Chapter Three
With two audible pops, two women, one fair and one dark appeared by a dirty, sluggish river.
"Cissy, listen to me. This is not a good idea," Bellatrix said, tugging on Narcissa's arm in vain.
Wrenching her arm away, Narcissa turned to her sister. "Then go back Bella! It's my decision, and I have made it."
The two sisters strode briskly from the river bank, unmindful of the mud that soon caked their boots. Reaching the railing that separated the river from a cobbled street, they paused, ever mindful of their surroundings.
"What is this dirty little town called? Are you sure this is the place?" Bellatrix asked with a sniff.
"Cokesworth. You would do well to remember that I did not ask you to follow me. You invited yourself," Narcissa said in irritation.
They stood in mute silence for a moment, taking in the shabby brick homes that lined the cobbled street. A thick mist blanketed the neighborhood, hiding the sun from view.
"Are you sure that he lives here? In this Muggle hovel?" Bella asked in disgust.
Narcissa ignored her, ducking under the railing and hurrying across the road. Bella trailed behind her, keeping pace as Narcissa darted through the alley behind the row of houses, arriving at a second, equally run down street.
Bella hurried after her reaching out an arm to grasp her sisters arm with a firm grip, swinging her around. "Cissy, listen to reason. You cannot do this. He can't be trusted."
"The Dark Lord trusts him."
"The Dark Lord is...perhaps... mistaken," Bella said tentatively, looking around to make sure that they were alone. "We were told not to tell anyone. This is a betrayal," she ended firmly.
"Let go Bella!" Narcissa said, pulling her wand from her robe and pointing it in her sister's face.
Bella chucked. "I am your sister, I know that you would never..."
"There isn't anything I wouldn't do now!" Narcissa said, bringing her wand down against Bella's hand.
With a flash of light, Bella drew her hand away hissing in pain, the sting fierce.
"Narcissa!" she called, blinking away the temporary blindness that the flash had caused.
When her vision cleared, Narcissa was a full ten paces ahead of her, and Bella wisely kept her distance. Soon they came upon a street called Spinner's End. A giant mill chimney hovered over the street, casting it in deeper shadow. Only the click of their boots against the stones could be heard, as they strode down the street, stopping before the last house.
Walking up the stone steps, Narcissa paused a beat before rapping at the door. The door opened a crack, and a narrow face, surrounded by dull black hair appeared.
Narcissa pushed back her hood, her blonde hair falling around her shoulders in messy tangles. It was a contrast from her usual very polished look.
The door opened wider. "Narcissa. What a pleasant surprise."
"Severus," Narcissa swallowed, her voice hoarse. "May I speak to you? It is very important."
"Of course," Snape said motioning them inside. He led the sisters into his small sitting room. The room was paneled in dark wood, the curtains drawn tight. A decently sized fireplace showcased a cheery fire. It was the only welcoming addition to the room. He gestured to a beige sofa that had seen better days, its fabric worn, the seats sunken.
Narcissa removed her cloak, and sat. Bellatrix merely lowered her hood, sitting down on the edge of the couch beside her sister, and looking around the room in disgust.
"What can I do for you?" Snape asked, settling himself into an armchair across from the sisters.
"Are we alone? There are no other people here?" Narcissa asked.
"Wormtail is here, but he doesn't count," Snape said with a smirk.
He pointed his wand at the wall behind him, revealing a small, narrow staircase where Wormtail sat, frozen. He was caressing his silver hand, watery eyes avid with curiosity.
"Wormtail, get us some drinks, then you can retire to your room," said Snape. It was an obvious order, despite being posed as a request.
"I'm not your servant!" Wormtail squeaked.
"Really? I believe that the Dark Lord sent you here to assist me."
"Assist, yes, but not to become your unpaid servant!"
"Perhaps I can speak to the Dark Lord about your distaste with your current assignment. More dangerous tasks could be arranged," Snape said silkily.
"I don't need you for that. I can speak to him myself!"
"Of course you can, but in the interm, bring us drinks. The wine will do," Snape said in irritation.
