Of Blood and Serpents

First Year: Chapter Nine

A turn down Knockturn ally

Narcissa sent a note giving the time and date for their meeting in diagon ally to which they replied their confirmation. Severus was silent after they sent the note. The house and him quieter than usual and there was a noticeable tension in the air. Severus knew something was afoot but he didn't quite know what or how he could prevent it. He noticed Lily could not quite meet his dark heavy stare and where their silence used to be companionable they were now weighted with unspoken words and secrets. Lily got little sleep in the few days between sending the note and meeting with the Malfoy's. On top of that she was soon to return to school. During this time she longed for the creature comforts of Hagrid's hut and her soothing treks beneath the boughs of the dark forest.

On the day Lily was too meet the Malfoy's the day was surprisingly bright and cheery. Lily dressed in her nicest casual outfit using her nicest cloak (it only had a few holes in it). She gave Bee a little pet, but Bee turned away not looking at her. The little creature had also sensed the secrets and seemed clearly upset at Lily which made it all the worse as she would often leave the room if Lily entered it. Or she just ignored her completely as she was doing now. As she walked down the stairs and saw Severus standing at the bottom looking solemn she almost told him then and there, she had to bite her lip for the words threatened to pour out of her. She trained her eyes resolutely on some inanimate objects choking back those words which threatened to spill out.

"Ready?" His rich voice pulled her out of her intense focus and she found herself looking at him again. She nodded instead of speaking and noticed his slight frown and pursed lips. He seemed to want to say something as well but was thinking better of it.

As she entered the chimney he finally said something.

"Should the Malfoy's want something of you think wisely before giving it. Everything with them has a price." She barely could nod before she threw the floo powder down escaping in a grand burst of green flame leaving Severus quite alone, his house creaking quietly as a fine layer of soot coating his floor. He had given his advice, said his bit. He told himself as he settled to read. His eyes skimmed the pages but he found himself quite unable to absorb even one word from the pages let alone a sentence. The girl was gone and he felt an odd sort of hollowness and helplessness. He'd felt helpless before, when he threw himself at Dumbledore's feet, and at the Dark Lords, begging both times for Lily's sake. This was a different Lily and yet he felt that same sort of awful helplessness again. Only this time there was no one's feet to throw himself at not that he would he told himself. Some flash of movement drew Severus's eye from the page of his book and he looked up to see bright yellow eyes staring at him. It was Bee, Lily's little creature. The thing blinked at him and to his displeasure suddenly was on his lap.

"Shoo!" he said with a scowl, toppling her off his lap. She tumbled onto the floor rather gracefully and blinked her big eyes at him looking rather undeterred as he scowled. She jumped back up easily enough and he would have swiped her off his lap again in an instant however she began nuzzling his hand as it descended to push her off and it felt sort of pleasant so he hesitated. His scowl didn't lessen, however he found himself gently petting the creature which it seemed to enjoy an odd sort of gargly vibration coming from it. Bee purred and settled on his lap right on top of his book looking quite pleased. Severus's petted her rhythmatically and found his thoughts wandering quite pleasantly while he did so. The tight feeling in his chest which he would never admit was caused by Lily's absence eased ever so slightly.

Lily arrived at Diagon ally in a flash of floo powder. She sneezed slightly as she got out and brushed herself off. Severus's words to her were replaying though her mind and her stomach was tight and knotted. She had little time to consider his words because suddenly she was being approached by Lucius and Narcissa who had little Draco in tow. They looked quite smart together, beautiful tailored clothing with slicked and primped hair. Even little draco had hair slicked to the side. Narcissa grimaced at Lily's outfit but attempted to smile to Lily who felt suddenly very self conscious.

"Hullo dear." She said reaching to take Lily's hand and gently kiss her on each cheek in greeting. Lily flushed red as she awkwardly reciprocated the action.

"Hello Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy." She said clearing her throat.

"Oh please my dear, just Lucius and Narcissa." Lucius scoffed.

"Come Lily, there is just the dearest shop you just must see!" Narcissa crooned taking Lily's hand in hers to lead her. Lily resisted for a moment causing Narcissa to hesitate with a blink of her blue eyes.

"I thought we were going to talk." Lily said quietly, as if others might hear her speak, the uneasiness in the pit of her belly seemed to be growing.

"Well there is no need to spend the whole day on such things. I thought you would enjoy some shopping. I haven't had a girl in ages to shop with." She pressed and reluctantly Lily followed giving a small nod as her stomach turned.

'Should the Malfoy's want something of you think wisely before giving it…' It was a little late, she thought bitterly as Lucius left the two 'girls' alone while he ran errands while Narcissa fawned over Lily seemingly in earnest. However Lily couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness.

"When are we… when will we talk?" Lily asked finally, growing frustrated as she became more and more laden with bags each shop they left. Lily found she wasn't too keen on shopping and was growing more and more bored.

