Chapter 4
Pavo: The Malfoys' Display
Summer 1973
Narcissa was slumped back on the sofa in the parlour, idly flicking through a copy of Witch Weekly, trying to ignore her mother's tedious instruction as she moved her wand over the seating plan for Narcissa and Lucius' wedding breakfast, charming small, labelled dots to appear around the carefully inked tables. The wedding was taking place at Malfoy Manor, with the reception being hosted in the Great Ballroom. Usually, Candace Malfoy, as the hostess, would have arranged such matters, but Druella Black had put her foot down, insisting that she be allowed to organise the guest list and the seating. She was supposedly training Narcissa in the fine art of being a society hostess, but Narcissa found the whole thing rather dull; she already knew the protocol and what was expected of her, so did not see why she had to be present to watch her mother undertake all the wedding preparations when she would much rather be spending time with Lucius...
"And the Crabbes now have to sit with the other families from the Sacred Twenty-Eight, which quite ruins the symmetry of the arrangement, but, in this case, marital alliance trumps blood status. However, if it were a formal dinner, you would, of course, have to down-grade both Crabbe and his wife. That is a choice she made when she married beneath her, Narcissa. Fortunately, you shall never be so degraded."
"Yes, Mother." Narcissa flicked past a few pages on cleaning spells. She would soon have charge of Lucius' family elf, so such articles were of no use to her.
"Slughorn...Travers... Yaxley... yes they can sit together. Dumbledore and Minister Jenkins declined - as I knew they would. But still, one must keep up appearances, and the Dark Lord himself insisted we did not slight them... I was surprised that Barty Crouch accepted - he's bringing his wife and son. The boy is starting at Hogwarts this autumn, I believe. Another Ravenclaw blood traitor in the making, I daresay." She pursed her lips. "I'll ask Rookwood to keep an eye on him - I wouldn't put it past old Crouch to attempt a raid on the Manor during the reception."
"Yes, Mother." Narcissa's disinterested eyes ran over that week's featured recipe; 'Dancing Pear Pudding'.
"And the boys from your little club at school can sit with their families," her mother continued.
"Pardon?" Narcissa glanced up. "No, Mother, I wanted them to have their own table, otherwise Severus will be left out."
Her mother huffed. "Your little half-blood stray has declined his invite, Narcissa. Rather ungrateful of him, but then, with such parents it is hardly surprising. And to think the Princes used to be such a respected family!" She turned her attention back to the seating plan.
"Mother, what do you mean? He said he couldn't come?" Narcissa sat up and tossed the magazine aside.
"Yes, Narcissa. That is what I just said. The replies are over there if you want to read it yourself." Her mother waved absently towards the sideboard where two neat stacks of parchment sat. One was labelled 'Acceptances', the other 'Regrets'. Narcissa seized the latter pile and riffled through until she saw the handwriting she recognised.
'It is with sincere regret that Severus Snape must decline the invitation to attend the wedding of Narcissa Black and Lucius Malfoy.'
Narcissa turned the note over, looking for a return address, but the reverse of the parchment was blank. Frowning, she looked at the message again. This isn't right... why would he refuse... did his father make him? Her eyes fell on an inky smudge at the top of the page. That really wasn't like Severus; his homework was always immaculate, and she had never seen any blotches in his letters to herself. Surely, if declining an invitation to a formal event, he would have made sure it was better presented than his run-of-the-mill homework exercises or casual correspondence? Narcissa drew her wand, waved it over the note and thought Revelio. The smudge dissolved, revealing a message in tiny handwriting. Bringing up the page to her eyes, she could just make out a Muggle address in Cokeworth. Narcissa gripped the note in her hand and strode to the door.
"Narcissa? Where do you think you are going? We still have fifty guests to seat, and then we must order favours..."
"I need some air, Mother, and you are doing such an admirable job. Surely you would prefer to have total autonomy?"
Druella looked both annoyed and relieved as her daughter swept from the room.
An hour later, Narcissa and Lucius appeared with two faint 'pops' at the edge of a small, dank river. It was late afternoon, and the warm summer breeze carried an unpleasant odour to the couple, both of whom wrinkled their noses.
"Merlin, what a dump," Lucius drawled, offering Narcissa his arm. She took it and they headed towards the rows of ramshackle houses on the other side of a road. It was fenced off, and Lucius glanced around surreptitiously before casting a silent Severing charm. He forced the jagged metal out of the way then stepped back, allowing Narcissa to pass through first. They crossed the dusty road and stood, looking up and down the cobbled, litter-strewn street.