Wormtail opened his mouth as if to argue, but thought better, stomping out of the room. His mumbled insults just short of audible, but the tone was clear. He didn't see Snape point his wand at his back with a murmured spell.
"What did you just do?" Bellatrix asked suspiciously.
Snape waved a hand. "Nothing but to assure that Wormtail won't find anything that we say of interest."
"Hmmph," Bellatrix sneered. "You see Cissy. As soon as we turn our backs..."
"Thank you for your discretion, Severus," Narcissa interrupted, with a sharp look toward her sister.
The clink of glasses heralded Wormtail's return. He placed a tray bearing a dusty bottle and three glasses on the rickety table between them, and immediately walked back out of the room with a slightly glassy look in his eyes.
Snape poured wine into the glasses, handing one to Narcissa and shrugging when Bella declined hers with a sneer.
"To the Dark Lord," he said raising his glass. Narcissa did the same, swallowing a deep drink of the heady liquid, then set the glass back on the tray.
"Severus," Narcissa began, "I must give you my apologies for invading your privacy in this way. I know that I aught not to be telling anyone this but–"
"Then maybe you should keep quiet," Bellatrix said, unable to keep her silence any longer. "Particularly with present company!"
"Present company?" Snape asked, his brow raised. His lazy pose belaying his watchful eyes.
"I do not trust you, Snape, and well you know it!"
Narcissa let out a sob, covering her face with her hands. Snape leaned forward in his seat, smiling into Bella's irate face.
"Please continue, Bellatrix. What reasons have you not to trust me?"
"Several! For starters, where were you when the Dark Lord fell? Why did you not try to find him? Why are you so close to Dumbledore? Why have you not helped at every attempt to restore the Dark Lord? Why weren't you there when he was resurrected? Any why, after all these years, is Harry Potter still alive? You have had every chance to rectify the situation, yet you have done nothing!" She ended on a screech, her face flushed in anger.
"Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked all those questions? That if I had not given acceptable answers, that I would be sitting in front of you?"
Bella's mouth opened and closed, before she collected herself. "I know that he believes you, but..."
"You think that I have been able to fool the Dark Lord? The most accomplished Legilimens...the greatest wizard I have ever seen?"
Bella paled. She knew that she would have to tread carefully, "I never said..."
Snape cut her off. "I was where he ordered me to be, at Hogwarts, spying on Albus Dumbledore. You do realize that I was there on his orders."
Bella nodded slowly. She could not contradict that particular statement.
"As to your other questions, frankly like others, I believed him dead. It is not something that I am proud of, but he has forgiven me, as he has forgiven many others. He would have had few followers had he not."
"He would have had me! I spent years in Azkaban in loyal servitude," Bellatrix said fervidly.
"Admirable, but you weren't much use to him there, were you? I'm sure he appreciated the gesture," Snape said in a blasé tone.
"Gesture! Well, what about Harry Potter? Why is he still alive and well? What is your excuse for..." Bella began angrily.
"He was not mine to kill. Would you take that from the Dark Lord? Enough of this. Narcissa, you came to ask me for help?" Snape asked, turning his attention back to the blonde.
Bellatrix opened her mouth angrily to continue her tirade. "How dare you interrupt..."
Narcissa whipped out her wand, pointing it at her sister. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Bella's body froze in its position on the couch, her eyes wide with anger.
"Somnum Surdus," Narcissa said quietly, following her body bind spell.
Bella's eyes closed and she fell into a deep sleep.
Snape looked on in interest. "I am intrigued. Why do you feel the need to curse you sister into a sleeping deafness?"
Narcissa breathed deeply, before sitting back down beside her limp sister. "Unlike my sister, I believe that you can be trusted. I am going to reveal to you a secret that I have never before spoken aloud. Not even when alone."
Snape nodded at her to continue.
"Lucius Malfoy is not Draco's father."
