Updated: Wednesday 16th February 2005

Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

Chapter Twenty Eight: In Cahoots

The inevitable had happened. For nearly four years since the Malfoys had re-established contact with him he had managed to keep Estella at arm's length. After the first year, young Draco began spending all his time with a governess, and the Ministry had backed off entirely, freeing up much of Narcissa and Lucius' time to spend in other more socially profitable areas. The invitations for Severus and Estella to attend intimate family luncheons became less frequent; and it was subsequently easier to construct elaborate, unsuspecting excuses, to account for Estella's – and occasionally his own – absence. However, now Severus found himself inexorably backed into a corner; craftily manipulated and fooled by a fellow Slytherin's smooth operating.

Severus mentally kicked himself for allowing himself to be caught off guard like that. A proud Slytherin… head of the bloody house for crying out loud… and he had failed to recognise the signs of a Slytherin mind at work. He now had no choice but to accept on both his and Estella's behalf, their invitation to attend Draco Malfoy's ninth birthday celebrations.

"Estella, will you accompany me to my office, please?" Severus asked lightly, knocking on the doorframe of his niece's open doorway as he poked his head in.

Estella looked up from her desk where she had been slumped over a sprawl of parchment and schoolbooks and cast her uncle a curious look. Habitually speaking, her uncle only ever asked to speak with her in his office when he had something of upmost importance to tell her. Her uncle's office was to her uncle, what her room was to her – his safe zone.

"Alright, Uncle Sev." She replied cautiously, setting her work aside neatly and extricating herself from her chair to follow on her uncle's heel.

"Relax child, you're not in trouble." Severus assured her, "there's merely a development I wish to inform you of."

Estella nodded and took her customary seat in front of her uncle's desk. Severus did the same.

"Now…" Severus began, clearing his throat. "Would you care for a refreshment?"

Estella nodded slowly. Severus snapped his fingers, summoning one of the staff's exclusive house elves from whom he requested a pitcher of Butterbeer.

'Butterbeer!' Estella thought in disbelief, realising with sudden clarity that the issue her uncle wished to broach with her was something big, for he seldom bestowed the treat of Butterbeer on her unbidden.

Estella accepted a tall glass of the frothy delight appreciatively and tentatively took a savouring sip. "So what's up?" She asked.

"We have been invited to attend a gathering at the Malfoy's." Severus said, getting straight to the point.

Estella shrugged, "who are they?"

"Lucius Malfoy is an acquaintance of mine from school and his wife, Narcissa, is your father's first cousin. They have a son named Draco who is a little older than you." He explained.

Estella frowned. "How come I haven't heard of them before?" She asked, puzzled.

Severus rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily. How was he going to explain?

"I've mostly kept up my association with them while you've been spending your weekends with Mr Lupin," he explained. "I do apologise for keeping this from you, but I had wanted to keep you from their influence as long as I could."

"What do you mean, Uncle Sev?" Estella asked. "Are they not nice people?"

Severus stroked his chin in thought. "Do you recall how Mr Lupin and I told you how despite how certain people could be harsh and cruel to people they didn't like, they could still be capable of kindness and love to those they approved of?" Estella nodded. "Well Mr and Mrs Malfoy are like that too." He explained. "They will be very nice to you and like you a great deal, don't get me wrong, but I do not care for you to be influenced by their political beliefs."

"You're afraid that if I spent time with them I would want to be mean to people they don't like too?" Estella asked in hushed tones. "Like my Dad did?"

Severus flinched at the mention of the man, but forced himself to smile. "You have a good head on your shoulders, Estella, I have every faith that you would have made the correct decision regardless of their influence." He assured. "However, should you visibly oppose the Malfoys I fear you won't escape unscathed."

Estella stared at her uncle, her eyes wide. "They wouldn't like me anymore and be mean?" She gasped, shaken.

Severus nodded gravely. "It is imperative that you speak only when necessary while we are there and pretend to agree with anything you fear would upset them otherwise." He said imploringly. "Do you think you could be a little… Slytherin?"

Estella nodded softly, not quite sure of what she was agreeing to do. Severus noted her concern and locked eyes with her, his eyes determined. "Don't fear child, I will be right by your side. Follow my lead and you will be fine."

Estella nodded, more surely this time, and Severus took a long refreshing draft of his Butterbeer. By Merlin how he hoped he had done a good enough job raising his niece to enable her to emerge from the snake's pit he was leading her into. His only reassurance, was his niece's newfound proficiency with a wand. Ever since that Christmas nine months previously, both Severus and Remus had taken it upon themselves to tutor Estella in the spells most valuable in self preservation.