"How do we find the right house?" Narcissa asked. Lucius shrugged. Having never taken Muggle Studies, and only having wealthy friends with large, wizarding properties, Muggle addresses were a bit of a mystery to them both. "Shall we wander around until we find someone to ask?" Narcissa suggested.
"I'll have to speak to a Muggle?" Lucius hissed in fury.
"I don't want to either! But how else are we going to find him? I don't really fancy knocking on all these doors. We might catch something from them." Narcissa eyed the filthy house frontages with suspicion.
"Fine. Left or right?"
"Left."
They turned together and headed up the deserted street. "Hang on." Lucius pointed to a sign. "This is Wool Crescent."
"Oh." Narcissa paused, looking at the grimy wording. "So where's Spinner's End?"
"Not lost are you, my dears?" Narcissa and Lucius spun on the spot. A crumpled old woman was standing right behind them, staring up at them with pale brown eyes. She reeked of sweat and mildew, her face was heavily lined and streaked with grime. Lucius looked disgusted, so Narcissa bit back her pride and forced herself to address the Muggle,
"Yes. We're looking for Spinner's End. Do you know where it is?"
"Oh, I knows alright. I knows everything what goes on 'round here." She bared her yellow, uneven teeth at them as she laughed wheezily. "But sometimes, I forgets..."
Is this filthy blight asking me to pay her for directions? Cheeky cow! Narcissa reached into her robes and discretely aimed her wand at the woman, thinking Confundo. The woman's eyes unfocused and she swayed on the spot. "I think that will be enough money for you to tell us where Spinner's End is," Narcissa said firmly.
"Yes..." The woman blinked and squinted up at them again. "Funny get-up, young people wears nowadays..."
Narcissa suddenly realised that Muggles weren't used to seeing robes and wished she had thought to change... but she didn't have any Muggle clothing, so it was a moot point. "Spinner's End?" she prompted, her voice beginning to lose any semblance of patience.
"Down that alley." The old woman jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "Right, then left onto Mill Lane, then it's another left to Spinner's End."
"Thank you." Narcissa nodded curtly then pulled at Lucius, who seemed to be rooted to the spot, staring at the Muggle with undisguised revolution. She yanked him into the alleyway. "Earth to Lucius! Are you there?"
"That was -" he stopped, as if trying to come up with a strong enough word to adequately describe the horror of the situation. "That was vile! Just vile! That Muggle - she was despicable! Abhorrent! And people wonder why the Dark Lord's views are so popular? I bet half the people who campaign for Muggle rights haven't ever met a Muggle. We should bring them all here, Narcissa. Then they'd see what repugnant beings they really are!"
Narcissa couldn't help but laugh at his outrage. "Oh no, I've got a much better idea. The Dark Lord should come here and hire them - imagine Albus Dumbledore facing that Muggle! She'd knock him out with her stench alone, then pick his pockets for any valuables."
Lucius' look of fury was replaced with one of good humour. "I quite agree Narcissa. And did you notice how quietly she snuck up on us? She's much scarier than an Inferius. I think you might be on to something..."
By the time they reached Spinner's End, they were both laughing uncontrollably, imagining the adventures of the Detestable Muggle Army. "It's here." Narcissa pointed to the very last house in the row. "What's the plan?"
"The usual, dearest. Turn on the charm. If that fails, we'll use a Confundus charm, and if that fails... well, I'd love another chance to use the Imperius curse." Lucius stepped up to the front door, pointing his wand at it and muttering, "Scourgify" before rapping smartly with his knuckles. The door opened slowly and a woman looked out at them. There was no doubt that she was Severus Snape's mother. She had the same dark hair, thin face and pallid complexion. Her sullen expression changed to one of surprise as her eyes fell on their attire.
"You're... I mean..." She looked nervously around, as if concerned someone would see them. "You'd better come in." She opened the door wide and Narcissa and Lucius stepped straight into a living room. It was small and mostly bare. There were no pictures on the walls, and the only furniture was a battered sofa, an armchair which did not match it in the slightest, and a shabby table. The room was cleaner than Narcissa had been expecting, so she sat gingerly on the edge of the sofa when bid to by her hostess. Even Lucius deigned to be seated, taking her hand in his. He squeezed it, and she could see how much it was costing him to be there. "You're here about Severus?" Eileen Snape asked, without preamble. Narcissa nodded.
