When Severus arrived home, it was to a darkened (but clean) house, mentally exhausted and physically fatigued. He threw his cloak over the banister and proceeded to go upstairs, however, a flicker of light caught his eye and he turned around. There, in the living room, was Wikeni, who had just lit a candle and was in the process of igniting several more. Severus watched her warily, willing himself not to snap at her, yet aching to lie on their bed and just go to sleep. She finally looked up at him, and he realized that she, too, seemed quite tired. She spoke anyhow.
"Severus, Peter told me everything."
"Peter…?"
"Wormtail, yes." She looked at him with bloodshot eyes. "Is it true?"
"Is what true?"
"Did you make the Unbreakable Bond with a woman named Narcissa?"
"First off," he said, a sudden edge in his voice, "It's the Unbreakable Vow, and second, it's really none of your concern."
"Why not? This – this is the reason you killed Dumbledore? For some blonde who wanted her son to be a murderer?"
"She is not just some blonde, she is a highly respected, highly intelligent witch whose husband, need I remind you, is in Azkaban with several other top followers, which makes my job twice as difficult, and makes me twice as irritable, so I really can say I have no patience for this. You and… Peter... can have all the discussions you like. I, however, choose to ignore you and go to sleep."
Wikeni sat down roughly on the couch, which threw particles of dust into the air.
"I knew I shouldn't have come here," she muttered.
Severus stopped dead on the steps. He frowned and clenched his fists, though a little bit of guilt was starting to eat away at his heart. He could not tell her the real reason for his motives, however. The reason behind everything he did for the Dark Lord. The fact that it wasn't for him, not really. It would break her.
"Then you really shouldn't have," he spat.
"How was I supposed to know…?"
"Because I warned you when you got here. You intruded my life, and I will have no more of this conversation. I asked you to go back, and instead, you disobeyed me and insisted on coming here to stay. It is not my fault that you make rash and irresponsible decisions, however they involve me. Goodnight."
He began to ascend up the stairs once more, however he heard Wikeni shuffle at the bottom of the steps. He stopped to turn around and look at her.
"You know," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "If it weren't for my rash and irresponsible decisions, I never would have taken you home that night, and I never would have married you."
Severus's heart felt like it had been stabbed. She turned away, tears streaming down her face, and said sadly, "Goodnight, Severus."
It would be the last time he truly spoke to her for a long time to come.