Chapter Thirty-two: Choosing Sides
Author's note: I am so very sorry that this chapter has taken so long. For some reason, it was the most difficult I've written so far, (probably because so much of the conclusion hinged on what was decided here) and I wrote several different versions before finally settling on this one. Please forgive the delay. The rest of the story should follow at my usual pace. Thanks to Lady Jenilyn for her astute advice which allowed me to finish the chapter in a single night.
Thanks, also, to the books of John Norman for the ideas and basic social philosophy of the house slaves of noble families.
Well into the wee hours of the morning Severus and Alex talked, holding back no truth. By the time the potions master was tired enough to forgo his usual decorum and allow an enormous yawn, they had reached an unshakeable understanding. Rose D'antoni was to utterly submit to Lucius for her own safety until she was finally out of the household. Alex Borgin was to offer her services to Malfoy as his personal assassin on the grounds that he not attempt to locate her. He would, Severus assured her, much prefer to use Alex's gifts to his own advantage rather than track her down and kill her.
By the time Severus finished counseling her, the only concern she had was the lack of immediate solution for her enslavement to her enemy.
"You'll contact me immediately if you find another way?" She saw in his eyes that the question was unnecessary. Of course he would contact her. He loved her. That was irrefutably clear at long last. He would do everything he could to get her out of that house and away from Lucius before she was found out. For now, though, they had to concentrate on keeping Rose alive and well, and Lucius from using a tracking spell for Alex. Severus would need two weeks to brew the potion which would negate the spells around the bracelet and destroy it, without burning her hand off in the process. Suddenly, that seemed like a lifetime.
"I will contact you regardless. Zephyr can find you before the household wakes. In the meantime, you must make certain that you bow to Malfoy's every wish until that potion is complete. Is that understood?" She nodded. "It would never do to have him kill you over some trivial oversight when we are so close to setting you free."
"I don't know, he seems to enjoy whipping Rose too much to actually kill her," she mused unsmilingly.
He raised an elegant black eyebrow. "And little Rose seem to enjoy being whipped by your own admission, a fact I don't intend to forget," he purred. "In the meantime, if giving you pain is his pleasure, then submit to it completely. It shouldn't be difficult for you. Give Lucius what he wants, whatever he wants until I can free you from this horrid contrivance," he finished.
"And you're perfectly comfortable with this?" she asked, scowling her disbelief.
"I am comfortable with the concept of your surviving. That is all that matters to me at present." He watched her scowl deepen and released an exasperated sigh. "Alex, do you trust me?"
She ran a hand through disheveled hair and nodded halfheartedly.
He raised her chin until her eyes met his. "I need a better answer than that, beloved. I know Lucius Malfoy, probably better than anyone else. Tell me that you trust me enough to respect my counsel where he is concerned."
She couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face as she watched him watching her, his face clouded with concern, awaiting her reassurance that she would heed his hard-won knowledge. "I trust you, Sev. I'll send a letter to him as soon as I can get away, requesting his forgiveness and offering my services."
"Good girl," he purred, stroking her cheek lovingly. "Do you need anything until I contact you again? Healing potions? Sleeping draughts?"
"I'm fine, Sev." She looked down, took a breath, then met his eyes once more, dreading her next words. "But, I have to go."
"I know," he answered so quietly that she almost didn't hear. "I will see you next week, and we will discuss our respective progress."
She kissed him swiftly as he prepared to rise. "No. Don't," she ordered gently. "Stay here. I want to remember you this way."
He smiled and leaned on his arm, watching her slide from the bed and dress quickly. With one long last look, she slipped from the room, never hearing the fearful whisper as the door closed. "Be careful, love."
A few hours later, Rose stood at Lucius' door glancing over his breakfast tray for what seemed like the hundredth time, making sure that everything was perfect before she entered. There was no doubt that he was still angry with her about that unfortunate question, and Severus had warned her that once Lucius was unhappy with someone, it took a monumental effort to regain his favor. He was, in fact, known to provoke people into making him even more angry so that he could have an excuse to punish them more severely than their original offense warranted. He was not known for his forgiveness.
With a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stopped. Lucius was awake, standing at his wardrobe, in fact, just sliding a black waistcoat over his shoulders. He didn't even bother turning his head when he spoke. "You will serve that in the office, Rose," he commanded sternly. "I have work to do."
