Chapter 24:
The fun did indeed begin, though it was of a more chauvinistic nature than I am used to suffering through. It began with planning for the coming attack, but then involved mainly sitting through tedious competitions of who was more man than the other. Fortunately, Voldemort sat through this in as much silence as me; the competition stayed between Lucius and MacNair.
If I have expressed revulsion from Lucius Malfoy, I currently feel repulsion at MacNair. I have never met an individual so intent upon causing bodily harm to others. After an hour, thankfully, MacNair's trick knee began acting up, and he stood to take a short walk.
We are still in the clearing; Voldemort summoned stools for us to rest upon. Voldemort sets himself to pacing, leaving me alone with Lucius. By now, I am fatigued beyond acceptance. I fall asleep on the stool, my chin falling onto my chest every few seconds.
"Bena!" Lucius says sharply. I shake my head and look up at him through bleary eyes.
"Yes, Lucius?" I say slowly.
"Will you be able to stay awake for the attack?" he hisses.
"That depends, Lucius." I begin.
"On what?" he interrupts."
"Manners, Lucius." I scold him. Seeing his temper flare, I continue, "it depends on whether or not I am allowed sleep now. I have been deprived of it since I arrived at Hogwarts."
Lucius looks at me carefully. I expound on my point, examining my fingernails. "It appears my husband was faithful to me all these years in terms of the marriage bed. There was been much catching up to do over the past week. Severus is, I'm afraid, quite insatiable." I let a small smile fall upon my lips.
It may be an exaggeration, but I do not think Severus will mind. Lucius huffs himself into silence, for which I am grateful. As I sit there, I feel myself fall asleep.
Too soon Lucius again interrupts my sleep. In my irritation I bite out, "Lucius, how is it you have the Minister of Magic eating from the palm of your hand? From what I can see your manners are deplorable and you have lost the charm and wit you once posessed."
Lucius smiles wickedly, "Cornelius has no spine whatsoever."
I roll my eyes. "So, Imperius? Or something less expected? Or, perhaps our dear Minister is a loyal Death Eater?" Lucius and I have a long- developed mutual dislike of one another, so my sneering questions draw no untoward reaction from him, though I must be certain no one else hears the questions, or they may draw unwanted attention my way.
"Oh no, no." Lucius chuckles, "Fudge is more than willing to do my bidding simply because I ask."
"Why? Now that he has acknowledged the Dark Lord is back, wouldn't it be better for him not to show you support?" I admit I have been confused by this detail since Remus showed me the headline in the Daily Prophet.
"The Minister recognizes the importance of pure-blood wizards. As the patriarch of one of those Wizarding families, he recognizes the importance of my being freed from Azkaban." He says, quite pleased with himself.
I know that is not the only reason, but it is the only one I will get out of him for the moment. I am still exhausted. My mind is filled with whirling images from the past few hours. I am desperately trying to remember what it was Albus told me during our planning session. My eyes are closed.
Soon enough I open them, only to find myself in Malfoy Manor. I am wearing different robes as well. They are purple. There are two women fussing about me, Ormana Snape and Narcissa Malfoy. They are pruning and preening my hair. I do nothing to stop them.
It's a dream, I realize. Odd. I feel very detached from myself. Almost as though I am a separate entity in the room. I step back and watch myself being prepared for my wedding. In two minutes, exactly as I remember, the two women leave me. Moments later, a knock is heard on the door.
Albus enters. I smile brightly at him. He returns my enthusiasm. "My dear." He greets me. You are resplendent." My smile widens.
"Now," he continues soberly. "do not become angry with me. As your guardian I must ask this. Are you certain you wish to marry Severus?" he holds up a hand to stem the protests streaming from my lips, "I ask only because over the past few months you have come to me with increasing frequency because of problems between you and Severus. You clash so violently in your ideals. Severus is bound and determined to follow Voldemort, you know."
I smile, but say with resolution, "Yes, I know uncle. But I love him. It is only a temporary problem. Soon enough, Severus will see the error of his beliefs and we will be fine."
The nod Albus gives shows he does not agree, but he keeps his silence. "Then love be upon you." He blesses me and leaves the room. I glance to the clock on the table. Five minutes until I am required to be downstairs.
Another soft knock is head, but this time the door opens to allow Lucius. I quickly hide my grimace and smile cloyingly at him. "Hummell." He greets me tersely.
