Chapter Two: The Darkening of the Light
"Alex, dearie, how are you?" Nina greeted her with a customary squeeze and a warm smile.
"I am fantastic!" Alex said brightly, helping herself to a muffin and coffee. "Everything's going my way. How 'bout you?"
"Just fine, love, just fine. It's lovely to see you in such good spirits."
"I have a surprise for you," Alex bit her bottom lip in anticipation of Nina's reaction.
"Yes?"
"I made a shepherd's pie last night--"
Nina leaned in a bit, eyes widening. "Yes?"
"Call me Betty Crocker!" The younger witch threw her hands in the air.
"Who is that, dear?"
"Never mind, never mind." Alex waved off the misunderstanding. "The point is, it was perfect!"
Nina wrapped her arms around Alex once more at the news. "Oh, I knew you could do it, my girl. When does your Nina get a taste?"
"Come over tonight. You can try the bite of shepherd's pie I saved, and I'll whip up something original for dinner."
"Thank you, dearie. That will be just lovely." Nina patted her cheek lovingly. "Didn't I tell you there was a lady in there somewhere?"
Alex scowled. "Yuck! That's just gross, Nina."
The elder witch laughed heartily as she turned her attention to the customers entering the shop, and Alex sat down with a paper to finish her muffin. She hadn't gotten past the first paragraph of the headlining story when a welcome face caught her eye, skulking in behind the crowd, glancing left and right, ever watchful.
"Severus," she greeted him with a warm hug and returned to her seat. "This is a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Alex," Snape began tersely. "I need to speak with you privately. Tonight. Come to me directly after you close the shop."
She scowled deeply, not caring for his tone. "I'm afraid I can't, Sev. Nina's coming over for dinner."
"Cancel," he said simply.
"I most certainly will not! Severus, what's going on?"
He raised his head sharply, peering through the window, and Alex's gaze followed his own. There was a man out there, casually looking in. But for the briefest instant when his eyes met hers and jerked away, she never would have realized they were being watched. He looked, for all the world, as though he was just innocently studying the pastries. Alex turned back to see that Severus hadn't removed his eyes from the man, indeed had intensified his glare as if daring him to look his way. "Sev, who is that?"
"One of my 'associates' checking up on me--and you."
"Why would they be doing that? I've done everything they've asked me to do. So have you." There was a rising note of panic in her voice as she spoke.
"You've done nothing wrong, Alex. I have."
"You have what? Are you in danger?" The panic was definite, now.
"Keep your voice down," he snapped in an acidic whisper. "There are two others having tea in the corner."
"Sev, please--"
"I can't talk about it here, but I couldn't trust an owl, and I wanted to be certain that I would see you. Be very careful returning to your shop. I will come to you tonight, after Nina has gone." He began to rise, but was halted by a deceptively strong hand on his arm, pulling him back to his seat. Reluctantly, he complied.
"Will you be alright?"
"Let go of me." The whisper was ice-cold, but Alex held on for just a moment longer, gazing into his obsidian eyes with obvious trepidation.
"Sev," she stated quietly, "I don't ever want to let you go."
His eyes widened as long fingers dragged her hand from his sleeve. "Don't be maudlin, Miss Borgin. I will see you tonight."
He left without another word, sweeping out of the shop as the eyes of two well-dressed, older gentlemen followed him closely. Alex glared at them.
What now? she thought in frustration.
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Higher and higher he rose over the trees of the wood behind Malfoy manor, the wind whipping his hair around his face, defying it's usual perfect style. Flying was his one great escape, the key which freed him from the prison of his father's expectations. Their interactions had been strained lately, nerve-wracking, Lucius seeking the motive behind Draco's every action, sizing him up for his future as a Death Eater, a future he no longer looked forward to. Up here, he could still be himself, the son of a powerful, wealthy pureblood wizard; not a care in the world, either of them. Quite the pair they'd been.
But, now--now his father treated him as if he was the key to fixing every mistake he'd ever made. Draco Malfoy, the salvation of the Malfoy bloodline. Merlin, Mab, and miracles! Anything, but that! The grandeur was tempting. He wanted to be a hero. What young man didn't? Just not right now, not like that. And, not with that thing his father served.
That was the most disturbing thought. Draco was destined to serve Voldemort, a wizard he despised only slightly less than he did Harry Potter. He urged his broom to a frightfully dangerous speed weaving in and out of the topmost branches for the rush of adrenaline and the relief that came with it. He hadn't always hated Voldemort. That was a recent development that arose the night his father returned from the Death Eater gathering at which he told them of Alex's magical contract and the circumstances under which it was signed. Until that night, he had never seen his father broken.
Draco's head was nearly on his chest, having become as heavy as his eyelids. Patience had never been his greatest strength, but he was determined to stay awake until his father returned and find out everything he could about the Death Eaters' reactions. Surely they could find a way around this contract. Surely Voldemort could find a way to punish this audacious thief.
