Chapter 13 The Couple's Collation
They appeared on a wide driveway with high hedges on either side and a striking wrought-iron gate before them. The sky had remained overcast and the sun could be seen sitting on the western horizon, waiting for the perfect moment to thrust the word into darkness. The smell of rain hung heavy in the air and puddles of water littered the ground around them.
"Come, we're late." Severus stepped toward the gate, slowly pulling his arm away from Hermione's waist. She nodded and followed him to the dark metal gates. Her steps faltered as she approached but he did not pause and passed right through the gate as if it was smoke. Hermione stopped in surprise even as her husband continued down the drive. He glanced over his shoulder when the sound of her footsteps ceased. Severus halted as he turned to face her. "Walk right through." His voice was impatient and Hermione bite her lip.
Even with the calming potion, she felt like her fears had been shoved into a closet at the back of her mind that could burst open at any moment. Her legs felt heavy and she felt as though her heart should be racing but it was steady in her chest. It was so strange in the face of the Malfoy Manor to feel so utterly composed.
"Hermione." Her name was a whisper on the wind, snapping her out of her thoughts. She looked around for the source of the voice but saw only her husband standing beyond the gate. He was motionless, staring at her with dark eyes. Then he spoke, "Hermione." It was his voice so soft and gentle that carried on the faint breeze to her. Her feet seemed to move of their own accord, approaching him. Through the gate that gave the impression that it was made of smoke and to his side.
Hermione paused beside him, the two of them staring at each other. He seemed to be willing her onwards even as she wanted to flee. It was a silent battle of wills that Hermione already knew she would lose. "It will be over before you know it." Severus whispered.
"No," Hermione said shaking her head, her voice trembling. "It will last forever. I will sit, tormented, in that seat, forced to make polite conversation and pretend that everything is perfect. Smiling and laughing with people who were my enemies a few months ago. Obligated to eat the meal that has been placed before me even though with every bite I will feel sicker. In a room where I was so sure that I would perish at their hands. And all the while, even with the calming potion, my adrenaline will be rushing as I am in fight or flight mood." Hermione turned away from him and with a deep breath took a step towards the Manor. "It may be a few short hours for you but not for me." She squared her shoulders and started toward the house, leaving her husband behind her.
It seem to take him several moments to recover from her words before he began to stride onward, trying to catch up with her. When he finally matched her stride they were only feet from the house. The beautiful Manor sat before them, the glittering windows the only thing breaking up the dark stone of the house. They stopped on the threshold and Severus knocked on the ornate front door. He glanced at Hermione to see a look of defiance upon her face and knew that she would survive this dinner. The two listened to the sound of a large fountain in the garden beyond the hedge as they waited.
The door opened and there stood a house-elf with huge bat like ears and enormous brown eyes. It bowed deeply to both of them before speaking, "Good evening, Mr. Snape and Mrs. Snape. Master and Mistress is waiting for you."
"Lead the way." Severus said, not unkindly
"They is in the garden." The little elf said, pointing a long finger past the two. Both turned to look, the house-elf was indicating a small opening in the hedge that was easily missed. "I is to show you the way." The little elf moved past the two and set off at a brisk pace. Hermione followed first and Severus stayed close behind her. The three cut through the hedge to find a huge expanse of lawn. Several white peacocks could be seen strutting about in the distance on the perfectly manicured grass. To the right was a stone path that lead to a patio. The patio was almost completely closed in by ivy but the soft glow of light shown out from between the vines. Next to the entrance of the patio sat a magnificent fountain, creating a symphony of cascading water. It was made of dark marble and seemed to suck the light from the air creating a void in it's place. Walking around the edge of the fountain they found the entrance of the patio and the elf bowed them in.
