Although this isn't quite the way the first Quidditch game played out in the book (which I am trying to remain loyal to) I'm going to play along with this part as it happened in the movie. After all, doesn't everybody want a little piece of Malfoy, too?
Chapter Seven – An Evil Plan Devised
With a small glass and a vial of treatment balanced over her head, Jessica squeezed her way through the maze of green and silver Quidditch robes to the tiny hospital bed. Draco Malfoy had his gloved hands clutched around his stomach and he moaned repetitively until Jessica sat down on the side of his bed.
"I think I pulled something," he wheezed. "My father will have his broomstick for this!" The young boy lifted his head as best he could and glared at the student lying in the bed opposite him.
"Relax Draco," Jessica insisted as she poured a few teaspoons of remedy into a glass. "This isn't anyone's fault but your own. Now hold still and drink this. You will feel numb for a few moments, but that will only be the potion doing its magic."
Malfoy groaned again and slowly lifted his head just enough to let Jessica pour the clear, thick liquid down his throat. He made a sour face and swallowed hard. "Blah! That is the most horrible thing I have ever tasted!"
Not quite a taste worthy of faking such a horrible injury? Jessica wanted to say aloud. But she knew better. Anything she said to Draco Malfoy would indubitably travel back to his father. For Snape's sake, Lucius Malfoy was the last person on the planet Jessica wanted to cause trouble with.
"I will be sure to let Professor Snape know you think so," Jessica said instead. "By the way, I think he wants to see you before you return to your dormitory this afternoon. He will want to be certain that his prized Seeker will not be out of commission for the remainder of the season."
Or perhaps he would like to award you a medal for becoming the first Slytherin player under his care to be admitted to the Hospital Wing, Jessica thought. Although this was only the beginning of Jessica's second year volunteering in the Hospital Wing, she knew that as long as Snape had been Head of Slytherin, none of their Quidditch players had ever been admitted to the Hospital Wing until now.
Malfoy's head turned from side to side on the pillow as the potion swept through his body, numbing each of his aching muscles. "Relax for a moment," Jessica instructed and brushed her fingers delicately across his brow.
The young boy's eyes met hers with a look of curiosity and contentment. His slick, blonde hair was in disarray and Jessica delicately tried to straighten a few wisps until an unsettling sensation stirred through her body and settled in her stomach.
The Hospital Wing doors flew open and with his snakehead cane tapping against the floor, Lucius Malfoy stalked over to his son's bed. With one look of intimidation, several of the Slytherins divided themselves apart, making a path leading up to the bed.
Jessica swallowed hard and stood up from the bed before Lucius reached the other side. His cold, grey eyes fell upon her as she rose and he smiled crookedly at her. Jessica's expression remained unmoved as Lucius directed his attention to his son.
Quickly, Jessica turned her back on the Malfoy's and squeezed her way through the river of green robes. She glanced at Harry who was receiving Madam Pomfrey's administration as a result of another one of Lockhart's spells gone wrong. When he looked up at her he smiled and nodded his regard. Jessica returned the pleasant smile just before slipping into Madam Pomfrey's office.
With the door left open only a crack, Jessica pressed her back up against the wall and held her eyes shut for a moment. After taking a deep breath she opened her eyes and released her breath in a hurry. Her stomach was still twisting uncomfortably. She hated that feeling Lucius Malfoy wrought. Although she couldn't decipher just exactly what sort of feeling that was, she knew it was nothing to be cheerful about.
After Draco had miraculously made the Slytherin Quidditch team, Snape insisted that – on her best behaviour – she accompany him to the Hog's Head for lunch with Lucius and his wife, Narcissa. It had probably been the most uncomfortable meal Jessica had ever sat through. She wasn't surprised to see her vegetable soup come up after returning to her private chambers.
Narcissa had sat across from Jessica at the table. Although she had very little to say during the meal, Jessica sensed that she too was putting on an act to deceive her husband. As tempting as it was to discover her secret, Jessica tried her damnedest to keep her mind closed for the duration of their meeting. Jessica tried to make small talk with Narcissa in hopes that it would divert her from catching those peculiar looks coming from Lucius. Every now and then she could feel his eyes on her. She supposed that had everything to do with her stomach-churning episode in the bathroom that afternoon.