"Yes, my lord," she answered in her most submissive tone.
He strode quickly from the room without sparing her a glace, and Rose followed at his heel like a well-trained house elf, then served him quickly and quietly as he began to inscribe long list of names and times. Her heart leapt when she noticed that Severus was first on the list. The thought of seeing him again so soon, even if she couldn't be with him, brought an overwhelming sense of relief. When she turned on her heel to leave, she was hiding a smile.
"Did I dismiss you?" Her employer's voice sliced through the silence like a poisoned blade.
She tensed, turned, and forced her eyes to the floor. "No, my lord. Please forgive me." Discreetly she ground her teeth. Lucius knew good and well that she had never been expected to wait for his dismissal. He was just... doing exactly what Severus said he would do, she realized, looking for a reason to make her life miserable because he was angry with her. She almost laughed. Was Severus ever wrong?
"Forgive you?" he hissed. "It isn't forgiveness an insubordinate servant needs. Come here." She stepped forward quickly, trying to keep her hands from shaking. He had taught Alex yesterday about the pain he was capable of causing, and Rose's stomach churned at the thought of repeating the lesson. "Kneel." She fell to her knees without a moment's hesitation, furious with the rush of pleasure that arose deep within as cold gray eyes captured and held hers mercilessly.
"I have very little time to waste on you, so I'll keep this concise," he began callously. "I have several meetings planned for today which may decide the future of the Malfoy family within the wizarding world, and I will require you to attend me for the entire morning. We will take lunch at the usual time and Severus Snape will be joining us. All of my faithful Death Eaters will be here, though individually this time. You will show the utmost respect and decorum in their presence no matter what they did to you. I do not wish to hear anything from your mouth except acknowledgement of my commands at any time, for any reason. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord," she answered reverently. She leaned forward to regain her feet, stopped when she realized what she was doing, and sat back on her heels.
She could almost hear the sneer in his voice when he spoke again. "Very good, Rose. You're learning. You will now go to your room, change into something more suitable, and return before I call my first guest. Understood?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Good." He waited a beat. "Now, you are dismissed."
Severus stood calmly beside the hearth, out of sight and wand at the ready as Lucius summoned his first associate. As soon as the enormous wizard stepped through the hearth, he was hit from behind with a silencing spell. He turned and drew with surprising speed, but upon seeing Severus Snape's wand already trained on him, a cold gleam in his black eyes, he quickly reconsidered.
"Easy, Crabbe," Lucius said calmly. "It's just for today. Nothing we say needs to leave this room." With grace born of years of diplomatic maneuvering, he effectively seated the man with a look. Crabbe sank into the guest chair which was more than adequate when occupied by anyone else. For him, though, it was a tight fit and he squirmed pitifully, eyeing the two wizards with trepidation. Even with his mediocre mind, he could see that this meeting was no small matter. He watched with impotent fear as Severus and Lucius slid into the chairs opposite him.
Severus sat in silence, his fingers steepled before him, the picture of cool intimidation.
Lucius flashed a charming smile. "Tell me, old friend, how have you been?"
Crabbe shifted once more in the unaccommodating chair before answering.
And so it went, one Death Eater after another, each interviewed in the same polite, careful manner. Some left as allies, some as considerations, and some as enemies with no memory of the meeting at all. The verbal sparring with some of the more intelligent among them was so quick that Rose had trouble following. It didn't take long, though, to get the gist of the interviews. Lucius was preparing to make his move against Voldemort, and he needed to know who would serve him and, if Rose knew him at all, who would die. She doubted that there was a third option.
"Sweet Merlin," Lucius exclaimed as he stood four hours later, arching his back in a deep stretch, his hair spilling behind him as it fell away from his shoulders. "I thought that would never end. That's all I have the patience for today, Severus. We will speak with the others tomorrow or Wednesday. How many would you say will join us?"
Snape stood gracefully, silently, without so much as a grimace. "Seven," he answered without a moment's hesitation, rattling off a list of names as if reading potion ingredients from a book.
"Macnair, Marler, and Harmon will have to be removed. They're too reckless to reeducate, and too hostile to trust," Lucius commented dryly.
"Agreed." Snape's eyes shifted for just an instant in Rose's direction before he spoke. "Speaking of which, have you had any word from Madam Borgin? I imagine that your Severance spell made quite an impression on our young assassin."