It was like stepping into something out of a fairy tale. The walls all seemed to be made of the green ivy that swayed in the evening breeze. Flower beds circled the room, holding all kinds of beautiful flowers of every color, even one bush that Hermione noticed that had large, glittering, gold blooms. The floor seemed to be shimmering and upon closer inspection appeared to be pieces of sea glass pieced together to create an intricate pattern. Around the room floated silver lanterns each holding bright orange flames, that light the space with a friendly glow. A soft melody played in the background, that paired with the sounds of the fountain created a peaceful mood. Most impressive was the ceiling, that matched the one in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, and mirrored the sky. Right now it was a deep purple with dark gray clouds drifting lazily across it's surface. To say the least, the room was magical.
In the center of the room was a round table with five chairs, three of which were occupied by Malfoys. "Ah, Severus!" Lucius Malfoy stood from his place at the black table and approached the two. He looked just like he did the last time Hermione had seen him and the same air of superiority hang about him. Lucius embraced Severus in a hug which he returned, less enthusiastically than his friend had given it. "We were beginning to worry. You are almost forty-five minutes late."
"I apologize." Severus said as he nodded to Narcissa and Draco in greeting. "I was held up in London much longer than I had anticipated."
"Dear, don't leave our guests standing." Narcissa scolded softly as she beckon Severus and Hermione forward. "Severus, please sit next to Lucius, surely you two will have many things to catch up on."
Lucius nodded to his wife and lead the two back to the table. He returned to his seat next to his wife and smiled at her, as if apologizing for his blunder. She ignored him as she watched Severus pull out the chair between his and Draco's for Hermione to seat herself in. "Thank you." Hermione murmured as she took her seat and looked down at the table as he took his own seat. Before her on the black table top sat a dark green place mat and a large silver goblet, that appeared to be empty.
"Do tell us what keep you so long in London, Severus." Lucius insisted, as if his friend was going to tell him a valiant tale of defeating a dragon, wandlessly.
"As Deputy Headmaster it is my duty to inform new students whose parents are muggles of the school, and then accompany them to Diagon Alley for their first visit." Hermione glanced at her husband in surprise, expecting something less, well, less important during his outing today. "There has been a surprising amount of students born in late June and early July that will attend Hogwarts this year. Today, I meet a young lady who will surely be a Slytherin." Severus informed the table.
"Such an honor to introduce the next generation to the wizarding world." Lucius said, though Hermione doubted that he meant a word of it. She did wonder, however, if Severus had been making several of these trips during his absence at home.
The small elf who had lead Hermione and Severus to the patio had reappeared at Hermione's elbow. It had a large pitcher in it's hands and filled her goblet with cold water. Hermione smiled gratefully but said nothing. She reached for the cup and took a drink, thankful to have something to occupy herself with.
"Is it true that you have taken a position at Hogwarts as well, Hermione?" Narcissa asked hesitantly.
Hermione set down her glass as she felt all eyes turn to her "Yes, I am the Muggle Studies Professor." She answered courteously.
"It's good to know that the Daily Prophet finally got something right." Narcissa said with a polite smile. Confused about this mention in the Daily Prophet, Hermione glanced at Severus but he was now having a conversation with just Lucius and was ignoring her. Biting the inside of her lip, she remained silent, unsure of what to say. "I supposed that you have been busy then preparing your lesson plans."
Hermione was not surprised about how well Narcissa carried on the conversation. She was an aristocrat's wife and it was her job to converse with any woman brought to her house by her husband's friends. "It has kept me busy." Hermione agreed.
Just then the little elf placed a bowl of green soup before her. Then delivered one to each of the other members at the table. "I hope you like potage aux legumes." Narcissa said as she picked up her soup spoon.
"I do." Hermione murmured as she picked up her own spoon, staring at the vegetable soup. With a sigh Hermione figured it was best to try to eat, it would be wise to avoid displeasing her hosts.
The two women lapsed into silence as they ate their soup while Severus and Lucius were talking about educational reforms between bites. Next to Hermione, Draco sat silent. He had taken two bites of the soup before setting down his spoon. Hermione thought he looked paler than usual but that could have been due to his unusually dark black dress robes. His hair, that had always been so perfect at school, was now messy and unkempt, causing him to look like a very blonde Harry.
