April 14, 1976 - Malfoy Manor

"What is it, Severus?" Cassiopeia asked, raising her voice a little so she could be heard through the door. She sat on the bed with her head in her hands, the same position she had held for the last few hours.

"Can I come in?" he asked, not even giving her a moment to answer before opening the door. It was probably for the best - she didn't think she'd have let him in otherwise.

She didn't bother raising her head - she could hear his footsteps slow as he came to the edge of the bed, could feel his worried gaze as it fell on her body.

"I wanted to tell you, Bellatrix is no longer here," he said slowly. "She's been sent away."

She felt she should be relieved. "Alright, thank you for telling me."

Severus was silent for a moment. "... Will you come out, then?"

She shook her head, feeling like a stubborn child, but certain she could not face anyone in the Manor. Not the Dark Lord, not Narcissa. Not Severus, who she was sure had already heard of what had occurred, and pitied her.

It was the child who deserved their sympathy. The dead child, the child who could not speak. "What happened to the boy?" she asked, her throat almost impossibly tight.

Severus paused. "The boy?"

"You don't know?"

"No," he shook his head. "Nobody knows except… her… the Dark Lord, and you. We were only told that something had occurred, and to leave you be."

She swallowed. "There was a boy… I need to know what happened to him." To his body.

"... Alright. Give me a little time."

"No - Sev," she stood to stop him, but he had already left.

"I will kill her," he pronounced, his voice flat and emotionless. The fear that he had felt stepping into the Dark Lord's office had entirely disappeared, and he met the man's eerie, violet eyes unflinchingly.

"I doubt you have the ability to do so."

He shrugged, uncaring. "Make her regret her decision, then."

"She already does so. Her spirit has been crushed by disappointing her… Master."

"She deserves worse."

The Dark Lord's proclamation a day prior had sparked fear in him like none other; hearing what had transpired had made anger engulf him.

The man in front of him tilted his head, his gaze considering. "Very well. As long as Bellatrix is not killed, you can… show me what you can do. She shall return to the Manor in four days."

Severus nodded once. "Thank you, My Lord."

"Of coursse, Severuss."

"You should not have! He could have hurt you, he could have killed you."

Severus watched Cassiopeia storm, and he could not help but feel relieved in the fire of her anger, so in contrast to her previous stillness.

"Would you have left your room otherwise?"

"No - "

"Then I see nothing I should have done differently," he said, moving to stand near her. "Cassiopeia, he's alive. You thought the boy was dead, but he's alive, and he's being healed; he has no memory of what occurred. You deserve to know that."

She wrenched herself away from him. "Nothing justifies what happened to him - what I let happen to him. Regardless."

"You had no choice," he said firmly, catching her wrist in his hand. "Bellatrix caused this, and she will pay. But I will not let you sulk in your room, wallowing in guilt."

He almost let go when she snarled at him, enraged, and when she attempted to tear her hand from his. "Severus," she growled, "don't you dare - "

"Dare what? Keep you from hurting yourself further? From becoming a recluse?" he asked.

"You're not fucking helping!" she screamed.

"We'll see," he responded cooly.

"I hate you."

It hurt, of course it did - like a sharp knife in his heart - but he knew she was only lashing out, that she did not mean her words.

"...Really?" he asked lightly, after a moment's pause. She had stopped trying to escape, and slowly he let his hand fall away from hers.

She exhaled sharply. "Of course not."

"Alright. Then promise me you'll come down to dinner tonight?"

"Severus - "

"You haven't eaten in a day, and Narcissa is worrying herself to death over you."

Guilt flashed over her face. "...I will."

April 15, 1976 - Malfoy Manor

She awoke with tears streaming down her face, and the room dark around her. She tried to calm herself, to slow her heart, but the images were clear around her, and she could still smell that cloying scent of blood in the air. Nausea overwhelmed her.

"Cassiopeia."

Her heart jumped in fear. "Yes, who is it?"

"It's Narcissa, love," she heard the familiar voice say. "Could I come in?"

Quickly, she wiped the tears from her eyes, and tried to compose herself, to stop her trembling hands. "Yes, yes of course."

Narcissa entered the room, her wand alight in her hand, and clothed in a silver nightgown, looking for all as though she had just awoken.

"Are you alright, Cassie?" she asked, settling herself on the edge of the bed. "I was just walking past, and I heard you cry out."

Damn it. "I'm fine, Narcissa. It was just a nightmare, you shouldn't have bothered."