"We are getting married in a couple of weeks and we'd love Severus to be there. Mrs Snape, I don't know if he's told you, but he was in a study group with us at school, and we've grown rather fond of him. His other friends will be there too, and I can assure you it is a perfectly respectable gathering, if that's concerning you at all..." Eileen was shaking her head.
"It's very kind of you, Miss. And please, I mean no offence. I know of your families." She nodded to Lucius as well. "I know it's an honour for Severus to be invited at all. I don't keep up to date with happenings in your world, but I could see he was desperate to go. He's told me a bit about you two and Regulus. He never really had friends before... He don't often get excited about things nowadays... It near broke my heart to say no, but... his father just got him a job for the summer, you see, over the mill. Running errands and the like. So he said no, and I had to back him up. We need the money."
"Mrs Snape, perhaps if we were to speak to your husband..." Lucius began, but Eileen shook her head again.
"No. That'd make things worse. He'd be fine when you were here, but once you left..." Her voice tailed off.
"Mrs Snape," Narcissa said, sitting up straighter. "If it is a question of money, I will happily pay you a week's wages for Severus if you would let him come to the wedding. In fact, I'd pay you his wages for the rest of the summer if you'd let him come and stay at Malfoy Manor with Lucius until the wedding." Eileen went red and said in a more dignified voice than she had used thus far,
"We don't need your charity!"
"It isn't charity!" Narcissa forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't bear the thought of Severus working in a filthy Muggle mill surrounded by people like the crazy bag-lady all summer. He was too good for that! Her mind inexplicably flitted to Andromeda... No, not her. She's gone. Narcissa took a deep breath and spoke again. "Severus is flourishing at school, Mrs Snape. He's very gifted and talented, but every time he goes home... he comes back to school an emotional wreck. I don't want to be rude, and I don't want to know what goes on here, but I can guess enough. Please, Mrs Snape. You're his mother, I don't understand how you can stand aside where your son is concerned!"
There was silence, and Narcissa thought she had gone too far. She stared into Eileen's dark eyes, realising that she could not read them, and, more disturbingly, that Eileen was attempting to read her. After about a minute, Eileen broke eye contact and spoke softly.
"You can't understand, Miss Black. Not yet. Maybe one day you will, and maybe you'll make a better choice. I'm not the woman I was and I'm not the woman I hoped I'd be." She rose from her seat. "I'll speak to Tobias. Come back here at eight - you can take Severus then."
"Thank you, Mrs Snape." Narcissa and Lucius rose, too. "And how much do we own you for -" but Eileen cut them off.
"If you want to help, you could buy him some formal robes. He has nothing suitable to wear for such a grand wedding." Her face flushed and she looked at the threadbare rug as she spoke.
"I'd be glad to." Narcissa spoke with sincerity. They bade the woman goodbye and left, heading back through the maze of streets to the riverbank where they could apparate back to the wizarding world.
"Poor Severus," Lucius muttered. Narcissa nodded in agreement. "How did a pure-blood end up married to such a brute? I can never understand it when someone chooses a Muggle, but even if Tobias Snape were a wizard, I'd still question the judgement of the woman who married him!"
"I don't know," Narcissa murmured. "Luc, what did she mean when she said I couldn't understand yet?"
Lucius looked at her in surprise. "She meant that you don't yet have children; she was referring to when you become a mother. You are rather maternal to the younger boys, you know, especially Severus."
"Oh." Narcissa looked up at Lucius, feeling apprehensive. "Luc... I don't know if now's the best time to talk about this... but I don't want to have children yet."
He looked down at her, a wry smile breaking across his face. "I'm relieved to hear you say that. I was worried you were all broody and wanted to fill all the bedrooms at the Manor straight away! As lovely as it would be to have a child one day, I'm happy for it to wait a few years - I don't feel like sharing you yet."
She laughed. "Good! Because I want to be me before I become someone's mother. And you say a child? Not hankering after a large family, then?"
"Merlin no! One would be fine. Any more and I'd go insane. How about you?"
"I quite agree. One is enough." She smiled up at him as they mounted the river bank. Narcissa took Lucius' outstretched hand and they twisted on the spot, disappearing with a small 'pop'.