Snape's face registered shock before he composed his features. He was now fully engaged in the conversation. He knew how much Narcissa valued the Malfoy name. That she would say something like what had just left her mouth, well, it deserved attention just because of the sheer trust that she had displayed while sharing it. "Well, Narcissa. I never would have guessed that, but really, what does this have to do with me?"
"It is not what you think. I was not unfaithful to my husband, at least not knowingly. That rather unpleasant revelation came later."
"I do not understand. How else would Draco's paternity be other than your husband if you didn't commit adultery?"
Narcissa's eyes closed for a moment. "Lucius and I married for practical reasons. His family was well connected, and I was from the noble House of Black. It seemed fitting. I was prepared to do my duty and I had hoped that we could at least be content together. I didn't agree with his decision to join the cause, but I had vowed to obey my husband and I took those vows seriously. I kept my silence, but I must be honest when I say that the choice was made with bitterness. We already spent very little time together and it became even less when he became active. Lucius was away for weeks on end, completing various tasks in the Dark Lord's service. I never knew when he would leave, because he often kept the knowledge from me. For awhile, my hope for a contented marriage was broken, but that all changed in a single night. One night as I slept, Lucius returned to me. I was surprised, we had not shared a bed for many months, but that night it was different. He was different."
Narcissa reached forward to take a sip from her glass, her throat suddenly dry. "The next morning he was gone, and I did not see him again for a week. He was weary, completely tired to the bone and I did not wish to trouble him. Something had changed. He began to talk with me as never before, telling me small details about the task he had just completed. From those details I deduced that it was not my husband I slept with that night. He would not have had the time to come back that night. I was confused and dismayed of course, in shock, though I hid it well. Whoever it was looked exactly like my Lucius. Frightened, I kept my silence and over the next few months my husband and I grew closer, and our marriage became a true one. Of course, soon after I found myself with child."
"You do not have any idea who the man was?" Snape asked carefully.
"I have my suspicions. I know that it was not another wizard. We have several wards against such activity placed upon our home. Even the polyjuice potion is rendered null. Whoever...whatever he was...he was very powerful. He was able to keep the charade the entire night. He fooled me completely, but he was careless, or at least unconcerned that the ruse would ever be found out. I really don't believe that he was...human," Narcissa said quietly.
"Why did Lucius not question the due date?" Snape asked, his mind mulling over the thought of Narcissa's otherworldly lover. That revelation would bear a little researching. Snape didn't like going into a situation without as much knowledge as he could. He would do his best to find out more about the strange occurrence. He already had a few ideas...
"I had a very troublesome pregnancy," Narcissa said. "I was put on bed rest very early, and still he was born preterm. Lucius and I had been trying for ages to become pregnant, and I made sure to – be with – my husband in a timely manner, so there wouldn't be...questions. He was so happy that he had a son, that if it ever occurred to him, he never questioned. Thankfully, Draco was born with blond hair and gray eyes. He takes after me in features, so you would never think he was not a Malfoy. He was a frightfully small baby, he almost died even, but he was a perfectly formed. Not a strange thing about him appearance wise. I had been afraid that...something would be different. Everything was like it should be; ten fingers, ten toes, but for the fact that he was an unusually quiet child. He didn't fuss, or coo, and he cried very seldom. Lucius believed that we just were very lucky first time parents, but I knew better. I don't regret my son, despite the circumstances of his conception. He brought Lucius and I together, and he is a smart, handsome, talented boy."
Snape sat back in his chair, before speaking. "While all of this is very interesting, why have you come to me specifically?"
"You know of the plan..."
"I do know, but if I had not already been aware you would be guilty of treachery."
"I thought that you would know. He trusts you so!"
"He does." Snape said simply. "Now, what help do you require? I cannot change the Dark Lord's mind. I have not the sway that you imagine if you think that that is possible."
Tears began to roll down Narcissa's face. "It is too dangerous! He is only sixteen, he thinks himself a man grown. I care not what the age of consent is! He is my son, my only son. I love my husband, but this is a punishment for Lucius's mistake. I will not have my child pay the price!"
"If Draco succeeds he will be honored above all others," Snape said.
