Bella suddenly realised that Wormtail had been one of Sirius' best friends when he had been at school, and in that instant, her mind left the gloomy sitting room and went back to her cousin. She remembered how he and Regulus had played in the sitting room in their house at Christmas – Sirius was eight years younger than she was, so she hadn't seen much of them, as she was at Hogwarts for most of the year. But she had known, even at such a young age that he was different to the rest of them. She had watched him grow up during her holidays, and could see that he was unlikely to be in Slytherin. It had been one Christmas, when he was seven and she was fifteen that his parents seemed to notice it for the first time. The adults had been talking, and one of them had said 'Mudblood' – he kept questioning why they used that word. He knew that it was not a nice way to refer to someone whose parents were Muggles, so he didn't understand why the adults used it. He kept questioning. Bella had tried to tell him without words to stop, just to keep quiet. She had seen the looks of his parents in her own parent's eyes. When they had confronted her about Joshua the summer after her first year at Hogwarts. The first time that they had used an Unforgivable Curse on her. They had hit her before this, and some of the beatings had left scars, just has Penelope had noticed that first day on the train. She had been twelve the first time her parents had used Crucio on her. He had only been seven. She was convinced that this Christmas had changed him permanently, and it had been after this that he had become less and less like a Slytherin. By the next Christmas, Bella almost did not recognise her cousin. He was more rebellious and outspoken than she had ever seen him before. He was scarred too. She noticed it one morning when he came out of the bathroom. There were many Crucio scars mixed in with the scars from regular beatings. She had tried to talk to him, to explain that if he only kept quiet and obeyed his parents, they would not hurt him anymore. He had just looked at her and said "but if I don't try to change their perspective, who will? They will never change. And anyway, if they aren't hurting me, they'll probably hurt Reg, and I can't let that happen. He has to be safe. He's the only reason why I keep on. I know that I'm different from the rest of the family, Bella, but by being more extreme about my differences, they focus on me and not him. This is the only way I can think of to make sure that he doesn't get scarred too!" Bella remembered how she had wished then that she had his courage. She just hugged him instead of telling him however, as she knew that he would try and persuade her to tell her parents that she disagreed with their views and opinions, and she knew that she wasn't strong enough to stand up to them. So she stayed silent, hugging her eight year old cousin, who was far too small to be shouldering such a burden. She wished with all her heart that she could take that burden from him, but she knew that she couldn't. Their parents were far too strong to be stood up to without being beaten down. Ironically, he had been the final reason why she had decided to become a Death Eater and join the Dark Lord. She had hoped that by doing this, she would be able to protect both her little sisters and cousins. But it had not worked. Narcissa was the only one who she had been able to protect, and that was simply because Narcissa was never outspoken about her beliefs. Bella knew that she had fewer pureblood beliefs than people might believe, but she was good with words. She knew the right things to say at the right time that would not arouse suspicions. That was the reason why she was still ok. Andromeda had been disowned by the family for marrying her husband, and as for her little cousins? Well both of them were dead. She had failed in her mission to protect her family.
Bella was brought out of her reverie as a glass was pressed into her hand. "The Dark Lord" Snape said, draining his glass. Bella drained hers. Snape refilled it. She was glad to realise that she had not stopped glowering at Snape, that her memories had not shown on her face. If he had seen weakness in her face, she would no longer be the emotionless person that she displayed to everyone. Snape would have known that she had a weakness. And this weakness was currently consuming her from the inside. The guilt. The grief. The knowledge that if she had acted all those years ago, life might be different. The Dark Lord might not be in power. Regulus and Sirius might still be alive. Andromeda would probably still have married Ted Tonks, but they might have been on speaking terms. She would certainly be a much kinder person. She wouldn't be portraying a detached and unemotional person. Narcissa's life would not be in danger. For this was why they were here. This was the reason that Narcissa had sought Snape's help.
Bella suddenly became aware that her sister was speaking now. "Severus, I know I ought not to be here, I have been told to say nothing to anyone, but –"
"Then you ought to hold your tongue! Particularly in present company!" she said this with such ferocity and anger that she almost surprised herself. She knew that it was because of her own grief and guilt, but she could not stop it pouring out of her now. At least Snape was here to take the brunt of her anger. They had had a shared animosity since the Dark Lord had returned a year ago.