Narcissa, shackled to her mother's side, was too busy with wedding preparations to spend much time with Lucius and Severus over the next two weeks. However, her mother did allow her to accompany the boys on a trip to Diagon Alley. It was another hot, dusty day, and the cobbled street was crowded with families completing their back-to-school shopping. Lucius had dug out his old text books for Severus - even though both he and Narcissa would have been happy to buy Severus new books, even Lucius could tell how much this would humiliate the boy, so they had refrained from doing so. But Severus had happily accepted the old textbooks, so he only needed to buy 'A Practical Guide to Creatures of Great Britain & Ireland' and the newest edition of 'Spellman's Syllabary', as his two chosen electives were Care of Magical Creatures and The Study of Ancient Runes. Lucius smirked at the shiny new books as Severus picked them up in Flourish and Blotts. "Perhaps you, Kettleburn and that oaf Hagrid can start a monster-loving club this year," he drawled. Severus looked up, scowling,
"I don't love creatures, but there are some potent potions ingredients you can only get from them - like unicorn hair and acromantula venom. They are extortionately overpriced to buy, so I'd like to know how to collect them myself."
Lucius laughed at his indignation. "Calm down, Severus, I was only teasing! And why did you choose Runes? English too basic for you now?"
This time Severus did not scowl, understanding that Lucius was not actually mocking him. "If I study Runology, I'll have a better understanding of how spells work, and that'll enable me to make more of my own spells - and much more powerful ones." Lucius nodded, exchanging a glance with Narcissa as Severus paid for his books and they left the shop.
"Do you need anything else?" Narcissa asked.
"Just some Potions supplies," Severus replied.
"Yes..." Narcissa said, lowering her voice "Can you get these, too?" She pushed a piece of parchment into his hand, which listed the ingredients for Polyjuce Potion, the Death-Cap Draught, Bloodroot Poison and the Draught of Living Death, as well as some core poisons, including hemlock and hellebore. "Our Master has asked that you make these and send them to us when you're back at school. Slughorn may be an idiot, but even he'd notice if lots of his supplies went missing."
Severus glanced up, looking anxious. Narcissa was confused; she had expected him to be excited to have such a project. Next to her Lucius spoke softly, "I'm paying for all this, Severus. We just need you to pick it up - they won't question a Hogwarts student buying this, as long as we throw in a lot of innocuous ingredients too. But if I were to start buying it alone... it'd look suspicious." Severus let out a deep breath and flashed them a genuine, if slightly embarrassed, smile.
"Right." Narcissa stepped back. "I need to go to Gringotts, meet you outside Twilfitt's?" Lucius nodded, kissed her quickly and he and Severus turned and headed into the dark interior of the apothecary.
Narcissa's business at Gringotts was quickly concluded. She had been concerned about what might happen to Severus when he was returned home. He had been waiting for them at the top of Spinner's End when they had gone back to collect him after their discussion with his mother, and he had said nothing about his family, or the argument his acceptance of their hospitality had undoubtedly caused. Narcissa hated to admit to it, even to herself, but she felt sorry for Eileen Snape, and had no wish to make Severus' home life any more difficult than it already was. She therefore, much to the surprise of the goblin who assisted her, asked to change twenty Galleons into Muggle money. She had no idea how much it would be worth in the Muggle world, but the bag of coins felt reassuringly heavy, and she hoped it would be enough to placate Mr Snape, whilst not causing undue embarrassment to his wife. Narcissa planned to owl it over to her that evening.
Narcissa stepped out of the bank back onto the sunny street, and noticed that, although the street was humming with activity, most people looked strained and worried. They were moving in groups, not stopping to speak to one another, and glancing around nervously. Narcissa held her head high and adopted her most scathing expression as she swept dramatically past the shabby, red-haired Weasley family - filthy blood traitors. Then she smiled as she sawLucius and Severus waiting for her outside Twilfitt and Tatting's.
As they passed into the pleasently cool interior of the shop, Narcissa found her herself wondering who made the robes for the Death Eaters. Each Death Eater had custom-made black robes, which they were expected to don when their Master called them. They couldn't possibly have come from a shop... maybe some poor Death Eater's wife had to make them? Or perhaps an elf? Her lip curled as her thoughts immediately went to the Malfoys' elf, Dobby. That disgusting excuse for a servant got more and more imbecillc every day. Only yesterday, she had had to punish him for spilling tea on her new robes. She would need to do something about him once she was mistress of Malfoy Manor... her thoughts were interrupted as the shop assistant stepped forward to greet them, and they got to business. Twenty minutes later, Severus had been fitted for his new dress robes, and they had arranged for them to be stitched up and sent over to the Manor by owl the following day. Lucius waved away Severus' words of thanks as they left the shop and started up the cobbled street again.
"We only have one other place to visit today... How do you fancy a trip to Knockturn Alley, Severus?"
