A/N: First of all – this is not a nice chapter. But you know me by now, so that won't really surprise you. Second, there will be another break in my postings after this one, because I will be without computer or internet connection until Sunday. Apart from that I am grateful so many of you waited for me for so long. I hadn't planned to let the story linger this long, but sometimes life just overtakes you on the right and screws your plans. Right now I am pretty much the master of my own time, but that might change again soon enough. I'll try to post at least once a week, though.
So many of you read and reviewed, there would be so much to answer.
There will be a few more memories before the bubble bursts, but not more than three chapters I guess. I already know how I intend to describe the confrontation between Snape and Dumbledore, so I will inevitably disappoint some of you. Hopefully you will stick with me and the story until the end anyway.
And yes, I know I messed up with the Shrieking Shack incident. In my notes I had just written down "3" and later wrongly assumed that I meant the 3rd year, when I'd actually meant the 3rd book. Sorry for that.
Chapter 22: Family Tradition
Moody wore a triumphant smile on his malformed face.
"So, I was right from the beginning. There was no incantation gone wrong and there surely were no trolls in pursuit of a promise not kept. I knew it was him. I knew it!"
Both his eyes were fixed on the panting Potions Master and his voice had a slightly mad ring as he kept repeating the last words over and over again, cackling hysterically every now and then.
The others watched him with anxiety, but only Tonks was brave enough to shush him.
More memories flashed by: lessons, examinations, quarrel with the marauders, trips to Muggle-London, meetings at Malfoy Manor. Lucius Malfoy was pacing nervously from the residence's entrance door into the library and back again. Ever so often he would approach Snape, who was sitting in a cushioned armchair by the window, gazing outside into the garden. There was a worried frown on the young Lord's face and he seemed to be in need of some encouraging words, yet every time his friend was about to open his mouth Lucius turned on his heals and stormed back into the hallway.
"Lucius, dear, you can come up now."
Lady Malfoy's voice was deep and soft, as usual. Her looks, however, were a little dishevelled; single strands of hair had come undone from the skilfully braided crown of blond hair and there were dark rings under her usually shiny blue-grey eyes. Her son flashed a broad smile towards Snape before he stormed up the stairs, hastily kissing his mother on the cheek, and disappeared along the corridor.
"Is Narcissa all right?"
Snape had come to meet the Lady at the end of the stairs. Attentively he offered his arm and led her into the drawing room where she lowered herself gracefully onto one of the many couches.
"Yes, Narcissa is well, Severus. She had a rough night, but that was to be expected. Members of our family are of a considerably stronger build than hers; we knew she would suffer. She is strong. She will recover."
Absentmindedly she started massaging the obviously tense muscles in her neck, accepting a class of some amber coloured liquid Snape was offering to her.
Just then Lucius came storming back down the stairs. He skidded to halt in the doorframe and gestured excitedly towards his friend.
"Severus, come on up and look at her. She is gorgeous, the most beautiful thing you have ever seen. Narcissa and I want to ask you something."
With that he disappeared again, taking three steps at a time, his blonde mane waving out behind him. Severus smiled at Lady Malfoy, bowed his head slightly and made for the door.
"Don't get to attached to that child", she said, swivelling her drink around in the glass. The look she gave him was full of exhaustion and disappointment.
"She won't last."
Snape turned and was about to ask a question in return when Lucius' voice called him from upstairs.
"Come on, Uncle Severus. Your godchild is getting impatient!"
"Uncle Severus?" Ron snickered.
"Did you know Malfoy had a sister?" Ginny whispered into Hermione's ear.
Hermione shook her head, tickling Ginny's nose with her curls in the process.
"No, I always thought he was an only child. He never mentioned any sisters or brothers and usually he talks about everything his family 'owns', if you are interested or not."
"That's not a good sign then", Ginny murmured.
Harry had to agree.
Snape was pushing a little girl on a swing. Her dark curls bounced up as she descended and brushed her cheeks as she swung up again. She had startlingly blue eyes and long dark lashes. Every time he gave her a push she would squeal with delight, stretching her little legs out as far as possible to gain more momentum. A smile was playing around the young man's lips and he looked completely relaxed. He had to be in his early twenties now, while the girl couldn't be older than four.
"Aurora, it's time to come in."
Lady Malfoy seemed not to have aged at all apart from the few strands of hair that appeared to shimmer rather white than blond in the evening sun.