"Lucius. I must again thank you for the graciousness of your family. Allowing Severus and I..." but my insincere gushing is halted.
"None of that, Bena. You and I both know you despise me. That is fine. However, you make Severus less morose than he is wont when left to his own devices. His services will be in demand soon enough. You and I both know he is far more productive when in a good mood. That is the reason, and the only reason" his voice lowers, "that I am allowing this wedding to continue. Are you ready?"
I nod, silent. He offers me his arm, and I grudgingly take it. Lucius, in sad irony, is to give me away, my parents not being allowed to come to the ceremony. I walk down the hallway and main stairs of the grandiose manor; I can hear the voices of guests wafting up from downstairs. I feel my spirits sink to know none of my friends are present.
Lucius turns to me and says "Now, Bena, is the time. If you are ready, we shall begin."
I cock my head in confusion. That is not what I remember him saying. He grabs my shoulder; again, not from my memory. Another voice is heard, louder this time, and I shake my head. Present-day Lucius is standing over me, peering exasperatedly at me. It is light out.
"And she is awake." Lucius drawls. "Get up. It is time to go."
I freeze to the spot. I must not let them sense my fear. Fear is the mind- killer. I close my eyes briefly, and Albus' plan comes flooding back on the inside of my eyelids, his warm gentle face filling my view.
I open my eyes, feeling calm, and join the three men. I take Lucius' arm and we disapparate. We are now outside the gates of Hogwarts, where Severus and I appeared from below ground a few hours ago. Searching quickly, we find the entrance.
About fifty feet in, Lucius, in the lead, stops. "What is it?" MacNair whispers. I arch my back as I feel Voldemort's warm breath on the back of my neck. Silently chanting to Lucius to continue moving, I almost miss his answer.
"Severus said there would be a breeze in the tunnel. I do not feel one." The four of us still all movement and breath. Finally, a soft breeze is felt. I collapse my shoulders in relief. The absence of breeze meant one of the wards had been triggered. It meant Albus and Severus were aware of our presence and had reset the wards.
We continue on. When we finally approach the wooden door that leads to Hogwarts proper, we again halt. "Now what?" MacNair says impatiently.
A cold voice is heard in my ear. "We wait."
The fun did indeed begin, though it was of a more chauvinistic nature than I am used to suffering through. It began with planning for the coming attack, but then involved mainly sitting through tedious competitions of who was more man than the other. Fortunately, Voldemort sat through this in as much silence as me; the competition stayed between Lucius and MacNair.
If I have expressed revulsion from Lucius Malfoy, I currently feel repulsion at MacNair. I have never met an individual so intent upon causing bodily harm to others. After an hour, thankfully, MacNair's trick knee began acting up, and he stood to take a short walk.
We are still in the clearing; Voldemort summoned stools for us to rest upon. Voldemort sets himself to pacing, leaving me alone with Lucius. By now, I am fatigued beyond acceptance. I fall asleep on the stool, my chin falling onto my chest every few seconds.
"Bena!" Lucius says sharply. I shake my head and look up at him through bleary eyes.
"Yes, Lucius?" I say slowly.
"Will you be able to stay awake for the attack?" he hisses.
"That depends, Lucius." I begin.
"On what?" he interrupts."
"Manners, Lucius." I scold him. Seeing his temper flare, I continue, "it depends on whether or not I am allowed sleep now. I have been deprived of it since I arrived at Hogwarts."
Lucius looks at me carefully. I expound on my point, examining my fingernails. "It appears my husband was faithful to me all these years in terms of the marriage bed. There was been much catching up to do over the past week. Severus is, I'm afraid, quite insatiable." I let a small smile fall upon my lips.
It may be an exaggeration, but I do not think Severus will mind. Lucius huffs himself into silence, for which I am grateful. As I sit there, I feel myself fall asleep.
Too soon Lucius again interrupts my sleep. In my irritation I bite out, "Lucius, how is it you have the Minister of Magic eating from the palm of your hand? From what I can see your manners are deplorable and you have lost the charm and wit you once posessed."
Lucius smiles wickedly, "Cornelius has no spine whatsoever."
I roll my eyes. "So, Imperius? Or something less expected? Or, perhaps our dear Minister is a loyal Death Eater?" Lucius and I have a long- developed mutual dislike of one another, so my sneering questions draw no untoward reaction from him, though I must be certain no one else hears the questions, or they may draw unwanted attention my way.
