Chapter 13: Fifth Year: Summer Holiday
Travelling back to Malfoy Manor with Draco and her Aunt Cissa was a tense experience. Her aunt spoke about nothing, even shooting Draco a glare when he mentioned his father. The message was clear: not until we're alone in the house. Calli worried about who may be waiting at the house.
She wasn't all that surprised when the door closed behind them and her aunt announced that she had some good news. "Calli, your parents are going to be staying with us." Her aunt was still tense. Perhaps the bloom was off the rose of her adulation for her sister. "I think it's time you both met, Bella and Rodolphus."
Entering the massive sitting room, Calli's heartbeat stuttered. There she stood, the monster who birthed her. She didn't bother with any attention to the man whose name she carried. Clearly that's all they shared.
Her mother turned and took in the teenagers standing before her. Calli wondered what she saw and in a flash it was granted. Draco, standing in awe before her, an idol come to life. But Calli, she saw herself, standing perfectly straight, head high, with the cold mask firmly in place. With effort she refocused on how her mother felt about what she saw. Draco clearly pleased her. Idolization she could handle, mold even. Calli sparked something inside of her mother that shocked her. Was that fear she felt?
Pulling out of the monster's mind, satisfied she hadn't felt a thing, she watched as Draco simpered.
"Hello, Aunt Bellatrix. Uncle." Ah, clearly no one cared about her supposed father.
"Draco," her mother said with a smile that would terrify a snake. "And you must be my darling daughter." The words felt foreign to both of them. "Aren't you going to greet your family?" There was a hint of threat beneath the feigned cordiality.
"Of course, Mother." Calli answered, smiling coldly back. "Welcome home." She nodded slightly at the Lestrange cuck.
Narcissa jumped in when silence fell. Having everyone sit, but Rodolphus begged off and removed himself. Perhaps he knew he wasn't a real part of the family? Conjuring drinks for the four of them, her aunt and cousin dominated the conversation. No one mentioned her uncle or his plight of imprisonment. Obviously a taboo subject in present company. Her mother listened to the mother and son prattling on, but her focus was on Calli.
"Do you ever stay so quiet, Daughter?" Bellatrix finally asked.
"Calli rarely speaks. Usually she has her nose in a book." Draco offered, clearly desiring his aunt's full attention.
"Is that so?" Her mother collected the information. "You talk to no one? Confide in no one?"
Calli considered if she would know about Professor Snape. And how did she learn about it? A flash came as she recalled her uncle monitoring her correspondence the year before. She knew then, and it bothered her because as her professor said, she disliked him.
"Only those I trust implicitly." Calli answered. "And that's a rather short list, Mother." Let her make her mind up over that. Let her realize that Calli knew what she was implying and where the information came from.
Narcissa made several more attempts to recapture the conversation, but her sister and niece clearly needed some one on one time. She drew Draco away. As soon as the door shut, her mother started.
"Calligenia, you need to know that your choice of confidant is untrustworthy." The menace in her voice was venomous.
Calli arched her eyebrow. Look who's talking. "I'm shocked you even know my name, Mother. You have been away for a very long time." She sounded calm, which was good because baiting her was one thing, but feeding her any emotions would be bad. "Perhaps my confidant knows me better than anyone because he was available and interested."
Bellatrix stood and began pacing. "You don't know him, Calli-is that what Draco called you? Sounds common, but I suppose it will do. Snape is untrustworthy. You don't know him like WE do."
"You mean you and my FATHER?" She asked laying on the emphasis.
Did she imagine the flinch? "I meant our family of course." Her voice was low, full of warning.
"Why isn't father in here for this little chat, Mother?" Calli asked, unable to stop baiting the snake in front of her. "If my parents are so worried about the company I keep, why isn't he here to offer his guidance?"
Bellatrix released a hiss of air. "How dare you!" Her hand twitched, clearly wanting her wand.
Calli stood facing her mother. "Shall I call him, Mother?" She tutted. "That's right, I can't. You're the one who wears his mark, not me." With that parting shot she turned and left, letting the door slam behind her.
Upstairs Calli unpacked her trunk. She was shaking inside, but realized that Professor Snape
had been right. Her mother may wish to cause her untold pain, but she didn't dare act on it. Fear of her father kept her in line. That was something at least.
A knock came to her door. Another rare visit, what did she do to deserve this?
"Enter." She offered, keeping her hands on task. When Draco entered, she nearly groaned out loud. Great she'd be subjected to either hero worship or whining.
He sauntered in and took the seat once occupied by his father. "Calli, I cannot believe your mother is here. In the same house with us, all that power." Hero worship it is. "She's amazing."
Calli kept putting her things away. Draco rarely needed encouragement or participation in his monologues.
"Do you think she'll teach me?" Wait, what? Calli realized she'd blocked him out so completely that she missed a whole conversation.
"Teach you?" A question for a question. Bad conversation skills, but hopefully good to find out what I missed.
"Yeah, advanced Dark Arts. Do you think she'd teach me?" Of course, hero worship, remember?
