They Didn't Know We Were Seeds
In the end, the Malfoys fail to find a solution where they can have Severus there for the entire wedding. However, Regulus does come up with a way for Severus to be at the reception to help with Sirius-wrangling. He offers to be a sort of sacrificial lamb and "sneak" in Severus. Narcissa and Lucius, who see this is the closest they will get to what they want, are happy to agree to Regulus's plan. Severus, though, has some reservations.
Privately, he sends the boy a letter and reminds Regulus his parents will hex his hind when they find out. Even as he tells the boy this, he adds he will agree to the plan if Regulus is truly alright with the fallout. Regulus insists he is. He wants the reception to go well for the sake of his cousin's happiness and that means Severus ought to be there to entertain Sirius and for Narcissa to see and speak to if she should have the time and inclination. Even after Regulus's assurance, Severus still considers a bit more if he really wants to have a part in what's surely going to happen to Regulus when his parents see Severus at the reception.
The boy is nearly fifteen. That really isn't so old all things considered, but Regulus is grown enough to reason and weigh consequences against rewards. If he thinks it will be worth it… Who is Severus to say he's wrong? Who knows better than the Black spare, after all? A decision reached, Severus sends a folded piece of parchment by an owl with his answer:
Regulus,
Very well, I will be a part of this plan.
I will see you at the wedding next week.
Severus
-o-O-o-
Stepping through the Malfoy's floo, Severus dips his head in greeting at the two smiling Blacks while he shakes the dust off his robes. "'Lo," he says.
"You're here!" exclaims Sirius. "It's been so dull. Come on, you need to be with us when we steal the platter of salmon bites Kreacher is carrying around so we can eat them all as we make fun of everyone who's being a pompous blowhard!"
That sounds like a dreadful idea. Is it possible Sirius could have thought of a quicker way to draw everyone's attention to the interloper in their midsts? Well, yes, Severus supposes. The teenager could have suggested he drag Severus out to the middle of the ballroom to dance with some poor girl he snags along the way (or perhaps with Sirius himself). He raises an eyebrow at Regulus, looking for his opinion on his brother's idea.
The younger smiles, but his eyes have a pleading edge that's definitely begging Severus to please redirect Sirius's enthusiasm to something a little less attention-grabbing. Putting on an expression of contemplation, Severus remains quiet a moment. Then, he says, "Stealing the platter sounds like a wicked idea. But how about we explore some of the Malfoy Manor instead? Have you spent much time here before? If this is going to be where you spend your time during breaks in the next few years, it might be worth it to get a sense of the place before you're living here."
Regulus visibly relaxes as Sirius's feature turn thoughtful. "Yeah, alright," he agrees. "Should we start with the gardens? 'Cissa went on and on about them after Lucius proposed to her there."
He nods and the three of them set off for the ballroom. Once there, they keep to the edges of the room, looking for Kreacher and his plate of salmon bites. As they do, he takes in the other guests. He sees the likes of Yaxley, who is speaking with the Parkinsons (Severus makes sure to keep his head down as they pass them, not wanting Yaxley to recognize him and start a scene about his presence at Clara's wedding), a little while later he spies the Greengrass girls' grandparents holding hands and watching their son dancing with the witch who will one day be his wife.
As they weave around the table holding the wedding cake, he's confronted with a gaggle of Carrows, all wearing varying expressions of boredom and contempt as they slowly eat small plates of appetizers. A little later Severus notices old man Nott, two glasses of wine in hand, but alone. Severus suspects they're both his and it's a sign of a problem that explains why he had his son so much later than his peers. As they begin their second circle of the ballroom, he sees Augustus Rookwood and his wife. Briefly, he wonders if Priscilla is here too. He looks for the Hufflepuff, but does not spy her, though, he spots her parents talking with Lucius's father, Abraxas.
They look little alike, but he's quite sure there's a distant relation between the Rookwoods and Malfoys, which would explain their appearance at the wedding.
"Where did that bloody elf go?" Sirius grumbles next to him as he cranes his neck to peer over the heads of several ladies. Out of the corner of his eye, Severus notices an ajar door just a little bit ahead of them. Perhaps it's just a nosey curiosity, but he feels the urge to investigate why and what may be in the room.
He puts a hand on Sirius's arm. "Perhaps we should split up to look?"
"Where will we meet up afterward?"