When he looked at her, Jessica could sense a horrible feeling of delight emanating from his thoughts. Sometimes she thought it was sexual, other times she thought it might be more brutal than that, as if he wanted to dissect her. Jessica never gave mind enough time to be sure which it was.
To push the memory of the Hog's Head out of her mind, Jessica closed her eyes and pressed the back of her head up against the wall. "Severus, where are you?" she whispered to herself. It was Snape's presence that helped shield her from sensing Lucius Malfoy's most dreadful thoughts. Without Snape, she feared him.
"Good afternoon, Miss Van Eden."
Jessica concealed a gasp of fright as the familiar snakehead cane pushed the office door open. Lucius stepped into the small office and leisurely strode about the small room, casually eyeing its intricate bits and bobs.
"Hello Mr. Malfoy," she responded in a hushed tone. Jessica kept her eyes on the floor and her hands folded in front of her. She could hear the low creak of the floor as Lucius prod around the tiny office. He stopped at the bookshelf and began perusing the titles.
"It was very thoughtful of you to see your son today after his accident," Jessica spoke softly, remembering how adamant Snape was that she regard Lucius with respect. "You'll be happy to hear that he will be good as new in time for dinner."
Lucius picked up Madam Pomfrey's copy of Quick and Easy Remedies and opened to the middle of the book. "I appreciate your concern." Lucius turned around, and with the book still in his hands, he walked back over to Jessica and stood before her. "I have this book at home," he told her. "Do you want to know who gave it to me?"
Jessica looked at the thick, leather-bound book and began tentatively shaking her head. "Not particularly," she murmured.
Lucius let out a trifle of a laugh and then slapped the book shut, making Jessica's entire body shudder. "I don't suppose I even need to tell you. You probably already know." Lucius tapped his pointer finger against his temple and raised his eyebrows. "You can practically see the answer, can't you?"
When Lucius took another step towards her, Jessica timidly turned her head to the side and moved her trembling hands behind her. "No, I can't," she said. "I mean – I could," Jessica quickly corrected herself after seeing the curious look on his face. "My uncle has been teaching me to shield myself from the thoughts and emotions of others."
Lucius nodded once. "Interesting," he whispered. "And you're shielding yourself from my mind right now?"
"Yes," she told him.
Lucius thrust the ball of his cane down on the floor right beside Jessica's left foot and then stepped up toe-to-toe with her. "Why?" he asked in a tone of voice as soft and velvety as that of the Potions Master.
Jessica could feel a gentle waft of his cool breath upon her throat. She locked her eyes with his, feeling terrified that if she blinked he would take one step closer to her and –
Don't! Don't even think about it, Jessica warned herself. He won't hurt you. Not here.
"I have no wish to invade your privacy, Mr. Malfoy," Jessica finally told him.
She watched as Lucius gently wiggled his jaw back and forth. His eyes turned away from her and he slowly began to back away. "This book was a gift to me from your father, Jessica." Lucius turned away and placed Quick and Easy Remedies back where it belonged on the shelf. "He was an extraordinary med-wizard. Perhaps that is his stroke of genius you possess. I hear you once attended a Muggle school of medicine."
"You heard correctly," Jessica assured. "My mother raised me in a Muggle environment. Surely you must have known that, Mr. Malfoy."
Lucius tucked his cane under his arm and walked back over to Jessica wearing a peculiar look on his face. His lips were slightly pursed and his eyelids were narrowed into a curious gaze. "Jessica, do you want to know what would suit my fancy just perfectly right about now?" When he reached her, Lucius stretched his arm out and pressed the heel of his palm against the wall beside her, giving Jessica a close look at the intricate details of his robes. The inside of his cloak was still black, but damasked with patterns of blood red.
When Jessica swallowed, she felt an uncomfortable lump arising in her throat. "Again, no, not particularly."