"Present company? And what am I to understand by that, Bellatrix?" Snape said contemptuously.
"That I don't trust you, Snape, as you very well know!" Narcissa let out a sob, Bella had heard her do this frequently over the past few days, and burried her face in her hands.
"Narcissa, I think we ought to hear what Bellatrix is bursting to say; it will save tedious interruptions. Well, continue, Bellatrix. Why is it that you do not trust me?"
"A hundred reasons!" She said loudly, "Where to start! Where were you when the Dark Lord fell? Why did you never make any attempt to find him when he vanished? What have you been doing all these years that you've lived in Dumbledore's pocket? Why did you stop the Dark Lord procuring the Philosopher's Stone? Why did you not return at once when the Dark Lord was reborn? Where were you a few weeks ago when we battled to retrieve the prophecy for the Dark Lord? And why, Snape, is Harry Potter still alive, when you have had him at you mercy for five years?" All the anger that she had had inside of her had burst out in such a short amount of time that she was almost surprised. Her outburst at Snape had made her feel much better, but she knew that it would not make her feel better for long. Nothing made her feel better for long these days.
"Before I answer you – oh yes, Bellatrix, I am going to answer! You can carry my words back to the others who whisper behind my back, and carry false tales of my treachery to the Dark Lord! Before I answer you, I say, let me ask a question in turn. Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me each and every one of those questions? And do you really think that, had I not been able to give satisfactory answers, I would still be sitting here talking to you?"
"I know he believes you, but …"
"You think he is mistaken? Or that I have somehow hoodwinked him? Fooled the Dark Lord, the greatest wizard, the most accomplished Legilimens the world has ever seen?" Bella knew that his reply made sense, but she still did not trust him. She knew that he must have satisfied the Dark Lord with his answers, but she also knew that Snape is an accomplished Occlumens, so he could have been able to deceive him. "You asked where I was when the Dark Lord fell. I was where he had ordered me to be, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, because he wished me to spy upon Albus Dumbledore. You know, I presume, that it was upon the Dark Lord's orders that I took up the post?" She nodded slowly, not saying anything, fearing that Snape would detect the grief and guilt in her voice, rather than the anger she had towards him. "You ask why I did not attempt to find him when he vanished. For the same reason that Avery, Yaxley, the Carrows, Greyback, Lucius" here, he bowed his head slightly to Narcissa, "and many others did not attempt to find him. I believed him finished. I am not proud of it, I was wrong, but there it is. … If he had not forgiven we who lost faith at that time, he would have very few followers left."
"He'd have me! I, who spent many years in Azkaban for him!" Bella said. She was careful to allow passion and fire to enter her voice, but nothing else.
"Yes, indeed, most admirable, of course you weren't a lot of use to him in prison, but the gesture was undoubtedly fine –"
"Gesture! While I endured the dementors, you remained at Hogwarts, comfortably playing Dumbledore's pet!" She shrieked. She knew that he was trying to enrage her, and if it hadn't been for how she was feeling at the moment, he undoubtedly would not have succeeded. But she was glad to shout at Snape. He deserved it.
"Not quite," Snape said calmly, which infuriated Bella all the more. "He wouldn't give me the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, you know. Seemed to think it might, ah, bring about a relapse … tempt me into my old ways."
"So this was your sacrifice for the Dark Lord, not to teach your favourite subject? Why did you stay there all that time, Snape? Still spying on Dumbledore for a master you believed dead?"
"Hardly, although the Dark Lord is pleased that I never deserted my post: I had sixteen years of information on Dumbledore to give him when he returned, a rather more useful welcome-back present than endless reminiscences of how unpleasant Azkaban is. …"
"But you stayed –"
"Yes, Bellatrix, I stayed" said Snape slightly impatiently, which pleased Bella. "I had a comfortable job that I preferred to a stint in Azkaban. They were rounding up the Death Eaters, you know. Dumbledore's protection kept me out of jail; it was most convenient and I used it. I repeat: The Dark Lord does not complain that I stayed, so I do not see why you do. I think you next wanted to know why I stood between the Dark Lord and the Philosopher's Stone. That is easily answered. He did not know whether he could trust me. He thought, like you, that I had turned from faithful Death Eater to Dumbledore's stooge. He was in a pitiable condition, very weak, sharing the body of a mediocre wizard. He did not dare reveal himself to a former ally if that ally might turn him over to Dumbledore or the Ministry. I deeply regret that he did not trust me. He would have returned to power three years sooner. As it was, I saw only greedy and unworthy Quirrell attempting to steal the stone and, I admit, I did all I could to thwart him."