Without realizing it, Hermione had finished her soup but was still scooping her spoon in her bowl, staring at Draco out of the corner of her eye. When she realized her bowl was empty, she set her spoon down and reached for her napkin. Just then Severus, Lucius, and Narcissa started laughing at some joke Hermione had missed. Draco took the opportunity to lean toward her while the others were distracted. "Take a picture, it lasts longer." Hermione blushed with embarrassment at being caught staring. She tried to recompose herself with a deep breath, ignoring the younger Malfoy.
Just then the little elf reappeared and began to clear the empty bowls, and Draco's still full bowl. Then the entrée was delivered by another elf. The plate was beautifully arranged with chicken, mini potatoes, green beans, and small, white onions all topped in a creamy, brown sauce. It smelled delicious, even as Hermione wanted to give up eating, her stomach growled softly reminding her that she had not eaten at all today while she been in the grips of her panic attack. Picking up her knife and fork she started in to the meal, leaving the others to talk, though Draco remained silent next to her. The food was amazing and it surpassed any meal her mother had made or that she had eaten at Hogwarts.
The food helped to calm her frayed nerves and to get her thoughts going. It, also, helped that they had not stepped foot into the house. Here, she felt like she could breathe, out in the fresh air, and she did not have to see anything that would force her to remember her previous visit. Hermione wondered who had chosen the outdoor setting for dinner. It had obviously rained earlier in the day and this was not the most ideal setting after such events even with the ivy blocking most of the patio from the outside world. It had probably required several drying charms before it could be used. Had Severus requested that they eat here or had it been Narcissa's idea. Hermione burned to ask her husband but now was not the time, it would have to wait until later.
"-protests at the Ministry have reached rioting on several occasions." Lucius was saying, drawing Hermione out of her thoughts. "It's not surprising really with the way things have been handled in the last two months."
"Lucius," Severus said in a warning tone. "Let's not talk politics over dinner."
Lucius laughed loudly. "You never want to talk politics."
"I wish to avoid useless arguments. No one is ever swayed from their political view even when presented with evidence of faulty thinking." Severus replied coolly.
Hermione's mind was racing over this bit of news. Protest and riots at the Ministry, hopefully due to the marriage law. There was no way that this law could remain with so many against it. The marriage law had been in place for almost a month, at this point it should have swept every eligible witch into it's grasp.
She glanced sideways at Draco. Why was there not some other witch seated here with them, forced by law to be his wife? Surely he had been matched up to someone by now. As the others fell into discussion Hermione leaned towards Draco and whispered, "Hasn't the Minister assigned you to some poor Muggle-born yet?"
"Some of us are exempt from the Minister's Marriage Law." The statement shouldn't have struck Hermione as odd but it did. Obviously, the Malfoy's were one of the richest families in the wizarding world and could buy anything they wanted including buying their way around the law. Then, she realized that Draco's usual tone of superiority had been missing as he spoke. It sound more like he had stated a fact about the weather than boasted about his family's primacy to the common wizard. Hermione gave him a questioning glance but he avoided her eyes and was instead very intent on his plate.
Hermione was puzzled by this, but returned her gaze to her own plate and tried to finish her meal. She did not feel very hunger anymore but managed to eat several more bites before setting down her fork.
"-Narcissa always did love weddings." Lucius was telling Severus as he snapped his fingers. An elf appeared at his side immediately. "Bring out some of our best wine."
"Yes, Master." The elf answered before disappearing.
"How was your ceremony, Hermione?" Narcissa asked as she set aside her silverware.
"It was a small affair." Hermione answered carefully, glancing at Severus.
"So small, in fact, that Severus forgot to send us an invitation." Lucius said in an overly dramatic tone of heart break.
The little elf reappeared and passed out glasses of wine to everyone except Draco. Hermione accepted hers but set it aside, knowing that it would not mix well with the calming potion that she had so recently. Instead she stuck to her goblet of water while the others minus Draco enjoyed their drinks.
"You don't drink wine?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I don't drink any alcohol." Draco answered simply before turning to his mother. "May I be excused?"
