Chapter 17. Distractions

Astrid's heart thumped as she read the letter twice over, it felt so good to hear from him, his absence was notable in her heart during her recovery period at Hogwarts, everyday she had hoped to see him walk into the hospital wing, but alas he never did. She remembered his words that night in the corridor, that night would be the last time she see's him for quite some time. Astrid wanted desperately to know why, what was keeping them apart, or who?

Astrid grabbed a quill, ink, envelope and a sheet of parchment from her trunk, and quickly scrawled a reply. Upon completion she wafted the parchment for a second, allowing the black ink to dry before folding the letter and slipping it into the envelope. She scribbled down Lucius's name on the front and lightly blew on the ink. Setting the envelope down to fully dry Astrid rooted through her trunk.

Minerva hadn't packed much and her choices were limited. She pulled out a periwinkle blue Beauxbatons jumper, the school emblem was embroidered on the front in gold, and the year of her graduation from the magic academy was embroidered on the back in a pearly white. She pulled on some light blue fitness leggings, and some white trainers. At-least Minerva's choices whilst limited where practical and comfy. Astrid tucked the letter up her sleeve and made her way downstairs anxiously.

"Dad's going to be fine." One of the twins said, Astrid was never quite sure which was which.

"He's a fighter Ginny, don't worry." The other twin added as he comforted his little sister, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her close.

"Alright, get off! I'm just worried, didn't mean I wanted a cuddle," Ginny huffed, pushing either Fred or George off of her.

"When will dad be home?" Ron asked as he tucked into his toast, tearing the bread apart with his teeth aggressively.

"That remains to be seen… the bites seem to have magical qualities that have complicated his recovery." Severus drawled from behind his newspaper, not even tearing his eyes away from the page to speak to the Weasley. "But fear not young Mr Weasley, your father will be back rambling around the Ministry before long." Snape added.

"How compassionate of you Snivellous," Sirius muttered into his tea cup. "Ah, Astrid, good morning," Sirius set his cup down as he greeted the young woman. "Breakfast?" He asked, for someone who spent so long in Azkaban he really was a gracious host Astrid thought to herself. The Weasley children stared in silence at the young professor, her absence at school had been brushed over as an illness, Umbridge did not want to install panic into the castle, she even sealed off one of the two hospital wing wards to keep students from spying the professor in her state. The children were rather surprised to see Professor Moody at Grimmauld Place.

"Yes, just toast and coffee please," The girl smiled as she slid into the seat next to Severus.

"How do you like your coffee?" The curly haired man asked.

"White, one sugar please," Astrid said politely.

"You heard the lady, Kreacher," Sirius called down the lengthy table to a miserable looking house elf skulking around at the far end of the room. The house elf didn't acknowledge his masters' words, instead he muttered under his breath, narrowed his eyes on the group and retreated into the kitchen.

"How is your father? Do any of you need anything? I'm here if you do," Astrid consoled the children.

"No, I think we're all good thank you professor," Ginny smiled sadly.

"Dad was lucky, Harry is the only reason he's alive," One of the twins chirped up as he spooned some cereal into his mouth.

"Yes I heard, a Christmas miracle if I ever seen one," Astrid breathed.

"Where have you been professor? Umbridge said you were sick," Ron spoke with a mouth full of toast.

"The reason for Miss Moody's absence is classified… I will not have you all going back to Hogwarts after the break and spreading it as gossip," Severus's monotone voice asserted over his newspaper.

"Don't speak twaddle Snivellous, this is my house and I'll decide what's said in it," Sirius spat. "Astrid?"

"Well, erm, I was attacked, I was in the hospital wing," Astrid told the group of redhaired children to her right. Ron's mouth fell open, the twins raised their brows in surprise, Ginny clasped a hand to her mouth.

"Bloody hell, do you think it was related to dad's attack?" Ron asked.

"No, it was an isolated incident, a stunning spell was used, nothing usually too harmful if it wasn't for the professors… delicate nature," Severus folded his newspaper and sat it down on the table, leaning on arm onto the surface he sent the young professor an intense look.

"Yes, I er, banged my head rather badly, and I have a heart condition that complicated things, but I'm fine honestly, just a little shaken," Astrid smiled reassuringly at the quad of red-haired teenagers.

"The culprit is still at large… hence the secrecy," Severus spoke as he adjusted his cuffs.

"Blimey, do you think it was a student?" Ron enquired, he would be feeding this all back to Hermione and Harry in a letter as soon as he could. Professors were not just lightly attacked even with stunning spells on school property.

"I didn't see who it was, and I don't have any idea who it could have been," Astrid lied through her teeth.

"I bet it was Umbridge, getting revenge for calling her out that time," One of the twins piped up. The Weasley rabble began to talk among themselves, cracking jokes to try and lighten their moods. Astrid turned to Sirius curiously.

"Where is my father?" she asked as Kreacher popped up by her side and placed a plate of toast and a cup of coffee in front of her on the table, she smiled at the elf in thanks, but all he returned was a scowl.