He looks around. Severus knows exactly where the Malfoy's gardens are – not that he can say so. "Where are the gardens?" he asks.
"Just that way, actually," Regulus replies, pointing to an adjoining corridor that Severus knows leads to a pair of french doors that enter into the garden.
"In fifteen minutes, shall we all meet at the doors?" he questions.
The Black brothers agree with little trouble. Sirius offers to go right as Regulus says he will go poke around in some of the larger groups of people to see if Kreacher has hidden himself in their midsts. Severus nods at their words and tells them he will finish the loop they were in the middle of. Everything settled, they split up.
Not even a minute later, Severus slips through the space left by the ajar door. Upon entering, what he first spies is a table laden with gifts. They are of all sizes and shapes, wrapped in colorful paper and silken ribbons. Severus really isn't a materialistic person by any means, but he does move closer to investigate them a little more thoroughly. He's actually quite interested to see if he can't guess what it is the Malfoys' guests bought them. After all, what could newlyweds from such rich, old families possibly need?
As Severus picks up a gift to get an idea of its heft, a voice from behind calls, "What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing?"
He spins around to see Priscilla Rookwood standing in the half-open doorway, expression one of incredulous distaste. Hastily, Severus sets down the present in his hands, only to knock over a deep verdant giftbag. Out of it slips a worn black leather diary. His heart stops. Severus knows exactly what that is and exactly how dangerous it is too.
"We need to get this out of here."
Rookwood's nose scrunches. "What?"
He points at the diary. "That, is a horcrux."
"Really?" she murmurs. She glances back a moment, then pushes the door almost entirely closed behind her before coming to stand next to him. "It doesn't look any different from an ordinary diary."
He nods. "They rarely do. It's what they do to people that makes it obvious."
"…Can't you just pocket it?"
Severus shakes his head. "I'm not even supposed to be at this reception. If I hide it on my person, I'll just be asking for trouble."
"What if I take it instead? I could owl it to you tomorrow."
He looks at her, disbelieving. It can't be this easy. Nothing is ever this easy. What does Rookwood get out of this? What does she want in return? He narrows his eyes at the other and asks, "What do you want?"
Rookwood's gaze is steady as she answers, "What you already promised, your help in saving my family."
Severus frowns. He has promised that, hasn't he? He will do it too. Though, he thinks he ought to clarify his offer to her a tad. "I can't guarantee their lives, but I can promise I'll do my best." He pauses a moment, then says, "You do understand that by taking my help it means you will also end up going against the Lord and your family to some degree, don't you?"
She nods. Then, she shrugs. "I never really cared about the Lord himself. I was glad someone was fighting for our traditions and way of life, but I don't need him to be our champion. In fact, I think I would prefer someone else who actually cares about the lives of their followers. I lost nearly all of them, you know. In the first war, it was my father and mother, in the next war, my uncle, grandparents, husband, father-in-law, nephews, a niece… My son." Her hands now balled into small, hard fists, she whispers, "We gave and gave but not once did we ever get anything in return but grief."
He doesn't know what to say to that. Severus thinks if he apologized he wouldn't sound sorry at all. The Rookwoods were a mean lot and the Crabbes a bunch of brutes; Severus doesn't feel the least bit sad they nearly all ended up dead. Instead, he clears his throat and tells her, "I will give it to you to hold onto for now, but I will be owling you first thing tomorrow to ask for it back. If I don't have it in my hands by the evening, I will find you and make you wish you had followed through on your promise."
Rookwood scoffs at his threat before she wriggles her fingers expectantly at him.
With great reluctance, Severus hands over the diary. Then, he asks, "Do you have a napkin or something equally unimportant on your person?"
"Why?" she questions, brows furrowing together.
He gestures to the still sideways giftbag. "To hide that we have stolen it. Can you imagine what the Lord will do when he finds out it went missing and the Malfoys never received it?"
Dark eyes wide, she nods. "Just–" she mutters before she starts to root in her pockets. A moment later she pulls out a bottle of ink. "Here."
Severus wastes no time transfiguring the ink into a replica of the diary. Placing it back in the now right-side-up bag, he ensures it looks well-placed among the other presents before he nods and steps back. Now he just has to pray no one notices.
"I've got to go," he tells her. "Sirius and Regulus will be wondering where I've gone." Severus passes Rookwood and takes hold of the edge of the door. However, just as he's to pull it open so he can slip back out, a thought comes to him. He turns his head and looks at the Hufflepuff. "Why did you come in here?" he asks.