Calli turned to face him fully. Face flushed, he looked manic. She didn't even have to delve in his mind to find the purpose. She wished she could empathize with his wishes. He wanted his father back. By any means necessary. And Aunt Bella could facilitate it.
"I'm sure she'd take you under her wing, Draco." She didn't have to lie. Her mother wanted to mold him. "Just ask her." And leave my room to do it.
Draco fought the urge to hug her. Thank Merlin, and left. Her door closed and she was blissfully alone again. Writing to Professor Snape was out. Her mother wouldn't simply read her letters, she'd burn them. Isolated once more. Welcome home, Mother.
Severus was summoned to the Dark Lord's presence. He held his bow for several beats before he was granted permission to sit. As he sat facing his Master he wondered what could the meeting be about. Calli again? They were alone. So the assumption was a safe bet.
Instead the Dark Lord asked him to give Pettigrew room and board, for the summer at least. Then, he could have a sort of assistant to aid in the passing of information from the Order to him. Confused, he agreed, clearly Pettigrew was being sent to watch him. He was certain that being summoned wouldn't be all that lessened by the rodent's presence, but consent was all he could do.
Severus nodded his assent. He expected the visit to be over and he'd be sent away, but the Dark Lord continued. Bellatrix had told him that Malfoy's son was burning to join ranks. She inferred that he'd do ANYTHING. And so, the Dark Lord wanted to run a scenario past him. Would Malfoy's son, with the freedom granted to students at Hogwarts be able to make a successful attempt on Dumbledore's life?
Shocked flowed through him. Dumbledore, he knew was already rushing toward a secret goal he shared with no one, but was this plan an attempt to stop it? Or was it a way to simply end someone he found too powerful? Regardless, using the son of a Deatheater in disgrace, a boy who had no chance of success, was a cruel punishment all around. He masked his worries by looking as though he was carefully considering the chances.
"The freedom of a student would be an asset, however," he warned, "unless Draco-Malfoy's son- was trained past his current grade level, the odds aren't high for success." Severus answered.
The Dark Lord studied him. Weighing the information, checking for deceit. Finding nothing amiss, he smiled cruelly. "Thank you, Severus." He motioned for him to leave. "Tell no one of this conversation. And I'll be sending Wormtail along to you shortly."
Severus bowed out. Apparating back to Spinner's End, he contemplated his future in house spy. Clearly Bellatrix was hissing dissent in the Dark Lord's ear. And Draco would pay the high cost of his father's failures. The burdens of playing both sides and knowing it could go horrifically wrong really was exhausting.
And that thought brought Calli rushing to his mind. He wondered if she was alright. Her mother was staying at Malfoy Manor, because she was willing to push Draco into the Dark Lord's path. Poor Calli, stuck in that house with no way to send letters. Isolated again.
Calli continued to play the part of cold indifference. She watched when Draco and her mother disappeared for his tutoring. Watched her aunt's face tighten with fear.
Aunt Cissa loved her family. Bella, her beloved sister included, but she hadn't wanted this path for Draco. Calli read the dread of losing Lucius to prison because his loyalty to the Dark Lord surpassed that of his own family. Watching Draco follow him was driving her to madness. How could Bella, her own blood, train him for it?
Calli was surprised her aunt hadn't expected this outcome. Her mother spent years imprisoned for the same fanaticism that her own husband had. Her actions against other witches and wizards made her infamous. Why would she expect a change? After all, her mother had KILLED for him only months after she escaped?
She couldn't understand this family. What wouldn't they sacrifice for her father?
The summons came, but not for Calli. The Dark Lord, her father, requested Draco and Narcissa's presence. Bellatrix accompanied them, leaving Calli alone with dear old 'dad'. They didn't speak, not for what seemed like hours.
She had gone into the library to read and he wandered in after her. She remained focused on her book. He paced the room like a curious, caged animal. Unable to stop himself he finally broke the silence.
"You look very like her." His voice, as unused as her own was more gruff than she expected.
Calli looked up to see he'd finally taken a seat in front of her. She studied him. Gruff, twitchy, and unsure of himself.
"So I've heard." She offered, not masking her irritation at the comparison. "You aren't what I expected."
His eyebrows rose. Not expecting her answer, he asked, "What did you expect?" Voice still raw from disuse. His eyes shone with fear. Not of her disappointment in daddy, but that she KNEW.
She closed her book. This required full attention. And she wanted to savor it. "The Dark Lord, as you call him, actually."
He snapped back in the chair as though she'd struck him. "Bella will explode if she knows-"
Calli stopped him. "Mother does know. She knows that I know." His face was even paler under her prison pallor. "How long have you known?" She was curious. Did he know all along that his wife and Master had cuckold him?
He snorted. "Since she announced her pregnancy." He rose to resume his pacing. "She would have NEVER considered children, no heirs for me. But the Dark Lord? If he asked her to give birth to his pet snake, she'd work through every magical library to find a way." His eyes blazed. "I killed the healer who helped with your birth. For her. Murdered a man on the off chance he guessed who your father was." Another harsh laugh. "The things I've done for Him and her would turn your hair white, girl."
She was shocked by his outburst. She'd assumed that their's was an arranged marriage. That had eventually morphed into something due to common ground in their cruelty. He sounded like he'd been her prisoner before Azkahban claimed him.