Narcissa looked annoyed at the request. "We haven't had dessert, yet." Draco sighed but did not argue with his mother and averted his eyes to the table. Hermione wondered if he was as uncomfortable at this dinner table as she was or if something else was bothering him.
"I'm hurt that you did not have me as your best man, Severus." Lucius continued in the dramatic tone looking at his friend.
Severus' face remained expressionless as he looked upon his friend. "It was all very short notice."
"How did you parents feel about the wedding, Hermione?" Narcissa asked with a small smile.
Sudden grief swallowed Hermione and she wanted to excuse herself from the table. Did Narcissa mean this as a hurtful blow or was it simply more of her polite conversation? Hermione didn't know and she was at a lose for words. Severus seemed to have sensed that she was unable to speak and spoke for her. "Her parents are vacationing abroad at this time and we have been unable to contact them with the news."
"I'm sure it will be quite shocking to find that they have a son-in-law when they return." Narcissa replied with a small shake of her head.
Lucius laughed, "It would be a surprise to find you as a son, Severus. You are probably the same age as her parents. I doubt that they will find you as charming and as loveable as I."
"He's not the same age as my parents and my parents will make their own decision about him," Hermione countered with a frown.
Lucius seem to sense that he had upset Hermione and became solemn. "Severus is agreeable once you know him." Hermione bite back her contradictory comment, thinking it best to remain silent.
"Let's not turn the conversation to my character, Lucius." Severus said mildly before taking a drink of wine.
"I'm sure Hermione could tell us a fair amount about your character that others of us miss out seeing." The humor had returned to his voice as the blonde man looked upon his friend.
Severus glanced at Hermione almost pleading with her to ignore Lucius' statement. She did not meet his eyes as she looked at the older Malfoy man. "I'm confident Narcissa could tell us many a tale about you as well."
"I supposed it is a wife's duty to ensure that her husband's secrets are safe." Lucius seemed to be assessing Hermione across the table.
"Let's have dessert." Narcissa voice cut between the two and instantly an elf appeared to pass out the next course. "I hope chocolate mousse is acceptable with you, it is one of Lucius favorite desserts."
"I shall pass." Severus said politely as the house elf approached him with his dessert. "I am not one for sweets."
"I shall pass as well." Draco muttered shooing the house elf away before it could place the bowl in front of him.
"Hermione, would you care for chocolate mousse?" Narcissa asked politely.
All Hermione wanted was to leave this bizarre dinner party, that was not going at all as expected. Now was not the moment to leave though and skipping what was sure to be an amazing dessert would not make the end come any sooner. "I would love some, thank you."
The elf happily set a small bowl of the beautiful dessert before her. With a smile to the servant, she picked up her spoon. Just as predicted the mousse was rich and perfect in her mouth. Better than any she had tasted before, which was no surprise with how delicious the rest of the meal had been. Never would she be able to replicate this and no where but here would she taste another this good.
"Wonderful, is it not?" Lucius asked Hermione with a half smile.
"The whole meal has been delicious." Hermione answered truthfully.
"Lucius has a passion for cooking." Severus stated as he smirked at his friend.
"It is only done on the occasion that we have special guests." He remarked annoyed that Severus had shared this with the table.
Hermione was completely taken aback. "You cook?"
Lucius frowned as if he wanted to end the conversation but an elbow from his wife caused him to answer, "yes, I do. It was I who prepared the meal tonight." Hermione's spoon was suspended half way to her mouth and she had the sudden urge to throw it. Had this been a ploy to poison her? The fear must have shown on her face because Lucius gave a dry laugh. "I had no intention of poisoning my guests." Even with his reassurance Hermione set her spoon down. Severus glanced at Hermione with a frown for her obvious rudeness but said nothing.
"Mother it is late and I wish to be excused." Draco insisted as he stood up from his seat. Now that he was standing, Hermione could see that he was thinner than she remembered. It seem that he had not been taking care of himself in the last two months.
"You may go, Draco." Lucius replied with a warm smile that his son did not return. The younger Malfoy made a quick exit as the remaining diners watched.