Rookwood's eyes flicker to the door. "I'm not much of a party person," she replies. "I reckoned no one would notice if I hid in here for a bit."
Severus still isn't sure how much he can take Rookwood at her word, but it sounds reasonable enough to his ears. He never did see her at many large get-togethers in their last life – not that he showed up to many either. "Right," he says. "I'll be waiting for your owl tomorrow."
"Mmhmm," she hums as she moves away from the door to go sit in one the gift table's chairs. He watches a moment as she pulls a tiny red diary and quill from the pocket of her gown.
That explains why she was carrying an inkwell on her person. He wonders what it is she's doing. Writing? Drawing? Something else entirely? Severus reminds himself it doesn't matter and that the Black brothers are waiting for him. Shaking his head once, he slips out of the room.
As Severus makes a beeline for the garden doors, he's brought to a halt when Narcissa and Lucius all but apparate in front of him. He stares at the couple. He has to admit, Narcissa makes a gorgeous bride in her long, cloying dress with its shimmery, intricate silver embroidery that one could spend hours studying. Lucius compliments her well in his dark blue dress robes and silver tie. No matter the reality, they find ways to show they are a team; equals who will demand the same respect from all. If one is snubbed or talked down to, both will cease any relationship with the offending party.
To show he understands this, he dips his chin at each of them individually. "Hello," he says.
Narcissa smiles. "I thought I spotted you earlier."
"We've been looking for Kreacher," he admits.
She reaches out to take his hand. "I'm so glad you agreed to come."
"It felt rude not to after all the plotting you and Regulus put in."
The new bride laughs. Lucius, however, sighs. "Where is Regulus? And that brother of his?" he asks a moment later, looking past Severus to search the crowds.
"The garden doors," Severus answers. "That's where we are all to meet after one of us manages to steal Kreacher's platter of appetizers."
Narcissa's smile widens. "Ah, that's a good choice. The gardens are just so lovely; you can spend hours just walking through them. Really, Severus, thank you for coming. I hate to imagine the mischief Sirius would be up to right now without you."
Politely, Severus deflects, "I'm sure Regulus would have managed somehow."
Lucius snorts.
Severus and Narcissa ignore him.
"Again, thank you. It's been lovely seeing you again, but we must be moving on. There are so many guests to thank for coming!" She links arms with her new husband and with a little wave, calls, "Ta!" As she vanishes back into the midst of her party.
He watches on a moment as the newlyweds glide between guests, making brief conversation with them before moving onto the next. For all their faults, they always have made impeccable hosts. Once satisfied, he continues onto the gardens.
-o-O-o-
Severus wakes to a tapping on his window. For a moment, he squeezes his eyes shut even tighter. Then, he opens them and swings his legs out of bed. Ambling over to the window, he blinks at the unfamiliar owl. He looks it over and realizes there's a thin, rectangular package attached to its leg.
'The diary…'
Without preamble, he swings open the window and unattaches the diary from the owl. Reaching into the dish he keeps full of owl treats beside the window, he takes one out and feeds it to the bird. "Thank you," he says to it.
The owl hoots once before flying off with its treat. He unwraps the diary and inspects it to ensure it's the real thing. Once satisfied, he puts it in the bottom drawer of his desk beneath a pile of parchment. Severus will need to find a better hiding place later, but, for the moment, it will do. As he goes to close his window, he sees that there is a letter sitting on the sill he didn't notice before.
Curiously, he picks it up and opens it.
Snape,
Here's the diary; you didn't even have to ask me for it first, I may add. You're welcome, by the way.
Priscilla Rookwood
p.s. What are you going to do with the diary now? What can be done with it?
That is the question, isn't it? What is Severus going to do with the diary? None of his faux Basilisk poisons have compared to the actual venom. He can't destroy it, not here, not now. He begins to shake as a feeling of panic starts to overwhelm him. There is a very strong possibility he's going to have to face off against the Basilisk hidden in the Chamber of Secrets and hope he can extract enough poison from the beast to use on this horcrux and all of the rest.
Merlin, could he imagine a better Hell?
Another wedding, some more Priscilla, and Severus has gotten his hands on a horcrux! Your thoughts on that?
Thank you all a million for reading :)
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