DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the HP characters, and you all know that by now! Valentina Forester is my own creation, though.
NOTE: Thanks to Cyndi for being the bestest beta on Earth! I loffs you Dee! smooooooch!
The Traitor – chapter one
"Bring me his head." Voldemort's voice hissed through the dark cave.
Valentina could feel her body freeze when she heard those words. Yes, she had killed a lot of wizards and Muggles upon her master's orders, but she had never killed a fellow Death Eater. He was the one who killed the traitors with a swish of his wand.
"As you wish, Master," She said with a bow.
She apparated from the cave feeling confused about her task. She was unaware of the reason why her Master had asked for the head of the traitor. She had only three days to complete her task, and for the first time in her life, she was uncertain whether she wanted to obey her Master or not.
She lay on her bed in a cheap room at the Leaky Cauldron, thinking about what she was about to do. Of course, she could always seduce him and take him wherever she wanted and get her work done, but Severus Snape was one stubborn brat who never trusted anyone but himself.
This was going to be difficult. She needed help, but if she asked for it, her fellow Death Eaters would start talking about her saying she can't do a simple task on her own. She'd lose her reputation as one dreaded Death Eater. She has worked so hard to get to where she was now. Even though, the wizarding world hated her more than they hated any other Death Eater.
She had been the one to kill Cornelius Fudge, the former Minister of Magic. He was an easy task, she used her body charms to get him to invite her to his house, and before he could lock the door of his private chambers, she hit him with the Killing Curse from behind. That was her style. Hit the target from behind when they're not looking. That specific task had gained her respect amongst her fellow Death Eaters, and she wasn't about to lose it.
An owl landed on the windowsill of the room and hooted softly. Valentina raised her head and saw a familiar tawny owl holding a parchment in its beak. She got up form her bed and walked to the window. The owl flapped its wings in happiness as she took the parchment from it, and then it flew inside and landed on a table. She knew it was hungry, and gave him a piece of bread.
While the owl started eating the bread, Valentina opened the parchment and started to read:
Dear Miss Forester,
My wife and I would like to invite you to the Annual Masquerade at the MalfoyMansion, which will take place tomorrow evening at 8 pm
Sincerely,
L. Malfoy
P.S.: The Dark Lord will be pleased.
Valentina read the letter a couple of times before she understood what the post scripted note actually meant. Severus Snape was going to attend, and that was her only chance to see him and get her task done.
"Why is it that Lucius Malfoy always knows what the Dark Lord wants?" she addressed no one in particular, but the owl flapped its wings and she assumed it meant 'I don't know'.
She took out a piece of parchment, a quill and a bottle of ink and scribbled a note:
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
Thank you for your invitation. I will gladly attend at the mentioned time.
Sincerely,
V. Forester
She folded the letter and attached it to the owl's leg and it flew out of the window instantly.
The Malfoy Mansion was one of the biggest and most beautiful houses in England. Valentina apparated in front of the house five minutes early, wearing a black hooded cloak. She rang the bell and waited. Soon enough, a house elf opened the door and bowed to her.
"Welcomes, Miss," the house elf said, "Master and Mistress is waiting in the dance hall."
Valentina looked at the house elf with a raised eyebrow. Waiting in the dance hall. Valentina wondered whether this was one of Narcissa's jokes. But the letter was written by Lucius, that's for sure.
The house elf took her cloak and Valentina stood in front of a huge mirror that covered one wall of the entrance hall. She examined her looks and smirked. With that outfit she'd have all of the wizards kneeling in front of her.
She was wearing a tight leather top that showed most of her chest and shoulders, with tight leather pants, which showed every curve of her hips. The black mask that she had on her face showed only her eyes and lips, she made sure that no one but the Malfoys would recognize her. After all, they were the ones who invited her.
She let her dark straight hair flow down to her waist, and a single lock of white hair decorated it.
Her black leather gloves extended to her elbows, covering the dark mark on her left forearm.
She finally entered the ball room. Narcissa Malfoy was the first to greet her. At the beginning she didn't recognize her guest, but with one word spoken Narcissa knew that her mysterious looking guest was no other than Valentina Forester.
Lucius Malfoy was the next to greet her. He held her hand and kissed it gently as a sign of respect, which made Valentina shiver. Lucius Malfoy always acted as the perfect gentleman when he wanted to.