Bella did not know whether to believe him. He was certainly able to tell this story with ease, but was it just a bit too rehearsed? "But you didn't return when he came back, you didn't fly back to him at once when you felt the Dark Mark burn –"
"Correct. I returned two hours later. I returned on Dumbledore's orders."
"On Dumbledore's –?"
"Think! Think! By waiting two hours, just two hours, I ensured that I could remain at Hogwarts as a spy! By allowing Dumbledore to think that I was only returning to the Dark Lord's side because I was ordered to, I have been able to pass information on Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix ever since! Consider, Bellatrix: The Dark Mark had been growing stronger for months. I knew he must be about to return, all the Death Eaters knew! I had plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do, to plan my next move, to escape like Karkaroff, didn't I?
The Dark Lord's initial displeasure at my lateness vanished entirely, I assure you, when I explained that I remained faithful, although Dumbledore though I was his man. Yes, the Dark Lord thought that I had left him forever, but he was wrong."
"But what use have you been? What useful information have we had from you?" Bella sneered.
"My information has been conveyed directly to the Dark Lord, if he chooses not to share it with you –"
"He shares everything with me!" Bella was angry again. "He calls me his most loyal, his most faithful –"
"Does he? Does he still, after the fiasco at the Ministry?"
"That was not my fault! The Dark Lord has, in the past, entrusted me with his most precious – if Lucius hadn't –"
"Don't you dare – don't you dare blame my husband!" Narcissa's voice was not loud and angry, but low and deadly. She looked up at Bella, who could see the fury behind her sister's eyes. But there was something else there. A steely determination that Bella did not recognise. Was this the mother inside of her? Bella was not a mother. She did not know the strength that Draco gave Narcissa, but she could see it.
"there is no point apportioning blame. What is done, is done." Snape interrupted smoothly.
"But not by you! No you were once again absent while the rest of us ran dangers, were you not, Snape?" Bella was furious now.
"My orders were to remain behind. Perhaps you disagree with the Dark Lord, perhaps you think that Dumbledore would not have noticed if I had joined forces with the Death Eaters to fight the Order of the Phoenix? And – forgive me – you speak of dangers … you were facing six teenagers, were you not?"
"They were joined, as you very well know, by half of the Order before long!" Bella snarled. "And, while we are on the subject of the Order, you still claim you cannot reveal the whereabouts of their headquarters, don't you?"
"I am not the Secret-Keeper; I cannot speak the name of the place. You understand how the enchantment works, I think? The Dark Lord is satisfied with the information I have passed him on the Order. It led, as perhaps you have guessed, to the recent capture and murder of Emmeline Vance, and it certainly helped dispose of Sirius Black, though I give you full credit for finishing him off." He toasted her. Bella's stomach churned at these words. He couldn't possibly know that she regretted killing her cousin more than anyone could understand.
"You are avoiding my last question, Snape. Harry Potter. You could have killed him at any point in the past five years. You have not done it. Why?"
"Have you discussed this matter with the Dark Lord?" Snape asked her.
"He … lately, we … I am asking you, Snape!" Bella was angry that he had asked this. The Dark Lord had hardly spoken to anyone since the prophecy had been lost.
"If I had murdered Harry Potter, the Dark Lord could not have used his blood to regenerate, making him invincible –"
"You claim you foresaw his use of the boy!" Bella jeered. Nobody had known this plan, except Wormtail. He had been the only one outside of Azkaban who had gone back to the Dark Lord. If it hadn't been for Wormtail, Sirius would still be alive. How ironic that this weak person had caused the death of two of his best friends.
"I do not claim it; I had no idea of his plans; I have already confessed that I thought the Dark Lord dead. I am merely trying to explain why the Dark Lord is not sorry that Potter survived, at least until a year ago. …"
"But why did you keep him alive?"
"Have you not understood me? It was only Dumbledore's protection that was keeping me out of Azkaban! Do you disagree that murdering his favourite student might have turned him against me? But there was more to it than that. I should remind you that when Potter first arrived at Hogwarts there were still many stories circulating around him, rumours that he himself was a great Dark wizard, which was how he had survived the Dark Lord's attack. Indeed, many of the Dark Lord's old followers thought Potter might be a standard around which we could all rally once more. I was curious, I admit it, and not at all inclined to murder him the moment he set food in the castle.