Lucius held out his glass as Rose rushed to refill it. "One can only guess what that woman is thinking," he sighed, "or what affects her. She is an absolute enigma to me, the most challenging test of my will and patience I've ever known. And, don't smirk at me like that, Severus Snape. I'm in no mood to hear you inform me that you told me as much."
"You do look rather fatigued, Lucius."
"I'm exhausted," he admitted quietly. "That spell was strenuous in the extreme, and I couldn't sleep at all last night."
"Worried about Alex?" Severus joked lightly.
Lucius gave a short huff of a laugh. "You know me too well, Severus," he bit off grudgingly. "Despite the numerous occasions on which I've wanted to wring her lovely neck, I do feel a certain affinity for her. I must admit that she's been wholly forthcoming with me from the very beginning. In fact, for an enemy, she's one of the most trustworthy people I know, and I find it impossible to despise her as much as I would like. I am concerned for her." He hesitated, looking away almost self-consciously. "I stared at the ceiling all night hoping that I hadn't permanently damaged her, that she would see reason and return to me. And if you ever even hint of my feeling such things to anyone else, Severus Snape, I will remove your traitorous tongue."
"I would never dream of betraying your trust. It simply wouldn't do to allow the others to know that you're human," Severus quipped dryly.
Lucius nodded, then smiled as he raised his glass in salute before draining it. When Rose stepped forward to refill it, he seemed to notice her for the first time in hours. "Have you not started lunch yet, woman?" he barked. "For Mab's sake, leave the bottle and go. We're hungry."
She inclined her head slightly, turning red at his contemptuous tone, before heading for the kitchen. On the way out, she activated the receiver and listened intently to the continuing conversation.
"Seven out of twelve, Severus," Lucius commented. "That isn't bad, better than I expected, actually. I was certain that Rabastan would be too afraid to challenge our master."
"Rabastan trusts you," Snape returned quietly. "He feels that he has little to fear at your side."
"With good reason. Our master's penchant for putting his Death Eaters in harm's way is well known... and disgraceful. His lack of concern, his lack of foresight has proven disastrous and I will not allow that to continue. No more ancient, noble names will be dragged through the mire because of his ridiculous delusions about a fifteen year-old child. Noble houses are too few and pure blood too rare. The line must be drawn, old friend, and we who are strong must draw it."
Rose had begun to move automatically, now, a bit more slowly than usual as her eyes glazed over listening to the two talk. Why is it, she thought, that every time I'm finally convinced that Lucius Malfoy is the ultimate bad guy, he surprises me with some unforeseen compassion or nobility? Damn the man! Couldn't he just be evil and let her hate him in peace? It was no use, though. Now that she'd seen him for what he was when he wasn't being a bastard to her... speaking of which...
"Your maid seems dreadfully discontented, Lucius. Are you certain that she won't poison our repast?" Rose bristled. Severus had obviously been joking, and she knew a lead-in when she heard one, but did he have to get Lucius started on that again? Angrily she activated the chime announcing that lunch was prepared. She didn't think she could bear to hear her employer's accusations tonight, not when she was already formulating a plan to regain his favor, and this time she would maintain it... for Severus' sake.
Lucius strode wearily back from his study late that same night, his steps echoing in the empty hall. It had been one of the longest days he'd ever known, and one of the most productive. The rest of the interviews could be conducted later. For now, he had seven gifted wizards eager to assist him in overthrowing the Dark Lord. His army was almost assembled, his victory practically assured.
And of course, Severus, his oldest and, though he would never admit it, dearest friend was also on his side. That was enough to make him feel secure about almost anything. There was just something about Severus, something unshakeable and wise. He had been a foundation for him when they were merely children. Now, he was like the stone against which Lucius could set his back; reliable and true despite the many secrets he kept. With Severus by his side, this could not go wrong.
A multitude of similar thoughts wove themselves into a tapestry of victory in his mind, occupying his thoughts completely. He was, therefore, taken completely by surprise when he opened the door to his chambers and found Rose within, stretched prostrate before him in the manner of the ancient, noble slaves: knees thrown wide, chest and forehead on the cold, stone floor, her arms extended before her. It was the posture of complete submission, an acknowledgement of one's status as the property of another, also the traditional position in which a slave requested her master's attention so that she could make a request. To his great delight, she wore nothing but the serpent necklace he had given her. It was impossible to fail to notice that, without the accompaniment of clothing, it looked remarkably like a collar.
