A/N: A special thanks to Verity Brown, who has been so wonderful about reviewing this story!
Severus struggled to push himself up onto his elbows, fighting against the heavy weight which rested on his chest and pinned his head against his pillow.
A bubble of panic rose up in his throat, escaping in a muffled scream. A darkened figure was above him, smothering him. He was being murdered in his own bed.
"Shut up!" A familiar voice hissed. "It's just me."
The damp hand was removed from his mouth, and Severus greedily gulped in a breath of cool air. There was a soft shuffling noise as his mistaken attacker jumped up from the bed and then struggled to light a candle with the tip of his wand.
"Regulus?" Severus asked, peering into the darkness.
After an unbearably long moment before the candle was lit, and the dark space between them was illuminated with a soft flickering yellow light.
"Merlin! I thought you were having a fit or something." Regulus exclaimed, sounding oddly casual, as if it were completely normal for him to have been practically smothering the older boy, in his bed, in the middle of the night no less.
"What the hell is wrong with you!" Severus shouted in a burst of anger, viciously kicking himself free of his sheets.
Regulus backed away fearfully, as if Severus were a rabid animal intent on ripping him apart.
"Shhh!" The younger boy pleaded meekly. "You don't have to get all..."
His voice faltered as Severus sprung free of the bed, and yanking his wand from the night stand, pointing it directly at his chest.
It was well known in Slytherin house, and in the school beyond, that when it came to dark magic Severus was a force to be reckoned with. He was not as quick a draw as the other boys, and his aim was not nearly as true, but under the right circumstances Severus could unleash a hundred horrific spells that were as frightening as they were powerful.
With this well in mind Regulus let out a fearful cry, and clumsily drew his own wand out as protection.
"What are you playing at?" Severus demanded, his cheeks blazing with an angry intensity.
"I had to wake you!" Regulus desperately explained. "I knocked but you didn't answer. So I just came in..."
"And tried to kill me?"
Severus found it hard not to shout, but was suddenly keenly aware of how the forcefulness of his voice cut through the hollow silence of the mansion.
"No!" Regulus insisted, foolishly dropping his wand and holding his hands out in a apologetic and pleading gesture. "I swear to Merlin I thought you dying or something. I tried to shake you awake and you started screaming..."
"I did not!" Severus countered, his nostrils flaring in anger. "You're making that up."
"No! I swear you were."
Severus paused for a moment, he held his wand steady but bit his lip as he thought. He had been dreaming, though he couldn't exactly remember what the dream had been. It was hazy and fragmented now, only the briefest memory of blooded glass and a woman's cry remained.
"I suppose I had a bad dream." Severus reluctantly admitted, lowering his wand.
Regulus sighed in relief, and drew his hands up over his chest, thankful for every breath.
"But I still don't understand why you're here in the first place." Severus wearily sunk back down onto the soft bed. "I hope you aren't that desperate for company."
"Not nearly." Regulus said, managing a weak smile. "Bellatrix sent me."
There was a silent moment as Severus'sgroggy mind tried to place the name. When it finally did his eyes widened. Bellatrix, theattractive yet somehow extremly frightening witch he had met this afternoon. The one who had insulted him, and had been staringdaggers at him.
"What for?" Severus asked, a thinly veiled panic in his voice.
"She didn't say." Regulus answered, almost too quickly.
Severus eyed the younger boy wearily.
"No really, she didn't say." He insisted. "You're guess is as good as mine."
"Why did she send you?" Severus narrowed his eyes at the boy.
"I was up anyway. Besides, why do you care?"
Severus glared at him, and then crawled across the bed reaching for the robes hehad discarded earlier.
"I'll wait outside." Regulus offered glumly. "Might as well walk you down."
Severus felt like a man being led to his execution. His robes were already damp with sweat, even though the night air was cool. Following Regulus down a flight of stairs and through a maze of long hallways he had nothing to occupy his mind other than the fate which awaited him.
"Honestly, she's not that bad." Regulus said over his shoulder, mistaking Severus's fear for disdain. "She's just blunt, that's all."
Regulus stopped in front of a pair of towering oak doors.
"The library." He explained, as he struggled to push one open.
When he stepped inside Severus felt oddly at ease, almost as if he had come home. The room was filled with musty yet wonderful smell of books. They lined every wall straight up to the impossibly high ceiling, thousands of thick leather bound treasures begging to be explored. So much in awe of his surroundings that he forgot his fright, Severus blindly moved into the center of the room.
Bellatrix sat before the fireplace, her skin softly illuminated in its warm glow. She rested on a long settee, lying spread out like a vision of leisure and elegance. If he was not terrified of her, Severus would have thought she was strikingly beautiful. A man he remembered as her husband Rodolphus sat in an overstuffed chair beside her, cradling a nearly overflowing glass of whiskey in his hands, staring down longingly into the dark amber colored liquid.
"What took you so long?" Bellatrix demanded in a slow yet forceful drawl. "I'm growing tired."
She worked on an exaggerated yawn, before swinging her legs over onto the floor. Severus stared at her long red nails as she patted the empty space she had made on the settee.
"Come and sit."