"Of course, it became apparent to me very quickly that he had no extraordinary talent at all. He has fought his way out of a number of tight corners by a simple combination of sheer luck and more talented friends. He is mediocre to the last degree, though as obnoxious and self-satisfied as was his father before him. I have done my utmost to have him thrown out of Hogwarts, where I believe he scarcely belongs, but kill him, or allow him to be killed in front of me? I would have been a fool to risk it with Dumbledore close at hand."
"And through all this, we are supposed to believe Dumbledore has never suspected you? He has no idea of your true allegiance, he trusts you implicitly still?" Bella asked incredulously.
"I have played my part well, and you overlook Dumbledore's greatest weakness: He has to believe the best of people. I spun him a tale of deepest remorse when I joined his staff, fresh from my Death Eater days, and he embraced me with open arms – though, as I say, never allowing me nearer the Dark Arts than he could help. Dumbledore has been a great wizard …" Bella scoffed, "oh yes, he has, the Dark Lord acknowledges it. I am pleased to say, however, that Dumbledore is growing old. The duel with the Dark Lord last month shook him. He has since sustained a serious injury because his reactions are slower than they once were. But through all these years, he has never stopped trusting Severus Snape, and therein lies my great value to the Dark Lord.
"Now … you came to ask me for help, Narcissa?"
Narcissa looked at Snape, her face full of despair. "Yes, Severus. I – I think you are the only one who can help me, I have nowhere else to turn. Lucius is in jail and …" Narcissa closed her eyes, and two tears rolled down her cheeks. "The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it. He wishes none to know of the plan. It is … very secret. But –"
"If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak. The Dark Lord's word is law." Snape said quickly.
Narcissa gasped. Bella felt satisfied, and did not care who knew it. "There! Even Snape says so: You were told not to talk, so hold your silence!" She said triumphantly.
Snape had stood up, peered through the curtains at the deserted street, and closed them again quickly. "It so happens that I know of the plan. I am one of the few the Dark Lord has told. Nevertheless, had I not been in on the secret, Narcissa, you would have been guilty of great treachery to the Dark Lord."
"I thought you must know about it! He trusts you so, Severus. …" Narcissa was breathing more freely now. It was clear to Bella that she was feeling relieved.
"You know of the plan? You know?" Bella was no longer feeling satisfied. She was outraged that Snape knew of this most secret of plans.
"Certainly. But what help do you require, Narcissa? If you are imagining I can persuade the Dark Lord to change his mind, I am afraid there is no hope, none at all." Snape said.
"Severus, my son … my only son …" More tears were rolling down Narcissa's face now.
"Draco should be proud. The Dark Lord is granting him a great honour. And I will say this for Draco: He isn't shrinking away from his duty, he seems to be glad of a chance to prove himself, excited at the prospect –" Bella said this with no emotion in her voice – she was doing her best to keep how she was feeling from showing. She knew that if her emotions showed in her voice, she would be finished. Snape would never listen to her again, and Narcissa was so caught up with her own issues that she would not stop to help Bella.
"That's because he is sixteen and has no idea what lies in store! Why, Severus? Why my son? It is too dangerous! This is vengeance for Lucius's mistake, I know it!" Narcissa was almost screaming now, tears pouring down her face. "That's why he's chosen Draco, isn't it? To punish Lucius?"
"If Draco succeeds, he will be honoured above all others." Snape had looked away from Narcissa's tear filled eyes, as if he could not bear to see her looking like this. So weak and fragile, but at the same time with a ferocity and determination to do all that she could to save her son.
"But he won't succeed! How can he, when the Dark Lord himself –?" Narcissa sobbed desperately. Bella gasped, which made Narcissa lose her nerve. "I only meant … that nobody has yet succeeded … Severus … please … you are, you have always been, Draco's favourite teacher. … You are Lucius's old friend. … I beg you. … You are the Dark Lord's favourite, his most trusted advisor. … Will you speak to him, persuade him –?"