"What time is it?" Severus asked Lucius.
He pulled an exquisite gold watch from his pocket and checked the time. "Fifteen minutes to ten."
"Then I'm afraid that you must excuse me and my lovely wife as well." Severus said as he stood and motioned for Hermione to follow suit.
"Wait," Lucius declared as he stood as well. "There is something that Narcissa and I wished to give you before you leave." Hermione bite her lip nervously, nothing Lucius Malfoy wanted to present as a gift could be good.
Severus looked caught off guard by the statement. "A gift is unnecessary, though we appreciate the gesture, Lucius."
"I insist," Lucius replied with a smile. "It is the perfect gift for a new couple, in fact, Narcissa and I had one bestowed to us when we were first married." Lucius snapped his fingers and a small elf in an ugly yellow pillowcase appeared beside him.
Severus looked at the elf for a moment then back at his friend. "We couldn't-"
Lucius interrupted him, "You can not refuse a gift, Severus, it is impolite."
Hermione was confused, staring at the little elf with her huge gray eyes. The house-elf had nothing in her hands that she would be presenting to her master for them. It was highly unlikely that the creature was holding the gift under its clothing. Was it something that had to be fetched by this elf?
Severus was glancing at Hermione with a stony expression before turning back to Lucius. "I can't possibly accept such a gift."
"Nonsense," Lucius insisted with a frown. "It is time to make a proper wizard of you."
Severus' temper flared. "Lucius owning a house-elf does not determine my status as a wizard."
Hermione gasped, the house-elf before her was the gift. "We can't," she whispered horrified at the prospect.
"Lucius." Narcissa reached out a hand to grasp her husband's arm, her pale fingers glowing next to his black robes. "If they do not wish-"
"I insist." Lucius interrupted his wife loudly. A silence fell around the room as the four wizards stood staring at each other. Then Lucius spoke first, breaking the silence. "If you can not accept a gift from a friend then maybe we should not be friends at all." With those harsh words, Lucius took his leave from the patio, leaving his wife and guest behind.
"I apologize for Lucius." Narcissa's voice was soft and she looked startled at her husband's outburst. "I told him that it was not a gift that would be welcome."
Severus sighed rubbing his temples for a moment. "I take it that Lucius has already given the instructions."
"Yes," Narcissa whispered.
"Then the elf already belongs to us." Severus sounded angry, his hair had fallen around his face as he looked down at the house-elf.
"Yes."
"No!" Hermione exclaimed in horror as she looked at Narcissa.
"I should have told you, Severus, but Lucius was so happy with the gift and I couldn't bring myself to spoil it."
"There is nothing that can be done now." Severus murmured as the elf looked upon her new master in confusion at his anger. "I will not be so heartless as to present her with clothes when she has done nothing wrong."
"We can't keep her!" Hermione had tolerated a lot up to this point but this went against everything she believed in.
Severus turned to Hermione, his rage at Lucius barely contained. "We will discuss this at home." His tone was harsh and closed any thought of further input from her He took a deep breath trying to calm himself and turned back to Narcissa. "What is her name?"
"Maisey." The elf turned to the Malfoy woman at her name but did not answer her.
"Maisey?" Severus asked.
"Yes, Master?" The house-elf bowed deeply to him.
"Am I your only Master?"
"No, sir. I will be serving you and Mrs. Snape and the whole Snape family." Maisey answered as she tugged nervously at her pillowcase dress.
Severus looked at Narcissa. "I think it is time we take our leave. Do you protest to use disappariting from your patio, Narcissa?"
"That is acceptable," she whispered with a sigh as she resumed her seat at the empty table.
"Hermione, let's go." Severus said reaching out a hand to his wife. She was happy to be escaping this evening and returning home but his angry words at her moments ago made her want to shy away from him now. After a moment of hesitation, she decided it was best to just follow his instructions. Hermione stepped close to him and Severus wrapped his arm around her waist then looked to the house-elf. "Maisey, take us home, please." The elf took Severus' other outstretched hand and then the three were twisting into nothingness.