He was just about to give up and drag himself off to bed when a familiar *crack* split the air and the one spot in Malfoy manor into which one could apparate, the rug in front of the hearth, was suddenly occupied by the Lord of the manor. But something was terribly wrong. His unshakeable father, the strongest person he knew, knelt on the mat as if in supplication, panting for breath and spitting blood. There was blood covering his face as well, from more than one wound, it seemed. Even his robes were slick with it. Narcissa chose this moment to enter, take one look at her husband, pull a grimace of disgust, and back out of the door as if she hadn't seen the man.
Draco, on the other hand, was on the floor beside him in an instant, Lucius trying to brush him away. "Get out, son."
It was the first time he'd ever disobeyed him outright. "You need help, father."
"I said leave, Draco." The words were meant to be harsh, but the effort it took to speak them proved to be too much. Lucius trembled, collapsed fully onto the rug, and was violently ill.
Before a minute had passed, Draco had his father's best mediwizards at his side. They had hesitated at first because of the hour and the person calling, but threats of his father's wrath when he finally healed were sufficient to convince them to answer the call for assistance. Draco heaved a sigh of relief. Without the assistance of trained mediwizards, he didn't see how his father could recover from this. What the hell had Voldemort done to him, and why?
A sharp glare from his father as the mediwizards stripped him of his robes gave Draco to know that he would answer for his disobedience. It didn't matter. He'd faced his father's wrath before. He could do so again. Surely he would see the necessity of his son's actions when he recovered.
Surely he would recover.
Draco had looked after Lucius all night, sitting in the arm chair beside his father's bed and feeling the cold shadow of fear creep over him as he watched his father sleep fitfully, the boy's heart pounding a little harder in his chest each time his father moaned or cried out in his sleep. And, every time he had to wake him for another potion, the impotent fury in those gray eyes hurt more than any punishment ever could. The mediwizards had assured Draco that he was fine, that he only needed rest, and that he must take the healing potions in order, every hour on the hour. Lucius had insisted that he could do it himself, trying to lift the first of many bottles, but promptly fell back on his pillows with a vehement curse. It was up to Draco, and it was his honor.
His mother had not returned that night. Indeed, he didn't see her for many days afterward. It was just as well. He'd never loved her to begin with, and was happier when she wasn't around. Not being there for his father when he needed help only twisted his indifference into a bitter hatred for the woman. Let her rot, the whiny bitch. And, let her stay the hell out of my path or I may just rid the house of her once and for all. It was good that she was gone. He hoped he'd never have to see her again.
Damn Narcissa Malfoy! Damn Voldemort and his Death Eaters, as well! His father was a pure-blood wizard from a noble family, one of the oldest in England. He was more of a terror than any of them. He was smarter and stronger, and he deserved better. One day, he'll get what I know he wants, to overthrow that corrupted, wasted mudblood of a master and rule on his own, as it should be. Draco allowed the hatred to bubble up within, basking in the surge of power that it brought, then he buried it as his father had taught him. The knowledge had no place in his conscious mind, the part that could be touched by Voldemort. It was suicide to think such things--for now.
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"Alexandria, that was delicious!" Nina touched her napkin to the sides of her mouth while the younger woman grilled her mercilessly with questions.
"But, was it thick enough? And, was it too spicy, because I thought I might have used too much--"
"Darling, it was perfect," she interrupted, favoring her with a warm smile. "I couldn't have made it better myself."
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. "Are you sure?"
"Now, you know that I never flatter. I've always been honest with you about your cooking. You remember the brownies?" she asked with raised eyebrows.
Alex hung her head. "Yes, ma'am," she mumbled. "You said that they should be used to pave Knockturn Alley."
"Right," Nina giggled at her own ingenuity. If one had to insult a loved one, it could at least be done creatively. "I'm always honest with my girl."
Alex smiled affectionately at Nina, the only mother she'd ever known. Having been raised in a house with only her father and his male associates, Alex had learned to order out before she'd learned to walk properly. She knew how to spit, how to curse, how to 'shoot the shit' with customers, and how to steal. That had been her father's legacy to her, and it wasn't a bad way to grow up.
But, now that things were going so smoothly with Severus, she had decided that it wouldn't hurt to at least know how to feed the man. After all, the few nights that he had cooked for her showed that all that talent for brewing potions had carried right over into the kitchen. His food was--well--almost as good as sex. It just proved what he'd said to her once before, when she'd asked why he put so much effort into teaching her. Tapping his wand thoughtfully on his bottom lip, a lovely gesture, he answered in that faraway, contemplative tone that she adored, "Alex, it is a pathetic waste of time to not excel."
