Pursuing the Prince

Chapter III

Disclaimer: I don't own them; I don't know anyone who does. Oh, JK does but I don't know her :)


Rating: T (to be safe and for later Chapters)

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed: CathRakka, bookwyrm, Duj, BatInCasket and Possum123! Without your reviews I probably wouldn't have forced myself to write this chapter, aside from school and all that: P Well here it is, I hope you like it and tell me what you think!

Rock on

Phoenix
The characteristic shriek and merciless laughter of Bellatrix Lestrange filled the confines of the Malfoy mansion. After many of the Death Eaters fled from Hogwarts, they made a detour and imposed themselves on the fair beauty's hospitality. They sat themselves on the taut green heirloom leather couches, dulled by the centuries; the face of Abraxas was glaring over the scene of drinking and celebrating with a disgruntled expression plastered over his eloquent and silky features.

Narcissa was walking aimlessly about her home, still elated that her son had been spared the responsibility of killing Dumbledore, but Draco had only just escaped the wroth of the Dark Lord, his shrieks still echoed around her head during the dead of the night when she could not even find sleep with a potion…

Sauntering over to the kitchens (which she had never before had to step foot into while they possessed Dobby) she caught sight of a cluster of black robes stuffed into the corner next to the grand staircase. It was only on a double take that she realised that her family's longest and most trusted friend was crouched in amongst in them. His black eyes were slowly surveying his surroundings, and they locked onto her pale ones, stiffening slightly as she moved tentatively toward him.

"Severus," she began, but wasn't quite sure how she should continue. She knew very well that he didn't like the gush that was preparing itself to be spilt from her lips yet again, and he would only deny he did anything of any significance, their pattern having been established.

He solved her dilemma for her, as he held up his hand in acceptance, at the same time releasing her from any obligation to expand further on the emotional tint of her voice. He gestured for her to take a seat next to him.

"Draco is indebt to you," the beauty said softly.

Snape snorted slightly, "Honestly Narcissa, stop this, you have made your point. Draco most definitely is not. I did what I had to do, I promised that I would, didn't I?" he arched his left eyebrow, then looked beyond his friend to her dark sister, the life of the party, flirting with her husband and cackling at something. She was always cackling.

"Well I hope this act of allegiance," his lip involuntarily curled as he hissed the word, "will be sufficient enough for your elder sister," he drawled.

Narcissa inclined her head to where Severus was looking before turning quickly back to the man with the deep velvety voice that has always had the ability to calm her, teach her resilience from her emotions, and the voice that, many years ago, used to make her row with Lucius.

"It seems that it is, otherwise she would have said something to you by now. Funnily enough she hasn't said anything which makes me think that she's jealous," a sneer flickered across her face as she peered into the adjacent room at her dark sister.

Severus's eyes found the clock on the wall, it was past midnight.

"You're leaving then?" she asked glancing into his dark eyes, profound thoughts lying hidden far beneath the surface.

He nodded his head slowly; the slightest look of regret etched on his face. "You know I'd love to stay," he said in a low voice into her ear, "but if I make my presence known here too often for too long, you and Draco may be in more danger than you already are."

Glancing around quickly she leaned up into his face and brushed her lips along his. He cleared his throat, stood up and stalked out of the house.

He tapped his wand on his head and felt a tingling sensation as his whole body began to blend into the background. He pulled his cloak tight around his torso and took long strides into the surrounding forest; angry with himself for getting mixed up with Narcissa, for allowing himself to be congratulated, for being pushed into the deep end by Albus, and having the truth of the Wizarding World's greatest current mystery in the care of one person…

In a pop he was relocated to a shabby district, far from the elegance and esteem of Wiltshire. Battling through the wild grass and the broken glass strewn along the ground, Severus reached a blank plot of land, muttered under his breath. A door appeared in the void and he reached for it.

Suddenly the wind disappeared and he was met with the comforting smell of a meal that had been cold for a long time, yet the flavours hung in the air. The house was small and a lamp was on in the library at the end of the entrance hall, which would lead him to his bedroom.

Sliding his travelling cloak off his thin shoulders, he staggered slowly down the passage to where the light was coming from. He leaned against the doorframe, letting his head thud against the old hard wood.

"Late night again," came a voice from the far end of the room, whose face was sheltered by a thick book, their large paw like hands obscuring the title.

"Hardly," Severus whispered. "And anyway you know it needs to be done."

The person laid the book aside, revealing a man carrying a head of auburn hair with whispers of grey. He had large dark rings around his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Any news?" he inquired solemnly.

"No, just the usual party, party, party…" he trailed off. "Has anyone from the Order got an inkling that you're harbouring a fugitive?"

The other man shook his head and stood, moving across the room to Severus. "No one should have any idea; no one would even suspect that I would help you. Aside from the fact that everyone thinks you murdered Dumbledore."

"I did murder Dumbledore," he said rapidly and curled his lip. "But not under the Dark Lord's order…not Narcissa's…"

"It'll be over and the truth will be known when the War has finished, when Harry finally meets with Him…after he has destroyed the remaining Horcruxes…as a matter of interest, he thinks he's found another."

Severus pushed from the doorway and untucked his shirt from his black dress pants. "Don't tell me such things Remus," he complained, "it's just something more to hide from the Dark Lord…even though I am still high in his favour."

He sauntered down the hall, and into his Lab tapping vials and swirling liquids in Florentine flasks. His fingers tentatively danced over different stoppered potions before finding one indiscriminately and flinging it across the room before collapsing onto his hard stood, and rubbing his temples, muttering over and over to himself, "it's over soon, it's over soon…"