"Again!"

Adrenaline roared through Evanna's veins as she began the magical obstacle course for the third time that afternoon. She dodged the arrows that were shot at her from the moving walls. She dropped to the floor and slid underneath the crushing foot of a fake giant, even as she shot off Conjunctivis Curses at the models of firedrakes. She cursed as a spark landed on her robes, but did not have time to douse the flame as dummies in ministry robes were advancing on her. Father did not like her simply stupefying them, claiming there was no "style" to that, so she glanced up-there was a ceiling beam that if hit just right…

"Bombarda!" she cried and smirked when the timberwood blocked the path between her and the figures. She leapt over the wreckage, sending several more curses over her shoulder to block any more mannequins coming after her before she reached the end. There was a black box on a pedastal that she lifted triumphantly over her head, ending the enchantments on the obstacle course.

She raced into the clearing, where she saw the two Hogwarts Champions reaching for the TriWizard Cup in unison, very much unaware of her presence or of Professor Moody, who was trailing just behind her.

"Harry, don't!" she shouted.

Harry turned his green eyes on Evanna in confusion just as his hand closed over one of the handles of the Cup. She flailed wildly, catching the edge of his red robes with the tips of her fingers just as a tugging sensation caught just behind her navel, sending all three students spinning through the air.

"Well done," her father's voice yanked her out of her memories. "You improved on your time by twelve seconds, though your robes are still on fire."

Evanna barely had time to blush before the Dark Lord smirked and sprayed the hem of robes with a stream of water. She frowned at them-they were brand new and in her favorite shade of purple.

"Thank you, Father," she said, ducking her head. "Shall I try again?"

The Dark Lord shook his head. "Open the box," he said.

Evanna did as she was bid, opening the box to reveal a circlet, made of twisting pieces of silver that came to a point in the center. Two viper's heads met there, fangs bared to each other, emeralds forming the snakes eyes. It was equal parts lovely and intimidating and altogether perfect.

"I want you to wear that tonight," her father said. "It would not do for any of my followers to forget who you are."

Evanna grinned widely, something in her wishing to embrace him. But she couldn't-this was the Dark Lord. Instead, she gave a sort of curtsey and smiled more.

"It's beautiful, Father," she said.

His eyes seemed to warm as she gingerly took the circlet out and placed it on her head. The metal was cool and light-she barely even noticed it was there. The Dark Lord placed a hand on Evanna's shoulder, making her look up.

"Never forget, you deserve nothing less than the best," he said. "Some of my followers will try to test their luck with you-do not let them. They shall follow your orders as though it came from my own lips. Any slight against you is a slight against me."

Evanna nodded, her mind wandering back to Lucius. He had done more than slight her. But, though she knew he would not reveal her friendship with Harry lest he be punished, she had a feeling that should she turn her father's wrath towards him, he would. They were locked in a dangerous game, Lucius and Evanna.

"Yes, Father," she said.

"Go and get ready," he said, then, with a bit of mischief, he added, "I do not mind if you are late tonight. I believe that would make for all the more dramatic an entrance, no?"

Evanna stifled her giggle. "I would not think the Dark Lord would be one for theatrics, Father."

"Part of power is learning how to play the role," he said. "And what is that but theatrics?"

~Severus~

"...growing more powerful everyday!" Black slammed a hand on the table, ever the one for dramatics.

"Yes, thank you for that delightful insight, Black," Severus drawled sarcastically. Really, it was a wonder that the Great Gryffindor Brigade had not lost the last war, if this was the best of them.

"And what have you got to add?" Black snarled. "You've been playing house with a Death Eater's wife for the better part of two years now-surely you ought to have some sort of contribution?"

Severus glared at the other man, his face going blotchy and red. In truth, there was a new piece of information that Narcissa had given him, one that could be crucial. Or could mean nothing, at least not for several years yet, he insisted to himself. Yet, even if there was not the ball tonight, Severus would know that was impossible.

Evanna Malfoy had been a mystery to him from the night she entered Hogwarts. Though Narcissa had referenced her daughter on occasion, Lucius had been careful that the girl went virtually unseen by their world at large. And then this shy, petite child with a mass of black curls and sad purple eyes had come into the castle. Despite being a Malfoy, she had not called attention to herself as her brother had, which made Severus even more curious. At one point in time, Severus had wondered if the black-haired girl had been the result of the first night Narcissa had come to him, tears streaming from her blackened eyes, but the math had not quite added up. Nothing, in fact, had truly added up about the child, from her eyes, to her fearfulness, to her surprising ability to worm her way into Harry Potter's misdeeds.

No, Evanna Malfoy was always going to be of significance in the coming war, but he had not realized just how significant until Narcissa had revealed the secret she had been keeping since the child's birth: Evanna Belinda Malfoy had been born Evanna Belinda Marvolo, the heir to the Dark Lord.