"How will we be getting there?" Estella asked the next morning over breakfast.

"The invitation will become a port key at the time specified," Severus replied, ingesting the rest of his coffee stonily. "Which is only twenty minutes from now, so hurry up and finish your tea!"

Estella pushed her cup aside and blanched. "I don't want anymore Uncle Sev, my tummy hurts." She said quietly. "What if they don't like me?"

Severus sighed, and after a moment's thought, summoned a vial from his potions cupboard. "Here," he said, uncorking the lid and extending the vial towards his niece. "Drink this, it will mollify your anxiety. I assure you there's no reason to be so nervous."

Estella took the vial from her uncle's outstretched hand and toyed with it in her hand. "I know what a calming draught does Uncle Sev," She said, administering herself the potion after examining its contents fleetingly. "Thank you, I feel so much better already."

Severus nodded in response and vanished the cups away. "Now, do you remember what we discussed?"

Estella nodded, seriously. "Only speak when it's absolutely necessary. Stay in the same room as you. Follow your example and give Slytherin answers to everything!"

Severus cocked his head to the side. "And do you have your wands?"

"Out of sight, just like you said." Estella said, patting her torso. "And they won't come out unless I am threatened. It's always better to be underestimated and have the element of surprise."

"That's right, Estella." Severus said, nodding, "anything else?"

"Don't talk about Remus or any of the things that go on in these walls."

"And why is that?" Severus checked, "in the event that they ask?"

"What happens at home, stays at home." Estella recited.

Severus smirked. "A Slytherin answer if there ever was one." He said, then, rising from his chair. "Stay here, I have something for you."

Estella watched her Uncle leave with a measure of intrigue. Rising from her chair and leaning against its arm, waiting, she crossed her arms expectantly across her chest in a oh-so-familiar gesture.

Moments later, Severus emerged from his room wearing an elaborate black cloak, a impressively appointed silver clasp fashioned in the likeness of the Snape family crest completing the ensemble. In his arms was a folded garment in his arms. It was a cloak… but not just any cloak.

Unfolding the cloak carefully, he wrapped it around Estella's neck loosely, pleased when he noted the precise fit. "I would like for you to wear this today. Do not remove it under any circumstances."

Estella brushed her uncle's hands away impatiently, intent on doing up the clasp on her own. "What if I get hot?"

Severus smoothed out the ridges of the cloak on his niece's shoulders and stood back to admire her sophisticated form. "The cloak is charmed with temperature control… as well as a few protective charms for peace of mind." He said. "Now swear to me you won't remove it."

Estella nodded. "I swear."

Severus inclined his head gratefully and placed his hand between his niece's shoulder blades, nudging her towards a mirror he moved out of his room earlier that morning. "Come, have a look at yourself. You look positively impressive." He said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Like a true pureblood."

Estella stared at the reflection of her Uncle as he stood behind her before turning her attention to the amazing cloak he had bestowed upon her, watching, transfixed, as the midnight blue material shimmered lively as the light caught it and the folds fell and swished as she moved.

"I am a pureblood!" She said factually, then, peering at the detail on her own bejewelled clasp she added. "Is that the Black family crest?"

Severus nodded, placing his hands on his niece's shoulders. "As a most mundane and archaic custom amongst traditional pureblood families it would be anticipated that you would wear it." Severus said. "For all intensive purposes we must appear to share the same principles." Then, pulling out his wand he took a step back from his niece. "Now, about your hair…"

Estella spun around to face her Uncle, her father's wand materialising in her hand but it was too late, he had already charmed her hair into a slick, unalterable style, giving her a mature, distinguished look.

"Now you look like a pureblood." Severus smirked. "Remember to always stay on your guard while we are there, Estella. Your hesitation just now could have spurned even more devastating results."

Estella cringed, spinning back around to look at what her Uncle had done. "My hair!" She shrieked, "what have you done to my hair!"

Severus placed a placating hand on his niece's head, silencing her. "I have merely made you presentable to the inquisitive eyes of the Malfoys." He said. "Now come along, it's time to depart."

Estella stood still as stone as her uncle came up close behind her and stretched his arms out in front of her, the innocent looking piece of parchment in his hands. "Now, hold grab a hold of the Portkey, Estella, and do not let go until I give you permission to do so."

Estella nodded wordlessly and within seconds of her gripping the edge of the parchment the pair felt the slight tug at their navels as they were whisked away.

End Chapter: In Cahoots.