So, I dunno, this chapter (and the next couple, actually)is kind of justrising actionfor my first attempt to write an alternate-viewpoint of a certain scene in one of the actual books.

Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter, if I did, I would not be here...


Chapter 13

A cool breeze made the ends of my hair flutter like streamers behind me as I stood outside of Malfoy Manner. Very few knew the location of this residence, probably due to all of the protection and concealment charms placed on it, and I felt confident that if I were to stay here for a time I would be safe.

The manor was brightly lit, and I stared at it from the sidewalk where I had apparated. I wasn't certain who was home, and for some reason the idea of walking into Lucius's home without any knowledge of whether my sister was there (or even if she was still married to Lucius) made me hesitant to walk up to the house.

I saw someone walk past one of the first floor windows, and I drew a slow, deep breath. It had been a feminine silhouette, and I decided that I was going to believe it was Narcissa.

Many of the houses of pureblood families had certain charms on them to keep unwanted guests out. Only specified individuals, typically blood relatives, could approach and enter the house uninvited.

As I continued to stand in the blackness that was outside the yard of the house, the front door slowly opened, spilling warm, buttery light out into the darkness. My jaw clenched in irritation when I saw that it was Severus who was leaving. He closed the door carefully behind him and strode purposefully toward me.

"Lurking in shadows, are we?" he sneered, looking down at me.

Even all of these years later he was still insanely handsome. His profile was strong and spoke of a stubbornness I knew all too well. His thick black hair still had the glossy, silken quality that inspired some to call him 'greasy.' I had to check my desire to fling myself into his arms. I knew full well that he would not be receptive to that idea.

"What if I am?" I snarled, my hands curling into fists. When I had been sentenced to time in Azkaban my wand had been sent to my closest of kin. I was completely without the ability to do magic.

"It's impolite, you know," he said quietly.

"It's even more impolite to storm uninvited into a stranger's home," I shot back.

He smirked and cupped my chin in his hand, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"Narcissa is, regrettably, still married to Lucius," he said calmly. "They have only one son, whom I am certain you recall. Draco."

I nodded once to acknowledge that I had indeed met Draco. I had no idea what he looked like now, but I could easily imagine. With Lucius and Narcissa for parents it was fairly obvious what the boy would look like.

"How old is he?" I asked quietly, gazing at the house.

"Fifteen, I believe. We are his Godparents, you know," Severus told me casually. I snorted in derision.

"I find it difficult to believe that Lucius would name you godfather to his son," I responded haughtily.

"Yes, and you've been such a model godmother," Severus snapped. "Landing yourself in Azkaban shortly after Draco's birth. He doesn't even remember you, Bella."

I shot an enraged glare at him, pressing my lips into a thin line.

"That was uncalled for Severus," I hissed.

"Yes, but true," he shot back. "Now, unlike some, I have to get back to work."

I sneered and sniffed coldly.

"Teaching at that pathetic school," I said dismissively. "I would have expected you to have a profession with a bit more...prestige than that of a schoolteacher."

His face contorted in anger and he seized my arm painfully.

"I happen to be a skilled potions master, and I remain at that miserable school only on orders from our master," he snarled in my face. "Besides, I don't care what you think of me. I don't have to explain myself to you."

I smirked derisively.

"If you really felt that way, why are you practically shouting at me and holding me in place so that I must listen to your pathetic explanations? If you were truly doing our master's bidding, then you would have been occupying a cell near mine in Azkaban," I spat acidly. "All of our master's truest servants gladly served in Azkaban for him."

That was a blatant lie. I had never been glad about being stuck in Azkaban, but my ability as an Occlumens kept Severus from knowing that. I had hated every second of being in that place. Especially since, unlike my cell mates, I had not lost my awareness of the world around me. I had never lost my sense of self.

He dropped my arm as if it were poisonous and stepped away from me. He stared at me for a moment, his expression completely unreadable.

"You have never understood that our master does not give us all the same instructions," he said quietly. I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Right now, I don't care, Severus," I said coldly. "I need to speak to somebody who can tell me of what has been occurring among our order for the last fourteen years." I glanced at him in disgust. "Not a traitor who has spent years as a bedfellow of one of our greatest enemies."

He sneered at me, obviously frustrated that I was not going to lose my temper and let him get the upper hand. He stormed a few feet away and disapparated with a loud crack.

The curtains in one of the windows twitched slightly, and I knew that either Narcissa or Lucius was trying to see who, or what, had kept Severus from disapparating immediately. I smirked slightly, amused and disgusted by their frightened caution. In the past, they would have walked out to see why Severus was still at their home. Clearly they were worried about something that I didn't know about.

Glancing quickly up and down the street, I moved toward the now closed front door. The patio lights were not on, and there were deep shadows all around the massive patio. I stepped lightly on the stairs, preventing any squeaks or creaks. I shoved my hair behind my shoulders, straightened my spine, and walked purposefully across the shadowy terrace. I could hear people speaking inside, and took care to be extremely quiet. So far, none of the wards had alerted Lucius and Narcissa to my presence. Clearly, I was still allowed to come and go as I pleased.

"Lucius, Severus said that they had all been released."

Narcissa sounded unnerved and tense. I grinned maliciously. So she was afraid of what I would do to her?

"Narcissa, there is hardly a need to worry. You deserve whatever she might do to you," Lucius snapped, no sign of love or caring in his voice. I paused at that. How could he not even pretend to care what might happen to his wife?

"Bellatrix is not the one I'm afraid of," Narcissa hissed.

My eyes narrowed. She wasn't afraid of me? I would have to remedy that...

"You should be," Lucius replied harshly. "She is your sister and you made very little, actually no, you didn't make any effort to have her released. She has every reason to be a touch unhappy with you, darling." He spat the word 'darling' as if it left a foul taste in his mouth.

"What do you think she'd do to me?' Narcissa asked haughtily.

"She tortured the Longbottoms into insanity, and she didn't have particular qualms with them," he shot back. "I can't begin to imagine what she'll do to you."

I smiled slightly. I knew there was a reason I had always liked Lucius.

Narcissa did not respond. Good, I thought. She deserves to be subservient to someone else.

"I must go to my master," Lucius muttered.

I heard him leave the room and immediately walked up to the front door. Taking great care to open the door silently, I turned the knob and slowly pushed the door open. I silently praised the house-elves for keeping the hinges oiled to prevent squeaks. I closed the door just as softly, taking a moment to determine which room Narcissa and Lucius had been in only moments before.

The room that Narcissa was sitting in shared one wall with the patio, and she was facing away from the doorway that led into the room from the hallway. I sauntered into the room. Narcissa had never been terribly aware of her surroundings. I walked right up to the back of her chair and leaned down so that my lips were inches from her ear. My long, black hair fell forward against the back of chair.

"Cissy, I'm home."


A/N: Ok, so that last little line from Bella...well, I'll be honest. I was watching "The Shining" and when Jack says "Honey, I'm home," after chopping his way into the little apartment they live in...it just spoke to me ;) He looks and sounds so deliciously evil and I couldn't help myself! Hope you enjoyed this one!

Electra de Lioncourt -- Well, if I had Severus stop being a prick, then the whole premise of my story would go down the toilet ;) Don't worry, eventually things will be resolved with him.

Dancer8428 -- Haha, I'm glad that you liked Chapter 12! I hope you like this one as much.