Chapter 14:
Although I am mildly comforted by Albus's words and assurances, there is still a heavy weight on my heart. I still have ambitions to restore the Snape family name. I still wish to convince Narcissa to sign the house over to Severus. But, I no longer wish to destroy Albus in the process.
Oh, I do not truly think I would have done it, but I could have very easily gone too far to come safely back. But now I will not. I will allow myself to be manipulated and follow Albus's instructions. For a while, at least.
But, until I receive my marching orders, I will continue to press forward. Passing into my rooms I survey the wardrobe for a suitable outfit for tonight's festivities. Before long, Remus joins me.
"You mean to go, then?" he asks, framed squarely by the door, a visual reminder of the steadfast and solid rock he has been for me.
"Yes," I respond tersely, "Will you help me fasten this necklace?" I hold both ends of a breathtaking emerald and diamond cascade. Hanging from my pale throat I know I will be beautiful.
Taking a short swish around the rooms, I look to Remus for consent, "Do I pass? Shall I be acceptable for the Malfoys?" He nods his approval and as I pass him on my way out, I give him a brief peck on the cheek. "Thank you." I say softly, before sweeping up the steps and out the doors of the Great Hall.
I still remember exactly where to apparate for the Manor, and as I arrive, I see the entire house, all three wings ablaze. This will be quite the fete. It is not every day a convicted Death Eater is released by the Minister. I think of Albus's hints to discover how far gone Fudge is, in case I need to employ them.
My heart beats faster as I think of the possibility of seeing Severus again, especially in this garb. If the few responses I have received so far from the three men I have passed on my way inside, I must be well worth the three hours preparation I put in.
A young wizard opens the front doors for me, and I am swept along with the crowd for several minutes, seeing several familiar faces in the crowd. There is a quite a collection here this evening. Most of the Death Eaters at large are present, as are many Ministry officials. Other dignitaries, domestic and foreign, are mingling in the crowd, and every lord and lady still alive in Great Britain appears to have made it out for the occasion.
Before I am forced out of the third room of the evening, I feel a light hand on my left shoulder. Looking in that direction, I see a brilliant Narcissa beaming at me. "Bena! You have arrived! Splendid! You look stunning. Here, come with me; there are several people you need to see. Severus is here somewhere, as well. Hopefully we'll run into him before long." My arm is pulled along the edges of the room, which mercifully part before the hostess as they had not for me, and we are quickly surrounded by a smaller, quieter group of men and women.
It takes me only a moment to realize this room is not on the general circuit of the festivities, and also that almost every witch and wizard present in this room is a Death Eater.
Splendid. My hackles raised to their highest alert and my reflexes on overdrive, I flash a surprisingly bright smile in the direction of Misters Crabbe and Goyle, still looking as idiotic as they ever did in their youth. They neither of them recognize me and I move along to the left, Narcissa having abandoned me to the far side of the room, presumably to begin planting whispers of my arrival.
I should have expected this sort of ambush, I realize wryly. My eyes search for Severus, but I cannot discern his tall slender form among the crowd. Instead, my eyes fall evenly on Lucius Malfoy, talking low with the Cornelius Fudge.
My eyes flutter shut for a moment before I hear my voice being called by the master of the house. Here it begins. Plastering an expression of, I hope warmth, I approach the two gentlemen.
Lucius greets me with a kiss on the cheek, though he has in the past taken far more liberties with his greeting. After the perfunctory introductions with the Minister, Lucius cattles me away to a corner as effectively as a prize winning sheep dog.
Staring me directly in the eye, his cold gray gaze matches the tone in his voice, "So, dear Bena, returned to England and Severus, have you? I do hope you are willing to fulfill your end of the bargain. Our Lord is not forgiving, or forgetful. You have much to make up for."
Taking a glass of champagne from a passing house elf, I train my gaze on the rest of the room, murmuring from the corner of my mouth, "Make up for? My dear Lucius" I purr, "it was not I who was to commit murder. I am the one who fled. And as for the bargain, I was not aware any had been made."
"Your husband took the very great liberty of informing the Dark Lord of your shifting loyalties." He purrs back. Lucius is so very good at the game.
"Loyalties may be too strong a word. Let it simply be that spending nearly two decades among the Americans would make anyone, even the largest muggle- loving fool, yearn for a more separate, more pure, magical society." I risk a small glance in his direction and am rewarded by a raising of his glass to mine in mock toast.
"Well, my dear, you are in luck. This night shall not only celebrate my freedom, but your proper reinstitution to Severus's side, as had been so hoped for all those years ago. Though I must warn you, you had best be sincere in this, Bena. Or you shall pay, and it shall not be pleasant."
He gives a curt nod and walks off to greet another guest. I survey the room again; still no sign of Severus. I am becoming anxious, when Lucius waves his wand to seal the two entrances shut and turns, all eyes in the room now upon him. He addresses the crowd, his face agleam in the firelight.
"And now, my friends, we shall get the true party underway. We assemble in five minutes!" And with this, the majority of the room clutch their left forearms and disapparate from the room.
I feel a strong hand on my right arm, and Lucius silky voice enters my ear, "Grab onto me, Bena. This shall be fun." The moment I do, I feel the familiar woosh and crack of apparation, frightened of what I will find when I open my eyes.