Severus' eyes glittered with excitement, then he said, "But won't that look suspicious?"
"Not at all. Borgin and Burkes are a specialist antique dealers - many wizarding families use them. And Mr Borgin is the soul of discretion."
"What do you need to see him for? The wig?" Severus asked as they headed down a dark alleyway off the main concourse.
"Yes... I wondered if you had noticed that. The curse appears to be wearing off, and I would like it restored, if possible. It is an important historical artefact, and Father feels that -" Narcissa tuned out as they kept talking. Lucius and Severus both had an unquenchable fascination for Dark artefacts, and Lucius had taken great delight in giving Severus a tour of his family's prize possessions from different historical periods. The Malfoys owned a great number of contraband items, hidden in a secret chamber under the drawing room floor. These included:
Roman: A pair of soft leather shoes which slowly eroded the feet of the wearer.
Medieval: A golden, jewel-encrusted goblet which poisoned the drink of anyone without magical blood
Tudor: A green Bartmann jug which always poisoned the thirteenth cup it poured.
Elizabethan: A cursed make-up set, which had been created by witches & wizards to try to rid the court of corrupt officials. They had tailored the poison to closely mimic the effects of lead poisoning.
Jacobean: A sewing kit which stitched the mouth of the user closed.
Georgian: A tall, white wig which caused the wearer to go slowly insane.
Victorian: A boned corset with asphyxiated the wearer.
Edwardian: A cameo broach which whispered the wearer's worst fears to them.
First World War: A small doll which drained the life from the one who held it for too long.
Post Second World War: An enchanted mirror which the viewer cannot look away from.
They also owned a collection of cursed books, ranging from simple eye-locking hexes to ones which burned the reader's eyes out, as well as innumerable books on Dark magic. These items and books had to be kept under a great number of secrecy enchantments, as, under current Ministry regulations, the hoard would be worth, at least, a hefty fine, and at worst, a few months in Azkaban. But not for much longer... once the Dark Lord is in his rightful place, we won't have to hide anymore... Narcissa thought happily.
Borgin and Burkes was a rather run-down and dusty antiques shop, with grimy windows and soot-blackened bricks. Inside, it was dark and dingy, but filled with an assortment of objects to fascinate anyone with even the slightest interest in unusual artefacts. Mr Borgin, apparently aware that Lucius was about to take over as head of the Malfoy family, adopted his most oily manner, sucking up to Lucius in a blatant and sickening way. The man knew his stuff, however, and soon was describing a Dark charm to Lucius which would preserve the cursed wig for another hundred-odd years. Narcissa listened without much interest, whilst Severus moved slowly around the shop, dark eyes taking in the odd assortment of objects with obvious relish. As Lucius and Borgin concluded their business, Severus approached the counter holding a small, tattered book.
"How much is this?" he asked.
Mr Borgin's eyes swept over Severus, then flickered almost imperceptibly to Lucius before he replied, "Two Galleons."
"I believe I must have misheard you. I asked how much this book cost," Severus replied coolly. Narcissa smirked as Mr Borgin's eyes widened slightly.
"One Galleon, ten Sickles."
"Try again." Severus narrowed his eyes and squared his shoulders.
"Now look here," Mr Borgin began. "That book is a rare first edition and out of the goodness of my heart, I have already heavily discounted it for you as a favour to a long and faithful customer." He gestured respectfully to Lucius. "So if you -"
But Severus cut him off smoothly, "I will choose to believe you have been hit by a Confundus charm this morning, Mr Borgin, rather than accuse you of lying to me. This book is not a rare first edition. It is a poorly made counterfeit. I assume you sold the real first edition some time ago, but chose to make a few copies before you did so? I cannot criticise your enterprising endeavours, but please do not insult my intelligence by trying to pass it off as the real deal. It is barely worth the paper it is printed on, but out of the goodness of my heart, I'll give you five Sickles for it. Do we have a deal?"
Mr Borgin looked as if he had been struck dumb. He glanced at Lucius, who put a hand on Severus' shoulder and said politely, "If you wouldn't mind, Mr Borgin. We do have other places to be today..." Throwing a savage glare at Severus, Mr Borgin took the proffered coins from his outstretched hand. The three then left the shop.
"Impressive negotiation skills, Severus. How did you know he was lying?" Lucius asked curiously.
"I could see it in his eyes," Severus replied simply, tucking the book in his robes. "I've been practising."
Narcissa nodded. "Good. Keep it up. So what's the book about?"
