Revenge of a Slytherin

Chapter 22

Nichol woke with the strange sensation she was being watched. Turning over and stretching in the moonlight she jumped and screamed as she saw a tiny pale face with huge wide eyes right there in front of her. 'Please mistress, I mean you no harm.' The tiny creature glanced nervously across the room as the light next-door came on. With click of it's fingers the house elf vanished as Severus ran into the room 'wh-what is it? Are you all right?' he stood at the end of the bed, wand ready in his hand. For a split second Nichol considered telling him about the elf, but instead said 'I'm fine, really, it was just a bad dream.' Severus scowled and looked suspiciously at her. 'Truly, I'm fine, I will read for a while and then I am sure to sleep alright.' She smiled at him and picked up her book. Severus nodded and bid Nichol goodnight. On returning to his room he turned out the lights and stood by the door, listening in the darkness to Nichol reading and flipping pages next door.

Nichol read for a while – or at least pretended to. Once she was sure Severus had gone to back to bed she headed for her bathroom. Inside she secured the door and whispered 'hello? Hello? Are you still here?' As suddenly as he had earlier vanished the house elf reappeared 'mistress…' the little creature looked very nervous 'please, my master asked me to give you this – you can use it to get back to him – just hold it in your hand and think or say where you wish to go and it will take you …' Nichol held the small sphere in her hand as the elf vanished once more, he never did say who his master was – but Nichol knew.

Lucius spent most of the night in his potions lab working with the notes his spy had copied for him. By 4am he felt there was nothing more he could do, the potion was just about ready but it would take another 24 hours before it would be complete. He stored the potion safely and then went back upstairs to his study. The house elf had been back hours earlier having delivered the sphere to Nichol, but he was perturbed to find she had not come back with the elf. It was an unusual feeling for Lucius, but he was feeling unsure, would she come back at all? He considered going to bed, but he knew he would not sleep. Had Severus and Dumbledore now told Nichol the truth about her past? He doubted it, and he hoped they had not – if he were the one to help her find out about her past and to help her regain her powers then she would be forever indebted to him and he liked the idea of that. He also knew that he could use their deceit to turn Nichol against Severus and Dumbledore – with her past, power and anger on his side there was no way the dark lord's next move for power could fail.

Nichol slept the rest of the night with the portkey hidden beneath her pillow. All night her mind was in turmoil as she slept. Should she return to Lucius? Why did he even want her back there? She knew that being a muggle she was nothing to him, in fact she was lower than that. She was also more than aware of the actions Lucius was capable of. But she knew that during the time she spent with Lucius she had felt more alive than ever before. By the morning she had made her decision and she wondered whether her decision – either way – would cost her life…

In the morning Severus brought her a breakfast tray and asked if she slept better, he still did not look convinced that her scream the night before had been merely a nightmare. He wanted to stay and take breakfast with her, but he needed to speak with Dumbledore about the secret they shared and when if ever the Headmaster planned to disclose this to Nichol. Making his excuses about preparations for classes he left Nichol alone with her breakfast. As he was going out of the door Nichol stopped him 'I know should have said this before, but thank you, thank you for everything Severus …' The way she spoke sounded like she was wanting to say something else, but she didn't, she just looked thoughtful. As he closed the door he didn't hear her whisper 'goodbye …'

Taking the portkey from beneath her pillow she held it in her palm and whispered 'Ohhh, what should I do?' Slipping the small orb back beneath her pillow Nichol headed for the bathroom and took a shower. Back in the bedroom she applied a little makeup and dried her hair. Looking through her wardrobes she chose a long straight green skirt, it was made from a silky fabric and this was overlaid with a cobweb like mesh of black lace. The top she picked out was a black jersey fabric with three quarter sleeves and a loose neckline that slipped over her shoulders. Sipping a little of her coffee from the tray she went back to her bed, catching sight of herself in the mirror she smiled and hoped he would like her outfit – her mind now set on what she wanted and needed to do. Retrieving the portkey once more she held it in both hands, closed her eyes and said 'take me back to Lucius.'

Nichol felt as though the earth vanished from beneath her feet and like the world was spinning away from her. This sensation only lasted a few seconds and then she felt solid ground beneath her feet once more – it was a huge relief. She just hoped that her stomach would soon catch up and stop spinning. When she opened her eyes she saw that she was in Lucius' study. A voice from behind her startled her…

'You came, I was not sure you would.'

'Why did you want me to?' she asked 'not happy that Severus prevented you from killing me? Want another try do you?'

'Do you think that I want you here to kill you?' he sounded hurt.

'Yes, no, oh I don't know, I don't even know why I came' she sighed.

Nichol turned, puzzled by Lucius sounding unsure 'wow, you look terrible'

'Oh thanks' he smiled.