"He won't! How could he when the Dark Lord himself..." Narcissa sobbed.
"Careful," Snape warned.
Narcissa was mute for a moment. "I only meant...that nobody has ever...Please Severus...You are Draco's favorite teacher...Lucius's old friend. I beg of you...the Dark Lord trusts you...perhaps you can persuade him."
"He will not change his mind, and I am not stupid enough to suggest that he do so," Snape said bluntly. "The Dark Lord is angry with Lucius. He was in charge, and he got himself captured, along with many others. He also failed to retrieve the prophesy. The Dark lord is very angry."
"Then its true! He has chosen Draco in revenge! He doesn't care that my boy will die trying!"
Narcissa came out of her chair and knelt at Snape's knee, clutching his robe. "You could do it. Please! You could do it instead of Draco! I will get you anything you need. Money? Prestige? I could foster many new relationships for you. I still have many valuable connections. Whatever you ask."
Snape caught hold of her wrists, removing them from his person. "I will probably end up doing the deed in the end. I think the Dark Lord intends for Draco to try. In the event that he succeeds then I will be able to remain in my position as a spy for the cause, and if he doesn't... "
"So, it doesn't matter if Draco dies? Is that it?" Narcissa said standing. She looked into the fireplace, watching the flames dance, her hand clutched in her robes.
"The Dark Lord is angry, and he does not forgive easily."
Narcissa began weeping softly again, before her spine firmed. "Whatever you ask, Severus. Anything." she said eye teary eyes level with his, her meaning very clear. She would give herself to him, forsake her vows, if it meant that Draco would live.
Snape looked at her for a long moment. "That will not be necessary. Please have a seat, there is a way that may be possible for me to help Draco."
Narcissa sat, relieved. She did not take her vows lightly, but she would go to Hell and back for her son. "You would look after him? See that he comes to no harm?"
"I can try."
"Will you swear to it? Will you make the Unbreakable vow?"
"I will. Perhaps you should wake your sister to be our bonder?"
Narcissa turned in her seat, drawing her wand from her robes, pointing the instrument at her sister. "Solue oblivisci audire. You will not remember the body bind, you will not notice the time that has passed, you will regain consciousness."
Snape watched Narcissa with a touch more respect. That was a nice bit of spellwork, and he wondered from what dark tome she had learned it. It was much more gentle than Obliviate, and didn't leave the blank spots and befuddlement that resulted from the other spell.
Bellatrix slowly stirred, reaching over to the tray to finally take a sip of her wine. She wondered why she was suddenly, desperately thirsty. "What are you bloody staring at?" she asked when she noticed their fixed looks.
Narcissa sighed a bit in relief. "Nothing, sister. Did you hear what I just said?"
Bellatrix blinked. "No, you will have to repeat it. I wasn't paying attention," she admitted grudgingly.
"Severus has agreed to make the Unbreakable vow."
Bella's brow rose in disbelief. "Really? You won't try to wriggle from the situation? Oh, I know strictly at the Dark Lord's orders," she finished sarcastically.
"Certainly not," said Snape. "In fact, we wish for you to be our bonder."
Bellatrix's mouth fell open. She watched Snape help Narcissa to her feet. To her amazement they grasped right hands.
"You will need your wand," Snape said pointedly.
Bella drew it, moving to the side of them. She placed the tip of her wand on their hands.
"Will you, Severus, watch over my son, as he attempts to fill the Dark Lord's wishes?" Narcissa said.
"I will," Snape said in answer.
A tendril of flame came from the wand, wrapping around their joined hands.
"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"
"I will," said Snape.
A second tendril of flame twisted with the first.
Narcissa tightened her hand within the grasp. "And, should it prove necessary...if it seems that Draco will fail," she whispered, "Will you carry out the task that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?"
There was a moment of silence, and Bella was sure that this would be when Snape would back out.
"I will," said Snape.
A third tendril of flame erupted from the wand, joining the others and wrapping their clasped hands in a brilliantly braided rope.