"Wizarding medical treatment in Tudor times. Back then, they believed that many illnesses were caused by an excess of blood, or by bad blood, so Muggle surgeons would deliberately cut their patients or use leeches to attempt to get rid of it. Wizards caught onto this absurd notion too, and used magic to keep wounds open and stop them from healing. Unsurprisingly, their patients died from sepsis or blood loss... but I want to find out what sort of curse they used to keep the wounds open... it's for an idea I'm working on," Severus replied easily. The party stepped into a quiet alleyway, and they apparated back to Malfoy Manor.
The wedding of Narcissa Black and Lucius Malfoy was a spectacular event. The Daily Prophet enthusiastically published a double page spread about it on the following day - presumably the editor was relieved to be reporting on something other than deaths, disappearances and disasters. Over five hundred guests attended, including the rich, famous and beautiful. The service was held in the extensive grounds of Malfoy Manor in the dazzling August sunlight. The bride and groom were a true sight to behold, tall, fair, elegant and simply but exquisitely dressed. The vows were traditional, respectable and moving. The happy couple were presented with priceless and exotic gifts, including a breeding group of albino peacocks (called, rather fittingly, an ostentation of peafowl). The Prophet also reported gifts of rare gemstones, goblin made armour, a pure silver dinner service, charmed jewellery and vintage wine. The total cost of the wedding was thought to be over ten thousand Galleons - a rumour happily encouraged by Druella Black (who knew that it had in fact been just a few Galleons short of eight thousand.)
The guests, for the most part, behaved well. Theodosia and her fiancé, Dunstan Nott, disappeared for a greater part of the afternoon, and stubbornly insisted they had just been, "exploring the grounds" when Lucius teased them for it. Augustus Rookwood kept a close eye on Barty Crouch Senior, who was found wandering around on the top floor of the Manor at one time, but meekly came back to the party without finding anything of significance. Abraxas Malfoy made a long speech in which he listed his family's influence through the last few centuries, and ended by formally announcing his retirement as head of the family in favour of his newly married son. After the cake was cut and the first dance had been duly watched, Crabbe and Goyle led their new wives onto the dance floor and twirled and spun with much enthusiasm, if little talent. Soon they were joined by the other guests and the party began. Even Bellatrix managed to keep her usually wild behaviour reigned in (even though Narcissa suspected that she and her husband Rodolphus spent most of the day plotting more Muggle killings with the Carrows.) As the evening wore on, Narcissa found her hand taken by a man she did not recognise. He bowed over it and kissed it, before looking into her eyes. Narcissa realised with an unpleasant lurch of her stomach who it was, and fought the simultaneous urges she felt to flinch and curtsey.
"I'm delighted you could come, Sir." She beamed at him. Lord Voldemort, appearance transfigured to avoid detection, smiled slowly at her comprehension. His hair, which was longer than it had been at her interview, was wavy and dark blond. His skin was tanned and he looked European.
"It seems I cannot fool you, Mrs Malfoy. I am glad. I only stopped by briefly to congratulate you. I also wished to size up some of the guests. I was very interested to meet Barty Crouch's offspring." He nodded over Narcissa's shoulder and she turned to see that Barty Crouch Jr. had attached himself to Regulus, Evan and Severus. They were sat at a round table, talking and laughing animatedly. All boys were looking smart in dress robes, and Severus, in simply cut forest-green velvet, fitted in with the pure-bloods perfectly. Narcissa looked back at her Master and asked,
"You spoke to him, Sir?"
"I do not need to speak to people to meet them, Mrs Malfoy. Young Crouch has a most curious mind... I trust you will follow it up?"
She swallowed and forced herself to smile. "Yes, Sir. I will."
"And the dark haired boy? Who is he?"
"Severus Snape, my Lord. Half-blood, Muggle father, pure-blood mother, but very dedicated to our cause. He's the one who invented 'Muffliato' and has been leading the research on healing potions and their limitations." She felt her heart begin to thud as she waited for his reply. The Dark Lord watched Severus for a few moments before looking back at the bride.
"I hope his work continues to be useful to me. His blood status is lower than I would usually permit, but true loyalty will right many wrongs. Do you not agree?"
Narcissa swallowed. "Yes, my Lord."
Lord Voldemort nodded, then walked away. He seemed to dissolve as he entered the crowd and Narcissa did not see him again that evening. If anyone else had seen him, they did not say so. And so the wedding party concluded in the early hours of the following morning. Eventually, the guests had all left, the family had retired to bed and Dobby began to clear away all evidence of the revelries.