Although I am mildly comforted by Albus's words and assurances, there is still a heavy weight on my heart. I still have ambitions to restore the Snape family name. I still wish to convince Narcissa to sign the house over to Severus. But, I no longer wish to destroy Albus in the process.
Oh, I do not truly think I would have done it, but I could have very easily gone too far to come safely back. But now I will not. I will allow myself to be manipulated and follow Albus's instructions. For a while, at least.
But, until I receive my marching orders, I will continue to press forward. Passing into my rooms I survey the wardrobe for a suitable outfit for tonight's festivities. Before long, Remus joins me.
"You mean to go, then?" he asks, framed squarely by the door, a visual reminder of the steadfast and solid rock he has been for me.
"Yes," I respond tersely, "Will you help me fasten this necklace?" I hold both ends of a breathtaking emerald and diamond cascade. Hanging from my pale throat I know I will be beautiful.
Taking a short swish around the rooms, I look to Remus for consent, "Do I pass? Shall I be acceptable for the Malfoys?" He nods his approval and as I pass him on my way out, I give him a brief peck on the cheek. "Thank you." I say softly, before sweeping up the steps and out the doors of the Great Hall.
I still remember exactly where to apparate for the Manor, and as I arrive, I see the entire house, all three wings ablaze. This will be quite the fete. It is not every day a convicted Death Eater is released by the Minister. I think of Albus's hints to discover how far gone Fudge is, in case I need to employ them.
My heart beats faster as I think of the possibility of seeing Severus again, especially in this garb. If the few responses I have received so far from the three men I have passed on my way inside, I must be well worth the three hours preparation I put in.
A young wizard opens the front doors for me, and I am swept along with the crowd for several minutes, seeing several familiar faces in the crowd. There is a quite a collection here this evening. Most of the Death Eaters at large are present, as are many Ministry officials. Other dignitaries, domestic and foreign, are mingling in the crowd, and every lord and lady still alive in Great Britain appears to have made it out for the occasion.
Before I am forced out of the third room of the evening, I feel a light hand on my left shoulder. Looking in that direction, I see a brilliant Narcissa beaming at me. "Bena! You have arrived! Splendid! You look stunning. Here, come with me; there are several people you need to see. Severus is here somewhere, as well. Hopefully we'll run into him before long." My arm is pulled along the edges of the room, which mercifully part before the hostess as they had not for me, and we are quickly surrounded by a smaller, quieter group of men and women.
It takes me only a moment to realize this room is not on the general circuit of the festivities, and also that almost every witch and wizard present in this room is a Death Eater.
Splendid. My hackles raised to their highest alert and my reflexes on overdrive, I flash a surprisingly bright smile in the direction of Misters Crabbe and Goyle, still looking as idiotic as they ever did in their youth. They neither of them recognize me and I move along to the left, Narcissa having abandoned me to the far side of the room, presumably to begin planting whispers of my arrival.
I should have expected this sort of ambush, I realize wryly. My eyes search for Severus, but I cannot discern his tall slender form among the crowd. Instead, my eyes fall evenly on Lucius Malfoy, talking low with the Cornelius Fudge.
My eyes flutter shut for a moment before I hear my voice being called by the master of the house. Here it begins. Plastering an expression of, I hope warmth, I approach the two gentlemen.
Lucius greets me with a kiss on the cheek, though he has in the past taken far more liberties with his greeting. After the perfunctory introductions with the Minister, Lucius cattles me away to a corner as effectively as a prize winning sheep dog.
Staring me directly in the eye, his cold gray gaze matches the tone in his voice, "So, dear Bena, returned to England and Severus, have you? I do hope you are willing to fulfill your end of the bargain. Our Lord is not forgiving, or forgetful. You have much to make up for."
Taking a glass of champagne from a passing house elf, I train my gaze on the rest of the room, murmuring from the corner of my mouth, "Make up for? My dear Lucius" I purr, "it was not I who was to commit murder. I am the one who fled. And as for the bargain, I was not aware any had been made."
"Your husband took the very great liberty of informing the Dark Lord of your shifting loyalties." He purrs back. Lucius is so very good at the game.
"Loyalties may be too strong a word. Let it simply be that spending nearly two decades among the Americans would make anyone, even the largest muggle- loving fool, yearn for a more separate, more pure, magical society." I risk a small glance in his direction and am rewarded by a raising of his glass to mine in mock toast.
"Well, my dear, you are in luck. This night shall not only celebrate my freedom, but your proper reinstitution to Severus's side, as had been so hoped for all those years ago. Though I must warn you, you had best be sincere in this, Bena. Or you shall pay, and it shall not be pleasant."
He gives a curt nod and walks off to greet another guest. I survey the room again; still no sign of Severus. I am becoming anxious, when Lucius waves his wand to seal the two entrances shut and turns, all eyes in the room now upon him. He addresses the crowd, his face agleam in the firelight.
"And now, my friends, we shall get the true party underway. We assemble in five minutes!" And with this, the majority of the room clutch their left forearms and disapparate from the room.
I feel a strong hand on my right arm, and Lucius silky voice enters my ear, "Grab onto me, Bena. This shall be fun." The moment I do, I feel the familiar woosh and crack of apparation, frightened of what I will find when I open my eyes.