Since the revelation, Severus had found himself staring at the petite child, trying and failing to see evidence of the most feared wizard of their time in her. The girl was powerful, yes, but she seemed to have no idea exactly how powerful she was. Lucius had done his job a little too well if his intention was to control her and rise on the curtails of her power. The girl's charmswork was not the only thing to have suffered under Lucius' harsh reign; Severus could only hope that maybe, one day, her confidence would not be so irreparably squashed.

"Severus?" the Headmaster was saying. "Have you anything else to report today?"

Black was sneering at him. Severus nearly did, just to spite his childhood rival, but the memory of those purple eyes in that terrified face stopped him.

"Nothing new to report now, Headmaster," he said.

Headmaster Dumbledore fixed Severus with a soul searching stare that Severus met evenly, daring the old man to try and Legilimize him the way that the Dark Lord did. Black was smirking across the table at him.

"Very well. This meeting of the Order of the Phoenix is adjourned," he said. "Severus, if you will, a word?"

Black snickered. "In trouble, Snivellus?"

"I think I see a flea, mutt," Severus snarked back, making his way to his mentor and Headmaster. The rest of the Order members filed out, Mrs. Weasley stopping briefly to ask him to dinner.

"I have a previous engagement," he told her. It was not the first time he had told her that this summer, but it was the first time he was telling the truth.

"Well, maybe next time," the matriarch said, before almost immediately yelling at one of her brood for the dungbombs littered outside the door of the kitchen. The door closed just as Mrs. Weasley began to beat one of those dreadful twins of her about the head with a rolled up newspaper.

"You might wish to humor her one of these days, Severus. She will not stop and Molly really is a most excellent cook," Albus said benignly, stroking his beard.

"I do have a prior engagement tonight, Albus," Severus replied sourly.

The Headmaster looked at him shrewdly. "Voldemort has called another meeting?"

Severus winced at the use of the name. "Not quite. The Dark Lord is…. Hosting a ball."

The Headmaster looked befuddled at this. "A… ball."

Severus felt his pulse quicken. "The Dark Lord has hosted them before, often as a means of fundraising-"

"Is he already that bold?" Dumbledore asked.

"I think not," Severus replied. "It is being held at Malfoy Manor and only those most trusted by the Dark Lord have invitations."

"Surely Tom isn't foolish enough to be celebrating already…." Albus murmured. "Have you heard anything else? Voldemort has been remarkably quiet this summer."

Severus knew exactly why the Dark Lord had been so quiet-he had been training his daughter. With only eight weeks before Evanna was expected to be at Hogwarts once more, Severus knew his old master had prioritized that over any other efforts. There would be time for negotiations with various magical creatures and recruitment once the Dark Lord was satisfied his heir would not only have the ability to do his bidding, but want to.

Though Severus had watched Evanna make friends across House boundaries and grow close to Potter against all odds, he knew there was still a ruthless thirst to prove herself in the girl. There had to be; she was a Slytherin. And Severus knew better than anyone how the Dark Lord could make an abused child feel important and valued and powerful enough that no one would dare abuse them again. He did not yet know exactly how much or little the Dark Lord knew of Evanna's upbringing, but from Narcissa he knew that the Dark Lord had been most considerate of his once-estranged daughter. In fact, had it been anyone else, Severus would have accused them of doting on the girl.

"Severus? Is there anything else?" the Headmaster pressed. "Anything you can think of is of utmost importance, my boy. I needn't remind you of your promise."

No, the old man did not need to remind Severus of his promise, yet he often did. Lily… Lily had been his only friend, his ray of hope in the darkness that was his childhood. She had seen the terrible coldness of his own family and had brought him into hers. Mr. and Mrs. Evans had seen to it he was fed many cold nights in Spinner's End, and Lily had seen to it that he was loved. And he had repayed her first with malice and then with setting a murderer on her path. So, he had resolved to spend his days making it up to her. His second mistake.

And yet, there was still the living. Narcissa had been a year under him in school and had followed him nearly everywhere, pestering him with questions, nagging him to 'behave as a proper Slytherin', and eventually, placing a small kiss on his cheek before darting away at the train station. When her parents had deemed that Lucius Malfoy was to be her husband, she had run to him, begging him to take her far away and marry her instead. Severus, being young and foolish, had denied her. His first mistake.

Lily was dead and Narcissa was trapped. But, Evanna still had a chance, however small it may be. If she was outed as the Dark Lord's heir here and now by Severus, there would be no protecting her. Despite the old man's venerable appearance, Severus knew that should the Headmaster know he had the Dark Lord's heir in his grasp come the fall, Evanna would not escape. And Severus was altogether uncertain whether the Dark Lord would rescue her or cut his losses and use his daughter's matyrdom as a rallying cry against Dumbledore.

"No, Headmaster," Severus said coolly. "I will report to you as soon as I have something to report."

The Headmaster fixed Severus with a piercing gaze and Severus felt a brush of another mind against his defenses and quickly banished all thoughts of the girl.

"See that you do, Severus," he said. "See that you do."