Gently Snape lifted the girl off the wooden swing and put her under his left arm like a bundle of books.
"Where would you like the parcel to be placed?" he asked the Lady, doing his best to ignore the little girl's giggles and her vain attempts to tickle him. The smile that answered him was strained and thin.
"In the bedroom, please, Severus. Dobby will help her to get ready for the night. And Lucius is waiting for you in the study. The Master will come by later and there are still some pressing matters to be discussed."
Snape frowned slightly, yet he tried not to let his godchild notice. Playfully he swung her around his shoulder and started up the stairs and towards her bedroom, which was on the first floor. Inside he let her plop down on a four-poster with yellow curtains. There were toys scattered everywhere and a long row of teddy bears rested against a pillow. She scrambled towards them and started placing all of them on her lap.
"Rome, Paris, Berlin, Prague, London, Warsaw, Edinburgh, …" she declared gleefully, pronouncing each name carefully and looking at Snape for approval.
He smiled, reached inside his robe and pulled out another bear with white fluffy fur and a big black hat.
"And Moscow", he said, setting the toy before her on the blanket.
"I knew you didn't forget."
She beamed up at him proudly while clutching the newest member of her collection to her breast. Snape called for the house elf, kissed the little girl on the forehead and went down into the study. Lucius was already waiting for him. He looked tired, yet there was an aura of authority around him. His face had hardened and his eyes had lost some of their warmth, but when Snape entered the room they shone brightly again like they had done in the former memories.
"Severus", he reached out a welcoming hand and touched the other man's shoulder firmly for a moment.
"It's good to have you back here. The Master is very pleased with your studies and the research you have done with Torelli, Minardot, Scott and the others."
"I was grateful for the opportunity to work with the best", Snape replied. "To be completely honest, I really enjoyed myself and sometimes even forgot the cause for all the studies."
Lucius smile flickered.
"Don't mention that to him, Severus. Don't ever mention that to him. You've had too many discussions with him already and things have changed since you last attended a meeting. He is not used to his decisions being questioned anymore. He has practically doubled our numbers since your last stop in England and people are starting to recognise him."
"Well, that's good news", Snape replied as he poured himself a drink.
"He should be pleased by that, shouldn't he?"
Lucius looked at him intently.
"People are starting to recognise him as a threat to the current status. Some have already called him a peril to the wizard society, Albus Dumbledore being one of them."
He lowered his voice to a dramatic whisper.
"It's starting, Severus. The time of the revolution has come. There will be war."
Snape looked stunned for a moment. The drink rested in his hand and he tried to concentrate on the shimmering liquid.
"Is that why he is coming over tonight?" he finally asked. "To talk about battle plans?"
The last words had had a touch of disbelief and Lucius flashed him an encouraging smile.
"I hope so, Severus. It's time, you know. We have been holding still for too long now. Do you want Aurora to grow up in a world where she will not be allowed to fly whichever way she wants, because those Muggles might see her? Where she will have to restrict her exploration of the world to sections declared safe for wizards, lest she might disturb the Muggles with her magic? Do you want her to run into borders set by the Ministry and outdated tradition whenever she wants to broaden her horizon?"
There was a fanatic glint in Lucius' eyes and Snape seemed to be mesmerized by them for a moment. Then suddenly there was the sound of clapping hands from the door. Smiling enigmatically Voldemort walked towards the two men.
"Bravo, Lucius! I couldn't have put it better myself. But then, you practically copied one of my last speeches."
Malfoy had obviously outgrown the habit of blushing and simply bowed his head. Snape had sunk down on one knee, waiting for permission to get up or at least raise his head. He didn't have to wait long.
"Severus, my son, get up! It's good to see you. Doctor Karkaroff talked about you in a most flattering tone. I am curious to see the results you have brought with you."
"Thank you, my Lord", Snape answered, his voice shaking slightly. He took an instinctive step backwards, leaving Lucius to face their Master directly. Voldemort's smile disappeared.
"As much as I appreciate your speech, Lucius, I'm not here for politics this time. Your mother asked me over to help you and Narcissa with a decision."
Snape threw a curious glance from one man to the other. Lucius' face had gone a pasty shade of white and he gripped his hands reflexively. From the next room they heard a muffled sob. Narcissa was leaning against the doorframe, her hair a mess, her eyes red from crying. Behind her Lady Malfoy bowed her head to Voldemort.