"Oh no, no." Lucius chuckles, "Fudge is more than willing to do my bidding simply because I ask."
"Why? Now that he has acknowledged the Dark Lord is back, wouldn't it be better for him not to show you support?" I admit I have been confused by this detail since Remus showed me the headline in the Daily Prophet.
"The Minister recognizes the importance of pure-blood wizards. As the patriarch of one of those Wizarding families, he recognizes the importance of my being freed from Azkaban." He says, quite pleased with himself.
I know that is not the only reason, but it is the only one I will get out of him for the moment. I am still exhausted. My mind is filled with whirling images from the past few hours. I am desperately trying to remember what it was Albus told me during our planning session. My eyes are closed.
Soon enough I open them, only to find myself in Malfoy Manor. I am wearing different robes as well. They are purple. There are two women fussing about me, Ormana Snape and Narcissa Malfoy. They are pruning and preening my hair. I do nothing to stop them.
It's a dream, I realize. Odd. I feel very detached from myself. Almost as though I am a separate entity in the room. I step back and watch myself being prepared for my wedding. In two minutes, exactly as I remember, the two women leave me. Moments later, a knock is heard on the door.
Albus enters. I smile brightly at him. He returns my enthusiasm. "My dear." He greets me. You are resplendent." My smile widens.
"Now," he continues soberly. "do not become angry with me. As your guardian I must ask this. Are you certain you wish to marry Severus?" he holds up a hand to stem the protests streaming from my lips, "I ask only because over the past few months you have come to me with increasing frequency because of problems between you and Severus. You clash so violently in your ideals. Severus is bound and determined to follow Voldemort, you know."
I smile, but say with resolution, "Yes, I know uncle. But I love him. It is only a temporary problem. Soon enough, Severus will see the error of his beliefs and we will be fine."
The nod Albus gives shows he does not agree, but he keeps his silence. "Then love be upon you." He blesses me and leaves the room. I glance to the clock on the table. Five minutes until I am required to be downstairs.
Another soft knock is head, but this time the door opens to allow Lucius. I quickly hide my grimace and smile cloyingly at him. "Hummell." He greets me tersely.
"Lucius. I must again thank you for the graciousness of your family. Allowing Severus and I..." but my insincere gushing is halted.
"None of that, Bena. You and I both know you despise me. That is fine. However, you make Severus less morose than he is wont when left to his own devices. His services will be in demand soon enough. You and I both know he is far more productive when in a good mood. That is the reason, and the only reason" his voice lowers, "that I am allowing this wedding to continue. Are you ready?"
I nod, silent. He offers me his arm, and I grudgingly take it. Lucius, in sad irony, is to give me away, my parents not being allowed to come to the ceremony. I walk down the hallway and main stairs of the grandiose manor; I can hear the voices of guests wafting up from downstairs. I feel my spirits sink to know none of my friends are present.
Lucius turns to me and says "Now, Bena, is the time. If you are ready, we shall begin."
I cock my head in confusion. That is not what I remember him saying. He grabs my shoulder; again, not from my memory. Another voice is heard, louder this time, and I shake my head. Present-day Lucius is standing over me, peering exasperatedly at me. It is light out.
"And she is awake." Lucius drawls. "Get up. It is time to go."
I freeze to the spot. I must not let them sense my fear. Fear is the mind- killer. I close my eyes briefly, and Albus' plan comes flooding back on the inside of my eyelids, his warm gentle face filling my view.
I open my eyes, feeling calm, and join the three men. I take Lucius' arm and we disapparate. We are now outside the gates of Hogwarts, where Severus and I appeared from below ground a few hours ago. Searching quickly, we find the entrance.
About fifty feet in, Lucius, in the lead, stops. "What is it?" MacNair whispers. I arch my back as I feel Voldemort's warm breath on the back of my neck. Silently chanting to Lucius to continue moving, I almost miss his answer.
"Severus said there would be a breeze in the tunnel. I do not feel one." The four of us still all movement and breath. Finally, a soft breeze is felt. I collapse my shoulders in relief. The absence of breeze meant one of the wards had been triggered. It meant Albus and Severus were aware of our presence and had reset the wards.
We continue on. When we finally approach the wooden door that leads to Hogwarts proper, we again halt. "Now what?" MacNair says impatiently.
A cold voice is heard in my ear. "We wait."