Chapter 15: Chapter 15
Hello!
Dear readers, here is my new chapter, I hope you like it. I want to thank uchiha.s for being my beta for this chapter. All of her wonderful suggestions helped me improve this piece. I take responsibility for any mistakes you find in this piece, for I did some adjustments after she sent it. Please R&R.
Hugs, SW.
Scones and Fire
For the tenth time that afternoon I picked up the instruments of my latest torture. They looked so innocent with their metallic shine. When I touched them their coldness sucked the warmth of my hands. As I positioned my hands in the way Narcissa had instructed, I felt dread worm its way into my mind. I should've finished this task by now, yet I was farther behind than I had been two hours ago.
Sighing, I grabbed the ball of yarn and continued my knitting. A pair of baby boots was the perfect project to start with; it also turned out to be a nightmare of knots bent on driving me insane.
Surely Draco had cursed the yarn! He must've thought that in my frustration I'd eat more of Murly's food. We hadn't been here more than a week and I could already see a change in my weight.
I smiled at my silly thoughts. Divide and conquer! With this idea in mind I began the tedious task of unraveling one knot at a time; the softness of treated yarn calmed my nerves.
A chilly current of air entered the room as one of the heavy doors opened. I raised my eyes to find an unexpected visitor.
"Professor Snape?" I cried, dropping my knitting to the floor as I stood.
He walked towards me with unhurried steps, his signature cloak billowing behind him.
"Miss Granger, close your mouth. The blowfish look does not suit you," he said taking the chair next to mine.
Obediently I closed my mouth and sat.
Professor Snape carried himself just as he always had. The menacing aura he projected combined to his stoic face completed the image of a high-ranking Death Eater. Nonetheless, I could never forget this man had saved Harry, who had almost gone to meet Voldemort in a bout of desperation, unprepared and alone. Professor Snape had kept his location a secret. When the world had forsaken Harry, this man had stood by his unwilling side.
"You are pregnant," observed Snape, his eyes roving over my frame. "This explains my Lord's current plans and mood. I never thought I'd see Gryffindor's most famous know-it-all hiding like a scared mouse. You were never one to avoid your responsibilities; I should've imagined it was all an act."
Taking a deep breath, I picked up my knitting from the floor. If my hands were busy I couldn't curse this arrogant man.
"Till my baby is born, my hands are tied. I won't endanger him," I murmured, fighting to contain my rising annoyance. "To what do I owe your visit?"
A pop sounded in the room, and Murly appeared wearing her usual pillowcase robe. She was carrying a tray on which sat a mountain of scones, butter, marmalade, a teapot and two cups.
I raised an eyebrow.
"I forget privacy in this Manor is an illusion," I said benevolently as I turned to face Murly, "surely you have informed Narcissa we've a guest."
Murly nodded shyly and disappeared.
"Professor Snape I expect Narcissa to join us shortly. If there is something you would like to discuss in private I suggest you start talking," I said serving him a cup of tea and handing him a plate with scones.
He took the cup and ignored the scones.
"Thank you," he said with great effort and a particularly pained look on his face.
I claimed the plate and munched on the scone. The butter melted on my tongue, while the marmalade had sweet pieces of strawberry. Malfoy galleons surely bought the best of everything. As I savored a second bite, Professor Snape's voice broke the soothing trance I had fallen into.
"At least that brain of yours hasn't been addled with all this pampering." Saying this, he cast a couple of spells on the room. "That should prevent that nosy elf from eavesdropping."
Facing Snape, I spoke, "before you begin, Professor, there is one thing I have to say: thank you for helping Harry in his hour of need."
Sadness flashed across his features, swift as lightning. "Don't mention that selfish boy. He turned out to be just like his father: a coward who turned his back on the world and hid when he should've fought."
"I won't allow you to speak like that of Harry," I said raising my wand and pointing it to his chest.
"By all means do tell him to step into this room if I am mistaken," he said smirking, "if not stash your wand before you hurt yourself."
I sighed and put my wand away. No use fighting the few allies I had.
At my actions he let his guard down and allowed me to see worry etched in his face.