Regulus gave him a little shove, and Severus hesitantly stepped forward. Once again he was keenly aware of the trickle of nervous sweat down his back, and the aching empty feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Sit down, I won't bite." Bellatrix said flippantly.
Rodolphus snorted into his drink, but Bellatrix quickly silenced him with a long withering stare.
Severus sat down rigidly, not sure whether he should turn his body towards Bellatrix, but instead straining his eyes to stare in her direction without making it obvious.
"Go to bed cousin." Bellatrix lazily waved her hand in Regulus's direction. "I wouldn't want to keep you from your sleep."
Regulus looked like he was struggling not to speak. Several times he opened his mouth, only to quickly shut it again. It was painfully clear he didn't want to leave, but did not have to nerve to plead if he could stay.
"Go!" Bellatrix suddenly shouted.
Severus jumped, startled, and bit down hard on his tongue. He ignored the throbbing pain in his mouth, and stared longingly at the great oak doors as they shut behind Regulus.
"Now Severus." Bellatrix almost purred. "Let's you and I have a little chat."
Rodolphus snorted into his drink again, but Bellatrix ignored him.
Severus stopped breathing whenshe reached over and clamped her hand down on his chin. Her long fingernails dug into his skin as she forced him to turn his head, and look directly into her dark eyes.
"Do you know why you are here tonight?" She asked, wearing a wicked smile. "Why you are in my dear friend's mansion?"
Severus thought for a moment, wondering what would happen if he offered the wrong response. Would she hex him? Her fingers were still digging into his skin, and he could feel blood beginning to pool underneath the half-moon wounds her nails were making.
"Lucius invited me." Severus said softly, his voice almost comically muffled by the presence of her hand on his face.
"Yes, but only because I asked him too."
Bellatrix raised her eyebrows at him, and then pressed his lips together for a moment, before drawing her hand away. Nothing was said as she turned her hand over and examined the blood that had collected under he fingernails. Severus watched in a silent mix of awe and distaste as she ran a finger along her soft red lips, tasting his blood.
"Your talents are most impressive Severus." Bellatrix went on. "And I must admit your temperament leaveslittle to be desired. At least in this case.You were never one to make friends, were you Severus?"
"How do you know." Severus lost himself in the dark pool of her eyes, his fear was slowly being replaced by a feeling he could not name.
"I've made it my business to know." Bellatrix whispered, leaning in so close he could feel her breath of his face. "You could say its been my job."
Severus chewed on his lip, pondering this. He vaguely remembered overhearing a rumor, one that he found so ridiculous it had promptly been pushed aside.
"A young man of your talents could be of much use in certain...circles." Bellatrix chose her words carefully. "It depends of course, on your integrity. May I ask you something Severus, in confidence?"
She placed a hand on his knee, and smiled sweetly when he nodded. All at once he felt intoxicated and afraid.
"What do you think of mudbloods?" She spat out the word, as if it had dirtied her mouth to speak it.
Severus paused. He knew that word well enough, and had used it as an insult more times that he was fond to remember. In truth he had never thought it was wrong, because he alone knew the malic behind that word was not there. He didn't dislike people of 'dirty blood', at least not anymore than he despised some of his own housemates. True, he did sometimes fancy himself superior to them, but even that was a difficult game. He was wise enough to realize his pureblood status was a empty prize. It would not give him wealth, grant him good looks, or boost his intellect. In truth, he had been unable to see what all the fuss withblood was about. One day, he would realize this had been an extremely wise position.
"I despise them." He said at last.
It was not exactly the truth, but he knew it was what she wanted to hear.
Bellatrix smiled, a reward for a good answer.
"I think you'll find that we have much in common." Bellatrix drawled. "And there are many more like me, you met many of them today."
Severus paused to consider the implication of her words. He had brushed off the rumors, laughed as the other boys whispered seriously of "death eaters" and a "dark lord" none would name. Could it have all been true?
"You seem very clever Severus." Bellatrix whispered. "I'm sure you understand it would be a very, very grave mistake to speak to anyone of this. Even your father."
Severus nodded quickly, a nervous elation building within him.
"You will hear from us soon." She continued. "Can you sneak away without being seen?"
Severus again nodded.
"I didn't doubt that you could. Remember Severus, I don't like to disappointed."
Rodolphus cleared his throat, and Bellatrix turned towards him. In the intensity of the moment Severus had forgotten his presence.
"I'm going to bed, and I suggest you do the same." Bellatrix said to him, rising as she spoke. "Don't forget Severus, not a word to anyone."
Even after she had left, so much of her remained. The scent of her perfume hung in the air. The memory of her harsh movements stung his broken skin. He knew at once that his silence must be total and unyielding. The mere suggestion of her presence brought to mind all she might be capable of.
Somehow he found his way back to his room. He knew his mind was much too full for sleep. There was now so much to think about, to consider. Instead he drew back the curtains, and sat in the window sill. Dawn was breaking on the horizon, in a soft memorizing pallette of pinks and yellows. Severus knew this was the dawn of not only a new day, but of something else as well. What it was he could not say, but the thought calmed a desperate hunger inside him, one that he had never known existed until he was blessedly free of its aching desire.