"Order business," Sirius informed the young woman, ah of course, "He left not long after you were sent to go change," Sirius smirked against his tea cup. Snape glared at his long-time adversary and scoffed.

"I wonder if we will ever see the day… where you actually leave this house on order business, Black?" Severus sneered, as he stood from the table. "I unlike some round here, have a busy schedule and so I'll be taking my leave… I'll see you at Hogwarts Professor Moody," Snape's snide remark hung in the air as he flounced out of the room, Sirius' lip curled with hatred as he watched his foe retreat to his portkey.

"Sorry, excuse me one second," Astrid mumbled as she jumped up out of her chair and followed Snape out of the room. "Severus!" Astrid called after the black-clad man. Severus stopped abruptly and turned on his heel, his black slightly greasy hair swishing around as he did so.

"What is it, Miss Moody?" Severus snapped. The girl approached the potions master hesitantly, looking over her shoulder nervously she pulled a letter out of her sleeve.

"I know you're going to complain, but please could you pass this on?" Astrid asked as she held out the letter. Even with the addressee facing the floor Snape knew who it was for.

"Do you think me a postman? A messenger boy?" Snape exasperated as he eyed the letter. Despite his convictions he snatched the envelope from the girl's small hand and tucked it into his robe, his lip snarling upwards slightly as he did so. "Consider it delivered,"

"Thank you, Severus," Astrid breathed reluctantly. Snape turned to access his portkey, which was disguised as an old slipper, but he hesitantly turned back to the young woman with his eyes narrowed

"Miss Moody," His smooth voice was low, "I would be careful if I was you, Black is quite probably the last person your… partner… would want you spending time with, do you understand?" Astrid read between the lines and understood pretty well.

"So, I take it you're not the only one who has a deep hatred for Sirius?" Astrid mused.

"Not by a long shot," Severus sneered. A few seconds later Severus had vanished along with his portkey, which seemed to be disguised as an umbrella.

"Now what would a thing you like you want with greasy Snivellus Snape?" Sirius asked as he came into the tiled foyer, and leant against the wall with one shoulder.

"Nothing, just a boring Hogwarts thing," Astrid rolled her eyes convincingly as she brushed passed the wanted wizard to retake her place at the dining table.

Just fifteen minutes later, at Malfoy Manor, a meeting was taking place, this one also in a dining room. A long black table lined with plush black chairs sat near a large marble fireplace. The dark cloaked wispy figure of Voldemort sat at the head of the table, his army of death eaters occupied all the other seats, one however, to Voldemort's left, was empty. Lucius sat to the Dark Lords right, his wife obediently sat next to him, her hands placed gently in her lap.

"Where is Severus?" The Dark Lord wheezed.

"On his way my lord, he was at the order today, gathering intel," Lucius informed his master, and as if by clockwork Severus strolled up the stairs into the dining room, his cloak billowing behind him.

"Forgive me my lord, my tardiness is inexcusable… but I was at the order monitoring the situation," Snape bowed his head as he took his seat.

"Hmmm," Voldemort hummed, his voice raspy. "How long is it going to take you Lucius, to fetch me what I desire?"

"The retrieval is… complicated my lord, only your revered self or the Potter boy can access the prophecy,"

"Your little plan with Nagini failed Lucius," Voldemort breathed.

"The logic my lord, was sound, but the order is guarding the prophecy tightly,"

"What of the blood traitor my Nagini attacked?" Voldemort enquired.

"Arthur Weasley, unfortunately my lord, lives," Snape sneered, to the shock of the table.

"Impossible," Voldemort breathed, "Nagini's bite kills within minutes," Severus shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"It seems, my lord, that they were aware of the attack as it was happening," Severus chose to leave out the details about how the Potter boy dreamt of it, and the connection between the two of them. But Voldemort wasn't a fool, he knew of his connection to Harry, could feel it within in his bones and very being.

"It was Harry Potter," Voldemort announced. "The connection he and I share goes deeper it seems, I can see into his mind, and clearly he can also see into mine. I had become idle with my Occlumency and Legilimency, it seems I will have to dust up on some old skills,"

"You have a plan, my lord?" Lucius asked, his head bowed, eyes staring straight ahead. Voldemort rose out of his chair and slowly crept around the table and ran a boney hand along Lucius' chair back menacingly.

"I do Lucius, and you will be the one to put it into fruition," Voldemort breathed. "That is if you aren't too busy with your plaything?"

Narcissa's head snapped towards her husband, her brows furrowed deeply. Even though what she felt for Lucius was not love, you could barely even call it friendship, however she had always believed they had mutual respect and no secrets. Severus looked deeply uncomfortable as he watched the scene play out before him.

"Oh, my dear Cissy," Voldemort cooed as he rounded her chair, his slender fingers gripped her shoulders in a way that should be comforting, but instead sent the fear of merlin through her, causing the hairs on her neck to rise and her back to straighten. "Did Lucius not tell you of his… lover?" Voldemort's lip curled up in triumph as he watched Lucius squirm in his chair.

"N-no, my lord," Narcissa choked, "he did not."