"Miss Granger, I would never put you in more danger than absolutely necessary. What I am about to suggest might seem a bit extreme, but you have to trust me. Voldemort is about to commit to a systematic murder of Muggles. Every town in England will know his wrath. Corner by corner, Muggles will be ruthlessly tortured and killed. I am telling you this so that you don't go trying to save the day. His current force is of three thousand wizards, an army of giants, hundreds of dementors, and packs of werewolves. Your actions from now on must be carefully planned out. Voldemort is currently in a rage, so my advice would be to let him cool off, and meet him. Go to his front door and speak to him in a month's time."
My delicate cup met its untimely demise on the pristine marble floor. As it shattered so did the walls of my self-restraint. My heart's sorrow turned my eyes into pools of grief. I had brought this on humanity. I had played with fire and now the world would turn into ashes. Tom would seek vengeance for my betrayal.
Professor Snape restored the cup and cleaned the spill.
I put a protective arm over my belly, and kneeled in front of the unyielding pillar of courage that this wizard had proven to be.
"I can't do that," I murmured.
In a wave of dark robes Professor Snape stood. Contempt sanded on his stony features. Awe-inspiring in his merciless posture, he grabbed me and forcefully made in stand.
"Miss Granger, stop this nonsense," he commanded, his hands trembling in anger.
I tore my arms from his grip. Images of Harry in his lovely home filled my mind's eye. My breathing raced, my head swam and the strength of my limbs left me. I barely managed to sit before my legs collapsed.
"I must do something immediately to prevent this attack on Muggle England. Harry's life is at risk. He lives in a muggle town with his new family." I looked up at him, only to find his face uncaring the way a cliff by the shore ignores the turmoil of the crashing waves.
"Miss Granger, the one thing I must say is underestimating Voldemort by acting impulsively will surely garner his victory," he said in a bored tone."Even if your friends made you believe the world revolves around you, I'm afraid it does not. Voldemort is not doing this because of you. He is doing it as the first and only blow to the European Ministers of Magic. This strategy will bring them all to their knees. The degree of destruction will be such that with this one blow no one will dare stand against him. When I said his new plans were a result of your actions, I was speaking more of his personal plans. Never forget Voldemort is a brilliant wizard capable of rational thought despite his emotions. As we speak he is making the last decisions for tomorrow's attack. In spite of tomorrow's events, there is another piece of information which might be of interest to you. Voldemort has furnished a room as a nursery, and has been exploiting wizards for toys and baby clothing. He is getting ready to house a baby in his manor."
At this I paled.
"Why is he doing this? He can't possibly have forgiven me. Besides, what reason could he have for launching the attack so soon?" I wondered with a heightening sense of dread.
"Think, Miss Granger, Brightest Witch since Voldemort! Use that brain of yours!" he bellowed.
I sat and rested my forehead on my hand.
Then it hit me, the realization ripping my heart.
"Harry is dead," I chocked out.
I put my hand over my mouth and sobbed. I cried with a lover's sorrow; that deep unabating feeling of loss which doesn't diminish after all tears are spent.
My best friend was gone. Harry Potter was no more.
When all my strength had left me, and my wails were reduced to a hoarse cadence, silence reigned.
"Narcissa should be here by now. I guess she must have been detained by her Lord." Repugnance oozed from his lips at this last word.
"You knew she wouldn't be able to meet us. With Harry gone, this attack will hand him Europe and then the world. That smug bastard expects me to surrender myself to him, an exchange for my baby's life. With the world on his side, it would be a matter of days before he found us. All in all, I'd say in three month's time he could rule every single Wizard society. If I did as you suggested and acted in a month's time I could have a say in many important aspects. Help shape the new world," I said smirking, "clever plan, Professor. There is only one thing you and Tom failed to consider."
He smiled, perhaps at my tone, perhaps at the fire in my eyes.
"I won't just sit here for a month while he murders and tortures Muggles. He failed to consider one very important thing: time. I will be perfectly able to duel till I am around six months along. If he thinks the world will fall at his feet, he will rue the day he underestimated me. It is time darling Tom hears from me."