"You hate her." Statement, period. His curt nod confirmed it. "And my father?" She wanted to know, to test a theory.
"If I knew then, what I know now." Was all he'd give her.
She sat back, working through her newly acquired information. He was still as well, watching the empty fireplace. When he spoke she was ready for it.
"You cannot tell her." He commanded with a hint of pleading. "Keep all thoughts of this conversation out of your mind when you speak to her. She can read people as easily as you read that book."
Calli nodded, feeling that he wasn't trustworthy enough to share that she could only be read if she allowed it. He knew his wife's tricks, but he wouldn't know hers. Silence returned and she went back to her book. Rodolphus took down a tome he found interesting and sat down in the chair across from her and began to read as well.
When her family returned, they found the two of them still reading together. Bellatrix nodded approvingly at the scene before her. She was jubilant it was obvious. So was Draco, but her aunt looked afraid and pained. Clearly good news for two was bad news for one. For once, Calli didn't want to know. She wished everyone a goodnight and retired to her room.
Severus told Wormtail he'd been called to for an Order meeting. In reality it was only Dumbledore who sent for him and not to Grimmauld Place, but Hogwarts. Ignoring the whining from the irritating rat, he Apparated to the gates of the school and strode purposely forward.
Dumbledore was gravely ill. Or would be if he couldn't contain the curse. Severus was left with few options. A potion and spell to slow the curse, keep it focused on his withering hand. He warned the old wizard that it was a temporary solution. The curse was slow, but fatal.
After thanking Severus, he asked for an update on the Dark Lord's plans. Severus confessed the plot to kill him, using Draco as the unlikely assassin. And at the end, having Dumbledore request another favor. Protect Draco from himself. Help him, but do not allow the death blow to come from his innocent hand. Another terrible request of him, an he had no option but to agree.
He'd hoped, back home in Spinner's End, alone since he sent Wormtail with a semi-truthful update to the Dark Lord. No one felt his soul mattered. His innocence was clearly lost, so keeping Draco's unstained was only fair.
Wormtail returned too soon for his taste. And the tense realization that he had a spy in his crappy home settled over him. He couldn't wait for the end of this break. Even if it meant the death of a great wizard.
Calli was alone in the garden. She'd brought a book, but it lay forgotten on the blanket she sat on. She was allowing the warm breeze to ruffle her hair, and the sun to warm her skin. She was pretending she was anywhere, but here.
The spell broke when Draco stomped outside. Irritation rolled off him in waves so heavy she felt choked by it. Spying his cousin sitting on the blanket among the flowers he stode angrily over to join her. As soon as he landed next to her, the ranting began.
"Mother," he spat the name like a curse. "Is trying to steal my glory. She doesn't understand. I want this. I earned it." On and on it went. As though her aunt could hold a candle to her mother for evilness.
Calli couldn't block him out so she finally asked why he was so irrationally angry.
"Mother and Aunt Bella have run off on some 'errand'." He glared at the flowers in front of him. "I'm sure they've gone to HIM to ask him to reconsider."
She sighed. "Draco, I haven't any idea what all this is about, but honestly Aunt Cissa wouldn't do anything to jeopardize glory from our family. You're safe, cousin. Now off you pop. You're ruining my day." The warning was clear in her voice.
He paled and stood. "Yes, well, thank you for letting me blow off steam, cousin." He left, no longer stomping.
So much for hope of quiet. Bellatrix and Narcissa, the Black sisters, in his humble abode. Wormtail was skulking, so he was forced to send a painful spark and cast a privacy spell on the room he'd made his library.
Narcissa was begging for him to intervene with the Dark Lord. She'd realized the truth of the mission. Punishment, no matter what Bella tried to say. He admitted that the Dark Lord was angry with Lucius. He offered assistance, but damn Bella with his contention that he make an Unbreakable Vow. Dumbledore would be ecstatic, he thought as he shocked Bella with the order to perform the damn spell.
Taking the burning pain of the binding of the spell he agreed to was simple, but it brought to mind Calli's confession of her own burning pain. Standing next to her mother, he wondered when she'd finally speak her peace about her daughter. It came as Narcissa started out and was past the privacy spell.
She turned on him. "Stay away from my daughter, Snape." Venom dripping from her lips.
"Or what?" He asked, not worried. "Are you angry because she chose me, or because she'll never choose you?"
The burning anger in her eyes was gone as quickly as it came. "You may have the Dark Lord fooled, but I'm not."
Looking bored he walked back to his chair. "See yourself out, Bellatrix. And say goodbye to your sister."
Summer ended. Finally. Diagon Alley was a shell of its former glory. And Calli's trip with Narcissa and Draco was dreary. They left her to deal with an errand, and she wander the streets, shocked at the destruction already evident. Clearly unveiling her father's return had not made the world safer. As her aunt and cousin met her at the designated point, she wondered just how bad it would get.
She forced her fear away. She'd be at Hogwarts soon. Away from her mother's reach. And she'd be able to speak with Professor Snape. Perhaps he could give her some insight. The thought calmed her.