Lucius chuckled low in his throat and leaned his hand in to pick up a piece of Jessica's dark brown hair. He rubbed the soft wisps between his fingers and then let it slip back down over her shoulder. "Don't be so presumptuous, my dear," he warned. "I wasn't about to ask you for anything voluptuous. All I want is to hear you call me by my first name. You and I are friends now, remember?"
As Jessica looked deep into the cold, grey eyes she wanted very much to loathe for eternity, she did her best to muster a smile. "Yes, of course I remember, Lucius." After hearing her own voice speak his name Jessica felt as if an essence of poison had been left on her tongue.
"Good," he said, gently nodding his head. "Because the last thing you and I need is to live in fear of one another. I lived in fear of your father after he plagued his heart."
"His heart was never clean," Jessica said, but as she spoke, she realized that she couldn't prove that Voldemort had always been evil at heart.
Lucius leaned dangerously close to Jessica. So close she could smell the aroma of his cologne. Jessica closed her eyes and turned her head away as she held her breath, aware that the alluring aroma was assaulting her senses. As wonderful as he did smell, Jessica could feel her stomach twitching again.
"I think you will be pleasantly surprised to learn exactly how extraordinary your gene pool is," he said in a dark, almost sensual whisper. "You are far more like your father than you realize, Jessica. A fascinating man he was. Greatly misunderstood. Unloved. Driven to hate by those who should have loved him. It is a pity you didn't know him before his hunger for power and revenge destroyed him. You really have no idea just how much you mirror him."
Jessica tried desperately to hold back the tears she knew were on the brink of rolling down her cheeks. Lucius could see them swelling in the corners of her eyes. If she dared blink he would have caught them.
"I'm sorry I can't convince you that he was anything more than a monster," Lucius said. He was about to turn and walk away when Jessica suddenly spoke.
"I believe you, Lucius," she whispered, the poisonous taste in her mouth growing stronger.
Lucius stopped and turned back to her, eyeing her carefully. "Well, I'm delighted to hear it. Perhaps then you will be more likely to appreciate his sheer genius. I can tell you things about him that no one else can. Owl me some time and we can perhaps have a drink together."
Wonderful, Jessica thought sarcastically to herself, first Lockhart and now Lucius Malfoy. I wonder whom Severus would prefer I privately share a fine vintage with.
"Perhaps in a little while," she said anyway and mustered a smile.
"Good." Lucius neared Jessica once more and cupped her chin in his hand. "I look forward to hearing from you." He bent his head down and touched the very corner of his lips to her cheek and sounded a kiss. Jessica held her breath as he came around and did the same to her other cheek. "Good day, Jessica."
His touch had left Jessica scared and speechless. She watched Lucius leave before hastily wiping the traces of the offending gesture off of her face. Granted it was a very common gesture, but Jessica still couldn't stand the though of having the lips of Lucius Malfoy touch any part of her body.
* * *
Professor Snape was in his private chambers when he heard the gentle rap at the door. An odd expression appeared on his face as he glanced up at the clock. Surely it couldn't be Jessica, as she still had a few more hours to put in at the Hospital Wing. The Potions Master set his book aside and attended to his visitor.
"Lucius," he said, trying not to sound surprised. "I thought you had been on your way."
The blonde wizard twitched his lip in a subdued manner. "I thought I'd see to the welfare of my son before departing," he replied. "May I?" he said and gestured his hand inside the room.
"Of course."
Snape allowed Lucius into his chambers and closed the door behind him, sealing it with his wards as he always did. Lucius sat down in the armchair nearest to the empty hearth and Snape returned to the long sofa he had been sitting at before the calling.
"There is a matter of importance I would like to discuss with you, Severus," Lucius began monotonously. He crossed his legs and leaned comfortably into the back of the chair. "Regarding our precious Miss Van Eden."
Perking his interest and apprehension, this subject matter caused the Potions Master to raise a curious brow. "What of her?"