'I mean tired, you look worn out.'

'I have been working on something all night' he glanced at the mirror and saw his unkempt appearance and it annoyed the usually immaculate Lucius. He did not approve of the slovenly look running his hand through his hair 'I need a shower' he declared – more to himself than to Nichol.

'Have you even eaten?' Nichol asked him. When Lucius did not respond Nichol said 'I thought not, right, you go shower and I will arrange breakfast.' She amazed herself by sounding so calm and in charge.

Lucius was leaving the room when he turned and looked at Nichol 'the last time you made a meal for me – I woke with a headache and found I was bound to my bed …' he smiled and raised one eyebrow.

'Don't even think about it' she laughed 'now go!' she pointed out of the door and tried to look stern.

While he was in the shower Nichol prepared breakfast with the house elves. She was pondering this change in Lucius, she knew something was different but she was puzzled as to what it could be.

Lucius finally appeared looking as immaculate turned out as always. They shared a little breakfast, but they both ate very little – just sipping coffee mainly and picking at the food.

Lucius though was watching Nichol – he knew she was wondering about this change in his mood and this pleased him. As always things were going to plan and Lucius was several steps ahead of the game. ' Nichol…' he said, keeping up his pretence of being nervous. He was very pleased with her arriving while he looked tired and scruffy and had become concerned by this change in him. 'I don't know how to tell you this …' he looked down at the table as though it were difficult to face her.

'What is it? What's wrong?' she enquired.

'Not here' he said. Standing and taking her hand, leading the way he walked through into the conservatory, which was light and airy with the early morning sunlight warming the room. Taking a seat on a large day bed he motioned for Nichol to sit beside him. 'I have been given some information that concerns you …' he said, pausing as though he found it difficult to say. 'Nichol, do you know anything about your real family?'

'Not really – the only thing I ever knew was that I was adopted and I found that out by accident when I overheard my parents talking.'

'What would you say if I told you that your biological parents were not muggles?'

Nichol stared at Lucius for a moment, waiting for him to say 'gotcha!' but he didn't … 'I would say you were losing your mind – you are not serious, surely?'

'I am serious, your true parents were magical Nichol – you are descended from two very old and powerful magical families.'

'Don't be ridiculous' she gasped, upset that he would joke like this.

'Nichol, look at me' he implored 'it's true, it is all in this file – what happened to your family, how they bound your powers, how they put you with an adoptive family.' He placed his palm onto the file on his lap.

'Wait …' she cried 'I have … had, powers?'

'Yes!' Lucius nodded 'it also says how you were lied to, even now…'

Nichol was looking at the file Lucius held on his lap and she suddenly looked up at this news 'who? What?'

'Dumbledore knew' he paused and looked uncomfortable 'and so did Severus …' he neglected to say that Severus had only known for a day or so.

'They lied to me? Dumbledore gave me my job under false pretences and even this morning Severus never told me! Why would they do this?' she looked angry.

'Don't be hard on them – I am sure they were only trying to protect you' he said, trying desperately not to laugh or choke on the words.

'Protect me?' she hissed 'they lied – my whole life – I trusted them!'

Lucius leant towards her and took her into his arms, holding her tight 'I understand how hard this must be for you.'

'My whole life was one huge lie – I have no idea who I even am anymore.' Nichol choked back the tears that were threatening to spill.

'Do you want me to give you some time to take this in?' he asked, shifting the file slightly in his lap, knowing her eyes would fall upon it.

'Is that it?' she asked 'is that my life story? The real one?'

Lucius gripped the file tighter.

'Is that it?' she repeated with more force.

'You might want to wait before reading this …'

'Lucius …' she glared at him 'give me the file!'

Looking reluctant he stood and passed her the file. 'I will leave you to read this' and he left saying 'If you need me, just call.'

Once Lucius had gone Nichol clutched the file to her chest. After what seemed an eternity she opened the file, lying in front of her documents, letters and photos. Hidden amongst the papers she found one piece of paper she thought she would never see – her birth certificate.

Reading everything at least twice, she held the pictures of her mother and father - Nichol sat and sobbed. There was only one picture of the two of them together – all of the others were just family shots or of her mother or father alone. But one showed them laughing and smiling with each other. Nichol watched as her father laid his palm on her mothers' tummy and she knew that she was in this picture too.

Light footsteps behind her let her know that Lucius had come back into the room 'is everything …' he broke off what he was about to say when he saw her tears and dashed over. Slipping onto the seat beside her he wrapped his arms around her 'I should have stayed – this is too much for you to take in all at once.'

Over her shoulder he smiled and had an evil glint in his eyes. Like a broken doll, he thought, she was now his to rebuild.