"Lucius," Voldemort tutted as he shook his head, "A beautiful young professor by the name of Astrid Moody. Young, blonde, blessed with unparalleled beauty, I'm sure you must have seen her," Voldemort's cruelty knew no bounds, even to his own supporters. Narcissa gritted her teeth as she thought back to the Yule Ball, she had spotted the young professor, you'd have to be blind not to, she'd watched her dance with Severus and admired what a handsome pair they made. She felt dirty and embarrassed knowing she'd admired the young woman who her husband had begun an affair with.

"I've seen her," Narcissa confirmed tensely.

"It was not my choice Narcissa… I was tasked to seduce her," Lucius' voice was low, he felt the entire tables eyes on his person in that second, judging him, judging his family, his marriage. He was not begging, nor did he sound regretful, his tone was just stating pure fact. Voldemort scoffed with a smirk as he made his way back to his seat.

"Don't act as if you don't enjoy her Lucius… you've kept her around, useless as she's proven to be, for far longer than you ever needed to," Voldemort purred,

"My Lord I-" Lucius gave his master pleading eyes, practically begging him not to do this, not here with all eyes on them.

"Tell your wife Lucius" The Dark Lord persisted, "Tell her how you enjoyed that girl in a corridor… at the Yule Ball, while poor Cissy waited on you for a dance."

A small yet victorious smile played on Voldemort's lips as he leant back into his chair to watch his right-hand man squirm under his wife's hurt-filled glare. Narcissa didn't give Lucius time to explain himself, standing abruptly she slapped her husband across the face, her jaw was tense, her teeth gritted.

Narcissa knew their marriage was for show, it was a loveless business transaction. She wasn't blind to Lucius' wandering, she knew he frequented ladies of the night, and that didn't bother her, she knew men have needs. But this felt different, she felt as if she'd had the rug pulled from under her. The secrecy of it pained her deeply.

"I'm sorry my lord, please excuse me," Narcissa whispered as she bowed her head respectfully to the Dark Lord, before striding out of the room and into the safety of her wing of the house. The table was stunned with silence, that was until Lucius burst with an accusation of betrayal.

"Severus, I trus-" Lucius hissed between gritted teeth, his eyes glaring at the man opposite him.

"Enough! It was not Severus," Voldemort declared, "You, like me Lucius, need to shield your thoughts better… all you've thought about this past week was your steamy public romp with the girl… playing it over and over in your head like a love-sick boy, perhaps this is the true reason you have been failing to get my prophecy? You're distracted," Voldemort spat.

"My Lord, I promise you, I am not distracted, I am more dedicated than ever and eager to serve," Lucius bowed his head obediently, his words were almost pleading.

"Good." The Dark Lord purred, before his tone turned suddenly firmer, with a menacing edge. "Be warned Lucius if you fail to secure the prophecy again… distractions will be eliminated."

The gathering soon came to a close, and all left the dining room at Malfoy Manor bar two: Lucius and Severus stared darkly into opposing directions. The silence between them was deafening, growing louder by the second.

"I cannot fail him this time." Lucius stated with a deep sigh, as if he wasn't already under pressure from the Dark Lord, the stakes had now been raised.

"No, you cannot." Severus concluded. "Of course, I will do my best to aid you, but this task, will reside on your shoulders Lucius," There was more silence as both men got lost deep in their thoughts, trying to hatch plans, find solutions.

"Tell the Order she is in danger, they will hide her away," Lucius suggested sadly, it would be a sacrifice not seeing her, but it was a better alternative to her inevitable death if he should fail.

"Because that worked so well for the Potters," Severus scoffed. "There is no use hiding her, she would only be found eventually, you know it to be true," Lucius nodded silently at his old friends' words.

"I have something for you… perhaps it will raise your spirits, old friend," Severus said after a few more moments of silence. He reached into his robe and pulled out the girl's letter. He flicked it across the table towards the blonde man, it almost landing in his hands. Lucius regarded the letter, picking it up slowly he overturned it to see it addressed to himself. Swirly feminine writing spelled out his name on the front, he knew instantly it was hers. One side of Lucius' lip curled up into half a smile as he pulled open the envelope, dropping it to the table as he unfolded the parchment inside. Severus pretended to develop an interest in the dark drapes that surrounded a large window at the end of the room as he watched Lucius from the corner of his eye. Lucius's eyes skimmed over the letter, darting side to side as he read it closely.

Lucius,

I am as well as can be expected, and I am safe, I'm blessed to have strong support around me. I received an ointment from Severus to help with my chest from, I can only presume this is your doing and I thank you.

I cannot lie and say that I'm okay with what Draco did to me, I know he is young and in pain but it was a shock, still is a shock, and I'm not sure I have it in me to forgive him just yet.

It saddens me to know I cannot see you soon, you've quickly become a comfort for me, and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't miss you. I know it must be for the best if you believe you need to stay away, I trust you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

With love,

Astrid

Please leave a review and let me know what you think, I'm sorry for the lack of Lucius action whilst we get through the plot, I promise there will be more to come...