Lucius cleared his throat and flexed the muscles in his foot to point the tip of his boot towards the ceiling. "Severus, tell me something. Are you still as loyal and trustworthy as the Severus Snape I knew before you became a lackey for that old bumblebee, or has your time at Hogwarts altered your sworn allegiance?"
"I feel both shocked and insulted that you need ask," Snape retorted in a poisonous whisper. "I made a vow, same as you. So long as blood still pumps through my veins I will remain true to that vow."
With his lips bent in a lopsided grin, Lucius began to chuckle. He brought his hand up to his chin and ran his thumb and pointer finger along the crest of his jaw. "Please, do not be offended, Severus. I only ask because I need to be certain of your loyalty before consulting you today. You are well aware of what has been happening here at Hogwarts as of late. What you may not be aware of is how these events are preparing us for the return of our Lord."
Snape felt his stomach sink to the bottom of his belly. "Do go on," he encouraged anyway, trying to sound intrigued.
"Since our Dark Lord's disappearance, I have been able to keep in close contact with him by means of a small enchanted diary. We corresponded regularly over the years. He has given me orders and I have carried them out without question." Lucius held the silver snakehead in front of him and inspected it carefully as he slowly rotated it in his hand. "Just this last summer he instructed me to… oh, how should I say it?" Lucius rubbed his thumb into a particular spot on the snakehead. "He asked that I pass the diary on to an unsuspecting, dim-witted young student here to help carry out these 'disasters' as one may call. By the time this is done with, our Lord with be strong and able to lead us again. I have done my part, and if you are still up for it, it is time for you to do yours."
Snape nodded his head once as confidently as he could. "Anything."
"There's a good lad." Lucius chuckled softly and admired the glimmer of his newly polished snakehead. "Now, as you are well aware, the lovely Miss Van Eden is in possession of a very valuable ingredient needed to restore his power." He eyed Snape carefully to be sure that the Potions Master knew exactly what he was talking about.
"Virgin's Blood," Snape answered.
"Precisely."
While smiling knowingly, Snape could feel his sunken stomach making tight, nauseating knots. "He cannot regenerate Jessica's powers without using her own blood." A highly potent and highly illegal substance to possess, Virgin's Blood enabled wizards to compose the darkest of spells and potions. Voldemort had used the blood of Espiranza to gift Jessica with her powers, and Snape had a very bad feeling he planned to do the same with his daughter.
"Since you have been doing such a fabulous job of keeping this little ingredient in tact for the last year, the Dark Lord insisted that you should be the one to obtain this particular component." As Lucius tried to smile, Snape could have sworn he saw a glimpse of envy in the way Lucius arched his top lip. "And, as if that is not good enough, our Lord expects to have another heir on the way by his return. That makes you a very lucky man, Severus, being that you have managed to weasel your way into her heart and gain her trust."
Oh, he had gained so much more than her trust. Snape eyed Lucius dangerously as that little voice in his head spoke. If you only knew… if you only knew you would wipe that smirk off your face this instant!
"I would be both delighted, and honoured," Snape said aloud. "However, how can I be sure that it is I who our Lord wishes to become the father of his heir? Last year it seemed quite crucial that Quirrell be the one to do the honour."
"Yes," Lucius agreed and nodded his head. "Last year that was to be the case. Not because there was anything special about that buffoon, but rather because our Lord was inhibiting his body at the time. Her pleasures were more or less to become a reward for retrieving the stone. Now, since our Lord will have a body of his own it matters not whose seed is spilled into her body, so long as he is a true supporter and collects her blood appropriately."
Snape lifted his feet from the floor to the couch and laid them across the cushions. He crossed his legs at his ankles and began rubbing his brow. Damned, he thought to himself. Damn it all!
"Something vexes thee?" Lucius asked. "I thought you'd be ecstatic. You have been playing the role of a lovesick fool long enough. Your patience and make-believe performance has finally paid off… unless of course this hasn't been an act at all. Has she gotten under your skin, Severus?"
"Of course not," Snape insisted coldly. "She means nothing to me." Even as he spoke these words, he could feel a sting in his chest impaling his heart.