She had taken him right there on the office desk, and the potion he'd been working on had burned through the cauldron and started to eat through the floor before they remembered it. That was the day she'd decided to learn to cook. One day, she might be someone's mate, and she would hate to not excel at household tasks. Of course, her basic philosophy of, 'If Sev can do it, so can I' hadn't hurt.
And, speaking of Sev, his face had just popped up in the fire for the third time, and it was looking more surly with every appearance. This was impolite, even for him. Whatever it was he had to say, it was obviously urgent. Time to say 'goodnight' to her dinner guest, and prepare for some bad news.
Honestly, it never failed, just when things were so going so well.
"Nina, it's been wonderful, and I've really enjoyed your company, as always--"
"But, you're expecting someone," Nina finished for her. "Professor Snape, perhaps?"
Alex laughed at the woman's intuition. She would have made a great con artist, she had such a feel for people. "You caught me. I made plans on top of ours."
"That's quite all right, my dear. It's time for all old women to get to bed, anyway." She kissed Alex tenderly on the cheek. "Besides, you're as good for him as he is for you. I've never seen such a change in a man. Whatever you're doing to him, you just keep right at it."
"I'll try, Nina. He makes it devilishly difficult sometimes, though."
"Still won't hear you tell him you love him?" Nina asked, a note of pity in her tone.
Alex sighed and hung her head a bit. "No, he won't."
"And, you are certain that you do?"
"Nina, I've never been more sure of anything in my life."
"May I make a suggestion?"
"Well, that would be a first," Alex replied with a slight tilt of her head. Nina seemed to have advice about absolutely everything in Alex's life, but she'd always steered clear of the subject of love.
"Tell him, Alexandria." Nina cupped Alex's face in her broad hands. "Tell him that you love him, and don't allow him to sidestep the issue. This can be a cold, hard world, and no one should have to go through it alone. If you find one person that makes you glow, and I know he does, you do whatever you must to hold onto them. Love is far too precious to sully it with selfish emotions like fear and pride."
Alex's heart constricted. She'd never heard Nina speak that way, and the sincerity of it, the beauty of the sentiment brought forth tears that she hadn't known were there. Nina just wiped them away and continued. "You know that I look on you as a daughter. I never wanted to intrude in such a personal matter, but I simply can't stand to see you suffer as you have suffered. It has hurt me for a very long time, but I've kept my peace. Tell him how you feel, Alexandria, and make him listen to you. Alright?"
"Alright, Nina." Alex sniffed a bit, trying to regain her composure. It would never do to show such emotion to Severus. She had no idea how he would react to it, but doubted that he'd be tender and understanding. Likely, it would just make him uncomfortable to the point that he'd be forced to leave, whether he'd imparted his message or not.
Nina wrapped her arms around Alex tightly, and held her for a few moments longer than usual. Alex melted into her embrace, the woman's warmth pervading her with a sense of calm. Nina was right. She could do this, and she'd do it tonight, bad news be damned. When Nina finally let her go, she held her at arm's length, fixing her with a conniving grin. "And I want every detail at breakfast tomorrow. Right?"
Alex nodded. "Right." The older witch turned to leave through the hearth. "Thanks, Nina."
"I'll see you tomorrow, love," she called as she disappeared in a puff of flame.
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Lady Jenylin: I'm glad you like the title. I had hoped that it would be fitting. The fact that you like Draco's character in the story is a relief as he'll be around quite a bit in this one. As for a confrontation-- maybe, maybe not. Please keep reading. Ps. Thanks so much for the advice you offered in your last review of 'Not For Sale.' It has been a tremendous help to me as I begin to work on this story. I will most certainly pay closer attention to those voices.
Arwen78: I'm so happy that you like the beginning to the sequel. I was hesitant to write it because it will be a bit darker than the first. I hope you like the rest. Please keep reading.
Rycca: Sorry you had to go to work instead of read. As a bibliophile who buys books before I buy food, I completely understand what a hang-up a job can be when you're in the middle of a decent story. 'Draco doesn't seem so bad.' Okay. That's a good start. And, poor Sev! Cut him some slack. He has such a stressful life. Please keep reading. Ps. "Twitchy?" That is a great adjective. I must adopt it!
Fleur K: Thank you. I hope you enjoy the sequel as much as you seemed to enjoy the first story. Please keep reading.
IntelEwok: I'm so glad you're excited about the sequel. I must say, I'm excited, too; nervous, but excited. This will be a bigger endeavor than the last. Thanks for loving the Lucius line. You know, I probably wrote and erased it ten times before I decided to keep it. Now I'm glad I did. Please keep reading.
KitoraCrysta: 'I really hope we get to see more of Draco's point of view.' Your wish is my command. Well, not really. I was headed that way, anyway, but I'm thrilled that you approve. Please keep reading.