Sorry it took THIS LONG! There were two major problems: my beta reader- the Great Sylvia Potter- was sick and thus unable to beta read this and school started on Monday for me…so…. You know… I am under a lot of STRESS. Anyhow, answers to all of your reviews will be uploaded at my LJ: FlorWS is my ID. Have a nice day!

Well...here it is…chapter 40…ENJOY!

Chapter 40: The reality of love part I

If there is one thing I know for sure, is that love hides as many secrets as stars the sky. But amongst those mysteries carefully concealed behind the black veil of madness there is one which is no stranger to you and it is certainly no stranger to Severus Snape or Hermione Granger for that matter for when cupid nails his arrows on the skin of two lovers, no energy is left for complaints of any kind. Love- that magnificent force, which even the most powerful of soldiers hugs unafraid of the consequences,- exerts that influence over our minds. Evil creatures such as Lucius Malfoy know not of such force and perhaps it is, for most of us, a good thing that he does not. Yes, perhaps.

It was very late at night when Severus introduced his head into the green flames and appeared at Malfoy Manor. The room where Lucius had tortured Hermione Granger only minutes before appeared to have been enchanted for no sign of torment could be depicted in the air. The strong smell of dried blood that usually hurt his nostrils could not be perceived even though Severus sixth sense kept telling him that something wrong was about to happen, or rather, that something wrong had happened and that soon he would meet his fate. A fate that had been sealed long ago and that he had failed to embrace for the last twenty years. He was actually breathing an air that was not his, a time he had borrowed from the Gods but a time he did not deserve.

The room was illuminated by nothing more than the green flames thus Severus found it very difficult to guess whether Lucius was there or not. It seemed pointless, therefore, to stay there when no one was around so Severus decided to step into the roaring fire and enter Malfoy Manor at once. Hermione was in danger. She needed to be saved, she needed him right away.

When his black shoes made contact with the mahogany floor, he knew there was no way of ever leaving Malfoy Manor. He turned around to face the fireplace and discovered, painfully, that the Floo Network was blocked. The game, he thought, had just got interesting. The mice, after all, had no escape from the labyrinth. He cursed himself for acting so foolishly: they were waiting for him. Instinctively he searched for his wand which was resting peacefully in his pocket, hidden behind his black robe. Yes. It was there. He squeezed his wand really hard before pointing at an invisible figure in front of him. No one was there, but all the same he wanted to be safe; invisibility cloaks are easy to come across when you are the new Dark Lord.

He started walking, one small step at a time. He was sweating but not because of the warmth provided by the fire: fear has that effect on certain people. Almost instantly, he grinned. He knew the ending of this story, already. There was no need for him to worry. One step, two steps, three steps, four…

"Mr. Snape," a voice said from behind him, a woman's voice, "I advise you not to move,"

Severus did as told because he was in no position to refuse orders. He pressed his wand tighter though.

"Mr. Snape," the feminine voice said, "What is it that you are looking for at this time of night? I am afraid my husband cannot be interrupted," she stated, giggling slightly, "He is quite busy, Mr. Snape," Narcissa said, placing her left hand over her mouth in order to stop her lips from smiling, "He has business elsewhere in this castle but perhaps, I can be of help,"

"Narcissa… where are you? I was unable to distinguish you when I entered the room," Severus said, testing how turbulent the water really was.

"Oh, Mr. Snape…," she whispered giggling like a schoolgirl, "I can be very invisible when I want to. In fact… you may turn around now, Mr. Snape. I will show you" she suggested, allowing Snape to move. But when he did turn around he saw no one standing near the fire, he saw no one breathing nearby, he saw no one resting on the sofa, and he saw no one staring at the stars, "I told you, Mr. Snape," Narcissa said, near Severus' ear where she breathed heavily, "I can be very invisible and mark my words when I say that over my shoulders rests no invisibility cloak". After hearing those words, Severus moved not. It would be very unwise to do so.

"Mrs. Malfoy," Severus said, addressing her as formality as she had addressed him, "Why is Lucius unavailable? We have important matters to discuss,"

"Mr. Snape," Narcissa said, her voice barely a whisper, "…my husband is unavailable because he is shagging your wife,"

"That is not possible," he shouted at once, knowing the law too well to ignore Narcissa's last words, "The law makes it illegal for a married man to enjoy the pleasures of another woman,".

Silly little Severus.

"Oh, Mr. Snape, you are a hilarious man," she stated laughing hard against Severus ear, "Why would a Death Eater follow the law? When did my husband ever follow the law, Mr. Snape?," she rhetorically asked, laughing even harder. After a minute worth of laughter, she stopped only to speak the last words Severus would ever hear from her, "If you want to find your wife, Mr. Snape- even though I reckon you may not be able to recognize her- you need to head towards my chambers. He is there and so is your wife. However, I must warn you: your life will soon end if you decide to leave this room, Mr. Snape. Lucius Malfoy knows of no limits now," she said, then pausing, she added, "Goodbye, Mr. Snape. I am sure we will meet again soon,"

Severus wondered, as he turned around to face a non existent Mrs. Malfoy, why Narcissa had spoken so truthfully about his husband's plans.  And he soon became aware that Narcissa Malfoy was not the Queen of Darkness anymore and that her fate had been sealed long ago. Tonight, long before his arrival even before Hermione's arrival, she had embraced it. She had known all along the ending of her personal story, as sad as it was.

Someone else had taken over the Queen's place on Lucius Malfoy chess board. And Severus had the impression that he knew the Queen very well.