Chapter 12:

Party Tricks

Lily's wedding day could be golden, clear and perfect, if it weren't for the clear shadow that clouded the hearts of the bride and groom. Severus, who watched the beginning of the ceremony from the door of the church, saw clearly that behind the bride's radiant smile was a heavy sadness. He remembered what she had told him that day, in their conversation in the graveyard, and amused himself with the thought maybe she wasn't so sure about that wedding. Maybe in a moment she would stop the ceremony, leave Potter and run to him...

Scolding himself for fantasizing, he turned to scan the crowd. Lily's sour-faced sister was there, accompanied by a particularly fat man and their sick father, who barely filled an old suit and seemed completely unaware of what was going on around him. Lily told Severus that she wanted to marry in that church because her parents' had married there. Looking at Mr. Evans' stained scalp and thinking of his wife resting in her grave, he wasn't convinced that marrying in that church had brought a pleasant ending to their lives.

He glanced at his watch, and discovered that the old thing had stopped again. Cursing the muggle device in his heart, reminded himself to buy a proper wizards watch the next time he visited Diagon Alley. He had to get rid of the present one long ago – he didn't want to think what his employer would say if he discovered him wearing that watch – but his work with Mr. Avery required him to keep track of times, and without enough money for a reasonable watch he had to hide the ridiculous muggle device In his robe pocket.

To his delight, a glance at his bank account assured him that given the amount of gold he had earned in the past month, he would soon have enough to afford much more than a watch. He could repay the loan he took for the new robes, and even rent a nice apartment in London or Diagon Alley in a few months. There was nothing he wanted more, he kept telling himself – a few nights before Lily almost discovered his lie when she saw an owl flying toward his house when she wrote to him and asked him to come see the church with her. He couldn't let that happen again. However, whenever he saw her crossing the street in the evening, or walking with her father in the garden, he felt a strong need to postpone this moving as much as possible.

The ceremony was about to end. The bride and groom turned to each other, holding hands. Lily's cheeks were flushed, her eyes as bright as diamonds. She wasn't having any second thoughts.

Severus turned his back and left before Potter kissed her. He had to hurry. He told her he would leave early because of work matters, and she understood. He must be already late for Mr. Avery's party. He blamed the watch for stopping. If only he could blame it for the fact that the girl he loved was marrying someone else.

He Apperated in front of Avery Estate. The sky in that part of the country were gloomy, and a cool wind of early autumn was blowing. The leaves of some of the trees were already yellowing. He began making his way toward the house, which was a sturdy square building with high windows, somewhat threatening, a bit like its owner.

That wasn't the first time he had visited there in the past month – more than once his employer had asked him to go there to bring him documents he had forgotten at the office or to collect statements and contracts. He felt comfortable in the huge, magnificent house as soon as he stepped inside. He knew it was the kind of house he was meant to live in – it was in his blood.

The party was already in full swing. Severus lingered in the hall, adjusting his robe. In a last-minute decision, he hid his watch in of an ancient vase.

The hall was full of light, fine clothes, intellectual conversation and wine. Severus stepped inside with a straight back.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in." The voice enveloped him like a sweet, heavy perfume. He turned and found himself standing in front of Bellatrix, graceful and dangerous as always in a black dress and a silver amulet in a shape of a snake on her white breast.

Bellatrix had been in Slytherin and graduated a year before Severus. The only reason they had any short of relationship was because he had helped her with her N.W.E.T's when he had been a sixth year. The fact that she even looked at him was an amazing achievement for someone of his stature; At school she had been very popular, and very mean. He knew she had her eye on him since his first year, when, unlike the other students in his class, he didn't succumb to her vicious tests and serial pranks. He always felt that despite her viciousness, they had some sort of silent, mutual appreciation for each other.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Lestrange," he said smoothly. Although he was the guest at the party, he knew that he shouldn't forget his place among the other guests, who were superior to him in their status. He knew that half a bad word from Bellatrix in Mr. Avery's ear could get him fired. So he had to be careful – he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

"I'm impressed, Snape," said Bellatrix, rocking on her heels in a feline manner. Her long fingers played with the neck of her crystal cup, swirling the dark wine inside. A big diamond glistened on her middle finger. "I see you polished your manners for this occasion. Who is the generous man who invited you?"

"Mr. Avery, my employer."

"Very impressive, Snape. I always knew you'd do great things, despite your unfortunate starting point..."