"What's going on?" Snape asked his friend quietly, his eyes racing from Lucius to Narcissa.
Lucius swallowed.
"Mother had a screener come over a couple of days ago."
"What's a screener?" Harry asked Hermione. If the expression was mentioned in any book in the Hogwarts library, she was sure to know it. She didn't disappoint him.
"Screeners can instinctively feel someone's magical potential. People used to call them in older days, when the child with the strongest magic used to inherit everything, to name the heir. But I thought there was no demand for that anymore."
Harry liked the look of this less and less.
"A screener?" Snape asked confused. "What for?"
Lady Malfoy walked into the room, dragging the still sobbing Narcissa with her.
"To me it was clear already when she was born that Aurora was a Squib", she explained coolly, ignoring her son's sharp intake of breath and Narcissa's heartbreaking sobs.
"I saw the signs, just like I saw them with Julian."
She paused for a moment, lost in some seemingly unpleasant memory. As she continued her voice was stern and cold.
"I told all of you not to get too attached to that child and now a decision has to be made. The screener confirmed what I already told you. Your daughter does not have the slightest hint of magic inside her. "
Narcissa clung to Lucius like someone drowning in deep sea while he stood rooted to the spot, blinking tears away and trying to keep his composure. Voldemort rested his eyes on the desperate couple.
"You have more than one choice in this matter, but your daughter has only one. Remember your little speech, Lucius. Do you want her to grow up in a world where everyone knows how to use magic, only she doesn't? Do you want to let her grow up only to realise that she doesn't belong? She is a clever girl. It won't take her much longer to find out that she is lacking something that all the other members of her family have and then she will be desperate."
Narcissa had somehow managed to suppress her crying and looked up at him with big scared eyes, imploring him not to say what she couldn't bear to hear.
"You could send her away to live in a Muggle family", he continued without mercy. "Or you could just kill her now. The result is inevitably going to be the same. She is doomed."
Severus shook his head in disbelief.
"Maybe the seeker was wrong. She is so talented in every other way, maybe her magic is just a little slow. She is only four!"
Desperately he looked from Voldemort to Lady Malfoy. Both answered him with icy silence.
"We could at least wait for the letter", Narcissa whispered.
"That would only mean to postpone the inevitable truth for six years. Six years in which you will tie her to your hearts even more. Waiting is no solution, it will only increase the amount of pain and fear, both for you and her. You should get this over with so that you can move on. She will not be your only child."
While saying those last words she rested a hand on Narcissa golden head. The younger woman recoiled from her, seeking solitude in the arms of her husband.
"They are right, darling", he whispered into her ear. His eyes were wet, but he didn't cry.
"Severus, would you brew us a potion that …"
He never got to finish the sentence, for Snape had thrown his glass against the wall in a sudden outburst of fury.
"No!" he yelled at the top of his voice. "Lucius, are you insane? She is your child, your only child! You don't have to do this."
Voldemort stepped between him and the couple and raised a warning finger.
"This is none of your business, Severus", he hissed. "Either help us in brewing the Draught or keep out of this. You are only making it harder for them."
With seemingly great effort Snape lowered his eyes.
"Lucius", he whispered "remember how we both mourned, you for Julian, me for Susanna. Don't do this now."
Wordlessly Lucius rested the crying Narcissa against his friend and walked towards the stairs, flanked on either side by Voldemort and his mother. Snape stared after him in disbelief.
"Don't worry, she will not feel a thing", Voldemort told Lucius in a soft voice as they took the first step.
Snape released the woman in his arms, ignoring the fact that she tumbled to the floor like a puppet whose strings had been cut, and raced after them. His face had a determined look as he reached for his wand. Voldemort was faster.
"Crucio!"
The spell hit him like a bullet and he crashed against the nearest wall, slumping down onto the floor helplessly as the pain raced through his body.
"You have to learn where your place is, Severus. And I think you also have to learn again that you don't disobey your master. We will talk about this later."
Without releasing the spell Voldemort continued to walk up the stairs, Lady Malfoy in his wake. Lucius stood undecided for a moment, obviously torn between the desire to help his friend and the perverted sense of duty that demanded him to kill his only child. In the end duty overcame desire and he followed the other two into Aurora's bedroom.