went into the parlour to make sure that Narcissa was safe. On the couch Narcissa had an unconscious Draco's head laying in her lap while she stroked his hair, he looked as if he had ben stunned. Lucious ran to the couch.
"What happened, why is he home, why didn't you come to me when it happened?"
"It just happened." She looked so sad Lucious began to worry more about her then Draco.
"What is it dearest? Why do you look so sad, I'm sure he is fine." He reached down and stoked the boys hair, and uncharacteristic show of attention toward his son for his wife's sake. She smiled up at him, he could still see the sadness in her eyes and barely registered the feeling in his side as a wand before he heard "exanima quietis."