"Come now one more shop, a girl must have accessories my dear. Oh but you have been so fine to humor me love. Don't worry we will all sit down for a chat soon." She chimed, Lily into another shop. It was a pretty little boutique with handmade accessories, some magically charmed. Such as a cape that repelled water and any kind of rain, broaches which were charmed to catch the eye and sparkled demurely. Lily wasn't much interested in anything but Narcissa bustled her about making her put this or that on. She seemed to sense that Lily's temper was running short though and picked her out a lovely green hat that made her eyes pop and they left.

"There now, that wasn't so bad." Speak for yourself!' Lily thought somewhat bitterly. "Oh I have enjoyed our day, but I suppose we must get on." She said with some resignation. Lily vaguely wondered if this wasn't some form of torture to wear her down, although she sensed it was the opposite: an attempt to butter her up and loosen her tongue. Unluckily for them it did the opposite, she felt worn down and tired, but completely resolute. She would have her answers she thought determinedly. She was thinking just that when they took a turn down Knockturn ally. Lily looked ahead to Narcissa, wondering if she had made a wrong turn. But no, Narcissa seemed to know exactly where she was going. Lily pulled her arms tightly towards her middle as if she could keep the darkened ally at bay by doing so and avoided the dark eyes around her. Narcissa however seemed unaffected, walking prim and tall, looking stark in contrast to the grubby darkness surrounding her. Their feet clacked against the knotted cobblestone path, as they walked, twisting and turning further into the ill lit darkened corridors of Knockturn Ally. Finally they stopped, a grubby little shop door swinging open to greet them.

"Come, come!" Narcissa snapped airily, ushering her inside. Creepy was the best description of the inside of the dark ill lit shop. Disturbing twisted masks lined the walls peering at her from every direction. Glass cases stood with an equally disturbing assortment of artifacts, some laid out on velvet cushions. Lily resisted the urge to peer to closely at the things in the case and opted instead to stay close to Narcissa, sensing the malevolent nature of some of the items entrapped in the cases. An old man with bald patches and bad teeth squinted at them from behind the counter.

"Mr. Borgin." Narcissa said demurely. "My husband and son?" She asked.

"In the back my lady." He said with a short nod behind him. Narcissa thanked him with a nod and placed a galleon on the counter. Lily fought to hide her shiver of revulsion as 'Borgin' leered at her as she passed and was tempted to take Narcissa's hand in her own but did not.

'the back' was through a small door, behind which a small round table with a few chairs sat as well as a few barrels which Lily thought might have Ale or some such within. Lucius sat looking queer in contrast to his grubby surroundings, his long hair shining and Draco on his lap where he bounced the boy gently on his knee. Draco, upon seeing his mother, let out a little holler and jumped off, running to bury his face in her skirts.

"Momma!"

"Hello little angel, have you been a good boy for your father?" She inquired in a soft voice.

" Little scamp tried to pocket candy!" Malfoy chortled. "Of course I let him." He said gesturing to the candy wrappers lying discarded on the table.

"What a naughty little boy." Narcissa laughed, but it sounded quite a lot like praise to Lily. "Shall we go then my dear?" Narcissa prompted Lucius to stand, taking his top hat and cane with him.

They walked back out into Knockturn ally, Lucius leading them swiftly back to Diagon ally, as Lucius passed an older woman Lily watched as Lucius's cane flashed out whacking the older woman in the leg. She stumbled and fell heavily to the ground and Lily stopped quickly to help her up.

"Oh my." The older woman huffed, she was red haired and slightly plump with pink cheeks. "Thank you my dear, don't know what happened."

"Are you alright." Lily asked the woman, making sure she was steady before taking her arm away.

"She's fine, dear come along. We shouldn't waste our time with the likes of her." Spat Narcissa grabbing Lily's arm. Lily's eyes widened in surprise, the older woman's face darkened as she turned to see Narcissa and Lucius and scowled. Lily was pulled quite forcefully forward and her expression was clearly shocked. She didn't quite know what happened, but turned to look the older woman in the eye before being pulled away.

"S-sorry!" She called to her before being totally dragged off.

"Don't be sorry little dove. That was a Weasly. Haven't you seen some of her spawn in your school? Disgusting, people. Complete shame to the purebloods." Lily's ears were practically ringing, her mouth had fallen open into a soft 'o' shape and she was quite literally speechless at the pure venom dripping from Narcissa's tongue. Lily's cheeks turned red in embarrassment and she finally kept pace, taking her arm back. She rubbed the spot where Narcissa had grabbed her and swallowed the lump in her throat. She just didn't know what to say. Of course Slytherin at school where always haughty and she'd heard some slandering of certain names and houses but Lily attributed it mostly to house rivalry. Lily had never been faced with such blatant hatred. Then with mortification Lily realized that she'd just ran into Charlie's mother, shame constricted her chest for not saying anything, but what could she say? Perhaps wisely, she stayed silent as she followed Narcissa and Lucius to the town square where Lucius took them off to the side and apperated them directly outside of Malfoy manor.

Lily stumbled, dizzy and sick from the apperation among other things. She realized for the first time that perhaps she didn't want to hear what the Malfoy's had to say.

'Too little too late' she thought to herself as she followed Lucius and Narcissa into the manor.