"I wouldn't blame you if she had," Lucius confessed. "We all know Jessica is a beauty beyond imagination. She's a goddess, Severus. There isn't a hot-blooded man on the planet who wouldn't like to be in your trousers right now."
"She is lovely," Snape admitted. "I have wanted to boff her since the moment I laid eyes on her." A slick smile spread across his thin, pale lips. Lucius began to chuckle.
"Now that's the Severus I remember," he said. "As I recall, you had quite the knack for bedding ignorant young ladies back in our day."
"You had your share," Snape reminded.
"You're quite right," Lucius agreed. "However, I filled my bed for a price while you filled yours purely with magnetism and smooth seduction. I envied you for that."
"Then why is it that you are married and I am not?" Snape questioned, although marriage had never been an option he had ever taken under serious consideration before.
"Because you are more clever than I," Lucius answered. "Although I do love Narcissa dearly, she will never hold a candle to Jessica. There was a time I loved her more than life itself. Think of it Severus, to taste the ambrosia of the Dark Lord's daughter would be like having a taste of his own flesh and blood. I envy you Severus, I really do."
"There is more at stake than just sex, Lucius," Snape warned in a cool whisper. He pressed his long, bony fingers together and flexed them slowly. "A great deal of responsibility comes along with taking her for a lover. Responsibilities almost too great for one man to handle."
"Indeed."
"Along with impregnating the girl comes the role of raising a child who we will one day bow down to. I must also remain here at my station until the time comes where I am summoned elsewhere. I cannot risk being exposed before that time or Hogwarts will be without an emissary. So long as Potter is in training, we cannot risk that exposure."
With his wand in hand, Snape summoned his finest brandy along with two snifters. He stood up to pour each glass and then handed one to Lucius.
"Jessica will have to be confined elsewhere throughout the duration of her pregnancy. Surely between the two of us we can devise a plan. It would also be best if Dumbledore were kept unaware of her condition at least until Jessica is determined to see the pregnancy through."
Snape returned to his seat and took a large sip of brandy before getting comfortable – rather, as comfortable as he could under the circumstances. "Keeping something like that from the Headmaster is next to impossible."
Lucius too had a sip and set the snifter aside. "Then perhaps we may have to convince him that the child she carries is not yours. That way you too may play the fool when the word is finally spread."
Snape shook his head at the blonde wizard. "Don't be so naïve, Lucius. He has been a witness to my association with her for more than a year now."
"Then perhaps the honour should be left to another supporter," Lucius suggested and took one more sip. "Someone Dumbledore will not suspect. That would place you under more protection. I can arrange for someone to take her."
It was a rarity that Lucius ever saw Snape laugh, making this a particularly rare occasion, for he also saw Snape's lips spread into an awful smile. "Like yourself?" he said and swallowed a large portion of brandy.
Lucius joined in the laughter and downed the rest of his drink. "Perhaps." Although he hadn't meant it seriously, Lucius knew he wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of such an opportunity.
"And just how would your wife take to that?" Snape asked curiously. He sent the bottle of brandy over to Lucius so that he could replenish his snifter.
As Lucius did so he answered Snape's question. "Narcissa realizes the importance of this as well as you and I. If needed be, she would hold Jessica down for me."
"Now that is naïve," Snape assured. "Jessica is not as vulnerable as her mother was. You'd end up with a scar on your testicles to match the one on your hand."
The smile on Lucius' face disappeared. How could he have forgotten her Animagus ability when he had a scar to remind him every day? Jessica would no doubt change once she realized she was about to be raped.
"Perhaps Imperious?" Lucius suggested. Surely that would keep her from changing.
"Again, unlike her mother, she can break the curse in a matter of seconds. I have seen her do it." Lucius' eyes fell to the floor in defeat. It had been a delightful thought but alas, it was hopeless. If he had any chance of becoming the father of Voldemort's heir he would have to do as Snape had done and steal her heart.
"Well then," Lucius began, "it appears that you are our only hope. Good luck, Severus. I expect a full report when the task is complete… for my own personal pleasure, of course."