Valentina walked through the room slowly, checking each and every guest around the place until she finally spotted her target: Severus Snape, who hadn't even bothered to dress up for the masquerade and wore his usual black robes. A black eye mask was covering his eyes. But with the crooked nose and the pursed lips, Valentina recognized him almost at once. She stared at him when she noticed he was staring. She walked to the bar and Severus followed her.
"May I offer you a drink, my Lady?" he asked.
"Yes, thank you." Valentina replied.
She would've slapped herself if she could at that moment. She feared that he would recognize her voice. But fortunately, he didn't. He ordered them both some fire whiskey.
After she took the glass from his hand (and made sure their hands made contact), she held her glass a bit high and nodded to him. He smiled and returned the salutation.
Severus took a sip of his fire whiskey and kept staring into her eyes. Valentina knew that Snape was a skilled legilimens and she made sure she avoided direct contact with his eyes.
"What's your name?" Snape asked.
Valentina took a final sip from her glass and turned to look at him, remembering to avoid direct eye contact.
"That's not the best way to start a conversation." She replied.
"Well, that seems to be a pretty long name," he replied, making sure she'd hear the sarcasm in his voice, "Do you happen to have a shorter name?"
Valentina didn't answer. Instead, she folded her arms on her chest and kept looking at him.
"Severus Snape." He said.
"Valentina Forester." She replied.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Forester." He took her hand and planted a kiss on it.
Valentina noticed Lucius Malfoy looking at them from a corner of the room. She knew he was going to report everything that he saw to the Dark Lord.
"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Snape." She said.
"Professor Snape, please." Snape said, gently letting go of her hand. "I am the Potions Master at Hogwarts."
"How interesting," Valentina smiled. This was going to be easier than she thought.
"Not as interesting as to finally see you here," he said, "You've never been to any of the Malfoy social parties, not to mention a masquerade."
"Well, I happen to have more interesting things to do."
"So, I gather that you didn't have any interesting 'thing' to do tonight?" he asked.
"The night has just begun. I don't have any plans, yet."
Snape's thin lips curved to show a smile. He was interested in her. He knew Valentina Forester to be a skilled Death Eater who would kill anyone who stepped in her way. She was one of Voldemort's favorites.
Hours passed and Valentina kept talking to Snape about different issues. Neither of them mentioned the Dark Lord or any of his plans. Although, it would've been safe for them to do so, since everyone in the ballroom was a Death Eater. Only Voldemort was absent.
By the end of the ball, the guests started to leave. Valentina was on her way out after bidding Lucius and Narcissa good night. She put on her cloak and walked to the door leading outside. A firm hand rested on her shoulder and she turned to see to whom it belonged. She wasn't surprised to be greeted by the cold eyes of Severus Snape.
"Do you have any plans for the night?" he asked.
"Not yet," she replied, "unless you want to give me some ideas."
"As a matter of fact, I do." Snape said.
They left the Malfoy Mansion together and walked for a while without speaking and neither of them having any specific idea about where they were heading to. Although, Valentina knew where she would take him if it was needed.
Valentina felt awkward. She knew she was falling for the Potions Master and she had to finish her task as soon as possible. Finally, Snape broke the silence.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked.
Valentina smirked. Finally she thought to herself. "I know a place where we can be alone." She said. Her voice was confident. Perfectly hiding any anxiousness she had inside.
"All right and where would that be?"
"I have a little cottage at the Sherwood Forest," she said, "I'd like to take you there."
"That sounds fine. Are we apparating?"
"Yes, if we want to get there before next week"
Snape smiled. "Fine, where are we apparating exactly?" he asked, "I don't want to show up at the other end of the forest, you know."
"You know that there's a little village right at the edge of the forest, don't you?"
"I do. Would the river separating the village from the forest work?" Snape asked.
"Yes, there's a little bridge connecting the two sides of the river. We'll meet there." Valentina said and with that she took out her wand and disapparated.
A broad smile covered Snape's face. It was the first time that he finally managed to find a woman that interested him, even if she was a murderer. All his previous ones were arranged dates organized by Lucius Malfoy. He always knew that Lucius didn't have taste in women. Well, at least when it came to others. That didn't apply to his wife. Narcissa had a stunning beauty of her own.
Snape took out his wand and disapparated to the mentioned place.
TBC