CHAPTER ONE

Spinner's End

The sky was an inky black and the air was icy, even though it was only the end of June. The chilling mist that had settled over everything nearly a year ago now, had intensified tenfold within the last several hours, and happiness had completely vanished, sucked from every living soul.

Spinner's End was deserted, save for a few prowling nocturnal creatures, and out of nowhere, a loud pop filled the air and a woman cloaked in black appeared on the spot. Though she was young, worry had caused deep creases to form on her face, and her long blonde hair had begun showing streaks of grey and white. There was another noise and another woman appeared out of thin air and joined her sister, who was already rushing forward towards the only house near them.

The door of this house opened at the sounds of footsteps and the owner cautiously glanced outside. With relief, for he had been expecting these women, he threw open the door more widely and ushered them inside.

"Quickly Narcissa, Bellatrix, inside." The man said in hushed tones.

"Severus, where is he? Where is my son?" The first woman, Narcissa, asked him urgently.

"He is upstairs, resting. It has been a long night for both of us."

"Is--is he--did Draco--" Narcissa was frightened to ask what was on her mind, but Snape answered her before she could find the courage to ask.

"Dumbledore is dead. Draco is safe." he said.

"Oh Severus, you are true to your word." Narcissa said, taking Snape's hands in her own and pressing them to her lips in gratitude. He pulled them away quickly and whisked the women into the dark sitting room where another man, small and with the facial features of a rat, was sitting, nervously twitching his foot. Narcissa sat in the armchair Snape had indicated to her, but Bellatrix did not take her seat. Instead, she glared with ferocious intensity at Snape, who had taken a chair next to the other man.

"Draco didn't kill Dumbledore, did he Snape?" Bellatrix asked accusingly. Narcissa gasped at her sister's question, the thought had not occurred to her.

"I took care of it." He said sharply, looking at Bellatrix with just as much loathing. "Dumbledore is dead and Draco is safe, just as I promised." Narcissa suddenly broke out into uncontrollable sobs.

"The Dark Lord knows this, Severus?" Bellatrix asked. "Does he know that it was you who completed the chore given to Draco?"

"Not as of yet, I am sure. We would know if he had found out. He has not called upon either Draco or myself." Snape said.

"And," Bellatrix continued, even though she knew the answer to the question she was about to ask. "What will become of my nephew once the Dark Lord finds out that it was you, and not Draco, who killed Dumbledore?" Narcissa's wails increased in their volume and Bellatrix sent a sinister smile in Snape's direction. Snape, however, ignored her and went to Narcissa's side.

"Perhaps the Dark Lord will show him mercy, Cissy, but we cannot get our hopes up." Snape told her grimly.