"Your faith in me is a compliment, Mrs. Lestrange." He did not miss the mockery in her voice.

"Oh, you can call me Bellatrix, like in the good old days. Mrs. Lastrange is my mother-in-law." Bellatrix smiled wickedly.

"Of course... Bellatrix. Where is your husband?"

"Amusing his master, of course."

She toyed with her amulet with a strange airy look as her eyes strayed to a pair of luxurious stained glass doors at the end of the room. Her look reminded Severus of a broken-hearted girl gazing at her treacherous lover. It was a strange look to find in Bellatrix's mean eyes – he had never seen her look anything like that. The subject was sensitive, without a doubt. Severus was eager to examine it, to overcome and humiliate Bellatrix, but the risk was too great.

"They say Mr. Lestrange takes his duties very seriously," he lied instead.

"Yes, very seriously..." She tore her eyes from the door and rolled them in dissatisfaction. "Walk me around the hall. I hate being seen alone in social events."

Severus did as he was told, accompanying her like a puppy while she talked to important guests who didn't even notice him. It might have enraged him a month earlier, but four weeks of work under the head of the DIMTS had taught him humility and, more importantly, patience.

Mr. Avery was a tough employer – his son didn't exaggerate when he warned him about it. Severus learned that he shouldn't give himself too much credit on any matter, otherwise the criticism of his employer would be particularly harsh. Mr. Avery appreciated modesty and hard work, and at the same time was generous in his promotions. Severus felt that he had already gained some of the man's confidence; If there ever were time to be patient and pretend to be a simple Pawn until his time came, that was it.

As he accompanied Bellatrix to a conversation with a few wizards with wandering eyes, he spotted Avery Junior with some of his friends from Slytherin. Avery was, very typically, engaged in a flirting conversation with Miss Rookwood, who looked like she wanted nothing more than to get away from there. Severus didn't know why, but there was something in the way she stood alone in front of the group of men, who created the impression of a pack of wolves closing in on a wounded prey. Severus considered going over there, but from his experience he learned that for his own good he shouldn't try to play the hero.

However, it didn't seem to be necessary. Amycus Carrow noticed his gaze and informed all his friends. Miss Rookwood took the opportunity to apologize and slip away. To Severus' dismay, she made her way hastily toward him.

She grabbed his sleeve. "Mr. Avery wants to see you urgently," she told him.

Over her shoulder, Severus noticed Avery and his friends smiling. He ignored them as he said, "Of course. Excuse me, Bellatrix, I have work to attend to."

Bellatrix looked at him as if she had forgotten about him for the past an half hour. "Enjoy yourself, Snape."

He walked after Miss Rookwood, until she stopped before the stained glass doors.

"It's the Dark Lord's private parlor," she told him quietly, as if she was talking over a patient lying in his deathbed. She tightened her white shawl around her pale shoulders as if she felt a chill. "I can't go in with you, since he wants to see you alone. Just... Try not to ask questions."

Severus nodded, disdainful of her awe by the gathering place of the Death Eaters, and walked in.

Beyond the doors were heavy velvet drapes, and beyond them a wise room were all the windows were covered by olive green velvet curtains with red veins. Although it wasn't a cold day at all, the largest fireplace Severus had ever seen was blazing with fire, and the air in the room was terribly hot. In the corner farthest from the fire, probably to escape its unbearable heat, sat Severus' employer.

Mr. Avery and some of his Death Eaters friends sat in armchairs around the table, which contained a row of fine goblets and several bottles of premium drinks which were placed in an ice bucket that sweated clear beads in the heat. The gentlemen folded the sleeves of their robes – It was all they could do against the terrible heat. Sweat glistened on their faces, especially on the face of a long-faced man that Severus had never seen before. He wore a very handsome fur-trimmed cloak and wiped his red face with a handkerchief repeatedly.

"It's about time," said Mr. Avery. It was clear that the heat made him very impatient. "I want you to go to the office and bring me a document of an external private trade agreement, including the regulations."

With a wave of his wand, they appeared in front of Severus, and he handed them over.

"What a lovely party trick," said the man in the rich fur cloak with a heavy Eastern European accent. He had pale, scornful, dark beard at the end of his long face, a proud nose stood between his thin cheeks, and his forehead was tall and gloomy. He wore rings studded with gems on his long fingers; They glittered in the flames every time he wiped his face. "I was worried you haven't arranged any entertainment for your party, Theos."