The woman shook her head, running her delicate fingers over her wand. She was silent for a moment, her expression troubled. "Might I ask… what the dream was about?"

"Bellatrix," she murmured in response, her mind filled with the sound of her cruel taunts, with the sight of her wand. She blinked back new tears; her eyes burned.

"I - I never thought she would hurt you," Narcissa said quietly. "I wouldn't have let her back here if I had, but at home, our father - " she cut herself off. "No, I should have been more careful, I should have known. I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Cissa. I'll be fine; you can go back to bed."

Narcissa sighed deeply, and nodded, standing from the bed. As she began to turn away from her, however, she paused. A moment later, she turned back to her, expression uneasy. "There… is a way to block the memories, Cassiopeia."

"And stop the dreams?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes, but - I'm unsure if I should, if I even could teach you," she frowned. "It's dangerous magic, and you're still so young - "

"What is it?"

"Occlumency, the study of - "

Cassiopeia lay her hand on Narcissa's stilling her.

"Yes?"

"Cissa…" she took a deep breath, "I already know Occlumency."

The witch froze. "Cassiopeia - how?"

"Severus taught me," she said, then added to forestall her next words, "We found out something, something that made it necessary to learn it."

Narcissa exhaled, closing her eyes briefly. "I can never stop worrying about you, can I?"

"I hope you could," Cassie answered simply. "But - please don't worry. We were cautious, and everything went… turned out alright."

Narcissa shook her head, opening her eyes to look at her sadly. "Love…" she trailed off. "Well then, simply clear your mind before falling asleep. If that doesn't work… I have a little Dreamless Sleep available. If the nightmares get bad, come and get me, and I'll bring it to you. Alright?"

"Thanks, Cissa."

"Of course," she sighed.

April 16, 1976 - Malfoy Manor

Sitting across from him, her hands trembling in her lap, she fought the urge to run.

"More?" he asked, pouring a delicate stream of red wine into a glass. She shook her head.

He placed the glass in front of her with an encouraging gesture, and immediately she was reminded of Severus - of his encounter with Dumbledore.

"I've never had more than a sip," she told him, an explanation for her hesitancy. She kept her eyes lowered, uncertain if her mind's walls could stand up against him.

He nodded in acceptance, pouring more into a glass for himself. "I never was much of a drinker myself, either…. though I know it to be a common vice."

He drank a little, before setting the glass down, as elegant as ever. "What was it you wished to discuss, Casssiopeia?"

She steeled her resolve. "I want to know where the boy is."

The Dark Lord raised his brow. "And why is that?"

I don't trust you. I can't trust you. "It would... ease my mind."

The wizard traced the rim of his glass thoughtfully, before answering. "I've entrusted him to Lucius' care. Once he returns you may ask him."

She frowned. "I thought - alright, thank you. However, if I could ask you - I'd be grateful if he was allowed to rest once he returns. The constant assignments have taken their toll on him; I'm sure you've seen."

"Ah, that…" he acknowledged. "If possible, yes, but I do not promise anything."

She nodded, thankful for even that. "Are the others also similarly occupied?"

He regarded her. "Most. Bellatrix is with Rodolphus - I believe they have just received some wonderful news."

Even knowing that he was watching her, that he was looking for any signs of weakness, she could not suppress the small shudder that went through her at the sound of the Black sister's name.

"Is that so?"

"Have you not heard? They are to be married in the fall."

"Oh.." she said. "How unexpected. You must wish them well from me, then."

"No need," he smiled. "You'll be able to tell them yourself soon enough."

She took a moment to calm herself. "...Will I? How wonderful."

He laughed; a short, sharp sound. "Don't bother with the niceties; I know if you could you would never see her again. Nonetheless, she is an important factor in an upcoming ritual; unless you desire to take her place…? As you may have noticed, few of my followers are of the female persuasion."

Could she? No - she couldn't put herself into such obvious danger. "No, thank you, my Lord. But, if I may ask, just how many followers do you have? I assume there are many, but I know only of a few."

He did not answer, but surveyed her. "... Have you learned to follow my orders yet?" he asked, and it took her a moment to realise what he was referencing.

"I... believe so, My Lord."

"Drink, then."

She took the glass into her hands, and though her hands trembled, she managed to tip the liquid into her mouth, to consume it all. She set the delicate crystal down, meeting his eyes. Her throat burned.

For a moment, it seemed as though he would give her a second order, as his eyes trailed across her, but he answered instead. "There are two hundred, in total, of which I consider twenty-five to be my most loyal - my most trusted."