"The Dark Lord will not be persuaded, and I am not stupid enough to attempt it," Snape said flatly. "I cannot pretend that the Dark Lord is not angry with Lucius. Lucius was supposed to be in charge. He got himself captured, along with how many others, and failed to retrieve the prophecy into the bargain. Yes, the Dark Lord is angry, Narcissa, very angry indeed."
"Then I am right, he has chosen Draco in revenge! He does not mean him to succeed, he wants him to be killed trying!" Narcissa was still sobbing. Snape said nothing, and Narcissa lost the little self-restraint that she had had until that moment. She fell at Snape's feet and seized the front of his robes. She gasped "You could do it. You could do it instead of Draco, Severus. You would succeed, of course you would, and he would reward you beyond all of us –"
Snape grabbed hold of her wrists, and pulled her off of him. He looked into her eyes and said "He intends me to do it in the end, I think. But he is determined that Draco should try first. You see, in the unlikely event that Draco succeeds, I shall be able to remain at Hogwarts a little longer, fulfilling my useful role as spy."
"In other words, it doesn't matter to him if Draco is killed!"
"The Dark Lord is very angry. He failed to hear the prophecy. You know as well as I do, Narcissa, that he does not forgive easily." Snape said quietly. Narcissa crumpled, and laid sobbing and moaning on the floor.
"My only son … my only son …"
"You should be proud! If I had sons, I would be glad to give them up to the service of the Dark Lord!" Bella said ruthlessly. Narcissa screamed despairingly, and clutched at her long blonde hair. Snape bent down, picked her up and guided her back to the sofa. He poured her some more wine and pushed the glass into her hand.
"Narcissa, that's enough. Drink this. Listen to me." Narcissa's sobs began to slow, and spilling wine down her front as her hands were shaking, took a small sip. "It might be possible … for me to help Draco."
"Severus – oh, Severus – you would help him? Would you look after him, see he comes to no harm?"
"I can try."
Narcissa dropped her glass, got back up off of the sofa and flung herself at Snape's feet, grabbed hold of his hand and kissed it.
"If you are there to protect him … Severus, will you swear it? Will you make the Unbreakable Vow?"
"The Unbreakable Vow?"
"Aren't you listening, Narcissa? Oh, he'll try, I'm sure. … The usual empty words, the usual slithering out of action … oh, on the Dark Lord's orders, of course!" Bella was laughing, a hint of triumph in her mirth. She knew that Snape would try and wriggle out of anything that might get him killed. She had known that coming here had been a mistake. Narcissa was just going to be disappointed.
"Certainly, Narcissa, I shall make the Unbreakable Vow. Perhaps your sister will consent to be our Bonder. You will need your wand, Bellatrix, and you will need to move a little closer." Bella was astonished – Snape was going to make the Unbreakable Vow? She drew her wand and moved closer to where Narcissa and Snape were now holding each other's right hand. They were still crouched on the floor, so Bella towered over them as she placed the tip of her wand on their linked hands.
"Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfil the Dark Lord's wishes?"
"I will," said Snape. A thin line of brilliant flame came out of Bella's wand, and wound its way around their hands.
"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"
"I will." A second line of flame intertwined with the first as it wound around their hands.
"And, should it prove necessary … if it seems Draco will fail … will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?"
"I will." A third tongue of flame shot from her wand, twisted with the others and bound itself around Snape and Narcissa's clasped hands, like a fiery serpent.
The two fell apart and sat on the floor. Narcissa was crying again. "Thank you, Severus" she managed to sob. She looked up at Bellatrix, who was still stunned that Snape had agreed to take the Unbreakable Vow.
"You're welcome, Narcissa." He stood up, and poured three more glasses of wine. They each drank. "You should go – I will not tell anyone that you came here tonight, and I expect you will not either. I will also make sure that Wormtail says nothing" he said after they had finished their drinks.
"Yes, of course, thank you, Severus." Narcissa said simply. Bella just nodded. Snape showed them to the door. The two sisters walked into the night.
"We shouldn't have gone there tonight, Cissy" Bella hissed as they walked back through the muggle town. "If the Dark Lord ever finds out –"
"Well he won't find out" Narcissa snapped. "None of us are going to say anything about what happened tonight. Nobody except the three of us will know that Severus made the Unbreakable Vow; Wormtail only knows that we went to the house tonight – he does not know the purpose of our visit or the outcome. Nobody needs to ever know what has happened here tonight." She apparated, presumably back to Malfoy Manor, and Bella followed.