"I like to be prepared for any situation," Severus said.

"I think," said Mr. Avery in a low voice, scribbling his signature in the appropriate places on the horribly long scroll. "That I did not ask you to speak, Mr. Prince."

Severus knew that from now on he had to be silent. While the guest of his employer complained about the length of the agreements of the Ministry of Magic of England, as opposed to the parallel organization in his native country, he allowed his eyes to wander. In another corner of the room stood another silk curtain. Severus noticed a candle burning, and the clink of a crystal goblet coming from behind it.

"How long is he going to be there?" Complained a young Death Eater who was sitting next to Mr. Avery, also looking at the screen.

Severus knew him – it was Augustus Rookwood, who had been a year above him in Slytherin. He knew it, but only then did he realize that he was Miss Rookwood's younger brother. There was no resemblance between them. While Miss Rookwood was frail, fair and gentle, her brother was broad, dark and coarse.

"I wouldn't talk like that about the Dark Lord," said Lucius Malfoy smoothly, sipping cool whisky. "No one here, and especially the Lord, has forgotten how on your first mission as a Circle Member you have been exposed and endangered us all."

"No one asked your opinion, Malfoy," Rookwood replied hotly.

"Calm down," Rodolphus Lestrange warned in a low voice. "Don't forget we are in the company of the Lord, and at Theos' generous hospitality. Behave appropriately."

"You're right, Rodolphus," Malfoy said, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "But I'm curious to know, Augustus – what happened with that complaint brought against you by that mudblood – what's her name? – James Potter's girl?"

The name was already on Severus's lips, but he stopped himself from saying it at the last moment. He clenched his fists, holding his wand tightly at his side, firmly forbidding himself to act. If he did something to Malfoy because of his blunt words, he would be banished from that society forever. Let them insult Lily – he shouldn't care. Defending her honor to Malfoy would gain nothing, only to end all his dreams.

"Evans," said Rabastan Lestrange, who was slumped in his chair with most of the buttons of his robe open. A chessboard stood between him and an older Death Eater whose name Severus didn't know. "Not bad looking at all. Too bad she's a mudblood."

"Check mate."

"Bloody hell!"

"You've got a lot more to learn, lad..." said the old Death Eater with satisfaction, picking up a bag of Gallons from the table.

"Yes, Evans. So, did she manage to convince anyone that she saw you at the Potters'?"

"Absolutely not!" Rookwood said firmly, his cheeks blushing in an ugly hue. "Who do you think the Wizgoment believed, some mudblood or a Ministry employee?" He suddenly seemed pleased. "There were no other witnesses but her, so they cleared me of all charges. They didn't even put me under surveillance. You see, my sister and father testified that I was with them that night, and their testimony was much more credible then hers. But its not the end, I promise you. That bitch will pay. No one stains the Rookwood name..."

"It's great to do business with you, Igor," said Mr. Avery, handing Severus the documents without looking at him.

"Always a pleasure, Theos," said the stranger. Two glasses filled with ice and whisky floated towards him. "Let us make a toast to our new trading agreement."

"Is there something else I can do, sir?" Asked Severus, who had to hear how Rookwood was going to take revenge on Lily.

"That would be it."

Severus left, not quite willingly. Outside the air was crystal clear and the daylight was almost dazzling. Miss Rookwood was waiting for him by the door.

"Everything's all right," he told her, because for some reason she seemed nervous.

"I'm glad to hear," she said. He expected her to say something else, but she just stood there looking at him.

"Are you all right?" He asked her, starting to lose his patience.

"Yes, fine," she said quickly, looking embarrassed. "I was thinking... Well, we've been working together for more than a month, and we barely know each other... We don't usually see each other outside the office..."

Severus understood the hidden intent behind her rosy cheeks. He wasn't sure what to do, something that didn't happen to him often. He had never been in such a situation – no girl had ever shown signs of interest in him.

Glancing at the stained glass door, he realized what he had to do. He sometimes compared his life to a game of cards, and the other players to his game rivals. He did his best to collect every small victory he could, and to take full advantage of the few weak cards he had. His enemies' cards were always much stronger than his, so he often lost the game of life, even though he was the best player of all of them. But he had patience, and he never stopped hanging on the possibility that in the next game he would draw a new card that would turn the tables for his favor. Now he had drawn a card like that.

"You're right," he said to Miss Rookwood. "Have you seen the garden yet?"