He closed the door firmly, gave a wicked smirk when she jumped, and walked straight past her, his boots missing her outstretched fingers by a hair's breadth. Once in the adjoining chamber, he began to draw a steaming bath, then stripped slowly, making enough noise to ensure that she would know what he was doing. Minutes later he sank into the soothing heat of the water with a groan of pleasure and leaned back to watch his unmoving servant shiver on the floor, and consider.
Lady Jenilyn: Thank you so much for your encouragement. I'm relieved that you didn't feel the spell was too far out there. I wanted it to be intense without being too gory. You're absolutely correct about Severus being more emotionally healthy for Alex than Lucius is. Besides, she's so in love with him she can't see straight. Lucius' feelings toward Rose are pretty complicated. I think he's not accustomed to needing someone as much as he needs her and has no idea how to express it. His nature draws him toward just taking what he requires and damn the consequences. Draco does not yet realize that Rose is being held prisoner and I doubt that she would tell him. She's too proud, for one, and she also doesn't want to destroy what little love exists between father and son. And stop making fun of my misspelling the word 'inquiring!' That is so mean! :-)
mary: It's good to know that there's another Lucius fan out there. My next story will probably be an exclusive Severus story, but I hope you don't hate it because of the lack of our beloved blonde bad guy. I know what you mean about the movie. That was the first time I'd ever wished they'd changed the books a bit, just for a glimpse of my beloved Lucius. Why did you hope Rose was in this chapter? Do you prefer her over Alex? I'm curious.
Annie: Sweet Mab, that was some review! I enjoyed writing Severus as the sweet guy for a change. I feel that he has a lot of untapped potential for niceness under all that anger. And, yes, Lucius has very complicated feelings for Rose. He truly likes her, in a weird sort of way, but has no intention of letting her go. I think, presently, he sees himself in the position of needing to break her so that she can continue to be of use to him. On the other hand, it's her spirit that makes her so likeable. What's a bad guy to do? I am amazed at your insight into Alex's personality and what this duality does for her. Completely separating that sweet, compassionate, submissive side was, though she didn't realize it at the time, the only way to really preserve it as she went about the business of killing off Death Eaters. You are truly an amazing person. I don't know what to say about your in-depth review of the respective roles of Rose and Alex. You brought up points that I hadn't even considered, points which have my writing of both characters easier, actually. So, thank you. As to the movie, I truly thought it was the best one yet. The younglings were much better actors and the direction was fantastic, even though my little dragon was disappointingly undragon-like. I missed a few scenes that I hoped would be in there, but I can't expect them to make a five hour movie (though the very thought makes me drool) just because I wanted to see a bit more of the book brought to life. I can do that within my own imagination. Cheers!
Rycca Wolfbane: Oooh, the edge of your seat. Really? Cool! But, please don't stop breathing. That would be terribly upsetting. I really like you. The answers to your questions are coming soon. Actually, the story is nearing its conclusion. I'm kinda sad about that.
PPP: That's a good point. It just wouldn't be a Sev/Alex brew is there weren't something illegal in it. They're not the most law-abiding citizens in the wizarding world. Poor Alex, indeed. I actually felt kind of guilty doing that to her.
Silverfey: My poor dear! I'm so sorry that you've been ill. And Strep in the summertime, double bummer! I hope that in the time it's taken me to finish this stubborn chapter that you've improved. Please tell me that you have. I'm worried about my little Silverfey. And still you managed to write a precious review. You are a sweetie. "A loving, contrite selection of written art:" that was one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to me, not to mention just a lovely turn of phrase. You flatter me and do me great honor with such high praise. I truly don't feel worthy of it. I'm a little shy to ask in case I misinterpreted, but are you turning sixteen in ten days? Well, fewer than that, now. That would be very cool. As to the chapter being unsurpassable, geez, I got a knot in stomach when I read that. I hope that I haven't ruined the rest of my story with that one chapter. That would suck mold. Thanks for your kindness, and I hope you feel better soon.
Fleur K: Don't stop breathing. Breathing is key. You can't finish the story if you stop breathing. I'm glad about Severus, too. I miss him when he's not around.