The two hooded figures made their way down the rainy alley ways between houses, stopping to press their bodies against the wet stone when children passed by. The one in the front peered around the corner before stepping into the open, raising a hand to knock on the door in front of her. The pale face of Wormtail appeared in the glass and the door opened, allowing them to enter.
Severus Snape sat in a dark green chair in the parlor reading The Prophet when the two entered, lowering their hoods to reveal Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. He folded the paper down before reaching for his wand.
"Run along Wormtail" he drawled before waving his wand and the door slammed shut. He stood from his spot as Narcissa sat down on the couch in front of the book shelf, giving him a court nod when he handed her a glass of water.
"I know I ought not to be here, the Dark Lord himself forbad it" she said it as she brought it to her dark red lips.
"If the Dark Lord forbad it then we shall obey it, put it down Bella we shouldn't touch what doesn't belong to us" he said giving the woman who stood at his mantle a pointed stare. She scoffed before making a show of putting the glass bell that had belonged to his mother back in its place.
"As it so happens, I know why you are here" he said, returning his eyes to the woman on his couch.
"The Dark Lord told you?" Bellatrix asked with an air of ignorance as she stared at the Hogwarts professor in disbelief.
"Your sister doubts me? I can't blame her, I have played my part well over the years, having deceived one of the greatest wizards of all time…Dumbledore is a great wizard, to deny that would be foolish" he said giving Bella a pointed look at her scoff as she rolled her eyes.
"You should be honored Cissy, ask your Draco" the deranged woman said as she walked about the woman.
"He's just a boy" Narcissa said as she looked down at her hands.
"There is not much I can do Narcissa, the Dark Lord has chosen Draco for his mission but I will protect him" Severus said.
"Make the Vow" Bella said and the other two occupants of the room turned towards the woman with shocked eyes.
"He'll say he'll protect Draco, be there when things are easy but when it counts he'll slither away in the darkness" Bella said as she walked up behind Severus and set her chin on his shoulder. "Like a coward" she whispered in his ear.
"Take out your wand" Snape drawled as he looked at Narcissa as she stood from the couch.
The two grasped arms as Bella took her wand out and pointed it at the joined arms.
"Do you Severus Snape promise to protect Draco Malfoy as he sets out to fulfill the mission entrusted to him by the Dark Lord?" Bella asked.
"I do" he said as he kept his eyes on Narcissa.
"And should he fail do you promise to fulfill the order the Dark Lord has given?" she asked and Severus hesitated but a moment before answering.
"I do" he said as the magic swirled around them before disappearing into their bodies, binding them to him to his promise.
He let go of Narcissa's arm before he stepped away from her as she held her arm to he body, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Narcissa might be many things, but being heartless when it came to her son she was not. She loved her Draco more than her own life and would do anything to protect him from harm. Draco was her whole life, she knew Lucius could leave her at any time but she knew that Draco would never do that to her.
When Draco had been a child, he would come have tea with her every day, dressed in his very best dress robes and chat with her about his day. He'd hold her hand when they would take walks through the rose gardens at the estate and try to protect her from his father when he was angry. When she would cry he'd read to her from one of his French books because she loved the language. He had once drawn her a picture of the two of them in front of the Eiffel tower and she had shrunk it to keep it with her at all times. Her son meant more to her than her own life and she would do what ever it took to ensure that he was safe.