"Lucius, Dolohov, Greengrass, the Lestrange brothers, Cygnus Black… Bellatrix… Fenrir?"

Though his expression had not changed as she listed off the first few names, he smirked at the last one. "Fenrir? Never. No, he would attempt to kill me the moment I stopped providing him with assistance… not that he could, of course," he added after a moment's pause, his eyes flicking down to his chest for a mere second, before returning to hers. "You know of the important ones; the rest are none of your concern. Suffice to say, there are few women who dare join our ranks, and unfortunately their presence is a necessity for most rituals. I'm afraid you will have to bear Bella's presence for a few days, though I'm certain you shall do so without issue… will you not?"

"I'll... attempt to do so."

"Good; I don't need two of you trying to kill her."

As she opened her mouth to ask what he meant, the alcohol finally seemed to hit her, and she felt her head begin to spin.

"My Lord - would it be alright if… I went to my room?"

He waved his hand. "Go ahead. I have more important things to mind than you."

April 17, 1976 - Hogwarts

Cassiopeia watched as Narcissa knelt at the garden beds, elegant as ever as she tended to her flowers. The Manor was almost empty today - the Dark Lord had gone off somewhere yesterday evening, and there was still no word of where Lucius was. Only Severus had stayed inside, unable to be pulled away from the Malfoy family library for even a moment, either by Cissa or herself.

"Darling, would you mind helping me?" Narcissa called, and she stood from her resting place in the shade, walking over to her.

"What is this?" Cassie asked, tempted to trail her fingers over the plant's luscious leaves.

"Hellebore," she answered, retrieving her wand, and duplicating her gloves. "It's poisonous, so put these on."

She did so, kneeling down on the ground as well. "I didn't know you grew potions ingredients here."

"They're a… new addition," she replied, the smile slipping from her face.

"Ah… sorry, Narcissa," she replied, feeling wretched for ruining the witch's good mood.

"No worries at all, darling. I'm just a little… uneasy, I suppose. Lucius and I try to keep in touch whenever he's off on a mission for - him."

"Has there still been no word?" she asked, pursing her lips in concern. About to apologise once more, she cut herself off as the back door opened, Severus emerging outside with a worried look adorning his face.

"Narcissa, Cassiopeia," he called, gesturing with his head. "Lucius is back."

He disappeared inside as soon as he finished, and it took only moments for the two of them to rid themselves of their wear, and enter inside the Manor as quickly as they could. They came upon Lucius in the living room, sitting heavily on the sofa with his eyes closed, and his hand curled tightly against his cane.

"Is everything alright?" Narcissa asked softly, settling herself next to him. His eyes shot open, and he gripped her hand tightly.

"Cissa - I'm fine. I'm tired, but I'm fine." His eyes traveled to the edge of the room, where Severus had just appeared from behind a door. "I told you not to worry them, Severus," he admonished, but there was no heat in his voice.

"I told them nothing distressing, only that you'd returned," Severus said tightly. "Excuse me if I can't conceal my alarm at your state."

Lucius shook his head. "I'll be fine in a moment, my leg was just acting up."

Severus opened his mouth to refute him, but seemed to decide not to speak, instead, leaving the room. Cassiopeia gave the Malfoys a worried, apologetic smile, and moved to follow him.

"I'm glad to see you back, Lucius," she said quietly, and shut the door behind her. "Severus?"

"What is it?" he answered, his voice echoing from the place he'd perched himself - on the window sill.

"Is... everything alright with you?" she asked, standing behind him. "You're angry."

He shrugged.

"You are; I can practically feel it. What happened?"

"Nothing much; other than the fact Lucius could barely walk into the house, and now he's saying he's fine."

She frowned; she hadn't know it was that bad. "He probably doesn't want Narcissa to worry - you know how she gets."

"He doesn't want to seem weak," Severus replied, turning to face her.

Know anything about that? she wanted to ask, but sighed instead. "Regardless, I think we should let him work through his problems like he wants to. Besides, weren't you brewing something to help with the injury?"

"I did. He's already taken two doses," Severus said, scowling. "He told me he felt better, but what happened disproves it. It's not helping him."

"Severus - you can't know for sure. Give it a bit more time."

"Fine, we'll see," he said angrily.

She nodded, challenging him. "We'll see."

•••

Thank you to everyone for reading, and to Silent Mayhem, and Stephanie MRV. School is turning out to be... a lot... this year, but I'll try updating as much as I can. Have a wonderful week :)